☽

... savouring the taste of Sunny that lingers on her lips, sweeping her tongue over them once again for a flavour that she knows too well to ever vanish completely anymore. If she pays attention long enough, will their touch imprint itself on her nerves? Even now, she can feel their hair between her fingers, curling around her almost as though in invitation to stay, to make a home in their presence.

With heavy eyelids Ava scans the room, almost lazy in her inspection. The setting sun paints the far wall in ambers and golds, catching on the dust that swirls in the air, as if in respect for the magic of this room. Her own extremities buzz with it, a low hum of satisfaction edged with something she can't place, clinging to her skin and surrounding her in warmth, centered around her heart that beats a steady rhythm in her chest.

The shower in the next room stops and Ava can hear them through the wall again, the clumsy footsteps on unsteady legs, the slow yawns, the almost lethargic heartbeat of pleasant exhaustion... A smile spreads across Ava's lips, with an ease she's still growing accustomed to, growing even wider as she hears Sunny move on from the bathroom, making their way back to bed. Back to her.

Sunny's gaze is still slightly unfocused, but wastes no time finding hers, before flicking over her form sprawled across their bed, open and relaxed. Something appreciative and tender crinkles in the corner of their eyes, making Ava's gut twist as she basks in their light. The dying rays of sunlight don't compare, as they catch in coiled hair that Sunny let's down onto their damp shoulders, bringing out a soft chestnut glow. They rub a hand over patchy stubble, left unshaven another day, comfortable in Ava's presence and no longer minding her seeing them slightly unkempt. Sunny notices her watching, takes in the adoration that nearly glows in her expression, and answers with a wide smile that makes their head duck, nose scrunched and eyes wrinkled at the corners. Looking almost like a near-sneeze if Ava didn't know better.

It's something Ava hadn't known she needed, this expression of theirs that lights up not only their face, but their entire body, making them twist around themself except for the hands that flap at their sides. A stark contrast to the tight-lipped, almost pained looking grins she'd been accustomed to in those first few months, until the night they'd shared over a bottle of wine, when she'd heard Sunny laugh louder than a breathy chuckle for the first time, but then they'd flinched and hidden their face in their hands. That evening, they'd quietly told her that their emotions made people uncomfortable, that when they showed themself it was too much so they'd learned to hide it. That they didn't want her to look at them like those others did, with a lip curled in near revulsion and a look in her eye that dipped towards pity. Told her how hard they were trying, how much they wanted her to stay comfortable at their side, and apologized for being "too much". It was the first night Ava had heard Sunny cry too, tears soaking her shoulder when she'd pulled them into a tight hug and told them honestly how that laugh had filled her with more joy and elation than nearly anything else in her 900 years.

If there is one grievance Ava will continue to hold against humanity, it is towards every person who's ever made Sunny feel the need to hide.

Since then, Sunny has become more and more open with their reactions, their expressions, at least when they're alone with the Unit and especially around her and Nat. Their name has become all the more fitting with the way she's seen them light up now. She hadn't known before that she'd only felt the sun through clouds, not until she'd basked under their unfiltered enthusiasm, warmed under the brilliance of their joy.

Skin dewy and bathed in light, Sunny's brown skin shimmers almost bronze to Ava's senses, a statue of precious metal that somehow exists here in this little town she'd once foolishly dismissed as having no importance. How wrong she'd been. They stretch and Ava follows the lines of the ivy vine tattooed across their ribs, chest, and shoulder, painted with masterful strokes over their skin and gilding the mirrored scars that arc below each nipple, catching the light all the more. Her eyes catch on water droplets suspended in the coarse hairs that descend from their navel. Not more than half an hour ago, she'd felt them against her cheeks, her lips, coated inside and out with their slickness and ravishing them with a growing hunger demanding more. More of the way Sunny pants around shuddering gasps, more of their hands going from gentle caresses in her hair to clutched and spasming desperately when she focuses the tip of her tongue to a rapid flicker over their cock, more of their hips rolling up against her mouth when she's pressed close with her lips wrapped around them, more of the way their thighs tense and shake and then collapse against her broad shoulders…

