Chapter Text
The bleeding man hustled through the downtown streets of San Antonio as he made away from the busy night life.
He needed to ride out the adrenaline until he was safe. He, exiting the alley way, pushed onward to the apartment building ahead
The man had sent a location alert to his sister via cell and settled inside the lobby. Most people in the area would be inclined to mind their own business in the event there would be visitors.
He settled into the chair furthest from the front door. The other seats and lounge pieces would serve as good distance gauges if he needed to bail. Amber eyes scanned the lobby he had entered to realize everything was blurry.
“Glasses…” his bass voice sighed
The details escaped him but thankfully colors did not like the man in basketball shorts offering to help. David, the sitting man, hoped to have been hiding the blood from this stranger.
“I’m just resting. I had too much bar hopping. My ride will be here soon” There was a soft flicker of red in the eyes from the thin man. The other man's voice was deeper and scratching like it hadn't been used
“No problem, you can hang out with me until you’re sober if you're still here. Gonna get beer” sneakers squeaked as he walked out. David leaned back into the chair and closed his eyes…
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Walking through the apartment building lobby was supposed to end another day of deliveries and booking appointments. Shaggy chocolate hair crowned their head and a blue Mexican hoodie hid most of the little figures' frame while black sneakers shuffled across linoleum tiles. They were a Brujo, an occult practitioner by Mexican tradition, and resident to the Traveler’s apartment building.
That night had been planned to be easy until-
Something fell with a thud. Purple eyes darted across the assumed empty lobby. Not much could be seen in the dark.
“He still hasn’t changed that light? Jerk…” they complained not finding anything. Shuffling was heard from the corner
“ Ereht...kool woleb….god ” the shadow whispering from a plant at the wall provided direction when it crawled to the land lady’s usual spot closer to the elevators “ dnilb ”
Something-
-someone was on the floor and blending into the shadows. The little one approached the figure cautiously. The slump was barely breathing and blood smeared on the floor.
“Please don’t be dead, please don’t be dead-” they prayed, now rushing to the person. The Brujo found a pulse and a fever. The not dead stranger was going to be too heavy to carry to the elevator but…
The elevator doors opened to the little one towing the other on an old luggage trolley. He had long enough in the elevator to look at the injured stranger. Broad build, wavy black hair in a male’s faded style, light tan skin with a shadow of a beard. The male looked tall, the black pant suit made the almost white button shirt pop. The Brujo used his hoodie to hide the other’s injury.
“Much apologies but we’ll move faster this way. ” he stopped at the apartment door to unlock it when the neighbor/maintenance man walked out to the hallway.
“You put my trolley back, you can’t be towing your friends like this, it ain't right.” Sometimes the custodian just didn’t help “I ain’t having your hippy bullshit Boy.”
“Yes, Sir. He’s just a little drunk you know how it is” nervously laughing. Once the older man left, he was free to push the new guest inside.The Brujo tried to get the broad man onto the couch softly but the size difference was not kind.
“Ay Sarah. Fucking help me.” He grumbled to the Shadow Person.
Together they struggled long enough to roll him on the couch, able to secure him on his back to expose the wound.
“Looks like someone got you real good” Cleaned hands were gloved up with a first aid kit ready to go. A few cuts in the shirt and some poking around freed the wooden bullet. The Brujo held it up to the moonlight.
“With the way you’re reacting to this I’d say you’re a sensitive Xolotl, not sure who you pissed off bit but don’t bring them here” Letting the other rest, the Brujo grabbed his molcajete set off the dining table and collected pieces of different plants for grinding.
The stranger was noticeably fighting to wake up.
He was on edge…
“I’m sorry about all this, you don’t know me but not to worry: I work fast big guy” one amber eye opened feral from pain with a snarl to match.
“Rude much? I’m just trying to help you” He began working on the paste for the bandage. The wound was cleaned, sewn and paste applied.
The studio was largely quiet for the moment, save the sounds from the the street level.
The Brujo was taking a moment to collect himself before the hard part came. He needed to get the other to consume the rest of the paste.
The patient was already breathing from the mouth it should have been been fast. Fingers aggravated the larger man enough to open his mouth and the paste stuffed between teeth…..
That clamped down on the offending hand.
“OW! Let go! Fuck ow please!!” Purple eyes widened when the ‘patients’ teeth clamped harder, he struggled to get free, hitting the injured man on his chest. He did the only thing he could think of…
“Sarah help me you asshole!” the ghostly figure sprang from under the couch and began to pull with them until it was freed from the teeth. During the struggle a leather wallet fall on the floor. The Brujo looked for the license and a name : Kaiser, David
“Well Mr Kaiser, I’d like to talk to you in the morning but feel free to leave also.”
For now ‘Mr Kaiser’ was still sleeping. The bitten hand was wrapped and keys were grabbed.
“This could have gone way worse for me I guess... asshole.” looking at the shadow person under the couch he continued “Don’t trip anything for the whole bit I’m out.” The Brujo waited for the shadow to answer before returning the trolley to the entrance.
“ Efas…evom ” a quick scurry to the elevator kicked off the night of playing ‘Medic’ He passed out with internet videos, food and drinking.