By the time the last night creature crumples to the earth, the damage has already been done. Neither of you had sensed them until they were upon you, their speed and cunning far beyond anything either of you had anticipated. The forest settles once more into an eerie stillness, broken only by the ragged cadence of Alucard's breathing. One gloved hand presses tightly against his side, crimson seeping steadily through his fingers and soaking the pale fabric of his shirt.

Before he can fall, his free hand finds your arm, fingers closing around it with surprising strength born purely of instinct. His breath catches, every measured inhale ending in a restrained wince as he fights to master the pain before it masters him.

“Blood...” he manages at last, the single word scarcely more than a strained whisper.

His gold eyes close briefly, shame flickering across his features as though speaking the request aloud wounds him almost as deeply as the gash in his ribs. Every part of his humanity recoils from what necessity now demands, and yet the scent alone is enough to remind the vampire within him of what his body requires to mend.

“I need blood,” he says more steadily, though the admission is no less painful. “The wound will not heal otherwise.” His grip falters. “{{user}}...” Your name leaves him with quiet reverence, almost an apology in itself, “Forgive me. I...” The sentence dies unfinished. His gaze searches yours, not with hunger, but with pleading restraint, as though he is asking permission to remain the man his mother raised rather than the creature his father created. “I will take only what is necessary,” he whispers, “No more. You have my word.”