Vincent Collins

“I know you need to find him but you also need to understand that I will not let you die out here looking for your brother.” he said flatly, looking over his claim. he couldn’t heal him, that was beyond his abilities. Barris had no magic other than the ability to breathe an control fire. “Would you allow me to look for him in your stead? You are in no shape to be searching. I will take you to a healer.” 

Matias watched the other admit that he couldn’t but only nodded. If he hadn’t had the upbringing that he had, he wouldn’t have known how to fight either. He passed a dagger to the other man. “Use this as an extension of your arm. When all else fails, slash like this is a claw.” He gave him a short smirk before turning back around to look past the tent. They needed to get out of there fast. The Goblins were focusing on the training grounds and they would need to get out of the epicenter of the attack.

“Whatever happens, do not stop running.” With that, Mat pushed him off the tent and they sprung forward. Sure steps pulling the dhampir out of harm’s way but a hand was always back to feel for the other pet. When a Goblin crossed their paths, Matias hesitated in his stride, swinging the sword down in a deadly arc before resuming pace but when he looked for the other pet, he didn’t see him. “Hey!” He called out, looking around for the other frantically.

“Over here,” He groaned, pushing the dead body off him. He was wounded but not terribly so - not enough that he felt his life was endangered immediately although it probably would hamper them. He still clutched the dagger, bloody now from where he had jammed it in a goblin’s neck. “I think it was an ambush. He didn’t realise I had a weapon.” 

And like a raging storm Barris was through that front like. Fire blazed around him, white hot. His diamond scale had blood sliding off them as he grabbed for goblins ripping them in half with ease. Bashing into the beast that dared go for his lover.  One quick thrust of his hand, had a beating heart ripped from the chest and  dropped to the ground. “Love. Are you ok? Why are you even out here?” though he knew the answer. His brother. Anything VIncent did was for Levi. 

Matias had been in the middle of training ground when the attack sounded. The thundering of hundreds of tiny boots was deafening, screams rising into the air and bringing down carnage with them. Matias gripped the sword tighter, swinging it through the air to arc down on a goblin’s unprotected scalp, barely pausing before swinging it to the left and wiping another’s legs out from beneath him. Two down and hundreds to go. A pet fell to his left, his eyes jumping from pet to pet, watching blood be spilled and arrows find their mark. 

A sudden pain broke out across his hip, buckling his leg and forcing him to the ground. The arrow had buried deep in his side, a startled cry leaving his lips. His head lifted to find another arrow notched at him and a carnal need to maim and kill taking over. The dhampir snarled and launched at the goblin, his sword sicking into the creature’s neck and detaching its head cleanly from his body. Matias scrambled behind one of the training tents, pulling the arrow from his side as a grunt spilled from his lips. His lack of fresh blood held the wound open, though the bleeding was stunted. 

He peered out from behind the tent, another goblin closing in on a pet. Before he could think through the consequences, he lunged forward and fought down the gobin, the pet in tow and thrown behind the tent with a wince. “You need a weapon.” He practically yelled, peeking around the tent as he said this. “Can you fight?”

One thing he enjoyed about the claim was that in a sense, he had more freedom. Barris allowed him that and he appreciated being able to wander, both exploring and stretching his legs. He had to wonder if that would continue after today. Unfortunately he’d been caught totally off guard by the attack, and although he had been able to dodge some of them, his mind was caught on Levi rather than himself. Fortunately for him, Matias was paying attention.

“Not really!” He had to admit, “I have a very basic idea of how to but no training - not even for the tournament.” Barris didn’t want him fighting, which had been a relief but he had to wonder if the experience might have actually helped now. If only he’d stayed home today. But the dragon would come for him, he was sure of that much. Barris wouldn’t let him down, so if he could just stay alive long enough... Then he could ask for the elite’s help with making sure Levi was safe. “I’ll do the best I can though!” He promised.

Barris had a spell implanted in the cock ring so he could find his pet always. And it was times like this he was glad for it. As the pain rang out in his mind when Vincent was hurt the dragon took flight. Not able to fully transform within the city walls, he did had his diamond coated wings unfurled. Raining hell and fire down upon the goblins. 

