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Emizel woke up in the usual blood pool again, except… it wasn't blood. Blank inky liquid stuck to the soles of his shoes as he wandered through the space, subconsciously waiting for another Adam Sandler movie to play in the background only to be met with silence. The darkness that surrounded him felt more unnerving than the first time he ended up in the blood pool, and way more eerie than the endless bookshelves of the Lunar Archives. Emizel thought himself too old to be afraid of the dark, but the blackness that seemed to snuff out all light almost made his bravery falter. Almost.
“What the hell, man… Pepper! Pepper – Salem – whatever, can we like, speed things up a bit? Five, you know, that thing… …Was that how many I had left?”
Emizel heard his voice echo in the empty space, distorting slightly in the darkness that surrounded him, repeating his words back to him in voices that didn’t exactly sound like his. Not creepy, nope, not creepy at all. He didn’t hear any reply from Pepper — well, he kind of expected it, it didn’t really work the first time either — so he was left walking aimlessly in the void, somewhat hoping he’d come across something that would help fill his time. Maybe an arcade like in the Archives, or a random TV with some shitty movie playing on loop like in the pool, anything would work right now, really. In the back of his mind, he knew he shouldn’t be wasting time like this with Theo out there, possibly dead or worse, but he couldn’t do anything from where he was right now so he resigned to just trying to keep himself distracted.
A couple steps in and it seemed as if his mindless wishes were heard by whatever was in here. A faint flickering of… something in the distance seemed to be motivation enough for him to hasten his steps, the vague shapes whole enough for him to know something’s there but with edges blurred to the point where he wasn’t quite sure. Over and over again, whatever he saw always seemed to dissipate the moment he almost got close enough to see what it was, and he could feel his patience growing thinner with each mirage that played tricks on his eyes.
“Goddammit, man, I’m going insane!”
Emizel yelled into the void at the peak of his frustration, at this point just praying that something substantial would finally appear in the empty space to keep himself off his nerves. The moment his voice echoed back to him in that same distorted tone, a spotlight audibly turned on behind him, illuminating the space just enough for him to finally see a couple feet around him.
“So, how’d you like what I've done with the place?”
Emizel took no pause to turn around to face whatever just called out to him from behind, the first thing that graced his vision his sire sitting on a couch in the middle of the spotlight, a shit-eating grin plastered across his features. The smug smile on Gabriel’s face was just what Emizel needed to attack the Fang without provocation, but he barely managed to stop himself to process what the other had said. Briskly scanning the open space, he noticed remnants of the Demons’ hideout in the furniture, even though it was clearly tweaked to look more ‘Fangs’. The fabric of the discoloured couches now leather black, with small rips and tears peppering the surface. The rug now a dirty purple instead of the usual yellow, the coffee table swapped for a couple of wooden crates, even the table the TV was placed on was replaced by a sturdier black wooden one. The only thing that didn’t change was the mess. Empty cans littered across the table and floors, random stains of who-knows-what stuck to the carpet, and random trash bags laying around that were obviously full but not taken out.
“This place fucking sucks. Did you have to make everything pitch black?”
Emizel waved his arms at the empty space, vaguely gesturing to the darkness that greeted him when he first woke up. He would never admit out loud that the space Gabriel modified looked pretty sick with how the furniture matched the vibes of the abyss, not keen on inflating his sire’s ego. Though it wasn’t as homey as the original Demons’ hideout, it definitely gave off ‘evil gang hideout’ energy, and he could tell that was definitely the aesthetics the Fang was going for.
“Don’t ask me, dude, it was already like that when I arrived here too.”
Gabriel shrugged, sinking further into the couch with his arms spread out on the backrest and legs resting on the wooden crates. He looked strangely relaxed, definitely not as guarded and hostile as he did when Emizel knew him, and it was honestly jarring how they were able to talk for a full five minutes without either one of them shouting or throwing hands. It was almost awkward the way he was the only one with his guard up, almost reminiscent of the time they first met at that back alley, ready to pounce while the other seemed thoroughly unbothered. Remembering that scene — that point that turned his life upside down and the whole reason he hated the Fang — seemed to reignite the rage he had briefly forgotten, and he stormed towards his sire with a frown that just felt natural, a snarl tugging at his lips as his nails sharpened.
