Chapter Text
Teddy stared up at the ceiling, the same ceiling he’s lived under since he was in a diaper. His room had changed so much over the years. During his teens, he painted his walls black, just like his clothes, eyeliner, and nails. It wasn’t until he dyed his hair green and spiked it as sharp as a knife that his mother finally pulled the plug on his…little experiment and made him put everything back to the way it was. He kept the blackout curtains though.
Or the time when he was nine and he collected everything Jem and the Holograms related. He kept it all in a secret box that Brice bought for him. When Mandy found it one day, and he wouldn’t let her play with one of his dolls, she cried and told their mother. He never saw the box again.
“How old are you, sweetie?” He remembered his mother commenting when he wanted to decorate his room with retro video games back in his twenties. He didn’t even get a chance to hang an N64 poster on his wall.
Cars are cool. Manly. Appropriate.
Cheetah print covers are fun. Confident. Appropriate.
White walls. Clean floors. Same ceiling. His own space in his mother’s home.
He laid his hand on his chest, covering his scar. Robert saw it. Teddy couldn’t believe he let his guard down. But when Robert kissed him, he was nowhere and everywhere at once. He was floating, light as a feather. And then he was shoved back to the ground once Robert's tender eyes shifted downward.
“f*ck…” Teddy mumbled under his breath.
He was so careful, almost to a manic degree. Even when they snuggled or slept together, he usually kept his shirt on. And today was ruined because the truth was out. Robert acted like things were fine, holding him close and saying he loved him. And he's always been patient with him, never asking why he wouldn't show him certain tattoos, or never questioned his aversion to revealing the top half of his birthday suit. Maybe in his drunken state, Robert was expressing what he was always thinking. That his patience wore thin, that he finally wanted to see what was behind door number one.
He loved Robert with all his heart, but he kept hiding from him. He hated keeping him in the dark. He just never wanted to talk about that. Even Mandy never brought it up. It was too...much.
Teddy turned his head and glanced over at his sleeping bartender. His mouth slightly ajar, his breathing steady, his hand sat warmly in his. Teddy reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead and chuckled when he stirred a little.
Robert fit perfectly in his room. Lovely. Beautiful. Safe.
And the best part; no one could take him away.
X
Although Teddy insisted on Robert staying until breakfast was ready, his boyfriend was out the door at the crack of dawn. Robert didn’t want to leave at all, but he knew early morning was the only time he could safely return to his apartment before his shift started at The Dog House tonight.
Once he returned home, he thought he'd find his place torn into a million pieces. Or the entire complex burnt to a crisp.
But it wasn’t. It was still there. Fully intact. And completely...untouched. Nothing was out of place. Nothing was missing. It was all the same, even the stubborn stain of blood that refused to leave his entrance floor. He would have to buy a new rug to cover it up.
Though he was stiff and suffered the worst headache of his life, Robert was happy. He stood up to Dracula last night, told him to go away. But best of all, Teddy helped him through it. He couldn't have done it without him. Not by a longshot.
Robert felt a vibration in his pocket. Pulling his phone out, he smiled warmly at the sight of his lover’s name popping up on the screen.
8:35 AM Any sign of ur boss?
8:36 AM Not at all.
8:36 AM DUCK YEAH!!!!
8:36 AM *f*ck
Robert chuckled.
8:38 AM Not looking forward to this evening.
8:39 AM Still got a hangover? 🤢
8:39 AM No.
Well, yes.
8:41 AM 😂Call out sick!
8:42 AM It's not that.
I’m worried Dracula will catch me.
I’m safe at The Dog House.
It’s too risky for Him to show up there.
But before or after work, I’m…as you say, f*cked.
8:45 AM sh*t… 😰
Wait
I can take u 2 werk!
8:46 AM Really?
8:47 AM Yeah!
Then str8 2 my place after
8:48 AM Wow. Thank you, love.
You’re my hero. ❤️
8:52 AM I got ur back babe! 😘
8:53 AM I’ll have to leave my apartment before sunset.
Is that okay?
8:54 AM NP! We can get 🍦 b4 u go in
Robert sighed longingly. He truly was free. And he gets to share that freedom with the love of his life.
