Archive of Our Own

"I'll search for you. In every lifetime, I am yours."

She doesn't reply, for she can no longer speak. She doesn't reach out, for she can no longer move. But her eyes crinkle, shining with light, and as Bram leans over to press a kiss to her forehead, he feels her ghost kiss back.

Florence Stoker dies that day, surrounded by nothing but her husband's devotion, and 'til death do us part is only a temporary promise.

His daughter leaves him 50 years later.

She lives a long and fulfilling life, having explored half the world by herself to play in theatres and carry on her mother's legacy.

Florence was a magnificent pianist, composing sheets after sheets of music that didn't just play. No, they struck at the very core of the human heart—they spoke to the soul. She had a talent for telling a million stories in just a few minutes, and her pieces were meant to be heard.

She could've been great. But she stuck by Bram's side, never leaving Romania, and her talent went unheard. It wasn't until she fell ill that she admitted, "I want to share art with the world. Please, let them know."

Their daughter picked up the piano soon after that. And perhaps it runs in the family, but she had such a knack for it. The way her fingers danced over the keys, as if playing the piano was as easy as pie. She captured every emotion that Florence wanted to portray, as if they shared one beating heart.

After Florence died, their daughter came back home. She abandoned the rest of her shows and would spend her days locked up in her room, and Bram would listen to the soft melody of the piano through the door, for she would not let him in.

It was only on Florence's first year death anniversary that Bram was allowed into his daughter's room, and she played a piece just for that day. Where Roses Bloom, a story of romance and hope. A dulcet melody with rousing highs and vulnerable lows—a montage of a deep yearning. The last piece Florence ever created.

She plays it every year, just once.

When his daughter dies, Bram buries her casket next to every sheet of music ever composed. He locks them safely in a box and forbids all his men from touching it, lest they taint its memory.

His castle erupts into flames just a few months later, forcing Bram to flee, and their art is lost forever.

Once Bram sends the command for the vampire to kill Dostoevsky, a panicked screech pierces through the air.

He glances in the direction, seeing a blond man sprinting towards him and Ranpo, his glasses almost falling off his face. Bram tilts his head at Ranpo, hoping for an explanation, but the detective just watches him come with an amused grin.

"Ranpo-san!" the man gasps, slamming his palms on his knees as he pants. He completely ignores Bram's presence. "Where's Aya?"

Now that is a surprise. Bram tries not to react visibly, but he cannot help the protective grit of his teeth. Aya is with Akutagawa, who Bram commanded to protect her as he helped the Agency, and they are somewhere in the airport together. He's not too worried, for he'd be able to sense it through Akutagawa if anything went wrong. 

So why is this mysterious man asking for her presence?

"Hey, Kunikida," Ranpo greets. "You can ask this guy here."

Kunikida looks up at him, a deep, uninviting frown on his face. "Where is Aya?"

This time, Bram does not bother schooling his reaction. He openly scowls, matching Kunikida's distaste. "She is protected by one of my kin. What could you want with her?"

"She is someone I hold dear," Kunikida snaps. "And I don't feel comfortable knowing she's with a vampire."

Bram feels quite insulted. He was a valuable ally to this, was he not? Also, he was the one protecting Aya for the majority of the incident, swearing his life to her. It is unfair for this man to be spewing such biased nonsense. 

"What is your name?" Bram asks. 

The man stands up straighter, levelling him with an impressive glare. Not many have looked up at Bram, straight in the eye, and given such an attitude before. "Kunikida Doppo, a member of the Armed Detective Agency."

"Second-in-command," Ranpo whispers, placing a hand by his lips comically.

Bram nods. "I see. Well, I'm afraid I am feeling rather exhausted. You may see Aya if she requests your presence, but I highly doubt so with how—"

"KUNIKIDA! BRA-CHAN!"

They both flinch at the shout that rips through the air. They turn their heads in the direction of the voice to see Aya sprinting over, her hands up in the air. Akutagawa is trailing behind her. 

"Aya!" Kunikida gasps, dropping to his knees. She slams into his open arms, wrapping her hands around his neck and squealing when Kunikida hugs her back twice as hard. Bram watches the exchange with an impassive expression, but inside, he is boiling.

When they separate, Kunikida brushes some dirt out of Aya's hair. "I am going to have a long talk with you, young lady! Just what were you thinking, grabbing the vampire and running off like that? You could've gotten seriously injured!"

She pouts, putting her hands on her hips. "But I didn't get hurt because I took the vampire! Bra-chan saved me many times! And besides, the scary police officer asked me to help, so of course I couldn't say no!"

"You definitely could've said no," Kunikida sighs. "But I suppose if you were already at the airport, you'd have gotten caught in the crossfire anyway. I'm glad you're safe."

Hm. That is something Bram can agree on, at least. 

Aya turns to him, leaping, and Bram has half a second to react before he has a handful of her trying to climb up his tall frame.

"My princess," he splutters, lifting her up, "a warning would be appreciated."

"Bra-chan!" she cheers, ignoring him. "I'm so happy you got your body back! We can go do lots of fun things together now, like shopping or watching movies or listening to music or—"

"Anything you request, I will find the time," Bram promises, smiling when she cheers again. 

"Actually," Kunikida interrupts. "Yokohama is going to take a while to rebuild. While that happens, Aya, you should stay at home as much as possible."

Bram feels the way her hands tighten on his clothes. "I don't wanna."

"You have to," Kunikida sighs. He takes out a rectangular thing from his pocket. Bram eyes it curiously. It looks quite like the device that Aya gave him. "What is your parent's phone number? I'll contact them for you."

"I don't think the signal is working right now," Ranpo says, tapping on Kunikida's arm. "Aya-chan can stay with Bram for now. We have to reunite with the others first."

"Oh." Kunikida grimaces, casting a glance at the two of them. "I guess you're right. Then…"

"No harm will come to her if she's with me," Bram says. He knows he sounds a bit defensive, but for a while, he truly was helpless to protect Aya. Now, with his body back and strength regained, he would sooner blow up the planet than let a single scratch fall on her. 

Kunikida sighs deeply. "...Fine. Aya, I'll see you later."

She smiles, waving. "Yeah!"

With that confirmation, Kunikida and Ranpo turn away, heading to where a flare signal has just been sent up. Bram watches them go, notices how Ranpo stumbles as he walks and how Kunikida immediately stabilises him. He seems unable to walk straight, but maybe he's just tired.

Ah, right. Akutagawa is still here. 

He turns to his kin, who is standing still as a statue behind him, and considers what to do. If he releases his control now, Akutagawa might fall over and faint, leaving Bram with an extra person to take care of. Especially after the fight he just assisted Atsushi with, he might be too weak to be released.