A quiet groan brings Ava back to the present, though for the life of her she couldn't say whose. Sunny slumps into the chair in front of their small vanity, combing fingers through their hair and working out the beginnings of knots. Every callous on those hands is as familiar to Ava as her own, most days finding their way onto her skin, rubbing gentle circles into her palms or deeper into tense muscles, softening tension she'd forgotten didn't need to be there. She's not sure when it became an unspoken habit of theirs to wriggle in behind her when she's sitting on the couch, or of hers to move forward and settle on the floor between their knees and to lean back into Sunny's embrace as their gentle hands find the muscles of her neck and shoulders, occasionally pressing kisses to the top of her head.

The first time Sunny had gotten so close she hadn’t been sure how to tell them, how to tell one of the loves of her life that yes she wanted so badly to revel in ecstasy brought by her hand, over and over for as long as they’d have her, but that if they tried to grant her the same pleasure in return they would find her dry and lacking? That she might not be able to give this to them soon, maybe not ever. Would they look at her and see yet another thing she couldn't offer them? Worse, would they try to cover a flinch as they wonder, in the back of their mind, if they'd done wrong? Would she ruin her chance to show them that they're everything she never hoped to find again? All of those fears were scattered to the wind when Sunny only smiled, barely batting an eye at the revelation, pausing just long enough to make sure she was comfortable and pressing butterfly kisses to her forehead, nose, cheeks, lips, until she had melted into a smile again.

Afterwards, soft and sated, curled into her her, Sunny had absently traced the muscles of her back, the touch gaining pressure as they went, thumb pressing firmly into a particularly tender spot between her shoulder blades. They'd lit up with curiosity and delight when that elicited a quiet sigh of relief from her lips.

A few days later, Ava had returned to her room at the warehouse after a long and frustrating day to find Sunny sitting on her bed, towels laid down and massage oils in hand. With the help of more anatomy diagrams than she'd imagined could be helpful, they'd spent that evening finding and gently loosening what felt like every tightly wound nerve in her body (which was quite a bit more than a few). It had taken time for Ava to get comfortable with her own nudity around another person again, catching herself growing on guard for any indication that she was missing an unspoken expectation, but none was ever imposed. Quite the opposite, Sunny accepted everything she offered with open delight, never a hint of dissatisfaction over anything she wasn't just as happy to explore.

How long has it been since then? It can't possibly be nearly a year, can it? Time spent with the doubt wriggling in the back of her mind that has her always watching, waiting in the background, for a sign that their patience is subconsciously beginning to run thin, for their face to twist into disappointment before they can hide it, anything at all to point to them waiting on her to change before they could finally find complete satisfaction at her side… but none ever came.

Is it that Sunny can’t see the cracks in her immortal veneer, obscured by infatuation or her appearance? No, they’ve certainly noticed flaws, her competitiveness, her difficulty expressing emotion in words, her sometimes overbearing need to be in control in uncertain situations, the way she holds herself back when it comes to being vulnerable… They’ve never looked away, they’ve walked forward with eyes wide open, aware of every step they've taken towards her. Even when common sense said to turn back they'd only pause to think before choosing her, over and over.

Ava’s heart aches, a flame flickering in the dark of her own doubt.

Sunny's never treated this part of her as broken, never put more stock in her body's reaction to them and ignored her words, never seperated her from her form and viewed it as an obstacle to be overcome. Never treated her like this is some part that is missing from her whole.

The bed dips as Sunny sits at the edge, tucking the last stray curls into their bonnet. Ava's eyes catch on the crescent scar that's faded on their wrist, from where Murphy had sunk his teeth into them. A punishment for trying to help, risking their life for their team, a team that hadn't even treated Sunny as one of their own yet. Right now it feels like a lifetime ago, though some nights in her sleep she can practically taste their blood in the air once again, body broken on the floor with rain pouring down on them, waiting for the crimson liquid to disperse so she can run to them, except in her dreams it never comes. Ten years from now will Sunny be able to see the bite or will it have melted into their skin, becoming invisible to all eyes that aren't as keen as her own? Eyes that can pick up the myriad of other marks, a lifetime written across their skin, a story she's begun to learn to read. There are so many Ava's learned the origin of, more still to discover, each one a little window into who they are and what's led them here to this moment with her. Windows that shine from within, the warm hearth of their soul reaching out to hers in greeting as if to say "yes, I see you."

