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English
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Part 1 of Being Ageless, Being Yours
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Whumptober 2023, Kalira's Whumptober Stories (2023)
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Published:
2023-10-28
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2,889
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1/1
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12
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3
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Mine Forever

Summary:

When a job goes very wrong, Kei is left with his little one dying in his arms, and . . . an agonising choice he cannot make between losing Sho forever, or. . .

Notes:

Written for Whumptober 2023, Day 28

Theme: “We might not make it to the morning; so go on and tell me now.”
Prompt 1: Bloody Knife
Prompt 2: Sacrifice

Work Text:

Kei snorted, not quite a laugh, as he threw off the now limp body of his last attacker. The man crumpled to the concrete and Kei turned away, tucking a hand in his pocket for his cigarettes.

Perhaps he should have fed from the man as well - he had taken one earlier, but even as he wiped the blood away Sho had still urged him to feed again while they were embroiled in this chaos anyway. Kei sighed, rubbing his thumb along the side of the pack. Sho, who was wondrously unafraid and easy with Kei, even the darker side of his nature . . . Sho, who should never have grown so familiar with-

Kei stilled, cocking his head. ‟Sho?” he called, loud, then ran, fear twisting through his chest. What could have happened? Sho had been fine when Kei last saw him, and most of the gang’s backup had already materialised and been dispatched. . .

Kei felt like he’d taken the full force of a crashing train directly to the chest as he crossed into another large storeroom; the floor was littered with a handful of bodies and half a warehouse worth of junk, but Kei only had eyes for one shuddering, prone figure.

‟Sho!” Kei howled, flashing uncaringly through the mess between them. ‟Fuck, stop, stop- Don’t-” He curled his hand over Sho’s on the knife he was shakily trying to pull out of his stomach just below his ribs, throat tightening as he saw that that it angled up, through Sho’s diaphragm at least, however long it was. ‟Don’t pull it out, Sho.” Kei scolded, tears in his eyes. ‟You’ll only-”

‟I’m sorry.” Sho gasped, then coughed, the knife twitching and fresh blood welling up around it. There was another wound below it, slashed across his belly and up. His full lips smeared with brilliant crimson droplets as he heaved a shaky breath, then licked them.

Kei strangled down an agonised keen. ‟Sho. . . Little one. . .” He sobbed, a tear dripping onto Sho’s face and sliding down towards his chin, only recently cut sharp from the soft roundness of the baby fat Kei had been so happy to see him put on, so painfully few years ago.

Sho smiled at him, weak and drawn with pain. ‟I’m sorry,” he grabbed Kei’s wrist, ‟it’s. . . It’s okay.” he added, then paused, brow furrowing as he struggled to catch his breath. He looked up at Kei, sunlit blue eyes meeting Kei’s own. ‟I love you, Kei.” he said, and Kei sobbed wretchedly, looking down Sho’s body at the bloody wounds he bore, the knife lodged up under his ribs; there was a strong tang to the scent of his blood that Kei couldn’t fail to recognise, bitter at the back of his tongue. At least Sho’s liver and probably his stomach had been slashed open, maybe more than that.

‟Kei,” Sho said, and Kei’s eyes snapped back to his face, ‟it’s fine, Kei. It’s. . . I’m sorry, I didn’t want to leave you,” he squeezed Kei’s wrist, surprisingly hard, ‟I never would have chosen to abandon you, Kei, please- please believe that.”

‟Don’t apologise.” Kei managed raggedly. ‟Kami, Sho. . .”

‟I would have stayed with you. Always, Kei.” Sho’s words were shockingly steady, given his gasping, struggling breaths, but his brilliant eyes. . .

I’m scared, Kei, Kei heard, whatever the words Sho actually voiced. An admission so rarely pulled from Sho, wretched and thin, underlined by his fingers shaking but tight around Kei’s wrist. I don’t want to go, Kei please I’m scared. . .

‟It’s not your fault, okay?” Sho smiled again. ‟Thank you.” he said, and Kei curled forwards over him. ‟Thank you for everything, for- for being there, for being,” he paused, laughing weakly, and lifted his bloody hand to Kei’s face, sliding shakily down his neck, ‟for being my Kei.”

