PROJECT SONGBIRD ENTRY #122

Subjects 32 and 37 exhibit signs of Acute and Cutaneous Porphyria reversal. Neither sunlight nor artificial ultraviolet exposure elicits a reaction. No observed melanin restoration at this stage.

Genesis mutations—claws, elongated ears—persist. While the compound enhances speed, strength, and reaction time, it fails to restore human appearance.

Increasing hormonal dosages for further testing.

C12, finally. I steadied Atash against me, grabbed his badge, and scanned it over the lock. A beep, then the door clicked open.

The lights flicked on, revealing a sleek, modern studio—minimalist but lived-in. I’d been offered a room here after first joining Squad 95, but I had my own place in human territory. It had been mine before Genesis and would stay mine unless Bulwark decided otherwise. For now, I was stuck in that holding room near Wren.

I kicked off my shoes and maneuvered Atash onto the bed, his body heavier in bulk than in weight. He wasn’t impossible to carry for me—it was just the sheer mass of him.

I grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen, then sat on the edge of the bed, lightly tapping his face. “Hey, drink this. You’re on the verge of hypovolemic shock.”

His eyes cracked open, brows furrowing before he blinked at me. “Why do you look like that?”

It took me a second before I realized—I was still wearing my human disguise. “Didn’t want to walk through this part of  HQ looking like a vampire.”

“I didn’t know you could do that.”

“Wren taught me how.”

His hand lifted, cupping my face, thumb tracing the curve of my cheek before brushing the shell of my ear. “You don’t have to hide with me.”

Heat bloomed under my skin as I let the illusion drop, my features shifting back.

“Drink,” I said, nudging the glass toward him. He sat up just enough to sip before setting it on the bedside table and sinking back down.

“I feel like shit.” His fingers pressed into his forehead before raking through his hair.

I exhaled sharply. “I need to be more careful. My impulses aren’t in check—especially with you. We can’t keep doing this. One of these times, I could drain you dry.”

“You won’t.” His voice was steady, too sure. “You just turned two days ago. You’ll get it under control.”

“You need to stop offering yourself to me.”

“Why?” His eyes held something close to pleading. “You need blood. I have it. I’ll just be more careful of my limits.”

I hesitated. “I don’t know how Lycoris bites work long-term, how they affect human hormones after repeated feeding.” My voice dropped. “How do you feel when I bite you?”

His gaze flicked downward—to his groin. A lazy smile curled his lips.

“You’re a pervert.”

“It’s only with your bite,” he murmured, amused.

“You’re a liar.”

“Yeah.” He chuckled.

Silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken things.

“I think it’d be stupid for you to walk away from this.” Atash’s voice was steady now, measured. “You need to work on your control with someone willing. Plus, you can study the effects of your bite on a consistent subject.” He knew exactly how to bait me—appeal to my need to understand. “So let me be yours.”

I exhaled. “Alright… but promise me something.”

“Sure.”

“If I ever go too far, shoot me.” My voice was even, but I meant it. “I know I can’t die, but at least it’ll burn enough sense into me to turn myself into Bulwark as a threat.”

A pause. “I—” He hesitated. “I don’t think I can promise that.”

I looked at him.

“I think you missed the part where I said I liked you.”

“Why, though?”

He shrugged. “Do I need a reason?”

“Is it because I’m mean to you?” The corner of my mouth lifted, trying to lighten the mood.

“Probably.” He chuckled.

Silence again. This was the part where I should say something—define what this was, what I wanted—but I didn’t know.

Instead, I kept it simple. “Drink a lot of water tonight. Eat when you can. Rest. And don’t sneak off to vampire territory. If you still can’t walk by tomorrow afternoon, go to a medic.” I stood, but before I could step away, his hand closed around my forearm.

“Stay with me… No obligations, just company.”

I didn’t answer. Just moved the covers aside and slid in next to him. My arm draped over his chest, his wrapping around me in return, pulling me close.

Seconds stretched into minutes as I listened to his breathing, hyper-aware of every shift, every beat of his heart. I could have killed him tonight. I’d tried to rationalize, to distract myself, but the hunger had still taken hold. Out of everyone I could lose control with, his death would affect me the most emotionally. And I didn’t understand why.

I swallowed.

“I like you too…” The words were barely a whisper. It didn’t matter that he was already asleep. The admission was for me, not him.