Echoes of the Multiverse

Fuck was he thirsty.

His mouth and throat felt dry and scratchy, cracked like mud on a sweltering day. A pink tongue peeked out to swipe across dry lips, though that tiny bit of added moisture was useless against the thin, peeling skin. The lack of moisture was pervasive even within his chest. It was like he’d been breathing in dry winter air for weeks, making his lungs pull harder and harder for any sense of relief.

Even more than that, the thirst seemed to pervade his very muscles, causing the fibers to pull taught against bone. It was like his whole body was knotted up, trying to make him curl in on himself in agony. It was agony.

He’d waited too long.

Tomura Shigaraki grimaced while his nails tore into his neck, wasting what little blood he had on the coping mechanism without realizing it. Had anyone come close enough to see, they would have noticed that his blood was darker than a human’s, almost black… Of course, anyone that came close enough to notice that would have soon found themselves pounced upon and summarily dead.

Much like the blonde he was stalking was sure to end up. He’d picked him out of a crowd near his home. The guy was alone, listening to something and paying no mind to his surroundings. It was almost funny what easy prey he made. The guy had even had on headphones, not paying attention to his surroundings in the least. It was almost too easy, like fighting a mob in the starting area when you already maxed your level. No challenge at all, he wouldn’t even need to waste any specials to wipe them out. Not that he had to kill them, per se… But he was in a bad mood and watching the life drain out of some idiot’s eyes as their body went cold usually helped with that.

The blond turned a corner, unaware of the creature tailing him. Not that anyone would be able to tell what he was by appearance alone. A black hoodie was as inconspicuous as it was deceiving, hiding most of his face and features. Matching black pants helped him in the shadows, a dark shape moving through other dark shapes on a quiet, moonless night. His red shoes were the only pop of color to distinguish him from the shadows, their soles hitting the ground almost silently as he stalked his meal. It wasn’t like he had to be stealthy or anything… Humans were easy prey, never paying attention, even to things right in front of their faces.

It was no wonder they still believed things like him to be scary stories told to frighten children into behaving. A whole underworld of ‘monsters’ existed right under their noses, things that would frighten even their strongest adults, make them fear the night and the dark. The vampire chuckled to himself. Any one of his little band of misfits would be enough to make most humans piss themselves. It was enough to bring a smile to his cracked lips.

When they had become his band of misfits, he couldn’t be sure. They’d all been castaways of this underground supernatural society… He himself was shunned for his lineage, as well as his apparent disregard for not killing those he hunted. It probably didn’t help that his sire was one of the most feared Vampire Lords in the world, and currently on the top of the list for a lot of Hunters. Tomura had been on his own after his Sire disappeared, until his little group had gravitated around him, one by one.

The youngest, Toga, was a mixed breed of succubus and vampire and was shunned by both. They’d met when going after the same target for a meal, and hand ended up staying close after that. Spinner was a Kobold, a race that usually kept to the less urbanized areas. They were almost unheard of in cities, and plenty of the other supernatural races looked down on him like some sort of animal over another person. He hadn’t really wanted to stick with their little band, but overtime Spinner had mellowed out a bit. He was even one of the very few that could keep up when playing video games with Shigaraki. Dabi was some sort of fire mage, and that was about all he knew about him… The guy was secretive, even with people he was intimate with.

The vampire’s nails dug a little harder into his skin. Fucking Dabi. Irritation ran through him, only overshadowed by the ache of his need for blood. It was all Dabi’s fault he was out here. Well, his and that damned bird’s. They’d been getting on his nerves for a while now, and the only way he’d seen to punish the horny addicts was by keeping his fangs away from them- depriving them of their favorite little club drug. Of course, that was a double-edged sword. In doing so, he wasn’t able to feed, and they had been his main source of blood for a good while now. It didn’t hurt that they tasted good, too. Dabi in particular seemed to have some sort of spice to his blood… Maybe it had something to do with being a fire mage. Hawks was more… savory, with a touch of a metallic aftertaste.

