#ficshow

[agent00n0]

I Should Have Changed That Fucking Lock

This is just something quick and rough that I wrote because I’ve been listening to Cake’s cover of I Will Survive. It’s a breakup fic between Bed and Criken set in an au of my gta au. It really just came about because I love writing arguments and intense emotion. Enjoy.

This was it. He was done this time. No more second chances, no more apologies. This was the last straw and the camel’s back was officially broken.

Bed grit his teeth as he walked through his apartment, Criken hot on his heels and jumbles of words flowing from his lips non-stop. “Bed. Bed. It doesn’t have to be like this. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t know.”

“That’s what you said last time, Criken,” Bed spits. “And the time before that. It’s starting to sound like you don’t know anything. At least I know I can do better than you.”

“And what? End up in jail this time? You know no one else can keep your hobbies under wraps like I can, Bed.” Criken pauses in the hall, pleading as Bed pulls his clothes from the closet and dresser, flinging them across the room.

Bed pauses and whips his head up to glare at Criken. “Are you really trying to do this? You really think you can manipulate me on top of everything else you’ve done? Get out of my apartment, Criken, and don’t ever think about coming back.”

“I’m not trying to manipulate you, Bed. I wouldn’t do that. Not to you.” Criken tries again, picking his clothes up off the floor and folding them carefully.

“I think that’s something you would do, Criken. I’ve had a lot of time to think while you were out cavorting with Strippin and it made me realize that you’ve been playing me for a long time now.” Bed’s words are soft but deadly serious. A knife blade ready to fall. “I’m not allowed in your apartment even though you practically live in mine, all I ever hear is that my “hobby” is going to get me caught but I was fine before I met you, and you’ve stopped putting me on missions or even inviting me to briefings. If it wasn’t for Buck and Tomato checking in on me, I’d have no one to talk to besides you.”

Bed grabs something off of the dresser and hurls it across the room. Criken shifts to dodge it and hears it smash against the wall with the sound of shattering glass. He peeks down to see it’s a face-down picture frame. Kicking it over reveals Bed’s favorite photo of them. They’re on top of Maze Bank, wrapped up in each other’s arms after a successful heist; a helicopter just visible behind them.

That night, Bed had told him that he’d never felt that alive in his life. That just standing on top of the bank made him feel like he was flying; like they could take on anything in the city.

“Bed. I didn’t mean for any of that. The only thing I did was keep you out of my apartment, but that’s my control center. No one’s allowed in there.”

“Not this again. I know everything, Criken. I know Tomato’s been there.”

“Tomato’s my second in command!”

“And I’m your-- was your-- forget it!” Bed stomps out of the bedroom and in the bathroom, he grabs a basket and starts shoving stuff into it. All the little toiletries left over the years are piled up and unceremoniously shoved into his chest.

“I can’t just forget you, Bed,” he says softly. “I came to this city with Tomato searching for something - anything - and then I found you. You were the missing piece, Bed, and I’m not just going to give that up.”

“Well, you better start figuring out how, Criken. I’m done with you. I’m done with you and with Strippin.” Bed stops to glare at Criken, his teeth bared. “He knew - they all knew - how much I loved you, but I guess that means nothing to a bunch of petty crooks. He let you pull him into your bed, while I sat here...waiting.

“I did everything you asked. I laid low, I played distraction, I killed whoever you wanted and spared everyone you asked me to. I gave every secret and hope and dream, but this entire time that wasn’t enough for you. I’ve just been your attack dog while you’ve been loving someone else. Someone who wasn’t me. Someone who was everything I couldn’t be.” Bed’s gone again, stood in the middle of the living room with tears shining in his eyes.

“That’s not why I did it, Bed.” Criken tries to argue.

“No. No. You can just say it. You told me that you knew what you were getting into when we started dating, but apparently, you didn’t." Bed scoffs, the sound hollow and mirthless. "Cold, analytical Bed with his collection of knives and his love for the streets at night just couldn’t hold a candle to sweet, generous Strippin with his heart of gold and endless supply of advice. I get it. I really do. I just wish I wasn’t stupid enough to keep loving you for so long. It was fun while it lasted, but I can’t anymore, Criken.”

