⋆˚꩜.ᐟ : including — cutesy hcs!
[౨ৎ] synopsis: alucard tepes as a lover
[♡₊˚ ♕]: her highness's decree: if it wasn't obvious alr I have a thing for soft spoken intelligent, gentleman-like men.
‧₊˚⇢♡ a gentleman doesn't even begin to describe just how sweet he is to you.
considering Alucard was already well-mannered and more than polite before meeting you, once he falls for you (becoming immediately smitten), he's somehow even more so.
His tone becoming impossibly more gentler when talking to you, opening doors for you, pulling your your chair out for you, positioning himself in front of you at the first hint of trouble (even if you're a fighter/magic wielder).
‧₊˚⇢♡ attentive to every facet of your being.
he's very conscious of himself to ensure he isn't just staring at you but you do make it quite hard not to. Whenever you play with your hair in deep thought, the way your smile always meets your eyes, the way you silently gaze into the distance when you reminisce.
It's all so..mesmerizing—you are mesmerizing.
So while it pains the dhampir to have to tear his eyes away from you at times so as not to make you feel uncomfortableit is very tempting to not want to see every expression your beautiful face makes.
‧₊˚⇢♡ calls you "beloved", "dearest" "flower", and "my love."
Alucard is such a naturally affectionate man once he's in love that pet names become second nature to him. However, it still is so cute how he was slightly hesitant to call you anything initially usually referring to you by name—until it just slipped out.
Your breath catches for a moment, looking up at the blond from your place beside him on one of the library's plush velvet settees.
The castle is quiet around you, save for the occasional crackle from the fireplace and the soft rustle of pages turning. Warm afternoon sunlight filters through the tall windows, painting streaks of gold across the bookshelves and illuminating the dust motes drifting lazily through the air.
You'd spent the better part of the afternoon curled up together.
Your book long forgotten in your lap as you leaned comfortably against his shoulder, your head nestled against him while he read.
It was one of your favorite places to be.
Close enough to hear the steady rhythm of his breathing.
You were tracing absent patterns along the edge of your page when Alucard finally spoke. "Would you like some tea, my love?"
The word leaves his lips so naturally that neither of you seem to process it at first.
Your eyes widened slightly and you could feel Alucard stiffen slightly besides you. His gaze lowering from the book in his hand to where your head is resting on his shoulder. An adorable, light blush creeping on his pale cheeks. "Forgive me," he says quietly, setting his book aside perhaps a little too quickly. "I did not mean to presume."
The bashfulness in his voice is almost unfairly sweet, so you straighten slightly, lifting your head from his shoulder to shake your head with a soft smile. "You didn't. I don't mind you calling me that—it's sweet."
For a moment, Alucard simply looks at you. Golden eyes searching your face as though trying to determine whether you're merely being kind. When he realizes you're sincere, some of the tension leaves his shoulders.
Barely noticeable.
"I'm glad," he says quietly. His voice is softer now, the afternoon sunlight catching against the pale strands of his hair as he looks at you, and you're suddenly struck by how unfairly beautiful he is.
Especially like this.
The realization makes your smile widen slightly. "Can I call you something too?"
His brows lift. "Something?"
You nod.
"You wish to give me a pet name?"
"Well, yes."
You tilt your head. "If you're going to call me things like my love and beloved, I think I should get one too."
A quiet laugh escapes him then. "I suppose that is fair."
‧₊˚⇢♡ guides you with a hand at your back through crowded towns, unfamiliar roads and in more sketchy parts of wood
Whether you're walking through a crowded marketplace, entering a room, or simply moving through the halls of the castle together, Alucard always seems to find his place just slightly behind your shoulder.
One hand resting lightly at the small of your back.
Never possessive. More so a subtle, discreet gesture. One that many don't notice on first glance.
Like no matter where you are, he'll make certain nothing reaches you first.
₊˚⇢♡ is constantly making sure you're comfortable.
Perhaps it's because he's spent so much of his life caring for others, and caring for you is not much different nor a chore. Though it's probably because the sweet way you breathe a 'thank you Adrian,' or 'you're always so kind thank you my love.' Has him quick to whatever you need to hear those lovely again.
If you're cold, a cloak is draped over your shoulders before you can mention it.
If you're tired, he's already suggesting you rest.
If you're hungry, he's quietly finding a source of food for you.
Half the time, you don't even realize something was bothering you until he's already taken care of it.
And when you thank so softly like the angel you are?
He simply smiles.
‧₊˚⇢♡ always reaches for you in his sleep.
Alucard sleeps lightly by nature. Years of solitude and danger made certain of that. Yet slowly but surely, after sharing a bed with you, over time it's been increasingly easier to sleep soundly next to you.
Primarily because you fall asleep holding his hand.
You always knew that he carried a weight most people could scarcely imagine. The loss of his parents. His complicated love for his father. The loneliness. The years spent wandering with burdens that were never truly his to carry.
You knew there were nights his sleep wasn't peaceful.
So when you'd first begun sharing a bed, you'd made a habit of reaching for his hand before falling asleep. Not because you were afraid to sleep alone. But because you never wanted him to face even his nightmares alone ever again.
The first time you'd done it, he'd looked almost comforted yet confused. Glancing down at your intertwined fingers before looking back at you. Yet he hadn't pulled away.
And after that, it simply became part of your routine.
Until one evening, months later, as candlelight flickered softly across your shared chambers, Alucard spoke just as you were settling beneath the blankets.
"My love?"
His voice was unusually hesitant.
You immediately looked up from where you'd been adjusting the covers. "Yes?"
For a moment, he seemed almost uncertain.
Golden eyes lowering briefly.
Then—
"Would you be comfortable with..." He paused, clearly searching for the words. "Me holding you while we slept?"
A warm smile glaced your lips as your nodded, "Of course, sweetheart."
Once settled into bed, Alucard's arm settled carefully around your waist as though he were handling something precious. Slowly relaxing into you only after you had done so yourself, and once he did, it was almost as though he could finally breathe properly.
Now, months later, Alucard rarely even realizes he's doing it.
You'll wake in the middle of the night to find yourself tucked securely against his chest. One arm wrapped around your waist. His hand resting over yours. Sometimes his face buried lightly in your hair.
Other times, when nightmares try to find him, you'll feel it. The unconscious way his fingers search across the mattress. The way he reaches for you even while asleep.
Seeking warmth.
And the moment he finds you, his body relaxes. The tension leaves his shoulders. His breathing evens out once more.
♡ princessxmin please do not alter, copy or translate my work !
CW/tags: Biting, vampires, blood, unprotected p in v, alucard is your husband (slay), alucard tepes x reader, ~600 words
AN: Doing a little catch-up! Enjoy!
Your husband didn’t often indulge himself. Yes, at times he enjoyed the finer things in life, given his aristocratic upbringing, but he didn’t usually take advantage in all the ways he was capable. It was simply never in his nature to take.
Given that, as a dhampir, he usually only partook in human food. In all your years of marriage, he had never indulged in the divine nectar of your human form. He was thoughtful in that way- never wanting to break a boundary, always cautious of crossing lines.
The two of you were making love, his cock buried deep inside you, nudging your cervix. It felt perfect, every caress of his skin sending you into a frenzy. His gold eyes flash with something strange. Desire, yes. Need. But also hunger. He leans in and presses his lips to yours- hard, desperate, and full of a ravenous ferocity you rarely saw from him. “Adrian-“ you gasp in between his thrusts and shared breath.
“Yes, my darling?” he purrs.
“Please-“
“Please what? Use your words, pretty girl.”
“Bite me.”
He pauses in his movements, looking down at you.
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do.”
He makes a soft, thoughtful humming sound.
“I trust you to be honest… but I’m also unsure if you’re aware of what you’re getting into. Once I taste you it’ll be hard to stop.”
You simply nod, a silent consent to be his in this new and unique way.
