Kanda knows he rushed into things with Lavi, he isn't that socially savvy, but he hopes he didn't scare him off. What was he thinking, telling him he had to leave so soon? Before they even have a chance to know one another, he sets a deadline for their relationship. Kanda berates himself through the rest of his bath, drying, changing, and on his way down to speak with his housemates. He must have one scary look on his face, because even Allen looks uneasy when he enters the room.
"Did Lavi go home?" Kanda just looks at them but they get the idea. "It's an hour to sunrise. It wouldn't be wise to go out now…" Lenalee advises him.
"I know that!"
"Hey, it's not our fault you're an antisocial idiot who can't tell someone how he feels."
"Allen-kun…"
Kanda and Allen glare at each other and Lenalee just sighs, defeated.
"We will be leaving in about two months. That's all I came down to say."
Allen loses the fire in his eyes and casts a worried glance on Lenalee.
"They're back again, aren't they?"
Kanda looks at her now, expression softened by her apparent fatigue. "Why didn't you two sleep today? How long have you been up?"
"That's not why. She's—we're just tired of having to move all the time. It's tiring."
"Well what the hell do you want me to do about it? Kill Cross? Let them take me back?"
"No. Not that. Just…maybe we should move further away? I don't know." She looks near tears, so much so that Allen can't keep himself from hugging her to him. Kanda's surprise goes unnoticed by the two, focused on each other as they are.
"We'll figure something out, Lenalee, don't worry," Allen murmurs.
Kanda scoffs and heads back up to his room, but he does not stop thinking of ways to end this miserable cycle.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Lavi sits in his usual spot with his usual types of books, his feet crossed on the table and his head resting on his hand. His eye continues to take in information from the text, but his thoughts are elsewhere. He is waiting for Bookman to show up for their usual tutoring time (if you can call listening to someone speak nearly nonstop for an hour tutoring).
When he hears a sound that is his mentor's disapproval of his feet on library property, he sits up. He sets his book aside and adopts the usual 'I'm listening intently' look, but Bookman can tell something is on his pupil's mind.
"What is it, Lavi?"
"Ah? I didn't say anything. Nothing's wrong."
"Wrong? I didn't ask if anything was wrong." He gives Lavi that stern, no-nonsense look and Lavi sighs.
"No foolin' you, eh? All right, well you're not gonna like this, but I've kinda been seeing someone."
It is Bookman's turn to sigh. "Who is she? Which of this town's fair share of trollops have you finally gone farther than flirting with? She had better not be pregnant."
"What!? Trollop—pregnant? No, no, you've got it all wrong!" Lavi waves his hands in shock, "Well…sort of. I haven't gotten anyone pregnant!" Bookman raises his eyebrows, that skeptical look making Lavi feel sheepish. "Well, it's a little complicated, y'see? First off, it's a guy." Bookman's eyes go wide, then he makes a, "Well I half expected it," face that Lavi doesn't see. "And he's a vampire."
"A vampire?"
"Yeah. I couldn't believe it at first, either, but then he bit me and it felt…" Lavi's incredulous expression says it all. Bookman's frown deepens.
"You're dating a vampire."
"Yeah."
"What is this nonsense? Haven't I taught you better than to make up stories for attention?"
"It's true! He—"
"Then where is he?"
"Eh?"
"Where is this vampire that you're seeing? I want to meet him."
"Meet…him?"
"Yes. Bring him to dinner sometime."
"He doesn't eat! And he's nocturnal."
"I'm sure. In that case he can make it to dinner tomorrow after dusk? He won't mind watching us eat and just conversing with us, I assume," he waves Lavi's further protests away, "Now for today's lesson. We went over Stonehenge's hidden history last time, right? I think we'll do the city of Atlantis this time."
Bookman keeps talking, but Lavi only half-listens. He is too immersed in imaginary conversations with Kanda. Would you have dinner with me and my surrogate father? Or, hey, Kanda, Bookman says he'd like to meet you. How's dinner tomorrow night sound? Lavi can even picture Kanda's reactions. Are you nuts? I'm not going to ask your father for your hand in marriage, idiot. Or, why would I need to meet him? Or even, he can come here if he pleases, but I won't go to him. Lavi sighs and slumps in his chair, realizing this is going to get much harder before it gets any easier.