Criken just stares at him and Bed's not really sure what's going through his head. There's some anger there, but is it because he was finally caught or because he's losing his attack dog?

"You're right, Bed. I did bite off more than I could chew, but you telling me how you are and me experiencing it were two very different things. We're criminals, but I wasn't ready for you to disappear in the middle of the night only to show back up covered in blood. I wasn't ready for how snappy you get in between hunts or the long days of silence and distance. I couldn't take that, but I didn't want to lose you either. So Strippin filled in the holes."

Bed goes very still and looks to Criken again. "Get out."

"What?"

"I said Get Out. Now! Leave your key and leave my life. I'm better off without you. I don't want to hear any more!" Bed's face is contorted in anger and pain as he shoves Criken towards the door, his basket of things still clutched in his hands.

Criken doesn't fight too much and just stares as the door is slammed in his face and locked.

Once the door is closed and the heavy deadbolt is latched in place, Bed slides to the floor, silent tears streaming down his face. Criken had already caused him so much pain. He thought he was done feeling it, but it just wouldn't go away. He wanted control back, needed to get himself back together, but he couldn't do it on his own.

He slides his phone out of his pocket and typed up a quick message, still curled up on the floor.

Can you get over here? And bring Tomato? I need your help.

[agent00n0]

Finding Your Focus

A follow up to this Tomato has been carefully brought through the seemingly endless labyrinth of Bed's hideout and is now seated safely it what he assumes is a guest room that's never been used.

His wounds are bandaged and Bed is now perched at the end of his bed, giving him a melancholic look. The water mage’s familiar is pacing the room, the soft patter of paws on stone the only sound between them.

"Tomato…" Bed finally speaks up, his voice quiet. "Is it okay if I check through your rucksack? I don't want to risk Criken popping up again."

Tomato groans and gives a dismissive wave of his hand. "Do whatever you want. Nothing I can really do to stop you anyway." He leans back with an uncomfortable sigh, his wounds protesting with every movement.

There's a sudden weight on the bed and Tomato jolts, startling when he sees that Bed's familiar has hopped up and the giant otter is now trying to burrow under the covers to cuddle. Tomato sighs and tugs up the blanket letting the huge animal nuzzle into his side as Bed digs through his bag. There's just the clinking of bottles and a series of increasingly confused exclamations from Bed.

"Tomato…" Bed's voice picks up again. "Where's your quick pouch?"

"With my clothes. What's wrong with you?" Tomato sits up as much as he can so he can watch Bed dig through the bloody mess of his clothes and armor.

Bed ends up finding it and quickly sorts through that too. There's more bottles rattling and the clink of coins and another distressed sound.

"Tomato, exactly how long were you under Criken's watch?"

"Uhh, probably around six months. Why are you asking this now?” Tomato squints, trying to figure out what Bed’s getting at. His glasses are gone somewhere so it’s useless to try to read Bed’s expression.

Bed huffs and walks back over to the bed. He dumps the contents of both of Tomato’s bag across the rumpled covers and dozens of potion bottles, both full and empty, go rolling. “I’m asking because it’s starting to look to me like you don’t know a single spell. Have you really been relying on potions this whole time?”

“Yeah? What’s the matter with that? Just because I don’t have any natural magic like you doesn’t mean you have to rub it in my face. The sword created its own fire and I had the potions for defense and healing. I did just fine.” Tomato huffs, rolling over so he doesn’t have to look at Bed.

“Don’t have any--? Tomato, you practically radiate pent up magic. Just another of Criken’s lies. I should have known.” Bed throws his hands up and starts pacing around the room. “I’m guessing he never taught you to make your potions either, did he? This was all another ploy to keep you under his thumb.”

“Sure. Sure. Whatever you say, Bed, but I think if I could do magic I would know it by now. Twenty-two years is a long time to not know something about yourself.” Tomato grumbles and pulls the covers up over his head, too worn out to deal with this anymore.

“No. No. Stop that. We’re going to figure this out. Here, I’ll prove it to you!” Bed yells as he hops off of the bed. There’s the sound of running footsteps and then the door opening and closing and then quiet.

