Deviant
Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia.
Warnings: Violence, Drama, Peril, Death
Pairings: Midoriya x Amajiki, Midoriya x Shinsou, Midoriya x Bakugou, Midoriya x Todoroki, Midoriya x Uraraka, Rodi x Pino, Midoriya x Rodi x Pino, Midoriya x Sero, Midoriya x Toga
Plot: Life after the apocalypse has drastically changed for those who survived. Contracting with demons is probably one of the least interesting developments in the new world. For Midoriya and Amajiki, it's become a standard way of life, the only existence they've ever known. They must rely on one another to avoid possession, and live whatever semblance of life remains now that the planet has been ripped apart.
Demon Classes:
Lesser - unable to appear in spectral form, only visible/communicative with contracted host
Mid - can appear in spectral form/partial manifestation
Greater - can manifest entirely in the physical realm
Deviant - dangerous to contract with, strong enough to possess host during manifestation
Chaos - can exist independently without contractor, consume weaker demons to sustain themselves and accumulate power
Midoriya: (Original Pact: Bakugou, Uraraka, Todoroki)
Power - Bakugou D/D (power/combustion), Toga M/M (power/darkness)
Fire - Todoroki D/D (fire/ice)
Water - Asui G
Air - Uraraka G/G (air/gravity)
Earth - Kirishima G/G (earth/shield)
Light - Kaminari G (lightning)
Darkness - Shinsou C
Enhancements: Jirou M/M (sight/sound), Hagakure G (stealth), Sero G (binding), Ashido M (poison), Yaoyorozu G (crafting), Iida G (speed), Koda M/M (voice/sound)
Amajiki: (Original Pact: Hawks, Fumikage, Nejire/Mirio)
Power - Usagiyama D, Mirio G/G (power/light)
Fire - n/a
Water - Nejire G, Takeyama G (oasis)
Air - Hawks D, Tsuburaba G/G (air/shield)
Earth - Shindou G
Light - Shimura D/D (light/gravity)
Darkness - Fumikage G
Enhancements: Aizawa G (sight), Kuroiro G (stealth), Shiozaki M (binding), Komori G (growth), Hatsume M (crafting), Kayama G (illusion)
Terminology:
Aura - the lifeforce and energy emitted by all living things, quality and quantity vary
Dual - demons capable of offering their contracted host multiple quirks
Shade - L demons who possess and feed solely off of animals
Husk - the remnants of a human host after possession, if not devoured entirely
Remnant - a common name for a lingering piece of reality before the apocalypse
Revenant - another name for an embodied demon, a demon that has returned to life
Deviancy - when G or D demons become powerful enough to possess their host without consent, some demons may have deviant tendencies but decide never to act upon them
Possession - when a demon takes full control of their host without express consent, and may choose to relinquish control, remain in control, or devour their contracted host accordingly
Reality - the realm where humans exist naturally
Astral - the realm where demons exist naturally and draw power from, Astral mirrors Reality
Haven - a safe shared headspace between demon and host within the astral realm
The Abyss - the endless void where demons are derived
Hotspot - a place where the veil between The Abyss and Reality is thin, allowing excess energy to leak to the surface, a gate between the afterlife and the living realm
Cherished - the demonic equivalent of bonded soulmates, when contracting with a human cherished pairs typically bond simultaneously with their chosen host to remain together
Ch 13: Sanguine
"Hitoshi!"
Shinsou growled through grit fangs, shoving back the unbound deviant before him and slashing through one of its wings, the beast howling and biting into his shoulder, threatening to rip his arm out of socket.
He couldn't disengage, couldn't turn to answer Midoriya's call, and so he called out across astral to the other demons that shared his bond.
Go to him! Do whatever you must!
Todoroki was backed into a corner, two larger, older greaters working together to slowly run his energy reserves dry. He lashed out with pillars of fire, only to have the water and air demons opposing him quickly smother them out. He clenched his fangs and glanced past them towards Bakugou, but he was still in the midst of a brawl as well.
None of the other demons within their plethora were anywhere close enough to reach Midoriya in time, and Kirishima's shield was beginning to crack more and more the longer the deviant hunting Midoriya continued to unleash attacks.
Think, think! There has to be something you can do!
Todoroki stretched out his right arm to the side, curling his fingers in towards his palm, calling forth the power he hadn't dared to summon in the years he had been bonded to his contractor. It would drain him immensely, if Todoroki could even manage to manifest it at all, but at this point they were out of options, and he had to do everything within his power to keep Midoriya safe.
Just as ice began to prick against the tips of his fingers, another demon entered the fray.
Sero manifested to block the deviant's next attack, binding it instantly and lifting it into the air, hurling it to the side with an ferocious growl. He turned and quickly gathered Midoriya against his chest, his hackles raised and his dark eyes glowing with eerie white light, ensuring nothing could reach his contractor unless it came through him first.
Midoriya was panting shakily, on the verge of hyperventilating, tears smeared across his cheeks as he clung to Sero and tried to calm his racing heart.
"H-Hanta? Hanta, I-"
As the deviant broke free of Sero's bonds and rounded on them again, the mid's shadow twisted and contorted, skeins of prehensile tape branching out from the surface of his skin and unfurling across the ground and sky, creating a wall between the unbound and his contractor.
Kirishima trembled for a moment before his shield collapsed, the exhausted greater falling back within Midoriya to try to recover what strength he could before attempting to rise again.
Midoriya watched Sero with impossibly wide eyes, his chest heaving, trails of sweat trickling down his forehead and neck. He'd never seen the mid fully manifested in reality before, not outside of the perimeter of a hotspot, and there was something about the way Sero was acting that reflected more than his contracted capabilities. He was surging, growing, becoming some more than the entity he was before.
