#firebite au

One night, after two long weeks of settling into your new surroundings, you found yourself in a local bar. You had already tried another joint but the clientele left a lot to be desired - let's just say they were a bit too "miner" for your taste. But this place, well, it had a different vibe. You sat in a corner nursing a beer, watching the eclectic mix of regulars and tourists. Some were chatting and playing pool, while others were getting their flirt on and hitting the dance floor.

As a newbie in this town, you didn't have many contacts yet, so you played it safe and observed from afar. Sure, sitting alone in a quiet corner wasn't exactly helping your situation, but you weren't quite ready to jump into the social scene just yet.

As you sat in your corner, nursing your beer and people-watching, you noticed a group of four playing pool nearby. You caught their eyes a few times, and the two women in the group even gave you friendly smiles from across the room. You returned the gesture, taking it as a small win for your social skills.

As the minutes ticked by, you finished your beer and watched the group banter and joke around with each other. They looked like a fun crowd, the kind of people you could easily see yourself becoming friends with. Who knows, maybe your move to the outback won't be so lonely after all.

_____________

As you stood at the bar, waiting for your turn to order another beer, your attention was suddenly drawn to a tall, strikingly handsome man sitting at the table the group occupied. You hadn’t noticed him at first sitting in your lonely corner, but now you were even more intrigued to get to know this group.

Your heart skipped a beat as his gaze swept across the room, eventually locking onto you. The intensity of his stare sent shivers down your spine, and you couldn't help but look away, a sheepish smile forming on your lips. You felt a bit ridiculous for the effect this stranger was having on you - the last time you felt this giddy was during a college party when a cute guy had caught your eye.

Before you could fully succumb to your daydream, the bartender interrupted your thoughts by placing a refilled glass of beer in front of you. With a grateful smile, you thanked him.

______________

With a newfound sense of confidence, you grabbed your glass and made your way over to the group at the pool table. Although you were more of an introvert, you had a way of surprising people with your outgoing nature. As you approached the group, you flashed them a warm smile and introduced yourself. "Hey, I'm Y/n. Mind if I join you guys for a round or two?"

To your delight, both women in the group welcomed you with open arms. "Hey gorgeous!" the blonde, Kathy, exclaimed with a grin. "I'm Kathy, and this is Maddy. These handsome fellas over here are Jason - my boyfriend - and Xavier, Maddy's boyfriend." You couldn't help but chuckle at the friendly introduction. Your eyes flitted over to the man they hadn’t introduced yet. To your surprise his green eyes were fixated on you. His stare, combined with an otherwise stoic expression left you feeling exposed. It seemed like he could look beyond your eyes right into your soul.

Maddy noticed your quick glance and spoke up with a giggle, breaking that spell his gaze had on you. “Oh, don’t mind him. That’s Josiah. He tends to be a bit of a grump.”

As you settled in with the group, you placed your beer on the table and opened up about your recent move from Europe. "Yeah, I just arrived here about two weeks ago," you explained. "It was time for me to leave my comfort zone and get out and meet new people." Maddy's eyes widened at the mention of your origins. "You're from Europe? That's so cool!" she exclaimed, her excitement infectious. You couldn't help but smile widely at her pure nature.

________

As the night wore on, the group grew closer and the fun only intensified. The pool games became a heated competition, with everyone vying for the top spot. You couldn't believe how quickly you had clicked with these strangers, and you found yourself laughing and joking with them like you had known each other for years.

As the championship reached its climax, the whole bar seemed to be watching with bated breath. Xavier and Kathy were neck and neck, each determined to avoid taking last place. The tension was palpable as they took their final shots.

But as the game came to an end, the energy shifted. The music picked up, and you felt yourself being drawn to the dance floor. With a quick glance back at the group, you made your way to the center of the room, letting the rhythm of the music take hold.

For a moment, it felt like you were the only person in the room. The music swelled around you, and you closed your eyes, letting the beat guide your movements. You could feel the eyes of the other people on you, but it didn't matter. In that moment, all that existed was the music and the movement of your body.

As you were swaying to the rhythm, lost in your own world, a voice calling your name brought you back to reality. Your eyes opened, and you found yourself face to face with Josiah. He was staring at you with an intensity that made your heart skip a beat.

The two men beside him were deeply engrossed in their conversation, completely oblivious to their friend's captivation. His piercing gaze made you curious about him, and you felt an inexplicable attraction towards him. You could feel the pull, the inexplicable energy that seemed to be drawing you towards him.

Just as you were about to take a step towards him, Maddy's voice broke through the spell. You tore your gaze away from the man and turned towards your friend at the bar. However, before you walked away, you made sure to flash him a smile, silently promising yourself to find out more about him.

________

Josiah's piercing gaze followed you as you made your way to Maddy who was standing at the bar, his eyes scanning every inch of your body with a hunger that he hadn’t felt in years. You couldn't shake off the feeling that he was watching your every move, and it made your heart race with anticipation.

