Cayden Nilsson

“Night.” He smiled, his hand closing the door to the Uber behind her. He would have liked to have given her a lift home himself, but Ryan had just messaged him demanding an immediate and non-negotiable meeting and he’d been left with no other choice then to cut there night short. Thankfully, she’d agreed to go see a monster movie marathon with him next week, so he didn’t have to be worry about when he’d be seeing or running into her next. 

It wasn’t uncommon for Ryan to hold these spontaneous meetings, but this late? Yeah something was definitely up. Going through the back entrance, Nik made his way to the room the band had unofficially made their own, “so this better be good, Ryan…” ‘We think its time you leave the band.’ “What?” Stealing a glance over at Jay, who’d been cowering behind his drum, “You want me to leave the band too?” Of course Jay wasn’t given any time to answer as Ryan jumped in and repeated what he’d just said a few seconds ago. Truth was, Nik knew his friend actually did not want him to leave, but Ryan was his brother and blood was thicker than water in most cases. Most. “You know this band only became something after I joined it right? What are you going to go back to? Singing Top 40 covers? You’re not using any –” He stepped forward grabbing the vast amount of music sheets he had spread out across the room, “– of my music. I’ll get my things tomorrow. Tonight I’m staying at a friend’s.” He turned around his music sheets clasped tight between his fingers. He could feel his blood boiling. 

Stomping out through the bar, only stopping when he caught Cay’s eyes watching him, Nik let out a huff and put his sheets down on one of the tables that the vampire had just wiped up. “Hey, would you get in trouble if I was to break one of these chairs right now? Actually, you know what? I’ll flip the bill.” He picked it up… the aggression lingering from last night’s full moon, finally breaking through as he threw the wooden chair against a neighboring brick wall and watched it break apart at the impact. After a moment of just heavy breathing on his end, Nik let out a sigh and turned back around to look at what he could only imagine was a very confused, Cay. “Give me a broom. I’ll help clean up.” Seemed only fair.

Cayden flipped the last stool and glanced over his shoulder at Nik as he went by, briskly heading for the back. Cayden thought nothing of it, simply going back to his work of hanging glasses and making sure the sinks were empty. Several minutes later and he looked up from his work again to see a very angry Nik coming his way. A stack of sheets slammed atop a table, his friend's hands going for one of the chairs instead. "Uh, yeah I--" The chair slammed against the wall and shattered, leaving Cayden to sigh out the rest of his sentence. "--will..." Well, it wouldn't be the worst thing that's happened here under his watch.

"Having a little trouble in paradise?" Cayden asked as he pulled a broom from behind the counter and offered it to Nik. "Or do I simply need to kick someone's ass?" They'd already vowed to the 'have each other's back' thing, so he might as well follow up on it. Though, from the look of how angry Nik was, he might not have to.

Cayden grabbed a pint glass and filled it to the brim with beer. He placed a napkin down on the bar top (because there was no way in hell he was wiping it all down again) and placed the glass there for Nik. "Here. Come sit down and drink this. Tell me your woes. This is what I do on a daily basis after all, bartender slash therapist." He cocked a grin, hoping to at least cheer Nik up some and get rid of that scowl on his face.

Ah, the usual ‘mug’ shot kind-of deal then. Most hunters were like that. Aware of their own vulnerabilities and not willing to broadcast their names to the entire Supernatural world. Nik’s sister, however, was not. Her name was as well-known as her face was. It was the reason why Nik, had stolen his new name from some IKEA employer, on the trip to New Hampshire. If someone heard the name Parker Callahan, especially in East End, he knew he was more likely to see his end than Cay was. “I’ve never been shot… before. At least not with a bullet, does it hurt as much as they say it does?” He was curious, tapping his finger lightly against the almost healed wound, as he waited for Cay to fill him in.

Something warm came alive in his stomach with Cay, agreeing to have his back. Nik, hadn’t ever had someone say that to him. Well at least since he’d shown up in East End, and it made him look at the blonde across from him with a tenderness that he didn’t offer to many men. “Guess you’re going to have to stick around then?” He smiled, his lips pulling upwards despite the pain starting to form against his face – great he must have been kicked and now that his stomach was beginning to ease off just a little, he was able to feel it. Fuck, he just knew he was going to have a bruise for his show tomorrow night. Great. Just great. 

Nik nodded, though he was the opposite. He’d had a few girlfriends. Maybe one boyfriend if he wanted to be generous and throw Tim in as well. He might not have ever really ‘loved’ any of them. Tim definitely the closest if anything, but he couldn’t just hook up with someone and leave it at that. He felt to responsible at that point. Maybe it was why he hadn’t been able to break things off with Mavis, after he realised his feelings weren’t exactly up to speed with her own. “Get yourself a boyfriend… it won’t hurt to let yourself be happy for a bit.” He knew, how these creatures got. They were loveless things most of the time and it could have had something to do with their immortality; and having to watch everything they love get old and die one day, but mostly Nik, had hypothesised that it just had a lot to do with actually them believing their beat-less hearts weren’t capable of it anymore. “Nope. I’m waiting till I feel it, like I do whenever I’m singing about it.” Nik, might have been a good liar, but he did pride himself on his authenticity, at least when it came to matters of his own heart. He’d never convince himself he felt something when he did not. That wasn’t fair to them, him or his music. “Yeah, well some of us have a bit more tact than that.” He was just kidding though, letting a small laugh escape him, as he nestled into his friend’s neck deeper. 

