Work Text:
The news on the tiny screen in the corner of the room was barely audible above the idle chatter from the few people eating and noises from the kitchen, but really anything was more interesting than mopping floors or standing idly in the register.
Mk can't really make out most of what the woman on it is saying. Something about people being found in some sort of way lately at night and to be careful when out? He isn't sure about the rest of the words.
He could just turn up the volume, but being chewed out by Pigsy doesn't really sound so appealing right now. Or maybe he could find the remote and change the channel to something more interesting or turn on subtitles. Or ask Tang if he knows what the news is about.
Yeah he’s asking Tang, if Pigsy catches them then at least both of them are getting scolded.
“Tang! What’s happening lately?” he ignores the way Tang startles from the sudden question and instead leans over him to gesture towards the tv. Tang looks up at the screen for a few moments before going back to his bowl.
“Ah. People are being found unconscious late at night and in the mornings. There's probably someone just going around and attacking them or something, any metal things they had usually end up missing so some thief maybe.” He stirs the noodles before continuing.
“Just try to stay near others and you'll be fine, Mk. The only people fainting are doing it in empty alleys and such.” Well that’s a bit concerning, but he trusts Tang's judgement. Although he doesn't have the best track record with not walking in on things he shouldn't it's not like he goes and hangs out in alleyways for fun.
“What you need to be doing is to stop loitering!” Uh oh. Pigsy must have walked out of the backroom at some point. He stops pointing at Tang and turns to Mk instead. His plan to avoid working, foiled again. “And you’re still on the clock! There are deliveries to be delivered, I need you to get moving.”
————————
Ok, so this isn't what he had expected to happen when he stayed out late with Mei at the arcade. He was in the mood to walk so he had turned down Mei’s offer to ride with her and was just enjoying his time looking at all the Megapolis lights.
Right as he got yanked by the hoodie like a cat being grabbed by the scruff and pulled into an alleyway. He didn't even get a chance to try to scream for help before he felt a sharp pain in his neck as something bit him.
Only for that something, or apparently someone, to pull themself off him and as he got pushed they started making disgusted noises and gagging. As for the person in question, he couldn't tell much about their appearance from the large brimmed hat they wore and the fact that they stood in the dark.
“What is WRONG with you?!” They finally stopped sounding like they were throwing up after biting him and that's what they say?
“You bit me! More like what is wrong with you?!” That hurt. Badly. He can feel blood dripping down his neck ever so slowly with no signs of stopping. And he just cleaned this hoodie, his poor, poor hoodie.
“Of course I bit you! How else was I supposed to-! Argh! You need to get more vitamin K in you, peasant!” They are gesturing wildly towards him, barely straying from the shadow enough for him to get any idea about what they look like.
He needs to be able to report them later because trust him, he is reporting this weirdo in case they are some sort of mental hospital escapee. But red hair that might as well be glowing with how bright it is even in the shadow and pale ass skin isn't a lot to go off of.
“Dude! What are you even on about?! You bit me! Who just does that?!” And what are they on about vitamins? If anything this weirdo is the one who needs some more vitamin D with how pale they are. They might as well be wearing a white bodysuit with how pale their skin is against everything else.
“And don't get me started with how thin your blood is! Seriously, what are you eating that makes it thinner than water?” Okay if they weren't speaking nonsense before they seriously are now. His blood isn't any different from any other person, he of all people would know.
“You should get more greens in your diet, nuts would also help.” They're just nodding to themself, as if they are sharing some important wisdom and not spouting nonsense after Assaulting him. “Less caffeine too could help, on average how much coffee or tea would you say you drink in a week?”
“WHY. Are you giving me. Diet advice. After, if i can repeat myself, you BIT ME?!” He is this close to just punching this weirdo. He probably should have the moment he was grabbed and ran all the way back home.
“Oh please, how else are you supposed to get healthy? Someone needs to make sure you peasants don't just rot away.” Yup, he's punching them and getting the hell out of here. A swing straight to their face is able to knock them back, but he doesn't stop to check if they're okay. There is no reason to care if he broke someone's nose.
By the time he hears angry yelling behind him, he is long gone.
