TAGS: AU - Zombie Apocalypse, POV Third Person Limited

Swearing, Sexual Humor

Fluff and Humor, Flirting, Arco as Family

Adult Arco, Vampire Arco, Immortal Skull, Nonbinary Viper

WARNING: Not Beta Read

Inspired by this writing prompt: "As a survivor during a zombie apocalypse, you're unwillingly being protected by a vampire coven because you're their only sustainable food source for miles around."

Skull runs through the forest, bathed by the fiery glow of the sunset at its peak, the thick foliage above his head as if on fire. The trees are tall and thick, their branches reaching out to and intertwining with each other's, hidden under their bright green leaves, and patches of darkness spread between the trees over the sunset.

Fortunately or unfortunately, it doesn't hide from his sight the zombies running after him.

They're faster than they have any right to be, slamming against the trees and each other's, falling over protruding roots, but never stopping for a second, never slowing down. They latched on the scent of his blood, because Skull was dumb enough to hurt himself on top of losing himself in the forest, and he knows from experience they won't give up until he puts enough distance between them, or kills them.

Skull did not get up today to get covered in zombies' blood, so running it is.

He trips over a particularly thick root, again, though thankfully doesn't hurt himself this time or reopen his wound. He scrambles to his feet, cursing that godforsaken forest to hell and back, because where the hell is the exit? And why is it infested with zombies?

Skull didn't even know there was a forest in this town. It should have been his clue to not go in, but he got up today in search of adventure and excitement, bored out of his mind by the zombie apocalypse with no one else to go through with it with him.

You'd think an apocalypse would have minimal opportunities for him to make poor life choices, but apparently Skull never tires to prove himself and the universe wrong.

A zombie slams against him from the side, knocking him down. Skull screams, the zombie screaming right back at him, flashing his rotten teeth and spluttering saliva everywhere. Skull pushes its face back, so very thankful for his leathered gloves against the decaying flesh. The zombie holds on him for dear life, but Skull kicks it in the stomach, sending it flying off him.

He gets up, throws away the wrists the zombie left behind, and stumbles against a tree. He circles it in panic, but everywhere he looks zombies close in on him, the one he kicked crawling back towards him.

Fuck fuck fuck, those bastards surrounded him! What the hell, now they get smart too just so they can have a piece of him?

Skull flicks his eyes wildly around searching for an escape, his heart beating in his ears, still circling around the tree. Of course he isn't about to be turned into a zombie and even less die, but the very idea of being munched on forever by unhygienic, decaying zombies turns his stomach. Besides, he needs to get back home to Oodako, and what if he brings some weird bacteria back with him that'll make her sick?

The zombies fall, their head cut in two, and Skull freezes, widening his eyes. Bright red eyes look back at him as a burst of wind rushes past him, so close they're all he can see. Long black hair falling from under a hood tickle his skin, framing his face, and the hands cupping his face are so cold, he shivers.

"Don't move."

Skull squeezes his eyes shut as another burst of wind rushes over him, making him stumble back. He whips around, and startles at the sight in front of him. The zombies are all dead, including the one who was crawling towards him, their head cleanly cut in two.

Two people stand still next to each other in the middle of the massacre, too still, and it's like even the forest stands to attention, not a leaf daring to sway, not like there's wind blowing for them to.

They're bathed under the sunset, one noticeably taller and broader than the other one, a man and a woman respectively as far as he can tell. They're both wearing a black cloak, their hood halfheartedly up, and the sunset lights a fire in the woman's red eyes, turns the man's blond hair into molten gold, held back from his face by a green bandanna.

The man's carrying a spear of all things in his back, the woman a sword, and though Skull can only assume they're the ones who took care of the zombies, they sure look ready for the fanciest fashion walk.

They look straight back at him, unblinking, and Skull's smarter than to feel safe just because the zombies are dead—especially because the zombies died the way they did. He steps back, and curses inwardly when his back hits the tree.

The man grins, lowering his hood, the woman following his lead. She smiles too, both of them showing too many teeth in a way that has him tensing.

Everything is too much in them, just so Skull wouldn't have noticed if they were just passing by each other. They aren't, and they stand too still, looks too pretty—drop-dead gorgeous really, if he's being honest with himself—, blinks too evenly.

