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"Stoker, PLEASE take your feet off the table. Your manners are horrid," Lady Kryptina glared from across the table. "And you have a perfectly good plate of rat's liver in front of you, so stop eating that lollipop- Lenny took time to make it, and I say you need to eat."
Stoker rolled his eyes. "Buzz off! I'm a free-spirited vampire now! The night is my teacher!"
The pile of ash sitting in a cart perked up.
As Lady Kryptina scolded Stoker, grabbing him by the ear and dragging him back to his coffin as the students laughed, Ashley couldn't shake that familiar feeling.
That familiar phrase...
Free spirited vampire, the night is my teacher...
Where have I heard that before?
He rolled in his cart through the halls. He may be a pile of ash due to being burned by the sun, but miraculously, he can still talk and think.
And… remember.
“Oh! Hello, Ashley,” Oskar said, coming out of the library door. “Looking for Klot?”
“No, Oskar, I…” Ashley’s face turned monotone. “When Stoker said ‘free spirited vampire’... where did he learn that from?
Oskar’s face went pale. “Oh, some weirdo we met downtown the other night.” He rolled his eyes. “Stoker really seems to idolize him.”
“Do you remember his name?”
Oskar tried to think. “Uh… I think it started with a B?”
Ashley sighed a little. “Thanks, Oskar.”
“You’re welcome, Ashley.”
Daylight rose. As everyone slowly got in their coffins, awaiting a new night ahead of them, Ashley was wide awake in his cart, thinking about the phrase he had heard the night prior.
Who could it possibly…
He signed, letting himself fall asleep as the dream in his mind(?) unfolded- playing a far, distant, and undoubtedly repressed memory.
“It’s nooooothing to worry about, ladies. Just meet me at this spot- into the late night. You’ll know me when you see me, and I’ll feel the same with you.” Ashley von Ghoulfangs bit the girl on his right’s neck a little, earning a small noise of surprise from her and giggles from the other two women walking by his side.
“Now, I must be off. I gotta get home, yaknow, before the sun. I am NOT gonna leave here a pile of ash!” he laughed as he separated himself from the ladies and walked out the door to the club, beginning his stroll down the street to his home. “I’ll see you next night, my darlings!” He blew a kiss as he turned around and began the trek.
He danced down the street with a small smile on his fanged face, making up a nonexistent melody in his head. He two-stepped, skipped, and pranced his heart out, and the only thing that could stop him was-
Construction.
Right in front of the route to his home.
His shoulders slouched and his face returned to monotone. He looked desperately for another way around it, but there were no detour signs- only ‘road closed’.
There was one thing- a light in the dark- a manhole. A little to the left of the signs.
Ashley was at a dead end- it was the only place he could go from here.
Swallowing a breath- and his last ounces of dignity- he quickly looked to see if anyone was looking… then opened the cover and hopped in.
Trudging through the sewers was uneventful. Ashley was attempting to go the way that lead to, at least, somewhere near his house- wherever that was. It was futile, and he was trying his hardest to not ruin his clothes or step on any insects.
After around five minutes of trudging through the sewers, something caught his eye-
The first turn the sewer had, and it was to a lit room-like structure. Confused, Ashley began to walk to it out of curiosity, furrowing his brow.
Upon reaching it, he began to take note of the surroundings.
A bulletin board with random people on it- I wonder who those could be…
A chest with miscellaneous items in it- Someone must have stolen these, but...
A large, unfolded box with a blanket- someone must live he-
“Hey.”
“AAAAAH!” Ashley jumped and turned around.
A boy stood- curly, long orange hair, a paperboy hat, a tattered coat, and fingerless gloves. He smiled- his teeth had gaps in them.
“WHO ARE YOU?!” Ashley could only think to ask.
“Hey, hey, chill,” the boy snickered. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Buck Toothsome, free-spirited vampire.” he held out his hand. “Pleased to meet’cha.”
Ashley looked Buck up and down, then held out his hand and decided to shake it.
“Where ya from? I haven’t seen you arou-” Buck blinked, then suddenly opened his eyes wide. “WAIT! YOU’RE THE ASH GUY, RIGHT?!”
“Ash guy?” Ashley looked offended. “I’ll have you know my name is Ashley von Ghoulfangs, and I’m-”
“Yeah! Him! Wow, you’re that guy who’s always walkin’ out the Nightcrawler with, like, 3 girls on your arms, right?”