With that in mind, Bram sends a command for Akutagawa to follow after Kunikida and Ranpo. He will release control when Akutagawa is with a safer company.

Never mind, that doesn't matter. Bram turns his attention back to the child in his arms. She beams, round cheeks puffing upwards as she smiles, and while Bram doesn't exactly have a heart, he thinks it might've melted into a puddle of goo.

(She looks exactly like—)

"That man," Bram says instead, nodding his head in the direction they just left in. "How do you know him?"

"Oh!" Aya clasps her hands together, grinning. "Okay, so you're not going to believe this! Basically—"

As she babbles away, Bram turns, heading towards the airport. It's been mostly destroyed, debris and such crowding the area, but there must be a way for them to head somewhere with shelter. He quite dislikes the sun.

Aya tells him about Kunikida saving her from a bomber, how he fought the bomber, and how he inspired her to continue being a warrior. It is all told from a very naive perspective, but Bram supposes he cannot fault her. After everything, her speaking her age is a relief. 

"And then he hugged me really tight and I thought I was going to die, but it made me feel a bit better about it." She absently fiddles with Bram's hair while she talks. "...To be honest, that sounds selfish. I couldn't believe he was gonna sacrifice himself with me! But then the cool Agency doctor came to save us and everything was okay. I had to go home after that, though, so I didn't get the chance to see Kunikida again until just now."

"Wait," Bram says. "You are saying that he threw his life down so you wouldn't be alone in your final moments?"

She nods. "Yeah! Like a true hero! It was so cool!"

Bram tightens his hold on her. He can't speak much on the matter—he would've done the same, if not something even more drastic. From what he is hearing, Kunikida has also only known Aya for a short period of time before dedicating his life to protecting her.

That is something he can respect.

"Perhaps I misjudged that man," Bram muses to himself. 

Aya tilts her head. "What do you mean?"

"I was under the impression that he is cranky, uptight, and foolish."

"Oh," she snorts. "He definitely is."

"Is he?" Bram asks with a frown. What a contradiction from the story she was telling. "You said he was a hero."

"Yeah, a stinky, grumpy hero!" she giggles. When Bram looks down, he notices that she's begun weaving his hair into a braid. 

Bram has only ever allowed family to touch his hair, and he has never done it up in intricate hairstyles like these. His hair has stayed this length since he discovered his ability, no longer growing, so it's extremely precious to him. If it were anyone else, he might've bit their fingers clean off.

But this is Aya, so he lets it be.

Eventually, he finds a building still somewhat intact. He moves one of the debris pieces over to the shelter, forming a makeshift bench, and once he makes sure the edges aren't too sharp, he sets Aya down. She clings onto his half-done braid, little fingers fiddling with the strands back and forth.

When Aya finishes the braid, she hesitates, then takes off one of her hair clips to clip it in place. It looks a bit wonky, but when Bram holds it up, he decides that he wants to keep it forever.

"Thank you, my princess," he mumbles. It comes out so naturally, slips off his tongue with ease, as if he hasn't avoided that term of endearment for centuries by now. 

She smiles, leaning into his side. "No problem!"

Kunikida has a severe, severe headache, and if he doesn't get some sleep soon, he might actually combust.

They have many things to do, and while the workload was divided equally among the Agency members, he can't help but worry about everything. They're all either injured or exhausted, but they can't stop moving around yet.

Let's see. Ranpo and Yosano are searching for Fukuzawa and will bring him back to the office first. Their office should be intact, as well as their dorms, so that's fine. Atsushi, Akutagawa, Kyouka, and Kenji, are working with the rescue team. Their abilities should aid them in moving debris and such. Tanizaki is speaking with the media. Kunikida wishes they weren't here shoving mics into their faces already, but they can't escape. Seriously, there's no empathy.

They have some external help, thankfully. Lucy is transporting people around with Anne's room, which is insanely helpful, especially for victims that are unreachable by hand. Ango is clearing their names officially. Tetchou has also accompanied Kenji and the rest on the rescue mission.

Kunikida just got off the phone with Dazai, who is coming back from Meursault with Chuuya and Sigma. That's… well, it's the most ideal situation, so he can't complain. But he heard about Dazai's broken leg and it makes him chew his lips ceaselessly in concern. Dazai's injuries are the hardest to deal with since Yosano's ability doesn't work on him, so—

Shit. What time is it?

He pulls out his phone, which has stayed surprisingly unharmed throughout this whole thing. 

Ah, nightfall is soon. He should relocate with the rest and— No, where's Aya?

"Shit," he curses. He has no way to contact them. His notebook is torn, so he can't create another flare gun, and they've used up the ones nearby. 

"Kunikida-san," someone calls. He turns around and sees Tanizaki running up to him. "I just got word from Yosano-san. She says that Lucy found Bram and Aya and brought them back to the office to rest."

"Really?" Relief courses through his veins. "Alright. They can stay with me tonight while we figure out how to contact Aya's parents. It's getting late."

Tanizaki nods. "Thanks to the others, search rescue is going relatively quick. We've just got a few more places to check."

"Good. How was the media?"

"I avoided as many questions as I could," Tanizaki says with a shrug. Kunikida stifles a laugh. "They were tough to shake off, but I used my ability to, um, create an illusion of a cat."

"...And it worked?"

"I ran away before I could check," he admits. 

Kunikida actually laughs this time. It sounds weary and weak, but it's fine. "Alright. Let's help the rest, then I am subjecting all of you to mandatory sleep for at least ten hours."

Tanizaki smiles back. "Alright."

"Here," a girl with long brown hair and glasses says, passing over a steaming cup of tea. "This is for you, Aya-chan. Would you like anything, Bram-san?"

He shakes his head. "I do not feed on mortal food, but I extend my gratitude to your offer."

She nods. "I see. Anyway, I got off the phone with Kunikida-san earlier. He is coming to pick you two up and bring you to his dorm."

Aya perks up. "Really? I can stay over?"

She chuckles. "Yes. I think Kunikida-san will be quite adamant about it."

True to her word, the office door flies open about an hour later and a bunch of the Agency members filter in. Bram makes eye contact with Kunikida at the back, who towers over the rest. He looks much more relaxed, though his clothes are absolutely filthy. 

“Kunikida!” Aya cheers, leaping out of her seat. The cup of tea almost spills over from her haste and Bram rushes to save it. When he looks back up, she’s grabbing onto Kunikida’s leg, forcing him to stop in his tracks. 

“There’s going to be lots to settle with you,” Kunikida says with a sigh, lifting her up. He turns to the rest of the members. “When the rescue team updates us, we’ll begin contacting families. For now, everyone get some rest.”

The Agency chorus their agreement, dispersing off into different directions. Kunikida turns back to Aya, tapping her nose. “You’re staying with me tonight, young lady. Your parents must be worried sick.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she dismisses. That piques Bram’s interest and he wonders why she isn’t more, well, emotional. Most children would start to cry if they’ve been away from their parents for too long, no? Especially one as young as Aya. 

