Thailand
Niran was in the best of moods! It was a beautiful day, not a cloud in sight. He was greatly affected by the weather, and on bright and sunny days, he was at his best, his strongest. He was different from the rest of the vampires he knew. While they typically excelled during the night, he did his best in the shining sun and surrounded by nature. He wasn't sure why he had different characteristics, but the more time he spent alive, the more he began to understand that just like life, vampires evolved too.
Back at the castle, he'd become good friends with Aleksandra and Mei-Ling and inquired about their internal energy. He was enthralled by their story of how Aleks was saved by the doctor, but not in a way that she would have preferred. Niran shuddered at the thought of burying a foreign element in his body, having spent centuries taking care of himself and perfecting his health. What nature gave him was far more rewarding than anything artificial.
He wondered how they were doing, and if they were safe. Where had they gone? Were they still healthy? He knew the doctor came by every so often to bring them blood, so what were they doing now that they didn't have easy access to her? He hoped they didn't have to resort to hurting the innocent to survive; neither of them preferred to replenish by those means!
It was times like this that he was glad he didn't rely on blood to survive. He didn't even think about it anymore! He was so proud of how far he'd come over the years. He'd done well enough to even share his gift with Satya! Speaking of, she was probably going to kill him if she found out he was out in the wild like this, but he wanted to check out that temple and get a little bit of energy before he holed himself up in his house waiting for her.
He peeled the carbon fiber soles from the bottoms of his feet and continued into the trees, feeling the soil between his toes. He took a deep breath in, listening to the birds, the rustling of the leaves, any wildlife that surrounded him and exhaled. He felt the new energy of plants that weren't there the last time he'd gone through these woods and decided to investigate, glad he decided to wear his glove.
His glove was his lifeline. Not only did it protect him by shooting razor-sharp thorns at his enemy, but it also supplied something called biolight, which healed any injury and subdued any cravings for blood. He also had a backup power source within the glove that planted a large tree for critical injuries. Thankfully, he'd only seen it a few times in his life and wouldn't see it anytime soon as long as he didn't do something silly like get caught.
His glove also had technology that read the DNA of any plant, which helped when he went exploring for new samples. He always found ways to enhance his biolight. By now, he'd like to think he'd perfected it, but he knew there was always room for improvement.
Eventually, his investigation led him to the structure he wanted to check out, only to realize it had been abandoned. He took in the energy around him and wondered why; it was a beautiful place and the land was healthy. It even appeared that someone planted orchids around the perimeter of it. Inhaling, he took in their refreshing aroma as his curiosity led him into the small temple.
Just as it was on the outside, it was empty and void of life on the inside. It was as if someone built this and just… forgot about it. He walked slowly through the open space, hoping whoever built this beautiful building was alive and healthy. He sighed, dragging his fingers along the windowless sill and leaning on it, staring out at the breathtaking view before him.
The sun was beginning to set.
He'd been out for a few hours and was ashamed to say he hadn't done much but mosey around and pick through weeds. He didn't want to return empty-handed, but he guessed he could just go back out in the morning. "Ah, but Satya wouldn't like that much, would she?" He said to himself with a light laugh. She'd told him she would be there in a few days, but with her, that meant two days or less. He shouldn't risk it.
He took another walk through the abandoned temple before putting his soles back on and gazing through the window again. He sighed, letting the breeze blow through his hair. It'd grown quite considerably and was just past his shoulders now. He looked up at the stars that were starting to shine through the cobalt skies, shaking his head at the mind tricks his brain was playing on him. It was true that the handsome hunter was the main thing occupying his mind, but he didn't have to manifest his glorious scent!
The smell only getting stronger, he opened his eyes, scanning the trees for anything out of the ordinary. His heart began to race, what if he'd truly been followed? Sure, they shared a brief moment or two, but he was still a hunter and he couldn't be trusted. He panicked, attempting to steer towards rational thoughts. What was the probability of him being tracked back to Thailand? Low, right? There was no way! He had to have just been imagining things!
Unfortunately, his thoughts were cut short when he saw movement in the woods not very far at all from the temple! He took a nervous deep breath in, turning on his heel and darting out of the building when his senses confirmed his suspicions. It was the very same hunter that ran him out of the castle, the very one he bumped into in the streets of Yunnan. Why was he there?!
More importantly… why was he chasing him like that?
He dipped through the branches, flowing through trees as if he were the breeze himself while the mysterious man chased him through the forest. Briefly, a thought crossed his mind; what if he wasn't hostile? 'Oh, who am I kidding?' He was a hunter! A hunter that followed him to a different country! Granted, Thailand wasn't that far from China, but still! It was frightening, and he wasn't sure why he'd deluded himself into thinking this guy wanted to do anything but harm him.
When Baptiste finally found him, he couldn't help but fixate on his beauty as he looked through the window of the temple he was headed to. He spent at least a solid thirty seconds staring at his face through the binoculars taking in every detail. He was just as ethereal as he was the day he bumped into him in China, and looked far more content than he did when he was fleeing the castle.
And now, he was chasing him down again!
He felt utterly horrible about it, but the only thing he could do was catch him and tell him that he meant no harm! Once he snapped out of it, he pulled himself together and took off up the hill, straying somewhat from the path. He didn't care at that point. He found who he was looking for and needed to get to him, no matter the obstacles.
Unbeknownst to Baptiste, he was quite the speedy one, scramming out of the temple and almost vanishing into the trees in less than five seconds. It was stunning how quickly he blended in! But this was no match for the extensive training he'd gone through. He may not have been as nimble, but he was just as fast!
