Sarah Paiva Kitsune

Vampire!Cowboy who you've been clinging to as you search for shelter, feeling the paranoia of the sun coming up soon creeping up your back. Speaking of your back, it felt like it was on fire. The blood had begun to dry and cake on your clothes in small droves, the glass digging into you like sharp needles that spiked your blood pressure. Your head was also still split open, your eye closed given how much crimson was painted over it. It was a miracle you weren't dead.

Vampire!Cowboy who urges his mare to go a bit faster, galloping along the vast strips of the desert as her hooves kicked sand. If they were left in the sun, his hat would only help him for so long before he started to burn. It was your only vein of luck that no one had seen you in the dark of the night. Your friend.... was he still your friend after that? Regardless, he was still covered in blood even from the occasional licking he did to try and clean his mouth. You tried not to drift off, your head pressed against his nape as he watched the dark scenery of the expanse Finally, your saving grace was a barn coming into view.

Vampire!Cowboy who slows his horse gradually as you both approach the barn, which seems to be empty inside. No cows? No horses? Not even a sheep? Weird but convenient for you both. The horse slowed to a stop near the entrance, allowing her owner and you to get off after hours of nding into the night. Carefully he helped you off and lowered you onto a haystack in the corner You were stomach down to not irritate the glass embedded in your back. He sighed. Now that you had shelter, he had to turn his attention back to your predicament. Gently, he slipped your shirt off. It was fucking painful. But, it needed to be done, even if it digged at the glass or brushed over tiny, open wounds littering your back. How hard had that skinny bastard thrown you? Another noise of discomfort left out back the cold air hit your bare back, tongue instinctively darting to taste the blood caked on your lip. *Yuck*

Vampire!Cowboy who looks over your back as his horse nudges your head with her snout, blowing hot air against your face as she tries to get a reaction out of you. Another noise escaped you, assuring her you were still alive. The cowboy studied you, unsure how to do this. He could just remove the glass, but that had its problems. One, his hands were filthy with blood, dried and brownish black now but still not very sanitary. Two, his fingers definitely weren't nimble, they were slightly thick and covered in callouses, shaking slightly even with precision. Third, you still had a head wound the size of Texas (no pun intended), about three inches wide and an inch thick. How the hell did a gun manage that? It probably wasn't made better by slamming your head against the bar shelves either. But, he had to do damage control.

Vampire!Cowboy who searches around the barn for a minute as his mount keeps nudging you, making sure you remain conscious There was a water bucket. He didn't know why it was there or what it could have mixed in with it, but beggars couldn't be choosers. He stripped off his bandanna, looking it over before discarding it. It had too much blood on it to use as a rag. He went back to searching. The universe seemed to be on his side for once as he found a cloth tarp, ripping a chunk of it off easily to dip in the water.

Vampire!Cowboy who starts by scrubbing his hands and face clean of blood. He needed to blend in the best he could, not needing a gorey mouth to add to how bad his clothes looked. It reflected the slaughter he enacted for you. But, he was quick, ripping another piece of the tarp off before dipping it in the water, coming back over to you. Gently, he tilted your head up with the mare backing off from you to give her owner room. Tenderly, he ran the rag over your face to wash your blood off, focusing on your nostri and around your cut. His soothing, rough voice met your ears whenever he got too close to the gash, with you trying to focus on his cold hand on your chin. When your face was finally clean, you felt a bit better, his lips pressing briefly against your temple before he went to repeat the process on your back. It was almost like an "I'm sorry."

Vampire!Cowboy who you wake up to the voice of as he tells someone to calm down. The night had been agonizingly long. washing your back and messily pulling glass out of your back as you laid in itchy hay. You had finally fallen asleep midway through his third wash of your back, the only sign of life visible on you being how your chest rose and fell. Gradually, you lifted your head, seeing an older, disgruntled man pointing a gun at the cowboy. You tried to speak but made a croaking sound, yet it was enough for the farmer to look at you and lower his gun slightly. Damned. This was his barn.

Vampire!Cowboy who used your movement to craft a story that could garner enough sympathy to avoid being shot. It couldn't kill him, but it could certainly kill you. A bad bar fight, he excused. It wasn't half a lie which helped your alibi. The farmer reluctantly lowered his gun. The old man spared your life but said you couldn't stay around long. But, he wasn't completely heartless, and pointed you both towards a town nearby that had a clinic that would check you out. You could leave at nightfall.

Vampire!Cowboy who you mounted the horse again on that night to take off, with the farmer eager to get you out of his hair. You weren't in good shape, so much blood loss over the course of a full day by this point had you in rough shape. But you had to hold on a little longer. You ignored the weird look the farmer gave you as you wrapped your arms around the vampire's waist, leaning your head on his back as you had done the night before, only this time a dull throb replaced the intense, sharp pain in your head and back. The horse had been fed and given water, giving mercy to the poor animal as you returned to your journey. Now that the air was clear, and you weren't mad with pain, even if you were still sick, you thought about the past few days. What now? You doubted you could return home. Surely by now the townsfolk found the scene of the bar and assumed you had died or even caused the graphic scene. But that was all you had known half your life and to have it taken away out of nowhere was jarring What about the cowboy? What were you two? He kissed you on the mouth and brought his lips to your temple, and even tried his damnedest to nurse you back to health. Was this what lovers did? Were you lovers now?

"You're thinking out loud," was all he told you as you saw lights in the distance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vampire!Cowboy who managed to get you help, proper help, from a nurse in town who was kind enough to extend her help to strangers. That left you bandaged up resting at the town inn, with the vampire's horse waiting outside. He didn't like to leave her unattended for so long, but you were the center of his concern right now. He laid beside you in bed as you rested on your chest, a new shirt on your back given the last one was ruined. His jacket was salvageable, but he too had gotten a new shirt, rid of blood and gunk. It was a miracle they believed it got on him during the bar fight and not because he tore the throat out of three men like it was light-work. His fingers traced over you, studying haw you'd gone from bleeding and battered to healed up in such a short amount of time Indurated fingers ran up your sensitive spine before tilting your head slightly to see where another bandage covered your head wound, with thick cotton under the wounded section to suck up the blood. You liked his touch.

Vampire!Cowboy who rests his hand on your head, touch still cool.

"You'll have to stay here for a few days at the least," he repeated the information the nurse had given you, "It'll benefit you to have a roof over your head."

He could manage being in a single town for a bit. That would be nothing compared to how long he had stuck around your town, and he had a full stomach from blood sucking, so he'd be full for a few more days. It was also rare he had a proper roof over his head.

"What after that?" You asked him, cheek against the soft pillow.

He seemed conflicted for a moment, avoiding your gaze, "I'm not sure," He would mostly likely return to his life of being a traveling cowboy, going from town to town for work and dinner. But you? You threw a wrench in his plans and cracked his heart open, giving him a taste of companionship he didn't want to lose. But having a vulnerable human on the road was a challenge for multiple reasons.

"There has to be more vampires like you out there, right?" You shifted the subject to ease his mind, but that word hit like salt on a wound. Vampire.

"Well yes. Most of them travel. In fact, its rare that they stay in one place because of how hard it is to get food," he hummed, "But there's more out there,"

You lifted your head, giving him a confused look before he elaborated, "It's not just vampires, as you word it. There are these large, hairy beasts that roam the west in particular."

"Werewolves?"

"Some of them resemble wolves. Others coyotes. Even a few possums,"

That was a conversation to dive into later. He didn't need to scare you off more. He looked you over again, feeling like his mind was a whirlwind of conflict. What was he to do with you in the emotional sense? He had never married or even courted someone in a romantic sense, which was a bit embarrassing for his age, but he also knew that dating customs were a bit different outside his tribe.

Vampire!Cowboy who had studied how people outside his tribe courted people they loved. Often, his kin married out of arrangement after a young man proved to be a capable warrior. He felt far from a capable warrior. He felt more like a senseless butcher. But, the marriage process often started by giving an offering to the bride or her family, then the couple would usually move in together to signal the unionship. Some aspects, like gift giving, carried over to what other people seemed to like, but other than that, he had to use some guess work to figure out what you would like as a form pursuing you. He wasn't stupid or clueless, but he needed a push in the right direction.

