DON'T TOUCH ME DON'T GET NEAR ME DON'T EVEN LOOK AT ME GO AWAY
Hero didn’t know where to go. He couldn’t go back to his room. Definitely not. He shared that room with someone he might not even be able to trust now.
He needed somewhere safe, somewhere where no one would probably think to look for him.
So, he fled to the attic, as quickly as he could. Once inside, he retreated into a corner, placing the bat close to himself and curling up, panting and trembling violently, rocking back and forth.
He was going to be fine. Everything was going to be okay. He just had to wait for the Owl, get his engine, then high tail it as fast as he could.
Everything was going to be just fine, as long as no one came into the attic…
Vampire almost immediately fled the scene after Blackberry had been released..He just couldn’t stand being in the lounge another second or..or.. Well he didn’t know what to do.. He noticed Hero had left as well, but he missed which direction he had gone. Vampire began frantically searching the rooms, desperately calling out for him..but to no success. After nearly an hour of running about the mansion floors, searching every nook and cranny, he wound up at the entrance to the attic. He looked up at the stairs, panting heavily and wiping away the tears welling up in his eyes. “H-Hero..” Vampire took a moment to collect himself before slowly climbing the rickety stairs, scanning the area carefully. As he entered, he looked about, eventually spotting Hero in a corner.. A lump formed in his throat before he could call out to him and all that he managed to choke out, was his name.
Hero jumped at the sound, looking up at Vampire with an expression of terror and trying to back up even further into the corner. He reached for the bat and gripped it tightly.
“St-Stay back!” He hissed. “Don’t you d-dare take another step c-closer! Get out of here and l-leave me alone, now!”
Vampire took a step back, recoiling slightly from Hero’s tone. “H-Hero..it’s me! It’s alright..” He was afraid it would come to this..Vampire felt a twinge of fear as he inched closer, slowly placing his weapon on the floor beside him. “See..I’m not going to hurt you.”
Goddammit, why wasn’t he leaving?!
“Oh yes you are!” He let out a shaky, nervous laugh. “I kn-know you will! You know, even after everything sh-she did, I still r-really trusted Blackberry. But then she k-killed Soda! How can I trust anyone after that?!
”…How can I trust you?“ He added weakly. “H-How do I know that you didn’t come up here to kill me?”
Hero did have a point..Sure he could say he won’t hurt him, but of course actions speak better than words. Vampire slowly stepped closer, holding out his arms a bit. “I’m unarmed.. See..? If I were going to hurt you, I’d have done it long ago…” He managed to sound as calm as he possibly could, but inside, he could feel his heart slowly sinking.. “Please..please trust me..”
…
…Vampire did have a point. Slowly, Hero put the bat down, curling up again and hiding his face in his hands, whimpering quietly. He didn’t exactly trust Vampire, but, he did put his weapon down, that had to mean something.
“I…I don’t know what to do…”
Vampire breathed a light sigh of relief and stepped closer until he was right beside Hero. He waited a moment before dropping to his knees and wrapping his arms around him, holding tightly onto him. “To be honest, I don’t either.. But ..I promised I’d protect you..and get us out of here.. And that’s what i’m going to do..” He felt his voice beginning to waver a bit and dropped it to a shaky whisper. “I love you…You hear me.. I’m not going to let anything harm you..”
Hero flinched as he felt Vampire embrace him, his already violent trembling becoming worse. God, being touched was the absolutely last thing he wanted right now.
…Yet, at the same time, he felt safe, like nothing could hurt him as long as he was safe in Vampire’s arms. He listened to him speak, finding comfort in listening to his voice.
“I…I…” Hero had been about to say ‘I love you,’ but the floodgates had decided to open at that moment. He began to sob, crying angry, bitter tears. “I w-want to go home…”
“Sshh..it’s alright..” Vampire leaned against him, gently rubbing his back as he sobbed. “We are..we’re going home, alright.. I’m getting us out of here..” He released his grip, placing a hand on Hero’s cheek to wipe his tears. “It’s okay to be afraid..but..you don’t have to be afraid of me..”
Slowly, Hero’s sobs were reduced to quiet whimpers. He placed a hand over Vampire’s, staring at him, as if trying to guess his intentions just by looking at his face.
He knew Vampire well enough at this point. He knew Vampire wouldn’t hurt him. But, in his little paranoia fit, Hero had thought…
He shook his head, looking down. “I’m sorry. After what happened, I didn’t really know who I could trust…”
Vampire leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to Hero’s forehead. “I know.. I’m afraid to get near anyone else, honestly..” He looked to the side, thinking for a moment. “Y’know..I wouldn’t have minded dying..if it were by your hands…. But I didn’t want you to fear me..“ he sighed. “But ..it could help you to get out..”
“Wh-what?!” Hero backed away, staring at him with wide eyes.
“V-Vamp, I could never, you know I c-couldn’t! You mean too much to me, I’d never, ever be able to do that!” He began to tremble again at just the idea. “I, I don’t want to go without you…”
“I don’t want to go without you either, Hero..but ..it’s not like any of our other plans have worked. And I’d never be able to forgive myself if we both ended up dying trying to get out any other way…” Vampire could feel the tears welling up in his eyes, and he reached up, placing a hand over his mouth. “I’ve lived long enough, it’ll be alright.. And I’ll..still watch over you…”
“Well if we both died, at least we’d get to be together!!” His voice became high pitched and nervous. “What about Alchemist?! Don’t you want to get out and see her again?!”
Hero didn’t want this. He’d rather die with Vampire instead of having to be haunted by Vampire’s ghost, never able to see him, or touch him…
“…” Vampire stayed silent for a bit. Hero had a point.. But no way in hell, would he let that happen. No, Hero was still so young..he couldn’t.. “Alchemist would be alright..Though I would like to see that she’s okay.” He opened his mouth again to speak, but.. nothing came out. He continued to think.. Maybe..just maybe they could find another way.. but it’d take a lot of work and effort. They’d have to try and speak to the Owl again, possibly. That’s it.. “Maybe..the Owl can help us again. It’s worth a shot to try what we can, right?”
Hero was ready to start crying again. He hated seeing Vampire like this, it wasn’t right. He shouldn’t be so willing to sacrifice himself…
He was glad when the topics switched. “We’re already waiting on his signal, remember?” His voice dropped, in case the Witch might be listening. “‘Real eyes realize real lies.’ It shouldn’t take him that long to figure out when the barrier is at its weakest. Let’s give him a few more days before we try…anything else…”
“Alright..” Vampire nodded and shifted his weight so he could stand up, extending an arm to help Hero up. “Wanna go try and crack that code?” he asked, winking.
Hero hesitated for a moment, then took Vampire's arm and used him for support as he stood up, leaning against him. "I don't know... If we get it now, the Witch might find out. I already know the song the Owl mentioned. I just wish it wasn't a meme..." He mumbled the last part to himself.
"I think we should wait, just a little bit longer, and try to hide somewhere until it's time."
