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Dazai lounged lazily across his couch, stretching in the moonlight that seeped through cracks in the dark, thick curtains. His inky brown hair lay strewn about the couch pillow, messy and unruly. Dazai glanced to the clock sleepily, rolling onto his stomach and yawning, feeling his fangs extend with the motion. It had been a while. He was getting thirsty. More pressingly, though, things were so boring without him- it reminded him of the past few centuries, wandering aimlessly and slaughtering just anyone for the fun of it, to feel anything. Even that lost its glamour. Earning money, counting collectibles, learning languages, joining wars and fighting on whatever side was more entertaining… it all lost value. Until him.
He closed his eyes, reminiscing on Chuuya snapping angrily at him that he needed to get a pet. He smiled at the thought. He’d spent so many decades fighting and flirting Chuuya with occasional years of spiteful silent treatment in between, he never thought Chuuya, bloodthirsty killer he was, would suggest he get a human of all things. But as the years passed and human lore became more and more in favor of vampires, it was easier to pick up a pet, just as Chuuya had insisted. But this one was different from the other humans Dazai had kept around, he was special. Before, Dazai would toss away humans after weeks, bored once more and craving the stir of arousal and entertainment from draining a human to the bone. Chuuya had warned him it was a reckless waste and he would be caught if he killed too many. He hadn't listened, but this boy… was different. Afterlife felt meaningful with him. For the first time, he felt draining a human would be a waste of something good.
He heard him long before he knocked, running up the stairs with a catch to his oh so human breath that made something dark and dirty stir within Dazai; he sounded just like prey being chased. Dazai stood, moving to the door of his apartment and letting his hand linger on the handle. Finally, he was there, and Dazai took a deep breath inward, smelling him through the door. Sweat, coffee, ink, and a little something unique to this blood in particular.
Dazai flung the door open, too impatient to allow him to knock. There he was, flushed and surprised at Dazai’s sudden presence, silvery hair and wide golden eyes gleaming in the moonlight that bathed his taut tawny skin. Dazai felt the pressure of his fangs acutely, and he couldn’t help but eye his neck.
“Atsushi-kun,” Dazai smiled, making no effort to hide his fangs nor his gaze on Atsushi’s neck. “Come in.”
Atsushi blinked, lips parted slightly in dumbfounded shock before shaking it away and entering, eyes fleeting back to Dazai for permission after all this time to set down his school bags and kick off his shoes in the genkan.
“How was school?” Dazai asked, amused.
Atsushi looked back to his left shoe that was being stubborn, frowning as he wedged it off with more force. Dazai waited, smiling fondly at Atsushi struggling to maneuver his shoe before he finally got it off, spinning to Dazai with those wide golden eyes.
“Eh? Uh, Dazai-san, what were you saying again?”
Dazai sighed through his nose and smiled fondly at the ditzy boy. Normally, he’d snap a human’s neck for not doting over every word he said. With Atsushi, his heart swelled. Adorable. He nearly commented it aloud but decided he wouldn’t embarrass Atsushi to that point.
“I said, how was school, pet?”
Atsushi’s neck flushed and he stuttered, still not used to his role. “Uh, it was good.”
“Did you sneak out of the orphanage without trouble?” Dazai asked, tilting his head and taking Atsushi’s hand to lead him in.
“Y-yes, it was fine,” Atsushi replied.
Dazai squeezed Atsushi’s hand, leading him to sit on the couch before disappearing into the kitchen. Atsushi squirmed on the couch, looking around the apartment he never quite got used to. Dazai took a deep breath and sighed.
“Would you like some wine?” he asked from the kitchen.
“Dazai-san, I’m only 18, I can’t have wine….” Atsushi mumbled, but Dazai was already striding out, two glasses in hand.
“You can’t be sneaking out of your orphanage in the middle of the night to get fed off of by a vampire, either, but look at you now.” Dazai grinned, allowing his fangs to stretch to full length as he reached out, offering a glass.
Atsushi didn’t bother hiding his shudder, looking down as he accepted the glass from Dazai. He swished it as Dazai sat beside him, smelling it with curiosity.
“It’s a ros é, imported from America,” Dazai explained. “It’s sweet and mild. I picked it with you in mind.”
Atsushi looked up, a bit surprised, looking back to the wine. “Thank you, Dazai-san….” he took a tentative sip, blinking.
“ Umai …” he whispered, smiling at the drink, and Dazai chuckled.
“That good?”
