In a none too subtle way, this was inspired by Redfall. What a... tragic, tragic game that ended up being. Instead of using the actual characters though, I put my own spin on some characters being in that universe and how their own messiness could play out with those events.
Just having a bit of fun, and I actually enjoyed it. (We'll see if that stands in a few weeks.)
“You should call him!”
It was less of a suggestion and more of a plea. Desperation that came from Reima’s colleagues. They pursed their lips together as they mulled the idea over. They knew they should; they needed his power. Wave after wave of vampires were coming after them, and he was their singular defense in that regard. But still— using their bond just to risk seeing him again? Even the idea was embarrassing, and it was eating them alive. If they weren’t overheated from all of the exertion thus far, they would have been burning up from shame. Humiliation, embarrassment, cringe!!
“Augh!” Reima thrust their hands up into their curly hair. An eerie chill broke over their skin as supernatural birds flew past them. Feathers fell like bullets, pinning ghouls and low level vamps to the floor.
Another person on their team spun around. “Reima! Call him! Now!”
They didn’t want to, they didn’t want to, they didn’t want to—
“Fuck! Fine!”
They pulled out the promise ring their ex-boyfriend gave him a long time ago. Even though they didn’t want to call him, they kept it just in case. Even though they had a messy break up, they kept the damned ring anyway. They wanted to let him go, but couldn’t. Didn’t want to. Because they knew that if they ever needed him, he would be there for him without fail. And they absolutely needed him now.
They clutched the ring against their chest and poured all of their intent into it. Behind them, a ghoul tore itself apart trying to get away from its feathery bindings. It gurgled and scrambled closer with unnatural speed. Reima didn’t hear it; their senses were narrowing down to a point as they summoned their ex. Unfortunately for them, they were a standing duck. Pain seared through their body as the ghoul clawed open their side. Their friends called out their name in panick; Reima screamed someone else’s.
“Friday!”
“Good to see ya, babe~ ♥ ”
Blood and gore splattered against Reima’s back. The ghoul gurgled its last, and in a flash, other vampires cried out as they were summarily tore apart in the same manner. Hands fell upon Reima, tearing open their shirt on the side to make room for the wound. They winced and kept their eyes pinched clothes as a balm was rubbed into their skin. It healed as much as it hurt. The wound bubbled and sizzled through any infectious bacteria the corpse that attacked them may have had. One of Reima’s hand kept a fierce grip around their promise ring while the other held onto one of their friends’ thigh.
“It hurts,” they whined. “It hurts, it hurts.”
“I know, Rei. I know. Fuck, you’re strong— why’re you strong?”
“That’s probably my fault,” Friday chimed in as he walked closer. Reima squinted open their eyes and stared at the pale vampire through the pain. And god, this man was pale. White as a sheet of paper. Whiter than a school binder, they always liked to joke. The moon shining down on him made him glow like an angel even though he was anything but. Or maybe it was a perfect analogy for something as beautiful, horrifying, and powerful as him. He ran his fingers over Reima’s hair, pushing it back so that he could better see their face.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Bleeding out here,” they groaned.
“Nah, you’re not. You baby.” Friday reached out to gather them into his arms, and Reima didn’t even pretend to resist. He looked at their companions. “I saw a hiding place nearby. It’s a little bloody, but it’s probably enough to keep your scents hidden for now.”
Even though it was a mutual agreement to call him, the others were still a bit weary to have him on their side, for him to even be holding Reima in the first place. So, someone hesitantly asked, “...Reima?”
“Lead the way,” they said. All jokes aside, they weren’t feeling too hot, and if they could have a moment so that everyone could look each other over and prepare for what came next, that’d be great.
Friday laughed and ducked his head. The way he touched his cheek against their temple meant that he wanted to greet them with a kiss, but he refrained. Good on him, great for both of them, actually. A vampire apocalypse probably wasn’t the best time for them to work through their dirty laundry. Without needing to adjust Reima, he spun around and jerked his head in a new direction.
