AU Vampire Lon'qu- I'm His... Blood Pouch?!

Before you read!

My writing is a bit tailored to a script format. “Quotations are actual speech” and (Parentheses are thoughts in the mind). With that, please enjoy!

=====================================================================

Thinking about the days that I’ve known him for and when I first met him… I can’t believe how much time has passed…

 

Cactus: “Whew! That’s enough wood chopping for now…” “I must take a mini break.”

I laid out my blanket on the grass and rested my back on it. (The sun is warm on my face and this breeze feels nice…) (A little shut eye wouldn’t hurt.)

Meanwhile.

???: (My last meal didn’t last me long enough as I thought.)  

His eyes surveyed the area.

???: “…Found one.”  

He walks towards the laying figure.

???: (Humans are so carefree…)

Cactus: (Hmm….? Is a cloud blocking the sun…?)

I opened my eyes. A face… is staring…

right.

at.

me.

Cactus: “!”

Impulsively, I try to get up and slam my head into his. I fall back down on the grass with the same impact.

Cactus: (Oww… It throbs so much…)

???: “Blood…”

I reach my hand to touch if there really is blood, but before my hand even makes it, he licks my forehead.

Cactus: (Wha…)

He licks it a few times and the bleeding stops.

I finally touched the area that was bleeding…

Cactus: “No blood…?” “But, I always bleed so much…” Astonished, I grab his arm to pull myself up and look up at him. “What are you…?”

???: “Wo-woman?! Unhand me…!”  

Cactus: “No, I will not…!” “You stopped my bleeding in seconds!” “That’s unheard of! There’s no way I’m letting you go!”

(If I get hurt, I don’t have to worry about stopping the bleeding and dying from blood loss. I can’t let this opportunity pass me by!)

???: “…”

Cactus: “Who are you… exactly..?”

???: *Sigh.* “If you let go of me, I’ll tell you.”

I hold on tighter.

Cactus: “If you promise, you won’t leave.”

???: “…” He gives in with another exasperated sigh. “…A vampire.”

Cactus: “A vampire…?” “A vampire?!?” “Like the kind that sucks your blood and leaves humans to die?!” I unhand him quickly.

Cactus: “Are you going to kill me too…?”

He flinches.

???: “… I—“

Cactus: “I’m anemic!! I barely have enough blood as is and my blood is probably horrible anyways…!”

His stomach growls.

Cactus: “You’re hungry… of course you have to be hungry…”

???: “…Coming down here was my biggest mistake. I’m leaving.”

He gets up to leave but then, shuts his eyes.

Cactus: (Huh…? This would be the perfect time to run and never look back, but… I can’t leave him like this??) “Hey…” I tap him.

His eyes flutter open, a golden hue, way different than his initial brown eyes….

Cactus: (I… I can’t move?!) My heart is beating way too fast. I’m like a deer caught in headlights.  

(Come on…  

just…  

Move!!)

I will myself to move as he suddenly smacks himself. With the trance broken, I can finally move again and break my fall catching myself with my other foot.

???: “Hurry… up and go… before I lose my mind…”

Cactus: “How… how much blood do you need…?!” I ask him before I can even process what I’m even saying.

???: “What…?”

Cactus: “Since you’re hungry and I don’t want you to attack the village… you can have some of mine…” “but!!! I don’t have a lot of blood as I said, so you can’t take a lot okay?!”

I start to fiddle around with my clothes. “Now where do you vampires like to bite…” I peered into his face as I said this. “My neck…?”

???: “What!??” He sputtered out the words and reddened. “Your… hand…”

Cactus: “Oh…” I said a little bit disappointedly. Then quickly said, “I mean oh!!” I thrust my hand in front of his face.  

???: “Sorry…” He bites down.

Cactus: (What is this…? It hurt a bit initially… but now I can’t feel anything…?) (Rather… I feel kind of happy…?)

(…And now I’m feeling dizzy…)

Cactus: “Too… much…”

I blacked out.  

She starts to sway and falls over. He releases her hand and catches her before she falls.  

???: “Hey…” He shakes her lightly.

Cactus: “Nngh…”

???: (She’s alive at least. I should take her back to town.)  

Doctor: “Did Cactus overexert herself again and collapsed? This girl I tell you." "Everyday, someone new takes her here, and I thank you too for seeing her and bringing her." "What are we going to do with you?”

???: “…This happens frequently…?”

Doctor: “Everyday!! She just doesn’t know when to quit." "Just yesterday, she tripped and scraped her knees and it took an hour just to stop it! And it was just a little scrape too, mind you." "Not only that, she kept telling Frederick to put her down and that she can walk herself." "But being the worrywart of all the Shepherds, he didn’t." "It was not until he put her here, then he went back to attend his duties.”

???: “…”

Doctor: “I just wish she had someone watching over her, you know?" "We never know when the Risen will strike, so she spends most of her days training to get stronger if it ever happens.” “By the way, I haven’t seen you around before.” “Visiting perhaps? Or planning to stay?”

???: “I just happened to wander here that’s all.”

Doctor: “Well, I’m sure if you stayed, Cactus would enjoy your presence.” “Don’t be a stranger. We are happy to welcome newcomers.”

???: “…”

He leaves.

 

I opened my eyes. (I’m alive…!) (Wait… just where am I?!) I take a look around.

Doctor: “Feeling better, Cactus? What have I said about taking it easy especially since you are anemic?”

Cactus: “I didn’t exert myself too much…”

Doctor: “Don’t lie to me." "I ran a red blood cell count while you were out. Numbers are looking a lot lower than normally, but not too low that you need a blood transfusion." "Did you cut yourself again while gathering wood or something?" "I don’t know why you keep offering to do all the labor work when one little cut can make you bleed so much. Just, please don’t push yourself.”

Cactus: “Yes ma’am… oh Doctor!! Did someone take me here?” “Is he still around…?”

Doctor: “Oh you mean the handsome man who carried you here like a sack of potatoes?”

Cactus: (A sack of potatoes…) “He has brown hair and brown eyes…. Normally…”

Doctor: “Yes, him. He brought you here and left. I haven’t seen him since.”

Cactus: “Oh… alright. Thank you, Doctor.” “Am I free to go?”

Doctor: “It’s nightfall, so yes get home and go straight to bed do you hear me young lady?”

Cactus: “Yes, moooom.”

Doctor: “Goodness, all you patients are practically my kids with how much you come in here!”

I smiled, thanked my doctor and went home to sleep.

 

The next day.

I wake up and get ready. Before I head out, I make sure to drink my pills for my condition. I look at my hand where he had bitten me. (No bite marks or anything… it’s like none of it ever happened.)

Cactus: “Oh well.” I stretched my arms. “Off I go!” I walk to my usual spot with my axe in my hands and start chopping up firewood.

Cactus: “Maybe I was delusional yesterday and made up the whole thing in my head...” “Yeah that seems more plausible!” “Vampires don’t exist!” I exclaimed as I swung down my axe onto the wood. “It’s not like he’s going to stay in town just to watch over me!” I chop more word as I talk to myself. “Whew! That’s enough wood for today. Now onto exploring~”  

Cactus: “Oooh! A new path! I just need to whack some of this vines out of the way first!” I took a couple of swings, but it didn’t really do much… “Hmmm… these are tougher than they look.” “Just need to make a little opening enough for myself to squeeze through I guess!” I whack it a little more in the same spot. “There we go…!“ I manage to get to the other side. 

“Oh wow!” A mini spring and some fruits. “Better wait to see if they are safe to eat or not.” I sit down by the water and watched for any movement. A bird comes and happily pecks the berries and takes it.  

Cactus: “Must be safe enough for the birds at least. Maybe I’ll pick some and bring it back home for the herbalist to analyze.” As I get up, I quietly let out a gasp.  

