Chapter 11
by lightpathetic
"KANAME!"
Kaname opened his eyes and peered sleepily at Zero. He lifted his eyes a tad to the clock, which confirmed what his body was already telling him. It was minutes to two in the afternoon. He closed his eyes again, only rolling off Zero's shoulder to settle beside him, quickly heading towards unconsciousness again. Sometimes it sucked sleeping with other people.
"Kaname! What are you doing in here?"
Kaname groaned and pulled a pillow over his head. He couldn't stand being up during the day...
Kaname lifted his head and rolled back to Zero, behaving as though he suddenly remembered something.
"Zero... How are you feeling?"
"Alright. Just a bit hung-over. Why are you in here? ...Naked?" Zero added pointedly, the censorial tone hard to miss.
"It was just easier than going to my room, that's all. What's the matter? You've seen me naked before."
"Unfortunately. Why are you in here? You never give up do you? I am seriously thinking of kicking your ass...!"
"Shhh! Too loud!" Kaname held his head, grimacing as pain shot through it. He was hung over too. When he had brought Zero back and put him to bed, he had made a point of getting completely smashed. He just couldn't handle his own company just then. It was probably why he had agreed to let so many people stay over.
"We have guests. Some are in my room. I thought I would come and share with you. They are probably gone now, but you never know with some people..."
"Alright. Well, I guess that makes sense. Sorry to snap at you."
"Don't mention it, Zero," Kaname said, before grabbing Zero's head and snatching his lips into a kiss, which he quickly deepened. He began to press his body against Zero's own nudity, his legs and feet sliding restlessly up and down Zero's own...
Zero fought and pushed at Kaname, who eventually lifted his head.
"What are you doing?! Get off of me!"
"Just letting you know you are right. I never give up."
"Kaname...!"
Kaname released Zero and sat up, needing to put some space between them for both their sakes.
"Your lip isn't quite healed yet. I wanted to help with the pain."
"My lip?"
Zero raised one hand to touch his lip, only then noticing the rough edges of a cut.
"How...?"
"You hit into a door. You were very drunk last night. Don't... don't you remember?" Kaname asked, turning to watch Zero closely.
"Drunk? I don't remember it at all. The last thing I remember was..."
"Yes?"
"...Your video. I mean, I remember it starting but not the ending. It's the oddest thing..."
"Well, you were going into the sauce pretty good. I remember you were off alone quite a bit..."
"Oh yes. I remember. I guess that is to be expected. People weren't there to see me..."
"No, they weren't. The next time, you should stay closer to me, to save yourself and me the embarrassment. I expected a lot better from you," Kaname said sternly, still looking over his shoulder at Zero. He watched as Zero collapsed into confusion, his face flushing in embarrassment. Kaname told himself it was for the best.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... embarrass you."
"It's too late for that. You should have thought of that before you got undressed and ran half naked through the party..."
"I... What!?"
"Do you remember what happened to cause that?" Kaname asked carefully, ready to act at the slightest glimmer of recollection.
"No... No. I..."
"Fine," Kaname interrupted, the tension leaving his shoulders as he turned away. "I will definitely need to monitor you closely from now on. You are to stay by my side on such occasions from now on. I insist on this. Understand?"
"Yes! Yes, I understand. I am very sorry. I can't believe I did that. I am normally very careful..."
"That's okay, Zero. As long as it doesn't happen again."
Kaname got to his feet and stretched. He squinted evilly at the daylight he could see through the drapes, but he was wide awake now. No sense in idling about.
"I'm going to fix breakfast. I might as well start my day now that you have woken me up."
Kaname pulled on a robe and headed for the door. He paused and looked back at the miserable and confused face of Zero Kiriyuu, his eyes going lower to the still visible bruises and cuts on his skin. Zero was in need of blood to heal quickly. Now that he had made his point he was inclined to take care of him.
"Here."
Kaname walked back to the bed and sat. He just visibly trembled as he held his wrist out to Zero. The thought of Zero's teeth in his skin, his drawing his blood was already making him nuts. But he hid that fact carefully.
