Most believe that vampires do not exist. That they're just an old tale that has been reused countless times in the forms of horror in romance. But you know otherwise. After all, vampires do have a special affection for you for reasons unknown. Delving into the world of the night is something totally different though. Especially for someone who’s been trying to avoid these creatures that practically hunt you.
But then, one step closer in the form of a vampire you accidentally befriend and the slope becomes slippery.
It’s time you learned what happens during hours in the moonlight by the side of vampires who come in the form of friends, allies, and potentially foes.
Here it is! My Twisted Wonderland Vampire AU! I hope you all enjoy!!
Part 1 of Hours in the Moonlight: Fairest Midnight Master-List
Part 2 of Hours in the Moonlight: Persevering Afterlight Master-List
Part 3 of Hours in the Moonlight: Guileful Nightfall Master-List
Part 4 of Hours in the Moonlight: Somnolent Gloaming Master-List
Part 5 of Hours in the Moonlight: Solitary Eventide Master-List
Part 6 of Hours in the Moonlight: Fathomless Vespers Master-List
Part 7 of Hours in the Moonlight: Rose Red Dawn Masterlist
If you would like to read more fics like these, my Twisted Wonderland Master-List can be found here: Twisted Wonderland Master-List.
Hours in the Moonlight: Fathomless Vespers - 12. Buying Time
Summary: Simply put, there couldn’t be anything good about Azul and the twins suddenly taking off from the Mostro Lounge out of nowhere and leaving only a note behind to let you know. And really that only left you one option. To go track down the trio and see what was going on.
Series Type: Gender-neutral reader/ Vampire AU/ series/ romantic/ angst/ angst with comfort/ fluff/ sfw/ platonic interactions too!
Trigger Warning: Vampire
Word Count: 1580
Hours in the Moonlight Master-List
I strolled down the street with a slight frown on my face. But then I was confused.
When I’d gotten to the Mostro Lounge this evening, there had been a note waiting on me telling me that something had come up so the restaurant was going to be closed and that if I needed to speak to the three young men I’d been working for the past little bit, to go to the nearby docks.
I’d hesitated before setting out for the waterfront, where most people went on dates or spent their weekends fishing. But in truth, I wasn’t sure if I ought to go or not.
There was nothing overly pressing to talk about, but then I didn’t know if Azul would rather I wait until they were back in the restaurant to tell them that I’d successfully convinced all of the clans.
It had taken a bit of effort to convince Leona, but, as I’d predicted to Vil, he’d eventually agreed, if grudgingly. Though he had asserted that he wasn’t about to make any deals with the Azul and that the Octavinelle trio had better not be expecting anything from him.
I’d ended up having to tell him about the entire deal I had with them to get him to agree, but I doubted I would tell Azul about that. After all, Leona wasn’t exactly out to go ruining other clans just because he could.
And, either way, Falena had seemed perfectly thrilled with the idea when he’d burst in while I was talking to Leona. But then Falena reminded me of a larger Kalim in a lot of ways.
All in all, I’d had very little difficulty with my side of the deal, and I’d actually gotten it handled far faster than I’d expected.
I strolled idly along, not in any great rush as I walked along. And the stroll gave me time to think.
And while I hadn’t really considered it until now, it was odd that Crowley hadn’t sent anyone to check up on how the evaluation was going. Normally he would’ve already sent someone by now.
I could only hope the reason for the radio silence was that he was giving me extra time because I was dealing with a clan that the majority of people deemed tricky at best.
The wary part of me whispered that I was probably being overconfident in thinking that, but I also refused to let myself go down the long path of worrying.
There was nothing necessarily wrong, and worrying about it just meant I would suffer twice.
I was about to let myself drown in thoughts of what might happen. Not when I needed to focus on the present instead.
After all, I was sort of worried about Azul and the twins. It wasn’t like Azul, or the twins for that matter, to suddenly close up shop with no warning, so whatever had come up must be quite serious.
I just hoped nothing was wrong.
My pace sped up ever so slightly as I continued to walk down the sidewalk before I heard it.
Footsteps. Unhurried, but maintaining a certain distance from me as I walked along.
I didn’t bother looking around. I knew better than to do that. Instead, I continued walking along as if nothing were amiss.
I swallowed slightly, though, feeling my grip tighten on my bag’s straps as I did my best to place exactly where the footsteps were coming from without glancing around.
It sounded like they were close by, not directly behind me, but still back there.
I turned a corner and spotted them through my peripheral vision. A flash of red-orange eyes that peered out at me from a side street just behind me.
It had been quite some time since I’d been followed like this, and I had to fight the urge to quicken my pace.
I wasn’t far from the docks now, and once I reached the water, I would be largely cornered. But, if I were lucky, I could use the water to my advantage.
Vampires were bad to abuse the fact that their prey was usually frightened, and their favorite tactic was usually to use their enhanced speed and simply launch themselves at their prey.
There was a good chance this one would make a wild dive at me, and if I timed a simple dodge correctly, then they would go directly into the water. That would buy me time so that I could get a weapon out and fight.
If I were lucky, and this vampire wasn’t insane, I wouldn’t have to kill them.
Reasoning with hungry vampires was hardly the easiest or safest option, but with some luck, I could possibly manage and not have to spill any blood tonight.
And if I were really, really lucky, the vampire wouldn’t be able to swim.
I managed not to run the rest of the way to my location, though I inevitably did pick up my pace as I forced myself to glance behind me every few steps.
But as soon as I got to the docks, I whirled. Putting my back to the dark water as I turned to face my follower only to find no one there.
I frowned, even more unsettled than I had been before as I scanned the entire area for any sight of them.
There was no way they’d just given up. The only way they’d do that would be if this area was viewed as another vampire’s area and they didn’t want to go up against them. And if that were the case, then this vampire most definitely wasn’t insane.
I shifted, unzipping my bag and reaching in to grasp a stake as I kept my eyes on the street in front of me.
As if on cue, they appeared, and I felt myself freeze. A chill going up my spine and my eyes widening as I realized, just a little bit too late, what a massive mistake I’d made.
Because there wasn’t just one vampire. There were four.
In the middle was the one with the red-orange eyes I’d seen before. His lips curled up in a grin, but at this distance I couldn’t tell if it was a maniacal or sane grin.
Hunting in groups… I didn’t know if that meant these vampires were sane because they were working together or just insane and desperate for food.
“One little hunter all alone. What will you do without anyone to protect you?” I grimaced at the tone the darker-haired woman used. Her voice was high, and the general tone was sweet, with a distinct undertone of playfulness. But her voice, on its own, was more what one would expect from the next top song on the radio rather than a vampire cooing at her prey.
Because that’s exactly what I was to them. Prey.
But at least with her I was certain she wasn’t sane. She couldn’t be with the way she was swaying to some music only she could hear as she eyed me with openly hungry eyes.
I took a step back as they closed in, their pace unhurried as I pasted on a smile, “If you know who I am, then you should know better than to do this. The head-vampire probably won’t take kindly to you attacking one of his people.”
I wore my fake bravado like it was armor as my hand shifted to the crossbow in my bag and pulled it out instead.
Loading it would take some time, but I had better chances of success with it than I did with staking them by hand. Especially taking their numbers into account.
“I don’t think he’ll bother too much with you. Looks to us like he’s already abandoned you with the Octavinelle clan,” I frowned as I recognized the speaker. He was a common guest at the Mostro Lounge.
