Chapter Text
Thunk.
A whole branch fell on his head. Oh wow. That hurt. Seriously. His hand ran trough the part of his hair where the branch landed, exactly ten times, looking for any signs of bleeding. Thankfully there wasn't.
The forest surrounding him was vast, but not big enough to get lost for over three to four days. Unless you have absolutely no sense of direction. Which he didn't have a problem with. He could easily leave if he wanted to. And he does. He leaves time and time again. Because, next to the forest, was a small rural village. He comes in every now and then, somewhat undetected. The villagers obviously know there's someone taking the livestock, they just don't know it was him. Good.
Though, demon hunter activity has been increasing these past few weeks. Usually, it's once or twice a month, but lately, it's been once a week. That's if he's lucky. Hiding from them has been such a hassle. Seriously. He's not even taking the townsfolk, just the chickens. It's for survival, man!
Speaking of the hunters, there was one right now. In fact, he's been here more often than the others. Almost like he's looking specifically for him. They've cleared out all the other demons in the forest. He'd know. He watched. And to be all but telling the truth, he can't help but feel like he knows the guy. Blond hair. Brown robe. Sharp, stunning, and terrifying blue eyes. But, as a demon, he can do nothing except avoid him. Who knows, he'd probably get slashed like a piece of steak tartare or something.
He was at a safe distance for the time being, far away from the village and where he last saw the demon hunter. The branch falling did raise a few concerns, but all is well-
"There you are." A voice called out from behind, as he felt a gust of wind run past his long hair. It was the hunter.
Oh no.
He's dead.
So dead.
What should he do?!
Beg to let him live?
Run?
Accept his fate??
He doesn't want to die, not yet! He hasn't found a woman willing to marry him! (Spoiler alert: he never will)
All the things he still wanted to do-
"Why so tense?" The hunter asked. Why so tense. Why so tense? WHY IS HE TENSE?? Is that damn hunter joking around?! He's going to at least lose a leg here, even if he successfully runs away! He's weak! So weak!
"A- a- ah... I, uhm, it's-" he stuttered trough every word he meant to say. Sweat ran trough his forehead like a waterfall down a cliff. He could practically feel his eyes bulging out. He's going to die. The hunter is going to kill him and he's never going to see the light of day again-
"Is it because you're a demon?" The other asked again. "I'm willing to give you a chance." The hunters eyes, though sharp and stunning, softened just barely. Not that he caught it. He was too busy fearing for his life.
A chance. That's all he'd need! Time to pull out the silver tongue! Even if all turns out for the worse, at least he'd buy himself and a certain someone some time.
He cleared his throat, with ten quick-short coughs. "Wha- what kind of chance?" He needed to make sure. If it's the kind of chance he's thinking about, this'll be easy. It seems resorting to the disgusting blood of dead small farm animals was worth it.
"You've, by far, proven that you pose no real harm to the villagers." The hunter closed his eyes and sighed. "But you are being a nuisance by, excuse how they put it, Chick-napping their livestock." He couldn't help but hold back a snort at that. Chick-napping, as funny as it sounds, actually makes quiet a lot of sense. The hunter cleared his throat, signalling that he should take this seriously. It seems that a single chance had made him forget the danger this hunter possessed.
"So," the blond continued, "I suggest you stop, before they take matters into their own hands. I'll remind you, they won't be merciful about it." Right. Yes. He pulled his right hand up to his mouth, tapping his sharp nailed index finger on his upper lip exactly ten times. He still needs to live, so stopping any and all, he giggled internally, Chick-napping, isn't an option. His brows only furrowed harder each alternative he thought. Hunting? Out of the question. He was an ex-pampered human, after all. Ah, well, he at least had the luxury of buying instead of fighting his food. It was...
He missed it.
What ever it was like.
He can't remember.
Why can't he remember?
What other option does he have, if not to steal?
"W- well, if I stop taking, I stop living, s- so, I'm kinda obligated to do that..." He muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, back and forth, ten times.
"So?" The hunter replied, something in his... Heart? Lungs? Liver? Shattered. Right. Why would he assume the hunter would care if he does? He's a demon for fucks sake.
"R- right.."
"..." Silence enveloped them, heck, even the little forest creatures he couldn't help but adore felt like they felt silent.
"I'm kidding."
He let go of the breath he didn't know he held. What is with this hunter? Can he even keep referring to the other like that? What even is his name?
"Ha- haha, heh... Y- yeah. Right." He choked out a laugh. Right. Even serious people joke around if the air is too tense. But, in reality, the hunter really doesn't have a reason to spare him. He's a demon, and only he'd be at a loss if he dies. He knows that. And technically Zephyros too. But he'd be fine. He can fight for himself. Hopefully. Right?
What should he say? Ask for solutions? Like the Hunter would actually care! Hunt? As if! He couldn't kill a fly, even if he wanted to. Well, in his defense, they are quite annoying to get rid of— but that's not the point!
He grinded his upper row of teeth on his bottom, twitching his right eyebrow exactly ten times, without realizing it.
"If you're worried about food," the other paused, "I'll kill an animal or two for you, daily. A wild one." The hunter, seemingly noticing his discomfort, offered a suggestion. Surprisingly, the blond offered to help him. But he knew nothing in the world came for free. A hunter, helping a demon, so it stops stealing? That's basically less than free! He'd only do even less than what he usually does.
The blond crossed his arms, then started tapping the arm his hand landed on with his ring finger. Nine times.
