Chapter Text
Mikhail shook as he, his mother, and his sisters were led into the prison camp that would be their home for the next few years. Just fourteen years old, he'd seen his father put to death, a death that began their own damnation into the hell that was the gulag. His family was worked all day, every day, given only thin soups and porridge to live from. Every night they were forced into the cramped barracks, forced to huddle together with strangers to keep warm. Every night Mikhail would prey for their deliverance. For ten long years he prayed every night, growing bigger but much much weaker. The guards used him as an example when any of the newcomers tried anything. It all came to an end one day when a strange dying old man came to him while he held his sister. "God isn't listening my son. I know of someone who can be persuaded… for the right price." He croaked, voice not unlike that of a raven's. "I have nothing I can give." Mikhail replied desolately. "Oh my… no. That is where you are wrong. You still have one thing the guards cannot take from you." The old man reached out a bony hand to tap at Mikhail's chest, right over his heart.
"If I give this… I will die." Mikhail said quietly. The old man's silver gaze turned towards Mikhail's sleeping mother and sisters. "Some things are worth dying for." He said offering Mikhail a hand. Mikhail took one last look at his family, memorizing their faces before he turned back toward the stranger and took his hand. "You must be willing to sacrifice everything. Their lives depend on it Mikhail." The old man said. "Everything." Mikhail agreed.
Thick claws latched onto him, scraping his arm down to the bone as if he were made of paper. Mikhail tried to scream but nothing came out. He couldn't move. A harsh thick tongue licked up the blood from his wounds. It felt like that of a cat's. The next thing he knew, something flooded into his body. It burned and ached, stretching his skin and bones in impossible ways. He became bigger, broader, stronger in ways he could have never imagined. His skin began to glow a blood red metallic color and before him dropped a minigun. His minigun. The one he'd always imagined. He knew every detail, every piece of her, but to build her and hide her here would be impossible. Now she was real, laying at his feet like an obedient servant. He picked her up, kissed her barrels and stepped out of the barracks for the last time.
Herbert knew he deserved this. It was his own fault he'd ended up here. His own filthy perversity, that had brought him to this camp. The worst thing was, he didn't regret a single thing. The men he had loved and spent his time with were worth this gruesome end. He wasn't scared to die for them. He'd lived for them. As he watched his breath fog in the winter air he knew it would be his last, and for once he wasn't afraid. If people of the same mind all went to hell? It sounded like a wonderful place. The sound of a gunshot made his vision go dark.
Flames curled around him when he opened his eyes again, they licked at his skin, his hair, even though him. He stared at the flames but felt no fear. No pain. It was freedom. Liberation. It was welcomed with open arms. "Hello little one." A voice cooed. He turned his head in every direction but saw no one. "Aren't you a sight to see. Welcome home Herbert. You are safe now." The veil hiding him from the outside world lifted, and his body returned to him, only it was much different. A thin lizard like tail, that wrapped around his wrist or ankle at any opportunity, cold black eyes, radiant red skin, beautiful black horns that reached up over his head and thick black claws on the ends of his fingers and toes and strong red and black bat like wings that stuck out from his back, nearly the same size as he was.
He could move them. Herbert flew easily over lakes of boiling fire, taking in his new home with awe and delight. Until he was grabbed by the arms and hauled up into what appeared to be an office. A huge red creature in a suit with horns and little round glasses looked up at him critically. "Sorry my dear, not all fun and games. I have a job for you. A young man in Russia has given his soul to save himself and his family. I need you to see it through and make sure he ends up down here with us. I know it's your first day but the best way to learn is by doing so off you go." The man said waving a hand. Herbert was now standing in the middle of a bloody battle. A man with a minigun was fighting for his life against armed guards. Soldiers.
Soldiers not unlike the men who had killed him. Rage boiled through Herbert's blood, he screeched at them to leave him alone, and in doing so set the anterior walls of the facility ablaze. Herbert stared at the fires dumbfounded for a moment. "Did you see that?!" He shouted to the man behind him who made a face at him but kept his focus on the guards. Herbert let that rage flow through him again once more and focused it on the guards before them burning them to a crisp in an instant. He laughed, joy and relief flowing through him as he spread the untamable fire over the walls and through the guards. Whenever someone would try to fire at the man behind him, he would block them with his own body instinctively, the bullets bounced off uselessly into the snow.