”No, why are you even here in the first place?”
Emizel spat out as he advanced, seeing his sire watch him with keen eyes, noticing how the other’s brow twitched slightly at his sudden change in mood. He grabbed Gabriel by the collar, yanking him up from the couch, observing the exact moment the Fang’s features pulled into an irritated frown. Emizel didn’t have time for this. He had to get out of here and save Theo from that pretentious primogen bastard. He didn’t have the time to be fooling around with his asshole of a sire.
Gabriel’s expression started to look more guarded when faced with the Demon’s aggression, and Emizel couldn’t help but feel a twinge of vindication at the sight. That’s right, this was how he was supposed to be looking at him, not with that laid-back attitude as if he wasn’t worth the bother. Maybe beating him up would make him forget about the fact that Theo might be dead, would distract him from the guilt and the darkness that seemed to be waiting to swallow him up.
“I don't know! Maybe because you fucking diablerised me?”
Gabriel snapped back, raising his hands to dig his claws into the wrist Emizel was using to hold him up, yet not doing much else to break free from his grip. Emizel thought that if that really was the reason his sire was still here then there wasn’t much he could do to get him to leave. Unless maybe killing him again would work? The Demon shifted his grip to fit around the Fang’s neck instead of his collar, tightening his hold on the flesh and feeling the nails in his wrist dig deeper in return. He watched as Gabriel tensed up, expression slowly twisting into something almost fearful, though still glaring at Emizel with his lips tugged into a snarl. From this close, he could vaguely see the exhaustion and panic creeping up behind his sire’s eyes, and the way they glossed over despite the deep frown etched in his face as if he was about to tear up. It should’ve felt liberating seeing the person who ruined his life to look so lame, but instead it felt… weird, wrong even, that the Fang was looking at him like this. Has his sire always been this weak and pathetic? What happened to the rage that burned fiercely in tandem with his?
With an annoyed click of his tongue, Emizel threw the Fang back onto the couch, studying the way the other hunched over, rubbing at his throat while coughing, an obvious bruise starting to form around his neck. It wasn’t as fun if the other was just going to give in so easily, not even fired up or trying to fight back. Emizel ignored the blood from his wrist running down his hand from the other’s nails, chucking his fists in his jacket pockets and kicking an empty can on the ground.
“Just get out of my fucking head, you bitch.”
Emizel huffed in a tone less sharp than before, though still glaring at the other with the same annoyed frown. Gabriel noticeably eased up hearing the curses being thrown at him, realising from the other’s tone that there wasn’t going to be a fight anymore. Looking back up at Emizel, he plastered a grin on his face that wavered too much to be challenging, not bothering to wipe the tear that had welled up in his eye.
”It’s too late, fucker, I’m already deep inside you. …Not like that.”
Gabriel’s eyebrow twitched realising what he just said, his grin faltering as he stared straight at Emizel as if trying to gauge whether he could somehow play it off. Emizel, who obviously heard what the other said loud and clear, made a face back at him — undoubtedly reading as ‘WTF, dude’ — feeling the anger that seized him fade as quickly as it came with the usual incredulity of their conversations. With his plan for a beatdown now out the window, Emizel shook his head sighing and grabbed the consoles from the table, tossing one at the Fang.
“Load up a game, would ya? I’m gonna find something to drink.”
