A/N: This chapter didn't get as far as I would like, but I'm trying to avoid having another monster chappy, so please forgive the fact that it doesn't cover a ton of ground. Next chapter things will start hopping again. As a cryptically unhelpful side note... things are not necessarily what they appear. :D
Chapter Twenty-Five: "Gathering Storm"
Yagari was still cursing when the cloud of bats unfolded, depositing the two hunters in front of the fireplace in Kaname's lush study. The fire flickered and danced as it was fanned by their whooshing arrival. The shade creatures spun for a moment as if following an invisible updraft before they streamed in a graceful rush back towards the tall figure standing beside the desk.
Zero blinked, feeling disoriented and breathless as he realized he was no longer sitting on the ground surrounded by trees, but was instead sitting on an expensive Persian carpet in the middle of Kaname's large study. The dark mahogany furniture, the neatly arranged bookshelves and the glowing fireplace all interjected themselves into his awareness with a comforting sense of familiarity. The thick daytime blackout shades were pulled across all three of the room's large windows, but Zero noticed there was glass on the floor beneath them. He suspected they had most likely been victims of Kaname's reaction to finding him the way he had and the thought fluttered through his mind that Seiren or Izumi had probably already discretely called to have them replaced. He was pretty sure they must have the window repair shop on the house phone's speed dial by now.
He was curiously out of breath and found himself panting softly for air as his muddled, spinning thoughts tried to make sense of what had just happened. Zero knew that Night Haven was many miles away from the woods where they had been previously, but he had no memory of how he had gotten from there to here. The journey could not have actually been instant - Kaname was many things but he wasn't a teleporter. In some way, Kaname's bats must have transported him, but how was impossible for him to guess. Had they had carried him? Had he physically merged with them somehow? Or was it something else entirely? He had no answers and he didn't know how much time might have passed in transit. To him, it was as if he had simply blinked and now he was here. The only toll that the journey had seemed to take on him was the strange lack of oxygen in his lungs. Probably why Kaname had told them to inhale, he supposed.
Zero hugged Yagari's coat closed around his lean form. The carpet felt soft under him after the roughness of the forest floor. He had never experienced anything quite like this before, it was all rather fantastical and he was still trying to absorbed the shock. Despite what he knew in theory, he'd never really considered that Kaname could do these things. It was so easy to forget that there was not a single drop of human blood in his lover's veins and that they only looked like they were members of the same species. Things like forced Zero to face that reality all over again. He should have been disturbed and weirded out... but oddly, he wasn't. Not this time.
Maybe it was because he was disoriented and suffering from both blood loss and dehydration as a result of his recent ordeal. Maybe it was because he was too relieved to be home and at not having to face the rest of that hellishly long journey through the woods which he'd been dreading. Or, maybe it was just because no matter how completely inhuman Kaname's abilities might make him seem at this moment, Zero was no longer capable of looking at the pureblood like he was some terrifying creature. Even if he was. Pureblood vampires were frighteningly alien beings, that could not be denied, but for better or worse Zero simply no longer saw Kaname in that light. So, despite what he might have otherwise expected, Zero's overriding feelings in those few moments after finding himself suddenly sitting in Kaname's study were merely ones of surprise and perhaps a bit of wonder. Honestly...? That was seriously cool.
Yagari, on the other hand, seemed completely weirded out and disturbed by what had just happened. He leaned forward as he gasped for air. One hand pressed to his chest and one gripped his knee as he all but doubled over. He had obviously fought the transition of shapes pretty hard and it had made the journey a lot rougher for him than it had been for Zero. "Shit, Kuran! Don't ever do that to me again! I swear I will shootthe next shade of yours that comes near me!"
Zero looked up to see the last of the bats flooding back into Kaname's body, merging with him in a manner that was both a little disturbing and a little awe-inspiring at the same time. It was like watching one bead of rain on a window pane absorb another. For a moment the two were distinct entities, then they merged and it was as if there had been only one shape all along.
Kaname seemed to find what was happening completely natural and even as the last of his shades reabsorbed into his body he was already moving forward across the room. He picked up a blanket from the back one of the arm chairs near the fire and knelt, draping it over Zero. He wrapped it around his shoulders, over Yagari's long duster, giving the young hunter further warmth and modesty protection.
"Fine. Next time I'll leave you in the woods and let you walk all the way back out yourself," Kaname retorted to the elder hunter in cool, distracted tones, his attention fixed on Zero. Honestly, he probably should have done just that. He'd known Yagari wouldn't take kindly to that mode of transportation, but he'd been too worried about getting Zero back here to think straight and had simply scooped up everyone present. It wasn't like it was easy for him to transport two people in broad daylight that way, especially when one of them was fighting him tooth and nail the whole time, but he doubted it would improve Yagari's mood to point out how much strength such an act took out of him.
Turning back to Zero as he crouched before him, Kaname cupped the young man's dirty, bruised cheek. It was a relief to be able to touch him with his real skin.
