Archive of Our Own

Nandor knew he wasn’t the brightest of vampires. He wasn’t the brightest of humans either, back in his day. He had many traits that made him a victim of countless taunts and pokes, by both his housemates and other vampires alike. It always hurt, to say the least. 

But something he was always good at was reading the body. He was a soldier for many years and stared into the eyes of many men before plunging his sword deep into their hearts. So he understood what that look in Guillermo’s eyes meant. Those shy, fleeting touches. The squeeze to his hand before getting into coffin. That small, coy smile whenever Nandor spoke of something idiotic once again. How tense he becomes whenever Nandor introduces a new lover, followed by the quirk of his eyebrow and rolling of the eyes. 

He was dumb, but he was no fool. 

But the real kicker was that over the past eleven, nearly twelve, years.. Nandor grew to care about Guillermo. Anyone could see it. Nandor risked his life countless times for the little rascal already. Just like how Guillermo saved him. He could’ve let Guillermo die, let him rot in that cage once they found out the truth of his lineage. He should’ve. But he couldn’t. Not when he owned Guillermo his life twice times over. He.. cared about him. More than he’d ever like to admit. 

But he knew what the rules state. And he knew what these feelings could do to him, to Guillermo. It was the start of something awful. Something terrifying. 

Something had to be done. 

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

It was a windy Friday evening. Laszlo was working on a new piece, Nadja was with her doll, Colin Robinson was doing hell knows what. While Nandor had asked Guillermo to quit dusting and join him for a walk. The walk turned to an evening flying session to the Bronx. Nandor tried to ignore the pit in his stomach and instead focused on the laughter and joy that was radiating from his warm bodied fri- bodyguard. That’s all Guillermo was after all. Just a bodyguard. 

They stopped in a park. Guillermo talks about how that was where his mom and aunt would take him on their days off with his cousins. Rambling about family stories. Smiling and chuckling. Nandor just slowly took off his gloves. 

It’s now or never. 

“Guillermo.” He finally has the courage to speak. Not that he’s scared. Guillermo is just another lousy human. A familiar. A bodyguard. Not family. Not a friend. 

“Hm?” Guillermo turns to him with a soft smile. He wears a beanie and a collared jacket to protect him from the wind, but the cold still nips at his rosy cheeks and nose. 

Nandor wants to pull him close to keep him warm, despite not having any body heat. He knows he shouldn’t, but all he wants to do is comb his fingers through his brown curly hair, rub at his back and shoulders. Comfort him, the way Guillermo comforted him when he realized the truth of the universe. After Gail left him. After he saved them from the Vampiric Council, twice. Even after he came home the first time from Celeste. 

Instead, Nandor raised his hand, waving his fingers directly at Guillermo’s face. 

“Guillermo de la Cruz,” Nandor’s voice was deep and slow, solemn. Guillermo’s eyes widened and his jaw went slack. Nandor continued, “you will remember nothing of the past twelve years. You will have no recollection of me, Nandor the Relentless, Nadja of Antipaxos, Laszlo Cravensworth, and Colin Robinson.. you will have no memory along with the rest of vampire society.. you will simply go back to your normal, human life with your mother, with your family. Maybe.. go find a job at another shitty bread place, maybe a library..” he pauses for a moment, fingers still waving in front of Guillermo’s face. He inhales, then takes a shaky breath. “You will be happy.. promise me you will be happy, Guillermo..”

“I promise, Master..” Guillermo’s voice is soft and distant, barely a whisper. His brown eyes, glossy and foggy, and his breathing slow but it was enough to see his chest continuously rise. Nandor just smiles. He snaps and stands up straight. “It is done..” he says with a clap of his hands. 

Back at home, Nandor had packed a bag for Guillermo beforehand, so he quickly left the poor man stranded in the park for almost two hours. When he came back, Guillermo was looking around, very confused and dazed. He did another quick round of hypnotism, just to explain where he was, what he did, where he was going, some shallow false blanks for him to make up for the past twelve years. He had an accident at work, where he was an accountant. He lost his job after the building burned down and he had no where to go. So then he told Guillermo to find his way back home, to his mothers apartment. Guillermo just gave him a small nod and marched away. 

Nandor stood still as a tree as he watched Guillermo walk off, the wind blowing at his cape. 

He didn’t move until he couldn’t hear Guillermo’s heartbeat no longer. 

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

“Oh you stupid little pig shit of a man!”

Crack

Nandor held onto his head, wincing as pieces of a vase shattered around him. He’s definitely bleeding, but that’ll heal up in a few minutes, but the headache will definitely linger for an hour or so. 

Nandor telling his housemates what he has done to Guillermo hasn’t.. gone so well. So now he’s dealing with Nadja chucking objects and insults at him, while Laszlo and Colin Robinson click their tongues and shake their heads. 

“What if some vampire decides to assassinate us, huh?! What then, mr big brain?!” Nadja shouts with a mean snarl, clutching a throw pillow that was aimed. Nandor shot up from his seat, dried blood both on his forehead and hand. “We are members of the Vampiric Council! Nobody can touch us, Nadja!”

“Or so you think, you cheeky shit! Guillermo has been killing vampires left and right for our protection since.. the Devil knows when!” She drops the pillow, throwing her arms up in the air in exasperation. “We are even more of a target because we are on the council now! And now we have no one to protect us..” Nadja bent down to snatch up her throw pillow. “No thanks to fucking you!”

Nandor batformed, just barely catching wind of the pillow and flew right outside, ignoring the shouts from his roommates. 

He settled on the roof of the manor, though he’s more than aware he should be staying inside. The sun will be rising in an hour or so. Yet he takes his human form and just sits. 

Guillermo’s fine. Nandor’s fine. They’ll all be fine. 

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

Weeks went by. Weeks turned to months. Time flies by when you’re dead. The vampiric depression didn’t help much. 

Each day just felt like it dragged on and on, repeating itself over and over.. atleast when He was around, Nandor felt entertained, but now? Nothing. 

But here he was either was. Getting ready for a party that he and Nadja had to host very last minute. 

He stood in front of a mirror, wearing his finest of furs and textiles, the part of his hair that was styled into a topknot was now neatly braided into a bun and had the slightest touch of red eyeshadow under his eyes. 

Atleast he hoped, not like he could see himself in this damn thing. 

“Everything okay, master?”

Nandor jumped and whipped his head around to see Laurie. Ah. Yes. The new familiar. 

After everyone (him and Nadja) had calmed down, they went out on a mission to find a new familiar for the house. They weren’t gonna wait around and cry like a bunch of bitch babies like the last two times, no, they were full grown vampires and could get familiars all on their own, thank you!

But of course, Nandor was the only one successful. He found Laurie moping outside of a coffee shop. They looked quite young, mid 20’s at most, and looked healthy and strong enough to work as a familiar. So, Nandor worked his charms and a few hours later, he came home with Laurie by his side. 

“Mm.. yes, I’m fine..” Nandor hummed. He did a small spin before spreading his arms, “I look fine, yes?”

Laurie grinned and have a nod. “Dashing, master.”

A small grin tugged on his lips. “Mm. Good. And everything is all set?”

Laurie looked down at their clipboard and clicked their tongue. “Almost. Just.. Colin Robinson is still upset that he has to share his birthday party with the Supreme Worldwide Vampiric Council..” Nandor groaned and rolled his eyes. “He’s acting like a child..” he muttered. “Can’t imagine what Colin Robinson would be like as an actual infant when he can’t get what he wants..”

