Chapter Text
“You haven’t fed in a while, have you?” Ashton questions from across the empty dressing room.
Michael looks up from what he’s writing and messes with the chain of the bloodstone that’s tucked into his shirt. “What makes you ask that?”
“You’re pale.” Ashton states. “Paler than usual.” He rolls his eyes at Michael’s quirked eyebrow.
“I fed a week or two ago. I’m fine.” Michael says, reaching for his guitar to test out the melody he’s been working on.
“That’s not good, Mikey.” Ashton sighs, running a hand over his face.
“If it really concerns you that much, I’ll try and fed tonight when we go out.” Michael says simply. “What?” He questions at the look Ashton gives him.
“Are you going to be okay for the concert?” Ashton asks, messing with a loose thread on his shirt.
“I’ll be fine, concerts stopped bothering me a while ago.” Michael explains, finally putting the guitar and notebook aside. “Why are you so worried all of the sudden?”
“The last thing that is needed is for you to vamp out and go batshit and kill someone. I don’t know. It hasn’t been that long since you were turned and we still aren’t sure of all the triggers that could make you break. We really don’t need you accidentally killing someone.” Ashton rambles.
“Believe me, Ash, I know.” Michael sighs. “It scares me a lot, these urges, that I don’t even know what they are or how to satisfy them.” As he’s talking, Michael absentmindedly let’s his fangs slip out, letting out a relieved breath he didn’t even know he was holding. “See what I mean?” He asks, running his tongue over the points.
Ashton stares at him for a bit before nodding. “You could always feed from me you know.” He offers.
Michael scoffs and allows his fangs to slide back up into his gums. “When you’re still having nightmares? Fuck no.” He responds which makes Ashton rub his own face.
After briefly checking the time on his phone, Ashton stands up and stretches while grabbing his in-ears and a pair of drumsticks. “Whatever. C’mon, they’ll be calling for us soon.” He mumbles, walking for the door of the dressing room.
Running a hand through his hair, Michael also stands up and follows Ashton out into the corridor all the way to ramp onto stage where there are already screams echoing throughout the place. Walking over to his guitar rack, Michael rolls his shoulders while taking in the smell of adrenalin that’s rushing through the colossal room and lets his fangs click into place. Sure, he got used to the heavy smell of sweat and adrenalin combined with the sound of raging heartbeats and blood rushing through veins, but it was the best feeling besides actually feeding. Picking out a guitar, Michael allows a stagehand help with his in-ears then goes over to peek over Calum’s shoulder while he’s doing a last minute snapchat before they all go on stage.
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“I can’t believe they actually let us go out tonight.” Luke mumbles, looking around the club.
Michael nods, trying not to let his fangs slip out in front of Luke and Calum in such a small area with almost the exact same environment as the concert.
“And I can’t believe Mikey actually came out with us for once.” Calum teases, slinging an arm around Michael’s shoulders.
“Shut up, Cal.” Michael mumbles, playfully pushing at Calum’s arm. “I don’t know about you losers, but I am getting a drink.” He says before wandering off towards the bar, effectively losing his friends in the large slew of people. Settling down on a stool with a drink in his hand, Michael takes in the familiar, adrenaline filled environment. Shutting his eyes, he takes a sip of his drink and tries not to let his fangs slip out when suddenly a very sweet smell sits down next to him.
“Hi there.” A voice says, making Michael open his eyes and look at the girl that’s sitting next to him.
“Hi..” Michael returns slowly, taking another sip of his drink.
“You doing okay? I know places like this can be hard.” The girl says, causing Michael to give her a strange look. “I can recognize a bloodstone anywhere.” She adds.
“How do you-?"
“My master.” The girl blurts, her cheeks filling with red.
“So you’re a blood slave?” Michael questions.
“By my choice, I wanted to repay him for raising me like his own daughter.” She explains. “He found me when I was little, after my parents abandoned me one day.” She adds.
“Well, where is he?” Michael asks, sparing a glance around the crowded club. “Because I know for a fact that vampires tend to not let their,” Michael hesitates, the word already sounding bad on his tongue, “slaves go very far, nor do they let them give their blood to other vampires.”
The girl nods and curls some hair behind her ear. “I know. My master was killed by a slayer not too long ago.” She says eventually.
“Oh god, I’m so sorry.” Michael says, noticing the wetness in her eyes.
“It’s fine.” The girl says, shaking her head. “Anyway, can I help you with something? You’re much paler than any normal person should be.”
Michael considers her for a second then nods with a small smile. “Please.” He whispers, finally giving in to how hungry he actually is.
Returning his smile, the girl grabs Michael’s hand and leads him to the back of the club where they exit into an alley. Turning to face him, she backs herself up against a wall and pulls on his hand until he’s standing over her. “Take as much as you need, without killing or turning me of course.” She says, which makes Michael laugh softly as he moves her hair away from her neck.
