Chapter Text
Hongjoong's vision is almost blurry enough to not be able to read the small font of his dimly lit phone. It would be much easier to read if he hadn't thrown it at the wall twenty minutes ago, shattering it's screen. Thankfully, if he squints, his vision clears enough to read the instructions on the shady website he found himself on after googling "hwio to get a biyfriend to make your firends not woiurry abiut yoi ad leave yut aljone". It took him scrolling about ten pages of search results to find occultsite.net/summoning-a-demon.
He has hastily put twelve candles in a circle and lit them as the instructions instructed. He gives the symbol on his phone one last look before stumbling into the kitchen. He clumsily opens the drawer and grabs a small paring knife. To ensure it's sharp enough, he presses it to his index finger, hissing once it breaks skin. He decides it's good enough and heads back to his bedroom.
Maybe if he was less drunk, less tired and more mentally stable he would hesitate to draw the knife against his wrist, but he can't bring himself to care. He carefully holds his bleeding wrist in the center of the candles, tossing the knife in the corner, and moves it so his blood drips down in the shape of the symbol the website said to draw. He uses his other hand to press down onto his now blood soaked carpet and moves his blood around to make the symbol as neat as possible. He looks on the floor around him to find something to stop the bleeding from his wrist. He spots a sock by the corner of his bed, picking it up to press against his wrist. Thankfully, its long enough for him to tie around his wrist.
Hongjoong grabs his phone from his pocket, quickly unlocking it to recite the latin incantation the website says to use. He slowly speaks the small paragraph of latin, trying his best (and probably failing) not to mispronounce the words. He looks to the center of the circle once he's done speaking for something to happen. After a long moment of nothing happening, Hongjoong sighs and tries not to feel as stupid as he thinks he is.
He dejectedly decides to sleep off the alcohol and the stupidity. Hongjoong starts to turn in the direction of his bed when a burst of light fills the room and knocks him off his feet, throwing him to the floor.
Hongjoong makes a mental note to vacuum his carpet more often once his face hits his dirty floor. He's taken out of his thoughts by a soft voice behind him.
"Hello, Hongjoong." it says softly.
Hongjoong screeches and jumps to his feet and looks to the direction of the (very beautiful) voice behind him. He freezes as his eyes fall upon one of the most beautiful men he's ever seen. The mystery man has long deep black hair hitting his shoulders. He wears a deep brown fitted leather jacket with a patterned blouse beneath it. His arms are in the pockets of his black slacks. Hongjoong's eyes drift to the man's face and almost flinches at the vision in front of him. His head is tilted, a small frown painted on his full lips. If Hongjoong didn't know any better he would think he almost looks concerned.
"How do you know my name?" Hongjoong breathes.
"You're the one who summoned me. This is your blood, correct?" the man gestures down to the blood soaked carpet before his eyes dart back to Hongjoong's.
"You're... a demon?" He holds himself tightly, hands clenched by his sides. Hongjoong has never hallucinated before but he figures there's a first time for everything. Maybe Hongjoong is as crazy as he used to say.
"I must have finally lost it," Hongjoong whispers to himself.
"I assure you, your mind is still intact." Hongjoong jumps again once the man speaks.
"Jesus!" Hongjoong exclaims.
"I prefer the name Seonghwa, actually" the demon- Seonghwa - responds.
"What is it you want, Hongjoong? I do have other responsibilities to attend to." Seonghwa responds. Hongjoong shivers at the thought of what responsibilities a demon might have. He pushes the thought away.
"I need a boyfriend!" Hongjoong blurts. "Uh...shit. I mean someone to pretend to be my boyfriend, that is."
The demon raises his perfectly sculpted eyebrows in surprise. "You want to sell your soul for a.. fake boyfriend?" he speaks. "Am I hearing you correctly?"
"Yes." Hongjoong nods.
"You're eternal soul and chance to get into heaven will be gone so that you can.. what? Feel less lonely? I'm sure you can find what you're looking for without my help, Hongjoong." Seonghwa says and turns as if to leave.
"No! That's not what I'm doing this for." Hongjoong shouts, "And it's not like I'm going to heaven anyway." he continues after a moment.
"Then why?" Seonghwa questions.
"My friends are.. worried about me. If I have a boyfriend, then they won't be as worried as much and they'll stop asking me how I'm doing and everyone will be happier! Besides, you're a demon. Why do you care about the reason I want to make a deal with you for? Shouldn't you be happy you get my soul?" Hongjoong responds. Seonghwa doesn't need to know why his friends are so worried or why Hongjoong would rather sell his soul to a demon than try to find a fake boyfriend another way. Wooyoung, Jongho and the rest of his friends should be able to live their lives without worrying about Hongjoong and his issues. It's nothing that Hongjoong doesn't deserve. It's Hongjoong's own fault that he's suffering. His own stupid decision to not listen to his friends warnings. Hongjoong will be fine eventually. But for now, he needs to pretend that everything is fine. Even if he isn't.
"Even demons have standards, Hongjoong." Seonghwa says piercing the other man with his eyes.
