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The agreement between them was simple.
Ever since the stormy day up the mountain, full of dark oak trees that, together with the heavy clouds, nicely covered the bright green grass in pleasant shade, the deal between Legundo and Owen stood firm as if etched into stone.
Once a week they would meet near the same spot, making excuses to their respective groups just so they could be alone for this unconventional alliance.
Owen would get to drain Legundo of a hefty portion of his blood, and in exchange, Legs would get to ask three questions about vampirism that the other could not dismiss.
It was simple, it was effective, and most importantly, it was more than beneficial to both sides. Ever since the first time Owen got a sip of the other man’s blood, his mind kept drifting back to that sweet metallic taste. He didn’t know what it was that made the doc’s blood so incredible. It could be genetic, it could be diet, or, like some old vampiric tales say, it could just be the taste of consent.
As strange an excuse as that would be, it wasn’t impossible. After all, Owen got to taste many different kinds of blood — from men, women, children, and so on — and yet none of them were as addictive as that of the doctor.
Owen wasn’t the only one whose mind was occupied by their agreement and meetups. To be quite honest, Legundo only brought up the idea in pathetic hopes of getting more info without going to the lengths of getting turned in the name of research. It had been months since the fog kept humans and creatures of the night alike trapped in the ruins of this cursed town, and even if the possibility of a cure was real — and more than likely it was — it was still one giant question mark. And Legundo was not crazy enough to risk living forever — when he more than so didn’t deserve it — just in the mere hope that he could find the cure easier than while staying human.
And just like that, said stupid idea led to more than two notebooks full of various facts, data, theories, and possible answers about the curse of vampirism — or gift, as Owen kept demanding to call it. Maybe it was a lot of effort to gain this information; maybe Legs was putting his own health at risk, letting himself be drained of so much blood every week. But nothing was more important than helping the poor lumberjack in the long run, even if it meant tricking him and using his own knowledge against him.
And today was no different from all past weeks. Right after sunrise, Legundo packed his bag and left the walls of Oakhurst undetected. The walk from the town to his and the vampire’s meeting spot was long, so the sooner he began, the better.
Just as it was starting to get bright enough for all the undead to burn in the sunlight, the doctor slipped past the gates and disappeared into the tree line. How he hadn’t been caught by either a human or a wandering vampire, he did not know, but the longer his and Owen’s arrangement stayed secret, the better.
The steps of his boots against the forest mud made an unmistakable sound. The morning quiet of the pine forest was distorted not only by his own shoes but also by the barely noticeable singing of birds.
Legundo would lie if he said that those walks weren’t pleasant. For most, the thought that they were on their way to get sucked dry of the red that fueled their bodies by a vicious, murderous vampire would pump their brains full of stress and panic, but Legs wasn’t like many.
His hunger for knowledge — for a way to atone for his sins, for a way to fix what’s broken, even the hard way — was more than enough to make every step full of confidence.
After a while, he finally made it to his destination: a simple cave not too far from where Owen bit him for the first time. It was as comfortable as a stone-cold cave could be, but the single log from a tree Owen cut down, and the lingering stains on the cave floor from the campfire made previously — when just a bit too much was taken, leaving Legundo on the verge of passing out — made the space feel familiar and, in a weird way, pleasant.
The doctor could only run his fingers against the bark of the fallen tree as his mind wandered, wondering what information he could gather today.
As Legs took a seat and pulled out his not-yet-full notebook — if only in hopes of working on the cure a tad bit more before his brain was turned into a fried sponge — his ears rang with that unpleasant feeling of being watched. No matter how many times they met here, Owen just couldn’t seem to let go of the possibility of scaring the doctor with his invisibility.
“Good morning, Owen.” was all he said, his eyes staying glued to the pages before him. The steady sound of a pen clicking somehow helped soothe him. It wasn’t long before the seemingly empty cave revealed the grumpy-looking vampire, as if he had materialized on the spot. His lips were pressed into his iconic — at this point — angry grimace, his sharp fangs just barely peeking out past them.
“I can’t believe just how good you got at spotting me ever since we started those meetups…” he said, arms crossed over his chest as he took a few steps forward. The soles of his shoes made no sound — nothing surprising, really — that, combined with the lack of a heartbeat and breath. If not for his eyes, the doctor wouldn’t be able to tell when the other man changed his standing place, all other senses nothing but dead against the creature of the night.
