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The demon with no name sat perched on the roofs of London, dark hair blowing gently in the wind. His eye, once a deep blue, now glowed red with hunger.
He didn’t know true hunger.
The demon with a dog’s name stood next to him, much more composed, but much more starving. He pointed below them onto a drunkard walking along the side of the road.
“My lord, that man-”
“Shut it, Sebastian. And don’t call me that.”
Well, he can’t say he didn’t try to help. Hunting stray souls didn’t quite fit “Sebastian’s” aesthetic, but it would have to do for the starving boy next to him. Unfortunately, the boy’s stubbornness wasn’t making it any easier on the two of them.
“My apologies. Would you rather I call you “Ciel”, hm?”
The young demon glared at his counterpart, snarling in warning. It did not phase Sebastian at all, but it did show just how hungry the boy was. His human mask was beginning to slip.
“As you are well aware, I’m sure, I am physically incapable of letting you die. If you lose composure here, I assure you it will not end well. I am insisting you eat something.” The boy snarled again. Sebastian rolled his eyes, exasperated.
“I suppose I will go fetch you a meal again, my lord.” He muttered, leaping down from the roof onto the unsuspecting man below. Such useless murder went against his aesthetics, but if his contract would not play his part of an earl then he should not have to play his part of a butler. Snagging the soul in his talons before a reaper took note, he dashed back to his charge. Even in undeath, the child cannot feed himself.
“Shouldn’t you take me to hell or something, demon?” The boy asked, mirthfully. He knew what an obstinate question it was, and yet-
“You know full well why I can’t do that, my lord. Not all of our kind is as… understanding as I am.” They’d rip him to shreds in an instant, and unfortunately Sebastian was contractually bound to not allow that.
“I told you to stop calling me that, Sebastian. It’s bloody stupid to act like we’re still playing our roles.” The boy flexed his hands for emphasis, showing off his unnaturally dark fingernails and translucent skin. He had looked rather sickly before- a lifetime of severe asthma will do that- but at this point, he truly looked like a walking corpse. If he could maintain a sense of humor, he’d perhaps find it ironic.
“And what do you suppose I call you, then?”
“Nothing, I suppose.”
The two sat in silence, though not an awkward one. The two demons had long learned to live with these stretches of nothing, for there really was not much for them to do. Neither of their goals could ever be reached, yet they couldn’t find solace in knowing they both had that struggle, because they were the cause of each other’s suffering.
Suddenly, the boy spoke. He laid down, sprawled on the forest floor, and looked at the stars.
“I told you when we met, didn’t I? I don’t want to be “Ciel” forever. It’s too painful.”
“Ah yes, I do so remember that day. I thought I would be getting a meal out of such a bratty charge. How foolish of me!”
“Obstinate demon.” The young boy sat up and lazily slashed at the other, getting an almost amused smirk in response. He had no real power over this beast anymore, other than knowing they were obligated to be in each other’s company for eternity. In theory, the boy could simply order Sebastian to go get another contract and leave him alone. But, loathe as he was to admit it- he didn’t want to be alone. He had spent enough time feeling alone, and the older demon’s presence had become almost comforting, like a candle in the midst of a dark night.
Sebastian’s snark lacked its usual flare, though. It was clear that he was just as sick of the arrangement as the other. The young demon did, once in a while, feel bad about it- but his soul was gone forever, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Unless…
“Sebastian,” the young demon hissed, standing up, “Do you think there is any way to get a lost soul back?”
Sebastian groaned, running a tired (but still gloved) hand through his hair. “No, there are systems in place to prevent that exact thing from happening… specifically because of creatures like us, I suppose,” He smiled ruefully. “Though, do stop calling me that, it is ever so painful.”
“Damn demon.” His charge growled, glaring with a weight he knew he no longer held, “You don’t think that the reapers know something or other? I don’t want to live like this forever, with his face and his identity, and your attitude is really getting on my nerves. It’s better for everyone involved if we just resolve this.”
“I would rather not fraternize with the reapers, and your end of the contract would not be filled under those conditions, anyway.”
“Oh, to hell with the contract!”
Sebastian chuckled. To hell, indeed.