His fingers brushed against the strands of her hair.
It was soft and… strange, as though his hazy mind had failed to recall this simple touch of everyday life that was long absent in many cycles.
He was hollowing, and it seemed more than he had initially thought.
Veilhem wasn't sure why, but he liked the feeling of his fingers trailing gently through the crimson locks, though he was careful enough not to wake her up. He convinced himself that it was simply something he did to pass this boring time.
Makima, still lost in her sleep, stirred faintly at the touch but did not pull away. If anything, she seemed to snuggle up to him, her nose buried into his neck, her grip tightening on his armor ever so slightly, as if anchoring herself to something... crucial to her.
He noticed this but said nothing, only continued the slow, absentminded motion through her hair.
Without realizing it, his other arm pulled her closer, his grip firm yet cautious as though shielding a fragile thing that could slip through his grasp had he not paid attention to it. It was a subconscious habit of a knight who had lost too much, holding onto what little remained.
The quiet between them was undisturbed, save for the soft crackling of the bonfire and the slow, steady rhythm of their breathing.
Veilhem remained still, his hand idly threading through Makima's hair, but his gaze was distant, fixed on the dwindling flames before them.
A knight without a cause and a devil without a contractor.
Two beings of different worlds who should have had no reason to linger, yet here they were, tangled in a silent comfort neither sought to break.
Makima curled up slightly in his embrace, her breath warm against the battered metal of his armor. Though asleep, she seemed… oddly at peace as if she owned the place. There was no tension in her form, no careful control in how her body shifted, no calculating speech. She was unburdened, if only for this fleeting moment.
For a long while, Veilhem simply stared into the abyss to recollect his thoughts.
He had sat by so many just like this, faces he had long forgotten. Bonfires in ruined battlefields among the corpses of those who had fought and fallen.
Then there was the Flame that had been denying him the peace of true death.
And yet, this one felt different.
Because, for the first time in a long, long while, that—
…He felt like he was not alone.
The realization struck him deeper than anything else, but he did not dwell on it. Instead, his arms tightened around the Devil resting against him, as if grounding himself in the present. He did not want this to end.
Makima shifted slightly, her presence palpable in the stillness, and from her lips escaped a soft, almost imperceptible sigh, blending into the air with a hint of unspoken thoughts. Her fingers, previously relaxed against his chestplate, twitched before weaving tighter around him, her grip fragile yet undeniably present, a whisper of connection that lingered between them.
Veilhem let out a slow breath. As his eyes gently closed, he surrendered to the stillness around him, embracing the moment with a sense of tranquility.
For now, that was enough for the two of them.
Time passed in silence, neither of them moved. The world outside remained stagnant under the eerie darkness looming above them.
Her slow and steady breathing had changed; a subtle catch indicated she was awake. And yet, she remained still, not pulling away from the cold steel pressing against her body.
He knew she was awake now, just as she must have known that he had never been asleep. Still, neither of them voiced it out.
Instead, Makima remained where she was, her head still resting against his chestplate. She was slightly surprised by the way his arms had instinctively tightened around her waist, but she did not comment.
For a moment, Veilhem wondered if she would push him away and revert to the calculating presence he had initially encountered. Even if she killed him for hugging her without her consent, he would accept it without responding.
But as he waited and waited, she didn't do anything of the sort.
Though after a long silence, her fingers released from their loose grip against his armor. Then, in a slow, deliberate motion, she lifted her hand. She brushed against the edge of his cloak, trailing along the jagged metal of his shoulder plate.
A quiet, searching gesture that fitted her manipulative personality very well.
"You were awake." She murmured.
A confirmation, not a question.
Veilhem's eyes opened slightly, catching the fire's glow. He did not bother to feign ignorance. "Yes."
"Hmmph." She hummed at that curt reply.
Based on what she had seen in the memories, he was supposed to be more cautious than anyone else. She did not question why he had allowed her to remain so close. Instead, she simply settled against him once more, wholly accepting the unspoken agreement.
It was a subtle change in her perspective that even Makima herself wouldn't notice right away, but it was a change nonetheless.
"Veilhem-san." She called out to him in a muffled tone. Her voice was soft but deliberate, cutting through the quiet.
Veilhem did not respond immediately, but she knew he was listening. His exhausted gaze remained fixed on the dying fire before turning back to her.
Makima leaned closer to his face, close enough to stare at him through the small slit with those unnatural pupils of hers.
Her stare was as cold as it was unreadable, but behind the calculated and measured look, it lacked the usual detachment she wielded against others.
"I want to make a contract with you." Makima suddenly proposed.
Veilhem's fingers, which had still been absentmindedly threading through her hair, halted. The abrupt stop displeased her slightly, but she pushed the thought away into the corner of her mind. She was not that kind of person to yearn for someone's touch… probably.
A contract.
He had assumed it would be under different circumstances, like something more forceful and more in line with the nature of a Devil he had come to expect from her. And yet, there was no coercion in her tone. No command was given. No manipulation was at play.
Only a simple offer.
Veilhem studied her face for a long moment, his gaze tracing every subtle shift in her expression, searching for the catch or perhaps a hidden motive beneath her words.
