Chapter Text
Ever since George had been little, he had been warned to be wary of those around him. It’s not like he met many people though, having to go out in the latest hours of the evening — not many people being around.
That was the main thing that sucked about being a vampire, it was hard to make friends when all you really wanted to do was suck their blood — though, his family had grown out of that over the centuries, instead feeding on animal blood.
It wasn’t as delicious, well that was what his ‘brother’ often told him. George had never been given the chance to taste human blood — he wasn’t sure if he ever wanted to try it.
“You ready to go hunting tonight Georgie?” His younger brother Kimi had peeked his head into George’s bedroom. Kimi was a more recently turned vampire — though, George never asked his ‘dad’ why this new addition had arrived.
George himself had been turned at a young age, he had been around 27 — compared to his older ‘brother’ who was 41 when it had occurred. He couldn’t never really remember what had occurred, it had been almost a century ago now after all. He wasn’t really sure if he wanted to remember.
He remembered having a family — a father, a mother, a sister and a brother — but, he couldn’t remember much past that. A few faces would appear in his dreams, people he assumed to be friends, or partners, but they never stayed long enough for him to understand who they truly were.
Sometimes, he wondered if he had lived a good life — or, if Toto had saved him from something he’d never fully understand. Whenever he referenced his old life, it would be turned down instantly. So, maybe, a good thing had been ripped from his grasp — something he’d never really knew he’d missed anyway.
“George?”
Suddenly, he was ripped from his thoughts — he’d forgotten that Kimi was stood by the door, forgot he had even been spoken to in the first place.
“Hm?”
“Tonight, we are hunting. Aren’t you excited?”
They hunted once a month, that’s the length they could go without blood — it wasn’t a drastic need, more a craving. They could eat certain foods, and therefore live without any sort of blood for a period of time. Though, Toto preferred them not to — so, they often brought animals home after the hunt too, to keep them going until the next one.
“Oh. Right, yes, of course I am Kimi.“
“Mhm. I am so, so hungry.”
“Did you not have anything today?” George frowned slightly, worried that Kimi was going to go out hunting after having not eaten all day — it was a bad idea, and Kimi would be bound to faint.
“Oh, no I’ve eaten! I just get extra excited and hungry on hunt days!”
“Ah.” George fell into silence. He was the odd one out in the ‘family’, he didn’t enjoy being a vampire — he never had. Occasionally, when his dreams were more vivid.. in instances where memories came back to him .. a hatred for Toto bloomed within.
That man had stolen him from his family, from people who had presumably loved him. Though, maybe he had saved him. That’s what he liked to tell George after all.
“I’m going to go get ready, you should too.”
“Oh, yeah.. I will. Don’t worry. I’ll be ready in no time.” George could help the sort of pit that had began to coil in his gut — he had a bad feeling about tonight. A feeling that he simply couldn’t ignore.
He had been assigned to Kimi for this hunt, but he didn’t really want to be with the younger man — he was too energetic, too likely to get them caught. This was only his second hunt after all.
Slowly, he made his way around his room — it was small, the smallest in the house. He preferred it that way, he liked to feel sort of enclosed — it was a strange thing that he had never understood about himself. He probably never would.
“George?” Why was everyone coming to his room tonight. Was he emitting some strange energy that made them all assume something was wrong with him?
“Yes?” His eyes flicked to the door, he wasn’t too surprised to see Toto there — especially seeing as he was assigned to Kimi tonight.
“Make sure Kimi doesn’t do anything stupid tonight. You know what he’s like. He will run off somewhere and get found by a hunter.”
“Yes. I promise I’ll look out for him.”
“Thank you.” Toto simply nodded, then moved, heading back towards the stairs. George didn’t understand why Kimi couldn’t be trusted, he’s 19 not 9. George shouldn’t have to babysit him, he’s a grown man after all. And, he’s not like he’s getting paid for it.
“Hey, George?” Yet again, another knock at the door. George was beginning to think that maybe everyone else knew something that he didn’t?
