Hey guys, this is another one that came to me and demanded to be written. I promise I'll get to writing Dark Pharaoh's wedding soon. Anyway, read and review.
Kira watched as Mencheres paced restlessly from one end of their room to the other. He'd been doing this ever since he'd come back from going to visit Ian, although the look on his face when he'd informed her of where he'd been going made her hesitate to believe that was all there was to his sudden departure. She'd decided to let him get some of his obvious worry out in pacing before trying to pry what was wrong out of him. Now it was time to see what was eating him.
Stepping up beside him, she gripped his arm and tugged in an attempt to pull his focus to her. "What's going on Mencheres? This isn't like you." Usually he was as cool as an iceberg, seeing the love of her life so obviously wound was both worrying and unnerving.
He flicked a glance her way before tugging out of her grip, a first for him, as he continued his pacing. "One of the vampires I sired, Ian the one I visited just days ago, has apparently gotten married."
Kira blinked in surprise, his words not helping her understand in the slightest. "And that's…bad?" Usually weddings were a cause for celebration, after all. Theirs had certainly been a party, what with it lasting days before it finally calmed again. Today was their anniversary, something Kira had been looking forward to for months. She'd planned everything out, hot bath waiting for them with Mencheres favorite flowers in the water, she'd even gotten a sexy pair of lingerie for the occasion.
In her previous relationship anniversaries were to be dreaded, Pete turning what should have been a happy occasion into either a beating or a rape depending on how he felt that day. After marrying Mencheres she'd been overflowing with excitement, wanting to do it right this time. He doted on her any time he saw the opportunity, so she had figured that enjoying their anniversary shouldn't be difficult. Seeing his tense strides, she tried to save the evening.
If his erratic behavior was anything to go by, he needed to relax more than ever and what better way than with what she'd had planned? Resolving to drag him into the bath once she figured out why one of his children, for lack of a better term, getting married was a bad thing.
He shot her a disgruntled look, "You don't know Ian. He loathes all forms of commitment and marriage is something he scorns especially. He would never willingly get married."
She was starting to see the picture, but that didn't explain his current worry. Well, she didn't have to understand it to help him calm down… Moving to once again grab his arm, she cajoled. "You're obviously very upset about this and while I still don't understand why him getting married is so impossible, I know of a way to help you calm down before you wear a hole in the carpet."
Her voice had come out as soothing as she could make it, but before her fingers could close around his arm, he pulled away again. His mouth twisted down into a hard scowl that immediately sent wariness through her. His voice when he spoke was rigid, the unfamiliar tone rubbing her the wrong way as he berated her.
"Now is not the time for such things. Surely, you are aware of that? I would not be concerned if the matter was not worrisome, I would appreciate you not making light of this or my valid concerns." She'd never heard his voice anything but pleasant while directed at her before, whether they were in bed or just chatting, and the sudden icy cold snap to his words sent shards of pain through her.
Trying once again to grab him, she tensed. "That's not what I'm doing, I'm trying to-." Mencheres lurched out of her grip once again, only this time he turned to face her fully. His mouth set in a harsh frown.
"Would you cease in your attempts to still me? I do not wish to sit down right now, nor do I wish to engage in more intimate activities. As my wife I would expect you to respect those boundaries and leave me be."
The words hurt more than she'd ever admit, but she forced a smile all the same. Something was definitely wrong here and she couldn't help until she knew what it was. Holding her hands up in the universal sign of surrender, she soothed. "As I was saying before, I'm not trying to start anything sexual. I'm trying to understand why you're worried when for all intents and purposes the news you received should be a good thing."
His face darkened, the look sending a curl of unease through her. She swiped it away without a thought, this was Mencheres. He'd never do or say anything to hurt her. That assurance fell flat with his next statement.
"I already explained why this news is in fact not a good thing, you are simply choosing not to listen. It matters none, I've made my decision. I will be flying to Ian to see for myself if he has done this of his own free will."
Choosing to ignore the accusation that stung deeply, she stepped in front of Mencheres and addressed the second half of his statement. "You're leaving tonight?" While Kira wasn't usually a woman to be hurt by her lover having something they needed to do, she understood necessity canceling plans better than most with raising Tina, the thought of spending their first anniversary together alone, with Mencheres states away was enough to depress her.
