Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Reki would never admit it, but the night of Langa’s victory against Adam at S - the moment he jumped into his arms at the finish line - he thought he felt long, sharp teeth graze against his neck.

Were he to ever speak about this with his classmates or the others at S, they would have thought he was crazy. Honestly, he probably would be thrown into some kind of asylum for suggesting that vampires, or even humans with incredibly-elongated canines, could possibly exist.

Fortunately (or perhaps not; his opinion seemed to change with the direction of the wind), he knew he wasn’t crazy. He knew vampires existed because when he was seventeen, his own shadow had vanished. The first day he noticed it, he panicked - his mother seemed to know exactly what had happened before he even said anything. He sat down with his grandmother, too, and learned the full truth about their Kyan family lineage. Reki came from a long line of vampires, their familial reddish-auburn eyes almost famous (or infamous?) amongst the human-vampire-hybrid race. They spoke of the similarities he would always have to a human - he could bleed, feel his heartbeat, see his shadow, walk around in the daytime, and even die (although it was a much more difficult process now)…that genetic code would never be fully unwound or destroyed for as long as he existed.

He learned that as a vampire, his senses and physical attributes would change, most often for the better. Some part of the whole vampire magic ordeal caused them to stop aging as soon as they realized who their soulmate was, which made absolutely no fucking sense to him - but quite frankly, none of this made sense. He would probably end up an old man forever, destined to hobble through the forests with his rickety cane and his sad, immortal heart until he somehow died. He learned of their ancestor's shapeshifter abilities, feeling excited for a moment, but then remembering his new truth once they began explaining the “Academy.” There were only a few sprinkled throughout the globe, and there was never a guarantee of getting a spot close to home. There was an institution in Tokyo, but typically, only the richest and oldest vampire bloodlines got into that program. Reki would need to apply to other schools on other continents, and apparently their stupid goddamn vampire lore indicated that he had absolutely no fucking choice in the matter. He had to go, and he had to go wherever there was an opening available. He had to go to learn how to fight against the magically twisted, pure-blooded vampires that attacked hybrid races (the ones that peak at age seventeen, never gaining full power until they are harnessed by some sort of training - hence the purpose of the Academy).

A few days after this heavy conversation, he missed several days of school, as his body was turning into a living (or maybe he should say undead?) furnace. It was, just like his family had warned him, an absolute living hell that spanned over seventy-two long, torturous, and grueling hours. 

He remembered it painfully vividly. Every time he would open his mouth to scream, it was like invisible fire would barrel up through his chest and choke him. His mother couldn’t tell the school what was happening to him; he couldn’t even tell Langa, his closest friend, the person that meant the most to him in this world. He thought, in his weakest moments, that the secrecy from him was the hardest part he had to survive somehow. How could he possibly explain how, in the course of just a few nights, he became more muscular and toned? More agile? More balanced, skilled, and all-around different?

He couldn’t. That’s why it hurt him so much.

He came to school the following week with dark purple bags under his eyes, exhausted and dragging his heels nearly everywhere he went. This was clearly very unusual for him, given how he would normally be filled with infinite, jittery energy (especially around Langa). His best friend noticed immediately, because of course he fucking would.

“Reki, are you okay? What the hell happened to you? I knew you said you were sick, but this…” He gestured vaguely with one hand, sweeping it down Reki’s body in mild distress. Reki took that hand and held onto it gently, smiling with tired eyes and a full heart at the concern shown by his person.

“It’s okay now, I promise. It was just really rough there for a few days, but I’m actually doing much better than it looks like I am.”

Although “better” is a relative term, I suppose. 

Langa still frowned, but the visible tension in his muscles lessened as he held the back of his hand to Reki’s forehead. Satisfied that there was no fever, he sighed heavily and leaned back against the wall again, slumping over slightly to rest on his shoulder. Reki closed his eyes and enjoyed the brush of Langa’s soft hair against his cheek, savoring the quiet moments they shared at the skate park before having to go back to their respective homes.

I hope Langa never has to endure the hell I’ll have to live with now for the rest of my life. If you can even call it a ‘life,’ at this point.

🖤🕸🖤

Graduation seemed normal. His family seemed normal - everything seemed so fucking normal, even though it wasn’t.

His classmates kept asking where he was going and what he was doing after graduation, as was expected. He kept answering that he would be attending a post-secondary program located somewhere in the United States. 

The only program that had an opening for him was in some tiny town called Auburn, located in upstate New York, United States. He’d only heard of New York because of New York City, which wasn’t even going to be close to this school. The first time he told Langa was still burning in his mind.

“Ha, yeah - well, I’ve always been a night owl. I guess it’ll just get worse now going to this place with all the jet lag and new time zones and whatever.” Reki reached a hand behind his head and scratched his neck as he laughed nervously, Langa reading right through his charade. There weren’t many occasions where Reki had seen Langa genuinely frown like this, and this was most definitely a displeased expression of note.

“What do you mean? You’re going to have classes like the rest of the universities, aren’t you?” Langa’s eyes flashed, and Reki’s eyes flickered to the bottom lip he was biting. He could have sworn he saw a fang flashing against the harsh light of the street lights above them, but it was so fleeting and so impossible that he let it go instantly. The sounds of Linkin Park screamed in one ear where he had left an earbud in, the other held hopelessly in his other hand as he looked back into Langa’s eyes. They were searching, curious, and…suspicious. 

This isn’t good.

He tried to laugh and talk about how he would be taking electives about mythology and how cool it was going to be. He talked about how excited he was for the program and how excited he was to see America someday very, very soon. Joe and Cherry had the absolute worst timing possible as they strolled up, clapped a hand on each of their shoulders, and smirked.

“Well, now - we have a couple fresh graduates on our hands. Care to celebrate with a double beef?” Langa perked up immediately, but Reki couldn’t help the moment of despair that flashed across his face. He leaned forward, scratched his thumbnail along his right canine nervously, and looked back up at their elders.

Joe narrowed his eyes curiously, the gaze unusually calculating and intense for his usual perky, happy-go-lucky self. Next to him, Cherry was eyeing Reki with the same strange expression. The older skaters both glanced at each other briefly, Cherry raising an eyebrow and Joe raising one side of his smile. They looked back at Reki, who stood there wide-eyed and nervous, as always.

“Hey, you been feeling okay since your birthday, kiddo?” Joe crossed his arms but spoke in that comforting “dad voice” he had. It was the same one he used with Reki back in Miyako-jima, telling him about tricks, the need to be bold at Crazy Rock, and the importance of his inner drive. Reki froze, however, and some unreadable and mutual understanding flitted across Joe’s eyes and over to Cherry’s.

“We’re here for you if you…want to talk. You know, before you head off to the middle-of-nowhere New York,” Cherry cocked his head and raised an eyebrow, and Joe made the same scratching movement against his tooth that Reki had made against his long canine. Reki’s eyes widened, but before he could process the message fully or say anything to them, Miya had bounded over to them.

“Time for a Super Loser High School graduates race! Come on, give us something to laugh at, slime.”

Reki, numb and confused, sort of remembered walking over to the starting line. He somewhat remembered the countdown of the red lights until it hit the fifth and final green, and he certainly doesn’t remember what his body did afterward to lose to Miya in a race.

🖤🕸🖤

He let Linkin Park and Skrillex destroy his hearing and the sick, anxious feelings in his stomach as he skated hard through the night. He’d skipped out on S that evening, and he could feel (and hear - his new vampire senses were keen) his phone vibrating in his pocket with Langa’s texts. He’d been avoiding him a bit recently as the clock ticked closer to the start of academy. At the last minute, he decided to make an appearance just to find Langa.

“Hey.” Reki looked at the ground and bumped a fist lightly to Langa’s chest. It lingered for a moment before he pulled it away. “Let’s go skate it out at our skate park together.” He lifted his eyes, and even as he felt them soften when they locked onto Langa’s, he hated it. He hated having to keep secrets from him. He hated being stuck in this immortal body he never asked for, destined to be taken away from his best friend and his greatest love. He hated that even now, he couldn’t keep his emotions from showing as Langa reached out and tucked a curl behind his ear.

“Of course.”

Days bled into nights, the concept of time becoming merely a fluid awareness of his surroundings at any given moment. He spent much of it in a daze, dreading the day of his departure and knowing in his heart that if he moved away from Langa now, there would never be a chance.

There will never be a chance for us to be…more.

The night before his flight finally arrived. He slept restlessly, tossing and turning from his nightmares of being forgotten and left behind.

I’m out of time.

🖤🕸🖤

He toed one foot with the other, looking at the ground awkwardly as they stood a foot apart. His eyes lifted heavily, afraid of what he was going to see on Langa’s face.

Fuck.

Reki could see the tears starting to swirl in the corners of Langa’s eyes before he moved. Langa stepped forward, enveloping Reki in his arms and clinging to him as though he may never get the chance again. Reki wrapped his arms around him, stroking soothing lines into his shoulders as he felt the shaking start.

They both stood there in that embrace, standing at the cross-roads of their destinies, Langa going in the direction of his home back in town and Reki flying across the world to his frightening new life at the academy. Their families were gone; all of his goodbyes had already been said to mothers and sisters and grandmothers - now, it was just the two of them left. It was just Reki and Langa, the way he had always wished it could be forever. It was the way that Reki wished, with every fiber of living spark left inside of him, that it could have remained.

The way it most certainly could have been were he not cursed with this fucking existence that he never could have dreamed of and never wanted in the first place. 

“Reki, wait…please, just stay with me. Neither of us have to do this.” Reki thought he felt something sharp shred its way through his heart, the scalpel of those words fraying it into little ribbons. He plastered a fake, watery smile on his face as he braced his hands on Langa’s shoulders.

I hope he can’t feel me shaking.

“Everything will be okay, Langa. We’ll stay in touch, I promise. And I’ll try to visit whenever I can, despite the crazy amounts of travel involved.” Every silken lie slithered out from between his lips with ease, breaking his own heart as they did in an attempt to try and make Langa feel better.

They both knew they were lies, though. They just didn’t know what else could have been done to avoid this scenario. Reki finally detached himself from their hug, fighting down a terrible, nagging feeling that it would be their last. He cupped Langa’s cheek one last time, kissed him softly on the other, and let his hand drop into the small space between them. He finally turned before Langa could see his own tears forming.

“Reki - I'm going to miss you every second until we’re together again.”

If this was a romance novel, this would have been the moment when Reki turned and ran back to Langa, sweeping him into his arms and into their very first kiss. He would have been able to promise infinity again, spilling his heart out about his most romantic intentions, instead of holding onto whatever shred of hope his feelings for Langa could muster (considering they would be on opposite ends of the world for who fucking knew how long). Every step further from Langa and his sweet, trembling voice ripped some little bit of his soul away; he collected the pieces of his heart in his balled-up fists that, if he unclenched, would break down the last barrier before he started to cry.

Reki didn’t remember much about the airport after that. He didn’t remember much from the long flight itself, and before he knew it, he was alone and emerging out into the bustling terminals of John F Kennedy International Airport in New York, United States. He rolled his suitcase in one hand and held his lost and broken heart in the other.

He decided that he wasn't out of time with Langa and with his old life back home - he was never destined to have it from the start.

-🖤-

Chapter Text

Of course it’s a goddamn castle. Of course it’s pouring rain. What is this, a Hallmark Mysteries channel movie? Or that Twilight shit? Am I about to sparkle in the sun?

The small bus full of wide-eyed young adults wound around tree-covered roads. It made its way up the hill until it pulled around the front of a rather run-down-looking castle. It seemed to fit the decayed vibe one might expect from a vampire academy.

He wheeled his bags wordlessly through the corridors of laughing, happy peers as he searched for his room. When he finally found it, he sighed and picked the right side, respectfully keeping his things out of his future roommate’s space on the left. He started to set up his sketchbooks, notebooks, and hung a few skateboarding posters around his room to make it feel more like home.

Whereas he was hoping the photo of himself with Langa would make him feel better, it simply made him feel more alone and empty. He stared at it for a few long moments, eyes watering, and put the frame facedown. He brushed away some of the small tears and made up his bed, shut off the lights, and slept for hours.

🖤🕸🖤

The first few days were as awful as he expected they would be. When he had arrived at the front door of the school, he peered around at the others he would be living and training with, none of who seemed to spare him a second glance. To make matters worse, and to make the whole experience even more isolating, his roommate had supposedly dropped out of the program twenty-four hours before he was due to arrive. He lived in a room made for two, but the other half was empty and barren of signs of life; it felt like a dramatically poetic representation of his heart. Half full of anxiety and grief, half empty and void of, well…anything.

The sad chords of My December floated across the room on the fifth day, most of the others having settled into their dormitory rooms and gotten to know their roommates a bit already. He sighed and stood from his bed where he’d been staring at the ceiling and decided to put some more of his clothes away. One of the resident assistants on his floor dropped in, as there was evidently someone coming to fill the vacant spot in his room tonight, after all. 

Just when I was starting to get used to the idea of having my own space, too.

He muttered his thanks as she exited, leaving the door open on her way out. He simply sighed and turned back toward his desk as he stacked his notebooks in between two heavy iron bookends.

“If you end up getting bored with that loser skater boy, you can always switch roommates. I’d be happy to switch mine out for you.” Every nerve in his spine bristled as he scowled deeply at the prissy, privileged, and cocky voice floating into his room. He was about to turn around to go slam the door shut when he heard a heartbreakingly familiar voice.

“Reki?” He froze, both feet glued to the ground. He didn’t turn around because maybe, if he never did, he could always pretend he’d just heard Langa speak his name. He could pretend that he was there with him, and that they hadn’t just said their final goodbyes merely several days ago. The numbness that had covered up some of his despair lifted its grip, the same broken feeling he tried so hard to stifle seeping into his bones again. “Reki.”

If he was hearing voices now, and they were addressing him this insistently, then perhaps he would head to the infirmary and try to get sent back home. He whirled around, and standing before him was Langa, bags and suitcases dropping to the floor from his shock.

Holy shit. Am I seeing things, too?

“Langa!”

Reki could barely speak because of the sudden, violent wave of emotion that washed over him. Without thinking, he lunged forward and wrapped his arms around the hallucination in front of him. Somehow, though, it was real - he knew it was the real Langa because of the arms that wrapped around him, too, pulling him close as his best friend’s shaking breaths of laughter echoed in his ear. He grabbed the sides of Langa’s face and drew back to look him in the eyes, which had turned misty.

“You’re?...” He couldn’t finish the sentence, but Langa - his new roommate, his soulmate, his everything - finished it for him.

“...a vampire, too? Yeah. Yeah, I am.” He laughed nervously, hardly breathing out the last three words of yeah, I am. The relief flooding through them both was palpable, and they gently touched each others’ faces and hair as they processed this new revelation. “I’m just like you, Reki.” He ran a hand up through the soft blue hair in front of him, still in shock, and he watched Langa’s sparkling eyes close in ecstasy. When he slowly opened them again and looked into Reki’s, he felt a pull to bring them together. He felt an otherworldly, gravitational tug, and he quickly glanced down at Langa’s pink lips before darting his eyes back up to his face again. All he could do was hope to the kind skating gods that his friend didn’t notice.

“But how?” Reki’s overwhelmed yet joyful voice sounded foreign to him as it broke.

“This was the only place that had an opening so last-minute. I decided if I didn’t have you in Japan anymore, then I…” Langa shakily cleared his throat. “Then I didn’t want to stay at home with all the memories. I talked to my mom, and now…I’m here.”

What are the fucking odds.

Reki took a deep breath.

Maybe immortality won’t be so bad, after all.

“And now you’re with me.” His voice sounded raspy, and he pulled back to really look at Langa again. He was acutely aware of every place their bodies touched, far too close to be completely platonic. Everywhere Langa’s hands went, they slid softly over skin and fabric, almost as if he were savoring the fact that he was here. Reki's heart nearly sputtered and stalled to a stop, which was probably an issue, as he had no idea if AEDs and CPR were as effective on vampires as they were on humans.

“I understand why you couldn’t say anything now. I still wish you would have told me. Even if I wasn’t…” He gestured a hand down his front. “This way, I would still have tried to believe you.” Reki scoffed, but not unkindly.

“Sure, bro. That would have gone over great - hey, wanna come over to look at some skating magazines and the new deck I built last night? Oh, by the way, I’m a fucking vampire .” Langa chuckled slightly, acknowledging the absurdity of it all and brushing a stray piece of hair away from Reki’s face.

“As crazy as it is, we’re together again. I’m so glad.” Langa’s eyes sparkled, and Reki grinned widely, biting his bottom lip.

“Me too, Langa. Come on, let’s get you set up.” They happily chatted and laughed together as if they were back in Japan, sitting on the floor of Reki’s room, without a care in the world except when the rain would stop so they could go skate together. It filled Reki’s heart, flooding him with relief and faith that, now that Langa was here with him, he could find happiness in this new and terrifying place.

🖤🕸🖤

“Why do we have to do this shit at five in the goddamn morning? Ugh.” Reki whined loudly as the alarm went off in their bedroom. Langa didn’t even stir, so Reki tumbled ungracefully out of bed (supposedly being a vampire didn’t refine his movements like it did in the movies) to go and jostle him awake. Langa groaned, but didn’t turn around. Instead, he was mumbling something unintelligible. Reki shook him lightly again.

“Mmm …Reki, come back to bed…” Langa took a deep breath in through his nose and sighed as he turned over, eyes still closed. Reki took a shocked step back and felt the heat rising into his cheeks and turning the tips of his ears pink. 

What the hell is he dreaming about?

He approached again cautiously, swiping some of Langa’s hair out of his face and tapping him on the shoulder. “Langa, you have to wake up now. We have our physical things today.” He tapped him again, a little harder this time, and Langa began to open his bleary eyes. A sleepy, sweet smile spread across his face at the sight of Reki.

“Hi.” With another huge breath in, Langa stretched and let out a small, high-pitched whine. Reki laughed quietly as he realized just how much he had missed being able to be the first person to see Langa in the morning. The corner’s of his eyes crinkled in happiness as he stood at the bedside.

“Hi. Get up now, loser, or we’ll be late.” Langa frowned, and it was a little bit crooked and quite a bit endearing. His best friend threw off the covers, and as he was sliding off the mattress, his boxers lifted up to reveal his muscular thighs. Reki made a small squeaking noise and turned around, hoping Langa didn’t catch him ogling the leg muscles that could surely crush him in the best ways. They both dressed, dragging themselves out of their room and down to the main grounds where all the other new students gathered. Langa yawned and rested his head on Reki’s shoulder as they waited for instructions.

“Recruits - line up. Today, you will be evaluated to see what types of combat you will learn in your time here.” Both Reki and Langa whipped their heads up at the familiar voice, turned to each other, and gaped.

Cherry?! What the hell?

Their tall, slender elder strode along the grounds of the castle as if he knew the entire area’s topography by memory. As he walked down the rows, Reki saw a grin flash in their direction when he passed them.

Dude, he looks good with fangs. Is this seriously happening right now? Is this actually the Twilight Zone?

“Before we begin, it is part of my job to give you a little background as to why you’re here in the first place.” He brought his arms together, and his kimono softly swished against the grass as he paced back and forth. “For several centuries, a small sub-community of vampires has existed that poses a threat to our race as a whole. They have made it their entire purpose to wipe out any vampires not from pure blood - they’re called the petturi . This also means all of you here today, who turned fully at the age of seventeen, are automatically in danger.” Nervous mutterings echoed through the crowd, and Cherry held up a hand. The chatter ceased quickly. “This is why the international string of academies exist. You are young and in your prime, built and ready to learn these techniques that will protect you and your families from harm until this threat can be controlled…or even better, completely extinguished.” His golden eyes glittered with a familiar terrifying wrath, and it was so quiet that even those in the back rows could hear Cherry sigh. “Some of you may end up in the medical sector, but a majority of you will be front-line. You will battle each other, develop your strengths, and learn how to cope with your weaknesses.”

“Langa?” Reki whispered quietly. Langa looked over to him, brows creased with worry. “Did your mom tell you any of this before you left? I mean, is this shit for real?” Langa nodded.

“You will receive your assignments by sunset, and your training will begin promptly next week. If you have any questions, I have an open door policy and am always available for you.” Cherry stood, front and center, gazing out at the frightened young vampires in front of him. “It was not long ago that I stood in your shoes. I promise you that, though it may seem terrifying now…” He closed his eyes, paused for a moment, and opened them again. “These could be some of the best days of your lives, if you play your cards right.” His eyes glittered as they bee-lined for Reki and Langa again. “Please wait here quietly as your names are called. One of our training staff will direct you back to the infirmary.” With a small bow, he dismissed everyone’s attention and came walking over to the pair. “Ah, we meet again, children.” Langa simply stood, mouth slightly open and eyes wide, so Reki spoke up.

“Cherry, what the -” Reki was smacked with a fan. It was so familiar that, despite the sting and the exuberant ouch he let out, it was a comfort that reminded him of home.

“Don’t use that name here. It’s Professor Kaoru to you two. I have a feeling where they’re going to put you - in fact, I’ve made a bet on it with another familiar face.” Langa and Reki perked up, eyes bright and curious. Cherry chuckled good-naturedly. “Don’t worry, you’ll see what I mean soon enough.”

Everyone was called back in alphabetical order of last or family name, so Langa was first to be brought back. Reki waited impatiently for him to return, but he was summoned himself before they could meet up again. He supposed that, worst case, they would always meet up back at their room later.

Reki followed the older student back to the medical ward. He was given a brief physical as he was asked about his family heritage. A scribe sat scribbling with a feather quill pen into a large, old-looking book.

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me with this YA fantasy crap...haven't they ever heard of a computer?

After they had taken a full history, the physician pulled up a tablet, opened a screen, and turned it around to show him. “Reki, some of your descendants had the ability to shapeshift. Not everyone in the Kyan ancestry could do it, but it was distributed randomly to some. So, there is a possibility that you might find during your time here that you can shapeshift - if you do, please notify one of your professors immediately for further skill training and development.” Reki’s eyes watered, and he nodded wordlessly. The doctor in the crisp white lab coat smiled sympathetically, a stark contrast to their sterile and clinical surroundings. “I know this must be a lot. You didn’t know before your seventeenth birthday, did you?” Reki shook his head. “I understand. That was me, as well. I promise you things will be okay." Her warm smile did little to unclench his gut.  "Think about it…shapeshifting. Think about it when you're feeling intense or overwhelming emotions, as that is when these things tend to surface by surprise." She laid a hand on her shoulder, the identification cards around her neck jingling lightly. "Now, onto your next challenge.” She smiled again, and Reki was able to return it with a small thanks .

He was brought out to another area of the grounds where other students were practicing hand-to-hand combat, weaponry, and other strange things that Reki couldn’t figure out from a distance. He whirled around at the sound of yet another familiar voice.

“Joe?” Joe smirked. 

“That’s Professor to you, kid.” Reki grimaced even as his shoulders sagged in relief. 

Great, now they’re both going to be extra-cocky with that ‘Professor’ stuff.

“I’m here to walk you through some basic exercises to identify your skills and strengths. We’ll assign you based on how you do. You ready?” Reki nodded nervously, but he was surprisingly and oddly calm, considering it was Joe’s kind, mischievous brown eyes smiling back at him.

🖤🕸🖤

Reki waited around at the exit for Langa, but after an hour, he sighed and decided to head back to the room. He settled in, put some music on, and got out some of his sketchbooks and started drawing recurve bows and swords.

This would make a cool deck some day.

After another two hours had passed, he finally heard a small knock at the door, and his roommate walked in as casually as ever. Reki stood and ran over to him, checking him to make sure there were no injuries or bizarre things that happened to him while he was gone for so long. “Dude, what the hell? I finished up hours ago. What took so long?” Langa shrugged.

“They took me to some library for extra skills tests. Dunno why.” Reki frowned.

Of course he’s special. Even here, he’s better and more important than me. Guess that’s just something I’ll never be able to escape.

“Huh, okay. What did you get assigned to? Did you get swordsmanship and small weapons? Tell me you did so we can train together!” Langa frowned and chewed the inside of his cheek.

“No. I got ranged weaponry…” He sounded as disappointed as Reki felt. It was, however, going to be interesting to learn all about what Langa was going to do, and he'd get to tell Langa all about his own training. “Oh, and I also will be taking extra lessons in telepathy.” Reki’s eyes boggled wide.

“Bro, are you serious? How freaking cool is that? Wait, why are they extra? What’s the deal with you, what’s going on?  Langa shrugged again, unfazed by his specialness.

“Something about it being rare, and it runs in my family history, so there’s a chance I have it. They did some weird tests and called the headmaster.” Reki rolled his eyes.

“Can you stop being perfect for once in your life? Er. Un-life? Whatever the hell this is…” Langa gave him a small, apologetic smile, and the iciness that shot through his veins a moment ago melted away. He sighed.

“Whatever, dude, let’s go get some lunch soon - I’m starving.” The smile that lit up Langa’s face tugged tenderly at his heart.

Amazing, beautiful, perfect bastard.

🖤🕸🖤

They took one afternoon together between physicals and the start of their training to explore the grounds. Within a short skate’s distance away, they found some steep and rocky cliffs, the main road that led back to the town, and a much smaller lake than the “Finger Lakes.”

What the hell kind of name is that for a place, anyway?

Langa was staring off into some distant abyss as he took several large bites of his hamburger. Joe and Cherry had shockingly agreed to go take them to lunch in town; it was very strange to see wheels on the left side of the cars. “So, are you both quiet because you’re distracted or because you’re overwhelmed?” Reki balked at their elders, feeling a bit called out.

“Well, this is all kindof really overwhelming in general, isn’t it?! I mean, weren’t you guys freaked out when you found out? Did you even know before you were seventeen? Why is it seventeen years, anyway? Why aren’t we vampires our whole lives, can we seriously just snap and burn our way into this immortal bullshit just because of how long we’ve been on the earth?” Reki was really starting to get worked up, the pitch of his voice rising slightly. Joe furrowed his brow and Cherry peered at him thoughtfully. Before he could continue, however, he felt a gentle hand on his forearm. He turned to his side, where Langa always was and always would be, and his anxious prattling halted. Langa was completely ignoring his food so he could comfort Reki. That in itself seemed quite earth-shattering.

“It’ll all be okay, Reki.” He huffed a small breath through his nose before gripping Langa’s hand tightly with one of his own, nervously fidgeting with his fingers.

“How do you know?”

“Because we have each other. Literally forever now, in case you forgot.” He smiled reassuringly, the corners of his mouth quirking up in that sweet, thoughtful way of his as he let go of Reki’s hand. Reki panicked for a moment before he felt Langa simply rearranging them so he could lace their fingers together more comfortably, and he gave them a squeeze. “We’re going to skate infinitely together, remember?” Reki could hardly breathe. He’d forgotten for a moment that anyone else was there with him until he heard Joe awkwardly clearing his throat, and Langa dove back into his food.