Before long the prisoners of the gulag spilled out from the burning camp and out into the snowy mountains to make their escape. Herbert trotted after Mikhail as he led his family into the wilderness. Now what? He'd protected this guy he could go home now right? Herbert waited patiently, but no one came for him. He frowned, turning to follow Mikhail wordlessly. Once Mikhail and his family passed out from exhaustion in the snow he stared down at them. He wished they had somewhere safe and warm to sleep. Before them, a cabin pieced together from the trees, with a spacious kitchen/sitting room, three bedrooms, and even a nice full woodshed. Oh right. Demon powers. It'd be nice to have a handbook or something.
Herbert sighed and started to haul the family inside, tucking them all in one by one into soft warm beds. He went to stand over the man he'd helped to escape. "Alright. Vale up." The demon said, smacking the man's cheek gently a few times. The man grumbled something in Russian that sounded like a negative. It wasn't fair. He was full of energy and everyone around him was fast asleep! There was nothing he hated more than being bored out of his mind. Herbert stomped out of the man's bedroom and out of the cabin. "Ok I did it! He's still alive! Can I come home now?" He shouted out. Only the sound of the wind in the trees around him answered. Well, maybe this man still needed him. How long was he going to sleep? He returned to Mikhail's bedside. After staring at him for a good while he realized the man wasn't going to wake up anytime soon.
He put both his hands on the man's chest, crawling up onto him like a cat that had been denied dinner at five am by a soundly sleeping owner. Herbert peeled the thin cotton clothes off the man's chest. After straddling the man beneath him he watched as Mikhail's chest rose and fell. He was certainly a sight to drink in. Thick muscles and beautiful large pecs. He was hairy but that wasn't a deal breaker. Herbert let his impulsive thoughts win and flicked the man in his right nipple. He was swiftly grabbed by the side of the head and thrown across the room, landing on his ass sharply. Totally worth it. The man in the bed sat up, blinking blearily at his surroundings.
"Mama! Mama! Are you here?" He shouted loudly, making Herbert cover his pointed ears. "Of course she's here you dummkoph! You brought her here remember?!" Herbert shouted in frustration. The man looked at him for a moment before bursting out of his bed and into the hallway, opening the door next to his to see his sisters all sleeping safe and sound in a large bed. Through the next door he found a bathroom, and through the door across from it his mother slept peacefully. He rushed to her side and threw his arms around her, kissing her cheek and hugging her tight. "Mama! We are safe now!" He said softly crying tears of joy. She awoke at the sound of his voice, taking in her surroundings. "Misha… where are we? What happened?" Mikhail's mother asked.
"A cabin in the mountains. It is abandoned. We can live here safely." Mikhail said excitedly. "I'm sorry can you hear me at all?" Herbert said behind him, becoming a little irritated. The man turned and walked right through him, making him yelp. Herbert felt at himself but found himself solid once again. That was deeply unpleasant. Why couldn't they see him? It wasn't long before the whole family was awake, exploring the house he'd made. Ludwig started a fire in the fireplace with the point of his finger, making the women scream and the man shout in alarm. Good, that got their attention. Now, he just needed to communicate. Herbert thought for a minute before he rushed over to the writing desk neatly placed in a little nook in the corner of the room. He picked up a pen and took a piece of paper. Then promptly passed out on the carpet from exertion.
After waking up several hours later, he heard hounds braying outside. Herbert stood and made his way out the door to see Russian soldiers looking for escaped prisoners. They were close to the house now. He growled at them, raising a hand to light the men on fire, sparing the dogs. The dogs all surrounded him and barked and brayed loudly. Herbert wanted to pet them so desperately. "Hello babies! Yes I see you too!" Mikhail burst out of the cabin to see bloodhounds all standing in a circle and barking at something he couldn't see. "SHH! Shh shh quiet doggies." He encouraged the hounds. The dogs all turned to him and began howling louder, trying to catch the attention of their masters. Herbert told them to hush and they did immediately, turning back to him obediently. Mikhail relaxed, beckoning the hounds inside. The demon led them in, letting all fourteen of them curl up before the fireplace.