He'd never actually witnessed one of his contracted demons during their ascension to a higher rank.
"I've got you." Sero growled in the back of his throat, his grip on Midoriya tightening. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
Midoriya's breath hitched and his face scrunched up, a fresh sob escaping him as he managed to force out through his tears, "Thank you, Hanta. Thank you so much-"
The newly ascended greater shifted and widened his stance, standing before Midoriya protectively, watching as the deviant hunting them began steadily ripping through the thick layers of tape separating them from the heart of the fray. He twisted his arms, adding new layers as the outer segments were sliced away, flaring energy pouring out of Sero and quickly leeching Midoriya's reserves as he stood his ground to fight.
Midoriya felt it as his reserves were drained, his legs growing weak and his sight gradually blurring, his breathing uneven and his heartbeat ringing in his ears. He pressed close to Sero's shoulder, closing his eyes and swallowing thickly, trying his best to focus and remain calm, trusting Sero to know both of their limits and keep up his defenses for as long as he possibly could.
"Hitoshi." Midoriya called again, shaking his head, his speech slurred as he fought to form the right words. "Hitoshi, please. I'm going to pass out-"
Just as the deviant ripped through the final inner layer, the chaos finally responded, Midoriya unable to see what exactly was happening beyond Sero's wall, collapsing onto his knees with a tired, relieved sigh.
"I've got you. I've got you." Sero murmured gently, gathering Midoriya in his arms and cupping the back of his skull, carding his fingers through his dark hair gently. "You did so good. You did such a good job, Izuku. Hold on just a little longer. Let us handle the rest."
Midoriya clung to Sero's arm, curling up against his chest and hiccupping quietly, his tears gradually slowing as he rested on the edge of unconsciousness. A small eternity passed until the rest of his plethora successfully dispatched the remaining unbound, and one by one they returned to him, restoring to their contractor what little strength they had left to spare.
Bakugou came to him first, rubbing his back and murmuring to him gently, Todoroki there only moments later, carefully taking one of Midoriya's hands and petting back and forth across his dirty knuckles.
"You're alright now, Izuku. Just breathe."
"Thank you for holding on. Thank you for trusting us." Todoroki whispered, leaning closer to press his nose against Midoriya's crown, Bakugou letting out a deep sigh and meeting eyes with Sero.
The greater was still steaming with excess energy, his mangled wall still towering behind them, sheltering them from the carnage resting just beyond. Bakugou was quiet for a moment, then reached out and touched one of Sero's shoulders, the greater growling softly in the back of his throat but making no move to pull away.
Bakugou shifted to kneel beside him, whispering to him in a calming tone, the language he spoke not translating into words Midoriya could comprehend as he smoothed his palm across Sero's taut shoulders and down his ridged spine.
Although Midoriya couldn't understand Bakugou's whispered words, he could feel their intent as he spoke.
Relax… Relax…
Midoriya blinked up at them as he watched their exchange quietly, Todoroki watching Sero as well, reaching out to press his palm over the other demon's chest, spanning his fingers over his sternum slowly.
You protected him. You can rest now.
Bakugou growled softly, his vocalizations fading into soft hums as he pressed his nose to Sero's jaw.
Come back to us. We're here with you, we're right beside you, Hanta…
Gradually the energy steaming from the newly ascended began to wane, and with a shuddering breath Sero returned to himself, blinking as the light began to fade from his eyes, Bakugou and Todoroki watching him with soft smiles.
"There you are." Bakugou murmured, and Todoroki leaned closer to press his forehead to Sero's.
"You were amazing. You were perfect. Thank you for protecting him for us."
Sero exhaled a shaky breath of laughter, grinning sheepishly and blinking down at Midoriya with a tired smile, the greater barely conscious. "You're alright?"
"I'm okay." Midoriya hiccupped quietly, and it took all of his remaining strength to shift up enough to wrap his arms around Sero's neck, sobbing as he hugged him tightly. "Thank you for saving me. I'll never forget this moment. You saved my life, Hanta."
He pulled back just enough to meet Sero's eyes, holding his gaze and laughing quietly, tears slowly rolling down his cheeks.
"Thank you. Thank you so much, Hanta. Thank you."
"Anytime." Sero chuckled fondly, holding onto Midoriya for just another moment before his grip began to slip, and his manifestation flickered until it faded away, Bakugou and Todoroki fading from reality as well, allowing their contractor to rest.
Shinsou stepped closer, kneeling to scoop up Midoriya into his strong arms, holding him against his chest gently. He folded his wings in around his contractor to share his radiating warmth, Midoriya turning to tuck his face against Shinsou's neck before promptly passing out.
It would be hours before Amajiki and Rodi returned from their salvage run to the nearby city. Shinsou turned his eyes to the sky, walking amidst the remnants of the unbound horde that had suddenly risen against them, waiting patiently for Midoriya's strength to return.
Midoriya clenched his fingers, knitting his brow together before slowly opening his eyes, the sound of flowing water greeting his ears. He paused to assess his surroundings, taking a few moments to remember where he was before letting out the tense breath he was holding. Amajiki's arm was resting around his waist, a blanket bunched between them. Rodi was asleep nearby, snoring lightly just beneath the sound of the hot springs, Pino curled up under his arm beside him.
When he flexed his fingers again he felt a hand press against his own, and he looked over to meet Sero's eyes, the greater watching him with a teasing smile.
"What were you dreaming?" He asked, smoothing his fingertips along Midoriya's palm gently. "You called for me in your sleep."