Little did you know, the events of the last three months had left a bitter taste in his mouth. As the king of vampires, he had faced numerous challenges and obstacles, but nothing compared to the betrayal of his ex, Ellie. She had managed to convince those who knew about their existence to stay quiet and arrange an exchange of workforce for frequent blood donations, creating somewhat of a safe space for vampires.

Despite his immense strength and power, the title of a king no longer held much weight in the eyes of his fellow vampires. And as he watched you laughing and chatting with your new friends, he couldn't help but wonder if you were the key to his redemption or his ultimate downfall.

The past few weeks had been grueling for him. He had to swallow his pride after being beaten by Ellie, and then abide by the rules she had negotiated with the human community to stay alive. 

But as soon as he laid eyes on you in the pub, something shifted inside him. A feeling, he hadn't felt in centuries, slowly crept out of the depths of his being. It was a feeling of genuine curiosity and attraction that he couldn't shake off, despite his best efforts to keep his guard up.

As the night went on, he found himself drawn to you like a moth to a flame. He was mesmerized by your every move, and he couldn't resist stealing glances at you whenever he could. 

_________

The clock struck midnight and your new friends announced that they wanted to dance some more. Meanwhile, you had your fair share of drinks with the girls, leaving you slightly tipsy, but still far from drunk. It was a nice level of letting go and relaxing into the moment. 

Kathy took your hand, wanting to drag you to the dance floor already moving her body to the music. After taking a couple of steps with her, you pulled your hand from her grasp which earned you a confused look. 

You just smiled at her as you turned around, heading straight to Josiah. “Why do you bother? He won’t join us.” You hear her trying to shout over the music, her voice distant in the volume of it. 

The entire night he sat in his corner, occasionally sipping on a beer one of the other guys brought back from the bar. Not even once he had said anything and at this point you were dying inside to hear him utter a small word.

Even as you approached the table again his eyes never left you, his face and body language remaining the same. 

“Wanna dance?” Along with your question you offered him a smile. Just then you noticed that you were standing closer to him than the entire evening. It must have been the alcohol elevating your courage here. 

Standing this close you took in some of his facial details, like the scar on his chin really looking like a y as it reached his lip. You found yourself wanting to trace it with the tip of your finger or… your tongue. For a moment longer your gaze lingered on his lips, your mind wondering what it’d be like to kiss him. 

You hardly registered when he finally responded with a short and certain “No.” It ripped you out of your little daydream and your eyes snapped back up to find his. You could have sworn you saw the tiniest glint flashing inside them and you knew you were caught daydreaming. 

Although you had no intention of pushing him to join the dance floor with you, it was hard to just turn around and enjoy yourself. He seemed to notice your conflict - one you weren’t exactly aware you had - as he encouraged you to leave the table “Go on, Y/n. Kathy is waiting for you.” These were the first full sentences he spoke with you and hell, his deep voice felt like velvet being draped over your naked body. 

Hesitantly you nodded and slowly dragged yourself away from him and over to the dance floor. You couldn’t help but look over your shoulder a few steps away from your destination. A smile formed on your lips when you found him still watching your every move. 

_______

It took you a moment to really let loose, but soon you were moving to the beat, bass thumping in your body. The rhythm drew you into a deep trance, blending out nearly everything around you. Knowing your new group of friends was near gave you a sense of safety as you danced among strangers. However you hadn’t noticed how the crowd had you drifting away from your friends.

As you danced, lost in the rhythm and the blur of the crowd, you barely noticed the stranger until his hands were on your waist. Startled, you tried to step away, but he only pulled you closer, his grip uncomfortably tight. His breath was heavy with the scent of alcohol, and his eyes, a little too eager, didn’t match the friendly smile plastered on his face.

“Hey, I’m just looking for a good time,” he slurred, misinterpreting your frown as shyness.

You mustered a firm tone, “I’m not interested, please let go,” but your words seemed to fall on deaf ears as his hands crept further down your back.

The music and laughter around you suddenly felt miles away, and a prickling sense of vulnerability washed over you. You glanced around, hoping to catch a familiar face, but the sea of strangers offered no comfort.

The stranger’s grip tightened, his intentions clear in the leer that didn’t reach his eyes. Panic fluttered in your chest, your polite refusals ignored. Just as you were about to forcefully push away, a dark figure appeared beside you. Josiah stood there, his aura cold and unyielding.

Without a word, he locked eyes with the stranger, his gaze sharp and dangerous. The message was clear and nonverbal, carrying an authority that seemed to chill the air around you. The man’s confidence waned under Josiah’s silent threat, and he hastily retreated into the crowd.

Josiah’s eyes lingered on the retreating figure for a moment longer before turning to you. His face was an unreadable mask, but there was a slight tension in his jaw. “You shouldn’t be alone,” he stated, more a fact than a suggestion.

