Once Bitten, Twice Shy
Ten
Dylan hugged himself insecurely; he probably shouldn't have taken off like that without Michael. It was late at night, but even still – he knew he saw Koby. He just had to see him one last time. He owed him at least that much before disappearing.
A rustling in the bushes and trees near by made Dylan's heart beat loudly within his chest, thumping in fear. His fear unfortunately increasing. "Stop it, don't be such a moron… there's nothing there, it's the wind." He told himself out loud, continuing his way up the trail he was on, knowing he'd surely bump into Koby if he was on the way down the trail.
The more determined Dylan seemed to be to find Koby, the more it seemed to be impossible. Tightening his grip, just hugging himself, he found relief in seeing Koby not too far from him. "Koby!" He called out, but before he could say another word, he was pulled from the trail and into the bushes.
-x-X-x-
Michael tapped his foot impatiently; he'd somehow managed to get angry with himself for beating himself in a game of 'Tic Tac Toe' in the dirt near by. Scuffing it with his foot, he sighed. It was getting later and later and no Dylan yet. This wasn't right to Michael; he knew that Dylan wouldn't break a promise. He wasn't the type to go back on his word. Or so he thought.
"No, no Dylan wouldn't do that… he wouldn't… something's wrong I know it is. Oh man, Jaden's gonna kill me... I take him out once, and lose him." He mumbled out of nervousness. Figuring that nothing would get solved on its own, he headed off in the direction that he watched Dylan take.
Several minutes had passed as Michael wandered this valley's trails, the more he desperately searched, the more he began to feel that something had gone wrong, all horribly wrong. He soon was speeding through the valley, in between the trees, doing anything he could to try and find Dylan. He needed to.
He mentally cursed himself when he tripped over something, but looking back to see what it was, the fear took over him entirely when he recognized it was Dylan's own body he'd tripped over.
"Dylan… Dyl? …" Michael stammered, moving himself closer, wiping the blood from the other's face. The damage was plentiful, all over – no seeming mercy, but Michael was able to find the other's pulse and shallow breathing.
With shaky hands, he pulled out his cellular phone, which he'd just gotten a couple weeks ago, and phoned Jaden's. They had to get out of here and fast.
-x-X-x-
Despite being all bloody, somewhat tattered and torn – to Michael, Dylan still looked as beautiful as ever. Although now wasn't the time to think about how he looked. Michael was carrying an unconscious Dylan in his arms, as he and Jaden made a sneaky entrance back into the hotel. "We're getting our belongings and we're out of here, got that Michael?"
The raven haired boy nodded, "Definitely, I don't want to stay here one more minute. We have to get out of here, for Dylan's safety."
"Of course, I've made arrangements at a nice hotel just outside the city; hopefully we'll be alright there. Let's get going before check out time." He told the other as he lay Dylan down on the sofa.
Michael lightly shuddered, looking at someone he cared about in so much blood, seeing the jagged wounds, random cuts here and there. It was almost too much for him to bare and for the first time in a long time, he felt nauseous. "Before we leave, we'll… get Dylan more, cleaned up, right?"
Jaden nodded, "Yes, yes of course. I think we'd be thrown in jail if we drove around with a bloody body, don't you?"
Michael let out a small chuckle, "Yeah, I guess so."
Jaden, despite Dylan being his most favourite blood type, he was doing very well at holding himself back. "Actually, here, I'll pack up, you take Dylan and get him and his wounds cleaned up. Out of sight, out of mind for me."
Michael couldn't help but to smile, "You do care about him, Jaden."
Jaden shrugged it off, "Tell anyone, and I will kill you." He joked, leaving the young one to look after his, human.
-x-X-x-
After getting the wounds taken care of, bandaged and cleaned with the essential products and now Dylan was comfy and cozy, but sadly still unconscious. Michael sat on the bedside, right next to the object of his affections, holding his hand, caressing it gently with his thumb. "Hey, you. I miss you. I'd give anything right now to hear your voice… even if it's sarcasm, I'd take it. I miss not seeing your beautiful hazel eyes. I miss the way you'd blush when I'd touch your hand…" A small droplet of blood trickled down from Michael's right eye. He was tearing up. "you have to wake up soon… please, Dylan, I miss everything about you. You can't leave me now. I, I care way too much to lose you and you're so strong and… please, please make it through."
He just couldn't picture his… non – life, so to speak, without this newest addition, without Dylan. He found him, saw something very special in him – enough to stay in his home overnight, enough to be there and blamed and forgiven all in one day when the other discovered his dismembered and slaughtered family. In such a short time, Michael and Dylan had been through so, so much. He felt a very deep attraction for Dylan, deep affections, deep emotions that no one had ever made him feel in this way before.
Michael loved Jaden, yes. But that was in the parental, guardian way. With Dylan, he felt the need and want to protect him, to… adore his mind, body and soul. To love him so deeply that words couldn't describe… and now almost losing Dylan, brought that sense of fear and pain in Michael, just imagining losing the other made him shiver, in the bad way.
