Chapter Text
Gerard's whole body ached.
He was sure that he had to be dying. There was no other explanation for the pain that radiated throughout every single inch of him. His lungs burned, his chest was tight, his limbs were cramped and stiff.
He could barely move, barely even register the feeling of cold pavement against his back - just focusing on trying to take in deep breaths.
He stared up at the dark night sky, not a star in sight. It was disorienting, but he couldn't will himself to move his neck to catch a glimpse at something more engaging. Everything hurt and everything about him felt stiff. Like his body was slowly tensing up and hardening into stone with each passing minute.
He couldn't even be grateful that it was night and the sun wasn't shining down upon him; because that would've shortened the time he had to lay here in agony. Wherever 'here' was, anyway. He didn't have a semblance of a clue where he currently lay deteriorating, all he knew was as that he was completely done for.
He couldn't save himself like this, especially when he knew exactly what he needed to fix the situation.
Something that required him to get up and move, which he couldn't do right now. Something that required energy, that he had none of.
He was shrivelling up, falling apart, and running dry.
If only he could have just one drop.
Just one drop of blood would fix this all, he was sure of it.
Well, maybe not fix it all, but it would at least give him enough energy to move.
Being a vampire never really had too many cons up until this point. It was a life of greed, thrills, and overconsumption. Dominance, power, never aging. It was all pros before Gerard found himself with his back against the cold ground, feeling his fleeting life force slowly slip away from him.
It wasn't unexpected though. There was a reason for his situation and he knew that he deserved it. It was taboo though, embarrassing, and shameful. If he was going to die there, he was going to die without ever speaking of the cause.
He still had his pride, if nothing else.
Gerard watched as the lights of an airplane left a blinking trail in the night sky, using it as a means to distract himself from the burning sensation in his chest. His breathing was laboured, each inhale never feeling like enough air to fill his lungs. His mouth was so dry he licked his lips but his tongue couldn't even produce enough saliva to wet them.
Of course his death had to be slow and agonizing. He much would've preferred a stake to the heart, or even decapitation. Quick, easy, and effective. The ones who did this though, they wanted him to suffer and he knew that. They wanted his mind to panic as he came to the realization that help would never come, and he would die alone in the cold, with no escape from his future.
Gerard wasn't panicking though. Alarm bells tried to go off in his head as a sharp pain shot through his chest, but he quickly drilled them. He was going to die. He had done something inexcusable, and this was the penalty.
He knew that, and he couldn't object. He was dying because he deserved to.
He wondered what the first human who found him would think. Gerard knew it wouldn't be long, he could hear the soft sound of cars whizzing by in the distance. Would they be worried? Shocked? Mortified once they realized he had features that were a little less than human? Maybe they would report it, and some government agents would whisk his body away and tell a believable enough lie to shut the witnesses up.
He couldn't be all too sure. The only thing he knew for certain was that somebody was going to find him eventually, because he couldn't move. His body was so weak he might as well be paralyzed.
Gerard coughed painfully, tasting iron on his lips after he had done so. If only it was somebody else's, and not his own.
He wondered what his brother would think, if he saw him in this state. Probably disappointed more than anything. Gerard knew he used to be a role model, an idol, somebody great that his younger brother looked up to and wanted to be. Not anymore though. He hadn't been for a long time.
He was definitely better off dead anyway, and he was glad he was alone. He definitely didn't want Mikey to see him this way.
'Late dawns and early sunsets
Just like my favorite scenes'
Gerard was surprised that he could even muster the energy to speak, let alone sing, but the quiet air around him was filled with his hushed raspy melodies. It hurt, because his throat was so raw, but it kept him busy. Like he was lulling himself to an inevitable slumber.
'Then holding hands and life was perfect
Just like up on the screen'
It calmed him down and steadied his heart rate, giving his mind something to focus on other than the blackness of the sky. He remembered his mother singing it to him when he was young, it being one of the most therapeutic memories he had held on to.
He honestly hoped that his body would just give up soon. It was an agonizing waiting game that he couldn't be bothered to be a part of anymore. Once again, he longed for a stake in his heart to just get this over and done with.
He was overtired and had already accepted his fate. Wasn't that enough? Why must he be kept in a state of agony for any longer?