"Zero, what happened?" he asked softly. There was an agony of tender fear and concern in his gentle eyes. His gaze flickered towards where Yagari was hovering nearby and then back to Zero. The question was obvious in silent expression. Do you want him to leave first?
Zero bit his lower lip, then winced because his lip was still split and swollen from the beating he'd taken. He knew what Kaname feared. The fact that they'd found him naked and bleeding had to be making the pureblood think of one very distinct possibility given his own recent trauma. It was, however, thankfully not something that Yagari had apparently considered yet and Zero kind of wanted to keep it that way. This whole situation was humiliating enough as it was.
"I'm okay, Kaname," he repeated quietly, hoping his lover got the message without him needing to spell out the fact that he hadn't been raped.
Zero's fingers bit harder into the leather of the coat he was still clutching around him. He looked down at his hands. In domesticated surroundings now, it was much more apparent how filthy he was. Dried blood and dirt clung to his skin and he felt gritty in places that normally didn't get gritty.
Kaname thought that Zero's body language and his messed up face suggested that he was anything but okay, but he did understand what Zero was trying to tell him and some of the painful knots in his chest eased a little. Still, Zero had obviously gone through something horrible.
"The run was a phony," Yagari offered the little he knew when it looked like Zero was having trouble knowing where to begin. His more paternal instinct wanted to let the kid rest before asking him a lot of questions, but the practical side of him wanted to find out whose ass he was going to soon be kicking into the next county. "The Association never sent those orders to you, Zero."
Kaname's mouth hardened into a tight, grim line as the understanding of what Yagari was saying sunk in. "You knew that? Why didn't you tell me?" his voice was quiet and his eyes lethal as he glared up at the elder hunter. He would cut the man a lot of slack for Zero's sake, but not when it came to his lover's safety.
Yagari's return glare was steely and defensive. "I didn't know it until after I was off the phone with you and I wasn't sure until I was already out there," he said stubbornly.
Zero reached out and caught the pureblood's wrist in his hand before Kaname could reply, holding onto him. Kaname's gaze quickly returned to his lover and he saw the silent plea on his face. He placed his other hand over Zero's and breathed deeply, forcing the anger to flow away from him. Yagari had done whatever he thought was right. Kaname might not agree, but it was a moot point. Zero was what mattered and he obviously did not need to have his lover and his teacher fighting right now.
"It was a trap," Zero said quietly, his eyes darting from Kaname to Yagari and then back again. "I chased a vampire through the woods, but it led me into a charm net. They activated my tattoo so I couldn't fight." Zero's free hand crept up to press self-consciously against the marked side of his neck. He was trying to be matter-of-fact about the events, but the shame he felt over his helplessness crept into his tone more than he would have liked. Kaname squeezed his other hand tighter.
"Bastards," Yagari's muttered growl echoed Kaname's exact thoughts on the matter.
"They were other hunters, then?" Kaname said quietly, his voice frighteningly hard.
"I don't know. I think so." Zero studied the carpet, letting his gaze trace a vibrant swirl of red until it disappeared under Kaname's desk. "They must have been," he finally admitted. "I couldn't see their faces; they kept a light in my eyes." His tone had flattened out, emotionless now.
It was all Kaname could do not to tremble with rage. Someone was going to die for this. Zero finally met his eyes again and he clearly read what the pureblood was thinking. To be honest, at the moment he didn't mind the notion as much as he probably should have, but there was that part of him that always felt the need to be fair, even to his enemies. He also knew he mustn't get Kaname mixed up in this mess, for both their sakes.
"Look, I... I think they just wanted to give me a hard time," he clarified reluctantly. "If they'd wanted to kill me, they could have. This was about humiliation," he whispered, fingers worrying self-consciously at one of the worn leather seams of his Sensei's coat. The fact that he had been beaten up and then left naked in the woods led him to believe that this was the work of people who wanted to teach him a lesson, not do him serious harm. You are not one of us and you don't belong, was the message he was getting pretty loud and clear. If it was his life they wanted, they could have easily put him down once he was incapacitated.
Zero felt Kaname's body stiffen and realized too late that mentioning how easily he could have been killed had probably not been the best idea if calming the pureblood had been his intention. "We lost a couple of hunters recently," he added, trying not to dwell on the previous thought. He glanced towards Yagari as if for confirmation. "Maybe that had something to do with it."
Yagari nodded slowly. Unfortunately, what Zero said made a lot of sense. "They were older, experienced men with lots of friends, not the kind you expect to go off after a few E's and never return," he explained, for Kaname's benefit. "Things like that have a way of heightening anti-vampire sentiments for a while. Get people grieving, angry and probably shit-faced drunk and a lot of stupid things start to sound real good," his voice was thick with disgust.
Kaname shook his head, more from outrage than in dispute of what was being said although something about all this did feel wrong to him. "You're telling me that this," he stroked the dark, ugly bruises on Zero's forearm gently with his long, soft fingers. "This was just some kind of hazing gone bad?"
