#mage!steve

Steve is a junior mage at the Brooklyn Tower of Magi, a prestigious school of magic that Steve us lucky to be able to attend at all. It's a fact he's reminded of fairly frequently. His family is poor. Was poor. His mother is dead and his father died before he was born. Technically, he's an orphan now. The only reason he's even there is because his best friend, Bucky, comes from a family with wealth and connections. They pulled strings so Steve could get the magical education he needed.

But now, Steve needs to find a way to look out for himself. He can't hide behind his friend's family forever and he hates doing it anyway. He's a mage. He can find a way.

However, his frail body makes it difficult to withstand the rigors of advanced magic. Every request he's made to learn more has been denied. Every mage in the Tower, and in most other Towers in the country, all say he's reached his limit. Steve refuses to take no for an answer. He knows can become stronger, rise higher, if only he had the chance.

One night, Steve draws the necessary wards for his plans. He channels all of his strength into a spell. By the end, he's utterly exhausted, but he's succeeded. In the middle of the room, standing tall and strong and proud, is a demon.

It has been many centuries since Thor was summoned by a human mage, let alone with such urgency. It had been a decent summoning, but Thor had resisted far stronger summons. It was one of the perks of being a Prince of the Demon Realm. Many were eager for his help, but so few actually piqued his interest.

This one, however... His summoning was dripping with need, with desperation. It had seized him and refused to let go, though Thor could have shrugged it off. In the end, he had relented out of curiosity and his curiosity only grew as he saw the mage.

Standing before him was a human hardly more than a boy of 18. He was scrawny, his face dripping with sweat and exertion. His too large robes made him seem smaller than he actually was. Most striking, however, was the fierce look of determination. That was unusual. Demonology was a difficult field of study for human mages and most seemed to think that summoning a demon, binding a demon, and forming a contract with one were all the same. This mistake was usually rectified when the offending mage was killed. This one, though, seemed guarded, like he knew what he was doing.

How curious, Thor thought.

"Why have you summoned me, human?" Thor asked.

"I have called you in humility and in need, for a goal I have not the power to attain," the human replied. "I am prepared to offer whatever is necessary, in accordance with the ancient customs."

Thor raised his eyebrows. So he did know the formalities. That was refreshing.

"I have answered your summons, mortal," Thor replied. "Should your request be within my power and should I consent to aid you, I will exact the payment from you and grant your desire."

"Teach me," the human said. Thor blinked.

"What?"

"I want to form a contract with you," the human said. "I want you to teach me how to use the magic of the Demon Realm."

"Why would a human wish to know this magic?" Thor asked. "Surely there are mages here who could teach you human magic."

"They have decided that there is no point in teaching me more," the human said. "But I know I can learn more if I have the chance."

"Why? Why not be content with what you know?" Thor asked.

"Because I can't," the human replied fervently. "I can't live always dependent on others, always relying on someone else to bail me out. I will repay my debts by becoming stronger and proving that the help I received was worth more than a few parlor tricks."

Thor studied the human. He had an undeniable thirst for power, it was true. That thirst hadn't twisted him, though. It hadn't morphed into gluttony or greed, envy or arrogance. Whatever his motive was for seeking power, it was pure. That was the most fascinating thing.

"If I teach you," Thor said. "You must vow to obey me. You will be my apprentice. Should I tell you to offer blood sacrifice, you must do so. Should I tell you to use all your power in a spell, you will obey."

"I will," Steve said.

"You say that now," Thor said. "Will you say the same if I ask you to share my bed? To worship me? To submit to rituals of my devising? This is not an easy path to walk and once you start, you cannot stop."

The human hesitated. Good. He was not a fool, then. That would be good if he did agree. Part of Thor wanted him to agree, just to see what it would be like to teach a human.

"If you agree, cross the threshold into this circle and hold out your hand," Thor said.

The mage considered for a long moment. Finally, he stepped across the edge of the summoning circle and stood in front of Thor. He held his hand out. Thor reached down with a clawed finger and sunk it into the center of the mage's wrist. The soft flesh gave way easily. The mage winced, but otherwise made no sound. Thor brought the wrist to his mouth and drank. Technically, he only needed a little blood, but it had been a long time since had enjoyed the taste of human blood. He savored it. At last, when he let go, the mage looked a bit woozy. Thor made a shallow cut in his own wrist.

"Drink," he commanded. "To learn demonic magic, you must be bound to your Master with blood, as I am bound to you, my apprentice."

The mage seemed doubtful. Technically, if all be wanted was Thor's power, he could leave the circle. Thor would be bound to him still and the ritual, half complete, would have no effect on the mage. He could have the power he sought at a much lower price. Thor could see the mage (Steve, the blood told him), weighing the option. Thor was almost surprised, then, when Steve lifted Thor's wrist to his mouth and drank. He grimaced at first, but the face soon turned to rapture. It was a hazard of the bond. Demon blood was as addicting for humans as human blood was for demons.

Thor felt the bond between their minds form and cement. He could feel Steve's human mind and his soul on the other end like a soft orb of amber light. He couldn't read Steve's thoughts, but he could tell what he was feeling.