“Well, yes. It’s, uh. It’s a lot, Reki. And it’s okay to be confused and overwhelmed - that’s what your big bro and I are here for, though. To talk it out when you need us.” Joe slung a heavy arm around Cherry, slightly dislodging his glasses and earning a bark of protest as it left his long ponytail slightly askew. He sighed in exasperation, brushed the front of his shirt off, straightened his hair, and looked back up at Reki and Langa.

“He’s right. That’s why we’re here, Reki - as soon as I figured you out, Kojiro and I signed up for the first open slot on the teaching staff here. There is only one school in the northeastern United States, so it was pretty easy to figure out why you were going to New York for no other seemingly good reason other than ‘it seemed cool.’” Reki chewed the inside of his cheek, emotions running blindly and loudly through him as he sat there with Langa’s hand in his own. He sighed, a small smile forming as he closed his eyes.

“Thanks, guys. I…” He looked down into his lap, feeling three sets of eyes on him. It didn’t bother him, though - if anything, in this moment, it made him feel like everything was going to be okay. “It means a lot.” He gently squeezed Langa’s hand and went back to finishing the fries on his plate, and continuing to hold on. Joe’s gaze flickered to their hands, snapped up to Kaoru’s, and a snarky yet affectionate grin spread across his face.

“Alright, well let’s see. What extra classes are you taking? I highly recommend the Vampires for Dummies course. Kaoru and I sat next to each other, and every time we would learn something about mating or rituals, he would - “ Cherry’s fist thudded hard into Joe’s chest, startling Reki and Langa so much that they let go.

His hand fell to his side, disappointingly empty and void of warmth, for the remainder of their visit. Reki didn’t feel brave enough, and his heart was fluttering too quickly and too loudly, for him to reach out and take it again.

🖤🕸🖤

As Cherry promised, training began bright and early the following Monday morning. The different groups were bussed to different locations throughout Auburn. There were quite a few abandoned factories in the area, so when they were brought in before or after nightfall, they could easily hide in plain sight throughout the day. The headmaster has somehow taken the locations off the local law enforcement patrol routes, something that felt eerily familiar to Reki, but he couldn’t quite think of why.

Much to his dismay, but more to his secret relief, Joe hopped up onto the bus before it took off for whatever creepy abandoned location they would train in today. He grinned way too widely for this early in the morning (five in the morning, what the hell?) and plopped himself down next to Reki.

“Good morning sunshine, how are we feeling today? You excited to be a part of my team? It’s the best team, don’t you ever doubt it.” He nudged Reki, who had not had enough time to sufficiently caffeinate himself yet. He always did appreciate Joe despite his extravagant tendencies, however, and he gave his elder a small smile.

“It’s…scary. This is all so strange, man. Why are we here, what’s the deal? Why am I suddenly training here when barely a year ago, the biggest thing I had to worry about was the next match at Crazy Rock? Ugh.” Reki hid his face in his hands, and he felt a strong yet gentle hand rest on his shoulder. He looked up to see concern in Joe’s friendly brown eyes.

“I know it is. I went through the exact same thing at your age, kid, and I didn’t have an easy time with it, either. It’s all the same, bizarre world that we’re tossed into - my parents didn’t tell me about our heritage until I turned seventeen and had already turned. It was, undoubtedly, one of the scariest experiences of my life. I don't really know why it's kept so secret until we come of age, if I'm being honest.” He looked out the window for a moment, pausing his fatherly monologue. “I’m here for you, though. And talk about destiny - Langa’s your roommate? Dude, I bet you were so happy to see him walk through that door.” Joe’s smile reached his eyes, and it warmed Reki’s heart.

“Yeah. I was…” Reki almost got choked up for a minute, but Joe waited patiently, smiling knowingly. “I’m so grateful. Joe, I think the hardest part of this entire thing so far was leaving him behind. I - “ Reki pursed his lips and ran a hand through his hair. Joe held up a hand.

“I think I know what you want to say, so don’t feel like you have to say it out loud yet. All in due time, Reki - all in due time.” He laid another reassuring hand on Reki’s shoulder, and he mumbled his genuine thanks as they pulled into the parking lot of the factory. It was very large, several stories tall, and had several broken windows - no wonder they trained here, as nobody in their right mind would want to hide out here. It also sounded like there were some watchful guards around the perimeter, and if any unsuspecting wanderers got too close, they would suddenly forgot if they turned off the stove at home.

For several long and grueling hours, they learned the basics of hand-to-hand combat. Joe often picked on Reki to help him demonstrate, so by the time this lesson was over, he’d been flipped onto his ass multiple times. Surely it would bruise pretty severely later on.

The trainees were allowed a midday break for lunch and to go outside and explore within the perimeter. The area was surrounded by woods, and there was a set of train tracks that ran through the property, but it looked like they hadn’t been used in years. Reki wandered quietly down a pathway that was surely forged by others in his same situation, and he wandered to the edge of a town. 

He looked longingly at the houses he could see in the distance, the apartment buildings where people called home. The world that was filled with the sense of “normal” that he once had but never would have again. 

Checking his watch, he panicked and ran swiftly back to the building so he wouldn't be late for their next lesson. He just barely skidded in through the door before they were closed, and the lesson on how to hold a weapon began.

-🖤-

Chapter Text

It was the same crap, the same lessons, and the same trainers day in and day out for weeks . Not that it wasn’t interesting - no, six-year-old Reki would have shrieked in excitement if he had known what eighteen-year-old Reki would become. It just felt monotonous, and in a stupid way, it made him miss Langa. He wasn’t used to being apart from him for so many hours a day, five days a week.

Thank his lucky stars, he thought, that they still had weekends off.

On these weekend reprieves from their difficult schedules, the pair would explore the grounds around the castle. If there were any shuttles going out to the surrounding towns or lakes, they always tried to sign up, but it would often fill up before they even got there. Some day, they promised each other - they would go to the lakes nearby and go swimming at night. With their enhanced bodies, they could easily see in the dark and could easily outswim any predators that may be curious about them at night. 

Well…that’s our idiot theory, anyway.

Luckily, there were a few open spots on the bus to Skaneateles this weekend. They wouldn’t have the chance to go out on the lake, but they could mill around the small town a little bit and walk around amongst the humans. Reki and Langa high-fived once their names were formally on the list, and the following infinity sign lingered like their soft smiles.

The others at the academy didn’t bother them much, at least during their off-time. Reki supposed it was pretty evident that they came as a "package deal" - whenever they weren’t training, if Reki was present, so was Langa. If Langa went somewhere, so did Reki. It was a symbiotic, necessary-for-sanity relationship that Reki clung to with every fiber of his immortal being. It was everything keeping him going through these absolutely unexpected and unprecedented days of his life. On a stroll together around the grounds, they walked up to the small fountain in the circular carriageway at the front entrance. They heard two voices arguing, and it immediately put Reki at ease. He looked over at Langa and grinned.

“I told you Langa was going to excel at archery, you imbecile. I don’t understand why you can never seem to think logically.” They watched as Joe clenched his fists, and even from a fair distance away, they could almost see the vein popping out on his forehead.

“I never said he was going to be in my troop. You just don’t want to listen to me because you’re afraid I might actually be right one of these days, and you’ll have to eat shit!” Reki and Langa laughed softly as they walked toward their arguing elders.

“It doesn’t matter regardless. I get to train Langa in archery, and you will teach Reki swordsmanship. They both need to be able to survive this world, and if they can work together, I have faith they’ll figure it out. One would hope that you have even a shred of discipline to pass onto the poor boy stuck with you, if he must learn from such an infantile gorilla.” They were so deep into their argument that they hardly noticed the pair approaching. “Not to mention - Langa has a special ability. The infirmary notified me as soon as his physical was completed and he was sent to the private chambers of the headmaster, who has requested private sessions himself. I’m feeling quite suspicious, as this hasn’t happened in many years - I’m concerned that it may be because - “ Cherry immediately cut off as he finally saw the two approaching. A staged smile spread across his face as Reki raised an eyebrow at him.

“Hi.” Reki cocked his head to the side curiously.

“Hello, children. How are things going for you? Feeling as though you’re learning anything…useful?” Cherry cocked an eyebrow and turned to Joe at the last word, causing the six-pack skater to fume.

“Well, I can swing a sword without hurting myself nowadays.” Reki preened slightly at the proud look on Joe’s face.

“I can hit a target.” Everyone turned and rolled their eyes at Langa; it was almost comical how the other three reacted to his statement. 

Of course he can hit a target. He’s probably perfect - he was perfect even before he turned.

“What can we do for you?” Joe eyed them curiously, and Langa shrugged.

“We’re going to Skaneateles. Any suggestions on what we should do?” Joe grinned.

“Go to the restaurant on the pier near the gazebo. You won’t be disappointed - sit where you can look out of the lake at sunset. It’ll be quite the romantic vibe.” Joe smirked as Reki’s ears turned pink.

“Whatever, asshole. We’ll go, but you better not be leading us to a shithole. Come on, Langa.” Reki grabbed Langa’s hand and dragged him over toward the small gathering of other trainees that were waiting for the bus to arrive.

Soon enough, it pulled around to the entrance, and everyone boarded for their first trip back out into the world of the living since they had arrived.

🖤🕸🖤

The town was small, charming, and had a very colonial-America feel. They walked down the streets lined with beautiful boutiques, walked past the library with the giant pride flag hanging out front, chuckled at the “broga” classes offered for men at the local yoga studio, and stopped in the pet shop to see if they could pet the dogs. Reki and Langa quickly found the small coffee shop so they could order their favorite type of latte, purchase some gourmet fudge, and giggle all the way back to the pier. They fed each other small pieces of chocolate along the edge of the lake until one moment where Langa took it a bit further than Reki expected.

His sapphire eyes glinted as he held up a small piece of chocolate for Reki to take. Reki leaned forward and took the bait, but he was surprised when Langa pressed a finger into his mouth, eyes glittering and mischievous. He felt it press down onto his tongue, and as if by instinct, he sucked gently on it. Langa pulled back with a slightly unreadable look in his eyes. Reki started to panic before one of the chaperones called them together.

“The S Shuttle is departing in twenty minutes. You have fifteen to get back on before we leave you behind.” The bored, indifferent young man leaned up against the bus that took up about a third of the town’s road. Reki and Langa eyed each other, flickered their gaze to the remaining fudge pieces, and looked back up. They both dove their hands in to grab one of the final two squares, and with a simultaneous huff of nervous laughter, they held them up for one another. Reki felt Langa’s soft, buttery lips close gently around his fingers, perhaps even felt a little playful swish of his tongue across them as blue eyes gazed steadily back at him. Reki didn’t break eye contact as he opened his mouth slightly, gently took Langa’s chocolate square between his teeth, and smiled as it melted over his taste buds. Langa watched him with an intense look in his eye, and Reki couldn’t help but feel intrigued in all the wrong places, considering the fact that they were very much in public.

“I had a nice time with you, Reki. Maybe we can do that again sometime…you know, the two of us. Just like today.” Langa shyly slid a hand toward Reki’s and started toying with his fingers. Reki looked down at the slender hand massaging his own, closed his eyes, and let out a soft, happy groan.

“Yeah, it was nice. The restaurant was cool - I’m not used to seeing seafood cooked like that. Was that your favorite part?” He opened his soft amber eyes to see Langa focusing in on him again, and it left an electric prickling all along his skin. He brightened, however, as he started talking about all the food they had shared.

Reki listened happily to Langa talk about his favorite orders and leaned his head on his shoulder, eyelids drooping slightly from the week's worth of exhaustion catching up to him. He felt a strong, warm arm wrap around his waist as Langa pulled him closer and ran a hand through his messy hair.

“It’s okay, Reki. We have a short drive back to Auburn - you can rest, if you want.” Reki hummed in appreciation and closed his eyes, tucked himself into Langa’s shoulder, and dozed off for the forty-five minute ride back to the academy.

🖤🕸🖤

The first day Langa came back to their room with his own bow, Reki lost his mind in excitement. “Dude, that’s so cool! You have your own bow and your own arrows. You’re legit now, man!” Reki looked at Langa in awe as he stood there holding the gorgeous weapon. He looked up at Reki and smiled.

“I can show you how to use it, if you’d like.” Reki jumped up off his bed enthusiastically, his magazine and sketches scattering all over the blankets and floor. The happy look on Langa’s face tore a little at his heart when it thudded loudly.

He has the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.

Langa slung his quiver over his shoulder, dropped a few practice arrows with neon feathers inside, and grinned up at Reki. He stood in the doorway and looked back expectantly. 

I’m so happy to have him back in my life.

They passed by several of their peers on their way to the grounds. They all seemed to wave and greet Langa, but Reki was barely even an afterthought. A few of them even gave him a sideways glance as they passed by. His energy must have been off because Langa looked over at him, concern in his eyes. “Reki…you okay?” He bristled slightly.

“Yeah, I’m fine. People are just assholes here. I’m glad they’re not dicks to you, at least.” Langa chewed the inside of his cheek and grabbed his hand, starting to run. Reki stumbled at first, but as soon as the wind was rushing through his hair, his spirits started lifting. He laughed joyously, and Langa’s shining eyes gazed back at him. They found a remote, quiet spot within sight of the front entrance and began their very impromptu, very informal lesson.

“Okay. Let’s start with your stance - we’ll use that tree over there as our target.” Langa moved behind Reki and angled his body. His soft hands ran lightly down Reki’s upper arms to help him aim toward the imaginary bullseye to their left. Reki’s heart started racing, and he prayed that Langa couldn’t hear or feel it. “Spread your legs about shoulder-width apart.” Reki thought he was about to short-circuit when Langa deadpanned. “Wider, Reki.” He dipped down, and to Reki’s horror, slid his hand along the inside of his thigh to widen his stance. Reki thought his heart was going to jump out of his throat, and he would surely gag on it, and then he would embarrass himself again.

“Dude, I can do it myself! Geez…” The pitch of his voice started rising as he tried to gulp down a whine. The corner of Langa’s mouth twitched upward.

“Sorry.”

If the sparkle on Langa’s face was any indication of his true feelings, then the bastard was, most certainly, not sorry.

“Y-yep. Okay, what next?” He cursed the subtle tremor in his voice. Langa stood up straight again, finally satisfied with his posture.

“When you hold the bow, make a very loose ‘c’ shape with your left hand. Cup it around this notch right here.” He rested his hand over Reki’s, guiding it into the right spot, curled gently over the center. Reki’s hair started to stand on end.

Goddamnit, Langa.

He took Reki’s right hand and hooked two fingers around the center of the string, running his own two fingers slowly back down his forearm. He lifted Reki’s elbow up as he instructed him to tug back on the string. “When you’re ready to fire, pull back until your finger touches the corner of your mouth - right…” Langa brushed his fingers against the right corner of Reki’s mouth and dragged them lightly down his jawline as they withdrew. “...there.”

Reki was going to die.

He laughed nervously as Langa pulled out the arrow. He settled it into the small nocking point in the center and lined up the feathers. As if things couldn’t possibly get any worse, before showing him how to fire, Langa got behind him and pressed up against his back to help him into position. He loosely hooked his left hand around Reki’s, mirrored his stance, and wrapped an arm around him to help pull the arrow back. “Just like this.” The words puffed sweetly into Reki’s ear, and he shivered.

“Okay, got it.” Langa stepped away, thank the kind skating gods, and let Reki do the rest. He closed one eye, lined up the sight window with the center of the tree, pulled the arrow back, and released. It hit his target with a heavy thud, perfectly horizontal and centered. Langa’s eyes glittered with pride.

“You’re amazing, Reki.” The softness in his eyes caused actual, physical pain in Reki’s chest.

He was definitely going to die before they even got back to their room. Somehow, though, he survived the remaining five practice arrows.

🖤🕸🖤

Weeks passed by, and the summer temperatures continued to rise. By the time Reki’s usual training sessions were done, he was drenched in sweat and dripping when they got back to the shuttles. Langa, however, never seemed to have that problem, at least to the same extent.

“So what do they do with you during these ‘super private amazing lessons,’ anyway? I know you mentioned something about telepathy in your family before, but what’s the actual deal?” Langa chewed thoughtfully on the lunch they had brought back to their room as he sat on the floor across from Reki.

“The headmaster is trying to teach me mind control.” Reki nearly face-planted into his bowl of ramen.

“What the fuck, man? Are you kidding me? Isn’t that…I don’t know, messed up, kinda? Do vampires have laws? Is it illegal?” Langa chewed his lip again and stared back.

“Well, technically I’m not supposed to say anything about it.” Reki grimaced. “But it’s you, so…” The corner of Langa’s mouth lifted softly into a small, crooked grin that did wonderful, clenching things to Reki’s stomach. “I think those are more exhausting than the physical training. I’ve never even seen them - no idea who our headmaster is. I’m taught all via telepathy, and it’s confusing and weird.” A tired frown replaced the small, beautiful smile that was there a moment ago. “I don’t know how I’m going to keep up with everything. I guess we’ll see how long I can last.” Reki mentally tried to sift through all the vampire folklore and rumors he’d heard since he arrived at the academy. He had opted in for the “So You’re A Vampire Now 101” class, or VMP100 in the course catalog - he could definitely find out some more information during his lectures, and if absolutely necessary, could even ask other peers.

“No matter what happens, you know I’m here for you, right?” Reki set his bowl to the side and scooted closer to Langa, their knees barely touching. Langa smiled again.

“I’ve always known. You’re pretty awesome, Reki.” Langa’s eyes sparkled genuinely, and Reki sighed happily. They ate the rest of their meal in content silence, the music from Reki’s small speaker drifting around them.

🖤🕸🖤

There had to be something Reki could do to help Langa - there had to be. He was so desperate to find out that he actually went to the library after one of his Why Did I Have To Turn Into A Vampire 101 classes adjourned. He entered through the massive iron library entrance cautiously, the doors heaving shut loudly behind him. It caused the bored-looking librarian behind the counter to flicker her eyes up before they went back to her computer screen. He timidly approached her, all nerves and no confidence.

“Er, hi.” She continued to type, not even looking over at him. “Hi.” Her eyes flickered back over to him, and she removed her horn-rimmed glasses to peer at him.

“Can I help you?” Reki bristled and blushed slightly.

“I’m, uh. Trying to research something called life energy. Could you direct me to the right section?” She tapped her long manicured nails on the counter a few times, considering him. She looked like she decided he was an acceptable patron as her posture became more relaxed and casual.

“Sure. Take the spiral staircase at the back of this floor, go to the third floor, and grab one of the ladders. You’re going to need it - it’s the section to your immediate left once you get up there.” She smiled, and Reki relaxed significantly. 

In a feat of pure acrobatics, Reki managed to pull down several dusty old books from the highest shelves and spread them out over the large wooden table upstairs. Luckily, this part of the library was pretty deserted - it meant he could avoid judging comments and questioning eyes. He held his breath, opened the first one, and dove in.

A few books and many long, scrawled paragraphs later, Reki had some idea of how the whole life energy thing worked. It was the incorporeal entity that gave them immortal life in an originally-mortal body. Something about the seventeenth year activated it in half-breeds like himself, and it ran through their veins within their blood.

That blood is also precisely how one could share their life energy with another.

The books described it as a very erotic act, one that was considered taboo for centuries in the vampire community. Even in the more modern books, it describes it as a questionable, devious behavior that few participate in unless in a permanent, “mated” relationship. It could also be used as a show of dominance in rare occasions, but those were saved for extremely pointed power plays amongst the vampire race’s major villains.

All I can do is hope that Langa doesn’t know all this and that he’ll at least agree to try if we get desperate.

🖤🕸🖤

“Langa, you look exhausted, Come on, sit down for a minute, won’t you?” Langa traipsed in through the heavy door before it clicked softly closed behind him. He looked up with tired eyes at Reki, closed the gap between them, and slumped against him in a loose hug. Reki, startled at the touch and wrapped his arms up around his friend to support him in any way he could. “Are you okay?” Langa peered up, eyes nearly haunting Reki with how fatigued they looked. This was Snow - this was his Langa leaning up against him, hardly able to stand on his own. Reki chewed his bottom lip.

“Bedtime, please.” Reki swept his hands through Langa’s hair to fix the small tousles that stuck out at odd angles before he set him down in one of their desk chairs. He went to Langa’s closet, grabbed some pajamas, and brought them back over. He gazed downward with worried eyes and sighed.

“You know…there might be a way I could, um…help you.” Reki pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut tightly. Opening them again, he knelt down to Langa’s side as those soft blues focused in on him. “You see, there’s this rumor I heard shortly after you got here. If you drink another vampire’s blood, it will…” Reki’s hand tightened around Langa’s forearm. “It’ll give you more energy. Something about ‘life energy,’ or whatever hippie-dippie fantasy crap it involves. I asked about it again at my Vamp Life Sucks 101 class, and it sounds like it’s a sure thing. If I gave you some of mine, then maybe you could get through this whole…mess a little bit easier.” His grip tightened even more to the point where Langa yelped lightly at the pressure. He laid a pale, slender hand on top of Reki’s, looked down at him, and smiled.

“You give too much of yourself to others, you know that?” Sweeping a bit of hair back behind his ear, Langa stood and pulled Reki to his feet. He held onto Langa’s hand and brought him over to his closet where he quickly changed and then got under the covers. Reki pulled up a desk chair and sat at his bedside, peering down worriedly. 

“That doesn’t matter. Langa, you look like death. I know we’re like, undead and all? But you’re not supposed to look like this. Not you…not our Snow.” He spoke the final word softly in a breathy whisper. Langa looked up at him, and Reki wasn’t quite sure, but he thought he saw them start to water.

“Are you absolutely sure?” Reki closed his eyes, took in a deep breath, and steeled himself. He took off his red wristband, scooted closer to the bed, and offered his arm. He nervously tapped two fingers in the place he would let Langa take from. Hopefully, if Reki kept letting him do this, he would be able to make it through regular training as well as his special training with the headmaster. Langa sat up slowly and unsurely, gingerly reached out for Reki’s arm, and took one final look in his eyes.

Reki had a very hard time reading whatever emotion was brewing behind them. He didn’t have much time to try, however, as Langa brought Reki’s wrist to his mouth and bit down.

“Agh - Langa, gentle please…” As much as the fangs stung when they pierced his skin, there was also a strange, euphoric feeling that bubbled up inside his chest with it.

Maybe this is why this is supposed to be erotic, or whatever…

He closed his eyes and let Langa take a small amount, and he was much more considerate as he withdrew. He held pressure on the two small markings to stop them from bleeding as he looked wide-eyed back at Reki. “Thank you.” It was barely a whisper; Langa looked at him with such reverence that Reki had to turn away.

“It’s…no problem at all. I mean what I said - I’ll do anything to help you get through this.” Langa slid his hand from Reki’s forearm to palm, pressing affectionate pressure into the soft space above his thumb. He surprised Reki by lacing their fingers together, squeezing, and carefully letting go before he turned, closed his eyes, and fell asleep quickly.

Only time would tell if this whole, absolutely-fucking-crazy plan was going to work.

🖤🕸🖤

Reki needed to take a walk and clear his head after that… encounter. He clung to the spot on his wrist that was still burning, the epicenter of the line of vibrant fire flowing through his entire body. He was so lost in the lingering feeling that he practically walked right into a light pole. "God - damnit…" Cursing himself silently, his swirling thoughts clouding his mind and vision, he continued down the walkway. He wound around the campus as a light mist starting covering the grounds

It isn't just Langa that will have to survive this arrangement somehow. 

He reached his hands up into his hair and tried to tug his heartache out of his red locks. He whined loudly up into the sky as tears pricked the corners of his eyes.

Very suddenly, and very shockingly, he felt an upward rush of gravity as his feet pulled back from the ground. His arms started madly waving back and forth and a desperate attempt to stabilize himself. It felt as though the ground was pulled beneath his feet; his head was spinning as he flailed, trying to right himself, and he opened his eyes.

What the FUCK -

Reki had shapeshifted. Into a fucking bat. He was literally a goddamn bat, flapping idiotically through the air, having no fucking clue how to fly.

This stereotypical vampire young adult novel bullshit is really getting old.

He screamed out in frustration, but it only came out as a small, adorably-angsty bat squeak. For a few horrible moments, he started to panic, having no idea how to transition back. He saw his clothes rumpled in a pile beneath him and panicked further, knowing that he would be running naked through the grounds if he couldn’t figure out how to get back into human form soon. He took as deep a breath as he could into his tiny little bat lungs and air sacs. When he finally started to steady himself in the air, he thought of Langa.

I need to get back to him. He’s the only one I want to talk to right now.

Seconds later, he had fallen heavy, right on his bare-naked ass, in the middle of the grounds. The rain was still misting around him, thankfully keeping others inside or away from the open air. Reki squeaked and scrambled to grab his clothes, throwing his pants and sweatshirt on quickly and stuffing the rest into the hoodie pocket.

He ran straight back to their room without stopping.

Chapter Text

“Why the hell do they call this place the ‘S Academy,’ anyway? The hell does ‘S’ stand for, stupid?” Reki mused as they sat together under a tree after a long day of training. “It’s super dumb.” Langa nodded in agreement. They both watched as a flood of their peers exited a small chapel across the grounds from them, and Reki grimaced. Some of them waved to Langa and ignored Reki, as per usual. “Are you kidding me? We’re literally vampires, isn’t that the opposite of religion and goodness and life and whatever?” Langa cocked his head.

“Just because we’re vampires doesn’t make us inherently bad. Just like…someone that’s gay…isn’t inherently bad just because of who they are.” Langa’s eyes whisked over to Reki’s in his periphery so quickly that he wasn’t even sure they’d made eye contact at all. He seemed to shuffle uncomfortably in his spot, a slightly nervous energy radiating off of him as he waited for a response. Reki started to speak, but he stopped before any words could come out. He fell backward onto the grass and looked up at the leaves softly brushing together above him; it created a gentle and relaxing noise as the breeze rolled by.

“I guess you’re right. It just…I don’t know. I never wanted this. I never asked for this life. And now…it’s forever. Literally. I’m not exaggerating or even being dramatic, for once.” Langa sighed, tension seemingly melting away from his shoulders as he moved next to him. He stretched out his infuriatingly long limbs as their side bodies touched from shoulders to ankles. “Do you ever sit there and catch yourself thinking about it for too long? And then you suddenly realize that you’ve been sitting in silence for a while, but you don’t even notice because of all the noise in your head?” A few moments of quiet passed.

