Chapter Title: Won't Let You Hurt
Disclaimer: I own nothing about this story but the ideas.
Warning: Un-betaed. Characters may be a little OOC.
A/N: This is another plot bunny that's been around for awhile. The plot is pretty simple and sweet (I hope ^^) but I had more trouble with it than expected. Usually, I just write with a general idea of what I want from the story and plan only a few lines ahead. This one, however, was a pain to write. I've tweaked it here and there but I still don't like the pacing of the whole thing. Some scenes seem too drawn out while others seem too rushed. Ah, well. I don't feel like writing it all over again from scratch so this will just have to do. I hope it didn't turn out too choppy to read. Kaname might seem a little OOC, but I thought it was plausible since he's so protective and all. :D Anyway, hope you enjoy the story.
Background: The assumption is that Kaname and Zero are a couple and that Yuuki was reawakened as a pureblood but loves Kaname only as a brother and remains in the Day Class with Zero to finish school. Heavier issues with the war and Rido will be ignored for these mostly fluffy stories.
The Moon Dormitory was quiet with most of its occupants attending class. The night was still young, and Night Classes at Cross Academy would go on for some hours yet.
Kuran Kaname, president of the Moon Dorm, however, was working in his room. A pile of papers had arrived from the Vampire Council earlier and the pureblood deemed them urgent and important enough to skip classes. So while the other vampires on campus were learning about epigenetics and quantum mechanics, he was reading page after page of political documents. The only thing that made this dull task a tad enjoyable was the company.
Zero was seated at one end of Kaname's spacious desk with a textbook open. He was quietly finishing his homework, steadily ignoring how the pureblood would occasionally watch him every now and then. It was rather distracting, making him want to blush or glare but he refrained from doing either for reacting would only encourage the pureblood. He did squirm inwardly, however, and wondered if one of the reasons why his lover had asked for his presence was to watch him blush while doing tedious paperwork. The hunter swore that it had somehow become a hobby of the pureblood.
During class changeover, the prefect had been rather surprised to see Ichijou leading the Night Class instead of the dark haired pureblood he'd expected to see. But before he could even attempt to ask, the cheerful green-eyed noble had approached him with a friendly wave.
"Kaname's working in his room. He wanted me to ask you to join him with some work of your own." The soft words had been easily heard by the hunter's keen vampire senses but lost to the Day Class students amidst their screaming. He had answered the friendly noble with a quick nod.
So now they were working and simply finding comfort in each other's presence. It wasn't very often that they had a chance to spend more than a few hours together on a school day. Even if they were each doing their own work, they appreciated this chance to be together.
Zero was turning a page when Kaname broke the silence. "What happened to your left hand?"
There was a brief pause before the hunter answered. "Nothing."
Kaname frowned. When the younger vampire used that particular tone of nonchalance, it meant that something that was definitely not nothing had happened. It only confirmed his suspicions that there was something wrong with the hunter's hand. Reminding himself that fussing would only irritate Zero and that the hunter seemed otherwise unhurt, the pureblood remained patient.
"You're favoring your right hand. You haven't once flipped a page with your left hand yet. What happened?"
Another brief pause followed, during which the hunter wondered if he could get away with claiming that it was nothing again. Glancing at the pureblood, he supposed he couldn't. But he really didn't want Kaname to start making a big deal out of something that was really insignificant.
"It's a bit sore, that's all." Shrugging, Zero studiously kept his attention on his schoolwork.
The dark haired vampire sighed before reaching over and grabbing the other's left arm. He wasn't about to let the matter go, especially since he sensed that the hunter was being intentionally vague. Kaname tugged the captive arm towards him to inspect the possibly injured hand.
Gently taking hold of Zero's hand, the pureblood frowned again. The pale and, in Kaname's opinion, perfect hand was marred by a bruise. The bruise was faint but to his keen eyes, the discoloration was unmistakable. It unsettled him. Vampires healed quickly, and most bruises vanished within seconds, or minutes at most. A bruise that lasted for hours usually meant that the injury was at first quite severe or that the vampire's healing had been compromised by a hunter weapon. Seeing Zero injured so reminded him how his lover could be so vulnerable at times despite how strong he could also be.
Mouth set in a grim line, Kaname continued to hold onto the hand. "This is not nothing. Why were you injured? Was it that level E?" He was aware that the hunter had been on a mission that afternoon to eliminate a level E that had been causing harm in a nearby town. Kaname knew Zero was a skilled hunter and could take care of himself, especially against a level E. But if that creature had hurt his lover… The pureblood felt fury beginning to stir in his chest.
Zero refrained from rolling his eyes upon seeing the pureblood getting worked up. He'd grown up with many bruises and scrapes so he was of the opinion that the other was overreacting. But he couldn't deny that his lover's reaction brought warmth.
"It'll fade in a little while. It really is nothing."
Though Zero tried to brush the matter off, the pureblood continued to look expectantly at him. Groaning inwardly, Zero wondered if he should just say it was the level E that caused him injury. It would cause Kaname to truly become furious, not to mention fuss over him. Still, there was nothing the pureblood could do to the already dead level E. And dealing with a worried Kaname the next time he had a mission was less embarrassing than the truth. The truth was something he didn't want to recount. But… he hated lying to his lover even more.
"A door slammed on it."
The words had the effect of a bucket of cold water on Kaname's fury. The pureblood couldn't completely hide the incredulity when he further inquired.
"You… slammed a door on your hand, hard enough to bruise for this long?"
