After barely escaping the Alien reality...

"Phew. That was a bit too close." Midas sighs.

"I know right? That could've gotten real ugly if I didn't warp us outta there."

It had been a crazy few days for Midas. First he finds out the truth of where the kid truly comes from and how she got stuck on the island, he got caught in John Jones' dimension hopping mission and both men discovered the strange truth that they had feelings for one another!

Midas hums, sliding a little closer to Jones while they fall to their next destination. He seemed to be trying to fix something on his rift device.

"Ugh c'mon."

"Problem?"

"Yeah. I kinda fucked up the destination we're going to. I was meant to send us back to the island."

"Maybe you programmed it wrong?" Midas suggests.

"Probably. Cos we're not going to the island. I have no idea where we're gonna get tossed out."

Jones begins to groan in frustration, annoyed at his own stupidity. Midas takes his free hand and clasps his hand around his softly.

"Don't worry. As long as we don't loose sight of eachother, we'll be okay."

The blond's cheeks turn a bright red, his sapphire eyes sparkling as he gazes at Midas, who's cheeks have gone a pink hue.

There was no denying that they had both fallen for each other.

Midas brushes a hand across Jones' cheek, the two of them seemingly lost in a trance. He grabs his golden wrist gently, pulling his hand back onto his cheek. Both lean closer to each other to the point that their lips were almost touching.

"Should I really be doing this..?" Midas questions in his mind.

He glances back at Jones. He didn't seem to mind the situation they were in. He gives Midas an expression that read 'I know you want to, so go ahead. I won't mind.'

"Fuck it."

Midas leans in and locks lips with Jones. They close their eyes, embracing each other in the company they had together. All at once time seemed to slow down. They were so enveloped in the kiss that time felt like it wasn't a thing.

Midas pulls away slowly, but Jones quickly pulls him back. Only to then let go.

"S-Sorry. That just felt...so nice. I didn't want it to end. I wanted to keep going."

"It's alright. Truthfully I wanted to keep going as well." Midas admits, scratching the back of his neck. "Do... you want to keep going?"

"I'd love to, but I think we're about to stop warping in a second. Maybe later."

A rift opens up under their feet and Midas gracefully lands perfectly balanced. Jones wasn't so fortunate and lands face first on the ground. He looks up at the mastermind accompanying him, seeing him trying to hold back a snicker.

"Go ahead, I get laughed at on a daily basis at work for my failures." He smiles shyly.

"Apologies. Couldn't help myself."

Midas extends a hand and helps him stand up. Then he takes a look at the surrounding area they had landed in.

"It looks like we've landed in a city, in the dark of night as well."

Jones has a look, seeing Midas was right. They decide to walk through the city, taking ahold of each others hand. The mastermind can't help but notice people giving him...creepy glances. The blond's sudden grunt in frustration distracting him briefly.

"Argh, damnit! Darn things frozen."

"So we're stuck here?"

" 'Fraid so. Well, until it decides to not be a bitch and unfreeze."

Jones himself eventually notices the citizens of the city giving them creepy expressions. Midas tightens his grip on his hand, looking very uneasy.

"There's something not right about this place..."

"You're telling me. C'mon, let's find somewhere to hide away for the evening."

The boys take a sharp right and go down a nearby alleyway. Jones scans his rift device, checking the coordinates of the reality they had landed in.

"Reality M-B1998." He reads.

"What reality do you think we've been taken to?"

"Well, this is just a wild guess... plus my Marvel film knowledge, but we might have been taken to a reality of the Blade movie from 1998."

"Blade...that name rings a bell."

"I'm only suggesting that because I've watched that film a couple times and these buildings look exactly like the ones in the film."

"The name is familiar. I think he helped us in the fight against Galactus." Midas hums. "What's the premise of the film anyway?"

"It's about a man named Blade. Half human, half vampire. He basically kicks ass and beats the shit outta evil......vampires..."

Jones then realized how dangerous their situation has turned as he explains the plot of the film. Sweat drips down their foreheads.

"Oh god... this isn't good."

A few groaning noises come from behind the boys. Despite not liking what they'll see, they turn around and find a horde of vampires standing behind them, on the ground and levitating in the air.

"Fresh blood~" They hear some of them mutter.

Midas and Jones begin to slowly back away from the bloodthirsty crowd, only to find more in the other direction.

"We're trapped!" Jones whispers to himself, clinging onto Midas' arm. He could feel the blond's fear, seeing how afraid he was, and how tightly he was hugging his arm. However, while uneasy, Midas wasn't afraid.

"Not for long we won't be."

Midas takes out his golden pickaxe and charges through the crowds, slicing them in half as he pulls Jones along. The bloodsuckers from behind chase after them.

"Midas what are you-"

"No matter what happens Jones YOU STAY BEHIND ME!"

