Bloodlust

by OnexLostxSoul

In order to keep the vampire civlization at bay, Ozai hands over one thing he won't miss: His own son. However, a strange relationship develops when the enchanting Lord Setsuya entraps Zuko in his circle of twisted pleasure and seduction. Explicit Yaoi.

6. To Scar

(A/N: Story's rating has been upgraded to 'M'. This is a particularly descriptive chapter, and it is the first of a few far more in-depth scenes to follow.

Warnings: Non-consensual contact, rape, sensuality, and suggestive innuendo. Explicit sexual scenes further on.)

Amidst the silence, the chains that bound young Setsuya to Master's bed were unlocked and discarded noisily to the floor, causing the violet-eyed teenager to cast the vampire a questioning glance. "You've been such a good boy lately," the man cooed, stroking the other's pale skin that was exposed between the folds of his new violet robes, which matched his eyes brilliantly. "You deserve some freedom, my lovely Setsuya; a reward for your good behavior." The younger man closed his eyes, trying to ignore how his heart pounded mercilessly in his chest. The vampire didn't fail to notice this, as he brought his lips to Setsuya's neck to feel his erratic pulse. "Disrobe for me, lover."

"Yes, Master." The teenager suppressed a frightened moan and rose from the bed to face the man. After weeks, he still did not know his keeper's name. All he knew was that whatever Master wanted, Master received. If he asked you to disrobe, you would do so immediately. If he wanted you to pleasure him, you would use every skill in your power to satisfy him. If he wanted you to lie back on the bed and spread your legs like a common street whore, you were in no position to object. Over and over, he had learned what would happen should he incur Master's wrath. After his last suicide attempt had been unsuccessful, the vampire made sure that he would regret its failure for a long while. Finally convinced that it simply wasn't worth the effort anymore, he complied with the man's every whim in hopes that one day he would gain the knowledge he needed to escape this hell. Hands moving to the black sash of his skeletal kimono, he teasingly stripped for the man, averting his eyes so that he wouldn't have to face that lustful stare and haughty smile. He stifled a choked gasp as the vampire stood and embraced him. He forced himself not to step away.

"You are so gorgeous," the man moaned in his ear, causing him to shudder. Mistaking his gesture for an appreciative shiver, the vampire took the boy's lips with his own for a moment and whispered against them, "Now, undress me."

"Of course," Setsuya croaked out, falling to his knees to begin unclothing the demanding man. Before he could move, his chin was grasped tightly and he was forced to look into the other's eyes.

"Of course...?" the man growled, his grip tightening with every second.

"Of course, Master." He smiled, releasing the other and closing his eyes to feel Setsuya's warm hands travel all along his body to slide his garments skillfully to the floor. The young teenager grit his teeth in apology, before completing his task and undressing this terrible creature. His beauty showed no boundaries, yet Setsuya was only repulsed by this vampire who had taken away from him the only thing he'd truly ever wanted.

"Good boy," the man moaned, as the teen's hand grazed his member and warmed him to an erection. The vampire was certainly glad he fed earlier, temporary blood circulating his body and flooding to his crotch. Experienced hands pumped him to a throbbing arousal, causing Master to melt at the touch. "Su-Suck now, Setsuya." The boy pursed his lips and took a deep breath to hide the loathing that was evident in his eyes. He leant forward, steadying his hands on Master's hips while caressing the man with his tongue, before taking him into his mouth and sucking gently on the strained erection. The vampire moaned and shuddered, allowing his hips to rock forth into that welcoming warmth fiercely enough to gag the younger man. Setsuya groaned with disgust, although the man was all but thrilled by the pleasant vibrations surrounding his member. "Enough," he breathlessly ordered, trying to control his commanding voice. "I must have you. Onto the bed."

Setsuya swallowed nervously, offering the man a nod before stumbling forward and laying back on the red silken sheets, red enough to hide the blood stains that they were tainted with. He closed his eyes, pretending that he was elsewhere, perhaps in his own room waiting for Kuzon to come to bed. He smiled for the first time in weeks, pleasing Master greatly. Setsuya let out a relieved sigh when he felt the man's lubricated fingers prod at his battered entrance. He must have done something very good to have earned the right for preparation before sex. Unsure of what to do with his free arms, he hesitantly put them around the back of the vampire, who gave him a gentle kiss with suppressed delight. "You're finally learning your place, my lover. I will not mistreat you tonight."

Wondering how the man could possibly know it was nighttime, Setsuya shivered slightly as warmed fingers stimulated him to arousal while the other hand stretched the abused muscles of his entrance. Slowly, he began to drift into an alternate world where Kuzon was gently caressing his beaten body, telling him everything would be alright soon. It was Kuzon who lovingly suckled at his neck while delving his fingers deep into the teen's body and rubbing his prostate, causing him to cry out with absolute bliss. It was Kuzon who was slowly entering his warm body, stroking his cheek and whispering in his ear that he was the most beautiful person in the world. It was Kuzon who lovingly thrust into his taut warmth, letting out deep moans of passion while massaging his erect member and massaged his hotspot with every other plunge.

"Say it, Setsuya. Say it for me," the voice whispered in his ear.

"I love you!" Setsuya cried, meeting the thrusts with gasps of delight, his eyes shut tight with pleasure.

"Oh... Oh, my Setsuya!" Kuzon slammed deeply into his body for a final time, causing the young man to climax against their chests. Warm seed filled him as he writhed with ecstasy, screaming his lover's name at the top of his lungs.

"Kuzon!"

No sooner had Setsuya opened his eyes, than he had realized his definitive mistake. Master stared down at him with absolute shock written all over his face, slowly morphing into that of a signature fury. "Setsuya," he whispered dangerously, glaring down at the naked form of his love interest, who'd just called out another name in the midst of their lovemaking. The young teenager began to tremble, tears forming as he stared into those horrible eyes. The man roughly pulled out of his body, causing him to whimper. Master leapt off the bed and yanked the boy to his feet, slapping him with a growl. "How dare you, you slut!" He kicked the boy in his bare stomach before driving him up against the wall with a cruel punch to the chest. The winded boy gasped for breath while his body was abused to no end.