"No. I'll be okay. I told you, there is no point in my feeding you if you do this..."
"Why won't you drink from me? Is it because you... don't like me?"
Zero sighed and gave Kaname a bit of a side-glance. If only how I felt were that simple…
"It's not that. It is just that I can handle being... 'hungry'..."
"And I can't?"
"I'd prefer… if you weren't..."
Kaname got to his feet and suddenly laughed. Zero looked up at him, determined to let nothing sway him. Kaname wouldn't attack anyone if he wasn't starving. He wouldn't kill. Zero felt better couching his generosity in these terms. Rather than because he had felt sorry for this creature.
Kaname began to pace in his agitation. The nerve of this…!
"I see. I think I see very well. You want to be in place of some other poor unfortunate, hmm? You would rather I drink from you than go out and kill someone. How noble! What a service for mankind! And here I was thinking you cared..."
"Why are you so angry? Didn't you say you liked my blood? What does it matter why I offer it?"
What does it matter…?!
The rational side of Kaname knew Zero wouldn't understand. That last being to understand besides him died almost a century ago. The irrational side had taken him over, though.
"But, aren't you forgetting something, Zero? I can't feed from you forever. Sooner or later you will have to replenish yourself. I won't let you die. How does your precious morals feel about that?"
"Well, it can be later. It will just mean some pain and I will heal at a slower rate. But I am used to it."
Kaname stood and stared at Zero a long time. He could make him drink, but he thought of something much better. Finally, he spun on his heel and headed towards the door. He placed his hand on the knob and turned back to Zero.
"You can't stop me from hunting, Zero. I'll prove it to you. Next week we'll go back to Japan. I don't normally hunt so soon after a kill but I guess I am eating for two now. I'm sure I can find someone whose blood you can condescend to drinking. Maybe a female this time..."
"No! Wait! Kaname! That's not what I...!"
"Too late," Kaname drawled, his eyes narrowing slightly as he ruthlessly drew blood of a different sort. "I'm already looking forward to it."
"KEN!"
"AHHHH!"
Zero sat in a tiny "reserved" section – meaning a small, roped section of seats just offstage – and plugged his ears as thousands of people screamed his name, and literally just screamed.
Zero thought of all the other places he could be this very moment and then half-screamed himself when a piece of underwear landed in his lap. He looked at it in something between fright and disgust but the object slid off his knee and rolled to the edge of the stage. Zero frowned at the odd behaviour, then looked up to see Kaname wink at him mid-song and then walk over to a particularly boisterous group to tease them.
Zero looked away and went back into his sulk, his scowl firmly in place. It was too warm, too noisy, too crowded. He felt drained and irritable. And he hated Kaname right now with a passion. It wasn't just because he had them booked to go back to Japan tomorrow. It wasn't just because of the other issues like kidnapping and forced imprisonment. It was just that he really was a temperamental, prima donna bastard...
"Zero! You would think you would get an order such as a glass of Evian at room temperature right. What is this? It's ice-cold! And where's the hint of lemon I asked for? God, you are such a moron!
"Clyde! I can see that light is going to be in my eyes...!"
Zero's scowl began from then on, as he stuck the glass under the tap and dropped it on Kaname's dressing table with a slice of lemon before heading outside for some air, ignoring Kaname's order that he stay nearby at all times. Zero had his limits. Being yelled at just because the water was a degree or two off was one of them.
But man, was he exceptional. Even Zero in his sulk and in the throes of disgust at the screaming people behind him, could see that Kaname was indeed a star. He thrived on the adulation and upon his performance. Even Zero could tell that everything was perfectly orchestrated, right down to the growl he gave at the end of his third selection that had sent the first volley of unmentionables. Zero would have enjoyed the evening had he come with his girlfriend for a nice night out.
Kaname was also very charismatic and some of his jokes weren't bad. Zero loved the one where he would enthusiastically "steal" the electric guitar and the guitarist would chase him while he played it, finally retrieving it with a rather dirty look and ruder gestures. It always got a good response.
