Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It stings.

Blood coats my tongue, teeth, lips. Its like licking pennies, rust and all until your tongue is coated in the metallic taste. Yet no matter how much water you try to drink to get rid of the taste- it never goes away.

Who thought tugging out your own wires with bare hands would hurt like a bitch.

Blood drips into the skink, washing away with the stream of water- constant- steady. Every movement of my lips feel like the flesh is ripping apart. The constant blood flow is concerning, but it wasn't as bad as before. The rag I found while digging around the small bathroom is useless now, coated in blood and flaking skin from my lips while i hold it up to my wounds.

It had been two hours since the homeowner went to sleep, the sun not quite up yet. He seems scary, always holding a shotgun wherever he goes, even to the bathroom.

He has a good heart though, many unusual people come to his door and yet he lets them in. He even let in one lady with a cat- her smile just a bit too wide and she just seemed... off. I was sure she was a visitor, and she definitely was when i heard that fatal shotgun go off in the living room where she resided. I dread hearing it every time the sun comes back up- when the homeowner wakes and tests people to see if they are a visitor. There always seems to be at least one he unfortunately lets in.

I seem to be in the clear for now. Perhaps its because the homeowner cant understand what i'm saying, there isn’t a lot of people around these parts that speak my language anyway. At least he tries to understand me unlike some. Hand gestures, writing down words on a piece of paper (although I have no idea how to write in Russian), and even trying to find someone who speaks my language. All options that of course ends up dry. It doesn't help anytime I try to talk it feels like pin needles are stabbing my lips repeatedly. God I hope this heals soon.

Ive been digging around the bathroom trying to find any medication to put over my wounds to help even a little bit with the pain, and eventually i was able to find some medicine behind the mirror, one of them being petroleum jelly.

Dropping the bloody rag into the sink, i bend my body forward to look at myself better in the mirror. Lips covered in blood and little holes where the wires were, hair a mess, and my bags under my eyes seemed to get even bigger with these sleepless nights. God i look horrible. I hope the sun will stop boiling us alive long enough for me to get back home.

I swipe my fingers over the medicine before slowly applying it over my lips. It smudges some of the leftover blood but no sting, it just feels like I have lipgloss on.

I take a moment to stare at myself in the mirror, slowly breathing in and out. "You’ll get through this" I mumbled to myself, taking a deep breath before pulling myself together. Putting the medicine back where it belonged, shoving the bloodied rag to the bottom of the trash so the homeowner won't find, then finally i wash my hands clean of any blood. Rubbing until my fingers feel raw amd free of any blood or gunk,I don't want to be confused for a visitor. I don't dare look at my reflection as i leave, knowing what will be looking back at me is a far cry from what i was back at my home country.

The closet i reside in is small, but I prefer it that way. sleeping by the door lets me hear whatever is going on outside the wood, although the back of the closet is also occupied. A short orange haired women is curled up by the boxes, tense and trembling as if something is going to jump out and get her. She's nice company to have, sometimes she talks to me but most of the time she keeps to herself, staring at a wall or chewing on her nails out of anxiety. I don't blame her, sometimes all i can do is lean my head against the wood and listen to the muffled voices on the other side.

Sleep is rare now a days, but i would rather be alive then die in my sleep.

This night seems like a quiet one, the voices outside the closet door seem less today. Ive counted only two knocks at the door and so far the homeowner hasn’t let anybody in. My gaze moves from the wooden door and over to the girl in the corner who is fast asleep, curled into herself like a fetes.

I envy people who can sleep in these conditions, all i want to do is sleep for a few days without interruption. Yet my body is on high alert, tense, and on edge. Bracing for the day a visitor comes to say hi.

I felt myself slowly dozing off anyway, my body begging for even an ounce of sleep. Yet I fought the feeling, quietly standing up and stretching my body to keep myself awake without waking up the girl in the corner. Just then i heard the muffled sound of voices from the other side start up again, curious, i put my ear to the door and listened quietly. At first i couldn’t hear much, but then the sound of the door opening and footsteps followed afterwards.

Huh, so i guess he let in someone anyway.

