run, boy, run

Alexi stared down at the little cat for another moment before moving into the little kitchen. He put the bags of blood in the fridge except for one he left out to warm up. Dumping the contents into a glass after getting it to the right temperature. “I have my ways darling. I knew you would get distracted. You aren’t very good at remembering to eat but luckily you have me to remind you.” He moved back into the room and took a seat on the couch holding the glass out so Preston could take it. “He’s cute.” He said it almost like a question as he reached out to pet the little black cat. “Drink up. I don’t want you wasting away on me. After that you can give me a kiss to make up for the new family member you brought home. Naturally I’m not upset about it so long as Luther likes him I don’t see the problem with you having a kitten.”

“Well, the less opportunity I give myself to hurt people, the better.  I switched to bagged blood a long time ago because I’ve never left anyone alive,” he admitted from his place on the couch.  When Alexi sat down, he settled in beside him and took the glass.  Immediately he brought the glass up to his lips and drank hungrily.  “Thank you,” he grinned, wiping a drop from his mouth before he leaned in to press his lips gently against his soulmate’s.  “Luther seems to like him well enough.  It’ll take a couple of days for him to completely adjust to everything around here.”

Alexi had gone out knowing he had to feed. He had noticed over the short time he had spent reunited with Preston that the man did not tend to take care of himself very well when it came to that. He had put it in his mind to take Preston with him to feed that night but when he had returned to collect his soulmate he hadn’t been there. He had had to settle with some bags of blood that he could warm up for Preston that night if he hadn’t managed to feed himself. He had no desire to return to the outside world after going back to the room. He had done his best to avoid most of the people on the island though he had to admit that some of them were working their way into his heart. 

As he walked down the hallway towards his room he looked in his wallet for the key to the door. The card was always in the same place but it was still always the last place that he looked. A quick slide of the card and it was back in his wallet before he opened the door to the room. His eyes scanning instantly to find his soulmate. He saw him sitting on the couch and didn’t pay much attention after that. “I’ve brought you some bagged blood. I can warm it up for you since I don’t think you’ve eaten in a few days.” He commented as he made his way to stand in front of the man. His eyes going straight to the ball of fur lying on his lap. “Who do we have here? What have you been up to tonight?”

A smile stretched across his face as he heard the other man walk through the apartment, seemingly unaffected by the newest animal.  Or it had gone unnoticed, and when they were toe to toe, the latter was obvious.  He did feel some guilt that he hadn’t accomplished what he’d been setting out to, especially now that he felt a renewed sense of purpose.  And the look in his soulmate’s eyes, the mix of exasperation and exhaustion didn’t do anything to ease those feelings of guilt.  “Where’d you find bagged blood?” he raised an eyebrow before looking down at the cat.  “In my defense, I was going to hunt.  That’s what I set out to do initially.  But I got a little distracted and, well, this is Clark.”

Alexi wasn’t at the apartment when he got back, which he was sort of grateful for. It’d give him time to settle everything in and figure out how to explain himself.  He’d introduced Luther to the new addition first, pleased when the dog seemed interested but not threatened by the other animal. The cat seemed disinterested at best, which was to be expected. After the two animals were acquainted, he set the litter box up and put a scratching post in the living room. He’d just settled down on the couch with Clark curled up in his lap when he heard the doorknob turn.

She nodded agreement. “In today’s world people don’t care to step out from behind their screens to have a face to face. It’s like someone flipping you off on the highway or road. Part of me wants to rev the engine and chase after just to confront them and make them tell me what has crawled up their duff, you know?” she said with a shake of her head. The handshake was met with a smile. “So how sold are you on this ‘soulmate’ thing, eh, Preston?”

"Can you imagine the looks you’d get?  The abject fear in people’s eyes?”  Preston could, and he was still ashamed of how hard he had to concentrate to keep his lips from instinctively pulling back over his fangs.  “Most people wouldn’t be able to handle it.”  He sat back and ran a hand through his hair before he answered her.  “I don’t think I was very sold until I actually got here,” he admitted.  “I decided to come because of curiosity, but after seeing who I’d been paired with, it just makes too much sense to argue with.  What about you?  Are you a believer?”

       “your soulmate is your sire?” the redheaded vampire straightened a moment, leaning forward the next with piqued curiosity. “well, color me intrigued.” there was no doubt that every vampire felt drawn to their maker in some inexplicable way. generally partnered with pure hatred, pure lust, pure envy, what have you. or so it was in aggie’s experience. hers was a mixture of emotions, given the way she was turned. not many vampires had the best relationship with their sire, but that didn’t stop them from being bound. “how so?” 

