#vampire!ocs

“I see,” you say, trying to ignore how hot your cheeks feel. “Well, um… you mentioned wanting to hang out sometime, and this might be a bit last-minute, but did you want to grab coffee later in the evening?” 

You can’t possibly know this, since you’re not face to face with him in person, but right now, Xavier is clumsily pumping his fist in the air. 

“Of course,” he says. He manages to keep his voice steady, so that you can’t tell how excited he is. “Generally speaking, anytime in the evening works for me. I work pretty standard hours during the day, and I find nighttime to be more pleasant anyways.” 

A smile creeps onto your lips. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that he and Elliot are actually vampires. Apart from what they need to consume in order to survive, they’re just genuine, normal guys. It goes to show how heavily prejudiced most people are. 

“Great,” you smile. “I have to work until then too, so let’s meet up someplace once we’re both done. Do you have any suggestions?” 

“There are a few coffee spots that I usually go to. They might not be to your taste, though, so maybe you’d like to pick instead.” 

“Nah, that’s fine. I trust you. And besides,” you sigh, “one of my jobs is working as a barista, so if it was up to me, I’d probably just default to the same old coffee shop I’m used to. Trying new things out is more fun.” 

Xavier takes a moment to respond, because he’s letting your words slowly sink in. 

One of her jobs? So… she works multiple jobs? And she’s also selling her blood to me every now and then?

Honestly, he can’t help but be concerned. From what he’s heard, donating blood is a physically-demanding process that weakens the body, and he sees you quite regularly. On top of that, it sounds like you’re working more hours than the average person. He’s worried that you’re pushing yourself too much, and that it’ll ruin your health. 

But he knows his place. As things stand, the two of you are barely acquaintances. He has no right to meddle in your life. If you’re choosing to sell your blood to vampires, money must be tight. You’re doing whatever you can to provide for yourself, and he has to respect that. 

First, he needs to get to know you a bit better. Once he’s proven that he’s someone you can rely on, maybe then you’ll consider letting him help you. 

For now, he’ll take things slow. After all, the last thing he wants is to act too overbearing and scare you off. 

“That makes sense,” Xavier says. “I’ll send you the address for one of the places I’m considering. If the location isn’t too inconvenient for you, let’s agree to meet there once we’re both done with work.” 

“Yep! Sounds good.” 

You click off the phone call, still smiling. At least there’s something to look forward to today. It’ll help you get through yet another tedious shift. 

I’ve seen him a bunch of times at Plasma Inc., but since it’s a more special occasion, maybe I should put some effort into my appearance? 

You open up your closet and start weighing your options, which is kind of weird, since it’s not like it’s a date or anything. It’s just a meet-up between two people who are hoping to become better acquainted.

…it’s not a date, right? 

Your heartbeat quickens, and suddenly, you’re not quite sure what to think. 

Even though you’ve already met with Xavier several times before, the novelty of the situation makes you a touch nervous. 

It’s kind of funny, when you think about it. This is the same guy that drinks your blood on the regular, something which most people would be scared shitless to go through, and yet, the idea of meeting up with him for coffee is what’s getting you all worked up. Perhaps part of you can’t help but be worried that if today goes poorly, he might not want to be your client anymore, and then you’ll have to hope the program will match you with someone else so that you can afford to keep making Johnny’s payments in time.

As always, money is the main source of your concerns, but it’s not just about the money. Now that you’ve spent a bit of time with Xavier and gotten a feel for what kind of person he is, you’d honestly be pretty bummed out not having him to talk to anymore. You enjoy spending time with him, and you want to see if this will develop into a meaningful relationship—either as a friend or perhaps even something more. 

So, yeah. You’re a little nervous, and when you step inside the coffee shop, you can feel just how rigid your steps are. 

However, one look at Xavier, sitting at a table by the window and smiling gently in your direction, makes all your worries melt away. 

Just like that, your excitement overshadows your anxiety. 

“Xavier!” 

You grin widely and rush over to him. He stands up to greet you. “Hello,” he says, as poised and charming as always. “Thank you for agreeing to meet me here. How has your day been so far?” 

“It’s been fine,” you say, quickly sitting down. You pause for a moment, then smile shyly. “Well, it’s better now that I get to hang out with you.”

Xavier does his best not to let it show, but the second you utter those words, his heart nearly stops beating. 

He’s convinced it must be illegal for someone to be this cute. 

“What about you?” you ask. “Did work go well? You look like you must have a pretty important job. You’ve even got business cards and everything.” 

“Is that so?” Xavier chuckles. “I didn’t realize owning business cards automatically dictated a person’s professional success.” 

You blush. “Um… well, not exactly, but I’m sure you know what I meant.”

“Yes, I do know. I was just teasing you a bit.” He furrows his brows and stops to ponder your words. “I suppose my job could be considered relatively important, depending on how you look at it. I work for a big company, and I manage several teams of employees. I actually only moved to the city in the first place because I got a promotion. It’s definitely more work, but I guess I liked knowing that my career was progressing.” 

“Wow,” you mumble. “I mean, with the suits and all, I could already kind of tell that you were an important guy. The way you act makes it pretty obvious too. You’re super professional and respectful of others.”

Xavier awkwardly scratches his cheek. “I appreciate you speaking so highly of me, but back home, I was used to people telling me I was often too serious for my own good. From what I’ve heard, I’m rather dull, so I’m pleasantly surprised that you agreed to meet up with me.” 

“What?” you frown, very much in disbelief. “You’re not dull at all. Just because you’re not overly loud and extroverted doesn’t mean you’re not fun to be around. Maybe those people that said those things were just jealous they aren’t as successful as you.” 

“Haha. I guess that’s a possibility,” he muses. “I’ve never really thought too much about it, if I’m being honest. I’m good at dismissing the people whose opinions don’t matter to me. As a result, I tend to be pretty selective when it comes to spending time with others.” 

Hearing that just strokes your ego even more. You feel kind of special, all of a sudden. It’s nice to know that a classy, successful guy like Xavier holds you in such high regard.

Still, you probably shouldn’t get too ahead of yourself. If you’ve learned anything from your time with Caleb—who, by the way, still has yet to respond to any of your messages—it’s that relationships with others are incredibly fragile, and you need to be careful not to ruin a good thing. 

“Well, I’m glad you suggested we meet up normally every now and then,” you smile. “I don’t think you’re dull at all, and I’ve always looked forward to talking to you.” 

Xavier nods politely and tells you that he feels the same way, but deep down, he wishes he could just take you in his arms right now and hug you to his heart’s content. 

…it’s getting harder and harder to act like he’s only interested in being your “friend”. 

“So, should we go order?” you ask, pointing towards the counter. “I’ve never tried the coffee here before, but if you like it, then it must be good.” 

“I’m worried I might be getting your hopes up,” Xavier chuckles. “It could be that what tastes good to me might not apply to you. I do drink quite a lot of coffee though, so I’d like to think I have a decent grasp on the matter.” 

“I’m sure it’ll be great,” you reassure. 

The part about having different preferences when it comes to taste is undeniably true. He regularly consumes blood, after all. But based on what you’ve heard from Elliot, vampires still process most food and drinks generally the way humans do. Their taste buds aren’t exceptionally different. The only glaring difference is that blood tastes pleasant to them, rather than metallic and unpalatable. 

You order your coffee, and a little pastry to go along with it, then you sit back down. Xavier doesn’t seem to be eating anything, and even though you don’t ask, you secretly wonder how long one session of drinking your blood lasts him. You hope he doesn’t let himself go hungry. Although, now that you think of it, he might alternate between other clients apart from you, just to make sure he has enough blood to go around. 

“Is something bothering you?” Xavier asks. “You seem deep in thought. Was work difficult today?” 

“Huh? Oh, not really,” you dismiss, taking a slow sip of your coffee. Your expression brightens. “Hey, this is pretty good! I might even come here on my own sometime. I get discounts at the coffee shop I work at, but maybe I’ll drop by here every now and then whenever I want to treat myself. Or this could just be our little meet-up spot.” 

Xavier isn’t sure whether the last part of what you just said was an afterthought, but nonetheless, hearing that you might be open to seeing him again makes it nearly impossible to suppress his smile.

Lately, he seems to be smiling around you almost constantly. He’s not used to it, but strangely enough… he doesn’t mind. 

“Oh no,” Xavier mutters under his breath. He might already be too far gone, and this is only the first time you’ve ever met up outside of your usual client-donor arrangement. 

You tilt your head. “What’s oh no? Did they mess up your coffee?” 

“N-No, I was just remembering something. Sorry.” He takes a needlessly large gulp of his coffee to try and distract himself, and in the process of doing so, he accidentally burns his tongue. But since he’s too embarrassed to let it show, he swallows the pain and bites down on his lip, glowing red from shame. 

When it comes to you, he also seems to be acting a lot more clumsily than he’s used to. 

“Since you’ve got such an important job, I guess you must have a lot of things on your mind,” you remark. 

Xavier just stares at you for a few moments, letting the warmth of your presence envelop him. When he finally responds, his gaze is noticeably softer than before. 

“Yes,” he nods. “There are definitely a lot of things on my mind lately. Too many to even express.”

You smile gently. “I can’t imagine how difficult or stressful it is to be responsible for so many people. But I’m sure that whatever it is, you’ll get through it. You’re clearly very competent. I doubt there’s anything you can’t do.” 

Xavier chuckles. You’re clearly unaware of his budding feelings, but for the time being, that’s alright.

He’s always been a patient man, and he doubts that’ll ever change. 

You’re feeling great. 

It’s not like you couldn’t already tell that Xavier is a good person, but today’s meeting just further reinforced it. When you think back on your very first encounter, and how detached he was at the start, you definitely never could have imagined being on such good terms. You always assumed your relationship would never leave Plasma Inc.’s walls. 

And yet, here you are, letting him escort you back to your apartment. 

“Thanks again for agreeing to meet with me tonight,” you say, smiling brightly. “I had a lot of fun. It’s nice to see each other in, um… in a different setting.” 

Xavier studies your expression, looking a bit amused. “I feel the same way. Try not to worry too much about how we met. I know it’s a bit unconventional, but it shouldn’t get in the way of us spending time together.” 

You nod happily. Well, your contract for the program never mentioned any clause about not being allowed to meet your clients on your own time, so you doubt you’re breaking any rules. It’s probably exceedingly rare that humans and vampires get along so well, at least in the eyes of society. 

After walking and chatting for a while, it’s time for the part you dread the most whenever you get lucky enough to make a new friend (which, admittedly, doesn’t happen all that often).

Having to show them your crappy apartment. 

Much like Elliot, Xavier doesn’t visibly react when he lays eyes on the shoddy building. You figure he’s doing his utmost to be polite. He’s a classy businessman, and based on the expensive suits he’s always wearing, as well as the fact that he can afford to pay for the program, it’s reasonable to assume that he earns a good wage. 

Comparing yourself to others is never a good thing, but… yeah. You doubt you’ll ever get used to revealing how poor you are. It makes your stomach churn from embarrassment. 

“Uh, well, this is me,” you say, awkwardly pointing to the building. “Thanks again for walking me all the way. I appreciate it.” 

Xavier offers you a gentle smile. “Of course. It’s too late for you to walk outside all alone. This is the least I can do.” 

“I work a lot of late shifts, so I’m pretty used to walking alone in the dead of night,” you admit.

