Poor Unfortunate Soul
Chapter Four: A Day In Town

Nikola sighs to himself as he gets dressed. Today isn't busy, they have no real work to do, so Arsenius has told him to go off and have fun. What is he doing for this 'fun'? Bringing Demitri into town. He likes Demitri enough, he's a good kid, but he is so unbelievably sheltered. Not to mention the whole town sees his family as vampires. Yes, his red eyes are not easily explained like Gilbert's, and of course he has that one sharp canine, but it means nothing. Nikola embalmed his grandfather himself and knows they are completely human.

Once he finishes Nikola heads out of his house and into the car, driving off to Demitri's home. He arrives to see Demitri already sitting outside on the edge of the fountain in the entrance. The teen is drawing, only looking up once Nikola pulls up to him.

"Nikola!" Demitri grins. "Good morning!"

"Good morning." Nikola says. "I take it you got my call?"

"Yep! So where are we going?" Demitri asks. "A park? A fast food place?"

Nikola sighs. "You sure would be a simple date." He mumbles to himself and notices the blush now on Demitri's face.

"Th-this is a date…?"

"What? No! God no!" Nikola exclaims. "I wouldn't take a naïve kid like you on a date, it wouldn't be right!"

Demitri looks at him curiously. "And if I wasn't naïve…?"

Nikola shrinks in his seat. "What is with these questions? It was just a comment, jeez kid."

Demitri continues to stare at him intensely. "Hm…" He finally shrugs it off and leans back in his seat. "It's just as well, I would have had to turn you down and that would be awkward."

"Yeah…THAT would be awkward…because this conversation has been a piece of cake…" Nikola mumbles before driving to town.

They arrive to town, Demitri visibly nervous as Nikola parks near a clothing store.

"M-maybe I should wear sunglasses to hide my eyes. Do you have any-?"

"No one is going to mess with you, I'm here after all." Nikola says. "They respect Arsenius and me, including our taste in people we hang out with. So if I like you and have you hanging around they won't question it."
Demitri smiles at him.

"Really?"

"Yes. Now stop panicking and lets go browse some stores." Nikola orders, getting out of the car. "The good thing about this small town is you can pretty much walk it all."

"Wow…" Demitri mumbles, looking around in awe at the buildings and people. "This is awesome!"

"I guess." Nikola says, looking through his wallet. "Let's see…I have a bit of money so we can get lunch at a fast food place and you can buy a souvenir or whatever."

A faint blush comes to Demitri's cheeks. "Um…isn't you paying for everything…like a date?"

"Hm? You're still on that? If one friend has no money, the other will buy them things." Nikola explains, ignoring the pink on the teen's face.

"Have other friends told you that?"

"Yeah."

"…Ones who didn't have any money at the time…?" Demitri asks and Nikola raises a brow.

"…Yeah…"

"…You're pretty gullible, aren't you Nikola?"

The Bulgarian twitches. "I don't want to hear that coming from a damn shut in!"

A small laugh escapes Demitri's lips. "Sorry~! Sorry~! It's kind of cute though~!"

"That's not the tone of a sorry man." Nikola grumbles. "Whatever, let's just look around." He leads Demitri to the closest store, an art supply store.

"Oh wow! A real art supply store!" Demitri says excitedly, walking around and looking at all of the stuff. "It has so much! More than I imagined!"

Nikola smiles a little as he watches Demitri. "You get so excited, it's like watching a little kid."

Demitri blushes a little and sets an art kit down awkwardly. "S-sorry…"

"Huh? Since when does that make you apologetic?" Nikola asks and Demitri smiles nervously.

"W-well…an adult doesn't want to hang out with a kid." Demitri explains and Nikola looks at him amused.

"A twenty year old isn't really the most mature adult." Nikola points out, going up to Demitri. "Besides, it's nice to hang out with someone who is close to my age for once, remember?"

"Right…all you know are kids and old men." Demitri teases, grinning.

"Oh now come on, poor Arsenius isn't that old!" Nikola says amused. "And even if he is, at least you can say he has aged well."

Demitri frowns. "Yeah…he has. Say, um, Nikola…I don't know how to ask you this…but…um…how close are you and Arsenius?"

"Huh? Pretty close I guess. He is my best friend. Him and his sons have been like family to me." Nikola says and Demitri nods.

"So no wife, huh?"

"He's into men."

Demitri stares at him shocked.

"What? So you guys really are…? Um…"

Nikola looks at the teen annoyed.

"Grow a pair and ask what you want to ask already!"

"Are you dating Arsenius?" The Romania blurts out and Nikola blanches.

"Am I...what now…?"

"Dating him! Are you dating him? I mean, to each his own…but he's old enough to be your dad!"

"Why do you think we are dating?" Nikola asks, before he realizes something. "Hey wait! Why did you think I was taking you on a date if you assumed I was with Arsenius? Do you think I'm some kind of-?"

"No! No!" Demitri quickly interrupts.

"I-I just…you two seem so close…and you always seem so happy around him…I was just…"

"Well of course I do. He's my best friend you know. Well, no, it's more like…he's a second father…" Nikola says before glaring at Demitri. "And he is married to a man named Folkert, I will have you know."

Demitri laughs. "F-Folkert? Seriously?"

Nikola shrugs. "He and Arsenius bonded as kids over their strange names."

Demitri smiles at Nikola. "I see, so he's with someone else. Thank goodness!"

"Huh? Why is that so great?" Nikola asks, making Demitri blush.

"I just…didn't like the idea of you two together." He answers. "Maybe because Arsenius is so much older…?"

"Hm…" Nikola eyes him wearily. "Well, pushing that subject aside, is there anything here you want?"

Demitri stares at him in awe. "Y-you mean I can choose something?"

"Anything. You should have something to commemorate your first time in this town, since it took so damn long." Nikola says and Demitri smiles.

"You're such a good friend, Nikola."

"I know. Now get something, I'm hungry."

Demitri looks to him curiously after grabbing a cheap paintbrush. "So is today almost over, then?"

Nikola rolls his eyes, taking the brush and putting it back before grabbing the art kit he saw Demitri fawning over earlier. "Don't go cheap, idiot. I said fast food so you could get something nice, not some cheap paintbrush." He scolds, annoyed at the boy's kindness. After all, when Demitri begins to work for them Nikola will be making much more than this amount. Getting the boy something nice for that is no big deal. "And today ends when you want it to end. Eating doesn't always signify it being over."

"N-Nikola!" Demitri looks at the man happily. "You are the nicest person I think I have ever met! I could kiss you right now!" He says, going to hug the man.

"No." Nikola says, moving to avoid him. "No hugs. Show your appreciation by making a lot of caskets…and maybe making some paintings for the funeral home with those materials…since you are pretty good."
Demitri sighs, patting him on the head. "You are a good man."

"I know. Arsenius tells me all the time." Nikola mocks, making Demitri huff.

"You're not gonna let me forget that, will you?"

"No, that was just ridiculous."

"In my defense, you two are fishy." Demitri says and Nikola rolls his eyes.

"Maybe to an idiot who doesn't understand friendship. So where would you like to eat?"

"That burger place!"

"McDonalds it is."