Standing Invitation [Cassian/Bodhi]

Fic 01: Standing Invitation

There's a vampire in Bodhi's house.

He's never met a vampire before, but he's heard enough of the signs (both the exaggerated stereotypes and accurate descriptors) to know what he's looking at. He might not be able to see the glint of fangs or glowing eyes, but the way the shadows of his dark living room seem to lean into the man is telling enough. Bodhi stands frozen in the doorway, wide open and perfect prey, but too dumbfounded to consider it.

The man's head tips gently in Bodhi's direction, the light from the street lamps outside throwing his profile into stark, backlit contrast. The scream builds in his throat.

But before he can even take a breath to shout, the creature is in front of him, pressing him back against the door without so much as a sound. A cold hand clamps over his mouth, smothering the scream into a tiny squeak.

"Shh," the man breathes. The hands holding Bodhi immobile and silent are like iron, but the voice is gentle. Bodhi's heart pounds a heavy staccato against his ribs, a siren song that has the vampire's eyes dipping down and back up involuntarily. Bodhi mentally curses. "I'm not here to hurt you," the vampire says.

'You're in my house!' Bodhi thinks hysterically.

The man smiles. It's a... nice smile, actually. Not hungry or full of fangs. It would be even nicer if the he wasn't currently invading Bodhi's home or his space. "My Keep is being watched by the First Order. They followed me up this way, and I ducked in here. Sorry." There's a tense silence, and Bodhi is increasingly aware of the meager space between their bodies, that shrinks with every rasping breath Bodhi takes.

The vampire breathes - that's not something Bodhi expected.

"I'm going to let go," he says. "Don't scream."

Bodhi nods, and gasps as he's finally released. The intruding vampire takes a polite step back, still watching Bodhi with intent eyes. They're warm - a surprisingly normal shade of brown that only flickers deep, glowing amber when a shadow passes over his face. It's a handsome face, is Bodhi's frenzied thought. All lean angles and a strong jawline covered in what is truly an attractive scruff of a beard.

'Oh... no.' And the man is just... in Bodhi's house?

Bodhi shoves that flustered line of observation away. He thinks instead of the black SUV he remembers seeing on his way up the street. He hadn't even given it a second thought then. "Why's the First Order after you?" he croaks.

The vampire shrugs, and somehow makes it look elegant. "Why are they after anyone?"

Because they're dicks. Fair enough. Bodhi offers his hand and finally introduces himself, because, well, it seems rude not to at this point. It's no less absurd than anything else that has happened in the last several minutes. "Bodhi Rook."

If he's not mistaken, there's a spark of delight in the vampire's eyes. His cool hand slides into Bodhi's own, and he has to suppress a shiver. "Cassian Andor. Thank you for... sharing your home."