Chapter Text
Scott was very displeased.
Humans were annoying, that much was obvious. He understood that to them, they were creatures hunting them down. Of course he knew that, he's been alive for many of centuries. However, the lonesome creatures call them monsters when they attack on sight.
He's a bit pissed at the state of his home. He'd think that the people of Oakhurst would want to maintain such a beautiful structure for like... a museum or something. At least give a purpose to clean it so he didn't have to rebuild the centuries of disrepair its fallen into.
But, when Pyro returned home and told the story of Avid striking him when they were talking, he felt even more angry. Of course, he was always annoyed when that certain human got involved, but it wasn't simply because of that. It was... protective. Of his fledgling.
He hadn't felt like this in a long time, but he's not unfamiliar with it. He's felt similar ways back when he was turned a long time ago, and turned some of his friends. While, none of them called him Sire because it felt weird for people he got along with to see him in such a higher light... it was essentially the same thing. He turned them all, they were his childes. His coven. And he had an instinct to protect them because of it.
He feels similarly with Pyro, especially because they continued to call him their Sire. He never asked the younger vampire to, but he just seemed to fall into that kind of role. He didn't complain, who would when someone shows you respect? Especially when they mean it; when it wasn't just teasing or messing around.
He continued to glance over at his childe. He was frustrated with the humans for attacking a part of his coven. Who did they think they were? They don't even have a lot of beacons, so why are they getting so bold? Just because they got their hands on a little bit of holy water? Stupid humans. He had no issue slaying them even without his vampiric powers, he didn't need the extra help when dealing with their kind.
He couldn't help himself from continuously looking over at the other. Whenever the younger was around, his gaze just ended up landing on him. He sees the slashes of his clothes, the burn marks on his skin from the sun and the holy water they were splashed with. The more he looked, the more anger bubbled underneath his undead skin. Emotions were always hard for him to feel, a consequence of being undead for so long, but when it came to his coven...
He had half a mind to go out and kill the humans at the moment. However, he needed to finish rebuilding his home. Humans are less of a priority for him. A bigger priority of his was to take care of his fledgling.
He, as a sire, will have instincts in him to care for those he turned. It's his role to help the baby bats learn to fly until they're ready to do so on their own. He's done this before, his old coven ended up splitting their ways at some point to create their own power. It was bittersweet. But, those instincts are hard to control now more than his hunger. The instincts to protect and nurture his kind.
He sighed. It was getting late... er... early. The sun was coming up and he hated getting burned as much as the next vampire. The smell of burning flesh was hard to get out of his hand tailored outfit. One thing he can praise humans for is some of their senses of fashion. When he reigned, he and the human tailor got along quite well. He understood not all humans were insufferable, just most of them.
They were now in the completed building. Owen and Shelby went off to find more food, so that left he and his fledgling alone. The loyalty of Pyro was one to be admired, even when the other was obviously a bit scared of him at times. When talking about the meals he stole from his sire twice, the poor thing shrunk in on himself as if he were a child waiting a horrible punishment.
To the disbelief of humans, he was not a cruel creature. Sure, he ruled over a town for centuries and brought terror into them, but he was also rather merciful in his opinion. He needed to eat, and humans were the most fulfilling thing he can eat. Its as if a human being given the option to choose to eat between ground beef or steak. Obviously they'll both fill, but people would prefer a perfectly cook steak, no? Especially he would, he would not stoop low to eat a lesser thing when he can have a meal for a noblemen such as himself.
When he ruled, he made sure his people were kept in good conditions. The town was kept clean, the last thing he wanted to do was feast on the sick. It always ruined their taste. He protected them from other creatures wanting to slaughter them. Even during famines, he housed some of the humans within his castle so they could work to gain the food they harvested and bred for him. He's not evil.
So, when it comes to his childe who stole food from him, of course he's frustrated. But, not enough to resent to poor thing, as Pyro is very obviously worried was the case.
"Pyro."
The younger stiffened, but immediately gave him their attention. "Yes, sire?"
He smiled, outstretching a hand. "Come here."
The other was hesitant, but listened. Coming over and standing right in front of him. Scott put a hand against his fledging's cheek, causing him to look at his sire in surprise, but leaned into the touch.
He glanced over Pyro's body, looking at the scars and scabs up close. The sun, holy water, silver.. all those things that did damage to his coven. His childe. While the boy was now a higher ranking vampire, obvious to the white hair he now possessed, he was still a baby bat. Eager to pounce, unable to control the hunger completely.
Which, is why he had a bit of an idea. Especially since he already shows such willing fierce loyalty. If him attacking Cleo when he was being fought by her and Martyn served any proof.
"Do you trust me, little flame?"
The younger looked up at him with wide eyes. As a puppy did to their owner. "...I... I don't know."