Excitement takes over their face as they look him up and down, with something else more sinister that has him feeling cornered against his little tree he already knows won't save him, and he suspects it's that they don't care to hide how too much they are at the moment.

Yeah, he's definitely out of the frying pan into the fire. At least they're so very pretty to look at, and looking he is, sue-fucking-him, because turns out a zombie apocalypse doesn't spare even the attractive people.

"We found one," the man says, then laughs, delighted. "We actually found one, holy shit, love—"

The woman slowly bites her lip. "A healthy one too. Strong."

Skull blinks, looking at her lips. Did she just—?

It looked very hungry, the way she did it. In the… attracted manner?

God, if only.

"My eyes are up here, handsome, gorgeous," he blurts out, and inwardly immediately rolls his eyes at himself. Don't flirt with a still-to-be-identified threat, come on, Skull!

They look up, as Skull can't help but glance down at his leg. The ripped leather below his knee is bloody, the wound underneath healed a while ago. He looks up as they glance down at his leg again, then stare.

Handsome tilts his head curiously, his lips in a slight wondering pout, and maybe that's a little cute. "You should still be bleeding," he says thoughtfully, if absentmindedly. He exchanges a glance with Gorgeous, then they both look him in the eye again, somehow more intensely than before.

Okay, time for him to get the hell out away from them.

"Thanks for the help," he starts cheerfully. "Really, I appreciate it, but don't let me hold you back. I was just—" He runs in the direction they came, pushing himself away from the tree. It's a very bad idea, but then again he can hardly run to them.

Good thing he does neither, he guesses.

He turns his back to them alright, ready to take off, but then almost slams against Handsome's chest, a light wind ruffling his hair. Gorgeous stands right next to him, and Skull startles badly, having to bite his tongue hard to hold back his surprised yelp.

Gorgeous steps closer, like they weren't so very close already, chest to chest with him. She lifts her chin up to look him in the eye, red eyes like glimmering rubies. She narrows them sternly, but has a playful smile at the corner of her lips, and the contrast between the two is a very good look on her.

Skull blushes before she even says anything, breathing a little harder.

"I clearly said 'don't move', didn't I? I wasn't asking."

Skull grins. "I've never been the listening type, don't take it too personally."

"No, we do," Handsome says, but he sounds playful too. "'Thanks for the help?'" He raises an eyebrow. "That's it? Is that how little your life means to you?"

Skull almost snorts. If he knew. "Plus 'Really, I appreciate it'," Skull corrects. "Can't forget that one." He can escape to the side, it's his best bet, seeing as they're fast as light, and it's the path with the least unnecessary movements. But he can also try pushing past them both and running straight past them. Though now they're facing him again, he can turn around the way he came, out of the forest on the side where he's sure their den isn't, or whatever—

On pure instinct, subconsciously registering a movement, Skull scrambles backwards. His back hits the tree again, and suddenly Handsome's looming over him, his hands leaning on the tree on both sides of his head.

Damn, how are they so silent in their movements? Handsome especially, when he's so tall and broad, must be worth his weight too, all in muscles if Skull's hands against his chest is anything—

Focus, Skull.

"Whoa, Handsome—take it easy, let's calm down—"

"Don't break him," Gorgeous chides.

"Right!" Skull's quick to agree. "Let's not, great idea. I can't thank you properly if you do, can I now?"

Handsome's eyes light up. He leans in. "Was that a yes?" he whispers.

"Absolutely not," Skull hurries to say. Yes to what? Can't be anything good no matter what, can it? It's nice to know they care about his consent though. "Maybe. I don't know. Elaborate."

Handsome leans his forehead against his, and his blue eyes glow a shinier blue, actually, literally glow. "I'm starving."

Skull almost bursts out laughing. What?

Oh no, they don't happen to just be some high-functioning, incredibly good-looking zombies, are they?

Handsome gives him a boyish grin, something white and sharp catching Skull's eye, but then Handsome cups his cheek with a cold hand, distracting him, to say the least. He shivers again, a chill running down his spine, and swallows thickly.

Handsome strokes his cheek alongside his cheekbone, then trails his fingertips down his neck. He leans his head back, tilting Skull's up, then pulls down the zipper of his jacket.

It sounds almost obscenely loud in the dead silence surrounding them. Skull holds his breath.

