Nico sat across from Death in a meditative position, legs crossed and hands resting loosely on his knees. The air between them felt heavy yet calm. Death watched him with an unreadable gaze, her presence both comforting and terrifying, before she finally spoke, her voice low and steady.
"That's it… breathe now." Her tone softened slightly as she continued, eyes never leaving him. "During your time with me, you've learned that while some definitely need to die, killing them before they are supposed to die is a definite no." She paused, letting the weight of the lesson sink in, before adding with a faint, knowing edge, "Though there are exceptions, like when your boss tells you to. You understand?"
Nico hesitated for a moment, his brow furrowing as he processed her words. He nodded slowly, uncertainty flickering across his face, and said quietly, "I think so."
As they were talking, a portal shimmered open nearby, its edges rippling like disturbed water. Tet stepped through with a casual grin plastered on his face, hands tucked lazily into his pockets. He glanced around before spotting Nico and said, "Hey, Nico. I need you to run to a couple of worlds and show some people who's boss."
Mid-sentence, Tet paused. His grin faltered as he took a closer look at Nico. Instead of the usual child, he now saw a teenager standing there, taller, broader, and far more composed. His eyes widened in surprise, and he blurted out, "How long was I gone?"
Death answered calmly, her tone almost amused. "Oh, only a few days. I had Nico practice fighting outside his reaper form, and he figured out really quick that it's easier when you have longer reach."
Nico nodded, flexing his fingers slightly as if still getting used to the change. "Yeah, plus I'm not actually a kid anymore."
Tet let out a low hum of understanding, waving a hand dismissively. "I get it. You want to start acting your age. But moving on, I've got work for you, and it's sort of a long-term job, so you'll be gone for a while."
Nico rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck, a faint grin forming as anticipation sparked in his eyes. "Where am I going, and what am I doing?"
Tet's smile returned, sharp and playful. "You're going to go and take over a world that technically doesn't have a god anymore. But honestly, just have fun. Oh, and take this."
He reached out and handed Nico a normal-looking katana with a black handle.
Nico looked it over skeptically, lifting an eyebrow. "A katana? Little plain, isn't it?"
Tet shook his head, clearly entertained. "Not a katana. A zanpakuto."
As soon as Nico took hold of it, the weapon dissolved into light and flowed into him, vanishing entirely. Nico stiffened, eyes wide, and said in shock, "Did that thing just fuse with my soul?"
Tet nodded casually, as if this were the most natural thing in the world. "Yes, it did. It's technically a sentient weapon. Right now, it's an infant, depending on its master to nurture it."
Death tilted her head, intrigue flashing across her expression. "Fascinating. Could you perhaps spare one of those?"
Tet chuckled and handed another zanpakuto to Death without hesitation. "Figured you'd ask. Here you go."
Death accepted it appreciatively, examining it with quiet interest.
With a flick of his wrist, Tet opened another portal and stepped aside. "Have fun, Nico. I've got some work of my own to do. And by that, I mean I'm going off to have some fun. I've been a bit stressed lately."
Nico stepped through the portal without hesitation, disappearing from sight.
Tet turned back to Death and asked, curiosity slipping into his tone, "How'd he do?"
Death smiled faintly, genuine pride showing through her normally detached demeanor. "He's much better now. Killing is no longer his first resort, so… progress."
Tet glanced around the realm, suddenly thoughtful. "I didn't ask last time I was here, but what timeline is this?"
Death answered plainly, "Well, the Joker just bombed Metropolis."
Tet's eyes shot open wide. Without another word, he snapped open a portal and said quickly, "The Injustice timeline? I am out. Peace."
He leapt through the portal instantly.
Death watched it close, blinking once before murmuring to herself, "Huh. Wonder what that reaction was for. Should I be concerned?"
-----
Tet stepped out of the portal onto Terra Superno. Behind him, two more figures emerged in quick succession.
Sam adjusted the strap of the bag slung over his shoulder and said with urgency, "Let's hurry. I've got a class in thirty-five minutes."
Dean followed close behind, rolling his shoulders and added, "Yeah, and I've got a job interview at Beacon Academy."
Tet stopped mid-step and turned sharply toward him. "Wait, what?"
Dean shrugged casually. "Yeah. Qrow talked to the headmaster and recommended me as a combat instructor. It sounded fun, so I… I took it."
Tet stared at him for a second, then slowly nodded. "Huh. Unexpected, but okay. It's a little weird that you two are making defeating the Devil sound boring."
Sam didn't even look up as he replied calmly, "We're just gonna trick him out of his corporeal form, then trap him. It'll be quick."
