Chapter Text
David and Michael circle each other, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. The room is half destroyed already from Sam and the Frog brothers' antics, debris and broken furniture strewn about the floor. With a taunting grin, David launches himself at Michael, moving with supernatural speed. He throws Michael across the room, slamming him into a wall. Michael recovers quickly, his own inhuman abilities surging, and the two exchange a series of powerful blows. David lands several powerful hits, mocking Michael’s resistance as he does so.
“Clinging to your humanity just makes you weaker, Michael. Embrace my blood in your veins and fight me!”
Michael fights back with determination, grabbing a wooden stake from the pile of debris laying nearby. He swings it at David, who effortlessly dodges and counters with a vicious swipe of his claws. The fight escalates as they crash through furniture and debris, their strength causing the room to shudder with each impact. David grabs Michael by the throat, lifting him off the ground. He leans in close, his fangs bared, and whispers menacingly.
“You’re mine, Michael. Just give in and be one of us.”
“No!,” Michael shoves David away from him, sending the other vampire spiraling onto a table covered in antlers. David is almost impaled by one, and the near miss gives him pause.
“Look at us, Michael,” David says, his voice ragged but sincere. “We’re not so different, you and I. You’re struggling with who you are, torn between worlds. I’ve been there. All of us have. We can be more than enemies. We can be family. You don’t have to choose between your brother and your new life.”
David gets up from the table and approaches Michael. Michael hesitates, the anger in his eyes slowly being replaced by confusion and curiosity.
“Why?” He asks, still wary. “Why try to make me like you?”
David smiles, a hint of sadness in his eyes, and it's almost a soft thing.
“Because I see the potential in you, Michael. You have the strength, the courage, to be one of us. But more than that, you can help us make the world our own, a place we don’t have to hide or live in fear. That’s what Max has been trying to do this whole time. Carve out a niche for us to live together. As a family.”
The room is silent for a moment as Michael takes in what the other vampire has just said. David extends a hand towards Michael, a gesture of peace and camaraderie.
“You can be with us Michael,” David continues. “No more running, no more hiding. We can rule this town together. What do you say?”
Michael looks around, thinking about his family, and the struggle he’s been through since arriving in Santa Carla. But as he meets David’s gaze again, he sees something different in those vampiric eyes - a chance to belong, to be part of something greater than himself. With a deep breath, Michael steps forward and takes David’s hand. “Alright,” he says, his voice steady. “I’ll join you. But on one condition: we do things differently. No more innocent people getting hurt or going missing.”
David nods, a genuine smile spreading across his face as a laugh bursts forth. “I’ll put it to a vote with the boys. Welcome to the family, Michael.”
The tension that had filled the room dissipates, replaced by a newfound sense of unity and purpose. Michael feels a strange mix of relief and excitement, knowing that he’s made a choice that will change his life forever. David releases Michael’s hand and steps away from him.
“Now let's go find our boys and tell them the good news. And keep your brother and his little friends from doing anything they’ll come to regret,” David says as he heads up the stairs, “and they will regret it.” He mutters to himself while climbing the stairs.
Michael follows him up the stairs, and that’s where they find Sam barricaded in the bathroom with the Frog brothers, Nanook growling through the door until Michael approaches it. Michael calls through the door, “It’s over Sam, you and your friends don’t have to be on guard anymore. You can come out now.”
“But how do we know you’re not just using your vampire trickery to get us to open the door so you can eat us?” one of the Frog brothers yells through the door. “Yeah, Mike!” Sam chimes in.
Michael sighs. “Just open the door Sam. Look, even Nanook isn’t worried about me anymore. Shouldn’t that tell you anything?”
There are sounds of the boys commiserating on the opposite side of the door before it launches open. Sam flings himself at his brother and is grabbed in a one armed hug. From a door further down the hallway Laddy and Star emerge, Star exclaiming Michael’s name as she sees him. She hesitates to approach the group upon seeing David, and while she moves closer to Michael with Laddy in tow, she keeps her distance from the leader of the Lost Boys. She steps further toward Michael, her eyes searching his face for any sign of hesitation or doubt.
“Are you sure, Michael?” She hesitantly asks, her voice trembling with a hint of desperation.
“I had to Star. To protect you, my family, everyone.” He tries to explain, but there’s a hardness in his voice that wasn’t there before.
“Protect us? By becoming one of them? By giving up your humanity?” She shakes her head, her voice rising. “This isn't you, Michael. You’re better than this.” Tears well up in Star’s eyes as she struggles to comprehend Michael’s decision. She knows the allure of the vampire life, the power and freedom it offers, but she also knows the cost. She had hoped Michael would find a way out for both of them, not succumb to the darkness.”I’ve been trapped in this life, Michael. I’ve wanted nothing more than to escape, to be free. And now…you’re choosing it?” Her voice breaks, and she looks away, unable to meet his gaze.