I all but grimaced as I tugged a stake out of my bag, putting two and two together easily as I glanced around the quartet of vampires and realized I’d seen all of them in the restaurant, “So you’ve been staking out the restaurant?”
The other woman giggled at my words, “Who would’ve thought we’d go to get dinner only to find a choice meal waiting on tables?”
She toyed with her pale blonde hair as she spoke, her blue-green eyes scanning me up and down as the one with red-orange eyes snorted, “We just had to wait until those three goons weren’t around.”
I could only assume that ‘those three goons’ were Azul, Jade, and Floyd.
“Goons seems like kind of a rude way to put it, don’t you think, Shrimpy?” My eyes widened at the familiar but notably lower-than-usual voice, and, without even thinking, I spun.
Floyd’s hands appeared first. Large, green, and webbed hands that braced themselves on the weather-worn wood as he pulled himself up and out of the water so that he was leaning over the edge of the dock I stood on.
And in no way was this Floyd that I was used to. Not only was this Floyd much larger and greener with what appeared to be a tail, but this Floyd didn’t have the same charm that I’d grown used to.
Instead, he was eyeing the vampires behind me with a grin that promised pain and, despite everything, had me letting out a breath I hadn’t even known I’d been holding in, admittedly questionable, relief.
Hours in the Moonlight: Fathomless Vespers - 10. A Deal
Summary: Making a deal with the devil was always a bad choice, but you were beginning to feel like the Octavinelle trio weren’t a set of devils, or even demons, at all. Though they still could be incredibly fiendish.
Series Type: Gender-neutral reader/ Vampire AU/ series/ romantic/ angst/ angst with comfort/ fluff/ sfw/ platonic interactions too!
Trigger Warning: Vampire
Word Count: 1641
Hours in the Moonlight Master-List
I stared at Azul, my eyes wide as I realized that I’d approached dealing with this entire clan the wrong way from the very start. Here I’d been convinced that they were after information on me that they could sell, and apparently that wasn’t the case.
Were they even after anything? I’d made that assumption early just based on everyone else's views, but realistically speaking, I should’ve known better than that. I’d seen enough clans now that didn’t necessarily meet expectations.
It was a harsh reminder of the simple lesson I’d learned after meeting Vil. I couldn’t just judge people based on expectations. Vil hadn’t been the monster I’d initially expected him to be all those years ago, and now these three men hadn’t been after information on me to sell to the highest bidder at all.
“Aw, I bet the rumors got you all confused, didn’t they, Shrimpy?” Floyd’s arm wrapped back around me, tugging me against him and squeezing me to him until I began to wiggle uncomfortably at the tightness of his grip.
“Well, Sam said⏤”
“Ah, he told you to be careful of us because we’d sell any information we got on you, didn’t he?” Jade’s grin was most certainly teasing as he rested his forefinger against his chin and shook his head with faux pity.
I nodded glumly, not even bothering to try and defend myself anymore. It was obvious that they already knew exactly what had happened. I could only hope they wouldn’t take offense even though they had every right to.
Jade’s gaze rested on me amusedly before his teeth flashed into view as he glanced over at Azul with a grin, “Not that he was wrong, of course.”
“Nope~,” Floyd cooed his agreement in a singsong tone, and it was a fight not to gape at them as Azul rolled his eyes.
“Really, the two of you make us sound awful,” He shook his head with an annoyed sound before looking at me and leaning forward. His fingers lacing together as he propped his elbows on the table and smiled at me.
And I knew it was just a hair's-breadth away from the charming smile he used to get people to spill all their secrets, but that hair's-breadth was a world of difference for Azul. I’d already learned that from my time working here.
“We were never after information on you, Angelfish,” He held my stare unflinchingly as he spoke.
“Though we wouldn’t have been upset to get some,” Jade was already grinning before Azul ever shot him a look as Floyd snickered.
“Azul said your connections were far more important than any information you could give us,” Floyd squeezed me lightly before releasing just enough so he could lean back and look at me as I blinked in confusion.
“My connections?” I echoed his words as I glanced over at Azul only to see the man glaring at Floyd.
At odds with the other man, Jade merely shook his head. Smiling indulgently at his brother even as he sighed, “Really, Floyd. There’s no need to go telling them everything.”
“Hm, but Shrimpy’s curious, ain’tcha?” Floyd glanced my way with a sharp-toothed grin that had me slowly nodding.
Ignoring his tone for the moment, I couldn’t deny that Floyd was right. If these three men had been after something this whole time, then I was curious about what it was.
Azul sighed as soon as I nodded, frowning slightly, “I suppose you would be.”
I blinked at his sullen muttering before feeling a smile work its way onto my face as I looked across the table at him.
“You know, I might actually help you or whatever it is you’re wanting if you actually talk to me about it,” My words caught Azul wholly off guard, and I watched as his eyes went wide.
I fought the urge to blink in surprise as I belatedly realized what pretty eyes he actually had.
Pale blue and reminiscent of a winter sky that was threatening rain. Not the sort of eyes one would expect from a ruthless vampire that only wanted to use others in a way that would best maximize profits.
The only real question was whether or not this was a situation in which appearances were deceiving.
I was no fool. I was confident that Azul could be utterly ruthless, enough so that Crowley and Sam both seemed wary of him, to say nothing of Rook and Vil. But I also recognized that Azul was being surprisingly patient with me and that both he and the twins had all been ensuring that I came to no harm while I was here.
Floyd let out a soft sigh, letting his chin rest on my shoulder once more as he leaned his head over to bump up against mine, “Shrimpy really is kind.”
Jade nodded his agreement, his gaze flicking over so that he was smiling at me before he shook his head, “Yes, enough so that I worry that they’ll get taken advantage of.”
I knew perfectly well they were teasing me, but I didn’t argue the point. After all, I was fairly certain that Vil personally worried about my getting taken advantage of by these three in particular.
But Rook had told me to be myself, and if I didn’t like what I heard, then I knew I could withdraw quickly. I could give these men a chance and still be cautious at the same time. After all, I had my limits just like anyone else.
Azul shook his head, a smile crossing his face that was both fond and exasperated, “I’m beginning to understand how it is that you’ve won over so many clans already…”
I frowned at his soft murmur, unable to quite make out the words. I leaned forward until Floyd wouldn’t let me pull away from him any further in an attempt to better hear Azul, “What?”
Judging from the look Jade was giving Azul, it had to be something amusing and Azul quickly shook his head. Easily shifting into the businesslike persona that he seemed far more comfortable with, “Nothing. But you make a good point, Angelfish. We can hardly have a deal if you don’t know what’s expected of you.”
I felt my eyebrows rise at both his words and the charming smile that was now spread across his face before I sat back, crossing my arms slightly, “And what deal is it that you’re wanting to make?”
Azul all but beamed at me, “Allow me to explain. Crowley doesn’t trust us.”
Right on cue, Jade shook his head with a mock-hurt expression, “Even after we’ve distributed so much legal blood and done so much to try and make a life here amongst the other clans, he’s still wary of us.”
I almost snorted as all three men gave an exaggerated sigh, Floyd slipping over to the side and releasing me as he did so.
Azul recovered in record time from his seeming heartbreak, though, causing me to roll my eyes at his dramatics even as he continued, “But you can change that, Angelfish! You have connections that we don’t. If you could just tell all of them that we’re trustworthy….”
