Displaced 02
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"What the hell! They're useless!" Natsumi growled irritably, glowering down at a thick tomb in an impressive resemblance to his father.
Unbeknownst to him, the Night class all eyed the library warily from their classroom, exchanging glances from the window to their notes to their Dorm President. The dominating agitation flowing from the library was putting them all on edge. A powerful vampire was clearly unhappy, and their instincts were telling them to run and hide.
Zero, unaffected by the fluctuating emotions, simply sent Natsumi an unsympathetic glance from his seat across the table.
"I don't remember this place sucking so much." Natsumi grumbled, discarding another book. "I don't know how far back I came, but that doesn't excuse—oh!" He perked up. "Hey, how old are you?"
"…Seventeen."
"All right." Natsumi nodded absently before his eyes slowly widened and he looked back up. "…Seventeen? That's…you're only eight years older than me." He paled considerably. "That's more than a decade…" Shaking his head, he buried his face in his hands, groaning. "This is so curse-worthy. I'm so dead. Dad, Papa, Aunt Yuuki…they'll never let me live this down."
Zero tensed at the mention of Yuuki's name. "Your aunt is named Yuuki?" What a strange coincidence.
"What? Yeah. She's pretty awesome even if she isn't as pretty as my grandmother or Papa."
If 'Aunt Yuuki' was anything like the Yuuki he knew, he wasn't above agreeing. Kaname and the chairman were probably the only males who'd ever call her beautiful. She wasn't pretty in the conventional sense.
"I thought you weren't allowed to talk about your family."
Natsumi shrugged, blowing strands of dark hair out of his face. "I'm already screwed. None of this crap is going to help me get home. If you're lucky you won't meet my parents. They're going to flay me alive for this." He shuddered. "Leave a flower for my ashes will you? I like lilies."
Zero lowered his lids in amusement. The kid was prone to melodrama of annoying proportions. He must be a handful to his fathers, whoever they were. Vampires or not, they had his condolences.
"Oi, stop looking at me like that," Natsumi pouted, "you remind me of my Dad when he's laughing at me in his head."
Zero let out a faint smirk.
"Jerkface." Natsumi muttered, deliberately diverting his attention to another book.
Watching him, Zero still thought the kid looked a lot like Kaname. It couldn't just be his coloring. The way he moved and carried himself was distinctly Kaname-like. Even now, with his chin lightly propped up by a loose fist, gaze lowered – it doubled with Kaname's image whenever he was overlooking notes during class. (Yuuki had pointed him out while they were on patrol enough times for the image to stick.)
Recalling the conversation during lunch regarding the boy's parents, he debated whether he should take this as an opportunity to learn more about them, if just to narrow down what sort of threat Kaname was referring to.
"Your fathers, are they—" He cut himself off with a startled wince, stumbling out of his chair. Holding onto the edge of the table, he covered his face with his free hand and tried to regulate his breathing. His body was trembling in shock. It'd felt as though something had gone off with a tremendous force of energy nearby, sweeping over them like an unseen tidal wave, the charged air crackling ominously as it dispersed.
Natsumi was up and out of his seat in a flash, seemingly unfazed by the huge discharge of whatever-the-hell-that-was. "Are you all right? You felt that too, didn't you?"
"What…?"
The boy smiled weakly. "I think Dad and Papa are here. Speak of the devil(s), huh?"
His eyes widened.
"I need a pen or something," Natsumi muttered, and eyed Zero's blazer, shoving his hand in its pocket. Uncapping the pen he found, he took one of Zero's hand in his and quickly scribbled a medium sized symbol on the back Zero had no idea how to make out, much less if it meant anything. Natsumi's fingers were surprisingly steady, and he adapted the tip of the pen to the curves and bumps of the back of Zero's hand as if he'd drawn on it numerous times before.
When he was done, Natsumi blew on it, most likely to dry the ink, and Zero blinked as his body felt a lot lighter, noticing the tremors and jittery feeling had stopped altogether.
"What was that?" He questioned.
"My parents making a point and me fixing it so at least you won't suffer for it. You remember when I came here neither you nor the chairman reacted like this? Well, that's 'cause you're not supposed to. My parents though, let go of a lot of energy on purpose, on a wide scale, so that I'll know they're here."
They both stiffened as they heard the library doors swing open.
