Work Text:
It’d been long past six in the afternoon; the shabby restaurant had closed and children had followed behind their parents as they were dragged outside against their volition, employees briefly roaming the restaurant as they cleaned it to the best of their ability, until only two figures remained. They’d gotten caught up in conversation somewhere in the process of trying to escort a giant scutler out of the restaurant together, to no avail as it vanished right back into the same crevice it’d appeared from, leaving the pair huffing from the effort. It seemed to have become routine somewhere along the way, any time Jack was around to work at his restaurant they’d find each other, more often with intent than coincidentally. Keith wondered, rather frequently, if Jack had found himself equally as mesmerised by the other as he had, watching smoke curl from where Jack had a cigarette between his lips.
They’d found themselves in one of the cheap booths together, side by side, neither spoke of it but there was a mutual understanding that it was preferred over sitting across from each other. It hadn’t taken long for Keith to learn that Jack wasn’t good with keeping eye contact; where he’d seemed stern when he first saw him walk into the restaurant, straightening his suit jacket, he kept finding little ways in which Jack showed more of what hid behind the image he had created for himself. The prospect of it was endearing, the way in which Jack allowed him to see more of himself the longer they spent around each other, those late afternoons where they fell into conversation about anything; from the most ridiculous stories from Jack’s previous jobs at Freddy’s, to sober yet equally meaningful topics that weighed heavy. Keith supposed they both preferred sitting side to side for that reason - he wasn’t great with eye contact either, especially not when it came to Jack - along with the way he could feel Jack’s knee occasionally reciprocate the gentle brush of his own, a minimal touch that didn’t require either of them to speak about it.
“How’d those scutlers even nestle here for a start-?” Keith asked in a brief silence that fell as Jack tilted his head back to exhale a rich plume of smoke from his mouth, seeming to relish in the brief relaxation the nicotine cast upon him while Keith desperately tried not to focus on the way his lips were just slightly parted, instead opting to avert his eyes to where he was fidgeting with the chain on his pants, hoping Jack hadn’t caught him staring. “Man, I dunno,” Jack began, pressing the butt of his cigarette into an ashtray he’d taken from outside; smoking inside wasn’t allowed, but Keith had noticed that he’d make an exception for himself if the two were caught up in conversation, “they’ve been in Freddy’s longer than I have, and I’ve been here a while. ” he added, with a bitter undertone to his voice that would’ve gone unnoticed if Keith hadn’t been intently listening to him at any given moment. “There’s gotta be a way t’exterminate them, other than attempting to chase and combat them with our bare hands- ” Keith suggested, eliciting a low chuckle from Jack; one that was akin to a scoff but more fondly, one he had loved from the moment he’d first heard it. “Oh, I’ve tried! Trust me, I’ve tried. ” Jack huffed with an overly serious expression towards Keith, only to avert his gaze with a soft laugh upon seeing the way he almost jolted in place.
“I tried to place a beartrap for ‘em at some point-” Jack began, staring off into the distance as he reminisced on the memory, continuing his story about how the trap had backfired horribly when his boss at the time stepped into it instead, all the while Keith watched how the setting sun illuminated his freckles in a soft glow, reminiscing of his own on how he’d gotten here to begin with, beside Jack as he idly watched him. He could recall clear as day how quickly he’d gotten hired, a stark contrast to many of the jobs he had applied to previously; it had proved hard to find work that didn’t require him to legally exist according to the government. Having lived as a vampire since the late nineteenth century had its disadvantages, though Freddy’s needed employees; he supposed it wasn’t that strange when he really looked at the state of the restaurant, which could hardly be considered legal. The manager, whose phone head only startled Keith for a moment, had hired him without question.
It was hardly resemblant of their current dynamic, but he remembered how indifferent Jack was to his presence at first, almost as if he was annoyed at having to pay another employee from an income that couldn’t have been much, considering how the majority of animatronics were salvaged. He’d shook Jack’s hand and they’d exchanged names and brief formalities, though Keith could tell there was something about him which he couldn’t quite place; Jack didn’t affect his heightened senses like other people did, something felt different in his scent, his touch, and the faint glow that cast from his otherwise void eyes. For once, he’d found himself holding eye contact, surprised to find that Jack was the first to turn away.
Keith wasn’t entirely sure when it began, but he noticed that Jack would stare whenever he was around the restaurant to help out; subtle glances as though he was looking for something, searching for confirmation. He’d catch Jack looking at his reflection - or rather; lack thereof - in the windows while he cleaned tables, as though he could tell Keith wasn’t human entirely. He seemed intrigued, and Keith could tell the odd but equally unbridled form of attention was beginning to have an effect on him, seeking out Jack’s gaze when he had the opportunity to catch the way he glanced away the moment he realised he was caught in the act. He hadn’t said anything about it, Keith had learned quickly that Jack wasn’t a very talkative person to the people he wasn’t familiar with, not until Jack had cornered him in the saferoom one day.
Although he could eat regular food, Keith needed blood to feed; it was the only thing that provided him with the nutrients required to maintain himself. One person going missing in the area wasn’t reason for suspicion - though he’d noticed Jack got more anxious once the news broadcasted the case - but a series of people going missing, all with roughly the same time between them, had the city in an uproar. Keith had done it for so long that he knew how to avoid being caught, an expertise he had decades to perfect; find one victim to drain blood from, draw out the supply for as long as he could in the hopes of letting the last disappearance settle down, and then seek out another. Yet Jack seemed more worried than anyone else, muttering under his breath and chewing on the inside of his cheek as though the missing people were something that affected him personally. That was until he’d walked into the bathroom at the same time as Keith did, staring at the large mirror above the sinks while they both washed their hands, mesmerized by the way only he seemed to have a reflection.
“Those missing people,” Jack had said that day, following Keith into the saferoom with a fast pace, “you wouldn’t know anythin’ about them, would you? ” he’d asked, lowering his tone near the end of his sentence as he stored his hands in his pockets, taking a step closer to the other. Keith’s brain nearly malfunctioned at the sudden presence and its accompanying direct question, not particularly accustomed to Jack asking such personal questions. “I, uhm- Why do you inquire-?” he’d asked in return with a hesitant tone in his voice he desperately hoped Jack didn’t notice, taking a step back in sync with Jack taking on in his direction. “Oh, don’t take me for a dumbass-!” Jack chirped, as though he was finding joy in having figured out what had intrigued him so much about Keith all this time, “Y’avoid sunlight any chance you get, talk like you learnt to speak at least a century ago and dress like it too-! I mean, c’mon, you don’t even exist to mirrors!” he listed, and Keith found his back against the wall with Jack’s next step forward. He wouldn’t at all have minded Jack standing right before him if it wasn’t for the interaction feeling like an interrogation, downcasting his eyes as his fingers moved to anxiously fidget with the chain on his pants.
