Chapter Text
Michael wouldn’t exactly call this the worst day of his life. He’s confident he’s had worse days, anyway, even if he couldn’t think of them right now. Most of them involving his father. In fact, this day was actually pretty good, all things considered, because at least this one ended with the relevant abusive asshole dead in a pile of ashes.
That said, he was pretty sure that this was the longest day of his life. Between how screwed up his sleep had gotten during the last few days as a half-vampire and the intensity of the fight, he was absolutely exhausted.
Despite that, he couldn’t seem to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was David.
David, illuminated in harsh stage lights, staring at Michael from across the crowd as if he were the only one on the whole boardwalk.
David, holding his dripping hand over a goblet, staring at Michael as he offered a place to belong.
David, ethereal in the flog, staring at Michael as he floated hundreds of feet above the ground.
David, his flesh still smelling of sickening burnt meat, staring at Michael with murder in his eyes as he hid in the safety of the sunlight.
David, impaled on those huge antlers where Michael had pushed him.
Eyes closed.
Not staring.
Never staring again.
And it was Michael’s fault.
He didn’t regret it, not really. He couldn’t. It had been clear that there was no reasoning with David. Michael knew beyond a doubt that if he hadn’t killed David, David would have killed him. More importantly, he would have killed his mother. His brother. Star.
He hadn’t had any other options.
If given a choice, he would do the same thing again. He wouldn’t risk his family for a boy he had known for less than a week.
And yet, he couldn’t sleep.
Michael…..
And yeah, that didn’t help either. On top of the images, he couldn’t get the sound of David’s voice out of his head.
Michael….
The way he said his name, like it was something precious, something to be protected…Michael had been right to kill him, but fuck, he missed him too. How messed up was that?
“Michael!”
Michael jumped out of bed. That hadn’t been in his head. He looked around the room frantically but saw nothing. He was just about to go downstairs, to check if David’s body was still on the antlers, when he heard it.
Not his name, this time. A tapping.
“Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door,” Michael muttered to himself, barely holding back a hysterical laugh.
The tapping came again, louder.
Only this and nothing more.
It was coming from the window.
Darkness there and nothing more.
As if in a trance, Michael moved towards it.
Tis the wind and nothing more.
Michael pulled open the curtains.
Perched and sat and nothing more.
David floated in the air just outside Michael’s window.
Michael trailed his eyes up David's body, taking in the damage to the vampire. His long black coat fluttered in the breeze, revealing the two massive holes in his chest still slowly dripping blood, leaving a crimson trail down his threadbare shirt. His skin, normally bright despite its pale color, looked pallid and utterly devoid of any life. The area below his eyes was dark and bruised as if it hadn’t slept in days. His ever-present grin was gone, replaced with a tight grimace.
But one thing hadn’t changed.
David was, as always, staring at Michael.