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When the large group of Oakhurst's members had split off into their own pairs (the buddy system, as they had called it) Abolish was surprised to find himself paired up with Louis.
It wasn't like he found the man to be terrible company. In fact, based on what little he had seen of him, he'd argue that Louis was one of the most outwardly kind townsfolk, to almost some sort of fault. No, the true problem lay within the fact that while Louis's eyes were kind, there was a certain look in them that made him feel vulnerable. Like Louis could truly see who he was beneath the more neutral exterior he put on for the town.
"Watch your step." Louis gestured to the ground in front of them as they walked. Abolish paused as he shook himself out of his thoughts, realizing that he had nearly tripped over a rock in the path.
Right. He needed to stop thinking or else he'd lose focus of their goal. He lifted up his lantern to see the outline of one of the crypts in the distance, the glow on their pillars not too dissimilar to a lighthouse beam in the night. "There it is," Louis murmured, a wistful note to his voice.
"Everything alright?" Abolish asked as the two continued to traverse towards the crypt.
"Just some old memories popping up. You know, this place used to not have crypts. It's really changed so much over the years."
"…Interesting," Abolish slowly spoke as he ducked under a gnarled tree. He chose not to bring up the fact that the crypts around Oakhurst were so decrepit that they had to have been around for at least a hundred years, if not more.
When Louis did not correct himself, Abolish took note of it but stayed silent. He knew his organization had informed him of potential vampires being found in the town, but he did not realize the one he would find would accidentally reveal himself so easily.
Distrust stirred in his gut. He was not a paranoid man, but his years of experience whispered to him to stay vigilant.
"Here we are!" Louis pointed out brightly before jumping down the crypt's entrance with a surprising amount of grace. Abolish followed suit and Louis gave him a small smile. "You are quite good at landing on your feet."
"As are you." Abolish gave him a quick nod before walking further into the crypt. Secretly, he hoped that was the most conversation they would exchange. He did not want Louis to distrust him for his lack of speaking.
Much to his dismay, however, Louis kept talking. "So many skulls here. Do you think they really all stumbled down to these crypts and died?"
"More than likely they're here as trophies." Abolish opened the chest that was at the end of the tunnel. "I'm sure they were prisoners or peasants that some rich person could dismiss and execute and then use their bodies as decoration." When he noticed Louis's slightly devastated look, he amended himself. "Or they did just stumble down here and die. Sounds like the more peaceful option."
"But we all know the world isn't peaceful." Louis traced the stone bricks of the crypt. Abolish opened the book he had gotten from the chest. It wasn't even a holy book; just some old tome meant to magically sharpen a sword or an axe. A sudden movement in the corner of his eye startled him and before he could control himself, he tackled the being and pushed them against the wall, locking them in place with his arms.
Louis slowly raised his hands. "My apologies. I didn't meant to scare you. I just wanted a closer look at the book."
"Oh. Yes. Sorry. That was…uncharacteristic of me." Abolish shifted slightly, but found himself still not moving. Their positioning meant he was extremely close to the man, being able to see the golden flecks within his dark eyes and the fangs that poked out just barely as he sheepishly smiled. "So you are a vampire," He muttered to himself, unable to resist raising a gloved hand to Louis's chin and angling it so he could get a better look at his teeth. A bright blush broke out over Louis's face as Abolish peered at him.
"And you aren't a normal human. No offense, of course, but most of you think of vampires as myths."
"Oh, vampires are no myth." Abolish found himself nearly chuckling. The amount of vampires he had talked to in his life would be far more than he could even count on his fingers. Most humans could barely even count one.
It was only then he realized how incredibly intimate the situation was. Abolish dropped his hand like it was on fire, looking away and preparing to step back. "I-um-we should be getting back soon."
"Don't want the others thinking I've eaten you?" Louis teased as he slowly took Abolish's hand in his own. "Though, you have nothing to worry about. I barely drink human blood. I don't…particularly enjoy it." Abolish felt his heart skip a beat as Louis gently traced his features. Now with the sudden physical closeness, he could feel how cold Louis was; a coolness that certainly matched an undead vampire. "Has anyone ever told you before that you look stunning?"
The usual compliments he got was that he was good at his job or that he kept a cool head even in the worst of situations. As he thought about it, he couldn't even recall a single time someone had told him he looked beautiful. Abolish swallowed and shook his head, feeling a strange wave of embarrassment.
He barely knew Louis. But the vampire made it so easy to open up. Louis's smile was radiant. "Well, I'll be the first, then. You are positively gorgeous."
Then Louis leaned closer until they were kissing. Abolish had never kissed anyone before-he had honestly assumed he never would. Love was not an important thing in his line of work and attachments often got in the way. He was clumsy and awkward in a way he had never been before as they kissed, yet as Louis's fangs teased at his lip-still so gentle, never being angled in a way that would actually break the skin but certainly itched at it-he found himself craving more of it. Abolish clutched Louis's shoulders, trying to stabilize himself from the tsunami of dopamine that crashed into his brain and made him feel dizzy.
When they pulled away, Louis's face was flushed and he bore a silly grin. Abolish found himself matching it. "I won't have to kill you if you don't eat me. Understand?" Abolish warned.
"Yes, I understand. Do not worry. I would hope that out of all of the people here, I would be the least murderous." Louis leaned forward until his chin was resting on top of Abolish's head. "I should probably take you on a date first before we do all of this. It really is the proper etiquette. But spirits, you are so warm…" Louis nuzzled himself slightly in his hair. "My apologies. I've been asleep for a long time. I'm…I'm not entirely sure if I know how to act normal anymore."
He had a point. But Abolish was so focused on the feeling of someone wanting him, of finding him precious enough to kiss so tenderly, that he didn't say anything to protest. "Let me see if I can teach you how to blend in a little more." Abolish rubbed at his back. "Then, maybe we can go on a few dates. You're…you're beautiful, too. And kind. But we definitely need to get going back."
The two lingered a little more before heading back up the crypt again, both of them unable to keep eye contact with each other. Abolish kept replaying the kiss in his head again and again, trying to remind himself he was here to work.
Abolish was very, very, very doomed.