Chapter Text
“You’re not doing it right.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“I will if you don’t follow the proper instructions. Can you even read—”
“Fuck off, fang-face.”
“Your eloquence has no bounds, truly.”
“Neither does my whip so fuck off.”
“Are you really going to attack me, Belmont?”
“You’re really making me consider it.”
They were back in the science room, glaring at each other as they hovered over what Adrian called a microscope.
After his description of it, Trevor had expected some sort of giant fucking device that needed a team to operate but Adrian had brought in this small metal thing instead. He’d explained how it worked and Trevor remembered the general gist of light reflection, lenses and how it bent towards the eye but it didn’t interest him as much as the other things they’d shown him.
That was until he’d shoved his face forward and seen a bunch of clear shapes, different colours and shit that fucking moved.
Gaping, he’d faced Adrian again who looked too smug at his reaction. Asshole. Trevor had a feeling he was trying to test how much he could unbalance Trevor, to the point that he would actually compliment Dracula or whatever.
It had happened a few times over the week. Since Lisa first introduced him to proper medicine and he and Adrian began their project, he’d fallen into a routine. If that’s what it could be called. Each day he had scheduled lessons with Lisa where she would explain different concepts that would wrack his brain and make him seriously wonder why the fuck they didn’t know about it.
They were quickly working through anatomy, something that due to his family's own teachings on monsters, he had no trouble getting through. Lisa had added basic first aid lessons alongside it, stating that they both complemented each other.
Which was fine, or it would be if it weren’t for Adrian lingering in a corner and smirking at his crooked stitches. The bastard always came in near the end of the lessons, ready to trade Trevor’s attention to their special project. And he always had something to say.
I’m surprised you don’t already know how to do this, Trevor.
A necessary concept that saves lives, Trevor.
Twist your wrist a bit more, Trevor.
And despite telling himself he’d ignore the pointy bastard and focus on whatever task he was doing, he always snapped back. And then Adrian snapped back. And then Trevor until Lisa cut in to silence Adrian until their lesson ended.
But each time Trevor would look back and see Adrian watching him, eyes too bright and fangs just peeking out under his smile.
He would not break.
But after the long week of studying Gorgon recounts and effects, after raiding their giant library for more information on snakes than Trevor needed to know, Dracula had finally granted his good behaviour a boon.
The fucking microscope.
Adrian hadn’t shut up about it since he told Trevor the so-called good news, stating they could finally get a start on their research properly. Neither of them brought up that Adrian could have already started it, just without Trevor.
But that’s not where their argument came in.
Trevor knew he was new to this almost mythical fucking field of science, but he knew how to follow basic instructions. And Lisa definitely gave him clear instructions on how the microscope worked.
Adrian was just being a bitch.
‘You haven’t centred it!’
‘You’re getting your fingerprints all over the lens.’
It got worse as Trevor handled it, moving it too harshly or whatever he was doing wrong.
“I’m going to throw this thing at you.”
“A grand statement when you’ve no idea how to rebuild it.”
“How’s that my problem? Don’t you people have more?”
“None that my father will let you use.”
Trevor blinked. “What? So I only get this one to use?”
“Yes.”
“Your father’s a stingy bitc—”
“So you say.” This time Adrian pushed his hands away from the device gently. “But if we make any mistake with this, he will not allow us another chance. And even Mother will be cross that we broke it. She’s protective over these things, you know.”
He snorted. “I bet.”
“I’m serious. This isn’t a shield that will absorb force until it breaks or a sword that swings as hard as we can make it. We must accommodate to the device.”
Trevor sighed. “Fine. Just—” He hated having to say it, to see the smug look on Adrian’s face again. “I want to see that shit again.”
He looked surprised. “Of course you will. We can’t start our research otherwise.” He nudged Trevor aside. “Just let me adjust it.”