“Do you have a weapon?” Xavier frowns. “Like a taser, or something along those lines? I might be overstepping, but it’s always best to be safe rather than sorry. Ah, I’m not implying you can’t take care of yourself, of course. It’s just that… there’s a lot of awful people out there. I just want you to be safe.” 

His words are nothing but genuine, but after staring you in the eyes for a few moments, he clears his throat and looks off to the side, ever-so-slightly flustered. 

“Sorry,” Xavier blushes. “I didn’t mean for that to come across as a lecture. Please forget what I—” 

“No, no,” you reassure. “I totally get where you’re coming from. I think a taser is a bit out of my budget… but I always carry some pepper spray in my bag, at the very least. I’ve pulled it out a few times whenever I felt like someone was following me, but it always turned out that I was just being paranoid.”

“When you’re a young woman all alone at night, it’s called being cautious, not paranoid. But I’m relieved that you have a way to protect yourself. That’s all that matters.” 

Xavier smiles again. He’s the type that doesn’t smile very often, which is honestly a shame, since he looks even more beautiful whenever he does. Still. It seems like, slowly but surely, he’s getting into the habit of doing it more frequently. 

And you can’t help but smile back. 

“It’s nice to know you’re looking out for me,” you say, playfully punching him in the arm. It obviously doesn’t hurt—it probably wouldn’t have hurt him even if you’d been using your full strength. 

It does, however, make his blush deepen.

“Caring about your safety is the bare minimum,” Xavier mumbles, gaze drifting down towards his feet. He tries not to look too flustered, and thankfully, you don’t read into things too much. “Anyways… let me walk you to the door. I want to make sure you get inside the building. For my own peace of mind.” 

You beam at him. For someone such as yourself, who’s long been abandoned by their own family, you have to admit, it feels really nice that there are people who care. 

Xavier walks you to the front of the building, and now, it’s finally time to say goodbye. Admittedly, you’re a bit reluctant to do so.

“I had a great time,” you smile. “We’ll do this again at some point, right? And we’ll keep seeing each other through the program too.” 

Xavier’s eyes brighten. “Oh… of course. I was hoping you’d be open to meeting up again. I had a very nice time as well. I was worried that I might have made you too uncomfortable with my sudden request, so I’m glad that’s not the case.” 

“I reached out to you first, so I wouldn’t worry about that anymore. Anyways, thanks again! I’m gonna try and get to bed early for a change. Goodnight, Xavier.” 

You wave goodbye, and he smiles before doing the same. 

“Goodnight, [Name]. I hope you can get some rest.” 

The building door closes behind you, and sure enough, there’s no sign of your smile disappearing. 

You walk down the hallway, unlock the door to your unit, and let out a happy sigh as you step inside.

That happy sigh, however, is soon to be replaced by a shiver, because for some reason, it’s really, really cold. 

“Did I accidentally leave the window open…?” you mutter, palming for the light switch in the darkness. It takes a moment, but eventually, you find it, and light floods into the room. 

You shiver again. It’s pretty cold this time of year, and you were looking forward to at least having a warm apartment to come home to. It figures you would make a dumb oversight like this. Oh, well. Looks like you’re keeping your jacket on until it warms up. 

You walk over to the window and roll it down, then fasten the lock shut.

Or, at least, you try to. 

It doesn’t sink in until you get a closer look. The window is open, sure enough, but not in the conventional sense. It turns out that you didn’t forget to shut the window before you left. 

Someone broke it.

A few seconds pass, with you just standing there, frozen from shock. The window is broken. It’s broken, which means someone must have gotten into your apartment to try and steal stuff. But nothing looks to be out of place, and you have very few valuables to begin with—all of which are exactly where you left them. 

Someone broke into your apartment, but they didn’t steal anything. Which can only mean that…

They still haven’t left. 

Before you can scream, someone clamps their hand over your mouth, preventing your cries from echoing across the walls. You thrash and put up a fight to the best of your ability, but it feels like pushing back against a brick wall. The difference in strength is undeniable, and it overwhelms you in no time flat. 

You’re pulled to the ground, and the intruder locks you in their steel grip, giving you absolutely no chance to break free. The situation already feels hopeless enough. It doesn’t look like you have any hope of escaping, and the desperation is enough to send you into a state of utter panic.

Just when you think it can’t possibly get any worse, you hear them speak, and the voice is one you recognize all too well. 

“I’m sorry,” Felix mumbles, his hot breath hitting the shell of your ear. Your eyes widen, and more tears stream down your cheeks. He tightens his grasp on you and lets out a heavy sigh. “I wish it didn’t have to be like this. I really, really tried to make it work. But you just left me no choice. You weren’t willing to hear me out at all. So, now… this is the only way. Please understand. I felt like I was going to die without your blood. It’s not my fault, [Name]. It’s just… not my fault.”

He sinks his fangs into your neck, so hard that you nearly pass out on the spot. You try to scream again, but any noise you make is completely muffled behind his palm. This is a small, crappy apartment, home to very few unfortunate tenants, most of which get up to all kinds of shady business themselves. You doubt anyone will hear you struggling, and even if they do, it’s unlikely that they’ll bother to risk their own necks and step in. 

After all the effort you put in, after all the resolutions you made to try and be more optimistic about your future…

In the end, none of it meant a damn thing. 

“So good,” Felix gasps. He pulls away, just for a moment, and even though you can’t see his face from this angle, you can already imagine the disgusting, sinful expression he’s making right now. “Your blood… it’s just unreal. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever had before. You’re perfect. You really are, [Name]. So perfect. So sweet. And all mine.” 

He bites you a second time, and the pain is so intense that you feel as if a part of you just died. It looks like he isn’t making the slightest effort to hold back. Not that he ever did in the first place. Fuck.

You’re going to die here, aren’t you? 

Felix takes big, greedy gulps of your blood. The pain is already unimaginable, but the more blood he drinks, the fainter you feel. Your body is progressively losing all of its strength, and with every passing moment, you feel more numb.

At least… it’s not… hurting so much… anymore. 

Your sobs are silent and breathless. Eventually, you’re so exhausted that you can’t even muster up the strength to keep crying. You stopped struggling a long time ago. Your body is starting to shut down.

But Felix still doesn’t stop.

To be more precise, he can’t stop. He’s like an animal gone feral, with no rhyme or reason governing his actions. The only thing he cares about right now is satisfying his urges, and you are simply a means to an end. But he’s not trying to kill you. Of course not. If he killed you, he would never be able to drink your blood ever again.

But by the time he breaks out of his trance, it might already be too late. 

You’re not breathing.

“...[Name]?”

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Mercifully, Xavier pulls away just as that harrowing thought fills your mind, and you are immediately flooded with relief. 

At least, until you take a good look at his face.  

There’s blood all over his lips. Your blood. It’s a deep shade of crimson, and you realize, with a gulp, that you’ve never actually lost this much blood before, yet now, it’s staining the better portion of a stranger’s face.  

Xavier must have picked up on your frightened expression, because he quickly digs into his pocket and pulls out a napkin, then uses it to wipe his mouth.  

“There,” he says. “Is that better?”  

You nod hastily. You really don’t mean to offend him, but seeing something like that for the first time... it’s a bit difficult to brush aside.

Xavier stares at you for a few moments. You wonder if he still hasn’t had his fill yet, if he wants to go back in for more. The tender spot on your neck throbs painfully at the thought. 

But instead, he stands up, adjusts his tie, and nods.  

“That’ll be all,” he says. “Thank you for your cooperation. Please speak to the doctor if you happen to be feeling unwell.”  

He walks out without another word, and it kind of feels like a slap to the face. What you just did together can’t exactly be considered intimate, you suppose, but he still drank your goddamn blood, which as far as you're concerned, is a pretty big deal. To watch him carry on with such nonchalance is a harsh reminder that the two of you are completely different.  

Anyways, it’s finally over. You actually pulled it off, and even though it hurt like a bitch, you have every intention of doing it again.  

So long as you’re getting paid, of course.  

“How are you feeling?” the doctor asks. He steps in the room shortly after Xavier leaves, then walks over to you and examines the bite mark on your neck. “Just wait a moment. I’ll disinfect the area and give you a bandage.”  

He wipes your neck down, making sure to be as gentle as possible, applies a thin layer of some kind of ointment, then sticks on a cute little flower-shaped bandage.  

Once he’s done, there’s virtually no sign that a vampire was drinking your blood just a few minutes ago.  

“Blood pressure seems fine,” he remarks, removing the cuff from your arm. “Unless you’re concerned about something, I’d say you’re good to go.”  

Besides the dull pain coming from your neck every so often, and the fact that you’re perhaps a bit dizzy, you think you’ll be okay.  

“I’m good,” you nod. “It wasn’t so bad.”  

That part is a bit of a lie. It did hurt, after all. But you’re used to dealing with hardship, and if there’s anything your shitty life has taught you, it’s how to suck it up and endure.  

The doctor nods, then pulls out an envelope from the inner pocket of his coat. “Here. Your payment for today. As we explained in the contract, all payments will be delivered on-site, immediately after you’ve met with a client. However, it’s up to the client if they wish to see you again, which is why there is no fixed schedule for these appointments.”  

“There’s a chance he might not want to see me again?” you frown, taking the envelope into your hands. 

“It’s a possibility. All vampires have their own preferences, just like how humans prefer different kinds of food. But even if this particular client chooses not to proceed with your meetings, we can try to match you with a different client. Make sure to check your phone regularly so that we can update you on the situation.”  

Right. That makes sense. If the client isn’t satisfied with the quality of their blood, it goes without saying that they wouldn’t want to keep paying for it. It’s kind of like going to a restaurant and ending up with a gross, undercooked meal. Although the analogy is perhaps a bit crude.  

“Take it easy for the next little while,” the doctor suggests. “You seem perfectly fine, but you’ve still lost quite a bit of blood, so make sure to put your health first.”  

How cute. If only you had the luxury of doing that.  

Unfortunately, it’s time to go to work.  

You did it. Against all odds, you actually pulled it off.  

A few days have passed, and thanks to the payment from selling your blood, a few extra shifts you picked up, and cutting back on meals so that you wouldn’t have to buy groceries again, somehow, you managed to scrounge up all the money Johnny asked for.  

You watch, nervously, as he counts the cash you handed him, making sure to be as thorough as possible. It looks like he’s wary of counterfeit bills, or perhaps he just can’t believe that you actually found a way to pay him back.  

Whatever the case, this time, you’ve been spared.  

“Alright,” he says. “It’s all here. See? I knew you could do it. From now on, I expect this same amount every two weeks, like we agreed on.” 

He flashes you a shit-eating grin, then breezes past you, making sure to slap your ass right as he leaves. 

You grit your teeth, mortified. Of course, you don’t dare oppose him. You know all too well how things will end if you do.  

At least it worked. But meeting his demands every two weeks is going to be ridiculously difficult, and the only way you’ll pull it off is if Xavier calls on you again, or at the very least, another vampire decides to solicit your services.  

I never thought it would come to this. To think that I’m actually hoping someone will drink my blood. Life really is a constant fucking struggle.  

Nothing’s ever been easy for you. But perhaps things are finally about to change for the better.  

The screen of your phone lights up, and as you read the message that just appeared, your eyes widen. 

Xavier wants to meet with you again.  

“...disgusting,” Felix shudders. He shoves the other person away, much to their bewilderment. “You’re no good. I’ve tried so many of the humans that have signed up for this program, but all of them taste fucking nasty. This is a waste of my time. And don’t expect to be paid.”  

