Chapter Text
Marks eyes fluttered open as the only thing below him were the several hundred floors that held up KADE academy. His body hanging before the pit of what was supposed to be his death. Instead, he hung by the hand several feet above it.
The vampire looked up, his eyes being blinded by the sun for a moment before he focused on his own hand.
It was clearly dislocated, held by a death grip from a very familiar revenant who looked more enraged than ever.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING VAMPIRE?!" Rev screamed out at the vampire as their bodies began to sway from side to side from the area they were dangling in. The wind was forcefully trying to push Mark into his impending doom. But Rev wouldn't let that happen. He was the one who was supposed to die. Not the Vampire. Never, Mark.
"REV?!" Marks eyes widened as the shadow of the revenant became more clear to him. Mark was frozen, his heart pounding, breath held tightly, eyebrows furrowing into a pitiful cry.
'Why...?' Mark thought 'Why now? Why... Out of all the times, now he cares?'. He was speechless, his mouth open yet whispering no secrets. Like a silent prayer.
"WHO THE HELL ELSE YOU IDIOT!" Rev clawed at Marks arm trying to pull him up or gain a better grip on his hand. The gradual process of them being pulled up was lasting a painfully long time considering the egregious situation everyone was placed upon.
The revenant glared at the vampire below as he slowly began to notice the crocodile tears that were swelling up in the others eyes. Rev inwardly cringed at the scene before him, he didn't know how to handle people crying. Especially Mark. The vampire was always too sweet, too sensitive, and now? He was broken.
"Rev..." Mark whispered with a pitiful whine as the revenant let out an annoyed sigh. He didn't mean to seem so rude, at least not when Mark was on the verge of suicide. However these moments slipped out of him like second nature.
"PULL!!" Sera shouted as both of the girls in the group used all of their strength to tug the other two back up. All hands reaching out towards the dejected vampire in an attempt to drag him back without him rejecting their concerns.
His body was weakly placed upon the middle of the rooftop to prevent Mark from jumping back over that rail. His eyes pouring out into a deep puddle of useless tears. Sleeves heavily stained by the liquid in a desperate attempt to get rid of his obvious depression.
The rest of the group sat circled around Mark as they all looked amongst eachother, unable to understand how to calm Mark down as the vampire uncontrollably shook and hiccuped. His cried were silent, muffled as the group could easily conclude his frantic, futile, attempts at consoling himself.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!" Rev suddenly burst out, his tone laced with venom. He was genuinely concerned at the vampires mental health, however his usual harsh way of speaking would always fail to be useful in these situations. Sera nudged Rev in the shoulder in a teaching manner as she gave him a quick glare. The angel knew what it was like to deal with deaths. Rev was an acception considering the fact that he would never die, Mark however? She couldn't, and wouldn't let Mark die.
"... I-.. I'm-Im... sorry... I-" Mark could barely make a sentence as his breathing became erratic. His voice was quivering with every word, a stutter that was like no other.
The rest of the group paused for a moment unable to make anything out of the situation. Mark, the sweetest, most optimistic, most human vampire anyone has ever laid their eyes upon... Was committing suicide. And no one could make out why.
"I-... di-...didn't mean-...to-" Marks hands shook as he reached up to pull at his ears, a natural nervous response from the vampire which caused more harm than he expected.
Bella took a hold of his hands putting them down before reaching out to pet his back in a comforting way. "Woah woah, it's okay... it's okay..." She whispered to him as Mark continued to silently sob into his own arms avoiding any eye contact before he was to shatter again.
"I thought-" He hiccuped "I... I thought you wouldn't care!" The vampire shouted out. The only sentence anyone could understand, even after minutes of mumbling, an aggregation of words that didn't work together. This was the one sentence everyone could make out.
The world around the four froze. Eyes widening as Sera suddenly spoke out.
"What." Sera glared at Mark. She wasn't lifeless, her voice no longer that same dead tone. She was serious. Her face was firm, fixated upon the clearly suicidal vampire as her chest tightened at the revelation of Marks words.
"What makes you think that-" Rev blinked a few times in confusion. He knows that he hasn't been the kindest towards Mark. He knows he's left the vampire in the dust on multiple occasions, called him names, and overall been quite a... Terrible... Appalling... Intolerable... Pathetic roommate. And it was true that he wouldn't care about many situations, a date, family plans, and anything Mark said on general. But death? The one thing that kept the group from ever speaking to eachother again?