He had fully expected deception, some flicker of malice in her gaze, a deception in her voice that would confirm his suspicions. But there was nothing, only quiet conviction as if she truly believed in what she was saying.
It disturbed him to an unnatural degree. Conviction was not something he associated with beings like her, creatures who were more aligned with the dark, where truth was manipulable and trust was a fool's luxury.
But then again, there she was, still perched on top of him without a care.
Either she was so skilled in deception that she managed to fool even herself, or she truly believed every word she said.
"…A contract?" There was no surprise in his voice, only consideration.
Makima tilted her head slightly, a faint smile touching her lips. "Yes."
But then again, who was he to decide what was good or evil?
He had long since abandoned the idea that the world was neatly divided into black and white. To him, everything existed in shades of gray, morality could be flexible as it is.
Perhaps this was nothing more than a carefully woven lie, a false hope meant to ensnare him in yet another cruel trap.
But even if it was, does it truly matter? A damned with nothing left to lose was not so different from whom with nothing left to fear.
Makima did not press the matter further like she usually did. She watched him, observing the subtle tension that crept into his form without blinking. From the way his fingers had stilled to the way his breath had slowed, as if weighing something unseen. She was patient after all.
"You expected this, didn't you?" She added, finding his reaction amusing as it did not go as she had imagined. Even though he knew that she was a Devil, the idea of him not being affected by it made things even more intriguing.
It was more like he was treating her like a potential partner on equal footing, knowing full well what she was capable of, rather than a tool that could be used like the Japanese government that raised her.
"…I did." He admitted it without hiding anything, sighing in resignation at how this Devil acted more like a brat than a calculative being in front of him.
Makima hummed at his confirmation, as if pleased by his honesty.
Without hesitation, she pressed herself against him again, as if to seal the unspoken words between them. Despite the coldness of the steel and his unimpressed reaction, she felt it was the warmest thing in the world.
"But there is nothing left in me that could satisfy you." His voice was low, steady as he resumed stroking her crimson hair and held her petite back to make her feel more comfortable.
Makima tilted her head slightly, her eyes lidded in quiet temptation by his gentle touch. As she hummed in satisfaction, Makima looked up from her position. "You still have your humanity left in you."
"My humanity?" He repeated her words, realizing that it could be the case.
"It is the most valuable thing you have left that I find interesting. Isn't it enough?" She murmured, her voice soft and laced with affection.
He sighed heavily, though whether it was because he was dumbfounded or from exhaustion, she could not tell.
"And why does this interest you?"
"Because I want to know what it feels like to enjoy things from the perspective of a human. You lost everything in the process, but in the end, you still endured it despite everything." Makima tightened her arms around his waist, recalling what she saw in his mind.
His pain, his suffering since the dawn of mankind, his relentless will to push through while others failed. It was the most tragic thing she had witnessed and yet also the most alluring thing in its own way.
"You are the most human of them all." She trailed off, letting those words sink into his ears as the bonfire crackled, and for a long moment, Veilhem said nothing.
"You don't even know what a human is to make that statement, but whatever." Veilhem rolled his eyes at her bold statement.
Makima's smile didn't falter, but there was something unreadable in her gaze, a glint of quiet amusement mixed with something deeper. "Don't I?"
Veilhem exhaled, shaking his head. The light from the bonfire carved shadows across his face, flickering over his exhausted gaze.
"You think suffering makes someone human? And that enduring pain is what defines us?" There was a raw and unfiltered rage just beneath the surface, but even that felt… hollow coming from his mouth.
She loosened her hold on him just enough to look up, eyes fixated on his. "I think humans are the only ones who can suffer and still hope, even when they have nothing left. Like you. And I don't understand why that is the case."
Veilhem let out a breath that might have been an empty laugh. He turned his gaze to the fire, watching as the embers rose and vanished into the night. "Then maybe you don't know them as well as you think."
Makima tilted her head to the side, seemingly considering his words.
"Then explain it to me." She beamed at his dismissive attitude.
"There is no definite explanation. Every person walking on this earth sees the world through their own lens, often shaped by experience, circumstances. Some people are easy to read, their thoughts and intentions laid bare with just a glance." Veilhem slowly explained it, his voice steady.
He paused before continuing. "Others, you could spend a lifetime trying to understand, searching for the smallest difference that sets them apart."
"But in the end, it's pointless to try and be anyone other than yourself. Take my shitty... especially my shitty life, for example." His tone was bitter and tired.
"It's always been a series of choices, forced into my hands. And every decision I've made, every moment I've chosen to continue the struggle or give up completely. That's what defines what it means to be human for me, because at least I had fought for something other than myself."
He let his words linger, watching as the flames curled and twisted in the silence between them. Then, after a short break, his voice dropped a tone deeper.
"So what about you, Makima?" He murmured, turning his gaze toward her. "What is it that defines a human from your perspective?"
Makima's smile lingered, but for the first time, there was something uncertain beneath the perpetual facade. She tilted her head slightly, as if considering the question from every angle, dissecting it meticulously. But there was no real answer.
Her lips parted, as if to speak, but no words came.
