Archive of Our Own ^beta

Hinata Shouyou, his new roommate, was a vampire. Atsumu found out by handing his credit card to the cashier, as the smell of fresh sausages infused his heart with joy and light and universal peace and...

"What the fuck?" he blurted out, and the cashier flinched because of his sudden and abrupt tone. ''And you're telling me this now?''

Oikawa's laughter echoed through the line like an off-key siren. Atsumu wanted to smash his face. ''Don't tell me you're afraid.''

''Why don't ya stick a ladle up yer ass?''

"Oh, that sounds nice. Thanks for the ide-''

Atsumu ended the call. He picked up the card again, grabbed the wrap with his glorious dinner and smiled at the cashier, who replied by arching her eyebrows in an expression of pure disgust. 

Atsumu wasn’t afraid. Atsumu wasn't afraid of anything, except cats. It would've been fairer if he had received that information a few days in advance though, and not two hours before his arrival. He would've prepared himself, stocked up on garlic, bought a padded choker, made a list of vampire weaknesses. Just as a precaution, of course. Just because in those uncertain situations he preferred to be far-sighted, not because he was afraid. After all, Atsumu was a werewolf. 

A damn charming one, to be precise, with light-colored eyes and dark lashes and a straight nose and broad shoulders and a jawline that could slice steel as if it were ham. 

And if vampires were monsters provided with sharp fangs, wolves were known to possess equally lethal claws.

Atsumu was a fierce mythological creature carved in marble by mermaids, protected by the milky light of the moon, consequently he didn't fear the presence of a vampire under his own roof, he wasn't afraid of ending up with a pair of teeth planted in his carotid, he wasn't frightened by the prospect of ending up dried like a plum deprived of blood and all his vital fluid.

When the doorbell rang, a couple of hours later, Atsumu swaggered towards the door with an arrogant look, his chin high and his chest out: it was better to make things clear right away. The first impression was fundamental, it was in that instant that Atsumu had to make the other understand that he would not be the one to fear that new atypical partnership, he would not be the horrified and trembling bunny, he would be the confident lyon with his sausages and his television. 

However, when he opened the front door to terrify welcome his new roommate, Hinata Shouyou smiled at him into the night revealing teeth gleaming fearlessly and mischievously under the dim light of the street lamps, hair as red as the blood he drank curving softly around his face, and large, warm eyes in which the entire firmament was reflected. 

Atsumu wondered if vampires were always so extra. 

Then he gasped, he blabbed a few words, or insults, or maybe a marriage proposal, and slammed the door in his face. 

''Holy shit,'' he hissed, his back pressed against the door and his heart pounding like crazy. Holy fucking shit. Hinata Shouyou was a fucking vision.

*

''How many people have you killed?'' he asked him a few minutes later, stuffing a delicious and glorious piece of raw sausage into his mouth. Just, you know, out of curiosity. Typical things to talk about over dinner.

Shouyou gave him a confused look. ''You mean in the last week?''

''No, I mean... Never mind. How old are you?''

''Technically one hundred and twenty-seven,'' Shouyou replied with a smile as sweet as honey and as deadly as arsenic, sipping a glass of blood that smelled metallic. ''My body is twenty-five, though.''

''Cool,'' Atsumu said, wondering how the hell he was going to conquer a vampire with over a hundred years of experience without getting himself killed. ''Cool.''

''How about you? How old are you?''

''Twenty-six.''

''Cool,'' Shouyou replied, the tone of his voice suddenly an octave lower. Then he sewed his gaze to his own and tilted the back of his head. The corner of his mouth was stained red, freckles glistening as if his entire face was a stellar map. ''I love the blood of those your age.''

Shouyou licked his lips, and Atsumu's sanity floated away like a slippery soap bubble. Suddenly, the idea of letting a pair of fangs pierce his throat didn't seem so terrifying anymore. If he had been able to cum before bleeding to death, it might have been worth it.

''But now I'm vegan,'' Shouyou added shrugging, and the voluptuous tension in the air vanished, blown away by his innocent expression. 

''So don't worry, I don't kill anymore. I directly steal blood bags from transfusion centers. Not too many, though. The bare minimum.'' 

''And there's no danger of relapse?''

''Well, it's unlikely. I'm super stubborn, and if I say something then I usually do it. However, I advise you to be careful Atsumu-san.''

A shiver ran down his spine, because being called 'Atsumu-san' by a vampire who was sipping a cup of blood and casting lascivious glances at him in the night was way too exciting. Atsumu grinned, a little terrified, a little smug, and Shouyou in turn uncovered his pointed teeth in a smile that took his own by the hand.

''I've always wanted to taste a werewolf.''

Atsumu closed his room’s door with his heart racing. He let the silence linger for a few minutes, then tightened his fingers around the key and locked himself in. Caution was never enough. 

Atsumu I'm Not Afraid Of Anything Miya, took off his sweaty shirt and slipped under the sheets. The next day he would absolutely have to buy tons of garlic at the combini around the corner and stick it everywhere, even under his pillow. The look Shouyou had given him at the end of the night hadn’t pleased him at all. He hadn't looked at him the way you look at someone you want to fuck, he'd looked at him the way Atsumu looks at the steaks displayed on the butcher's counter.

*

''Atsumu-san!''

Atsumu opened one eye and then closed it, the fog of oblivion hooked firmly into his consciousness. 

''Atsumu-san!''

Atsumu opened his eye again, forcing his pupil to focus on Shouyou's pale face that stood a few centimeters from his own, his cheeks full, his mouth tiny and a little chapped, his irises as warm as the midday sun. A delicate smell of orange wafted through the air. 

Yep, he definitely could've gotten used to that kind of awakening. He could have gotten used to hearing the voice whisper his name,  to staring at the tiny ears framed by the soft curls. Of course he'd done great with his new roommate. Except for the fact that he was a vampire. 

Atsumu's eyes widened, struck by the sudden realization. The roommate was a vampire who was now vegan, fine, but who had killed hundreds of people to feed himself over the course of his one hundred and twenty-seven years of life in a body of twenty-five. The new roommate, gifted with breathtaking beauty, was a killer on the loose who had managed to get into his room despite Atsumu having locked it the night before. 

''AAAAH!!!'' he shouted, leaping backwards and rolling off the bed with a thud. 

''Atsumu-san, I don't want to harm you! It’s Oikawa-san!'' Shouyou hurriedly explained, handing him the phone.

Atsumu stared at the phone in pure disgust as if it were a plate of salad, then looked at Shouyou, which seemed genuinely mortified. Oikawa's laughter echoed in the silence of the room, and then Atsumu regained awareness of reality.

''What the fuck do ya want?''

''I called you, but you didn’t answer. I just wanted to know how the first night went.''

''That's cute, were ya worried?''

''I was just hoping that Shouyou-chan had finally killed you. Whatever, I'll wait a few more days-''

Atsumu swore and ended the call. Then he handed the phone back to Shouyou, who was staring at him hungrily.

In that instant, he realized he was in his underwear. And Shouyou's irises slid eagerly all over his skin as if he were licking it, as if it were made of chocolate and ice cream. 

Atsumu stiffened, contracted his abdomen, let a shiver run down his back, sensitive to the lasciviousness that permeated the air, to the desire, to the sudden urge to kiss and then to bite and then to feel the other moan inside his throat.

