#dodger;

There wasn’t much concentrating for Flynn that next day. While he’d actually slept, he still felt out of sorts. And it was sad he couldn’t say the last time he’d gotten more than a handful of hours of rest. The coolness of Dodger’s body didn’t hurt either. If anything it was a very welcomed comfort. It was constant sweltering around them, though most the other creatures didn’t feel it as the humans had. Well Flynn would keep that little tid bit for himself. It was okay to be selfish when it came to Dodger. The less he shared with anyone else the better. But even when he could get some rest normally it was hardly every peaceful. He couldn’t honestly say the last time he felt like he did in the wake of seeing Dodger’s lifeless body first thing. It threw him in a way he hadn’t expected. That sight alone let Flynn know it wasn’t just the fact that the vampire was forbidden territory, but there was something more the human felt for him. 

The air in the house changed instantly when he’d come down the stairs. Of course he half expected everyone to be having some sort of a party. No instead they’d all stuck to their chores as if he were still there. It honestly touched him in a way he couldn’t describe. Maybe they were working together better than he’d thought. That was until the younger ones had finally spotted him in the door way. And the barrage of questions and furry were not in short supply. He’d made sure to keep Dodger locked in his room for his own safety. It wasn’t as if he were going anywhere but he’d be damned if anyone in this house was going to do something as stupid as was floating through their heads. He’d managed to gain the upper-hand quicker than he’d thought. Threatening to go through weeks without enough food was enough to quiet the oldest ones and the children were all too thrilled to be able to see Dodger again. Though this time he’d make sure they were tucked in bed, all of them, before they’d left tonight. “Get everything done before supper.” He ordered all the older ones, the scowls and groans were enough for him to understand they’d get it done. That left him to entertain the twins. And it also meant he could watch the house with Dodger safely kept upstairs. 

By the time Flynn and the little ones had gotten supper ready he was quite surprised to see how tired the rest of them were as they drifted into the house. A few quick commands to get their places set and supper finished gave Flynn a few moments to go and check on the man still in his bed. He hadn’t any clue what to expect when he’d unlocked the door but the still lifeless body was both a relief and cause for concern. He wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to seeing that. He was dead. Actually dead. But that was Dodger. Sooner or later he’d awaken and be ready. Did that mean he needed to feed when he woke? After last night’s activities he couldn’t imagine it wouldn’t hurt. That was a bridge to cross when he’d actually waken up. Flynn stole a few more glances at him from the door jam and closed the door but left it unlocked this time. 

The hours until dusk seemed to take an enternity to come. But thankfully the sky grew red and slowly darker. The twins and Em were off to bed first followed by the boys and then Riles taking up the rear. Just in time for it to be dark enough for Dodger to safely come out. He’d made sure all the doors were closed before he’d opened his own. A soft knock on the door frame as he’d opened it, his eyes finding the naked form of the vampire still on his bed as he was just a few hours ago. Flynn’s cheeks beamed red and he’d closed the door behind, taking slow strides towards him. “Are ...” He whispered, clearing his throat as he’d tried his damnedest to focus only on that messy hair and sharp featured face. “Are you awake?”

There were strict rules in place. One’s he’d made sure to follow through each and every day. It’s how he’d made it the last six years on his own. There had been companions every now and again but none ever panned out or they were just passing through. Flynn could never leave this place, the last time he had ... well the last time he had, when he’d come back it was to be an orphan. No Mom or Dad. No Kylee to steal his old mp3 players anymore. Just nothing.

He was okay with that. It taught him how to be strong, to watch, to truly use his training from the Academy. But even then, most of his close encounters had been sheer luck as to the method of escape. That was until he’d come across a certain specie. More so a certain man. Dodger. 

That was the only name he was left with. It was the only one he kept repeating as if someone could forget a name like that. But that night in the make-shift bar barn, well Flynn hadn’t quite experienced anything like that. Well and harshly against his own rules but he couldn’t deny it had felt good. It was just a moment. Dodger would never see him as more than a next meal and sadly Flynn had to accept that. He was the last few of a the humans. At least those that hadn’t sought sanctuary among their own kind. 

And as he’d approached the rather large building Dodger’s clan had claimed, he often wondered if it wasn’t really the human’s fault that they’d been picked off so quickly. Waltzing up and asking to see one of their own, well that wasn’t something a smart human did. In fact it wasn’t something any human would have done. Flight or fight hadn’t evaded Flynn by any means but there was a matter of being able to continue his lifestyle here. More so he was looking to see what the price would be to ask a favor. It was foolish, favors were always weighted and often left the initial seeker left out, but Flynn was out of options and it didn’t hurt that perhaps seeing Dodger again wasn’t the worst outcome. 

Flynn was allowed in, at least when Dodger had declared him to be untouched back at the bar it seemed to stick. The teeth and deep inhales hadn’t gone unnoticed. If anything the young man felt as though stepping into this place they called home was a mistake. The itch to leave was steadily growing by the millisecond. Come on Dodger. 

His foot slid have a step back, reading himself to bolt if he didn’t catch a glimpse of that man in the next few seconds.

dxdger

"I ain’t gonna wear this outside. I look stupid."