Work Text:
1)
Martyn was consecrating a beacon while Cleo watched in the trees. He was safe. He'd be fine.
Then a body barreled into him and Martyn screamed as he began to fall from the tower he was on.
Falling. Again.
He wished for a small moment that he had wings, that he could catch himself as he fell. If he was going to be falling and falling he should have wings to catch himself with.
Turns out he didn't need wings, not with Cleo nearby. Cleo who caught him before he could hit the ground. He landed on Cleo who let out a small grunt but said nothing.
Martyn stood and went to offer them a hand only to watch them fly up towards the vampire who had just knocked him off.
~~~~
Cleo was pissed. It was meant to be simple, Martyn would consecrate the lake beacon and turn it either neutral or turn it to the human's side while Cleo watched from far enough away that her presence wouldn't stop him from doing so.
The moment Cleo saw a bat fly towards Martyn they flew to try and stop them. She got there too late and Pyro had pushed Martyn off of the tower while Scott laughed behind him. Cleo dived down and landed with enough time to catch Martyn. She would not lose him.
How dare they try to kill him? How dare they lay a finger on him?
The moment Martyn stood up Cleo transformed into a bat and flew to the top of the tower. She landed, her sword in her hand pointed at Pyro's throat.
"You."
Scott smiled from where he stood next to Pyro, moving as if to try and calm Cleo or get them to his side.
"Cleo! How lovely of you to join us. Though it is quite rude to greet someone with a sword to the throat. Though maybe it's normal since you seem to do it often. What do I know? Times change don't they?"
Cleo ignored Scott. She wasn't here for him. They were here for Pyro.
"You shoved Martyn off of the tower. You shoved a human who can die off of a tower. Tell me Pyro, do you have a death wish? Do you hate being a vampire that badly? I can do you a favor if you want. I can shove you off of this tower and drag you through the woods and feed your flesh to that wolf you were oh so scared of before stabbing you in the heart with a steak before you have the chance to die. Is that what you want Pyro?"
Pyro stepped back, away from Cleo. Scott stepped towards them, trying to calm the situation down.
"A mistake. Everyone makes them Cleo."
Cleo turned to Scott, their sword still pointed towards Pyro.
"Shoving a human off of a tower is not a mistake. You damned well know that."
There was a shout from the ground, a shout of their name.
Cleo turned towards Pyro.
"You're lucky this time. You won't be next time. Hurt someone I care for and you will find your immortality short lived."
With that Cleo flew from the tower and towards Martyn. Their face softened as she looked at him before scanning him for injuries.
"Let's take you home and tell Pearl what happened. I think we have some tea still, I'll make some when we get home."
He'd be safe at home.
2)
Martyn had made a bad decision going out at night. Being chased by zombies was not his idea of fun.
This was not good. They were going to get him.
Could he turn into a zombie?
Would he turn into a zombie?
Would he die just like that?
There was a growl somewhere in the woods to his right and Martyn barely saw the blur of brown before it clashed with the closest zombie.
Martyn turned to fight off another zombie and watched through the corner of his eye as a wolf who could only be Pearl fought and killed as many of the zombies as she could.
Within a blink she was a human with a sword slicing through the flesh of every zombie nearby. Once the zombies were gone Pearl pulled Martyn into a tight hug.
"You're not allowed out alone at night anymore. You're too talented at almost dying."
Martyn huffed out a laugh but didn't argue. He was lucky she was here.
"Thank you."
"I wasn't going to watch you die Martyn. Come on, let's get home."
3)
Martyn needed to stop getting separated from people in the woods. It wouldn't do him good to die in the woods. Cleo and Pearl would probably massacre everyone they thought could be involved.
Martyn had a new tactic for when he got lost. He sat against a tree and waited for someone to find him. It was the simplest way to do things.
A bat flew past him before returning and Martyn felt hope flare in his chest. This was probably Cleo or maybe Shelby.
Then the bat transformed and any hope he had was gone.
In front of Martyn stood Owen.
Owen who hated humans.
Owen who would probably take pleasure in turning him just to watch him suffer.
Owen who Martyn was too tired to deal with right now.