After listening to the old man drone for an hour, Lavi goes home and does what he does best. He puts quill to parchment and writes what he eventually fine tunes into a passable dinner invitation. Sealing it in an envelope with wax, Lavi takes a deep breath and stands from his little table. He pauses at the door, almost forgets the whole idea, and then grips the door handle with nearly enough force to dent the iron. I have to do this. I have to, if I ever want to be with him. Or even just have a chance. I have to… He repeats the mantra all the way to Kanda's mail box, then drops the letter in and flees like the Old Man himself was after him.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Kanda sits up and blinks, bleary-eyed and messy-haired. Lenalee sets the candle down on the table and hands him the letter Allen found in the mail box this afternoon. It has two strange symbols on the front that no one else in the country but the three currently in residence, and their new friend, could likely recognize, much less understand.
"Allen-kun found it, although I had to tell him what it said. It's from Lavi, right? Who else could it be? Cross is still in Japan, isn't he?"
"Most likely."
Kanda cracks the seal and slips out the page without further ado. He squints at it for a moment, and then frowns at it. Finally, he looks up at Lenalee, who is very curious as to what has Kanda making odd faces.
"I've been invited to dinner," he says, "Tomorrow evening at dusk."
Lenalee mirrors Kanda's incredulous look, taking the page to read for herself. She also squints at the scribbled and blotted-out kanji, but when she finishes, she smiles.
"He wants you to meet his father!" She has to stop herself from clapping her hands in girly glee. It's so cute! Kanda-san's boyfriend wants him to meet his family! This has never happened before. I wonder what Kanda should wear…
"Lenalee." She blinks, realizing her eyes are glazed and she was staring somewhere past Kanda's shoulder. "I'm not go—"
"Oh, yes you are!" Kanda forgets to close his mouth for a moment. "You are not refusing Lavi after he goes out on this limb for you. You just aren't! You're going and you're going to dress nicely and be polite and tell his father your intentions and ask his permission because that's what you should do and—"
"Okay! I get it, already. Just…calm down, all right?"
Lenalee continues to beam as she flits over to his wardrobe, throws the doors open, and rummages through his clothes. Kanda rubs his right temple with a frown. There is no way this is going to go as well as she seems to think it will.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Lavi wears his nicest clothes, the ones Bookman picked out for him a year ago when he met some important people about an apprenticeship. It didn't work out, but at least he got these snazzy clothes. Matching black slacks and jacket with light grey pinstripes cover a white peasant shirt complete with cuff and collar ruffles. White gloves and a black top hat complete the outfit quite nicely. Lavi looks sharp and elegant and completely unlike his normal self.
Bookman notes all this plus the nervous look on Lavi's face in one glance as he opens the door for him. The fact that he even showed up means he is either taking this ploy way too far, or he really is expecting his vampire lover to come to dinner. Bookman hopes, for the boy's sake, it is the former.
Lavi plops into the nearest armchair in the sitting room, instantly adopting a look of deep consternation. If he were the type to bite his nails, he would have them gnawed to the cuticle by now. Instead he chews his lower lip, which is now red and slightly swollen. Bookman joins him, choosing the chair opposite his and gazing at the boy almost sympathetically. He easily recognizes the signs of stress but cannot guess how to alleviate them, so he chooses to ignore them.
"You're early."
"Am I?" Lavi answers without looking up. "Sorry." The word lacks any sincerity whatsoever. Lavi is on autopilot while his mind chases itself in dizzying circles. Bookman ignores this as well.
They sit in silence for a good ten minutes. Bookman's butler announces that dinner will be served in another ten minutes and Lavi's canine nearly pierces his lip. The sun set half an hour ago, where is he? Or is he even coming? I'll bet he flat out refused such a lame excuse for a dinner invitation. Or maybe he couldn't read my terrible handwriting. I should have written more clearly. Now I have to explain to Bookman…He'll never believe me…
"Lavi," Bookman calls for the third time. "Give it up, Lavi. He doesn't exist. Just because you—"
He is interrupted by a knock on the door. The butler answers it as the two stand and peer down the hall. They hear the two exchange a few words before the guest relinquishes his cloak to the waiting butler and Lavi recognizes Kanda's slim figure. He breathes a sigh of relief and gratitude.