“At the very least, you’re the only one that got so good… can’t imagine just how bad it would’ve gotten if all of you were this vigilant,” the vampire continued as he plopped down at the opposite end of their sitting log, lazily running the sharp claws of one hand through the long strands of his hair while the other bit into the surface of the wood.
Every time they met, Legs just couldn’t help but let his gaze linger on Owen for as long as the latter allowed without calling it out. And really, could you blame him? As dangerous, vicious, and brutal a beast as Owen might be, his looks gave off a completely different tune. That white, curly hair — either draped around his shoulders or covering his back when tied with a ribbon — looked unbelievably stunning and soft. His overly red garments fit his bloodthirsty nature perfectly, their color able to hide even the worst bloodstains while still looking elegant. His burgundy eyes, darker complexion that didn’t fit the stereotype of a vampire’s pale skin, and claws sharper and more hooked than others of his kind.
Really, call Legundo a simp if you wish, but with every single meetup he couldn’t help but find yet another reason to appreciate the broody vampire, becoming more and more determined to help him with this curse of never-ending hunger.
“Well, I apologize for getting used to your quirks.” A light giggle accompanied those words as his gaze broke from Owen and returned to his notebook. “No matter how hard one might try, you can’t really escape the fear of an invisible vampire… even when said vampire is just a scary-looking wet cat.” The last part was nothing more than a whisper, and yet Legundo knew that Owen could hear it just as clearly as if it had been said out loud. The loud gasp from the other was all the proof he needed.
“I’m NOT a wet cat! What’s with you all comparing me to a wet feline?!” His booming voice echoed through the cave as his face turned into what could best be described as an adorable pout. Legs wondered in that moment: was it the lack of reflection that made the vampire so unaware of his resemblance to a cat, or maybe just pure denial?
“Alright, alright, calm down. Don’t rip my throat out, oh scary vampire. Neither of us wants that.” Saying that, the doctor raised his hands in the air in a sign of surrender.
Owen laughed out loud at that. “Well, thanks for the idea, doc. We both know that you’d be into that freaky shit.” With that, he scooted closer and leaned into the doctor’s neck. “Don’t think I didn’t notice the way you sigh every time I take your blood.”
A hot puff of air hit Legundo’s neck, which was more than unnecessary but no less worthy of a blush.
“I sigh because it hurts,” Legs tried to keep his voice steady, but judging by the gentle snort, it was more than likely that his attempt had failed.
“Keep telling yourself that.” Owen’s sharp fangs grazed over the two small scars on Legundo’s neck — the same ones that were reopened week after week, only to be healed not even two days later. Turns out vampiric venom was also a very good wound healer.
“As much as I would love to tear out your throat, you’re still useful to me.” In that moment, Legundo could feel the slight pressure the vampire put over the scars, and no matter how much he wanted to get the hard part out of the way, there were still things that needed to be done.
“Owen, remember our arrangement. First questions, then blood.” All the doctor got in response was a loud groan as Owen leaned away from his neck.
“But I’m so hungryyyy! I haven’t eaten anything in a week! You have to understand the needs of a starving man! How am I supposed to answer your stupid questions when an entire feast of blood is sitting right beside me!”
This time, it was Legundo’s turn to laugh. Because really, seeing a two hundred year old vampire — capable of massacring almost three thousand people in one night — pout like a child whose parents refused him candy just because he had to wait for his meal was beyond cute.
“You managed before, you’ll manage now. And also, the same argument right back at you: how am I supposed to ask you those questions if I’m weak and hazy from the blood loss, hm?” The sound of moving papers filled the space as Legs flipped through his notebook in search of an empty page.
“Come on, Legs! Make an exception to the rule for a vampire in need! I’m more than sure that your human brain will be able to handle just a bit of missing blood!” Owen said, as if forgetting just how many times he’d had to help Legs get down the mountain when blood loss left him unable to do so on his own.
“Stop acting as if you really haven’t drunk anything in a week. I literally saw you two days ago with a halfway-empty bottle of crimson.”
Legundo’s pen tapped against the empty page as the petty argument — more annoying than anything else — kept progressing. Was it stupid? More than likely. After all, Owen could, in fact, just rip his throat out without so much as breaking a sweat. But Legundo knew by now that Owen wouldn’t ruin his opportunity for a stable food source, especially when he didn’t see animal blood as a proper meal.
“Okay, and well—it’s not the same! You’re more than aware of my opinion on animal blood! Can we just please switch it around this time?” Owen’s big red eyes looked at him in the most pleading way. How a being so scary could pull off such an adorable face would forever remain a mystery.
