13. Chapter 13 (1/1)

a wild update appeared! i've been meaning to update this one for ages, so i apologise. i got a bit of a block on it. but here's another chapter for you!

disclaimer: none of this is mine, unfortunately.

"dad," ingrid began, cautiously, "are you alright?" he'd been staring into the middle distance for almost ten minutes now, silent and unseeing."hm? oh. yes, why wouldn't i be?" he blinked twice, then turned to look at her at last and shuffled sideways on the throne. "come here." he patted the space next to him, and ingrid sat, wary of a trap. she certainly wasn't expecting an awkward pat on the shoulder."what's going on? you haven't arranged to marry me off again, have you?""no. can't a man show affection for his only daughter?""but you hate me." he frowned."i'm sorry i've made you think so. ingrid, i may never understand you, but i've always loved you, really. and you've always been there for me. since vlad's accident, you've been my rock. even now, you're here to make sure your dear old dad's ok." she softened a fraction, but there was something wrong with that picture."i tried to kill you, then spent years raising hell in stokely on my own.""and i was proud of you. that's why i was reluctant to let you come back and stay; you were doing so well, and vlad- well, i feared he'd be a calming influence. i'm glad you did stay, though.""this vlad dying thing's made you soft," she accused, before wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tightly. "you know, this was all i ever wanted.""i know. i'm sorry." and he hugged her back.

she knew it wouldn't last, but right now she needed this, and woe betide anyone who came to interrupt it.

vlad didn't uncurl from his position tucked against bertrand's chest until he was sure they'd both finished doing all the crying they needed to. only then did he raise his head to look at his tutor, who leant back a fraction to rub at his ribs."i don't understand. why would you stake me to save yourself, only to stake yourself two minutes later? i saw you do it.""turning the stake was instinct. i never should have- if i'd had time to realise it was you, i wouldn't have done that. and then... i said we never had to talk about it again." vlad frowned for a moment, trying to work out why that sounded familiar, and then it all began to make a strange sort of sense."the day i nearly died saving erin. i told you-""-you didn't want to die alone." bertrand looked away, apparently uncomfortable. "i couldn't let you.""bertrand, you died-" he paused for a moment to collect his thoughts and blink back more tears that had surprised him from nowhere. "-just so i could die in your arms?""if it makes you feel better, i also died in yours. so it wasn't entirely selfless-""yes, bertrand, it was. how could i ever have thought you were a traitor?" his tutor's eyes widened and he jolted upright."the shapeshifter – fog, we have to tell the others, surely you believe me now-?" but vlad reached out and caught the front of his shirt, pulling him back towards him."later. i can't be without you yet." and against his better judgement, bertrand allowed himself to be dragged right into the cramped space of vlad's open coffin and wrapped his arms around his chosen one."you never have to be without me." all the same, he wasn't expecting vlad to kiss him.

malik and erin

oke apart for the

iefest of moments."you're sure this isn't just a one-bite stand because you're upset about vlad-?""i'm sure. are you?" erin nodded."i was upset. i am upset. but this isn't about that, i promise." he kissed her again, relieved beyond measure."i've never... i'm more used to the one-bite thing, i'm not sure what to do.""the same thing," she smiled, "but more than once. and... if it's alright, i'd rather not do anything too much right now. just... this. kissing, and cuddling, and being together." malik pulled a face, but there was the ghost of a smile in it."i don't cuddle." but he did.

bertrand pulled back with a startled gasp."vlad, what are you-?""i'm sorry!" the chosen one seemed torn between scrambling away from him and clinging even more tightly to his hands, which he'd grabbed the moment bertrand pulled away. "i don't know why i thought- i just- blood, bertrand, i'm sorry, that was no way to repay you-""you don't owe me anything, vlad." he squeezed his hands gently. "i'm not angry. i just don't understand. why did you kiss me?""i... because... i care about you. and i wanted to. and... i've never had anyone who loved me so much they'd die so i wouldn't be alone. it was stupid, i thought that might mean-""you wanted to kiss me?" vlad nodded miserably – only to have the woebegone look wiped off his face as bertrand, very gently, kissed him back. "i do love you, vladimir dracula. you never have to apologise for assuming so.""but- even after i-?""shh." bertrand ran a hand through the boy's hair. "you must still be tired, and so am i. do you mind if we sleep now, and talk about it later?""you sleep, i'll keep watch. the shapeshifter-""-could come in disguised as anyone and we'd let her in. so we might as well sleep." vlad could see the logic in that, he supposed. he couldn't resist dropping one last kiss on bertrand's forehead."be here when i wake up?" bertrand nodded solemnly."sleeping like the dead." it shouldn't have been funny, really, but vlad burst out laughing and when they did drift off at last, it was with smiles on their faces.