Title: The Dark Side Of My Shadow
Author: AoiTsukikage
Rating: PG-13 for now, will increase
Characters/Pairing:Eventual Law/Sanji, other pairings mentioned
Chapter: 5/?
Word Count: 3590
Summary: Sanji hadn't planned on getting bitten that night. Law hadn't planned on taking a vampire home with him. Now there's no going back. AU, Vampire!Sanji, eventual Law/Sanji.
Spoilers: For recent chapters.

Chapter Five

"I'm surprised you even helped him in the first place," Lucci's leaning back against an examination table, no hint of emotion in his eyes at Law's story. "Considering what happened to your mentor…"

"It would be rash of me to blame an entire species on the actions of one," Law replies tersely. He's never liked Lucci, particularly, because the other man's breed of justice is merciless and, as a doctor, he's too interested in saving lives to condone wasting them the way Lucci's wont to. "Besides, the creatures that attacked him were so far gone that human reasoning would have been beyond them. It would be like blaming animals for attacking somebody who wandered into their territory," he looks pointedly at Lucci and he can tell that the subtle jibe is not lost. He doesn't speak about Corazon much, but a big part of the reason he stays with the government is to fill the other man's shoes. He'd been forced to grow up rather quickly the day they'd discovered his body, drained of all blood, and while part of him still suspects it was no mere accident, he's never had any proof to say otherwise.

"Still," Lucci lets out a hum that sounds rather like a pleased purr and Law swiftly changes the subject.

"So why are you showing him mercy? I didn't expect you to know the meaning of the word," he finally seats himself, feeling too off-balance pacing when Lucci looks so content, but that earns him the slightest twitch of the older man's eyebrow which tells Law that it's not something Lucci's entirely okay with.

"As I said, I'm merely repaying a debt. We were cleaning out a nest the other night and I'd let my guard down for the slightest of seconds," he growls and Law's betting he takes this as a personal affront. "So yes, I owe the boy one for getting us both out of there alive, but more than that it's something I've thought about, too. Kaku might be a bleeding heart but he's still got a decent head on his shoulders, and this time he's right."

Law blinks slowly, waiting for the other man to continue.

"Spandam. He's becoming increasingly obsessed with eradicating vampires, but lately his efforts have been focused on half-breeds like your little friend there. Some of them are dangerous, yes, depending on how far the Turning has gone, but most of them could still pass for human and while I'm perfectly fine with doling justice out to those who had done wrong, harming innocents is another matter entirely. We've been collectively trying to divert his attention back to full vampires but while he's a useless weakling, he's stubborn and he's got full power to command us," his shoulders hunch like a cat bristling its fur, and Law thinks he knows where this is going.

"Strange," he murmurs, shifting Kikoku over his shoulder. "Mr. Blackleg and I were just discussing this the other evening, and we both assumed the government would want to cover up how human a lot of half-breeds are."

"They do. But Moria keeps gaining power and coercing the full vampires to his side, and to have us gallivanting about the city using infrared detectors to find people who are no more likely to do harm than common criminals is a waste of our abilities. That's why we have a police force," he sniffs rather disdainfully. "If we can convince Spandam, or his superiors, that half-breeds aren't a threat, they'll remove that as part of our duties and we can concentrate on the real threat to our safety," he explains, and Law nods slowly. It does make sense, after all, and he's not at all surprised that the government's top intelligence branch came to the conclusion long before any of their superiors did.

"So you want me to…prove he's human? Or close enough?" he guesses, and Lucci nods once.

"Yes. If we can prove to the higher-ups that half-breeds like him are not only genetically similar to humans, but in control of their own mental facilities and capable of reason, that will remove them as a threat. Hell, the thing with Marco happened twenty years ago and I've not seen or heard a single thing that paints him as dangerous," he narrows his eyes and Law nods. "You don't have to like me, Doctor Trafalgar, but I believe our interests coincide this time around. That you and this boy already are friendly is only an asset to our plan."

"Indeed," Law murmurs, knowing that it's the best chance Sanji has to get a sort of protection from the government. The incident earlier tonight had been worrisome, but the fact he'd been able to wrench control back from the vampire even when he was that far gone is encouraging. Yes, he might need blood now and again, but it's truly no different than any other person who needs medicine, and blood is infinitely easier to come by than some drugs.

