Cerulean Sins - Interlude #1

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel, still dressed in that ridiculous outfit Jean-Claude had ordered him placed into, is pacing Asher's room. He'd unbound his hair, though, the moment he'd entered the room he'd come to see as a quiet haven, where no one bothered them, where no one dared to bother them.

But now... now he's livid and angry and downright pissed.

Asher had slept with Anita. He'd fucked Anita and Jean-Claude and hadn't even warned him! Hadn't asked his opinion. Hadn't done anything but do what he'd wanted. Oh, he'd known Asher would be with Jean-Claude again, but he'd never thought his vampire would sleep with Anita. Never!

It brings tears to his eyes, and he furiously swipes them from his cheeks.

What was worse, Anita had slept with Asher.

Of course she had. Why wouldn't she? He'd been unable to resist the vampire, how could Anita? But Asher didn't even like Anita. At least Nathaniel loved her! She'd rather sleep with someone she didn't trust, who didn't love her, than with him.

He stops with his back to the door and bows his head, covering his face with his hands as he tries to control to sobs that escape him in little, halted sounds.

It simply wasn't fair, and he was growing tired of his life never having a moment of fairness in it.

Comments

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

"It means that when you eat, I can taste the food, faintly," he smiles, unable to help it at the thought of tasting food, real food, for the first time in centuries.

"And that I can visit you in your dreams," He smiles, brushing his fingertips against Nathaniel's temple. "You'll feel stronger, have more stamina. And be a little more resistant to vampiric mind tricks."

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel bites his lip for a moment.

"Would you be hurt if I said I sometimes miss your mind tricks?"

But more resilience would be a wonderful bonus for him. Maybe he would heal like a normal lycanthrope now.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher chuckles softly, absently letting his gift colour the sound, though it will have little effect on Nathaniel.

"I miss you feeling my gifts," Asher admits. "The pleasure of my bite, certainly."

[nathaniel_kitten]

Actually, it has quite a lot of effect on him. Much as Jean-Claude's voice still affects Anita. Nathaniel shivers, feels that power move over him, and he stares at Asher.

"Does it ever come back?" he whispers.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher nods, slowly.

"If I were to mark you for a fourth time, then you could choose. To let my bite affect you, or not." No prizes for guessing which Nathaniel would choose, most of the time at least.

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel glances at Asher.

"Anita has three marks. So does Richard. They... they have memories from each other, from Jean-Claude."

He's not sure he'd ever want Asher to see his past, see everything he'd done or the things that had been done to him. The things he'd learned to love and enjoy and crave.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher nods, slowly.

"Yes. That is one of the side effects," he murmurs quietly. "There is no rush, cher." He doesn't particularly want a long conversation about this just now - he's as tired as Nathaniel, from all the events of the past few days, all he wants to do is curl up and rest, die for the day with Nathaniel in his arms.

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel smiles at him, happy to put aside what he knows will be a difficult conversation between them. He continues to sip his Gatorade while Asher brushes his hair, a soft purr rumbling in his chest. Just being near Asher, knowing his vampire is safe and whole and alive... it's enough to bring tears to his eyes.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher smiles, setting the hairbrush aside once Nathaniel's hair lies sleek and smooth against his back. He kisses a bare shoulder, taking the empty bottle of Gatorade from Nathaniel's grasp as he wraps an arm around his leopard's waist.

"Bedtime, I think," he murmurs, smiling against warm skin.

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel looks over his shoulder at Asher, serious and earnest.

"I love you, and losing you would be..." He shakes his head, trying to banish the image of Asher lying nearly dead on the floor as everyone argued around him, as Nathaniel felt his vampire's life lingering by a tenuous thread. "I won't lose you, Asher, I won't. I can't."

Asher means too much to him, and he wants Asher to know that, to see it and feel it in those hushed words and violet eyes.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher cups Nathaniel's face, drawing him close to kiss him.

"You won't," Asher promises. "You have my word, mon chat. Forever."

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel smiles against Asher's perfect lips, sighing into the kiss, a little tension easing out of him at the promise. He might not have forever, but Asher does, and he believes that so long as he lives, Asher won't leave him.

Exhaustion rolls over him like a sudden, dark wave, and Nathaniel just wants to sleep. Reluctantly, he pulls away from the kiss, crawling under the beautiful, warm blankets. He lays on his side, hair a cloak around him, pooling on the sheets, and he nuzzles down into the pillow, waiting to feel Asher settle behind him.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher slides in, his arm over Nathaniel's waist, nuzzling at Nathaniel's hair until his nose brushes warm skin, his face pressed to the back of his leopard's neck, breathing in the musk of his skin, the soft scent of vanilla that clings to him.

He is content, sighing softly as he draws Nathaniel closer, cradling the young man in his arms.

[nathaniel_kitten]

It's utter contentment, his body heavy with sated pleasure, his chest aching from the piercings, and his mind quieted by Asher's presence, his promises. Nathaniel cuddles back against Asher, purring softly as he rests his arm and hand over Asher's.

The purr doesn't stop until Nathaniel succumbs to sleep, his breathing evening out into the deep rhythm of the truly exhausted.