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lucky-clover-gazette · 2 years ago

Text

the girls are bitingggggggg

Teen | 4613 words | Vio & Shadow, not explicitly romantic or platonic

This one-shot is a sort of "filler" piece based on the excellent Four Swords Vampire AU by @kaitopitoo and @othervio. I'm a huge fan of both creators' work for this AU and in general, and highly recommend checking them out if you somehow haven't already.

Specific dialogue towards the end of this piece is directly taken from this comic.

Thank you again to the AU's creators, you guys are the coolest!

“I really don’t understand why you’re not letting me help you,” Vio pouts, and Shadow has to stop himself from laughing at his expression. Are all Hylians this expressive, or is this specific Hylian strange even among his own kind? Perhaps that’s why Vio seems so comfortable with Shadow—outsiders recognize outsiders.

Nevertheless, Shadow will not be swayed. “I told you already,” he tells Vio, “I’m not feeding from you again. The first time was out of desperation, and I shouldn’t have done it.”

Vio shrugs, which brings Shadow’s attention to his bare shoulder. Hylia, it really is just out there in the open, isn’t it?

“I mean, sure,” says Vio, “I definitely would have preferred a bit of warning. At the least, you could have made me dinner first.”

“In a way, I did make you dinner.”

read the rest under the cut or on ao3

Vio stands in the doorway with his arms crossed, lilac-colored blouse too loose on his shoulders to be accidental. “You look like death.”

“I am death,” Shadow retorts, although he grants his guest attention all the same. He, of course, has no intention to bite Vio again—not after the days of gracious hosting he’s spent making up for it—but he is hungry. It’s his own fault, as he’s been so busy trying to provide for his surprise houseguest to secure any kind of sustenance for himself. He may feel woozy, but he can handle the discomfort until the evening allows him to venture outside the castle. He’s certainly withstood worse.

Nevertheless, Shadow will not be swayed. “I told you already,” he tells Vio, “I’m not feeding from you again. The first time was out of desperation, and I shouldn’t have done it.”

Vio shrugs, which brings Shadow’s attention to his bare shoulder. Hylia, it really is just out there in the open, isn’t it?

“I mean, sure,” says Vio, “I definitely would have preferred a bit of warning. At the least, you could have made me dinner first.”

“In a way, I did make you dinner.”

This makes Vio chuckle, and Shadow has no idea why that feels like an accomplishment.

“I suppose that’s true. But you were starving, right?”

“Yes. Normally I can restrain myself, but the injuries from battle had already weakened me significantly.”

Vio rubs the back of his neck—his damn neck, can he stop it with the neck? “I am sorry about that, although we really couldn’t have known any better than to attack. We’re knights and we do what we’re told, and the Princess has convinced everyone that your kind are evil.”

Shadow raises an eyebrow. “You’ve been perfectly well for days, yet you’re still here. Would your Princess approve of a knight voluntarily cohabitating with someone so evil?”

Vio gives him a small smile. “Well, maybe now I know better.”

Shadow isn’t sure how to respond to that, so he picks up his book instead.

“Hey!” Vio exclaims. “I’m talking to you, you can’t just abandon a conversation like that!”

Shadow looks up, genuinely confused. “I… can’t?”

“Not if you want to be polite. Do you get any kind of social interaction on a regular basis?”

“Not really.”

Vio’s expression softens. “That’s… well, that’s a shame, then. Sorry.”

Shadow places the book aside again. “It’s all right, Vio.”

“I mean really, who am I to judge, I’ve spent half of my life with my nose in a book. It’s a very effective way to ignore people. I guess it’s just not very fun being on the receiving end.”

Shadow slides the book even farther away from himself, so much so that it falls off the desk. Vio notices, but ignores it.

“Seriously,” Vio says, meeting Shadow’s eyes. “You don’t look well, and you’ve been holed up in your room all day. If my being here is too much, I can leave. You shouldn’t have to feel like some kind of predator in your own home.”

Shadow shakes his head. “You don’t have to leave. I really am happy to have your company, for as long as you’d like to stay. Do you… do you know how long you’d like to stay?”

“No, if I’m being honest. I had initially planned to leave as soon as I felt physically able, but you ended up intriguing me. Quite honestly, I am still intrigued.”

Normally when a Hylian is intrigued by Shadow, they have already deemed him a monstrosity deserving of brutal execution. They examine him like a threat they need to neutralize, like a wild animal whose only desire is to kill. Yet somehow, Vio’s interest feels completely different. It’s still strange, because Vio is an undeniably strange person, but he seems to regard Shadow with the same confused fondness Shadow fosters for him.

Because Shadow is fond of Vio, he realizes, and this entire situation becomes all the more intriguing.

“I usually feed at night, so that I don’t feel weak during the day,” Shadow explains, truly wishing to dispel Vio’s concerns. The fact that the knight is concerned about him at all is astounding, actually, and wholly undeserved. “But in the past few days I have been… occupied. Feeding from a Hylian is able to sustain me for much longer than from an animal, so I’ve forgone hunting in the time since I brought you here. But even a Hylian feeding won’t last me forever, so I’ll have to visit the woods tonight. It’s really not much longer, Vio, I’ll be okay.”

Vio looks thoughtful as he processes this information. It occurs to Shadow that his explanation must come as a surprise, as vampire literature distributed by the royal family is undoubtedly full of inaccuracies.

“It doesn’t sound like you enjoy hunting very much,” Vio says slowly, sitting on Shadow’s perfectly-made bed. It’s identical to the one Shadow had prepared for Vio just days ago, after smuggling his unconscious body back to the only safe place he knows.

Shadow still isn’t quite sure why he had done that—he could have just left the knight to be rescued by his allies. But perhaps Shadow felt embarrassed about the consequences of his hunger, and leaving Vio for everyone to see would have reinforced Hylian beliefs about the brutality of his kind.

And even if Vio had lived, he would still have had to cope with memories of the bite itself—the terror, the pain, an inherent sense of violation far more intimate than any typical battle wound. Waking up in the care of the Princess, Vio could have been made to feel pitiful, disgusting, tainted. Shadow had hurt him profoundly and irreversibly—perhaps giving him a safe place to awaken had partially been an attempt to make up for that.

“I don’t enjoy hunting,” Shadow admits with a sigh, “but it’s something I have to do.”

“But you said yourself that animal blood is far less sustaining than Hylian blood. Like, you have to feed from an animal every night just to survive, while feeding from a Hylian would last you days. And that was when you were wounded—if you’re not wounded, would it last you even longer?”