"So, we have a deal?" there's a predatory glint in Lucci's eyes, but Law's mostly convinced it's just because he looks like that and not because he's actually scheming something. He holds out his hand and Law shakes it quickly, a little surprised when the oversized pigeon hops onto his shoulder and coos in his ear. "Hattori likes you. That already bodes well."

Law doesn't reply, but there's a part of him that's at least a little lighter when they enter the main part of the lab again.

000

"Don't go thinking you're special, lad," Kaku laughs and Sanji looks over in surprise "It's a stroke of luck you and Law know each other, but honestly, I just picked you because you're the most human half-vamp we've run into in a long time."

"So what are they…"

"Let them figure it out," Kaku seats himself on the table next to Sanji, all lanky limbs and a strange sort of awkward grace. "I wouldn't worry, though. I might have called in a favor with Rob but we've discussed it before and he agrees with me, so I don't see going unexpectedly," his words are vague but Sanji's just mildly impressed that anybody would try to ask a favor out of the man he'd seen earlier.

He must have mumbled something out loud because Kaku chuckles and nods. "Ah, he's not that scary once you get to know him. But we were out on patrol a few nights ago and I saved him from some particularly persistent vampires. Maybe I'm the only one he'll do it for, but he knows when to let go of his pride to thank me," he explains, and Sanji gets the feeling that Kaku might be damn near as dangerous as Lucci, even if he seems much nicer about it.

"You've…known him for a long time?" he asks, wondering how open the other man's likely to be, but he figures it's better to talk about something as opposed to just waiting for Law to come back.

"Aye, since I was a kid. The government picks up orphans they feel have potential and sends them to a training facility, and if you're good enough, eventually you'll become what we are," he says this with far more seriousness than Sanji's heard from him so far. "It's not a bad life by any means, but none of us know any different. Sometimes I wonder what things could have been like if I'd have been able to pick my own path, but…" he shrugs. "No use crying over spilled milk."

"I'm…not sure what it says about the government that they have a secret facility for training assassins," Sanji points out, and Kaku barks a laugh at that.

"Well, it might not be as big a bone of contention if our only job were to keep the streets clear of vampires, but I daresay somewhere along the way that goal's gotten skewed. Which, I think, is what our comrades are discussing, but again, I'm not going to touch that until they come out," he says firmly. "We're not actually called 'Hunters', either, but the public seems to have an affinity for that so it stuck. It's much catchier than 'Cipher Pol Number Nine,' at any rate," he points out, and Sanji has to admit he's got a point. "We go by CP9 around here, though, so if you hear anybody talking about that, you know who we are."

Sanji has a feeling Kaku's said all he's going to on that particular topic, so he asks, "What about hybrids? I mean, I've met a few of you now, and I know Law has to clear you medically before they can…experiment, but…"

"Yes. Well. As far as I know, nobody he's ever cleared has had issues," Kaku looks vaguely impressed at that. "Of course there have been…failures, and our scientists have been unable to recreate any of the hybrid combinations which is where the real mystery comes in. I'm not sure if they use specific animal DNA or something else that reacts directly to an individual's body, but otherwise I'm quite sure we'd have an entire army of predatory beasts on our team. And unless I was chosen to be the butt of a great cosmic joke, I'd daresay the scientists don't even know what animal we'll gain the powers of until it happens. Rob and Jyabura are well-suited to their animals based on their personalities, so maybe it's got something to do with that, but me…" he laughs and pulls his cap a little farther over his eyes, and Sanji wonders briefly if the government should really be fucking with things like DNA modification if they have no idea what they're doing.

But then, it's been going on for twenty years at least, and if Law's got that good of a record, maybe it's as safe as it can be.

And Kaku, the bastard, still isn't telling him what animal he can turn into.

"So I'm just lucky, huh?" Sanji says then, trying to work through everything he's been told, and Kaku nods.

"Well, maybe not so lucky to have gotten bitten, but as of now…I'd say so, lad," he pats Sanji's shoulder and Sanji's not quite sure if he sees it that way, but Law and Lucci come back out then and once they've explained everything to him it doesn't take him long to agree.

