Chapter Text
Disclaimer: not mine
Chapter 1
He carefully crept out of his hiding place as the sun set. His throat burned, his stomach clenching despite food doing nothing for him now. He felt slow, sluggish, but so thirsty… how much longer could he resist? He stuck to the shadows, not daring to let anyone see him. It would be so obvious what had happened to him and he didn’t want to scare anyone. Or worse, attack due to how hungry he was. He just…he wanted things to go back to how they’d been.
Was Tim worried about him? He’d missed their last date after all. Then again, Gotham was in chaos, maybe he hadn’t had the time to worry?
He scrambled up a wall, claws giving him a good grip, making his way across the roofs. There were far fewer people to come across up there, not that it cut down on the scent or the sound of hundreds, thousands, of heartbeats. But it did increase the risk of coming across one of the Bats, if…if they were still alive. Surely, they had been targeted. Bernard knew his attack had been opportunistic. He didn’t think he’d even been meant to turn but he had and had writhed in agony alone, waking to utter starvation. But he wouldn’t do it, he wouldn’t hurt anyone.
He couldn’t bear to think of Tim dead somewhere, drained of his blood. But…what if he’d been turned too? What if he was hiding somewhere for the same reason or was being held captive? But there was nothing he could do. Yes, he could fight, but any enemy who could take Tim or any other Bat out wouldn’t even break a sweat against him, especially when he was starving. And he’d seen others, seen them slavishly obeying orders which seemed to suggest they had to obey the one who turned them. Which made him feel sick but also glad he'd been an accident. Thank you whoever shot the bastard and made him run off after them, but not before his blood mixed with what little Bernard had had left in him.
He just…he wanted to go home, to have Tim hold him, protect him. But it could never happen. He was a monster now.
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Tim stared at the screen before rubbing at his eyes. When was the last time he’d slept? He didn’t remember and didn’t care. He’d swung by Bernard’s apartment again last night but nothing had changed, Ber hadn’t been home since this all started and he knew what that likely meant, he was either dead or…or one of those things. Either way, Tim had lost the love of his life.
Cass wasn’t in the country, thankfully, Steph should be with her unless something had happened to the flight. Unless this was worldwide? But he didn’t think it was. He glanced at the medical bay; thankful he could see the display from where he was at the Batcomputer. Two sets of life signs were being tracked – Bruce and Dick. They were alive and weren’t getting worse, they couldn’t hope for more than that given their injuries. Damian never left their sides, for once not charging into the fight.
Duke had moved to night shift with him and Jason, Babs on comms. Jason had taken up the Cowl since the people desperately needed Batman and he was actually doing a pretty good job at it. She hadn’t left the Clocktower since this had begun, the security there keeping her safe. Every time they left the Cave, they risked everything. The GCPD had battened down the hatches, all the emergency services had except a few insane firefighters who’d kept the city from going up in flames.
How could everything have gone so wrong in one night?
“Get some sleep Red,” Babs glared at him via the screen.
“Hi pot,” or was she the kettle? He didn’t know anymore.
“Tim, you need to sleep. We can’t lose you because you’re sleep deprived and make a mistake.”
“She’s right and you know it,” Duke agreed from behind him.
“I can’t,” he whispered, voice cracking with grief.
“Figured.”
Tim blinked in confusion at Duke’s words and then felt the brief sting. Oh. He felt himself slumping into his brother’s waiting arms, not fighting the sedative. He knew they were right; he needed sleep…and the sedative would keep the nightmares away.
Ber…
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Duke was relieved that Tim didn’t fight the medication, his body become deadweight and he was glad he hadn’t been wearing his armour still. He shifted his grip, lifting Tim and carrying him to the area they’d been using to sleep. While the Manor’ security was good, it was too hard for their smaller group to defend if attacked so they had moved into the Cave. He got Tim settled then went to help Alfred with the medical checks.