Shouyou, however, inhaled deeply and walked out of his room.

''I'm sorry!'' Shouyou told him as soon as Atsumu joined him in the kitchen. "I'm sorry for entering your room without permission, but Oikawa-san thought I’d eaten you since you didn't answer!''

''Don't worry about it,'' Atsumu replied, minimizing it with his hand. ''But how did you get in? It was locked.''

''Watch this,'' Shouyou answered, before crumbling like burnt paper and vanishing right in front of his eyes. 

''What the fu-''

''Guwa!'' a voice suddenly exclaimed behind him. Atsumu squawked and jumped, turning around fiercely.

''Don't do that ever again,'' he hissed. 

Shouyou, laughing, promised and drew a cross over his heart. Atsumu wondered how reliable a vampire's oath was. 

''Atsumu-san,'' he said. ''Look, I'm not going to hurt you. Besides, I haven't killed anyone in four days!''

''How impressive.''

Then Shouyou brought his index to his lips, thoughtful. ''Well, not from hunger, at least.''

Atsumu arched his eyebrows, but didn’t insist. He wasn't too sure if Shouyou was joking, and he had to admit he wasn't all that eager to know the truth. 

''Cool. Ya want some breakfast?

''No, thanks. I drank some blood yesterday, so I'll be fine for a few days. I'll keep you company, though, if that's okay!''

Atsumu nodded. He opened the fridge, wrinkled his nose as soon as he saw the bags of blood in the top shelf, then pulled out four remaining sausages and slammed them on a plate uncooked. Finally, before sitting down at the table, he walked over to the window. 

''No,'' Shouyou exclaimed. ''Wait a mom-''

Atsumu opened it wide, as usual. In the mornings, he hated eating under artificial lighting, because it made him feel exhausted and depressed before the actual day had even started. 

The ten o'clock light flooded the kitchen like an overflowing river. Atsumu smiled, kissed by the sun's golden rays.

And Shouyou was on fire.

*

''Bloody hell, this was definitely a hot awakening!''

''Fuck,'' Atsumu hissed, his pupils dilated with terror. ''Fuck, fuck, fuck, ya should've told me before!''

''I'm sorry!'' Shouyou exclaimed not on fire anymore, trying hard to suppress a smile. It's just that Atsumu-san was so cute. ''But I thought you knew! I mean, everyone knows that sunlight is deadly for vampires.''

Atsumu sighed heavily, before falling back into his chair. ''Is there anything else I should know to avoid killing you by accident?''

''Um, don't buy garlic and don't impale me through my heart.''

''Thanks for the suggestion, Shouyou-kun,'' Atsumu replied, going back to his sausages. Now, the window was half-open. A beam of daylight benevolently illuminated Atsumu's profile and half of the kitchen, while Shouyou, sitting in front of him in the shelter of the shaded half of the room, swung his feet under the table.

''I'm going to sleep,'' Shouyou exclaimed with a smile, after Atsumu had swallowed the last piece of sausage.

''Now?''

''Vampires are nocturnal creatures. But I'm trying to get used to human routine, so maybe I'll wake up for lunch!''

''Oh,'' replied Atsumu. ''Cool. So, uhm, good night?''

''Thank you, Atsumu-san!''

As soon as he locked himself in his room, Shouyou grabbed his notebook and a pen, and slipped into the mahogany coffin.

Date him, he wrote, lying on his stomach. Pros and cons. 

Then he turned the page. 

Eat him, he wrote. Pros and cons. 

He nibbled nervously on the pen cap, frowning. 

Atsumu did, in fact, possess an exquisite flavour. Shouyou had sensed it from the very first moment, thanks to the smell of his skin. Blood type zero positive, his favorite, thirst quenching and not overly sweet aftertaste. 

The blood bags allowed him to feed himself without being forced to kill, of course, but sinking his canines into a vein pulsing with life, with the hot, thick blood exploding beneath his palate, was pure ecstasy, a pleasure incomparable to mere survival. And Atsumu wasn't just fresh meat, Atsumu was a wedding feast. 

However, if he had devoured him, Atsumu would have died. And Shouyou thought he was way too handsome and attractive for that. Ending his existence would’ve been a waste. But it would also have been a waste not to take advantage of that delicious treat, and after one hundred and twenty-seven years of experience, Shouyou knew very well what true delicacies were. 

He sighed in frustration, drumming his fingers on the coffin wood. Then he curled up on his side and closed his eyes, his notebook clutched to his chest. Maybe the day would bring him advice.

Shouyou awoke at nine o'clock in the evening. Uncovering his teeth in a yawn, he moved the lid of the coffin and walked out of his room. He found Atsumu snuggled into the small sofa in the living room. 

''Hi,'' Shouyou said, sitting next to him.  

''Hey,'' Atsumu replied, looking up from his phone. 

Shouyou watched him more carefully. There was something strange about his face. His eyes appeared more defined, almost sparkling, and his cheeks were bright. 

''Atsumu-san, why are you glowing?''

Atsumu flushed. ''What?''

''Why are you glowing?'' Shouyou repeated, articulating the words better. ''Your face is shining.''

''Maybe it's because of the photo shoot from earlier. They used makeup on me for some close-ups.''

Then he started to rub his cheekbone, but Shouyou stopped him.

''Don't take it off, you look super good. What kind of photo shoot?

''It was for a perfume, even though I usually work with clothing brands.''

''So you're a model?''

''Well, yeah. Didn't I tell ya?''

''You didn’t!'' Shouyou exclaimed, widening his eyes in admiration. He had never tasted the blood of a model who was a werewolf too! What a magnificent combination! ''Can you show me some photos?''

Atsumu, smugly, showed him from his phone some particularly good shots. Shouyou, however, was stunned by the smell of his skin, as if aphrodisiacs had been sprayed into his nose. And bloody hell, his high and wonderful neck, with Adam's apple in full view, was just a few centimeters from his lips. He would only have to tilt his head to taste the tender skin with his tongue, before uncovering his sharp teeth and sinking them into his carotid and sucking all his blood away and...

''Shouyou-kun,'' Atsumu called him. ''Are you listening to me?''

''No,'' he answered, because he was a sincere vampire. ''It's just that you smell too good. And I want...''

To taste you. To bite you. To make popsicles with your blood. To tear you apart without even leaving a single bone. 

''To play Mario Kart,'' he finally said, because he was a sincere vampire but not too much. 

Atsumu seemed relieved. ''Oh, sure, let’s play. But I take Peach.''

*

''Shouyou-kun, are you dating someone?'' Atsumu asked him during breakfast, feigning a carelessness that he did not, in fact, feel. 

Shouyou, sitting in the shaded half of the kitchen, shook his head. ''Nope, I'm not dating anyone. You know, I don't like relationships too much.''

Atsumu's enthusiasm sagged like a deflated balloon. Going to the cinema together, holding his hand, clutching his cold body during the summer, fucking him on the kitchen table (and on the couch, and on the small balcony, and against every wall), were all hopes that slipped away like jellyfish. 

''Why?''

''Well, because the first person I was with turned me into a vampire. So I'm still a little... distrustful.''