The voices faded down the hall before a door closed and it grew silent once again. I waited quietly until I heard the homeowners door close- telling me he was asleep- before i stepped into the hall. I always liked meeting the new people he let in, even if some are weird. Like the one guy he let in thinking the sun killing people was because god was punishing us for all the wrongdoings in life. I always wonder how he is doing after he was taken by the FEMA people.

It didn’t take me long to find the room the new person was staying in, the living room was a nice area anyway. I pressed my palm to the cold wood and quietly opened the door just enough i could get a good look-

Well shit.

I didn’t expect to find a nice looking man to appear in front of me. Dark eyes, covered head to toe in clothing, and dark short hair that was only slightly messed up. He seemed to sense my gaze because he turned from where he was standing, Relaxed yet once he saw me he tensed up- having the look of a frightened deer about to flee.

Shit, i scared the poor dude.

By instinct i covered my wounded mouth, holding my free hand up in peace, not wanting to frighten him more. His body didn’t relax but his eyes seemed less scared.

"what happened t-to your mouth?" His voice was gentle, kinder than most people I met in the past few days. Thank god i could understand other languages then my own, i don't know if i would be alive or dead if i didn't. I dropped my hand, not finding a reason to hide it- now the only problem was communication. I did a small prayer in my head, wishing this one time let it be someone who understands me. "some bastard sewed it shut." I mumble out, fully expecting him to give me a confused look, but his expression did not change. In fact it turned almost sad.

"Im s-sorry to hear that. This whole visitor and the sun burning everyone up is m-making everyone crazy."

Georgian. He spoke Georgian! I could cry out of happiness. I couldn’t stop myself as I came right up to the guy, ignoring the pain in my lips as i smiled for the first time in what feels like forever. "you speak Georgian?" I asked like a kid in a candy store

He seems taken aback by the sudden change in my mood, "o-only a little" He stuttered out, tensing even more in surprise when i came so close. He didn't back up however, so i took it as a sign i wasn’t exactly pushing any boundaries. His eyes flew to my lips and that's when i felt the small trickle of blood drip down my chin.

"shit-" My hands shot up to my mouth, covering the trickle of blood from getting anywhere on the floor. Only then i realize the amount of pain was in my lower lip, must of ripped it more. "sorry.." I mumbled from behind my hand, finding the guys gaze with an apologetic look. "the wounds still haven’t healed yet."

The guy studied me for a moment- like a specimen under a microscope- before he reached a hand up to touch a part of my chin with blood still on it, wiping it away. His fingers were freezing cold- making me shiver slightly from the brief contact. Jesus, is that why he had so many layers on? he felt like the damn arctic.

"I'll help you c-clean up" He mumbled out, "i used t-yo get hurt alot when i was a teen, s-so i know how to clean wounds property" His gaze was gentle- concern look on his face. "Ah- I mean is it.. okay if i help?"

All i could do was nod, and he smiled- small yet sweet- and something in me fluttered.

For the first time since i came to this country, I think I finally found something worth coming here.

Chapter Text

His blood is so warm against my chilled fingers, I wish i could taste it on my tongue.

The bathroom was pretty small, small enough it could be claustrophobic for some humans. Not that i mind, the closeness allowed me to feel the warmth of the trembling body infront of me. What an interesting smell he had, heavy with musk but an underlying fruity scent that I couldn’t figure out what fruit it was from.

Ever since we moved from the living room to the bathroom, he had been quiet. Letting me clean up his wounds around his lips with care & tend to them with medication. I can tell my coldness is bothering him, every time i brush my fingers against his lips to put the medicine on he flinches. It's subtle but I notice- I mean- who wouldn’t, being only inches away from each other.

I think he’s still starstruck i can speak his language. Well, to tell the truth in can speak and understand any language- probability the only positive of being a Visitor. Humans seem to trust you more if you speak their language- a good advantage point if i do say so myself.

As I applied the last of the medicine I noticed how his eyes never left my face. I swear he never binks, such an odd human.

