My Poor King…

Prelude: It picks up in the series when Solomon has just defended Saya from James and James receives the thorn. James doesn't die, however. Instead, he runs off. Solomon tells Saya that should she need anything, just call his name. He'd make sure he was there. He leaves, unwilling to tell her that her sword had left a minor cut on his left shoulder near his neck.

Now, Solomon is leaning on a fence elsewhere. He hasn't started crystallizing yet and is wondering if what he did was right. He finds himself happy he's dying, since Diva rejects now and Saya has Haji.

Warning: The characters do not act exactly like they would in the Blood+ series! They are not my characters, but I've made some minor modifications between them. This is a Nathan X Solomon fanfic!

Warning: The POV of this fanfic changes back and forth between Nathan and Solomon's perspective, though it is mostly third person omniscient.

***Chapter I***

Sweet Dreams

Solomon began pushing himself as hard as he could. He needed to be away from Diva and Saya and all his brothers. He'd never be as fast as some of them, but he was still fast -as is the nature of the chevalier. His eyes were filling with tears and he couldn't explain it. Why is this happening to me? I don't understand… I'm such an idiot…

He'd never be happy with some of the decisions he made. It was just the nature of his choice. He left the person he was living for behind for his mortal enemy, and she rejected him. He was foolish for thinking there was any chance for them, especially with Haji there. He and Saya love each other, and they deserve each other.

He kept running, as if he could outrun the world. He ran until he simply couldn't run anymore, and continued trying anyway. He stopped after he felt his legs would fall apart and leaned on a fence, ignoring the now burning sensation in his shoulder. His eyes were stinging with tears, but not out of sorrow. He couldn't be happier that he was dying, he'd convinced himself of this during the run. It was the burning sensation in his shoulder. Most kyropterin crystallized instantly, Solomon was still standing there. His hand on his shoulder was proof enough to him he wasn't crystallizing yet, since he could still feel flesh and blood. "You idiot." And now you're getting what you deserve… He couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Looks like you're having a little problem here."

Nathans voice scared Solomon. He wasn't expecting someone to be here after he'd ran that far. But Nathan was the fastest of them, so it did make sense that he'd be able to keep up.

"What do you want?"

"Hm…" Solomon could hear the smile in Nathans voice. Nathan was always smiling, that gay bastard. He never seemed to get upset about anything. It could be so irritating. No one dared attack him, though. James already made that mistake. "I came to see if you needed anything. That was quite a noble act you performed for Saya."

Solomon's eyes flinched at the recognition of what he did, though he didn't deny it. He wasn't ashamed of it either.

"You betrayed us all again, Solomon. You were offered a chance to come back, and denied it. If you wanted to be with Saya so badly, why are you crying?"

Solomon kept his eyes trained on the pebbles scattered across the concrete. He had yet to look up at Nathan, hoping he'd go away. The moon was full tonight, and Solomon was standing in a beam of it. Nathan was hidden in the shadow of a building in this alley.

"I do have one question, though. It's not a major wound, but it is deadly. How do you expect to sustain your promise to Saya?" Solomon hadn't thought of that. He had told Saya that if she ever needed him, she should simply call his name and he'd be there. He wouldn't be able to keep up with that. "Or were you hoping Haji would do it for you each time?"

"I suppose it doesn't matter anyway." Solomon's voice was weaker than he would have liked. Nathan noticed it, though Solomon hoped he didn't. "I'm sure Haji can handle her just fine-"

"Yes, but I thought you wanted to be there for her. Do you still?"

Of course I do… That's what he wanted to say. Nathan could be so impossible sometimes. Solomon was almost afraid to show any emotions around Nathan because he noticed everything. Solomon felt much more comfortable staying behind his professional face than he did breaking down in front of someone like Nathan.

"It's a simple question…" Solomon glanced up to see Nathan standing in the shadow of the building. He looked scarier than usual standing in the shadows like that, though it wasn't his physical appearance that scared Solomon. Nathan really didn't look scary wearing a purple, baggy, open shirt and pink jeans. It was more the knowledge that his voice could drop two octaves and he was stronger and faster than Solomon. It was the knowledge of what he could do and how observant he was that scared Solomon. It was everything that could be seen in Nathans eyes, as Solomon continued to avoid them.