Zero shrugged with a wince. He didn't like to admit it, but it was the scenario that made the most sense and best fit the facts. It was all too easy to believe that he was a target because of who and what he was. It was all too easy to suppose that some people would find him disgusting.
"They had something to prove, and they proved it." He swallowed with difficulty, his bruised throat feeling sore and tight. His gaze dropped away again. He was trying to act like this was no big deal, like it was nothing but a stupid prank pulled by people with the mental acuity of your average fraternity-style bully. He was trying to act as if it didn't matter. But it did. It hurt more than it should and Zero knew that meant he was an idiot. After all these years, you'd think he would have become used to the fact that there were some ways in which he would simply never truly belong anywhere.
"Yeah, they proved that they're fucking morons," Yagari said brusquely, and again, Kaname could not have agreed more. The elder hunter crouched down beside the two vampires, laying his hand lightly on his apprentice's back. "Zero, I don't care what got them going, they crossed an unforgivable line. You get pissed, you want payback, fine, you go clear the execution lists. You don't turn on a fellow hunter and not even give him a fighting chance." They are the traitors to their own kind, not you, Yagari's steady, serious gaze added the last part as clear as words.
Zero's breath was uneven, despite his efforts to keep it steady. He had needed to hear that from his teacher. It was stupid, but he needed to know that deep down, Yagari did not agree with the men who had beaten him. He should know better. He did know better... but everyone had their hidden scars apparently, and these were his.
Kaname was willing to forgive Yagari anything when he saw the flicker of relief in Zero's eyes. He could support the young hunter in many ways, but this particular one was not easy. Kaname himself would certainly never fit in the hunter world, nor did he have any desire for their acceptance. As a result, his reassurances could never mean as much to Zero as those of someone else who was a part of that society and held to that path and those beliefs.
Tenderly, Kaname kissed Zero's palm and fingers, one by one. He hated what being a hunter did to Zero sometimes, but he also knew how entwined it was with Zero's sense of identity and worth. He would never ask his lover to be anything less than he was. He was very proud of him.
Zero smiled faintly, brushing Kaname's lips hesitantly with his finger tips and reading the unconditional acceptance the pureblood was intentionally trying to convey. He knew he didn't have to worry about rejection here, at least. Kaname's eyes declared just how wonderful and worthy he thought his lover was with almost embarrassing clarity. It was something of a nice surprise, actually, to realize that he could unconsciously feel so confident of his partner's regard for him.
Yagari rolled his eye when the private moment between the two lovers took a mite longer than he was comfortable with. "You two done making kissy-eyes?" he muttered, but he was smiling a little and his hand was still on Zero's back. It was clear that at least in this instance, he sort of approved. Hell, to be perfectly honest, he was actually kind of glad. Zero should have someone who seemed capable of loving him for everything he was instead of judging him for what he could not be. He would never have imagined this cold, proud, scheming pureblood would end up being that person, but Kuran was so different with Zero.
"No," Kaname said with deliberate contentment in his voice as he continued to hold Zero's gaze adoringly. "This might take a while."
Zero gave Kaname a consternated look, ducking his head a little, but the faint hint of a smile still played about his bruised mouth. Sometimes, just ignoring both the pureblood and the elder hunter was the best policy, especially when they were in the same room.
A sudden memory darkened Zero's gaze again his smile faded. "They took everything I had with me," he said quietly, finally finding the courage to tell that part. He held Kaname's gaze because it was easier for him. "Everything. They took the Bloody Rose." He swallowed again and forced his gaze back up towards Yagari. It hadn't been his fault, but one of the first rules of being a hunter was that you never allowed yourself to be separated from your weapon unless it was pried out of your cold, dead hands.
Yagari swore softly and Kaname looked both concerned and indignant. They both knew how hard that loss must be on Zero and it was obvious that neither of them faulted the young hunter for the theft.
"We'll find it, and we'll get it back," Kaname promised. It was ironic, Zero and his precious gun had once irked the hell out of the pureblood, but now Kaname was prepared to leave no stone unturned to reunite them. He would make sure Zero got back what was his – that included his gun and his dignity. Kaname's eyes were stormy dark. It was obvious that this battery and degradation of his beloved was hitting him hard. "Whoever did this is going to pay, Zero. I'll find them out and make them pay."
Zero shook his head. He deeply appreciated his lover's protectiveness and he knew Kaname would be as good as his word, but he also knew he couldn't let that happen. "Kaname..."
Kaname's expression hardened; he did not want Zero telling him he couldn't exact revenge on his behalf. Zero was much too kind to too many bastards who deserved to die for the things they had done. The pureblood was not inclined to be nearly so forgiving, especially in this instance. "No," he countered. His touch on Zero's injured body was still incredibly gentle, but there was iron in his voice. "I don't care what their intentions were. Don't ask me to act like what they did to you is nothing, Zero!" Kaname wasn't growling, but his fangs flashed clearly in his mouth when he spoke. He was obviously quite upset. Those men had touched his mate and they had to die. They had to. Kaname was not bloodthirsty by nature, for a vampire at least, but he would spill a river of it without hesitation or remorse to avenge and protect Zero.
