“I never do what anyone tells me so why should I listen to you?” he’s not her S.O. or her partner since she’d specifically requested not to have one. respect has to be earned and so far she sees no reason to extend it.
“because i’m asking nicely.” rather, he thought he was asking decently enough so she wouldn’t exactly stick around. that way, he could do what was needed, and get out of there. “that should be enough.”
“see, you can listen once in a while.” it wasn’t that ky didn’t want company… it was just easier to keep himself away from everyone. that way, he wouldn’t have to deal with the aftermath of his actions nor the consequences.
“i think you’re forgetting who you’re talking to, caleb.” maybe he should have stopped while he was ahead, but thinking was never his strong suit. no, it was much easier to simply state everything bluntly. “i’ll do what i want… when i want and how i want.”
“just do as i say.” he was going to continue on saying that they should stick to the plan, but it wasn’t worth the effort the effort. “can you do that?”
it’s the same threat he’s heard a thousand times before that it barely fazes him now, only responding to it with a roll of his eyes. either being sent to Hell or the pits are his options and at this point he’s starting to not care anymore. his head shakes and he looks back down at the drink in his hands. “I don’t fear anything.” not really. he’s survived the worst so far and he can’t die so he knew he could do it again. “do whatever the fuck you want, I’m done bargaining for freedom I’m never going to get.”
at lest caleb was starting to get the point. freedom was an illusion and once the demon got their hands into anything – or thing,… they would never truly be free. “you don’t deserve it.” rather he didn’t believe caleb would or ever would if he was being honest, but he knew that was already known, “so, keep acting up, and you’ll find yourself in the darkest pits of hell.”
“every time I see you, you’re scowling.” not that she’s much better but she at least tries to find the fun in things. right now her mission is to try to get a smile out of him, if she even can. he hasn’t pushed her off yet so that’s a good sign. “c’mon that can’t be true. you have to like something.”
of course he was always scowling. he didn’t like close to anything. people, demons, and anything else. he always felt like he was above them. he was far above them. “i enjoy it when people are doing as i say.” it was part of it, but not entirely the truth. there were many things he liked. he just wouldn’t let himself admit them.
no hard feelings. Ky throws him back in the pits and now he’s passing it off as nothing. “you’d better keep the chains handy, I’ll tell you that much. you’ll need them when I finally get out of here.” it would give him time to come up with a way to kill him at least so no, there’s no hard feelings. on the bright side, he won’t have to deal with him. he could put up with the chains if the alternative’s being harassed. “you’re not immortal like I am though, remember? you’ll die eventually.”
“well’ll see about that.” he mused lowly. “you might be many things, but given enough time… i’m quite sure you’ll come to realize that even if i die? i still win.” at least, that was how he thought of it. caleb would never be free, not if he had a say in it, and even if he was? ky would make sure that it didn’t last too long. he always got what he wanted.
he’s not obedient to someone who hasn’t earned that respect. the last one who owned him gave it and he had no problem being his errand boy. if he needed someone killed, it was Caleb’s finger on the trigger. if he needed to send a message, he was the emissary. and not for praise or recognition. he owed the other demon a debt that can’t be repaid and he’d accepted his place because of it. it was the fact that Ky isn’t the same that makes him so rebellious. Ky wanted to either break him or bend him to his will and Caleb’s too stubborn for that. if he gives in, it’s only because he didn’t have any fight left in him. doing what Ky asked was easier than arguing with him and he gets tired of the chains. tired of the war between them that all he has to sacrifice is his pride if he calls a ceasefire by submitting. attention from him is always hostile and he’ll never understand why Ky bothered. he’s not his father and even if being like him would have earned him his freedom, he’d rather be who he was than change. he’s survived Hell; he could survive whatever Ky throws at him too. “if you want me to stop fighting you then it doesn’t work that way; you can have one or the other but not both.“ attention he could give if it was on his terms but Ky wouldn’t grant him that. it’s simple: they weren’t equals and for as long as that remains the case he’s never going to be obedient.
“perhaps.” in his mind, he could have both; the logic of one or another didn’t seem to suit him. ky wanted everything and that meant that he would need the other’s obedience. the other’s attention was wanted more; much more in-fact, but he could work with that as time passed. after-all, he was going to get everything… eventually, “however, i have a feeling that you’ll submit to me eventually.” if he didn’t, ky would do well to rip caleb apart until he submitted, but that would have took time. time… the demon wasn’t going to put forth on caleb or anyone if he was being truly honest with himself, “it’s only a matter of time.”
to be fair she had every intention of getting off him if he really wanted her to. annoying him is only fun if he went along with her antics and most of the time he wouldn’t. if she pushed his buttons, he returns the favor. she’s about to do as he says until he tacked on the last part, interest peaked by it. “amuse you how? it’s not my fault if you’re perpetually grumpy.” so grumpy in fact that he makes her erratic moods seem mild.
“i’m not always grumpy.” rather, he was. ky was always grumpy, but he never would admit that. not to anyone and certainly not to her. though, in truth, he felt like he always had to defend himself around her, and that was… annoying, “i just don’t like anything.”
wishful thinking apparently. you’d think by now he would have known better or given up on that already. it’s always a battle of wills between them and he’s too rebellious to keep his mouth shut. “well since removing them is out of the question, maybe you should consider putting me on a longer leash.” it might not make him any more cooperative but it’s worth a try, isn’t it? “or is that too much to hope for?”
“i could also throw you back in the pits. where you belong.” harsh words, but one’s that needed to be said. “you’re here as you amuse me. the moment that ends… is the moment you find yourself on an even tighter leash and trust me, caleb. you should fear what i have planned for you down there.”
Hellfirebound 