We Were Made (To Never Fall Away)

by CuriousLittleMagpie (FlightlessBird627)

Summary:

Jack, admittedly, hasn't been a vampire for very long; just a little under ten years to be exact, but he's been spiralling down trying to come to terms with his monstrous nature and the fact that he is going to out live everyone he cares about. Including one Michael "Robby" Robinavitch. Meanwhile, Robby has been an immortal since Katrina and is trying desperately to keep himself afloat.

Notes:

This work is mostly credited to the great enablement of The Rabbot Hole Discord group, you guys have been so great and kind and I hope you enjoy what I have in store for you!

Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Jack was already having an awful week as he walks into the usual chaos of the PTMC. The overwhelming mix of scents burning his nose as heart beats and monitors go wild in some rooms while others are going steady in others. (He ignores the ones flat lining and going still as best he can.)

 

“You’re cutting it close.”

 

Dana calls out to him as he approaches the nurse's station. Her heart beat steady, calm despite the chaos that surrounds her. Her soft lilac and honey scent embracing him like a warm cloud when he stops in front of her, taking in her assessing gaze. He knows how he looks. Knows that he looks paler than he’s ever allowed himself to show up as. Knows that there are dark circles under his eyes and if he was to be touched, he’d feel as cold as a corpse.

 

“Therapy was brutal, and I think I took too long to eat the last of some tuna salad I had in the fridge.” He explains, even though it was only half true. Therapy was brutal. Jack going through another spiral of what it means for him to be immortal and subconsciously starving himself to distance himself from his monstrous nature.

 

Theo practically ripped him to shreds when he saw him earlier today, forcing down so many supplements as well as enough coconut water down his throat and into his system that he could feel it sloshing around his stomach even still, hours later.

 

Dana winces in sympathy. “You sure you’re good enough to be here?” She checks gently but firmly and Jack nods.

 

“Yeah, I’m good, but I promise to take breaks when I need to.” He reassures as Dana gives him one final glance over, then nods in acceptance.

 

“Where’s Robby?” Jack asks as he looks around, trying to spot the familiar tall figure.

 

“Taking a quick nap in the On Call Room. Shen’s mother fell, and so he called in a favour so that he could fly out to take care of her for a few days.” Dana informs and then leans in closer, lowering her voice so that no one can overhear them.

 

“Keep an eye on him for me tonight? We lost a kid earlier today and Jake still isn’t talking to Robby so he’s taking it hard.” Dana informs, and Jack grimaces and nods his head.

 

“You got it.”

 

And then there it was from behind him. The smell of cedar and blood orange with just a hint of vanilla. The scent that always makes Jacks mouth water and has him clenching his teeth to force his fangs back.

 

Robby was here.

 

“You two gossiping about me?” He calls out, voice sleep rough, as they both turn their attention towards him.

 

Jack takes a second to take him in. Noticing how rumpled he looked and how flushed his face was as he rubs a tired hand through his hair. His heartbeat steady and strong, an anchor point in the midst of the chaos. With harsh discipline, he forces down the rush of attraction as well as the want to sink his fangs into him and feed.

 

“You only wish it was you we were talking about.” Dana teases with a fond smile “You should go back, you still got another thirty on the timer.” she informs, but Robby waves her words away.

 

“I’m up. Tell me what I missed.” He says as he walks over to the desk next to Jack and looks over the board.

 

With that, they fall into a familiar rhythm of patients and treatments and charts, Dana grabbing her things and signing out when her replacement walks through the doors.

 

“Both of you behave tonight, alright?” She calls out to both of them when they see her out.

 

“Yeah yeah, get out of here Evans, we got it from here.” Jack says as he waves her off. After Dana has disappeared behind the doors, Jack then turns to look at Robby who was going over a patient's chart, his hand reaching for his glasses after a moment and Jack goes over during the momentary lull in activity.

 

“Are you good?” he asks, only for Robby to huff at him. “I feel like I should be asking you that.” he says and then without any warning, Jack feels the palm of Robby’s hand against his forehead, the contact practically burning and Robby lets out a concerned sounding hum.

 

“Seriously, how are you always so cold? Here.”

 

And before Jack knew what was happening, Robby was taking off his hoodie and threw it over him; his scent engulfing his senses completely, making him dizzy.

 

“Wear that for a while.” Robby orders as he takes up his patient's file again and goes back to reading.