Vampire!Cowboy who tries to exhibit more "proper" behaviors towards you that people have when they want to date someone. You weren't in the shape to do much. His horse also tried to peak her head into the room from time to time given you two were on the ground floor, but animals weren't allowed inside. He touched you a lot more which you weren't complaining about, but it felt like his touches were almost experimental. He helped check your bandages but his hands lingered, the cold calloused skin brushing against your warm body. He laid in bed with you during the day, but he was hesitant to reach over and put his hands on you. But outside of that, his fingers would trace over your knuckles or your nape, or he'd stoke your head briefly whenever the ache in your head grew too large. You wished he would kiss you more. Anywhere. He rarely kissed you in the first place, occasionally kissing the top of your head or your nape again, but his lips hadn't met yours since that night at the bar. Bit of an inconvenient first kiss. You want to make up for it but he's not making the move.

Vampire!Cowboy who branches the gift giving over to you in small doses. His people often gave the person they wanted to marry an offering of meat or a horse if the marriage was approved, but he didn't think you'd enjoy that. You already seemed to like his mare like she was your own. He brought you books in those first few days, when you couldn't even get off your stomach. Though you seemed to enjoy those, he was reluctant to go out and talk to these humans. They gave him dirty looks more often than your friends had which was quite the accomplishment. So, he tried to find whatever else you may like, telling his horse to "not look at him like that" when she gives him a semi-judgy look. His next option was food, but it was a bit blurry what was necessary for you and what was a gift. He'd get you extra jam or an extra biscuit, some fresh fruits if you both were particularly lucky. He got into the habit of giving you any coins or rocks he found that reminded him of you. It felt childish but he was sincere. He particularly liked the rocks that had specks of your eye color in them, but that's a secret.

Vampire!Cowboy who you go outside and look at the stars with when you heal up enough to move around properly. You often sat on the benches nearby, rickety wooden things that creaked under your shared weight. This seemed the best way to go on a "date" with you in the short weeks you had to rest here. It reminded him of the times before he turned, before he became a shell of a man who had to hunt others for food. Occasionally the horse came to join you, as silly as it sounded, but she was a part of you two at this point. The stars twinkled at night with the faint hum of the town fading into the dark, leaving you both alone yet again. You never expected your life to change so fast and sometimes you wondered if this was worth it. But, these little "dates" showed you the peace you two could share.

Vampire!Cowboy who sits with you one night like always. The bench is uncomfortable for you both. Your eyes dart to the floor, a mix of hardened dirt and sand that could hardly sustain crop life. Before you knew it, you had convinced the cowboy to lay on the ground with you, reckoning it would be better than a rickety bench. It put pressure on your back but the little wounds had healed enough so far to start to scab over. He laid on his back beside you, taking off his hat and putting it against his chest. He'd done that more around you lately, taking off his hat that protected him from the harsh rays of the sun temporarily, letting you see his long, dark, thick hair. It was like him taking down a shield around you almost to show his vulnerability. Nevertheless you laid with him, the sound of a loon or an owl echoing out every now and then.

"It's so relaxing out here," You finally spoke up, I never took the time to really take in back at home."

"I used to do this a lot more," he released to you, eyes tracing over a consolation

Your turned your head a bit, admining his subtle facial expression, "Really?"

"Back before this," He started, the expression thick and sour in his mouth almost, "I didn't appreciate being able to rest at night and admire the stars instead of constantly moving. But I'd come outside and just lay in the grass,"

"Do you miss it?"

"Its what we're doing right now, no?"

"That's not what I meant,"

Silence filled the air between you two, beating like a heart beat before he turned his head away from you slightly, "I do, honestly. I miss a lot about my life before I became this thing. It feels like forever ago yet fresh at the same time,"

"What do you miss the most?" You inquired, the stars practically forgotten to instead stare at the beauty beside you.

"The sun," He answered, not skipping a beat, "I miss it most. Sometimes its because of the warmth. Other times I just miss going out freely during the day I can't even look at a sunset or sunrise without risking being burned alive,"

Vampire!Cowboy who sees you shift to sit up, pain wincing in your back as you did.

"Seems like there's a lot of things you can't enjoy anymore. Or let yourself enjoy," You started, leaning over to loom over him. For the first time, he felt smaller than you. "I know what you're trying to do," You informed him, "It's sweet. But you don't have to beat around the bush so much,"

His adam's apple bobbed slightly as he swallowed, remaining silent. No one was around. He could have this.he didn't fight it when you leaned down, in fact he raised himself up slightly. You lips met for the first time in two weeks. He was still cold but this time you didn't have the thick taste of blood on his mouth. Like last time, your hand went to thread through his hair. To your surprise, his arms met your wait and gave you a shallow squeeze. However, he opened his mouth slightly to deepen the kiss, only to accidentally nip your lip with his fang. Instinctively, he almost pulled away before your grip tightened in his hair, keeping in place as blood dripped from your mouth. You were still so sweet.

Vampire!Cowboy who presses his tongue gingerly against your lip, sucking the blood from the faint wound. It was a spectacle, two grown men on the dirt making out like a pair of teenagers. A low noise escapes him as he sucks on your skin gently, desperate for a bit of blood. The meal from weeks ago stuffed him full for awhile but that ugly creature of hunger was starting to rear its head. You pulled away from him after a moment, wiping your lip to rid it of the crimson.

"I enjoy you," He said bluntly after the vibe passed.

"Then let yourself enjoy it." A simple reply left you as you pulled yourself to your feet using the bench as support.

Vampire!Cowboy who you continue going on these little dates with, sneaking away at night now that you can move better. You don't go out together to public places. Even if you may never kiss him in front of others. You may never take him back home to meet what's left of your family and you may never meet his. But, you can still lay beneath the stars and share stories with him like the older times as if this was all you needed. He gets better at this courtship after you tell him you don't care about what's expected by other people. It just matters what feels right to both of you.

Vampire!Cowboy who's getting hungry. He still hasn't fed from anyone. This town is bigger and he can't afford to draw any suspicion until you rest up and fully heal. But he's getting antsy as the days draw by and the only thing he's tasted of nourishment was that sweet nectar from him nicking your lip. He wants to sink his teeth into and drink, to have your beautiful blood inside him giving him life. That thought makes him hate himself. How would he imagine hurting you at all? It felt as though he was a slave to his own instinct.

Vampire!Cowboy who you pick up on as being antsy. You've been getting better at reading him, which is a double edged sword. You know he hasn't fed in awhile, he must be hungry, but you're unsure of what to do to quench his thirst. Quickly, you found out that animal blood makes him do the same thing as when he eats regular food; throwing up. Neither of you are sure why his biology does this since blood is blood. But that leads you with little option especially when he doesn't want to eat off you yet, that seems to be the best solution.

"I'll be okay," You assured, unbuttoning your shirt to give him better access. The cowboy seemed unable to form words, whether from hesitance or seeing you bare like this before you. He'd seen you half naked obviously, he'd cleaned you up at the start of this all, changed your bandages, and seen all angles of your shirtless form, but that was out of necessity. This was you being vulnerable to him, letting him see the expanse of you skin without a cloth protecting you.

"What if I take too much?

"Then I'll push you away,"

"You think you could pull that off?" He asked. It wasn't a challenge. It was a worry. In response, you scooted closed and pulled him closer by the shirt. Fuck.

Vampire!Cowboy who anchors his hands against your shoulders, leaning into where his mouth met your shoulder. A spot that wouldn't be too obvious but still had a firm blood flow. First, he placed a gentle kiss there, before his grip tightened on you and he bit down. It was fast, like a bandaid being ripped off instead of easing you into the pain. He thought it was better than making you feel his sharp fangs for longer than absolute necessary. A hiss of pain escaped you, your back arching as you tried to catch your breath. You tasted so sweet and he nearly moaned, his hold trying to ease while his thumb stroked your skin. Slowly, he sucked your blood, making sure every drop got to his mouth as he kept letting out those quiet, pert noises while the hunger inside him gradually faded away. Your breath hitched, resisting the urge to pull away or scratch at the bite mark as he fed off you. He unlatched his fangs, running his tongue over the wound and earning a faint whimper from you. Every last drop had to be his.

Vampire!Cowboy who finally pulls away from you after licking your wound till it stopped bleeding, feeling satisfaction wash over him. Another sigh left you as you recovered, feeling him gently push you back on the bed before retrieving your shirt wordlessly With your mind a bit fuzzy he redresses you, making sure to be careful around the wound.