“You’re still good, Reki. You’re still good, and so amazing, no matter who or what you are.” Langa exhaled softly through his nose. “You’re still my Reki.” He turned his head and smiled shyly, and Reki’s face bloomed into a beautiful pink blush.

My Reki.

“Th-thanks, Langa.” He brought an arm up to cover his face until the heat in his cheeks could die down, and he heard Langa sigh again next to him before he closed his eyes. Reki turned to look at him, gorgeous and peaceful, and let out a small sigh himself.

I wish I was his Reki. Then, that would mean he was my Langa.

They both must have dozed off because Reki suddenly found himself waking up slowly, rubbing his eyes and feeling the light breeze ruffle through his hair. He looked next to him and saw Langa snoozing, his face sweet and vulnerable in this state. His mouth was slightly open at the corner, and Reki thought he saw a little drool running down his face and chuckled. Langa’s long, perfectly-curved canines glinted in the dwindling sunlight that peeked through the branches. He let himself gaze down at his best friend and the love of his life for a few moments before rousing him. “Come on, Langa. Let’s get back to our room, okay? You can sleep in your own bed instead of on the dirty ground.” Langa didn’t open his eyes but whined in protest.

“I’ll go if I can sleep in your bed.” Reki looked curiously at him, wondering how awake (or not) he was to say something like that out loud. He must be out of his mind - brains can do strange things when someone is dreaming, can’t they?

Yeah, it doesn’t mean anything.

Reki eventually dragged Langa away from his comfortable space beneath the tree. He leaned sleepily on him until they both reached their shared room and found that a fancy-looking red envelope with a wax seal had been slid under their door. 

Huh. This almost reminds me of…ha, nah, there's no way. 

Of course it was addressed to Langa. Of course it was a handwritten invitation from their headmaster to learn new, additional skills via private lessons. Why would it be anything for Reki? He wasn’t anything special. Langa was special, and Reki was just here…

Careful, don’t let your thoughts spiral.

Reki sighed and came up behind Langa, peering over his shoulder as he opened the envelope. Inside was a return invitation, almost as if it were for a wedding or formal event. He sighed again, this time into the base of Langa’s neck, and he thought he felt a slight bristling roll through his shoulders. He withdrew nervously, wondering if he had gotten a little too close for comfort. Langa seemed to forget all about it, however, as he read the envelope aloud.

“You are cordially invited to train with the Headmaster himself, in person, on the night of the next full blood moon.” Langa looked at the ceiling thoughtfully. “What’s a blood moon? Is that a real thing or just a bad vampire pun?” Reki narrowed his eyes.

“That’s what you’re concerned about right now? Tch. ” He spun around and flopped down onto his bed. “You get this magical fucking invitation to do this crazy, amazing shit, and you’re all curious about the little dumb details. It must be so easy being amazing and perfect where you have nothing real to worry about. So easy…” Reki clutched his pillow to his face as if he were about to scream, but no sound came out except the agonized puff of air into the pillow cover. A few silent moments later, he peered over and saw that Langa’s expression had fallen, and he had set the invite face-down onto his desk. He was looking at the floor, emitting a slight aura of hurt and dejection.

Shit. You idiot.

Reki jumped from his bed and stumbled over to Langa, tapped him on the shoulder, and watched as he raised his blue eyes. He sat down gingerly in Langa’s lap, relieved that he wasn’t being pushed away or ignored. He straddled him loosely and wrapped his arms around Langa’s shoulders and neck, squeezing in a slightly frantic apology. “Shit Langa, I’m so sorry. I just…” His voice broke slightly and he held on tighter, tethering himself to his best friend’s body. Gentle hands slid up his back, and warm, comforting arms softly embraced him. Reki turned his head and sighed into Langa’s hair, the puff of breath briefly moving the wavy blue locks around. “Sometimes I just need to be reminded that you’re with me, not… above me.” He chewed his lip and nuzzled his face nervously into Langa’s cheek.

Reki was really, really surprised that Langa was letting him do this. He was very, very surprised he wasn’t being pushed away for getting far too close.

Dangerously close.

“I can’t do any of this without you, Reki. I hope someday you’ll realize and accept that as the truth.” Reki closed his eyes as Langa slid his palms slowly up his back, brushed his fingertips sweetly against his neck, and gently carded his fingers through his messy red hair. They held each other for a vulnerable moment, trying so hard to ground themselves amidst all the unbelievable things they’d seen throughout the last several weeks. They kept each other steady, always there and always constant, no matter what was happening around them. It was everything keeping Reki alive in this new world.

Well…perhaps not alive, per say, but whatever the immortal vampire equivalent was, for sure.

🖤🕸🖤

Reki was on a warpath. Joe and the other instructors were making them run through the forest, and without stopping, they had to hit the same goddamn cut in a tree with each type of blade they carried. He’d been able to mark the tree with his sword, and he even managed to hit the target with his switchblade once - but each hit had to be back-to-back. They were forced to run laps around an incredibly rudely large perimeter of forest before they were able to take another shot at this dumb, stupid tree. On something like Reki’s seventeenth lap, he came to a panting stop deep in the woods at the sound of shouting in the distance. He looked around, saw nobody else coming, and started to slip through the bushes and trees to see what the commotion was.

And oh, was he so happy he did.

He just so happened to have stumbled upon an archery session. Cherry was strolling behind a small line of archers, their bows drawn back, as he barked out instructions. At the very end, closest to where Reki was lurking, was Langa. 

He looked intensely focused, an elm wood bow drawn back, arrow nocked and ready to fire at Cherry’s command. Reki’s breath was whisked away as his elder’s voice rang out, and the arrows of four archers flew swiftly through the air before thudding into their distant targets. Reki’s amber eyes widened as he watched Langa quickly pull an arrow from his quiver, settle it into the notch, and pull the string back with two fingers. His middle finger touched the corner of his mouth, which had twitched slightly in concentration, as they fired another round of arrows across the clearing. The ruthless speed and efficiency with which Langa drew, shot, and pulled another arrow made his heart race.

Oh, fuck. The stupid goddamn tree.

He cursed his own way loudly back through the trees, almost sure that Cherry had shot a smirk in his direction as he turned to leave.

After about a dozen (maybe less? It was all inhumane torture at this point, anyway) more laps, Reki finally nailed his hat trick - sword, switchblade, then throwing knife. He jogged over to the edge of the clearing, flipped off Joe, and scowled at the sound of his deep, boisterous laughter. He wiped away the sweat pouring from his brow and walked right up to his elder, his mentor, and his teacher. “Hey, Joe? I’ve got a question for you, if you’ve got a minute.” Joe peered down at his tortured, exhausted student and shrugged.

“Sure, kid. What’s up?” He even ignored the use of “Joe” rather than “Professor,” probably because he could see the worry lines on Reki’s face.

“I, uh. Turned into a bat, and I was wondering what I should…do about it.” Joe’s eyes flew open and he jumped up in excited celebration. 

“You go, Reki! That’s awesome, man. What was it like? I’ve never been able to do any of that stuff - not like Kaoru…” His sly smile eased Reki’s nerves, and hearing something about Cherry being able to shapeshift caused the cogs in his brain to start turning…

“Wait, does that mean Cherry is going to train me?!” Joe’s eyes twinkled. 

“Hell yeah, kiddo. You ought to let the academy know as soon as possible so you can get that shit under control before you turn into a bat the next time you’re all confused and horny for your secret boyfriend.” Reki scowled, and Joe laughed as he clapped a hand on his shoulder. Reki flinched and swore from the tender pain in his upper back from the stupid Hat Trick Adventure and Other Stupid Fucking Escapades Joe Put Him Through.

“I was, uh. Also wondering if you were ever…” Reki pinched the bridge of his nose. It wasn’t like he’d never dealt with bullying before, but it was extremely vulnerable and uncomfortable to talk about it, even with someone he trusted. “...bullied while you were here?” Joe’s expression fell slightly.

“Reki, what’s going on? Is there something that needs an intervention from the staff?” It warmed Reki’s heart slightly to see the worry in Joe’s eyes and the concern in his voice. He tried incredibly hard not to close off to the conversation, and he pressed bravely onward.

“It’s just…some of the others are being kinda shitty. When I walk around with Langa, it’s like I either don’t exist or I’m the scum of the earth. I don’t know what I ever did to them to deserve this.” He buried his face in his hands in frustration, the sweat still dripping off of him and making tiny wet spots on the ground beneath him. “It’s not Langa’s fault. Everyone loves him. But for some stupid goddamn reason, they think I don’t belong with him. It’s just like…” He unwillingly let a high-pitched whine escape his throat. “It’s just like S, where everyone thought I was just some asshole that latched onto him.” Joe rested a broad yet gentle hand on Reki’s shoulder.

“Belong with him...how, exactly? People are typically a little more open-minded in the Northeast United States, but we do have students from all over..." Joe looked up at the canopy of branches and leaves above them and sighed. He rubbed the side of his face with one hand, slightly mussing up the hair on that side, before he peered back down. "Reki, you know I’ve told you this before. I don’t want to see you end up alone. The more you care about their opinions, the easier it will become to isolate yourself. You deserve better than that - don’t let them destroy your relationship with Langa. What you two have…” He smiled softly. “...it’s too special to lose because of people that don’t understand the incredible worth and potential that already lies within you, anyway.” Reki shifted slightly on his feet.

“Thanks, Joe. Even if you’re horrible sometimes, you can be pretty awesome. Kindof. A little bit. Don't think too much about what I just said.” Reki pouted and averted his eyes, and Joe's soft brown eyes glittered, clearly pleased with the complement. 

“You know, next time I might even go a little easier on you with the Tree Circuit.”

Reki swore he was going to go back into the forest at some point and find that fucking tree. Then, he would set it on fire and burn it to high, holy hell.

🖤🕸🖤

“Hey, Kyan! Heard you can shapeshift. Fuckin’ cool, man, I wish my family had that ability.” 

So, word travels fast around here. Stupid Gossip Queen Joe; it’s only been twenty-four hours…

“...yeah, I can. Just figured it out last night. It was, uh. Pretty weird, honestly.” People were suddenly walking up to him that had ignored him previously, perhaps even talked shit about him to Langa and to the others behind his back (or right in front of him, depending on how much of a dick they were trying to be). It confused Reki, but he also liked feeling as though he were something important, or…special. Even if he knew it was maybe a little selfish, a little egotistical, and very fake and superficial, he allowed the attention to lift his spirits slightly as he made his way back to his room.

Reki knew Langa had another telepathy lesson that evening, so he pulled out his sketchbook and opened to a new page while he had some privacy and time to himself. The image of him, long and beautiful with his recurve bow, had been emblazoned in his mind. He needed to get the image out somewhere and somehow before it caused him to spontaneously combust, so he began sketching.

Reki sketched the precise, gently sloping curve of Langa’s cheekbones, the perfect angle at which he held his arm with the drawstring pulled, and the fierceness and focus sparkling in his cerulean eyes. He knew every dip, curve, slope, and general topography of his entire body after all the time they had spent together. Whenever he drew Langa, it was a little different than any of his other sketches of people or skateboard decks. With Langa, he felt the love swept into every curve, every bit of shading, and every line he put on the paper. It made him the subject of some of the best drawings Reki had ever done.

A small knock at the door transitioned to the handle turning, and Langa stumbled forward into the room. He was, once again, absolutely exhausted after his double-training day. Reki rushed over, just as he always did, and helped Langa up to his feet. One hand lingered in Langa’s, the other hesitating slightly around his waist. Reki pulled him over to his bed, lifted him easily up on top of his rumpled blue comforter, and propped him up. Langa peered back at him, emptiness threatening to overtake his ghostly eyes, until his gaze flickered over to Reki’s sketchbook. A glimmer of recognition and curiosity sparkled in them. “Reki, is that…” Langa closed his eyes, motioning with a small lift of his chin in the direction of the book. He smiled softly, and despite the blush adorning his cheeks, Reki jumped down to grab the sketchbook.

“I, uh. I saw your group training with Cherry today, and I thought it would make a really cool sketch. I’ve drawn you tons of times before - don’t make this weird, dude.`` Reki blushed lightly at the shimmer in Langa’s eyes. He tossed it up into his lap, and Langa softly ran the pads of his fingers down the thick, textured paper as if in reverence. 

“Reki, it’s beautiful.” Langa’s eyes widened, and they even looked slightly misty. Reki smiled gently.

“Of course it is. It’s a picture of you.” He eeped slightly, but the look on Langa’s face made every bit of embarrassment worth it. He looked at Reki as if there was nothing and no one else in the world, as if he were the only important being in their entire universe. Langa looked at Reki as if…

No, that’s impossible. Remember how he's been lately, and tread carefully.

He sighed in resignation and hopped up onto the bed beside Langa. He paused for a moment, looked up into his tired eyes, and crawled carefully into his lap. This time, they faced each other, and Reki offered up the wrist with the band around it; he could feel their warm breath tickling his fingers, but Langa shook his head. He moved slowly, acknowledging the slight newness and intimacy of this position, as he pulled Reki toward him. He ran the tip of his nose down the curve of Reki’s neck, pulling a deep shiver from his bones, before pausing where shoulder met neck. Langa curled his upper lip away, fangs glinting in the glow of the soft twinkle lights around the room, and sank his teeth in.

Reki subtly rutted his hips forward into Langa’s, a surprised and nervous whine escaping from his lips. Langa’s hands soothed him as he whispered softly between punctures, Reki’s body singing with electric energy. In a desperate attempt to corral this strange fire that burned within him, he bit down on his own forearm. It was barely hard enough to draw blood, but it was enough to get some of that uncomfortably smoldering spark to release. Langa immediately took that arm and ran soft lips along it, kissing the teeth marks gently.

They gazed longingly into each others’ eyes for several long, heart-pounding moments before Langa blinked hard and turned away. He ran his hands gently up under Reki’s arms, lifted him, and set him down in the space next to them. Langa mumbled something softly that sounded like a thanks , chewed the inside of his cheek while scrunching his brow, and turned over and faced the wall for the rest of the evening. Reki lingered for a moment, feeling an awful mixture of arousal and confusion, before he simply crossed the room and hopped into his own bed. He turned out the lights, and they didn’t say anything to each other until the next day.

What did I do wrong?

🖤🕸🖤

His first lesson with Cherry pissed him off about as much as he should have expected.

It consisted of a barking Professor Kaoru, a scowling Reki, and a lot of awkwardly nude moments as he transitioned in and out of his bat form. There was even one moment where he felt so frustrated that he went to scream, was still in human shape, and a tiny and humiliating bat squeak came out instead. Reki covered his face in his hands.

I don’t know how Langa puts up with this asshole all day long.

He dropped to his knees in exhaustion and frustration. He tuned out Cherry’s voice and also missed the swishing of his yukata as it glided over the grass and over next to Reki. Cherry knelt down, rested a hand on Reki’s shoulder, and showed him a rare moment of gentleness. “I understand, Reki. Our lesson today can be over now, but what you need to know is that I needed to push you, and I needed to make you angry. It’s statistically the only strong emotion that can elicit that many transformations under supervision so you can gain a sense of control over when and how you shapeshift.” Reki’s eye twitched, and he looked back up at Cherry from his spot on the ground. His golden eyes were soft in a way Reki had never seen before; he sighed heavily and nodded.

“Thanks, Che - I mean, Professor.” The corner of Cherry’s mouth quirked up as he ruffled Reki’s hair lightly.

“Want to give it one more go? I have a feeling that whatever bizarre energy you and Langa are exuding might help you partially transform.” Reki eyed him warily.

“What do you mean, partially? Like, am I gonna have a tiny bat head or something?” Cherry chuckled.

“No, dear child. It means you can shift into a human form, but with large bat wings.” Reki’s shock sent strange energy surging down his spine, exploding fire out of his shoulder blades, and into the air as he screamed out. It fucking hurt, but there he was, sitting on the ground with bat wings sticking out of his back. Cherry’s eyes glittered, pleased and proud. “Lesson adjourned for today.”

Their private lessons continued for several weeks, often overlapping (much to Reki’s relief, even if he was being avoided by him occasionally) with Langa’s schedule. It made it a bit easier to pretend they didn’t see each other much only because they were both extra-busy now and not because of a strange awkwardness that started to brew between them after the blood-letting started.

🖤🕸🖤

The week before the “graduation” ceremony is when all the newest recruits were given the opportunity to get tattoos. There were some various designs that they were given to choose from, at least, but there was a slight bit of customization allowed. Reki agonized over this for a little longer than he would have liked, but there was one customization he knew was a non-negotiable.

He was going to find somewhere in his tattoo to put an infinity symbol.

He stared at the wall filled with the options, and he ended up deciding on a single sword surrounded by tribal, fiery-looking swirls. For the final touches, he added a small infinity symbol right beneath the hilt, and the handle was adorned with a deep-pink hibiscus flower. The artist drew out a rough idea of what it would look like, and Reki’s eyes grew wide as he eagerly nodded and offered his upper right arm. The artist got to work, and after a couple hours, he was sporting a brilliant, crisp tattoo.

All the while, he wondered what Langa ended up choosing and if he would add any customizations to his. Things had been a bit tense between them since the other night; the morning after Langa’s last telepathy session, he left their room before sunrise and didn’t return again until that night. He had looked tired, stressed, and distant, and Reki had absolutely no idea how to pull him back in. He’d started to come back around, but Reki still had no idea what had caused the initial, cautious distancing in the first place. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he barely registered the pain for the last hour of the session.

Reki flexed his arm when the needle was finally lifted away, and he saw his reflection in the mirror. He had opted to remove his shirt for the session, as it was in the midst of August, and the little shop in downtown Auburn was a bit warm and humid. He was surprised to learn that so many vampires had integrated themselves back out into the “normal” world, but he started to feel a bit less surprised when he thought of his own family.

Aren’t vampires supposed to have no reflection? I feel like I don’t know anything anymore…

His muscle rippled as he shrugged his shoulder to release some of the stiffness and tension that built up from staying still for so long. His black joggers hung around his hips, chiseled yet still somewhat soft and supple. There was a very faint tan line around his waistband that developed over a few Saturdays at the lakes with Langa and the others, and an old surgery scar from his appendectomy shined white and pink along the lower right quadrant of his belly. His hair was tousled from lying down for so long, but somehow, it ended up looking almost…cute. The impressive muscles in his arms flexed again as he looked at his tattoo, and his chest rose and fell with a large sigh.

Okay, this vampire body really isn’t all half-bad.

He thanked the artist and pulled his tank top back over his head. After dressing and quickly washing up in the bathroom sink, he went back out to peruse the strip of shops and restaurants as the others finished up with their designs. He found Joe in one of the local coffee shops, and the door jingled merrily as he entered.

“Whoa, looks good, kid! Nice choice. It suits you.” Reki grinned and displayed the marking proudly. Joe’s eyes narrowed slightly, and a smirk crossed his face. “Is that?...” Reki pouted and turned away as Joe roared with affectionate laughter. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Langa. I’m sure he’ll see it for himself, anyway.” Reki’s pout deepened as he went to kick his elder, and they got into a friendly, playful wrestling match before Cherry turned up to slap them both out of it.

“God, I’m so tired of babysitting everyone in my life. Act like the adults you’re supposed to be, won’t you?” Reki and Joe grinned before reaching a temporary truce. “Oh! Langa. Excellent, you’re all set. You were the last one we were waiting on.” Reki whirled around at the mention of Langa’s name, and his gaze went straight to Langa’s left arm.

Gracing it was a beautiful, delicate arrow that looked like it was combined with elegant swirls and a starry compass. It stretched down his entire bicep, the swirls branching out from each end. The tip of the arrow was made of dark, smoky lines and light shading. Reki nearly choked up as he noticed the final detail - a little infinity symbol was tucked inside the feathery end of the arrow. His eyes watered slightly, and he turned away to gather himself before Langa noticed he was there. When his best friend did notice him hiding behind Joe and Cherry, his eyebrows rose as he eyed the tattoo on his arm. A wide smile spread across his face. “Reki!” Langa quickly walked over to him and lifted his hand to get a better look. “This looks…” Langa chewed his bottom lip hesitantly. “...amazing.” Reki swallowed and smiled up into his eyes.

“Thanks, man. Yours is pretty incredible, too. It, uh. It suits you really nicely.” He ran a light finger down the inside of Langa’s arm, just out of reach of the ink adorning his skin. Langa’s eyes went wide before they slowly closed as if he was enjoying the gentle touch. When he opened them up again, shining cerulean shades smiled back at Reki. It both thrilled and confused the living shit out of him.

“So does yours. I think it looks hot. I’m sure that all of your other, ah.” Langa’s smile faded, tumbling off of his face quickly and unexpectedly. “All your other new friends will probably like it, too.”

What’s he talking about?

Wait, did he say hot? I -

Somewhere in Reki’s brain, an axon started short-circuiting, causing a cataclysmic domino effect on all the others and rendering all intelligible conversation impossible. Reki raised a confused eyebrow at Langa just before he was whisked away. It was probably a good thing that Cherry ushered Langa back to the shuttle with his other trainees before he had a chance to respond, and Joe wrapped an arm around his other shoulder and steered him away.

“You know, you should really try to play hard to get. It’ll make him want to chase you even more.” Reki bristled.

“Joe.” Joe laughed happily and good-naturedly as they boarded their shuttle and returned to the academy. “I can barely tame my own demons. You actually think he’d be interested in dealing with that? I'm a goddamn disaster, man. And he's...perfect." Joe’s eyebrows scrunched together in a moment of hesitation. It looked like he was about to say something, but he shook his head subtly.

“You’d be surprised. Come on, kid, let’s head back. Maybe we can talk about these…demons of yours a little more sometime.” Reki avoided his eyes but nodded, slumping over against the window and wondering, once again, where this push-and-pull with Langa could possibly be coming from. All he knew was that it was confusing the hell out of him, and he wasn't sure how long his heart would be able to take it.

Chapter Text

“Langa - do you have to get measurements for your uniform, too?” Reki had successfully tangled himself in a tape measurer in his attempt to obtain them. Langa came over and helped unravel him slowly, carefully, and while maintaining a respectful distance.

“I do. I only have waist, neck, and arm measurements left.” Reki blushed slightly.

“Well, I uh. I need everything, Chest circumference, waistline, hip circumference, neck, thigh, inside leg…” Langa’s baby blues glittered playfully with challenge, and he stepped over quickly and eagerly to assist. He stared Reki down, a determined look in his eyes, and his mouth almost went dry.

“I can do it.” They spent the next few minutes awkwardly trying to measure each other, and Reki thought he nearly had an aneurysm when Langa straightened out the measurer between his legs to get his inseam. Eventually, they both wrote down the numbers they needed to submit by midnight.

“Thanks, Langa. I appreciate it.” Reki smiled small and shy, and Langa shined softly in response. “How is your tattoo feeling, by the way?” Langa shrugged.

“It’s okay. It’s healing pretty fast - the lines weren’t as thick as yours. No idea if that helps or if it’s just the whole vampire thing. What about you?” Langa approached again slowly, flickering his eyes quickly between Reki's face and his shoulder. He obliged his best friend and raised his sleeve, somehow suppressing a shiver as Langa reached out and gently ran the pads of his fingers down the blade of the sword.

“I like yours, too, Langa. There was actually something I wanted to ask you about it but haven’t, uh. Haven’t had much of a chance to recently.” Reki grimaced slightly and shuffled on his feet nervously, realizing suddenly how close together they were standing. It was closer than they'd been in a few long, grueling weeks, and he could feel as his heart started to race and his palms began sweating. “Is that…an infinity symbol on the arrow?” Langa’s smile lit up the room even brighter than before, and the sight nearly knocked all the air out of his lungs.

“It is. Do you like it? I got it for us.” Reki hid his face in his hands and groaned as Langa laughed joyfully. He peeked through his fingers and finally brought his hands down as Langa quieted, simply smiling softly back at him.

He confuses me so goddamn much that I might scream and collapse inside myself like a dying star turning into a giant fucking black hole and -

“It’s beautiful, Langa. Really.” They briefly held onto each other's hands with a small smile before Reki drew away and opened his laptop. “I’m going to get these over to our mentors before they break down our door and come after us in the middle of the night, though.” He sent a quick email, copied Langa, and closed the lid before he turned back. It seemed as though, at least for the moment, things were getting back to normal again. “Feel like going skating before bed?”

🖤🕸🖤

Reki hoped to the vampire gods or whatever deities he had to pray to nowadays that his uniform would fit. 

They weren’t supposed to try them on until the day they graduated into the next level of training.  Thankfully, his nerves melted away as soon he slipped into the most perfect-fitting black fighting leathers he could have imagined.

They clung to every curve, dip, and valley on his body. He had several scabbards to choose from for the ceremony, but he chose a simple one with a light blue stone at the base of the blade. He turned to face Joe, the one who would be calling his name up on the podium, after he had observed himself in the mirror. He gave Reki a thumbs-up and a million dollar smile, slinking over from his armchair in the instructor’s quarters.

“If you take your headband off, Langa will looove it. I see how his eyes light up when you pull it over your head and shake your hair out - “ Reki roundhouse-kicked Joe in the behind and caused him to sputter out a few curse word before he started laughing. “Learning a bit from Kaoru, eh? Fair enough. I’m just saying though, dude - you’ve got to play it a little coy if you want to get a date to the Masquerade Ball.” Reki frowned.

“Stop.” His heart pounded hard against his ribcage even as he denied the preposterous idea that Langa could ever love him. His stomach squirmed in agony under Joe's kind but weighted gaze. “He doesn’t feel that way about me. He’s been avoiding me on and off for a few weeks now. And I don’t even know what ball you’re talking about.” Joe merely chuckled. 

“Oh, to be young, stupid, and clueless again…Let’s go, kid - the next level awaits.”

🖤🕸🖤

He searched the crowd for Langa, and it didn’t take long to find the pure, loving gaze that was shining directly back at him from the audience. Reki blushed and looked away before he was called up to receive a new sword from Joe - it was a simple design, but much to his surprise, there was a small infinity symbol carved into the steel right above the hilt. He almost stuttered, but Joe winked and tried to move him along before he started to back up the entire ceremony with his gawking awkwardness.

How did they do this? How did they know about our sign?... 

He stared at his sword as he stood in formation waiting for the others to be presented their new combat weapons. Soon enough, his part of the ceremony concluded, and Langa’s group was up next. Reki watched wide-eyed as he and the rest of the sagittarii approached the front of the clearing. Langa was in a long, curve-hugging, and elegant steel- gray trench overcoat. The hem fluttered gently around his calves in the soft breeze, accentuating his long legs and the gray small-heeled boots.

