Chapter Text
For the first time since he was at this stupid school. It was finally raining. It had been a while since he had last seen it. Even when the huge rain clouds covered the sky, it never rained once until now.
Rev sat on his bed, unable to fall asleep, with an aching feeling in his head that kept him from accessing REM. So he forced himself to listen to the melodic sounds of the rain hitting the window, and the singing wind should have been a lullaby. Though it felt dull in the moment, despite the peaceful Raven who lay asleep to the sounds of soft, even breaths of the stupid Vampire.
So he should have been in dreamland, plotting his escape from this hellhole. Instead, he was cold with a thin ass blanket, and Raven was providing practically no warmth whatsoever! He tossed himself back on the bed and rolled around. For being undead, he didn’t feel undead even though they still had some connecting nerves intact, so why the hell was he cold?!?
With all his rolling around. It was enough to wake Raven up with a startle. With the bulging eye that somehow was still intact in her skull. She jumped up, startled to her feet. Stumbling over her skeletal legs to slam onto the floor before quickly pulling herself up to run to the other side of the room. Where a coffin lid remained open. Jumping in, a soft oof sound came from the coffin.
Rev scoffed with annoyance at Raven’s antics as he grabbed his pillow from under his head. Moving it to cover his face. Maybe he can suffocate himself to sleep.
“—Rev?” A groggy voice spoke from the coffin. Undeniably, his annoying roommate. “You awake, buddy?” Asking with simple curiosity as he sat up slowly. Holding Raven in his arms like a baby. Turning his body slightly to get a better look across the room.
Rev didn’t bother removing the pillow from his face as he groaned into it. He made the mistake of waking up Mark. (Even if he didn’t intentionally cause it), Now he was going to get a headache before he could get any actual sleep. Rev lay still. Maybe if he could pretend to be asleep, then that would be enough to fool Mark. It was a dumb plan, but the only plan he had at the moment. It was quiet for a moment until he heard the creaking of hardwood. Each step is getting closer to him. Rev couldn’t help but tense up. What was that stupid vampire doing?!? Clearly, he didn’t show any sign of being awake. So what is the vampire doing?!?
“Aw, Rev buddy, that’s not how a pillow works,” He spoke in his usual playful voice as he got up from his bed. Raven follows behind cautiously. Although this time it was soft, soft-spoken tone like honey, as if not to wake a sleeping Rev. Mark lifted the pillow slowly, expecting a sleeping rev, the only time he’s seen the boy to be peaceful. Except he was met with gray eyes, startling him as they were wide open. Mark couldn’t suppress a yelp of surprise as he threw back down the pillow onto Rev’s face. He stumbled back, tripping over Raven, which sent him falling onto his bottom. While Raven howls in panic, scrambling to get away from Mark that she jumps onto Rev’s bed, to the window still, then to the boys’ desk, knocking down their stuff in her hurry.
“UGH, stop that!” Rev screamed in frustration and annoyance. Lunging towards Raven to prevent her from causing more chaos. Though clearly, through the lack of light, Rev overestimated where his bed ended. Stretching his foot more than he would have liked. He happened to step on Mark’s foot, who only let out a yelp as he tripped over him. Slamming into the floor, chin first, as the pain sent a shock of nerves through his body, he rolled over in pain.
As Raven jumped from Rev’s desk onto Mark’s own, Mark’s pained expression quickly dissipated as it was replaced with worry and concern. He scurried to his feet to grab Raven as she knocked down his books and his goblet. Facing her claws to the face as a backlash. He restrained her, and he placed her in the coffin. He shut the lid tight as he tried to catch his breath.
“What the hell is wrong with you and that stupid cat!?!” Rev screamed as he rolled onto his back in pain. He held his chin as he glared over at Mark, who gave a shaky breath.
“I think Raven was just startled-” He tried to say, but was quickly cut off.
“No shit!” He yells again, though he sits up holding his chin. “I mean, who in their right mind checks up on a sleeping person and then smacks a pillow down on their face!”
“You startled me!” he tries to defend himself, almost pleadingly. He didn’t mean to. “I was making sure you didn’t suffocate in your sleep!” As he hurries worriedly over to Rev, concerned for the other’s injuries.
Rev groans as he sits up, pushing away Mark’s hand. As he holds his chin in the other hand. “Maybe you should have vampire,” He barks back as he winces from just speaking. Rev closes his eyes, not catching the faltering look in Mark’s face. “Damn it,” he utters under his breath.
“That doesn’t look good,” the vampire boy remarked.
He couldn’t help but glare at him. He would have yelled back at him if his jaw didn’t hurt.
“Come on, let’s get you to the nurse’s office-” Mark says as he pulls himself up to his feet and soon Rev in toe. Placing his hand behind Rev’s back and swiping his arm under Rev’s legs to princess carry him.
Rev squirmed in surprise, opening his mouth to yell despite the pain. “Put me down, you dumb vampire!!! It’s too late to visit the nurse’s office. Their probably asleep by now.”
