1. Give and Take

"Take it." He insisted, placing the pendant on his desk, giving him little room to argue.
"Are you truly certain you want me to have it?" He asked, again. He needed to know. Why was he giving him the one thing that could control his freedom?
"Please. I insist."
"But surely-" He stopped when his gaze turned as cold as the gnawing frost he commanded.
"You're the only one I trust enough to not abuse it, Templar." His voice was like ice, with a deeper darkness lurking beneath; if Braev didn't take the pendant willingly, he'd make him have it.
Braev let out a sigh.
"Very well, then. I will take it. In exchange, I wish to know why you are so insistent on me having it. It is the only thing that has any degree of control over you; surely you'd want to keep it for yourself?"

He let out a cold laugh, the shadows around them warping and writhing into howling maws and cold leers at the sound of his joyless laughter.
"I don't trust myself." He admitted, brushing a lock of his hair away from his pale face, gaze fixated on the candle

His new friend despised the light and its warmth. He stayed away from the fireplace, remaining in the shadows, and didn't drink the mug of hot chocolate his mother had given him, only accepting it because he had told him it was rude to reject the kind offer.

that sat on Braev's desk. Braev silently urged him to continue with a slight inclination of his head. "I feel this constant hunger, Templar. It's foul, ravenous. Some days I can barely control myself, so I hide myself away from people." He let out a sigh, hiding his gaze beneath the shadow of his hair. "Even then I still find myself devouring the travellers that cross my path. I know it's from my mother's side of the family; she was one of the demons who sparked the legend of the Wendigo, after all. This hunger is in my blood."
"And you want me to stop you from devouring people?" Braev asked gently, knowing the being that sat before him could misinterpret his words if he wasn't careful with his tone. They could be thanked for that.
"Not exactly; I'd go mad and become uncontrollable if I was denied human flesh every time I felt the hunger." He raised his head to meet Braev's gaze; the antlers that extended from his head reached upwards, grasping at the air with their long tines, the shadows they cast gnawing at the walls.
"I gave you that pendant because I know you'd stop me if I found myself unable to control my own instincts; it's linked to the Demon Band, remember?"

Braev didn't want to think about what that Band could do to him.

The boy whined as the band around his neck sent courses of painful magic through his body, the face of an Orthodoxy cardinal giving him a cruel glare as he writhed and sobbed, begging for the pain to stop. He couldn't do anything but stand and watch as one of the men he trusted tortured his friend.

"Of course I remember." He replied, gaze fixed on the band

"I think it's like those collars they put on disobedient dogs."

around his neck. It was usually hidden by his robes, and its sickly colour, a mixture of deep purple and black, reminded Braev of bruising. "That is why I didn't want to take it; I'd have thought you wouldn't want anyone having control over you like that again."
He gave Braev a sad smile, whatever light in his eyes fading at the memories of what they did.
"You're too kind to a beast like me, Templar. But then again, your kindness is why I decided to give the pendant to you. Like I said before, you won't abuse its abilities."

Braev crossed his arms over his chest, the chair creaking slightly as his weight shifted.
"Of course I wouldn't; I look after Eternia, and all those within it."
He gave a thoughtful hum.
"Even if I devour

the sound of flesh being torn from bone and eaten by the frail boy

the people within your country?"
"It's like you said before; you can't control your hunger, therefore I don't hold any ill will towards you." When he raised a brow in response, a criticism of his view on his lips, Braev elaborated, "Is it morally and legally right to hold someone accountable for something they have no control over if they took all precautions to stop anything from happening?
For example, would I blame a lycanthrope for infecting someone even though they ensured they were in a secure area that no one would visit? Should they be blamed if, by a freak chance, someone did visit the area they were in? Both parties, the infector and the infectee, are not responsible; it was sheer dumb luck they stumbled across each other, therefore neither truly hold any blame."
The Templar shifted slightly, settling his blue gaze on the demon who sat before him. "I believe your circumstances are remarkably similar to that scenario. As a result, I will only use this pendant's restraining abilities when I feel the absolute need to."
He bowed in thanks, antlers brushing against the desk.
Their tines, long and sharp like fangs, burrowed into the wood. When he raised his head, a light frost had gathered where his antlers touched,

"I've never been hugged before. I end up nearly freezing people to death when they try. It's a defence mechanism, I think, but I wish it would stop."

the shadows on the desk dancing and twisting amongst the cold.

"Thank you, Templar."
"Due to the nature of your request, I give you permission to address me by my first name."
He flashed him a smile that was all teeth but no malice, the first sign of genuine joy he had seen the demon display in years.
"Then I insist you do the same, Braev."
"Of course." The Templar studied him for a moment, frowning slightly, noting on what appeared to be a steadily healing case of sunburn across his face. "You don't have to go back there." He blinked at him in reply, clearly confused. "You're a being of darkness and cold; surely working in such a warm area will affect your health?"
"Are you suggesting I work for you?" He frowned at him, unsure of what the Templar was planning.
"I am. Your reputation as an assassin precedes you, and I need someone who can travel quickly between countries to deliver messages or take care of anything my usual contacts wouldn't be able to. Your abilities meet that criteria, and working for me would also ensure you don't fall ill through overexposure to heat."
He gave a soft hum, leaning back in his chair. His claws tapped out a steady rhythm

the sound of claws scraping against bone, flesh being torn from the body

on the chair's arm as he pondered Braev's offer.
"I suppose I can take you up on your offer. I will need to let my other employers know about my sudden change in job, of course."
"Take all the time you need."
"Thank you." He extended a hand towards him,

a blood-soaked boy offering him the still-quivering heart of a cardinal with an expectant and innocent grin

a genuine smile, not the cold mimicry he usually wore, on his face.
Braev took his hand and returned his grin.
"I believe I will enjoy working with you, Ciggma."