Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The hells of Oakhurst were.. Finally over. And, yes, many fell to the hands of the evil, many stepped onto their side, but the invisible wall had broken down and all the residents, alive or now forever undead, were able to leave the cursed town. Many returned to their families, some went to search for a new town to hunt at, and Pyro.. Well, another hell awaited Pyro - university. And yes, his stories about what he had seen in oakhurst can be a helpful addition to his resume, no one would exactly believe him. Now an undead being himself, he was still determined to get that degree. Little did he know, the past months of life in the cursed ruins of a town filled with evil and crazy wont leave him alone so easily.

First day in the university. Already a few people are looking weird at him for his paleness and bloodshot eyes. To be honest, the redness in his eyes wasn't anything from the undead curse - he just haven't been able to sleep properly for the last week, still processing everything he'd lived through and trying to think of a solution to the bloodthirst while he'll be trying to live a normal student life. But the paleness was a different thing. A few curious strangers asked him about it, he just brushed them off with a simple "was born with it" argument. Nobody asked afterwards, but he still caught suspicious glances. Could they know what had happened in Oakhurst? Its a dead land, nothing should have got out of there unless from the mouths of the survivors, which they agreed to never talk about again. 

Did he just seem weird? Maybe his hair was wrong? Was there something on his face? Uncertainty grew and before going to the auditorium while the class was still 10 minutes away, he decided to quickly get into a bathroom. He stepped in, looked around if anyone was in there, turned towards the mirror and.. 

Oh right. He's a vampire, he doesnt have a reflection. He didn't get used to that even in his time in Oakhurst since aside from the river there wasn't many reflective surfaces. In fact, standing so close to one can raise concerns if anyone sees him. So Pyro just decided to run a hand through his hair and get out of the bathroom. 

But as he did, looking into the crowd of students that were now filling the halls, all rushing into their classes, he spots something familiar, a certain colour that now only associates with a single person - light blue. Almost instinctively he moved closer, a glimmer of completely unreasonable hope appearing in his mind all of a sudden. 

But as he approaches the person, he just sees that its a yet another student, just a simple person that happened to have the same hair colour. It wasn't even styled right. His bangs weren't even and it was shorter.. Why does he remember all of that? Shouldn't he be traumatized by him, he was the one who doomed him for eternal hunger. But... Ugh, nevermind. Pyro doesnt have time for this. 

Plus, its so stupid. Scott flew off without a word when they found out they could leave. Probably massacred a town or two by now, that hungry bastard. He'd never just appear amongst humans like this. 

But Scythe would be lying if he said he didnt wish it'd happen. If he didnt wish to see those light blue hair again and play with them while that soft Scottish accent told him their master plan on how to get another person. If he didn't wish to look into those crimson eyes that were once the same blue but were so much more lively with that maroon aspect to them... If he didnt wish... 

Gosh, why is he even thinking about this? Scott was his turner, leader, someone to look up to, to fear, not to lust over. Even if he felt tingly every time he would call him Sire, knowing it wasn't just out of respect. 

Right, getting to class. He needs to do human things. Isn't loving someone a human thing though? 

Does he even love Scott? It would be stupid if he did. The elder vampire saw him as nothing but an inconvenience. He was never able to prove himself as anything else. At least he thinks he wasn't. 

Pyro got to the auditorium just a few minutes early, so he was able to get a good spot on the middle row on the left side. The bench was completely empty so he settled his bag next to himself, getting out a notebook. And so he just sat there, looking into nothing, his mind filled with thoughts and memories, most of them depicting him of course... Why wouldn't they. They'll stay like this until he gets over it. Gets over the fact that that man had left him like he was nothing, like they've never had anything special between them and Pyro was just crazy for seeing anything like that. 

Lost in their thoughts, Scythe didn't even notice when a person sat down next to them. The stranger tapped his shoulder and the undead creature flinched, turning to his right, looking at the student next to him. Bunny ears, pink eyes, long, bright blue hair... does everything just have to remind him of that bastard?

"Y-yeah? Sorry, I was kinda lost in my thoughts, um.. Did you need anything?" 

Pyro spoke up, letting out a nervous laugh and trying to slightly ease the awkwardness.

"Oh yeah I just wanted to ask for a pen."

The student next to him answered with a smile.

"Oh, of course, of course.. Just a second.."

Scythe fumbled with his bag, trying to find a pen amongst the chaos that was in there. The student next to him, puffing out her lips in boredom while looking at the empty desk in the end of the classroom, decided to keep up a conversation. 

"My names Kab Kaboodle, by the way. What's yours?"