He sighs and leaves the room before the foul-tasting human can even protest. Yet another disappointment. To think that he was so excited to move to the big city and see what it had to offer, only to be let down like this.  

If this is how things are going to be, then he’s probably better off just obtaining blood pack rations directly from the government. They’re stale and disgusting, but clearly flesh blood is no different here, and he’ll save a lot of money.  

Right. That’s what he’ll do. As much as all vampires crave drinking blood directly from the source, what choice does he have, when everyone tastes like absolute shit?  

He’s just about to speak to one of the staff and let them know he’s done paying for this program, when suddenly, a sweet scent wafts by him.  

Felix immediately knows it’s you. Even for a vampire, his senses have always been unnaturally sharp. Perhaps that’s why he’s so picky when it comes to drinking blood. His taste buds are more sophisticated, more developed, so when something isn’t quite right, he can tell right away.  

The same is true for his sense of smell, although it’s rare for a human to smell so appealing, especially since you’re rather far away.  

In fact, it might be the very first time anyone has ever smelled this good to him.  

Felix watches you walk down the hall, escorted by one of the doctors. You must be here to sell your blood, and the longer he stares at you, the more he finds himself rethinking his earlier decision.  

A smile creeps onto his lips.  

“Well,” he chuckles softly, “maybe I should give it one last chance.” 

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Your phone buzzes hardly ten seconds after you’ve sat down in front of the TV, and although you debate ignoring it at first, if it’s Caleb, the last thing you want to do is make him feel like you’re ghosting him. 

It’s not Caleb, though. Because of fucking course it isn’t. 

Ugh. 

It’s no exaggeration to say that your eyes nearly fall out of your skull with how hard you’re rolling them. Like, seriously? You’ve barely just gotten home and are trying to put this nightmarish day behind you, but he still refuses to leave you the hell alone. Does he have a life? A job? Any actual friends? 

Actually, that’s a stupid question. The fact that he had to force you and Caleb to spend time with him is proof enough that people can’t stand to be around him. 

Right now, you’re in the comfort of your own home. Granted, it’s a shitty, cheap apartment, but you’re comforted by the fact that Kai doesn’t know where you live, and you’d very much like to keep it that way. He’s not here to threaten you using violence, and so, you shrug your shoulders and toss your phone to the side, opting to ignore him. 

You probably should have expected that he wouldn’t give up. 

You openly scoff when you read the part about having a ‘nice day’. Kai is an asshole, no question about it, but he can’t seriously be that stupid to think that you were actually enjoying yourself. He must be intentionally rubbing salt in your wound. 

Resolved to fully ignore him, you silence your phone so that you don’t have to hear it keep buzzing. However, putting the issue to the back of your mind proves to be a lot more difficult than you’d expected, and you keep checking your phone, even though you know you won’t like what you see. It’s like watching a grotesque scene in a horror movie, where you just can’t seem to look away. Even though you don’t want to know what he’s saying, you physically can’t stop yourself from reading all of the shitty messages he sends you. 

Oh, fuck that. 

Your fingers react before you can even think it through, and you grit your teeth as you furiously construct a response. 

You throw your phone across the room. 

Xavier doesn’t really know how to describe what he’s feeling. 

These past few weeks have been strange, to say the least. Most people would describe him as being stoic, perhaps even a bit on the icier side. He minds his manners and is respectful, unless someone gives him a reason not to be, but he tends to be rather detached and doesn’t often try to get close to others—humans and vampires alike. 

However, lately, things have been different. 

Even though he almost never takes an interest in other people, with you, he can’t help but be curious. It must be due to the unique circumstances the two of you share. Most people would probably never experience a contractual arrangement such as this one, and since you’re the first human he’s bitten and taken blood from directly in a very long time, naturally, you’ve left a strong impression on him. 

It’s been many years since he did something like this. In fact, the last time a human ever shared their blood with him, at the expense of their own discomfort, was back when he was still a young child. There was a kind human, a man, who was on rather close terms with his family and chose to live in a vampire-dominated city. He occasionally let Xavier drink his blood and patted his head gently, as if to reassure him that everything was okay. Perhaps that was his way of showing him that not all humans naturally fear vampires. Perhaps the man wanted Xavier to grow up believing that he wasn’t a monster, as other humans would so often say. 

Unfortunately, the man got sick. Not from blood loss, but overworking himself. He was the type to put others’ wellbeing before his own, and his self-sacrificial nature ultimately led him to an early death. 

Xavier isn’t sure why he’s recalling such memories all of a sudden, but it might because to some extent, you remind him of that man. He senses the same kindness from you, despite how brief your meetings have been. He can tell that you don’t devalue others or assume the worst of them, and even though you seemed a bit surprised when you first met him, you’ve been nothing but pleasant ever since. 

Xavier is a businessman. He wouldn’t have moved here if not for the fact that his company was offering him a big promotion, no doubt to ensure that a certain amount of vampires fill the board, and he’s also much more competent than the vast majority of the people he’s had the displeasure of working with. 

Even now, most vampires prefer to live outside of human-dominated cities because it saves them from being exposed to constant discrimination. But Xavier has never allowed such matters to get in the way of his career and ambitions, and when he heard about this program being launched, he was curious to see what it would entail. He actually wondered what kind of people would willingly sign up for such a thing. It was pure intrigue that led him to give it a try. Quite frankly, he wouldn’t mind drinking stale blood from blood packs for the rest of his life. After so many years of the same old thing, he’d gotten used to the taste. 

“Hi, Xavier. How’s your day been so far?” 

You step into the room while he’s still sorting through his thoughts, and you offer him a bright smile without wasting a beat. 

For some reason, that smile of yours makes his chest get awfully tight. 

“It’s been good,” he nods. “What about you?” 

“Not too bad,” you hum, already sitting down and assuming your usual position, which leaves the better portion of your neck exposed. 

Xavier slowly sits down beside you. Yeah. He honestly wouldn’t have minded drinking from blood packs for the rest of his life. He wouldn’t have, but… 

Now that he knows what it’s like to hold you in his arms and let your warm, rich taste envelop him, he doubts he’ll ever be able to go back. 

Xavier realizes that it’s some deep, carnal desire that he simply can’t resist. The natural instinct of a vampire, to sink their fangs into someone’s flesh and feed directly, just as they were born to do. This program allows him to take what he wants without any pretenses, but that’s not the only reason he keeps coming back. 

It’s because it’s you. You’re the reason he’s still here. Because he not only tolerates you (which is rare, for someone as standoffish as he is), but rather, he craves seeing you. He actually looks forward to spending time with you and hearing what you have to say, not just drinking your sweet blood. 

He never imagined developing any sort of attachment, especially not through a program that was only meant to sate his hunger. But for better or worse, he now finds himself wanting to learn more about you, and to be able to interact with you outside of this all-too familiar setting. 

Perhaps he’s asking for too much. He himself realizes it’s a foolish thought to have, and yet, his emotions can’t be swayed. 

He drinks your blood as per usual, but once he’s done—which is normally the part where you both say goodbye and go your separate ways—he instead works up the nerve to grit out the question he so desperately wanted to ask. 

“By any chance, would you… be open to staying in touch?” 

Xavier unknowingly clenches his fists, and his entire body goes completely rigid. He doesn’t want to admit it, but he’s almost afraid to hear your response. He knows that what he’s asking is unprofessional and intrusive, and odds are, he’ll be rejected. 

“Stay in touch?” you reiterate, and thankfully, you don’t look anywhere near as uncomfortable as he expected. “Oh. Like, hang out outside of our meetings here, you mean?” 

Xavier nods hesitantly. “Yes. I know that I’m a client, and you’re a donor, and the company keeps our personal information private for obvious confidentiality purposes. It’s not my intention to pressure you into anything, but I wanted to know if you would be open to seeing each other in a leisurely setting from time to time. Maybe over coffee or something.” 

He flinches near the end, on account of the slight desperation in his voice. He keeps trying to play it cool and act unbothered, but if he didn’t care, he never would have asked you something like this in the first place.

Xavier badly wants you to say yes, because if you don’t, it’s unlikely that your relationship will ever deepen. 

The thought of such a thing upsets him beyond words. 

You blink several times, completely unaware of just how much the man in front of you is silently ruminating. Of course, you’ve always thought Xavier was a near perfect gentleman, and he’s never done anything to make you uncomfortable. You have a favorable impression of him, but then again, there’s very little about him that you actually know. Your meetings have always been rather brief, and you have no idea what he’s like on a day-to-day basis. Odds are that he’s the same kind of guy he is here—respectful and charming. Still, there’s always the risk of getting to know someone and discovering that they’re not at all who you thought they were. 

You had a horrible experience with Felix. Even initially, he struck you as being a bit of a red flag, but you figured that the payoff was worth the risk. But Xavier has never shown any signs of losing control and hurting you, not to mention that it doesn’t sound like he’s trying to solicit your services privately. In any case, you won’t make the same mistake as before and follow a stranger home, no matter what they’re offering you. Until you get to know Xavier better, say, as well as you know Elliot and Caleb, you can just restrict your meetings to safe, public spaces. 

There’s no reason why that wouldn’t be fine, right? 

“I don’t mind,” you smile, and even though Xavier tries to hide his excitement, his eyes widen a discernible amount. “I like talking to you. I guess the way we met is a bit unconventional, but I definitely wouldn’t mind having another friend to hang out with every now and then.” 

Xavier nods vigorously, then digs into his wallet and hands you a business card. “That one has my personal number,” he says. “I want to make sure you truly feel comfortable with this, so I’ll wait for you to call or text me first. I hope this hasn’t put any pressure on you, and I’d understand if you changed your mind at some point.”

Your response to his question makes him feel incredibly hopeful, but he doesn’t want to get overly excited and risk ruining things. You might just be telling him what he wants to hear because you’re trying to be polite. The worst-case scenario would be if you got completely turned off and decided to drop him as a client, like what happened with that other vampire. And then he wouldn’t be able to see you at all. 

He needs to make sure things don’t turn out that way. 

“It’s alright,” you reassure, already inputting his number in your phone. “I don’t feel uncomfortable. I can just give you my number right now.” 

“No, no,” Xavier insists. “I’ll wait for you to contact me yourself. That way, I can be sure that I haven’t pressured you into anything.” 

“Well, alright,” you chuckle softly. “I didn’t take you for the type to worry so much. But I appreciate you trying to be considerate. I’m guessing it’s because of what happened with that other client of mine?” 

“Yes… that’s part of it,” he admits. “I want to avoid causing you another similarly upsetting experience. A-Anyways.” He stands up and quickly adjusts his tie. “I’ll be going now. Thank you for hearing me out, and again, please don’t feel pressured. I’d be happy to get to know you a bit better, but I wouldn’t take it personally if you preferred to leave things as is. Make whichever decision you feel is best.” 

Xavier offers you a subtle, but warm smile, then nods one last time before leaving the room. 

You watch the door close, then look back down at the business card in your hand, as well as the new contact in your phone. Admittedly, you weren’t expecting this. Xavier is undoubtedly a nice, well-mannered guy, but he seemed rather detached when you first met, as if he was consciously trying to keep some distance between the two of you. Which is fair, since this arrangement is purely contractual, but he was never the chatty type. It’s only recently that he’s begun to ask you more questions and has started to take an interest in you. 

Not that you mind. Expanding your social circle certainly wouldn’t hurt. Even if you don’t become super close friends or anything, it’d be nice just to have another person to talk to from time to time.