“You’re, what, some sort of vampire?”
Jack asked directly, and the sudden intrusion of the question had left Keith speechless with his mouth agape; he was usually more careful around people, though he supposed something about Jack had caused him to slack in hiding his traits. Before he could muster a response, though, Jack had moved a hand to his open mouth, his palm barely refraining from resting against Keith’s chin as Jack pressed the pad of his pointer into one of his fangs, simultaneously prying his lips apart. There was something so straightforward about the movement; blunt and almost inconsiderate if it wasn’t for the mesmerized expression on Jack’s face that had him absolutely captivated. A single drop of blood trickled from his finger into Keith’s mouth, momentarily paralysing him with the taste alone before he moved a hand to grab at Jack’s wrist, tugging it away from his mouth before the flavour of his blood became overwhelming. Jack looked at him with a smile, a brushy eyebrow raised in a questioning yet confident expression, his eyes lingering on Keith’s mouth as he closed it, only to open it again to inhale a heavy breath.
“ Would it be of importance if I was-? ”
He eventually mustered in reply, his voice coming out less uncertain than he’d thought it would as he pushed a hand through the black streak in his hair, trying to adopt a more composed posture. “Does it affect your ability to work as my employee?” Jack asked in response, though his blunt tone in no way resembled the way he was studying Keith, as though he was looking for more of his features that set him apart, that made him so intriguing to Jack. “Not that I’m aware- I can complete any task just as well as any other person would-! ‘Cept maybe cutting garlic, can’t bear the smell.” he answered Jack, feeling a minimal amount of tension release from his body as it seemed Jack wasn’t at all repelled or shocked; then again, he supposed Freddy’s had plenty of cryptids roaming around the premises. “Eh, that’s more than most of the degenerates workin’ here can do-” Jack said as he shrugged his shoulders, giving a nod towards the other before he turned back towards the door, only to look over his shoulder when his hand found the doorknob.
“I have t’ask though-” he began, his eyes running along the entirety of Keith’s frame, as though he was seeing the entirety of him for the first time; then again, Jack had just learnt something integral to his life that usually went unnoticed and unspoken for the sake of his own security. “How do y’get away with it? Avoidin’ the police suspicion and all…” Jack asked him, and now it was Keith’s turn to adopt a more confident posture, crossing his arms before his chest as a smile tugged at the corner of his lips in the same manner it did with Jack. “Why, are you askin’ me for advice? ” he asked Jack, who let out a playful scoff at the suggestion, “I have more experience than you’d think, I’m jus’ curious.” Jack replied, taking a step back to instead hold the door open to Keith, a wordless invitation he gladly took as he claimed his place beside Jack. “Well, above all, I only take what I need-” he began as Jack allowed the saferoom door to fall shut behind them, hushing his tone so no one could overhear their conversation as Jack lead them to the back alley, retrieving a cigarette while he listened to Keith explain his routine when it came to feeding off people.
That’d been the first night where they voluntarily stayed past six, so enveloped in each other’s presence that they hadn’t even noticed until the sun began setting lower. Conversation descended from Jack curiously asking Keith about the specifics of his undead state, about how life had changed for him over the centuries, to forming a conspiracy about whatever Matt’s backstory could possibly be like until they were laughing so much it began to hurt, doubling down and filling the otherwise cold and empty space with laughter. Conversation came easier to them after that; any time Jack was around to help - which seemed to become a lot more frequent ever since that encounter - they’d search for each other, interactions ranging from a few minutes to hours on end; neither seemed to grow bored of it.
“I’ve never met anyone quite like you-” Keith had blurted one afternoon, too caught up in counting the freckles that dotted Jack’s face to realise his soft tone, almost immediately turning his head to the side and making the other lose count again. Despite the suddenness of his statement, he’d meant it: not only did Jack have an unique personality, there was something different about him that Keith hadn’t ever sensed in other people. “Oh trust me, I get that a lot.” Jack had bluntly replied, a tone that didn’t at all match Keith’s as he averted his eyes, almost as if the comment had been an insult. “Hey, that isn’t an unwelcome trait-!” Keith had chirped once he noticed how Jack became just a little more slanted in his posture, giving him a playful punch in the shoulder, “D’you know how exhausting it gets, meeting people who are all duplicates of someone you’ve encountered decades ago? ” Keith offered, and though Jack’s eye didn’t meet his; he could see the smile that grew on Jack’s face at the comment. “So what, it’s a good thing t’ you only?” Jack replied, though there was no real dismissive nature to his suggestion as he smiled with it, nudging back against Keith’s shoulder. “Why, y’got anyone else’s expectations to strive for?” Keith asked in response, a smirk on his face that was met with one of Jack’s own as he looked directly at him for once. “I guess not…” Jack said softly in response, and Keith could feel the breath that pooled with his words from how unintentionally close they were, briefly panicking as his eyes traced the curve of Jack’s lips before he turned away to retrieve a cigarette.
The memory was a fond one; he could recall clearly how a smile tugged at the corner of Jack’s lips for the entirety of that afternoon, only faltering when they had to say their goodbyes upon parting. He wondered - as he frequently did - what could’ve happened if either of them had been a little more courageous that afternoon, when Jack’s voice drew him from his reminiscing right back to reality; “So unless you’ve got somethin’ that beats a beartrap, vat of acid, or several feral kangaroos, I don’t think we’re gettin’ rid of those scutlers anytime soon. ” he said, and Keith couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity, only now noticing that they’d slowly migrated to sit with their hips flush. “Some things are just here t’stay, don’t you agree?” Keith asked in return, his eyes transfixed on Jack’s freckles now that he had angled his face towards him; it was a compulsion to count them, yet he’d never gotten a definite number from how often Jack would avert his gaze when he stared too long. “I guess-” Jack muttered, a curl falling before his eye and covering the part of his face Keith was transfixed on, “I know I sure am.” Jack added with a grumble, muttering something under his breath that was cut short as Keith reached a hand forward.
