Chapter Text
“Oh, Mika, honey. Long time no see!”
Mika scowled, closing the makeshift door behind him.
“Shut the hell up.” The blonde snapped at the demon, taking his usual spot across from it.
It. Not Yuu.
“Now, is that any way to talk to your lover?” The demon crooned, a smile contrasting sickly with his sharp fangs.
“You’re nothing to me.” Mika dismissed. It pained him to no end to say that to his Yuu-chan, but right now, his friend was not himself.
“Actually, I’m everything to you.” Yuu countered with a low laugh. His hands pulled against the chains that bound him to the stained brick wall. “You hardly would have put up any fight to live if it were not for your devotion to me, Mika.”
Mikaela grit his teeth, hating how the demon rolled his name off his tongue so pleasantly.
But the demon was right; Mika was nothing without Yuu.
“How about we unbind me? You tied me up far too tight; see?” Yuu yanked on the cuffs, and they slid slightly up his forearm. There lay angry marks, probably from when
the demon threw fits and pulled and thrashed around on them. Bruises kissed around that area as well.
“I will do no such thing.” The blonde sighed wearily. This was going to be a long night already. He mentally cursed Yuu for staying under the influence of his demon for so long, and willed him to come back.
“Little Shinoa’s not going to watch over me tonight?” The demon asked with a pout. The very sight of that sent a pang through Mika’s cold, dead heart; it reminded him of a non-possessed Yuu. “I had fun toying with her last night.” A smirk twisted it’s features, those crimson eyes so much like Mika’s boring ruthlessly into the blonde’s.
Mika refused to dignify that with a response, but he remembered the way Shinoa looked after she came out of the dilapidated shed when her watch was over. The vampire didn’t think he’d ever seen the girl cry, but last night, she merely ran to him and sobbed on his shoulder. No words were needed for the blonde to know that it was the demon’s fault for her tears.
Even during the day, there was a dead, distant look in Shinoa’s eyes that was the ghost of whatever the demon had said to her from that night. The girl tried to assure everyone she was alright, but it was clear to the squad that Yuu is not getting any better; if anything, he’s getting worse.
“I don’t want to hear another fucking word leave your lips tonight.” Mika hissed coldly.
The demon’s smirk widened. “Too bad. Because of the body I’m in, you wouldn’t dare hurt me.”
Mika cursed himself again. The demon was right.
“How truly weak of you, Mika.” Yuu sighed breathlessly. “I could probably kill a puppy in front of you, and you’d still think I am the kindest person in the world. It’s actually kind of hilarious, the amount of slack you give me. No, not slack. Wrong word.” He paused a moment, peering up at the cobwebbed ceiling in thought. “Ah...You give me such control over you. Yes, that’s the word.”
The blonde gave no reply, his face carefully composed as if the demon was simply speaking about the weather. On the inside, however, Mika wanted to gorge his ears out so he didn’t have to listen to that venomously sweet tongue spew more words that his Yuu-chan would never dare utter to him in such a nonchalant way.
“So, the question remains.” Yuu continued, gazing at the vampire. “Who is truly in control? You or me?”
Mika gnashed his teeth to keep himself from speaking.
“I need only whisper, and you’ll come running.” The demon whispered, and Mika found himself unable to tear away from his gaze. “You are my little marionette, Mika. It is not others who use me, hah.” It laughed hysterically for a brief moment. “It is me who uses others. And you, Mika. Oh, you’re my favourite puppet.”
Mika’s hands clutched that thing’s throat before the blonde even registered what was happening. He could only feel his pulsating anger and hurt.
“Do. Not. Speak. To. Me. Like. That.” The vampire hissed, ruby eyes slitted. The demon choked up, but that damn smile had not yet left it’s lips.
“My, Mika. You’ve gotten quite weak. Is it because you haven't been drinking my blood?” Yuu managed through his fit of maniacal laughter. The demon swiftly kicked Mika in the ribs, knocking the vampire against the opposite wall harshly.
“Love it! Give me more. More!” Yuu chanted happily, yanking sharply on the chains. Bloodlust filled the demon’s gaze, and Mika knew the monster had only wanted to create a rise in him.
“Shut up, demon.” Mika spat, wincing as the wind had been snatched from his lungs. He hated this side of Yuu. Hated it more than anything he had ever experienced in his entire existence.
The blonde slowly slid down the wall until he was in a crouching position. It would do no good to keep conversing with the demon. That would only enrage Mika furthur. But it’s not like he had any choice; he had to wait until the demon wore itself out and went back to sleep.
“Do you regret it?” The demon implored in a softer voice, changing tactics once he saw the wall Mika put on again.
“Regret what?” Mika murmured, unable to resist not answering a voice so akin to Yuu’s. Damn his weaknesses.
“Regret coming back to me, Mika.” A sorrowful, worried expression crossed it’s face. “Do you regret coming back to your only family?”
The demon’s red eyes latched once again onto the blonde’s.
Mika couldn’t tear himself away, even though he knew full well that the demon’s gaze only hypnotised him further to believe it to be really Yuu. This hypnotism is what makes the demon’s illusions and imitations so real and hurtful.
“No.” He closed his own red eyes, sighing in defeat. “I could never regret coming back to you.” His eyes opened again, and threw a weary gaze towards the demon. “But you aren’t yourself, Yuu. Please come back to us soon.”
“Tsk. Thought I had you there.” The demon’s charm broke the moment their eyes had strayed. “Damn, I was so close, though. Don’t worry, Mika. There is so much weakness still in your heart. I’ll have you yet.” Yuu promised cheerily. “Your absolute devotion will be the death of you.”
“Maybe so. But I know your tricks, demon.” Mika muttered, leaning his head against the wall. “As long as Yuu is still under your control, I still have a will to resist you in order to protect him. I won’t be submitting to you any time soon. You won't take over my body.”
The demon laughed at that.
“Humans are such dangerous creatures. Vampires as well.” He shook his head amusedly, horns nearly touching the low ceiling. “Stupid, too.”
Mika internally agreed.