Jason was checking their gear over, especially armour and weapons. Duke’s powers were very useful for fighting the vampires but the others didn’t have that advantage. And Tim’s armour was the most vulnerable so Jason was working on it. For starters, he had stopped wearing the cape, even if it served to let him glide it was too easy for them to grab. And instead of the cowl or domino, Tim was being given an altered helmet. Duke’s didn’t cover his whole face like Jason’s, but was still sturdier protection.
He understood why Tim dreaded sleep, they all had nightmares but Tim’s were the worst. He had been with Dick and B that night, had barely gotten the call for help out. He still had stitches in his own wounds but refused to remain home when they went out to fight. He had survived, his bō and its hidden blade letting him defend himself more easily. But he’d had to watch their dad and eldest brother be so badly wounded by the surprise attack. And on top of all of that…there had been no sign of Bernard. If he was alive, he would have run for Tim’s apartment, he had access codes for the Nest and it would be the best place to hide, but there’d been nothing. After two weeks, the odds were not good at all.
They could only hope that Tim didn’t end up facing whatever was left of his fiancé. That fight would not end well for anyone.
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Jason kept an eye on the kids as they listlessly ate the food that Alfred had prepared with the small kitchenette in the Cave. He was really worried about them all, Damian and Tim the most. For Damian, the two he was closest two were in medical and for Tim, well he’d seen them fall and then his fiancé was missing…presumed dead or worse.
Seeing B and Dick lying so still on the beds wasn’t doing any of them any good but what could they do? Gotham was completely cut off and sure, they could yell for Superman or Superboy but the fact they hadn’t shown up already was not a good sign and made him wary of calling for them. Unless they were off world? That would be the best scenario but he wasn’t holding out hope. If someone like Luthor had been turned, with his access to Kryptonite…
He didn’t like Tim going out to fight night after night but the kid refused to be left behind and so far, he hadn’t let events influence him in the field but he knew they were all terrified of what would happen if Bernard wasn’t dead dead. There was no triumph in getting the kids to carry lethal weapons, not that there really would have been even before this, not anymore.
Electricity barely slowed a vampire; dead nerves just didn’t transmit it as well. And yet…they were still able to feel pain so that was just confusing. Guns and blades were the easiest to do damage with…which was why Tim was now wielding a sword and Duke had his bō but with a second blade added into it. Training with Lady Shiva had not been in any file on Tim that Jason had ever seen, did the LoA not know? But it did explain the kids weapon mastery at such a young age. Jason hadn’t moved to a specific weapon before he died and Dick hadn’t picked up the eskrima till he became Nightwing.
They were doing what they could, but Gotham was a big city with all Bats on deck, with only three of them and an enemy who added to their number every night? They couldn’t even keep the status quo. Sadly, it wasn’t like in the stories where the vampires needed an invite so they couldn’t just enact a curfew to keep people safe in their homes.
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He watched the rat scurry about, ignoring him. And why wouldn’t it? He’d tried that at the beginning and he knew animal blood wouldn’t do anything for him except make him feel sick. He shook his head and moved on, climbing to the roofs again, wishing the sky was clear enough to see the stars. He…he was going to do it, he had to. He couldn’t hold out against the hunger much longer.
But the thought of Tim never knowing what had happened to him didn’t feel right. So he would look for Tim tonight, if he saw him or any of the bats, he would leave the note he’d written where they couldn’t’ miss it. He’d spent the last days, weeks?, avoiding any sign of the Bats but tonight, he had to find them.
It had to be the middle of the night by the time he heard the sounds of a fight nearby. He leapt between roofs, heading for the fight. He looked down into the alley and there…he cocked his head to the side, confused. The figure was using a sword, no cape, and a helmet that seemed similar to Signal’s…but it looked like Tim’s suit. The wind shifted and he realised the scent was muted somehow. Had they already adapted their gear for stealth and protection against vampires? Because he realised that he couldn’t hear his heartbeat, but they had suits that could do that in case of mind controlled Kryptonians.