The lights in the shop are still on, and Pigsy is cleaning when he comes through the door. He stopped running when he was certain the weirdo didn't follow him so at least he isn't winded when he comes inside.
“About time you're back. Anything happen?” It didn't feel like he was gone that much longer than usual, but the clock apparently disagreed. 40 minutes after the arcade closed for the night.
“I wanted to walk home, and someone apparently wanted to try and fight me or something.”
“What.” Oh he worded that poorly.
“What I mean is someone tried to rob me or attack me or something! I'm completely unharmed Dadsy, don't worry.” He'd rather not have Pigsy running out trying to fight the weirdo himself, so best to just downplay it. He eventually sighs and goes to put away the mop.
“I swear you are gonna be the death of me one day. You can finish closing up.” and with that Mk is alone in the shop.
————————
‘Convict escapes prison megapolis’
‘Mental hospitals in megapolis missing patients’
‘Vitamin k deficiency effect on blood’
‘Vitamin k supplements’
‘Food with vitamin k’
‘Vitamin k in blood clotting’
‘Eating blood’
‘Drinking human blood’
Why is he still thinking about this? It isn't even that deep, or important. There is absolutely no reason for him to look into this. There has been no news of anyone missing from hospitals or prisons, let alone someone who matched the little he saw of them.
And for reasons he doesn't have any clue on, it turns out that weirdo was completely right about some random deficiency Mk apparently had. At least he doesn't bruise or bleed as easily now and generally feels better, that's one thing to thank some random biter for.
Looking into science journals and sources, all of them agree that yeah, you probably shouldn't drink blood. And the only thing he could find on people actually wanting to drink it is renfield’s syndrome and obvious bait posts.
But then again, no escapees from anything in Megapolis. Unless they came from some other city but even then, he cant find anything on someone like them.
And what makes it even worse is all the conspiracy theorists that are spouting nonsense about vampires taking over the city that are filling the search engine. As if he’s going to believe something like vampires, yeah right.
He can understand there is no reason to look at these obvious fear mongering and bait posts about vampires, but it's still interesting to look into. He wonders how stories like these even started spreading? All of them seem pretty consistent with each other on what to look out for and what to do, it's fascinating how things like these spread.
Aside from that! They've got a new regular at Pigsy’s!
Tall guy, some sort of fire demon if he had to guess by the way he started literally fuming from Pigsy arguing his recipes are perfect when confronted about the lack of spice in the spicy noodles. Every time he’s shown up so far for that argument it's starting to sound more and more like bickering.
He shows up, he orders it extra spicy, Pigsy makes them spicier than last time, he eats, he complains, Pigsy argues back, he pays way more than necessary in old coins, he shows up again two days later, repeat. This whole song and dance started just a few days later so that's at least something else to keep his mind on.
“If I order spicy food, I'm obviously looking for something spicy! If I wanted something mild I would have said mild!” He has gotten to the argument part of his bi-daily visits and is angrily gesturing to his bowl that just reeks of way too many bird's eye chilies for Mk to even consider getting close to it even if it is empty.
“Well it isn't my fault your tongue has been fried to bits! You ate, you pay.” Both he and Tang are just watching the argument unfold. If it wasn't already guaranteed that this guy would pay more than full price already by now he is certain Pigsy would have barred him from coming in after the first time he came back.
He sputters a bit before continuing. “My tongue isn't fried! It's your food that is just utterly spiceless! It isn't that hard to just add a few more peppers to make it actually be spicy!” If this keeps going any longer than the fire alarms might go off with how much smoke is just pouring off his head.
“My recipes don't need any adjustments, you are the one who needs adjustments!”
And there goes the fire alarms.
————————
The next time he goes out at night, he is prepared. He has a brand new and very sharp keychain, a much quicker pace, and he is also avoiding walking anywhere near dark alleyways. With how his last walk at night went he isn't taking any chances. Nothing could ever go wrong!
Only for things to go very wrong, of course. He swears there wasn't anyone behind him two moments ago, but all of a sudden it felt scorchingly hot behind like something caught fire and then he was pulled into an alleyway anyway.
Before anything can happen though, he takes a hold of his keychain and stabs whoever is behind him. Followed by pained yelling and panicked yelling from the two.
