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When Sanji had finally managed to scrape together enough money for the down payment on the house he wanted, he’d been ecstatic. It didn’t matter if the house was small, maybe a bit run down with the paint chipping and the carpets definitely needing to be pulled and replaced with hardwood, but none of that mattered. Not even when he’d awoken to the sound of soft footfall above his head the first night he’d slept there.
The house was old, it was bound to creak. At least that was what Sanji told himself so he didn’t freak out when it kept happening. He didn’t think twice about his wine stick getting lower. Mainly because he knew he’d been having a glass or two extra just to help sleep through the night so he wasn’t waking up with each creak of wood.
It didn’t help nearly as much as he wanted it to.
Sanji figured maybe it was just nerves. An unwarranted anxiety due to him living alone after so many years of being under Zeff’s roof.
The night he decided to wait and see what was causing the noise, he was greeted with silence.
No creaking, no footsteps, nothing.
Sanji was tempted to check the attic. He’d been shown it briefly on the walkthrough of the home but he hadn’t been up there again. It had been just as small as he’d expected it at that time. Just enough room to stand if he ducked his head and with all the dust, he wasn’t too keen on going back up there.
Raccoons maybe? Or an opossum family? But neither of those were big enough to cause the creaking and thudding steps he’d been hearing before. So why did they stop now?
He almost believed that he’d been imagining it. The sound was gone now and the silence was so deafening he could only hear the wind rustling leaves outside and the occasional car passing by on the street. He sat up, deciding he needed some air and a smoke. His brain was working overtime and he needed to calm down and relax. This house was his, there was nothing wrong with it and there was nothing to be scared of.
He stood up and stretched, the motion of his legs pulled the blankets off the bed and bunched them to the side where they’d been sitting around his waist. The cool air of the house instantly hit his bare feet and legs. The sudden chill caused goosebumps to appear on his smooth skin and a shiver to run through him. He moved toward the door, running a hand through his messy blond hair in an attempt to calm himself a bit.
The house wasn’t completely dark, light from the street streamed in through the windows creating patches of grey on the walls. He let out a slow chittering breath, it was just cold enough to cause the hair on Sanji’s arms to stand up on end. He quietly made his way down the hallway and into the kitchen. He moved about the space, not bothering to turn on any lights. He didn’t need to, the pale moonlight coming in through the window was enough to illuminate what he needed.
The pack of cigarettes he’d left out earlier that day sat on one of the counters, the lighter tucked behind the carton. He grabbed both and slid his feet into the shoes he kept by the back door. He slipped out of the door and quietly closed it behind him, a soft click telling him it was secure once again. Cigarette between his lips, he lit it with one hand and inhaled deeply.
The smell of smoke instantly relaxed him, his nerves settling with each puff he took. Maybe he’d been imagining things after all.
He looked up at the night sky, bright stars peaked out behind dull grey clouds. Sanji glanced back at his home, his cigarette hanging from between his lips as he listened to the rattling of leaves as a soft breeze blew by. His eyes trailed up to the small circular window that looked into the attic.
He shook his head, feeling a bit annoyed with himself that he was still jumpy. He wasn’t the superstitious-type but the lack of sleep was starting to get to him. Maybe he’d take another look in the attic tomorrow - just to have peace of mind.
With that decided, he finished off his cigarette and tossed it into the ashtray he kept on the railing. He stretched, groaning softly at the way his muscles pulled until they felt less tense. He made his way back into the house, intent on getting back in bed and getting the rest his body needed. He didn’t want to think about the attic or the noise, he just wanted to sleep.
As he walked back to his room a strange noise from the attic caught his attention. He stood stock still in the hallway, listening for any sound that would indicate something was wrong. It was too soft to tell if it was human or animal, but it definitely wasn’t a sound the house usually made.
Sanji’s heart raced in his chest as panic clawed at him. He needed to be rational, there was probably nothing wrong. It was just his imagination running wild, just like last time.
Sanji’s breathing increased as his anxiety got worse. He could just go upstairs, take a look around and go back to sleep. It would take five minutes, tops. And if it was clear, then that was one thing off his todo list for tomorrow.
He nodded to himself, swallowing to clear the lump in his throat. The sound was probably nothing and there was nothing to be worried about. If his mind kept being irrational then the best thing to do would be to check and get on with his life.
Slowly he made his way to the attic hatch. He stretched up, grabbing the hanging string and pulling it down to reveal the stairs up all while trying to keep as silent as he could. He felt his heart jump into his throat when the hinges of the stairs creaked loudly, betraying his slow movements.
He didn’t slow or pause though, he took the stairs as quietly as he could until he stood in the dark attic space. There was the tiniest amount of light coming through the small circular window, but not enough to illuminate the room.
