My, my, is that the only reason? It has nothing to do with seeing sinners and heathens and terrible human beings getting away with their misdeeds without so much as a slap on the wrist?
[He bit into the cookie, chewing for a few moments as he watched Chikusa Kakimoto's face.]
It's not because you sometimes wonder if god is blind, to turn away from such injustices?
[He finished off the cookie, licking the crumbs off his gloved fingers absently.]
While it was an admirable attempt, priest, demons can always find loopholes. Whether you want to close them or not depends on whether or not you want to waste more of your time on your contract.
[Every word seems turn more of Chikusa's expression stonier, until he's standing there as still as a statue with gray cold eyes to match. Pursing his lips, he looks away.]
I don't wonder that at all. [He's gone so many years holding on tightly to that belief, after all.] But... if someone is going to get hurt regardless... It's better if it was someone who was already purposefully doing cruel things to others.
[It's not a lie, either, and he finally glances back to him from the corner of his eye.]
['Are you going to wonder that now?' It was a cruel question on the tip of Mukuro's tongue, but he managed to keep those words caged. For now. He would have his answer soon enough, and there was little reason other than his own satisfaction to ask it.
He let the priest make up his justifications, turning his attention idly to his tea and taking a few idle sips.]
There are.
[Mukuro reached for another cookie, reaching over to dunk it into Chikusa Kakimoto's tea if he wasn't going to drink it, letting it sink to the bottom of the mug.]
I'm always open to negotiations. Draw up another contract like this one, if it pleases you.
...Most of the contract is suitable enough for this as well, besides the situation and people who need help.
[He goes to sit, not at the table, but the couch. It's probably darkly humorous, he reflects. Just a few minutes ago, and his body had wanted to be closer. Now, he wants space.]
Money problems, as with the other case. This time related to medical bills.
[That authoritative tone in the priest's voice was enough to make Mukuro laugh as well as send a lazy tendril of warmth down his spine. He leaned forward, elbows on the table smirking mockingly.]
What else would you like to tell me to do, Chikusa Kakimoto? Depending on the order, I would be more than eager to carry out your commands.
[He resisted the urge to laugh even harder as the young priest licked his lips, wondering if it was a subconscious gesture.]
Then I'll come for you again once my task is complete. Good night, young priest.
[And with that, even as the dream starts to fade, he hastens back to his room, red faced at the insinuations and laughter of the demon. When he wakes, the heat still hasn't left his face and only the freezing chill of a cold shower helps get rid of it.]
[This is absolutely a problem.]
[Chikusa deals with it the only way he knows how: prayer and confession. The first he can do on his own, but the other requires him to find time to slip into a confessional at some point in his day. The tight space has never been something he's truly noticed before. Whenever he's attended confession before, on either side of the screen, it's been a simple duty like anything else in his life. He's paid it about as much mind as preparing meals or getting dressed- an automatic habit. This time, however, the small space is comforting in some way.]
Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been six months since my last confession. In the past few weeks, I have had lustful and impure thoughts, and have purposefully looked up pornographic images...
[It's a weight off his shoulders to confess to it, although... He knows he's not entirely being honest. He refer to the demon as merely an individual he must deal with in his line of work instead of what he truly is, for example, in admitting the cause of such thoughts. Not untrue, but...]
...I am sorry for these and all my sins.
[And he is, really.]
[He's given penance in the form of prayers to do and, even more of a relief, spoken to. The things the priest on the other side of the divide tells him makes sense- that it's common for a young man to be preyed on by such thoughts, especially when he is single, and that Chikusa should not find it a personal failing but that of human beings. By remembering his love of God, he should stay on the right path.]
[When contrition is said and absolution is given, Chikusa leaves the confessional feeling relieved. Even with such a heavy feeling lifted, however, he still remember to keep an ear out on the family he'd told the demon to look out for... and to wait for whenever his dreams would be intruded upon next.]
[As amusing as the young priest is, Mukuro had other duties to attend to as well.
There were other souls to tempt into sin, as easy and boring as it ever was, but after doing a good deed, and signing up for more, well. Mukuro wouldn't want to attract the attention of other demons to what he was doing, so he sauntered around for a few days, said the usual barbs, and did what he pleased. If he was truthful, he might be relishing how the young priest had been so torn over his desires and his righteousness, and he would like him to stay in that state for a little longer. Not to mention, he didn't want the priest to get the wrong idea. That he was going to be at his beck and call.
