Chapter Text
At the end of the day Abolish’s decision to help Owen turned out to be a somewhat shitty one as throughout the day people would come into his house [uninvited as well at least the vampires asked to enter or he could bring them inside but nope].
Apparently these people [that he literally met a few weeks ago!] wanted to give him a ‘piece of their mind’. Abolish could not care less what they thought, he was really cold and them opening and closing the door did NOT help.
Absolutely peachy as well was the Doc’s decision to sit in his home and talk about how manipulation could affect one’s views on people and their situation so he quite literally had to barricade himself in his room so he didn't have to interact anymore. It was too early for this nonsense.
While he was in there he got dressed into his butler attire and opened his window, swinging one leg through it and crawling out, to the Doctor's unnotice.
Unnoticed by him of course but not by fucking Martyn who had since crowning himself as the ‘slayer of vampires’ and making Elle mad he also decided to intercept Abolish on his path to go find some more books.
“Ohohoh hey Abolish.” he said in his snarky tone as walks straight up to him.
“Fancy seeing you here. Just wait for that town meeting tonight because spoiler alert. If it was up to me you would be long gone.” Then he laughed and walked away, making Abolish feel a little uneasy about his place in the town.
Surely they wouldn't kick him out, he was one of their best fighters and was their main supplier of silver.
You know what. He was not going to spend his possible last days in this town helping ungrateful people and crazy hunters. Pearl would probably be the only one to argue for him to stay and even if the Doc did as well he would just say how much of a victim he was.
So he was going to the castle. To speak to Owen and the others about his probable exile and plans for a room of his own there.
He started to walk towards the castle.
~~~
Owen could clearly see Scott and Shelby repressing giggles but when Abolish walked they burst out laughing, Shelby holding onto Scott’s waist to prevent herself from falling to the floor. Abolish just looked confused and when his and Scot’s gaze met he cackled madly.
“Really Owen, him?” the elder vamp said hysterically.
“Apart from that I’ve come to discuss plans to stay here. The town will probably kick me out and I will perhaps be hunted down at worst.” At the human’s words Shelby stopped laughing but Scott was still maniacally laughing, but still quieting down.
“Well, we don't have a spare room just yet but I’m sure we could get started on one. It will be done in a day at least. Until then you could move your stuff over here.” Pyro said instead of his sire.
“That would be lovely, thank you.”
“I will be at the town gates invisible tonight for the meeting.” Owen said before walking to the front door and beckoning Abolish to follow.
Abolish got the hint and speedwalked out of there to follow him. Good thing too, he was pretty sure his coven was already betting on him and Abolish.
Speaking of Abolish, was Shelby right in her observations? Like sure, he was handsome, and his eyes were pools of the softest chocolate brown [Shelby showed him what chocolate was] and his hair looked so soft and silky. He wore his cross earring with a ruby gemstone with such an energy he almost wouldn't mind being near the silver if it meant being near him and.
Oh. Maybe Shelby was right. fuck.
“So, are you coming back with me to grab my bag or just to walk me home. Or y'know just to go hunt, not specifically back with me although I wouldn't mind the help at all.” abolish said faster than Owen had ever heard but he refrained from mentioning this.
“I’ll help you bring your things back. You can put them in my room for now.” Owen called from in front of him.
“Well then, come on, the meeting is in 4 hours and I want my stuff out of there in case Elle pulls another act of arson.”
“I hate her so much. And I will burn down her house if she doesn't stop being such a bitch.”
“Make sure Drift isn't in there and sure.”
~~~
Abolish piled his small wardrobe into his bag and used the last half of that space for his books and reading light. It took only a moment but Owen stopped him from leaving so quickly.
“Hey, do you want to make use of this fireplace before this place potentially no longer belongs to you. Our fireplace isn't the greatest and the castle is almost never this warm.”
“So what I’m getting from this is you want to be warm and don't want to go back there.”
“Hey, how’d you know.” Owen said and cracked a small smile before walking over to the fireplace and trying to light it with a match.
It caught flame and Owen transformed into a little bat to be free quicker from the cold. A vampire cheat code for warming up.
Abolish walked forwards and sat down right next to him, soaking up the warmth of the flames. It was a dull crackle to Abolish's ears as he seemed to to fall into a daze while staring at Owen.
Staring at his little bat form and seeing the glee on his face that came from the cold being warming up. It was quite honestly adorable.
He barely noticed when Owen looked straight at him as well, seemed to contemplate something, and started to walk over. Then in one fluid motion he flapped his wings and jumped onto Abolish’s thigh, sitting down to warm up from there.
Abolish barely noticed, too deep in thought, and by the time he realised he couldn't really do anything. Whatever, there were a million fates worse than a [cute] vampire bat sitting in his lap.
~~~
A sharp rapping on the door was enough for Abolish to wake up. The fire was long dead, only embers now and Owen was gone. Fuck it was time for the meeting. He quickly checked if his bag was there and thankfully it was gone. Meaning the town had no leverage over him.
“Open Up!” Martyn yelled from the other side of the door and he took a deep breath and used his uncaring expression to purposefully piss off Martyn.
“Yes I’m here. Is it time?”