''Oh,'' Atsumu said. But I'm a werewolf.

''But that doesn't mean that I won’t date someone I really like,'' Shouyou added. Then he smiled with complicity and winked at him. 

Atsumu barked. 

''Sorry,'' he quickly added, his ears blushing. ''It just slipped out.''

*

''Shouyou-kun!''

Shouyou mumbled something indistinct in the coffin. 

''Shouyou-kun!''

Shouyou didn't want to wake up, he was having such a splendid dream. He was immersed in a pool of blood with corpses floating around him like rubber ducks. Someone was still moving, prey to the last spasms of life as blood gushed out in spurts from the two holes in the neck.

''Shouyou-kun!''

The dream slipped from his hands, and then he recognized Atsumu's voice calling him insistently from the door. 

''What is it?'' he mumbled, his tongue clogged. Bloody hell, it was way too early for a conversation. 

''I have to tell ya somethin' important. There’s gonna be a full moon tonigh. So I...''

Blooood. Agonizing screams. Food. 

''...get out of your room. Are ya listenin' to me?''

''Sure,'' Shouyou replied, who actually wasn't listening at all. 

'''Okay. I really don't want to wake up with yer corpse next to me.''

''I'm immortal,'' he wanted to specify. But sleep took over his mind and the sentence withered in his throat. 

When he woke up, it was after ten in the evening. He lifted his arms to stretch and walked out of the room. The hallway was pitch black.

''Atsumu-san?'' Shouyou called, perplexed. 

No one answered. 

Maybe he's out, he thought, shrugging. He headed for the kitchen, determined to enjoy a glass of blood because he was feeling weak and sluggish. 

Suddenly, he heard an irregular ticking. Shouyou turned on the light - because yes, he was an immortal vampire, but the darkness scared him anyway - and exclaimed in surprise.

Curled up on the small couch there was a husky, staring at him with wide eyes. He was wagging his tail, and the tail flapping against the pillow made the sound of a broken clock. 

It was love at first sight.

''Hi sweetheart,'' Shouyou said softly, crouching down next to him. He reached out his hand, and the dog rubbed his wet nose against his palm. Shouyou began scratching him behind his fluffy ears and under his chin, and the other squinted in a blissful expression. Then he whined and rolled over on the couch, showing his belly.

''Bloody hell,'' Shouyou whispered, totally gone. ''You’re the most beautiful dog in the world.''

The dog barked, as if he agreed.

''You’re such a good boy.''

But why is there a dog in the apartment?, he thought suddenly. 

Continuing to cuddle him, he picked up his phone and called Atsumu. The sound of a vibration echoed through the room, and Shouyou saw his phone light up on the kitchen table. Atsumu had forgotten it at home. 

''I wonder where he went,'' he said aloud. 

As he continued to pet the dog, he noticed that his expressive eyes were the same light color as Atsumu's. At that moment, reminiscences of what he thought was a dream flashed through his mind.

He remembered Atsumu knocking on his door, reiterating something that seemed important, but that Shouyou was too sleepy to hear. Then he went to the window, and the dog jumped off the sofa with an excited paw.

The full moon shone in the sky, shrouding the streets in a milky, almost dreamy light. The dog, looking at her, howled solemnly.

''Wait a moment,'' Shouyou said again. ''But you are Atsumu-san.''

Atsumu barked, wagging his tail in delight at being recognized.

Shouyou discovered that Atsumu, or at least the dog inside him, was a professional cuddler. He licked his hands and followed him everywhere, like a faithful bodyguard. Shouyou, as a reward, chopped a couple of raw sausages for him, and while Atsumu licked off the crumbs from the plate, Shouyou sipped a glass of blood enjoying the tranquility of the night. Then he sat down on the couch and turned on the television. Atsumu barked, and with a bounce he curled up next to him, resting his little snout on his lap. 

Shouyou changed channels until he found a horror movie. He was a sucker for that genre, especially when vampires were involved. He laughed out loud when the main character had his eyes gouged out with a hook, and when they tore him to pieces with a chainsaw at the end. 

Atsumu-dog, meanwhile, continued to wag his tail and lick his palm from time to time, to show appreciation. 

Three films later, Atsumu transformed back into a human. His body trembled, stretching and emitting sinister snaps, his fur retracted and his fluffy ears vanished. Shouyou found himself stroking his silky hair.

Atsumu mumbled something without waking up, his cheek pressed against his thigh. 

Shouyou inhaled. He inhaled his scent, the scent of his not overly sweet blood, he sewed his lascivious eyes onto the thin skin of his exposed neck. Atsumu, at that moment, was extremely vulnerable. Shouyou could have pierced his carotid artery and sucked him off like a popsicle without him even realizing it. But then, instead of Atsumu, Shouyou would be left with an empty shell, an exuvia of dry skin, and he’d surely be sad, despite having his stomach full. 

So he closed his eyes, held his breath, and got up from the couch. He left Atsumu huddled between the pillows, then he picked up a blanket and threw it over him. He smiled when he heard him whisper a sort of howl, and tiptoed back to his coffin.

*

Atsumu woke up because of the ringing phone. 

''Samu,'' he mumbled groggily, his tongue slurred from the full moon hangover.

''Oh,'' the other replied, almost disappointed. ''You're still alive.''

''Fuck you, 'Samu.''

''Maybe ya suck so bad that not even a vampire wants to suck ya.''

Atsumu hung up. 

He looked around, his mind so foggy he felt like he was floating in cotton candy. 

''Guwa!'' 

''AAAH!''

Atsumu jumped in fright, then turned abruptly to find Shouyou standing in front of him, laughing with curls framing his ears. 

''Fuck you too, Shouyou-kun!'' Atsumu blurted. 

''Sorry, sorry, it's just too funny,'' he replied, before giving him a glance as shiny as a magpie's one. ''You know, yesterday you didn't stop wagging your tail,'' he added.

Atsumu gasped. ''I told ya to stay in the room! I could've hurt ya!''

''Hurt me? Atsumu-san, as a dog you're adorable.''

''First of all, I’m always adorable. And then wait, as a dog?! I'm a wolf! A very fierce and undomesticated one!''

''You looked more like a husky.''

''A Husky?!''

''Yeah, a husky. And I also found out that you're a big cuddler. And that you like belly rubs. Do you want to know what else I discovered?'' he added, winking mischievously. 

Shouyou moved closer. Atsumu sensed his scent, saw his eyelashes flickering a few millimeters from his own, and he wondered if he was still dreaming. 

Then Shouyou lifted a hand and opened it. On his palm, there was a rubber ball. 

''Catch it!'' he exclaimed, and threw the ball into the hallway. 

Atsumu barked and ran like crazy in pursuit of the ball.

*

''You’re a disgrace,'' Atsumu whispered, with his nose pressed against the window. ''You're the ugliest thing on the planet. I'd like to gouge out yer eyes and then play pinball with 'em. Break yer legs one by one. Throw you like a frisbee in the middle of the sea and watch ya drown. I hate ya. I hate ya so much.'' 

''Atsumu-san, who are you talking to?'' 

''Becky,'' he answered. 

''Becky?''

''Becky.''

Shouyou, curious, went next to him since the sun had already set. ''Who’s Becky?''