Handsome flicks his eyes up to briefly catch his eye again. "Pretty eyes, by the way. Love the makeup."

Oh God, holy shit, what even—what the fuck—is it really… Is it really some attraction thing going on here? Lust at first sight? Right then and there?

Skull exhales slowly, maybe a bit disappointed. Yeah, figured not.

"You're not breathing," he lets them know, because it's not like he has anything to lose, or like they didn't know that already.

Handsome snorts. He pulls back, his hands falling away from him, and Skull sees both of them again, Gorgeous standing right next to him. There's a matching growing grin on their lips.

They burst out laughing, and Skull immediately feels his face burns with heat.

What the hell?

"What? What did I say? It's true, you're not! Don't even try to deny it, it'd be insulting."

Handsome shakes his head, covering his mouth with his hand, but still fails miserably at stifling his laughter. Gorgeous doesn't even try, leaned against him, her face buried in his shoulder, because he guesses his very sight is too much to see at the moment.

"Just let me go if you're going to be like this," Skull says, pushing away from the tree. Handsome instantly leans in again, leaning against the tree again with his free hand. Skull finds himself in his arms, his arms between them the only thing keeping them somewhat apart.

He has to crane his neck up further to look him in the eye now, but finds he doesn't mind.

"Sorry, sweetheart, it's just—" For a second Skull thinks his brain shut off and that's why he doesn't hear the rest, but no, Handsome actually pauses, still struggling to stifle his laughter. "You were feeling me up right now? Shouldn't you be—I don't know, a little wary at the very least?"

"I was checking your breathing!" Skull defends, his face burning hotter. "To confirm my suspicions!"

Gorgeous peaks at him, and stops laughing long enough to say, "More like, you're just going to roll with it as long as…" She bites her lip. "Because it'll make things so much easier on us if I'm being honest, it's a relief."

"Whoa, did you just call me easy?"

Gorgeous bursts out laughing again, throwing her head back and grinning wide. It's a beautiful sound and sight, so Skull's a bit distracted by it—Handsome too, so much so he's forgetting to laugh with her—, but he can't not pay attention to the fangs out in the open.

All fourth of them, sharp and long and pointy, and looking strong—pretty too, shiny white like the rest of her teeth.

Vampires.

Skull walked into a forest full of zombies, and got saved by two vampires who now want to make him their dinner, because of course he did.

Vampires—holy shit, fucking vampires, what the fuck what the fuck—

Wait, no, calm down, calm down, it's fine actually, it's fine, isn't it?

So vampires exist, big deal, so does he. So do zombies too, so much so they caused the apocalypse. If anything, they're even the lesser threat in this scenario, aren't they?

Skull would certainly rather be eaten by vampires than literally be eaten by zombies. It's not even like he'd ever run out of blood, though they don't have to ever learn that.

Alright, yeah, it's fine, he's fine, it's cool. They're super hot too, and he'd definitely choose the hot vampires over the rotting zombies any day.

Gorgeous eventually calms down somewhat, then takes a step forwards full of purpose, predatory intent on her face.

Skull puts his hands in front of him. "Whoa—stop, wait—not so fast! Damn, hold off your horses, Gorgeous. So yes, I believe you, you're vampires, but I still didn't agree to anything." She stops, and he glances at Handsome to make sure he has his attention too. "Okay, surprise inspection. Open your mouth."

They blink, openly bemused, and it's Skull's turn to grin from ear to ear to their face.

Handsome breathes out an incredulous laugh. "Come again?"

Skull is so not backing down from this one. "You heard me. Open wide, show me your mouths, give me your widest smile." Yes they're vampires, and they're starving because of the zombie apocalypse—makes sense to him—, and they did save his life even if they had ulterior motives for it from the beginning.

He does owe them, but let him be bitten if he must—because it's not like he wants to be bitten or anything, of course not—by hygienic fangs, and hygienic ones only.

Handsome and Gorgeous share a glance, before looking at him again. Gorgeous crosses her arms on her chest, standing straight, lifting her chin up.

Skull reaches his hands towards their face, and they're promptly caught in firm grips.

"I don't think so," Handsome says for the both of them. "You touched zombies with those gloves, didn't you?"

Gorgeous raises her eyebrow at him, and he huffs a laugh. Fair enough.

