Sebastian pulled up to the house he'd sniffed out earlier and parked along the curb. He doubted they'd be there long and didn't want to be rude and needlessly park in their driveway. He stepped out into the cooling night air and walked over to the door without so much as making a sound. It looked dark on the ground floor, but he could see lights upstairs and this time, he could sense souls filling the space.
He knocked thrice on the door, holding back the ever fading urge to vocally announce his presence. It was alarming how many near unbreakable habits he'd acquired after nearly 7 years spent as a butler. Even Yami would point some things out from time to time. Usually it was that he was sitting too stiffly or something about the way he'd placed their food down in front of them whenever it was his turn to cook. His more embarrassing habits were cooking beyond their status. Two supernatural beings who didn't even need human food to begin with did not need a 5 course diner.
"Crap! He's here!" Hiccup cried, looking away from the laptop towards the door. He and Jack had just recorded and were uploading a video to their vlogs about going to the convention. He really hadn't thought it would take this long.
Jack didn't even flinch or move from his spot, still focused on the little bar that showed the status of the upload. "It's still uploading. Answer the door and get the stuff into his car. I'll stay here til it's over." He said, only glancing at his friend to make sure he heard him.
"But Jack-!" Hiccup started to protest and was, as usual, cut off.
"No buts, now hurry and answer the door," Jack insisted again.
Hiccup rolled his eyes and facepalmed. Really, Jack was the one who was friends with this guy. He should be the one to answer the door, not Hiccup. He had only talked to him those two times earlier that day. Why should he be the one to go downstairs and greet him? With a sigh, he resigned himself to this fate and went downstairs to open the door. Better him than his mother though, right? She had enough on her plate already.
"Hi Sebastian!" He tried to greet him cheerily, but even he could feel how awkward this was. "Sup? Jack's just upstairs finishing some things up, but our bags are ready."
Sebastian didn't even look remotely impressed, but at least he smiled politely when he entered and didn't seem too bothered to find out Jack technically wasn't ready in time. "That's fine. The car's out front. Do you both need help with your bags?" He glanced at the luggage and backpacks waiting by the door to indicate what he meant.
Hiccup nodded and laughed a bit nervously. "Please? Odin knows all the tech we packed in these babies."
Sebastian nodded and picked up all their bags with practiced ease, taking them out to the trunk and getting everything situated so they could put their backpacks back there too if they wanted. He finished just in time to see Jack following Hiccup out of the house, each carrying their own backpacks.
"Hey Michaelis, you ready?" He called out, icy blue eyes practically sparkling. He was still having a really hard time believing all of this was actually happening. To think. If he hadn't called Sebastian out on not being human, he and Hiccup would just be doing homework upstairs.
"I was ready the moment I left my apartment," Sebastian reminded him. He leaned up against the car while he waited for them to situate their things. "Have you already said your goodbyes? I'd like to get on the road soon. That way, we can make it there, check in and get settled before it gets too crowded."
"Not yet! Hold on!" Hiccup yelled, quickly turning to run back inside with Jack close at his heels once more.
Sebastian simply stood by and waited for them, wondering if this really was such a good idea. Maybe he should have just stayed home with Yami. At least then he'd be with his brother where it was safe and familiar rather than a pair of classmates he still barely knew. How was it fair that he got to go to the convention instead of Yami?
"Shotgun!"
"Shot-Dang it!"
Sebastian was pulled out of his thoughts by their shouting as Hiccup and Jack started running back to the car. He could only assume the woman watching them in amusement from the door was Hiccup's mother and offered a shy wave when she looked to him.
"Bye boys!" She called to them before waving back at Sebastian. "Mr. Michaelis, keep an on them for me, would ye?"
Out of habit, Sebastian put his hand over his heart and bowed his head a little. "Of course, madam. They'll be safe with me and back before 10 on Sunday. Please don't worry too much." He'd fallen into a habit of never telling someone not to worry thanks to Yami always reminding him that he would always be worried about him. "Thanks for letting them come, Mrs. Haddock. Have a pleasant weekend."