When it came to that, Rev did care. Not because he wanted to die, but because he didn't want others to die. Especially not Mark. Not the annoying ringtone for his every single day, not the blood sucker with an odd collection of capes, not his friend.
"No- Mark we would never!" Bella spilled out as she pet the vampires back quicker. She tried to be more soothing, however it was clear that Marks words left a sharp sting within everyone's hearts. The one figure of hope has lost their spark, a dove with chipped wings. Believing everyone around him has a deep hatred towards his existence.
"I'm sorry-! I'm so.. so.. s-sorry!" Mark barely choked out as he sniffled every second. His sleeves were already drenched in his heads as the vampires face went from extremely pale to a gentle dusty rose.
"Don't apologize, Mark.." Sera knelt down to the pitiful figure as she put a hand on his shoulder. Her expression had a clear sign of anxiety etched into it, one of the worst emotions she could of have ever felt for another person. Bella knew how to deal with situations such as these... After all, professor Lovecraft has already helped her mentally in so many ways, she's managed to pick up a few tricks. But Bella seemed to forget how much it hurt to try and save someone who's already wishing upon death.
"Idiot! You- ugh... You.." Rev muttered taking side glances at Mark. He wanted to scream, to shout, to strangle the goddamn vampire for ever trying to pull a stunt like that. He wanted so much. But couldn't say a thing.
He just couldn't. Mark was already so ruined, broken.. is this really what it felt like to have someone try and die to others? The undeniable staggering pain in his heart wasn't from commiseration, wasn't from pity, wasn't from anything of the sorts. But from fear. The real terror that lied behind Marks actions.
This would've been it. Rev knew he could always revive the vampire. But it was the idea that he wanted to kill himself that haunted Rev. He didn't have the same intentions as him after all. Rev wanted freedom from the school, Mark wanted freedom from the world.
Two small differences that held such an impact.
"Don't do that again." Rev spoke up, his tone full of authority as he side eyed the sobbing Vampire. Bella nudged Rev giving him a small glance, urging him to say something more. Something that didn't just sound like a command, something real. Rev rolled his eyes before letting out a groan. "I can't lose my... Friend." He said begrudgingly as Mark looked up to face them all. His face was wet from all the tears he's cried out, puffy like a marshmallow. He knew that Rev didnt want to say those words. He knew.
But he didn't judge, because he also knew Rev would never have the guts to even acknowledge Mark as a friend if he didn't matter to them.
"It's okay Mark, we're all here for you." Bella smiled at Mark as she held out her handkerchief for him to use for those final tears that spilled out.
"We always will be." Sera nodded before tilting her head in confusion as she asked "How come you thought we didn't care?"
Sera raised en eyebrow with that slight curve to them that practically screamed 'Im concerned about you'. Mark hesitated for a second before continuing, his heart finally set on opening up after so many painful nights alone.
"I just-... Y-you've all been... S-so... Distant..." He had to take a moment to breathe in between every few words to prevent himself from stuttering as often.
"And I-I just... Thought I didn't matter." Mark played with his thumbs like a child once again, trying to distract himself from releasing yet another waterfall of tears as he choked back a few more silent sobs.
"E-every.. mission... Every... Hangout... Every day. I-I was just... A background character." His eyes turned away towards the floor, ashamed of his own words. These were Mark's friends. He was supposed to love them, and he did love them. So why? Why would he ever dare say such things.
"I thought that maybe dying would finally get you all to care-" Mark stammered, his voice becoming more high pitched and weak as those tears finally let themselves fall onto the floor like the rain.
"I thought that- th-this would be... The one thing... That would work..." He shook taking in shaky breaths as he failed to hold himself together anymore. His mind has been spilled towards the group now, all his insecurities and problems. And Mark hated it.
He wanted everyone to snap, to say something cruel enough for him to find yet another reason for jump off the rooftop. Mark wanted to escape this embarrassing moment. He wanted to forget about everything that he had spoken...
"How long." Sera said with a shaky voice, her hands curling into fists as she held a forced breath.
"... Huh?"
