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The first time you had seen a vampire was when you were merely a child, staring at the haunting eyes of a ravished woman, willing to do anything for her survival.
Her need for survival, the body’s persistence for blood had broken your family apart, left your father bleeding on the ground with a puncture wound in his neck.
He hadn’t survived, not in a human way. But when you watched in childlike horror when he rose from a puddle of his own blood, skin pale and eyes red, you realised.
When he pulled you into his chest, muttering broken pleas through sobs, all you could think of was how his chest never rose against your embrace.
Your father had been taken away for ‘observation’, but you weren't fooled. You would never see your father again.
Maybe it was in the years to come or that very moment, but you had decided you would find a cure, if only not to break any more families apart.
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽✦☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
The bustle of the clinic had your head spinning, a migraine at the edges of your vision. Leslie had told you to go home, but you had another patient yet to arrive.
The jingle of the door pierced through any semblance of relief you had. When you slowly looked up, you found yourself face to face with a worried looking Dick Grayson. Technically he was Nightwing right now, but only you and Leslie had to know.
“Hey y/n, you okay?” Dick leans against the front desk, nails tapping against cheap wood. “You look rough.”
You prop your chin against your palm, straightening with no little effort. “I’m fine, don’t worry about it.”
Dick looked worried, it was kind of sweet. You two had known each other for a few years, hesitant friends as nurse and patient. That had changed when he was turned, stumbling into the clinic with pale clammy skin.
“Did you stay here just for me?” Although you could see the teasing tone he used, his eyes were worried, flexing his hands on the table. “Leslie could have helped me, hell, I could have done it myself.”
Waving your hand at him, you stand up, only shaking a little with overexertion. “I said don’t worry about it, if I didn’t want to wait I wouldn’t have.”
Reluctantly, the blue and black clad hero followed you into the back. Leslie was busy with a patient in the main room, so you took a right, leading Dick into the large storage room.
B-lining for the fridge, Dick falls back, leaning against the spare cot. You could feel his eyes following you, a familiar feeling now. When you had first gotten into this routine, it had unnerved you how he always seemed to have eyes on you, but over time it had become a comforting thing.
Your hands clasp around a bag, pulling it out and reading the label. “How does A- sound?”
“That would be great, thank you.” Dick hummed, fingers tapping against the small bed. When you turned around, you were faced with a maskless face.
His eyes were bright red, fangs poking out past his lips. With your eyes narrowed, you step forward.
“Dick, how long has it been since you’ve fed?”
The vampire looked a little sheepish, grinning. “I didn’t want to bother you when you were on holiday.”
You take a few swift steps forward, shoving the bag into the waiting hands of your friend. “You were supposed to ask Leslie.”
Dick wasted no time in puncturing the top with a claw, eyes flashing brighter for a moment. He seemed to hesitate when he heard you sigh, looking up with surprising sincerity.
“I’m sorry.”
You wave off his apology, turning away to give him some privacy. “It’s your health.” When it was clear that Dick had started drinking, you busied yourself by sorting the remaining blood bags.
Dick sighed in clear relief when he was finished, and when you looked back he had already disposed of the empty bag. His eyes were back to blue, skin a little less dead looking.
The man gave you a smile, stepping forward to ruffle your hair. “You should go home, you look exhausted.”
Sighing, you relent, nodding. “I suppose, you offering to walk me?”
“What kind of hero would I be if I didn’t keep my citizens safe?” Dick grinned crookedly, pasting his mask back over his eyes. “Come on.”
“Oh, I’m just a citizen now am I? I’m hurt.” You huff dramatically, following him nonetheless. As you pass the staff room, you sling your bag over your shoulder.
When you had gathered everything, Dick took your hand in his, smiling softly down at you. “Of course not, and you know that already.”
There was nothing to say to that, so you stay silent. Neither of you said anything about the genuine smile you sported the rest of the way home.