Chapter Text
Vladimir's mental health has been on a roller coaster recently. I mean he just lost his father—not to mention some of his friends even if they haven't talked to him a lot.
His very own father—betrayed him, had revealed how he viewed Vlad. As a tool for him to use the power, of the Pravus.
He sighed heavily as he recalled everyone who died that week—that devastating week. He had thought Ill of his own uncle because of his father's manipulation. And to this day, he misses him. Despite everything.
His father's death pained him deeply. He was the person he trusted, with His whole soul. Who he wondered about, wanted to become like him. learn from him. Only to be wrong in the worse way possible. used for manipulation.
Then there's Vikas. He loved Vikas, he taught him everything—almost everything. He still was very grateful for him, it was a truly heartbreaking to have him betray him, along with his father. His partner in crime.
Then there's Enrico. He enjoyed going to the V-bar. He enjoyed his conversations, enjoyed the jokes, the feeling of speaking with a friend of his father and uncle, and the strong connection and bond they shared. He enjoyed his presence, his reasons to be mad at him for killing Dorian.
He should've been strong enough to protect himself. Should've called Otis, Vikas, Anyone to help him save Dorian. But he was useless.
He should've died that day. He blamed himself with the tragic death of Dorian. Even if Dorian was a bit obsessed with the idea of drinking his blood. He should've drink the blood, he offered his wrist to him! Wanted to save him!!
Despite Everything that had happened with Dorian, he was oddly strong, kind, and well Vlad wanted to make Dorian not scary to other vampires. He related to Dorian. Not everyone liked him. But for Dorian they feared him.
(Nelly doesn't die in this AU but I'll do it for funsies)
And Aunt Nelly. Nelly..saying her name with his voice disgusted himself. He was almost able to save her. Almost!! He was just not capable of being against his father's speed. It happened in a Blink of an eye. Her life flashed not only through her eyes. But at Otis, Henry, Joss, hell even Vikas! But to Vlad, he saw his mom again. His aunt, his guardian, the only person who understood how to always be there for him. The person he loved for the past 7 years of his whole life! Protecting, loving, caring for, cherishing every moment with her. Only to have it taken from him. His mother.
His mother dying because of him.
His fault it was all his fault!
He blamed himself for each and everyday, that everybody who died that faithful night he was to blame. Him. Not Tomas. Him. He blamed himself for his parents death, also Dorian's, everyone. If he hadn't been born none of this would had happened.
He raised the knife. His anger and sorrow growing at the sight of his trembling skinny, pale arm in front of him. Without thinking, shutting his eyes hard, he slashed his right wrist. (The one without his vampire mark)
The blood makes it way out of the cut, running down the arm. Vlad stares at it. His sorrow an selfish reasons for this growing. He needed to do this. For everyone who died because of him.
Suddenly, frantic knocks come from the door. Vladimir's body struggles to come back from his thoughts, still dazed.
Shit.
Vladimir’s instincts took over immediately. He put the knife under the bed. out of sight, pulled down his sleeves, and stepped away from his bed.
The knocking came again.
Harder.
More urgent.
“Vlad!”
Henry.
Vlad froze. Oh no! He couldn’t found out what he had been doing, it would ruin their friendship. Even worse if he snitches on him, tell Otis and Nelly, Just the thought makes him sick.
His stomach dropped.
Of all people. Seriously Henry? Either way, He was relieved it was Henry and not Otis.
“Vlad, open the door!”
“I’m busy!” He shouted back
“Open the door!” Henry protested
There was something wrong with Henry’s voice.
Not angry.
Worried. Very worried, a bit urgent and in a rush.
Which was somehow worse. Vlad hesitated. Then crossed the room and unlocked the door.
The second it opened, Henry pushed inside.
“Dude, what took so long?”
Vlad shrugged. Trying to seem as if everything was normal, and ignore the fact he just cut himself.
“Nothing.” He said barely above a whisper.
Henry didn’t answer.
Instead, his eyes swept across the room.
The desk, The bed, The floor.
Then back to Vlad.
A sick feeling settled into Vlad’s stomach.
Because Henry was looking at him with that expression.
The one that meant he’d noticed something.
“What?” Vlad asked.
“Nothing.” Henry replied
“Henry.” He spoke a bit more serious.
“Dude!”
“What?”
Henry crossed his arms.
The concern in his eyes hadn’t disappeared.
It had only gotten stronger. Which kinda made Vlad even more anxious.
“Your hiding something.”
Vlad rolled his eyes.
"I'm not, your weird.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
Neither of them spoke for a moment.
Henry’s gaze lingered on him.
Studying. Thinking. Trying to put something together.
Vlad hated that look. Wanted to just ignore it and reassure Henry that nothing is bad, that he wasn’t sick. Wasn’t suicidal, that he wasn’t a baby to always need eyes on him.
Mostly because Henry's guesses were usually right.
Absolutely.
Suddenly all the pressure was too much to bear. Vlad tried to stop it, stop his weakside from coming but was to weak himself.
"I feel like everyone would've genuinely be better off without me"
Henry stared at him.
For a moment, he didn’t say anything.
His face was completely unreadable.
Which was somehow worse.
Vlad shifted uncomfortably, wishing Henry would just say something.
Yell.
Laugh.
Tell him he was being dramatic.
Anything.
The silence was making his chest hurt.
“Say something.”
Henry let out a slow breath.
“No.”
Vlad frowned.
“What?”
“No.”
The anger in his voice caught Vlad off guard.
Not loud.
Not shouting.
The kind of anger that sat low and heavy.
The kind that meant Henry was genuinely pissed.
“You don’t get to say crap like that.”
Vlad looked away.
“Henry—”
“No.”
The word snapped through the room.
“No. Absolutely not.”
Vlad swallowed.
His stomach twisted.
“You don’t get to sit here and tell me everyone would be better off without you.”
“I didn’t—" Vlad protests
“Bullshit!”
Henry took a step forward. Gaze dark and full with anger.
“That’s exactly what you said!”
Vlad felt something sink in his chest.
The words had sounded different in his head.
Less awful.
Less real.
Now they just sounded pathetic. Useless.
Henry ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
“Do you seriously hear yourself?”
Vlad stared at the floor.
Maybe he did, Maybe that was the problem, Maybe he heard himself too much.
Every mistake.
Every failure.
Every person he’d disappointed.
Every person he’d lost.
Every night he couldn’t sleep because his own thoughts wouldn’t shut up.
“It isn’t that simple.”
“Yes, it is.”
“No, it isn’t.”
His voice came out weaker than he intended.
Henry laughed bitterly.
“No, actually, it is.”
Vlad’s jaw tightened.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain it to me.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
Because if he started talking, he wasn’t sure he’d stop. Because if Henry knew how bad it actually was, he’d leave.
Because nobody wanted to hear that their best friend spent half his life wondering if he’d ruined everyone else’s.
Vlad rubbed at his eyes.
Suddenly exhausted.
“I don’t know.”
Henry stared at him.
Then something in his expression shifted.
Not softer. No definitely not soft.
Worse.
Like he’d finally realized how serious Vlad was being.
“Vlad…”
Vlad hated that look.