"How long have you been like this." She raised her voice ever so slightly causing Mark to flinch. She never wanted to cause any harm. She was so... So furious with how careless everyone's acted towards Mark, herself too. She wanted to strangle her past self for never paying much attention to how the vampire could feel after being so pushed away every day. She hated the idea that Mark felt the need to die in order to raise some form of acknowledgement in his existence. She hated every fragment of her own vessel for never taking a deeper look at the vampire in the same way she did with Rev.
"N-not too long..." He muttered as his talons scratched at his own skin. Yet another nervous method Mark used. But Bella knew it was more than just that. She took a sharp breath in before calling Mark out.
"... Lies." She paused for a moment as everyone's eyes turned to her. Yet she could only glare back at the vampire.
"I saw the letters Mark, why else would we come here without knowing what you had in mind?" She silently reached into her pocket recieving the letter she stole from Marks cupboard. The title labelled as 'Count Dracula'. Mark froze up as his hand slowly peeled Bella's fingers off the paper. It was the one thing he didn't want anyone to see. He didn't want anyone to see his private life with his family, how dysfunctional it was.
And now everyone has read it.
Everyone knew... But this. This was the one reason they noticed anything was ever wrong with Mark. A singular suicide letter directed to his own father.
Those barely had as much emotional as his other letters, barely enough reasons. And yet, the whole group took it as an instant sign to Mark's upcoming suicide.
"You've been thinking of this for a while. Haven't you?" Bella spoke up breaking Mark out of his spiral of thoughts. As the vampire meekly admitted to his lies.
"... A-a few months..."
...
"Let me guess, 3 months?" Rev said raising an eyebrow as Marks head shot up. The vampire stared at him with wide eyes and a mouth almost agape.
...
"How-"
"That's when you stopped drinking as much blood as you used to." Rev shrugged finding Marks revelation to be so insignificant. The fact that Rev could spot such minor details about Mark was so surprising to him, yet so simple to the revenant.
"Y-you... You noticed?" He stuttered out as his eyebrows curved up. He was genuinely shocked at Revs ability to care. The revenant caught on quickly to his implications as his eye twitched.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!" He poked a finger into Mark's chest prepared to attack at any given moment for insulting him in such a blatant way.
"Oh you mean when he stopped muttering to himself?" Bella spoke up as a lightbulb appeared above her head, finally catching on to the date.
"Wh-" Marks head began to snap from person to person as his mind couldn't catch up with the words that have been spoken.
"Stopped smiling as often." Sera added folding her arms as Mark's eyes slowly teared up again for the thousandth time.
"Yeah I remember that!" Bella doubled down as yet another fountain of tears spilled out of Marks eyes.
"You- you all... Noticed?!" He yelled feeling like an idiot as more tears stained his shirt and collar. Each tear kept increasing in size until Mark couldn't stop crying out tears that were the equivalent of a rainfall.
"Yeah, obviously we did!" Rev shouted out still offended by the lack of Marks faith in Revs ability to be a good friend.
"We left you type O blood as sweets!" Bella replied sweetly as Marks eyes widened once again. His whole body leaned forwards as he truly didn't believe what he was hearing.
"What?! Where?!"
Everyone fell silent with Marks initial exclamation. Revs eye twitched with that initial annoyance as he took a hold of Marks collar pulling him closer. The vampire almost tripped over as Rev screamed into his face with no remorse.
"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME YOU HAVEN'T RECIEVED ANY?" His fingers curled around Mark's collar tighter and tighter by the second as he was urged to shake the vampire in his grasp.
"I- I haven't..." Mark gave him a guilty apologetic smile as if it were his fault that the sweetest type of blood was never delivered to him. His hands moved up to take a hold of Revs wrist trying to desperately yet gently peel his hands off. The gradual tightening on his collar really began to choke him after those few seconds.
"WHAT." Rev finally succumbed to Marks prodding as his hands flew off his collar. Instead he accidentally shoved the vampire back, whipping his head towards Sera.
"Sera? Where did you put them?" His voice was a bit softer as he raised an eyebrow expecting a perfectly reasonable answer-
"On his coffin." Sera blinked standing there like a clueless idiot. Her usual monotonous demeanour was most certainly not aiding the current situation as it only fueled Revs rage even further. His eye twitched as he suddenly exploded at Sera.
