This is an AU, where Kaname and Zero's first time meeting goes a little different than in the anime. It affects things a lot differently. Zero is living with the night class, and his feelings towards them are quite different than in the anime. Basically it isn't hate, but rather attachment. Plus since it's an AU Zero's age is around 10 in this. Hopefully you enjoy this!
Kaname Kuran sighed to himself as he looked down at the young boy who was holding his hand. The boy was staring off into the distance, but nevertheless he still held tightly to the pureblood's hand as they walked down the crowded street. Suddenly Kaname stopped, causing the boy to halt as well. He bent down to the other's level, brushing back silver hair that was hiding beautiful lavender eyes.
"Zero, look at me." He commanded gently. When the eyes met his own, he continued. "We seem to be all finished now with getting you new clothes. Are there any stores you want to stop at before we head back?"
The boy, Zero, did not say anything. He had not said anything for several weeks, ever since he had witnessed the brutal death of his parents by another pureblood vampire. He had also been bitten by said vampire. Ever since that night, he had not uttered a single word. After a few minutes of silence, Kaname smiled ruefully and ran his fingers through the silvery hair.
"Alright, then we can head back I suppose. It is getting rather late."
With that, he stood back up and took Zero's hand. They continued down the road, which had a thin layer of ice covering it. The breeze was getting chilly, and Kaname suddenly wished that he'd had Zero bundled up more than he was now before going out. The younger boy didn't seem that affected by it, but then again nothing seemed to affect Zero these days. He was just emotionless for the most part...but not all the time.
"I must warn you before you come inside and see Yuki, Kaname," Kaien said, his voice actually grave for once as he spoke to the pureblood outside of the Cross house. "I have taken in Zero, son of the Kiryu family."
"The Kiryu family?" Kaname's eyes widened a bit.
"Yes, I'm sure you've heard what happened to them by now. Anyways, I'm not sure how he'll react to having a vampire in the house, especially a pureblood. Then again, he's very distant...he hasn't even talked to me yet once in the two weeks I've had him. What kind of father am I?!"
When Kaname went inside, Yuki was of course the first to greet him. "Kaname!" She ran and wrapped her small arms around him, obviously very excited for his visit. It had been almost a month since he'd last dropped by after all.
His senses picked up another scent, which obviously had to be the Kiryu boy. Sure enough, there he was. A young boy was sitting on the couch, head resting upon his knees. When he sensed Kaname's eyes on him he looked up. Kaname found himself staring into the most beautiful shade of lavender eyes he had ever seen, although they were filled with such emotion what he had to stop himself from wincing.
Yuki saw them looking at each other and smiled. "Oh, Kaname come see Zero! He's my new brother. Zero, Kaname's the one who saved me when I was younger!"
Kaname was dragged over to the boy, who had yet to say a word as he stared up at the older vampire. Yuki started chattering away to Zero about how nice her savior was. Zero didn't seem to be paying her any attention. He still gazed evenly at the vampire. Kaien had followed Kaname in, and was now standing in the doorway as he watched the exchange. He seemed relieved that Zero hadn't done anything violent against the pureblood.
The visit went quite well for the most part. Yuki told Kaname all about what had been happening since he had last came over. Kaname listened eagerly, drinking in all the words that his precious Yuki told him. However, he also studied Zero quite frequently. He hadn't taken his eyes off of Kaname once, still staring at him with that unemotional yet somewhat heartbreaking gaze.
"Well, it's getting late. I should be heading back now." Kaname finally announced. After all, Takuma was still waiting out in the car, and it had been a few hours. Like always, he was hugged by Yuki again, and Kaien told him to come back soon. After all, they still needed to discuss the Night class further, since they had decided to establish the class that was just for vampires.
However, he made it barely two steps towards the door before his sleeve was suddenly grabbed. His eyes widened when he saw that it was Zero who had done so. The boy looked up at him with his piercing lavender gaze. 'What Zero? What are you trying to tell me?' Kaname thought silently, staring into those unique eyes.
"Zero? What's the matter?" Kaien wondered, coming over to try and lay a hand on the frail child's shoulder. Zero shook him off, gripping tighter to the vampire's sleeve. For a moment Kaname didn't move a fraction. Finally he blinked and then bent down so that he was level with the other.
"What is it Zero?" He whispered, laying a hand on a side of the boy's face. Zero looked back, almost...pleadingly. He reached out with a small pale hand and touched Kaname's face back. Finally the pureblood understood. He reached out and rested his other hand atop the child's soft head of silver.
