Work Text:
I
"Ivy you can't drag that through the damn house!"
III's bat ears flicked at II's harsh tone coming from downstairs. He figured he should be getting up anyways seeing as the sun had long set. The vampire slowly let himself melt back into his humanoid form, dangling from his ceiling for a few minutes more to stretch his lower back.
He hears a deep growl coming from the same direction as II when he finally drops to the floor. He leans down to pick up a pair of sweats and an old t-shirt to get decent before facing whatever is the cause of the ruckus.
III lets out a yawn as he walks out his room towards the stairs, and leans on the top railing.
Taking stock of the image by their foyer he sees a giant bloodstained wolf sitting with its ears pinned back and the saddest eyes it can muster. In front of the wolf is II, standing with his feet planted firmly and his arms crossed. The short witch cut a vicious image when he demanded respect.
Between the two of them lay the half eaten remains of what looked to be a deer at some point. Its body still having enough blood in it after being dragged in through the front door to leave a trail and a slowly forming puddle that's soaking into their runner.
Out of the corner of III's eye he spots a cloud of dark smoke drifting over to them, as it gets closer it forms into the shape of Vessel's corporal form. It seems like he was also drawn out from whatever he was doing from the noise.
A whine that pitched into a harsh bark drew III's attention back to the duo. IV was still in his wolf form as he complained.
"I don't want to hear it Ivy. We went over this last time, if you don't finish your meal outside then we can collect it and store it properly. This-" II gestures to the carcass and surrounding mess, "Is NOT properly."
"Yeah Ives~ I know you're not house trained but come one." III couldn't help but try to jump in. Even though he loves each of their weird little pack, its hard to resist ribbing each other. All in good fun of course. Not to mention it keeps things interesting, at least III thinks so.
IV growls up the staircase and is cut off by II.
"I don't want to hear it from YOU either III. Remember last week? When you came home blood drunk and absolutely disgusting and decided to climb into my bed." II was quite unhappy with III for that one, even with III apologizing and offering to help clean the sheets. In his defense, he had really just wanted to curl up with the witch to cuddle. In response, he lifted his hands in mock surrender. Only to then slam them down onto the balcony rail to haul himself up and over. He lands on his feet with a thud and looks around again.
"Anyways, where'd Vess go?" III asked to hopefully redirect II's ire back away from him.
"Right here." The voice came directly from behind III, causing the tall vampire to squeal and jump away.
Vessel stood there with a large black towel over his shoulder and a plastic caddy in one hand. It held trash bags, two old scrubbing brushes, and thick gloves. His other hand held a gallon bottle of hydrogen peroxide. All six of his eyes squinted with mirth at scaring III before walking over to IV.
"Come on Ivy, you need to have thumbs to help clean up the mess," Vessel says while scratching behind the werewolf's fluffy ears.
IV sighs through his big nose before allowing himself to become human once more. "Can I at least go grab some pants or something? I know its nothing you haven't seen before but its cold without fur in here," the puppy dog eyes still going strong, but the now blood covered human was hard to take seriously.
"My dear, dear lovely pup, use this," Vessel handed over the large black towel for IV to cover himself up. "Once your done cleaning up, we can get you a warm bath. Look, III is being so nice as to clean up your leftovers so all you have to do is treat the carpet before you go." Vessel smiles at IV before turning to the witch-vampire duo.
II picks up the roll of plastic bags and pulls one off to hand to III, "How kind of you to volunteer III." II snickers under his breath.
III gapes in faux offense, even if he didn't exactly sign up to be "volun-told", he wouldn't say no to helping when asked. He lived there too. But if he couldn't be a little dramatic then what was the good of being a centuries old creature of the night.
"Oh but I'm so frail in my old age, I'll need a big strong witch to help me carry it to the deep freezer…." III dials up the theatrics as he shoves what he thinks is the back end of the carcass into the bag he was handed. "I may faint if I go alone." He places the back of his hand against his forehead as he swoons.
"Oh come off it, you drama queen." II snips back as he pulls some gloves on to help III.
The quartet of chatters continued on as they all set upon cleaning up the last bits of remains and getting as much of the blood out of the rug. Meat is placed in their freezer, towels and sponges thrown away, supermarket lists made, and lectures are given once more to hopefully prevent this from happening again.