“Yeah, I’m Burnin’ Up For You, Cay…” Okay, so he was definitely more than a little feverish at this point and the blonde definitely had a good point, “tell me a story… something to fall to sleep to?”

“I don’t want a boyfriend.” Cayden replied. “Or a girlfriend for that matter. Let’s just cut the talk of significant others and bullets." Any topic would be better than that. Cayden didn't want to discuss happiness or the hypothetical people that might make him happy, and he certainly didn't want to discuss how painful bullet wounds were when Nik was suffering from a similar injury.

"A story?" Cayden sighed, reaching into his memories to try to find something he considered pleasant. There were a couple things he had from his childhood, less so recently but he had seen a lot of great places. "A spent a night up in the Scandinavian Mountains once. It was a really amazing experience, I guess mainly because I can't freeze to death and I didn't need to rest. The quiet, the endless view of stars, the river...it was a time I was able to clear my head, forget everything and drop the weight. I'd like to go there again sometime, and it doesn't even half to be there it could be any mountain really. Found out I really like being in that kind of environment."

Cayden adjusted himself to lay flat, bringing Nik down with him as he continued going on about that one night and the things he saw. He moved into another story about being Italy and avoiding the advances of some girl at a bar--a girl that turned out to be a hunter who's need for affection became a bloodthirsty turn for a bounty claim when she got close enough to be able to tell what Cayden was. He'd ended up killing her.

Cayden's arm settled beneath Nik, allowing him to stay close to his claimed spot against his neck. He fit there admittedly well, and Cayden smiled at him before shutting his own eyes.

The assault of flowers that seemingly filled her doorway made her grimace internally, she fucking hated flowers — but they weren’t uncommon in lieu of taking out the stupid crown of East End, something she’d never thought would happen considering her habitual nature in terrorizing the town. Clearly, there were some even more twisted than her — including the vampire that attached itself to the flowers as he held them out for her, “You’re lucky I don’t shove those things so far up your ass you become the vase, Cay.” The mock seriousness in her tone lost as she pushed the flowers aside to grab them. “I’ll keep them forever and ever.” The roll of her eyes defiant, Cassie stepping back to let him in, “But you’re right — I am a shining beacon of beauty in this lackluster shithole, at least everyone knows it now.”

The fact that the gift of flowers seemed to annoy Cassandra was a job well done in Cayden’s book. “Damn well better. Put them on display. Front and center.” He said as he handed the flowers over and shut the door behind him. “I mean...that really doesn’t sound like something to be proud of, but if you are, good for you.” 

He went straight for the fridge, because surely she had something in there worth drinking. “So what’s your plans for tonight? Going out to celebrate your not-such-a-victory victory, or you staying indoors like everyone else? Murder shakes these people. It’s sad.”

The first time, Nik had any indication that maybe he wasn’t entirely straight had been ‘Timothy McGall’. They’d been teammates since they were six, friends since they were five, and Nik had even dated his sister. So, what changed? Well, Tim spent a winter away in France, came back with a tan, and a bunch of sexy french words and Nik decided he was le hot. Of course, realising it wasn’t the same as acting upon it and he’d ended up dating his sister another three times before he even got close to telling, Tim how he felt about him. Turns out – kissing your best friend, while your girlfriend and also his sister, were at the same party was an invitation for disaster. It was just a good thing, that in the end, Tim had been a pretty good kisser.

“Woah, look at those abs. Maybe we should get you to put that shirt back on… we are trying to cool me off…” Guys, had always been easy to be around. Sure, girls might have smelled good and had sweet tasting mouths, but they sure were a lot more complicated to work out. “Thanks, I think I’ll just lay my head here… my forehead is burning up,” He nestled into the blondes neck, pushing his forehead against the skin there, and immediately sighing out in relief after his friend’s cool skin came into contact with his own. “Fire and ice…” He said, out loud to no one in particular. 

Head jerking up at the mention of his friend being shot, Nik frowned, his hand coming out to check the wound on Cay’s neck and indeed make sure he was going to be okay too. “Who the hell shot you?!” He could feel the anger rising within his gut and whoever had done it, would have to consider themselves pretty lucky that he was currently unable to move more than his own head right now. If he had his entire strength back he’d have tore the shooter in two. “I’ve got someone… on my trail too.” His sister. He wanted to tell Cay, but at the same time he knew he couldn’t. “Just, I’ve got your back, okay? He comes looking for you here and he’s going to have to go through all 6′0 inches of me first.” He was even larger as wolf. 

“Wait, you haven’t? Well tell me about someone you did date then… someone before you became Edward Cullen?” He settled back against Cay’s neck, enjoying the cooling factor it had over his forehead, but also enjoying feeling the man’s skin. It smelled nice. “Yeah, after I told she was crazy for wanting to be with a werewolf, she was all ‘Crazy in love’ or something. It’s a bit of blur now.” Nik, sighed, “uh… I kind of said it back. I didn’t know what else to say… like, what would you have said? Thank you? I mean, I like her, I do. I just don’t think I love her yet. Uh, maybe 4 weeks… give or take a few days. Officially I guess, 3 and a half. Is that too soon? I don’t know, I haven’t ever told anyone I loved them before, even before I turned into Teen Wolf. Do you think it’s wrong that I lied to her? Or that we slept together after wards? I mean, it was good, I just felt kind of guilty that she might have thought we were ‘actually’ making love…” 

Cayden laughed, actually rather flattered by the compliment as he glanced down at the body he didn't pay much attention to. Maybe all that hunting and fighting paid off in the development of a hard lean abdomen, or maybe that was just another side effect of being a vampire. Whatever the reason, it seemed to work for Nik, because he was nuzzling up to Cayden and the sudden warmth of the contact flooded the vampire's body and made his eyes widen. Sadly it was short-lived, because the mention of the gunshot injury had Nik popping up again, looking surprisingly angry.