‟I’ll always be your Kei.” Kei said brokenly, stroking his face. ‟My little one.”

Sho shook his head, then cringed in pain, and Kei had to catch firm hold of him to keep his gasping coughs from jarring the knife further. It was. . . It was a vain effort, Kei knew; he knew too well how fragile humans were. His little one was strong - so strong, both his slender body and his impossible heart - but even he was only human. If Sho were in a hospital right now, in an OR with a medical team ready to work on him and transfusions set up, they might be able to save him.

‟No. Not- But,” Sho’s own tears spilled down his face, ‟I’ll always be your Sho,” he tilted his head, even as he sagged a little; he was probably weak from pain and- and blood loss - Kei could feel the warmth of his little one’s blood through his clothes, ‟your little one. Remember that and remember me, okay? Remember I- I loved you so- so much.”

Kei stilled, heart wrenching. ‟My Sho.” he said, and suddenly a horrible thought spun through his mind.

‟Yes.” Sho said, sniffling, then panting for a moment. He had already gone pale, but now his skin was fading to an ashy tone, his eyes still glossy and bright but not quite so sharply focused. He didn’t have long, Kei thought wretchedly; minutes maybe.

‟You could be. Forever.” he said, a part of him fading out into numbness and another screaming. He’d sworn he would never. . .

But it was Sho. Sho. His beautiful, impossible little one, like no other human on earth, still so unfairly young for all he’d grown so much, and so, so desperately scared and clinging to Kei.

‟Yeah.” Sho said, eyelids drooping. ‟Love you.”

‟Sho!” Kei barked, and Sho twitched, lashes fluttering as he opened his eyes again, clearly struggling to focus. Kei opened his mouth and though the thought had been his own, he was still almost surprised to hear the words. ‟You- I won’t- You could be my Sho, my little one, forever.” he said, brushing his knuckles lightly over Sho’s cheek, then trailing his fingertips down Sho’s slim neck, resting on his quick, already fading pulse.

Sho’s eyes widened and he swallowed convulsively, chest hitching with his unsteady breaths.

‟Kei. . . You would. . .” Sho licked his pink-stained lips once more. ‟I thought. . .”

Kei caught his hand and nuzzled the back of it, keeping his gaze. ‟I love you more than anything in the world, Sho. You’re more precious than- But I won’t,” he said, swallowing thickly, ‟if it’s not what you. . .”

‟I want it.” Sho said, thin and almost desperate. ‟Please Kei-” He choked, wheezing a little as he struggled to catch his breath; the knife shifted in his belly and more blood spilt. ‟I want to stay with you forever, please-!”

Kei dipped down and kissed his brow, hushing him softly. Sho whimpered, tilting his head up, and Kei murmured soothing nonsense syllables, sliding his hand down Sho’s chest to the hilt of the knife.

It. . . It didn’t matter now - had likely been precious little difference before, with all Sho’s other hurts, with the deep wound not far below where the knife was buried in his body. Kei pulled the knife free in one quick jerk, and Sho grimaced, coughing. Fresh blood gushed out over his stomach, and Kei pressed a hand there for a moment; there was little point trying to staunch it, however, and he knew it. There was only one thing. . .

Kei pulled Sho’s upper body into his lap, against his chest, supporting his little one, then drew the bloody blade over his own arm, slashing almost to the bone in a fiery line of pain. Sho made a stifled sound, stiffening, and Kei crooned, bending low and nuzzling Sho’s hair.

‟You have to take my blood, little one.” Kei offered his arm; well fed, he would heal quickly, but the wound was deep - it would still take some time.

Sho struggled a little, and Kei cringed as he had to fold his other arm around Sho’s waist to steady him, crossing the wound there, but he pressed his lips to Kei’s arm and drank. Kei’s stomach knotted. He couldn’t help but feel he was damning Sho to- But to just let Sho go. . .

Kei forced himself not to whine, nuzzling Sho’s shoulder and neck, almost distractedly licking away a splash of drying blood. Sho pressed into his hold, clinging to his arm, and instinct pushed at Kei in a pulsing rhythm that matched the sweep of Sho’s tongue over his bleeding arm, Sho’s hitching swallows of his blood.