What the fuck, why is he always hot in everything he wears? He could wear a goddamn paper bag and I would still want to jump him.

All that Reki remembered of the rest of the ceremony was when Langa received his recurve bow. It was a beautiful one painted with tiny soft blue swirls around the notch (or did they sneak an infinity onto that, too?), as elegant and gorgeous as its archer. Thankfully, the pageantry concluded shortly after,  and all the fresh graduates mingled together in excited conversation. He sifted through his other “friends,” immediately looking for Langa (who was also trying to find him, based on the searching look on his face). “Reki!”

“Langa!” He spoke the name, and everyone around him could surely hear the smile written within his heart as he ran toward Langa. They awkwardly stopped about two feet from each other, and if Reki wasn’t mistaken, Langa swept his glittering blue eyes all the way up and down his body before speaking.

“You, uh.” The immaculate vampire in front of him scratched behind his neck nervously. Reki’s mind descended into white noise, completely disbelieving that someone like Langa could ever be nervous about anything, much less him. “You look amazing. Truly, Reki. Amazing.” Langa’s eyes widened sincerely, and Reki fought down a blush. The attempt went very poorly, just as he expected it would.

“You look pretty hot - I mean, great. Really great, Langa.” The blush climbed higher, and he wished he had his headband to pull down around his face to cover his heated cheeks. Langa, however, seemed to sparkle happily in response.

“Come on, let’s go celebrate. We can, um. Also say hi to the others, too. If you really want to.” Langa took Reki’s hand and pulled him in the direction of the crowd, a small pout on his face. Reki was puzzled until he saw the massive amount of food displayed for everyone to enjoy, and he laughed softly at the predictability of the one he loved the most.

🖤🕸🖤

Reki held a small plate with grapes and little cubes of cheddar cheese in his hand as he eyed a group of female vampires in a corner. Some of them had graduated with him, and he continued watching curiously and with interest as one of the medics flipped her long, black hair back and laughed. He gazed dreamily in her direction, the hem of her white coat fluttering pleasantly around her knees in the light summer breeze, as Langa cleared his throat. Unbeknownst to Reki, Langa was pouting beside him for several moments prior. “I can do it much better than them, you know.” Reki shook his head and looked up into Langa’s eyes that were sparkling with mischief.

“H-huh?” Reki sounded slightly alarmed and quite confused for a second. About a hundred different possibilities of what Langa could be talking about flew through his mind, each one dirtier than the last. Some of the cubes flew off his plate because of the jerk of his hands, and he cursed himself silently.

Fucking hell, Langa...

“Be a good match for you, of course." A small smile tipped up the corner of his mouth. "I’m much closer to your height and skill level than the rest of them. So we would do well together with sparring. Close combat. Etcetera.” Langa drew in close, allegedly comparing their height, but smiling and breathing right down into Reki's space. He drew up his hand to the top of Reki’s head, comparing where his height met Langa just around eye level, and cocked his head to the side. “I’d say that makes us a much better pair than anyone else.” The internal screaming started when he thought he saw Langa wink. “After all, you must be really skilled with your hands if they chose you for swordplay.” Langa’s eyes shimmered darkly, and Reki could feel his chest actively seizing up. His choice in words sometimes gave Reki terrible, horrible, and emotionally-fueled ideas, and they would probably never come to fruition anyway, and why did Langa have to be so coy and sexy and playful? And since when did his palms get so sweaty, and -

And God, the way Langa would look at him sometimes. It was almost as if…

No, this is definitely not going to end well.

🖤🕸🖤

The first few times, it was a timid action, as if Langa was still constantly unsure that it was okay for him to do it. He would delicately hold Reki’s wrist up to his mouth and bite gently, jumping nervously at Reki’s every movement. As they tried it out a few more times, he started to notice Langa moving his hand higher up his arm and becoming more bold and comfortable with the whole concept. One night after an intense session with the Headmaster, Langa came back, eyes bleak and exhausted, and collapsed onto the floor in the center of the room. Reki tumbled off his bed and rushed over immediately, pulling his wristband up in the process. He knelt down in front of Langa, brushed the sweaty bangs away from his eyes, and watched with concern as baby blues stared blankly back at him. Reki spoke softly as he sat him up.

“Langa, come on. Take some; you can barely even move tonight. You’re really worrying me, bro.” Langa seemed to focus a little more on Reki as his eyes widened affectionately. 

“I’m starting to scar your wrist, Reki. I don’t want to…” He squirmed slightly on the floor. “I don’t want you to be marked permanently just because you were helping me. The others…they might not be kind if they notice." He furrowed his brow. "What if I used a…different spot just this once? You can hide it more easily, and it won’t have all that scarring.” Langa’s head cocked to the side tiredly, and Reki sat down in front of him.

“What do you have in mind?” He pulled the band back over the faintly-visible teeth marks and peered at Langa curiously. Langa summoned him closer, waving a hand across his lap. Reki’s cheeks turned pink as he shuffled forward, and Langa pulled him in, back-to-chest.

Why didn’t I think to put on a shirt today?…goddamnit, Langa…

“What about…” Langa tiptoed two fingers up Reki’s bare back and stopped them right before reaching his shoulder. It was a bizarrely intimate feeling, thinking of sitting in Langa’s lap, his fangs sinking into Reki’s body, his lips touching soft and sensitive areas of skin…

Reki shivered slightly, thighs twitching hard, and he thought he heard Langa huff out a small laugh into his ear as he glided his hands up Reki’s sides. He rested one on his right shoulder, the other settled inside the curve of his waist. For a few electric moments, he could have sworn he felt Langa’s heart pounding against his back. “Yeah, go ahead. It’s okay.” He croaked out softly in an almost-whisper, the sound barely traveling far enough to reach Langa’s ears. He heard him suck in a breath, and a moment later, he felt sharp fangs scratching gently against his back and moving to his neck. Reki bit back a whine, the feeling sending crackling energy right between his legs. Langa brushed a palm up Reki’s side before resting both hands securely around his waist, and he brought them closer together as he sunk his teeth in tenderly.

Langa groaned into it this time, and Reki felt a subtle upward roll of his hips as he let out a small gasp. His own head dropped backward onto Langa’s shoulder as he sighed happily, closing his eyes as he absorbed the strange, stinging high he felt every time they did this. With Langa holding him tightly, their bodies pressed hard against each other, it was even more exhilarating than all the times before.

When he’d had enough, Reki felt Langa extract his fangs and run his hand over the two small marks on his shoulder. He also felt a warm, wet tongue soothing over the spot; and, unless Reki was quite mistaken, he thought he felt a swift kiss before Langa withdrew his lips.

Langa wrapped his arms around Reki’s middle again and pulled him closer. He sighed and dropped his forehead to Reki’s back, his thumbs brushing timid strokes into the abdominal muscles under his fingers. “I don’t know how to make this up to you. I don’t know how I would have made it through these last few weeks without your…” His grip tightened, and Reki rested a reassuring hand on his forearm.

“It’s alright, Langa. I’m okay, and I just need you to be okay.”

They never went back to using his wrist. Somehow, Reki always ended up in Langa’s lap, draped across him as teeth gently punctured his back, shoulder, and neck in all the right places.

🖤🕸🖤

Reki really hated running.

Not that he was terrible at it or anything - but, when he skated, he could ride fast and flip high. On his feet, he didn’t have as much mobility and capability to jump. It was an average afternoon training exercise with Joe’s group as they ran together in a single line, and they at least got to explore new territory around some of the lakes. They were barreling through the forest, tasked to keep up with their trainers as they threw various obstacles in their way. The instructors seemed to have fun with these, especially Joe, and Reki was almost laughing breathlessly by the time they’d reached the deepest part of the forest.

Everything happened so quickly that he barely had a chance to register the spindly fingers closing around his throat before it was too late.

He heard a few shrieks from his peers before he heard Joe’s booming voice bellowing out over the chaos. “It’s an ambush. Fight them off, do whatever it takes! It’s you or them!” Reki heard the sound of drawn steel ringing through the air before he heard the blood-curdling screams of the red-eyed, unhinged petturi attacking them. He wrestled to wrap his hands around the wrists at his throat, and he was losing oxygen by the second, his vision starting to fade to black around the edges. He finally gazed directly up into the eyes of his captor, and his blood turned to ice.

The red, wild eyes were the exact same color of fresh blood and eerily familiar-looking. There was a maniacal glint in them that activated the remnants of his mortal fight-or-flight response, and he flailed hard enough to knock his captor slightly off-center. It was everything he needed to gain the upper hand, his panic and instincts calming as his training finally kicked in. He shoved a hand up under its jaw and held steady as it snarled back at him. When it spoke, it almost sounded like hissing. “Worthless mutt. Let go of me so I can kill you like you deserve.” Reki’s eyes widened as he made one last push with his strength, luckily overpowering the petturi and pinning it to the ground. It spat at him angrily. “You’ll get what’s coming to you - all of you. Just wait and see.” Reki’s limbs ached horribly from the full-body impact, and the places where he’d been slashed with sharp nails bled onto the ground beneath them; he took his paring knife from his boot and dragged it across the throat. As the wriggling below him started to weaken, the curses became quieter until all sound and movement under his hands had finally stopped. The vampire-yet-creature turned to dust, drifting away in the light breeze, but the deep red stain on the ground remained.

There was a strange ringing sound in his ears as he slowly stood and looked around. The others from the academy seemed to have survived, though some were sporting much more severe injuries than Reki. The ringing grew louder as he watched the remaining petturi disappear into the darkness of the woods, chasing the nightfall in their retreat. He felt as if he were wading through thick mud as he locked eyes with Joe, ran behind the nearest tree, and vomited until he had no energy left.

And even then, he couldn't stop.

🖤🕸🖤

“Reki!” Langa’s frantic voice rang out inside the infirmary as his heavy footsteps thundered over to Reki’s side. He looked up, head pounding, at a tearful, horrified Langa. “Reki, are you okay? When they told us what happened, I…” Langa squeezed his eyes shut, and a few tears escaped the corners. Reki slowly reached out a bandaged hand and took Langa’s.

“It’s okay, Langa. I made it. All of us did - I might be a little banged up, but it’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before at Crazy Rock.” His pained, crooked smile caused Langa to start crying, the tears of relief streaming down his face. Even when they had said their goodbyes at the airport, Reki wasn’t sure he’d ever seen Langa cry so freely like this. It tore at his heart and made him want to protect him forever, to always be the one to wipe those tears away with a warm kiss.

“I was so worried, Reki. They told us there was an attack, and that there were casualties…but they couldn’t say if it was you or if it was them.” He shivered and wrung his hands together nervously at the last word. “And all your other friends - I couldn't understand why they weren’t afraid.” He looked down at the small space beside Reki on the bed and looked quickly back up again. Reki smiled, and slowly and gingerly, he scooted himself over to make room for one more body on his bed. Langa slid carefully down next to him, searching desperately for any spot he could hold onto without exacerbating pain. Reki ran his fingers through Langa’s hair, soothing himself with the contact just as much as Langa’s embrace was easing his nerves. 

That night, after all visitors had been kicked out until the next morning, Langa somehow snuck back into the infirmary. Reki woke up to his warm, slender body sliding into the small space of his hospital bed, cerulean eyes nearly glowing in the dark beside him. With a surprised but happy chirp, he allowed himself a moment of vulnerability as he reached up to touch Langa's face softly with his fingers. They curled their bodies into each other and slept restlessly, Langa never allowing Reki more than a few inches away from him.

🖤🕸🖤

He could hardly breathe. The sharp rocks in the soil below dug painfully into his back after he felt a heavy body thud on top of him. He started to flail as he felt hands go up around his throat, fingers that were soft and almost human-feeling pressing down hard on his trachea. There was only one thought racing through his mind as he fought against the dark figure pinning him to the ground.

I have to get back to Langa. I have to see him again. This can’t be the end.

So he fought, and when he finally looked up into its eyes, they were red and bloodshot. The petturi laughed and pinned down his arms and lunged its sharp teeth toward Reki’s exposed throat -

Reki yelled out in his dream, but it turned out he also screamed aloud in their room, too. Langa startled awake and scrambled quickly to Reki’s side. His breath heaved tightly in and out of his lungs as Langa pressed the sweaty hair out of his eyes. Tears pricked the corners as he finally opened them up, heavy bouts of nausea rolling through his entire body. “Reki…” Langa’s voice was honeyed and soft, filled with worry. He hopped up onto Reki’s bed and slid underneath the covers, wrapped his arms around Reki’s middle, and held him tightly against his chest. He listened to the strong heartbeat as he bunched his fingers up in the soft fabric of Langa’s nightshirt, whimpering quietly as Langa left long, sweet strokes down his back. “It’s okay, Reki. I’m here, everything is okay, and you’re safe now. What happened?” Langa pulled back slightly to peer into Reki’s eyes.

“I had a nightmare. It was about the ambush. It was about the bastard that almost got me, but I got him first…” His breathing was starting to slow, and the nausea started to subside, but Langa went back to holding him tightly and stroking a hand up through his hair. Reki’s heart rate came down, and the adrenaline and panic ebbed away slowly as he clung helplessly to his best friend's body. Langa weaved one leg in between Reki’s, pulling them as close together as he could to hold him tightly. He was so close that Reki could feel the small puffs of air from Langa’s lips as he spoke.

“It’s okay, Reki. They’re gone now, and I’m here. It’ll be okay, because we still have each other.” Reki nodded weakly into Langa’s neck and didn’t pull away. 

"I can't believe I actually - " He choked out a small sob, remembering how the dark liquid life energy had pooled beneath him.

"Reki…you weren't given a choice. I'm so sorry. I'm just so incredibly sorry." With Langa still brushing soft fingers down his back and through his hair, he cried silently as he fell back into a restless sleep, tangled up with his best friend in the blankets. 

🖤🕸🖤

The next few days were draining. It seemed as though every time he and Langa would reach a special level of emotional connection, he would back off again, just like all the weird times before. Reki wasn’t sure if it was because Langa didn’t like what was happening between them, if he didn’t want to be touched like that, or if he didn’t want Reki the same way. It was all incredibly and frustratingly confusing, especially on the days when Langa would switch back to his normal self as if nothing had happened. The only pattern Reki seemed to notice is that Langa was more often himself when nobody else was around to see.

It was another one of those strange, distanced days, and Reki was lounging on his bed listening to music and reading magazines. Langa gently knocked on the door before coming in (as if it wasn’t also his room, too). Reki’s tired eyes shifted over to him before flickering back to the words on the pages. “Hey.” Langa fidgeted.

“Hey.” He gingerly set his bag down on the desk chair and went to the closet to change. Reki scratched behind his neck, right around the area where the more recent teeth marks were starting to scar themselves into his skin. It had been almost two weeks since the last bite, but Reki could still feel the small raised spots from where Langa’s teeth broke his skin over and over again. He shivered slightly from the memories, heart and groin suddenly aching for the same person. He shook his head to try and clear away the mental fog.

"Getting pretty cozy with the other bow nerds nowadays, aren’t you?" Langa bristled, but he also looked almost…sad about something. Langa pulled on his gray trench and sighed. Linkin Park's Meteora album floated over the speakers, filling the tense and quiet space between them. Langa fidgeted and wrung his hands together, a very unusual thing for him to do. 

"You've been listening to awfully dark music lately. Is…everything okay? Are you, uh. Still having nightmares?"

Ha. That's a way-too-complicated answer and would probably require a full dissertation at this point. We don’t have the time for that, even if we’re immortal, bro. 

He eyed Langa wearily - now was not the time or place to discuss this strange negative energy between them. Not since Langa had one foot out the door already, ready to leave Reki behind again for the rest of the night. "Ha - it's nothing, man. Don't worry." Langa chewed his cheek as if he wanted to say something more, but his cautiousness must have won out as someone called out to him from the hallway. With a slightly defeated look, he nodded and exited out the door. 

This is fuckin' weird, man. Why is he acting like this?

Reki sighed and went back to the sketch he was working on before Langa walked in. Outside in the hallway, he heard someone different call out. “You’re still hanging around with that loser, huh? Let me know when you’re ready to join the ranks of your own league, man. Just because he can shapeshift doesn’t mean he isn’t totally lame.” Reki’s spine bristled as the hairs on his arms and legs raised in distaste.

I never did anything to them. I don’t understand what their fucking problem is.

“Shut up, you don’t know Reki like I do. You don’t deserve to.” Reki’s eyes widened - he was so confused by this back-and-forth with Langa these days that he was almost shocked to hear the immediate and sincere retort.

“What, are you two boyfriends or something?” Reki’s heart started to race, and his palms started sweating from the adrenaline rush of overhearing the altercation.

The silence that followed, though, was the part that nearly killed him.

Chapter Text

Reki kept thinking about what Langa had said, but even more importantly, he thought about what he hadn’t said.

Why didn’t he answer? Why didn’t he deny it, scoff, and brush that asshole off? Why would he say nothing when he avoids me every time I’m around anyone else?

Reki ran his hands through his hair in frustration until it stuck up at odd angles. After overhearing that brief but monumental conversation, Reki didn't see much of Langa for another few days. Whenever he did enter the room while Reki was awake, he was typically met with shy or shameful eyes before Langa went to sleep. It was so fucking confusing that it made Reki want to scream.

It all came to a head one night when Langa came back late from yet another private lesson.

He collapsed on the floor right as he walked in, hardly making it far enough for the door to close behind him. Reki rushed over, worry etched into his brow and buried in the frown lines on his face. It didn’t matter if Langa was being a jerk - unfortunately, it didn’t make Reki love him any less. “Langa, are you alright? Sit up with me, talk to me. Please, Langa.” Langa’s almost-dead eyes met Reki’s, and a stabbing pain ripped cold and fast through his heart. “Langa. It’s been a while. I don’t know why you haven’t been taking any or talking to me about all this. Please, just…do it.” Reki held his wrist to Langa’s mouth and turned away. He didn’t understand why, but at this moment - with Langa looking like he did - he didn’t care about the tension. The only important thing was putting some of that lively, vibrant spark back into his eyes again.

“Reki.” Langa’s voice croaked out, scratching out of his throat like a cat clawing its way out of a carrier. It tore at Reki’s heartstrings to hear his soulmate sounding like this, so exhausted and so mentally broken. Langa took his hand gingerly, rested Reki’s palm against the side of his face, and closed his eyes. With a heavy sigh, he pressed his lips gently against Reki’s wrist. A shiver ran down his spine, traveled through his peripheral nervous system, and finished off with a curl of his toes.

“It’ll be okay, Langa. Please, just…you need to right now.” Reki closed his eyes, waiting for the sting of teeth, but he felt a soft caress of Langa’s hands instead.

“Reki, you’re amazing. You’ve gotten so strong over these last few months, even despite what you’ve…” Langa pursed his lips in guilt and ran a light fingertip over the two tiny scars on Reki’s forearm, the area normally hidden by his wristband. “...what you’ve willingly let me do to you.” He added another finger, and the two traveled featherlight down his arm to some of the other places he’d left bite marks that were healing over. Langa’s eyes were soft and sad as he watched the sweep of his hand brushing gentle strokes along tanned skin. Reki groaned, the sensation gentle and radiating into all the best places.

“Of course I’m willing, Langa - I would do anything for you.” His voice was insistent and laced with affection, perhaps even a little more-so than he intended to show. Reki reached his hands up around Langa’s face and swept his thumb over the frown lines there, chuckling slightly. Langa’s hand had found a new spot to trace idle circles around Reki’s bare sides, and it started to do something…strange to him. “Don’t be stupid.” Langa smiled, slightly morose and slightly crooked. Reki held out a hand, and Langa accepted it as they both stood. Langa wavered on his feet at first, but he steadied himself and looked back into Reki’s eyes.

“I know you would. I just hope you know I’d do the same for you if given the chance.” He lifted a subtly shaking hand to Reki’s chin, swiping the pad of his thumb over his wet bottom lip. Langa’s wide, sky-blue eyes dipped nervously down to Reki’s mouth, and Reki felt a surge of fire boiling over in his chest and his…

Shit.

There was a new look on Langa’s face that Reki had never seen before. They’d always been a touchy pair - at least, Reki had always been that way since the very beginning of their friendship. But this…well, this felt very different. Reki accidentally breathed out a small whimper as he closed his eyes, and Langa suddenly flared back to life. His palms pressed urgently into Reki’s bare sides, pushing him firmly back up against the wall. Langa smiled heartachingly-softly before pressing his entire body in, lacing their fingers slowly together, and holding their arms out to the sides as he buried his face in Reki’s neck. 

Reki was absolutely sure he’d forgotten how to breathe.

His blown-out amber eyes tracked all of Langa’s subsequent movements carefully. He watched as he pulled back, eyelids fluttered closed, his infuriatingly long eyelashes brushing against his pink cheeks. He watched as he smiled and his fangs glinted in the moonlight traveling across the floor of the room. He felt a light scratching as Langa grazed those fangs softly and hesitantly down his neck, a rather erotic and intimate show of affection in the vampire world when done on its own like this.

“What can I possibly give you in return when you already give so much? I’ll give you everything I have, if you want it.” 

If Reki was not already undead, his life would have ended in that moment, right there in Langa’s arms and under his paranormal spell. His heart would have stopped, and there would have been no recovering from the silken words whispered softly in his ear.

“You can bite, Langa. I…” Reki squeezed his eyes shut and dug his fingers into Langa’s sides. “...I want you to.” Langa pulled away abruptly, the lusty haze clearing as he stared back. That faraway look was starting to creep back into his eyes, and Reki sucked in a sharp breath.

“It’ll be visible there, Reki. People will know that you’re…” Langa chewed the inside of his cheek in frustration. “People might make assumptions about you that aren’t fair.”

So he does actually know that what we're doing is a bit...unorthodox.

He let out a disconsolate puff of air into Reki's hair. “What if they don’t understand and treat you more poorly? What if they judge you every time we're together? What if you regret everything you did for me because of it? It’s why I…” His voice trailed helplessly into a silence filled with so many thoughts that Reki felt like they were balancing on an anxious precipice.

That right there is probably why he’s been avoiding me, as well.

Reki wriggled his arms free and wrapped them around Langa’s waist, fingers digging in beneath his soft shirt. “Langa, I don’t care about anyone else. Sure, I hate it, but you want to know a secret? The others are only temporarily in my life, but you’re forever. I want to show you how much I - ” Reki cut himself off abruptly and pursed his lips together, heart rate spiking painfully from nearly slipping out a confession. “...how much I care about you, no matter how much you try to push me away.” Langa leaned forward again and dropped his forehead to Reki’s shoulder, planting both hands on the wall behind them. Reki thought he felt a slight tremble as he clutched onto Langa’s sturdy yet delicate waist, so he started running soothing pressure up his sides with his palms. He was painfully, blissfully aware of the heat pouring off of him and of every inch their skin touched.

You know what? Fuck it.

Reki carded his fingers through Langa’s hair and roughly brought him down to his neck. His eyes rolled back when he heard his best friend pull a long, labored breath into his lungs; it was as if he was inhaling Reki’s very essence and needed to be surrounded by it, even filled by it. 

He slid a palm down the front of Langa’s jeans just as he felt the fangs pierce the sensitive skin of his neck. Langa moaned into it loudly, teeth sinking in carefully, as he rolled his hips eagerly into Reki’s touch. That was all the confirmation Reki needed to finally feel confident in his next move, heart racing and breath coming in short bursts. 

He slid the same palm up Langa’s stomach and slid back down just beneath the waistband, toying with the belt loops and tugging at them curiously with two light fingers. Langa released Reki and nodded, eyes hazy again from desire. He carefully slid his hand down to slide down the zipper, fumbling slightly with the button. When Langa was finally free (the hung, perfect bastard that he was) one palm inched down again as Langa’s face reddened. The skin he found was surprisingly smooth and soft beneath his fingers, and Reki took a moment to marvel at it. Langa bit down on his lip on one side and twitched into Reki’s hand, already panting and flustered. Reki reverently ran his hand up and down the impressive length of him and nipped at small spots around his pale, delicate collarbones and his soft, sensitive neck as he did so. Langa was helpless, frozen and submitting completely to that simple yet incredibly monumental touch.

This is a dream. I’ll probably wake up tomorrow from a stupid wet dream and have to try and hide it from Langa. He’ll be passed out in his bed across from me, and none of this will have ever happened. Maybe he’ll even be avoiding me on and off again.

He let go, slid his hand back out, and pulled Langa’s face to his. He captured his slightly open, perfect mouth with his own.

He didn’t know if it was his vampire senses or if it still would have been this intoxicating to be swept up in Langa’s arms and hanging desperately off his lips. Truthfully, though, it didn’t matter. All he cared about were the hands pawing fervidly at his body, trying to touch every inch they could reach,  and the hips rolling against his own as Langa kissed back hungrily. All the blood-letting over the last few weeks had built up this strange, crackling intimacy between them, and he could feel it starting to bleed out through his fingertips as he panted and dragged his nails down Langa’s chest. The last couple weeks had left a gaping ache, a void that needed to be filled but wasn’t because of whatever stupid miscommunications or misconceptions hung between them.

And oh, Langa was really kissing him back.

Reki pushed Langa away and pressed him forcibly against the other side of the small entryway to their room; he closed in and hovered his own fangs over Langa’s neck, chuckling darkly as he dragged them upward in one long, slow stroke. He could gleefully feel the effects he had on Langa as he pressed their centers together, Langa’s tucked safely under Reki's calloused palm. His body shivered despite the humid warmth in their room, and he reconnected their wet mouths in curious excitement.

Reki experienced an interesting phenomenon that night. He barely touched Langa below the waistband again; he kissed and touched and scratched everywhere else, however, until he heard a strangled grunt claw up out of Langa’s throat. He slumped back against the wall, muttering embarrassed apologies and a quiet “sorry” in his adorable Canadian accent. His face reddened a bit more and he looked away shyly, and Reki quickly figured out why.

Langa appeared to have…gotten off without Reki even needing to touch him there again. It was mostly on Langa, but a little bit had gotten onto Reki's stomach, and his head spun a little.

Flattening his palms against the bottom of Langa’s ribcage, he ran gentle pressure up his chest until he could cradle his face in his hands tenderly. The fervor slowed, and their breathlessness was soon the only sound that accompanied them in their room for several long moments. Reki’s eyes started to widen with panic as he realized this was real - this wasn’t some fever dream - but Langa recognized it immediately and reeled him back in with a tight hug. He was acutely and painfully aware of the mess between them, and his mind kept reeling. “Stay with me, Reki. Don’t worry, it’ll be alright. Everything’s okay as long as you are okay with what just happened. Reki, please…”

This is real.