"...It's alright Zero. I'm here."
"Lord Kaname, Zero! How was your shopping trip? I trust you were able to find Zero some suitable clothing?" Takuma greeted them when the pair arrived back to the Moon dorms. Kaname rested his hand on Zero's head and smiled.
"I think it went just splendid," He replied. "Right Zero?"
Of course Zero didn't say anything, but no words were needed. Seiren then stepped forward towards them. "Lord Kaname, please let me bring those bags up to Zero's room."
"Thank you Seiren," Kaname told her gratefully, passing the bags over to her. Then Ruka came forward.
"Come Zero, let's get you out of those clothes and into some more comfortable ones." She said, reaching to take his hand. Zero followed her obediently, trust evident in his composure. The female vampire had developed protective feelings towards the child, as did the other night class students. Zero hadn't been here too long, but already he had won over most everybody here.
"So it is agreed? You allow me to move Zero to the moon dorms, so that he may live with me and other other vampires?" Kaname asked the headmaster.
"Well there's really no way I can say no. He's created quite an attachment to you. Truly I never would have expected it, although I cannot say that it's a bad thing."
"Yes, I agree. Although he is young, I think he will fit in just fine with the rest of the night class students. I can even take him to class with us, and teach him more of our ways. After all, it won't be long before...his vampire side will take over."
After Kaname had finished changing into different clothes, he returned downstairs to find Zero curled up on the sofa between Senri and Takuma. Takuma seemed to be reading a book aloud to Zero, while Senri munched on pocky and listened in. As soon as he saw the pureblood, Zero got up and moved towards him. Kaname took the boy into his arms and sat down on an armchair.
Kaname had become extremely attached to Zero, just like Zero had to him. He still wasn't completely sure of the reasons for the child's behavior, but frankly it went like this: Zero basically was with him all the time, or sometimes with the other vampires. He still hadn't showed any signs of changing into one himself, but it was obvious that he didn't want to.
Zero snuggled into the pureblood and closed his eyes. Kaname ran his hand through the younger boy's hair, and then looked down at his neck, which was bandaged freshly. Sometimes in his sleep Zero would have frightening nightmares, and ended up clawing madly in his sleep at the place he had been bitten on his neck. Kaname and the others often ended up staying with him to keep him from harming himself.
Unfortunately sometimes they couldn't prevent it.
"See Zero? Advanced Calculus isn't so hard! I'm of course the best at it here, so I'm the perfect one to help teach it to you!" Aido spoke to Zero enthusiastically that night in class as he showed the boy how to solve some sort of advanced equation. Kaname watched with mild amusement as Zero listened to Aido attentively, obviously determined to master this form of math.
"Zero seems to be fitting in with us quite wonderfully," Takuma said to Kaname as he noticed the direction that the pureblood was looking.
"Yes, he's doing much better than when I first saw him. I do wonder what he finds so comforting about me though. I also wish there was something we could do about his nightmares…." The pureblood replied, turning to face his green eyed friend.
"I'm sure the nightmares will go away in time," Takuma said comfortingly. "He didn't have any today."
"True," Kaname murmured, bringing his gaze back to Zero. As if sensing that he was being looked at, Zero turned around and looked back at him. They both stared at each other, each wanting the other to be okay.
"There, all done," Kaname announced as he finished rewrapping the bandages around Zero's neck. Lavender eyes gazed up at him, and a hand came up to feel his neck. Kaname took Zero's hand and rested it back into his lap.
"We might as well stay up now, since it's beginning to grow dark. Ruka is bringing some hot chocolate for you. I think you scared her a bit this morning with your night terror."
Zero looked rather apologetic, gazing back down at the ground. Kaname ruffled his hair. "I hear her coming down the hallway. Why don't you go greet her?"
The child nodded, jumping down from the seat and running out of the bathroom that was connected to Kaname's room, opening the bedroom door for Ruka. She set the hot chocolate aside and hugged him tightly. She touched his freshly bandaged neck and tried not to flinch.
"All better?" She asked quietly.
Zero brought his hand back up to touch the bandage once again. He swallowed and parted his mouth a bit. For for first time since his parents had been slaughtered by Shizuka Hio, Zero finally spoke in a hoarse whisper.
"...All better…."
Um...yeah. This probably sucked. It is my first VK fic after all. I've been trying to branch out since usually I only write Hetalia fics. Anyway...I hope this wasn't disastrous. Would any of you want another chapter?