Until Proven Otherwise
AO3 Mirror
Happy Pride Month! Here's some vampire yaoi. That's all I have to say :3
For months, I've befriended him. Observed him.
But today is the day I do something about it.
He is a vampire. I just know it.
Knock knock.
1) He always asks to be let in.
Knock knock.
It's him.
Theodore.
I quickly make my way to the door.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite customer!"
"Heh, don't say that, Sebs." He smiles softly.
"Same as usual?"
"Yep. Thanks."
Theo became a regular at this café shortly after I started working here.
And every time, without fail, he knocks.
Even though he knows full well that a small bell chimes when the door opens.
Even though there's literally no one else here.
He knocks. Every single time.
Look, I know some people are just polite and all, but this is borderline creepy.
Anyone else would've refused to let him in by now.
2) He always comes here at night.
Honestly, I picked the night shift because I knew no one would be around at this hour.
So Theo has been… a distraction, to put it lightly.
Well, at least he's good company. For now.
"Can I come join you?" I ask.
"Of course."
He takes a bite of his butter croissant, laptop open, like always.
I take a bite of my own croissant. With chocolate chips.
"Say, Theo, why do you always come here at night?"
"I already told you, Sebs, I like studying at night. It's quieter."
"But don't you have, like, lectures and stuff? Are you not tired?"
"Oh, all my classes are at night," he replies casually.
Well, that's awfully convenient.
"I could ask you the same thing, Sebs. Why do you work the night shift?"
Ah. He's got a point.
I come up with an easy lie.
"Oh, I work during the day too."
"Really?" He raises an eyebrow.
"Yeah?" I reply.
"Hm. Okay then." His eyes drift back to his laptop.
This conversation is just going great, huh?
3) He drinks blood.
Okay, hear me out.
We have a lot of drinks on the menu.
He hasn't ordered any of them. Just the pastries.
So I have to ask…
"You know, Theo, I can get you a coffee if you want one. It's on me."
"I'm good, thanks." Theo dismisses the offer almost immediately.
"You're seriously not tired?"
"I'm wide awake, Sebs."
"What about our non-caffeinated drinks? Would you like some hot chocolate?"
"No."
"A milkshake?"
"No."
"A… smoothie?" I'm getting desperate.
"No."
"…Plain water?"
"No, Sebastian." He sounds slightly irritated now.
"Are you… not thirsty at all, Theo?" I ask, exasperated.
"Are you?" he fires back.
I look down at the table.
Chocolate chip croissant.
No drink.
Sigh.
4) He can't eat garlic.
When Theo first showed up, he insisted that he didn't want any garlic in his order.
I didn't think much of it back then, but now it all makes sense.
I'm not crazy, right?
"Oh, you finished your croissant! Want me to get another one for you?" I chirp.
"Sure? Whatever, Sebs. I'm kind of in the middle of something–"
"Heh, one croissant coming right up!"
I make my way to the kitchen and prepare another butter croissant.
With garlic.
"Here you go, Theo."
"Thanks."
He absentmindedly grabs the croissant, but his nose twitches slightly.
Theo sighs.
"Sebs, this has garlic in it."
"What? No it doesn't." I haphazardly deflect.
"Yes it does. I can smell it. Look."
He brings the plate closer to me, and I catch a whiff of it.
I furrow my brow, pretending to be confused.
"Huh, I guess it does. I must've been on autopilot. Night shifts, am I right?"
Theo visibly frowns. I feel slightly guilty.
"Sebastian, I told you I don't like garlic. It makes my breath stink."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. It was an honest mistake, I swear–"
"I've seen you working here. You never make mistakes like that." Theo presses on.
"I, uh…"
"Are you alright? You've been acting weird today."
Shoot.
I really am bad at this.
5) He has no reflection.
Well, I guess I have no other choice.
Sorry, Theodore.
"Hey, what's that over there?" I randomly point somewhere.
"Huh? What–"
I pull a mirror out of my bag.
I shove it in Theo's face.
Theo immediately ducks.
"Sebs? What the–"
"Take that!" I angle my mirror closer.
Before I can catch a glimpse of the evidence, Theo bolts out of his chair.
He tries to make a run for it.
I won't let him.
I get in front of the door and block his way.
"You're not getting away with– Oh, you are much taller than me. Oh wow."
I seem to have made a horrible blunder.
Theo backs me into a corner and slams his fist against the wall.
"What is your problem, Sebastian?!" he demands.
I gulp.
+1) He is infuriatingly handsome.
That glare. Those eyes.
My face reddens.
Agh. I can't believe I'm like this.
I push him away gently.
I can't let this go on.
My heart can't take it anymore.
"Theodore, I… I–"
"You what?" he asks, impatiently.
"Ugh! Fine!"
I bare my teeth.
Fangs and all.
Theodore's face goes white.
Well, whiter than it already was.
"Oh my god, Sebastian! When did–"
"My parents are both vampires, okay?" I mutter, defeated.
"Wait, what?" he asks, thoroughly confused.
It takes him way too long to get it.
"Oh. Ohhh. So that's what all this was about," he says, like an idiot.
"You are the densest vampire I've ever met, you know that?"
"Sorry. I genuinely had no idea. You were pretty good at hiding it."
"Did my three months of flirting not set off any alarm bells?"
"I mean, uh–"
"Maybe you're just that clueless, Theodore. Ever thought about that?"
"Mmm…" He looks away bashfully.
"Sunday, 3am, at the park around the corner. You up for it?" I ask.
"Yeah… yeah, I'd like that."
Ugh.
He is such a brickhead.
…I wouldn't have asked for anything else.