"Thank…you. Uh-Boss." Ashton said, his eyes focused on his lap as he speaks. "And uh-everyone. Thanks for…you know-?"
"Jeez, would it kill you to relax?" It's Vinci who palms his cheek in his hand, offering Ashton a lazy smirk. "You're so freaking stiff. I guess it's better than Mad over here, but relax. We don't bite. Well Mad over here-."
"Hey Vinci?" Mad Dog said, tilting his head and meeting eyes with the other man. Vinci raises an eyebrow, nodding his head in acknowledgment.
"Hm?" Vinci said.
"Shut the fuck up." Mad Dog said, flipping Vinci off, who only shrugs and lets out a loud cackle.
There's a soft clearing of a throat, which causes the entire team of agents to swing their heads over to Black Butler, who swiftly hands over a black folder for Boss to take in her hands. Boss nods her head at Black Butler, swiftly opening the folder and slowly looking up to meet eyes with the agents.
"Let's finish some house keeping items, shall we?" Boss asked, her eyes slowly moving over to Ashton, who suddenly sits up straighter, letting a heavy gulp down his throat.
"Co is an organization that works closely with the Japanese government." Boss said, closing the folder and sliding the folder over to Ashton. "We are in charge of making sure the supernatural doesn't get out of hand. We take care of many things—ghouls, vampires-."
"Vampires exist?" Ashton chokes out.
"In one way or another? Yes, however, our speciality is devils. We take care of devils by using our Dengen, which are unique abilities we each possess to defeat devils."
"What-is that the ability things you were talking about?" Ashton asked.
"Yes—to be precised, agents are humans who are able to access beyond their limitations and utilize their denegen, which is what they use to defeat devils." Boss said, her gaze landing on Ashton's face. "Devils, on the other hand, are evils lurking among the world that have lingered after death seeking to commit evils, kind of like ghost, but stronger—more vengeful."
"I see…so that day…those were devils…" Ashton said, his eyes focused on the folder sitting on the table in front of him. "So…the thing inside me and-uh-Mad Dog, there-."
"Very, very powerful devils from the Underworld." Boss said, her eyes switching between looking at Ashton and Mad Dog. "Oddly enough, a devil was sealed inside you, which means we must find a method to unseal it from your body. Mad Dog, on the other hand, sealed his devil willingly, so it would be on his terms to break the contract."
Ashton whips his head around, meeting eyes with Mad Dog, who seems to have mastered a flat, emotionless expression on his handsome face.
"Something like that, yeah." Mad Dog mutters, averting his eyes.
"So…this dengen—everyone here can access it, right?" Ashton said, his rough voice filled with aspiration. "But…why is…?"
"That possible? We aren't fully sure yet, if we're honest." Boss said, a soft sigh leaving her lips. "However, those humans discovered to have it have been either discovered by Co, or have left to be in hidden and live regular lives. It's not a matter of choice, per say, but a gift."
Ashton nods his head, fighting the urge to clench his hands and run out the room. He fights it down, focusing his attention on the group of agents around him, all who seem unbothered by the information.
"As agreeable with Co and the government," Boss continues, her tone unyielding. "We have agreed to serve with the intent to protect humanity in mind. Those who work for Co work for humanity, and are labeled agents of this world until death."
"I-not r-retirement or something?" Ashton asked. Boss shrugs, waving Ashton off.
"If one survives that long," Boss said, shrugging. "Sure, yes of course."
Ashton swallows, blinking big at the words but not commenting after.
"You're devil is still something we are further gathering information on," Boss said, tapping her fingers against the large glass round table. "However, your devil seems to be the king of fire, Agnis, which means we have a high ranking devil in our hands, and we'd like to partner with you to use it for good-."
"I wouldn't use it for bad, ever." Ashton said, clenching his hands into fist. "Honestly, I wouldn't want to use this shit in general. I-I'm assuming there's not way to get rid of it, right?"
"If it was a two way contract like Mad Dog and Berserker, certainly." Boss said. "However, your contract has different terms. Therefore, the severance will be conducted differently."
Ashton sighs, shifting his eyes closed, letting himself take in a breath before he lets a heavy one out, chewing his bottom lip as he rearranges his throughts.
"You'll help me figure out what this is, right…?" Ashton asked, his big pinkish red eyes focused on Boss. "If I…if I help you, you'll help me rid of this thing, yeah?"
Boss doesn't respond for a minute, then two, before a small smile makes its way to her face, and it's not Ashton who reacts, but Mad Dog, who stiffens in his seat next to Ashton, his dark eyes wide and alarmed looking at Boss's soft smile.
"Of course, Incinerator." Boss said, waving at Black Butler to circle back to behind Ashton's large chair. Black Butler nods before he flips open the black folder in front of Ashton to reveal a page with a signature line for Ashton to sign.
Ashton looks up in surprise, staring at Black Butler before the pen in Black Butler's hand. Ashton gulps, staring at the page in front of him before lifting his eyes at Boss, who offers him a reassuring smile.
"If you agree to serve Co with everything you have," Boss said, placing her chin between her interlocked fingers, "then of course, we will help free the devil from you. Isn't that you want, a free life? Away from all this devilish havoc? I can grant it for you, but of course. I only need your word."
Ashton blinks, nervously shifting his eyes between the pen and the piece of paper in front of him. Ashton squeezes his eyes shut, reaching for the pen for only a strong hand to grab his wrist, stopping him short. Ashton looks up to meet eyes with Mad Dog, who looks down at Ashton with furrowed eyebrows and a strained expression.
"Mad Dog-." Boss starts, but Mad Dog cuts her off short.
"This is his first day." Mad Dog said, almost pleads out. "Give him time to think about this. Shit."
"Are you…dude, what is wrong with you today?" Vinci mutters in disbelief. Mad Dog huffs, looking away, yet his hand is still on Ashton's wrist.
"Nothing is-I-I just-shit." Mad Dog mutters, his expression hardening. "He shouldn't rush into this."
"If he wants Agnis out of his poor body, he doesn't have much of a choice." Boss said, her voice soft, and the smile on her face not once slipping. "This wasn't a contract of democracy, Mad Dog. Stand down."
Mad Dog scowls, anger suddenly coating his expression. He grits his teeth, glaring at Boss as he opens his mouth to say something, but he stops, looking down at the death grip he has on Ashton's wrist, realizing that he's squeezing awfully too hard.
"Sorry-." Mad Dog said, and he gulps, looking away. "I-fuck-do what you want to do."
Ashton opens his mouth to speak, but he shuts it soon after, raising his eyes to meet Boss.
"You'll…be able to get it out of me right? The devil?" Ashton said, and even he hears his voice slightly shake. "I just have to work with you for a while, right? And then-then-everything will go back to normal, right?"
Boss nods her head. "You have my word." She said.
Ashton lets out a shaky breath, grips the pen in his hands, and signs the document.