"I need to do something else. You see, my life is very boring these days. And it wouldn't feel right to take your undying soul for just a fake boyfriend." Seonghwa says with a blink of his eyes.
Hongjoong thinks of sending Seonghwa after Him. He thinks of the damage a demon might be able to do to a man like that. He envisions blood and guts spilling out of His body. He thinks of sending Seonghwa to stalk him, ruin his life, until that disgusting man begs for his own death. He would never be able to hurt anyone else. But, what's the point? It won't change anything. It's not like Hongjoong is at risk of ever crossing paths with him again. It wouldn't make Hongjoong's life any better. He would still live in fear. He would still be a hermit refusing to be out of his apartment for more than two hours. The nightmares would stay. The memories would stay. Hongjoong doesn't want to ever think of Him again. Wooyoung would just be dissapointed when he shows up to dinner alone tomorrow. Worse, he'd probably get that look in his eyes that Hongjoong knows to mean that Wooyoung feels sorry for him. San would probably put a hand on Wooyoungs shoulder to calm him and tell Hongjoong that they understand but wishes Hongjoong wouldn't lie to them.
Hongjoong sighs, resigned to Wooyoungs eventual disappointment when he shows up to dinner alone tomorrow. Worse, he'd probably get that look in his eyes that Hongjoong knows to mean that Wooyoung feels sorry for him. San would probably put a hand on Wooyoungs shoulder to calm him and tell Hongjoong that they understand but wishes Hongjoong wouldn't lie to them.
"I don't want anything else." Hongjoong responds. It's technically a lie. Hongjoong wants many things, but nothing that's possible. Nothing that Seonghwa could give him.
His eyes return to meet Hongjoong's own. "What would I do as this fake boyfriend?" he questions.
"I just needed someone to accompany me to go to events with my friends. I may have told them I'll bring my boyfriend to the double date with San and Wooyoung tomorrow." he rubs the back of his neck. "Sorry for wasting your time, I guess."
"I'll do it." Seonghwa decides. He smiles a toothy grin. "Free of charge. I needed something to keep me busy, anyways."
"Thank you!" Hongjoong excitedly runs to Seonghwa and grabs his arms, jumping in excitement. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Hongjoong stops, tilting his head at Seonghwa. "Wait." He lets go of the demon's arms. "What happened to your responsibilities you needed to 'attend to'?"
Seonghwa chuckles raising a hand to caress Hongjoong's face. He leans in. "Haven't you heard to never trust a demon?" Hongjoong's eyes widen and he takes a large step back. His cheeks are hot as he clears his throat.
Seonghwa looks around the room and his lips upturn in a small smile. "You know most people don't use their own blood nowadays. They're too scared. Sometimes it's paint, sometimes its animal blood. Those summonings are so faint. But yours.. yours was so loud. A shout in a room full of whispers." He smiles to himself before looking back to Hongjoong. "It was refreshing."
Hongjoong takes a deep breath, straightening his back. "What do you want in return?" he asks. Seonghwa cocks his head to the side. "You're a demon, you must want something, even if you don't want my soul. I don't.. I don't have anything else to give you."
Hongjoong thinks of all the things a demon might want and swallows. Hongjoong remembers all of the things He used to want. Now that Seonghwa won't get his soul, what will he ask for? Would it even matter if Hongjoong agrees or not? Seonghwa's a demon, he could do whatever he wanted and there's nothing Hongjoong could do to stop him. Would Hongjoong even try to stop it? Hongjoong is useless. He would just freeze again. Seonghwa would do whatever he wants with him and Hongjoong will be there to pick up the pieces of himself. Again. No!
No! It's not supposed to happen again. Hongjoong swore that he wouldn't let it happen again. It can't happen again! Hongjoong can't handle it. He's not strong enough. He's not strong enough! Hongjoong can't breathe. It's going to happen again and there's nothing he can do-
A hand on his shoulder brings him back to reality. He flinches as he stares wide-eyed at the demon. Seonghwa removes his hand as quick as it came as Hongjoong remembers how to breath. Seonghwa's eyes are soft, his face a blank slate.
"I don't need anything from you, Hongjoong," his voice is smooth and calming, "Think of it as you humoring me. An old demon could always use some entertainment." Right. Entertaintment. Hongjoong can do that. Easy peasy. He's good at putting on a show. He takes a few breaths.
"I'm supposed to meet them at four P.M. tomorrow. Wooyoung and San, I mean. My friends. We should probably get our stories straight before then." Hongjoong says, deciding to change the subject. "Could you meet me here at three to go over everything?" he looks at Seonghwa expectantly.
"Mhm. Yes, that should work." Seonghwa agrees, "I shall take my leave now."
"Uhh. Right. Bye." Hongjoong says, glad that he can calm down in peace.
"And Hongjoong?"
"Yes?"
"Remember to take care of that." Seonghwa says, eyes darting to the bloody sock tied around Hongjoong's wrist. Seonghwa reaches his hands into the shadows and he's gone.