Project, Malfunction
Chapter One,
Reflections, Rejections, Sight of the Blind

The reflection in the mirror, it drove him over the edge of self loathing, over the edge of self abhorrence. He wanted to break the already cracked mirror, that was, a perfect reflection. A perfect reflection of the one he so hated. Why did he put up with this, day after day? This boy, this kid, he was only ten years old…eleven, tomorrow, exactly one hour from now. One hour, and tomorrow would tick around, one hour, and he would be another year older. Well, in human years, anyways.

With one last, angry look at himself, the boy, who was but a small, frail little thing, brushed his burning bright red hair out of his face, and started out of his room, down the dark, long hallways of his house. No…correction. Not his house, his fathers house. And even that was pushing it. His father had died, the day his mother had given birth to the young ten, almost eleven, year old. What was left of him, but his house, and his child? Nothing. His mother had gotten rid of everything that had meant anything to his father, everything, but this house, and his own short life. The child sneered. Not like that old man would have wanted any of his belongings in the first place…he's dead, what did it matter?

"Tenain~!" A voice call out to the boy, the tone suggesting that whoever it was, was undoubtedly teasing him, or being playful. Tenain, or, so he liked to be called, dully looked into the dining room, seeing his half brother run over, and give him one of his not so famous death hugs.

Tenain winced, and then smirked a little, hugging his half brother back just as tightly. He was only about eight and a half years old, but already, he thought like a fully grown adult. He was a sharp kid, very skilled, and very loving, despite the way he grew up, and how his mother was. His half brother was also left without a father, but, for completely different reasons. Tenain's mother was…well, she was just something different. No one knew exactly who the boy's father was.

"Tenain! You always sleep in so late! I have dinner for you, and momma, but, she left to early to eat." Tenain scowled at the mention of his mother, but smirked again, sitting at the kitchen table.

He and his brother looked nothing alike…nothing. That wasn't such a bad thing, though. His brother's name was Leviathan, and despite how strong the name sounded to most people, Leviathan skipped merrily about the kitchen, his apron hanging loosely off his shoulders. The apron was originally made for Tenain, but, he hated to cook…so, Leviathan took over the duty, seeing as how he loved to fix up different foods for his older brother. "Leviathan, do you really have to wear that thing? It makes you look like a girl…" Tenain said, his voice, deep, yet submissive, broken off by his tired throat, which thirsted for some water.

Leviathan shook his head, and stuck out his tongue. "Naaah! Unlike you, Tenain, I am a clean person, and like to be well dressed before I stumble down the stairs!" He teased, pointing to Tenain's crinkled and messy T-shirt, and boxers…which was all he ever really slept in. His hair was also a complete wreck…but, Leviathan didn't dare comment about that. He knew just how badly Tenain hated his hair.

"Yeah, well…if I was just as nicely dressed as you every day, you wouldn't stand out, now would you?" Tenain asked, silver eyes narrowing as his food was placed before him. "Then again, it's too late for dinner. Eleven O'clock isn't dinner anymore, Leviathan."

Leviathan rolled his eyes. "Oh, stop complaining! It will be breakfast in an hour or so, does it really matter?! Besides, it's your fault you wanted to hide and be a grump in your room, brother!" He complained, sticking out his tongue, pushing the plate closer to Tenain.

"Hm." Tenain looked down at the food, and then smirked, snickering silently so as not to offend his kid brother.

It did look good. Leviathan was an excellent cook, Tenain would give him that. Eggs, bacon, waffles…even sausage. Even if it was supposed to be 'dinner', the food looked so…normal. Tenain narrowed his eyes more. It was a normal meal, served to normal people with normal problems and normal lives…did Tenain even deserve such a normal meal? His silver eyes drifted towards his cheerful brother, who smiled at him expectantly. He knew what his half brother wanted, and he slowly took a bite, the taste of the food melting in his mouth in a delightful way. He was not worthy of such a meal, but, his brother seemed to think so.