After a moment, Trevor let him. Peeking over, he watched Adrian fiddle with it, adjusting the lens and some round, rolling thing at the bottom. Waiting, he grabbed their papers, slapping the pile between them. Adrian had already scratched down a few things on it. Venomous cells, glands and makeup. He was still confused on a few of these but he was picking it up quickly. Like fuck would he let Adrian take credit for all this.
“Alright,” Adrian took a step back. “Take a look.”
Moving over to his spot, Trevor bent down to the eyepiece, huffing as he did, “Yeah, still fucking cool.”
“I’m glad. Now, my father already has information stored on the venom’s makeup but I think it’s a good idea that we go over it from the beginning. You’ll learn as we do.”
“Sounds good to me.” He shrugged.
“Do you see those shapes? Triangular– almost diamond looking?”
He hummed.
“Those are the cells. See, we need to change those for an anti venom. We’ll have to start by injecting it into an animal. A sheep maybe.”
“What the fuck?” Trevor reared up from his place. “We’re gonna poison a sheep?”
“No.” His expression was patient, all-knowing. “Well, we will inject it with venom, yes, but only a small amount. Their immune systems are incredible and the introduction of this attack will trigger its system to produce antibodies.”
“Antibodies? The fucking protein thing?”
“Yes. Good to see you’re listening.” And he did look satisfied at Trevor’s response, a reaction that had him scoffing.
“Well, no point doing this if I don’t.”
“Regardless.” He waved an arm. “After that, we take some blood from the animal. We’ll study it like we’re doing the venom.” He frowned. “There’s more steps of course but that’s the gist of it.”
“It sounds so simple.” He said truthfully.
“Thanks to my father’s machines, it is. If it were anyone else,” he sighed, “we wouldn’t even know where to begin.”
It was true. Fucking unfortunately. Why did it have to be Dracula who’s responsible for this shit? They should scratch him out of the picture and just make Lisa responsible for it all.
“Well, not much else you can do if you’re living forever. Imagine how bored you’d be. No offence.” He added on at the blonde’s raised brow.
“I suppose you’re right.” He sighed. He shifted as if he was about to say something else but looked into the microscope again, his side brushing Trevor’s as he did.
He sighed, looking down at the venom. “Truthfully, there’s not much we can see with this. We need the electron microscope. You’ll see the proteins and other molecules better, it’s a bit cloudy.”
He had no idea what the difference between this and an electron microscope was but he caught onto Adrian’s mood. “Which is in your science room.” That he’s not allowed to be in.
“Yes.”
Well. That fucking sucked. “We can still do the rest without it, right? The dilution shit.”
“Yes, but… you should know this. Mother would agree.” He was frowning, looking down at the microscope as if it wasn’t the most exciting thing to show him just hours ago. Trevor could tell he was trying to work something out. He noticed over the week that Adrian always fiddled with his fingers when he was deeply thinking.
It had made him laugh when he first noticed. Adrian had given him a strange look, his hands around a stray thermometer as he paced through the room, the effects of gorgon venom thrown on the table between them. Trevor had only grinned, amused that Adrian had a tell.
Adrian was still frowning and Trevor rolled his eyes. Too serious, this one.
He snorted. “Not up to you guys. Relax,” he directed towards the Dhampir's frown. “Just show me what you can.”
— —
Trevor knew the castle was big but holy shit, the amount of stairs he had to climb was insane. It was only a problem for the humans, he knew, and he wondered if Lisa ever got irritated at it. He snorted at the image of her complaining to Dracula.
The aviary was located in the east tower. As he got closer he could hear the shuffle and caws of multiple birds and he saw them as he entered, sitting on their perches, well-groomed and relaxed. There were at least a dozen.
The room stretched above him, the ceiling arching like the inside of a cathedral, far higher than any aviary he’d ever seen. The entire backing of the room was a large window, open and flooding the room with moonlight. The floor was covered in straw, clean but smelling faintly of that familiar farm smell all animals had. It was nothing like the aviary at the manor, built outside, the birds flitting about but ultimately returning when called.
Finding the dark-feathered ravens Lisa had directed him to, he approached it slowly, shushing as he did.
