Vampire!Fate

The bar was unusually quiet tonight. Normally the Roxbury was crowded to the point of me wondering if a fire marshal was going to shut the place down, but this night seemed to be dragging for some reason. As I sat at the bar, Alton greeted me with his usual grin and welcoming. After replying and holding a five minute conversation, I was given a drink to sip on while waiting to see if my informant would show up or not.

It didn’t take too long for him to sit next to me. The male was always calm around me, and I suppose we could even be considered friends if you really broke it down. I helped him and he helped me… Although that didn’t stop him from charging, and it didn’t stop me from asking near impossible things from him as well. “Evening,” I spoke to him casually.

“Evening,” he replied back while getting a daiquiri to sip on. “How’s Nanoha holding up?”

“Not well,” I answered honestly. “She’s sleeping right now.”

Yuuno hummed. “Is it safe to leave her alone like that?”

I grimaced, recalling knocking her out. She wouldn’t wake on her own in her condition for several hours at least. “She’ll be fine until I get back. I need something.”

“Don’t we all?” Yuuno chuckled without humor and placed his briefcase on the bar. “What do you need?”

“First off, I need everything you know on a vampire named Access.”

“The Paladin?”

I frowned. “Wrong one, I said vampire.”

Yuuno sipped his drink slowly. “Long purple hair, golden eyes, and controls fire?” From my silence, he knew he got it right. “The Paladin.”

If Access was under cover for some reason, it would be a reason for why he hasn’t contacted me, but that excuse could only go so far. “Yes.”

“What else?”

I took a breath. “Teana Lanster. I want a full background check.” Yuuno opened his briefcase and revealed a notepad computer, to which he started tapping on. He slid a thumb drive into it and began transferring files. “Already had it?”

“I knew you’d ask after I heard that you were with her. I assume you want information on the puppy as well?”

Nodding, I allowed him to start moving that information as well. “All of her friends as well. Everything. I want to know if she flosses.”

The male worked fast, tapping several times and dragging his fingers along the screen. “Next?”

“Anything on Lupus?”

“If the paladins cared about curing non-vampire diseases, I would have given her the cure long ago.”

“In that case, one final thing: Nanoha stole a paladin device. It’s a pink crystal gem, it acts like armor.”

Yuuno brought up a new folder and dragged it over as well. “Raydric Technology. The gem that Nanoha has is a bleeding edge technology that is still in beta testing. I helped design it.”

“Then give me the user manual as well.” I growled slightly. Figures he’d have a hand in that damn gem’s creation. “And tell me right now, is it safe for her?”

“Not really, no. It isn’t meant to be taken on and off. It would have killed her if she didn’t have your blood inside of her.” Yuuno took another drink before tapping on the screen again. “Don’t let her use it unless you want to feed her. I’m sure you know what would happen if you did that?”

Looking down, I sighed out. “Her body will slowly start rejecting the medicine and she would rely on me to survive… and eventually I would have to turn her. I know how it works, I’m not stupid. Vampire blood is a time bomb for her.”

“Good.” Yuuno stayed silent a bit more and when I didn’t say anything else, he unplugged his device and handed it to me. “Six thousand.”

I smirked. “Half-off.” He looked at me a moment before grinning and nodding. I cut the man a check and gave it to him before pocketing the flash drive and standing up. Alton, who had been there for the entire exchange, didn’t say anything about it and bid me a farewell when I waved at him.

When I got out into the night, I took a deep breath. There were vampires around, but I didn’t really care right now. I made my way across the street and then towards a building not too terribly far away. A fifteen minute walk gave me access to a multi story skyscraper. I walked into it so easily I drew attention to myself. Vampires were everywhere, and almost every single one of them sank back when they saw me. When I made it to the receptionist, I leaned on the counter and grinned at her. She sank back and averted her eyes before asking me how she could help. I sweetly asked if I could see Chrono and was given his room number.

Even though I knew where he was, I had the mentality of being polite beaten into my personality. I liked being liked, even if it was out of fear. Besides, being female came with perks. I could normally make people do what I wanted just by batting my eyelashes at them, even without my vampire charm. This made me chuckle to myself as I opened Chrono’s door with a soft knock. The man was standing by the bed and was looking over at me with a mixed expression. “Hey Chrono,” I tried to break the ice.

“Fate.” He continued to struggle to get a small suitcase together that held clothes and a few other things that he would need once he left. The counsel probably got it together for him, but I could tell that he was in no condition to leave yet. “Before you say anything, I’ll heal in a few days regardless if I’m laying in this bed or not. I’d rather be somewhere else, being in this building creeps me out.”