Tomato gives a content sigh and lets himself doze off, relaxed and comfortable for the first time in what feels like ages.

It doesn’t last long.

Bed comes bursting back into the room twenty minutes later and he’s loud enough that even his familiar chatters in anger at being woken up. Bed ignores it though and proudly exclaims, “Get up. Get up. I found it! I’m going to show you, Tomato.”

He comes around to the side of the bed and tugs the blankets away. “Come on. All you have to do is sit up. You need to find out for yourself.”

Tomato groans, but eventually rolls back over with Bed’s help. He sits up slowly and blinks blearily at the mage standing next to him. “What are you on about, again?”

“Your magic, Tomato. It’s there and waiting for you.” Bed holds out his hands so he can grasp Tomato’s and has him cradle a clear gem with just the slightest tinge of pink to it. “This is a neutral focus. It’ll help us figure out what plain you cast from and then we can get you a real focus.”

“So, what do you want me to do?” Tomato sighs and brings the gem closer to his chest, the weight of it oddly comforting.

“Okay. I want you to close your eyes and then we’ll work on finding your familiar.”

Tomato gives in and closes his eyes and the softest smile stretches across Bed’s face.

“Perfect. Now I want you to think about warmth and safety. Think about home and laughter and the wonder in the world. Then I want you to imagine all of that is packed in your chest, waiting to come out and cradle you in wonderful light.”

Bed can see the smallest of smiles tugging at Tomato’s lips and the gem in his hands starts to glow faintly.

“You’re doing amazing. Now...I want you to imagine that you’re falling, but you have no fear because you know that something is there at the bottom waiting for you. That something will catch you and protect you and nurse your wounds if need be. Then project that something outward. Let it fill the room and come to you. Let it wrap you up in its loving embrace.”

As Bed’s words trail off, an inky blackness starts to seep into the room from the corners. The rough stone is soon covered in sticky pitch, all of it crawling towards the bed. Bed’s guest room gets very cold very quickly and even his otter is hopping out of the bed with a frightened chatter. As his large familiar circles around his feet, Bed grins. The shadows are twining so carefully around Tomato, holding him in a loving embrace as they pool on the blankets, churning into a swirling mess of pure darkness. From out of those depths, something tries to break free. It’s just as black as the magic engulfing it, but Bed can make out a piece here and there. It struggles hard against the magic until it finally breaks free with a cry.

It’s enough to startle Tomato and he opens his eyes just in time to see a large crow burst from the shadows coating the bed.

“What the hell?”

As soon as the bird is free, all the light comes back to the room and Tomato’s left tangled in the sheets as the unnaturally large bird carefully picks its way up to his side. He just stares as it walks its way across the pillows until it can settle in behind him and start grooming his hair.

“Bed…” He gasps. “What just happened?”

“You did magic, Tamto. Look at you! You’re amazing. I’ve never seen anything like this.” Bed shouts in victory and steps closer to his friend, keeping an eye on the large carrion bird.

“It all makes sense, though.” He adds. “Of course Criken didn’t want you to been seen using magic like this. How was he supposed to be the country’s golden child if his champion wielded the shadows and had an affinity for carrion birds? He would have been stopped before he could even start. I’m so sorry that this is just one more thing to add to the pile, Tomato.”

Tomato just shrugs and reaches up to carefully pet his new familiar. He’s in shock from actually using magic and too caught up in the warmth of having a creature at his side that radiates safety to pay much attention to anything Bed’s saying.

[agent00n0]

Magnus Archives AU? 

I dunno. I just kinda wanted to assign the boys as avatars of the various fear entities. 

Criken - The Stranger - Clowns. Wearing someone else’s face. The sense of knowing that someone isn’t who you think they are.

Bed - the Spiral - Lies. Chaos. Unending mazes and twisting corridors. Being one thing and another at the same time. Always changing. Hard to understand and never quite human.

Tomato - the Hunt - an animalistic fear. The need to always chase but never catch. Always the hunter never the prey. Violence and anger.

Buck - the Corruption - Disease and filth. Feelings of disgust and revulsion. Bugs and rot and decay.

Lawl- the Web - Control. Traps. The feeling that your will is not your own. Always being in control and pulling all the carefully laid strings. Spiders.

