bloodbound fan

COLT KANEKO: colt (whether he meant it or not, you truly don’t even remember) had said that he would forget his own name before he forgets you. right now, as you gaze across the dimly lit club, features alight with emotion as you see him, you fiercely hope that indeed, he has forgotten his own name. four years have gone by, and your reunion wasn’t supposed to be like this, surrounded by sweaty bodies and thrumming music. you feel gross. does he feel the same? you don’t know. he seems fine. he seems like he’s enjoying it—smiling as he kisses another person, hands dropping to their waist to pull them flush against his body.

HAZEL NGUYEN: you don’t become anything more with hazel other than a good lay. it’s unfortunate, but the same argument stands: she simply isn’t looking for a relationship. that’s fine. you don’t care. as long as you can press her body into the sheets, pepper her skin with kisses and bruises, and take her out to dinner afterwards, it’s fine. it’s not fine when you amble up to her hotel room and hear a thud against the door followed by breathy whispers and sounds of zippers being unzipped. there are others, you know that. hazel tells you. still, it hurts. you toss the bouquet of flowers into a trash can and trudge back to the elevator.

MAL VOLARI: mal, the magnificent. mal, the great adventurer. throughout his life, mal volari has earned many nicknames for his courageous spirit and his adventurous nature. one name that is only reserved for you to call is mine. mal is yours. he loves you and you love him. you love him so dearly you’re unsure how to tell him to stop trekking to remote caverns or mountains to retrieve ancient artifacts. it worries you, but that’s his passion, and you hate to be the person to tell him to stop doing the thing he loves for you. one morning, he kisses your forehead. still bleary from sleep, your grumble a halfhearted farewell in response. he promises to come back. the door closes. that had been months ago. where is he? he’ll come back soon, won’t he?

NIA ELLARIOUS: it’s not subtle. the way your eyes flit to tyril every time his back is turned to you. nia sees it. the warmth and affection in your gaze, the upwards curve of your lips when he speaks to you. a foreign feeling bubbles within her, one that feels unpleasant to say the least. jealousy is what it is, nia realizes, when she watches the two of you huddle together. she can only hope, that one day, you would turn your head in her direction and look at her with even just one ounce of something other than friendship.

ADRIAN RAINES: adrian said, with utmost earnesty, that he loves you so much it hurts. he was right. all you see in those warm eyes of his is pain. and something more. hatred, is it? your lover has come to hate you, it appears. but why? you simply don’t understand. you have everything and more at your fingertips, but adrian doesn’t seem to appreciate that. is he jealous that you’ve surpassed him in assets? is it because you now want something other than him, something more. more to conquer, more… power.

GABE RICCI never acts on his feelings. there were multiple instances where something could’ve happened, where he could’ve kissed you and told you what you truly meant to him, but he let those opportunities slip through his fingers by convincing himself using meaningless excuses. even after the competition, he still keeps his distance. it’s when you decide to leave mcgraw byrne that he finally decides to pursue you. he’s years too late. when he sees you again, you’re already wearing a wedding band, clutching onto the arm of a stranger and laughing at something they said.

EDWARD MORTEMER becomes a faraway memory. no matter your efforts, you just can’t find a way to travel back in time to be with him. weeks turn into months and months turn into years. you bear a determination like no other, but even so, it isn’t enough to make a rippling time portal appear before you. when your hair begins to grey and your face starts to wrinkle, you wonder if the pirate captain you saw so many years ago was just a figment of your imagination.

TYRIL STARFURY believes himself to be unworthy of your love. he cages himself in his insecurity and refuses to speak to you about it. you’re so radiant. you’re all the things he isn’t. you deserve someone better. being with him would taint you, he thinks. tyril doesn’t think he could bring all of this up to you, so he simply doesn’t talk about it. silently, he places distance between the two of you until you hear of the name ‘tyril starfury’ and all you feel is an emptiness, replacing the butterflies you once felt for him.

MONA broke her promise. you never see her again after what happened that night. what could you do? how could you, a college student who’s supposed to be in hiding, break her out of prison? the picture you took at the prom sits by your bedside, and every night before sleep, you take a glimpse at it, willing yourself to not break down in tears. god, you miss her. after college, after securing a stable job, you turn on the evening news one day and your stomach sinks. she broke her promise. you’ll never see her again.

RALEIGH CARRERA becomes someone you rarely see anymore. he’s an a-list superstar. you knew what to expect when you began dating him. the backlash, the invasion of privacy, the constant meddling from outsiders—you endured all of it because you had raleigh by your side. when he goes on tour and rises into even higher stardom, you have a penthouse suite all to yourself. it’s so quiet at night, it’s so cold, the bed is too big. your mind drifts, and you can’t take it anymore. you love him, but love isn’t enough sometimes.

JAX MATSUO is stupidly selfless. when you look back at what the two of you had, you can only smile. you remember him taking your hand and tugging you down the dark hallway the first time you met. you remember how delicious the meal he cooked for you was. you remember throwing your arms around him, grinning in relief seeing him unscathed. you remember the lifetime of memories you shared, and you wish you had more. you trace jax’s name etched onto the gravestone, remembering how you clutched him in your arms, watching through blurred vision as he faded into nothing.

‘You’re here now; that’s what matters.’

‘I’m afraid he may need a little bit more convincing than that.’

Her mother responds with a nod of understanding, her hand reaching to brush a coating of dirt from Amy’s arm.

‘Would you like me to talk to him? Do you think that would make a difference?’

‘I’m not too sure…’ she lowers her gaze to the ground, her brows furrowed in thought, ‘it might make him feel more at ease for when he meets Dad.’

‘That sounds like a plan.’

