Chapter Text
Trevor stared at Adrian.
He’d woken minutes ago, attempting to bury himself back into an unconscious state but there was no point. There was no lingering tiredness clinging to him, no fog in his mind. Trevor was very clearly well-rested.
No nightmares.
He’d opened his eyes then, shifting gingerly and blinking, when he stilled at the weight against him.
Adrian was plastered to his front, face tucked in the crook of Trevor’s neck and breathing lightly. He was still sleeping. Or in whatever state vampires went in. Trevor could see his braid, loosened, lying across the pillow. He suddenly remembered the softness of it between his fingers.
He exhaled at the thought, attempting to sit up but stilled. He was completely entangled with Adrian. Though Adrian wasn’t under the covers, their legs were pressed together and Trevor’s arm had found its way around his waist. It laid there simply, easily and he quickly pulled it back, freezing when Adrian shifted.
He remembered when Adrian was in his wolf form. A simple touch from Trevor had him waking up immediately.
And who knows how he’s been resting after the attack. Trevor frowned and settled softly against the pillows, willing his heart to beat evenly. With how Adrian was tucked into him, Trevor couldn’t see his face, only the top of his head. But the makings and trail of his braid were in eye view.
Something crawled up his throat as they lay there.
He’s here . With me.
His heart thudded and as much as Trevor tried to get it back under control, he couldn’t. He swore inwardly, almost curling into Adrian and pressing them further together.
His heart beat faster and no, no Adrian was going to wake up—
He didn’t.
Trevor breathed a sigh of relief.
The time passed with Trevor staring at the loose braid. He had attempted to look elsewhere but the walls of the room were still bare, and the sunlight was faint and Adrian’s hair was a golden halo in the light, one that drew his attention over and over.
A startling thought ripped through his mind as he looked over it, remembering the memory.
He said I’m wonderful. He called me husband.
Trevor’s chest tightened and he swallowed. He had called Adrian the same before. Why was he overthinking it? Simply because it was Adrian who said it this time? Trevor was Adrian’s husband. It was a simple fact. He didn’t have to think about it, he didn’t have to—
Trevor couldn’t ignore the satisfaction he felt at the thought. A wild feeling of rightness that reminded him of the greed of dragons. Trevor shook. His arm tightened across Adrian’s waist and he froze when Adrian shifted, waiting and cursing himself when Adrian simply burrowed further into his neck.
He exhaled, feeling Adrian’s light breath across his collarbone, the small scrape of his lips on his skin. He shivered.
But suddenly, he heard Henry’s voice ringing through his head.
‘Are you stupid? Get away from his fangs!’
His brow furrowed. There was no need, he reasoned. Because Adrian wouldn’t harm him. Hell, he’d harm the ones who did hurt him.
He thought of it then. A field of dead vampires. A bloody wolf and a scratched floor.
He’d never hurt me.
And Trevor looked down at him, at the vulnerability that this arrangement was supposed to bring out from himself . Carefully, Trevor lifted his hand and lightly brushed his fingers across his hair. Soft. Just as before.
It was an awkward angle for his arm but Trevor kept running his fingers over the golden strands, fingers a light a touch as a ghost's breath.
Time passed without Trevor making a sound and repeating the action when it suddenly occurred to him how weird he was behaving. He cringed, imagining Adrian waking up and seeing himself stared and touched at like at an exhibition.
What is wrong with me?
Trying not to wake him up, Trevor leaned his upper body away, shivering at the empty space of his neck when Adrian fell behind. His lips curled into a smile at the frown that crossed Adrian’s face, but he waited until Adrian settled back into the pillow before moving again.
He failed.
Adrian stared up at him with blinking eyes. He made a noise that was similar to the confused, tired one Trevor made when his family woke him up too early. Though, his was also filled with outrage and often compared to a horn.
“Sorry,” he muttered sheepishly. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s nothing. Technically, I don’t really sleep but…” he trailed off as he went to sit up and realised their legs were still entangled together. “Oh.”
“Yeah… Here let me.” Trevor moved his away, cringing at the fumbling, before sitting up to give him some space. “So, you must’ve been tired, right? To rest that deeply?”
“...Perhaps.” Adrian looked out the window. “Though the cold always makes me lethargic.”
“The cold?”
At Adrian’s point, Trevor turned, pausing at the open window, “It’s snowing!” Trevor looked at the distant white-capped mountains in awe. “Where the fuck are we?”
He hummed. “My guess would be a mountainside to the east.” He looked at him. “Most likely not in Wallachia.”