He took a few days this time to help the family in need, digging deep and finding a long distant relative who had sold their soul to a lower demon in order for wealth. Now alone and close to death, it was easy enough to convince them to sign over their estate to their last living relatives.
After a few weeks, more than enough time for the news to reach his young priest, he settled lazily into Chikusa Kakimoto's dreams. It was getting easier and easier each time, and he had to wonder if it was because the mortal was warming slightly to him or if it was just because he had tread here so often now.
He appeared once again at Chikusa Kakimoto's desk, signing the contract with a flourish.]
How many more do you have lined up, priest?
[It might be better to do a whole batch at once if only to get it over with, like ripping out stitches or sprinting across glass.]
[It takes a moment for Chikusa to answer, sitting up and rubbing at his eyes as he 'wakes'. For possibly the first time in these dream meetings, he reaches for his glasses set to the side.]
I could go on endlessly. You should know there's no small number of people who need help.
[Getting up to his feet, he loosely wraps his arms around himself with his hands cradling his elbows.]
[Something about that look makes the hairs on the back of his neck rise up, but Chikusa breathes in deep and thinks a brief prayer. He's fine. This is nothing.]
No.... This is fine by me as well.
[Yet despite his best efforts, some of that shyness from their last interaction returns as he tilts his head slightly and looks up at him from beneath his bangs.]
[The question was met with a soft, low chuckle as Mukuro stood, making his way towards the bed, resting his knee between Chikusa Kakimoto's own. He looked down at him knowingly, leaning in slightly.]
Liked it that much, did you? Or would you be disappointed if that's all it was?
[The pink which spreads across the bridge of his nose isn't anywhere as intense as last time, but it's present. Chikusa forces himself to meet the other's eyes, even as his breath hitches at the brush of that leg against his own.]
It's merely what we did the last time. That's all.
[My, my, so the young priest had been eager, more so than Mukuro could have hoped. It was definitely an ego booster, and he had to resist the urge to chuckle.
He let one hand trail along Chikusa Kakimoto's side, barely a touch.]
Nothing you won't enjoy.
[It came out as a low purr, his eyes flicking up to the priest's face.]
Nothing too serious. Or have I not proven to be a demon of my word yet?
[Prayer. He just has to think prayer, and he'll get through this. Chikusa tries to remind himself of this, even as that faint touch sends chills down his spine.]
...Calling yourself that seems to be a bit of a contradiction...
[Even as he says it, he starts to shift back to put his weight on his elbows. Perhaps with more than a little nervousness lighting up his stare, he watches Mukuro carefully. This seems like an impressive leap from kissing... but surely he can put a stop to anything that's too much, can't he?]
[That small tremor was enough to make Mukuro's smirk widen, almost predatory as he leaned in, brushing his mouth against the side of Chikusa Kakimoto's, nosing his way towards his ear.]
Aren't humans full of contradictions? Nature? Your precious holy book? Just because they're juxtaposed doesn't make it impossible.
[He smirked against the young priest's skin as he leaned back slightly. He would have liked him to be flat on his back, but he supposed he could make due and he would get what he wanted soon enough. He pressed a few soft, open mouthed kisses along Chikusa Kakimoto's neck, letting his body rest lightly against the taller mortal's, entangling his legs with his.]
[Ah. The first time Chikusa had seen such sloppy behavior, he'd wondered how on earth it could possibly feel good. Saliva is wet, and damp, and messy. What could be the appeal of one wet piece of skin to another? Right now, however, he thinks he understands with every slide of Mukuro's lips against his throat. Was his skin always this sensitive? Could it always make him shiver this way with every soft suck, and he just never had a chance to notice?]
[It takes him a second, fingers curling into the sheets, before he remembers his duty. Taking a breath, he tries to remember all his training and his prayers. From this and Mukuro's attention on his neck, his voice comes out somewhat faint and far away.]
There's... answers for the contradictions in the book. [A soft sigh before he bites his lip at the slip up.] They only appear to be contradictions.
[While theological arguments weren't exactly Mukuro's preferred brand of dirty talk, he would take what he could get from the young priest. He pressed down closer against him, scrapping his teeth experimentally against the column of his throat, before flicking his tongue teasingly against Chikusa Kakimoto's earlobe.]
My, my, and what answers have you found?
[He kept up the soft kisses, and while he was tempted to suck and bite color into life on the priest's pale neck, he'd behave himself for now.
Except for his hand that was inching slowly underneath the young priest's shirt.]