Boon - the Slaughter - Violence for the sake of violence. Killing that can’t be controlled. War and all of its victims.

Shayne - the Lonely - Isolation. Separation. Losing yourself in the fog.

Char - the Vast - The feeling that you’re so small in the great big universe. Open waters. Endless skies. Vertigo and falling.

Sput - the Buried - Too small spaces and too tight corridors. Choking and suffocating with the weight of the earth pressing down upon you.

Cheeky - the Eye - Always watching. An insatiable need for knowledge and the search for information. The feeling of always being observed.

Zyke - the Desolation - Endless destruction. Heat without flame. Taking joy in watching others fall before you. The feeling of everything going wrong right when it was supposed to go right.

Gmart - the Dark - The most primal of fears. The terrors that lurk once all the lights go out. A world without sun. Things that bump and creak in the dead of night.

Strippin - the End - Death. The end of everything. Ever present in the universe and never going away.

[agent00n0]

The Only Thing That Matters (Is You)

[Ao3]

There’s a soft scratching at his door before it’s slowly pushed open to reveal a cream-colored wolf who carefully noses his way in.

“Good afternoon, Bed,” Tomato sighs as he turns in his chair and goes back to work.

There’s a series of sick crunching noises from behind him that Tomato pointedly ignores until a pair of decidedly human arms snake their way around his shoulders. “Mh. Afternoon, Tamto. What are you working on?” Bed gives a soft yawn and nuzzles Tomato’s neck, relaxing even more as he takes in huge lungfuls of their resident witch’s herby scent.

“Something to help Ruby and Shanye stay more stable without using up so much of their energy or draining all the batteries in the house.”

“Aw. You’re so sweet, Tamto. Looks like all your tinkering in here pays off sometimes.” Bed laughs, but it’s strained and he hasn’t moved away yet.

Tomato shrugs as he adds a few drops of liquid into a jar containing a foggy plasma. When the whole thing hisses and turns black, Tomato sets it down in frustration and grips at Bed’s wrists, tilting his head to actually look at the werewolf invading his space. “Did you actually need something?”

“No. No. Can’t I just come visit you?” Bed’s words are muffled from where he’s tucked against Tomato’s shoulder and it’s obvious he’s reluctant to pull away.

“You can, but I know you, Bed. There’s always a motive to whatever that weird brain of yours has you doing.”

“I did come just to see you. Is that so hard to believe?”

“Yes. Now tell me what happened.” Tomato leans as far away as he can to glare at the side of Bed’s head, wondering if he can will the answers to his questions out of that mop of dirty blonde hair.

Bed huffs and pull away. Tomato spins in his chair to watch him and huffs when Bed sinks into his bed, pulling his pillow close to his face and breathing in deeply. Tomato rolls his eyes and gets up. He puts his components away and perches at the end of his bed, watching the wolf curled up there intently. He knows better than to try to invade Bed’s personal space too quickly when he gets like this. “How about this: Who got hurt?”

“No one,” Bed says from behind the pillow still clutched in his grip. “Well, none of us.”

“So something did happen. Spill or you’re banned from my room for a month.” Tomato laces as much of a threat as he can into his tone, his voice deepening and crackling with the promise of a spell.

“Fine.” Bed whines and finally looks up to meet Tomato’s eyes. “Buck and I went exploring through the woods today. We got curious though and went past the boundaries. We found a witch’s hut. It was abandoned. When we looked inside...It was horrible.”

Tears start to gather in his eyes and he reaches out for Tomato. The witch takes his hand and can feel the promise of claws there as Bed gets more and more distressed.

“The place was absolutely ransacked. Books were torn and crushed, ever jar was smashed, herbs were everywhere, and there was a burn mark. A huge, ugly burn mark right by the fireplace staining the floor and crawling up the wall. It had to have been hunters, Tamto, and they burned whoever had lived there. Burned them in their own home like they weren’t still a person!”

He’s crying openly now and Tomato moves further up the Bed so he can pull the weeping wolf to his chest. He gently runs his fingers through Bed’s hair as he keeps telling his story.