Trying to convince him to at least wait until tomorrow for the trip, she pushed on. "Surely it can wait until tomorrow-." Mencheres cut her off yet again, frustration and aggravation heavy in his tone as he snaps.
"No it cannot wait until tomorrow. I thought you of all people would understand needing to check up on someone you see as your child, but evidently I overestimated your empathy. Nothing you say will be convincing me to stay and we will be dropping this topic now." He turned away, not catching the flash of hurt on her face as he whipped out his phone and began making arrangements, her dismissal clear as he ignored her presence.
Thinking on the bath still waiting, most likely cold by now, and the special underwear tucked underneath her current clothes that wouldn't be used, it felt like a slap in the face as she watched Mencheres pointedly make the arrangement despite her objections. Did he…not remember their anniversary? He had seemed just as excited for it as she'd been when they'd discussed it a week ago. Maybe she'd misread him?
Whether he remembered or not changed nothing, he had already made it clear that he would be leaving on that plane. Her hurt feelings or opinion had no place in his decision, so there was no point in trying to talk more. Quietly, she retreated to the bathroom to drain the tub and dismantle her carefully planned surprise.
He's just worried about Ian, you'd be the same if it were Tina. She repeated it in her head over and over as she cleaned the bathroom back to its previous state. The reassurance didn't help in the slightest. Before she could go back to Mencheres to wish him good bye, if nothing else she wanted to get one kiss on their anniversary before he left, she heard the front door shut.
Disbelief strafed her as she bolted down the three stories to watch as Mencheres drove away. He hadn't even waited to say goodbye to her… They'd had a long standing tradition that if they were to be separated, even for a day, they'd always kiss goodbye. While she knew it wasn't a major thing to most people, she remembered the misery of Pete and her marriage. That pain was what had led her to starting their tradition. Seeing Mencheres act so coldly, especially on their anniversary, stung. Briefly she felt tears prick her eyes before briskly brushing them away. She would not cry.
Resolutely, she turned to go back to their room only for Gorgon's worried face to stop her. He blinked in shock at the pink in her eyes, before understanding dawned. He may not have heard all of their argument but he had gotten enough to know she was hurting. That, combined with his sire's abrupt departure, had wounded her deeper than she'd felt in years.
Not saying a word, he stepped to the side to let her pass. She wouldn't want him to see her like this, that much he was certain of. She gave a grateful nod before all but sprinting back to their room.
Once there, she whipped her shirt and pants off, the lacy underwear seeming to mock her as she removed it before putting more comfortable clothes on. She'd dressed up for the anniversary plans that she now knew weren't happening. Now that it was most definitely called off, she would go find the nearest pint of chocolate icecream and binge on movies while wearing her pajamas.
Was it pathetic? Probably, but no one was here to see her lick her wounds so it didn't matter. She'd started the day overflowing with excitement only for her emotions to take a hard nose dive into disappointment and hurt. Mencheres was mad at her, had forgotten about their anniversary and had left her without saying goodbye. She hadn't snapped or tried to stop him, so she'd say she had earned that icecream, thank you very much. Maybe later she'd call Leila for some company…
Mencheres watched Ian and Veritas leave, the newly weds had stayed through admirable prodding from Bones and Charles before announcing their intent to leave. Relief poured through him that there was truly nothing wrong with one of his favorite children, but as the relief faded remorse took its place.
He had been very rude to his adored before his departure, merely ten minutes after he had left he'd ached to go back to their home and apologize but by then he'd been on the plane and unable to do so. Briefly he'd considered calling, but apologies should be done in person when possible.
He had been consumed with worry but that was no excuse for his words to his beloved. She hadn't been trying to antagonize him; now that he was calm he could see that. Leaving without their customary goodbyes had been childish, something he hadn't been accused of in centuries. The way it effected him, their not saying goodbye to one another, had left him feeling uneasy the entire flight.