“Yes, what?” He was fed up with everyone seeming to want something for him — Lewis having chosen the wrong time to knock it seemed, as he was the one to face George’s irritation.
“Right.. I just wanted to tell you to be safe. There’s been an influx in hunters lurking in the area. I saw a boy around here the other day, he looked around late twenties to early thirties. I was a little worried he may know Kimi.”
“Hm. Maybe dad shouldn’t have turned Kimi.”
“You know he needs more predecessors. We’ve explained this to you countless times George.”
“He shouldn’t have gotten rid of Nico then.” Nico was a tough subject, he had been Lewis’ best friend his entire life — had even been turned at the same time as his best friend.
Yet, a few years back, he had met an unfortunate fate. It had been during a hunt, Toto had been with Nico, and had practically handed the man to a hunter — as he and Lewis couldn’t stop fighting. He apparently didn’t want that to continue, taking the most drastic of measures. They never saw him again after that, presumably because he had been killed.
“Shut up.”
Yeah, tough subject.
“Just, look after him.” Lewis left the room before George could apologise for his rather harsh words.
He hadn’t meant to upset his older brother — although, when speaking of Nico he was bound to get angry. He blamed himself, instead of their asshole father.
It was stupid, Toto was the one with Nico that night — he was the one who had practically handed the man over to the fucking hunter, sentencing him straight to his death.
He didn’t trust the man, but he was all he had. It’s not like George could run away, — who would he even run to? — he would be found within minutes anyway, either by his dad or a hunter.
He wasn’t sure which he’d prefer.
“George? You ready yet.” Kimi, again.
He’d been sat there, in his own thoughts, for around twenty minutes without even realising it. He didn’t even feel that guilt about it though, he deserved some time to himself.
“Yes, just give me one more moment.” A soft sigh left his lips, he didn’t even really want to go on a hunt tonight, even if it is a necessity.
“Okay! I’ll wait downstairs for you.” Soon, Kimi was gone. George remained sat there for a good few moments longer, he felt exhausted — maybe, he just needed the blood tonight.
Eventually, he was dressed and ready to leave — heading down the large staircase and towards the front door. The others, already there. There was someone new, someone George didn’t notice.
A child.
What the fuck.
Susie was holding the little boy, who looked to be around 8. How the fuck had Toto turned an eight year old? He must have a family, people looking for him.
“Who’s—” he deleted his throat, trying to rid the anxious feeling rooted in his chest.
“Who’s this?” George ran a had through his hair, his heart hammering in his chest — he felt uncomfortable with the idea that Toto had turned someone so young. This kid must be in the news missing already. They’d be hunted down in no time.
“His name is jack, we.. found him.” Susie smiled softly at George. George didn’t like it. It felt eerie..
“You— you found him?”
“Yes George. We found him. Now can you quit asking questions so we can go?” Toto sounded fed up, which just made George even more anxious. He didn’t like how defensive the two of them were being towards these questions.
“Right, yes, sorry.” He didn’t look either of them in the eyes. He didn’t like the sense of dread that was overwhelming him. He didn’t believe a word they said — he knew that the kid in Susie’s arms must have a family, someone looking for him.
Had that been the same for him?
He may not have been a little boy, instead a grow adult, but had someone still worried? Had someone spent their evenings and days out looking for him?
These thoughts began to run through his head, what about Kimi? Did he not have people out looking for him?
“George. Move, we need to go now.” He was shaken from his thoughts by the harsh tone to Toto’s words — he didn’t like how angry the man seemed to be. As if George had realised something he wasn’t meant to.
“Right.. yes, I’m going.” George stood still, frozen, for a few moments longer. Then, he made his way out of the door — he didn’t like any of this. Something was going on, something that Toto had been preparing for a long time. Something he was sure that he wouldn’t like if he knew the whole truth.
He kept his head down for a while, wandering. He wasn’t looking where he was going — not looking whether Kimi was by his side. He couldn’t really care if the boy was following him. He could get taken for all he cared. Maybe he would meet a better fate than they were bound to in the fucked house.