''The embodiment of Evil,'' Atsumu growled, before pressing his index on the window.

Shouyou squinted, and saw a Persian cat curled up on himself, lazily flicking his tail.

''That thing is Becky. The neighbor's cat.''

*

The phone screen lit up, and Atsumu clicked his tongue in annoyance when he saw that it was a message from Osamu. 

Send me a picture of him, he said.  

Atsumu, because he felt magnanimous enough to please him that day, opened his camera and pointed it at Shouyou, who was sitting cross-legged on the couch playing Animal Crossing. When he took the shot, however, only the couch and the crumpled blanket appeared on the screen, with no Shouyou on it. 

''What the fuck,'' Atsumu hissed, trying again. 

Nothing, it wasn't working. It was as if Shouyou was invisible, as if he didn't exist. The camera couldn't portray him.  

''Shouyou-kun,'' Atsumu called him, sinking down on the couch next to him. ''Why can't I take a picture of you?''

''Vampires don't appear in photos. Vampires can't even see their own reflection in the mirror. In fact, I don't know what I look like.''

''You don't know what you look like?''

''Nope,'' Shouyou replied, smiling. ''I mean, I have a portrait of myself, so I have a rough idea. But I've never seen myself with my own eyes.''

''But weren’t you human before?''

''Yeah, but I don't remember anything from that time.''

''Oh.''

Atsumu sewed his eyes on his cheeks, on his thin mouth, on his pointed nose, and on his tiny ears, half-hidden by his hair. 

''You look beautiful,'' he said, without thinking. 

Shouyou stretched his lips into a smile as soft as a sunflower, paused the game and turned to look at him.

''Thank you, Atsumu-san. You look beautiful too.''

Then he placed the controller on the floor and approached him. Atsumu saw his teeth glistening mischievously in the light of the lamp, his auburn lashes so close he could have licked them. He wanted to serenade Shouyou just as he serenaded the moon. And when he felt his breath mingle with his, when he was about to kiss him, his phone started to ring.

''Tsumu.''

''Samu,'' Atsumu hissed, trying not to cry. ''Samu, for fuck's sake, I swear I'll bite yer fingers off and then I’ll stick them in the onigiri like candles before serving them to yer fuckin' customers.''

''Did I interrupt something?''

''Shoot yourself in the mouth. What do ya want?''

''Send me a picture of him. I’m curious.''

''I can't, he's a vampire. Let's just say he’s not particularly photogenic.''

''Then I'm coming for dinner.''

''When?''

''Now. Today is my day off.''

''No.''

''See ya.''

''No. Don’t ya dare. No. Samu? SAMU!''

''Fucking asshole,'' Atsumu growled, staring hatefully at his phone.

Shouyou, too far away for his liking again, arched his eyebrows. ''What happened?''

''My brother's coming for dinner. Do you mind?''

''Are you kidding? I want to meet him! Is he a werewolf too?''

''No, he's a chef.''

''Bloody hell!'' Shouyou exclaimed, in delight. ''Can I eat him?''

''You can do anything you want,'' Atsumu told him, his heart soaked in adoration.

Atsumu would never have believed that one night he would find himself having dinner with his brother and a vampire. And he would never have believed that one night he would envy him, because it was pretty obvious that Shouyou was crazy about Osamu and vice versa.

Osamu told him how he'd opened the restaurant, what he had learned during the cooking class, he talked about Kita getting him rice and about the days he spent experimenting with different recipes until he found the perfect one. 

And Shouyou was a chirpy, excited sparrow which listened to him carefully, and Osamu's eyes sparkled and he had a smug grin on his face that Atsumu would have loved to blow away with a well-placed jab.

Osamu showed Shouyou pictures of the opening ceremony, of the kitchen, of the professional set of knives he used to slice the fish, of Kita’s farm and of his rice fields. 

Atsumu swallowed the sausages without even bothering to chew them, glaring at the closeness between the two as it became thinner and thinner.

''Can you stop growling?'' his brother asked at one point, with a scowl on his face. 

''I'm not growling,'' Atsumu replied, growling. 

Shouyou clung to Osamu’s sleeve. ''Can I come visit you one night? Even though I won't be eating anything?''

''Whenever you want, Shouyou-kun,'' Osamu smiled. 

Atsumu whined, feeling defeated. 

Before leaving, Osamu managed to get Shouyou’s phone number. 

At that point, Atsumu locked himself in his room with his tail between his legs and threw himself on the bed, depressed.

*

The discouragement vanished the next day, blown away as if it had never existed. Atsumu was never going to let his brother defeat him, so he brushed his teeth, dyed his hair, put on his favorite lucky shirt, and waited for Shouyou to wake up. That night, Atsumu would do things right. He was going to be honest and straightforward, he was going to kiss him and make him scream his name so many times that he would force Shouyou to forget his own. He would’ve given him the most phenomenal fuck of his one hundred and twenty-seven years of life. Then they would curl up on the couch, and Atsumu would kiss his hair and ears while they watched a horror movie where people were crucified alive and vampires conquered the world.

After all, even though they were a werewolf and a vampire, even though one lived during the day and the other during the night, even though the electricity bills were fraying him, Atsumu was more than certain that they’d find a way to work things out. 

So he waited playing Playstation, nibbling minced meatballs, insulting Becky.

When he finally heard the sound of Shouyou's door, Atsumu jumped and ran towards the corridor. 

''Shouyou-kun,'' he exclaimed, his courage swelling in his chest and his heart pounding in agitation. ''I...''

''Atsumu-san!" Shouyou interrupted him with wide eyes, an apprehensive tone of voice, and an expression that exuded panic. Atsumu had never seen him so agitated. ''Please please please, can you help me with my hair?''

The confession plan was doomed from the start, at least for that night. Atsumu found out that his filthy bastard brother didn’t take Shouyou's number just to annoy him, but to offer him a job at the restaurant as a waiter.

''You know, it's very difficult for me to find a job,'' Shouyou said, his eyes glistening with gratitude. ''Because of the sunlight. It’s kind of hard to explain to people why I can’t work during the day. But Osamu-san already knows everything, so he knows that I can only work in the evening, when the sun has set. And I really will be forever grateful to him. I hate stealing money, and being a parasite without helping you in any way was depressing, especially after the electricity bills and…''

''Shouyou-kun,'' Atsumu interrupted him, as he combed his hair back. ''You're not a parasite. And ya don't have to do it if you don't wanna.''

Shouyou gave him a smile that melted every bone in his body, and shook his head. ''I like to work! And Osamu-san seems a very good person!''

Atsumu clicked his tongue in annoyance, then fixed the last of his stubborn red curls with gel, behind his ear.

''I’ve finished.''

''Thank you, Atsumu-san! How do I look?''

With his forehead uncovered, the large, round shape of his eyes stood out even more. 

''You look more beautiful than the moon,'' Atsumu replied, without thinking.

Shouyou parted his lips in surprise and blushed. Atsumu wanted to die.

Then Shouyou went to the door, and he followed him like the dog he was. 

''I'm gonna go, then!'' Shouyou exclaimed, slipping on his jacket. 

''Have fun, Shouyou-kun. Try not to kill any customers.''

Shouyou smiled, then cupped his face in his hands, stood up on tiptoe and pressed a kiss on the corner of his mouth. 