There were no heartbeats, he was fighting vampires, the sword decapitating one. He pressed his hands to his mouth to keep silent, he couldn’t distract Tim or end up attacked himself. But there had to be some way for him to help. He saw an old pipe and silently dropped down, grabbing it and then lunging forward, he was weak from hunger but still stronger than a human, the pipe piercing the other vampire’s chest, the body turning to dust. He ducked another attack, stumbling, but slammed the pipe into the others head to disorientate them before impaling them and then there was silence.
He stared into the white outs of Tim’s helmet. This…this wasn’t how it was meant to go, Tim wasn’t meant to see him, just the note that was secure in his pocket.
“Ber?” Tim whispered, hope clear in his voice, but then he stumbled back, sword held tight in his hand and Bernard knew. Tim had switched to thermal vision. “No…”
Bernard slowly put the pipe down and then held his hands up. “Tim,” he murmured, keeping his body relaxed, open.
Tim stiffened when he said his name, and Bernard could hear how quickly he was breathing, glad the suit blocked his heartbeat because it had to be racing.
“You’re not…Bernard…”
“It’s okay Tim, I’m not going to fight you,” he swore. He backed up so he was against the wall, slumping against it.
He watched Tim rip the helmet off, revealing a domino under it, that he also ripped off which was crazy with the way they stuck to the skin. Thankfully, he didn’t pull hard enough to make himself bleed. Tim looked…he looked terrible, half wild, exhausted…
“Please…don’t make me…”
Bernard shook his head, wanting to reach for him, but it was too dangerous. He slowly reached into his pocket, pulling out the note. “I’m sorry Tim, I’m so sorry…” he took a shaky breath, it felt better to keep breathing even though he didn’t need to. “You weren’t meant to see me, just find this.” He pushed the note towards Tim.
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Tim stared at the corpse, the monster, wearing his fiancé’s face. But he wasn’t acting like the others. Did they know? Was this a trap? The note was pushed towards him, the vampire slumping against the wall, and Tim hesitated. His heart screamed at him, to go to Bernard, hold him, but it wasn’t him. It couldn’t be, they’d all seen the vampires, nothing left of who they once were as they did as the older ones told them.
He reached out with the sword to pull the paper closer, glancing down, and then he froze. It…it was a goodbye, a suicide note. If it was true, then he’d been planning to face the dawn and wanted Tim to know he was gone.
“I don’t understand.” He looked up at the vampire again.
“I didn’t want you to keep looking for me, to maybe put yourself in danger, when there was going to be nothing left to find. I love you so much, but I can’t fight this any longer.”
“Fight what?” Tim asked warily, watching his every move.
Bernard was breathing softly, if not for the thermal setting he would have been fooled. If he had, he’d probably be dead, but the note…every word was pure Ber.
Meeting red eyes instead of brown was a horrible shock, he hated that his last memories of his fiancé would now be tainted by this. He knew he should move, call for backup, something. and he shouldn’t be making eye contact, but he couldn’t help it, Bernard’s eyes had always been so expressive.
“I’m hungry Tim, so hungry,” he admitted, arms wrapping around his middle.
“You haven’t fed?” he asked, unable to believe it.
“I tried, but apparently animal blood’s no good.”
“Are you saying you haven’t fed at all? How…how long?” he asked, how long ago had Bernard died?
“I’m not sure, a week or two? I can’t Tim, I can’t do this. I won’t do this to someone else, I don’t want to be a monster. In a few hours it’ll be over,” Bernard promised, a shaky smile on his lips, he was obviously trying to hide his fangs since he kept his lips together. “You should get out of Gotham. I’ve heard talk, this should only be happening here. There’s too many Tim; you can’t win this. For once, save yourself. Please Tim, just grab everyone you can and get out. Let me die knowing you’ll be safe.”
He was really going to… he found himself taking a step forward, the sword slipping from his hand. Bernard froze, no longer breathing, as Tim lifted his hand, touching deathly cold skin. Bernard shuddered and then leant into his hand, eyes sliding shut. His nostrils flared slightly and then he was holding the wrist of Tim’s other hand, the one the sword had been in.
