Simple Misunderstanding

[beastly]

Vincent had recognized August from the first time he'd come down to talk to Fao in medical. Vincent couldn't help it, he would always retain the ability to identify vampires on sight. It was mostly in the stillness, or that was at least what announced August. A blood suck- a vampire had no need to take breath.  And then, of course, there was August's hair. That was what made him realize  August was the same vampire he'd shot at while he was hunting. One of them, at least. He would soon learn that Ru was also around. It filled him with dread when he met the man's eyes- but there was no recognition there. August didn't know the face of the scarred man that had shot him as he practiced his shape shifting.

The hunter had decided, filled with guilt, that he would become August's friend. The man was terribly friendly already, all smiles and his strange accent that Vincent was fairly confident was some part Texan. He'd discussed it with Malakhi. It was the least he could do, although not without risk. By being around August, he risked the vampire remembering what he'd done. What Vincent was. It could be a disaster leading to his arrest and potentially his partner, if someone wanted to go after the surgeon.

But. He felt bad. So, he tried.

Vincent was an awkward, quiet man. But, August was more than happy to work around that. He invited Vincent over for movies, chattered at him at work, texted, and apparently also hung out with Vincent's aunt for some reason. Although he sometimes winced when the vampire touched him, he thought August was a very nice young man.

After months, Vincent... Made a decision. He needed to tell the vampires. He needed to come clean to August and Ru. Not only did he legitimately consider them friends, but there was a practical element. An important piece. There was no certainty that Ru and August would never discuss what had occurred in that forest. There was no promise that they would never remember the man with the gun and the distinctly scarred face. He'd cut his hair and gained muscle, but he was still the same man. Still had the same voice. It was possible they would remember.

So, he'd spoken to Malakhi. Made a choice. A text was sent. And now... It was time. Vincent fixed his jacket, and marched onward towards... Well. Whatever would happen.

[indeath]

August was a little nervous as he waited for Vincent, the guy was pretty formal at the best of times but it still stood out as strange. August was pretty sure most people knew the guy was gay and dating the doctor guy. Maybe they were looking for a third. August shook his head that was ridiculous.

The guy had been in his home, watched movies. It was probably something completely innocent but August’s brain kept being weird. What if he had a vampire kink. There had definitely been a little weirdness with him being a vampire.

August hummed softly to himself to block out unwanted thoughts. The main thing was he really liked Vince and his wacky aunt. They were a cute family and August thought having a ghost aunt was pretty cool.

He smiled warmly as the gruff man appeared and gave a friendly wave.

“Bombaroo! Howdy there, Vincey Vincent! How’s it hangin’?

[beastly]

Vincent stood stiffly in the doorway, nodding at August as he greeted him. He had made his decision, and would not turn back now. No matter how his nerves were yelling at him. He'd made a decision.

"Howdy, August."

Vincent attempted a smile in return, only the left half his face responding in his crooked half grin. August had never seen a full smile from the man, and he likely wasn't capable of one. Whether it was on account of his scars or his shy nature was anyone's guess. It broke the resting frown he always carried, at least. The man's dark eyes glanced left, then right around the hall before speaking again.

"I'm...We h-have to talk."

Vincent worried the hem of his sleeve as he stepped in, looking around the apartment. The older man was wearing his frown again, and his eyes settled on the couch. He didn't move to sit, just frowned at August. He was quiet a moment, then spoke again. Pleasantries first.

"How are you?"

[indeath]

August motioned to his couch, it had cute plushies and a couple of cushions that looked very much like Ru had picked them. There was a lot more room in this apartment at least but it still felt very awkward. Maybe they were looking for a third, he would have to politely decline. He sat down on a comfy chair hoping Vince would take suit. Meffy meowed loudly, insulted that he was being ignored.

“Oh yeah… Pretty bombaroo. Went out for a movie the other day with me girlfriend. Ah do you want a coffee or a cuppa? I think the biscuits are still fresh…”

He leaned forward ready to fetch snacks for his guest. It was hard to remember sometimes since he didn’t feel hunger for food himself most days.