"I don't know who it was." Cayden admitted. "But I know his face now." And there would come a time he would see him again, get him alone, and that gun wouldn't be enough to save him.

To have something terrible in common such as being hunted, it drew understanding and sympathy, and while Cayden knew why the hunter tracked him, and understood it as well, he wondered if Nik's situation had its own gruesome story. Maybe they both had more in common than he thought--both monsters running from their pasts and the people that wanted them dead. Cayden smiled softly at Nik vowing to protect him, feeling a newfound surge of fondness for him. No one had ever agreed to just take on his problems like that before, and take part in a fight that wasn't their own. "I've got your back too." And just like that, it seemed he had a reason to stay put longer than he expected. He couldn't look after someone if he ditched out in two weeks.

And then Nik was back against his neck, and this time Cayden relaxed in to him, a little more comfortable after the second time. "Well...I had a few flings but never really anything serious enough to be considered dating." He never took anyone out, never tried to woo them or anything. People would just call him up to do things and they would likely fuck afterwards. It was way simpler that way. But now it was Cayden's turn to sit up, twisting so he could stare at Nik incredulously. "Wait. You've never told anyone you loved them before, and your first time you say it, it's a lie?" Okay that was a little funny when he thought about it. Was Nik really the type of person that was too afraid to hurt feelings? "You could mention grabbing something to eat, make up a story, say 'that means a lot to me', or just 'fuck you, I don't love you back.' But no, you go the lying route and then you sleep with her to make her certain you meant it." Okay now he was laughing, because even he wouldn't have pulled something like that.

"Christ Nik...no. No, that is not what you do. At all. And three weeks? How do you love someone in three weeks? I'm barely invested in a tv show in that amount of time." Cayden shook his head and rolled his eyes, leaning back once more and placing a hand on Nik's cheek to ease his head back into place against Cayden's neck. "You're going to have your hands full with that one. And you're feeling hotter." His hand was lingering on the side of Nik's face, feeling the steady burn from his cheek. "You should rest. It's the best thing you could do for yourself now."

Needless to say, the past days hadn’t been kind to the English lass. Not only had she been having difficulty finding a blood source, she now was facing trouble healing. Her arse had been thrown in the nick by the same man who did that over a decade ago and she had heard his reprimands as if she were the same fifteen-year-old of yore. A friend found a heart beside a body, her whatever cleaned the mess up and she bloody missed the beauty pageant’s nominations, which, much to her further dismay, didn’t have her named as Miss East End. The latter, truly, was the latest of her concerns. 

“Bloody week…” She muttered to herself, nursing her whiskey flask. That’s when a quiet, unfamiliar voice reached her ears. Slowly, her head spun to her side, acknowledging who she thought to be an acquaintance she messed about with in her usual, provoking mannerism. Yet it was far from someone she joked with. It was that twat. “Then don’t go about slapping people’s hands.” It seemed ridiculous now to think that’s how it all began. But Blake didn’t truly reflect on it, she didn’t give a rat’s arse.

Not truly annoyed by the smoke coming from his fag, the blonde lit one herself. Her sapphire gems analysed the space in their surroundings. Quiet and remote, the open space seemed nearly isolated. Given the last events in town, Blake gathered people were clever enough to avoid being out in the late hours. Except for this particular girl. Far away, she was all alone, doing God knows what sitting in front of a bush. That’s when it clicked. “You’re not going to feed off her. Townspeople are off limits. Bloody hell, we don’t need more shite going about here…” With a heavy sigh, she pressed her temple, hand rubbing her face - impatient and exhausted. “Don’t be a twat for once, yeah.”

"She's out alone after dark, hardly paying attention to her surroundings, and heading to a remote area of town. If you ask me, she wants to be fed from." Cayden pointed out. He could formulate several good arguments on why he should attack her regardless of what was considered off limits. She wasn't going to stop him, regardless of what so-called laws she decided to quote. Cayden had no intentions of begging for blood bags and forcing himself to swallow such nasty contents down when his body and instincts alike crave something more fresh.

"If it's more humane for us to feed from blood donations, then humans shouldn't slaughter animals for their meals. Hypocritical assholes don't know what it's like not being at the top of the food chain. As far as I see it, I'm doing nothing different than what I did before. She's a goddamn cheeseburger, and I'm starving." He still had healing to do, and he needed the blood fresh from the vein. "So are you going to tattle on me, or do you want to share? Here's the olive branch, take it or leave it."

