"This happens sometimes." Simon's tone was so perfectly flat that Charlie would have laughed if he currently had the right vocal cords for it. "When someone startles him. Or the doorbell rings."
"Really?" Thomas asked.
Charlie twitched his ears frantically, trying to convey that Simon was making things up, but rabbit communication had its limits.
Maya dropped to her knees beside him. "Oh my god, you're even fluffier than I imagined! Can I pet you? Would that be weird?"
"Probably yes," Connor said, abandoning his spot to crouch near Charlie too. "Also, how is this possible? Vampires don't turn into prey animals."
"Charlie's special," Viktor said, heading toward the kitchen. "Someone help him shift back while I get dinner."
Simon grabbed Charlie's clothes and scooped him up to carry him into the bathroom. "No reason to worry."
Charlie pressed his nose against Simon's hand, trying to focus on shifting back. The familiar scent helped, Simon's senses overwhelming his senses. He concentrated on having hands, on being able to talk, on not being quite so mortified. The shift rippled through him, fur receding, limbs extending.
Finally, he was human again.
"Good start to the evening," Simon said as he handed him his clothes.
"I was just… I don't know. I didn't expect my friends to be here!"
"You don't have to explain."
A soft smile stole over Charlie's face. "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me either. I'll tease you about this for years to come."
Charlie sighed. "For decades, I bet."
"Centuries." Simon grinned.
They did have that much time ahead of them, didn't they? Charlie's smile came back.
He finished dressing and they returned to the living room. "Hi, everyone."
Maya immediately squished him in another hug, this time without the surprise-induced transformation. "Six months! You disappeared for six months! Couldn't you call or send a carrier pigeon?"
"I didn't have your number!" Charlie extracted himself from Maya's embrace, almost flushed with embarrassment. "How did you all get here? How did you even know to come?"
"Viktor called," Thomas said simply. "He said you two were doing something interesting and might want to catch up."
Viktor emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray of mugs. Regular coffee mugs, filled with what was definitely blood.
"Ethically sourced," Viktor announced, setting the tray on his coffee table. "For real this time. The humans are compensated fairly and know what they're getting into."
"You're joking," Connor said.
"I never joke about ethical consumption." Viktor handed him a mug. "It's B-positive. My personal favorite."
They settled around the living room, and for a moment Charlie just absorbed the atmosphere. How normal it seemed to have these people who'd become important to him in such a short time gathered here. Like having dinner with other vampires was just something he did now.
"So," Maya said, curling up in the corner of the couch with her mug. "Viktor mentioned something about a project?"
Charlie glanced at Simon, who nodded slightly.
"We're building something. A place for new vampires who don't want to hurt anyone."
Connor frowned. "Like the retreat?"