Legundo could only sigh as he considered his options. On one hand, he could refuse, stick to their arrangement, and put his foot down. But on the other, he didn’t want Owen to get too self-aware and realize that Legs didn’t, in fact, have any power over him — that he could just take what he wanted, and there would be nothing the doctor could do to stop him.
There was also the simple fact that Owen was a stubborn prick sometimes, and seeing as he’d set his mind on this change, he wouldn’t just let it go. Worst of all was that this stubbornness and pettiness could show in the way the vampire answered the asked questions.
In the end, the cons outweighed the pros. Legs wasn’t a weak man, and he surely could handle the blood loss better, especially if driven by the thirst for knowledge.
“Alright. But! If because of that I miss any info or my notes end up unclear, I get to re-ask those same questions next week along with the new ones.” His look was tired but serious, his pen pointing straight at the vampire by his side. What had his life come to, that he had to argue with a bloodsucker of all things?
Owen practically beamed at that, shaking his head in excited agreement. His clawed hands didn’t wait for any more words as he moved closer yet again and enveloped them around Legs’ torso. The position they were in was definitely a bit intimate — something two lovers would be caught in rather than two grown men trying to reach their own goals.
Legundo could only hope that no human or vampire decided to venture into these areas, the same thought running through his mind every time he let Owen feed from him.
Because really, if anybody found them right now, there would be no way they could escape Shelby’s fanfiction wrath — not like they were doing a good job of that anyway…
It wasn’t long before the familiar sting of sharp fangs sank into the left side of his neck and shoulder. It hurt like hell every time, but it was nothing compared to what Legs had gone through in the past. The sound of loud gulps lingered in the air as Owen got his fill, and the doctor tried to keep himself together against the strange feeling of having his blood taken.
He kept telling himself that it was for a reason — that he allowed it to happen in the name of research and science alone — that if only he could find a cure, it could forever change the way medicine was practiced, save so many like Owen without having to succumb to never-ending hunger.
And yet, his hands still landed on the back of Owen’s head, subconsciously pushing the vampire further into his skin as a trembling sigh escaped his mouth.
He could feel Owen’s smile against his neck, followed by licks along the wound and possibly further than that. It was a fairly common gesture in their weird agreement.
And yet, the familiarity never stopped the pleasant shiver from running down Legundo’s spine.
Every time the doctor tried to question Owen about that, all he got was an eye roll and an excuse about not wanting any blood to go to waste. But the blush that covered Owen’s cheeks — thanks to the fresh blood in his system — definitely didn’t help his lie.
Before they both knew it, it was all done. Owen sighed happily as he leaned away from the doctor’s grasp, his mouth covered in a slight reddish tint, cheeks red and vibrant as Legundo’s blood spread through his dead veins. He ran the back of his palm across his mouth and then licked it, trying to catch any scraps of the precious liquid on his tongue.
Legs, on the other hand, could only lean his forehead against his trembling palm as he covered the bite wound with the other. His eyes had a hard time focusing. He could feel himself shaking, hear his own shallow breathing. His strong, quick heartbeat drummed in his chest and rang in his ears as his blood pressure rapidly spiked beneath his skin.
He didn’t even see or hear when the vampire by his side got up to look through his bag, only realizing it when the sharp feeling of claws spread through his hair, pulling his head back as cold glass pressed against his lips. Right– water.
“Drink, and try not to choke,” was all Owen said as his grip on the doctor’s short hair lessened and became gentler.
Legs didn’t protest and did as he was told. He knew that drinking plain water right after major blood loss wasn’t a good idea, but his hazy mind didn’t let him intervene.
After a moment, his breathing calmed down — if only a little. He still felt tired and lightheaded, his hands still shaking.
He would do anything for a nap now, but there was still research he needed to conduct — research that couldn’t wait, that had to be done no matter how bad he was feeling.
His attempts to pick up his notebook and pen quickly ended when Owen pulled them out of his trembling hands.
“Give yourself a moment. This research won’t run away, and neither will I. And you’re clearly not in the state to write anything. Just breathe.” With that, his head was moved once again, out of his own control, landing on something soft. It was unusual for the vampire to be this… caring, if you could even call it that.
At first, when their arrangement had just started, Owen answered the questions without going into depth, took what was promised to him, and left as soon as he could. But now, here he was — a hand playing with Legundo’s hair, rubbing slow circles into his scalp, telling him to take all the time he needed to recover.