For a moment the world seemed to go quiet as Keith gently brushed the strand of hair back behind his ear, leaning just a little closer as he did, securing himself a clear view of Jack’s face and the freckles he rapidly counted without thinking to lean back after the gesture. Jack opened his mouth only to snap it shut again, searching for the words but not quite finding them under Keith’s lingering gaze, not darting away when their eyes met for once. The hand that had moved to tuck Jack’s hair behind his ear remained floating by the side of his face, until it was idly lingering inches away from his jaw, one subtle movement removed from finally cupping it. “Are you here to stay?” Jack asked with a noticeably breathless voice, drawing Keith’s eyes from his face to where his lips were just slightly parted, only then realising how close he was. “I-” Keith stuttered with an equally breathless voice, dropping the hand that lingered by Jack’s jaw in surprise only to watch how Jack’s expression sank with it, not moving any further away in fear that Jack would get the wrong impression, “I’d like to stay.” The words hung heavy between them; a confession neither of them fully knew how to acknowledge as they remained frozen in place, not wanting to retreat but not having the courage to close the gap between them either.
Reality came crashing back down on Keith when his stomach rumbled; too tangled in the intrigue of Jack’s presence to register that he’d been hungry for a while. Work wasn’t the ideal place to feed, too high of a risk of getting caught even if he transported the blood in a bag, and so Keith usually found himself doing so after his shift; a habit he often pushed further ahead into the evening in favour of staying around Jack just a little longer. “Though, I-” he hated to say it; especially when he could feel Jack’s breath trace along his own lips, a hint of smoke still evident on it, but he feared his hunger would get the better of him if he let himself go any further, “I can’t keep you company for the evening, I need to feed…” he muttered with a disappointed tone, already regretting his choice as he found his eyes lingering on Jack’s neck before he moved away, straightening his posture. “Yeah, yeah- I, uhm, should probably get home too.” Jack replied, failing to remain composed as his entire posture, along with his tone, reeked of disappointment.
Neither of them wanted to leave, it was evident between the both of them as they stood up from that booth, an unpleasant silence engulfing them as Jack glanced towards the exit. They didn’t talk about it but they both knew the other was lonely; they didn’t have to address it to know. They’d both go home to find a cold house, unfulfilled by the familiar warmth that conjured around them on those late afternoons, and the heavy absence would be more than noticeable. It was why they stayed so often, even if the restaurant was filthy and the booths were stiff to sit on; any surroundings seemed enjoyable if they were together. Jack’s eyes lingered on Keith’s hand, nervously toying with the chain on his pants, and after a brief second of contemplation he reached forward and took his palm in his own.
“Do y’want to, ehr- Stay over at mine…?”
Jack asked, his free hand nervously toying with the top button of his suit jacket, his other hand giving Keith’s a gentle squeeze; if he had looked up he would’ve seen the utterly flustered look on his face. He had to resist the urge to squeeze Jack’s hand too much, knowing his strength exceeded that of humans, briefly wondering if Jack understood the implication of his invitation before he found himself nodding frantically in response. Jack had known he was a vampire for longer now, they’d talked about it enough for Keith to assume he understood; too dazed to linger on the topic as he chirped a response; “I’d be endeared to-!” He watched how Jack’s expression immediately lit up again, giving a tug on his hand that excitedly urged him towards the exit, not even bothering to say goodbye to the phone-headed employee Keith knew for a fact slept in the security office as he planted another cigarette between his lips.
Much to Keith’s delight, the sun had already set once Jack swung the doors open, casting a dark glow over the near empty parking lot. “We’ll take my car, if that’s okay with you?” Jack asked, briefly stopping in his tracks to light his cigarette as Keith remained by his side. “Sounds good t’me-!” Keith chirped in response, a distant hint of Jack’s accent evident on his own voice as he found himself resisting the urge to rest his hand on Jack’s waist, only to feel an arm around his shoulders moments after, dragging Keith a little closer to his side. “I could use some company, y’know?” Jack said with a smile as he took a drag from his cigarette, and it provided Keith with the last little bit of confidence he needed to rest his hand on Jack’s waist, setting their sides flush together. “I’d be delighted to provide.” Keith replied, watching the smoke curl from Jack’s lips as he took drags from his cigarette, simply basking in the smell which had begun to remind him of Jack for a moment; a comfortable silence, rather than an unwelcome one.
As his cigarette was reduced to its filter, Jack gestured towards his car with a tilt of his head, a wordless question to which Keith nodded before they made their way over to the vehicle, still side by side. That was another thing about Jack which he’d noticed; he wasn’t good with words, often blunt and distant, especially to those who didn’t know him well enough to see that there could be something more adoring behind his harsh tone. Words of affirmation were rare from him, though that wasn’t to say he didn’t display affection in other ways: Keith had begun to realise how often Jack’s hand would find his whenever he wanted to show him something, how often Jack would glance his way and how often he would ensure Keith didn’t have to work in the sun. He sometimes wondered if others received the same treatment, if Jack had his way of showing them affection too, though he felt dubious about it when he looked at how differently Jack really behaved towards them.
Jack’s hand only left his shoulders once they reached his car, stood by the passenger side, and before he could reach the doorhandle Jack had swatted his hand away. With a wide smile he swung the door open for Keith, bowing just a little as he gestured for him to get in, met with an adoring laugh before he took his place on the passenger seat. Jack closed the door for him and walked around to the other side, unable to help but let his eyes linger on Keith through the windshield before he got in his own seat, retrieving his keys and turning on the engine. It was easier to look at Jack when he wasn’t looking back at him, still smiling at the wordless gestures that began getting more prominent, as opposed to how quickly he would look away when Keith caught him staring at first; like Jack wanted him to notice.