"So who did you pay to play your boyfriend?"
"What!?" Lavi hisses. He pulls Bookman by his sleeve out of Kanda's sight. "Why would you think that? Do you even know me?"
"Of course I know you. I raised you."
The butler walks through the door, an annoyed looking Kanda at his heels.
"Announcing Mr. Kanda." Bookman dismisses the man and shakes Kanda's hand.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Kanda."
"Likewise."
If Lavi were suicidal, he would act on the impulse to laugh at the ridiculousness of this situation. Kanda is dressed like a rich count in a black coat with coattails over a deep red shirt, black pants, shiny black shoes, and white gloves. Most of his hair is pulled back in a low ponytail and he looks like he would rather be just about anywhere else in the world. Lavi cracks a thankful/sympathetic half-smile when Kanda meets his eyes. Kanda's answering glare seems to say; "You so owe me one." Lavi nods.
"Shall we?" Bookman leads the way to the dining room. Kanda is seated at one end of the table, Bookman on the other, and Lavi in the middle on one side. The minute their wine and salads are brought out, Bookman switches to interrogation mode.
"So how long have you been seeing Lavi?"
Kanda eyes the greenery before him with open disdain. "About a week."
"Really? So soon and you already come to dinner to meet his family?"
Lavi winces. He knows Kanda doesn't want to be here, and Bookman's just making it worse, but he doesn't know how to stop this. He stabs at his plate, taking gulps of wine in between bouts of breathing too much and not breathing enough.
"It is strange," Lavi holds his breath, "But I like him." His eye goes wide but he is too nervous to look up.
"I see. So your intentions with him would be…"
"I wish to take him with me when I leave this town."
Oh gods, he said it. Just like that.
"And what if I would forbid it?"
No, no, no. This can't be happening.
"Then I would have to go against your wishes and take him anyway, if he so chooses."
…Shit!
"Even knowing that I have all the money and resources anyone could need to find and kill someone, if I so desire?"
"Even so. I have had lifetimes of experience with avoiding my past."
"And if this young hooligan were to leave you, even after all the dangers and troubles you would go through to be with him?"
"Yes," Kanda pauses, sounding strained when he starts again, "I would still take him. I would not regret it." Lavi's throat tightens. He loosens it with yet another frantic series of gulps.
He looks up in time to see Bookman's challenging glare melt into reluctant admiration. Lavi's mouth falls open on its own.
"So be it. I hope you don't regret your decision, Mr. Kanda. He's all yours."
WHAT!?
"What are you doing, Lavi? Keep your mouth closed when you are not speaking or eating. Haven't I taught you that much?" There is a hint of a smile on the Old Panda's ancient visage. "What? Did you really think something like vampires would really exist and I wouldn't know about them? Of course vampires are real. Why else would there be so much mythology and folklore about them?"
Lavi is literally speechless. He can't even think in sentences at this point. Just staring at Bookman as he is, he misses Kanda's movement from his chair to Lavi's. He touches his shoulder to get his attention. Lavi jumps and blinks up at Kanda, then blinks at Bookman, then back to Kanda again.
"I'm assuming this evening is finished, considering his mental state and the fact that I do not eat."
Bookman gives a curt nod and waves his butler to show them out. He walks towards the stairwell, pauses and turns to a still-confused Lavi, now out of his chair, and meets his eyes. "If this is what you choose, Lavi, I won't stop you. Even if it is a waste of your talent. Know that I always loved you like a son, and I would not take a moment of it back."
Lavi is floored, moved, and slightly tipsy. Bookman ascends the stairs before he can say anything back. He just allows Kanda to guide him into the street and halfway to the woods without even thinking about it. When he realizes they are going the opposite direction of Kanda's house, Lavi's brain turns back on.
"We're going to my cabin? You're walking me home?"
"…"
Shit. He looks pissed. "Look, Kanda, I'm sorry about all that. I couldn't think of a way out of it. I actually didn't think you'd even come. I'll make it up to you, yeah? Anything you want, just say the word." Kanda remains silent with a thoughtful twist to his usual scowl. "And about what you said, I know you were just trying to prove a point, you don't really mean any of that. It's cool. I get it."
