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The smell of baked goods filled the air. A mix of muffins, cookies, marshmallow dips, and chocolates were placed around the kitchen, ready to be delivered to the town hall for the banquet later that day. It was the town's 75th founding day, and Louis had decided it would be a great time for a celebration.
Owen, who had been living with and dating Louis for a few months now, had refused to help. He said something about "the townspeople not wanting to eat something he had been around" and "he didn't want to contaminate anything".
To be fair, with all of Owens' experiences with the town, Louis didn't blame him. The townspeople were... less than kind toward his love. He's tried to change the their minds, but they simply won't budge. It really did hurt Louis, to see how they treated him.
Owen was so perfect, so kind, and so hurt by this world, and Louis wished that he could just take it all away. Vampirism only gives so many abilities, and mind control is unfortunately not one.
As the last grain of sand fell through the hourglass, Louis put on his oven mitts and grabbed the last pan of cookies. Though he didn't have the taste for human food anymore, they still smelt delicious.
He placed the cookies on the drying rack and began to clean up. Owen had left the living room to use the bathroom, but he hadn't returned for quite som time. Louis glanced over to the clock.
10 minutes.
That seemed a bit long.
He quickly washed his hands and made his way down the hallway to the bathroom. As he got nearer, he heard a small sound. He couldn't really tell what kind, but it sounded full of pain.
His suspicions were confirmed when he heard whimpers and broken sobs coming from inside.
"Owen?" Louis called out through the door, knocking a few times. He tried to hide the worry and fear in his voice, though that was much easier said than done.
The noise stopped at the sound of Louis' voice, and was followed with a quiet and raspy, "I'm fine Lou, just give me a moment-..."
Obviously, Louis didn't believe one word of that. "My love? Can I come in, please?" he asked, twisting at the locked door knob.
"I said one moment Louis-" Owen barked out a bit more aggressively than he intended. To apologize, he added a begging, "Please."
His loves sobs and cries of pain followed right after. Why won't Owen let Louis in? All he wants to do is help-
Thud.
What...
"OWEN?!" Louis called out, yanking at the door handle, "Owen, open this door NOW."
Nothing audible followed.
PanicOwenNeedsHelpWhatDoIDoThisIsntGoodWhatDoIDoWhatDoIDo-
With all of the force and fear Louis had, he shoulder barged and kicked at the door lock, begging and pleading it opened. The fact that Owen was no longer trying to stop Louis from coming in made him even more scared.
CmonCmonCmon...
With one last thud, the door lock broke, and the door swung open.
Oh. My. Gosh.
There was blood... everywhere. Soaked towels near attempted cleanings.
Owen... crumpled on the floor, eyes tired, body violently shaking, looking almost dead. Though, when Louis entered, a small light of recognition flickered in his still eyes.
"Owen."
Louis practically dropped to the floor, wanting to touch the other, to hold him, to help him-
The blood was coming from his sores.
Or... where they had been.
He tried to cut them off.
Owen. tried. to cut off his disease.
"Oh, my love," Louis gasped, hands hovering in front of him.
What was he even meant to do?
"Hold on, hold on," Louis stood up, quickly rummaging through his drawers to grab gauze.
He reached to gently hold Owens wounded areas, but the boy suddenly snapped out of his trance he was in and pulled back, looking to Louis like a scared, wild animal.
The vampire immediately pulled his hands back, "Hey hey, it's just me. Louis. It's ok. I want to help you."
Owen looked at him, fear and agony wracking his body.
"Im not going to hurt you," Louis promised.
The boy looked down to his bleeding arms for a moment, before nodding, tears welling in his eyes.
"It's ok. I'm just going to wrap these up," Louis reiterated.
The moment Louis started to care for his wounds, Owen shattered. His body shook violently with sobs once again, breathing picking up speed with each one.
"Oh, Owen..."
Louis' non-beating heart ached at each sound.
"Shhh... Shh shh shh..." he tried to help Owen calm down as much as he could while still tending to his wounds.
Louis carefully wrapped each bleeding cut and opening with gauze, clipping each one tight.
The moment he finished wrapping the 5th and last one, he put the supplies down and sat next to Owen against the tub.
"May I touch you...?" Louis asked cautiously, to which Owen nodded almost immediately.
As carefully as possible, Louis pulled his love into his lap, wrapping his legs around Owens. One hand made its way to his hair, the other to his back. "Shhhh... Let it out, sweetheart. I'm right here."
Owen continued to sob on his lover's shoulder, guilt and pain attacking at his mind and body.
"Breathe, bug, breathe," Louis encouraged, trying to get him to calm down a little bit.
It was evident that Owen was trying, but that's all Louis wanted, "Take your time. I'm not going anywhere."
