“Bruce, get me a cold cloth.”

“Of co-course.” a skeleton answered, he walked over to small table and grabbed a cloth, soaking it in a bowl of water and squeezing the water out. The room only had one lit candle, for the benefit of the monster that was with them, the room was still dark and casted shadows everywhere. As he readied the cloth, his eyes were glued to the child that laid on the bed.

The child's eyes had dark circles underneath them, Their breathing was slow and small. The doctor that was next to them sighed and looked to Bruce.

“H-here.” Bruce said quietly and handed the Doctor the damp cloth. The Doctor took it and carefully placed it on the child's forehead. The child shifted but didn't open her eyes, the Doctor sighed and rubbed their temples.

“How's she l-looking Doc?” Bruce asked with worry, he sat down besides the child and looked up to the Doctor who crossed their arms.

The Doctor sighed and gave Bruce a look of pity, “There's nothing else I could do, her magic levels are depleting and her HP is going down by percentages.”

“......I see…” Bruce sighed, he looked down and kept himself from crying. A hand laid on his shoulder, he sniffed and looked up to the Doctor.

“I'm so sorry Bruce, I know she's a child from your group but….” The doctor sighed, “Even if they brought me, including all those other doctors…..The best you can do for this child is make her as comfortable as possible…even if she won't respond to it.”

Bruce nodded and sniffed, putting a hand over his eyes. The Doctor sighed and got their things leaving Bruce alone with the child.

Bruce looked over to the child and held her hand. She was barely the age of seven and already fallen into the unavoidable illness. Bruce sighed as she didn't respond back to it, he could tell her time was almost up for her hand was lacking warmth.

“I'll stay with you.” Bruce sniffed and looked to the child, yet again, she didn't respond. Bruce sighed and leaned back into the chair, he looked up to the ceiling which seemed it could fall on them in a matter of seconds due to how it was cracked.

Within a couple of minutes a knock at the door interrupted the skeletons thoughts, he quickly wiped any remaining tears and looked to the door, “Come in.” Bruce said quietly as if he was afraid to wake the child, but no matter what they won't respond to anything anymore.

A timid looking goat poked his head out and looked to Bruce. “Y-yes, Harry?” Bruce asked and looked to him, Harry shyly walked in and fiddled with his fingers.

“Um T-the headmaster w-wants to s-speak with you.” Harry said and looked to Bruce who raised an eyebrow.

“Which o-one?” Bruce asked and hoped it wasn't…

“Red one.” Harry said quickly.

Bruce groaned slightly as took a deep breath, he looked to Harry and tapped the chair, “Do they n-need me now, o-or later…?” Bruce asked “I ne-need to stay with Alex…”

“Now,” Harry said and sat on the other chair, he shook slightly looking to Bruce, “T-they had a-an episode y-yesterday maybe i-it has to d-do with the ones over at the m-monster kingdom?” Harry questioned.

Bruce let out another groan and crossed his arms, “What t-the hell are they e-even doing…?” He shook his head and stood up, he frowned when he looked to the child on the bed. He turned to Harry and sighed, “Stay w-with her for me, okay?”

Harry nodded, “Yeah, I will.”

Bruce frowned and walked to the door, he looked back to the child one last time before walking back out to a marble hallway. As he walked his gaze looked over the familiar place, the stone of the walls were chipped and broken, some even gone making a hole in the wall. Though the hole Bruce could see a couple of others outside in the big grass area, the trees surrounded it like a barrier and kept them hidden.

Bruce turned back and looked to a door that was covered with vines and rubble no one's bothered to clean up, even if they lived in an abandoned castle it was clear that no one intends to stay here for long.

Yet they stayed here for years.

Bruce stopped in his tracks when he made it too a big marble door, he looked to the handles that were decorated with a cobra. Bruce grabbed the handle and gave a silent prayer before opening the door.

“Headmaster, you called?”

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

Dr. Kim was busy working on a few wounds the soldiers had, he wrapped a bandage around the last soldier’s arm and sent him on his way when he was done.