“Right..” Laurie mumbles before speaking up, “Well, we just need to get the virgin feast ready, along with the live show, and everything will be good to go, but Nadja wants us all to wait downstairs.”

“Yes.. I’ll be right down,” Nandor said as he straightened out his posture and ran his hands over his vest. “I must tell them all something of importance anyways..”

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

The party had been going great. All their guests have been fed and everything has been going smoothly. Nandor was seated next to Nadja, in the centre of their table with the other members of the council, and the little brainworm inside his brain was telling him it was now or never..

“After the party is over, I intend on taking a super slumber,” Nandor whispers to Nadja. She visibly tensed and gripped the table, whipping her head to look at her co-leader. “What..?!” She whispered back through gritted teeth. “Don’t tell me this has to do something with that fucking-“

“It has absolutely nothing to do with Guillermo!” He gave a harsh whisper, before glancing around them. No one was paying attention, good. “This is something I have been thinking about for a long time, and I know you have been wanting to be a sole leader of the council for ages, so this is your chance, so you should be grateful!” 

Nadja gave him a dark glare, her nostrils flaring and her fists tightly clenched. “.. fine!” She whisper-spat. “Just..” she seemed to deflate, taking a breath before speaking again. “Just atleast tell Laszlo and Colin Robinson before you disappear for.. hundreds of years..” Nandor just nodded. 

And on went the party. 

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

Laszlo’s speech for Colin Robinson was definitely an embarrassing yet meaningful one, so Nadja quickly ushered everyone out of the room once the live sex show had started. Since it was just the three of them together for a moment, Nandor wanted to tell Laszlo his plan. 

But.. it seemed Laszlo had his own. 

“What..?” Nandor’s eyes grew wide, as did Nadja’s. 

“Colin Robinson will be dead by sunrise..” Laszlo muttered, fist nervously clenching and unclenching. “And there’s nothing we can do about it..”

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

Laszlo was right. As soon as everyone left for the evening, the trio found themselves in Colin Robinson’s room, standing by his side in his last moments. 

Their friend had died as soon as the sun came up. Well, if he wasn’t dead then, then he was definitely gone when Nandor accidentally punched his head in, ("Guys, he is probably just pretending, look, I shall show yo-").

A week had past and now they’re standing in front of the staircase, posed for a portrait by Donal Logue. Laszlo had asked The Baron and The Sire to come, while Nadja invited The Guide. Nandor told Laurie to stand beside Donal so they could not ruin the portrait. 

“Still plan on taking that super slumber, Nandor?” Laszlo asked, poised and still, arm draped over the chair his wife was seated on. Nandor flared his nostrils as he took a breath before answering slowly. “Yes, Laszlo.. after the portrait, I have no real reason for being here. Laurie will help into coffin this evening and.. that will be that.” 

Everyone around him scoffed and while he couldn’t see it, he knew they were rolling their eyes. He just kept his posture straight and tried to keep his composure. He has been humiliated one too many times in this house. He needed the rest, and nothing is going to stop him. 

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

Knock knock. 

Has it been a hundred years already..?

“Hello?” Nandor called from inside his coffin. “Nandor, it’s me..” he opened the lid to his coffin and was met with a very dishevelled Laszlo. Nandor scrunched up his face, “What has happened? How long have I been gone for you to look like you’ve been through hell and back?”

“Um..” Laszlo rapped his fingers against the inside of Nandor’s coffin. “Almost three weeks.”

Nandor’s mouth opened and his brows furrowed. “Three- three weeks?! Laszlo, that is-!”

“Shut up, man! Just.. come out, I need to show you something, you fucking halfwit..” Laszlo huffed and stormed out of the crypt. Didn’t even offer to help him out of coffin..

So after some struggling with some huffing and puffing, Nandor made it out of his coffin and headed downstairs to the fancy room, where he heard Laszlo fussing over.. a baby?

Nandor groaned as he walked into the room, fully prepared for the worst. “Laszlo, please do not tell me you-“ he froze. 

Laszlo stood in front of the fire place, right above him was the portrait by Donal. And in Laszlo’s arms was, in fact, a baby. A baby with the face of their deceased friend Colin Robinson. 

“Sit down, Nandor,” Laszlo said, pointing to the empty settee as he bounced the baby in his arms. “Appears I have some explaining to do.”

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

An hour after Nandor started his super slumber, Nadja didn’t hesitate to take sole leadership over the council. She held a big meeting and told a speech about what changes would be happening. Despite how upset she was over Nandor leaving, she seemed excited to be finally running the council on her own. Nandor didn’t see a point in trying to get back on the council. So he joined Laszlo with co-parenting the baby Colin Robinson, whom Laszlo just calls Boy. 

The Boy aged fast. Months went by, and by the first year, baby Colin Robinson had appeared be atleast five years old. He was a wild thing, bouncing from one interest to the other, it was a rare sight to see him calm and focused on one thing. 

It’s been centuries since Nandor was an actual father. Same with Laszlo. They didn’t raise their children, let alone seen them often. Yet here they were. Taking Colin out to play dates, soccer games, hell even musical theatre productions just go tire him out. Nandor just can’t help but wonder how Guillermo would’ve been with him. 

“Who’s Guillermo?”

“Hm?” Nandor snaps out of his reverie, sitting cross legged next to Baby Colin as he works on some LEGO pieces. He found them under the familiars quarters, most likely belonging to their last familiar, Janice, before she died falling from the railing last week. She had a few kids of her own, so she knew how to take care of Colin when everyone was out and about. She was probably one of the only familiars they had that Nandor seemed to actually like. 

“Who said anything about Guillermo?” Nandor asked, cocking his eyebrow. “You did, you just said ‘I wonder how Guillermo would be with him,” he said with his best Nandor voice, finishing it off with a small giggle and smile. Nandor couldn’t help but chuckle at that, ruffling the boy’s hair. “He’s.. just a friend I had. A long time ago. I think you would’ve liked him."

“Was he nice?” Colin asks, as he keeps building his little ship. Nandor nods, still smiling, “He was nice to everyone. Even if they didn’t really deserve it. But he could become mean when he wished to.”  

“Where is Guillermo?” The boy didn’t even bother looking up as he asked the question, which Nandor was silently grateful for. He didn’t wanna see how rigid his body becomes and the pained grimace on his face. “He’s.. gone. That’s all.”

Colin looks up, his creepy adult face peering at Nandor. “Will you ever see him again?”

I hope so. 

Nandor shakes his head. “I’d rather not.”

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

Another year went by and they had lost their boy, but the original Colin Robinson had made a comeback. Colin had no memory of being raised by Laszlo and Nandor, just remembering the final moments of his birthday almost two years ago. It was mildly upsetting, more so for Laszlo than anybody else. But that’s life, Nandor supposes. 

He sits and watches as Lyle, their familiar of the month, begins to throw all of baby Colin’s toys in garbage bags. He would offer to help but.. that’s a familiar duty. He already helped too often when Guillermo was around..

Why are you still thinking of him?

What do you mean?

It’s been years now. He’s gone. He’s not your friend, he shouldn’t have been your friend, period. 

I have a right to mourn my close companion. 

He shouldn’t have been!

Nandor rubbed at his temples and groaned. Enough..

Maybe Nadja is right. We’re nothing but a weak little soft boy who can’t do anything without a little pig shit of a familiar. 

