A side effect of humanity seemed the total lack of energy you had as you slowly pulled your corpse up the stairs to Aki's apartment. Rain still poured heavily from the sky, thundering clouds settling in for the night as only the illumination of orange street lamps and the occasional overhead light of the complex lit your way up the stairs. Each step felt like you were pulling your foot out of the grave only to put it into the next. Your mind gripped in despair you couldn't understand filled your mind. Your body stumbled on the last stare, your hand reaching out to grip the railing to steady yourself but another wave of guilt-ridden sadness ripped through you. 

(Y/n): Ah...

You pulled yourself forward and rested your hand on the railing, forcing yourself to stare out into the dark rainy night.

(Y/n): Yukari... Maya... Gah... Why do I feel like this? What did I do to deserve this?! Gah, I... FUUUCCCCKKKK!

Your scream into the night echoed once before being tuned out by the sound of rain pleating down onto concrete and metal. You just wanted to feel anything. Anything that this guilt in your chest. So your anger boiled over and you cursed at the sky. The sound of a door opening behind you alerted you to the fact you were some weirdo screaming curse words at the rain in the middle of the night. You glanced over your shoulder to see it was Aki's door. A hand reached out and beckoned you forward before retreating into the darkness leaving the entrance open slightly. The hair on the back of your neck stood on end as you carefully turned to the door. You wanted to question more but at this point, you could care if death himself waited behind the door because you would simply cuss him out too. Your legs strode forward and you pulled the door open, stepping into the dark.

(Y/n): Hello?

In a flash, the lights turned on to reveal... nothing. It was the same old apartment. Except Power stood on the couch with her hands on her hips. She seemed the same but she was slightly different with a pair of glasses on and her hair pulled back into a ponytail.

(Y/n): Power? What are you doing? Where are the others?

Power: Silence! It is now time for therapy!

(Y/n): Err... what?

Power jumped over the back of the couch and stood proudly before you with a toothy grin.

Power: Your head is all messed up! You have it all gunked up with those stupid human emotions! So Power is going to fix that brain of yours the right way!

An exhale escaped through your mind though you couldn't say anything to the fiend. You carefully peeled out of your jacket before tossing it to the side, promising Aki in your mind you would clean it up later. Speaking of...

(Y/n): Where are Denji and Aki?

Power: I don't know or care! My job is to fix your brain!

(Y/n): I... guess they are out. 

You replied before brushing past Power to sit on the couch, staring at the wall for a moment before you glanced upward to see the fiend standing over you.

Power: Denji got into some trouble or something so he and Aki are with Makima. 

(Y/n): Makes sense... Why aren't we there too?

Power: Power had a meeting to attend! And um... not that I listen to her orders but Makima asked Power to wait for you here. 

Power then took the chance to leap over the couch again and sat on the couch next to you. She turned to you though you couldn't really muster the energy to keep up with her usual antics.

Power: So now you will tell Power what is wrong!

(Y/n): Nothing is wrong. I'm just tired is all...

Power: You can't lie to me! I know when something is wrong with you, (Y/n).

(Y/n): I'm seriously tired that's it! I mean I'm still recovering from the last fight so it's only-

Power: I will not hear any more excuses! Take this!

Power reached for something behind her before producing a familiar furry demon. Aspa blinked at you before letting out an evil mew. She placed the kitten in your lap before resuming what she was saying. You took the chance to let your finger trace over his head before he settled into your lap. 

Power: You have been acting like a human a lot. I don't understand why! Humans are gross and greedy creatures. They hurt and kill with no remorse! And they have those gross feelings and emotions and stuff!

(Y/n): Power did Makima ask you to make sure I was battle-ready or something? If she needs me then I can go right now.

Power pouted as it seemed her words were not coming through at all. The feeling in your mind told you that you could sleep for a thousand years and still want a nap but at the same time if you slept at the moment your body told you that you would not get any rest. 

Power: Why aren't you listening?! Humans get a therapist when their heads are all messed up! You should be listening to the great Power!

Your gaze drifted down to Aspa who slept evilly in your lap. A therapist huh? You had seen it mentioned a few times but didn't really know too much yourself. You were a Mask devil... fiend... something. You didn't need that sort of thing. Power seemingly grew tired of your disinterest and decided to force your attention. She crawled forward along the couch and gripped the sides of your face, turning you to look her directly in her cross-shaped eyes.

Power: (Y/n)... talk to me.

It was a simple demand. Something Power would have said regardless but it had a shatteringly positive effect against the barrier you had tried to build. You gulped once before those gross human emotions coursed through your chest once more. You blinked softly a few times before a tear slid down your cheek.

(Y/n): It's all... wrong. I know I'm doing everything right but It's wrong. I'm getting stronger to help people but then I hurt them l-like Angel... Then I try to read these books to understand humans but they don't react right! They never do! Why aren't they mad at this o-or sad at that?! What am I doing so wrong?! Now I found out that or... the human I'm wearing has a wife and daughter?! So I have a kid... or do I not? Nothing makes sense anymore!

Power for her part remained silent with a neutral look on her face as you venting began. No topic, in particular, was covered as you seemingly cursed multiple things for their existence. Money, pain, love, death. Power simply listened to your face right there in her hands, her thumb sometimes gently caressing that deep crevice in your face while you lashed out at the world.

(Y/n): I fucking hate it! I hate that I was forced into this world for no reason! Who am I?! What am I?! I'm some fucking mistake cobbled together from an accident and told to exist for the sheer enjoyment of... something out there! Maybe I should just-

Power: No!

(Y/n): W-What?