He could feel his hunger pooling in his mouth at the memory of the taste of their blood. Shigaraki growled softly, red eyes locked on his prey. He wouldn’t cave and go back to them. It didn’t matter that he had two perfectly willing feeders at home… He was punishing them, and no matter how hungry he got, he wouldn’t cave. Tomura was perfectly able to take care of his needs all by himself… He had before when he was alone, and he would when he inevitably found himself alone again.

Shigaraki was deep enough in thought that he almost missed the prey’s next turn, into some sort of park. Following a reasonable distance away, the vampire took in their surroundings. A nature park, filled with trees and bushes, allowed to almost run wild. Lighting was scarce to make the place feel like a real wilderness. They seemed to be the only two here at this hour. There would be no witnesses and so many places to hide the body.

It was perfect.

Nothing quite soothed Izuku's nerves after a long day of manning a floral shop than rolling around or otherwise goofing off around the park practically in his back yard whilst bearing a glamour of the unseen. Being a nature fae, it was an easy task, especially while almost literally being in his element. He always did his best to keep the gardens nice, the trees and bushes trimmed, and even lent a hand to lost children who had lost their way, or an item they had lost while playing. Sure, he was uncharacteristically nice compared to his kin, and was chided for it at times, but it really didn't matter much. He was still able to eat and flourish, and really, he was happy with his lifestyle, as lax as it was. He only enjoyed the mischief performed against the cruel-- inconveniences that followed Karen's out his door, subtle but debilitating curses and hexes that was nigh impossible to be freed of unless they changed their ways.

Most humans didn't have the ability to make such connections until it's far too late, he's come to find out.

All the same, not all humans were bad-- and some of the kindest were the most scarred, too.... he made sure to visit a little unicorn girl often after helping her adopted father rescue her from a terrible magical black market situation. The supernatural folk weren't entirely innocent themselves.

But, Izuku took care not to creep too much into things his nose shouldn't be in-- he couldn't expose the magical society, at least, not yet anyways. Humans were still so easily scared, hateful of things they didn't understand. It was honestly sad to Izuku at times. However, when a hungry creature set foot upon his territory, tailing a painfully oblivious human, he really couldn't just look the other way. He hated dealing with law enforcement-- he's been charged and excused for certain herbs in his shop being mistaken for illegal plants. Then again, he did have some, naturally, but it was in a place only he could go to, unless he invited one inside.

And so, when the human passed the tree he was sitting in, he chuckled innocently as he swung his legs, nature-warn and bare soles exposed as if there weren't any natural hazards on the ground, like the occasional burr, stick or seed. "Hey there!! It's too dark to visit here at night!" He called to the human, who seemed to finally realize others existed in his world. "Don't you know monsters with human faces like to unleash their true natures here?" He asked in an ominously sweet tone, though he really meant no harm to the quickly anxious young man. For good measure, he even allowed his large emerald eyes to glow eerily in the dark, his canines growing faintly sharper for good measure. "Run home." He casually ordered, and luckily for him, the human did just that.

He then looked towards the creature that had been stalking the human with a soft, apologetic smile. "Sorry about that-- I dont like others eating so close to my home. I have enough trouble with the local cops thinking I run a shady side business. Then again, I do, but no matter how hard they try to, they'll never have the proof. Besides, most jail cells have little to no real iron in them." He giggled again, still kicking his feet where he sat.

"Though.... you seem pretty hungry, and I did ruin your meal, huh?" He frowned, before rubbing his nape awkwardly. "Tell you what-- I'll let you have your fill for your trouble, how does that sound? You can call me Deku!" He grinned, following his own mind's laws-- never give out your real name unless you know you won't be betrayed. He wondered if this guy knew that rule. He wouldn't abuse the other with his name unless he absolutely had to, though. It's so easy to erase someone simply by taking their name, after all. Depending on the case, he might feel pity for a victim of such a trick-- then again, some weren't worth remembering anyways. He soon hopped down from the tree silently, and landing similarly in a slowed manner. If one cared to look hard enough, every so often, there would be the faintest iridescent green and blue shift of light behind his back.

"Care for a bite?"

