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It was a damn near perfect night. The moon is full above their heads, a clear dark sky full of stars that twinkled mischievously, like they knew what Patrick had planned.
The air was cold and refreshing on his skin, his cheeks rosy with the chill. He walked alongside Pete, their arms interlocked at the elbows to keep warm. He knew that his boyfriend probably didn’t notice the drop in temperature at all, what with the whole mystical monster not-actually-living thing. So much time had passed since that moment when Patrick had discovered his best friend was a vampire that it didn’t even phase him anymore, he knew practically everything there was to know about being one- at least, from Pete’s limited knowledge.
Then, Patrick had offered himself up as a constant source of blood for Pete, which he ended up using for quite a while. He was overjoyed and fascinated at the way he seemed to visibly transform into a much healthier version of himself. But it didn’t last forever, the effects of the deprivation of blood wearing away. After that, Patrick was only needed as a last resort, and sometimes a delicacy during intimate moments.
Aside from the occasional reminders that Pete was in fact a vampire, Patrick didn’t really think about it. Except, maybe he did. Through the five years of knowing him, and four years of dating him, something became very clear: as Patrick continued to grow and change, Pete stayed the same. The only thing that seemed to change year after year was his hair and his favorite way to dress, otherwise he didn’t age like a normal person would. In 80 years when Patrick is six feet under, Pete would probably look like he only aged a year or two if that, and that was fucking scary.
Patrick didn’t think he could take it, and if he was honest, he didn’t think Pete could either.
Pete was always reluctant to grow close to him, even though it was clear how much he wanted to. A few months into their relationship, Pete had very bravely revealed his pages upon pages of yearning for Patrick (and his blood), and he got a first look into just how human Pete’s feelings really were.
Love. Want. Need . Desire. Passion. Misery. Possession. Hope .
It was only until years later, years spent with never-aging Pete, that Patrick understood the words on those pages. The resistance of growing too close to someone- anyone. The fear of loving someone too much, and the fear of losing them. Patrick himself had convinced Pete to live in the moment, because he was still young and had so much life ahead of him- a whole life that they could spend together. But now, he wasn’t so sure if he could come to terms with the fact that he would die, and Pete would keep on living. He was aware of how it would hurt beyond repair to lose him, to watch him get old and decrepit and forgetful.
There was no way to turn Pete human so they could live this lifetime together normally. But there was a way that they could spend countless lifetimes together, and for it Patrick would have to, over time, give up everything. He’d given it a lot of thought, and he was ready. He knew people who would kill for a chance at immortality, but he doesn’t want it to just live forever. He wants to live forever with Pete.
Whether Pete would accept this and do the deed was a different story, and one Patrick had to wrap up tonight , on this damn near perfect night beneath the watching moon and stars.
Saturday. They hadn’t said much after they arrived at this stretch of the woods, a scenic trail Pete likes to take in the dead of night— this was like, the afternoon for him or something.
“It’s so beautiful out tonight.” Patrick starts with, and Pete nods, squeezing his arm a little bit. “I don’t know what it is about it, but it’s always nice here. For years and years. Great suggestion, by the way.” He shoots Patrick a smirk and bumps his shoulder, to which he nudges him back with a smile. “I thought you’d like it!”
“And I do!”
Pete gazes up at the sky as they walk. Patrick always found it endearing that as long as his life would be, Pete always was a fan of admiring the little things. “It’s… nice to have you join me.” He ventures. “Usually your poor old bones would be in bed by now.”
Patrick scoffs, giving him an incredulous look. “ My old bones?” He can’t help but laugh at the audacity of the statement. “Yeah, well, while you were busy sleeping the day away earlier, I also happened to take a nap.” Pete looks at him and form’s an ‘o’ with his mouth, his eyebrows raising. “Oooh, really?” He pauses their walk and leans down to brush their noses together, gazing at Patrick with lidded, suspicious eyes. “Is that the only reason why you wanted to bring me to one of my favorite places tonight, Trick?”
Patrick’s eyes widen slightly like a deer in headlights. Shit. Was he that predictable? He couldn’t be. “U-um, yes?”
Pete stares at him, clearly not convinced. The darkness of the night paired with the light of the moon reflected in his eyes, bringing up a deep red glow in the iris- another of his vampiric traits. Patrick deflates slightly, puffing out his cheeks like he was caught doing something wrong. This was his in, and he shouldn’t waste it.
“Okay. No. There’s something else.” He admits, and Pete’s eyes open fully, a tinge of worry replacing his playfulness. “Did I do something wrong? Are you here to break up with me?” He asks quickly, like he didn't even give himself a chance to think about what he was saying.