"IDIOT! I TOLD YOU INSIDE THE COFFIN!" Rev sung his hands in the air as his fingers urged to claw the angels skin off. Obviously he wouldn't dare to even try and physically hurt her, but his sudden uplift in anger made his temptations increase drastically.
"So." Sera tilted her head not exactly understanding the pure rage seething from the revenant.
"SO?! UGH! Raven probably ATE THEM." He bit back rolling his eyes. Rev finally began to remember that he was in a school full of imbeciles and that this was natural behaviour for Sera to be withholding.
"oh." Sera added understanding of her mistake. But did she care? No. But, was Rev more irritated, feeling humiliated by Sera's single 'oh'? Yes.
"I just-... I thought y-you'd ask?" Mark mumbled as the tears finally sank back in, his heart slowing down to a natural pace as his breathing became gradually clearer.
"Oh, we were going to ask about your mental state-" Bella paused rubbing the back of her neck in a guilty manner. "-But came up with the conclusion that it was something to do with your parents and we didn't want to push your boundaries!"
"Wait what?" Marks eyebrows curled in stupefaction as he heard those words come out of Bella's mouth. Out of everything he didn't expect everyone to suddenly become blatantly aware of Mark's relationship with his parents. Sure, if might of have been clear a few times that they lacked any care towards their own son. However he hid that fact to the best of his abilities in school!
Anytime Marks' father's name was brought up he would relish over the counts every achievement as if he saw him as a role model. Despite Mark disregarding his father's traditional ways in being a vampire.
Anytime they didn't show up for family meeting days Mark would make it obvious that Count Dracula was a busy man and would make up for the neglect by spending quality time with his son later. Despite Mark knowing his fantasy would never come true.
And anytime he received a letter from his parents Mark would flaunt their loving and caring words across the entire school. Despite knowing the letter didn't even consist of any loving words, only information cards.
"Every time you come back from those stupid family meetings you look four times worse..." Rev commented, imaging the vampire in his point of view. Mark has always looked ugly in Revs eyes (atleast he's tried to make him look ugly to push him away), and he always loved to bully and torture him. Therefore, Rev continued- "Which isn't much of a difference-"
"They clearly don't care for you." Sera added on taking a glance between the group as she saw them silently agree with her. Mark, as a result, looked completely shattered. "But I guess we care." She muttered train to cheer Mark up again...
Sera, in all honesty, had no clue how to deal with emotions. She barely had any herself, and as of right now she managed to make Mark the most miserable to most blessed vampire in the school.
Thank god for professor H.P. Lovecraft's lessons, otherwise she would have never said those words.
"So... This was one, huge misunderstanding?" Mark chuckled that usual chuckle he always used. His ears curling down as a silent prayer that maybe, just maybe, everyone would forget about today.
"Mark. You're still suicidal." Sera said in a conspicuous way as she glared Mark down. The single comment also causing the other two to face Mark with a similar look.
"Eeeeeh..." Mark shrunk under the pressure trying to play it off. Act like those popular people in classes when they get told off. If they always manage to avoid a punishment then so could he. All Mark had to do was act-
"Mark." Sera tightened the stare she held at Mark. The standoff barely lasting a few seconds as Marks act crumbled into sand. He let out a sigh as he quickly replied.
"Okay.. I'll talk to Mr Lovecraft about it..." Marks head hung low in shame as his hands rested on his lap... One hand still awkwardly sitting upon his shoulder ever since it was popped out.
"And to us." Bella spoke up with a genuine, sweet, yet concerned smile. He hand urging to place itself upon his shoulder much like how Professor H.P. Lovecraft did it the first time he saved her life. But considering Marks current situation she pulled back not wanting to cause more damage to his arm as already has been done.
And just like that... The moment became obviously awkward...
Rev wanted to desperately leave and finally get the situation over with. Its been done, it's been dusted. And last time he checked, Rev didn't have anything on his 'to do list' that said "help Mark". As of right now Rev could be making his 5th suicide attempt of the day, and even though he knew the results would be the same with Rev inevitably coming back to life, it was still worth a shot.
