"Look what we got here boss. Looks like some fresh meat." One guy cackled.
"Looks tasty too. Wonder if he is as sweet as he looks." Another spoke, licking his lips.
"Let's not waste this free meal then boys." The leader of them said, as he seemed to be sizing up Aether.
Just as they were about to feast on the boy in front of them, a gust of wind blew by and sliced them apart.
"Don't you know not to touch what does not belong to you?" The mysterious stranger voiced as he approached Aether to check on his condition.
As he looked Aether over, he sighed in relief. He was alive. He hadn't killed him. The stranger picked up Aether bridalstyle and carried him home. As he reached Aethers apartment he felt an oppressing feeling in the air. He snuck in through the window and tucked Aether into bed before giving one last glance before disappearing into the night.
Aether awoke the next morning to a breeze blowing through his window. Sitting up, he groggily wiped sleep out of his eyes and took in his surroundings.
"I don't remember making it home last night." Aether thought to himself.
As Aether was looking around he noticed that his bedroom window was open. Swinging his feet over the bed, Aether went to stand up but was immediately made to sit back down again as he was very lightheaded and dizzy.
"Just what did I do last night? My head is killing me. Better get some water into me." Aether thought with a small yawn. He was still so tired even though he had slept.
Finally being able to stand up, Aether stretched and made his way to the window to close it. However, as soon as he reached it, he noticed small red drops on the window sill. Perplexed and slightly panicking internally, he closed the window and made his way to his bathroom to start his morning routine.
After relieving himself, he moved to the sink to wash his hand and face. Splashing water on his face, he scrubbed off all the makeup from the night before and then began to messily braid his hair for the day. It was then that he noticed two small scabs on his neck and a dark purple bruise. Aether reached up to inspect the wound and suddenly remembered everything that happened the night before. The strange boy, the bite, trying to find his way home and failing. He remembered losing consciousness in some dark alley but after that, nothing. Stumbling backwards with the force of the memories, Aether fell backwards into the bathtub and landed with a huge thump.
"AETHER! ARE YOU OKAY IN THERE?" Lumine hollered from the apartment's kitchen.
"YEAH. I'M GOOD. I JUST SLIPPED ON A TOWEL." Aether hollered back, getting up to look in the mirror one last time before deciding to find his favorite gold and white scarf to wear until the scabs healed.
Walking into the kitchen, scarf securely fastened around his neck, Aether sniffed at the air and drooled at the delicious aroma that filled the air.
"Mmm, what are you cooking sis?" Aether spoke with drool dripping from his lips.
"I'm making french toast. Want some bro?" Lumine smiled as she flipped over the french toast she was currently cooking.
"Hell yeah I do!" Aether exclaimed, sitting down at the table to wait for his sister to finish making breakfast.
A few moments later, Lumine finished cooking and served it up with cinnamon sugar and a tall glass of milk. Aether dug in immediately upon receiving his plate. As he was eating, Lumine was eyeing him up, wondering about where he had been last night when she went to check on him before she headed to bed.
"Aether, where were you last night? I checked on you before I headed to bed, but you weren't there. I was kinda worried." Lumine locked eyes with him with a serious expression on her face.
"I'm sorry sis. I was out with friends last night and we lost track of time. By the time I realized how late it was, it was already three in the morning." Aether smiled awkwardly, it was a half truth at least.
"Okay, but do you remember what I told you about how dangerous it is out after dark, right? You didn't run into any trouble did you?" Lumine asked with what sounded like concern in her voice.
"Naw, I made it home just fine. No need to worry. Nothing eventful happened on my way home either. Just a few drunks out and about wandering home." Aether spoke around a mouthful of food.
"Alright , if you say so. I still worry sometimes though." Lumine said as she started to clean up from breakfast.
As Lumine was washing up the dishes they used, she was silently eyeing Aether from the corner of her eye. Something about his story didn't seem to add up. It almost seemed like he was hiding something from her, she just didn't know what.
'Maybe if I give him some time then he will open up and tell me. Nothing I can do about it now though. I'm gonna be late.' Lumine thought as she finished up the last of the dishes.
"Aether, I got to go out for a bit today. I know it's a bit of a last minute, but my work called me this morning and they're short one today. So they called and asked if I could come in. I hope you don't mind." Lumine said as she put the last dish away in the cupboard.
"No worries Lumine. I completely understand. I wanted to see how Kazuha and Bennett are doing anyway." Aether smiled at his sister as they both went about getting ready to head out.
"I'll see you tonight Ae!" Lumine shouted as she ran off, waving him goodbye.
"Now to get ready to meet up with Kazuha and Benny." Aether said to himself as he opened his phone to text his two best friends.