Truth, was he felt a bit like a ‘dick’, now. Here he was going on about Cay’s lack of taste, when really the vampire just didn’t want to put anything out he might eventually have to leave behind in a hurry. Sheesh, it made sense now, as to why the guy wouldn’t be investing in any good picture frames or people that might be able to fill them up for him, “oh right…” So, it might’ve made sense, but it still left Nik’s stomach aching in a different kind of way now. “Well, I hope you stay…” He didn’t like the idea of not looking up from his position on the stage and seeing Cay, not there and manning the bar anymore. He’d become a constant in that way, plus there was tonight – and everything he’d done for him without complaint, and of course there were the fact he left, Nik’s entire body humming, when he’d neared him on the bed before. Yeah, there was a lot he would miss if Cay, left anytime soon. “I know, we don’t really get a say in these things, but I do really hope things work out and you stay in East End.”

“I’m —” Of course, he’d been about to protest, the idea of anyone picking him up like some baby, disturbing him and his ego in more ways than he could count, but then Cay had gone and done it anyway and Nik, was left with not just cool hands to touch, but a chest as well. It felt… good. Even if he was sure he looked more than just a little ridiculous nestled against the chest of the 6’4 giant right now. And just like that, he couldn’t imagine spending the rest of the night without him.

Which, thankfully he’d managed to guilt trip Cay, into feeling the same. “Thanks, ma dude.” He let out a soft laugh, groaning as it pulled against his stitches, “okay… remind me again to tell my inner wolf to take the next full moon off.” If only it actually could. After watching, Cay take his shirt off, but leave a tank top underneath, Nik frowned a little – “hey, man don’t feel uncomfortable because of me. Just sleep in whatever you usually sleep in. Your naked chest isn’t going to scare me out of the apartment. Besides, you’ve seen me shirtless now, only fair you take your own turn.” Nik, would be shirtless too if he could, because he hated sleeping in anything ‘restrictive’. Take that however you like, but yes – Nik, liked to sleep naked.

Cay’s next words, had Nik’s breath hitching for other reasons besides pain. He listened to him? He was so caught up, that there was an actual beat between them, before he tried to laugh just how serious he was about the damn thing off his shoulders again, “what? You’re not a 70s Bee Gees fan? I thought for sure you’d be into them. At least ironically.” There was laughter on his lips again, but this time he kept it from completely slipping out, and sending a wave of pain throughout his gut. Instead, Cay got a mischievous grin and a slight nudge of his shoulder against his own. “Do you play?” It made sense that he did, but he supposed it could have been a souvenir from a time long before he even met Nik. Vampires were tricky like that. Hard to work out and hard to pin point.

Of course, he’d been so intent about watching Cay, after those words of his, that he’d seen when his hand jumped up to his shoulder and brush against a mark there… “what happened?” As horrible as the mark had probably once looked, Nik was relieved to see that not everything had the capacity to make the blonde run… the last thing he wanted was showing up tomorrow with a thank-you muffin basket in hand, only to find an even emptier apartment than the one he was already in.

“You mean, does she know I’m a werewolf? Well yeah, thanks to you, Bitey-Mc-Bite-Face, she does.” He smiled though, the whole thing wasn’t a big deal to him anymore. “What about you? Have you ever told someone –” You loved? No, he still wasn’t sure that was the right word for it, “you were dating, that you were, you know, a vampire? Did anyone squeal and quote that Twilight book to you?” He was still a little convinced that, Mavis was romanticising him and the situation a bit much, because no sane person would be okay, with finding out their boyfriend was a werewolf. “She said she loved me… do you think it’s bad to date someone who likes you more than you like them? Or do you think it’s possible to eventually catch up to them?”  

Cayden was still hesitant to shed clothing when around other people, but it was Nik, and being bare would offer him more of a cool touch to his already overheated body. So he pulled off that last bit of clothing coveering his upper body and dropped it on the floor beside the bed. He had to remind himself that Nik had requested he stay close, and that at least kept him comfortable as he leaned back against the headboard and readjusted the guitar in his lap. "You're welcome to get as close as you want. Otherwise I can re-wet that cloth and lay it over your head again."

At the question whether or not he could play, Cayden grinned and started up Wanted Dead or Alive, fingers moving with practiced precision. He played only briefly before coming to a halt. What he really missed was his piano, and maybe he could invest in a good keyboard at the very least. That would be easier to move around. Moving...That was another issue. Nik hoped it would work out, but Cayden had serious doubts, and he wasn't looking forward to the time coming.

Cayden glanced at the healing bullet wound, grimacing lightly before he might as well tell the truth. "I got shot. Twice actually, the other entry wound is on my thigh." Seemed they both had a knack for getting into trouble, and getting used for target practice when they gave into their instincts. "Happened a few days ago while I was feeding. Unfortunately being myself in public is usually a set up for something like that happening. Isn't the first time." Won't be the last. "That's why I stay on the move. Being what I am, I make enemies, and one in particular has been following me for some time. He'll catch up. He always does." Wow, this was the first time he'd spoken about that to anyone., and Cayden wondered why it was that Nik was able to make him do and say things he normally wouldn’t.

Speaking of telling him things... "I haven't dated anyone since I was turned." Cayden replied. "So no." It was part of that whole staying on the move and avoiding connections thing, something he was really failing at when it came to Nik. Cayden leaned towards the edge of the bed, returning his guitar to its place by his bed and then shifted and went the opposite way, pressing his side back against Nik's. "She said she loved you?" Only because he was so surprised he had to make sure he heard correctly. And then he was getting asked advice, and being as inexperienced as he was with relationships in general, he wasn't sure he was in a place to give it. "I mean...what did you say when she said it? And how long have you been together anyway?"

