Author's note: Thanks for sticking around :D
Chapter nine: Carry On
-Moon River-
(Sora)
It was about three in the morning when he made it onto Riku's property. There sat Roxas on the porch playing on his phone. When he caught Sora's scent in the wind his head shot up in a blur. Roxas decided to meet him halfway.
"Hey." He greeted with a smile. Usually the best he got was a grunt or a growl.
"Hey, yourself." Sora raised his brow. He motioned his head back to the cabin. "I noticed the generator is broken."
"Yeah." Roxas said slowly, testing the waters. "Damn thing broke out of nowhere." He shrugged his shoulders.
Sora looked at him unimpressed. "Why did you break it?"
Roxas' mouth gaped open and closed like a fish trying to find the best answer. "I didn't. Maybe Alice broke it?" Sora felt his lips start to curl up in a grin. He was such a bad liar, so bad it brought back a memory from back when he was alive. It reminded him of a sunny day back in an old coal mining town he used to call home, back when his mother caught him in a lie. She would get a knowing grin just like he had on his face. He made this face before too, with his own daughter at the other end trying to get herself out of trouble with a blatant and poorly planned lie.
"Roxas, come on. That girl was too scared to leave the cabin. She's all city." Sora snorted. "Out with it."
Roxas' face turned a bit red and he averted his gaze. "I was lonely, okay? The only person who actually talks to me besides you is Riku. I scare Alice so she only talks to me after I feed from her… and your case is keeping you busy..." The young vampire trailed off.
Sora's eyes softened. He remembered when he was a newborn he was locked up and confined most of his first year. He was painfully lonely. The only solace of company he was able to get was talking to his daughter through a thick and silver laced door and the only physical touches he received was from his maker. He shamefully yearned for his touch, any touch, even if it was from the man who lied and murdered him. In that year, humans were thrown into his cell to sedate his hunger. He became the face of death for many. He remembered how he felt sickenly euphoric as their screams were muffled and eventually ceased as he feasted on them till there was no blood left in their bodies.
"I see." Sora raised his hand, Roxas flinched but relaxed when he felt his hair being ruffled. "Well, as long as Riku doesn't mind, you should hang out down here with him more." He never wanted Roxas to feel like a caged beast like he did. Though he used to have to layer silver on him, he couldn't stop him from murdering locals any other way.
Roxas smiled warmly. It was a smile Roxas rarely shelled out. Sora was glad he was the one able to bring it out.
"So, how's the case going?" Roxas chirped.
Sora's face darkened for a moment but put on a brave face and gave Roxas a half hearted smile. "It's going well, I was able to find out how the disease was distributed and stopped it. I'm gonna send someone in tomorrow to track down infected humans that way they can be blacklisted. I don't want anyone sucking down any human part of that church. We'll have to be careful with humans who've had blood transfusions for a while as well. According to the scientists, this strain of the Decay only stays in the bloodstream for a month or so."
Roxas grinned. "Good! I've been dying to try out some new blood! Alice is great and all, but some variety would be nice."
Sora hummed in acknowledgement. "How's Riku?"
They started to stroll towards the woods as they were enjoying the cool summer night breeze. He couldn't wait until the day they would be able to hunt freely again.
"Sleeping, but Axel came over tonight."
"The cook, right?"
Roxas nodded his head. "Yeah, he may not look it, but he's one powerful witch."
"Is that so?" Sora chuckled. He knew the moment he met the redhead he was a witch. No spell could fully hide his supernatural talents. Roxas' nose would get sharper with time.
"Yeah, he put a protection spell around Riku's house, so that's one less thing to worry about… hurt like hell though." Roxas grumbled the last part.
"That's good to hear."
Roxas had a sly smile grow on his face. "Ya know, Riku seemed to be hoping you were with me earlier tonight."
Sora felt a grin grow on his face. He liked being on Riku's mind.
"I think we're growing on him." Roxas mused.
Roxas was growing on him too. Kairi said that Roxas would need him and Sora thought he would take care of him out of obligation as the sheriff of this area. But as it turned out, Sora needed Roxas just as much. Roxas gave him the second chance to be the father he wanted to be but couldn't be for Kairi.
-Moon River-
(Riku)
Riku woke up from two things. He was so hot he was sweating and he had weight on him. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and what he saw before him was not only Kida laying on top of him but he had Axel's arm laying over his chest and his face drooling all over his shoulder.
"Ew." He cringed and pushed the older man off of him to drool elsewhere. Kida woke up from Riku's movement and her tail started to wag. He rubbed her ears and she leaned into his touch. Kida gave his forearm a good morning kiss. Riku squirmed out underneath his dog and comforter to go do his morning rituals.