He trailed off meaningfully, and I felt myself smiling at him, shaking my head slightly, “Azul, I’m surprised you haven’t already figured this out, but Crowley and I don’t have the best relationship. And even if I could convince him⏤”
“Oh, you’ll be repaid, I can assure you of that. And we don’t expect you to convince Crowley. I was thinking more along the lines of the other clans.” Azul’s expression turned cunning as he interrupted, grinning at me like he’d already won, and this time I didn’t bother restraining my amused snort.
“You want me to tell the other clans that you're trustworthy. How will that help if Crowley is the one who doesn’t trust you?” I watched as all three men grinned, their expressions positively devious as Azul leaned across the table in an amusingly conspiratorial nature.
“Think of it this way, Angelfish. If the clans trust us, then what can Crowley do? Going against the masses and expecting victory is just setting yourself up for failure,” I stilled slightly at his words before smiling.
I had to hand it to Azul; he was clever. Win over the people, and you beat the leader with sheer numbers.
Floyd tilted his head, grinning at me, “Like Azul said the other night. You’re probably Crowley’s greatest weapon. But you can also be his biggest enemy, Shrimpy.”
I blinked slightly before I felt a smile creep across my face at Floyd’s words. I twisted, leaning forward before propping myself on the table, “Okay, your plan makes sense, but what makes you think you can pay me back? There might not be anything I want.”
I tilted my head at him and watched as Azul’s grin only spread. I heard Floyd snicker from beside me as Jade chuckled softly.
Azul sat back, adjusting his glasses, “Oh, Angelfish. You and I both know everyone has something they want. I assure you that you’ll be paid back in full.”
I mirrored his actions, sitting back relaxedly as he continued, his eyes alight with smug victory, “So do we have a deal?”
I let out a soft laugh before nodding and holding out my hand silently. Azul smiled back at me, his hand clasping mine carefully as we shook lightly, “Pleasure to be working with you.”
Azul shook his head lightly, “Oh no, Angelfish,” He leaned forward, looking up at me through his eyelashes as he smiled smugly, “The pleasure is all mine.”
And at this point, instead of going still at his actions like I did the first time he’d done this, I only tilted my head with a smile.
Hours in the Moonlight: Fathomless Vespers - 14. Quite Kind
Summary: In some ways it felt sort of ridiculous that, even after all this time, you could find yourself getting surprised by precisely how caring vampires could be. But here you were, getting further proof that vampires could be quite kind indeed.
Series Type: Gender-neutral reader/ Vampire AU/ series/ romantic/ angst/ angst with comfort/ fluff/ sfw/ platonic interactions too!
Trigger Warning: Vampire
Word Count: 2264
Hours in the Moonlight Master-List
Azul all but burst into my room as soon as I stepped to the side to let him and the twins in. I had to admit that it was a nice change of pace to have vampires use the door rather than the window, though.
“Angelfish, I heard what happened. Are you alright?” Azul’s hands were grasping mine tightly in an instant. The grip was almost crushing, and spoke of carefully restrained strength and I found myself staring at him. Silently pondering what his mer-form might be like after having seen the twins’ last night even in the midst of my genuine surprise.
I honestly didn’t know what I’d expected from these three coming and visiting, but it hadn’t been this. Though perhaps I should have, considering Azul’s habit of being dramatic. And that wasn’t even pondering the question of how they knew where I lived… Perhaps all the clans did by now.
“I’m alright, Azul, I got home safe and sound. Jade and Floyd made sure I was alright before I left,” I laughed awkwardly as he continued to hold my hands. His eyes continuing to scan me for injury as he frowned slightly.
“He’s been worried about you since last night. I don’t think he’s ever changed forms that fast,” Floyd grinned at me from behind Azul, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d wholly imagined the concern on his face last night.
Today both him, and Jade seemed like they’d gone completely back to normal. Gone was any trace of the quiet worry and careful but silent analysis of my well-being before they’d withdrawn.
Azul scowled over at his friend, “Of course I was worried! You said they almost got hurt.” He looked back at me with a slight frown. As if he were disappointed but also questioning if what he’d been told was true.
And I nodded. Confirming his words before I carefully pulled my hands out of his tight grasp, “And I did. But I’m okay now. Like I said, Jade and Floyd both made sure I was alright.”
I gestured to the twins as I spoke, both of whom smiled at me before looking at Azul like they’d won some sort of argument.
In truth, what had happened last night still bothered me, but I wasn’t about to bring that up right now. Not when Jade and Floyd seemed to be doing their very best to handwave it, and honestly I was thankful for it. I wouldn’t be sure how to handle these three trying to comfort me.
It likely would’ve been incredibly awkward. Especially since Floyd and Jade had already seen me in what I deemed to have been an incredibly fragile state last night.
I let my hands tangle themselves together in front of me, frowning slightly as I glanced over at Jade, “By the way, you said the vampire that bit you was going to be dead by morning, but you didn’t do anything to her.”
A grin stretched across Floyd’s face, and Jade chuckled as they realized exactly what I was talking about.
“Yes, well, moray eel blood is rather poisonous when it is raw, and the same can be said for merpeople that are similar to moray eels,” Jade’s grin was perfectly villainous, and I blinked as I caught on to his meaning quickly.
“You're poisonous?” I didn’t even bother to hide the disbelief in my voice and it only seemed to please Jade more, as he continued to outright grin at me.
“Yes, well, mine and Floyd’s raw blood is to those that would drink it, at least,” He nodded, and Floyd snickered slightly as they watched my reaction while Azul rolled his eyes slightly.
I shook my head slightly. To think that he’d poisoned that vampire woman with his own blood, of all things. Somehow it did strike me as a very Jade thing to do.
I frowned, though, as more questions popped into my head even as I was trying to wrap my head around the idea of Floyd and Jade having poisonous blood, “But then how did you change Floyd without killing yourself?”
Jade lifted one shoulder, seemingly unbothered by my questions, “Natural immunity, I presume.”
Floyd leaned over, grinning at me slightly, “Don’t worry though, Shrimpy. Since Azul is an octopus merman, he isn’t poisonous.”
“Floyd!” I all but jumped at Azul’s sharp tone before glancing his way as he glared at Floyd. After a brief moment, though, he turned his still-less-than-pleased gaze my way and crossed his arms, “Coincidentally, why did you come to the dock last night? The twins told me you’d mentioned carrying weapons to defend yourself from insane vampires, so you already knew the risks of running around on your own after dark.”
I blinked slightly in surprise at his frustrated tone. It almost reminded me of how Vil would scold me about needing to be more careful.
An odd thought since I was far closer to Vil than I was to Azul.
“I wanted to tell you that I convinced all of the clans…” I trailed off, watching as Azu stared at me. His expression morphing from annoyance to surprise at my words even as I continued from where I'd left off, “They said they would trust you and help if Crowley did anything that went against you.”
I faltered slightly, recalling Leona’s peeved expression before I continued with an awkward half-shrug, “Well, within reason, of course.”
I waved my hand airily, as if that could help me better explain, and Azul blinked as if he’d just finished rebooting.
“That’s what you wanted to tell us?” His voice was so soft when he spoke that I almost had to lean forward to tell what he’d said before I nodded slowly.
“Well, yeah. That’s what we agreed on, so I thought you’d want to know as soon as I’d managed it,” I didn’t bother telling him that it hadn’t been exactly difficult. I was more confused by his reaction anyway.