So, apparently Cay, hadn’t left him after all. 

His heart picked up – a mixture of realising said fact, and knowing that the blonde had caught him playing out a song that he wasn’t even sure would ever make the light of day. He didn’t mind sharing the stuff he’d worked on for hours, days, weeks, months even…, the stuff he knew was good, because he’d given it his own personal stamp of approval, but this was unnerving. Thankfully, the blonde hadn’t seemed too interested in the guitar or the tune he’d been developing out of it, his focus back on the sheets that they’d both just finished making a mess out of. It was funny though, because he hadn’t wanted Cay to comment about the song, but now that he’d done just that he kind of wished he had. “Uh, yeah no problem… don’t worry I’ve got this.” 

Only apparently he didn’t, because after he’d placed the guitar back onto the bed beside him, stood up and made a step towards the door, his head had made up its mind it wanted to be a carousel. Reaching out to grab the closest thing to hold onto; Cay as it would turn out, Nik let out a breath, “so yeah, you might have to take me to the couch.” It was pretty embarrassing to tell the truth. Here he was; a full grown man (kind of), needing help from another man, to help him walk over to a couch. If he wasn’t so utterly helpless right now, he probably would have attempted another shot at it.

With a little hesitation on his end, Nik wrapped his arm around his friend’s waist and let out a sigh, as he felt his strength triple. “Your skin – it feels, nice.” He leaned closer, as Cay helped him out of his room and over towards the couch in the living room/kitchen area of the apartment. Another bare and lifeless room… he really needed to teach this guy about the art of Feng Shui, “dude, where is all your stuff…?” Maybe, it was still in storage or something? “This whole room is depressing…” He could have blamed it on the fever tomorrow for being so blunt, but he knew Cay, knew him well enough by now to sense that he’d have said it to him anyway. Feverish or not. Sides’ Nik didn’t care what he thought anyway. The guy just really needed a Ficus Fern.

“Ow!” He grimaced as he laid back down on the couch, his skin missing Cay’s more than he thought it would. He could feel the exhaustion now, but his fever kept him from succumbing to it, as he waited for Cay to get back and help him back to the bed. It was weird to think he was about to sleep in a man’s bed he’d only met a few days ago – and had also attacked his girlfriend, but then again his relationship with Cay, was weird. There was just something about the blonde that had, Nik feeling like he’d known him a lot longer than just a week. It was probably the artist in him getting romantic about their friendship, but he couldn’t help it – the whole thing just seemed bigger. 

After, he’d got Cay to give him a shirt (he didn’t want blood getting on the new set of sheets, Nik grabbed the quilt and tried to get it as far away from him as possible – too hot. “Hey, I know this is going to sound really weird, and you totally don’t have to do it, but you think you’d be okay, with staying here tonight – you know, next to me? Your skin is just really cold and I’m sick of feeling like I’m going to catch on fire…” Plus, as much as he didn’t want to admit it, he was still a little scared that whoever had shot him tonight was going to find him again and finish the job. At least with, Cay here, he knew he’d be fine and that nothing was going to happen to him. Why? Well, he’d promised him that. Hadn’t he? 

He didn't intend for Nik to attempt getting up on his own, and Cayden was in the process of reaching for him when he seemed to lose balance. At lest now he was forced to rely on Cayden for support and maybe that would help him realize he needed to be less stubborn about this situation. As he helped him into the living area and onto the couch, Cayden could feel how hot Nik's body was becoming. If his fever was climbing, they would need to do something to regulate his temperature before it got too high.

Being told his skin felt nice would have made Cayden flush if he could, but thankfully, his embarrassment was always well hidden. Maybe the second best thing about being a vampire if he was being optimistic. "I don't really have much stuff." Cayden replied as he glanced around his bare walls and lack of furnishings. He had a tv, a gaming system and some movies, but that was about it. Other than the small bookshelf in the corner with medical texts and a handful of novels, Cayden's belongings hardly offering the large space anything lively. "I don't usually stay in one place very long, Nik. Trouble has a way of fining me." Trouble in the form of one very vengeful hunter who would stop at nothing to eliminate Cayden. Nik would be at risk of that too if Cayden wasn't careful

Cayden withdrew back to the bedroom, stripping his light comforter and sheets, glad to see the towels and tops of his blankets kept blood from seeping down onto his mattress. He changed everything out fairly quickly and then returned for Nik, this time not even giving him the option of standing up on his own. He could fuss about being carried bridal style later, but Cayden wasn't going to risk him hurting himself further, especially when his body was struggling enough as is. Without asking, or giving Nik a chance to refuse him, Cayden slid his arms under him and lifted him up easily, taking him from the couch back to the bedroom so he could ease him back into bed.

Cayden was about to point out he hadn't planned on leaving Nik's side anyway, but when he heard it was a little bit more than his company that was needed, he blinked in surprise. He always saw his cold body as something revolting, something people avoided touching. He'd been taken aback by Quinn when she'd healed him, showing him a tenderness he hadn't known while she did so, and now here was Nik requesting he stayed close enough to touch. It was just to be used a sort of ice pack, nothing more--at least that's what Cayden was telling himself. "Yeah, of course."