Emizel tried not to think too much about the fact that he was stuck with his sire in the void while waiting to be resurrected, not knowing how long he’d have to be here before being brought back to life. He pushed down the thought of Theo and his missing arm — critically injured and bleeding out — trying to squash down the unease that started to unfurl in his gut. He resigned to just impatiently waiting for a random minifridge to pop up where it was supposed to be in the hideout’s layout, hoping that it would actually appear since there was other furniture here too. Truth be told, he was pretty surprised when he first saw actual things in the void where Gabriel was, since the blood pool he waited in was usually empty save for the Adam Sandler TV, but maybe it changed because of his sire’s presence in the space. As if to prove his theory right, a minifridge does materialise out of nowhere, and he rummages through it quickly while trying to decide what to drink.
A couple minutes later, Emizel comes back with 2 cans of Sprite Cranberry in his hands, his console tucked under his arm. He tosses one can to his sire, who seemed to be fidgeting with the remote, another hand mindlessly rubbing at the bruise on his neck as he stared at nothing. Gabriel startled and glanced down at the can on his lap before looking back up at Emizel quizzically, who plopped down on the couch next to him without acknowledging him, cracking open the can of soda and taking a swig.
“We can drink these?” Gabriel asked with a hint of skepticism and mild disbelief, eyeing the can then glancing at Emizel for an answer. Somehow, the question sounded stupid to him with how the Demon was downing it without hesitation, but he still felt the need to ask, knowing too well what would happen if he tried to eat mortal food.
“It’s my subconscious, dude. I can do whatever the fuck I want.” Emizel gulps down the soda before tossing the empty can somewhere behind him, then propping his feet up on the crates. “You’ll only throw up if you think you’re gonna throw up. …Probably.”
Gabriel absently nodded and picked up the can cautiously, cracking it open and staring at the liquid scrutinisingly before chugging it down just like Emizel did, full of confidence because he wasn’t a wuss. Obviously, whatever Emizel did, his sire could do better, even if it was something that had the chance of him vomiting up blood. He crushed the empty can in his grip, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand when he realised he didn't immediately feel sick, and grinned in a way he hadn’t in a long time.
“Woah, I haven't had that that shit in ages…” he muttered to himself, earning a chuckle and a nudge from Emizel to hurry up and pick his main. He picked the console back up, eyes focusing on the TV as he selected his character, somehow feeling way lighter than he had in years. Neither of them would've ever imagined that they would be playing Smash with someone they were about to fight just moments before, but they decided not to dwell too much on it, trying not to think about how they're suddenly treating each other as if they've known each other for years.
Emizel tried to ignore the fact that this felt almost reminiscent of when he’d hang out with his best friend. No, he was just trying to distract himself from his guilt. Gabriel could never be comparable to someone like Theo. His best friend wasn’t someone that could be replaced so easily.
—————
“What the hell, you're fucking with me!”
Emizel cried out in frustration, chucking the console at the TV and feeling almost relieved when he watched it barely miss the screen. His character had been thrown off the platform for the third time in a row, and Emizel knew he hadn't had the time to practice in a long while but this was simply outrageous. Gabriel laughed at him — a light sound that Emizel’s never heard from his sire — and jabbed him in the rib with his fist, earning him a kick from the Demon.
“Hahah, you wish! I'd never fuck you.” Gabriel snickered, before wondering why the hell he said that. Laughter dying down almost immediately, he shook his head with a slight frown. “What the hell, why do I always say weird shit around you?”
Emizel just looked at him with an eyebrow raised, knowing full well the Fang didn't mean to say something like that but deciding to poke at him anyways just to mess with him.
“Why not?”
“What?”
“Why wouldn't you fuck me, Gabe? I'm super hot and sexy and like, way cooler than you.”
Emizel bragged in the way only he could, and it's frankly incomprehensible how he's able to say all of that with a straight face. As if shame could never cause him to shut up, he cracked a shit-eating grin at his sire, watching the Fang intently just to see how he'd react. Surprisingly, Gabriel didn't curl up from cringe or projectile vomit all over him like Emizel expected, instead frowning with a conflicted look and staring at him as if he was actually considering what the Demon had said. Emizel straightened up and tensed slightly when he saw how his sire’s gaze dragged all over him — scrutinising him like a piece of meat on display before turning away without a word — and Emizel didn't know what to make of that reaction.