He pulls out, kissing down your body. Soft, gentle touches that make you shiver. His lips press against your hip, then your inner thigh, then your needy cunt. He flattens his tongue, dragging it along your folds at a painfully slow pace. You rut up against him reflexively, your body naturally seeking him out. You let out a whine as he pulls away to kiss your thighs again. You watch as he hesitates before his fangs sink into your thigh. He looks up at you as he slowly bites down, his pupils darkening his beautiful golden eyes. It hurts. God, it hurts so badly that your eyes sting with tears. But there’s also this warmth spreading throughout your body, this dumb, comfortable fuzziness that overwhelms you. A moan escapes your lips between hiccuped cries, your body unable to process all of the beautiful, all-encompassing feelings. He pulls away, his lips stained with your blood. His tongue flicks out, lapping up the crimson rivulets beading from the punctures on your thigh.
“Was that alright, my love?” he asks gently.
You nod, your breathing ragged as you look down at him.
He kisses back up your body, each gentle caress of his lips a love letter to you. His body rejoins yours, his long, beautiful cock slipping inside your soaked cunt. He fucks you in slow, deep thrusts, every nudge making your eyes roll back into your head. His fangs graze your neck, the sharp points tickling your skin. This time, he’s less uncertain, biting down with an animalistic fervor you’ve never seen from him. Those beautiful eyes flutter shut in his blissful state, his lashes fanning across his pale cheeks. You moan as he drinks from you, slow, loving thrusts rocking inside of you. He moans against your neck, buried in the ecstasy of you. You flutter around him, letting out a sweet whimper. He pulls away, looking up at you with reverence. Witnessing his perfection, feeling his divinity, sends you teetering over the edge, an explosion of pleasure overwhelming you. He follows not long after, fucking his hot cum into your aching cunt.
“Thank you, my darling,” he whispers between soft kisses.
hii could you write castlevania nocturne alucard x fem!reader💗maybe the reader is a vampire or speaker/witch
enchant me, lover. ♡
featuring: adrian fahrenheit ţepeş / alucard x f! vampire, speaker & witch! reader.
summary: you're stargazing with your husband, and he doesn't get the chance to wish on a shooting star. you know just what will cheer him up.
warnings: minors and ageless blog dni regardless of content. i made the line dividers, so please don't use them. | support divider: @cafekitsune | wc: 2.3k | ao3
tags: fluff | hurt/comfort | domestic fluff | one-shot | stargazing | established marriage
a/n: i'll do you one better, friend, and combine ALL OF THEM!! >:D i'm trying to make my way through my requests, so there will be lots of castlevania stuff for awhile! this is set a couple of years before adrian left to track sekhmet. i hope that i did you justice, anon, and please enjoy, dear friends!!
date started: 7:08PM, february 16th, 2025.
date finished: 8:45PM, february 25th, 2025.
The moon cloaks itself amidst the twilight to leave room for the stars to illuminate the sky. Thousands gather closely together to observe the night's events, and whisper gossip that the breeze tells them. A castle, tall enough to hold the heavens and older than most museums, resides within the forest. Its worn stone enjoys the scenery's tranquility, and the surrounding wildlife serves as a reminder of its reason for standing.
There are two occupants in this castle; The legendary Alucard, A.K.A Adrian Țepeș, and you, his lovely wife. You have been married for almost two-hundred years, and there is nothing that you would change about the life that you have built together. You both enjoy travel, so the adventures that you go on together are eternally endless. Adrian has solidified himself into your soul, and he is part of you that you never wish to do without. In moments where you felt like you couldn't go on, his face came to mind and you remembered just how strong you are.
Adrian knows that the connection that you share will last far beyond the relevance of your immortal lives. Not even at the chance of death will your love's resilience waver, for it is a force stronger than any enemy that you have vanquished together. If you were not in his life, then he would not laugh, smile, ponder or explore as much as he has in your company. Adrian Țepeș is not a man who fears much, but the idea that plagues his mind into restlessness is how much darker his world would be without you in it. Imagining a reality where he lives without your rants about all of the things that he wouldn't think twice about, paired with its angelic echo chanting off of the walls of your home would send him into madness, if not for the comfort of your body lying asleep by his side in your shared bed.
Every day that you spend together is a day that you both cherish, and today has felt particularly special. From dawn 'til dusk, you walked through the forest and discovered things that you hadn't noticed before; The different flowers blooming within the grass or unfamiliar streams, for instance. You have lived in this area for some time now, yet when journeying with Adrian, all sorts of new encounters appeared. It was very fulfilling to wander out with him to see what awaited you.
Now, your exciting day has come to a close, and both of you agreed that the best way to wind down before bed was to stargaze together. You stand on one of many bridges of the palace, your hands resting on the cold stone railing while your eyes sparkle just as brightly as the stars you stare at. Adrian stands not far behind you, a smile gracing his pale lips as he admires the great darkness above. Every once in awhile, he will look back at you and treasure the warmth that pools within his chest. Your joy while looking up at the stars is more beautiful than any twinkling light in the sky, and if he spent his night watching you like this instead, then he would be just as content.
Occasionally, you'll point out an exceptionally bright star, or a constellation, and Adrian's eyes will follow where you lead them. You'll tell about the story behind how the constellation was named, and anything else that comes to mind in relation. Being born into a group of Speakers has left a lot of room for you to acquire all sorts of knowledge about a variety of different subjects, and at one point in your life, you found yourself very fascinated with everything related to space. As a result, you did a lot of research on the subject so that you could share it with your family, and anyone crossing your path willing to listen.
Both of Adrian's parents were people of science, so he gathered quite the bounty of information himself, but he would always make an effort to listen to you. No matter how many times you repeat the same tales and facts, he will nod along and asks questions as if it's the first time, just to prompt your endless, passionate rambles. Gaining the opportunity to share your wisdom grants you an ethereal, excitable glow that he will gladly blind himself with, if it means that the last thing he ever sees is your smiling face.
A comforting quiet lingers in the air while you both gaze up at the stars, cherishing the night's delightful weather that provides you the freedom to enjoy this moment together. Sky's stillness suddenly dispels when a star swiftly descends from the shadows, and immediately, it catches Adrian's attention. A blissful, child-like smile graces his lips as he takes a step forward, then points above while announcing, "Look, a shooting star!"
Instantly, your head whips into the direction where Adrian's finger follows, and you see it. Fortunately, before it leaves your view, you are able to make a wish. Many would see it as silly for an over three-hundred year-old vampire to believe in wishing on stars, for you have lived long enough to know that not all myths are true. Regardless, you like the hopefulness that the idea brings; That someone, somewhere is listening, with the goal of helping you achieve your dreams.
Wherever this comet is going, it's in a hurry, for it's leaving as quickly as it came. You squeeze your eyes shut and hold your breath, thinking about what you want most in the world. When you open them, you release the wind trapped inside your throat at the realization that the shooting star has disappeared over the horizon. Disappointment dwells in your heart and on your shoulders briefly before you spin around to look at your husband, whose arm has lowered. His face illuminates with a gentle joy as he gazes into the distance, a display that lightens your disheartenment and replaces it with bliss.
Long ago, you swore that you would commit all of Adrian's smiles to memory, so you take this time to do just that. The radiant expression that he wears is one of wonder, faith and longing, as if he wishes to chase that star to the ends of the Earth. You think that he looks so adorable like this, and you would hate for him to stop, but you become curious as to if he made a wish too, so you ask him, "Did you make a wish, Adrian?"
Blinking out of his awestruck state, golden eyes meet yours. You are so glad that during all of this time, the color of Adrian's eyes never changed. You think that it gives him individuality, and they remind you that through every hardship, you will always have someone at your side to endure it with. Sunshine dims into a soft sadness, which rawly clenches at your heart. Adrian's eyes glance to the ground, a frown on his face while he admits, "Oh, no. I didn't get the chance to."