I see you.

It's not as Ava's read, there is no earth quaking and cracking to reveal some slumbering need she'd been missing, nor does it consume her body with desperate fire. The world does not shift on its axis, nor is a new universe revealed to her, only a nudged permission to part the translucent veil and witness the heart of who they are, like feeling the ocean for the first time. It's not that she did not know it was there, she'd heard it's waves in conch shells, read poem's of its might and beauty, tasted salty air on her lips, seen the sun set over its waters in paint, and yes the first time feeling it for herself would forever be etched into her mind.

Made all the more beautiful by the fact that Sunny is doing nothing unusual, nothing even to draw her love and attention. They are flopped onto the bed with their back to her as they pull their leadened legs under the covers, requiring near comical effort.

"'S your fault, so no laughing," Sunny grumbles, but they're grinning when they turn around, wrapping around her in a loose imitation of a recently practiced Judo hold.

Sunny leans in, nipping at the smile on Ava's lips, before settling across her, sighing contently as the rest their ear between her breasts, listening to her heartbeat. Their shoulders slowly soften and drop, growing heavier with sleep, melting into her as they slip into unconsciousness, Ava relaxing into contentment below then and following soon after.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this. ;_; I worked very hard to try to show that the way I experience attraction is different from an allo person's, but not less. Writing it out from the POV of a character that I love makes it a lot easier to be kind to myself and acknowledge that yeah the way I am is beautiful actually and wouldn't be better by being changed. 🖤🤍💜 Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go try to propose to my own OC, wish me luck!

Her ass is beginning to hurt. Inside and out. Both cheeks are stung red from Mason's palms, numb until now, and he'd fucked her hard and deep just like she begged him to. Rough as he was willing to risk. Had praised her tightness, her beauty, her resilience, until his voice and his fingers on her clit and the overwhelming sensation of fullness—of all the vacant cracks in her being smoothed over—supplanted every lesser thought in her head.

The high was pure, unadulterated ecstasy. Still is, lingering there in the wash of chemicals turning her brain to static and mush.

But last time they'd played, the drop had taken her wholly by surprise. The day after, she'd snapped at Douglas over nothing, sobbed into her cold brew, and actively avoided Mason until he'd had to hunt her down and reassure her with words and hands and lips in the middle of Haley's fucking bakery that yes, he valued her as a person, and no, she wasn't any more fucked up than anyone else, and yes, he would buy her a cupcake shaped like a duck.

And last time was timid. Gentler, at least. Nothing she hadn't done before. He'd held her wrists against the wall and called her a very good girl and put his hand under her chin as she sucked him off and she had loved every second despite the brutal sore throat. This time was… different. More intense than she was used to, and they'd talked about it even more extensively. What he wanted, what she did. How far they'd go. How to stop. And this; after last time, she knew she needed this.

Mason comes back from the bathroom smelling like hand soap, with a pair of sweatpants slung low on his hips and two towels draped over his arm. Squats down to reach her level and brushes the hair out of her face before kissing her forehead. Runs his hand heavy between her shoulder blades.

“You did so, so well for me, Theo. I'm proud of you.”

She doesn't have it in her to respond quite yet, but his voice gets her back into the room, the praise gives her something to chew on, and the touch serves as an anchor.

He uses one warm, damp towel to take care of the cum and the lube, and despite the care with which he cleans her, she can't keep from wincing. The second is cool, and with it he wipes away the sweat from her neck and her spine and the backs of her knees.

Then he helps her up, patient with her hesitancy. Wraps her in a blanket with smooth fibers that won't irritate her skin. Walks her to the armchair in the living room, the big one in front of the window, and waits for her to get comfortable on his lap—a task that takes a few minutes and adjustments to complete in her current state.

“You ok, sweetheart?”

Ok?

She is cold and raw and shaking.

She is used up. Emptied out.

