Dark Moon (ManxMan)

The Prophecy 

One of the travelling lamp one who is't yen f'r cruor At which hour the travelling lamp did kiss the moon, in the dark shalt the lighteth shineth -

One of the sun One who thirst for blood When the sun kissed the moon, in the dark shall the light shine

Colson's chest rose and fell rapidly. He licks his lips before biting down on it. He spread his legs even more apart, his eyes trained on he Beta in front of him. 

He lets out a silent gasp when the beta got on the bed, slowly running his hand up Colson's leg to his hip and gripped tightly. 

"Michel, no teasing. Please." Colson pleads, his body arched, trying to press closer to the Beta. Michel leaned up and closed the distance between their lips. The force of the kiss made Colson moan, his hands going around Michel's neck, his heart beating loud against his chest. Michel slid a hand down and cupped Colson entire, pulling him close to the edge with short strokes. 

Colson pulls away, the need for air and the need to scream, strong. He lets out a loud yelp when he was spun onto his stomach, his hands gripping the sheets. Michal grabbed Colson's ass and squeezed tightly. 

"Michel please." Colson licks his lips. "Please. I need you in me." He pleads, pushing his ass out a little. 

"I've got you, baby." Michal whispers, his voice husky. He spread Colson's cheeks apart and took a quick lick, forcing everything in Colson's head to flush out. Colson bit into the sheets and pushed back against Michel's mouth, wanting more, needing more. 

"If you don't get your cock in me, I'm going to get myself off." Colson gasped out, searching blindly for the tune of lube. 

"Patience is a virtue." Michel tuts, taking one final lick of Colson before pulling back. He reached over and grabbed the lube. Colson smirked and waited patiently. Excitement was thrumming in his veins as he waited. It takes a while and Colson was about to turn around and check what was taking so long, when a finger was thrust into him. 

"Fuck!" He cried out and pushed back against the finger.

"Another?" Michel asks a couple of thrusts later, his voice deep. Colson's answer was to push back against Michel's finger. 

Michel adds another finger and then another when Colson was a little looser. He asks when Colson was ready and the man tells him to... hurry up and fuck me. 

Colson silently gasped as Michel slid into him, his thrust hard and fast, nails digging into Colson's waist. They fuck hard and fast. Colson comes first, his come staining the sheets while Colson buried himself to the tilt as he paints the inside of Colson white, a loud moan leaving his lips. 

Colson froze once he realized what Michel had said. 

The wolf had called out a name. 

"Gabriel." 

—

Colson was concussed and has been confused since the early hours of the morning. Michel had slipped out of his room and like always he made Colson promise not to tell anyone about their secret meetings. 

Colson never thought that he'd be in this kind of relationship. It wasn't that he was expecting flowers and chocolates or some shit but it sure as hell wasn't this type. 

He made his way to the kitchen, saying hi to members of the pack on his way. He finds his brother standing in front of the microwave, a spoon in his mouth as he stared at the machine. 

"What the hell are you doing?" Colson teased as he takes a seat on one of the many stools. Cobie startles and turned around, a glare set on his face. 

"Don't sneak up on me like that."

"I'm your brother, I'm allowed to sneak up on you." Colson replied, resting his elbow on the counter and placing his chin in his palm. 

"I still haven't forgiven you for shooting me." Cobie scrunched his nose up and Colson laughed. Spending this much time with his brother, making jokes and laughing with him, has been a dream come true for him. After being separated for many years, here they are, closer than ever. 

The microwave makes a ding sound and Cobie happily pulls out a bowl of mashed potato. 

"Do I want to know?" Colson raised a brow at his brother. Cobie shrugged and grabbed the ready made gravy from the fridge as well as an extra spoon before taking a seat beside Colson. 

Colson grabs the spoon his brother holds out to him, smiling at the gold of Cobie's eyes. 

"I felt like eating this and Erik was being a pain in my ass."

"I thought you liked it when he was a pain in your ass." Colson sassed, sticking his tongue out at his brother. He dug his spoon into the mashed potatoes. 