"After all I've given you! Food, clothes, shelter, and pleasure! You dare think of him as I fuck you?! I show you the ultimate act of kindness by gently preparing you, treating you with love, and you scream his name!" Setsuya let out a sob as he was beaten to the ground, humiliated at the hands of this hateful man. "You dirty, worthless excuse for a whore!" The boy groaned with pain as the man pulled him forward and pushed him onto the bed.

"I-I'm sorry!" Setsuya pleaded, as the furious man forcibly spread his arms and legs, chaining them at the bedposts. "It was a mistake, a reflex! I love you, Master!"

"It's too late, Setsuya!" the vampire snarled, slapping the boy across the face once again. "You will be punished!" The man aroused himself slowly and waited for Setsuya's entrance to readapt to its natural state, before ramming into the boy with a growl, his thrusts just barely grazing the teen's prostate. The human felt fresh blood spill from his body as Master inconsiderately slammed himself into the hot body with grunts of pleasure, causing the boy to whimper and plead for forgiveness. Finally the man came once again, inflaming the wound marks between his thighs. Setsuya, however, remained erect as the vampire pulled out of him and lightly palmed the teen's member. His eyes were cold and unforgiving, watching the boy jerk upward to meet his touch. He left the teenager chained to the bed for over an hour, only lightly massaging and teasing the boy once in a while in order to keep him painfully stimulated. Setsuya cried and begged in a choked voice, only wanting a release so that this crazed man would leave him alone to drown in his self-hatred.

"What do you want, my slave?" Master finally asked in a hard voice.

"I-I want to come, Master!" Setsuya sobbed, trying to grind against the man's touch which only made the vampire pull away swiftly. "Oh… Please, Master!" he moaned, writhing against his chains. "Let me come!"

"What have you learned?" he demanded, crossing his arms and glaring down at the bruised boy.

"You are my only love, the only one who can touch me as you do! I will never again take advantage of your compassion! I love you so much, Master!"

"And what of Kuzon?" he growled, beginning to touch the teenager once again.

Setsuya felt hot tears stream down his face as he choked out, "He is nothing to me! Not like you, Master."

"And how do you feel about him?" The man gently kneaded his member with a single hand.

"I don't! I feel nothing for him!" Setsuya closed his eyes in shame as he was pumped to a fiercely rewarding orgasm, spilling the seed of his disgrace against his chest. Discomfort tainted him as he was wracked in silent sobs, his entire body bloodied, beaten, and covered with semen. His efforts earned him a kiss on the lips, although he could tell that the other was still angered.

"It will take many days for you to earn back your liberties," Master finally said, standing and clothing himself slowly. "I'm sorry for having to hurt you Setsuya, but you must learn to appreciate what you have in right front of you. Do you understand, Setsuya?"

"Yes, Master."

"Setsuya?"

The vampire lord inhaled sharply, startled as he was woken from his daze. Sitting at his office desk, he glanced down at a worried Zuko, who had a gentle hand on his knee. "Setsuya, you're shaking. What's wrong?"

"I... I was having a bit of a daydream," Setsuya admitted, trying to suppress a reflexive shudder as the teenager straddled him in his chair.

"Seems more like a nightmare," Zuko observed, brushing the vampire's hair aside to stare into his violet eyes. "Do you want to be left alone?" he guessed, finding that the older man wasn't responding to his contact as per usual.

The man couldn't help but smile, pressing a kiss against his soul mate's cheek. The boy was becoming very good at figuring out how Setsuya was feeling by the slightest gestures and indications. Although 'figuring' was quite a ways from 'feeling', they both had the notion that this was one of the first phases under the influence of their bonding. "I don't want you to leave. However anti-social I'm being, I don't think it's beneficial to leave me unaccompanied right now." Zuko smiled and nodded, relieving the man of his weight and sliding back down to the ground. Silently, he picked up the pad of paper and ink he'd asked for earlier and continued to scribble whatever it was he was writing.

Trying to clear his head of any more ill memories, Setsuya returned back to the scroll on his desk which asked permission to wed a couple in the eastern district. He rested his arms gracefully in his lap as he read their plea and sighed, knowing that he couldn't refuse them. He would only have to count the days until he received a notification asking for a divorce. The longest married couple in the underground city had requested a divorce after seventy-eight years, which had been quite the shock to the vampire lord as he had presumed they were soul mates after such a long time. "Zuko, would you like to attend a wedding later on in the week?"

The teenager glanced up from his paper with a thoughtful frown. "I suppose that would be nice, if no one minds my presence."

"I'd think Akane would want you to come. She's rather fond of you." Setsuya hid a smirk as Zuko smacked his leg playfully.

"Akane's getting married? That's wonderful!" Zuko exclaimed, brushing a lazy hand through his unkempt hair. "To whom?"

"I've personally met him once or twice," he said, shuffling around his desk in an attempt to find his seal. "He goes by the name of Rohan. He's kind and protective, but he's constantly talking. He must have to compensate for Akane's hushed demeanor."

"Rohan. You don't hear a name like that every day," Zuko commented, scratching away at his parchment in contemplation. "Where is he from?"

"The Northern Water Tribe, I believe," Setsuya said with a chuckle, locating his seal and stamping his approval carefully on the document. "Not sure how he ended up here, but he's fairly happy about it now that he's met Akane."