It was like he was touched by the fact I’d done what we’d agreed on.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he looked at me, and I heard Jade chuckle from where he’d slipped around behind me, “You see? We did agree that Y/n was quite kind, didn’t we?”
I frowned slightly at his words, turning to look at him in confusion as Azul let out a slight laugh, adjusting his glasses awkwardly, “Yes, I suppose we did.”
I felt a now familiar weight settle on my shoulders, and I glanced over to look directly at Floyd, who was grinning at me, “You sure do work fast, though, Shrimpy. Might be the real reason Crowley hired you.”
His voice was filled with teasing, but the words brought a frown to my face as I recalled my conversation with Vil.
Though it had only been a few nights ago, it seemed like it had already been weeks. But last night had been a very long one, and I still hadn’t even told anyone about what had happened. It was just me and the Octavinelle clan who knew.
“Shrimpy?” Floyd frowned slightly, jostled me lightly, and causing me to startle out of my reverie.
All three men were looking at me with varying expressions of concern that differed in levels of how obvious their worry was, and I faltered for what felt like the thousandth time as I looked at each of them. Doing my best to ignore the warm sensation that filled me.
Evidently enough, I wasn’t over what had happened last night.
I swallowed thickly before I smiled reassuringly at them. Shaking my head slightly as if that would clear it before I met Azul’s gaze, “Can I go ahead and tell you what I want in return?”
Azul blinked, my words apparently catching him off-guard before he nodded. And the smile that appeared on his face now was one that I was more used to, at odds with the softer one he’d been wearing mere moments ago, “Of course, whatever you want, Angelfish. Within reason, of course.”
I snorted at the slightly playful tone he’d used as he’d echoed my own words back at me. And I almost let him get away with successfully lulling me into relaxing.
I braced myself, though, as I felt Floyd slip away from me, drifting over to Azul’s side so that he and Jade could frame the shorter man who was smiling at me expectantly.
Vil had pointed out that it would be an equal exchange and that Azul probably wouldn't give any reasons to refuse, but I couldn’t help but feel slightly antsy.
I hadn’t outright asked for any of the other clan’s assistance should I need it. Instead, it had been openly offered. A show of friendship.
But with how closely Azul and the twins seemed to guard themselves, I couldn’t expect that from them. And that was fine; I couldn’t really blame them. Not when they were on land, in a world that wasn’t their own.
Sort of like how I was floundering around through a world that wasn’t my own as I delved into each of the clans.
Each of us had gained our bearings in our own ways, but it would be unfair for me to expect them to be as open as the other clans were when, if my suspicions were correct, their standing was a little more shaky than the others’.
I inhaled, fighting the urge to roll my shoulders in preparation as I gazed at the three young men who gazed back at me.
The worst that could happen would be they would reject my offer, and I would have to come up with something else.
“You mentioned that I’d befriended each of the heads of the clans I’ve visited so far,” I started hesitantly, and Azul nodded, agreeing with me as he no doubt recalled our conversation.
“Yes, you described it as a ‘working relationship,’ I believe?” Jade smiled at me, amusement flickering across his face as he subtly called me out on the difference in phrasing.
Floyd grinned amusedly, but I ignored them. What had been ominous when I’d first been getting to know them was now commonplace. Lighthearted teasing that seemed to flow naturally for all three of them and had even become easy for me by now.
I forged ahead, not letting myself hesitate anymore as I made my request, “I want the same thing with you.”
Silence filled the space as soon as I finished, and I watched as all three of them looked at me in surprise.
And this time, their reactions weren’t hidden at all. Though I didn’t know if it was because they didn’t care if I saw their genuine, wide-eyed reaction, or if they simply couldn’t hide it this time.
Azul spoke first, clearing his throat slightly with a cough, though he still looked utterly out of his depth, not unlike I’d been in my initial dealings with him, “You want to be friends with us?”
He was perfectly incredulous. Like he simply couldn’t believe that I would want such a thing, and it was by far not the reaction I’d expected.
This was not the cunning gentleman who had wanted to use my connections to protect himself. This was a young man who was far more insecure than I ever could have expected, even if he still was doing his best to hide it.
I found myself smiling before I nodded, and my voice was surprisingly soft as I confirmed his words, “Yes. That’s what I want in exchange for helping you. Is that an acceptable deal?”
“I-” He faltered, suddenly looking anywhere but at me, and I could practically see the gears turning in his head. But this time it wasn’t just him looking for the best angle possible. There was panic there too. I’d caught him wholly off-guard.
And, interestingly at odds with him, the twins were starting to smile. A slow change to their expressions that they didn’t even seem to check with one another. And the weren’t mocking smiles either. In fact, they seemed rather pleased.
After a moment of panicked silence, Azul at last met my gaze once more. His lips pressing together as his eyes determinedly met mine, “I suppose that’s acceptable, yes.”
I felt myself smile in silent amusement, but I had to hand it to him. He’d recovered quickly, even if he did look vaguely flustered now.
I held out my hand, smiling at him, and he briefly stared at my outstretched hand before carefully taking it in his.
His grip was careful and almost timid, but I simply watched as he slowly looked back at me before nodding. Almost like he was confirming this with himself before a more confident smile appeared on his face, “It’s a deal.”
I grinned as we shook once before I let go of his hand and he leaned forward. Bowing slightly and looking up at me with a grin that grew steadily more confident.
And I was almost positive he was putting on for me, but I didn’t call him out on it. Instead, I only smiled as he spoke, “I look forward to working with you, Hunter.”
I let out a slight laugh before glancing behind him as both the twins bowed slightly as well. Their motions perfectly in time. Floyd, with a jaunty grin, and Jade, smiling like he knew a secret, as they both spoke in sync. Their voices mingling together with a strange harmony, “As do we.”
Hours in the Moonlight: Fathomless Vespers - 8. Oddly Like a Mirror Image
Summary: The fact that Crowley hadn’t told you that all three of the members of the Octavinelle clan had been turned by an insane vampire was rather frustrating to say the least. But, it had also somehow managed to serve as some sort of bizarre opening for you to get to know the three men. So there was that.
Series Type: Gender-neutral reader/ Vampire AU/ series/ romantic/ angst/ angst with comfort/ fluff/ sfw/ platonic interactions too!
Trigger Warning: Vampire
Word Count: 1328
Hours in the Moonlight Master-List
“You weren’t informed of our connection to the insane vampires?” Azul frowned at me from behind his desk, and it was oddly like a mirror image of when I’d first come to this place.
Instead of it being him that was flanked by the twins, this time it was me, and we were in his office rather than the entryway of the restaurant.
I nodded, confirming his words even as a small part of me wondered if this was some sort of scheme they were going to use to get information out of me. If it was, I was impressed at how good they were at pinpointing weaknesses.
Sam had told me to be careful of them, though.
But it was also strange. If Crowley knew about all of this, why didn’t he tell me when he had me investigating the entire insane vampire issue?
Azul shook his head, seemingly just as confused as I felt, while Jade stepped around me, a hand placed to his chest as he leaned around to look at me better with that ever-flawless smile of his, “Allow me to explain then….”
So I sat in the chair Floyd spun around for me and gestured to and listened. Still frowning as Jade explained how he’d come up on land one evening to inspect a variety of mushrooms, for some reason, and was attacked by an insane vampire, but had managed to escape back into the water where he couldn’t be pursued.
