Ryan Sinner

[ℜ]     If he could bottle up the sheer joy she was emanating in this moment the raven swears he wouldn’t have to work again. But in the same breath, his heart aches with the mere fact that she’s this excited for what should be expected of those asked to take care of her. The simple pleasures children her age or just children in general should have full access to without fear that it would be taken away in a moments notice. Oh my littlest vampire, I’ll make sure you never have to ask for anything ever again. A large hands comes to swipe away the errant tears that have fallen down her face, ones of joy he knows, but pull at his heartstrings none-the-less. “No dream at all, little one,” he coos softly. “This is real life and I promise it will continue to be that way for as long as I’m breathing”

He chuckles softly and takes her outstretched hand in his own, following her to the front door and outside where his car was waiting, the engine still warm even so. “Patience little one, patience,” he chides softly, though there’s no real ire in his tone. “The night is young and we have plenty of time to hit all the stores you could even imagine until your eyes fall dreary and sleep whisks you away.” He opens the rear door for her and buckles her in tightly once she’s safely inside. “Though we’re called creatures of the night, we aren’t really so. Some, like me, work in the day and then come home at night or go out with friends and family. Others chose to live the stereotypical lifestyle and only come on at night. What matters now, is getting my little one’s dream room in order hm?”

“Since I’m a vampire… that means forever right?” Hazel asked him after he wiped away the last of her tears, joy radiating in her voice. This wasn’t a dream… and if she was a vampire and so was he… that meant this could be forever. She would never have to be scared again, she would never have to be sad again… she would never be unloved again… This was her forever now and it was the best forever in the world.

“It’s hard to be patient when I’m so happy,” she told him. “But I’ll do my best to be Hufflepuff patient!” She giggles as she walks with him, her hand in his.

She’s amazed at how he always takes care of her, opening the car door for her, buckling her in. She’s still not used to being treated like this all the time, so different, so new, from how her mom and dad treated her. She feels like a Princess with Ryan. And completely safe.

“But we can stay up all night if we want though right?” She asked mischievously. “I mean since we’re still vampires!”

*

They had made it to the mall! She was so excited to explore with Ryan and find all the things for her dream room. “I want to find all the star things and all the cute things!” She told him.

She was so excited she didn’t notice at first all the sounds – which sounded extra loud very suddenly. She squeezed Ryan’s hand tight and moved so she was leaning into him, trying to just focus on him.

A brow raises at her inquiry, the little mischievous tone in her voice not lost on his ears at all and he bites his lip to conceal a smirk of pure amusement. “I would love to see you try little one.”

~*~

The mall is crowded, something that is a bit surprising to the raven considering it’s the middle of the week, but he makes sure to keep a step behind Hazel as she bounces from excitement from the new colors and noises. Right....noises. It’s no surprise to him as she takes his hand in her smaller one and clenches tightly; affirmation that he’s right here and she’s okay. “Breathe honey, breathe,” he coos softly. “I’m right here.” He gets down to her eye level once again and breathes in slowly before exhaling a few times. “Your hearing, sense of smell, vision...everything is amplified because you’re a vampire now. It takes some getting used to but, it gets pretty cool after a while and you’ll never lose a game of hide and seek!” He offers a playful smile before rising to his full height again, still keeping her hand clasped in his. “Well, there’s a Disney store in here I’m sure. Princess and stars, stuffed animals. Build-A-Bear where we can make as many of them as you want.”

[ℜ]     He taps his nose and says no more instead choosing to chuckle as she continues to dig herself into a deeper hole. Their dishes are taken away and champagne bottle almost empty, the raven rising to his feet bottle in hand as he holds out his free one to her. “Shall we?”  He waits as she rises, checking and straightening her appearance before swiping the bottle from his hand and leading them back to the elevator, he following behind like an obedient puppy, eyes watching the sway of her hips the whole time. So much so that he actually stumbles into her, pushing her against the nearest wall. “Now where have I seen this before….” he muses, hand cupping to cup her face. “I always ask before I take,” he reminds her, fangs drawing free only a little. “But I think I’ll save that for later hmm?” 

“We shall,” Sophie agreed, giggling as she moved to pick up the champagne bottle. There was no reason to waste perfectly good alcohol. She was pleased with the idea of getting to dance, especially with Ryan, and she took a very lady-like sip from the bottle.  

[ℜ]     Okay, might’ve deserved that one. He bites back a grimace as her grip is a bit more ‘you’re an idiot’ than ‘let me take care of you’. None the less, her lithe frame is cradling his hips and he can feel the heat of her on the base of his spine. “My face is usually what got me what I wanted, but then I’d open my mouth and whoops! There she goes.” Well, everyone except Elena that was. Bonnie and Caroline simply tolerated him because Elena loved him and lord knows his sister wished she was the only child at times. “Ah, so you are with me for my dick?” He bucks a bit from beneath her and chuckles as she lets out a yelp. “See boy, you are good for something.” 

