Chapter Text
When they met, Gear didn't exactly know what to really do. It was sudden when his visitor came to him for help. After being alone for a long time, Gear almost felt....happy that he had someone with him. And to think his visitor was another species of immortal that neither of them knew what it was called at the time, it still made him want many things. A friend most of all.
His name was Sleepy Ash, a vampire that they eventually figured out from stories that mortals made up through the years. Sleepy Ash wanted Gear to kill him, but he couldn't, it wasn't that simple, however, he also didn't want to kill the other immortal since he didn't want to be alone again. So even after Gear sealed his powers, he couldn't help but offer his home for the Vampire to stay in. He hoped the vampire would take the offer, and to his relief, the other accepted it.
Despite the species difference of the two, they got along pretty well. They also had some common traits, such as; sleeping til noon, lazy with chores and being adequate cooks. But they somehow made it work. When Gear cooked, Ash cleaned and when Ash cooked, Gear cleaned. Laundry was Ash's specialty it seemed, so Gear let him go with that, but when he did his own clothes, Ash allowed him to.
Eventually, the two became curious on new technologies being made, they shared likes along with interests and hobbies. They've gotten closer and closer throughout the years, and Gear could only hope it could stay this way. He was getting a bit too attached to the vampire, and the vampire the same to him. They wanted each other and they knew that their friendship was turning out to be deeper the longer they stay with each other, and the two immortals didn't think that it would be a bad thing.
Ah but, he could only blame the people who summoned Ash to go to Japan to kill the Count of all Vampires. He promised he'd come back so they'd fix the roof of their shared home, but he never returned.
Yet Gear stayed within the home, wondering, hoping that the other would turn up. Surely the vampire wouldn't leave him alone like this, right? Where could he be? What happened to him? Was he alive? Was he dead?
That last thought hurt him the most, they've gotten so close to the point where Ash could call his name to bring him back to reality when he was in werewolf form, he couldn't handle it if what he thought was true. What if Sleepy Ash died, and he didn't do anything to help stop it?
Sighing sadly, Gear got out of his seat below the hole within the roof, taking his jacket to leave to Japan. If Ash was dead, then he will avenge the vampire, CCC or C3 as Ash said before he left, he'll steal their life like how they stole his.
Centuries pass, friends come and go, and yet, he had never found the vampire. Sure he met other vampires, but none of them were Ash. He missed that asshole for gods sake.
Just where could he be?
It's been centuries without a word from him or even a visual, all he had was a picture of Ash before he left, looking back at him in his white cloak. It hurt every time he looked at the picture, above all else, he never gotten revenge for who took him. He could be alive somewhere and needing help, but he couldn't find a single clue. Gear knows he should go back to Japan to try again, it's been so long since he met Youtarou too and told him about Sleepy Ash, so surely, Ash would be somewhere, right? He could need help now, and Gear would be happy to get out of the house to help him.
Sighing, he looks out the window of his bedroom, Gear could only wish that his bed wouldn't be so empty anymore. He'll be mad when Ash ever decides to show his face if he is alive, but deep down, Gear would be happy that he's alive.
"You better be alive, asshole."
The first time Gear sees him, he's mad and kicks the vampire's ass.
The second time they came face to face, Gear still wants to punch that goddamn face of his, hating the way the vampire looked guilty and sad for leaving and never telling him he was alive and okay. He really hated the human that forced a contract onto his vampire. Damn it, he wishes that Ash could take back his power and sacrifice the kid so they could be together again, just him and Ash. But the vampire is close to the damn human kid. Mahiru, was it? He hated how he touched the vampire while nobody was looking, how he looked at Ash with those large and innocent eyes of his. Fuck he should just take Ash away for a moment, so that they could be alone to talk.
So that's exactly what he did.
Gear casually as he could to not spook the injured human, walked over to the pair to take the vampire's arm, only to be stopped by the Eve to ask him what he wanted from his Servamp. Gear almost wanted to spit in his face and say that the vampire was his, and didn't belong to some human that only gets his partner injured, but Mahiru was just like Youtarou, so he bit his tongue. However, Gear was glad that Ash understood and reassured the human that he would be fine so the human could let him go.
Good, because he was thinking of kicking the kid out and back into the river they were found in.
"Gear." Ash started as Gear led him upstairs, the home was unfamiliar to him, so he didn't exactly know where the werewolf was taking him, but he trusted him, even if Gear kicked his ass. He deserved it. "Shut up." Gear hushed him, walking towards his room to only pull the clueless vampire in, letting go of the vampire's arm to close the door behind them. Ah, and Ash realized what this was about by the face he made in realization.
Ash has been more expressive around him first and foremost.
"Oh..." Ash spoke again, looking between the quiet werewolf and to the bed, which he could guess is where the other wanted him to be on. "We need to talk, Ash."
"I see...." Ash nods, moving to the bed to sit down onto it, patting beside him for the werewolf to join him for their talk. "I'm pretty sure I know what this is about...I'm sorry I didn't come home Gear." Ash apologized, looking down at his hands nervously. He knew Gear was mad, and he has the right to be, but that doesn't mean that he enjoys being yelled at, even by him. "Stop apologizing, I already told you I don't want to hear any of it, Ash." Gear sighs out, taking one of the vampire's hands to intertwine with his own. "I thought you were dead, Ash. I went to Japan to bring you back, but there was no trace of you, nobody saw you, nobody heard of you. Not even subclass vampires I met along the way. You just disappeared. It's been centuries, asshole." the werewolf spoke low, clutching onto the slender hand of his partner, thankful that he could get this much after so long. He missed touching the vampire and he is sure the vampire missed touching him from how the other leans against him to rest his head on his shoulder. Just how it used to be when it was just the two of them. "I'm so-" "Don't." Gear stopped him, "Just be quiet and let me hold you for awhile."
"Okay." Ash agrees, closing his eyes to relax against the immortal, enjoying their quiet time.
After the whole war and all that fighting with Tsubaki and C3, he just hoped he'd be able to relax in silence to regain his bearings and sanity, but to think he'd be able to get more when he's with Gear. He missed it, he really did. They were alone for so long and probably suffering without each other, and it hurt. However, Ash finally felt at peace, if he were to die, he'd wanna die in the arms of this fight-ready werewolf.
Though, eventually, their positions changed. To which had Gear peacefully holding the vampire in his arms, while the other rested his face against the other's chest. They were quiet, as if they were asleep. But with many questions inside their head to tell one another, it's only a matter of time til their feelings are revealed.
"Hey Ash." Gear spoke, interrupting the vampire's well-needed rest. "Hm?"
"I wanted to tell you this when you came back, but, perhaps I see you more than a long time friend."
Opening his eyes, Ash looked up to the werewolf, seeing those gold eyes, searching, hoping for something within his own eyes, perhaps hoping that he felt the same. And Ash would be lying if he said he didn't.
"I wanted to tell you when I got back, but I feel the same, Gear."