"Oh, um.. I'm Pyro Scythe... Just call me Pyro."

"Well alright Mr fancy second name."

The two of them laughed, Pyros laugh more awkward and Kab's much more open and hearted.

 The vampire was finally able to find that pen they'd managed to curse under their breath a thousand times and handed it to Kaboodle. The bunny thanked him and the two unexpectedly started chatting. Nothing major, just a lighthearted conversation as if they've known each other for years now. Its like they instantly clicked together like puzzle pieces, forming quite the strong duo.

 But their conversation was quickly interrupted by the teacher walking into class with the bell ringing across the auditorium. And when Pyro glanced down to see who will be teaching him history these upcoming few years, his undead heart went completely cold. Old-fashioned clothes, tall structure, pale complexion, bright blue hair... No. This could not be real. Scythe was dreaming, he had to! 

"Good morning, students."

Those words shattered any doubt the young vampire had left. The soft Scottish accent that he used to fall asleep to had just filled his ears once more, and it felt like a lullaby he'd never been able to get from his mother. His eyes couldnt leave the figure in front of that blackboard, as if afraid hed just disappear again. And for a second he could've sworn those familiar bright blue eyes looked back at him, met with his directly for a second longer than necessary, an almost unnoticeable smirk appeared on the familiar pale face before going back to normal like nothing happened. 

But God was that interaction enough for Scythe to feel the familiar heat rise in his white cheeks. Only Kabs nudge in his shoulder made him tear his gaze away from the undead figure.

"Y-yeah?.." Pyro whispered, still glancing back at the teacher as if checking if he was hallucinating.

"Dude, don't tell me you're in love with the teacher already." Kaboodle scolded, rolling her eyes dramatically.

 "I will not be apart of any drama you might wanna stir up with that blue guy, alright?" She laughed, clearly joking. It was obvious from the start that they're one of those people who would always be there for their friends. Pyro chuckled, even though the sound was more guilty than genuine.

"There won't be any drama. I mean, look at him! He looks like he's straight out of a 16th century novel. Probably hellishly boring as well." Pyro whispered back, quickly hiding any remorse or fear he could show while shit talking about his terrifying Sire. 

It seems like the poor youngster had forgotten his famous "Sire hears all" monologs. Kaboodle laughed along, oblivious of the way the undead creature next to them started fidgeting with the end of his sweater's sleeve and stealing nervous glances at the end of the auditorium, where Scott had already introduced himself and was walking back and forth while talking about some historical event that Scythe could guess the elderly vampire had seen with his own eyes. 

Kaboodle and Pyro continued chatting through the whole class, only occasionally shutting up when the teacher raised his voice over the noise. Talking with Kab distracted the young vampire from the spiraling thoughts going through their head, but it wouldn't last forever and he knew that. 

When the bell rang, the duo, still giggling at some stupid joke of Kabs they both seemed to like because of the single shared braincell, gathered their empty notebooks and headed towards the door with the flow of bored students when the sharp familiar voice cut through the chatter.

"Jack Von Pyroscythe?" The brunette vampire stopped dead in his tracks, making a distracted student bump into his back and grumble something very mean. Kaboodle turned around to see why their new friend stopped so suddenly, saw the teacher standing behind him with arms crossed, clasped their hands together and wished him good luck with no words before quickly stepping out of the auditorium with an evil smirk appearing just for a second before the door closes behind her. 

Scythe, letting out a shaky breath, calms down his racing cold heart and turns around only to yelp out as he sees the pale face right behind him, bent down over him with that terrifying red glow in his blue eyes in the shadow. 

"G-good morning.. Sire..." The word, even though so familiar, felt somehow foreign on the tongue that was sure it won't pronounce it ever again. 

"Isn't very good when I'm called hellishly boring by my fledgling."

Well.

Shit.

Chapter Text

Silence stretched across the auditorium as the two undead creature stared at each other. Pyro decided to break the tension first.

"I uh... I apologise, Sire... I-I didnt know it was you when saying such things..." Scythe didn't dare meet Scott's eyes, too terrified to see the piercing crimsons staring down his filthy soul.

"Really?" A soft step forwards echoed in the room before Pyro felt a cold hand grasping his heated cheeks and turning him to face the feared elder vampire. Goldsmith's eyes were half-lidded, calm and yet somehow made the fledgling gulp in terror, eyes darting for an escape out of this situation. He was so close, unbearably close, so much so not only embarrassment crept onto Pyro's face with a blush. The history teacher seemed clueless, or at least made it seem like it like he always does. Scott made sure to stretch the silence even more, just to see the poor student squirm a bit before continuing.

