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The two had developed quite the routine since Oakhurst. Legundo would spend most of the time at a local clinic, and Owen would spend the day either in the place they would rent for their stay, or go out into the woods nearby. Often avoiding large crowds. Although sometimes he would hole up in a library if it had enough spaces to exist unbothered. They would travel to a new rural town every few months, as the Doctor would keep trying to find more underserved towns. It worked well enough for the two of them, even if some assumptions of townspeople were rather odd.
While the two had begun to rub off on one another, some things never change. One of those is the Doctor’s unwillingness to care for himself. Working obscene hours to care for patients to never giving himself the luxury of relaxing even on a train. Taking every moment to read up on new practices, look at old patient records to try and see if there was a new angle to take on something, to taking Owen out to experience local celebrations.
As if by an act by the universe itself, the doctor was forced to take a sort of break. The newest town the two arrived in did not need Legundo for another week or two, and they had already left the previous town. Leaving the doctor and Owen to their own devices to entertain themselves for the time being.
As per normal, Legs was his productive self for the first few days. Extremely productive actually, given that the stress of new patients and more time to overwork himself at a new clinic hadn’t happened yet. But this also meant he practically burned through all of the tasks he had set for himself. Leaving him in the current situation.
Too much energy. Not enough things to do with it.
Too much calm. Nowhere to put his brimming desire to do something.
And that energy was starting to irritate Owen. Forcing the doctor to rest, he had done before (wonders what pleading and blood loss can do for getting someone to sleep). But finding something for them to do was a different story. And, if they were honest, Owen was also growing impatient with something to do. He hadn’t had to deal with Legs for this long uninterrupted for a long while, and they both needed something to do.
The sun was setting outside of their shared cabin. A slightly nicer rental than some other towns. This one was a bit away from the general public. Which gave perfect ability for Owen to sneak out to feed. But it also gave a perfect opportunity for both travelers to let out some much needed pent up energy.
The main room of the cabin was comfortable. With the only problem being the only comfortable piece of furniture being a singular loveseat. Meaning that the two were sat, as close to the opposing sides as possible, on it often.
“You’re bouncing your leg” Owen comments, glaring from above his carving.
Legs stops his motion, “Sorry” He is spinning a pen in one hand, staring at a manual for some new machine that Owen did not care for (if he later asked the doctor to explain it to him on a train ride, that had nothing to do with curiosity at all).
Owen stands abruptly, placing his carving tools to the side. He passes Legundo and offers a hand, staring at his companion with an unreadable expression. Legs looks up at him, trying to decipher what the vampire is asking of him.
“I have an idea” Owen finally says. Hand still extended.
Legs squints at him but takes the hand, abandoning his book to the sofa for the time being.
Owen leads him to the back of the cabin, towards the small clearing between their house and the woods.
“Care to explain what your idea is?” Legs asks as he is being led.
Owen swings open the door and steps through, the sun is almost completely set. Good.
“You are restless, I’m restless. We are going to fight” Owen makes the statement with an unbothered tone. Continuing to walk across the small clearing, letting the doctor’s hand drop in the process.
“What?”
Owen can hear Leg’s heartbeat spike, the slight nervousness in his voice.
“Just sparring, doctor, I promise I won't hurt you this time” Owen grins, a mischievous look to his expression, though it holds no malice or bloodlust.
“I don’t…” Legs trails off, obviously thinking about the idea. It could work. He just has to work through the fight or flight response to fighting a vampire again. Even if he’s been traveling with this one for quite a while.
“Cmoooonnnn” Owen drags out the word, smile still evident on his face.
Legs sighs,
“Fine, but I’m lighting a few lanterns so I can see”
Owen nods and hums in response, allowing the doctor to light the handful of hanging lanterns outside the space before he joins Owen back in the center of the clearing.
“Ground rules first” Legs says, “No throat, no claws”
Owen responds teasingly, “Thats no fun”
Legs makes a warning noise and Owen sighs,
“Kidding, Kidding. No throat no claws”
Legs smiles at him, steadying his stance. Unsure of how to start, he waits for Owen to make the first move.
A moment of pure silence sits between the two, only the soft creaking of the trees, and the sounds of the nighttime creatures waking up. Legs is attempting to keep eye contact with Owen, despite his strong desire not to. Neither making a move.
A soft huff, one Legs almost doesn’t hear, Owen charges towards him, hands out as if they were clawed.
Legs jumps out of the way, spinning on his heel to return the action, making a swipe at the vampire as he passes. His swipe also misses.
Owen makes an attempt again, at the Doctor’s head. Legs ducks, making a swing at Owen’s knees. The action catches one of Owen’s legs, as he jumps to avoid his second leg being hit. The contact makes Legs grin, just slightly. Owen squints his eyes at the man in response, although he is also grinning.