(A risen?! Here??) I quickly scan the area. (Just one… if I can take it out…) (…or I can try to run back where I can from.) (No… I have to take it out. Best to ambush it as I’ve got the upper hand!) I took my axe and swung it as hard as I can. The risen took a swing out of reflex as it got hit. (2 more hits should do it. I just have to strike at the perfect chance!) As it lunged at me, I took another swing. (Great! One more to go!) Cactus: “Checkmate.” Though as I took a swing, I missed and it’s claw slashed my right shoulder.  

“Careless.” A voice said as the risen was struck down and died.  

I turned to the voice. “You…”

???: “You’re bleeding.”

I looked down at my shoulder and indeed, I was bleeding. A lot.

Cactus: “Can… can you do something about it?” I know what I was asking was unfair, but I didn’t want to die, not like this. “Please…” “I won’t look!” I quickly added and exposed my shoulder where the wound was and covered my eyes with my hands.

A sigh and just as quickly I felt a hot sensation on my shoulder. I said I wouldn’t look, but I took a little peek though my fingers and saw him licking and looking at me. His eyes met mine for a moment before he looked away, and I couldn’t help, but blush. His face turns red, but he continues until he is finished.

???: “Done.” He backs away from me.

Cactus: “Thank you…” I said as I looked at my shoulder. And just like that, there isn’t a sign of any cuts or blood or anything.

Cactus: “How…”

???: “Vampires have special healing… we can’t have our meals bleed out to death if we feast on them.” “So, we have our fill and close the wounds.”

Cactus: “…Amazing,” the words leave my mouth before I even know I was saying them “you saved my life!” “Thank you… can…you stay with me…?”

???: “What?”

Cactus: “I mean… can we make a deal out of this?”

???: “What do I get out of this?”

Cactus: “Well… whenever I hurt myself and bleed you can stop the bleeding for me and on days I don’t miraculously hurt myself you can take a bite of what you need…?”

???: “…”

Cactus: “It’s a win win! You get a blood supply, and I won’t die from bleeding out!” “Unless… you had tastier blood… and my blood is no good huh…”

???: “I didn’t say that.”

Cactus: “So… deal? You can also live in the room next to mine, if you want.”

???: “For now, I suppose.”

Cactus: “Um. Would you at least tell me your name?” “My name is Cactus.”

???: “It’s Lon’qu.”

Cactus: “Alright Lon’qu! I’m going to pick some berries now to take home.”

Lon’qu: “Do what you want.”

I start to gather some berries in my bag, they were all small red berries.

Cactus: “Mmm they smell sooo good too!” I said, I as put some more in my satchel. After grabbing a good amount, I decided it was time to head back.

Cactus: “Shall we head back to town?”

He nodded.

We left the spring and started walking down the hill towards the town. I really tried making small talk with him, but he wasn’t one for words.

Cactus: “So… where do you come from Lon’qu?”

He shrugs.

Cactus: (Okay…) “Which place did you visit before coming here?”

Lon’qu: “…”

Cactus: “Do you just travel all over the world?”

Lon’qu: “…Not really.”

Not to mention to his nonexistent replies, he was standing soooooo far away from me. I stopped walking, and he abruptly stopped too.

Cactus: “You know, you don’t have to stand so far away.” I took some steps closer to him. He took some steps back.

Lon’qu: “…Wh-what?”

Cactus: “Hold on…” I took another step towards him. He backed up again.

Cactus: “Are… you afraid of me…?” Another step forward.

Lon’qu: “I… demand ample space!” He took a step back in response.

Cactus: “Are you afraid of girls…?”” I took a quick step in front of him.

He took another step back.

Lon’qu: “…No-none of your business.”

Cactus: “Sure.” (We are going to have to work on that…) I’ll leave him be for now. I turned back around and continued going down the hill. I gave him plenty of ample space.

 

When we made it back to town, I stopped by the herbalist shop. He didn’t even step inside just stood outside the door.

Cactus: “Oh! You’re working here today, Tharja?” I showed her the berries I collected.

Tharja: "What have we here? Maybe I can use it for my hexes."

Cactus: “Well… I just want to know if it’s edible or not.”

Tharja: “Lingonberries. You can cook them or eat them raw. I’ll take some…”

Cactus: “Take as much as you need! Thanks!”

Tharja: “Bye for now, hee hee hee.”

 

Cactus: “Good news! They are edible! Let’s try some when we get home!”

Lon’qu: “You can…”

He waited for me to ahead first before he followed me home.

 

I washed the lingonberries and then popped one in my mouth.

Cactus: “Uguhhh. Sour… Do you want to try one Lon’qu?”

Lon’qu: “It’s sour.”

Cactus: “You don’t know that.” I took the bowl and offered it out to him.

Lon’qu: “No thanks…”

Cactus: “If you don’t try one, I’ll throw it at you.”

He gave me a disbelieving look, so I threw one at him. He dodged it and it hit the floor.

Lon’qu: “What in blazes are you doing, woman?”

Cactus: “I did said that if you didn’t try one. I’ll throw it at you.”

Lon’qu: “Well, no matter. It's not as if you'll ever hit me with one...”

Cactus: “Is that a challenge?” “Take this!” I pelted some more berries at him.

Lon’qu: “S-Stop…!” Obviously, I didn’t stop.

Lon’qu: “I won't stand here to be pelted with fruit by a madwoman! I'm leaving!” He dodged all of my attempts and retreated to his room.

Cactus: “… And now I have to clean up this mess.” I sighed as I picked up all the lingonberries that I’ve thrown. I rewashed them and ate one again.

Cactus: “Yup… ughhhh it is sour.”

(Actually… I have an idea. I wonder… if I ate all of this if that would affect the way my blood tasted. I’ll save this for another day.) I ate some leftover dinner then went to wash up. He never left his room that night. But he was still here, which meant that our pact still stands and our days together started.

 

We had a basic routine really.

Wake up. Get ready. Do some training. I practiced with my axe while he practiced with his sword. Sometimes we went exploring if time allowed or if I felt like it. Then, when the sun starts to set, we head back to the house. I use the wood we collect that day to cook dinner and to set the fire at night in the fireplace. After dinner, I would wash up and then offer him my blood for his meal. This also occurred at the kitchen table. And this... was one of those instances.

Cactus: “You know… if you want my blood you’re going to have to come closer…”

Lon’qu: “Just… stay still.”

I stretched my arm as far as it can go suspended in the air. He never touched my hand, as I felt his fangs sink in.

Cactus: (I guess this isn’t really anything different from drawing my blood at the clinic…)

I looked over at him, but his eyes just looked at my hand.

Lon’qu: “D-Done.” As he abruptly gets up, and heads to the living room to do his usual night routine.

We spend the nights together too. He practices with his sword and sometimes I read my many books. I also try to make idle chitchat with him.

Cactus: “Hey, Lon’qu.”

Lon’qu: “What now…?”

Cactus: “Do you have any dreams?”

Lon’qu: “My dream? To master the sword. ...Now leave me be!"

He is always so quick to shoo me away, though he’s been answering my questions now.

 

I was probably nothing more than a walking blood pouch to him, but I didn’t care. I enjoyed our days together. I dragged him around everywhere with me. I had my fair share of injuries. On other days though, he still bites me on my hand… given that it’s not a day when he’s not busy healing me.

 

There was this one day that I was just chopping wood and a piece flew up and struck my collarbone area. (Of all places… why does my war cleric armor have to be like this…?)

Cactus: “Umm. Don’t worry about this.” I say as the blood starts oozing out. I was able to wipe the blood off with a napkin, when all of a sudden, he was next to me.

Lon’qu: “Don’t waste it.” As he cleans my wound, my heart wouldn’t stop thumping. (But I wonder if I was the only one feeling this way…?) It didn’t help either that we spent all day and morning with each other. This was just another one of our many days together.

 

One day, I asked him, “Curious, how often do you have to feed?”