Maybe it was an idiotic move to trust Owen to this extent, but the slow, repetitive movement, the sharp yet gentle claws over his skin, and the exhaustion from blood loss… it wouldn’t really hurt if Legundo let his eyelids shut for just a few minutes.
—
It took some time — and maybe a short nap — before he could even think about speaking. The sun by now was no longer rising and painting the sky in orange hues, but instead slowly drifting across the blue, cloudless sky. Legs was no longer as hazy as he had been at the beginning; getting to eat some of the snacks he’d brought along and a quick eye-shut really did help clear his mind.
Now with that out of the way, he and Owen were already two questions deep, the doctor’s pen scribbling against the pages as he listened to the vampire. It’s not like Owen’s knowledge about vampires was wide — he had admitted to spending over two hundred years buried in the ground — but even with limited knowledge, he was still better than anything Legundo could ask for.
At the very least, with Owen as his source of information, he didn’t have to worry about lies. Unlike if he were forced to work with a certain Goldsmith.
Owen didn’t have a reason to lie, and he wasn’t a good liar either, considering how quickly his cover of vampirism had fallen.
“Alright. For the last question, or– well, more of a request—” His voice was much less serious than usual. Sure, the wait might have helped, but the effects of blood loss were going to linger for at least a day or two.
“Request to do what exactly?” Owen cut off the doctor before he had a chance to explain, his eyes squinting in an untrustworthy way, as if preparing himself for the worst.
“It’s nothing big… at least I don’t think it is? I just wanted to ask if you could turn into your bat form for me? It’s not often you get to examine somebody turning into an animal of all things, and if you don’t mind, I–I would like to see if your outside anatomy is the same as that of a vampire bat or… or maybe other species from the Chiroptera family?” Legs tried his best to explain his reasoning without confusing the other. His speech was still often interrupted by simple sputtering or voice breaking, but the effort was there.
“A what family?” The vampire stared at the doctor in what could best be described as a book-example of confusion. Right, Legs forgot that the man sitting beside him was not only over two hundred years old but also without any higher education. That’s fine. Just fewer smart words.
“It’s a term to categorize… all the bat-like animals. It mostly describes mammals that have the ability to fly thanks to wings not made out of feathers? I don’t know how to explain it better… I’m in no condition to think smart right now.”
A quick, quiet hum followed. It sounded like agreement, but more in the tone of ‘I have no idea what you just said, but I will nod and agree so I don’t look stupid’ than anything else.
When Legs glanced to his side, Owen’s squinted eyes and furrowed brows only confirmed his guess. The vampire had no idea what he was talking about, and to be honest… Legs didn’t have the patience to deal with it right now — especially with how cute the other looked when confused.
“Proper terminology isn’t that important right now. I just—”
“I thought you were a human doctor, not a vet. What would you need my bat form for?” Owen smoothly interrupted Legundo’s words. The man in question could only sigh as he tried to fumble another response.
“My research isn’t only about a cure in itself… Yes, it’s the most motivating factor, but I do wish to understand as much about vampirism as I can. And to be honest… it’s not every day you manage to strike a deal with a vampire that doesn’t end with you dead or turned.” The last part was said with a small smirk tugging at Legs’ lips as he added, “And no, Owen, I still don’t want the gift.” He had to make sure to point that out, especially since the vampire beside him sought every opportunity to bring up the option of turning Legundo into one of their own.
“And I still don’t understand why. You just now read my mind! That’s—that’s already halfway there! I know for a fact that some vampires can read other people’s minds! Maybe the regular feeding is turning you into some mutant or—”
A hand clamped over Owen’s lips, shutting him up better than a stake probably would.
“Owen, with all due respect… shut up. I don’t want to think about how my bad life decisions will affect me in the long run… or get paranoid.”
His hand was grasped by the wrist and swiftly pulled away. Owen wasn’t exactly happy about Legs’ words or actions — the quiet growl that escaped his lips made that much clear — but with how stubborn both of them were, there wasn’t much he could do in this department.
“Alright. Deal is a deal. I’ll turn into a bat, but don’t you try to do anything weird! No ripping out fur, no… some weird dissecting on the table, none of that. Are we clear?”
What was more than clear was the fact that, unlike other aspects of vampirism, Owen was much more paranoid and concerned about his bat form. It could be due to how fragile bats are, or how defenseless he might feel when this small. Whatever the reason, it was a good point to note. Never too much data, after all.