“Bram,” Kunikida calls, snapping him out of his thoughts. “I’ll be housing you as well while things settle down. Come on.”

Bram stands up, walking over to the two. As they begin making their way down the stairs, he cannot help but be curious. 

“What kind of abode do you stay in, Kunikida?” he asks. The name is quite foreign on his tongue. He wrinkles his nose at the way it rolls off. 

Kunikida gives him a weird look. “Can you not say my name with so much disgust?”

 “Oh, I apologise.” Bram was not aware that it came off like that. Aya’s eyes flit between the two of them, but she remains blissfully quiet. 

“Anyway,” Kunikida sighs, adjusting his glasses. “I live in the dormitories provided by the Agency. I must warn you that I live alone, though, so I do not have much space to accommodate.”

Bram waves his hand. “No worries. I do not sleep.”

“…Oh, right.”

Aya snickers under her breath. She whispers something into Kunikida’s ear, who grimaces, giving her a distasteful shake of his head. Aya doesn’t seem deterred, instead turning to Bram with a wide grin as she says, “You can watch the entire Twilight series. I think you’ll enjoy it, Bra-chan!”

Kunikida shakes his head again, much more vehemently this time. “Please do not. You should save yourself from that torture.”

“Have you watched the series, Kunikida?” Aya asks. 

The man doesn’t reply for a long time. Finally, he grits his teeth, keeping his eyes straight ahead as he answers. “The books were much better.”

“Aha! I knew it!”

They continue bantering back and forth about this Twilight, with Kunikida saying that Aya should not be watching it at her age and Aya saying that he’s a stuck up prick. Bram will admit that their strong reactions piqued his curiosity, though.

When they reach Kunikida’s place, Kunikida passes Aya over to Bram so he may open the door. 

Kunikida’s dorm is indeed small. He has one bathroom, one kitchen area, and one bedroom. The walls are a soothing shade of dark green and the furniture all of the same oak wood. He has a bookshelf in one corner that’s filled to the brim, all the books organised by alphabetical order. Somehow, he’s managed to maximise the space, such that not a single book is out of place. 

That is… pretty much all there is to it. Standard for a human, maybe, but certainly not standard for a home. 

“You do not own much,” Bram observes. 

Kunikida frowns. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I was not aware that the art of collecting went out of style so soon. Where are your trinkets? Paintings?”

“Told you. Kunikida is boring,” Aya jeers. Kunikida shoots her a glare. 

“This is just a place for me to rest. I spend most of my days in the office, so my things are there,” Kunikida snaps. He sounds awfully terse over an innocent question. “Anyway, Aya, go take a shower. I’ll dig out the spare mattress.”

“Okay!” Bram sets her down and she sprints to the bathroom, clearly excited about getting the dirt out of her hair. Bram stands in the middle of the dorm, unsure of what to do now that he’s here. 

He trails after Kunikida, who has one of the closets open and is tugging out a rolled-up futon. When Bram peers inside, he sees many odd inventions lined up. 

“What is that?” he asks.

“Vacuum cleaner.”

“And that?”

“Hairdryer. Broken, though.”

“That one.”

“Game console. Also dead.”

Bram’s eyes land on the rectangular device sitting at the bottom of the closet. His eyes widen. 

“That is a radio,” he says, pointing to it excitedly. 

Kunikida does not seem to share that excitement. “Oh, yeah, it is. I’m surprised you know that one.”

Someone knocks on the door, interrupting their conversation. Kunikida tosses the futon onto the floor, still rolled up, and heads to the entrance. Bram continues to stare at the radio, fingers twitching. 

He wonders if Kunikida will allow him to have it? Perhaps this stay won’t be so terrible if so. 

Kunikida returns with a piece of cloth in his hands. It is a shirt that looks fit for a young teenager. When Bram gives him a questioning look, he holds it up, revealing a cat design. 

“This is an old shirt from Kyouka. It should fit Aya for the time being. I will have to wash her clothes for tomorrow, but—”

“I will do it,” Bram says, sensing the perfect opportunity. “As long as I can have that.”

Kunikida looks at what he’s pointing at. “The… the radio?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” He shrugs. “I don’t know what radio stations are still on right now. I’ll plug it in for you later.”

Bram nods, positively brimming with anticipation. Kunikida tilts his head, doing something weird with his face. “A-are you smiling?”

Bram did not realise he was smiling, but it is unsurprising. “Up until now, the radio was a legendary myth to me.”

“You never smile.”

“You’ve not known me very long,” Bram says, affronted. 

“It’s long enough!” Kunikida reaches into the closet, the shirt tossed over his shoulder as he lugs out the radio. He sets it on the table, squatting down to fiddle with some of the buttons. 

Just then, the shower stops running and Aya’s voice goes, “I’m done!”

Kunikida stops, hurrying over. Bram sits on the couch, keeping his eyes trained on the radio. When the two return, Aya is in the cat shirt, so oversized that it reaches her knees. She hops onto the couch next to Bram with a beam. 

“I’ll be taking a shower now. Aya, make sure he doesn’t touch anything he doesn’t understand.”

Bram gives him an offended look. “Do you think of me as a child?”

“Yeah,” Kunikida huffs, walking off. Aya giggles into her palms. 

“He is an odd individual,” Bram tells Aya. “Very uptight.”

Aya grins as she puts her hands down. “I think he’s just scared of you.”

“Me?” Bram blinks. He did not think he was being particularly intimidating, nor was he trying to scare Kunikida. “I have been quite pleasant, haven’t I?”

“Eh…” Aya puts her palm out, wiggling it back and forth. “I dunno. Your face is pretty scary. It’s like— grrr!” She makes an exaggerated frown, puckering her lips and scrunching her eyebrows. 

Bram frowns. “I do not look like that.”

“Do too!” 

They continue chatting, though Aya noticeably yawns more and more as time goes by. When she can’t get through a sentence without yawning, Bram places a hand on her shoulder. 

“I think it’s time to retreat to your chambers,” he tells her. 

She musters up the strength to laugh. “Okay. Goodnight, Bra-chan. Say goodnight to Kunikida for me.”

And then she knocks herself out, her head falling onto Bram’s side with a thunk. 

Bram tucks a piece of her hair behind her ear, careful not to poke her with his nails, and reminisces of a time where this was a constant sight. 

It truly is uncanny. Their hair colour, their wide eyes, even their voice. 

Bram has lived many years and seen thousands of people. And yet, he has never believed in the concept of reincarnation. Those are the stories of angels and fate, something a dark calamity isn’t suited for. 

But… He believes that if it were true, this is the closest it’ll get to reincarnation.