Enough..

Are we gonna let Lyle become close as well? Are we gonna take him flying across New York City? Should we bring him extra beating off pillows? Should-

ENOUGH. 

Everything was a blur. But when he finally came too, when he felt grounded, he was met with stares of confusion and distaste. 

He was sitting in front of the window, at the table where he frequently played chess at. But the table was gone, having been flipped over and thrown across the room. The chess board and its pieces were scattered along the floor and have broken into smaller bits, along with the small antique clock that was also resting on the table, all their little bits and pieces being completely shattered on the wall. 

Lyle stood in the corner, shivering, while his housemates watched from the doorways. None of them looked pleased or entertained. Well, except maybe the reformed Colin Robinson, his eyes glowing a bright blue. 

Nandor stood there, fists clenched, and he didn’t even notice he was heaving. His eyes burned and he felt.. weak. 

“I’m hungry,” is all he mutters before leaving the fancy room and storming out the door and misting into the night. 

Fool. 

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

Another year goes by. Another familiar gone. Dead. Humans are always such flimsy beings. And there’s been so many messes to clean up lately that the group has decided to put a break on the usage of familiars. Just for a month, so no one gets suspicious. 

So that’s how Nandor ended up in the attic, hair pulled back and wearing his favourite jersey as he declutters the attic. Tries to anyways. There’s a small box in the corner that’s filled with old knick knacks that he deems is garbage. Now he sits in the opposite corner, smiling to himself as he digs through other old boxes and fiddles with the things he finds. He’s currently fixated on a Chinese finger trap he received many decades ago as a gift. Soon, he becomes frustrated with the toy as his fingers actually get stuck, his giddy smile immediately souring as his eyebrows furrow together. 

He grunts and thrashes around, shouting with glee as his fingers get unstuck but grimacing once his arms hit a few boxes, their contents spilling onto the floor. Nandor huffs. Well, he had to get back to work sometime..

He gets on his knees and quickly shuffled through the items. Cursed cup here, garbage, old pieces of paper there, garbage.. but what really caught his way was the shiny piece of cardboard. 

Gingerly, Nandor picked it up and inspected the damage. It was rather old looking, some corners being ripped off and the glitter having either fallen off or faded away. But the portrait is still recognizable. 

The portrait was rather damp and the figures were faded, but Nandor still knew it was supposed to be the glitter portrait he gave to Guillermo all those years ago. Nandor must’ve left it behind when he packed Guillermo’s things, and one of the familiars must’ve packed it away to the attic when they moved in..

The longer Nandor sat there and stared at that sorry excuse of a portrait, the more of those sad feelings he felt. Those years of loneliness, hell even fear, catching up to him..

Nandor didn’t waste any time in throwing the portrait into the box with the rest of the clutter, snatching up the box and stormed downstairs and out to the backyard. 

The winter air made Nandor shudder but he cared less as he dropped the box to the ground, glaring at the box with a such contempt you think the box murdered his entire family. 

Without another thought, Nandor waved his wrist and the cardboard was immediately set aflame. The first to burn bright was that damned glitter portrait. The vampire just stared as the glitter particles melted, Guillermo’s face melting away. 

Nandor ignored the dampness under his eyes as he walked back inside. 

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

Nandor laid miserably on the loveseat in the library. He had long since stopped counting the days, weeks, months, years since he hypnotized Guillermo. It feels like it’s been centuries. You think he’d be able to forget him by now. But the hole that Guillermo left in his undead heart is still fresh. Nandor thinks he’d never be able to forgot those green eyes and-

Wait. No. 

Nandor sits up as whatever blood left in his body runs cold. 

That’s not right. 

His eyes were.. grey. 

No. 

Black?

No no. 

Brown. Yes. Yes they were brown. They had to have been. 

Right?

Nandor tightly closed his eyes as he tried to think. 

Guillermo had.. thin.. wavy light brown hair..

No..

Thick blonde hair with a fringe. 

No, he was a redhead. 

Nandor shook his head, trying to keep his sobs down in his throat. 

No. No no no no, please..

Guillermo.. he was.. shorter than him.. below his chest.. under his chin? Right below his eyes.. he wore.. bright clothes.. he was.. thin..? He was.. loud, outgoing.. He was.. he was..

Nandor held his face in his hands, biting on his lip hard enough that it drew blood so no sounds would slip out. 

Maybe he did forget Guillermo. Just in the worst way imaginable. 

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

“August!” Nandor calls from his crypt, currently rummaging through his closet to find something nice to wear for the evening. Nandor had long since banned his familiars from dressing and bathing him. Too.. intimate, he realizes. Reopens too many old wounds that should’ve healed over by now. It took him many months on relearning how to properly take care of himself, but he eventually got the hang of it. It was the boots that were the hardest part. He smiled to himself once he found his favourite red cape, with the gold designs and rich brown fur around the collar. But the good mood is ruined when his familiar doesn’t arrive..

He groans and shouts again. “August!” He hums when he hears stomping coming from up the stairs to down the hall. August opens the door, breathing heavy and his hair all tousled up. “S-Sorry master, one of the bodies was-“

“I don’t care about that,” Nandor waved him off with a roll of his eyes. “What’s the plan tonight? Will there be virgins at this art show?”

August nods. “I, uh.. I-I think so, there should-“

“What do you mean ‘think so’, August?” Nandor raises an eyebrow, head tilting just ever so slightly to the left. August’s face visibly flushes and he stammers. So Nandor caught him in a lie by the looks of it. August just takes a breath, “I-I just, i-i really wanted to go to this show, there’s a few artists there that I have been dying to meet for ages, so I just figured-“

Nandor groans and waves him off again. “I do not appreciate being lied to, August. You’re lucky Nadja and Laszlo aren’t joining us tonight.” The boy gives a small smile, taking a breath of relief. “Oh.. so you’re not upset?”

“Oh, no, I’m very upset, I’m thinking that I might eat you after the art show,” Nandor says in a more unbothered tone as he clips his cape on. He can’t help but smirk as he listens to August’s heart start beating faster than before, his blood pumping. 

“Now!” Nandor claps his hands and smiles, flashing his fangs. “Where is this art show?”

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

It was a rather short walk to the museum the showing was it, the chill autumn air blowing through Nandor’s hair and cape. He always loved the autumn season. It just.. reminded him of something. Something warm and familiar..

“So are you gonna wander around or are you gonna stick with me?”

Nandor looks down at August, still very nervous about the comment Nandor made earlier, about eating him. Thinking of it again makes him chuckle. “I think I’ll wander.. who knows, maybe I will find a virgin or two inside,” he shrugs. 

August pays for both of their entries, $50 each, and the human immediately books it to the art exhibits. Nandor could care less though, humming to himself as he walks the opposite direction. 

He’s not sure where he’s going, he doesn’t think he’s ever been too this museum before, so he just walks and walks until he sees something that’s worthy of his attention. And that something are signs that read ‘de la Cruz Artistry’ and point to certain directions. The name sounds familiar. Again.. something warm.. he shakes it off and just follows the signs, the more closer he gets, the more people he finds. 

Whoever this de la Cruz person is, they’re popular. Nandor enters the room and his amazed by the paintings he sees. Beautiful, stunning oil paintings that are mainly of landscapes and portraits. 