'And the whole time while always giving
Counting your face among the living'
"You're got a pretty nice voice for a crackhead." If Gerard's eyes had been closed they would've snapped open just then, and if he could move he would have immediately turned his head to see who the hell had just spoken to him.
He wasn't sure where he was, but it was the middle of the night, and he hadn't heard a single person in his vicinity up until that point. He didn't think that anybody would see him while he was still breathing. "You alright, man? How fucked up are you? Scale of one to ten."
Slowly, a face creeped into his line of vision. Replacing the dark night sky he had been staring at for god knows how long, was a human staring at him with a mixture of curiosity and amusement in his eyes.
No fear though. It was foreign to see a human's face not painted in shades of terror.
"Oh man, you can't even talk?" The human's face morphed into something close to concern, his eyebrows furrowing together. He looked young, probably not much older than Gerard was before he turned. Unruly black hair sat atop his head in the form of a faux hawk, his eyes framed in smudged black. Metal hoops pierced through his lip and nose, glinting in the low moonlight.
Even if Gerard had a choice, his gaze probably would have lingered.
Gerard contemplated giving him an answer. He could just leave the human in silence, allowing his questions to be left unanswered. Humans were annoying though, and knowing them the male would probably call for help - which would cause Gerard to be surrounded in even more people.
He decided one was enough.
"I can talk." Gerard rasped out, trying to hide the fact that it was painful to get the words out. He watched as relief took over the male's face before he smiled. He had a beer in his hand, tattooed fingers clasped around the neck of the bottle - he took a swig before crouching down and bringing himself closer to Gerard's body.
"Look's like it's a chore for you though." The male laughed softly, setting his drink on the pavement beside him. "You want help, or are you gonna lie here all night?"
It was then that Gerard's nose twitched, and an undeniable itch spread throughout his body. Whoever this was, smelled fucking mouth-watering. Maybe it was because Gerard was currently dying of starvation as they spoke, but he would swear he had never picked up on a scent from a human that was so entrancing.
His mouth, previously dryer than a desert, salivated as his gaze fell towards the pale expanse of skin that was the human's neck. God, he needed to sink his teeth in. Needed to fucking drain them of everything they had. He was sure that if he smelled this good he had to taste immaculate.
Sure, he needed the blood if he wanted to survive, but he also just wanted it for the taste. This was a whole new kind of torture than what he was previously experiencing. His stupid, weak body. If he could just gain the energy to move up on to his elbows, he could have him. "C'mon man, you gonna give me the silent treatment again?"
Oh how idiotic. How innocent. The male had no idea Gerard was drawing up every plan in existence to figure out how to sink his teeth in his flesh. It was like dangling a biscuit in front of a dog on a leash too tight. If he slipped up just a little bit, if there was even a fraction of an opportunity, Gerard was going to take it.
"You can't help me." Gerard exhaled softly, his whole body buzzing with desire. That was a lie if he had ever told one. The human could help him. He could cure all of his ailments for fuck's sake, but he wouldn't like how.
"I'm sure I could, if you let me." The human replied, completely oblivious to the irony in his words. "I've been where you are right now, man. If someone's offering you help you should take it. Eight times out of ten they're just gonna walk past you." He leaned down further, and Gerard's heart skipped a beat. C'mon, just a bit closer. "You don't want to die here, do ya?"
He didn't. Sure, he had accepted the inevitable, but that didn't mean he liked the outcome. He had just come to terms with his situation, never thinking that a human would walk up to him and basically serve himself up on a silver platter.
"I don't." Gerard confirmed, his fingers twitching in anticipation. Ever since he had leaned down closer his scent had just become that much stronger, flooding all of the vampire's senses and making his head spin. Did humans always smell this good? They always smelled appetizing, like walking into the kitchen while your mom is baking cookies. This one though, he smelled like a full four-course meal with a cocktail on the side.
He smelled like just one drop of his blood would leave Gerard satiated. Of course, he wouldn't stop there though, not if he was given the chance to pierce his flesh.
"Then get up." The human laughed, outstretching his hand for Gerard to grab. The vampire's eyes shot down to the view of his wrist, nearly drooling at the skin so close to him. That could work too. Not as big of a vein, it would take longer, but it was something.
