Pavel was dragging him by the sleeve but Bones made no effort to quicken his pace. His reluctance was a little childish and it made Pavel want to grin but he kept his ears flat as he walked them to... Where were they going?

"Uh," Pavel stopped in his tracks, glancing around the dark street. He realised he had no idea where to go having acted on impulse.

"Where do we go?" he asked.

Bones' sighed and rubbed his temple.

"Jim's not coming home tonight. We could go to my apartment." he mumbled and looked at Pavel expectantly.

Jim, his Winged friend.

"Hikaru!" Pavel gasped suddenly, startling Bones. "Hikaru! He might be wondering where I am!"

He let go of Bones and raked his nails through his hair. He left Hikaru back there with a few friends but he knew how concerned he could be sometimes. If he knew he went off without telling him, with a Vampire no less, he would be so worried.

"Friend of yours? Back at the bar?"

Pavel nodded.

He watched the relief that Bones apparently failed to hide cross over his handsome features, his mouth drew into a tight line and he scratched at the stubble on his jaw.

"Do you want go back for him?" he asked hesitantly and then crossed his arms. "Lets go back for him. We don't have to do this now."

Pavel puffed out his cheeks and huffed. He was really looking forward to this, the Vampire had his curiosity at the first glance of his dark eyes and ruggedly handsome features. His gruff voice was absurdly sexy but it was his southern drawl and silly metaphors that were just wonderful to him.

"I will call him instead." he replied.

He hastily dug into his trouser pocket and took out his phone, flipping it open before Bones even had a chance to protest. He spun around so he couldn't see the look on Bones' face as he sped dial and pressed the phone up by his ear. Phones were difficult and embarrassing to use in public seeing as how he had to bring the phone up and down his face to hear and speak.

There was an agonising wait as the phone rang, he heard Bones' feet shift gravel as he took a step closer to him. There was a sudden warmth on his neck that made his gut melt. Bones had his nose pressed up against him and he inhaled and exhaled heavily, tickling Pavel's skin. His own breathe shook for a second and his ears pricked up perfectly still. He wouldn't bite, not yet but this was torturous.

"Pavel?" the phone chirped.

Bones retracted quietly, the ghost of his touch lingering.

"Pavel."

He gasped. "Hikaru! Yes, hello, Hikaru?"

There was hesitation on the other end, he could hear music muffled in the background. "I didn't see you leave. Where are you?"

"I have gone out for some fresh air." Pavel responded, affirming his voice.

"Okay, sure. Did you go with anyone?"

"A guy." he said with a little too much haste. He glanced back around to see Bones studying him, his expression set like stone. "A nice guy, wery handsome." Bones shook his head, cracking a grin.

"Pavel." Hikaru regained his attention but then there was a considerate pause. "Ah, I can tell you haven't had too much to drink, you would be on the floor asleep if you were."

Pavel blushed but laughed despite himself. "It is better zan fancying myself as a 'svashbuckling svordsman,' eh? Hikaru?"

Hikaru laughed too, a deep, rich laughter. "I am a fencer, Pavel."

"And the greatest pirate." Pavel chided sarcastically, hearing his friend scoff.

"Why did you call?" Hikaru asked.

"Oh, just to say I won't be coming back so you won't worry where I am."

"Alright, thanks for letting me know. I'll go back with Uhura and I think Spock left already but he didn't seem to like it here anyway."

Pavel hummed. "Hm, I must be going now, I will see you later da?"

"Hold on Pavel," He nearly flinched at the drop of his tone and he scuffed his shoe along the gravel like a repentant child. Hikaru sighed after a second, making his ears perk up in light relief. "Have fun and you call me if there's any trouble okay?"

"Okeey, I got it Hikaru, see you later."

His friend said his goodbye and he flipped the phone closed, pocketing it before turning back to Bones. He didn't bother to question him about what he did but decided against it, wondering if he would bring it up instead.

He didn't.

"'Swashbuckling swordsman?'" he raised an eyebrow.

"Long story." Pavel grinned, recalling a few too many drinks and a topless Hikaru bellowing orders to his 'crewmen,' left, right and centre.

"I figured." Bones scratched the back of his head.

"So," Pavel took a step closer to him. "We are going...?"

Bones averted his eyes thoughtfully for a few moments and then nodded. "Back to my apartment." he decided bashfully.

"Right."

Pavel assumed walking by his side, his tail daring to wave around his companion like a separate being. Bones eyed it speculatively and allowed it to snake around his forearm. His tail was about half his height and they tended to grow in fur thickness with age. His tail was relatively fine haired, still a kitten by Catfolk standards but an adult human for sure.