When he finally looked up, he was lost.
Nobody was around, nobody near. All that surrounded him was silence. Fear suddenly began to claw up his spine. What if he got taken? What if he got killed.
He was alone, nobody was going to save him if a hunter found him. Was this how Nico had felt in his last moments?
“Kimi?” His voice came out weak, almost scared. He knew he wouldn’t get a response — even if they could hear from miles. Toto would probably tell him to ignore anything he heard from George anyway.
He wouldn’t be surprised if Toto had come to terms with this after realising how apprehensive George had been towards his plans — even if he didn’t know that full extent that Toto would go to keep his ‘bloodline’ alive.
“Kimi?” He tried once more, the least he could do was attempt — even if he would never be found.
Continuing to walk, he began to feel worse — he slowly began to feast on any animals in his way, usually just a stray squirrel. But, even the blood wasn’t making him feel better.
He knew, that it was because he was going to die tonight — he was going to be found by a hunter, and take a stake to the heart. He wouldn’t be missed, he’d been acting out too much lately — he never should have asked Toto about what his life was like before he had been turned.
Slowly, he made his way further into the forest, his feet aching slightly. The expanse of the trees led him to not really be able to understand where he was. However, he had heard footsteps nearby a few minutes ago — either those of a large animal, or a hunter.
He hoped, deeply, that it was not a hunter. He didn’t want to die tonight. He really didn’t.
Soon, the sound got louder — closer. Soon, he would walk into whoever, or whatever, was nearby.
It didn’t take long, as he walked into another route of trees, he walked straight into someone. A man.
“Woah— what are you..?” The man paused. He was.. very handsome — George could see that as soon as he saw the stranger. He had a strong Dutch accent, one that led a shiver to run down George’s spine.
“Uhm..”
“Holy shit. You’re a vampire.” Suddenly, George noticed the weapons on the man. There, in his right pocket sat a stake. Oh. Fuck, he’s dead.
“You’re— oh fuck..” George stepped back, tripping over a tree root. It was embarrassing, he is supposed to be strong and smart — he should be able to escape the situation, yet here he was, on the ground, looking up at the man who was about to kill him.
“You’re uhh.. not what I was expecting.” George frowned when he realised the man hadn’t even stepped closer to him, not yet at least.
Usually, he’d already be dead. Yet, this hunter was just letting him sit there and.. stare at him?
“You’re not going to.. kill me?”
“I’m supposed to.. but.. wow..” George blinked a few times, utterly confused — he’d always been told that hunters were blood thirsty monsters that would kill you in no time. Yet, this man was letting him live.
“Wow, what?”
“You’re, ahem, very.. pretty.” George’s cheeks flushed, he had never been pretty before — especially not by those who he had been taught to fear.
“Oh?” The man looked rather embarrassed, probably because he was finding a bloodthirsty creature attractive. Well, George could say the same about him. He is a rather attractive man.. buff and a sexy accent.
“You’re out here alone? I thought vampires traveled in pairs..?” George’s slightly giddy smile — that he hadn’t even realise he had on his lips — instantly disappeared.
“I was. I don’t — I was just walking and he.. he was gone.” The hunter looked apprehensive, perhaps thinking that George had set up a sneak attack with whoever he had been with.
“Oh..? Really? This.. isn’t a trap?” The hunter gave him a once over, taking a slight step back, his hand now clasped on the stake in his hand. George wondered if the man had changed his mind, and would kill him either way.
“Are you going to kill me?”
“I don’t know.. I should, but .. something is just.. telling me not to..” his grasp loosened, but he still looked a bit nervous — clearly still assuming that George would bite him at any time he could.
“I’m not — I won’t bite you.. I’ve— I’ve never bitten a human before. I’ve, only ever eaten animals.” George’s words seemed to soothe the hunter — he himself still felt slightly apprehensive towards the hunter.