You never stopped to think about it, but all this time, you really have been unbearably lonely. The stress of drowning in debt and working yourself to the bone kept your mind preoccupied, but now that more people are finally starting to come into your life, you realize just how difficult it was getting through everything on your own. 

Being independent is something to take pride in, but at the same time, there’s no shame in relying on others. Plus, it makes life all the more worth living. As the saying goes, happiness is best when it’s shared. 

You wait for the doctor to enter the room and conduct your usual check-up, and soon enough, you’re free to go. You still have some time to go before your late shift at the coffee shop starts, so you can afford to head home first and maybe take a little nap. 

A yawn falls from your lips as you step out of the building. It sounds pretty obvious, but having your blood regularly taken is a tiring process. Still, it’s definitely worth it. You would’ve never been able to meet all of Johnny’s payments before you started this program. As long as you recognize your body’s limits and be careful not to push yourself too hard, you can stay afloat. 

And one day, you’ll be debt-free. 

Feeling unusually optimistic—Xavier’s offer to get to know you better was admittedly quite flattering—you take the usual route home, humming a chipper tune every so often. It’s the middle of the day, so you aren’t particularly on guard. The streets are bustling with people, all of whom are rushing about to get on with their schedules. 

In such a dense, crowded metropolitan area, it’d be nearly impossible to take note of a certain man, even if you were on high alert. 

And so, you walk. You walk the whole way home, blissfully ignorant of the fact that you’re being followed. Your life is already such a shitshow that the last thing you’d ever suspect is that something else is about to go wrong. 

But unfortunately for you, it is. From here on out, things are only going to get worse. 

The private investigator watches, eyes cold and unfeeling, as you enter your apartment building. You didn’t have to buzz the intercom to get in, and you had a key to unlock the front door. It’s unlikely that you’re just visiting a friend. This must be your home.

“I’m sorry,” he mutters under his breath, but he’s not sorry. Not really. 

After all, if he truly gave a shit about you, he wouldn’t be calling his client right now. He wouldn’t be feeding a dangerous man information that could single-handedly get you killed.

If he actually cared about you, he would never have accepted this job in the first place.

“...it’s me. I found out where she lives.”

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Kai continues pulling both of you along, and some of the arcade customers instinctively gulp at the sight of him. You already knew from last time that he’s made a name for himself, and regardless of what ends up happening here, you doubt anyone will come to your rescue. They’re all scared out of their goddamn minds. 

Caleb keeps stealing glances at you whenever he can, most likely to make sure that you’re doing alright (you’re not), and you can also see that his eyes are tinged with shame. Even without him saying it, you know that he must be blaming himself for this situation. He must feel responsible somehow, because he wasn’t able to deter Kai and protect you. 

You don’t have the guts to tell him that this is all your fault. 

“Look alive, people.” Kai lightly slaps you on the cheek, just hard enough to make you squeeze your eyes shut. He grins shamelessly, fangs on full display. “We’re here to have a good time, aren’t we? Go ahead, [Name]. You can pick out what we play first.” 

You resist the urge to spit in his face—that would undoubtedly get you killed—and instead, you cast a wary look towards the collection of arcade machines. 

“I don’t know,” you admit with a resigned shrug. “I’m not good at games. I’m gonna suck either way, so they’re all the same to me.” 

Kai frowns. “That’s a loser’s mindset. And how can you suck at games? They’re literally meant to be played for fun.”  

“Different people have different things they’re good at, I guess.” 

Like how you’re especially good at being a prick. 

No matter how many vicious insults you want to direct his way, you bite your tongue and do your best to retain your composure. The most you can hope for right now is that if you wait it out, Kai will get bored soon enough and leave you two alone. 

“Man. Is it just me, or is she kind of uptight?” Kai chuckles, playfully elbowing Caleb in the ribs. 

“She’s not,” Caleb glares. “And we had plans to hang out alone before you showed up and threatened us. Aren’t you embarrassed to be acting like this at your age? You’re clearly an adult.” 

“[Name],” Kai fake-whines, and much to your disgust, he proceeds to cling to you and press his cheek against yours. “Tell your boyfriend to stop being so moody. He’s kind of hurting my feelings, you know.”

Anger flashes through Caleb’s eyes. “Let go of—” 

“Seriously, this shit again? I thought I already told you to watch your mouth and back off.” Kai keeps you locked in his grip, but his smile momentarily disappears, and his expression darkens. “Don’t tell me what to fucking do. I’m trying to play nice, so unless you’re a total moron, don’t give me a reason to ruin your girlfriend’s pretty face.” 

Whatever words Caleb planned to say next quickly die out in the back of his throat, and he lowers his gaze to the ground, utterly defeated. 

Yet again, he looks guilty, and yet again, you hate yourself for dragging him into this. 

“I guess he’s pretty possessive,” Kai muses, squeezing your waist. “He gets really pissed off whenever I touch you. Well, I guess no boyfriend would want to watch his girlfriend being all close to another dude.” 

“For the last time, he’s not my boyfriend,” you scowl. “It’s bad enough you forced us to go along with your antics. We’re just friends. At least get that part right.” 

You don’t notice it, since you’re too busy recoiling from Kai’s touch, but Caleb looks even more upset after you utter those words. 

“Wait, seriously? You’re not even dating?” Kai glances between the two of you, and after a moment’s pause, he grins shamelessly. “That just makes it even better. You’re just friends, and he’s getting all upset because I barely touched you? I think he might have other intentions.”

You bite down on your lip to keep from screaming. 

He’s getting upset because he’s worried about me, because you keep threatening to beat the shit out of both of us! 

“Anyways.” Kai turns towards the air hockey table. “Let’s play that one first. You and me, bro. If you win, maybe you’ll get a prize. Who knows.” 

Caleb mutters something under his breath, most likely about how goddamn insufferable this guy is. Still, he must realize by now that there’s no point in trying to argue. Kai will just take whatever he wants by force. 

They load coins into the machine and dispense the first puck, then take up their positions on opposite sides of the table. There’s nothing for you to do besides stand around awkwardly and watch. At least Kai can’t touch you anymore while he’s playing, so there’s that. Also, Caleb is really good at games. There’s a good chance he’ll end up winning, and you pray you get to see Kai suffer a pathetic defeat. 

But of course, nothing ever goes the way you want it to. 

Even though Caleb is a master when it comes to most games, playing air hockey against a vampire is basically rigged. Kai can hit the pucks with such overwhelming speed and force that you’re surprised they haven’t completely shattered yet. It’s a game that favors those with excellent reflexes, and good arm strength. It doesn’t matter if Caleb is much better than the average person. 

Kai utterly destroys him. 

“Haha! I win, bitch!” 

To no one’s surprise, the bastard is a sore winner. He cheers loudly and obnoxiously, occasionally drawing the attention of some of the other customers. The ones that recognize who Kai is immediately look away, though. 

Caleb blinks robotically. “Yeah,” he mutters. “Well played.” 

Your heart aches for him. It’s bad enough that he’s being threatened to spend his time with some absolute asshole, but he has the memory of being brutally attacked still fresh in his mind. And on top of that, he’s clearly worried about you, too. God. Whenever you’re involved… the people around you always end up suffering, one way or another. Your only two friends have both had to endure horrible situations because of you, and it feels like absolute shit. 

Kai leans over your shoulder and grins. “What about you, [Name]? Do you feel like giving it a try?” 

“I’ll lose,” you state flatly. 

“Well, how about I go easy on you? I have to at least give you a chance, after all.” 

You purse your lips, then think back to all the games you played against Caleb. He never went easy on you, and even though losing so many times got pretty frustrating after a while, it might have been even more frustrating if you knew he was letting you win. 

Besides, you don’t want to give Kai the satisfaction of playing into the palm of his hand. You’ll accept your losses with grace, rather than begging for a free pass. 

“I don’t need a handicap,” you say. “If I’m going to win, I’ll do it on my own terms.” 

You turn away, hoping to make your disinterest clear. Even though you’re technically trapped, you refuse to let him feel like he has control over everything you say or do. His enormous ego needs to be knocked down a few pegs. 

And even though Kai doesn’t let it show, it works. 

He narrows his eyes, watching as you hover near Caleb, who keeps fussing over you and asking if you’re feeling alright. The prick is acting like he’s committed some sort of crime by bringing both of you to an arcade, of all things. Seriously, an arcade. Where people come to play games and have fun. Yet here you are, acting like it’s the end of the world. 

“Stupid goddamn humans,” Kai mutters. 

You really ought to show him some more respect. But it’s okay. You’ll learn. 

He’ll make sure of it. 

“Tough break, huh? I thought you’d at least win one of the games we played.” 

Kai chuckles and pats Caleb’s back, which is clearly intended as some kind of mock consolation, and the latter reacts by clenching his fists and refusing to make eye contact. 

You’ve been at the arcade for a while now, and as expected, you lost every one of the games that you participated in. But that much isn’t surprising, and since you didn’t have high hopes to begin with, you don’t really care. 

Caleb, on the other hand, isn’t too happy about it. 

He can’t possibly have been imagining such a crushing defeat, but Kai made sure to pick games where he would have the obvious advantage, like the punching machine, or other games that rely on pure reflex rather than skill. He didn’t even entertain any of the games that Caleb suggested, and even though the setup was rigged from the start, the frustration your friend feels is surely unimaginable. 

Not only did he get dragged out here against his will, but he also suffered a total defeat in one of his favorite pastimes. 

He must be on the verge of exploding. 

“Alright, time to redeem all these tickets I won,” Kai brags shamelessly. You can tell that Caleb is itching to punch him in his stupid, pretentious face, but you both know that wouldn’t go over well. 

At the very least, it looks like this hellish torture is about to come to an end. You’re honestly not sure how much more of this you would have been able to take. 

You follow Kai towards the arcade’s prize center, eager to hurry up and leave already, but of course, the bastard has to take his sweet time. 

He crosses his arms and frowns. “Hm. What should I get?” 

“That one,” you say, pointing to one of the items at random. You really couldn’t give less of a shit. You just want to get the hell out of here. 

“Nah,” he dismisses. “I’m not feeling it.” 

Then why did you even ask me? Fucking bitch.

You grit your teeth, growing increasingly irritated. Freedom is so close, yet so far away. 

Kai must be deliberately taking a long time to pick out his prize, because at the rate he’s going, you swear you’re going to shrivel up and die of old age. As opposed to you, who keeps on rolling their eyes, Caleb wears a much more solemn expression, but he too is on the verge of absolutely losing it. 

Finally, Kai makes up his mind.

“Here,” he says, and out of nowhere, a teddy bear is shoved into your arms. It’s needlessly big, although you suppose that’s because he had a bunch of tickets to redeem. 

You stare into the teddy’s empty glass eyes. “Why are you giving this to me?” you ask. 

“Because it’s a gift,” Kai smiles. He leans closer and playfully flicks the tip of your nose. “It’s cute, like you, so I figured you should have it.”

It takes a great deal of effort to mask your disgust. 

“You don’t have to do that,” you protest. 

Like, seriously. Don’t give me this shit. 

The last thing you want is a reminder of how this asshole threatened you into going along with him, but that’s probably exactly what he has in mind by handing you this so-called ‘gift’. He wants to make sure that you don’t forget how easy it was for him to get his way. He wants you to remember this day and all the frustration that came along with it. 

“I insist,” Kai says, and he flashes you a grin before roughly patting your head, as if you’re a dog or something. 

