Work Text:
If you had told Legundo vampires were real a few months ago, he would just shake his head with a sigh and say you were incorrect.
Oh what a fool he was.
He had that view shattered when he saw the vampires attempt to turn a beacon. He of course, had attempted to try and help, by making a cure. While the others saw them as beasts, he still saw humanity in their hungry eyes (other than Scotts, he looked as soulless as his heart is, but dripping with the same manipulation he used on the others). Only the freshly turned seemed interested slightly but scaredly interested in this, but with a distaste for it clear, with Owen having a larger distaste for it than most.
He seemed to latch onto the vampire part of himself, not caring and even denying his own humanity. He however was as incisdent as Legundo himself was, although only towards the idea that Legundo take the “gift”, as he called it, to live for eternity.
He could never accept it. There was not even a hint of a chance. Lagundo had told himself ever since he left those war stained grounds, with his hands still red from blood he could never wash off, that he was to fix his mistakes, help people, and do good until death ripped him away.
Do no harm.
Lose the leg, protect the body
Lose the leg
Lose the Leg.
Legundo’s thoughts returned to his mission at hand as he walked off, heading to the pond, wood and sticks in toe. The air had a freezing cold to it, but sat still around him. It seemed as dead as the woods were. He walked to the edge of the pond, looking at his reflection for a second, but quickly ripping his eyes away, ignoring the feeling and hoping that this wouldn't be one of the last times he would see it.
He moved to place down a sign when he felt a presence behind him. "Hello there doctor." a soft, yet calm voice said from behind, a whisper on a soft breeze in their voice. "Good to see you Louis." Legundo greeted, turned around to see the taller ghost watching him with a smile. Not a smug one like scotts or one of misplaced power like Avid, but a soft one, like the one a friend would greet you with. They moved closer to stand next to Legundo looking at the sign he was working on.
They watched him place it in silence, one that made Legundo wonder and hoped that they weren't upset with him using their name to get Owen to meet, but once he was done and looked at Louis, they simply nodded as they said "That will do.". Legundo headed back as Louis walked around him, being able to keep pace thanks to their spirited form.
"He will hopefully read those and meet with me." Legundo said, before Louis hummed "He won't be happy seeing you use my name that way. After all, he doesn't know you have spoken to me at all.". Legundo simply replied as he looked at the sky “Well, it's something I will have to deal with, but it's worth it to tell him that we found a cure.”.
As they kept walking Louis kept close, looking around before saying “You're an interesting person, have I ever said that?”. Legundo paused at the gate, turning to them with a half confused whisper to avoid suspicion a simple “What do you mean?”. “Well, you're so determined on trying to help those people who got forcibly turned, its. . . . just so interesting that you're so determined to help those people. I haven’t seen many others with such a will to help.” Louis said as Legundo entered and headed to his house to grab more supplies before he was to head out again.
Legundo sighed “Well, it's the one good thing I can do with my life at this point. With all I’ve done it's the only reason someone like me is still alive.”. Louis remained silent as he dug through his stuff, so much so that if it weren’t for the fact he could sense them he would think they had left. “You know, you sound like Owen when you say that.” Louis said suddenly, to which Legundo practically froze were he was standing as they continued “I feel like you're making up for whatever you did ten fold already.”. They moved in front of him as he looked at them, matching their only slightly unnerving gaze.
“I have known you for only a few months and I can say you're a kind person, Doctor.” They finished with a smile, kindness dripping from every part of themself. Legundo looked away quickly as he replied with a smile “I’m glad someone says that.”. He then put the last of his items in his bag before heading off, with Louis in toe.
===============
Blood.
Legundo felt his own blood start to spill from his face as Owen slashed, his eyes glued to Legundo as he let out a snarled scream, although it sounded less of anger and more of pain. Legundo quickly started moving back, although he knew he couldn't get turned, he still didn't want Owen to claw him. Owen kept lunging, clawed hands trying to grab at him. Legundo turned back for a second to see one of Owen's claws moving to slash him.
He grabbed it. But he didn't do that. "I had to help." He heard Louis mutter, although his voice sounded more wet, as if he was trying not to cry. Legundo nodded slightly before pushing Owen back and booking it.
He didn't get far as Owen tackled him as he continued yelling. "GET OUT!" Owen screamed as he dug his claws into Legundo's side, as he tried to knock Owen off while Louis attempted at helping.
Legundo froze as he felt teeth dig into his neck, blood spilling out before he shoved Owen off him hard, to which Owen tumbled a bit before trying to stand, as he made a sound of disgust, as the garlic was taking its effect on him.
Legundo felt his mouth open as Louis said “Owen-”, but he felt his body give up before he could say anything else, as he crumpled to the floor, as the world went dark.
===============
Owen moved to stand as he watched Legundo crumple, his body bleeding out, coating the grass, as the wind blew a chilling breeze. He moved back as he heard Abolish yell at him, before running over to the doctors side. “Come on, we can’t lose you now.” Abolish muttered as they picked up Legundo, but slightly dragged him as they headed back to the town, his blood spilling more onto the floor with the action, and the previous cuts came having opened.
Owen quickly moved to remove the signs with their name on them and leave, not looking back at the doctor. The one person who dared to speak Louis's name, to try and make him question the GIFT he was given by them as he tried to shove down the fear that he had almost considered it. All the hope that he would be the same as Louis, someone how he could care for and would stay by him for eternity, where they would never have to lose the other was dust and gone. Burnt up in the same flames that the townspeople had burnt Louis in.
Legundo was nothing to him, not after all his SELFISH actions. He wouldn’t care if he died by anyone else's hands. He knew he was lying, as he so badly wanted to say sorry for the wounds he had opened, but also wanted to rip out his throat a thousand more times, as if that would undo the damage he had done to Owen by even UTTERING his name even close to him.
He paused when he got near the edge, as for some reason, even against all judgement he looked back. He knew all he would see is blood on the grass, the pond, the wind, and those STUPID logs of wood on the side of the pond but as he looked he spotted something else. A person, a ghost, standing there, looking at the village.
They almost looked like Louis, a ghostly figure made out of smoke and wind. His mouth went dry as he watched them stare forward before turning to look at him, their eyes seemed to be empty yet full, as if full of both day and night. He blinked as he stepped back waiting to see if they would approach, but the second his eyes darted away and looked back they had vanished. He shook his head, saying to himself "You're imagining things. Get a grip". He then ran off into the woods, ignoring the worry that maybe, just maybe.
That that ghost was as real as vampires are