#kted

[sorcresses]

Name a better sentence than either ‘Lucy Bronze assist’ or 'Jodie Taylor goal’

[writingismyhappytime]

Kiss the Devil (Part 16)

Ricky Horror x reader

Warnings: Language, extreme violence, crushing of hopes and dreams

"Well?" You ask when Ricky doesn't speak, just looks at you.

"Well what?"

"It's over now, isn't it? You know everything, I've nothing left to hide from you." You look down. "Those hunters are still after me, and you're in danger because of it. It's why I have to leave --- I've stayed too long in the music scene anyway."

"You're leaving?" Now you have Ricky's attention again.

"I just said that."

"But --- you love music. I've seen the way you play."

"It doesn't matter if I love it, Ricky. I don't age, remember? I have to leave. I can't continue to be in the limelight in my situation --- why do you think I'm in basically an Unknown band?"

"But..." Ricky hesitates, staring at you. It doesn't seem fair to have to leave, you're so passionate when you play! It's obviously your calling, not soul reaping!

"But...?" You quirk a brow at him, purple strands of hair clinging to your face.

"I just... where will you go?"

"I don't know, it doesn't matter. I wander around all the time, you can't exactly stay in one place in my profession. I might stay with Yoltan for a while."

"Yoltan. The man who brought me here."

"Yep."

"He's the one you're always calling and shit?" Ricky doesn't like the idea of you staying with him, he looks like he just stepped out of a beach magazine.

"He's the one. He's been with me since the start, he's been doing this a long time. We're indebted to the same demon."

"There's... different demons?"

"Of course. There's numerous ones, they're all in competition with each other for the most souls. I hope you never come in contact with one of them." You shudder at the mere idea.

Ricky frowns. "You've been in his service for eighty years --- that's basically a life time."

"It'll probably take me two more before I'm free."

"What happens when you are free?" His blue eyes find yours, refusing to budge.

"That's not going to happen, Ricky."

"But if it did. What happens?"

You bite your lip. "Then I'm done. I don't have to be a reaper anymore, I won't belong to him, and another demon can't put me under contract either. I can choose to keep my immortality, or I can choose to be a normal human again. I can do whatever I wish."

"You can stay young forever?"

"Basically. But that's not going to happen to me for a long time, especially if I don't die first. It's not an easy job."

"Yoltan, he --- he mentioned it could go faster if I helped you ---."

"No." You don't want Ricky thinking like that! "This isn't something you want! Haven't you been listening to anything I've said?"

"Yeah, I have. I've listened to every word. You want to play music, you want to stay in your band. So do it. If --- if I can help you get souls faster ---."

"Ricky ---."

"No, listen." He's already made up his mind. He doesn't want to lose you, but he also doesn't want to be one of you, either. He knows there must be some way in between. "I don't want to be a reaper, Kree, but I don't want you one either. If I can help you get free of that demon, then that's what I want to do! Let me help you!"

You stare at him like he's lost his mind. "What?"

"You heard me. I want to help." He says firmly, feeling his pocket buzz. The band has been calling him for hours, but he's just ignored them. Sometimes there's more important shit then just his career.

"Why would you want to help me?" You're almost confused. "I've been so awful to you."

"I don't know why, I just --- I don't want this life for you." Ricky's being honest, he can't explain himself. He's been drawn to you since the very beginning, captivated with you almost as much as Ryan is. He cares for you, he's crazy about you --- that's all he knows. "And I'll do anything I can to get you out of it."

He's clearly lost his mind, that's what you've decided. Maybe you should tell him some more horror stories, scare him off. He clearly doesn't know what he's agreeing too --- hell, neither do you! You've never done a contract with anyone, you didn't even know it was possible!

Yoltan would have to help you, but you'd want to make sure no matter the end result Ricky wouldn't lose his soul. You'd put in some clause or loophole where he would be okay --- if you decide it's even worth persuing!

"You shouldn't risk yourself like that, Ricky. It isn't worth it."

"Yes, you are." Ricky steps forward, taking your hands in his and squeezing them, touching you for the first time in the hour you'd been together. "You're worth everything to me, Kree."