But he couldn't forget his circumstances. Even his conversations were being monitored. Oh yes. Zero was under no illusions. When he had had that conversation about a song Kaname was singing in that club in East L.A., Kaname had confronted him about it later. He was such a child...
"Thank you. You have been a great audience! You make me feel so at home here in Los Angeles...!"
Kaname was cut off by a huge uproar, and Zero groaned as his headache got worse.
"It's time to go. But before that, I want to leave you with this one. A personal favourite of a good friend of mine..."
Zero switched butt-cheeks and settled in to wait another few minutes, thinking Kaname would want more water, glacially cold orange soda and a large chocolate bar – Zero was surprised Kaname ate so much chocolate, but it made him happier so Zero made sure it was around. But he sat back up when he heard the refrain. Kaname... Kaname was going to sing... "Iris"?
"And I'd give up forever just to touch you..."
The crowd was just as surprised as Zero but soon settled to listen. Because Kaname was weaving a spell none of them could resist. Even Zero, especially as Kaname was looking right at him. As if...
"No... You never give up," Zero muttered, as he looked away from Kaname's brown gaze, wishing Kaname would turn elsewhere as people began to crane their necks to see to whom he was singing. Zero got up and ducked under the ropes, heading backstage as Kaname launched into the chorus, the talented band swelling to meet his change of key and the crowd joined in. They were leaving tomorrow for Japan. So Kaname could kill someone. Zero had begged and pleaded but... nothing. He was evil. Zero didn't want such evil serenading him.
"ZERO..."
"Your water is on the table. The chocolate bar is beside it. The soda is in the fridge until you are ready for it."
Kaname came over to the bottle of water and opened it, taking one long drink. He then tore into the chocolate. He let loose one long yelp and Zero looked up from the magazine in surprise. Kaname held his gaze as Zero searched his face for explanation. But there was something dangerous about this mood Kaname was in. Zero could sense it he sat up in the chair and folded his arms, unconsciously becoming defensive.
"What is it?"
Kaname didn't answer. Instead he let his eyes trail lower, seemingly undressing Zero, lingering on his crotch. Kaname's intentions were very clear.
"No..."
Zero made to get up but Kaname stopped him. Suddenly, he was there, kneeling, placing his hand on Zero's chest to force him to stay seated. He stayed for a while looking into Zero's eyes. His eyes... So frantic. Defensive. Kaname sighed.
He had done this, he knew. He didn't know sometimes what pushed him to be deliberately cruel, especially now when he was trying to earn Zero's love. A part of him wanted to hurt Zero like he was hurting. It was petty and shallow but Zero's eyes widened in fear seemed to comfort him when he yearned for him most. But now, he couldn't stand it. He felt good. It had been one of his best performances and he wanted to share it with Zero. He wanted Zero to feel as good as he did. It was time to end their standoff. But how...?
"What do you want?" Zero finally asked again as Kaname seemed to freeze in place just staring. It was making him uncomfortable.
"To apologise. I've been an ass these last few weeks. I shouldn't have treated you the way I have been. I want to change that."
Kaname saw Zero react in surprise and suspicion. Zero then looked away as if to wonder what he could be planning.
"I am not planning anything, though I am not saying that I won't exploit it later. I am an opportunistic bastard. But right now, all I wish is that you would see me as more than this monster you have to tolerate. I wish you could see more of what I am than that, especially since I..."
Love you.
"...Like you very much and want us to be friends..."
"You have an odd way of showing it..."
"I know. I'm sorry. It's just that I want you very much but when I look at you, you visibly cringe. It is... upsetting..."
"Kaname! What do you expect! You've done nothing but force me to...!"
"Dammit, Zero! You have to get past this. You have to! This constant harping on about your life and how I am destroying it is futile! What is done is done...!"
"And you aren't the least bit sorry! You don't regret any of this at all!"
"Is that what you want? For me to apologise for choosing you as prey? Is this why you won't try to be happy...?"
"It isn't that simple! You still don't see what you are doing to me or you would let me go...!"