The oldest ones start on the left, and the newer ones are on the right side of the room. The older ones, starting from 2021, are more.. uglier, is how Nandor would put it. Very messy, you could have easily told that they had just started painting around this time. But Nandor keeps walking and he soon notices a pattern. That’s a figure always prominent in the paintings, someone who is supposed to be tall with long dark hair and a beard. As Nandor gets to the year 2029, the person becomes more visible. The artwork has definitely improved in the eight year time frame, so it’s very clearly supposed to be a man, wearing ancient yet elegant clothing, and he is often stood next to three other figures, two other men and a woman, though one of the men is dressed in clad boring shades of brown, the other man and woman are dressed in similar gothic fashion. But their faces are always blank, or wiped out. 

Looks like us, Nandor thinks to himself with a goofy grin. 

Nandor looks at the latest painting, says it’s from earlier that year in 2038, and it’s of two people in a park. Its a landscape, late at night, during the fall season, and the two figures stand across from each other. One is the tall handsome man in the other paintings, with an arm outstretched in front of the other man’s face. As usual, his face is blank, almost blurry. While the other man is shorter, almost below his chin by the looks of it, and he wears modern clothing, a wool sweater with a wind breaker over it. The painting has.. a sad feeling to it. And Nandor recognizes it. 

He snorts and shakes his head.

Weird, he thinks. He looks down at the card so he could read the paintings name. Reminds me of..

The Last Moment

By Guillermo de la Cruz. 2038.

Oh. 

Nandor takes a step back and looks at the other paintings around him. The mystery man was supposed to him, wasn’t it? He sees it now. The cloaks, the long dark hair..

He can’t breath, his lungs haven’t worked in almost eight centuries. But something is hammering inside his chest and.. it hurts. The last time he felt this way was.. more than a decade ago, he realizes. That sad, long walk home in the fall seventeen years ago. After he had.. made a mistake. 

He takes a breath and tries to find an exit way. He can leave. He should leave. August can either abandon his post as a familiar or find his way back home by himself, but all Nandor needs right now is to leave. So he tries to make his way through the crowd, muttering apologies to those he bumps into and giving grimaced fangy grins. And he was so close to the door when-

“Ouch, shit!” Nandor hissed, someone having stepped on his boot. “Oh, god, I’m so sorry,” Nandor looked at the human and his eyes went wide. “Sir, I didn’t mean to, I-..” the humans own eyes went wide behind rectangular glasses. 

How could someone look so different yet just the same, Nandor has no clue. His hair was much longer, more curlier, more.. free, maybe. There was some silver strands here and there, more so at his temples. He wore rectangular glasses instead of the circular ones Nandor barely remembers anymore. And he was right the fourth time. He had brown eyes. Ones that made you feel at home. Safe. Guarded. 

He didn’t think, he just remembers transforming into a bat and getting the hell out of there. He flies hard and fast, staying close to the ceiling so nobody could hit him with their purses or random brooms. He thinks he’s in the clear once he gets outside, he’s alone out there, and takes his human form. He looks at the entrance and there’s nothing. He takes a breath and walks down the steps of the museum and is distracted enough to not here the stomping coming from inside and the entrance doorway swinging right open. 

Nandor makes a noise when there’s a strong hand on his shoulder and he’s suddenly face to face with the little human man again. His Guillermo. All those features he had forgotten had come surfacing back with ease.. but that didn’t explain-

“Why did you do that to me?” Guillermo asks with a voice crack, breathing heavily as he digs his fingers into Nandor’s shoulder. Nandor’s mouth is agape, completely at a loss for words so he stammers as he looks over Guillermo’s face. He looks.. hurt. In pain. It’s clear the man is trying not to cry and isn’t doing a good job of hiding it. He can’t help but wince when Guillermo digs a little deeper and pushes a bit. “Why..” Guillermo speaks again through gritted teeth, "did you do that to me, Nandor?”

Hearing his name through Guillermo’s mouth was something he never expected. Especially not that tone of betrayal. It hurt more than the sunrays on his exposed skin.

“I didn’t want to hurt you, Guillermo,” Nandor’s voice is uncharacteristically soft, serious. “.. I just wanted you to be happy.”

Guillermo scoffs. He lets Nandor go with a slight shove, a wide yet grimaced smile on his face. “Happy.. you just wanted me to be happy?!”

“Yes, is that so hard to-“

“You wiped my memory, erased all my fucking memories cuz you wanted me to be happy?!”

“I didn’t erase all of your memories!” Nandor argues back. “Just the ones that had me in them! And.. Nadja, Laszlo, and.. all of vampire kind..”

Guillermo scoffs and shakes his head, before continuing on, “God, you are un-fucking.. believe it or not, I was happy, Nandor! With you! A-And with Laszlo, with Nadja, even with Colin Robinson! And you fucking took that away from me!” He shouted, raising his arms as he did, “a-and for fucking what! Why!?”

“I told you!” Nandor shouted back with an exasperated tone. “Literally just told you, I-“

“You,” Guillermo poked at Nandor’s chest, eyebrows furrowing, “have never cared about my comfort, my safety, nor my happiness beforehand. So.. what, now just.. all of a sudden, seventeen years ago, you thought taking away my memories would make things better?!”

“How did you even remember?!” Nandor asks, raising his own arms now. “I know I’m no Laszlo, but I think I’m pretty good at hypnosis!”

Guillermo scoffed, a fake but still angry smile on his lips. “Nandor, all fucking offense to you, but I think old age gets to you, because you’re absolute shit at hypnosis.” Nandor gasps, hand on his chest, but before he could even defend his own honour, Guillermo starts back up again.

“Sure, I didn’t remember ANY of you guys until tonight, but I still remembered vague scenes, silhouettes! The amount of times I have woken up screaming from what I thought were nightmares..! My therapists thought I was fucking insane when I told about them about the theatre incident! And the only way I could get myself to remember is through that!” He points towards the museum. His art. “Every painting I did was like.. I-I slowly gained back a memory, but I couldn’t remember any names or exact faces, god until tonight.. and I thought I was doing so good too!” He drops his arms to his sides, “My mom doesn’t treat me like a time bomb anymore, I have friends that genuinely care about me, I-I tried going on dates! But of all nights you had to walk back into my life, it had to be tonight! Right when my career is supposed to have a big fucking take off, you just.. stride in like it’s nothing!” His voice cracks only get worse, his eyes now red and puffy, cheeks tear stained and warm. Nandor wanted nothing more than to close the space between them and hold him close in his arms. He was still breathing so heavily, chest rising and falling rapidly. He stopped and took a deep breath through his mouth before speaking again. 

“The minute.. that I laid eyes on you, Nandor.. the minute that I realized that it was you, that you weren’t just a figment of my sick imagination.. everything came flooding back. Everything. All the names, the faces, the rituals, the.. suffering. It was a like dam broke in my mind..” Guillermo spoke slow, but still had that angry bite to it. “Everyone inside thinks I’m insane right now, chasing after a fucking bag.. And I just..” He stammered and shook his head. “What are you even doing here?!”

Nandor fiddled with his ring, glancing around himself before answering. “My.. familiar, he told me there would be virgins tonight, so I.. tagged along.. I didn’t realize you would be here..”

“..That’s it..?” Guillermo says with a scoff. “Just.. came for food? You didn’t..”

Nandor waits for him to finish. Guillermo doesn’t. He just sighs. He’s disappointed, shoulders slouching. He shakes his head, defeated. “Just.. go, Nandor..” his voice was so weak now as he turns around and walks back up the stairs. 

