Chapter Text
It was dark, so dark he couldn't see where he was going but he just kept running. He had to get out, and had to find Augustus. He would know what to do. As he ran Victor could hear it following, that thing that creature whatever it was. His back was on fire where it had clawed him and was cold where the blood soaked into his clothes. The warehouse was unending, no doors or windows but there had to be a way out, there had too. He just kept running, his legs ached and his lungs began to burn. As he turned a corner he saw it, finally there was a door, it was open! He sprinted as fast as he could but that thing was faster. When he was mere feet from the door he felt the claws dig into his leg.
The next moment We was laying in a soft bed. Panting hard and drenched in sweat but safe and not trapped in the warehouse, it was just a dream. A nightmare that he's had most nights for the last three years. He tried to relax, taking deep breaths to try and slow his racing heart. As he calmed down he too in his surroundings. A lavishly decorated bedroom, gilded fireplace with a roaring fire in it. The place looked frozen in time as if it were the scene of a classic painting.
Victor tried to sit up but his abdomen burned in protest. Looking down he saw he was wrapped in bandages, they were around both arms and around his stomach just below his ribs. That's when the memory of the attack came back to him. And then the voice, that sweet honeyed voice he had not heard in three years, Augustus.
He threw the blankets off and tried to ignore the fact that he was only wearing his boxers. He swung his legs off the bed and tried his best to stand. It seemed every muscle in his body was working against him, everything was sore and painful. When he was finally upright his right leg shook and refused to bear any weight. He leaned on the bed and slowly made his way down it, coming to the end of the bed he reached out for a nearby chair for support but his knee couldn't take the weight and gave out from under him. Sending him crashing to the floor chair and all.
He laid there for a moment trying to breath through the pain in his leg and now his stomach too. As he tried to push himself up on shaky arms he felt a gentle hand touch his back. He knew instantly who it was. “Coming to my rescue again Augustus?” He looked up into those golden, piercing eyes. Augustus smiled down at him, His perfect teeth stark white against his olive skin.
“Always my Sparrow, here let me help you up.” Before Victor could even think to protest he was gently lifted off the ground, safety cradled in Augustus’ arms. Then softly deposited back in bed. Victor stared at him, he was exactly the same as he was that night three years ago when he left. Same long silken black hair, same lilting smile, and the same distant eyes. There were a million questions running through his head. So many things he wanted to say. He wanted to yell and scream and beat him senseless and at the same time he wanted to hug him tight and never let go again. But in the end he could ask the one thing he wanted to know the most. “Why did you leave me?”
Augustus turned his face away at the question. Out of shame maybe, or regret. Victor couldn't tell. Augustus let out a deep sigh before answering. “That is a very long and complicated story my love.” Victor folded his arms and stared. Drawing a chuckle from Augustus. “I will explain everything my dear. In due time I promise.” He pulled the blankets back over Victor as he spoke. “But first let's focus on getting you well again.” Victor sat up quickly to protest and as if on cue was quickly stopped by a flair of burning pain in his abdomen. With a scowl he let Augustus ease him back down onto the bed.
There was a comfortable silence between the two men as Augustus unwrapped Victor's bandages to check his wounds. “This is healing nicely.” He said as his finger lightly grazed the knife wound in his abdomen, which even though it had only happened yesterday looked as if it was several days old. As he probed the area to check for infection he touched a particularly sore spot causing Victor to suck in a sharp breath. Augustus apologized and wrapped the wound with fresh bandages. The cuts on his arms were nothing but pink scars now so they did not require rewrapping.
With that finished Augustus took a small glass cup and a knife from the stand next to the bed. In one swift motion he dragged the knife across his palm and let his blood drip into the glass. Victor looked away, feeling his stomach flip at the sight. “I wish you wouldn't do that. I'm fine now, is it really necessary?”
Augustus just smiled at him.
“I've told you Sparrow it doesn't hurt me, besides you need it.” He held out the glass to him. “Or would you like to spend the next two weeks in that bed?” Victor looked back at him uneasy.
“It wasn't really that bad was it?” He said, eyeing the glass. Augustus sighed.
“My dear had I not been following you last night you would have been dead in minutes. The knife hit your abdomen aorta.” Victor gave him a curious look.
“Why were you following me, Augustus?” He asked coyly. Augustus clicked his tongue at him.
“Heal first Sparrow, questions come later.” Victor still looked unsure. Then Augustus touched his face and smiled warmly. “I promise Sparrow I'm not disappearing this time.” With that reassurance Victor took the glass. No matter how many times he's done this before he thought he'd never truly get used to it. But he wanted out of this bed and he wanted answers and vampire blood had healing powers so he might as well get it over with.
As he drank that incredible taste sent chills through him, like dark chocolate and honeyed wine. It filled him with warmth and comfort. All his pains eased away. His leg didn't throb and his stomach Didn't burn. That floaty feeling took hold of him and eased him into a peaceful sleep. As he drifted off Augustus took the glass and set it back on the table. He stroked Victor's hair and leaned over him gently kissing his forehead. “I'll keep you safe this time little Sparrow,” he whispered. “I promise, this time, no more running.” And with that he left the room quietly shutting the door behind him.