Chapter Text
It had been a month and some since their big fight. Somehow, miraculously, they had come out of it stronger, something that Noe thought would be impossible. The knowledge he now had of Vanitas, his past, his humanity, he thought—feared—Vanitas would leave in the middle of the night, go and never come back. And yet, here they were, a better understanding for each other, and now, simply hunting for a curse-bearer, just as if he didn’t do what he did, or know what he knew.
The snow falls gently on the ground of the alleyway the curse-healers—is that what they’re called? Vanitas would surely threaten him if he knew that’s what he thought—find themselves in. It covers the ground in a layer of white, there are two pairs of tiny puffs of hot breath to be seen in the air. The crunching of feet filling the air of the otherwise silent alleyway. Well, until,
“Vanitas! I told you already, you need to cover up more in the snow!” Noe pesters, running up beside Vanitas. The shorter of the two huffs, rolling his eyes.
“And I have told you, I will be fine. This will be short. From what I’ve heard, this curse-bearer is very slow—and stupid. It will only take a few minutes, ten at most.”
“Ten?! Vanitas, that is too long! You-” He pauses, considering his next words, “Vanitas, as much as you hate to admit it, you aren’t as…durable as I am. You need to take care.” Noe didn’t understand the man. As a doctor—for vampires? He doesn’t quite know how far the man’s medical expertise goes—he should know how dangerous it is to not be covered up. He could get a cold, of course, which wouldn't be good for how often curse-bearers have been showing up recently, but also more serious things. It both shocks and exhausts Noe to no end how reckless the human—human? Is he still considered that?—is with his safety.
“I would appreciate it if you stopped being such a mother-hen. I will be fine, and you can rub it in my face after we cure this curse-bearer if I—somehow, most impossibly—end up unwell.” Vanitas says, continuing his trek down the alleyway, staying alert for any other movement.
Noe sighs, but continues to follow the man. Vanitas, I will never understand you. More so than just the danger you are putting yourself in, but, from what I…saw, you dislike the cold. The Vampire of- Luna, said that. Why must you walk through the cold like this then? Why must you put yourself into the winter when you get nothing out of it? Your commitment to these curse-bearers is hurting you no matter how much you deny it.
Cutting Noe out of his thoughts, Vanitas huffs, “Stop pouting. There was no time to put on my scarf and extra coat. This is serious. The curse-bearer may be stupid but he is not harmless. I’ll be fine.” If Noe didn’t know any better, he’s almost say Vanitas’ tone sounded soft. Still, the furrow in Noe’s brows didn’t subside, and neither did the worry he had for Vanitas.
A sudden movement caught both of their eyes, and a sudden roar put them on the defensive. With a quick look to each other they were ready to face the curse-bearer, a John-Paul Satre, a man who mysteriously abandoned his family one day, who has caused the deaths of at least 11 people in the past week.
Once they had successfully subdued the man, though Vanitas seemed to be breathing heavier than usual. It worried Noe, though the curse-bearer currently struggling in invisible chains that Vanitas had made had much more of his attention. As Vanitas whipped out his book again, Noe looked worridly on as he saw his blue-tinged nose and lips. Seeing this, he was eternally grateful that Vanitas always wore gloves, though he feared to imagine how they looked nonetheless.
“Vanitas-” Noe began, though was cut off by a slurred speech from Vanitas as he lazily cured John-Paul, much slower and sluggish than it should have been. Why must you always feel the need to put yourself in danger like this? The fight had lasted much longer than expected, Vanitas clearly underestimating the man’s strength, but Noe didn’t think it would’ve been this bad, especially with Vanitas’…altered blood. Why must you feel the need to worry me?
“Ah…so that…is your true…name…” Vanitas slurs out, slowly dropping to the ground, the scene playing in slow motion for Noe.
“Vanitas!” Noe yells for him, rushing to pick him up. John-Paul lay on the ground, restored to his non-cursed self, though unconscious. Noe feels bad for the want to leave him there, but it is clear Vanitas needs immediate help.
