"So—how should we do this?" Robin asked, his too-tight grip on the edge of the bed belying his attempt at casualness.
Vlad shrugged, feeling a bit silly. He'd never paid much attention to his hunting lessons back when they still lived with the Westenra clan. "Is there anywhere in particular you'd like me to, er…?"
"Anywhere," Robin answered, the response a bit too quick. His face turned a marvelous shade of red. "I mean, the neck is fine."
Vlad stared at him. He was careful to keep his voice measured as he said, "A bit eager, are we?"
Robin scowled at him, looking uncomfortable. "No. I'm just glad we're getting on with it."
Vlad stifled a grin, deciding to have a bit of fun.
Keeping his face schooled into an expression of ignorance, he ran the fingers of his left hand down the other boy's neck, dragging them to the juncture between Robin's neck and collarbone. "So, here's good, then?" Vlad asked innocently.
Robin coughed. "I mean, yeah, if you want."
Vlad took a moment to admire the smooth skin of Robin's neck, dotted here and there with freckles and flushed a dull pink. Despite his friend's adamant denial, he could practically taste Robin's excitement.
Vlad winced as his fangs slid into place.
Robin eyed them with interest. "Does it hurt when they do that?" he asked, curiosity winning out over embarrassment. He lifted a hand to touch, but Vlad grabbed his wrist.
"Only a little," he hedged.
Robin's pupils had become large, and he was doing that lip-wetting thing again. "Oh. That bites." He grinned at Vlad, with the face that said that was a great pun, and you know it.
Robin made a lot of faces. Vlad knew them all.
At least, he had thought he did. He wasn't entirely sure how to classify the one Robin was making now. If Vlad didn't know better, he would say that Robin was aroused.
He quashed the sudden pang of longing at the thought. Vlad knew that Robin was only hot and bothered over the prospect of being bitten, not getting felt up by his best mate.
Vlad cursed the unhelpful tightening in his trousers, as Robin stared back at him with an expectant look. Vlad let go of his wrist, clearing his throat.
What did it matter, anyway? There was no way Vlad was going to pursue a relationship with Robin.
His fangs ached, as if telling him to get on with it already.
He marshaled what remained of his resolve, brushing his fingertips against a spot midway up Robin's neck. His touch raised goosebumps on the other boy's skin.
"Go ahead," Robin managed after a few seconds, tilting his head and exposing more pale flesh.
"Let me know if it hurts?" Vlad's voice was barely a whisper as he said it, and at Robin's terse nod, he leaned forward and hovered over the spot marked by his fingers.
"Stop worrying," Robin said. He hissed as Vlad's mouth pressed against his skin.
Vlad stiffened, but Robin held tight to his shoulder. "It's okay. Your skin's just cold."
Vlad was feeling too many things at once; he closed his eyes, reveling in the feeling of Robin's hand in his hair and the warm breath at his ear. He breathed in Robin's intoxicating scent, his mouth watering. So hungry...
Before he could change his mind, Vlad bit down gently, fangs just barely breaking skin. Robin made a small keening sound, and Vlad panicked, losing his nerve.
He drew back, staring at the four prick marks marring Robin's otherwise perfect flesh.
Robins eyes were unfocused. "...Vlad?"
The vampire shook his head. "Sorry, I... I just need a second."
The other teen nodded stiffly. His face was flushed. "Take your time."
Vlad felt completely out of his element. He always knew he would make a dreadful vampire, but even he hadn't anticipated this level of failure. What was the problem? He was hungry, his prey was right there, willing and waiting to get his blood sucked. So why couldn't he do it?
Vlad looked at the place where he had bitten Robin. Four large beads of blood had welled up on the surface of the other boy's skin; two of them started to run down his shoulder. Without thinking Vlad bent forward to stop them with his mouth, gasping as the drops landed on his tongue. Oh. It felt—Robin tasted….
Vlad whimpered as the drops became a flood. Robin's blood was hot, and wet, and perfect.
He groaned, suddenly desperate to get as much of it into his mouth as possible. It wasn't enough. He needed more. He braced his hand on the other side of Robin's neck.
Robin moaned as Vlad's teeth sank deep into his flesh, but this time, instead of pulling away, Vlad pulled his prey closer. Without breaking contact, he pushed Robin onto his back and leaned over him, supporting his weight on his elbows.
Robin let out a small whine, the sound tumbling like water down Vlad's spine, and clutched at the back of Vlad's neck like his life depended on it. His breathing had become labored, and he panted against Vlad's ear. Vlad groaned, pressing closer. He hadn't known it would be this good.
Robin's heartbeat seemed to be getting slower. Vlad retracted his fangs, pulling back as far as he could in Robin's tight grip to get a better look at him. He looked a bit paler than usual. Robin was always pale, of course, but…
Vlad reluctantly extricated himself from Robin's embrace, wiping self-consciously at his mouth with the back of his hand.
The wound at Robin's neck continued to ooze blood; Vlad pressed his hand against it, and looked around himself for a tissue. He hadn't planned this far ahead. "Robin—you're bleeding."
"Obviously." Robin giggled. He sounded drunk.
"We've got to get you a plaster, or something; um…." he looked around wildly, cursing. It was hard to think when the smell of Robin's blood still hung thick in the air.
"Vlaaad," Robin whined at him, lids heavy, "you can keep going…. I like it a lot. Feels good…."
"No, Robin, we're stopping," Vlad insisted, doing his best to remember what little he had learned about first aid from his phys-ed classes. He thought there might be some bandages in his trunk.