“So.. seeing as we seem to be on.. okay terms.. what’s your name?”
“My — oh, max, Verstappen. Max Verstappen.” That’s a nice name, max. George vaguely remembers knowing a max back when he was human. He had been a nice boy, he that’s all he can really remember about him.
“I’m George. George Russell.” Max nodded, seemingly glad to have learnt the man’s name. It was quite strange how.. comfortable they seemed to be with one another — they had both been taught to hate each other and what they stood for. Yet, here they were getting along?
“So, Verstappen.. I’m still surprised you haven’t stabbed me in the heart.” George couldn’t help but watch the way Max’s eyes crinkled slightly as George’s joking manner brought a smile to his lips.
“Oh, and I’m surprised you haven’t tried to turn me into a blood thirsty monster Russell.” George smiled in return. He had never met someone that he felt such a connection to as the man stood in front of him.
“Well, if you’re not gonna kill me, you might as well help me up, hm?” The man rolled his eyes, before offering a hand to George — it was bigger than his own, and warm. Shivering slightly at feeling someone alive — for the first time in centuries — he pulled himself up.
“You’re welcome. You’re rather.. cold by the way.”
“Well, that comes with being dead you know?” Smirking slightly, he looked max in the eye — the other man was admiring him. Not that there was really much to admire. He’s skinny, and horribly pale — and, well.. dead.
“Right.. I should’ve assumed that one.” The two of them stood there for a few moments longer — in silence. Though, it wasn’t awkward. Surprisingly, for a pair that had only just met, it felt like they had known each other their whole lives.
“So.. where do we go from here?” George felt awkward, nervous even. A small warmth pooling in his gut as he avoided eye contact with the hunter.. with max.
“You could.. come home with me?” Suddenly, he looked up, locking eyes with max. Go to his.. home?
“Home?” He ran his tongue over his teeth, maybe this was just a massive ploy to kill him — though, he wouldn’t mind it as much now he had learnt more about the man soon to kill him.
“Yeah, I have a house nearby, you can come and stay. Though, I won’t have much food—”
“Oh, I don’t just live off of blood you know Verstappen.”
“Oh..?”
“You’re obviously too focused on folklore, dummy.” He snorted, rolling his eyes — stepping closer to the, slightly, shorter man.
He wondered, if this had been the hunter that Lewis had been seeing around the house the last few days. If so, what had he wanted?
“Oh. Well, do you want to.. come to my house then?”
He didn’t really care if this was the hunter that had been snooping around, he seemed nice. Maybe too nice, but George felt lonely. He felt afraid, but not of this hunter. He felt afraid of the man he had learnt to call father.
“Yeah. I would.” He stepped closer, letting the man know he wasn’t afraid — it seemed to almost settle max, the man stepping even closer. They were so close — their lips almost touching, eyes locked with one another, breaths bated.
Suddenly, Max stepped back one more.
“Well, let’s go then..” he cleared his throat, “follow me.”
They had been so close to kissing, so close just then. George almost craved it — more than he had ever craved an ounce of blood. It was a feeling he didn’t understand, one he had never felt at such an extremity before.
“I’m following.. although, how do I know you aren’t leading me straight to my death.. hm?”
“You’ll just have to trust me.. won’t you?” Right, trust a man that could kill him in a moments notice.
“Hm. I will.” He didn’t know what he was doing, why he was trusting an absolute stranger, yet here he was — walking into the most dangerous situation he may ever find himself in.
Soon enough, they found themselves at a house — it was small, smaller than George was used to. But, he liked it. It was comfortable looking.
“This is your house?”
“Yes. Oh, I share it with a friend. His name is Charles.”
“Okay. He won’t mind me staying?”
“No, I don’t think he will.” Max unlocked the front door, pushing it open for George allowing him to enter his home — he didn’t know what the fuck he was doing, letting a literal vampire into his home.
He couldn’t help the feelings that were pooling in his gut at the sight of the other man. He was undeniably beautiful. Max knew that he just had to get the man into bed.