That worried look. That look people got when they thought something was wrong with him.
“Don’t.” Vlad whispered.
“Don’t what?”
“Look at me like that.”
Henry blinked.
“Like what?”
“Like you feel sorry for me.”
Something flashed across Henry’s face.
Anger. Pure anger.
“I don’t feel sorry for you.”
Vlad looked up. Henry pointed at him.
“I’m mad at you.”
The words hit harder than they should have.
“What?”
“I’m mad at you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re my best friend and you’re sitting here acting like your existence is some horrible thing everyone has to deal with.”
The room went silent. Vlad immediately looked away. His throat tightened.
Henry wasn’t done.
“You think so little of yourself that you’d rather blame yourself for everything than admit some things weren’t your fault.”
Vlad flinched.
The words landed like punches.
Because part of him knew Henry was right.
Another part hated hearing it.
“It was my fault.”
“No.”
“Henry—”
“No.”
His voice rose.
Finally.
Not yelling.
But close.
“You know what’s really messed up? Every good thing that happens, you act like you don’t deserve it. Every bad thing that happens, you immediately claim responsibility.”
Vlad’s breathing became uneven.
“Because maybe I do deserve it.”
The second the words left his mouth, Henry froze.
Completely froze.
The room felt colder.
Vlad immediately regretted saying it.
But it was too late.
Henry had heard.
“Excuse me?”
Vlad stared at the floor.
His chest hurt.
His head hurt.
Everything hurt.
“Nothing.”
“What the fuck did you just say?”
Vlad laughed quietly. But inside he was scared, surprised by his anger and by such harsh words. But his laugh..
The sound was empty.
“I said maybe I deserve it.”
Henry looked horrified.
Actually horrified.
“Fucking hell...”
Vlad squeezed his eyes shut.
Maybe Tomas had been right. Maybe everyone else had just been too nice to say it. Maybe there was something wrong with him.
Something broken. Something people tolerated because they cared.
Not because he deserved it.
“You don’t mean that.” Henry suddenly said.
“How would you know?”
“Because it’s stupid.”
Vlad laughed again.
This time it sounded almost painful.
“Great argument.”
“I’m serious.”
Henry stepped forward.
“You think Tomas gets to decide who you are?”
Vlad’s smile vanished instantly.
The name alone felt like a knife. Twisting painfully in his chest.
“Tomas looked at me and saw a weapon.”
His voice dropped.
“He wasn’t my father.”
The memories felt too close.
Too sharp.
“He didn’t want a son.”
Vlad swallowed hard.
“He wanted something useful.”
Something dangerous.
Something he could control.
The room went quiet.
Vlad could barely breathe.
His pulse hammered in his ears.
Sometimes it felt like Tomas had left years ago.
Sometimes it felt like he was still standing right behind him.
Waiting, Judging, Watching.
And the worst part?
Part of Vlad still believed him.
“Dude.”
Henry’s voice softened.
Vlad hated it.
“Don’t.”
“Vlad.”
“Don’t.”
His voice cracked.
Immediately he looked away.
Embarrassed.
Ashamed.
The silence stretched.
Then Henry sighed heavily.
“You know what I think?”
Vlad groaned. Cursing under his breath.
“Please don’t.”
“I’m serious.”
“That’s what worries me.”
For the first time all conversation, Henry didn’t smile.
“I think you’re scared.”
Vlad opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
Because Henry was right.
He was scared.
Not of monsters.
Not of vampires.
Not of dying.
The future.
Being alone.
People leaving.
Growing up.
Failing.
Losing everyone.
All of it sat inside his chest like a weight he couldn’t get rid of.
“You’ve spent so much time surviving,” Henry said quietly, “that you don’t know what to do now.”
Vlad stared at the floor.
His eyes burned.
Because somehow that hurt more than everything else. For years there had always been something chasing him.
Something to fight.
Something to fear.
Now there wasn’t.
And somehow that terrified him even more.
“What if I screw everything up?”
The question barely made it out.
Henry’s anger faded slightly.
Not gone.
Just quieter.
“Vlad..The fuck..”
“What if everyone leaves?”
Henry rolled his eyes immediately.
“Oh my God.”
Vlad frowned.
“What?”
“That’s what this is about?”
“No.”
“It absolutely is.”
Vlad crossed his arms.
“It isn’t.”
“You scared me, idiot.”
The words came out rougher than he intended. Vlad flinched immediately, his eyes dropping even lower.
“I’m sorry.”
Henry closed his eyes for a second.
“See? That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”
Vlad frowned.
“What?”
“You apologize for everything.”
“Because I keep screwing things up.”
“No.”
“Henry—”
“No.” There was anger in his voice again. Not at Vlad. At the way Vlad talked about himself. “Stop doing that.”
Vlad swallowed hard.
“Doing what?”
“Acting like everything is your fault.”
The words hung between them, but Vlad didn’t answer because he didn’t know how to explain it. How do you explain years of guilt? Years of loss? Years of wondering if maybe everyone would’ve been safer if they’d never met you?
“You don’t get it.”
Henry laughed bitterly.
“Then explain it to me.”
Vlad looked away, his throat tightening.
“If I start explaining it, I won’t stop.”
“Then don’t stop.”
The answer came immediately, without hesitation. Somehow that made everything worse.
Vlad’s chest tightened.
“Henry…”
“No.” Henry stepped closer. “No, because I’m tired of listening to you talk like you’re some kind of burden.”
Vlad looked down.
Maybe because part of him believed he was.
Henry saw it. The realization hit him instantly, and for a moment he looked angry. Then sad. Then angry again.
“God, Vlad.”
The words came out almost broken.
“Do you have any idea how messed up that is?”
Vlad laughed quietly.
There wasn’t any humor in it.
“Yeah.”
“No.” Henry shook his head. “No, I don’t think you do.”
Silence settled between them as Vlad stared at the floor, his eyes burning. Every part of him wanted to disappear. To end the conversation. To stop talking.
“You know what’s really pathetic?” Vlad asked quietly.
Henry immediately frowned.
“What?”
“I know it doesn’t make sense.”
His voice trembled.
“I know people care. I know Nelly cares.”
Another breath.
“I know Otis cares.”
His chest tightened.
“I know you care.”
Henry’s anger faded.
“What are you saying?”
Vlad laughed again, the sound cracking halfway through.
“I’m saying I know all that.” He looked away. “And I still can’t stop thinking maybe everyone’s lives would’ve been easier without me in them.”
The words hung in the air long after Vlad finished speaking.
Henry just stared at him.
For a moment, he looked like he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to yell or punch a wall.
Instead, he dragged both hands through his hair and turned away.
“God, Vlad.”
Vlad immediately regretted saying it.
Not because it wasn’t true.
Because of the look on Henry’s face.
The hurt.
The frustration.
The sadness.
It would’ve been easier if Henry had just gotten angry.
“Say something.”
Henry laughed once.
A short, humorless sound.
“What do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know.”
“Neither do I.”
Silence settled between them.
Vlad stared at the floor.
His chest felt hollow now.
Like he’d finally said the thing he’d spent years trying not to think about and somehow everything felt worse.
“I know it’s messed up.”