“Did you just stAB ME?!” Oh it's the same person as last time. Same vibrant hair and way too pale skin, though a different coat maybe, it's a bit hard to tell when they're staying in the shadows.
“Of course I stabbed you! You grabbed me and tried to bite me or something!” How are they acting like HE is the unreasonable one here? He doesn't go around just biting people like a lunatic.
“That is not what I was planning in the slightest!” He is this close to stabbing them again. “Have you looked into getting more vitamin K in you?” How is that what they are talking about?! And how did they even know about that in the first place?!
“There are much better ways to go around helping people with their health! Get a stand or something with free medical advice instead of- of whatever this is!” Seriously, someone needs to teach them some basic manners.
“Why would I get a- you're dodging the question, Noodle boy.” What. Does this person know he works at Pigsy's? DOES HE HAVE A STALKER!? Nope, nope, nohoho, NO! He is not staying in this situation any longer!
“Of course I understand that-HEY!” Before they even started talking he was already speed walking out of there, ignoring the offended shouting behind him. He has watched enough horror movies to not stay anywhere NEAR this weirdo!
The second he comes inside he turns to whoever the closest person is he recognises, Tang at this point, and grabs his shoulders. “I HAVE A STALKER.”
————————
The next day, Pigsy’s noodles do not offer delivery. It might have to do with the fact that the kitchen sprinklers destroyed the stovetop somehow, it might have to do with the fact that Mk keeps having to talk with officers about yesterday and a few weeks ago. It was just easier to keep the place closed so nobody would be distracted while handling hot food.
“What do you mean closed?” Speaking of hot food. Spice guy came, like always, to eat that day.
“It wouldn't be closed if you hadn't destroyed anything with your tantrum!” That isn't the complete truth obviously, but having nothing to properly cook on is part of the issue of a closed store. He isn't gonna go around telling everyone about the fact that he has a stalker.
“Well if you could have just gotten any actual spice this wouldn't have happened, let alone proper equipment.” This guy just does not know when to let up. “Does nobody in this pathetic place know how to fix some puny technology?”
“If you're so annoyed why don't you fix it yourself smartass?”
“I could!” Oh? Lore drop about spice guy? “If you actually bother with making the food right I can fix it.” Spice guy can fix things, who would've guessed. Pigsy seems to think it over a bit before sighing.
“You fix the stovetop and I will make sure you and your burnt taste buds regret asking for spicier.” Uh oh. He thinks he can guess what Pigsy is planning. He has been saving that chaos ultra ghost pepper of doom for a special occasion, that must apparently be now. Spice guy, he has really got to learn his name sometime if he will keep coming in here, follows Pigsy into the kitchen. Mk trails behind them.
“Stay here, gonna get the tools.” And with that he is alone with Spice Guy. This is awkward. Is he supposed to talk with him or just stay silent? Spice guy isn't even looking at him, more like actively avoiding looking at him. Weirdo.
“I heard what happened. I'm sorry.” He's Not even going to question how the news of his stalker has gotten out there that people just know. What a weird feeling, that people out there know something like that now, he didn't even realise that anything had been released.
“Don't worry guy, it isn't like it's your fault.” He stares at him for a few moments before turning back away and nodding. Right after his neck snaps as he turns back with a bewildered expression.
“‘Guy’? Is that really what humans call strangers nowadays?” He looks nearly offended that the language would turn that way, he should mess with hundreds year old demons more. Using modern speech against them for always speaking in old timey words.
“Well I don't know your name so why wouldn't I call you guy, guy?” Okay maybe he should stop before the fire alarm goes off again from smoke.
“Redson. My name is Redson.”
“Huh?” That sounds familiar, he must've heard that name before at some point. From where though is the question.
Wait-
“Like from Journey To The West?! Red Boy!” He is just staring at him silently again.
“...Yes. That is me, like I just said.” He’s back to just looking bewildered at Mk until Pigsy returns with a toolbox a moment later.
He does not complain about the lack of spice for once, instead he complains about how Pigsy should have just made it like this from the beginning. Mk is not looking forward to having to clean that bowl, he can only hope this will be a once only from Pigsy.