Atsumu stood dumbfounded with his gaze focused on the door that had just closed, the confession still stuck in his throat. 

*

When Shouyou came back home, he was exhausted, but satisfied. Osamu was placid and helpful, and working with him was super fun. Plus, when he didn't have to suck the life out of them, Shouyou loved the company of humans.

He inserted the key and turned it gently, to avoid waking Atsumu since it was after three o'clock.

As soon as he stepped into the apartment, however, Shouyou was literally overwhelmed. 

''Shouyou kun!'' Atsumu exclaimed in his ear, lifting him off the ground.

''Atsumu-san!'' Shouyou replied, instinctively returning the hug, although he was confused by all of that unexpected enthusiasm.

With his face pressed against his chest (but was it legal, such a large chest?!), he could only inspire the smell of his skin. He pondered for a few moments the possibility of sticking his teeth into his neck and drinking all of his blood, but then the image of Atsumu dead caused him again a wave of unbearable sadness. 

''Why are you so happy?'' he asked laughing, while Atsumu kept rubbing his face against his hair. Although he was without his tail, Shouyou could almost see him wagging in the dark, intoxicated with joy. 

''Because you came home!'' Atsumu explained, practically ecstatic.

Then, as if he had realized his own words, Atsumu immediately let go of him and stepped back. Shouyou took the opportunity to close the door behind him, and turn on the light. 

''I mean,'' Atsumu babbled, his eyes soaked with embarrassment. ''I'm glad you're okay, that’s it. I mean, I’m happy that you came home from work alive and...''

Then he brought a hand to his face and sighed in pain. ''What the fuck am I even saying?''

''Oh!'' Shouyou exclaimed, struck by a sudden awareness. ''Atsumu-san, did you just jump all over me like dogs do when their owners come back home?''

''I... shit,'' he hissed. ''It's stronger than me. I can’t control it, it's practically instinct. I'm sorry.''

''Don't apologize. That's very sweet. I could get used to this.''

Then Shouyou touched his cheekbone. Atsumu closed his eyes and rubbed it against his palm. The air became electric, saturated with excitement and desire, because it was three in the fucking morning and no one, no one, could interrupt them. Shouyou thought about his mouth, about the sweet-salty taste of his sweat and skin. He imagined unbuttoning his shirt that wrapped him up perfectly, licking his ears and his brawny arms and then his abdomen and...

Atsumu parted his mouth, and stuck his thumb in it. 

As soon as he felt his warm tongue on his icy fingertip, Shouyou lost control. He pounced on him, rubbed his nose against his collarbone, inhaled deeply the rushing smell of the sea but as sweet as cherries, and finally, finally, he sunk his teeth into the curve of his neck. 

''I'm sorry!" Shouyou said, pressing the gauze on his skin, from which blood was still spurting. ''We have to... we have to go to the hospital.''

''No,'' Atsumu mumbled. ''I'm a werewolf. I heal faster than normal humans. Otherwise, no offense, I'd be dead by now.''

''I'm sorry,'' Shouyou kept repeating. ''I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, so, so sorry...''

''Shouyou-kun,'' Atsumu interrupted him in a firm tone. ''It's okay. Besides, the important thing is that you stopped. I mean, if ya had kept sucking then it would've been a problem, but you... fuck, take another gauze!''

''We’re out of them.''

''Then take some towels! Or the tablecloths, or-''

Shouyou ran to the bathroom, and Atsumu sighed. He felt like he was floating in a bubble made of mist, a bubble that was rising and rising and rising, higher and higher, more and more unreachable. Maybe that bubble was his soul. Maybe he was going to die. Maybe he really needed to go to the hospital, after all. 

''I'm sorry,'' Shouyou told him again, pressing a soft towel on his neck. 

''If you say you’re sorry one more time, I swear I'll take ya out to the balcony and we'll wait together for the sun to rise. What the... No, Shouyou-kun, please don't cry.''

Shouyou was a river of tears, sobbing with trembling lips and a wet nose.

''No, stop it,'' Atsumu insisted. ''Please, you're... you're very ugly when you cry.''

And he really was. He was more than ugly, he was terrifying. Instead of clear and watery, his tears were thick and red. They streaked his cheeks, and the sclera of his eye had turned dark. Now he really looked like a vampire. 

''Shouyou-kun, stop it. If you keep this up, we'll both bleed to death.''

Shouyou, stubborn as usual, continued to cry profusely until the blood from Atsumu's wound clotted and stopped flowing altogether. 

''Finally,'' he murmured, getting up from his chair. He glanced at the red stained floor, sighed bitterly and with tottering steps he collapsed on the sofa. ''We’ll clean this disaster tomorrow.''

Shouyou looked at him with his big eyes wide with pain. He was so sweet. Why was he so sweet? 

''Don't make that face. How did you kill people if now you're so hurt?''

''Because you're different from the others!''

Atsumu had lost way too much blood, otherwise he would have blushed. ''It was an accident. I mean, half an accident, okay? I'm still alive.''

At least for now. 

''So don't come up with any strange ideas, like... like packing up and leaving.'' 

And then Atsumu curled up on his left side, intending to sleep for two years. 

''I don't want to wake up without you,'' he muttered, before passing out. 

When he woke up, Atsumu didn't know what time it was or how many hours had passed since he collapsed. He only had the feeling of needles stuck in his eyes, and of a stake planted into his skull. Mentally swearing against the excruciating pain, he thought of Shouyou and hoped he hadn't fled in the middle of the night. 

Despite the eyelashes stuck together, Atsumu managed to open first one eye and then the other. It was pitch black, and he couldn't see a damn thing. 

''Fuck,'' he hissed. 

''Atsumu-san?''

''Shouyou-kun, where are you?'' he whispered with relief. 

''Here.''

Atsumu felt his face touched. 

''Thank god,'' he said before taking Shouyou’s hand and sank back into sleep.

*

''I got you some presents,'' Shouyou told him with two wrapped packages. ''I hope that you’re going to forgive me.''

Atsumu, who was playing genshin impact, barked excitedly, and Shouyou handed him the thinnest one. 

''Woah!'' Atsumu exclaimed, unwrapping it and pulling out a black shirt. 

''Yeah, well, since you had to throw the other one away because of me I bought you this. Besides, you look really good in these.''

Atsumu blushed, then Shouyou handed him the second package, more compact than the first one and heavier. ''This one instead is for your dog-wolf version," he immediately corrected himself.

Atsumu unwrapped the package with curiosity. ''But they're toys!'' he exclaimed louder, jumping in uncontrollable joy. 

''Yeah, I got two new balls since you destroyed the last one, then I got a rope, a rubber chicken...''

''A rubber chicken!'' Atsumu howled even louder, grabbing the poor chicken's neck with his teeth and starting to shake it violently. Shouyou laughed.

''So, uhm, are we okay?''

Atsumu spat the chicken on the floor. ''Of course! I told ya from the beginning that I wasn't angry!''

''Okay, but...''

''Can we just play?''

Shouyou nodded, picked up the chicken and threw it into the air. Atsumu jumped, grabbed it on the fly, and obediently handed it back all smudged, with a proud look on his face.

*

''What are you doing?''