“Standing there, smelling the lingering sadness and death all wrapped up in the familiar scent of herbs, all I could think about was you. I know you don’t leave the house much, but all I could picture was those hunters coming for you. Breaking into our den and taking you away from me. I ran all the way back here because I needed to make sure you were still here. I don’t know what I’d do if you were gone, Tamto.”

He clutches at Tomato’s shirt, sobs making his shoulders shake.

“I won’t let them take you from me. You’re safe here. I know you’re safe here, but that house was supposed to be safe too. I saw the wards and the runes and the protection sachets, but the hunters cut right through it all. Like all that witch’s hard work meant nothing to them. I remember when we moved here and you painstakingly warded every window and door, I smell your charms in the yard every time I got out there, but there are humans out there who just can’t be stopped. And I hate that.”

Bed’s tone quickly shifts from sadness to rage and Tomato can feel claws start to prick at his skin.

“Bed. Bed! Easy. Easy. I’m here and everything is okay. I’m not going anywhere. No one’s taking me away I promise. Whoever that was, it was obvious that they were on their own. Witches usually live solitary lives, but I don’t. I live here with all of our friends. I live here with you. If anyone could keep me safe, it’s you.”

Tomato pulls Bed away from him so he can look in his glassy, red-rimmed eyes. He wants the wolf to see how much he means those words.

“I know that there are some hunters out there who are too good at their jobs, but we have our family. And each other. We’re safe, Bed. I promise.”

He pulls Bed to his chest again and presses a kiss to his hair. Bed smells like the woods, like trampled dew and the lingering smell of wildflowers. If Tomato had Bed’s nose, he’s sure he’d be able to pick up the scent of smoke and burning flesh that was probably lingering under it all, but he’s glad he doesn’t. He’s heard the horror stories about his solitary brother and sisters being slaughtered in their own homes and he’s sure his stomach couldn’t take the undeniable proof of it right now.

Warm fingers are linked with his and he looks down to see Bed looking back up at him with that soft expression he rarely gets to see.

“Hey, Tomato?”

“Yes, Bed?”

“You know I love you, right?”

Tomato can’t help the chuckle that leaves him and he squeezes Bed’s hand tight.

“I do. And I love you, too, Bed. Even when you worry too much about things you shouldn’t.”

Bed frowns and tugs at Tomato’s shirt pulling him down into a quick kiss.

“I can’t help that you’re the only one still human. I know your spells can only do so much, so it’s my job to keep you safe.”

“And you’ve done an excellent job so far. My big, strong wolf hero I always wished for.”

“And don’t you forget it.”

Bed kisses him again and pulls him back with a giggle, forcing Tomato into a warm, protective cuddle.

[agent00n0]

Friends in Odd Places

Inspired by {link} [Ao3]

Tomato can see the blast of ice magic before it hits him. It gives him enough time to pull up his shield, but the heavy piece of metal and wood isn't enough to completely fend off the biting cold or the jagged shards of ice hidden in the white swirls. Needle-like icicles still manage to pierce their way through the gaps in his greaves, buckling his knees, and similar shards rake over his scalp, quickly sending blood flowing into his eyes.

Tomato is shivering and panting as he's left kneeling on the damp stone floor. The only thing stopping him from truly collapsing is the sword he has wedged in a gap in the old masonry. The damn sword that started it all.

He tries to look up at the sorcerer floating high in the center of the room, wanting to face his death with dignity, but between his glasses being long gone and the blood that won't stop pouring into his eyes, he can't make out much besides a blurry mix of blue and skin tones. He's nowhere nearing being able to dodge any more attacks.

“Just end it.” Tomato growls from between grit teeth, but even that's weak. “You won. Despite everything, you won.”

There's a low, humorless chuckle that reverberates against the dripping walls.

Tomato can see the sorcerer shake his head and move his hands in a way he's never seen before. He tenses, readying himself for the death blow, but it doesn't come. Instead, great spouts of water shoot from the floor one by one, disappearing as the sorcerer steps from one to the next, slowly lowering himself to Tomato's level.

Tomato turns away as the sorcerer stops right in front of him.

“Tomato.” A gentle hand cradles his face, making him look up.

“Bed.” Tomato replies weakly as that same hand starts to wipe the blood from his face.

