in the wilderness

“You can’t promise that.” The cynicism had returned, like a birthed flame. “When has anything been okay?  I got out. I was FREE from this, and look where I’m now. Thirty years don’t make up for the fact that, for the first twenty of my life, everyone I’ve ever cared about were either viciously murdered, or...” His jaw clenched. “You know.” A word didn’t come, because the relationship between him and Wes wasn’t that simple. It never could be again.

“I take it you guys aren’t as close as you used to be.”

“Not any longer than we need to be.”

“I’ll be watching you closely, Mr. Bond.”

“Boring is safe.”

“I’ll take it from you if I have to.”

His finger hooked in the others collar, pulling him in for a quick peck to his lips. “Fair warning -- I’m not going to be seen in public with you if you say it like that.”

“You. I’m surprised you had to ask.”

“Aren’t we though?  We have a case to solve, and it’s going to be dangerous.”

“We’ll take it slow,” he offered. “The sooner we have a base, the better. Preferably someplace furnished.” With that, he’s giving Logan a gentle grope of his backside. 

“First order of business?” A good question indeed. If it weren’t for the stressful situation they found themselves in, he would’ve actually praised his hubby for thinking forward like that. “I guess.. getting settled. I’m going to trust you to give me the Mystic Falls rundown, and we’ll go from there.”

To his surprise, it didn’t feel different. Was it supposed to?  After so many years with this man, even after they had aged and grayed, nothing felt strange -- it was all familiar. His other hand was brought up to cup Logan’s cheek. “We can do this.” It was a statement, reassuring the both of them.

He could see it -- the sincerity in his husband’s eyes. Vampires might’ve been capable of becoming cruel, cold creatures, but that wasn’t what he saw when he looked at Logan. It drew him in, and before he even realized it, his lips were on the others. A gentle, tender kiss, shared between life partners. “I love you.”

The silence had said so much more than any words could have. Slowly, but surely, Aaron approached his husband. He reaches for him, hand moving to rest against the delicate curve of the others neck. “You wouldn’t hurt me.” It was spoken like a statement, but his eyes weren’t completely devoid of uncertainty.

“You have fangs, and I don’t know if you remember, but it was a vampire that killed my entire family. Again and again.” It was a serious topic, but Aaron was clearly just stating it as a fact -- as he had long but come to terms with the tragedy that was his life.

“But she’s here, in town?” He hadn’t spoken to her in such a long time.

Any other day, any other situation, and it wouldn’t have been out of character for Aaron to recoil at the man’s touch -- but with the life he built currently spiraling, it was difficult not to find comfort in the simple gesture. Despite the lies, Wes was a good guardian, and for far too long, considered the only bit of family Aaron had left. So instead, he softly nodded, wanting to take those reassuring words and tuck them away somewhere safe.