The vessel which keeps you standing feels like it is being brutally mauled through at this response. Now, Adrian gazes out into the sky with furrowed brows, and your own face falls as his does. While he is skeptical about the idea of wishing on stars, he does find it fun to do sometimes. It didn't even come to mind when he saw it passing by, and seeing just how disappointed he is hurts more than any wound you could ever receive.
You use your quick-thinking skills to come up with something to cheer the dhampir up, when it hits you. You have been studying human magics for one-hundred years, and while you are quite skilled, you do not practice enough to fully achieve your true potential. Typically, you only use your magic on occasion when you're bored to make fun shapes, or when you're in combat with no other choice, but this is just as vital- no, even more-so. This is more dire than any foe that you have vanquished, more monstrous than any beast you have slain; Your sweet husband is sad, and as his wife, you want to make him feel better!
So, you cup your palms together and hold them out in front of you. Adrian notices the shift of your body, and turns to watch as you close your eyes. You focus on your desire, and think about the way that a star feels. You feel a tickling sensation spring its way up your back, as if stardust brushes your skin. Slipping into a deep state of concentration, you reflect on your early studies of magic when a yellow spark erupts into your hands. Adrian watches with fascination while the spark begins to brighten; It begins to take shape, until a thin, golden diamond glows in your grasp.
Adrian is completely blown away by your demonstration, his mouth hung open and eyes gawking widely at what you've just created. You open your eyes and smile at the dumbfounded look on your husband's face, giggling. "Make a wish, Adrian."
Realistically, you both know that this isn't what a star looks like, but that doesn't matter to your man. What matters to him is that it's yours, and it's perfect. For a moment, Adrian is silent, too bewildered by your manifestation to summon his voice. He knows that you are a very talented magician, and he has seen your capabilities at their finest. The fact that you have forged something so precious just to make him happy deeply touches Adrian. A smile adorns the man's face once more, eyes holding a love that is reserved only for you. He reaches a hand over to the side of your face to allow gloved fingers to graze your skin while he leans forward, and presses a gentle kiss to your lips.
You watch as he melts before you, your smile growing wider when seeing that he's happy again. Unexpectedly, he gives you a kiss, and this makes you feel even better. Adrian's lips have a very dastardly power to make you weak; One brush of them, and you feel like you could faint on the spot. His lips are soft, and he tastes of the most captivating spell. You would have dropped the illusion and wrapped your arms around him to properly relay your passion, if you didn't know how meaningful this was to him. Heat crawls its way into your cheeks, and your shoulders have hiked up from surprise, but they slowly lower themselves as you allow your body to relax. You return his kiss and tilt your head slightly to enhance the experience for both of you, and you stand like this for a moment to cherish how perfectly your lips mold together.
Albeit regrettably, Adrian is the one to back away. The sun of his eyes shines brightly with admiration, and the smile on his lips is tender. "I don't need to," He murmurs sweetly.
Seeing this look on the dhampir's face is everything that you could want out of tonight. You have shared a wonderful day together, but this has been the best part of it by far. A crooked grin curls its way your lips, and you give him a knowing look when you decide to tease him, "If you say it's because you have everything you could wish for right here, I'm going to hit you."
Adrian's posture straightens as he throws his head back to laugh. Light blooms within your chest at the sound, one that you would listen to every hour for all of your days if given the chance. Tilting his head upright, he meets your eyes and responds, "Alright, I hear you." Then, he leans over to examine the star in your hands more closely, asking, "Could we save it?" Your husband aligns himself upright again, reuniting your gaze to his while adding, "For my next wish."
You smile at the man, head slightly tilted while fondly gazing at him. Any request of his is one you will gladly satisfy, so you tell him, "I think I can do that."
The look on your face causes Adrian to soften, his shoulders noticeably relaxing a bit more at the sight. "Good." He then turns so that his side faces you, and offers an arm for you to take. "Shall we head to bed now?"
You squeeze your eyes shut and press your lips together harshly, charging all of your energy into the little splendor in your hands before hopping up. With your little bounce, the star shoots up into the sky, stardust hot on its trail, before it lowers down to settle itself floating slightly above you and Adrian. The dhampir turns around to recognize what you've done, that same stupefied expression on his face. You see it and laugh, an arm coming over your stomach as you take a step back and point at him. You gather yourself shortly after, and brush away any lingering dust on your clothes before you turn to face where Adrian is to take his arm. "Let's go."
It's only when you make contact with him that your husband comes out of his shock, his face relaxing when seeing yours and a smile decorating his lips. "As you wish."
With that, you head into the castle to begin your nightly routine. The star you created twirls around you both the entire way, and you laugh at mystical friend's enthusiasm. Love has brought you two a long way, and you guarantee that it will take you even farther. In every life, you know that Adrian would do anything to make you happy, and he knows that you would do the same.
@BUNNYLUVX ,, all rights reserved. do not copy/plagiarize any of my works or submit it into ai. any and all support is appreciated! <3
Genre: Angsty fluff with comfort and a happy ending
Summary: You seek solace from your nightmares in Alucard, and he realizes that you may have more in common than he thought.
Contains: Reader calls Alucard “sir,” Reader struggles with nightmares, anxious/shy Reader, possibly traumatized Reader (up for interpretation), mentions of Sumi, Taka, and the lasting trauma of their betrayal, mentions of death and violence, emotional turmoil and comfort, back rubs, sharing a bed, not explicitly romantic, strangers to friends (to lovers, if you want)
Word Count: 4.76k
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One would imagine that the misanthropic dhampir with impaled bodies rotting outside his door would not be keen to take in visitors.
One would be quite correct.
It’s exhausting, the solemn cycle that Alucard often falls victim to. Every time he finds himself grasping at some sense of belonging in another, some semblance of stability, he’s forced to let go, lest it be ripped from his hold and take a few fingers with it. After the deaths–no, that’s not right–after the killings of Sumi and Taka, he made himself resign to be alone for the rest of eternity. Well, that was assuming he could stand eternity. Staking himself through the heart was never entirely off the table.
No more travelers would be allowed shelter within his castle, not ever again. It had been proved more than necessary that anyone who came seeking him meant only trouble. In fact, if anyone came calling with his name on their tongue, he would cut it clean out and send them running back to whatever pit they crawled out of.
You did not ask for him. You did not come seeking him.
Truly, you had no idea who he was, or that anyone at all lived in these woods. The villagers spoke of the looming castle as though it were inhabited only by the shadows of demons whose names could not be spoken. A foreign passerby like yourself isn’t privy to the bloody lore contained within the walls of the vampire king’s abode, and a place as traumatized as Wallachia does not so easily offer its secrets to outsiders.
You were only flitting through on your way to better things. There was no intent to stop at all if you didn’t have to. The choice to dash into the woods where the son of Dracula had made his home was thrust upon you in a moment of mortal peril.
Alucard was walking along the river that morning, as he had almost every day before that. When he only had one mouth to feed, he opted for foraging whenever he could. There were likely enough provisions still in the castle to feed an army, but if he wanted to eat them, he’d have to find them. The inventory desperately needed to be taken. It would have to wait, though; walking the halls made the loneliness more tangible than he could bear. At least he could find company in the birdsongs when he took his morning walks.
His ears twitched at the sound of frantic footfalls on the grass some ways away. He hopped up and into a tree in a split second, swift feet pushing him upwards through the branches until he was high enough to observe without being seen. The thumping of boots grew louder fast, and as the sound drew closer, he realized there were more pairs of shoes treading the ground than he’d first picked up on.
There was one leading, which was what he heard initially. Those steps were quick, but not calculated, stumbling and anxious to get away from something. There were three–no, four other pairs of heavier-set steps following the first. They were much closer together and much more assured in each move without falling too far behind.
A chase.
Four to one hardly seemed fair. Something about it made his stomach uneasy.