"I…" Nathan was looking at him with his head tilted, waiting on a response. Something seemed slightly different in Nathans eyes - when Solomon finally decided to meet them- and he could not place exactly what it was. Solomon pushes himself back into the fence further, clamping his hand to his shoulder as the searing pain of the wound starts up again. Why aren't I crystallizing yet?

Before Solomon could react, Nathan was directly in front of him holding him up. Solomon's eyes were closed now, holding back the tears of pain that were starting to form in his eyes again. He could feel Nathans unbuttoning the top of his jacket, and then his shirt. Solomon opened his mouth to protest and question, but the feeling of fabric rubbing over the already stinging wound made it come out as a muffled cry more than anything else.

"Hold still, Solomon." Solomon could only feel the searing pain in his shoulder, followed by the warmth of Nathans hand pulling the fabric off his shoulder carefully and holding it out of the way. Then, he could feel the heat of Nathans breath on his neck. Nathan traced his tongue up Solomon's wound, cleaning most of the excess blood of to determine where exactly the wound was located. Solomon began trying to pull himself out of Nathans grasp to no avail. Nathan was stronger.

What the heck is this gay bastard doing?… Next thing Solomon could feel was Nathans hot lips on his shoulder, followed by the searing pain again, but almost in reverse this time. Nathan was sucking the blood out of Solomon. Nathan could taste both Solomon's and Saya's blood together, not quite mixed yet. It was still a heterozygous mixture, which is why Solomon hadn't crystallized yet. Nathan continued until he could taste that Solomon's blood was clean. His blood had a distinct sweet taste to it, and it was colder than normal for some reason. Odd.

Something in Nathan wanted to keep going, but Nathan was smarter than that. He pulled his head away from Solomon's neck, causing Solomon to shiver at the feeling of the cold night air on his now exposed neck. Nathan hadn't realized Solomon couldn't hold himself up until now, so he gently let Solomon down onto the ground, sitting on his knees in front of him. Solomon's mind was still trying to catch up with what Nathan had just done.

"You know," Nathan said, glancing down at Solomon's still unbuttoned outfit, "you should wear your shirt open more often." Nathan reached out, starting to re-button it. Solomon smacked his hand away out of pure spite, slow realization coming at the fact of what Nathan had just done. That Nathan was now going to die. "I said more often, not right now. It's cold out…"

There was silence from Solomon, not quite up to talking yet.

I might have taken too much. "I'm sorry Solomon. I think I waited too long. You should sit still for a bit and let your head settle…"

"Let-t m-m-my head settle? Wh-wh-wh-wh…" Solomon had started shivering and shaking so badly that he couldn't speak straight. He looked paler than usual.

"Sh…" Nathan reaches out, continuing to button his shirt. Solomon doesn't stop him this time. "I told you it was cold…"

"Wh-wh-what d-did you do that for-r-r?"

"I wanted to help. Besides, I think it'd be a shame if-"

"I didn't need your help. I was-"

"You were what? Fine? Handling it? Don't lie to me Solomon, I saw what was happening." Solomon sits in silence for a little. "I wanted to help, just as you wanted to help Saya. She didn't ask for your help, nor did she need it."

"That's different-"

"What's different about it, Solomon?" Solomon doesn't answer him right away, keeping his eyes trained on the ground once again. "There is no difference-"

"Yes there is."

"Then what's the difference? I'd love to know so I don't make the mistake again."

"She wants to keep living! She has a reason to keep living! She-" Solomon's eyes began stinging with tears again as the effect of the slap he'd just received from Nathan was setting in. Solomon's head was now turned to the right, his left cheek turning a slight pink color.

"I don't want to hear you say that again." Nathan didn't even go easy on Solomon. He full out smacked him across the face.

"There was no reason for you to do that anyway. I'd rather myself die than you. Diva still wants you around…" Nathan can't help but smile a bit. Just a small, pained smile.

"Is that what you're worried about? Solomon… Saya's blood wont kill me." Solomon keeps his head turned away. "I promise you, Solomon, that it is possible to live without a queen-"

"How would you know?…"

"Solomon, I-"

"There's nothing left for me, Nathan. I didn't want your help! I don't want to be-"

"Solomon, look at me." Solomon stops himself from talking on, but he doesn't look at Nathan. His eyes were watering again, but they were tears of anger this time. He refused to be 'sad' around Nathan. "Solomon?… Please look at me." Solomon trains his eyes on the ground.