"Im pretty sure our eyes met right before you started gossiping about me to your new friend over there." His eyes glanced past the brunette vampire at the door where a tiny bit of a pink eye quickly disappeared out of the gap. Goldsmith couldn't help a small smirk appearing on his face. 

"I-i.. I didnt recognize you!.." Pyro protested weakly, putting their pale hands over the arm grasping their face, almost wanting to push away but somehow bringing it closer, as if wanting more of the forbidden touch, no matter how rough. The gesture, even though subtle, caught Scott's attention. He didn't comment on it, but he definitely noticed as his fingers dug ever so slightly deeper into the soft flesh of Scythe's cheeks just to make the point clear.

"Let's assume youre not lying to my face right now and genuinely didn't recognize me..." Scott continued, Pyro nodded eagerly, hoping to get away with his lie without too many consequences. However, the tension grew as Goldsmith moved closer, his face inches away from the fledgling's. The teacher leaned right over his ear, shushing his voice just enough so not even the curious bunny ears which were still most certainly outside of that door could hear.

"Have you forgotten that I hear all? You thought its just on the territory of Oakhurst? Did you think youre free now?" 

The words sunk in, a familiar terror draining all colour from the young vampire's face. Thats right. They thought they were free, that the chain of sires and fledglings had shattered as the bounds of the holy beacons broke, how foolish of him. Vampires exist outside of Oakhurst, masters and their little pups exist outside of Oakhurst, Scott was now outside of Oakhurst. And as long as the elder vampire was just as undead, nothing would change. Pyro's trapped in this powerplay, and he's very obviously in the weaker position. Scythe was never freed. But did he want to be?

"...Please, Sire, I am so sorry..." A very familiar plead crept into their tone, their hands on Scott's arm taking a stronger hold as if afraid he will pull away all of a sudden. Almost instinctively Pyro guided his sire's hand to cradle his cheek instead of gripping it as his sky blue eyes finally met Goldsmith's, that pathetic smile spreading across his face in an attempt to soften the rage of the man before him. 

"I'll do anything to prove myself again, now that you're here, with me, once more..."

Scott's gaze was unwavering and cold as he watched the pathetic performance. He'd seen it multiple times now, and yet somehow it worked every time. However, if he wanted to keep up the power dynamic, he needed to stay indifferent, like always. The vampire pulled away his hand, shaking it as if with disgust as he stepped back.

"Hm.. I'll see what you can do to earn back my trust once again. You seem to really like messing it up, you know."

"No, no, I don't, I swear! I'll do anything for you, my Sire..." Pyro pleaded, trying to find even a glimmer of softness in the icy eyes of their sire. They were instead met with a dismissive wave.

"Go now, Pyro. Your friend's waiting." Goldsmith dismisses as he turns his back to the fledgling, ending the discussion right there and then, no questions asked or answered.

Scythe knew better than to try and fight. However there was a question that he couldnt leave without an answer to. So even after the dismissal, the young vampire stayed just for a second more.

"...Why are you here? I can't belive its only to keep me under your heel. You left Oakhurst without even saying anything, why come here?"

Silence stretched once more, now Goldsmith hid his eyes, not wanting to turn around to look at his fledgling. 

"Go, Pyro." Was all he said before sitting down at his desk, not even glancing in Scythe's direction. This was a sign enough for the youngster and he started walking towards the door with a disappointed sigh. They stopped right at the entrance just to look at their sire once more, as if he would just disappear as soon as they look away. But no, he was still there, going through some book. This wasn't a dream.

As the undead creature walked out of the auditorium, he was instantly jumpscared by his new friend who, of course, was camping the door the whole time.

"Pyro, oh my god, you good?? That guy had been holding you in there forever!" Kaboodle immediately went to place their hands on Pyro's shoulders, shaking the haze of terror and confusion out of him. The young vampire finally focuses his gaze on his blue haired friend, meeting her concerned eyes.

"Everything's fine. The dude just thought my name was familiar. Apparently he's got some relatives with Scythe in their names." Pyro brushed her off with a chuckle, lying shamelessly for the safety of both of them while still nervously glancing at the door. Kab takes a step back, sighing in relief.

"Wow, what a guy." She exhales. "We've got like an hour break since the next class was canceled. The teacher just decided not to show up, can you imagine that mate?" 

"Ye thats... definitely weird..." Scythe seemed very distracted, even unconsciously touching their face where Scott's un-calloused cold hands once held him. Kaboodle notices it, but decides not to question, although seeming quite suspicious of whatever had been going on in that auditorium. 