"Papa." Natsumi whispered, looking up and turning his head.
Zero's senses prickled, feeling a foreign vampire walking the premises. There was a familiarity to its presence, but a definite difference, a distinct sense of wrongness he couldn't place.
Then the vampire spoke, and he knew.
"Natsumi, please let me know you are here."
Low, smooth, dark, yet gentle – he would recognize that voice anywhere.
And before he could tell the kid to wait, Natsumi bolted, his form nearly blurring as he cried, "Papa!"
Rushing after him, Zero unsheathed Bloody Rose (because this was all getting way too fucking convoluted he needed something that gave him a measure of safety, that he wasn't helpless, never helpless, never again, not like that night) and came to an abrupt stop near the entrance of the library as soon as he had the strange vampire in sight.
Arms wrapped tightly around his father's neck, Natsumi was babbling non-stop, and while Zero would have thought it amusing in any other circumstance, he couldn't take his eyes off of Natsumi's father, currently on his left knee, pressing kisses to Natsumi's hair, his forehead, his cheeks, his nose, and finally at his lips, silencing the incoherent rambling.
"Never again, Natsumi," he murmured. "You've given us a terrible scare. You seem to have been treated generously here; you're not injured, and I'm fairly confident your emotional distress is from our possible reactions to your 'dropping out of the blue' and nothing else."
"Yes, Papa." Natsumi giggled weakly. "The chairman's real nice. He would have let me stay however long without threats or bribes."
"How fortunate for us."
"Where's Dad?"
"He's with the chairman, my love. He will be expecting us." Natsumi's father pressed another kiss to Natsumi's hair and stood up to lead them back outside.
Once the doors closed behind them with a disturbingly loud click, Zero let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. He was sure Natsumi's father knew he was there, that he was watching, but whether out of kindness or simply wanting to avoid awkward confrontations, he had ignored him, keeping his attention on Natsumi.
"…Kuran Kaname…?"
It shouldn't be possible, but that vampire had undeniably been him. Zero remembered Kaname's words during lunch and didn't doubt this was the 'threat' he had been referring to.
Glancing at his watch, Zero saw Kaname would still be in class and debated between going to see him or going after Natsumi and his father, then shook his head with a snort, realizing Kaname would never just stay put in class after that energy discharge, before following Natsumi and his father's scent.
. . .
The professor was droning on about obscure mathematical equations and theory when the strange wave hit the entire class, knocking most to their feet. Kaname immediately stood from his seat, leaning a hand on his desk for balance and instinctively pushed and overwhelmed the foreign energy with his own, at least for the perimeter of the classroom, to calm his classmates. He was fairly certain this was only affecting vampires and the humans on campus would be left unharmed. Yuuki would be safe.
He needed information, however. Whatever had invaded the academy didn't feel like anything he had ever encountered.
He vaguely spared a thought to Zero, hoping the younger boy wasn't freaking out (he tended to get trigger happy when stressed) and if he knew anything regarding what just happened.
"Takuma." He ordered, and once he saw the blond nod, he left quickly, racing down the halls of the building to head for the chairman's office.
. . .
He didn't even make it to the building when he caught sight of two figures with Natsumi along with Zero and the chairman at its entrance. They were both tall, near the exact same height, one a brunet and the other with hair suspiciously close to Zero's pale shade of moonlit silver.
Calming his pace to a reasonable rhythm, he nodded a greeting to the chairman and Zero before settling his gaze on the newcomers.
"We've more visitors, I see," he said by way of introduction.
"Ah, yes," the chairman laughed nervously, looking between he, Zero, Natsumi and the strangers. "They're…Natsumi's fathers."
"Kuran Kaname." The brunet smiled. "Though I'm inclined to think you already know."
Physically, he might have a few years on Kaname, which in actual years, could range between decades to centuries. His hair was shorter, barely coming past the top curve of his ears, and had gentle waves at its tips that framed his face elegantly. There was an openness about him reminiscent of their father, Haruka, though not even their father could manage his level of…contentment. He lacked the tension that usually came with landing in a foreign world with no idea of its structure and values.
"Kiryuu Zero." The other murmured, and Kaname wondered if this man was the reason for Kuran's composure. Though nearly identical on the surface, the Zero he knew could never pull off what most would label as 'lighthearted boyish charm'. Kiryuu had every characteristic of being a fierce hunter, but he also had room to be a playful puppy, to laugh and joke, and not mind if he was having a particularly bad day. He was (as impossible as it seemed) laid back. How bewildering.