"Just go away…"

Nathan puts his hands on Solomon's face, turning his head so he could look Solomon in the eyes. "Solomon, I've been living without my queen for longer than Diva's been alive. It's possible…" Solomon meets Nathan's eyes for a second time, and he can see the hint of pain in them.

Solomon starts shaking his head in denial, casting his eyes down to Nathans torso. "You're Diva's chevalier… she's still alive."

"You know that's not true, Solomon. I came while Diva was in her most recent hibernation." Solomon still wasn't looking Nathan in the eyes, and Nathan felt the insane need to hug Solomon. He wasn't quite sure, however, if it was to comfort Solomon or his own need to be comforted. "My queen was Diva's mother, lady Aya." Nathan looks at Solomon, whose tears have stopped. He's calming down, and looks tired.

Nathan reaches up, rubbing his thumb under Solomon's eyes, wiping away all his tears. "Why me?…"

Nathan sits, confused for a bit before deciding to speak again. "Why you, what?"

"Why are you sitting here with me? I haven't done anything to you."

"Don't make it sound like such a punishment." There was that damned smile again, seeming to always find its way back. Nathan was, at this point, moving on from the subject of queens.

"You don't have to be sitting here, and it's not like I've done anything to make you particularly favor me. Why aren't you sitting at your mansion with James and Diva."

"Hm… that is rather tempting, but neither of them need me." Solomon's 'brother' cared for Solomon, who was used to looking out for himself. "Solomon, I go where people need me, and right now I feel you need me."

The two of them sat in silence, Solomon feeling his eyes getting heavy with sleep. He still didn't quite want to look Nathan in the eyes, though this time he wasn't quite sure why. His eyes were still trained on Nathans purple fabric-covered torso. Why am I so tired… Chevalier don't get tired. They don't need maintenance. "Is that why you serve Diva?…"

"Yes. I made myself move on, and Diva seemed as if she needed me."

"Why not Saya? Why not go back to Diva now that I'm fine…"

"Why do you ask so many questions, Solomon?" Nathan stood up, in the same moment pulling Solomon onto his feet and into a hug. Nathan didn't want to answer anything right now, so he stood in silence, holding Solomon up and hugging him. Solomon was shocked at the hug at first, but after a moment he relaxed. He would not put his arms around his older bro-… around Nathan. He would not put his arms around Nathan. His arms remained folded in front of his chest, being the only thing - besides clothing - left between himself and Nathan.

Nathan felt the relaxation and smiled, closing his eyes. Solomon didn't know he was smiling like he was, and Nathan didn't realize just how he was smiling for a while. Solomon stood in silence, slightly dozing off until he realized it and lifted his head, pulling away from Nathan a bit. Nathan blinks, snapping out of another world he'd been waltzing into. Solomon pulls away and Nathan feels the warm night air brush against his chest. Solomon's body was cold enough that the night air was warm.

Solomon felt the reverse of that effect, though. As he pulled away from Nathan and his body heat, Solomon shivered and almost fell backwards, not quite strong enough to hold himself up. Nathan was there, though, catching him. "Perhaps you should lay down."

"I'm fi-" Before Solomon could continue, Nathan already had Solomon scooped up in his arms and was running off. Solomon's head rested on Nathans chest, Solomon lacking the strength to hold it up. His eyes were open and he could feel the heat of Nathans body. That, combined with the sound of Nathans beating heart had a very soporific effect on Solomon, his eyes feeling heavy even while they remained closed.

Solomon felt the warmth of being inside. He opened his eyes slightly, seeing Nathan pulling blankets over his cold body. The room was dark and Solomon didn't recognize where he was. Nathan smiled at him, but Solomon could see that slight hint of pain in his eyes again. He wanted to ask, but his head was spinning now.

"Here. You can lay here, I'm sorry I don't have a bed for you. I'll be here when you wake up." Solomon's eyes closed again, and Nathan smiled, brushing hair out of his face and feeling the cold on his forehead.

I wonder if we have something else in common… Nathan watched Solomon sleep for a moment, considering. "Sleep tight, Solomon. Sweet dreams…"