"Right... You wanna go to my dorm?? I need to deal with my stuff, plus I don't think I've seen my roommate yet!" Kaboodle offers, their pink eyes lighting up with the usual whimsy. The mention of the dorm actually snaps the undead creature out of his thoughts as he finally fully focuses his attention on the conversation. 

"Oh, I'll also be living in the dorm, actually. I've got no idea who's my roommate as well." Pyro adds, smiling just enough not to reveal the fangs as he turns to Kab.

"Great! Let's go then aye?" The bunny exclaims, grabbing the vampire by the arm and practically dragging the tired student with them. 

They chat about pointless things once again, giggling and joking about anything they come up with on their way to the dorm. And even though their chatter seemed to distract Pyro from all the thoughts and fears about his sire, it certainly couldn't make him forget the aching pit in his stomach.

 This wasn't good. He'd run out of blood vials even before he got the uni, there was certainly no cattle to drink from in the capital, and he defined couldn't just go around biting people like he could in the ruins of Oakhurst. And while he could suppress it for now, he won't be able to keep it up for long. What will they do? Is there a way to get blood.. legally? Was that even an option? Are they going to die of hunger? Will they have to tell Kaboodle in hopes that they will let him drink from them? Apo did and look where that got her. He can't just risk it all like that. He doesn't want to starve, not after everything he'd been through. There must be a solution to this!–

Their thoughts were quickly interrupted by a hand waving infront of their face.

"Mr Pyro Scythe, you are acting weird again." Kaboodle scoffed, using his full name with a mocking tone. Pyro found that they were standing in the dorm, third floor, in the start of the hallway with all the rooms. Quickly trying to suppress all the thoughts about his hunger, the vampire now searched his memories for his own room number. Was 312?... Or 311... Shit. Was it even on the third floor? The student quickly went into his bag, trying to find the papers with all the dorm information. Their friend looked at them with a joking disappointment and a hint of concern, her hands on her hips as she watched them fumble with the leather satchel. 

"Are you always a mess like this, Py?" Kabs asked with a slightly hushed tone, as if asking for something sacred and private.

"No, no, its just... First day, so much stress, you know?" Scythe found an excuse pretty quickly, his acting skills making him sound as believable as possible. He wasn't fully lying, the stress of going into a new environment was still there, especially with his social paranoia. But the bunny was right, he needed to keep it together. Finally finding the necessary papers he checked his room number. 313. Welp, he was close at least. Kaboodle looked at the paper over his shoulder, lighting up with excitement 

"Oh hey, we're literally neighbors! I'm in 312, its like right in front of yours!" They exclaimed, pointing at their room's door and at the door across the narrow hallway. This year was going to be fun, huh? After exchanging a few more words and Kab promising to pick Pyro up when they'll go to the next class, they part ways into their rooms. Scythe hesitates for a moment too long before opening the door, already hearing the bunny squeal with pure happiness at whoever appeared to be their roommate. He heard the name Maddy but didn't recognize it. Kaboodle really seems to have a lot of friends in this uni. Scythe felt an involuntary surge of envy, the feeling of being outcasted his whole school life returning to him at once. But they pushed it down and, with a deep breath, opened the door to their room. Immediately he spotted a figure in the small kitchen area, his cold heart stopping as a familiar clown mask came into view.

"...Clown Pierce?.." The vampire said slowly, the name sliding off his tongue with creepy ease, having said it multiple times before. The man in the kitchen turned around, stirring some tea in his cup, his expression unreadable behind that awful white mask. His head cocked to the side with cold amusement.

"Well well, didn't expect such a... Familiar face out here." The man drawled, very obviously smirking under the mask. Immediately Pyro felt a wave of chilling goosebumps run down his spine, but he hid the initial shock with determination. 

"Yeah... Didn't know you were here." They attempted to act nonchalant, but the slight shaking of their hands betrayed everything. Clown didn't press further though. His presence had an influence enough so words weren't needed. 

"Your room is on the left." The jester said, turning back to the kitchen counter and ending the dialog right there. Wow, great. Another year of being treated like absolute shit by the people you live with. What an unfamiliar setting for Pyro, huh. Shooting a death glare at the other man's back and grumbling some quiet insult he was barely brave enough to say out loud Scythe moved towards the closed door on the left.

Entering the empty room and closing the door behind him, the young vampire slid down it and sat on the floor, burying his face in his hands. The hunger, the people, the roommate that was apparently his worst rival, Scott for fuck's sake!... This was going to be the worst year of his life, and no amount of Kaboodle interaction is going to save it.

Gosh, is the whole world just constantly against him?..