This story does contain SPOILERS for Hellboy. Below is the description of the story which contains SPOILERS!!!
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After the world is thrown into chaos and monsters and devils lay waste to the city, you and a group of survivors manage to make it to the outskirts of the war-zone. But an old friend has been looking for you. And he’s much more than you remember.
It was the heat that woke you up. A gust of volcanic wind that blasted through the empty windows of your shelter.
Your group of survivors cowered, whimpering as something huge roared. A thunderous bellow that shook the foundations of the building and made dust rain down from the ceiling. You sighed, what little rest you could manage to get could be forgotten now.
“It’s the Devil...” The elderly man croaked. Terrified eyes wide as another tidal wave of heat blasted against the shelter. “He’s come to kill us.”
You ignored him. Letting the others deal with his ramblings as you crawled over to the window. The city was in ruins. Flames and rubble was all that remained. Smoke choked the sky and the armies of monsters controlled the streets with an iron fist and blood claws.
You were almost out. So close to the outskirts of the city that you could practically taste the safety of the wilderness. You had only a few more blocks to go and then the urban areas. Then the vast countryside where the army was currently uniting in to attack, and hopefully reclaim the city.
Your groups plan was to scavenge and get out before any of the bombing started.
But with that thing flying over head, there was no way the group would be able to leave without being seen.
Suddenly, the house shook and the walls creaked as the sun was blacked out from the sky and a massive beast soared overhead with another mighty roar.
The children screamed and their mothers covered their heads as bits of the foundations fell down on them.
You ducked away from the window as flames bathed the adjacent house in fire.
“Fuck...” You hissed. Covering your head and looking between your group. They looked to you for guidance. You got them this far, even got them through the worse parts of the city due to your knowledge in non-human language. You were their hero and right now, you had no idea how to get them past what was turning the city to ash.
“It’s been following us for two days!” A woman whispered. Clutching a bible to her chest. It was singed at the corners but otherwise intact. “It must know we’re here.”
“It’s tracking us.” The elderly man mumbled. “It has to be.”
As much as you didn’t want to admit it, you knew they were right. It was too coincidental that the massive beast was burning down buildings in the same area as the group.
It disappeared for some time, but it always returned. It was a damn miracle none of you managed to get burned or even spotted by the thing.
You peered back over the window sill. It had gone eerily quiet.
The house across the road had given in on itself, the flames eating away at the wooden structure. Beginning to spread to the next house. But the sky was clear and the heat had somehow dulled.
You waited for another volcanic blast, and when none came, you turned back to the group. Ushering them closer so they could hear you more clearly.
“Alright, now’s our chance. We’ll split up into smaller groups and make our way through-”
You didn’t get to finish your sentence. An earthquake made the ground tremble as something huge plummeted into the earth a mere few feet away from your shelter.
Everyone ducked. The tsunami of dust and air tore over the house like a storm as this thing hit the ground with a heavy, rock like crack.
When everything quietened and the air settled again, you looked up from your arms and glanced outside.
A beast, monstrous in every sense of the word, lay dead in the middle of the street. It’s once glowing eyes were nothing but pits of black; empty and still. Its wing crumpled and burnt beneath its heavy mass.
However, what made you gasp and stand from your cover, the thing that made your heart stop in your chest and cause your blood to run cold; was the being standing on the head of the creature.
Tall and muscular, with skin as red as rubies and a stone right hand that grasped a flaming sword, you almost didn’t want to believe it was him.
His horns had grown more than you have ever seen them and the emotion in his gaze was nothing you could expect to see in Hellboy.
Everything about him looked so different. So dangerous and monstrous. But it was still him.
Still the man you knew.
“H-Hellboy...” You called out. Your voice catching in your throat as the fiery eyes set themselves on you.
Ignoring your fellow survivors, you clambered through the window and stepped towards Hellboy. The flaming sword was stuck in the centre of the creatures skull, and with a heavy tug, it came free. The blood sizzled from the blade’s heat and Hellboy swung it with ease up onto his shoulder. It didn’t seem to burn him.
His eyes never strayed from you for more than a few seconds.
“Y-Your alive...” You continued. So many emotions running through you.
Relief.
Confusion.
Horror.
“How? How are you alive? Those monsters destroyed the central part of the city. I haven’t heard anything from you in days! Where have you-”
Hellboy stepped off the beast’s neck. Falling to the ground to land with a heavy thud. His silence unnerved you. Causing even more uncertainty as he started towards you. Sword still lifted and the unwavering gaze fixed on you.
Your body started to back away, your fight or flight reflexes choosing the latter as Hellboy marched towards you.
He was on you immediately. His human hand flew up and wrapped his fingers around your throat. You yelped, kicking out as you were lifted up to eye level with Hellboy.
“H-B, it’s...me...” You croaked. Clawing at his wrist, hoping to pry his fingers open enough to let some air through your throat. “Hell..boy...please...”
A low rumble rippled through Hellboy. He pulled you closer. So close you could feel the heat from the flaming crown on his head against your face.
“Anung Un Rama....” His voice growled.