He removes his gloves, and they hold still this time when he reaches for their face. He holds their jaw. "Open wide?" Amusement flickers across their features, but their eyes are intent on him, and Skull has no doubt about which state his hands will end up in at the slight wrong movement from him.

They silently open their mouth, and Skull tilts their head this side and that side, looking at each their teeth and inside their mouth back and forth in turn. He's only really doing a superficial inspection, because it's not like he's a dentist or anything.

The only thing he's really looking at is the fangs, sharp and long and pointy, strong and pretty and sharp. It's like he's in a trance, and he can't look at anything else, can't help wondering how sharp they truly are, how they'll feel biting into his flesh.

He absentmindedly moves his thumb over to Handsome's chin, then to his bottom lip, hyper aware of both their gazes burning his skin, of the tension growing thick in the air. He presses on his lip, on cool, rosy flesh, further pulling it away from his teeth, but it's Gorgeous' fangs he touches.

He grazes his thumb over the closest one, and it cuts a thin red line on his skin, goosebumps rising up his arms. Gorgeous wraps her hand around his wrist again, softer this time, and bites down on the soft skin of his thumb. Skull sharply inhales, his breath catching in his throat. The pinprick sensation never makes it to his brain, blood spilling down his thumb and staining those sharp white teeth.

Gorgeous licks the wound before sucking on it, her tongue warm and heavy against his skin, and Skull's stomach's in a free fall in the best of ways, his heart skipping beats.

He pouts. "I haven't said yes yet."

Handsome chuckles, leaning against the touch of his hand. Skull's cupping his neck now, has done it entirely without realizing it, and Handsome holds on his wrist too, pressing his hand further against his skin. "Don't tease, then."

He leans in again, and this time Skull tilts his head to the side to give him room, swallowing thickly when Handsome nuzzles his neck first. Then he grazes his skin with his teeth—his fangs, and he exhales a little shakily.

"Fine, whatever, yes", he says, and his voice sounds heavy to his own ears. "Just because you saved me," he adds, to hold on some dignity, but truth be told he couldn't care less about it.

Handsome sinks his teeth in his neck, a moan rising up Skull's throat, and it's a lot more exhilarating than painful.

The sky is dark when they come out of the forest, the figure of a huge mansion standing tall in the middle of the clearing against the starless night.

"You live here?" Skull asks.

"Home sweet home," Handsome says with a tint of sarcasm. He leads the way on the path going straight for the door, splitting the clearing in two. Skull follows behind him, holding onto his back, while Gorgeous keeps close to him at the end of their little line.

"This forest is yours?"

"Yeah."

"Why is it infested with zombies?"

Gorgeous huffs. "To find a cure, supposedly."

"How come they didn't attack us even once after you showed up?"

Gorgeous snorts. "Turns out zombies can still fear," she whispers in his ear, and Skull tenses. She suddenly slaps his back, jolting him. "Boo." He startles, holding back a surprised scream, pressing closer against Handsome's back. They laugh.

Skull huffs, but there's a little smile at the corner of his lips. "Hilarious."

Handsome opens the door on nothing but darkness, nothing but utter silence. Skull's smile falls, his stomach twisting. He slows down, Handsome's cape slipping from his fingers, but Gorgeous nudges him forwards firmly, if not unkindly.

The door closes behind them, and he feels trapped, would feel stupid too, but he wasn't about to let them walk him back out of the forest. They may have followed him home after, and Skull would have been none the wiser until it was too late.

It's pitch black and he can't make out anything, not the walls or the floor, not any shape whatsoever. He does feel eyes on him, plural eyes from different directions, and it's so silent he can almost hear his thoughts echo in his mind.

Skull swallows, bracing himself. He automatically walks in Handsome's steps along the entryway into what he assumes is the foyer, his steps against the tiled floor the only noise he can hear. "How many of you are there again?"

"Hello," a pleasant voice says, as if on cue, somewhere in front of them.

Skull tenses, but is proud to say he doesn't startle. "Hi. Can I perhaps introduce you to something called electricity? Light?" A little startled laugh drifts to his ears, and he grins.

"Lal? Nello?" another voice calls out, from the side this time. "Is that you?" Skull turns his head, and is happy to notice he's already making out Gorgeous'—Lal?—figure, but nothing more. "Oh, you brought a guest," Vampire Four says, delighted. "Introduce us."

