I'm ill so Darren is now ill :).

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Striding hurriedly along the shadowy street, the boy's breath came in short sharp gasps; disrupting the perpetual silence. His feet decimated the vast amount of dirty, muddy puddles as he continued to run down the long deserted street. Tall, broken buildings eerily loomed over him, shadows danced in the shattered windows illuminated only by the flickering street lamps. Thunder echoed around the empty city, reverberating off the graffiti covered walls, followed a second later by a crack of blue violent light. The stars overhead shone brightly, adding a slight sombre beauty to the dismal, neglected place. Unwilling to look back, over his shoulder; the boy continued to run.

He wanted safety and security, a home and a family, he wanted normality. However, he pined for the danger and difference, the excitement. Most of all, he craved desperately for the arms of his love and the contentment he found once he was enveloped inside them.

Disgusted by his thoughts and confusement, his anger rose. Pushing his heel harder against the ground, against the onslaught of icy rain, he rapidly increased his pace. He thought he had excepted what he was. What he is.

Deep down he knew he had excepted everything; but there's no harm in rebelling every now and then.

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"He's furious" The once snake boy, but now snake teen sighed from his hammock.

"Why? I just went for a jog"

"Without telling anyone, apart from me! The whole cirque was about to mount a search and rescue"

I couldn't help but smile, I had indeed deliberately only told Evra where I was going, a precaution, encase I didn't appear at the agreed time.

"Here, sort yourself out. You're soaked" he grinned, handing me a towel.

"Thank you" I replied, drying off

"Don't mention it. Does someone know that you have decided to return?"

"Yep. Hirbernius saw me on my way in"

"So you haven't seen Mr. Crepsley?

"Nope"

"Then you should, he wanted to see you the instant you came back"

"Why?" I groaned, throwing the towel on the floor, there was no point in drying myself if I had to go back out into the rain.

"Dunno, but he didn't look happy" Evra smirked

"Stupid, fucking Larten" I growled as I stormed out the tent.

I trudged my way to the edge of the cirques temporary housing, towards the lone van situated inside the shadows. I didn't bother knocking, instead I pulled open one of the doors and let myself in.

"What?" I asked the vampire.

He was sitting on the only chair in the corner facing me, legs neatly crossed while a glass of burgundy liquid swirled in his hand. Anger radiated of his form, emerald green eyes glaring at me through the dark.

"Where have you been?" he asked sharply.

"Nowhere, I went for a jog" I snapped back, plonking myself down on mymakeshift bed.

"A jog? At this time of night and in this weather, you must lack the ability for reasonable thought."

"Yes" I replied, gritting my teeth "I went for a jog, in the dark and in the rain, happy?"

"NO, I AM NOT!" he bellowed, blowing his top "What on earth compelled you to go in this weather, are you really that stupid? Furthermore you told no one where you were going! What do you want to achieve from doing something so ridiculous? What if something happened to you? It isn't saf…."

"SHUT UP!" I screamed, it was all becoming to much. I couldn't help but to start to sob, tears slowly congregating on my cheeks. I didn't understand what was going on, my head felt like it was going to explode.

" I just….wanted…a jog…just a….jog…I just…"

"Darren?" Larten asked quietly, as I tried to conceal myself in the blankets.

"I'm….sor…sorry" I snivelled, before having a coughing fit, my lungs aching as I tried to stop.

"Darren?" Larten asked again, sounding more concerned. Within a second he was beside me, wrapping me in his arms, rubbing small circles just below my shoulders.

"Out of these clothes, you are drenched" he smiled as he lifted the sodden jumper over my head, and then removed my trousers and boxers which were also soaked through. He dressed my in his comfortable baggy pajama bottoms.

"Do you feel alright?" He asked as he gathered me up in his lap.

"No" I groaned, suddenly feeling dizzy

"You're boiling" he stated, shocked as he attentively placed his hand on my forehead

"Stay here, I will be back momentarily" he said, lying me down on top of sheets.

"Larten!" I cried, reaching out for him. My voice sounded rough and hoarse, my throat hurt like hell but I didn't want to be left alone.

"Hush, I will only be a minute, I promise" he smiled, placing a small kiss on the sweaty skin of my outstretched hand.

He opened the van door and left. I led there, alone, in the dark, waiting.

He wasn't coming back.

I couldn't stop myself from shivering, sobs racked my sore body. I tried to move, but I found myself unable to. Tears were falling freely, I felt lost, I couldn't think, I couldn't even sit up. I wanted Larten, but he had abandoned me.

Suddenly the van door was opened, a small stream of moonlight fled into the room. I became hysterical as the light attacked my watery pupils, I hammered my eyes shut against instant agony. I would feel the floor shift and hear footsteps.

"Quick, he doesn't look good!" someone yelled, it wasn't Larten.

I pulled my hands over my ears, willingly the person to go away. I tried to turn away from the noise but my abdomen protested; I started to retch.

A familiar hand roughly grabbed my shoulder pulling me out of the bed, whilst its pair thrust my head over a plastic bucket which I proceeded to empty my stomach contents into.

It was a minute or so before I could move without vomiting, but when I did, I moved myself back into Larten's arms as he continued to comfort me. I gladly accepted the glass of water which someone offered me and hastily drunk it down. Placing the now empty glass on the side, I snuggled further into my mentors chest.

"Lie down" he instructed as he manoeuvred me back onto the bed. He managed to pry my arms off him and cover me in a light cotton sheet. Peopled moved in and out of the van, tiding up, I watched as he rose to go and help.

"Shush, relax" he smiled as I began to whimper, thinking that once again he would leave. However, I was thankful when he lifted the comforter and slid in beside me.

"Go to sleep, Darren" he soothed, placing a damp cloth on my forehead, affectionately brushing my sweat covered hair behind my ears.

I awoke two days later, wrapped in my lovers arms, feeling incredibly groggy and in definite need of a bath.

"Thank you" I whispered.

"You're most welcome"

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Hmmmmmmmmm not sure about this one...