Lon’qu: “Usually, once a month for a regular size human. If I can get extremely healthy blood though, then I can go 2 months without drinking.”

Cactus: (Wait…! But he drinks my blood everyday?! Kinda??)

Lon’qu: “Before you get any weird ideas, Yours… is so little it’s only enough for me to last the day. I’ve drank more blood from you alone than all of my meals in my entire life.” “*sigh* If I take even take a little bit more than what you can offer, you’ll probably will be hospitalized.”

Cactus: “or dead…” I blurted out.

He flinches.

Cactus: “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to—“

Lon’qu: “I won’t… be responsible for your death.”

Cactus: “I know I trust you, Lon’qu.”

He gives me a sad smile, and I wonder if there’s a meaning behind that sadness.

 

His sad smile bothered me for days. (What has him so… forlorn?) (What can I do to cheer him up…?)

Cactus: “Hey, Lon’qu. Let’s spar.”

Lon’qu: “What’s this all of a sudden?

Cactus: “For training purposes.”

Lon’qu: “I guess…”

Today’s training session consisted of me shooting arrows at him… while he parried them with his sword.

Cactus: “Take this!!” I shoot 3 arrows as fast I can.

Lon’qu: “Predictable.” He struck a them all down effortlessly.

I ran closer to him as I kept on shooting some arrows. Perfect guards from him as expected. Caught in the momentum of actually wanting to strike him, I jumped to shoot an arrow!

Cactus: “Checkmate…!” But before I released my arrow… (Hold on… why is he getting closer?!)

Lon’qu: “…!?!”

Slam!

I had practically had leaped…

and landed on top of him.

Cactus: “Ack! I’m sorry!!” I tried to push myself up, which resulted in me pinning my hands on his shoulders…

I can feel my cheeks start to flush as I stared down at him in this position.

His cheeks also reddened as he tried to pry me off, but didn’t know how to.

Lon’qu: “…Humph. Are… you done…”

Cactus: “I’m really sorry!” I got off of him. I put my hands out to pull him up. “Are you okay, Lon’qu?!”

Lon’qu: “I’m fine.” He gets up himself without my hand. I put my hand down…

Cactus: “I caught us both off guard huh?” I laughed.

He does a quick look at me from head to toe.

Lon’qu: “At least… you’re okay.”

I looked down at myself and I was okay. No cuts, no scrapes, nothing. (Does that mean he caught me…?) I needed some time to process this.

Cactus: “Uh, I call a break!!” I said, as I ran to my bag. Though, I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. I just couldn’t get my heart to stop rapidly beating… “What am I going to do…”

Lon’qu: “Hey, are you… okay?”

Cactus: “…!” I whipped around and see him standing there.

Cactus: “Ye-yeah! I just wanted a… snack…” (Apparently, since I was holding the bag of lingonberries. Might as well use this excuse.)

I ate one.

Cactus: “Ughhwuu… it’s still sour.” I made a funny face.

Lon’qu: “Heh.”

Cactus: “Wait… did you just laugh?!”

Lon’qu: “No.”

Cactus: “Yes you did, I heard it!”

Lon’qu: “Never! You are incapable of provoking so much as a chuckle from me.”

Cactus: “Challenge accepted! I’m going to make you laugh again!”

Lon’qu: “How do I get myself into these things...”

We spent the rest of that day chopping some firewood, until it was his mealtime.

I gave him my hand and suprisingly, he held my hand this time… as he bit down. But he stopped, and my blood was pooling at the top.

Cactus: “Ummm… is something wrong…?”

Lon’qu: “It’s sour…”

Cactus: “…What…?” I pulled my hand back and licked my own blood.

Cactus: “Uhh… No… it just tastes like blood…”

Lon’qu: “What are you doing…”

My blood was still flowing out from his initial bite.

Lon’qu: “Sorry…” As he put his mouth back on my hand, and had his fill, then he licked the wound closed.

Lon’qu: “So… sour.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. I didn’t have anything to say to that… He reached out to one of the berries still on the table and pops one in his mouth.

Cactus: (Oh, now he chooses to try one after my relentless assaults…)

Lon’qu: “The same…”

Cactus: “Ah…” (So, it wasn’t me.) I was relieved at this thought. (But, why am I so relieved…?) “I’m… going to go study…!” Again, I fled from my feelings and from him…

 

A couple months has passed and he still calls me “Woman” or “You” or whatever else but never my name.

Cactus: “So, hey, Lon’qu.”

Lon’qu: “…What?”

Cactus: “I just wanted to call you by your name.”

Lon’qu: “…”

Cactus: “Lonnnn’quuuuu” I say as I chop some firewood with my axe.

He looks at me and sigh.

Lon’qu: “…”

Cactus: “It’s a good name! Lon’qu!”

Lon’qu: “Just what are you trying to do, woman…”

Cactus: (There it is again, ‘woman’. I mean it doesn’t really bug me… much, but oh well.) “Nothing at all.” Changing the subject, I quickly added “Let’s go exploring today!”

I make him follow me to the spring I found the last time. “The vines grew back so quickly already. Just needs a little whack.” I step back and prepare my stance to take a swing.

When he suddenly whispers, “Don’t move or scream, Cactus.”

Cactus: “?” (Did he just…?) I stayed in the same position, when I suddenly felt something on my shoulder followed by a hissing noise. I dared not to look as it slowly travelled down my arm. (Stay calm… stay calm… stay… I really can’t do this…!!) I can feel my arms starting to involuntarily shake, which causes the snake to begin to be on edge… it looked towards me with its tongue flickering. I looked around with my eyes to access the current situation. I see Lon’qu pointing a bow and arrow at the snake. (Oh dear. If he shoots the snake, both me and the snake are dead!!) I take a breath and slowly and softly lower my arm to the ground hoping that it would entice the snake to continue on its way. After what felt like eternity has passed, the snake finally decided to slither on the ground moving on with its life. I heaved a loud breath. “Oh thank goodness.” I slowly turned back to the vines to make sure there weren’t any more snakes hiding.

Lon’qu walks towards me and says “Huh… Not half bad.”

Cactus: “But, I could have died!”

Lon’qu: “No.” He says as a matter of fact. “If it bit you, I was going to shoot it. I’m glad it didn’t have to come to that though.” He pauses then adds. “Let’s go unless you want to continue?”

Cactus: “I rather go somewhere else that’s safer that I know of.” I started to walk to the river I use for fishing sometimes. I grabbed my fishing rod that I left in the shed.

Cactus: “Know how to fish?”

Lon’qu: “Of course.” I hand him my fishing rod.  

Lon’qu: “It’s fine I can make one. You fish first.” He starts to walk off to find some sturdy wood.

Cactus: “Sure, okay...” I take back my fishing rod and start hooking bait to my hook. (I guess being a vampire, you have to learn all sorts of skills to make it through life alone...) “Alright!” I cast my fishing rod feeling the string release until I feel a pull… a snag.  

Cactus: (Umm… it never hit the water though…?) I started to reel in, but it wouldn’t budge. I followed my string, to see that it had caught on the back of his cape.

Cactus: (How has this happened?! I mean I didn’t look when I threw my cast but still?!) “I’m… sorry!”

Lon’qu: “Don’t you pay attention?”

Cactus: “Honestly, it’s usually just me soooo, nope!”

He sighs and tries to remove the hook, but it’s in such a state that he can’t quite get a good grip on it.

Cactus: “Hold on, let me help.” I never realized that he was so tall, as I stared at his back. I picked off the hook. “Sorry, again Lon’qu.” I said as I took my hook back with me so I can reel it in after.

Lon’qu: “Just be careful.”

I made it back to my spot and before casting this time I turned back to make sure that I wouldn’t hit him again as embarrassing as that was. (Coast is clear.) I cast out my line and spent the rest of the day fishing. Nothing else out of the ordinary happened. That night, I ended up catching 3 carps, which I had for dinner. After I washed up, it was his time to feed.