“Yeah..”
Vlad winced.
Henry sighed.
“Yeah, it is.”
The honesty hurt more than Vlad expected.
“I told you.”
“But not for the reason you think.”
Vlad frowned.
Henry turned back toward him.
His eyes were tired.
“Do you know what it feels like hearing your best friend say something like that?”
Vlad immediately looked away.
“No.”
“Well, it sucks.”
The words came out sharper than intended.
Henry took a breath.
Then another.
Trying to calm himself down.
“Because I sit here listening to you talk about yourself like you’re some horrible thing everyone has to put up with, and all I can think is how wrong you are.”
Vlad swallowed hard.
Henry shook his head.
“No, seriously. Do you have any idea how many people would lose it if you disappeared?”
“Henry—”
“No.”
His voice cracked slightly.
“Stop.”
Vlad fell silent.
“You don’t get to decide how much you’re worth to other people.”
The room grew quiet.
Vlad’s eyes burned.
“You make it sound so easy.”
“I didn’t say it was easy.”
“Then why can’t I stop thinking like this?”
The question slipped out before he could stop it.
Henry’s expression immediately softened.
Vlad hated that.
Hated looking weak.
Hated sounding weak.
Most of all, he hated that he genuinely wanted an answer.
“I don’t know,” Henry admitted quietly.
“Then how am I supposed to?”
“You aren’t.”
Vlad blinked.
“What?”
“You aren’t supposed to figure everything out by yourself.”
The words hit harder than they should have.
Vlad laughed bitterly.
“Pretty sure that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.”
“Yeah, and look how that’s working out.”
A weak smile almost appeared before disappearing just as quickly.
Henry noticed.
Of course he did.
“There.”
“Oh my God.”
“I saw it.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“I absolutely did.”
For a second, neither of them spoke.
Then Henry’s expression became serious again.
“Vlad.”
The knot in Vlad’s stomach tightened.
“What?”
“You matter.”
Vlad immediately looked away.
“Don’t.”
“I’m serious.”
“Henry.”
“You matter.”
The words were simple.
Simple enough that they should’ve been easy to ignore.
Instead they felt impossible to hear.
Vlad squeezed his eyes shut.
His throat tightened painfully.
“I don’t know how to believe that.”
The confession was barely audible.
Henry’s face fell.
Not because he was disappointed.
Because he finally understood.
For years he’d thought Vlad was being stubborn.
Or dramatic.
Or just bad at accepting help.
But this wasn’t that.
Vlad genuinely didn’t know how.
Henry stepped closer.
Not enough to crowd him.
Just enough to be there.
“You don’t have to believe it right now.”
Vlad looked down.
“Then what?”
Henry shrugged.
“Then believe me.”
The room fell silent.
Vlad stared at the floor for several seconds.
At some point his vision had gone blurry.
He refused to think about why.
Henry didn’t say anything.
Didn’t push.
Didn’t joke.
Didn’t try to force him to feel better.
He just stayed.
And somehow that meant more than anything else.
For the first time in a long time, Vlad didn’t feel like he was carrying everything alone.
Henry was still standing there, still too close.
Vlad could feel it in a way that didn’t make sense. It wasn’t just sight or sound anymore—it was awareness. Like his mind kept checking where Henry was without asking permission. Every small movement, every breath, every shift in posture, Vlad noticed it.
And he hated that he noticed it so much.
“Yeah,” Vlad said quietly. “I’ll try.”
Henry nodded once like that should’ve ended it, but he didn’t move away. He just stayed there, watching him like he was waiting for something else to go wrong.
“You’re overthinking again,” Henry muttered.
“Yeah,” Vlad replied, forcing a small shrug. “Probably.”
“Not probably. Definitely.”
A weak breath of air left Vlad, almost a laugh but not quite. Henry tilted his head slightly, studying him.
“What?” Henry asked.
“Nothing.”
But it wasn’t nothing. It never was anymore.
Because Vlad couldn’t stop noticing things now. The way Henry’s voice changed when he wasn’t angry. The way his attention didn’t drift like everyone else’s did. The way he stayed focused on Vlad like Vlad was something worth focusing on.
That thought made something tighten in his chest.
He shouldn’t have liked it.
He did anyway.
Henry stepped closer again without realizing it. He always did that when Vlad went quiet, like distance itself was something he refused to allow between them.
“You’re doing it again,” Henry said.
“Doing what?”
“Leaving.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“You are,” Henry said immediately. “Just not physically.”
That should’ve annoyed Vlad.
Instead, it just made him feel exposed.
Because Henry was right.
Vlad swallowed and looked away. “I’m here.”
“No,” Henry said again, softer now, but more certain. “You’re not.”
Silence stretched.
And in that silence, Vlad became painfully aware of how close Henry was. Not touching. Not invading. Just there. Close enough that Vlad could feel warmth from him if he stopped pretending he didn’t notice.
It made his thoughts messy.
Too messy.
Henry sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Just stop shutting me out, alright?”
The words landed differently than they should have.
Don’t shut me out.
Like Henry was already inside something he didn’t realize he’d been let into.
Vlad’s fingers curled tighter into his sleeves.
“I’m not,” he said, but it came out weaker than intended.
Henry gave him a look that said he didn’t believe it, but didn’t push. Not yet.
Instead, he just stayed.
And that was the problem.
Because Vlad’s mind didn’t stop there anymore.
It started noticing everything.
The way Henry’s eyes kept flicking back to him even when he looked away. The way his voice softened when he said Vlad’s name. The way he didn’t treat him like something fragile or broken, just… like Vlad.
Like Vlad was still a person worth talking to.
Vlad’s chest tightened again.
Not the same kind of tightness as before.
Something else.
Something worse.
Something he couldn’t categorize properly, so his brain tried to shove it somewhere safer.
It didn’t work.
“Henry,” Vlad said suddenly, before he could stop himself.
“Yeah?” Henry answered immediately.
Vlad hesitated.
His throat felt dry. His thoughts felt too loud. Too fast.
Because there was something he kept almost saying lately. Something that kept forming and breaking apart before it could become words.
“Never mind,” he muttered quickly, looking down. “Forget it.”
Henry frowned. “No. What is it?”
Vlad shook his head again. “It’s nothing.”
But it wasn’t nothing.
It was everything.
Because for a split second, Vlad had thought about telling him.
Not the guilt.
Not the darkness.
Something else.
Something worse than either.
Something like: I don’t think I can tell when it’s just you being you or something more than that.
Something like: I don’t like it when you’re not around.
Something like: I notice when you are.
And that terrified him more than anything else tonight.
Henry leaned in slightly. “Vlad.”
His name again.
Simple.
Too familiar.
Vlad’s heart did something stupid in response.
He stepped back half a step without thinking.
Henry noticed immediately.
His expression shifted.
“…What?” Henry asked, quieter now.
Vlad shook his head fast. “Nothing. I’m just tired.”
That wasn’t a lie.
But it wasn’t the truth either.
Henry studied him for a long moment, then slowly nodded like he didn’t trust it but didn’t want to force it out of him.
“Okay,” he said finally. “But you’re acting weird.”
“Yeah,” Vlad said under his breath. “I know.”
