• Rating: T
• Categories: M/M
• Fandom: Dracula - Bram Stoker
• Relationship: Dracula/Jonathan Harker
• Characters: Dracula, Jonathan Harker
• Additional Tags: Ficlet, Pre-Relationship, Missing Scene
• Status: Complete
• Wordcount: 459
• Published on AO3: 2022-09-17

Notes: Originally posted on Tumblr.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dracula or any associated trademarks. (But Dracula is in the public domain so I don't actually need a disclaimer, right?)

jonathan does not know exactly how long he spent running around the castle like a rat in a trap, but eventually, naturally, his energy for such activites leave him. instead, as he peaks around the corner to find count dracula doing his laundry, jonathan rather more is filled with a doomed sense of dread. for if the castle is truly a prison, and if the count truly does possess control of the wolves then...

well, anyway, it is not for him to drown in worry about. dracula, despite this worrisome imprisonment, has not hurt jonathan. and jonathan has now spied on dracula doing servant's duties no less then five times.

it is... possibly a bit humbling.

at dinner, jonathan can not help but notice that the count does not eat, as he has not eaten at every meal. this, too, jonathan knows he can not worry about. (for if he worries, than that would surely be all he could do.)

"my friend," dracula says after dinner has been removed (while jonathan was in another room and peeking around the doorframe). "would you join me for another quick chat? i would so like to hear your thoughts on this book of mine."

jonathan smiles. "of course," and he does not tremble when he walks next to the count to the study. he does not shudder when dracula's arm brushes his, and he does not bend when dracula's sits beside him on the couch with his book.

the night is an ephemeral thing, evermore leaving jonathan to the mercy of the sun. during the night, jonathan has contiuned to look at the count, trying to spot some measure of inhumanity, of otherness, but alas for the count is not an englishman and so jonathan can not distinguish between the traits that are merely foreign and the traits that are not of humans at all.

he does not know what the count truly is. he does not know what the count would want with him, either. but the night is giving way to dawn and jonathan is still alive.

and the count smiles at him, as pleasant as ever, as he says, "i am afraid i have kept you up yet again, my friend."

jonathan does not know how to respond to such seemingly genuine delight at his company with but delight of his own, and so enjoyment has, despite his misgivings, wormed beneath his skin as well.

there is something strange about the count's gaze, yes, but jonathan has not yet giving into the habit of judging men before he knows them. and so shall wait, and watch, and if the warm feeling in the pit of his stomach never does go away... that will be a worry for another day.