Chapter Text
Chapter 1 : Mushrooms
Mushrooms, when you looked down all you saw were mushrooms. They were the kind you see in art. Red with little white spots, each one perfect. So without flaws you were sure they weren’t real, or maybe they were real just not mushrooms. Maybe they were something else, something more mysterious, that if you pluck maybe you would see the secret to your freedom, a way out, or more likely it was just mushrooms all the way down though.
He called them your protection. You guessed he wasn't exactly wrong. They did keep you safe. They let you have a moment to breathe between your spooky patrons. You knew they could hear your heartbeat as you served them. They could probably even smell your fear too, but here in your little circle you were safe. Like a bird in a cage or maybe more befittingly a fish in a barrel.
Your apartment was also lined in the little red and white mushrooms and though your employer allowed you to go out he knew you wouldn't. You didn't know if it was agoraphobia per say but you did know that leaving the bar made you very afraid. It made your heart pound so heart you thought it would burst. You had an apartment still, away from the bar but it was too far. You couldn't even pick up your things. Still it had been at least a month since you paid rent on the place so maybe it wasn't even there anymore. Both you and your employer had about a one mile radius you could venture out before panic really set in. You tried, almost weekly, to make a run for it. You never made it more than two miles. The worst part for you was you didn't know if it was because of your employer, your master if you went by his term, or because of him, the one who put you in this little mess.
It had started with a date, a tinder one with someone you thought was normal. Normal, what did that even mean anymore? Strictly human? You weren't sure. You thought you probably shouldn't be a bigot and avoid the non-human element of the world but that part of you was at war with the part that knew he had not been human. You had matched with him, the chatting had been good, he seemed so nice. But at your date, things had gone stange quick.
You couldn't remember his face. His clothes, his smell, even his hair were burned into your mind but his face? You couldn't bring it up no matter how hard you tried. He had been tall and though his profile had said he was tall, something over 180cm if your memory stood correct, but he seemed taller. Bigger like his mass was a back hole sucking the area around him in. To your eyes he seemed human shaped but you would close them and you could feel his true size. He was oppressively large. Looking at him hurt. You felt like running immediately but when he suggested something you couldn't say no. You literally could not say no. You were still speaking and moving but you were not in control. You could feel your self responding and moving but were powerless to affect them. they weren't your responses, your actions you were merely a puppet.
He took you to a restaurant with outdoor seating. You remembered thinking it was because he couldn't fit inside. You were sweating, your vision had started to tunnel and you felt nauseous. You couldn't throw up. Every other human around you moved away from you, the wait staff only approaching when they absolutely had to. They didn't look afraid, they looked like they hardly even noticed the two of you were there but the closer you got to anyone the more uncomfortable they looked. When you ordered you had ordered fish. You were allergic to fish. You ate it anyway. It was a minor allergy but it was uncomfortable to say the least. He put his hand on your as you ate in near silence. What conversation there was made no sense when you played it back on your head. The words were all in your language and made since individually but as a whole meant nothing to you.
If you could have run you would have. Adrenalin was flooding every part of you. You would have passed out if you could have but you couldn't even shut your eyes. The one piece of conversation you could remember was him asking for your address and you telling him. You wouldn't do that. Definitely not on a first date with a stranger and definitely not with whatever sat across from you and pretended to be human.
He walked you what you thought was to your home but you didn't make it there. Part of you was glad. This thing couldn't see your things, the photographs of the people you cared about. You were sure that that would be bad. That somehow you had to keep it from seeing their photos. That if you didn't stop it then the people in your life would find similar matches on their profiles, or dm in their inboxes.
You weren't even sure where you were. Your head hurt thinking about directions. Being awake hurt. But you were still walking with him. Still making small talk that made no sense . Your voice was at least showing signs of extreme stress. Your words sounded more like a wounded animal. You are able to scan your surroundings just for a second. It's an alleyway next to a bar you had never seen. He takes your little bag and throws it in the dumpster. He pushes your back against the ruff wooden fence and you can feel your ability to move and start to return. You are held now not in place by whatever magic the creature is capable of, instead you were held by his massive hand.
“This is going to hurt,” He says. You would say he said with a smile but looking at his face hurt still and you couldn’t remember what face looked even when it was inches from your face. You could smell his, no, its breath. It was sweet and rotten like meat that had been decaying for weeks. He was going to eat you. You didn’t know how you knew, he didn't seem like a vampire but if one monster was real couldn't they all be? Whatever this one was seemed hungry.
It reached into you. There was no blood, not a drop but that didn’t mean it didnt hurt. You finally are able to let out a scream you had been holding in since the beginning. He starts pulling pieces out of you. They don't bleed. They are still moving. They are all on fire. You are still screaming and you think you are on the ground. At some point you feel your scream stop coming from you, your main body but from somewhere to your left.
You hear a door open and your eyes go over to a man taking trash out from the bar. He's very calm and takes the trash out despite your screaming and the man shaped thing that's still digging around inside of you.
