"Well, you certainly have seen better days, dear Azazel." The angel whipped her head around to see something odd. A version of her, quite obviously, but this one seemed strange. Robotic arms, white horns, and a lab coat separated this version of Azazel from just a standard fallen angel. The demon-obsessed angel froze, afraid of what the words her opposite had implied. A million different ways to interpret them ran around her head almost like the Halo that sat above her- cracked and damaged, each thought running into each other and blending in odd ways. But one interpretation of them stuck out and caused everything to stop.

"Are you trying to imply I'm falling still?" she asked, causing the demon to laugh.

"Oh, Azzy! You're still in denial? Even after the cracks in your halo stopped going away? Even after the white hairs? Even after you yourself  began considering sin yourself?" Azazel frowned, concern flashing across her face.

"So you've already been told... Well, that makes my job easier. If you just give up and stay away from that human for a while, you can be free of this doubt. Your corruption can be tempered and expunged-"

"NO!" Azazel blurted, covering her mouth for a second. She winced as the cross on her chest suddenly became searing hot, calming down slightly as the pain dimmed.

"What I mean is, as an angel, and now that I'm aware that Y/N is God's Gift to the world, isn't it my duty to protect him?" Azazel asked, more meekly than her initially far more assertive response. The demon giggled, shaking her head.

"Then to be with him, you're going to have to fall. Right into his arms. Out of Heaven." The demon smiled wickedly.

"But that would open you up to far more pain than if you were to just remain here. After all, you were so eager to finish that essay- or is it a book by now?" Azazel's sinister counterpart patronized.

"Three-volume series..." she said, red-faced. But her mind began wandering.

"Who are you?" Azazel asked, the demon laughing a bit.

"Why I'm your future! After all, don't you wonder what curiosity does? There's a reason the phrase 'curiosity killed the cat' has spread so widely. I'm the result of giving in to your curiosity, falling so far into sin for 'research' that I didn't even notice I'd fallen. I was in denial for a long time until I finally couldn't hide it from myself any more." There was that idea again. That falling was painful. Or more accurately, that falling was a bad thing.

"Why does it matter whether I fall or not?" she asked quietly. Azazel noticed the demon recoil in surprise.

"Why does it matter? He's been there for me since we met and I've helped him just as much, if not more so. Y/N would support me either way! And you want me to just abandon him?!" Azazel asked, more hairs whitening. Her voice rose and the halo cracked, something that she noticed and promptly ignored.

"I could never abandon him, even if it costs me my grace. He has seen the best and worst of humanity and not once did he consider giving up an option. Now whether that is sinful arrogance or a divine hope for everyone, I can't tell nor speak to. But I believe in him. Just as he has always believed in me." The demon glared slightly. Like her whole plan had been thrown off. At least, until a cruel smirk grew across her face.

"And lets say you do fall, willingly, and devote yourself to him. What happens if he chooses one of the others? What if Y/N decided he loves one and only one of the harem... and it's not you?" Azazel glared, standing straighter.

"Then it would be his choice. Regardless of how much it would hurt, I cannot force a different outcome. Deep down, I'm aware that what I want is a sin-" Azazel began, her halo cracking further, now floating over her head in pieces.

"-but beyond that, what I want is for him to be happy. I'll never be able to look him in the eyes if I force him to choose me. That's just the risk I have to take." She stood her ground and the demon leaned forward.

"Are you sure? You know how fickle humans can be. Helltaker himself is a prime example of the lust and greed that runs through them. Even being God's Gift, Y/N has shown he's holding in quite the rage. One might consider him to be a-"

"Don't you DARE imply he's some monster ruled by his emotions! It's not his fault how much we've put him through in such a short time!" Azazel scowled, appearing outright angry for the first time. Her hair had quickly become almost entirely white, though it seemed that this wasn't the plan Azazel's counterpart had. Only barely an angel, the cross on her chest was starting to sizzle painfully. 

"Each new emotion you feel is drawing you further from grace. Are you sure you want to keep spending time with him? Those demons have been corrupting you this whole time. Or, has this been starting long before them?" the demon asked with a serious expression. Azazel shrugged, uncaring.

"Falling isn't as scary as I was lead to believe. As long as Y/N is there, I'll be fine."