"Are you okay?" His voice felt faint as he inched closer beside you, your bodies touching. All you gave him was a nod before he reluctantly laid beside you fully like always, but this time he was closer. His body pressed against you, the faint smell of the undead and dirt filling your nostrils as your mind swam. He was beside you properly for the first time in weeks, as if he finally allowed himself to touch you so intimately in bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vampire!Cowboy who you finally leave the inn with when your back and head is fully healed, scabs flaking over your back and a scar over you head. But, you're still in one piece. You don't know where you'll go but you figure you'll do what he always had; taking it a day at a time. But, as you mount his horse as usual, he seems off.

"Something smells amiss," was all he told you as the horse began trotting, the dark of the night masking you both. Usually, he wouldn't care. His teeth and strength combined could do damage to any vampire or hairy beast that came along. But, having a human with him complicated things, especially when you had been injured recently. Still, you continued on your journey before the sun could come up in a few hours.

Vampire!Cowboy who you ride with for nearly an hour, the whole time he's paranoid and glancing around like something will pop up any minute. The horse seems frightened as well, flaring her nostrils or tilting her head back over and over. Its not helping you. You can't help but glance again as well, feeling sweat starting to bead on your brow despite the cold temperatures of the desert night. For a moment, the paranoia fades as the night stills, the only company you have being the full moon lighting up the lands That was, until a crunch rang out and the cowboy whipped his head to the side.

The only sound only met your ears before you heard loud thumping, before you felt like a battery ram hit your side. You were knocked off the horse to say the least as she stumbled, the mare squealing out and knocking her owner off as well by instinct, your back hit the ground, pain shooting through you as you felt a large hand try to grab you. A large, fur covered beast caught your eye in the split second you could recover, towering over you as the horse ran off for safety. A werewolf? Maybe this was one of the other beasts your cowboy spoke of before? But this monster, despite being big and covered in fur, had thin ears that outstretched more. It had a narrower snout and a browner coat. Ah hell, it was a wereyote.

Vampire!Cowboy who acts, like always, fast he can. How are you this accident prone? Regardless, if his heart still pumped properly it would be racing with how full of adrenaline he was, grabbing onto the wereyote's back and attempting to pull it off you while his claws racked its back. You yelled out as the monster yanked your leg, hearing it yowl out as it claws dug into your skin. You tried to crawl away, grabbing onto anything your hands could get on but it felt like a two sided tug of war. The beast thrashed, briefly throwing the vampire off him with its strength. It all felt so fast but so painful before it yanked you up by the heel, grabbing onito your waist with its spare hand and breaking the skin immediately. An ear piercing shriek left you as the monster bit your calf, razor sharp teeth tearing at your flesh.

Vampire!Cowboy who freezes momentarily as he watches the scene It felt like a cold bucket of water hit him, transporting him back to that night so many years ago where he saw this. His loved ones were torn apart, screaming in pain as he laid there helpless, a vampire's teeth deep in his neck as it drank his blood. Once again, he felt helpless and useless. But no. This time he wasn't useless. He could do something. Replanting himself on his feet, he lunged back onto the beast's back. Quickly, his teeth ripped into its throat, fur and thick skin filling his mouth as the wereyote screamed. The monster's jaw unlatched but not before its teeth scraped against your bone. That pain was so intense that you briefly blacked out as your body hit the sand, feeling blood splatter on your clothing soon afterwards as the rabid sound of yelping and growling rang out, the wereyote and the cowboy fighting. There was a chunk of fur and skin on your chest. Your pulse raced as you laid there, shaking and twitching before the sounds of the wereyote running off rang out. Your vision was so blurred but each throb of pain from your leg made you want to throw up.

Vampire!Cowboy who lifted you up, with you unfocused on how he looked like, but it felt like deja vue from the bar with how he smelled sickeningly of copper. It felt like you were time-skipping with how every time you opened your eyes after slowly blinking you were in a different spot, in his arms, on the horse after you relocated her, pressed against his back, and finally back in a bed. Where the hell were you? Back at the inn? That was an hour out. How long had you been fading in and out? You apened your eyes finally again, feeling light as a feather with your mouth dry as he put his hands against your cold face. The look in his eyes portrayed a pure fear. It was all you saw before you went black again.

Vampire!Cowboy who holds you close, wondering if you're going to die as your breathing slows down in your chest. His grip is iran tight, as tight as he can get without crushing your bones. You can't listen to his little whispers but he talks to you best he can. You leg wound was wrapped up in the bed sheet, even if it was fully soaked through by now. Little did you know, that bite was both a curse and a blessing.

Vampire!Cowboy who sees you slowly regain your color, the wound on your stomach closing over the course of hours. What the fuck? He waited on baited breath as you seemingly got better on your own at an inhumane pace, but his grip never left you. You opened your eyes from time to time but they seemed glassy. All he could do was shush you, still stroking your face as you curled up in his lap. It seemed like the damn bite took.

Vampire!Cowboy who was curled up in bed with you as you laid against his stomach, letting out faint noises of pain as your body changed. He could sympathize with the sheer fear and discomfort of your body changing without your will, shaping into a new monstrous creature that had hurt you. One hand kept wandering to your pulse point just to assure himself your heart was still beating even though you were more vocal now. You were like him now, just in a different font he couldn't help but blame himself. What if you just stayed another night? What if he waited to go out? What if he didn't freeze when he heard the noise and just forced his horse to run faster? But he knew none of that mattered as he brushed the sprouting fur on you, hearing you snarl in pain while grasping at his waist to beg him to make it stop.

"I know, I know," He repeated, voice low as he cuddled against you to provide you a shred of comfort, "I'm here. I won't leave."

Fuck, he had his hands even fuller now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Megumi is sick. Not horribly sick.

The tiny body curled miserably beneath blankets on the couch. The children’s medicine lined up on the coffee table. The humidifier humming quietly near the TV while cartoons played at low volume in the background, and you sat right in the middle of it all with Megumi bundled against your chest. Tiny feverish face tucked beneath your chin. Half asleep.

“Drink a little more for me,” you murmur softly, holding the juice box carefully while Megumi takes two reluctant sips before turning his head away dramatically.

“No more. M’full.”

“You’ve barely drunk the apple juice.”

Megumi gives you the same unimpressed look his father does whenever you annoy him. Which is often. Unfortunately for him, you’re immune to the Fushiguro glare now.

“You’re still drinking more.” Tiny betrayed sigh.

From the kitchen, Toji Fushiguro watches the entire interaction silently while pretending to make coffee. Pretending being the key word, because he’s mostly just staring at the two of you. Again. He’s been doing that a lot lately. Watching.

Observing all the tiny things you do with Megumi that nobody ever taught you. The way you always test soup temperature against your wrist first. How you rub slow circles between Megumi’s shoulder blades whenever he coughs. How your voice automatically drops softer around him when he’s tired or sick or overwhelmed.

Toji leans one shoulder against the kitchen doorway, coffee mug warm in his hand. “You know he’s playin’ you, right?”

You glance up immediately. Megumi peeks guiltily over the blanket. Caught.

“He has a fever,” you defend.

“He’s had you wrapped around his finger since day one.”

“That’s not true.”

Megumi coughs weakly into your hoodie. You immediately look back down at him in concern. Toji snorts.

“Case in point.” You ignore him completely.

“Poor baby,” you murmur, brushing damp black hair gently off Megumi’s forehead. “You still feel warm.” Megumi nods miserably before burrowing deeper into your chest.

Toji’s chest tightens in that annoying way it keeps doing around the two of you lately, because Megumi doesn’t cuddle people. Never really has. Not even as a toddler. Toji remembers nights when his son would curl up alone at the far edge of the futon, small and quiet and self-contained like he already understood disappointment too young.

Now though? Now Megumi practically climbs into your skin whenever he feels bad. And you let him. Every single time.

“You take medicine yet?” Toji asks finally.

Megumi immediately shakes his head hard. “No.”

“You have to.”

“No.”

“You’re literally sweating through the blanket, brat.” Megumi grabs fistfuls of your hoodie immediately like you might personally protect him from modern medicine.

You sigh. “He already took one dose earlier.”

“Yeah, six hours ago.”

Megumi groans weakly. “Papa, don’t bully me.”