“Do you want my help?” He asks you turning to you and despite the pain, despite the confusion of what's happening you register that he is beautiful. The most beautiful thing you have ever seen. Did angels take out the trash? You can’t answer him. Your mouth and lips aren't connected. You don’t know how you're still alive and it takes all you have to force your neck to nod.
He grins. It is still beautiful but it sends another spike of fear through your body. There is something simply terrifying about it. You wonder if you should have taken it back. To tell him to let you die here but you are too afraid to let yourself die here. He holds up his hand not taking another step forward. The thing still on top of you flys off you crashing thru the fence. You hear another crash and then a howl of pain. The man crouches over you.
“What is your name kid?” his lips don't move but you can hear his voice. You hadn't noticed before with the things hands still inside you but his voice is just as beautiful as his face. You move your lips trying to tell him but he shakes his head and puts his hand on your forehead. The pain is gone in an instant and you think of your name. He nods and says it out loud. There is a flash of bright light and you gasp your body once again in one piece. No that's not right. Something is missing. You have no idea what it is but something was taken by that thing. You are not whole.
He had helped you up and took you into the bar. It was a vampire themed bar, but like a bad one. Red light rubber bats and cardboard cut out of bela lugosi and bella swan hung haphazardly around with others who you couldn’t quite identify at the moment. There is a glitter banner that theatrically proclaims welcome to hell.He gestures you over to the bar and you take a seat. He pours you a drink you don't know what kind it is but you take it downing it on go. It helps your shaking, if only a bit.
“How much do you know about pouring drinks?” His voice is like honey, but honey that has gone slightly bad like he’s a venus fly trap and answering his questions bad you a fly.
You look at him surprised. You didn't know what you expected but this wasn't it. “ I know enough I’ve never done it professionally but I know the basics”
“You’d better study up then. Your first shift starts tomorrow night” he looks tired. “Poor me a drink before you go upstairs. The suite on the left is yours.” he gestures up the stairs without looking.
“What are you talking about? I’m not staying here!” you can feel the panic start to creep into your voice again and when your body starts to move once again against your will you want to scream again.
“Sorry Love, did you think putting you back together was free?” He offers you a little shrug that's probably meant to insinuate he feels sorry but you don’t buy in. You pour him a drink with trembling hands. He takes the drink and reaches out and touches your face. His touch makes you calm, but it’s an unpleasant calm. He's like novocaine and touching him makes you feel empty. You flinch away from him. “ You can try and leave but you won't make it far. Best to just behave”
So that was it then, the way you had stumbled upon your new job. It wasn't so bad for the most part. It turned out Vampire wasn't just the theme of the bar it was also the clients. Your employer, who you had learned went by the moniker V or as he preferred you to call him master V, demanded that you serve a bit of your blood in a drink for each one of his undead clients. You hated it. Hated selling parts of yourself to feed monsters. You heard one of them tell V that your fear made the drinks that much sweeter.
V did however afford you protections. Now that he knew your name any direct order was impossible for you to obey, but apparently there were rules. He had to offer you a certain amount of protection, and that explained the mushrooms. It was known as a fairy circle apparently. It lined the inside of the bar and the suite that you now called home. Nothing that had magic coursing through its veins could step into the circle except the Fae, but according to V that wasn't something you had to worry about. There weren't many around.
When you handed out drinks you just had to remember to slide them across the bar keeping your hand inside your little safe zone. Your fingers always hurt at the end of the shift and you were a prisoner but honestly, it was probably one of your better jobs. The pay was fine and V didn't seem to care what you ordered online. You still intended to get free but for now. It could be a lot worse, especially with a boss who could literally make you do anything he wanted. So far other than the actual bartending he hasn't made you do anything. He didn't even make you Call him Master V, clarifying that it was a request not an order. Request denied. He still gave you the creeps though. Trusting seemed like a foolish choice so you set little traps in your suite to wake you up if he tried anything. You didn't think you could stop him but it made you feel better. A little better.
You finish pouring a drink for the lone vamp at the bar tonight. He was an ill tempered one and didn't say much always glaring from the corner. He was one of the regulars you actually preferred though if truth was to be told. He never made any creepy comments about your body, or your blood and he tipped well. You bring it over to him. Its a classic martini, stirred with a lemon garnish and a drop of your blood. 6 parts gin to one part dry vermouth. No fancy requests, no specific brands. You set it down on the counter. You stare at your hand realizing that it left the circle of protection and recoil like you've been struck.
He looks at you and frowns. He normally likes scaring people. He’s not what you’d call a nice man. Suga hasn't been nice in a long long time. But you make him his drinks first no matter how busy the bar is and he's certainly never tried to scare a pretty little thing like you when you are holding a drink for him that so badly wants.
“I’m not going to hurt you, best bar around for me to get a drink” It’s meant to be comforting you think but it comes out fast and a little harsh, like its not an action he’s used to taking.