Without another word, her mother begins to approach the driver’s side of the car, Amy following close behind. As he watches the pair draw closer, he instinctively meets his girlfriend’s gaze, looking for reassurance that their sudden presence is a positive one. She nods with a soft smile, a sharp breath escaping his lips as a wave of relief washes over him. Adrian opens the door slowly, pausing his exit for a moment before making a quick escape from the vehicle; he walks towards them, coming to a stop just a few feet away.

‘I…umm…’

He fumbles slightly with his hands, struggling to remove his right hand from his pocket.

‘Oh…I…sorry…’

Her mother chuckles softly, unable to contain the happiness she feels in that moment.

‘There’s no need to apologise, Adrian,’ she smiles warmly, shaking her head, ‘I actually find it quite endearing.’

‘You…you do?’

‘Of course! It means that you care,’ she outstretches her own hand, patiently waiting for the action to be reciprocated, ‘please, call me Helena.’

He manages to free his fingers from the fabric of his clothing, gently taking her hand in his own as he starts to introduce himself.

‘I-I’m Adrian,’ he smiles softly, moving to stand beside Amy, ‘it is a pleasure to meet you.’

‘Likewise,’ Helena gestures over her shoulder to the house, her gaze drifting between the pair, ‘I just made some hot chocolate if either of you would like one.’

‘Is it coated in whipped cream, teeny weeny marshmallows and cocoa sprinkles?’

‘When isn’t it?’

Amy beams, her happiness evident in her expression.

‘Did you know we were nearby?’

‘I had an inkling...that and Amy messaged me half an hour ago to say that you had just stopped at the sweet shop in town, so I figured you’d be in there for a while.’

Amy holds up a paper bag.

‘I got you both some fudge!’

‘Your dad’s favourite,’ she retrieves the bag from Amy’s palms, voicing her gratitude before turning on her heels and leading Amy and Adrian into the house. Once they’re inside, Helena closes the door behind them, making sure that the bolt is on as she steps away.

As she walks further into the corridor, she notices the absence of belongings on their person.

‘Where are your bags? Your overnight things.’

‘I wanted to introduce myself properly before cluttering your house with my stuff.’

‘Cluttering? Are you planning on staying for longer than a couple of nights?’ She jests.

‘I’d never want to overstay my welcome,’ Adrian replies bashfully, ‘welcoming me into your home is enough already.’

‘Well you will always be welcome here,’ her mother smiles warmly, delicately nudging Amy’s arm with her elbow, ‘I like this one. He’s very kind.’

‘Don’t forget humble,’ Amy looks up at him, taking his hand in her own, his fingers subconsciously interlacing with hers as they make contact, ‘this man could do anything and everything for somebody and he'd be the one to say thank you.’

He goes to respond…but is swiftly interrupted by the sound of a gruff voice calling out from down the hall.

‘Is that Amy?’

‘Dad?’ Amy starts towards the living room, hanging up her jacket as she passes the coatrack. Adrian follows, keeping a distance as he hears the joyful exclaims of reunion just a few metres away. As he reaches the doorway, he stops short, making sure he is not visible to those inside. Noticing his hesitation, Helena approaches him, her voice laced with understanding and comfort as she addresses him.

‘Her father is a lovely man,’ she pauses, rethinking her wording, ‘I know that may sound biased as he is my husband, but there really isn’t a mean bone in his body.’

‘That may be true…and I trust your word, but…’

He trails off, shaking his head.

‘He’ll understand your reasoning; for not visiting sooner.’

‘But the circumstance?’ He asks, a hint of shame to his tone, ‘I…I have yet to ask Amy to marry me, and…and we’re already expecting a child…’

‘That doesn’t mean that you have to wed if you’re both not ready.’

‘I…I know…’

Helena’s smile softens, ‘I will admit that it…it came as a shock. To find out that our daughter was having a baby so soon after moving to New York…and for the father to be someone that she had only known for a few months at the time…’

‘I-I’m sorry.’

Her brows crease in confusion, her head tilted in curiosity.

‘Why are you apologising?’ She walks around to his front, her back just shy of the doorway, ‘I have only known you for a few minutes, but I can already tell that you care for Amy.’

‘You can?’

She nods rather eagerly, her words oozing with confidence.

‘You were very apprehensive to meet us; worried about making the right impression,’ she pauses, adjusting her sleeves, ‘Amy told me that you were nervous.’

‘I was,’ he confesses quietly, as if not wanting to draw further attention to himself, ‘it…it’s been a while since I was introduced to anyone; for personal reasons, that is.’

‘Is this your first relationship?'

He shakes his head, ‘there was another…but I lost her.’

‘Was your separation mutual?’

‘No, I…we didn’t break up.’

‘Then what-’ her eyes widen as the realization begins to dawn, ‘oh Adrian, I-I’m so sorry…’

He smiles sadly, ‘it was a long time ago.’

‘That doesn’t make it less upsetting,’ she frowns, resting a gentle hand on his arm, ‘I am so sorry for prying; it was very insensitive of me.’

‘There is no need to apologise,’ he dismisses her regret with a faint smile, ‘you weren’t to know, and it is only natural to be curious; it’s in our nature.’

She bows her head slightly, nodding in agreement.

‘I must be where Amy gets it from.’

He chuckles softly, any upset from their previous conversation fading at the motherly tone of her jest.

‘My introduction to love may not have had the happiest beginning, but I am grateful that meeting your daughter gave me a second chance.’

‘I cannot express how glad I am to hear you say that.’

‘Say what?’

Adrian freezes, his chest tightening as he sets sights on another figure standing idly behind Helena; the man clears his throat, folding his arms across his chest.

‘Adrian, I presume?’

‘That-that is me,’ he pauses, gulping as his mouth becomes dry, ‘and you must be-’