Chapter Text
After Shelby helped Avid with using the shower, she returned to the living room she and Scott shared. Scott was pacing, trying to stay calm. He pulled out his pocket mirror (thank god they stopped backing them with silver) and kept examining himself. He was worried about what Avid would think of how he looked. He knew it was silly, especially with how Avid was looking before, but Scott didn't care. Shelby said, startling the elder vampire, “He's going to need clothes to borrow once he's done in there. I'm going to get some from your room.”
Scott nods and watches as she leaves before continuing to pace. While worrying about his appearance, he was also worrying about Avid. How is he alive? The question kept popping into Scott's head. Pyro and Owen had staked his Avid through the heart. It would've killed him. It did kill him. They all felt it, Shelby especially, she was Avid's sire, after all. Scott remembers that grave on the hill. The one he built after finding out Avid was dead. The one he, Shelby, Drift, Cleo, and Pearl visited every year.
As he was pacing, he didn't notice how much time passed. It made sense, he was a vampire over a thousand years old. Time was a strange thing for him. Suddenly, he felt a familiar presence nearby. Turning, he saw Avid. He was clean now, his hair wet. And he was wearing one of Scott's shirts and his only pair of sweatpants. Scott almost never noticed just how small Avid was compared to him. But now, he could see how Scott's clothes hung on his body. He clearly had tightened the waistband as much as he could, and even now, it was barely staying on.
Scott then notices a small black thing coming up his right side of his shoulder to his neck. He approaches Avid and gently reaches out, caressing Avid's cheek, Avid leaning into the touch. Scott had always seen Avid like a wet cat that was scared and abandoned, and it was very clear. Scott sat on the couch and helped Avid do the same. Avid snuggled up to Scott, wrapping his arms around his shoulders, burying his head in the vampire's shoulder. Scott wrapped his arms around Avid's waist, holding him close. Scott whispers, “It's okay, you're safe. No one will hurt you again.”
Avid starts to purr, a sound (from Avid, at least) Scott had never heard. Sure, he heard others purr before, and he himself had felt a purr in his chest before. But he hadn't heard Avid purr before. He never got the chance to. And now that he was hearing it, Scott never wanted to stop. He wanted to hear more. He wanted Avid to be purring in his arms for eternity.
Finally, Scott whispers, “Do you know how long it's been, my dear?” The pet name flows off his tongue easily, and he can see Avid blushing from it. Avid shook his head, and Scott took a deep breath before saying, “It's been over 200 years since you…….” He trails off, unable to finish.
Avid freezes, looking shocked and sad and hurt. He was on the verge of tears. Scott quickly held him tighter. After a few moments, Avid whispers, “I'm so sorry. I'm sorry it took me so long to come back.”
Avid's words made Scott's heart ache. He quickly comforts, “My dear, it's not your fault, please, you have nothing to be sorry for. I should be the one who's sorry for trusting Owen and Pyro to be alone with you. I should've stayed in the crypt with you. I shouldn't have left you alone. I was supposed to protect you and I failed.”
Avid says, “It wasn't your fault, I'm the one who trusted those two. I thought they saw me differently.” After that, Scott and Avid just hold each other for a while. Scott never thought he’d see Avid again. When a vampire is killed, they leave no body, only dust, so Scott didn’t even check the hole his Avid was killed in. If he had, maybe he would’ve found the body, and would’ve been able to bring Avid back sooner.
Eventually, Scott whispers, “How did you find us?” The question had been nagging at Scott since Avid got there.
Avid wipes away tears and says, “Pearl and Cleo found me wandering through the woods. They mentioned where you three were, and I found my way here.” Scott feels his grip on Avid tighten. He was on a call with Pearl just yesterday. And she didn't even think to mention Avid. Avid looked worried and said hurriedly, “I-I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?”
Scott quickly realizes he's scaring Avid and responds, “No, no, my dear, you could never do something wrong. I'm just mad at Pearl and Cleo for not telling us. It's not your fault.” He makes sure to soothe Avid as much as possible, running his fingers through Avid's hair and holding him close. Scott knew he missed this, but he had denied it for so long because there was no point in missing something that wasn't coming back. Except Avid did come back. And Scott knew he wouldn't let his Avid go again.
After a while, Shelby came in with a bottle of blood. She sat down and said, “I'm sorry I hit and yelled at you, Avid. You still shouldn't have trusted them, but they're the ones that promised they wouldn't hurt you.” Avid nodded in agreement, and Scott was glad Owen and Pyro were dead.