After being able to view my previous chapter on something non-mobile, I realized just how short it was. So I hope this makes up for it. I'm still trying to adjust to this new site, so thank you all for understanding! At the moment, I'm at a loss for ideas, so I'm just rolling with what my fingers are putting down. Any input or ideas in the feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Chapter two: Leashed

Characters: Ezreal, Vladimir

Pairings: Vladimir/Ezreal

Warnings: Blood things

In all of his years exploring, the prodigy had never actually thought of dying in the wilderness. It seemed unreal and something that couldn't happen. Of course not- not to him. He was too young and full of life to end it so short. He had so much more to do with himself. Remembering his life back at home, he began to feel a sinking in his stomach. He should have spent more time with his parents. Tried to understand the education they wanted for him before giving up on the schooling. Or maybe found someone to tell he loved when he returned from each venture. Though, having someone looking for him when he came back only to never return again would have been cruel and horrible.

His lips curved upwards slightly, despite the numb feeling throughout his body. At least he could smile in death. If he were found with a smile, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. He was in a forest that no one had bothered to learn the whereabouts of with no one knowing as to where he was heading exactly. His body might never be found, if there even was one when that... that creature was done. Perhaps some part of him might be left behind.

Death took a while... but at least it didn't hurt. His heavy eyes slowly opened and closed numerous times, struggling to break free of the dead weight that was his entire being. It seemed warmer than it should have; the flooding feeling against his cheek to spread through his body. Unable to move to look about, he wondered if there really was an afterlife as some profits had promised. He'd always brushed it off, but how else could he feel as though he were back at home? Maybe he could be in limbo of his memories and still live with his parents again. An endless cycle seemed pleasant for another chance, but would soon grow into something torturous.

Something glided along his collarbone, making his lids strain to pry open again with much effort. His blurred vision revealed colors of pale flesh and silvery hair, making the boy frown faintly. His father wasn't that old, was he? Perhaps he was just remembering wrongly. Or this was some spirit coming to collect him for whatever it was that happened after dying. Parting his lips had been a challenge, but he managed. Getting the words out, however, was an impossible feat. A faint groan managed past before he sank back into unconsciousness.

The sight was pathetic at the very least. Humans were weak- a note he should take down sometime. From his experience with stories of them, they hadn't been nearly so... The words eluded the vampire for how this experience was playing out. He had sat beside the human for hours, watching silently as its many expressions would shift and change, occasional sounds slipping past the thing's mouth. Sighing softly, he leaned his cheek into a palm for support out of boredom. It seemed to be stirring, yet failing at that too. Patience was not something that Vladimir possessed. At least, not when food wasn't involved. He lifted a finger to gingerly prod the boy's cheek; the squishing of it piquing interest. Human flesh was so soft and easily torn. Withdrawing his claw before he punctured the skin, he returned to his bored state of observing in utter silence. Perhaps he had taken too much blood. Some animals he drank from would eventually die from blood loss. Shifting nervously at that thought, he glanced up and about his abode.

He was alone, of course; minus the company of the human. He wasn't far from his kind, but far enough to have space for things he did in his own forest. He'd been granted that at the very least. Rubbing his own neck slowly, he watched the human's eyebrows furrow together. If he offered his own blood, it would assist in any severe loss from his body, yet... the price for both of them would be great. He couldn't return home, else to reveal the nature that vampires existed still, and if Vladimir were caught changing a human, he would be hunted down. Perhaps... perhaps he could convince anyone who found them that it was a lost cousin or something of relation. He chewed the inside of his cheek in quiet contemplation.

Vladimir had caused this. It was his responsibility. As little he cared for animals, a human was something completely different. Sighing heavily in defeat, he pressed a sharp claw to his throat before slicing downwards to reveal crimson of his own blood. Leaning over the human, he forced its lips open, pushing the wound directly onto its mouth. At the neck, the blood would flow without much need for sucking. Closing his eyes, the mild sting was nothing to the vampire. He focused on the faint heartbeat below and how the body would react to the change.

A swallow made Vladimir shift and soon there was another. At the human's sides, fingers twitched before curling to fists. A splutter and a jolt, forced the vampire to draw back and cover his neck, watching it curiously.

It had tasted sweet to the boy, somehow. He hadn't been aware of what was flooding his mouth, but something to cure the dryness was eagerly welcomed. It wasn't until his eyes fluttered open that he noticed the odd angle of a figure. The colors were becoming more prominent in his vision and he could make out the hair that was pulled aside, exposing flesh to the boy. Now that his brain had some fuel, the pieces clicked into place quickly. He nearly choked on the liquid inside of his mouth. It tasted metallic despite the sweetness, helping him figure out the situation.

Ezreal lifted a hand to his mouth, coughing heavily into his forearm. The person had withdrew, giving him room thankfully. After a few moments, the blond looked around in a panic.

