Trevor came to with a groan. A headache pounded at the inside of his skull, and he rolled over to attempt to go back to sleep. Shit, Dracula's wine was something stronger than he was used to. Even after he'd had- after... Wait. He'd gotten water and food, right?

His memory was still fuzzy, but he knew he'd eaten. The simple fact his stomach wasn't clenching on itself was telling; Usually he would wake up starving after a night of drinking. Of course he should have figured it wouldn't happen, since he was staying in Castlevania.

The thought had his eyes pop open. If he didn't feed himself, it had to have been someone else. Who? Not a servant, surely. He forced himself to focus until Adrian came to mind. Ah, of course.

Trevor groaned and shuffled into the pillow beneath him. Sleeping seemed more important now, so he could thank the pompous bastard later. Or not. Maybe he could forget the whole reason he drank, too.

A creaking door quickly dampened his idea.

"Trevor? Are you awake?" Trevor grumbled at the smooth voice. "Ah."

Trevor cracked open one eye. Adrian strode across the room and set down a tray on the bedside table. A teapot, cup, and steaming bowl sat on it. The room wasn't too bright, as the curtains were left drawn.

"Do you need assistance?"

"Shove off fangs," Trevor groaned, "I've been hungover before."

He levered himself up with one arm and peered over at the tray. He couldn't see much from his angle, but he did get a glimpse of simple porridge in the bowl. Hm. Maybe he could actually stomach it.

He flipped over and sat up properly, scrubbing at his eyes.

"I don't feel like complete shit," Trevor said.

Adrian snorted. "Surprising, considering what you look and smell like. Though it is good to know my efforts were of some use."

Trevor grabbed at the teapot and peered inside. Inside the container was too dark to make out, but it wasn't only tea. "What did you do?"

"There is not much one can do when someone has gone and drunk nearly an entire bottle of strong wine." Adrian sounded reprimanding. "I helped you back to your room, and made sure you stayed hydrated and had something to eat."

"Did I puke?"

"You did not."

"Shame. I'd pay money to see you deal with that." Trevor gave Adrian a sharp grin.

"Charming." He snatched the teapot out of Trevor's hands and poured a cupful before handing it over.

"What is this? More weird concoctions?"

"It is simply ginger tea with lemon. Hopefully it will assist in your digestion of breakfast while quelling any lingering nausea you might have."

"Ginger huh?" Trevor took a sip and grimaced at the sharp flavor. "Fancy."

"And apparently not to your tastes," Adrian noted with amusement. "Though it hardly matters."

Contrary to his words, he pulled a small container off the tray and opened the lid. Inside was a thick, sticky looking gold liquid.

"Honey?" Trevor questioned, letting Adrian spoon some into his cup.

"For troublesome patients," Adrian said with a grin.

Trevor snorted and took another sip. Much better.

"Gotta say fangs, I don't think I've ever had someone taking care of me after a night of drinking. People have usually kicked me out of their bars by then. Sick of me, I guess."

"You were an absolute handful drunk," Adrian agreed. "That is something you will not be doing for a long time yet."

Trevor narrowed his eyes. "What does that mean?"

"It means that your drinking privileges are suspended. At least until we can be sure you'll be responsible."

"Privileges?"

"Yes, Trevor Belmont." And Adrian looked serious now, his eyes shining bright, even in the relative darkness of the room. "The wine you drank does not belong to you, nor was it offered. Beyond that though, you drank an obscene amount, alone, and could have ended up poisoning yourself. What do you think might have happened had I not found you?"

"Uhh." Trevor leaned back from Adrian's intense stare. "I guess I would've woken up on the floor?"

"You could have drunk more and ended up choking on your own bile. You could have fallen and smashed your head on the stone." Adrian was shaking, hands clenched in his lap.

"All risks of drinking," Trevor said. "Done it before."

"You-!" Adrian closed his eyes and took calming breaths. Trevor didn't understand where the anger was coming from. Adrian had accused him of being a drunkard before; Hell, he'd said it just yesterday. It was yesterday, right? Trevor's head throbbed again and he drank his cooling tea.

"You could have died," Adrian whispered.

Meeting his eyes was too difficult now. A tingling joined the churning of his stomach, and Trevor wasn't certain the feeling was all left over from his drunken binge.

"Nearly done that too," Trevor admitted.

"Not here you won't." A heat of indignation flared through Trevor, and he looked up. "Goddammit Trevor, you are an insufferably stubborn mule, but I will not let you drink yourself to an early grave."

Trevor's head was spinning. "How will you stop me?"

Adrian leaned over Trevor, their faces close. "I will follow you all day and night if I have to."

"That's... that's really creepy, fangs."

Adrian huffed. "Then I suppose you should try to have some common sense, shouldn't you?"

"About what? Look, I've been drinking on the road for a while, and- Okay, yeah, the wine was not what I was used to, but I know how much I can take. That wasn't nearly enough to kill me."

"Do you even remember how much you drank?"

"I-!" Trevor stopped, mouth gaping. "Almost a full bottle?"

Adrian did not look amused, his mouth flat and eyes shimmering. "Do you even remember last night at all?"

Trevor tried. He really did. He actually remembered being in some room the servants probably used. He had picked it specifically so no one from the Țepeș family would stumble upon him. What else?

"Uh, I might've thrown some shit on the floor? That's pretty mild, for me."