The bramble rustled, and a moment later, you appeared from the foliage. Your chest heaved with erratic breaths, and he could even hear the panicked beating of the heart that fueled them. You paused beneath his hiding place for only a second to decide your next move.
There wasn’t any time to think. You chose a random direction and darted that way, thorns and branches pulling at your clothing as you fled. The fear on your face in that instant struck something deep inside of him, something that should have been smothered into dust, and that was enough for him to decide he would not allow you to be caught. He could not allow it.
Your pursuers made themselves known then. Vagabonds of some kind, Alucard thought, with nasty scars and weapons too large to have any purpose besides maiming. You couldn’t have fought off those hulking beasts by yourself, even if you did have a weapon of your own.
How fortunate, then, that they make easy prey for a dhampir.
Alucard wasn’t trying to kill them. He might have, considering how hard they fell, but all that mattered was ensuring they wouldn’t be giving chase any time soon. Whether or not they ever got up again was of no concern to him.
He debated whether or not he wanted to chase after you. A strange visitor is more trouble than they’re worth, but he also knew that nature could be fatally unkind. If you got yourself lost, there was no telling what sort of trouble would come upon you. The beasts that wandered in the night could tear you to ribbons in seconds.
You had been brought together by fate, not intent, and somehow, he found himself trusting that.
He followed in the direction you ran, moving without a sound between the trees. When you came into view, you were collapsed on the ground, struggling to breathe and unable to stop your head from spinning. Exhaustion was evident on every inch of you. If he had not interfered, you would have been dead by now.
He waited for a minute or two to see if you’d run again. You were on high alert, but allowed yourself to rest as long as your attackers weren’t gaining on you. You looked ready to pass out at any moment.
Alucard stepped forward, keeping his voice low and measured when he finally spoke.
“...Are you alright?”
You gasped, spinning around to face him with wide eyes and expecting to see the face of your killer. Instead, your terrified gaze met the stoic stare of molten gold that belonged to your savior.
“B-Bandits,” you stammered, rising on shaky legs, “a gang, t-they tried to rob me…!”
He stepped closer, allowing you to lurch forward and fall into his arms. Your legs burned from running harder than your body could handle.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let them get you,” he assured you. With your arm draped over his shoulder and his wrapped around your waist, he led you back to the castle, though he made the strategic choice not to use the front entrance. You were scared enough as is. Suddenly, his special little lawn ornaments seemed rather tacky.
You spent the rest of that day in the guest bedroom, nursing the scrapes and knicks you got running through the bramble and trying to calm down. Alucard left you to your own devices for the most part, not wishing to disturb you or aggravate you further. The most you saw of him was when he brought you meals. He never thought he’d find himself cooking for someone else again.
He fully intended to give you an ultimatum once you were well again. ‘You have three days to leave, human, unless you’d like to see the same fate as my last visitors,’ or something just as foreboding. The issue is that he only ever remembered that when you weren’t around. It was hard to want you gone when you were as much of a threat as a kicked puppy.
You tried very hard to shrink yourself in his presence. When he spoke, you bowed your head, like you were being addressed by a tyrant king. You never asked for anything, even when you really needed it, to the point that you slept without a pillow the first couple of nights. You only got one because Alucard happened to pass by your room and realized how naked your bed was. It was almost comical.
Slowly but surely, he did manage to work you out of your shell. He invited you to eat at the table with him instead of shutting yourself in your room for supper, and although you did hesitate, you accepted. Few words were exchanged over the table, but to say the silence was uncomfortable would be misleading. There wasn’t much to talk about, anyway. You were both content with observing each other.
There were times when he questioned if your sheepishness was an act. It was a survival instinct to doubt such a modest demeanor, to search for the threat lying beneath, but he found none within you. You startled when he came around the corner too fast, and there was a sincere disquiet in your eyes that could not be faked. You conducted yourself as though one wrong move might prompt the floor to fall out from underneath you.
He couldn’t help but be intrigued by that. In his experience, the meek did not survive very long.
It was a calculated effort to get you to open up, but it paid off. You relaxed a little more with each day that passed, and shared meals became a regular occurrence between the two of you. Small talk over dinner settled into a pleasant routine. Meeting his eyes didn’t feel like such an offense. You could wander the halls without worry for the most part.
There was only one hard and fast rule Alucard set for you:
“Under no circumstances are you to come into my room.”
You nodded without argument. He was content to leave it at that.
You were only supposed to stay for a few days. You’re coming up on almost a month in the castle now. There have been offhanded mentions of wherever you intended to go before the events that brought you here unfolded, but it didn’t matter all that much anymore. You had no reason to venture back out into the unforgiving world when no one was waiting for you.
Besides, the cold moves quickly in Wallachia. The land has frozen overnight, giving you all the more reason to stay where the warmth is. Just the sight of the trees whipping in the icy gale is enough to make you shiver.
It’s nights like these that Alucard’s sleep suffers. He’s not so sensitive to the cold, not as much as any regular human would be, but the wind screaming outside his window keeps him awake. The longer he’s awake, the more time he has to think, to stew in his own memories, and after a certain point, he loses hope of sleeping at all. There’s still a bit of hope yet, but he’s not inclined to chase after it.
He should take the guest bedroom instead, he posits to himself, and give you this one. You’d be able to sleep just fine here, blissfully unaware of the atrocities committed therein. You wouldn’t trick yourself into seeing figures in the doorway or jump awake when the death masks of your attackers flashed in the dark of your mind. In fact, you’re probably fast asleep by now. How lucky you are to find such peace.
He crosses his arms over his chest in a pointless attempt to find comfort. It doesn’t matter which way he tosses or turns; nothing will ever feel quite right, not in this place. His arms move back down again, fidgeting with the blankets and pulling at the bottoms of his breeches.
He wears pants to bed now. It’s the worst sensation in the world.
A frustrated groan leaves him as he rolls over onto his side, watching as the moonlight between the trees creates shapes along his bedroom floor. He can will himself to be tired all he likes, but it won’t quell the anxiety now.
There’s a quiet urge to scold himself that never fully dissipates. It makes him feel foolish to be so afraid, to wonder about every little noise the old castle makes, to think up shadowy figures of malice that only drive him further away from sleep. He’s had this same fight with himself more times than he can count.
Sumi and Taka are dead.
He has the impaled bodies to prove it.
There is no one in this castle except a mousy little human who couldn’t frighten a mangy dog off a pile of garbage. No one would be foolish enough to intrude, and if they were, he would kill them before they even realized he was there.
No amount of rational thought is enough to calm him, but it’ll have to do if he wants to rest any time soon. He forces himself to shut his eyes and keep them closed. Sleep will have to take him eventually.
A particularly firm creak of the floorboards makes his heart jump.
His eyes fly open, staring straight forward as he listens hard for any other noise. There’s none.
He has to stop doing that, he thinks. Old places make strange sounds that don’t mean anything. That’s all it was, surely. It couldn’t have been anything else.
It wasn’t anything else.
Except, it was.
“...Sir Alucard?”
Your voice is as soft as the coo of a dove, and alarming enough to have him jumping out of his skin. He shoots straight up, raising a hand and summoning his sword to his side in an instant. The blade shakes and glimmers with a silent threat in the pale moonlight.
You gasp and stumble back from where you’re standing in the doorway, and you’re just as frightened as he is, maybe even more. He finds the slightest relief when he recognizes who he’s looking at, but doesn’t let down his guard. He stays prepared to strike if you make one wrong move.
“What the hell are you doing here?” He hisses, sharp eyes studying every inch of you with suspicion. There’s no sign of a weapon on your person, at least not that he can find. Still, that possibility doesn’t leave his mind.
“I’m so sorry, I-I didn’t mean to wake you,” you replied. His expression only hardens further.
“Answer me. Now.”
You swallow hard, keeping your hands clutched tightly against your chest as your attention darts back and forth from his sword to his face.