With that, he got into the car and started it up, turning to make sure the other two were buckled it. It appeared Jack had won the shotgun call. "Alright, I have just one rule. Don't touch the radio without permission. Other than that, settle in and make yourselves reasonably comfortable. It's going to be a long ride."
Jack groaned and folded his arms dramatically. "Fine, as long as I get to drive half of the way over there."
"Just ignore him, Sebastian. That's what I do." Hiccup sighed from the back, rolling his eyes at his friend's attempt at a bribe.
"Hey!"
"By all means, go ahead and put something on. Just ask first and don't mess with the settings." Sebastian cut into their bickering, casting an amused smirk in Jack's direction. "But you're not driving at all this trip. This is my brother's car. He'd kill ME if you scratched it."
"What?! But I'm a good driver!" Jack protested, huffing at him.
"Well, yeah, surprisingly, he is. Given that he's lived even before the first car was invented." Hiccup spoke in the other's defense though he was sure it wouldn't change Sebastian's verdict.
Jack glared back him a little for that comment though. "Are you calling me old, fishbone?"
"Maybe," the brunette teased, grinning at him.
Sebastian fell quiet listening to their bickering. If Hiccup thought Jack was old, then that meant he was old too, if not ancient. While he understood how a human would perceive his lifespan, he still didn't find it particularly fair. He wasn't even considered an adult by demonic standards.
"You alright?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow at him. By how he was slightly glaring at the road, the winter spirit could only assume something had suddenly upset the demon or was bothering him.
"Hm?" Sebastian only shook his head, keeping his attention on the road ahead of him as they started to merge onto the freeway. "Oh, yeah. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Jack pressed, not wanting Sebastian to get quiet again. He could bicker with Hiccup for hours easily, but he did that at home already and this trip might be his only opportunity to get to know Sebastian before they all went back to school and the raven retreated back into his shell.
"Yeah, I just forget how many years I've been around sometimes." Sebastian grumbled.
"Well, given that you're a demon, I don't blame you." Jack laughed a bit, looking forward again.
Hiccup nodded in agreement and leaned forward to poke his head between the two's headrests. "So...how old are you exactly, Sebastian? If you don't mind my asking."
They were both curious about the other to say the least. Hiccup had drilled Jack for days when he first discovered his best friend was an immortal being. He just couldn't resist discovering something new or learning about them. It was one of the reasons he wanted to be an animal trainer of some kind or an inventor. He was fascinated mostly by cats and avian species, but held an all around, healthy curiosity for the world. Meeting a demon was no exception. If anything, it was taking everything he had not to interrogate him.
Sebastian casually shrugged his shoulders and tried to think of just how he wanted to word how old he was without stating he was old. "Old enough. I've seen the black plague first hand and the rise and falls of empires and kingdoms your history books skip or very loosely and incorrectly cover." He paused to think a moment. "Though, if I were to convert my age down to human terms, I'm still only a teenager."
"I guess that makes sense," Jack was surprised to say the least, but then again, Sebastian was attending high school with them and not some kind of college like he assumed the other could have if he wanted to. Hiccup on the other hand...
"You've been alive since BEFORE the Black Plague?!" The brunette in the back blurted out, all sorts of new questions coming to mind with this new information.
"Y-Yeah?" Sebastian chuckled nervously and gripped the wheel a bit tighter. He wasn't certain if this was a good outburst or a bad one. His mind started going over of all the ways he could possibly pull over or kick them out without doing damage to Yami's car just in case.
"I have to admit, that's actually pretty cool. I thought you were older older than that, though." Hiccup continued, his mind racing a mile a minute as he thought about all he knew about supernatural beings and mythological creatures.
Sebastian frowned a little and glanced back at him, "How much older did you think I was?"