"I do but ever since he let the witches move in, he's been trying to make the warriors keep an extra eye on them. He doesn't believe in white witches and shit. He claims since they have the power, they would always want to stir shit up." Cobie pouts, idly scratching his ear with a free hand. 

"I personally, am not a big fan of witches. Remember when we were seven and the witches next door turned our water pink due to a spell gone wrong."

Colson always tried to bring up their childhood. It seemed like Cobie had suppressed all the memories and he doesn't speak of it unless prompted. Especially when it comes to their mother. He doesn't say a word. 

Cobie snorted. "I remember you trying to drink it, hoping it would turn your body pink too. Baby Colly"

Colson chuckles as he thought back. The way their mother had screamed at him and told him to stand in a corner and think about how stupid that was. 

"I don't like you today."

"You say that every time." Michel cuts in as he strolls into the kitchen, he vampire Aetos beside him. 

"I say it with love." Colson replied with a shrug. He shoved another spoon into his mouth as the two men took their seats. Colson tries to act like his normal self but it was hard because he had this urge to reach out and grab. 

The vampire was staring at him like always. And like always, Colson ignored him. 

"You eaten yet?" Colson asked Michel who just nods and gives him a small smile. Cobie looks between Colson and Michel before letting out a huff, getting up from his sit. 

"I'm going to the sun room. No one should disturb me or I'll test out my new taser on you."

Colson sighs and shakes his head. "I told Erik not to buy you that." 

Erik Tomlinson has began to buy little things for Cobie. It ranged from the large guns he bought Cobie a few months ago, flower deliveries to the house and the clinic which Cobie had opened again, a box with different sizes of tasers. The one that frightened Colson was the taser that looked like a pen but with a crazy voltage. 

Cobie raised his hand, giving Colson the bird whilst showing off the gold ring sitting on his finger. Michel follows Cobie on his way out, leaving Colon with Aetos. 

Sometimes it felt like what he and Michel had was a dream. But it wasn't right? All his fingers and toes were a complete ten and there was also a time where he pinched himself to check. 

It wasn't a dream. 

It's fine. He'd have Michel anyway he could. 

Colson was dragged out of his thoughts by the rumble of his stomach, signifying his hunger. Aetos looks at him, setting both hands on the table. 

"You hungry?"

Colson stared at the vampire. 

"I can make you pancakes." 

"If I say yes, will you tell me how you and your brother can walk under the sun without turning to ashes?" Colson asked, batting his lashes at the vampire. 

Aetos raised an brow at Colson, an amused expression on his face. "Are you hungry or not?"

"Fine. Blueberry pancakes and honey." 

In a flash, Aetos was at the fridge pulling out the large jar of honey. Colson watched the vampire move, grabbing all the essentials and setting it on the table. 

"Did you have a meeting with Erik?"

Aetos nods. "He was checking up on my clan."

"There's nothing to be worried about, right?" Colson asked, playing with the spoon he had kept on the table. 

"Nope. We sleep during the day and move around T night till dawn. We can also step out when it's rainy or cloudy."

"Well, aren't you a lucky bunch then." Colson replied. "Is it tire, about garlic and death for you?" 

This was the first time Colson was attempting a conversation with the vampire. As he stared at the man mixing, taking in his tall height, pale skin, long fingers and an alarmingly gorgeous face, he realized there was actually nothing wrong with him. 

But why does he get this feeling when ever he looked at Aetos? 

The feeling was unexplainable. He couldn't put it in words, nor could he draw it. 

"Superstition."

"What about a stake to the heart?" Colson asked, letting go of the spoon and fully focusing on Aetos. 

"If you're stabbed in the heart with a stake, won't you die?" Aetos retorts, looking over his shoulder so he could smirk at Colson. 

"So... yes." Colson grinned. 

"Any thing else you want to know?" 

"Would you answer all of it? You won't find me annoying?" Colson asked, his eyes wide.

 Aetos stopped whisking and fully turned to face him. "You could never. I find you entertaining." Was all the vampire said before pouring a bit onto the pan. 

"I watched a series once and the vampires couldn't see their reflections. Do you see yours?" Colson asked, getting up from the stool. He made his way to fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. 

"We can."