 

Jack is frozen for a second before slowly putting his limbs through the right holes and subtly takes in a breath of Robby’s scent as the warmth from the fabric sinks into his skin. Once again, he has to clench his jaw to fight back the urge to let his fangs out, feeling the rush of it go through him.

 

“Not all of us are natural furnaces.” He throws out lamely, then gets started.

 

It’s hours of patients and charts and removing things from places where they shouldn’t be before there was another lull so that Jack could (regretfully) give back Robby’s hoodie.

 

“Thanks.” Robby says absently as he takes it back and puts it on. Jack watching the movement of it for a second before forcing his gaze away. “You want to grab some more sleep? I can handle the floor for a bit while you’re out.” Jack offers as they move together across the floor to check up on the progress of their more sensitive patients.

 

Robby let’s out a soft huff, but then a loud bang interrupts what Robby was going to say and in the next second, Jack was being shoved up against a wall hard enough that, were he still human, he would have been seeing stars. Robby was pressed up against him protectively as what looks like a med student carelessly slammed through the doors with an empty gurney without checking.

 

“Watch it!” Robby snaps, annoyed. His scent flooding his senses with his neck stretched out in front of Jacks mouth and for a violent moment, Jack felt his fangs slip out; ready to sink in and feed.

 

“Jack? You okay?”

 

And suddenly concerned brown eyes are looking into his, and Jack clenches his jaw so hard it aches as he nods his head.

 

“Yeah… I’m good.” he says, but then Robby has him tilting his head down towards him as he checks the back of his skull, and he has to hold his breath for him to not absolutely lose it.

 

“Are you sure? I shoved you pretty hard.” Robby asks as he checks carefully.

 

Jack carefully extracts himself from Robby’s space and throws him a cocky smirk. “Going to take more than that to knock me out, Robinavitch.” he says as he makes as smooth of an exit as possible towards the bathroom.

 

Once alone, Jack goes to the sink and starts splashing water onto his face. Taking slow breaths to try and calm down his frenzied thoughts.

 

He suddenly can’t stop picturing it. Robby pressed up against him in a tangle of limbs and heat, and in other flashes he sees himself pinning Robby against a wall as he sinks his fangs into him and consumes.

 

Giving himself one last splash and a stern glare in the mirror, he exits the bathroom to continue on with what suddenly feels like is going to be an impossibly long few hours.

Chapter 2

Notes:

I honestly didn't expect how good of a response this story has! Here's chapter two!

If you had asked Robby what his morning was like before Dana dragged him off to take a nap in the On Call Room (which was more like a closet, let’s be honest here.) He wouldn’t be able to give you a complete answer.

Mostly, it was a shit show. But to be honest, when is it not?

The day was a blur of patients and treatments and blood, made worse when a multi car pile up came through and one of the girls looked so much like Leah that Robby’s heart stopped for a moment.

They end up losing her in the end, and it aches in an echoing sort of grief that it long familiar.

When Robby sits up from the cot, body aching and joints stiff, knowing that he still had time left since Dana hadn’t woken him like she said she would, Robby almost gives into the temptation of laying back down and catching a few more minutes, but then the memory of the ringing flat line and the flashes between Leah and the girl he lost makes him shake himself into being more alert and gets up.

When he’s shuffling himself back onto the floor, mind only half awake, he spots Jack and Dana at the nurse's station, and he feels some of the tension and weight drain away as he sees him.

He doesn’t look too closely at why things feel better when Jack is around.

“You two gossiping about me?” He calls out to them as he runs a hand through his hair, trying to wake up more.

“You only wish it was you we were talking about.” Dana teases with a smile, but that only really confirms it for him and Robby rolls his eyes slightly at them both. “You should go back, you still got another thirty on the timer.” Dana presses gently, but he waves her concern away.

“I’m up. Tell me what I missed.” He instructs as he makes his way next to Jack, noting his pale complexion and his overall ill looking state, and makes a note to himself to check on him when he has a free moment.

When everything falls into the familiar rhythm of patient updates and treatment plans and charts. It’s only when Dana leaves and Jack makes his way next to him as he’s going over a patient's file that he actually has the opportunity to check him.

Before Robby can open his mouth, though, Jack voice rings out in soft concern. “Are you good?” he asks when he settles next to him, and Robby can’t help but huff. “I feel like I should be asking you that.” And before Jack can stage a protest, he lifts his hand up to press against his forehead, checking for a temperature but only feeling the usual coolness of Jacks skin against his palm.