     ‘ that’s a good point. maybe some older generations of people who just are resistant to change. seems still like a monstrous waste of paper, but to each their own. ’ nic took a moment to bring his cup to his lips for a sip before replying. ‘ perhaps it depends on the gravity of whatever news is being printed, to form an opinion in general. ’

“I’ve always tried to have a dog with me for the past few centuries. I find them to be calming and good company. You know how much I dislike the company of people but after….after you I hated being alone too.” He could never bring himself to let another person in but his animals never wanted anything from him that he couldn’t give and that was why he almost always had to have one. “Are you tired? Or did you want to do something tonight?” He hated going out to mingle with the public but he would drag himself from the room if that’s what Preston wanted. He would do just about anything to get back into his good graces.

Preston’s gaze dropped from the other man to where the dog was sitting just in front of him, guilt starting to rise.  He thought by running that he was sparing Alexi from having to deal with a new vampire and all the uncertainty and unpredictability that comes with it.  He hadn’t considered the negative impact it might have had.  “I’ve hardly seen any of the island,” he answered, knowing he was too full of anxious energy to actually be able to rest. “I was going to walk and have a look around. But if you don’t want to come, you don’t have to.” 

“okay, so i know the island was described as this magical island that was out of a fairy tale book pretty much, but i didn’t actually believe that was the truth. i thought there were just trying to hype it up and everything. but this island is… definitely magical.” the hybrid said with a bright smile. vanessa only just arrived on the island and she already had her breath taken away by all the beauty that surrounded the island. everything was just perfect and she already didn’t want to leave.

It was easy to see the wonder and excitement that the tiny blonde exuded as she talked about the island. Funnily enough, Preston had never really given much thought to magic. He’d spent so long living among humans that he’d tended to accept what they knew to be truth, even though most humans didn’t really believe that what he was existed at all. But if any place was truly magic, the island had to be. How else could he explain how he and his soulmate had been reunited after centuries? “Y’know, you just might be on to something,” he nodded.

Hearing that he had been missed as well made Alexi feel some sense of peace. He had thought that things wouldn’t go this well between them but it seemed that they might truly get a second chance to be together. He knew there were things to get past and work through but he felt hope and that was something he hadn’t felt in a long time. Luther stirred as the hand was placed on his fur and the dog instantly moved closer to the hand that was petting him. He had always been a friendly dog and Alexi liked that about him. “This is Luther. He’s been my companion for a couple years now. He seems to like you.” He was happy that they were getting along. “Do you like him?”

“Hi, Luther,” Preston said, his voice rising in pitch a little bit as the dog made his way over to him.  Luther’s energetic presence had a calming effect on him as he pet the little creature.  It was good to know that his soulmate seemed to like animals as well.  There was still a lot that the two of them would have to overcome before the exact level of trust he had all those years ago would be regained, but this seemed like a common ground and a starting point to rebuilding.  “Yeah,” he nodded enthusiastically.  “I really like animals.  They’re good companions and all they expect in return is food and affection.  That’s a pretty good deal, if you ask me.”

He nodded, pointing at him with a rapid up to down motion. “Oh that’s it. You can have anyone be anonymously brave from behind a computer screen or phone, but put them right in front of you? They’ll clam up real quick and keep their obnoxious opinion to themselves. Or you’ll be able to dissect their opinion in a few short words, leaving them a blubbering mess.” She wore a bit of a smug look on her face, saying she’d done that once or twice and it was quite a  pleasant memory. “Dude, totally have all the ‘weak thing’ opinions in the world. Makes for much more interesting conversation. I’m Merritt, by the way,” she said, extending her hand. 

“Exactly,” he agreed, mirroring her by pointing back at her.  “There’s constant information and very few can actually eloquently and intelligently defend their beliefs and opinions.  I take it you speak from experience, then?” he chuckled.  “I think so, too.  And it carries less weight than some of the other things I could have strong opinions on.”  He reached out and shook her hand.  “Nice to meet you, Merritt.  I’m Preston.”