You suppose you have no choice but to begrudgingly accept, because if not, he’ll throw another fit again. The day is finally about to be over anyways. You can just throw the stupid teddy bear away when you get home. It’s cute, but you refuse to hold onto anything that Kai gave you. 

“Alright, then. Thanks,” you reply, voice dripping with insincerity. 

It takes both your arms to wrap around the big teddy bear and hold it snug against your chest, but thankfully, Kai is now heading for the front door. You’re finally about to leave this shithole. God, if you didn’t already dislike video games enough before, this experience sure as hell solidified it. 

The three of you step outside, and you take a moment to adjust to the change of scenery. Coming from the bright, flashing fluorescent lights inside the arcade, you need a few seconds for your vision to focus. 

Kai fiddles with one of his piercings and chuckles. “See? That wasn’t so bad. We all had a lot of fun, didn’t we?” 

Neither you nor Caleb responds. That should be an answer in itself.

“Hey, [Name],” Kai then says. “Give me your number.” 

You would literally rather shove needles in your ass cheeks, but do you even have a choice? He already knows where you work, so even if you refuse, he’ll probably ambush you again, like he did today. And if you quit and look for work someplace else, he might just threaten your coworkers into giving him your information. 

It doesn’t look like there’s any way out of this. Not yet, at least. Not until he gets bored of you and decides to move onto his next target. 

You seriously picked the wrong son-of-a-bitch to make an enemy out of. 

“Okay,” you concede. It’s not worth picking a fight over. You’ve gotten this far without Caleb getting hurt, and now that Kai’s finally about to leave, you don’t want to take any chances. 

Caleb watches, completely pale, as you and Kai exchange numbers. You’re plenty horrified as well, but you don’t know what to do without pissing him off. His dad’s authority gives him way too much power, and it’s terrifying. He lives with no fear of any consequences. 

You just really, really hope he’ll lose interest in this farce sooner rather than later. 

“Cool,” Kai grins. “We’ll keep in touch. You like the gift, yeah? Make sure to send me pictures of the teddy bear every now and then. I want to make sure you don’t get any funny ideas like throwing it away.” 

Balls. There goes that plan. 

“It’s cute,” you mumble tiredly. “I’ll be sure to take care of it.” 

First thing I’ll do when I get home is hide this thing in the back of my goddamn closet. 

“Glad you like it. I guess I did a pretty good job picking it out. Anyways, I’m starting to get pretty tired, so we’ll leave it here for today.” 

Those are the words you’ve been waiting to hear ever since he showed up out of nowhere, and it’s no exaggeration to say that you’re about to cry tears of relief. 

But of course, he can’t just leave it at that. No, he feels the need to drop one last bomb on you. 

You blink, and before you can even process what’s happening, Kai has already kissed you on the cheek. 

Right in front of Caleb. 

You’re too shocked and horrified to even say anything, and Kai seems to delight in your dumbstruck expression, if the crude grin on his lips is any indication. 

“What?” Kai muses, taunting Caleb with his eyes. “I thought the two of you were just friends. So, this is no big deal, right?” 

You can’t even count the number of times you’ve been disgusted by this fuckface today, but it’s whatever. You can stomach a kiss on the cheek. Considering you regularly sell your blood for a living, and you’re in debt to a shady loan shark, it’s going to take more than something like this to break you. 

You’re definitely going to disinfect that cheek when you get home, though. 

“Well, see ya,” Kai grins, and he walks away while laughing obnoxiously, as always. 

God. You hate his fucking guts. 

The hellish torment is finally over, but the mood is gloomy, to say the very least. Hoping to salvage what’s left of the day, you turn towards Caleb and offer him a strained smile. 

“Let’s head back to your place, like we were going to earlier,” you suggest. “I think it’s safe to say that games are off the menu… but we can still watch a movie or something, right? And we can rant about that douchebag together. It’ll probably help to get some things off your chest.” 

Normally, Caleb is the optimistic one of the two of you, but right now, it looks like his spirit has been completely crushed. 

He slowly shakes his head .”Sorry,” he mumbles. “I’m… not really in the mood right now. I feel like a massive fucking loser. I got dragged along and let that asshole do whatever he wanted to you. I kind of just want to be alone.” 

He doesn’t even wait for you to respond before waving goodbye and leaving you in the dust. 

So, you just stand there, with the stupidly oversized teddy bear in your arms, looking up at the sky in disbelief. 

Why is it so hard for you to be happy?

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“Nah. I went out to buy some things,” he says, lifting up a grocery bag, then flashing you yet another grin. “And since I was in the area, I figured I’d stop by to see you after your shift was over.” 

You’re always happy to see him, but before you reply, you furiously glance around for the umpteenth time, just to be sure that Kai isn’t still around. 

The last thing Caleb needs right now is to run into that prick again. 

“Uh, is everything okay?” Caleb asks, frowning a bit. “You look a bit jumpy. Did something happen at work?” 

Leave it to him to pick up on your discomfort. Well, you suppose you weren’t being terribly subtle in the first place, but whatever. He doesn’t need to know that you ran into that douchebag. He’ll just get worried, especially since you basically picked a fight with Kai. You should count your lucky blessings just to have gotten away in one piece. 

You shake your head. “It’s nothing. Thanks for stopping by. I’m glad I got to see you today. You went shopping, so are you headed home now?” 

“I was gonna walk with you for a bit, then head back, yeah,” Caleb nods. He pauses for a moment. “Um… actually, my house is nearby, so if you aren’t too busy… did you want to stop by for a bit and hang out?” 

You blink. 

He’s inviting me over? 

How long has it been since you went over to someone’s house? The last instance you can recall is when you met up with Felix, and that was certainly not for fun. You honestly can’t remember the last time someone invited you to hang out. It’s a shitty thing to admit to yourself, the fact that you’ve had virtually no friends for as long as you can remember. 

But things are different now. You have Caleb, after all, and Elliot too. Two friends might not sound like much to most people, but for someone like you, it means more than you can even express.

Besides, when it comes to friends, it’s supposed to be quality over quantity, and you certainly feel like you’ve struck gold with these two. 

Even now, you’re still not really sure what you bring to the table, or why they even want to spend time with you, but you’ll do your best to cherish them. You’ll prove that you’re a friend worth having.

“Sure,” you smile. “I’m not working another job today, so I can hang out for a while.” 

Caleb’s cheeks redden. “R-Really? I mean, awesome! I’m glad you’ve got some time to spare. I bought a bunch of snacks, so we can pig out back home. I also have consoles if you want to play games. You liked some of the ones we played at the arcade, right? Like Mario Kart.” 

You remember doing an atrocious job at virtually every game you played back then, but Caleb is babbling on all excitedly, and you have no intention of dashing his spirits. It’s also good that he can still talk about the arcade trip fondly, despite how it ended. 

True to his word, it doesn’t take long to reach Caleb’s apartment, and he pauses before unlocking the door, a sheepish look overtaking his expression.

“Um,” he blushes, “I haven’t really cleaned up recently, so I’m sorry if it’s a bit messy.” 

You chuckle. “Relax. I’m hardly one to judge. I should show you my apartment at some point. Then you’ll get where I’m coming from.” 

“You’d be okay with me coming over?” he blinks. 

“Hm? Yeah, of course. My place is pretty crappy, but if you don’t mind checking it out at some point, I’d be happy to have you.” You smile happily. “We’re friends, right?” 

Caleb’s blush deepens, and after a hasty nod, he opens the door and steps aside to grant you entry. 

You’re not sure what mess he was talking about, because the place looks perfectly fine to you. As expected, it’s nicer than your apartment. You know that Caleb isn’t drowning in money either, but without any debts weighing him down, he’s been able to do pretty well for himself. 

You’d like to think that one day, once you’ve put this whole nightmare behind you, you’ll be able to thrive too. 

“Make yourself comfortable,” Caleb smiles. He starts unloading the groceries he bought, most of which are snacks, and he lays them out into various bowls. 

You sit down on the couch and wait for him. He’s around your age, so he lives alone, but you’ve heard him briefly mention his family once or twice. You’re not sure where exactly they live, but they definitely stay in touch. He’s got a younger brother, from what you remember. 

All your family’s ever done is let you down. But at some point, once you’re doing better financially and have found yourself a proper career, you’d like to start a family of your own. And you swear to never mistreat your future children or burden them, the way your own parents did. 

“Did you remember something funny?” Caleb asks. He brings the bowls over and sets them onto the coffee table, then plops down onto the couch. “You’re smiling,” he remarks. 

“Huh? Oh. Not really. I was just… thinking of the future. I’m trying to imagine things to look forward to, I guess.” 

You know that starting a family is impossible right now, not to mention that you’re still so young. For the time being, you need to focus on yourself. If you stay diligent and do whatever you can to get through the most difficult period in your life, then only good things await you.

Surely. 

Caleb smiles again. “Yeah. There’s lots of things to look forward to in life. Even when everything seems really hard, don’t give up. It’ll be worth it in the end.” 

You don’t mean to, but when he utters the words, you find yourself staring at his injured nose. The swelling has gone down by now, but some of the bruising still remains, and you’re sure that even if he won’t admit to it, recovering hasn’t been an easy process.

“Does it still hurt a lot?” you can’t help but ask. 

“Huh? Ah, you mean my nose.” Caleb gently pats the area, then grins. “Nah, it’s a lot better now. The painkillers they prescribed me really helped. It’s no big deal, and best of all, it doesn’t look crooked or anything, right? U-Unless the doctor was lying to me when he said he was able to align it nicely…” 

“It looks fine,” you reassure. “I just feel bad that you’ve had to suffer for no reason.” 

Remembering your meeting with Kai earlier, and how he didn’t feel guilty in the slightest, just adds to the feeling of injustice. Life has always been unfair, and you know that all too well, but still. It sucks when good people like Caleb get screwed over. 

“Don’t worry, [Name]. I might not look it, but I’m pretty tough. Although I guess I’m a little embarrassed that you had to see me lose a fight,” he admits. 

“What? But he was a vampire. And he attacked you out of nowhere. I doubt anyone would’ve stood a chance.” 

“Yeah, but it still made me feel a bit lame. It won’t happen again, though,” he insists, and he even flexes his bicep, revealing a surprising amount of muscle mass.

You crack a grin. Here you are, worrying about how he’s been wronged, but he’s as optimistic as ever. Perhaps you should stop dwelling on it. The odds of you running into Kai are slim to none, after all. You’re sure as hell never going back to that arcade again. 

“Here,” Caleb offers, handing you one of the bowls. “Try some of the snacks. I’m gonna load up Mario Kart if you’re down to play a bit.” 

“Fine, fine,” you sigh. “But… go easy on me, okay?” 

Caleb laughs. “I’ll do my best.” 

Unsurprisingly, your losing streak persists. 

“[Name]. I only know her first name, not her last name. But I’ve written down a general description of what she looks like, and I have her phone number saved, if that helps at all.” 

The man frowns as he stares down at the piece of paper. It’s true that he’s tracked people down with relatively little information to go off, but it seems strange that his client knows so little about you. Normally, he gets requests from overly jealous partners who are trying to find out if they’re being cheated on, or angry divorcees who are hoping to get some dirt to use in court. 

“It doesn’t sound like the two of you are that well acquainted,” he remarks, “since you only know her first name. Also, it would be a different story if I could bug her phone and track her location, but it isn’t so easy to track her based on a phone number alone. Does she own a vehicle? It’d be more useful if you gave me a license plate. Also, I could hide a GPS tracker under her car to figure out where she is.” 