He wrapped his arms around Langa and tucked the bridge of his nose into the curve of his neck. He breathed in deep, afraid of this tectonic shift between them but also incredibly excited about it. He looked back into blue eyes, and without a word, he slid his hand into Langa’s and pulled them both over toward his bed. All he wanted to do in that moment was spread himself down the length of Langa’s body, touching every inch he possibly could so he could stay grounded in this strange, still-unbelievable reality. Langa happily obliged, quickly cleaning himself up and changing into nothing but pajama pants. He leaped up on the bed and stretched out, long and lean, with his back against the wall. Reki climbed slightly clumsily up to join him; he gripped Langa’s hips and squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them, however, what he saw was…well, it felt like pure magic. He saw sweet baby blue eyes, softened in affection, gazing joyfully back down at him.

Langa fell asleep in Reki’s arms that night.

🖤🕸🖤

The guest lecture about vampire sexuality in Being A Vampire Sucks Ass 101 was extremely awkward yet relevantly timed that week. To be fair, though, it did give him an idea.

Reki appreciated that in the vampire community, there were basically no rules when it came to mating as far as gender, money, education, hierarchy, or any other statuses. Any vampire could approach another with a proposal, and there was historically a very strict adherence to these unspoken rules. It was almost like…penguins and their pebble gifts to their mates. (How embarrassing.) 

The only rules were:

1. There's an attempt to impress their potential mate, just like a majority of the animal kingdom practices
2. There needs to be a formal acceptance or denial
3. If the offer is turned down, it can never be made again. It is, essentially, a permanent rejection
4. If the mate accepts, a ceremonious power play ensues. The proposing vampire will “dominate” the other, which in modern times tends to translate as bloodletting and kink, and it is consensual from the start

It was all really fucking intimidating. Since Langa evidently knew more about the undead life than Reki did before he showed up to the academy, he assumed that it would be worth a try to plan a proposition. If he didn’t understand what was going on, then there would be no harm done - if it ended in rejection, however, that would…further complicate things between them. Reki had been simultaneously loving and hating this coexistence with Langa, but the longer time went on, the harder it became to hide his true feelings.

They had somewhat kindof hooked up once…sure, Reki may have dove into Langa's pants in a moment of horny vulnerability.  No big deal, right? But it wasn't like there weren’t any formal or valiant declarations of romantic feelings involved that night. Langa could simply be looking for a physical outlet for his stress, or perhaps that strange, kinky energy that had built up between them was too overpowering not to give into every once in a while. It made Reki’s head hurt trying to process, so he approached it with his standard method of shutting down and trying to avoid the subject entirely. Even in his avoidance, he kept practicing his partial shapeshifting skills with Cherry and had drastically improved in a short amount of time.

One afternoon, Langa approached him with a request, and Reki wondered.

“Hey, Reki. I have an idea I wanted to run by you.”

Reki’s tired eyes slid over to Langa, his silhouette dark against the bright light filtering in from the hallway. He gently clicked the door shut behind him, and Reki focused in on his face. "Oh? Let's hear it, then." He waited patiently as Langa fidgeted. 

"Do you want to…sneak out tonight? To one of the lakes? I was hoping to spend some time together. You know, just us. It’s…been a while since we’ve had that." His ears perked up. Langa's cheeks were pink - maybe this was an apology for his past inconsistency or an olive branch of sorts for all the time spent evading each other.  Reki considered and nodded, because even if Langa was being a stupid ass, he was a stupid ass that Reki was madly, completely, and infuriatingly in love with. 

"What exactly do you have in mind?"

🖤🕸🖤

They skulked around campus late into the evening until they could see which guards would be on duty tonight. One of them was Frank, a tired and apathetic swordsman recently put on watch by the discipline committee because of some dumb infractions during practice. They chose him as the weakest link, slipping out of their room long after nightfall and prowling across the grounds towards him. They would attempt to escape from there, then Langa would take Reki to a surprise spot. 

"Now, Reki - let's move." The instructions came out in a whispered hiss, and Reki followed as they made their way out of the gate. Frank was dozing, and Reki seriously wondered about the security at this place because of it. Just as their dark shadows flickered against the first gate, one of the other guards called out.

"Hey - stop right there!" Langa looked at Reki, eyes widening. 

"Shit. Run!" Langa grabbed Reki's hand and tugged him hard as their feet started moving. They could hear a small commotion behind them as a few guards went running after them, shouting loudly in their pursuit. Reki looked at their hands laced together and his mouth dropped open slightly. Langa's soft blue hair flew behind them as they raced through the forest together, breathless and laughing and feeling just like their old selves again. Langa still held onto Reki’s hand, and he never tried to break free. 

Unfortunately, they heard a loud crack of a falling tree branch that was uncomfortably close. The guards had almost caught up to them and were quickly closing the gap. "Reki, stay silent." Langa tightened his grip. 

"Huh? What're you?..." Reki let out a small gasp as Langa pressed him into a wide tree, their bodies flush together, chest to chest. Reki could hardly breathe, but he wasn't sure if it was the physical weight of the body in front of him or because of who it belonged to (most likely, a flustering combination of both). Langa nudged his knee aside so he could further flatten himself, and Reki released a small, anxious whimper.

"Shh, it's okay. Be quiet for me, please?" Langa nuzzled his nose into Reki's hair and slid a hand up his waist. His body responded, softening and trusting, even in his state of heightened anxiety. 

Reki watched as Langa’s pupils dilated unnaturally and nearly overtaking the beautiful blue color that he loved so much. His breath shuddered silently; he didn't know what this was, but he had enough knowledge of Langa’s hidden talents and secret lessons to make an educated guess. Surely enough, Reki heard one of the guards merely a few feet away make a noise of frustration. "I can't believe we lost them. Come on, that probably means they headed back already."

And just like that, the guards turned and headed back to their watch, leaving the two of them alone and free to run through the dark. 

Reki was still pinned against the tree as he started to breathe noisily. He could hardly whisper when he asked, "Did you just?..." Langa peered down at him and twirled a red curl with one long, slender finger. That same hand brushed slowly down to his waist again, all heart-pounding and sentient touches and adrenaline from nearly being caught. 

“I did.” The words slithered from between Langa’s lips, barely a flutter in the cool breeze lifting small tendrils of his hair around like cobwebs.

Holy shit.

Their bodies were still pressed together many long moments after the guards left. Reki could have sworn he felt Langa’s heart pounding in his chest erratically, and he released a shaky breath as careful fingers trailed over his middle. Langa huffed a small laugh into Reki’s hair. “Yeah, I wasn’t really sure if it was going to work, to be honest.” Reki deadpanned.

“You idiot.” Langa smiled shyly and brilliantly, and Reki groaned beneath the weight of the breathtaking moonshine beaming down upon him. “I really hate you sometimes.” Langa’s smile faltered.

“You don’t really mean that, do you?” Reki sighed. He rested a hand on Langa’s shoulder and smiled, chuckling slightly.

“No, Langa. I don’t think there’s anything you could do to ever make me actually think less of you, even if you’re an ass because you avoided me for so long.” Langa suddenly rested his cheek against Reki’s, sighing with an awkward laugh.

“Come on. Let’s get to the lake - I know where they have some canoes stored away.”

🖤🕸🖤

Langa leisurely paddled an oar on each side of the canoe, the pair moving across the water at a pleasantly lazy pace. They left slow, small ripples in their wake as they floated across the lake’s surface.

The water was calm, almost like a perfect, smooth layer of glass. Reki sighed happily, soaking in the incredible sights and sounds around them,  a sense of peacefulness welling up in his chest. Langa smiled back at him, a small dimple in his cheek appearing with the soft expression. Reki grinned back shyly as they paddled on through the quiet. The frogs, cicadas, and crickets spun a soothing melody, the notes of their species’ songs floating through the breeze around them. As they turned down a small tributary that wound away from the lake, Reki looked at Langa - really looked at him.

His soft blue eyes were sparkling and happy, his brow and shoulders relaxed as he brought them further down the small outflow. He seemed to know where he was going, which was a curious enough thing for Reki to focus intently on him despite the twilight beauty around them. The paddling slowed, and Reki cocked his head at Langa, who simply looked back at him smiling.

“Happy birthday, Reki - look around us.” Reki tore his eyes away from Langa’s beautiful face for only a moment, but when he did, he gasped.

Surrounding the end of this little tributary was a forest wall, alight and alive with flickering fireflies. It looked like a living circuit board, small flecks of green light blinking against a dark backdrop of trees. His mouth went dry at the sheer romance of it all.

That’s not his intention, though.

It was a bit harder to convince himself of this, however, as he looked back into the eyes of his best friend. They glittered with adoration and mischief, and Reki felt a large twitch below the belt. He swore guiltily to himself. “How about a quick swim, Reki?” Langa never broke eye contact as he lifted his shirt over his head, shucked off his pants, and tossed his boxers aside.

Ohmyfuck -

Reki turned away in a serious attempt not to stare. His bottom lip jutted out slightly in a horny pout, silently cursing the beautiful and nude young man in the canoe with him. “Join me? Let go a little.” With a laugh, Langa dove into the lake, resurfaced a moment later, and gasped for air. “It’s a little cold but not too bad. Come on, Reki!” Reki jammed his fingers through his hair in agony, stressing over stripping down in front of Langa for the very first time. He hadn’t seemed to be too bothered by it, so why should Reki?

Then again, he’s gorgeous. Even on his worst days, he could be on the cover of any modeling magazine, tweens and adults alike swooning over his beauty. Me? I’m mediocre in looks, just like everything else in life.

Reki chewed the inside of his cheek but decided to take a chance. He whined quietly up into the lovely night sky, removed his clothes, and dove in after Langa. When he surfaced, he gasped at the chilly bite of the water, refreshing and crisp against his warm and flushed skin. Langa swam over smirking and wrestled with him until they were both splashing and laughing breathlessly. His blue eyes sparkled back at Reki with a pure, unfiltered happiness that he hadn’t seen so blatantly written across his face in several weeks. “I’m having so much fun, Reki. I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like for it to just be us.” Langa brought an arm up out of the water and fished for Reki’s hand, the water swishing soothingly with the searching motions. When he found it, he laced their fingers together as they treaded water in the dark, the light of the third quarter moon shining down on the surface of the lake.

It was a horrendously unfortunate time for Reki to feel a sharp pinch on his behind. He yelped, nearly breaching the surface of the water like a great white. Langa’s eyes went wide, he paused, and then he erupted into laughter as Reki yelped again and made a bee-line for the canoe. He scrambled back up into it, lying flat against the bottom and heaving his breath in and out.

What the fuck, did something just bite me on the ass? Are you kidding me? Life is cruel, so fucking cruel…

A moment later, he heard a splash of water, felt the rocking of the canoe, and saw Langa lingering above him. Reki gulped, and he prayed that it was quiet enough for Langa not to hear. “Reki, what happened? Did something get you? Let me take a look.” His eyes glittered again with challenge, and Reki groaned.

“Dude, I don’t know, man. Feels like something bit me on my…” Reki’s face screwed up in embarrassment, and Langa huffed out a quiet laugh.

“Let me see. You know, to make sure you’re okay.”

This would have been approximately the seventeen-hundredth time over the last few months that he surely would have died. He would surely have seized in the moment, his heart stopping and brain ceasing to function completely. He wordlessly sat up and turned around so Langa could see the upper part of his backside. “Yeah, I actually see a little mark. I think the fish like you, Reki. Almost as much as I do, maybe.” Reki shivered and yelped as he felt a smooth hand glide down the left side of his back until it soothed over the mysterious bite. It felt far too good for this whole night to end well.

“Langa, what are you - “ Langa squeezed lightly, chuckling quietly into Reki’s ear from behind. He whined tacitly.

“Well, everything looks quite perfect to me, Reki. Though you do have a bit of a red spot right…” He squeezed again, a little harder. “...here.” His amber eyes widened right before they screwed shut, Reki trying to steady his heart rate as it clambered up into the heavens. He turned around and opened his eyes again to see soft baby blues radiating joy back at him. They were so captivating that it made it marginally easier not to sweep his eyes up and down the glowing, soaking wet, and naked body of a vampire god in front of him.

The stars reflected brilliantly on the surface of the water - there were stars above, reflections of stars below, but the most dazzling lights were right there in front of him, glittering in Langa’s eyes. Reki’s eyes watered at the corners, and he took another sweeping gaze around them. He looked up into the sky at the twinkling constellations and sighed. “Langa…this is so beautiful.” Langa’s eyes shined as they took a very intentional sweep down Reki’s body, and he looked back up, pupils dilated wide. Reki could practically hear the cogs turning noisily in Langa’s mind as he stared back, looking subtly hungry and wanting, yet also loving.

“So are you, Reki. You’re beautiful, too.” Langa leaned in as if he wanted to whisper something in Reki’s ear, and he moved forward to answer that beckoning call. Their knees were touching, and he was pretty sure there were soft hands touching his arms. All he knew at that moment was that he wanted to spend the rest of his infinite, immortal days finding out what Langa wanted to say to him. But, Langa had different plans - instead, he found Reki’s lips.

And wow, it was really magical.

Langa climbed into Reki’s lap, the cool water dripping off their bodies and pooling at the bottom of the canoe. Langa’s hand curved up around the base of Reki’s neck before it carded up through his hair, tossing his headband aside for optimal access. Langa pulled at Reki’s nape, eliciting a quiet groan from deep within his throat. Reki felt something long and hard pressing against his stomach, and before he thought about it a little too much, he captured Langa’s lips again and held him steady in place.

Langa released a quiet moan, almost as if the contact shot straight to his core.  Reki felt Langa’s hips rock against him, and he whimpered quietly into his ear. He aggressively snuggled his nose and face into Langa’s hair, unable to look him in the eye but wanting more contact, more friction between them. He jutted his hips upward to cause a louder moan to rip from Langa’s throat, his head dropping back so his neck was completely exposed. Seizing his opportunity, Reki withdrew his fangs and dragged them sharp and slow down Langa’s throat. He trailed a single, light finger around Langa’s waist, feeling the heavy weight on top of him squirm with pleasure. Reki huffed into Langa’s hair, nibbling sweetly on his ear, taking care not to make any nicks or visible scratches. Langa whined into Reki, the inflection in the sound asking him to press harder and leave a mark. 

Reki happily obliged.

His canines dragged hard down Langa’s soft skin and dug in around the pulse of his jugular, the heartbeat pounding hard against the tips of his fangs. They locked lips again, their breath coming out in short bursts into each others’ mouths as the tips of their tongues danced a curious tango. With one last thrust of Langa's hips, they nearly tipped over the canoe, and they rocked back and forth before it almost tipped over. They clung to each other in alarm, made wide eye contact, and started giggling hysterically. They clutched each others’ bodies in a sweet embrace before pulling away to smile. They both looked up at the sky, and Reki sighed, slightly disappointed that both of them had lost their fire in their moment of panic. “I guess we should probably head back...” His voice trailed off, and despite Langa’s half-frown, they both knew it was that time. Reki pressed his fangs below Langa’s collarbone and right over his heart, and the body in his lap shivered. He chuckled into one final kiss on Langa’s jaw before they both pulled on their clothes (which ended up getting soaked because of how much they were rocking around, anyway) and started to paddle back. They sat in comfortable silence, and Reki was so grateful that things finally seemed to be back to normal again - if you could call this whole, weird… vampires with erotic, heavily-emotionally-fueled benefits thing “normal.”

Chapter Text

When they got back to the room, Langa kissed Reki on the cheek and pulled a small box out from underneath his bed. He brought it over, holding it out proudly in front of him like a penguin would present a pebble to a mate.

God - again with the vampires and penguins thing…

“I got you something. Uh, well - maybe more like made something for you.” Reki looked at the small box with the cute bow and scrunched his eyebrows together in confusion. “It’s your birthday, Reki. Don’t you know by now that I would never forget?” Langa chuckled as he shook his head side to side. He sat up on the end of his bed and patted the space next to him. Reki happily jumped up and sidled over, swinging his legs slightly back and forth and sliding up against the warmth of Langa’s body.

 Reki ran his fingers along the small palm-size box, held the ribbon strings lightly between two fingertips, and spread them down Langa’s forearm. They both watched the goosebumps raise before the ribbon sprang back into the curly bow shape, and Reki’s fingers lingered for a beat too long. He quickly withdrew and held out a hand.

“Thanks, Langa. What is it, exactly?” Langa placed the box in his hand with a nervous smile, a pink color brushing his cheeks and bringing out the prettiest shades of blue in his eyes.

“Just open it, Reki.” Reki huffed out a laugh, opened the gift, and gasped when a cold black chain slithered into his hand and the weight of a tiny pendant hit the center of his palm. He recognized what it was instantly; they had just gone over enchanted objects in their Why Was I Cursed With This Stupid Vampire Life 101 class.

It’s a blood pendant.

Reki gaped at Langa, no idea what to say, do, or even think. These kinds of things were usually reserved for -

“How did you?...” His words absolutely failed him, and with shaking hands, he tried to put the chain around his neck. He fumbled so much that Langa gently took the necklace, brushed back Reki’s hair, and clipped it on for him. Reki ran his calloused fingers over the small red crystals in disbelief and tried to fight down the tears starting to well in his eyes. Langa flexed his arm and wiggled the fingers of his left hand, palm facing toward Reki. He saw the thin scar that stretched across it as he hugged the pendant almost incredulously to his chest.

“Yeah, we had to make it on the New Moon. Don’t worry, it was much easier and much less awful than it looks or sounds in the textbooks.” He moved slowly and deliberately, brushing the tender part of Reki’s neck beneath his jaw with a light sweep of his thumb. “It’s supposed to protect you from harm. And it’s a reminder that someone - “ Langa’s face pinked again, then softened into a smile. “ - cares about you deeply.”

These are supposed to be for someone you think of as a soulmate because they are literally forged with your own life energy.

Reki’s heart was pounding so loudly in his ears that it nearly drowned out all other sounds around him, crushing in on itself as he stared at the beautiful merlot crystals around his neck. He took the hand Langa had used, traced a thumb down the ghost of the cut made with the razor-sharp ceremonial blade, and held onto it tightly. “Langa, why would you - “ Langa’s eyes narrowed, and he cut Reki off by placing a single fingertip over his lips. His heart was beating so fast that it might eventually crash into his breastbone, lurch his body forward, and cause him to faceplant in Langa’s lap. He scooted back on the bed so he could rest up against the wall, the solid entity being the only thing holding him upright. His shock was still radiating out of every pore, confusion and affection swirling together beneath a potent vortex of surprise. He could feel Langa’s eyes on him as he dropped his head back, eyes closing for a moment so he could take everything in.

These were created in the dark of night during a New Moon. The last one they’d had was three weeks ago, so he must have been planning this for some time. Someone had to have helped him with it, but who? Langa had literally burned his own lifeblood into small bits of crystals, and through a ceremony of fire, blood, and starlight, created this beautiful, preternatural piece of jewelry with his declared intentions and his own bleeding hand. If the myths and legends were true, they would be linked and bonded for as long as Reki kept it. If the myths and legends were true, they were made in a way that could last them an entire mortal lifetime, renewed once about every one-hundred years.

If the myths and legends were true, then these were typically only made for the one person the creator loved most and wanted to protect above all else, even themselves.

He did this for me. Whoever helped him had to have explained the whole thing to him, right? So he knows he’s bound himself to me, at least for as long as I have this pendant - right?

Reki heard the creak of the mattress beneath him as Langa moved over. He had turned around and started crawling up into Reki’s lap, a pensive light in his eyes. “What’s wrong, Reki? Do you not like it?” Langa’s half-frown tore little bits away from Reki’s darkest fears, tossed them aside, and replaced them with hoards of butterflies.

“No, that’s not it at all! It’s just…" He cursed the way his voice cracked. "...a lot, it’s just a lot more than I ever thought I’d get from anyone, Langa. I lo- “ Reki shook, catching himself in a near-confession for the second time - but barely. He cleared his throat. “I love it. Thank you.” Langa smiled widely at the confirmation, moved into Reki’s lap, and ran a slow hand up his side. Reki shivered again, his entire body shaking from the sheer overwhelming intimacy of the entire night. Langa’s mouth found his, soft and sweet and adoring. As Langa maneuvered himself into a more comfortable position and leaned into his chest, he kissed deeper and more slowly. If Reki wasn’t mistaken, it was quite different than all their other heated exchanges before. It felt like it was filled with so much…

There is absolutely no way that’s what this is…

Is there?

🖤🕸🖤

They were both crackling with negative, frustrated energy after the day’s training sessions concluded. Thankfully, it was a Friday, and they wouldn't have to be up early the next morning just to do it all over again.

“What a prick. I swear he had way too much enjoyment flipping me onto the ground, and there was no reason he had to do it so forcefully. It’s supposed to be practice, not attempted murder.” He bristled, hackles raised and ready to attack anything or anyone that jumped in his way. “And fuck him for saying I’ll never get a date to this stupid Ball thing that I’ve never even fucking heard of.” Langa’s eyes flickered over to him in recognition. 

“The Masquerade Ball?” Reki groaned in anguish.

“Why am I the only goddamn pers- ugh, vampire in this entire place that doesn’t know what this thing is? It doesn’t matter. I still don’t understand why there are so many assclowns out there trying to make my life even more miserable.”

For some irritating, stupid, fucking reason, the built up anger really made him want to jump Langa’s bones. He flicked his eyes up to meet the stormy blues in front of him, and the corner of Langa’s mouth quirked up in a challenge. "I'll do whatever you need to me to do, or I'll give you whatever you want to help you feel better, Reki." His palm twitched, belt constraining what was only hardening beneath it.

"I wouldn't say such a thing right now if I were you." Langa laced his hands around Reki's waist, a burning question in his eyes.

"And why might that be?" Reki stilled.

"Because I will absolutely fucking destroy you, Langa." Reki felt as his pupils dilated, and he pounced. He sank his fangs into Langa’s shoulder, and his captive released a sultry gasp that echoed around their small room. Reki backed Langa up against the wall, sunk his teeth in deeper, and reached down between his legs to find himself already at full mast.

Well, that was fast.

He withdrew his fangs and dug them, dripping and glinting from the soft lights around them, in the soft space below Langa’s ear. His body went limp in Reki’s arms, pliant and willing and surrendering to anything Reki wanted from him. He reached down and ran a hand up himself, pressed his hips into Langa’s, and dropped his head back with a frustrated groan. They kissed again, Reki channeling all of his jittery and negative energy into a very emotional assault on Langa.

Amidst the white noise in his head from such astounding sensations, Reki thought that maybe it wasn’t such a terrible thing to have this body, after all. All his senses snapped into sharp focus. He could hear the tiniest hitch of Langa’s breath in his ears, the dig of his slender fingers making small half-moon shapes into Reki’s hips. The fervor of his lips and tongue caressed Reki in a way he would have never imagined being touched by someone, much less Langa. It was over-stimulating yet amazing, electrifying yet grounding. 

I guess romance isn't totally (un)dead.

Reki whined into Langa’s neck, and they stood pressed against the wall panting into each other for several long moments. Reki pulled back, slid his hands down Langa’s torso, and dropped them to his sides. He smiled shyly, scratching behind his neck as Langa’s eyes glittered. “You know I’m always here for you.” The slight husky tone in Langa’s voice made Reki shiver.

"Just curious, best bros" hook up like this all the time, I’m sure. Yeah, totally normal.

What have I gotten myself into?

🖤🕸🖤

“Reki, the ball is coming up this weekend.” Langa looked up at him over a skate magazine from the other side of the room, only his bright eyes and loose bangs visible. Reki shook his head, tufts of hair swishing against the wall he sat up against. 

“Look, bro. All I know is that they’re supposed to give us whatever we’re wearing to this thing sometime this week.” Langa considered. 

“Who’s asked you to go with them already?” Reki raised an eyebrow.

“Ha, nobody’s asked me. I wouldn’t want to go with any of them, anyway.” Langa smiled sheepishly.

“That's…helpful to know.” He set his magazine aside, crossed the room, and hopped up onto Reki’s bed. He scooted closer until their outer thighs touched from hip to knee, and he wrapped an arm around Reki’s elbow. “Would you, um.” Langa’s cheeks turned pink, and Reki looked at him curiously, a strange flutter brewing inside his chest. “Do you want to go with me?” Reki sucked in a breath.

Like a date?

His face darkened to a deep shade of crimson as he stammered slightly. “Y-yeah Langa, I’d really…I’d really like that.” Langa’s nervous expression turned into one of relieved, pure joy. He slid his slender hand down to Reki’s leg, curled his thumb around the outside and the other fingers inside his upper thigh. He leaned over and gently kissed him on the cheek.

Reki forgot how to breathe for the next few hours as they sat together like that watching skating videos, talking, and spending time, just like they used to before this whole vampire thing happened. It filled his heart to the brim, spilled his emotions over, and turned him into a flowing river of love. 

🖤🕸🖤

Reki was getting ready with Joe and Cherry at Joe's insistence, considering he was actually asked to the ball. Something about getting him ready for his date and their first dance and blah, blah, dumb gossip queen Joe bullshit; he hadn’t even told the bastard that it was Langa that asked him, and he was already being so extra.

Though, Reki had to admit  - this was helping to build the anticipation. He shrugged on his black jacket over his black dress shirt, black vest, and white satin tie. The tips of his ears went pink when he saw his reflection. "You look great, kid - don't you worry." Reki nodded timidly as they headed out to the ground toward a shuttle that would take them to the old theater. On the way over, Joe chatted with him about his shapeshifting, the state of his relationship with Langa, and even some of the confusing friends-with-benefits things he’d been grappling with. He listened to all of it, a totally epic skate dad, as always. When they were just a few minutes away, he chuckled to himself as he pulled a small set of silver cuff links from his pocket. He lifted Reki's hand, dropped them in, and said,  "Happy end of summer, kid. Change is in the air…it’ll be good, though. Just keep the faith in each other, and I know you’ll figure everything out in time." Two simple, silver infinity symbols glinted back up at him. He hastily put them on, but not without some nope-not-warm-and-fatherly-at-all help from Joe. Reki looked at him with wide, surprised eyes. "I've known you two idiots for how long now? Come on, you've got to give me more credit here. Of course I know about this infinity stuff of yours."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Reki grinned, lightly bumped Joe's arm with a fist, and went back to corralling the butterflies swirling in his stomach. 

🖤🕸🖤

Cherry, Joe, and Reki entered from the left side staircase, people laughing and talking on small balconies all around them. It was definitely an older theater - he vaguely remembered seeing something like it in the Phantom of the Opera movie adaptation the airline played on the way over to America. He fidgeted with the front of his jacket slightly before he found his date.