Cactus: “Here you go…” I stretched my arm as far as it can go. But, he grabbed my hand, again...

Cactus: “Eh…?”

Lon’qu: “You… shouldn’t have to excessively stretch every time…”

He moved his chair closer.

Cactus: (Is he finally getting used to me?) I was a little too happy at this little change.

He bit down and I watched him. His eyes were looking back at mine. Embarrassed, I looked away…

Lon’qu: “Salty…”

Cactus: “The fish I had for dinner huh?” I laughed embarrassed. “Maybe you should cook dinner for me sometimes, so you can have a better meal.” I joked.

Lon’qu: “Maybe I will.” He said as he licked and closed the wound.

Cactus: (I wasn’t expecting that…) I found myself looking forward to the day to come.

 

Two weeks had passed, when he had suddenly wanted to go hunting.

Cactus: “So, what kind of game are we looking for?”

Lon’qu: “Whatever we can find, then we can trade it for whatever you are craving.”

Cactus: “I’m okay with anything though…” (Well, when you’re starving anything is good right? But, I really don’t want him to kill the first thing we see…) “Just don’t kill the ducks or deer or bears or squirrels or the rabbits or…” I keep listing out animals I can think of that I saw around here.

Lon’qu: “…What am I supposed to hunt then?”

Cactus: “We can fish and then trade whatever is at the market? That’s what I usually do…” He lets out an exasperated sigh.

Lon’qu: “Fine.” “Let’s go fishing then.”

Cactus: “…Really?” I was honestly surprised.

Lon’qu: “Hurry up, or I’ll leave you behind.” I trailed after him to a different fishing spot that I haven’t tried before.

Cactus: “Ooh! You finally made that fishing rod of yours from last time!” I admired his handywork.

Lon’qu: “It’s nothing really… anyone can make one.”

Cactus: (Not anyone...) “I can’t…?”

Lon’qu: “Here…” He handed me the fishing rod.

Cactus: “Huh? But this one is yours…!”

Lon’qu: “I… made two.” He places the fishing rod in my hands.

Cactus: “For me!?” (This is my first gift from him…) I felt extremely happy. A wide grin spread across my face. “Thank you, Lon’qu!”

Lon’qu: “It’s nothing…” His face slightly reddened as he casted his line into the lake.

We caught a good haul of fish and then doubled back into town to trade them.

Lon’qu: “Is there anything that you want?”

Cactus: “Anything is fine… whatever they have!” I really didn’t want anything in particular.

He traded some of the fish for some meat and potatoes. When we got back to the house, he started to peel the potatoes.

Cactus: (Is he really going to cook for me for the first time ever too?!) I couldn’t help, but get a little excited… “So, um, do you need some help preparing anything…?”

Lon’qu: “No.” He quickly prepared everything and started to cook. I just stared at him in awe.

Lon’qu: “You’re... distracting me…”

Cactus: (I couldn’t help it…) “I could learn a few things from you cooking!”

Lon’qu: “If you say so.” I made effort to look at what he is cooking rather than the cook himself… By the time he finishes cooking, my stomach growls.

I laugh. “I must be hungry…” I go grab a plate and sit at the kitchen table. “Thanks for the meal!” I take a bite. (He really is an excellent cook too… what can’t he do…)

Cactus: “It’s delicious…!” “Aren’t you going to have some too…?”

Lon’qu: “Not hungry.”

Cactus: “But, it’s so good!”

Lon’qu: “You just need to enjoy it.”

I finished up my dinner, cleaned, and then washed up. I came back to the dinner table, so he can have his meal. Our chairs were side by side now, and I gave him my hand. He took it and bit down.

Lon’qu: “You’re right.”

Cactus: “Huh? Right about what…?”

Lon’qu: “It is delicious.” He said as he cleaned the bite. He let go of my hand when he was done.

I was speechless. (I mean I know it was his cooking, but talk about the straight forwardness...)

Cactus: “…All thanks to your cooking!” I blurt out as I ran towards the living room, embarrassed. (But for what…?) I sat down in my chair, and pulled out a book to read. Not long after, he arrived and started practicing his sword stances. I pretend to read, but really all I can do was think about him and watch him…

 

More days continued like so, that time has blinked in a flash. It’s been a year like this, I feel like we are getting closer and closer. Until this one particular day…  

I had just woken up and gotten ready for the day, when I opened the door and he was standing in front of my room.

Lon’qu: “Cactus, I’ll be leaving for about… three days.”

Cactus: “Three days…? Why…?” “I mean are you even going to last without going hungry for three days?” (With my blood that is, unless he’s planning to suck someone else’s blood…) The thought sent a sick feeling to my stomach.  

Lon’qu: “Three should be enough, and I’ll be fine.”

Cactus: (Says the guy who’s been drinking my blood for a year now.) “Okay…” I managed to say as I had really nothing else to say.

Cactus: “I guess you can drink my blood and make me pass out for three days.” I laugh it off as a joke. Though, it wasn’t really a joke.

Lon’qu: “Don’t be careless.”

Cactus: (Promise me you won’t take someone else’s blood...) I dangerously thought. (When have I gotten so possessive over him…?) “…”

He looks at my face as I looked away on an impulse.

Lon’qu: “…Will you be okay?”

Cactus: “Why wouldn’t I be?” (A question with a question. Not a yes or a no…) I was being so stubborn and for what? I plastered a smile on my face. “Have fun on your mini vacation!” (Away from me.) I really didn’t want to be like this. I didn’t want to make him feel bad for whatever he needed to do… (So why… did it bother me so much…?)

Lon’qu: “Look. I’ll stay today, then I’ll go tomorrow.”  

Cactus: (But you’re still going…) “No… it’s fine... Go…” I thrust out my hand to him. “Drink as much as you normally do. I’ll take it easy today by helping out at the clinic. I haven’t done that in a while, I’m not a war cleric for nothing after all!”  

He hesitated.  

Cactus: “I’m okay on my own, Lon’qu. I actually have some things I need to take care of too!” I lied, but I said it was so much conviction that even I thought it was true at that moment.

Lon’qu: “Alright. If you say so. Just don’t do anything dangerous while I’m not here.” He says this as he reached for my hand and bit down. After he had enough he licked the wound, “I’ll be back in three days, Cactus. Thanks.” And with those last words, he headed out the door. I watch him leave. He really was going… to wherever he was going to. “Well, moping is not going to get me anywhere!” I left the doorstep of my room, drank my pills and headed out myself. I looked out to the distance but of course, he wasn’t going to be there.

I walked to the clinic.

Doctor: “Well, look at who finally shows up.”

Cactus: “Sorry, I’ve been occupied.”

Doctor: “Nah, if I don’t see any of my patients it means that you are well and healthy and I am glad for that. So, what brings you here today?”

Cactus: “I thought I can help out with mending or changing bandages.”

She laughs at that. “Yes, a war cleric who’s terrible at changing bandages, at least it makes the patients laugh and then it takes you a way longer time to fix them then it’s supposed to.”

Cactus: “I just need more practice! Besides, no one is complaining!”

Doctor: “Go ahead and get started when you are ready and thanks for volunteering. I am always grateful for a pair of extra hands.”

I get ready with my staff and a roll of bandages. Work kept my body and my mind busy. My doctor made some food and we had dinner together before she let me go home. “Whew! I’m exhausted!” I said as I plopped on my bed after taking a shower. I should have dried my hair, but I didn’t, I fell asleep.

 

The next morning.

I woke up the next day feeling groggy. My mouth felt dry, my head felt cold, I didn’t want to get out of bed. I laid there with my eyes closed and fell back asleep. By the time I woke up, it was already 11am. “Ugh… I wasted my whole morning sleeping.” I rolled out of bed, to brush my teeth and get ready for the day. I drank my pills and headed out the door. A breeze flew by and touched my skin “… it feels colder today somehow…” (Must be my imagination.) “Hmmmm… What should I do today?”  