“Seriously, how are you always so cold? Here.” Moving before Jack can even think about pulling away, he takes off his hoodie and tosses it over him. “Wear that for a while.” he presses as he goes back to reading; watching from the corner of his eye how Jack slowly puts on the hoodie properly.

“Not all of us are natural furnaces.” Jack tosses as he joins back into the fray.

It’s odd working a nigh shift after so long of working days, but Robby finds his rhythm. It’s hours of patient after patient, chart after chart, until another lull in activity happens and Jack once again comes up to him, giving back his hoodie. He wants to tell him to keep it on longer, liking how it looks on him, but he takes it back with a soft “Thanks.”

“You want to grab some more sleep? I can handle the floor for a bit while you’re out.” Jack offers as we make our way towards checking in on our more delicate cases. Robby can’t say he isn’t tempted, but he also feels like he should be offering Jack that; who still looks pale and exhausted looking with those dark circles under his eyes. Before he can echo the offer back to him, though, movement catches in the corner of his eye and a loud bang sounds out as Robby shoves Jack up against a wall hard.

“Watch it!” He snaps at the med student, not one of his thankfully because they know better, and then turns to look at Jack who looks a little dazed.

“Jack? Are you okay?” Robby asks with concern as he makes eye contact with him to check his pupils.

“Yeah... I’m good.” he says a little thickly, and Robby brings his hand up to tilt Jacks head forward so that he can more easily check over his skull.

“Are you sure? I shoved you pretty hard.” He presses as he feels for any sort of bump or broken skin. Jack carefully moves away from him, throwing him a cocky sort of smirk as he continues to step away.

“Going to take more than that to knock me out, Robinavitch.” Jack crows as he slips away.

Robby lets out a sigh but nods his head to himself. If Jack says he’s okay, then he’s okay. If Robby does some check ins with him throughout the night, though, that can be his business. It’s not like Jack hasn’t been doing the same with him.

He pushes down the warm feeling that tries to take root in his chest and goes back into the chaos.

More patients and charts and guiding med students through diagnosis’s and treatment plans; it’s a long stretch before Robby finds himself being dragged by Jack into the break room.

“Alright, sit down before you fall down.” Jack says firmly as he gently guides him into taking a seat on the surprisingly comfortable couch that has been here since even before Robby’s time at the Pitt.

“I’m fine.” The protest falls out of his mouth automatically, but Jack keeps him down on the couch with a firm hand on his shoulder. “Brother, you’re going on fifteen hours on your feet and barely any rest in-between. Take a break.” He says with a gentle sort of bite, and Robby couldn’t fight it. Didn’t want to fight it.

“Still look better than you.” Robby says, as he takes in Jacks paler that hasn’t improved but does note that what ever is wrong, doesn’t seem to be holding Jack from treating his patients with his usual effectiveness.

But still, Robby takes in Jacks pale skin and dark circles with concern.

“Not by much, brother.” Jack says with a shake of his head as he pulls out two small things of coconut water and places one in front of him. “Drink that.” Jack orders and Robby can't throw him a look but doesn’t argue when he takes it in his hands and downs half of it in a few swallows, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand when he takes a breath.

“So, you want to tell me why you look like Casper’s ghost?” He asks as he looks up at Jack, who is watching him, fingers playing with his container of coconut water absently.

Jack lets out a heavy sounding sigh. “Just a rough day in therapy, mostly.” He says softly, dropping his gaze as he takes his own sip of coconut water. Robby lets the silence stretch for a moment, it isn’t often that Jack goes into details of his time in therapy, but he does know that Jack knows he can if he wants to. When nothing else is shared, Robby isn’t offended and focuses else ware.

“Mostly?” Robby asks.

Jack winces, “I also might have taken a bit too long in eating some leftover tuna salad I had in the fridge.” he divulges a little reluctantly and Robby grimaces in sympathy; “It’s mostly cleared from my system, but yeah...rough day.” Jack says quietly.

Robby nods his head, feeling a bit better knowing now what’s going on. “How about you stop by my place after? I got stroganoff simmering in the slow cooker and plenty of pedialyte still in the fridge.” He offers.

He watches as a small smile tugs at the corners of Jacks lips, “Catch up on that medical documentary we’ve been meaning to watch?” he adds, and Robby smiles as he nods his head. “Sounds like a plan.”