He swore at Dracula’s paranoia. “We’ll be back soon though?”
Adrian rose from the bed, stretching lightly. His shirt rose and Trevor spied the pale flash of skin before it was covered again. “Most likely, yes. My father never does anything without reason.”
He grumbled, rolling onto his back. He understood Adrian’s lethargy. The pale light streaming through the windows made him want to stay in bed.
“I’ll see you at breakfast,” Adrian said after a moment. Trevor lifted his head to see him watching him, though he turned away to stride to the door the moment their eyes caught. “See you.”
When Adrian closed the door behind him, Trevor sighed, staring at the ceiling.
It was fine. Adrian had just been unaware and resting so Trevor should really not have made it awkward.
Trevor swore as he climbed out of bed, unrushed as he got ready, savouring the warmth of the bath and the soft light of the sky above. At their position on whatever mountain they were on, Trevor could see the peak of another from the glassed ceiling and grinned.
Fucking cool.
He made his way to the kitchen, stopping as he saw Lisa and Adrian frown at one another from across the counter.
“What’s going on?”
Lisa waved a hand. “It seems we are in exile here, Trevor. Exiled and confined to the castle.”
He thought that over. “Yeah, I sort of expected that from Dracula.”
“It won’t do. Hiding ourselves away while winter approaches and more people get sick. Sickness that won’t be treated with our medicine.”
He frowned. He knew that but all he could remember was the burning pyre he’d rushed through to get to Lisa, the dead Churchmen that littered the floor as he fought them. He was nothing then but full of grief and anger. “How do you know if they’d even take it at this point? Their attitudes have been getting worse and worse towards witches and magic.”
Lisa frowned. “That may be but desperation makes a person’s mind wander to things they’d never before considered. And I’d rather help someone out of desperation than not help at all.”
He shifted, uneasy. “Well. I’m sure if anyone can convince Dracula, it's you.”
She stared. “Yes. That would be easy if he weren’t hiding himself away.”
He blinked. No way… Trevor laughed loudly, unable to believe it. The infamous Dracula, hiding from his wife because he knew she could change his mind.
Fucking insane.
“In the meantime, I will be at the lab. I brought Adrian the sheep in to examine him—”
“Stop calling him that, Mother.”
“ — And Adrian your father mentioned speaking to you—”
He was frowning. “Did he say why?”
“No. But I thought Trevor could join me in the lab until then. We can apply a booster shot for the antibodies. It shouldn’t be too long after this one to extract them.”
Trevor waited for Adrian. It was their experiment and if he wanted them to wait, he would.
He sighed. “I’ll see him. And Trevor, you should join my mother. It would be beneficial to have a different perspective in the lab.”
She nodded. “Which reminds me. Our lessons should start again.”
He groaned dramatically, taking the plate from Adrian and stuffing his face full of spiced bread. “Fine.”
They both grinned.
Trevor ate quickly, his eyes drifting to Adrian as he prepared another plate, this one for Lisa. But then Trevor frowned, noticing the absence of a cup near Adrian or even in the sink that he usually saw. He hadn’t had anything to drink. He must’ve come down at the same time as Lisa, too caught up to think of himself.
Trevor stepped up to the cold cupboard, retrieving the ornate jug that always sat front and centre and grabbed a cup, filling it with blood.
“Here.” He pushed it into Adrian’s hands.
His eyes were wide. “For me?”
“Who else? Unless Dracula’s standing behind me. He’s not. Right?” Trevor checked dramatically and Lisa chuckled, watching them with a warm expression.
“Oaf,” Adrian muttered but he brought the cup to his lips with a smile. Trevor grinned as he sank back into his seat.
When Adrian sat beside him, he moved his plate between them. He didn’t blink when Adrian reached out for a piece but something weighed on him all the same.
— —
“Liking the cold, Adrian?”
He bleated. Trevor sighed. “Yeah, it’s not too bad. Castle has fucking heating but shit, the layers we’d need otherwise.” He titled his head. “Maybe we should take some of your wool.”
Another bleat. His yellow eyes looked suspicious.
“Fine,” he sniffed. “Freeloader.”
“Can he be a freeloader when he’s producing the antibodies needed for the Gorgon venom?” Lisa asked as she fiddled with some vials near him.
“It’s the principle, Lisa.”
She shook her head, grinning. She held up a syringe, cocking her head for Trevor to hold Adrian the sheep. Trevor did, making sure he was comfortable and distracted as Lisa applied the booster shot.