Patrick reaches out to cup his cheek and leans in to kiss his mind into silence, and when he pulls back he’s smiling. Pete’s thoughts were always five times faster than his mouth. “I’m not here to break up with you, man.” Pete brushes Patrick’s bangs from his eye and leaves his knuckles resting on his cheek. “Okay… Good. Lay it on me then.” He says, relief visibly washing over him.
Patrick opens his mouth, then freezes. How do you even ask someone something like this? He’s pretty sure no one in the history of ever has asked for something so outrageous.
Hey Pete! I wanna be yours forever, so bite me, would you?
No.
I don't want to grow old and stupid without you, so can you pretty please turn me into a vampire?
Not bad, but still no.
Patrick shuts his mouth, his heart starting to race. Maybe this was a bad idea. He has no idea how Pete would react. Would he be mad if he even suggests it? Pete thankfully can’t read minds, but his keen senses don’t miss the change in his heart rate. “Patrick… it’s something important, right?” Pete asks, and he nods.
“I find it easier to not think about what I want to say and just go for it, the rest will come to you. Take your time though.” He adds at the end with a small smile, dropping his hand from Patrick’s cheek down to his waist. Patrick couldn’t help but smile at that, because it was true. Pete was great at saying whatever he wanted when he wanted to, but he had a sneaking suspicion that it had nothing to do with the importance of the words and more with filling the empty silence.
Staring at Pete intently, Patrick tenses his shoulders. He wouldn’t think about it. He’d just come out and say it, like Pete does. It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t know how to ask. Okay. Here we go. Shit.
“Pete, I—“ It’s too scary. Why did he think he could do this? “I’m scared. Of losing you.”
Pete furrows his brows and opens his mouth like he wants to interject- but Patrick squeezes his arm and shakes his head a little, willing him to stay silent while he works the words out.
“I know technically it’d be you losing me , but- but I’d lose you too. To age, to illness, to time, to anything because human life is so stupid and fleeting, and… And I really don’t want to lose you that way, o-or in any way in the foreseeable future. I love you so much.” Patrick can feel his throat get tight with the force of emotion that rushes to him but he pushes the urge to tear up away. He hasn’t even gotten to the crazy part yet. “There’s no way I could live without you, Pete. I want to be with you as long as I can, but that time for you would be the blink of an eye compared to how long you would live afterwards… without me…” As the words are spilling from his mouth, Pete’s eyes get wider and sadder, like a puppy, and it hurts his heart.
“I want to live forever!” Patrick bursts out, shaking a little bit. “I want to live forever with you, I don’t care what I have to give up to make it happen! Please!” He stares desperately at Pete, and for once, the man is silent.
Patrick can see Pete’s pupils shrink in shock. “You want me to… to turn you into a vampire?” he asks absently, like his mind is somewhere else. Patrick nods, desperate hope clinging to his heart as Pete looks down in thought. He holds his breath and doesn’t dare move, doesn’t dare break whatever thoughts Pete might be having.
Suddenly, Pete’s cheeks seem to explode in blush when he meets Patrick’s eyes again, which is more startling than anything else. He didn’t know Pete could blush! “Patrick, that-” Pete puts a hand on his chest, as if to calm his heart if it could beat. “Ha-hang on. You just- You really want that?” He asks, in a tone that suggests he’s too shocked to even believe it. Patrick nods quickly. “More than anything else.”
Pete shuts his eyes for a moment before gazing at Patrick with so much love in his eyes he’s overwhelmed by it. “That technically is something I can do, but, do you realize what that means? I never mentioned this only because I completely forgot- but…” Pete seems to straighten, glancing around like he’s bashful. “Performing an act like that, it’s like if two humans were to get married. We would be bonded for life.”
Patrick’s eyes widen and he sports a blush of his own, even stronger than the rosy pink from the cold. Marriage? Vampire marriage?? The thought seemed daunting, and yet it was exactly what he wanted, wasn't it?
“There would be a lot you would have to learn, a lot to get used to, a lot to give up…” Pete continues, taking Patrick’s hands in his own. Patrick squeezes his hand and nods. “I know. But… you would be there with me, right?” Pete starts nodding even before he finishes speaking. “Every second.”
Love and excitement swell in his heart and he looks at Pete hopefully. “So you would? You will…?”
Despite his endless youth, small wrinkles form at the edges of Pete’s eyes as he offers him a genuine smile and a short, decisive nod. His voice is soft, like a gentle blanket over Patrick’s ears.
“I would do anything for you, Patrick. Anything.”