"Michael," a soft voice said from the doorway of the hotel bedroom. "it's time. We have to leave. Get ready to bring Dylan with us. I have all we'll need. It's the early hours of the morning," Michael took a moment to look at the digital clock sitting on the night stand, reading 1:43. "now would be as good a time as any. We have good travel time… don't worry young one, everything will be okay. It'll work out for the best." In all his experience, he knew not to make unreachable promises, but he had to reassure Michael at least for a little longer.
The other one nodded slowly, leaning down to kiss Dylan's soft lips delicately, sighing. He looked so comfortable and they had to move their location again? This was getting relentless but, he'd oblige for now.
-x-X-x-
The car ride seemed long, but only because Michael kept looking to the back seat, fixing the blanket that was draped over Dylan. Or fluffing up his pillow, reaching back to caress his face – he was legitimately worried. "You're doing a pretty good job, Michael." Jaden praised as he continued driving, his eyes not leaving the road as he spoke.
"I am?" He questioned.
"Yes, indeed. You're doing a wonderful job of caring for Dylan as if… you, y'know," he stammered, not quite used to saying the specific word he meant here, even after all this time, he still felt awkward saying it. "as if you, love him, dearly. I can see it."
Michael's cheeks blushed, "But Jaden, I think… I think I do. But I think I do so, so much, it's hard to explain. Does any of that make sense?"
Jaden gave a slight shrug and nod, "Sure it does, that's the best kind – when even words can't describe it."
Michael smiled to himself, "Yeah… the best kind." He could feel his level of happiness rise within himself. It felt great. It felt really good. He reached back to touch Dylan's cheek. "Now all you have to do is wake up, love. I'm right here." He purred softly, wishing that it would truly happen.
-x-X-x-
It wasn't long before they'd finally reached the hotel they were going to stay at next. Michael was leaning up against the front passenger seat; it leaned back as he was getting tired himself. It was around four in the morning after all. "Mmm, owww." Michael perked up when he'd heard the mumbles coming from Dylan, sitting up and turning to look back, he noticed the other shifting from underneath the blanket.
"Hey, baby… Dyl, are you awake or… maybe just dreaming?" He asked quickly, reaching out to touch Dylan's cheek once more, then brushing his soft hair out of his face.
"Mi..chael…?" He stammered, not doing so without a tiny fit of coughing attached.
"Shh, shh… I'm here Dyl. I'm right here." Michael's heart melted when Dylan's hazel eyes looked into his blue ones. "Hi there," he greeted softly, his signature grin on his face. "how are you doing?" Thinking about the question, he cringed. "Wow, dumb question huh?"
Dylan weakly chuckled, "No, no not really…" he sighed softly, wincing in pain. "I'm sore, really tired… but I'm okay. Really, I am." He convinced, taking Michael's hand, caressing it gently to comfort the other.
Just then Jaden was back to the car; he opened the door and couldn't help but to give a warm smile. "Well hey there Dylan, how are you feeling?"
Dylan cracked a smirk, "You didn't call me 'Bob' or crack a hunger joke."
Jaden laughed, a wave of his hand. "Oh you're fine."
-x-X-x-
It was early the next evening, Jaden put down his morning newspaper, which contained more 'details' of the brutal slaughtering that was Dylan's family. When would these people give it up and not dig into the misfortune of others? Jaden never understood how humans could be so cruel to one another. To intentionally hurt one another for spite, hunger for power and greed? He knew he wasn't a saint when it came to harming people, especially his own other half and unborn child, but if he were human in this day and age, he wouldn't thrive on the misfortune of others, but then again – he probably would be manipulated as well, so who was to say what could've, should've or would've happened?
He shifted his gaze to one of the two double beds in the hotel room. Dylan was sleeping soundly, as was Michael right next to him. Dylan fast asleep on the other's chest. He looked to be much more pale than when he was in the vehicle, but Jaden didn't want to wake Dylan just to ask if he was alright. So he assumed that they were both fine.
Tossing the newspaper to the side, getting frustrated that the only thing in it was Dylan's tragic story, he figured that catching a few more winks of sleep may have been a good idea.
Getting comfortable in the other double bed, he wished the other boys a 'good sleep' before sliding back under the covers. He began to think, and being such a complicated, deep, theoretical person, brought hours in deep thought.
He thought about anything and everything, he had a terrible habit of questioning everything he'd ever done, including turning Michael. How Michael's hunger took over him and it lead to tragedy. Here he was, his heart attached to a human. Only he wanted to turn this human.
Jaden didn't mind that fact, or the fact that he may have to step in here and there when it came to training Dylan, it was just… did Dylan even want to be turned? Michael… didn't overly have a choice. Well, Jaden feeling guilt for not giving him the choice… but Michael seemed very happy with him. And now he seemed even happier to find Dylan. When creatures like them mated... or aspired to – turning the other, so they could be companions forever seemed like a great idea. But did Michael love Dylan enough and vice verse for this to happen?
He smirked as he looked to the two sleeping males. Jaden would just have to wait and see. Not even thousands of years existence made him experienced at predicting the future. With thoughts fading from his mind, his eyelids drooped closed, not resisting slumber.