“I’m sorry I just...” You trail off. What do you say here. I don’t want to take the chance you’ll eat me?
He holds his hand up to stop you. You don’t need to explain yourself. He’s seen how jumpy you are. He doesn't know what a sweet thing like you is working here of all places. You seem terrified of your patrons. Vampire and human. Something probably happened to you. That's your business and you don't owe him shit. He finds himself curious though. Part of the reason he like this place so much is watching you, trying to figure out your secrets from his seat in the corner. You were his favorite puzzle.
“It’s fine, I get it. Nasty place out there” that came out better, he thinks. He feels quite pleased, like a cat that's got the cream.
You nod with enthusiasm and manage to draw a small laugh out of him. He looks around the bar. It's more empty than it has been in a long time. Before you it had a rotating cast of bartenders. Most didn't last long. Too many vamps being to fucking creepy. To be fair he had popped up behind one of the previous bartenders so fast he had pissed himself. He got quite a laugh out of that one. They had all dont the standard cleaning and what not around the bar, but with you someone else always did it. Temporary staff that just popped in and out. A vampire on staff previously solely as a bouncer here. A human he had never seen before there. You always stayed in that weird circle of mushrooms he had watched you stair at all night between the few customers that had come and left. He curiously reaches out to see what's up. He can't get through the vertical space above them. So you were afraid of him then thats why you recoiled like that. Well that was fair he was a monster.
“Very nasty.”
He’s like to make conversation with you but he’s not the best at it. You remind him a bit of his few human friends. A new and novel concept. What would he ask you though? Do you come here often? That was stupid he scowls more.
“Will you bring me another?” It's something. He watches you make his drink. He frowns just a bit when he sees you wince as you prick your finger. Your fingers are filled with little cuts. You needed a day off to heal. What was your boss thinking? You were going to smell too good here in a few days if you kept this up. Already did if he was being honest. You ran the risk of going out for groceries and geting snached off as a midnight snack yourself. You bring him the drink and your hand is trembling slightly but from your heart beat which has gone down considerably, he thinks it’s more the pain of griping the glass with your injured fingers. He digs around in his pockets and pulls out some bandaids. You weren't the only one whose blood allowed him to enjoy a nice drink, his friend Jin had been coerced by their shared boss to let him have a bit. He liked to tease Jin but didn't want anyone else to snack on him. He slides the bandaids to the edge of your circle of protection.
You look at him, and nodd appreciatively at him sliding the bandaid fully to safely trying to open it but having a bit of trouble with the first wrapper. He huffs frustrated and opens one holding out his hand. “No pressure” he says in a softer than normal tone. Your breath catches and your heart speeds up. You know it would be stupid to trust another monster but it was also strangely appealing. It had been weeks now that you were stuck here. No friends or family knew where you were. You had seen your face on the news and you were sure they thought you were dead. It would be nice to have someone to trust. It would be nice to not be completely and utterly alone. You hesitantly hold out your hand. You know V is upstairs and knowing if he could take a vampire might be useful.
Suga doesn't have enough bandaids for all your fingers so he looks for a moment taking in the damage before picking which three would be getting bandaids tonight. He settles on the thumb pointer and middle, probably the most important for making drinks. “Hold still. I haven't applied for one of these in a while.” He wants to let you know that he's actually going to touch you. When you nod he wraps each finger and withdraws his hands. His touch is gentle surprisingly so. You bring your hand up to admire the work. Very neatly applied. “What's your name? I feel like if I'm gonna be a regular I should know what to call you”
You give him your first name. Names have power here but you need all parts of the name. Suga grins and goes to return the gesture but you surprise both of you when you slap your hand over his mouth hard enough to have his fangs pierce your hand just a bit. Your heartbeat has risen considerably and you're looking at the stairs that lead to the apartments in fear. He pulls your hand away from his mouth. The blood is tempting him to pull your blood directly from your heart. To drain you.
“Not here, names aren't safe here” he gives you a what the fuck look. He lets go of you hand holding his breath until your hand is safe behind the ring.
“You just gave me your first name”
“First names are fine. But I didn't want to risk” You blush. He frowns. You risked quite a bit in this little interaction. For what? His safety? Idiot.
“How about a nickname?” he probably shouldn’t should probably just find a new bar.
“Uhm yeah… yeah that's fine” You nod, and even flash him a small smile. He Looks away embarrassed by the sudden intimacy of the expression.
“Suga” you blink. Did you miss hear?
“Sugar? Because…. You're sweet?” You highly doubted that was the case for the gruff man. Though perhaps its one of those ironic things?
“No Suga” He stresses the G “As in mind your business” He says it with a smile and you can't help but laugh.
“Alright, Suga it is.” It felt nice to have a normal little interaction like this. Vampires where dangerous, but they were a known danger. The devil you know and all that.
You go back to studying your little book of cocktails V insists you learn. Neither of you notice V watching you from the top of the stairs. He's very interested in your pretty new vampire friend.