Kei nuzzled his little one, then bit, as gently as he knew how, just at the base of Sho’s neck. Sho twitched, giving a thin, stifled moan, and Kei purred thoughtlessly, cradling him close. Sho’s blood was thin on his tongue - he’d had little enough left, and Kei wasn’t really drawing at the careful bite he’d given - but unmistakable, searing into Kei’s mind alongside the feeling of Sho drinking from him.

Mine Kei’s instincts said, a fierce, singing certainty, and it was new and dizzying, but it was also . . . familiar; Kei had been devoted to his impossible, beloved little one for seven years - the blink of an eye in an immortal life, and yet a happy eternity - since the moment he had met bright summer sky eyes with blood on his tongue, dripping down his face, and Sho had only smiled.

Sho relaxed in his embrace, panting softly around swallows of his blood, then slowly. . .

Kei purred comfortingly, tears spilling freely down his face, as Sho whimpered and nudged weakly backwards against his body, clinging, slowly sagging further in his embrace.

Kei withdrew his fangs as gently as he had bitten, ignoring his arm still bleeding as he twisted to keep Sho cradled against his chest but allow him to look Sho in the face. His eyes were glazed, his lids low, and mouth was stained a deeper crimson now. Kei’s blood mingled with his own. Kei brushed a thumb over that full lower lip - made for pouting, Kei thought wryly, and Sho never seemed to realise but he got his own way because of it at times regardless of Kei’s best intentions - then cupped his cheek.

‟Kei.” Sho breathed, barely there.

‟I’m here.” Kei said softly, hugging Sho more tightly. ‟And I will be here when you wake. It’s- It’s all right,” he said, voice cracking, ‟let yourself,” he forced the words through his painfully tight throat, ‟fall asleep.”

Sho grimaced, barely a flicker, then tipped his head heavily to Kei’s chest, closing his eyes.

‟I’ll be here, I’ll be here, I’ll be here. . .” Kei murmured, rocking Sho until he went entirely lax, body still and silent. Kei sobbed, ragged and loud, clutching Sho to himself and pressing his brow to Sho’s. He knew Sho would- would wake again, knew. . .

But right now, Sho was dead in his arms, and Kei couldn’t have saved him, and it hurt.

I’ll be here, I’ll be here Sho remembered the words and the heady metallic taste of blood on his tongue, the pain, and nothing more. He shivered, whining softly and struggling to pull his thoughts together.

‟Sho!” Kei’s voice, rough but endlessly familiar and comforting. It was followed by Kei’s hands, brushing over his face, his neck, his shoulders, supporting him and drawing him closer. ‟Sho, little one. . .” Kei crooned, one hand splaying over his spine, just below his nape; it felt steadying, grounding. ‟Open your eyes for me, aa?”

Sho whined again, shifting achily but finding it hurt less than he had somehow expected.

Another few moments and he opened his eyes to find Kei leaning over him, warm green eyes taking up his entire world. Sho’s breath caught, and Kei smiled at him, though Sho could see a heavy tear caught in his lashes at the corner of one eye.

‟Kei.” Sho rasped, and Kei crooned again, leaning down and nuzzling his brow, pressing a kiss there.

‟There you are, my little one.” Kei said, soft and just slightly wavery. ‟I’ve got you.”

‟Always, right?” Sho asked, reaching up and clasping Kei’s upper arm. ‟‘cause. . . ‘cause I’m yours.”

Kei let out a soft, rippling sound that was almost a laugh, ducking his head to press his brow to Sho’s. ‟Always.” he echoed, arm curling snugly behind Sho’s shoulders. He felt a little stronger already, but it was steadying all the same, and he leaned into Kei, pushing closer.

Kei crooned, hitching but familiar, stroking Sho’s hair and bowing a little lower, curling around him. Kei was always the steadiest, the surest thing in the world, but. . . Sho sighed, relaxing a little more, feeling utterly safe and surprisingly peaceful. There might be something new to the way he felt in Kei’s arms and he didn’t know why, but if it was . . . well, it was still Kei; it was Kei, Sho couldn’t be worried or uncertain in his arms, no matter what.

