Work Text:
Owen pulled himself over the windowsill, glancing back at the doctor, the other man’s face and ears still dusted with a faint blush even he could barely detect. It was… strange, feeling another scent on his skin. Another’s touch, lingering well after he’d pulled away.
“...thank you, Doc,” Owen nodded stiffly to Legs, shifting nervously away. The air in the room was thick and awkward now, despite the pleasant tingling Owen suspected they could both still feel in their fingers.
“Where are you headed now?” Legs asked, taking a seat at his desk and ruffling through his notebook, studiously not looking in Owen’s direction.
“Back to the castle,” Owen tried not to make his grimace too obvious. “I shouldn’t stick around here too long.”
Legs nodded. “Understood.” He opened his mouth as if to add something else on the end, but closed it and just offered him a weak smile. “Come back if you ever need anything else.”
Owen smirked, choosing to very thoroughly ignore the strange sensations battling with each other in his chest. “...thanks.” he squeezed his eyes shut, shifting into his bat form and winging towards the castle before he could second guess himself and stay maybe just a little longer.
He didn’t know what it was about the doctor. Something just… tugged him towards the other vampire, made him think about him when he wasn’t around. Owen had no idea what to do with the flutterings in his stomach and whispers of words he couldn’t quite make out in his ears, but he knew he probably shouldn’t be letting them stay, which is why he was so annoyed with himself for doing exactly that.
He narrowed his eyes as the dark silhouette of the castle came into view, shaking his head slightly to try and clear it. None of it mattered, anyway. All the doctor had been useful for was helping him show Scott that he wasn’t the elder vampire’s damn fledgeling. After this he would just… ignore the other. Yeah.
Owen dipped his wings and fell into a dive, landing neatly in the foyer of the castle as the sun started to rise beyond the horizon. He ducked into the main hallway before the light could hit his back, glaring outside at the rapidly lightening sky.
“And where have you been?” Scott’s stupid, stuck up voice echoed from the far end of the hall, and Owen turned, scowling. The man was lounging at the chair at the head of the table, Shelby perched on the arm beside him, a book open in her lap.
“Out. Not that it’s any business of yours,” Owen huffed, stalking past the table.
“It is my business, as you’re in my territory.”
“Your territory or the Doc’s?” Owen asked, enjoying the irritation that flashed across Scott’s face.
“Can’t you share it?” Shelby asked, glancing between them.
“Vampires are highly territorial,” Scott said, taking a sip from the glass in his hand and speaking far more patiently than Owen would have thought him able. “Two adult vampire broods normally need more than five times this much space between them - not that the doctor is anywhere near adulthood.”
Shelby nodded enthusiastically, pulling a pencil from behind her ear and flipping eagerly to an empty page, scribbling rapidly.
Owen ignored them, slipping past Scott’s chair and aiming for the back of the hall, in the direction of the crypt, trying to pass by unnoticed.
“Wait.” Scott called, no question in his voice. “Owen.”
“What.” Owen said dryly, merely slowing his pace and not turning to face the other.
Scott stood behind him, the clink of his glass against the table the only indicator of how serious the elder had become.
“Why can I smell Legundo on you, Owen?” Scott asked, his voice still with that lighthearted carelessness but carrying a deeper edge.
Owen turned, folding his arms and meeting Scott’s gaze. “Why do you think? The same reason I can smell you on Shelby, and her on you. Normal vampire procedure, isn’t it?”
Scott narrowed his eyes. “Did your sire never explain just how much of an insult what you’ve done is? You should count yourself lucky I’m generous - many in my place would kill you now.”
“Aren’t I the lucky one?” Owen said, resisting the urge to roll his eyes and antagonise him further. “I’m not your fledgeling, and I’ll do and go where I see fit.”
Scott’s eyes narrowed, and he glanced between Owen and Shelby, his claws flexing.
“I, um… I should probably head back to town,” Shelby said, peering around the corner to where they were standing. “I don’t think anyone suspects me yet, so I shouldn’t stay much longer.”
Scott nodded, running a hand affectionately over her head, with a soft smile that looked completely out of place on a face so often filled with malice or gloating. “Of course. Be safe.”
“I’m always safe, silly,” Shelby rolled her eyes at Scott’s raised eyebrows, tucking her book and pencil into her bag and turning to leave. “I’ll see you guys later!”
“I’ll walk with you to the forest,” Owen called, turning to catch up with her, bruising close by Scott on the way and letting his scent brush closer past the elder than was strictly necessary. “I need some more lumber.”
“Oh! Sure,” Shelby smiled at him, glancing back at Scott for a moment before continuing on. “It’s nice to have company.”
Owen fidgeted with the handle of his axe as he followed Shelby across the ruined bridge, only half listening to her rambling. He was well aware that he was using her to get himself out of a tough spot and could only bring himself to care a little, watching her bright red curls bounce against her back as she chatted happily to him.
“And I must admit I was a little surprised that you let Legs scent you, but to be honest I think it’s sweet! I don’t know if Scott will be okay with it though…”
Owen’s ears twitched, and he turned to face her fully. “Sorry, what were you saying?”
“That I was surprised you let the doctor scent you, I pegged you as more of a lone wolf kinda guy,” she said, beaming at him. “I’m glad you’re letting people in, though!”
“I didn’t ‘let’ him do it,” Owen huffed. “I asked.”
“...oh?” Shelby tilted her head to the side.
“Why are you so surprised?” Owen frowned at her, stepping off the stone bridge and onto the soft earth of the path. “It’s not that unusual of a thing. Scott’s already marked you and Pyro, hasn’t he?”
“Yes, but…” Shelby hesitated. “He’s our sire, so… it’s more of a normal thing.”
“Spit it out, Shelby, I’m not interested in figuring out riddles,” Owen snapped, admittedly harsher than he’d intended to.
“Oh! Um… just that Scott said that if a vampire marks someone they’re not directly related to in bloodline, it usually directly implies… intimacy.” Shelby squirmed. “Um. I assumed you knew, since you were… an adult, but…”
“Intimacy,” Owen repeated flatly.
“Like. Romantically.” Shelby said, shuffling in place. “Sorry, I… feel like I shouldn’t be the one explaining this…?”
“Go back to town, it’s alright,” Owen pulled out his axe, squinting at the shadow of the town barely visible in the distance. “And, Shelby–” he narrowed his eyes at her. “Do not mention this conversation to anyone. Understand?”
She nodded, giving him a little salute before turning and hurrying away down the path, glancing from side to side.
Owen gritted his teeth, stalking away from the path and into the treeline, axe in hand.
Damn it.
He should have known something was wrong when the doctor reacted like that… eyes wide and an almost immediate flush rising to his face.
He should’ve thought harder, should’ve… made plans, or asked or… something.
Owen slammed his axe into a tree, his grip almost painfully tight on the handle.
Why didn’t he care?
…dammit.