As the unsuspecting blonde moved further and further into the park Tomura had been looking for the perfect place to take them down. He could almost smell the blood from here, feel the warmth soon-to-be pulsing within his own veins. The muscles of his arms contracted, pale hands finally slipping out of the black hoodie as he reached out to constrict his prey, to sate his hunger and slake his thirst-

Only to be interrupted by a bystander he hadn’t even noticed in his parched state. His Sire would have been so disappointed in him... Sensei had spent centuries drilling the necessary survival skills into him, from the moment he’d turned him. If he’d known something like a man sitting in a tree had made it past him it would have earned him all sorts of reeducation.

Crimson eyes fixed on the intruder as his prey startled. That flash of green... So he wasn’t some other human hanging out in the darkness of the park to seem edgy. The vampire’s previously aggressive stance shifted into a more defensive one. Engaging with an unknown was risky… Newly turned, he wouldn’t have hesitated to launch himself at the threat, but Tomura liked to think he’d matured some after being without his benefactor for so long.

Fangs, and those green eyes… Sensei had been adamant he learned the names and characteristics of different types of Supernatural beings, but unfortunately there were a fair number with those two features… It wasn’t enough to go off of.

Shigaraki grimaced as the blonde he’d been stalking split. Now he’d either have to find someone as unsuspecting and with as few self-preservation instincts or face the music and go crawling back to his shitty asshole feeders. He could just see the smug look on Dabi’s leathery face now, and the smirk of that damn harpy as he gave in and bit them. Hawks would probably have some witty retort, too, which would just piss him off even more. Then he’d have to deal with the aftermath of those two horny fucks crawling all over him and each other…

Once again the vampire’s nails were at his own throat, eyes staring off into his revere for a moment as blood rose to tint the self-inflicted wounds.

The words snapped him out of it, Tomura’s scowl directed at the source.

“So you did… Do you interfere with every predator in the park, or am I just lucky enough to have caught your attention?” There was no hiding the irritation in his scratchy voice… Or his hunger, apparently, as the stranger had noticed it so readily. The offer had him narrowing his eyes. Blood from a variety of other supernatural creatures could be a debuff or even an instant KO- the gesture wasn’t as innocent or charitable as one might think.

The shimmering behind this ‘Deku’s’ back along with the mention of iron finally had the pieces of the puzzle clicking into place. A fae. He was face-to-face with some fae, who was offering him a meal and more likely than not a false name. Thinking back, he couldn’t recall a single recorded instance of vampires drinking fae blood. It was entirely unknown territory. Plus, for ‘Deku’ to have offered so readily… Was he some sort of addict as well, looking for a fix?

“...What makes you think your blood is even palatable?” He spat, though the offer had his abdomen aching with thirst. Though he was starved to a point where most vampires would submit and feed without a thought, Tomura had more control than that.

Sensei had made sure of it.

Izuku was mostly unbothered by the change in posture the vampire bore, however he wasn't foolish enough to let his guard down, either. After all, he's heard of starving vampires making messes of pretty creatures in the long, long past. "I interfere if they are sure to make trouble for me. This is my territory, after all, and I have enough trouble with human authorities trying to catch me growing illegal substances." He shrugged, clasping his hands behind his back innocently. "I hope you understand." He cocked his head gently to the side with a smile, his wings shuddering faintly behind him, refracting what little light there was in the park at that late hour.

At the spat out question, he blinked, before cocking his head to the other side. "Well, I know some succubi and incubi enjoy Fae blood, as well as other blood-sipping folk. I've donated a bit in the past to heal wounds, too, in return for favors. I've been told I taste like kiwis and starfruit." He mused, before smirking softly. "But, if you don't want a fruity drink, I can show you the easiest path into the local blood bank, where they keep the less-fresh pouches. I don't like seeing others bleed out and die, even if it attracts butterflies." He giggled, before shrugging.

"So, will you want some fresh, warm blood, or would you prefer I show you to a vamp-caprisun?" He teased, wings fluttering faintly again as he glanced toward the archway leading into his gardens. "Just know that my offer is to encourage you to avoid hunting here again. If you refuse, and try to come back despite my gracious offer, I will not hesitate to call in help if I absolutely need. Kaachan is a big bad wolf, after all, and his mate is a shark man." He threatened softly, though it was clear that he didn't want to start a fight, if he could avoid it. "Oh, I don't know if you knew this, seeing as I seem new to you, but fae do not lie. We cannot lie." He explained, hoping the other would trust him, at least enough to make the right choice, be it to take him up on his offer and go, or leave and not hunt on his land again.