Atsushi looked up, giggling nervously. “I expected it to be more bitter- I guess the red one you’re drinking would be more bitter, right?”
Dazai hummed, taking a sip of his own drink. It wasn’t red wine, but reserves of his collection of high-quality blood of a string of young girls he had slaughtered in Egypt. But Atsushi didn’t need to know that. He sighed, reaching his hand over to Atsushi’s and quietly placing it over it as Atsushi took quick, small sips of wine.
“Atsushi-kun,” Dazai murmured. Atsushi looked up, eyes wide and ears already red from the wine. Dazai debated asking him… it was a serious decision, one Atsushi should really have been the one bringing up, but….
No. He wouldn’t let his feelings tangle his judgment and ask Atsushi something so pivotal as to if he wanted to be turned. That was a monumental decision that affected both of them, whether Atsushi knew it or not. Dazai was far too old for that. He would like to think over the many years he’d gained at least some sort of reason. He took another sip of the blood, unsatisfied with it- it was good stuff, but it was chilled and a bit stale. He set it down on the coffee table, feeling Atsushi’s eyes on him, waiting for him to speak.
“Atsushi-kun, are you… happy?” he decided on, looking to him.
Atsushi frowned at the question, pursing his lips and humming as he considered it. Dazai swallowed hard. If he hated it, if he didn’t want to do it anymore, Dazai had already decided he wouldn’t kill Atsushi. He couldn’t.
“Well…” Atsushi hummed, tapping his chin, “I’m definitely a lot happier than I was, now that I know you, Dazai-san.”
Dazai chuckled, feeling relief spread cool throughout his chest. “That’s… good. I don’t want this to be one-sided.” Anymore, he omitted.
Atsushi blushed, looking at his glass again. “It’s not exactly one-sided anyway when you feed.”
Dazai widened his eyes at Atsushi, grinning with just a touch of fervor and insanity, a reminder of what Dazai was, fangs extended and threatening. “Oh? Atsushi-kun, you like it that much?”
Dazai knew exactly what he was doing to Atsushi when he fed; vampire venom had stimulant and aphrodisiac properties to humans, designed to make the top quality prey animal lax and willing. It was plenty addictive. But all Atsushi knew was that there was something about it that felt good. He was a smart boy, Dazai knew he’d likely figured out that he was being given something- but that didn’t mean Atsushi didn’t flush and stutter at the question. Dazai smiled, leaning in.
“Atsushi-kun, you don’t come here out of fear anymore, do you?”
Atsushi looked away, swallowing hard. Dazai could hear his heartbeat pick up, his pulse quickening tantalizingly.
“I never came here out of fear, Dazai-san. I always wanted to.” Atsushi admitted.
Dazai blinked, surprised, and laughed softly, running his hand over Atsushi’s.
“Wonderful. What a wonderful reply! You’re wonderful, Atsushi-kun.”
Atsushi reddened at the praise, pursing his lips and watching Dazai’s hand on his. He shifted his knees, looking up to Dazai. Dazai watched his eyes, his eyelashes, his lips, all his for the taking, all his.
And it could be forever, if Atsushi wanted.
Dazai’s smile faded and he pulled his hand away, paling. Where had that thought come from? Siring Atsushi… it was unreasonable, especially for a killer whose blood was as black as his. He didn’t just kill to live, he didn’t live off of animals, he killed for fun, for sport, for pleasure. He watched as Atsushi’s face contorted with concern and he grasped Dazai’s hand once more, innocent, clueless Atsushi, who really had no idea what he was getting into. He couldn’t bring Atsushi into his world like that. Dazai felt his thoughts swirl, trying to get them under control. He wanted to. He wanted to be selfish and sire Atsushi, he wanted to drain the mortality from him and keep him forever.
Atsushi’s eyes wavered. “Dazai-san? Are you alright?”
Dazai turned his eyes away. “I’m fine, Atsushi-kun.”
“Dazai-san,” Atsushi breathed, leaning forward and sliding his hand over Dazai’s thigh. Dazai’s eyes widened. He couldn’t be. He wouldn’t, it was out of line for a pet human to initiate contact, it was unheard of-
But Atsushi didn’t know that.
Their lips met and Dazai blinked in shock, more surprised yet that Atsushi gave him only a chaste, quick kiss, snapping back to reality and where he was.
“Dazai-san,” Atsushi mumbled, eyes wide and blown out with nervousness. “Please don’t worry. Things are okay, right now.”
Dazai smiled softly.
They really were.