Zuko smiled, not at all shocked by the presence of someone from another nation so graciously accepted. The vampires underground were not nearly as selectively discriminating as they were in the Fire Nation. Few vampires were of Earth Kingdom or Water Tribe origin, but those who were, were treated with equal respect as all of the rest. There were rumors that even an Air nomad may have been converted to a vampire before the raid of the temples, and Zuko was simply dying to meet this person and shower them with questions. There were quite a few differences between the civilizations above and beneath the ground, but the most prominent was the equality among the people. There were no nobles, no peasants, and no divisions within the populace. Of course, Setsuya and the oldest vampires retained order, but there was no special treatment for anyone. All parts of the underground tunnels were open to everyone, although younger vampires were set aside together like a litter of puppies to be kept a fierce eye on until they could control their bloodlust. There were no gamblers, no prostitutes, and no drunks to lounge about on the streets. There was no currency and nothing to buy. If there was something you needed, you went to Setsuya and if it was reasonable, he found it for you. You were allowed to practice whatever arts you liked, read whatever was in the public library, and love whomever you pleased.

Setsuya was an exceptional leader, listening to all problems attentively and attending to them quickly. If there was a severe controversy between two distinct people, which was a bit rare, the vampire lord was able to talk out a compromise no matter how long it took. Considering that vampires didn't require sleep, they would sit in the man's office and discuss it noon and night until it was settled. Setsuya told him there was once a squabble that lasted for three full days between two stubborn women who insisted on rights to a unique sewing machine. Despite his unsentimental outward demeanor, the man was very good at dealing with the emotions and desires of others which made him the ideal leader for a civilization full of broken souls. If you had troubles, Setsuya would solve them. If you were frightened, Setsuya would comfort you. If you were fearful of Setsuya, he would show you a rare gesture of affection and explain to you that if you followed the rules of conduct, there was nothing to be scared of. If you fed from a human, you were strongly reprimanded and often put into solitary confinement for a matter of days. If it was a recurring problem, you were personally sent to the vampire lord and were talked into never making that mistake again. With a balance of liberty, discipline, and vigilance, the vampire population could live peacefully among each other without disturbances.

"Sometimes I can't help but wonder why the rest of the world can't be like this," Zuko whispered suddenly, discarding the notepaper he'd finished with.

"The world was a lot closer one hundred years ago," Setsuya explained softly, pursing his lips as he completed the last waiting document on his desk. "Before the war. Before Souzin fu- ahem, messed everything up."

Zuko looked up strangely at the man, before bursting into laughter that caused Setsuya to glare. "You almost cursed, didn't you?" the teenager said in amusement, making the older man shrug away from the gentle hand on his knee.

"And what of it?" Setsuya demanded, trying to find more paperwork to focus his attention on, but was severely disappointed to find that his day's work had been completed.

"So it's cute," Zuko teased, leaping up into the man's lap again and nuzzling their noses together. "A bit out of your temperament, but it's nice to see you show some attitude." Setsuya purred as the teenager kissed his neck and caressed his throat kindly. Not since Kuzon had anyone treated him this well. The teen sighed with content as the older man wrapped his arms around him and held him close. After a while, Zuko's body temperature began automatically adjusting when the vampire initiated contact with him. His chi would flow through his body, preserving his warmth so that Setsuya's contact with him no longer sent discomforted chills down his spine. However, the younger man would sometimes dull this habit just to feel the exciting frosty waves that washed over his body and chilled him to his very bones.

The vampire slipped a hand underneath Zuko's burgundy tunic and caressed his bare stomach, making the boy blush. "You're hungry," Setsuya remarked, feeling the vibrations of desire against the skin. "What would you like to eat? You can have anything you like. The cooks love to spoil you."

"I'm gonna get fat if you keep feeding me," Zuko muttered sourly, putting his hand against Setsuya's and pressing it into his firm stomach. "You don't know how hard I worked to get abs like these."

The vampire smiled and shook his head, rubbing the flesh beneath his fingertips. "You're too active, my Beloved. You can't even sit still for a half an hour."

Although he wanted to argue that a half and hour was a very long time to sit down, Setsuya's pet name stopped him dead in his tracks. "Wh-What did you call me?" Zuko whispered, hiding his blush in the shoulder of the older man. Setsuya inwardly winced, wondering if he had done something wrong. Perhaps he'd been devoid of human contact for too long to understand what was appropriate and what was forbidden. He was surprised to find that the teen had pressed himself desperately against his body, whimpering for his touch. "Please, say it again," the golden-eyed teenager begged, as Setsuya's hands wandered his form lovingly.

"Zuko... My Beloved," he whispered, bringing his lips to the boy's ear gently. The teenager sighed with content, leaning against the man.

"I'm sorry. It's just... I've never been anyone's 'beloved' before," Zuko admitted, playing around with the idea in his head. Could Setsuya possibly 'love' him as the root of the word suggested? Or was it simply an endearing term to keep him satisfied?

"You'll always be mine," Setsuya whispered, engaging the boy in a deep kiss. Zuko moaned, caressing the man's tongue with his own before playfully exploring the other's mouth. The vampire's eyes fluttered shut, his mind coming to a peaceful halt... That is, until he began conjuring up images of Master. The aftereffects of his dreams began to flash in his mind; images of Master fondling his mutilated body, thrusting his tongue gracelessly throughout his mouth, hissing compliments and slurring insults into his ear. The vampire pulled away, maintaining a stoic face as he said, "As delicious as I may be, Zuko, I'm not on the menu today. Pick something else."

The teenager wrinkled his nose in a pout, purposefully pressing his hips against the man's and shifting just slightly. "Let's see... Sushi?"

"You've chosen that simply so that cooks won't have to deal with fire," Setsuya accused, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "They love to cook for you, Zuko. They're trained to handle it." The vampire held back a moan as the boy's legs wrapped around the back of his chair and thrust their bodies together. "You're a prince, you ought to be used to being selective."

The teen held back a chuckle, batting his eyelashes. "Alright then, if you want me to be picky. Grilled lean fish and those tiny battered lizard-shrimp."

"Any particular kind of fish?" Setsuya asked between his teeth, his hands caressing the teen's back and slowly traveling down its slope. Zuko smiled, sitting back and allowing the man to explore his body for a few long seconds.