A tight knot forming in his throat, Kaname nodded again. "I'd…assumed. Natsumi looks too much like Kiryuu-kun to not be of some relation to him."
He saw Zero scowl out of the corner of his eye and held in a reluctant smile of his own.
Kuran laughed softly. It was polite, but full of delight…and oddly enough, approval as well as satisfaction. "Doesn't he? So many tend to see the dark hair and eyes first, but Natsumi is all Zero."
Kiryuu shook his head, the gleam in his eyes (so like Zero's, and yet so different) amused and exasperated. "And I keep telling you, he's a spitting image of you."
Natsumi coughed pointedly, cheeks flushed. "I look like both of you, okay? Can you guys keep the flirting to a minimum? It's kind of embarrassing."
"I would keep comments to a minimum," Kuran said back. The steel underlining his voice was one Kaname was very familiar with. He used it himself, as had his father on occasion. "You're in a fair amount of trouble, love. Your aunt is looking forward to…what was the phrase, Zero? Ah, yes, 'tearing you a new one.'"
Kiryuu chuckled, a deep, solid sound that startled Kaname with how genuinely warm it was. He briefly wondered if Zero could ever laugh that way. Probably not, but the idea had merit. If he could ever be persuaded, Yuuki might be able to work her charm. "She'll pepper you with kisses first, sweeten you up, and then dig her claws in."
Natsumi shuddered. "So mean," he whimpered. "You guys are supposed to love and protect me from evil aunts and eviler cousins."
Sending the boy a fond look, Kiryuu turned to the chairman. "Thanks for letting us stay here. It isn't necessary, but the academy is ideal for gathering what we need. It'll be a few days at the least. A week at most."
"Of course, of course. And if you need anything else, let me know."
They were staying? Kaname sent Zero a questioning glance and received a confirming nod in return. Well then. "If your rooms haven't been readied, you are free to stay in the Moon dorms. We've a few vacant rooms, and as the Night class will be attending a trip this weekend, you'll have two and a half days to yourselves."
Kuran and Kiryuu exchanged a glance, seemingly having entire conversations with their eyes, before they answered positively. Simultaneously. With the same inflection to their tone, and their expressions containing traces of mischief that set off alarm bells in Kaname's mind. It was nothing less than unnerving.
They were planning something and making it obvious that they were.
"The chairman mentioned the trip, yes," Kuran said thoughtfully. "I did so worry for Natsumi, but now that I know he's been taken care of so wonderfully, I'm not against leaving him with you." He placed his hands on Natsumi's small shoulders and gently pushed him forward. "Natsumi would be delighted if he could accompany the Night class on this trip; he's terribly curious about this section of the world, it would do him well to see as much of it as he can before we leave."
Brightening, Natsumi bounced. "Really, Papa? You'll let me? So fucking awesome!"
"Language." Kuran automatically chided. "Will you?" He asked Kaname.
Before Kaname could offer a reply, the chairman chirped, "Oh, that's fantastic! It's a great idea! Please, please consider it, Kaname." He looked so hopeful Kaname couldn't bring himself to outright reject him.
"…We can arrange accommodations for him."
"There's no need." Kiryuu said. "Natsumi can share a room with either you or your Guardian."
"We'd rather if he stayed with one of you." Kuran agreed.
Coming to understand Natsumi was...rather rambunctious, Kaname couldn't argue otherwise. It would be better for the boy to stay with him, however, as he doubted Zero would be happy with having to share his space on top of being forced to attend a trip he didn't want to go on.
"That's fine."
"Excellent, thank you. Natsumi, you must be on your best behavior. If I hear you've gone even one step out of line…"
"Your ass is fried to kingdom come." Kiryuu finished.
"Got it Dad."
"And get a gift while you're there." Kiryuu added. His slight smile was endearingly sweet.
Natsumi slowly tilted his head in confusion before he seemed to figure out whatever his father was referring to, and grinned. "You're such a sap, Dad. You better watch it or Papa might get jealous."
Kiryuu playfully tweaked his nose in retaliation. Then took a casual hold of his partner's wrist. "Natsumi, we'll be at our rooms." He said abruptly, heading for the Moon dorm.