Even if they all knew it was just a matter of time.
II
For making a deal with an eldritch horror beyond any known creature's comprehension, one would think that seasonal affective disorder would evaporate with the last bits of Vessel's humanity. Unfortunately he still had to deal with the remaining flaws of his old form. They were less frequent thesse days and he had his little home and family to help him. but sometimes it just wasn't enough. Luckily he still kept a small light that was supposed to make him feel better. He was gifted it by an old friend from many moons ago.
~
"Yeah it mimics the sunlight so that you are still getting the vitamin D or whatever! I read that they help people feel better during this time of the year." The person said it so cheerily, Vessel couldn't decline the gift.
~
The words still clear even if their face and form had long since faded with Sleep's influence. He sighed and proceeded to turn the light on while he sat at his desk. The surface was covered in old tomes next to his laptop and phone. In the mix, miscellaneous stationary lay scattered like the autumn leaves outside. A stranger would think him a spectacle if they came across him.
Of course they'd also have to pass a witch, a vampire, and a werewolf to even dream of doing so.
Vessel sighs as he thinks of his little family now. It was a blessing from Sleep themself that he found them, perhaps literally with how vague the god can be. Over the many years they have all been together they have melded into a relationship they can't quite explain. Somewhere near lovers perhaps. If Vessel was in a particularly poetic mood, he would call them all soulmates. IV calls them a pack. III calls them all his wives, or sometimes boyfriends. II is much like Vessel in not quite labeling them. They very much love each other whatever they were called.
Vessel's daydreaming of his mates is interrupted by the creaking of his door.
"Hey Vessel, II wanted me to find- AH!" III's sudden pitch and volume changed into a shout as the door slammed shut once more. The distress made Vessel jump up from his desk to run out to the hall, fearing what could've happened to the vampire.
"Oh shit, III what happened?" Vessel found his vampire grasping his hand that appeared burnt like a human was in the sun for too long. The skin red and irritated. He looked up to III's face to see a fainter red along his nose and cheekbones.
"You tell me Vess! What the hell is in your room? I felt like I walked out into high noon sun!" III snapped at Vessel. Vessel flinched and took stock of his room. Everything was as it normally would be except… he immediately thought back to his lamp. Oh no, of course the lamp that mimicked sunlight would hurt the one creature in the house who needed blackout curtains.
"Oh no, III, I'm so sorry. I should've put a warning on the door or something. That's my sunlight lamp. I didn't think about it at all I'm so so sorry." Vessel rambled on apologies as he helped the vampire up from his spot leaning on the wall.
"Shh Vess, I'll be fine. I didn't mean to snap, it just caught me off guard." III let go of his burnt hand to reach for Vessel. As the taller pulls him into a hug, Vessel realizes he had been shaking. He lets himself sink into the one armed hug for a moment as he takes a deep breath. Once he's re-centered, he sits up out of III's arm and looks into III's eyes with all six of his.
"We gotta go to II though so he can make you a cream to help that." The vampire could heal the burns on his own, but it would take a lot longer without II's help. And Vessel truly felt guilty even if it was only an accident.
—
The duo find II in the living room, scrolling on his phone. The smaller man looked up at them, the sight of the burnt vampire and the six dewy eyes of Vessel immediately causing II to raise his brow.
"What happened." II said as he sat up to stand.
"I acci-" Vessel was cut off by III.
"Vessel is just so smoking hot, I got burnt when I looked at him." he said as he batted his lashes towards the eldritch priest.
II groaned and Vessel would've pinched his cheek if he didn't feel so bad, "I had my sunlight lamp on and III opened my door."
The three of them hear laughing from around the corner. IV popped his head out from the kitchen doorway, "Did I hear that right? III got burnt by a lamp? A electronic LAMP?" IV didn't even try to hide his snickers.
"Oh whatever, you got burnt by the ring that II got for Vessel before!" III's cheeks darkened not from the burn. IV stuck his tongue out at the vampire and walked towards him. It wasn't his fault the ring was sterling silver. The werewolf pulls the vampire down and kisses his nose as an apology for laughing at his pain.
"There all better." IV smile was softer now.