“Are you goin’ soft on me…?” he asked Jack with a sly tone, eyes dropping from his furrowed brows to his neck without being fully aware of the movement, repressing a distant urge to lick his lips. “Ha-! As if.” Jack barked with a laugh as he pulled his car onto the road, trying to focus his eyes ahead of him under the gaze that almost seemed to make him squirm. “I have reason to believe you are.” Keith said with a snicker, watching with utter delight how Jack nervously tugged at his collar, only exposing more flesh for the eye to feast on. “And so what if I was-?” Jack replied, the confidence faltering from his voice, as though the inkling of vulnerability took him a great effort; it made Keith feel just a little bit of pride each time. “Nothin’, I think it’s adorable.” Keith answered, as casually as he could with his eyes glued to Jack’s neck, and he watched how Jack’s expression flushed with it. Jack’d never admit to being fond of the affection, but Keith could immediately tell from the way his breath stuttered a little bit. He remembered when he’d first noticed it; early on when stumbled upon Jack outside, trying to light a cigarette in windy weather, offering a hand to shield the flame of his lighter. Keith considered that, maybe, it was then that he had begun to associate the smell of smoke with Jack.
“Your suit,” Keith began after a moment of silence, trying to shift his eyes from Jack’s neck down onto the next best thing in an attempt to not let his hunger get the better of him, “is there a reason you always wear the same one?” he asked Jack curiously, having seen him wear the same suit since he’d first began working at Freddy’s. A part of him, although he wasn’t quite ready to acknowledge it entirely yet, wished Jack would refrain from hiding behind the layers so much. He’d taken his suit jacket off on a particularly hot day, the memory enhanced in Keith’s mind; he’d acted on the compulsion to count the freckles on his underarm, disappointed at the way his shirt covered most of the skin above his elbow. “I dunno, really… I guess I like sticking to the habit of it.” Jack answered after giving it a thought for a moment, as though he hadn’t considered it before; Keith found it hard to imagine no one had ever been compelled to ask him such questions before.
“And what about you? You dress pretty extravagantly yourself.” Jack playfully asked him in return, emphasizing a southern accent that mimicked Keith’s on the word extravagantly, making it known that Keith’s vocabulary was having an effect on his far less versatile speech. “Why, I like to think it suits me!” Keith chirped in response, tugging at the lapels of his own suit with a smile as though formally presenting himself. “It does-” Jack said, abruptly snapping his mouth shut, seeming to contemplate for a second before he opened it again; “It looks good on you.” he said, and that could’ve very well been one of the first verbal compliments Jack had ever given to anyone that surrounded him, so much so that it took Keith a moment to respond. “I- Well, thank you!” he chirped, and before he got the chance to add anything to the topic of conversation, Jack pulled into a parking spot in front of an apartment complex.
Keith was already halfway out the door when he noticed that Jack was in the middle of walking around the car to open it for him, snickering once their eyes met. Jack grumbled something under his breath, not quite within his earshot, before Keith joined him by his side with a gentle nudge. He nearly jumped in place when Jack’s arm snaked around his waist, pulling him closer when he stopped before the complex’ entrance, fumbling with the key before unlocking it and pushing the door open to allow Keith in first. He followed behind Jack as he was led up a narrow pair of stairs, trying to refrain from shamelessly looking ahead of him, and failing horribly as his eyes lingered. His apartment was on the first floor of the complex, walking past a row of doors before Jack stopped in his tracks and unlocked one of them, once again holding it open for Keith. “After you-!” he said, following behind Keith as he stepped inside, curiously glancing around.
“It’s a bit colourless,” Jack began as he took the jacket to his suit off, hanging it on a coatrack which only held one other article of clothing, “my house is about seventeen hours away, I just rent this place for convenience.” Jack explained as he kicked off his shoes and headed further into the apartment, but Keith was too preoccupied with Jack’s newly exposed arms to notice the impersonal apartment. “It’s to one’s liking, don’t worry-” he mumbled in response, rushing to take his own suit jacket off as he followed behind Jack, who flopped himself down on the couch. Keith sat beside him, a little closer than he would have if his compulsion to count Jack’s freckles hadn’t gotten the better of him. He studied his arm, sitting crosslegged facing towards Jack with his knees resting against the other’s legs, completely transfixed on the dots that littered his skin. If he had half a mind to look up, he would’ve found that Jack was surprisingly oblivious to the sudden intrigue as he sank into the cushions.
“I don’t think I ever asked,” Jack began, running a hand through his curls; just a little disheveled in the way Keith adored, “but where do you live?” he asked, and the words barely got through to Keith as he softly counted under his breath. “Not that far from ‘ere actually- A little more south.” he muttered in response, an automatic response as he tried not to lose count, leaning just a little closer in his transfixion. “D’you keep a lot of things from your past there-? Since, y’know, you’ve been around for a while.” Jack curiously asked, shifting his position and almost making Keith jump as he did. “Only some-” he replied, quickly counting to a number he could easily remember as he chose one specific freckle to focus on before he let his mind wander to a proper response; “I try to only keep possessions that have meanin’ to me, it’s impossible t’hold onto everything with how much I’ve had to relocate…” he added, ready to continue counting when a glint of silver on his finger caught his eye. “My ring is one,” he said, retrieving it and handing it to Jack, who took it between his pointer and thumb with genuine interest, “it’s almost a century old, a good friend gifted it to me back then…”
Jack silently studied the ring for a moment; its faded engravings and the weathering from how often it had been worn, seeming genuinely interested to hold a piece of Keith’s past in his hands as he resumed counting the last of his freckles. Although a part of him wanted to keep it, to cling onto how it felt to be trusted with something apparently so dear to Keith, Jack handed the ring back to him after a minute or so. He took it from Jack’s hand, sliding it back onto his finger in an automated movement as he perked up, only noticing how close they were next to each other when he locked eyes with Jack, who seemed equally as surprised. “You have seventy freckles on this arm-” Keith concluded, pointing a hand down at Jack’s underarm, trying not to let his eyes drift back to his neck; his hunger was getting harder to repress. “I, wha- Did you count them-?” Jack stuttered, sitting up where he was previously slanted into the cushions, a raised eyebrow accompanied by a flustered smile aimed towards Keith. “You only had sixtytwo a few weeks ago-!” Keith said, Jack’s question going over his head as he looked back down at his arm, which Jack hadn’t made an effort to retract in the slightest.