She had only been worried and his display had most likely made that worse. Resolve hardening, he moved to give his goodbyes to Cat and Bones. Once he was home he would apologize for his words and his actions, depending on if Kira accepted his apology he may repent with some tender love making. That was always a decent apology for hurt feelings. While his nerves drew taut over the coming apology, he forced them down.
Kira was a reasonable woman, unlike his former wife, while she wouldn't be happy with his display she wouldn't hold it against him either once he explained himself and apologized genuinely. Turning to the exit, eager to get home to soothe the pain he doubtlessly caused, his phone ringing cut him off.
Answering, he barely got a customary greeting out before Leila's irate voice came over the line, her words freezing him in place as dread dawned on him.
"Why the fuck did I get a call from my best friend crying her eyes out about her husband leaving her alone on their first anniversary? And snapping at her? What the hell crawled up your ass and died Mencheres?!"
"Darling, you shouldn't.-" Vlad's voice was cut off as Leila snarled.
"No, the only person I consider a friend outside of you is hurting and alone on her anniversary after being over the moon excited about it just this morning. I will not calm down and he better have a damn good reason for snapping."
Dimly he heard Vlad continue to try to calm his wife, but Mencheres attention was solely focused on his inner turmoil. Pulling the phone away from his ear, he hesitated briefly before checking the date. Yes, it appeared he had indeed forgotten their anniversary…
His previous remorse became an all consuming guilt as he thought back over his hurtful words from before. When he had received the news of Ian's matrimony he had allowed his worry to take over him to the point he'd even forgotten the anniversary both he and Kira had been looking forward to for weeks.
His mouth felt bone dry as he swallowed, voice hesitant as he questioned Leila. "She called you in tears?" It took much to reduce his Dark Lady to such a state, the thought that it had been his words and actions to do so soured his stomach and sent burning pain through his heart. He had to fix this, post haste.
Leila answer did not ease any of his guilt, increasing it instead as he all but flew back to the airport. "Yeah, she tried to wave it off as nothing but I know what it sounds like when someone's restraining themselves from crying." Before Leila could start on another tirade that he more than deserved, Vlad wrestled the phone from her.
"Apologies, my wife is extremely protective of Kira at the moment. I will be having words with her in just a moment." Leila's voice echoed in the background, the obvious challenge in them a precursor to one of their fights.
"Go ahead, have words with me. No one else is going to rip him a new one because they're too scared of him and Kira's too nice. So-." The muffled grunts as her words cut off alerted him to Vlad covering her mouth. Inwardly, Mencheres winced. They had been doing so well recently with not having any fights too…His honorary son's actions would ensure another one as soon as he let Leila go.
Saying goodbye to Vlad, Mencheres eyed the darkening sky as he boarded his plane. He wouldn't make it in time to apologize or make things right before their anniversary was completely over, the thought of how their first year mark had turned into such a disaster sending another wave of remorse through him.
He wasn't sure what all he would do to make up for this, but he knew he had to do something. His words alone were unacceptable, although for now they would have to do. Later, he could plan an extravagant evening with just the two of them but for now his main focus needed to be on soothing the hurt he'd caused.
As he settled into his chair, impatiently tapping the armrest as the plane seemed to take triple as long to be ready to take off as usual, he thought on his previous behavior and the effect it had on Kira. When he'd been married to Patra it had always been him on the other end of this situation, victim to a lover who spoke hurtful words before leaving without a backwards glance or apology. He didn't like the thought that she was feeling the same loneliness that he had for centuries.
He should never have let this happen, he was her husband and as such they were supposed to support one another, not tear each other down. His mood steadily darkened as he watched the minutes pass, a spear of pain shoving through him as the clock struck midnight, signaling the end of what had been planned to be a very special day. What a mess he'd made…
Entering his home, he nodded to Gorgon as he deftly moved toward the stairs. The hours on the plane had been the longest he'd ever felt but he was back now. He could fix the situation to the best of his ability and hopefully spend the rest of the day wrapped around Kira as a consolation prize for what they'd missed yesterday.
Seeing their bedroom door, he began speaking even before he reached it. "Beloved, there are no words to exonerate my previous actions or my hurtful statements. Just know that I meant not a word of it and I am deeply sorry for taking my worries out on you."
