Hazbin Hotel: Singed Wings

POV Seraphim Sera

The Supreme Seraphim Sera was tired. Not from her millennia of existence or the countless mistakes and tragedies she had witnessed, no. Contrary to the words of one of her main subordinates, Adam, the First of Man, there are indeed hard days in Heaven, and even celestial beings can feel fatigued. Adam's words often pertained more to the angels of the First Circle, and partially to those of the Second Circle, since his area of responsibility primarily lies in the First Circle, where he watches over Earth, maintains order, and assists certain people. Adam himself usually just relaxes or engages in activities he enjoys. He can afford to do so; he is the oldest human soul, having welcomed souls into Heaven long before Saint Peter.

As a Seraph, such indulgences were not available to her. As a being of Light, she bore a host of responsibilities and immense obligations. She was accountable for the Golden City and the souls of the angels inhabiting it, resolving conflicts between the Circles, and dealing with paperwork. A plethora of paperwork.

One might think that if the system is well-organized and everything is accounted for, and Heaven is a place of bliss, then even Seraphim would have minimal work, right? Not at all. Sera, as the Supreme Seraph of the Golden City, had to fill out countless forms every day and sign an equal number of permits, requests, petitions, complaints, and various other types of documents.

Thus, it occasionally happened that she had particularly heavy days. Not in terms of physical exhaustion; as a Seraph, she possessed a perfectly crystalline memory that made her tasks easier, and her abilities simplified the paperwork. No, it was more about mental fatigue, a slight weakness in the ancient creation of God's Light. Today was one of those days.

She had long since developed various rituals and habits to ensure she could perform her duties at the highest level, even in such a state. However, several unaccounted factors often interfered with this. One such factor was Adam, the First Man. As old as humanity itself, he had long since abandoned the cares and worries of ordinary life, understood the limits of what was allowed, and now reveled in existence.

Adam was diligent. Despite his demeanor and words, he always fulfilled his duties—sometimes even exceptionally well, depending on his mood. He consistently executed his assigned responsibilities, though he often expressed his feelings about them in unique ways, sometimes venting his irritation on her. Usually, when she was in a good mood, she let it slide; after all, it was often just friendly banter or teasing that didn't interfere with their work. Adam wouldn't harm a single soul in Heaven, at least not the first. If someone chose to provoke him, he would respond; if they made unwarranted demands, he would simply send them away. He could even hurt with words, but only those who could defend themselves—only the strong. The others he either left alone or ignored.

But Adam had his flaws too.

Sometimes, she regretted agreeing to his idea, placing him directly under her authority. Now, she had to endure his behavior almost constantly, especially when all she wanted was some peace and quiet, ideally with a cup of tea and her favorite music playing. Adam, however, often misread the mood of his immediate superior. She couldn't blame him—after all, it was difficult for a Seraph to express human emotions without proper practice, especially those that might violate decorum or rules. Usually, souls who had known each other for so long could understand one another with just a glance or a sigh, but not in the case of the Seraph at work. Duty and Responsibility bound her to follow rules that prohibited any show of weakness, even in front of those close to her.

So, the Light could comprehend her reaction.

Adam, I would like to talk to you about... - she simply wanted to clarify a few questions regarding the recent "Cleansing," as Adam and his subordinates sometimes referred to their activities, but then...

Que, Sera Sera... - Adam, lounging in his chair, decided to make a joke, playing with her name. That was the last straw. She didn't laugh, didn't offer a condescending smile, didn't remain silent; she just looked him straight in the eye, as if piercing through his facade.

That day, she found herself dealing with Adam all day, or rather his "Exorcists," as they needed to update their gear and allocate new supplies from the latest ammunition options. This involved requests, applications, approvals, and a whole nightmare of paperwork, especially when working overtime and under the radar.

Sometimes, she regretted agreeing to Adam's proposal since all the paperwork for their "project" flowed through her. She had already heard enough from Adam to last her for the upcoming month. So, she fell silent and took a deep breath, which immediately put Adam on alert and tensed up Lyut, his main subordinate. Apparently, her look had scared Adam enough that he switched to a respectful tone without a hint of sarcasm, but it was too late.

Three months on the earthly continent of Australia, supplemented by a little help from her for the children of nature, would give Adam an unforgettable experience with numerous snakes, spiders, and other delightful creatures. She didn't even need Adam himself to handle the "Exorcists"—just Lyut would suffice. Sera knew how to joke; everyone knew that (though for some reason, they often didn't get her humor).

She also needed to place another order with the Department of Sin in the Research Division. While she had agreed that the population of sinners in Hell needed to be regulated, that didn't mean she wished them suffering; she was simply doing her job—protecting the souls in Heaven.

But that didn't make her heartless, as Seth would say, who had a better grasp of morality than Adam. She didn't want unnecessary suffering for souls who, although they deserved their fate, shouldn't endure more than was necessary for their actions.

And the new order… it was yet another series of applications, requests, and petitions, all of which had to pass through various other Departments before reaching the angels in the Department of Sin, who handled the paperwork. After that, it would land on the desk of the Department Head, who would need to review it, and… this could take a couple of months—still quick, considering the order would come from the Third Circle, especially from her, the Supreme Seraphim of the City.

Now… fill out these papers, submit the remaining documents for the "Exorcists," and then she could go home to Emily. The little one often complained that her "big sister" didn't spend enough time with her... Sometimes, she just longed to be alone in silence.