They kept in touch via text. Iida dropped out of classes, but not out of school entirely; he was enrolling in night and online classes, he told Bakugou. He sent pictures to show he wasn't just hiding in his bedroom - pictures of him shopping, going to the gym, cleaning his apartment. Even a selfie with his brother, in which Iida was giving the camera a careful, closed-mouth smile. Bakugou didn't write more than a word or two in reply to them, but felt his sense of unease dissipate a little with each message he received.

Bakugou spent the week eating things he knew were rich in iron, just waiting for Iida to message him again. He only felt the effects of the blood loss for a day or so, although he knew it probably took him longer than that to fully replenish what Iida had taken. But, as soon as a few days later, Bakugou felt ready to give more.

So when he woke up to a message that read Does your offer still stand? one week exactly since Iida had sucked his blood, Bakugou responded immediately. I can come tonight, he wrote.

Come over anytime. After dark is preferred.

ok, Bakugou responded, and hit send.

He spent the rest of the day full of nervous anticipation, wondering what would happen - thinking about the brush of Iida's lips on his leg, and hoping that hard-to-describe feeling would return.

Bakugou decided to pack an overnight bag. He didn't know whether he'd be staying the night, but it was better to be prepared - it was possible he'd be too tired afterwards to return home. After deliberating for half an hour, he went to the pharmacy and bought lube and condoms. Maybe he was being optimistic, but it was good to be prepared, just in case.

Iida's apartment was a world away from how it had been the week before. The door was locked, for one thing; Bakugou tested it on a whim before knocking. When Iida answered, Bakugou's first impression of the apartment's interior was of soft, warm light. Iida had filled his home with lamps, bright enough for Bakugou to see clearly but apparently not too bright for Iida's sensitive vision.

"I'm glad you could make it," Iida said, holding the door open for him. "Come in!"

It was a bit of a weird attitude to have, Bakugou thought - like he was a friend coming to hang out, instead of… well, whatever he was. A meal? "Looks different," Bakugou said, glancing around. The lamps gave it a more homey feel - a huge improvement over the cavelike atmosphere of the week before

"Please forget how dirty it was last week!" Iida said over his shoulder as he led them to the bedroom. "I'm embarrassed that you had to see it like that."

In the slightly brighter light Bakugou could get a better look at Iida than he'd gotten last time. From what he could tell, Iida looked - well, not great, but better. He was probably half-starving - Bakugou assumed he hadn't been able to eat anything in the intervening week - but at least he'd showered and his clothes were clean.

"Before I begin, I want to clarify something," Iida said. "I may have spoken out of turn last week."

Bakugou suspected he knew what this was about, but decided to play dumb and let Iida fill in the blanks. He said nothing, just raised his eyebrows.

"I told you I love you," Iida said slowly, as if he was choosing his words with great care. "I'm not sure I should have done that."

"You don't love me?" Bakugou said, smiling, but still at least half serious. "Why'd you say it then?"

"I do love you, actually," Iida said. "However, I regret telling you because up until that point our dynamic had been one of friendship, and to say what I said was to take a great leap away from anything either of us had expressed before-"

"Friendship," Bakugou repeated, crossing his arms. It felt easier to speak now that he knew where he stood - he felt like would not lose the upper hand even if he were to give some of his feelings away. "I probably wouldn't have stopped by your place last week if that was all I felt for you, and I definitely wouldn't be here now."

Bakugou could watch the realization settle into Iida's face - the neutral, slightly worried expression turn into a smile. "Oh," he said, visibly relaxing, "well, that's good. That's good to hear."

"I don't love you," Bakugou added, "but..." He didn't finish his sentence, but it seemed like Iida understood what he meant anyways.

It started off much the same as it had a week before. Bakugou lay on his back with his head resting on Iida's pillow. The bedding did not smell quite so strongly of Iida this time, he noticed - instead, it had the inoffensive, soapy smell of detergent.