Toji looks offended. “I’m not bullying you.”

“You’re being mean.”

“You threw up on my shoes.” You choke on a laugh instantly.

Toji points accusingly. “See? This is why he acts like this.”

“You’re both dramatic.”

“Says the guy cuddling him like a Victorian child with the plague.”

“He’s sick.”

“He barely has a fever.” Megumi coughs pathetically again like he’s trying to prove a point.

Toji narrows his eyes immediately. “Manipulative.”

“Papa’s mean,” Megumi whispers to you.

“He is,” you agree solemnly.

“Unbelievable.” Despite the complaints, Toji crosses the room anyway. The couch dips beneath his weight as he sits beside you. Immediately warmer. Bigger. 

Megumi lifts sleepy arms toward him automatically without even opening his eyes fully. Toji freezes for half a second. Then mutters, “Spoiled kid,” while carefully pulling Megumi into his lap anyway.

The little boy settles instantly against his chest with a tired sigh. Your expression softens immediately at the sight. And there it is again… That feeling. The one Toji still doesn’t know how to name properly. Something warm and aching and terrifying all at once.

You lean sideways until your head rests lightly against Toji’s shoulder. Megumi trapped sleepily between the two of you beneath a mountain of blankets.

Domestic. Soft. Dangerous.

Toji grunts quietly. “You’re clingier than the kid.”

“You’re warm.”

“Hn.” Not denial. Never denial when it comes to you.

Megumi’s tiny fingers curl sleepily into the fabric of Toji’s shirt while his other hand stays latched onto your sleeve. Holding both of you. Toji looks down at him for a long moment.

“…Think he likes us.”

You smile sleepily against his shoulder. “Little bit.”

“Hm.” Silence settles after that. Cartoons flicker quietly across the TV screen. Rain taps softly against the apartment windows. And somewhere beneath the blankets, your foot brushes lightly against Toji’s. Neither of you move away. Megumi yawns suddenly. Then blinks up at both of you with heavy-lidded eyes.

“Love you.” The words come small. Sleepy. Automatic. Toji goes still instantly. You don’t. You answer immediately, warm and certain, “Love you too, sweetheart.”

Megumi smiles faintly before his eyes drift shut again. Still half asleep, he mumbles softly, “Love Papa too.”

Toji’s throat tightens so fast it almost hurts. The apartment goes very quiet. You glance up slowly. Toji’s staring down at Megumi like someone cracked his ribs open and reached inside. Because maybe nobody’s ever said it to him that easily before. Like it was obvious. Like love wasn’t something conditional or temporary or doomed to disappear eventually.

Megumi’s already asleep again by the time Toji finally exhales roughly through his nose. “…Kid’s got bad taste.”

You laugh quietly. Then shift closer until your face tucks lightly against his neck.

“You’re really good with him,” you murmur.

Toji scoffs softly. “You literally do all the hard parts.”

“You still show up.”

The words hit harder than they should. Toji looks away slightly. Because showing up never felt like enough before you came around. But now there’s warm blankets and medicine schedules and sleepy little voices saying love you into the quiet apartment air.

Now there’s you. Curled against his side like you belong there. And Megumi asleep safely between both of you. Home. Again. 

The apartment is warm when Toji Fushiguro gets home. Warm in that quiet, lived-in way he still hasn’t fully gotten used to. There’s laundry folded on the arm of the couch. Tiny sneakers kicked off by the door. The fridge hums steadily beneath a clutter of magnets you and Megumi collected from cheap grocery stores and corner shops like they were priceless souvenirs.

Home. His home.

The thought still catches strangely in his chest sometimes.

It’s late. Later than he promised he’d be. The job ran long, then traffic got backed up halfway through the city, and now exhaustion sits heavy in his bones as he shrugs off his jacket. 

Usually by this point, Megumi’s asleep already. Usually you’re curled on the couch waiting up for him with some shitty reality show playing quietly in the background. But you’re three states away for work this week, and the apartment feels different without you in it. Too quiet.

Toji rubs at the back of his neck as he steps farther inside. “Megs?” No answer.

His brows knit immediately. The TV glows softly in the darkened living room, muted cartoons flickering against the walls, and there, curled into the corner of the couch beneath one of your blankets is Megumi.

The little boy’s shoulders shake silently. Toji freezes. “…Megumi?”

Megumi jerks slightly at the sound of his voice. Toji’s stomach twists immediately. His son’s face is blotchy red from crying. Tears cling wetly to his lashes while he presses both fists hard against his eyes like he’s trying to stop more from coming out.

Toji moves closer automatically. “What happened?”

Megumi shakes his head hard.

“Hey.” Toji crouches carefully in front of the couch. “Talk t’me, brat.”

Another shake. Then a tiny broken hiccup. Toji feels genuine panic start crawling unpleasantly up his spine. Megumi rarely cried like this anymore. Not since you. Not since the apartment started feeling stable and warm and safe.

Toji reaches out instinctively, rough palm brushing against the little boy’s knee. “C’mere.”

Megumi immediately scoots backward instead. “No.” The word is tiny. Wobbly. But it still hits Toji square in the chest.

“…What?”

“I want dad.”

Toji blinks once. His exhausted brain struggles to process the sentence properly. “I’m right here.”

Megumi’s face crumples harder instantly. “No,” he sobs, voice cracking. “I don’t want papa.”

The words land like a punch. Toji goes still.

Megumi curls tighter into the blanket, crying openly now. “I want dad…”

And suddenly Toji understands. Not papa. Dad. You.

The apartment goes strangely quiet around him for a second. Megumi’s tiny shoulders shaking beneath your blanket. Your blanket. The one Megumi drags around the apartment whenever you travel because it smells like your detergent and the stupid citrus fabric softener you always buy.

Toji stares at his son silently, and something in his chest aches so hard it almost feels unbearable. Because Megumi misses you. Not casually. Not in the vague fond way kids miss adults sometimes. No. This is the kind of missing that lives deep in little bones. The kind built slowly over bedtime stories and packed lunches and cartoon pancakes and warm hands helping tie tiny shoes before school. You carved yourself into Megumi’s life so gently that neither of them noticed it happening.

Until now.

Toji swallows hard. “…Hey,” he says quietly.

Megumi keeps crying. Toji’s never been good at this part. He knows how to fight. Survive. Bleed quietly. But comforting people… Especially people he loves… Still feels like trying to hold water in scarred hands.

He sits carefully on the edge of the couch instead. The cushions dip beneath his weight. Megumi doesn’t move away this time.

“That bad, huh?” Toji mutters softly.

Megumi sniffles miserably. “He always reads m’story.”

The tiny devastated way he says it nearly kills Toji instantly, because yeah, you do. Every night. Even when exhausted. Even when Megumi asks for the same dinosaur book six times in a row.

Toji rubs a hand slowly over his jaw. “He’ll call tomorrow.”

“I want him now.” Christ. Toji closes his eyes briefly. Then sighs.

“C’mere, Megs.” 

This time, after a long hesitant second Megumi crawls into his lap. Still crying. Toji wraps both arms around him automatically, holding the little boy carefully against his chest while tiny fingers clutch desperately at his hoodie.

“He said four sleeps,” Megumi mumbles tearfully.

“Yeah.”

“But it’s too many.”

Toji exhales slowly through his nose. You’d only been gone two days, and apparently both of them were handling it badly. He rests his chin lightly against Megumi’s messy hair.

“He misses you too, y’know.”

Megumi sniffles. “Really?”

“Hn.”

“How do you know?”

Because the apartment feels colder without you in it. Because Toji keeps reaching for you in bed before remembering the sheets beside him are empty. Because dinner tastes wrong when someone isn’t nagging him about eating vegetables. Because the silence feels heavier now that he’s learned what your laughter sounds like filling it.

But Megumi’s six.

So Toji just says quietly, “He called twice t’day askin’ about you.”

Megumi brightens slightly at that. “He did?”

“Wouldn’t shut up about how you’re probably forgettin’ to brush your teeth.”

“I never forget!”

“That’s what I said.”

Megumi huffs weakly against his chest. Toji’s hand drifts up automatically, fingers combing carefully through soft black hair.

He learned that from you. Everything soft, he learned from you. The realization settles heavily in his chest. A year ago, this apartment was barely livable. Megumi barely spoke. And Toji… Toji thought family was something that happened to other people.

