sunchime | [ DEMON HUNTER DRIFT AU: PART II (SFW) ]

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[ DEMON HUNTER DRIFT AU: PART II (SFW) ]

DEMON HUNTER DRIFT AU: PART II
Part I (extremely NSFW) (it's very gross) (I'm sorry about everything)
Part II (NSFW post)

IT'S BACK, BABY

Imagine, if you will, that Drift is not a robot, but a gratuitously tropey half-demon hunter roaming around Boston killing demons in order to atone for his as a, well, killer for the demons. For all intents and purposes you can just assume this takes place in the same universe as Buffy (or something like it) for the sake of using a conveniently existing lore that I already really like. Maybe with an extra side of Kabbalah. whatever

HERE ARE SOME FACTS ABOUT DEMON HUNTER AU DRIFT:

Drift is half-demon on his father's side. He never really knew his dad, idk he like fucked off or got slayed at some point when Drift was young and he was mostly raised by his mother, who died of cancer when he was a teenager. It was real sad and Drift had no money and got pretty promptly kicked out of his mom's apartment shortly after her death. This made Drift a TRAGIC TEEN ORPHAN who was homeless on the streets for a while, and given his ~UNIQUE HALF-DEMON AURA~ it wasn't really very long before he fell in with a bad crowd. A demon crowd
Tragic teen orphan Drift got into drugs, specifically orihalcon, a potent substance derived from the refined blood of certain types of demons, because regular human drugs don't quite cut it for him. He was pretty knee-deep in the local demon community, partly because he didn't fit in anywhere else, partly because some of them knew his dad.
Drift spent a while as a homeless addict, barely scraping by, until he was recruited by Megatron, a powerful demon lord who saw much more potential in Drift and his untamed demon powers. He offered Drift a place in his ranks even though he was half-human, and helped him hone his terrifyingly natural talent for violence. For a while Drift mostly did it to feed his habit, but he began to enjoy the rush of violence and of releasing his DEMON SIDE way more than the drugs and eventually got clean.
He also inherited this sweet demon sword from his dad that Megatron apparently had handy. It is powered by his DEMON SIDE
Eventually though Drift's taste for violence got a little out of control and after pissing off some of his superiors for wildly disobeying orders in favor of MORE VIOLENCE, he fucked off and went into hiding. It was at this time that he met a witch named Wing from a smug hippie witch cult based in San Francisco. Wing offered him sanctuary and to teach him to better control his demon side by being ~~more in tune with the spirits~~. Drift took the sanctuary because he had nowhere else to hide, but wound up begrudgingly coming around to Wing's way of seeing things, at least enough to grow to care about him. Unfortunately for the both of them Drift's UNIQUE HALF-DEMON AURA led Megatron's forces right to the Wing's door and he got horribly murdered. Drift managed to get away but he was so tragically torn by the untimely death of his spiritual sensei that he swore off working for Megatron and decided to USE HIS POWERS FOR GOOD
Since then he's discarded the name Megatron gave him and returned to Boston as the newly-reformed demon hunter Drift. He lives in a tiny, shitty apartment in Southie and fights demons by moonlight in order to help people out and atone for his murder-filled past. He has fully embraced his former mentor's spirituality with a level of enthusiasm that, tbh, should probably be worrying. He believes (or hopes, at least) that what Wing taught him will not only help him keep his demon side in check (he is pretty much always concerned he will LOSE CONTROL), but also lead to his eventual redemption. Unfortunately Drift is still learning how exactly to have real faith in something because he is the world's biggest faker
He is Jewish because I know what I like and oh boy does he ever dabble in Kabbalah and a lot of other magical spirituality bullshit that mostly drives other people up the wall
Being half-demon has a lot of perks, SUCH AS: super strength/reflexes/stamina, accelerated healing, and being able to jump way higher than any human. He's obviously not as powerful as a full-blooded demon, but plenty powerful enough to be able to take them head on. He's also really good at fighting shit. Drift's swordsmanship is pretty solid, having been trained in Megatron's demon army, but also he has studied very seriously from a lot of kung fu and action films
He literally owns fourteen swords

PREVIOUSLY ON DEMON HUNTER DRIFT AU:

