The air was cold as it surrounded Kit. Crimson eyes watched as figures moved up and down the streets, unaware of the vampire above them. It wasn't late into the night, but it was getting there. The sun had already set, but with it being November, the sun set rather early. That meant Kit was able to go out on patrol earlier. It also meant rabids would be out earlier too. So the vampire stationed himself by the boardwalk, watching people go about their evening. He couldn't sense any rabids nearby, so Kit thought of moving to a different area. Only, the man couldn't pull himself away from his spot.

Below him, in one of the shops, Vivian was working. They had a disagreement on it, Kit much preferring the woman to not work the closing shift, causing her to walk home late at night. But Vivian fought back, claiming that she needed to go to work and there was no one who could cover her shift. Kit wanted to stay close to the cafe, but he knew he had to make his rounds. So Kit gave one last glance at the cafe, and left.

He moved through the town easily, hidden by shadows and darkness. Still, he couldn't sense anything, no rabids looming on the edges of town. It was a good thing, yet Kit couldn't help but feel something was wrong.

"Kit." A voice said through his ear piece, a small radio hooked onto his belt. "Where are you?"

The vampire stopped his movements, looking at the road signs down below. "Oak Street and 7th." He replied, looking around the area.

"Come to Willow Road and Fallen Leaf Way, there are three rabids approaching from the west." The voice continued. It was Sebastian, the other officer he was regularly put on patrol with. "I need assistance."

"On my way." Kit immediately left his spot and began towards his new destination. It only took a few moments, and he instantly spotted Sebastian standing at the intersection. He moved to meet the other vampire, and as soon as Sebastian spotted Kit, he began moving west. Kit easily followed.

Together, they found the three rabids racing towards town. Kit went after one while Sebastian took down another, the third passing. It happened in a matter of seconds, Kit colliding with the rabid, grabbing ahold of its head and ripping it off. There was barely any struggle, and instantly Kit was after the third rabid while Sebastian worked on the second.

The vampire tackled the other one to the ground just steps from the tree-line, the streetlights almost reaching the two as they struggled against each other. Claws dug into Kit's chest as he tried to dodge a swipe, but he couldn't quite escape it. It stung, but didn't slow the vampire down as he got in a swipe of his own, claws ripping apart the rabid's neck. Blood splattered across his face as the rabid staggered backwards, giving Kit a chance to lunge forward, gripping the rabid's neck and separating the head from the body.

The rabid's body crumpled down to the ground, dissipating to ash and leaving only traces behind of what once was.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" Sebastian's voice calls out across the forest, the other vampire slowly approaching Kit as he rolls his shoulders. "Hopefully the rest are that easy."

"Try not to jinx it." Kit replies, wiping the blood from his face with the sleeve of his shirt.

"Yeah, yeah." Sebastian waved away Kit's worried words. "You're free to go."

Kit released a breath. "Call me if you need me again."

"Will do."

Kit takes off into the night, moving across the town back to where he was before. He moved silently across the rooftops. It took no time to get back to the boardwalk, but like lightning, a tinge went up his spine. He stopped above the cafe, looking down at the alleyway. Banging on the door to the cafe was a rabid. Kit moved without thinking, tackling the rabid to the ground. It was stronger than the last two though, and the rabid managed to toss Kit off of it.

Kit caught himself, and looked up into the deep red eyes of the rabid, long and sharp fang escaping from their mouth. A shiver went down his spine, but he managed to keep himself upright. The rabid came towards him, and Kit braced himself. When the creature reached for him, the vampire moved out of the path of the strike. Kit swatted out his own claws and caught the rabid in the stomach, tearing fabric and flesh. The creature doubled over, Kit reaching down to grab the creature by its neck. Only, the creature swept out of the way, the vampire stumbling forward and catching himself just before the rabid swiped out with its claws.

Pain radiated from Kit's ribs, rivets running up and down his body. The vampire held back a scream, moved out of the way of a second swipe and pressed his hand to the cut, feeling blood spilling from it. Panic surged through him for only a moment, Kit breathing in to calm himself. He couldn't let panic stop him now.

Kit moved forward, claws ready and calculated. When the rabid lunged at him, he dogged in a way that lined him up perfectly to grab the creature's neck. Fingers dug into skin, and Kit pulled. The rabid fought for a moment, but the more that Kit pulled the less the creature fought. And then its head came off with a sickening sound.

Kit stood there for a moment, watching the head and body dissipate to nothing but ash and dirt. When the head crumbled in his fingers, he felt his stomach twist. Shaking out his hand, the vampire looks up to the door leading into the cafe.

His body moved towards the door, thinking only of the woman within. Kit made it up the steps and to the door, grabbing for the handle and turning. The door surprisingly gave way, opening up to the kitchen. Kit stumbled in, thinking it odd the rabid didn't figure out the door handle. He righted himself, looking around the small kitchen. He could hear her breath, her heartbeat. He followed it, moving slowly through the kitchen until he spotted her.

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She was underneath a desk tucked far in the back, hands pressed to her head. In one hand was her phone, and in the other, a knife. Kit hesitated for a moment, crimson eyes stuck on the large blade in her hands. He moved slowly towards her. "Vivian." He said her name softly, but the woman didn't even flinch at his voice.

Kit knelt then, eyes on the knife. "Vivian. Hey, Vivian." He tried her name again, but she didn't respond. "Vivian." He tried to louden his voice, but it still didn't work. She just sat there, knees pulled to her chest, full hands pressed to her ears. He could see her rocking back and forth the slighted bit.

The vampire puffed out a breath, flexing his fingers into a fist. He then relaxed his hand and reached towards the women. "Vivian." He said, tapping her on the knee.