After peeing he went to start up his coffee machine. He about jumped out of his skin when he saw the girl sleeping on his couch forgetting she was here. He let out a startled 'shit!' before he calmed himself. The girl didn't stir from her slumber thankfully; he didn't really want to speak to anyone this early in the morning. Kida came out of his room and gave the blonde girl's face a sniff before making her way to the kitchen backdoor. Again, that girl didn't stir.
"Jesus, that girl sleeps like she's dead." He could jest this because he could see her chest slowly rise and fall.
He let out Kida and started to make his coffee. Riku left the kitchen to check his front porch, he was unsure if Roxas actually drank the blood he left out there for him. To his surprise, all the bottles were empty and neatly placed back in the cardboard case. Snuggly placed underneath the garbage was a note. Roxas would usually just text him something. When he went to read the note he recognized the handwriting immediately. The only person he knew who wrote in cursive and drank blood; Sora.
Riku,
Thank you for watching over Roxas and Alice, I'll get a replacement generator shortly! I heard your friend got you a fancy new security system, I've checked it out myself and he did a good job. I'll be working in the bar all night tomorrow. If you want, you should come see me, I'll look like a totally different person though. Let me know if you can!
-Sora
P.S.
The blood was delicious.
Riku felt his cheeks flush after reading the note. He re read the note again. Did...did Sora ask him out on a date in a way? No, no, no….no? What did he mean he would look like a different person? He pulled out his phone and googled the bar's name Oblivion. The website looked professionally done, the theme had an underground punk feel to it. It showed specials and highlighted something interesting.
'Come to Oblivion, your local vampire bar! Come face to face with local vampires! New vampires to meet each week!' and below that there was another thing highlighted. 'Tonight only! Get the chance to get a kiss from our most elusive local vampire, Vanitas! You can buy raffle tickets here and at the bar.'
He noticed there was a comment section underneath the highlighted advertisements. A Lot of the commenters were excited to hear that Vanitas would be at the bar tonight. Apparently, many of the vampires would wear scandalous and revealing clothing. He couldn't imagine Sora wearing anything that wasn't casual and comfortable looking. He looked so cute and huggable in his baggy hoodies. Needless to say, it piqued his interest. He had to see what the hype was about. And having Sora there he knew he wouldn't have to really worry much about anything. He only had to work at the Home today so he would be able to go with plenty of energy.
Riku folded up the note and put it in one of his sweatpants pockets. He picked up the empty case to throw away. Kida was done with being outside and was loyally by his side, ready for her breakfast. He quickly fed her and made himself a cup of joe. He inhaled the smell of fresh coffee and felt his whole body shiver from anticipation. If it was possible, he would be purring. He took one peaceful sip before his tranquility was disturbed by the sound of the toilet flushing. Axel shortly walked out of the bathroom and made a beeline to the coffee. His fiery red locks stuck out all over the place. Without his usual geling, his hair was thick and wavy. He just couldn't let go of the punk rock life and the punk rock style of spikes.
"Morning." Riku yawned.
"Hey babe, got any milk?" Axel asked groggily.
"No, got some creamer though. Check the fridge door." Riku started to inhale his coffee, not caring how hot it was. He needed the caffeine.
"That girl sleeps like a fucking rock." Axel commented. His voice was slightly muffled since his face was buried in the fridge. He pulled out the creamer, but then he pulled out the eggs, cheese, ham and butter. "I'm making omelettes, ask sleeping beauty if she wants one."
Riku finished up his coffee and made his way to the couch to wake the girl. He gently shook her shoulder. "Alice? Do you want something to eat?" Riku asked softly.
Alice stirred and nodded her head sleeplily with a cute yawn. "Yes please."
Axel was already working on the omelettes by the time Riku stepped foot back in the kitchen.
Riku and Axel couldn't help but gape at the vivacious hunger this small girl had. She was on her third omelette.
"Girl, do you not eat or something?" Axel asked.
In between bites Alice tried to speak. "I don't really know how to cook, this is soooooo gooodddd. This is the first meal, meal I've had in a month. Vampires don't eat, so they didn't bother getting a stove. I'm so tired of hot pockets and pizza rolls!"
The two men looked at each other for a moment before Axel got up and started on making another omelette for Alice.
After breakfast, Axel called Xion to come pick him up. He had to run a few errands that day and he wanted to get back to his own car. Out of habit, he took Kida along for the ride since Riku had work soon. That left Riku and Alice alone. Riku took note that she didn't bring any of her stuff with her from the cabin and offered her a ride on his ATV* up there to collect her things.
"You don't have to trouble yourself, I'll be fine!" She rejected Riku politely.
"You don't have any electric or running water right now. I would feel alot better if you stayed here." Riku reasoned.
