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Doctor Legundo considers himself a rational man. He wasn’t always, but time has let him mold himself into the image of one. He raised his hand to the twin pinprick scars on his neck. Mostly rational.
“Do you regret it?” Owen’s voice was quiet. Despite that, an underlying accusatory tone made the words cut deeply through the silence. He stepped towards the doctor who was seated at a desk. Glancing over the papers, he saw notes for a hypothetical cure. No progress. Not a surprise.
Legs didn’t whip around as he once would have. Owen wasn’t known for announcing his entrances, especially now that he held an open invitation. He closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair. He felt the pains in his back, repayment for keeping himself hunched over his work. Opening his eyes, he turned to Owen. “No.” His voice had a kindness to it. “I will never regret helping you.” And a soft smile had made its way to his lips.
Owen turned his head, trying to hide a blush that had been drained from his face two hundred years prior. It didn’t escape his notice that Legs’s smile grew as he recognized what Owen was doing. Quite ready to move on, Owen placed his hands atop Legs’s shoulders to peer at the papers closer. He felt the doctor’s heart rate spike beneath his touch. A payback for the doctor’s soft words. “Still pursuing the impossible?”
“It seems I have a habit of that.” Legs answered with a dry laugh. He couldn’t let himself stop trying. Even with these slim odds he holds on far too tightly to give up.
“It’s not a very good one.” Owen flicks his eyes to the windows. Subconsciously, he grips Legs’s shoulders tighter as he searches the surrounding area for any townspeople that may be milling about.
“Owen.” He comes back to himself and loosens his grip with a slight reluctance. “The others are out, consecrating.” Owen nods slightly, holding his gaze steady a moment longer before letting it fall. Legs watched Owen’s face, studying the inscrutable look in his eyes. Even with reassurances the vampire always has a level of guard up. Not that he could blame him. They were the same in that regard. Recognizing that left a cold pit in his stomach. A pit that held a deep yearning for another world. Without war, without vampires, a world without spilled blood. He wouldn’t let himself get too in his head about such dreams. “How have you been?”
Owen scowled, thinking about the mess of vampires at the castle. He’d rather put them out of his mind for this time away.
“That bad?” Legs commented as he stood. He didn’t want to make Owen stand around, and he was well aware the clingy vampire would rather do so than put distance between them. He moved over to sit on his bed instead. Owen followed quickly after. Sitting side by side now. “You know, you surprised me with how affectionate you are.”
Owen leaned back, quick to rebuke such an accusation. “Don’t be ridiculous.” With a roll of his eyes. Legs chuckled. He’d never admit to something like that, despite his actions being in direct contradiction.
A moment of silence passes, one that lets Legs almost peer into that other world. One of genuine safety.
“You say that, then you’re the one staring like you need blood.” Owen joked.
Legs blinked. Was he staring? His cheeks flushed. He sputtered out a few false starts before taking a breath to calm himself and speaking. “Sorry. Are you hungry?” Owen didn’t say anything, but his intentions were clear from the way he held his stare. Legs nodded, undoing the top button to his shirt to allow easier access to his neck.
Owen’s gaze slipped down to his neck. His movements were incredibly controlled. With the amount of new turns there had been less food to go around. He was certainly hungry. Still, he resisted the sudden movements his instincts would’ve wrested from him. Leaning in and biting down. Blood begins to fill his mouth.
Legs bites his lip as the pain that was slowly becoming familiar spread out from his neck. Pain slightly eased as Owen brings a hand up to cradle the other side of his neck. A tingling reaches his fingers as his body screams at him to get out of this situation. A breath. He keeps himself still. Another breath. He is a doctor, just doing his job to provide care. “Owen,” His voice was soft. “Thats enough.”
Owen’s hand had made its way to Legs’s neck without his realizing. In fact, much else had fallen away as he fed. His greed was consuming him. Did he not realize? Or did he not care? He bit down harder, without the intention of letting go.
“OWEN!” Legs shouted as he pushed the vampire off of him. In doing so, Owen’s claws had raked across his neck, providing the doctor with some bleeding scratches as well. He was breathing heavily, and looked very near passing out. He had called out to Owen multiple times, getting no reaction. He hung his head as he took a moment to recover.
Owen’s face had immediately contorted to hostility before softening. It took a moment for him to become aware of his surroundings, his actions. Of Legs. He looked at the man, significantly paler and swaying. At how thin droplets of his blood, drawn by his claws, stained the white shirt. How weak he was. How simple of a task it would be to finish the job. Turn the doctor. no longer having to worry about all of the human complications. The thought crept into his mind as a dark shadow. Once again, his hand began to raise without his intending to. It would be best for both of them after all. He would appreciate it. Wouldn't he?
“Owen.” Owen’s hand froze. Legs wasn't even looking at him. It would be so easy. “I think,” He pauses to take a heavy breath. “I think you should go. The others will be back soon.” Then he turned his head to look at Owen. Meeting his eyes, Owen couldn’t say a word. Of course he wouldn’t. Legs would hate him for doing that. He knew that, even when he was considering it. He simply didn’t care. Nearly choosing that single moment over everything that had come before.
“No.” Something flashed in Legs’s eyes. It was something like anger. Or fear. Regretfully, Owen couldn’t quite tell. “I'm dealing with your wounds first.” The idea of the entire town returning to them in this state didn’t seem pleasant, but he wasn’t leaving the doctor like this. Not after what he did. What he almost did. He stood and went to a cabinet to grab basic supplies to tend to his wounds.
Legs sighed, but he truly had no strength left to fight it. His mind swam with thoughts as he leaned back. Why hadn’t Owen stopped? How would he explain his state to the townspeople? Was it safe to let Owen treat him after that? Why had he let himself be pulled so close to the brink before pushing him off? Owen returned. He gave a weak smile to the vampire.
Don’t smile at him, Owen internally begged. He didn't deserve that. He was a monster deserving of the doctor’s full ire.
They’re quiet as Owen cleans and bandages his neck. A much longer moment than the one they shared before.
Thankfully, they finished before the town returned. They exchanged stilted goodbyes.
Owen was about to leave, but he paused. Opening his mouth to say something, but biting his tongue in the end. He didn’t want to hear the answer. Do you regret it?