[Words get lost to the jerk of his body when he feels teeth scrape against his skin, and Chikusa almost forgets what he was saying entirely. Deep in his chest, a frantic bird seems to have replaced his heart, wings beating hard against the inside of his ribcage. He scrambles for his words again.]
It depends on what you claim is a contradiction. There's answers for everything and-
[Even that slow touch has his stomach clench, and Chikusa swallows hard. It's only touching. It's only his shirt. This is fine.]
[Now that jerk was worth noting, and Mukuro resisted the temptation to bite down into Chikusa Kakimoto's flesh even harder, to pierce skin and taste the salt of his skin mixed with the smooth metallic twang of blood. Instead, he pushed the priest's shirt up further, both of his hands tracing along his sides, his ribs, his stomach.]
Is there an answer for why men shouldn't lie with demons?
[Before the young priest could answer, however, Mukuro pressed their mouths together, nippling on the bottom of his lip.]
[Of course there is, and they both know it. But then there's those lips on his again, just like last time- no, not like then. There's a hint of teeth, this time. So much biting him... For a moment, Chikusa is frozen. What is he supposed to do in response?]
[The answer comes to him, soon enough. He shifts, resting his weight on one elbow instead of both, and reaches up to slide his fingers through Mukuro's hair again like he had the first time.]
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That's.... only because I thought you wouldn't agree to do it at all if it was too strict. If you truly like, I can always close those loopholes.
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[He bit into the cookie, chewing for a few moments as he watched Chikusa Kakimoto's face.]
It's not because you sometimes wonder if god is blind, to turn away from such injustices?
[He finished off the cookie, licking the crumbs off his gloved fingers absently.]
While it was an admirable attempt, priest, demons can always find loopholes. Whether you want to close them or not depends on whether or not you want to waste more of your time on your contract.
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I don't wonder that at all. [He's gone so many years holding on tightly to that belief, after all.] But... if someone is going to get hurt regardless... It's better if it was someone who was already purposefully doing cruel things to others.
[It's not a lie, either, and he finally glances back to him from the corner of his eye.]
...There's still people who need help.
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He let the priest make up his justifications, turning his attention idly to his tea and taking a few idle sips.]
There are.
[Mukuro reached for another cookie, reaching over to dunk it into Chikusa Kakimoto's tea if he wasn't going to drink it, letting it sink to the bottom of the mug.]
I'm always open to negotiations. Draw up another contract like this one, if it pleases you.
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[He goes to sit, not at the table, but the couch. It's probably darkly humorous, he reflects. Just a few minutes ago, and his body had wanted to be closer. Now, he wants space.]
Money problems, as with the other case. This time related to medical bills.
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[It was said idly enough, Mukuro selecting another cookie to dip into Chikusa Kakimoto's untouched tea.]
Even my payment is still acceptable?
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[A quiet scoff before that question, and he licks his lips, thinking of that again.]
...It's fine.
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What else would you like to tell me to do, Chikusa Kakimoto? Depending on the order, I would be more than eager to carry out your commands.
[He resisted the urge to laugh even harder as the young priest licked his lips, wondering if it was a subconscious gesture.]
Then I'll come for you again once my task is complete. Good night, young priest.
no subject
[And with that, even as the dream starts to fade, he hastens back to his room, red faced at the insinuations and laughter of the demon. When he wakes, the heat still hasn't left his face and only the freezing chill of a cold shower helps get rid of it.]
[This is absolutely a problem.]
[Chikusa deals with it the only way he knows how: prayer and confession. The first he can do on his own, but the other requires him to find time to slip into a confessional at some point in his day. The tight space has never been something he's truly noticed before. Whenever he's attended confession before, on either side of the screen, it's been a simple duty like anything else in his life. He's paid it about as much mind as preparing meals or getting dressed- an automatic habit. This time, however, the small space is comforting in some way.]
Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been six months since my last confession. In the past few weeks, I have had lustful and impure thoughts, and have purposefully looked up pornographic images...
[It's a weight off his shoulders to confess to it, although... He knows he's not entirely being honest. He refer to the demon as merely an individual he must deal with in his line of work instead of what he truly is, for example, in admitting the cause of such thoughts. Not untrue, but...]
...I am sorry for these and all my sins.
[And he is, really.]
[He's given penance in the form of prayers to do and, even more of a relief, spoken to. The things the priest on the other side of the divide tells him makes sense- that it's common for a young man to be preyed on by such thoughts, especially when he is single, and that Chikusa should not find it a personal failing but that of human beings. By remembering his love of God, he should stay on the right path.]