This wasn’t the reaction he had thought he would get from the other man. He had thought it more likely that he would try to kill him than to calmly sit on the bed with him. How odd and yet the actions weren’t displeasing to Alexi. He didn’t think he would ever have a chance with him again and yet here they were and he couldn’t help but think that it was possible. That just maybe they could get back together. “Sweetheart.” The old pet name quick to come back to his lips even after all these years. “I am sorry I turned you without your permission but honestly what did you expect me to do? I couldn’t just stand back and watch you grow older and die. That couldn’t be an option for you when I’m stuck in this state.” He would have turned him at some point anyway the timing may have been unfortunate but it would have happened at some point anyway. “I am sorry about what happened to your family too. I didn’t know anything like that would happen.” He had meant to keep him with him permanently after turning him but somehow those plans had fallen through. “I’ve missed you.” He could bend just a bit if it would please his soulmate.

There was a feeling similar to nostalgia and relief that hit him when he heard the pet name, and some part of him relaxed.  He listened intently to the other’s explanation, trying to think what he would do if their situations were reversed.  It would be a hard thing to do, to watch someone you love age and die.  Alexi had only done everything he could to ensure that they had the best chance to be together.  “Again, you couldn’t have known,” he answered, quietly.  His brown eyes locked on the other man’s features, silently re-memorizing them.  “I’ve missed you, too.  Even though I didn’t realize it.”   Long fingers sought out the soft fur of the dog that had served as a barrier between them.  “Who’s this?”

Alexi had made it a point to not get close to anyone after their time together. He had spent his life keeping everyone at arms length and now here he was. Regret for everything that had happened between them was strong in him but what had he been expected to do? How could he not change him? He had been so in love with him he hadn’t even thought before doing it. It had felt like the natural thing to do. He didn’t want to lose him and now he didn’t want to be around him. Alexi had been doing so well at shutting everything down and he knew he wouldn’t be able to now. It was enough to make him furious with himself for coming here. “I don’t know what to say to you.” This had to be a mistake. He should just leave. He could leave and nothing would have to change. “I wouldn’t have come if I had known it would be you. I wouldn’t have done that to you again.” He wouldn’t have forced his presence on him again. He would have left him alone if he had had the choice.

Preston had been staring at the wall on the opposite side of the room, a million thoughts racing through his head.  He’d be so prepared to stay angry at the other man for the rest of eternity, if that’s what he was presented with.  But being angry for that long seemed to imply a good amount of distance and a quantifiable amount of guilt on the other’s part.  It really wasn’t Alexi’s fault.  And now that the two of them were face to face, with the information they’d been presented with, Preston didn’t know if he could realistically stay mad at him.  “You couldn’t have known,” he said finally, multiple meanings lumped in to one sentence.  Slowly, as if any fast movement would scare either one of them off, he relaxed and sat down on the edge of the bed.  There was another lengthy pause before he spoke again.  “I ran because I was scared.  Hurt, yes, but scared that even though I was horrified, I didn’t ultimately feel guilty for killing them.”

“I don’t know, call me old fashioned, but I like them,” the woman who sat down at the next table replied, unfolding her own. “Today is so much about the internet and little blue links and getting lost in that information highway. I remembered my dad used to get the paper and read it front to back. I think people were better informed coming from real news sources rather than what someone repeated third hand on their Twitch stream, or whatever it’s call nowadays,” mused Merritt, opening it as well. “But if you’re not that into it, why get it?” she asked curiously.

Things had been simpler before the new constant information highway that seemed to be all around them, he had to admit.  “Were they well informed, or did most people just not care because they weren’t constantly surrounded with information and a way to share their opinions with almost no consequence?”  His hand wrapped around the cup of coffee, the paper almost forgotten as he posed the question.  “It was already on the table when I sat down,” he chuckled.  “But, I have been known to have strong opinions about weak things, so I guess you can lump that in with that category.”  

      “aw, thank you, preston. maybe it’s got something to do with my skin care routine.” a small reference to her murderous history. bathing in blood wasn’t exactly an option on the isle though; she couldn’t afford to piss off too many folks - too many species, not when she was trapped. “ninety years? gods, i’m getting old. you lose count after the first millennium, y’know?” aggie raised an eyebrow, prompting him, “met your ‘soulmate’ yet? what’re they like? tell me all the deets.”

     ‘ i don’t think i’ve really ever sat back and read a newspaper fully, but i bet nostalgia might play a role in its existence as well. that’s my best guess. ’ nic sat up a bit straighter in his seat placing the pen on top of his crossword. ‘ nice to meet you, preston. i’m nic. find any interesting headline in that thing ? ’ he asked gesturing to the paper.