A rush of air whisked Langa’s bangs out of his face, the kiss of fall in the air caressing hia cheeks. The ends of Langa's coat tails fluttered in the breeze, caused by the main doors opening up to the dance floor. He was gazing wide-eyed back up at Reki, unblinking and with his mouth dropped slightly open on the side, and Reki held his breath. Joe rested a hand on his shoulder, smiled, and patted before walking away. Now that he was alone, Reki descended the sprawling staircase that spread out into the main room. It was all made of old, crackling ivory and decorated with tinged yellow gold, chandeliers, and crystals. The staircase itself looked like the mouth of a river at the bottom, and it opened right up into the ocean where Langa was waiting for him and stirring up such frightening yet pleasant emotions. Langa’s dark slate-gray suit hugged his hips and waist, accentuating his long legs perfectly. He had a white shirt beneath with a matching dark gray tie peeking out from beneath a gray vest. A smile spread across his face as Reki walked closer, and they never broke eye contact.

The expression started with the soft awe that tugged his eyebrows down on the outside edges. Langa scrunched them together lightly, a small dimple forming between before his eyes fully widened in disbelief. He finally clicked his mouth shut, the corner of it twitching upward on one side. It finally pulled up, spreading the curve from one side to the other until his entire face was beaming with delight. Langa took a few small steps forward to meet Reki at the base of the staircase, and he looked up into his amber eyes. “You look beautiful tonight, Reki.” He held out a hand to help Reki step down the final two steps, and Reki smiled as he rested a hand on top of Langa’s black-gloved hand.

He really does look like a prince. My confusing, amazing, stunning vampire prince.

Langa swiftly brought Reki to his chest, holding his hand up as if they were about to twirl around in a waltz. Langa rested the tip of his nose against Reki’s hair, sighed softly into it, and slid one hand down to Reki’s waist as he still held the other up. Before Reki could register what was happening, they were spinning around the dance floor.

Reki let out a breathy laugh, disbelief coursing through him that Langa could dance like this. How had he never known about it before? It made his eyes sparkle with excitement as they spun around, dipped, and drew each other close. He didn’t know how many songs went by, or what they even were (he was never much into classical music), but after a while, he couldn’t help but feel like the string quartet was playing just for the two of them. As the pace of the music slowed, Langa’s fingers gently brushed over the curve of Reki’s waist, reached down to his upper thigh, and traveled very intentionally back up his side. Langa pulled Reki to him, the hand in the air massaging Reki’s palm nervously and the other fidgeting on his lower back (the lower back spot that definitely wasn’t for “just bros”). “Reki…” Langa released a small, huffing sigh from his nose. “I want to kiss you so badly. But everyone else will see…there won’t be any hiding me from them anymore. Would you - “ Langa squeezed his eyes shut, and Reki could actually feel the anxious heartbeat pounding beneath his smooth, beautiful chest. He spoke in barely a whisper that tickled the hair around Reki’s ear. “Would that be okay? Is it terrible that I want them to see? I’ve been too scared of what they’d do or say to you, and the last thing I want is for you to get hurt again because of me…” Langa’s eyes misted over slightly, the concern for Reki palpable in his touch.

I wish I would have known he was worried about this so much sooner. I've never wanted to “hide” him in the first place.

“if you would have just asked me, I would have told you exactly what I think." His eyes glittered fiercely as Langa looked back at him, looking almost afraid of his response. "Idiot.” Reki dove in and jammed a hand up through Langa’s perfect, silken hair as he kissed him enthusiastically. Langa whined into his mouth from happy surprise before his eyes scrunched shut in relief, his hand sliding up to hold Reki’s cheek gently in his palm. Reki dug his fingers into Langa’s sides as they curled into each other, and Langa tipped him over into a deep bow. Reki saw Langa’s eyes sparkle above him like he'd never seen before as he deepened the kiss, adding a bit of tongue as he held him, strong and steady, just inches above the floor. When they broke apart, they were both almost breathless, ignoring the stares of those around them. “Langa.” The name slipped softly from his lips like velvet, and a shiver ran through Langa’s body. He brought Reki slowly to his feet, gazed into his eyes adoringly, and leaned in again for another kiss. The precious moment was broken up by Cherry kicking them both on the behinds as he was twirled around by Joe.

Oh, fuck - we’re still in the middle of the dance floor…

They shyly smiled back at each other, laughing quietly as they exited the space to go find a more private spot to sit. They found a little tabletop for two near the bar, and Reki went to grab a plate piled high with hors d'oeuvres that he hand-fed to Langa.

“You’re like the sun, Reki. You fill me with warmth and hope.” Reki swept a thumb over Langa’s lower lip, wet and shining from their kisses, and left one last peck at the corner of his mouth before they heard the music stop. Curiously, they each angled their bodies away from each other and looked toward the front stage area.

Standing on the stage was someone that, based on all the whispering and pointing, must have been the Headmaster in the flesh. The tall figure had cobalt blue hair combed back, angular cheekbones, and sharply (quite literally) manicured eyebrows. The pair looked at each other and gasped as soon as they saw a familiar mask adorn his face.

What the fuck? -

“Adam?” They stared at each other in disbelief. They cautiously slid further into the shadows, trying to avoid being seen. Adam flourished a hand, his red coat tails and blue tie shining in the light of the chandeliers. 

“Greetings, everyone. I am your Headmaster, and I’ve come to join the festivities with you.” His eyes glinted. “Don’t be afraid, my loves - treat me just like anyone else. I’m here for the same reason as all of you - to celebrate the end of summer and the start of the downward spiral into the earth’s annual cycle of death. So, I am hardly any different than the rest of you here.” Reki gasped involuntarily and covered his mouth in horror, worried that everyone’s vampire senses would pick up the sound. Surely enough, Adam’s head whipped over in their direction as Reki silently kicked himself. They could almost see red eyes glittering through the openings of the Matador mask.

Hold on - those eyes…the color…

Reki lurched forward in his chair, a roll of nausea punching him right through the gut. It alarmed Langa so much that he tried to catch him and held him around his shoulders. With worried strokes down Reki’s back, Langa tried murmuring to calm him, asking what happened and if Reki needed some air. He couldn’t articulate - not with the image of the petturi that almost murdered him flashing across his vision like a hellfire kaleidoscope. Langa sensed something was horribly wrong, but in the quiet, he couldn’t figure out what was happening. He just kept trying to soothe Reki, unaware that it was Adam causing all of this. Reki gripped his hand tightly, pressing his lips together so nothing - not sound nor solid - could escape from them.

“I’ll make sure to come around and say hello so I can introduce myself. My goal by the end of the evening is to meet every single one of you.” Adam’s eyes shimmered darkly as they gazed in their direction. Reki leaned forward again, fighting down another slightly smaller wave, as he tried to focus on Langa’s hand running up and down his back.

This has to be a coincidence. Please, God, it has to be.

He curled into Langa now that the spectacle up front had dissipated, Adam flitting through the crowd and flirtatiously socializing. Sure enough, that poor stoic bastard Tadashi was right behind him the whole time, holding his champagne flutes and plates when Adam tossed them back.  Cherry and Joe came over to find them, knowing this revelation was going to affect them at least somehow.

“Reki, are you alright?” Cherry knelt down onto his knee at Reki’s side, and he rested a hand on his upper back.

“It’s…it’s nothing, I’m fine, Don’t worry about me, thanks.” Reki felt the back of a hand on his forehead.

“You’re rather clammy. Let’s get you back - no need to wait around for the ridiculous pageantry.” Cherry narrowed his eyes in suspicion as he eyed Adam fluttering around the crowd. Reki nodded, grateful to avoid that interaction, at least for now.

From the corner of the room, even despite the wide smile plastered on Adam’s face, he thought he saw his red eyes twinkle dangerously as the four of them slipped quietly out the back entrance and called a cab.

It has to be.

Chapter Text

The rest of Joe’s group was going to have an after-party once they were back on campus. Someone had commandeered the section of the library that housed armor of previous headmasters in display cases, and there was going to be drinks, music, and good conversation in pajamas. It actually sounded pretty nice after being dressed up for so many hours that evening. After being able to decompress in Langa’s lap with silly videos and light touches, he was feeling up to going again; earlier in the night, he had his doubts, but he was so glad they had left the ball early with Joe and Cherry. Langa’s eyes looked sad when he mentioned he was going to go for a little while, but Reki turned to face him, closed his eyes, and left a kiss on his forehead.

"Langa - you don’t have to worry about anyone else. You’re the most important person - vampire? - in my life, and nothing anyone else could do or say is going to change that. Remember, ya big sap?” He nuzzled comfortably into Langa’s shoulder and soothed a hand through his hair. Langa’s neck dropped back slightly and he happily groaned.

“I know, Reki. I'm just the big sap that's going to miss you as soon as you leave.” Langa’s lips lingered over his, barely touching as they split into a grin. Reki leaned in and met that beautiful smile with his own.

🖤🕸🖤

Reki was chatting with Joe and some of the others he'd actually liked from his group the first time he felt it. It was nearly impossible to explain - if his stream of consciousness could be turned into an intangible rope or tether, it was as though someone else’s mental rope had tugged softly on his. It was so subtle yet so startling that he stopped his skating story mid-sentence and spaced out. Joe raised an eyebrow at him and waved a hand in front of his face and got him to refocus. “Yo, kid. You sure you’re okay? Maybe you should head back and turn in for the night. You looked like shit at the ball, and you look like warmed over, dazed and confused shit now.” Reki nodded, distant and distracted as he felt another metaphysical pull that was stronger than the first. It gave him a slight headache and an air of melancholy as he set his water bottle down on the table.

Then, there was a larger crack that made him lean against the wall and put one hand up over a squinting eye. 

Where’s Langa? I want to get back to him. I don’t know why, but I really want to see him.

He waved tiredly to Joe as he set off across the grounds and back to the dormitories. The chill of the night air soothed him, making him feel less anxious and easing the slight headache still pulsing in his temples. As he unlocked the door and walked in, he dropped his bag in surprise at what he saw; Langa was looking up at him in shock, his mouth hanging slightly open. Reki eyed him curiously and took a few more steps in, the door slightly open and letting in a pleasant cold breeze from the hall. “Bro, what?” Langa closed his mouth, eyes still wide as a doe’s and unnerving Reki more with each wordless, passing second.

“I, uh. I think I summoned you here…and it actually…worked.” Langa gulped as his tear ducts lined his eyes with silver. A dizzy feeling overtook Reki’s brain again, and he reached out a hand to steady himself in the entryway. Langa stood immediately and rushed to him, brushing suddenly-sweaty red hair back from his face. “I- I didn’t think it could even work if I wasn’t looking someone straight in the eyes. I swear I didn’t control you, it was more of a…request. To let me in.” Reki’s head kept spinning, and nothing Langa was saying was making any sense. “Adam stopped in while you were gone. He told me I should try it - try to reach someone that wasn’t right there with us. He told me I should reach out to the person I felt closest to and try to summon them, so I…” Langa chewed his bottom lip and held Reki in his arms, supporting almost the full weight of his leaden body. Reki pulled back and looked at him, hurt flashing hot through his eyes.

He should have asked me first. Is this a violation? Did he get in my mind? Does this mean he can see or hear my thoughts? What the actual fuck is going on and how was it a “request” if it felt so involuntary? Should I be angry? Why did it hurt?

Langa started shaking his head back and forth in panic because he could see the escalating horror written all over Reki's face. “No, no, wait - it sounds way worse than it is. I didn’t - I didn’t cross any boundaries. It was all your choice, I swear. Reki, my love - please believe me…” Langa squeezed him tightly again, and he could feel small wet spots in his hair where Langa’s tears clung to his curls. Reki cautiously raised one of his hands and placed it gingerly onto Langa’s waist. His voice came out gravelly and confused. 

“What did you do to me, Langa? I…I got dizzy and got a headache…and then it just stopped. And what the fuck? Adam was here, and you let him in?” His head spun again as he looked to the left, but the earth and the rest of gravity's cruel forces went to the right. He swayed on his feet, and Langa pressed Reki harder into the wall to hold him up.

“It was a summons. It wasn’t anything else. I didn’t control you or listen in on anything else whatsoever.” Langa swept Reki up in his arms and carried him over to his bed, lying him softly down on top of the pillows. “Reki, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think it would upset you…” Reki rubbed the place above his right eyebrow where the headache still lingered as he sat up. His hurt and temper flared in his frustration.

"That's exactly right, Langa - you just didn't think. If you did, you would have fucking known. And are you kidding me right now that you're letting yourself stay involved with Adam, Headmaster or not? How many times am I going to tell you to stay away from him only for him to come back, and you just fucking let him? And what the fuck, Langa? Getting into my mind like that without even warning me first…" Angry tears spilled freely from his eyes, and Langa looked increasingly devastated staring back at him. "I just - agh." He dragged his hands through his hair in frustration, a feeling of betrayal tugging at his heart. "I can't fucking believe you did this. Any of it." A strangled sob turned into a desperate bat cry, and Reki felt as his clothes hit the bed with a soft thud as gravity whooshed up around him. He quickly flew out the crack in the doorway where he'd dropped his bags, tried to hold back his cries, and tried to avoid the stares of their peers. He left Langa there alone and heartbroken because right now he deserved it, because Reki needed time to think without pretty blue eyes clouding his thoughts, because everything in his life was so goddamn confusing that he couldn't even control his emotions at this point. He took his time to find a quiet spot; he chose a lamp post at the front entrance, hung from his feet, and wrapped his wings around himself tightly to protect himself from the cold mist falling around him. He could almost pretend it felt like a loving embrace from Langa.

Almost.

🖤🕸🖤

When he came back, he found Langa curled up on his bed in fetal position and hugging his yellow sweatshirt. His face was puffy as if he'd been crying, and Reki silently transitioned back to his human form. He tiptoed to his dresser, pulled out pajama pants, and slid them over his hips with a tired sigh. He looked at the love of his life, worried and dejected even in his slumber, and felt something in his heart tug him forward. He approached Langa quietly, climbed into bed beside him, and sweetly brushed the hair away from his face. Langa stirred and almost whimpered at the sight and feel of him. "Reki!" Reki's heart leapt into his throat at the way Langa's voice cracked. 

“Hey.” His voice came out gentle, affectionate. It had that low, slightly gravelly quality he saved for tender occasions like this. He swept a thumb across Langa’s cheek where a single tear fell, brushing it away and resting his hand right beneath his jaw. Langa shook as he gripped Reki so tightly, almost as if he were trying to prevent him from turning into a bat and flying away again.

“I’m so, so sorry.” His voice cracked on the last word, and it split open a reservoir of forgiveness deep in Reki’s heart. He wrapped his arms around Langa, stroked his hand down his soft hair, and tangled their legs together to bring them closer.

“You’re an idiot, and I was so hurt by what you did that I turned into a goddamn bat.” Reki released a small huff of laughter through his nose. “The thing is, though…I’d rather talk and work through it, even if it’s hard, than turn you away and risk losing you again.” At this, Langa lifted his head, the tears slowing but still falling occasionally down one cheek. His blue eyes were wide and filled with a sparkle of hope, and Reki moved in to take his hands and squeeze them together to his chest. “I thought I lost you forever. That feeling - that horrible feeling…” He chewed the inside of his cheek a little.  “That was worse than anything you could ever do to me.” He could see the sadness in the baby blues peering back at him, but he could also see resolution and determination.

“I promise you I’ll try and really earn your forgiveness. I couldn’t stop thinking about you and how much I upset you when you left. My heart, it hurt so badly to see you like that…” He bit his bottom lip; Reki’s eyes flickered down to it and back up to his eyes again. “I don’t deserve you - “ Reki sat up abruptly, pulled Langa up with him, and braced two hands on his shoulders.

“Don’t you dare say that. We’re both going to make mistakes. That’s what this whole… thing is about, anyway, isn’t it? Learning and doing better whenever we can?” His heart beat wildly in his chest at the acknowledgement of…whatever the hell they had going on between them that was most certainly more than friendship. Langa traced light fingertips up Reki’s arm as his body started to relax; he pulled Langa to him and fell back, taking in slow, deep breaths while focusing on Langa’s eyes. He closed his own and felt the soft pillows cushion his head and neck, Langa sitting over his lap above and peering down in worry.

“It’s…true. You’re so good, Reki. Everything you do, I see your heart in it and I see your soul. They’re both so beautiful.” Langa leaned forward, running his hands down Reki’s outstretched arms until he could lace their fingers together. Langa buried his face into Reki’s neck and nuzzled the space below his ear.

“We’ll probably need to talk more about this later, but right now, I - “ Reki grimaced as he tapped against Langa’s behind with an enthusiastic twitch in his pajama pants. Langa’s expression turned completely blank before he closed his eyes.

“Reki, my angel…” Langa nestled his hips down closer so he could sit in the space right above, and Reki curled gently up his backside before he twitched again. “Haven’t you ever…” He trailed a single fingertip down Reki’s chest, swirling around dips of muscle and slightly puffy, reddened peaks.”...wondered?” Langa pressed his ass back onto Reki’s lap, rubbing down his entire length, and he let out a groan of frustration. He sat up suddenly and ripped off his shirt before he pulled Langa’s up and over his head. Reki launched himself forward, scratching his nails lightly around Langa’s waistband before tugging everything off completely. He ungracefully wriggled out of his own pants until they were both bare, wrapped in a fiery and nervous embrace that was crackling with anticipation and apprehension. Reki climbed on top of Langa as he ran a hand down the center of his chest and between his legs, and his fingers curled lightly around the first of Reki’s two prizes for the evening.

He looked down into Langa’s eyes, panting slightly and carefully studying every micro-expression he could see. He whispered softly to him, “Are you sure?” Langa smiled, a hint of sadness and apology in it. It healed over some of the remaining insecurities that had flared hot and fast only a short while ago.

“I’ve never been more sure.” He pulled Reki down to him, capturing his lips and freeing the rest of his fears with fervent and earnest kisses. They didn’t know how many more hours of night were left, because no matter how many or how little, they would have spent it the exact same way - hanging off each others’ lips and each others’ every gentle whimper, moan, and caress. 

Where they weren’t joined by teeth and tongue, their bodies crashed together again and again as Langa’s face reddened. Reki felt his whole body tightening, and he leaned down between thrusts to kiss him softly on the lips. “You okay, Langa?” He grunted out something almost unintelligible and nodded fiercely through clenched teeth. 

“Yes. Harder.” Reki’s eyes blew out wide as his entire body responded to that sweet voice ringing through his ears and down through his soul. By the time they emerged from the sheets to clean themselves off, they were each spent, fresh bite marks all over their bodies. 

Reki had taken Langa apart piece by piece, and he had ravaged his way through his emotions and anxieties until they could both no longer move. Reki held Langa close to his chest as their breathing steadied; they wiped themselves down, switching over to the other clean bed and climbing under the light, soft blue blankets. Langa turned around to face him, eyes sparkling with happiness and with something else that Reki was truthfully a little afraid to label.

“You’re amazing, Reki. Thank you for coming back to me.”

🖤🕸🖤

It was around six in the morning, the academy sleeping soundly after a long night of celebration, when the petturi struck.

It started off at one of the side entrances to the grounds. Frank, the bored swordsman that Reki trained with, was once again stuck at a post that night. It was quick, immediate, and painless - once there were no guards left to raise alarms, they infiltrated. Reki arose to the urgent sound of sirens blasting around campus. The others in the building were running around in the halls, checking on friends and trying to get in touch with others that were in other buildings. Reki’s face drained of color when he realized that Langa was no longer in bed with him, and he wasn’t over in his own bed, either. He threw on his leathers, grabbed his blades, and flew out the door and into the chaos.

It sounded the same as their practices, but this was no longer just a group of amateur vampires duking it out to improve their skills and piss each other off. This was real, and there were enemies crawling all over campus. Reki darted toward a familiar bellowing voice out near the front entrance, evading several lunges and hisses on the way. He ran wide-eyed toward Joe and Cherry, a long blade in each of their hands, and pulled out his own.

One particularly deranged-looking petturi lunged at Cherry, tackling him to the ground as they rolled away from Joe and Reki. “Cherry!” He heard a burst of crooked laughter as it scratched one long slash down the right side of Cherry’s face. It left a deep cut over one eyebrow, extending down below his eye to the tip of his cheek. Reki heard a loud hiss and a snarl, and if he’d thought he’d seen Kaoru get vicious before, he never could have imagined what was about to unfold before him.

He whipped a shining silver blade from his boot as he fought back. Growls and snarls filled his ears, and he looked panicked back at Joe. “We have to help him!” Right as Joe knocked another petturi unconscious, he grinned back at Reki.

“Oh, trust me. He’s got this - not only was he already fierce, but I’ve taught him a thing or two about close combat.” And boy howdy, Joe was telling the truth. Reki heard a cry of victory not long after, Cherry’s boot planted firmly in the center of the squirming vampire’s chest. He looked away before the heaving warrior came bursting back over to them, pink ponytail slightly askew but with an arrow nocked and ready.

Instructors and recruits alike battled side-by-side, slowly pushing the petturi back toward the entrances until they finally retreated into the darkness.

The attack had been held off…for now. Reki shook as he thought again about Langa. He had no idea how to find him, so he ran back over to his elders. “Joe, Cherry - Langa’s missing. He wasn’t in our room when the attack started. I don’t know when he disappeared. He was in my bed, and I - “ Reki grimaced, blushing fiercely. Cherry raised an eyebrow and winced, the fresh cut on his face still healing.

“Don’t worry Reki, we’ll find him. Let’s go.” Gathering up several other instructors, the trio formed a small search party that scoured the grounds from end to end.

🖤🕸🖤

After two hours, they still had no luck finding Langa. Reki was really starting to panic until he felt a familiar crack through his psyche, a slightly painful zap that caused his eyes to fly open as he gasped. “I know where he is. Call off the search.” Joe and Cherry looked at him, thoroughly bewildered, but they shouted out to the others to continue looking for the others. 

“You owe us an explanation, but go find your man first. Let us know when you’re both safe.” Reki nodded to Joe, turned on his heel, and ran (quite literally) like a vampire bat out of hell back to their room. He tore the door open, heaving desperately, and found Langa sitting in the middle of the floor looking confused. Reki cried out in relief, the corners of his eyes getting misty as he ran over and collapsed in front of Langa.

“Oh my God, Langa. Where were you? I was so worried. Are you alright? Are you hurt? Baby…” Reki’s face screwed up, reddening and hot as he looked down at his dazed best friend, his cheek cupped gently in one hand. Langa was so out of it that he didn’t even seem to notice the pet name, however, which both immensely relieved and unsettled him. 

“Reki?” Langa’s almost-listless eyes moved over to him as if they moved through molasses, his voice soft and crackling. Reki startled back slightly as he watched Langa’s pupils dilating quickly and severely, the color around them hinging between blue and red. Reki braced his hands on Langa’s shoulders and shook him slightly, and the dilation slowed. After a few heart-pounding moments of worry, Langa’s eyes stabilized, and the sweet familiar blue took over again. They were watery, and with the tears that started to form in his tear ducts, they looked like crystals. Reki threw his arms around his shoulders, shaking with relief.

“Langa. You’re okay. God, you’re okay. Where the hell were you?” Langa struggled to focus on Reki, and he reached out a hand to touch his face as if he needed to make sure it was really him.

“I…” His face scrunched in a valiant attempt to recall. “...don’t remember.” His face fell, and Reki moved in again, squeezing him tightly.

“Everything will be okay, Langa. I’m here now. I’ll protect you.” Reki held Langa there as he cried in confusion, the soft whimpers and mewls of frustration tearing Reki’s heart to pieces. He softly lifted Langa from the floor, brought him over to his bed, and helped him strip down. When Langa shook his head at the offer of his pajama pants, Reki stood back and bit his lip in concern. Langa was trembling slightly, naked and confused under his blankets, and Reki had no fucking idea how to help make it better.

So, instead of agonizing about how to fix everything and causing more miscommunications between them, Reki stripped down and slid in next to him. He held Langa close and ran his hands lovingly up his back and shoulders, leaving small kisses everywhere he could reach until the tears slowed and they finally fell into a restless asleep.

🖤🕸🖤

Life slowly returned to normal, whatever that even meant these days, as the Academy recovered from the attack. Several services had been held at the chapel for some of those that were lost that night, and other than a heightened sense of security, operations on the grounds were mostly back to normal after about a month. The late October air was starting to breach the cusp of fall into winter, the nights turning cold and leaving a soft frost over the grounds on most mornings.

Langa and Reki hadn’t slept separately in their own beds since the night of Langa’s disappearance. Since their very outward show of affection at the ball, Langa finally also stopped avoiding Reki and succumbing to his worries. Finally, that awful game of push and pull seemed to be over; it made Reki feel brave enough to contemplate the idea of propositioning again, and he planned out the execution of it.

He may be able to fly higher than anyone else on a snowboard or a skateboard, but I can catch flight on my own now, too. I’ll show him what it feels like when I’m flying. All the air that he catches with his jumps…I’ll be sure to take all of that right out of his lungs when I show him what I can be.

Tonight, he would wait for Langa to come back to the room, stand tall, and partially shapeshift. It was an extremely unique ability, and it was uncommon even amongst the shapeshifters in his family. He would create himself a very large, very impressive pair of bat wings and raise them to the sides. He would crawl over Langa, kiss him with every flicker and flame he had inside of him, and finally…hopefully…he would understand Reki’s romantic intentions and desire for a real, labeled, boyfriend relationship.

🖤🕸🖤

[10:27PM] Langa: I’ll be leaving shortly. Today was rough

[10:32PM] Me: i’m sorry, Langa…i have an idea to help you blow off some steam, tho

[10:38PM] Langa: Oh? You have my attention.

Reki debated for a moment about whether to give Langa any more clues. Rather than spoil the surprise, which Langa had at least partially caught onto, he decided to keep it vague.

[10:43PM] Me: don’t you worry - i’ll see you in fifteen?

[10:47PM] Langa: Yeah. See you soon xo

“Just bros” or “VWBs” wouldn’t send hugs and kisses to each other via text; he had a real shot at making this work, right?

Reki waited patiently for Langa to return from his late-night telepathy lesson with one of the tenured and trustworthy professors that could do it. He had donned his midnight blue jeans and nothing else - he wore no shirt, no headband, and no socks. His hair partially fell over his eyes, slightly tousled back from all the times he nervously ran his hand through it while waiting and pacing. The jeans hugged his hips in all the perfect places, and over the last few weeks of training especially, his body had become hard and well-defined. His chest was no exception, given all the hand-to-hand combat he practiced nowadays. Reki eyed himself in the mirror that hung over the back of their door as he sucked in a breath. He was starting to fidget in his nervousness, and he was definitely overthinking again.