Adrian bleated as they finished up. Trevor withdrew some greenery from a nearby sack to feed him. “Isn’t Adrian being here a contamination risk?”
“I feel he’s getting cooped up in the barn.” Lisa empathised. “If we hadn’t moved to the mountains, we could have done this outside.” She petted Adrian’s head, allowing him to walk around the lab and then clean up her instruments.
Waiting for Lisa to prepare their lesson, Trevor fiddled with the vial of Gorgon venom until there was nothing to see and looked around the lab.
“Bored?” Lisa sounded amused. “You are free to look around.”
“I don’t think Dracula likes me that much.”
Lisa seemed to think for a moment. “He gave you permission to use the microscope, yes?”
And that seemed so long ago. He nodded and Lisa walked over to a cupboard, opening it for Trevor to see the same cold light as the cooler in the kitchen.
“We have different pieces of venom, blood and other things. You’re welcome to take a look while I get this done. Though, I won’t be much longer.”
“Yeah, thanks. I won’t break them.” He assured her, taking a few vials from her hand.
She grinned. “I hope not. Vlad would be excited to make you replace dragon blood.”
Trevor scowled. “That he would.”
He sat back at the lab, carefully placing the vials in the middle of the table and used a pipette to place a few drops on the glass slide. One by one, he looked at each under the microscope. It was interesting to look at it again with everything he knew now. The once wiggly lines and circle shapes had made no fucking sense to him but now it was, well, knowledge.
He swapped them every few minutes, trying to take notes on how each was different.
As he grabbed the next vial of clear liquid, he paused, squinting at the cursive font. Trevor’s jaw dropped as he deciphered it.
Vampire venom.
He shouldn’t be surprised that Dracula’s lab had samples of his venom, but shit, what his family would give to get it. Trevor supposed it was his ancestors guiding him as he placed a few drops on the slide and under the microscope lens.
Twisting the knob, he waited for the image to take clarity and stared. It shimmered under the lens and Trevor had to adjust the scope to get a closer look. The filaments twisted into branches that honestly reminded him of something. It wasn’t a typical pattern but it was a protein family he’d seen before. Trevor stared at it, mind wandering.
Something brushed up against his thigh and Trevor blinked at Adrian who bleated and walked in a circle.
Huh. He sighed and turned his attention to the suspiciously needy sheep. Trevor put himself to the task of trying to train him which went nowhere until Lisa spoke up.
“How have you found it all so far?”
“It?”
“The science.”
Trevor paused. “Fucking incredible.” He began to ramble. Science was much more useful than he expected, especially when it originated from Dracula. He knew Lisa had pushed the vampire to share his knowledge beyond keeping it within the walls of his castle but Trevor could see it from his perspective.
The average Wallachian would see his inventions and scream. There would be no understanding. Not yet, anyway.
But he imagined a world with it. Where it was accepted and celebrated and fucking normal. It was so far-fetched that he couldn’t conjure up more than the sight of good health but… that was enough, wasn’t it? To not die from the flu or to actually live through a poor harvest?
Trevor looked around him. And it was possible. It could happen.
But he sighed. It wasn’t going to now. Not while the Church was rampant. And certainly not when Dracula had more reasons to hate humanity than to help them.
But Adrian had it, something in him noted. Adrian, who was a doctor and his mother a human. He was kind. And Trevor thought that maybe…
“Lisa.” He waited until he got her attention. “Back home, we have some… information that we’ve collected over the years. Some that I don’t think even Dracula has access to.”
“Oh?” She looked curious. “What about it?”
“Do you think that maybe Adrian… would work with my family? To come up with more stuff like this?” He gestured to the microscope.
Lisa smiled. “Science to counteract the effects of the supernatural? I think, Trevor, that it is something Adrian would excel at.” Trevor nodded. Adrian was smart. “In fact, it might be a specific output for his skills. Something that healing only humans cannot give him.”
He shuffled. “It was just a thought. If he likes it… well, then I’m glad.”
A pause and Trevor turned to see Lisa staring at him fondly. “I know you are. And Trevor… I know these circumstances were… less than ideal but I am very glad you came to the castle. I do not know how we would’ve been without you, but it would be very different indeed.”
He scoffed but there was a feeling of warmth spreading through his body, one that settled into his bones. He paused. Adrian the sheep was staring at him. “So am I.”
Lisa’s smile was so bright that he had to turn away from the mere sight of it.
“And I am glad you met Adrian. Other than obvious reasons, it's good of him to have you.”
“Obvious reasons?”