"His name's Sweetheart," Handsome says proudly.

Skull purses his lips to hold back on a giggle, but Vampire Four doesn't sound pleased. "You didn't ask his name?"

"I just told you, he's called Sweetheart."

"Wrong," Skull says, cheerful, "but acceptable."

"Really, you have such poor manners." A click, like a switch being flicked, and he perks up, waiting to not be blind anymore. A couple of clicks more, but nothing happens. Vampire Four sighs. "Really, guys and girls and others? Centuries years old, and not one of you can give us back the electricity?"

"I mean, it's not like we need it," Vampire Three says, but it's entirely lost on Skull's ears.

Holy shit, centuries years old? These guys are—oh fuck, does that make him—Wait, what does that make him? A reverse cougar or something?

"Why don't you do it?" Gorgeous asks.

"Wouldn't you like it if I did everything in this house? Which is not to say, I clearly reminded you—" A light, stark sound, like they clapped in their hands. "Let's behave in front of our guest, yes?" they say sweetly, and it doesn't sound like they're asking at all.

A bright orange light blinds him, and he squeezes his eyes shut, turning his head away. Then he squints them open carefully, and notices the flame dancing above Vampire Four's hand, then their face.

They are a she, and absolutely stunning, holy shit—short blue hair framing her face with a short fringe, the rest of it hidden in a big circular hat. Her eyes are blue, darker than Handsome's, lit by the flame in her hand, and they simmer like waves.

Skull can't see anything more than her face, but frankly he doesn't care to see anything more than her face.

Stunning smiles. "Good evening, Sweetheart." Oh God. "Welcome to our home. My friends treated you well, didn't they?"

Skull gaps, until he remembers to look more dignified. He closes his mouth, and walks forwards with his best smile. "Thank you. I heard you're starving? I'm all—"

Handsome yanks him back by the collar of his jacket, and he slams against his chest. "Hey!"

"What?" Skull defends. Handsome has his arm around his shoulders, clearly to keep him put.

Gorgeous steps in front of him, blocking Stunning from his sight. She flicks his earlobe. "Hey, indeed."

Skull laughs. "What? At least she looks nice enough to walk me through some foreplay first."

"I'm a great foreplayer, what the hell?" Handsome shouts. "I love foreplay, I was just caught in the moment! Love, tell him!"

Gorgeous punches his shoulder instead. "Let's not," she stresses, sounding embarrassed, maybe even blushing, and it's kind of super cute actually, Skull's feeling torn.

"Can we talk about my zombies now?" yet a new voice says from in front of them, and it's a like a cold shower poured on his head.

How many of them are there? And still that gaze burning into him from the other side.

"What about them?" Gorgeous asks.

"You massacred them," Vampire Five says, from so much closer, Skull can't help but yelp, backing against Handsome. He sounds like he's within arm's reach, or not much further. Skull squints his eyes, but he just really can't see shit. "Can't you understand this is about the fate of the world?"

"Sure is," Handsome says. "They are all over the world, why don't you just go zombie shopping tomorrow and get off our ass?"

"I assume this is my compensation."

They bark a laugh, Handsome and Gorgeous both, and Skull needs a second to realize Vampire Five's talking about him.

A compensation? Rude.

Gorgeous leans against his side, and Handsome adjusts his arm to wrap it around them both. "You wish."

"Yet you brought him here."

"Just to rub him in your faces," Handsome says, and brings his other arm around them, effectively hugging them. "But maybe if you're good and beg, we'll let you have a little taste."

"Wait, are you guys an item?" Skull blurts out.

"Lucky me," Handsome says in a sing-song tone, holding them tighter on Gorgeous' side.

"What about it?" Gorgeous asks.

"What do you mean?" Skull asks back a bit too quickly. "Nothing, I was just wondering. It's cool, awesome, congrats." He clears his throat, trying not to wince too noticeably, feeling both embarrassed and completely stupid.

What did he mean by that? "Are they an item?" Obviously, they didn't exactly wait their turn to suck his blood, and just about literally everything else about them.

...Does that… Could that be considered… a threesome?

Oh God, could it? Do they think now he's some desperate whore for hot vampires' fangs? Is that why they were so confident asking him to come to their home, because they knew he'd come like the absolute dumbass he is?