Zero had been so unimaginably kind and wonderful to him last night when he had been a weak, broken mess. The thought of that precious person only hours later being trapped, beaten and humiliated by bigoted morons who weren't worthy to lick the ground he walked on literally made Kaname's blood thrum and his fangs throb. It wasn't often that he quite literally wanted to tear someone's throat out, but right now, he did.
"Kaname, we've talked about this," Zero warned. "You can't eliminate everybody who looks at me funny. I will handle this myself. You getting involved would only make things worse," he protested firmly, concerned by the incredibly set look on his lover's face. He knew that look meant business. Kaname would do anything for him, and he treasured that, but he also knew the danger. The last thing he needed was Kaname stepping on toes and throwing his weight around against the Association or any suspected hunters. That would make them all hate Zero faster than you could say meddling pureblood arrogance.
"Whoa... let's all slow down," Yagari interjected, reminding the two vampires that he was still present. He didn't like it, but he understood how things were. "Look, Kuran, I want to kick their sorry butts into next week too, but the kid is right," he interjected. "We can help and support, but ultimately he has to deal with this kind of thing himself. If you or I get too involved, especially you, it will only heighten the bad blood and make it seem like he can't fight his own fights." To be honest, Yagari still had some definite thoughts about what he was going to do when he found out who was responsible, but in their society there were things that he could do as Zero's sensei, which it would not be all right for Kaname to do as a vampire.
Kaname cast the elder hunter a dark look, as if he were a traitor for even suggesting that they not avenge Zero's honor... or perhaps, for suggesting that he not avenge it, since Kaname sincerely doubted Yagari was really going to ignore what had happened. Unfortunately, he knew that both hunters did have a valid point. The vampire world was much the same. Strength was everything. You had to prove you were predator and not prey. Only then would others leave you alone and give you respect. He knew that, but it was a lot harder to accept when it affected someone you loved so much. Maybe at another time it would have been easier, but seeing Zero naked, bruised and bearing shackle marks on his wrists in the woods had almost been too much for Kaname in his current state of mind. He'd feared the worst, and even though he knew now that what had happened was slightly less dreadful then what he had feared... he still couldn't completely shake that horrible initial feeling.
The soft flicker in the back of Zero's stubborn amethyst eyes and fact that the young hunter wasn't blowing up at him for being overbearingly protective told Kaname that Zero guessed why his lover was having such a hard time letting this go. Zero would say nothing to give those thoughts away in front of Yagari, but Kaname could see that he knew.
Yagari was looking at him strangely, a sudden tenseness having set into his limbs and Kaname realized with a small jolt that his eyes must have gone red. He quickly closed them, breathing slowly. Only then did he realize just how much his chest ached and how hard his fangs were digging into his lower lip. Crap. He was letting himself get worked up far too easily. The raw, angry, thundering blood lust in his chest was not necessarily out of proportion with what had happened, but it was unsettling that it had so easily slipped through the normally strict level of control he maintained over that part of his nature. It was a disturbing sign that he was not as stable as he should be. Damn it, Zero didn't need this crap from him right now.
Yagari relaxed slightly as Kuran visibly calmed himself and the disturbed vampire vibes in the room settled. He understood being pissed ten ways to Christmas over this affair, but he was struck again by the feeling he'd had earlier that Kuran's emotions seemed to be riding unusually close to the surface. He did not miss the oddly gentle way Zero's fingers slid into the pureblood's hair as he tipped the dark head close to him for a moment. It was a soothing gesture. Whatever was up with the pureblood, Zero knew about it, which probably meant it was something personal. Which in turn meant it was none of Yagari's business and the elder hunter clamped off any further curiosity.
Kaname felt guilty as Zero's fingers traced softly through his hair. He should be soothing Zero right now, not the other way around. This was unforgivable. When he opened his eyes they were once more their normal hue and his face was calm and tender. He squeezed Zero's hand. "We should get you cleaned up," he said quietly. "We can discuss other matters later."
Zero gave a small nod. He was aware of the fact that Kaname had not in fact promised to let him handle things his own way, but that could be an argument for later, preferably when they were alone. Right now a nice, hot shower sounded like heaven. He allowed Kaname to help him to his feet, trying not to wince too visibly as the motion pulled at his battered body.
With a bit of difficulty, he kept the blanket wrapped around him while he slid out of Yagari's coat. "Thanks," he said quietly as he handed the garment back, keeping the blanket about him with his other hand. Zero meant for everything, including coming after him like he had.
Yagari took the coat back, holding Zero's eyes for a moment. "No problem," he said quietly. His gaze flickered down towards the ugly, blackened wounds circling the young man's bare wrists and despite what he had said and what he knew, he really did understand the rage Kaname had displayed a few moments ago. He knew this was his cue to be leaving, but he hesitated a moment, his gaze still intent on his apprentice.