Iida's hands shook as he removed his glasses and set them aside. He lay down on his belly and pressed his face against Bakugou's thigh. Their eyes met, and Bakugou felt a shiver pass through his body. When he saw Iida's mouth open, he looked away.

It was more painful than the first time, and Bakugou yelped in surprise. Again, though, it faded, and soon afterwards the pleasurable feeling began. It was as if Bakugou's blood was warm - as if his veins were filled with honey, slow and thick. As if he was floating away. No, Bakugou thought, none of that described the feeling exactly, but it was good, it was so good. Better than before, more intense. Bakugou had to bite his knuckle to stifle a moan.

It seemed to go on and on forever. Bakugou felt as if he was in a trance, his entire body lit up in pleasure; he was hard, and hyperaware of his pulse thudding in his ears. He didn't look down this time, just stared up at the ceiling, then eventually closed his eyes. He felt as if he was floating. He may have fallen asleep.

He didn't notice that Iida had finished drinking from him until he heard his voice. "Bakugou?"

"Mmm?" he hummed, sluggish.

"Are you awake?"

"Yeah." Suddenly cold, Bakugou nestled into the blankets. The feeling of pleasure still lingered even though Iida was no longer making physical contact, and Bakugou felt desire fill him, heavy and almost overwhelming. His hand actually moved halfway to his dick before he caught himself.

Iida was kneeling between Bakugou's legs, applying a bandage. He smiled up at Bakugou and patted his leg gently once he'd finished. "Do you have this physiological response each time because I'm touching your thigh, and it's an erogenous zone?"

"I dunno," Bakugou said. "It just feels good."

"Can I…" Iida looked down at him, hesitating, and Bakugou knew what he was going to ask; his breath caught in anticipation. "Bakugou, can I touch you?"

"Yes," Bakugou groaned, and Iida's hands were on him, yanking his boxers down and off. Iida put one hand on the base of Bakugou's dick, the other on his hip, and Bakugou hissed in surprise: Iida's hands were cold, almost shockingly so, although that did not dampen Bakugou's arousal.

It felt almost like a continuation of Iida drinking from him - the same pleasure, though now centered around his cock. It was too easy for Bakugou to shut his eyes and lose himself in pleasure, not even bothering to try to stifle his moans. He was too far gone to be embarrassed by any of it. The pace Iida set started slow, but sped up more and more until the heat gathered low in Bakugou's belly became nearly unbearable. He groaned aloud as he came, clutching at the sheets and feeling Iida's free hand gently stroking his leg, just above the line of the bandage.

It was the strongest orgasm Bakugou could remember having in his life, and it took ages for him to come back to himself. He didn't pass out, but a sense of languor settled in so wholly he wasn't sure he could move his limbs or open his eyes. He only stirred when he felt Iida shaking his shoulder, and distantly Bakugou realized his name was being called as well.

"Are you alright?" Iida asked, once finally Bakugou opened his eyes. Iida's brow was furrowed in concern.

"Yeah."

"Sit up and drink this."

Juice again - Bakugou sighed and struggled into a sitting position, using Iida's proffered arm for support. He felt so heavy, as if he'd been woken in the dead of night; he drained the glass of juice without pausing. Then he realized Iida was offering him something else - cookies. He took those too, eating each nearly in one bite.

"I wonder if I took too much blood," Iida was saying, "or if perhaps the added exertion of orgasming so soon afterwards-"

"I'm fine," Bakugou said around a mouthful of cookie. "Just tired."

Iida nodded, although he didn't look convinced. Bakugou finished off the plate and wiped his mouth. "Water?" he mumbled, throat dry.

"Of course!"

Iida returned with two glasses, and they each drank deeply. By this time Bakugou felt less out of it, though still sleepy. It was amazing how long the good feeling was lasting this time - it still hummed through his body, perhaps also helped by his orgasm. Bakugou felt almost high from it. He never wanted the feeling to end.

"We've never kissed," he said suddenly. "You jacked me off, but we haven't even kissed yet. Isn't that weird?"