"I don't know. Just older. Not BC older, but still." Hiccup covered up quickly. Perhaps now wasn't the time to ask all his questions. He just hoped he'd get another opportunity.
"Good to know I still act more mature than my age suggests…" Sebastian sighed, shaking his head a little and allowing himself to relax again. He spoke up once the time seemed to stretch on in silence longer than they'd been driving. "So, have either of you planned your day for tomorrow?"
"Yes and no. I mean, we didn't even know we were going until earlier." Hiccup replied in embarrassment, glancing to Jack for assistance.
"Hiccup, another friend of mine, and I were asked to host a panel at the con. At the time when we were asked, we didn't think we'd be able to make it, so our other friend, Hiro said that we couldn't go, but that he could. Now that you oh so graciously gave us your other tickets, we've got a chance to make it and surprise the fans." Jack graciously filled in, explaining with a bright smile on his face. He was excited to hear and see everyone's reactions. It was going to be amazing.
Hiccup was also beaming ear to ear at the thought while he chipped in, "All we know is that we're heading to the panel and stay there for 1-2 hours. I don't exactly remember how long we're gonna be there."
"But other than that and being in the tournament, going against everyone else, we've got nothing. Just eating and sleeping." Jack finished off, turning his attention outside his window instead. It would be fun to him to just wander the floor and meet everyone there, maybe get a few really cool pictures or get some merchandise from the shop section.
"Ah, alright. Well, I'm sure you two will have plenty of time between now and after your panel to plot and scheme. I'll be around for the most part." Sebastian felt it only fair he share his own plans as well.
"Oh yeah? What're you gonna be doing, hm?" Jack pried, a mischievous glint starting to spark in his eyes. "Enlighten me, if you would."
Sebastian rolled his eyes a bit at his antics. "Prepping for the tournament, meeting up with a friend. Maybe I'll visit a couple panels." He rambled, hoping it was mundane enough for him. "Which one are you doing with your friend? Just you guys or are you calling people to join you?
"Nice," Jack seemed satisfied enough...for now.
"Oh, well Jack, Hiro, and I are gaming/vlogging YouTubers, so it's our Questions & Answers Panel, plus a few dares added in." Hiccup explained for him. "If other famous gamers are there, then we'll ask if they want to join, like Markiplier. Hiro knows him pretty well."
"Nice. Maybe I'll drop by and watch for awhile." Sebastian mused though he really had no intentions of doing so. If anything, he'd be avoiding panels like that like the plague.
"You're more than welcome to," Hiccup invited warmly, none the wiser.
Jack gasped and turned in his seat to face Hiccup, "you know what would be awesome?"
"What?"
"If the Crow and King went to our panel." He said excitedly, blissfully unaware of how Sebastian tensed up ever so slightly at the mention of the two famous gamers. "Can you believe it?! Imagine, just seeing them would be a freaking dream come true!
Apparently this go Hiccup excited as well, he leaned forward and joined the white haired teen in his daydreaming. "Right?! Dude, if they had a YouTube channel, they'd be super famous! Probably even more than Smosh! And, hey, don't forget the Spider."
Sebastian rolled his eyes once more. Somehow, with Jack around, he had a feeling that it would become a more worrisome habit than it already was. Yami already scolded him for doing so excessively. How could he not though? It was the perfect, in audible response to most of what others said.
"You really think they'd get that big?" Sebastian mused with a small smile. "You know if they're there, there's a really good chance they're signing up for the tournament. Maybe you'll get to play one of them."
"Definitely." Jack defended, not having any of it. "They're really good gamers. All they need is the commentary, and BAM! Instant subscribers."
"It'd be amazing if they got to play us. Again, just seeing them would be…" Hiccup broke off mid sentence to flail his arms dramatically. "It'd be a dream come true. Just saying."
"My words and actions exactly." Jack confirmed.