Noe’s head snaps towards a near fluttering of wings, and sees a bat fluttering next to them. One of Dante’s.
“Please,” Noe begged, “Have Dante get John-Paul. Vanitas needs help—” The bat seemed to understand his plea, darting off towards where Noe hoped was Dante.
Noe focused his attention back onto Vanitas, seeing his slow, shallow breaths puff up into the cold air. His nose and lips blue, bright pink covering his cheeks, long eyelashes beginning to get snow on them.
This puts him into action, muttering a quiet ‘shit’ under his breath. Noe took off his second coat and his scarf, gently draping them around the Vanitas, loosely covering his mouth and nose with the scarf. He scooped the short man up into his arms, gently adjusting him to be close to his body, sharing his vampiric warmth. He was worried by how Vanitas was shaking like a leaf, surprising himself with the fact he wasn’t falling over with the sheer force of Vanitas shaking in his arms.
Noe began to quickly walk to Hotel ChouChou, careful not to rustle Vantias too much. It both endeared and worried the man to see how peaceful the man in his arms looked. He barely ever saw Vanitas asleep, the doctor always sleeping after him and waking up before, and on the rare occasion Vanitas was still asleep, he was always in a cocoon of blankets. It was nice to see him so calm. No, Vanitas is ill, I shouldn’t be thinking like this. This is a bad situation. Yet…at least he seems not in too much pain like this—even if it’s caused by…a cold? Fever? What illnesses do humans get?
Suddenly, Vanitas stopped shaking. Is he warming up? Noe carefully put the back of his glove against Vanitas’ cheek, wincing as he felt how cold he was. That can’t be good. Then why is he not shivering? Noe was beginning to severely regret not learning about human illnesses. Knowing he had a human partner—work partner, of course—he should have looked into these things more! Perhaps Madam Amelia knows about this? Why didn’t I think to ask Vanitas about these things!
Noe began to pick up his pace, practically running, but he was luckily close to the Hotel now. Whether it was good or bad Noe did not know, but he didn’t want to risk it.
Noe eventually turned the corner, arriving at the Hotel. He burst through the door, but it was late, and so no one apart from Madam Amelia was there. She jumped, snapping around to see who made such a noise.
“Monsieur Noe! Are you okay? You scared me!” She said with a concerned look, not yet noticing Vanitas.
Noe rushed towards her, Vantias still tucked in his hands. Amelia noticed him now, gasping, “Is he okay?” She asked.
“I- I don’t know! We were out in the cold, and for ‘times sake’ he didn’t wear his winter attire, and now he’s like this!” Noe presented him better to Madam Amelia so she could see. Her brows furrowed in clear worry, “He was shivering earlier but he stopped now, despite still being very cold! Is that normal? Is he improving?” Noe frantically asked.
“How long were you out there?” Amelia asked, trying to keep calm and wrack her brain about what she knows of human illnesses.
“I believe forty five minutes?” He said, trying to think, “Is that too long?”
Amelia gasped at the time, “Noe, that is much too long. He must have hypothermia by now!” At Noe’s confused expression, she continued, “It is very dangerous, caused by long exposure to too cold temperatures. It can be deadly if not treated fast enough.” She said, trying her best not to worry him, though failing horribly.
“What?! How do I fix or, or help him? What should I do?!” Noe says, spiralling.
“Calm down Monsieur Noe, I believe he will be okay if you…well, I don’t know how you would feel about this…” Amelia says, trailing off.
“What, Madam Amelia? I will do whatever is needed to help him! No matter what!” Noe says, holding Vanitas closer, feeling the doctor’s shallow breaths on his collarbone.
“Well, I read somewhere that skin-to-skin contact is best.” At Noe’s eyes widening, she quickly backpedaled, “A- a bath could work as well! It is just hard to get the right temperature, too hot and too cold and it would take a while, but if needed—!”