[When contrition is said and absolution is given, Chikusa leaves the confessional feeling relieved. Even with such a heavy feeling lifted, however, he still remember to keep an ear out on the family he'd told the demon to look out for... and to wait for whenever his dreams would be intruded upon next.]
no subject
There were other souls to tempt into sin, as easy and boring as it ever was, but after doing a good deed, and signing up for more, well. Mukuro wouldn't want to attract the attention of other demons to what he was doing, so he sauntered around for a few days, said the usual barbs, and did what he pleased. If he was truthful, he might be relishing how the young priest had been so torn over his desires and his righteousness, and he would like him to stay in that state for a little longer. Not to mention, he didn't want the priest to get the wrong idea. That he was going to be at his beck and call.
He took a few days this time to help the family in need, digging deep and finding a long distant relative who had sold their soul to a lower demon in order for wealth. Now alone and close to death, it was easy enough to convince them to sign over their estate to their last living relatives.
After a few weeks, more than enough time for the news to reach his young priest, he settled lazily into Chikusa Kakimoto's dreams. It was getting easier and easier each time, and he had to wonder if it was because the mortal was warming slightly to him or if it was just because he had tread here so often now.
He appeared once again at Chikusa Kakimoto's desk, signing the contract with a flourish.]
How many more do you have lined up, priest?
[It might be better to do a whole batch at once if only to get it over with, like ripping out stitches or sprinting across glass.]
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I could go on endlessly. You should know there's no small number of people who need help.
[Getting up to his feet, he loosely wraps his arms around himself with his hands cradling his elbows.]
...How long do you want to have this arrangement?
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[He turned his gaze back towards the priest, chin lifted slightly. He let a smirk form slowly and lazily over his face, raising an eyebrow.]
Unless you have something else in mind?
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No.... This is fine by me as well.
[Yet despite his best efforts, some of that shyness from their last interaction returns as he tilts his head slightly and looks up at him from beneath his bangs.]
...Kissing, again?
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Liked it that much, did you? Or would you be disappointed if that's all it was?
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It's merely what we did the last time. That's all.
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[He leaned closer so that he could practically feel the heat from the mortal's flushed face, brushing his mouth lightly against the priest's.]
Lie back.
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What are you going to do?
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He let one hand trail along Chikusa Kakimoto's side, barely a touch.]
Nothing you won't enjoy.
[It came out as a low purr, his eyes flicking up to the priest's face.]
Nothing too serious. Or have I not proven to be a demon of my word yet?
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...Calling yourself that seems to be a bit of a contradiction...
[Even as he says it, he starts to shift back to put his weight on his elbows. Perhaps with more than a little nervousness lighting up his stare, he watches Mukuro carefully. This seems like an impressive leap from kissing... but surely he can put a stop to anything that's too much, can't he?]
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Aren't humans full of contradictions? Nature? Your precious holy book? Just because they're juxtaposed doesn't make it impossible.
[He smirked against the young priest's skin as he leaned back slightly. He would have liked him to be flat on his back, but he supposed he could make due and he would get what he wanted soon enough. He pressed a few soft, open mouthed kisses along Chikusa Kakimoto's neck, letting his body rest lightly against the taller mortal's, entangling his legs with his.]
no subject
[It takes him a second, fingers curling into the sheets, before he remembers his duty. Taking a breath, he tries to remember all his training and his prayers. From this and Mukuro's attention on his neck, his voice comes out somewhat faint and far away.]
There's... answers for the contradictions in the book. [A soft sigh before he bites his lip at the slip up.] They only appear to be contradictions.
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My, my, and what answers have you found?
[He kept up the soft kisses, and while he was tempted to suck and bite color into life on the priest's pale neck, he'd behave himself for now.
Except for his hand that was inching slowly underneath the young priest's shirt.]
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[Words get lost to the jerk of his body when he feels teeth scrape against his skin, and Chikusa almost forgets what he was saying entirely. Deep in his chest, a frantic bird seems to have replaced his heart, wings beating hard against the inside of his ribcage. He scrambles for his words again.]
It depends on what you claim is a contradiction. There's answers for everything and-
[Even that slow touch has his stomach clench, and Chikusa swallows hard. It's only touching. It's only his shirt. This is fine.]
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Is there an answer for why men shouldn't lie with demons?
[Before the young priest could answer, however, Mukuro pressed their mouths together, nippling on the bottom of his lip.]
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[The answer comes to him, soon enough. He shifts, resting his weight on one elbow instead of both, and reaches up to slide his fingers through Mukuro's hair again like he had the first time.]
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