Mark just held on strong, but he did listen to Rev. He just kept walking before he got an idea in his head. “Let's see if we can get you a bag of ice from the cafeteria, then,” He suggested. He knew some students would have fresh fish at lunch. So they must have kept it on ice to keep it as cool as possible without freezing the fish itself.
Rev sighed as he calmed down a bit, though he had a scowl on his face. “For once, you have a good idea.”
“Hey, I always have good ideas,” Mark refuted as he put Rev down on his feet as they made their way to the cafeteria. Even though Rev took the lead to get there, Mark couldn’t help but smile. Though that smile soon disappeared as they wandered deeper into the halls.
The creaking sounds of the hallways in the cold, desolate air and the dark nature of the school didn’t help with elevating Mark’s fear of getting caught.
Rev peeked around corners, looking out for the janitorial staff that monitored the halls. Rev on any occasion would have chosen to waltz on through on any other night. Though considering that he was tired as hell, he hadn’t an ounce of interest in getting caught and seeing the principal this late at night. Considering Mark was also here… he wasn’t interested in getting detention with him either.
Rev made the mistake of glancing back at Mark as they reached an open area. Rev could see the worried look he wore on his face. The stiff movements as he reached out towards him. He rolled his eyes, and he whispered in a harsh tone. “Don’t tell me you're getting cold feet. This was your plan.”
Mark just looked around as he tried to make sure no one was following him. He nervously bit the inside of his cheek to help calm himself down. He hunched down to Rev’s level. “Y-yeah, but I wasn’t thinking straight-” He spoke quietly. Flinching at the sound of bones clanking against each other.
Rev narrowed his eyes at him, frowning at how scared Mark was acting. He rolled his eyes before speaking. “We’re already here, so let’s just make a run for it,” He shot back before Mark could get too much in his head. He peered around to see if they had a chance to run for it. He glanced back at Mark, who seemed to be shaking ever so slightly. He sighed before begrudgingly holding out his hand. “Just don’t let go…”
Rev’s face could help but burn as he looked away. Well, burned was inaccurate as he could feel embarrassment creeping up on him. What was he, a mama duck and her duckling? Was that even the right term for it? Rev thought for a second before it faded away when he realized how long he was holding his hand towards nothing but air. He felt like an idiot even when he felt the clasp of a cold hand touch his own. It was oddly comforting.
GAH, what was he thinking? Mark? Comforting? Never in a million years. He narrowed his eyes again as they had a mission. Why was he even being chummy towards the vampire when HE was the one to get them in this situation in the first place?
“Okay, anddddd-” Rev said as he looked around the corner. His eyes widen as he sees the perfect chance as the last of the skeletons turn the corner, the other side of the hall. Before anything else came by. He held on tight to Mark’s hand. Dragging him as they reached the grand doors, quickly and silently pulling themselves through. There was a small adrenaline rush in their veins as they made it through the first challenge. Crouching down as they stuck to the wall. Not taking any chances of any janitorial crew being there either.
Once they reached the kitchen, that was when both of them were able to relax. Standing up and quietly moving as Rev headed straight for the ice machine. Not hesitating or waiting for Mark to catch up with him. He popped the lid open and felt the cold chill air from the machine. He muttered to himself curses of how cold it was, especially when he was still freezing from earlier.. Mark was quick to be by his side as he approached with a plastic bag he got from a nearby cabinet.
Like clockwork, they finished despite Rev’s assurance that Mark would be the one shoveling the ice with his hands into the bag. In hindsight, that was too stressful for such a simple task. Rev pressed the ice pack to his chin. Feeling the cold against his skin and the stubble pain of straight coldness to his skin. Rev scoffed as Mark turned to smile at him, wiping his hands on his pants. Rev wondered what was going through his simple little mind, especially when they both knew he would wake up in the morning, his chin would have been reset, and he didn’t understand why Mark was so adamant about it in the first place. He rolled his eyes until they landed on something in the kitchen.
Mark hummed to himself as he glanced over to his buddy and saw him fidgeting with a red box in the corner. “What you got there, Rev buddy?” He asked, trying to peek over to see what was in the box.
“It’s a first aid kit,” Rev said as he turned around on his heel. He was holding bandages in his hand.
Mark kinda just stood there. In somewhat surprise, and yet a bubbling feeling arose in his chest as a warm smile spread across his face. “You care–!” He spoke loudly before Rev pressed his hand against his face.
In a warning tone, he scolded him. “Are you trying to get us caught?!?” Though the two froze when the sounds of footsteps approached hurriedly. Mark looked over at Rev with a bilweared look in his eyes. He furrowed his eyebrows even further as he frowned. In a whisper, he retaliated. “What are you looking at me for?!”
As the door to the kitchen swung open. Professor Lovecraft poked his head through almost cautiously. Glancing in the somewhat darkness of kitchen. Seeing no one there. Although he raised an eyebrow at the open ice chest and the first aid kit sprawled out. He sighed in mild frustration as he turned around. It was rather late to get anyone in trouble for a simple break of the rules. Perhaps in the morning or during class he can give a stern warning to those two..