"What do you want Owen?"
"Do I have to want something, Martyn?"
"Most people do."
"Oh so you do see me as a person! It seems like everyone sees all vampires as monsters. But you all just have to save Shelby don't you? She doesn't know what she wants so you choose for her."
If Martyn was Cleo there would be a sword at Owen's throat. If Martyn was Pearl he'd pounce at him.
He was Martyn so he stood slowly, a silver axe in his hands as he looked at Owen.
"Monsters are made through their actions Owen. I don't care that Shelby's a vampire, I could give less of a shit that Cleo's a vampire. If they want to stay that way that's fine with me. Tell me Owen, do you see people as anything other than ants to squash? Cause it sure seems like every time you're around one you do nothing but cause them pain."
"That's all humans caused me."
"You judge everyone on their species, treat them like shit and then expect anything but anger?"
Owen's smile darkened and Martyn was sure he'd said the wrong thing.
"Let's see how they see you when you're not human then."
Before Martyn could run or Owen could get closer Cleo appeared.
"I wouldn't try that if I were you Owen."
"Yeah? And why not?"
"He's not yours."
Cleo stepped in front of Martyn, her sword putting distance between them and Owen.
"Whose is he then? Yours?"
"Exactly and if anyone turns him it won't be yours. Go fuck off to your castle Owen. You're not wanted here."
For a moment Martyn thought Owen would press further, then Shelby appeared.
"Owen! We need some help with the roof!"
"Coming Shelby!"
Owen smiled at Martyn, it was anything but kind.
"You win this time."
Once Owen was gone Cleo turned to face Martyn.
"I'm going to tie a rope to you so you stop getting lost."
Martyn laughed.
"Yeah that's fair."
4)
This time Martyn wasn't alone when danger struck. Cleo was in Martyn'd pocket when Owen appeared at his side, a smile on his face that sent chills down his side.
"Martyn, didn't think I'd see you close to the castle. Are you getting sick of being a human already?"
Cleo was out of his pocket and in front of him with their sword raised at Owen before he could say anything else.
"Cleo. Were you in his pocket?"
"Maybe I was."
"Oh that's cute, you're a guard dog now are you?"
There was a growl to Owen's right and Martyn watched as Owen turned to see Pearl stalking towards him leading Owen to the castle bridge.
Cleo smiled at Owen, sharp and dangerous.
"Go on. Run why don't you?"
Cleo grabbed Martyn's hand and they walked away side by side. Pearl joined them a few moments later. Shelby appeared not too long later.
"I'm sorry about him. Really."
Martyn held her close.
"His actions aren't for you to apologize for. He's just a lonely dick."
Cleo chuckled at Martyn's side.
"Let's go home and have some tea. It's been a long night."
5)
Shelby was beginning to agree with Cleo and Pearl's assessment that Martyn needed a rope tied to him when she lost him after looking away for a minute.
A minute!
She began looking for Martyn, hyper aware of how many interactions he seemed to have with things bound on killing him.
When she found him Martyn was stuck in a tree.
Yup.
Stuck in a tree.
Why was he in a tree?
"Martyn why are you in a tree?"
Martyn turned to look down at Shelby, relief flooding his face.
"I heard Owen."
"…So you hid in a tree?"
"So I hid in a tree."
Shelby nodded slowly.
"And you're still in a tree because?"
"I'm stuck."
Shelby nodded again.
"Right."
Shelby spent the next few minutes helping Martyn get himself unstuck from a tree. It wasn't saving him from a hoard of zombies or fending him from a vampire wanting to turn him but it was nice being able to save Martyn from something, even if that something was the possibility of falling out of a tree.
+1)
Martyn should have seen this coming, he really should have.
He was in town gardening when he heard a scream. A horribly familiar scream. A scream coming from Pearl and Cleo's house. Pearl and Cleo's house which was slowly becoming his own.
Martyn ran towards the house to see a small mob forming outside held back only by Cleo's sword.
"What the fuck is happening over here? Why did Pearl scream?"
Martyn looked inside through a window and noticed Pearl holding her shoulder, blood running down her arm.
