PrimeMegalodon - I guess I'm just used to a more demanding, less forgiving audience! But I do really appreciate the readership/audience this story gets despite being such a small fandom for a finished show.

-YD-

"Vlad! Vlad!"

Robin tried to help him up, the blood on his hand dripping to the floor as Vlad stood with his head still spinning. There were a few people crowded around, though nobody seemed to have called for help. Nice.

"W-what happened?"

"You uh, fainted I guess. Come on, lets get you to the nurse."

He was dragged to the nearest boys bathroom, thankfully empty so he could clean his hand and be quizzed by Robin.

"How'd you cut your hand?"

"I don't know, I was having this really weird dream and then... I fell and something stabbed me and I woke up bleeding."

"So... your dream cut your hand?"

Vlad nodded.

"It wasn't a regular dream. I was a vampire."

"Vlad, you are a-"

"No, really! Sunlight burned me and everything was so loud all of a sudden, and then I woke up back here bleeding. I don't know what's happening to me."

"Maybe it's a part of the change?"

Vlad didn't remember anything about such vivid and hazardous dreams when he was researching heavily, but he supposed that didn't make it impossible.

He didn't want to ask his father, not after that gleeful smugness that morning and the fact Vlad was still pissed at his dad. Which left Vlad with only one option. A very dangerous, likely-uncooperative option. He sighed, bunching paper up in his fist to stem the bleeding and left Robin staring after him, questions unanswered.

"Go away."

He tracked her down in the library, a place quiet enough that she was relatively un-harassed. Ingrid barely even glanced at him as she told him to leave, then stopped and looked back, sparing Vlad a second or two.

"You look horrible."

"Thanks. I just need to ask you something."

"No. Leave."

Apparently Vlad was not yet forgiven for the whole "I'm your brother" thing. He wasn't sure what to do about it either, since he was jarred by the situation himself. And with Ingrid so close to the change, they were going to have to deal with it somehow eventually.

"Just one question, then I'll leave."

Ingrid crossed her arms, audibly growled but looked back at him, face a clear well go on then.

"Do you ever have... weird dreams?"

She glanced down, saw the bloodied tissue in his hand and grabbed his wrist.

"Ow!"

"It's just a scratch you baby."

Ingrid shoved his arm away, then turned around.

"You can go now."

"You didn't answer my question."

"No. No dreams. Now leave."

Her icy tone left even Vlad certain he wanted to scarper, question answered and many more raised by her peculiar behaviour. Sighing to himself, Vlad went to the nurse to get something for his hand. She left him sat on the little bed in there, his sleepiness creeping back up no matter how much he tried to shake himself awake. He couldn't close his eyes. Couldn't... close...

"Run!"

He opened his eyes to trees and dirt, his hand bloodied and muddy, knees and face bruised by the impact as he plucked itchy splinters from the palm of his hand. Brushing himself down, Vlad stumbled to his feet and looked around.

"Run!"

Robin still stood there, confusingly urgent in the quiet air... until a stake whistled past Vlad's face so close he felt the base brush his cheek before the point buried itself in a tree,

He ran.

The Slayers were hot on his heels by the sounds of it, thundering along the ground behind him as he tried to run faster and faster, dodging the sunlight lest it burn him again. He tripped and stumbled and pushed on, hearing the never-ending pursuit. His lungs should be burning, but he didn't need breath. He stopped, turned back, saw a shadow in the trees and looked forward again, saw a river he should jump over.

"You cannot cross running water."

Bats! Robin had a point. But if this was a dream, Vlad ought to be making the rules. He tried anyway, backing up several steps for a running start. Quick pace, strong leap. He'd make it. As he heard the Slayers close in, Vlad jumped. Something invisble hit him, knocking him to the ground-

"Wake up!"

The impact to his cheek stunned Vlad into consciousness, blinking blearily and seeing the black-and-white shape of Robin hovering over him.

"Mr Branagh, you do not wake someone up by slapping them in the face!"

"He told me I had to wake him!"

The nurse shooed Robin off, coming to check on Vlad herself.

"Are you alright Vladimir?"

"Uh. Yeah. Fine."

He yawned, saw her give him the typical adult look.

"Get more rest. Do you want me to send you home early?"

Wow, she must really think he was tired. Vlad shook his head, unsure if the pain in his face was from his dream or from Robin.

"No, I'm fine. I think I just need some water."

She watched him drink down the full glass, let him use the little bathroom in her office and then sent him on his way, Robin waiting outside for him - to get out of class, probably. The nurse had given him a note excusing him from PE, though he expected Mr Perkins to scoff at it all the same.

"I didn't hit you that'ard did I?"

Robin frowned at him, and when Vlad raised a hand to his cheek he felt it was sore, tender to the touch, as though he was feeling where it had hit the floor, then the barrier of running water, then Robin.

"Is it bruised?"

"Nah, not really. Maybe a bit."

Having a note too - likely forged - Robin was excused along with Vlad, and so they sat in the seats overlooking the field, sun on his face warming and pleasant though Vlad couldn't shake the dreams enough to not fear it burning and hurting him. Doodling in his sketchpad, Robin hummed to himself and Vlad found the tune began to lull him to sleep again. He fought it, but the exhaustion kept coming, dragging him back to sleep...

His eyes opened, saw the sky above had filled with storm clouds, an ominous feeling in the air as Vlad struggled to his feet, anxious not to be caught by the Slayers, He whipped around at the sound of a footstep, and saw that those following him were not Slayers after all. The ones who'd thrown the stake at him were...

"Vampires?"

-YD-

I don't think this one is even mega late, for a change! On a bit of a writing roll lets hope it keeps up.