But Lisa ignored him. “Much better than the attempts of others, especially some vampires. Goodness, I still shudder thinking of the marriage proposals.”
Trevor fumbled with the beakers, catching them just before the impact. “Proposals? From who?”
“Lords and Ladies who all wanted to win Vlad’s favour.” Lisa sighed. “It would have been better if they didn’t. Vlad is endlessly protective.”
“Right…”
Proposals.
Proposals?
Who the fuck was proposing to Adrian?
“Why,” he coughed. “Why would they think a proposal is the way to go about it?”
“Marriages are different for vampires. More… intimate. I suppose the rationale was that the connection to Vlad would be stronger than any previous deal was.”
He glossed over all that. “But Adrian. He never said yes, right?”
“Of course not! He didn’t even know any of them. While balls and gatherings are commonplace for their species, Vlad is against any sort of social interaction that doesn’t benefit him,” Trevor snorted, “and Adrian has never seen the fun in it. Especially when…”
“When?”
Lisa frowned. “I’ve suspected Adrian’s half-human nature has always been an obstacle for him. The other vampires don’t frown at it, not when his parentage is to them, the highest honour.”
Trevor remembered Michael's words.
‘You have given us our prince.’
Prince. Dracula’s son.
Nothing that pointed to Adrian’s human side.
“They worship him,” Trevor grumbled.
“They do. But Vlad has never put stock into flattery. Regardless, this disconnect always stopped Adrian from fully bonding with the others. Not that vampires are kind,” Lisa muttered, “but it could have been different for him.”
She said the last few words with sadness, a darkness in her eyes that betrayed her. Trevor caught on. “You know. I’m sure Adrian values his human side just as much, if not more, than his vampire one. And there’s also that small issue,” he put his fingers together casually, “on how he wouldn’t even exist without you.”
Lisa smiled softly. “Thank you.” She cocked her head. “You always know what to say.”
Trevor blinked. “I don’t. I just tell the truth. This was the truth.” Adrian’s words came spiralling back and he shook his head, speaking to distract himself and also… he wanted to know. “So… what did Adrian think of the proposals?”
Lisa huffed. “He was gobsmacked with the first and then became annoyed with the rest.”
“Guess he didn’t believe in love at first sight?”
She chuckled. “Unless the first sight was a time loop, then no.” She paused. “Adrian has always had barriers. As I told you before his childhood… there were moments that kept him on guard. Vlad, of course, warned him about the nature of his subjects. I think… he’s always been wary of the people around him.”
He swallowed. “Right.” He remembered when he bulldozed through their building friendship with a cruel remark and cringed. How could Adrian ever think he had a way with words when he’d said that?
Lisa continued, unaware of his struggle. “Which is why I’m so glad you broke through it. I think you are the truest friend he’s ever had.”
He started, hands clenched tightly on the table. “He’s mine,” Trevor admitted. “I’ve never… he’s changed me.”
“For the better, I hope?”
“Yeah. For the better.”
Trevor looked down at his clenched hands, saw the burn marks licking up the sides. A dried flame.
Scars. Scars. Scars.
Burned into his skin. Branded into his mind.
As Adrian the sheep pitted by, Lisa leaned down to pet him and the neckline of her dress shifted, just a bit.
Trevor stared at the bite mark.
Michael’s voice lunged in his mind. ‘He hasn’t even marked him.’
“Lisa,” his voice was rough, even to his own ears. “Does a vampire… mark their partner?”
Her eyes were wide. “What?”
“Vampires. Marking.” He waved an unsteady hand. “Does it happen?”
“Wouldn’t a Belmont know?” She was deflecting but Trevor answered anyway.
“We don’t record that type of stuff.”
“I see. Why would you ask?” She waited and when Trevor didn’t speak, said. “Did Adrian say—”
“No. Why?”
Lisa turned away. “I thought it might have come up in one of your discussions.”
“It hasn’t.” He didn’t know why that made his chest tight.
“It’s a… complicated topic, Trevor. I’m not even sure where to begin.”
“So there is something.”
She stared. “There is.”
He sighed. “You’re not going to tell me.”
“I only mean that I do not— Trevor!”
But Trevor was already tucking his stool in, striding across the lab.
He heard Lisa call for him but he ignored her, leaving her and Adrian the sheep behind.
— —
Trevor stared at Adrian.
The dark clouds had them out in the greenhouse, picking and unpotting due to the cold weather. But Trevor hadn’t moved one plant since they came in.
“Are you alright?”
“Sure.”
Adrian frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He poked at a plant but after a moment, said it. “So you had marriage proposals before me.”