Iida blinked, surprised, and touched his own mouth self-consciously. "Is that - would you even want to kiss me? For one thing, I just drank your blood-"

"And then water after that."

"-and for another, I have…" He lifted his lip and tapped one of his canines.

"I dunno," Bakugou said, feeling loose and relaxed, "let's try it."

Iida joined him on the bed, leaned in and pressed his lips to Bakugou's. The kiss didn't taste like blood, although Bakugou wasn't sure he'd mind if it did. At first it was closed-mouthed, but Bakugou pressed against Iida's lips with his tongue, insistent.

"My teeth are sharp," Iida broke away to say. "Be careful."

"Okay."

Iida opened his mouth and let Bakugou explore it, let him feel along his teeth until he reached the new fangs. They were sharp; Bakugou tested one with his tongue like he had with a finger the week before. It drew blood, and Iida moaned loudly into his mouth.

Iida was hard; Bakugou wasn't quite there yet after coming not fifteen minutes earlier, but at the sound of Iida's needy, hungry voice he felt his body begin to respond. He broke away from the kiss, panting. "Fuck me," he said.

Iida froze. "What?"

"Fuck. Me." Bakugou set a hand on Iida's thigh. "You want to, don't you?"

"I do, but…" Iida was drawing away, leaning in on himself, unsureness visible in his posture. "Something's different about you after I drink your blood. You're not yourself."

"Yeah, like I told you last time," Bakugou said. "It feels good."

"Right - but more than that, I feel as if you're not in your right mind." He swallowed. "I feel as if to do that in such a state would be taking advantage of you. I feel as if you might regret it later."

Bakugou stared at him, frowning, his mouth a tight line. Any other time he'd be fuming, but he didn't quite have the energy to protest - and there was a part of him that felt maybe Iida was right. He did feel different. It was like a drug. He felt like Iida could ask him to do anything, and he wouldn't say no.

"Why don't you stay here tonight?" Iida said. "I'm mostly nocturnal now, but I'll still be awake when you wake up tomorrow morning. If you still want to have sex then, we can."

"Okay," Bakugou said. He was glad - he wasn't sure, in his current state, that he'd be able to make it home.

They sat in bed talking for a little while, but Bakugou was too tired to be much good for conversation and Iida was too energetic to want to stay in one place for long. Eventually Iida went away and Bakugou lay back and closed his eyes, exhausted down to his bones.

When he awoke the next day, Bakugou checked his phone - it was nearly noon. He'd slept for more than twelve hours. "Jesus," he muttered, feeling a headache forming behind his eyes. He could partially blame how long he'd slept on Iida's room's setup: the window was still covered by a blanket, so with the lamps off it was pitch-black inside.

As Bakugou stepped out into the kitchen, Iida leapt to his feet. "Good morning!" he said. "Glad to see you awake! Are you hungry? I've made you breakfast!"

Bakugou ate ravenously, vaguely aware that Iida must have kept all this food in the apartment solely for his benefit. Well, Bakugou rationalized, he deserved it, didn't he? He was Iida's food.

…That was still a weird thought.

"Let me check your wound," Iida said, as soon as Bakugou had finished eating. "Please."

Iida brought him to the bed and knelt on the floor between his legs. The position's implication wasn't lost on Bakugou, who felt a pang of arousal to see Iida on his knees in front of him. "It looks okay," Iida said, "but it's probably too soon to tell for sure.. Best to keep it bandaged for now."

"Let me give you a blowjob," Bakugou blurted out.

Iida raised his eyebrows. "What brought this on?"

Bakugou shrugged. He didn't particularly feel like explaining everything right then: his months-long crush, how being around Iida always made him feel self-conscious and shy and brash at the same time, how fucking hot he'd always considered Iida. Now that things had been cleared between them, now that lines had been crossed, Bakugou felt free to ask for everything he'd been wanting all along. He'd always wanted to suck Iida's dick - the difference was that nothing was holding him back now from asking.