Kuran frowned softly. "Zero—"
"Don't make me carry you. I'll do it."
Kuran huffed, but followed after him.
Clearing his throat, the chairman pushed up his glasses. "...Are they all right?"
Fidgeting with his sleeves, Natsumi bit his lip guiltily. "Papa must be really tired; I didn't notice until now. He brought himself and Dad along through the charm and then used extra to let me know he was here." He explained. "Most purebloods would have passed out by now." He shifted restlessly. "He'll need a lot of blood."
Dread filling his heart at the consequences of teenaged vampires smelling such rich blood nearby, he ordered, "He must feed away from campus grounds. If the Night class—"
"Er, why?" Natsumi blinked. "They're…you know, married? It means feeding is monogamous. No vampire will be interested in a married vampire's blood." He sounded bemused by their ignorance. "Is it different here? This place is so weird." His lip curled distastefully, his expression that of perfectly crafted aristocratic disdain. "It's considered barbaric to take from a married vampire. Someone would have to be really desperate to try to steal Claimed blood. It's totally punishable by death. It's more severe than physical rape."
"Will those standards apply to vampires here?"
"It's an innate instinct thing, so it should; like a chemical reaction. Claimed blood just doesn't hold any appeal." Natsumi took a breath. "You…don't really want to see what my Dad will do if he sees other vampires bloodlusting after Papa. He won't care if it's different here. Your Night class won't have vampires in it anymore to make it a class. The same goes for Papa. Except that the class will be gone quicker. Seriously. No joke. You should know what we're like."
Kaname slowly nodded. He hadn't missed the twin guns decorating Kiryuu's hips and had no desire to see them in action. He didn't have to think about what Kuran was capable of. He was himself, after all. "I will need to warn the students. Kiryuu-kun, I suspect you already know what to do, and chairman, I would hope all of this is kept…contained."
. . .
Zero tried not to feel suffocated by the mass confusion filling the room to the brim and beyond. The Night class was apparently getting run through the grinder tonight. First by Natsumi's moods, then the arrival of Natsumi's parents, and now they found the same people who had so strongly unsettled them were going to be staying in the same building, sleeping under the same roof – and they couldn't do a thing about it.
They trusted Kaname, but they were also scared. Not enough to be out of control, but annoying nonetheless. If Kaname could keep from flailing and stuttering like an idiot, he couldn't see why the rest of them shouldn't have to. Ichijou Takuma, Shiki Senri and Touya Rima were the only three that seemed completely at ease. The former looked fascinated while the latter two were just about ready to drop into a coma, they were so utterly bored.
"Natsumi's parents are guests here, not unlike foreign dignitaries. Treat them accordingly."
They all nodded like puppets on a string and filed out of the room. Takuma stayed behind and bubbled, "May we speak to them? They might be gone by the time we're back from our trip, and since we're leaving before dawn tomorrow…"
"You may try, Takuma, but if they refuse…"
"I'll leave them alone, I promise."
Zero held in a snort.
"See that you do. Goodnight, Takuma."
"See you tomorrow."
Natsumi had been right about the Claimed blood he talked about earlier, strange as the concept was. Not a single Night class student had gone charging after Natsumi's dad for his blood and peace had been maintained for another day. It was surreal to think vampires not lusting after blood, whatever its source, but in Natsumi's world, one only needed to be married to stop trailing others' throats with their eyes.
If just for that, he envied Natsumi's parents and their relationship. The ability to control his thirst…it was nothing more than an unattainable dream for him. He would forever rely on Yuuki and her unbelievable generosity and self-sacrifice unless he put an end to it himself or Kaname did it for him. Lord knew the pureblood was constantly looking for the perfect opportunity.
"Kiryuu-kun, thank you for your assistance tonight."
"You knew."
Takuma blinked over his shoulder in surprise at them (it wasn't everyday they spoke without spitting insults at each other), but merely smiled and continued to the door, letting it fall quietly shut behind him.
Kaname nodded, not even having to think about what he was talking about. "As I said, it was an assumption, a...hypothetical opinion based solely on observation. I could have very well been wrong."
"But you knew you were right."
"...He smelled too strongly of you to be anything other than father and son."
That was another thing. "He doesn't smell much like me."