The Russian man removed all their identifying marks and threw them into the fireplace. He looked for matches to relight it but couldn't find any. Herbert went over to his side and lit the fire watching in amusement as Mikhail stared in awe. It appeared they had a ghost watching over them. "I don't know who you are, but thank you. You protect my family from miserable death." He said aloud, feeling a bit silly for it. Herbert smiled at him. "You're velcome." He said sweetly, wishing Mikhail could here him. Mikhail stood up so fast he almost hit his head on the mantle above the fireplace. "Who is there?!" He demanded. "You can hear me?" Herbert said hopefully. "Da! Da. I can hear you. Where are you?" Mikhail asked, lowering his voice so he wouldn't wake anyone. "I'm right in front of you. This is! This is… incredibly draining." Herbert replied, feeling woozy.
He stumbled over to Mikhail, letting his instincts take hold. Mikhail felt sharp teeth bite down on his shoulder and winced it burned for a moment, until a wave of pleasure sank through him. He sighed out a soft moan, stumbling away from Herbert and into his bedroom. The demon followed him, licking his lips hungrily. Mikhail had perched himself in his bed, letting the searing pleasure flow through him. It was unlike anything he'd ever experienced, making him loose himself without even bothering to paw at his member. Herbert soaked up his emotions, the adrenaline, the endorphins. The energy flowed out of Mikhail and into him. He felt stronger, healthier, untouchable. Mikhail whimpered as he felt the demon climb atop him, sinking his teeth back into his shoulder and lapping up the man's blood eagerly.
His strength was growing he could tell. As he pulled away he watched the bite mark heal over with fascination. Apparently his affinity for healing had carried over from his previous life. "Zhank you. I feel so much better now." Herbert cooed happily. "Da." Mikhail gasped out in relief. The weird feeling was gone now.
Over the next few weeks, Herbert spent his time protecting the family. Mikhail had even begun to leave books open for him to read in his bedroom, creating him a sweet little altar in the corner of the room where he'd leave a dish full of blood every morning. It was wonderful, until Miss Pauling arrived. She knocked on Mikhail's door, explaining who she was and why she was there. Mikhail stood aside, inviting her in. "I'm so excited to offer you this opportunity. Trust me. It'll be worth your time." Miss Pauling said sweetly. With the amount of money this job was offering, he and his family could escape Russia. Start a whole new life somewhere safer. Herbert gasped when he saw Mikhail sign the papers. "Vhat do you zhink you're doing? You barely even read zhat contract!" He shouted. Mikhail ignored him, shaking Miss Pauling's hand and letting her lead him and Sasha to her helicopter.
Herbert stewed in frustrated silence all the way to Teufort New Mexico. Mikhail now dubbed 'Heavy' was led to some sort of grain silo/warehouse thing and showed around the facility. The angry demon wasted no time in lighting the woman's clipboard on fire. Mostly out of spite for denying him a few days worth of meals. She threw it to the ground and Mikhail stomped it out. "I'm sorry, Heh I have little ghost friend that plays weird pranks." Mikhail told her apologetically. Miss Pauling laughed nervously as if Mikhail were crazy, but she didn't have a better explanation for the spontaneous combustion of her clipboard. "Well uh try to keep your friend out of trouble ok?" She said, shaking his hand and excusing herself to go gather the rest of the team.
Mikhail stepped into his new room and set Sasha on his bed, tucking her in before unpacking his bag. He didn't have much to bring, so the task didn't take him long. Herbert huffed behind him, already missing the cozy cabin he'd built. "We should have at least brought one of the dogs with us!" He complained. At least he'd had the dogs trained to listen to him. "Dog would not be safe here. This is battlefield." Mikhail argued back. "A battlefield you should have avoided! Do you have any idea how much vork it's going to take to keep you alive out zhere?!" Herbert hissed angrily. "Da. Will be hard job. But battlefield has plenty of blood." Mikhail said, trying to appease his guardian. "Vhat do you vant me to lick it off the ground? Do you even think before you say zhings?" Herbert said disappointed. "Hah. We argue like old married couple." Mikhail joked.