Skull bites his lip, feeling the heat increase in his face. Great. Good job representing humanity, Skull. He can't say he regrets it though.

A laugh rings in his head—literally in his head, but that can't be right—, but abruptly stops like it wasn't on purpose, and he's not sure that he didn't imagine it. It sounded close, so he glances at Handsome then Gorgeous, even when it sounded closer than that, too close.

They only give him a curious glance in return.

What…?

Vampire Five sighs. "As usual this is just a waste of time. Didn't you already eat? Why do you care?"

"Just a little taste to test the good," Handsome says, and Skull gaps. "You're welcome."

Vampire Five scoffs. "He says, like he hasn't been sounding like a drunk this whole time."

"Have to agree with that one," Vampire Three adds as pleasantly as Skull has heard him so far, but with an ominous edge to their voice.

Stunning sounds openly annoyed. "Guys, don't. You'll scare him."

Skull closes his mouth, pursing his lips to not burst into incredulous laughter, half tempted to tattle on them because what outrageous liars they are!

He can't believe the ease with which Handsome lied to them. A "little" taste? It sure was not, the pleasant burn on both sides of his neck still going strong, and Skull sure stood against that tree a while.

He bites the inside of his cheek, feeling his laughter about to spill out any second, but also feeling himself blush a little at the thought.

He doesn't know about vampire etiquette, but it sure looks to him like he isn't the only whore standing inside the mansion.

The laugh again, starker and louder. [You're hilarious.]

Skull screams, trashing in Handsome's arms to pull free. That was a voice, so crystal clear it's like his mind became tangible for a second, and the voice touched it—

Handsome firmly grabs his arms from behind, Gorgeous grabbing his face between her hands, holding his head still.

"Sweetheart, calm down! Calm down, what—Viper!" she barks out, looking up, and she sounds exasperated. "Stop doing that!"

Skull's heart jumps to his throat. Seven. There's seven of them, seven adult vampires starving for months now, and if they're all going to have their fill of his blood like Handsome and Gorgeous…

Nothing will happen to him, precisely, and Skull can't let them realize that, absolutely can't let them know he's immortal. He needs—

[You're what?] the voice says, exhilarated, and their feeling fills up his head, feels like it's going to burst out of it.

Skull widens his eyes. Oh shit, Vampire Seven is a fucking mind—

Skull runs, pushing between Handsome and Gorgeous. He's not fast enough, Handsome taking a hold off him, wrapping his arm around his waist and pulling him back against his chest once more, sweeping him off his feet.

"Sweetheart—"

"Let go!" Skull screams, trashing widely. He's so screwed, so fucking screwed, this was such a fucking mistake— "I need to go, I need to go right now! Let me go!"

A dark cloud spreads above their heads, somehow darker than the surrounding darkness, denser.

Gorgeous swings her kick through it, blue fire moving like water around her leg, and he realizes the cloud's indigo. "Like hell you are."

Stunning's flame flies inside the cloud too, is swallowed hole, but then the indigo cloud burns bright orange.

Skull can't help but still, half blinded, half dumbfounded. Aren't these guys friends? "Home sweet home" or whatever? Because they sure didn't hesitate for shit.

Handsome lowers him down to the floor, but still holds firmly onto him. He slides his spear down from his shoulder to his hand, then grabs onto it.

Red fire burns Stunning's one like it was never there, feeds on the surrounding darkness, and sinks down on them like a wave.

"Fuck!" Handsome curses. "Fon, don't you—"

Skull squeezes his eyes shut, and has no clue what happens next. The world sways harshly, tugging him this side and that side, back and forth and up and down, wind washing over him like claws. He grits his teeth to not bite his tongue, bracing himself for when something inevitably snaps.

Handsome somehow still doesn't let go, his arm around his waist the only thing holding him up, secure like steel, and it cuts off his breathing a little. Handsome groans, loosening his grip.

Skull's abruptly tugged forwards, then is swept off his feet again, and he scrambles for the nearest purchase. He's moving then, so fast his stomach turns, but also like he's not moving at all.

A gunshot rings awfully close, then a door's slammed shut, and then just his madly beating heart.

"Sorry for the abrupt...kidnapping," Vampire Three finishes, teasing. "You can open your eyes now. I even got you your light."

