Chapter Text
You just can’t just leave it alone, can you?” Matt seethed as he stared at the tall, dark creature in front of him. His grin was almost visible in the dark church as the rest of his face fell obscured, only sharp fangs shining through the shadows. The street lights barely passed through the stained glass windows, painting the floor in red and gold bursts of light. Tonight was supposed to be a calm night off. Time for Matt to repent, reflect and confess. Instead, this monster somehow found his way into Matt’s sacred place.
“You look upset to see me reverend” Dex spoke low, taking a slow, cautious step towards Matt as he took in his appearance. Matt wore his regular priest garbs, holy clothing not meant to be gawked at. Dex has yet to see him in anything else. Still, he couldn’t peel his eyes from the Roman collar that hugged his neck. The black contrasted hard against the red glasses the priest wore to hide where his eyes used to be. It seemed like Matt had just recently gotten back from a hunt. His dark hair was tousled and he reeked of sweat and blood.
Dex was so intrigued by this holy man. He knew they were meant to be mortal enemies, it’s just the nature of these kinds of things. However, he has always been drawn to Matt ever since he met him. It was impossible for him to stay away without constantly clawing at the thought of seeing the priest that made him feel so…alive. There was something about Matts determination and strength when it came to hunting his kind. He had seen Matt wipe out and revert dozens of vampires, it’s part of the reason he was so drawn to the man.
How could a human be so fearless? So determined? So strong willed?
It made no sense to him. He was so used to being feared. So used to the cowards who dared to look away from him. So used to the beggars and liars who would do anything to keep their useless lives. Not Matt though. Never Matt. Yet, despite Dex’s pessimism, he was always enamored by Matt’s dedication to humanity. He was kind to everyone that came through the church doors and greeted them all with a smile. He bowed his head to elders and talked gently to children. He seemed soft on the outside, but at night, he became something else entirely. All just to send a message:
Humanity is not on the menu.
Matt scowled at the nightmarish creature in front of him. “You’re not welcome here Benjamin” He gritted through his teeth. Matt despised this man- no, this thing. The creature that took away his best friend, the thing that changed everything for him. Matt held his ground, listening to the slow, heavy foot steps that followed Dex as he crept towards the reverend.
Dex loved when Matt spoke like that. That low, demanding voice. He loved pushing the priests buttons, anything to get a rise out of him. “I thought all were welcome here. This is a place of salvation, isn’t it?” Dex taunted. He wondered how far he could push it tonight.
Matt tightened his hands into fists. In truth, he isn’t fearless because he wasn’t afraid of anything, he’s fearless because his rage overpowers any other emotion he may feel. It grows inside him, slowly working its way through all corners of his mind. He has worked hard to suppress it to an extent. He doesn’t want the rage to consume him wholly, as he fears he may one day become like the monsters that took everything from him. Rage makes people reckless, it was a power as much as it was a weakness.
Matt gritted his teeth, taking a step forward, him and Dex were only about a foot apart now. “All people are welcome, you are not a person anymore, and you will never be welcome here.” Matt began to pull something from behind his back. “Don’t make me hurt you in such a holy place. Leave while you can.” He growled, exposing the blessed wooden stake in his hand. Matt wanted to kill- no- he wanted to make dex suffer, but he remembered Father Lantom always wanted this place to stay sacred.
“We commemorate the dead here Matthew, not create them.”
Matt clung so heavy to those words in this moment.
Dex, on the other hand, felt ecstatic. Could he really push Matt to that right now? Could he really take another thing from the priest? Would Matt’s rage consume him? All for Dex? “I’d love to see you try reverend. I just don’t think you have the guts- though, I could definitely look for you.” He smiled, eyeing Matt up and down. He’d do anything for just a taste of the priests blood.
That seemed to do it. He only has a second to react as Matt charged at him, tackling him to the ground and straddling his hips. Dex looked up at the man like he was praising god. “There you are.” He sighed, wincing at the stake aimed towards his heart. “Do it reverend.” Dex moaned “fucking kill me,” he huffed out, staring into where Matt’s eyes used to be.