“You cut yourself,” Bernard whispered shakily, red eyes locked on the cut. “Tim…run.”
“No,” he whispered, he couldn’t. He was terrified of those red eyes and yet… he could feel Bernard’s grip on his wrist even through his armour. He couldn’t break that grip, he knew that. “You won’t hurt me,” he had to believe it.
Bernard wasn’t acting like the others. He wasn’t mindlessly obedient, or he didn’t seem to be, but…this could be part of a plan to get Tim.
“You smell so good.”
Tim shifted closer, pressing his lips to cold ones, hearing Bernard’s small gasp as he did. He had to distract him from the blood and…he wanted one last kiss if this was the end. He felt Bernard’s grip on his wrist loosen. Instead, his arms wrapped around Tim and Tim embraced him in return, hating the gear between them but it kept him from feeling the coldness of Bernard’s body. He deepened the kiss, being careful not to cut himself on Ber’s fangs. Despite the changes, it was so easy to lose himself in the kiss and embrace.
He was panting when they parted, Bernard’s arms gentle around him. this time, Bernard’s hold on his wrist was gentle as he lifted Tim’s injured hand, the blade had sliced right through his reinforced glove. Bernard held eye contact as he tugged the glove free and then lifted Tim’s hand to his mouth, his tongue slipping out to lap at the wound before he sealed his lips over it, not biting, just sucking. Bernard moaned, trembling, grip flexing on his wrist. Tim didn’t struggle, a cut to his hand wouldn’t give much blood, but struggling could cause Bernard to lash out. The way Ber soon whined told Tim that he couldn’t get any more blood.
And when Bernard opened his eyes, he could have sworn there were slight flecks of blue. “You taste so good,” he whispered, licking his lips. “Tim…” he kissed him again, and Tim could detect the slight metallic taste of his own blood, but it wasn’t strong.
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Jason landed and then blinked. Ah, okay, well that was good news, finally. They could use some of that. Tim would not kiss a stranger like that and he could see a tuft of blond hair. Bernard was alive. “Hey O, found Red. He’s ah…otherwise engaged.”
“Hood?”
“He found his fiancé.”
“Oh, well, I guess we can forgive his going silent,” she agreed, relief obvious in her voice.
“And I’m leaving before I end up mentally scarred for life.”
“They somewhere safe?” She asked and he grimaced.
“Damn it O, they’re in an alley.”
“Then I guess you’re getting scarred since I can’t force his comm on,” she sounded rather smug.
He sighed but then whistled to get their attention. “Great to see you kid, but get off the street!” he yelled, rushing off.
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Bernard barely bit back a hiss at the interruption, letting his head fall onto Tim’s armoured shoulder. But Hood was right, this was dangerous for Tim, not just because Bernard wanted his blood, but because anyone could sneak up on them. “You need to go,” he whispered, turning his head to press against Tim’s armoured throat, trying to get more of his wonderful scent.
“Ber…”
“It’s okay,” he fought to keep his voice strong. He was terrified, he didn’t want to die again, but there was no other option. “I love you, so much. At least…at least we get to say goodbye.”
“No,” Tim denied, grip tightening. “I can’t lose you.”
Bernard pulled back, cupping Tim’s face in his hands, loving the warmth and doing everything he could to ignore the sound of the blood pumping through the skin beneath his hands. “Tim, I’m already dead. This…this isn’t living, this is torture. You have to let me go.”
Tim gripped his wrists, shaking his head. “No. B and Dick are…they haven’t woken up. I have no clue where most of my friends and teammates are or if they’re even alive. I can’t lose you Bernard. So, what if you’re heart doesn’t beat? You’re still you, you’re not like the others.”
“But I could be, if whoever turned me realises… I’m a security risk Tim. It’s taking every bit of strength I have to keep from trying to bite you, I can’t last much longer.”
“Come with me,” Tim pleaded. “We can work something out. I’ve got a secure safehouse nearby and there’s medical supplies, including blood for transfusion. Maybe you can drink that, it’s worth a shot.”
TBC…