"Nope." The younger man disappointed the vampire lord, as he leapt off of the man's lap and settled down on the floor again. The teenager simply smiled while his keeper sighed, averting his eyes to the wall.

"It's not nice to tease, Zuko," Setsuya murmured under his breath, nevertheless rising to fulfill the boy's request for food. "I'll-" His voice fell short and his focus faltered, his sight meeting the notepad that lay abandoned at Zuko's side. The vampire stooped down and picked it up to closely observe it, his eyes glistening with recognition. "You drew this." It was a perfect representation of the willow tree that guarded the main entrance to the underground lair, the same tree that Setsuya had coincidentally met Ozai at to take possession of the beautiful prince that sat before him. Guilt swept through his stomach as he whispered, "This is faultless. Have you seen this tree before?"

Zuko considered the matter for a moment, worry flooding his eyes when he saw Setsuya's far-off expression. "I'm not really sure. I had the image perfectly set in my head, but it was probably only a dream. Does it bother you?" The vampire could hear from the demanding tone of his soul mate's voice that he wanted to know the absolute truth.

"Kuzon. My past soul mate and your past life." Zuko's eyes lit up considerably, as Setsuya's voice grew soft. "He was a brilliant artist, studied it at a university even. He drew portraits for me all the time, because I told him once that every stroke he made on the parchment was like 'magic', how it all ended up tying together a single image. Still today, I think it takes a genius to do this sort of thing. The closest I ever came to art were stick figures and decent calligraphy. Do you practice often?"

Zuko titled his head in wonder, as Setsuya's face grew heartbreakingly somber. He must have dearly loved that man. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy, but refused to show it in his expression. "In my spare time. It kept me from going insane when I was a child because it was one of the very, very few things that my sister couldn't do better than me."

"You should flaunt this talent more," Setsuya said gently, handing the parchment back to the teen. "Your work is beautiful. What other mediums do you practice with?"

"Drawing is always intriguing, but I love working with oils and paints," Zuko admitted, tucking the paper away in his robes. "Colors are astounding instruments to work with, if you have a knack for imagining and mixing them. I try to avoid pastels and wishy-washy, dry mediums. It never seems to bring out the deeper, passionate colors that I envision. I-" He blushed suddenly, turning his head away with a smile. "I'm rambling, aren't I?"

Setsuya shook his head, firmly running a hand through the young boy's hair. "It's admirable to feel so enthusiastically toward something you're so good at. Why don't you head back to our quarters and I'll bring the food there? I've completed my work for now." The boy nodded enthusiastically, the color magnifying in his cheeks at the words, 'our quarters'. Zuko had to force himself from skipping down to Setsuya's room, his heart singing a charming song as he went. The man was being so thoughtful towards him! He was finally worming his way into the gentler side of his vampire's heart.

Entering his mate's room with a light spirit, his pace was slowed and inevitably stopped when he saw the remodeling that had been accomplished in their absence. Setsuya's couch had been removed from the room, and Zuko's bed sat cozily against the back corner. Apparently, the room truly had become 'their' quarters. The teenager raised an eyebrow, before shrugging and hopping onto the mattress. He sighed, noting that it simply didn't feel quite right. There was something missing, that much was certain. "Done some redecorating, eh?" Zuko asked the vampire once he'd returned, a hot plate of food in his hand.

"Ah." Setsuya nodded, bringing the teenager's seafood to him. "You haven't stayed in your room for quite a few days, so I assumed you enjoy it here. I thought perhaps you'd be more comfortable resting on the bed, as opposed to the couch."

Zuko accepted the food gratefully, clucking his tongue at the man. "Yes, but there is one little issue with this new arrangement." He smiled at Setsuya's questioning tilt of the head, patting the pillow next to him. "It doesn't smell like you, like the couch did. I'm gonna need you to roll around on the bed for a while so you can imprint your scent on it."

The vampire stared at him for several long seconds, as the oblivious teenager munched on tiny battered shrimp. "You're serious aren't you?" he finally said, quirking his eyebrow playfully. Unable to control his good humor, the vampire climbed onto the bed and sat with the boy between his dangling legs, his arms wrapped gently around the teen's stomach.

"Falling asleep to your aroma is like a dream catcher for me," Zuko admitted, licking his lips as the fish settled in his gut. His voice became deadly quiet as he spoke his next words. "I have a lot of nightmares, Setsuya. Ever since I was a child it's been hard for me to sleep peacefully. Pretending you're next to me helps for some reason." Zuko's cheeks flushed as he said these words, his heart skipping several unfortunate beats as his soul mate stared at the boy. He discarded the finished plate to the side, and before he could even blink Setsuya had pressed him down against the sleek sheets of the bed, kissing him breathless.

The teenager let out a squeak, unused to such spontaneous gestures of affection. Slowly, he eased into the movements and wrapped a loving arm around the man's neck, allowing a cool tongue to slide against his own and caress his mouth teasingly. Zuko moaned, overwhelmed by his fluttering heartbeat, the pleasing vibrations causing Setsuya to shudder with bliss. The vampire whimpered as Zuko flipped them over and began to dominate the interaction, catching him off-guard. Setsuya forced his eyes open to assure himself that the young man he was kissing was truly Zuko. Always Zuko, never Master... and not Kuzon. More relaxed than he'd been for a while, the older man began to fight the teenager for control, although the boy had him carefully pinned down while ravishing his mouth. Setsuya sighed and finally gave in, much to Zuko's delight as his hands slid to the vampire's hips as he ground his smaller body into the other's.