Midoriya blushed and arched his brow apologetically, squeezing Sero's fingers while whispering in reply, "I was dreaming about when you saved me from the horde."
Sero hummed quietly, holding Midoriya's eyes, "I think about that often too. It wasn't the way I had imagined ascending, but I'm glad I did. I'm glad I was able to help you."
He dipped his head, brushing his lips against Midoriya's fingers, the human's blush only growing as the demon doted on him for a few moments before lifting his head, his gaze affectionate and warm.
He looked as if he wanted to say something, but eventually his eyes wandered towards the two sleeping nearby, and he asked gently, "What was it like? Feeling her. Did you like it when she touched you?"
Midoriya's breath hitched, and he wasn't certain how to respond, parting his lips for a few moments and watching Sero hesitantly, trying to find the right words to say.
Sero squeezed his fingers, the demon pressing a little closer as he asked gently, "She kissed you not to feed from you, nor to share her energy, but simply to kiss you. Because she wanted to. Did that make you happy?"
Midoriya blinked slowly, casting his eyes to the side as he let out a quiet exhale, then gradually his brow smoothed and he smiled a little, nodding while humming his agreement. "It made me happy, yes."
Sero watched him quietly for a few lingering moments before asking curiously, "Would it make you happy if I kissed you too?"
Midoriya's eyes went wide and he met Sero's gaze, the greater smiling and chuckling softly, reaching up to pet his contractor's freckled cheek.
"Is it alright? Can I? Do you want me to?"
Midoriya's blush steadily spread, heat creeping up the tips of his ears and along the back of his neck, his throat suddenly dry.
"Hanta." He whispered, taking a moment to glance around and swallow thickly. They were alone in this moment, Amajiki and Rodi fast asleep. No wandering eyes to watch them, no one awake to witness their exchange.
Midoriya bit his lip, considering what this would mean, his thoughts racing and his heartbeat pounding in his ears.
The question was simple. The answer was simple as well.
"Yes." Midoriya whispered, his brow pinching with concern. "Yes Hanta, I want to, but I don't know if we should-"
Sero arched his brow, letting out a soft breath of laughter, smiling as he leaned closer, his lips trailing across the bridge of Midoriya's nose.
"Why not?" He murmured gently, the hint of a soft purr gradually building in his chest. "Is it bad to want to kiss one another? You kiss Shinsou sometimes, and Bakugou too, don't you?"
Midoriya bit his lip, hesitantly nodding, thinking of the other two demons he shared physical intimacy with. He'd never considered the possibility of being physical with the others residing within his plethora, but now that Sero had asked as much he wasn't certain why he should refuse.
Why wasn't he intimate with all of them, equally in kind?
He lifted his gaze to meet Sero's eyes, and he asked with a hitch of breath, "Can you take me to haven?"
Sero tilted his head slightly, but nodded, and as the demon wrapped his arm around Midoriya in a fond embrace the human felt himself fade from reality, submerging completely in astral.
He was greeted by an endless rolling plain of twisting grey fog, Sero still holding his hand as he stood beside him.
Midoriya called out for the others he knew were there, his voice nearly trembling as he spoke. "Katsuki, Shouto. Hitoshi, Ochaco. I need to speak with you."
They appeared before him as he called for them, Ochaco smiling as she stepped closer, reaching out to take Midoriya's other hand. "You should be sleeping, silly."
"I know." Midoriya murmured with a sigh, squeezing her fingers lightly while glancing up to meet Bakugou's eyes.
He wasn't certain how to start this conversation, and so he dove into the heart of it, not wanting to hide his thoughts or feelings any longer.
"You were my first contract." Midoriya began, searching Bakugou's fiery eyes, the demon watching him closely. "Why didn't you contract with me the way Shinsou has? Why didn't you ask for a part of my soul, and manifest your own body in reality to walk beside me?"
Bakugou looked surprised at the suggestion, the deviant frowning a little before replying quietly, "You were so young then, Izuku. You were lost, and afraid. If I had come to you like that, and asked you for such a thing, you would have feared me. I didn't want our relationship to grow from that, tinged with fear and distrust."
Midoriya nodded, looking to Todoroki next, asking the same question yet again, "Was it the same then, for you and Ochaco? Were you afraid that I would fear you if you asked for part of my soul?"
"Katsuki would never have allowed that." Uraraka replied, glancing over to meet the deviant's eyes. "He was so protective of you, Izuku. Especially when you were young. He would never have allowed you to strike such a bargain. You were too little to understand what such a thing would mean in the end."
Todoroki hummed his agreement, crossing his arms over his chest. "When I found you and offered myself to you formally in a contract, it never occurred to me to ask you to offer up your soul in exchange. Not all of us yearn for human souls, some of us simply want companionship, closeness and trust. We yearn for aspects of our lost lives."
"Those that hunger for human souls are quickly lost to deviancy." Bakugou agreed, looking to Shinsou, the chaos grinning wide with a flash of fangs.
"If I were hungry, I would have taken far more from him upon our initial contract." Shinsou chuckled impishly. "Though I'll admit, I am fond of being the only demon within our contractor's plethora to hold a piece of his soul." He hummed thoughtfully, his tail lashing behind him as he gestured lightly and added on, "Now that he is older, and capable of making his own informed decisions as to what bargaining with his soul means…" He looked to Midoriya then, holding the human's eyes, "If he desired to renegotiate his currently established contracts, I would see no reason to deny him such."
Midoriya held Shinsou's eyes, his heart fluttering in his chest, all eyes turning to focus on him as he let out a shuddering breath.
"If I offered you each a piece of my soul, could you walk amongst us? Like Shinsou?"