"Zero, I get that you need to handle this, but do me a favor. When you find out who did this, after you beat the snot out of them, you let me know, okay? Whoever it was he or they criminally misused official hunter channels by sending you that message and impersonating Association Dispatch. That's a serious infraction and I will make sure they get their asses nailed to the wall for that," Yagari told him seriously.
Zero gave a small nod. "Okay," he agreed quietly.
Kaname wrapped his arm around Zero's shoulders, lightly steering him towards the door. Yagari followed them out into the hall, shrugging back into his coat.
Kaname glanced back towards the elder hunter. "I already have people collecting your truck and Zero's motorcycle, they will bring your vehicle to you. In the meanwhile, there's a car waiting downstairs to take you home," he told him. "Izumi has prepared refreshments for you, they're waiting downstairs as well."
Mindful of the fact that Yagari had been in the woods all night, Kaname had had a brimming hamper of gourmet food and drink prepared to send home with the hunter during the time it had taken to get he and Zero back to Night Haven. It was his way of saying thank you without actually having to say it, and the kind of gift he felt Yagari's pride would allow him to accept, even from him.
Yagari raised his eyebrows and ran a hand through his hair, pushing his hat back a little. He was finally allowing himself to notice how incredibly tired and hungry he was and although he wouldn't admit it, getting something in him and going home to bed sounded mighty appealing. Damn... sleeping during the day, they were turning him into a bloody vampire.
"All right," he acknowledged, turning to head for the stairs. He was quite familiar with the house after all the time he had spent here and did not need anyone to show him out. "Zero, you rest up. I'll talk to you later. Kuran..." he paused. He was going to tell him to take care of Zero, but he already knew he would. It was a weird feeling to realize that. "Next time you call me, I'm hanging up," he said instead with a wry grin that indicated exactly the opposite. "Later," he bid them adieu, tossing a flippant, two fingered salute in their direction before descending the stairs.
Zero winced as he turned his bruised face into the hot spray of water. It felt good to shower the dirt of the forest off of him, but now that all the adrenalin of escape had faded, he was increasingly aware of how badly he hurt. The many, swollen, blossoming bruises spread across his body were incredibly tender and he had a couple of broken ribs that were making it difficult to breathe properly. The painful injuries to his wrists ensured that he wasn't healing anytime soon. The broken ribs meant he probably had internal injuries from the severity of the beating. If he were human, he should have been in the hospital. Naturally, however, a born vampire like Kaname didn't think of that, and Zero knew he would be all right with time and blood.
Blood... the water dripping from his injured arms was pinkish with his blood and Zero realized he was staring at it, mesmerized. He was so hungry. His fangs throbbed in his head and Kaname's presence in the bedroom beyond called to him like a siren song. Forcing himself to finish his shower first, he washed the burning, clotted injuries about his wrists clean, working loose the scabs with the washcloth and his fingers. He breathed harshly through his teeth, tears of pain glistening in his eyes as he forced himself to debride and flush the wounds. It hurt so terribly it made his head swim, but he knew it had to be done and there was no use putting it off. The injuries were dirty from his struggles in the woods and he needed to purge them of any lingering poison from the cuffs. He had to stop several times, leaning against the wall of the shower and breathing rapidly as he forced away the dark spots dancing in front of his eyes, but once he was done the wounds did feel a little better. The gnawing sting grew less at least.
Shuddering under the warm water and trying to catch his breath, Zero rubbed a hand up and down the upper part of his arm, massaging his biceps and using the stimulus in an effort to distract himself from the flaming pain in his wrists.
His hand passed over the inside of his elbow and a memory tugged at him. He rubbed the spot self-consciously, frowning softly and leaning his back against the wet tiled wall as he struggled to pull information from the haze of pain he'd been in right before he passed out. He'd not told either Kaname or Yagari about that half-remembered needle prick he'd felt before blacking out. He had barely thought about it himself until just now. What had that been about? Had his attackers been that wary of him that they went to the bother of sedating him after he was already practically unconscious? Was that why he'd been out for so many hours? Or... was it something else, he had been given?
Zero felt cold. He knew he was borrowing trouble by making connections that probably didn't exist and made no sense even if they did, but with everything that had been happening lately, he couldn't help it.
Finally he shut off the water. After gingerly drying off and wrapping himself up in a long, plush robe, he made his way back into the bedroom and found Kaname waiting for him. There was a pleasant hint of lavender in the air and Zero spotted a small glass oil lamp on nightstand, the lighted wick dancing peacefully as the heated oil released the sweet, soothing scent.
Kaname beckoned him over. The pureblood was wearing pajama pants and a robe, but both were his own this time, just like the clothes Zero had seen him wearing earlier, in the study. Some of Kaname's toiletries had been on the sink counter in the bathroom too. Kaname must have gone into his room long enough to get some of his things out of there earlier today, although Zero didn't see any of his clothes in the closet.
