Chapter Text
A long night shift was something Legundo had believed he had grown accustomed to over the centuries. He also believed that his vampirism would aid in the aches and pains that plagued his body beforehand. He was wrong on both accounts. There was a heavy sigh that left his lips as he dragged himself up the stairs to his home. Just a few more steps… He thought to himself, trying to push forward after the long walk he endured from the clinic.
However there was something out of place upon his arrival. Legs found a piece of paper hanging in the crack of his front door. At first he completely disregarded the scrap piece, crumbling it up in his pocket as he stepped into his apartment.
He didn't want to think. All he really wanted was to shut his senses off even if it was for a moment. He could still smell the lingering scent of blood that he was so sure he washed off his clothes. He could feel his fangs start to ache; the dull pain that came with the never ending hunger. It snapped at him like a rabid dog on his heels.
It was best to quell the beast before things got bad. He was already paying the toll for not sipping on his thermos throughout the night. With a shaky hand, he reached into the fridge, pulling out a blood bag. He checked the label and saw that was still good. Usually he would take the time and heat it up just enough to warm it. However hunger got the best of him and the cow blood was gone in a blink. Even if he was subjected to this eternity bound by blood to survive, Legs would still consider himself a vegetarian. Animal blood was so much better and easier to obtain without any questions.
It was something Legs just kept telling himself. Anything to make it just a bit easier in the end.
“I'll have to get more here soon…” Legs muttered to himself, seeing the blood bags running lower than usual in his fridge. “Now… what the hell is Mr. Brew leaving in my door…?”
Legundo didn't mind his neighbor. He found him quite lovely actually-when she actually minded his business. He dug into his scrubs pocket and after a bit of digging, managed to find the scrap paper from before. His eye narrowed slightly as he tried his best to read it with the one good eye he had left. A strange feeling churned in his gut as he realized it was not from his neighbour.
76 Copper Lane
He could smell the ink. Something familiar about it nagged at the back of his mind. He thought of Cleo for a brief moment. No… No, Cleo would rather show up at his front door than tell him they're in town. After some investigation he realized that was all that it said. Just a simple odd address. Well,not all that odd. He knew exactly where it was. He passed by almost every day on his way to the clinic. The block itself had a signature smell of alcohol and the occasional drunk stumbling down the street. The bars that lined the strip were infamous among his colleagues and the bane of their existence during major holidays. However 76 Copper Lane was a specific address… and it made Legs’ skin prickle.
Eternal Bite.
Did someone know? Someone had to. This was too targeted for it not to because-
There's no date. No time.
Legs couldn't help it as his thoughts ran a bit wild. His eyes narrowed at the scrap paper as if there was some hidden clue. Maybe it's for tonight? Calling out of work would be suspicious.
“PTO is a thing…” he muttered to himself. He could almost recite what Cleo would be saying to him if they were here: “And healthcare people get sick all the time. They can survive one night without you.”
There was a small groan that escaped him as he pulled out his phone. It was easy to find Cleo's name. It wasn't like he had many contacts on his phone to begin with. The phone rang once, twice… Legs knew it was probably still light in Oakhurst.
“Hello?” Cleo sounded almost half asleep on the other end, “Good morning to you too, Legs.”
“Hey Cleo… Sorry if I woke you up.” Legs said, shuffling his way to his bedroom, “I just had a quick question.”
“And it couldn't have waited until dark because…?”
“Time sensitive.” Legs replied, flicking on his closet light and sorting around his clothes. Why did he mostly have scrubs? He really needed to get out more. “What is proper bar attire?”
“Going out? That's what you called me for?” Cleo asked. She sounded somewhere between a half laugh and slightly annoyed. “I don't know Legs. Just pick something that isn't your scrubs.”
“Does he have anything other than scrubs?”
Legs paused as he heard Pearl's voice. “I have other clothes!” He said defensively, “... just not a lot of them.”
“Jeans. Ripped jeans if you're feeling frisky. Shirt and… I don't know a button up shirt over top or a jacket.” Pearl said in reply after a small pause.
Legs could practically hear the shrug behind it as he started flipping through his closet. He almost turned it upside down because he had to have some normal clothes. He could hear the giggling on the other end of the phone, knowing Cleo and Pearl could hear him rumaging around.
“Great. Wonderful. Thank you.” He said in a small huff, finally finding what he was looking for.
“Hey. Let us know how the date goes.”
The comment made Legs pause in his search. He could hear both of them chuckle away at his silence. “I hate you,” He muttered even though they all knew he wasn't serious.
“Love you too. I'm going back to sleep.”