Uraraka arched her brow, her expressions reflecting her concern, and she looked from Midoriya to Bakugou, her breath trembling as she asked, "Is that really possible? Could we share such a thing?"
Bakugou considered for a moment, then exhaled a deep breath before answering, "If we were to refine our contracts," he shrugged in Todoroki's direction, "We would be able to ascend to embodied demons, given our current ranking as deviants." He frowned a little, adding on softly, "You wouldn't be able to maintain such a form yet, Ochaco. You would need more time before attempting such an ascent. You've only recently ascended to greater in your secondary quirk."
Uraraka dipped her head a bit, her tail curling around her leg, but she nodded her understanding. "I can wait…" She said softly, sniffing a little and hiding her face with one of her hands. "If you two can walk beside him in my place, then…" She lifted her head, tears in her eyes as she offered them both a little smile. "I want that for you. I do. I want you to protect Izuku with everything you have. He deserves that."
Sero was quiet, waiting for Bakugou to turn his attention to him, and the deviant considered for a moment before glancing towards Shinsou, asking curiously, "Have you ever met an embodied enhancement before? I'm not certain if that's even possible."
Shinsou hummed thoughtfully while stepping closer, offering Sero a friendly smile and reaching out to press his palm over the binding enhancement's chest. "To be completely honest, I haven't. But just because we've never seen one, that hardly means they don't exist. Sero could be the first." He looked to Midoriya, holding his eyes. "It all depends on our contractor's strength of will, and how much of his soul he's willing to share."
Midoriya nodded slowly, thinking for several long moments before looking to Bakugou, saying shakily, "I want you and Shouto to take a fragment of my soul, like Hitoshi has. I want you to be able to walk beside us, so you can help me protect Tamaki and Rodi." He looked between the two deviants, asking breathlessly, "Would you be willing to do that?"
Bakugou was quiet for a long, drawn-out moment before asking gently, "You're certain this is what you want?"
Todoroki was watching the human quietly as well, his expression hesitant and his brow knitted with concern. "Once you make this decision, there's no going back."
"I know." Midoriya whispered, his grip on Sero and Uraraka's hands tightening. "I trust you. Both of you. Please do this for me." He let out a shuddering exhale, nervous laughter caught in his throat. "I need you beside me, always. This way, we'll never be apart."
"We'll have to drink from you." Bakugou said softly, taking a step closer, Sero and Uraraka drawing back slightly to allow the two deviants access to their shared contractor, standing close by to watch their exchange. "You won't be unconscious this time, you'll feel everything."
"We'll be gentle." Todoroki reassured, gliding his palm up Midoriya's side, cupping his face and tilting his head back and to the side, Midoriya's breath hitching as he felt Todoroki's fangs press against his throat. "Try to relax. Trust us."
"We're not going to take much," Bakugou said quietly against the shell of his ear, "but what we will take will quickly drain you. After transitioning two of us into our own bodies like this, you'll definitely need a few days to rest. It's good you decided to do this now, at a hotspot. It will allow us to draw from the veil while you recover."
"Katsuki-" Midoriya's breath hitched, his fingers curling against the demon's shoulder as his claws pressed against Midoriya's nape, tilting his head further back, "Promise me-"
"I promise." Bakugou murmured, his breath hot against Midoriya's throat. "I will protect Amajiki and Rodi. I'll protect all of you with my life. I won't draw more than what's necessary to complete the ascension. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. We'll never be apart."
Midoriya closed his eyes, shivering and relaxing in Bakugou and Todoroki's hold, the demons taking a moment to find the best angle to grip their contractor and hold him in place before sinking their fangs into either side of his throat.
Midoriya screamed as that sharp stinging sensation ripped through his flesh, but it was gone a moment later, soothing cool and churning warmth replacing the pain on either side of his neck, a soft whine escaping him as he lost his grip on both of their shoulders, his arms dropping to hang loosely at his sides.
He relaxed beneath them fully as they fed, wet sounds filling his ears as they sucked down mouthfuls of blood and slowly drank, heat curling against the back of his skull and drifting down his spine, quickly settling in the pit of his stomach.
His breath hitched and his fingers twitched against nothing, and slowly but surely that sensation grew and grew until he was moaning aloud, panting and gasping for air.
It felt amazing, it felt like sex. Better and more intense, deeper and throbbing with pinpricks of color and light throughout his entire body. Shinsou watched as Bakugou and Todoroki continued to feed, grinning and licking the points of his fangs absently, Uraraka panting quietly as she pressed her palm against her mouth, Sero's gaze dark and hungry as he growled low in the back of his throat.
The rest of their plethora felt it as well, restless as their contractor was devoured, and it wasn't long before Bakugou pulled back and licked his lips, the deviant panting as he tried to collect himself. Todoroki it seemed wasn't satisfied yet, and he wrapped his arm around Midoriya's middle, pulling him closer and continuing to suck.
Bakugou bristled slightly as he watched them, a growl rumbling in his throat as he warned in a gravelly tone, "Pace yourself. Don't draw too much."
Todoroki didn't respond, merely shifted Midoriya's head slightly and continued to drink, and Bakugou immediately reached out to pry them apart - but Shinsou was there to stop him, the chaos crooning quietly to urge him into calm.
"He's almost there. Give him a moment. You were closer to ascension, he needs a bit more before he can manifest his new form."
Todoroki drank for several seconds longer before pulling back, panting heavily as he licked blood from the corner of his mouth, tilting Midoriya's face up to meet his eyes worriedly. "Izuku? Izuku, can you speak?"