Chapter 3

Notes:

Some of you might have noticed that I changed the summary to have Robby be an immortal since Katrina instead of WW2, I felt that I wasn't going to portray Robby's time during that period well and decided to make it a little easier on myself.

(This does add to the funny aspect that both Robby and Jack are baby immortals, and it's going to make future chapters very amusing.)

Of course, you make plans and the universe laughs. It’s a half hour before clock out when a rush of patients from a multi-car pile up rushes through; Jack sharing a look with Robby as they both gear up and dive in.

It’s a rush. Jack can at least admit to him self that he feels more steady in the midst of the chaos of adrenaline, blood, and life and death decisions. Robby, despite no doubt being exhausted, is on fire next to him. Calling out instructions and giving out guidance, even as he’s focusing on a completely different patient. Jack flashes him a wild grin that may or may not have had a flash of fang.

But even Jack can admit that the blood is getting to him. The hunger. He’s clenching his teeth as often as he’s giving his own instructions and call-outs.

“Jack! Could use another set of hands here!” Robby calls and Jack jumps to action.

Jack sees what Robby is dealing with (a rip in the guys' abdomen, guts showing but luckily nothing spilling despite the writhing and constant movement of pain the man no doubt feels as Robby and a few other people try to hold him still. And a lot of blood.) and gets to work, he and Robby bouncing off one another and at times sharing the same thoughts in such a way that it feels like they are just extensions of one another.

But Jack can feel it. Can feel the hunger grow. The thirst that’s never quite satisfied with the alternatives that Jack strictly regimes himself to.

It’s hours of work before it calms down enough that Jack finds a moment to slip away. Up the elevator and then up the stairs to the roofs access until finally, fresh air hits Jacks face, and he feels like he can take a breath.

It’s mid-morning now. The city much more awake and everyone going about their usual routines as Jack takes as deep of breaths as he can to clear his airways of the scent of blood and replace the images of how much was spilled in front of him. (Tried to ignore how the monster in him found it to be a waste.)

Jack focuses on trying to list everyone’s scents instead to distract himself. Despite having an advanced sense of smell, picking up individual scents of people is rather difficult if you are not around them a lot.

Dana smells like lilac and honey, sweet and soft in a way that is comforting in its warmth. Shen, with how often you can find him with some sort of Dunkin tumbler in hand, always smells like overly sweet coffee, and Jack wouldn’t be surprised if Shen simply drank so much of the stuff that it completely took over what his original scent might have been. Welsh smells of English moss and petrichor underlined with something spicy, clove maybe? Jack isn’t sure. Lena smells of candy apples, and that never fails to bring a smile to Jacks lips whenever he thinks about it. And of course there’s the best scent, and as if just thinking about him had somehow summoned him.

“Jack?”

He should have known that Robby would notice and know where to find him not even ten minutes later.

He’s at least not on the other side of the barrier, not even close to the railing even, so he doesn’t have to feel guilty about worrying Robby that way.

Robby comes up beside him, bumping his shoulder against his gently that Jack can’t help but bump back then lean against, Robby’s mouthwatering scent engulfing him distractingly.

“You missed handover.” Robby says softly, not wanting to disturb whatever quiet he thinks Jack might need.

“Sorry, thanks for covering it.” Jack doesn’t even need to confirm with him if he’s covered it, Robby has always had his back.

“Want to grab a bite?” Robby asks instead of the ‘Are you okay?’ that is so plainly shown in his expression.

And Jack does, but not in the way that Robby means. (He pushes away the image of him sinking his fangs into Robby’s neck.)

“Rain check, brother, I think I’m going to grab some sleep. So should you.” Jack says easily and Robby nods.

“Come on then, Dana wants to check in on you, and she’ll tell on you to Lena if you duck on her.” Robby cajoles with a slight smile as he moves to guide them both back downstairs.

Jack smirks but nods his head in assent, no need to make undo trouble for himself when all that’s required is letting his friend fret over him a bit.

Jack can’t honestly say what happened after entering the stairwell. Maybe it was the sudden wind shift that blasted Robby’s sent right in Jacks face that did it, or maybe it was the enclosed space that made the sound of Robby’s heartbeat easier to pick up, maybe it’s the fact that Jack can feel the heat of him in such proximity, maybe it’s because it’s Robby and Jack has been so hungry for way to long despite Theo’s best efforts.

“Jack? What-”

Robby doesn’t get a chance to finish his sentence as Jack slams him up against the wall, almost in parallel to how Robby pushed him up against a wall earlier, but as where Robby did it to protect, Jacks intentions are far darker.

