Work Text:
Juleka Couffaine awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of her phone ringing. She slowly sat up in her bed and checked her phone, but once she saw who was calling she got up a lot quicker. It was her best friend, Rose Lavender! She tapped the answer button, quickly yet quietly speaking into her phone. “Rose? It’s like, 3 AM, you okay?”
The voice Juleka heard from the other end of the phone told her her answer immediately. When Rose spoke, she sounded crushed, distraught, like she’d been deeply and personally hurt, and Juleka immediately resolved to destroy whoever or whatever caused this. “J-Juleka? I… I’m sorry, I know it’s late, but I- I wasn’t sure what to do…”
Juleka was out of bed getting ready before Rose had even finished speaking. “Where are you now, Rose?”
“I-I’m… I’m not *too* far away… maybe a couple blocks? I can see the boat from here…”
“Right. You stay there, I’m on my way.” Juleka was just about ready now. She was an expert at waking up and getting up and out the door quickly. She had to be, after all, it’s expected as a monster hunter to be quickly prepared in any emergency. She grabbed a silver cross from her nightstand and slipped it into her back pocket. Just in case. Who knows what unholy monsters could show up at 3 AM? Then, Juleka was out the door.
“J-Jules, you don’t have to-“
“Shhhh, just stay there. I’m coming to you, don’t worry. You’re important to me, I’ll always be there, whatever it is.”
”Right… Thanks, Juleka…”
Rose was right, she’d only been a couple blocks away from Juleka’s houseboat. She hadn’t mentioned the fact that it was raining. So there Rose was, in the rain, looking sadder than Juleka had ever seen her. Her pink hood, which was hanging over her head like always, and her pink and white long-sleeved dress were definitely soaked through by now thanks to the rain. Juleka didn’t know how long Rose had been out here, but it must have been a while.
Juleka ran in and swept her best friend into a tight hug. “Rose, I… What happened? Why’re you out here so late?”
Rose took a step back, staring down at the ground, tears still streaking her cheeks as she spoke. “I-It’s… it’s my parents. I- Jules, they- they found out I’m… They know I’m gay, and they kicked me out over it! I-I have nowhere to go now, and I- I don’t know what to do!”
“Rose….” Juleka looked down at her best friend. She seemed so small in that moment. “…I’m killing your parents.”
For some reason, a look of panic shot across Rose’s face. “Wha- No- don’t do that!”
“…Not seriously, I just… Who could do such a thing? That is so messed up… Look, how about you stay with us? I’m sure my family would welcome you with open arms, Rose.”
Juleka expected Rose to be relieved, but for some reason she still seemed panicked. “N-No, I… I couldn’t, I don’t wanna be a burden to your family!”
“You wouldn’t be a burden… Ma jumps at the chance to help those in need, no need to worry ‘bout that…”
“…I still can’t, you don’t- you don’t get it, I- I’m a bit of a hassle to accommodate for, I’m sure you know that!”
“We can easily accommodate your garlic allergy, Rose. And don’t even say anything ‘bout your skin condition, I’d be happy to help you shop for clothes that’ll cover you well so you won’t get sunburnt. We care about you, Rose!”
Rose took a step away at that, more tears welling in her eyes. Juleka frowned, did she say something wrong? What didn’t she understand? Rose spoke again. “…I-I… Garlic’s not the only thing that’ll kill me. I-I mean… certain other things, just…”
“Tell me what it is, and I’ll gladly work around it, Rose, I promise.”
“D-Don’t promise things like that, Jules! Don’t make promises you can’t keep! …You wanna know what it is? I’ll tell you everything wrong with me, and you can take a guess! I get bad sunburns way too easy, garlic will kill me, and… Silver. Silver burns, and enough of it… Does that sound familiar at all to you, Juleka Couffaine? Maybe not, maybe I have to be more specific. How about a stake? To the heart? Y-You gonna protect me from that?”
Juleka could only stare in shock. At the end of Rose’s explanation, Rose had let her teeth show. Her… fangs. “…Rose…”
The two were silent, for a good moment, before Rose took a step away, closing her mouth and looking to the ground. “Yeah. Uhhh, surprise! I-I’m a vampire… A monster.”
Juleka had never seen Rose look smaller than she did right then. Rose, her best friend, her… her secret crush, the person who mattered most to Juleka. And she was… a vampire? “……Shit. I’m so… Of *course* you’re a vampire. You hide yourself from the sun, you’re deathly allergic to garlic, how did I not… Lavender’s not even your last name, is it?”