Then again, Leviathan always thought highly of Tenain, and always tried to make him as happy as possible. Even if they where only half brothers, Tenain didn't have any question about the fact that his younger brother's affection towards him. Brothers, where brothers…no one could possibly understand the bond they held. Leviathan knew things about Tenain, that no one else would have guessed in a million years…and in return, he kept the order's secrets, and even respected the hate his brother held for his real name.

His real name, was his father's name. His whole name, thrown onto Tenain in the sickest way. He felt like replacement, and Leviathan knew it. That was why he refused to call Tenain by his real name…only his nickname was used.

Tenain's real name, was a name of a great and powerful demon lord, someone his mother had fallen madly in love with. She, was just as sick and twisted as any other underling, just as evil and corrupted as any other pathetic demon…but, Tenain tried, he really did, he tried to be different then them. He hated what and who he was, and desperately strived to be different. He refuse to become his father, and more so, he refused to become his mother.

As if reading Tenain's mind, Leviathan sighed, and pulled a chair around, sitting beside his big brother. Tenain didn't mind, and Levi leaned back in his chair, stretching out in a relaxed way.

"You need to relax a little, brother. It's not good for you, to always think you're unworthy. It's not like you wanted to be born a demon." He said in a soothing, yet still happy kind of way, making Tenain's face swell in disgust.

Not like he wanted to be born a demon, huh? He sneered, and then pushed his plate away from him, earning a distressed look form Leviathan. Tenain then stood up, and shot a strange look at his younger brother, before he snidely walked away, stumbling back into the dinning room. What did he know? Leviathan had a good life, a good life indeed. Tenain, was the apple of his mother's eye…and yet, it was Leviathan who was the lucky one. He was the unfortunate one, the one who didn't deserve this twisted life his mother had given, no, forced upon him. Only ten years old, eleven in about forty five minutes, and the boy had already tried to commit suicide more then once.

His mental state, was needless to say, in ill conditions…and, all his pint up anger, all his self hatred and loathing, was going to explode one of these days. Today wasn't one of those days. Tomorrow, hopefully, wasn't either.

Tomorrow, was his birthday…surly his mother would come home and drown herself in drinks or sex…a demon like her, was so typical and easy to predict. Love was something she always clamed to feel for Tenain, and even for Leviathan…but, demon's didn't feel love. At least, not demon's like her. Demon's like her, where disgusting, and ugly…inside, and out.

Maybe him and his brother could go out in about…thirty minutes now? Yeah, thirty minutes now, and he'd be eleven. Him and Leviathan would be able to go do something without their mother.

Just a while more, and they could go and play around on the outside world, without much worry of the human crowds. Starting at the grandfather clock in the main room, Tenain's eyes followed the ticking digit, his body perfectly still, as if frozen in the time that he was watching pass. Leviathan was still cleaning up the kitchen, and didn't notice Tenain's frozen state…thankfully. Tenain didn't want to be torn from this view, like he had been so many times before. He could stand here, for hours, days even, just watching his time tick away. He wished it would tick faster, it would speed up his time to live, and let him die quicker.

That brought up a curious question. Could demon's die? Well, not pure blooded demons. Though, Demon's like Tenain, who had pure blood, but where not one of the original, didn't have a soul to damn…so, when they died, they didn't go back to hell…they just…ceased to exist.

He wished he had been only half blood. If only his mother had been an angel, if only his mother would have been something pure and good, something with a soul…it would wash out his blood, and give him goodness as she might have had, and when he died, his soul might live on. But, his mother wasn't an angel. She was a filthy, disgusting demon, just like all the others. Leviathan and himself, would just disappear when their time came…and yet, Tenain couldn't wait. He didn't care if his existence would be wasted. He just didn't want to live here anymore. "…Tenain?"

Tenain blinked, and then looked over towards his brother, who had just recently walked closer to him, his hand on Tenain's shoulder.

The demon sighed, and then smiled over at his younger half brother. "I'm alright…I was just thinking, Levi. I swear." He said, using a pet name he had given Leviathan when they where both younger.

It would sooth the savage beast that dwelled within Leviathan…Tenain, he know that no matter how cute his little brother was now, there would come a day, when the demon, would become just that. A demon. A monster even, and, Tenain knew that on that day, their bond, would forever be severed.

He was just happy…because that day, wasn't this day.