"No." The hunter hurriedly continued in an attempt to salvage his tattered pride. "I was standing at the back of the classroom when one of my classmates slammed a door on it."
"And why did this classmate slam the door so hard? Who was it?" So it wasn't a level E but a human who had injured him? Well, no matter. Kaname considered how much he could get away with when taking coexistence and the peace of the school into account. It wouldn't be very much but he would still make sure that student understood the consequences of hurting Zero.
It wasn't that difficult to guess what the pureblood was thinking. Actually, the hunter had expected amusement and teasing which was why he had initially tried to work around the subject. But there was no amusement in his lover's set features. Zero wasn't all too fond of the student and had given him a scathing glare for the door slamming earlier, but he didn't want Kaname cornering and terrorizing the student. Besides, he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself.
"I'm not telling you who it was. I took care of it and received an apology. It was just a mistake."
Russet eyes narrowed briefly before Kaname decided to let it go for now and focused once more on the bruise. It didn't matter if Zero refused to answer. He could ask Yuuki and find out who it was. That student, whoever it was, was in for a grueling talk on indoor etiquette and the consequences of injuring others. Even if it had been a mistake, no one could injure Zero and get away with it so easily.
Believing the conversation to be over, the hunter had returned his attention to his textbook. But he nearly gave a visible start at the sudden rasp of a warm tongue against his hand. Zero immediately tried to tug his hand away but the pureblood's hold was too firm.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Kaname briefly met wide violet eyes at the question before returning to his self appointed task.
"I'm healing your hand."
Zero sat frozen as the caresses continued. Soft lips brushed against the still slightly sore and sensitive hand while that skilled tongue caused sensations that had nothing to do with healing. Heated breath ghosted across moistened skin, making the hunter's heart thud too quickly and too loudly in his ears. He could not entirely stop the slight trembling of his fingers.
"Kaname, you call this healing? You're making out with it." The younger vampire was glad that he managed to make his voice sound at least a little wry.
"Hmm?" The quiet hum was the only reply Zero received, and the gentle vibrations sent bolts of pleasure skittering up his arm and spreading through his entire frame.
The pureblood smiled at the shiver he had elicited from his lover and Zero could feel his lips gently curving against his palm. Swallowing thickly, the hunter masterfully kept quiet despite the groan that was building up in his chest and endured the treatment for another couple of minutes. When Kaname finally gave one last lick before releasing his hand, he wasn't sure if he was relieved or disappointed. Perhaps he was a bit of both.
Zero glared at the little grin the other directed at him, though his flushed cheeks ruined the threatening glare. Seeing the pureblood return to his documents, the hunter nearly growled.
"Has anyone ever told you how much of a tease you are?"
Dark eyes were amused as they rose to meet violet. "No, I believe you're the first to do so. But Zero, is that a complaint?"
"No. But you'd better finish what you started once you're done with that work. Preferably soon," the hunter deadpanned.
Kaname loved it when his usually reserved lover spoke so freely. Raking his eyes slowly and heatedly over Zero's body, he spoke in a voice full of promise. "You shouldn't worry. I always finish what I start."
But as much as he wanted to turn the whole of his ardent attention to the hunter, there was work that he just had to finish. Personal matters would have to wait. He was a pureblood, a prince among vampires. He could do this, even though it was very, very difficult.
A few hours later, Kaname put away the last of the papers and sighed. It had been tedious work but it was finally finished. He leaned back in his chair and glanced over at Zero who was dozing with his head pillowed on folded arms upon the desk. A soft smile graced the pureblood's features as he simply drank in the adorable sight. Zero really should be moved to the bed or he was going to wake up with an awful cramp. But the hunter looked so peaceful that Kaname couldn't help but feel reluctant to disturb him. Deciding to give him a few more minutes, the pureblood rose and silently left the room to quickly take care of something. He'd move Zero when he returned.
Kaname made his way through the darkness and entered the main school building. The vampires in the Night Class had just finished classes for the night and were filing out into the hallway. Upon noticing their dorm president's presence, they all paused and bowed their heads with a respectfully murmured greeting. But the pureblood barely took notice as he passed by, simply nodding in unspoken dismissal. Understanding this, most of the vampires swiftly complied and left the hall. Only a few of the nobles closest to the pureblood remained, unsure whether their leader wanted anything.
Kaname made no move to acknowledge them and walked down the hall to the classroom that he was looking for. It was the homeroom of Zero and Yuuki. Standing in front of the classroom door, his aura flared without warning and the door practically exploded into nothing but splinters and dust.
"Kaname, is something wrong?" Among the surprised nobles, only Ichijou had the courage to ask.
The flash of crimson in the pureblood's eyes bled away as he watched the dust settle. Perhaps he was being petty and overreacting but he felt a small amount of satisfaction. No one and nothing would every get away with hurting Zero. Eventually, he turned to the lingering vampires and offered them his usual unreadable expression.
"It is nothing. We should return to the dormitory." He had no reason to explain his action and though they might wonder, none would dare inquire further.
The next day, Zero attended class wondering why there was no door. No one seemed to know why it was gone. And when the hunter mentioned this strange occurrence in passing to Kaname later on that night, he was met with a smugly satisfied look. Immediately suspicious, he opened his mouth to question the pureblood but abruptly changed his mind and closed it again. There was little use arguing with his lover's protective tendencies and it was usually better to pretend not to notice. Besides, there was no real harm done. It was just a door.
Thanks for reading! Reviews would be greatly appreciated!