“…L-Lavillant. I’m supposed to be a Lavillant.”
“Why are you telling me this? I’m a monster hunter, Rose, I- I’m supposed to kill people like you.”
“…I-I was gonna die either way, Jules. I-I can’t sustain myself alone, I… I’d have to kill someone. Sooner or later, without any substitutes, I’d thirst for blood, and I- I’ve never taken a person’s life. I refuse to take a person’s life, whatever everyone else in my life may say I won’t be a murderer, like them! …They were gonna force me sooner or later, anyways. I guess, in a way, them kicking me out is also them trying to do that. At least this way, I’m telling you the truth. N-No more secrets. I-I’d rather it be you, anyways…”
Juleka didn’t move or say a word for what felt like ages. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. When did that happen? …Eventually, she pulled out the silver cross she had brought with her, and she tossed it into the Seine, before turning back towards Rose. “…Rose. Sweet, kind, fairytale-loving Rose. If you think… you can just give me that speech, and expect me to kill you? After that? …Not gonna happen.”
“B-But I’m a monster, Juleka. What would your family think?”
“A monster wouldn’t have told me the truth today, Rose. A monster would’ve killed me by now. A monster wouldn’t lay down their own life for the sake of not killing. I took an oath, when I was young, that I would help my family to slay all monsters, for the purpose of vanquishing all evil. I don’t think either “monster” or “evil” applies to you, Rose…”
Rose looked up at Juleka once more, new tears brimming in her eyes. “…Y-You really think so? Th-There’s hope for me?”
“Of course, Rose… I-If anything, the fact that you’re here… telling me, despite everything, that you’d rather die than follow your species’ bloodthirsty nature? …Just makes me like you more, really.”
Rose chuckled, a laugh that was still broken up by sobs, before she slowly spoke up again. “…B-But what about your family, Juleka?”
“They don’t need to know. I can help you keep it a secret from them. I promise, we can still be your home, it doesn’t matter to me if you have fangs, not when… not when you’re Rose.”
“…Wh-What about… I-I can’t live without blood, and that’s… Again, I won’t kill someone. I refuse. And taking someone’s blood against their will sort of tends to results in that. Death. A-And nobody’s gonna willingly let me drink their blood, that’s… It’s not a thing that happens.”
Juleka met Rose’s eyes. She didn’t need to speak to convey this message. Rose knew, she could tell. She knew before Juleka gave her that look, really.
“…J-Jules, I can’t ask that of you.”
“You didn’t ask. I’m offering. I meant what I said, Rose. I don’t want you to die, you’re not just some monster. You’re my best friend. I… Really, you mean so much more than that to me. I’m not gonna let you go, Rose.”
Rose giggled again, wiping tears from her face as she did. “Th-That’s… the sweetest, and also dumbest confession ever. I’m all like, ‘hey, I’m a vampire, probably the only good one on the planet, and now I’m gonna die.’ And your response is ‘I’ll keep it a secret and keep you alive, because you mean more than a best friend to me.’ What did I do to deserve you, Juleka?”
Juleka blushed, as she realized that Rose was right, and she spoke up again herself. “I-I mean… it’s true. I know you don’t like me back, but like, I’m fine with that. Just. Let me take care of you?”
Rose smiled up at Juleka. “…Alright. I’ll go home with you, Juleka. But… There’s one more thing you should know. You did get something wrong, about me. Because… I very much do like you back, Jules.”
“I- really?”
“‘Course I do, Juleka! You’re like, the best ever. E-Especially after this, I- I was so ready to just, give up, but…”
“But I won’t let you?”
“Y-Yeah… You’re just… Thanks, Juleka. Thank you so much!”
Juleka smiled. “Now… we should get back to the boat. We’ll face my ma tomorrow, and we’ll… explain the homophobia thing. I’m sure she’ll let you stay, we just… gotta be careful ‘bout the vampire stuff. C’mon, let’s go.”
Juleka held Rose’s hand, and both girls smiled. It was an emotional night, and Juleka had a lot of questions. But really, Rose was much more important right now than any knowledge she could glean. The rest of the world could wait till tomorrow. And so, the huntress and the vampire, soaked to the bone in rain, faces stained with tears, walked home hand in hand.