Dr. Kim stepped out of Red cross and flapped his wings a bit, he looked up to the blue crystals on the ceiling and sighed. He noticed he hasn't seen Geno or Death in a while and was worried, in fact he found it a bit weird Gerson wasn't here with him, he usually would help Dr. Kim with things like this.

Dr. Kim walked to the tunnel and was stopped by the two guards.

“It's dangerous!-"

“- We're still not sure if it's safe!-"

“-But Gerson is out there-"

“- So feel free to leave but you have been warned!”

Dr. Kim nodded and walked through the tunnel, once he reached the outside he took a deep breath of fresh air. It's been awhile since he's been outside and it felt refreshing.

After a while he looked over the trees near him, he blinked when his gaze made its way to Gerson who was ahead of him, near some trees.

“Gerson?” Dr. Kim called out and walked to him, Gerson turned his head and waved his hand slightly to quiet Dr. Kim. Dr. Kim raised an eyebrow and walked over to Gerson, standing next to him.

“It's peaceful out here.” Gerson said and looked ahead, “Even if it's too dark for us to see.”

Dr. Kim nodded in agreement, he dusted off his feathers and took in another breath of air, “Though all peaceful things come to an end, have you heard the soldiers?”

“Hard not too.” Gerson said as he leaned against a tree, “An evacuation isn't something everyone whispers about.”

Dr. Kim nodded and sighed, “I'm worried, not just for everyone but Death as well, and Geno, who knows where we'll even go……”

“Most likely head North, the trees go that far and the mountains should cover us.” Gerson said and sighed, “It's a huge risk, can't believe Nim would go to such lengths.”

“She's hardheaded that's why, but Yellow district did choose the best leader and she was chosen.” Dr. Kim said and shrugged, he really didn't know much about Yellow district due to staying in the lab and Red cross most of the time, but he still had a bit of a bitter opinion on them.

“If only Blue were here, Johnny could've settled the fight and looked to a more reasonable tactic then such a brash decision.” Gerson huffed, “Nim has more control though, being in charge longer gives you respect, but it doesn't give you the mind to make better decisions.”

“I see you're bitter about this as well.” Dr. Kim said and looked to Gerson, somewhat amused and concerned for his friend due to him looking more to a positive side when things would get like this, it was weird seeing him bitter about something.

Gerson nodded, “Yes, I admit it but what can we do about it?” Gerson asked and crossed his arms, “We're not leaders, nor are we vampires.”

“Yes, indeed we are not Vampires nor leaders, but we are apart of Red district, our home.” Dr. Kim shrugged, he looked to Gerson and smiled, “But we are also doctors and watchers for children, we might not get much of a say in things but the best we can do is help make living here a bit more bearable for others.”

After a moment Gerson let out small laugh, looking to Dr. Kim, “I've never seen you act so calm and positive about this sort of thing, where's my friend, did you take over his body?” Gerson laughed and joked.

Dr. Kim laughed and hit Gerson slightly with his wing, “Oh shut it you old hag, at least I’m not being old and bitter.”

Gerson laughed even louder, “Kimmy, as I remember you're older than me.”

“Oh god I haven't hear my name in years.” Dr. Kim laughed, “But then again, older means wiser!”

“Yeah for the lucky ones, sorry to break it to ya Kimmy.” Gerson chuckled earning another smack from Dr. Kim’s wing.

“Whatever.” Dr. Kim chuckled and brushed his feathers, “What happens happens, we'll still be old hags together.”

Gerson chuckled and nodded in agreement, “Yes, but I plan on living longer than you so I can paint your grave in brown.”

“No way! Brown is a horrible color!” Dr. Kim gasped.

“That's the point!” Gerson laughed.

Dr. Kim crossed his arms, “Excuse me, but even if you're more likely to live longer than me I still plan to haunt you.”

“The worst you can do is knock over a plant and feel guilty, you'd be a horrible ghost!” Gerson laughed when Dr. Kim gave a small nod of agreement.

“I really would.” Dr. Kim chuckled and took in a breath.

Gerson and Dr. Kim stood in silence for a couple of moments, enjoying the small breeze of air that the forest gave them.