Crimson eyes watched as the blade came swinging for him. He put his hand out to protect his face, the blade biting into his palm. It stung, but Kit grabbed the knife, trying to pry it from Vivians fingers. "Vivian, you are safe! Stop!"

Vivians eyes snap open at his words, crimson and hazel meeting. There's a silence that spreads between them, the two of them breathing in the same air. Then her hands release the phone and knife, both clattering to the ground. Vivian reached out, hands seeking Kit. She collapsed into him, causing the man to fall back onto his ass. His uninjured arm went around her back, almost an instinct. Her breath stutters against his collar, fingers gripping the fabric of his back.

"Kit." Vivian finally says, breathless and sad. It pulls at something deep inside Kit, the man feeling his skin prick.

"You are safe." Kit whispers, pulling the woman closer. "I promise."

It's almost like awareness hits her, the woman pushing away from the vampire, her hands firm on his chest. "Where were you?"

"Rabids were getting close to town, I had to stop them. One must have slipped in while I was fighting west of town." Kit admits, looking around the kitchen as the woman basically sits in his lap. He feels his skin heat.

Vivian seemed oblivious, looking down at his wounded hand. She sucked in a breath. "What happened?" She asked, reaching for his hand. "Is it from the rabid?"

Kit just looked at her for a moment, completely confused. "It was from you, Vivian." He says, pointing to the blood stained knife on the ground. "You were just protecting yourself, and I was expecting you to react that way."

Hazel moved from his palm to his blood-soaked side. "That's not from me, is it?" She asked, moving as if to touch it, but then stopped herself. "That has to be from the rabid."

"You would be right about that." Kit replies, looking down to the wound himself. It had already stopped bleeding and begun to stitch itself back together.

The woman reached for it again but stopped short, her fingers twitching. "Are you going to be okay?" She asked, looking up to meet his eyes. Worry and concern was clear on her face.

Kit nodded as her eyes moved to his chest, another place where the rabids claws dug into his skin. "I will be fine." The vampire said, feeling himself soften. Vivian seemed to have that effect on him, and the thought made him stiffen. "Are you okay?"

Vivian looked down at the knife on the ground, and then her phone. "Yeah, I think so. It never got in. It was just pounding on the door and it scared me. I, uh, I hid under here in case it broke the door."

Kit's eyes move to the phone lying beside her. His chest clenched slightly with a realization. "My number, you do not have it."

Vivian followed his eyes, looking to the phone. "No, I don't. I-I tried to call you but I couldn't." Looking back to Kit, there was sadness on her face. "I didn't know what else to do."

The vampire felt himself frowning at the woman, knowing the kind of panic Vivian must have been going through. He reached out to her, fingers dusting across her shoulder. "That must have been frightening." His voice was soft as he spoke. Kit watched as a red began coloring Vivian's face.

When she looked down, she must have noticed their closeness, because she quickly backed away from him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to tackle you." She began messing a strand of her hair, not looking the vampire in the eyes.

Kit couldn't help but smile. "That is one way to put it." He said, Vivian looking back at him. "But it is fine, there is no need for an apology. Can you stand?"

Vivian nods. "I should be able to." She said as Kit stood. He offered his hand to her, and watched as she slowly took it. Pulling her onto her feet, he could see she was still a little wobbly. He let his hands stay near her, in case she lost balance. "I'm fine, just spooked."

"That is good." Kit replied, relieved. Only, she gave him a look, and Kit felt his hands go up in defense. "I meant that as in I am glad you are fine." He lowers his hands and Vivian keeps her eyes on him. "I am not sure what I would have done if you were not okay."

The red on Vivian's face deepens, the woman looking away for a moment. "Well, I'm glad that you got here in time. I don't know what I would have done if you didn't."

Kit offers her a soft smile. "It is best if we do not think about that. We should get you home."

The woman's hazel eyes go wide. "Are you sure that's okay?"

"Taking you home?" Kit responds, already making his way to the door. "Why would it not be?"

Vivian follows the vampire, picking her phone and the knife off the ground. "Shouldn't you return to your patrol?"

"Sebastian can handle it for a little while. You do not live too far from here." The vampire shrugs his shoulders, watching as the woman puts the knife in the sink and rinses the blood off of it. "Is it okay that I walk you home?"

"Of course!" Vivian turns to him quickly, the red still apparent on her face. "I just don't want to get you in trouble with Niccolo or anyone."

Kit let out a laugh as Vivian walked toward him. "I think Niccolo would prefer it if I was attached to your hip."

"You think so?"

"Definitely." He replied, leading the two of them outside. "So there is no need for you to worry Vivian, I promise."

Vivian looked at him for a moment as they stood in the alleyway, something dancing behind her eyes that he couldn't quite name. "Thank you Kit."

The vampire raised an eyebrow, confusion clear on his face. "Uh, for what?"

"Are you serious?" Vivian faked offense, putting a hand to her heart. But when he didn't respond, she continued. "For saving me, multiple times. I... I don't know how to show my gratitude-."

"You do not need to thank me." He stated, matter of fact, but the face the woman gave him told him he said the wrong thing. "What?"

"Are you not going to accept my gratitude?"

Kit stopped in his tracks, looking back to Vivian who was following shortly behind. She ended up stopping too, just feet from him. "I-I am sorry, I did not think about it that way."

"So?" Vivian looked at him, expectantly. "What do we say when someone says thank you?"

Kit couldn't help the smile that pulled at his lips. She had a knack for doing that, making him smile. "You are welcome, Vivian."

Vivian made a sound, as if she was proud of herself, and continued walking, right past Kit. He followed, and the night stayed silent as they worked their way to Vivian's home.