Veilhem watched her carefully, studying the way her expression remained composed, yet her silence betrayed her. He let the moment stretch before huffing out a quiet, knowing chuckle. "You don't know, do you?"
Makima blinked. Her smile didn't falter, but it didn't reach her eyes.
He leaned back slightly, lifting her under the armpits, and settled her down from his lap as if shaking off the weight of the conversation. "Well, guess that makes two of us."
Makima's silence didn't last long.
"You're avoiding the question." She said, her voice smooth, measured. She leaned in slightly, her presence pressing against him like an inevitability.
"You speak of choice, yet here you are, refusing to make one with me."
Veilhem let out a slow breath. "Not everything needs an answer."
Makima pulled her face up close; the distance between them was only a few inches. "Then let me give you one."
He turned his head slightly, just enough to catch the glint in her mesmerizing eyes. The way the firelight danced in them, reflecting something… resembled the flame of humanity. She was starting to learn how to be a human, albeit her starting point was later than anyone else's.
Then, she bit lightly into his finger as if to mark him, tucking the side bang behind her ear as she looked up at him with those upturned eyes.
"Sign a contract with me."
There it was again. That same offer, that same unshakable persistence.
Veilhem scoffed under his breath and pulled his hand out of her mouth before she could try something funny again. "You really don't give up, do you?"
Makima only smiled. "Not yet."
He slapped his helm in exasperation, exhaling sharply. "And what exactly do you want from me this time?"
She tilted her head, as if amused by the way he framed it. "You."
Veilhem stiffened. The word rang a strange chord within his soul.
Makima… she said it like it was inevitable. Like he had already agreed. And it infuriated him to no end.
She reached out then, slowly, deliberately, fingertips brushing against his wrist. "You claim choice is what defines a person."
She continued. "Then choose me, Veilhem. Just like I decided to choose you."
"You really chose a dead man for that." He scoffed at her choice of words, trying to change her mind about this, but in fact, he was afraid of being given hope again.
She smiled faintly, though there was something almost wistful in it as if she had noticed his desperation. "Dead or not, you're the closest thing to a human at this moment."
"Let me add another term. It'll be a mutual agreement. Not servitude. Not controlled. Something that shall benefit both of us." She offered calmly.
Veilhem huffed softly at being found out, the closest thing to amusement he had shown in a long while. "And what exactly do you have to offer me?"
She didn't hesitate. "A reason to keep going."
The words settled between them, heavier than the silence that followed.
Veilhem did not respond immediately. His gaze flickered back to the fire, as if searching for answers in the dying embers.
How long had it been since he had truly had one besides mere survival? Whatever it was, Veilhem did not see any downside in this.
"You've got yourself a deal." The knight nodded, the weight of centuries pressing against his shoulders.
"Perfect." Makima beamed at his words. Although her expression did not change that much, somehow, he could sense satisfaction, triumph, and a little smugness beneath her flat tone.
'I'm probably just imagining things since we had only met each other for a few hours at best.' He tried to convince himself not to overthink this matter because he felt like he was having a migraine.
______
The moment the pact formed between them, the bonfire roared to life, twisting unnaturally, as if humming in response to their agreement. Heat surged around them, swallowing the air, the ground, and everything within.
They didn't have any time to process what had happened before the world suddenly brightened for a single moment, and the Flame consumed them.
For a moment, there was nothing but heat and the deafening roar of fire, burning away the remnants of the reality they had left behind.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the blazing maelstrom receded. The world snapped back into place, the heat vanishing as quickly as it had come.
Veilhem's feet met solid ground, but it was not the path they had stood on moments ago. Instead, he found himself in the middle of a vast, open field, where soft grass swayed gently beneath the touch of the wind.
The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of earth and plants. It was so different from the world he had known.
No Dark Sigil loomed overhead, replacing the sun and staining the sky with its presence. No dunes of ash stretched endlessly before him, and most notably, there was no thick, sickening poison swarm in his sight.
Just an open space.
(A/N: Miyazaki is not happy with this.)
Beyond the landscape, a small town was visible in sight, untouched by ruin, fire, or war. A place that felt alive, yet impossibly distant from everything he had come to know.
It was… unsettling to say the least.
His breath came out steady, though his mind still needed some time to adjust to this beautiful scenery.
Rustle—
The sudden sound broke through his thoughts.
He blinked, turning his head toward the sound just in time to see Makima rummaging through a dense patch of bushes nearby. Leaves rustled under her touch as she casually pushed aside branches, seemingly unbothered by the drastic shift in location.
Veilhem exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "You're awfully calm about all this."
Makima crouched down, glanced over her shoulder with a small, amused smile. She reached for something in the bush before standing up, holding it in her hand.
A wild berry.
"It's not poison, if that's what you're wondering." She popped it into her mouth without hesitation, her smile never fading.
Veilhem let out a slow breath, rubbing a hand over his face. "Right. Because that's my biggest concern right now."
"Do you want some?" She picked up another one and wiggled it in front of him in expectation.
"...Sure."
___________
(A/N: I'm too lazy to edit this chap so I dipped for the past 2 days gg.)