Langa could turn me down. He could laugh. Or he could even ask to be transferred to another room and tell me this was all a big misunderstanding if he finds out the truth.

Oh, but the possibilities if he received it well…

As if on cue, the door slowly opened. Reki stood tall and strong in the center of the room, ready to receive his potential mate.

This is it, Reki. You can do this.

“Langa.” His voice sounded velvety in a way that even Reki barely recognized. It caused Langa to look up, sweet and doe-eyed, with a curious glint in his eye. He took a step forward, closed the door, dropped his things in the entryway, and closed the gap between them slowly. He stood quietly in front of Reki, intrigued and wondering what his next moves were going to be. Reki took one last deep breath in, and as he opened his eyes, he felt the fire rise into them as massive, powerful wings emerged from his shoulders.

Oh, fuck -

They were about four to five times bigger than Reki had expected them to be. Based on his previous practice rounds, they had never exceeded lengths of a few feet at most. This time…they nearly filled the entire back half of the room. It caused a small vortex of air to swirl up, knocking some loose papers off the desks and gently whipping Langa’s hair back off of his face. Reki stood, breathing heavily, as he waited nervously for a reaction.

Reki knew the exact moment Langa made the connection to the ritual. His face transitioned from confused awe, to contemplation, and finally, to sudden, sparkling realization. A slow smile spread across his face, and he dropped to his knees. He looked up through his lashes, eyes glittering with joy and excitement, as he reached up for the button on Reki's jeans. “Langa, hey! Wait, what’re you - “ Langa looked up, a small, cute, and stoic frown on his face. 

“Oh, I was going to blow you. Is that cool?” Reki sputtered. The bastard said it just as casually as if he would have said the sky was blue. With a flustered groan, he laced his hands into Langa’s hair and tugged backward, lifting that beautiful face so they could lock eyes. Langa simply smiled and continued to unzip Reki’s jeans, pull them down, and lick his lips at the sight before him.

Reki was very turned on and very exposed as Langa paused for a moment. He looked thoughtful, and Reki released an impatient puff of air through his nose. Langa looked back at him with a small smile that tugged at his heart. “Oh. I’m supposed to respond, aren’t I?” Reki took a moment to realize what Langa was saying; when he did, he twitched upward again, almost smacking Langa in the face. Langa laughed happily and started running a palm down Reki’s stomach. “I accept.”

The wings dissipated as they tumbled heatedly over to Langa’s bed, high off each other and climbing ever higher. There was one final piece to this if Reki was going to go to the trouble of doing the whole ridiculous and theatrical bit correctly. He pinned Langa down beneath him, pressing hard into the soft blankets below. His right hand scrunched up the sheets below Langa’s soft, splayed out, and tousled hair. His eyes glittered, ready to play the rest of this ancestral, mythological game. 

He leaned down and ran his fangs along Langa’s neck and whispered, “Submit to me.” Langa shivered beneath him in delight and hissed back in staged defiance. Reki smiled into the curve of his pale, soft neck and spoke a little louder, a little more forceful. “I said, submit to me.” Langa leaned to expose the thick of his shoulder where it transitioned to neck, and Reki smirked and bit down hard. Langa bucked slightly beneath him, a hard moan escaping his lips as Reki drank, frontal lobe tingling with some kind of strange and buzzing new energy. When he was done, he licked the escaped red droplets away from the teeth marks and kissed them softly and tenderly. Those kisses traveled across Langa’s jaw, cheek, forehead, a quick one on the tip of his nose (that made him giggle, a musical and beautiful sound Reki loved almost more than anything), to the other cheek, and then to his lips. 

“Reki - please…” The blood was pounding so loud in his ears now that he hardly heard the soft whimpers Langa was releasing. Reki breathed, heavy and hot, into the space between them and grinned lopsidedly.

“Look what you’ve done…” He whispered softly and reverently as he climbed on top of Langa, spreading his legs gently apart and positioning himself, ready for the final dive. “You motherfucking star boy.”

It was a tight fit, and it amazed Reki every time they joined together. It was a good thing the castle and dormitory walls were designed to be so thick, too; Langa’s rich screams ricocheted around the room and straight through Reki’s heart as two became one in mind, body, and breath. It scrambled every coherent thought he had left in his mind until all he could see, think, and feel was Langa, Langa, Langa.

In the corner of the room, thrown across the desk surface in their frenzy to get undressed, the wine-colored pendant softly glowed in the darkness.

-🖤-

Chapter Text

One late Saturday morning, the two were lying in Reki’s bed, sprawled out and sleepy as they listened to relaxing music. Reki was tracing small circles on Langa’s back with the pad of his thumb, and his best friend (mate?) sighed happily into the tiny caresses. A dark and sexy number came on, a silky voice slithering from the speaker and into their ears, and the mood in the room started to shift. The two kept glancing at each other until Reki hastily changed it; he heard Langa let loose an almost disappointed-sounding sigh, but Reki simply picked up the gentle back scratch rather than address it. A few songs later, another saucy track began, and Langa lifted his head. “Reki - you still awake?” He felt a hand running up his side, lifting the soft fabric of his shirt slightly away from his burning skin. Facing the other direction, he pretended to be asleep; it was partially to hide a hard-on and entirely to avoid talking about what this thing was between them, considering Reki was absolutely terrified of naming something he was afraid of losing. 

Or worse - he could label it and have it be far less than what he really, truly wanted in the depths of his heart. Having it be platonic, a simple physical release that didn’t ultimately mean anything special. A reminder that, for most of his life, anyone that had gotten close to him (except perhaps his family) had only left him wanting and lonely at the end of the day.

After receiving no answer, Langa huffed out a small puff of laughter that Reki felt on the back of his neck. He felt the covers being pulled over them, and he felt a hand run fingers slowly through his hair. It was one of the softest, most buttery touches he’d ever felt until he felt the kiss behind his ear. He involuntarily shivered before he noticed a slight glow coming from the top of his dresser. He stirred, letting Langa think he was waking up from the touches, and he reached up to see what the light was coming from.

He pulled the pendant down and it fell onto the sheets between them, glowing and pulsing softly with warm light. They both gaped, looked at each other, and looked back to the stone. “Did you…know it did this?” Langa quickly sat up and grabbed the amulet, examining it closely.

“No.” He frowned slightly, a cute, puffy pout on his face. It made Reki want to reach out and boop his nose. “Let’s ask Cherry. He just knows things.” Reki nodded in agreement, and he pulled his phone down from the dresser. He quickly dialed, turned on speaker, and set it down between them. Langa rested a hand on his waist as Cherry picked up.

“Hello, Reki. To what do I owe the pleasure on a Saturday morning?” He nervously cleared his throat.

“Hi. Have you, uh. Ever heard of a blood amulet glowing?” A beat of silence on the other end of the line didn’t help to ease Reki’s nerves.

“Can you bring it to me? How about in ten minutes? I need to see this for myself.” They peered curiously at each other and nodded. 

“Yeah, sure. We’ll be over shortly.” They tumbled off the bed, dressed, and whirled out the door. The pendant was held securely in Reki’s hand, Langa's hand held tightly in the other as they headed to the Professor’s Quarters.

🖤🕸🖤

Langa flopped down on a puffy armchair in the sitting room outside Cherry’s chambers, pulled out the bag of chips he snuck from the cupboard, and started to eat. He was quickly shooed away with a fan, so he found a spot on the floor instead. He chewed slowly, looking up at the others that were sitting at the dining table like normal people (or, well…vampires). The small chandelier above them hung low, and the tiny crystals bounced flickering candlelight around the ceiling and wine red-painted walls around them. Cherry had a magnifying glass out, and he was inspecting the small bits of crystal within the amulet carefully. He set it down with a light clattering sound, looked back at Reki, and cocked his head to the side.

“Well, it looks like your… extracurricular activities have contributed to a rather fascinating phenomenon.” The corner of his mouth lifted in a knowing smirk that made Reki’s ears turn red. “Don’t worry, my children - we’ve been suspicious about it for some time now, but we’re not here to judge you.” Langa stopped chewing for a moment in surprise, shrugged, and went back to his food. Reki sighed. “It does help me understand a bit more about what’s happening, however. The fact that you’ve shared such an exorbitant amount of your life energy with each other has almost fused them into one entity.” Cherry drummed his fingernails softly against the shiny surface of the table. “Have you ever heard of the soulmates concept?” Reki heard Langa go silent once again, but the munching sounds didn’t resume.

“Uh.” Reki tugged nervously at his sweatshirt around his neck. It was suddenly extremely, uncomfortably, excruciatingly hot in the room. “I mean, I guess? But…” Cherry smiled.

“Let me explain something rudimentary about these pendants to you.” Reki heard a rustling noise behind him, and a moment later, Langa was seated by his side. There were few times he’d ever seen him so focused, that rapt attention zeroed in on Cherry. “Langa. You spiritually bound yourself to Reki when you made this and gave it to him - you understand the absolute gravity of that, don’t you?” Blue eyes shifted quickly over to Reki’s before he looked back at Cherry and nodded. Reki’s face bloomed into a deep crimson blush. “You sealed some of your own essence into this when you stated your intentions during the ritual.” Reki looked sideways at Langa, who turned away and pouted slightly, a pink blush coloring his cheekbones.

“I still don’t understand why it’s glowing.” Reki pressed, anxious and waiting for the truth that seemed to be hovering unspoken between them but hadn't been admitted to. Cherry smirked.

“It’s glowing because it recognizes and senses the fusion of your energies. You both are so linked on an esoteric level that it’s trying to signal something to you.” He looked pointedly at the two of them. “It means this… accidental spiritual coupling of yours is permanent. You have spiraled down so far into it that now, no matter what you try, it can never be undone." Cherry blinked slowly and flickered his eyes back up to them. "Allow me to give you a metaphor. When you have two different colors of sand in two different jars, they are separate. When you pour both into a single jar, they will mix together, and they can never return back to the individual way they were before.” They sat quietly listening to the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner of the room. Reki stared hard at the grains in the wooden table in front of him, slightly overwhelmed and unsure of what this all really meant. The terms like soulmate and coupling were buzzing through his brain, and when he braved a quick glance over at Langa, it didn’t seem like he was doing much better with processing.

“It’s nothing to be afraid of, you know.” Joe stood from the table, walked over to a wooden jewelry box on the fireplace mantle, and pulled out a long chain. He brought it back to the silent table, held his hand down over it for a moment, and withdrew it.

A very similar, shining pendant glinted up at them. Reki and Langa gaped, and Joe and Cherry smiled at each other.

“I made this one a few years ago. The scar sticks around for a while, but it does eventually go away. That is, until you make the next one.” Joe flexed his hand and raised an eyebrow, and Reki could see the same type of slash across his palm that Langa had.

“Clear quartz is a crystal commonly used for protection purposes - that’s why it’s used in the making of these objects. For it to be most effective, it should be worn close to the body, oftentimes in the form of a ring…or a necklace.” Cherry picked up the slightly more purple-colored amulet and let the silver chain slither over his fingers and back onto the table. “Because it’s so impressionable, it’s used in blood fusion practices. It attracts positive energy while also absorbing any negative energy around it, and when melded with vampire blood, everything is amplified a thousand-fold. You set your intentions with it upon its forging.” Cherry gave Langa a stern yet gentle look, and Reki heard the gulping sound travel down his throat. The pendant started glowing again as Langa fished for Reki's hand, pulsing its wine-color light into their small space.

“Well, I’ll be damned…” Joe’s eyes widened, and he picked up the stone he fused for Kaoru and tucked it into his pocket. Reki and Langa looked at each other nervously, but Cherry merely sat there smiling softly, Joe looking on in awe beside him.

“There’s one more thing that causes it to glow like this.” They held their breath and looked into the golden eyes across the table. “It does so when it feels a strong connection or powerful devotion. In other words, it recognizes love.”

The heavy silence that followed crackled with anxious energy. Reki couldn’t even look at Langa and couldn’t imagine doing so for several agonizingly-long minutes. Joe cleared his throat to command their attention once more before sending them back on their way. “Reki, Langa - this is nothing to be afraid of, I promise you.” The nausea that was building in Reki’s stomach may have begged to differ, but he nodded his head and tried with everything he could muster to calm himself. Cherry tapped a finger to his lip in contemplation.

“Well, I believe I’ve given you enough to think about for one day. You may go back to your dormitory now, if you wish.” He gently slid the amulet back toward Reki, the look on his face a strange mixture of concerned and fond. Reki stole a quick look at Langa, looked back at the table, and nodded quietly. He pocketed the necklace, paused for a moment, and took it back out again. He quickly hooked the clasp so it hung around his neck, and he tucked it into his black tee. Langa exhaled audibly, almost seemed relieved by it next to him as they stood and thanked their elders.

“Be safe, kids.” The same affectionate worry bled into Joe’s words, and the two nodded as they headed to the door. Langa slid his hand into Reki’s, quirking his head to the side in a hesitant ask for permission. He smiled shyly when Reki nodded with a small, quick squeeze. They walked down the corridor, out into the massive entryway, and exited back out to the grounds where a light mist was falling outside. 

They took the long way back, wandering the windy path around the perimeter of the grounds to give themselves time to think. Holding Langa’s hand in his did make everything seem a little less terrifying, even if it didn’t make anything seem more clear. “You ready to go back?” His voice came out a bit croaked, and he cleared his throat. Langa looked over at him with warm yet slightly worried eyes.

“Yeah, Reki. Let’s go back now.” They walked a little closer together, held hands a little tighter, and stayed quiet until they reached their doorway. Reki took out his keys, jingled them in the lock, and opened the door to let Langa through. He followed, closing the door and latching the lock behind them.

Wordlessly, they began their usual nighttime routine despite it only being early afternoon. They stripped out of their clothing, chose Langa’s bed for the lightweight comforter, and slid underneath. Clinging to Langa, Reki pursed his lips before he spoke. “We should…probably talk about what happened back there.” Langa chewed his bottom lip apprehensively.

“Are you upset with me, Reki?” Langa seemed to be withdrawing into himself before Reki even had the chance to answer. He pulled his soulmate back to him, cupping a hand to his cheek and fluttering his eyes closed for a kiss. He hoped with all the fire in his heart that Langa would understand what he wanted to tell him tonight but wasn’t quite ready to do so out loud. He hoped that he would feel it in the way their lips moved, pressed gently together between small, soft noises. Langa's blue eyes glowed in the dim light of the room, the curtains drawn and lights turned out before they got in bed.

“No, of course not.” He brushed a hand against the side of Langa’s face, sweeping a stray bit of hair away from his face. “It’s just…a lot.” Langa closed his eyes and nodded slightly in understanding. Reki fidgeted with Langa’s fingers, lacing them together slowly and carefully in this slightly frightening new emotional territory. “Would it be okay if we talked about it tomorrow, maybe after we’ve both had a bit more time to think and get a good night’s rest?” Langa closed his eyes, touched his forehead to Reki’s, and tightened his grip around his waistline.

“Yes. Anything you want, Reki.” Between his breathless words, Langa’s eyes dipped down to Reki’s mouth, and a conflicted look crossed his face as his hands searched lower, lower. Reki’s body responded quickly, the curl of Langa’s fingers into his skin sending bolts of lightning through his body and heating an already-molten core.

Langa rolled over on top of him, nudging Reki’s legs apart with one knee. The rest of the world temporarily melted away as they became lost in each other, and they fell asleep wearing nothing but their bleeding hearts on their sleeves.

🖤🕸🖤

There was a small amount of sunlight peeking through the curtains the following morning, a sliver of it lying directly across Reki’s face. It caused him to open his eyes, and he blinked away the bleary grogginess several times before he was able to sit up.

Huh - where’s Langa?

He looked around the room for him, seeing nothing particularly concerning at first glance. It was possible that he could have gone to get an early breakfast alone, as he sometimes did when he was anxious about something, or he could have even gone to the bathroom or taken a shower.

Yawning and stretching, he sat up and slid off the bed. He flicked on a lamp and put on some of his favorite purple underwear, tried to brush his unruly hair, and placed a black headband in place. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something bright red lying on his pillow across the room.

I don’t remember making my bed last night. Did Langa do that? I never put the pillows like that. Come to think of it, when has Langa’s messy ass ever made a bed in the first place?

He strode across the room and curiously picked up a single red rose. He felt extremely confused for a moment until he noticed a black heart-shaped envelope with a wax seal sitting neatly on his pillow. He felt the flow throughout his entire body come to a screeching halt as his blood turned to ice.

Opening it carefully, he pulled out the note with shaking hands. 

Do not fear for Langa

The Matador of Love has him under his wing

Make no attempt to see him again

He stared down at the spidery cursive and felt his breath quickening. He nearly crushed the note in his hand as it clenched tightly, his teeth grinding together in fear and determination.

He took him in the middle of the night. He took him right from my arms, from my grasp, and from my protection.

He donned his black leathers and strapped his sharpest blades to his body, whirling out the door. He was a category five hurricane about to make a hellfire landfall wherever Adam was keeping Langa. He gazed at the amulet in his hand with a pounding heart, clasped it around his neck, and tucked it inside, right next to where his heartbeat banged against his ribcage.

Adam may have Langa for now, but he has no idea what he’s in for when I find him. He has no idea what I'm capable of and who is coming for him. 

🖤🕸🖤

The campus was already alive and buzzing with activity by seven in the morning. His breath condensed in the air in front of him, the damp sunrise chill running down his spine. He was grasping the rose in his hand and noticed several others with an identical one. They all passed each other along the corridors and walkways with a horrible, gut-wrenching understanding of one another. He didn’t stop until he was banging down the door of Cherry’s quarters. “Cherry. Open up.” He banged louder with his fist. “I said open the goddamn door - “ He nearly smacked his elder in the face as the heavy iron door swung open. He was already dressed and ready for combat, his bow and quiver slung over his shoulder. Joe was behind him strapping the final blade to his leathers as he looked up. “They have Langa.” He practically threw the note and rose at them as he entered, hands threading up through his hair in agonized frustration. “What the hell do we do?” Cherry’s eyes glittered for a moment.

“Adam has broadcasted a message across the entire campus. Several other students have gone missing, as well, disappearing in the middle of the night from their dormitories. They all had a family history of telepathy, and with a little digging, I found the records of the Headmaster’s private schedule. They’ve all been training with him, just like Langa has. I think he’s using them for his own gains, and I think my suspicions were correct - Adam is one of them.” Cherry spat out the last word, and he saw Joe anxiously flex his hand into a glove behind them at the mention.

“You mean…he’s with the petturi.” He was surprisingly calm upon hearing this confirmation. Perhaps, however, it was because he had been suspicious of it ever since they locked eyes at the ball, triggering that horrible memory.

“Yes.” That terrifying, cold wrath flickered across Cherry’s face, and Joe flexed his arm again in vexation. “I broke into the Headmaster’s Quarters early this morning and found all the evidence I needed. It was easy to fly right in amidst the chaos happening all across the grounds once a note appeared under every single dormitory door sometime overnight.” An icy shiver ran down Reki’s spine, even as he raised an eyebrow. Cherry must have shapeshifted, rummaged nakedly around the corridors and offices, and flown back to Joe.

He would let that image of his elder amuse him later, but for now, there were much bigger issues at hand that required his rapt attention.

“My suspicions began as soon as start-of-term physicals were completed, and he chose a few students to give private mentoring lessons to. You know how politicians can be - they can wrap any sadistic, dangerous, and selfish plan up in a nice bow and sell it to just about anyone on the street as a humanitarian mission.” Cherry could have skinned Adam's eyebrows off with the sharp tone of his voice. “But this? This is a new level of Adam that even I never anticipated. He’s taught them all mind control and made them believe they would be helping the Academy, not allowing the petturi to come in at night on a goddamn red carpet and attempt to take out half the population within the corridors.” Reki leaned heavily onto the thick wooden table they had all sat around the night before and clutched the amulet at his chest. Tears started to well up in the corners of his eyes, and he blinked them away rapidly as he processed.

“I have to find him. I have to.” Reki squeezed his eyes shut, willing the tears to die down so he could see clearly in front of him again. “I have to tell him. We - we decided last night to wait until today to talk about everything that happened last night.” Reki lifted the chain over his head and clutched it desperately in his hand, the scarlet crystals catching the light of the chandelier. He ran a thumb softly over the beautiful color, willing himself so hard to feel his soulmate, to sense him and his safety, even if he had no fucking clue where he’d been taken.

“Langa has…communicated telepathically with you before, hasn’t he?” Reki stopped pacing, if only for a brief moment.

“Not…exactly. He said he ‘sent a request’ once, whatever that even means. It was something Adam told him to do the night of the ball. But, I did recognize when he returned to our room that one time, and my head hurt…” Cherry stood, a hand held to his chin in thought.

“I may have an idea. You’re going to need your blood pendant, as it will connect you to him. Rest it over your heart, Reki.” Reki blushed slightly and gestured to where it now was clipped securely and rested atop his breast. “Good, good. Now listen carefully. This question might seem strange, but just try to think.” Reki nodded, steeling himself. “Can you imagine the communication pathway between you? Did it ever feel like there was some inexplicable mental bridge there ever since he made the initial reach out? A metaphysical connection of some kind that you could reconstruct, just like when you knew he was back in your room that one morning?” Reki crushed his face in his hands trying to picture it. He had an idea of what Cherry meant, but it was such an ambiguous concept that it was hard to articulate it.

“I’m trying.” His head was starting to hurt from the sheer effort of it all, the stress with which he was trying to re-tether his heart and soul to Langa. Cherry’s mouth became a thin, pursed line.

“Try harder. It’s the only way.” He took several steps forward and braced his elegant hands on Reki’s shoulders. They were the hands that had taught Langa to defend himself, the hands that taught his soulmate how to fire a bow. If Reki closed his eyes and pictured the first time he showed him how to shoot an arrow, he could imagine the way Langa’s soft touch grazed his cheek, his jaw, his arms, his -

“Fuck.” A painful crack caused a lightning bolt to flash across Reki’s vision. He whimpered, but Cherry held steadfast onto him.

“Think. Think harder. Keep going, keep digging.” Tears formed in the corners of Reki’s eyes again, but he didn’t back down from trying to find Langa. In his mind, he could almost picture it - the dark bridge that spanned between them. It was as if a wall had been constructed on the other end, where Langa’s open fields of honeysuckle flowers and mountains of freshly fallen snow would have been. Reki rammed his psyche so hard into the wall, but it barely budged. He cried out in frustration, clawing his own conscious against the iron blockade.

“Cherry, I don’t understand. It’s blocked. I can’t - I can’t feel him. I know where he is, and I can’t get to him. It’s blocked off. It must be Adam.” Cherry shook him lightly before he spiraled into frustration and worry.

“Reki, you need to go to him. Find him, and rescue him. You are the only one that can find them now - we will handle things up here on the ground floor. Think hard, and think back to the nights where Langa would come home from his lessons. Did you ever notice anything unusual that could tip you off about where they were held or where the others are hidden?” Reki’s head was pounding so hard that he thought the vessels in his skull may explode. He gasped suddenly, startling Cherry and Joe, but they focused in on him intently.

There was only one time Reki ever remembered not seeing his reflection in a mirror. It had greatly confused him at first, considering it was one of the myths that was completely busted as soon as he arrived at the academy. Langa had made the smallest of passing comments about how interesting the secret passageways of the castle were as he waved a lazy hand toward the mirror. Perhaps, he thought, it was a sign of some kind of mirage - some intangible force that couldn’t respond to the world around it the same way as a real mirror.

“I can do this. I swear to you I’ll be back with him, and I’ll bring the others with me. I swear it.”

Reki darted out the door and ran breathlessly to the main corridor of the castle. He began barreling down spiral staircases and flung his body through the air to skip entire flights at a time, landing hard on his feet but continuing his trek. He found the mirror he was looking for in the main potions dungeon, took a deep breath, and reached out a hand. It went right through, and he could feel cold, damp, and heavy air on the other side. He sucked in a breath, closed his eyes, and jumped over the threshold.

Adam had no fucking idea that such a lethal and devastating storm was coming for him.

Chapter Text

Reki hurled himself down the stairs, taking practically three at a time as it spiraled down into growing darkness. The flickering lamps hanging from the old stone walls were the only light to guide the way. He could see his breath coming out in thick puffs of condensation, and the temperature kept dropping the further down he went. His skin began prickling with negative energy, a black fire starting to burn in his heart.

I can’t feel the mental bridge at all anymore. Something is pushing back or blocking it - I have to move faster.

He gritted his teeth and jumped down the center of the stairwell, falling at least three full stories before he hit the ground with a roll. He slipped slightly on the landing from the dirt and gravel at the bottom, but he quickly got back to his feet and looked around. He ran down corridors toward the epicenter of where that strange, ambiguous sense of Langa was before their bond was obstructed.

He saw more lights up ahead, just around the end of the corridor. He also heard the trickling of water get louder as he neared the lights. He pulled out a switchblade and burst out into a clearing that seemed almost like a dungeon - the ceiling loomed high above them, covered in stalactites hanging down like thousands of razor-sharp teeth. Reki quickly saw the other students that had been abducted; they were lined up against a wall behind Adam, Tadashi, and -

Langa!

“What the hell is going on, Adam? Just what do you think you’re accomplishing with all this fanfare?” Reki stood his ground, analyzing the situation to see if he wanted to approach. Langa stood still beside Adam in black leathers somewhat similar to Reki’s. He had his bow drawn, an arrow tucked between his fingers and ready to fire at any second. Reki gaped, and his eyes watered and he felt something deep in his heart crack when he looked into Langa’s eyes - they were bright red.

Graceful. Beautiful. Lethal.

Adam walked over to Langa and stroked the side of his neck. Langa didn’t move a muscle, the tip of the arrow still glinting and pointed downward at the ground. With a snap of Adam’s fingers, he raised it and pointed it directly at Reki’s heart, not a single emotion to be seen on his face. He looked helplessly into Langa’s eyes, bleak and scarlet and devoid of all the warmth and love they’d ever shared together. 

Langa needs to know I love him if he can somehow still hear me in there. 

“What’s this, now? Oh, my.” Adam feigned a dramatic gasp as he ran a fingertip down Langa’s arm, still poised and waiting for the signal to fire. He was wearing something dreadfully similar to the night of the final S race with Langa, the slate gray battle leathers slashed open on the back, making Reki grimace in distaste. “Make one wrong move, filth, and I slit Eve's throat.” Reki’s eyes went wide as he watched Tadashi walk over and brandish a tiny blade. Langa still hadn’t moved from where he was standing, obviously under some type of mind control. In a flash of dark shadow, Adam disappeared - Reki looked around, senses disoriented until he felt an arm hook around his neck. He flailed, but Adam was too quick - he had Reki turned around, facing toward Langa, a small blade at his throat.