Outside in the hallways, Mark and Rev were making a run for it back to their dorm. After having escaped through the back door of the kitchen. They ran and didn’t stop, not even when some of the janitorial crew spotted them. That wasn’t enough to deter them in their tracks, though with a small motivational action consisting of; Rev yelling move, with a quick punch and a few shoves to the chest until they were safe and in the clear in their dorm room. Rev and Mark were catching their breath. Mark was the first to sink against the coffin, and Rev soon followed afterwards.
“That was a close one,” he remarked as he looked down at his hands, still holding a handful of bandages and the bag of ice.
“Agreed, let’s not do that again,” Mark said as he gave a tired smile at Rev. A tight twist solidified in his stomach as he looked at Mark. He scoffed as he wasn’t making any promises. Especially if he was going to find a way out of this stupid school.
Rev simply pressed the ice pack to his chin. Shivering at the cold sensation. He knitted his eyebrows together as he pressed his hand filled with bandages to Mark’s chest before letting them fall. “For your stupid face,” he muttered under his breath. While he wouldn’t admit to anything, it was his cat- no, his parents’ cat that got Mark’s face all scratched up.
Mark’s hand moved on its own, a smile creeping up on his face as he went to say something. Grabbing the fallen bandages and opening one up, “I knew you cared somewhere in that cold heart of yours-!”
“Shut it! Don’t make me regret it, vampire!” He yelled back as he got up to go to his side of the dorm. He frowned as he tossed himself on his bed. Facing away from the white hair boy
There was nothing but silence for a moment before Rev heard Mark getting up and moving around. If he knew better- no, he did know better. That vampire was probably skipping around with that stupid smile on his face. Rev closed his eyes, imagining Mark was probably at the dorm’s long mirror, trying to put on the bandages on his face with the help of his reflection… Rev opened his eyes as if he was just realizing it for the first time. Has he ever seen Mark’s reflection before?
He tried to recall back to times he’s seen Mark near mirrors or reflective surfaces. Though his mind went blank since he didn’t care in the first place to even pay notice. He surely was going to wake up in the morning to see an incompetent mark completely miss the scratches on his face. He groaned as he sat up, narrowing his eyes as he spoke. “Let me put those on you, Mark-” He stopped, as he could see Mark’s reflection clearly as he stood in front of the mirror.
Mark couldn’t help his smile from wavering as he puffed his cheeks in an attempt to contain his laughter. The snickering from the back of his throat echoed in the room. Rev stammered before grabbing his pillow on the bed, and throwing it at Mark’s head. “Not a word!”
Mark exploded into giggles that turned into laughter. It was endearing seeing how much Rev cared. “What made you think I needed help?” He managed to say in between breaths with his smile still plastered on.
In his own embarrassment, he tried to defend himself. From what? His own pride. “Isn’t there a rumor that you can’t see a vampire’s reflection!?” He accusingly pointed a finger at Mark. Yeah, like he was the one to make such a rumor.
It took a moment for Mark to collect his bearings, but once he did, he smiled. “I mean it depends-“
“Is that a yes or no?!? What do you mean, depends???” He shot back. He should have known better that Mark wasn’t going to give a simple answer.
Mark finished putting all the bandages on his face before swiping the mess into their garbage bin. He sat down on the end of Rev’s bed.
Rev narrowed his eyes, thinking about how great it must be to invade someone else’s personal space. Of course, he was being sarcastic.
“Well-“ Mark started, bubbling with excitement as if he’s been waiting to tell someone all the cool facts about vampires. “Many interpretations think we have no reflections because we have no souls of our own,” He says as he dangles his feet off the bed. Slightly kicking them back and forwards. “But the real reason is that old, timely mirrors had silver backings. Of course, Silver being used to ward off evil,” he spoke, though he raised his hand to air quote the word evil. “More accurately, I guess silver is used to ward off all kinds of supernatural beings like werewolves, too.”
Rev only listened patiently- for once, as he found that intriguing. He knew more about undead, rotting corpses type of undead, so to learn more about other creatures was interesting to say at least. “So do you have a soul?” He asked, though he only realized what he said after he saw Mark’s expression.
Mark tilted his head and awkwardly chuckled. “Of course I do- or I would say I do.”
They both sat there for a long moment before Mark was the first one to get up. He gave a toothy grin as he walked over to the coffin. “Well, good night, buddy.”
Rev just sat there and silently watched as Mark crawled into his coffin. Moving a now calmed Raven to the side. He couldn’t help but sigh. It wasn’t relief, but it wasn’t any sort of emotion he could describe.
Rev held the bag of ice to his chin. The cold weather made him shiver even more. His brain now wide awake, it racked back and forwards.
If reflections in mirrors are simply rumors. He wonders what else is a rumor. Damn it, now he wants to know- to settle his curiosity.
Rev rolls over to look at the casket with a simple thought. “Ough,” okay, maybe he shouldn’t have said that out loud. Perhaps now he’d have something not completely boring to do at this school to pass the time.
So Rev stayed like that, until the tiredness finally caught up to him. He slowly allowed his eyelids to drop as sleep was creeping around the corner. Shutting his eyes as he took a soft breath. That was until a blood curdling scream cut through the silence. That was the early bell for the first period, starting in 20 minutes.
“Oh My FU-”