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Growing tired of hunting in his usual territory, Mondo found himself wandering deeper into the forest that he thought himself familiar with when the trees began to change in color, the bark turning silver and the leaves vibrant with bronze and gold. Admittedly, he did not fully notice the changes until he came to a break in the dense woods to where a clearing with a crystal clear pond sat,where he almost approached for a quick slurp of water, yet he stopped himself when he heard another presence emerging from behind a thicker trunk.
When the other man was in full view, Mondo ducked behind the nearest tree and glanced in intervals around it to survey his actions. All the while, he was silently hoping to whatever force of nature that his empty stomach would not give him away, especially when he was clearly on someone else’s turf. All the while, he also found himself captivated by the man’s movements while approached the edge of the water and dipped his elegant shaped feet into the depths once he removed his knee-length boots, letting out a melodic sigh of relief from the cool touch. Though, Mondo’s cravings wouldn’t let him appreciate this scene for long, registering this as the perfect opportunity to get a meal after days of hunting and not finding suitable prey to satiate his appetite.
Removing himself from the protection of the forest, the vampire crept along the open terrain and inched closer to the stranger who smelled of baked goods until he was hovering over the other’s exposed neck. Not wasting anymore time, Mondo dipped his face into the crook of his neck and plunged his fangs into the otherworldly pale skin, the vampire’s fangs filling with a thicker blood than he expected, reminding him of when he was human and would drown his pancakes in maple syrup. It was delectable to the point where he let out a muffled moan around the mouthful of skin.
It was peculiar that the person did not yell out in pain while he fed, but he didn’t question it while he drank in the succulent blood, finally forcing himself to release from his hold lest he go overboard and end up draining the man of his entire life force, though he still expected the other to faint.
Instead, the man reached up to the puncture wounds that were quickly closing- faster than Mondo knew any human could- and traced them with delicate fingers, seeming unbothered by what he found. Eventually, he took his feet away from the pond and turned to face the one who was responsible for this flesh wound, his crimson eyes devoid of emotion despite the beauty they exhumed even when they fell upon the newcomer.
“Greetings… mortal?” he spoke in a medium pitched voice, a thick eyebrow raising in his confusion.
“Nope, try again.”
“Oh, then I know what you are,” the stranger commented nonchalantly, standing with no sign of struggle while he faced the taller person and held his chin up with his index and middle finger, “I believe it is quite rare to have a vampire servant, I am quite fortunate.”
“...Servant?”
“Indeed. I suppose you should know my name now that you are working for me. You may call me Taka.”
“That’s cool ‘n all, but you got it all wrong!” Mondo let out with light annoyance, for he was enjoying the slight amount of contact they now shared, though he needed to make his stance known, “I bit you, so now you’re mine. That’s how this shit works!”
“Well, I hate to break it to you, but… you ate my food. Therefore, you now belong to me.”
Mondo bared his fangs in anger, “No, we ain’t playin’ by your dumbass rules!”
“And why shouldn’t we? You are in my domain. Or did your bloodlust cloud your judgment?”
“Look you pixie bitch-”
“Fairy, actually.”
“Whatever the fuck ya are! You can’t keep me bound t’ ya, I drank your blood!”
:”So, you admit it.”
“Yeah, but only ‘cos that means you would be mine!”
Taka remained silent for a long moment, not bothering to remove his fingers from under the vampire’s chin during this contemplation. When he did withdraw his touch, he stated, “I guess we are at an impasse. This means we will have to dispute this with an unbiased party.”
“Oh, there’s ain’t no fuckin way I’m goin’ in front of your lil teaparty sized court!”
‘Who said anything about the High Fey Court? They would be naturally biased towards their prince.”
“Ain’t no fuckin’ way I bagged royalty…”
“You didn’t,” Taka scoffed, pausing only to put his boots on again, “There is a human lawyer who takes cases from the supernatural. Meet me at his firm tomorrow, that’s an order.”
“Bitch, I don’t take orders from my thralls.” Mondo retorted with a low growl.
“I shouldn't expect less from your kind, you don’t face consequences head on.”
“The fuck did you just say!? I’ll fuckin’ be there, just you wait!”
“Good, because if you fail to appear that means you forfeit any claims that I am under your control. Which will mean you are, in fact, my servant.”
“Like I’d let that happen.”
“Then it is agreed,” the fairy said while he began to step away from the other, stopping and turning his head to give a sideways glance and smirk when he added, “Do not get me wrong, I look forward to seeing you again. I am quite thrilled to have such a handsome specimen under me.”
Caught off guard by the additional commentary, the vampire stood there in a flustered stupor long after he was left alone in the clearing. Despite being pissed off by the debate of who had ownership over who, at least he was not obligated to hunt for a while.
The next day came sooner than Mondo thought it would, grateful that the right hand man to him in his vampire clan knew where the suggested lawyer’s office would be found. Though he was unamused at the idea of being here for any reason due to his lifelong disdain for authority figures of any kind, he was impressed when he saw a picture giving an affectionate nuzzle to an unimpressed silver haired man, wedding bands evident on both their hands.
“You gotta husband, huh?”
“How do you…?” the lawyer began to ask before he remembered the photograph on his desk, his cheeks flushing pink despite his chest puffing a little with pride, “O-Oh, yes! That’s my Miles.”