Ten.
Just once more.
One more tap.
A perfect ten.
Ten,
Ten.
Make it ten. I don’t care how many groups you need to do it, again- make it TEN—
Ten, ten times.
Why didn't you come back? I counted to ten, ten times.
"-one." He blurted out. Earning a look from the other. Just one more. One more. Make it right. Make it ten. And, fortunately, the hunter, understanding his dilemma, tapped his finger once more. Relief rushed trough his body, like a cool splash of water on a sunny beach.
The hunter smirked, but he didn't see.
"Well?" The others words pulled him back to reality, and he quickly decided to answer, before the hunter had a change of heart.
"Y- yes! I promise, from this day forward, a- as long as you can help provide u- me, with a source of consumable food, I'll never step foot in the town again!" He yelled. From the bottom of his heart. It's true. He would never step into that town if he didn't have to.
The robed man let out a light breath, seemingly content with himself. Kim Jangcheol braced himself for the next term in their, "contract", but it never came. Instead, the blond turned around to walk off, but paused.
"Did you eat yet?" The man asked
"uh- huh? N- no, not yet. Why?"
"That means we should head out now, no?"
"Wait, w- what?"
He had expected they would start soon, but today? Well, he hadn't managed to get anything yet, so maybe it's okay...
"Or did you plan to starve today?" The hunter asked.
"N- no, of course not!"
"Great. Let's head out then."
"M- me too..?"
"Obviously."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Huh?"
"What if when I leave, you decide to run off and steal from the town again?"
The others statement did make sense. There isn't a guarantee he wont run off. But what if he gets hurt and dies? What's the point of eating to live if he dies anyway?
"But, what if I get injured? I can't exactly live and eat if I'm not alive." Wow. His words were getting bolder. He needs to be more careful.
"Then I'll just fight off any dangerous animals. It's not that hard." The hunter replied, like it was the most obvious answer. How would he have known that? It's not like they're exactly on the friendliest terms...
He nodded, and the other took that as a sign that they should continue walking.
And continue walking they did.
The forest was his home now. He knew it like the back of his hand. The trees. The boulders. The caves. Every week, without fail, he's search the perimeter exactly ten times. He'd gotten so used to it that doing it any less, even if he was exhausted just felt wrong. And that fact made looking for any animals much easier.
They found one near a river, a deer, to be exact. It wasn't the biggest, but it was one heck of a step above a chicken. Heh. Chick-napping.
"Is that good enough for you?" The hunter asked. Was it good enough? Hell yes! Anything but those damn chickens!
"Mhm."
"Alright. Stay here." The blonds frame shook, and within the second it took for him to blink, the other was back with a beheaded dear. Geez, hunters really are scary.
"I'll assume you can take it from here?" The deer he held's limbs were swinging because of the after effects of his speed, but he paid it no mind. Was it just not important how he's able to go so fast or something? Kim Jangcheol gulped, then shook his head to reassure himself. Right. This is enough. He shouldn't ask for too much.
"I can take it from here, thanks." He offered a hand to take the deer, and the hunter did the same. The deer was now in his possession. The body was still warm, it's muscles, Cervical vertebrae, major blood vessels, Trachea and esophagus, not to mention it's Ligaments and tendons, plus the spinal chord were openly revealed all the while extremely bloody as he held it in his arms. Ew. How in the world was he supposed to work with this?
Whatever. He'll figure something out.
"I've done my part, now you do yours. Stay out of the town." The hunter declared, and he nodded like his life depended on it. It did, per se. And with that, the other took off to the far end of the forest, the one leading to the bordering town. And he was left in the wind he left behind. Alone.
His priority now was processing the deer. Presumably dead. Who knows, maybe it's actually still alive. Even if he can see the inside of it's neck. He's not paranoid, no. So he dragged the body to the river they had found the poor animal. To clean it.
Zephyros, peeking from behind a tree, approached him with caution. He's rather puzzled how the hunter didn't realize he was there, but a win is a win.
"Do you still sense him?" Zephyros questioned. Sense him? In his dreams. He couldn't even register the fact that the blond was behind him when they earlier met. The only thing he could feel was the gushes of air left behind when the other sprinted. To think he survived an encounter with a man like that.
....Well, survive is a bit of a stretch. He was spared, to be fair.
"Psh," he chuckled, "Yeah right. He's faster than the strongest winds this forest gets. As if I could sense him, being this weak." Zephyros just shook his head, crossing his arms. "You know, I'm surprised you weren't caught following us around." He continued, earning a look from Zephyros, that clearly said: "Did your braincells go along with your memories when you turned into a demon or what?", but he let it slide for now. Just because he's weak doesn't mean Zephyros isn't weaker.
He motioned for Zephyros to come to him, help him deal with the deer, before all the blood gushes out through the neck. So Zephyros obliged. He's hungry too, no matter how he's going to dress it up.
Now, they were kneeling next to eachother, Zephyros—begrudgingly— shoving his fingers in as many holes as possible, and Kim Jangcheol using his sharp nails to cut trough the layers of skin and such outside of the meats. Carefully, making sure not a single drop of blood falls out.
After a moment of silence, Zephyros spoke up.
".......are we supposed to, what, suck it all out or something?"
...
..that was a good question. Even if they manage to get into the blood, how the hell were they supposed to drink it? With the chickens, they just, shoved their fangs in and drank till the couldn't. What about a whole deer?
Meh, they'll figure something out.