Alice fiddled with her fingers bashfully. "Are you sure?" She asked. "I won't cause you any trouble?"
"I would be too worried about ya if I left you there all by yourself like that." Riku said honestly.
The ride up there was bumpy and it was painfully obvious this girl never went and did any form of off road activities. She was clinging onto him for dear life, but he could hear in her childish squeals as they bumped around on the wild terrain she was enjoying herself. The way up to the old not so abandoned cabin was pleasant to look at. The morning air was crisp and the birds sang in the trees. The sun filtered through the green tree canopy and the smell of earth and moss filled him with vigor.
He hadn't seen the cabin since the bar owner showed it to him about six years ago, after the incident, after he left college and was too fucked up to go back. He remembered it was quaint, isolated, and peaceful. Riku would find himself daydreaming about living there when he first started working at the bar. All he wanted was to be away from people at that time. He felt himself grinning at an old memory. It reminded him of how Axel decided that they were gonna be friends whether Riku liked it or not. He was grateful for his friend's determination.
He stopped the ATV when they finally made it into a small clearing, where the old cabin resided. It was smaller and more delaopotated than he remembered, however there were little things around the cabin that showed something had made it into a home. There was a broken generator. The windows were cleaned and patched up and the roof was being worked on. His eyes caught something shiny off a little ways off from the cabin. He crept up to the shiny thing hidden by a couple of large burning bushes along with some other unkempt shrubbery and noticed it was a handle. He realized it was a cellar, his hand went up to pull it open before he heard a squawk.
"Don't open that! They're down there!" Alice rushed over with his arms flailing around. It took Riku more than to register who 'they' were. Down there right now Sora and Roxas were sleeping.
Riku had heard that vampires were at their most vulnerable when it was the daytime. They would sleep like the dead, which made sense since they were a part of the undead. He bet even if he slammed the cellar hatch open and screamed at the top of his lungs they wouldn't stir. Even as the sunlight would touch their bodies and start to burn them, they wouldn't wake. A feeling inside Riku stirred, an innate need to protect the two helpless creatures. It seemed almost comedic that something as powerful as those two could be so defenseless that a mere mortal like him could just walk down there and end their existence without any retaliation. A bubble of fear grew in his stomach, anyone could come down here and end them if they knew where they slept.
"Does anyone else know about this place?" Riku asked.
"No human, Aqua knows, but she doesn't bother to come out to the countryside often." Alice answered casually.
"Aqua?" Riku raised a brow.
"Sora's lieutenant, second in command of his area. She's a great deal older than him, but Sora is way stronger; he's like a walking force of nature." Alice said breathily and her eyes glistened as she spoke about the vampires. Did she admire them or did she worship them?
"Gotcha." Riku apprehensively.
Alice seemed to be in her own little world as she wondered back into the cabin to collect her things. She hummed a little tune as she did her little chore. When she came back out, she had a large duffel bag with her looking stuffed to the brim with clothing. Riku offered her a hand, which she nervously obliged. He brushed it off with the simple explanation 'that's my whole life in my bag, be careful'.
As they went down the mountain side again he learned a bit more about her. She was a highschool dropout who liked to get high a little too much and had a bad homelife. She ran off and couch surfed for a while, and 'partied' every night. Soon she became addicted to vampire blood. She said it had great healing properties, but if you weren't injured, the high you got from just a drop was otherworldly. She rode the high and enjoyed it so much, she started to do just about anything for it. In fact, the reason she found herself in the vampire bar was to see if could get a vampire to give her some blood for her own. Riku felt pity for the girl. Her sad story got a little better when he found out she was clean, but she was still food.
"Have you ever been bitten before?" She asked him.
"Not by a vampire." Riku answered truthfully. He had been bit and has bitten other humans before, but that was more love bites from sexual endeavors.
"You should try it. It's such a rush! Your first time shouldn't be with a newborn though, they're so rough and they don't know what the hell they are doing! Roxas is so damn rough I feel like I'm getting mauled! Now, if you get an older vampire about master Sora's age and older… wow." She purred. "I heard it's even better when you're having sex." She seemed to add the last part a bit more bashfully. She furrowed her brows in thought for a moment. " I bet master Sora would be really gentle." She murmured to herself as her face started to flush. Riku wished he didn't hear her say that. Sora was just his friend but he felt this possessiveness gnawing inside him. He was getting jealous at the idea of Sora being intimate with someone like that. He felt ashamed of himself for acting like a boy with a school yard crush 'you can't like Sora, I'm the only person allowed to like him'.
He let Alice talk his ear off for the rest of the ride back to his house so he didn't have to mull over his feelings.
ATV: All Terrain Vehicle