“I-I just had to make sure you were alright…”
That gives him pause. He lowers his sword by a fraction of an inch. Your voice trembles like the branches rapping against his window, and the longer he looks at you, the more evident the fear in your face becomes. It’s the same expression he saw the day he saved you. Something is wrong.
“What do you mean?” He asks, and it sounds more accusatory than intended. He reins himself in a bit and tries again. “Is something the matter?”
Your gaze falls to the floor as you search for an answer. Your bottom lip trembles, and as you bring your arms up to wrap yourself in a tight hug, the reality settles over Alucard that he has wildly misplaced his apprehension. His sword remains hovering by his side, still within reach if need be, but he releases a bit of tension from his shoulders.
Something is very wrong, and it’s a deep-rooted sort of trouble he’s tried to ignore in himself. A feeling he might call empathy turns over in his stomach.
He slides down against his headboard and lets his hands rest in his lap. “You’re upset,” he observes, as if it weren’t the most obvious thing in the world. “What could be bothering you at this ungodly hour?”
His not-so-gentle coaxing earns him your eyes once more. You look up at him through tear-brushed lashes, and when you manage to speak again, the emotion bubbling up your throat makes itself known.
“Sir Alucard, do you… d-do you ever have nightmares?”
Now it’s his turn to be at a loss for words.
He stares back at you without a word, waiting to see if you’ll say anything else. You don’t. You only stare back in anticipation of his reply.
His sword begrudgingly lowers itself back to its place against the wall, and Alucard tilts his head with cautious interest. “What do you mean?”
You shrugged. “You know, a nightmare. Like, when you have a bad dream, and–”
“I know what a nightmare is,” he interrupts, “but why are you asking?”
Your silence at that says enough. So many questions, and no one seems to have any good answers.
He heaves a heavy sigh, pulling the covers off his legs and moving to sit on the edge of his bed. His shoulders slump as he looks at you from behind a messy curtain of ash blonde locks. A hand reaches out to pat the space next to him, a wordless invitation to join him in his midnight brooding.
“Come here, then.”
You’re far more taken aback by that than he expected; you’d think he just asked you to throw yourself into a ravine. He’d laugh if he weren’t so bloody exhausted.
“What,” he drawls, “afraid I’ll bite?”
You shake your head. “I-I don’t want to intrude, sir–I really only wanted to check on you. You told me I was never to step foot in your room, and I wouldn’t cross you that way, honest…”
He blinks. “Oh. Right. I did say that, didn’t I?”
“Oh, it’s alright, I figured you had a good reason.”
Indeed, he has about the best reason anyone could have for barring you from his chamber. You have no business here, and if he has half his right mind, he’ll send you right back to your own bed where you belong.
Well, he’s survived the endless number of terrible choices he’s made thus far. What’s one more?
He pats the bedside again.
“I’ll make an exception, just this once.”
He watches as you waver in the doorway, leaning forward like you’re about to take a step, only to pull back again, as though the threshold itself is a danger. If you were anyone else, he would scold you for such needless vacillating when his psyche is already strained. He thinks better of it before he opens his mouth.
It feels like watching a feral cat encounter a human for the first time when you finally make it through the doorway. Your bare feet pad along the floor without a sound, the soft groaning of the wood beneath your weight encouraging you to take one more step each time you pause until you’ve at long last come upon him. When you take your seat on the mattress, you put as much space between yourself and Alucard as possible, keeping your arms tightly tensed at your sides and your legs drawn inward. It seems you haven’t yet dropped the habit of making yourself small. What a shame, he thinks, that something has made you so determined to take up as little space as possible.
“I really am sorry for waking you,” you mutter, keeping your head bowed with guilt. The sight turns his lips downward in a frown. He thought you were past this.
“You didn’t. I was wide awake. I don’t see how anyone could sleep with that wind raging outside.”
You give a brief nod of agreement, and then no one has anything more to say.
Alucard has never been good at consoling others. He rarely receives such treatment himself, and there are many more important things in life than bandaging emotional scrapes, but he’s not used to feeling this inept at anything. Even so, he can’t ignore this. You deserve a good-hearted try, at the very least.
He slides a bit closer to you, keeping his movements slow so as not to frighten you off, the way one might approach a wild animal. You open your mouth to say something, only to decide against it at the last second and close it again. You’re still unsure if you want to talk.
He slides a little bit closer.
“You asked me if I have nightmares.”
You don’t move away.
“Yessir.”
You let him get close enough for his pinky to brush yours. The wind outside doesn’t seem so loud now.
He’s about to tell you something he’s never told anyone.
“I do,” he admits, and the words taste bitter in his mouth. “I have them often, actually, and I have for a long time. I honestly don’t think I’ll ever be rid of them.”
The surprise on your face is unexpected, but not unpleasant. It’s nice to see you looking up at him again. Whatever he’s doing must be working. The bitter taste starts to fade, and his tongue feels a bit lighter than before. That wasn’t as shameful as he thought it’d be.
He leans in, moving himself into your line of sight and turning your attention away from the floor.
“But you’re not here because I have nightmares, are you?”
He watches as your tongue runs over your dry lips, and you gulp before giving your answer.
“N…N-No, sir.”
Took you long enough.
That brings him to another dead end. He doesn’t want to pry into woes that aren’t his business, but he also doesn’t want you to clam up, either. You came to him because you’re desperate for someone to soothe your worry. He ought to make it worth your while.
He shifts to lean back on his hands, letting his head roll back in feigned nonchalance. He gives a soft hum as though in thought.
“Perhaps,” he starts, and he lets that word hang in the air for a beat, “if you tell me what’s wrong, we just might be able to get a wink of sleep tonight, hm? Unless you’d prefer to sulk with me until sunrise, I’m not picky.” He crosses one leg over the other and bounces his foot with as much absentmindedness as he can manage. Maybe you won’t act so closed off if he doesn’t give you a reason to be.
He glances back at you before looking away again. He doesn’t want to look at you too hard, just in case you feel his eyes.
You let out a shaky breath. “I just…I-I feel so stupid,” you sniffle. “I’m too old to still be scared by bad dreams. It shouldn’t be this big of a deal. I should be better than this, shouldn’t I?”
Oh.
Each word further tightens some invisible ligature around his heart. A nerve he didn’t know was there has just been struck like a mallet against a gong, and his chest trembles when he takes in his next breath. When you’re taught to be alone, that you are alone, whether you like it or not, it doesn’t often occur to you that someone else may have the words to match your thoughts.
In an instant, a thousand sleepless nights flash before his eyes. He sees the four walls of this room in endless dimensions, and he feels the despair that’s been hanging over him by a thread drop all at once and crash to the floor in infinite, splintering shards.
It’s a relief.
“No,” he replies. The word feels so far away.
You just about gape at him in confusion. “What?”
“No, I don’t think that at all. You asked me, didn’t you? What did you expect me to say?”
“Well, I…I don’t know. I-I just didn’t think you’d say that.”
A sardonic grin ghosts across his lips before he pulls his expression back into a mask of sober patience.
“Ah, I see,” he chuckles, “you wanted me to grab you by the shoulders and tell you to snap out of it, to get it together, and to stop acting like such a baby. Am I right?”
You scoff in annoyance. He must be right on the mark.
“It would make more sense,” you reply, “you’re dealing with it a lot better than I am.”
“What makes you think that?” The question comes out half-genuine, half-amused. It’s such a human thing to presume everyone else must be getting on so much easier than you, but then again, he’s just as much human as he is vampire, isn’t he?
“Oh, please. Just look at you,” you huff, vaguely gesturing in his direction. “I can’t imagine a man like you being afraid of much of anything, let alone bad dreams. You live in a haunted castle, for god’s sake. N-No offense, sir.”
He can’t stifle a laugh at that. The villagers must have filled your head with crazy stories after all.