Kunikida walks out then, a towel around his shoulders. His hair is still wet, drying in messy strands that fall to his back. His glasses are also missing, and Bram only notices now that his eyes are a light shade of green, almost amber. 

…He looks like—

“Oh, she’s asleep.” He huffs, glancing at the futon still on the floor. “I’ll bring that to my room. Don’t wake her.”

“I would not even dream of it,” Bram promises. He lifts Aya up, doing his best not to jostle her. Luckily, it seems she’s out like a light. 

Bram follows Kunikida into his room, waiting for him to roll out the futon. When that’s done, he lays Aya down, gentle as a butterfly. Kunikida tucks her in and they quiet for a moment, taking in her peaceful, soft expression. 

It’s an expression Bram will die trying to keep. From the look on Kunikida’s face, he thinks the same. 

“Come on,” he whispers, turning to Bram. “I’ll get that radio working again.”

They tiptoe out of the room together, leaving the door ajar in case anything happens. 

Kunikida grabs the radio, fiddling with some buttons again. When he turns one of them, the radio begins emitting noise. He smiles to himself and Bram watches, entranced. 

“This is to change the station,” Kunikida says, pointing to one button. “This is to increase or decrease the volume. This is to turn it on and off.”

“Is there a station for music?”

“Should be.” Kunikida raises an eyebrow. “You like music?”

Bram nods frantically. “It is the most beautiful creation a human can make.”

He thinks of the many decades of music he has heard before he was sealed. Classic tunes, messy beats, people singing in harmony. It is where life truly blossoms, where words aren’t needed for a conversation to flow. 

Truly a gorgeous invention. 

“Oh.” Kunikida nods. He clicks one of the buttons a few times, thumbing over the worn-out silver. A soft melody fills the air, a song in the middle of its build up, the pace of the keys rising higher and higher. “Hm. I know this piece.”

Bram does not have a beating heart, but if he did, he thinks it might’ve stopped. “You… you play the piano?”

“Yeah, all throughout middle and highschool.” Kunikida shrugs. “My parents wanted me to play an instrument. It was either that or violin.”

“Do you still play?”

“No. I clearly have no space for it here anyway.” Kunikida gestures around. “Anyway, I’ll leave you to it. I’m going to bed.”

Bram nods, mumbling a thank you. When he hears the door of the bedroom close, he shuts his eyes, falling into the sound of music. 

Kunikida wakes up well past the sunrise and his heart jumps out of instinct. He grabs his phone, checking the time, but then remembers what happened the past few days and drops back on his bed with a sigh. 

There’s a lot to do today. But first and most importantly, he has to deal with the little redheaded girl sleeping next to him. 

He heads to the bathroom to wash up, squinting when his vision doesn’t clear up. His eyes are still tired, and when he looks into the mirror, he sees that they’re red-rimmed. 

Kunikida finishes washing up, putting his hair up with a clip he borrowed from Yosano, and heading out. He freezes in his tracks when he comes face-to-face with Bram, standing in a corner ominously. 

“What the fuck,” he hisses. “Don’t do that!”

Bram blinks. “What is a ‘fuck’?”

“It’s—” He sighs, cutting himself off. “Never mind. I need to go to the office today. Aya will come with me. Will you be alright by yourself?”

Bram points to the radio. “It has stopped working.”

There is no way Bram managed to spoil the radio in one night. Kunikida knows it’s a bit old, but seriously?

He walks over, lifting it up and inspecting it. As he does that, Bram approaches him. He’s fiddling with his coat, nails catching onto the fabric. Right, Kunikida should lend him some clothes—

“I washed the little lady’s clothes as you requested,” Bram says. 

Oh. Kunikida forgot about that. “Really? Thank you.”

“Anything for my princess.” At that, he rolls his eyes, but he appreciates the sentiment all the same. “It is hanging by the window.”

Kunikida nods. “I’ll dress her later. By the way, the radio is fine. You just turned it off.”

“…Was that not the button to change stations, as you said?”

“No. That’s this one.”

“Oh.” Bram frowns, eyebrows knitting together. It’s actually a pretty funny sight. Kunikida didn’t even know his face could be anything but bored or tired. 

Eventually, Aya wakes up and gets ready. She’s in a much more sombre mood this morning, dragging her feet when she moves, but perhaps she’s just tired. 

They leave the dorms, waving goodbye to Bram. Kunikida stops by a bakery to get breakfast. Aya picks out a chocolate donut and eats it in silence on the way. 

By the time they reach the office, Kunikida is extremely concerned. Still, he has things to do, so he quietly asks Kenji to keep an eye on her as he heads to Ranpo’s desk. 

“Morning,” he greets, dragging a chair over. Ranpo peers up at him through his bangs. “Any updates?”

“Akiko went to help out at a hospital. Atsushi-kun also went with her,” Ranpo says. “Dazai-kun returned a few hours ago. He’s resting up at a different hospital and should be discharged by tonight.”

Kunikida nods. “That’s good. How’re the casualties?”

Ranpo grimaces. His eyes dart to the side where the infirmary is, indicating that he wants to go somewhere more private. Kunikida acknowledges it and together, they stand up, walking in and shutting the door. 

“I was speaking with the president last night,” Ranpo says, his voice low. He leans on one of the beds, crossing his arms. “There’s hundreds of deaths and even more injured, but it’s expected. However…”

His voice trails off. Ranpo, for the first time since Kunikida has known him, looks uncomfortable.

“What is it?” he whispers.

“I was going through the list of urgent contacts. Katai helped cross check with the hospital’s database,” Ranpo explains. His eyes open and his lips set into a grim line. “Aya only has one parent. Her mother died years ago. And her father is… uncontactable.”

Kunikida’s blood runs cold. 

“But he was at the airport, wasn’t he? She came with him,” he says. 

Ranpo shrugs. “Until autopsies are complete, we won’t know. And even then, he might not have been—”

Kunikida holds a hand up. “I got it. So it’s not confirmed, right?”

“No, but…” Ranpo frowns. “Kunikida.”

“I know,” he whispers. He can feel it too—his stomach sinking with dread. “But there’s still hope. Let her hold on a bit longer.”

Ranpo doesn’t say anything else. He nods, arms tightening around himself. When he pushes himself up with the bed, he stumbles, and Kunikida reaches out to steady him again. 

“You should get that looked at,” he suggests. 

“So should you,” Ranpo snorts, pointing at Kunikida’s wrists. “I think both our bodies are permanently fucked up in some way.”

“Believe me,” he sighs, “I know.”

The day passes by as quick as a flash after that. Aya spends the day on one of the couches, either colouring, reading, or walking around to chat with some of the Agency members. She’s taken quite a liking to Haruno, who makes her tea and lets her mess around with her hair. 