Shadow grits his teeth. “It doesn’t matter how long it would last me. I don’t feed from Hylians.”

Vio glances pointedly at the still-healing bite on the left side of his neck, then at the perfectly unbitten skin to the right. Shadow groans.

“Can you please wear the shirt normally?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Vio hums, playing with the ruffled sleeves. “Besides, this isn’t my shirt. My shirt, my favorite shirt, was perfectly tailored to my body by the royal seamstress herself, and would never slouch off my shoulders in such a scandalous manner. But I can’t wear my favorite shirt, on account of the copious bloodstains, so I have no choice but to make do with your cast-offs.”

Shadow, again, does not know how to respond. Licking his lips is definitely not the correct response, but he finds himself doing it nonetheless.

“I’m just saying,” Vio continues, mercifully ignoring Shadow’s involuntary response, “that you wouldn’t need to hunt tonight, or for several nights afterward, if you just let me help you.”

Shadow grips his own arms, only stopping when he remembers that he has claws. The nerve on this Hylian, truly, to just burst in and antagonize an actual monster while wearing said monster’s perfectly well-tailored and stylish shirt…

“I really do want to help,” Vio says, no longer teasing. “But I also respect your wishes. I’m not trying to torture you here, and I really appreciate everything you’ve done to take care of me. I suppose I just want to take care of you, in return.”

Shadow shakes his head. “You don’t owe me anything. I bit you, I helped you recover, and now we’re even... at least, as even as we’re ever going to be.”

“Good, then,” Vio replies with a smile. “I’m glad we’re even. Now you know I’m offering my blood as a genuine kindness, and because I’d very much like to keep you around.”

Shadow rolls his eyes. “Hunting takes me three hours.”

“You’re not the only one in those woods on a hunt,” counters Vio, and there’s a sudden sharpness in his voice. “The others are looking for me, Shadow. And if they find you instead…”

Ah. That had not occurred to Shadow.

“Ah. That had not occurred to me.”

“If you really don’t want to bite me, I will go to the forest and hunt something down for you myself.”

Shadow looks Vio up and down. On one hand, he is a knight—but on the other, he still seems like the kind of person who would kill a deer and cry about it for hours. Hylia knows Shadow had been like that, before he’d been forced by circumstance to desensitize himself completely.

“Seriously,” Vio says, rising to his feet. He places a firm hand on Shadow’s shoulder, and Shadow can’t remember the last time someone did that. “I admire your dedication to your values. If animal blood is the only thing that’s going to keep you alive, I will get you some.”

“The knights could find you just as easily,” argues Shadow, and he doesn’t want Vio to go, not yet, not when his hand is so warm and his mind is so clever and his presence is so unbelievably appreciated.

Vio just winks. “I’m pretty good with stealth. How do you think I was able to sneak up on you during combat?”

“Still,” Shadow says, bowing his head, “it’s risky for you, too. I worry what they’ll think, whenever you do go back… will they accept you, even though you’ve been bitten?”

“I think they would. But my return would also make them hate you even more, and I don’t want to be Zelda’s final argument for completing the genocide of your people. She’s been holding off on an offensive strategy for years, in line with her parents, but your lack of action is starting to make her paranoid. She can’t comprehend the idea of you just minding your business, far away from Hyrule’s citizens, and posing no threat to them or the kingdom. At this point, she’s desperate for reasons to finally take you down, and I’d be a pretty damn compelling one.”

Shadow wishes Vio was wrong, but they both know he isn’t. And with the Hylian standing so close, his bare shoulder and neck only an arm’s length away, Shadow finally loses his resolve.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” he asks Vio, finally meeting those intelligent eyes.

Vio nods without hesitation. “I am.”

“Did it… did it hurt, the last time I bit you? I’ve never gotten to ask.”

Vio smirks. “What, the deer weren’t interested in a debriefing?”

Shadow doesn’t smile back, and Vio takes a deep breath. “Sorry. Uh, I don’t remember it hurting too badly. I was mostly just shocked and scared, because of everything I’d been told about you during my training. It hadn’t really occurred to me that a vampire attack was something a person could survive. I think… once you actually started feeding, I was confused whether I should grip you tighter or push you away. It was like you comforted me by holding me steady, but you were also the reason I needed comfort in the first place. I felt myself getting weaker the more you fed, I eventually passed out, and then I woke up here.”

Shadow blinks.

“But really,” Vio adds quickly, “it was fine.”

“I’m sorry,” Shadow tells him. “I don’t really know what else to say.”

Vio gives him a reassuring smile. “You don’t have to. I’m not afraid of you anymore. Honestly, I think if most Hylians actually got to know you, they wouldn’t be either.”

Shadow frowns as he opens the drawer of his vanity. Wincing, he withdraws a small item wrapped in white cloth. “Take this,” he tells Vio, “it’s dangerous to… well, you’ll see.”

Vio nods as he takes the item and unwraps it, revealing a weighty metal triforce symbol. “Oh,” Vio says, tossing the talisman in his hands. “Didn’t expect you to have one of these.”

“My kind are weak against holy symbols,” Shadow explains, standing up and motioning to the vanity chair. “If you feel like I’m taking too much, or out of control, you should be able to stop me using that.”

Vio takes the seat, turning to face Shadow’s mirror. Despite the fact that Shadow lurks right behind him, only Vio is visible.

“Damn, Shadow,” Vio laughs nervously, “if you can’t see yourself in mirrors, how in the world do you manage that eyeliner?”

Shadow rolls his expertly-lined eyes. “I have a lot of free time.”

“I’ll bet. It looks great.”

“Thank you,” Shadow says, unsure of how exactly one is meant to take such a compliment. Vio, meanwhile, appears to blush. At least Shadow can spare him that embarrassment by relieving him of any extra blood running through his veins, giving him that delectably rosy coloration—oh, he did not just refer to Vio as delectable.

“Are you squeamish?” Shadow asks, firmly gripping Vio’s bare shoulder. The knight tenses for only a second before relaxing himself.

“Kind of? The first time I was mostly just shocked, and I’ve obviously dealt with wounds before… but I try to avoid seeing doctors. I don’t like the idea of someone knowing my body better than I do.”

Shadow nods. “You have the triforce, so you can stop me whenever you need. Of course, I will also try my very best to stop myself, but…”

“I get it,” Vio says. “I say the same thing when it’s pumpkin soup night at Hyrule Castle.”