Bella was nervously trying to map out the next direction she would go in when it come to supporting Mark. She knew what it was like to want to die... To fall into such a deep pit of depression... And she knew she couldn't let Mark experience the same thing again. Bella's mind had the first few notes already at hand; Give Mark therapy, help Mark burn his suicide letters, spend more time with Mark.
The list could go on forever as Bella didn't stop finding more things to add.
Meanwhile Sera was lost. Last time she was a guardian angel she failed miserably and lost all hope on being one. And now? Now she almost witnessed one of her... Friends? Throw himself off a rooftop and die. Sera didn't like it when Rev tried to kill himself, she hated it. But she knew he would come back. But Mark? Mark wouldn't just bounce back as if it were nothing. And she almost lost that. She almost lost the only person she knows who has an unbearable, unbelievable, trust in strangers. The only person who has the brightest smile she ever saw despite the threatening fangs that clawed out from under the shine.
The only one... Who cared.
Everyone was in a spiral of thoughts... Some less convenient as others. But Mark? Mark was drowning in his mind. He couldn't believe that even after all of his efforts he is still unable to gain the one thing he wishes for. After all of those letters, all of those lonely days, all of those tears. Mark is still standing on the rooftop, breathing. His heart beating like a drum. Eyes witnessing his friends support this one time. He can't help but to question, why? Why now? Out of all of the times where Mark has silently begged for help, for some comfort. Now, now they care. Now they suddenly find a reason to talk to him. And now they know everything.
All of his insecurities with his parents, his reasonings behind suicide, the emotional state no one knows about. All of these now clear as day before all of his friends. And they actually care.
They care about his concerning lack of blood, his lack of optimism in life, his lack of... Friends.
Well that's the irony in it isn't it?
One of Mark's main reasonings behind his suicide was due to how much of a burden he was. A burden to his parents, his education, and 'friends'. He was never good at making them, no matter how sickly sweet he tried to be. And yet... He's still managed to make friends. After all this time... he could finally see them. As friends. True friends.
Mark has been so busy listening out the flaws in himself that he forgot how he looked like from the perspective of other people's eyes. He's been so busy with degrading his existence that he failed to realise that he has something worthy living for... Because his friends, his friends cared. And they mattered to him so dearly.
Even though Rev most definitely found Mark annoying. His unbearable amount of joy was intriguing to him... Mark always had a surprisingly powerful justice factor, he was always ready to step up for those who deserve it. And Rev, despite the fact that these never go the way he wants them to, finds it captivating at how selfless the vampire can be.
Sera on the other hand always cherished Marks personality. Although she might find Revs' outbursts more interesting, she still really enjoys viewing how happiness works with the help of Marks actions. She was never good at emotions herself. But sometimes when she sees Marks, huge, puppy like smile, his radiant glow, and very encouraging nature... She can't help but try copying his actions and smiling in the mirror.
But Bella? Bella and Mark didn't speak as often as they should of have. But each interaction was truly treasured. She admired how perfectly Mark always managed to score during rehabilitation class. Top marks for a vampire who was too kind for his own good... And too kind for the human world. They didn't deserve him, atleast that's what Bella thought. She knew what it was like in the human world, the mistreatment, gossip, bullying. And yet, Mark was entirely the opposite... Mark was the one soul that could ever show Bella that... There was still faith in the world.
He never thought bad of anyone, never shouted at anyone, never even littered. He was like a saint to Bella. And she would forever remember his as one.
The vampire without fangs. That's what people said about him. But Bella thought otherwise.
Mark was a vampire with short enough fangs to fit between the two worlds.
He was more human than humans.
Yet as much of a vampire as a vampire can be.
And that's what she liked about him. That's what Bella saw within Mark to be special. He was perfect, perfect for everyone. No matter how little he thought of himself, there would always be someone who would prize his achievements and efforts.
The four of them fell silent. Everyone's eyes upon Mark as the vampire began to realise... There's actually something worth living for.
Rev inevitably cut the silence short as it was becoming unbearable to sit through. "UGH! I hate this! I spent 4 days looking for O type blood just for everything to be a 'misunderstanding'?!" He threw his hands up in the air laying back down on the floor of the roof. Rev knew that calling a misunderstanding much like how Mark did probably wasn't the healthiest option. But in all honesty, he didn't want to sit in silence for the next few hours.