8:55 AM Sounds good to me.
Robert stared down at the bar counter, tapping his fingers on it. He awaited Teddy’s honking horn outside, but he hadn’t heard a peep.
11:15 PM On my way!
He reread Teddy’s text from an hour ago.
“Still nothing?” Carol asked as she grabbed a beer from behind the counter.
Robert shook his head, pursing his lips.
“You think he stood you up?”
“No, he’d never do that…” Especially not now, with how dangerous it was for him to be alone. “I’ll ring him.” Robert pulled his phone from his pocket and searched for Teddy’s name. He pressed it and lifted it to his ear.
"HELLO, RENFIELD."
Robert dropped his phone and winced at his sudden throbbing head.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"
“You okay, Robert?” Carol raised an eyebrow.
He couldn’t answer the vampire. Too stunned to speak and unwise to do so in front of his work-friend. He swallowed hard and cleared this throat. “Y-Yes, I’m…I’m fine.” He knelt to the ground and grabbed his phone, avoiding her gaze.
“Did you hear back from—"
"I WAITED ALL NIGHT FOR YOU."
His hands started to shake, gripping tightly on his phone to keep them steady. “I-I’ll try again outside.” He rushed out before she could say anything more. Once he was alone, Robert pinned himself against the door, his heartbeat rising.
“I…M-Ma…Master, I—”
No! That's not who He is to him anymore. He was free.
"COME TO ME, RENFIELD. COME TO ME, NOW."
“N-No…I’m…I’m no longer yours. I…I no longer serve you.” He was amazed the words came out of him.
Dracula’s laugh boomed in his head. He clenched his hair at the thunderous roar.
"YOU SILLY MAN."
He wished Teddy was here with him, holding his hand. He could help him stop his hands from shaking.
"YOU GAVE ME SUCH A FRIGHT YESTERDAY; YOU WERE CLEARLY OUT OF YOUR WITS FOR SPEAKING TO ME THE WAY YOU DID."
“I’ve never thought…more clearly i-in my entire life…”
"IS THAT SO? I SIMPLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE SAFE."
Robert loosened his grip in his hair. "You...You do?"
"YES, RENFIELD. I WAS IN SUCH DISARRAY AFTER YOUR...DISAPPEARANCE. I LOOKED FOR YOU EVERYWHERE.
YOU WORRIED ME SO."
"I'm...I'm sorry, Mas-I mean...I only...I was so frightened after what I said...I was a coward, too afraid to face you."
"I UNDERSTAND, DEAR BOY.
YOUR WORDS WERE HURTFUL. BUT NOT YOUR OWN. SO I FORGIVE YOU."
Robert blinked slowly. He does? Just like that?
"ALL I WISH IS TO SEE YOUR FACE.
COME TO ME, SERVANT.
I WON'T EVEN ASK YOU TO BRING ME MY DINNER TONIGHT."
"You...You won't?"
"NOT AT ALL. YOU SAID SO YOURSELF. YOU DO NOT WANT TO HURT ANYONE ELSE, YES?"
"That's...that's right."
"I COMMEND YOU FOR TURNING A NEW LEAF. IT IS DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO CHANGE.
BUT I MUST EAT TO SURVIVE. YOU UNDERSTAND, DON'T YOU?
SO NOW I MUST HUNT ON MY OWN."
Robert did understand. Though it pained him to know that a bloodthirsty monster would soon terrorize the streets of New Orleans, a guilt-ridden part of him was relieved that he no longer had to be a part of it.
"OH, BUT DON'T WORRY, I HAVE SOMEONE QUITE DELICIOUS IN MY SIGHTS RIGHT THIS MOMENT.
HE HAS SUCH BIG BROWN EYES."
Robert’s eyes widened. His heart fell to the floor.
"A BIT SKINNY FOR MY USUAL LIKING.
BUT THERE'S SOMETHING PUNGENT ABOUT HIM.
HE SMELLS VERY STRONGLY...OF YOU."
“No…No!!!”
Robert ran as fast as he could, gnawing away at bugs he found on his path to keep up his endurance. Dirty, sweaty, and heaving, he shoved slipped his keys into his doorknob and shoved it open.