She is exhausted and satisfied and floating and proud and stiff like cracked leather and numb and serene and safe and crushed up and glued together and giddy and aching and—

“I know it's hard for you right now,” he says, and tips her chin up to get her to look at him, “but I need you to talk to me. Part of the deal, remember?”

His brow is all scrunched up, and his jaw tenses as he searches her face. So pretty, that brow. That jaw. Those eyes. Theo is struck by the urge to touch him, to trace his freckles and feel his eyelashes on her fingertips, but can't summon the energy to make her limbs work.

Shit, she's been selfish. His palms must have hurt so badly, for this. For her.

“Thirsty,” she says, the first intelligible word she's managed in twenty minutes. She'll touch him later.

Mason's expression softens in relief and he shifts to reach a bottle from the floor, her favorite pink one that never spills and doesn't make water taste like piss. It's filled for just this occasion, and he offers it to her. Brings it to her lips when she doesn't take it from him, and shakes his head with a little laugh when she gets too greedy and spills and coughs.

Theo nestles in closer, rests her head on his shoulder, rubs her nose into the solid ridge of his collarbone. This will all feel silly tomorrow. Once his handprints fade and the sting dulls. The scope of it, for a time so grand and intangible, is already waning. It's just sex, not some epiphanic experience.

“'M ok,” she whispers. “What do you want to watch?”

Kira kicks her bedroom door shut as she and Nate enter, then she pins him against the wall. She presses her lips hard against his, slipping her tongue into his mouth. Her hands scramble to his shirt, making quick work of his buttons, then they're on his chest, stroking his toned muscles before following the light trail of hair down to his waistband. She's fumbling to undo the button on his jeans when his warm hands wrap around hers - putting a stop to her motion.

"Kira..."

She looks up at him and takes a small step back, withdrawing her hands. "Sorry," she mumbles.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," he assures her. "I just don't want to rush this. We've waited so long and I want to enjoy every second," he says smiling warmly at her.

"You're right, sorry."

"Stop apologising," he chuckles.

She smiles back at him as she fights against saying the word again. She looks down at the ground, suddenly not knowing where to look or what to do.

"Are you nervous?" he asks.

"A little," she replies, continuing to look down.

"You really don't have to be Kira. It's just you, and me."

It's easy for him to that, but she's suddenly become acutely aware that she's about to have sex with a 330 year old vampire. He must have so much more experience than she has. What if after all the build up, she ends up being a disappointment?

But then she glances up at him and he's looking her in that way again. That look so full of awe and desire, and that word they haven't said yet - the one she's certain they both feel.

No one has ever made her feel as wanted as Nate does.

She swallows hard as she takes a step closer. He raises a hand to her cheek,  gently drawing it down and cupping her chin.

Her heart thunders in anticipation, then he brings his lips to hers for a kiss that is slow and deep and leaves her feeling breathless.

Her hands slide into his hair as he brings his lips down to her neck. He gently nips and sucks as his fingers find their way under her pyjama top and slowly up her back. Then in one fluid motion her top is over her head and on the floor, revealing her pert breasts.

His hands glide down her front sending a shiver through her as they graze over her peaked nipples. They continue their journey down, clinging to the band of her silky shorts on the way and allowing them to drop around her ankles.

He swoops her up in his strong arms and places her on the bed. She feels a little self conscious at first, being fully exposed like this, but that feeling soon disappears as his eyes roam her body, gazing at her in wonder.

"You're exquisite."

She smiles at him and she can feel the blush on her cheeks.

He stays where he is, slowly peeling his own clothes off until every inch of him is bare. And she can't stop staring - he's more magnificent than she imagined, and she's imagined him like this a lot. He's so toned and sculpted and gorgeous. What her eyes settle on next proves that he's very happy with what he sees as well.

He moves to lie next to her on the bed, pressing his lips to her ear. "I want to take my time getting to know every inch of you Kira."

She lets out a noise that's a mix between a sigh and moan, and a small smirk appears across his handsome features.

He kisses her softly on the mouth, before making a slow descent.

He starts at her neck, peppering kisses behind her ear, then down to her collar bone. He continues to her breasts taking a hardened nipple into his mouth, sucking and swirling his tongue as he rolls the other between his thumb and forefinger.