Nandor grabs his wrist. “Guillermo, please..”

“Please, what, Nandor?” Guillermo pulls his wrist away with enough force that it makes Nandor stumble. “What is there is say? You fucked up, fucked everything up, and now there is nothing more to say.. I-I..” he sighs, quickly wiping the tears from his eyes. “I have nothing else to even say to you anymore.. just leave.”

Nandor stood there like a fool, staring hopelessly at Guillermo as he he disappeared back inside. 

So just like that, Nandor once again ruined his best friends life a second time. Maybe a third, if you count their first meeting outside that Panera Bread twenty odd years ago. Guillermo had went out to throw some garbage out, while Nandor was feasting on a rather drunk businessman. Nandor was tall, dark, and wet from the rain. His hair was in disarray and his cruel mouth was weeping crimson blood. While that shy, nervous eighteen year old boy just stared at him like he was God. His jaw dropped, eyes wider than saucers, and Nandor didn’t know it, but Guillermo felt as if his heart was being set on fire and goosebumps ran rapid all over his body. He smiled. That fucking boy smiled at a vampire, smiled at death, and followed him home. 

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

As Nandor suspected, August never came home that night. He couldn’t care. Nadja and Laszlo were actually getting a new familiar the following Sunday, so he could mooch off of them for another week or two. 

But now, he just lays in coffin, a week after his and Guillermo’s confrontation. Their first interaction in seventeen years and he ruined it. He was miserable, restless. Guillermo and their meeting being the only thing plaguing his mind since he came home from the museum. Nandor thought of him countlessly over the past plus decade, but it felt like after every passing minute, he nearly forgot what he looked like, sounded like. It could’ve been the old age, the vampire was nearing 8 centuries old now. Eesh..

Nandor groaned and shook his head, squirming in his coffin and screwed his eyes shut as he tried to slumber. No more Guillermo.. it’s clear he has no interest so.. I must leave him be..

He had no real need to breath, but Nandor found himself deeply inhaling and sharply exhaling either way. Slumber.. he needed to slumber, to forget about Guillermo.. Guillermo and how hurt he looked when he realized it was Nandor.. The betrayal on his face. The tears in his eyes, the angry wavering tone in his voice.. 

He groans and throws open his coffin lid. Enough of this..

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

The flight to The Bronx from Staten Island was a long one. It was almost 12 in the morning when Nandor flew out from his window in bat form, and he had moments where he wanted to turn back, go back home into coffin. After all, even if Guillermo was no longer a vampire slayer or bodyguard, he still had Van Helsing DNA pumping through his veins. He could very well kick Nandor’s ass if he ever wished. But Nandor kept trudging. It was another hour of flying before he finally bumping into the right window of an apartment complex. The smell was strong, comforting.. it had to be him. 

Nandor began to annoyingly squeak and scratch at the window and sure enough, maybe about 20 minutes of doing so, Guillermo walked up to the window, hair standing in many different directions with his glasses not present. His brows furrowed as he noticed the bat at the window and just kind of stared at the creature for a few seconds, before jumping and nearly screaming by the looks of it when Nandor took his human form, now floating a couple of feet in the air. 

“Guillermo, could you let me in please?” Nandor called with a small smile, still very nervous but he was a strong, brave vampire.. he could try and woe his old familiar back. Guillermo huffed and opened the window, just a crack before crossing his arms. “Why would I do that, Nandor?”

Nandor sighed and tried to ignore the shudder down his spine. Guillermo saying his name.. it did things to him, in both the sad, depressing AND sexy, attractive way. “Maybe you could let me explain some more?”

Guillermo clicked his tongue and shook his head, “what is there more to explain, I mean, you took away my memories because-“

“Just, Guillermo, please,” Nandor begged. His voice was wavering, just a bit, and he held his hands together as he pleaded. “Just.. invite me in. And let me explain. Please.” Guillermo stood there, still as a board, before he cursed under his breath in Spanish before speaking up. “I invite you inside, Nandor..”

He slipped inside after turning into a vapour and retook his human form. Nandor straightened his posture and pat down his clothes, then took in his surroundings. The walls were painted a light shade of brown and there wasn’t much for decorating. A few painting and photos hung up, small monster trinkets laying about. But something felt.. off. Felt empty, despite the two bodies in the living room, the kitchen sets, the couches and chairs, the bookshelves. Something wasn’t.. right. 

Despite that, Nandor shrugged it off, turning to look at Guillermo and tried giving him a small smile but he couldn’t help but shrink when he noticed how.. depressed Guillermo really looked down. The man had dark eye bags, his hair in complete disarray, crinkles near his eyes and cheeks. 

“.. how old are you now, Guillermo?” Nandor asked softly. The man sighed and combed his fingers through his brown, greying hair. “I just turned forty-seven a couple weeks ago.. heh, what, do I really look that old already?” He tries to give a small, tired smile. Nandor’s eyes widened and he takes a step forward, where Guillermo takes a step back, “N-No, you look.. good, really good, actually! Really..” he waves his hand up and down and gives his own awkward smile, “.. dilfy.”

Guillermo grimaces, though his cheeks suddenly become red. Yes, maybe not the best compliment to give out at a time like this..

Guillermo just sighs and leans against a wall, his arms crossed over his chest. “What do you want, Nandor, honestly..” he asks. Nandor can’t help but frown as he takes in his features in the moonlight. He’s so.. tired. “Because I just.. I-I don’t even know where to be begin..”

Nandor fiddled with his ring and took a deep breath, despite again that his lungs haven’t worked in almost 8 centuries. But it calmed him down almost. “Guillermo, what I have done to you was.. wrong, and I know you may never forgive me..” beat.. “..but you need to understand I did what I thought was best for the both of us. I believed that you deserved something.. better than what we were giving you at home, what I was giving you, so.. I am sorry.”

It was quiet, except for the ticking of a clock Guillermo had somewhere in his apartment. It made Nandor want to shrivel up and bat away. 

Guillermo sighs. He runs his fingers through his grown brown hair, head shaking. “What was best for the both of us..” he repeated before letting out a small scoff. “God, that’s.. truly pathetic, Nandor, you are so-“

“Hey!” Nandor stomped his foot, knowing full well Guillermo would see him as a toddler in this moment, but he couldn’t care. “I know you weren’t happy in that household, so I thought-“

“But I was happy, Nandor!” Guillermo shouted, throwing his arms up. “Sure, I got treated like shit there! But I was happy! I loved our routines! I loved how all of us, me, you, Laszlo, Nadja, even fucking Colin Robinson, all slotted together like some fucked up puzzle piece! We were supposed to be a family, Nandor!” His voice was breaking and quivering, his chestnut eyes were watering, “I stuck around for almost twelve years with you because despite all the shit you had put me through, I still looked up to you! Because I fucking loved you, you fucking idiot!”

More silence, save for that damned ticking which was now followed by the rapid heartbeat coming from Guillermo, which only Nandor could hear. They stared at each other with wide eyes, Guillermo’s lip quivering and his face flushed, with both embarrassment and anger most like.

“Get out of here, Nandor..” Guillermo mumbles before turning his back and walked away from the vampire, his arms wrapped around himself like a form of protection. 

Nandor knew he should leave, turn away. Head back to Staten Island, back home. 

But that manor stopped being a home when Guillermo left. When he made Guillermo leave. 