Now his son cries because he misses bedtime stories from the man who painted over water stains and made clown pancakes and loved them both stupidly enough to stay.

“Papa?”

“Hm?”

Megumi tilts his head back slightly, eyes still watery. “Do you miss him too?”

Toji stills. Dangerous question. Tiny little thing. But dangerous. Megumi watches him with your same quiet patience. Waiting.

Toji looks away first. “…Yeah,” he mutters eventually.

The word comes rough. Honest. And maybe that’s what finally breaks something open in him. Because saying it out loud makes it real. You’re not temporary anymore. Not some soft thing passing through their lives. 

You’re woven into this place now.

Into Megumi.

Into him.

Megumi nods sleepily like the answer makes perfect sense. “Me too.”

Toji huffs out a quiet laugh through his nose. “Yeah, I know.”

The crying finally slows after that. Megumi sags heavily against him, exhausted from all the tears. Toji glances toward the clock. Too late to call you. You’re probably asleep in some hotel room across the country.

Still, he reaches for his phone anyway. Megumi notices immediately.

“Calling dad?”

“Nah.” Toji opens the camera instead.

Megumi blinks. “What’re you doing?”

Toji angles the phone carefully toward the two of them. “Quit lookin’ confused,” he mutters. “He’s gonna lose his mind if he finds out you cried this hard without him.”

Megumi giggles weakly despite himself. There it is. That tiny sound. Toji snaps the picture before Megumi can hide his face. Then another. One where Megumi’s tucked sleepily against his chest beneath your blanket. Safe. Loved. Home.

Toji stares at the photo for a long second before finally typing out a message beneath it.

your kid misses you.

think he’s emotionally manipulative.

come home soon.

He hesitates. Then adds, after another second:

we both do.

Megumi’s already half asleep against him by the time the message sends. Toji sets the phone aside carefully before leaning back into the couch. 

You’ve been pacing in the shadows for fifteen minutes, tail flicking with impatience. The moonlight catches on the tips of your wolf ears, and you know they’re twitching, not because you’re on alert, but because you’re irritated. You’re not supposed to be here. At least, that’s what you told yourself about twenty minutes ago, before you climbed the wall and made a clean landing on the U.A. rooftop.

You’d meant to head home after patrol. Maybe collapse on the couch. Maybe grumble about how much you missed your grumpy husband into the empty air. But then you thought about him, hunched over some file in his office, the way his hair slips loose when he’s tired, the way his eyes half-close when he’s been reading too long. You hadn’t meant to come here. Really. You’d told yourself you’d let him work without distractions. But then your patrol ended early, the streets were too quiet, and all you could think about was your grumpy, perpetually exhausted husband sitting somewhere in that fortress of a school.

And maybe you missed him. Just a little. Not that you’d ever admit it.

You scale the wall with the ease of someone who’s done far more illegal things and land soundlessly on the rooftop. The staff windows are dark except for one office, and there he is. Aizawa Shouta. Hair down, scarf draped over the back of his chair, expression the same brand of bored exhaustion you fell in love with.

You smirk. The window to his office is unlocked. Of course it is, he knew you’d come eventually. You slide it open and step inside without a sound, only to lean against the wall and watch him work. “Paperwork’s gonna kill you before any villain does, Eraser.”

He doesn’t even flinch. Just keeps scribbling on whatever hellish paperwork U.A. has buried him under. “I knew it was you,” he mutters. “No one else’s footsteps drag across my sanity like yours.”

Your grin widens. “That’s romantic talk if I’ve ever heard it.”

Finally, he turns, eyes narrowing at you, but there’s the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth. “You’re supposed to be working.”

“Finished early,” you say, leaning against his desk, arms crossed. “Thought I’d drop by and see if my husband’s still alive. Imagine my shock to find him wasting away in paperwork instead of calling me.”

He sighs, that long-suffering, put-upon sigh, and you know he’s glad you’re here. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet you married me.”

He doesn’t even look up. “I told you to stop climbing into the school like a stray cat.”

Your tail flicks. “And I told you to stop ignoring my texts.”

“You sent one,” he says, flipping to the next page in his file. “At two in the morning. It just said, ‘u up?’”

“That’s called affection.” You step closer, grin stretching wider. “Not my fault you don’t appreciate romance.”

He sighs, that dry, exhausted sound you’ve learned is his way of saying ‘I missed you too.’ “You’re going to get me in trouble.”

“Oh, please. You think anyone here could actually stop me?”

You’re about to say more when a knock at the door interrupts you. Neither of you has time to react before it slides open and a cluster of wide-eyed students stands there, mid-discussion.

Silence.

Their gazes dart between you, the wolf ears, the tail, the vigilante gear you didn’t bother changing out of, and their homeroom teacher, who looks entirely too calm for the situation.

Aizawa looks mildly annoyed, which is his look for everything, and completely unbothered by the fact you’re standing there in full vigilante gear, tail swaying lazily, wolf ears perked toward the intruders.

One of them blurts out, “Uh… sensei… is this… a villain?”

Your grin sharpens. “Depends on your definition.”

They start whispering among themselves:

‘He looks dangerous.’ ‘Why’s sensei acting like he knows him?’ ‘Those ears are real, right?’

Aizawa cuts them off. “This is… an acquaintance. He was just leaving.”

You tilt your head at him, mock-offended. “‘Acquaintance’? That’s cold.”

“Door,” he says flatly, and the students scurry out.

When it’s quiet again, you raise a brow. “An acquaintance, huh? Hurtful. Very hurtful.”

“Would you rather I tell them the truth?”

You grin and lean in, resting your hands on his desk. “I think you like having me as your little secret.”

He doesn’t answer, which means you’re right, but when his hand slips under the desk to rest against your thigh, you know exactly how much he missed you.

It happens weeks after that night. You’re back at U.A., reluctantly helping patch up a busted training dummy in the support lab when a group of students pass by. They stop, watching you with wide eyes, whispering among themselves.

One finally speaks up. “Wait… aren’t you that vigilante we saw in Eraserhead’s office?”

You smirk. “Maybe.”

Another adds, “So why are you here again?”

Before you can answer, Aizawa walks in, hair tied back, scarf draped over his shoulders. He doesn’t even look at them when he says, “Because he lives with me.”

The silence that follows is priceless.

You grin, fangs flashing. “Translation: I’m his husband.”

The students absolutely lose it.

Aizawa just sighs and mutters, “I knew I should’ve kept my mouth shut,” while you sling an arm over his shoulders and enjoy the chaos.

He gives you a flat look, but the corner of his mouth twitches again. “You’re sleeping on the couch tonight.”

You step closer, tail swaying lazily. “Oh, I think we both know you’ll change your mind in an hour.”

Reader! who owns an old saloon out west around northern Texas, something you bought in your earlier years when you looked far brighter and far less eroded, back when everyone and their mama wanted to go westward to find a new life. But that was then and this was now, with most of your business only coming from regulars from the nearby town or the occasional traveling cowboy who decided they wanted a drink. Life was far more boring than people had spread stories about. But, this was your home now despite how decrepit and dusty your little bar was getting, with sand and dirt blowing past your doors whenever a strong wind picked up.

Reader! who's waiting on customers one night far after sundown has happened, leaning against the bar even if you know there's a slim chance that anyone will show up. Ever since rumors of evil lurking at night started spreading around here your already dying business is hanging on like a horse with a broken leg begging not to be put down. You sigh out for the hundredth time before something outside catches your eye, a dark figure lurking outside your establishment. Waiting for a moment in case it was a customer, you finally got up to go investigate the noise. No need for your gun. At least not yet.

Reader! who opens the saloon doors, looking around only to find a man outside waiting against the wall. Right off the bat you could decipher that he was a cowboy from his clothes, but there appeared to be no animal around for him to get here with. Cowboys certainly didn't just show up in your town willingly, they were often just passing by on their horses. In the dark you could make out a few of his features, mostly his medium brown skin and his long black hair, mostly likely a Native American. They rarely came into town, especially on travel, but it wasn't unheard of for them to be cowboys, quite the contrary. Regardless, you waited to see if the man would even acknowledge you. He shifted away from the wall, his brown eyes finally meeting yours.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vampire!Cowboy who sizes you up and down for a moment, knowing better to jump on you in public even if the town around you was dead as dirt. "Do you need something, sir?" He heard you ask him after a stretched moment of silence. He'd passed by your town hoping for a quick meal, and that seemed to fall right into his lap but he couldn't act too fast. "Just looking for a place to stop by, sir. Saw your place." the man excused, his voice almost alluringly calm with a hint of roughness, "Mind letting me in?"