Dean smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Yep. Let's get this over with."
He pulled out his hammer, resting it against his shoulder as the trio moved forward.
They soon found Lucifer, standing amid a cluster of demons, his posture relaxed but ready, power rolling off him in waves. His lips curled into a familiar smug smile as he spoke. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Sam and Dean. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Dean didn't hesitate for a second. He leveled his hammer and snapped, "We're here to kick your ass, so shut up and let's dance."
Lucifer burst out laughing, the sound echoing across the battlefield, until it cut off abruptly. Sam had already drawn a magic bow, loosing several scatter-shot, homing arrows that tore through the surrounding demons with brutal efficiency. As the bodies fell, Lucifer's expression shifted from amusement to disbelief.
"Okay… what the fuck?"
Sam didn't miss a beat. "Magic arrows. Heads up."
Lucifer scoffed. "Heads up—what—"
He never finished the sentence.
Dean's hammer smashed into the side of his head with a sickening crack. Lucifer staggered, barely managing to stay upright. He wiped blood from his face, staring at it in disbelief before looking back up.
"You actually hurt me. What the hell?"
Dean answered by hitting him again. And again.
Finally, Lucifer snarled and snapped his fingers in fury.
Nothing happened.
Blinking blood out of his eyes, Lucifer stared at his own hand in shock. "What—"
Behind sam, Tet whistled innocently.
Sam stepped forward, now wearing a proton pack, and tossed a glowing symbol onto the ground. "Hey, Lucifer."
Lucifer looked up sharply.
Sam met his gaze. "Yes."
Lucifer didn't hesitate. His divine essence ripped free from his current vessel and rushed straight toward Sam, only for Sam to blast him with a capture stream and activate the trap. Lucifer struggled violently, his essence thrashing, until Dean sprinted over and helped sam. With their combined strength, the brothers dragged the rogue archangel fully into the trap and watched as it snapped shut.
Silence followed.
Sam and Dean exchanged a look, then high-fived.
"We did it."
"Yeah, we did. Also… is that a friggin' proton pack?"
Sam glanced down at it proudly. "Yeah. You like it?"
Dean's eyes lit up. "Like it? I want one. Where the hell do I get—"
Sam pointed directly at Tet.
Dean groaned. "Oh, come on. You sent him to Ghostbusters. I wanna go to Ghostbusters."
Tet waved a hand dismissively. "Maybe later."
He snapped his fingers, and Dean's clothes shifted instantly. His usual outfit was replaced by a gray blazer, a white button-down shirt, gray slacks, and polished black dress shoes.
Tet looked him over thoughtfully. "If I'm not mistaken, the school year should be just halfway through its first semester. I've returned Team RWBY so they can resume their classes, and once Summer deals with Salem, I'll be opening Remnant's combat forces to multiversal problems. Zombie apocalypses, alien invasions, whatever world I feel could use some help, honestly. But for the near future, you have the Vytal Festival to look forward to. So train your students well, Dean."
Dean straightened instinctively, his expression turning serious. "Oh, don't worry about that. I'll be taking this very seriously."
Sam slipped on a pair of reading glasses and checked the time. "Alright, I gotta go. Today's class is on manticores, and my Athena cabin students show up early."
Two portals opened side by side, and the brothers stepped through, disappearing moments later.
Tet watched them go, rubbing the back of his neck with a crooked smile. "I turned Sam and Dean Winchester into freaking teachers, of all things. Did I improve their lives or not? Only time will tell."
----
Tet returned to the guild hall, stepping inside just in time to be greeted by an overly enthusiastic Aqua. She was wearing a blue waitress uniform, practically bouncing in place with a bright, exaggerated smile plastered on her face.
She threw her arms wide and said cheerfully, "Welcome—"
Mid-greeting, she actually registered who had walked in. Her smile instantly dropped, her face twisting into disappointment. "Oh. It's you."
A loud clang echoed through the hall as Aqua was immediately conked over the head with a frying pan. She crumpled slightly, wobbling in place. Standing behind her was an unmistakably furious Vesta, gripping the pan tightly.
Vesta snapped, "Is that any way to speak to the master of the house? Try again."
Aqua slowly straightened back up, a visible lump forming on her head. Somehow, she forced her radiant smile back into place and said, "Sorry, Lady Vesta. Welcome home, Master. Do you need anything? Dinner? A bath? Or maybe m—"
She didn't get to finish.
The frying pan cracked across her face again, and Aqua collapsed unconscious onto the floor.