[beastly]

Right, he nodded. August had a girlfriend, he'd seen the young lady once. She was very sweet.

"That's good...'B-bomaroo'."

Vincent looked at all of the adorable stuffed animals with their little black bead eyes sitting cozily on the couch. Normally he did not mind sharing his seat with the creatures, but they felt so diametrically opposed to what he was here to tell August, what he would say. Very seriously, he sank down onto the couch, a little tiger on his right, and bunny on his left. He clasped his hands on his knees and looked over at the vampire.

"No, thank you."

Vincent frowned at the ceiling for a moment, gathering his words.

"...I need to tell you some things you... You won't like, it's... not good, August. But I need to ask you to hear me out."

Vincent's weary eyes turned back to the vampire. He had no idea how August would react to the truth. He hunched a little more, trying to make himself nonthreatening as possible. As he moved, he was reminded of the knife on the side of his belt. He'd brought a weapon! That was... That was no good. He always had it, after the Kail attack. The former hunter blinked at August, then drew the knife and offered it to him.

"I-I... Would you hold that? Just... Keep that."

[indeath]

August smiled at Vincent’s attempt to say bombaroo. He was a really sweet guy, it was hard not to think of him like some kindly uncle. He was glad the guy had Mr. Finkle and Buzzby. The more Vince spoke the more concerned he became. Was Vince dying? Was he dying? This all sounded very dour.

He nodded, his usual smile sinking into a slight frown. He took the knife and placed it on a side table. It was odd, he wasn’t sure what that was about. This didn’t seem like a conversation that needed daggers.


“It’s okay, Vince. I’m all ears. I’ll hear ya out without poking ya eye out or somethin’. She’ll be right.”

He relaxed into the chair, keeping his posture open and friendly. He didn’t want to make Vince any more anxious than he was.

[beastly]

Vincent folded his hands and looked at August silently, his dark eyes focusing on the vampire. It had thrown him off, realizing the knife was there. He'd practiced what he would say with Malakhi, he'd gone over how he'd start, what he'd say. But now that he was here, it was like all that information had spilled out his ears.

"I hope so."

He took a deep breath in, then exhaled as he looked at his hands. At first, no words came, and he just sat there with his mouth half open. He scowled to himself and forced words to spill from his mouth.

" For a very... For a long time, I...I was a very misinformed man. I've wronged you- I did- I-I...Before I worked at the WDSA, I thought vampires were evil. And... I hurt people. I hurt you."

Vincent bit his lip, glancing up at August for the next part. There wasn't a pretty way to say any of this. He'd tried to kill the man.

"Y-you didn't seem to remember when we met. I-I found you and Ru in the woods, and I shot you. He turned into a wolf. You both ran away."

[indeath]

August just stared at the man for what seemed like an eternity. He started to speak then stopped again. He frowned then ran a hand through his curls. It was hard to connect the angry hunter with the man before him. They were totally different but the same guy?

“Oh. That was you… Well I’m glad ya saw the error of ya ways. It’s fine uh… No… No permanent damage. Sorry bout ya gun. Oh and ya ear. I just wanted to stop ya following us. Lucky for ya I’m a pretty good shot. What… What changed ya mind about us?”

He leaned in, he had hoped to convince the guy in the moment. What took an angry hunter to a teddy bear like Vince? He smiled encouragingly. Poor guy seemed pretty cut up. At least that meant he and Ru could train again without fear.

[beastly]

Vincent had held the stare, clutching his hands together tight as he could manage. Inside his chest felt numb and cold with dread as August mulled over his words. He briefly wondered if August was the kind of vampire with ears keen enough to hear his racing heart. He hoped not, it was really going. He'd very much meant to kill this man, and now here he was on the vampire's couch.