"Fae are witty, clever and dangerous, though we come in various types. I'm a nature type, specifically forest. You could say I look the spitting image of a pretty winged person from children's bedtime stories.... but I'm not afraid nor unaccustomed to using fools as fertilizer." He smiled again, those wings of his glinting as he flared them softly, before relaxing them once more. "You seem the type of vampire that with age, you gain more abilities, and if my guess is right.... you have a scary, scary one. And a scarier sire, in turn. But, you're a lot more collected than most vampires I've met. Not as uppity and self absorbed. You're happiest when lurking, staying out of sight, right?" He asked, before humming softly. "You're quite different from the Todorokis, at least...." he muttered softly, before shaking his head.

"So! Do you want a bite, or would you rather hit up the blood bank?"

A territorial dispute wasn’t exactly on the agenda, at the moment. The League had a nice swath of territory carved out for themselves, and Tomura could concede that a body appearing within one’s area did tend to bring a good amount of heat, which no being in the magical underground wanted. Cops were perhaps his least favorite type of human, always poking and prodding at things better left alone… perhaps only preceded by the humans that trash-talked over voice chat when their kill streak was sub-par at best.

Bagged blood. Tomura’s chapped lips curled in disgust at the mere suggestion, his stomach rolling unhappily. Bagged blood was disgusting. Sure, he could technically live off it- some sireless vampires did.

But the texture, the taste, the viscosity… It was all wrong. It lacked the robustness that came with drinking from the source. It wasn’t alive.

Since the day his Master had sired him, he’d been taught to hunt for the blood he craved. Sure, at first he had his qualms. He had originally been human after all. He’d cried, screamed, torn at his own body in rejection of what he was. What he’d been made into.

Starving for a couple of months changed his tune.

He could still remember teetering on the edge of that mental cliff, his body seized up with cramps and pain while locked away. He’d been nothing more than a fledgling, a brand-new vampire afraid of what they were and what they had to do, starving and alone. Master had finally seen fit to grant him some mercy, tossing in two men, some unfortunate peasants or servants. He didn’t remember much after that, just coming into consciousness less hungry and covered in blood, the sweet elixir soaking into his clothes and hair.

He’d been reborn that day and given a new name to replace the old one now long forgotten. A name bringing him into his sire’s long legacy.

A name feared or at least respected by those circles that knew it.

Perhaps even in this fae’s circle, though he was loathed to give out something that could be used against him so easily…

Tomura Shigaraki’s eyes narrowed further at the fae’s threats, listing off names like he’d know them… Wait, no, the Todoroki’s were at least one he was somewhat familiar with, some sort of high-society vampires, the kind that always thought themselves higher up on the food chain, even when darker things lurked close by hungry and ready to strike. He hated vampires like that.

He hated most other vampires anyway… And he was starting to find a disliking for fae as well.

‘Deku’ reminded him a lot of those tutorial NPCs, explaining lore to a player that was already fully aware of what they were doing. He’d cleared this level before, his stats and equipment were already maxed out, all he had to do was button mash through this pointless dialogue and get his quest already…

Red eyes narrowed, the vampire barely needing to weigh his options.

“Fine. Since you’re so gracious in offering me your lifeblood… I’ll take it.” He sneered, hands returning to the pocket of his hoodie. A show of something approaching goodwill, though he was far from defenseless even with his hands away.

His back straightened, looking around the place like a snooty cat finding their abode distasteful. “Where do you want to do this? I hope you don’t mean for me to bite you right here, in plain moonlight where any semi-observant human could see.”

He wasn’t thrilled about letting the other man decide the location… Vampires were most vulnerable while feeding or resting, but he was the one that had infringed on claimed territory, and it was best to abide by the Rites and Traditions, at least until he knew if it was more beneficial to break them.