He strained his ears, listening for something, anything, that would alert him if he was alone or not. The silence that surrounded him was deafening, the only sound he could even hear was the thudding of his own heartbeat.
The tiny hairs on Sanji’s neck rose, goosebumps forming down his arms and legs as he slowly looked around the small attic. He could just make out the furniture and boxes in the space but not enough to see the walls and the corners. He bit at the skin of his bottom lip nervously, glancing around the dark space. From one pitch black corner to the next.
His heart raced against his chest, the beat a deafening pulse in his ears, as he strained his eyes to see better in the dim light. The smell of dust was strong, making his nose itch and his eyes water, but he didn’t dare move to rub his face - not when it felt like there were eyes on him.
A soft thump from somewhere to his right made his breath stick in his throat. It sounded like someone or something had dropped something. Sanji fought the urge to turn his head toward the sound, instead keeping his gaze straight ahead.
He wanted to call out and demand who was there, but nothing came out. His mouth was dry and no sound would pass through the lump in his throat - even if it would have came out, he doubted it would have been anything more than a squeak.
He stayed frozen in place for what felt like several, agonizingly long, minutes. The sound of his heartbeat pounded in his ears, his pulse jumping wildly, while he stood as still as he could in the eerie darkness of the attic.
No sound was made, not out of him or from the darkness surrounding him, just the sounds of his own body betraying him. Each breath that he exhaled too loud, each thump of his heart too fast, the click of his throat as he swallowed too obvious.
Another noise, this time sounding like footsteps, forced Sanji into action. He was unable to make a conscious decision at that point, his body moving before his mind could decide what was the best thing to do. He stumbled back down the stairs taking them two at a time and not caring of the risk. He needed to leave and he needed to do it now or he was going to lose his mind.
With a final leap off the bottom step, Sanji bolted for the door. He threw it wide open, the sound of wood slamming against the wall so loud in the silent house. The cold night air felt like heaven on his flushed face, instantly cooling the perspiration that had formed there in a cold sweat.
He inhaled deeply, the chilled air a shock to his lungs as he took large gulps to calm the panic.
He ran a hand through his messy hair and then patted down his sleep shorts. Nothing but his cigarettes. No phone and definitely no wallet or keys, all left behind in his haste to get out.
Sanji swallowed thickly. He’d have to go back inside.
He paused just outside the door, his hands shaking from the adrenaline that still coursed through him. It was just his imagination, there was no one else in the house. He’d be fine to run back in, grab a few things and then get the hell out of there.
With a deep breath of the crisp night air, Sanji steeled himself. He could do this. He was being irrational and nothing more than a cowardly idiot. He could just run in, grab his things and go hide out at Zeff’s until he calmed the hell down.
The house creaked as it settled and Sanji jumped at the flapping of wings overhead. He glanced up, just catching the disappearing figure of a lone owl. He closed his eyes and swallowed, a mixture of relief and embarrassment coursing through him. He was going completely nuts over nothing more than his own paranoia.
It was just the house settling, the noises and shadows were his imagination and the sounds were just mice or rats or any other number of animals. The only thing in that house was him, and he was overreacting.
A large yawn escaped his mouth, the panic and lack of sleep finally catching up to him. He needed a coffee, his keys and to get the hell out of there. He would feel better in the morning, after he got some rest elsewhere.
But first, he had to get his keys. And maybe some warmer clothes. The cold air had started to chill his bones leaving his joints aching.
With his mind made up, he ran a hand through his hair one last time and opened the front door. He stepped inside, intent on going to his bedroom to throw some clothes on so he wouldn’t freeze. The house was still as he made his way down the hallway to his bedroom. The light was still off, the sound of the wind outside muffled through the walls.
It was a relief to step into his room, the familiarity of it causing the tension in his shoulders to ease for a moment. That moment of peace, however, was short lived when Sanji made his way toward his dresser.
Atop the dresser sat his lighter. The same lighter he was sure he’d had in his pocket when he’d gone up to the attic.
With trembling fingers, Sanji picked up the lighter. It was definitely his - the small scratch in the side marking it as his own - but how had it gotten there? He was certain he had it with him in the attic.
The thought chilled him, his eyes widening as he looked around the room.
He truly was not alone. The realization chilled him straight down to the bone. His blood rushed in his ears and his heartbeat hammered in his chest as he strained his ears to listen.
At first there was nothing, but as time dragged on, small noises like the settling of the house started to sound more like someone breathing and the wind sounded like footsteps outside the bedroom.