"That's very sweet Ivy but I need him to put this cream on," II's tired tone didn't match the soft look he had in his eyes. While the two had their moment, he had run to his cabinet of poultices, creams, and tinctures to grab the treatment.
Vessel took the jar from II and pulled III over to the couch and had them sit facing each other.
"Vess, my love, I can put it on myself. I'm not that burnt." III teased but acquiesced when those six eyes looked at him so sadly. They sat quietly as Vessel scooped small amounts of the cream to rub onto III's hand, taking great care to make sure it had a even layer over every reddened centimeter. Once he was satisfied, he moved onto his face.
Vessel carefully caressed the high cheekbones as he spread more of the medicine over III's skin. Eventually he pulled his hands away as he was happy with his work. III's eyes had closed at some point and he'd leaned forward into Vessel's hands as he lowered them.
"Done already?" III slowly opened his eyes to look at Vessel again. To which he receives a gentle smile in return. The pair enjoying the closeness the moment brought until Vessel remembers the initial cause of all of this.
"Oh, III. What was it that II was asking for?"
"Oh god, this happened because you were trying to get out of finding the grimore YOU lost?" II dropped his head into his hands.
"Oopsie."
III
The times where II had some peace and quiet were few and far between. Being an immortal witch and living with three other supernatural partners came with its benefits but also its downfalls. With two of them being able to be active during daylight, his mornings are usually calm but not quiet. If IV isn't cooking or working out, Vessel is composing music or chanting to appease Sleep. In the evenings, III gets up and there's no hope for full peace and quiet. The four of them together always leads to some shenanigans. And while II wouldn't have it any other way, he does find himself missing just a few hours on his own not shut in his crafting room.
So when he finds himself on the couch with the TV low in the background, he's quiet pleased. IV was out on a "run" which would take him a few hours. The werewolf often needing time to stretch his legs. III was still sleeping as the sun wouldn't set for another hour or so. And Vessel…. well II wasn't sure where he was. He hadn't seen any sign of him for a while though so he assumed the priest was busy. There had been times before that he was gone for days without a word, though they had discussed letting at least one of them know before he was gone.
II stretched and leaned back into the couch. The TV had some historical documentary on fae-folk and the struggles they faced some centuries ago. He watched mindlessly and settled deeper into the soft cushions, only moving slightly to reach an old woven blanket Vessel had made for him when they first met. It's ends frayed from decades of use but II would glare at Vessel whenever he offered to weave him a new one.
II was determined to use it until it dissolved under his very fingers. Then he could let Vessel make a new one for him but until then it will remain one of his prized possessions.
He treasured it so deeply it took two decades for him to let III or IV even touch it.
He held the eldritch humanoid so closely to his heart it almost hurt. If he believed in the concept he would say Vessel was a soulmate, he knew the other felt very much that way as well. He loved IV and III in different ways but just as deeply as Vessel. He had spent years perfecting treatments for his vampire partner's ailments. And what he wouldn't give to have those peaceful naps with the werewolf more often.
II flushed at how sappy he was being for a man who complained about never having time to himself. He forced himself back into the moment, refocusing on the TV and curling the blanket tighter around himself.
The show had moved on to something about the economics of the fae or something, II found it difficult to focus with the boring narrator. The historian on the show had a slow drawl in his speech on top of a monotone voice, which slowly lured II to close his eyes. He hadn't planned on napping but he was so comfy. The thoughts of his little family softly still dancing in his head as he let himself drift off.
—
When II opened his eyes again, the room was black. He grumbles to himself for sleeping the afternoon away and curls up once more… only to jolt up to realize he left the TV on so the light from that should still be present. He feels his breathing speed up as he continues waking up.
He begins to frantically look around and sees that everything is pitch black. The walls, the floor, his blanket. He can't even see his hands in front of him. There's just nothing. For a moment he fears he had gone blind.
Until he notices the viridian glow of six eyes above him.
"Holy shit! Vessel! You scared me half to death!" The eyes responded by widening before the darkness faded away and formed into the humanoid form II was more used to talking to.
"Sorry my love. You looked so precious I didn't want you to be disturbed. " The skin on Vessel's chin crinkled as he frowned.
II sighed, it was hard to even jokingly stay mad at the creature, "You silly bastard. How long have you been there anyways?"