Shadow chuckles. “You’re the strangest little Hylian I’ve ever met.”

“How many Hylians have you met, again? I call selection bias. And I’m not little, you’re only an inch taller than I am out of those platforms.”

“I enjoy our banter immensely, Vio, but I’ve been staring at your bare shoulders for the past ten minutes and I find myself quite frustrated. Permission to proceed?”

Vio loudly gulps. “Granted.”

Shadow eyes the side of Vio’s neck he hasn’t yet bitten, then the clean bite wound he had recently left behind. He feels an odd sense of protectiveness over the Hylian, a sort of supernatural possession undetectable to anyone but himself. For the millionth time, he wishes for the presence of other vampires, or really anyone capable of providing insight regarding his condition. The only thing Shadow has is written history, saved before the royal burnings and stowed away in his castle.

He recalls writings of the relationships his fallen kin had once maintained with Hylians, before the church created a divide and carried out its genocide. Many vampires had once been happy to coexist with Hylians, even safely feed from them with full consent. These kinds of recorded bonds had been sometimes platonic, sometimes romantic, and occasionally unlabeled in nature—but in the writings, there is a consistent feeling of intimacy, even exclusivity, projected onto each.

Of course to some of these vampires exclusivity was not important in the slightest, but to Shadow… there’s a sense of security in an exclusive bond. He could feed from any Hylian, and would be mindful of their comfort all the same, but Vio… Vio, he wants around after the bite. How can Shadow possibly explain to the knight that while he appreciates the offer to sustain him with blood, Shadow values his company above all else? How can he himself even begin to understand this unfamiliar and terrifying feeling?

Not on an empty stomach, Shadow decides, running his tongue against a sharp fang.

“Hey,” Vio says, looking over his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. Now, with what you said about wanting control of your body—I suggest that you focus on your reflection, as it will keep you from becoming overwhelmed.”

“So that’s why we’re doing this in front of a mirror.”

What Shadow doesn’t say is that he cannot stand the very idea of himself feeding, that he is profoundly ashamed of what he must do to survive. Erasing the sight of himself is just as much a comfort to Shadow as it is to Vio.

“Hold eye contact with yourself,” Shadow says, gently tucking Vio’s hair away from the skin where his collarbone meets his neck. “Especially if you’re sensitive to the sight of blood.”

Vio nods, accidentally displacing Shadow’s hands. He winces as Shadow regains control of his posture and hair. “Sorry. I’ll stay still.”

“It’s all right, Vio. You’re doing perfectly fine.”

This seems to placate the knight, if only slightly. His body is so tense, and this worries Shadow—but what else can he do? Stalling will only perpetuate Vio’s anxiety.

“It shouldn’t hurt,” Shadow mutters, literally breathing down Vio’s neck. “There’s venom—it numbs the wound, should help you stay calm.”

“I am literally so calm right now,” Vio counters, clutching the triforce tightly.

Shadow leans in, just an inch away from Vio’s skin. He notices, out of the corner of his eye, that Vio’s eyes are squeezed shut. “Remember what I said,” Shadow tells him, and Vio winces at his cold breath. “Eye contact.”

Vio opens his eyes. “Got it.”

“I’m going to bite you now.”

“Go ahead.”

Shadow’s fangs ache as he lightly touches them to Vio’s bare skin. A slight pressure, just to get him used to the feeling of something there…

“Did you do it?” Vio asks, and Shadow can feel his neck muscles tense as he speaks. “I’m making eye contact with myself, like you told me, but I feel something on my neck—your teeth, maybe? Are you biting me right now, Shadow, because it doesn’t feel like you are, and—oh. Okay, yes, this definitely feels like you’re… you’re biting me. Shadow, you’re—”

Shadow hums into Vio’s warm flesh, already beginning to draw blood from the small punctures his fangs have made. It flows easily, more easily than Shadow is used to, although that might have something to do with the lack of struggle. And it… it’s good. Usually while feeding he loses himself, becomes the rabid animal he’s always believed himself to be—but right here, and right now, he feels like he’s in control. Because Vio has given him control, and trusts him enough to hold it over him, and can easily stop him if he so pleases.

And this is how vampires must have lived among willing Hylians, all those years ago, and Shadow can see how they’d managed not to be absolutely miserable. Not like he is now, lonely and starving and steeped in self-loathing. In a way, it’s comforting to finally understand everything his kind has lost—but in another way, this discovery makes the loss all the more infuriating.

“Shadow,” Vio mutters, his body slumping against the chair. “Sh—you… I’m…”

Shadow’s grip only tightens. He hasn’t felt this good, this strong, in decades. He would ask Vio how he’s feeling, tell him he’s doing wonderfully, but with his mouth full all he can do is hum louder.

“I… I think ’m gonna close my eyes,” Vio sighs, although his eyes are already closed. Shadow nods. Thank you, Vio. Thank you thank you thank you thank you.

I promise I’m almost finished.

“So tired,” Vio continues to narrate, and Shadow could almost roll his eyes. “And… warm? That’s… odd…”

Stop analyzing it, idiot, Shadow thinks with all the affection in the world. While the venom in his fangs and the physical weakness that comes with rapid loss are almost always viewed as negative side effects of the feeding, they do not necessarily need to be frightening. They could serve as a relief, couldn’t they? Surely Vio must have known that, even subconsciously, when he’d asked to be fed upon again.

Shadow knows Vio’s eyes are closed, and he knows he doesn’t want him unconscious again. That feels wrong, feeding off him while he’s totally out, and this amount of blood should be more than enough to sustain Shadow until he can figure out a way to hunt safely. Or, he supposes, until Vio recovers and allows him to feed again. Not that he expects that, or wants that amount of codependency between them. Because, whether he admits it or not, Shadow is pretty sure Vio gets something from this too. It’s hard to ignore the weak smile on his face and the way he ever-so-slightly leans into Shadow’s touch—seemingly not out of fear, but in search of comfort nonetheless.

Shadow pulls back from Vio’s shoulder, removing his fangs from the flesh, and then leans back in to lick around the wound. He tries to savor the last taste he might ever get of this Hylian (his Hylian, a primal voice in his head corrects, although it is immediately shut down by Shadow’s rational instincts), and then searches the vanity drawer for the closest things he has to first-aid supplies. Still, he makes sure to keep at least one grounding hand on Vio, just to remind him he’s not alone.