A knock came from his door, startling both of them. Herbert opened the door, staring out at a man dressed in overalls, cowboy boots, goggles, a button up shirt, and a hard hat. 'Weird fashion choice but ok.' Herbert thought. "Uh…" The engineer began intelligently, a bit surprised that the door had opened on it's own. "Well. Howdy there Slim, figured I'd come introduce myself, I'm the engineer. You can call me Engie for short. I could've sworn I heard two voices in here…" He continued, looking around Mikhail's bare room. "Hello. I am Heavy weapons guy. My leetle friend is in here somewhere. He is just shy. Does not like strangers." Mikhail introduced himself nonchalantly. The Engineer chuckled nervously, not wanting to tell the behemoth of a man that he was alone in his room. "Well I look forward to workin' with ya'll. I'll be in the workshop if you need anythin'." He said, slowly backing away from the door and jumping when it closed all by itself.
Herbert groaned. "You know you sound like a crazy person right? Talking to a ghost zhat may or may not be in the room with you?" He chastised. "You are always in room with me. Where else would you go?" Mikhail said, not phased by the ghost's antics. Herbert let out a huff, stomping out of the room. As he explored the base further, he found the workshop the engineer had mentioned. It wasn't anything terribly grand, but it did have a lot of interesting little devices. The engineer was currently working on some sort of teleportation device, if what he read from the blueprints was correct. "Zhat's not going to vork~" Herbert singsonged, knocking a piece of the device off the workbench. The engineer caught it. He was used to having siblings that did everything they could to annoy him. The demon was up for the challenge. Herbert reached up onto the chalkboard and scraped his claws down the length of it.
"Dammit Junior I thought I told you to… to…" The engineer trailed off. His brother wasn't in the room. He was alone, but there were now two sets of claw marks running down the length of his chalkboard. "Now who's there?!" Engie shouted, standing up and puffing out his chest. "This ain't funny y'hear me?" Herbert chuckled at his reaction, coming over to flick the hardhat off of the engineer's head. This was at least entertaining. The engineer swung his arms around but didn't connect with anything. "Damn spy! Come out here and fight like a man Frenchy!" He shouted, putting up his fists. Herbert snickered at him. This one was cute. He liked him so far. This 'Engineer' also seemed like he could be of some use. Maybe he could create something Herbert could use to have a bit more autonomy on this physical plane of existence. Herbert picked up a piece of chalk, writing out his demand on the chalkboard. 'BUILD A ROBOT'
The engineer stared at the words for a minute in confusion. Herbert meanwhile was panting in exertion. Damn it. If they could just communicate this would be so much easier, but without a physical body everything he interacted with took a lot of energy. "What on earth do you need a robot fer?" The engineer asked, making Herbert hiss in frustration. The demon looked around the space for anything of use, spotting a typewriter. Maybe that would be easier to use, all he had to do was tap the keys. After approaching it, he thought for a minute before typing out his message:
Hello Engineer, My name is Herbert. I look forward to working with you. I'm something of a scientist myself. Or at least I was, before I died. I was a doctor. My body is very limited in this mortal realm now, if you could do me the favor of alleviating me of that issue I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm sure I could make it worth your while. P.S. leave this typewriter uncovered please.
Engineer slowly approached the typewriter with a broom, sweeping through the air above it to spy check. His broom didn't connect with anything, making his skin crawl as he began to panic a bit. Ghost weren't real! His maw-maw had promised him! Suddenly the typewriter stopped clacking, signifying that whatever using it was finished typing. The engineer slowly approached, looking over the words carefully. "Herbert huh? Look sir I appreciate you having some faith in me but I'm gonna have to decline. My mama told me not to make deals with demons." He said aloud.
Coward. Mama's boy. Must be nice having parents who love you.