Vessel pursed his lips and seemed to shrink on himself.
"Vess. How long?"
Vessel answered not with words but his a growl from his stomach. "Long enough," his dark gray skin flushing to a dark black long his cheeks.
"I went to the shops and got some items to make stew since its so cold and we have all that left over meat. I wanted to ask if you'd like to join me?" the eldritch humanoid looking more and more like a sad wet cat as he went on. His hands wrung together as if the witch would reject the offer before he even said it.
II couldn't find any reason to deny Vessel anything even if he wanted to. He would pull the sun down from the heavens for him, or move the moon if it bothered him.
II finds himself smiling up at him, reaching towards his face to gently cup his cheeks, "I'd be delighted to, my dear."
IV
IV's eyes cracked open as he hears his stomach grumble, huffing to himself as his nap gets interrupted. He sits up and extends his arms and legs, feeling the stretch burn into his muscles. He had been out hunting the night before so he was tired and stiff from sprinting through the woods. The joys of being a middle aged werewolf he thinks sourly. He rolls out of his bed with a grunt, landing on his knees before pushing himself up to a stand.
He yawns and scratches his stomach before wandering out of his room. He rounds the corner to the top of large staircase of their home, once again huffing thinking about climbing back up them once he got his snack. His complaints stay within his skull as he descends, the faster he does this the sooner he can get back to bed.
Once at the bottom he makes a beeline to the kitchen. IV looks between the cabinet and the fridge for a minute, thinking on how much effort he wants to put into his snack. Very little, he decides, and reaches into the cupboard and pulls out a can of macaroni and cheese. He thinks back on who would've bought the monstrosity, the culprit likely III and his kick of buying American goods to make his partners try them out for him.
IV didn't have the energy to get a bowl or microwave the cheesy pasta. All he did was grab a spoon out of their cutlery drawer and eat straight from the can. The salty snack just what he needed though, he just had to ignore whatever was truly in it.
As he was getting towards the bottom of the can, he heard a soft squeak from the other room. He took another bite which was followed by another squeak. And figuring he was pretty much done he put his spoon in the dishwasher and threw the can away so he could follow the noise to its source.
IV looked around the kitchen but determined that the noise was coming from the living room. And once he passed the threshold to locate the source, he finds it almost immediately.
On the couch curled up in a small ball was a red fluffy big eared bat. Each exhale was accompanied by that same little squeak. The snore much smaller than what IV was used to hearing when III snored in his human form. He couldn't help but want to take a picture but unfortunately he left his phone in his room.
Looking up from where III had fallen asleep, IV noticed that the sun would be rising soon. The last thing he would want is for III to get burnt from a bad napping spot.
IV spoke softly, "Hey bat-brain," no response. "III~" he tried in a sing song voice, this time the squeaking snore stopped but otherwise still nothing. IV sighed dreamily, he loved the vampire even if they liked to pick at each other like cats and dogs. "Good morning, love," IV said kindly but slightly louder than before. Finally the bat flicked his ears and squinted up at him.
The sleepy eyes staring deeply into IV's eyes as if to ask him 'why would you wake me up'.
"Come on, the sun's rising and the blinds aren't great in here." IV held his arms out for III. The bat simply crawled up into the werewolf's arms, no other noises or complaints. IV smiled to himself as III gets comfortable, he must be tired to come so willingly. Once settled he turns to the staircase, heading back up the many steps.
By the time the duo made it up the stairs, III was back to squeaking out snores and snuggling closer to IV's chest. IV was torn between taking him to III's room or his own, both have blackout curtains so it wouldn't matter in terms of safety. But IV couldn't help but be a little selfish and take his vampire to his own room. The little part of his brain that was most connected with his instincts winning out in its wants to keep his mate close and safe.
He sits down on the bed and scoots backwards before laying on his side. III was still gripped tightly onto his shirt and long since asleep once more. IV yawned and shifted to settle in to go back to sleep. It wouldn't take much now that he had a full stomach and a living white noise machine curled so close he could feel the tiny breaths against the cloth.
—
If Vessel walks by later on that morning and sees a large blonde wolf curled around a fuzzy red bat, he never says anything to the duo in question. But he may have a new picture or several to show II over some early morning breakfast and steaming tea.