“There you go,” he dropped some seeds into his hand, letting it feed directly from his palm. “Like that, huh?”
It kept eating.
Trevor looked at it intently, looking for something different, something that screamed that it was a bird trained specifically for communication between his family and the Tepes’.
It cawed as it finished its snack, pecking him lightly. No, he huffed. It acted just like any other bird.
Moving to its feeding area, he poured some more seedlings cringing as the rest of the birds began to caw.
“Ugh, hold on.” Diligently, he went to each of their perches, filling each tray as he did.
Might as well get familiar to me.
Waiting for them to finish, he pulled out the thick envelope from his pocket, sealed with the Belmont crest. He traced it fondly, appreciating that someone in his family filled his desk up with his familiar effects.
Trevor looked up as he heard a pair of footsteps approaching the door. Waiting, he rolled his eyes as Adrian walked in and looked surprised at his appearance.
“I wasn’t expecting you here.”
Holding up his thick envelope, he waved it in the air lazily. “Writing to my family.”
Adrian’s expression cleared. “Of course.” He hesitated but made his way to a strong white falcon, its face haughty as it stretched its leg, a letter attached with string around it.
He couldn’t help but ask. “Who's that from?”
Adrian stopped for a moment, his eyes trained on the letter. “Friends.”
“Since when do you have friends?” He snorted.
“I could say the same for you.”
“You’ve met Sypha or did you think she was some illusion?.”
“You’re right. My mistake.” Still, he didn’t move, tucking the letter into his pants pocket and watching the birds eat intently. “Thank you for feeding them. I was just going to.”
He shrugged. Wasn’t like it was a hardship for him to do.
“Have you—” Adrian stopped, mouth pursed as he considered his words, gaze inscrutable on Trevor’s letter. “How was writing your letter?”
He raised a brow at the line of questioning but answered anyway. “Fine. I’ve let them know I’m busy, having fun.” He waved a hand at Adrian’s expression. “The usual. Don’t worry, I’ve also told them I’m not being threatened so they can keep the pitchforks away.”
He huffed. “Yes, that would be correct.” But he still paused, leaning back to stroke the falcon’s white wings. “I hope that you are being truthful.”
“Truthful?” He’s kind of insulted. “I’m not telling them you guys are torturing me just because you pissed me off today.”
“No.” He quickly shook his head. “Not like that.” He was fiddling with his fingers again but his own letter was tucked away and he had nothing to hold and— and he was twisting his wedding ring around his finger instead.
“I meant that I hope you’re telling them how you truly feel. Not just what they want to hear.”
Trevor froze, still looking at Adrian’s fingers. At the ring that changed hues as it shifted. He didn’t think he found Adrian’s tell funny anymore.
A gust of wind made him blink, realising Adrian was still waiting for a response.
“What? Of fucking course I am.” He sputtered. But Adrian kept looking at him like he knew different, like he was some fucking saint with his fucking ring, and it pissed him off. “Why do you even care?”
“Why can’t I?” The words were soft but Adrian’s eyes were blazing, a harsh gold in the dim room.
“You shouldn’t,” he rasped. Adrian shouldn’t give a rat's arse about his feelings of all things.
He only responded slowly, “Fortunately, you cannot tell me what to do.”
Scoffing, Trevor turned, cursing at the raven who was still eating. Seriously? He just saw it scarfing everything down.
“Why are you still here?” He asked harshly. “You got your letter.”
Finally, he heard clicks against the floor, footsteps leaving from Adrian’s direction. Fucking finally. But alas, life never went his way.
Adrian settled beside him, leaning against the wall and watching the birds. “What are you—”
“Do you remember the two men who sat with my mother at the wedding ceremony?”
He did. The dark-skinned man and the other one with silver hair. “What about them?”
“The letters are from them.”
“Oh.” He shouldn’t be surprised. If someone could sit next to Lisa Tepes at her son’s wedding without being fried from Dracula, he supposed they would be close. He didn’t analyse it too closely then, more preoccupied with being fucking married.
