Work Text:
Abolish had promptly shuffled out of the covers and now sat on the side of the bed. He had just had a monumental realisation about the vampire who was sat next to him. Previously being the one he slept on. His thoughts were spiraling out of control but hunger started to pull him out of his daze.
“I can hear your stomach rumbling. And you didn't answer my questions. Are you ok, did the venom wear off?”
“Im ok, the venoms mostly gone.”
“Do you want to eat something? I think humans have to eat in the mornings.”
“Yeah.”
He started to get up and in a moment Owen was standing next to him, making sure he didn't fall over like last time. The early sun was peeking through the curtains and shining softly onto his skin, properly waking him up.
However when Owen was sure he wasn't going to fall he immediately went to the darkest corner of the room, what skin was shown from the bandages was red and irritated. Abolish knew for a fact the rest of his house would mostly be bathed in sunshine right now and with Owen’s white roots of his hair showing that he would be burned further if he spent more than a moment in the sun’s direct light.
“Theres more sunshine out there that the curtains don't cover. I suggest you shift to a bat and stay where I can block the light.”
Owen didn't protest and changed into his brown bat form, then flew over to Abolish and landed in his palm.
He was so small and vulnerable in this state it somewhat confused the hunter why he would bat without protest or annoyance. Did he actually trust Abolish that much? Or was it to save himself from the rays of light beaming through the windows. He brought his other hand up to scratch the top of his head while deciding where he should put him.
He sighed, lifting Owen up to his neck and pulling most of his collar over the little bat.
“Don't take any blood please.” he said quietly so as not to disturb the sensitive bat and started to walk out to the main area.
He had grabbed a piece of bread and started to eat it, not caring about its dryness, only wanting to get something to quell the rolling sensations on his stomach.
Owen was clinging to his neck and his furry body was still cold, but not bad enough to worry about. Everything was surprisingly peaceful and when he caught a glimpse of outside he chuckled. It was a winter wonderland. He saw Apo, Pearl and Martyn running around and jumping in the snow. Sausage was off to one side and scribbling furiously in his notebook.
But the Doc, Ren and Cleo were walking past the joy and headed straight for his home.
He had a few options before they came into his home.
He could turn them away saying he didn't feel all too well after he spent a while last night out in the snow but the Doc would insist to come in and check up on him.
He could ask Owen to hide until they left but with all the sunshine and the town's nosy tendencies he would probably be found and hunted.
He could send Owen away quickly but with most of the town outside he would be shot at and captured or killed.
Or he could do what Abolish did best and not give 2 shits. The town wasn't allowed to dictate who he harboured in his house and they certainly wouldn't hurt Owen on his watch.
“Just stay where you are, alright. They won't hurt you.” He said softly and went to the door.
Knock knock knock
Abolish opened the door and their faces went from concerned to downright hatred of the little bat on his neck.
“Aye Abolish thers a filthy bat on ye neck donchaknow.” He said with disgust.
Cleo reached out a hand to grab Owen but Abolish sidestepped her hands and pushed them away.
“I'm aware Ren, there's a reason.”
“What reason could you possibly have for keeping a vampire on your neck?!” Cleo spat.
“Are you one of them?” Legs asked concerned and grabbed Abolish’s wrist to check for a pulse. Owen hissed at the doctor and once his expression showed he found the pulse he ripped his wrist away from his hold.
“The reason is I found him dying in the snowstorm last night and couldn't just leave him. Would you?”
Their silence was all the answers he needed to start shutting the door. Legs caught it before it could close and asked yet another question.
“Who is it?”
Before Abolish could answer Owen flew off of his spot on his neck and transformed back, making eye contact with them all before slamming the door in their faces.
“I'm definitely getting evicted from town now.”
“And then they lose their best fighter? They wouldn't dare.” Owen smiled, fangs on full display.
“You think I'm their best fighter?” Abolish said and gigged at Owen's blush. It was less then last night as he didn't have enough blood in his system for it but was still obvious.