“Follow me.” Friday took a step and then said, “Ah. Maybe you should daisy chain. It’ll be easier for us to walk around.” He looked over his shoulder to the humans and smiled. “You can hold onto Rei-Rei here. It won’t hurt my feelings.”
Reima couldn’t see the others’ faces, but they couldn’t imagine any good expression coming out of that. They curled an arm around Friday’s shoulders, and then, seconds later, someone grabbed onto them. Friday watched as everyone grabbed onto each other’s hands. Once he was satisfied, he nodded shortly and began walking forward. Before a foot even touched the floor, he cloaked them all in shadows. Reima could feel the ability taking hold over their skin. When they opened their eyes again, they saw the world through a dark, frosty veil. Even now, they didn’t fully understand how old Friday was, but they knew that a power like this only came to the older ones. Or to those who managed to successfully do something to the older ones.
They never knew which was the truth; it was one of the reasons for their falling out, honestly. Reima’s desire to know things that they shouldn’t. With their nosiness came a sense of entitlement that they were still struggling to work on. No matter how small, it was a problem, divisive even with fang-bearing weirdos striking out against them. Friday had been patient in the face of many things, and while he was no saint himself, Reima knew they owed him a lot for sticking with them through most of the growing pains. Now, as they glanced up at him and took in his features, they were fascinated by him. Curious still, yes, but they had learned moderation in their time apart, at the very least. If there was one way to show their gratitude, they hoped that counted a bit.
Friday’s eyes cut through the deeper shadows to find other vamps. His lip curled in a telling fashion when he spotted something he didn’t like, but instead of going to snuff out the problem, he continued to guide everyone to safety. Thankfully, it didn’t take him much longer before he brought them to the promised safehouse. It was as bloodied as he said it was. The sharp smell of stale blood was almost enough to make Reima gag. Despite all they had been through so far, they weren’t entirely numb to the carnage or the sights and smells that came with it.
Reima turned to press their face against Friday. Despite the havoc he wreaked just a bit ago, he didn’t smell like anything except his cologne. His ability faded away, and Reima shuddered once it was gone. They were lowered down onto a modern counter of some kind. When they withdrew, Friday was looking into their eyes with a small, almost shy smile. They met his gaze as bravely as they could, but thankfully, the others soon crowded around them. Friday took a few steps back.
“Alright. You all sit tight. I’m gonna check the place and then go clean up something.”
“...Thanks, Friday,” Reima said just as he was stepping away.
He looked back at them and winked with a click of his tongue. Then, he was gone. In a way, they were grateful for it. No banter, no awkwardness, no softness. Just here and gone. At least he knew what was up. Reima relented to the check up and they checked their other rings to see if there was any power left in them.
Some of the gems were still bright, but one was completely cracked. Wasted, broken. Destroyed in a counterattack that made Reima question their whole magical path. They had never been the most hardcore practitioner, and of course, they were one of the last standing witches from their coven. Of course. Because it just had to work out that way. They removed their ring and, once they were free, went to go see out a hammer. They’d just smash it down into dust and use the last traces of magic as a booster for another spell. They felt at the pouch on their left hip, making sure that none of their vials were broken with a cursory touch. They’d have to do a thorough check later, but this came first.
“Good, there’s a garage,” they muttered as they carefully opened a downstairs door. They looked around to make sure they were alone and that the door was closed. Half-closed, just enough to at least keep someone from seeing their feet from a certain distance. Good enough; they’d just have to search quickly.
Because shit had gone down, nothing was where it should have been. After checking a number of drawers, Reima feared the worst. Anyone smart would’ve taken any and every weapon they could get their hands on. Relief swept in when they found what looked like a ball peen hammer, but that feeling left as quickly as it came when they picked it up. It was so bizarrely weighed that it’d be hard to get a decent swing. This had to be done on purpose, made for a specific craft or trade for the right time of particular bastard that knew what they were doing. Shame they didn’t take this and leave something normal behind for everyone else.