He had no control over his body. He wasn’t thinking. But he felt himself taking long strides as he followed Guillermo. He didn’t think. He just moved. And suddenly his arms wrapped tightly wrapped around Guillermo. 

He held the human close, his back to his chest, and his grip only seemed to tightened the more Guillermo thrashed around. Nandor kept his eyes tightly closed as Guillermo screamed and shouted at him, fists punching at his arms then his shoulders, his chest. The human was sobbing as he kept pushing and pushing, trying to loosen the vampires grip in some way. But then Nandor found his fingers raking through Guillermo’s curls, a small hushes and words in a language he had long forgotten years ago slipping past his lips. It wasn’t long before Guillermo gave in, becoming limp in Nandor’s arms as he freely cried. 

Nandor slowly dropped to his knees while still cradling Guillermo in his arms, one hand on his back and the other in his hair, the human clinging to him like a lifeline. 

For the eleven years Guillermo served him as a familiar, he had denied them both this pleasure. While the hug was definitely under circumstances Nandor didn’t want, it was still something. Whatever this was, it felt right. Felt like home. 

“I know nothing I have done will change what I have done to you..” Nandor swallowed the lump in his throat. “.. to us.. but Guillermo, please believe me when I say that all I wished was nothing but the best for you.. you deserved a better love, someone.. who wasn’t me..”

Guillermo sniffed and wiped his at his eyes and nose before looking up at Nandor with those glossy chestnut eyes. 

Even at his worst, he looked like the shining sun. 

“You’re the fucking worst..” Guillermo murmured. 

Nandor flashed a fangy grin. “Yes, I believed you told me that before.”

Guillermo let out a small, wet laugh as he shook his head. Nandor only smiled. 

Nandor took Guillermo’s face with his hand, his thumb rubbing at his rosy cheek. “Guillermo, i..” he sighs, “I’ve been lost without you, so lost, and I know I am just an idiot who just keeps running from things.. from his own heart..” he whispered. “.. but I don’t think I want to run anymore..”

The two stared at each other for a minute, before Guillermo made the first move. He leaned up and captured Nandor’s lips with his own and everything was right. Their first kiss had started off slow, sweet, and gentle. They pulled away and found themselves staring at each other once again, Guillermo’s blood pumping away through his veins as he breathed through his mouth. Nandor recaptured his lips and didn’t hesitate to deepen their kiss. Not that Guillermo seemed to complain. 

Things were heated up quickly, clothes were tugged at, little nips were made. They sat there on that living room floor for what felt like hours, just touching and grabbing wherever they could, before Guillermo pulled away and dragged Nandor to his feet and attempted to guide him to his bedroom, their hands dare not leaving the others body, as if they feared that even if they would let go for a single moment, the other would disappear. Clothes were shed in the middle of kisses, Guillermo letting out breathless giggles and soft moans. 

They fell onto the plush mattress together and fell into a rhythm. Nandor took his time in memorizing Guillermo’s body, worshipping him like he should have all those years ago. Nandor, while always a thoughtful lover, didn’t like taking things slow. But Guillermo was different. Oh so different. 

Nandor didn’t care for the time. Who knew when the sun was gonna rise, and he sure as hell didn’t bring any ancestral soil with him, but he couldn’t care. He was here with Guillermo, reunited at long last. That’s all that matters. 

Nandor the Relentless lost his home thrice. Twice, with the great Al’Qolnidar. When he was driven out by peasants and when it was dissolved right under his nose. Then when he wiped the memories of Guillermo de la Cruz. He could never get his first home back. But now that he has had a true taste of what a new home is, he doesn’t ever want to let go. 

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

The analog clock beside Guillermo’s bed was flashing a red 4:43 am when they were finished, bodies warm and sweaty as they held each other under the covers. Guillermo immediately claimed little spoon, which Nandor didn’t object to. He rubbed at his loves back, shoulder, his head, wherever he could as he just savoured the moment. 

Nandor hasn’t felt this kind of peace in many years. No old flame or lover could compare to this.

“Nandor.” Guillermo poked at Nandor’s shoulder. “Im talking to you.” His voice was voice was soft and almost raspy, very laced with sleepiness. Nandor just grinned. “Sorry, my love.. what is it?”

Guillermo huffed, “I was just asking what now?”

Nandor furrowed his brows and looked down at the human. “What do you mean?”

Guillermo couldn’t help but frown as he looked up at other, bottom lip pushing out like a little pout. “Well, I mean for one, I highly doubt you brought your soil with you, so you definitely can’t stay here but..” he sighed. “You’re not gonna.. wipe my memories again, are you?” 

Nandor’s eyes widened as he short right up, startling Guillermo. “No, of course not! Not only did it not work the first time, but that would be cruel! Confessing my love to you only to ruin us again! That’s just-“

“Okay, I was just asking,” Guillermo chuckled and sat up, pulling the sheet over his chest, “still begs the question. What.. are we? Like.. is this just.. a one time thing, are we gonna keep seeing each other, do we have to keep this a secret or-“ 

The little man kept rambling on, fiddling with the sheet as he did. The nerves were just radiating off him like waves, anyone could sense insecurities and fears coming from the aged artist. 

Nandor frowned as he did start thinking though. What could this mean? Guillermo did have a good life as a painter here.. but Nandor knew he wasn’t happy.. just like at Panera Bread. 

He smiled as he jumped out of bed. 

“Guillermo, get your clothes on, we need to go!”

Guillermo stammered as he tried crawling out of bed, wincing and cursing in Spanish as he did. “G-Go..? Go where, Nandor, what-“

Nandor quickly tugged on his trousers and boots, still smiling like a mad man as he kept gathering up his clothing. “Guillermo, please, I’ll explain on the way, we need to go back to the manor!”

The human sighed as he gathered up his own clothes, though much slower than Nandor was. “Nandor, I’m really not in the mood to take the ferry or the train, especially just after-“

Nandor stopped and looked at Guillermo with a confused look. “Silly Guillermo, we are not taking the train, we’ll by flying back home!”

He froze, his face suddenly turning pale. “Oh.. flying..? That’s, uh..”

Nandor kept on buttoning up his shirt and fixing his waistcoat as Guillermo had his dilemma. “Yes, flying, what’s the point of being a vampire and having cool vampire powers if you’re not going to use them, right?”

“R-Right.. uh.. I-it’s just, um.. Nandor, I may have-“

“The flight will take less than an hour, but I would prefer to leave as soon as possible, I’d rather not get sun burnt.”

“Yes, of course, but listen-“

“I can’t even remember which way the sunrises, is it the east or north-“

“Nandor, I have a fear of heights!”

Nandor froze again, right in the middle of slipping on his coat as he looks at Guillermo, who is still rather naked. “.. I’m sorry?”

Guillermo took a breath, nervously fidgeting with his fingers. “Look, the mind swipe kinda.. fucked up a lot for me, okay? I-I can’t handle the sight of blood anymore, heights scare the living shit out of me, I-I had the biggest fear of fucking wood for some reason, I-“

Guillermo shut his mouth as he felt Nandor’s cool hand touch his burning hot shoulder, the vampire rubbing his thumb over the warm skin and gave him a reassuring smile. “Guillermo, it is fine to have a little fear.. I almost shit myself flying here to meet you!”

Guillermo gave a small grin and rubbed at Nandor’s wrist. “So.. that’s a no to the flying..?”