Wearily, Zero sank down to sit on the edge of his bed. Kaname sat down next to him, one knee pulled up under him. He didn't speak, there wasn't really anything to say. The hunter looked so incredibly awful it pained him. Kaname was still uneasy about the timing of everything that had happened and not entirely sure whether he agreed with Zero about the simplicity of the explanation for the attack in the woods, but right now none of that mattered much. Zero was hurting and Kaname wanted only to comfort him. It was strange to realize how things had shifted so much since the last time they were together in this same spot. Kaname felt slightly overwhelmed, like too many things were happening too fast. There were too many random threads to try to follow, making it difficult to keep hold of them all and make the right connections between them. That worried him.
Kaname touched Zero's bruised face tenderly, caressing the purplish swelling along his left cheekbone and carefully brushing his split and puffy lower lip with one gentle thumb. The look in the pureblood's expressive garnet eyes suggested that he was almost physically pained by his lover's wounds, perhaps worse so than if he himself were feeling them.
The dark head leaned forward and Kaname kissed Zero's cut lip and swollen cheekbone tenderly, cupping the silver head between his hands as his lips and tongue traced feather light across the sore, damaged flesh.
Zero let his breath out slowly as the inherent magic of Kaname's touch made the agonizing throbbing of his battered flesh subside a little, allowing a certain measure of relief from the gnawing, bone-deep ache pounding in his head. Zero knew Kaname was using his natural pureblood abilities to dull pain and make the hunter feel better, but that wasn't the only kind of comfort that the other vampire's gentle touch provided. Zero felt better just having Kaname near him like this. The simple sweetness of his lover's concerned, tender caresses did a lot to ease his pain all on its own.
Zero smiled faintly, careful because of the strain that the motion placed on his injured lip. He kissed Kaname's jaw lightly as the pureblood continued to softly nuzzle his injured face, as if he could pull the pain out of the hunter and into himself. Zero allowed it only because he knew Kaname couldn't actually do that.
"You're so much better than aspirin, you know that?" Zero murmured quietly, the small smile evident in his voice. His fingers ran slowly through Kaname's dark hair, playing with the silky curls that lay against his lover's neck.
Kaname pulled back enough to smile at him. It was a heartbreakingly loving and worried expression. Zero could tell Kaname felt guilty about what had happened to him, even though it was in no way the pureblood's fault.
Carefully, Kaname caressed him one more time and then slipped open the top of his robe. He was not wearing a nightshirt below and Zero's eyes were immediately drawn to his lover's pale, graceful throat. The pureblood's ebony locks brushed the naked curve of his neck and shoulders as he let the robe slide down to his elbows, baring the upper part of his body for Zero's use.
Zero swallowed softly, momentarily unable to pull his gaze away from Kaname's now exposed and exquisitely inviting body. His hunger flared anew. He could hear the blood pulsing in his lover's veins and he felt the deep, familiar craving kindle to life inside him. That which Kaname offered would not only heal him, but also bring the deepest euphoria that any blood could give. Zero knew that, and familiarity made the longing ache inside him even more intense.
Kaname smiled softly as he saw Zero staring at his neck as if entranced. He loved that reaction. He loved that Zero wanted him and he loved the sensation of their joining in this manner. Tenderly, he cupped the back of Zero's head in his hand and drew him close, nuzzling his beloved's injured face carefully against his neck and cradling the boy's body with an arm around his shoulders. He kissed Zero's ear and stroked his hair. The invitation was obvious and completely natural between them now, so Kaname did not even bother voicing it.
"I'm so sorry this happened," he murmured instead. I will kill the people who did this to you, Zero. I promise I won't get you in any trouble, no one has to know what happened, but they will pay. He did not speak the promise aloud. Zero had already made his feelings clear on the subject, but Kaname simply could not make himself let it go this time. There were some things his lover didn't have to know.
Zero surprisingly hadn't bitten him yet, so Kaname stroked his hair a little more encouragingly. "You'll feel better soon," he whispered, almost physically aching to take Zero's pain away.
Zero's breathing turned slightly ragged. Kaname's scent enveloped him. His warm skin and the throb of his delicious blood was devastatingly close and Zero wanted both very much. Normally, he would not have hesitated... but that half remembered impression of a needle stabbing his arm was giving him pause.
His arms tightened around Kaname's waist as he fought with himself. He might be imagining the memory, everything was cloudy right before he passed out. It might not mean anything... but then again, it might. He was thinking of Aido. He was thinking of viruses that could infect a vampire and be transferred through blood or bite. He was thinking that most people knew or assumed that Kuran drank his blood, even if they didn't know the reverse was also true. He was thinking of what had happened to Yuki, of the way she was attacked and injected with the pathogen that killed her. He was thinking that there were too many coincidences for comfort and that not enough things made sense. He was thinking he had a huge, horrible headache and really couldn't think clearly at all.
