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Viago missed the warmth of the sun. Being able to thrust the curtains open. To be bathed in the yellow light and have it warm his skin and right down to his bones. He loved the feeling of walking out of the shade and into the light, soaked in a natural warmth.
He missed the feel of silver against his skin, back when it didn't burn. In his day, Viago wore plentiful rings on his fingers, bands around his wrists, and necklaces draped around his neck. It brought out a special feeling whenever he did. Like he was as valuable as the jewellery he wore.
Viago also missed food, a lot more than he thought he would. The softness of pastries, the smoothness of good wine, sweet and ripe fruit. He dined with silver cutlery, too, when he was alive. Forks and spoons and knives lined across the tablecloth when he sat for a meal.
But most of all, Viago missed the sunrise. Occasionally he would catch the last glimpses of sunset, shielded by the curtain. It wasn't the same. Waking early to catch the first peeks of sunlight over the hills or the sea. Sitting and waiting for it to stretch its arms across the sky and yawn out all the warmth it could muster. The colours - reds, yellows, and sometimes purples and pinks - dancing across the land to kiss everyone a good morning.
Now, though. Now Viago bathed in the coolness of the moonlight. He bought stainless steel cutlery and didn't wear jewellery anymore, unless it was safe. Viago got used to having victims for dinner rather than real food, and rather liked making an evening of it.
He would never stop missing the sunrise. It was irreplaceable, he thought.
Deacon opened the door to their evening guests, the Te Aro werewolves. The pack leader, Anton, lead the rest of them inside - Dion, Nathan, the other Nathan, Clifton, Stu. There were more, as the pack had grown some since the documentary, but they were absent tonight.
"Please, make yourself at home," Viago said. Vladislav dragged a chilli bin into the living room and opened it, revealing a dozen chilled beers. "There's more in the fridge."
Nick had explained to the other vampires that it's cheaper to drink at home rather than go out. The vampires and the werewolf pack had grown closer over the past few months since Stu's turning and had regular outings. So, while the vampires didn't drink, the werewolves did, and having a house party would be kinder on their wallets.
The night went on as it usually did. Vladislav had a captured the attention of a few werewolves as he told a story about the old days, a story Viago had heard one too many times. A couple werewolves were already on their way to being drunk and began to sing karaoke very loudly. Viago would join them, he was weak to musical activities, but someone caught his eye.
Viago sat next to Anton on the sofa, slightly adjacent from the rest of the partygoers. The pack leader flinched, stuck in his own head, but relaxed when he saw who it was. Smiling, the vampire tilted his head. The movement was not unlike a curious dog.
"Sorry, mate, zoned out a bit," he said.
Viago bumped their knees together. "Not enjoying yourself?"
"No, no I am!" Anton hurried out. He sighed and deflated a little against the sofa. "I was just... hoping for a quiet night in. No offense. I know you went through all this trouble, having us in your home and all."
"I know how you feel," said Viago. When Anton looked at him, he shrugged. "Just last week, Vlad and Deacon wanted to have an old fashioned orgy right here in the living room." He shook his head. "I just wanted to have a quiet night at the library. Didn't feel like it, so I supervised. Made sure no blood or semen got on the furniture." He pet the back of the couch fondly. Anton shifted to sit away from the backrest.
The two of them looked over the group. Nick appeared to be attempting to hypnotise a willing werewolf. Not really how that's supposed to work, but they were having fun. Viago counted heads, and Anton did the same.
"Where's Deacon?" Viago said, at the same time Anton asked, "Where's Dion?"
They looked at each other. Just when their eyes met, an urgent yell came from outside the house. Anton bolted for the front door. As soon as he swung it open, Viago transformed into bat form and followed him around the side of the house.
Dion was watching Deacon hurl buckets of blood onto the lawn, looking rather sick himself.
"What the hell happened?!" Anton's voice probably carried over to the neighbours.