Kunikida works with the others to plan meetings, public announcements, and other boring shit he doesn’t want to do. But it’s all in the name of rebuilding the Agency, and he would lay his life down for this place, so he holds his complaints. 

Towards the end of the day, Aya comes up to him, tugging on his shirt. “Kunikida! Kyouka-san said that you play the piano, is that true?”

He raises an eyebrow. This conversation again? Two pennies and all that. “Yes, I used to. Why?”

“I go to piano lessons too!” She sours, pouting. “But I don’t like them very much. Why do you play?”

“Uh…” Kunikida wracks his brain. To be honest, he never had a huge passion for it. He played it because he had to and because he was good. He wasn’t a prodigy or anything, but if you’re good enough to brag about it, then you’re good enough to keep going. 

He shouldn’t say that to Aya though. That’s quite negative. 

“It’s fun, I guess,” he says. “It’s satisfying to finish learning a whole piece and being able to play it at one go. Also, it sounds nice. I quite liked composing pieces too.”

Her eyes grow as wide as saucers. “Woah… you can do that?”

“Anyone can compose.” Kunikida turns to her, sweeping her bangs to the side. She must’ve left her hair clips at home. 

She pursues her lips. Her hands come up behind her back, fingers wringing together. “Um… can you show me?”

“One of my pieces?” Kunikida asks with a confused laugh. “I’m not sure I even remember. Why?”

“You said you liked piano. I don’t understand that. I want to understand.”

Ah, shit. Kunikida dug himself a hole here, it seems. 

He hopes his responding smile isn’t too strained. “If we can get our hands on a piano somehow, then sure.”

She brightens in an instant. “Okay!” And then she skips off into Haruno’s direction again, leaving him alone. 

Bram may have made what Kunikida would call a bad decision. 

It’s not his fault. He can’t sleep during the day without his coffin, for even the slightest bit of light is disturbing. He got bored of the radio, which is surprising and atrocious, but he didn’t like the person’s voice and none of the other channels were playing music, he thinks. And he found a large floppy hat, brown with lots of flowers. 

So armed with sun protection and steely determination, Bram leaves the dorm, deciding to go on an adventure. 

The world is blinding in the daytime. He makes his way down and to where he remembers the office to be, but he’s not going to go up there. Instead, he runs into a redheaded girl with metal in her teeth and sunken eyes. She recognises him, asking what he’s doing out, and he explains his reasoning. After that, she points him in a direction, explaining that there’s a shopping district he can hang around if he wants. 

Bram nods, thanking her for her advice and heading down the street. From there, he comes across many shops selling different trinkets. He ignores the odd looks he’s receiving—these people must have never seen a vampire before, but at least they’re not running away screaming—and explores to his heart’s content. 

Eventually, he reaches some sort of empty yard. Bram pokes his head around the corner curiously. There are no shops nor people here, so this must be an abandoned area. Still, he pursues, coming across a wired fence and a broken door. 

He pushes past it, entering. There’s piles upon piles of metal and other large objects, tossed to the side or falling apart. The floor is a sandy beige with bits of grass and weed. 

There is too much junk in this place, Bram thinks. A junkyard? 

And there in the middle, somehow untouched and unharmed, lies a console piano. 

It’s black and losing its shine, and it isn’t as big as the concert grand that his wife and daughter used to play. It stands upright, about half of Bram’s height. 

Bram walks up to the piano, lifting the cover. The keys are yellowing, but when he presses down on some of them, a strong hum zips through the air. 

He knows this chord. C major, according to his wife. The most basic and important one. A wave of nostalgia washes over him as he presses on it again, imagining his fingers as hers. Long and elegant, nails painted wine red, always rounded, never sharp. 

He misses her terribly. 

Bram shakes those thoughts away. He pictures Kunikida’s dorm, thinking of that one corner with nothing in it. He takes a step back, trying to imagine the piano in that space. 

It would be perfect. 

So Bram puts a hand under the piano, lifting it over his shoulder, and begins trudging back to Kunikida’s dorm. 

Truly a fulfilling shopping trip, he thinks. 

After work, Aya goes out with Yosano and Haruno to shop for some clothes. 

It’s nothing fancy. She’s just going to get a set of pyjamas and a set of day clothes while Kunikida temporarily houses her. Yosano had offered after she came back from the hospital and noticed that Aya’s clothes were the same as yesterday’s, and Aya insisted Haruno must come along. 

As they leave the office, Kunikida and Atsushi set off to go see Dazai. He drives them to the hospital he’s in, holding a container of mangoes while Atsushi has a bouquet of lilies. When they arrive at his room and knock on the door, a man with long bicoloured hair opens it. 

“Oh,” he says with a nod. “Kunikida, right?”

“Sigma!” Atsushi gasps, almost dropping the flowers. He was hiding behind Kunikida beforehand. Recognition flickers in Sigma’s eyes as he opens the door wider, stepping back to let them in. "You're alive!"

"Believe me, I'm as surprised as you are," he says with a chuckle, except it doesn't sound much like a joke and more like a pained cry for help. Kunikida understands, considering he had to deal with Dazai for the past who knows how many ideas, among other things.

Speaking of which, Dazai is in bed playing some sort of game on his phone. His leg has been propped up, where a thick cast is wrapped from his ankle up to his knee. He looks up when they walk in, eyes growing wide as he almost drops the device.

"Dazai-san," Atsushi whispers, tears welling up in his eyes. He dashes forward, wrapping him up in a hug as best as he can, the bouquet getting squished between them. Dazai sends Kunikida a panicked look, which he doesn't bother acknowledging, instead gesturing for him to hug back.

He doesn't really, hand awkwardly patting on Atsushi's back instead, but it's enough for him to start sobbing. And despite his grievances, Kunikida finds himself getting emotional at the sight too. He turns away to wipe hastily at his eyes. 

It's not much, but when Dazai takes the gifts from them both, his eyes soften marginally. 

Eventually, they all settle down on stools pushed around Dazai's bed. Dazai chews on the mangoes they brought while they try to update him on everything. Sigma also explains a few things on their side, with offhanded mentions of a clown (Atsushi shudders) and a prison break game. 

At the end of it, the container is empty and Dazai is wiping his mouth. "So Bram-san and Aya-chan are staying with you?" he asks.

Kunikida nods. "Until we manage to contact Aya's father and figure out what to do with Bram, yes."

"I've never met Bram-san," Sigma muses, hands folded neatly in his lap. "I only knew of him. What's he like?"

Kunikida wrinkles his nose. "Like dealing with another child." At that, Atsushi snorts, hiding it behind a cough. 

"Single parent Kunikida-kun," Dazai laughs. He's fiddling with the toothpick he was using earlier to eat. "Is he hot, at least?"