"I'm so close…" Midoriya gasped quietly, tears caught in his dark lashes and drool dripping down his jaw as he managed to breathe out shakily, "Shouto, please…"
"Give him what he wants." Shinsou purred, nodding as Todoroki looked up at him, gesturing towards Midoriya's throat with a sultry smirk.
Todoroki hesitated only a moment before tilting Midoriya's face to the side and sliding his fangs back into the puncture wounds he'd left behind, Midoriya's breath hitching as Todoroki started sucking deeply, the tension coiling inside of him growing taut as he cried out sharply in earnest.
"Fuck! Fuck, Shouto - I'm cumming! Fuck! Ah, please!"
Uraraka was panting as she pressed her fangs against her trembling hand, a bit of drool escaping the corner of her mouth as she watched Todoroki feed, Sero pressing closer to share his warmth, his eyes burning with bloodlust as well.
Todoroki drank from Midoriya throughout his orgasm, only pulling back once his contractor was completely spent. Shinsou shifted forward as Todoroki pulled away, the chaos tugging Midoriya close against his chest and carding his claws through the human's dark curls, his eyes gleaming as he fixed his sights on the deviants beside him.
"Do as he's asked of you. Manifest your new forms."
Midoriya couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so weak and disoriented, blinking slowly and watching as Sero stepped closer to hover at his side. The greater exchanged words with Shinsou for a brief moment before taking Midoriya's wrist and lifting it to kiss against his pulse, his dark eyes shimmering as he bared his fangs.
"Gently." Shinsou crooned, watching as Sero pierced Midoriya's wrist, the human whining and gasping aloud before going still once more, Sero's throat bobbing slowly as he took several deep drags.
Toga was suddenly at Uraraka's side, watching breathlessly with wide eyes, her petite frame trembling as she asked in a hitch of breath, "What are they doing?"
"They're refining their contracts." Uraraka managed between shuddering breaths, Toga shivering and pressing closer to her companion, continuing to watch their cohabitors with impossibly wide eyes.
"They're drinking from him? He's allowing them to?"
"They have to, in order to ascend to embodiment." Uraraka replied, glancing down at Toga with hazy eyes, reaching out and taking her hand, squeezing her fingers tightly.
Toga hesitated for a moment longer before taking a step closer, her pupils narrowed into sharp slits. "I want that too. I want to walk beside Izuku." She pinched her brow, looking back at Uraraka with a pained expression. "Can I?"
"I don't know, Himiko." Uraraka said gently, gingerly shaking her head. "They said I wasn't strong enough yet, and you haven't yet ascended to greater-"
"I can do it!" Toga breathed out shakily, taking another step forward, her fingers slipping from Uraraka's as she whispered fervently, "I can handle it, I know I can!"
"Himiko, wait!" Uraraka started, reaching for her once again, "Izuku didn't call for you, you weren't invited-"
"I know I haven't ascended yet, but I'm stronger than I look!" She met Uraraka's eyes, tears welling up against her ruddy cheeks. "I can be of use to him! I want to protect Izuku too!"
Shinsou was listening, watching the mid with a thoughtful expression, and the chaos lifted his wings and beckoned her closer, Toga finally stepping away from Uraraka's side. The petite dual looked up at Shinsou as she approached, but once she was closer her eyes shifted to the human resting in his arms. Her eyes were wide as she watched Sero continue to drink from Midoriya's wrist, a trembling moan caught in her throat at the sight of fresh blood dripping down the crease of his inner wrist and thumb.
Shinsou watched Toga for a long, quiet moment, assessing her capabilities, her dual talents as both power and darkness, as well as her affection and devotion towards their contractor.
"Are you certain you can control your bloodlust, should Izuku offer you a body?" Shinsou asked, and Toga met his eyes, her cat-like yellow irises glowing eerily, her pupils still narrowed into slits.
"I would never hurt him." She replied instantly, and Shinsou could hear her heart fluttering with excitement, "I love him, I've always loved him. I would kill for him, I would die for him. Again and again."
Shinsou tilted his head slightly to the side, asking curiously, "Your classification in the abyss was a succubus imp?"
Toga nodded quickly, her tail curling against the fog as it swayed behind her, her fangs gleaming in the low light as she leaned closer to their shared host. "I know how to control myself. I've fed from humans before."
"This will be different." Shinsou warned, his eyes drifting to Sero, watching as the greater pulled back and panted against Midoriya's wrist, licking the blood trickling from the wound he'd left behind. "It's not just blood and aura you'll be taking. While you drink from him you must devour a fragment of his soul. Take too much, and you can harm him beyond repair, enraging the other demons held under contract. Take too little, and you will not be able to create your true manifestation in reality. It's a delicate balance."
Toga arched her brow, reaching out to pet across Midoriya's heaving chest, searching Shinsou's eyes worriedly. "Can you show me what to do? Can you guide me?"
Shinsou considered for a moment, then leaned closer to her and asked gently, "If I do this for you, will you offer yourself to me?"
Toga watched Shinsou curiously for a moment, then asked to clarify his intent, "You want me to act as your keihai?"
Shinsou hummed an affirmative, and Toga grinned impishly and nodded.
"If you teach me, I have no reason to refuse. I know under your hand I will flourish in power."
"Bakugou can teach you too." Shinsou said softly, casting his eyes towards the deviants transitioning nearby. "Ask him to guide you, as a power deviant he can teach you most about your primary quirk."
Toga nodded her understanding, holding Shinsou's eyes, reaching out to touch Midoriya's shoulder lightly. "Tell me what I need to do?"
Amajiki stirred slowly, and as he returned to consciousness he felt Hawks' wings brush against his shoulder, the deviant's hand resting lightly on Amajiki's arm.
"Tamaki, I need you to remain calm."