"So... how did you become Lord Aetos? Were you royalty before you turned?" Colson asked after he takes a gulp of water. 

"It's just my title. Nothing special."

"How old are you?" Colson asked, leaning against the counter, arms folded across his chest. 

"569."

"What the fuck?!" Colson exclaimed. He suspects if he had been drinking water, he'd have done a spit take. Scratch that, he'd have done a double spit take. "You're an old man." 

"But I don't look a day over twenty six." Aetos winks. Colson just shakes his head and went back to his seat. He doesn't say a word, instead he watched Aetos stack his pancakes and grabbed the bowl of fruit from the fridge. 

"Here you go." The vampire said as he slid the plate towards Colson. 

Colson mutters his thanks and dug into the food, groaning as he chewed. He had been expecting something mellow, not something this good and this soft not this sweet. 

Aetos doesn't mutter a word too, he just takes a seat across Colson and watched him eat. Any other day, Colson would have called him a creep but thanks to the goodness of the fluffy pancakes in front of him, he'd let him have this one. 

It wasn't awkward per say but it wasn't exactly comfortable either. The silence was cut short by Randall stepping into the kitchen with his son, little Kai crying on his hips. Unlike Cobie, Colson wasn't a fan of kids. He didn't know how to act around them and the worst thing was having a kid cry because it isn't like your face. So he tended to stay far away as he could. 

Randall grabbed the large bowl of blueberry and cheesecake ice cream from the fridge and a big bowl. Colson chuckled as he watched Randall put two scoops of the ice cream into the bowl.

"This okay or should I add one more scoop?" Randall asked Kai, pressing a kiss to his son's temple. The crying had reduced to little sniffles as the boy nods. Randall added the extra scoop. He gently placed Kai on the ground and handed him the bowl.

"Thank you, Papa." Kai says with a big grin. Colson chuckled as Kai skipped out of the room. Randall takes a seat at the table and let out a big sigh.

"Something wrong?" Colson asked as he taken his final bite of the pancakes.

"He was asking for a brother again and started crying when I said he couldn't get one." Randall replied with a small pout.

"That's bull. Just strut into the hot doctor's room and ride him till he blacks out and boom! Baby!" Colson claps once, his eye cheerful in a way only Aetos could describe. 

Randall stared at Colson in horror, his mouth hanging open a little bit, his cheeks a bright pink. 

"That's crazy."

Colson shrugged. "Not really. The way I see it, you don't want anyone else besides him. So why not?" Colson stood up, his empty plate in his hand. 

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"You've forgotten a couple of things about me, so I'll remind you." Colson said with a smile on his face. "First, I've been here for close to a year-"

"Seven months." Aetos corrected.

"-So I notice a lot of things. Second, I don't have a job, so I'm here a lot and I see things. Lastly, you both are very obvious." Colson pats Randall on the shoulder on his way out of the kitchen. He stops at the door and turns to Aetos who was pointedly staring at the table. 

"Aetos..." this was the first time in months that Colson has called out the vampire's name and he could tell the vampire wasn't expecting it based on his wide eyed reaction.

"Thank you for the pancakes." Colson said. 

"Any time."

Colson grinned, his hand still on the door. "Don't say that or I might call you any time I need pancakes."

"I'd happily make you pancakes any time you want."

Colson takes one last look at the vampire. He takes in Aetos' black shirt, black jeans and black boots. He takes in his tussled hair and pouty lips. There was something about him. Not just the fact that he could walk under the sun. 

Something. It felt like it was on the tip of his tongue but he just didn't know what it was and he couldn't decide if his senses were telling him if it was dangerous or not. 

Colson walked out of the kitchen and out of the house, grabbing his brother's car keys as he went. Just like Cobie, Colson had a thing about being stuck in a car for too long. He was half way to the beach when he realized he had left his phone behind. 

Ugh. 

He rests his head against the cushion and increased the volume of the radio, London Grammar's Hell to the Liars came on. 

He parks the car when he finds the right space and killed the engine. He reclines the chair backwards a little and relaxed onto it. The view looked amazing. The water was blue, the sand white, the sun made it glow gold. 