Gradually his lips make their way down her stomach and she parts her legs in preparation for him. He nibbles the inside of each thigh before settling in the centre.

The sucks and flicks of his tongue are delivered with an expert precision she never even knew were possible. She guesses that's what over 300 years of experience gets you, but she pushes the thoughts of his past lovers out of her mind. She knows she's the only being in the world that he wants to be doing this with now, and that thought makes her feel amazing.

She starts to gently thrust her hips as she feels the pleasure building. He understands instantly and moves his hand between her legs - gently sliding in a long finger, then adding another. The combination of the sensations has her moaning loudly within seconds. Her entire body tingles as she pulses against his mouth.

After a moment, he decreases the pressure of his tongue as her sensitivity rockets, and then he remains there gently licking as she comes down from the highest high she's ever had.

She lets out one last long sigh, then opens her eyes to look down at him. His eyes meet hers and he smiles at her.

"You're very good at that," she says, her breathing still ragged.

His smile gets broader and a slight blush reaches his cheeks. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

He slowly moves up the bed, placing gentle kisses on various body parts as he goes. When they're finally eye to eye again he captures her lips in another kiss that leaves her head spinning.

She reaches down between his legs, wrapping her fingers around his erection and starts to pump him up and down, but he places his hand on hers.

"Don't worry about me," he whispers. "I want tonight to be about you."

"I want it to be good for you too," she responds, her hand still wrapped around him.

"It will be. Believe me, nothing will make me feel better than bringing you pleasure."

"You already have once," she smirks.

"And I wish to do it again," he replies, "tell me how you want me Kira."

Her heart beats faster and the ache grows between her legs as she quickly weighs up the options - then she pulls him on top of her. "Like this."

He gives a small nod in agreement and lines himself up.

They both let out little moans as he pushes into her, then he stills and they stay like that for a moment - faces close, staring into each others eyes.

She's never felt so full or so complete. As she savours that moment of them finally being connected, she's almost overwhelmed with her feelings for him. He's perfect. Whether he's using his words, or now his body, no-one has ever been able to make her feel this good.

They stay close as he begins to gently thrust into her and she wraps her legs around his back, pulling him in deeper. He picks up the pace as they find their rhythm and he hits the right spot, over and over again, until her whole body is trembling with the force of her second orgasm. He keeps thrusting as she rides it out, then follows her shortly after with his own release.

He collapses onto the bed and pulls her in close. She rests her head on his chest as they lie in silence for several minutes.

"You're incredible Kira."

"You're the incredible one," she replies.

"It sounds like we both enjoyed ourselves," he chuckles. "Was it worth the wait?"

She props herself up onto her elbows. "It was always going to be worth the wait. I can't believe how lucky I am to have met you."

He moves a sweaty hair off her face, tucking it behind her ear. "I never thought I would ever meet someone that could make me feel this way. I'm definitely the lucky one, lucky that you chose me."

"It could never be anyone else Nate. Only you."

She rests her head back on his chest, melting into his embrace.

---

The next morning she's still in a sleepy daze when she thinks for a moment that the night before was all a dream. But then she rolls over to find Nate still in her bed, still naked and she sighs in a happy relief.

He rolls over to face her and his whole body seems to light up. "Good morning."

"Good morning," she replies. "You're still here?"

"Did you think I wouldn't be?" he asks with a look of confusion.

"Well I know you don't really sleep, so...were you not bored?"

"I could never be bored lying next to you. Besides there is no way I wouldn't be here waiting for you after what we shared last night."

She smiles at him happily. "You normally work through the night don't you?" Then she's hit with a sudden realisation. "Oh god, the others, they're going to know what we did last night aren't they?"

He chuckles at the shock on her face. "It's very likely."

"Oh no," she brings her hand to her mouth, "and Felix and Mason are going to tease us as well aren't they?"

"Again it's very likely," he states. "I can go ahead and tell them to keep quiet if you wish. I don't want them to make you feel uncomfortable."

"No it's okay. I'm part of the family now, I can handle them. Could we stay here a little longer though? I don't want to face them just yet."

"Of course," he replies.