Seth has always hated the feeling of losing control, not really a surprise considering his sick fuck of a father who took sadistic pleasure in making him feel afraid and helpless. In a strange way though, his need to exert control has saved his ass - and Richie's - countless times over the years. Richie may be a fucking genius when it comes to planning jobs but his brother can also get easily distracted if something unexpected occurs - no matter how small or insignificant the problem may be. He, on the other hand, is great at executing plans because he never sweats the small details. Because of their own unique set of skills, he and Richie have always made good partners - but right now Seth wishes he'd walked out of his brother's life years ago. Or at least beat the fuck out of Richie so the asshole wouldn't be able to chase after Kate.
Kate. Fuck.
He and Richie never talked about Kate these past few years. Suppressing their feelings was the only way they could both keep going and move forward. But now that she's back, all those emotions have resurfaced with a vengeance. Wracked with guilt, just the thought of seeing her again makes him want to retch. Because of him and Richie, her life is a fucking mess. He has no idea how to come to terms with that, what to do; he feels powerless and ashamed, and this time he doesn't even have Richie to support him through this. Before they used to be on the same page when it came to Kate; now, however, his brother is on a completely different wavelength. Since finding out about her, Richie's been on a mission to track her down, to get her to come back into their lives, and it boggles Seth's mind that Richie doesn't seem to realise how fucked up that is, not to mention impossible considering how much Kate hates them both.
He warned his brother repeatedly not to confront Kate, to leave her alone, but of course his pleas fell on deaf ears. And now Richie's been gone for hours and every instinct in his body's telling him the jackass is in trouble.
Seth pounds on the door again, louder this time. "Kate, open up. I know Richie's in there. Open up or I'm gonna kick this door in!"
The door opens and there's Kate standing there, staring at him with sheer contempt on her face. "Richie?" He pushes the door open, careful to avoid any physical contact with her and steps inside. Right away he spots his brother lying on the floor and rushes towards him. "Richie! You okay?"
Relief surges through him when Richie gives him a stupid grin. "I'm good. Hanging in there."
"Get up."
"Can't."
Seth kneels down, peering at Richie with concern. "Why not?"
"I shot him up with venom. He won't be able to move for a while."
Anger surges through Seth, and he glares at Kate. "You did what?"
"Just be grateful that I didn't kill him!"
"I get it. We fucked up your life. You hate us. But torturing him like this? Seriously? He did what he did to protect you. And yeah, things didn't work out exactly the way he planned but his intentions were good."
"As far as I'm concerned, you're both assholes!"
"If you're gonna be pissed at anyone, be pissed at me! I knew it was a dumbass idea to push you away but I went along with it anyway!"
"Hey, don't yell at her!" Richie speaks up.
"I'll take my anger out on whoever I damn well please," Kate fires back at the same time.
Jaw clenched with frustration, Seth turns back to Richie. "Does it hurt?"
"Not anymore. Just feel numb all over."
"You think blood'll help?"
"I don't know, Seth. I've never been poisoned before."
"How about you cut the attitude, Richard? I'm just trying to help." Seth rolls up his sleeve.
"You taste horrible," Richard grumbles.
"Be grateful, bitch. People ain't exactly lining up to be your happy meal." Resting Richie's head on his lap, he holds his wrist over his brother's mouth. "Alright. Drink up."
"I can't fang out, fuckhead. I'm paralysed, remember?"
"Yet your big fat mouth seems to be working just fine."
"Oh my god, you guys are ridiculous!" Kate spits out.
Seth watches intently while she storms towards them, picking up something from the table along the way. He stiffens when she kneels down next to him and Richie, even more so when he realises she's holding a swiss army knife. "You don't have to do this."
She casts him a brief glance but doesn't say anything, her eyes still fuelled with rage. Puncturing her skin, she holds her hand over Richie's mouth.
It's been a long time since he's watched his brother drink blood (Richie usually feeds in private) probably because Richie knows the whole thing tends to gross him out. But at this very moment as Kate sits in front of him, her long hair cascading down her chest, cheeks flushed red with anger, he realises this whole feeding ritual isn't all that bad. In fact, it's beautiful. She's beautiful.
He studies her like a hawk, her pale, creamy skin so soft and smooth it takes every inch of resolve he has not to reach out and run his hands down her arm. She shifts unexpectedly, moving closer, and her head is practically leaning on his shoulder and all he can think about is how great she smells, like vanilla, or maybe cherry blossoms all mixed up together. Fuck. What the hell is wrong with him?
Minutes pass, the air thick with silence.
At first Kate seems intent on avoiding both him and Richie but eventually Seth catches her gaze locking with Richie's. She seems to be caught in a trance, enthralled or something. He may not be a fucking vampire with superpower senses but he knows women, he knows what gets them aroused, and Kate is just that as she sits in front of him, trying to pretend she's not turned on as Richie feeds from her. He can practically smell the excitement rushing through her blood, can feel her body react to Richie's machinations.
Instinctively he reaches out to touch her hair, his fingers gliding through the silky strands. She finally meets his gaze.
His heart's pounding in his chest, as is hers. Her lips part a little, she can't breathe either, and his eyes are automatically drawn to her mouth. Before he can stop himself, he closes his lips over hers.
As much as he's tried to deny it, he's always wondered what she'd taste like, what her mouth would feel like under his. And fuck. It's better than anything he's imagined. It's pure fucking heaven.
He kisses her like a dying man in need of salvation, rough and desperate. And she returns the kiss with equal ferocity, her hand still hovering over Richie's mouth, like she needs to be connected with the both of them.
Suddenly, she pulls away. Eyes frantic, breathing laboured, her gaze wavers back and forth between him and Richie.
One look at her troubled face and Seth wants to kick himself. What the hell was he thinking? No wonder she's looking at the both of them like they're fucked up messes because that's exactly what they are. Shit. Shit. Shit.
She gets up and rushes out, slamming the door behind her.
"Do I really need to tell you to go after her?"
Seth pushes Richie off his lap. "Shut. Up. Richard." Angry with himself and his fuckhead of a brother, he sits down on the floor.
A/N - Just wanted to say thank you to all those who're reading and taking the time to comment. It means a lot to me and I appreciate it very much.