Another pause.
Henry didn’t leave.
Of course he didn’t.
Instead, he just stayed where he was, like he always did, like it was the easiest thing in the world.
And Vlad stood there, realizing something he didn’t want to name:
It wasn’t just that Henry was important to him.
It was that Henry being there was starting to feel like something Vlad didn’t know how to live without.
And that was embarrassing, weird even. His own best friend? He always had a soft spot for him. But now? Seeing the fact he worried and cared for him? His heart couldn’t take it. Neither could he.
Henry stayed where he was for a moment longer than usual, watching Vlad like he was trying to figure something out instead of just reacting. His expression wasn’t angry anymore, but it also wasn’t completely relaxed either. There was a slight furrow in his brow, like something Vlad had said—or maybe not said—had stuck in his head.
“You’ve been weird all night,” Henry said finally, quieter than before. “Like… more than usual.”
Vlad immediately looked down. “I’m not weird.”
“Yeah, you are.” Henry tilted his head slightly. “Just now too. You said ‘never mind’ like you were about to say something important.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You were.”
Vlad shook his head fast. “No, I wasn’t.”
But his voice came out wrong.
Too quick.
Too sharp.
Henry noticed.
Of course he did.
His eyes narrowed slightly, not in anger, but in curiosity now. Like he was paying closer attention than before.
“What?” Henry asked.
“Nothing,” Vlad said again, but it didn’t land. His fingers started fidgeting at the hem of his sleeve without him realizing it, twisting the fabric over and over. “It’s really nothing, just drop it.”
Henry didn’t.
Instead, he stepped a little closer, just enough that Vlad’s brain immediately registered it.
Too close again.
Vlad felt his face heat up almost instantly.
He hated that.
He also didn’t move away.
“You always do that,” Henry said.
“Do what?”
“Act like you’re about to say something, then shut down.”
“I don’t—” Vlad stopped himself too late, then corrected quickly, “I don’t shut down.”
Henry gave him a look that clearly said yes you do, but he didn’t say it out loud. Instead, he studied Vlad for another second longer than comfortable.
Vlad could feel it.
That attention.
Focused.
Direct.
Like Henry wasn’t just talking at him anymore, but actually looking at him.
It made Vlad’s throat tighten.
His hands fidgeted harder.
“I just,” Vlad started, then stopped. His voice came out quieter. “I just didn’t mean anything.”
Henry hummed like he didn’t believe that either.
“Right,” he said, but not sarcastic—just uncertain.
That single word somehow made Vlad’s stomach twist.
Because Henry sounded like he was thinking now.
Not reacting.
Thinking.
About him.
Vlad’s face felt warmer.
He looked away fast, like the floor had suddenly become extremely interesting. “Can you stop staring at me?”
Henry blinked. “I’m not staring.”
“You are.”
“I’m literally just looking at you.”
“That’s staring.”
Henry let out a short breath, almost a laugh, but it didn’t fully form. “You’re acting like I’m doing something wrong.”
“I’m not.”
“You kind of are,” Henry said, but softer now. “You’re just… weird tonight.”
That word again.
Weird.
Vlad’s ears felt hot.
He rubbed the back of his neck quickly, avoiding Henry’s eyes completely now. “I told you, I’m just tired.”
Henry didn’t answer right away.
When he did, his voice was slower.
“Yeah,” he said, like he didn’t fully buy it. “Okay.”
But he was still watching him.
Still thinking.
And that was worse.
Because Vlad could feel it now—Henry wasn’t just reacting to what he said anymore. He was reading him. Not in a harsh way, not in a judging way, but in a way that made Vlad hyper-aware of every small movement he made.
His hands.
His voice.
The way he kept looking away too fast.
“You’re not making sense,” Henry muttered.
Vlad swallowed. “I am.”
“You’re not.”
“I am,” Vlad repeated, weaker this time.
Henry studied him again, and something in his expression shifted—confusion mixing with something quieter. Not anger anymore. Just… wondering.
Like Vlad had become a question he didn’t know how to solve.
That made Vlad’s chest tighten again.
Because he didn’t know what he was doing wrong.
Or right.
Or anything at all.
He just knew Henry was looking at him differently now.
And Vlad couldn’t tell if that made things better…
or worse.
Henry didn’t stop looking at him.
That was the problem.
Not the silence, not the earlier argument, not even the things Vlad had said. It was the fact that Henry stayed right there like nothing in him was willing to step back. Like distance just wasn’t part of the equation.
And Vlad could feel it now, more than before.
It wasn’t just attention.
It was him.
“I’m not weird,” Vlad said again, but it came out softer this time, less convincing even to himself.
Henry raised a brow slightly. “You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“No it’s not.”
Vlad opened his mouth, then stopped. His fingers twisted in his sleeves again, slower this time, like he was trying to steady himself instead of hide.
Henry noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
“You’re doing that thing again,” Henry said.
“What thing?”
“That nervous thing.”
Vlad let out a breath. “I’m not nervous.”
Henry didn’t even argue. He just looked at him for a second longer, like he was waiting for Vlad to realize he was lying.
And somehow that made it worse.
Because Vlad was nervous.
Not the kind he usually felt. Not fear. Not panic.
Something else.
Something that kept catching in his chest every time Henry looked at him too long.
“I just…” Vlad started, then paused. His voice dropped a little. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
Henry blinked. “I don’t want you to say anything.”
That shouldn’t have helped.
It did.
Vlad looked up too fast.
Their eyes met.
And he froze.
Henry wasn’t smiling. Wasn’t joking. Just watching him, calm but focused, like Vlad was something he didn’t want to miss even for a second.
Vlad felt his face go warm instantly.
He hated that it happened so easily.
He also didn’t look away.
A beat passed.
Then another.
Henry tilted his head slightly. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
Vlad’s heart jumped. “I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m not,” Vlad repeated, but his voice cracked halfway through, betraying him.
Henry’s expression shifted—still confused, but softer now. Less guarded. Like he was trying to figure out what was suddenly different.
Vlad swallowed.
His hands fidgeted harder, then stilled when he realized Henry had noticed.
“I just…” Vlad tried again, quieter. “I didn’t think you’d still be here after everything I said.”
Henry frowned slightly. “Where else would I be?”
That simple answer hit harder than anything else tonight.
Vlad let out a small breath, almost disbelieving. “I don’t know. People usually don’t stay for this part.”
Henry didn’t respond immediately.
Then he stepped a little closer.
Not fast.
Not forceful.
Just enough that Vlad felt it immediately.
“I’m not ‘people,’” Henry said.
Vlad’s throat tightened.
He should’ve joked.
He didn’t.
Instead, his gaze dropped for a second before lifting again, slower this time, like he was testing something he didn’t fully understand.
“You say that like it’s obvious,” Vlad muttered.
“It is.”
That made something in Vlad’s chest twist—strange, sharp, unfamiliar.
He hesitated.
Then, quieter than before, almost like he didn’t mean to say it out loud, “Sometimes I don’t know what you see when you look at me.”
Henry went still.
Not alarmed.
Just… attentive.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
Vlad immediately looked away. “Nothing. Forget it.”
But Henry didn’t let it drop this time.