"T-There, you should be good for now" I mumbled out, closing the cap of the medicine before washing my hands. If i keep smelling that delicious blood the homeowner won't like what he finds in the morning. Besides- I can't risk getting kicked out. Not now.

Silence fills the bathroom but i catch in the reflection of the mirror him touching his lips, just barely. His eyes lingering on my back before he catches my gaze in the mirror and turns his head so i couldn’t see his features anymore.
"Thanks.. sorry again about all that" His voice was quiet yet seems to bounce off the walls of the silent bathroom.

I turned the faucet off and slowly dried my hands, wincing only slightly when the cloth brushed against my fingertips. When you crawl out from under the ground, it seems the soil eats away at your nails first before you decompose completely.

I dropped the cloth into the sink before putting my hands in my pockets, the cold eating away at my body no matter how much i try to layer.

"It's quite alright, it's not the first time i saw blood"

My words made him look back at me with small smile, running his hands through his hair.
"well, it would be a luxury now if you haven’t seen any blood since all this started to happen" He spoke, all too gentle for someone like me. As i turned to face him, i noticed his gaze was more firm- examining me. "May I ask why your so.. cold?"

I shrugged, bringing my arms tighter around myself as an attempt to shield myself. "i've always been like this, cold-blooded"
"And the nails- well the lack of them.. what happened?"

I debated on not answering, maybe avoid the question with a question, but all that came to my mind was a perfectly curated lie. "They got ripped off not too long ago. Stayed at a place that thought i was a visitor and tortured me to admit i was."
Okay- a gruesome lie, but i would rather it be gruesome then for him to find the truth.

His face twisted into something akin to sympathetic, and i almost feel bad for lying. Almost.

"I'm sorry that happened to you" He muttered, his head tilted down slightly to look at me better in the eye. Only then i realized just how tall he was compared to me- having to crane my head back to even look him in the eyes. A sliver runs up my spine- but i swear it isn’t from my cold body this time.

He cleared his throat, letting out a nervous chuckle before he backed up enough to rest his palms against the counter. "anyway.." He rubbed a hand to the back of his neck "How do you know Georgian?"

"My family speaks it" the lie rolls off my tongue easily. I watch as his eyebrows go up in curiosity before a smirk curls on his lips "never would expect a kartveli to be in Russia around this time of year. Must be a small world huh?"

I could only chuckle and nod my head. Naive as ever.

The bathroom was silent for a stretch of time, my head turning towards the door. Just then i noticed the small amount of light peeking under the door. Dawn has arrived to boil the world once again.

Suddenly i felt something brush against my arm, and a flash of orange in my peripheral vision that made me turn my head.
He was holding out the orange hoodie that was around his neck earlier. He must have seen my confused expression because he came right up to me and slowly wrapped his hoodie around my neck like a scarf. "Hopefully this will warm you up a bit more"

Instantly my nose was assaulted by his perfect scent. I nuzzled my chin into the fabric, letting the fabric cover half of my face so I could smell him every time I breathed.

"Thank you" I mumbled into the fabric and he smiled back. The moment was a delicate one, two broken 'people' finding solace in the chaos.

He came closer, resting a hand on the sink behind me so we were almost chest to chest. He looked good.. too good. "is there anymore ways i can help you warm up?"
His voice was low, speaking from the back of his throat in a way that made my cheeks feel warm. My lips part to speak but I watched his gaze travel down to them, making any words I wanted to speak get stuck in my throat.

As I tried the find words to speak, a sharp knock came to the door that made both of us flinch- the moment ruined in an instant. His gaze lingers for a moment longer before he moved to the door, opening it just enough for him to peak out.

He turned after a moment of brief talking, gently grabbing my sleeve and pulling us out of the bathroom. I looked over my shoulder to see the tall man that occupies the living room eyeing us curiously before shaking his head and disappearing into the bathroom.

We stood in the middle of the hall for a moment, the house slowly beginning to light up from the sun behind the curtains.

"do you wanna watch tv?" His voice suddenly cracked through my thoughts, turing my head to find his gaze that was trained on me. I only nodded, and he smiled once more, leading me to the living room. His grip still on the sleeve of my coat.

Maybe this place wont be so bad.