The everyday monsters in our lives

“I’ll manage.” He argued in a tired tone, turning to wrap an arm around the vampyre. He had rather quick found out that if he was just sweet enough then he could get away with most things. The warning didnt seem to shake the human, scoffing softly as he nuzzled closer to the vampyre. Couldnt he just give in and let him sleep a bit longer. The addition did just as little to shake the human. “I’m resilient.” He argued, though if the vampyre really thoght he could do that, then he was more than welcome. Joe was slowly giving into falling back asleep once he had adjusted himself to lie comfortably pressed up against the vampyre.

Joe didnt mind the kisses on his face, in fact there wasnt much of a reaction, but as the vampyre began moving down, did the human let out soft sighs of pleasure, though not quite moaning. At least not until the vampyre hooked onto his nipple in which he frowned a little, letting out a soft sound. His hands moved up to the vampyre’s shoulders, holding him. The mutter and touch made the human grit his teeth, his hips bucking lightly to the touch but then he realized what was going on. He pushed the vampyre away as he sat up with a groan. “What are you doing?” He asked confused, still tired but at least more awake and aware now to just let the vampyre do as he pleased.

He noticed the confusion in the vampyre as well and it just left them both looking puzzled. At least until the vampyre got up and just promptly left with a mutter of an apology. Joe rubbed his face, feeling unsure if he should follow or not. It wasnt even that what the vampyre had done had really been that scandalous but maybe it wasnt something Joe had expected waking up to. He let himself sit and wake up until Sadie called out for him. It was like ice was poured over him, especially as he realized that he was sitting there in his underwear and his cheeks flushed. “Fuck.” He muttered, reaching for his pants but if Sadie had moved around the house and gone to the room, then he had had no chance of dressing. If she was in the door, he’d frown a little, unsure of what to say but he still began dressing.

“Sadie..” he tried but he didnt even know where to begin. She didnt even have to say it because he knew. And it had been what he had been trying to avoid all this time. Hurting her once again like he had done too many times already. “It’s not that.” He said, though hiw could she believe him? It had always been about vampyres. How vile and unnatural they were. He did try to explain but her cutting him off just silenced him completely, looking at her with red eyes that were slowly welling up. She was right. She wasnt the monster. He whimpered before he sobbed quietly, but then the anger quickly took over. He got up and followed her, even though she was much faster than him. “Sadie please come back!” He called, leaving the house to follow her even if he had no idea where she had even gone. “Dammit…” he whispered to himself, rubbing his face and eyes before he continued. He didnt care if he wasnt supposed to leave the area. “Sadie!” He yelled.

He honestly hadnt known where to go, but eventually he stopped and decided to head back. Not that he even remembered that. It was by pure luck that he found his way back to the pond to see Sadie attack Cesare. He frowned and shook his head, knowing that he probably shouldnt be getting in between and yet he did. Even if she hurt him, on purpose or not, he wouldnt care. He’d still wrap his arms around her, even if she would struggle and fight him, he’d do his best to just hug her. “Dont do this Sadie. You were never the monster, I was, dad and mom too. Our whole hometown was just one big shithole!” He muttered to her, hopefully having his arms around her. “I had to push you away so you wouldnt come back. I knew you would have come back if I gave you a reason to. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He whispered, clenching his jaw, knowing he had done her wrong for good this time.

“They wouldnt have let us both go. You know that too.” He shook his head, crying now too as he remembered it clearly. He had wanted to go. But the fear of what could have ever happened at one bad moment where they didnt pay attention had kept him from it. Staying behind he could make sure that they would let her be alone and shunned. He just held her tight, feeling the tears stream down his face, but he didnt really care right now. Right now he had his focus elsewhere. Feeling her arms wrap around him too, he wasnt even sure if he could squeeze her any tighter but it felt good. Her whisper was soothing but he could never not believe that. Even less now that he had hurt her. “I love you too Sadie.” He muttered, feeling quite overwhelmed to say much else. But somehow he knew this wasnt over. He had to make things right. “I love you.” he reminded himself, kissing her hair before letting go. Then he turned to Cesare. He wasnt sure if the elder vampyre wanted his sires to be around for this. But would either matter? “We’re done. Everything. All of it.”

Joe didnt feel good about it. He was breaking his own heart too when he said it. But this was about his sister. He couldnt afford to be selfish, not when she had been through so much already. He watched the sires leave with Cesare before he looked to Sadie, her hand feeling so cold but he didnt really mind it this time around. “I do. I do have an extra room, it just needs to be cleaned out with all the stuff I got from back home.” He said, giving her hand a soft squeeze. This had to be the right decision? But why did he feel so empty then? He felt some stray tears roll down his cheeks but just wiped them off and urged for them to go.