“Still awake?” Shadow asks gruffly, clearing his throat. He places a glass bottle of alcohol and a roll of bandages onto the vanity, immediately pressing a clean cloth to the small bite wound.

“Just a little,” Vio slurs, the smile on his face growing. Then he frowns and furrows his brows, and it’s objectively adorable. “That’s not the right way to answer that, is it?”

Shadow removes the cloth. “You did very well.”

“Damn straight.”

“I’m going to disinfect the wound now,” Shadow says, pouring some of the alcohol onto a new cloth. “It will hurt, probably more than the bite itself, but only for a second.”

“I’ve had wounds disinfected before, Shadow,” Vio says, really drawing out the ‘sh’ in his name. “Do your worst.”

Shadow presses the cloth to the wound, hoping that in his relaxed state Vio will tolerate the pain. Shadow had done this before, of course, when he’d first brought Vio back to the castle—but the knight had been unconscious then, unable to resist his care. Now, Vio seizes up slightly, but seems not to mind.

“Done with that,” Shadow says, removing the cloth and putting it aside. “Almost finished, and then you can rest.”

“But my bed’s so far away,” Vio whines, his posture wilting. “Why do you need such a giant castle, anyway?”

“Sit up,” Shadow instructs as he unrolls the bandage. Vio does as he is asked, although there seems to be a time limit on his cooperation.

“You’ll use my bed,” Shadow tells him as he wraps the wound. “Right here, in this room.”

“I’d argue with that,” Vio says, and Shadow believes him, “but I really am exhausted. Are you done?”

Shadow finishes up the wrapping and places down the remaining bandage. “You’re all set. Think you can get yourself to the bed?”

He watches as Vio tries to stand on shaky legs, only to collapse back into the chair. Shadow takes that as his answer.

“Is it all right if I carry you?”

Vio looks like he’s already nodding off, but still grants him a slight nod. Shadow picks him up bridal-style, one arm supporting his back and one under his knees, and gently deposits him onto the large four-poster bed.

Shadow turns to leave and hears the rustling blankets as Vio tucks himself in. He’ll come back in a few hours with some water and food, as Vio will need to feed himself sooner rather than later to get back his strength. In the meantime, Shadow can begin thinking of ways to hunt that won’t result in his or Vio’s capture, for however long this arrangement between them persists.

He will not, however, allow himself to think of the many terrible ways it could end.

“Wait. Don’t go.”

Shadow slowly turns his head to see Vio, all cozied up in his bed, reaching out a limp hand.

“What do you need?” Shadow asks, already calculating how quickly he could get him a glass of water or entire loaf of bread. He said he liked pumpkin soup—Shadow could make that happen, probably, or at least he could try—

“No, I don’t…” Vio tries to sit up and Shadow moves to stop him, guiding him back into a relaxed position by the shoulder.

“Just rest, Vio. You need it after that.”

He turns to leave again, but feels Vio’s hand grab his own. Even while weak, the knight manages a firm grip.

“Wait,” Vio repeats, this time with a smile. “Stay here, with me. I’d like your company for a while, Shadow.”

A small gasp escapes Shadow’s lips.

Well.

It would be an effective way to monitor his health.

“I’ve never had another person in my bed,” Shadow admits, and he actually finds himself nervous at the prospect.

“Loser,” Vio teases, and squeezes Shadow’s hand twice. “But so am I. Don’t worry, I don’t mean anything by it.”

“What… what would you mean, if you did?”

“Dunno. I’m tired.”

Shadow blinks. He almost wants to pry harder, ask Vio how he really feels about him while his guard is down. But, of course, he could never actually take such advantage of his weakened state.

And besides… Shadow isn’t sure exactly how he feels, either—just that he does. Somehow, despite all the odds against them, he likes Vio and feels safe around him. Those are not easy bars for just any Hylian to clear, and Vio has managed both with surprising ease and only minimal blood loss.

He tucks himself in bed beside Vio, whose warm body is entirely foreign and admittedly pleasant. Shadow wonders what he’s meant to do next—lay beside Vio, leaving distance between them? It seems like a silly hesitation for someone who had his teeth in the knight’s neck just ten minutes ago, but an important one all the same.

Vio curls on his side to face Shadow, not-so-subtly making grabby hands in his general direction. “You could hold me, you know. If you want.”

And Shadow does want, meaning be damned. He takes Vio in his arms, allowing the knight to nuzzle into the space between his shoulder and neck. The irony of this is not lost on Shadow, although ‘irony’ may be too cruel a word for such a tender parallel.

Shadow wraps an arm over Vio’s waist and hears him sigh contentedly. “Shadow…”

“Yes, Vio?”

“I don’t want to lose you. I won’t… let them…get you…”

Shadow’s eyes widen, but only for a second. He shushes Vio and hears him exhale, almost as if he’s wanted to say those words for days.

Despite popular belief, a vampire’s heart does beat. It is the rate at which it beats that is determined by the amount of blood in their system. So it makes perfect sense that Shadow’s heart beats quickly now, given the recency and potency of his last feeding. It is an anatomical feature, divorced from emotion, and the notion of any other possible explanation is simply absurd.

Shadow watches Vio sleep peacefully in his arms and smiles.

Absurd.

#fs #four swords #four swords manga #vio link #shadow link #four swords vampire au #vidow #vio x shadow #my writing

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lucky-clover-gazette · 2 years ago

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sounds like a bloodbath

hurt/comfort | 5198 words | vio & shadow, platonic/romantic/???

Shadow does self care. Vio does not. Takes place within the Four Swords Vampire AU by @kaitopitoo and @othervio on Tumblr.

Shadow winks—he winks!—and Vio wonders yet again what makes this kind of banter so easy between them. Probably not Hylia. Maybe there’s something in the water, like the bubbles. Maybe drinking Vio’s blood has made Shadow supernaturally attuned to his comedic stylings. Unlikely, but if so… talk about committing to the bite.

read it on ao3 or under the cut, author's note at the end:

Shadow has been in the bath for six hours.

It’s starting to concern Vio, Shadow’s absence, making him feel like he’s not meant to be inside this castle alone. He knows the vampire wants him here (or at least tolerates his presence), but without Shadow keeping him company he tends to spiral into doubt.

They do spend time apart, of course—despite cohabitating, they sleep in different rooms, and often take private time to read or nap or, in Vio’s case, bathe luxuriously. It’s something he started doing after the third time Shadow fed off him, having been carried to a spare bathroom so Shadow could retrieve more alcohol disinfectant.