He heard a shatter and stared at the broken pot. It had created a mess of dirt. Adrian didn’t move to pick them up. “How do you know?”
“Lisa told me.” He shrugged casually. “How did it start?”
“... I suppose it first took place years ago. It was a younger vampire, newly turned. Probably drunk. He forgot his place and well,” he made an aborted gesture. “I said no, obviously.”
“Obviously.” He repeated.
“But then I think other vampires found out and from there, well I sometimes received them. And I always said no.”
“You never considered it?”
His face scrunched up. “Why would I? I didn’t know any of them.”
“Right.”
“Why?” Adrian watched him closely.
“Was just surprised. Didn’t think anyone would piss off Dracula like that.”
He hummed. “Other than the first vampire, the others were much more respectful. And sober.” He shrugged. “But I didn’t tell him about some of them. Besides, I think it became more of a running joke amongst them all.”
He frowned. “Why?”
Adrian shrugged. “Why would they tie themselves to a half-breed?”
Trevor started. “The fuck? You’re not—”
“I am.” He stated calmly.
“But what the fuck is wrong with that? Like you’re not as strong or fast—” He had to reign himself back. “The fuck?”
Adrian smiled lightly. “I don’t think that was enough to overlook my unnaturalness. Vampires are a picky sort.”
“Well, fuck them. You’re my husband. ” He collects the broken pieces angrily. “If they can’t see how good you are, their fucking loss. They can take their shitty proposals and shove it up their pale, dead asses.”
He threw the pottery pieces to the side, collecting the spilt dirt with both hands. When Adrian said nothing, he looked at him.
Adrian was staring at him, mouth agape. There was shock written all over his face but his eyes— When Adrian smiled, they were bright .
“Thank you, husband.”
“You’re welcome.” He stumbled after a moment. The dirt cupped in his hands fell over some empty pots and he quickly cleaned it up. Adrian joined him after a moment, pale hands contrasting against the soil.
“And what about you?”
“Me?”
“Have you had any prior proposals? Or entanglements?” Adrian’s hair created a curtain around him but when he pulled back Trevor saw the tightness around his eyes.
He blinked. “No.”
Adrian blinked. “Never?”
“Nothing ever serious. I never wanted to drag someone unprepared into my family's work.” He shrugged. “There was also no one I felt strongly for anyway.”
“I see.” But Adrian’s shoulders lowered and Trevor watched him for a moment, thinking.
After a while, he only nodded. He and Adrian worked side by side, repotting and changing, their hands covered in the rich soil. When they were done, they simply sat back, enjoying the faint sun that came through the mountains, that shone on the hungry plants.
Trevor glanced at Adrian a few times during it.
There weren’t many times when he and Adrian sat in silence. There was always something to cook, to research, to train with. He enjoyed their time together so much.
It wasn’t that he was afraid to be vulnerable with Adrian, because truth be told, Adrian had broken his wall down over their marriage, had shattered a major part of it the first time Trevor had visited his room.
It wasn’t that Trevor didn’t feel the need for it; it was more that he didn’t realize how many times Adrian had reached out, with just a simple interpretation of an expression or attitude that tipped him off.
Trevor was simply comfortable.
He was comfortable with Adrian.
He was comfortable now.
He was comfortable in the morning when Adrian’s fangs were a nail length away from his throat and he didn’t even think otherwise—
Adrian watched him abruptly stand and leave with a frown.
— — —
Trevor stayed at the library until the sun fell. No one visited him and Trevor didn’t venture out. His stomach had growled at the interruption of routine but Trevor ignored it, settling down on a long chaise and holding a book on mystery close to his nose.
When the night darkened and Trevor heard the door open, he feigned sleep, using all his experiences as a Belmont and monster hunting to keep his heartbeat steady.
It was a miracle it didn’t jump when Adrian placed a blanket on him, taking the book gently from his grasp and setting it down elsewhere.
When Adrian didn’t leave, only sitting down somewhere else in the library, Trevor’s chest trembled.
But he didn’t move, didn’t draw attention to himself.
When Trevor eventually fell asleep, he was listening to the soft crackle of the fire.
And when, a few hours later, he awoke tangled in the remnants of fire, Adrian was kneeling by his side, his brows furrowed and expression aching.
Trevor mumbled as he slid off the couch, as he settled on the floor with him. When he went to apologise, because Trevor felt he should, Adrian shushed him and held him close.
They didn’t say anything but Trevor’s mind was a whirlpool and he knew then, that something had changed.