He picked up his pace, ducking under and jumping over fallen branches and trunks, making sure he never left his line of sight. "Wait!" He called out, noticing how he stalled a bit when he said something.
Niran grit his teeth, frustrated at his own actions. If he'd just listened to Satya when she told him not to go anywhere, he wouldn't be running from a hunter right now! But how safe would he have been if he stayed home? It was obvious he had a way to track him down! He jumped over a small puddle, hearing him call out behind him and nearly stumbled. Did he just tell him to wait? What for? No hunter had ever told him to wait before.
He looked over his shoulder and slowed down a bit when he realized he was quite a bit away. He contemplated saying something back, but really. What would it have changed? This entire situation was insane! When he no longer heard running, he actually came to a stop, peering around the woods for the hunter. He could smell him, clear as day, but he couldn't see him anymore! "H-How…" It was like he vanished!
Baptiste understood that this guy was going to keep running from him, so he had to change his methods. When he stopped to look around, he took that as an opportunity to test his agility and leap to the nearest branch, hoisting himself up. He held back a grunt as he climbed; he was getting older and it annoyed him. But he couldn't focus on that nor the numb pain he felt in his leg. He only had room in his mind for one thing. One being.
He watched him continue on, this time at a much slower pace while he surveyed his surroundings. And once Baptiste lined up the path he was taking, he waited for the perfect moment to jump down to the ground, only feet away from him. "Hey, I just want to…!" He reached for him, his fingertips grazing the cloth of his top just before he dashed away, taking off again. "Bondye mwen," he muttered, following him on another chase.
Niran was floored! How had he gotten up in the trees so quietly? "How foolish of me," he whispered, reminding himself this was a trained hunter chasing him. Of course, he could be stealthy! But he didn't expect him to drop two feet away from him! In a span of maybe two seconds, he paused, wide-eyed as the dashing man reached for him and panicked, his flight instincts kicking in and darting off again.
He'd spoken up once more, saying he "just wanted to…" something, but Niran couldn't wrap his head around what a hunter would want to do aside from murder him! He kept on, picking up his pace as he felt the energy following him. He was getting tired, he could tell, but he was still charging toward him and overextending. How much stamina did he have? Why did he feel bad?
Baptiste knew he'd be getting a good cardio workout with this one given his history of being slippery, and he could see why! After going through it himself, he no longer judged the ones who gave up willingly. But he was no quitter.
Not when it was something he wanted.
It was obvious he knew these woods, so Baptiste cared a little less about his surroundings as he followed him closely, never losing sight of him. It was a good thing he did, as he started to close the distance a bit. "Please! Just…!" He panted, reaching for him again when he stopped abruptly and ran in the other direction. "Modi li!"
Niran smiled to himself as he faked him out, quickly turning and running in the opposite direction. He couldn't help it; he was just too easy to toy with! Just like before, he didn't feel any malicious intent coming from him, but he could just be excellent at faking it. He couldn't be too careful. He heard what sounded like a curse in another language, and he wanted to know just where he was from.
Why?
He was a hunter. A very sexy hunter, but a hunter nonetheless. They were opposites. They had nothing in common. They shouldn't—they couldn't—exist in the same space, on the same plane. But…
He slowed and turned, continuing a light backward jog while he watched the man with ebony skin slow down to catch his breath. His curiosity really was going to kill him one day! "Stay where you are," he commanded firmly.
Finally, he stopped! "Can I…" Baptiste took a cautious few steps forward, reaching timidly for the elegant creature ahead of him. "Please?" What was he even asking for? He could never think this far ahead!
And as Baptiste took one more step, he was stunned as he'd tossed down what looked like a seed that manifested into a flower-shaped platform and stepped onto it, rising several feet into the air. He marveled at him as he basked in the night, flowing hair same color as the moonlight seeping through the trees while he aimed his weaponized glove at him. "Manyifik…" he held a hand to his chest; his heart actually skipped a beat!
"Why are you following me?" Niran called down, happy he brought his tech with him, but judging by the look on this guy's face, he didn't think he'd need it. Did he know how he looked down there, staring up at him like he was some sort of divine being? 'Don't get swept up in his charm, Niran,' he reminded himself, keeping his glove on him.
"I…" Baptiste couldn't formulate a proper sentence, no, not with him staring down at him so fiercely! So confidently! "I'm… sorry." He finally spat out some of what he wanted to tell him, unable to concentrate. His beauty was mesmerizing!
"Is that what you followed me all the way to Thailand to say?" Niran scoffed, putting a hand on his hip. All he could think about was that dream, and how badly he wanted to make it a reality. He wanted to actually see what was under that shirt.
"N-No, I," Baptiste stuttered. "I can't think straight." They shared a short moment of silence, nothing but the sounds of nature around them while they locked eyes. "Please," he said again, still unsure of what he was asking for.
"Please, what?" By now, Niran was convinced he wasn't a threat, but he didn't get this far in life by acting recklessly! He lowered his arm, feeling a drop of rain on his cheek. Had he been so absorbed in this cat-and-mouse chase that he missed the storm clouds rolling in? He looked up at the darkened sky faintly tinted with grey, getting caught in the rain wasn't on his agenda for the day!
"Your name," Baptiste mumbled, surprised he was able to conjure that up!
"My name?" Niran laughed mockingly. "You want to know my name?" He rolled his eyes, running a hand through his hair. It was going to get so frizzy!