“First of all, it’s not haunted, just damn old,” he corrects with a wave of his hand, “and second of all, you’d be surprised.”
You look back at him with disbelief, but you also sit up a bit straighter than before. He gives you a soft smile that warms a bit of the chill nipping at your fingertips. A quiet understanding settles between you two that he’s never felt with anyone before, and he wonders for a moment how much time he’s wasted trying to string together words that would never earn any appreciation from those who haven’t undergone the same misery.
He doesn’t hear the wind anymore.
A strange request crawls its way up his throat, seemingly from nowhere, and although he wrestles with it briefly, he lets it speak.
“May I touch your back?”
There’s a faded memory in the back of his head that makes it feel like an appropriate ask. You’re not so convinced, but you nod nonetheless.
A pale hand reaches up to press its cool palm into your back. The gentle touch remains still at first, and then starts to work into slow circles over the fabric of your nightshirt. His skin warms up against yours, and he watches as the anxiety keeping your muscles taut begins to melt away.
“That feels nice,” you whisper. The words fall from your lips like running water, like they weren’t meant to come out, but you didn’t bother to stop them either.
“I know,” he says, “my mother used to do it for me when I was a boy. Granted, the things that scared me back then were little more than tall tales, but the feelings are quite the same.”
“Mm…”
For the first time that night, you’re at ease enough to let the tiredness show. A lazy yawn meanders across your lips and makes your eyelids droop. Someone is long overdue for sleep–two someones, actually. Alucard barely manages to bite back a yawn of his own.
He gives a few final strokes to your back before he has to pull his hand away. The loss of contact prompts you to turn to him, and he’s already slipping under the covers. He hasn’t asked you to leave, but you must think that’s his subtle way of telling you to get lost, because you rise from your seat and turn towards the door without a word.
“Where are you going?” He asks, and you stop dead in your tracks.
“I’ve taken up enough of your time,” you murmur. “I should get back to my room.”
“I wasn’t going to make you do that. I was actually enjoying having you here.”
“...Really?”
He nods and moves over to one side of the bed. Much like he had before, he pats the space next to him.
“Would you like to stay for the night?”
You curl in on yourself like a scolded child, fidgeting with your hands and shyly glancing back at him. You really are just like a stray pet he took in off the street.
He pulls aside the covers for you, extending his arm and making his offer clear. With your tail still tucked between your legs, you return to his bedside.
“Maybe we’ll both feel better with some company,” he ponders aloud as you climb onto the mattress next to him, “or at least we can wake up screaming together.”
That at least makes you smirk at the utter absurdity of the thought.
You settle in next to him, making sure to keep as respectful a distance as you can without rolling off the side. You lie down on your stomach and clutch one of the pillows in your arms under your head. Alucard turns over onto his side to face you.
“Comfortable?”
“Yessir.”
“Good.”
Another yawn leaves you, and this time, he returns it. The weariness is setting in fast. His bed feels so much cozier than before.
Just before his eyes fall shut, he reaches out to lay a tender hand across your back, fingers splayed over your spine. You don’t tense under his touch. He likes that.
“Goodnight, Sir Alucard,” you mumble, already drifting off.
He sighs. “It’s just Alucard.”
“Ah. Goodnight, Alucard.”
“Mm. Sweet dreams.”
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Amidst a snowy Christmas Eve beneath the shadow of his ancestral castle, the dhampire Adrian finds his eternal heart captured by a woman's kindness, resolving to protect her sanctuary.
Rating: General audiences
Relationships: Alucard(Adrian Tepes) x reader
The village lay nestled in the valley, a vibrant splash of life beneath the severe, silent silhouette of the castle, a structure whose grim history had been reduced by time and distance to a mere, daunting shadow. Today, that shadow was mitigated by a vision of perfect winter charm. Thick, uncompromising flakes of snow had fallen since dawn, blanketing the narrow, winding streets, the sturdy thatched roofs, and the intricate, bare lacework of the ancient oak branches in a pristine, blinding white. The usual rustle of the leaves was muffled; the world was an exercise in perfect quiet.
Below, bundled children, rosy-cheeked and loud, carved out a miniature world of fun, shaping squat snowmen and peppering each other with soft, packed ammunition. Some might have said that some snowmen, with sticks poking from their mouths, may have held resemblance to a certain dhampire.
Inside a small, sturdy cottage, set near the deep, hushed edge of the woods, a quiet carol was being hummed. You, the occupant, moved with purpose, arranging a simple but deliberately festive spread on a polished wooden table. A wreath of dark pine and bright, sharp holly, fresh from the cold, hung on the inward-opening door, and the air was a rich, comforting blend of cloves, pine sap, and the sweet steam of simmering cider. A sudden, soft rattle startled you, the sound sharp against the gentle background hum of the fire. The ancient windowpanes rattled once, a tiny, shivering percussion. You paused, a half-peeled orange suspended in your hand. You knew that particular, familiar rattle. It was too soft, too intentional to be the caprice of the wind.
A faint, private smile touched your lips. Setting the orange down, you pulled a thick, hand-knitted shawl over your shoulders, the wool a deep, comforting crimson, and walked toward the door. You opened it just a crack, letting in a single, sharp current of chilled, cider-scented air. Standing on your porch, dusted lightly with the persistent, fresh powder, was 'Thee' Alucard.
Here, away from the cavernous, ancestral gloom of his castle and the weight of his father’s legacy, he was less imposing. The naturally severe, high lines of his face were softened by the constant, drifting fall of snow, which caught on his lashes like frost. The rich, velvet fabrics of his heavy coat seemed almost mundane against the sparkling, unforgiving white of the landscape that reflected in the unusual gold of his eyes. His long, pale hair lay across his shoulders, slightly dampened by the snow that had woven itself through the strands. Though he held his posture with the effortless rigidity of his kind, he did not shiver. In one elegantly gloved hand, he carried a small, intricately carved wooden box.
“Adrian!” You greeted, allowing the warm, familiar sound of the name he permitted you, the name of the man, not the vampire, to escape your lips. “You’re late. I thought the wolves might have gotten to you.”
His lips curved into the faintest, most private of smiles, a subtle, fleeting movement rarely witnessed by any other soul in the world.
“The wolves know better than to impede my journey. Besides,” Adrian added, his voice low and smooth as polished stone, “I promised to sample your spiced apple brew.” He stepped across the threshold, and you immediately pulled the heavy, iron-latched door shut, sealing the cottage and trapping the sudden rush of warmth and the rich scent of the hearth inside. Adrian paused just inside the entrance, his unnatural stillness absorbing the atmosphere. His golden eyes swept over the small, cheerful space: the low ceiling, the crackling firelight dancing on simple, scrubbed wood, the scent of life. The contrast to the oppressive, echoing grandeur of his own ancestral castle was stark; this cottage was warm, alive, and vibrantly, beautifully human.
You stepped forward and, without a word, began to take his cloak, shaking the fine layer of snow from the rich wool.
“You’ll catch a chill,” you teased, the absurdity of the statement, spoken to a creature who felt neither human warmth nor cold, ringing lightly in the air. “Sit. The fire is perfect.”
Adrian settled into the wooden armchair you indicated to, his unnaturally long, elegant limbs folding with effortless grace. He accepted the thick earthenware mug of steaming cider, the fragrant liquid warming his hands. You watched as he lifted it slowly, taking a contemplative, measured sip.
“This… is excellent,” he admitted, his voice a deep, resonant rumble that always seemed to vibrate deep in your chest, sending a familiar, pleasant shiver down your spine. He set the mug down gently. “This… is Christmastime, as the villagers term it, is it not?”