You gaze at him, your shoulders slumping. You want to put up a fight, some brilliant argument to change his mind, but you can't think of a single one. His words strike a nerve, and all you can do is clutch at his grip.

He really, truly cares for you. No one has since your soldier all those years ago, and even now you wonder if your feelings for each other had been genuine.

The way you feel now for Ricky --- it puts the rest to shame. You'll fight for him, you'd betray the demon and everyone if it came to it. You want to protect him, you don't want him in harms way.

Not even for you.

"I can't let you do this," you finally say, pulling your hands away from him. "Your life is too important. You should treasure it. Be normal."

"I don't want to be --- I want to be with you. I don't want --- a life growing old without you just --- that's not what I want. My future isn't there if you're not in it. If you won't agree to it, then I'll just go to your friend and get it set up."

"Yoltan wouldn't ---."

"I think he would. Why else would he bring me here and even suggest it? He wants you free of the demon, that's clear. I can help with that --- you won't have to do anything if I can bring in souls too!" Ricky can't believe he just said such a ridiculous thing.

You shake your head. "You don't know what you're saying, you don't know how hard it is! This persons soul goes to the demon, Ricky! When they die, they're under his control unless they can broker out their own deal, it isn't simple ---."

"Kree, the only soul I care about is yours." Ricky's hands close around your shoulders, feeling how damp your shirt is still. "I care about you. I'll let the rest of the world be damned if that's necessary!"

You stare at him, at a complete loss of words. You can't begin to understand how he could care about such an awful creature as you, especially with all the awful things you've done. He must think you're a whore, using your body to get what you want with just about anyone. You've treated him so badly, ignored him, lied to him, made him feel foolish and pushed him away when he became too close.

"Why do you even like me?" You finally ask, your voice small. You feel hopeless at this point, beat down. You can't fix anything you've done, Ricky won't listen to you and you don't want such a life for him. He can't begin to understand the things he'll have to do for souls.

"Because you're you," his warm hands rise to cup your face. "You're the woman I feel like I've known my entire life, bitchiness and all. I'm more comfortable around you then I've ever been anyone else and I've hardly known you a few months."

You sniffle, your hands rising to close over his. You wish it was easy for you to express yourself as he did, to be able to tell him all your muddled and twisted emotions.

You've been a reaper for so long, you don't know how to be anything else. You've been a soul reaper for longer then you'd been a human now, it's like that part of you is just a distant memory.

You're just... what your are.

"I don't want you to do the things I've had too," you say after a moment, gazing at him. "I've hurt so many people, Ricky. I lied and tricked them into giving me what they want, and I left them behind no matter how they felt about me. I'm not kind, I'm ruthless, and I've destroyed people's lives --- we all have. I've damned them."

"If they're stupid enough to give up their soul, that's their own problem." Ricky says firmly, hell bent on getting his way. He's not changing his mind. "They should protect it better."

"Most people don't believe in souls, Ricky. They don't understand."

"Then they should change their beliefs!"

"Ricky," you start to sigh, your chest feeling heavy. You don't like this, you hate that Yoltan had put you into this kind of situation. You care for the musician so much, you don't wish for him to suffer like you have.

You're set against the idea.

You won't change him, you won't make a deal with him, and you'll threaten Yoltans life if he even so tries!

"Do you not want to be with me?" Ricky finally asks, starting to feel a little hurt. You keep telling him no, when he sees it as the only opportunity the two of you have to be together. "Is that why you don't want me ---?"

"Ricky, you know that's not it," you mutter, pulling away from him in aggravation. "I do want to be with you, but I want to be with you, not what you'll become once you start taking souls. Do you think you'll be the same person once it's all done with?"

"I don't see why not." He says stubbornly, refusing to see your point.

"Fine, I'll tell you why. Do you know how many people I've slept with?" You demand, bristling. You'll make him understand!

He shakes his head, not wanting to know.

"Hundreds, probably. Some of them at the same time, in more ways then you'd like to think. Men, women, it doesn't matter to me, they're all the same in the end. I've had to do some shady things, I've had to mentally break people down until all they can think about is me, until they'll do anything to make me happy --- then I leave them. I mindfuck them into thinking I'm the only person who can make them happy, and then I leave them without another thought. I ruin lives, I take away people's hopes and dreams, it's more then just their souls. Until you understand that, until you really grasp what awful things you're gonna have to do, I'll never let you be a reaper, Ricky."