His voice was devoid of any warmth, yet you sensed an undercurrent of concern. He didn’t wait for your response; instead, he nodded toward a less crowded part of the bar. With a mix of reluctance and curiosity, you followed him, his presence a silent promise of safety.

As you moved through the crowd, you were acutely aware of the space he maintained between you, respectful yet protective. When you reached a quieter spot, he finally spoke again, his voice low and even. “You are new here. Be cautious. Not everyone has good intentions.”

The advice felt impersonal, yet it resonated with an unexpected sincerity. Josiah hadn’t broken his stoic mold, but his actions spoke volumes. In this brief interaction, he’d shown you a complex blend of detachment and care, leaving you intrigued and oddly comforted in the wake of the night’s unsettling turn.

After a moment of silence, you let out a shaky breath, the adrenaline from the earlier encounter fading, leaving a trail of vulnerability. You felt Josiah’s eyes on you, assessing, maybe even understanding.

With the alcohol warming your veins and loosening your tongue, you turned to him, your words more honest than you intended. “You know, for a guy who barely says a word, you sure have a way of making a statement.” You offered a small, wry smile, the tension easing from your shoulders.

Josiah’s eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion, but he remained silent, prompting you to continue.

“I mean, everyone has these layers, but you… It’s like you’re wrapped in a mystery I can’t help but want to unravel.” Your laugh was soft, slightly self-deprecating. You hadn’t planned to be so forthright, but the alcohol and the night’s events had stripped away your usual caution.

To your surprise, a corner of Josiah’s mouth quirked up in an almost smile. It was subtle, but it was the most expression you’d seen from him all night. “Is that so?” His voice was low, a hint of amusement threading through his usual sternness.

Encouraged, you stepped a little closer, your previous apprehension overridden by a newfound boldness. “Yes, and since you saved me from Mr. Handsy back there, I feel like I owe you a dance at least.”

Josiah’s gaze softened, the hard edge dimming for a moment. “I don’t dance,” he replied, but this time there was a lightness to his words, a tease that hadn’t been there before.

“Everyone can dance,” you countered playfully, reaching for his hand. “Even brooding loners need to let loose sometimes.”

For a moment, he hesitated, then, to your amazement, he allowed a genuine hint of a smile to break through his stoic façade. He took your hand, his touch surprisingly warm. “Just this once,” he conceded, and you led him toward the dance floor.

As you moved together, awkwardly at first but then with increasing fluidity, the rest of the bar faded away. Josiah was more relaxed, his guarded nature slipping as he followed your lead. Laughter and shared looks exchanged between you two wove a connection that felt unexpectedly right. For the first time since he’d appeared in your life, you saw the man behind the mystery, and he was more intriguing and complex than you could have imagined.

______________

The rhythm of the music pulsed around you like a living thing, and as you both moved back to the quieter corner of the bar, the warmth and slight buzz from the drinks made you more aware of Josiah’s presence beside you. There was something about the way he had protected you earlier that made you feel a strange combination of safety and exhilaration.

You found yourself leaning in closer to speak to him, the noise of the bar making it a necessity. “You know, Josiah, I can’t quite figure you out. You swoop in like some kind of hero, then you’re all mysterious and brooding again. It’s very confusing,” you said, your tone playful but your eyes searching his for an answer.

He looked down at you, the proximity bringing a new, electric charge to the air between you. “Life is rarely straightforward,” he replied, his voice low and more intimate because of the closeness.

Your gaze dropped to his lips for just a moment before meeting his eyes again, and you saw something flicker there, a brief spark of something more human, more vulnerable. Encouraged, you moved slightly closer, your shoulder almost brushing his as you spoke, “Well, I prefer things that are a little complicated. Keeps life interesting, don’t you think?”

Josiah’s response was a barely perceptible tightening of his jaw, and he seemed to lean in just a fraction closer. “Complications can be… intriguing,” he admitted, his gaze locked onto yours.

The air seemed to thicken, the sounds of the bar receding into the background. You were acutely aware of his body so close to yours, the faint scent of him that wasn’t cologne but something deeper, more essential. Without really thinking about it, you placed a hand lightly on his arm, intending to emphasize your point. The contact was like a spark, and you felt him tense slightly under your touch.

For a moment, you wondered if you’d overstepped, but then he turned his arm, his hand lightly covering yours, holding it there. It was a small gesture, but it felt significant, a tacit acknowledgment of the connection that had been forming between you all evening.

“You’re very forward,” he observed, but there was no censure in his voice, only a note of something like admiration.

You smiled, feeling bold. “Maybe I just go after what I want,” you replied, holding his gaze.

Josiah’s eyes darkened, and he looked at you in a way that made your heart race. “And what is it that you want?” he asked, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down your spine.