Came Herbert's reply on the typewriter. The engineer read it and scoffed. "Quit yer bellyachin'. No. That's final. You can go ahead an quote me on that." He said with a smirk. Herbert scowled down at him, turning back to the typewriter. The engineer threw the plastic cover down on it so that Herbert couldn't see it or it's keys. Well played. This Engineer was useless. He went back to Mikhail's room to lick his damaged ego. "Mikhail. Your new friend is a dummkoph. He won't play nice." Herbert whined to Mikhail, who was now sitting on his bed reading a book. "I don't know what you expected, normal people are afraid of ghosts." Mikhail answered, turning a page. Herbert sighed, conjuring a bookmark for Mikhail's page. "Feed me. Bitte." He begged sweetly. Mikhail closed the book, taking out the little ceramic dish that he used for the offering.
Meanwhile, The engineer had connected the dots and was now barreling down the hall to Mikhail's room to warn him. Just as he threw the door open, he witnessed Mikhail slitting open his wrist to let his blood pool into the little dish. "What in the hell is going on here?!" He shouted in shock, watching as the bowl slowly drained. "Ah. Is dinner time for Herbert." Mikhail said jovially. "You're feedin a damn demon?! What could he have possibly given you that makes it worth your mortal soul boy?" The Engineer asked angrily. Mikhail looked over at him tiredly. "When I was young, my family was thrown into prison camp. My father was executed in front of us, and we had to work long hours for ten long years with only thin soup to eat. My mama, my sisters, we were dying for the sins of my father. I had seen many good people die. When a man came and told me there was a way out, I gladly accepted it knowing it would cost me everything, just to give my sisters a chance at having a real life. A life that they didn't have to be afraid to live. I got Sasha and Herbert and we fight our way out of the prison camp. Herbert saved our lives more than once that day. Without him we would have died cold and hungry in the snow. I would not be here with you. Herbert is my friend. I know it is difficult to understand but he's good to me. To my family. Eh most of the time. He has moments where he is annoying leetle pest but is ok. He get bored too easy." Mikhail explained, refilling the now empty bowl before Herbert licked his wrist clean, healing it in the process.
The Engineer stared up at him, trying to put himself in Mikhail's place. If he had to make that kind of sacrifice to save his siblings…He'd do it. Hell he'd pull out the red carpet for the demon. "Alright. I get it. I'll… try to be accommodatin'." The engineer said hesitantly. Mikhail smiled at him, turning to grab the now emptied dish to bring it to the kitchen. Herbert stuck his tongue out at the engineer, trotting behind Mikhail proudly. By the end of the day the whole base was buzzing with life. Herbert made his way through the mess hall examining each new team member carefully. He wasn't particularly impressed with any of them at first, until he noticed the Pyro was staring at him. Pyro's head followed Herbert as he moved around the room. Herbert waved at him, and Pyro waved back. That was new. It's a shame he made for a poor conversational companion.
Herbert tried to wave at the others to see if any of them could see him. "Theres a ghost in here." The Soldier stated flatly, sounding almost displeased. The rest of the team looked at the Soldier for a moment before turning back to their conversations. "Can you hear me?" Herbert asked halfheartedly. "Yep. You're not my first. Let me guess you have some spooky unfinished business here or something." Soldier replied bluntly. "Somezhing like that. I suppose." Herbert answered looking over at Mikhail. Everyone moved away from Soldier a bit not wanting to be too close to the obviously insane man. Everyone except Sniper and the Demoman. "I don't think that's a ghost mate." Sniper growled in his rugged Australian voice. "Ye thin' it's a daemon?" Demoman asked curiously. "Don't think. I know." Sniper replied, looking pointedly at Herbert. Herbert frowned at him.
"Any news on when our new medic is arriving?" The engineer asked, catching Herbert's attention. "He's delayed, I guess there was a layover in Chicago." Miss Pauling replied with a sigh. "You guys aren't going to like him much. He was a pain to get here and I'm sure he'll be a pain to work with." She continued, shaking her head with a frown. Herbert stalked up to the table. "I'd like to see you juggle patients fraulein. Count your blessings you've never spent a night working the emergency room." He scolded, shuddering at the thought. At least he didn't have to worry about germs anymore. Once the team had dispersed for the night, Herbert waited anxiously at the door of Mikhail's room expecting the man to finally come to bed. However, Mikhail had pulled up a seat at the poker table with the engineer, Soldier, Spy, And Sniper. Herbert waited about twenty more minutes before he went looking for Mikhail.