"I just wanna," is what came out.

"I see," Iida said, obviously surprised. "Very well."

Bakugou kissed him. Bakugou's mouth probably tasted of the omelette he'd finished not long before, but Iida's mouth tasted only of Iida, a good flavor. Bakugou slipped his tongue between Iida's lips, felt along Iida's teeth like he had when they'd kissed the day before. Then, fully aware of the kind of reaction he'd get - he was craving that reaction - he pressed his tongue against a fang, drawing blood.

"You keep doing that," Iida said, breaking away from the kiss with a gasp. "You don't know what it does to me, Bakugou."

"What does it do?"

"It makes me want to…" Iida took a deep breath, licked his lips. His pupils were dark, his lips kiss-swollen. "It makes me want to be very aggressive."

Bakugou reached a hand down. Apparently it also made Iida hard. "Well, good," Bakugou said, rubbing Iida's dick through his pants. "Be aggressive." He dropped to his knees.

"Bakugou…" Iida looked down at him, frowning. "Is this what you truly want?"

"Why do you keep asking that?"

"Is it still influencing you?" Iida asked. "The… the thing that happens when I bite you?"

"No, not for a long time," Bakugou said. "It doesn't last that long, a few hours tops"

"So this is you talking? You're in your right mind?"

"Yes," Bakugou said. "You don't believe me?"

"I'm sorry. It's just difficult," Iida said. "This is all too good to be true."

Bakugou said nothing, waiting for him to go on.

"I thought I was dying, and the person I'm in love with swooped in and saved my life." Iida took a step back and sat down on the bed with a thump. "And he did it again, too, a week later. And now he's on his knees in front of me, willing to even do this for me."

"Willing?" Bakugou laughed. "That's an understatement."

"Regardless," Iida went on, "I cannot believe you'd be content simply letting me take and take without giving, yet I cannot think of what I could offer you in return. This seems like a very unequal relationship."

"Is it a relationship?"

"I…" Iida looked at him blankly for a moment, then shook his head and sighed. "I don't know! Look, Bakugou, you already know exactly where I stand on everything. The power is entirely in your hands - please, please tell me what you want from me. Not what sex act you want to perform," he added, "but: what do you want to be to me? What do you want me to be to you?"

Bakugou was pretty sure Iida was not up for getting his dick sucked, not this time, but he didn't get up from where he was kneeling on the floor, just looked up at Iida and said, "I don't mind letting you drink my blood."

"Alright…"

"And I like coming over here," Bakugou went on. "Doesn't need to be for the blood thing, either. I like - just hanging out, too."

Iida was looking at him intently, waiting.

"I wouldn't even mind dating you," Bakugou said, "just so you know I'm not going to let you die."

"Bakugou…"

He looked up at Iida - Iida, who thought he couldn't add anything to a relationship, who was now watching him with such unabashed hope on his face. Bakugou thought of the lurch in his stomach when he'd learned of the attack, and the sick feeling that just wouldn't go away when he got no reply afterwards. He thought of Iida's smile, of their camaraderie as lab partners and how much fun it was to tease him. The feeling had existed for a long time, but now that the walls had fallen between them it was easier for Bakugou to acknowledge its existence - and to admit to himself how deep Iida's hold on him was. It was far closer to mutual than Iida believed.

"I want to date you," Bakugou said. "Go out with me."

His tone came out rougher than he'd intended, almost combative - but Iida seemed to be able to look past it, and broke into a wide grin at the words. "Of course," he said, "of course. Bakugou, Bakugou-"

He slid off the bed and threw his arms around Bakugou, pulling him close. His skin was cold, but the embrace still felt good, and Bakugou closed his eyes, his face pressed against Iida's neck.

"I wanted to do - everything you said," Iida said, voice quieter. "I wanted to very badly. But I needed to know where I stood first. It's very important to me to know that."

"Because I'm your meal ticket," Bakugou said, and regretted it when Iida's smile faded.

