Law froze up, being shocked himself that something so delicate came out so easily, in a fashion so straightforward that it felt uncharacteristic.

The demon didn't know whether that was a bad or a good thing, but nevertheless, he decided to run with it for the time being, as it seemed beating around the bush or dancing with the topic would only put the redhead off.

And he certainly wanted to avoid anything like that.

"I wish to act as your familiar" Law had to bite his tongue to keep himself from elaborating- as he had a habit of doing so since he was almost constantly attracting blockheads as companions, but the exorcist was not a blockhead, to insinuate he was, would surely insult the exorcist, of course he knew what a familiar was!

Kidd in turn, immediately flinched back, much to Law's suspense.

The redhead let his jaw hang open, flexing not unlike a poorly operated wooden puppet as not even a breath managed to get out, with a tight, rigid fist curling around the fabric of his robes, Kidd finally released a guttural sound of protest, the first of many more to come.

A cold sweat made its way to his back, causing the cloak to stick there unpleasantly and shift as he spoke, "this- this is another joke, is it? You can't possibly be serious.."

Law felt his heart drop for a brief moment, but it wasn't long before he fixed Kidd with a firm look, not only to reassure the other of his seriousness, but because he felt offended and wounded at the thought of the other already thinking so low of him.

Did his actions cause the other to assume so little to come from of him?

Law's dignity wouldn't have it.

"Judging from my previous behavior, I can't deny that you have some credit for thinking as such, but this is not a joke, exorcist.. I want to be worthy of your respect- and the association of your name, and I'll prove it to you as a familiar if that's what it takes" Law felt his mind begin to scatter, clawing at the edges of his thoughts in hope that he said everything right.

Can't mess up again, he had to get a good first- er, second impression.

However, instead of steadying Kidd, his words only seemed to have caused him more distress, as the redhead only fell back even more, nearly looking ready to bolt or drop dead, "I- oh my God, th- there's been a huge misunderstanding here, me? With you as a familiar? I- I'm the one who should be working to being worthy!"

Law's wings flapped once, shadowing his ever growing alarm at the turn of events, "what are you..? Your soul is the best I've seen, I can sense great magic there"

Kidd chuckled in response, though more at himself than finding any actual humor in this situation, "yeah.. I uh, dunno about that, but I've been told my magic seems a little.. savage" Kidd laughed emptily.

Unfortunately, the demon didn't seem to find that amusing at all, in fact, Law's lips curled in distaste at the thought of someone insulting the redhead like that, they must've been either awfully vain or awfully envious, maybe both.

What was more disturbing was to see the other being oblivious to his own merit, did no one else recognize his soul? His integrity?

Hell, from the previous outbursts back at the shrine, Law could feel the undertones of magic within his soul, trying to poke free and choke him out, though as clumsy and chaotic as it was, the raven had no right as to comment on someone else's unadulterated nature.

But really? Nobody else recognized his success? With such a soul and such a strong integrity to maintain it, this exorcist must have already handled so much more than an injured demon.

So why the shit was this exorcist laughing at his own expense? It nearly pissed him off, what the actual hell was the church doing?

This time, Law stepped forwards, enough to be within an arm's reach to the exorcist.

Kidd tensed up at the approach, and seemed to have been on high alert seeing the snarl in his features, but the raven couldn't have been less concerned with that, "I don't know where those ideas came from, but my offer is the same, take me on as a familiar"

That was the final crack for Kidd, as the redhead just shook his head vehemently and suddenly underwent a switch of personality.

From being nervous and almost shy, his eyes hardened almost threateningly, and Law could see his soul flash with a bright glare of warning before Kidd rose up from the hay, now appearing ready to kick ass and bury him in the ground.

Though, instead of being afraid, as Kidd wrapped a hand around his neck and dragged him closer, Law could only feel undisguised satisfaction when he stared the other down, seeing who he knew Kidd truly was underneath the humility assumedly imposed on him.

A proud, zealous exorcist that put all others to shame.

And if Law had his way, he'll stay this way.

"Look, I don't know what the shit you're thinking, but you've got it all wrong-" much to Law's displeasure, the doubt began to creep back in, but not enough to lull the redhead back into being compliant and doubtful.

"I'm just a screw up" there was a lump in his throat, and the raven could tell he had some work to do before Kidd could ever live up to his true status.

"And I'm not even an exorcist for your information, I'm an apprentice, and I can't even get that right!" Now that, took the demon off guard, almost as much as when Kidd unceremoniously tossed him into the haystack without a second glance.

With a snort of anger, Kidd pulled at his locks in frustration.

Why was this happening to him? What was even going on anymore? He didn't even know why he told the demon about that, though, maybe now he'd leave him alone.

But.. did the apprentice want him to leave..?

The demon wanted to be a familiar to him, to be his acknowledged ally by not only the church, but by the whole supernatural community as well, that was some serious shit that couldn't be taken back, it took trust, and balls.

Kidd took a steadying breath and recognized that, yeah, of course he'd love to have the demon as a familiar, who wouldn't? But the issue was- was he worthy..?

No, the apprentice knew he wasn't.

That was the problem.

However, Kidd was swiftly ripped from his train of thought as the demon began to cackle, flapping his wings clumsily as he did so, causing strings of hay to fly through the air and rain down on the cattle, it only seemed good at startling some of them awake once again.

