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This was the worst. The absolute worst. Nothing could possibly make this situation any more miserable if it tried. These were the thoughts that ran through Yuma’s mind as he did his best to crawl along the wet ground to find some kind of shelter.
Though he was finding it far more difficult than usual as his current limbs were not human.
He had suspected something was off about himself ever since he woke up in that storage room at the train station. He felt some strange… urge whenever he saw a person, but for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why. That was until he arrived at Kanai Ward and was able to listen to conversations from passerby’s.
Vampires. Creatures with a humanoid appearance, but with a few extra abilities. Consuming blood as well as transformative powers. And as it turned out, those two abilities were connected. When a vampire was weak and deprived of blood, they would revert to their bat form to conserve energy.
Which Yuma had learned the hard way as he had been returning to the Nocturnal Detective Agency’s submarine. He had been feeling bad and it got worse with each step. Until finally, he couldn’t go on anymore and collapsed. And when he reopened his eyes, he had been in this bat body.
He couldn’t hear Shinigami anymore, though he wasn’t sure if it was due to his current body or his weakness. Regardless, he was alone, soaking wet, starving, and practically helpless in an unfamiliar tiny body. Pathetically using his folded wings to drag himself to some semblance of shelter.
Things couldn’t get any worse.
As soon as those words ran through his mind, the universe decided to do something about his complaints. Suddenly, he was bathed in darkness as something blocked out the street lamp. He was also now aware that something incredibly large was nearby, looming over him. It was nothing short of terrifying and he froze in place, not even daring to turn and look at what had found him.
After a solid minute of nothing but raindrops, he heard movement from the creature above him. From the sound of clothes rustling, he deduced it was a person, and the inquisitive hum confirmed this. Though what he hadn’t expected was the voice that spoke soon after.
“Such a poor sight to see. What terrible misfortune that must have followed you to end up here,” a familiar sleepy voice said.
Yuma perked his large ears up, now trying to turn his head to see the person. And sure enough, he was right. Vivia Twilight was kneeling over him, those amethyst eyes staring right at him. And while this was a little intimidating, it still relaxed him that it was someone he knew. He opened his mouth, intending to speak and tell the Master Detective it was him.
But all that came out was a high pitched squeak.
Yuma’s eyes widened, confused by this. He tried again, straining to form words and communicate. But only more squeaks occured to his frustration. He groaned in his mind, closing his eyes and letting himself collapse on the wet ground. He couldn’t do this. It was too much.
He heard Vivia softly laugh above him. “It seems you’ve exhausted yourself. Both physically, and your options. How unfortunate.” Yuma mentally agreed with this, seeing no way out of this. He gave up, not caring about paying attention to his surroundings anymore. So he was immensely surprised when he felt something large and warm gently clamp down on his back and folded wings, lifting him up and away from the cold and wet ground. He let out a few alarmed squeaks, trying to turn his head to see Vivia’s face. He didn’t have to strain his neck for long, as Vivia rotated his hand so the bat could face him. “Well… it would be cruel to leave you there. And I suppose… I was tasked with providing assistance,” the man stated, then shifted his eyes to begin walking the rest of the way to the agency.
Yuma didn’t struggle, too tired and weak to do so. The warmth the human was giving off was also pleasant, much better than the unforgiving concrete. He let his mind drift, vision clouding as he let the detective take him somewhere. That continued until he felt himself be placed on a soft towel. Then he was rubbed with a corner of that same hand towel, the material drying him and poofing up his fur. He wouldn’t deny that it felt nice, even if the amused chuckle at his now puffed up fur made him a little embarrassed.
He shook as best he could, shakily standing on his wing’s thumbs and moving to face the detective. He went to thank the man for helping him, but remembered his voice wouldn’t work and got discouraged. He stared down at the couch cushions under the hand towel, wondering if he would ever be able to sit on them like a human again.
Vivia, who had been watching him carefully, spoke again. “How out of place you must feel. Lost in a city you don’t know, with no friends to help guide you. Young, and little experience of such a place to function well. And no reliable food source, likely leading to your current scenario.” A pause, then he spoke again with a lilt in his voice. “But… I’d be willing to assist, Yuma.”
The bat ears shot up as Yuma snapped his eyes to the human’s. Vivia was sporting a knowing smile, looking pleased with himself. “I’m sure you’re questioning… how I knew. My Forte gives me a… heightened sense of the supernatural. So… it’s been known to me since we met.” He closed his eyes while grabbing something out of his jacket pocket. “But… I don’t have the energy to spread this information around. All I can do… is provide.”
Yuma squeaked again, confused by the wording. But his gaze shifted to what the human’s hands were doing. In one, a sharp box cutter that he was sliding up. The other was open and flat, as if preparing for something.
