Chapter Text
Shadow let the cool autumn breeze card through his hair, even as the warm sun beat down on his shoulders. He could use a haircut, he thought absently, as one lock dipped low enough to tap the bridge of his nose. The world somehow smelled colder, this time of year, like frozen dirt and spice. Shadow liked it, not in small part because Vio spoke often about how much he liked it.
He sat on the roof alone, a few days after prom, still recovering from the emotional workout. He'd realized that he loved his Family and betrayed them all in less than a week. He'd also come to love a whole new family. This was weird. His eyes drifted closed.
He opened them again as the ladder he'd used to get up here shook under someone else's weight. Vio appeared over the edge of the roof, moving stiffly with the bandages Shadow knew to be under that hoodie. Apparently his healing stunt had slowed his own body down. He had a magazine of some kind curled up in his hoodie pocket and one jar of glittery blood in his hand.
They both remained quiet as Vio settled down next to Shadow on the gentle slope of the shingles, pressing into his side without a moment's hesitation. A flock of geese flew overhead, honking.
"I brought you this," Vio said, handing Shadow the jar.
It was warm, and Shadow smiled. "Whose?"
"Green's. You said it was spicy. Seems appropriate for fall."
Shadow hummed and twisted the lid off. He sipped at the blood inside, enjoying the flavor and the warmth, familiar after just a few days but delicious nonetheless. He was very glad he wasn't human, because this? This was bliss.
After another moment of silent appreciation, Shadow opened his mouth. "Are you okay?"
"How do you feel?" Vio asked at the same time. He paused, then smiled his pretty smile. His eyes roamed over Shadow as if looking for injuries or physical signs of his feelings.
"You first. Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" Shadow said. He brought his knees up to rest his arms on them.
Vio shrugged and leaned his head on Shadow's shoulder. "Whatever. I might have overdone it with the healing, just a little, but I'll be fine in a few more days. I wanted to come sit out here with you, so I am. Your turn."
"Also just fine. I've recovered." Shadow held out his arm and pulled up the sweater sleeve with his teeth. "Not even a scar, see? I heal fast."
"I do, too," Vio protested. "You're just a freak."
"You're the one enabling it," Shadow said, wiggling the jar of blood for emphasis.
"Yeah, well. Got something else to enable you." Vio pulled the magazine from his pocket and dropped it in Shadow's lap, revealing a shiny catalog full of coffin models, curled from its time spent rolled up. "Erwin said to pick one."
Shadow's eyes widened. "You're kidding." He used one hand to straighten the catalog out and open the cover. He'd been struggling to sleep, which he blamed on the wide-open space under the guest bed, where he'd been lying awake every time he tried to sleep. He had no idea how people ever managed to sleep on top of the bed, since they couldn't be secure in the knowledge that every angle was protected. He really missed his own coffin.
"He actually told me to pick one out for you, but I have no idea what I'm looking for. He wants to surprise you." Vio looked over Shadow's shoulder as he flipped through the pages.
"I'll act very surprised. Did he really go through with a Sharpie to mark out all the prices?"
"That's just Erwin. He's a little crazy, but you're one of his now. He's crazy in good ways." Vio pointed to one. "That one looks big."
Shadow made a noise. "Eh. Too big for me."
"You should get a bigger one."
"Why?"
Vio smiled, and settled his hand around Shadow's hip. "In case I get nightmares."
Shadow paused, picturing it. "It would be kinda squishy in there, even with a big one."
"I'm okay with squishy."
"All right. Bigger one it is." Shadow turned another page in the catalog and took a last sip of his drink. "Red asked me to join his Vampire Rehabilitation Club today."
"Oh? And are you?"
"Of course I am. It's gonna be great. I can show Zelda around school when she calms down enough to not try to kill me every time she sees me."
"And that's why we have Red going down to the basement room every day," Vio said.
Shadow nodded and set aside the empty jar. It slid a little, but this part of the roof wasn't angled enough to let it fall. "Anyone can warm up to Red. Malon said that she might want to go down to talk to Zelda. I'm not sure how that would go, honestly."
"She deserves to decide for herself."
"I won't argue."
Vio snorted, and they sat quietly again, just soaking in each other's presence. It was nice. Shadow would never be able to get enough of the sunshine.
He smiled and draped his arm over Vio's shoulders. It just felt right. "You know, Zelda was half right, back at prom."
"Half right?"
"She said you were my favorite human. She'd have been right, if you were human."
Vio's fingers curled into Shadow's side. "You're my favorite vampire."
"Aw, that means so much," Shadow said with an exaggerated flattered tone. "Your favorite vampire? Among all the other vampires vying for your affection? Point me toward them so that I may prove my affection herewith, baring their beating hearts to thine eyes."
"Ew, Shadow."
"Seriously, Vio. If you need anyone killed…"
"I could do it myself," Vio finished flatly.
"Well, yeah, okay, but it's the principle of the thing—"