Mark smiled at Revs commitment to supporting Mark as he chuckled. "Thanks Rev!"
"Wh-" Revs' eye twitched as he sat back up just to shout at the stupid vampire. "DONT THANK ME VAMPIRE! You didn't even get them!" Rev shoved a finger into Mark's chest as the only thing the idiot could do was smile. He might of have looked like a moron in that situation, but he was truly glad that everyone cared.
"So...! We will get you them now!" Bella sat up smiling as she put her hands on her hips.
"Really?!" Mark's eyes lit up almost as if he were a dog with a wagging tail. It was no lie that type O blood was sweet. But it was rare and a true delicacy for vampires. A single drop could make a vampire feel full again. Except that was only a saying.
"Do we have to?" Sera said monotonously, after all the four of them most certainly missed their lunch with all of the things that have happened today. And she was really beginning to crave a burger.
"It's for the best, Mark's practically been starving himself for 3 months. Plus uh... His arm could use a bit of help- I'm sure the nurse has blood packets!" Bella said whilst helping Mark up onto his feet. A lack of blood within a vampires body has a lot of negative symptoms. However, considering Mark has still been forcing himself to have a bit of blood throughout the days to make it look as if he was eating, the effects shouldn't be as severe.
"Oh yeah, I'd expect you to snap or whatever." Rev got up folding his arms as he turned back into being entirely unbothered with everything.
"What?!" Mark yelled out almost offended at the comment. He would never try to actively snap, it went against his vampiric morals!
"YOU'RE A VAMPIRE! You should have some sort of instincts right?!" Rev yelled back almost biting at Mark as the vampire chuckled with understanding. The four of them finally beginning to walk back into the school hallways
"I mean... I guess you're right." Mark played with his thumbs as he muttered under his breath. "Thank goodness Raven ran out of that moment."
"Wait what." Rev froze for a second as Mark simply sped up and yelled back at him.
"Nothing!" He smiled as the rest of the group caught up with the vampire. Bella was the first to act by placing a hand on his very dislocated shoulder. She grimaced at the feeling as Mark held back a wince, he knew she already felt terrible about everything. If she were to hurt him now it would crush her.
"Mark, if you feel left out, we can make game sessions." She said with a smile plastered on her face.
"Really?" Mark smiled back with his ears gently flicking against his air.
"Yeah, every week we can all get together and play games, so you don't miss anything." Bella nodded as Sera and Rev quickly joined in with their own mutters that sounded mainly like agreements.
"YES! Ofcourse I'd love that!" Marks eyes glistened as he almost jumped at the idea. They could all finally do things outside of lessons except from Mark being lonely!
"AHAHAAA! OH YOU WILL REGRET THIS VAMPIRE! I'll make you play all the horror games!" Rev threatened with his usual manically fuelled smile as he already began to plot how to terrify everyone. He knew Mark couldn't handle horror, he understood the first time Rev actually resurrected Raven. The scream he let out was most certainly from fear. And if he was afraid of something so small, then things were about to get so much worse.
"Hehe... Can I pick the first one?" Mark basically begged them with his eyes to make the first choice. For the others it looked like he was simply desperate to play a stupid game with them. For Mark, he was trying to escape pure torture from horror for one game.
"No." Rev said simultaneously with Sera before the both of them were met with a palm against the back of their head thanks to Bella.
"Yes!" She scolded them giving them a very obvious death glare like a enraged mother. She wasn't about to scream at them out loud. But it was obvious Mark deserved some sort of fair treatment after almost comitting suicide.
"Ow." Sera said out loud as Rev pushed past the girls to take a look at Mark as he asked.
"FINE! What game do you want vampire." He gritted his teeth as if to try and silently threaten Mark into choosing a game that wasn't rainbows or sunshines-
"Hello Kitty Cafe?" Mark shrunk himself in a bit, embarrassed by the answer as Rev let out a loud groan. Sera didn't exactly care about what game she would play, she didn't place much effort into them as she should anyways. Meanwhile Bella laughed it off watching the two boys argue back and fourth with the game selection. It was obvious only Rev was screaming whilst Mark continued to repeat "Nuh uh" to purposely rile him up.
They all walked throughout the halls of KADE academy once again, shoulder to shoulder as Mark finally stood within the middle not to the side.