Sitting still and enjoying the view. 

It's been a while since he did something like this. He and Pa moved around a lot. 

Hell to the liars Here's to you and me Hell to the best of us Here's to you and me Colson watched the people on the beach interact, play and run into the water. Staring at the people who ran into the water, Colson wondered if they've ever gotten hurt?

How can people be that happy?

Could he really call it happiness or ignorance?

Everything was fine now but why did he feel like he was missing something? 

Colson shook his head, no, he was not going to think about that. He pats his pants, in search of his wallet and lets out a groan when he realized he had left it behind. 

Here's to the things you love Here's to those you find in love Hell to the rest of us He checks the car, opened the compartment to check. He cheered when he found a twenty. He got out of the car and made his way to the nearest stand. He orders an unsweetened lemonade with a bendy straw. Colson takes off his seat and stuffs it in the car, he locks it and began his short trek towards the beach, he needed to clear his head, even if it was just a bit. 

He hummed as he walked, going farther and farther away from the crowd. He lazily kicked at the sand, smiling at himself whenever the water brushed his feet. He needed this. Fresh air and a clear mind. 

He was going to be fine. His father was dead so they were safe. Watching a man like that ripped into pieces had been invigorating but he hadn't seen the entire thing because he had passed out. 

The man who had killed his mother, burnt him alive and separated him from his brother, for the sake of a prophecy. He was ripped apart like he was made of paper. He was finally gone. 

Now Colson could walk about freely, Cobie with his ever changing eyes could walk about freely and now he was even mated and leading a powerful pack.

If Cobie could do it, then he can too. 

He had found someone whom he wanted and all he needed was for Michel to like him back, even if it was half as much. 

Should he give it up?

The more he walked the farther away he got from people. He closed his eyes and tilted his head towards the sun, feeling the sun heat his skin a little. Freedom felt great, truthfully though, it was a bit tiring. He didn't have a plan, he had no degree. 

He kicks at the sand one more time before settling. He was going to be fine. He's got time. He could be anything he puts his mind to, his mother used to say so. Colson opened his eyes and stared at the horizon.

He was going to be alright. 

He had everything he needed. 

"Astir help center, how may I help you?" 

"Daddy said I should join him." The little boy laughs. "He says I should do it. He said the pain would be brief. He says jumping from the roof wouldn't hurt." 

The operator's eyes widened and she sits up, pressing the phone to her ears. The technicians were trying to trace the phone call but it was coming up blank. 

"Where is your daddy?" The operator asks, trying to talk the little boy out of it and also trying to give the technicians more time to trace the call. 

"He's in heaven. He says if I jump now, we'll play together forever." 

"Fuck this!" One of the technicians said, jumping from his seat. "I'm going to try and catch the boy, I'll listen in for the voice. Someone should alert Alpha Erik." 

"I'm on it." Another technician said, pulling his phone out of his pocket. 

"I just wanted to tell you that Baba said he's here. He said Astir is going to fall." The little boy said with a giggle. "Everybody has to fall." 

The operator goes to open her mouth, about to say something when the sound of fast rushing air blows through the speaker before she hears a sharp thud. 

A child has died. 

A child had jumped to his death from a five story building. 

Colson couldn't wrap his head around it. Erik hadn't been home since he burst out the door at three am, Cobie at his side. No one had been able to find the child before he had fallen. 

Everyone in the house was tense. Michel had gone along with Erik. Colson was sat in the sun room, his face in his hands as he waited. Something was wrong someone. 

"Here." 

Colson looks up to find Gabriel holding out a mug to him. He looks at the man and the cup before reaching for it. Gabriel has on a velvet red dress with thin strips and white sneakers. He looked good.

The mug was filled with cold beer. 

"Really?" He asked Gabriel who shrugged and gave him a smile. 

"You look like you needed it." 

True. "What's in yours then?" Colson asked, gesturing at the mug in Gabriel's hands. 

"Also beer. I can't get drunk but I do like the taste." Gabriel smiles shyly, running a fingertip around the rim of the cup. 