Robby lets out all of his breath when his back roughly meets the wall and Jack is right there pressing against him. One hand gripping his jaw and holding him there as he stretches out his neck, and Jack let his fangs out and bite down on that stretch of exposed skin and drinks; ignoring the sound that comes out of Robby’s mouth as he feeds.

The taste of him is better than any divine thing that could be offered.

“Jack...”

And like that, the spell is broken. And Jack realizes just what he’s done.

Shit. SHIT!

With nothing but panic going through him, Jack runs. He doesn’t even think to use the elevator, he runs the full flight of stairs down to the ground floor and into the nearest single bathroom and locks himself inside.

Jack leans against the sink. Head spinning as he tries to breathe through the overwhelming rush that having Robby’s blood has given him.

Fuck. Fuck.

He bit Robby. He fed from Robby.

And he’s never felt more powerful from it.

Jack looks up into the mirror, the flush to his skin more pink than it’s been in years. Eye’s bright and wild, the dark circles practically gone; the green just a ring around wide pupils. He feels the heavy weight of his cock between his legs, hot and angry, as a growl slips past his lips at the insistent pulse of lust that rips through him.

“Fuck.” Jack says with feeling. As the memory of him pinning Robby against the wall of the stairwell flashes through his mind.

The feel of Robby’s jaw in his hand as he lifted his chin to stretch out his neck for easier access.

The broken, confused sound Robby let out as Jack sank his fangs into the junction between his neck and shoulder and drank.

He runs a hand through his hair, noting how it feels healthier, thicker and curlier than it’s been since he’s changed.

Jack grips the sink tightly, gaze stuck on his reflection.

He looks....alive. More alive than even before he turned. Hell, even longer than that, when after he lost his leg and his wife died.

Jack stares. Caught between wanting to break the mirror and lean in closer to it.

Instead, he turns on the tap and splashes himself with cold water; breathing hard as he tries to calm down. Adjusts himself so that his hard on is less noticeable when he leaves.

A knock at the door makes a spike of panic run through him.

“Jack? Are you okay? One of the interns said they saw you run in here.” Dana’s voice calls through the door.

Fuck. How is he supposed to face Dana? Not after what he’s done. Especially since it was Robby that he did it to. Robby and Dana were already as thick as thieves by the time Jack arrived. They knew each other inside and out, and had faced storms together that Jack has only vaguely heard about years after the aftermath.

How the fuck was he supposed to face her?

“Jack?” Dana calls again after knocking.

“Just a minute.” He calls out in response, he knows that if he delays too long that Dana would find a way to unlock the door. Taking one last look at himself, he orders himself to ‘Get A Fucking Grip Abbot!’ And opens the door.

“Hey, you're looking way better.” Dana says with a relieved smile as she finally lays eyes on him.

Jack forces an answering smile. “Yeah, I am, sorry for worrying you.” He answers, but Dana waves him off.

“You just missed Robby, If you hurry, though, you might catch him in the park.” She informs as he walks her back to her station and gathers his things.

“He didn’t say anything?” Jack asks without thinking, surprised.

Dana looks at him confused. “No? Was there something that happened?” she asked, but Jack quickly reassured her.

“No, nothing like that.” He lies, hating himself for it. “Just surprised he left without a word.” He says honestly.

“He did seem pretty distracted.” Dana relays.

Yeah, Jack bets that Robby was distracted.

“You’ll check in on him later?” Dana asks, and Jack forces another smile and chokes out another lie.

“You bet.”

Chapter 4

Notes:

WARNING! KNIFE CUTTING SCENE! BLOOD!

Jack takes the long way home. Skipping the train and walking the streets towards his place (avoiding the street that would lead him to Robby’s place like the plague.) All the while noticing how different he feels.

The sun doesn’t hurt.

Despite the common mythos that vampires can not go out in the sunlight, there is some merit to why that is such a long standing belief. Vampires do suffer a sun sensitivity, mostly because it makes everything so much brighter and the heat makes it feel like a sunburn getting exposed to even more sun. But vampires can and do frequent the day time, they just become more active at night.

He also has more energy.

Vampires don’t get tired in the traditional sense like people do. Jack knows that he could run at a medium clip for days if he had to and not feel tired from doing so. However if one doesn’t feed frequently enough, they can get mentally tired; a state of being that Jack has been in far to frequently and Theo constantly gives him hell for.

