Soul Cartel One-Shots

When that Day Comes

Shihoon was laying down, looking up at the sky. That sky which perhaps should not have been in the afterlife world, but was anyways. His legs were laying over the cliff, and his hands were rested on his stomach. He closed his eyes and breathed in and out before turning to look at the companion beside him.
 
Mephistopheles the Archdemon was laying down as well, looking up at the sky. He was in a comfortable position, his head resting on his hands. When Shihoon sighed the redhead looked over and met the other's light brown eyes. Shihoon smiled and laughed a bit after gazing at Mephisto. He then looked back up and broke the silence the two of them shared, "Mephisto. This is kinda nice, isn't it? This is a pretty peaceful place."

The demon responded, looking back at the sky himself, "Well, I'm not really one for peace and quiet, but sure, it is kinda nice. I guess. Still, you know I'd rather be fighting."

Shihoon laughed and responded, "Well, there are still plenty of tough guys around hell. You could be out there fighting them right now. And yet..." he paused for a moment, "You're sitting here with me, being silent, looking at the sky." Shihoon laughed once again, and looked over to Mephistopheles to see his reaction. Mephisto was meeting his gaze, and not smiling. He was indeed frowning, though just a little bit. He spoke, "Shihoon. It's because I'm doing this with you." Mephisto maintained the same expression and Shihoon frowned a bit, then closed his eyes and smiled. 

"Of course Mephisto. I like being with you." That small admonition was true for Shihoon, but it didn't say all that he wanted it to say. Truthfully, Shihoon wanted to stay by Mephisto's side all the time. He was in love with the demon who only seemed to consider him as a friend. If even truly that. As impossible as Shihoon knew it was, he hoped that Mephisto was in love with him. Instead of saying everything he wanted to say, 'I love you. I love you so much. I always want to be with you. I love you to the ends of the Earth and Heavens Mephisto. Do you love me too?' He simply remained smiling. 

Mephisto, who still frowned, sighed and said, "Shihoon. I like being with you too. I'd only do something like this with you, you know that."
The purple haired boy laughed and said, "Yeah, of course Mephisto. I do. We'll always be friends." He didn't think about that statement until Mephisto returned, his frown deepening. 

"Always? What about when that day comes Shihoon?"

He gave a questioning look towards the demon asking, "What day Mephisto?"

"The day when Heaven and Hell clash. When that day comes, will we be enemies?" He then gave Shihoon a hard look, demanding an answer. Shihoon frowned and looked into the crimson eyes of his unrequited love. Mephistopheles sat up, legs dangling over the cliff, and he looked out over the battle damaged land before him. Shihoon sat up, noticing Mephisto's resting hand which he had to stop himself from taking. After a minute of thought he responded.

"I don't know for sure. I do know that I'll always consider you my friend. I don't ever want to have to," he hesitated at the word that left a sting on his tongue to think about, especially with the one beside him, "kill... you. I'd rather not worry about it. Right now we're friends right? A lot of things can happen between now and then. When that day comes, we'll see where we are then. Ok?" He turned to Mephisto, his fingers almost brushing the others sharp nails. 
Mephistopheles turned towards Shihoon and smiled at him. "Ok. I guess there isn't any point in worrying about it right now. I guess I'll just enjoy being you're friend. As weird as it is to have a friend." Shihoon smiled back at Mephisto, just barely resisting the urge to lean in and kiss him.

"Mephisto... I... I'm glad I met you. You and I have a lot in common. You were really scary when I first met you, but you're not so scary to me anymore."
Mephisto looked back out over the land in front of the two and smirked. "Shihoon. I was so confused by you from the very beginning. So weak, and you knew what I was, yet... you didn't seem that scared of me when we first met. Most people have much greater reactions of fear when they first meet me."

"You were surprised? Really? I dunno. I was pretty scared of you. I also didn't see your full power the first time I met you either. But... well, I knew you were dangerous, but you didn't attack me. Actually I really enjoyed reading to you."

"Ha. Really? You always seemed so eager to leave."

"Haha! That was cuz I didn't wanna get in trouble with my sis. And I didn't want her to come looking for me and find you. If anything I was more scared of you hurting Sooin than me."

"You really love her, don't you? You've always been so protective of the ones you love."

"Yeah! I do love Sooin. I'd give my life to protect her. It's because I care about the people I love."
Mephisto was still looking ahead. He didn't notice Shihoon's hand which was brushing his own. He asked in a far off voice, "Is that why?"
Shihoon looked at him, concern suddenly spreading across his features. The sudden change in Mephisto's usually laid back demeanor threw him off. "Is that why what, Mephisto?"

Mephistopheles quite suddenly turned towards the now perplexed boy and leaned closer. He had a hard look on his face, and he looked right into Shihoon's eyes, which were now widened from the sudden action. "Ah- ah Mephisto? What?" He stumbled with the words when he was quickly followed with Mephisto's near yell, "Why! Why the fuck did you do it Shihoon. Sacrifice yourself like you did?! Do you know how I- how I- how..." Mephisto leaned back and looked downwards, closing his eyes. 
Shihoon realized what he was trying to say, the word 'feel.' It hit Shihoon pretty hard to hear that. A demon was not supposed to feel anything. Other than anger maybe, or other negative emotions. But a demon, at least as far as Shihoon knew, was not supposed to be able to feel human emotions, especially in response to another creature. That admonition that Mephistopheles had made made Shihoon's heart ache. It made him feel bad for Mephisto, the demon whom he considered his best friend, and it also made him feel hopeful, hopeful that Mephisto could actually return his feelings someday, if not today.

Before he could complete Mephisto's uncompleted thought the demon looked up and said, "I never understood how you saw me, a powerful demon, as someone who needed protecting. I never needed to be saved Shihoon," he began raising his voice as he continued, "You were so selfish! To leave like that! What if you'd have died right then?! Huh? Do you realize...? Ugh! Shihoon!"
Mephisto's expression now looked pained. Shihoon reached over and put his hand on Mephisto's shoulder.

"You're right. I was selfish. I could've died. But if I would've died, you would've died. Or maybe you would've been trapped there forever. And if you were gone and I knew I could've stopped it, I would regret it my whole life. So, maybe I wasn't so selfish afterall. You couldn't feel guilty since you couldn't have stopped it, and you'd be alive and well. If I was gone forever you probably would have just forgotten about me eventually anyways." Shihoon smiled despite the sadness he really felt. He was sad. Of course he had been scared when he left himself in that crumbling place. Of course he didn't know if he would survive and make it out, but in the end he did. It was hard though, being stuck in that place for so long. More than anything though, he just missed his family and friends. He had been so lonely. That's what hurt the most. 

"Shihoon! You idiot, you really think I would've just forgotten about you? I live forever. Even if I tried I couldn't just forget."

"Well, I made it out, didn't I?"

"I'm... glad you did, Shihoon." Mephisto once again looked out at the area in front of him. He sighed, but then smiled. "Yeah. I guess all that matters is that you're here now. But don't ever do anything like that again, ok? I wanna keep you around. So don't go dying, ok?"

"...ok, Mephi. I'll try not to die. But I can't promise you I won't keep trying to protect you an everyone else. It's my nature. My instinct. But I'll try to be careful."

The demon sighed again and looked at Shihoon, "Thanks." Mephisto's hand was currently laying partly over Shihoon's. For now, that was enough.