Adrian ran a hand down his face and breathed again. When he backed up, Trevor set his empty cup on the side table. Adrian stayed silent.

"Look, I don't really see the big deal. I'm clearly fine."

"You quite clearly are not, if you think losing memories of an entire night is fine." Adrian looked up at him. The depth in his golden eyes made Trevor's stomach flip. "Trevor, please. Why did you do it?"

Shit. Trevor never took him as the sort to beg, and he wasn't really, but his eyes. They looked tired, and sad, and just... pleading. Like he had this small hope Trevor would talk to him. Trevor found he couldn't crush that.

Of course, he couldn't explain exactly why he drank either, so he asked a related question. "Adrian, why do you want me to go with you on some mission to save the good people of Wallachia?"

"I am willing to explain. If you'll listen to all of it this time."

Trevor rubbed his neck. He had kinda run off, hadn't he? "I... Fine. I'm listening." Adrian placed the bowl of porridge in his hands and began.

"My mother has several contacts throughout Wallachia, as well as some beyond the borders. They are people who also practice the true science, many doctors, but not all. There are also people who still study the ancient art of alchemy, though they do not stay in Wallachia."

Spooning the sweet porridge into his mouth, Trevor kept his mouth busy eating, content to listen for now. Adrian took note and continued.

"My mother was accused of being a witch because of her knowledge. The bishop of Târgoviște knew of the contents of my mother's workshop, and branded her a heretic and practitioner of black magic. The church..." Adrian faltered but shook his head and kept going. "I am not sure of other parts of the world, but at the very least, the archbishop in this region denounces the study and practice of science. Any who show interest are likely to be targeted."

Trevor nodded. "That's not surprising."

"I suppose not," Adrian conceded. "Not to you."

Trevor swirled the spoon around in the last of his meal. It seemed he was keeping it down alright; A small relief.

"Regardless, I am not asking-" Adrian stopped and restarted. "I will not be going to speak to every person I come across. Mother has a list of people she knows from her visits and correspondences, and she wishes they should at least know the real danger they are in. From there... It shall be their decision what they wish to do."

"Like turn you in to the church, right?" Trevor said bitterly.

"I will not stick around long enough."

"And what if they really do want your help? Are you going to help them leave Wallachia? Carry their packs hundreds of miles until they're beyond the grip of the archbishop?"

"That's ridiculous-"

"Is it?" Trevor was glaring now. "Be straight with me Adrian. What, exactly, are you asking me to do?"

They stared at each other for several long moments. The air was heavy but Trevor would not back down. He'd spent his time bumbling around the countryside, waiting to die-either from taking out a monster or the church finally catching up to him. He didn't want to do so now, not with the church so focused on him, and not for some people he'd never met when all he wanted was right-

Trevor couldn't help but inhale a sharp breath. Adrian blinked in confusion, but Trevor was too lost in what he'd just discovered. He wanted to stay here. At Castlevania. For so long he'd wandered and not given a shit about what happened to him. Suddenly... suddenly a family shows him kindness and he... Trevor finds he can't put it at risk. He finally has something he wants, something he yearns for with all his heart and goddammit he'll fight for it.

Trevor felt a cool hand on his.

"All I'm asking, is that you travel with me, Trevor. If... if you choose to."

God, and here was this confusing, beautiful, mysterious man who was going out into danger just because he believed it the right thing to do. Trevor saw in his eyes the exact same look Lisa gave him while talking to him about making the world a better place. He found he might actually believe it this time.

"Really. Just follow behind you. That's it?" Trevor tried for a smile and was rewarded with a small one from Adrian.

"If you need a reason, I suppose you could watch my back. Just in case."

"Are you worried you can't take care of humans with farming tools without me?"

Adrian laughed. "I believe that is the other way around."

"I'll have you know I am a skilled fighter."

"I've yet to see that," Adrian said, smirking.

"You saw me fight just yesterday!" Trevor protested, and set his meal to the side.

"Did I?"

Little shit, Trevor thought. "Fine. You and me. Grab your weapon and let's go." He stood up and grabbed at his head. His headache was better, but ouch.

"Trevor, sit down and have some more tea." Adrian smiled, amused.

"Absolutely not. We're fighting, and when I kick your ass you'll admit you need me on this trip of yours."

Adrian's grin grew, and a predatory look crossed his eyes. "Oh, while you fall over from head pains? I'd like to see you try."

Trevor whipped his hand away from his head. "Fine. And I don't have any head pain."

As he walked over to the wardrobe-a temporary storage for his equipment-he heard Adrian chuckle. "I suppose I don't have to go easy on you then."

"You had better not. I seem to remember catching you by the arm yesterday."

Adrian made an indignant sound. "We weren't fighting. You caught me off guard."

"A legitimate tactic," Trevor said, smirking over his shoulder.

Adrian's almost sullen response of, "I think my father was right about your lack of proper form," just made his smile grow.

I love researching food! :D ...Ahem. Welp, next chapter is the last for this section, so yay! Fight, fight, fight fight! I'm writing that out now, cause apparently my brain has decided to fill in all the gaps I purposefully left during NaNo.

Remember when I said the fics in this AU wouldn't all be back-to-back? Hahahaha me neither.

But hey, at least Trevor is learning to be honest with himself. Just a little. In his mind. Progress!