“I wouldn’t even dream of doing anything like that.” A gentle smile spread across Legundo’s face as he looked at the vampire. He didn’t just say it to calm the other down — he actually meant every word.
“You better…”
Just like that, with no warning whatsoever, Owen’s figure disappeared in a puff of white smoke. Unlike other times when Legs had the unfortunate opportunity to see a vampire transform, there was no flock of bats flying out of the mist. Only after the smoke cleared did he notice a small brown ball of fur sitting right where Owen had been moments ago.
“There. Do what you must in the name of your silly research, doctor.”
The voice was much squeakier than Legundo expected, but the unmistakable accent, along with the small beady black eyes looking straight at him as the tiny snout moved with the words, proved that it wasn’t an illusion — it was Owen, in bat form, speaking to him.
Legs hadn’t exactly known that vampires could speak while transformed into bats…
“You can speak while in this form…?” He voiced the thought out loud as soon as the initial shock passed. Owen, on the other hand, tilted his head in confusion. If bats had brows, Legs was sure Owen would have one raised right now.
“Of course I can. All vampires can. How the hell do you think we would communicate with each other?” His ears — huge compared to his tiny body — flexed upward as he kept looking at Legundo with what had to be the most adorable display of confusion a small bat could manage.
“I don’t know… I thought it would be something like squeaks or chirps, maybe sounds human ears can’t pick up… but definitely not full sentences.” Legs admitted shyly, his hand moving to scratch the back of his neck in an awkward gesture.
Owen hummed again — his high-pitched voice made it sound a bit funnier than last time — as he watched Legs closely, most likely to make sure the doctor wouldn’t try anything funny.
After a moment, Legs decided it was better to get on with it. With his notebook spread open on his lap, he extended his open palm in front of Owen. No words passed between them. Owen walked closer, quietly sniffed Legs’ hand as his instincts seemingly took over, and only after checking for safety did he step onto the offered perch.
Just like that, he found himself much closer to Legundo’s broad frame.
The doctor was already taller and broader than Owen’s human form, but to see him this close now, with the world around so large… it was definitely something the vampire hadn’t expected to experience today.
“Huh, you’re actually quite big for a vampire bat… they’re normally much tinier than what you are.” Legundo gently took hold of one of Owen’s claws and extended it to examine the patagium that made up the bat’s wings. “It probably has something to do with you being a vampire… no, no, maybe with the fact that you were turned more than two hundred years ago. Evolution definitely had to affect this side of vampirism…”
It was nothing more than a mumble under Legundo’s breath, but Owen’s sharp ears still managed to pick it up.
“How do you know so much about bats? I know you said research is why you wanted to see my bat form at all, but how do you know what size an average vampire bat is?” Owen squeaked as Legs ran a finger through the fur on his back, making it hard to speak while he struggled to suppress a purr.
“There’s only so much you can learn about humans in twenty years without getting distracted by other subjects…” Legs replied nonchalantly as he adjusted his monocle, sounding more lost in his own thoughts than anything else.
Just from that alone, Owen started to regret agreeing to any of this.
—
At least an hour had passed since the moment he’d turned, and to be quite honest, Owen didn’t really mind it as much as he thought he would.
Nothing outright bad had happened to him. The doctor was quite gentle, even with his still somewhat shaking hands. The constant manhandling was a bit annoying, and the need to answer questions over and over again put a strain on his throat thanks to the squeaky voice of his bat form.
But even with all that, Owen was having a good time.
“So that means you can control at will whether or not the illusion bats show once you transform?”
At first, when the doctor asked Owen to turn into a bat in the name of research, he couldn’t lie — he had felt somewhat frightened. But by now, he was sitting curled up on Legundo’s lap as the human scribbled almost angrily in his notebook.
From the start of this meetup, it had been far more than three questions that Legs had asked. The vampiric senses definitely made keeping count much easier, and yet Owen answered every single one without a hitch.
“Yes. Like I said, they’re nothing more than a distraction for a potential threat that we need to flee from. Because our bat forms aren’t only made for escape but also for bonding with others from a possible coven and fast travel, it would be quite dumb if we couldn’t control that.” A big yawn spread Owen’s small muzzle as he settled more comfortably atop Legundo’s thigh.
“I must say, it would be quite stupid and bothersome if you tried to cuddle with your fellow vampire as a bat and your entire nest suddenly got swarmed with dozens of fake copies.”
A small snicker escaped both him and the doctor at the idea alone.