“No, no, it’s okay.” Noe began slowly, glancing down to the unconscious Vanitas in his arms, who was beginning to shiver again. “I will do, well, ahem, whatever is necessary.” Despite the fact that he said that, his cheeks still began to heat up, and Amelia looked away, a small smile forming on her face, before turning serious.
“It seems he’s shivering again, that’s good. Though you should probably…” She gestures towards the stairs, her own cheeks heating up in embarrassment, a different reason than…well, not the same as Noe’s.
“Ah, yes, you’re right!” Noe said, beginning to go off, “Thank you so much, Madam Amelia!” He finished, thanking her over his shoulder.
He quickly rushed up the stairs, feeling Vanitas shiver in his arms. His heart panged with pity for him, though he should have just worn his winter clothes, Noe thought, though one look at the man made all of his exasperation dissipate.
The two quickly arrived at the room, Noe not even slightly out of breath—perhaps Vanitas was doing the breathing for them, as Noe could feel his hot breath, his cheeks heating up when he noticed.
Now he needed to take off his clothes. Take off my clothes? Why would I agree to this? For Vanitas. Yes, for Vanitas…whom I also need to undress. But it’s not like that, of course. I would never do something without his permission. Though I can only hope he understands why I have to do this, and my meaning behind it. This is just something friends do for friends. He will understand.
Noe set Vanitas on his own bed instead of Vanitas’ as he began taking off his own clothes, though leaving on his boxers. He then looked over to Vanitas, realizing how truly absurd the situation is as he stood there in onl;y his boxers. A situation of which Vanitas would only be in his own in a second. Huddled up to each other. Noe’s cheeks reddened even more, pursing his lips together. Of course, it is for his health.
Noe padded over to Vanitas, gently removing his—strangely designed—coat, then his bow, though he paused when he got to his collar. Am I really having to do this? I suppose it'd be the same with a bath…but… Noe pushed those thoughts out of his mind, knowing he’d have to do this, no matter how…strange…it is.
He began gently unbuttoning Vanitas’ blouse, closing his eyes as Vanitas’ sweet blood invaded his nostrils even more than usual. The urge to take a bite, taste his utterly, unbelievably sweet blood invade his mouth and taste buds- No. I would never. He knew he wouldn’t, and he shook his head as if it’d shake the thoughts away. He had to move Vanitas to get his blouse fully off, the movement causing the man to whimper at the movement. I am sorry Vanitas, Noe thought, you can relax in just a moment.
Once he had the blouse off, Noe moved to his gloves. Then, he paused. Vanitas never took them off. From what he had heard, even when he was in a similar state with Jeanne he hadn’t taken them off—though he wasn’t unconscious—and so, after a moment of consideration, he moved on to the man’s pants. Oh god help me.
Noe started with the man’s shoes, scrunching his nose when he noticed some snow melting into the bed. After the shoes were off he stripped the man’s socks off and then…the pants. This is…embarrassing. Noe began to undo his pants, trying his best not to rustle the man too much while stripping them pants off. Vanitas’ shivering made it difficult, but after a bit of struggle he was able to get them off.
Noe looked at Vanitas, taking in the scars littering his torso from previous curse bearers, and did his best to avoid looking at precise cuts and poorly healed needle indents from that horris ‘Doctor’ Moreau. These thoughts, knowing this, was strange to Noe. Such a private man and yet he knew so much of his past. Against Vanitas’ will. As much as he tried not to feel guilty—Vanitas always says it is not his fault, that he does not blame him—thoughts like this never cease to make him wonder. What would it have been like to see this? What was it like to live that? He doesn’t quite have the courage to ask Vanitas.
He pushed those considerations away, focusing back on the here and now. Noe looked at the man, cheeks reddening beyond what was thought to be possible as he climbed into his bed next to the almost-naked man. He covered both of them with their comforter and a few blankets, and then gently hugged the man, intertwining their arms and legs. Vanitas naturally huddled in, wrapping his arms around him and placing his head in the crook of Noe’s neck. The coldness of Vanitas’ skin made Noe wince, though he kept his hold, only imagining what it felt like for Vanitas.