[ℜ]     “Yes ma’am.” Any slight idea of toying with her or teasing her at this current moment would surely end him in the doghouse and he was already making it up to her later once Noah had gone to bed. A look into the trunk and his head cocks to the side in….wonder is the word he’ll go for. Because first glance would have people thinking she was feeding several Noah’s. Or perhaps just Jeremy. He steals a glance at her as she hands the young his Happy Meal, the child poking his head into the box to grab some fries and stuff his face. “You uh…wanna tell me something?” He smirks, shaking the few bags he’s grabbed. 

[ℜ]     A hand is placed over his heart and he makes a face of pain. “You wound me, Elena. Truly. And here I am catering to your every whim and desire of my on free will.” He wipes away a nonexistent tear and turns from her dramatically. “Women.” The sour mood lightens a bit and he can breathe a bit easier, well that is until she licks sauce off her finger and whoops, there goes a boner. He hyper focuses on the food in front of him because he just know if he turns his head and watches her do it again he may actually cum in his pants. “More beer please….” If anyone was getting drunk tonight it was going to be him. At least then he’d hopefully pass the fuck out before his hand had any chance to assist him. 

[ℜ]     “Knowing this town he will own it by then.” Or he’d be the next mayor or sheriff or some other boring shit their small town was famous for.  He steps out first, Elena following soon after and he’s by her side by the time they step onto the curb to walk inside, his fingers laced in hers even as they swing the door open and walk inside. The action causes everyone’s heads to turn and suddenly they’re surrounded by old classmates and neighbors, people they haven’t seen in…a very long time asking them all about their lives. Yeah, New York is a lot safer than here. He can already feel his shoulders tensing up with all the unwanted attention, memories of his childhood and the stares in whispers. But he holds fast, nods when he’s supposed to an tries to answer what he can without giving too much away. Thankfully the small crowd eventually dissipates, wishes they’ll come back soon and often and the raven plops himself in the first available booth, a headache already climbing its way up his skull. 

[ℜ]     He chuckles softly and nods in agreement. “Yes little one, anyone, no matter what they may be, would be taken care of quickly if they ever tried to take you from me or hurt you.” This I promise you. He rises back his fully height and takes the now empty blood bag from his hands, walking to dispose of it before coming back to stand before her. “You will never have to be scared ever again, Hazel. As long as there is breath in my body, I will do whatever necessary to make sure you know that.”  He cocks his head to the side and comes up blank with her next question. As much as an expert he was in everything else regarding his company; this was certainly something new. Not a bad new however just…an adjustment. “Well what is it that you want to do? Watch tv? Find some movies? I’m sure there are still a few stores open, we could go shopping and get some things you like.” Who was he kidding? This was New York, of course there were stores still open. “I also think you should pick which room you want to stay in from here on out. After all I do have a lot to choose from and once you pick it, we can go and get stuff to decorate it however way you like. Paint, sheets and blankets, pillows and stuffed animals. Whatever you wish my little vampire.” 

Hazel almost couldn’t believe this was real and not just a dream. She was safe, she had a new home, and she was being told nothing would hurt her or take her away.

I’m so happy this is real and not just a dream. She thought.

“I almost feel like I’m in a dream,” she told him, sharing her thoughts.

“Like I can’t believe this is real, that I’m safe, that I have a home now, that you’re saying you’ll protect me and I’ll never be scared again. I would have dreams like this, dreams where I found a new home and I wasn’t scared anymore and safe and protected. But I always woke up and it wasn’t real. But this is real. I’m not going to wake up tomorrow and it was all a dream, I’m going to wake up and it’s all going to be the same because it’s real.” Tears fell down her cheeks again as she was overcome with emotion.

And now he was telling her she could pick out her room and they could even go out shopping to decorate it. He was saying she could even get stuffed animals. Her heart filled with excitement. A real life dream!

“I think I want to pick a room close to you,” she told him. “That way if I’m scared and wake up I can call you and you’ll hear me.”

She then thought about what they should do to celebrate. It was late, but she wasn’t tired. She was in the mood to celebrate.

“We should go shopping!” She decided excitedly. “I want to decorate my room! I think since my wish is true now, I want a wish themed room! I want to decorate my wall with stars and get lots of stuffed animals to cuddle.” She bounced up and down excitedly.

“So let’s go!” She cheered happily. She held her hand out for him to take. She giggled happily as they walked out into the night.

[ℜ]     “Yeah sure, blame the alcohol,” he says with a snort. “Not like I’ve seen you throw back shots back like they’re your favorite pistol and we’re having one hell of a night.” He’s aware of how why they may have been…intimate in the past, this was an entirely different ball game they were playing in. No outside forces were playing a part, no alcohol flaming through their veins to explain away wandering hands. This time, oh no, the blame would be all on them. 

“Yes I’m aware of how impatient you are,” he says with a slight laugh. “It’s why I’m usually the one covered in the most blood.” His eyes flit over to the dance floor in question and while he can feel every nerve in his body tensing in his future uncomfortable state; he was a man of his word. “Well then I suggest you finish your meal then.” 

“Okay, but taking shots is different than drinking champagne. I mean, it affects people different,” That was probably bullshit, but Sophie was gonna go with it. She knew the real reason why she was shy–this wasn’t just some hookup because they had to hookup, or something that a wild night led to. This was like an official thing. It scared her a bit, if she was being honest. 