“And where do you think… you’re going?” I hear a voice in front of me.

Cactus: “Doctor?! What are you doing outside?”

Doctor: “Call it a doctor’s intuition. I had a bad feeling, when I got up today, so I went to my ex most frequent clinic candidate, and I was right.”

Cactus: “Right about what…?”

Doctor: “You are not allowed to leave your house until you recover do you hear me?”

Cactus: “Oh come on, I’m fine!”

She whips out a thermometer and it read, 102 degrees.

Cactus: “Oh…”

Doctor: “Rest!! And drink plenty of water. Stay hydrated! And… if u feel very very sick, then drink this fever medicine.” She hands me a package full of powder. Mix it with water and then drink it. Do you want me to send someone to watch over you?”

Cactus: “No… I’m fine, I can manage…”  

Doctor: “Cool down, change out of your war cleric clothes and wear something more light, like your old tactician clothes without your cloak.”

Cactus: “Okay…” I trudge back inside my house as she waves me to go back inside and she shuts the door. I lock it.  

Cactus: “First things first, a glass of cold water and then I will go change.”  

Cactus: “At least I’m not feeling, terribly bad.” I got changed. It’s been awhile since I wore this around the house like this. (It feels exposing, without my robe. Sleeping in it is one thing, but roaming around my house like this is another.) “But whatever, it’s helping me cool off and that’s what is important.” I rest my head on my arms on the kitchen table. Moments later, my stomach growls… which makes me think of him.  

Flashback: *Stomach Growls* Lon’qu: “Time for you to eat. What do you want today? I’ll make it for you.” End of flashback.

Cactus: “Have I really become so helpless?” I smack my cheeks. “This isn’t like me!” I get up from the table and go boil some water for noodles. “Okay. Yeah, maybe I am a bit lazy but not helpless… I miss his cooking though…” I sigh as I cook my noodles. I added some meat and some onions.

Cactus: “At least when you’re starving, everything tastes good.” I devoured my meal, and then cleaned up. With nothing really else to do, I decided to read a book that Cordelia lent me. (I never really thought about it before but this title… ‘Make Him Fall for You in a Fortnight’ is… quite the title). I read a few chapters, and before I knew it, it was night. “All I know is that I would never do any of these things that the book was suggesting.” I grabbed the book, my water container, and the medicine pouch just in case and put them on my nightstand in my room. I felt better than this morning, so I sat in bed and continued reading. I eventually fell asleep thinking about how these tactics would probably scare Lon’qu away more than making him fall for me.

 

CRASH!!

I wake up in the middle of my sleep to a loud noise. I look at the clock. “… it’s only 4am…” Reluctantly, I got up to check it out. I opened my door, and I see Lon’qu holding himself up from hitting the table…? I suspect.

Cactus: “Lon’qu…?” My voice comes out sleepily and his head turns to face me. Those golden… hungry eyes… He’s in front of me in an instant. Lon’qu: “I’m hungry...” He says as his eyes travel across from my head to my arms. A bit perplexed, I look down at myself and realize I’m more exposed than how he normally sees me. (I’m like a taunting blood pouch…) “I know you’re hungry here…!” As I thrust out my arm to put my hand by his mouth, he bites my lower arm instead. (Ummm…) I just watched him, as his eyes eventually turned back to brown. Cactus: “I’m glad you’re okay… welcome back, Lon’qu.” Regaining his senses, “Sorry and thanks. You should go back to bed, Cactus.” He walks past me and into his room and closes the door. (Shut out again huh…?) But instead of feeling sad, I just felt relaxed due to the vampire’s toxins. I went back into my room and fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning, feeling quite amazing actually. (It’s like he took my sickness away.) I brushed, showered, and got ready back into my war cleric attire. Usually, he’s already out here waiting for me, but there is no sign of him. (Did he leave again? This time without saying anything?) I walked towards his room and knocked on his door. “Lon’qu?” Another knock. No reply. (Should I go in? …Can I go in?) After a moment’s hesitation I decided to go in anyways. “Lon’qu I’m coming in…” I open his door, which surprisingly was unlocked.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. His bed was at least 7 ft above the floor and a pile of blankets that looked like a heap. It was definitely taller than me. I called out his name no reply. I tried reaching to tap him, but my arms couldn’t reach to where he was. “I’m going to have to climb up there don’t I…?” I managed to get on top of his bed and crawled to where he was. I tapped the heap of blankets. “Hey, Lon’qu. It’s morning…” Still no reply. (There’s only one option left!) I pull on his blankets. His face looked flushed, and I instinctively touched his forehead. “He’s burning.” I pulled off the rest of the blankets off of him and tapped him. “It’s time to wake up…” No response. So, I started to shake his shoulders.

Lon’qu: “Nnngh… stop…” He pulled my arms to stop me towards him, which caused me to lose and balance. I fell on top of him. “Wa-wait!” He hugs me. Lon’qu: “So… cool.” He snuggles closer to my neck. Embarrassed as I was at this sudden contact… (He’s still so cute… wait!!  I need to cool down his temperature since he gotten my fever…) “Lon’qu you have to wake up and take a cold shower…!”

Lon’qu: “Don’t… want to.”

Cactus: “Let me at least put a cold towel on your forehead then…?”

Lon’qu: “I don’t need it. I just need you…” He falls asleep.

Cactus: (How can you say that and just fall asleep…?) “Am I supposed to just stay like this until you wake up then…?”

I stared at his sleeping face. (I guess this has the closest we have ever been, he looks so relaxed unlike his stern, stoic self, but I love that look on him…) (Wait… love…?) When I think about all the memories and talks we shared, it’s not a surprise that I fell in love. He has saved me countless of times. I find myself looking to see him everyday and spending time together. I just wanted to be with him… (When was it that I started to love you…) “Do you know that I love you Lon’qu?” I whispered. I played with his hair for awhile… (So… fluffy…) (As much as I want to be in his arms and tousle his hair all day, I need to get some things done…) (Normally, when someone is a sick, a good meal would help speed up the process. But since I’m his meal…) (I need to make sure I eat something good today…) (Now, how do I get out of his arms…) I slowly tried to move downwards, but somehow his grip seemed tighter than when he was awake?? (I mean he is basically hugging my waist now. I’m stuck…!) I look for the clock, 10:45am, I guess waking him up at 11 would be fine. Just 15 more minutes… I touch his forehead again with my hand. “Still warm, but at least it’s not burning as before, so I guess he’s okay.” I remove my hand and his eyes flutter open.

Lon’qu: “…What’s going on…?”

Cactus: (Well for starters, you’re the one who has me stuck…) “I was trying to wake you up, but you didn’t bulge. It’s almost 11am…” “I think that you’re sick…”

Lon’qu: “It should pass.” He releases me and gets up to wash up.

Cactus: “I’ll get started on lunch!” I called after him as I slowly got off his bed. (Falling off of this would be bad...) I made it down safely and headed for the kitchen. I found some potatoes and carrots. (Curry it is!) I started peeling the carrots remembering that Lon’qu was the deftest potato peeler ever. I moved on to cooking the rice and then preparing the chicken. Add some curry spices to the chicken and other suitable seasoning, I placed it on our makeshift hearth and added firewood to the fire to start cooking. I was cutting the onions when he came over straight to peeling potatoes. I warmly laughed at that.

Lon’qu: “What…?”

Cactus: “Nothing except that you’re just the best potato peeler ever!”  

I was mesmerized just watching him peel them, he was done in a few minutes, as it would have taken me at least 20 mins or so.

Cactus: “Thank you!” We finished cooking the curry, and it was time to eat!

Cactus: “Are you not going to have some?”

