Disclaimer: I don't own Rainbow Rowell or her works.

Simon

Baz is missing again. Well, maybe I'm jumping to conclusions, but I haven't seen him all afternoon and he hasn't come back to our room yet. He always comes back right after supper. Sometimes he's back before I am. I think maybe he is hunting- but I know he never hunts before coming back to the room first. He waits until he thinks I'm asleep, then leaves. Over and over again. Come back to the room, wait until I'm asleep, leave.

You would think that after kissing him and watching his fangs pop out while he eats, he would stop pretending that he doesn't have to sneak out every night.

I get why he tries to hide it though; he always seems so ashamed of what he has to do. He hates it when his fangs pop out against his will, and even more when he has to drink while I'm around- he always sends me off to wait somewhere out of view.

I wish he knew that he doesn't have to pretend; to wait for me to be asleep to keep himself alive. I don't know how to show him that, and I've never been good with words. So I just never say anything, and watch that I never seem disgusted. I don't though. Get disgusted. I'll admit it's off-putting, but its Baz. He could never disgust me.

Maybe he just needed to drink earlier than usual? That would make sense; he left much later last night. I don't think he ever lets himself drink enough. Or maybe there isn't enough?

But there is enough.

If he considered other sources, crossed that line. But Baz is determined never to do that, not willingly at least.

Yeah, he's probably just hunting early. Maybe I should go to sleep, then he might come back.

But I can't stop staring at the door.

Baz

The Mage had pulled me aside when I was leaving my last class for the day. I was annoyed, wanting to go to Simon, but I'd gone with him. There were others waiting for us in his office, hands folded behind their backs. The Mage's men. I wanted to leave then.

I don't catch on right away; he just explains that he wants to work with me to improve the safety of Watford, and I think he means my family's power. Our magic.

I've been surrounded by the time he's finished explaining.

I want to run.

I cant.

Their getting closer to me now. Too close. "What are they doing?" I demand.

They take a hold of me and push me to the ground, and somehow I can't shake them off. Panic starts to set in; they're so much stronger than me. Are they like me? I don't have a chance if they are.

I see something shiny and metal in one of their hands.

No. Merlin, no.

"It is for the best," the Mage says, unmoving.

I thrash against their hold, panic setting in. I don't want this to happen. It cant- one of them grabs my jaw, squeezing. I try to resist, but my jaw feels like it's going to shatter. I stop, and there are tears in my eyes. Merlin, they cant-

They are.

One of them is holding a vial filled with something red. I can smell it. Blood.

I can feel my gums starting to hurt, and the beginning of my fangs grow.

No. You're stronger than this. Come on, resist. I scrunch my eyes. Simon. Think of Simon. He's cinnamon and clueless and- My fangs start to retreat.

"Drop some in his mouth," someone says.

My head is yanked back by my hair before I can think, and fingernails dig into my cheeks, pushing my jaw further open. I see the vial again. Fuck, they cant- but my head is held still and soon there is blood on my tongue, and it doesn't taste like anything I've drunk before- It hits me. No. no no no, I wont-

But I have.

My fangs are filling my mouth now, thirsting.

Someone starts to pull.

All I can think about is how much it hurts.

I can taste my own blood against the tears that have started to fall. I try to scream, but only a gargled cry leaves my throat. I think I'm choking on my own blood.

I want Simon, I want him near.

They start on the other one, and I think it hurts more. Something tears in my gum, and I feel blood run down my shirt. All I can taste is blood.

They draw back away from me, and I see them.

My fucking fangs, one being inspected and the other in between the pliers. They're not white anymore, and the blood on them looks almost black.

I feel sick, they're not supposed to be there. I think I can still feel them in my mouth, but they're not. They're over there.

They fucking pulled them out, oh god.

I'm sick.

Simon

It's fucking 6 in the morning and Baz still isn't back. I'd gone to sleep eventually; I don't know when. The first thing I'd done when I'd woken up was turn over and look to his bed.

Empty.

He couldn't have gone to breakfast, it doesn't start for another two hours. He should be back. I don't know what to think. Baz has been kidnapped before. Has it happened again? A jolt of panic runs through me. What if this time they don't now to feed him and I can't find him and-

The Mage is in standing in our room. I hadn't even seen him come in.

I bolt up from the bed, "Sir! Somethings wrong, Baz has been missing since-"

"Mr Pitch is not missing, Snow."

I stare. The Mage seems calm, unbothered. He always seems like that though. "Is he alright?" I ask, worried. Has something happened?

"He is …weakened," the Mage says after a moment.

I frown, "weakened?"

The Mage nods, "yes, weakened. As I'm sure you will understand, I have found that in Mr Pitch's maturity, it would have been unwise to not attend to his …condition."

Condition? Does the Mage know? He must know, what else would he be referring to. But I have to be sure. "His condition, sir?"

The Mage remains unblinking. "Yes, Snow. I'm certain you are aware of his Vampirism, hence why you should understand why I've had his fangs removed. For the safety of the other students, you understand."

My legs shake. Baz's fangs. Removed. I feel sick.

Unwavering, the Mage moves to the door, "he will be returning here shortly. Make sure he gets to class."

He leaves, and I'm left standing in the middle of the room, my knees growing weak. Oh god, Baz.