Skull takes his time to deeply breathe first, so to not throw up as soon as he opens his eyes.

[Do it,] Vampire Seven says spitefully. [Aim right for his stupid face.]

Skull opens his eyes, warm brown eyes looking back at him. Vampire Three smiles, silk-like hair covering his forehead and framing his face. His beautiful face's lit by a soft, light, orange glow, and he looks even more gentle.

[Oh, spare me.]

"Hello," Beautiful says again. "I believe we weren't properly introduced? My name's Fon."

He puts him down, and only then Skull realizes he was holding him in a bridal carry, Skull's arms around his neck holding on for dear life, and he promptly blushes. He almost gives him his name right then and there too, ensnared by his pretty face.

Vampire Seven scoffs. [I can't believe you survived the apocalypse.]

[Zombies aren't unbelievably hot, alright?] Skull can't help but shot back with vengeance, but promptly ignores them again.

He smiles at Beautiful. "Nice to meet you."

They're in a room, Beautiful's he supposes, the window closed but lit candlelights here and there, giving the room an eerie but cozy atmosphere. The door's closed, a simple wooden door as far as he can tell, and he's not sure if…

"Don't worry, they won't come in. Well, they'll try, but no matter how hard they deny it, I'm the strongest among them."

[He wishes.]

Skull grits his teeth, tilting his head like trying to shake off an unpleasent sensation.

"I can believe that," he says, looking him up and down.

Beautiful laughs, and it sounds like music to his ears. [Jesus, just strip naked already, why don't you?] "Thank you. I didn't mean just physically though."

[Will you please get out of my head already? You're intruding my privacy!]

[Call the cops.]

"Sweetheart?" Beautiful tilts his chin up, catching his eye, and Skull tries to remember the last thing he said.

He can't, and tries a smile. "Sorry, you were saying?"

Beautiful tilts his head, grinning good-naturedly. "I see someone's distracting you. Allow me."

[Tell him I'll be in there any second now,] Vampire Seven hurries to say. [And that he can go fuck—]

Beautiful leans in, gently stroking his hair away from his face, then kisses his forehead. A pleasant something like electricity runs through his head, and Vampire Seven doesn't get to finish their phrase.

Beautiful pulls away, and Skull finds himself a little short of breath.

"Thanks." He raises his hand to his forehead, and grazes his fingertips over the warm spot. "Thanks, that was—" he clears his throat "—that was nice."

"I'm glad it was. I hear you like foreplay?"

"Oh my God," Skull blurts out, mortified, his face burning, and he laughs to hide his embarrassment. "Please don't throw back the bullshit I say to my face without any warning."

"Oh, I don't mind." Beautiful grins, taking his hand, then twirls him around.

Skull laughs. "Where's the music?"

"Who needs music to dance?" Beautiful pulls him in his arms, chest to chest, then drops him low, one arm securely around his back.

Skull laughs again, breathless, delighted. "Alright, Beautiful, I'm begging for mercy. Don't make me fall in love with you on the first night, I have a reputation to keep."

Beautiful lifts him back, chest to chest again, flashing him a grin. They still hold hands, Beautiful's arm around his waist now, Skull's hand on his shoulder, as if about to dance. "I have to say I'm a better dancer with my stomach full," he breathes out, the words drifting no further than the space between them, as if it's their little secret.

Skull nods. "Understandable." Surprise flashes across Beautiful's face, then a poorly held back amused smile pulls at his lips. Skull blushes, looking away. "Oh, shut up. You're welcome."

Skull sits at the dining table between Handsome and Gorgeous, Beautiful sitting next to Handsome. Vampire Five to Seven sits across from them, while Stunning stands in front of the buffet, preparing the plates. Her orange flame flies above their heads, big enough it illuminates the whole room, and turns out Vampire One to Seven are all unfairly handsome.

Skull won't let it sway him though, not for this. "I'm not staying the night."

"Then at least stay for dinner," Beautiful says.

"So you can drug me and make me stay for the night anyway? I'm not staying for dinner either."

"You're hurting my feelings," Stunning says good-naturedly.

"I need to go, my friend must be worried about me." Skull's stomach twists, and he bites the inside of his cheek. Oodako must be worried sick, he's been gone for so long. "One of you will walk me through the forest." Vampire Six tilts his hat up, leaning forwards, and rests his arms on the table. "Not you," Skull immediately says, unyielding. "Literally anyone but you."