Theo. Shit. Jack makes a note in his phone to book an extra appointment with him. Theo’s going to be so fucking pissed at him. It’s not like their isn’t people in the know; it’s just hard to find out who is because vampires and other creatures and beings are suppose to stay in the land of myth and fantasy. Not real. It’s too fucking dangerous to be anything other than human.

It’s technically even a big risk to even change anyone into a vampire these days. Jack knows how rare he is being a young vampire. Barely ten years old.

Jack shakes his head, pulling away from the memories of being turned. Gods what a clusterfuck that was.

He turns the corner of the street with his favourite cafe, waving at the barista behind the counter from the front window before crossing the street towards his apartment building, unlocking the entrance door and taking the stairs up.

When he opens his door, the scent of cedar, blood orange and vanilla hits his senses and he freezes.

Robby is in his apartment.

“Jack?”

Fuck.

How the fuck did Jack forget that Robby has a set of his keys? Hell, he has a set of Robby’s as well that he can feel digging into his palm. Exchanged in their second year of friendship after a pipe burst and flooded Jacks bathroom while Jack had to be away for a conference that he was presenting at for a week and then he got Robby’s when he had to fly out to New Orleans to attend a wedding and Jack offered to house sit for him. And they just...never given them back. Said it was good for emergencies. Agreed without any kind of conversation needed after the first time that they would take care of each others places whenever one was away. (As rare as that was.)

“Please don’t run Jack. It’s okay.” Robby calls out but doesn’t approach, still waiting for Jack from what sounds like the living room and Jack is grateful that Robby is letting him choose on whether or not to step in.

Slowly, Jack closes the door behind him, taking a breath, he steps further into his place and see’s Robby sitting on his couch.

He has showered and changed since Jack last saw him. Wearing jeans and a forest green button up that Jack has always thought looked good on him.

“Hey.” Robby says softly, hands loose on his lap.

“Hey.” Jack says, swallowing thickly.

“You okay?” Robby asks, and fuck, isn’t that just like him? Jack is the one that attacked him and he’s asking if he’s okay. It both frustrates and endears Jack, but it also makes him feel guilty.

“I’m pretty sure that’s suppose to be my line.” Jack says as he drops his gaze and runs a hand through his hair. Walking towards the kitchen he opens the fridge, “You want a beer?” He calls out.

“Sure.” Robby says getting up to stand by the kitchen island, leaning against it.

Jack busies himself with grabbing and opening two bottles, handing one off to Robby and then downing half of his in a few swallows.

“We need to talk.” Robby says softly after a few minutes of heavy silence and long sips of beer. Jack lets out a more sardonic sounding chuckle than what he was going for, but he looks at Robby and holds his gaze, almost like a challenge.

“You want to talk?” Jack says almost meanly but then winces in shame as Robby doesn’t say anything in response to that and just takes another sip of his beer.

Jack doesn’t know how to deal with this. Doesn’t know how Robby is so calm and isn’t calling him every name in the book or running away from him in horror. Doesn’t understand how he can still even look at Jack and hold his gaze when Jack can barely do that to his own reflection most days.

“Breath Jack.” Robby says gently.

Jack takes a breath. (Unnecessary, but it does help.)

“You were not the only one keeping a secret Jack.” Robby confesses gently.

Jack freezes; then his mind starts up again at a million miles an hour because there is no way that Robby was hiding­-

“No, I’m not a vampire, but I am something other.” Robby clarifies and Jack is confused again.

When Jack got turned, his “sire” explained that the world is full of beings and creatures that have been for a long time believed to be mythical or pretend. Not a huge part of the population, but enough. Jack spent a solid three days after being turned bothering his “sire” about what all was out there but all they explained was that, to help keep everyone who was other safe, that unless you were told what another being or creature was, you simply did not ask.

But there’s at least is a way to tell when someone is something other. A presence that all creatures and beings have that is undeniably other. His “sire” also explained that one can also always recognize their own kind.

But Robby doesn’t give that off. Nothing about Robby gives off that feeling of being other.

“You don’t have to bullshit me to make me feel better about this Robby.” Jack says almost angry.

“I’m not, look, I know I don’t give off the feeling, I don’t have the presence that being other gives you. But I am different. I am a part of it.” Robby explains patiently.