At this point he would bite the human anywhere. He just wanted the taste on his tongue, needed the rush of energy and adrenaline that would course through him as he gulped the blood down. "Just take my hand, c'mon. I'll get you something to eat."
Gerard had to suppress a laugh. The human was welcoming it, even if he didn't know the implications behind his words. He was still too far away though, just a few inches out of his reach. He watched as the human sighed softly in annoyance at his silence, before doing something that he wouldn't realize would be his greatest mistake.
He leaned down more, presumably to try and grab Gerard's shoulders and haul him into a seated position. It was unbelievably kind how much effort he was putting into helping someone he had never met, but his charity would be his downfall. That was always the case with humans.
He had leaned down enough that his neck was now mere inches away from Gerard's face, and the vampire nearly moaned in satisfaction at how the events had played out before him. What a perfect person to stumble across him. So blindly helpful and trusting. So stupid.
He loved how idiotic humans could be. Always thinking they were the apex predators. They were the hunters, not the prey. Dismissing any idea that they weren't as a legend or fairytale.
They made it so easy.
Gerard barely even had to think. His instincts took over as the last reserved bit of energy coursed through his veins; giving him just enough to lift his neck up. It all happened in a split second. One second the human was leaning down just about to grab Gerard's shoulders and pull him upwards, the next he felt a stabbing pain in his neck and he hands were going limp from the grip they had on the other male's shirt.
"What the fu-" The human tried to fall backwards, but he soon felt strong hands on his shoulders gripping him and keeping him in place. His neck burned. It was like there was fire being injected in his veins, the pain radiating from the source down to his collarbones.
The source. What was the source? What the fuck was happening right now?
He blinked away the tears forming in his eyes, shock subsiding and his brain now on full alert once more. The man he was helping. He was no longer near catatonic on the ground, he was sat upwards, and his face... His face was buried in his neck? Wait a minute-
"Are you fucking biting me?" He shrieked, fight or flight now kicking in full force as he realized the severity of the situation. Some random guy, some random shitfaced guy, was biting him. With what felt to be all of his force too. The human flailed, his heart thudding against his chest as he attempted to push his attacker off.
He was strong though and his grip was tight, leaving the human not many other options than to fight like a dying animal. No remorse, erratic, and panicked. He brought his hands up, forming them into fists before bringing them down against the other male's skull with as much effort as he could muster. He was pounding against his head like it was a locked door, trying to just fucking get this person off of him.
They were steadfast though, and that was terrifying in itself. The human grunted in pain before bringing his knee up and connecting with his attacker's ribcage. That worked. The stranger crumpled inwards, his mouth finally detaching and giving the human a chance to scramble back a couple feet. "The fuck is wrong with you!"
The human gasped out, nearly stumbling over his feet as he walked backwards. He brought his hand up to his neck, feeling terror shoot through his veins as he felt what seemed to be a deep wound there. The horror only intensified when he moved his hand in front of his face and saw blood staining his fingertips. "Y-You're insane! You're actually fucked in the head!”
He felt as a rush of lightheadedness washed over him, head feeling woozy as his legs went weak before he was sinking to his knees. His head pounded and his neck burned. His whole body felt so weak and fuzzy, he was beginning to genuinely fear for his life as he stared over at the man who had did this to him.
"Probably shouldn't have stood up so fast." His attacker chuckled, the human watching in horror as the man who had been previously limp on the ground was now standing up and walking over to him. Had this whole thing been a rouse? He couldn't wrap his head around exactly what was going on right then. "You've lost a lot of blood, you should take it easy."
What the fuck was he talking about? Lost a lot of blood? From a bite? Nothing made sense and it was only making his head hurt more. The human closed his eyes though he knew it was stupid, hoping that maybe this was just some fucked up dream. "I don't know if I should finish you off or not." He opened his eyes, his breath stopping short when he found the other male just a few inches away from him once more. "I'd like to indulge myself, but I've never had anyone who tasted as good as you just did, darlin'." He leaned forward, the human cringing and trying to pull away when he felt a tongue against the wound on his neck. "I think I'd kick myself if I used you all up and never got to taste that again."