Lon’qu: “I suppose I could. Once in a while doesn’t hurt.”

Cactus: “Are you feeling better…?”

Lon’qu: “After I eat, I’ll be fine.”

Cactus: “Oh that’s good!” I was relieved.

Lon’qu: “Good…?”

Cactus: “Yeah because after you eat your food—“ (I realized he meant my blood and not the curry.) “I sometimes forget that you are a vampire since you act so much like a human…” I laughed embarrassed.

Lon’qu: “A vampire is not that much different from a human after all.”

Cactus: “Besides… the whole blood thing what else?” I was genuinely curious.

Lon’qu: “Vampires are stronger and live longer. We don’t really get sick.”

Cactus: (Unless you have bad blood.) I complete his sentence in my mind. “So superior husbands?”  

Lon’qu: *Cough* “…What?”

Cactus: “I meant humans!! Superior humans… My mouth has a mind of its own it seems.”

Lon’qu: “The trade off isn’t really worth it though...” He got up to wash his plate.

Cactus: (It would be a burden… having to find a new person every month huh…?) “Wait, what does blood taste like to vampires anyways?”

He shrugs. “Every meal is different.”  

Cactus: “What does mine taste like then…?”

Lon’qu: “Sometimes your food. …Your pills?” He hands me my pills as I haven’t drank them at all today.

Cactus: “That’s pretty nasty then…” I gulped them down with water. “Ugh… bitter.”

Lon’qu: “One more thing about us…”

Cactus: “Hmmm…?” He picks up the table knife and cuts his skin. (What did just…) But… nothing came out.

Lon’qu: “Vampires don’t bleed. Does that frighten you?”

Cactus: “No… You’re still you…” “Maybe you have to drink blood because you lack it…?”

Lon’qu: “And if I said, vampires don’t have a heart either. Then what…?”

I tried thinking back to this morning, wasn’t there a pulse, his warmth…? “You…breathe, you still live, you’re still… Lon’qu.” (And I still very much love you despite all these things.) “I don’t think you need a heart to feel love and be loved… that’s what matters more doesn’t it…?”

Lon’qu: “I honestly cannot tell sometimes if you are a genius or a complete dimwit.”

Cactus: “It’s all a part of my many charms.”

Lon’qu: “Perhaps.”

Silence. Cactus: “Well… thanks for indulging in my questions.”

Lon’qu: “Let me ask you a question since I’ve answered yours.”

Cactus: “Alright…That’s fair.”  

Lon’qu: “… Nevermind. Let’s head out.”

Cactus: (Really?!) “But, you’re still sick?!” I reached out to touch his forehead like I’ve been doing all day. It wasn’t hot at all.

Cactus: “Huh? Let’s just double check.” I took out a spare thermometer reader I had, the one you find at clinics, the dispensable ones where you have to put it under your tongue to get a reading.

Cactus: “Say Ahhhh~” I teased. I start to slowly reach out like I was going to put it in his mouth. (He’ll probably tell me to give it to him and he can do it hims—)

Lon’qu: “Ah” he looked at me with his mouth opened.

I stopped midway because I didn’t see this happening. He stepped closer, bent down, and put it in his mouth himself. I can feel is light breath on my fingertips from where I was holding it. Moments later the machine beeped and I pulled it away. I felt my face flushing as I said, “98.7 degrees. You are fine…”

Lon’qu: “Should we test yours?” He takes the machine from my hand, tosses his away, and dispenses a new one.

Cactus: “Huh? No I’m fi—nmgh” He puts it under my tongue while I was talking.

I couldn’t help, but look at his face since it was right in front of me and he looked… amused. The machine beeps.  

Lon’qu: “99.9 degrees”

Cactus: “Are you sure…?” He showed me the machine.  

Lon’qu: “Are you sure you’re okay?” He touches my forehead with his hands.

Cactus: “…!” (I think he’s getting back at me for how I’ve been acting all day…)

Lon’qu: “You’re hot.”

Cactus: (Okay I know he didn’t mean it that context, but really?! My heart is having an episode.) “I’m fine!!” I blurted out. “Let’s go training…!” I walked past him towards the door.

Lon’qu: “Heh.” He said something, but I didn’t quite hear it since I was already out the door. We were doing the same things we do every day as if he never left for 2 nights even though he said 3. It was nothing special per say, but it was very special for me even if we got into our daily routines. We chopped some firewood until it was time to go back home. Once we got home, either he makes me dinner alone or I make dinner with him. (He very much spoils me so even if he doesn’t know it.) After dinner, I wash up and then that’s when he usually has his meals, namely, my blood. I thought about all the times we have gone through this.

I remember initially, our two chairs were very distant, he would make me reach out my arm as far as it went. He didn’t even touch my hand then. Just bit my hand suspended in air. His eyes never leaving my hand. I can’t remember how long it took, but then I didn’t have to stretch out like that anymore. We were suddenly in closer proximity, with our two chairs, side by side. He would take my hand and bite down on it. But lately, I would feel his eyes looking at me. It was then, I realized I started feeling self-conscious about it too. And, as always, I looked away, embarrassed.

And now at this present, our two chairs are facing each other. I give him my hand, and he holds it and sinks his fangs in. When he finishes having his fill, he licks it clean not that there was ever a mess to begin with. “Closing the wound”, as he would always tell me.

Like clockwork, we would hang out in the living room, reading books, studying, idle talk, most of the time he trains with his sword as he’s always wants to better his swordsmanship. Once it was bed time, we would tell each other good night. In the beginning, he would ask me "What are you still doing up…?" But now lately, he’s been kicking me to bed, saying “You should sleep, Cactus."  

 

We spent the next days the same way as if none of that ever happened… No talks about why he even went on that 3 day trip. No explanation, nothing. I couldn’t bring myself to ask about it either… (But, I guess nothing has changed for the worse, so that’s a good sign??) I sigh. (At least, he calls me by my name when he addresses me now and cooks me meals again.)

Yet, I’m getting a bit selfish… (Doesn’t he like me even a little bit…?!) (How frustrating it is to be the only one in love…) I keep stealing glances at him. (I’m being so obvious I can’t even…)

Lon’qu: “Did you need something?”

Cactus: “Huh whuh no… don’t mind me hahaha” I laugh awkwardly as I continue my daily training. I continue chopping up firewood, since it’s getting colder and we need the fireplace running throughout the night.

Cactus: “Doesn’t he want to bite my neck…”

Lon’qu: “!”

Flustered that I said that out loud than internally, I instinctively let go of my axe as I was swinging it down.  

Lon’qu: “Watch out!”

My axe clatters to the ground as he wraps me in his arms.  

Cactus: “I messed that up... Thanks for saving me yet again.”

Lon’qu: “Cactus.”

Cactus: “Yes…?”

Lon’qu: “…Nothing.” He lets go of me, and I can tell that he got hurt a little.

Cactus: “Hold on, let me heal you.”

Lon’qu: “I don’t need it… remember?”

I remember the day he showed me that he doesn’t bleed, that it doesn’t hurt.

Cactus: “Yeah I know, but still… just let me.”

I took my staff and healed him a bit.

Lon’qu: “…Thanks.”

We go back to cutting some firewood in silence. Of course that day I didn’t hurt myself, so it was time to give him his meal. We always sat opposite each other on opposite chairs in the dining room.

Cactus: “Here…” I thrust out my hand to him like I usually do, but today I felt more on edge.  

Lon’qu: “Not offering me your neck?”

Cactus: “!” “You heard that huh…” (Was he teasing me?) “That was just—“

He picks me up and places me on his lap.  

Lon’qu: “A bite on the neck for vampires means that you are mine. Is that what you want?”  

Cactus: “I… Have… have you ever bitten anyone on the neck…?” I asked instead.

Lon’qu: “…No.”