With a supreme, almost gut-wrenching act of will, Zero turned his face away from Kaname's neck, burying it against his lover's shoulder instead. He breathed harshly, his body shuddering as he battled the need which burned inside him like a fire in his chest. He hadn't had to fight it for a long time, but he'd not lost his ability to do so. Maybe he was being foolish and over cautious. He might not be remembering events correctly, or if he was, the more likely scenario was that the hunters had injected him with an anti-vampire poison to retard his abilities and healing after the fact in order to keep him out longer and give them more time to cover their tracks.
It was quite possible that his restraint was unnecessary... but he simply couldn't take the chance. He wasn't willing to take selfish risks that might endanger his lover. It was bad enough that Kaname's shade form had licked his wounds before Zero had even thought of the possible danger, he couldn't chance making things any worse. Until he was able to get Aido alone and have the blonde run his blood for any trace of anything suspicious, he could not risk biting Kaname and passing on anything he might unwittingly be carrying. He couldn't risk having any bodily fluid contact with him, which meant no making love either. He probably shouldn't have even been kissing Kaname. Zero grimaced. He was going to have to track Aido down first thing.
"Zero?" Kaname's gentle voice was confused and worried. Zero was gripping him almost painfully tight, but for some unfathomable reason he was refusing to bite him. They hadn't had this problem in quite a while and the pureblood's brows furrowed. "Come on, Zero, it's okay..." he murmured soothingly rubbing his lover's tense back with one hand while his other slid up to his own neck, nails sharpening. "It will help."
"No..." Zero's voice was a strangled groan as he caught Kaname's hand, arresting its progress. He knew the other pureblood intended to cut himself, to put his blood in the air by way of encouragement. He had done it many, many times in the past when Zero had been reluctant to drink and it almost always worked. Zero didn't know if he could resist once he scented the wonderfully familiar aroma and he could not afford to lose his resolve. Even if he was being foolish, he loved Kaname too much to take chances with him.
"Please, Kaname... just... just not right now," Zero's voice was trying for firm and collected, but sounded hoarse and shaky instead. "I'll be okay."
Kaname started to gently pull his hand away and Zero knew with a sinking feeling that the pureblood was going to keep pressing and coaxing, like he always did. "No! Kaname, I need you to respect me on this for once. Please, don't make me," he pleaded softly.
He could only hope his lover would heed his wishes. Due to their early relationship, Kaname was far too used to having to all but force him to drink blood and Zero knew that if pressed hard enough, he would give in and he couldn't! He couldn't risk it! But neither could he tell Kaname what he feared. His lover was dealing with enough crap as it was, he didn't need to be worrying about Zero on top of it, at least not until Zero knew if there was anything they needed to worry about or not. Zero wasn't an idiot. He knew that if he told Kaname he had been attacked and possibly injected with something, the pureblood would immediately think of what had happened to Yuki... and Zero didn't know if Kaname could handle the anguish of even just fearing that somehow, Zero might be taken from him too. His lover was too fragile after recent events, Zero simply couldn't do that to him. The specter of how frighteningly broken and terrified of being left alone the pureblood had been only a day ago was too fresh and raw in Zero's mind.
Kaname unwillingly dropped his hand and wrapped his arms around Zero's back instead, reluctantly abiding by his lover's wishes. He was completely confused and a little hurt. "I do respect you, Zero," he whispered softly, obviously wounded by the unintentional implication that he did not.
Zero screwed his eyes shut, realizing he was making a mess of this and hurting Kaname even as he tried not to. Damn it was so freaking hard to think! He ached fiercely and he just wanted to curl up in Kaname's embrace and forget about everything. He didn't have the energy to deal with this difficult and tangled emotional minefield. Sometimes he wished things could just be simple. "I know you do, I didn't mean it like that," he murmured against Kaname's shoulder. "I'm sorry, I feel like shit, Kaname, I'm not thinking straight, don't take it personal," he pleaded.
Kaname didn't understand this at all. Why wouldn't Zero drink from him? The sudden, although admittedly irrational fear that it had something to do with yesterday and the whole mess with Nasser stabbed through his gut and almost took his breath away. His arms encircled Zero even more tenderly, almost clinging to him. Please... please don't push me away.
"If you feel badly then why won't you drink?" Kaname whispered softly. "Have I done something wrong, Zero?"
Zero groaned and lifted his head from Kaname's shoulder with difficulty. He knew now what Kaname was thinking and it frustrated him that he'd managed to accidentally step on those recent wounds again. He was in pain and so tired... he wasn't up for this. He needed Kaname to just trust him and let it go and that showed in his eyes. "No," he whispered, kissing Kaname softly with carefully closed lips. "Not at all. This isn't about you, Kaname. Or about us. I just... I'm not ready right now. I-I can't explain it. Please... please just... just hold me."