“Truly fascinating how far Mother Nature has brought vampires… There’s just so much about your kind that would put even the best scholar into a coma.” With that, Legundo’s hand once more landed behind Owen’s spiky ears. A quiet rumble escaped him this time, long abandoning the struggle of keeping the sound in.
What was truly fascinating from Owen’s point of view was just how touchy Legundo was. It could be the blood loss messing with his brain — after all, Owen had never given himself the chance to observe the doctor after their meetups, usually wandering off as soon as he made sure that his blood ba— Legundo, was safe.
It could also be something far deeper.
It had been a while since Owen picked up on those little gestures he so loved to tease the doctor with: the gentle yet shaky sighs, the redness on his cheeks, his hands clearly betraying the tune of his mind as they pressed him closer, closer to danger.
Maybe it was a mix of both. Maybe the effects of their switched order of actions brought something to the surface that was supposed to stay buried… maybe it affected the vampire as well.
Owen didn’t know which of his theories was correct — but he didn’t need to wait long for the universe to confirm them all.
In the moment he least expected it, Legundo smoothly picked his small body up from where he rested. A gentle smile painted his lips, his eyes speaking of nothing but sleepy, quiet kindness. How this man could be a soldier, Owen had no idea.
The thumb of Legundo’s free hand ran across the fur of Owen’s chest, right beneath his snout, right where the quiet rumble centered.
“Are your purrs also a sign of comfort, like for other mammals? I’ve never heard you make any before.”
Owen’s beady eyes could only stare back at the words that came out of the doctor’s mouth. He didn’t know what encouraged him to do what he did. It could’ve been the look in Legundo’s eyes, all his actions today and kindness from all those weeks adding up. Pure animalistic instinct. Maybe the fact — which he didn’t want to admit — that the doctor had been carving a soft spot for himself in Owen’s cold, dead vampiric heart for a while now.
Or maybe all of the above.
Owen didn’t know — and most importantly, didn’t care.
With a puff of smoke, his body morphed once more. No longer a small animal fitting almost perfectly in Legundo’s palms, but a man — one with his head buzzing full of emotions he hadn’t felt in centuries, and a clear goal of making those emotions an abundantly clear problem for the one before him.
His legs landed on Legundo’s thighs, his shins trapping the doctor’s waist as they dangled behind him. His slender, clawed arms wrapped around Legs’ neck — the same neck he loved leaving kisses on, with the hope his behavior would be questioned later — as their faces hovered mere centimeters apart.
Deep, bloody eyes looked into neon green ones. One set determined and burning with passion, the other filled to the brim with shock and surprise.
No words were spoken as they stared at each other, but Owen could feel the hesitant grip of Legundo’s arms around his waist, squeezing gently as if to confirm that this was real — that it wasn’t an illusion, that he wasn’t going crazy.
Owen moved first.
He leaned into the crook of the other’s neck, a familiar and comfortable spot he’d grown to know well over the past weeks. His dead lungs released a small, warm breath straight against Legs’ artery. He knew this place was sensitive after so many encounters with vampiric fangs, and the full-body shiver he earned from the doctor proved him right.
It wasn’t the first time Owen toyed with Legundo like this. Gods above, he’d done the exact same thing just hours ago to tease and embarrass him. But now, his intent was different. He wasn't looking for a meal and he was done playing games — at least for now.
His goal was to claim what was his, for as long as the facade of the big, scary vampire held up, for as long as his cowardly heart allowed him to.
Sharp teeth grazed over sensitive skin as a louder, clearer purr escaped his throat. His tongue traced the scars he’d left before, as well as older ones — most likely from Legundo’s army days — that he’d grown attached to. The same hands that moments ago had grabbed him in fear now squeezed harder, fingers digging into his sides. Warm palms radiated pleasant heat through layers of silk against Owen’s cold skin.
As more pressure was applied, Owen leaned further in, his hips sliding against Legundo’s pelvis, pulling a sharp breath from the doctor.
As Owen’s mouth kept exploring, Legundo’s posture grew stiff. He hadn’t expected this turn of events.
Good.
If there was one thing Owen loved, it was surprising others — making them paranoid with soundless steps, questioning whether he lurked nearby while invisible, appearing behind clueless souls just to sink in his claws.
So the fact that he managed to surprise someone as stoic as Legundo — someone who had already figured out all his tricks — brought a deeper form of satisfaction. One he wouldn’t mind tasting again.