He gave the faintest of nods. He was glad August was alright, physically. He knew well enough that a bullet wasn't going to take down a vampire, he'd known that when he'd shot him, but it was still... good to hear. Oh, how mad he'd been the vampire hadn't shot him. His brainwashed mind not being able to compute why the creatures he'd been told were soulless and evil had spared him. He'd been a fool.

" It was. Y-you would've been... Right to shoot me. I'm so sorry, August."

Vincent grimaced when asked what had changed his mind. But, he had been prepared to answer that.

"I learned vampires weren't s-soulless... My brothers' ghosts came. Haunted me. Told me they were in h-hell," his eyes dropped from August for a beat before he forced himself to look back up," They were vampires. Turned when we were young. I. Got scared. Killed them. Then I'd been told vampires had no souls, when they died their souls went to heaven and...on earth walked shells."

The former hunter leaned forward as well, though it was more just a settling of his weight onto his knees as he hunched more.

"I was wrong. They told me they were in hell," The big man's voice broke,"and I'd... condemned every vampire I'd killed. I...I stopped after that."

[indeath]

August could hear Vince’s heart beating like a rabbit’s, he hoped the guy wasn’t about to have a stroke or something. This must have weighed so heavily on the man.

Huge red tears welled in his eyes as the man bared his heart to him. It must have been so hard to lose his family like that.

August moved over to the couch in the blink of an eye and gave the older man a hug. He even pushed blood around his body to make sure it was warm. No corpse hug.

“Aww I’m so sorry, hambalos. Ya didn’t know ya can’t be too hard on yourself. Ya know not all vampires go ta hell. I forgive ya just so ya know. It’s okay, buddy.”

He rubbed Vince’s back. He kinda wished he did have a cup of tea or something for the man to drink.

“Ya know hell ain’t so bad. I uh went there once ta help a friend.”

[beastly]

Vincent tensed slightly as the vampire came at him- then relaxed some into the hug. His reflexes would probably always yell at him anytime a vampire moved towards him with any kind of speed, but he was able to calm himself enough to put an arm around August in return. Seeing August's tears threatened his own, but he was determined to try and hold himself together as much as he could. Try, at least.

He bit his lip as August forgave him. He had hoped he would. That had been the goal, even though Vincent knew he really didn't deserve it, but it wasn't just about him. Malakhi could be in trouble if word got out that his partner had tried to kill the two sweetest vampires in the entire organization. So, he didn't protest even as something else told him he really wasn't worth it.

"I...I-I'm sorry," He repeated, "If...If you ever need anything..."

He'd help. He owed him.

The hunter had to blink and pull away when August told him he'd been to hell and it wasn't 'so bad'. August had been to hell? ...Metaphorically? The look on August's face did not lead him to believe August meant that anyway but literally.

"Hell is... a place of suffering and torment? W-what?"

[indeath]

August gave Vincent another squeeze on the shoulder, still concerned about his friend’s mental state. He stayed close to the other man just in case he needed another hug. He leaned back in the couch as he thought about the best way to talk about hell.

“Traditionally yeah… but uh my friend’s part was nice enough though. It isn’t super hot or anythin’, I was completely dressed wrong. Egg on me face there. It was a bit gorey in places but we were lookin’ for something important in his basement. I’ve seen the nice parts too, it’s got a TV room an’ all sorts. Maybe uh I could ask em to look out for ya bros?”

He smiled awkwardly, he wanted to reassure Vince but he couldn’t tell him too much. Yoshio had rules about that. He didn’t want to mention that he had a deal with him or anything. He didn’t want to get in trouble.

[beastly]

Vincent didn't have an incredibly expressive face, his visage was usually some sort of frown. There were variations with how deep his frown was and to what degree it looked angry. Now, he looked confused. Sad and confused.

"Hell... is s-someone's house?"

Vincent shook his head, rubbing his face to try and clear his thoughts. It didn't really matter if he understood or not, and perhaps he could ask August later about what exactly he meant. The man just nodded.

"If... If you could? I... I'm not in a position to ask anything of you. Please."