Martyn didn't answer him and instead grabbed his wrist and started hauling him from his home into the town meeting spot. Everyone stared at him with hate, pity or uncaringness. The Doc especially was looking at him like a broken thing that could be fixed. If this is how he treated Owen then he shared the sentiment of hate.
“We have gathered here today to discuss Abolish and his relationship to the vampires. He was harbouring Owen, the most aggressive and was manipulated into it. We must vote on his ability to keep his residency in this town.” Legs began.
“Is he one of dem dark ones?” Ren asked.
“No. Abolish, do you have anything to say for yourself?” Cleo said.
“Yes. Firstly I'm not so heartless as to leave a freezing vampire out in the woods and secondly I was not manipulated. I’m not a monster.”
“Yet you would help one.” Cleo countered.
“Owen is not a monster.”
“See, he’s being tricked. The vampires can affect anyone, even Abolish!” Legs said.
“Y’know what, all in favour of Abolish leaving raise your hand.
5 people raised their hands. Cleo, Ren, Martyn, M and Elle.
“Wonderful now go get your stuff and get out of our town.”
“Wait Cleo at least let him sleep here till tomorrow morning.” Legs tried to argue and Elle surprisingly agreed. Ok if she is agreeing she is planning something
Abolish decided he would thankfully accept these terms as he watched out of the corner of his eye Elle, Matryn and Ren whispering to each other. Wonderful. Just wonderful.
He started to walk back to his house to pretend to sleep. If they really were planning something he had to be awake.
~~~
And there was a plan. Not even 2 hours after the meeting [which was at 10pm, do they really want their plots to not go past their bedtime] there was an unsavoury amount of heat crawling under the door to his room.
Fire.
Great.
He launched himself out of bed and pushed open the window, slipping out effortlessly. This time around he ensured nobody saw him exit the burning building and run away into the night.
To the castle. His new home for the foreseeable future.
~~~
Abolish had turned up to the castle with singed clothes and a very tired expression on his face. ‘Makes sense’ Owen thought, ‘those woods were hard enough to navigate in th light, let alone midnight,
“Are you ok?” were the first words out of the vampire’s mouth as he lunged towards him.
“I need some sleep. These people are so stupid.”
Owen laughed, “Well there is a spare room so I’ll bring you there.” he gently grabbed Abolish’s hand and started leading him forwards when they stopped.
“Owen, his stuff is in your room right?” came Scott’s voice and he had two bats on either shoulder.
“Yeah, I’ll bring it to him. Why do you ask?” that last bit was a poorly concealed accusation and
Scott only smirked more. “Why doesn't he sleep in your room then?”
Owen turned to look at Abolish with a certain look on his face. As if looking for consent.
“Listen I don't think”-
“I’m ok with it if Owen is.” Abolish interrupted.
“Yeah sure ok. Let's go then.” he said quickly, facing forwards to hide the blush from Abolish once again. Scott only giggled as he walked past and went to grab some blood from the storage place. He must be so happy at his successful attempt to get him and Abolish close once again.
~~~
Abolish basically melted onto the bed from the exhaustion of running so much and he was grateful for the safe space. Safe with a vampire. Such a foreign thought and yet it only described the thought.
He unfortunately had to get up once again to change into his pajamas and Owen sat facing away from him on the other side of the bed, unwrapping and rewrapping his bandages.
“Do you normally sleep with bandages on?” he asked to fill the quite awkward silence.
“No but I wouldn't want to freak you out. Nobody wants to see what is underneath these wrappings.”
…
“Maybe I do. I’m ok with it if it makes you comfortable.”
Owen seemed to short circuit before he quietly said thank you and said he would turn back around.
The vampire had a loose black tanktop that was no doubt a gift from Scott that had been slightly modified and baggy faded orange pants. He wore his hair down so it went to his waist and he was already climbing into bed.
Abolish followed suit though not before grabbing his book and small reading light and propping himself up to read it. These small gifts from Morcant were really coming in handy with their dullness. Like seriously, an encyclopedia on dangerous animals, half of which weren't on this half of the globe? Whatever, it was enough to make his eyes droop after a couple entries and soon he put it down and lay down.
He was facing Owen’s back and after a short amount of time he could see the small rise and fall of his chest. Vampires often resorted back to breathing in their sleep but after a few centuries it was wiped from their muscle memory.
Abolish started to fall asleep and closed his eyes, the last sight being Owen in all his peaceful presence.
Beautiful.
So utterly beautiful. His scars were so gorgeous and deliriously he thought about how he would love to trace them and whisper soft compliments into the other’s ears. He refrained.
~~~
The fire- the burning. Louis was burning. He tried to help, to save him! He failed. Those monsters died by Owen’s hands. There was so much blood. So Much BLOOD.
He awoke with a start and sat up straight, his whole body but especially his scars shook from phantom pain and physical trauma. There was ringing in his ears that was slowly dying down and as much as he would love to go for a walk, to clear his head he didn't want to be alone with his thoughts right now.
Luckily he was not.
Abolish’s steady breathing was enough to bring him back from panic and through teary eyed he looked at Abolish and smiled. A tired genuine smile.
He didn't fight the urges to turn into a bat and flap over to him, nor the ones that told him to snuggle right into the crook of his neck.
Thankfully the human did not wake and Owen fell back asleep basking in his warmth.