Gifts That Cost Your Soul 3

Whisper awoke early, wondering when he had fallen asleep. He blinked a few times and stared in surprise to find Kellen in his arms, his head buried comfortably in his chest. Whisper moved his tail slightly to find that was also wrapped around the boy. It was nice… He laid his head back down and pulled away slightly to look at Kellen’s face, just watching him sleep and trying to tell himself he wasn’t being creepy.

Kellen stored slightly at the movement of his pillow, letting out a tiny mewl of unhappiness, trying to cuddle closer to his pillows warmth. Whisper smiled softly, moving closer and wrapping his arms around the smaller human. He was...cute. Really cute actually… Whisper thought, trying not to wake him up, not knowing if he was a heavy sleeper or not. The mousy boy let out a small sigh when he won his heat back, mumbling something that sounded like, "you can't defeat me."

Whisper raised an eyebrow, tilting his head in wonder. He must be a heavy sleeper… He reached up with his free hand and brushed some stray hairs out of Kellen’s face gently, enjoying the warmth of his skin against his fingertips. The boys lips moved slightly but no sound came out as he leaned into the touch. Whispers gaze moved down to the boys lips. They looked soft… He carefully traced Kellen’s bottom lip with the tip of his thumb, suddenly wanting to touch Kellen’s lips...with his...

 

Kellen’s eyebrows crinkled and he nipped at the touch on his lip, no strength behind it and his jaw going slack almost immediately as he continued to sleep. Whisper tilted his head to one side, interested. He pulled his finger out of Kellen’s mouth awkwardly, watching his face. He looked peaceful. He wondered briefly if he should wake the boy up, and opted for leaving him be, being rather comfortable himself.

 

Kellen dreamed about harmless little Kitty's and unicorns while he sat with the cutest little kitty of them all. The life sized cat was too adorable for words and he skilled happily. He watched fish swim through the air and grinned when Bubbles swam up. "I love you Bubbles." Kellen said derpily. His only friend blurbed at him and continued on his way- until the cat snapped bubbles up. "NO!" Kellen jerked out of whispers grip and rolled off the bed, an awkward tugging on his torso pulling the demon with him.

“Ugnn!” Whisper threw his hands out to stop himself from crushing the human as they rolled off the edge of the bed. His hands landed on either sides of Kellen’s head, stopping his body from landing on him. He stared down at tired, frantic green eyes, his own expression surprised.

“Kellen? Are… are you okay, sweets?” He asked, looking down at him in mild concern. Kellen stared back at him, heart pounding.

"Um... yes?" He said unsure of himself, realizing his back stung from hitting the floor. Whisper gave him an awkward half smile, leaning on one hand and using the other to move Kellen’s hair out of his face. He stared down at him for a moment before rolling off him and standing up, unwrapping his tail from the boy’s torso and leaning down to offer him his hand.

“Come on, off the floor.” He said gently.

 

Kellen blinked dazedly and reached up, taking the demons help in standing. Swaying awkwardly where he stood. "Uhm...sorry."

“Don’t worry about it.” Whisper shook his head, he eyed the boy again a little suspiciously. “Are you sure you’re alright?” He asked. He could feel himself bristling, at the ready. The boy looked like he might fall over where he stood.

“Um... yeah... I fall out of bed a lot...” He said sullenly as he steadied himself and started moving towards his closet, stumbling over his own two feet, and coming to a rest at the doors. He silently opened them and started dressing, a black tank top, dark skinny jeans and his huge hoodie overtop it all. He slipped on his converse and yawned as he walked to his desk and grabbed his backpack.

“Love you, Bubbles.” He said tiredly as he sprinkled some food in the goldfishes bowl and happily watched him eat it.

 

Whisper watched the boy stumble about and get ready for school. He was certainly a little strange… but not in a bad way. He let out a short huff as Kellen bid his love to his fish and mentally slapped himself. Are you seriously jealous of a fish…? Wow. New low much? He’s known that fish way longer than you anyway and probably trusts it more. He’s just your friend after all… your first friend… You come in second to Kellen… after Bubbles. Whisper made sure to keep the emotion off his face as he thought to himself, his tail swishing passively. He was a little excited. Now that he’d gotten the human to acknowledge him, maybe going to school with him would be fun. He shoved his hands in his pockets, ready to follow Kellen and a little weary of the long walk it would take to get there.  

 

Kellen turned to his demon and gave a tired smile, still extremely happy about Bubbles not being dead, and started shuffling out of the house, casting a glance at the clock. Nine... he was late... oh well.

The morning air was chilly and Kellen snuggled into his hoodie as he started a slow walk towards school. Moseying his way without much of a care. He was late to math every day, and the teacher probably preferred it that way. Kellen nodded his head with a yawn. No need to hurry.

“You know…” Whisper started cautiously. “We could get there a lot faster if you’d just let me fly us there.” He looked down at the human, snuggling himself into his hoodie. “We could shave maybe ten minutes off our time.”

 

“Uhm... no... I don't like heights.” Kellen murmured shifting away from whisper in case he decided his opinion wasn’t needed and scooped him up again.