"And where would you go? Back to your dead-end job in Tokyo? Back to the girl? Do you think any of those people would look kindly on you when they find out what you have become? You think the girl would accept that you have to drink blood to live?"
"She would! She loves me."
"She loved the human you! The shy, sweet boy who ate her cooking and talked bravely of their future together where there would be children and a house and a settled, mundane, steady job. But the boy that would love and protect her forever is no more. You can't give her those things! You can't even guarantee her safety. You hate to kill. Who do you think you will turn to for blood? How many times will you lie awake with your chest burning, watching her pulse for an eternity while you try to talk yourself out of taking just a little for the pain, knowing you would never stop at just a little...?"
"You are wrong! I can still give her the love she deserves! I can control myself! Unlike you I have a shred of decency...!"
Zero stopped, his eyes riveted by the sight, his chest protesting painfully at his restraint. Zero could feel his body change in preparation to drink what it desperately needed, his crimson eyes watching the blood drip onto the floor from Kaname's wrist. Zero closed them and moaned in sheer agony, already capitulating to the higher call of his nature. He sat up and closed in on Kaname's hand, pulling it away from where he was biting it to keep it bleeding. Kaname allowed Zero to remove his arm, watching as his starving charge placed his lips to the still bleeding marks, drawing on his blood as if the need inside him was too much to fill. But the marks closed quickly and Zero moaned in protest going to lick hungrily at what was already spilled, cleaning Kaname's hand.
"Bite me," Kaname whispered. "Bite my flesh. Go on."
Zero hesitated. His skin? Zero lifted his head and dropped the hand, suddenly coming to his senses. He couldn't believe how easy it had been, to ruin his control. To call forth the beast inside of him.
"Excuse me. I need to go..."
Kaname "shoved" Zero back onto the chair and slapped him, causing Zero's eyes to flash not in fear but in anger. Good.
"You pussy! Come and get what you want!"
Kaname's claws shot out but he did nothing more than to carve a deep line into his neck. The blood spurted; some hitting Zero's face, then it drizzled lazily down Kaname's neck and into his shirt collar. Kaname removed his shirt so Zero could see it all, knowing the crimson cascade would be more than Zero could refuse in his heightened state.
"Come on," Kaname almost growled, as his own body answered the call for blood, his fangs already protruding from his lips, his eyes a deep red. Zero watched Kaname's bloody neck and suddenly a hiss issued from him. He wasn't even aware of it. All he knew was that he would have given anything to sink his teeth in to Kaname's neck right now. Zero pushed off the chair and reached out but Kaname slapped his hands away and rubbed some of the blood onto Zero's face. Zero moaned as he grabbed it to lick it, but it too was pulled away before another annoying slap landed.
"What do you want, little girl?" Kaname taunted. "Do you want this? Are you man enough to take it?"
Zero growled and lunged for Kaname who dodged quickly making Zero fall onto the makeup chair. Kaname laughed and caught Zero's flailing legs and pulled him onto the floor. He straddled him and dealt him another slap before raking his claws along Zero's torso. He was beginning to lose himself to the game. His eyes caught Zero's pain with relish before he bent to lick at the wounds. Jesus, Zero's blood was heaven...
Zero screamed and grabbed Kaname's hair, pulling him away from his chest, Kaname's face now covered in his blood. He pushed off the nearby chair and rolled them, forcing Kaname beneath him. Zero hissed again at his triumph before he dealt Kaname a punch to the face.
Kaname groaned at the pain and the pleasure that made his body curl helplessly beneath Zero. Zero... The way he was... Kaname moaned as he looked up at Zero. He grabbed his lapels and pulled him down into a kiss, trembling as their lips met but Zero had other ideas. Quickly, he caught Kaname's hands and pinned them to either side of his head.
"You... are my prey," Zero rasped, before threading his fingers roughly into Kaname's hair and yanking his head to one side. He then dove onto Kaname's blood soaked neck and bit brutally, finally claiming his prize.
to be continued
lightpathetic wrote this but these are not my characters. They belong to "VK".