“That was when things got bad for us. He got me first, then Azul,” Floyd’s tone was all but bored as he finished for his sibling. Making sure to squeeze in one dirty look at his brother as he spoke, that merely caused Jade to shrug and look at me in a perfectly amused manner that had my eyebrows arching.
Azul shook his head, distracting me from the intricacies of the twins' brotherly shenanigans, “Afterward, I took it upon myself to look into the entire matter, and I discovered the notion of the clans. I discussed it with the head-vampire himself and made the Octavinelle clan. We only started collecting blood through legal means later when it became obvious that there was a market for it.”
I nodded, understanding everything they’d said but still frustrated and confused as to why I hadn’t already been told this.
“Shame you weren’t here to stop that vampire before it attacked Jade, huh, Shrimpy?” I glanced over at Floyd’s words, my eyebrows rising at the oddly playful grin he gave me.
I wasn’t about to be blamed for something that had probably occurred before I was the vampire hunter for this district.
“Weren’t all of you already vampires by the time I started working as the hunter, though? You were all at that ball,” I glanced over at Azul, who nodded.
“Yes, we hadn’t been a formed clan for very long yet at that time, but we were already turned by then,” He propped himself on his desk, perfectly framed by careful stacks of coins that glittered in the dim lights of his office.
“Have you not been in the vampire hunting business for very long then, Y/n?” I jolted at the sound of my name, glancing over at Jade in slight surprise before feeling myself frown slightly at his oh-so-casual question.
The wary part of me hesitated to answer him, unsure of where it would place my standing as a vampire hunter in their eyes or if this might be the information they were seeking.
As if beckoned by my hesitance, the memory of Rook’s advice resurfaced once more, and I sighed, resolving to handle this entire situation as best I could in the normal fashion.
So far as I could tell, outplaying these three might be an impossible feat, but I might be able to get the information I needed and do what Crowley wanted if I handled this like I’d handled all the others.
Be cautious, but also not let my suspicions of vampires rule my actions. After all, I’d met quite a few vampires already, and even if these three struck me as particularly dangerous, I was beginning to think that my real task at each of these clans wasn’t to evaluate them, but to befriend them. Even if I couldn’t figure out why Crowley and his men might want that.
With that said, though, I still didn’t have to give them the exact timeline of my work as a hunter, and I certainly didn’t have to tell them that, thus far, I’d always had assistance in dealing with insane vampires.
“I started training under Rook after he was turned and made my debut shortly after that,” Jade smiled at my words, not even bothering to hide his smug pleasure at me having given him information.
“Aw, you haven’t been a part of the world of the night for very long at all, have you, Shrimpy~” Floyd leaned towards me, a wide grin on his face that was utterly devoid of his earlier menace. Almost like he’d relaxed around me and no longer felt the need to be quite so intimidating or something.
And, despite my remaining misgivings about the three of them, I found myself smiling slightly over at Floyd and shaking my head, “I’ve known about vampires for a long time, but I don’t suppose I’ve been an official part of this world for long, no.”
Jade’s eyes widened slightly before he frowned thoughtfully, but before I could really ponder what he might be thinking, Azul was speaking. His pale eyes locked onto me as he smiled at me in a way that spoke of him having found an opening that he’d been seeking, “You must have been caught quite off-guard by receiving such an important job of looking into the matter of the insane vampires so early in your job then. Should you ever need any help going forward, feel free to come to us.”
He paused, his smile turning a little bit too smug and causing my eyebrows to rise as he continued, “After all, we have access to quite a bit of information, Angelfish. It would be a shame if you had to resort to anything unpleasant to discover something we already know about.”
I stood, smiling slightly both at the young man and his bid to extend his business’s reach, “I’ll remember that, but for now I need to get home. The sun’ll be rising soon, so I’m sure you’ll need to be getting to some place safe as well.”
Azul stood, following me and opening the door for me as he continued. His wheedling charm from when I’d first met him sliding back on like a perfect mask and making me wonder where the young man who’d been discussing how he’d been turned into a vampire had gone.
“Of course, but if you’d like, I can send one of the boys to walk you back. I would hate for something to happen to you between here and your home,” His smile was easy as he peered at me through his glasses with an undeniably clever smile.
And, honestly speaking, I couldn’t even tell if he was just saying it to come across as benevolent or if it was a bid to find out more information on me based on my living arrangements. Frankly speaking, I didn’t think I’d put anything past this man.
I simply shook my head, though, slipping through the door and glancing back at the three men with a smile, “Thank you, but I should be fine. I am the local vampire hunter after all.”
The twins slipped forward, each with a smile on their face as they framed Azul once more before I turned away and made my way out of the building. Briefly realizing how quickly everything had changed in my interactions with those three.
Apparently working alongside someone really did make you get to know them that much faster.
Hours in the Moonlight: Fathomless Vespers - 13. A Monster
Summary: Honestly speaking, it was just too many revelations for one night. The twins mer-forms. The way these other vampires viewed you. The idea of being a monster… Suffice to say, it was a lot.
Series Type: Gender-neutral reader/ Vampire AU/ series/ romantic/ angst/ angst with comfort/ fluff/ sfw/ platonic interactions too!
Trigger Warning: Vampire
Word Count: 2433
Hours in the Moonlight Master-List
Even despite my relief at seeing him, I couldn’t help but stare at Floyd in slight alarm. I’d known he was a merman, of course, but nothing could have prepared me for this.
Not only were his hands webbed with clawed fingernails, but most of his skin was now green with a few white areas made up largely by his chest, hands, and face, and his legs were long gone and replaced by a thick, muscular tail. And on top of all that, Floyd had also somehow, impossibly, grown so that he was even larger than he’d already been. In fact, he outright loomed over the end of the dock I was on, and I could only see his upper body.
But, even then, this was undeniably Floyd. Even if he looked far more menacing than the Floyd I’d gotten to know over the past little bit.
I slowly turned, looking back at the four vampires, who now looked far more hesitant at the appearance of the merman. And I couldn’t really blame them, but I really didn’t have time to consider much about what was going on beyond the fact that things had just shifted in my favor.
I shoved the stake into my crossbow, eyeing all four of them and knowing the situation had vastly changed already as I played off my nerves and pretended like I had nothing to be concerned about, “You were saying?”
The blonde woman was the first to react, her face twisting from its previous discomfort at the mere sight of Floyd into a haughty grin, “Well, aren’t you confident now, little hunter?”
The man next to her scoffed, briefly eying Floyd before his gaze slid back over to me, “He doesn’t change that much. He’s still trapped in the water, and you’re here with us. On land.”
He wasn’t wrong, but I wasn’t about to let him know that I agreed with him. Not when I was going up against them.
After all, it was already obvious that there wasn’t going to be much of a chance of convincing them.
“Hey, what if they run to him for protection?” The vampire with the red-orange eyes hissed to his companions, but his wariness only earned him a scoff from the blonde woman.
“Run from us into the arms of another vampire? They’d either be stupid or in his thrall, and we all know they’re far more connected to Schoenheit than any other vampire.”
I tensed slightly at Vil’s name, surprised to hear him get mentioned before I went back to scanning the area.
Even with Floyd’s presence, this wouldn’t be easy. I still had to keep any of them from getting ahold of me and stop them all. And right now it was the dreaded waiting game. I wouldn’t fire until they attacked first.