“Remember how we said we were going to fix that? Now would be a great time to do so.” Whisper urged. He couldn’t fathom Kellen’s apparent dislike for something as silly as heights. Being off the ground was fun…

“It’s not like I would ever drop you. I’m an ass but I’m not cruel.” He said.

“But... it’s really high...” Kellen whispered inching away some more.

“Yes it’s really high, but if I’m not going to drop you, what is there to be afraid of?” Whisper shrugged, looking down at him and hoping for a different answer.

 

“But... then I'm not touching the ground...” Kellen insisted weakly.

“No… You’d be in… the air…” Whisper said, wrinkling his eyebrows and giving Kellen a look like he should know this. He let out a frustrated huff.

“Bet if Bubbles could fly you’d let him take you.” Whisper muttered, unsure if Kellen could even hear him.

“Bubbles is a fish.” Kellen deadpanned casting Whisper the same ‘you should know this’ look. “He won't fly.”

“I know.” Whisper ran his hands over his face, unsure if he was glad Kellen had missed the jealousy in that statement, or disappointed that he felt he needed to point out the obvious. “Never mind. If it’s that much of a hassle we’ll walk… for now.” He said, side glancing at the boy.

 

Kellen looked away, folding his arms behind his back and smiling brightly at having won the argument. Whisper rolled his eyes, wanting to be angry but finding it impossible so long as Kellen had that stupid smile on his face. He focused his attention ahead, not that he had to worry about running into anyone. He looked upwards, watching the sky as he walked, wanting to be engulfed in it. It had too long already since his last flight. He missed his element rushing harmlessly through his hair and gently caressing his body. He wanted to share that feeling… with Kellen. It seemed like something he would enjoy. It offered freedom, and a little time to not have to worry about anything. If he wasn’t so terrified to leave the ground it might actually do him some good.

 

“Say, Whisper, are you half angel like Adam said?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Whisper snapped unintentionally and closed his mouth with a click. “It’s not important.”

Kellen blinked and looked down, “Oh... sorry...” He murmured quietly, face falling. Honestly, he hoped that Whisper was part human... like him... it would be nice to know there where others out there. Whisper glanced down, sighing.

“It’s fine. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s a touchy subject is all…” He said, looking away.

“Oh... okay... I won't ask again then...” Kellen said in the same sad murmur. Whisper bit his lip and kept walking for a moment before nudging the human gently.

“Don’t worry about it, sweets.” He said gently. “For you I could be anything.” He smirked, returning his gaze ahead.

Kellen blinked and felt his face flush slightly as he glanced up at Whisper threw his mussed up bangs. “Um... can you...be a cat?” Whisper glanced back down at him.

“Within reason, love. I’m not a shape shifter.” He raised an eyebrow at the insinuation.

 

Kellen looked down and bit his lip, “It would have been cool... then you could turn into a fish... and Bubbles would have a friend too.”

“I don’t think Bubbles and I would get along… You would not want me in the tank with your fish.” He said making a face. Kellen gave a soft laugh, “perhaps.” He said giving Whisper a sly look, “guess I wouldn’t want you to like Bubbles more than me.”

“Impossible.” Whisper said with finality. “He and I didn’t get off to the greatest start. Having your soul swallowed makes you a little weary of the one who ate your soul. You are far better company than Bubbles any day.”

“That’s good.” Kellen said looking back down at the sidewalk, his feet kicking slightly at the cement as he walked, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his hoodie.

“Yes, fabulous.” Whisper said in a casual tone. “Try and stay out of trouble today by the way.” He advised.

 

Kellen looked up seeing the school looming violently ahead. He looked down, giving a soft shrug, “maybe...”

“No, not maybe. Promise me you’ll try.” Whisper replied frowning. “It’s not like I’m going to let you be hurt, but if we can salvage your reputation it would be a nice perk.”

“I don't provoke them if that’s what you’re getting at. They... find me because they want to, not because I asked for it.” Kellen said a bit defensibly.

“I know, sweets. In any case, don’t be afraid of them. Don’t worry about it. Maybe we could even make you some friends.”

“But.. I already have a friend. Why would I need more?” Kellen asked confused.

“No, you have two friends.” Whisper corrected him, his face twisting into that of one who may be a little butt hurt.

“Um.. No I don't...” Kellen said looking over at Whisper, the confusion deepening.

“Bubbles?” Whisper reminded him, looking over at him in confusion. “Whatever, in any case, to everyone else around here I don’t exist. I don’t really count… So we have to make you some friends that… matter.” He said.

 

Kellen stopped walking and turned to Whisper his eyebrows drawing together and his eyes burning with something resembling anger.

“Bubbles is my pet. And even if you only exist to me, and everyone thinks I’m some kind of freaky creep, your opinion is the only one that matters. You said you’d be my friend, and as far as I'm concerned I only need one.”

Whisper blinked down at the smaller male. He’d never had a friend like that… or at all, that would consider him even mildly important. He felt his lips pull into a smile and he pulled Kellen closer and messed up his hair gently.