Vampire!Cowboy who sees you give him an odd look wondering why he would need to ask permission to come into a public place. Maybe it was a respect thing. "Well, come on in then. Won't have to fight anyone for a seat," You eventually replied, turning back to enter the vacant bar. He followed after you quietly, like a wolf stalking behind a deer. You weren't lying, this place was practically dead at this time of night, the only reason you weren't closed up yet being you were desperate to see if anyone would come to give you a bit of business. Oh, poor you.

Vampire!Cowboy who remains waiting, taking a seat at the bar and getting a rest he admittedly really had craved. It's not easy being on the road looking for opportunities to care for farm animals or horses to start with, even worse when you burn like hell in the sun without proper protection. His main reason for scouting out was that he was also starving, and hadn't had a meal the past week. Even if vampires could hold off needing food longer than humans hunger pains were still a bitch to deal with.

Vampire!Cowboy who keeps his eyes on you as you go behind the bar, checking your stock, "You want anything to drink?" you almost desperately offered, but he shook his head claiming he doesn't drink. Consuming any human food made him throw up, his body rejecting anything but blood. You sighed in defeat, leaning against the bar again as you wondered what to do about anything. The other man removed his hat, adjusting his hair a bit as he set it against the counter, the thing was his lifeline by now but it was still irritating to wear it 24/7. "Damn it," you mumbled to yourself, opting to look him over better now that he was up close rather than mope like always. He had that usual expression of exhaustion that travelers carried, but he carried a hint of a sickly appearance. Weird.

Vampire!Cowboy who glances around to make sure the cost is clear before you interrupt his thoughts. "So... you got your horse around here?" You asked him. The man looked back at you, confused for a second before you continued, "Just uh, you're a cowboy right? Or are they making you rough it out in the plains?" You tried to joke as he gave you a trivial look. "She's tied to the picket line beside the bar. She's unwell," He admitted. You cocked your head a bit, urging him to go on. "She has scabs on her side," he started, leaving out the part where the mare had gotten them from people attempting to strike him with tomahawks or sickle while he used her to escape. "And she's dehydrated. We haven't found water in quite some time. She needs her hooves trimmed truthfully," he had no clue why he was opening up to you about this because you were about to be his dinner but he hadn't really shared how his girl was doing, how guilty he felt about not being able to care for her properly when he'd been taught to treasure horses all his life. He didn't think he could just bite her and turn her into a creature of the night too, and he frankly didn't want to thrust that burden upon an innocent animal the way it had been thrust onto him.

Vampire!Cowboy who watches you get out from behind the bar, "I can help her," you insisted to him, "I helped my dad with horses when I was younger. Ain't a professional farrier but I think I can help her," Brietly, he wonders if you're joking, playing the usual cruel trick people liked to pull when they saw someone like him in need. But no, you were dead serious. Well, it didn't hurt to give it a try, if you were telling the truth his mare would be in better health and if you weren't he'd get a free meal out of tearing your throat out.

Vampire!Cowboy who leaves the saloon with you, guiding you beside your building that had a blindspot to passerbys (you really have no survival instincts), where a large brown horse with a black mane was waiting, and you could see where he was telling the truth with how tired she looked, her hooves aching and her side covered in scabbed over cuts. Poor girl.

Vampire!Cowboy who watches you closely as you touch his mount, with the horse huffing at first then gradually leaning into your touch as you look her over more closely "She's a pretty girl," You commented as you walked off to find a bucket to fill up with water to get her a drink.

Vampire!Cowboy who sees how much you care for his companion even if you tell him he'll have to come back tomorrow when you have the proper supplies to actually clean her up and get her back at the road. He reckons that this isn't a lie either but you're still not to be trusted for too long in his book. As the horse drinks from the bucket, snout twitching, he's just happy you've saved him another day of feeling like shit that he can't be as good for her as he once was. You're allowed to live. For now.

Vampire!Cowboy who you wait on to return the whole day, serving your usual customers and kicking out a drunk or two. Honestly, the drunks were the only people who made the day mildly entertaining even if they were a general nuisance. You were a desperate man. Only when it's getting near the evening does someone even mention that he saw you with a new person on his way home last night. He warned you not to get close to such a suspicious figure with all the buzz about vampires around here, as if you were stupid. But you just nodded and assured him that you would stay safe during the night.

Vampire!Cowboy who finally shows up right before you're fixing to leave for the night. Well, cowboys had to be really busy right? You were sure he wasn't trying to be rude. It isn't long before you're working on the horse, tending to her scabs first as he surveys her work. "So," you started, trying to start a conversation, "This your girl? Or is she from the ranch you work at?" He avoided looking at you, readjusting his hat, "She's mine. Has been for five years now," Okay, you were getting somewhere other than dead sience. You patted her side, saying to him "How'd you get her?" Again, he ponders before admitting "I had her before I took in this "Job"," He started, not sure himself if he was talking about being an actual cowboy or being vampire, "Horses were special to my people. An extraordinary amount. The more stallions, the more wealthy and higher you were held, at least by your standards."

Vampire!Cowboy who looks in the horse's brown eyes as he continues, "I only had her, but she was my girl. Taking care of her showed my character," he hummed, "Suppose you could say that's still accurate with how bad she looks," You swallowed, feeling a bit sheepish as you continued, "Anyone else in your family got one of them?" and you immediately regretted when he very bluntly replied with, "No. They're dead," It was unbearably awkward for a split second, that felt like it went on for eons, before he corrected himself, "Sorry, sorry. That was impolite. But, I don't have any family left. She's all I have of them and most of my people where I was," As you grabbed the hoof knife, you tried to excuse yourself "Real sorry about that. I just uh..." you let the words die in your mouth as you focused on the mare.

Vampire!Cowboy who wonders why he feels so out of place being apathetic to you. You're supposed to be just food but here he is sharing his past with you and empathizing with your embarrassment. For so long he had to cut himself off of human connection and feelings, it was the best way to survive in a world like this especially as a vampire who had to feast on blood. But he had truly missed having someone to connect with. It was rough to trust anyone on top of all that with what happened the last time they trusted someone too much, ending with almost his entire folk gone and he was stuck being a vampire.

Vampire!Cowboy who hears you speak up again, "Well uh, if you're in the area again anytime soon, you can come by anytime. I don't get a lot of customers and well. You can talk to me if you want," you rambled a bit, "Or if your horse here needs some help,"

He doesn't know why but he almost wants to take you up on that offer. Maybe he's just desperate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vampire!Cowboy who keeps showing up to your bar at night. You don't know why and you don't really want to ask. He's vague about being a cowboy, but you figure he doesn't want to talk about the things hundreds of others ranted to you about whenever they came into your bar. He's still stoic, but you've managed to get him to let out a huff of amusement at some of your jokes. So in your book, that's a win. He never orders anything which is the only down side you can see so far but you don't push it. He's good company.

Vampire!Cowboy who locals finally pick up on you seeing more often at night. Some are happy you've got another person to have your back if things go south with those night creatures, others think he's a threat waiting to just lash out on you. It's a mix of paranoia and a hint of prejudice, neither of which you're a big fan of. Your new friend is hard to read no doubt, but he seems to be a good man at heart who just needs someone to talk to after a long day at work.

Vampire!Cowboy who notices a lot more people start showing up at your bar at night, staring at him as if to ward him off. You let it pass, even if you hate it, because they keep buying drinks and if you don't get enough money you're gonna have to start looking for a new place to live and work at. He focuses on you the most mostly, but whenever someone else tries to butt into your conversation he stares at them. The only warning he ever gave any of them to back off was slapping a man's hand away when the man tried to pull on his hair for a stupid joke. He didn't want to be labeled as a "problem" but he figured it didn't matter when whatever he did would be used against him. Such was life.

