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Rei hears movement in the room. The quiet rustle of clothing, the soft metallic clinking of jewelry being put on, and occasionally muted footsteps on the carpeted floor of the hotel room. He doesn't open his eyes, but he knows who it is. He's gotten used to this type of routine for the past several weeks. It almost feels soothing in an odd way. A reminder that everything after high school wasn't just a dream that Rei made up for his self satisfaction.
The footsteps then fade towards the door, and it's quietly opened and then shut, the room now completely silent as Kaoru leaves. But it's not a bad thing. This has happened every morning. Rei knows the routine now. Kaoru will be back with coffee and breakfast in another half hour or so.
Rei shifts his sleeping position, groaning quietly at his body protests, fatigue making every movement ache. Rei's throat feels raw. Like he was forced to swallow a bucket of sand. Every time he swallows it feels like he's just swallowing more. He buries himself deeper into his blankets and falls fitfully back asleep.
It feels like seconds pass when he hears his name being called, quiet and muffled like he's underwater. His name is heard again louder this time and he scrunches up his face. It's too early to wake up, yet this is the same time he's woken up almost everyday since he and Kaoru started traveling together.
"Come on, Rei-kun. Your breakfast is warm, and we have fun plans today."
Rei wants to get up. He does. It's finally one of their free days on their trip. They were going to go to a couple of the museums in the city. London offers so many after all.
But his body has other plans today. It's his own fault really. He highly overestimated his abilities. He hasn't traveled this much since his 2nd year of high school. His body isn't used to it anymore.
He opens his mouth, his tongue feeling like sandpaper as he clears his throat to speak. "I'm sorry, Kaoru-kun." Rei's voice sounds dry and hoarse. "I'm afraid I might not be able to go."
"Huh?" Kaoru's footsteps draw closer, and a warm hand is felt brushing aside the hair on his forehead to feel his temperature. Rei shivers slightly, pulling his blankets up to his chin. Rei always runs cool, but right now to Kaoru he feels even colder and the skin of his forehead feels almost clammy.
"Well, you're not feverish," Kaoru states. "But you're not exactly human, so I don't really know what you feel like when you're sick." Kaoru's hand slides down to Rei's cheek, pressing the back of his hand lightly against cold skin as if trying to warm it up.
Rei opens his mouth again to apologize but that's when he catches a familiar scent. Instinctively, Rei grabs Kaoru's wrist with lightning speed, making Kaoru gasp.
The thin skin on the inside of his wrist makes the veins so easy to access, and they're so tantalizingly close to his mouth.
If only he just-
Rei quickly let's go, mumbling an apology.
Kaoru is silent as he slowly takes back his hand. Rei feels his stare in the side of his head but refuses to meet it out of shame. Kaoru will definitely start to ask questions. Questions that Rei does not want to answer.
He sits up from bed, his muscles and joints screaming in protest. He feels a dull ache in his temples as if his head is being squeezed, but he ignores it as he sets his feet on the ground.
"What are you doing?" Kaoru asks him. "If you're not feeling well shouldn't you stay in bed?"
"I'm alright enough to walk around and look at exhibits," Rei tells him.
"We can go tomorrow if you're not feeling well," Kaoru tells him, his tone with a hint of pleading. Rei looks awful. He's always been pale, but now he looks gaunt with an almost grayish tinge. Kaoru doesn't exactly know the biology of vampires, but he knows something is definitely wrong with Rei. "We have a few extra days here in London, so it's fine if we take this day to rest."
Rei knows rest won't help this. He wishes it would. It would make things so much easier if he could sleep this off like a common cold.
No.
There's only one thing that will help him, and he would never ask that of Kaoru. Not after his experience last year.
"I'm alright." Rei assures, giving Kaoru a gentle smile. "We picked London for our most free days for me since it's more likely to be cool and cloudy. I should be fine."
With that Rei stands up, ignoring the way the joints of his knees crack and the dull ache in his head starts to throb. The room around him starts to spin, the edges of his vision getting dark and fuzzy, as if he's taking a picture with the camera shutter half open.
He feels arms suddenly around him, pulling him against a warm body. Kaoru's warm body.
"Rei-kun!" Kaoru's startled voice sounds loud right next to his ear, and he cringes at the noise. "Hey, are you okay? You were swaying so much. You looked like you were about to pass out- you're shivering Rei-kun."
Rei sluggishly turns his head, but instantly regrets when he does. The bare skin of Kaoru's neck brushes against his lips. It's warm, and Rei can almost feel the pulse of blood running through his veins.
He's so close.
If he just bit Kaoru now this headache would go away. The pain in his joints and the static in his mind would disappear.
All he needs is a little blood.
Clouded with bloodlust, Rei opens his mouth. His breath is hot on Kaoru's skin, making the blonde tense against him. A gasp is heard as Rei's fangs lightly scrape against delicate skin as if searching for the perfect place to sink themselves in.
And suddenly Rei is pushing himself away, the force and speed making him fall back onto the bed as he covers his mouth.