"You're right," he said solemnly, "but it isn't just that. If you ever decide you don't want me to drink your blood anymore, I'll… I'll find someone else, maybe, if I can. But I'd date you as long as possible regardless. You mean more to me than your blood, a lot more."

Bakugou hugged Iida back, thinking how good it felt to hear that. Considering Iida initially said I love you immediately after drinking his blood for the first time, Bakugou had wondered how closely Iida's feelings were tied to it. "I won't make you find anyone else," Bakugou said, his voice a growl. "I want you to have me."

"I'm lucky," Iida said. "I'm so lucky." He planted kisses in a line beginning at Bakugou's jaw and went down his neck to his collarbones. "Bakugou, I love you. ...I'm sorry, do you want me to stop saying that?"

"Yeah," Bakugou said, leaning into his touch. "Call me Katsuki instead."

Bakugou never did manage to give him that blowjob, because Iida crashed shortly after. He'd been awake a long time, and it was already well into the afternoon; if he was nocturnal, it was long past his usual bedtime.

After Iida fell asleep, Bakugou found a spare key, locked Iida's door behind him, and headed back to his dorm. He ate lunch, showered, did homework, ate dinner, and arrived back at Iida's apartment in time to slip inside just as the sun was setting.

Iida was in bed, but awake. He sat up when Bakugou entered his room. "You're still here!" he exclaimed, and the wide smile he gave made Bakugou's heart skip a beat.

"Just got back," Bakugou said. After a pause he leaned forward to plant a kiss on Iida's forehead. The surprised, happy look on Iida's face made it more than worth it.

"I'll be right back," Iida said, getting to his feet and zipping out of the room. Bakugou settled into the just-vacated bed. It was room temperature, and Bakugou realized he'd expected it to be warm - Iida's cold skin took him continually by surprise.

Iida returned soon after and climbed back into bed with him, pulling Bakugou into his arms. "Does it feel weird?" Bakugou asked, letting Iida hold him close.

"Does what feel weird?"

"Being a vampire. You're basically an ice cube."

"I'm sorry!" Iida said, and loosened his grip. "I didn't think-"

"No," Bakugou said, "it's fine." He pressed himself more firmly into Iida's chest. "I just asked if it's weird. I didn't tell you to stop."

"To be honest, I hardly notice the temperature change," Iida said, relaxing again. "I find things to be warmer than I did before, though. For example," he added, rubbing a hand up Bakugou's arm, "your skin feels like fire, but in a good way."

Bakugou turned over to face him, leaning up to kiss his mouth. It started off slow and gentle, but turned aggressive; to Bakugou's surprise Iida took control, sliding his tongue between Bakugou's lips and putting a hand on the back of Bakugou's head as if keeping him in place.

"Tell me one more time what you want," Iida said, when finally they broke apart.

"I was kind of looking forward to blowing you."

"I certainly have no protest," Iida said, smiling. "I won't even ask if you're sure."

When he awoke the next morning, Bakugou realized that, for Iida, the day was already mostly over. It hit him them that to date a vampire would be more different than he could imagine now. Beyond the whole blood thing, there was the nocturnal thing, as well as the burned-by-the-sun thing. They'd never be able to spend an afternoon at the beach, or watch a sunrise together, or even just walk around during the day. The finality of that word, never, was like a brick in Bakugou's stomach. He couldn't imagine it, and trying to do so hurt.

There was so much else to learn, too. What parts of the traditional vampire stories were true, and what weren't? Would Iida age now? Could he eat garlic? Turn into a bat? And, more frightening for Bakugou to wonder, could his body alone provide enough blood?

"Katsuki," Iida said, kissing the bridge of his nose. "Katsuki."

"Mm?"

"Good morning. I'm glad you're awake" He smoothed Bakugou's hair away from his forehead, smiling down at him warmly. "I made you breakfast."

It was alright, Bakugou knew - or at least it would be. They could figure it out together.