“Vlad.”
His name sounded different like that. Closer.
Vlad’s fingers curled into his sleeves again.
“I mean,” he started, then stopped, then started again, voice barely steady, “I don’t get why you stay this close.”
A pause.
Henry’s expression shifted again—subtle, uncertain now. Like he was thinking too.
“You don’t like it?” Henry asked.
Vlad shook his head quickly. “That’s not what I said.”
“Then what are you saying?”
Vlad opened his mouth.
Nothing came out at first.
Because the truth was sitting right there, too close to the surface.
He exhaled slowly.
“I’m saying…” he started, then stopped again, jaw tightening like he was frustrated with himself. “I notice it.”
Henry didn’t move.
Vlad forced himself to continue, even though his face felt warm and his voice kept failing him.
“I notice when you’re near me,” he admitted quietly. “And I don’t know why it feels like that.”
Silence.
Henry’s eyes softened slightly.
Not teasing.
Not amused.
Just… watching him differently now.
“You don’t like it?” Henry asked again, quieter.
Vlad hesitated.
Then, almost reluctantly, “I didn’t say that.”
That was worse.
Because it wasn’t no.
Henry’s gaze lingered a second longer than usual.
And Vlad suddenly couldn’t breathe properly.
Not from panic.
From awareness.
From him.
Henry.
Standing too close again.
Looking at him like he wasn’t something to fix, or survive, or manage.
Just… Vlad.
“You’re really bad at saying what you mean,” Henry said softly.
Vlad let out a shaky breath that almost sounded like a laugh. “Yeah.”
A pause.
Then, even quieter, like he didn’t mean to admit it either, Vlad added, “I think you make it worse.”
Henry blinked. “Me?”
Vlad nodded once, small. “Yeah.”
Henry didn’t respond right away.
But he didn’t step back either.
And Vlad, still fidgeting, still flushed, still not looking at him fully, realized something he didn’t have a name for yet:
It wasn’t just that Henry stayed.
It was that Vlad wanted him to.
Henry didn’t move away.
He just kept watching Vlad.
And now it wasn’t confusion anymore.
It was something sharper.
Something more alert.
“Okay,” Henry said slowly, like he was testing the word. “You’re acting really weird now.”
Vlad immediately straightened. “I’m not.”
“You are.”
“No, I’m not.”
Henry tilted his head slightly, narrowing his eyes. “You’ve been doing that all night.”
“Doing what?”
“Dodging.”
Vlad’s stomach dropped a little. “I’m not dodging anything.”
Henry let out a short breath, but it wasn’t amused anymore. “Yeah, you are. First you’re talking like the world’s ending, then you’re suddenly…” he paused, searching Vlad’s face, “…flustered.”
Vlad froze.
“What?” he said too quickly.
Henry’s eyes narrowed further.
“That,” Henry said immediately. “That right there. Why are you reacting like that?”
“I’m not reacting like anything.”
“You literally just tripped over your own words.”
Vlad looked away fast. “I didn’t.”
“You did.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Henry stepped closer again, but this time it wasn’t soft. It was careful. Observant. Like he was closing in on something he couldn’t quite name yet.
Vlad felt it immediately.
His heart did something stupid in his chest.
He hated that Henry could do that just by standing there.
“You’re avoiding me,” Henry said.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m literally right here.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Silence stretched.
And this time it felt different.
Heavier.
Henry studied him for a long moment, then spoke again, slower.
“You said I make it worse.”
Vlad went still.
“I didn’t mean—”
“No,” Henry cut in, quieter now but more serious. “Don’t do that. Don’t backtrack now.”
Vlad’s throat tightened.
Henry wasn’t angry anymore.
Not exactly.
He was suspicious.
Like something had finally clicked and he didn’t like what it was pointing to.
“Why would I make it worse?” Henry asked.
Vlad hesitated.
Too long.
That hesitation alone gave him away.
Henry noticed immediately.
“Oh my God,” Henry muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair. “You’re not even answering.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” Vlad snapped, a little too fast, too defensive.
“That you didn’t mean it?”
“I didn’t.”
But it came out weaker than before.
Henry’s eyes locked on him again.
And now there was something else in them.
Not anger.
Not worry.
Suspicion.
Real suspicion.
“You’ve been acting weird around me all night,” Henry said slowly. “And now you’re telling me I make it worse when I’m just… standing here?”
Vlad swallowed.
“I didn’t say it like that.”
“That’s exactly how you said it.”
“No—”
“Vlad.”
The way Henry said his name cut him off completely.
Not loud.
Not harsh.
Just steady.
Focused.
Vlad went quiet immediately.
Henry stepped in a fraction closer.
Not enough to touch.
Enough to make Vlad very aware of the space between them.
“What is going on with you?” Henry asked.
Vlad opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
His brain felt like it had short-circuited.
Because now Henry wasn’t just confused.
He was paying attention in a different way.
Like he was starting to notice patterns.
Like Vlad wasn’t as invisible as he thought.
“I’m fine,” Vlad said automatically.
Henry exhaled sharply through his nose. “Stop saying that.”
“It’s true.”
“No, it’s not.”
Another pause.
Henry’s eyes flicked over Vlad’s face like he was trying to read something written under the skin.
Then he said it, quieter:
“You were shaking earlier when you looked at me.”
Vlad’s stomach dropped.
“I wasn’t.”
“Yes, you were.”
“I was not.”
Henry didn’t even react to the denial this time.
He just kept watching him.
“That’s not normal,” Henry added.
Vlad’s fingers curled into his sleeves again, tighter now.
“I’m just tired.”
Henry nodded slowly, but his expression said he didn’t believe a single word.
“Uh-huh,” he said.
Then, after a beat:
“Are you sure this is just ‘tired’?”
That landed wrong.
Too precise.
Too close.
Vlad felt heat rise in his face instantly.
“I said I’m fine,” he repeated, but it came out strained.
Henry didn’t move.
Didn’t back off.
Didn’t let it go.
Instead, he just stared at him like he was trying to solve something that suddenly mattered a lot more than it should.
And Vlad realized, with a sinking feeling in his chest, that Henry wasn’t just worried anymore.
He was suspicious of him.
Of this.
Of Vlad.
And worse—
Henry looked like he was starting to understand something Vlad wasn’t ready to explain.
Henry didn’t look convinced.
Not even a little.
He just stood there, still close enough that Vlad could feel the pressure of his attention like it had weight.
“You keep saying you’re fine,” Henry said quietly. “But you’re not acting fine.”
Vlad’s mouth went dry. “I am.”
Henry’s eyes flicked down for a second—just a second—like he was collecting every small detail Vlad didn’t realize he was giving away. Then back up again.
“No,” Henry said. “You’re acting like… I’m the problem.”
That sentence hit harder than it should’ve.
Vlad’s shoulders tensed. “You’re not the problem.”
Henry paused.
That was the first crack.
“…Then what am I?” Henry asked, slower now.
Vlad opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
And that silence—stupid, obvious, loud silence—made Henry’s expression change again. Not confusion this time. Realization, creeping in like a shadow finally catching up.
“Oh,” Henry said under his breath.