[ℜ]     “Only for me,” he confirms with a shit-eating grin. “What kind of idiot would I be if I allowed someone beneath me to get such a great honor of having your hands on their skin, hmm?” He follows her order (because of course he does) and lies face down on the mattress, crossing his arms under the pillows and bringing them up to lay his face down comfortably. “So….come here often?” It’s a crap joke, one that will no doubt get him a smack but it’s worth it in his eyes. “Sorry, I haven’t had shitty jokes since we were kids and I checked out that dumb book from the library. Honestly how did you even put up with me?” he inquires with a chuckle. 

[ℜ]     The raven and Noah situate themselves on the couch, Ryan commenting every now and then, showing him which buttons to press for which channel he wants to watch. Noah’s eyes are wide as he flicks through the seemingly endless list of options but finally settles on some cartoon the sinner can’t say he’s heard of. None the less it keeps the boy occupied and he crosses his legs while he gets sucked into the action. He fiddles with his phone for a bit, debating on whether or not he should send Elena another text but decides against it as he steals a glance over at Noah who’s gotten more comfortable on the couch and gets more engrossed. 

A good half hour goes by before he hears Elena roll up, the SUV coming to a stop and trunk being popped open, his name being called soon after. Noah seems to hear the commotion as well and jumps to his feet, rushing off the couch and to the door before Ryan can really stop him. “Easy little one…” But his words fall on deaf ears as the boy swings the door open and rushes outside to Elena’s side, Ryan coming after him with his hands up. “I didn’t do anything…” 

[ℜ]     “I’m not against taking my shirt off and proving that fact right now,” he throws back at her, hands reaching for his shirt before a small look and he’s rolling his eyes with a chuckle. “You knew that from the first day you met me, especially when you volleyed back and forth with me in Italian. Something that still blows my mind by the way, well done. Not many people can do that.” Hands reach out for a few wings and place them on a spare plate provided for them, grabbing some blue cheese and pouring some to the side. “I think we talked about how terrible each other meeting would’ve been a few years ago as well….” His brows furrow as he remembers that lovely weekend and the conversation afterwards that brought up demons he’d rather not allow to come back to life. “I was a piece of shit then, Elena. Not the worst of course but, I would’ve hated myself had I played a part…..” 

[ℜ]     He’s quiet as she mulls it over, his mind racing with the idea of them spending the rest of their lives here. Their biological or adopted children scraping their knees on the same sidewalks they did as children while learning to ride their bikes, the Grille which would become ingrained in their blood as it did for every kid before them and would. Sending them off to the schools he and Elena went to, seeing teachers they had so many years ago. God a part of him almost wants it….but then she speaks and her words ring truer than the visions he has in his head. Yes this town shaped them, but it was time for them to finish who they were as people and shape their lives the rest of the way as well as the lives of their future children. “This town is in them no matter where  we go,” he muses, turning the key and bringing the car to silence. “It’s in in their blood.” From the car window he can look inside the Grille and see the bustle of people inside and how even after all this time it continues to be the buzz of the town. “I swear we’ll be 90 and this place will still be here…” 

[ℜ]     “I’m a greedy motherfucker what can I say?” he says with a smile. Honestly Elena had done everything she could with what they had to turn their bedroom into a massage parlor, candles are flickering deep shadows among the walls, the smell of the oil she’s chosen have already began their magic in working work stress from his body, and he hasn’t even climbed on the bed yet and surrendered himself to her hands. He crosses the room in long strides, cupping her face in his hands as he lifts her face for a kiss, humming in contentment once their lips connect. “5 stars on Yelp, excellent service, not sharing with friends though.” 

[ℜ]     “We’ll be waiting for you when you do,” he says to Elena, Noah waving in goodbye before he ends the call. “Would you like to walk around for a bit and pick a room to sleep in?” The raven assumes the boy would also like a bath or… shower (were kids his age taking showers now?) maybe, start anew in a way. Then again, there was nothing Ryan could offer him to sleep in. ‘Get him some clothes too, maybe stuff for a bath?? I’m lost here.’ He figures texting Elena will be his best best with things like this. “Could I watch tv?” Noah asks meekly, eyes glancing over to the living room. “You sure can, come on.” Might as well keep him in one place and satisfied right? Holding his hand out, he waits for the young boy to either take it or simply hold back, wait for Ryan to lead while he follows. To his surprise the boy takes the first option, though opting to hold onto his finger instead. “I have a lot of channels, some movies too. You can pick whatever.” 

[ℜ]     “When I’m eating, sleeping, jerking off, showering, working, playing video games, working out,” he ticks off easily, not even sparing her a glance, his eyes focused on the multitude of games on the screens above their heads. “I would say sex but I can be pretty Dominant in the bedroom or an ‘overbearing dick lord’ if we’re using your words. That’s all I got.” He turns to her then, offering her a smile and wink before his own bottle is placed in front of them along with their orders and a basket of fries large enough to feed a team of people. “Like now, now I won’t bother you even if you pull a Coyote Ugly on the bar top. Unless you fuck up my food then we’ll have a problem.”