“W-What?”
“My name... is Anung Un Rama.” Hellboy replied. Tilting his head a little to the side, like he was observing you. “I thought you were dead.”
You dropped like a sack of potatoes. His fingers left bruises on your neck, but you were thankful for air and the solid ground beneath your crumpled legs.
You coughed until the stiffness left your airway and you were able to breath again.
Looking up at.... Anung Un Rama, you were filled with a sense of dread. You didn’t know why, but that name was filled with darkness. With a devastating aftertaste on your tongue as you muttered it.
“What happened to you?” You asked. Standing on wobbly legs as you leaned against the house. You could hear everyone inside, cowering but not leaving. You weren’t exactly sure if that was a good thing or not.
Anung Un Rama lowered the sword from his shoulder. Piercing the ground with the flaming blade before closing the space between you.
You flinched as his rock-like hand reached up and scraped along your jawline. Following your skin to your chin until he could tilt your face up to look him in the eye.
He was so close.
The flames crackled above him like a bonfire, framing the crown in orange and red. Whipping wisps of his hair in the vortex of heat and wind.
“I was...reborn.” He murmured. His eyes dimmed, showing some colour from his previous form as they dipped with grief. “Father is... dead. I couldn’t save him.”
Your heart broke. Trevor was...had been your friend and mentor. He was there when no one had been, and for Hellboy to lose him, it would have been world-shattering.
“Red, I’m so sorry.” You whispered. Lifting your arms up to embrace him, but the Demon moved away. Only a step. It was obvious he didn’t want to be touched.
“I came looking for you.” He said. The hellish hue returning to his gaze. “The Human world is no more, you will not survive this war. Come with me and I’ll make sure you’re comfortable. Until I finish what I started, you will be kept safe beside me.”
You looked up at him in confusion.
‘Finish what he started?’ War on the Human world? This was everything that Hellboy had been fighting all his life to keep from happening. But whoever this was, it wasn’t Hellboy. Not anymore.
“I don’t understand...” You muttered, and the Demon chuckled. He leaned closer, lips grazing over the skin of your hairline. His hot breath bathing you in his scent.
“You will.” He growled. And then, he tilted your head back more sharply and captured your lips with his.
It was slow, but hungry. Like he was savouring the touch, but wanted so much more than what was currently being offered. And when he pulled away, his rock hand had travelled down your neck, to your shoulder, to finally grasp your elbow. “Come. Now.”
You were yanked out of your flustered stupor as Anung tugged you into walking beside him.
He walked quickly, with purpose down the street path. Sword snatched up from the dirt and held in a way that was defensive by his side. You tried to pull your arm back, stop him in his tracks but he didn’t seem to notice. You almost had to jog to keep up with him.
It was only when a loud bang echoed through the neighbourhood, did he stop. He turned slowly. Eyes framed with fury as blood trickled down his left shoulder. The bullet had pierced him deeply. But you couldn’t tell if he felt any pain. You only saw the anger, the irritation, as your group of survivors all hurried out onto the street.
Axes, guns and basic kitchen knives all drawn out as they huddled up behind the shooter. The elderly man held his gun out in front of him, he was shaking. Wide eyes trained on where he had shot Anung. Already the wound was healing. The bullet dropped out from the injury as the skin closed up around it.
“Let...them...go....” The elderly man spat through clenched teeth. “You cannot take them!”
Anung tsked. Blade changing to his other hand as he released your arm. Your eyes flew open and you lunged forward as Anung started to walk towards the group. Sword beginning to swing in preparation for the kill.
“No! No, please don’t!”
Anung attempted to shove you aside. But you managed to wrap your arms around his bicep tightly enough that you could not be moved. Clinging to his armed hand, crying out as the flames off the blade bite through your clothes and singed your skin.
You didn’t care, the pain was nothing when it made Anung pause. Staring down at you as he angled the sword away from your leg. He grumbled in frustration. Turning his eyes back to the group.
“Go. Or I will fertilise the lawn with your corpses.” Anung snarled. Fire dancing in the pupils of his gaze.
The Humans looked terrified. But they stood their ground, switching between you and the Demon you were holding at bay.
“Go.” You called to them. “Keep going until you reach the countryside. Don’t stop moving.”
You could see their internal debates. You’ve stuck with them throughout the city. You would have been better off without them. But you fought for them. Protected them. Negotiated passage through the sewers for them.
And now, they had a chance to help you from a threat they knew nothing about. But they would lose. They would be slaughtered.
“Please.. just go.” You begged them, stepping in front of Anung. Still holding a hand to his scarred arm.
It was the youngest of the group that managed to tug the elderly man away from the pathway. Pulling him into the house, and beginning the slow migration of your group away from Anung.
You smiled sadly to the young person, they were only 16 years of age.
And they nodded in return, giving you a subtle wave before disappearing after the others.
Behind you, Anung huffed and you felt his free hand glide up your arm. Almost soothing in his slow grasp of your elbow.
“Come. Now.” He ordered. And Anung didn’t wait for an answer, he merely tugged you into walking beside him. And led the way back into the city.
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