“I’m not sure if she owns a car or not. But I know for a fact that she regularly sells blood at Plasma Inc. You’re bound to spot her going into the building at some point.” 

The man frowns again. “If you know which places she frequents, why are you asking me to track her down? It seems like you’d be more likely to stumble across her on your own. Keep in mind I’m not refusing your request. I’m just a bit confused, is all.” 

“It’s too risky for me. I’ve been blacklisted from the place, and if anyone sees me, they might call the cops. Not to mention that she’d probably freak out and never go back. And if that happens, I won’t be able to find her ever again.” 

Felix crosses his arms. He’s been in a terrible mood these past few days, and it’s all your fault. 

Just what exactly went wrong? Granted, he may have gotten a bit carried away and taken a little too much of your blood, but it’s not like he put your life at risk. You were perfectly fine, and besides, he promised to be more careful from now on. He assured you that it would never happen again.

And yet, you still dismissed him so cruelly. You threw a fit and got him blacklisted from the program. He can still remember the way all those people looked at him. As if he was some sort of monster. Some sort of freak. 

He hasn’t done anything wrong. Is it really his fault that nearly all blood tastes awful to him? Is he really not allowed to want something, especially when it’s the best thing he’s come across in his whole life? 

Anyone else in his position would have done the same. Everyone has things that they desire, and it just so happens that what he desires most right now is your blood. He even offered to compensate you with a generous sum, so it’s not like he was trying to take it by force. 

Yeah. It’s not his fault. If only you hadn’t made such a big deal over nothing. Then he wouldn’t have had to resort to such measures. 

The only person to blame here is you. 

“I thought you were a private investigator,” Felix scowls. “Isn’t this your job? I told you everything I know about her, and where you’re most likely to find her, so what’s the issue? She doesn’t recognize you, so she won’t have her guard up. I’m sure you’ve tailed people before, so you can follow her home and find out where she lives. That’s what I’m paying you for.” 

The investigator makes a stern face. It’s true that this is his job. It’s a filthy occupation that involves all sorts of shameless work, and he can admit to it. He’s done plenty of things that he wasn’t proud of in the past, but at a certain point, he stopped losing sleep over it. He realized that even if he didn’t accept the job, some other lowlife would. The world is a massive shithole, and no matter the time or place, someone will always end up being screwed over. 

However, this case is special. It gives him pause. 

For the very first time, his client is a vampire. 

The details of the job are especially harrowing. Felix must have been meeting with you through that program, and for whatever reason, he’s been blacklisted and no longer has the right to see you anymore. The fact that he wants to track you down now can only mean one thing. 

He’s after your blood. 

It’s obvious what Felix will do once he finds you. He’ll take what he wants, without giving you a say in the matter. A dull pain shoots through the investigator’s chest. He tries to ignore it, but everything about this situation makes him feel unwell.

If he accepts this job, and sees it through until the end…

He may very well be responsible for the death of an innocent woman. 

“Well?” Felix glares. “What’s the problem? If it’s not enough money, I’ll pay you even more. I don’t care what it takes. I have to find [Name]. It’s no longer an option.” 

The investigator swallows. Even more money? Already, he’s being offered a huge amount. It’s the only reason he stuck around this long after discovering the person who commissioned him was a vampire. He may have spent the better portion of his life doing dirty work, but he’s certainly not immune to fear, and just being in the same room as Felix is making a nervous sweat break out on his neck. 

He shouldn’t accept. He really shouldn’t. But… what will happen if he refuses? Will this vampire even let him refuse? 

Will he be able to leave here in one piece? 

The investigator’s eyes drift down towards the ground. No. He’s being ridiculous. He always comes prepared to these meetings. In fact, he’s got a gun holstered and hidden under his clothing. A bullet wound is enough to restrict even a vampire’s movements. He could surely buy himself enough time to run away. 

It’s not that he’s not entirely unafraid, but he can’t try and pretend as if fear is his only motivator right now. 

In the end, it all comes down to the money. 

He’s being offered yet another dirty job. If he succeeds—which he has almost no doubt that he will—a young woman will find herself victim to a powerful vampire. It’s a situation you can’t possibly win. Once Felix has you in his clutches, your fate is all but sealed. 

He can save you. He can escape right now and pretend like this meeting never happened. Perhaps Felix will fail to secure another private investigator, and eventually, he’ll give up on you. 

It’s no exaggeration to say that right now, your life is in the palm of his hands. Maybe it’s finally time he makes the right decision. Maybe he can finally atone for all the shitty choices he’s made, and all the innocent people who’ve had to suffer because of him. 

“Getting cold feet?” Felix frowns. “Then how about… I pay you this much?” 

He jots down the new amount on the piece of paper, and immediately, the investigator’s eyes widen. 

It’s a lot of money. In fact, it may very well be the most expensive job he’s ever taken on. With this much money, he can afford to take it easy for a while. Maybe he can even give himself a little break. Go on vacation and leave this shitty job behind, at least for a while. 

The investigator’s eyes darken, and as he reaches out to grab the piece of paper, he knows he’s already made up his mind. 

“I’ll do it,” he says. “I’ll find her. You have my word.” 

Felix’s lips split into a wide grin, revealing his fangs in full. 

Money really is the greatest of evils. 

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“I really appreciate you making the effort,” he says. A faint smile graces his lips, and he gestures towards the chairs. “Come on. Let’s sit down. But we don’t need to get started right away. Take all the time you need to compose yourself.” 

“Thanks, but I’m ready. I’ve been crying my heart out plenty until now.” You sit down first, assuming your usual position, and you start rolling down the top of your shirt so that your neck is exposed. 

Xavier usually looks away when you do this. He’s not entirely sure why, because it’s not like you’re undressing or anything, but the act of staring while you reveal more of your skin seems perverted, somehow. It reflects much better on him if he gives you space while you do it. 

But this time, he can’t seem to look away. 

As you’re shimmying the fabric down, he spots it. A little bandage with a cute imprint of some cartoon character he doesn’t recognize. It’s not unordinary for you to have a bandage on your neck. You are regularly giving your blood away, after all. 

And yet, it’s strange. Because it’s been quite some time since you’ve met up with him, and he’s certain that by now, your bite mark would have healed. He also doesn’t remember biting that part of your neck.

He’s not the one that bit you.

It was someone else. 

Xavier sits down next to you, but he can’t seem to keep his eyes off that needlessly cute bandage. You’ve never shown up with a bandage like that before, and he’s quite certain that the ones the doctors give you are plain, like the type they carry in hospitals. 

He shouldn’t ask. He really, really shouldn’t ask. It’s none of his business, and besides, you’re already shaken up enough as it is. The polite thing to do would be to look the other way and think nothing of it. 

Xavier knows all of this, but for some reason, he still can’t stop himself. 

“That bandage,” he says, and all of a sudden, his throat feels dry. “What… happened? I thought you said you dropped that other vampire as your client. The one that was harassing you earlier.” 

“Huh? Oh.” 

You pat your neck, and it’s clear based on the look in your eyes that you must’ve forgotten you even had it.

Xavier’s stomach twists into a knot. He shouldn’t care. Why would it matter what you choose to do with your life, and who you choose to meet with? You’re a grown adult, and you have the right to make your own decisions. Not to mention that he doesn’t know you well enough to advise you or weigh in.

He shouldn’t care. There’s absolutely no reason why it should matter. 

So then, why is he secretly hoping that it’s a bug bite, or perhaps a nasty scratch that you’re trying to cover up? 

“I, um, have another client,” you reply hastily. It’s a lie; Xavier can tell as much. You’re not a very good liar, which is unfortunate, because it makes your dishonesty that much more transparent. “I was recently assigned a different one. One that respects my boundaries and isn’t pushy.” 

Xavier blinks robotically. He doesn’t understand why you would lie to him. Perhaps the question was a touch invasive, but based on the fidgety way in which you answered, it’s almost as if you have something to hide. 

Maybe it’s not even a vampire bite mark. Maybe it’s something else, like a leftover show of affection from an intimate night. A love bite. 

Xavier isn’t sure why, but no matter which explanation he comes up with, they all irritate him. 

“Is everything okay?” you prod, tilting your head to the side. “I’m ready now. I promise I’ve calmed down, so you don’t need to worry about pressuring me into anything. You can start whenever.” 

“...right.” 

Xavier leans closer, and as always, wraps an arm around you so that he can hold you steady during the act. His lips brush against the exposed skin of your neck, but he doesn’t sink his fangs in, not right away. He doesn’t even realize it himself, but he’s so distracted that he can hardly focus on what’s in front of him. 

What you do on your own time shouldn’t matter to him. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t matter. He was briefly concerned for your wellbeing earlier, but anyone with a conscience would have done the same. That’s really all it was. Yeah. That’s all it was. 

Xavier sinks his fangs into your neck and allows the taste of your blood to flood into his mouth, overwhelming all of his senses so that he can’t think of anything else. 

You don’t say anything all the while, but you’re clenching your fists, and doing your utmost not to whimper.

For some reason, it hurts more than usual today. 

You blink lethargically. As always, time passes incredibly slowly when you’re working such a tedious, menial job. It’s nice to not have to deal with customers, you suppose, but Caleb isn’t working the same shift as you today, so you’re bored out of your mind. 

“[Name],” one of your coworkers says. “When you have a minute, can you take out the trash? It’s starting to overflow.” 

“Ah, sure. I can do it right now.” 

You remove your rubber gloves and shake off some soapy bubbles before setting them aside. Then, you empty out the trash can and tie up the garbage bag, making sure to hold your breath the whole time. You pick up the garbage bag and lurch from how heavy it is, but quickly regain your balance as you walk out through the side door. 

It’s nice to get some fresh air for a change. Being cooped up inside and washing dishes for hours on end is not only monotonous, but after a while, the smell of leftover food on the plates really starts getting to you. 

The side door opens up into an alley, and just a bit further down, there’s a dumpster where you can toss away the trash. You can finish the whole thing in roughly a minute, but as you step out of the building, instinctively, you freeze. 

There’s a man in the alley, reclined against the side of the building. He’s smoking a cigarette and staring up at the sky, with a disinterested look in his eyes. Normally, you wouldn’t think much of it. Plenty of people loiter around and smoke, especially when they’re looking to avoid the main roads. 

But unfortunately, you recognize this man.

He’s the same piece of shit who broke your friend’s nose. 

Kai exhales slowly, a few rings of smoke slipping from his lips. He doesn’t seem to take note of you at first, but since you’re frozen on the spot with your jaw hanging open, eventually, he does notice. 

But you can’t help but gape. You can’t help but stare at him, at how he’s lounging about so carelessly, as if he doesn’t have a single care in the world. 

Anger courses through your veins. You remember the way he viciously punched Caleb for no reason, and clearly, he hasn’t faced any repercussions for what he’s done, if he can afford to take it easy like this. 

It pisses you off. As a matter of fact, it makes you furious. 

Which is probably why he decides to call you out for it. 

“You got a problem?” Kai asks. He’s obviously noticed how you’ve been staring at him—or rather, glaring. “Quit giving me the stink-eye. It’s getting on my nerves.” 

You don’t say anything. You don’t even know what to say. Would it even make a difference? It’s clear that he feels no remorse for what he’s done, and as much as you despise him, there’s no way you can make him face his crimes, since he has a get-out-of-jail-free card. 

Fucking privileged bastard. 

You scowl and turn away, then walk over to the dumpster to throw the garbage in. There’s nothing to be gained by riling him up. Not to mention that he’s clearly a loose cannon. One misstep and he might break your nose this time. 

