Chapter Text
Issei pulled to a halt in front of a completely ordinary hotel. He didn't know what to expect from his latest client, but this was where they were supposed to be staying, so he'd do his best.. The last thing he wanted to do was screw himself over.
After months of backbreaking work, he had a grand total of zero contracts to his name. Even Asia had more contracts than him, and she'd only been a devil for like a month. What did it say about him if she was leaving him in the dust? He didn't – and couldn't – resent her luck, but her rapid progress was really hard to stomach.
He really wasn't sure why he bothered putting all this effort in if he got nothing out of it. Then, he remembered: he was a man with a dream, and he had lots of time to create his first contract. That wouldn't happen if he beat himself up or moped around and cried about bad luck. No, he was going to start fresh and seize the opportunity by the tits.
So he climbed off his bike, chained it up and entered the hotel, reaching his client's room in very little time. Once he did, he pounded on the door... and winced once he realized what he did. He was so excited that he didn't even think about holding back, and there was the very real chance that he screwed up his first impression before he even opened his mouth. He was already at a disadvantage, since he couldn't teleport inside.
If he heard one more person ask "What kind of devil rings a doorbell?", he was going to be so freaking pissed.
The door opened, and Issei couldn't keep himself from frowning. With shoulder-length black hair, smooth facial features and piercing black eyes – or eye, since his left eye was covered by a long fringe – his client was one of those pretty boys. Compared to him, Issei's ordinary brown hair and normal brown eyes were as plain as day.
"So you're the one they sent me," the pretty boy said, his voice as smooth as silk. It was a good thing they never met; Kuoh Academy had more than enough pretty boys to steal all the girls, and not only did this guy seem like he could make girls wet with a single look, there was always the risk of his secret being revealed.
It was one thing to be known as one of the school's biggest perverts, but it was another thing entirely to be known as a perverted devil. Maybe he'd score some chicks who were into that...
Issei turned his frown into a smile. He couldn't let rash judgements – or his daydreams – ruin his chances of securing that contract. "Yeah, I'm Issei. What's your name?"
The boy smirked. "Are you sure you're a devil?"
So that's how he's gonna play it, huh? Some clients wouldn't give their name for whatever reason. He rolled with it this time. At least he hadn't ribbed him for sucking at magic.
"What were you expecting? Red horns, a trident?"
"Perhaps." He put one hand in the pocket of his black trousers. "Close the door behind you."
It wasn't the worst request, but Issei decided to get a better feel for who he was working with. Rias told him that he could get a feel for someone by how they performed simple tasks or how they treated others.
"Can't you do it yourself?"
The boy made a noise that sounded almost like a snort before turning around, his beige traveler's cloak whipping behind him. It covered his left shoulder and arm entirely, and looked pretty thick. How someone could wear that in the middle of summer was beyond him.
"I'd rather avoid the hassle."
Issei smiled. "No problem."
Maybe this guy just wanted to avoid the heat.
The pretty boy's room was sparsely decorated: a lone table with two cushions placed underneath it, a kitchen that had a fridge, dishwasher and stove. Issei also saw a sword laying next to the boy, sheathed in a dark blue scabbard, but there was no TV, no electronics.
It was almost like he was stepping to the past, or at least an older anime.
"So..." Issei said, taking a seat facing his client. "Where's the TV?"
"Being repaired."
"Good to know. Are you staying here on your own?"
"Yes."
Issei's smile grew. "Awesome. This place is like your own bachelor pad, you know?"
A bachelor pad. If he had a place of his own, with food and rent and other necessities taken care of, it would be amazing. His client, on the other hand, didn't even react.
"Seriously? You worried your parents are gonna find out or something?"
"No."
The emptiness packed in that one word snapped Issei out of his fantasy. As much as they ragged on him and mocked his life's passion, he couldn't imagine life without his parents.
"Sorry."
"Don't worry."
That was quick. At least things wouldn't get awkward.
"Why don't you tell me about yourself?"
The pretty boy raised a thin eyebrow, like he was offended that he even asked that.
"I like some things and dislike some other things. I've already accomplished my first goal and I'm busy working on my second one."
Issei's frown returned. "Okay..."
Hopefully, it wouldn't go where he thought it was going, but he wasn't holding his breath.
"What about you?"
Time to show him how it was done.
