Chapter Text
"Talk to us!" Avid shouted, slamming his hands on the dingy, makeshift table. Drift looked uncomfortable, her gaze shifting from Avid's desperate attempts and Owen's slightly-flushed face. Merp Manor's seating room stood before him, it was the smallest manor he had ever seen, anyway. The dingy home was as unwelcoming as it could be in this moment, the atmosphere was tense and... Rather uncomfortable for the young vampire.
Owen had been seeing Scott because, of course, he was a vampire as well. Being the second-eldest around, the two confided in each other often. However, there was another reason... A reason, despite the obsurdity of the confession, would be much better than revealing his vampirism to the one who vowed to eradicate every vampire under the sun—not that he was scared of Avid, but he felt caution was much needed, especially when outnumbered like this.
Avid sighed at Owen's stubborn quiet, "Owen, you've been acting strange since we all showed up. If you don't talk, I'll just assume you're a bloodsucker like him!..." Like that would help his case. Owen watched Avid sit back down, crossing his arms and pouting like a child.
Drift looked to Avid, "Maybe he's being held captive...? A hostage situation, his life being held over his head." Owen's blush grew deeper—or it felt as if it did, his skin didn't have that much life in it—this was horribly embarrassing.
"...Neither suffice as the answer." He averted his gaze from the confused duo.
"Then what does? What could possibly explain you going to see Scott?! You have to be a vampire." He shook his head disapprovingly. Owen fiddled with his collar awkwardly.
Drift blinked, her gaze falling on his collar, when she realized a splash of color was hiding behind it. "Owen... What's behind your collar?"
"A vampires bite." Avid grumbled.
Drift nudged him with her elbow, "It's too far down on the neck to be a bite. Can you show us...?"
Owen's cheeks burned with blood he didn't know he possessed. Then again, he had just eaten. It brought a little life to his skin. "I... I suppose, accepting any judgement."
As he pulled back his collar, Avid and Drift seemed to catch on. Avid blinked, bewildered. "You... Y-you... OWEN!"
Drift sighed, trying to make sense of it. "Owen... Who gave you that?"
Owen fiddled with his untamed hair, "Is it safe to answer?.." They all knew who gave him that bruise.
"It- It wasn't, caused by what we're all thinking, right?!" Avid desperately tried to salvage what was left in his respect for Owen.
"How can a vampire give a hickey without accidentally biting you...?" Drift asked curiously, a little less bothered than her housemate.
"WAS IT CONSENTUAL?!" Avid shouted in a panicked matter.
Owen sighed, waving off concerned hands. "It was perfectly consentual, worry not. You sure are a curious lot..." He narrowed his eyes at the two.
"You monster-fucker..." Drift sighed, not angry, just disappointed.
Owen managed to look them in the eyes, "There was no sexual penetration. Just..."
"I don't want to know details!!" Avid yelled, dramatically covering his gaze with his raised arms.
"I'm... Not sure I do either, despite the obsurdity of it." Drift chuckled lightly, trying to add a drop of light to this conversation. It didn't work as she intended, however Owen appreciated her attempt, though he was sure Avid did not.
Owen sighed, shifting his eyes to the table. "I am but a fool... Making a bed with a known vampire will lead to a similar result, a repeat of history..." He mumbled that last part under his breath, and part of him hoped Avid hadn't heard him. Part of him hoped it strikes fear into his heart. And part of him... Felt his own heart tremble under the possibility...
"Uh, yeah. I think we all see that." Avid scolded, "Why would you willingly get involved with him if you knew he was a vampire?! What do you even see in him...?!"
Owen softened, realizing all the two humans saw was a cruel bloodsucking vampire with no remorse. And part of that was true—Scott was morally gray at best—but that wasn't all to him... So Owen learned, a lack of control made Scott... A lot softer, whether he liked to admit it or not. And he did not.
"Love doesn't come to someone conveniently..." Owen answered vaguely.
Drift stepped in, standing up and leaning over the table and looking down at Owen in concern. "Well, I don't think a relationship like that will work out in your favor, Owen."
"I agree!" Avid stood with his housemate, "Owen, you're... Uh..."
"Grounded." Drift said simply.
"Yes! Grounde-... What?" He looked over at his housemate in uncertainty.
Owen huffed in amusement, "Grounded you say, from what exactly?"
"Leaving the town." Drift answers, though clearly less confident than she intended. "I think that's the best thing we can do..."
"How will you prevent me from leaving?" Owen tilted his head curiously. Although this conversation was amusing, this 'grounding' may be a thorn in his side.
Drift's mouth opened to speak, but froze.
"Uh, I'll keep a close eye on you!" Avid declared, Drift nodded in return to her housemate's certainty.
Owen nodded, "Right. You will, surely."
"I will!" Avid insisted at the unbothered man before him.
Drift started walking to the door. "It's settled, then. Avid will keep a close eye on you, and we'll let your housemate know about your grounding as well."
Owen sighed, rising to his feet. "Very well..." He could hardly believe he was agreeing to these affairs. This was humiliating at best, being grounded to his home like a child. Not to mention, the lack of blood would drive him insane.
Avid escorted him to his house, and his situation was briefly explained to a confused, bewildered, and likely amused carpenter.
Owen settled into his chambers as he looked out the window to see Avid perched confidently outside his door like a soldier. It amused him. So, confinement it is...
But alas, as sundown approaches and everyone settled into bed, Owen rose from his sheets to escape in the form of a bat from his bedroom window. His captor lacked notice, seeming to have dozed off at his post.
Owen's wings caught the wind as he easily soared above the trees, his stature a stark contrast to the bright red of the blood-soaked horizon... Though catching little eyes, of course, not counting the other several bats flying around. Not being the only creature of the night in town, he began to wonder if any of these creatures were his fellow townsfolk.
At last, he landed, leaning against a tree outside a rundown—yet improving in quality, thanks to Scott's reluctant work—bridge to fight against the growing dizziness from flying such a long distance. Of course, Scott wasn't far. Owen visited often, it was part of their schedules, at this point.
The blue-haired vampire lended a hand to Owen, smiling devilishly in the red hue of the darkening night. "How might your day have been?"
Owen chuckled faintly, taking his hand shakily. "Confined."
Scott's smile faltered, tilting his head curiously. "Confined? How so?"
"To my chambers, as if a teenager..." He giggled, "In trouble for seeing a boy outside of their parents approval."
"You mean you got caught?" Scott huffed in amusement.
Owen laughed, shaking his head. "You could say that, for sure."
The two walked across the bridge together, unbeknownst to Owen's captors... Maybe some secrets were meant to be kept. And maybe some were meant to believe they were in control.
Especially, humans.