Despite his wooziness, Vio had badgered Shadow about the absolutely gorgeous and completely unused bath, a large marble basin surrounded by candles that hadn’t been lit for at least a century. It’s really more of a bathing pool than the tiny tubs found in most Hylian homes, intended for multiple occupants at once. While Vio had blanched at the idea of sharing the bath with anyone, he’d also made Shadow swear to let him to use it once he wasn’t on the verge of losing consciousness.

Shadow had, at first, dismissed the bath when Vio pointed it out. But he eventually humored him as he cleaned and dressed the bite wound, and even admitted that it was strange that he’d never tried it.

“What stopped you?” Vio had asked, his words slightly slurred.

“It doesn’t sound very engaging. Maybe it would be, if I brought a book, but I don’t think you’d recommend that.”

“Hylia, no, are you insane? The whole point is to disengage. You just relax and enjoy the bubbles. When you get bored you stop, and then you’re all nice and clean for the rest of the day.”

Shadow had shaken his head. “When I need to get clean, I really need to get clean. Not an occasion for bubbles.”

“Oh, like after a hunt? Sounds like a bloodbath.”

That had made Shadow chuckle. Vio remembers being proud.

“Mmm, well,” Vio had hummed, leaning into Shadow’s touch, “you don’t need to hunt anymore.”

“What? Why not?”

“’Cuz I’m here, stupid.”

At that point, Vio hadn’t been able to see Shadow’s face. But he could picture the same inscrutable expression Shadow often wore in his presence, usually accompanied by silence. It hadn’t been a cruel reaction, or even a negative one, but it had given absolutely nothing away.

Vio had felt a sting of rejection at Shadow’s response to his outward fondness, so much so that he’d briefly considered leaving the castle entirely. And still to this day, in such moments, he finds himself considering this. Not because he wants to leave—Hylia, not at all—but because of the way he assumes he makes Shadow feel.

Because Shadow has been feeding weekly for months at this point, with no sign of letting up. He still takes excellent care of Vio, and seems to enjoy the more tender moments between them in the aftermath, but there’s a hesitation there. It’s like, no matter what Vio says, Shadow still views him as a symbol for a part of himself he resents. And as many times as Vio reassures Shadow that it’s okay, that he doesn’t mind, that he doesn’t judge him for partaking in what has been willingly given, it never fully seems that Shadow has forgiven himself for what he has no choice to do.

And that’s just the simplest way to view it, as not being a choice. Honestly, Vio thinks it’s an inaccurate conclusion to draw. He’s been reading through vampiric literature, observing Shadow’s behavior, even occasionally catching him in earnest conversations about his feelings and experiences. And his current hypothesis (not that he’d ever admit it out loud) is that Shadow could absolutely choose to feed on someone or something else. He could hunt, just as he’s done for his entire life, and leave Vio unbitten. In fact, doing so would likely cause Shadow less emotional turmoil, and while their first consensual feeding had very much been something Shadow needed for strength, they could have come up with a better plan before he next wanted for sustenance.

But, without even really discussing it, they just… hadn’t. One week later, Vio had simply visited Shadow with a scandously bare neck and a reassuring thumbs-up. And so on.

Sometimes Vio imagines his past life colliding with his present. If he was to return to the knight’s quarters in Hyrule Castle with these bruises every week, it would definitely start some rumors, especially given his reputation as the most elusive bachelor among his peers.

Of course his reputation now is likely one of tragedy—a fallen knight murdered, or worse, kidnapped, by the evil vampire they all seek to eradicate. And if someone like Princess Zelda could see Vio now, with the marks on his neck and willingness to subject himself to Shadow in a way he himself doesn’t fully understand, she’d probably conclude that he is a brainwashed victim. Sometimes when even Shadow looks at Vio, it’s abundantly clear that his suspicions are about the same.

Vio wishes for a way to prove, definitively, that he is very much in control of what’s going on here. That the person in this arrangement with the most choice is him, and while he may be confused by some of the feelings the situation has created, he is happy to be in it. Happier than he’s been in most circumstances throughout his life, honestly.

From childhood, Vio has been trained to serve as a knight under the Hyrulean royal family, selected solely based on appearance. It’s common knowledge among Hylians that a Legendary Hero is destined to protect the kingdom’s monarch, always resembling the short, blonde, and blue-eyed young man depicted in the castle’s stained-glass windows. In this generation’s case, four Hylian boys were chosen to fill that role, swearing to serve the equally young Princess Zelda.

Vio had only been eleven when he was pulled out of civilian life and thrust into serious training, adopting the full name “Violet” to modify the honorary title “Link” he’d been granted by the church. Even then he’d found it depersonalizing, but under the scrutiny of his parents, his rulers, and his new brothers in arms, he had accepted the call willingly.

A decade later, he can barely recall his name given at birth. In fact, if spoken aloud, it might legitimately count as blasphemy. He hesitates to share the details of his background to Shadow, all of his immense emotional baggage, even a few months into their cohabitation. It’s less pitiful, really, for him to simply be a knight by choice in the vampire’s eyes.

Because, fine: Vio cares what Shadow thinks of him. He really, really cares. It’s terrible and he hates it, and he has no idea how to stop.

It’s not the biting thing that does it for him, as much as Vio does enjoy the woozy aftermath. No, it’s the care Shadow shows him outside the context of bloodsucking: little things he says and does, observations he makes, and the calm satisfaction of silence between them. When they’re not bantering or discussing literature, they’re often doing their own things in a shared space. It may seem strange, in a castle with dozens of rooms, for the only two occupants to repeatedly end up in the same one—but strangeness, here, seems to be the norm.

Vio can’t name another person who has made him feel quite like Shadow does. Despite a relatively short time together, it just feels—and honestly, always has felt—like this is a person Vio is meant to find. It’s a kind of destiny beyond the church, beyond the Legendary Hero, beyond even Vio’s rational understanding. And that within itself is terrifying, because Vio prides himself on understanding everything he can.

Simply put, the way Shadow makes Vio feel defies rationalization. Vio is an adult person, not a child—but still, he finds himself thinking such ridiculous things as ‘it’s like we speak the same language,’ and ‘I want things to stay like this forever.’ Both notions are preposterous, and Vio fully acknowledges this. He doesn’t believe in soulmates, and finds the idea of having a ‘missing half’ insulting. He is complete on his own and always has been. Not that he’s had much of a choice in the matter, given his upbringing, but it’s what he knows.