"Your friend Jim then," Pavel mused. "He is pretty rare, having wings and all. You do not see many Winged around these days."

Bones grumbled something even his cat ears couldn't interpret. His tail flexed around Bones' arm instead, trying to coax a coherent word out of him.

"Jim's a good man." he sighed. "His wings can be a pain though, damn kid sheds like a dog in the height of summer."

Pavel chuckled. He had to thank Jim for pushing him in Bones' direction because for all his smiling and staring, he was just too nervous to approach the gruff looking stranger staring right back at him. Finding out he was Vampire hardly deterred him, he'd met more dangerous folks in the guise of something much more biologically simpler.

He chewed his bottom lip, ears instinctively flattening.

"You a'right?" Bones asked, turning his shoulders to face him as he walked.

"Yes, yes. I am fine. I was just thinking." he replied, catching his in the eye.

"Second thoughts? That's fine, this was kind of you anyway and I understand if-"

"No second thoughts." Pavel reassured, his tone picking up. He hoped treating this is in a light hearted manner would relax Bones. It seemed to work, as his frown loosened.

"Penny for your first thoughts then?" he asked.

Pavel shrugged. "Nothing really, just... well I am glad I came here tonight. Normally I am studying a lot, equations and and quantum physics and the rest but tonight, well Hikaru thought it would be fun to join the after party with the rest of our friends."

Bones nodded, seeming to go over the answer in his head. "I'm pretty glad I let myself be taken in by one of Jim's dumb ideas for once." he laughed. "I say 'for once,' I always end up bailing him out of somethin' but I quite like you Pavel, so it ain't so bad."

Pavel grinned happily, not quite blushing.

"We're here." Bones lead him to an apartment complex standing high above the squatting buildings beside it. It looked quite new, must be expensive. He pulled a touch screen console from the wall, punching in Floor 12, Room 3 and placing his index finger on the highlighted area.

The console droned, hues of blue coming to life under his fingertips as it requested for voice recognition. Pavel watched Bones face contort into a frown.

"Leonard McCoy." he said clearly, though he didn't hold back his agitated tone.

"Mister McCoy recognised, welcome back." the automated voice chimed pleasantly enough.

"Dammit, you ask for my voice every time you useless hunk o' junk. My fingerprint ain't enough for ya?"

The console made a noise that sounded scarily like a chuckle. "My name is S.A.S. Mister McCoy. Security and Services Console, Mister McCoy. Random voice checks are required, Mister McCoy."

"Yeah, right. Random." Bones retorted as if he expected further banter.

Pavel coughed quite suddenly to which the console made an almost startled series of blips, scanning the mutant in flashing grids, tail and all. He nearly jumped in surprise but he was familiar with the scanning. Part of security these days involved every apartment or any sort of community building requiring security scanners. This allowed owners to check criminal convictions with fingerprint systems.

"Guest? Mister McCoy? This Catfolk is not recognised." The voice hadn't lost any of its cheery tone.

"I am a guest." Pavel smiled like the machine could see him.

"Hm, welcome guest. You may both enter." Guests didn't require their fingerprints, not that it would be bad if they did. Pavel had no criminal convictions and he wanted to keep it that way.

"Thank you." Bones grunted as S.A.S. simulated the noise of a door unlocking.

The door slid open and they entered. The entrance was filtered with air as fresh as outside though considerably warmer, it was almost as stifling as the club, though fewer bodies emanating sweat around them made it much more tolerable. The building seemed awfully clean, almost hospital like, he pricked his ears up and heard the faint hum of a cleaning bot working away, maybe one floor above.

"I'm gonna warn ya," Bones declared, jabbing the button to hail the elevator. "Like I said, Jim sheds his feathers often, there's gonna be a few lyin' around."

Pavel shrugged with a grin. "I'm sure I can handle a few feathers."

The elevator descended smoothly after a few moment and the pristine white doors opened before them. The elevator was pod-shaped and rather spacious. Bones placed a paw-like hand on the small of his back and smiled lazily at him.

"After you."

"Z-thank you." Pavel stuttered, feeling his hand press into him ever so slightly.

His shoes tapped into the elevator, Bones following, pressing for Room 12 as he did so. There was a hum in response and the room ascended into life. Pavel suddenly felt the room tighten around him as Bones stood close to his side. He shuffled ever so subtly closer to him, brushing their shoulders together. Pavel watched his expression suddenly changed, grimacing as the ridges of brown iris' brightened.