“More of ‘em show up when it’s sunny out-” Jack muttered, clearly endeared by Keith’s intrigue from the way his face flushed, looking down at where his eyes lingered. “Huh-” Keith muttered in response, looking up and taking the opportunity to study Jack’s face again while his eyes were still cast down, finding his gaze landing on Jack’s exposed neck instead. “Have you been countin’ them-?” Jack asked him, locking eyes with Keith and nearly making him jump in his skin from the soft smile Jack gave him, his eyes half lidded with a combination of endearment and surprise. Keith fumbled to explain his reasoning, knowing full well that Jack’s freckles had been the subject of his attention more than he’d like to admit, plagued with the fear that Jack would find him too obsessive. “It’s a compulsion t’count-! I’m not sure why, I- I can’t help it…” he rushed to say, failing to notice how Jack’s expression faltered just a little as he rushed to stumble over his words, once again toying with the chain on his pants.
“ D’you count everythin’-? ” Jack asked, his voice adopting that uncertain tone Keith rarely got to hear, as though he was searching for confirmation; confirmation that there was something beyond involuntary compulsion which drew Keith’s eyes to him. He knew Jack wasn’t someone who would outright ask for such validation, but he’d gotten to know him well enough to understand it was what he wanted. “I undoubtedly have my favourites.” Keith replied with as much of a suave tone he could muster with Jack sitting so close to him, taking the daring step to rest his palm on Jack’s arm, which - much to Keith’s relief - he didn’t retreat. “ And I’m one of ‘em? ” questioned Jack, still with that searching tone, though this time without the previous insecurity. “ Of course you are darlin’. ” he replied, too mesmerized by the flesh of Jack’s neck to realise that he’d let the affectionate nickname slip, unintentionally leaning closer as a faint rumble emerged from his stomach.
Jack froze under Keith’s gaze; under his affection and his touch, under the entirety of his presence. If Keith had half a mind to pay attention to anything but the way Jack’s throat moved when he swallowed, he would’ve noticed how he stiffened under the touch of his palm. Jack tried desperately to find the words, but they lodged in the back of his mouth right along with his breath, internally cursing himself for being so clueless; he’d been lonely for too long. “I, uhm…” Jack began, nervously tugging at his collar again to Keith’s delight, “I should make something t’eat, like I promised-” he rushed to say, beginning the notion of getting up from the couch and snapping Keith out of his daze as he did.
Before Jack had even taken the first step away from his couch and towards his kitchen a hand wrapped around his wrist, keeping him in place. He looked back, momentarily surprised at the strength Keith held in his hand before he was pulled back down onto the cushions, stumbling at the force behind the gesture. For a moment all Jack could do was stare at Keith, his face flushing at how easily he could pull him down; not particularly used to be handled in such a way by virtue of his bigger size. The moment he caught Jack staring, Keith retracted his hand in fear he’d startled him, muttering an apology as he placed it beside himself. That, unbeknownst to Keith, did not stop Jack from letting his thoughts wander to the full extent of his supernatural strength; briefly wondering if he could break free if Keith were to ever pin him down before a voice broke him out of his thoughts;
“ I require something different t’feed. ”
Keith said, casting his eyes down to the cushions between them as reality set in with Jack, his eyes lingering on where Keith’s fangs were just barely visible behind his partially agape mouth. “I- I’ve seen you eat regular food before though…?” Jack mumbled in confusion, trying not to let his thoughts run wild with the idea of those teeth sinking in his neck. “I can eat things-! And I do, I… I enjoy cooking and I like the taste, but- It doesn’t sustain me. ” Keith rushed to explain himself, regretting not having asked Jack if he understood what he was implying by inviting him back to his apartment when they were still in the restaurant. “If it did, I wouldn’t bother goin’ after all those missing people-” he added, watching how something in Jack’s face shifted into an expression he couldn’t quite read, instead downcasting his eyes. “So y’want to feed off me-? ” Jack asked with a quiver in his voice, the curiosity in his mind overrun with one concern in particular as Keith confirmed his question with a silent nod.
“ Won’t that kill me, though? ”
Jack asked, and with that statement it hit Keith just how much Jack really trusted him. He’d confessed that he was the one behind the string of missing people, told Jack about how he remained outside of police suspicion by scattering bodies drained of blood around the area, and yet Jack still offered to allow him inside his house when it was just the two of them. Even with Jack’s newfound realisation, he still wasn’t looking at Keith with fear; his expression was coated in surprise, with a distant hint of intrigue. “When I said I’ve never met anyone like you, I meant it. ” Keith started with as calm of a voice as he could manage, trying to formulate critical information he should’ve told Jack about far earlier, “There’s somethin’ different about you.” he added, his eyes finding Jack’s neck again, resting his palm on Jack’s knee without thinking about it as he inched closer.
“I can sense it, I don’t know how, but- You smell different, feel different…” Keith explained, leaning just close enough to pick up on Jack’s scent; something entirely foreign hidden beneath his cologne and the everlasting remnant of cigarette smoke. He watched how Jack swallowed nervously, locking eyes with Keith as he wondered whether or not Jack would taste different. “ What’s so different about me-? ” Jack asked with a light shake to his voice, though it wasn’t an unwelcome one as he rested his own hand over Keith’s where it sat on his knee, curiously awaiting an answer. “Y’have something they don’t…” he muttered in response, his hand idly hoovering over Jack’s shoulder, desperately wanting to latch on but simultaneously not wanting to scare the other. “ Or maybe they have something you don’t. ” he added, and he practically watched the realization wash over Jack’s face.
“ I’m soulless. ”
Jack said with a breathless voice, reaching his hand up to fold it into Keith’s where it was still lingering over his shoulder, giving it a soft squeeze. He had this look in his eyes, one that Keith had only been able to catch in brief flashes before; a look of want, of need and of vulnerability, a look of sheer and utter yearning. He wanted to kiss it directly from his lips. “Does that- Make a difference?” Jack asked after a moment of silence, his mouth partly agape as he looked at Keith and then down to their intertwined hands, lingering between them. “I can’t drain your soul if you don’t possess one- I can’t kill you. ” Keith’s voice was breathless as he drew the conclusion, all the questions about why and how Jack had become this way were overshadowed by the desire to dig his teeth into the other’s neck, to see how he tasted and to lick a part of him off his lips.