Vampire!Cowboy who you're talking to one night over his horse, talking about a stupid stunt she'd pulled earlier, and you swear you see a smile tugging his lips as he goes on about her. You have the strange urge to tell him how handsome he is. That's not weird, right? Nothing wrong with telling another man he looks good. Especially when he's such a rugged cowboy with a soft spot underneath all of it. He's pretty damn funny you learn, with a dry sense of humor that catches you off guard still. But the urge to call him handsome dies in your mind as someone walks in with little warning. It was the man who spoke to earlier, who gave you the stink eye when you said that you were warming up to the cowboy. He says not a word but his presence shifts the room as he comes in and sits at a table, directly viewing you both. Your friend stops talking at that, feeling his eyes on you both. The man sitting there clearly isn't concerned with you safety per say, more about what you, a man, are doing with this other man all alone for hours on end to the point you can't stop defending him so hard.

After that little night the cowboy stays away for a week. But he comes back to you even if the town goes right back to whispering about you two. Maybe you made him weak.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vampire!Cowboy who strolls up to the saloon late at night like usual, riding on his horse until he gets close to the building and hears commotion coming from inside. Making sure his girl is secure first, he sneaks his way into the bar. He stopped needing your permission to enter a long time ago and thank God for that, because you're in a damn mess. An outlaw, dressed vaguely like a cowboy just like himself, had a pistol pointed at your face as he demanded all the money you had, refusing to believe that you didn't have more you were hiding. Talk about a piss poor place to rob. Your "friends" had stopped coming at night after the vampire had left awhile, leaving you to be right back to being broke.

Vampire!Cowboy who feels anger take hold of him so deeply that he has to stop himself from immediately grabbing that outlaw and burying his fangs into him, he doesn't need to drive off his only ally by revealing he was one of the undead your town was so afraid of. Instead, he acted fast, grabbing a bottle of wine you had set on a table and had been meaning to put back up. For once, you forgetting something paid off. The bottle collided with the back of the outlaw's head before you could think, wine and glass spilling over the man and the floor, combined with the blood loss from all the tiny cuts he'd just sustained. Before the man could scream out, the cowboy had grabbed his gun, disarming him and tossing you the weapon before yanking him backwards to pull him outside. You felt like you were shell shocked, but you had half a mind and grabbed the gun regardless as you watched him pull the outlaw away kicking and screaming.

Vampire!Cowboy who you hear about the next day in a plethora of rumors, After he dragged the outlaw away the previous night he didn't return. A few people saw the aftermath but it had already sparked a forest fire of gossip. "I'm telling you, (name), he had his teeth in that man's neck," a woman had told you at the saloon, sipping on her glass of scotch. "He was just fighting him, I heard it. That thief was screaming bloody murder," You tried to excuse, your heart racing. "Well you either got a monster on your hand or a sodomite. Don't know which one is worse. You got a damn problem on your hands," she had scoffed and you held back the urge to tell her it was none of her fucking business if your friend fancied a man, how that was a million times more preferable to being a vampire. But you said nothing, knowing it would make the rumors around you worse, Well, if he was gay too at least you got to share the same boat.

Vampire!Cowboy who has to start sneaking around to see you, nervous about people hurting his girl while she's outside waiting on him. But he doesn't want to stop seeing you, even if having to hide during the day in one place while fighting off his hunger more often is beyond inconvenient. That outlaw was a good meal at least. You don't want to give him up either dare you say you're fond about him despite how dangerous that is. The most daring you've gotten in-between you two is finally calling him handsome one night, earning a slightly toothy grin from him at that. Afterwards, he had put his hat on your head playfully, saying you should follow the "cowboy hat rule". He drops his teasing after you tell him you don't know what that means, returning to talking about life on the plains.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vampire!Cowboy comes up to your place once again, sneaking into through the back only to hear another commotion. That outlaw was dead, right? Maybe another had decided to be stupid and stop by. But no, when he peaked his head in he saw you arguing against three men he'd seen in you bar before, calling you a plethora of colorful and downright awful names while accusing you of everything under the sun. Some of those accusations involved him even. He wasn't mad about those ones because they spoke about him, he fancied you dare he say, but they made him red with anger because how dare someone speak to you like that? He didn't act fast enough, because one of the older men pistol whipped you across the face, splitting a part of your head open already, before he whipped you with it two more times in quick succession.

Vampire!Cowboy who feels like his body is only autopilot as he rushes towards the man, while a skinnier guy takes advantage of your dazed state. He throws you back against the shelf of alcohol, breaking a few bottles on impact alone which spread shattered glass and booze all over your back. You black out briefly but very visibly hear a scream and a ripping noise rings out, before the third man fires his pistol and quickly screams out again. In your blurred vision behind the counter, you see very evident splatters of red, with a speeding figure giving hell to the three men faster than they can run away or fight back. You let your head fall again, feeling blood drip down your right eye to join the blood leaking from your nose.

Vampire!Cowboy who you feel touch your face after a long moment of painful silence, tilting your head up enough to look him in the face. You immediately see the blood smeared all over his mouth and cheeks, with it splattered all over his waist leading up to his drenched collar. He's breathing so heavily, and you can smell the blood on his hands that's no doubt staining your face too but you couldn't give a shit. You swallow, trying to regain composure as your own blood slips into your lip and tastes like iron on your tongue. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," you hear him quickly mumble, "Fuck,"

Vampire!Cowboy who you focus on, even if your ears ring and your head throbs. He's a monster. You're not drunk enough from blood loss to ignore the fact the man you'd shared so many nights with is a vampire. He sees the shift in your eyes and almost pulls away, before you reach up to touch him. Your touch is severely uncoordinated, knocking his hat off as your hand grips his long black hair. He sighed quickly, pulling you closer with your head against his chest even if it got more blood on you. He had no heartbeat.

Vampire!Cowboy who holds you while you glance around, seeing the body of the old man against the floor with blood pooling under him, peaking out from the bar but it was still evident his neck had been torn to shreds. Whatever. You could worry about the list of repercussions later. Your mind was zeroed in on your fingers in his hair.

Vampire!Cowboy who feels you pull away from his chest to look up at him, both of you a bloody, red mess with you smelling like an alcohol shop. His eyes are a mix of stress and vulnerability, a rare sight from the other man. You can't stop yourself from leaning in, even if you're a disgusting mess of gore and alcohol. To your surprise he doesn't stop you either, meeting you halfway as your lips meet his finally. He tastes overwhelmingly like blood but maybe that's you. Maybe it's both of you. The kiss isn't elegant, your blood smearing on the side of his face as you tilt your head, his hands staining the back of your shirt crimson while he ignores the little cuts the glass is making on his palms. Your blood tastes so sweet, you're so sweet and fuck he loves it. For a moment everything else around you doesn't matter. Nothing else will never matter. But, when he breaks away, tongue darting out to taste the blood dripping from your nose and knows you need medical attention. He eases you to your feet, letting you lean on him for support. You don't look at the bodies, not because you care for what he did but because you want to stay focused on him.

Vampire!Cowboy who gently carries you away from the scene, leaving behind the scene in the saloon for whoever to find when dawn breaks. But for now, he helps you mount his horse to go find help, still closely clinging to you as he joins you.

Maybe it would all be okay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

👁Longan Dragon Cookie🌟

To be allowed to touch the Ivory Dragon's horn is an honour like no other. No one else is allowed to, and even daring to may result in a grizzly end. The length and shape of the horn may seem quite odd – more like the limbs of a tree than anything else. But, you were allowed. It was welcome, in fact. Such a thing was reserved almost solely for a mate's touch. And you were Longan's mate.

The horn feels like wood under your touch, ridges much bark. The dragon's eyes are squeezed close – a rarity – as you let your hand travel the length of it. They seem to be holding their breath. You explore the horn curiously, utterly fascinated by how it was shaped. Longan lets you do as you please. Until – suddenly – a clawed hand caught your wrist and put an end to your actions. Their eyes had opened once more. All six, including the dragon eyes, gazed at you intently. A dark colour bloomed on their cheeks. “… You do not seem to recall what this leads into,” they spoke, “… Perhaps I should remind you.”

You were carried to their nest. Nothing more was said.

🗡Pitaya Dragon Cookie🍉

There had not been a soul that grasped their horns and lived to tell the tale. Pitaya was far too protective – much more than they were over their tail. Though, granted, you were allowed to. Now, it was a bit hard to see them, but they were a part of their helmet. Really, it would have been weird to deny you the right to touch their horns. It was commonplace with mates… even if you did not have any for them to grasp in turn.