A sharp lick across the freshly clotted bite wound — and the sting that followed — finally snapped the doctor out of his haze. Owen’s collar was grabbed and pulled, breaking his hold around Legundo’s neck. His hands dropped to the doctor’s shoulders in search of balance.
When their eyes met again and Owen got a full glimpse of Legundo’s face, he couldn’t help but smirk.
The doctor was blushing furiously, cheeks a lovely shade of pink against pale skin. His eyes were blown wide, his mouth drawing heavy breath after heavy breath.
Owen hadn’t even done what he wanted yet, and Legundo already looked utterly ruined.
It was a beautiful sight.
“Owen… what do you think you’re doing?”
A simple question, yet it carried passion, lingering confusion, and — most importantly — a hefty portion of desire.
“Nothing either of us doesn’t want.” Owen’s voice came out breathy, not from need but intention — and the reaction he got was worth it.
Legundo’s blush spread down his neck, disappearing beneath his collar. Owen enjoyed watching the man beneath him unravel, but he could push further.
His eyes drifted, breaking their silent eye contact. His cold palms slid against the doctor's shoulders, upper arms, chest, and finally ended on his cheeks. It was a gentle yet firm hold, with his clawed thumbs right under Legundo's eyes. If not for the monocle, one wrong move and Owen's sharp nails could put a swift end to the other's eyesight.
Eyes connected once more, Legundo's hands came back to their previous position as he observed all of the vampire's actions. There was no longer that glint of fear in the doctor's eyes—at least none that Owen could find.
“You know, doctor… when I mentioned that thing about why we vampires can control those illusions so well… I did also mention how we tend to cuddle with others in said bat forms… I’m sure that by now you already noticed that this part of vampirism is quite a private one…” With that, one of Owen's hands left Legundo's cheek to not only gently slide his claw against the doctor's pulse point, but also make space for what he was about to do.
Leaning over to Doc's ear, the vampire could only whisper…
“And you were getting quite handsy, don't you think..?”
It was as if everything clicked in Legundo's head — the shock as his mind tried to piece together all the actions of today and how he was at fault for what was happening right now. The display was beautiful. A full-body tremble and a disarray of never-finished mumbles that were meant to be words that the doctor's brain couldn't handle.
Owen could hear, with his pointy ears, the quickening of the other's heart, how fast blood was pumping underneath the layer of skin. Doc's fingers were biting into his ribs as they trembled in an almost adorable way. Owen felt like a true predator right now, knowing that he was in full control over the weak mind the human before him had, without even having to use any vampiric skills…
One would think that somebody of Legundo's past and build would be harder to break… but it looked like but a few open-mouthed kisses were enough in the end.
When the vampire's attention returned once more to Legundo's face, as much as he might enjoy toying with the other, his own patience had its limits. One quiet look at each other, and their lips came crushing together.
Neither of them had much experience when it came to romantic gestures. Sure, playing with others, making them embarrassed, was a cup of tea for Owen. Confidence was the key, after all, and he didn't lack it whatsoever in his current life.
But this right here… There was only one man before Legundo that his lips had met in such a passionate way, and that was before he became what he was. His skills were sure to be questionable, but that didn't seem to rotten the mood — at least not as much as he was scared it would.
Lips moved against one another in this chaotic dance without clearly written-out steps. Open gasps, pants, and quiet moans filled the space, tongues fighting for dominance while at the same time trying not to slice each other against those sharp-as-knife canines.
In this moment full of passion, Owen was too preoccupied with biting the other's bottom lip to notice where exactly Legundo's hands had wandered. His mind didn't register the lack of sting coming from those big fingers digging into his sides, nor did he register the subtle shrug his body made when one of said fingers moved along his spine in a delicate way.
His mind only caught up when a hand landed in between his snowy white locks, grabbing a firm handful at the base of his skull and pulling with vigor his mind was not prepared for.
A silent scream escaped his wide-open mouth as his head was pulled back, dark red eyes going wide and glossy with tears that threatened to spill from the sudden sting.
But despite everything, Owen's cheeks and neck only grew more colorful.
Especially after he felt a disarray of pathetic, heavy breaths, and a set of lips pulling the neckband of his shirt aside just to leave a wet kiss on his skin. His part as a scary vampire was crumbling right before his very eyes… and really, if it was done this way by this specific man in front of him… well, he could let it slide a time or two.
“What are you trying to achieve by doing this?” were the first coherent words any of them spoke in a while, and as embarrassing as it was to admit, it took Owen a second to understand their meaning.