Avid turned towards Martyn fear lacing his every word. Fear and anger and so much hatred.
"Pearl is a werewolf! She's a werewolf Martyn. Shelby told us they're dangerous and there's one right here in town! We've had a monster-"
Cleo cut him off, anger lacing their words.
"Call her a monster again and you lose your head."
"Why are you protecting her?"
Cleo's response was immediate.
"Because she's Pearl. In all these weeks we've been here she could have turned anyone, but did she? No. No she didn't and here you are trying to kill her! It's no wonder they hate you."
"What?"
Apo stepped in, their hands up in surrender as they tried to calm the situation.
"Okay, let's all take a breath-"
Cleo ignored Apo as she responded to Avid.
"You treat everyone that isn't human as if they're a disease to be rid of, as if they're a monster. It's no wonder the others hate you."
Avid stepped back just a bit.
"The others?"
"The other vampires."
"You- You're? You're a vampire?"
Cleo laughed, a humorless thing filled with anger.
"I am! How clever of you. Back up Avid."
"No! You- You're dangerous."
Avid moved to throw what Martyn was sure was a bottle of holy water at Cleo and Martyn did what came to his mind first. He tackled Avid to the ground, the bottle shattering with the impact.
Drift's response was immediate.
"Martyn! What did do that for?"
"Did you not see the bottle in his hands? They've done nothing but help you! Nothing but be kind to you, all of you and what do you do? You stand in front of their house threatening them and trying to kill them!"
"He wasn't going to-"
"Yes he was. You know he was."
There was silence for a moment before Pearl's voice came from inside the house, pain and betrayal filling her every word.
"If we're dangerous then kick us out. Let us leave and you can have your monsterless town."
Pearl didn't mention the vampires in the town. Of course she didn't.
"Pearl-"
Ren cut in, like he'd been trying to be polite but was done waiting his turn.
"Why don't we let them stay? They've done us no wrong. Pearl led us home, she found Drift when she was lost. She and Cleo have done us no harm, why must we do so to them?"
Thank fuck someone in this town had common sense.
Cleo's voice carried through the crowd before anyone could say anything.
"Oh Ren. Why would we stay now? Now that they tried to kill Pearl and then trapped us in our house while they plan our deaths? Why would we want to stay?"
Ren nodded, pain and understanding in his eyes.
"Of course. Come on. Let's let them go. They haven't hurt us. We need not hurt them."
After a few moments of arguments it was agreed that Pearl and Cleo could have time to pack their things as long as they left by sunset and never returned to the town.
Once the crowd disburst Martyn stepped inside and wrapped his arms around Cleo and Pearl.
"We'll be better without them. No more hiding."
Pearl looked down at him with hope in her eyes.
"Are you coming with us?"
"Of course I am."
Cleo nodded as if that was the only option.
"Of course he is. Go pack your things Martyn, they won't let you back in when you leave with us."
Martyn ran to his house and packed everything he had that was important in a bag before making his way back to Pearl and Cleo's. Of course Apo stopped him on his way over.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going with Cleo and Pearl."
Apo nodded and stepped aside. She wouldn't stop him, not now.
He'd barely reached the house when he noticed Avid and the lighter he held in his hands.
"Avid if you light their house on fire while they're inside of it I will kill you. I don't give a shit if we're both human. Your head will be on the floor and I won't regret a thing."
"Martyn. They're-"
"Call them monsters. I dare you. See what that gets you."
"Martyn-"
Before Martyn could say anything Pearl called his name from the doorway.
"Martyn? Can you help me carry this?"
Martyn walked away from Avid ignoring his shouts and made his way towards Pearl and helped her with her and Cleo's things. Cleo held one bag that Martyn was sure would end up in his or Pearl's hands the moment they left the town.
Martyn ignored the stares and the shouts after them, after him. The moment they left the town behind Cleo's bag was in Pearl's hand and Cleo was in Pearl's pocket.
They made their way to the one place they knew they'd be safe. Safe for Pearl and Cleo. Martyn would be as safe in the castle as Pearl and Cleo had been in the town.
When night fell he'd help Cleo torch the walls, that he swore to himself.