“Then go ahead,” Jack started, wrapping his fingers around Keith’s wrist and pulling the hand on his knee up towards his neck, releasing it there for Keith to rest it on his flesh. He freed his other hand where they were still intertwined together, instead resting it on Keith’s waist, insinuating for him to raise to his knees as he loomed over Jack. “ Take what’s yours. ” he said, quietly; as though he wanted to avoid any possibility of it being heard by anyone but Keith, angling himself towards the other until he was nudging Keith’s knee. He adjusted to Jack’s position, moving one leg over his so he was straddling his thigh, unable to look anywhere but his neck. “ Are you sure-? ” Keith asked, voice quivering from hunger alone as his eyes shot towards Jack’s for any sign of confirmation. “ Yes. ” Jack answered, and that single word alone was all it took for Keith to dip beneath his jawline.
Jack’s skin was hot, burning up against his lips as he pressed them to his flesh, baring his teeth and sinking his fangs in to hear how Jack’s breath hitched in the back of his throat. The hand on Keith’s waist grabbed at him a little tighter as he punctured Jack’s skin, feeling him quiver as the first droplet of blood emerged from his neck. Jack stifled a pained whimper as his skin tore further, though Keith heard it, felt it from the vibrations which rumbled in Jack’s throat and thus against his lips. Even despite the euphoric taste of Jack’s blood starting to pollute his mouth, Keith found himself attempting to retreat in order to check on him, worried by virtue of Jack’s trembling breath, only for a hand to find its way to the back of his head.
“ Don’t stop. ”
Jack whispered, his fingers tangling in Keith’s hair; sufficiently keeping him in place as he dug his fangs in to their fullest, feeling Jack jolt where he was trapped beneath him. Blood leaked into his mouth, eagerly lapping at the taste of Jack; somehow unique to him alone, making his head spin with sheer euphoria. He retracted his fangs to suck Jack’s blood from his wounds, too starved to pay any mind to the way it spilled onto his lips; he’d lost count of how many times he’d fantasized about Jack’s blood painting them anyway. “ That’s it- ” Jack cooed in a sickly sweet voice he hadn’t ever heard before, too dazed from everything to control his tone as he combed a hand through Keith’s hair, encouraging him to feed for however long he needed. Maybe he relished in it, Keith briefly considered as he licked a stray droplet of blood seeping down Jack’s neck; maybe he relished in being adored to the point of being devoured.
It all blurred into one, closing his eyes to enjoy Jack’s taste to its fullest, to memorize everything unique about the flavour of his blood. Keith wasn’t usually messy; the crimson was difficult to clean if he spilled it anywhere and thus it was easier to be mindful when he fed, though that didn’t apply with Jack and the tremor in his breath as he drained blood from his neck. The entire movement reeked of eagerness, something that wasn’t confided to hunger alone; instead overcome with a desire to be as close to Jack as he could, to feel every little shake of his body as he fed. Jack’s neck was burning where Keith still rested his palm on it, his other hand tangling in the fabric of Jack’s shirt as he had to contain a content whine upon feeling his hunger fade.
Keith didn’t even think to wipe his mouth clean of the crimson when he retracted, lips painted like lipstick with blood that ran down his chin, simply looking at Jack and the punctures in his neck; at the way he seemed utterly content with them. He was utterly dazed, his hands not retracting where they held onto Keith, curls having fallen before his eyes and his mouth agape in a heave, slightly dizzy from the loss of blood. “Are you alight-?” Keith hurried to ask through his own shaky voice, momentarily worried that he’d done something to harm Jack beyond the punctures; that his lack of a soul wasn’t sufficient to keep him alive like he’d thought. All his worries vanished when Jack’s lips curled into a smile, his words soft as he spoke; “ Better than ever. ”
For a moment all they could do was stare at each other, holding eye contact like neither of them ever had trouble doing so before; drowning in each other’s presence alone. The hand tangled in Keith’s hair shifted to rest on the back of his neck, and he found his own palm gravitating towards Jack’s jaw, cupping it to see how he outright melted into the touch. There was a want, a need, undeniably and obviously there between them; waiting to see who’d address it first as their breaths pooled together between them, the metallic scent of blood becoming one with the remnant of cigarette smoke. “Can I…?” Jack began, uncertainty in his voice like he was scared of being rejected, though not wanting to act on impulse either. Keith just smiled at him as he brought his face forward, smothering Jack’s lips with his own blood in a kiss he had wanted ever since he’d noticed Jack staring at him from across the restaurant.
A soft gasp from Jack’s mouth went muffled by Keith’s lips, moving both hands to frame his face as they melted together, painting both of their lips in Jack’s blood until he could taste himself on Keith; until they were both drowning in the flavour. It was gentle contact, contradictory to Jack’s usual blunt nature in every way, a side of himself he only ever showed through gestures. He could feel how Jack melted into the touch; the touch of his palms and the touch of his lips, like he’d been starved of this for as long as they’d known each other, and he could tell they both loved every second of it. Still, even despite the way Jack held onto him like a lifeline, Keith retreated in the fear that he was overstepping, only for Jack to pull him right back in with the hand on his neck.
Jack’s mouth was parted ever so slightly as their lips reunited, stifling a soft gasp from Keith’s end; tilting his head and deepening what was already between them as though he wanted to taste every little drop of his own blood. Keith gladly obliged by the silent request, sinking into the feeling as Jack’s nails softly scratched along the back of his neck; eager and hardly aware of the movement as his senses were overcome with Keith’s presence. His lips were smothered with blood; painting his lips a beautiful crimson Keith couldn’t resist carefully running his tongue along, lapping up every last bit of Jack’s taste. The flavour was intoxicating, so distracting that he hadn’t even noticed he’d migrated from the kiss in favour of licking Jack clean until he chuckled softly at the notion, his smile noticeable where they still made contact. In one swift movement he licked along the corner of Jack’s mouth, until he’d wiped the last remnant of blood off, before retreating.
Jack was still smiling at him as he traced the pads of his thumbs across his cheeks, reciprocating the exact same look before he took notice of the punctures in his neck, still trickling with blood in a way that almost had him dip down and lick it all up. “Shit, apologies- We should get you cleaned up-!” Keith rushed to say, still floating in the haze induced by the taste of Jack’s blood and his lips, mouth agape to inhale soft breaths. “I’ve been through worse…” Jack huffed with a soft laugh, clearly intoxicated by that same haze; though neither knew how to address it. Instead Keith did the next best thing, showing his affection for Jack by tending to his wounds, care that extended beyond words. Keith took his wrist in hand, using his supernatural strength to his advantage as he tugged Jack off the couch, looking back to see how his face flushed even more at being handled with such unexpected strength.