I refused to kill them unless it was strictly necessary, but I was all but positive that was going to be the case.
At the very least, they didn’t seem very open to any conversation involving me talking them out of this.
And I was quickly proved right as the blonde woman launched, blurring through the space as I jerked to the left before spinning and hurriedly firing.
The stake slammed into one of the men’s chest rather than her, though, and he stared at me wide-eyed. But I couldn’t blame him. I was just as surprised as he was. I’d only barely realized that her attack had been a feint in time to spin and shoot at the actual attacker.
But then everyone, save for perhaps Floyd, seemed stunned by how quickly everything had happened, and I stared as the vampire crumpled to his knees before dissolving into a pile of ashes.
The vampire with red-orange eyes let out an enraged snarl as the women hissed, with the blonde making a dive towards me. She was caught with a high-pitched screech as one long arm looped around her and dragged her backward as I heard something that sounded disturbingly like a laugh from Floyd.
I gasped, stumbling backwards as she was pulled backward. Kicking, screaming, and clawing at Floyd’s arm as he dragged her off the dock and into the dark liquid that became still all too quickly as I stared in horror at where they’d disappeared.
And then there was silence. As if she’d never even been here.
“DANA!” I whirled at the yelled name, only to find the remaining vampire looking back off into the darkness.
I swallowed thickly, forcing myself to move as I loaded another stake, watching with bated breath. I could only assume the darker-haired lady had fled when she’d seen what happened to her friends.
Now it was just me and the remaining man with those inhuman red-orange eyes of his that now stared at me.
His eyes darted briefly between the water and me before he let out a hissing growl that had me swallowing thickly as I braced myself for whatever was about to come.
“You MONSTER!” I all but flinched at his bellowed words, watching as his trembling hands curled into fists at his sides while he breathed heavily.
It was at odds with all the other vampires I’d fought. Unlike them, this man was more emotional.
And it was a painful reminder that vampires weren’t really any less human than I was. He’d just seen his companions get killed or flee and abandon him.
I found myself lowering my crossbow and shaking my head sorrowfully, “Just go. We don’t have to do this. You can just walk away. I won’t-”
My words were cut off with a sharp inhale as he dove towards me, his eyes wild with rage. I barely got the crossbow lodged between us like the world’s tiniest and most pitiful shield as he pushed me to the ground and snapped at me.
There was nothing sane in those eyes, but some cold part of me that clung to logic, even at a time like this, wondered if I was the cause of the madness in his face rather than it being the vampirism that cursed him.
After all, it was like what he’d seen had just broken him far beyond repair.
My body reacted far faster than my mind did, though, as I curled my legs and kicked out. Barely managing to force him off and send him skidding across the dock as I scrambled backwards.
He snarled like an enraged animal, and I aimed with trembling hands. But it wasn’t just fear that caused me to shake this way. It was the horrible realization that he was right. In his eyes, I was a monster.
A merciless creature that killed his kind.
And at this point, I was quite likely the person who’d pushed him to the point of such madness.
Saliva seemed to pour from his mouth, and he let out a low chuckle, “I can hear it, you know. Your fluttering little heartbeat. It’s been pounding this whole time.”
My grip tightened on the bow as I fought to steady my shaking, alarm creeping into my thoughts as he continued. His voice turning oddly high-pitched and wavering. Deranged as he straightened from his crouch, “Is it tired? It must be, from the way it’s racing.”
I swallowed, grounding myself as he braced himself, getting ready to lunge at me again as his eyes seemed to flash, “Would you like me to let it rest and kill you like the monster you are?!”
He dove, and I fired in that same instant, even though I knew what it would mean. I grimaced as the wood plunged into his chest, bloodless but still with a sickening sound, and he looked at me, staring directly into my eyes as his face twisted into a cruel smile before he turned to ashes that rained down on me.
I let the crossbow fall from my hands, and the stake from his chest landed heavily in my lap. I blinked rapidly as my eyes began to sting from the ashes and dust.
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I fought the urge to rub at them, knowing that my dusty hands would only make it worse.
But it was done. They were all gone, and I was alone.
I stared at the stake, in my lap, ignoring the wetness that built up in my eyes before it overflowed. Sending warm tears sliding down my cheeks as I fought to control my shaking that had started back up like it had never stopped in the first place.
There was a horrible bundle of emotions in my throat that threatened to choke me out as I inhaled with a wavering breath, doing my best to calm myself.
“Poor little thing. You just realized you’re as horrible as we are, haven’t you? And now you’re all alone, with no friends by your side. What can a sweet little thing like you do?” I barely had time to tense at the sound of the too-sweet voice before I was tackled.
My head collided with the ground as the woman landed on me, her dark hair loose and hanging from her head like a curtain as she smiled down at me, her fangs winking in the dim light of the street lamps.
It was here. The other vampire from before.
And even as I recognized her and realized precisely how foolish I’d been to think she’d just leave, I panicked. Only for her to leap backwards and off, landing agilely in a crouch as she gazed at me with wide eyes and a smile still on her face.
I scrambled backwards, my hands searching for the stake on my lap, only to find there was nothing there.
I glanced around wildly as my back collided with something, only to freeze as I heard her giggle.
My eyes were wide as she held up her hand, the wooden stake curled her delicate fingers before she let it drop to the ground as she stood.
“Poor little thing. What can you really do?” I could feel the hairs on my arm raise as I shoved my hand into my bag, my fingers curling around the last stake as she darted towards me.
I inhaled sharply, yanking the wood out of my bag only for something to land on the wooden floor in front of me. Its weight bouncing the entire dock and causing the wood to groan as she collided with its form.
I stared wide-eyed as Jade held up an arm to block her that she latched around. Clinging to it as she bit down with a frustrated sound. And at odds with her palpable anger at having been interrupted, he merely gave a low hiss before he casually reached around and dragged her off of him.
She flew through the air as he slung her, landing hard on the ground with a pained sound before she pushed herself up. Her mouth was stained a brilliant red as she practically snarled at him.
“I don’t recommend you come back. Not that you’ll have time too,” Jade’s voice was filled with a distinct note of mocking but was still effortlessly smooth as she scrambled to her feet before taking off into the night.
“Aw~ You’re letting her get away?” Floyd’s voice sounded directly after a soft splashing sound from the water, but I was too busy staring at Jade, who was rubbing his mildly bloodied arm with a frown that spoke less of pain and more of having to deal with a mild annoyance.
“Yes, she won’t make it far, though. By morning there’ll be a new pile of ash somewhere,” Mismatched eyes flickered over my way as Jade scanned me carefully.
My mouth was working before my voice was, and I shook my head before finally managing to speak properly, “I-... Wha-?”
“Shrimpy, are you alright? You don’t look too good,” Floyd’s voice cut me off, and I glanced over to see him drifting through the water along the edge of the dock to peer around his brother at me. His expression was a mask of concern, and all at once I wondered what face I was making.
“I-” I faltered again as I started to answer, not even sure what to say.
I needed to thank them, but I found my gaze falling back down to the stake that now lay across the deck from me where the vampire had dropped it when she’d slung herself away from Jade.
I jolted as a wet hand touched my face, and I all but jerked away as I looked up wide-eyed at Jade, who pursed his lips as he eyed me closely.
He stared at me in unfathomable silence before he finally spoke, “Can you make it back home?”