His blue eyes met red, Dracula seated promptly at his dinner table.
“Oh, Renfield! Welcome home! Shut the door, will you?”
“Rob!” Teddy sat on the other side of the table. He wasn’t bleeding. No scratches or bite marks on him. He looked distressed, but at least he wasn’t hurt.
Robert hurried over to him. “Ted—”
“I said…” The beast rose from His seat, causing his familiar to stop in his tracks. In one swift motion, Dracula stood behind Teddy. “…shut the door.” Smiling sweetly, His shark-like teeth too close to Teddy’s neck.
Robert shakily stared at his lover. So far out of reach. He couldn’t believe he was here, in Dracula’s clutches. He had to find a way to get him out. Had to—
"NOW!"
He jumped out of his skin. He quickly turned and did as he was told.
“Thank you. See that, Tedward. That’s the image of an obedient dog.”
Robert watched as Dracula softly rubbed Teddy’s shoulders. “Master…I beg you, please…let him go.”
“Now why would I do that? He’s caused us a lot of trouble, making you say and do things you would never normally do.”
“Please, I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Hurt me? You think anything you could do could possibly hurt me?” The vampire’s hold on Teddy strengthened, making him wince.
“N-No, Master! That’s not what I’m saying at all! Please don’t hurt him! Please!”
“I could end it all right here. Suck him done-dry, and you would help me dispose of his body. Because that is what you are. A slave. My slave. Nothing else.” He grazed His fangs inches from Teddy's neck, the pricks of each tip sharper than the next. Teddy quivered in His arms.
“Master, please don’t! Please!”
Dracula watched Robert’s face twist in horror and slightly moved His head away from the tender skin, a low growl following behind. “I’m a generous vampire. I've allowed this...farce to go on for long enough. You’ve forgotten yourself, Renfield. Forgotten your place in this world. My world. And I want it to stop.”
Robert’s breathing shook hysterically, his legs shaking so violently he thought he would fall at any moment. He was never going to be free. And now Teddy was here, getting blamed for all his wrongdoings. All Teddy wanted to do was help, and he was being punished for it. In the lion’s maw by no fault of his own.
He had to put a stop to this. Save his lover. The way Teddy tried to save him.
“Yes, Master! Yes, yes! You're right, I have!”
“No, not good enough. Your words are never good enough. I need to make sure that you two are completely and utterly finished.”
"Pl-Please! Tell me what to do, I-I'll do anything!"
“Tell him.” Dracula demanded.
“Wh-What?”
“Tell him what you planned to do with him when you two first met.”
A cold sweat rolled down his spine. “Master…please.”
“Tell him...now.”
“I...A-Anything, anything but that.”
Yanking him off the ground, Dracula pushed Teddy in front of Robert, forcing them face-to-face. Robert could see how much Teddy was shaking, the color in his cheeks completely drained.
“Tell him, Renfield.”
"Don't...Don't make me do this."
Dracula rose his hand up to Teddy's hair and pulled his head up to make him stare into Robert's eyes. Teddy whimpered as Dracula's talons dug into his scalp.
"Stop! Stop, please!" Robert begged, tears burning the corners of his eyes.
"DO AS I COMMAND, YOU WORM!"
“I…I was…” Robert’s lip quivered. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't say it.
But Teddy knew. He felt it in his heart, feel it tightening his stomach. “No…”
“Tell him how, Renfield.”
“I…I spiked your drinks...”
A shuddered breath escaped Teddy’s lips.
“Teddy, please…I-I’m so sorry—”
“You said…you only fed Dracula sh*tty people.”
“Please Master…This is too…I-I understand now. I-I won't see him again. I swear!”
“Tell him why. Why you were going to feed him to Me. Look into his eyes and say it. Or I will kill him right now, right in front of you.”
“Look…” Teddy intervened. “I-I get, get it, too, o-okay? I-I won’t come near—”
“You…you are sh*tty, Teddy.” It came out of him too quickly. He stared into his lover’s irises, despondent. “Easy pickings. A nice snack…for my Master.”