"Zuko!" The man pulled away with a gasp, driving back at the thrust with twice the force. Zuko let out an unrestrained moan, his hands gripping tightly at the other's chest. Setsuya's hands had somehow wormed their way in-between their bodies and begun feeling beneath the folds of his soul mate's robes-

"Lord Setsuya!" The door swung open, conveniently interrupting their moment of unreserved affection. Ryuichi stumbled through the doorway, trying to control the speech escaping from his lips. "There's been..." His words faltered as he stared in shock at the two figures, and a terrible feeling settled deep in the pit of Zuko's stomach from the upset look they received from the other vampire. He pushed himself off of Setsuya and adjusted his robes, while the leader came to his senses and stood in the presence of their company. There was no anger present in the elder vampire's face, but a certain amount of strained politeness and sorrow. "I... I'm sorry, my Lord. I should have knocked." Ryuichi's head was turned to the floor, his expression unreadable although one could almost hear the heartbreak in his voice. "Please forgive me."

"No harm done, Ryuichi," Setsuya said, though the tone of his voice was slightly hard-bitten. "What's the matter?"

"There's been a massive unauthorized raid of the supplies," Ryuichi murmured, his eyes averted to the floor. "I was taking inventory at the central storage room when I noticed." Zuko frowned, wondering what was running through the man's mind as he spoke monotonically. Could they have possibly offended this man with their curious fondness? Ryuichi didn't quite seem like the type to be insulted by such matters. Then again, Setsuya seemed like he might be the snappish type should they be interrupted in the middle of a connection so passionate. Vampires were creatures of surprise.

"What was taken?" the vampire lord asked, panic flooding his eyes as authority gushed back into his voice faster than water flooding from a broken dam.

"Metals and spare parts that are used to make advanced Fire Nation weaponry," the man growled, anger sparking in his eyes. "I've spent hours restoring those components so they could be melted and used for our purposes. If I didn't know any better, I'd say the Fire Lord sent his lackeys in to steal from our storeroom."

Zuko tensed at the mention of his father, while Setsuya shook his head, closing his eyes in thought. "No. The Fire Lord isn't that impulsive. Even if he was desperate for machinery and pretended that the storage space was his own, Ozai wouldn't send scouts down here at the risk of either we vampires being discovered, or the intruders being consumed. Uninvited blood is edible blood, and he knows it well. It was most likely one of our own. Do you have any other leads?"

Ryuichi shook his head, the tension slightly dimmed by the need for action. "I came straight to you, so I haven't asked around yet. Over three tons of metal was stolen. Surely it has to be more than one person?"

Setsuya nodded his head, biting his lower lip in deep thought. "I'll ask around to see if I can't gather up some information. You go to the other storage rooms and assess any damage to our supplies. I want a troop of the higher-ups out to search the upper ground for any traces of evidence, understand? Worst comes to worst, we'll just have to gather the equipment again." Ryuichi nodded, stepping out of the way so Setsuya could pass. The vampire cast a single last look at Zuko, misery drenching his gaze, before closing the door softly.

The young teenager blinked himself out of a stupor, having been focused on Ryuichi's emotion-filled scarlet eyes that betrayed his stoic face. Zuko blushed as the image of the vampire attached itself to his mind, wondering exactly what made the man call out to him with such sorrow. Without thinking, Zuko drew the notepad he kept within his robes and fetched one of Setsuya's charcoal pencils he left lying on his desk. After all, it seemed he was going to be left alone for an awfully long while.

xXxBloodlustxXx

"Zuko?" Setsuya knocked politely on the door before entering, catching sight of Zuko sketching away at his paper with the most intense eyes that he'd ever seen on the boy. When the teenager realized the vampire had entered, he immediately flushed and shoved the notepad into his robes as though he'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. The vampire lord raised an eyebrow at his strange reaction, but made no comment as he strode forward and sat at the edge of his soul mate's bed.

"Did you work out who stole the supplies?" Zuko asked, still a bit flustered. "You've been gone for a few hours." He cursed himself for being unable to withhold a blush.

"We've come to a rather surprising conclusion," admitted Setsuya, his eyes full of what Zuko believed to be worry. "I'm afraid Ryuichi may have been on the right track with his previous conjectures. We've conducted a census and scoured the area, and there are no signs of the materials anywhere."

"So you think my father, the most powerful man in the world, was forced to steal your secondhand metals for weaponry?" Zuko asked quietly, suddenly very homesick as he thought of his family. "Or do you believe they're trying to disarm you for some reason?"

"Well when you phrase it in such a way, most likely the latter," Setsuya muttered, not missing the forlorn tone in his mate's voice. How could he possibly want to return to such a bastard? He knew he would eventually have to tell Zuko of the bargain he made with Ozai, for the boy's own safety. However, he decided he would wait as long as he possibly could. "I'd certainly hope they wouldn't plan an attack on us. Even if fire is our weakness, we are creatures to be feared. And a raid such as that would put you in danger, my Beloved, which is by far my greatest fear."

Zuko attempted a pathetic smile, before curling up tight next to the older man. "Tell me, Setsuya. Why are you so tense and bitter towards Ryuichi?" The question had been burning at his tongue, not quenched even by his soul mate's deadened eyes.

"That's not my story to tell, Zuko. I know you must think I'm trying to evade the question, but it wouldn't be fair to Ryuichi if you heard my side of the story first." Setsuya kissed him on the cheek, before nuzzling his head into the other's neck.

"You don't mind if I talk to him, then?" Zuko asked carefully, edging around the subject. "You won't freak out if I spend time with him? I really enjoy sparring with him, Setsuya." He purred as the vampire stroked his hair.

"Whatever makes you happy, my Beloved," he finally whispered, closing his eyes in thought. "I just want you to be happy." I will never pretend that I own you, this I will promise. "But if he ever hurts you in any way, he won't live to see you again. By the way... Yesterday, what was that supposed to mean? You're my bitch?" The profanity that emerged in Setsuya's velvety voice made Zuko want to laugh, but he was in no position to do so.