“Thank you.” He mumbles, nosing his way along a patch of skin before letting his fangs click into place and bites down on what he considers to be a good spot. Moaning at the sweet taste, that begins to flood over his tastebuds. Feeling the girl go lax in his arms, Michael pulls her closer and starts to drink slightly deeper than he was before, taking in probably the sweetest blood he’s drunk so far, that is, until he feels a prick in the side of his neck and a wave of nausea and dizziness wash over him. “Fuck,” Michael mumbles, stumbling back, knowing he just got a shot of dead man’s blood from a slayer; watching with bleary eyes as the girl slides to the ground. ‘At least she’s okay,’ he manages to think before his sixth sense kicks in and manages to grab the wrist of the slayer and twisting it so the wooden stake clatters to the ground. “C’mon man,” Michael groans, “I wasn’t doing anything she didn’t want me to do.”
“Yeah right.” The slayer scoffs before punching Michael with his free hand. Groaning once again, Michael takes a few steps back and manages to block the slayer’s other attacks. Heaving out a long sigh, Michael once again grabs the slayers wrist, but then grabs their throat with his other hand and slams them into the ground, which is when the dead man’s blood running through his veins finally catch up with him. Releasing a groan for the third time, Michael manages to get one good look at the wided-eyed slayer before his vision finally clouds up.
“Calum?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When he opens his eyes the next morning, Michael just wants to close his eyes and fall back asleep; mostly because the sunlight is hurting his eyes more than usual. Out of habit, he reaches up and messes with his bloodstone to make sure it’s still there and intact. Knowing that he’s not going back to sleep, Michael groans and sits up, but is immediately hit with a wave of dizziness and nausea which makes him catapult out of bed and race to the bathroom. Falling to his knees, Michael throws himself over the toilet bowl and upchucks everything he’s eaten within the last day, all of it looking like a deep red color. “Fucking hell…” He mumbles to himself after he finally stops heaving. Slumping to the side, he manages to prop himself up against the shower stall and runs his hands through his hair as the previous night’s events comes racing back to him.
A former blood slave let him drink from her, but not long after that a slayer spiked him with dead man’s blood resulting in some fighting until he ultimately passed out. Looking around the dimly lit bathroom, Michael tries to recall exactly how he got back to the room. Assuming the Ashton must’ve found him, he goes to playing with his bloodstone and trying to get his bearings back until he hears soft footsteps and a soft knocking sound on the door. “Mikey?” Ashton’s soft voice sounds out through the room.
“Leave it off.” Michael mumbles when he sees Ashton reaching for the light. “‘S too much right now.”
“You doing okay? I heard puking.” Ashton says when he’s closer.
Michael rubs his hands over his face and debates whether or not to tell Ashton the truth. Deciding on the latter, he mumbles out, “Ran into a slayer last night while feeding. Got injected with some dead man’s blood.”
“Fucking-Jesus-you okay?” Ashton gets out as he brings Michael’s hands away from his face to look at him.
“I’ll live,” Michael chuckles out bitterly, “Thanks for finding me by the way.”
Ashton frowns at him briefly before glancing over at the toilet bowl with his nose scrunched up. “What are you-” He starts as he reaches over to flush the contents in the bowl “-talking about? I left with Luke at around one am last night; you and Calum were nowhere to be seen.”
Michael returns the frown that Ashton is giving him, trying to remember anything from the previous night. “I-” Michael starts to say before he cuts himself off with a groan as another wave of nausea hits him.
“Fuck.” Ashton mumbles. “You really need to eat something. Here.” He says while presenting Michael his bared wrist.
“No, not doing that to you.” Michael mumbles, pushing Ashton’s wrist away.
“Mikey, I have anxiety meds and sleeping pills for a reason. Just do it.” Ashton responds quickly. “Do it before I find a razor and make you do it.” Ashton threatens when Michael doesn’t move.
“No, no, no, no,” Michael rushes out quickly, grabbing onto the older boy’s wrist to keep him in place. “Please don’t, not again.” He pleads. “I-I’ll bite you, just please don’t hurt yourself again.”
“Just get it over with,” Ashton whispers, already feeling his hand shaking in Michael’s grip.
“I’ll be quick.” Michael acknowledges, before biting down gently but quickly, trying not to cause his friend pain. Making a small sound at the back of his throat, Michael takes long yet shallow pulls, keeping his eyes closed so he doesn’t have to see the pain on Ashton’s face. He’s about to pull away and close up the wound when the lights flip on and a hard blow is delivered to the side of his head while Ashton is ripped from his grip. Suddenly there are loud whimpering noises mixed with pleading ‘no’s and loud exclamations of ‘what the fuck is this?’ Only assuming that Ashton is getting hurt, Michael uses his vampire speed, shoots up and grabs the assailant by the collar and slams them against the space he was previously leaned up against. “Don’t you fucking touch him again.” He growls before taking in the intruder’s face. “W-wait..Calum?” Michael breathes, looking into the eyes of his oldest friends. “You...you were that slayer that tried to kill me last night.” He realizes.