Vlad’s heart dropped instantly. “No—don’t.”
But Henry was already staring at him differently now. Like pieces were snapping into place he didn’t ask for.
“You’re not nervous around me because I’m confusing,” Henry said carefully. “You’re nervous because—”
“Stop,” Vlad blurted, too fast.
Henry didn’t.
Because now he was sure.
“…because I matter to you,” Henry finished.
Vlad went completely still.
The air felt too tight to breathe in.
“That’s not—” Vlad started, but his voice cracked halfway through, betraying him instantly.
Henry blinked once.
Then again.
Like he couldn’t decide if he was right or if he’d just stepped off something solid.
“You… like me,” Henry said, quieter now. Not a question anymore.
Vlad shook his head immediately. Too hard. Too obvious. “No.”
Henry tilted his head slightly. “That was a terrible ‘no.’”
“I don’t— I don’t like you like that,” Vlad said, but it came out rushed, tangled, like he was trying to outrun his own words.
Henry just watched him.
Patient.
Calm.
Worse.
And something in Vlad snapped—not loud, just sudden, like a thread pulled too tight finally giving up.
“I do,” Vlad said.
The words landed before he could stop them.
Henry froze.
Vlad froze harder.
Silence swallowed everything for a second.
Then Vlad immediately panicked. “I mean—no, I didn’t mean— I don’t know why I said that, I—”
“You do,” Henry repeated softly.
Vlad stopped talking.
Henry’s expression had shifted again, but not in a bad way. More like he was trying to understand something delicate he didn’t want to break.
“You actually do,” Henry said again, slower, like he was testing it.
Vlad couldn’t look at him. “This is stupid.”
“It’s not,” Henry said.
That made Vlad finally look up.
Henry wasn’t laughing.
Wasn’t teasing.
Wasn’t even pulling away.
Just… there.
Like he was still deciding what to do with the fact that Vlad had just dropped something real between them and left it there trembling.
Vlad’s voice came out smaller than he wanted. “You’re not supposed to know that.”
Henry’s lips parted slightly, like he was about to say something instinctive—but he didn’t.
Instead, he stepped a fraction closer again.
Careful. Not closing distance like a trap.
Like a choice.
“You’re shaking again,” Henry said, quieter.
Vlad let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh, except it wasn’t funny at all. “Yeah. No kidding.”
Henry studied him for a moment.
Then, softly:
“Is that why you’ve been acting like I’m dangerous?”
Vlad swallowed. “You kind of are.”
Henry blinked. “Me?”
Vlad finally met his eyes again. “To me.”
That landed differently.
Henry went still.
And for the first time all night, he didn’t have an immediate answer.
Just silence.
But it wasn’t cold anymore.
It was careful.
Like something between them had just changed —and neither of them knew yet if it would..end up good or bad. >:>
Henry didn’t move away.
That was the problem now.
He should’ve.
Vlad was still standing there like he’d just accidentally dropped something fragile and irreversible between them, and Henry… Henry was just looking at him like he was trying to decide what it meant to pick it up.
“You said it,” Henry murmured.
Vlad’s voice came out thin. “I didn’t mean to.”
“But you did.”
That silence again—different now. Not suspicious. Not confused.
Charged.
Vlad’s pulse felt loud in his ears. “Can we just… pretend I didn’t?”
Henry exhaled, almost like a laugh, but it didn’t reach his face. “You really think that works?”
Vlad shook his head slightly. “No.”
“Yeah,” Henry said quietly. “Me neither.”
Neither of them moved.
That was the worst part.
The space between them didn’t get smaller—but it also didn’t stay the same. It felt like it was bending, tightening, waiting.
Henry’s gaze dropped for half a second. Vlad noticed. Every detail felt too sharp now.
Then Henry looked back up.
And something in his expression shifted.
Not confusion anymore.
Not even realization.
Something softer.
Dangerously softer.
“You’re really bad at hiding things,” Henry said.
Vlad let out a shaky breath. “I know.”
A pause.
Henry stepped closer.
Just one step.
But it was enough that Vlad instinctively stopped breathing for a second.
“You keep saying I’m the problem,” Henry said, voice lower now. “But you’re the one standing here like this.”
Vlad’s throat tightened. “Like what?”
Henry’s eyes flicked over him again—slow, intentional, like he wasn’t just looking anymore.
Like he was noticing.
Everything.
“Like you’re trying really hard not to come closer,” Henry said.
That did it.
Vlad’s eyes dropped for a second, because if he kept looking at Henry he wasn’t going to survive this conversation in a normal way.
“I am,” Vlad admitted.
“Why?”
Because if I do, I won’t stop.
He didn’t say it.
But Henry’s face changed anyway, like he heard something close enough to it.
Henry’s voice softened even more. “Vlad…”
Just his name again.
But it didn’t feel like a question this time.
Vlad finally looked up.
Bad idea.
Henry was too close now. Not touching. Not yet.
But close enough that Vlad could feel the moment before anything happened—like the air itself had stopped pretending.
Henry’s gaze lingered on Vlad’s mouth for a split second.
Just a split second.
But Vlad noticed.
Of course he noticed.
His stomach flipped hard.
Neither of them spoke.
They didn’t need to.
Henry’s hand lifted slightly—hesitated halfway, like he was asking without words—and then stopped, hovering in the space between them.
Waiting.
Vlad’s breath caught.
Everything inside him was screaming two opposite things at once: run and don’t move.
Henry leaned in just a fraction more.
So did Vlad.
Barely.
Almost nothing.
But it was enough that the world narrowed down to that one unbearable distance.
Henry’s voice came out almost quiet enough to disappear.
“Tell me to stop,” he said.
Vlad didn’t.
That was the answer.
The moment stretched—too long, too sharp—
and then Henry closed the gap.
It wasn’t dramatic.
It wasn’t rushed.
It was careful.
Like he’d been holding his breath for too long and finally let it go in the only direction that made sense.
Vlad froze for half a second—
then leaned in too.
Just enough.
Just enough to meet him.
And everything else disappeared for a second that felt way too short and way too big at the same time.
their lips met. Lips crashing against each other. Henry took control, his hand rested on Vlad’s hip, holding him in place as he kissed him. Vlad held onto Henry’s neck, trying to pull him closer, if not part his lips—to let Henry deepen the kiss.
When they pulled back, it was barely.
Barely anything at all.
But Henry was still close.
Still looking at him like he’d just confirmed something he didn’t know he was allowed to want.
Vlad’s voice came out quiet, broken with disbelief. His face flushed. Both of them were panting heavily.
“…so that just happened.”
Henry’s mouth twitched slightly. His body responding..dangerously.
“Yeah,” he said. “It did.”
Henry didn’t step back.
That was the part that made it feel real.
Like the kiss wasn’t a mistake he needed to undo.
Like it wasn’t something that had slipped out of control.
It had been chosen.
Vlad stood there frozen for a second too long, like his brain was still trying to restart itself.
Henry watched him carefully.
Not pushing.
Not leaving.
Just… waiting.
“You’re doing that thing again,” Henry said quietly.
Vlad blinked. “What thing?”
“Like you’re about to disappear.”