I blinked at him before slowly starting to nod. I swallowed thickly, pushing myself to my feet until I was standing on wobbly legs before nodding again, “Yeah...Yeah, I can manage. Thanks…”
I trailed off awkwardly before walking across the dock. I knelt and collected the stakes and shoved them haphazardly in my bag as I went. Doing my best to ground myself with the idle work and ignore the way the twins gazes lingered on me until I couldn’t handle it anymore and found myself looking back towards them.
Both of them held my gaze for a brief moment, watching me carefully until Jade at last nodded.
He glanced briefly at Floyd, who nodded back at him before looking my way with a smile crossing his face that had me wondering how he could be so different from the way he’d been mere moments ago.
“We’ve still got work to do down here, Shrimpy. You head on home, and we’ll come by and visit tomorrow. ‘Kay?”
I felt myself nod again at his words, a little slower this time as Jade pushed himself off the deck and back into the water. Splashing down loudly as I faintly managed to speak at long last, “Okay.”
Jade resurfaced, looking my way with a smile that made me wonder if I’d imagined the concern in the twins eyes, “We’ll see you tomorrow night then. Take care.”
With that, the two of them disappeared with what ought to have been an ominous degree of silence. Leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Had those vampires all been insane, or were they just hungry?
At this point I would never know, and I wasn’t even sure I wanted to. But something told me I wouldn’t be sleeping too well tonight.
Hours in the Moonlight: Fathomless Vespers - 16. Suspicious and Perplexed
Summary: The time had finally come for you to give your report on the Octavinelle clan’s evaluation. There was just one problem though. None of Crowley’s men were showing up and it was starting to get steadily more frustrating.
Series Type: Gender-neutral reader/ Vampire AU/ series/ romantic/ angst/ angst with comfort/ fluff/ sfw/ platonic interactions too!
Trigger Warning: Vampire
Word Count: 1246
Hours in the Moonlight Master-List
The waiting game was agonizing, as it so often was.
By now I was fully prepared to inform whoever Crowley sent that the Octavinelle clan was innocent of being connected to the influx of insane vampires, but no one came.
Usually I would’ve been checked in on twice by one of his men by now, and to be honest, the radio silence was getting to me.
It didn’t make sense for Crowley to not want a report when Sam had acted like both he and the rest of Crowley’s group were particularly worried about me evaluating the Octavinelle clan. The lack of word from them only increased my suspicions that my job at the clans had very little to do with the evaluation, though.
If it did, Crowley would’ve sent someone already.
I flopped down on my couch after yet another long day of waiting on tables and joking around with the twins and Azul. It had become a part of my evening by now. Going into work like it was any other job and laughing with them like they were just my coworkers and nothing else. It was almost amusing how mundane it would be if it weren’t for the fact they were vampires and I was a vampire hunter.
My fingers idly fiddled with my cross necklace that I’d pulled out from under my shirt. I let my thoughts drift along the same path that they’d been taking the past few nights.
What could be the possible reason for the silence from Crowley?
I didn’t see how I could’ve upset him, since there was no way he could know that I’d ever contemplated asking Azul for information on him.
If I were lucky, he was actually doing something about the insane vampires, but I highly doubted it.
That would be far too responsible of him.
I let my hand and arm flop down from the couch as I frowned up at the ceiling. At this point, I might as well start getting ready to go to sleep. There was the chance that I might get a visit from Vil, but with how much he’d been visiting recently, he was probably going to have to focus more on the Pomefiore clan at some point fairly soon.
No sooner than that thought had occurred, I heard a tapping on my window and shot up into a seated position.
I paused, though, frowning as the tapping came again. Because that wasn’t Vil, Epel, or any of the other usual suspects. In fact, it sounded suspiciously like metal tapping against glass, which made no sense.
I stood, almost hesitantly, before heading towards my window as I ran through the list of what it might be in my head.
There was nothing metal near my window, so it shouldn’t be anything busted. A vampire didn’t really make a lot of sense either, though. None of them would tap on the window with some metal object when they could just knock.
I reached out, grasping the curtains and inhaling. Either way, even if it was a vampire, it would be okay if I just looked out. They couldn’t come in unless I gave them permission.
I could even open the window and still be safe so long as I stood far enough back.
Having made up my mind, I yanked the curtains open, and my eyes widened in surprise almost immediately.
Crowley all but beamed at me from behind his mask. His fangs glinting in the bright light from the full moon as his hand, tipped with metal claws, withdrew from the window.
I hurriedly opened the window, hardly knowing what else to do and not even having the chance to say something before the man spoke. His eyes glowing brightly as he continued to smile widely, “There you are, Hatchling! I was worried when you didn’t answer immediately. Sam told that me you are usually quite prompt to greet your visitors.”
I shook my head slightly before I managed to speak. My voice coming out in a harsh-sounding whisper that was utterly coated in blatant disbelief, “Crowley?! What are you doing here?”
At odds with his glee, I was shocked and at least vaguely horrified by the man’s presence. I’d known that he knew where I lived, but I’d never expected him to come here.
He frowned at my reaction, having the gall to look slightly hurt as the wind blew his feathered cape around, “To congratulate you.”
I blinked at his sulky tone before stepping back, not providing him any indication to enter as I casually distanced myself from him.
He was completely different from how he’d been the last time I’d seen him, which also doubled as the first time we’d met.
Then, he’d been imposing. The sort of person I could see being a mastermind behind some horrible scheme such as the one he’d used to turn Rook and Epel into vampires and force me into entering the world of the night as his vampire hunter.
Right now he seemed ridiculous at best as he pouted at me from my window, though. Almost like a useless friend who was hurt that their pleas for a loan were being met with rejection because you and them both knew you’d never get that money back and they’d only waste it.
I swallowed, reigning in my astonishment as I eyed the vampire in front of me, “What are you congratulating me for?”
My tone sounded less wary and more confused, though there was still some wariness there. But this definitely wasn’t what I would’ve expected from my next meeting with Crowley if I’d been asked mere moments ago.
He brightened at my words, recovering remarkably quickly from his sulkiness, “On your success! You’ve done a marvelous job handling each of those problem children.”
He all but beamed at me as I blinked up at him in confusion. I could only assume that by ‘problem children’ he meant the clans.
“Of course, I’m also here to personally receive your report regarding the Octavinelle clan. After all, I am so very kind and have finally managed to find... Make, the time to come see you,” His tone was filled with fondness even as he corrected himself, though I certainly didn’t know where it was coming from.
It wasn’t like we were old friends, after all.
“I… The Octavinelle clan doesn’t seem to be connected to the insane vampire issue in any way whatsoever,” I faltered slightly as I answered, but he only nodded. Smiling all the while as if this were a truly delightful occasion.
“I see. That means you only have one clan left to evaluate!” He clapped his hands together as if this were wonderful news. But then something in his expression shifted, and he leaned forward, as far into my apartment as he could with permission to enter, “By the way, were you able to win over the Octavinelle clan, by any chance?”
I stilled at his words, forcing my face to not betray my thoughts as I slowly answered in as neutral a fashion as possible, “I believe so, yes.”
His face brightened once more, almost like a cloud disappearing as he nodded, “Splendid. I will speak to you again after your next evaluation. I expect good news, my little hatchling! Good luck!”
And with that he was gone in an inexplicable flurry of feathers. Leaving me both more suspicious and perplexed than I had been before.