Legundo sighed and shook his head as he let the call drop. His eyes flickered over to what he picked out: a simple pair of jeans, a long sleeve shirt, and a jacket. Surely this would be fine. At least for however long he planned to be out for.
When the sun dipped beyond the treeline and shrouded the city in darkness, Legundo found himself at the doors of the bar. It was surprisingly quiet given the strip it was on- relaxed with only a bit of music that could be heard from beyond its doors. He sucked in a breath and opened the door. There was no point in keeping whoever this was waiting.
It was a dimly lit area and looked like a normal bar. Nothing struck him out of the ordinary until his eyes landed on the person manning the bar itself.
The shock of white and black hair was too familiar to him even if he had sensed his presence first. It would’ve been hard not to react.
“Abolish?”
The man's head shot up at the sound of his name. Brown eyes blinked at Legs as if he was surprised to see him in a place like this.
The doctor was quick to make his way over to the bar, somewhat relieved to see a familiar face among this sudden chaos. Though he was slightly confused, remembering the organization Abolish worked for centuries ago. He leaned in slightly as he found an empty stool to sit in.
“Business been slow?” He asked, knowing that Abolish understood what he was talking about without it sounds suspicious to anyone who might've been listening.
“You can say that.” The young man replied as he went about making a drink that Legs definitely wasn't familiar with, “I would call this a… part time job. So how have you been?”
“Better… Still working at the local clinic here.” Legs responded, pulling out the slip of paper, “I would sa-”
“Oh my god! Legundo!”
The doctor's ears couldn't help but twitch as the sound of his own name startled him. His back straightened almost as if he was in trouble. In some way he was as he heard the rapid approaching heel clicks become more prevalent behind him. His gaze flickered behind him with just enough time to see a flash of green and brown. He nearly fell into the bar as arms wrapped around his shoulders in a hug. The scent of toffee, paper, and ink filled in his nose. Honestly Legs wasn't that surprised that she managed to sniff him out before he did. Shelby had adapted quicker to the vampiric life than anyone else in their little odd group…. Community? He still didn't have a word for it even centuries later.
“Its been so long! I didn't even know you were here. How have you been?” Shelby said, her bubbly personality ever present.
“It’s nice to see you too,” Legs said, slowly relaxing as Shelby released him. He looked between the two and smiled. This wasn't too bad… so far. “I was just telling Abolish that I work at the clinic. Just a few blocks down the road, actually.”
“You look like you need a drink,” Shelby said. Legs's brows furrowed slightly in confusion and his mouth opened but no words came out. He watched as Shelby waved her hand and it was then that he realized she had a small drink in hand. “On the house. Lucky you for knowing the owner!”
“You own this?” Legs said, his attention split between Shelby and whatever Abolish was pouring into a glass in front of him. “... That makes more sense now.”
He watched Shelby nod with a grin,her fangs barely glistening in the dim bar light. For a moment, Legs almost forgot why he was there. He fumbled his hands in his pockets, trying to find any loose bills he could tip Abolish with. He found the scrap paper instead and his eyes narrowed. It finally clicked why it felt familiar.
“Scott here?” He asked the pair. Abolish nudged the glass with a clink.
His eyes finally fell on the drink before him. He swallowed, seeing the dark red liquid and ring of fire that flickered on top. The metallic scent hit his nose first but there was an underlying smell. It was sweet… almost intoxicating. His eyebrow arched in curiosity as he studied the drink, blowing the flame out first before taking it in his hand.
“It's called a Boiling Point,” Shelby explained, “It's really good. Took us forever to figure out how to get it, though.”
Legs realized how stupid he must have sounded asking that question. Especially when he knew the answer and Shelby's nonresponse only confirmed it. Wherever Shelby went… Scott was sure to follow in some way, shape, or form. His eyes scanned the bar, trying to get a glimpse of any other familiar faces but finding none.
“He's over this way. I'll take you to him whenever you're ready,” Shelby continued, gesturing to a wooden door that led to God knows where.
He trusted her but that didn't mean he didn't need some liquid courage beforehand. He looked back to the drink in his hand. There was a small sigh that escaped him before he threw back the drink. He almost recoiled in shock at the small buzz of flavor. He had a few questions, however, he had bigger things to worry about; the biggest of them being just beyond the door at the end of the bar.
“No use in trying to postpone this any further,” He finally said, placing the glass back on the bartop. “Thanks, Abolish… that was… interesting.” Abolish said nothing, simply taking the glass back with a nod.
He slowly pulled himself out of the barstool. His eyes found Shelby rather quickly as he went about to follow her lead. He watched as she knocked on the door before she slowly opened it with a click.