I'm Not a Savior, I'm a Vampire (Jalex)

Kiss It Better

Rian and Brendon spend the rest of the night in the living room while Jack stays in the bathroom, not sleeping.

Alex snores peacefully through the night and well into the next afternoon while the other guys sit around talking about the current vampire situation.

"You're a vampire," Jack states doubtfully. "And you turned my roommate."
Brendon smiles sheepishly. "Yeah... sorry."
"I should hit you," Jack says. "Again. You know, since joking about my best friend's crazy illness is funny to you."
"Jack," Rian argues. "We've been over this fifteen times already-"
"It's okay, Rian, I'm used to this," Brendon says softly. He turns to Jack. "Look, I know it's hard to believe and it sounds fake and your upset, but I really am a vampire and I can prove it."
"Prove it how?"

Brendon opens his mouth wide showing off two razor sharp fangs along with his other, more human, teeth.

"That's so easily faked. I could buy that shit at Party City."
Brendon sighs. "Do you have a mirror?"
"Yeah, in the bathroom with my sick roommate."
Brendon stands up from the table. "Well then," he says, "are you coming?"

Rian and Jack follow the supposed vampire into the bathroom where Alex is still sleeping in the tub. Jack stops quickly to make sure he's still breathing for turning to face Brendon expectantly. "Alright," Jack says. "Prove it."

Brendon rolls his eyes and steps in front of the mirror. He smiles widely at the lack of reflection as if checking himself out, then turns back around dramatically. "Would you look at that?" Brendon says. "Still invisible."

Jack frowns and stares at the mirror. "That's impossible," Jack brushes his fingers over the cold glass where Brendon's reflection should be.
"Nothing's impossible," Brendon argues.
Meanwhile Rian is just stunned silent.

Jack reaches to pull the mirror off the wall, as if to see if there were something behind it. But it's just a wall. He runs a finger through his hair as he turns away from Brendon and the mirror. "This is insane!" He exclaims.
He kneels down next to Alex who has slept through the confusion. Jack's expression falls when the answer turns blatantly obvious. "So... so he's really..." Jack can't even force the words out. If he says it, then it becomes reality. Jack's not sure he wants this reality.

"Yeah," Brendon finishes for him. "He's turning into a vampire."

*****

Alex wakes up to the worst headache he's ever had in his life. He practically starts crying as soon as the pain registers and Jack runs in soon after.

Jack sits down on the edge of the tub and brushes away Alex tears with his fingertips while frantically asking questions Alex doesn't hear.
Rian and Brendon walk in soon after Jack. Brendon nearly pushes Jack out of the way to get a better look at Alex.

"How long's he been like this?"
"Since he showed up after being gone for three days," Rian says. He grabs Jack's arm before Jack can hit Brendon again. "Why?"
Brendon places a hand over Alex's forehead, much to Alex's dismay. "Two days and it'll be over," Brendon says.
"How the fuck do you know that?" Jack asks.
"Because I turned him." Brendon pulls his hand away. "Turn all the lights off, it help dull the pain."

Jack flips the light switch in the bathroom and the room goes dark. It's dead silent save for the sound of Alex's crying. Jack isn't sure he's ever seen Alex cry. Seeing Alex like this now physically hurt Jack for reasons he's not sure he'll ever understand.

Brendon grabs a hand mirror after going through the bathroom drawers and then asks Jack for a candle.
"A candle?" Jack nearly laughs. "Two grown men live here and you think we have candles?"
"Bottom drawer," Alex chokes out, pressing the palm of his hand into his forehead as if that would do anything to help the stabbing pain in his head.

Brendon pulls a candle out of the bottom drawer under the sink and then lights it with the lighter in his pocket.
He holds the mirror over Alex and the candle he uses just for light.

Brendon nods. "Yeah. Two days," he confirms.
Jack walks over to see the mirror Brendon is holding. He gasps suddenly. "Holy shit."

Alex is still visible, but so is the plaid patterning on the sheets beneath him. His reflection is vaguely translucent and Jack is suddenly very aware of the reality of the situation.

"Jack," Alex mutters, reaching over the edge of the tub for the leg of Jack's skinny jeans.
"Yeah," Jack answers too quickly. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Tylenol," is all Alex says in response.
"No," Brendon argues. "It'll make the headache worse. Did you already give him some?"
"Yeah last night."
"That explains the crazy headache." Brendon exits the bathroom and makes his way to the kitchen. Rian follows him to make sure he doesn't leave.

Jack stays in the bathroom with Alex until Brendon returns with some vodka.
"No," Jack says sternly. "Absolutely not."
"It's the only thing that'll stop the pain," Brendon explains. "Trust me, I've tried everything else."

Jack hesitates before stepping away from Alex. He knows he should trust Brendon, but he still doesn't. Not after everything that's happened.
Rian, who's now decided Brendon's the one in charge, pulls Jack out of the way so Brendon can help Alex to drink half a bottle of vodka.

"Are you insane?" Jack protests. Alex is already starting to get giggly.
"That should stop the pain, but he's still gonna be drunk," Brendon explains, setting the bottle on the bathroom counter.
"I can't believe you would give him alcohol! Drinking is what started this whole mess!" Jack kneels down next to the tub again.
Alex giggles, "You're pretty."
"You're drunk."

Rian sets a hand on Jack's shoulder. "Right now, Alex being drunk is the least of our problems."

Brendon sighs. "Have his fangs grown in yet?"
"How the fuck should I know?" Jack asks.
"Alex can you smile, please?" Rian asks.
"Nooooo."
Jack pinches the bridge of his nose. "This is so awkward, okay." Jack reaches over and pushes Alex's lip back, revealing a razor sharp fang.

Jack pulls his hand away when Alex licks him.
"What the hell, man?" He knows Alex gets flirty when he's drunk, but he's never seen him this bad.

"Fangs are good. He's turning at a normal pace."
Jack glares at Brendon, but says nothing.

Alex pulls at Jack's hand. "Baby, my mouth hurts," he complains.
Jack blinks, turning bright red. "W-what did you just-"
"You should kiss it better."
"Gotta say," Rian starts, "guy's got better game when he's drunk."

Rian leads Brendon out of the bathroom, leaving Jack with a drunk Alex.

"What?"