“C-Come on, man…Y-You don’t mean that. Last night you—”
“I was drunk, remember? Like you said…”
“Robert…”
Dracula smirked widely. “I saw you through his eyes that night, Tedward. Your insufferable bleating, the way you belittled him at every turn. He wanted you dead more than I wanted to eat you. Isn’t that right, Renfield?”
Robert nodded dejectedly.
“Rob—”
“Very good, Renfield. I commend you for your honesty…But not good enough.” Dracula opened his mouth wide and, took a vicious bite out of Teddy’s neck.
Robert dropped his jaw, prepared to scream. But nothing came out. His stomach twisted and turned inside him. He shut his eyes tight once Teddy’s blood splattered in his face, the sound of Dracula drinking from him cooling his own. His legs gave out, he dropped to the floor. He couldn’t breathe. Can’t breathe. Can’t breathe!
No, Teddy! Please, no! I’m so sorry! I’msorryI’msorryI’msorryI’m—
“Hey, do me a favor! Just remain calm, and almost…nobody will get hurt!”
Robert opened his eyes.
He crouched close to the ground, holding his hands up over his head. A man in a wolf mask pointed a gun at him, inches from his temple. He looked around frantically, feeling suddenly out of place.
Mulates.
Why was he—
“Thank you, Teddy.”
Teddy? Robert swung his head over to the middle of the restaurant where a lady cop stood. She glared at another man in a wolf mask, a gold gun pointed right at her.
“I came here to connect you to a crime scene, and you go and turn it into one.” She shrugged nonchalantly.
She was alone, surrounded by gunmen, with a golden gun pointed right at her face. Yet she didn’t seem fazed by any of it. She stood tall, seething angrily at the man in front of her with a tight smile.
Robert’s heart dropped when the man pulled off his own wolf mask, his big brown eyes and gentle smirk back on his face.
“Te—” He almost jolted off the floor, but remembered the weapon trained on him. Any sudden moments, and who knows what the man hovering over him would do.
“What are you tryin’ to do?” Teddy asked the cop. Something about his voice felt off. It wasn’t as chipper as it usually was.
“Holy sh*t, were you tryna imitate your dad?” He inched closer to the cop, his smirk appearing more co*cky than sweet. “What do you think, your dad died some brave hero? We beat the sh*t outta your father.”
Robert’s stomach tightened beneath him as he watched. Teddy circled around the woman, like a lion teasing its prey. None of his movements fit him. None of his words felt like his own.
“And while he was lying there on the floor, he begged for his life.”
How could he say that? Why was he saying that?
“But you know what? I want to save you that embarrassment. I’m gonna give you a chance to live.” Teddy co*cked his head to the side, smirking.
“All you have to do is admit to everybody here…” He stepped back and pointed the gun so close to the woman’s face, it almost touched her forehead.
Robert couldn’t take it anymore.
“...that we own—”
“Teddy, stop!”
All eyes darted around, searching for the voice that interrupted the Lobo son.
Teddy shot up at the ceiling, making everyone scream. “Alright, who said that? Who the f*ck said that!?”
Robert’s eyes widened. He went rigid.
“You know how long it took me to get that cool-ass speech down?! WHO f*ckING SAID THAT?!”
“It was him, sir!” Robert was hoisted up on his feet by the collar of his coat, and dragged to the middle of the floor. The gunmen shoved him over to Teddy and the cop.
Teddy looked him up and down before laughing boisterously. “Look at this guy! You wanna die a hero, too, pal?”
Robert’s hands shook. How was he alive? Why were they here? It didn't matter. He just wanted to be near him. He reached out and hugged him, only to be shoved away.
“What the f*ck, man?! What the hell are you doing?!”
Robert recoiled, staring at him with owl eyes. “Te-Teddy…It, it’s me…Robert.”
“I don’t give a sh*t who you are, Scary Potter. You f*cked up my speech! So now I’m gonna f*ck you up!” He pointed his gun at Robert, whose shaking worsened.
“Teddy…Teddy, please. I…Wh-Why are you doing this?”
Teddy arched his eyebrows. “Dude, what is this? Some psycho parasocial sh*t? What, you a big fan or something?”
