“I have to make some Contracts before someone comes along.” He wasn’t going to specify what because most likely that thing would kill him if he was caught without a Contract in two days.
"Just make your contract with me," Bryn mumbled, pulling the blanket over his head like it was a done deal. How had Zack managed to survive this long on his own? Honestly. "You're gonna die if you let someone fuck you tonight. Be sensible."
“You don’t seem like you’re willing to do that,” The Demon replied snarkily. “And actually, I’d die if I don’t let someone fuck me. I’ll be back in time for dinner.” He walked out of the apartment, still giving small signs of a limp and pain.
Bryn frowned and tried to stand up, collapsing back onto the couch with a whine of pain. His head throbbed angrily, but he forced himself to his feet and followed slowly after Zack. Luckily for him, Zack was also slowed by pain. "Zack, wait! I… I'll do it if it'll keep you from getting even more hurt. Just… come back inside." He gritted his teeth in preparation for the next word. "Please."
Zack was waiting near the elevators, leaned against the wall for support as he gritted his sharp teeth together. He glanced up when the Human approached and sat up off of the wall as if he wasn’t doing that at all.
“Fine. I’ll come inside, but we have to do it soon. I can’t wait an entire week for you.”
Bryn, who was looking rather grey in the face and still clutching the blanket around himself, offered no judgment. He just wasn't in the mood to make fun of someone else's weakness. "You'll only have to wait an hour or so, grouch." He ushered Zack into one of the elevators, massaging his temples lightly. "I'll even make you dinner afterward."
“What are you doing?” He growled as he was pushed into the elevator, resisting the pushing and pushing back barely. “We can sign one in your apartment, and I’m telling you I can’t wait! I can have one done in an hour, Human. I have a minimum to meet and I am not meeting it because of you!”
Bryn winced at the noise and backed away at the push, shushing Zack. "Fine, whatever. Just calm your tits. You're hurting me." The elevator doors closed behind them. "We'll sign as soon as we get back, stop freaking out."
“Where the hell are we going?” This Demon was not calming down. Despite the awkward way he was holding himself of the pain, the look on his face was intimidating and dark as he held himself up.
"I need some fresh air before we do this, it'll only take a second." Bryn squinted at Zack's face for a few seconds. "You're tagging along so I can be sure you won't do something dumb and get even more hurt. Did you even take the ibuprofen, or did you decide it was for pussies?"
“We could’ve just opened a window. It wouldn’t have done anything to you at all, it’s literally all just me and my pain. This isn’t hard.” He started pacing. “I’m going back upstairs.” He decided, turning and jamming the button of the level number on it just as the elevator reached ground floor.
"Fine." Bryn stayed with him, not convinced that Zack wasn't going to run off into the night and come back beaten bloody. Or worse. "Fine. I'm sorry, I'm not thinking straight. Let's just get this over with before I make any other dumb decisions that hurt you."
“No, go get your air,” The Demon said with a slight sneer despite himself. “I’ll be waiting upstairs.” Honestly, what would this guy do if he just ran off to make a quick Contract? Kill him? Get a bit angry? Oooh he was so scared.
(What? The heck?)
Bryn gave him a very tired scowl and stepped off the elevator. He walked outside, plopping down on the curb to take in the darkening streets and try to clear his head. He didn't even know what he was doing anymore, he just knew that caring about other people was hard. He wished he could stop. More than that, he wished Zack would make it easy. And why had he even volunteered to do this with Zack!? It would only tangle up his already messy feelings, make everything 10 times harder than it had to be.
No more than he deserved, really.
It took him a few minutes to stand up again, but he eventually managed to stumble into the elevator and make it back to the apartment.
(Accidentally clicked the post reply button early, sorry)
(Oh makes sense lol)
Zack reentered the apartment and disappeared into his room again, shaking out his wings and grabbing a big mottled knife from the inside of his flannel, sitting on his bed and twisting it slowly between his fingers, looking down at it. Too many times has he used it to cut into himself for pointless or painful Contracts. Occasionally they would be worth his time like ones of transportation or protection. Those he liked a lot. It made him feel important.
Bryn tossed the blanket back onto the couch and crossed over to Zack's room, knocking on the door with unusual politeness. This whole contract business had him feeling off-balanced. Too off-balanced to be a dick. "I'm back. Are you ready?"
“Yeah, come on in.” He sat up slowly, releasing his wings and the giant fellows shivering. They curled up a little and Zack stroked a particularly thin part of the shower of feathers.
If Bryn was surprised, he hid it well. He tossed the door open, gave Zack a considering look, and left. A few seconds later he popped back in with the blanket, tossing it at Zack before he plopped down next to him on the bed. "Are you always this cold?"
Zack shook off the blanket and let it lay on the bed. He offered a wing to Bryn.
“Take one. Don’t ask why. We’ll take this off of the bed once you do.” He traced lines along the flannel that was still hiding his arm.
Bryn stared at the wing skeptically and reached forward. The feathers were soft and downy beneath his fingers, surprisingly well kept. He quickly found a loose feather to pluck out. "Got it. Where do you want to do the rest?"
Zack’s wings shivered indignantly. “The bathroom would be the best place. There we can clean up the blood easier if I get sloppy.” He moved past the Human, the knife shining ominously in his hand.
Bryn flinched as the knife caught his eye, realizing that the feather in his hand looked dangerously close to a quill. Which meant they'd be using Zack as the ink. "Isn't there some other way to do this? I could always sign in pen, you don't have to fucking mutilate yourself."
“Oh my god. You need to get this ‘signing’ thing out of your head. I’m not gonna poof some paper out of the sky for you. That’s not how this works.” He shut the door and turned to the Human. “The only proof of our Contract will be this.” He tugged down his sleeves to show many patches of skin, mutilated by the knife. Some looked fresher than others, but it was honestly hard to tell by how many there were all along his arms.
"Listen up chucklehead, if you say the word 'contract' I assume signing's going to be involved. Here on earth we do this shit with pen and pa- Sweet Jesus!" Bryn flinched at the cuts, slowly reaching forward to trace a finger over them before he could really process what he was seeing. "I… this? This is a contract!?"
“Yes! This is a Contract. You Humans soften it up to more than it has to be. Anyway you’ll dip my feather completely into my blood once I draw a wound and you’ll be branded with my mark so they know you agreed to this.” He rose the knife and prepared to stab down, finding a nice spot.
Bryn stiffened and clamped his hand down over the spot. "Do you really have to stab yourself? Just do a shallow cut, I'll still get blood." It was considerably closer to begging than he would've liked.
Zack snatched his arm out from under Bryn’s hand. “Just be glad it isn’t you. I’ve been doing this for forever, don’t worry.” He turned away from him and zoned in on the place again.
Bryn could've laughed. Don't worry; how on earth was he supposed to accomplish that when Zack was about to fucking stab himself!? "Fine." He braced himself, white knuckling the feather in an attempt to stay calm. "Just do it."