His mind raced as he turned in a circle, looking at every corner, every shadow, every dark space. No matter how hard he squinted or how much he tried to convince himself that there was no one there, the chill down his spine told him otherwise.
He was scared, terrified even. But he couldn’t just stand there shaking in terror and waiting for god knows what to appear.
Sanji swallowed and moved toward his closet, grabbing a random pair of jeans and a shirt before moving toward his bathroom. He wanted out. He just needed to keep it together long enough to get dressed and out the door.
The bathroom light flooded on, blinding him for a moment. It felt brighter than usual, his vision adjusting slowly to the light. The mirror before him reflected his pale face and the wild look in his eyes. He looked like hell.
But, he thought, that couldn’t be helped. The only thing he should worry about right now was getting out of there.
Sanji froze as he felt breath on the back of his neck. He stared into the mirror, the only thing reflected back was himself. But he knew what he’d felt. There was no way he could make the mistake of thinking he was alone. He was being watched, someone or thing was standing behind him - just out of range of the mirror’s reflection or maybe it didn’t have one at all - and he was too mortified to turn around.
Move, he shouted at himself in his mind, but he couldn’t. His legs felt frozen and his hands shook where he held the lighter and his clothes. He was trembling, his entire body shaking from fear as he clenched his teeth to keep them from chattering. Whoever or whatever it was that was standing behind him was too close, he could feel it.
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and trying to keep his body as still as he could. He wanted to be brave. He wanted desperately to turn around, light a cigarette and flip off whatever or whoever was behind him - he’d be damned if he let some supernatural phenomenon make him look like a coward.
But he couldn’t.
“I hate the taste of smokers but you’ll have to do,” A weary voice spoke from behind him as he felt hands grasp at him.
The voice behind him shocked Sanji enough that he could at least move his head, the instinct to look toward the sound taking over when his body failed to react. But fingers tangled in his hair, pulling his head back and to the side.
“Don’t worry, it’s just like getting a shot. Or so I've heard,” The voice spoke before Sanji felt pin pricks against his neck.
The sting against his neck made him want to flinch, but the hand holding him firmly in place wouldn’t allow it. He couldn’t move and even if he could, he doubted it would do any good. He could still only see his own reflection, but he could hear the heavy breathing of the being behind him and feel the sharp sting in his neck.
When it stopped and the hands fell away from his body, Sanji turned. Green, that was the first thing he noticed. Then the red of a single eye peering at him. Gold - An earring. Fangs.
Sanji blinked, mouth opening and closing like a fish out water as his heart hammered in his chest.
The man before him was unlike anything he’d seen before. He was barely taller than Sanji, but just from a look alone Sanji could tell that he’d been starving. He wanted to do something, say something or even just look away, but his brain was paralyzed as he stood frozen in fear.
The man, or at least that’s what Sanji assumed, stepped closer as if sensing the fear coursing through Sanji. His gaze seemed to be roaming over Sanji’s body, checking him like a piece of meat in a butcher’s window.
“Not bad, though I think it’d taste better if you drank more and smoked less.” The man’s lips curled into a crooked smile and Sanji had a brief moment of feeling the strangest desire to reach out and touch them. That feeling faded however when his mind finally registered the words the man spoke.
The blood ran cold in Sanji’s veins as the realization flooded his mind. The man before him wasn’t just checking him out, he was planning on eating him.
“Stay back!” Sanji said, his fear made him seem braver than he actually felt.
The blood ran cold in Sanji’s veins as the realization flooded his mind. The man before him wasn’t just checking him out, he was planning on eating him.
“Stay back!” Sanji said, his fear made him seem braver than he actually felt.
“Relax dartboard, if I wanted ya dead you’d have been from the first night you were here. As it is, I think you could help me. More than you already have.” The man made a swirling motion with one of his fingers, giving an amused smirk as he pointed at Sanji’s eyebrows.
“Help you how?” Sanji couldn’t help but ask. The man’s words were strange, making it sound like he’d been watching Sanji longer than just that night. From the beginning. From the first creak he’d heard.
The man chuckled, the sound sending a chill down Sanji’s spine as he watched the crooked smile widen.
“It’s simple - Let me stay here and feed on you and you keep quiet about it.” The man offered like it was the easiest thing in the world. As though he was asking Sanji to donate an organ or give up a piece of his favorite food - instead of offering himself up as a free buffet on a continuous basis.
Sanji swallowed thickly, his throat dry as he stared at the man in front of him. He should be saying no, telling the man to piss off and just leave - or even calling the cops on his creepy ass. But he didn’t. Because he was stupid and he’d never let someone go hungry if he could help it.
“What are you?”