Chrono was on better terms with the high counsel than I was, but he was still his own being. He didn’t take place in the war, and he was neutral on the field, much like me. We were trained together, and although I had a few years on him, he was still old enough to control magic. He could manipulate water in any way he wanted, but unlike me, he couldn’t create his element. “You know,” I offered. “My room is pretty big.”

“I’ve already caused you enough trouble.” Chrono shook his head and I walked over to him when he turned away from me.

“Look at me.” My words made him stop and he slowly turned around, showing me his scarred face. The burn went from his forehead down to his shoulder and all the way down his arm. I could tell he got torched pretty badly, and I felt a small twinge of my past come back. I didn’t like fire anymore. If Chrono really did fight Access, and if what Yuuno said was true… Could it be that my master was still alive? “Stay at my place for now.” I said it so the words couldn’t be refused. “After everything, I’m the least likely person that they will go after. I’m sure you want to see Erio as well?”

My friend sighed and stayed silent for a while before agreeing. “Fine, I’ll stay.” He grinned at me. “But I get the bed since I’m hurt.”

“Tonight, yes, I’m staying with Nanoha. After that, your butt is on the couch.”

~**~

I let myself into Nanoha’s bakery and went up the stairs leading to her small apartment. The lights were mostly off, but I caught Caro in the small kitchen sneaking a cookie. I shooed her off into bed and told her I came to look after Nanoha again. Even though she insisted that her cousin would be fine, I pulled the ‘don’t talk back to your elders’ card and she meekly retreated.

Nanoha was still asleep when I got to her room, lying on her side and facing the wall. I took her temperature and frowned at the fever. She was burning up and sweating lightly, but I could tell she was cold from the covers being kicked down a little in her sleep and halfly pulled back up. I sighed and got a washrag from her bathroom to dampen so I could wipe the sweat from her body. Nanoha weakly opened her eyes at being disturbed and tried to talk to me, voice barely a whisper.

“One moment,” I asked of her so I could go get her a glass of water. She was still laying down when I got back and I helped her up so she could slowly take a few sips. “Better?”

“Yeah…” Nanoha coughed slightly and reached up to hold her head. “Ugh…I feel like I was hit by a truck.”

“Yeah… Sorry about that.” My words made Nanoha look at me a moment before her eyes widened.

“I… I mean…”

“It’s okay. I smacked you so we’re even, right?” I eased her back down and placed the rag on her head again. “Rest, you’ll be fine.”

Nanoha took a deep breath. “I’m so sorry…”

“Shh…” I took Nanoha’s hand and held it while I sat by her bed. “I think you’re past the worst of it, or at least you will be by the morning. Are you done with classes?”

“…Yeah.” Nanoha sighed out and looked up at the ceiling. “I have two months off now… Well, seven weeks.” She paused a moment to cough and I pet her hand soothingly. “I can’t believe… I attacked you.”

I didn’t really know what to say to that. I knew she would be bad off, and I kind of expected her to try to overpower me, but actually having experienced it left me with a light confusion on how to comfort her. “The thirst is bad, I know.” I said the first thing that I thought of, and I regretted it when she groaned.

“Is that what it’s like?” She asked so softly that I would have missed it if not for my enhanced hearing.

“… I’m told actual vampire thirst is worse, but yeah… that’s what it’s like.”

“Every day?”

“At first, yes. More than once a day at times.”

Nanoha looked away from me. “That’s… What you didn’t want me to experience, isn’t it?” I hummed my response. “I understand now… I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” I felt her hand grip mine weakly and I brought it to my mouth to kiss. “You shouldn’t have to know that feeling… If anything, I should apologize to you.” I rubbed her hand in mine. “…I’ll understand if--”

“If you say that I can leave you, I’ll hit you for real,” she warned me, turning back to try and glare but ending up just looking weak and tired.

“I’m sorry,” I breathed out in relief. “Forgive me?”

“Stay with me tonight?” She asked of me instead.

“Yes,” I nodded at her and gripped her hand a little more firmly in mine. When she looked at me curiously, I tilted my head to the side. “Yes?”

“With me, not next to me.” She struggled to moved the covers a bit in invitation and I slowly moved next to her. “When I wake up, will you be there this time?”

“Yes,” I promised her. “But I may be making you breakfast.”

“No,” Nanoha shook her head tiredly. “I want to wake up and see you. Please.”

“… Okay,” I gave in to her selfish desire. I knew she would probably sleep most of the day away, which meant I could probably be in bed for the next twelve to sixteen hours. Granted, I was patient enough to not even bat an eye at this, but I had things that needed to be done. I had things to read… but Chrono was out now. I could get him to bring me my laptop. With this on my mind, I reached over to rub Nanoha’s back and held her close despite her being burning up hot. She snuggled against me and I closed my eyes, willing myself to sleep.

~**~