Vlad let out a shaky breath that didn’t quite become a laugh. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do right now.”
Henry tilted his head slightly. “Neither do I.”
That should’ve made it awkward.
It didn’t.
It made it worse.
Because now there was honesty sitting between them, heavier than confusion ever was.
Vlad’s fingers twitched at his sides. “That was—”
“A kiss,” Henry finished, like he was testing the word.
Vlad nodded once.
Henry’s gaze flicked to his mouth again.
And didn’t hide it this time.
Vlad noticed immediately.
His stomach flipped again, sharper this time, like his body was catching up to what his mind was still arguing with.
“You’re staring,” Vlad said softly.
Henry didn’t deny it.
Instead, he stepped closer again.
Not fast.
Not sudden.
Just enough to make Vlad’s breathing catch.
“I’m trying to figure something out,” Henry said.
Vlad swallowed. “And what’s that?”
Henry’s voice dropped a little. “If you’re going to keep pretending you don’t want this.”
Vlad’s heart stuttered hard.
“I’m not pretending,” he said, but it came out weak.
Henry hummed faintly, unconvinced. “You kissed me back.”
Vlad looked away instantly. “You kissed me first.”
Henry smiled slightly at that. Barely there. But real.
“Yeah,” Henry said. “And you didn’t stop me.”
Silence.
Vlad hated how right that sounded.
Henry lifted his hand again, slower this time, like he was giving Vlad every chance to pull away.
His fingers brushed Vlad’s sleeve first.
Then stayed there.
A question without words.
Vlad didn’t move away.
Henry exhaled quietly, like that was all the answer he needed.
“You’re shaking again,” he said, softer.
“I know,” Vlad whispered.
Henry’s hand slid from his sleeve to his wrist—light, steady.
Grounding.
Not trapping.
Just there.
And that was somehow worse, because it made Vlad want to lean in again without thinking.
Henry noticed.
Of course he did.
“You’re going to have to stop looking at me like that,” Henry murmured.
“Like what?” Vlad asked, even though he knew.
Henry’s eyes lifted slowly. “Like you’re waiting for me to disappear.”
Vlad’s throat tightened. “People usually do.”
That made Henry pause.
Just a fraction.
Then he stepped closer again, until there was barely space left between them.
“I’m not people,” Henry said quietly.
And then he kissed him again.
This time it wasn’t hesitant.
It wasn’t testing.
It was deliberate—but still careful, like Henry was learning Vlad’s pace as he went.
Vlad’s breath caught immediately, but he didn’t freeze this time.
He moved.
Just slightly.
Closer.
Henry’s hand shifted to the side of his wrist, holding him there without pressure.
Like he didn’t want distance to sneak back in.
When they broke apart again, it was slower.
Reluctant in a way neither of them said out loud.
Henry stayed close, forehead almost near Vlad’s.
“You’re still overthinking,” Henry murmured.
Vlad let out a breath that trembled. “I can’t help it.”
“I know,” Henry said.
A pause.
Then, quieter:
“But you don’t have to run from me.”
That hit something in Vlad’s chest that made everything feel too full at once.
He looked at Henry properly now—really looked.
And for the first time all night, Henry didn’t feel like something dangerous.
He felt like something Vlad had already fallen into without noticing.
Vlad’s voice came out small.
“…are you going to keep doing that?”
Henry blinked. “Doing what?”
“Kissing me and acting like it’s normal.”
A faint smile returned to Henry’s face.
“I didn’t say it was normal,” he said.
Vlad huffed a tiny, breathless laugh.
Henry leaned in just slightly again—not quite kissing this time, just close enough that Vlad could feel it again.
“Just tell me if you want me to stop,” Henry said softly.
Vlad didn’t answer immediately.
Then, quieter than before:
“…don’t.”
And Henry smiled for real this time.
“Okay,” he said.
And leaned in again. Smirking.
Henry let out a quiet breath at Vlad’s answer.
“Okay,” he repeated, like he was making sure he didn’t mishear it.
And then he kissed him again.
This one wasn’t cautious anymore—but it still wasn’t too reckless. It had that same controlled softness, like Henry was careful not to overwhelm him even while clearly not planning to stop.
Vlad felt it hit him in a way that made his thoughts scatter instantly.
Like his brain just… gave up.
His hands lifted without him fully deciding to, hesitating for half a second before lightly catching the front of Henry’s shirt.
That small contact changed everything.
Henry noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
His hand shifted slightly at Vlad’s wrist, then steadied, like anchoring him there.
When they broke apart this time, it wasn’t far.
Barely an inch of space.
Vlad blinked like he’d forgotten how.
Henry’s eyes were still on him.
Still soft.
Still too focused.
“You’re quieter now,” Henry said.
Vlad swallowed. “Yeah. That’s… normal.”
Henry hummed like he didn’t fully believe that but wasn’t going to argue.
Instead, he leaned in again—but stopped just before their lips met.
Just stopped.
Vlad froze.
Henry’s voice dropped. “You keep doing that thing.”
“What thing?” Vlad whispered, already breathless.
“Like you’re waiting for me to decide for you.”
That made Vlad go still.
Because it was too accurate.
Too close.
“I’m not,” Vlad said, but it came out weaker than he wanted.
Henry tilted his head slightly. “Then decide.”
The words landed heavier than anything so far.
Vlad blinked. “What?”
Henry didn’t move away. Didn’t rush him. Just stayed there, close enough that Vlad could feel every word.
“If you want me to stop,” Henry said softly, “say it.”
A pause.
“And if you don’t…”
His gaze flicked to Vlad’s mouth again.
“…do something about it.”
Vlad’s chest tightened.
This was unfair.
Completely unfair.
Because Henry looked so calm saying it. Like this wasn’t chaos at all. Like Vlad wasn’t internally spiraling.
Vlad’s fingers tightened slightly in Henry’s shirt.
Then, barely above a whisper:
“I don’t want you to stop.”
That was all Henry needed.
He closed the distance again.
This kiss was slower at first—almost like he was checking Vlad was still there, still choosing it. But when Vlad didn’t pull away, didn’t hesitate, it deepened just slightly, like relief slipping through control.
Vlad made a small sound of surprise into it, then immediately went still again like he was embarrassed by his own reaction.
Henry broke away just enough to look at him.
“Hey,” Henry said softly.
Vlad blinked. “What?”
“You don’t have to disappear every time you feel something.”
That hit too hard.
Vlad looked away for half a second. “I’m not used to this.”
Henry’s expression softened even more. “I noticed.”
A beat.
Then Henry’s thumb brushed lightly against Vlad’s wrist again—grounding, steady.
“You’re okay,” Henry said quietly. “Right here.”
Vlad didn’t answer immediately.
Because something in him didn’t trust that “okay” was real.
But Henry didn’t let the silence turn heavy. He just stayed close. Patient in a way that didn’t pressure, didn’t demand.
And slowly, Vlad looked back up.
Henry was still there.
Still waiting.
Still not pulling away.
“…you’re really not going to make this easier on me, are you?” Vlad muttered.
A small smile tugged at Henry’s mouth. “No.”
That almost made Vlad laugh.
Almost.
Instead, Henry leaned in again—but paused just before kissing him, softer this time.