Zuko felt his face flush a deep red, as he leapt out of his mate's grasp and out of the room. "I'mgonnagoseeRyuichinowbye!" He bolted out of the door and sighed, his heart pounding against his ribs. He put a hand against his chest as he walked, constantly aware of the chambered muscle that pumped life through his veins. Zuko would often wonder what it would be like to put a hand to his chest and feel a lack of beating there. He imagined it would feel terribly empty. Approaching Ryuichi's apartment door, he gave a gentle knock and waited patiently.

"Just a moment!" a strained voice barked out and a hushed growl was heard, apparently urging someone from the room. There was a bit of stumbling and a quiet quarrel before a man only a appearing a few years older than Setsuya opened the door and passed by Zuko, a hazy smirk on his face and rather ruffled hair. The teenager raised an eyebrow, before glancing back into the room to see Ryuichi straightening his robes. "Zuko," he whispered, his eyes portraying some sort of embarrassment. "I didn't think you'd stop by."

"I-I can leave if you're busy," the younger man said tensely, wrinkling his nose as a faintly bitter smell drifted from the room. Realization smacked him when he saw the man guarding the bed with a vexed expression on his face, his state disheveled and his eyes full of shame. He felt sick to his stomach when he understood what Ryuichi and that smirking man had been doing, perhaps only minutes before he arrived at the door.

"No," the vampire said, shaking his head fiercely. "I'm not doing anything important. I just..." He looked away, his expression strange as the teenager stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. There was a tense silence before Ryuichi was able to break it with the softest of words, "I hadn't known that you and Lord Setsuya were romantically involved."

"It's a little complicated," Zuko admitted, staring at his feet and trying to ignore the musty smell in the air. "I'm not really sure that we are."

"I don't blame you," Ryuichi murmured, crossing his arms and trying to look into the boy's eyes. "Setsuya likes to fuck around with people."

"That's not true!" Zuko snapped, taking a demanding step forward when he saw that all casual conversation had been overlooked. His heart fell when he saw the man's dejected gaze that followed these words. His voice became gentler as he spoke, "Ryuichi, what happened between you and Setsuya? Did he hurt you?" He wasn't sure why, but his voice had gained a protective quality that made Ryuichi open up to him just a bit.

"I'm not sure if I should tell you," he said, falling to the floor with a sigh and sitting cross-legged on the earth. "It's pretty obvious you love him. I don't want to spoil anything."

"A time span of two weeks isn't enough to make you love someone," the teenager insisted, taking a seat on the opposite side of the room. "It's true, I care about him. But you did once too, didn't you?"

Ryuichi sighed, curling his knees to his chest silently. All traces of his arrogant personality were gone, leaving only a broken man looking for peace. "Setsuya has probably killed three people in his entire life. It's hard to control your bloodlust as a young vampire, and Setsuya had to learn how to do it on his own. Still, he wasn't perfect and he made mistakes. I was one of them." Ryuichi pursued his lips, avoiding Zuko's eyes for dear life. "I was the only man he ended up turning into a vampire, and he regretted it so much. He brought me underground to live with him and he shared all of his secrets with me about control. I was only one among his few subjects at the time, but he treated me better, more personally than the others. Setsuya worked hard to make me happy, even if he had to force a smile on his own face to do it. It was a hard time for him. He was recovering from an abusive master, living with separation from his mate, and he'd just ruined an innocent young life." Ryuichi turned his head in disgrace, struggling within himself.

"I was selfish. I could only think about what I wanted, and I never worried about Setsuya's broken heart. He seemed so strong on the outside, and I never thought he would be crumbling on the inside. All I ever wanted was for him to love me at the time. He was affectionate towards me, and that's all that was important. I never held a grudge against him, and I constantly hung around him, trying to please him. Never once did I think I was hurting him with my presence. I gave him everything I was, thinking that he loved me back. He warned me against the relationship, insisting that it was a bad idea and that he wasn't ready. I-I... ignored him and imposed on his self-restraint." Tears slid silently down the man's cheeks, glistening like crystals against his skin. "I made love to him, and it was the best evening of my life. The hour following, he told me that he'd made a m-mistake. That he couldn't love me, that he never loved me, and that I was wasting my time. He led me on the entire time, and then broke my heart just when I thought I'd found someone special in my life.

"And then I did the most ridiculous, hurtful thing I could have done: I pretended that I didn't care. I covered my pain with snide words and a prideful demeanor just so I could make sure he knew he hadn't hurt me; even though I was absolutely destroyed inside." Ryuichi fell silent, glancing towards the floor with vacant eyes.

There's something he isn't telling me.

"I'm sorry," Zuko whispered finally, trying to come to terms with the actuality that Setsuya existed before he came into the vampire's life, and that his soul mate had had a few interrelations with others. It was difficult, for he so wanted to be the only one in Setsuya's life whom he could ever love and touch in such ways. "Seeing Setsuya and I being so familiar with each other must have hurt you."

"It's not your fault," Ryuichi said, struggling to mask his pain. "I was young, stupid, and I let myself be taken advantage of. It was over fifty years ago, so I ought to have gotten over it by now. Being one of his closest assistants, I'm around him every single day. Even though he trusts me, I can't help but resent him for what he did to me. I have, however, found a way to elude the damage." His eyes were shameful as he spoke, "You're not an unintelligent teenager. That man that came out of my room just now... Please don't think any worse of me for it. I'm different than Setsuya; I make sure people know I don't care for them before I screw around."

Zuko smiled, before walking over to the man and kneeling down. He cupped the man's face with his warm hands as he spoke, "I'm not going to judge you, Ryu. I don't know what goes on in your head or how you feel, but the way you deal with your troubles isn't any of my business. I can only pray that you aren't hurt by the fact that Setsuya and I are... together. The last thing you need is another painful reminder." The young teenager gently stroked his thumb beneath the man's eye, wiping away the tears from his face. Smoothly, he reached up to his indigo-sleeked hair and let it loose from its bun, so that he could run his fingers through it to calm the upset man.