“Oh, Tomato. Look what they've done to you. You've fought hard and well, but he underestimated me. You never should have been sent here.” Bed shakes his head sadly, pushing Tomato's blood-soaked hair away from his forehead.

“I had to. You need to be stopped and I'm the only one-”

“Stop. I don't want to hear his lies coming from you. You should have known, Tomato. No more of that. Rest now.” Bed flicks his free hand and a large otter appears from a burst of water, curling behind Tomato to hold some of his weight. Bed is kneeling in front of him now, and he carefully uncurls Tomato’s fingers from the death grip they have on his sword. He sags under the weight of his armor and his tired, sore body, but the ethereal otter keeps him up.

“I can't rest. I can't rest until I'm done, Bed.” Tomato tries to argue, even as his grip loosens on the shield he's still clutching.

“You are done, Tomato. Any more and you'll die and I refuse to kill someone who's innocent in all this. The only blood I want on my hands is his.” Bed’s tone shifts to anger, but it's not directed at Tomato.

“Do you hear me, Criken? I know you're always watching. That's how you've always been. Never the one to get your hands dirty. You wouldn't even lift a finger if I really wanted to kill your beloved champion, would you? You'd let me do it and just write Tomato off as another tragic loss. You'd find someone more naïve to face me and we’d do this all over again, but I'm done. Face me yourself, you coward!” Bed's voice goes high as he screams and kicks Tomato's sword across the room. The enchanted metal bouncing off the far wall.

A piercing whine cuts through the room and the large ruby embedded in the hilt of the sword explodes into a dome of fire. Once the flames fade away, a figure is left standing where the sword once was. His head is held high with pride and he's decked from head to toe in crimson armor, but there's something unnatural about him, something about his limbs that makes him seem human adjacent.

“Don't fool yourself into thinking I came just because you threw a temper tantrum, Bed.” He says as he starts to walk across the room, each heavy boot fall casing steam to rise up from the wet stone. “I'm just here to bring back what's mine.”

Before he can get any closer, a wall of water rushes into his path, blocking him off. “No, Criken. If that's what it comes down to, you can't have him back. You're just going to fill his head with more lies and send him right back here to die when he can stand again. I'm going to take care of him. You sent him to me, so he's my champion now. Don't come back to my home unless you're willing to face me yourself.”

The wall of water rushes forward, ready to drown Criken, but he just laughs. “Be careful what you wish for, Bed.” Then he’s gone in another swirl of flames before the waves can even touch him.

Bed turns to check on Tomato and his heart clenches when he finds him staring at him in horror. Bed kneels in front of his again but doesn't try to touch him, instead urging his familiar to cuddle closer to the wounded knight. “Tomato? Tomato. I need you to listen to me; to believe me. I don't know what Criken’s been telling you, but it's all lies. He's gone mad with power over the years. I've been trying to figure out how to save us all this time, but he would rather see this place burn so he can build his own kingdom on the charred husk of our home. The only thing that's been standing in his way is me. I swear that this is the truth.”

Tomato gives a long sigh and shakes his head, leaning back against the warm otter curled up behind him. “Honestly, I don't even know what to believe anymore.”

“You can decide your own truth, but please let me get you out of here and treat your wounds. You can decide when you're not bleeding on the floor anymore.”

“That sounds nice. I haven't made my own decisions in a long time.”

[agent00n0]

Only Sleep Now

“Fuck!” The hissed expletive is punctuated by the slamming of the refrigerator door and the rattling of the various glass bottles inside. “Fuck. Shit! Stupid overcrowded house.”

There’s a loud thud as a swift kick is given to the offending appliance.

“Tamto? It’s getting early, what are you still doing up?”

Tomato whirls around from where he’s throwing his tantrum to see Bed standing in the doorway of the kitchen. He’s sleep-rumpled and rubbing the tiredness from his eyes; the perfect picture of someone woken up too soon by an angry vampire.

“Sorry, Bed.” Tomato quickly says, guilt washing over him as he realizes just how noisy he was being. It’s especially unfair considering that their resident sorcerer has the room closest to the kitchen.