“Tell me something,” Henry said.
Vlad frowned slightly. “What?”
Henry’s eyes searched his face. “Was it just tonight… or have you been like this for a while?”
Vlad froze.
And for a second, the teasing, the tension, the kisses—it all paused.
Because that question wasn’t about now.
It was about before.
About how long Vlad had been trying not to feel seen.
His voice came out quieter than expected.
“…a while.”
Henry didn’t look surprised.
That was worse.
He just nodded slowly, like it made sense.
Then, gently:
“Good.”
Vlad blinked. “Good?”
Henry leaned in again, just enough to brush their foreheads together this time instead of kissing.
“Means I’m not imagining it,” he said softly.
And then, like it was the most natural thing in the world, he kissed him again.
This time, Vlad didn’t hesitate at all.
Henry didn’t rush away this time.
When the kiss broke, he stayed close—forehead resting lightly against Vlad’s like he didn’t feel any need to rebuild distance.
Vlad’s breathing was still uneven, but it wasn’t panicked anymore. Just… overwhelmed in a way that didn’t feel bad.
Henry’s hand was still at his wrist.
Steady. Warm. Real.
“You’re staring again,” Vlad murmured, but there was no real accusation in it.
Henry huffed softly. “Hard not to.”
That made Vlad glance up properly.
Henry looked… different now. Not distant. Not guarded. Just openly focused on him, like Vlad had become the only thing in the room that mattered.
Vlad swallowed. “This is weird.”
“Yeah,” Henry agreed without hesitation. “A little.”
That honesty made something in Vlad loosen.
A small, reluctant laugh escaped him. “You’re supposed to deny it.”
Henry shook his head slightly. “No point.”
Vlad blinked. “Why not?”
Henry’s thumb brushed once over Vlad’s wrist, absent but careful. “Because I like you too.”
It wasn’t dramatic.
He didn’t say it like a confession that needed applause or shock.
He just said it like it was already true, and he was done pretending it wasn’t.
Vlad went completely still.
“…you do?” he asked quietly, like he needed to double-check reality.
Henry’s expression softened even more. “Yeah.”
A pause.
Then, a little quieter, like he didn’t want it to feel too heavy:
“Kind of a lot.”
That did it.
Vlad let out a breath that turned into a shaky laugh, half disbelief, half relief. “That’s not fair.”
Henry tilted his head. “What isn’t?”
“You can’t just say that after…” Vlad gestured vaguely between them, face heating again.
Henry’s mouth curved slightly. “After what?”
Vlad looked away immediately. “You know what.”
Henry didn’t push him. Just stepped a fraction closer again—close enough that Vlad could feel him without being overwhelmed.
“I wasn’t planning to,” Henry said softly, “but you make it kind of impossible to think straight.”
Vlad glanced back at him.
“That’s not comforting,” he muttered.
“It’s honest,” Henry corrected.
That earned a small pause.
Then Vlad, quieter: “So what now?”
Henry didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he lifted his free hand slowly, like he was giving Vlad time to refuse, and gently tucked a loose strand of hair away from his face.
The touch was light.
Careful.
Almost shy, in a way that didn’t match how confident he’d been a minute ago.
Then Henry said, “Now I stop pretending I don’t notice you.”
Vlad’s breath caught slightly.
Henry continued, softer:
“And you stop acting like you have to disappear when I look at you.”
That landed deep.
Not heavy in a bad way—just real.
Vlad hesitated, then asked quietly, “And if I mess it up?”
Henry didn’t even blink.
“Then we figure it out,” he said simply. “I’m not going anywhere over it.”
Silence.
But it didn’t feel empty.
It felt full.
Vlad looked at him for a long second, like he was trying to memorize the fact that Henry was still here, still steady, still not pulling away.
“…you’re really staying?” Vlad asked, almost like he didn’t trust the answer.
Henry’s expression softened in a way that made his whole face look gentler.
“Yeah,” he said. “If you want me to.”
That was the part that broke something open in Vlad’s chest.
Not pain.
Just… relief.
He stepped forward first this time.
Not hesitating.
Just closing the distance until their shoulders brushed and his hand found Henry’s sleeve again, a little more sure than before.
“I want you to,” Vlad said quietly.
Henry’s smile turned real—small, warm, unmistakably fond.
“Good,” he murmured.
And this time when Henry kissed him, it was desperate, rough, aggressive.
”Hen—“ Vlad gasped as Henry suddenly pushed him against his bed, his hands grabbing Vlad’s and pinning them above his head.
”Henry—!” Vlad gasped again, blushing even more as he squirmed. getting more aroused as Henry got on top of him. With that devilish Smirk. It did things to him.
”What?” Henry finally replied, his breathing was ragged, his body was hot and the heat was radiating off of him. Vlad’s breath hitched as his gaze lowered. Shit.
”W-what are you doing?” He stammered out as his hands protested against Henry’s strong hold.
”What do you think I’m doing?”
Henry asked, smirking as he Leaned down and pressed his lips on vlad’s before traveling down, nipping at his bottom lip, then his neck. Kissing sweetly.
”A-Ah..Henry—“ Vlad whimpered as he pulled Henry closer. Causing Henry to let out a grunt.
“Fuck, Vlad.” Henry groaned as his cock strained his jeans, seeming to be too tight now.
Vlad’s face flushed as he suddenly felt the hard heat against him, his stomach dropped, he panted as he felt one of Henry’s hand slide down. Toward his crotch. Then to his groin.
Henry grinned dangerously as his other hand pinned Vlad’s hands together above his head.
then he paused.
”Do you want me to stop?”
Worried. Henry was worried. Vlad’s Heart did a backflip as he trembled and stammered, biting his lip as he choked out.
”N-No..”
Vlad screamed out as Henry thrusted in, his insides tighting instinctively as Vlad moaned. Henry only sped up his thrusting as he panted and quickened.
”Fuck!, Fuck!” Henry groaned out as he thrusted in and out, his cock throbbing within the insides of Vlad’s walls around him.
”A-Ahh!! H-Henry!!” Vlad moaned out as he shivered and his arms tighten around his neck.
They made love for over 30 minutes. Henry was showing Vlad what he had been missing all his life, Thanks to Henry’s experience, he showed Vlad how to arouse and please someone. Vlad did pretty well, and using things to improve arousal.
Vlad whined as Henry came, his insides tighten as he came aswell, Moaning Henry’s name as they both came down from the ecstasy. Henry smirked and pressed a kiss to Vlad’s neck, his body was covered with bruises and love marks. All from Henry.
They didn’t move apart right away. The world outside the moment still existed—quiet, distant, unimportant—but neither of them reached for it. Henry’s hand stayed loosely at Vlad’s waist, like a promise that didn’t need to be spoken out loud, and Vlad didn’t pull away this time, like he was finally starting to believe he could stay without everything falling apart. For once, there was no rushing, no hiding, no pretending—just the soft, uncertain beginning of something neither of them fully understood yet, but both were already choosing anyway.
The whole time, Vlad had enjoyed the affection and attention, but his mind was also bothered by what was under the bed.
Maybe some other day, Henry would understand, and he will tell him—
–everything..