[Universe: HermitVengers, main timeline]

[Set after the events of Endgame]

[note: the first version is essentially set AFTER this... sorry if that's confusing .w."]

It'd been a few months since something... odd happened to Crepitus. The young cyborg had been returning from a solo mission when a peculiar visit from a demon disrupted his plans to return home.

Having someone else pilot his body while he could only watch was mildly traumatic, but at least everyone had been warned of an oncoming danger. That... hadn't come yet. And it was driving Doc a bit crazy.

Demons, they had said. Bad ones, worse than what Hell itself could cook up.

But when were they coming? And from where?

"Alright, typical haunted castle, probably a hoax but I guess if you insist..." Tony shrugged, looking at the image of a castle.

Xisuma sighed. "Houska is no joke, Stark. If something or someone manages to unlock its secrets..."

"Horrors unknown or some shit?" Jevin raised an eyebrow, lounging on the couch. "So... like usual?"

"You say that..." Alex sighed, slowly opening up a Rice Krispie. What? Anxiety makes the guy hungry sometimes. Hearing the elevator open, the four looked over as Doc walked out.

".... Uhm..?" Crepitus looked around, everyone staring at him.

"Hey... Doc?" Xisuma slowly stood up.

"Yeah? ... do I have a spider on my head or something?" Doc awkwardly chuckled, uncomfortable with the looks of shock.

"Little- Little more than that-" Alex grabbed for his staff. Uh oh.

"Should I not move?"

"Mhm."

"Relax kid, it's just me." A chillingly familiar voice coming from right above Crepitus made him jump and reach for a weapon, and as he looked up-

"LUCIFER?! THE FUCK-"

A rather demonic looking bat with Lucifer's (or Satan's) eyes and voice was on his back, somehow weightless.

"I said- RELAX- STOP TRYING TO HIT ME-" the deformed fiery bat leapt off him, landing nearby and transforming in a tall man with slicked back hair. "Motherfucker- I'm trying to help you!"

Tony, who had a repulsor aimed at Lucifer, groaned. "Listen, the last time you 'helped', everyone around here tried to kill you. Take the hint and leave, Daddy Issues."

"Says you." the demon snorted, looking over at the startled cyborg with narrowed eyes. "Houska castle. Don't let anyone open that pit. If they do, Marra's gonna have a HELL of a headache. And most of the mortals are probably screwed."

Taking a moment to process, Crepitus huffed. "Is that all you wanted to say, jackass?"

"No." Lucifer rolled his eyes. "In case you do fail, which I'm sorta expecting... Just know I still... owe you. If you need a little boost or a getaway, I'll know. Don't die!"

And with that, the Ruler of Hell sarcastically grinned and saluted, vanishing in hellfire and scorching the carpet where he'd been. Looking at the burns with an irritated frown, Tony muttered something about no gods respecting property damage.

'Well... this should go terribly.' Alex thought, exchanging worried looks with Xisuma as Jevin just blinked and shrugged to himself. 

---

Welp. Don't expect much else until the spoopy season :>

Have a wonderful day, evening, or night and BYYYYYEE 

- CinnabonSys (will not specify who did this because I don't want the resident planner to get me /hj)