"You're thirsty." he observed calmly.

"I am." Bones said coyly, looking at him.

Pavel opened his mouth to speak but the lighting flickered for a few seconds, making him look up in confusion at the light and there was a sudden jerk, making Pavel loose his balance. Bones grabbed his fore arm and tried to balance him. The movement caused his own footing to fail and he tripped forward, head colliding into his chest and pushing him against the wall. He gave a small cry as the rails pressed into his spine and nearly crushed his tail.

"Sorry." Bones grunted, snaking an arm between him and the railings.

"Zat's okay." Pavel pressed his hands against his shoulders to adjust himself.

Their ascension had halted but that was the least of his worries as Bones looked up at him, mouth slightly ajar and teeth sharpened. His eyes flickered but Pavel remained were he was and he tightened his grip. He could hear Bones bated breaths, from the shock or from their proximity, he didn't know. His face contorted like he was torn between mild confusion and a little anger.

"We stopped." Bones almost whispered giving way to the former.

"We have." Pavel confirmed, feeling the room groan and whirr in protest.

Bones shifted his weight but didn't widen the gap between them. His hair had become irritated, locks hanging loosely on his forehead. Pavel brought his hand up and twirled one around in his fingers.

"Must haff been a technical error, you should thank your security friend."

Bones smiled as his eyes darted to his neck for just a second and Pavel felt his heart beat once like a hammer. Bones looked at him steadily, smile fading and he met his gaze. He glanced again at the exposed skin, then back at Pavel who nodded slowly.

He brought his mouth to his neck and Pavel squirmed when his lips grazed him. Bones breathed against him and pulled his waist closer to him. With their bodies plastered together, the already warm room became a radiator. He brought one hand up to his hair and tugged, pulling his head back for more access. It was driving Pavel insane, causing his tail to sway rapidly and his ears to flatten. His own hand that was previously playing with his locks had burrowed into his dark hair and the other grasping the rail for support.

Bones opened his mouth and Pavel tensed, feeling his fangs scratch at him and then retract.

"Teasing?" he sighed heavily.

Bones chuckled, the sound surprisingly soft.

He licked, trailing his tongue up and behind his ear. Pavel moaned involuntarily and blushed when he felt heat rush through his body and blaze his cheeks. Bones chuckled once more, smiling into him. He pressed his lips against the quickening pulse behind his ear.

"I am teasing." he growled quietly and tilted his head.

He breathed in, Pavel closed his eyes and-

"I AM SORRY MISTER MCCOY AND GUEST."

Pavel gasped and Bones swore as a robotic voice boomed in the elevator. The sudden noise made him jolt upwards and hug Bones's head to his chest. Bones had brought his arms around him in a bear hug in his surprise. After a few moments to recover, they broke apart utterly flustered and Bones understandably frustrated.

"What the Hell is wrong with you?!" he shouted, not sure in which direction to be doing so.

"The elevator stopped." S.A.S. said apologetically.

"No kidding." Pavel muttered to himself, straightening out his waistcoat.

"I am aware of that but why did it take you so damn long to show up?" Bones threw his arms up in the air.

"So sorry, I was checking for any malfunctions, I should have informed you I was doing so, Mister McCoy and guest."

Pavel frowned in bewilderment. Security bots shouldn't make mistakes let alone sound shockingly human.

"Defective piece of crap. I'm gonna need SOS in a minute." Bones grumbled lowly.

"I am working on fixing the problem Mister McCoy and guest, if you would please be patient."

Neither had anything to say, but Pavel's mind was racing.

He sighed. His cheeks were still burning and he touched the spot were he was almost bitten. He traced it idly as if the sensation he felt earlier would come back to him.

So close.

Bones rubbed his temples in aggravation as the robot did it's work. Loudly. The sounds of metal clinking and clanging together were enough to drive a near deaf man mad.

Then it stopped.

"Um."

Pavel looked up from the floor, one ear up. "'Um?'"

"It appears what ever damage has been done will take some time to repair."

"How much time?" Bones asked slowly like the question had a considerable weight to it, which it did.

"A few hours."

"A few hours?"

"Indeed Mister McCoy."

Bones looked at Pavel then at the doors and back to Pavel who tapped his nails along the railings, already going over how they could pass the time knowing S.A.S. was watching over them. It was just a robot but the idea that he could have seen what happened disturbed him.

"Dammit." Bones ran his hand over his mouth and Pavel felt sympathy strike him.

"Hurry up with those repairs," he called out to S.A.S. "We have things to do."

"Certainly guest."