Shadow surprises him, though. That’s the thing—the comfort he brings Vio is different from the usual comfort Vio normally feels, in controlled circumstances surrounded only by reflections of himself.

Shadow is not predictable, and feedings are basically his only routine activity. If Shadow was anyone else, Vio would hate these things about him. He’s resented the other knights for far less egregious offenses, any unexpected sentiments or disruptions to their training. But Shadow…

For some unknown reason, Vio actually likes when Shadow surprises him. Not always—but often, to the point that Vio eagerly anticipates the next strange, fascinating thing the other man will say. It’s much the same with his actions and interests, the hobbies he shares with Vio and the activites he prefers to do alone. It makes Vio want to share more of himself, and with Shadow’s encouragement, he happily does.

He never shares too much, though. Shadow can draw the blood from his veins, but he’ll never know what’s in his head.

It’s not perfect. This strange power Shadow holds over Vio goes both ways. When it’s good, it’s good—but that sting of rejection from a failed interaction is equally intense. And it’s certainly not helped by Shadow’s tendency to speak less when Vio speaks more. Maybe it’s the fact that they fit together so well that makes these communicative barriers more obvious and distressing. And maybe, just maybe, Vio simply needs to get out of his own damn head.

But he still can’t help but worry, because six hours is a really long time for a bath.

Vio places down his book and surveys the library, a room that had made him literally jump for joy at first sight. If you checked out a dictionary from the greatest library in the world, and then searched for the word ‘library’ within it, that’s where you would find this library.

He remembers Shadow’s announcement earlier this morning, over Vio’s breakfast and his own empty plate. “I think I’ll try a bath,” he’d said, causing Vio to raise an eyebrow.

“Really? Why now?”

“It seems to help you relax.”

Vio had only narrowed his eyes. “I told you that months ago. Are you feeling more stressed than usual?”

Shadow had not answered, which was basically a ‘yes’ in Vio’s mind. Hours later, his spiral of self-doubt still spins.

He’s not so self-absorbed to believe himself the sole reason for Shadow’s stress—but what else has recently changed in the vampire’s life, besides his presence? On a functional level, Vio is many things to Shadow: food source, ally, witness to his lifestyle. But those are just the good things. Vio is also his natural enemy, a liability, uninvited company within his home. Hylia, there’s an entire rule about vampires needing an invitation to enter homes, all while Vio had just walked in!

No, Vio reminds himself, you did not just walk in. He attacked you and brought you back here, to make sure you survived and healed.

But you’ve overstayed your welcome. He healed you out of obligation—he didn’t want you sticking around. He drinks your blood because you offer it willingly, but he’d probably prefer hunting like before. You’re just desperate to be needed, wanted, understood. You’re the real drain here, and the stress is only going to make both of your lives worse.

He hates that he thinks like this, all these cruel things about himself on Shadow’s behalf. It isn’t fair to Shadow, to give him that much power, that much prominence in Vio’s life and mind. How much of this is truly about Shadow, and how much lies within Vio, an ever-present poison running through his veins?

Vio must never forget that he casts his own shadow. The more he is consumed, and thereby consumes, the more his poison spreads.

In some corner of his mind, he knows he’s being melodramatic. He knows that he’s incorrect, that his perspective is not reality, that he will sabotage himself if it goes unchecked. But he’s also frustrated, because he has these feelings, and he can’t just make them go away. He should be able to figure this out, or at least suppress the feelings entirely—it’s what he’s been doing for a decade, for Hylia’s sake!

For Hylia’s sake.

Is that all Shadow means to Vio? A symbol of rebellion against the Goddess and church? He is the most unholy thing that walks on two legs, and Vio knows the Goddess would not smile on their life together. Is that, more than Shadow himself, what Vio enjoys?

Perhaps that is the poison within him. Perhaps all his joy in Shadow’s presence is false, inseparable from his own resentment and spite. What other explanation could there possibly be?

This morning was the final straw, a sign that this arrangement between them simply is not feasible. And the more time Vio spends here, the deeper he gets, the more difficult it will be to eventually leave. Or to be left—Shadow could always kick him out. Or the Princess could finally make her move, bringing the knights to the castle, bursting the perfect bubble of domestic bliss they’ve been enjoying for the past several months.

How would they hold up in battle together, if they can’t even have a conversation over breakfast without Vio having a mild panic attack? It’s not usually like this—usually, he’s too distracted by the good time he’s having to think too hard about the bad times ahead—but it’s foolish for him to pretend any longer. And Vio may not have the strongest sense of identity, but he is certainly no fool.

Vio will tell Shadow he’s leaving at once. He’ll pack a bag, grab a few weapons, a spare change of clothes, some first-aid supplies for the long trip home. Never mind that Hyrule Castle has never felt like home, while this place… again, never mind.

Six hours is a long time for a bath, and Vio can’t wait a minute longer. He walks to the master bathroom and knocks on the door.

No answer.

“Shadow,” Vio says sharply. “You’ve been in there for a while.”

Still nothing.

“Shadow?”

Vio can’t stop himself—he bursts through the door, hands over his eyes, hoping to hear a startled shriek or feel a splash of water.

Nothing.

Vio lowers his hand slowly to see a bath brimming with bubbles, the water colored charcoal and purple by the luxury products. At first he wonders if Shadow has somehow left the bath, but then he spots a tuft of purple hair, bobbing up and down.

“Shadow!” Vio shouts, rushing over to the side of the bath. He pulls the vampire up by the hair, lifting only his head up from the thick curtain of foam. Shadow’s eyes are closed and his skin is pale. He is most definitely not breathing.

“Hey,” Vio says, lifting Shadow slightly so his shoulders are revealed. He shakes him, to no success. “Shadow, hey!”

Vio’s mind races. Has he really drowned? Did he fall asleep? What kind of moron does that? Vio should have warned him, Shadow said he’d never taken a bath before—

“Uh… hello?”

Shadow’s eyes blink open and Vio finds tears in his own. He releases Shadow’s shoulders at once.

“Hi,” Vio says, still frozen at the tub’s edge. Shadow looks from Vio, to the bubbles obscuring his own body, and back to Vio.

“I fell asleep, didn’t I?”

Vio nods. “I thought you drowned. You weren’t breathing.”

The corner of Shadow’s mouth upturns slightly. “Vio… vampires don’t breathe.”

“Oh.”