Noe felt Vanitas’ breath come back stronger, rather than the shallow breaths he’d been taking up to then. He sighed in content at the return of them, though he still worried about the man.
As Vanitas’ shivering slowly went down, though not yet leaving, the man’s eyes slowly opened, though half-lidded and half-seeing.
“Vanitas?”
“Noe..” Vanitas slurred out, looking up at the man.
“How are you feeling?” Noe asked softly.
“C- cold.” The doctor stuttered out, trying to pry himself away from Noe. It was awkward, all limbs moving strangely and fruitlessly, but Noe pulled him back in.
“Hey, hey, don’t move away. This’ll help warm you up.” Noe said, trying to keep his grip on the other, something that was worryingly easy yet expected, “You have hypo…hypothermia! Yes, that’s what Madam Amelia said. You have hypothermia.”
“Hypothermia? No, I’m not…” Vanitas said, brows furrowing. the man paused, clearly thinking, though after much longer than he should have taken, he asked, “Is that—that’s why we’re skin to skin?” Vanitas asked, his doctorate—does he know things about human illnesses as well?—possibly coming back to him, though he was still speaking slowly and a slur still along with his words. The man’s cheeks reddened, though he didn’t continue to try and move away.
“Ah, yes! It is the best way to warm you up. Madam Amelia read it somewhere once. Is that correct?” Noe asked, trying to keep the atmosphere light—and avoid thinking about their…position right now.
“Yes, it is, I know…” Vanitas responded, Well, at least his ego is still intact.
There was silence for a bit as Vanitas pressed his ear against Noe’s chest, heavy eyes blinking against him as if it was hard to open them. The white-haired man flustered at the change in position, but didn’t move them.
“What’re you—”
“Vampires’ heartbeats are slower than humans’.” Vanitas said, listening to the other’s heartbeat.
“Yours is as well.” Noe commented after a pause, “Because of your hypothermia. It’s slower than usual.”
Vanitas moved away from Noe’s chest, looking up at the man with big blue eyes, delirious. “You can listen to my heartbeat?” He asked.
Noe’s cheeks reddened at the man’s interested face, “Yes. With my vampiric hearing, I am able to listen to people’s heartbeats if I wish.”
“You choose to listen to my heartbeat?” Vanitas asked, Noe simply nodding instead of a verbal response, in fear of what his voice would sound like if he spoke.
“Why?” Vanitas asks.
“Well, it is steady,” He began, “And it…helps me.” Noe finished lamely
“Helps?” Not in his right mind, Vanitas cocked his head to the side like a cat.
Noe took a second to appreciate the look, a strange, unfamiliar—outside of what Vanitas makes him feel—emotion bubbling up in his chest.
“Well…” He paused, looking to the side, considering “In battle, I can tell you’re okay. And, with your hypothermia, I knew you were…alive. It can also…” Noe coughed, “It, um, helps me fall asleep.”
Vanitas’ mouth was in an ‘o’ shape, before a goofy smile spread across his face. “You fall asleep to my heartbeat?” He said, smiling like a loon.
“Yes.” Noe responds softly. Vanitas looks at him with bright eyes and a surprised expression at the forwardness. After a second, he hums in contentment, putting his ear back on Noe’s chest.
There is a silence, where Noe thinks he may have messed up, weirded Vanitas out, but then,
“I’d fall asleep to your’s if I could.” Vanitas says quietly, “It’s nice.”
Noe smiled at that, gently cupping Vanitas’ head, running his hands through the man’s hair. He could feel Vanitas’ smile form on his chest at the movement, and he took it as a go-ahead to continue. Noe gently combed through his hair until he was asleep.
Noe rested his head on top of Vanitas’, closing his eyes and attempting to fall asleep. His hand moved back down to Vanitas’ waist, gently holding him as the shivering began to stop.
The pair stayed like that into the morning, both falling asleep in the others’ arms.