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Dry leaves rustle in the wind as they blow past Hanbin's feet. The well-trodden dirt and gravel of the crossroads absorb his weight into crunching footprints. He has returned to this crossing many times in his millenia as a Devil, to the point that it almost feels like another home.
His pointed ears perk as a shrill melody makes its way to him- a melody that feels all too familiar. The tell-tale sound of his previous defeat.
As he turns the corner to reach the hickory stump, his eyes alight on the back of a slender young man in ratty plaid, well-worn overalls, and familiar soft brown hair.
The man turns to look up at Hanbin over the bridge of the sparkling golden fiddle on his shoulder.
"It's about time you showed up, Devil."
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Two weeks before
Hanbin was stuck. Not enough souls had passed within his domain to meet his usual quota, so he was forced to go hunting.
Naturally, his first stop was his favorite crossroad spot- it was near enough to a big town that plenty of eager idiots would come through, but far enough away that people didn't tend to check for any disappearances.
Just as expected, a tall young man with fluffy brown hair strolled up the road towards him, sawing away at a worn wooden fiddle with a strong jazzy riff. His eyes were unfocused, clearly lost in thought as he made his way down the road, yet his fingers danced across the strings like it was second nature. The bow in his hand slipped through the air with practically no resistance. The fiddle sang out the melody, notes flitting through the air.
Hanbin could taste the flavor of that talented soul from a mile away. This guy was worth ten average men, minimum.
He jumped onto a nearby hickory stump, horns on full display and tail whipping about.
"Hello there! I'm the Devil, and I've got one hell of a deal for you!"
"WHA-" The man yelped and jumped back in surprise. With a screech, the whirring bow clattered across the strings.
"You play a pretty good fiddle, boy, but you better give me my due- I'll bet a fiddle of gold against your soul, I think I'm better than you." Hanbin continued, grinning his sparkliest grin. He pulled a hand from behind his back, summoning a magical fiddle of solid gold to his hands in seconds.
Hanbin watched the man straighten, then look him up and down to take in his devilish presentation. His pointed ears stuck out of his smooth black hair. His open-collared shirt showed off a distinctive dark chest tattoo. His pointed tail whipped casually behind his legs.
A Devil through and through.
The man's long gaze seemed to pierce a little deeper than Hanbin was prepared for- he was almost thrown off of his game. He felt blood start to rise to the tips of his ears. He was expecting a hapless victim, but his proposed opponent was regaining advantage of the encounter before he knew it.
"This one even comes with a rattlesnake tail inside- to keep other Devils away." Hanbin winked, determined to keep control of the conversation. He gave the sparkling instrument in his hand a shake for the telltale clickety-clack of a rattle within.
The man stood before him, worn wooden fiddle gripped gently in his hands. His eyes twinkled in a way that Hanbin hadn't seen before. Those eyes drew him in, and the tiny mole on his right cheek held his attention. That cheek creased as he burst into a bright apple-cheeked grin.
"Okay, handsome Devil. It might be a sin, but I'll take your deal. My name's Zhang Hao, and I'm the best that's ever been."
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On that day, Hanbin had whipped out that magical fiddle and played his hardest, sawing away at the strings with skills he channeled from the underworld. He was certain that he'd be unbeatable, using magic to make his strings sing louder and bow fly faster across the instrument- no human could manage it.
When it came to his turn, Zhang Hao had lifted his simple wooden instrument to his shoulder, taken a deep breath, and absolutely destroyed Hanbin's performance in seconds. His bow had flown across the strings as if time slowed down around them, conjuring melodies and chords that Hanbin couldn't hope to follow. The music danced through the woods, illuminating the crossroads with music beyond his wildest dreams. He had promised Hanbin with a smirk that he was "the best that's ever been", and he certainly hadn't lied.
On that day, Hanbin had been sent back to the underworld with his tail between his legs.
This time, he knows the prize he is coming for.
"You looking for a rematch, Devil?" Zhang Hao's eyebrow quirks at him, lazily sawing a simple melody on the golden instrument. His hands flit gently across the fingerboard, and Hanbin's foot resists the urge to tap along. He can hear the gentle buzz of the rattle inside the instrument, sweetening the sound.
Hanbin focuses in, his eyes locking firmly onto Zhang Hao's face. The man is seemingly relaxed, but something flickers behind his eyes. His limbs hold the tension of a predator ready to pounce. This time, Hanbin knows he's meeting a Devil of his own making.
"I'm here for something more valuable than that fiddle in your hand, that's for sure."
The violin screeches to a halt as Zhang Hao leaps from his place on the hickory stump, striding in moments to stand within inches of Hanbin.
"I've got a deal of my own for you. Interested in hearing it?" Zhang Hao stares directly into Hanbin's eyes, mischief and determination simultaneously flitting through his gaze.
Hanbin licks his lips. "Shoot."
"I'll give you a second try all right- if you win, you get my soul. If I win, I get yours."
Hanbin grins, white teeth flashing behind his upturned lips.
"Deal."