Keith led them both to the kitchen, retrieving a towel and running warm water beneath the tap, ordering Jack to position himself against the counter before taking his place in front of the man. “I can do it m’self-” Jack muttered, slightly flustered under the attention as Keith brought the cloth up to his neck, dabbing at trickles of blood before carefully cleaning around the punctures. “It’s only fair… Besides, I enjoy takin’ care of you.” he said in response to Jack, who averted his eyes at the words, though that didn’t hide the abhorrent flush that spread across his face. For a moment there was silence between them, Jack’s hand grabbing at the corner of the counter as he held his breath at the littlest of touches, releasing quivering exhales, until Keith spoke; “Words may not suffice, but- Thank you. ” he muttered quietly as he retracted his hand from Jack’s neck, observing whether the punctures bled enough to require a bandage. “You bein’ here is enough of a thank you…” Jack replied in that same soft voice, before a smirk painted his lips. “ Y’seemed real eager though. ” he said with a suave tone that was laced with endearment, and Keith playfully snapped his towel at Jack before using it to clean his own mouth and chin. “Speak for yourself-!” he quipped back as he rinsed the cloth under the tap, glancing over at Jack to see that the punctures hardly leaked at all.
“Let me prepare somethin’ for you, in return.” he said to Jack, who dismissively waved his hand in response, already reaching for the fridge. “It’s fine, I’ve got some leftover pizza-” he muttered, but Keith had wrapped his hand around Jack’s wrist before he could grab the handle, gently but firmly tugging him from the fridge. “It’s the least I can offer, c’mon,” he began, smiling softly upon feeling the way Jack’s skin was contrastingly warm against his own cold palm, “your diet could use some variation. ” he teased, and Jack huffed in defeat, raising his hands in the air before nodding his head and retreating to one of the stools standing by the island in his kitchen, watching how Keith scanned the contents of his fridge and cabinets. His apartment didn’t have many perishables, as he’d only be around for a few nights most of the time, instead observing as Keith retrieved flour and baking soda, along with the few eggs he’d gotten himself and a container of strawberries.
There was something endearing about watching someone cook for him after having been alone for so long, suddenly having someone with the passion to cook and bake where he had lacked every trace of such a thing, living mainly off microwave pizza. He saw Keith - once so composed when he’d first seen him in his restaurant, always dressed in that sleek red - in a way he never had before, lacking his suit jacket and measuring out ingredients before retrieving a bowl and adding it all together. “Have you always been soulless-?” Keith asked him suddenly, crushing a bar of white chocolate he’d found into chips, snapping Jack out of his train of thought. “No, I-” he began, pinching the bridge of his nose with a soft groan; the memory still hurt to recall even after all the time that had passed, though he found a want within him to tell Keith the truth; he trusted him with his past.
“I was given a second chance, at life, at- Everything, really. ” Jack huffed, his voice faltering. It was easier to talk with Keith’s back towards him, without the fear of curious eyes on him as he watched how easily he mixed the batter together by virtue of his unusual strength. “Got caught in one of those suits, like the one layin’ around in the saferoom, real fuckin’ nasty. ” he explained, and Keith just hummed in response; giving him the space to talk, “I suppose I was lucky to get outta’ it, even if it cost me my soul. That’s why I told you not t’wear it. ” he added, his voice softening towards the end. Keith let the words sink in for a moment, retrieving his dough and beginning to fold the pieces of chocolate into it as he allowed a silence to fall, just in case Jack had anything he wanted to add, before muttering a soft “I’m really sorry-” in reply. “Ah, don’t be.” Jack was quick to quip back, “I wouldn’t have met you if it wasn’t for my second chance, now would I?” he added, and Keith didn’t have to look around to know that he was smiling wide. “In that case, I’m glad y’made it out. ”
For a moment more Jack watched with a smile as Keith added strawberries to the dough, evenly spreading the various clusters across an oven tray before sliding it in, turning up the heat and setting a timer. A quick wipe across the counter sufficed for a cleanup, setting the dirtied bowl into the dishwasher before turning around to face Jack, waving the dough covered mixer in his general direction with a raised eyebrow. He extended a hand with a grin, taking it from Keith and licking at the dough with shameless eagerness as he took place beside Jack, unable to suppress a soft chuckle at the sight. “Y’know-” Jack said with a muffled voice once he was about halfway done cleaning the utensil, “I could get used t’this.” Jack said, his mouth still occupied with the mixer but smiling regardless. “Likewise, my darlin’.” he replied with a smile that matched Jack’s, watching how his expression flushed just a little. “I’ll have’to invite you over more often-!” Jack chirped, studying the mixer he’d cleaned almost entirely before the oven dinged and Keith took it from him, setting it down in the sink before retrieving the cookies.
They waited for the cookies to cool, and it wasn’t long before they sank back into conversation again; more lighthearted this time, the evening and its events still weighed heavy on the both of them and neither were quite ready to address it, though Keith couldn’t quite keep his eyes from the punctures he’d left on Jack’s neck. Something deep inside him hoped that people would notice, that Jack would think of him whenever he saw them, and he was almost certain about the latter considering how often he’d notice Jack’s eyes searching for his. Jack eagerly chowed down on the cookies, occasionally commenting on how well they tasted in between a conversation that derived from the mysterious giant scutlers to the various other cryptids that roamed the property, like the odd peanut-shaped statue Keith had once seen from the corner of his eye before it vanished.
It was endearing to Keith how many sides of Jack he had gotten to see, from the way his breath quivered when teeth dug into his neck to the way he was smiling now, crumbs sticking to the corners of his mouth and occasionally falling onto his shirt, so careless and genuinely joyful. He smiled at the sight of Jack stowing down the last of his cookies, only interrupted from his daze when Jack’s voice chimed through the room; “Was I… Good?” he asked, and for a moment Keith was confused on what he was referring to until he shyly gestured to the bitemark that now tainted his neck. “Oh, you’re the most delicious I’ve ever had. ” Keith cooed in response with a suave tone that managed to surprise himself, watching Jack’s smile grow at the reply before waving a hand in Keith’s direction. “No need t’overdo it-!” Jack chimed, though there was no real seriousness to his voice, and instead a slight fluster as he got up to put the, now empty, plate away.