“They’re your friends?”
“Yes. They,” he stopped and Trevor turned just the littlest bit, considering him mull his words. “They lived here with us. Not as permanent residents, they come and go but I grew up with them. They’re almost like—” his hands retreated to the pocket where he stored the letter. “Like family.”
“I’ve never heard of them before.” He doesn't mean it cruelly, but just as a fact. Dracula had others living with him? People who were considered family by Adrian? “Why aren’t they here?”
“Like I said they come and go. But with the treaty, only my family was allowed in the castle with you. Any outsiders…” he trailed off and Trevor nodded. Yeah, that would technically be breaking it.
Trevor remembered how Adrian received the letter, fiddling with it before finally putting it away. He remembered the day after his family left, wondering at Adrian’s door, at his sleeping schedule. He thought he’d already be awake and busily about. But what if he was sleeping in like Trevor? Missing a family who he exchanged letters with?
A ridiculous thought came to him. Did Trevor have to interact with these men, just as Adrian had to deal with his own family, behaving nicely and turning his cheek to veiled insults? His limited interactions with Dracula was already enough to handle.
He coughed. “Well, you have plans to see them, don’t you? Who knows how long this fucking thing is gonna go on for.”
“Perhaps not in the near future. Last we spoke they were going to do some research in the desert to pass the time.”
Trevor looked at the falcon again. Large and foreign.
“Regardless, they’ll always be back if we need it. No questions asked.” Adrian met his gaze, open but Trevor still couldn’t figure him out. “I tell them how I feel. Truthfully.”
“Good for you,” he scoffed.
“It helps,” he continued as if Trevor never spoke, “to do it. They’ve been by our side for every step of the treaty, of the wedding. They understand. It’s not… cowardly.”
He straightened at that, heart thudding in the quiet room. He wondered if Adrian could hear it.
“I’m not a coward.” He replied fiercely.
“No, you’re not.”
He said it like it was a challenge, and when he finally moved off the wall to leave, the white peaks of moonlight ran over his hair, making it pale.
— — —
Dear Ann,
Don’t let the others see this letter.
The castle’s fine. Seriously. Lisa and Adrian are teaching me a few things in science, I know, I don’t know why they’re trusting me with it either. Don’t worry about Dracula, I barely see him. I think Lisa keeps him away or he’s guarding the more important parts of the castle, hoping I don’t turn up. I think maybe I will just to piss him off. I mean, annoying Dracula without immediately being beheaded? I think this pact might just finally be useful.
Adrian’s fine. Annoying, actually. Keeps fucking pushing me sometimes like he has something to prove. But he’s not all that bad. We’re working on something together, I’ll tell you more when we actually make progress, and it’s nice fine. For now, it’s keeping me occupied, and honestly, that’s what I need.
How’s Zach doing? I miss the little brat, but make sure he doesn’t miss me. Not too much. Look out for him. Mother, too. I don’t want her to fall sad again.
If Henry’s being a prick, give him some time. He’s got a lot on his plate. Help him out where you can. He won’t ever admit to needing it, but he does.
Whatever Cecelia and Christoper are doing, leave them be. They don’t need to agree to everything we do. Just don’t push them away.
I miss you. Don’t worry, not too much. I’m glad I don’t have you following me around everywhere. Still. It took me a while after you all left to snap back together. I wasn’t expecting it. But like I said, Adrian’s keeping me busy. Now that I’m writing it out, I think that might’ve been on purpose this whole time. Asshole.
Anyway, I’m better now. Sorry it took me a while to write. I didn’t know what to say. Don’t worry about me. Seriously, don’t. I can’t handle it if you’re gnashing your teeth and bugging everyone to check up on me. Yes, I’ll know. I can feel your annoyingness, sometimes.
I hope we can see each other again soon. It’s only been a week but it fucking sucks not seeing you guys. It’s harder than I thought.
Also, check if we can have visitors. I think me and Adrian might both need it.
Be safe.
Trevor Belmont.