"You called me 'Ryu'," the man finally whispered, his eyes closed as he enjoyed the warm hands that caressed his neck and throat. "I like that. Call me that more often."

Zuko smiled as the hair fell into the vampire's face. He kissed his forehead. "If that's what you want." It felt so strange to touch this man now, knowing he'd slept with his soul mate and had loved him, perhaps still loved him to this very day. He knew he should have felt more possessive toward Setsuya, but he still felt so much pity for this broken soul that he couldn't bear to feel anger or hold a grudge against him.

Ryuichi found himself longing for more of the boy's contact, and decided to back away from dangerous territory. "Come on. You didn't stop by to hear my pitiful whining. Let's go downstairs and spar."

"Actually, to speak with you was the very reason I stopped by. Besides, you don't look like you're in the mood." Zuko laughed, folding his wandering hands into his lap with the gratitude of Ryuichi's sanity.

"You're right. But you look a little restless. May I watch you firebend?" Ryuichi asked softly, wrapping his arms around his chest, still feeling a bit vulnerable. "Please, it would help."

Zuko stared strangely at the man and his rather odd request. "You want to see me firebend?"

"I don't fear fire," he said proudly, though his expression was still distraught. "Vampires can't bend the elements and it's been years since I've watched a human do so. Please?"

Zuko bit his lip, trying to find some excuse to deny the vampire. For some reason, the thought of showing off his mediocre firebending skills was rather unappealing at the moment. But if it makes Ryuichi feel better... When he could find no grounds to deny the man, he sighed and nodded. Allowing Ryuichi to lead him to the underground training room, he kept his eyes shut as the vampire carried him down the darkened stairwell and tried very hard to practice suppressing his blush. "What is it about firebending that appeals to you so much?" Zuko asked, trying to break the silence that felt a bit tense to him.

"It's the only type of element bending that creates itself," Ryuichi stated shifting the teenager slightly in his arms. "Waterbending, earthbending, and even airbending are all forced to use their surroundings to some extent to provide their strength. But firebending uses energy and creates something that didn't exist before. That's an incredible feat."

"I never thought about it that way before," Zuko said with a frown, as Ryuichi set him down on his feet in the training chamber. "You're right, I suppose." He walked over to the center of the floor and practiced his deep breathing, opening his eyes to find that his vampire comrade had already seated himself a careful distance away from the boy. "I'm not very good," he admitted, scratching his neck awkwardly. "Everything I know is fairly basic, but it's firebending nonetheless."

Ryuichi nodded, sitting attentively as Zuko removed his shirt and tied it around his waist. Once he believed he'd gained proper breathing, he stretched out his limbs and steadied his posture. Focusing on his center of balance, he began with a few short-ranged surges of fire in either direction, trying to keep most of his movements away from the vampire. However, he soon found it easier to flow through his stances when he was only vaguely aware of the other's presence. One flame after another, he carefully measured each trajectory and allowed his chi to unite with his breath, driving the flickering fire forward. Ryuichi's scarlet eyes reflected the light of the bending as he watched on with suppressed awe, as the dangerous element sparked from the edge of Zuko's limbs.

His Uncle's lessons flashing through his mind, he preformed every set he could remember. The vampire tilted his head in wonder, considering his form. The boy's stances and movements look flawless, but the fire isn't flowing like it ought to be, nor is it very powerful. If Ryuichi remembered correctly from his younger brother, who'd fluently practiced firebending, this was a sign of a bender's inner conflict as opposed to an issue of balance or physical strength. Problems such as the latter could be altered with practice, but inner troubles may take years to unknot.

"Well done," Ryuichi praised as the boy finally relaxed, wiping the sweat from his brow with a lazy arm. "That was pretty good. For a kid anyway."

Zuko smiled, sensing that Ryuichi was feeling more like himself now. "I've never stopped trying. That has to count for something." He knelt down to face the other man while stretching out his back with a yawn, giving the vampire an eyebrow-raising glance at the boy's defined chest. He politely averted his eyes once he realized he'd been staring.

Damn, he must really have to train a lot. I suppose he is a prince, isn't he? That must warrant military-style preparation. "Back in my previous life, I had a little brother who knew how to firebend. I understand it takes a lot of dedication." Although Ryuichi's expression did not portray his thoughts on the subject, Zuko couldn't help but wonder what it was like to outlive almost every person you ever knew and loved.

The teenager nodded, shaking himself out of his thoughts. "It either comes naturally, or it's a real pain to come to grips with." He shifted his position to attempt to stand up when his notebook tumbled out of his untied tunic and onto the floor next to the man. Zuko's face turned bright red, as he snatched up the papers before Ryuichi could even glance at them.

"What was that?" the vampire asked, amusement gleaming in his eyes.

"Nothing!" Zuko assured him a bit too quickly, tucking it in the sash of his pants with a blush. "Absolutely nothing."

"Doesn't sound like nothing to me," Ryuichi teased, poking the boy in the forehead. Zuko shivered as a cool wave washed over his entire upper body. The older man gasped, pulling away quickly exclaimed, "You're so hot!" Oh shit, that did not come out the way it was meant to.

"Damn, that feels good," the teenager whispered, taking Ryuichi's hand and putting it to the back of his neck. "I hope you don't mind being my personal coolant for a bit." The vampire tried his hardest to bite back an erotic noise, as his hand traveled the incline of the boy's back. There was only a slight borderline between pleasurable warmth and scarring danger for a vampire, and Zuko's body heat at that time was at the very brink of danger. That was what Ryuichi looked for in life; that was why he loved sparring and being so close to a firebender in practice. The danger... it was one of the very few things that could distract him, and Ryuichi loved it.