Almost immediately, Hestia appeared from the side, sighed deeply, and grabbed Aqua by the ankles. Without ceremony, she dragged the fallen goddess out of the room.
Vesta turned back toward Tet and, as if nothing at all had happened, smoothly adjusted her posture and put on a beautiful, composed smile. "Welcome home, dear. How was your trip?"
Tet chuckled nervously, glancing briefly toward where Aqua had been dragged off before replying, "Not bad. Also… why are you calling me dear?"
Without missing a beat, Vesta answered casually, "Oh, just practicing."
Tet tilted his head slightly, confusion clear on his face. "Practicing what?"
Vesta let out a light chuckle, shaking her head. "It's cute that you're oblivious, but also frustrating. Hestia was right. I need to be upfront. I'll need to enact the plan soon."
Right on cue, Hestia popped her head out of the kitchen, leaning against the doorway. "I recommend Plan C, and you should try it here in a bit."
Vesta's eyes lit up subtly. "Oh, good idea."
Tet looked between the two of them, suspicion creeping in. "What are you two talking about?"
Hestia smiled sweetly, her tone dismissive. "Nothing, dear. Why don't you go relax?"
Tet hesitated for a second, then shrugged. "Huh. Okay."
With that, he turned and walked off, leaving the two goddesses exchanging knowing looks behind him.
------
Tet slid into the hot spring with a long, relaxing exhale, the tension in his shoulders melting away as the warm water enveloped him. He leaned back slightly, closed his eyes, and let himself soak, allowing the quiet to settle in around him.
A subtle ripple disturbed the surface beside him.
Sensing movement, Tet's eyes snapped open just as something slid into the water next to him. He froze when he saw Vesta sitting there, close enough that he could feel the heat of her presence. Her hair was down, cascading freely over her shoulders, and she wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing, not even a towel.
Before Tet could react or even speak, she surged forward and captured his lips, wrapping herself around him with sudden intensity. The kiss deepened instantly, leaving him no room to pull away as she held him there for several breathtaking moments. When she finally pulled back, Tet's face was bright red, his mind clearly struggling to catch up with what had just happened.
"I have a fiancée."
Before the words could fully settle, a solid object sailed into the spring and conked Tet on the head with a soft thunk. Floating beside him was a crumpled paper ball. Rubbing his head, Tet picked it up and uncrumpled it.
In Hestia's handwriting, it read: Well, now you got two.
At the end was a cartoonish drawing of Hestia smirking at him with a thumbs up.
Before he could even process that, Vesta grabbed both sides of Tet's face firmly and slid onto his lap, closing the distance between them again. She leaned in close, her expression unwavering, and began making out with him once more, leaving him no room to protest.
At that point, Tet simply shrugged… and gave in.
------
Back in the guild hall, Tet stood in a bathrobe, looking utterly worn out, his posture slouched and exhaustion etched plainly across his face. Vesta, also wrapped in a bathrobe, clung comfortably to his side, smiling happily and looking more than satisfied with herself. Across from them, Hestia stood with her arms folded, wearing a mischievous smirk.
Tet managed a tired smile and said, "I think the three of us need to talk."
Hestia tilted her head slightly, her smirk deepening as she replied, "Oh, darling, it was going to happen. All we did was speed things along."
Tet let out a quiet sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "How was this inevitable?"
The two goddesses exchanged a glance, then looked back at him together and said, "Really? Okay."
They stepped forward and stood side by side. A soft divine radiance washed over them as they entered their divine forms, their clothes replaced by white dresses adorned with elegant gold accents. Their hair flowed down in long, fiery red waves, and their eyes turned bright blue and gleamed as if fire itself danced within them.
Linking arms, the two spun together faster than the eye could follow. When they came to an abrupt stop, perfectly synchronized, the goddess on the right spoke first. "Which one—"
The goddess on the left finished seamlessly, "—is which?"
Tet lifted one hand, clearly about to say something, but after a brief pause, he lowered it and admitted, "I got nothing."
Both goddesses giggled softly.
Each reached out and grabbed one of his arms, their grips firm but playful, and began leading him toward the master bedroom of the villa.
Panic flickered across Tet's face as he stumbled slightly to keep up. "Wait, where are we going?"
One of the girls glanced back with a teasing smile and said, "Oh, Plan C isn't done yet, darling."
The other leaned in closer, her voice warm and certain. "Yes, darling, it doesn't end till morning."
Tet blinked, disbelief creeping into his expression. "But the sun's not even down yet."
Both girls chimed together, "We know."