“Oh, no, we are very much still flying, I was just going to say it’ll be a nice exercise for you to get over your fear!”

Guillermo deflated and frowned, but didn’t press any further. He shoved Nandor’s hand off him and walked to his closet. “Atleast give me sometime to get ready, I need to wash up after.. that..”

Nandor shrugs and leaned against the wall as he watched Guillermo shuffle through his clothes. “Fine by me.”

It was quiet, but for once it was something comfortable. It reminded Nandor of the days that they would quietly play chess together on rainy days. 

“How is everyone at the house anyways?” Guillermo suddenly asks, finished wiping down his body with a towel. Nandor hummed, “Same old, I suppose.. Nadja is still in control of the vampiric council, she’s the sole leader.”

“What happened with co-leading?”

“Well, after I made you leave and Colin Robinson’s death, I grew very depressed and decided to-“

“Wait, what?” Guillermo’s voice was quiet. “Colin Robinson is.. dead..?”

Nandor waved his hand. “He was only dead for about a week before a baby emerged from his chest cavity.”

“Wait, what?!” Guillermo’s eyes grew wide as saucers, hands gripping a sweater. “Nandor, that’s-“

“We took care of him!” Nandor cut him off, arms crossing. “Well.. me and Laszlo. We were basically The Boy’s fathers for nearly two years before-“

“Wait, let me guess, he died too?”

“Ehh.. technically? He grew into an adult and the old Colin Robinson returned.”

Silence. 

Guillermo groaned and pulled out a button up shirt. “I shouldn’t have asked..” he muttered. 

“Mm, well you did, you little rascal, now where as I..? Oh, yes, after Colin had died, I decided to take a super slumber to try and ease my depression, and left Nadja in charge of the council, but the slumber only lasted two weeks before Laszlo woke me and told me of the baby that crawled it’s way out of the dead Colin Robinson.”

Guillermo simply hummed in acknowledgement, though he grimaced at the mental image.  

Nandor grins. “I’d say we were good parents.. I certainly spoiled the boy, I indulged in whatever interest the boy had, mostly musical theatre, which Laszlo did not care for..” 

The two chuckled and giggled over the last comment. Laszlo was always very vocal over his distaste of theatre. To think he ended up raising a theatre child himself. 

“How about you, Guillermo?” Nandor asks. “Other than your successful art career.. how was your life?”

Guillermo chewed on his lip as he now looked through his pants drawer. “It was.. fine, I guess.. extremely hard the first few years.. a lot of intense therapy, my family thought I was a freak, had no real friends until I started selling paintings, but even then, artists can be kinda cruel..” he gave a sad chuckle. “I did try dating a few times.. never lasted long though.. think my last boyfriend was.. Freddie Evans.. yeah, a few months ago we broke up.”

“What happened?” Nandor asked softly. Guillermo just sighed. “It didn’t feel right. None of my relationships did. And Freddie only ever liked talking about antiques and stuff, he was.. kinda boring, but he was nice.. I did like him, but..” he glanced up at Nandor and gave a small shy grin. “None of them were really you, so..”

If Nandor could blush, he could. The moths ate away at his stomach and his undead heart felt like it was burst out of his chest. He only glanced at the floor to his boots. Guillermo giggled. 

Some more comfortable silence, save for some zipping of metal and grunts here and there, then Guillermo was ready to go. The man wore just a simple ensemble of a dress shirt, trousers, boots and a checkered coat. His curly hair was styled to the side and it was finished off with those black rimmed rectangular glasses. Yes, very dilfy..

Nandor claps his hands together, trying to gather his thoughts before he loses his sense of control. “Now! Shall we go?”

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

The flight back to Staten Island wasn’t a steady one. 

Guillermo demanded he be carried on Nandor’s back, instead of the way they used to do it years ago, with Nandor wrapping his arms around Guillermo’s middle or under his arms. The human cursed and cried almost the entire flight to Staten Island, face buried into the vampires neck, and the way he was constantly shaking like a scared little dog did not help Nandor’s concentration. 

Nandor rubbed at Guillermo’s hand, trying to soothe his human as they flew nearer to the manor. “Guillermo, it is fine! We have done this a hundred times before, yes? This is no different! Oh, look, we’re about to pass by that little restaurant you liked!”

He couldn’t see the other properly, but he felt Guillermo taking a peak down below them, his grip tightening. But Nandor smiled when he heard a soft laugh come from Guillermo, and oh so slowly, he let one hand flow with the wind while the other arm was still wrapped firmly around Nandor’s neck. 

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived gracefully at the steps of the manor on the rocky shores of Staten Island. Nandor helped Guillermo go steady on his feet and immediately took notice of the nervous energy the human was radiating. His body was rigid and his little heart was beating faster than a scared bunny rabbits. Nandor frowned. “What are you so nervous for, Guillermo?” He asked. 

Guillermo took a breath. “Well you still haven’t told me why you brought me here..” he mumbled, “and another thing, I guess.. it’s been seventeen years and you all have very short memory enough as it is.. they won’t remember me..” he rubbed at his own arms, trying to stop the nervous shakes. “So much has changed.. I changed.. I don’t know what to expect when I walk through that door, Nandor..”

Nandor hummed and wrapped a reassuring arm around his partners shoulder. “I understand.. but I tell you what, hm? We go upstairs to my crypt and I’ll finally tell you what my plan is, yes?”

Guillermo is quiet before he sighs. “Yeah.. okay..”

Nandor opens the door and ushers Guillermo inside, letting him take in his surroundings. 

“Still.. looks the same, pretty much atleast..” Guillermo whispers, walking deeper into the house and sheds off his coat. 

“The familiars we’ve been hiring always do a rather impressive job before they die of a tragic accident, it’s always a shame really,” Nandor tuts as he follows behind Guillermo. “How many familiars have you even gone through since I was gone?” Guillermo asked as he turned to face his ex master. Nandor twisted his ring as he stood in thought, trying to think on the spot.. “.. All three of us combined, i believe nearly 60 familiars in the past seventeen years.”

Guillermo put a hand over his chest, face paling for a moment before he just took a breath and shook his head. “Anyways.. to your crypt, I suppose?” He looked almost shy in asking that, as if they didn’t spend almost two hours making love in the same night. Nandor held back a giggle at the thought, just simply nodding and began his trip up the stairs. Guillermo followed without question. 

Nandor’s crypt was a bit messy, clothes strewn about the room from the last week, dirty goblets littered on his dressers and tables, his coffin lid still open from earlier that evening. “Still the same..” Guillermo says to himself, a small grin on his lips. “I hope you didn’t bring me back here just to clean for you.”

“Oh no, of course not, my dear Guillermo,” Nandor says as he now digs around through a drawer. “Something better than that.”

“Mm, like what?”

Nandor smiles as he pulls out a dagger, beautifully created with gold and jewels. “.. Guillermo, being without for nearly two decades has given me plenty of time to think,” he sets the dagger down and searches for a clean goblet. “And finding you again was like.. finding a missing puzzle piece to a puzzle that’s been waiting centuries to be finished.” His voice was almost soft, bordering on both giddiness while still having a somber tone. 

“.. Nandor, what are you getting at?” Guillermo asked. 

Nandor turned to Guillermo, holding a bronze goblet that looked so tiny in his hand. He smiled, eyes gentle as he looked at his long lost sun. “Guillermo, I don’t wish to be parted from you from this day on, hence why..” he grabs the dagger and takes a few steps, standing just a foot away from the human man. 

