Heaven

"Human? You want me to be a human?"

Taehyung's exclamation echoes around the white, clinical room. Although Taehyung has seen and heard pretty much all there is to see and hear of the on-goings of Heaven, not once has he heard of an Angel pretending to be a human.

That sounds like the sort of thing that would break every single rule they have to abide by and God is anything but lenient regarding breaking of rules, everyone knows that.

Taehyung thinks about questioning the sanity of Hoseok, the exhaustingly-energetic Trainer of Angels, but instead Taehyung chooses to curb his sarcasm somewhat and opts for a more measured approach.

"Is that even allowed? And how exactly does pretending to be human complete my training? I haven't heard any other angel having to do it as part of the completion of their studies. I was told the last task was just some minor administrative job on Earth and then I'd be on my way to Higher Courts with my long-awaited seal of approval! Could you please explain to me why I have been singled out?" This time, Taehyung is unable to hide the pout that automatically accompanies his crossed arms and jutting out chin.

"I'm sorry kid, I know it's unfair." Hoseok says. "...but you know they're only doing it because you're the only one who's come through the ranks rather than just have their place in at the Higher Courts handed to them via family connections... you make them look pretentious and they don't like that..." His voice softens -Hoseok has never been able to resist the charmingly innocent and petulant qualities of Taehyung, most commonly displayed at times like these -when he doesn't get what he wants.

Anyone would be annoyed at being singled out like this but Taehyung is even more so because he has been singled out at every step of the way. Not only has he had to work twice as hard to get where he is because he comes from a family background without prior knowledge of the Law or the Court System, but on top of this he is always told to do more things, harder things, things that you are much more likely to fail at -Taehyung is sure it's because they want him to fail.

He is never going to give them the satisfaction, however, because when Taehyung sets his mind on something, he doesn't stop until he gets it and that's a fact.

"I get it, I get it. Go on then, what is it?!" Taehyung snaps and immediately regrets it, apologising to Hoseok soundlessly and with his best puppy eyes.

"So...." Hoseok starts, pacing around the white room, tangling his fingers together behind his back, carefully considering the words about to come out of his mouth.

"Have you ever been down to Earth?" He asks, even though he knows what the answer is.

"You know I haven't."

"Don't you see that the justification is pretty sound in that case, I don't think there is any way you can get away with not doing it because you really do need to know what goes on down there in order to be able to accurately judge humans when they come here..." he clears his throat.

"But why am I the only one going?" Taehyung asks again, obstinate.

"Well because all the other angels have already been down to Earth, they do that as part of their training in the early years, before the age you joined in. So you really are the only one who hasn't been."

Taehyung's shoulders sag when he realises the inevitability of his seemingly unreasonable task.

"You are leaving tomorrow morning." The words echo around the otherwise silent room when Hoseok continues:

"In order for you to fully understand the suffering and temptations humans have to go through to stay on the straight and narrow, you will have to live in their shoes and see how hard it is. Only after that can you judge them fairly and kindly, to perhaps understand the reasons for their behaviour more thoroughly. This is important." Hoseok's eyes draw circles on the floor.

"What are you not telling me?" Taehyung asks, suddenly suspicious when the silence extends.

"For the seven days you are down there, you still need to abide by Heavenly rules and the ten commandments, despite being human. Otherwise you will lose your chance to be in the Higher Courts, in fact... your position as an Angel will be seriously compromised if anything were to happen that contradicts our rules."

"Well, how hard can it be when I've done that every day since I've been created?" Taehyung dismisses. "How will you know what I'll be doing anyway, will you be spying on me the whole time?" Taehyung is getting really annoyed by the whole thing. It really is just so unfair.

"No, you're on your own for the seven days, I won't be able to see you until you get out." Hoseok speaks quietly, clearly not sharing Taehyung's confidence.

*

Hell

JungKook is bored, wondering if he's having a mid-millennial crisis of sorts.

Something is definitely wrong because he is bored of fucking -which is quite a statement coming from someone who fucks for a living.

The thing that started this whole mess of deeper-than-usual disillusionment was the realisation that after hundreds of years as one of the highest ranking Incubi, there's apparently a limit to how many times one can have sex with other beings before it all just blurs into a single, obscure, entirely forgettable activity so mundane that JungKook wouldn't be able to pick one specific fuck out of all of them, even if he tried.

There is nothing creative or fresh, no challenge or goal left that JungKook hasn't already reached decades if not centuries before... now every shag is so predictable and boring that he's starting to wonder what, if anything, is even the point in just going through the motions.

They don't call him the top Incubus for nothing -the very reason why he finds everything so boring and easy is because he is able to seduce anyone he sets his eyes on without any effort whatsoever... a complaint his long-suffering colleague, Yoongi, has heard a thousand and five times too often.

"Is that so?" Yoongi says. "Anyone?" the cheeky glint of a smile that plays in the corner of Yoongi's mouth at the familiar statement gives JungKook a long-lost tingle of excitement in the pit of his stomach. This feels like a bet coming on.