"Me, my name…" he fumbled around with his words; all of a sudden English a foreign language! "Non mwen se Baptiste."
Niran couldn't pinpoint the language he was speaking, but he was smart enough to put two and two together and understand that he'd just told him his name. "Baptiste…" he liked the way it rolled off his tongue, and he had to admit, it suited him.
Baptiste nearly melted when he said his name, and he wanted to hear it in more ways. But even more, he wanted him to come down from there!
"It fits," Niran gave him a small smile, unable to help but flirt a little. He supposed it wouldn't do any harm to tell him his name. "Niran."
"Niran," Baptiste let his voice get a bit deeper when he repeated his name. "Can you come down?"
Oh, no. Why did he have to say his name like that?! "Why?" ignoring the tingles that shot through his body, Niran crouched on his platform, arms on his knees as he looked down at him curiously. "Are you going to hunt me down if I do?"
Baptiste's mind was filled with nothing but dirty thoughts, and he just wanted to get his hands on him. "Maybe," he shrugged as the leaves struggled to shield them from the sudden downpour.
Niran stood and dashed off his platform, running back in the direction of the temple. As fun as this new game was, he didn't anticipate getting caught in the rain like this! 'Let's see if Baptiste can keep up!' He ran effortlessly through the dark forest, slowing down every now and then to tease him. What a peculiar turn of events!
Baptiste took off after him, understanding that they were now playing a game. They'd jump over logs and duck under fallen branches, and every so often, he'd get just close enough to graze him, and he'd slip away each time! It was as if they were dancing, their movement filled with tension and hunger and it energized him!
After a bit, he realized he was heading back toward the building he'd first seen him in. Was it because of the rain? Was he going to try and hide inside, or would he pass it? Either way, he wasn't getting away from him! Baptiste turned and ran in a different direction, hoping to cross paths and cut him off before he got any further. He kept his sight of him, porcelain hair letting him stand out in the darkness while he ran.
For some reason, Niran was elated! He hadn't had this much fun in a while, and he had Baptiste to thank. He glided over a row of bushes, landing on his feet and slowing down to let him catch up to him a little but he'd disappeared again! He was a little disappointed; had he given up? How did he manage to escape his line of sight so easily? He kept up a light jog as the rain began to break through the leaves and dampen the forest floor. He thought about taking shelter in the temple for a bit, but he didn't want his new friend to lose him.
"What am I thinking?" Niran asked himself, pushing through thick leaves. Why was he trying to be friendly with a damn hunter? This was his life he was playing with! However… if he truly wanted to kill him, he would have made an attempt already. All he'd done so far was chase him around! But Satya's words rang through his head, and he reluctantly decided to hide in the temple in the hopes that Baptiste wouldn't find him and the rain would stop.
He frowned at his decision, looking around before slipping back into the structure. The storm let loose as soon as he got inside, rumbles of thunder in the far distance. He truly hadn't seen this weather change coming, and usually, he was pretty good about keeping up to date. He looked through one of the other windows, the smell of rain becoming too strong to pinpoint him. Perhaps he'd gotten lost in the rain or decided to call it quits. Either way, Niran was wet and a little cold and had the feeling that the game he was playing was over.
"Well… it was fun while it lasted," he said to himself before he turned and was met with a soaked hunter, standing in the temple less than ten feet away from him. Butterflies tickled his tummy while he stood there with wide eyes.
"Did you think I wouldn't find you?" His voice was deep and full of desire as he stood in Niran's vicinity. After he was certain he'd gone back into the building, Baptiste waited for the perfect moment to enter, letting him think it was all said and done before revealing himself. He saw him trying to find him by looking through the window and determined that was the best time to sneak inside, happy to catch him mumbling something about it "being fun while it lasted".
Surely, he didn't think he was getting away from him so easily!
And as he watched him take a nervous step backward, Baptiste dropped his bag and closed the distance between them in a few wide strides and reached for him, hands dripping wet grabbing his face and connecting their lips in a heated blaze.
Niran's breath was stolen away, needily wrapping his arms around him as they fell to the floor, bodies tangling together as their urges took over. God, his body felt better than he could have imagined! He was so thick and sturdy, arms strong and wide holding him closely, his baritone hums vibrating through his own body from their passionate kisses, this was far greater than what a dream could depict!
Baptiste was no longer in his right mind, and he hadn't been since he entered the temple. Since he'd first seen him, he'd been obsessed with finding him, having him, and now that he got his hands on him, he'd be dammed if he let him go without getting a taste! He suctioned his mouth to his neck, greedily sucking a large spot onto his skin. "I want you to remember this. Remember me," he crooned into his ear.
Forget this? How could Niran ever possibly forget this moment? This man, Baptiste, awakened something within him that he'd repressed for decades! This was unforgettable. He arched into him, giving himself up with no second thoughts.
Mind foggy with lust, Baptiste pulled open his shirt and fastened his lips to a slender, but muscular chest. While his hands worked on his lower parts, he couldn't help but notice how… familiar his body felt. It was as if they were together not in this life, but a previous one. After he felt him up through the fabric, he finally undid the tie that kept his pants tightened and freed him, sitting up on his knees to admire such perfection.
"Mwen pa janm wè anyen ki pi bèl pase ou," Baptiste said under lidded eyes, watching him, taking him all in. He scanned every inch of his body that he could see, burning it, engraving it into his memory. Etched into his brain so that he'd never forget it.