“I am going to make you a vampire. If that is what you still wish.”

Guillermo’s eyes widened, his hands gripping the sides of his pants. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, heart pounding away again. If Nandor wasn’t careful, he was sure he would kill Guillermo via heart attack..

“Nandor, that is.. a lot you are asking of me..” He says after swallowing down a lump in his throat, voice wavering and soft. “This is still something you want, correct?” Nandor asks, and that even made Guillermo more flustered. The man stammered before scoffing, “Nandor, you can’t just.. ask me this, I have a whole life now, my family, my art, my-“

“But you’re not happy.”

“Excuse me?” Guillermo raised an eyebrow, taking a step back. 

“When I was at your home, Guillermo, that.. didn’t feel like a home. Yes, you were sleeping there, you have all your little trinkets there. But you werent living there. I don’t think you are happy, Guillermo, I think you’re lying to yourself again,” Nandor speaks slow, his own voice quivering just a little bit. He could be wrong. He could he risking this relationship again if this ‘evaluation’ was incorrect. 

The man just stood there, dumbfounded. Nandor sighed, setting down the items in his hands. “I.. will not force you into becoming a vampire. I am not that cruel, it is just I-“

“Give me a week.”

Nandor’s eyes grew wide. “What..?”

Guillermo nervously fiddled with his sleeve of his dress shirt. He took a breath before speaking again, “I need a week. Let me.. break off my ties, y’know? Cut off some loose ends, come up with.. some sort of plan.. I’ll tell you what I want by the end of the week.”

Nandor reached for Guillermo’s hand and smiled softly. “Of course.. you can take as long as you need..” Guillermo smiled back as he squeezed his hands in a reassuring matter. “Is.. the big blue room still around?” He asks quietly. “I don’t think I wanna fly back home tonight..”

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

Guillermo spent the night at the manor, the first time in years, and Nandor laid with him. By the time the sun had set the following evening, Guillermo was gone. Gone to do his thinking, debating, maybe saying his goodbyes.. whatever Guillermo’s plan was, it did not help Nandor’s anxiety. For the following seven days, Nandor paced relentlessly around the manor, even annoying Colin Robinson with his incoherent mumbling. He barely had any time to eat, not like he would be able to stomach it. Every-time he tried to eat, he ended up puking it up just minutes later, like it was a human meal. 

It was now the eighth day since Guillermo’s departure. And he still hasn’t returned. 

“He’s gone.. again..” Nandor whimpers, laying on the floor in the fancy room, whilst Nadja read on the settee and Laszlo worked at his piano. “I drove him away, again! Scared him with my offer, or maybe he realized he could never forgive me for what I have done, or-“

“Oh shut it, Nandor! I can barely think with all your incomprehensible blabbering!” Laszlo groans with a wave of his hand, “I can see why.. Garret-“

“Guillermo,” Nandor pouts, “you know who he is, Laszlo! He was our bodyguard!”

“Have no fucking clue who you are talking about..” Laszlo mumbles before pressing more keys on his piano. 

Knock knock.. knock. 

“Nadjaaa..” Nandor whines. “The door.. please..”

“Why can’t you get it?” Nadja asked in an annoyed tone, pushing up her reading glasses. “It’s my brooding hour, Nadja, now please, the door..”

Nadja groaned and cursed, throwing her book down, mumbling to herself as she shot up and stormed to the entryway. 

“I should have made it more romantic.. talked to him more maybe..”

The door opened, some talking could be heard, then the sound of two pairs of footsteps walked their way to the fancy room. 

“Nandor..” Nadja spoke, standing back in the doorway with another figure.  

Nandor ignored her, waving his hand. “Nadja, I’m still brooding, it’s rude to interrupt..”

“Nandor.” Her voice was more firm. 

“Nadja, I am still upset over Guillermo boo-ing me, please just-“

She stomped her foot, “you stupid man, just sit up!”

Nandor groaned, slowly pushing himself up, “what is so-“ he looked at the doorway, at Nadja and the mystery figure. 

“Guillermo..” he whispers and quickly scrambles to his feet. 

Guillermo wore a white dress shirt that’s tucked into black slacks, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and it was all finished off with a shy smile. “Hi, Nandor..”

Nandor fiddled with his ring, nervously taking in the others appearance. “I.. assume you have taken up my offer..?”

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

“You are sure this is what you want?”

“Yes.”

“You are.. not doing this because I want this, right?”

“Nope.”

“Whatever is done, cannot be undone.”

He chuckles. “Yes, Nandor, I know, I know, I’ve.. wanted this since I was, like, eighteen. Besides, you’re the one that offered this a week ago.”

“A week plus a day! You are a day late, you little rascal.”

“Sorry, saying bye to my family was.. the difficult part..”

“Mm.. I told you that I won’t force you into this. If you need more time to think, or if your family-“

“Nandor.”

“.. yes?”

“Please.. I want this..”

…

“I want you.”

“.. oh Guillermo..”

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

Guillermo de la Cruz died September 20th 2038, 1:17 am, in the blue room inside the manor belonging to four unholy creatures of the night. Nandor the Relentless was sat by his side, a small smile on his lips as he ran his fingers through his brown curls. 

Nandor would dare not leave the room for almost a week. Sat perfectly still on that king sized bed, eyes glued to the cadaver of his lover until there were signs of unlife. 

Everyone in the household thought he was a mad man when he was screaming and laughing with joy when Guillermo awakened. 

So it was done and successful. 

Guillermo was turned into a vampire. 

◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤Ξ◢▅◣Ξ◥▅◤

“Still don’t exactly forgive you, by the way..”

“Mm?”

Nandor looked up at Guillermo, having claimed little spoon after their many many rounds of love making, just days after Guillermo’s turning. Neither of them liked the idea of sharing just yet, so they have been rather clingy the last few days. 

“The memory swipe, the last seventeen years..” Guillermo looked down at Nandor. “Still don’t know if I’ve forgiven you yet.”

Nandor frowned, sitting up right. “Then why..?”

Guillermo sighs, propping himself up with one arm while he rubbed at his neck with his free hand. “Because you were right. I wasn’t happy with my life. At all. Despite all the success. And despite everything you put me through.. I love you, Nandor,” he spoke softly but so surely. “But I still can’t pretend that it didn’t hurt. Still hurts actually.”

Nandor gave a small nod in understanding. “Yes.. is this one of those things where only time could possibly tell what will happen..?”

Guillermo just nodded back. “Yeah.. I think so.”

Quiet. That damned quiet. The sound of Guillermo’s heartbeat that used to comfort Nandor for years was no longer present either. 

“But I get it,” Guillermo spoke up again. “I know.. why..” he tucked a piece of long, dark hair behind Nandor’s ear. “You were scared and I.. I get that.. just hope you come to me before you make life changing decisions like that again.”

Nandor chuckles. “Swear on it.” He takes Guillermo’s hand and intertwines their fingers. “I just hope you could forgive me one day..”

Guillermo hums. “Well.. there is one thing that could.. I dunno, maybe speed up the process..”

Nandor cocked an eyebrow and smirked, his mind immediately going to dark and sexy places. “Ooh..? Well, what is it, Mr. Slayer?”

Guillermo bit his lip, looking at Nandor with such sweet sincerity. He smiles. 

“Marry me.”