He found out soon after, as Vivia placed the sharp blade to his palm and dragged it across his pale skin. The second the red blood appeared, the scent nearly overtook Yuma’s mind. His stomach growled and he salivated, his entire being craving the blood. He found himself taking a shaky step forward, before realizing what he was doing and forcing himself to stop. He couldn’t do this! Take someone’s blood to feed himself? He… he couldn’t. It… wasn’t right for him to…
The Master Detective noticed his hesitation, raising his hand and offering his bleeding palm. “It’s alright, Yuma. I offer you this willingly. Take as much as you need.” He positioned his hand directly next to the tiny bat, then went still. Waiting for the vampire’s next move.
The smell was far too enticing to resist for long. And with the comforting words, Yuma gave in. His tongue lapped up the red liquid, the taste satisfying some primal urge in him and giving him strength. He drank it up, until the wound stopped producing more.
Seeing this, Vivia took his hand back and placed it on his lap. “That should… give you enough energy to… transform back. You remember how?”
Yuma tilted his head, closing his eyes as he thought. Some instinctual part of him seemed to remember how to return to a human form. Thank goodness for that, as he would have been screwed otherwise. He calmed his breathing, letting his body undergo the transformation. He felt when it was done, opening his eyes to find himself sitting on the plush couch in his familiar body. “Vivia… I… I’m…” he tried to start saying, his voice failing.
The green-haired detective just kept smiling, starting to remove his coat and tossing it over to the fireplace. “Yuma, I told you… I would provide. You aren’t satisfied yet, right?” He tugged at the black bandages around his neck, exposing the smooth, unblemished skin. “I repeat… take as much as you want. Drink your fill.”
Vivia really seemed to know exactly what to say and do to make his vampiric instincts go crazy. He found himself unable to resist, sliding off the couch and sitting down on the taller man’s lap. He gripped the thin shoulders tight, his fangs elongating as he prepared to bite. He hesitated for a second, but bit down on the detective’s neck.
He barely heard Vivia sigh contently at the sensation as the rush of blood filled him again. The taste was like nothing else, satisfying that craving that had been plaguing him since the start. He felt the human’s pulse through his fangs, beating a little faster than normal. Perhaps from the pain? Or… excitement? Regardless, it meant that the blood was easier to extract and drink. The two stayed in this position until Yuma felt full. He pulled back, licking the last droplets off his fangs as he took a look at the Master Detective.
Vivia looked relaxed, almost like he was ready to fall asleep. It was… nice to know that he hadn’t been distressed while feeding the starving vampire. Yuma shook the other a little, calling out to him. “Vivia? Um… I’m done.”
The green-haired man slowly opened an eye, glancing at the rookie. “Ah… I see. I guess… that’s fine.”
Yuma climbed off his lap, sitting on his knees next to the human. “Uh… thank you. For… finding me and helping me.” He clenched his fists on his lap, working up the courage to ask the next question. “Why… did you decide to help? I know… some people think badly of vampires and that letting them feed on you is dangerous.”
Vivia shrugged. “Vampires… have always fascinated me. I’ve always desired to know one. And the idea of dying to one… is a death I wouldn’t mind.”
Yuma shook his head frantically. “I don’t want to kill you! I couldn’t!”
Vivia simply hummed, not looking bothered. “I know. You starved yourself to avoid doing such a thing. But… I don’t mind this… arrangement of ours,” he commented, running a hand over his new neck wounds.
“Are… are you sure?” Yuma timidly asked, grabbing some tissues and dabbing the punctured skin.
“Yes. Come to me… when you have blood urges again. I’ll… serve you.” Vivia placed one of his bandages overtop of the bite marks, then crawled into the fireplace. “I’m… going to take a nap. You can feed more whenever you need. No need… to wake me.” He instantly fell asleep, likely tired from the sudden blood loss.
But… he had offered to do it again for Yuma. To be a reliable source of food with no strings attached. Such a kind gesture. It… made him want to get to know Vivia better. Maybe they could start hanging out more after this, even without the need to feed.
“Master!!! Finally I can talk to you again! Don’t ever get that weak again, you hear me?” Shinigami suddenly shouted in his ear, startling him.
He yelped, turning to see the familiar blobby ghost. He sighed in relief. “Oh hey Shinigami. Yeah, sorry about that. It won’t happen again.”
“It better not! I was worried sick, Master!” she grumbled. “Anyways, I guess you finally accepted that part of you.”
Yuma nodded. “I did. But thankfully, I found someone who accepts this and is even willing to help.”
Shinigami looked over to where he gestured, then made a face. “Him!? Master, don’t tell me we have to hang out with the anemic vampire more often!” the death god whined, pouting as Yuma grabbed a blanket and covered the sleeping detective.
The rookie smiled, brushing against one of his fangs with his tongue. “Oh come on, Shinigami. We both know very well he’s human.”