Cactus: “Wait…” (I had a sudden flashback to the first time we met…)

Flashback. “Now where do you vampires like to bite…” I peered into his face as I said this. “My neck…?” End of Flashback. (To think that I was offering myself like that…)

I was utterly embarrassed. Perhaps he was remembering the same thing…?

Lon’qu: “Heh.”

Cactus: “Wait. Did you just laugh at me again??”

Lon’qu: “...”

Cactus: “Yes. You did! I heard you...!“

He looks at me seriously.

Lon’qu: “You should learn more about me before you decide, Cactus.” He says this as he grabs my hand and bites down. (Before I decide what exactly…?) Somehow being this close makes a difference even though he is still feeding off my hand… After he finished, I quickly hopped off and wished him a good night, while I retreated to my room next door blushing head to toe.

 

The next day.

“I look horrible.” I couldn’t sleep all night thinking about Lon’qu. I look so much paler and sicker today. “Ahhh.” I pat my face. I opened the door to my room and he was in front of it. A second time this has happened... with the first time when he went on that trip of his…

Cactus: “!”

Lon’qu: “Morning Cactus, here, your pills and water. After you take that, let’s head out.” He says as he already starts striding to the door.

Cactus: “Morning, yes…!” I swallowed quickly as I followed him out the door.

Lon’qu: “Where to today?”

Cactus: “Same as usuals, we need to chop some firewood.” I put on my best smile as he peered into my face.

Lon’qu: “Not with the way you look.”

Cactus: “It’s not that bad..!” I protested.

Lon’qu: “I’ve been with you how long now? You look paler than usual.” He takes my hand and walks me along the path we always take. But instead of turning to our regular training area. He takes me under the tree, pulls out the blanket, and pushes me down to lay on it.

Lon’qu: “Sleep.”

Cactus: “I just got up this morning and you’re telling me to sleep…”

Lon’qu: “You didn’t sleep all night.”

Cactus: (How would he know…?!)

I was still on my back and looked up at him. He looks back down at me.

Lon’qu: “Sleep.” He repeats himself.

Cactus: “Easy for you to say.”

I was about to get up, when he uses his hand to cover both of my eyes.

Lon’qu: “You sleep by shutting both of your eyes.”

Cactus: (So unfair…)

Lon’qu: “I was 8 when food no longer sustained me.”

Cactus: “Wha…” I wanted to see his face as he told me his story. I tried to move his hand off my face, but he held them firm.

Lon’qu: “Just listen…”

Cactus: (Again… unfair…) but, I listened.

Lon’qu: “The elders of my clan told me that I need to start drinking human blood. But, I refused.” “I ended up starving and lost my senses when I met up with her again… Ke’ri.”

I sharply inhaled. (Jealousy, I suspected… how many years before then have they known each other…?)

Lon’qu: “I told her I was hungry and that I was a vampire for the first time ever since befriending her. But, she didn’t hesitate. She offered me her blood, every time I asked and when I didn’t ask.”

My breathing was getting more and more rapid. I tried to keep it under control (but, I can’t help, I’m extremely jealous…)

Lon’qu takes a breath and continues. “It was like this for quite sometime, there were days when I refused to drink which was a foolish decision.”

“One night I came back famished, and she found me. I didn’t even notice a thing. I should have paid more attention… But she…”

He paused.

“A woman died because of my failings. I killed…her…”

Hearing that, I shot up.

Cactus: “No, you didn’t!! He looked so vulnerable, so defenseless, that I went to hug him. “It wasn’t your fault, Lon’qu…” I rubbed his back while still hugging him. “I don’t have any right to say this, but I believe that she did it because she chose to. You didn’t force her… she… (it pained me to say it, but I had to say it) she loved you…” (and you probably loved her too. If she were still alive, we probably wouldn’t even have met…) my own thoughts betrayed me.

Lon’qu: “I’m sorry. I need some time to be alone.” He unwraps himself from my hug and walks off in the distant. I wanted to chase him, yell at him to wait! But, I couldn’t… I stood there watching his back get smaller and smaller until he disappeared into the distance. (I should have done something, but I did nothing…) “And now he’s gone…” I spent the rest of the day heartbroken, and decided to carry some firewood home to keep my hands occupied to lessen the thoughts running through my mind. As I was walking down the slope, I lost my balance and tumbled down while holding the firewood.  

I was hurting. I looked down to my legs, and of course I was bleeding. And he wasn’t there to save me… (He isn’t here anymore…)

“Cactus!!!” I heard someone calling my name before I blacked out.

 

I woke up back in the clinic. (It’s been a while since I’ve been here…)

Doctor: “Oh thank goodness!!! What happened?!? You haven’t been here for a year… and all of a sudden you come here with bloodied legs, you scared me!”

Cactus: “I’m sorry… how long has it been since I’ve been out?”

Doctor: “You have been sleeping for a week.”

Cactus: “A week?!?” (Lon’qu…!! Did he even eat?!) “Doctor!! Have you seen Lon’qu??”

My doctor hesitated and replied, “No… no one has seen him for a week…”

Cactus: “I have to find him!!” I tried to get out of bed, but my legs throbbed. I looked down. (Bandages. Oh, how I don’t miss them…) “I need to get to him…!” I tried getting out of bed anyways.

Doctor: “Not in that condition young lady!”  

Cactus: “I must!! No matter the cost…!” I got out of bed even though it pained me. I made it to the door when I realized I had no idea where he could have gone. (I really don’t know anything about him... I know nothing.) My heart hurt, my head hurts, everything hurts…

“Just where are you, Lon’qu…?” I scanned the village from outside the clinic’s door leaning against the wall for support.

“Home…” (He must be home. If there’s one place that he wanted me to find him, it would be the place that we shared no matter what!) I slowly hobbled all the way home. Luckily for me, the clinic, and the house I lived in were in close proximity. (Finally!! I made it home.) The house was a mess, like something went rogue in here.  

“Lon’qu?” I hobbled to his room and the door was unlocked. “Lon’qu? I’m coming in…”  

I opened the door and was met with golden eyes. (He is definitely… hungry.)

“You’re home… thank goodness…” I walked towards him. The wounds on my legs reopened due to the exertion I put on them. Blood was seeping through the bandages. His eyes instinctively looked at my legs. “Umm…” I begin to unwrap them on my own until he came by and started unwrapping the bandages off himself.  

 

I remembered back to the time when I had cut my knees for the first time since meeting him.

Cactus: “Sorry… must be gross that you have to do this to my knees huh…”

Lon’qu: “When you eat, do you think about which parts you are eating?”

Cactus: “Hmmm.. Not really…”

Lon’qu: “And when you’re starving are you really going to think about what you are eating?”  

Cactus: “You have a valid point. If I’m starving then I just eat!”

Lon’qu: “It’s the same idea for me.”

 

The wet sensations brought me back to the present. Here I am, with my love of my life, kneeling on the ground healing my legs while I am standing stupidly here. (No matter how you look at this, it looks so wrong…) “It’s as equivalent as eating off the floor,” I blurted out. His eyes looked at me as I covered my mouth with my hands. “I didn’t mean to say that aloud...!” He threw me on his bed.

Lon’qu: “Is this better?”

But, he wasn’t really looking for a reply as he was cleaning up whatever was left. (If only my bandages didn’t have the majority of my blood loss, he might have been satiated…) I look at his eyes again, still the golden hue but not as prominent as before.  

Cactus: “You’re still hungry right…?” (I wasn’t sure how much blood I had lost but I was out for a week, sooo I shouldn’t be that low on blood right…? I can still give some?)

“Just a little bit though… I was out for a week I’m sorry…” I said honestly. “I don’t know how much I can give today…”

Cactus: “Take as much as you need to come back to your senses…?”  

I put my hand in front of his mouth.

Lon’qu: “I don’t want that...”