Ashley blinked- So… he’s an admirer. Not bad. “Why, yes I am! It’s quite easy, to be honest, the ladies just loooooove me for my-”
He was cut off by Buck laughing. Loudly.
“I- What is it?! ”
“I- I’m just- You- You’re like-”
“What? Are you trying to doubt my-”
“I was- I was always wondering why the girls went for you, you’re like… you act like…”
“What are you getting at-”
“You literally act like a girl.”
“WH- WHAT?!”
Buck laughed again. “I’m jokingggg!! I just remember seeing, like, you talking with them like you’re one of them, I guess. The expressions, the hand motions… Girls were always easy to read. You seemed like that too. I sometimes catch a glimpse of you when I’m out.” Buck smirked as he walked past Ashley, sitting on the cardboard box Ashley assumed was his makeshift bed. “You’re just so popular… I just always expected you to go for the guys.” he mumbled, holding back a laugh.
Ashley rolled his eyes. “Look, I did NOT come here to be accused of being a homosexual by some homeless tramp I’ve never met. I am trying to get home, so if you would excuse m-”
“So you don’t like guys?”
Ashley furrowed his brows, then scoffed. “What, are you disappointed?”
Buck shrugged. “I dunno. I’ve never really liked girls myself. Don’t see the appeal.”
Ashley blinked. “You… don’t like girls?”
“Nope.”
“...Are you gay?”
“I dunno. Haven’t given it much thought.”
Ashley thought for a moment. “You dodged my original question. Are you disappointed?”
Buck shrugged. “You dodged mine too. So you don’t like guys?”
The two sat in silence, unsure on who would answer first.
“... I’ve never given the possibility of me being with a man any real thought.”
“Do you want to?”
Ashley’s eyes went wide. “Are you- oh, my Dracula you are NOT asking me out right no-”
“Hey, hey, it was a…” Buck was prepared to pull the ‘It’s a joke’ card, but upon thinking about it for more than one second, he quickly realized it was nothing short of a literal question.
When Buck would go out for a midnight snack (usually stealing from a nearby bakery) he would pass right by The Nightcrawler- a famous club known for being a vampire hangout spot. He would sneak glances at Ashley every now and then, and it seemed like every girl in the club wanted him- playing with his hair, leaning into his shoulder, playfully kissing his face…
Buck would be lying if he said he hadn’t thought about being one of those girls at least once.
Is he gay? Probably. He just doesn’t really think about it all that much. But he doesn’t like girls, not in a romantic sense. He just found himself thinking about Ashley a lot, and here he is now, standing right in front of him.
And he just asked him out.
Without thinking.
Shit.
“I’m not asking you out. I’m just asking if you’d ever consider it. You know, because you’ve actually never said ‘no’ when I’ve asked you about this, which has been twice now. I don’t know, dude, seems pretty suspicious to me.” Amazing save.
Ashley found his face flush red.
It’s true- he’s never really considered the possibility of him being with a man. He’s known women all his life, and liked women all his life, but…
“I’ve… got to be goi-”
Buck grabbed his arm.
“Buck-”
“Is the only reason you’re leaving is because you’re trying to hide the fact you’re considering being with a man? I literally will not judge, dude. I don’t care.”
Ashley was at a complete loss for words. He was feeling something weird around Buck right now and he did not like it but he also did but he didn’t but he kind of
Buck was right
“Buck, do you like guys?”
Buck shrugged, again. “I dunno. I think I do.”
Ashley nodded a little too abruptly. “Okay. So. You like guys. And I… don’t know. And I-”
“You’re holding my hand.”
Ashley looked down. The hand Buck had used to grab his arm was now intertwined with his fingers.
I don’t remember doing that..
He looked up, up at a smirking Buck. Ashley had a feeling that smirk was hiding somrthi-
Buck pulled Ashley towards him and softly kissed him on the lips.
It was short- really short. Not even a second long.
“Now. I, Buck Toothsome, a man, just kissed you, Ashley von Ghoulfangs, who is also a man, on the lips. I want you to tell me the emotions this made you experience, if they were good or bad, and if you’d want to do it again.”
But it was enough to send Ashley into a temporary stunned state.
“I-I-I… uhm… well, i, uh…”
He was conflicted- really conflicted. Buck was a boy, a male. He had never kissed a man before. But it was like every other kiss he’d ever had with girls.
Wait.
It was like every other kiss he’s ever had with girls.