“There ya go” Owen teases. Legs rolls his eyes in response.
Owen suddenly disappears from Leg’s vision, much to his dismay. Legs lets out an exacerbated groan at the disappearance for the split second Owen is out of view. Trying to determine where the vampire will pop back up.
The moment he feels hands at his waist, Legundo attempts to twist out of the grasp, grabbing one of the hands in the process.
Owen hisses as Legs twists out of his grasp. The noise causing Legundo to laugh as he moves. He promptly turns around to try and pick up the vampire. Or run him into a tree. Not entirely clear at that moment.
“Gotcha” Legs mumbles as he makes contact with Owen’s abdomen.
Owen almost squeaks. Almost.
Instead he attempts to weasel out of air jail. Successfully loosening Leg’s grip, allowing him to gain footing on the grass again.
With the new freedom, Owen grabs the doctor’s upper arms, attempting to restrain him against a tree. Seeing the attempt Legundo swipes at the vampire’s knee with his good Leg, catching Owen off guard. The vampire falls backwards, but keeps his grip on Legs tight. The doctor finds no problem with it as he shifts immediately to try and pin his partner down in the fall.
Upon impact, instead of meeting hands to wrists, Legs hits his face on the grass with an unceremonious thump as the vampire before him dissolves into a flurry of bats. Legs lets out a soft groan at the impact, chest heaving with every breath as he stays face down for just a moment. A bat lands on his head, mocking him.
“Cheater” Legs says with a chuckle. He stays on his face for a moment longer to regain his bearings, before rolling on his back in defeat.
The bat hops up ever so slightly, as Owen shifts back and stands over top of him.
Assuming accepted defeat, Owen reaches out a hand with a smile to the doctor.
“Never said I would play fair”
Legundo rolls his eyes at the vampire, reaching up to take the offered hand.
In a split second of contact, Legundo pulls Owen down by the hand, wrapping his arms around the vampire as he falls right on top of him. Owen lets out a hiss in response as he struggles in the doctor’s grasp.
“I didn’t either” Legs says into Owen’s ear, flipping them both over so he is finally pinning his companion to the ground.
Owen frowns up at his companion, hair splayed out on the grass around him. He stares up at the doctor, who grins back down at him wildly. He can hear the pounding of Legundo’s heart, the way it is just ever so slightly slowing back down. He watches the few moments it takes for legs to let his guard down. Just enough.
He knows Legs can’t keep that position for long, something about a bad knee.
Owen pulls his wrist out from under Leg’s hand, causing the doctor to lose his balance. As he falls, Owen flips him over on his back instead of landing on a wrist. Owen, in his defense, listens enough to the doctor to know that landing face first in that angle would likely have caused a sprained wrist. And he did not want that earful. Or to frustratingly care for him as Legs would refuse to give himself the proper rest for the injury.
Owen sits on Legundo’s torso, careful to not put too much weight on his chest. He watches the rise and fall as he takes in breaths. Recovering from the sudden movement and subsequent impact.
Legundo doesn’t say anything immediately, blinking out of a slight daze that makes Owen grin.
“Okay, you win” He finally says, still breathless.
Owen sits up straighter with a triumphant expression,
“Of course I won”
Legundo rolls his eyes as a laugh bubbles out of his chest, eyes scrunched shut as he laughs. He lets his head fall back in the grass. Unbothered by the moisture of the plants or the smear of dirt that it leaves on his face. He does not struggle or make a move to get up from their current position. His smile is so warm it makes Owen sick.
Legs stays laying on the ground, content as he regulates his breathing again. The smile never leaving his expression. Owen can hear his heartbeat level out. He watches as Legs sighs in contentment in the grass. Hair having grown a few inches during their travels, giving it a different, and softer, look since they had started traveling. Scars on the man’s neck had healed to a soft white among the already scarred area. He can still see the pinprick scars from their little trust exercise.
The moonlight seeps through the trees, leaving just small streams of light into their clearing. The light catching on his companion's slightly greying hair. Owen can’t help but grin ever so softly at the whole situation.
“You’re staring” Legs says, cracking one eye open.
You’re beautiful Owen thinks “You look stupid” He says instead.
Legs hums in response, closing his eye again.
Owen stands from his spot sitting on the doctor’s chest, allowing Legs to sit up, and move to stand himself as well. Owen offers a hand again. Legundo looks at it for a moment before taking it. Neither acknowledge the slight weight that Legs leans onto Owen for support when standing. While the act was fun, his bad knee was not so happy. But Legs deems it worth it.
“We should do this again sometime, maybe at some point you’ll let me win” Legs laughs as the two make their way inside. Notably, neither let go of the other’s hand, despite not really needing the support anymore.