Power's voice came out sharp and commanding, her hands gripping into your face tightly as she fell backward against the couch pulling you with her. Your form collapsed forward, scaring Aspa who jumped onto the floor for safety as you landed against Power with a painful grunt. She now rested with her head back against the arm of the couch, your chin resting on her chest as she forced you to look into her eyes.

Power: Don't even finish that sentence! You are my Deputy! You are not allowed to do anything that would make my life harder! 

(Y/n): Hah... Ok I get it. Can you let me go-

Power: I'm not done! You... Look I don't have those gross human emotions. I'm a fiend and you're a fiend so you should start acting like it! And as a fiend I know a ton of things! Like... my pride tells me that it would suck if you disappeared or weren't here! My sloth tells me that you need to be here to make things easy for me as Prime Minister so you can't leave! M-My... lust... tells me that I want you in a lot of ways and if I don't get that I will be super mad! And my greed... my greed tells me that I don't want to let you go. As a fiend you should feel those things too. Your human emotions totally suck but remember that you are a lot more than a pesky human, understand?!

You opened your mouth to say something but those tears from before decided to finish their job. Fresh tears poured down your cheeks as a rush of emotions flooded out. You couldn't name a particular one as it seemed everything that had built up over the past few days exploded out in a grand display of both human and devil instincts. Your fists gripped fistfuls of Power's dress shirt as your face buried itself into the crook of her neck. Power sealed her lips once more to simply let you ride out the storm coursing through you. Maya... Yukari... Makima... Angle, Power, Aki, Denji... Anything in the world that could have caused you pain and anguish flooded out into the blood fiend's shirt. 

(Y/n): I hate this world... This cruel world.

Power: I hate it too. But it hates us too. So we need to punch it in the face because no one is allowed to hate Power!

(Y/n): H-Hah... Yeah...

Power: Are you feeling better?

You nodded against the fiend's neck as she carefully pressed into you as well, shifting your position to force your back against the couch while she forced her way into your arm, careful of the arm still residing in its sling. 

(Y/n): I'm a human and fiend deep down... I do weird things and I hate them. But at the same time, I don't think I would change a moment of the short life I have had.

Power: If you are ever feeling sad then just remember Power! Power is awesome so how could you possibly be sad?

A deep chuckle escaped from your lips as you finally lifted yourself from power to see her smugly smiling. Another laugh parted from your lips before Power spoke up once more.

Power: Now that I have conquered those gross human emotions of yours... perhaps we should satiate those fiend ones~?

(Y/n): Did you just brush past the part of me possibly being a husband and father?

Power: I'm a devil, (Y/n). Do you really think the bonds of the body you're inhabiting matter to me?

Power couldn't help but let her lips pull back into a smirk as the two of your pressed closer, the rush of emotions earlier leaving you with little but your baser instincts to rely on as that supposed lust from Power flared up. 

KNOCK KNOCK

A knock at the door parted the two of your before you could satiate your instincts. A grunt escaped from you as you carefully picked yourself up though Power refused to let you leave her grip, clinging to your arms with a surprising amount of need that caused your heart to throb. Your (E/c) gaze was drawn over the back of the couch to glance at the door.

Power: Just ignore them! 

(Y/n): I-It's... something doesn't feel right.

Power: What?

(Y/n): Give me a moment, ok?

Power begrudgingly let you go so that you could sit up and stand up slowly, treading back to the front door with silent calculated steps. You gulped carefully before gripping the doorknob and... 

Makima: Do you really think I would let you go that far?

(Y/n): W-Wha... Makima? What are you talking about?

The door swung inward to reveal Makima standing at the entrance with a soft grin on her face. She wore her usual heavy coat but she had no signs of either an umbrella or even being wet for that matter as the rain seemed like a wall of water just past her. Makima's smile deepened as you gazed at her, her head tilting to the side with a warm feeling growing from seeing her again... even if her eyes seemed colder than ice.

Makima: Mmm... Nothing~ I'm just happy to see you're feeling better. Power did her job well.

(Y/n): Uh yeah... It's a bit weird for you to be out this late...

Makima: Denji is going to need a lot of protection for the events that will follow us speaking. Now that you are recovering you and Power will join us to ensure that things go accordingly. You will be told more when you arrive at the agency in the morning.

(Y/n): Of course, Makima.

Makima: And...

The red-haired woman paused for a moment before lifting her finger to carefully curl around your chin, gently guiding your gaze to meet her piercing eyes.

Makima: I've allowed you a lot of freedom so far because I know a good pet returns home... Don't push outside of your boundaries... Bad things happen when a pet doesn't come home right away.

(Y/n): What are you-

Makima: And don't be afraid to speak with me first~ My touch is just as gentle as Power's if not more~ I can promise you none of those pesky things you have been feeling will ever bother you in my embrace, (Y/n)~ Ok~?

There was a chilling undertone to Makima's words that sent a chill down your spine and froze the words in your throat. You simply nodded carefully before Makima's hand pulled away from you with a brighter grin. 

Makima: Lovely~ See you tomorrow (Y/n)... Power.

With that the intense woman left, seemingly disappearing down the stairs as quickly as she came. The breath you had been unknowingly holding escaped from your lips as you glanced over your shoulder to see Power's head peaking over the couch with an utterly terrified look on her face. Makima was intense sure and even scary sometimes but that was pure fear on her face. Something big must be happening... you have missed a lot and now Makima is seemingly tightening whatever leash she has assigned to the relative freedom you had to ensure that whatever was about to happen went her way... Sheesh Denji...

Just what have you gotten yourself into?