“What the fuck, dude.”
“What?”
“What the fuck was that, dude! Don’t just look me up and down and then say nothing, the fuck???”
Emizel punched his sire with a little more force than intended, not knowing why Gabriel’s reaction pissed him off so much. Maybe because his ego just took a hit, or maybe because his words backfired and now he’s the one cringing at himself, but whatever it was, Emizel just knew it was all Gabriel’s fault.
“What the hell, man! You’re the one who made it weird first! Why are you blaming it on me?”
Gabriel struck him back, trying to kick away Emizel who was trying to pounce on him like some feral animal, the Fang too occupied with trying to fight off the scratching and punching to notice the faint redness on the other’s face under the dim lighting. Emizel gritted his teeth as he blocked the kick, too caught up in his own embarrassment to realise how he was practically trying to clamber on top of the other, his mind swallowed up by regret and how the only way to fix it was to kill the source of his shame.
“You’re the one who made it weird, you bitch! All you had to do was agree that I was hot and we could’ve moved on!”
Emizel was on top of the other by now, clawing at his sire’s already scarred face with sharpened nails. He didn’t know what he was saying anymore, not paying attention to the words that spilled out his mouth and just trying to get rid of the one person that saw him fuck up. Gabriel took the hit to his eye — the scratch breaking through skin and drawing blood — struggling to dodge under the weight of the Demon pinning him down to the couch. He tried to grab hold of the other’s flailing arms to stop the attacks, completely dumbfounded by the Demon’s overreaction and the way things turned out.
“This is literally so stupid! Are you seriously trying to kill me just because I didn't say you were hot?”
Gabriel managed to strengthen himself and push Emizel off him onto the floor, though the other was still clinging to him and pulled him down with him instead. The Fang growled with frustration as he rolled off the couch in suit, landing on top of Emizel and managing to pin him in turn. He should’ve known that their interactions would end in a fight no matter what, even if the reason was just so incredibly stupid. They were both too full of rage and unresolved conflict for their exchanges to remain peaceful. It was practically a miracle they were even able to play Smash so normally before.
Neither of them cared too much about it, though. Open wounds that stung and bruises that felt sore made more sense to the both of them than the laughter and solidarity that briefly appeared. The pain felt more natural in their dynamic than the peace.
Emizel didn’t reply to his question — instead pausing his attacks while glaring back at Gabriel with those red eyes that somehow still shone in the darkness, as if realising the stupidity of his actions — and only with the shift in perspective does Gabriel register the blush of colour in the other’s features. The embarrassment etched in Emizel’s face felt almost like a revelation of vulnerability, an expression Gabriel never knew he could make, and that realisation itself made something swirl in his gut, whatever it was making him want to look away yet finding himself unable to pry his eyes off.
“FOUR.”
The sudden booming voice that shattered the silence almost made Gabriel jump, his train of thought interrupted by the sound that seemed to shake the very space that surrounded them. The Fang quickly surveyed the surroundings, trying to find the source of the voice, then stared agape at the giant yellow eyes above that were studying them intently. He glanced down as if to check whether Emizel was seeing this shit, only to watch as the Demon’s face brightened, an almost relieved grin breaking the glare he was shooting at the Fang. Gabriel stared confused at the change in demeanour, opening his mouth as if to say something but stopped short, watching wide-eyed as the other started to slowly sink into the black liquid that used to be the ground.
”Fuck you.”
Emizel shot his sire a smirk as he sank deeper into the darkness, flipping him off as black tendrils creeped and clawed at him, dragging him down into the abyss. Gabriel could only splutter at the sight, having never seen something like this before yet knowing that weird occurrences like these were normal in the vampire world. Despite the confusion and almost concern, Gabriel managed to snap out of his shock just in time to crack back a grin, flipping Emizel off in return right before the ground fully swallowed him up.
“Fuck you!”