Sitting up on the half torn stack of hay, Law leaned back with a grin, looking as if he had suddenly came to an epiphany, or worse yet, the demon was laughing at his own mistake and was preparing to burn the entire barn to ash, Kidd couldn't tell.

"So that's how it is.. those travesties of exorcists have finally fallen to envy and arrogance.." covering his face with a clawed hand, Law chuckled into it a few times more before glancing back at Kidd, his expression causing something distinctively pleasant to roll through the redhead in waves.

"Well then, apprentice exorcist.. I'm afraid you've been led astray by those so-called peers of yours.." Kidd narrowed his eyes but nothing more.

Slinking off the hay, Law approached the redhead, but this time, there was a veil of caution to his movements, he was aware of what and what not to do to set the other off, and right at this moment, the demon needed to keep Kidd as calm as possible.

"You're much more valuable than they've tried to make you believe, and you know it too.. I know you do" once Law reached close enough to touch the other, he smiled diplomatically, and rested a hand on his chest- and wow was it a well built chest indeed.

Instantly shaking such thoughts away, Law rubbed the skin comfortingly, liking the way the heart hammered fast but steady against his fingertips, a heart of anticipation, not fear, absolutely a sign of valor.

Something that too many mortals lacked these days.

"You can't see it, but your soul shines truer and brighter than any I've seen dared to before.. I admit, it's a bit undisciplined and out of practice, but that's only because you've been restrained from acting as your true self"

Backing away, the demon reclined back on top of the half scattered haystack and smiled invitingly, and whether Kidd knew it or not, he was soon finding himself seated next to the raven, contemplative and patient.

"Let me act as your familiar.. together, I think we'll accomplish more than we've both ever dreamed" Law smiled up at the exorcist, feeling more tranquil and at peace with himself for a long time.

As silence loomed over their heads, Law waited patiently for the verdict, whether Kidd accepted his allegiance or not, it was only for the apprentice to decide.. though the thought did cross his mind once to completely disregard his decision should he reject him, the demon immediately cast it away.

He would not disrespect Kidd in favor of his own interests like that.

"What's in it for you?" Law paused with an amused look, "you say you want to be my familiar, but what do you get out of it?" For the first time since this conversation sparked, Kidd turned to face the demon in the eye, and it took everything Law had not to shiver.

His soul was so, so bright, and all evidence of any humility was nearly transparent.

"Of course, as your familiar I'll be associated with your name and share everything that comes with it, which includes reputation, infamy, status, I guess power too, oh and don't forget access to certain things and places that a devil like me would be chased from" Kidd's shoulders grew lax, and the furrow in his nonexistent brows left completely.

The demon really thought he was something.. he means, Kidd knew all along that he was meant for a bigger roll, meant for so much more than being thrown around and scolded wherever he went, but to actually hear someone else affirm it.

Suddenly, he wasn't feeling so low as he usually would, "of course-" Law abruptly began to speak again, and Kidd directed his attention back to the other just in time to see his smirk fade into something thoughtful as well.

"A while ago.. a friend of mine was exorcised.. you probably know about it, since everyone seems so keen on preaching Ace's death.."

Kidd didn't recognize the name at first, but then it struck him that it was the same name as the demon commander Akainu killed.

The redhead stiffened where he sat, now listening with a lock in his joints, he was ready to spring into action at any suspicious movement, "it was a hard hit to many.. he was very popular y'know, belonged to a large family, and his baby brother was hit the most" the apprentice's eyes widened slightly.

He didn't know demons had brothers.. or families at all..

"The thing was, Ace, he had this crazy idea, that maybe one day demons and exorcists can come to an accordance, stop all this.. well, demonization of our kind, propaganda of our exorcisms, y'know, typical church bias shit.." a light bulb lit up over Kidd's head.

"You want to continue on with his dream.." Law blinked before sitting up himself and giving Kidd a smile, "I used to think he was absurd, even if the exorcists weren't overrun with religious ideals brought on by the church, they're all nothing but shadows of what they were before.."

Suddenly Law's wings flapped again, and a smirk was hidden in the shadow of them, "but.. I guess I wouldn't be here if that was the case"

Kidd watched as Law smiled charmingly, and felt a sigh burst from his gut as he hunched over.

Of course, this was really happening, here he was, negotiating a familiarity bond with a demon, one that he saved from death's door no less..

This majestic, actually really cool demon, wanted to be bound to him, and if Kidd didn't take that as a wake up call, he didn't want to know what else the world would throw at him.

This demon, wanted to be acknowledged as an equal, with him.

The redhead's chest fluttered, and suddenly his face grew hot and heavy, this demon accepted him to stand on the same field as him.. he decided to figure out how he exactly felt about that later.

Instead..

"What should I call you from now on then?" Law blinked owlishly, only remaining like that for a few seconds before jumping up with a killer smile, "Trafalgar, Trafalgar D. Water Law"

Kidd grinned himself, all teeth and filled with promise, "Eustass Kidd, looking forward to working with you, Law" the demon purred in response, all too happy with how everything played out.

"Same here, Kidd" unabashedly leaning up to press against the apprentice's side, the two spoke in hushed whispers, as if they were carrying a secret even the wind might overhear whilst getting acquainted with one another.