After a few minutes of reassurance, responded to by whimpers, Owen finally spoke up, "I'm sorry."
Even though Louis wanted to tell Owen it was all ok, that this whole situation was fine... he couldn't.
Why had he been trying to cut away his skin?
"Why, Owen..." Louis asked instead, placing his lips on top of the other's head.
Owen tried to look down, but Louis caught his chin, "Why, my love, would you do that...?"
"I-" Owen started, tears still falling.
"Don't you dare apologize. I just need to know why. After all these months... Why now? What happened, love," Louis pushed. He really hated the way he was treating Owen right now, but it needed to be said. Something needed to be done about this, and Louis wasn't just going to sweep it under the rug again, and pretend like it hadn't happened.
"What happened," Louis restated, allowing the silence to linger.
Owen blinked a few times, nuzzling his face into Louis' neck, "I just want it gone, Lou."
"And hurting yourself seemed like the best option?" Louis questioned, though there was no hostility in his words. Only self blame and empathy.
Owen just shrugged.
Louis shook his head, turning the others head to face him, "Can you look at me, please."
Owens' weary eyes met Louis' worried ones. They both felt guilty for each other's situation.
"When will you understand that you are perfect how you are, my love," Louis finally said, running his fingers through the others' hair.
"I-... The town members. You see how they treat me, Lou," Owen muttered, looking at his wrapped wounds, "I just want it gone, no matter what it takes-"
"So harming yourself. Owen, thats not-"
"What else do you want me to do, Louis?!" Owen snapped, getting off the vampire's lap. Louis flinched, having been startled by Owens' sudden movement.
"I don't want you hurting yourself?! Is that so hard to ask?" Louis argued back. Shouting felt wrong.
"I've dealt with it for so long, the pain, the stares, the unfairness of it all! I'm done! I don't even want to BE here in Oakhurst anymore!"
"The only reason I'm staying is because of YOU! So yes, I'm trying to make your life easier by getting rid of your biggest burden, and if that even requires me leaving or changing myself, then I'll do it!" Owen rambled on, tears filling his eyes again.
He...
"You're hurting yourself for me-?"
Owen just stared at his lover, realizing what he had just implied. Crap.
"No, no- I didn't... That's not what I meant," Owen quickly back-tracked.
"That's what you just said. You are hurting yourself to make my life 'easier'," Louis repeated, adding quotations with his fingers.
"I'm doing it for both of us! No more interrogations from the town on whether you're a trustable mayor-"
"Owen."
"No more pain for me ever again-"
"Owen."
"We can just live normally and-"
Lips were on Owens in an instant.
Louis was kissing him.
They stayed like that for a while.
Owen tried to pull away, but Louis held his face.
The moment was sweet.
Warm.
Soothing.
Once he was finished, Louis pulled back just enough to look his lover in the eyes.
"Wh-... What was that for?" Owen stuttered out, still flushed and surprised by the whole thing.
"It was the only way I could get you to stop talking," Louis sighed, a bit ashamed of himself.
"Wh-"
Louis presses his finger to Owens lips, "Just- Listen to me."
Owen closed his mouth again, waiting.
"You know dang well I don't care about your disease. You know it doesn't bother me one bit."
"But you also need to know that this," Louis gestured to the gauze and knife on the counter, "is NOT the answer."
"I couldn't care less about the questions, the stares, and the judgement. I have you here with me in my home, and that is all I need."
"I understand discrimination to an extent. I'm a vampire, for goodness sakes, I understand not feeling wanted by those around you."
"But please, my love," Louis begged, "do not hurt yourself for what you think will help me. Because seeing you like this, this hurt, this selflessness-..."
"It hurts so much more than what the lousy people of Oakhurst could ever say."
"Yeah, their words can hurt at times... but not having you here and safe, hurts so much more than that."
"I love you so, so much, and I don't need you to change for me. You are perfect as you are, scars and wounds in all. They make you, you."
"So please... Just do this one thing for me."
"Do not think you need to change to be loved, ok?"
Owen listened the whole time, more tears spilling over the minute Louis finished.
"I'm sorry Louis- I'm so so sorry..." Owen choked out, crumbling where he sat.
"Come here..." Louis moved forward to grab onto the boy. Owen practically laid on top of him, sobbing into his chest.
Louis pressed his lips to Owen's hair, muttering comforts over and over.
"You do not need to be sorry. But do you understand what I'm saying?"
Owen nodded as he wrapped his arms around the vampire's neck.
"Good. Then that's all that matters to me right now."
And there they stayed, two lovers who express their feelings in very different ways, finally able to come together and agree on one thing.
𓆩•There is absolutely no way I'm letting Owen get hurt again•𓆪
➶There is absolutely no way I'm letting Louis get hurt again.➹