Nothing was going to keep him from the other man,, not trees nor goblins, nor anything else. When he touched down into the ground arrows sizzled and brunet away before they could touch his skin, and even if they did, they would be met with a dragon’s hide. The intent to kill all over his face as he  ripped a goblin in half with ease. “Vincent!” he bellowed loudly looking for his pet. He was close by but the ring only gave him   a general sense when close by. 

Relief flooded him when he heard his master’s voice,struggling to hold the snapping goblin up off of him. It was trying to bite anything it could reach and both arms were trying to get at him - they each had a grip on the others arm and agonisingly, the leg that had been shot was propped between them to keep the snapping jaws away from him. 

“Barris!” He called back, now wasn’t the time to worry about politeness or correctness - now was about survival. “I’m here, Master!” He didn’t let up on his hold but he knew now that it would only be a moment before he was relieved of the goblin atop him. Not out of danger necessarily but safer than he had been out here alone. 

Calling out probably wasn’t the wisest ideas - he hadn’t actually plunged out into the insanity knowingly, instead he’d been out and about when it all went downhill. He could only hope that his little brother was safe with the kitsune and that if he wasn’t... He hoped Barris might find them both. 

Peter recognised the other’s scent and it took him back to when he’d still been in the tower. “I don’t know if I’m not supposed to be here, I just wanted to see what was going on, all the pets were down there but no one came to get me so, I wanted to see what was going on for myself.” The pup explained his reasoning for spying on the training grounds. When Vincent sat next to him, Peter relaxed because clearly the other wasn’t going to rat him out if he was with him too. “Good. I got claimed, I don’t know why everyone was telling me it was a scary thing or that I should be careful, it’s great. Alistair is great.”

“I guess if your master hasn’t forbidden you from being here, then it should be fine.” Vincent shrugged. “You were lucky. I was too,” He admitted, “But not everyone is. I’m glad you’re doing well, though.” The human shifted a little bit, “As for what’s happening - I don’t think you need to be here. The unclaimed pets are the ones who have to fight. The claimed ones only fight if their Masters want them to.” And he was relieved that Barris did not want him to fight.

levi smiled some, glancing over at vincent before back out at the water. “good,” if he lost his brother, he had no fucking clue what he’d do. go crazy, maybe. though he was glad to hear that things with vincent’s claim was going good, that he was treated as good as he deserved. levi was starting to think that he was getting what he deserved from kohl. maybe he deserved to be treated poorly. “me either,” levi hadn’t known there was even a tournament, kohl had never mentioned it to him which meant he had no plans. “okay, i guess. he might hate me slightly less than he did when he first took me from the tower. i have a nicer room.” it was bare though, and it took a lot to get this sketch book from the man. “i don’t know, vincent.” he sighed. “i don’t know anything anymore.” he missed their old life. “i just want to go home.” 

“I know you shouldn’t have to... god knows I wish you weren’t here - but try not to let your temper get the better of you with him. Maybe you’ll actually find some middle ground.” Vincent kissed the top of Levi’s head. “As much as I don’t want you to have to compromise, maybe it could make things a little easier. But you have to do what’s right for you too. In here.” He tapped over Levi’s heart.

“It goes both ways.” Barris laughed softly as he kissed the other man’s soft smooth skin, nipping lightly. He laughed that the other was taking what his brother thought so heavily into consideration. He massaged Vincent’s chest gently. “Beauty means I get to fawn over you even more. We’d have to keep your hair longer like it is, because I think it shows better.” he hummed before he kissed and nipped along the other’s jawline gently. “Consider both. I don’t mind fawning over you and showing you off.” 

“You are more than just a pet to me as well. So I think it is apt.” Barris said with a smile as he cradled his lover in his lap and stroked his hair, gently kissing over his soft smooth skin, along his neck and over his shoulders. “Even agility if you want to. Only if you truly desire it. And I think you’d do well in beauty seeing as you are stunningly gorgeous. But obedience could be fun as well.” 