Cactus: (He doesn’t want my blood…?) Rejected I didn’t know what to say or do, I just looked at him.

He shifted his position that he was above me now.  

Cactus: “Lon’qu…?”

He moved the right side of my hair onto the bed, leaned down… and bit my neck.

Cactus: (Wha…)  

Flashback: Lon’qu: “A bite on the neck for vampires means that you are mine. Is that what you want?” Flashback ends.

He releases his bite, licks the wound, and rolls off of me. (Umm…) I turned to my side to get a closer look at him. His breathing has slowed, it looks like he fell asleep…

Cactus: (Is he even going to remember this when he wakes up?) I didn’t want to leave his side, so I curled up next to him and fell asleep not too long after.

 

The next morning.

Sunlight hit my face as I opened my eyes after waking. (It’s morning…) I looked over and see his sleeping face.  

Cactus: (Would he get mad if I kissed him…? Wait, what am I thinking?! I mean… he did bite me on the neck so I’m his right?!) “Do you know that you are mine..?” I whispered as I snuggled closer and kissed him on his cheek.  

He opened one eye and looked at me.  

Lon’qu: “Cactus…?” He closed his eye and opened both eyes. “You?!”

Cactus: “Morning… it’s me.” I laughed softly. “Or were you expecting someone else?”

His eyes trailed down my face to my neck.

Lon’qu: “Who… marked you?”

Cactus: “Huh?” Various questions flew in my mind. (Who do you mean who?! Did you not remember what you did last night?! It was you??)  

Cactus: “It was…you…” He touched my neck where he bit me as I said that. A smiled formed on his lips.

Lon’qu: “Just making sure you don’t forget.” He rolled on top of me and playfully nipped at the spot he marked me.

I furiously blushed. Embarrassed I reached up my hands to his shoulders when suddenly he grabbed my fingers.  

Lon’qu: “Will you accept this?” He says as he slides a ring down my left finger.

Cactus: “A ring…? When did you…?”

Lon’qu: “I had this for awhile now, this is how your kind express what is theirs, isn’t it?”

“You are mine, Cactus and I am… yours.”

(Doesn’t he know the things that he says and does… I am at his mercy…)

Cactus: “I am yours Lon’qu… and you are mine.” I was still underneath him and he was still holding my fingers and all in his, as his face leaned in closer to mine… I shut my eyes… and felt a kiss on the top of my nose.

Lon’qu: “That’s… all for now. I suspect you would want to get married first.” He gets off of me and gets up to walk to his bathroom.  

Cactus: (He is right yet again… but my heart can’t take all of this…) I lifted my hands to inspect my left ring finger… (It’s a really cute design… just imagining him going into a jewelry store to buy me this…) I couldn’t help, but imagine a scenario.

Lon’qu: “Still here…?”

I looked over to sound of his voice and saw that his hair was wet from taking a shower, and half dressed... with a towel wrapped around on his neck.

Cactus: “I’m going..!” I got up too quickly, tripped off his extremely higher than normal bed, and landed face down on the floor.  

(Oh come on!) I must have hit the ground way harder than I thought because my lips were practically well, busted. And, I had bitten the inside of my cheek… I tasted iron in my mouth. (Oh boy…)

Lon’qu: “?”

I shook my head.  

Lon’qu: “Your lips are… bleeding.”

I was going to lick my lips on an instinct to confirm the validity of his statement, but as always he was one step ahead. He had nibbled and licked my bottom lip.

Lon’qu: “Anywhere else?”

I shook my head. Though, I could taste and feel a pool of blood forming in my mouth.  

Lon’qu: “Then, why aren’t you speaking?”

I shrugged.

Lon’qu: “I can still smell the blood you know.”

There was nothing that I could say or do to that…

Lon’qu: “And I’m not going to lose you, just because you don’t want to open up.” “Prepare yourself.” He kisses me fiercely, more like it would have been a fierce kiss if he wasn’t just trying to soak up all the blood. I felt like all the blood was rushing to my face instead. He pulled back and licked his lips.  

Lon’qu: “Let me make sure.” He says as he puts his mouth back on mine. After ensuring that the bleeding has stopped and the cut was healed, he pulled back again.

Lon’qu: “All healed.” He says as a matter of fact, gets up, and continues to walk back to the bathroom while drying his hair with his towel.

I was still reeling from all of that… but, I slowly composed myself together and got up to get ready myself. By the time I finished cleaning myself, he was sitting on the kitchen table with breakfast made for me and on the side were my pills and a glass of water and pitcher.

Cactus: “Wow you didn’t have to, but thank you!” “It’s so delicious! Did you taste any of this?”

Lon’qu: “I can taste it, but it does nothing for me. All I need is… you.”

He said that as I was taking a bite and swallowing, that I choked from his sudden straightforwardness. He handed me the cup of water, and I drank it. I hacked.

Cactus: “I’m *cough* okay…! *cough* I drank some more water.

“Oh that *coughs* reminds me!”

Lon’qu: “Choking on food made you remember something?”

Cactus: “No… but where did you go this past week…?”

Lon’qu: “…” Silence.

Cactus: (You know, when you told me your past and just left…) I internally thought.

Lon’qu: “I went to visit her grave.”

A feeling I couldn’t explain panged my heart.

Cactus: “Oh…” That was all I could muster to say.

Lon’qu: “It’s less than a day’s trip. I could walk over there and be back home the same day.”

(Home... hearing him say that brings me inexplicable comfort.)

Lon’qu: “I needed to face all my nightmares, though they have completely disappeared these last few months with you. I just needed closure.”

Cactus: “Then… who saved me?”

Lon’qu: “I saw you trip, but I couldn’t make it in time… I wouldn’t call that saving you… I couldn’t do anything… One of the other Shepherds were closer, and he took you to the infirmary…” “I had to use my powers for a little bit. But, I cleaned up if only a little, so you wouldn’t bleed to death.”

Cactus: “That’s understandable we made a promise that you wouldn’t have to explain your healing powers to everyone else, you still saved me…”

Lon’qu: “But not enough, you were out for a week.”

Cactus: “How… how many days did you watch over me?” I had to ask.

Lon’qu: “Two… On the third day, I was already starting to lose it. So, I checked on you, one last time and went to our house and hibernated.”

Cactus: (So that’s about four days he was starving…)

Lon’qu: “I was more worried about you than myself. So when I did lose control, it was temporarily because my thoughts went straight back to you.”

I didn’t know what to say, all I knew was that I loved him above all else.

Lon’qu: “So, when I heard your voice when you came home… and again when you called for me when you opened the door… you were going to be mine.” “And that brings us to the present.”

Cactus: “Thank you for always indulging in my questions.” (How much he has changed from when we first met until now… I haven’t said it before, but he should know…)

Cactus: “I love you Lon’qu. I’m lucky to have you by my side.”

I had taken him by surprise, for once.

Lon’qu: “D-Don’t say that out of nowhere!  …Though, I love you as well.”

Cactus: “I know!” I was full, I was loved by the man I love, and I was content. “So, are we ready to head out?”

Lon’qu: “With what just happened this morning, you are resting.”

Cactus: “I won’t do any training today okay?”

He looks at me with a knowing face.

Cactus: “Okay… Can’t we just go on a date?”

Lon’qu: “…Fine.”

(Yay!) I grabbed his arm and out the door we went. “Now… where shall we go today?”

(It really doesn’t matter where we go, as long as I am with him.) I pulled him along and reveled in the fact that he was mine, though he’s always been mine since the beginning.

=====================================================================

Thank you for reading! You have read about 12,140 words.

If you read “Cactus:” 233 times. “Lon’qu:” 164 times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So… you scrolled at the end huh? Here’s a bonus then!

 

Make Him Fall for You in a Fortnight Tip #500

You may not be a vampire, but nibble at him! That should get a reaction out of him~

I may or may have nibbled him... Happy Halloween!!