He waited a moment, his nerves climbing as silence met his declaration. She was in their room right? Hesitating only briefly before pushing open the door, he peaked in while speaking lowly. "My Adored?"
The room was empty and the complete silence assured him she wasn't in the rest room either. Surely she was still on the premisses, she wouldn't leave without discussing it with him or at least telling him, would she? He hadn't given her the same courtesy…
Shaking his doubts off vigorously, he set out to find her. Gorgon silently pointed to the garden, not saying a word as his sire all but ran to his love's side. Gorgon had watched as Kira had barricaded herself into a guest room, not leaving until only hours ago and that had only been when prompted. He was glad he had managed to convince her to leave the room, now that his sire was back everything would be put to rights again.
Mencheres immediately spotted Kira upon entering their garden. Her Mastiff puppy, Justice, sat curled in her lap while three of the older males lay curled around her in various positions. The conversation she was having with them made a smile tug on one end of his mouth.
"No, stop giving the puppy eyes. You don't get chocolate, I get chocolate. You get dog treats, which I know is a bad deal for you but it's better for your health. I'm dead, I don't have to worry about my health. You do, so be good and stop staring at my ice cream."
He could now see the three empty pints of ice cream next to her, Justice staring longingly at them to no avail as Kira pushed them further away. Stepping forward, he watched as four canine heads swiveled to greet him with rapidly wagging tails. Despite their obvious happiness, none of them moved to leave Kira, the sight warming him. His dogs had sensed his wife's pain and had refused to leave her side, the loyalty of Mastiffs was one of the traits he prized the most in them and this was no exception.
Kira followed their gaze before stiffening, the uncertainty on her face as she eyed him demolished his previous warmth. Lowering himself to sit next to her, he stroked Justice's head as he began his apology.
"My previous words were unnecessary and hurtful, I apologize that they left my lips at all. I also believe you have the right to know I did forget our anniversary, my worry over Ian overtook everything else. That is no excuse, but-."
He stopped as Kira grabbed his hand, squeezing it gently as a smile curled her lips. "I know you didn't mean it. I understand what it's like to worry about someone while not being able to do anything about it. It's frustrating and makes you snappy. While I understand where you were coming from, can we please not do that again? I much prefer talking problems out with you to fighting."
Nodding, he raised her hand to his forehead in the formal expression of gratitude he was raised with before dropping a kiss on her palm. "Of course, I will be sure to bring any future concerns to you calmly. I also prefer discussing our problems this way to fighting. I despise knowing I hurt you with my careless words. Now that we have established that I did not mean them," he paused as he stood up.
Opening his arms, he continued, "May I greet you as I should have yesterday?" Kira smiled, depositing the puppy in her lap onto one of the adult Mastiff's back to walk into the offered hug. She wouldn't admit it, but she'd needed this. Their fight had unsettled her, but being back in his arms made everything alright again.
Remembering his affront at her supposedly trying to seduce him when he'd been upset, she addressed it now that they were both calm. "For the record, I really wasn't trying to drag you to bed yesterday. I had a surprise for you but it wasn't sexual, not unless you wanted it to be anyway."
Pulling back, Mencheres arched a brow at her. "Oh? And what was this surprise? If you wish to continue it I will offer my complete cooperation."
His mouth trailed up her neck, the touch sending warmth south as his hands tucked into her waistband. "I had a bath drawn with flowers ready and some fancy underwear on if things turned heated. The flowers wilted so I threw them out but the bath and the underwear are still doable."
He scooped her legs out from under her, using his power to levitate the ice cream bins out of reach of the hopeful puppy, and left back toward their room. "While I mourn the loss of the flowers, I can't wait to experience the rest of the surprise."
He paused, locking eyes with Kira before he finished his sentence. "And Kira? Happy late anniversary."
Kira curled into his throat, happy with the turn the evening had taken as she kissed his chest. "Happy late anniversary, Mencheres."
And we're done! I finally found an idea for angst that works for these two. Took me forever and I doubt I'll ever do another one. That's okay though, Vlad and Leila fill all five of the couple's angst quotas on their own.