Chapter Text
The vampires were gone, Michael knew that, he’d been an active participant in their deaths.
He was glad they were gone - that the terror was over and his family could finally live in peace; he was more than glad Max was gone. But there was something, something buried deep inside of him that told him this was wrong.
Michael pushed that tugging emotion aside, it was an unnatural response to what had happened; one that needed to be ignored until it no longer existed.
Mom had told Sam and his friends that Michael, Star and her would handle the clean up; though. Michaels taken on the majority, he didn't want to put his Mom through any more stress than she needed to be under.
She’d scrubbed Paul’s blood off the kitchen walls from where it had exploded from the pipes, before Michael had walked in and told her she could leave the rest for him and Star to clean. Though, claiming that Star was ‘cleaning’ would be an overstatement, she was mostly staring at the bodies or sitting quietly in a room to get her head straight.
Michael was determined to get this done before Sam and mom came home; so he was forcing his way through it despite his emotions, he started off by throwing out the remains in the fireplace and replacing the wood.
Sure there was no physical remains of Max, but he didn't want to take any chances of something being left behind.
Next he went to the bathroom, gagging as he looked around - the walls were sprayed a red, and in the bathtub laid Paul - or what was left of him, bones with the slowly melting away flesh and muscle clinging to it.
He procrastinated cleaning the actual bathtub, starting by returning the tiles to their usual colour using a cloth and bucket. Now was the more tricky part, Paul.
The Frogs had said something about needing to burn the bodies but Michael couldn't bring himself to; he’d already desecrated their bodies enough. His friends were dead and he wasn’t going to ruin them any further because of a rumour about vampires coming back to life some comic book losers picked up.
He put his arms in the water and lifted the skeleton from it, dropping him onto large town before rolling it up. He pulled the drain of the tub to let the water run back into the pipes then hoisted the towel into his arms, carrying him down the stairs. When he reached the bottom he locked eyes with Star, who stood staring at David’s impaled body.
“What's that?” She asked, eyes flicking to the towel, her voice not holding much interest in what he was actually doing; just trying to make small talk to get their minds off the issue at hand.
“Paul.” Michael responded simply.
“Oh.”
“It feels wrong to… y’know burn them like the boys said to do.” He didn't want to say it out loud, but he knew they both felt it, the sadness at the vampire’s deaths; they were their friends, more even.
“Do you want me to get Dwayne?” She replied, grimacing slightly, turning her head to the living room area where he was.
Michael didn't like it, how casual it all was; his brother had tried to be supportive of how un-enthusiastic him and Star were about the whole ordeal, but he didn't get it - none of them did.
“If you can.” Michael turned back towards the back door, walking into the garden.
In the midst of the greenery there was a small pit, Michael’s wasn’t sure why his grandfather had made it years ago - but his grandfather was odd, so it wasn’t unexpected that it existed. It was under a small tree that cast a shadow on the area, it seemed like an appropriate place for the boys.
He dropped the towel in and watched as Star came over an deposited a large bag next to it. “I wasn't sure how to keep all of him together.” She admitted when Michael looked at her confused.
They both looked back towards the house, they knew who still remained. Neither of them wanted to be the one to bring him.
Eventually, after a second of debating, Michael finally said: “I’ll bring him.” He knew Star and David had a relationship longer than he could guess, it wasn’t fair to make her bring him.
When he re-entered the house and made his way to David, it took him a while to lift him off the antlers.
It's just that David had looked unlike himself stuck there; the David Michael knew was overconfident and always made the room his. This was different, Michael even in his deepest dreams couldn't imagine him like this; peaceful, quiet.
It was wrong. It wasn’t him.
When Michael brought him back outside he felt like his body was moving without his brain; like he was defying his nature by doing this.
Star glanced at him, then at David, her eyes lingering - Michael knew she was thinking the same as him. He lowered David into the pit next to his brothers then moved so he was standing beside Star.
She kept her eyes on the boys.
Michael sat down on the ground, letting his legs hang over into the pit, Star did the same.
“What will you do now?” Michael asked her, fishing for something in his jackets pocket - he knew there would be something to help stop his racing thoughts.
There was a box of cigarettes at the bottom it, Paul had given it to him the first night they hung out if he could recall right.
He lit one for himself then handed another one to Star, who took it gratefully.
“I don't know.” She answered, putting the cigarette to her lips, exhaling some smoke. “Maybe take Laddie and leave this place.” Michael frowned at that, Star felt like the only person who could understand him at the moment and she was leaving. “You can come with us, forget about this.” Star placed a hand on his, she had this hopeful look in her eyes - but it was tainted with the part of her that couldn't faux naivety.
Both her and Michael knew deep down that running wouldn't stop the feelings they felt; no matter how far away they were, the tug of the other vampires would follow them, would weigh on their consciousness.
Michael also knew he couldn't leave either way, Sam and his mom needed him right now more than ever. Their family needed to stay together after all the crazy things that had been trying to tear them apart. First dad, now this.