The horns were warm, much like the rest of them. The tips were sharp enough to gore – a reminder that they could also be used in combat situations, but thankfully that never really seemed to come to pass. Your gentle prodding and grasping made the dragon groan. Suddenly, you were on the ground with the Red Dragon hovering above you. “That'sss enough…” they hissed, “Let'sss get on with it.”

Alas, the dragon had not actually informed you that the horns were sensitive in all the strangest ways.

🍍Ananas Dragon Cookie🏖

It was rare the Golden Dragon let anyone touch them – much less such an intimate part of them. Their horns were a little difficult to distinguish in their mortal form, too. A certain headpiece enhanced the look of their horns. But, of course, you were an exception. Their beloved mate was allowed to do whatever they pleased. Really, horn touching was an important mating activity.

The horn was oddly warm to the touch, but nonetheless smooth. Ananas's eyes close as you trace a finger to the tip before running it back down to the base. The way they just run into their scalp so naturally was fascinating. As you brought your other hand to grasp the second horn, clawed hands grasped your waist. Your attention went to their face, where flushed cheeks caught your attention prominently. “My darling,” their voice was low and raspy, “I need… more…” Your waist was pressed down into their lap.

A panted breath and lips pressing to your own answered any further confusion. Intimate really meant intimate.

🪷Lotus Dragon Cookie🌊

Their horns were not exactly overly visible in their mortal form. Mostly because their flower was on their head, but it was the “leaves” to the flower. Next to no one was allowed to touch them in general, so anyone in range to touch their horns likely knew better than to do so. Now, of course, you were allowed to touch them as you pleased. They would not be so cruel as to deny their mate such a thing. Your curiosity was adorable, in fact.

They were definitely hard, but still held an oddly plant-like feeling. Your fingers trod the curves and shape curiously. They disappeared under the lotus, but you dared not touch. A glance at the Blue Dragon's face revealed darkened cheeks and lidded eyes. Suddenly, you were pulled down and held to them. “Enough, my treasure,” their voice was low, “… Let us go to our quarters to continue.”

It was only then you learnt that dragon horns were extremely sensitive. Perhaps, even worse than the flower itself.

💜Lychee Dragon Cookie🍇

This dragon did not mind touch – but they really did not allow more than what they felt they wanted. Horns were a no-go. No matter how much interest was expressed by mortals that they were using, they denied it. But, you? Weeeeell, Lychee supposed this was a different circumstance. A really different one. It was normal for mates to touch horns, so to Lychee you were finally accepting your place at their side. A giggle could only leave them.

In the mortal form, their horns were not too big, alas. The two little nubs on their forehead were what became of their horns. Even still, you curiously felt the area. It was fascinating how the hardened skin still held a certain softness to it. You even pinched it, which made the dragon cry out. Suddenly, Lychee threw you to the ground and crawled atop you. Their cheeks flushed. “Alright,” their clawed hands found the bottom of your shirt, “Let's get onto the main event, kyahaha!”

First, the golden colour had caught your attention before the shape was registered. They had turned from a natural curve to a sharp point that would no doubt do damage to flesh should you opt to bury them in. Gazing at Longan's face, it was unreadable as always. “… I had grown a bit worried about your lack of claws,” they spoke as they showed their own much sharper nails, “I expect having something adjacent would help you recall.”

Part of me just wants to say their actions become more intense. They are already basically yandere, you're right.

⚪️ Maybe less inclined to allow even other dragons around you. Even their wyvern servants are turned away from you. Longan despises anyone within a certain vicinity of you, especially alone. You are theirs and theirs alone. To even approach you is a disrespect enough to warrant their rage.

⚪️ Far clingier…? If that is possible. Having you away from their side panics them even more than it should. You are held to them constantly – your presence is a requirement. The last time you were out of their reach, you ended up as you were. They refused to let anything like that happen again. Prepare to have a giant dragon accessory on you.

⚪️ They are far more insistent on you returning to your true form yet are also the quickest to accept that they will spare you ultimately if you cannot. They adore you. You are not leaving them. Even if you are stuck as a weak one, it is a punishment for their failure. You are innocent of anything and are suffering so much while being stuck like that. (Even if you are not.)

⚪️ Arms came around you as the dragon held you to their chest. The gentle beat of their heart – always perfectly in time, echoed in your ear. A clawed hand came to stroke your hair, while a forked tongue gently came to lick your cheek. “My mate,” their voice was deep and low, “What has you so distressed? May I amend it?” Should it be anything but setting you free, Longan would act. But, if it was just comfort you needed, while they might not be the best, they would do whatever was needed to calm you. Longan will not leave your side until you are calm once more.

🍍Ananas Dragon Cookie🏖

🟡 Having stepped away from the nest, you found yourself in a quiet spot on Pineapple Island among the trees. Harsh, quick breaths came from your mouth as you felt tears burning your eyes. Why had you suddenly felt so upset? It was difficult to say, but you simply found an urge to be alone and just sob. A sinking feeling was in your stomach as you tried to calm yourself desperately. You lived in such a peaceful place where anything and everything you want could be given to you. But… your past. Hiding in the brush, you just cried.

🟡 Ananas had taken to searching for you, having grown panicked to when you took too long to return to their nest. They followed your sent in to the jungle on their island, feeling panic welling inside them. What could have happened? Their wings flapped as they flew to where you must have been. Hearing your cries made them rush in a panic. Had something happened? Ananas failing to protect you made their heart race. Upon seeing you, they felt even worse. Hiding in bushes and crying your eyes out…

🟡 Ananas gently pulled you into them, rubbing your back and mumbling soft words. It was a painful thing to witness. What had caused this emotional duress? They asked about any possible injuries, which you denied. Quickly, they take you to the safety of their nest. You are gently glanced over before being clung to again. Their tail wraps around your feet. “My darling,” they speak softly, “… Please, tell me what is wrong.” Ananas would do anything for you, but they first of all gently pepper you with kisses and loving words. The Golden Dragon will help you forget whatever is troubling you.

🗡Pitaya Dragon Cookie🍉

🔴 Your chest felt tight as you pressed into yourself on Pitaya's throne. The dragon had vanished from the nest, leaving you to your devices. Somehow, your mind wandered. Something of an anxiety had come over you. Over what? You were not entirely sure, but an overwhelming fear was absolutely consuming you. Tears escaped your eyes as rushed breaths came from you. Why? It was horrible. You wanted to convince yourself to calm down, but nothing was working. All you could do was clutch yourself tighter and sink deeper into the despairing feeling.

🔴 The sound of cries caught Pitaya's attention as they entered their nest. They were not too sure what they expected but seeing you crying on their throne was not chief among them. The dragon tensed up for a moment. Why were… you upset? Their mind went to injuries, but they smelled no blood in the air. You seemed otherwise fine aside from the obvious upset. Pitaya was lost on how to proceed. But, they could not leave their mate in such a condition.

🔴 The dragon suddenly lifted you up and switched the positions so that you were sitting in their lap. Pitaya held you to them as they pondered what to do. A clawed hand rubbed your shoulder. Your soft sobs had them press your head to their chest. “What hasss you ssso upssset?” they asked, “Do you need me to go burn down a village or sssomething?” The absurdity of the statement made you laugh. Pitaya tilted their head. While they were happy that it seemed to calm you down, they were confused. It was an earnest offer. Still, they will remain with you until you are entirely calm again.

🪷Lotus Dragon Cookie🌊

🔵 Somehow, you had found a secluded part of the palace to hide yourself away in. The tranquil ambience of the palace did little to help with your mood. Something inside you just hurt. Maybe it was a stare from one of the servants or some past memory raising to the forefront of your mind, but you just felt suddenly so painful. You found the corner of the storeroom a comfort. No one really came in here, so it was a perfect place to just cry your heart out. Your feelings felt like too much, and even the privacy of your quarters risked being seen.

🔵 Lotus was searching for you. The dragon wished to speak with you about something, but no one could find you. There were no signs you had left the palace, either. They called for a search, yet found themself looking on their own. Someone mentioned seeing you in a certain isolated hall. They went through the rooms until they heard a sound from a closet. Sliding the door open, they spied you hiding behind a shelf, crying. Lotus instantly felt panic shoot through them. Any dragon would at the sight of an upset mate.