Colson looks at the cup and raised it to his lips. He gulps the entire drink before placing the cup on the floor, right beside his leg. For the past six months, Colson had kept minimum interaction with Gabriel. Things felt strained and awkward between them. 

It's not his fault their precious moon goddess didn't see them as a good match. It's not his fault Michel comes into his room and fucks him into the mattress. However, there were times where Colson felt like he was hindering something great. Times where he thought he was just the little bump in the road that would still end up leading Michel to Gabriel. 

It's a bit sad because Gabriel was actually a nice person and he was also the second closest person to Cobie. Talk about things. Not everything because Cobie likes to come to his room and they'd have a sibling cuddle and talk about things, their words a whisper between them. 

The two of them sit in silence. 

Waiting and waiting until finally. 

"Your brother is on his way here." Gabriel said, playing with the hem of his dress. 

"Do you know anything else about the boy? Why he jumped?" 

Gabriel shook his head. "I know as much as you do."

Colson sighs and leans back against the chair, his eyes trained on the ceiling. The silence comes back and thankfully for a short while before Cobie comes through the door. 

"Hey." Cobie said as he walks into the room. For the first time in months, his eyes were black. That was not good. Colson sits up in alarm and pats the space beside him. 

Cobie falls into it and sighed, running a hand down his face. 

"What's going on?"

"A child died. He was six." Cobie starts. "The SMPD are looking into it but I, Erik and Michel listened to the recording of the call and it sent chills through me."

"What did the recording say?" 

"Michel is coming with it." 

Just as Cobie says that, Michel walks into the room looking worse for wear. His hair was in disarray and his eyes were sad. Colson had the urge to stand up and pull the Beta in for a hug but he didn't. Gabriel on the other hand, doesn't hesitate. He gently guides the Beta into a seat and checks to make sure Michel was alright. 

"Why do you look that way? Is it your first time hearing such a thing had happened?" Colson asked with a raised brow. 

Gabriel turns to glare at him. 

"What is your problem?"

"My problem is a head Beta who can't act level headed because a kid died." Colson snapped back, ready to smack Gabriel in the face of Cobie hadn't grabbed his hand. 

Sometimes Colson forgets that there are people in the world who haven't seen half of what he and his brother had seen. They haven't experienced the same pain nor have they felt it. 

"Just... listen to the recording and tell us what you think." Cobie said, his grip on Colson's hand tightening, the light pain grounding Colson.

Michel pulls out his phone and taps the screen. A little boys voice filled the room and Colson listens intently. Once the recording had ended, Colson speaks.

"How many parents did he have?" Colson asked. 

"Two. His mum and dad but his father is late. He died three years ago."

"He mentioned a Baba in the recording." Colson said, a light frown on his face. 

"I said the same thing too. I was wondering if that was what he used to call his dad." 

Colson shook his head. "He said dad at the beginning of the recording and then Baba towards the end. He said  I just wanted to tell you that Baba said he's here. He said Astir is going to fall."

"He was used to pass a message." 

"The question is who is Baba?" Colson asked. "Was he a friend? Or a parent or even a close relative?" 

"We're still investigating."

"Where's Erik?" Colson asked. 

"He went for a run. A member of his pack died, a link was forcibly cut off so he has to calm down before he does something out of his control." Cobie replied. "He's fine. I can feel him. I just came in to brief you, I'm going to look for him." 

"I'll see you then." 

Cobie walk out of the room and Colson watched as Gabriel gently led Michel to his. He was alone. He looked at his hands before getting up from the couch. He needed to go somewhere, he needed to be distracted for a while. 

He just didn't have a place to go. 

He didn't really have any friends. 

Colson decides not to think about it. He quickly made his way to his room and grabbed his phone and wallet. He needed fresh air. He needed to not be in the same vicinity as Michel and Gabriel. 

Though they weren't mates, you could see the live they had for each other as clear as day. 

Maybe it was time to give up his and Michel bed time activities. 

But why should he? That was all he could and would ever get from Michel while Gabriel got all the love and the attention. It wasn't fair. 

Colson made his way out and began his walk to nowhere. He just needed to. He slid on his earphones and played his music, making sure he doesn't stray from the side walk. 

