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Atori just had a very chaotic series of minutes. He viciously attacked several students for no reason beyond that he felt like it, blowing his cover completely. He engaged with the gargoyle Balam and the guard dog Kalego, both of whom he was specifically instructed to avoid. Reckless? Yes. A severe detriment to the mission? Also yes.
And what a thrill! This was what being a demon was all about. The sheer havoc his actions had wrought, and there wasn’t a damn thing anyone could do to stop it. Oh, they tried, and it was a rush to go head-to-head with those notorious names that other demons only whispered. Even some of the students had surprised him with their potential – not challenged, but surprised. Battered and bruised as he was, Atori upturned their little world like a hurricane, saw what he wanted and took it, it felt like winning-
The cocoon in his arms wriggled vigorously. Oops, Atori had nearly forgotten he was carrying live cargo. Good thing he didn’t accidentally crush the life out of little Iruma in the chaos. He noticed the ‘package’ was upside down and used his spare hands to flip the teen over. Despite being turned upright, Iruma didn’t seem to appreciate being handled and redoubled his efforts. Atori wasn’t surprised; even regular demons got uncomfortable with this many-limbed body. He could only imagine how monstrous he seemed to a kid.
What a delightful thought! Atori really wanted to sneak a peek at his captive. Unfortunately, his poor planning was catching up to him. He’d chosen a nice hiding spot and could keep his presence concealed for the time being. But now that he’d snatched a student – little Iruma no less – Sullivan would surely be on the move. Maybe he should try to rendezvous with Shiida to map out an escape. Two demons are better than one, right?
The cocoon stilled for the most part, but Atori could feel the way it expanded and contracted like labored breathing. Yeah, there probably wasn’t much air getting in there. He should really let some in. Besides, what if the kid was injured? He had to check. It was just an excuse, but Atori couldn’t resist. The boy had to be terrified. He might even be crying.
With a simple hand motion, the webs around Iruma’s head fell away so Atori could gleefully catch a glimpse of his expression. It was – hm. He wouldn’t call it fear. Hell, it wasn’t even that angry. More like a grim determination.
…
Wow, what a buzzkill.
Pouting, Atori crossed his arms and used his other sets to suspend Iruma in the air to face him properly. “Kid. Do you have the slightest idea how screwed you are?” He asked. Iruma didn’t respond, of course. He was still gagged with webbing after all. It’d be a real headache if he shouted for help. Atori continued, “That was the last time you’ll ever see your teachers or classmates. Doesn’t that bother you?” To this, Iruma became more uneasy. Still, his gaze was level, and he did not fight the gag.
Frustrated, Atori backhanded Iruma across the face. It wasn’t a heavy hit but would certainly leave a mark. He didn’t have a purpose for it outside of venting but felt even more wronged when Iruma didn’t freak out. Instead, the boy only looked surprised at being struck so suddenly. Yeah, this guy did not at all comprehend his situation. Thinking back, Atori reasoned that Iruma had no context for the abduction. As far as he knew, his new teacher had suddenly gone berserk out of nowhere and ran off with him in the middle of an exam. He had no knowledge of the Six Fingers or the return to origins.
Atori had a sudden, intense need for Iruma to understand. He gave their surroundings a careful inspection. There didn’t appear to be anyone in the proximity. It might be safe to have a quick “chat”. With a flick, he released the gag.
Iruma blinked. He did not cry out and bluntly asked, “Why did you kidnap me?”
…Atori didn’t have a good answer for that. He was just following orders. The spider demon gave Iruma a small shove that caused him to sway back and forth from a thread. “I’ll ask the questions,” he deflected. “In fact, you tell me. Why do you think I kidnapped you?” Letting the imagination run wild could produce some entertainment with minimal effort on his part.
Iruma appeared baffled at first, but then his lips parted slightly and his expression darkened. Oh? Did he think of something? Atori grinned, excitement rushing back in. That only seemed to disturb the boy further. “Did you figure it out?” He probed.
Iruma kept his eyes downcast, nervous. “Are you…” he spoke hesitantly. Atori leaned forward to better listen. “…an Evidol fan?”
What. “No, you little weirdo! What? Who the hell do you think you are?” Atori snapped.
“N-Nothing! No one!” Iruma screeched, shaking his head vigorously while going beet red.
Atori fell back in exasperation. How the hell did he end up being given the run around like this? The climax of his rampage was shaping up to be a disaster. This behavior needed to be corrected and fast. Violence! He needed violence!
One of his hands snapped to seize Iruma’s throat and slammed him to the ground – Atori found this effective to get people’s attention. He took great delight in the choked gasp it produced, as well as the subsequent struggling. Iruma's arms strained uselessly against the webbing as his legs kicked well out of reach of Atori's body. It seemed only now he thought to cry out for help, but Atori stopped that with a well-timed squeeze. "Careful," he lilted. "If you let too much noise out, I won't let any air in." With great effort, the boy clamped his mouth shut. Atori rewarded this by easing up on the pressure to allow for shallow breaths. He then positioned himself to better loom menacingly. "Now. Let's try this again," he purred. "I'm telling you you're done for. Caught. Nobody could stop me, so now I'm going to take you away from here. I was specifically asked to do this. What do you think that means?"
As Iruma could not respond, Atori continued, "It means whatever they want you for, it isn't something you would agree to. And these guys? They're the real deal. Real demons. When they get a hold of you, well." Atori emphasized this by using his fingers to dig into Iruma at various points: his legs, around his shoulder, the hair at his scalp. He bent the boy so his back was taut, like Atori would crumple him up like paper. Iruma winced in pain, still trying so obediently to keep still. Atori felt suddenly taken by how cute Iruma looked at that moment. The boy was a tiny thing, even smaller when bunched up in web and clutched in his various hands. Iruma's pulse was quick as a hell-hare despite his refusal to show fear. That stubbornness even became somehow charming. It made Atori want to try harder. A much quieter fight. I wanna destroy. I wanna win.
On some level Atori knew he needed to stop. It’s not like the call of origins was a new concept to him, and by this point his commitment to his orders was tenuous at best. He needed focus, not temptation. Iruma's lips moved, though sound did not manage to escape. The boy focused more on breathing until Atori relaxed his grip. The demon wanted to hear if Iruma changed his tune. Deep blue eyes met his and Iruma tried again, "My friends will save me."
Friends? Atori didn't understand the words. But he felt the resistance in Iruma's tone, incongruous under the hand on his throat. It aroused some instinct within him, somewhere deep where his origins lay. It made him desperate. Made him want to bite.
Never one for self-control, Atori lunged and buried his teeth in the boy's neck. Iruma screamed. Atori felt the sound more than he heard it, his mouth ignited with blood that tasted like lightning. Just as quickly, it was gone. Atori only registered he had been attacked as he lay crumpled on the ground several feet away.
Now clutching Iruma at a distance crouched Shiida, eyes alight with fury. Shiida? Did Shiida kick him? But why? His mind was hazy. He should be upset, but all focus centered on the otherworldly taste in his mouth. He barely felt the several shattered somethings in his ribcage. He barely cared at all that the forces of Babyls now converged around him. He gazed past them at Iruma who sat with wide eyes looking back at him. Was it finally fear? Atori couldn't tell from this distance. A ribbon of red trailed down the boy's neck. Me, I did that. In some primordial way it all clicked at once in Atori's head. He started laughing and couldn't stop. If he was not mad before, he certainly was now.
Iruma was human. And Atori would not rest until he had another taste.