He was sweating where he was pressed against the boy beside him, and as his gaze shifted to Midoriya he realized there were several demons beside them, and one of them was currently feeding from Midoriya's wrist.
He recoiled immediately, his eyes wide with shock as he watched in utter disbelief. It took him only a moment to collect himself, and he grit his teeth while reaching out to shove Sero away from Midoriya, but Hawks caught his forearm before he could make contact. The fallen angel put some distance between them quietly, watching Sero carefully while tugging his contractor backwards, Amajiki's breath caught in his throat.
"It's alright, they're not hurting him." Hawks said softly against Amajiki's ear, "They're refining their contracts. Midoriya gave them permission to feed."
"What-" Amajiki was breathless, taking in the state of Midoriya's body, the puncture wounds clearly visible at the curve of his neck and the blood trickling down his wrist as Sero held him in place. Shinsou was close by, watching over Sero and speaking quietly with another demon, a mid Amajiki had never made direct contact with before.
"It isn't our place to witness this. Refining contracts is something meant to take place solely between a contractor and their contracted. They're allowing us to stay only due to your companionship with Midoriya, but you cannot interfere."
Amajiki was trembling, fighting against Hawks' grasp to return to Midoriya's side, panic caught tightly in his throat, "Izuku-"
"He's submerged in haven. He can't hear your voice right now." Hawks soothed gently, his crimson remiges curling in to encompass Amajiki's trembling frame, surrounding him in downy warmth.
"Take me there?" Amajiki asked with a hitch of breath, but Hawks frowned and shook his head.
"We aren't meant to witness-"
Amajiki rounded on the fallen angel, clenching his jaw and hissing out between his teeth, "Take me to him or I swear I won't forgive you for this-"
Another hand pressed against his shoulder, and Amajiki looked up to meet eyes with Shimura, Usagi standing close by her side.
"They'll see us as a threat if we try to approach while they're feeding." Shimura explained calmly, holding her contractor's eyes. "It's dangerous for us to take you there. For all of us."
"We'll do what you ask," Usagi said in a hushed tone, "but you must not try to approach Midoriya until their new contracts are complete. Disrupting them could have dire consequences, for both the demons held under contract and their host."
Amajiki growled in frustration, clenching his fists but nodding his understanding, pinching his brow as he met Shimura's eyes. "Take me to him. I need to be by his side."
As Amajiki shifted into astral, Toga stepped closer to Midoriya's side, taking Sero's place and drawing closer to her contractor, Midoriya watching her with hazy eyes. "Himiko…?"
"Will you allow me to?" She asked, her eyes gleaming as she nuzzled against his palm, purring happily as she waited for Midoriya to give his consent. "Will you let me walk beside you, Izuku? My darling, my dearest. Allow me to give all of myself to you. Will you gift me a piece of your soul?"
Midoriya shivered pleasantly at the sensation of her fangs brushing against his palm, her soft lips leaving trails of kisses across his bloody wrist before shifting closer to kiss the curve of his jaw.
"Please, Izuku? Please? Let me do this for you. Allow me to devote myself to you in entirety. My beloved, my cherished~" She breathed against the shell of his ear, and Midoriya could feel trails of sweat trickling down his nape as her nails danced across his chest. "Oh, how I adore you so. Let me be with you like this, my dearest? I'm yours, Izuku. I'm yours~"
Midoriya blinked slowly, trying his best to catch his breath and focus on her words. He flexed his fingers lightly, and Toga twined them with hers, the little imp grinning and purring as she waited patiently for his reply, pressing kisses against his bloody throat.
He glanced past her shoulder to Shinsou, and the chaos met his gaze evenly, giving a little nod.
"It's up to you, Izuku. If you grant her a piece of your soul, I'll do everything I can to help her ascend." He glanced towards Bakugou briefly while adding on, "With our guidance, she could easily become a deviant before the others within your plethora come anywhere close to ascending to higher ranks."
Midoriya swallowed thickly, his grip on Toga's fingers tightening, and then after a long, quiet moment he gingerly nodded his head.
"Alright, Himiko. I trust you. Take only what you need." He looked past her to Shinsou before adding weakly, "I feel like I'm on the verge of passing out…"
"We'll let you rest after this, I promise you that." Shinsou growled out softly, a teasing smile turning up his lips. "Hold on just a little longer. We're almost there."
Toga giggled excitedly as she cuddled up against Midoriya's side, taking his face between her hands and nuzzling his freckles, sighing quietly as she shifted down to press her fangs against his throat just below the marks Bakugou had left behind.
He barely felt it as her fangs broke skin, his head spinning and electricity quivering up his spine, a soft gasp escaping him. He never realized a demon feeding on a human could feel like this. It was exquisite, addicting, pleasure curling from the tips of his toes to the crown of his head, flooding through him like liquid wildfire.
Dimly he was aware someone was calling his name, his pulse ringing in his ears as he rested on the edge of consciousness.
"Izuku? Izuku! Answer me, please!"
"Stay back-" Usagi hissed out, pressing her palms against Amajiki's chest, Shimura watching over her contractor with a little frown, Hawks trying to reason with him as well.
"Tamaki, you can't control this. There's nothing you can do to stop this. This is between Midoriya and his plethora. You have no right to interfere-"
"They're taking his soul!" Amajiki screamed, tears pooling in his dark eyes, desperation welling up inside of him and coiling tightly into anger deep within his gut. "I have to do something, I can't just stand here and let this happen!"
He broke free of their grasp again, scrambling forward, Shinsou glancing up for the first time and noticing the disturbance, curling back his lips and hissing before flickering forward to block Amajiki's path.