Both boys just stare at each other until it dawns on Michael that the smell of blood is still very prominent in the room and Ashton’s breathing is coming out very fast and choppy. Cursing under his breath, Michael lets go of Calum and rushes over to the panicking older boy. “Mi-Mi-Michael.” Ashton struggles to get out, reaching for said boy with his still bleeding wrist.
“Shhh...it’s okay. I’m right here.” Michael soothes while pricking one of his fingers on a fang. “Let’s get this cleaned up.” He says before rubbing his bloodied finger over the puncture marks on the other boys arm.
Seeing this action makes Calum snap out of his shocked stupor and rush over to the two boys. “Hey! Fucking st-”
“I told you not to touch him!” Michael practically shouts, shoving Calum away when he reaches for Ashton. “Just-just back off, you have no idea how to help him.” He adds, going back to making sure the bite on Ashton’s arm closed then going about cleaning the remaining blood off.
“I don’t- What the fuck-” Calum starts but is quickly cut off by Ashton.
“Calum, pl-please. Go…” He pleads.
Letting out a defeated sigh Calum heads toward the door. “Fine, but I’ll be right outside, shout if you need me.” He tells Ashton while ignoring Michael’s eyeroll.
Once Calum is finally out of the room, Michael finishes up Ashton’s arm while checking for anymore open marks. “I’m so, so, so sorry.” Michael breathes out. “He didn’t do anything to hurt you did he? You don’t feel a panic attack coming on or anything do you?” He questions. “What’s wrong?” Michael asks when Ashton doesn’t answer.
“You said Calum was the slayer from last night..he-he came back today. He’s gonna try to kill you again.” Ashton says, his breath quickening every other word.
“No, no, Ashton I need you to calm down.” Michael starts, forcing Ashton to look at him and match his breathing. “He’s not going to kill me alright? You need to stay calm.”
“B-but…” Ashton stutters out.
“Shhh,” Michael soothes. “Are you going to be okay going to your room by yourself? You need to take your meds.”
“No, ‘m not leaving you here alone with him.” The older boy protests.
“Don’t worry about it, I can take him if he tries to attack.” Michael smiles softly. This statement makes Ashton choke out a strained laugh, but eventually he relents and leaves back to his own room. Michael watches him walk down the hallway to his door before shutting his own and turning back to where Calum is standing by the window.
“You always get the rooms with the shittiest view.” Calum eventually says after a moment of silence.
“No, I get the room where it’s least likely for the sun to shine directly through the window.” Michael retorts, walking farther into the room, but still remaining in the darker area. Here he leans against the wall and take in Calum’s appearance. Black button up shirt, with all the buttons done up, black pants-not quite as tight as he usually wear, but still snug, and black combat boots that look to be a little too good to be anything but military grade. “Have you come to finish the job then? Aren’t you dressed a little nice to be going out and committing mass murder every night?” He questions, quirking an eyebrow at the glare Calum shoots him.
Finally Calum sighs and turns to face Michael. “I just want to know why.” He says.
“Why...what exactly?” Michael asks.
“Why is my best friend a vampire for one. And why the fuck would you force Ashton to do that?!” Calum exclaims.
“I didn’t force Ashton to do anything. In fact it, could’ve been said that he forced me to drink from him.” Michael refutes.
Calum scoffs, “Yeah right, he was having a panic attack when I got there.”
“Only because you pulled him away from me and scared the shit out of him! Ashton knows I’m a vampire, Calum! He was there when I was turned.” Michael explains.
“You still didn’t answer my first question,” is what Calum ends up responding with.
This makes Michael clench his jaw and look away from the dark haired boy. “I’m not telling you that.”
“What? Because it’s a long story? We have a day off, we have time.” Calum retorts.
“Yes, and it’s pretty messed up as well.” Michael answers Calum’s rhetoric question. “Ashton still has nightmares because of it.” He ends up blurting as well.
“Ashton’s a part of it too?” Calum breathes.
“Of course he is, I just told you he was there when I was turned, didn’t I?!” Michael groans.
“Tell me now.” Calum demands.
“I told you no. Now get out.” Michael orders.
“Why? So you can sneak out and drink someone else dry?” Calum sneers.
“No, because that dead man’s blood you shot me up with last night is still in my system and its making me dizzy as hell.” Michael almost swears he sees Calum’s eyes soften a little bit before they harden again.
“Fine.” He growls, moving away from the window finally.
When he passes Michael, Michael grabs him by the wrist to stop him. “And don’t you dare go to Ashton asking about this either, this is part of the past that he doesn’t need to dig back up.” He says.
“And how will you know if I do?” Calum questions.
“In an instant; the body smells much different when it’s going into panic mode.” Michael merely says making Calum look at him in disgust before ripping his hand away and taking long strides to the door, making sure it slams closed.
At this point, Michael can only groan and fall into bed after making sure the curtains are closed. Maybe he can get a nap in before the shit show starts.