"I'll be sure to let you know if I spot them while walking around." Sebastian assured them, glancing to each in turn. Oh if they only knew.
"Promise?" Jack asked, a sly grin replacing his excitement. He almost looked like a cat that caught a canary. It was a bit unnerving for Sebastian. Maybe he should have avoided this conversation altogether.
"Of course," Sebastian covered up, trying to ignore him. "It wouldn't be fair if I got to see them neither of you did."
"Hey, here's a question for ya. If you were somebody famous, would you tell anyone? Like friends and family that don't know yet?" Jack pushed a bit more, leaning back in his seat.
"If I were famous, huh?" Sebastian's eyes narrowed a bit. He didn't like these questions at all. If he wasn't completely sure neither of them knew the truth, he probably wouldn't even humor their inquiries. Then again, Jack was being suspicious. Oh well, it was too late to turn back now. "To be honest, I'd only tell family. I can trust them not to let it slip out everywhere and making it near impossible for me to go out in public without being recognized and crowded. I might tell a couple close friends...might. Though, I really enjoy my privacy sometimes, so that could be why I'd want to remain mostly anonymous."
"What about you two?"
Hiccup hummed in thought and shrugged, "Kinda the same, actually. We only tell people we really trust, so…"
"We told you, didn't we?" Jack prodded, winking at Sebastian and seeming to smile expectantly, like he was hinting that the other was probably hiding something.
Sebastian on the other hand now regretted his decision to answer him at all and had no intentions of playing into his obvious hand, not even giving him a passing glance as he smirked at the road ahead of them. "You've barely met me, and I'm fairly certain you only told me because I asked the right questions. So, famous or not, I have no intentions of telling either of you. You both should think about getting some sleep on the ride, however. I don't want to find you both passed out in a corner of the convention."
"I definitely will sleep. I'm the only human in this car, and I think I need it more than anyone here." Hiccup announced, starting to put his and Jack's backpacks on the floor and taking out a large fluffy blanket from his own. He draped it over himself and settled down into the back seat. "Good night."
"Night Hic," Jack replied, leaning back in his own seat and turning his attention to the road. "Personally, I don't need sleep, but I tend to nap. I'm not tired right now though."
"That's convenient for you," Sebastian commented though his attention was on Hiccup's breathing and heart rate. He waited patiently for it to slow to a smooth, steady sleeping rhythm before speaking up again. "What do you do during the nights you're not napping?"
He was curious what other immortals did, considering he hadn't encountered others in such a long time. It's not like immortals had some kind of social networking system just for them, and it was supposed to be hard to find them.
"Um, I do my job?" Jack couldn't help but feel that was a given. What else was he supposed to be doing?
Sebastian rolled his eyes and sighed a little. "You never take a night off? I know doing your job is rather obvious."
"Not really, but I don't mind. There's gotta be snow somewhere in the world." Jack pointed out. "What about you? What do you do at night?"
"I'm between contracts right now, so I don't do much." He explained. His life really was quite boring these days, but it was a welcome change of pace.
"Contracts? What're those?" Jack figured he already knew what the other meant, but clarification was always nice. Besides, if he could keep Sebastian talking, he could learn more about him and demons which was a win-win in his mind.
"Contracts are essentially how I sustain myself." Sebastian started. "I do eat souls after all and to obtain these souls, I make contracts with humans who've summoned me or whose souls have caught my attention. In return for the meal, I grant then one wish."
Jack frowned at that. Eating souls didn't sound appetizing at all to him. "You...eat souls? Okay. But only those who seek out your help, right?" He didn't want to think about demons running amok and stealing souls at will or forcing people into contracts so they could eat their souls. It just sounded too cruel. "I guess that makes sense. Do you only eat souls?"
"I occasionally indulge in human food, though it does nothing to sustain me. It can make the wait for the next meal more bearable on occasion." Sebastian shrugged. He'd already learned many years ago that human food tasted very different for him than humans themselves. For him, if he ate it, it either tasted like nothing or had a strange flavor and took up empty space in his stomach. He mostly used it as something to trick his stomach into believing he'd eaten something.