“Hey, um-” Jack called from the kitchen, the faint sounds of him loading the dishwasher accompanying his voice, “I dunno ‘bout you, but I’m pretty tired.” he said, walking back to stand by the couch where Keith still sat, gesturing towards the hall that harboured two separate doors with his head. “What d’you say?” he asked, and Keith was on his feet with a firm nod in response before he’d even finished his sentence, following behind Jack as he led them to his bedroom.
Much like the rest of his apartment, the space wasn’t particularly personalised aside from some scattered clothes and the sheets on his twin bed having been tossed around. For a moment they both looked at the mattress, the question and its answer evident in the air between them, though Jack was the first to clear his throat; “If you don’t wanna share a bed I can take the couch.” he said, scratching the back of his neck before Keith chortled and bumped his side. “I don’t mind in the slightest. ” he replied, shooting Jack a grin which he returned before walking further into the room, pulling open his closet. “I’m sure ya’ don’t.” he teased back towards Keith, retrieving a shirt and tossing it directly at Keith’s face, which he would’ve hit if it wasn’t for his sharp reflexes. “T’sleep in.” Jack said, gesturing towards the fabric which Keith couldn’t resist but smell, finding that it had the exact same scent Jack usually carried aside from the distant hint of cigarettes.
Jack retrieved his own shirt from the edge of the bed, showing Keith to the bathroom so they could both get changed in the comfort of their own privacy, reuniting there for him to fish out a second toothbrush. Stood side by side, they brushed their teeth with only Jack’s reflection appearing in the mirror, sharing a soft chuckle about how the toothbrush seemed to float where Keith held it. By the time they were done there were two toothbrushes, orange and red side by side in the cup that had once held a lone orange, an endearing sight for anyone with the eye to notice it. “Y’go first, I’ll follow behind in a minute-” Jack mumbled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as Keith departed from the bathroom and back into the bedroom, letting his hands run along the sheets before pulling them aside and slipping underneath them.
They smelled like Jack, not just of his laundry detergent; but of the very core of his scent. A hint of his cologne laced the fabric, accompanied by his usual smell of cigarettes and a trace of sweat from warm and uneasy nights, all coming together to flood Keith’s senses as he buried his face in the sheets, relishing in how beautifully unique his scent really was. He blinked slowly, trying to keep awake as he listened to Jack rummage, walking back into the room shortly after flushing the toilet as he gently closed the door. “Hey-” a soft greeting was whispered through the room, followed by the sound of sheets shifting and a weight settling on the mattress beside Keith. A hand reached for Keith’s waist, warm against his cold skin even through the shirt Jack had given him, a soft nudge silently requesting him to scoot closer. Although Keith’s cold temperature didn’t affect him by virtue of being undead, he still found himself drawn to Jack’s warmth - not only physically - and scooted closer.
“ God, you’re cold- ” Jack whispered in a quiet breath, sprawling an arm across Keith’s back as he leaned into him, their faces no more than a few inches apart. “Conditions of bein’ a vampire, does it bother you-? ” Keith asked in that same hushed tone, as though the moment was too tender to speak at a regular volume. “Not at all.” Jack replied with a soft laugh, leaning in closer once Keith wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him nearer, shifting to lay further on his back in the hopes that Jack would follow. “You’re… Warm. ” he concluded after a moment of being in close contact with Jack, feeling the heat radiate off him as he rested a leg over one of Keith’s. “Seeing you’re clinging to me like a lifeline, I’m guessing you don’t mind either…? ” Jack asked with a playful undertone to his voice, shifting in place until his curls were brushing Keith’s jawline. “Of course my darlin’.” he replied with a tired voice, feeling how Jack jolted just a little at the nickname before easing into Keith’s embrace.
For a moment there was silence between them, though with Jack partially having sprawled himself across Keith, he toyed with a request in the back of his mind, studying Jack through the little light from behind the curtains. If it wasn’t for the exhaustion to have overtaken him, he would’ve never voiced the thought aloud and simply made due with the little weight Jack had put on him, but Keith found his voice breaking the silence with a request; “Would you maybe consider, ehr- Layin’ on top of me-?” he asked, and Jack laughed in response, though he rose up with his elbow supporting him on the mattress. “What, like my entire body weight?” he asked, in slight disbelief, as he observed Keith’s face in the faint glow cast across it, watching how he furiously nodded in response. “Won’t that, y’know, be uncomfortable though?” Jack added once he realised that Keith wasn’t joking, surprised though not entirely unwilling to fulfil the request as he placed a hand on the other side of Keith’s head, leaning over him.
“I’m fond of the pressure-” Keith replied softly after swallowing a knot in his throat at the way Jack loomed over him, a smile dancing across his lips and his curls hanging down. “You’re an odd one, y’know?” Jack muttered with absolute and sheer adoration lacing his tone, shifting so one of his knees was on the other side of Keith’s body before lowering himself, until he was inches away from laying down on top of the other entirely. “So are you-” Keith replied with as much of a suave tone as he could manage while Jack’s warm breath pooled against his face, momentarily freezing in place as one of Jack’s hands reached up to cup his jaw. In an utmost gentle movement, he pressed a kiss to Keith’s lips; brief but ecstatic contact of warm against cold, meeting and intertwining in the middle before Jack retreated. “ Maybe that makes us a good fit…? ” Jack asked with a smirk that was even visible through the limited lighting around them, and Keith couldn’t help but seize his jaw and chase the taste of his lips again, pressing another kiss which wiped that smile right off his face again. “ Maybe it does indeed. ” Keith whispered against lips parted to draw in a shallow breath once they drew apart, mesmerized by the way Jack looked at him.
The hand which seized Jack’s jaw moved up to tangle in his curls, a gentle touch that had him melting into Keith’s palm as he let his head sink low, into the crook of his neck. “ Goodnight my darlin’. ” Keith muttered as Jack’s arms folded around him, surrounded entirely by him and the smell that still stuck to his skin, by the warmth that radiated from his body. For a moment Jack was all there was; the hint of cigarettes in his scent, his curls tickling Keith’s jawline and his breathing, slowly evening out as he settled into place on top of the other. “ G’night my dear. ” Jack sleepily replied, and Keith swore he could’ve ascended at the petname alone if it wasn’t for Jack’s weight keeping him grounded; keeping him exactly where he wanted to be.