"I apologize, Kaoru-kun. That was uncouth of me," he quickly says, not being able to look Kaoru in the eyes. He knows what expression Kaoru wears. Fear. Disgust. The same as the last time Rei did that to him, and Rei cannot bear to see it again. "You were right. I'm not feeling well. I should rest today."
Kaoru is quiet as Rei shivers, pulling the blankets over himself again. It doesn't help the cold but it at least hides the overwhelming shame he feels.
"Rei-kun," Kaoru says quietly after a moment. "Are you not drinking enough blood?"
"You know I've brought some along," Rei replies, not looking at him. "I just try not to drink it in front of you."
"Is it enough?"
Rei stays silent, not wanting to lie to him.
"Rei-kun, how many packets do you have left?"
Rei swallows again with great difficulty, the burning feeling in his throat not going away. "One..." he finally replies.
"One? We're not even halfway through the trip!"
"I was going to get more when we stopped in Romania," Rei explains. "I have some relatives there who would give me some."
"That's still not for another two weeks."
"That's why I'm trying to make this final one last."
Kaoru sighs quietly and sits down on Rei's bed. More shame washes over Rei.
"I'm sorry," Rei mumbles. "I brought what I usually would take on a trip this long, but I misjudged. I haven't traveled in over a year and my body isn't used to it anymore."
"How long have you been feeling sick because of this?"
Rei licks his chapped lips. "Only the last week."
"You should have told me," Kaoru's voice is upset, and Rei cringes. "We're partners now, right? You said so yourself. We have to rely on each other. If you take all the burden then what's the point of me being around?"
"I thought I could handle it-"
"That's not the point!" Kaoru's voice is louder now. "We're supposed to work together. You're supposed to rely on me now. If you noticed earlier that you were going through your supply faster than expected, you should have told me so I could help make sure you're taking things easier."
"I'm sorry." Rei's voice is small and muffled against the pillow. "I am not used to relying on others like this... It's something new for me."
"I know." Kaoru sighs again. "I'm not mad at you. It just makes me worry more when you keep me in the dark."
"I will do my best not to in the future."
Rei feels Kaoru squeeze his shoulder lightly as if to comfort him. "Are you hungry for any food? We still have breakfast."
"Unfortunately it will not help my condition, but I know I should eat something," Rei says, slowly sitting up again.
A styrofoam takeout box is placed in his lap, the smell of eggs and sausage coming from it. They eat in silence, Rei trying to quell the burning in his throat with his orange juice.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Kaoru asks after a while.
Of course there is, but Rei never wanted it to come to that. "Go and enjoy the museums. Take lots of pictures for me. As long as I rest here, I can make my supply last until I can get more."
"What if-"
Kaoru stops himself, trying to find the right question to ask. "What if you drank some of my blood?"
Rei's fork stops halfway to his mouth, a slight tremble to his hand, making some of the food fall back into the box. "You do not have to do that, Kaoru-kun. I know I made you have a bad experience the first time I attempted. I do not wish for you to feel like you have to do this to help me. If I rest I will be fine."
"But I know I don't have to. I want to help you," Kaoru refutes. "Besides, the thing I didn't like about that was the kidnapping your family did. Also the being tied up. That was scary. But as long as you don't do those things again, I'll be fine." Kaoru ends with an awkward laugh that peters off into silence again.
Rei gives Kaoru an embarrassed smile. "I apologize again for my family," he says. "They are set in the old ways where we were deep in hiding, and normal humans did not know about us. They do not realize that we have friends now who understand."
"Please tell them that next time then," Kaoru says with a shiver. "Anyway, if you need a bit of my blood that's fine. I'd rather not go to all of the museums by myself anyway. Besides, people donate blood all the time. What's the big difference?"
"Well, teeth do hurt a bit more than a needle," Rei admits.
"Ah, well yes," Kaoru says hesitantly, shifting in his seat slightly. "But it will only be for a bit right? You usually need only a little to get you by."
Rei nods but hesitantly looks up at Kaoru. "Are you sure that you are alright with this?"
Kaoru looks up from his own food to meet Rei's eyes with such a determined look that it makes Rei catch his breath. "I want to help you, Rei-kun. Let me help you by doing this much."
There's a fluttering in Rei's chest. If he wasn't lacking so much blood, he probably would have blushed. Instead he just huffs out a small laugh. "Your natural charm always amazes me, Kaoru-kun. You are as brilliant as the sun itself."
Kaoru flushes at that. "Don't say such weird things!"
Rei's laugh is louder now, bringing a bit more life into his weakened body. "Forgive this old man. I sometimes do not think before I speak. But if you are willing to give me some of your blood, I am grateful. Would you mind?"
Rei gestures for Kaoru to come closer.
"Oh," Kaoru sets down his breakfast in surprise. "Right now?"
"If you are alright with that. I would like to give you some time to recover before we head out for the day."
"Oh- right..." Kaoru gets up from the small table and makes his way over to sit down on Rei's bed, starting to suddenly feel nervous. He reminds himself that it's just Rei, but knowing that makes him even more nervous for some odd reason. "How do you want me to sit?"