There was truth in Zero's eyes and his request would have melted iron. It certainly melted Kaname's fears. He let them drain away to be replaced for a deep, burning, compassionate ache for his lover. He realized suddenly that Zero had been beaten by a group of his peers, by fellow hunters, because he was a vampire. Who knew what ugly, bigoted things they might have said to him? Or what they might have done to make him feel ashamed of what he was, something that Zero had never needed any help feeling in the first place? If he looked at it that way it wasn't much surprise at all that Zero was having issues with drinking blood again right after something like that, especially now that Kaname had seen those horrible memories from his past which Zero had shared the other night.
Folding Zero back into his arms with the utmost tenderness, Kaname stroked his back and hair comfortingly. "Of course, Zero," he murmured. "I'm sorry. Just know that whatever you want, whatever you need, I'm here, okay?" He kissed Zero's hair. His hatred for Zero's attackers burned to new levels. He'd worked so long and so hard to get Zero to start hesitantly accepting the natural needs of his vampiric body, he would gut those bastards slowly for making the boy ashamed of himself all over again.
Zero rested his cheek against Kaname's chest and nodded his head. Yes, he knew and he was relieved that the pureblood seemed prepared to let it go pretty easily for once, without seeming to feel too hurt. He felt himself begin to relax gratefully. "Thanks," he whispered, his fingers coming to rest against Kaname's chest, palm pressing lightly against the other vampire's heartbeat. "This is what I need," he added softly, before he could stop himself. He flushed slightly at having said those words, but Kaname's beautiful, radiantly gentle smile was reassuring.
Kaname pulled back the covers. Careful of Zero's injured body, he guided the hunter down to the bed. Zero grit his teeth, struggling to breathe as his broken ribs shifted, making his internal injuries scream at the motion. Once he was down it felt good to be there though. It was a relief to not have to support any part of his body for a while. The bed and pillow were soft beneath him, conforming to him and cradling his injured form.
Kneeling beside him, Kaname pulled the soft covers over Zero, up to his waist, keeping him warm and relaxed. Zero's robe had fallen partially open and Kaname rested one warm palm lightly on the hunter's flat stomach. Zero's skin was mottled darkly there and Kaname knew his lover was bleeding internally. It truly killed him that Zero wouldn't drink and allow him to make all of this better instantly, but he tried to respect Zero's mental needs as much as his physical. He knew he would have shattered the other evening if Zero had forced him to do things he wasn't ready to do, so the pureblood was currently extra sensitive to such things.
There were other ways he could help. Leaning down, he kissed the bruises on Zero's face, chest and shoulders slowly. His warm lips glided across the injured skin with tender thoroughness.
Zero felt warm relief flowing from Kaname's hand on his stomach and from the soothing, intimate caress of his lips and mouth. The pureblood was doing it again, using his gifts to sooth away his lover's pain and encourage healing. Carefully, Kaname tried to release just enough pheromones to get Zero lightly buzzed without getting him too aroused. He touched the sensory receptors in Zero's mind, lulling them and deadening perception of pain.
Zero wasn't sure what exactly Kaname was doing to him, but as a blessedly painless state of almost drunken contentedness settled on him, bleeding his pain a way to a dull, aching insignificance, he appreciated it more than he could say. A soft groan of grateful relief escaped him unintentionally as his body relaxed fully. He melted wearily into the bed as Kaname worked patiently over him, touching and kissing. It was sensual, but not sexual. Kaname was careful to keep it so. He was masking Zero's pain, but his injuries were still there. If Zero wasn't going to drink, then he needed to keep still and rest now.
Zero's fingers tangled wearily in Kaname's hair, his movements slow as exhaustion and the magic Kaname was working over his body started to take over. "So much better than aspirin," he murmured again with a faint, adoring smile on his lips. "Thanks."
Kaname just smiled and continued his ministrations until Zero fell asleep, then he pulled the covers up over them both and turned out he light.
Shivering with chills, Aido groped for the blanket in his sleep, wrapping up in it tightly. The sheets were damp with perspiration and his skin was flushed. He'd passed out on the bed shortly after talking with Kaname the previous night and had not awoken since. He was not exactly asleep so much as he was floating in and out of delirium. Sometimes he was more or less conscious, but he felt so awful that he found himself wishing desperately to fall back asleep and eventually he did.
After a little while he began to burn, his body feeling so hot it was as if the sun was shining directly upon him. Groaning, Aido threw the covers off again without really awakening. Turning his pillow he tried to find a cool spot on the other side.
He had no concept of how much time was passing as the fever ravaging him deepened and he found himself alternately freezing and burning up. His skin was painfully hot, but his bones felt like they were made of ice. He had never been so miserable. He wished he hadn't sent Kain away before this started, but he hadn't enough strength or enough lucidity to think of calling him. He was alone, and his only escape was in unconsciousness.
On the desk, his mobile phone buzzed quietly with the hourly reminder that he had several unheard voice messages. Kain had turned the ringer off before leaving so his cousin's much needed rest would not be disturbed. As the phone vibrated, the dimly lit display showed several missed calls from Naija Kish before the reminder tone ended and the screen went dark once more.
Lost in the grip of his fevered dreams, Aido was not aware of the almost silent buzz, or what it meant.