“Sounds like someone hasn’t been doing their reading.”

Vio splashes Shadow, because he definitely doesn’t want him dead, but he still refuses to allow such a slanderous accusation.

“Hey!” Shadow exclaims, splashing back on cue, his smile now large and infectious. “Actually, wait, I like that shirt. No more splashing.”

Vio looks down at the loose peasant blouse. Pretty much everything he wears is technically Shadow’s—it’s not like he’d packed for the stay, and the shirt he’d been wearing during Shadow’s attack was shredded beyond repair.

“If you like the shirt,” Vio asks with a teasing lilt, “why’d you lend it to me?”

Shadow just shrugs, resting his forearms on the edge of the bath. He settles his chin on them, uncharacteristically relaxed, his eyes slightly lidded as he scans Vio up and down. “Looks nice on you. Makes you happy. And it’s purple.”

Vio frowns.

“I’m sorry, was that inappropriate to say?”

“No! Hylia, no, not at all—”

“Because I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, I’m not even sure why I—”

“I was going to tell you I’m leaving.”

Shadow blinks, and the relaxation is gone. “Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What?” Vio asks, creating more distance between himself and the tub.

“I’m sorry you want to leave. I must have… I must have done something wrong.”

“No,” Vio rushes to say, “it’s… it’s not you, it’s me.”

Shadow’s expression turns deadpan. “Vio, I might not get out much, but I’ve read enough books to know that phrase is always a lie.”

Vio’s fists ball up at his sides, and he so badly wants Shadow to understand. And maybe Shadow really does want to understand, but that’s only because he can’t see the poison Vio contains.

Maybe Shadow is part of the problem. Despite all of his feelings for Shadow, Vio doesn’t trust him to understand what’s in his head. But the thing is, Vio’s pretty sure that Shadow could be the kindest and gentlest person in the world, an excellent communicator and a lifetime friend, but still… it wouldn’t be enough to earn his trust. That unwillingness to trust—the real problem—truly is all Vio.

But if Vio knows he can’t let Shadow in, why has he stayed this long? Why has he researched his kind, helped him in times of need, treasured his physical and emotional company for months on end? He’s been foolish, ignoring the reality of their situation. The reality of who he is, and where he comes from, and the damage that’s been done to his mind and heart by circumstances outside his control.

Shadow makes it so easy to ignore what’s broken. Like a luxurious bath, or a soft animal, or a warm bowl of pumpkin soup.

But if Vio isn’t broken, he isn’t Vio at all.

He doesn’t want Shadow to change for him. He doesn’t want to drag him down.

And Vio, pathetic as he is, simply cannot allow himself to be changed. Even though he aches for it, even though Shadow makes him feel seen and known and maybe even loved, even though this might be his last chance to free himself from the Goddess’ chokehold that’s been suffocating his identity for a decade…

He may possess the Triforce of Courage, but Hylia, he is a coward.

“Is it because of the feedings?” Shadow asks, and he sounds hurt in a way Vio has never heard.

“No! Not at all. I don't mind that, I never have.”

“You must miss your friends, then. The other knights, the Princess.”

“Her? Definitely not. And the others... well, it's complicated, but that’s not why I—”

“There has to be a reason, Vio. I’m not going to force it out of you, or insist that you stay, but I don’t understand how you’ve made this decision so abruptly.”

You could insist I stay, Vio thinks, and he hates himself for it. What a pathetic, manipulative—

“What are you thinking?” Shadow interrupts, his hand emerging from the water to grip Vio’s arm. “You look like you’re in physical pain. You can leave, but please, make sure you’re well enough to survive the trip. The forest could be perilous, and the Princess will have questions. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Vio feels the tears in his eyes, and hates it. He feels his heartbeat, the lump in his throat, the way his breathing becomes shallow. It’s been years since he’s found himself in this place, so trapped and alone, even with Shadow just inches away.

“You’re not okay,” Shadow says, and glances towards the towel rack.

Ignore me, Vio thinks. Pretend you don’t see it—or even better, don’t notice at all.

And just this once, Vio wishes Shadow was like everyone else, either too distant to notice or preoccupied to care. Back in Castle Town he is just one among four, his own personality overshadowed by the legacy of the Legendary Hero, so much so that it’s been reduced to a single color. People see what they want to see—and Vio would fucking know, because he is people, and when he looks in the mirror all he wants to see is someone who’s okay.

And then there is Shadow: his dark, distorted reflection, so similar to him in nature, but completed removed from the world Vio knows. Removed from the royal family and their Legendary Hero. Shadow is living proof, in all his sullen morally conscious glory, that they are all so fucking wrong. It’s no wonder they want him dead.

“Vio,” Shadow says, now gripping both of his shoulders. “You need to stop thinking.”

Hylia, he can’t do this. He can’t just sit here and not say anything. Shadow needs to know it’s not his fault, there’s nothing he can do, it’s always just—

“Me!” Vio gasps, freeing himself from Shadow’s grasp. “It’s me. I can’t be here and be normal about it. I am so freakishly happy here with you, and that terrifies me, because if this makes me happy, then it can also hurt me, and sometimes it does, because I have no idea what you’re thinking, and I’m constantly thinking too much, and it’s because of my shitty past that I’m like this and it’s because of your shitty past that you’re like that, and it’s not like that’s ever going to change, because people don’t change, not really, not in a way that matters. And you’re stressed too, that’s why you said you needed a bath! And I get it! I am stressful to be around! Especially since you hate drinking my blood, because I represent that part of you, the part that everyone sees as monstrous—but Shadow, I think it’s brilliant, and I can’t explain why, and I don’t think I ever could, so there really isn’t a point in trying. My point is, we need to safely end this before one or both of us gets stuck in an endless stress-loop for eternity, like for-fucking-ever eternity, because you’re a vampire and you live forever, and even if it’s totally great, even if it all works out, when I die it’ll be a whole thing for you to deal with, and that’s the best case scenario, and there are only so many bath products for me to use up before you completely run out so wouldn’t you rather just not?”

Shadow blinks.

For good measure, he blinks again.

“I don’t know, Vio,” he answers. “Would you rather just not?”

And there Shadow is again, saying the thing Vio least expects to hear. He can’t remember the last time that someone asked him, so plainly, what he wants. Not what he needs, or deserves, or sees as morally correct—what he wants.

“I want to stay,” Vio says quietly, slowly, softly. “I want this. I don’t know what this is, but I want it.”