“You twisted little dogs - bloodletting each other…now I understand better than ever. It makes so much more sense why I could never completely toss your worthlessness out of Langa’s conscience. What a goddamn waste of space that was.” Reki scowled up at Adam before he felt the dagger pressing lightly into his throat. He searched desperately for the strange, inexplicable mental tether Langa had created the first time he requested entry to Reki’s mind. He was frantic, trying so hard to break through this wall Adam had put up around him. 

“Langa, you have to fight it! Don’t let him control you like this. I know you can hear me in there! You have to push him out. Langa, please hear me…” He threw one final, desperate plea down the bond and out into the cold, cruel universe. “I love you…” He felt the tears welling up in his eyes. He would have given anything to have gotten up the courage to tell Langa how he felt so much sooner than this. Now, he was staring down the sharp point of the arrow Langa had aimed at his heart, irises blood red from the strange mind-control spell he was under. He was going to die under the hands of the one he loved the most, even if these weren't his own thoughts or actions.

It happened so fast that Reki almost didn't see it - hot, bright red light shot straight from his chest where the pendant hung, and a glimmer of cerulean flashed across Langa’s ruby eyes. In less than a second, Langa’s aim moved a centimeter over toward Adam’s shoulder; Tadashi’s eyes widened when he realized what had happened, and he lunged forward, but it wasn’t fast enough. With terrifyingly beautiful skill, Langa shot the arrow clean through - it was enough to slow Adam down, but not enough to kill him. Langa was better than that, after all - he was better than that cold-blooded murderer. They all heard the dagger clatter to the ground as Adam shrieked in pain.

“Reki!” Langa shouted to him as he leapt toward Tadashi, tackling him to the ground before he could reach Reki and Adam. The momentary turmoil allowed Reki to pull a dagger from the inside of his boot. With the lethal force and precision of the assassin Joe had trained to be, he whirled around and grabbed Adam in a headlock. Despite the injured arm, Adam still fought back, attempting to pierce Reki’s flesh with his fangs to claim ultimate control over him.

“Langa, get out of here now. Run and get the others.” He shouted over the chaos, the sound of fangs meeting blades clanging through the air. Adam was snarling like a beast, teeth flashing and coming dangerously closer to Reki’s major arteries as his energy waned. Langa looked up from where he had knocked Tadashi unconscious, moisture welling in the corners of his stunningly-blue-again eyes. He looked torn, unsure if he should sprint for help or charge toward Reki and risk being controlled again. Reki gazed longingly at him for a millisecond too long, because that one moment he was distracted was enough for Adam to get the upper hand. “Langa, fucking GO.” Reki screamed at the top of his lungs as he wrestled for his very life against Adam’s cunning and brute strength. 

“You were never meant to amount to anything. I defeated you then, and I’m going to defeat you now. You’re an annoyance, nothing more than a mere thorn in my side. You are nothing.” Reki’s heart lurched as he looked up into the bloodthirsty, smiling eyes above him. He shivered as Adam pressed him further down into the rocky ground, pinning his body as he ran a hand up Reki’s throat until his head was lifted, neck fully extended, and sensitive skin exposed. Reki struggled to breathe against the pressure, scrambling in a final desolate attempt to get out of Adam’s vice grip, his wild red eyes dilating.

This can’t be the end. I won’t let it be.

Reki snarled and grabbed Adam’s forearms, thrusting him back off him with a kick. He stumbled, eyes blazing. “I was the only one that ever made you feel like you needed to prove yourself. Me, nobody else!” He felt a caress down the side of his psyche, and Adam stood and turned to face him.

“Insolent little - “ He made a move to lunge again, but before he could launch himself at Reki, he stopped. Reki startled backwards slightly until he looked over and saw Langa, one hand stretched out in front of him, pupils dilating wildly. A soft blue color was starting to creep into Adam’s irises, and Reki quickly realized what was happening. He strode up to the Matador casually, the tip of his own blade scratching lightly around his stomach and back as he circled his prey.

“I know you can hear me in there, Adam. I know you’re aware of everything I’m doing, but you can’t move a muscle because Langa has you in his grasp.” A triumphant smile spread across his face. “I’m going to make sure you can never come back here again.” Reki twisted an arm behind his back, and Adam fell to his knees, the red speckles starting to war with the blue. 

“Reki, hurry - I can’t hold on much longer.” Reki nodded.

“Right.” He twisted harder, and Adam let out a small whimper. “You will leave this place. You will leave Langa alone, and you will leave the others alone, and you will never return. Do you understand?” He felt Adam starting to struggle, and he knew what he had to do. “You will leave forever. Do you understand?” Reki rested his fangs right over Adam’s neck, waiting for a response. In the silence, he spoke louder, with more authority. “I said, do you fucking understand?” Adam’s eyes regained their red color and he hissed right as Langa sank to his knees across the clearing. Reki knew this was his last chance, and he sank his teeth in deep. Adam thrashed, trying to throw Reki off, but he simply held on tighter and sank his canines deeper. He could feel this otherworldly energy radiating off of him as the body below him started to submit.

It was a different sort of thrill than the one he experienced with Langa. It didn’t warm him through every reach and corner of his body like it did when it was with Langa. It wasn’t heated or fueled with incredible, loving emotions flooding from his heart. It was purely vengeful, a cold, determined, and frustrated grip on this creature that had caused so much pain and suffering for so many. He felt Adam slowly stop struggling as their ancestral energy took over, and Reki carefully extracted his teeth and pulled his head back. 

Beneath him, he held Adam’s neck in his hands. The two deep, angry bite marks swelled up on the crook of his neck, and Adam’s red eyes went wide with horror. He yelped, trying to wriggle free of Reki’s grasp. Reki let him, as he could feel the submission leaking out from every cell, every crevasse. “Get out, you piece of shit.” Adam looked hurt, afraid, and vengeful all at once. It was a strange combination that Reki didn’t understand, but that didn’t matter at the moment.

“There will be more. This doesn’t end with me.” Reki snarled.

“I don’t care. This is the end for you, and I swear I will drain you of every ounce of life left in you if you don’t leave us alone for the rest of your pathetic existence.” Adam roared, but when he tried to lash out, he cried out in pain. The spot where the arrow had hit glowed with the same red fire that he saw within his pendant - it started to turn into a black fire that began overtaking his entire arm, traveled down his torso, and starting to swallow up his legs. He fell silently to his knees and watched wide-eyed as the fire spread painlessly, the bite becoming emblazoned into skin and permanently marking him as Reki’s submissive. Reki stood above him and balled his fists up at his sides. “This is the last time I’ll tell you. You can either leave here on your own two feet, or you can leave in a body bag. The choice is yours.” Adam disappeared in a cloud of smoke and reappeared next to Tadashi. He picked up his still-unconscious body, shot one last icy look at Reki, and snapped his fingers. The black fire whirled up around him, and in another breath, they were both gone.

The silence hung as heavily as the moisture in the frigid air. Reki watched his breath condensing in front of him for a few moments, silent and poised to attack again if Adam and Tadashi reappeared.

Somehow, after several long minutes like this, they didn’t. They never re-appeared in the underground dungeon. At some point in the milliseconds between his inhales and exhales, Reki looked over to Langa again. His blue eyes were staring back at him, wide, slightly frightened, but completely in awe. Langa eventually tossed his bow aside where it clattered loudly, and he ran toward him faster than Reki could have ever imagined possible. Reki watched him get closer and closer, and he held out his arms as Langa stumbled right into them with tears in his eyes. “Reki.” They held tightly to each other, breaths shaking and forming small bits of crystals in the cold.

“Langa.” He cupped Langa’s cheek in his hand softly, brushing a thumb across the chilled surface of his face. He leaned in, closed his eyes, and really kissed him. He hoped that the warm fire in his heart, the way their lips moved together, and the soft noises of pleasure and relief he allowed to escape would show Langa the truth that he had been too scared to speak until today.

“Reki. My sweet love.” Langa’s breath hitched, and it started coming in much shorter bursts as they deepened their kiss. Reki tilted his head just so slightly to the side, giving Langa the perfect angle to run his tongue along the roof of Reki’s mouth like they’d done so many times before in the privacy and safety of their room. This moment, however, felt so incredibly different. It felt charged with so many words unsaid and so many things that lied ahead of them. “I’ve always loved you. It was always you.” Langa surged forward, and Reki felt his greedy hands gripping tightly at his small waist, his collar, his face, his hair. Langa was digging his fingers into every surface he could reach, desperately tethering the two of them together in any way he could. The pendant at Reki’s chest started pulsing again, and the soft glow was the only thing that made them pause. Their lips hovered closely together, heavy breaths heaving through the small space between and causing their tongues to taste just a little bit frozen.

“Baby.” Reki ran his shaking fingers up through Langa’s hair and latched on as if the earth had suddenly lost gravity, and Langa’s body was the only thing holding him down to the surface. “I want you to be with me. Not because of what this pendant says, but because of what my heart says. I want you to be mine, and I want to be yours.” Reki’s voice crumpled on the last word, and Langa nuzzled aggressively into him, shushing him and soothing him with sweet and loving words.

“Only if you promise me the rest of your immortal life. Call me selfish, but I want it all, or I want nothing.” They stood together, foreheads touching, as the gentle puffs of condensation swirled upward around them. Reki’s tears felt cold, but inside his heart felt so, so warm as he reached out for so much more than his soulmate’s hand.

“I promise you everything. I promise you infinity.”

🖤🕸🖤

The days that followed seemed to fly by, and Reki hardly remembered any of it. With the disappearance of Adam, several other professors also disappeared as well as a small handful of Reki’s peers. According to Cherry, it was the small coup that would have overrun the academy if it hadn’t been for Reki and Langa (or mostly Reki and not really himself at all, if anyone asked Langa). Some of the professors had approached Cherry and asked him to be the interim headmaster, but he only agreed to doing so for the next three weeks until they could find his replacement.

“I didn’t come here to run a school. I came here to look after my children and to have a bit of an adventure.” His golden eyes glinted back over the dark, highly-polished wooden table in the headmaster’s quarters. Ceiling-high bookshelves circled around them in the small room, dusty with age and tales of adventures that dated back centuries, perhaps even millennia. Reki held Langa’s hand tightly beside him, and they looked at each other before gazing back at Cherry. “I do want you both to agree to therapy. Reki, I know of your tendencies to have nightmares and to withdraw from grief - I won’t allow this to happen or worsen, if I can help it. You can attend sessions or check-ins together, if you so wish, but considering what you went through down in the dungeon…” Cherry cleared his throat, and it sounded as though his emotions may have stumbled over another in one of the small rumblings. “You’ve done so much for us all, and I absolutely refuse to watch you deteriorate because of worthless vermin like…like Adam.” His eyes flashed ferociously before softening back at the two of them again. “I suppose there is one perk to this whole soulmate idea - it tells me that no matter what the two of you endure for the rest of your days, you’re going to get through it together. It gives me a little more faith in humanity.” A half-frown pulled the corner of his elegant, beautiful mouth down. “Well. In vampires, at least.” Cherry stood and slowly walked to the large window behind his chair, pulling back the curtains and letting the light creeping in from outside. It was choppy, filtered through the branches of the trees that had almost lost all of their leaves.

Reki looked at the view outside and at the trees waving in the chilly, early winter breeze. He sighed as he watched the gentle undulations of the branches that sported the remnants of the vibrant fall colors, shortly past their prime yet still such a sight to behold. He connected to the sentiment on an oddly spiritual level. With a slight turn of his head, he caught Langa’s eye and turned to face him in his chair. Langa swiveled toward him, as well, and reached out to take his hands between them. “I love you, Reki. I’ll be there for you through everything, if you want me, and if you allow me.” Reki closed his eyes and nodded softly, burying his face into Langa’s neck and inhaling the sweet eucalyptus smell of him. He sighed into the small scars he’d made on Langa’s pale, elegant neck; it was the spot where they had shared so many secrets and so many soft and blissful nights together in the dark and under the blankets.

I never have to be alone again.

The tears began to fall freely, welling up very suddenly as they spilled over onto Langa’s lap. He heard the swish of Cherry’s kimono across the floor, the soft close of a heavy door, and the gentle huff of Langa’s laughter. Langa’s hands cupped around his face, lifted it, and ran through his hair as blue eyes gazed adoringly back into his. “Baby.” Reki squeezed his eyes shut even more, Langa’s voice caressed his very soul, and he ached to hear that nickname every day for the rest of his life. When the crying finally slowed, he lifted a hand up to Langa’s forearm and rested it there.

“Let’s move in together when we get back home. I want to start our life as soon as possible. I don’t care what we do, where we work, where we live, or how much we make - we could be in a rickety-ass cabin in the remote woods of Japan together and I’d be happy. I just want you, Langa.” His voice broke as his upper body collapsed softly into Langa’s lap. He felt gentle hands stroking his back and hair, and he sighed, content to just let this tender moment wash over him. 

"I've promised you infinity before. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine it would be this amazing, though, Reki. I want to take care of you and show you how incredible you are every day for the rest of our lives." Langa smiled softly and nuzzled into Reki's neck. "I want to keep you safe and warm. I want to make you feel cared for and loved. I want to be your safest place, your home. I just…I want you to feel as wonderful as I do when I'm with you." 

"Langa…" Reki's wide and watery eyes shined in the light of the sunset outside. Langa pressed one fingertip over Reki's lips to quiet him before leaving a sweet, lingering kiss in place.

"I can't wait to spend forever with you. I don't know what I ever did to deserve this, and I'll never stop being grateful, my love." Reki sniffled and stood to take Langa’s hand. Without a word, they huddled closely together to brave the wind and cold on the way to their room.

Back in the safety and comfort of those four walls, protected by the privacy of a locked door, they let their emotions run wild. The pendant glowed, soft and warm, as Reki and Langa shared their deepest secrets together over and over again. 

🖤🕸🖤

Langa’s brow furrowed as he browsed the flights back to Japan. Reki wanted to reach out and boop the spot between his eyes, watch Langa pout his bottom lip, and look at Reki in the cutest accusatory sort of way before he left an obnoxious kiss on his lips.

So, he did. Reki’s smile spread fast across his face before he sat down in Langa’s lap, and despite the huffs of protest in his ear, he felt a warm arm wrap around his waist. He wiggled his hips and pressed down a little, and Langa released a small laugh as he instinctively grabbed Reki’s sides, searching easily for the slight curve of his waist. His slender hands fit perfectly into those spaces as if they were always made to be there.

“This is dumb. I can’t find anything that leaves from around here.” Reki scoffed.

“Dude, it’s because we’re in bumblefuck, nowhere. We’ll probably have to go through JFK like I did when I first got here without you. Talk about the biggest hellhole ever.” Cherry shot him a scolding glance, his glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose as he pored over the records from the school. They had finally selected a new headmaster, and the transition was going well, but it was a challenge to catch someone up so quickly. There was a lot of historical knowledge that needed to be passed on or written down just from the last few months alone; otherwise, it would be lost amidst the vampire history books. Cherry left to rummage somewhere in the second story bookshelves of the Headmaster’s quarters, and Reki closed his eyes. “So…what do you think you wanna do when we get back? Aside from tell our families, obviously.” He opened his eyes with a smile, rested his forehead against Langa’s, and batted his lashes instinctively. Langa reached a hand up and ran it easily, softly through his hair and brushed it behind his ear.

“I have to admit, I haven’t thought about it much. It’s…kindof embarrassing, but…” His cheeks flushed a cute pink, and Reki straightened up, intrigued. “All I know right now is that I just need to be wherever you are. I can find somewhere to get a job or take classes anywhere. There’s only one Reki.” Reki huffed out a quick sigh through his nose and hugged Langa tightly. He felt strong arms wrap around him, and he sighed happily. “I never want to imagine losing you ever again. You were right in front of me when Adam almost…” A shiver ran through his body, and Reki soothed him gently. “...almost took you away from me forever. I’ll never let anyone that could hurt you get close to you like that again.” Reki remained quiet for a few minutes, absorbing the moment and the feel of Langa’s palm sliding slowly up and down his back. He savored the way the little callouses from archery scratched his back ever so slightly whenever Langa applied feather-light pressure on his downstroke.

“It’s still so wild to me that I can just…tell you I love you now.” He cupped Langa’s face, his thumb resting against his adorable pout and fingers brushing the neck space below his ear. Langa’s smile nearly sucked the air right out of his lungs in the best way. “But I was actually thinking - maybe I could look around some of the local universities. Since this whole vampire thing happened, I’ve become a bit more interested in history. I’ve also gotten sortof curious about, um…genetics and mythology.” Langa grinned brilliantly. 

“I know you could do anything you put your mind to. You’re amazing like that, Reki. I’ll follow you wherever you go.”

🖤🕸🖤

It was going to be a loooong fucking flight home.

Joe’s laughter echoed jovially around the back of the plane. Their conversation about returning to S ended up with Reki pouting, Langa dissociating, and Joe talking about all the girls he ever dated. “Dude, didn’t you ever wonder why we were so good at skateboarding? No mortal idiot could have pulled off all those power brakes like I did. It’s because of the vampire genetics - duhh.” Joe smirked as Reki gawked back up at him.

I guess that makes a lot of sense. All of them were seventeen or older when they were the darlings of S - I was the only one that hadn’t turned yet.

With this new body, however, Reki could keep up with Joe. He could keep up with the rest of them, actually - but most importantly, he could keep up with the love of his life, Langa.

As riveting as it was to talk about every single girl Joe ever dated, dumped, and pissed off in that order, there was something more pressing that Reki wanted to ask about while Langa was in the restroom. "Joe, I really want to ask you about something before he gets back.” Joe eyed him curiously and turned his body in Reki’s direction.

“Sure, kid. Shoot.” Reki fidgeted quickly with the strings on his hoodie, took a deep breath, and began.

“I had a question about the whole, uh. Vampire mating thing.” He saw Cherry’s ears perk up in the seat next to Joe, and soon, he had two very intense and intrigued sets of eyes on him.

“Reki, you did not.” Reki sat back abruptly and indignantly, startling the person in the seat behind them. Joe and Cherry both gaped, but Joe was the first one to break into a smirk.

“Didn’t what?? Dude, stop sounding so accusatory, you’re making this awkward.” He flopped in his seat, crossing his arms and pouting after lifting the hood of his sweatshirt over his head. He had expected to hear laughter, but instead, he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. When he looked up, one set of gentle brown eyes and one set of knowing golden eyes were gazing back at him fondly.

“You propositioned Langa, didn’t you?” The way Cherry asked the question didn’t hold the usual sarcasm or boredom. It was genuinely curious, genuinely caring. Reki’s cheeks flared hot and red.

“Shut up.” Cherry and Joe smiled at each other and chuckled quietly. “Okay, maybe.” Joe raised his eyebrows expectantly, and Reki finally caved. “Okay, I definitely did. But something really strange happened that I didn’t understand.” Joe smirked.

“I always thought you two were meant for each other, anyway. What’s up?” He folded his hands together in his lap, and Cherry rested his chin on Joe’s shoulder from behind him. Reki tried to ignore the comment that was so amazingly wonderful and wonderfully embarrassing.

“When I, uh…propositioned…” His face screwed up, but he saw no hint of judgement or sarcasm on either of his elder’s faces. It put his heart a little more at ease. “...I partially transformed. But Cherry, you know how they’d only reached a few feet in length tops during our sessions?” He fidgeted with his hoodie strings again, thankful that Langa was either taking a long-ass shit or there was a line for the restroom. "Well, they, uh." A proud and knowing grin began spreading across their faces. "They literally took up half the room." Joe whistled, low and impressed, and Cherry's eyes glittered with so much pride that Reki had to look away. 

"Though a large part of that is due to your own dedication and hard work, Reki, there is another component to it. You recall the conversations we had about your blood pendant, yes?" As if by instinct, Reki reached up and held the pendant to his heart. Its soft, light weight was a comfort to him, and he couldn't even remember the last time he had taken it off. "Your body recognizes that soulmate energy." A warm, affectionate feeling flushed through his heart, body, and up into his face. With pink cheeks, he nodded at Cherry and smiled. 

"Yeah, even that thing could see that you two couldn't keep your kinky little paws off each other -"

Thwack.

Joe squeaked in protest, holding a hand to the back of his head where Cherry had smacked him with a fan. 

I'm pretty sure he can just make those materialize because I never see them until it's too late…

Reki grinned. "Gorilla peanut gallery comments aside…it's all technically hearsay, but honestly, who really knows. You two seem to have made the mythology textbooks come alive before my very eyes. I always knew you two were meant for each other." Reki's face softened into a happy smile as he sat back in his chair to contemplate. Cherry seemed to sense that he wanted some space to think, so his elder smiled, leaned back in his own chair, and closed his eyes.

Not long after, Langa returned and scooted himself into the seat next to Reki. He held out a hand, and Langa smiled as he laced their fingers together gently. Reki left a small, lingering kiss on his cheek before turning to the window. It was after midnight, and there was hardly a cloud in the sky to block the incredible view of the night sky. They watched the stars together as they dozed off for the rest of their long flight home.

🖤🕸🖤

After rushing to them and ensnaring them both in a tight hug, Nanako and Masae both pulled back simultaneously with similarly surprised looks on their faces. Nanako sniffed the air, and Reki noticed one side of her mouth twitch up. “You’ve certainly been getting into all kinds of trouble, huh?” She laughed nervously, a hand over her heart. Reki’s mom was gazing at him intently, and he started to sweat under her amber gaze. Masae looked at Nanako, started to smile, and both women were suddenly bursting with laughter. 

“Well, I suppose you and I will be seeing a lot more of each other from now on.” Masae took Nanako’s hand and grinned widely. They laughed again and gave each other a hug like two jovial moms at a wedding. Reki eyed them warily.

“What exactly are you talking about?” Joe strode up and clapped a hand onto Reki’s shoulder.

“Well, they’ve certainly been getting into something!” He laughed - that large, all-encompassing, belly-deep laugh of his - and walked away. Reki let out a squeak that sounded suspiciously like a bat and tried to hide his face in absolute horror. Langa glared at everyone while Reki tried to conceal the blush.

“Sex is a natural part of a relationship and is nothing to be ashamed of. Stop embarrassing Reki like that.” Langa turned and set his hands on Reki’s shoulders, sparkling aggressively with a determined look on his face, and that only made him flush even worse. 

“God, please let me die. Just let me go.” He dramatically willed himself to pass away, but unfortunately for his ego, it didn’t work. Nanako was trying her hardest to stop laughing, bless her heart, and ventured to speak again.

“Well…actually, we just noticed that you have a pendant.” Her playful smile turned warm with affection, and she swept her long brown hair back to reveal a dainty silver chain with a tiny red lavaliere. Langa’s eyes went wide, and he approached his mother cautiously, reaching out one hand in silent request. She lifted it from around her head, set it in his hand, and rested her palm over his. “That’s right, sweetheart. I still have it.” Langa’s sweet blue eyes met his mother’s, and he smiled as he clasped his fingers around the small stone. He brushed a thumb over it, and his smile grew small, thoughtful, and wistful. Reki came up behind him and put an arm around his waist and rested his head on his shoulder, knowing exactly who made it. “Your father would be so proud.” Langa turned to hug Reki for a very long moment, so he started brushing his fingers through his hair. He felt the tip of Langa’s nose dig into his hair, and he brushed his fingers down his long arms until he could take his hands.

“Oh, my sweet baby boy is getting married. I can’t believe how much you’ve grown up since you left.” Reki scrunched his eyebrows together in confusion, and Nanako placed a hand over her mouth as if she’d just admitted a secret. Masae simply looked back and forth between Reki and Langa a few times before Reki finally turned to his boyfriend.

Who, to his great surprise, was bright red and looking away like he normally did when he was hiding something.

“Langa.” Reki’s voice was commanding, but it still didn’t get Langa to look at him. He watched the shiny pout on his lips get bigger, and his chin tucked upward even more before Reki tried again. “Langa.” He finally turned to look Reki in the eyes, shadows of blue sparkling with mischief and nervousness. “What are they saying?”

Sometimes he had to talk to Langa like he was disciplining a small, really adorable child. But, if he had accidentally proposed marriage, and Reki still hadn’t figured it out or found out about it, then they definitely needed to talk. Reki saw Cherry roll his eyes a short distance away before he shook his head at Langa, and he knew in a second that Langa knew.

“You.” Langa’s eyes flew open in alarm, and the corner of his mouth dropped open. He let out a nervous laugh. “You knew.” Reki swatted at him as Langa squeaked, and suddenly, they were both running away from the group, skateboards hitting the concrete. With the wind rushing through their hair, they raced (maybe a little bit recklessly and a lot bit stupidly) through downtown Okinawa. After a few minutes, Reki couldn’t help but laugh with joy as he watched Langa (what exactly was their relationship, then?), his soulmate and his true love, race ahead of him. His blue hair whipped around in their high speed chase, and the first place they went was their old skate park. 

Upon arrival, they found the closest concrete wall. Reki shoved Langa aggressively up against it and held him by the wrists. “You idiot.” He pressed their bodies together, unleashing the bubbling nerves inside of him at the mere mention of marriage to Langa.

They would talk about it another time. There would be a time for that conversation later; at that moment, it was time to be two crazy, stupid young vampires in crazy, stupid love.

🖤🕸🖤

Reki and Langa were waiting around for Miya the first night of S after the younger teen’s birthday. When he showed up, however, it looked like he’d been tossed through a woodchipper and regurgitated by a mother penguin. The blue and purple bags under his eyes only drooped more in frustration when he eyed the pair holding hands and leaving kisses in each others’ hair. “Can you knock it off, slimes? I haven’t slept in days and have zero patience for your dumb, mushy bullshit.” Miya growled lightly, and Reki’s gaze bee-lined to the teen’s front teeth. With a start, he noticed an elongated canine.

Oh, fuck - Miya is seventeen! That must mean -

A slow smirk spread wide across Reki’s face. He nudged Langa, scratched subtly at his own fang, and Langa picked up the hint. His beautiful blue eyes went wide as he nodded in understanding. “You know, if you want to talk about it with us, you can. Win or lose, we’re you’re friends that love to skate. You know, your vampire friends.” 

Reki thought Miya nearly had an aneurysm right on the track in front of them. He tilted his head back and howled with laughter, and he noticed Langa’s soft, mischievous smile beaming back at him. As Miya sputtered out his retorts, Reki kissed Langa lightly on the lips and held his face in his hands. He grinned and turned back to Miya, Joe and Cherry standing behind him and smirking, as well. Their fangs shined under the yellowed light of the street lamps.

“You heard me right, kid. We’re just like you.”