LOCKED TO viliorate

[sadisticwarfare]

[It's been a little over ten years since the two of them arrived here. Ten years is an awfully long time to be stuck here, but returning home isn't an option anymore. It hasn't been an option since they first started changing, and that wasn't all that long after they arrived. Kimbley had grown a tail and ears and Archer's eyes had turned red. It's amazing to think they had been so scared by those changes back then.

Things are different now. They aren't human, but there's no reason for that to bother them. Archer is a vampire (something that he found painfully ironic in the beginning, but he's adapted quite well to it, if he does say so himself). Not much has changed about him, appearance-wise. His nails are much longer and sharper, his eyes are red, and he has the stereotypical vampire fangs, but aside from that the only difference is the slight point to his ears. It's not like he could get any paler anyway.

Archer enters their shared apartment after work, shrugging off his coat and hanging it up before proceeding into the living room.]

Kimbley, are you home yet?

Comments

[sadisticwarfare]

You're not a doctor, you could have seriously injured yourself trying to dig it out.

[The idea is gross too, ugh.]

[viliorate]

It wouldn't have been a big deal. I'd have been fine.

[Not really.

...and it's not like you'd have been the one digging around, Archer!]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Yeah, but it's still a gross thought!]

It's better not to have to worry about that.

[viliorate]

[He sighs, shifting around awkwardly.]

Thank you. For helping me.

[He should say that, right?]

[sadisticwarfare]

There's no need to thank me. I did what I could for you.

[And he still couldn't prevent Kimbley from getting shot.]

[viliorate]

[Kimbley getting shot was his own damn fault, let's be honest.]

You've been doing that from the beginning. Let me expression a little gratitude.

[sadisticwarfare]

...Well, I suppose that won't hurt.

[He's Archer, so of course he blames himself. He did let you attack the guy, after all.]

[viliorate]

[...he would have done it even if Archer had told him no.]

I'm not going to bleed to death so you can relax.

[sadisticwarfare]

You know I don't relax, and I'm certainly not going to relax now.

[viliorate]

[He awkwardly squeezes Archer's hand.]

He doesn't know where we live.

[It's not like either of them make enough to live in the richer parts of the city. Some amateur monster hunter who is becoming one himself isn't going to step foot in this area.]

[sadisticwarfare]

I know he doesn't but... What if something like this happens again? What if it's fatal?

[He doesn't want to think about it, but the question comes out before he can stop himself.]

[viliorate]

[He'd thought about it, but he hadn't really thought about it.

The idea of losing Archer isn't something he can even comprehend, and he knows Archer feels the same way. They're inseparable, they've been inseparable for years.]

I'm not going to do anything so stupid again.

[sadisticwarfare]

...It wasn't as though either of us expected it. We thought you would be able to kill him.

[viliorate]

I'm not going to die.

[He wishes he could actually promise that, but he's really just saying it.]

[sadisticwarfare]

...I hope you won't.

[He knows Kimbley can't promise it. He wishes Kimbley could.]

[viliorate]

This was a pretty massive setback. But I'm alive. You're alive.

[And if there's one thing he's realized, it's that he really doesn't want to die because the idea of leaving Archer alone to deal with it makes him incredibly uncomfortable.]

[sadisticwarfare]

Yes, of course. We'll just have to be more careful from now on.

[Archer's shoulders slump a bit though he's not sure if it's the tension finally leaving him or if the entire thing is just depressing.]

[viliorate]

[It's probably how depressing the situation is if they're going to be honest.

Kimbley hasn't let go of Archer's hand.]

It should be easier for you. I'll think of something for me.

[sadisticwarfare]

We'll come up with something together.

[He hasn't tried to pull away; this is strangely comforting somehow.]

[viliorate]

Together.

[Like he hadn't thought about that.]

That's right.

[sadisticwarfare]

Of course. If you think I'm leaving you to deal with this alone, you're sorely mistaken.

[viliorate]

I wouldn't expect anything else from you.

[They're still a team.]

[sadisticwarfare]

Good. It would be a shame if you'd managed to forget that after all this time.

[viliorate]

You're the one who practically beat it into my head.

[sadisticwarfare]

Which is why it would be such a shame if I had to do it all over again.