Leaving while Spud was sleeping off Bully's attack was difficult and he had to firmly quash the compulsion to check on the smaller man again. Which is why he ended up in a seedy part of town, having no patience for the slow seduction of a one-night stand while Spud was at home injured and how he ended up with a gunshot wound in his abdomen from a thief looking to rob him once he'd led his victim to a deserted alleyway. After subduing and refraining from killing his would-be robber there was just enough time to wipe everyone's memory before the sound of approaching sirens drove him away. Making it to his car, vision wavering in and out it was a minor miracle he managed the drive back home without being pulled over or worse.

Parking haphazardly Ethan staggered towards the house, cursing when he remembered Aunt D and Serg were out attending a high society party. As much as he didn't want to disturb them he was going to have to call and pray they could get back in time. With blood soaking through his shirt and still more seeping out no matter how hard he pressed on the wound there was no doubt he needed help. Lurching towards the privacy of his room he stumbled against one of those stupid ugly floor vases his Aunt loved so much, cursing at the renewed throb of pain and the noise it made as it shattered. The last thing he wanted was to wake the kids, Violet and Toby were way too young to see him in this state.

With his hand on the doorknob to his room Ethan stifled a groan when Spud's door opened and the hall light flicked on. Pulling his jacket shut in a vain attempt to hide the blood he turned a strained smile towards the other man's sleepy murmur of greeting. "Spud, what are you doing up? You should be in bed resting."

Frowning at the odd tone in Ethan's voice Spud shuffled closer, pausing when the other man moved back and stumbled ever so slightly. "I heard a noise," as his eyes finally adjusted to the light he sucked in a breath at how pale Ethan was. "Sir what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I knocked a vase over that's all, must have had too much to drink," steading himself against the wall Ethan tried to laugh off Spud's concern even as his vision wavered. The wooden doorframe splintered under his grip when the smaller man carefully inched closer, the overwhelming scent of Spud's blood threatening to shatter his control and making his voice rough, "go back to sleep, everything is fine."

Usually quick to obey orders but unable to dismiss the feeling something was drastically wrong Spud hesitated long enough to spot the dark red stain on the other man's shirt, "bloody hell Ethan you're bleeding." Voice cracking under a surge of fear he rushed forward and pushed Ethan's jacket aside despite his protests, feeling sick at the sight of how much blood it had been covering.

"I'll be okay. Please just go back to bed," gripping Spud's shoulder tightly Ethan attempted to shove him back towards his room, cursing the smaller man's stubbornness when he held firm.

Pushing aside his panic Spud steadied Ethan when he stumbled, "don't be ridiculous Ethan, you need a Doctor, I'm going to call an ambulance." They were closest to the other man's room so he half dragged Ethan inside and eased him down on the bed, forcibly subduing his reaction to the other man's whimper of pain. "Everything is going to be okay Sir," smoothing a sweaty curl off of Ethan's much too pale face his hand shook as he reached for the bedside phone.

"No!" Groaning Ethan shook off his dizziness, "no ambulances." Grabbing the smaller man's wrist he misjudged his strength, wincing when Spud gasped in pain he didn't dare release his hold. "I mean it, you can't call anyone."

Fruitlessly trying to tug his arm free Spud blinked back the frustrated sting of tears when the other man's grip didn't relent, "are you bloody mental? You're bleeding all over the place. You need a doctor." With his free hand he desperately grasped Ethan's blood-soaked shirt and all but begged, "please let go, I can't just let you die Ethan."

The determined slant to Spud's mouth was all Ethan needed to tell him there was no way the smaller man was going to let this issue go and he was all too aware time was rapidly running out, he needed blood now. "I'm not going to die Spud," sighing and giving into what had been inevitable since the moment he'd met Spud he held the other man's fearful gaze with a quiet calmness. "Haven't you ever suspected something was different about me? I know you're a lot more observant than my Aunt gives you credit for."