Cayden slipped off his shirt and exchanged it with a thin tank top, then took his place on the bed alongside Nik, settling in close enough to him that their sides touched. He could feel Nik's heat seeping through his clothes, and it translated to a warmth stirring in his chest that he needed to distract himself from. He reached for his guitar and pulled it into his lap, thumb experimenting with a few chords until he was able to somewhat mimic what Nik had been playing when he walked in. "I've always liked listening to you play." Cayden admitted. "Definitely helped me get through the busier nights. Many bars I worked at stuck to jukeboxes or karaoke nights and it had a way of ruining my night." He glanced at Nik, looking where the stitched wound was hidden under the shirt he'd given him. Cayden placed a hand over the still abnormal twist of healing skin on his shoulder. His own wound was nearly healed, and would likely be back to normal in a day or two, but this reminded him all too well of the pain he'd gone through, and he wondered if this town was even more dangerous than those he'd run from. 

 "Your uh...girlfriend know about all this?" He wasn't sure where the question had come from, maybe more of a reminder that Nik did have a girlfriend, and it had a good way of eliminating a lot of what he was feeling, if only for a moment.

Jude was looking down at his own tea, his knee bouncing as his nerves got the best of him. Cayden was one of his few friends in the town, since the human could really count those he cared about on one hand, and most of them were his family. He looked up, a small smile tugging at his features as he tried to appear relaxed, “Sorry, what was that? Uhm – I know. I know that. I just uh…” He rubbed his neck, trying to think about what he remembered from not too long ago. “I uhm…I’ve been having these uhm…weird fuckin’ dreams. I keep waking up with bruises on my neck, and I can’t fucking place them. It’s like…gaps in my memory.” Granted, most of the time the dead kept him awake at night, but missing hours? That was new.

Cayden took another sip of his tea, giving Jude a perplexed look as he mentioned something a little far-fetched. Well, at least he didn’t appear to be having a hand in murder or anything, not that waking up with mysterious bruises was any better. The vampire rose and approached Jude, cocking a head as he tried to get a glimpse of his neck. “Can I see?” He asked, placing his glass on the table next to him to free up his hands. “What kind of dreams are we talking about? What do you remember? Sleep walking is definitely a thing, maybe someone got annoyed and tried to choke you out.” Weak attempt at humor, only because Jude seemed so tense.

Nik, could feel him everywhere; the burn of his hands and instruments moving inside of him, his compulsion telling him to stay quiet when all he wanted to do was scream and thrash about, and his breath still lingering in the air above him. It was a lot. A lot of, Cay. And for someone, he’d only just met a couple of night’s ago, Nik was starting to realise just how much of the blonde, his life was going to have to accommodate. Unwillingly now, with his scalpel tearing into his skin, but willingly earlier when his breath had been mixing with his own and reminding him, just why he sometimes fell into the arms of guys. 

It felt like it had been a life-time, before Nik felt the final stitch pull tight against his skin. Stitches, he knew were going to hurt like a sonovabitch when his body threw them back out later that night, after it had patched itself back together again. Werewolves weren’t allowed to get scars. He moved. Wanting to sit up, do anything really, that the compulsion had stopped him from doing before, but of course even with it now free from his mind he agreed to, Cay’s request to rest. Even if his mind was awake and buzzing with activity, his body was heavy and his wound still ached. It would still take all night to heal and he knew that.

Looking around at the mess, they’d both made around him, Nik grimaced and turned his face away from it all. He’d move to the couch if he trusted he could make it over in one piece, but then again, that last thing he wanted to do right now was pop a stitch and have, Cay find his handy-work ruined just a mere few minutes after its creation. No, he’d stay put for now. Instead, he let his eyes wonder around the room; Cay’s room, digging desperately for more parts of his life that he’d yet to discover. Not out of any other reason, than he just wanted to get to know him more. Only there wasn’t a whole lot to get to know. The room was bare, clinical even (seemed slightly fitting), besides a stray guitar that had finally caught his attention. 

Sitting up, a slight grimace as the stitches pulled tight against the unwanted movement, Nik walked over and picked it up, bringing it back over to the bed where he leaned against the headboard and started to strum a few notes. Nothing in particular, just music, because he needed that right now. 

The music coming out of the guitar was beautiful. Enough to stop for. Nik, took a moment, admiring the guitar and its make; it wasn’t like anything he’d ever seen before but damn it played and reacted to his touch nicely. He’d have to quiz, Cay where he got it from, when he eventually came back. Or maybe he wasn’t coming back. Maybe he’d gone inside the bathroom, cleaned himself off, and decided he didn’t want to be around all that blood anymore. Nik, would understand, but still it left his body impossibly hollow. Fingers, strumming a little, as he contemplated the night that had been, Nik knew the lyrics would come to him easily. /wild and arranged, we were built with the same purpose somehow/. There were traces of a song there, pulling against his mind, like the stitches did against his stomach with every move he made. Or perhaps more, like the object of his song was doing to his mind – pulling, making him wonder, and keep glancing towards the bedroom door. /Science prevails, the atmosphere fails. And the earth is frozen still./

Cayden started at himself in the mirror as he commenced with scrubbing his hands hard. He wanted them free from blood, and then he would go about changing his clothes into something more comfortable and clean. If Nik was able to move, he would switch out those blankets and sheets, or at least get him to the couch and cover him up there while he cleaned up. He'd have to clean and sterilize his instruments too, but with the sun coming up and keeping him trapped in his apartment, he would have nothing better to do.