Shouyou smiled and opened one eye. ''I'm meditating. Do you want to do it too?''

Atsumu shrugged, then sat cross-legged next to him on the floor.

''Keep your back straight and breathe regularly,'' Shouyou whispered. ''Think about something nice. About a place or something that relaxes you.''

''Like the moon?''

''Yeah, the moon is perfect.''

Atsumu became quiet, and Shouyou returned to his dimension of absolute idyll, balsamic for the spirit and for his psychophysical well-being, a dimension in which the sweetish, metallic smell of blood wafted through the air, in which people screamed in agony, victims of the most varied tortures, in which physical pain constantly persisted, while shreds of flesh splashed everywhere. Shouyou finally breathed calmly, away from all the negative thoughts, gladly floating in that terrifying symphony of shivers and death. 

''Shouyou-kun,'' Atsumu asked him in a whisper. ''What are you thinking about?'' 

''Flowers, bees and world peace,'' he answered with a smile.

*

Kenma belonged to that small group of humans who had the privilege of knowing his true nature without running the risk of dying. 

''Kenma, what do you think of vampires?'' Hinata had asked him one day as he watched him catch a white shark playing Animal Crossing.

''One hundred and seventeen attack points. One hundred and ninety-one magic points. Practically infinite life points, but they’re way too weak to physical attacks. Definitely preferable to werewolves, though.''

''Good. Because I'm a vampire.''

Kenma hadn't bothered to look up from the screen. ''Cool. If you’re hungry, Kuroo's coming in ten minutes with pizzas. I'll take the pizzas.''

Shouyou adored Kenma. He didn't need to wear any masks when they were together, and watching him play made him feel normal, made him feel part of that current in which humans swarmed like ants, totally unaware of the existence of supernatural creatures like him, like Atsumu.

Speaking of Atsumu...

''Atsumu-san!'' Shouyou called him, knocking on his door. ''Kenma's coming tonight!''

He heard a low growl followed by some cursing, and finally with a thud Atsumu opened the door. 

''The video games guy?''

''Yeah, Kenma. Be nice to him, he's my best friend.'' 

''I know, but I don't like him. At all.''

''But why?''

''Because he reminds me of a cat. He reminds me of Becky. And I don't trust Becky.''

''You know, Becky is a really adorable cat. And she’s suuuper fluffy.'' 

Atsumu squinted his eyes. ''You... you touched Becky? When?''

''When I went to take out the garbage yesterday. I found her sleeping on the sidewalk.''

''Shouyou-kun, I would've suffered less if you’d killed me.''

Shouyou smiled, uncovering his canines. ''Don’t be dramatic, Atsumu-san.''

Then he stroked his cheekbone with his thumb. Atsumu, who was just as vulnerable to cuddling as Shouyou was to garlic, stopped growling and squinted, blissful. 

''Are you afraid of him?''

''I'm not afraid!'' he replied. 'It's just that... you know. Cats. I hate them.''

Shouyou uncovered his teeth in the most lascivious smile he possessed, and began massaging Atsumu’s velvety cheek, tracing little circles. ''Maybe you just want to protect your owner.''

Atsumu's ears flared. Shouyou wanted to munch on them like chips, to dip them in a glass of blood like cookies dipped in a cup of milk. 

''Let me recharge a little,'' he added as he moved closer and pressed his head against his warm chest. He remained silent listening to the steady rhythm of his heart beating, pumping blood and oxygen and life, as Atsumu stroked his hair. 

''Doesn't it bother you that I don't have a heart?''

''Of course ya have a heart.''

''No,'' Shouyou replied. ''No, I don't. Because I'm dead.''

One of the first things Shouyou had noticed about Atsumu, besides his blood type, was his body temperature. His body was perpetually warm, even when the snow was flaking, covering the sidewalks like powdered sugar. Atsumu was always hot, he often sweated, and every time Shouyou came next to him he sensed the abyssal gap between what they were. Not a vampire and a werewolf, but rather a dead man and a living one. And sometimes, when objectivity got the better of selfishness, Shouyou wondered if it was right.  

''You definitely look full of life to me,'' Atsumu stated, pointing at the two holes in his neck. 

Shouyou curved his lips, relieved. He thought that maybe, just maybe, this was a good time to kiss him without trying to kill him. But as soon as he had his arms around his back, there was a knock at the door, and Atsumu shot a murderous glance toward the entrance.

''If you're a good boy, I'll give you a treat later,'' Shouyou whispered, trying to cheer him up. 

''What kind of treat?''

But Shouyou just smiled enigmatically and hurried towards the entrance, keeping to himself the details of the small gift he had prepared for him. 

''Kenma!" he exclaimed as he opened the door and a bubbly happiness spread under his skin.

''Hi Shouyou,'' the other replied, letting himself be hugged. Then he noticed Atsumu and looked at him mockingly. 

''Oh,'' he said quietly, arching his eyebrows. ''The chihuahua is here too.''

Atsumu growled.

After four hours and thirty-seven minutes, Atsumu gained absolute certainty that Kenma was not a human being. Kenma was a mephistophelian cat who had found a way to meddle in his life and make him pay for all his sins. Kenma embodied absolute evil, Becky looked like a yorkshire terrier puppy in comparison. He tripped him four times, spilled water on him, threw the rubber chicken out of the window while Shouyou was in the bathroom, beat the shit out of him at Mario Kart, kept his arm around Shouyou's shoulders for the entire duration of the movie they saw - Atsumu was forced to sit on the floor because there wasn't enough room on the couch. 

When Kenma finally left, his eyelids ached because of all the grim, angry looks he'd been throwing.

''He threw my rubber chicken out of the window!'' Atsumu complained, his eyes glossy. Shouyou laughed.

''He would never do that. Did you see under the couch-''

''Shouyou-kun, he threw it out the window! I swear! He's wicked!''

''I highly doubt it, Atsumu-san. But don't worry, I'll buy you another one! Twice as big.''

Atsumu whined, depressed.  

''And now it's time for the treat. Did you forget?''

Atsumu barked, excited again. 

''Close your eyes.''

Atsumu obeyed, like a good wolf. He's going to kiss me, he thought excitedly. 

But Shouyou didn't. On the contrary, Atsumu heard the sound of his footsteps moving away to get something, and then he returned in front of him. 

''You can open them now.''

When Atsumu realized what was inside the box that Shouyou held in his hands, he started howling with unbridled excitement that was spilling out of every inch of his skin.

''Vanilla dog treats!'' he exclaimed. Atsumu loved vanilla dog treats, especially the bone-shaped ones. They were as tasty as chocolate ice cream, but at least they didn't destroy his stomach. 

He tore apart the box, sending strips of cardboard flying everywhere like a cloud of confetti, and voraciously stuffed one into his mouth.

''Fuck,'' he muttered ecstatically, as the flavor exploded beneath his palate. ''Fuuuuck.''

What a mix of delicious flavors, a whirlwind of superfine taste, he had fireworks glistening behind his eyelids. 

Then he blushed, meeting Shouyou's entertained gaze. 

''Sorry,'' he said. 

''Why are you apologizing?''

''Well, because I’m literally eating dog treats? It’s kind of gross, I guess? Especially ‘cause I’m drooling?''