He replaced his hand with Robin's. "Put that there, and hold still," Vlad instructed, trying not to panic. "And don't let go. I need to find something to stop the bleeding."
He raced to his trunk, rummaging around. Nothing. He crossed to his drawers, emerging triumphantly with cotton balls and iodine.
He pulled Robin's hand away from the wound, licking at a few rogue drops that had spilled in his absence—some of it had gotten onto Robin's shirt, but they didn't have time to worry about that right now. He closed his eyes at the taste, and struggled against the sudden impulse to bite Robin again, to finish what he'd started. He was grateful to find that he could.
He uncorked the solution, pouring some of it onto the cotton and dabbing carefully at Robin's neck. But before he could get far, the surface of Robin's skin shone with an ethereal light. Vlad stared in disbelief as the wound knit itself shut before his very eyes.
Vlad froze, feeling sick. Had they completely misjudged? Was Robin turning into…? He couldn't even complete the thought.
But no, that couldn't be it—Robin's heart was still beating strong, and his chest rose and fell below him in a steady rhythm.
Robin glanced at him with a grin, and said, "I'm okay, Vlad. Quit worrying. Just a bit tired…. And hungry, actually."
Vlad jumped up. "I'll get you something. Stay here, I'll be right back."
He locked the door behind him. With any luck, he'd be able to find something palatable stashed away in Renfield's cupboards.
By some miracle, Vlad hadn't run into anyone on the way to or from the kitchens—he'd been so sure Ingrid would find him, smell the blood on him, and gloat at his moment of weakness.
He returned to a rare sight: his best friend, fast asleep. Vlad listened to Robin's strong, steady heartbeat with equal parts relief and self-loathing.
He brought one of his chairs to the edge of the bed and sank into it with a heavy heart, staring at Robin's chest as it rose and fell. He had half expected to return to find Robin newly initiated into the world of the undead; Robin's reassurances about the amulet aside. Vlad cursed himself again for ever agreeing to this stupid plan in the first place.
Still, despite his misgivings, he couldn't help but feel somewhat… giddy at the knowledge of what they'd done.
Vlad had really done it. He had drunk the blood of a human being, willingly.
Robin was willing, too, the voice in his head reminded him. All too willing. He touched his lips, remembering how Robin's skin had felt as it pulsed beneath his mouth. How Robin had arched beneath him, moaning in ecstasy….
He glanced down at the forgotten bread in his hand, knowing that he should wake his friend and make him eat.
But as he looked down at the figure curled up on his old bed, he hesitated. Robin looked absolutely debauched: his hair was in complete disarray, his shirt was wrinkled, and the grey fabric was dark near the right edge of his collar.
As Vlad watched, Robin stirred, stretching with his eyes closed. He wiped his face groggily, then stiffened. "Vlad?" His eyes snapped open, and he sat up, visibly relieved as he spotted him.
He clutched at his head from the sudden movement. "Sorry," he muttered. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."
Vlad placed a hand on his forehead. "You should take it easy," he scolded. "And don't sit up so fast."
Robin's eyes were a bit more dilated than normal, but other than that he seemed okay. Vlad let out a sigh of relief. "How are you feeling? Still tired?"
"M'aright." He scratched his neck, hesitating as he touched the spot where Vlad had bit him. He looked at Vlad sharply. "What…?"
"The amulet healed you." Vlad bit his lip.
Robin remained silent for several seconds, before spotting the bread in Vlad's hand. "I'll take that. Thanks."
"Right." Vlad handed it over, wondering if he looked half as awkward as he felt.
"Feeling any better?" Robin asked, eyeing him as he took a large bite out of the roll.
"Me? It's you I'm worried about." The other boy continued to look him over as he chewed. Vlad nearly smacked himself. "Crap, I forgot to get you water. Hang on." He made to get up, but Robin pushed him back down.
"Seriously. Are you okay?"
Vlad met Robin's gaze for a brief moment. "I feel fantastic," Vlad admitted, looking away. "And I feel terrible about it."
Robin swallowed the last of the roll and cleared his throat. He leaned back against the pillows, wiping the crumbs off his chest, looking deeply satisfied. "If it makes you feel better, it was pretty fantastic on my end, too."
Vlad's cheeks felt weird. "Really?" he asked, squirming as Robin shot him a wicked grin.
"Yeah. It was hot as hell."
Vlad choked. "What?" he managed eventually. Robin laughed, pointing to himself.
"Hello? Vampire-freak? Blood-sucking is kind of my thing, remember?" Robin grinned at him. "I can't tell you how long I've wanted you to do that. Since we met, actually."
Vlad looked away, heart sinking. Of course that's what he meant. Vlad straightened, nodding in the direction of the door. "Once you're feeling better, you should probably leave. It's getting late."
Robin's eyebrows rose. "What did I say?"
Vlad growled. "Nothing." Robin looked incredulous, but stayed silent. The vampire pinched the bridge of his nose, as some of his anger dissipated. "I can't... I can't be what you want me to be. All right?"
"What's this really about?" Robin asked, his voice careful. "You drank my blood. I liked it. You liked it. So what's the problem?"
"I swore to myself that I'd never bite a human," Vlad spat, putting his head in his hands. His eyes stung. "I don't want to be a monster."
"You're not a monster," Robin insisted, sitting up and putting his hands on Vlad's shoulders. "You need to stop listening to the Count. You are in charge of your own destiny."
Vlad looked at him warily. Robins gaze was intense.
A loud rapping broke the silence.
"Are you two done kissing up, yet?" a muffled voice called through the door.