What was a problem was how Nik's presence was beginning to affect him. Being so close to him, caring so much about his well-being, it was becoming difficult to think straight, to concern himself with the things he'd focused on that kept him alive--the main one being: don't form attachments. Saving Nik, protecting him, it gave Cayden more of a sense of responsibility for him. Those words still echoed in his head...I think I'm dying...and his chest gave an ache at the thought of that being a reality. It wasn't right, they'd only just met, had barely been friends, and now Cayden felt Nik was irreplaceable. He'd never stayed in one place longer than a couple of months, but now he was starting to feel some tugging reason to, and it almost scared him.

Shutting off the water and reaching for a hand towel, Cayden started back to his bedroom as he heard the familiar strum of his guitar. He smirked, because of course Nik wasn't gong to listen to him and rest, but at least he was feeling good enough to move around a little--as much as Cayden wished he wouldn't.

He dried each of his fingers individually as he walked back in the room, standing in the doorway and listening to the pleasant sound of Nik playing a moment before he interrupted him. "Are you alright with me carrying you to the couch?" He asked, tossing the damp cloth in the hamper as he drew closer. "I just need to change the sheets and bedspread, then I'll bring you back in so you can sleep." He reached out and placed a hand on Nik's forehead again, not looking at all pleased with the result. "You're a little feverish. How do you feel?"

Her touch came out of instinct, acting before a single thought crossed her mind. It was often what got her in trouble, it was often what made her the most human. Too calculating, too careful was how she described most of her life. Lately, it was the opposite. She was doing without thinking, bringing strange vampires into her half built home. Six months ago, this Quinn was only in her wildest dreams.

And yet, to further surprise herself, Quinn found herself debating her next action. Her lips parted as if she was going to say something but quickly shut once more. What she was debating with herself was dangerous and stupid, but there was just something that urged her forward. She drew the strap of her tank top off her shoulder, the bite mark left from Sebastian early all but healed. “But if you take too much I will shoot you myself”,she threatened.

Instead of answering him, she just offered him a smile to reassure him that everything was okay. That she was fine, even if she was a little weak herself.

Cayden watched her reveal her shoulder to him, inviting him to feed, and he frowned at her for two good reasons. “Quinn, I don’t have the best control, and you’re not in any condition to handle blood loss.” So he cared about her, that was a given now, and he was reluctant to put her in danger when he could hold off a bit longer.

Then there was the matter of the existing bite mark, which really should have been none of his business, but he didn’t like that it was there. “Did someone attack you?” It looked too clean for that, but then she could have been compelled, right? And the thought of that only seemed to make him angrier. 

starter for @caydennilsson

Az would prefer to not delve into exactly how she had gotten the money that was weighing down in the pocket of her jacket. Walking through the supermarket, rather quietly without shoes on, she had a pile of candies stacked up in her hands one after the other. Where were the baskets when she needed one? Deep in thought, it was of course expected for her to slam into someone. At least their chest seemed comfortable. 

“Hi! Sorry about that.”

Cayden had only popped into this grocery store to grab some ingredients for mixed drinks. He wasn’t big on them, but he could make up a few things for Cass or even Nik if he decided to visit more often. Funny how making friends could get him out doing things for them, even if it meant buying fruit and soft drinks to mix with. 

He turned a corner and grunted when someone ran into him, something akin to running into a wall. He frowned at the sight of candy packages falling to the floor and bent to pick them up, glancing at the girl he remembered seeing at the festival. “Please don’t tell me you come here and clean out of the goodness of your heart too.”

You’re not dying? Not, that he didn’t trust the drop-out docs advice, but hadn’t he just said he wasn’t healing and that his bleeding wasn’t slowing down? “Well, it hurts… a lot…” What did dying feel like anyway? Did you feel pain or was it one of those things that was etherial, where you didn’t feel anything human? He wasn’t sure. Nik, had never been anywhere close to dying before, but then, he’d never been shot in the stomach by a crossbow either. Gripping Cay’s, shoulder as a wave of pain washed over him, Nik let out another cry in agony. It wasn’t that his entire body wasn’t already constantly in pain, it was just that every now and again, his organs decided to do their job and his body would be burning from the inside out. 

It was a promise, Nik wasn’t sure the blonde, could keep, but a promise nonetheless that he grabbed ahold of. He’d never met anyone like, Cay, before. Someone; not something, that had been able to convince him that he was wrong. It left a lump in his throat and made him want to cry for another reason. It made him realise that maybe there really was someone still out there, that cared enough to keep him safe. Cay, had become his mom, his dad, his sister, his friend, and still, that tall and attracted man, he’d met on Founder’s day, all wrapped up in one. He’d become a lot bigger than just his freakish height to Nik, and the wolf, wasn’t sure if he could squeeze that all into Cay’s shoulder right now, so instead he pressed his fingers to the back of his neck and said, “thank-you.” 

Letting, Cay, pull him up towards his apartment, Nik did his best to keep his groans to a minimum. Of course, his body was harder to control, but eventually they ended up in front of Cay’s door without anyone stopping them. Thankfully, the last thing they needed right now, was someone yelling out that he’d been shot, and having to explain to the cops there was nothing a doctor could do, that Cay couldn’t do better. The blonde knew the weapons hunters used, and he knew what he needed to get out and the best way of doing it. As painful as Nik, knew it was going to be, he knew he had no other choice, but to let it happen. 