They decided to meet up at a small cafe called the Angel's Share. It was brand new and had just opened a few weeks ago. The group was excited to finally be able to visit. Walking through the door, a small bell chimed gently as they made their way to the counter. As they approached the counter, they saw a tall man with hair so red it was almost the crimson color of blood. It made Aether feel a bit uneasy as memories from the night before flooded back. Kazuha looked back at just that moment to catch Aether spacing out and visibly pale.
"Aether? Are you okay? You're very pale and look like you're about to pass out." Kazuha spoke softly, placing a hand on Aether's shoulder.
The touch jolted Aether out of his zoned out state and he looked at the concern written all over Kazuha's face.
"Y-Yeah. Yeah I'm fine. I just. I just remembered the nightmare I had last night." Aether lied, he could not let his friends know what happened last night. After all, vampires were supposed to be a myth.
"Man Aether, must have been one hell of a dream for you to react like that." Bennett commented, hands folded behind his back as he also looked at Aether in concern.
"I can help who's next!" The man with red hair spoke.
"Looks like we're next in line. Let's go." Aether said with a small smile.
However, just as Aether went to take a step forward, he felt extremely dizzy and his vision turned black.
"AETHER!" Bennett and Kazuha shouted in unison, Kazuha just barely managing to catch Aether before he hit the ground.
"Aether! Come on man! Wake up!" Bennett cried in panic.
Kazuha checked his pulse, only to find it a bit slower than normal. Nothing life threatening but still concerning.
"Don't worry Bennett. He's fine for the most part. Though I am worried about why he suddenly collapsed though." Kazuha said softly as he looked around for a place to lay aether down safely.
"If you boys can carry him, then I can let you use the private sitting room free of charge. It has couches where he can lay down." A deep, masculine voice spoke up, breaking their panic briefly.
Looking up, the two of them noticed that it was the man with red hair from behind the counter.
"Thank you so much mister-" "Diluc. Just call me Diluc" The man now known as Diluc said, cutting Kazuha off before he could finish.
"Right. Thank you so much Diluc. We appreciate this." Kazuha thanked him with a quick bow of his head.
Both Bennett and Kazuha worked together to get Aether onto Kazuha's back, and then eventually onto the couch that Diluc had directed them to.
"Thank you so much again Diluc. I'll find a way to repay you" Kazuha spoke with a proper bow this time.
"Don't worry about it. Just make sure he's okay. That will be thanks enough." Diluc waved off their concerns of paying him back.
A few hours went by, and Kazuha and Bennett were starting to get extremely worried. Aether still hadn't woken up. Diluc had been in and out a few times to bring them some snacks and some drinks, saying it was on the house for today. They thanked him and decided to play a few rounds of Genius Invocation TCG to pass the time. During their 10th match, they heard a groan from the couch across from them. They both shot up and rushed over to Aether to check on him.
"Aether, bud? Can you hear us?" Bennett asked worriedly, brows knit in concern.
"Mmmm. Benny? 'S dat you?" Aether slurred lethargically.
"Yeah. It's me. Kazuha is here too." Bennett's voice dripped with concern.
Aether groaned a little and shuttered. Kazuha took a moment and checked his temperature, frowning at the feel of how high it was. Aether was running a fever, and a really high one at that. They needed to get him home as soon as possible.
"Aether, can you stand?"Kazuha asked as he bruised a few strands of hair from Aether's sweaty forehead.
"Mmm. 'an try." Aether and slurred, trying and failing to stand up.
"If you can't, it's not a problem. I'll carry you back." Kazuha sighed as he leaned down so Bennett could help load Aether onto his back.
"Kazuha? Is he okay?" Bennet asked with the beginnings of tears in his eyes.
"Not sure, but he has a fever. It would be best if he rested in his own bed though." Kazhua grunted at Aether's dead weight, standing up and readjusting Aether on his back. Aether groaned in response to the shift in position.
"Don't worry, Aether. Well get you home. Before you pass out again, where is your house key?" Kazuha asked as he motioned to Bennett to fetch it when they knew.
"Purse… inner pocket…" Aether panted, passing out immediately after.
Bennett dug around a bit and found it rather quickly. They thanked Diluc one last time before leaving, assuring him they would let him know when Aether recovers. Walking back was mostly uneventful, aside from the person that Kazuha noticed that was following them. He said nothing about it and just kept an eye on them as he talked with Bennett a bit. They finally reached Aether and Lumine's apartment, taking the elevator up to the correct floor. Kazuha motioned for Bennett to unlock the door, letting themselves in. Kazuha was panting in exertion from the long walk here.
Finally though they made it to Aethers bedroom, setting him on the bed. They removed his accessories, including his scarf. What they discovered underneath was disturbing. Two parallel puncture holes that were scabbed over and bruised. Kazuha gasped and Bennett froze in shock. Kazuha went to touch them when Bennetts hand shot out to stop him. Kazuha looked at Bennett confused, and Bennett just shook his head. Removing that last of the items that could hurt Aether in his sleep, they finally covered him up, turning the light out and closing the door.