At his home, everything was as he had left it. The tea cups had dried up which would be a hassle to clean. And half the food did he have to throw out. He eventually opened the door to the room, revealing boxes and all kind of mess. “Uh. I guess we can start by throwing everything out that isnt in a box.” He said. Once that was done, he grabbed the first box and opened it. It was filled with family pictures of all kinds.

“Oh no.” He chuckled as she showed him the picture, looking at it. “I really did look good huh. It was almost a shame that I ended up in that fight that ruined it.” He remarked, shaking his head. When he got in fights as a kid it wasnt that severe as now when he was an adult. They mostly just threw each other around and hit with loose wrists. It had mostly been for good fun.
She found another picture and he scoffed as he looked at it. “I’m so glad you didnt.” He remarked with a small frown but a smile on his face. “From what I know, did a lady show up at his house with a baby on her arm. And it was his wife that answered the door.” He said, before he looked at the picture again. The mutter made him look at her with a saddened look in his eyes. He reached out and grabbed her hand. “I’m glad you didnt marry him.” He said, before he switched page in the album he was looking in. He chuckled a little as he spotted one picture. “Okay, this one is the best.” he said, taking it out. It was them dressed up in whatever they had found, but what really mattered was the small tent they had made by tying a sheet to a hook in the ceiling. “We read stories in the tent and ate apple slices. I think mom and dad was out all night.” He said, not remembering exactly but it was a fond picture. It had been such a hassle to set up a way for the camera to go off with the both of them in the picture. Their parents had thought they had invited someone over. He got up and moved over to the fridge, placing the picture on it with a magnet in the corner to keep it up. “There.”

The reminder made him frown as if she had accused him of doing it on purpose. “I dropped my apple. I told you that!” He argued but frankly had there been no complaints from the young Benjamin who had then had to lick his hand clean. Their mother had been angry the next day but it had turned out alright in the end. Funny how the bare minimum of not being hurt was seen as something fond.
Her question made him shrug a little as he had to be honest. “I feel like I wouldnt wanted to have you be like when we were kids still. I’ve changed too.” He just said, though her changes were more obvious, that didnt mean that they were both so different from when they had been kids. “Also I should be the one apologizing after… what I did… with uhm… Cesare.” He added, though he was brushing a little quickly over the last bit. “I really liked when you started coming around for tea. So dont worry about me, alright?”

He rolled his eyes as she called him her little brother. She looked younger than him now. It was odd how that worked. The mention of tea made him scoff. “You’ll never hear those words come from my mouth. I love tea.” He argued even if there hadnt been a worse taste in the world than that dirty warm lead water. It was just as bad as coffee to him. And yet he would drink it just for her. Even if she knew he hated it.
Once the room was cleared out, it seemed much bigger than he had expected. “Yeah, that would be a good idea.” He hummed, looking around, until she mentioned getting a job. “Oh, dont sweat it. If I ever dont make it, then all the money is stuffed in the mattress.” He flat out said before he began laughing a little at the notion. It was something their grandma had done as well. Stuffing money in odd places in case she didnt make it. He remembered cleaning out her place and finding a bag of money in the back of the toilet.
“I should work tonight. If I plan on getting money this month.” He said, grabbing his phone to look for his boss’ number. “Should we go couch slash bed hunting before that? See what else we can find?”

He chuckled at her push, though it felt good. It couldnt quite soothe the ache he was pushing away, but that was pushed away for now. He hummed softly as she didnt want to go find furniture. It made sense to get a job first and foremost. “There’s a diner not far from here. It’s kinda busy too so you’ll have lots of hours I think.” He said with a shrug. He didnt mind being hugged, wrapping an arm around her. It was a good plan that she laid out. But he acted a little offended as she called him skinny. “I’ve worked really hard for all these muscles. It’s called being lean, not skinny!” He argued, showing off his abs. But she was right, he hadnt had his breakfast and he hadnt gotten to do his workout. “I’ll eat.” He assured her, though he would have to go shop.

His shifts were quite consistent. He stuck to calm bars for easy hours. His boss had no problem with that but he knew that soon any day could there be a spot at some big club that would need him because no one else wanted it. However, tonight was different. He had decided to invite Joanna out for a drink. And a walk. The walk first foremost. Then the drinks.

He merely just needed a distraction. To not be left alone with the sinking feeling in his stomach. He was stubborn enough to try and fight it. So now he was being selfish, just to get anything that could push the vampyre out of his mind. “Uhh. It’s a complicated story.” He chuckled, shrugging lightly as he wasnt sure he could sum it up in one walk. “But dont worry about it. It’s just sometimes a part of the job I guess.” He remarked, to let her know that it had been serious but wasnt an issue anymore. That stung to admit.
“Appreciate it. But honestly, you just caught me by surprise, was all.” He said, sending her a small smile. “If I havent scared you off with my scary work incident, then you’re more than free to ask.” He said and if she didnt know what he meant by that, then he’d chuckle softly. “A kiss” though he said it lightheartedly enough for her to treat it like a joke if she didnt like it.