“But that’d just be too easy.” Reima pulled their hand out of the drawer. As they did, a shocking white hand fell over their own. Their heart jumped for a moment before they recognised the lightning patterned veins visible beneath the skin. “I could’ve attacked you.”
“I know,” Friday said smugly as he leaned down into their space, hooking his chin over their shoulder.
“I still have elbows.”
“Please don’t hit me.”
It was hard not to laugh, but they managed. Instead, they said, “Well, since you asked so nicely.”
He laughed where they didn’t. Soft and brief as he turned their bodies side to side. “I missed you.”
“I know.”
“Did you miss me?”
“You already know the answer.” They still had his ring, right? They shouldn’t have, honestly. It would have made since if they didn’t, but they kept trying to disguise their deeper feelings as practicality. They’d need him one day; they’d need him one day. It was what they kept saying, and even if that were true, that didn’t dismiss the way they held the item like it was something precious from time to time. It was hard to deny that it was anything less than a treasure. Beautifully crafted for them with his blood from when he was human running through the fine groove... The moss agate gem was as pretty as he was. They only knew what it was because he said it was his favourite, that it was hard to find around these parts.
“I wanted to make something as special as you. Something that matches the two of us,” he had said.
Reima sighed. “We’re a mess, dude.”
“I know.”
“We don’t have time to get into things...”
Friday ducked his head to hide his face against the junction of their shoulder and neck. “Yeah. I know, I know. I just... Is it bad that I want closure?”
Reima thought about it for a moment before shaking their head. “...No. I probably need it as well, y’know...?” It’d be good for the both of them. Probably the healthiest thing in the world. It took them a long time to realise that being in love with someone didn’t mean they had to be with them. Their love for Friday even now was bittersweet, and even though they wanted him as a friend, there was a lot they needed to fix in the in-between.
But a vampire apocalypse isn’t the time for that, they reminded themself.
Friday stroked along the back of their hand before sighing. He didn’t need to, but he had to make a point. Even without words, they knew exactly what he was feeling. And vice versa, more than likely. He lifted his head again to rest against them.
“Thanks for calling me.”
“Thanks for coming.”
Friday smirked. “First time I’ve heard that one.”
Reima rolled their eyes. “Okay—”
He took a step back when they did and laughed. He gave them a brief squeeze. “Sorry, sorry. I had to.”
“Uh-huh.”
“But seriously... You’ll call again?”
“In a heartbeat.”
“Yours or mine? Because oof .”
Reima smiled and tipped their head against his finally. “Guess you’ll find out.”
“Way to keep a guy on the edge.” Another gently sway, and Reima went along with it. “I saw a barricade up by the gas station. Probably don’t want to go that way.”
“Noted.”
“And I felt some Big Bad Energy somewhere nearby. Some... Father or Mother or whatever nearby. So, just stay here tonight but book it in the morning.”
“Shit.” Reima huffed. They’d have to tell the others. “Thanks for the heads up.”
“Sure thing.” Friday stood upright slowly. “Be seeing you, Rei.”
“Yeah.” They turned to face him before he could disappear. “See ya.”
He smiled winsomely, and then he blew away like white sand. Reima watched him go, and once they were alone, they stared at their feet for a few seconds. Nothing like a complicated relationship to really top off the bullshit. Though, considering everything they were going through now, it all seemed so petty now. Maybe some self-reflection would be a good distraction from all the blood-letting chaos around them. Things really were on their fucking head, huh?
Reima twisted the hammer in their head before quickly deciding they didn’t like how that felt at all. They turned back to the interior door and marched through it. Once they closed and locked it behind them, they began to make a barricade.
“Hey, guuuuys,” they called out as they worked. “I got some good news and bad news! Just... Y’know. Give me a sec.”
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