Hours in the Moonlight: Fathomless Vespers - 15. Serious Enough
Summary: Vil’s sense on when to visit you really did seem to be uncanny. It was like he could somehow sense that there was something you needed to get off your chance, and he would appear. The very moment you needed him.
Series Type: Gender-neutral reader/ Vampire AU/ series/ romantic/ angst/ angst with comfort/ fluff/ sfw/ platonic interactions too!
Trigger Warning: Vampire
Word Count: 1476
Hours in the Moonlight Master-List
It was almost impressive how Vil knew exactly when to visit. Just like the hero out of a fairy tale that Rook had likened him to.
I smiled up at him as I opened my curtains to look up at him, idly wondering if he’d seen the Octavinelle trio leaving my apartment before he came or not. I knew if they’d seen him, I would, at the very least, undergo quite the interrogation paired with them teasing me about him visiting.
Jade and Floyd, in particular, had already gotten quite a bit of fun out of picking on me about my apparently ‘mysterious’ relationship with Vil.
Vil looked down at me before slipping into my apartment as I stepped back, my hands swinging behind my back so I could lace my fingers together as I smiled at him, “Well, this is unexpected.”
Vil crossed his arms, his eyebrows lifting at my playful words, “I don’t see how. I come by here often enough that my visits should hardly be surprising at this point.”
I hummed at him, a smile playing about on my face as I walked by him and flopped down on the couch before grinning back at him, “You’ll have to be careful. If you keep coming by to visit me so often, people will start to think you're shirking your duties as clan leader in favor of visiting me.”
Vil snorted, walking around the couch with his characteristic poise that always made me wonder what his life had been like before he’d been turned, “At least they’d be right in that I far prefer spending time with you to leading that bunch of potatoes.”
I grinned as he sat down and looked over at me with a uniquely analytical glance, “So, were you able to get what you wanted from the Octavinelle clan?”
I nodded, leaning forward and not bothering to hide exactly how pleased I was with my success, “Yep, they’ve agreed to be my friends.”
I paused, my smile softening slightly as I thought about each of the clans that I’d met, “I guess that just leaves one clan that I haven’t befriended…..”
Vil nodded, shifting slightly so that he was leaning against the arm of the couch. Somehow still looking utterly magnificent even as he relaxed, “Well, you had one of the clans from the very start of all of this.”
I nodded, chuckling slightly as I agreed with him. I’d had him, Rook, and Epel on my side even before they’d formally announced the existence of the Pomefiore clan.
“I guess I’m just that charming,” I continued to laugh slightly as Vil smiled at my teasing before he nodded, catching me off-guard as he leaned forward with amusement shining in his amethyst eyes.
“Well, we always have had to be wary of those who would be after tater tots like you,” I blinked at him in surprise before laughing. It seemed like eons ago that I teased him about whether or not that was a compliment.
I leaned over against the back of the couch as I thought about how I hadn’t actually told him about what had happened just last night with certain vampires that were the exact sort we’d been wary of all this time.
Truthfully speaking, it wasn’t a subject I wanted to bring up. I far preferred my light-hearted conversations with Vil, where we traded remarks and made each other laugh late into the night. But I had agreed that I would talk to Vil about these things so he didn’t have to worry quite so much.
I let my hands tangle together, and, almost immediately, Vil frowned suspiciously as he watched my motions. His gaze flickering from my face to my hands and then back up, “Something else happened, didn’t it?”
I smiled apologetically at his unsurprised but wary tone, “I thought it’d be best if I told you since you said you didn’t want to hear these sorts of things from someone else, but…. I ended up fighting four vampires last night.”
Vil inhaled, crossing his arms and practically muttering his disgruntled response, “Of course you did.”
By now, it was nothing surprising, but he still met my gaze. Frowning slightly as he visibly scanned me for injury, “You didn’t get hurt, did you?”
I shook my head, largely avoiding his gaze in favor of looking at my hands, “No. Floyd and Jade were there, and they helped me.”
Vil nodded, letting out a quiet sigh as he relaxed the very moment I reassured him that I was uninjured, “I’ll have to thank them then.”
I hesitated slightly at his words, wondering if I should mention what the one vampire had said about my being a monster. I didn’t want to upset him, but….
“Something else happened, didn’t it?” I tensed at his words, my eyes widening before I looked over at him only to find him looking at me like he already knew the answer.
Which was ridiculous. He hadn’t been there that night, but it was like he could somehow see directly through me and knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that something was bothering me.
“What is it, Tater tot?” His tone was surprisingly soft as he gazed at me patiently, and I let myself sigh. Knowing perfectly well that I was going to surrender.
When it came to Vil, I just couldn’t hide things. Not well, at least.
But even with that realization, I still found myself trying to downplay it all, “It’s just something one of them said. It’s nothing too serious.”
“If it’s bothering you, then it’s serious enough.” His tone brooked no argument, and I felt a small smile flicker onto my face. Perhaps Rook was right, and Vil really would sweep in to save me the very moment I was uncomfortable. He certainly seemed always to try to, at the very least.
I forced myself to meet his gaze once more, lifting one shoulder in a half-hearted shrug, “One of them called me a monster.”
Vil’s frown deepened at my words, and he was shaking his head almost immediately, “Tater to━”
“He was right, Vil. I’ve killed enough people that I definitely ought to count as a monster by now,” I interrupted him easily. Finally saying exactly what I’d been thinking since last night.
“I’m the monster Crowley made me to be. His weapon,” I smiled ruefully as I recalled Azul’s words. Because as nice as Floyd’s idea that I could be Crowley’s greatest enemy was, it was far-fetched at best.
Vil leaned forward, his hand pressing into the cushion between us as he looked at me, his gaze hardening, “You are not a monster. You have only killed vampires who are insane to keep them from killing others or in self-defense. That is no monstrous thing.”
I blinked slightly at Vil’s words, shaking my head slightly only for him to continue, “Before you became the vampire hunter, you only ever avoided vampires, and most would’ve started trying to kill them the very moment they thought it was necessary.”
I stared at him in silence as he at last leaned back, his expression not giving me any room to argue as he gazed across the couch at me, “Someone who kills monsters can’t be a monster themselves.”
“Vampires aren’t monsters,” The words all but flew out of my mouth, startling Vil and even surprising me. But I wasn’t about to take them back. Because as ridiculous as it may sound, it was true. I knew that for a fact, even if I might not have ever believed it in the past before I’d met Vil and everything else had happened.
I shook my head slightly before continuing, “Vampires aren’t monsters because you, Rook… None of the friends I’ve made are monsters.”
It was true that some of them might be bad. In fact, most of them probably were in their own way. After all, even Vil had his mean streak. But none of them were monsters.
Vil’s gaze had softened as I spoke, and he leaned forward, and I braced myself for him to deny my words, but he didn’t. Instead, he only reached down and took my hand in his. My fingers tangling with his as if by instinct as he held up our interlocked hands between us, almost like he was showing them to me.
“It’s simple then. If I’m not a monster, then you most definitely aren’t,” I blinked, my gaze shifting from our linked hands to his face.
He was smiling at me gently, and I swallowed before nodding. Ignoring the emotions that welled up in my throat as I squeezed his hand lightly, feeling him automatically reciprocate the gesture as I spoke in a tight voice that didn’t do anything to hide the emotions that washed over me, “Okay.”