He tilted his head, "you don't know?"
"...You... you scare me, sire."
He knew that. "What do you fear I'll do?"
"....Hurt me?" The other tried. It must've been hard to ruffle through their emotions when they have loyalty to him, but also don't fully trust him.
"...Perhaps." He would hurt him if he needed to. "But, I am not an anger filled beast, Pyro. I would not hurt you unless you've provoked it."
"...I stole your meals."
"Which I have forgiven you for." Partially.
"...You're strong, sire. Forgive me for fearing that."
He smiled. "...I suppose there's no wrong in fearing the strong." He tilted the fledgling's face up, "however. I do not wish to harm you, little flame."
"...You don't?" He could hear the uncertainty in their voice.
"Of course not." He supposed they didn't know much of vampire relationships. "You're my childe."
"...Childe?"
"I turned you. And I am responsible for teaching you the ways of a vampire. Why would I want to hurt my fledgling?"
"...I... I'm important to you?" The younger's eyes got impossibly wider.
"Of course," he spoke softly. "I wouldn't put an effort to keep you around if you weren't."
"...Right... of course..." he could hear the happiness in their voice. "...thank you, sire."
"No need for that." He raised a finger up to the younger's cheek. "I just need you to trust me."
"...I... will do my best, sire."
"What causes the distrust?" He questioned. "Other than my strength. What are you afraid of?" There has to be more to it than just inferiority.
"...I'm scared you'll leave me, sire."
He blinked, "...leave you?"
"...Yes... I don't want to be left alone..."
"...Pyro. You are mine."
"...Sire?"
"You belong to me."
"....I... of course I do, sire, but what does that-?"
"You should know how possessive and protective I am with my things, Pyro."
"...So... you're possessive of me too...?"
"There you go. Took awhile to put that together, hm?"
"...I trust you, sire..." they said. "...I want to and I will."
"Good." Scott grinned, "because I have a gift for you."
The fledging looked excited, "you do?"
"Yes. Which you'll have to trust me for."
"Of course, sire, anything..."
"Close your eyes."
The younger vampire immediately complied. Eager to please his sire as ever. The older only caressed his face once more before putting a finger to his mouth.
"Open."
The other obeyed. Revealing the sharp fangs of what they were turned into. Scott moved his finger to the fang and pricked it against it. A dribble of blood forming at the tip of his finger.
Pyro's eyes snapped open at the scent of his sire's blood, eyes showing the conflicting feelings of wanting to pull away, but also having to obey Scott's words as his sire. As well as the sweet blood...
"Si-"
"Shh." The elder silenced them. "Trust me, little flame. Close your eyes."
They looked up at him for a bit before reluctantly closing their eyes. He opened the wound against the younger's fangs a bit more before a drop of blood slid off his finger and into their mouth. Pyro made a small noise at the flavor, but kept his eyes shut. Almost forcefully.
He pressed the bloody finger against the other's tongue. "Go ahead, childe. You know you want to."
Without any further words, Pyro closed his mouth around his finger and drank the blood. Drop by drop, like a thirsting man. And they were, technically. The hunger never really goes away, it just becomes easier to manage.
They took as much as the tiny wound could offer. Scott may be generous, but it still is his blood. The more his childe eats, the hungrier he gets. It was fine, though. With each drop of blood they drank, he could see the scars and scabs on their pale skin fade away. He couldn't help but smile at it. The instincts of a sire winning as he couldn't help but feel pride in helping his fledgling. Even at the cost of his power. He almost didn't want to stop the other once all the burn marks were gone, but... well. They had their fill.
"Pyro."
The other only hummed, sucking on his finger to get as much of his blood as they could.
"Pyro." He tried again, more sternly.
The younger opened his eyes, dazed off of the blood.
He couldn't exactly be annoyed at the expression. "Enough."
The other whined, but obeyed the word without any struggle. Wiping at his mouth.
"Feel better?" He asked.
"...Yeah... thank you, sire..." they glanced over their form, seeing the burns gone. Although, their tone was noticeably slow.
He felt as if his mind was a bit fuzzy himself, too. But, this was typical when creating blood bonds. Their emotions somehow tying together in some form. So, he assumes that fuzziness he's feeling is significant to his poor fledgling.
"Get some rest, Pyro."
All the other did was nod before almost falling on him. He caught the younger and led them over to a chair on the long banquet table. He'll move them to a room soon, but currently none of the rooms are maintained enough for any of his coven to have a comfortable rest in.
He looked over his fledgling and sighed. He opens the other two aren't in the sun. Not that either of them would want to heal the same way as he did with Pyro. He supposes he'll need to personalize it for them if he wants to make sure they're okay.
For now, he's hungry after having someone feed off of him. So, even in the blazing sun, he went out to get food.