Niran tilted his head to the side as he spoke to him in what sounded like French? No, that wasn't completely French, was it? Whatever he said, it sounded beautiful and he wanted to understand it. But before he could say anything in response, he let out a moan louder than he'd have liked when Baptiste suddenly went down and encased his stiffness in his mouth.
"Ah…!" A hand flew up to his mouth as the gorgeous man peeked up at him with a smirk and swallowed him whole. It felt so good, and the sexual aura he exuded was pulling him under! He panted, looking for the right words to say while delight quaked through his body. "More…"
Baptiste heard his pleas and chuckled. He'd give him what he was begging for after he got his fill of the delicacy in his hold. Fingers found their way down, one, then two pushed in, getting him just loose enough to slide into.
Niran hoisted himself up with his elbows and let his head fall back with a breathy whimper, a space that nobody had touched in centuries now being invaded. He didn't remember it feeling this good! Or was Baptiste just touching him in all the right places? The way he handled him, it felt like he'd already known his body, like… they'd been one before. It was scarily beautiful.
Baptiste was at his limit, replacing his mouth with a hand and pumping his girth, humming with need. He was more endowed than he thought he would be and a small part of him wanted to feel him, but he throbbed uncomfortably hard in his pants and even more wanted that release. Unable to contain himself, he swiftly flipped him over onto his hands and knees and yanked his pants down, burying his face between soft cheeks.
Niran wouldn't be surprised if there was steam coming from his ears! This was completely unexpected, but it felt too good to stop! He cried out, wiggling his hips and encouraging him to keep going. He could tell he was into it by the way he held him, squeezing and giving him the occasional spank. He was eating him alive! It wasn't long before he heard him undoing his pants and freeing himself, something warm and solid slapping against him.
Baptiste couldn't be sure he was even in control of himself anymore. All of him, everything about him was better than he could have imagined. "li pa ase," he uttered. He couldn't get enough. It was never enough. He reached for him, pulling his upper body flush against his and snaking a hand up to his neck. "I've been waiting for this since the moment I first saw you," he said, kissing his shoulder and rubbing against him.
Niran was in heaven! This man had him in the palm of his hand, and he was completely okay with it! He handled him so… hungrily, like he was starved and just wanted to answer to his desires. His wish was soon granted as he was quickly filled almost overwhelmingly, air vanishing from his lungs. "Ah, Bap…!" He moaned out his name through the sudden euphoric wave that crashed into him, the Caribbean wave.
Baptiste wrapped an arm around him, humping him like a rabbit in heat. He groaned, his body fit him like a snug, perfect glove, made only for him. Not only that, but the way he said his name? He needed to hear that again. He thrust, seating himself deeply and stirring his hips. "My name," he hummed into his ear. "Say it again."
Niran was so far gone, nothing else mattered, nothing else existed but the man devouring him. "B-Bap!" He called out before the hand on his neck moved up to his jaw and turned his head, stealing his breath yet again with fervid kisses. He reached up and held his face, still wet from the rain that was pouring around the temple. "Don't stop…" he whispered between gasps of air before losing his balance and falling to his hands.
Just as his new Thai lover was, Baptiste was too far gone, both hands now holding his hips and his forehead resting on his shoulder while he submerged himself repeatedly, sending him down to the floor. He lie atop him, holding himself up with his forearms, hips doing all the work. He pressed into him, listening to his cries of pleasure before he slipped a few fingers into his mouth, purring in his ear when he sucked gently. "Wap fè m fou!"
He was definitely going to come back for seconds!
After Baptiste took off further into the trees, Mauga made sure to keep his eyes on him. As it turned out, he did lead him to the jackpot! But the question was, how did he know where to find him? His thoughts stayed with him while he followed as closely as he could without being caught. But judging by his body language, he knew Baptiste had zeroed in on the target and was most likely tunnel visioning, leaving Mauga still with the question of:
How the hell did he know where he'd be?!
Mauga wasn't an idiot. Baptiste saw Lifeweaver in the castle. He had to have. There was no other explanation! It explained his new weird behavior. But the new question was, did they talk about anything? Without the device, they wouldn't have known where he was, so if they did talk, it couldn't have been about anything important!
He didn't have the answer. He didn't know why he suddenly wanted to split up once they got into the forest. He didn't know why he was so urgent about finding him by himself. He thought shortly about him maybe wanting to capture or kill him to reap the rewards by himself, but he wouldn't do something like that; Baptiste was loyal. Maybe he just wanted to talk to him, to pick his brain?
Mauga sort of wanted to see for himself why this Lifeweaver was hard to get ahold of. He wanted to ask him about his abilities, and even possibly ask for a demonstration. He didn't really dislike vamps, he just saw them as a job that needed to be completed. He'd heard about this one in particular, but he couldn't have cared less about pursuing him until the doctor offered him a huge reward to bring his body back, dead or alive.
With that being said, Mauga understood if Baptiste wanted to just talk to him, but why did he have to go off and do it alone? He wasn't thinking of letting him go free, was he? He had a sympathetic side to him that he'd grown to love, but only when it came to his affection toward him. He didn't care for the times when he felt bad for vamps. It was for that reason that he had to follow him. He needed to make sure he didn't do anything stupid! He didn't need that vamp giving him some sob story to appeal to Baptiste's sensitive side.
He spied on them from afar, watching the vamp flee from the small temple and Baptiste take off in a full sprint after him. So, he was headed there. Was there something about the structure that tipped him off? How did he know to head there? He knew his thoughts were getting repetitive, but it was all so confusing! As far as he knew, Baptiste didn't have any psychic abilities, so there was no valid answer he could come up with!