He's almost glaring at you as you finish, his fists clenched at his sides. He gets it, shitty things have to be done. He knows he'll have to do them, he'll do whatevers necessary. He's willing to give up everything for you.

"Just --- be normal, while you have a chance. Don't let me be the reason your life ends." You shake your head. "I wouldn't wish this on you, Ricky. I wouldn't wish this on anyone."

He wants to say something, he wants to pitch a fit and demand for you to make him a reaper --- he wants to save you. He just, he just doesn't know how to convince you! You have to know he's sincere at this point, that he really means what he's saying and that he cares about you --- neither of you are saying the L word, he feels like that will run you off faster then anything else.

Dammit, he's not letting this go.

He's going to become a reaper, and he's going to help you whether you like it or not. His minds made up, you can't stop him, and that's that!

Now.

He just has to figure out how to go around you.

To the blonde guy.

Surely he could help, right?

Seems like a great plan anyway.

Or the start of one.

He's not an idiot, he can see how fervently you don't want him like you. He understands every word you say, even the awful shit. You've done despicable things to people for their souls, but you're just trying to survive yourself. He doesn't blame you for that.

He'd rather die then watch you be in service to that demon any longer.

"Kree ---."

"No, no I won't let you do this to yourself," you mumble, your violet eyes flicking to the door. "You have a chance to live out a long, boring human life where you die and have families and live in one place. I don't have that, and I never will. You're not going to toss all of that away, not because of me! I won't ruin your life!"

"It's my life, if I want to ruin it I will!" Ricky starts, keeping himself planted between you and the door, seeing your panicked eyes; you're like an animal caught in headlights.

"You sound like a child!"

"You're not going to run from this, Kree, I won't let you! We can be together, we don't have to end anything --- hell, we don't have to leave the music scene if we don't want too --- you don't have too! Between the two of us, you'll have plenty of souls and you won't have to work as hard! And, and since I have fans ---!"

"You're not taking your fans souls!"

"You can't tell me you haven't."

"That's beside the point!"

"No its not! Dammit, Kree!" He's getting so frustrated! Why won't you just listen to him!?

"I'm sorry!" You gasp, and then take off. Ricky doesn't have time to catch you, you're just a blur in his eyes. You move so quickly you're behind him before his brain registers you've moved. He turns around, his fingers starting to reach for you just as you reach the door.

You wrench it open, your eyes hot and burning, feeling the cold air immediately brush against your heated skin.

There's a loud POP, and you feel a slight burn in your arm that you hardly notice. You and the man stare at each other, standing on either side of the hotel door, surprised. You hear the click, and you look down, seeing the shining black gun in his hand.

Your body goes on autopilot, your hand closing around his wrist, bending it at such an angle you hear bones crunching just as he begins to scream. You take the weapon from him, spinning him around like a rag doll and ramming him into the open door, hissing.

Dammit!

How the hell did these hunters find you already!?

"Ricky, you need to go!" You gasp, glancing over at him. "You need too ---."

"Kree." His voice is weak, and you hesitate, staring at his bloodless face. Your eyes draw down, and for a few seconds, your heart stops. Blood is forming on his t shirt, just below his where his hand is pressing against his stomach.

Oh no.

No no no!

Your ears begin to roar as you see Ricky start to go down, his eyes rolling up into his skull as he collapses. You let go of the hunter, you completely forget about him as you rush forward, catching Ricky just before he hits the ground.

"Ricky!" You stare down, your heart throwing itself against your rib cage over and over, your panic making your hands hover uselessly above his bleeding wound.

He's bleeding so quickly, his shirt is soaked and his hand is stained red where he'd pressed it against the wound.

Shit!

"Ricky!" You hiss, frantically grabbing the blanket dangling off the bed inches from you. You ball it up, pushing his hand away to press it against the bullet wound. He immediately makes a sound of pain, glazed eyes flashing open only to close again as his head fell back.