He kept walking and humming along to the music. He almost jumped out of his skin when someone tapped his shoulder. He glared at Aetos who had the audacity to grin after almost causing a heart attack.

"What the hell?"

"You expression was hilarious." Aetos said with a laugh while rubbing his nose with his pointy finger. 

"Why did you decide to annoy me today?" Colson asked as he continued walking. Aetos falls into step beside him, looking regal in a beehive button up shirt and blue ripped jeans. 

"I wanted to make sure you were okay." Aetos answers honestly. 

Colson turns his head to glare at the vampire who just winked. "What makes you think I'm not okay?" 

"I saw you frowning." Was Aetos simple answer. 

"Well I'm peachy. Never been better." Colson answers, sarcasm dripping from his voice. 

"You sound like it too." 

"Are you just going to follow me around today?" Colson asked, kicking lightly at the air. 

"Do you have somewhere to be?" 

"Not really. I just had to leave the house, everyone was worked up over the death of a child." 

Aetos nods. "I heard about that."

"Yeah." Colson replied, running his left hand through his hair. "Do you have things to do? A clan to take care of, Lord Aetos?" 

Aetos shakes his head. "I don't. Everyone is still settling in and some of them are asleep. It's still bright out."  

"Ah... that reminds me, are you ever going to tell me how you and douchebag Pytor can walk in the sun?" Colson asked. 

"Nope." 

Colson stops walking and placed both hands on his hips. It took Aetos a short while to notice Colson wasn't beside him. He turns and raised a brow and Colson couldn't help but think...

Damn, that is one attractive undead man.

"You don't want a bribe do you?" Colson asked. 

"It depends. What can you offer?" 

Colson pretends to think about it. He drops his hands and walks back up to Aetos. 

"I expected so much from you." Colson tsked. 

"How about ice cream?" 

"Are you trying to bribe me?" Colson asked, his eyes narrowed as he stared up at the vampire. He suddenly realized how close he was to Aetos, he knew he should take a step backward but he didn't want to. If he takes a couple of steps forward, he could kiss Aetos. 

Colson licks his lips as he wondered what Aetos would taste like, how he'd feel like. He wondered if Aetos would hold him tight and fuck him close or just flip him over like Michel does, like he doesn't want to see his face. 

"-re you okay?"  

Colson sighs and takes several steps backwards. "What?"

Aetos was staring at him with worried eyes, he gripped Colson's elbow with a pale cold hand and stared right into his eyes. 

"Are you okay?" 

"Never been better." Came Colson's reply. 

Aetos doesn't let go, he looked like he didn't believe what Colson said. Colson presses a hand to the one Aetos had on his shoulder, to try and shake it off. Instead he gasped at the cold feeling. 

"Why the hell are you this cold?" 

"I've got no blood rushing through my veins besides the one I drink, so..." Aetos shrugged. 

"You're warm when you drink blood?" Colson asked. Aetos sighs and looked around, they couldn't be having this conversation outside. 

"Can we go somewhere private?"

"Where?" Colson blinks up at him. 

"My place." Aetos said and interrupts when Colson goes to speak. "And no, I'm not going to do anything, we're just going to talk and eat. I can make you lunch."

"Add dinner and we have a deal."

"You are such a foodie." Aetos says with a shake of his head. Colson grins and raised up to fingers in a peace sign. They wait at the side of the road, Colson humming along to his music while Aetos tried to hail a cab. Once they get one, Aetos holds open the door for Colson and watched him slip inside. 

The drive to Aetos' house took a couple of minutes. Once Colson sees the house his jaw drops to the ground. It wasn't as big as Erik's but it looked regal. The walls were white, floor length windows, lights leading from the driveway to the door, a small garden, smooth amber painted iron doors. 

He was blown away. 

"This place looks amazing." Colson says once Aetos was done paying for the taxi. 

"Thank you. It was already being built so I just bought the land and continued from there, the windows, and garden were my idea too as well as he interior design and a couple of other things." Aetos replied as he led Colson towards the door. He pulls out a key and unlocks the door. 