It was getting dark, and Baptiste still hadn't caught him. What was taking him so long? Why hadn't he pulled out his handgun? He could have subdued him easily by now, but he was just… chasing him. Frustrated, Mauga continued following them, feeling oddly like the third wheel during their little cat-and-mouse chase. Why the hell was he dragging this out? He knew they didn't work in the dark! He was putting himself at risk!
This vampire hadn't lived this long and escaped however many hunters for no reason! There was no telling how much stronger he got at night, and Baptiste was running around like a damn fool! "For God's sake, Baptiste! Catch him!" He grumbled to himself, pulling out his binoculars and watching the vamp stand on a platform of some sort. "What the…"
How interesting! He'd manifested a flower-shaped platform that lifted him a safe distance into the air! How did he do that? Mauga had known that his abilities revolved around nature, but no one knew the specifics. No wonder the doctor wanted his DNA! What else could he do?
He watched carefully while the vamp aimed—what looked like a glove? A prosthetic arm?—directly at a surprisingly calm Baptiste. What was happening? Were they… talking? About what? "Just shoot him, Baptiste!" Mauga muttered, growing more and more agitated by the minute.
And as if the universe were against him, it started to rain.
Getting caught in the rain was by far one of the things he hated most! His hair got all puffy and the humidity made his skin sticky, and drying his clothes was a nuisance. He was now faced with a predicament; stay and watch Baptiste and get drenched, or trust he'll make the right call and head back to the hotel.
The vamp suddenly ran back in the opposite direction and Baptiste followed him, but something was different this time. It looked more like they were playing a game, like the vamp wanted to get caught. Eventually, he ran back into the temple and Mauga lost sight of Baptiste. "Where the hell did he go?" He scanned the dark trees, pissed he'd kept his eyes on him so long just to lose him now. His phone buzzed and he dug around in his pocket in a hurry, hoping he was texting to tell him that he was ready to meet up.
'No luck. Weather getting bad. Try again tomorrow.'
Mauga's mouth dropped. What the fuck did he mean by "no luck"? His phone buzzed again.
'Meet you back at the hotel.'
Appalled, he looked through his binoculars again at the temple, seeing none other than Baptiste standing at the entrance.
He went inside.
Mauga curled his fingers into a fist, seething wasn't even the word. 'No luck'?! When he was clearly in there with him? So, he was trying to cash in the rewards for himself? Or was it something different? Either way, he had half a mind to confront him and see what the hell was going on with his own eyes!
Then he thought about how that would backfire. What if Baptiste had a plan in place that he didn't know about? How angry would he be when he found out he was following him the entire time? How badly would that ruin their already struggling relationship?
But if he had a plan, why did he say they'd try again the next day? When he was right there? Unlike his usual collected demeanor, his mind began to run a million miles a minute, fabricating all types of fucked up scenarios. What if he was freeing the vamp? What if he was trying to subdue him and he'd been compromised? No, he trusted Baptiste to come back to him safely.
Ever since the day he'd gotten him hurt at the castle, he'd been super paranoid and kept an eye on his location and vitals with a thin, high-tech wristband. His heart rate was a bit high, but he assumed it was because of all the running he'd just done so he paid it no mind. However, time passed by and the rain kept coming down, and neither Baptiste nor the vamp emerged from the temple.
He wasn't shacking up with him, was he? No, that was absurd… right? Baptiste would never! Besides, they may not have ever spoken it out loud, but they were kind of together weren't they? They ate together, slept together, shared intimate moments, wasn't that the definition of a relationship?
For some reason, his heart sank as he let his thoughts spiral. He sat, soaking in the rain, reflecting on how Baptiste had been pulling away from him lately. Had he been charmed by that damn vamp? Should he storm in there or just go back to the hotel?
Going through the pros and cons, what would presenting himself solve? Would he end up seeing something he didn't want to see? Would it ruin what they had and send Baptiste running? Or would he go in to find him with the vamp subdued, being tortured for answers?
Baptiste wasn't the torturing type.
Mauga scoffed. He was overthinking things. There was no way anything unusual was going on. He should just go back to the hotel and wait for him, right? He said he'd meet him back there, so he should trust him. He was smart when it came to things like these. He wouldn't do anything that would cost him his life. He pulled his phone out to send a quick reply.
'Sure thing, buddy. Be safe.'
For the life of him, Mauga couldn't get rid of the growing pit he felt forming in his stomach. Why? Baptiste was loyal. He had nothing to worry about. He'd wait for him to come back and ask him what happened and everything would be good.
Yeah.
Baptiste was on cloud nine. Was that really the most accurate way to describe how he was feeling? Whatever it was, he could confidently say he hadn't been this happy before. All the way back to the hotel, he felt like he was floating on air! And to make things better, by the time he'd gotten his fill of that beauty named Niran, the rain stopped, allowing him a calm and quiet walk back.
The only thing about that was that it was now about three in the morning! Had time gotten away from him that much? It was true they'd rolled around on the floor of that temple until he had nothing left to give, but he didn't think they were at it for that long! Even so…
It still wasn't enough.
There was something so captivating, bewitching about him! He had to see him again. He wanted to know more about him. He wanted to pick his brain. He wanted to see all sides of him, good and bad. He wanted to know what it felt like to hold him throughout the night, to know what it was like waking up to him in the morning. He wanted to save him. And to save him, he absolutely could not let Mauga find him!