“If they are that stupid you can come live in the castle. I can talk Scott into it and the others wouldn't care.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Abolish motioned for Owen to change back into a bat so he can avoid the sun but instead he turned invisible and took the hunter’s hand.
He started to drag Abolish out the backdoor and outside where the wall blocked the sun's hateful beams. Nobody saw them and if they did they left them alone.
“Why are we going outside?” Abolish asked with the chill obvious in his voice, having not brought his coat and was in a short sleeved shirt.
“Because,” Owen said while turning visible again, “I saw 3 little bats watching us through the window.”
Being called out Abolish saw the 3 emerge from invisibility and swoop down to land on Owen.
Scott was angrily squeaking at them both but only Owen could understand.
“He said that he was worried sick about me in the storm and that he still doesn't trust you. Minus all the insults he said.”
The Scott bat huffed and leapt off of him, the other 2 following.
“I've got to go now, but if they do try to hurt you then you come straight to the castle. I promise that we will help you.”
“Bye Owen.”
The vampire laughed, “Goodbye Abolish.” Then he batted and joined the other 3 in their flight to the castle. The reality of his situation was quickly dawning and the chill was seeping in.
He started to rush back inside but of course his luck of not being spotted ran out when the Doc saw him hurry back inside.
Abolish didn't get a chance to stop him as the doctor forced open the door. It didn't matter too much to him as he was focused on getting the fire going.
“Abolish what are you doing?”
“Starting a fire, I'm cold.” in his no-nonse tone.
“No with Owen. Did he drink your blood?”
His hand shot up to his healed bite mark and the doc grumbled.
“Here, let me see it.” He said and walked over to where the fireplace and hunter was sitting. The fire was now cracking to life so it gave Abolish the chance to slap away the doc's hands.
“It's healed. Unlike when Owen drank from you he actually healed mine. Maybe it's because I rescued him and didn't try to talk him into a cure.” Abolish was so fed up with this town already.
“It's so obvious, can't you see? He's manipulating you.”
“No he's not. In fact when he drank from me he gave me so much venom I didn't feel a thing. Did he for you?” he said exasperatedly.
“I was able to study that venom and it's a very powerful painkiller. Did it make you feel weird or anything because that's just what he wants.”
“Yeah but he helped me to bed and made sure he didn't hurt me! And he didn't realise he was hurting me when he gave me the venom.
…
“I will be bringing up this at the town meeting tomorrow. You aren't stupid Abolish, you should know when someone is manipulating you.”
Abolish didn't even get a chance to defend Owen because the doc walked outside.
Bitch.
~~~
The flight to the the castle seemed to take forever as Owen knew Scott would be so worried and try to check up on him
Of course he was right. The second he went through that door and changed back was the moment Scott started being annoyingly caring.
“So what happened!? Did Abolish do something to you? I swear if he hurt you I'll-”” Scott calm down and no, Abolish didn't hurt me. Quite the opposite actually.”
Shelby grabbed her notebook and pencil.
“Ok then, explain every single detail.” Scott said.
“ooh this is going to be good!” Shelby whispered to Pyro and he snickered.
“Fine. So I was walking home and then the storm hit. For some reason I batted and flew into a tree hollow to escape the snow. Then Abolish found me and he brought me to his home. Then he gave me some blood and kept me warm. I accidentally gave him too much venom and he started stumbling a bit. I brought him to his bed so he could sleep it off and then he…. and then I left to go back to the fire. He woke up in the morning and after defending me from the townsfolk he saw me off so I could come back here. End of story.”
Scott started giggling at the end of his story.
“Ok you can't lie to me Owen, try again.”
“... I brought him to his bed and we fell asleep together. That's it.”
The silence was incredibly loud but it was soon broken by Shelby gasping.
“Oh my Stars, Owen do you like Abolish?!”
“Yeah he's a good friend of course I like him.”
“No you dimwit, do you like like Abolish?” She groaned but her excitement was still immeasurable.
“I'm… not actually sure.”