“I can't.” Michael told her, she nodded - she understood.
Michael wasn’t sure what alternative he could give her; he wasn’t even sure what him and her were. Friends, lovers, something more and less at the exact same time?
He wanted to ask, she probably didn't know either, but it didn't feel like the right time.
“What about Marko?” He asked, changing the subject slightly.
“What about him?” Marko was dead, they’d both felt the pain that came with loosing a pack member.
“Should we bring him here too? It feels wrong to keep them separated.” The four of them had been inseparable, they were each others everything. To be parted even in death felt like the two of them were dishonouring them further.
Star stared at him, she knew what he was saying but had a look of annoyance to her. “No.” She muttered, slight sadness seeping into her tone. “I don't think I…” She started, then stopped and took a breath - Michael caught that she was thinking of a new excuse. “It’s dangerous to have them all in one place… In case what the Frogs said is true.”
Michael paused, he knew that wasn’t really why - because he felt the same way - the thought of having to carry Marko all the way here filled the both of them with dread; the guilt would be unbearable if they did so.
“For sure. Suppose it’s good to be careful.” Michaels speech mimicked hers, not believing in what he was saying but saying it anyway in case he can make it the real reason by repeating it.
He laid his head on Star’s shoulder as he exhaled some smoke, closing his eyes to try block the water from falling out of them. Star put a hand on his neck, her fingers slightly in his hair as she tried to soothe him.
They were jolted out of their scene by the sound of the front door, he heard his mom’s voice call out for him.
The area was far back enough in the garden that the others wouldn't see it - Sam tended not to go in the garden anyway. So they could leave it open for tonight without Sam bombarding them with questions about why they weren't burnt yet; Michael promised himself he’d cover it with dirt in the coming week.
Star stood first, extending a hand to help Michael up. He took it, then crushed his cigarette under his boot - he didn't need his mom to stress over him smoking.
Sam was standing in the entry way looking around, his eyes caught on Michael and he rushed over; Michael forced a smile for him - he didn't deserve to be burdened by Michael’s guilt, he was just a kid.
“Didn't think you knew how to clean, Mike.” Sam laughed, hitting him in the arm.
Michael knew that Sam was going through his own experience regarding everything that happened - and was manifesting it in ignoring it. They weren't similar feelings to his at all, but he could try help however he could, and if Sam wanted to joke and ignore, he could do that.
“Yeah well, wasn’t like you were going to. I bet if you saw the state of some of ‘em you would have ralphed.” Michael caught Sam in a headlock, scrubbing up his hair. “You have fun with the Frogs, leaving me and Star to do all the hard work?”
Michael wasn’t actually mad at Sam, he’s actually appreciative that Sam had left the work to the others. It would make it easier for him to leave the event behind, go back to being a normal kid.
In the corner of his eye he spotted Star smiling fondly at them, not joining in - Michael sensed it was because she didn't feel like it was right to, that this wasn’t her family. He wanted to tell her otherwise, that he wanted her here.
“Michael.” His mom said, the boys stopped in their tracks - Michael let go of Sam which caused him to unceremoniously fall to the ground.
“Sorry.” Both mumbled.
“Sam, Mike, head to bed please.” She told them, nodding towards the stairs with a small smile - trying to keep the house positive. “You two deserve a good rest after last night,” She turned to Star, “you too sweetheart, you’ve been through alot.” Lucy placed a hand on Star’s arm as an act of comfort.
“Oh… you really don't need to, I can find a hotel…”
“Hush, we’ve got spare rooms you and Laddie can use.” Lucy ushered her with the boys up the stairs.
As Michael and his family turned in for the night, deep in the caverns that ran under Santa Carla did one wake - a nocturnal being still weakened.
Marko laid at the bottom of the part of the hotel that his brothers called their ‘bedroom’; it wasn’t a bedroom - not really, it lacked the furniture that humans decorated with. The support beams, where his family slept, hunt above him; Marko hadn't been able to sleep up there on account of the completely heinous aftermath of his… accident.
His brothers had left him with a bottle of blood to weigh over the pain - to speed up the healing. The Froggies, despite claiming to be the most triumphant vampire hunters, seemed to not actually know where the heart was - so now, instead of death, Marko was granted a gaping whole in the right side of his chest that prevented him from doing most anything.
Stellar.
He rolled on his side, last night he had felt the pain of his brothers receiving similar life (or not life, he’s not really sure the best term for it) threatening wounds; the bond between them hadn't disappeared completely yet, weakened significantly but not gone.
Meaning they were not erased from existence yet, their bodies had not felt the flame of fire.
Those Froggies really were bad hunters.
The only line of emotion that was completely gone from his head was the one to his sire. Perhaps the only good thing that came from Michael’s horrendous outburst.
Marko took a swing from the bottle, trying to force the hole to heal quicker; to gain whatever strength he could. So he could bring his family back as soon as possible.