Inside was even more breathtaking. The floor was marble, dark couches contrasting against the white wall, huge artworks hung around, a large flat screen. Colson doesn't know why the air felt fresh, maybe it was because the house was so far away and surrounded by large trees.

He does notice that the house was too big for one person. 

"Are you living with anyone?" Colson asked as he followed Aetos to the kitchen. The kitchen itself was elegant with black marble counter and L shaped island, the overhead cupboards were a rich brown and there were also mid wall windows in there for proper ventilation. Colson was in love with the house. 

"No. I stay alone and if any clan member wants to see e comes over, if they want to spend the night, they can. I've got five bedrooms."

"Won't they get burned? You have large floor length windows." 

"I've got black out curtains in each room, even here and in the sitting room." 

"Wouldn't it be smarter to just tint the windows?" 

Aetos leans against the counter. "I like sunlight. And no matter what, this is my space, my home." 

Colson gets that. He hasn't had a home for almost a decade and a half but he still understands. He sits quietly on the counter, legs swinging as he watched Aetos pull out a couple of vegetables from the fridge, he also hands Colson a small plate of washed strawberries.

"You can munch on that while I get this started. Is stir fry okay?"

Colson nods as a reply and grabbed the plate. He happily munched on his fruit, content with the silence and just looking around. He reached for his phone when he hears it vibrate and smiles when he sees a message from Cobie. 

Where the ever loving fuck are you?

Colson grins and licked his finger before typing out a reply. With Aetos. He's making lunch. 

Cobie's replies came in a few seconds later. Sweet! Have fun! Do all the stuff I would do 

Colson cackles at that. His laughter ringing out in the kitchen.  He quickly types back a reply before dropping his phone. Of course! Who do you think I am?

Curiosity gets the better of Colson a few minutes later. He jumps down the counter and made his way out of the kitchen, he goes up the stairs and looks through every room. He knew he was being snoopy but Aetos wasn't telling him to stop. 

He knows he's found Aetos' room when he opens the last door. The room was bigger than the rest, it had a walk in closet, blackout curtains pulled half way, a large chest of drawers, a queen sized bed with plaid sheets. There was an easel propped next to the window and it was covered with a dark cloth. 

Colson itches to go closer to it, he wanted to see what was under there but there was a line and he couldn't cross it. Snooping was as close as he could get to blurring it. 

He nearly jumped out of his skin when Aetos' voice rung out behind him. 

"Lunch is served." 

The vampire was staring at him with an unreadable expression on his face. Colson doesn't comment on his snooping, he raised his head high and walked out of the room. 

"It's in the sitting on the glass table. I figured we could watch something while we eat."

"Just so you know, you can distract me with food for today but the questions will come tomorrow and the next and after that." 

Aetos chuckled, one hand reaching up to rub his bottom lip. "Fine. Let's go and eat before it gets cold."

They both settle down to eat in front of the tv. Colson grabs the remote and goes through Aetos' netflix before deciding on Imposters. They eat in silence, none of them knowing how exactly to break and Colson finds it comfortable. 

It's the first time he's ever experienced something like this. Sitting in silence and being comfortable. He wasn't tripping over himself to find something to say and Aetos just lets him be. 

It's new.

Once they were done, Colson took care of their dishes while Aetos places them in their rightful positions.

"When we feed, it keeps us warm for like s week, sometimes less. It makes us feel... better. More sharper and our instincts aren't dulled by hunger. For other vampires besides Pytor and I, the hunger quells a little but the taste is addicting, that's why it's done frequently." 

"So you haven't fed yet?"

"I have. Last week. I'll be good for another week." 

Colson wipes his hand with a towel and faced Aeto. "Have I told you, you're the weirdest vampire I've ever met?" 

"That's the first time you've said that and the first time someone was calling me weird. Pytor just calls me strange." Aetos laughs whilst running a hand through his hair. 

"You're different from the rest." 

"I am." Aetos says with a nod. 

"I'm not sure if it's good or bad." Colson finds himself saying. He's leaning against the table, watching the man in front of him. Aetos doesn't speak for a while, he looked like he was trying to find the right less to say. When he finally speaks, he says. 

"You've got time to find out."