Soldier noticed him immediately looking up at him suspiciously. "He's back." He said gruffly, nodding in Herbert's direction. Herbert sighed, seeing Mikhail enjoying himself without him. Noticing a small tv in the corner of the common room, he went over and turned it on, using the dial to switch through the channels. He never was fond of the television, he didn't even have one at home. The men stared over at the tv as it switched channels. The sight was unnerving for most of them. Soldier and Mikhail seemed more interested in their cards. Ludwig finally settled on an old black and white horror film. A cheap rendition of Frankenstein. It was at the scene where the doctor was putting together the corpses to make his monster. Herbert watched in fascination. He'd read the book this movie was based on but seeing it in front of him now was giving him lots of new ideas.
Maybe he could find his own body to inhabit. Then he wouldn't have to rely on anyone. Granted, He wouldn't be able to go far from Mikhail, but he would be able to read and do his own research. All he had to do was figure out how to do it. Herbert leaned closer to the tv, studying Dr. Frankenstein's animation process. Once he got too close however, he was sucked into the tv and into the movie. He looked around in shock, taking in the black and white operating room for a moment. "Hey look! He's on the tv!" Soldier shouted pointing to the television. Everyone turned to look at what Soldier was pointing at, watching Herbert come closer to the camera. "Ah Hallo!" He waved at the men, who appeared before him on a strange screen shaped portal. Almost everyone dropped their cards immediately rushing over to the sitting area to take in the image of the incubus.
Herbert smiled warmly. "Zhis is fascinating! Hallo mein freunds!" He chirped, looking out at them. "Well now this is interestin'." Sniper said, looking over the handsome demon appreciatively. "He's really real ain't he." Engineer said quietly to himself. Soldier reached up and changed the channel, landing Herbert in a Betty Crocker baking show. Herbert turned around to see the woman explaining how to make a moist chocolate cake and rushed over to the other side of the counter to dip his fingers into the bowl, bringing the batter up to his lips to taste it. "Agh. Zu süß! Braucht mehr Schokolade." He scolded her sternly, making a face at the granular sugary taste of the cake. She didn't react to him at all, continuing her work without a care in the world. Herbert pulled himself up on the other side of the counter, crossing his legs primly.
The men outside the television stared down at him in amazement. "What are you planning for us ye little devil?" Sniper said quietly. "You? Nothing. Zhough I vouldn't mind getting to know you all better. My name is Herbert. I'm Heavy's er… guardian of sorts. Really zhat's all I do. Nozhing crazy." He said begging the men to trust him. The men looked over at the Heavy weapons specialist who shrugged. "He is good guy." Mikhail said plainly. Herbert batted his eyelasses up at them, doing his best to look cute and innocent. "I think not." Spy said, turning the tv off. Herbert reappeared in the living room looking disgruntled. "Ugh. Rude." He said, stomping out of the room with his nose upturned. When Mikhail came to bed that night, Herbert was still pouting. Ignoring Mikhail when he greeted him.
"I miss your Mama. She liked me! Your sisters too! This place is too much." Herbert said pitifully. "Da. I miss Mama too. I am sorry new friends do not trust you. They just need time. Soon they will see how amazing you are and will be jealous!" Mikhail said with a confident smile. "The tv really took a lot out of me." Herbert said tiredly, laying on top of Mikhail after he crawled into bed. "I have already fed you today. I need more time to make blood." Mikhail complained. "Well… I had an idea." Herbert said huskily, sliding a hand under Mikhail's shirt. "Not now, I need to sleep. Have full day tomorrow." Mikhail said sternly. Herbert frowned at him. "Fine. I'll go find my own food. Have fun sleeping I guess." He said in frustration, walking out of the room using the door so that Mikhail knew he wasn't sticking around.