Shadow nods. “I want you here, too. I would miss you very much if you were gone.”

“I just,” Vio sighs, looking down at his own hands. “It’s silly, but I can’t get it out of my head. I feel like… like I am poison. Like it’s not just in me, it’s inseparable from me. Melodramatic, I know, but—”

“Vio,” Shadow interrupts, and he seems genuinely shocked by the sentiment. “You are the opposite of poison.”

“What?”

Shadow considers his response for a moment, which feels to Vio more like an hour. He then gives him a small smile, settles back into the bubbles, and closes his eyes. He looks… relaxed. More relaxed than Vio’s ever seen him.

“I love this,” Shadow says, and it’s like the idea almost amuses him. “I thought I wouldn’t, but I do.”

Vio cocks his head. “The… the bath?”

“Yes,” Shadow nods, “the bath. Like I said before—I’ve never really had an occasion to use it. Didn’t want to clog the drain with entrails.”

“That’s graphic.”

“I’ll spare you the details. After all, it’s like you said: it doesn’t matter now. I’m not mauling forest creatures just to survive.”

“Yes, but that’s just—”

“And even if I was, you’d still be right,” Shadow continues, clearly pleased to cut off whatever self-loathing bullshit Vio was about to spew next. “I still would have loved this, and could have used it a very effective means of stress relief. It’s not like I didn’t wash the entrails off myself after my hunts—it’s more like, I probably wouldn’t have believed myself deserving of this kind of self-care. I acted like an animal, so I got hosed down like one.”

“That’s stupid,” Vio argues, his defense of Shadow as natural as breathing. “You’ve always deserved to feel comfortable.”

“You say that so easily,” Shadow counters, “but you refuse to offer yourself the same grace.”

“Because I know myself.”

“Don’t you think I know myself just as well?”

Vio crosses his arms, feeling like a petulant child. “Well, fine,” he grumbles, “but I’m not letting you think you’re alone.”

Shadow opens his eyes and turns to face him, seemingly satisfied with his case. “Those are not poisonous words, Vio. You are far too smart to play this dumb.”

And if it was anyone else calling him out, Vio would be done. He’d already be gone.

But it’s Shadow. And he’s right. So Vio stops thinking, stops talking, and decides to listen instead.

“I have been alive for a very long time,” Shadow says, deliberating each word before it leaves his mouth. “I have spent the majority of that time alone. I am acutely aware of the effect isolation has on a person. However, I also know that self-isolation is an entirely different beast. While there are many odds against me—the elimination of my people, the attitudes of the royal family and their subjects—there is no reason compelling enough to justify my loneliness. Loneliness is something I have chosen, for these many decades, and it has been to my overall detriment.

But then I came upon you, purely on accident. I brought you here but did not expect you to stay. You surprised me, Vio. From the moment you arrived, you’ve surprised me. And you make me feel like I am not alone. None of that has to do with your willingness to be fed upon. It’s just you.

You are not poison. You don’t symbolize anything. You are a person—a whole, complicated person—and you are allowed to feel. You are allowed to want. You are even allowed to fail, and be forgiven, and try again.”

I hope I’m allowed to cry, Vio thinks, because he absolutely is.

It’s quiet, restrained—tears run down his cheeks, but he doesn’t sob. He tries to freeze up his face, his standard response to this nonsense, but under Shadow’s watchful eye he finds himself undone.

“Vio,” Shadow says gently, eyes returning to the towel rack on the wall. “I really want—I really want to comfort you, touch you if you’d allow it, help with anything you need… but I am currently in a compromised position.”

Vio sniffles and nods, getting to his feet. “Of course. I’ll go, so you can—”

“Thank you. And once I’m out, maybe we can discuss… what this is.”

Vio winces at his own words, but appreciates the sentiment. Shadow is offering to communicate, something he’s admitted can be difficult. It’s good. Shadow deserves to have a say in his presence within Vio’s mind.

“I’ll wait in the library,” Vio says, heading for the door. He turns back to the bath with a small grin. “Just don’t fall asleep again.”

Shadow puts up his hands. “Hey, the whole point was to relax! You should be glad it worked so well.”

“I prefer you alive, Shadow. Even if you’re already dead.”

Back in the library, Vio assumes his place in his favorite comfy chair. Shadow has gotten into the habit of perching on the armrest, sometimes even reading over Vio’s shoulder. Vio likes this closeness more than he’d like to admit, and would welcome more like it.

Maybe all he has to do is ask. And maybe Shadow will ignore the question, meet his affection with indifference, wear that inscrutable expression that torments Vio so relentlessly.

But maybe he won’t. And even if he turns Vio down, maybe he’ll do it kindly. Maybe he’ll tell Vio what he does want, which is something Vio’s longed to know for months. And if Shadow doesn’t know what he wants, well… they can be confused together. There are far more terrible fates than that.

And as for Princess Zelda, and her vendetta against the last living vampire in Hyrule?

She’ll have to do without her Legendary Hero. Or, at least, one-fourth of him. And if what she wants is a fight, Vio will oblige. And he’ll win. Him and Shadow, together, will win.

That is, if they’re forced to defend themselves. Vio has just assumed, these past few months, that Zelda would inevitably bring her forces to the castle, demanding Vio’s ‘freedom’ and Shadow’s defeat. She’d have the people of Hyrule behind her, not to mention the knights, and the Goddess herself.

But what if… what if Shadow and Vio went on the offensive first? They could start slow, even disguise themselves, traveling to smaller towns far from Hyrule Castle with armloads of vampiric lore. They could show the kingdom the truth about Shadow’s kind—their long history of coexisting and even loving Hylians, before the royal family turned everyone against them—and leave it to the people to decide which side they want to be on.

Maybe people can change, if you let them. And maybe that change can matter.

It’s a good idea, Vio thinks. At least, it has potential.

He can’t wait to tell Shadow all about it.

Author's Note:

To be loved is to be changed… or something. Thanks for sticking with me through this one, I know it was a little more melodramatic than my typical fics. It’s been… a weird month. Still, I’m pretty happy with how it came out. Writing Vio and Shadow in this AU is interesting because they’re so different from their manga counterparts (for one, Shadow is WAY classier), but so many of their emotional beats are the same.

And thank you, as always, to @kaitopitoo and @othervio for creating this very inspiring AU. I hope nothing here conflicted too hard with your vision.

#fs #my writing #four swords #four swords manga #vio link #shadow link #vidow #vio x shadow #four swords vampire au

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