————————
‘Gay’
‘Vampirism’
‘How to tell if vampire’
‘Vampire sightings’
‘Vampire sightings megapolis’
‘Vampire weakness’
‘How to defeat vampire’
There is no reason for him to look into this. There’s is proof of it having been anything but just some weirdo. There is no reason for one little encounter with some weirdo who apparently doesn’t exist anywhere on the internet to be all it takes to turn him into a conspiracy theorist.
But. It. Lines. Up.
He swears he’s going insane. Is it really this easy for him to go from common sense to putting up a metaphorical cork board with red string? To convince him to start eating grave dirt of all things?
He should consider getting into a cult.
Wait, no. That’s a bad thing. Be reasonable here! He should think reasonable thoughts! Like how vampires aren't real! And it's all just made up from old folk tales and people mixing up different demon traits!
There! That's a reasonable thought! It should come naturally damn it, it's not supposed to take much effort to be reasonable. Let's just stop thinking about any of this and get moving, Mei is probably waiting for him already.
She had said something along the lines of ‘You need to get out more monkey man!’ last time they hung out, so now he’s going over to her house to play monkie mech. They could just go to the arcade but he still isn't really all too big on running around in public again yet.
It's fine, he's fine. He can see Mei on her bike through the window, looking at something on her phone. Wouldn't want to keep her waiting, he steps out and. There is a person in the alleyway. A person he recognises.
Oh no.
He already knew they knew where he worked, it isn't that big of a stretch to think they knew he lived in the same building. He isn't so sure about going out anymore, Mei would probably understand. But he was really looking forward to this! He needed to break Mei’s win streak once and for all and he can't do that if he just stays here, rotting away!
He could just run straight to Mei and tell her what's going on so the two can just speed away before anything happens? That could work. Hell, he bets he can even walk right up to the weirdo and shout at him before jumping on Mei’s bike.
That is.
definitely an idea.
He could have Mei record just in case something happens and he can use it as evidence for the police to use in the case of finding them. And after all is said and done the two speeds off into the city and towards Mei’s home.
There is no way this could go wrong!
Well there are multiple ways, but that doesn’t matter. What's the worst that can happen? Mei is keeping an eye on him, both Pigsy and Tang are right across the street and would hear him, he still has his keychain with him.
————————
“What is your problem?” They barely had time to react to MK being there before having a finger shoved right in their face. Well, not right in their face, a respectable distance away from their entire self. “Why are you stalking me?”
Wow, incredibly tact right there, he couldn't have come up with any better way to approach this. At least this doesnt leave room for any arguing against that being what they were doing. The weirdo sputters a bit before looking offended as if he has no idea what he was talking about.
“Well I'm here to get food obviously! Highly self-centered of you to think I'd do something so low like stalking some random peasant don't you think?” Is this guy for real? He's been caught red handed yet still denying it. Or maybe he means in the other way.
“Really? What kind of food, you vampire? Blood?” …He really said that, straight to their face, without hesitating. He feels like both of them are too choked to continue. The two just stand there for an awkward moment before they sigh and put their face in their hand.
“So that’s the word used for it nowadays. What gave it away?” huh? HUH?
“WAIT FOR REAL?!” Hold up! Rewind! He was right!?
“Yes for- you obviously knew since you confronted me so- so boldly.” It nearly sounds like they are struggling more with admitting that then he is.
“I didn't actually think I'd be right!” “You confronted me on a hunch?” “This is the sort of stuff you only hear about in conspiracies and from people who write about it because it's hot!” “What?” “Just mix matched demon traits!”
Is he asleep? This feels like some sort of fever dream. He actually is a bit light headed so maybe he is. A quick pinch in his arm proves that, no, this is really happening. The- well he guesses he can stop calling them just ‘the weirdo’ now.
The knock-off count Dracula is looking at him in what he can only recognise as a mix of complete bafflement and confusion. With his mouth slightly open he can even see two sharp fangs poking out further the rest of his teeth.
“I'm sorry, mortal humans find this” They gesture to their teeth. “hot?” Right, older demons usually don't keep up with humanity or the things they do and that probably applies to vampires as well.
“Ok, so do you know about the internet?” They hesitantly nod. “Next time you use it, look up ‘vampire fic spicy’.” Listen, a bit of trauma from the internet never hurt anyone, he deserves to ruin his stalkers sense of dignity.
