Chapter Text
Kravitz slashed at another dark figure like he had been doing for hours, but this time it didn’t deform and lie in a pool of tar on the ground. He watched as the Hunger’s servant froze, still with a slash through its middle, and it began to glow with a bright, white light. Kravitz stepped back and watched as each of the Hunger’s forces did the same, they turned to light and started to drift upwards into the sky. Even the dark tendrils that cascaded down from the sky shrunk back and began to give off a light of its own.
Nobody moved as the Hunger was spirited away.
Nobody said a word when the lights begin to meet.
Nobody breathed until the light-filled Hunger exploded in a shower of brilliant, slowly cascading balls of light.
The world is silent, and then it celebrates.
With the Hunger gone, Kravitz couldn’t stick around for much longer. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t just put off wrangling Legion back to the Eternal Stockade.
Most of Legion went back to their cells willingly, just glad they had the chance to stretch their legs, but there were a few angry souls who insisted on putting up a fight. With his Queen’s power on his side, Kravitz made relatively quick work of the stragglers.
With the largest undertaking in his career finished, Kravitz returned to The Raven Queen’s Palace for the first time since the Hunger.
Kravitz entered the throne room to find it filled with the dozens of reapers that were in his Queen’s employ. He passed his fellow reapers, trying to ignore all the eyes that were on him. He stepped up to his Queen’s throne and knelt before Her.
Is it done, my child? She asked, Her voice gentle but powerful enough to fill the room.
Kravitz lifted his head to see his Queen looking down upon him.
“It is done, my Queen,” Kravitz told her, still on his knees. “Legion has been contained, and the few stragglers that there were have been dealt with”
The Raven Queen smiled down at him. Rise, Kravitz.
Kravitz did as She asked, standing before Her.
The Raven Queen stood from her massive throne to approach Kravitz, Her monumental height shrinking with every step She took until She was one foot taller than Kravitz and within arm’s reach of him.
“What would you have me do next?” Kravitz asked her.
The Raven Queen smiled. You have been instrumental in the saving of our world, are you not deserving of a break?
“My Lady,” Kravitz protested, “There is still so much work to be done.”
The Raven Queen reached forward to cup Kravitz’ cheek. Your duty is done for now, She told him. I will call for you when it is your time to come back.
Kravitz’ mouth hung open as the Raven Queen dropped Her hand from his face. “Thank you, my Lady,” He stammered out. “Is there anything else you require of me before I take my leave?”
The Raven Queen smiled at his insistence, knowing that he wouldn’t leave without a task. Very well. I ask that you pass on a message to your Taako: Lady Istus is quite fond of his recent contributions to the Tapestry of Fate. The explosion made for quite the lovely collection of colors.
Kravitz didn’t quite understand what his Queen was talking about, but nevertheless, he said, “I will ensure he gets the message. Thank you, my Goddess, for allowing me this rest.”
You are dismissed, The Raven Queen told him. Then she smiled. Go, enjoy time with your Taako.
Kravitz bowed before his Queen, then he turned to leave.
Once he was outside of the Throne Room, Kravitz took a deep breath. It was wholly unnecessary, but it helped him feel better, acting as a pause to let him process everything that happened in the past few—days? Weeks? Months? Kravitz shook his head. He’d been so busy that he forgot to track the passage of time.
Kravitz raised his hand to call his scythe but his upward swing was interrupted by a familiar hand grabbing his arm.
“You were just gonna leave without saying goodbye?” Keats asked, a smile on his face.
Kravitz chuckled and lowered his arm. “I’m sure you’ve seen enough of me, I’ve been running all around the Astral Plane.”
“Yeah, but you were in work mode,” Keats told him. “You get this intense look on your face that intimidates anyone who tries to get near you.”
Kravitz sighed. “I suppose I can be a bit too focused on work sometimes.”
Keats raises his eyebrows at that. “A bit?” He said. “You realize what just happened, right? Your boss—the Goddess of Death Herself—told you to take a break and hang out with your boyfriend, and what did you do? You asked if She had any more work for you.”
“Maybe my time on the Prime Material Plane will do me some good, then.”
Keats smiled at that. “I know it will,” he said. Then he rushed forward to hug Kravitz. “I’ll miss you while you’re gone.”
Kravitz held his Keats tight, fisting his hands in his brother’s suit. “I don’t suppose you’ll let me visit while I’m off work?”
“Fuck no! I’ll come and visit you,” Keats said, pulling back. He stared Kravitz down and pointed a finger at him. “If I hear anything about you working on your break, I’ll kick your ass.”
Kravitz laughed. “You don’t have any way of knowing if I do.”
“Oh, you haven’t heard?” Keats said. “I’m gonna be training your new in-laws while you’re on vacation. You’ll take over once the Raven Queen calls you back, but that means I’ll have two spies on my side.”
“You’re going to be training Lup and Barry?” Kravitz asked.
Keats nodded. “Have been, in fact. It’s pretty interesting, they’re getting into the science of how death works on this plane. It’s pretty weird, apparently it’s different for each universe.” Keats shrugged. “It’s been a lot of fun. But they keep asking me if you’re going to be done with your project soon, because apparently, Taako’s starting to get mopey.”
Kravitz’ heart dropped. “He is? How long have I been gone?”
Keats patted Kravitz’ back and said, “Why don’t you go find out?.”
Kravitz nodded and called forth his scythe, swiping a rift to Taako. He stepped inside, and he found himself in a kitchen.