"Yes, absolutely. Anyone." JungKook retorts, without hesitation, his stomach tensing in anticipation over what Yoongi is so obviously about to tell him.

"Even an angel?" Dark eyebrows lift in challenge.

"Oh c'mon, you know I've had many, have them for breakfast, me..." he snorts -not even joking.

"I bet you've never had a Higher Court Angel?"

The silence that follows gives Yoongi the answer he was already expecting.

"Ha! Knew it!" The obvious pleasure over having found something that interests the Incubus shines bright on Yoongi's face.

"But how the hell did you even find one? They're rare as fuck around these parts.... They never come down to Earth once they're up in the Courts."

"Well... I was going to wait until your birthday but since it's only just around the corner and since you've had quite a few hundred of them anyway..." He grins so hard that his eyes disappear into crescents, his lifting lips revealing the even lines of his adorably small teeth. He delays speaking to build up tension long enough for JungKook to get annoyed at the wait.

"...I've found one for you! Well, he's not 100% graduated but he'll be on Earth basically for his last task before he gets his pass and moves to High Courts..." He smirks, seeing JungKook's eyes light up with more spark than he has seen in decades.

"Oh...." His excitement quickly deflates. "...so pretty green behind the ears then, huh? How is that fun? It'll be no challenge at all..." JungKook turns and speaks on his way out. "All you have to do is breathe at them and they cave in..."

One hand on the squeaky door, already on his way out, JungKook hears Yoongi say:

"Not this one. I've been told he's one of the most dedicated Angels ever seen. Besides, he's an outsider, he's not one of the Old Families, he's worked his way through the ranks, he must be a right tough nut -have you any idea how difficult it is to even get a chance to try to do that?" Yoongi's voice trails off but he can already see that JungKook is going to take the bait.

JungKook flicks his long, dark hair back, revealing the substantial undercut, pretending not to be excited as fuck at the prospect of chasing such a rare treat.

He turns back, considering the suggestion.

"But even then, why would I do that? I think me and you have a different idea of fun Yoongi...." He might be saying that but he isn't thinking it.

"Listen. How often do you get the chance to ruin an Angel? That really ought to be incentive enough... Seriously, are you really not interested, even a teensy, weensy bit?" his fingers pinch the air in front of his face. "Oh, I see, I see. You're hankering for a little bet." He winks.

JungKook can't hide the grin that spreads on his face. "OK, go on then. Tell me."

"He's going to live here as a human for a week. Imagine how vulnerable he will be? It wouldn't take a lot to twist his little angel wings and ruin him so he's got no business going back to Heaven...?"

JungKook perks up, not bothering to hide his interest anymore.

"Well, it has been a while since I've had some fresh meat and I have to say that the novelty of an Angel as a Human sounds delicious... tell me, where can I find him because I want to take my time with this special treat -I want to get under his skin, not just to make him cry and beg for more... no, I want his heart too. He rubs his hands together with glee, already tasting the sweet, sweet taste of ruin.

"I thought you might say that." Yoongi smiles, victory plastered all over his face.

Yoongi's tone makes JungKook suspicious. "What are you not telling me?"

"Well.... I think it would be more of a challenge for you if you refrained from using your powers with this one... aren't you always saying how boring it is when they just cave in and immediately give in?"
JungKook wants to wipe the smug grin off Yoongi's face but he has to admit that by now, he is so invested that Yoongi has him in his pocket -and he is right, JungKook wants the challenge which comes with only using his charms and not his powers.

"You will have a little bit of a head start because you'll be his live-in partner -in fact I think you might even be married- so you'll be with him and close to him straight away and of course...." Yoongi wriggles a suggestive eyebrow at JungKook. "...partners already have a lot of privileges..." he winks as if JungKook would miss the connotations of his words.

"Yes, yes, leave it to me, won't be long and he'll be begging for my cock, don't worry."

Yoongi has known JungKook for too many centuries to be bothered by the arrogance -after all, most of the time it's entirely justified.

"You might need to see how he adjusts to being a human, don't forget angels are not like us, he will have an extremely limited amount of experience with physical sensations or feelings so the first few days are going to be really chaotic for him -this is when you should strike because this is when he'll be the most vulnerable." Yoongi nods, agreeing with his own words.

"But where's the fun in that? I'll give him a bit of time to find his feet, otherwise it won't be a challenge at all..." JungKook winks, his eyes glowing bright red with his excitement.

"Last thing, JungKook. Don't forget you'll be in like an alternate universe so you're not really constrained by our normal rules or agreements with Heaven, entirely free to do whatever you want, hell won't know because you'll be in a heaven-created environment and heaven won't know because they will leave the angel to fend for himself for the week."

Slowly, JungKook's grin widens before he speaks with a final question.

"What's his name?"

"Taehyung."

*