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"Are you sure this is okay?"
Ranpo groaned, his hands supporting his weight as he leaned back on the bed. "For the last time, yes." They’d been having this back-and-forth for some time now, and while part of him found Poe's worrying sweet, having to constantly repeat himself was starting to get a little annoying.
"But Ranpo, what if I-"
Poe's words were abruptly cut off as Ranpo grasped his collar, pulling him forward. "Eddie. Relax." He placed a quick, reassuring kiss to his partner's nose. "I made the offer in the first place, I know exactly what I'm getting myself into."
"I wonder about that..." Poe worried his bottom lip, the dim lighting just barely revealing the sharp fang that peeked through. Funnily enough, Ranpo was sure Poe would be beet red if he were capable of such a thing. At last, he sighed. "I apologize, my dear. I just worry for your well-being."
Ranpo rolled his eyes, extending one of his hands to cup Poe's cheek. "You are very thoughtful, but you better start feeding on my blood soon. I'm tired of hearing your stomach growling."
Though it wasn't quite how vampire hunger worked, Poe's embarrassed expression was enough to quell any lingering annoyance in Ranpo.
It took a few seconds for the taller man to compose himself. And with a shake of his head, he moved, finally joining Ranpo on top of the mattress.
Despite his attempt to appear calm, Poe’s taut body language still betrayed a hint of nervousness when his hands reached for Ranpo's shirt. A painted nail timidly brushed against the top button. "May I?"
Ranpo snorted, relaxing his shoulders. "You may."
Steadily, Poe undid each button, his focused expression so intense it caused Ranpo to let out a giggle. Soon, however, the laughter morphed into a soft exhale as Poe's hands came to rest on the detective's bare stomach.
"Ranpo." At the call of his name, Ranpo's head snapped up.
Poe looked back at him, one of his eyes visible through his parted hair. "I can stop at any moment, all you need to do is ask, okay?" His thumb traced slow circles on Ranpo’s skin, eliciting a shiver from him. "If you can't speak, feel free to pull on my hair."
Why did he have to say it like that? Ranpo closed his eyes, stifling a groan as he attempted to chase away the inappropriate images conjured by his mind. It wasn’t really working. Still, he forced out a reply. "I got it, thanks Ed."
The shirt slipped smoothly off his shoulders, gathering at his elbows.
Inching closer, Poe positioned himself between Ranpo's legs. His gaze locked on the detective's throat.
Considering Poe’s earlier hesitation, Ranpo expected him to be quick about it. He closed his eyes in anticipation, bracing himself for the prick of pain.
So, it came as a surprise when he felt only the cool brush of lips upon his skin.
Gentle, close-mouthed kisses graced Ranpo’s neck, trailing down to his collarbone before retracing their journey back up near his earlobe. The gesture was so delicate that Ranpo couldn't help but squirm from the unexpected attention.
Wrapping his arms around Poe, Ranpo pulled him close, pressing their bodies together. It was such a strange feeling—his skin was gradually heating up while Poe remained ever cold.
"It feels nice." Ranpo nuzzled into the embrace, surrendering to the affection Poe showered him in. He could feel the tension in his muscles slowly dissipate, melting away under his partner's care. It was only then that Ranpo realized: perhaps he had been more nervous about this than he'd initially thought.
Leave it to his partner to be able to understand him so well.
His quiet contemplation was interrupted by the sensation of a tongue pressing against his pulse, causing his eyes to shoot open. "Poe…!" Ranpo's yelp was met with a huff against his skin, prompting him to retaliate by pinching Poe's side.
Besides moving away from the offending hand, Poe appeared unbothered. The familiarity of their affectionate exchanges likely grounded him amidst any nerves. His tongue continued its exploration of the expanse of skin presented to him, eyes closing to take in the experience in a completely different manner.
He drank in every shudder, every twitch, every sound Ranpo produced when he lingered on a particularly sensitive spot. Poe couldn't help but smile. "You're so cute like this, Ranpo."
The detective's breath hitched, his heart speeding up at the other’s confession.
Despite Poe’s constant use of pet names and flowery compliments, they still managed to fluster and delight Ranpo, even if he usually tried to hide how much it affected him. Ranpo swallowed hard, his voice rough as he replied. "Shut up, stop playing with your food already."
"That's terrible, you are my cherished partner." Poe spoke with a playful lilt, though he appeared slightly disheveled. His hair was tousled and his clothes were a bit rumpled as a consequence of their earlier interactions. "I must admit, however, that I am starting to become a bit impatient myself."
As his lips moved, Ranpo noticed his canines appeared longer than usual. It's a wonder Poe didn't nick his skin at all.
“Excuse me.” Poe cradled the back of Ranpo’s head, nose pressing against the curve of his throat, taking in the alluring aroma of his beloved. At this, the detective openly gasped, hands clawing at Poe’s shirt.