"Any way you feel comfortable. Everyone does it differently," Rei tells him. He then touches the hem of Kaoru's white shirt. "Though, you might want to take your shirt off. I try to be careful, but I don't want to accidentally get some blood on it."
Right, sure-" Kaoru quickly grabs the back of his T-shirt before pulling it over his head and tossing it on his bed. Now with his top half bare, he feels oddly exposed. Shy even. Which is weird. Rei has seen him like this many times before. Whether it be as they changed backstage for lives or even all their time they spent sharing a hotel room together these recent weeks. But now under Rei's crimson gaze, he feels like a helpless rabbit cornered by a wolf.
Cool fingers run down his bare back as if to soothe him, but they just make him shiver. From the cold or something entirely different, he doesn't know.
"You can still say no, Kaoru-kun," Rei tells him, his voice right by Kaoru's ear. "It would not offend me if you did."
"Just do it already," Kaoru grumbles.
"Alright, alright," Rei says with a chuckle.
Rei leans in towards Kaoru's neck, his breath ghosting against his skin, raising goosebumps across it. Rei's cool lips then brush against his neck, trailing downward to where it meets his shoulder as if he's tracing a vein. It feels oddly sensual, but the only other situation that Kaoru's been in where someone's lips are on his neck is when he's with a girl. But this is Rei, not some girl that he's with.
Before he can ponder that thought any longer, Rei's fangs sink into his neck, and a sharp pain goes through him. He gasps and lets out a breathy curse, his hands fumbling over each other to grasp at Rei's shirt. In response Kaoru feels Rei's arms around him, holding him close. Not too strong as to hurt him, but almost as if Rei was holding him steady to ground him.
It stings as Reis fangs push deeper into his shoulder, drawing out dark blood that Rei eagerly drinks like a starving man. Well in a way, Kaoru guesses he was starving.
The pain then disappears as quickly as it came as it dulls to a light ache. Kaoru's breathing is labored as he feels Rei's tongue against his skin, lapping up the blood welling from the small puncture wound on Kaoru's shoulder.
Kaoru's mind starts to get foggy, as Rei drinks up his blood. The quiet noises of Rei's lips against his skin and the metallic scent of blood are the only two things Kaoru can focus on. Kaoru lets out an embarrassing whine that would have mortified him in other circumstances. But right now he can't think straight. His body feels hot and his mind numb as he pants into Rei's ear.
Rei's mouth then leaves his neck, gently licking the wound as if to soothe it and clean up the last remaining blood gathering there.
"Forgive me," Rei whispers against his skin. "I may have taken a bit too much."
"It's alright," Kaoru mumbles back, slurring his words a bit. His body still feels hot against Rei's and his head feels like it's full of TV static.
For Rei, it's quite the opposite. From that first bit of blood it felt like the fog in his mind finally cleared. Warmth seeps into his bones, similar to the feeling of taking a first sip of hot coffee on a cold morning. It slowly trickles through his body, quelling the aches in his joints and the pain in his head. The rawness of his throat is gone too, as if he had the world's best throat lonzenger.
Rei gently rubs his hands up and down Kaoru's back, his slender fingers calloused from years of playing guitar and violin tracing light patterns on his skin. He lets Kaoru rest against him for a little while longer, continuing what almost feels like a type of aftercare.
It's a nice feeling. It's comforting, and it makes Kaoru feel safe. He feels safe in Rei's arms. Like he could stay here forever and never worry about a thing. Which is strange for Kaoru to think about a man. Especially a man who just drank his blood, but he can't think straight right now, and Rei's arms feel sturdy and warm.
"You should finish your breakfast," Rei murmurs after a while. "You need to get your blood sugar back up."
Kaoru hums quietly in lethargic agreement, but quickly frowns when Rei starts to pull away from him. He slowly blinks his eyes open as Rei moves back. He already has a healthy flush on his cheeks and his eyes look much more alert.
Kaoru watches as Rei gets up and rummages through his bag for a moment and then pulls out a small first aid kit. He opens it on the bed and pulls out a bandage and an alcohol wipe. He rips the packet open and moves the wipe towards Kaoru's shoulder.
"This may sting," he warns.
Kaoru can't help but laugh lightly at that. "You already bit me. It can't be any worse."
Rei gives him a guilty smile.
Kaoru still winces when Rei cleans the bite marks. The bandage is then placed over it, and Rei helps him back into his shirt. Kaoru is then eased back to lean against the headboard, the remainder of his breakfast placed in his lap.
Rei stands up. "Eat up," He tells Kaoru. "I'll get you some more juice. You need more sugar."
Rei turns to leave, but Kaoru grabs his wrist.
"Are you feeling better?" Kaoru asks quietly.
Rei smiles gently down at him. "Yes. I'm feeling much better. Thank you Kaoru-kun. I am very thankful that I can rely on you now."
Kaoru smiles back. "I'm glad I could finally help you, Rei-kun."