Can you blame him, though? Legundo might not be a vampire, but that definitely didn't stop his body from developing sharper-than-average human fangs. The way they scraped and left small red lines on his throat would, quite honestly, put any human or vampire alike in a state comparable to crumbling away.
“I’m just trying— to claim what's rightfully mine.” The gasps were loud and present in his speech, his own hand long abandoning the doctor's cheek to now be the one to push the other further, sinking his claws into the man's back.
A breathy laugh escaped Legundo as he further nuzzled himself into Owen's neck.
“Was today what caused your mind to go this way, or was I not the only one with thoughts of this nature lingering...?” was all the doctor asked. Owen could feel the growing smirk on Legundo's lips and couldn't hold his own any longer.
“I would say today was rather a breaking point.” Hearing that, Legs took his head out of Owen's nape and pressed their foreheads together. The on-day difference in their height, barely noticeable now thanks to Owen's sitting place. Their faces once more were but centimeters away from one another, noses so close they were almost touching, eyes connected as if bracing for the most unexpected.
“A breaking point, huh? And there is no return…?” The words were quiet, framed less like a question and more like a beg for a promise.
“That depends…” It was now Owen's turn to smile.
“On..?”
“Whether or not you kiss me again in the next five seconds.”
There was no hesitation, no surprise. Just bold and honest feelings as their lips connected once more.
—
As Legundo’s steps echoed against the ground, the gates of Oakhurst became more visible with every stride. The mud from the path clogged the soles of his shoes, but that really wasn’t a bother — not when the idea of a soft mattress and comfy bedsheets was the only thing swarming his head after this rather exhausting day.
His plan was simple. Slip in, don’t talk to anybody, lock himself in his house, maybe eat something if he could even stomach any food at all, and most importantly…
Reflect on what the fuck happened today.
Sadly for him, the holy spirits decided to mess with him one last time today.
Right as he was about to pull his door open, a strong hand grabbed his mid-arm and yanked him off the handle with a strength only one person in the small town could possess.
It wasn’t long before an array of questions spilled out of Cleo’s mouth as they held his shoulders, shaking him valiantly like a parent scolding their teenage son.
Pearl was there too, standing off to the side with her hands folded over her chest and a disappointed smile plastered on her face. It was hard to say whether the disappointment was aimed at him, Cleo, or both altogether.
“Cleo, calm down. I didn’t get hurt. I just went out deeper into the forest to gather some more silver.” His own smile was awkward as his exhausted brain tried to come up with an appropriate excuse.
“Oh really? Then where is all the silver you gathered?” their hands finally let go of his arms as she matched the woman beside them in the same stance of folded arms and a disappointed look.
“I– I couldn’t find any! Either some level-one vampires already dug it out and threw it away, or Abolish got his hands on the caves that I visited.” The excuse sounded somewhat solid in his head, and yet there was one small detail that came to bite him in the ass right after the words left his mouth.
Cold, empty caves with only a log for a chair don’t have any mirrors.
A loud giggle that quickly turned into a snort escaped Pearl, who had been standing to the side and quietly observing the whole conversation — until now.
“Doc… as much as we love you… please work on your excuses. And possibly invest in a pocket mirror.”
This was rather confusing advice in the doctor’s eyes. Why, of all things, should he worry about a pocket mirror…?
“What do you mean?” His eyes must have shown his lack of understanding, for it only took Pearl a moment to giggle once more.
“You got—you got a little something up here on your neck.” Her finger pointed to the left side of her own throat, and it was all it took for all nearby eyes to almost instantly lock onto the doctor’s neck.
As quickly as he could, Legundo slapped a hand over his neck and rushed to the nearest window, hoping to see his reflection in the glass.
Just like he had feared, right below his jaw was a big, almost angry-looking bite mark. That wasn’t even the worst part… If it were just two red points from vampiric fangs — the kind he normally had to deal with after his and Owen’s meetups — it would have been fine. But instead, it was the full mark of a solid bite, several different teeth shapes so easy to notice it was terrifying.
It was high — much higher than any previous bite — and therefore almost impossible to hide.
If he could see it so clearly in the uneven reflection of a window… how bad must it look to others…?
“DOC, WHAT THE FUCK?!” were the exact words Cleo screamed in his direction as soon as her eyes got a proper look at his neck.
His cheeks could only flush red as his brain tried to recall the exact moment today when the bite could have happened.
Well fuck. There was, in fact, no turning back now, was there…?