“I.. will do that.” Great, perfect, hopefully it will help make them leave him alone if they think he’s weird. While they are probably contemplating a lot of things, he takes the opportunity to run out of the alleyway again and jump straight onto Mei’s motorbike. She immediately hands him a helmet and they speed off.
————————
Something is wrong with Redson. Sure, he doesn't know the guy that well so this could just be normal for him but there is something very wrong with him. It's a bit funny seeing this usually proud demon type to be hunched in on himself and have a haunted look in his eyes.
Either he just couldn't sleep last night, or saw something he really shouldn't have.
He didn't even argue with Pigsy over the spiciness of his noodles, and he knows for a fact that Pigsy barely made it anywhere near how spicy Redson claimed was ‘just enough’. Said pig demon can obviously also tell something is up with how quiet the shop is.
Someone needs to do something about this, to save the shop from this awkward vibe that's been here since Redson entered. And if that someone has to be MK then so be it, he can play therapist for one conversation.
“Stop staring at me.” Uh oh, not a great opening to this. Being caught staring is just making this more awkward. Redson is looking down at his nearly full bowl and pointedly not looking anywhere in MK’s direction.
“Well you're acting weird, the fire alarms would usually go off by now.” Maybe annoying him would work? That’s what he does toward Pigsy when he is being weird and that works fine. These two are basically the same in temperament anyway.
“That was One time.” If the small puff of smoke is anything to go by, yeah he was right. “Once or even twice does not make a pattern.” Agree to disagree, it only takes him missing his alarm once for that habit to break and to never remember again.
Something about the way he is talking is different. Is he mumbling more? Usually he sounds much more exaggerated and always makes sure to pronounce words clearly. Right now while he is speaking he is barely even opening his mouth.
“But you're still acting weird, and you're not denying it.” He can only hope that Redson is either willing to share, or will come back normally the next time he’s here. “I've never heard you mumble before, you're always loud and talking like you're performing.”
He looks at MK for a moment before sighing and looking away again. ”It is none of your business what I’m going through, noodle boy. Entertain yourself some other way.” Yeah that’s fair.
Noodle boy? He feels like someone else had called him that at some point. Huh.
Redson is slowly eating his food while MK gets back to work and this time the atmosphere isn’t as tense. Which, good, it means no matter how awkward that short conversation was, it did help a bit! Or maybe it’s just that he stopped thinking about whatever the hell is up with redson, it could be either.
Eh, it doesn’t matter either way.
It was calm, the sounds of a few others chatting through the lunch rush, Pigsy walking around in the kitchen, the faint ineligible gibberish from the tv up in the corner, it all in the way it should be.
There was another group entering, someone dropped and broke a bowl, There's a scandal going on between someone’s aunt and their partner, someone admits to cheating on a test, Pigsy kicked someone out for yelling at the other customers.
After a bit Redson is finished with his bowl and seems to be back to mostly normal, complaining about the lack of spice again. Seems whatever was wrong, some good food and a quiet time helped.
”I don’t get why you just can’t make it as spicy as when I fixed the stove? I shouldn’t have to do labour whenever I want to order decent food here!”
”If I get those peppers every time you show up nobody else will want to enter this place because of it! Those fumes are strong enough to kill a man!”
Yup, everything as it should be. With Redson teetering right on the edge of being kicked out and banned. Yelling exaggeratedly at Pigsy and baring his teeth like a dog.
Wait. Sharp teeth?
Looking at his mouth, now that he isn't mumbling and MK is actually looking, he can see it. Redson has two, sharp, fangs on each side. All the other teeth in his mouth are also sharper than they should be. Is that a demon thing?
He might not focus much on people's teeth, but he doesn't think he's ever seen someone, demon or otherwise, with sharp teeth. Well, except for his stalker but that's a whole other thing
…
Is it a whole other thing?
He hasn’t seen his stalker, not fully. They had pale skin, like Redson, and hair that might as well be glowing with how..bright it was.
And after he messed with his stalker, Redson was out of it when he showed up the day after.
The mop in his hand isn't made to be a weapon but it works just as well when being used as one. Using as much force as he can, he uses the mop like a staff and hits Redson right in the side of the stomach.
”It was YOU!”