The wind gets knocked out of him and he feels bark pressing against his back. His arms are held crossed at the wrist above his head and Kanda's face is close to his.
"I meant every word," Kanda growls into his ear.
His breathing comes in gasps, the cold air stinging his lungs. If this was painful, Lavi would probably be scared out of his mind. He is actually only mildly uncomfortable, due to the tree pressing into him, but otherwise fine. Kanda seems to know just the right amount of strength to use to hold him down, and for some reason that turns Lavi on.
"Kanda," he breathes.
His vampiric instincts tell Kanda exactly what reaction Lavi has to the situation. He nips Lavi's ear, drawing a pinprick of blood from the soft flesh, and savors the rare mix of desire and wine. His tongue toys with the silver loop for a moment before he moves on. Lavi's quiet groans reverberate in his throat as he kisses from the hollow behind his ear down to the dip between his collar bone. Kanda's palm finds the bare skin of Lavi's waist and follows it to the small of his back. He pushes their bodies together and sucks hard, leaving his mark in the form of a small red bruise.
Lavi's tooth has finally succeeded in breaking the skin; a rivulet of blood winds over the curve of his lip and down to his chin. Kanda quickly clears the mishap with a swipe of his tongue.
"Don't do that. You aren't allowed to hurt yourself. You are mine, understand? No one else's."
He gets one nod in before Kanda is kissing him senseless again. The cut on his lip already healed, Lavi reciprocates as enthusiastically as his buzzing brain will allow. It finally occurs to him that he might have drunk a little too much wine. Kanda releases his arms, which Lavi immediately wraps around his waist, and traces his thumbs along Lavi's jaw on the way to winding his fingers into his hair. He feels his jaw muscles working beneath his palms, the slow slide of flesh over flesh, and wonders what it would feel like to be inside of him.
That thought has Kanda suddenly breaking the kiss and looking at Lavi's dazed face in shock. He has never thought of actually making love with one of his prey. 'Lover' is just a nicer word to describe
someone he seduces and draws blood from. Sure he isn't shy about getting off with them, but that's just mutual masturbation. Sex is connecting on a much deeper level; one Kanda has never felt comfortable with. How the thought comes to him so easily with this young man is perplexing and frightening.
"What is it? Kanda?"
He watches Kanda carefully, almost expecting him to startle and run away at any moment. He holds out a hand to caress the lock of hair separated from the tie. Kanda snaps back to himself and watches his hair slip through Lavi's fingers. Lavi's expression is full of concern and affection.
"Lavi…"
"What's wrong, love? Am I that bad of a kisser?" he jokes with a small grin.
Love.
"Kanda?" He places a hand on his shoulder. Kanda looks into that green eye and feels an unexplainable calm wash over him.
"I'm fine," he promises. "Lavi. You…" Kanda frowns, closes his eyes to gain some focus, and starts over. "You're moving in tonight. You have few enough things to carry, right?"
"Wha—? I…yeah, I suppose. I'm moving in? Wait, what if I don't want to? You never even asked me."
"You have no choice. You're mine now, remember? Besides, Cross' men will be after you now, too. They've seen me with you."
Lavi huffs but follows Kanda when he starts walking again.
Kanda leans against the cabin door, eyes closed and arms crossed, waiting for Lavi to pack his things. He hears rummaging for several minutes, but it takes a surprisingly small amount of time for Lavi to finish. Kanda feels a light kiss on his cheek and snaps his eyes open. Lavi's lopsided grin evaporates any biting retort he may have considered uttering.
"Let's go, then." Kanda steps out of the way and silently follows Lavi out the door.
The walk to Kanda's mansion is silent and slightly awkward—for Kanda at least—and Lavi gets bored quickly. The night breeze is biting but the moon transforms the simple forest into an ethereal fantasy. If Kanda were anything resembling a romantic, this might feel like a moonlit stroll. Lavi sees Kanda's
profile out of the corner of his eye and wonders what he would do if he tried to hold his hand. Probably slice it off with one of his katana.