"I—" Kunikida begins before he registers the question, sending him reeling, "—what?!"

"You know…" Dazai grins, tilting his head. "Tall, broody, dark, intimidating. And he has fangs! Who wouldn't find that hot?"

Kunikida flushes as images begin flashing through his head. He's not thought of Bram via the appearance factor, but now that he's focused on it, he supposes he can admit that the vampire is rather attractive. From a purely objective standpoint, of course, maybe only slightly affected by his obsession with the Twilight series when he was a teenager. But that is not his fault.

"I guess so," Kunikida bites out. "So what?"

Dazai blinks up at him. Kunikida can sense the stupidity before it leaves his mouth. "So are you into the whole biting thing or—"

Kunikida does not care that he is injured. He takes out his notebook and whacks Dazai's head with it, cheeks burning red.

"Ow, ow, ow!" Dazai cries. He reaches out in Sigma's direction with a pathetic pout. "Sigma! Kunikida-kun is so mean to me!"

"You deserve it," Sigma mutters. He sounds exhausted. 

He turns to Atsushi, putting on a polite smile that Kunikida recognises as the customer service smile. "Please take him off my hands. I need a vacation."

"Hey!"

As they continue bantering and messing around, Kunikida's phone rings. He excuses himself, leaving the room as he takes his phone out, reading Yosano's contact name before picking up. "Hello?"

"Kunikida!" Aya says, practically yelling into the mic. "We're almost done, can you come pick me up?"

"Aren't Yosano-san and Haruno-san with you?"

"Yes, but Yosano-san is sending Haruno-san home because she doesn't live in the dorms! And I also have a gift for you. It's a bat keychain."

"A bat?" Kunikida repeats, incredulous. "Why?"

Aya hums, ignoring the question. "So, can you? Pretty please?"

He glances at the room he just walked out of. He can hear Atsushi laughing and Sigma groaning even through the door. Atsushi has grown to be capable over the years, and Sigma does seem like a sensible individual. He supposes Dazai will be in good hands.

"Alright," he says with a sigh. "Send me your location."

When the door opens, Bram has just finished arranging the piano in place.

It was bigger than he expected, especially in Kunikida's dorm. He pushed it all the way into the corner, right by the window where sheer black curtains hang. In this position, sunlight should stream in during the day, directly onto the top of the piano. It is an aesthetically pleasing position that he is quite proud of discovering.

Kunikida and Aya walk in together, with Aya holding a large bag and Kunikida with his own work bag slung over his chest. Bram straightens just in time for them to come into view. Kunikida freezes in his tracks when he sees the piano while Aya gasps, pointing at it in shock.

"A piano!" they chorus, but with extremely differing tones. 

Bram nods. "I discovered this today while on a walk."

"I— you left the house?" Kunikida gapes. Bram is not sure why he is so surprised. He is a grown vampire, and he was careful enough to bring a hat, and he asked for directions. He is perfectly capable of leaving the house alone if he wishes. 

He voices out exactly that, which makes Kunikida pinch his nose. “That is not the point. The real question is, how the fuck did you buy a piano, and how did you bring it back?!”

“I did not buy it.”

“You stole?!”

“No. I merely found it on my journey. I could not resist.” 

"You—" Kunikida looks like he's about to explode. "I don't even know how you fit that through the door. Does it even work? Where the hell did you find it?"

Bram struggles to pick between numerous responses. He would explain how exactly he fit the piano through the door, how he tried one chord and it sounded right, and the junkyard he was strolling around in. Aya, however, gives him no time to choose, dashing towards it and lifting the cover.

"Teach me!" she exclaims, turning to Kunikida with wide eyes. 

"N-now?"

She nods rapidly. "I want to hear your pieces. Even if they're really boring and lame like you."

Kunikida lets out an exasperated sigh. Still, he obliges, walking up and sitting down next to her. Bram takes a while to process the information, but when he does, his voice comes out softer than usual. "You compose your own pieces?"

"Just for fun," Kunikida mutters, cracking his knuckles. He places his fingers on the keys, glancing at Aya. "This one was made when I was fifteen, okay? It doesn't have a name or anything, so don't get your expectations up too high."

Aya grins. "Whatever you say!"

Kunikida huffs, visibly fighting down a smile as he focuses his gaze back on the piano. He takes a deep breath as his fingers sink into the keys, creating a steady hum. 

The tune flitters up, then down, a short crescendo—

Bram feels his world come to a stop.

Due to his many years of living, not much can stun him to silence anymore. He's hardly ever awake, let alone energetic enough to feel more than boredom and apathy. But as Kunikida reaches the so-called chorus of the piece, fingers pushing down onto keys with practised ease, Bram can only describe his feelings as hopeful horror.

Where Roses Bloom, a piece composed by his forever lover, long lost in a blazing fire.

Where Roses Bloom, the piece Kunikida plays like it's second nature.

As Kunikida plays the final bit, fingers dancing over the keys before ending it off with a soft, fading melody, Bram feels his throat close up, a ball of emotion getting stuck there. Kunikida finishes the song and looks at Aya, who has her mouth wide open in awe. Then, he turns back to look at Bram, as if trying to gauge his reaction.

"My love," Bram whispers, hoarse and desperate, "that was beautiful."

"I— huh?!"

Ah, right. As much as Bram believes this to be his late wife, this is still Kunikida. Even if he shares the same eyes and elegance and plays the exact piece composed by her. He doesn't understand it the way Bram does.

No matter. Bram will just have to revert back to the ways he knows—to court his lady all over again.

When Kunikida tells her the story, Yosano bursts out laughing and offers no other explanation.

"Stop laughing!" he snaps, a hot blush on his cheeks. "I'm serious! He keeps— it came out of nowhere, but he keeps calling me his love and is suddenly so nice to me. He made me dinner. And it was good! How the hell does he know how to work my stove?"

"But that's great, isn't it?" Yosano gasps out between her giggles. "You've got yourself a rich, brooding, handsome house-vampire. Also, Bram-san kind of matches the keychain on your bag. Wait, can he turn into a bat?"

"I do not think so," Kunikida mutters, trying to ignore the keychain. He is still unsure why Aya chose it, but now that this whole fiasco has begun, he's starting to think it's a bad omen. "Well, whatever! I'm too busy dealing with the Agency's things and Aya. I do not need a vampire trying to… do whatever he's trying to do."

"Is he asking for your hand-in-marriage?" Yosano questions, resting a cheek on her palm. "That would be funny."

Kunikida grimaces. While Bram hasn't said a word about that yet, he can definitely picture it happening. It makes him shudder. "I don't want to think about it anymore. What's the update on Aya's situation, by the way?"

He's aware it's a sudden and extreme switch in topic, but he wants to get this off his plate, and he needs an effective way to escape. Yosano's smile drops as she glances around, ensuring no one else is in hearing vicinity. She leans forward, eyes downcast as she says, "Not sure yet. But we've received calls from her school about her absence."