“I won’t let them hurt you, Star. I’ll make sure things are different. I promise.” He reaches out to touch her arm, but she pulls away, the hurt evident in her eyes.
“You don’t understand. Once you’re in, there’s no going back. You’ll lose yourself, just like I did.” She looks at him, pleading. “Please, Michael, don’t do this. We can find another way.”
But Michael stands firm, his resolve unshaken. He believes joining the Lost Boys is the only way to protect everyone, even if it means sacrificing his humanity. Star, seeing this, feels a deep sense of sorrow and helplessness.
“I…I can’t watch you do this.” She turns and walks away, shoulders slumped as she leads Laddy down the stairs.
David had been watching the exchange with a knowing smile, but as Star leaves he approaches Michael, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about her, Michael. She’ll come around. They always do.”
But Michael knows this is the last time he’ll see Star, at least for a while. Still his resolve isn’t shaken, even with the knowledge that his choice has deeply hurt a friend.
“That’s harsh, man,” Alan Frog comments.
David claps his hands together. “Well! While that brought a tear to the eye, let’s go check on Marco and the boys back at the hotel, hm?”, he says jauntily, turning and striding back down the stairs. Michael turns to follow, briefly giving Sam instructions on cleaning the house while he's gone.
Sam calls after him as he retreats. “Mike! Michael! You’re really just going to leave me to clean up the mess you made?!!”, his voice drowned out by the sounds of motorcycles roaring to life.
Back at the cave, Michael and David climbed down to see Paul pacing around the fire pit, the fire throwing his shadow along the wall in long streaks of black. Seeing David and Michael returning, he stopped his pacing and strode over to the pair.
“David! Tell me you got the little suckers that tried to snuff Marko!”, he exclaimed, running his hands through his blonde locks.
“It’s all been taken care of, Paulie.” David said. They’ll get what's coming to them, he sent to Paul telepathically. “Now, where’s our baby boy? How’s he doing?”
“Dwayne’s been patching him up. As soon as the sun went down I went out and got him a blood bag so he’d heal faster. And then Dwayne kicked me out cause he’s an asshole.”, Paul said.
“Well ,let's go take a look, shall we?” David asked with a raise of his brows, starting towards the back of the hotel where various generally unused rooms were.
As the group of men entered the makeshift sick room, Dwayne came into view leaning over Marko’s prone form laid out on an unused table, patting some bandages into place. As Dwayne straightened up, he caught sight of David and the boys coming into the room. He made eye contact with David, and Marko tipped his head back to look at what had caused the sudden noise, grinning brightly when he saw David and Paul and Michael.
“Guys!” Marko said excitedly.
“Marko. Glad to see getting staked by baby hunters didn’t damage you too permanently.” David said.
“Nah, I’m all healed already. Dwayne’s just being a worrywart mother hen with all the bandages. And apparently I’m on bedrest for the rest of the night.” Marko said while rolling his eyes.
While David and Marco were talking, Paul came over to the other side of the table to hold Marko’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Michael was briefly surprised at the contact, but filed the information away for a time when Marko wasn’t recovering from a murder attempt.
“So, Mikey! Decided to join us?” Marko asked.
Michael sheepishly smiled and rubbed the back of his head. “Yeah.”
“That reminds me boys, Michael here had a condition to joining our little group for good. He doesn’t want us killing just anyone anymore, no, we’ll have to be more discerning than just any random passerby on the street. Since this applies to all of us, I said I’d put it to a vote.” David said.
“Aww, does that mean no more bonfires?” Marko asked dejectedly.
“Yes, Marko, that would mean no more bonfires. No more picking off the rival gangs. No more taking out our frustrations on the boardwalk guards.” David replied. Paul scoffed and Dwayne just continued to stand there in silence.
“So! All in favor of Michael’s plan?” David asked, raising his hand.
“Ugh,” Paul exclaimed, reluctantly raising his hand.
Marko raised his hand with a frown. Dwayne also raised his hand.
“You better be worth it, Mikey,” Paul grumbled.
“Then it’s settled! Welcome home, Michael.” David said.
“Yeah, welcome to the group or whatever,” Marko said, with the other boys offering affirmative noises to his quip.
“With that done, I think it’s time we all get some rest. It’s been a hectic day for everyone here, especially Marko. The sun will be up in a few hours so I suggest everyone finish up any business they had and head on up to the roost. Except you, Marko, of course. We’ll find a bed for you to rest in. Paul, if you stay with him I want any contact to be strictly platonic. Dwane said he needs bedrest so he’ll get bedrest.” David said, shooting a glare at Paul as he grinned mischievously. With that said, the boys scattered to go about their business, Paul to find a bed for him and Marko to share for the day, Michael sticking with David, and Dwayne doing whatever it is that Dwayne does in his free time.