You dump the garbage, but right as you turn to head back inside, Kai suddenly blocks your path. 

He blows more smoke out of the corner of his mouth. “So… do I know you or something? I feel like you look kind of familiar.” 

“You must be imagining it,” you grit out. 

God, how you loathe this asshole. If not for the fact that vampires are so easily able to overpower humans, you would have already kicked him in the balls by now. Actually, whether he’s a vampire or not, that area is still bound to be pretty sensitive, right? Maybe you really should just go ahead and do it…

Ugh. I need to relax. Do I have a death wish or something? He’ll beat the shit out of me so fast I won’t even have time to blink. 

You swallow hard, and against all odds, somehow manage to resist the urge to attack his family jewels. 

“I need to get back to work,” you say, turning away from him.

He stops you once again, and this time, he even flicks his cigarette out of his hand and stomps on it. 

There’s a sinister glint in his eyes, and worse yet, a smirk pulling on his lips. 

“Oh,” he eventually chuckles. “I remember you now. You were there that night. You were crying like a baby because your wimpy boyfriend couldn’t handle one of my punches.” 

Your blood runs cold. His words feel like a knife straight to the gut, and even though you know you shouldn’t let yourself get riled up—you really, really shouldn’t—all of a sudden, you just can’t pretend anymore. 

You simply can’t hide the hatred in your eyes. 

“He’s my friend,” you seethe. “But it doesn’t matter. He could have been a complete stranger to me. It still doesn’t change the fact that you assaulted an innocent person.” 

Talking back to him is reckless, and you know it all too well. Not only is he the type who can do as he pleases without facing any consequences, but he’s a vampire, and that alone puts you at a staggering disadvantage. 

You should be scared. Your instincts should be telling you to turn tail and run away, because after all, it’s the smart thing to do. 

But in this moment, anger surpasses your sense of self-preservation, and you grit your teeth, making your contempt clear as day. 

“You hurt someone for no reason. He had to go to the hospital because of you. What kind of person does that without feeling any guilt whatsoever? You’re a piece of fucking trash.” 

Kai’s eyes widen. Of course, you realize you’ve taken things too far, but it’s already too late. At the very least, you’re right next to your workplace. You can run into the building or even cry out for help if things get ugly. Then again, there’s no guarantee you’ll even still be in one piece by that point. 

Still, you don’t regret what you said. 

He’s a scumbag, and he deserves to know it. 

“Get out of my way,” you grimace, shoving past him. You’ve said your piece, and now, you really need to get the hell out of here. Provoking a crazy bastard like him is just about the last thing anyone should do, but you really couldn’t help it. When you heard him talking so horribly about Caleb, despite the pain he caused him… a part of you just snapped.

Unfortunately, this rare act of impulsivity will cost you, even though you don’t realize it yet. 

Kai waits until you’ve made it to the door, and you’re just about to scurry inside, when all of a sudden, he grabs you and pins you against the side of the building. 

“How adorable,” he muses. His face is mere inches from your own, and when he flashes you that cocky smirk you’ve come to despise, you can see his fangs glistening. “It’s cute how you’re not completely spineless. But man, the humans in this city really don’t have their heads on straight, huh? You know I could break every bone in your body if I wanted to. In fact, I could do it with my eyes closed. It would be like taking candy from a baby.” 

You try to scream, but he cuts you off by clamping one of his hands over your mouth before most of the sound can escape. Still, you wail out to the best of your ability, even though your voice is muffled behind his palm. 

Shit. I should’ve known this would happen. I tried to keep my mouth shut, but… I just couldn’t. Caleb has been so nice to me. For once in my life, I wanted to feel like I was helping someone. I’m such a fucking idiot. 

Tears blur your vision, and it’s partly from the fear, but mostly because of the frustration you feel. It’s not like you even managed to protect Caleb’s dignity. This guy still won’t regret what he’s done. But at the very least… you can say that you tried to do a good thing. You tried to stand up to the cruel people in this world, possibly for the very first time in your life. 

It might be silly, but that simple fact is something you take pride in. 

“Looks like you didn’t think this through,” Kai chuckles darkly. “You’ve probably heard by now that nobody dares to mess with me. You would’ve been better off swallowing your anger instead of being so stupidly honest.” 

He pauses for a moment, then starts pulling his hand off your mouth. 

“Don't scream,” he warns. “The second you do, I’ll make you regret it.” 

It’s an obvious threat, and you figure that going against his demands will probably land you in the hospital again. Even though you hate this guy’s guts, you definitely don’t have the money to cover more medical expenses. 

Life really is a huge fucking joke. Here you are, with your safety on the line, and your first and foremost concern is how much you’ll have to pay if he beats you up.  

Even though Kai is the one pressing you against the wall right now, as always, money is the thing that truly has you in a deathgrip. 

It’s so depressing it might actually be considered funny. 

“Poor little human,” Kai says, clearly mocking you. He rubs his thumb against your cheek, and you clench your jaw, swallowing yet another wave of anger. “I guess it’s not your fault you’re so weak and inferior. Vampires are better in every possible way. That’s why they tried to shut us out for so long. They knew that once they allowed us to enter society along with the rest of you, we would take over in the blink of an eye.” 

You don’t respond. It seems like he’s getting into some sort of rant, but at the very least, he hasn’t hurt you. Yet. 

“It’s only natural that you would fear us,” he hums. “Because you can’t possibly stand a chance. Sometimes I actually feel bad about it. I wonder what the point is in having weaklings like you share this planet with us, but then I remember that it’s just the law of nature. Some are predators, and others are prey. It’s decided from the moment you’re born. I guess you were just unlucky.” 

His words strike deep, and ironically, it has nothing to do with being a human or a vampire. 

It’s because there’s truth to what he’s saying. The part about you being unlucky, and how oftentimes, your circumstances are determined from birth. 

If you hadn’t been born to your pathetic, shitty parents, then maybe…

Maybe you could’ve been happy. 

You look down at your feet. It’s very much like you to wallow in pity every chance you get. At what point will you stop blaming everything that happens to you on everyone else? It’s true that you’ve been saddled with unfortunate circumstances. Most people don’t find themselves in massive debt thanks to their parents running away from their responsibilities. 

But despite how unfair it all feels, suddenly, you remember Caleb. You remember how he was able to smile and look on the bright side, even after he’d been attacked for no good reason. You remember the way you resolved to be more like him. To be more optimistic, and to see the beauty in life, even in the smallest things. 

The truth is that you’re only in this situation right now because you chose it. It was your choice to talk back to Kai, even though you could have easily predicted how he’d react. Not everything in life is entirely out of your control. There’s always a way. There’s always hope. 

So, when you raise your head and lock eyes with Kai, he falters, because your expression has done a full one-eighty. 

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a human, or if you’re a vampire,” you say. “That alone doesn’t dictate what kind of life you’ll have. Just because you’re stronger than most people, just because you’re sturdier, and just because you think you can get away with doing all sorts of horrible things to others… it doesn’t matter. Because eventually, the choices you make will come back to bite you in the ass. So, I’m not jealous of you, if that’s what you were getting at. I don’t wish I was born a vampire. I’m going to do what I can and make choices that I can be proud of. Eventually, it will pay off. I’m sure of it.” 

You slowly push him back, and much to your relief, he isn’t actively holding you in place anymore. You’re able to slip away from him, and without even sparing another glance over your shoulder, you rush inside the building and lock the door behind you. 

Kai stands there in utter disbelief. 

Why didn’t you look scared of him? He could have easily snapped your neck in half, if he really wanted to. He’s never killed anyone before, but he’s sure that if it ever happened, his dad would help cover it up. 

You could have died there. He’s always had a short temper, and when people get under his skin, he doesn’t hesitate to put them in their place. Especially pathetic humans. Those weaklings who may as well be ants running around in the dirt. 

Kai is the predator, and you are the prey. It’s so simple. You shouldn’t even think to talk back to him. Such a thing should be inconceivable. You should be just like those people at the arcade that stood by and watched, helplessly, as he bashed Caleb’s face in. 

And yet, you said all those things to him. You openly condemned him, despite knowing he could punish you for it. 

Where do you get the nerve? 

“Ha.” 

Kai chuckles humorlessly. He just can’t wrap his head around it. He’s never met a human who dared to stand up to him once they discovered he was a vampire. That’s the beauty in being the superior species. Those who are weaker than him instinctively know to bow their heads and treat him with respect. 

It’s partly infuriating, but also, just a touch amusing. 

He’s untouchable. Not only is he a powerful vampire, but he has the head of the police force on his side. He must have been blessed from birth, because the universe keeps bestowing him with everything he could ever want. 

So, fine then. He’ll play along with this little game of yours. And once he’s through with you, he’ll make you admit that a miserable human like you can’t ever measure up to a vampire such as himself. 

A devilish sneer cuts across Kai’s lips. 

He’s going to fucking break you. 

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Elliot smiles sympathetically, and although you don’t really enjoy being pitied, the concern in his eyes is genuine. You can tell that if there was a way for him to get rid of Johnny without it coming back to bite you in the ass, he would do it in a heartbeat. 

Still, it’s probably best to change the topic. You’d rather not talk about your unfortunate childhood or dwell on the incident with Johnny any longer. 

“I hope it’s not a rude question or anything, but are you working right now?” you ask. 

“Hm? Oh, yes,” he nods. “I have a job at a flower shop. But since the customers would probably feel uncomfortable if I was working up front, I mainly just move the products around and do some of the flower arranging in the back. To be honest, I could tell the owner was reluctant to hire me, but more and more companies are being encouraged to hire vampires now that the new laws have passed. There’s definitely an incentive, otherwise I doubt I would have been able to land a job so easily.” 

True. Honestly, you’ve been wondering about that for a while. Vampires are actively discriminated against because people fear them so much, so you worried that they would struggle to secure working positions. Nowadays, refusing to hire someone for those reasons is probably grounds for a lawsuit, but you’re sure that a lot of people still aren’t too keen on having a vampire as their coworker. 

“Every human I’ve met so far can’t seem to hide their bias towards me,” Elliot admits. “Some are more subtle than others, but apart from you, I haven’t met anyone who genuinely feels comfortable around me. I guess I haven’t been in the city for a very long time yet, so perhaps that’ll change at some point… but I don’t know. I can’t help but feel a bit doubtful.” 

You slump your shoulders, feeling immeasurably upset on his behalf. It isn’t fair that people assume the worst of him, especially when he’s such a good guy. Vampire or not, what matters is a person’s character. If only they would give him a chance and actually get to know him properly. 

“But that’s what makes me appreciate you all the more,” Elliot continues. He’s blushing now, even avoiding your gaze somewhat. “You’re so nice, and you don’t judge people superficially. And I don’t just mean with respect to me being a vampire. You just seem like the type of person to withhold your judgment until you’ve given someone a fair shot.” 

“Well, that’s the least I can do,” you shrug. “There’s no point in jumping the gun. Granted, some people make really shitty first impressions that there’s simply no recovering from, but I’m not going to automatically hate someone just based on rumors or gossip. I think the problem nowadays is that stories about vampires have gotten completely out of hand, and people can’t get past that initial fear. They automatically assume the worst, and don’t feel like risking it.” 

Elliot lifts his head towards the sky. “Yeah. I can’t entirely blame them for being afraid. I probably would be too, if I was in their position. But I just wish… they wouldn’t hate me because of it. It just hurts to see the way they glare at me, like I’ve done something wrong. Like I’m some monster who doesn’t know how to control myself.” 