"We're still recovering from this mess!" Kunikida protests. "Have they no empathy?"

"Yeah, that's what I said, along with 'fuck off' in more polite, corporate terms."

Kunikida hides a laugh behind his hand. "Alright. I think I'll take care of Aya for a few more days, then. You and Haruno did buy her lots of clothes despite me saying only one."

Yosano raises her hands in surrender. "It's cute, she loves it, and I have money to spoil someone. I'm not apologising."

Kunikida pretends to be annoyed. "Yeah, yeah."

They jump when there's a heavy knock on the door. Kunikida stands up to open it, and when he does, he's face-to-face with over a dozen red roses, offered by none other than Bram Stoker.

"Did you steal this?" Kunikida asks with an accusatory glare. Bram may have gotten away with the piano, but no one randomly finds such beautiful flowers in such conditions.

Bram denies it. "I asked the farmer where I could get some and he directed me. Do you like them?"

"Uh…" Kunikida bites the inside of his cheek. Roses are a classic, beautiful flower, but he doesn't want to expose the fact that he likes this, for Bram might take it as a sign to bring much more. As much as he appreciates the gesture, he does not understand anything at all, and he—

Bram's expression drops and he looks like a kicked puppy, completely crestfallen. Just like that, Kunikida gives in. Terrible. 

"They're lovely," he says, stuttering over his words a bit. "Thank you."

Bram brightens back up, nodding. "I will bring more."

"Please don't."

"Bra-chan," Aya asks as Bram pours three cups of tea. Kunikida is in the bathroom showering, so it's just the two of them in the living room. "Why do you suddenly like Kunikida so much?"

Bram sets down the teapot, watching the steam rise from the cups with a fond smile. "Must there be a reason?"

"Uh, yeah! Do you think he's pretty or something?" She jumps around as she speaks, full of energy today. Bram overheard that she's staying over with the doctor, Yosano, tonight for a sleepover. 

"Yes," Bram admits easily. Ever since he's found out that Kunikida and his wife are probably the same person, he's found it much easier to admit Kunikida's beauty to himself. With sharp, strong features that look as if they were sculpted by God himself and the loveliest eyes, no one holds a candle to their beauty. Well, maybe apart from his daughter, but…

Kunikida steps out of the shower, glancing at the tea on the table. "Oh, thank you… Aya, shouldn't you be going now? Yosano-san said 5pm, right?"

"Oh, yeah!" Aya gasps. She grabs the cup of tea, finishing it in one massive sip. Bram made sure it was cooled enough before he even placed the cup down, but it still stressed him slightly to see her drink that so fast. "Okay, bye! See you guys later!"

Bram watches her go, admiring the way her smile seems to shine brighter every day. For a while, after she jumped off that tower to save him, he thought she might never smile that way again. But Aya seems to be regaining that child-like wonder in her eyes the longer she stays with them. That's another thing he's been grateful to Kunikida for, even from the start.

Bram's vision blurs. He assumes they are tears even though he hasn't cried in over… he's lost track, which is how long it's been. But then his vision spins and a chill crawls up his spine, and he has a second to wonder when the last time he slept was before he is stumbling forward.

"Woah!" Kunikida shouts, darting forward. He catches him by his arms, struggling to pull him up. Bram makes a wounded noise as it only makes his head hurt. 

"Need sleep," he manages to get out before he shuts off.

“How are you feeling?” Kunikida asks, creeping into the pitch-black room. 

The curtains are closed, the only bit of light coming from the ajar door. Kunikida squints through the dark and spots a vague figure on the bed, propped up by a stack of pillows. He’s awake, then. 

God. He never thought he’d be housing a vampire, let alone a sick one. What even is his life?

When Bram fainted earlier, Kunikida panicked for a full ten minutes, trying to figure out if he was dead or not, even though that was a nearly-impossible scenario. Then he painstakingly dragged Bram to his bedroom, placing him on his bed and doing his best to get rid of as much light as possible. Bram looked slightly more at peace after he did that, so it was probably something right.

Bram shifts, and Kunikida can make out crimson eyes looking up at him, tracking his every movement. He wonders, for a moment, if Bram can see better in the dark, especially with the way his eyes are glued to him, following him around. 

Kunikida sits on the edge of the bed, and with a bit of hesitation, puts the back of his hand to Bram’s forehead. It’s cool to the touch, thankfully, but still not as cold as it should be. 

“I am alright,” Bram says. His voice sounds terribly hoarse. “I merely require more sleep, though without my casket, I will admit it is a difficult task.”

“Should I close the door?” Kunikida asks, glancing at the bit of light trickling in. 

“No need.” 

Bram gathers himself, sitting up straighter. Kunikida hisses at him to calm down, not wanting him to get faint again or anything of the sort, but Bram pushes his hand away. 

Like this, they’re at eye level. Kunikida folds his hands in his lap, not sure what to do with them. 

“Um,” he says, trying to break the awkward silence. “Is there a reason you’re unwell? I wasn’t aware that could happen.”

Bram lets out a long, rumbling sigh. “Vampires need energy to maintain health. That energy comes in the form of sleep or blood.”

“Oh.” That sounds relatively simple. Much simpler than what Kunikida was thinking anyway. “…Does it have to be human blood?”

“It doesn’t matter the source. But if I wanted to heal faster, it’d be best to drink directly from the source, where the blood is actively flowing.” 

Kunikida swallows thickly, a bad, bad idea forming in his head. 

“It’s alright. A month of undisturbed rest will have the same effect.”

“A month?” Kunikida blurts. “That’s… a long time.”

To both their surprises, Bram chuckles. “With the number of years I’ve lived, a month is nothing, my love.”

Kunikida flushes. There’s that nickname again. Honestly, he doesn’t think Bram is even aware he’s using that nickname so much. He says it like it’s natural instinct, and Kunikida cannot for the life of him figure out why. 

But anyway, back to the topic at hand. He cannot allow Bram to sleep for a month. He, well, he needs this room for one, and their dorm is also next to a busy road. It gets noisy during the day, which would surely disturb Bram’s slumber. He needs to either find a living animal that Bram can feed from, or…

“Can— can you, um, avoid turning someone while feeding?” he asks. 

Bram blinks owlishly. “Yes. I would have to actively inject venom if I wanted to turn someone.”

“Okay.” Kunikida takes a deep breath. He cannot believe he’s doing this. “Then… you can drink mine.”

Silence. 

Bram’s expression is unreadable, as it always is, but this one looks like it’s been made carefully blank. His eyes widen just ever so slightly, the only hint that he is affected by Kunikida’s words at all. Kunikida feels pinned by that stare, and heat begins crawling up his neck in embarrassment the longer the silence drags on. 