Matt was livid. Dex had come into his domain, his safe space. He’s insulted and taunted him and now he’s making Matt feel things he’s tried to push down. “Shut your fucking mouth-“ Matt yelled, the sound echoing through the empty church. He pressed the stake down harder, slowly breaking the skin. Dex growled at the feeling. He knew Matt couldn’t do it, not here, not now. No, he knew how calculated Matt is. He tries his best to save those who had only recently turned, and he never took pleasure in slaughtering the ones he couldn’t save. Hell, Dex has even heard Matt pray for those he’s had to kill. However, Vampires don’t have souls, not after they accept what they have become. Dex always thought Matt was so silly for trying to save them.
He looked at Matt with heavy eyes. “I want you to hurt me reverend, I want you to let out that rage… why do you hold back with me?” He questioned.
Matt was breathing heavily over the larger man. He knew dex could throw him across the room, yet he hadn’t. “Because I’m not giving you what you crave Benjamin. Because you don’t deserve an easy death. Hell, you don’t even deserve mercy from me, but I’ll show you some.” He seethed, moving the stake from his heart to his face. Matt slowly traced dexes jawline with the pointed wood, mapping it in a way. “I think you didn’t come here to fight, I think you came here because you missed me, I think you are obsessed and it’s sickening.” Matt said lowly. “You crossed a line coming here tonight, but if you leave now…” Matt thought carefully about what he was going to say next. He just wanted to rest. He just wanted Dex to leave. He was tired and would do anything to just finally have some quiet time. “If you leave now, I’ll-I’ll let you have a taste.” He sighed. Anything to not clean rotted corpse off the floor of such a holy place. He pushed the stake into dexes mouth. “But if you want to be difficult, I wouldn’t mind ruining that voice of yours. Have you ever felt your vocal chords tear Dex? Because I would be happy to show you.” He growled low into the larger man’s ear.
Dex grinned around the stake, fangs digging into the holy wood. He tried to speak, but it came out in a muffled mess, the blessed cross burning his gums. Matt slowly pulled out the stake, still holding it close to Dex’s head. “Well?” He asked, gripping the object tightly. Matt couldn’t lie, he was enjoying having so much power over this creature. He enjoyed the way Dex bent to his will, though he’d never admit such a unholy thought. Sometimes he wondered if he could change Dex. Maybe have him eat raw meat, have him assist in the saving of his kind. Matt believes in redemption, but he often wonders if Dex is even capable of being redeemed.
Dex wasn’t thinking about redemption now though. No, Matt said Dex could taste him. That sentence began ringing in his head. He likes the sound of tasting Matt, and it would be a shame to kill the pretty priest so fast. He likes this cat and mouse thing they have with eachother. This whole will they won’t they. It was exciting, and dex never gets excited anymore.
“Wow reverend. So noble. You’d really let a filthy creature like me defile you like that?”He muttered, almost in awe at Matt’s willingness. Dex dared to lift his hand to Matt’s hip. “You really are something else.” He teased, his strong hands squeezing the priest.
Matt, on the other hand, felt nauseous. He immediately stood up, towering over Dex. “Last chance.” He sneered coldly.
Dex shook his head, chuckling a bit. He couldn’t believe his good fortune. He knows Matt wouldn’t dare lie in such a holy place. “Yeah…yeah ok.” He sighed. It was an offer he just couldn’t pass up. He slowly stood as Matt took a few steps back. “I’ll keep in touch.” He smiled, licking his lips before slowly, baring his fangs. He turned without another word, whistling as he walked out those beautifully crafted doors.
Matt let out a sigh of relief when Dex finally exited the church. The sound of his whistling disappearing down the street. He put the stake back into its holster. He tried to remain calm, tried to not let Dex get to him. His hands balled into fists so tight he began to shake. “Forgive me.” He muttered under his breath.
He had a lot to think about.
***
Matt laid in bed completely still, thinking about the interaction. Dex was so cruel, so…devious. Yet, despite it all, Matt couldn’t help but be intrigued by the vamp. He accused Dex of being obsessed, but he was just as bad. Not in the same way, no, Dex was obsessed because it’s in his nature, Matt was obsessed because he despised the creature. Despised the thing that took Foggy away from him. Matt used rituals to save the freshly turned, and when he absolutely has to, he killed with mercy, he made it quick, he prayed for the ones he’s slaughtered, but Dex? Dex didn’t deserve that.
Matt let out a long heavy sigh as he tried to get comfortable. He knew what he just agreed to, and he knew it was stupid. How is he supposed to get out of this? Matt groaned begrudgingly as one name wracked his mind over and over.
Frank.