"What the bloody hell are you talking about?" On the verge of hyperventilating Spud winced when the grip on his arm tightened painfully, all he could see was how pale the other man was, how much blood he'd lost and was still losing. "Please, just let me call a Doctor," even with tears obscuring his vision he could tell Ethan was unmoved by his plea. In desperation he ripped his arm free and dived for the phone, uncaring how his wrist twisted and almost broke. Lifting the receiver he yelped when Ethan yanked it away and with seemingly no effort crushed it to pieces. Stunned his gaze swung to Ethan's face, freezing in alarm he barely dared to breath at the red swirling through the other man's eyes.

Despite the darkness creeping around the edges of his vision Ethan could see Spud's brain finally engage, closing his eyes briefly against the pain of what he was going to have to do, "you've never noticed I'm stronger or faster than I should be at times?" The knowledge he was going to have to wipe Spud's memory after this night hurt worse than the wound burning in his side.

"I … I don't know, maybe," trembling Spud licked his lips, trying to think past the all-encompassing worry for Ethan's life to understand what the other man was telling him. "You, you broke the chains in Willow's shack."

Smiling in pride even as the pain in his gut dulled in a way he knew was a sign he was close to passing out Ethan finally dared to release his hold, "very good, I'd wondered if you'd noticed that." He counted it as a good sign that Spud was listening intently and not freaking out, hoping the next bombshell wouldn't tip the scales, "a Doctor won't be able to help me tiger. What I need is blood."

"Like an IV?" Knowing the question was stupid and he was grasping at straws Spud touched trembling fingers to the skin under the eerily beautiful red shine in Ethan's normally deep brown eyes. When Ethan only raised an eyebrow, his smile twisting into a smirk so the tips of two sharp fangs peeked through his hand dropped away. Sucking in a deep breath and shakily releasing it he straightened his spine and determinedly pushed aside every emotion and every question crowding his mind until a time Ethan didn't look on death's door. "What do you need from me Sir?"

"You always manage to amaze me tiger," voice tight Ethan allowed himself to give into a hot sweep of dizziness, sinking against Spud's steadying frame he rested his head against the smaller man's chest, muscles relaxing as thin fingers wound gently through his hair. The steady thump of Spud's heart was a soothing note to the savage ache of his hunger, surrounded by the smaller man's warm scent he could almost ignore the pain and spreading coldness. Tipping his head back he studied Spud's expression of nervous trepidation, regretting the necessity of putting this burden on him, "I'm sorry, I never wanted to ask this of you, but I need blood and I need it now."

Sucking in a quick breath Spud wondered rather hysterically if he was crazier for believing Ethan was some sort of vampire or for the fact he was going to agree. "Okay … okay," nodding shakily he nonetheless met Ethan's assessing gaze with confidence. "Whatever you need Ethan."

Growling, hunger taking over Ethan yanked Spud onto the bed and rolled on top of him, pinning his slighter form firmly so there would be no chance of him getting hurt during a struggle. Propping most of his weight up on his elbows he tried to smile reassuringly when Spud bravely met his eyes even as the fingers desperately clutching the sides of his shirt gave away his fear, "relax, I promise this won't hurt."

Without giving Spud time to change his mind Ethan nuzzled against his throat, inhaling the scent that had tempted him from the first moment he'd encountered it he took a second to relish the anticipation. Spud's pulse raced frantically under his lips and as carefully and as gently as he knew how he sank his fangs in, groaning in ecstasy as the taste exploded on his tongue. Desperately clutching Spud closer his hunger only ramped up at the breathless whine of encouragement escaping the smaller man. Spud's blood was exquisite, like nothing he'd ever tasted and he needed … wanted more, drinking frantically until warm hands slid under his shirt and petted along his skin.