"Hey!" Kanda twitches at the outburst but otherwise ignores him. "You know how to use all those katana you have, right?"
"Of course."
"Well why don't you and I train together? Y'know, me with my sai and you with your katana. It could be fun."
"Absolutely not."
"What? Why not? C'mon, Kanda, it could be good for us. I have to be able to defend myself from these 'dangers that accompany a vampire's life,' right? I'm sure you could use a little extra training, not that you aren't amazing—I'm sure you are—but you could always be better."
"I'm not going to fight you. I am a vampire and I would kill you, idiot."
"You can hold back, right? Like when we wrestled, you said you held back, yeah? And you never know, maybe I can handle myself. You've never seen me fight before."
Kanda gives him a skeptical look and purses his lips. He can tell Lavi is not going to shut up about this. It would be better for his sanity if he just agreed to this silly request now. "Fine. But I'm not healing you if I cut you open. I can't. It only works for small cuts and scratches."
"Right then. How does that work again? That weird healing saliva-thing you have…"
"It is not weird. It is a natural ability of most vampires. Along with minor dream-manipulation, heightened senses, increased speed, agility, and strength, and other such things."
"I see," Lavi nods, "Do you have any special abilities, you know, ones other vampires don't?"
"…"
"Ah, come on, there has to be something that sets you apart, aside from your looks, I mean." Lavi wonders why Kanda's face scrunches in momentary confusion at that last part.
"…Well…" Lavi gives his full attention to Kanda, walking backwards before him so he can see him as he speaks. "I suppose I have a stronger reign over dreams than most. If I make a physical connection once, I can join a person's dream at will."
"Wooow," Lavi falls back in step beside Kanda. "That's pretty awesome. So you could just jump right into my dreams any time you want? That's kind of…creepy, actually. But you don't, right? Are people's dreams uninteresting?"
"It's not that. I haven't actually entered many dreams. I prefer reality."
"Is it because you can't control someone's dream? You're at their mercy when you're in their head. I wouldn't want to mess around in that sort of place, either. But you can visit my dreams anytime." Lavi's sly grin almost gives Kanda goose bumps. The offer is tempting, though. He can tell Lavi isn't the type to be pleasant with people and then take advantage of them when they are helpless. Kanda could safely share his dreams, experience them for himself secondhand, if nothing else.
"It's ironic that you're so adept at entering dreams, but you lack the symbol for the dream state on your tattoo. You never told me why you have it, y'know."
And I never will.
Kanda ignores Lavi's further attempts at small talk until he gives up, leaving them in silence once again. It is an hour and a half before they reach the mansion, but when they do, Lavi is exhausted. It has been a long, emotionally stressful day run on little sleep, and the excess of wine he drank is starting to weigh him down.
"Where're Allen 'n Lenalee?" Lavi tries not to trip on the carpet in the foyer and fails. Luckily, Kanda catches him before he face-plants into a vase.
"They're asleep. I'm the nocturnal one, not them. They stay up later occasionally, but it's rare." At this point Kanda is practically carrying Lavi up the stairs, answering his stupid questions to keep him awake long enough to get him into bed.
"So we're gonna train firs' thin' tomorra night, yeah? I won' forget. You'd better prepare yerself 'cuz I'm like a tiger when I wanna be, ya know."
Lavi sighs when he falls onto the big, soft bed. He feels his shoes pulled off and Kanda pulls him upright to push his jacket off his shoulders.
"Look at you, takin' care o' me. You're a lot sweeter'n you let on." Kanda scowls at him and turns to leave.
"Wait," Lavi grabs his wrist and pulls him back. "Don't go. Stay." Lavi gives one strong heave and they both fall onto the bed.
"Lavi—"
"Please."
With his arm firmly in Lavi's grasp, Kanda can either put up a fight or give in and stay for a while. He sees Lavi's eye close, a faint smile gracing the lips pressed against his sleeve, and he doesn't feel like leaving anymore.
AN: Did I mention how much I love reviews? Oh, and any sort of fan art for any part of this story is more than welcome. The next couple of chapters will be up sooner than usual because I know exactly where I want the story to go from here and I can't wait to write it all. So check for updates and I hope you enjoy!