“Well then we’ll cross friend making off our list… because you know I was a little pissed about having to share you. Now that I don’t have to we can focus on more important matters, such as your heights problem and this bullying shit that needs to… no, is going to be stopped.”

 

Kellen’s big green eyes gazed up at him before falling to the ground, “If you say so...” He muttered unconvinced.

“Oh I do. Maybe we can have some fun with it.” His smile darkened and his tail flicked back and forth in excitement.

“Uhm... if you say so...” Kellen repeated softly, digging the tip of his shoe into the cement nervously.

“Well you won’t have to worry about what’s his face for a little while, if ever. I broke his wrist for sure. That helps… I guess. Who else has been bothering you?”  

“Just Jesse really... sometimes Jake... though he’s not as quick to attack... I guess.” Kellen said uncomfortably.

“Oh? What’s Jake’s first class?” He inquired, a devious smirk spreading across his lips.

“Uhm... we’re not going to make first hour...but he shares history with me next hour...”

“Oh? You’re late?” Whisper frowned. “You’ll have to get up earlier tomorrow.” He glanced downward. “But we’ll have some laughs in history. They think you're the crazy one, but the end of this hour we’ll see who they think is stranger, you or this Jake.”

Kellen blinked at Whisper and scratched the back of his neck, “okay?” He said just going with it as he turned and walked up to the school doors. Whisper followed, deep in thought. How would he humiliate Jake first? He had a few ideas and he was dying to try them out. He surveyed the crowd of people, unamused. Humans were silly creatures. He enjoyed their capacity for violence and cynicism but that was about it. Their existence was actually kind of sad… He kept his brightening eyes open for Jake as they walked towards Kellen’s class.

 

Kellen opened the door and the teacher stopped talking glancing over at the boy, “Glad you could join us, Kellen.” the teacher deadpanned, his eyes staring disappointedly at the mousy teen.

“Sorry..” Kellen murmured shuffling to an empty seat in the corner. Whisper frowned at the teacher, wishing he could push the teacher. He glanced over at the dry erase board sharply and the marker slid over the edge and rolled across the floor. Satisfied for the moment, he went and sat on the floor beside Kellen’s desk, his expression somewhere between a pout and irritation.

 

Kellen pulled out a book and proceeded to ignore everything... Whisper glanced at Kellen, smirking he searched the room for Jake. Spotting him in the front of the class, Whisper crawled forward towards the boy’s chair. He looked back to Kellen and winked deviously before taking hold of two of the chairs legs and flipping the chair with unnecessary force, sending the boy and all of his supplies sliding across the floor with a loud clatter and Jake yelping.

 

Kellen's eyes widened as the class erupted into, 'are you okay's. Kellen just stared before cracking the smallest grin, covering his mouth with a hand - least it be seen. Jake stayed on the ground, dazed before his gaze fell upon Kellen. There was fear in his eyes.

“Wink at him.” Whisper said, turning to Kellen, a huge grin on his face.

 

Kellen returned the gaze silently for a moment before looking away down at his book, ignoring Whisper's suggestion.

“Awe, come on. He’s got to be afraid of you.” Whisper urged. He turned to the fallen boy and kicked his notebook across the floor before pushing the desk closer to him, making him jump and stare at the chair like it was possessed, which, to some degree, it was.

 

"That's enough, Whisper. You'll kill him at this rate." Kellen murmured, not sure if the demon could hear him threw the talking and yells in the room. Whisper pouted, making a face at Jake before turning back to go sit on the floor next to Kellen.

“That, was fun.” He smirked dangerously. Kellen glanced down at him and then over to Jake... his soul was bruised with fear.

"Hmm, I guess." He said thoughtfully. Part of him detested the act but a greater part of him reveled in the fact Jake got his just deserts. Whisper’s tail swished in content, happy to have gotten revenge. He caressed Kellen’s cheek with the fluffy end of his tail and smiled, more warmly this time.

“Anyone else been bothering you, sweets? I’m not sure I’m done having fun yet.”    

 

The mousy boy gave a halfhearted shrug, leaning into the soft caress on his cheek subconsciously.

"Not really. Just Jesse and Jake were physically violent around me..." Kellen’s bright green eyes turned to the crowd of students and the teacher surrounding Jake who was muttering, 'I'm fine’ and roughly picking his things up. "I doubt he'll bother me again. The point was made." Kellen said happily.

“Mm, let’s hope so.” He said. “If not, well I’ll have to start using my imagination when it comes to revenge. But this was fun, it’s been a good day.” He looked up at Kellen for praise.

“But don’t let me distract you, any more than the rest of the class anyway.”

 

Kellen grinned and gave a shrug, "thanks to you I doubt there will be much more of class."

“Oh good. It is History after all.” He said. “Oh would you look at that, I’m already a bad influence.” Kellen snorted slightly and flinched when the bell rang. It always rang when he least expected it... the boy stood gathering his things.

“Where to next?” Whisper shoved his hands into his pockets, his eyes still locked on Jake.  

"Um, art." Kellen said, he liked this class. His art teacher didn't judge