You’re not sure what to say to that, because you can only imagine how painful it must be to constantly be perceived in such a negative light. 

To some extent, it’s good to be cautious. There are assholes like Felix out there, after all. But then again, there are assholes like Johnny too, and he’s a human. He doesn’t possess otherworldly strength or vitality, and yet, he’s easily succeeded in turning your life into a goddamn fucking nightmare. 

There are plenty of dangers in this world, and encountering a vampire certainly isn’t the worst of them. You just wish more people would hurry up and realize that. 

Anyways, you were hoping to steer clear of depressing topics, but it looks like you’ve gone right back to square one. 

“It suits you,” you say, smiling in an attempt to lift the mood. “Working at a flower shop, I mean. And I can imagine you being really good at flower arrangements. You’ve always struck me as being really patient and detail-oriented.” 

Elliot shyly scratches his cheek. “Y-You think so? I do like flowers. I’ve always thought they’re really pretty. I’m not sure exactly how good I am at making arrangements, but I definitely enjoy the process. And even though I’m never interacting with the customers, I like to think that the flowers they take home make them happy. It’s a bit trivial, but it makes me feel like I’ve actually accomplished something.” 

“I’m sure they all love whatever you make,” you encourage. “Tell me the name of your shop. I might stop by at some point and pick something out for my apartment.” 

“Th-There’s no need for you to go out of your way. But if you want… I can pick something out for you and drop it off at some point?” 

He glances at you hopefully, and his expression is so cute that you can’t help but giggle. 

“Sure,” you beam. “You’re the expert. Take your time coming up with whatever you think would look best. I’ll be eagerly awaiting the finished product.” 

Elliot blushes yet again, but he’s unable to hide the wobbly smile that keeps pulling at the corners of his lips. Working at a flower shop really does suit him. He’s so gentle, after all. His impressive display against Johnny was a stark reminder that he’s much stronger than the average person, but he doesn’t seek to intimidate others with his strength or scare them into submission. He’s proof that just because someone has the ability to cause harm doesn’t mean that they actually will. 

While you walk, Elliot entertains you with various flower facts. You can tell that he’s passionate about the subject because he gets especially chatty, and his eyes practically sparkle the whole time he talks. You’re perfectly happy to smile and listen attentively. It’s nice to see him ramble on so excitedly, plus, you also get to learn a few things while you’re at it. 

Before you realize it, you’ve already made it home. Time really does pass faster when you’re with a friend. 

“Thanks again for walking me all the way home,” you say. “I enjoyed the company.” 

“I did too,” Elliot smiles. “I work pretty early in the day, so I’m usually free this time of night. Which is nice, because I prefer to be out when it’s not sunny anyways. Our schedules seem to align too.” 

He reflects on his last words for a few moments, then proceeds to blush profusely. 

“I-I didn’t mean it in a weird way!” he insists. “It’s not like I expect you to meet up with me all the time or anything! It’s just, um… if you ever feel like walking home together, or maybe just stopping for another drink sometime… odds are, I’ll probably be free. That’s all.” 

As always, it doesn’t take much to embarrass him, and you briefly chuckle, amused by his skittishness. 

“Yeah, it’s convenient,” you smile. “I’m glad we can find time to hang out like this.” You were about to say goodbye and head inside the building, but you pause for a few moments. “By the way, um… if you ever feel like drinking my blood again, just let me know, okay? I’m not trying to pester you for money or anything, so I hope it doesn’t come across that way. It’s just a reminder that whenever you want to, I’ll be ready.” 

Elliot instinctively swallows. Just hearing you utter those few words is enough to make him feel dizzy. 

“I-I’ll be sure to let you know,” he stammers. “I just wanted to make sure your body had time to recover, since I know you went to Plasma Inc. not long ago. A-Anyways, uh... goodnight!” 

He promptly speeds off, looking like he’s in a hurry all of a sudden. You recall him reacting similarly after he drank your blood that one time. Knowing him, he’s probably feeling self-conscious again. It’ll probably take him a bit more time to get used to. 

But the truth is that has less to do with him being self-conscious than you’d like to think. 

Elliot still can’t get over how incredible yet overwhelming the first time he tasted your blood was. He chose to flee the scene then and there because already, he could feel his heart threatening to burst right out of his chest. He realizes that he needs to pace himself and give his heart time to settle down. He needs to control his urges, no matter how badly he wants to drink your blood again, and be more patient. Otherwise…

He might just get addicted.

“...for the last time, I am not playing Mario Kart with you again,” you sigh tiredly. “You beat me so many times that it wasn’t even funny.” 

Caleb chuckles and pats you on the back. “Aw, c’mon. Like I said, practice makes perfect. You’re only bound to get better!” 

“That’s what you’d think, but I feel like I’m actually challenged when it comes to video games. So, hard pass.” 

He makes puppy eyes at you, but you huff and stubbornly turn away from him. You’re not so easily swayed, especially when the humiliating defeat you’ve suffered at his hands time and time again is still fresh in your mind. 

The two of you worked the same shift today, and now that it’s over, Caleb invited you to go over to his place again. You agreed, but only on the condition that there would be no video games involved. Seriously, is a movie too much to ask for? 

“A lot of Mario Kart is luck-based,” Caleb insists. “If you pick up a good item near the end of the race, you can swoop in and steal first place from me, just like that.” 

You snort. “If that were really true, then I wouldn’t have lost so horribly every single time. I think luck can only take you so far if your skills are nonexistent. Not to mention that I have terrible luck in the first place.” 

“But it’s fun!” 

“Well, yeah, if you’re always winning.” 

“Losing can be fun too!” 

“No video games, Caleb,” you sigh for the umpteenth time. “At least not for a little while. I still need to mentally recover from all my previous losses.” 

He slumps his shoulders and makes a big show of pouting, but thankfully drops the issue. You’re sure you can find something else to do besides playing video games. It’s nice that he has a hobby, but you really wish it was something you were less crappy at. 

What a cute little dilemma. You never would’ve imagined arguing over such a silly, nonsensical issue with a friend. It’s actually pretty funny, and you can’t help but smile. 

It doesn’t take long for your smile to drop, though.

“Ah. Right on time.” 

You stiffen up, and you swear it feels like all of your blood has just turned to ice. 

That shithead Kai is here again. 

“I asked one of the servers inside about you, and they said your shift was about to end. Good thing they weren’t lying to me, or I would’ve had to beat the shit out of them,” Kai muses. 

You don’t respond. You don’t know what to say, or how to describe what you’re feeling. It’s hard to fully express the horror seeping into every fiber of your being. This sense of helplessness that can’t possibly be overwritten.

Worse yet, you’ve just remembered who’s standing next to you. 

Much like you, Caleb hasn’t moved a muscle. His jaw is clenched, and even though he’s staying perfectly silent, from this close up, you can see his throat quivering. 

Kai chuckles darkly. “Aw. Looks like your boyfriend’s here too. That’s no fun. How are you doing, dude? Man, I can’t believe your nose is still bruised. It takes humans this long to heal? Talk about pathetic.”

You should have known better than to open your big fat mouth. You should have known better than to talk back to a crazy bastard like him. Now, because of your stupidity, he’s going to put a target on Caleb’s head too. As if it wasn’t bad enough that he was already assaulted by him before.

You’re not sure how much Kai knows about you, but your coworkers have always had loose lips, and with a bit of threatening, you doubt it was hard for him to figure out what he wanted. And now that he knows for a fact that you work here, there’s nothing stopping him from coming back. 

God. 

You’re so fucked. 

Caleb is undeniably scared, but despite that, he steps in front of you and tries to block Kai off. “Leave,” he grits out, trying to keep his voice steady. “Are you stalking us now, or what? This is beyond fucked up. You can’t just loiter around someone’s workplace. We don’t even know each other.” 

“Huh? Don’t you remember me?” Kai innocently bats his eyes, then points towards his nose, a cruel sneer spreading across his lips. “I’m the one that knocked you out in one hit. I figured the pain would’ve kept you thinking about me. Honestly, I’m a bit hurt.” 

“You’re a fucking psycho,” Caleb glares. “I said, leave. Seriously. This isn’t funny.” 

“Shut up, man. I’m not interested in you. Stop begging for my attention.” 

Kai steps closer, much to your horror, and Caleb instinctively raises his arms to shove him away. 

In that moment, you remember just how brutally he was attacked last time. How one hit, faster than you could even blink, was all it took to render him semi-unconscious, laid out on the ground with blood spewing from his nose. 

At the rate things are going, there’s a good chance history will repeat itself.

“Wait!” 

You cry out in alarm, pulling Caleb back. He glances towards you in confusion, but that split second is all it takes for Kai to close the distance and wrap an arm around your waist. 

“Cute,” he grins. “Were you worried I was going to punch him again? Don’t worry, I’ll play nice. I’m in a pretty good mood today. Just as long as he doesn’t piss me off, that is.” 

Caleb’s face drops. “[N-Name]! What the fuck is wrong with you?! Let go of her!” 

You can see him mentally debating whether or not to rush in, but he’s clearly afraid that if he plays it wrong, it’ll be your nose being broken this time. 

“Relax. I wouldn’t hurt a woman. I’m a gentleman, after all.” Kai squeezes your waist, an act which makes a shiver instantly rip down your spine. The lecherous, crooked grin he’s wearing, coupled with how tightly he’s holding you, tells you that he’s anything but gentlemanly. Although that was obvious from the start.

“Get your hands off her,” Caleb warns, eyes clouding over. “Or—” 

“Or what? Are you seriously trying to intimidate me right now?” Kai laughs. He pulls you even closer, to the point that your body is uncomfortably pressed against his, then, he uses his other hand to loosely grip your neck. “To be honest, I was just fucking with you earlier,” he says darkly. “I’ll punch this bitch’s face in, no questions asked. I might even twist her scrawny neck just for the hell of it. So, if you don’t want that to happen, I suggest you shut the fuck up.” 

Caleb draws in a shaky gasp, and meanwhile, you squeeze your eyes shut, fear overtaking all of your senses. 

He wouldn’t… kill you, would he? Not in broad daylight. Not like this. Even if his father is the head of the police force, surely there are limits to what he can get away with. 

…right? 

“Man, both of you are such wimps, huh?” 

Kai laughs again; a loud, obnoxious sound that makes your stomach twist. He lets go of your neck, and even though he wasn’t actively choking you, it still feels like you haven’t gotten enough air. He holds you close, unwilling to let go, then reaches out and wraps an arm around Caleb’s shoulder, pulling him in too. 

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” he hums. “You two are gonna hang out with me for a little while. Just the three of us. It’ll be tons of fun. Oh, and just so you know, you don’t have a choice. Try to refuse and I will make you regret it.” 

Kai starts pulling both of you along. You feel nauseous beyond belief, and your heart is beating so fast that you swear you’re about to go into cardiac arrest. 

Caleb grits his teeth. “What the actual fuck is wrong with you? Why can’t you just let us go? I’ll call the police, and—” 

“Call the police?” Kai throws his head back and laughs again. “Dude. My dad is the police. And I guarantee he won’t take your side over mine, so I’d suggest keeping your mouth shut and being grateful that I haven’t broken your damn nose again.” 

Neither of you says anything in response. All you can do is let Kai drag you along to god-knows-where, too afraid to so much as blink wrong and risk pissing him off. 

And to think that just a few minutes ago, your biggest qualm was whether or not you would have to play Mario Kart today. 

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