“Doesn’t seem thrilled that you’re lovin’ on ‘im…”
“He’s not keen on most public displays of affection… Anyway, I’m Phoenix, and I suppose I’ll be helping you two out today?”
“I believe in your ability to do so, Mr. Wright,” Taka remarked from where he was sitting uncomfortably close to his adversary, “I apologize for bringing such trivial matters to you with such a busy schedule. If only this stubborn brute would understand that he is now indentured to me.”
“Excuse the fuck out o’ me, you snooty asshole?!”
“Case in point,” the fae prince let out with a sigh, ignoring the rising rage next to him while he began to explain the issue, “Essentially, I took a stroll in my forest and stopped for a brief soak when this one took me by surprise and fed on me. Then, he had the gall to say that I belonged to him afterwards!”
“‘Cos you are!”
“Yet, he refuses to abide by fae customs. He drank from a fairy, which means he is now the property of my kind.”
“I ain’t nobody’s property! I gotta fuckin’ clan t’ take care of!”
“Then you should have focused on leading them instead of hunting outside of your territory,” Taka countered, giving a side-eyed glance to the vampire, “You did some reckless behavior, so now you must answer for them.”
“Absolutely not! Just ‘cos you’re a fairy don’t mean you can’t be turned…”
“Here I am to prove you otherwise.”
“For that, I’m gonna rip off your wings ‘n wear ‘em for a cape!”
“Gentlemen, please, if I could have your attention,” Phoenix spoke up, trying to hide the tension he was feeling from the heated discussion going on between both creatures, “I think I’ve come to my conclusion on this matter.”
“You better not be sidin’ with this bitch just ‘cos he’s pretty…”
“Oh, you think I’m pretty?” Taka inquired with a smug smirk.
“What do you take me for? I’m spoken for- That isn’t the point!” the attorney remarked with exasperation, yet it was soon replaced by an expression of fondness rather than stress from the few minutes he already spent with his clients, “I’m delighted to be the first to congratulate you on being married!”
There was a pause, then the vampire spoke with utter confusion, “The fuck d’you mean?”
“Well, since you both claimed each other, that would mean you’re wed…”
“Who said I wanna be married to this snobby, sparkly cupcake?” Mondo asked incredulously, his fangs piercing into his bottom lip with the fury he tried to desperately keep at bay.
“I never wanted to be coupled with a bloodsucker myself…”
“You wanna say that again, Tinkerbell?!”
“I was meant to be courted by prestigious men from other fae families,” Taka began, his right hand slipping down to his hip where he withdrew a shortsword from a hidden sheath, “Not some dirty bloodsucker like you!”
Mondo bared his fangs at the prince and cracked his knuckles with the intent to face him in combat unarmed.
“No, you can’t kill each other in my office!” Phoenix squeaked out, “Not only do I not want that to happen, but I don’t want to explain to Detective Gumshoe why there’s a sword sticking out of someone’s chest…”
“So, you’re just tryna cover your own ass?”
“That’s not what I said…! Please, be civil, I’m sure we can work out some agreement like any other married couple.”
“He has a point, honey,” Taka brought up, his emphasis on the pet name colder than the steel in his chosen weapon, “We should work out our issues in a more productive way.”
Confused, the vampire almost lunged at him until the realization dawned on him. Smirking, he replied, “Y’know what, dear, why don’t we settle our differences outside?”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea.”
The attorney groaned at the implications of the violence he tried to corral continuing on his firm’s property instead of inside, yet he knew that nothing he did would convince them to completely stop- he was a mortal, like it or not, and he wanted to stay alive long enough to tell his own husband what kind of case he took.
The two marched from Phoenix’s office and out to the parking lot, each standing at opposite ends in the battle stance they tried to take moments ago.
Mondo snarled at the fairy in front of him, unphased by the itchiness in his skin from the direct sunlight he was enduring, “Bring it. I ain’t scared o’ some ballet dancin’ pretty boy like you.”
“Even when you’re facing danger head on, you’re still able to find me admirable. Fascinating.”
“I’m gonna admire ya when you’re bound in chains, calling me ‘master’,” Mondo shot back, stalking closer to his opponent, “You’re gonna go from hostin’ lame ass tea parties t’ drainin’ humans like cattle. ‘N I’m gonna enjoy watchin’ ya squirm while you do so.”
“That’s laughable! You’re the one who is going to be dressed to service me,” the prince countered, moving closer while still brandishing his sword, “Bound by a collar, pulled back by a leash should you try to escape me.”
Eventually, the two were inches apart from each other, unaware of the growing closeness with their threats thrown out in the open. Close and personal with the fae again, Mondo was overtaken by the sickening sweet scent of pastries and cream, drawn in by the aromas and the looming fight that had yet to transpire until his rough lips crashed into the other’s more sensual ones.
When they parted, Mondo could swear he heard a whine from the otherwise composed heir to the throne, snorting at the crumbling collectiveness, “Y’know, I am the one who kissed you, so… You’re mine.”
“Please, that does not override you drinking my blood. What a pitiful attempt at dominance, vampire.”
“...Not this again.” Phoenix whispered loudly from where he watched the two from his ajar office window.
“It’s Mondo, just so y’know.”
“I suppose it would be beneficial to know my underling by name,” Taka replied, leaning in and giving a chaste kiss back to the vampire, “I’d say we’re even now.”