Rodimus is this AU's equivalent of the Slayer, and Ultra Magnus is her Watcher. She and Drift are best buds who also make out a lot. Ultra Magnus STRONGLY DISAPPROVES of Rodimus spending time with someone with Drift's substantial murder past but Rodimus believes wholeheartedly in Drift's turning a new leaf.
Perceptor (Percy) is a talented witch and physicist who also serves as Drift's go-to for information about demon lore and magic. They go back a long, long ways, and is one of a handful of people Drift trusts implicitly.
Dealer was, predictably, Drift's orihalcon dealer when he was living on the streets. There were some bad (good) (bad) times that Drift would really love to never talk about, and Dealer loves to hold over his head.
Ratchet is a trauma surgeon whose family was killed by demons around the time Deadlock was active. After patching up Drift a couple of times, they fell into an undefined sort-of relationship that nearly came to an end when Ratchet found out just who Drift used to be. After taking some time and talking to just about everyone else Drift knows, Ratchet decided he still wanted to know Drift as he is now, though things between them are still uncertain.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Mmm," Ratchet says, feeling more like an oblivious, privileged ass by the second, but he just looks down at his hands on the table and digests this for a moment, turning it over slowly in his head.

"If you liked school, is there a reason you haven't gone back to it? Went and tested for your GED, I mean, you won't be able to cram that sword into one of those little lockers."

Drift puffs out a laugh at that, leaning back in his chair.

"I mean...I haven't really needed it. I looked into it a little while ago, but it's kind of pricey, and it hasn't really come up since." He shrugs again, folding his hands behind his head. "I stopped going to school when I was sixteen. I do kind of wish I'd been able to finish, but I don't think getting my GED now would change much."

"Mmm, a bit," Ratchet says, eyeing Drift thoughtfully. "But if you ever decide to, y'know, get out of the violent-demon-hunting business, it might be helpful. Or wanted a steady part-time job, even."

Drift raises an eyebrow. "I think I'm pretty set in my career path for now. And I get decent enough work. A steady job might put a bit of a dent in my actual work."

Yes, he considers running around Boston and stabbing demons to be more of a job than manning a cash register at the Star Market. One of these things is spiritually rewarding and leads to self-actualization. The other bags groceries.

He is momentarily rescued from the topic at hand when Bra'ad comes by with a serving tray positively stacked with dishes. "Curry and moon dumplings for you," Bra'ad says, placing two dishes in front of Ratchet, and then two glasses of water, "and the rest of the menu for you, kid. Flag me down if you need anything, yeah?"

The small table is now completely covered in various plates of food, most of them Drift's, and he looks positively pleased at the sight of it. It has been a while. "Sure thing, Bra'ad. Thanks!"

"Your actual unpaid work," Ratchet says, but then Bra'ad is there and so is the food. Ratchet nods his thanks and starts on the dumplings, his eyes warming as he watches the genuine delight on Drift's face.

"That good, huh? Or is it comfort food?"

Drift's mouth is already full of noodles by the time the words are out of Ratchet's mouth.

"Both?" he tries, with his mouth mostly full, then thinks the better of trying to keep talking like that and washes it down with a few gulps of water. "I mean, I wouldn't keep coming here if it wasn't good, but it is kind of comfort food, I guess. I was mostly on a steady diet of takeout when I was still in school."

That has obviously not changed much.

"At least this takeout has some vegetables, so you don't manage to successfully test whether or not half-demons can drop dead from a vitamin c deficiency."

Ratchet bites into a dumpling and sighs, his eyes half-lidded for a moment before he swallows, looking deeply content.

"It is good, though."

"Hasn't happened yet," Drift points out with an obnoxiously cheerful little wave of his chopsticks. "Just because I don't cook much at home doesn't mean I never eat vegetables, Ratchet."

His smile settles, though, and he rests his chin on one hand. "Yeah? You wouldn't mind coming back here sometime? Assuming I get a second date, of course."

Ratchet rolls his eyes but his expression warms after a minute and he settles in his seat, watching Drift right back.

"Yeah. I'd like that, on both counts."

Drift positively beams at that, although it only lasts a moment before he's back to devouring the food in front of him. He's had a big day by the look of it. You burn a lot of calories killing demons, man.

"So," he says when he pauses for breath again, taking a sip from his cup, "another thing I never asked you -- where are you from? Are you local, or did you move here?"

"Local, and I never had to move. Not like there aren't enough hospitals in Boston."

Ratchet watches Drift curiously, willing to answer his questions but not quite sure if he'll have all of his own answered in return, unused to Drift wanting to open up about, well, anything that happened before they met. He takes a bite of curry.