“Too generous? Can one be too generous? Besides it is simply a room.” he said with a laugh as he held onto his human and kissed him lovingly back on the mouth. He enjoyed when Vincent was the one to initiate kisses and contact like this. Subtle validation that they were   what he thought they were. Fingers crawled back through that soft dark hair, thick waves falling through his fingers with ease. “Mm you know. We should talk about what competitions you’d like to enter. Fighting is right out with you. I am sorry to say. But you can pick any of the others.” 

when vincent suggested if he was trying to protect him, the human shrugged as he thought back on their argument. “he doesn’t want me.” levi said flatly, even if it was probably more than that. “he thinks we were a mistake.” he kept his eyes trained down on the rock in his hands, still smoothing his fingers over the flat grey surface for a few more moments before suddenly tossing it out into the water. staying silent as he watched the way the water rippled. “he’s loyal to august. i just think he’s done with that part of his life.” meaning him. “how are things with you?” he asked suddenly, wanting a change of subject quickly before he got upset. 

“I understand that. I can see it. Here I will shelter you, and care for you. And you can explore yourself. There you fight to survive. You are always on the brink of extinction.” he said softly as he moved to bush Vincent’s hair back from his face gently kissing his human again. So taken with him, his voice. His touch. “Something extravagant so I can see you smile.” he said with a little laugh. Barris smiled and picked Vincent up , careful of his leg. Holding him  against his body. 

The dragon led them through the room the two of them shared back into a wooden door. Inside was a large rectangular room. There were selves lining it, most of them empty. Two of them filled. “It is a study for you. So you can do anything you like here. Collect things and store them here, paint. Or anything else you desire to do my darling.” 

“You’re too generous,” He told Barris, though he didn’t argue any further, allowing himself to be picked up and nuzzling at the dragon’s neck lightly. Vincent looked around the room as he revealed it to him, wide eyed. They’d had a place outside these walls, of course - but it wasn’t like this. Art supplies sounded fantastic, more books sounded amazing.. actually having knick knacks for once. It sounded luxurious.

levi picked up another stone as he spoke, smoothing his fingers over the side of the flat thing. that was true, kohl couldn’t touch him and at least that was a good thing now. he didn’t have to worry about his brother being used against him anymore. when vincent seemed shocked by the two years comment, he nodded, leaving it at that for how. “no…he’s a pet too.” levi never remembered elliot being like this, ever. when it was just them - it was just that. it was usually about them, but now that august was around and close. it was as if he didn’t even matter anymore. “he didn’t say it…but i don’t think he wants us anymore.” levi mumbled. “he was…weird. when i saw him yesterday…he said he was leaving, that his master was taking him out of the city, but he never left. and never told me either.”

“i would rather you stay as far away from him as possible. i can figure it out on my own.” he murmured. levi sighed, that was right. vincent knew little to nothing about the half wolf. he reached up and pressed his fingers into his eyes as he shut them, before moving to scrub his hands over his face. “he’s my first love,” he said softly. “we’ve been seeing each other..for like two years now. and now it’s a mistake. what we didnwas a mistake, he doesn’t want to be around me.” and half of it was because of that damn leech. “i told him i loved him,” he wonders if that’s what drove him away. he just knew he didn’t like the way his heart ached.

“Ah you gave and gave and gave. Never looking to get a thing in return. So un-dragon like. Perhaps that is why I favor you the way I do. So unlike me it is enchanting. he said softly as he kissed those sweet lips more. “Your body is a masterpiece but there is so much more to you my darling. How could nobody want to delve into that. What lies behind those glorious blue eyes.” he sighed softly rubbing their noses together. “I have a present for you. Whenever you are ready for us to move.” 

he and his brother had always been close, so the acts of affections that may have been embarrassing to some siblings was not there for levi. vincent was all he had for as long as he could remember. “good, that’s good.” levi mumbled, leaning against the other heavily. kohl was starting to treat him better though who knew ho long that would last and he wasn’t going to jinx it. “kohl hasn’t answered me yet, about seeing you.” levi murmured. “or elliot but i don’t know if i want to see him anymore.” he said with a frown on his face.