"Oh, shit!" Baptiste cursed, having completely forgotten all about Mauga! He had texted him and told him to head back hours ago! Maybe he could lie and say he'd gotten lost, and his phone died? He dug around in his pocket, pulling out his phone to see a text from a while ago.
'Sure thing, buddy. Be safe.'
That was it? He expected to see more texts or missed calls when he noticed what time it was, but there was nothing else except that. Even after he'd told him no luck? That behemoth always had something to say! He wondered if he had a lead on the other vamp Niran was traveling with. He had a hunch that he didn't, but maybe, hopefully, he'd been too occupied trying to find them to focus on what he was doing. He turned his phone off and shoved it back in his pocket, feeling guiltier the closer he got to the hotel. Mauga trusted him to handle the job properly, and instead of completing the job, he slept with the target! But to Baptiste's annoyance, that wasn't where his guilt stemmed.
He didn't feel bad about basically abandoning the job, no, that wasn't it at all. He felt bad because he was very self-aware. Although it hadn't been said aloud, he and Mauga were kind of… whatever they called it, and for him to just run off to fuck a vampire was pretty shitty of him! While Mauga had been nothing but his version of nice and considerate to him, Baptiste had been giving him the cold shoulder, avoiding contact and conversation, just because he wanted to get his dick wet in that beaut of a vamp.
Which was well worth it, by the way.
Technically, he never confirmed he and Mauga were together, so he shouldn't feel bad, right? "Yeah, if that was the case, I wouldn't be feeling like shit right now," he said to himself. In his heart of hearts, he knew the truth. He knew what he did wasn't right, but it had to happen, and he couldn't explain why!
And what made it even worse was that it had to happen again.
His initial thoughts of separating from Mauga resurfaced, letting his mind wonder what it would be like to relocate to Thailand. Born in Haiti, his first language was Haitian Creole, then French. Growing up, he picked up on English, which helped him get his hunter's license in the long run. During his training, he met Mauga, and they hit it off instantly. They developed a close relationship quickly and were nearly inseparable for the duration of their training and even after the fact. They agreed to partner up together and take out vamps across the world, while returning to Mauga's home in Samoa in between jobs, meaning naturally, he picked up on a little bit of Samoan.
If he moved to Thailand, he'd have to set aside a large chunk of time to become fluent in the language, which didn't sound bad. It truthfully sounded like it would be a well-needed break, a refresher of sorts. He needed the change of pace. He was tired of uprooting the lives of innocent vamps. He wanted to do good for a change, and this was his chance to do his first good deed.
Not that he was moving to Thailand, or anything!
He got back to the hotel, dreading whatever lie on the other side of the door to their room. If he was lucky, Mauga would be sound asleep. If the universe was against him, he'd be wide awake, waiting for him to step through that door. With a heavy sigh, Baptiste stuck the key in the lock and pushed the door open, staying as quiet as he could.
A silent breath of relief left him when he entered darkness and heard heavy breathing. As relieved as he was, he was also surprised. He would have expected he'd be worried sick, up and waiting for his return! Choosing not to question it, he made a beeline for the bathroom and closed the door, starting the shower. He stepped out of his clothes, the lingering scent of activities not that long ago bringing a goofy grin to his face.
He turned in the mirror and checked out the faint scratches on his back, smirking at himself confidently. The way Niran called out his name in ecstasy would forever sit present in his mind, and he'd give whatever to hear it again. His grin fell when he realized he was going to have to hide those scratches from Mauga, which shouldn't be that hard. All he had to do was keep a shirt on.
Besides, he just needed to buy some time to figure out his next step in life, and whether or not Mauga would be a part of it.
He stepped into the shower and let the warm water cascade down his body. While he was leaning toward moving along on his own, he couldn't help but wonder how Mauga would feel about it all. Knowing his brute personality, there was no way he'd let him go easily. Not without a million questions, a million persuasion attempts, a million offered bribes.
How fucked up would it be if he just left him in the middle of the night one of these days?
He shook his head shamefully. He couldn't do something like that to him after everything they'd been through. He at least owed him an explanation. But not tonight. Tonight, he just wanted to go to sleep thinking happy, peaceful thoughts. He wanted to think only about the delicate lotus he had in his arms mere hours ago and how amazing their time as one was.
Again, regretful emotions flooded him. What he felt for Niran was far, far different than what he felt for Mauga. Though he was sure he had love for Mauga, it wasn't the type of love he could build a life with. They really only shared one hobby: hunting. And that was all they'd done since they met. Baptiste felt like he could have something more with Niran. It was silly, he knew it! He'd only just met him! How could he have known such a thing?
He just felt it. There was no other answer.
He thought about how he'd be pretty much leaving Mauga for someone else, but it wasn't like that! He'd been having thoughts of separating since before they raided the castle, Niran just helped him confirm them. It wasn't like he was trying to go and pursue this vamp or anything like that, he just… wanted to see where the breeze took him. Who's to say that wasn't just a one-time thing? They agreed to meet up again, but what if he had second thoughts and ran?
"I need to see you again," Baptiste said softly, reaching out and tucking loose frosty hair behind his ear as they lie on the pile of their clothes. "Can I?"
"Still haven't had enough?" Niran smiled, dragging dainty fingers down a chocolate, muscled chest. He shared his sentiment and wished again to experience the intensity that was Baptiste.
"There's just something about you," Baptiste leaned in, kissing him lightly. "Did you charm me?" He asked playfully.