He can deal with a few tests, if it means he doesn't have to constantly be on guard.

It's preferable to getting his throat ripped out, anyway, and from the look in Lucci's eyes, he has a feeling that's what would happen if he'd have refused.

000

He's not sure how he ended up here.

Well, that's a lie, because he knows exactly how he ended up here, but he never thought he'd be sharing a bed with another man again. Especially not…in this way. Law's looking at him strangely, unblinking, one hand cupping Sanji's jaw and his thumb running almost hypnotically over the ridge of the younger man's cheekbone. He shifts his hand a little then, frowning, before removing it entirely and Sanji's almost sad about the loss because Law's skin is warm, if nothing else.

"Your heartbeat's slower than average, but hardly abnormal. I would have expected it to be a lot lower based on your body temperature," he intones coolly, but Sanji knows damn well that was about more than checking his pulse.

"Try again," he growls, and Law looks at him in confusion.

"I'm not sure what else you want me to say…"

"Tch. Whatever," Sanji burrows down into the pillow, closing his eyes and trying to sleep. He feels his shadow creeping over Law again and tries to will it back, and maybe it's just because he's had blood so the need isn't as prevalent, but it actually seems to listen to him. He still feels wrong about going to bed pissed off, though, so eventually he sighs and looks up to find that Law's still staring at him, yellow eyes almost glowing in the darkness of the room. "You know what I'm talking about."

"I do," Law affirms. "And I apologize. But truly, I meant nothing by it. I was lost in thought. If it makes you uncomfortable, I'll refrain from physical contact unless absolutely necessary. I'm not that inclined to it regardless," he sounds and looks genuine, at least, and Sanji feels horrible for assuming that just because he's a guy that means Law wants to fuck him. He knows it doesn't work that way, but he's not doing a good job of explaining that right now.

"It's fine," and pushes himself up a little. "And I trust you, or else I wouldn't agree to you doing tests on me, government pardon or not. But I'm not…" he sighs and flops back down, closing his eyes and groaning, because now he sounds like he's homophobic or something and doesn't want Law touching him at all, which wasn't his goal.

"I understand," Law sounds ice-cold again and Sanji feels like he's somehow erased all of the progress he's made with the other man. It shouldn't matter so much, maybe, but if they're going to be spending a lot of time together he's going to enjoy it a Hell of a lot more if there's not this weird tension between them. And, well, he's not too afraid to admit that Law…yeah, he's attractive, in a dark and brooding way, and it's…he knows he's hopeless around women, and that he can barely be touched by one without turning into a blubbering pile of hearts, but it's not like that with Law. And it's not as if he feels disgust or anything, it's just…unexpected, because nobody's ever touched him like that, whether it was intentional or not.

He's too tired to think about it anymore, he decides, huffing slightly before turning back toward Law and poking his shoulder.

"What?"

"It's okay," he says softly, and Law looks up in surprise. "If you want to…touch me, I'm okay with it. I'll be warmer anyway," he adds, which just sounds like a lame excuse, and he wonders absently why he feels the need to excuse it at all.

"I'm only a man of my word, Mr. Blackleg," Law murmurs, and Sanji marvels at how easily they fit together, his head tucked under Law's chin and the older man's arms warm around his shoulders. It's nice, or at least it's warm, and Sanji figures that if it gets him a good night's sleep he'll gladly put up with it. "So I thought we could get started this weekend. Or whenever you have a day off…"

"Never. That shitty old geezer has me there seven days a week, and I don't have the heart to tell him that I'm…" Sanji shrugs. "He hasn't noticed my shadow yet, I don't think, but usually I get afternoons off because nobody comes in between lunch and dinner."

"Good enough," Law decides with a shrug, and Sanji lets his eyes close again.

"Now, can we stop talking and get some fucking sleep?" he grumbles, and Law's response is a low chuckle that tells Sanji he's in full agreement. He's still not sure what all of this means, or how Law really feels about him, but maybe it doesn't matter that much since what he'd said is true: he does trust Law.

But he's had a long day, and had a lot of information shoved at him, and he can't process anything else right now. He yawns and sinks into a sort of half-slumber almost instantly, knowing that at least for tonight he'll be able to sleep.

