Aaron

[alcuin]

When Alcuin didn't hear from Aaron in a reasonable amount of time after leaving that note, he was... annoyed. Mostly at himself, because he wondered if he'd miscalculated. If it had been too soon for such an overt step. Though also he was slightly insulted.

Finally he decided that he was tired of waiting, and he might as well kill two birds with one stone and push things forward. Though he was also a little annoyed at having to get Hannibal's input into this plan because he didn't like admitting that Aaron was ghosting him.

But Hannibal had liked his new plan very much, and was more than happy to help.

Which was how, late one evening, Aaron received a phone call:

Alcuin's voice was nearly a whisper. Weak. "I - I'm so sorry to call you, but I didn't know who else... I think... I think I need help..."

Comments

[quitollis]

Aaron felt awful for Alcuin. He worked quickly yo bandage him. When he was done, he spoke. "Can you walk?"

[alcuin]

Alcuin nodded, and took Aaron's arm to pull himself up. "This... this is a lot of blood isn't it."

[quitollis]

"Yeah, it is. But you won't die," Aaron assured him. "You just need a bed and a lot of rest. You'll be okay. Come, I'll take you back to mine. You can rest there."

[alcuin]

"Are you sure?" Alcuin asked, feigning a bit of panic. "I don't want to impose, I thought... maybe you didn't want to see me again."

[quitollis]

Ouch. "No, no, nothing like that. I just...needed some time to think and... work got in the way. I'm sorry. But let's just get you there first, okay. We can talk later." He was surprisingly gentle and open. And... concerned and... wanting to keep Alcuin close and safe. God, he was certainly falling for him.

[alcuin]

"Okay." Alcuin relaxed visibly.

He could also hear his thoughts. Oh thank god this was working. He would have been pretty upset if he ended up with a scar from all of this for now reason.

[quitollis]

Aaron helped him over to his bike. He didn't own a car, bikes were more agile in a city. "Can you hold onto me? It won't take long to get to the chapel."

[alcuin]

"Of course," Alcuin said, and carefully climbed on behind him, wrapping his arms around his waist.

[quitollis]

This was exactly why Aaron had hesitated calling. Even this small gesture, just holding him, was doing things to him. "Hang on," he said as he started.

He would come back later, get some information, and kill whatever vampire had done this.

[alcuin]

Alcuin smiled against Aaron's back.

He'd been proud of this plan. It accomplished multiple things. Pushed forward his relationship with Aaron so that he could find out more about his plans. Got him off of any trail towards Hannibal. And pushed him towards a problematic vampire hive that Hannibal would be happy to take out anyway.

[quitollis]

Aaron felt Alcuin lean in, as if thankful and was pleased and thankful Alcuin was alive still.

They arrived shortly and were inside the chapel soon.

"I'll get you something to drink. You need to replenish."

[alcuin]

Alcuin sat down heavily on the bed. "Thank you."

He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, and brought his fingertips to the bruises on his neck by the bandage.

[quitollis]

Aaron felt so bad for him. "Vampire scars tend to heal well," he tried to reassure him as he offered him a glass or orange juice mixed with electrolytes.

"How are you feeling now?"

[alcuin]

“Better,” said Alcuin, and took the glass gratefully. “I really can’t thank you enough.”

[quitollis]

Aaron smiled a little. "Can you explain what happened?" he asked gently.

[alcuin]

"I was walking to the tube station when I realized that someone was following me," Alcuin said, and drank deeply from the glass again. "This was so stupid, I know it was, but for some reason my first thought was to duck into the alley to see if they passed me..."

He looked embarrassed. "And then suddenly I was up against the wall with his hand around my neck. He moved so fast..."

[quitollis]

"I did some reading of fae," Aaron said. He had delved into the subject after Alcuin had told him about it. Fae were... not high on the priority list, but definitely not seen as a force for good by the Church. They weren't actively hunting them, though and not considered 'monsters' in that sense.

"Your blood is... tempting to vampires."

[alcuin]

"I managed to get the knife out of my pocket and I stabbed him in the chest while his fangs were still in me," Alcuin said. "He ripped away and stumbled back, then took off. It probably didn't kill him, did it."

[quitollis]

"If you didn't see him die, then no, probably he's not dead," Aaron said. "But... you prevented him hurting you more, that's good. You fought him off well."

[alcuin]

The truth was, Alcuin was very capable of fighting off a vampire. It was something Hannibal had ensured, early on.

"It was very frightening," he said. He finished off the orange juice. "I think I'm fine now, though."

He hesitated, and then added, "I was afraid you might not answer."

[quitollis]

Aaron was quiet for a moment. "Sorry about that. I'm not used to... talking about that sort of thing. I wanted to, but I didn't yet think of what to say." It was evident he'd done a lot of thinking lately and that he was more comfortable with a side of him he'd always known was there, but never admitted to.

[alcuin]

"I'm sorry, too," Alcuin said quietly. "I overstepped. I was kicking myself, thinking I'd... ruined it."

[quitollis]

"No, you didn't," Aaron was quick to assure him. "In the note, you asked me about feelings and I was sure I had none. But... well, as you probably guessed, that's not entirely true."

[alcuin]

"I don't mean to complicate your life," Alcuin said gently. "I just - I thought I felt something between us."

[quitollis]

"They employ priests as hunters because we're easily expendable. No families, no ties, no worries. I've... lived my life like that for a long time," Aaron admitted quietly.