"I didn't, not this time, at least!" Niran reached up and held his face, staring into his eyes. "Looks like I don't even need to."
"What do you mean 'this time'?" Baptiste nuzzled his neck, sliding his hands up and down his arms, admiring how smooth his skin was.
"Don't hate me, but…" Niran said shyly. "When we first bumped into each other in China, I used a little of my charm, but it was only because I panicked!"
Baptiste only laughed. It definitely explained a lot of things in the beginning! "I don't hate you. I could never…"
"Anything after that was all you, Bap," Niran gave a tiny smile. He hadn't had anyone be so into him like this before. It felt good. Really good.
"I had a feeling," Baptiste held his hand and kissed his knuckles with a soft hum. "Which is why this needs to happen again."
"I agree."
He stepped out of the shower and toweled himself dry. Niran wouldn't run. Not after what they shared. Not after the promise Baptiste made him. He'd be there waiting for him just like they agreed. At least, he hoped he would be.
He threw on a black beater, making sure it covered the marks on his back before tiptoeing into the room. He looked at a sleeping Mauga and instantly, his stomach soured, badly wishing it was a certain Thai entity lying there instead! The last thing he wanted to do was lay next to this guy after the experience he just had! But he didn't want to raise any more red flags that he was sure he had already, so he sucked it up and crawled in next to him, putting as much space between them as he could. One wrong move, and he'd roll right onto the floor!
"This is nice," Niran said as the handsome hunter took him into his arms tenderly. They did what they could, making a makeshift pallet on the floor with their clothes. It was kind of romantic, how they were all cuddled up, listening to the rain fall around the temple. "It's like the universe wanted this to happen."
"You, or the universe?" Baptiste chuckled, lips all over bare skin.
"I suppose you could say both," Niran sighed while Bap paid attention to the sensitive parts of his neck. "But I think you wanted it more."
"That may be true," Bap said against him. "I wanted to tell you somehow that I didn't want to hurt you."
"Instead, you wanted to do the opposite," Niran held his face, kissing his forehead. "How sweet."
Bap nodded, letting him do what he wanted. "I want to protect you," he blurted out. Where did that come from?
Niran paused, looking at him intently. He was serious, wasn't he? "How strange for a hunter to say that to me…" he said, his voice taking on a quieter tone.
"I know! Just… please trust me," Bap sat up, taking his hands. "I'm serious. I don't want to hurt you. I want to keep you safe. I'm… not alone."
Niran had a feeling he'd be traveling with another hunter. After all, wasn't it two of them who'd broken into the castle? He looked to the side nervously. What was he doing, risking his life to screw a hunter? He needed to get back home before Satya found out about this!
"You're safe," Bap reassured him, squeezing his hands. "We split up a long time ago. He has no idea I found you."
"You say that now, but what if…" Niran began.
"There will be no 'what ifs', I promise," Bap was firm with his words. He needed to convey to him that he had nothing to worry about. "I will make sure you stay safe."
Niran was very wary. How could he trust his words so easily? It was a shame he believed him when he knew he shouldn't, but there was nothing but positive energy coming from this guy. He stubbornly turned his head, his brain fighting with his heart. "I have kept myself safe for this long."
"Yes, but…" Bap walked his fingers up a caramel leg. "Wouldn't it be nice to have someone looking out for you? It must be tiring having to watch out for yourself all the time."
Niran couldn't help but gush at how chivalrous he was! He was right, but he had Satya by his side! However… keeping Baptiste around might not be a bad idea. Especially since he was adamant about protecting him.
Baptiste lie back down on his side, pulling Niran down with him. How could he prove to him that he was serious? More importantly, how could he convince them to meet up again? He tucked a stray lock of silver hair behind his ear. "I need to see you again."
Niran was on cloud nine! Who would have known that their little chase would turn into that?! It was true he spent his days fantasizing about Baptiste and his nights dreaming about him, but never did he imagine it would come true!
It was also true that he originally ran back into the temple to both wait out the rain and hide from him, but a very large part of him wanted to be found. And when he turned around to find him just standing there, staring at him with a dark hunger in his eyes, all of his blood went rushing downstairs and he let out an internal squeal of glee.
When their lips touched, Niran was transported to a new reality, an exhilarating one that showed him pleasure he hadn't known existed. Bap's urgency, his greed, it consumed him in the most delightful way! He was relentless, marking his body up, feeling up every inch of his skin, stamina neverending. It was what he didn't even know he'd been craving.
But the strangest thing of all… he smelled so delicious, he found himself wanting to bite him a few times; an urge he hadn't had since he turned! It wasn't like he wanted to attempt to turn him or anything like that, he just wanted a little taste, that's all! And if he were truthful, it was quite hard holding back!
Eventually, their time as one came to an end, and he was actually sad about it! He wanted more time with him! Was he getting ahead of himself? He only just met this guy! Why was he feeling all these emotions? He… wanted to keep him around. He felt a spark with Baptiste, no, he felt more than a spark. He didn't know what it was or why fate so desperately was trying to push them together, but he was excited to see what the near future had in store!
Wasn't it fate that made them run into each other in Yunnan? Wasn't it fate that brought them together again at the castle? Wasn't it fate that led them on an intense chase that ultimately resulted in them exploring each other's bodies? Who was he to deny it? And if Baptiste felt the same way… why should he fight it?
"Ah!" Baptiste grunted as he stepped into his pants. He hadn't completely recovered from his injury and he completely ignored the pain until now.