Jack stares at him with a hard look. He can admit to himself at least that a part of him is insulted that Robby didn’t tell him about being other, even though Jack himself hasn’t told Robby in all their five years of friendship; but Jack prided himself in knowing Robby. Robby who never hid much of anything about himself when he felt that he could trust someone (except this apparently.) And Jack made it a mission practically to show Robby that he was trust worthy since the day they met.

“Prove it. Show me.” Jack demands and Robby winces. Not guiltily, but in a way that is very reluctant.

“There is no clean way in proving it.” Robby says with a heavy sigh.

“I don’t care. Either you prove it or get out.” Jack says firmly, unyielding.

Robby grimaces, then lets out a sigh as he then opens a drawer and pulls out one of Jack stake knives.

“Wait, what are you-” Jack starts but doesn’t get to finish as he watches in gut wrenching panic as Robby brings the knife to his wrists pulse point and slices down in a deep vertical line. Blood spilling fast.

“ROBBY!” Jack shouts moving fast as he grabs at Robby’s wrist. Mind already running through what he has to do to stop the bleeding as he fights off the panic because what the fuck Robby!

“No, Jack, look.” Robby says calmly, even through tight lips as pain sketches itself across his face.

And Jack does. Because Robby is no longer bleeding. The cut no longer there, even with the evidence that it should be. There isn’t even a scar.

“What the fuck.” Jack exclaims with much feeling.

“I can’t heal from all wounds...only from what can and should kill me.” Robby says softly as he lets Jack process.

Jack stares up at him with wide eyes, Robby meeting his gaze but then looking away as he lets out a heavy sounding breath.

“Told you there wasn’t a clean way to prove it.” Robby says softly as he washes the blood down the sink. (Jack has to swallow and clench his teeth at the site.)

Jack feels sick. Because as he’s looking at Robby even closer, after seeing what he just saw. Jack’s stomach plummets to the ground when he notices.

Robby doesn’t have a bite mark where Jack had bit him. Which only means...

“I would have killed you.” Jack says numbly.

Robby is quick to reassure.

“Hey, no, it’s okay...” Robby starts but Jack cuts him off.

“That bite I gave you at the stairwell should have killed you! How is this okay?!” Jack snaps and Robby lifts his hands up in a calming gesture.

“Because you didn’t mean to hurt me Jack. I know that. I’m one of the last people in the world that you would have wanted to hurt.” Robby says that like that’s all that matters. Like it doesn’t bother him that, if it wasn’t for the fact that Robby can heal from anything that should kill him, Jack would have ended his life in that split moment of loss of control.

Jack has the sudden urge to cry. To run away from his own home and hide away from everything. To find the closest vampire and beg them to put him down, because how could he have done that to Robby?

“Jack...when was the last time you actually properly fed yourself? Not the supplements, not the coconut water, but properly fed yourself?” Robby asks carefully but firmly. A clear indication that he isn’t going to let Jack avoid the question.

Jacks silence speaks volumes and Robby curses.

Jack blinks when he watches Robby starts to undo the top two buttons of his shirt. “Whoa! What are you doing?” He asked as he watches as Robby takes of his button down revealing a soft dove grey t-shirt underneath.

“You haven’t been feeding yourself properly.” Robby says pointedly.

Jack freezes.

“Robby...”

“You need to feed.” Robby says simply, like what he was offering wasn’t a big deal. Like it wouldn’t change anything about them.

“Robby, I can’t ask you to do this.” Jack says, feeling weirdly light and heavy at the same time.

“You’re not. I’m offering.” Robby says.

They stand in silence looking at each other, Jack clenching his teeth and fighting the monster inside himself as Robby keeps his gaze steady, then something in Robby softens.

“Jack...Come on, let me help.” Robby coaxes gently when he catches the slight shake of Jacks head.

“You don’t know what you’re asking, what you’re offering.” Jack says breathlessly as the sudden sound of Robby’s pulse echoes in his ears.

“I know exactly what I’m asking for. I’m asking my friend to let me help them.” Robby continues softly.

Jack gets the sudden urge to cry again.

“I know what I’m asking for Jack, I know exactly what I’m offering. It’s okay, you wont hurt me.”

Jack remains still, shaking his head lightly, fighting within himself against the monster that is constantly wanting to sink it’s fangs into the world and feed.

Robby slowly closes the gap between them, his body heat and scent engulfing the little space left between them and it both sooth’s and entices in the worst and best way.

Slowly, Robby tilts his head slightly back and to the side.

“Drink Jack. It’s okay.”

And Jack gives in.

Notes:

Kudos and comments are adored.