deal | jjk

07

"Can't sleep?"

You turn, startled, towards the corner of your room from where the voice sounded. The erratic beating of your heart makes you put your hand over it as if the action alone would calm it. Maybe it's more of a gesture for him to stop scaring you half to death. He smiles. You mirror it.

It's the second night in a row that he visits you—third if you count the night at the hospital—and you won't lie and claim that it doesn't bring you joy. There are tons of emotions connected to him, but a majority are positive. You like him—a lot. A question burns in the back of your mind, what does he feel?

"How'd you guess?" You refer to yesterday when he showed up, and you talked for an hour. The topic of conversation was mostly you, including your occasional insomnia, and even though you only got a few minor answers and a 'thank you for the help' in return, you still feel like you know the demon better.

He definitely knows you better, although you never spoke a word of the deal, your impending death, or the tragic backstory of your family. You thought he knew everything about you, since he's used information not given to him before—like your name—but after asking, he told you that he can see snapshots of a person's life. Not every single detail, just images displaying what really matters to them.

One thing you still don't know is his real name.

You haven't brought it up again, and you won't. It's just how it's going to be, and if it's true that knowing it gives you power over him, then you respect his decision of not revealing it. Granted, you're curious beyond belief; JK doesn't really suit him in your opinion, but you almost don't want him to tell you either.

JK doesn't answer your rhetorical question, instead he plops down on your bed next to you and eyes the laptop.

"What are you doing?"

"Watching a movie. Apparently, this was my mom's favorite, and since I've never seen it before, I thought I'd give it a go."

"Oh. What's it about?"

"Love, I guess," you say, eyes trained on the two characters on the screen. A man and a woman are standing at a pier, talking. "She loved that sorta thing, so I'm not really surprised."

"She loved love?" JK asks teasingly. He lies down next to you. Elbow jutting into the mattress, he uses his hand to support his head.

"Yeah. Always went on and on about the 'big love' and how my dad was her 'one in a lifetime.'"

"And you don't share her mindset? About the 'big love,' I mean?"

"No, I do. It's just that... I'm a little jealous," you admit shyly. You summoned him, struck the deal. You have no right to complain.

"Surely, you've dated?" He asks, one eyebrow raised. How much does he know bout your life?

"I have. But it was never like... I don't know, I guess I just wanted a taste of that love that's so strong, you go kinda stupid from it, you know? The one where you can't stop thinking of them, their voice... their scent..."

"Hmm, I never knew humans felt that kind of emotions," he hums the way you might do after hearing the news of your neighbors' new car. 'Huh.'

"We do. Well, I don't, since I never got the chance to... but as a whole, humans are incredible. I know you're not very fond of us, but I hope maybe that can change someday." Even though I won't be around.

His jaw tightens, and your first thought is that you've upset him.

"I didn't mean that I'm not grateful, because I am! I really am!" Your outburst only results in the demon's eyes narrowing. Shit, you've done it now. "You saved my baby brother, and that means the world to me."