"What is it?" Niran went to his side, holding him steady while he finished putting his pants on. "Are you okay?"
"It's nothing," Bap cupped his cheek. "Just my leg."
Niran remembered he'd gotten hurt at the castle, so there was a good chance he hadn't fully recovered yet. All that running around and movement he was just doing surely didn't help, either. He smiled. "I've got something for that!"
Bap looked at him curiously. "Yeah?"
Niran excitedly ran over to grab his glove and slipped it on. "I'll take care of you." He walked back over to him and charged up his glove, a bright pink lotus blossoming in his palm.
Baptiste watched in wonder as he demonstrated his abilities. A glowing pink flower, a lotus, grew in the palm of his hand and a light flew from it and found his injury. Warmth washed over him as another light landed on his leg, and the pain vanished.
"Better?" Niran grinned at the look of awe and relief on his face. "It's energy from the earth. It's designed to completely heal almost any injury instantly. Though I've only really used it on myself, it works the same on anyone." He let his fingers dance on broad shoulders. "You're the first human I've shown this to."
"It's… amazing, Niran," Bap said, bending his leg. It was as if he'd never gotten hurt! He was brilliant! He reached for him, kissing him deeply. "You're incredible. Thank you."
Niran was happy to have finally helped him. He remembered feeling bad back at the castle, but he couldn't do anything then. He liked the praise. How was he so good at that? He wanted to hear him say more nice things.
He was thankful the rain stopped and the night was clear again. How much time had gotten away from him? He looked up at the stars, wishing he could lie beneath them in Baptiste's arms. Why was his affection so familiar? Did there need to be a reason?
He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he was walking up the path to his house and hadn't realized it. He saw the soft glow of light coming through the curtains and knew immediately what it meant. "Oh no," he mumbled. He left earlier in the day; he wouldn't have turned a light on when the sun was out.
He opened the door and stepped inside, glancing at the shoes on the rack before closing the door quietly and tiptoeing through the halls. Unfortunately, his efforts were in vain as he was stopped as soon as he passed the entryway to the living room.
"Niran!" Satya said from her seat on the side chair, her legs crossed.
"Satya! You made it!" Niran tried to fake his way through it, walking up to her with a smile. "I trust your travels were well?"
"Do not play dumb," Satya was furious! She clearly remembered telling him not to leave! "Where were you?"
"Oh, come on!" Niran huffed, throwing his arms up dramatically. "I was just exploring!"
"Exploring?" She crossed her arms. "Until three AM?"
Three AM? Holy crap! Niran pulled out his phone, but it was dead. Had he been distracted by him for that long? It felt like he only spent ten minutes with him! He needed more. "Sorry, it started to rain so I waited it out in an abandoned temple. I would have called you, but my phone died!"
Satya had been around Niran for quite some time; she knew he was hiding something by his behavior. She eyed him carefully as he fidgeted. He was a night owl, but he wasn't one to go exploring in the middle of the night!
"How long have you been back?" Niran tried his best to divert the topic, seeing how she had that look on her face. She was mad at him!
"I've been here for at least five hours." They looked at each other in silence for what felt like forever. "Your hair is messy."
"Oh," Niran ran his fingers through his hair, wishing a certain Caribbean man was doing it instead. With what he'd just done, he had to have been all disheveled! "Must have been the rain."
"But you waited it out," Satya reminded him. His clothes were completely dry. Why was he lying to her? It was then that she saw something on his neck. "What's that?"
"What's what?" Niran asked innocently.
"On your neck."
Oh, God! He'd completely forgotten that Bap marked him up like a horny teenager! Not that he was complaining… "What are you talking about?" He played dumb, heading to the bathroom to check himself out in the mirror. "Oh, my…" he whispered, opening his shirt to see nothing but traces of his previous activities scattered on his body.
"I want you to remember this. Remember me."
Only the heavens knew how badly he wanted to experience that crashing wave again. What would tomorrow bring? How could he sneak out without Satya fifty-questioning him? "I don't know," he eventually said, staring at himself in the mirror.
He didn't know? How absurd! Satya rolled her eyes and got up, standing in the doorway of the bathroom and watching him investigate himself. Truth be told, whatever or whoever he was doing was none of her business. She couldn't say she wasn't curious about it since there was no one except that stranger he ran into in China that caught his attention, but it wasn't her place to ask him personal questions like that. All she wanted him to do was be safe and smart.
"Oh!" Niran snapped his shirt shut, nearly jumping out of his skin when he realized she was standing in the doorway. How much did she see? "I think I must be breaking out or something," he lied, brushing past her and going to his room.
"Yeah, right," she snorted, following him to his room. "Listen, dost, I don't care what you do in your free time, just please. Be safe. I don't need you getting airheaded and losing yourself."
"Satya, come on," Niran looked through his closet for a silk robe to wear after his shower. "We've been around this long with no problems so far. Trust me, okay?"
"Isaka naam kya hai?" Satya asked knowingly.
Ah, times like these, Niran wished he hadn't taken the time to sit with her and learn Hindi. Baptiste was the name of the sexy piece of chocolate that handled him in all the right ways, but could he tell her that? "I don't know what you're talking about, Satya," he said with a slick smile before going back into the bathroom and closing the door.
Satya just turned and walked away, shaking her head. She knew he'd tell her when he was ready, but she wondered what the big fuss was. He wasn't the secretive type, which only told her he was doing something he shouldn't have been doing! She just hoped it didn't come back to bite them in the butt.