“It’s okay. I have a few things to help me fall back asleep.” Bed shuffles closer so he can sleepily lean against Tomato, his warmth quickly seeping into Tomato’s skin. “What’s got you so upset, man? Shouldn’t you be getting ready to sleep for the day?”

“That’s what I was trying to do.” Tomato huffs. “I was going to have a snack so I didn’t wake up hungry, but no one bothered to tell me we were out of blood packs already. Now none of us have time to run out and get more and I’m going to be fucked in the evening.”

“Oh? That’s it? You’re so dumb, Tamto.”

“Excuse me?!”

Bed yawns and loops his arm with Tomato’s and starts guiding him away from the refrigerator and out of the kitchen.

“You could have just woken me up and asked.”

“Bed...”

“It’s fine, Tomato. I’ve told you a million times that it’s fine.” Bed stops to open his bedroom door, ushering Tomato in and following after him. He points Tomato towards the bed, giving him a look that says he won’t tolerate arguments before he putters around the room. Tomato watches as he shuts his window and makes sure that the thick blackout curtains they all have in their rooms are closed and secured tightly. Then he wanders over to his workbench to dig through the bottles and bottles of potions he has. Once he finds the right one, he makes his way back over to the bed.

Bed stops in front of Tomato and rolls his eyes when he sees him sitting awkwardly at the end of the bed. “Scooch up and get comfortable, dude. I know you don’t want to sleep there.”

Tomato huffs but does as he’s told, moving until he’s settled comfortably amongst Bed’s collection of pillows.

“You going to tell me what you’re planning?” Tomato finally asks as Bed crawls in next to him, setting his potion on the nightstand.

“My plan is: you’re going to have your snack, I’m going to take this sleeping potion, and then we’re both going to pass the fuck out. I’m going to wake up before you - like I always do - and I’m going to go out and get more blood because even four vampires can’t remember to go out and get their own groceries.”

“Bed, you know you don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t have to do it, Tomato. I do it because I’m the only one in our group who's still mostly human and can. I know the whole forfeiting my soul thing makes my blood taste a little off, but at least it works in a pinch. And, despite having a couple thousand years of knowledge between all of you, I trust none of you to take care of yourselves.”

“Says the guy who holes himself up in his room for days working on his elixirs.” Tomato scoffs.

“That was once and only because it was a very important project. It hasn’t happened since.” Bed easily reminds him. “Now stop stalling, the sun’s going to come up soon.”

“I really hate you, you know.”

“No, you don’t,” Bed murmurs as he shifts so he can sit in front of Tomato and tug down the collar of his sleep shirt to give him more room.

Tomato grumbles just a little bit more, but Bed can see in his eyes the sleepiness and the hunger both trying to take over. As Tomato starts to lean in, Bed gives him a triumphant smirk, happy to have won this round.

The first thing Bed feels is cool breath against his neck and then a sharp prick as Tomato’s too big teeth sink into his skin like ripe fruit. Bed can feel the first pull of blood and a surge of contentment floods through him as Tomato gives a pleased sigh. He yawns again as Tomato wraps his arms around him and settles him more comfortably in his lap. The room is quiet. The only the sound is that of the birds starting to wake and Bed really doesn’t mind.

It’s a good moment for both of them. Bed’s mind isn’t racing through a hundred different spells and potion recipes for once and this is the quietest he’s heard Tomato all week. He’s actually just about to drift off, his mind starting to feel like he’s floating when Tomato pulls away. He makes an upset noise that has Tomato snorting quietly. “I’m guessing the vampire drugs hit you real good.”

“Mh. Everything’s made of clouds.” Bed murmurs as he rolls so he can snuggle up into his pillow and against Tomato’s side.

“I thought I was getting close to taking too much. Nice to know that I’m still a good judge of that.”

“Quiet, Tamto. Only sleep now.”

“Alright, I guess I can do that since you weren’t a little shit for once.” Tomato rolls his eyes, but the expression is still fond and there’s a little spark of warmth that’s settled nicely in his chest.

He gives a long yawn and shifts so he can actually sleep. Normally he has trouble sleeping, but he’s full and one of his best friends is warm and curled against his side. He really couldn’t ask for anything better and sleep is quick to pull him into its tempting embrace.