''Atsumu-san, you watch me drink blood stolen from transfusion centers! Nothing about who you are grosses me out.''

And suddenly, Atsumu was stunned by the realization of how lucky he was with what he had, how extraordinary was the relationship between them. How many werewolves could afford to be themselves? How many creatures like him had the freedom, the privilege, to express themselves in total confidence, in total comprehension, in total respect, without the fear of judgment and malice inherent in the nature of most people?

''Cool,'' he answered then, suddendly afraid to burst into tears. ''Cool. Do... do you want one?''

''No, thanks. Do you want to see a movie?''

Atsumu nodded. 

''Shouyou-kun,'' he told him later, brushing the back of his hand as they were snuggled on the couch and the movie's protagonist was skinned alive. ''Nothing about you grosses me out either. So don't you dare say again that ya don't have a heart, 'cause it’s not true.''

*

''Atsumu-san, do you want to go for a wal-''

Shouyou couldn't finish his sentence, because Atsumu catapulted himself to the entrance with his coat under his arm and started scratching the door, jumping and yowling. Shouyou laughed, took his keys, and they headed out. 

As they walked, Shouyou felt a burning desire to take his hand and hide it in his jacket pocket. And he probably would have done it too, if Atsumu hadn't stopped in the middle of the sidewalk with his eyes wide with terror. 

''What's going on?'' Shouyou asked, intimidated. He followed the direction of his gaze, and as soon as he saw what he was aiming at, he let out a dismayed sigh.

''Atsumu-san,'' he told him in a firm tone, placing in front of him. ''Look at me.'' 

Reluctantly, Atsumu forced himself to shift his attention to his face. His eyelashes flickered agitatedly, his pupils were dilated. Shouyou grabbed his warm hands, despite the winter chill.

''You can do this,'' he encouraged him, and he really believed it. ''Don't give up. You're stronger than this.''

Atsumu's lips tightened and his chin trembled, tormented by the inner conflict. Shouyou saw in his eyes rationality fighting against instinct, until resignation blossomed in his irises, sweeping away the remaining crumbs of perseverance and discipline.

''I'm sorry,'' he whispered with one last guilty look, as if he were about to stab him. 

Then he escaped from his grasp and ran like crazy towards the persian cat that was peacefully curled up on a wall. 

Poor Becky, Shouyou thought.

*

Shouyou had a weakness for flowers. Atsumu found that out the night before, when he showed him the last photo shoot in which flowers were the main feature of each shot. 

''It would be nice to have a house full of plants and flowers," Shouyou told him enthusiastically. 

And because Atsumu was a hopeless romantic and he would've eaten spinach for a week for Shouyou, he went to the florist after work that day and bought two cyclamen seedlings, vermilion as blood.

When he returned home, jubilant about the brilliant idea he'd had, he found Shouyou already awake, sitting in the kitchen, intent on sipping two fingers of blood from his cup.

''Atsumu-san!'' he exclaimed as soon as he saw him, and because of the excitement he made a bubble of blood and saliva that burst and stained the tip of his nose. Shouyou wiped it off with the sleeve of his pajamas, and Atsumu felt a visceral desire to jump on him and lick his face as he wagged his tail. God, he was so gone for him.

''You bought flowers!'' he added then, noticing the two seedlings. ''And they’re red!''

Then he parted his lips, his auburn eyebrows curving into two perfect domes, and Atsumu wanted to bite off his freckled cheeks. 

''Did you take them for me?''

''No, I took 'em for the guy upstairs,'' he replied wryly, rolling his eyes. 

It was as if a bullet had suddenly passed through him. Atsumu felt a pain between his ribs so intense that cut off his breath, a pain as vivid and burning as Shouyou's irises, in which flashed gushes of lava and liquid fury.

He didn't even have time to open his mouth. The velvety cyclamen were already dead.

''You should’ve told me you were joking!'' Shouyou exclaimed, pouring a glass of water into the two pots. 

''Ya didn’t give me time!'' Atsumu replied, laughing. ''And of course they were for ya! I don't even know if anyone actually lives above us!''

Shouyou bit his lip in frustration. ''I'm sorry. I killed the cyclamen. I'm a flower killer. Do you think they'll recover?''

Atsumu looked at the flowers, as dry as crepe paper. He touched a petal, and it crumbled under his touch. No, they would never recover. 

''Let's try to put them under the sun,'' he proposed, in order not to definitively crush the hopes of Shouyou, who seemed extremely bitter. ''Back off.''

Shouyou pressed himself against the wall, and Atsumu opened the window, placing the two pots on the balcony. 

''I'm sorry,'' Shouyou murmured, as soon as the kitchen fell back into shadow. He came closer and wrapped his arms around his neck. ''But maybe I can make things right again.''

''Yeah?'' Atsumu said, his voice suddenly an octave higher. ''And how?''

Shouyou smiled mischievously and stood up on tiptoe, blowing on his nose. Atsumu discovered that he’d never seen anything more cuddly and adorable than a vampire with one hundred and twenty-seven years of murder experience on tiptoe. 

And he wished he could kiss his eyes, trace with his lips the purplish outline of his dark circles, bite his tiny ears as if they were made of rubber, sink his nails into the cold skin of his arms and tear it off and then sew it back in place. 

Shouyou sank his face into the curve of his neck. Atsumu sensed his breath sounding more like a desperate moan, and his back became as shaky as the surface of the water, torn apart by the fierce discharges of desire, by the impelling need to feel his fingers on his skin, in his mouth, in his throat, by the twisting urge to dominate and fuck him and to be helpless fucked in return like a rag doll. 

When Shouyou kissed his collarbone lasciviously, his tongue tracing the contour of it, something inside Atsumu exploded even if their lips hadn’t met yet. The charge of excitement that saturated the air became irrepressible, overflowing. Shooting stars blossomed behind his eyelids, then he growled and slipped his hands under Shouyou’s shirt, clutching at his shoulder blades, thinking only of how much he wanted to strip him, to feel him naked and bite and lick him everywhere, starting from his chest and then moving down towards his abdomen and... 

Atsumu jumped back with his eyes wide. Shouyou stared at him ravenously, his canines exposed and sharp, ready to pierce him. 

"No biting!" he blurted, his heart pounding. "I don't want to end up like last time, thank you very much!''

''Just a little bit!'' Shouyou pleaded, moving closer. Atsumu began to run around the table and Shouyou chased after him.

''Just a little bit my ass! You can't control yerself!''

''Please! Please, I'm starving...''

''Ya just ate!''

''But you taste better!'' Shouyou exclaimed in frustration. ''Your blood is the best thing I've ever eaten! Please please please, just a small bite!''

''No,'' Atsumu retorted firmly, but Shouyou was stubborn. And besides being stubborn, it was obvious that he was in the middle of a withdrawal crisis, because he opened his jaws and cut his way by jumping on the table. Atsumu stepped back and tried to immobilize him by grabbing his wrists, while the other one stretched his neck and tried to bite him blindly.

Atsumu, being a werewolf, was strong. But Shouyou also possessed power in his arms, despite appearing disadvantaged because of the height difference. 