"I like women in all forms, shapes and sizes. I don't like two-faced bitches and arrogant bastards who act like they're the best thing on the planet." He grinned. "And my goal is to get my own harem!"
A self-satisfied smirk crossed the boy's face then, wiping the grin off Issei's. He couldn't afford to let this guy's attitude get to him, but that was easier said than done. His client gave frustratingly vague answers to pretty simple questions. He didn't want to go outside and do something, either. With every passing second, Issei could see that contract slipping further and further away.
Eventually, his patience ran out. "Why are you acting like this?"
"Acting like what?"
The handsome prick's nonchalant tone made Issei scowl, and so did his lone-eyed stare.
"This whole angsty, brooding, arrogant loner shtick just pisses me off."
He raised an eyebrow. "Does it?"
Issei slammed his hand on the table, gritting his teeth and ignoring the lancing pain that seared through his body. Fortunately, the table hadn't cracked.
"Bastard," he said, the harsh word seething out. He wasn't some affable chick magnet like Kiba, this guy was a straight-up asshole. "You called me here, and now you're wasting my time! Is this some kind of joke to you?"
"It isn't," he said, making eye contact. He wasn't smirking anymore. "I assumed you could handle it."
There was a threat hidden there, but Issei had seen and heard worse.
"What makes you think anyone likes to be treated like crap?"
The boy sighed, so slight that he barely caught it. "I treated you like I treat a good friend of mine."
He wasn't sure if that was supposed to be a compliment, but he sounded dead serious, too serious to be taken lightly.
"It wouldn't kill you to be nice, you know? I'm trying to help you have a good time."
"You're right."
The tension begin to seep from Issei's frame, and eventually, he released his fist. "Why'd you come out here?"
All he got was silence, but it didn't seem like he was being shut out. At least, he hoped he wasn't being shut out.
"I want to know more about how this world works. How you got that power sealed onto your hand."
Issei's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't show his surprise. "Sure, but don't be surprised if I don't reveal everything about us. You understand, right?"
The boy nodded, his previous smugness replaced with a stone-cold stare. "Then let's get started."
It took some time, but Issei was able to explain what he knew about devils and how they functioned, along with a basic rundown on the fallen angels and the Church: the main factions that opposed the devils. He really didn't know a lot about his new life, even though he had been a devil for nearly two months. That couldn't stand.
"We should do this again sometime," the boy said after they finished up.
Issei smiled. "Glad to hear it! You can call me or text me whenever you want me to visit."
"Text?" he repeated, like he had never heard of the concept before.
He pulled out his cellphone and showed it off. "You have one of these, right?"
For a second, Issei thought he'd say no, but the strange boy unveiled a pretty basic flip phone.
"These phones take some time to adjust to."
His smile broadened: his client was actually admitting he wasn't Mr. Perfect and wasn't hiding behind aloof smugness. "Don't worry about it. Could you do me a favour, first?"
"That depends on the favour."
"Since you want me to come back, you just have to give me appropriate compensation to make our contract official."
It was a real confidence booster knowing that he was this close to getting a contract. However, nothing in life was guaranteed and when he didn't respond, Issei worried that he pushed his luck too hard and too fast.
Then the pretty boy shrugged. "No problem."
The response was music to his ears and made him want to do a victory dance. Instead, he smiled. No need to embarrass himself so quickly.
"Thanks, man. You won't regret this."
His smirk returned, but Issei let it slide.
Once he received his compensation, the contract was 'signed'. Finally, months of constant failure had finally paid off. His first ever pact might have been with some guy who played 'brooding bad boy' to the hilt, but he'd take it if it meant being one step closer to accomplishing his dream.
He was going to be the harem king of the whole damn universe.
"If that's everything, let me get your number before I go."
"Let me give my name, first." He extended his right hand. "My name is Sasuke Uchiha."
"Nice to meet you," Issei said, giving Sasuke a firm handshake.
In spite of his joy from forming the pact, he wasn't sure what to think about Sasuke, and it wasn't because of his attitude or his odd accent. No ordinary guy would know he had the Boosted Gear, especially when it wasn't activated. Maybe he was being paranoid, but he knew better than to take something at face value, no matter how nice it looked.
Right now, what mattered was that he got the contract, and Sasuke wanted him to come back.
For now, that was all he needed.