What the hell was this guy on about? "What's your name, sugar?"
"Don't fucking call me that." The human used whatever strength he had left to push the male off of him. He then scooted back a few feet on the ground away from him.
"Aw, but you're just so sweet." The man chuckled, standing up and staring at the human on the ground below him. "Gotta give me a name then, otherwise we're sticking with my choice."
The human huffed, anger and fear burning in his chest as he stared up at the man in front of him. Messy black hair was unkempt and swept off of his forehead, and his skin was such an unnatural pale tone. His eyes- What the fuck? His eyes were red. He was sure they hadn't been when they first started talking.
"Frank." He finally replied, a smile stretching across the stranger's lips once his name rang through the night air. "Why do you want to know?"
The man shrugged, then adjusting the collar of the black button up he wore.
"I'm Gerard, how rude of you for not asking, by the way." Frank couldn't hold back the scoff that left his lips at those words. "But why? Well what's a pet without a name for it? At least with humans you can let them choose."
"A pet?" Frank asked incredulously. "Are you on fucking drugs? Why the hell would I be your pet?" He paused. "And what the fuck does that even mean?"
Gerard laughed, looking down at Frank in amusement. Oh, this one was feisty. He was definitely scared, no amount of glares or colourful language could hide that, but he was so defensive as well. He wasn't just rolling over and accepting that he was in a situation that was extremely disadvantageous towards him. He had fight in him.
This should be fun.
"Pet. Have you ever heard of one?" Gerard smirked. "You know, get one for fun and companionship. Teach it a few tricks, give it a treat if it's good to you." Frank was trying to hide it, but he was trembling. He did not like where this conversation was going. He also didn't like how his neck continued to throb and his body still felt so weak. "I think you'd make a good one."
Frank furrowed his eyebrows.
"I'm not a dog." He spat, reaching up to apply pressure to the wound on his neck. It was wet, presumably still bleeding. Why was there so much blood? "Is this some sort of sick kink? You've done this before haven't you? Fuckin' attempt to kidnap people?"
Gerard's eyebrows shot up and he let out an elated laugh, bringing his hand up to cover his smile.
"Attempt? You're funny." He grinned. "I succeed." Frank gulped and he felt his blood run cold. He knew he should've just walked past the weirdo passed out on the ground. Anyone else would have, it looked like a situation that had way too high risk for reward. And it did. "And I don't kidnap people." Gerard rolled his eyes. "There's so many of you running around I never felt the need to."
He crouched down once more and outstretched his hand, softly caressing Frank's jawline and letting the human's scent flood his nostrils once more. He could already feel himself close to drooling again. "But you. You're special. I know I'll crave you if again if I take all you have now, and who knows if I'll ever find that taste again."
Frank's bottom lip quivered as he took in a shaky breath. He stared deep into Gerard's eyes, so unnerved by the unnatural hue they sported. This man was something of nightmares. He held all of the power, had effected Frank in a way he couldn't understand, and the confidence he exuded was threatening.
"What are you talking about?" Frank finally voiced his confusion, leaning away from Gerard's touch. "What have you done to me?" He addressed the wound on his neck and the weakness in his body.
Gerard smiled in a way that was so uncanny.
"Oh, I probably should've let you know when you first walked up to me." His gaze was coated in amusement. "But then I probably wouldn't have gotten your help." He flashed a toothy grin, before running his tongue along his top row of teeth. "Thank you, by the way."
What the fuck. What the fuck.
Frank's whole body felt cold. Pure, unadulterated, terror struck him in the chest as he stared at Gerard's smile. It only took a millisecond for him to focus in on what was so obviously unnatural looking.
His canine teeth. Or maybe the better word would have been fangs. The looked razor sharp, and the tips of them were lightly stained with what looked to be blood.
Frank immediately thought back to the wound on his neck as his heart beat erratically.
The pieces had all fallen into place, but his mind just couldn't take the weight of accepting it. Along with the dizziness he still felt from the blood loss, it was just way too much to stomach.
"Oh, fuck." Frank managed to mutter, being the last words he spoke before he was fainting and slumping against the cold ground in front of the vampire.
Gerard merely smirked.
That could've gone worse.
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