"So… Do you ever take a soul? Like, without a contract?" Jack wasn't so sure he wanted to know the answer, but the question was out of his mouth before he could stop it.
Sebastian's nose wrinkled in disgust at the thought and it took a considerable amount of control to not accidentally chill the car several degrees. "I do not steal." He bit out firmly from behind clenched teeth. Even the thought of stealing a soul enraged him.
"I grew tired of foolishly sampling every soul that crossed my path long before the Victorian Era," he said proudly, fixing his expression back to neutral as best he could. "It's much more rewarding and long lasting to find an ideal soul and mold it to my preferences."
The concept still weirded Jack out, but he didn't really know how to divert the conversation away from it yet. "So, you prefer a plan of attack. Cool."
Sebastian couldn't help a soft laugh at that, "I prefer to think of it as experimenting with recipes."
It was all too easy for him to pick up on Jack's unease about this topic. The white haired teen was practically squirming and looking everywhere but at him since he'd brought up eating souls. Taking pity on him, Sebastian decided he should change the subject just a smidge.
"What about you? Do you need to eat at all?"
"Yes and no?" Jack half answered, shrugging. "I eat human food, but it's not like I really need it. In general, I don't really like to eat much of anything."
Sebastian nodded along and let Jack decide whether to continue speaking or let the conversation die. After some silence, it seemed he was done talking for the time being.
Every now and again, Jack would find something else to talk about for a bit to pass at least some of the time they spent on the road. Sebastian would respond when appropriate, but he held little interest in what was being said.
They settled into the hotel soon enough after they'd arrived, and it wasn't too many hours before it was time to start getting ready for the convention. Sebastian splashed some warm water on his face, combing his bangs back with his fingers and ignoring the stubborn strands that fell back into his face anyway. There wasn't much point. It's not like it wouldn't be held back by a mask soon enough here.
Now came the hard part. He'd already had a hell of a time picking up his badge from the clerk without the clerk giving it away and without Jack or Hiccup noticing. Getting ready without either of them noticing or being suspicious of who he was was going to be a pain in the ass. He had to do his makeup for the mask, but even that would beg questions. They would likely get suspicious if he were constantly requesting to stay behind and get ready by himself. For what felt like the hundredth time, he wished Yami were there with him instead. If it were his brother, they'd both just get ready as per usual and help each other make sure they looked fine.
He really couldn't think of a way to go about this without raising suspicion or red flags with the two. Besides, they were sharing a hotel room. There was no way they weren't going to find out in the few days they were going to be there. Perhaps the easiest way would be to scare them into silence. He could always just threaten them within an inch of their lives if they tried to out him. That typically worked with most mortals, and Jack seemed pretty childish.
After much mental debate over just how to go about this, Sebastian settled on the passive approach, carefully pulling his headset out of his bag and making sure the crow wings off the backs weren't damaged. He slipped them on and started to search through his bag for his mask.
Jack and Hiccup were still busy getting their small drawstring bags ready for the convention including getting their controllers, vlogging equipment and snacks. Neither of them really noticed anything until Jack got his white headset out and caught sight of the black wings out of the corner of his eye as Sebastian slipped on his mask.
"Oh MiM no, stop it. Stop it right now." the guardian muttered, looking up to make sure he really was seeing what he thought he was.
Kitana: Amazing how one simple review can remind you that you were actually writing something. XD I actually attempted editing this one, so hopefully most grammar mistakes are at a minimum. There's a lot of nostalgia converting a 5 year old rp into novel format for others to read and enjoy. It's amusing to see the characters before everything that's happened happens.
Thank you so much for reading! Please, feel free to ask me any questions you have either here or on tumblr: kitana-lunara
Reviews and favorites greatly appreciated!