Jones does as he's told, watching Midas' golden touch spread up his arms and cover his body. He frantically hacks away at the hungry crowds, turning from left to right and right to left, making sure he kills every last one.

Dust fills the air, clouding Midas' vision and separating him from Jones as he could no longer feel his hand around his gold one.

"Jones? Jones!"

No response comes as he traverses through the clouds.

"Damnit I told him to stay close to me...that blond dumbass."

He unknowingly bumps into someone else he didn't see in front of him. Looking hopeful, he glances at them.

"Jones? Please tell me it's you."

They slowly turn around and he sees the sharp fangs in their mouth. His eyes widen as he realises he's just fucked up and sealed his fate.

"Shit..!"

The vampire pushes him into a wall hidden in the fog, forcing him to loose grip on his pickaxe. With no hesitation it restrains his hands, leans against him and digs its fangs deep into his neck, drinking his blood.

He shouts in pain, shivering and trying to break free, but it's no use.

He was stuck.

------

Jones coughs repeatedly, trying to find his way back to Midas.

"Aw jeez."

*cough*

"How am I gonna spot him in this mess?"

The clatter of something metallic hitting the ground alerts the blond, followed by a not so distant scream of pain.

It sounds a lot like Midas!

"Midas! Where are you?! Are you okay?!

No response.

"Midas, say something!!"

Unfortunately for Jones, his pleas for Midas' safety only attract the attention of three vampires who quickly surround him. Like the coward he was Jones crouches and covers his face.

Suddenly, in a miraculous twist of fate, the sound of a blade being drawn alerts the bloodlusting creatures. But they don't get a moment to react before it slices through all three of them.

"You alright there?"

Jones uncovers his face to see his saviour;

The daywalker himself, Blade!

"Holy shit! Blade! Wow!" He gasps, getting back onto his feet. "Thanks for the save!"

"No problem."

"Uh, you haven't happened to see a guy with gold hands have you?"

Blade thinks for a second, only to be interrupted by the sound of the last few vampires being dusted. Midas emerges from the dust clouds, pickaxe in hand.

"You mean him?"

"Midas!!"

Jones wraps his arms around him tightly, burying his head in his chest. Midas puts the pickaxe back behind him and hugs back with an arm.

He was thankful Jones hadn't noticed him clutching the left side of his neck as he seemed too relieved to notice.

"Sorry Jones. I didn't mean to worry you. I'm alright, I promise."

"Please don't worry me like that again! Your sister will kill me if I let anything happen to you."

"I'm okay, Jonesy. I promise-"

He doesn't even get to finish his sentence before Jones plants a kiss on his cheek. He goes a bright pink in the face again, smiling a little.

"Alright alright. I'm sorry." He comforts him.

Jones wipes his eyes with a sigh of relief. He pulls out his rift device and thankfully it seemed to be working again.

"At least we can get outta here now."

Blade had seemingly already left so Midas and Jones waste no time in getting back to the island.

-----------

It was near enough dusk when the boys return. Landing outside Pleasant Park Jones turns to Midas.

"Alright. I'm gonna go talk to my boss about fixing the Zero Point. What will you do?"

"I'll... I'll stay at home. You go do what you need to do."

"Okay. I'll be back."

Jones teleports away with his rift device, leaving Midas alone. The smallest bit of sunlight left shines down on him. Immediately, he cringes from the pain of his skin being hurt by it. He instantly dashes inside the house, closing the door.

"Okay. First things first, I gotta clean myself up..."

He walks upstairs and heads into the bathroom and washes his hands, plus any bloodstains near the bite mark. An uncomfortable feeling of dread lingered within him.

He didn't feel right.

Gazing into the mirror he realises his reflection is missing. Jumping back in surprise, his heart pounds from the adrenaline rush.

"What on earth..?"

His reflection faintly returns. Midas hums deeply, rubbing his thumb over the bite mark. It seemed to have stopped bleeding and dried up as a small scar. He also couldn't help but notice his golden eye had gained a slight redness to it.

Backing away slightly, he puts a hand on his chest.

"No. This isn't real. I'm dreaming. I have to be! I...I can't be one of them..." He mutters, lowering his voice to a whisper. "...can I?"

A sudden twinge of pain originating from his mouth immediately informs him that this was all real and he wasn't dreaming at all. A small shout leaves his mouth as he doubles over onto his knees, using the sink for support and clenching his teeth.

"Argh!! Ah- W-What the?!"

A hiss escapes from him as he groans in pain. It felt like a pair of needles were pushing their way through his gums, forcing out his teeth and replacing them with razor sharp fangs.

Unfortunately for Midas, that was EXACTLY what was happening.