Vampire Six smirks. "You're sharp," he praises, the words rolling off his tongue.

"I know, right?" Gorgeous drawls out appreciatively, and Skull blushes.

"So?" Vampire Six asks. Skull raises his eyebrows. "When's our turn? We're all starving."

"Undecided."

"Oh? And what decided you for the others, then?"

Skull shrugs. "Handsome and Gorgeous saved me. Beautiful's nice."

"I can be nice too."

"He really can't," the others say at the same time.

Vampire Six rolls his eyes, leaning back against his chair. "I fake it flawlessly. What does it matter if no one can tell the difference?"

"Dinner's ready!" Stunning turns around, balancing fourth plates on each arm with expertise. She goes around the table, putting a plate down in front of them, then takes her seat across from him. "Enjoy!"

Skull dumbly blinks down at his sandwich. A sandwich. Two pieces of bread with salad, cheese, turkey, tomatoes, and mayonnaise between them. Nothing else.

A sandwich.

He huffs incredulously. "What is this?"

"Dinner," Stunning says cheerfully.

"You call this dinner? Cooking? Is this really the best you could do to butter me up? Is this not a mansion, where's my caviar?"

Handsome sighs wistfully. "Don't make me think of caviar."

Skull laughs, dumbfounded, watching them eat their "dinner" more or less resignedly. "You can't be serious. Is this what you usually eat? What you only eat? Sandwiches?"

"I make really good tea too," Beautiful says.

"I can make eggs," Handsome adds.

Gorgeous snorts. "Barely."

Vampire Five sighs. "On good days we eat rice."

"Or pasta," Vampire Six adds.

"With what?" Skull asks.

"Water," Vampire Seven deadpans, and Skull almost loses it, doesn't even care to know if they meant it or not.

"This is so sad," he says, mocking them. "Were you guys only eating outside before? You're going to make me weep. The sandwiches don't even look good, who made them?"

"I did," Stunning says.

"No way, really?" Skull says, fake-impressed. "They look so appetizing, I'm sure they taste divine." Stunning giggles, even when Skull could tell she wanted to play the offended card, and he grins. He stands, sighing. "Alright, but only to pay back the one who'll escort me safely through the forest."

"You can cook?" they say at once, at the same time, baited hope in their voice.

"Worship me, heathens."

"I doubt you'll find much in our cupboards though," Vampire Five says.

"I'm leaving."

"No!" Handsome shouts, wrapping his arm around his waist yet again, then sits him on his lap. "Please, cook us something. Literally anything. Viper can go look for groceries and come back before you can even put on the apron."

"I can, but I won't."

"I really need to go though," Skull says. "I do have a friend waiting for me back home."

"Viper can bring them here too before you can even blink."

"Still won't."

Gorgeous throws her glass of water at them, and it goes straight through their head, smashing against the chair. "You lazy piece of shit."

"Still won't, bitch," Vampire Seven says, unfazed.

"No fighting," Stunning says, but doesn't sound like she really cares should a fight really breaks out.

"Sweetheart." Handsome cups his cheek, turning his head around so he looks at him. "Come on, pretty please? For my pretty eyes?" He flashes him a boyish grin, and Skull rolls his eyes.

He firmly holds his head between his hands. "Only if you promise none of you will follow me home when I'll go back."

"Sure."

Skull narrows his eyes. "I'm serious. This world's big, and trust me I know how to travel it to its deepest corners you can't even begin to imagine, zombies or no zombies."

Handsome wraps his hand around his wrist, and squeezes. "Sweetheart, I promise," he says, earnestly. "We're not like that."

Skull snorts, then playfully shoving his head away. "Like I'm stupid enough to believe that." He stands nonetheless, and puts his hands on his hips. "I'm still not staying the night."

They smile, and something tells him it won't be as easy as he wishes to leave the mansion, let alone with his secret still safe.

[You mean the one I already know?]

"Will you shut your mouth, Viper?"

A/N: Just some fluffy, loving, healthy Arco for the soul. And turns out I was missing writing them in that context, I think they just might be my comfort characters to write (and comfort characters full stop, though some more than others certainly lol).

I hope you enjoyed the story. Any and all review are appreciated.

Thank you for reading!

- Hope