000

Law, however, is not so lucky.

Yes, he honestly hadn't meant to be so forward, and his…feelings toward Sanji, at this point, are not anything more than a desire to keep him safe. He's not even sure why he feels this way, because even though he's a doctor his bedside manner has always been fairly brusque and it's not as if he normally goes out of his way to do more than necessary to heal a person. It's not something he wants to think especially deeply about at this point, but having Sanji curled up on his chest, breathing evenly and looking a lot better than he had earlier in the evening, makes him feel good and he knows immediately that it's dangerous.

He's quite sure his mind would be happy to run in circles all night, keeping him from sleeping at all, but he feels something creeping over his legs and peers under the blanket, seeing Sanji's shadow curling around his body. Unlike before, it's not ice-cold, but rather like tendrils of cool morning mist and he feels no threat from it.

"Hey," Sanji mumbles, one hand lightly slapping against the side of Law's neck. "Go t' sleep. I can hear you thinking from over here," he burrows closer, seeking warmth, and Law takes a last look at the ceiling before deciding that maybe some things don't need to be over-analyzed.

This, he thinks as he lets his eyes close and his fingers slide through Sanji's hair, might just be one of them.

000

Sanji's still there when he wakes up the next morning, propped up on one elbow and looking at him like he's thinking deeply about something. Law feels more than a little out of his element because he's never woken up next to somebody before, not like this, and they stare at each other for a minute or two before Sanji blinks and flops back down on the pillows.

"What is it?" Law asks quietly, unwilling to break the stillness of the moment, and Sanji turns to study him again.

"Last night," he says quietly. "If I hadn't…stopped myself, what would have happened?" he looks afraid of the answer, and Law feels slightly bad that his next words are hardly going to be reassuring for the young man.

"I imagine, if you would have hit my jugular with your fangs, I would have bled out long before you'd have come back to your senses and called for help," his voice is remarkably steady considering the subject matter, and he can see Sanji flinch before the other man turns to him, raising one arm hesitantly before dropping it around Law's shoulders and holding it there. It's a poor excuse for an embrace, maybe, but Sanji seems rather unwilling to touch him and Law's still not sure if it's because he's a man or if it's because Sanji's not sure it's wanted.

"Law, I…"

"Don't," Law curls his own arm over Sanji's slim waist, sighing. "It all worked out better than I could have imagined, and regardless, now that you know what it feels like, you'll be able to catch it before the bloodlust consumes you. I've got plenty of blood samples at the lab and I know which ones are clean, so you never have to worry about finding sustenance," he's attempting to be reassuring but from the way Sanji's nose wrinkles he can tell the other man's still not entirely comfortable drinking blood.

"But you think…do you think I could Turn you?" Sanji questions and Law has to admit that it's been something he's wondered about as well, but he'd been telling the truth when he'd said that his experience with half-breeds was minimal at best.

"I honestly don't know. Perhaps you can talk to your phoenix friend about that, though, because I'm quite sure he's the leading authority on half-breeds at the moment," he suggests, and Sanji nods after a minute.

"Yeah. Ace should be around the restaurant today so I'll get him to give Marco a call. Um," he pulls his arm away then, cheeks reddening a little (and Law has to smirk because, undead or not, he apparently has enough of his own blood left in his body to blush). "Do you want breakfast?"

"If it's not too much of a hassle," he tries to keep his voice neutral but honestly, even after only trying it twice, he doesn't think he could ever say no to Sanji's cooking.

"Okay. I'll start on that," Sanji sits up before looking back down at him. "Thanks again. For last night. You didn't have to save me."

"Of course I did," Law brushes the words away because that makes it twice now he's likely saved the other man and he doesn't want to think about what it means that he'd do it again in a heartbeat.

"Still. Thanks," Sanji gets out of bed then and leaves the bedroom without looking back, and Law flops back down on the pillow and rubs his hands over his eyes.

"I'm fucked, aren't I?" he asks nobody in particular, but the answering hum from Kikoku is confirmation enough.

Notes:

1. Yes, this is a rather fast update for me, but I had inspiration for this fic and wrote a lot over the past couple of days so I thought I would post it.

2. Thanks again to everybody that's left feedback, and please feel free to let me know what you think!