this was what happened when ky got too close to someone. he got not just comfortable, but he became relaxed. it was always the calm before the storm; before he got out of control and ruined everything. sometimes, it was his family that showed up to ruin his chances at real peace, and happiness. other times? well, that was himself. he always ruined everything that he touched – it wasn’t just a matter of time either. it was the who, the how, and most importantly? the why.
of course, those thoughts faded the moment she said those three words. oh, he had melted – not literally of course, but mentally. she could have asked him to take over the world and he would have with-out even thinking twice. more than that though, much more – all she had to do was say the right words and he’d be like a puppy following her every command.
“mmm,” he finally managed to get out, “— that i am.”
ky will melt if you scratch behind his ears.
Steve was aware of what was at stake here. He knew how others would react, especially those who had seen Bucky vanish before their very eyes. People would make questions. Suspicious would arise and the veteran knew that the backlash for what he had just done would be… no short of monumental. What would Thor say? Or Natasha? What would Bucky say if he knew what he had done for the sake of saving him? How badly would his best friend react after learning why he had come back and no one else had? It was a price that Steve was willing to pay. It was something that only he could do. Maybe there was a way. Maybe later down the line, they would find some way to undo what Thanos had done.
MAYBE.
But how was he supposed to focus when he was blinded by grief and pain? To see Bucky die before his very eyes not once – but twice? That was far too much. He would even give his own life in exchange for Bucky’s if that was what it took for him to have the other man back. The one who didn’t want to fight. The one who wanted nothing more than to live his own life and put his past of war and conflict behind his back. It was his fault that Bucky had vanished. It was his fault that things had… been the way they were now. But it was not too late to make amends. They would stop Thanos and they would find a way to bring the ones who died back. They would find a way to right their wrongs. But for him to do that… he needed Bucky. He needed that ONE person that would make everything so much better and bearable.
Blue eyes turned to the demon and even though he knew sooner or later, he would have to pay the price for this – Steve was oddly at peace. Whatever the demon wanted, he would do. It was his end of the bargain. Whatever it took to bring Bucky back. To bring the one person he cared about the most back to the world of the living. It was not his time. Not yet. “Thank you.” Lips curled in a half smile and Steve offered his demonic contractor a short nod. If the blond could truly bring Bucky back – he would pay the price. It was worth it. “How do I know it is my time to fill my end of the bargain?”
He didn’t expect thanks. Nor did he expect true gratitude for what he was about to do. Tinkering with fate always came with a price – usually, he had something to weigh it out with properly, but words held their own power. A favor for a favor – something he did out of pure necessity than actual want.
Bringing one man back wouldn’t tip the scales one way or another – the scales were already destroyed. That was what happened when the Titan decided to snap their fingers and throw the entire universe. Whatever balance there was… it was torn asunder.
All that was left was the fragments of what was once known as reality. Dust littering every room, street, and corner of not just the world, but the universe at large. A price to pay for someone who decided that most of all life needed to be eradicated.
Maybe in another time Ky would have done the same thing, but not like this – never like this. Though, he doubted he’d ever get ahold of an infinity stone. Especially now… that they were all currently held by a very mad Titan.
“You’ll know.” It was a lie, but also a truth in all reality. Ky didn’t know when he’d call either one or a majority of his deals in. However, he knew fully well that when the time came? He’d be calling it in no matter what they were doing or what was on the line.
“Until then,” he said, hands slipping into the pockets of his pants, “I’ll be watching and I might even show up now and again.” Of course, the final words from his mouth were doubtful, but they held some sort of truth all the same.
if you pat ky’s head and call him ‘little demon’ he will melt. If you’re someone he likes or is comfortable with, if you call him ‘my little demon’ he will melt further. However, if you’re someone he DOESN’T like…. it might not end well.
there’s a cold, and calculated smile on this monstrosity’s face as blues peer upwards at the taller. those pale pink lips had peeled away from his sharp teeth, before he took a slow sip from his starbucks’ cup.
“i believe you meant, ‘mephistopheles’, ky’lar.” he chuckles, but there’s little warmth in the tone of his voice.
“how have i been? why! i’m touched that you would even feign to offer me such compassion, especially since the last time i saw you i was– oh? what was i doing? wasn’t i elbow deep in your guts?”
“my apologies,” he even dipped his head in a false sense of respect. no, speaking his grandfather’s entire name would have most likely earned him another response. maybe some sort of minimal favor, but he wasn’t going to lower himself into doing so at the moment.
no, there would be enough time for that. most likely when ky was begging for some sort of mercy.
however, for the time being, he was trying to remain civil, and attempting some sort of respect. it was only a slim amount, but he was at least learning to show a bit. even if it was a very long hard road towards where he should have been originally.
“well, i deserved it,” an admission that surprised even himself. still, he was admitting to a mistake- something that was rare in all reality. even if his voice was shaky. “among other things.”
It was the dispassion with which he spoke that intrigued Felicia, curiosity coloring her face. Too interested to even react with more than a sniff of disdain at the questioning of her ability to complete what was being described. It was appearing to be a relatively simple job and the thought of a near unlimited payday on top of it?
“I believe I’m familiar. It’s to be a part of the Art in Weapons exhibit at the Met? Not an easy place to get into, but not impossible. One hundred thousand dollars and give me a week to deliver. I require half up front, the other half can be paid at delivery.”
She tried not to roll her eyes at his explanation, stopped by the step forward that she felt was meant to be intimidating. A shapely and dark brow quirked upward, pointedly staring at the shortened distance between them before darting back up to his face.
“Not to give you the impression that I don’t care, handsome, but uh… I don’t really need to know that. Now, do we have a deal? Or did you want to attempt to negotiate?”
The price was… fair. He had said any price – so he half-expected something far higher, but wasn’t going to complain either. It was a mere scrap of pocket change in his mind – considering the amount he had tried to pay through more legal means. Not to mention that this route would have far less paperwork involved.
“Negotiating would mean your price is a bit too steep.” For him, it wasn’t – not at all. It was simply a means to and end. One, that hopefully would earn him some points back home, but only once he had the item in his grasp.
“A reason to why we have a deal.”
More importantly, why attempt to negotiate when it wasn’t needed? Sure, he could have found someone much cheaper, but they more than likely would have failed. Or failed, got caught, and then it would all come back to Ky – something that he didn’t need at the moment.
Hellfirebound 