‟Little one,” Kei began, voice wavering, and Sho took a breath, tilting his head to look up at Kei again, ‟do you remember. . .”

He faltered, trailing off weakly, blinking rapidly and tightening his jaw for a moment.

Sho didn’t need him to finish the question, gasping shallowly as he remembered- A broad knife in the hand of a man who had lunged into the fray, suddenly too-close, and Sho had twisted and deflected it and laughed as he danced out of range, twisted again and lashed out with a kick to the man coming after him, only to-

The knife slashing across his belly with a sudden chill, then blooming pain like fire. Sho had fought despite that pain but he had been clumsy with it, and he had- had slipped in his own blood on the concrete, managed to smash a hand into his attacker’s face - he had dropped, either unconscious or dead; Sho wasn’t sure if he’d hit hard enough at the right angle to break the man’s neck - on the way down, but not without. . .

Sho slid a hand down his chest to press hard just where there had been a long, bloody knife jammed deep into him, up and-

He whimpered, curling up tight, and Kei crooned again, arms winding just as tightly around him, rocking him soothingly. Sho shuddered and struggled to breathe, pressing into Kei desperately, even as it filtered through that he didn’t hurt, and he . . . remembered Kei holding him like this, too, tight and shaky and the drip of tears on his skin. . . And then not only tears but also-

‟I remember.” Sho said into Kei’s shoulder. He remembered Kei’s wrecked heart clear in his eyes, his choked sobs as he tried to hide it from Sho, his gentle hands and his broken offer. His blood, his bite. ‟You. . .” Sho paused. ‟I’m. . . Now I’m. . .” He shifted a little.

Kei tucked Sho’s head down a little more with a gentle nudge to his neck, chin on top of his head, and Sho slowly relaxed again, nestling against Kei’s collarbone.

‟I’m like you?” Sho reached up his own chest to his neck, though he wasn’t sure what he was looking for. ‟I’ll. . .”

I’ll be with you forever? Sho thought, swallowing thickly and shifting a little, nudging into Kei’s shoulder.

‟Yes.” Kei said, his voice thick. ‟I’m sorry. That I wasn’t there when you got hurt.” he added before Sho’s heart could more than ache; he had never wanted to be taken from Kei and he- he hadn’t wanted to- But he didn’t want Kei to regret it, regret him, either. Kei’s arms tightened. ‟I should have been.”

Kei already managed enough that was nigh impossible, Sho thought vaguely, even for a vampire. He couldn’t possibly do everything. It wasn’t his fault that Sho had been sloppy and gotten overwhelmed, or that the wounds he had taken had been so bad.

‟Sho?” Kei asked after a moment, and Sho curled his fingers into Kei’s sweater.

‟I’m- I’m glad.” Sho said, his voice coming out high and quiet. ‟I- I didn’t want- I wanted-” He had been terrified and it had hurt so badly and he’d just wanted Kei, and then-

And then Kei had been there, and-

‟You fixed it.” Sho said, tugging thoughtlessly at his handful of Kei’s sweater, looking up, letting himself slide away just enough to allow for the movement. ‟I was scared and everything hurt and I was- And then you were there and you saved me, you- you kept me. Kei.” he said all in a rush, breath hitching.

‟My Sho.” Kei said, eyes glittering with tears, and nuzzled his brow, his temple, brushing a kiss high along his cheekbone and nosing him gently.

Overwhelmed, chest tight, Sho returned the affectionate gestures with a faint keen. ‟For- Forever?”

He’d said it before, and he’d meant it - no matter what happened to him, even if he had . . . had died, really died, and left Kei behind, he would always be Kei’s Sho - but if it could be- be like this instead. . .

Kei kissed his temple hard, holding him so close it felt like he’d never be parted from Kei. ‟Forever and always, little one. My baby.”

Sho had the vague thought that yesterday he would have protested that last stridently, but-

‟Kei.” he said, his voice thin and needy.

Kei stroked his back, rocking him gently, lips resting against his brow. ‟My baby.”

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