He grabbed the human by his throat, jerking him to a halt, lifting him and tightening his hold as Amajiki gasped and choked, clawing at Shinsou's wrist while kicking against the air.
Hawks was on him in an instant, but something powerful and rippling shifted through the air - Todoroki planting himself between Hawks and the chaos with a low growl, Bakugou at his side a heartbeat later, his hackles rising as he unhinged his jaw and hissed at the deviant with flaming eyes.
"Let him go!" Hawks shouted, his eyes narrowing as he lashed out at Bakugou, Shimura and Usagi racing forward only to be stopped by Todoroki's quirks.
"Shinsou, you're hurting him!" Shimura growled out angrily, gnashing her fangs as her claws extended, Usagi letting out a ferocious shout.
"Release him now!"
Shinsou ignored them, staring at Amajiki coolly as the human choked and flailed, fear flashing across his face only for a moment before he grit his teeth and kicked at Shinsou as hard as he could, trying desperately to free himself.
"You-"
Before either of them could speak, Shinsou felt something behind him, a hard grip on his tail and a rough jerk, the chaos lowering his wings and glancing behind him in surprise, Pino glaring up at him with a defiant chirp.
Rodi rarely submerged himself completely in astral, but whenever he did so he moved as fluidly as if he were one of them, and while Shinsou was distracted he surged forward to help Amajiki. He twisted the chaos' wrist just enough to loosen his grasp while Pino kept hold of his tail, and between the two of them Rodi managed to pull Amajiki away from Shinsou and shield him with his own body, Pino immediately flickering before the humans to act as their living shield.
Hawks disengaged as soon as Amajiki was free, Shimura and Usagi following his lead, sheltering their contractor and pulling him back to reality, leaving Pino and Rodi alone with Midoriya and his newly embodied demons, the human letting out a tense sigh.
Rodi turned to fix his sights on Shinsou, reaching up to card his fingers through his hair while saying with a frown, "Izuku will be pissed once he hears about that. You could have seriously hurt Tamaki just now, you know that right?"
Shinsou growled quietly, his tail lashing back and forth behind him as he replied evenly, "Better that I caught him, versus either of those two. Right now they won't know how to control their strength. They'll need time to adjust to their new bodies." His gaze settled on Bakugou and Todoroki as the deviants stood together quietly nearby, the chaos adding on exasperatedly, "I knew what I was doing. I wouldn't have caused Amajiki any real harm."
"Does his plethora know that?" Rodi murmured quietly, Pino watching Shinsou with that same little frown, and Shinsou arched his brow and chuckled quietly, stepping away from the pair to check on Toga's progress.
Sero was beside her, glancing up at Shinsou's approach with a little smile, his gaze wandering to Rodi and Pino for only a moment before returning to the chaos once more. "Everything alright?"
"That remains to be seen." Shinsou replied with a heavy sigh. "For now, we must focus on this."
Toga was purring as she drank from Midoriya slowly, the human breathing deep and even as he blinked up at the demons watching over him, Shinsou carefully reaching out and taking his limp hand.
"Toga." He called softly, holding Midoriya's gaze the entire time. "Only a little more. You're almost there. Break off the fragment neatly. Don't let it fracture into shards."
Toga hummed quietly, her tail tapping lightly against Midoriya's thigh as she took one last long, deep drag then pulled away, her face entirely flushed and her eyes glittering with unshed tears.
"I feel it. I feel it. It's here." She reached up and pressed her fingers over her chest, tracing circles over her heart. "I can feel him inside of me." She looked up to meet Shinsou's eyes, tears trailing down her red cheeks. "He feels so warm."
Shinsou chuckled softly, reaching out to cup her cheek and wiping away her tears slowly. "That's right. His soul is warm. Bury it deep within you, box it up tight. Keep it in the safest spot you possibly can. Nestle it beside your core."
Toga sniffed and nodded, taking a few moments to just rest where she was and breathe, soft whispered sobs escaping her until she sniffed and pulled back, allowing Sero and Shinsou to draw Midoriya back into reality.
Uraraka was there beside them the entire time, watching over them, wishing more than anything that she could carry a piece of Midoriya's precious soul too.
When Midoriya surfaced from haven, Amajiki and Rodi were there beside him, the demons surrounding them keeping their distance, only Pino drawing close enough to press against her contractor's side.
Amajiki glanced up and met eyes with Rodi, his voice slightly hoarse as he muttered quietly, "Thank you." His eyes shifted to Pino, his brow arching as he nodded his head and said in a softer tone, "Thank you."
Pino fluffed her feathers around her shoulders, hesitantly shifting from Rodi's side to draw closer to Amajiki, the human tensing only slightly as she came to sit at his side.
She reached out and pressed her hand over Amajiki's, offering him a little smile. He didn't feel her speak to him, didn't hear anything whispering against the back of his mind, but he could tell from her expressions what she wanted to say.
We're here for you. We aren't going away.
Rodi watched their interactions with an affectionate smile, rubbing his palm back and forth over Midoriya's chest, then up and down his arm. He felt cold to the touch, despite the warmth and humidity in the air, and after a few moments Rodi shifted to lay down beside him, motioning for Amajiki to do the same along his other side.
Pino chirped and curled up against Rodi's back once they settled down, peering over his shoulder at Amajiki, watching him with concern while warbling quietly. Rodi reached out and brushed his fingers along Amajiki's shoulder, and the other human's breath hitched, his face scrunching up as he ducked down to hide against Midoriya's shoulder, his voice shaking as he forced out, "Why would he do that? Why would he agree to refine contracts that involved offering up more of his soul?"