“N-No, I…I’m your…boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?!” Teddy threw his head back and laughed louder than Robert’s ever heard him laugh. “What the f*ck! You’re hilarious! f*ckin’ weirdo!” He turned around to face the woman cop. “Hey, did you set this up or som—”
Teddy would never finish his sentence. A bullet flew into his chest.
“Burn in hell, motherf*cker.” The lady cop muttered.
“NO!” Robert shrieked.
The room ignited with bullets and shrieks, all pointed to the woman who shot down Robert’s lover.
Robert held his partner in his arms, close to his chest, shutting his eyes as tears streamed down his face. “I’m so sorry, Teddy…”
He hoped a stray bullet would—
“Waitwaitwaitwait…f*ckf*ckf*ck! Waitwaitwait!”
Robert opened his eyes and saw Teddy shivering in his arms. He was breathing very faintly. The bullet wound was gone.
The Englishman didn't have time to celebrate. He watched Teddy struggle to get out of his grasp, as if he wasn't holding him at all. As if something were coming after him.
“Teddy, what's—”
“This crime family of yours…” Dracula’s voice slithered in his ear, liquefying his bones. Robert let his arms fall to his sides as he slowly looked up. He was no longer in the restaurant, but deep inside a desolate hospital. The smell of decaying flesh reeked in the air. It was where Dracula sometimes feasted and rested. No one came here, it was completely abandoned. So why was Teddy here?
“…would it enjoy witnessing the beheading of its enemies and the impalement of all who oppose it?” The vampire stood above him, His wide eyes crimson, blood oozing from His lips.
“Th-That’s…that’s like, our—that’s like our whole thing, man.” Teddy quivered beside Robert. He looked so frightened, more frightened than he’d ever seen him before. He wanted to reach out to him.
“Whatever pain Renfield caused you, I will return 10,000-fold.” Dracula stared off into a distance, as if imagining the torture He planned to inflict on His familiar. “I will unleash an army of death whilst warming my skin next to a mountain of burning corpses.”
Slowly, He turned His head to look down at Robert.
“How does that sound to you?”
Robert went to open his mouth, but the sound of shuffling feet stopped him.
“It sounds like you gotta meet my mom.” Teddy answered.
His mother? But how? And why would he say that? Why would he want that? Teddy smiled nervously at Dracula, hoping his comment reap the same reaction. The vampire chuckled darkly, his laughter growing.
“Are you happy, or you gonna f*ck me up?”
Dracula’s fang extended out as he chortled. He inched towards Teddy.
"I can bring your family great fortune. Strength. Power. All I ask for you...is to join me."
Robert saw the look in the vampire's eyes. The eyes he'd seen ages ago. In a castle far away. "No, no, Teddy. Please don't listen to him! He said the same sh*t to me...!"
Teddy ignored him, staring blindly at the sun.
“You will make for a...very good assistant, Mr. Lobo.”
“No!!!" Robert reached out to his lover one last time.
Teddy swerved his head to him, glowering coldly at Robert. "What'd you say again? I'm a sh*tty person, right?!"
"Teddy...! I-I didn't mean it! I'm sorry!"
"f*ck you, Robert! All you ever do is apologize! Empty words, empty promises! You're soulless! You only drag me down!"
Robert shook his head violently, the motion making him dizzy. "No, Teddy...I-I love you more than life itself!"
"Of course you do."
Dracula launched forward, fangs fully grown and locked onto Teddy's exposed throat.
"TEDDY!"
X
Robert awoke with a start, his heart crashing against his chest like a rumbling cymbol. He breathed heavily, his wet with sweat and tears. He looked down and saw Teddy beside him. He was still in his room, warmly snuggled beside him.
His mouth slightly ajar, his breathing steady, his hand sat warmly in his. Robert let out a sob and reached out to gently brush a strand of hair away from his—
"NOW DO YOU SEE?"
He pulled back his hand as if he almost touched a hot stove.
"HE WILL ALWAYS SUFFER BECAUSE OF YOU.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO.
NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY.
YOU WILL ALWAYS RUIN THAT POOR BOY'S LIFE.
YOU TWO WERE SIMPLY NEVER MEANT TO BE.
YOU ARE MINE, RENFIELD.
ALWAYS AND FOREVER."
He was right. He always is.
"NOW COME TO ME."