The man smirked again, his tongue licking at his lower lip in what looked like a reflex. Sanji couldn’t help but watch the movement, the sight making him swallow thickly again.
“A vampire,” The man replied, turning to lean back against one side of the door frame. There was something about his voice, the way he sounded like he was perpetually tired, that made Sanji curious.
Vampires weren’t real. They were monsters from old horror stories and cheesy movies that he’d watched as a kid. They didn’t exist in real life. But then what was this man who had no reflection and fangs so sharp they pierced his skin like butter.
“Vampires aren’t real.” Sanji said the words as he thought them, his brain not bothering to filter them from his mouth before they could be said. It earned him a chuckle from the man who straightened away from the door.
“Not real, eh?” He chuckled again, walking closer to Sanji. The smirk that showed off his fangs did strange things to Sanji’s stomach as he walked backwards until he hit the bathroom wall. He was trapped between the wall and the man who was now too close for comfort once again.
Sanji swallowed thickly, flinching when the man’s hand reached out and grabbed his chin. Even with the fear, the shock, and confusion that were coursing through him, Sanji couldn’t help but shiver at the feel of those cool fingers on his heated skin.
“Your name’s Sanji, Ain’t it?”
“Yeah,” Sanji said, trying to keep himself as still as possible under the man’s grip. Those cool fingers were doing things to him, making him feel light headed, warm and cold all at once. It had to be the adrenaline and not the fact that this man - monster, was devastatingly handsome.
“Can’t say the name fits you,” The man replied. Sanji would have argued normally but being caught in that dark gaze that seemed to stare straight into his soul made speech difficult. He swallowed thickly, trying and failing to keep his heart from racing as the man leaned in.
“You should stop smoking Sanji, it’s not good for you – and it makes your blood taste like crap.”
The man’s words were whispered against Sanji’s neck, the warmth of them making his skin tingle in anticipation. He knew he should move away, turn his head, hell even punch the guy in the face - anything but lean into the sensation of the man running his nose over his throat to the racing point of his pulse.
“Smell so good but taste so bitter,” He mumbled.
Sanji swallowed hard again, his heart and his body at war with each other. His mind was still trying to register what was happening but his emotions and instincts were taking over, making his body flush hot and his mind race. He didn’t know if he was terrified or turned on.
“The names Zoro, and I think you’ll be agreeing to my request. Won’t you?” He asked, fangs just grazing across his neck. Sanji could still feel the dull throb of where the vampire had bitten him already.
Sanji hated that his mind still couldn’t seem to catch up. That even with the fangs and the danger of being drained of blood, he was still too lost in the sensation of Zoro’s breath against his sensitive skin and the feel of his fangs running along his pulse to even consider saying no.
His voice was thick when he spoke, as though he was drunk, “Yeah, whatever. Just don’t kill me.”
Zoro paused, pulling back just enough to look at Sanji’s face as he spoke - close enough that Sanji could still feel his breath. “Don’t plan to.”
His hand moved from Sanji’s chin, fingertips tracing along his jawline, the touch so light it would have been almost ticklish had it not elicited a different reaction.
“Just enough til you're full, don’t get greedy you bastard.”
Zoro laughed, the sound low but sending a shiver through Sanji’s already tense body. That cool hand moved lower, from his cheek down the column of his throat, fingers curling lightly around the base in what was almost a caress.
“But I am greedy. Greedy, starving, and lost. And you already agreed to help me.”
Sanji felt his breathing hitch when Zoro’s fingers squeezed against his throat, his body feeling like it was on fire from the close contact of the vampire. His heart pounded in his chest, making him dizzy as he watched the way Zoro’s eye dilated, the pupil in the single visible one growing darker.
He swallowed hard enough that he knew Zoro could feel it, the movement of his throat muscles making him realize just how dry his mouth was. He wanted to reach out, to grab Zoro’s shoulders to steady himself or to push him away - he didn’t know which, but the need was there all the same. He couldn’t let a man starve.
“Just get it over with. Once couldn’t have been enough,” He grit out, breath shaky.
The corners of Zoro’s mouth quirked up into a devious smile as he leaned back down, his cheek brushing along Sanji’s as he spoke.
“Careful, what if it’s never enough?”
Sanji breathed deeply, tilting his head back just slightly as he did. His body felt warm, too warm, as he felt the brush of lips against his exposed throat.
“Bite me already,” Sanji said with an impatient growl, the desire to just get it over with growing by the second.
A chuckle came from Zoro. He felt the cold touch of fingers on his skin before Zoro grabbed his shirt, pulling at the neckline to expose more.
“Silly human, it’s never enough.”
Sanji never wanted a roommate. And he was never superstitious before either. Maybe it was time for his beliefs to change.