A few too many pints of blood later, and Percy found himself walking down the sidewalk with his hands tucked in his overcoat’s pockets. He wasn’t sure where his waitress had wandered off too, so he’d taken his check up to the front desk to pay and headed out into the brisk night. 

The sun would rise before long, and he knew he ought to summon his broom to fly home, but instead, he found himself soaring down a familiar path. There was truly no reason he ought to be slowly trudging along on his broom, passing darkened shop after shop, until that witch doctor’s clinic came into view.

He tried to convince himself he was merely revisiting his own crime scene.  Searching for clues.  A connection to their killer even.  Yet, that wasn’t it. There was some sort of primal urge leading him to the doctor’s clinic, like the goddesses himself had led him there.  

After imbibing so much blood, his senses had heightened beyond what he was normally used to and any reluctance he might’ve had before blew away into the crisp morning air.  

Just as he reached for the handle, the door wretched open as if by a powerful gust of wind. On the other side stood Leo, staring at Percy with wide and startled eyes. 

“Percy?  What are you doing here so early?” Leo had traded his white lab coat for an earthy green windbreaker and had a small backpack around his shoulders, obviously about to fly home for the night.

Here Percy was, disturbing him yet again.  And why?  Well, Percy honestly wasn’t sure.  After getting his fill of blood the first thought that had crossed his mind was to go see Leo.  He hadn’t really dwelled on it any longer than that.  Now, standing before him like a fool, Percy wondered if he should’ve taken a moment to let the blood settle in his system before flying over there.

If the witch doctor was truly upset, he didn’t quite show it, but perhaps he’d mastered the art of a good poker face after dealing with unruly patients so much.  

Leo slipped one backpack strap off his shoulder.  “Are you all right?  In any pain?”  When Percy didn’t answer right away, he added, “Just come on in.  I’d just closed up, but I can make time for you. Is the same thing bothering you?”

“Ah, that’s actually healing up quite well.” Percy rolled his tongue across his fangs.  “I just happened to fly by.  Wanted to check up on you.  And, uh, make sure you haven't had any weird roses delivered here lately or notice anyone peculiar lurking around.” He scanned the area behind him, as if he too were searching for something out of the ordinary.

“Nothing of the sort.” Leo shook his head.

“That’s good.” Percy pursed his lips with a nod, rocking on his feet.  “Well, I guess I should let you fly out for the morning.  Sorry to have dropped by so unexpectedly like this.  I really should have considered the time and curfew.”

“No worries.” 

Those heavenly blue doe eyes of Leo’s sparkled in the encroaching morning, the natural dark outline of his lips made them appear so much more pliant and softer than he’d ever imagined, and perhaps it was all the blood drinking that had him imagining nipping on the seam of the doctor’s lower lip, just to see its light rose shade darker more.

Honestly, he was quite enchanting in the daylight.  Enough to make Percy’s slow-beating heart skip a beat or two amid his chest.  He wanted to blame it on the lemon-curd sunshine and the brilliant baby blue sky, no longer shrouding them in a cloak of darkness.  Because that had to explain away his beauty and the way he made Percy swoon on his feet like a foolish bat.  

Why had he even come there again?  Something urged him to the doctor, but in his bloodlusting state, all he’d thought of at the moment was finding Leo. No true reason.  No forethought of what to say and do after he met with him.

“You should come in and sit for a spell.” Leo’s gaze shifted behind him, suspicion crossing his delicate rosy features as he stepped aside and gave him a wide berth to enter.  

“Yeah, okay. ” Percy crossed through his warded barrier, shuddering when a cold chill rushed through him. Unlike when he’d crossed through the front door before. 

A light fluttery sensation welled in the pit of his chest as he stumbled inside the lobby, and he reeled on his feet to steady himself as the room spun.  He reached out for anything to ground himself, fingers latching securely onto Leo’s arm as the doctor helped ease him into a nearby chair.  

Percy shook his head like he could shake off whatever spell he’d fallen under.  It was like he barely had any control.  Even Leo’s voice, right beside him, echoed like he were submerged underwater.  All Percy could focus on was the delicate curve of his neck, barely concealed underneath the collar of the windbreaker he wore.  And his blood?  That delightful tang he could smell even beneath his skin, hear the faint thrum of his pulse and the other man’s heartbeat roaring in his ears.

One bite wouldn’t hurt him, right?  Percy had the sense enough not to lose control.  He’d properly fed earlier so there was no chance in hell he could be starved.  But that left a small logical part of him questioning why he was so eager to sink his fangs into Leo, desperately trying everything he could to help him even now. 

Something was dreadfully wrong with him.  Yet, everything felt so fanging right.