“Are you sure you're okay?” a voice nearby asked, Dr. Kim and Gerson turned their heads to the voice and listened quietly.

“Yeah,” Another replied with a laugh, “I wasn't going to die from it.”

Geno and Death walked from behind a few trees to the path, both smiling at each other. Gerson and Dr. Kim smiled and waved at them.

“Death, Geno!” Dr. Kim called to them, both of them turned their heads to the other monsters and smiled, they walked over to them and waved.

“Where were you?” Gerson asked, he was happy to see them but he was worried for the two.

“I was calming him down.” Geno admitted and looked to Gerson who nodded.

“I see,” Gerson sighed, “Death, sorry that so much has happened but please try and keep an opened mind.”

Death nodded, “Yes, I will, sorry If I worried you, Gerson.”

Gerson smiled, “It's alright, I understand.”

“Are you alright Death?” Dr. Kim asked and looked to him, “You have some…..blood? It's on your lips.”

Death blinked and wiped his mouth, a small tint of blue spreaded across his cheeks, “Yes I'm fine, this is nothing.” Death said rather quickly.

Gerson raised an eyebrow before looking to Geno who had a small tint of red on his cheeks and immediately figured it out.

“So, what exactly happened while you two were alone?” Gerson asked and chuckled slightly as the blue and red grew on both of their faces.

“Talking.” Geno said and shrugged, “and other things.”

“I don't think you can talk that much when your lips are against each other's.” Gerson laughed as Geno made an attempt to hide in his turtle neck, while Death was only flustered having nothing to reply back with.

Geno huffed and shrugged, he chuckled a bit and looked to Gerson, “Yeah, but he did choke on the blood.”

“Geno!” Death said as the blue on his face grew darker, Dr. Kim and Gerson roared with laughter as Death crossed his arms trying not to look flustered, “I didn't want to drink it! I wasn't trying to be rude!”

Geno laughed and hugged his arm, “I wouldn't mind though!”

Death huffed and blushed, letting Geno. He shrugged and looked to Gerson, “Still, Gerson, I do need to talk with you though.” Death smiled and looked to Dr. Kim and Geno, “Would you guys wait for us inside, we'll go in a few moments.”

Dr. Kim nodded and waved to Geno, “Come, let's let them talk.”

Once the two left Gerson and Death turned to each other, “Teasing aside, what happened back there?” Gerson asked.

“That's what I wanted to talk to you about.” Death said, he placed a hand over his soul for a few moments. He took in a small breath and slowly pulled his soul out into the open.

Gerson saw nothing wrong with it for a few seconds before realizing the green that surrounded his soul was no longer there. Gerson looked up to Death in shock and looked back to the soul.

“Yup.” Death chuckled and placed the soul back into his chest, “It's gone!”

Gerson stayed in shock for a few more moments before smiling widely, “Death, that's…..that’s amazing! Geno broke it no?”

Death blushed and nodded, he rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled, “Yeah, he did.”

“Are you two together?” Gerson asked, generally curious about the two of them.

Death smile slightly and shook his head, “No, we're not, but we have talked about it. There's things I, everyone, needs to get through first before we make such a commitment.”

Gerson nodded, understanding, “What do you guys plan on doing once all of this is settled?”

“Well, for now, neither of us can promise anything but…” Death smiled, “It'll be fine in the end.”

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

I slow burn be mad at me all you want XD

Aaaaaahhhhh!! Happy thanksgiving, I was going to do this on Halloween but I lost track of time and I felt awkward if I did a Halloween special a few days after it!

Also random D.O.R fact: Death is clumsy cause his wings are too big for him. He didn't grow as big as a regular vampire so he's off balance with his wings X3 hence why he isn't that much taller than Geno
(I'll probably post more of those if you guys want)

Credit to LapusWolf for editing this chapter!!♡♡

I'm more busy these days due to wrestling, I also have a tournament Saturday, but I'll keep trying to write!

Anyways! Thanks for reading D.O.R and I'll see you next chapter!!

Pepe! Out!