"You seem familiar with the area enough. Have you lived here all your life?"

What they need is more of an even trade, Drift's decided. Ratchet's done so much for him, and Drift -- well, he saved Ratchet's life once, although Ratchet never seemed to think it necessary. He's coming to realize these days that he hasn't given Ratchet very much at all.

He nods, prodding at his potstickers. "Yeah, pretty much." After another moment he adds, "Mostly Southie. I lived in Dorchester for a while, too."

Ratchet hums, his mouth full and he keeps his eyes on his plate for a moment as he swallows, deliberately casual.

"Yeah? Are you there now, or are you somewhere else in the city?"

That's the most direct question Ratchet's ever asked Drift about where he's lived, or -- most areas of his personal life. He coughs, unsure of how to answer for a moment, then smiles slightly.

"I haven't lived in Dorchester since I was a kid, but -- yeah. Still around Southie."

This restaurant is like, four blocks from his apartment.

Ratchet's eyes flick up and catch Drift's smile and a little tension eases out of his shoulders before he smiles back, just a little.

"Not too too far from my place, then, I guess," he says, his voice warm. "I wasn't sure how many roofs you had to jump or how long you had to be on public transit with that oversized steak knife before you showed up for dinner."

"Hey, respect the sword," Drift says, patting the oversized steak knife in its sheath leaning against his chair. His smile brightens, though, and he shrugs, waving a hand. "Boston's a small city. It doesn't take long to get most places by rooftop, unless it's icy out. Besides, I like the workout."

Drift has definitely made the mistake of trying to jump roofs during a cold snap. It didn't end well.

"I do not," Ratchet says distinctly before taking another bite of curry before he nearly chokes, swallowing and looking up at Drift with bright eyes.

"In Boston, where it is icy at least a third of the time. I see.

"How badly did you fall?"

Drift coughs again, looking embarrassed and directly down at the plates in front of him.

"That's personal," he says, picking up his chopsticks, but he's grinning just a tiny bit. "That's why I have a Charlie Card, Ratchet. I can't always take the rooftops."

"I bet it is," Ratchet says, shaking his head, but the silence that falls as they both dig in is comfortable for a few moments before Ratchet sits back and sighs in contentment, still watching Drift shovel food into his mouth.

"Is there anywhere you wanted to go after this?" Ratchet asks, pushing the remains of his dinner slowly around his plate, watching his chopsticks for a moment before his eyes find Drift's face again. "Or were you going to head home?"

"Well, it seems a little early to call it a night," Drift says, glancing at his phone. "Unless you have an early shift tomorrow -- but I thought we'd, I don't know, take a walk or something?"

That's a date thing, right? That's totally a date thing. He isn't quite ready for let's go back to my place with Ratchet, which is maybe a little uneven, but...baby steps.

"No, I don't have an early shift tomorrow," Ratchet says, his eyes warm on Drift's face and almost a little curious, like he's just waiting to see what Drift will do next.

"I'd like that."

He has no idea what he's doing, Ratchet.

"A walk it is, then." He brightens a little and waves a hand to hail down Bra'ad. "Hey, Bra'ad, can we get a check over here?"

The demon ambles over, somehow managing to sidle through the narrow gaps between tables without bumping or knocking anything over despite being half a head taller than Drift and twice as wide. He tears a slip off his order pad and slides it over to Drift, glancing over at Ratchet.

"There you go, stabby. Thanks for coming by, you two. Hope you enjoyed the food."

"Very much so, thank you," Ratchet says, sounding pleased as Bra'ad calls Drift 'stabby' again, his eyes bright.

He follows Drift out, their shoulders brushing as he walks close, looking oddly content, the expression almost out of place on his face.

Drift gives Bra'ad a look at stabby, but it's clearly an old joke and he doesn't look genuinely ruffled. They step out into the cool night air and Drift slips his hand around Ratchet's, leading him down the sidewalk. This is...nice. It's weirdly normal. Drift doesn't really do normal, normal has never really been accessible to him, but right now, things feel a little less insane.

"We're a little too far from the Commons or Copley, but there's a stretch of Chinatown pretty close by that I like to walk through sometimes. I think you'd like it -- it's very lively."

"Yes, I'm widely known for my liveliness," Ratchet says, his voice exceedingly dry before he tilts a half-grin over at Drift, his blue eyes warm.

"Sounds good to me."

[ DEMON HUNTER DRIFT AU: PART II (SFW) ]

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