The warm sense of acceptance took the edge off his frenzied feeding, focusing his mind on the need to make sure Spud wasn't hurt. Slowing the frantic rate he was drinking Ethan was able to hear Spud's soft murmurs of reassurance, unable to help but wonder if this man would ever cease to surprise him. Searching through the rumpled bedding he found Spud's free hand and tangled their fingers together, stiffening when a vaguely familiar electric tingle thrummed through his nerves. It took a moment too long to understand what was happening and by the time he recognized the sensation as the start of a bond forming it was already too late … it snapped into place with all the strength of a steel cable, strong and solid it would take an unacceptable amount of force to sever it.

Stunned Ethan pulled away, ignoring the new bond clamouring for attention to study Spud's face for any sign of distress. Unsteadily smoothing back a lock of golden hair when Spud dragged his eyes open and blearily tried to focus he did his best to smile, "it's okay tiger, just relax." Leaning back in he licked across the two small wounds he'd left, a growl escaping when Spud whimpered and arched into him. It took all of his considerable control to fight the instinct to strip the smaller man naked and fuck him until there was no doubt who Spud belonged to.

"Ethan," slurring, too lethargic and dizzy to be even remotely embarrassed by his body's reaction Spud vainly tried to grasp the other man's shirt and pull him back down, "you okay?" It was impossible to hold back a whine when Ethan sat up, a pang of loss struggling to make it through the increasing exhaustion.

Swallowing down the lump in his throat Ethan grasped Spud's hand and kissed his fingers before pulling away, "yes thanks to you I'm just fine." Ignoring the angry pulse at the loss of contact he grimaced at the sight of his blood smearing Spud's t-shirt and skin. "Stay here Spud, and don't move. I'll be back in a minute." Barely waiting for the other man's hum of acknowledgment he hurried to the bathroom, dropping his bloody clothes on the floor he jumped into the shower just long enough to rinse the blood off. Hastily wrapping a towel around his waist he snagged a clean one and rushed back to Spud's side, "come on sit up now, I need to get your shirt off."

Pouting as Ethan relentlessly hauled him into a seated position Spud groggily leaned into the other man, "wanna sleep Sir, please." Blinking his eyes open when Ethan chuckled he abruptly realized the other man was practically naked and without thinking twice he ran his fingers along Ethan's stomach, searching for any hint of a wound. It was only on Ethan's sharp inhale that he flushed dully at his forwardness and pulled back with a mumbled apology.

"Don't worry about it," willing his instant erection away Ethan briskly tugged Spud's shirt off, "I promise you can sleep soon." Concentrating solely on wiping every trace of blood off Spud's pale skin the simple task helped him focus past the new bond tickling the edges of his senses. By the time he was done Spud was already half asleep and he eased him down on the bed with only a token protest at being moved again. Pulling on a pair of jogging pants and dropping the bloody towels in the bathroom he flicked the light off and plunged the room into darkness before gratefully sliding back into bed. Exhausted and in the process of healing he closed his eyes, listening to the slow but steady beat of Spud's heart he marveled at the quiet strength of their bond.

"Should I leave?" Barely awake Spud wasn't quite sure what prompted him to make the offer when he didn't think he could stand let alone walk to his room right now. There was a slight niggle of awareness at the back of his mind that told him something was different.

Startled out of light doze by the question and the plaintive note in Spud's voice it took Ethan a moment to respond, "absolutely not, I want you here where I can keep an eye on you." Snagging the other man's wrist he pulled until Spud was tucked securely into the curve of his body, resolutely pushing aside the renewed flare of arousal when the smaller man burrowed into him with a pleased hum.

"So I don't run off and tell someone?" Losing his battle to keep his eyes open Spud relaxed at Ethan's amused huff, the last of his tension easing from his muscles.

It was obvious the moment Spud lost his struggle to stay awake and it saved Ethan from making a snide remark in defense. Curling his arm around Spud's waist his hand settled possessively across the smaller man's back, knowing in that instance he was lost. There would be no breaking the bond, not without hurting Spud and worse, despite his decades long commitment to never creating another Vessel Bond he didn't want to sever it. "Always the exception tiger," rumbling tiredly he closed his eyes and simply let himself enjoy this moment. Time enough in the morning to deal with the consequences.