Edward didnāt really understand at first what was in Artieās head. Abstract thought was difficult that way. He was learning to associate Artieās moods with different kindsĀ of thoughts, but there were no words to his mind just then, only impulse. Artie had that a lot, and Edward never minded of course but this was strange. No sooner had he gotten back into bed with him, expecting Artie to be inclined to sleep, than his lover rose again and walked across the room. He watched him, frowning and confused, but didnāt yet suspect anything. Artie didnāt seem to understand it himself.
As soon as he did though, Edwardās cold dead heart jumped into his throat. Light, real sunlight, was coming in through the window. He must have left it too long, even if these were the first morning rays, not as harmful but still dangerous.Ā He knew Artie felt warm and comforted and in absolute awe, heard it ringing true in his mind instead of pain and fear. He was always afraid of the sun, and Edward was too now, but why didnāt he move?Ā That horrible thought, that terrifying, threatening thought left him chilled. I want to watch the sunrise.
He could only leave it a second before he moved himself, faster than human eyes could follow. He ran across the room and lifted Artie with his arms around his waist, and twirled him around to push him into the corner, Edwardās body between him and any light that might have reached the dark corner.Ā āWhat are you doing?āĀ His voice was tight with panic and worry.Ā āThe sun is rising! These are just normal windows, Artie, what are you thinking?ā Did he want to die? He hadnāt been thinking that way. Heād been happy, contented, openly in love just seconds ago, it didnāt happen that fast. How could it? He grabbed Artieās hand and turned it over, but there were no burns on his skin, not even the faintest pink of what looked like normal human sunburnāthe first stage of the sunās violence. Edward frowned, then took Artieās face in his hands, inspecting his skin just as closely.Ā āWhat..?ā He looked over his shoulder at the windows. Was he wrong? He didnāt think so. He could usually tell the difference just by looking and these were normal windows, just plain unfiltered glass. What the hell?
Although he tried to get Edward to listen to his thoughts so that he might follow along, he really wasnāt thinking. It was just the immensity it all, he couldnāt string anything together with his lips or his mind. It was so long ago that he watched the sunrise, so long ago that he felt inspired by it instead of tired and scared. The warmth of even the cold light of dawn on his skin was such a foreign thing, he forgot what it felt like. He might have stayed there a long while, too.
He yelped when he felt himself being pulled by Edward. It was so impossibly fast even for him and unexpected enough that he was startled by it. āIām fine!ā He promised. āIām fantastic.ā He grinned, placed his hands the sides of Edwardās face, looking behind him toward the window. Dammit, Edward, I can hardly see it now.Ā
A laugh fell from his lips as he watched Edwardās panic dissolve into confusion. āI tried to tell you!ā Artie was rather confused himself but he didnāt care. It didnāt matter why, he just wanted to go and watch. He wanted to go outside. He turned his face and kissed Edwardās palm.Ā āLetās get dressed,ā he said,Ā āI want to be in it. Edward, it doesnāt hurt. Iām not tired, itās not even too bright for my eyes. Itās like- Wow! Itās like if I was human again.ā he pulled a hand back from Edward and brought it to his teeth, pressed his finger to his fangs. No, he definitely wasnāt human again. He didnāt seriously think so but it was the first possibility that jumped to mind. They could figure it out later, he didnāt want to miss anymore than he had. He pressed his lips to Edwardās and then ducked underneath his arm to squirm his way out of the corner.Ā
āLook at it!ā He exclaimed, his green eyes wild as he pulled on pants. Heās seen the echoes of a sunset in early evening, caught glimpses of early light that made his eyes start to burn and water but never this. He just stared out the window, fumbling with the buttons of his trousers. They couldnāt leave fast enough.Ā