He let that sink in. The fact Buck was a male didn’t really… matter now.
A kiss is a kiss is a kiss. And Ashley liked it. Actually, really, really liked it.
He looked Buck in the eyes.
Buck had dark freckles on his face and gaps in his teeth when he smiled. His hands were… surprisingly, really soft.
Ashley found himself staring at him, spacing out as he imagined that little smirk he did.
“Hey.”
Ashley shook his head, snapping out of the temporary trance he had as a result of Buck’s one-word sentence. “I- um-”
“Do you want me to kiss you again?”
Ashley looked at Buck again- he raised an eyebrow and mouthed the words ‘I do not care’ as he slowly shook his head.
Ashley sighed.
“Do you promise not to tell a literal soul?”
“I don’t usually talk to many people, Ash.”
Ashley decided to ignore the nickname for the time being. “...Fine.”
Buck’s eyebrows furrowed. “Hey, if you don’t want to we don’t have to, I don’t wanna make you uncomfortable-”
He was cut off by Ashley grabbing his neck and pulling him in, kissing him.
Buck’s shocked expression soon melted into gushy lovesickness as he wrapped his arms around Ashley’s body.
The two silently fumbled around for a little while, trying to find a place where their bodies could lay- eventually settling for the opened box with a blanket Buck called his bed- both laying beside one another as their faces mashed together in some strange practice associated with love.
They pulled away for air about every three seconds, going back in again just to go deeper and go harder. Buck tilted his head to the side slighty, letting their faces overlap more efficiently.
Ashley pulled away, panting. “I just now thought of this. You’re homeless. Do you brush your teeth?”
“Twice a day. I steal… everything I need from the corner store.”
“Thank Dracula.”
And they go back in again.
Buck’s hands are fumbling at Ashley’s coat- Ashley begins to take off Buck’s in a rather uncomfortable exchange of clothes. The two are now slightly cold, but their mouths keep things warm.
Buck’s hands go up Ashley’s shirt as an intrusive thought enters his head- what if I’m faking this? What if this emotion is really just guilt because I’ve never done this with a man befo-
“Mmmhm, fuck, Ashley…” Buck managed to say between kisses.
Ooooookay i am not faking this
For some reason, those words got Ashley GOING- he moved his hands to Buck’s neck and pulled away from the kiss- instead choosing to kiss him lower and lower on his face…
“Ashley- I… oh, my god-”
Ashley starts kissing his neck, Buck biting his knuckle in an attempt to not make too much noise, panting heavily.
“Is this oka-”
“Yespleasekeepgoing”
This continues for about 40 seconds or so- ending with Buck putting a hand under Ashley’s chin and pulling it up to face him, then moving to kiss his neck- which made Ashley contemplate whether any girls would agree to do whatever the hell this random guy is doing to me because sweet mother of Dracula
After about three minutes more of position changing, shirt-fumbling, and lip-mashing, the two decide they are entirely puckered out- no pun intended.
Laying next to each other on the cardboard, they pant heavily, not bothering to notice the bite marks on their necks and bruises on their lips.
“That… that was…”
“Oh, my Dracula…”
After about a minute of silence, Ashley got up, picking his coat off from up the ground. “I’m… uh… late to go home.”
“Understood.” Buck said from the floor, looking petrified, but pleased.
“Uh… don’t you have to be in school tomorrow?” Ashley foolishly asked.
Buck sat up, giggling a little as he put his coat back on. “School? The night is my teacher, dude. I’m just here.”
Ashley blinked. “I’ll… come back this way tomorrow around this time. I’ll meet you here then.”
Buck smirked, still a little dazed. “Sounds good.”
Ashley sighed as he turned and made his way home. He used his coat to cover up the hickeys, and claimed he hit himself on a surface on his way home to explain the lip bruise.
They had no idea.
The kids got out of their coffins.
“Ashley! Ashley! It’s wake-up time!” Klot shook Ashley’s cart gently.
The ashpile woke up, at first forgetting the dream- but then having it all hit him. The memory.
Buck Toothsome, free spirited vampire- the night is his teacher.
“Ashley?” Stoker and Oskar had crowded round, curious as to why the ashpile wasn’t talking.
He stared Oskar and Stoker dead in the eyes.
“Stop hanging around Buck Toothsome.”
He wheeled himself away, smirking to himself as he remembered all that night held.
Oskar, Stoker, and Klot scratched their heads.