“I’m going to start now.” Poe’s voice was barely above a whisper.
Ranpo's eyes fluttered open. One of his hands found its way to Poe’s head, his fingers delicately threading through the soft curls. Finally, with a deep breath, he nodded.
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
Just as Ranpo was about to voice his confusion, there was a sharp stinging sensation where Poe latched onto him. He flinched before quickly reminding himself to relax. It wasn't a pleasant sensation, yet a far cry from the horrific scene Poe had described earlier.
He couldn’t see Poe's expression from this angle, but he could hear the other swallowing, a delighted noise escaping him the moment Ranpo's blood hit his tongue. As if it was the best thing he had ever tasted. Somehow, that alone caused Ranpo to let out a whine.
Adjusting his position, Poe moved in such a way which caused his leg to accidentally brush against Ranpo’s groin, eliciting a low moan from the smaller man.
Ranpo’s cheeks rapidly turned pink from embarrassment, his head swimming due to all the sensations he was being subjected to: his lover's intimate hold, the familiar scent that enveloped him, and the sounds Poe was making melted into a dizzying blur of pleasure and disorientation.
Seemingly lost in his own world, Poe drew Ranpo closer, his arm tightening possessively around Ranpo's waist. He was completely absorbed in his feeding, entirely unaware of the situation the detective found himself in.
The actual act of feeding lasted no more than two minutes, yet to Ranpo, it felt like an eternity had passed when Poe finally withdrew from his skin. Immediately, a trickle of blood oozed from the wound, staining the sheets below him.
When had he lied down?
Weakly, Ranpo raised an arm to his forehead, in an attempt to steady himself. His vision blurred from the blood loss, and he blinked rapidly, trying to clear it. Gradually, the world came back into focus, revealing Poe staring down at him.
A strange expression marked his face, as if he were slowly awakening from a trance. Ranpo watched as Poe steadily became aware of his surroundings, the intensity of the moment lingering in the air between them until Poe's eyes widened with recognition.
“Oh! I am so sorry Ranpo, here-” He hastily pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, pressing the cloth against the wound. "How are you feeling, dear?"
Sleepy, Ranpo thought. His eyes moved, struggling to focus, and he found Poe’s worried face hovering above him. When Ranpo failed to offer a reply, his brows furrowed.
Taking one of Ranpo’s hands, he gently guided it towards the injury. “Apply pressure, I will be right back.” After ensuring Ranpo was aware enough, Poe got up and hurried out of the door.
Some clattering could be heard as Poe ransacked whatever room he had gone into. Ranpo tried his best to apply a significant amount of pressure, but the daze he felt made it difficult to gauge if it was sufficient.
It didn’t take long before the bed dipped under Poe’s weight, his arms full of bandages and a bottle of antiseptic. He did quick work of dressing the injury.
“Do you feel more awake now?” Poe brushed the hair out of Ranpo’s eyes, his face etched with concern.
Rubbing his eyes, Ranpo nodded. “I do.” He stretched, a hint of his usual energy returning. “Hey, can you grab me something to eat?”
With a smile, Poe reached over to the bedside table. He returned with a bag of cookies and a glass of water in his hands.
“I love you!” Ranpo’s voice was filled with genuine gratitude as he eagerly tore into the package, devouring the sweets with more ferocity than usual.
Poe watched him eat, his smile slowly faltering and being clouded by an air of melancholy.
“I can tell you're thinking something silly,” Ranpo said, shooting him a glance out of the corner of his eye. Gulping down the last of the water, he placed a hand on Poe’s thigh to capture his attention. “Stop it.”
“I’m just thinking…” Poe averted his eyes, looking like the definition of guilt. “I don’t think we should do this again, you seem so tired…”
A scoff echoed in the quiet room as Ranpo shifted along the bed, trying to find a comfortable position. “And when did I say I was opposed to you feeding on me again?”
“Ranpo…”
“Nope, not talking about this right now,” Ranpo stuck out his tongue and opened his arms. “Now, hurry up and come cuddle me.” His eyes sparkled with affection, prompting a brief, amused laugh from Poe.
Quietly, the author made his way towards his beloved, cradling Ranpo’s head against his chest.
The room fell into a peaceful silence, and Ranpo’s eyes grew heavy, almost drifting into sleep when he felt a gentle vibration beneath him.
“Thank you, Ranpo,” Poe murmured, his voice soft and earnest. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, I’m truly happy that you trust me so.” His hand stroked the detective’s hair, contributing to the comfortable atmosphere.
Ranpo sighed, allowing himself to relax completely as the last remnants of his fatigue melted away.
“And I love you too, more than you know.” Poe placed a sweet kiss on the top of his head.
In response, Ranpo placed a quick peck where the other’s heart would be. Snuggling closer, he let his eyes fall shut, content to remain in this moment for as long as it would last.