“It is,” you confirmed, settling into the chair opposite him, hands curled around your own mug. The peaceful silence that fell between you was not empty, but thick with unspoken history and easy affection. “The eve of Christmas Day. A time for light, for hope, and… well, for sharing.” You gestured toward a plate of freshly baked gingerbread, the cookies cut into festive shapes.Adrian followed your gaze, then reached for the small, carved wooden box he had placed on the table between yourselves and slid it toward you. “Then I suppose I should honor the tradition.” His golden eyes locked with yours. “I brought you something.”
You looked down at the box. It was exquisitely crafted, carved with intricate, flowing patterns that you suspected were ancient Wallachian designs, perhaps centuries old. You reached for the lid, lifting it gingerly, hesitantly, as if seeking implicit permission to look inside. You knew he was serious, but the gravity of receiving anything from the former Count’s son always made you pause.
As the lid lifted, the firelight inside the cottage seemed to intensify. Nestled on dark blue velvet lining was a simple, perfect silver locket. It was antique, unadorned by jewels, its surface polished to a mirror shine that reflected a warped, elongated image of the fire's flame. It was beautiful, undeniably precious, and likely priceless.
“Adrian… this is too much." You whispered, gazing up at him, the weight of the gift sudden and heavy in the small room.
He met your eyes, and the sheer, focused intensity of his attention, a force usually reserved for scholarly texts or battlefield strategies, made your heart flutter against your ribs.
“Nonsense,” he countered, his tone absolute. “The human world still holds treasures, and you have need of protection. It is blessed, if that eases your mind.” A beat passed, then he added, an unusual softness in the command: “Wear it.”
As you lifted the jewelry with delicate fingers and carefully fastened the locket around your neck, Adrian watched. He had seen thousands of winters, endured countless centuries of solitude, and witnessed the rise and fall of nations. He had not expected to be here, in this small, vibrant room, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the hearth. You stroked the locket that now sat between your collarbones.
"Thank you, Adrian. For thinking of me."
You were so utterly good, never fearing him, never asking him for favors, and treating him not as the legendary dhampir, the great warrior, or the son of a monster, but simply as a quiet, occasionally brooding man named Adrian.
The faint, muffled chorus of the village carols drifted through the heavily insulated walls, a sweet, melancholic counterpoint to the crackle of the hearth. You leaned forward, reaching for the long iron poker to stoke the embers, and the subtle movement caused the new silver locket to catch the firelight, flashing a single, brilliant spark against the vulnerable curve of your throat.
In that instant, Adrian saw not just a friendly face, but the absolute, undeniable truth.
It wasn't merely comfort he sought here. It wasn't just the relief of escaping the echoing chill of his endless castle, or the temporary distraction from his burdened immortality. It was a singular, powerful gravitational pull. He realized, with startling clarity, that he preferred the mundane, domestic scent of your cottage, cloves, cider, and woodsmoke, to the stone dust and dead air of his ancestral tomb. He valued the clear, melodic sound of your laughter above the silence that had pressed in on him nightly for centuries. He looked at you now, framed by the soft, mutable golden light of the flames, your eyes shining with a simple, genuine happiness that transcended the world's complexities. This, he realized with a shock that was more profound than any battlefield wound, more destabilizing than confronting his own father’s madness, 'this is where I belong.'
He was not merely visiting a kindly acquaintance to pass the time. He was seeking a sanctuary only you could provide. He desired your presence, the quiet strength of your kindness, and the grounding clarity of your human perspective. More fiercely, he felt the imperative to ensure your safety, to stand as a solitary, protective bulwark between you and the inevitable cruelties of the world he knew intimately.
He was in love with you.
It was an impossible, overwhelming, and terrifying affection, the kind his father had felt, a love that had begun as something pure and ultimately turned monstrous. Adrian gripped the warm mug in his hands, the sudden, fierce realization nearly shattering his composure. He watched you pour him another cup, your movements unhurried, graceful, and utterly precious. He knew he could not, should not, tell you. He was a being of darkness, longevity, and endless conflict; you were fragile and fleeting. To involve you directly in his existence would be an act of supreme, unforgivable selfishness, perhaps even a death sentence.
But knowing it, knowing that this deep, centuries-old heart had been wholly captured by this woman in a simple cottage on a winter's night was a revelation that settled like pure, warm sunshine into the cold chasms of his soul. It was the only true, unalloyed light in the thousand years of shadows he had endured.
He took a slow, deliberate breath, the monumental realization settling into the deep, quiet places of his being. He spoke your name, his voice softer than before, perhaps betraying a faint, unsteady tremor. You turned to him fully, your expression open, warm, and inviting.
“Yes, Adrian?”
He paused, reorganizing the chaotic rush of feeling into a single, simple, actionable statement, a commitment he could physically uphold.
“I… shall return tomorrow. To ensure the festivities are not disturbed. I will patrol the woods until dawn.”
You smiled then, a sweet, radiant smile that made his inner vampire preen with a pride he hadn't realized he possessed.
“I know you will,” you said softly. “I’ll have a freshly baked treat waiting for your return, just to ensure you stay warm.”
Adrian simply nodded, the promise unspoken but heavy in his golden eyes. He would patrol the woods. He would patrol the village. He would guard the whole valley. He would guard his heart’s sanctuary. It was the best, most profound Christmas gift a solitary dhampir could ever receive.
Living in a huge castle alone with Alucard is a little scary sometimes. He doesn't mean for it to be, but it is. You've heard some echos of the main door being opened or closed while you're in a different room. The loud sounds can be a little scary on its own. But tonight? Tonight is even unintentionally worse!
You were going to the kitchen to find a midnight snack. Out of the corner of your eye, you see a wolf. You jump a little bit, but then you realize it's just your boyfriend.
"For gods sake Alucard! Why are you a wolf?"
He transforms back into his original self.
"I'm cold. So, I turned into a wolf to get warm."
"I didn't know you could get cold."
"Well, I am part human too. It's that time of year where the weather is getting cooler."
He leaves the room to go do something else after giving you a hug and a kiss for scaring you by accident.
Thirty minutes go by.
You're on your way to the library because you feel like reading a book will help you get sleepy.
When you enter, you notice a rocking chair moving back and forth but you don't see Alucard.
Your immediate thought is that there's a ghost in the castle.
You run out of the room and into the main hall and you call for your boyfriend.
"Alucard! There's a ghost in the library! What do I do?!"
Guess who you see coming out of the room? Alucard.
He doesn't do or say anything, he only gives you a stare.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t see you in there.”
He sighs, "I was slumped in the rocking chair. Of course you wouldn't have been able to see me."
"Does this place have ghosts though?"
"No. You've been living here long enough to know that by now."
You can tell your boyfriend is slightly annoyed. You go into the library and leave him on his own.
After your time in the library, you head to your bedroom because you're finally sleepy enough.
You notice Alucard laying in bed when you enter the room.
As soon as you lay down, he wraps his arm around you and pulls you closer to him.
"Maybe you'll feel safe if I cling onto you as we're sleeping."
"Are you not mad at me for pretty much overreacting tonight?"
"Of course I'm not mad. This place really is huge and has that creepy feeling. Trust me though, I would never scare you on purpose."
"I know. It's just that time of the month where spookier things happen and then there's just giant dark castle that we live in to match the atmosphere."
He kisses the back of your neck.
"Try to get some sleep, I'll see you in the morning. Unless you have a nightmare in the middle of the night or something."
Summary: Vlad has been away from the castle for some time, promising upon return he'd dedicate a full night simply spoiling you in whatever capacity you needed. You were simply overjoyed with your plan to surprise him with a romantic night of carnal intimacy. However, things don't play out quite how you planned...
His footsteps inched toward the bed, pausing briefly as he seemed to reach toward the curtains. Excitement swelled in your chest; you were practically vibrating now.
Suddenly the canopy parted, the figure revealing himself.
"Human." He hissed in a sinister, accented voice.
You stepped into your finest lacy lingerie suit and your most elegant night robe and set off to your bedroom to patiently await Vlad's arrival.