If, he’d been in his own room, he might have laid down a towel first, but he was in too much agony at the moment to think about how he was going to wreck Cay’s sheets beyond repair. “Yeah…, I know. Just make, make it fast…” He knew, Cay wouldn’t be able to though. That there was a lot of tiny pieces of silver still inside him and if he didn’t get them all he’d never quite heal completely, but still he had to at least try and convince himself it would be all over soon. “Ahhhh….” His body moved, as the scalpel dug in deeper, cutting into muscle as it pulled him apart. There was no way he was going to be able to stop moving if Cay, didn’t convince him otherwise. Reaching up for the locket still tied around his neck, Nik took it off and threw it across the room, “you’re going to have to tell me not to move…”  

Cayden watched the item being thrown, unsure of the significance of it, but certainly making a note to ask later assuming all went well. Yeah, simply requesting Nik stayed still wasn't going to be enough, and without the list of drugs he needed to help Nik through this very painful process, that really only left one option for him.

Cayden placed the scalpel blade to the side, taking some gauze to press against the wound before leaning over Nik and with his free hand, use the wet towel to wipe at his friend's forehead and neck. His ability to compel and control his victims wasn't often used because he struck so visciously there was no need to, but for times like these or when it was necessary to wipe someone's memories, it was one thing he was glad he had. For now, this was one of the very rare moments he was glad to be a vampire. "Deep breath." Cayden said softly, making eye contact with Nik and slowly leaning in until their faces were mere inches apart. It was important that eye contact stayed on point, that Cayden held his attention, and only then did he begin to compel him, grasping him tightly but not in a way that was malicious. "No matter how badly this hurts, you will not move. You may speak, but nothing more. Now relax." Nik would have no choice but to obey, his body was a slave to Cayden's power for now, at least until Cayden couldn't control him anymore. He'd never done this longer several minutes, and he would need much longer than that for this to go smoothly.

Glad he at least had that under control, Cayden pressed a cool hand to Nik's cheek, frowning at how hot he felt. Something else he would have to worry about once he was done closing him up.

Straightening, Cayden reached for his thumb forceps, looking down into the wound as he took hold of the shaft and carefully pulled away the damaged tissue it clung to. The arrowhead wasn't something simple and there were cleared shattered bits of gleaming silver spread about the inside of the wound. That was the cause of such terrible bleeding, and if not for his worry for Nik, he'd be losing himself in this. Still it was difficult for someone with poor control, and Cayden was visibly struggling not to lick at the blood leaking from the open injury, or at the very least, lick his fingers and instruments clean.

Piece by piece of silver was plucked out once the thick shaft was removed, Cayden carefully making sure he was getting everything and not the smallest shard was left. One chunk in particular required an extension to the incision, one that clearly hurt Nik and very nearly made him accidentally lose his compulsion over him, but he held it, enabling him to pluck that last piece before he started suturing Nik up. Only once he was done and the closed wound had been wiped clean did he relinquish his control over Nik, breathing a sigh as he placed a hand on his friend's chest, half expecting him to try to sit up. "Rest for a moment. Alright? I need...I have to get this blood off me." Because he was going to lose it if he didn't.

Quinn could feel him swaying under her touch, it was no secret that he was weak. The amount of blood that had been evident on his skin when he came to her shown that, now all of this could only be the tipping point to something terrible. It made her hold her breath, longer then necessary. Her free hand came to rest against his hip, as if a supportive anchor to keep her from falling back until at least this wound was closed. 

“You don’t have to worry about me”, she promised, not quite opening her eyes yet. It took her focus to do this, even if it wouldn’t be the greatest work she had managed. At least, she could heal the skin to stop the bleeding before she needed a break. It may be a bit of a process, but it seemed they were both going to need a time to rest when this stopped. 

“You look exhausted”, she pointed out, finally letting her hand drop. The wound had stopped bleeding, but she needed to catch her breath. “What can I get you?”

Cayden cracked open his eyes, gazing down at the hand on his hip and staring at it for a moment, using that to somehow ground himself as she worked. He’d obviously grown comfortable with her touch in a short amount of time, she’d certainly explored more of his body than anyone else had in some time. 

He lifted his head as she pulled her hand away and breathed out a slow sigh, not even bothering to look at the bullet wound she had exerted herself to help repair. “So do you.” He mused softly, smile fading at her asking what he needed. “Blood, but...I can’t ask you to bring someone here for me to feed. I can hold off for now, maybe try for it tomorrow when I’m in better shape.”

For now they should both try to shut their eyes, let their bodies rest, but he wasn’t even sure he’d be able to with so many troubling thoughts on his mind. “How do you feel?”

Cayden was smoking, eyeing someone he’d already picked out. He was waiting for her to go to a remote area so he could drag her off, and if his sire had been here likely he’d be damn proud of that effort. He took another drag, eyes narrowing and he started moving forward until he caught another scent and slowed his pace. 

Wonderful.

It was her. And if she was here she was either going to ruin his hunt or ruin his day. Maybe both. “Please don’t pester me again.” He muttered, blowing smoke from his lips and not caring if it drifted into her face. “I’m not in the mood.”

@blakewalsh