Rodi frowned a little, squeezing Amajiki's arm gently while asking, "Do you think it's such a terrible thing? Sharing your soul with your demons?"
Amajiki hid his face for a while longer before sniffing and looking over to meet Rodi's eyes, thinking of the connection he shared with Pino. "What was it that made you decide to offer up your soul?"
A wide smile crossed Rodi's face and he laughed merrily, Pino's expression smoothing as she smiled and nuzzled into his neck. "Our contract isn't traditional by any means. Pino is the only contract I've ever made, and in exchange for her protection and companionship I offered her half of my soul." He shrugged a little, reaching up to trace the curve of her cheek while adding fondly, "I was young then. In our original contract I offered her all of my soul, but she refused to take it. She knew me better than I knew myself, even then." He chuckled and nodded his head thoughtfully, letting out a happy sigh. "The connection we share is more genuine and intimate than anything I could have ever hoped for in this cursed life. She truly is my soulmate."
He pressed a kiss to her nose before returning his eyes to Amajiki's, watching him for a long moment before asking the same question again, only this time he phrased it a slightly different way.
"Do you refuse to offer up fragments of your soul because you're afraid your demons will turn to deviancy and devour you?" He held Amajiki's gaze, searching his expressions carefully. "Do you fear giving up control?"
Amajiki was quiet for a long moment, not replying to what Rodi had asked. He traced his fingers over Midoriya's side, leaning closer to watch his sleeping face, carding his fingers through his dark hair gently.
"When we were alone and starving, I offered up parts of myself to my plethora. They fed not from my soul, but from my lifeforce." He bit his lip, pausing for a moment before letting out a shaky exhale, tracing over Midoriya's temple and the shell of his ear. "Izuku doesn't know, but the time I have left is nothing in comparison to his own. I always thought that by refusing to bargain with my soul, maybe we could be together in the next life, if there's a heaven after all of this hell we've been forced to endure."
He laughed softly, his tone lost and broken, a sob trapped tightly in his chest.
"Now, it's too late. He's already given up a part of his soul to Shinsou, and now more pieces to others within his plethora." He shook his head, his breath hitching as he asked miserably, "How much have they taken? How much of his soul does he have left? Does this mean that now we'll never be able to share eternity together? I don't know what to believe, I don't know what to think."
His voice wavered for a moment before he continued on, Rodi watching the pain twisting his expression with a heavy heart.
"A part of me imagined that even after I've left him behind I'd be waiting for him on the other side, watching over him somehow, keeping him safe. I have all of my soul, but Midoriya only has remnants of his."
He met Rodi's eyes, frustrated tears streaking steadily down his cheeks.
"I'm going to lose him. I'm so afraid of losing him. I may only have a few years left, and the demons inside of him are slowly ripping him apart." He crushed his palm against his face, his shoulders jerking as he hiccupped and tried to catch his breath. "How can I trust his demons to protect him when I'm gone if they're already devouring him? I don't know what to do-" He shook his head, coughing and wiping his face with the back of his hand, "How can I save him? How can I be sure that once I'm gone they won't turn on him and consume the remainder of his soul?"
Rodi reached out, cupping Amajiki's face, whispering to him gently, "That's not going to happen. You don't have to fear that, okay? That's not going to happen-"
"How do you know?" Amajiki sobbed, ducking his head and coughing weakly, "How can you say that? If I'm gone, who would be there to stop them? Who's going to protect Izuku after I-" His breath hitched and he turned to hide his face against Midoriya's shoulder again, crying shakily, Rodi resting his hand against Amajiki's crown and petting through his hair soothingly, trying to coax him back into calm.
"I will." Rodi whispered gently. "I'll watch over him. Me and Pino will. We'll be right beside you, both of you. We'll be together 'til the end. I promise."
Amajiki didn't respond, crying and holding onto Midoriya tightly, Rodi combing his fingers through Amajiki's hair over and over again, waiting patiently for him to calm.
"We won't let anything happen to him." Rodi reassured gently, Pino shifting from his side and carefully reaching out to Amajiki, curling up behind him and wrapping her small arm around his waist. "We'll watch over him. You can trust us. We'll stay beside him."
Amajiki looked up as Pino nuzzled into his shoulder, glancing back to meet her eyes, the demon peering down at him with a concerned little smile, fluffing her feathers slightly.
Amajiki sniffed and wiped his face again, his breathing evening out as he looked to Rodi, the older boy sighing softly and watching Amajiki with an affectionate gaze. "We'll walk with him through hellfire if it comes to that. We'll walk beside him to the ends of the earth. You have my word."
Amajiki blinked slowly, knitting his brow, asking hesitantly, "You'll be there for him, once I'm gone?" Rodi nodded, Amajiki's face scrunching again as he asked shakily, "You won't let him be alone? He's never been alone before, Rodi. We've never been apart."
"I won't." Rodi whispered soothingly, petting Amajiki's wet cheek. "I promise I won't ever let him feel lonely, or afraid. I'll remind him how much he means to you and to me, each and every day."
Amajiki sniffed and nodded, letting out a trembling breath, his tears finally slowing as he rested beneath Rodi and Pino's touch.
"I don't want him to be alone."
"He won't be." Rodi reassured gently, and his smile was tender and warm. "He won't."
Amajiki nodded, taking a few shaky breaths before he relaxed fully, blinking tiredly as he held onto Midoriya, his eyes gradually slipping shut.
Pino perked her head up a bit, meeting Rodi's eyes, and Rodi smiled at her fondly, eventually closing his eyes as well.
They slept together side by side, with Midoriya resting between them, their demons watching over them throughout the remainder of the dreamless night.
Thanks for reading! More to come!
