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It is confused. This isn’t its home. Where is it? Earth. One of the Northern continents. It shouldn’t be here. Where is Starfucker? Why can’t it go home? There’s blood on its claws again.
Human. Staring at it. The one that summoned it. They fight a lot, but not right now. The human is speaking directly to it. He doesn’t do that very often.
“We’re moving house.” The human - Awsten - says. The room they’re in is dark and messy. Awsten picks up random objects and throws them into a plastic container.
“I do not know what that means.” It says.
It doesn’t understand most of Awsten’s words. The last time it was on Earth, ruffs were still in fashion. People spoke completely differently.
“I’m going to go live with my friend. His name is Otto, he’s a vampire. You won’t like him.” Awsten pulls photographs off of his wall, putting a few in a box and the rest in a pile on his desk.
“He…?” It asks.
“Yes, it’s how humans refer to other guys without using their names.” Awsten says vaguely.
It is a kind of guy. Sometimes Awsten calls it “spooky guy”. Awsten has never asked it what its name is.
“Can I be a he?” It asks. It likes the sound of that - it makes it - him - sound more human.
“Whatever, dude. I don’t care.” Awsten launches a half-eaten apple that he had left on his desk at him. He dodges it. “Fucking Soulsucker.”
Soulsucker retreats to a corner, hoping to avoid any further wrath. He shivers, and wishes he could go home.
He has a lot of names. His real, demon name of course, which no one on Earth calls him. Awsten calls him Soulsucker, Otto calls him ‘that thing’. Jawn and Lucas call him ‘creepy fucker’ and Travis calls him ‘demon’.
Geoff is the first person to ask his name. He treats Soulsucker like he can think and feel. For the first time, Soulsucker is not treated like a monster. Travis asks him a few questions about where he’s from. Jawn stops jumping every time he sees him out of the corner of his eye. Even Awsten starts to warm up to him a little.
Being on Earth alone is still scary. But it’s easier now that he and Awsten aren’t fighting all the time.
Soulsucker likes being a ‘he’ and he likes not being treated like he’s dangerous. Once everyone in the house got used to the idea of him being a resident and not an invader, they started treating him more like a pet. He doesn’t do tricks, though. Not even for treats.
The others don’t understand his obsession with fidget toys and Rubik’s cubes. Awsten likes them too, as stress relief. Soulsucker likes them for the same reason. Being here on Earth hurts, even when Awsten isn’t coming at him. When he’s far from Hell, from Starfucker, he can’t centre himself.
Rubik’s cubes help. The clicking of the mechanism, the different colours coming back to order. It puts his head back right. Fidget toys don’t have the same effect, but he likes figuring out how they work. Some of them click like his cube.
Breaking it nearly broke him. He just wanted to stop that police officer from hurting Jawn. Why? Jawn doesn’t like him, barely speaks to him except to tell him to fuck off.
But Jawn is Awsten’s friend. When Awsten loses a friend, he gets sick. And when he gets sick, he hurts Soulsucker.
So Soulsucker attacked a cop. Geoff tells him not to hurt people but Geoff isn’t here and Jawn is screaming like a wounded animal.
The last thing Soulsucker remembers is getting doused in holy water. Then he woke up in a dark room, shivering down to his bones. His skin hurts.
“Soul? Soul, buddy, talk to me.” Awsten begs from somewhere else in the room.
Soulsucker can’t see, he can barely think, but he musters the strength to croak out, “Alive.”
“Good, oh my God.” Awsten sounds like he’s sobbing. Soulsucker flinches. Awsten hurts him when he cries. “You’re gonna be fine, okay, just don’t hurt anyone else.”
The next few hours are a blur of pain and human’s talking until Awsten is crouched in front of him. When Awsten tries to touch him, Soulsucker screams.
“Come on, buddy, it’s alright now.” Awsten begs. “Either you come with me or I keep walking until you have to.”
Soulsucker hates being forced to teleport, being dragged around against his will. He gets up shakily. The next thing he understands is Jawn giving him his coat.
He tries to say thank you but he doesn’t know if the words come out.
While he doesn’t really sleep, Soulsucker likes to curl up at the end of Awsten’s bed if he’s allowed. It’s comfortable, warm, quiet, a few hours of true peace.
Geoff is talking to Otto right now. Awsten is already asleep but the others are talking. Soulsucker doesn’t understand what they’re saying - something about Otto not talking much since he came back. Otto isn’t in bed and he keeps backing away towards the door.
Soulsucker is glad Otto is back. Awsten is happier, even if Otto isn’t.
“Well, whatever.” Geoff sighs, a clear sign he is done with whatever conversation Otto is refusing to have with him. He ruffles Soulsucker’s hair - he doesn’t flinch. “Goodnight, buddy.”
“Goodnight.” Soulsucker mumbles.
He feels safe.