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Of all the nightmares he remembered having, this was the worst one. This one was real.
Shiro couldn't tear his eyes from the slayer, lying at Sendak’s feet. Blood pooled under Keith as he used both hands to try to stem the bleeding, making choked gasps for air as he tried to close his slit throat back up.
Sendak was saying something, but all Shiro heard was his slayer’s dying breaths. Soon, one of Keith’s hands fell uselessly to the side. His gasps for air became more desperate, turning to gurgles as blood choked him.
The scent was all Keith but it was wrong. That blood should be inside of the slayer, warm and pumping life thru his veins. Suddenly Shiro was disgusted at every moment he was tempted by Keith’s blood, every time he tasted it. He would give it all up to keep Keith alive.
His body moved of its own accord, shoving hands away when they tried to grab him. When Sendak grabbed for him again Shiro grabbed his hands and snapped both wrists before shoving Sendak to the ground with all his might. Without a second thought he grabbed Keith’s stake from the ground and shoved it thru Sendak, barely stopping to watch him burn away.
Keith was the only person he could see.
Collapsing onto his knees, his shaking hands hovered uselessly over Keith’s weakening grip. Despite the amount of blood, Shiro couldn’t feel the burning thirst in his throat as Keith’s flowed freely from his throat, gushing between his fingers.
How many times had Shiro kissed those fingers?
Not enough times.
It would never be enough.
No, the only burning in Shiro’s throat came from panic. “No, no, baby. Stay with me.” He said frantically, putting his hands over Keith’s. The slayer’s heartbeat echoed in his ears, and Shiro could feel it stuttering, slowing.
He didn’t want this.
Keith looked up at him with wide eyes, pleading. Shiro could hear him without him needing to speak a syllable.
Do it.
“Keith.” Shiro pleaded, voice ruined with grief. He had never wanted this for his slayer. They had so many fights over it, and Shiro only just now saw it as wasted time. Instead of arguing they could have been kissing, talking, having sex, dancing at The Bronze. Shiro could have been holding Keith tight and memorizing the sound of his soft breathing, burning the sound of his beating heart into his memory to listen to for eternity. They could have been hanging out with his dumb friends, making fun of Lance or reading old, dusty books with Pidge and Hunk and Kolivan.
They shouldn’t be here.
The light was draining from Keith’s beautiful eyes, his gasps for air becoming fewer. There was a choice, and there was no choice. Shiro was weak. Night after sleepless night he watched Keith sleep, dead heart aching as he thought about after. After the slayer was dead and gone, after they shared their last kiss, after Keith said his name for the last time. After Keith had taken his final breath. The concept of After haunted him constantly.
Shiro was weak.
He removed his hands from Keith’s throat and kissed Keith’s bloody knuckles before gently setting his cold hand aside. “It’s okay, it’s going to be okay.” Shiro assured softly, dipping his head down and kissing under Keith’s ear. The slayer tilted his head slightly towards Shiro, and the vampire held his chin gently before tilting it back.
“I’ve got you.”
This wasn’t what Shiro wanted for Keith. His slayer deserved better, more. Keith deserved a happy life, carefree and full of joy. He deserved to bask in the warmth of the sun. He deserved sleep, and dreams. He deserved to be loved by something better than a monster, than a demon, than Shiro.
But Shiro was weak.
Maybe one day they would share one last kiss. One day, they might say each other’s name for the last time. One day, Shiro would hold Keith for the last time. One day, Keith would die and Shiro would follow him. But it wasn’t going to be today.
Shiro bit down and drank quickly, not even able to enjoy the taste of his love’s blood as it flooded his mouth and coated his throat. No, Shiro was too busy feeling Keith’s jerking body against him, was too busy listening to his slayer’s death rattle. That sound would stay with him for the rest of his days and haunt his sleepless nights. The only comfort was that Keith would be there, as sleepless as he was, and they would be together.
It didn’t take much since Keith had already lost so much blood. Shiro brought his own wrist up to one of his fangs and dragged it across his skin before quickly pressing the wound to Keith’s slack mouth. It was almost mesmerizing to watch his blood stain Keith’s lips and teeth. The slayer’s throat worked once, twice, and Shiro sighed in relief. He had only turned one other before, and Lance had been decades ago, so Shiro was grateful he still remembered how to.
Once the deed was done, Shiro lifted Keith’s prone body and rested his slayer’s head in his lap, stroking his hair reverently.
And he waited.
Shiro was weak for Keith, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
It was disconcerting to hear the silence from Keith’s no longer beating heart. He would never hear his second favorite sound in existence ever again. But then Keith’s eyes were sliding open and Shiro realized he would give up everything if it meant having his slayer.
Smiling softly, Shiro ran his fingers thru Keith’s hair soothingly. “Guess you got what you wanted.” He murmured. Keith huffed, closing his eyes.
The first thing Keith said when his eyes opened again was, “hey.”
The second thing he said was, “Lance is going to be so pissed.”
Shiro’s hearty laughter took them both by surprise. “He’ll get over it.” He said, his grin bright. Keith rolled his eyes and sat up slowly, Shiro’s hand on his back to support him. Rubbing his eyes, Keith blinked a few times before squinting into the night. “Wow, these things are no joke, huh?”
“You get used to it.” Shiro said, chuckling. Keith smiled and leaned against him, Shiro’s arms automatically wrapping around Keith’s smaller form, chin tucking neatly on Keith’s head. The slayer sighed contentedly.
“You’re not gonna get tired of me now, right?”
Shiro startled, making Keith grin mischievously. His newly dropped fangs glistened in the moonlight, pearly white and dark red. Just when Shiro thought he couldn’t marvel at his slayer more than he already did. “Never.” Shiro said seriously.
Humming, Keith tilted his head back and kissed the underside of Shiro’s chin. “Not gonna miss the novelty of a human lover?”
This time it was Shiro’s turn to grin. “Is that what we are?” Keith shoved his chest playfully, making Shiro laugh. “No.” He murmured, kissing the punctures on Keith’s neck, pride welling in his chest. He didn’t make it a habit to turn people, not wanting the responsibility of teaching his changelings. Lance had been the only exception, and that was under different circumstances.
But it did something to Shiro when he saw his marks on Keith.
“You were never a novelty, Keith.” Shiro purred against his throat. No blood ran thru his veins, nothing to tempt Shiro, but somehow he had never been more hungry for the slayer.