Though you deemed it far too lavish a place to rest, you treasured the canopy bed Vlad gifted you at this moment, reclining quite salaciously under the cover of its opaque black curtains.
"Surely this will leave Vlad incapable of resisting me." You chirped, quite confidently.
The sound of approaching footsteps made you eager, but in bed you remained, curtains drawn.
The door opened slowly and you listened as he took a bit of a pause. Likely marveling at the ornate candles you lit to set the mood.
Much too eager to conceal your presence any longer, you called out to him.
"Vlad~" You sang, rolling onto your back. "Come join me, my beloved."
His footsteps inched toward the bed, pausing briefly as he seemed to reach toward the curtains. Excitement swelled in your chest; you were practically vibrating now.
Suddenly the canopy parted, the figure revealing himself.
"Human." He hissed in a sinister, accented voice.
He climbed into the bed, making his way toward you and you shrieked, scrambling past the floor length canopy and falling to the floor.
"Oh, don't run, little lamb. You'll only make this funner for me!" He laughed, ripping open the curtain as you raced toward the door.
"Vlad!" You screamed, freezing as, seemingly within an instant, the man appeared right before you, grinning wide enough to bare all four of his slavering fangs.
He didn't look human—razor sharp nails, pointed ears, spiked red hair, and deathly pale skin—yet he behaved nothing like Vlad ever has.
"And you're dressed like a little slut? I'm gonna enjoy devouring you."
He grabbed at you, just narrowly missing your arm, and, in your last ditch effort to protect yourself, cowered to the floor.
"P-please don't hurt me."
His hands fell upon you, grabbing around your jaw, tilting your head up toward himself. A twisted smile on his face, his nails pressed into your flesh of your cheeks, death felt eminent—
"Stop." Vlad's voice growled.
Frozen in disbelief, you looked over to see Vlad standing in the doorway, a truly hostile expression upon his face.
"Back away from her. Now." His voice was dark and unholy, lowering in pitch as he spoke.
You were frozen, seemingly paralyzed under the equally shocked gaze of the man in front of you.
"Y/N." Vlad's voice normalized, snapping you out of your frightened trance. "Come here." Though just as commanding, his tone was much softer than before.
Skeptical of your intruder, slowly you inched to your feet before rushing into Vlad's arms. Avoiding the similar look of disgust upon the intruders face as he glared back at Vlad.
"Lord Dracula." The man growled in a clear accent. "Who the hell is this bitc—” “—She." Vlad interrupted. "Is none of your concern."
"What is she doing here? In your manor? In your bedroom?"
"She is not open for discussion, Godbrand."
"A fucking human!" He roared. Indignant fury somehow morphing into raucous laughter. "I thought you were a little demented, but it turns out you're completely fucking insane."
"You dare speak to me in that tone?"
Vlad's grip on you tensed, sending chills down your form.
"Do you really expect us to follow you, knowing you're still chasing after these cattle whores like old times?"
Vlad's face darkened as he started toward Godbrand, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him inches above the floor. The quickness with which Godbrand's expression changed to pure horror was almost comical.
"This woman is no whore. She will answer to no less than Lady Y/N. Disrespect her again and I guarantee your head will decorate my compost pile. Understand?"
Godbrand frantically nodded, not daring to speak even a word out of turn.
"Do not forget who you answer to. My word is final and will not be challenged. Especially not by the likes of you, you insolent, pathetic imp. Apologize to her. Now."
He dropped Godbrand to the floor who swiftly retreated back a few steps before speaking.
"I-I'm sorry, Lady Y/N. I-I should not have behaved in such a way and used such foul language. P-please accept my fullest apology."
"You'll be lucky if she does, even then you won't deserve it. Now get out."
You gripped your robe, rushing to Vlad's side as Godbrand scrambled his way out of the room.
Vlad secured his arms around you, pulling you close against his chest. His familiar scent slowed your heartbeat which had grown intensely rapid during the whole ordeal.
"I'm sorry you had to witness that, my love." Vlad whispered. "Godbrand can be truly barbaric toward humans, but I do not share the same values. Did he hurt you? I will smite him for every wound he laid upon yo—"
You shook your head willing the words from your lips as you gazed up at him.
"I'm fine, Vlad. But I'm very tired, and would just like to go to bed."
The look of disappointment on his face was evident as his eyes traced over your exposed lingerie suit.
"Did I ruin your plans to spend the night together?" Guilt hung heavy in his brows.
You smiled, clearing up his somber disposition. "I'd just like to be with you, my love."
He mirrored your smile, "I'm sure we can still arrange that."
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synopsis: After deciding to go out and protect the villagers under attack by yourself, your Husband must tend to your wounds.
tags: angst, comfort, mentions of wounds/blood
a/n:ii blonde vampire men 🚬
w.c: 0.6k
⏦ﾟ♡︎ You grit your teeth as Alucard pushes a damp cloth against the wound in your side. The gash burns, it stings, but not nearly as much as the guilt crawling up your throat and urging to spill upon seeing the state of panic you’ve put your husband into.
"Hold still," he murmurs. His voice is still soft, but laced with that familiar feeling of restrained emotion, something the both of you were rather accustomed to as of late.
"I am holding still," you snap, more sharply than you intend, or wished- like a dog who doesn’t know why it bites.
His eyes flick up to yours. His amber eyes, always glowing, now dimmed.
"You went out alone." He says, still tending to you and avoiding your eyes.
"I had to. The village it was-"
"The village has their own guards. I thought we agreed- you agreed-you said you wouldn't leave the grounds without me. Again.”
You flinch- not from the cloth pressing into your tender flesh, but from the disappointment that flooded his expression.
"I just… didn't want to bother you." You confess.
Alucard freezes, the cloth in his hand soaked red.
"Is that what you think this is? A bother?" His voice is low, not dangerous, but trembling slightly enough for you to detect. "Do you think watching you bleed is something l'd rather deal with?"
You look away, throat tightening. "I didn't want you to worry."
"Well, it’s too late for that darling."
You wanted to argue. You want to say that you're not made of glass, that you've fought before, that you can take care of yourself and you don’t need him to protect you from everything in the world. But the words turn to ash when you meet his eyes again, finally, full of heartbreak.
Alucard drops the cloth and exhales slowly, letting it sink down the small bowl of water.
"When I found you...for a moment I didn’t think you were breathing." He exhales.
"I was," you whisper, reaching to hold his thumb.
"You were barely," he shoots back. "There was blood in the dirt, yours, so much I coult smell it. I thought-" He cuts himself off, jaw tightening.
You tighten your hand, shaky and weak. "But I’m here now, Adrian…”.
He doesn't speak. Just brushing a strand of hair from your face, fingers ghosting against your skin.
"I'm sorry," you add, quieter this time. "I didn't think it'd get that bad."
He exhales through his nose, trying to cool the fire beneath his chest. "That's the problem.
“You didn't think."
Your lip trembles. "Do you really think I wanted this to happen?"
"I think you're reckless when it comes to your own life," he replies bitterly. "But not mine. Or anyone else's. You would die for anyone-but never let anyone risk themselves for you."
"You're not a burden. You're my wife."
You close your eyes, tears spilling over.
"I hate that you had to see me like that."
"I'd rather see you broken and breathing than not at all," he whispers, pressing his forehead to yours. "Please, listen to me now. It’s okay to need me. I want you to. As I do for you.”
Your voice is barely audible. "I don't know how to need someone without feeling weak."
"You don't need to be strong all the time," he murmurs. "Not with me. Let me carry you when you can't stand."
You nod slowly, finally allowing the weight of it all to rest on his shoulders.
"Im scared," you admit.
Alucard pulls you gently into his arms, careful of your wound. "So am I. But we'll be scared together."
He kisses your temple, your hair, the corner of your mouth. A thousand silent apologies.
whimsic4alwasab1 ™ - do not copy, translate, modify, or claim any of my work as your own.