"Where am I?" he croaked, his face warming in his anxiousness. He could feel his heart picking up in pace painfully in his chest. The stranger was silent a moment, and sighed softly. "My home." he replied softly, the voice odd to the boy. It seemed to have a heavy accent that he'd never heard before. It was smooth and melted in the air between them. The question hadn't exactly helped the explorer, but he couldn't find it in himself to push further despite his natural habit of doing just that.

"And who are you?"

This elicited a longer silence from the man, much to Ezreal's disappointment. After long enough, he assumed he wouldn't be given an answer. "My name is Vladimir." The short, vague answers frustrated the boy more than anything. The thought of not knowing everything about people or things was something he'd always hated, but answers like this were a thing of nightmares. Ezreal shifted, feeling compelled to respond with his own. "I'm Ezreal..." he mumbled.

The silence was thick and awkward, making the boy uncomfortable. He didn't know what to say or do. If the guy would answer him about what he'd just been doing with his neck, or if he were hallucinating. The taste still lingered as a strange reminder. Parting his lips, the blond fell silent again, unable to find himself questioning for once. The silver haired man sighed and stood gingerly from beside the couch. "Things are going to be quite different you'll find and for that, I am sorry. It was all I could do." Sorrow and guilt danced across Vladimir's face, bringing confusion to the boy. What was that supposed to mean?

"What did you do to me?" His voice was firm as he sat up slowly, his muscles feeling numb and weak as though he'd been sleeping for a while.

Vladimir shifted backwards, taking a step away from the human as though he were dangerous. He couldn't answer. It wasn't the child- Ezreal's fault that this happened to him and he deserved an explanation. "Hopefully nothing... but I can't guarantee..." His words trailed. Ezreal kept his gaze steady on the stranger. "You're not supposed to even be here. Why did you come?" His eyebrows furrowed, almost angry with the boy for taunting him with his scent in his own lands and forcing the situation. This hadn't been an issue before. It didn't even seem possible since no one knew this location. Or so he'd thought before.

The boy rubbed his neck irritably, as though something bothered him. The man stiffened. "What are you? Before... before I thought you were a monster about to kill me. Or... did you find me from whatever that was?" Their voices sounded the same, but he'd passed out and hadn't awoken in however long it had been. Who knew how reliable his memory was.

"It was me." He had no reason to lie to the kid. "What I am isn't of your concern, I-" Ezreal cut him off, standing quite suddenly before falling back to the couch again clumsily. "It is if something is wrong with me! Did you poison me?" he snapped, struggling to sit upright again. It was almost cute with how pathetic it was.

He couldn't say that he hadn't poisoned the boy, because he'd technically had. But he of course wouldn't understand and Vladimir would be giving away information of his people. Which he was already breaking the rules as it was. Sighing heavily, he shook his head. "Do they still tell stories of Vampires where you come from?"

The word caught Ezreal off guard. Blinking, he eyed the other silently. Vampires...? Why did that matter; they were child stories. Something to scare teens off from wandering too far out to get in trouble. Something... not real. His stomach churned.

"Yes..." he said quietly, his anger seemingly forgotten in mild fear.

"Then you should be smart enough to figure it out." Vladimir growled. "Your facts are probably jumbled from years, but that is what I am and that's what happened to you. I tried to stop myself, but you practically begged for it the way you wandered about my home." His confession wasn't necessary, but it came out anyway. After a moment of silence, the boy slowly nodded. "Am I... going to..." His voice was quieter now; good. The vampire had a headache from the whole situation already.

"I do not know." he replied, sitting on the opposite couch. Things he'd collected from abandoned homes outside of the woods that were quite tattered and old from the years, but the man hadn't minded. It was something comfortable and human-like to fill his home. And it had worked out at least considering his strange guest. "But if you do, you cannot leave. Nor could you anyway, because you now know of my kind." His gaze lowered slightly as the boy gaped.

"You can't do that! I can... I won't tell anyone. Ever. I won't be one of you... I..." He felt helpless. His life had pretty much ended as it was if he had to stay forever in some vampire forest. Could he even die as a vampire? His hands rose to the sides of his head to grip his hair tightly as he grew queasy. This was all too much for him. "Why me...?" He had to explore everything... the unknown beckoned him and this was his price. He'd been warned before that someday his dangerous ventures would be the end, but he'd hoped it wouldn't be so soon.

"I didn't ask you to come here." Vladimir muttered quietly. Ezreal pressed his forehead to his knees that he'd brought up for a fetal position. The man stood again and left the room. Perhaps he should give him time to adjust to the information. Not that he knew human etiquette, but it seemed proper. He would check in after hunting the night's dinner. Did humans enjoy raw foods? He'd have to ask after his return. If the boy were still human. Locking the door after he'd left, Vladimir glanced about with crimson eyes, taking in the cool night air.

What was he to do?