Shit!

Fuck!

"Don't you fucking die on me!" You gasp, fumbling for the cell phone in your back pocket. "Jesus, Ricky, please don't die!"

You curse as you drop your phone, your fingers slick. You frantically smack the screen, click the button --- the damned thing won't turn on! The rain must have fried it, you'd never taken it out of your wet pocket.

What a time for it to fuck up!

"Fuck!" You drop the useless phone, turning back to your dying boyfriend. You press harder against the wound, unsure what else to do. You've never tried to save someone's life before!

"You damn bitch!" You hear hear a voice gasp, and your head turns as you suddenly remember your attacker.

Oops.

You stare at him, seeing him cradling his wrist against his chest, the gun shaking in his remaining hand as he aims it at you.

You glare at him, but don't move. You continue to kneel beside Ricky, holding the blanket down, feeling his blood soaking into your clothing.

Dammit!

"You fucking shot him, you idiot!" You snarl, knowing your eyes are flaring brighter. "He's an innocent, he doesn't have anything to do with this!"

"I --- I didn't mean to shoot him," the man gasps, obviously shaken and in pain. "It was an accident!"

"For fucks sake --- stop shaking that gun at me and call a damned ambulance!"

"No way am I taking this gun off you!"

"Then get the fuck out!" You don't care about the man at all, all you care about is Ricky. You turn, looking back down at him, seeing the pained look on his face.

"I'm so sorry," you whisper, knowing how much pain he must be in. "I'm so sorry, Ricky, I'll fix this. I swear I will!"

You hadnt wanted him to be a reaper but you hadn't wanted him to die either!

This isn't --- this is bullshit!

It's not fair!

There's too much for him to do!

This is going to force your hand, isn't it? You're going to have to change him, that's just all there is to it --- you'd rather him be alive then dead.

Goddammit!

This isn't what you wanted!

He shouldn't be suffering because of you!

You --- you have to do something!

Yoltan crosses your panicked mind, and you fervently wish he'd stayed, that he would know what to do --- that he would have a way to save Ricky's mortal life.

You hear a snapping noise.

You look back at the door, at the water splashing into the room, soaking the carpet. You're relieved when you see the hunter fall, his head twisted grotesquely as he hits the floor.

"That was an unpleasant twist," Yoltan huffs, kicking the door shut behind him before anyone has the misfortune of walking by.

"How are you here?" You rasp, staring at him through your hair as he walks forward, not a drop of rain on him.

"I was only next door, you didn't really think I'd leave you with him alone?" He snorts, squatting down beside you. "I heard the pop and I came over."

"He needs a hospital," you say quickly, looking down. Ricky is making choking noises, and his pale lips are quickly staining red. "Now!"

"He won't survive the ride," Yoltan hesitates, looking at the location of the wound. "It looks like the bullet hit one of his lungs, it's filling with blood. He's choking."

"No, he can be saved! Call 911!"

"(Y/N)," Yoltans hand closes around your trembling shoulder, a look on his face you know well. "He won't survive the wound no matter where he goes."

"But he's --- he's going to die!"

"Yes. Unless you do something."

Do something!?

"I don't want him to be a reaper!" You hiss, shaking your head frantically. "That's not the life he deserves!"

"He won't have a life at all if you don't," he responds bluntly. "Make a contract with him."

"I --- I don't know how. I don't want him to lose his soul at all!"

"Then we'll fix it so he won't. He wanted to become one, didn't he? He wants that immortal life with you --- no matter the cost. He wants to be a reaper, and he's your ticket to freedom as well. Make. A. Contract."

You make a pained sound, looking down at Ricky again, sensing how little time he has left. You don't want to do this to him, you'll never forgive yourself, but, but --- you never had a choice in this, did you?

Is it just some cruel joke of the fates? To make you think you could actually spare someone?

Everyone you meet suffers, no matter what.

"He doesn't have much time."

No, you can't do this to him! It's a curse!

"(Y/N)! He's going to die if you do nothing!"

Oh, goddammit!

[drummerjuice]

#LettersFromTheFire in the #KTED studio. Neato!

[kevin-te-design]

Updated avatar with astounding improvements.