And as they fought, as Shouyou aimed for his carotid artery and Atsumu tried to save his life as best he could, he thought there was nothing more exciting than what he was experiencing right now. Finally, he managed to stop him by cupping his face tightly. Praying the moon that Shouyou wouldn't tear his lips off, he leaned forward and finally, finally, finally, he kissed him. 

*

''Shouyou-kun,'' Atsumu whispered, running his finger along his spine - bare, soft, perfect. ''According to yer, uhm, hundred years of experience, did I do well?''

''You did great,'' Shouyou replied blissfully, forehead pressed against his chest. Atsumu shivered. It felt so good to finally be able to hold him in his bed. And a little scary, too. 

''Great in the sense that ya put me first in the ranking?''

''Well, maybe the first place is a bit...''

''What about the top five?''

''Um...''

''Okay, okay. I get it, it's normal, you're over a hundred years old. Did I manage to get into the top ten, at least?''

''...''

''Shouyou-kun, how many people have you fucked with?''

''I've done it with everyone I've eaten, for sure.''

''That's not very reassuring.''

Shouyou laughed and kissed him on the chin. ''Be positive, you’ll be the first person there will be a second time with.''

''Cool,'' Atsumu replied. ''Shouyou-kun, will you put me first if I fuck you in the coffin?''

*

On their way home, Atsumu was stopped by a girl walking with a labrador. 

''Excuse me, but, uhm, are you Atsumu Miya?''

Atsumu nodded, and smiled at her ecstatic chirping.

''Can we take a picture together?'' she asked, pulling her phone out of her pocket. Atsumu leaned closer, and the girl took the picture. Then she bowed, thanked him, and continued the walk with the labrador wagging his tail happily, sharing her owner's enthusiasm. 

''I hate leashes,'' Atsumu muttered when they started walking again. 

''Without a leash, the dogs would all get run over by cars. Besides, I didn't know you were that famous!'' Shouyou observed, amused. 

Atsumu opened his mouth to reply, then he frowned, and his expression went from arrogant to confused. ''Shouyou-kun, are you okay?''

''Sure, why?''

''You... ya withered the hedge.'' 

Shouyou turned around and saw that the section of the hedge they had just passed had dried up completely.

''Bloody shit,'' he huffed. ''I didn't do that on purpose. Poor hedge.''

''Are you jealous?''

''No,'' Shouyou answered. Why should he be? ''Yes,'' he added a second later, because he really didn't like lying. 

''But it's not what you think. It's just that we can't take a picture together, right? And you're beautiful. I mean, I can see that you're beautiful. And on the other hand I don't know what I look like, because I've never seen my reflection, so... I don't know, am I beautiful enough for you?''

Atsumu stared at him dumbfounded and opened his mouth several times like a goldfish. 

''Of course you're beautiful enough. Holy shit, you're literally perfection.''

Shouyou blushed, and smiled gratefully. But then he frowned again. ''It's just that,'' he continued with a gasp, before grabbing his coat sleeve as if he were a lost child, "it's just that I can only go out when the sun is set. And if we continue to be together, you won't be able to open the windows of your own house when it's spring, for example. And during the day, we won't be able to go to the beach together, we won't be able to visit a museum or have breakfast at the cafe or-''

''Shouyou-kun, I don't give a shit about those things. I mean, I'm a wolf. The moon is there at night, not during the day.''

''Very poetic,'' Shouyou observed, amazed. ''I've tried to kill you twice though, I don't have a heart, and I'm literally a walking corpse as cold as the morgue. You, on the other hand, are incredibly hot. You're real.''

Atsumu stopped walking and then looked around circumspectly before continuing. ''Shouyou-kun, listen. I run after pigeons when we go out. Once a month I transform and ya have to take me for a walk and pick up the shit I do otherwise you’ll get fined. I fight with cats and I bark at the mailman hiding under the window in the morning because he scares me, I drool and rip yer clothes off when I get mad. I've accidentally set ya on fire four times, and I'll probably do that again.''

''Five times.''

''No, the fifth one wasn't by accident.''

Then Atsumu leaned closer, cupped his cheeks between his tapered fingers and kissed him with all the sweetness, all the love, that he was made of. 

And Shouyou felt the warmth of his lips. And he felt happy. 

''Besides, this felt quite real to me,'' Atsumu observed. ''Very real.'' Then he smiled, and Shouyou smiled with him.

''Smoothfucker,'' he whispered. ''If I drank blood I'd have blushed.''

''Maybe I can give ya some special treat as soon as we get home. Just a little bite,'' Atsumu told him, winking, before taking his hand. 

As Shouyou continued walking, he thought that Atsumu, besides being beautiful and warm, always (always, always, always) managed to put him in a good mood.
Atsumu looked so much like the sun he’d never had the privilege of feeling, until that moment. A radiant warmth that soaked his heart and skin, without burning him.

*

When Shouyou went to work at Osamu's restaurant, Atsumu inhaled deeply, gathering all his courage, ready to make a decisive change in his lifestyle. Then he grabbed his broom and dustpan and began to clean the house. After filling three bags with dirt, and hiding all of his broken toys to prevent Shouyou from throwing them away, he went to Shouyou's room. He carefully dusted the lid of the mahogany coffin, changed the sheets and pillowcase, then he stood up and began sweeping the floor. When he was removing the dust above the desk, he saw a small notebook.

Now, it’s necessary to specify that Atsumu, although occasionally jealous, wasn’t a nosy person. He cared about respecting Shouyou's privacy because he knew Shouyou would do the same. Respect and mutual trust were two pillars of their relationship - in addition to forgiveness when they risked killing each other by mistake. Therefore, in his defense, the narrator must momentarily intervene in the story and point out that the notebook was already open. Unless Atsumu had closed his eyes, it would’ve been impossible not to read what was written there, in Shouyou’s messy handwriting. And Atsumu, of course, didn't close his eyes. 

Eat him: pros and cons, he read on a page.

Date him: pros and cons, he read on the next one.

Fuck, he hissed. 

''Eat him or date him?'' Atsumu asked in horror, waving the notebook in front of him. ''Are you kiddin' me?''

Shouyou started to laugh. ''How did you find that?''

''I was cleaning your room and I saw it on the desk! Shouyou-kun, it's not funny!''

''Your face definitely is, trust me... well, it doesn't matter by the way! I didn't eat you after all, did I?''

''It doesn’t matter? It does matter to me, thank you! Especially because the pros of eating me are twice as long as the pros of dating me!''

''Look,'' Shouyou interrupted him, grabbing him by the wrists and pushing him onto the couch. ''If I wanted to kill you'' - and here he kissed him - ''I would have done it already!'' -  and here he kissed him again. ''We sleep together, do you have any idea of how many chances I've had to tear your carotid from your neck? And not only that?''

Atsumu exhaled a frustrated sigh - because he wanted other kisses, of course. ''At least I hope you no longer have doubts about what to do!''

''I’m still undecided,'' Shouyou replied, mockingly. 

''Am I gonna die?''

''You're not going to die, I could never kill you! I like you too much.''

''Too much?''

Shouyou blushed. ''Waaaaay too much.''

Atsumu grinned. ''Do you like me waaaaay too much or do you just love m-''

Shouyou silenced him with a bite and then he whispered it in his ear.

With his face hidden in the curve of Atsumu’s neck, he felt at home.