Finally, Bram says, “Are you certain?”

“I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t,” he huffs, turning away. He can’t look at him any longer. “I’m just trying to help. This is a much more efficient way of healing for you, right? So we should just do it. I… I don’t want you to do it or anything, it’s just the most ideal compromise.”

He flinches when cold fingers grab his wrist. Bram doesn’t pull any further, though, and his hold is feather-light. 

“Once I begin, I may not realise when to stop,” he warns. Kunikida’s throat goes dry. His voice is much lower than usual. “If you begin to feel faint, or you are hurting, you must let me know.”

“I—” Kunikida gulps. He’s never heard Bram this intense either, the air of nonchalance around him completely dissipating. “I will.”

Bram nods. He lets go of Kunikida’s wrist, instead bringing his hand up to his chin, tilting it upwards. 

Kunikida gasps as another hand snakes around his waist, bringing him closer. Their noses brush. Kunikida brings his hands up, unsure of what to do with them, and ends up resting them on Bram’s chest. A flicker of pain flashes through Bram’s eyes as he leans in, inching closer to Kunikida’s neck. 

This room is suddenly very hot. 

“You’ve always been selfless,” Bram mumbles. Kunikida can feel his chest rumble as he speaks. 

“W-what?” he asks, but he’s distracted when the hand on his chin trails down to his neck, stroking the area right above his pulse point. He tries to suppress a shudder but he fails miserably. A breathy whine escapes his throat. 

Bram stops. “Are you in pain?”

“Ah, no,” Kunikida says. He hates how nervous he sounds, like he’s truly prey waiting to be pounced on. “Just, uh, your hands are cold, that’s all.”

“Oh. My apologies.” Bram hooks a finger around the collar of his sleep shirt and tugs it to the side. Kunikida bites his lip to avoid making another embarrassing sound, tilting his head so there’s more room for Bram to work with. 

The hand around his waist tightens suddenly and he winces. He holds his breath as Bram’s lips brush against his bared neck, the tips of his fangs scraping gently, his pulse picking up speed—

“Come on,” he mutters, squeezing his eyes shut. “Do it already.”

“Breathe,” Bram instructs, still teasing. Seriously, why is he taking so long? Does he have to drag out this mortifying moment? “I don’t need to, but I’m certain you do.”

“Right…” Kunikida makes a show of taking a deep breath and Bram laughs, actually laughs, his chest vibrating from the moment. 

“Relax, my love.” His hand rubs up and down Kunikida’s back. “I won’t hurt you.”

Kunikida wants to remind him that actually, Bram literally warned him beforehand that it might hurt, and this doesn’t do anything to soothe his nerves, but he is sorely interrupted by fangs piercing his skin, cutting away all his thoughts. 

“Ah,” he breathes, his chest shaking with his next breath. Bram brings a hand to the back of his neck, holding him still, and Kunikida bites his tongue when he feels him begin to suck. 

He’s unsure what’s happening, but a cloudy sensation begins to flood his brain. His vision blurs and his heart thumps faster. He can hear breathy whines fill the room and it takes a second for him to register that he’s the one making those noises. 

With trembling fingers, Kunikida reaches up, holding on to Bram’s shoulders. He gasps when he’s pushed forward, his back landing on the mattress with a soft thump. Bram’s hair falls over them in messy waves, creating a sort of curtain around them while he continues to suck. 

“B-Bram,” Kunikida groans. His eyes are fluttering close from the sensation and he so badly wants to let go, giving in to the floaty feeling in his head. 

Bram freezes, pulling back immediately. He lifts himself up by the elbows, looking down at Kunikida with concern. “What’s wrong?”

Kunikida can feel warm blood trickling down his neck. If he looks close enough, he can see a few droplets on Bram’s fangs and lips too, staining them a dark red. 

“Nothing,” Kunikida manages to force out. “I just— need a breather.”

Bram nods. He lifts a hand, stroking Kunikida’s bangs to the side and tucking the rest of his hair behind his ear. Kunikida’s heart skips a beat. 

“It doesn’t hurt, does it?” Bram asks again. 

Kunikida shakes his head. It feels good, actually, but he does not want to say that out loud, lest he combust on the spot. 

Bram hums. In this position, their bodies are pressed together. Kunikida is pinned in place, and that should make him feel scared or uncomfortable, but it doesn’t. If anything, he feels protected, like Bram is trying to cage his body so nothing else may attack during a vulnerable moment. 

…When did he start thinking so highly of Bram? It’s probably just an easier position to feed in. That’s all. 

Kunikida turns his head to the side, unable to stand looking at Bram any longer. He really can be still as a statue sometimes. 

This time, when Bram bites again, he’s a little more prepared. The heady sensation returns and a hot shiver crawls up his spine. 

Kunikida slaps a hand over his mouth, struggling to stifle a moan. If he sounds like he’s in pain, Bram will stop again, and he wants to get this done and over with as fast as possible. 

(It also feels oddly soothing, like a warm caress, and he doesn’t want it to stop—)

He doesn't know how long he's laid there, pinned by Bram's body and putting up zero resistance. There's a constant, pleasant burn in his neck as Bram drinks. He shuts his eyes and attempts to relax, giving in to the feeling.

When Bram pulls away, he strokes a thumb over the puncture. Kunikida winces a bit, but then he looks up to see Bram hovering over him, mere inches away from his own face.

And Kunikida knows this is dangerous territory, but his heart begins to sing when they make eye contact and Bram's features seem to soften even more. Their fingers lace together once more as Bram rolls to the side, mouth placed next to Kunikida's ear when he asks, "Tomorrow, will you play the piano again?"

"The same thing I played a few days ago?" Kunikida clarifies, struggling to keep down a yawn. He's awfully exhausted.

"Yes," Bram replies. "Please."

"Okay," Kunikida whispers, hiding a smile in the sheets. "I promise. Once you feel better, I'll play."

"...Teach me too."

"Really?"

Bram doesn't say anything else. When Kunikida peers at his face, he finds that his eyes have fallen shut, indicating that he's probably asleep.

Kunikida reaches out, brushing a hesitant finger over Bram's lips, where the ghost of a smile and the red of his blood remains. And he finds that honestly, while it may be unrealistic or unfair of him to want such a thing, he wouldn't mind if this was his life from now on.

Even if it doesn't fit any of his ideals for a perfect family and life, nor is Bram the most conventional person to be with—

Ah, whatever. Kunikida can worry about that tomorrow. Right now, he has an ethereal vampire sleeping next to him, and he needs to make sure he doesn't jostle him at all, which means no letting go of their interlocked hands.

Well, no matter, Kunikida thinks as he yawns for the umpteenth time that night. He'll simply get some sleep too.