The two teeth that had been replaced by the pair of fangs clatter on the ground as a small pool of blood drips from his mouth and onto the floor. Midas gasps for air, relieved that the pain had subsided... for now...

Letting go of the sink he uses his tongue to feel the fangs embedded in his gums. He flinches as he lets it slide below their tips.

"I guess I'm not dreaming after all..."

Midas sighs and grab a nearby towel to clean up the blood on the floor...but he stops in his tracks, eyeing it with a lidded gaze.

Taste it.

He puts the towel aside, leaning towards the blood on the floor.

No one else is around.

Midas lies down on his stomach and begins licking the blood off the floor, humming in satisfaction. When he comes to his senses and realises what he's doing, he covers his mouth and sits back up.

"W-What was I just doing..?"

He felt disgusted with himself. But at the same time...

He enjoyed each lick he took. It tasted...good.

He wanted more...

He craved more...

Cleaning the stain off the floor Midas wipes his mouth, removing any trace of blood near his mouth. His stomach growls quietly, begging for a meal.

"I... I'll give it a couple of hours..." He hums softly. "See if this... feeling goes away..."

A knock on the door attracts his attention.

"If it doesn't... well, I'll know that what I don't want to believe is true..."

Answering the door Jules and Marigold, plus John Jones, greet him. The girls smile and hug him tightly, clearly having missed him.

"Hey, miss me much?"

"Of course silly! You both came back at the right time!" Jules snickers lightly.

"Indeed. Jones..."

*ahem*

"Got what he needed."

"He stole it cos I.O were bitches and refused to give him what he wanted." Jules interrupts.

"Ah, I see." Midas sighs, being careful as to not part his lips too much. "So, what's the plan Jones?"

"Simple. We get to the Zero Point and I'll use my device to bring one of the Seven here to help fix it."

"Would you like to come with us Midas?" Marigold asks.

Midas thinks for a moment, taking a sneaky glance at the sky. The sun had disappeared over the horizon.

"Well, I suppose I can tag along."

"Great! C'mon!"

The squad begin heading out. Midas trails behind, thinking about the past 10 minutes of pain he went through. He still wanted to believe he was having a bad dream...but at the same time, he knew he wasn't dreaming.

-----------

A couple hours later...

With the Zero Point sealed away peace had returned to the island. It was a dark starlight evening with the moon hanging in the sky. Midas had strayed far from home, seeing how this feeling in his gut hadn't gone away.

But he quickly figured out what it was;

He was hungry.

So. Fucking. Hungry.

He was craving blood so badly he was drooling at the mere thought of it.

"I can't take this anymore. I HAVE to give in, or else I'm going to starve."

Peaking from behind a wall he notices a person close by. His stomach growls loudly at him, almost instinctively telling him what to do.

Do it.

He really didn't want to.

Give in to your hunger.

He grips onto his head, trying to block out the voice that actually sounded a little like him.

DO IT.

Despite his better judgement, Midas closes his eyes and allows his hunger for blood to take over.

The person turns around, certain they heard something. When they turn back, Midas grabs them from behind, covering their mouth and dragging them behind the wall he was hiding behind.

They try to scream for help, but Midas' hand over their mouth makes their attempts fruitless.

He could hear the sound of their heartbeat, the fresh blood being pumped through their body. It was music to his ears. Exposing their neck, he leans in and mutters;

"I'm sorry..."

And digs his fangs deep into their skin, the taste of their blood hitting the pallet of his tongue.

It was delicious.

"Mmm... maybe, this isn't so bad~" He moans, breathing heavily on their skin as he continues drinking the warm liquid.

He continues digging his fangs deeper into their neck, keeping his hand firmly over their mouth so they can't call out for help, and consuming any blood that leaks out. At this point, Midas didn't want ANYONE or ANYTHING to come between him and his dinner.

After about 10-15 minutes, the person stops struggling to escape and goes completely limp. Midas pants in exhaustion, his gold, now red, iris gleaming in the dark. Dropping the body, he rubs his head and flinches, his eye returning to normal.

"...shit... w-what have I done?"

His victim was very clearly dead as he had taken a whole lot of blood from them. He was overwhelmed with guilt and regret.

"What am I doing?" He mutters quietly, still with his mouth covered. "I'm turning into a monster...but...I can't seem to help myself..."

His stomach growls at him yet again, a little quieter though. His thirst hadn't been quenched yet. He was still hungry.

"It's...not enough. I want more...I NEED more..."

Midas suddenly senses a presence behind him. He turns around and finds another person...no, another victim conveniently standing there. They seemed to be afraid, frozen in fear and unable to move.

Which was... perfect...

A lustful smirks falls onto his lips as his eye goes a bright red again.

"Mmm... you'll do nicely~"

They don't get a second to react before Midas runs towards them, sealing their fate.