Feeling how incredibly overheated the boy's body was, the vampire put a second hand on Zuko's chest and pressed his body forward. The teenager hardly noticed, sighing with leisure as Ryuichi's chilling touch soothed his fiery muscles. He let out a pleased groan as his comrade's hands traveled up and down the course of his bare torso, caressing and freezing the inflamed skin of his figure. One hand settled on the boy's heart, feeling its every beat through his firm flesh. Slowly, Zuko opened his eyes and met the other's gaze, staring half-lidded into those gorgeous scarlet eyes. He saw a look that frightened him; a look only Setsuya should give him. "Th-Thanks, Ryu!" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet quickly and shrugging his tunic onto his upper body. "I needed that."

The vampire spun around, trying to cover up his shock with laughter. "Sure thing, Zuko." What is wrong with me? He could have bitten the boy! Or he could have done worse, much worse. Tying his sash around his waist, Zuko stood up shakily and followed the vampire to the stairwell where he allowed the man to take him into his arms. If Ryuichi noticed his quickened pulse, he didn't say anything as he climbed the stairs as quickly as possible.

"Ryuichi?" Zuko asked quietly, as though he would be scolded for speaking.

"Hmm?"

"I've been meaning to ask you... Why does your hair have that violet tint? I've never seen that before."

Ryuichi chuckled, humoring the boy's question. "It's been this strange shade ever since I became a vampire. It's a bit of a silly story, actually. Setsuya thought I was completely dead for a whole two days, so he snagged some ceremonial oil to give me a proper burial. He doused my body in it and it gave my hair a weird hue. When I woke up, it was like this." Silence fell across the both of them, as Zuko fell completely still in the vampire's arms.

"You're trying very hard not to laugh, aren't you?"

Zuko stifled his giggles into Ryuichi's chest, trying desperately not to let it show. "I-I'm s-sorry, Ryu."

"Go ahead. It's funny."

"Death isn't funny."

"My hair color is."

Zuko let out choked laughter as Ryuichi set him down once they'd passed the stairs. "It's a beautiful color, really it is. If I could give it its own name, it'd be... raven-indigo."

"That's not very original," the vampire teased, ruffling the boy's hair. "How about ravenous indigo? I think I'd like that much better."

Zuko couldn't contain his laughter, much to Ryuichi's delight, as he waved goodbye to the older man. He lightheartedly walked back to his keeper's room, although noticing Akane in the corridor stopped him dead in his tracks. He pulled her to the side and congratulated her on her engagement, causing the women to smile shyly and pull at her hair.

"Setsuya told you? It figures… I'm so thrilled to have met someone like Rohan. Hopefully he and I will be together for a long while." At this point, she would have blushed if she could have. "I hope you'll be able to join us for the ceremony. It would be so thrilling, being one of the very few vampire couples to have a human attend their wedding." Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, her hand gracing Zuko's shoulder in a motherly way.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Zuko promised her, taking her hand into his and kissing it. "Rest assured I'll be there, my Lady."

Akane giggled, shaking her head at the charismatic young man. "If I didn't know better, I'd think that all noblemen treated women this kindly. Never lose sight of your charm, Prince Zuko. It's most attractive."

Zuko blushed, becoming rather embarrassed at being the only person in a twenty-five mile radius who could indeed do so. Must be nice, conserving your dignity like that. He thanked the woman and slid into Setsuya's quarters. The moment he stepped into the room, the door was closed shut and he was pinned right against it, letting out a yelp of surprise. Setsuya's cool hands were wrapped tight around his waist and his eyes staring directly into the teen's. The vampire's nose wrinkled with distaste, Ryuichi's scent far stronger on the boy that it had been yesterday.

"How did things go with Ryuichi?" Setsuya asked quietly, his chilly breath running across his mate's neck.

We talked for a bit, he watched me firebend, and then he stroked his cool hands all over my hot, sweaty body. "We talked for a bit and then he watched me firebend. Nothing special," Zuko added guiltily, wondering if Setsuya could also smell his lies.

"I see." The vampire's eyes wandered a bit around his body, before returning to meet the teen's gaze. "He always did want to be a firebender. Said it would make forging swords a lot easier, and less dangerous." He pressed himself against the teenager, possessively growling in his ear, "You like him?"

"He's kind to me," Zuko said with a raised eyebrow. "I enjoy his company. If that's what you mean." The silence that hung afterwards dared the older man to mean something else by it.

The vampire nodded in affirmation and lowered himself in order to lick the teenager's neck, as though trying to wash away the stench of another on his sweet soul mate. "Make sure he keeps treating you well, and tell me the instant that he doesn't."

"I can take care of myself," Zuko insisted, though he wasn't about to object to that tongue running a course along his shoulder where his tunic had been shrugged off. "I-" His words were cut off as the man gave him a carnivorous kiss, biting at the boy's lip playfully.

"I'm your soul mate," Setsuya responded with fierceness, his hands gripping at the other's waist. "I'm obligated to protect you." The vampire fell to his knees to avoid further neck strain, and began leaving light kisses all across the young boy's chest. Zuko hardly noticed that his tunic had fallen to the floor, his breath escaping him from his mate's indulgences.

Zuko had desperately wanted to ask Setsuya about the things he'd discussed with Ryuichi, but he held his tongue for another time. Electric sparks traveled up and down his spine at his mate's touches, leaving him very, very content. There was something else in his body that made his heart flutter, and his head spin. "Setsuya..." He felt light-headed as a wonderful sensation passed over him in magnificent waves, making his soul shudder with every move his significant other made.

"Can you feel that?" Setsuya whispered, his voice low and winded. "That's how I feel when I'm around you, my Beloved. This means our bond is starting to cement itself. I can feel your erratic heartbeat, not against my hand, but within my body. It's the most glorious thing in the world, my beautiful Zuko."

The teenager moaned aloud, bringing the man in for a fervent kiss while wrapping a possessive leg around the waist of the vampire. Their movements became more passionate, more loving than Zuko could have imagined as he basked in the affection offered by this gorgeous vampire. Pulling away from the man, Zuko's desperate eyes said what he was too scared to say aloud.

I think I've fallen in love with you.