Chapter Text
If anyone knew Vash (which wasn't many), they would know he was a gentle soul with a heart as vast and deep as the ocean. Hurting someone was never on his radar; kindness and compassion were his guiding principles. Even amid conflicts, he would make every effort to engage in thoughtful conversation, seeking resolution through understanding and empathy.
However, the weight of stigma casts a shadow over his life, making it an uphill battle to break free from the prejudices that plagued him. Strangers would catch glimpses of his fangs glistening ominously in the moonlight. Panic would seize them, and they wouldn't waste another second before rushing to find someone to report what they perceived as a threat.
Despite Vash's best efforts to keep his fangs hidden, even when forming friendships, the truth was that these bonds were often fragile and short-lived—especially when the insatiable hunger crept in. His normally tranquil ocean-blue eyes would experience a transformation when the primal instinct took over. They would shift to a fascinating shade of deep purple, with flecks of fiery red dancing in his irises. In those moments, his struggle was a vivid reminder that appearances could be deceiving and that the complexity of his existence extended far beyond his seemingly sinister exterior.
The blond had long resigned to the harsh reality that companionship might forever elude him. It was a bitter pill to swallow, knowing that humans were terrified of him and even his own kind saw him as a traitor. Yet, he couldn't escape the longing deep within him to be accepted by the very beings who sustained his survival. It was a paradoxical longing, given the prevalent hatred they directed toward him, but he couldn't help but hold onto a glimmer of hope. Vash wrestled with his internal turmoil. He knew the odds of acceptance were stacked against him, but a guy could always dream. With that thought, Vash put the blood bag down. As he raised a trembling hand to his mouth, he wiped away the blood that trickled down his chin.
His brother had always teased him about being a sloppy drinker, and ironically, Vash had become even messier since switching to blood bags. The flimsy plastic containers were far harder to control, making it challenging to prevent spills. Nevertheless, Vash clung to this alternative source of sustenance, as it helped him stave off a guilt-ridden conscience that often loomed over him like a storm cloud. The bags of blood carried their own weight of guilt for different reasons - though these thoughts were swiftly pushed aside in favour of survival.
Stealing blood from blood banks was a risky endeavour. Yet, he believed it was a necessary evil, a moral compromise he had reluctantly accepted. It was better to resort to these covert acts a few times a month to satisfy his insatiable hunger than to inflict harm upon an actual person. As Vash let out a heavy sigh, his thoughts turned to his older twin brother. It had been just a few months since he had left, and he missed his sibling dearly. However, as much as he longed for his brother's company, there were methods and principles that Nai followed that Vash couldn't endorse.
Nai had distanced himself from his human origin and harboured a deep-seated hatred for the entire human species. Vash struggled to grasp the rationale behind his brother's intense loathing of humans. Nai often expressed his viewpoint by claiming that there was always a higher apex species, and humans were no exception to this rule. According to Nai, humans were striving to eliminate vampires to secure their position as the world's apex species. He contended that this was reason enough for his intense loathing. However, Vash couldn't embrace this viewpoint; he believed it wasn't justification for painting humanity with the same brush of hatred.
In debates with his brother, Vash argued that humans weren't inherently malevolent, and not all of them were complicit in the persecution of vampires. He believed that it was essential to recognize the diversity within humanity, acknowledging that some individuals posed a threat while others were compassionate and understanding. Nai, in response, would counter that when prey felt cornered or threatened, they would naturally fight back. It was an inherent survival instinct. Just as a cornered mouse might muster the courage to attack a cat - humans, when they perceived themselves as endangered, would resort to drastic measures, including hunting vampires, to maintain their dominance in the natural order.
Nai's extreme dealings with other vampires, in addition to his unreasonable hatred for humanity, had troubled Vash. A couple of decades ago, a disturbing incident had unfolded that deepened the rift between the twins. A group of humans had somehow discovered methods to kill vampires beyond sunlight, a revelation that sent shockwaves through their hidden community. Nai, in his typical fashion, immediately dismissed the notion that these 'lowly' humans could have stumbled upon such knowledge by themselves. He suspected that a vampire within their ranks had betrayed their secrets, an unforgivable act of treachery.
Swiftly, Nai took matters into his own hands. The vampire who was suspected of divulging the information was dealt with ruthlessly, paying the ultimate price for their perceived betrayal. It was this event, among others, that had pushed Vash to the breaking point, prompting his decision to leave his brother's clan. He couldn't reconcile with the brutality that Nai was willing to employ, even in the face of threats. For Vash, dialogue and understanding had always been the preferred path to resolving conflicts. He firmly believed that responding to violence with violence only served to fan the flames of hatred and deepen the divide.
As Vash ventured out on his own, he carried with him the hope of finding a different way to coexist with humans, one that didn't demand the same level of brutality and vengeance as his brother's approach. It was a path fraught with challenges and uncertainties, but it was a journey he felt compelled to undertake in pursuit of his own convictions.
A twig snapping shattered Vash's concentration, jolting him out of his thoughts and instantly sending him into a state of high alert. The time was well past curfew for the small town where he had been quietly residing. Moreover, he meticulously ensured that he was far away from any humans when it came time to satiate his hunger; it was a safety measure for both himself and the unwitting townsfolk.
With his senses heightened, Vash remained completely still, he darted his eyes around, scanning the darkness for any signs of the intruder. He desperately hoped it was just a deer or some other harmless creature—anything but a human. The thought of having to leave town again, just a week after arriving and relishing the quiet life the townspeople provided, weighed heavily on him.
The townsfolk had been remarkably kind and accommodating, offering him food free of charge, unaware of his true nature. Vash had been careful, rarely leaving his hotel room during the day, and the townsfolk had come to believe he was an author, a cover story that fit perfectly with his nocturnal habits.
After what felt like an eternity of tense silence, with no further noise to confirm his suspicions, Vash began to ease his guard, believing he might have simply been hearing things. It seemed inconceivable that anyone would venture into the woods at this ungodly hour. Feeling somewhat relieved, he slowly turned around, only to find himself met with the chilling sensation of the hard barrel of a gun pressed firmly against his forehead.