But Kaname just had to have an answer for that too as he said, "That is the way with our kind. It's common for parents to see more traits of their partner in their child than of themselves - especially if they're particularly affectionate. It isn't so different from humans labeling certain characteristics or habits as a genetic inheritance."
"Even with scents?"
He regretted asking the moment he received a level stare obviously reconsidering his intelligence. "I hope I needn't explain the process of procreation, Kiryuu-kun. I hear you're doing exceptionally well in your biology course."
Biology? And how the hell did Kaname know what his academic standing was? He kept getting creepier by the hour. "You can smell the...other half of your partner better in your kid?" That was all sorts of bizarre.
"It is our way." Kaname nodded. "We don't require DNA testing to identify the parent of a child."
Uh, convenient.
"You want to know why I refused to tell you."
Zero shook his head, voice dry, "I can take a guess." And the first three don't count.
Dark eyes twinkled amusedly. "So you can. And you find it valid."
He hated admitting anything to this evil little manipulating son of a... "Yes."
"Is there anything else you'd like to ask after?"
"You said 'threat'. How and why?"
Kaname frowned, the twinkle in his eyes now more of an introspective spark. "...I believe I might have overestimated your reaction. You don't see the other Kiryuu Zero as an extension of yourself, but as a completely separate individual. You were able to rationalize a clear division between you two." He paused. "I feared you'd be pressured by seeing a version of yourself as a father."
"A version that's married to a version of you." He pinpointed. That was what had Kaname acting on impulse and inviting him out to lunch. He thought Zero might actually lose the last connection he had with mistress Sanity and let loose his bullets on undeserving victims if he learned who Natsumi's parents were.
"Yes. You're taking this very calmly."
Zero glared, knowing Kaname would get the silent, "Don't be an idiot, idiot," that he was conveying by it. He could accept Kaname as Natsumi's father, it seemed natural, what with their shared...aspects, but him as the other? It wasn't in his realm of possibilities; he'd immediately disassociated himself from the situation, from the idea that he could... It wasn't right. He wasn't like that, and therefore, the man (older, laughing, smiling, married) wasn't him or vice versa. It had been simple to do. He'd had enough practice and 'this' was just so...improbable it would be harder not to.
"Regardless, the trip will not be as difficult with your cooperation. Whatever motivation lies behind your even temper, I am glad for it. I'll ensure Natsumi is out of your way-"
"Why?"
Garnet eyes sharpened. "...No, I suppose you wouldn't." He said softly after a few minutes, as if unconsciously voicing the last strand of thought. The smile that curled his lips was honest, even if Zero had no idea what it meant.
. . .
"Comfy?"
"Mm. It'll have to do."
Zero chuckled, stroking his husband's hair, pulling the covers over them. He couldn't really tell the difference between this bed and their own back home, but it figured Kaname could.
Kaname took a moment to nuzzle Zero's throat before his lips twitched as he remembered the events of the day and he laughed out, unable to hold back, "Did you feel—"
"The UST? You could cut it with a spoon." Zero grunted, knowing exactly what he was about to mention.
"They're…very stubborn. I do wonder about their animosity, false as it is."
"I must have done something stupid." Zero shook his head sadly. "Must have completely ruined my chances with him here."
"You?" Kaname frowned. "He's not you, Zero. You are my husband and the father of our child. He is not. Please do be careful with your words. And you're hardly as oblivious." He stuck the last bit in like an afterthought.
"You were just fortunate enough to meet me after my awkward teenage years of wondering what my purpose in life was and getting angsty over a chipped nail."
"From what you've told me of them, you still kept a modicum of sense. You could recognize attraction when you felt it." He sniffed, indignant on behalf of his husband. "The only similarity you have with the Kiryuu Zero of this dimension is your physical appearance. That stranger wearing your face is not you. He is much too lost…too hateful to ever be you."
Running his hand in soothing circles over Kaname's back, Zero smiled, tender and adoring. "Maybe he just needs a Kaname of his own to make him better."
"Ridiculous." Kaname dismissed. "Nobody can tell him who he is. It's something he must figure on his own."
"He can have help though, can't he? Isn't that why you let Natsumi go on the trip? You wanted better for him." Zero said gently.
"And Kuran Kaname." Kaname added. "He's something to be pitied, staring the love of his life in the face and daring to not acknowledge the fact."
"Two days isn't much."
"We will see."
. . .
Thanks for reading :D