Dion spoke, because Deacon was still emptying his stomach. "We had a competition on who could eat a pizza slice the fastest! It was his idea."
With great difficulty, Deacon managed to calm his sickness. "I won, Viago."
Viago slapped him on the back of the head, making him cough and splutter some more. The werewolf looked at Deacon, about to say something, but gagged at the mess he had made over the grass.
"Alright, inside." Anton wrapped his arm around a very green Dion.
Patting Deacon on the back, Viago waited until he was finally empty before helping him back inside.
"You've made a fool of yourself," he sighed. "Go on and get yourself cleaned up. I'll be down stairs if you need me. Please don't do any silly competition like this again."
The vampire nodded. "Thank you," he panted.
With a taut smile, Viago patted his back, slightly pushing him towards the upstairs bathroom. The rest of the group didn't seem mind, or even notice. Apart from Vladislav who hollered at Deacon for getting blood on the railing.
There was a low rumbling sound from the kitchen. Viago followed the noise and found Dion with his head in his hands, elbows on the table. The pack leader was making coffee - the electric kettle the source of the rumbling sound.
He frowned as he watched the scene. Anton flinched every time the teaspoon clinked against the side of the mug. His jaw was tight, grinding, and the vampire could hear the squeak of his teeth from where he was standing.
"Here," he said, just loud enough to be heard over the ruckus in the living room. "Let me."
Anton stepped aside and allowed Viago to pour the water and stir. He didn't look anymore relaxed, but at least the vampire wasn't worried he would burn himself. Setting the mug down in front of Dion, Viago gave his shoulder a rub before standing next to Anton again.
"You didn't want to come... but you came anyway?"
Anton shrugged. "The pack goes wherever I go, on nights like this. Nobody said it directly, but everyone wanted to come here. And it's not as if I don't enjoy being here, but you know how it is."
He looked pointedly at Dion, who sipped at his coffee, sobering and unaware. A smile quirked at the vampires lips.
"Want to go somewhere quiet?"
He could see Anton hesitate, almost say no in that polite way. But a grin split across his face and he nodded. Viago led him past their friends, who didn't spare them a glance, and up the stairs. They could hear Deacon singing down the hall in the shower. The werewolf and vampire looked at each other and burst into laughter.
"Here, this way," Viago whispered. Like whatever they were doing was a big secret, like it wasn't allowed. It was absurd. Though, Anton played along and tiptoed across the rug.
They both climbed the ladder, dusty from decades of misuse. The attic made them both cough from how musty it had gotten. Viago helped the werewolf up the last few steps of the ladder, pulling him onto the firm wooden floor.
"It's dark," he muttered.
Humming, Viago made his way to the back wall. Being a nocturnal creature, the dark didn't hinder him. He turned a metal wheel with great difficulty. It had rusted over. Eventually, with lots of grunts and concerned looks from Anton, it budged. The wooden coverings rolled across its railings and revealed a window that stretched along the roof.
"Wow..." Anton took a few steps closer. The crescent moon was smack bang in the middle, surrounded by an array of stars and cloud. Viago watched the werewolf take it all in. The way his eyes darted across every little dot and sparkle in the sky. Then, he looked at Viago and if he could still breath, it would be taken from him. Because Anton looked at him the same way he looked at the stars, the sky, the moon. "This is amazing."
It took Viago a long while before he was able to speak properly. "This house was built by an amateur observer. She passed away a few years before we moved in, her journals left in her bedroom - my bedroom, now." He looked out to the stars. "Her husband built her this, that was said in the journal that had a leather backing. In her red journal, she noted down all of her discoveries."
They were quiet for a long while. A shooting star shot across the sky and behind a gray cloud.
"A bit silly, to build an observatory in such a cloudy city."
They weren't whispering anymore, but they still talked on hushed tones. Whenever Viago was around Anton these past few weeks he got this feeling in his chest. Like his heart was beating again, like he was in the spotlight on a stage, or was bathing in the light from the rising sun.
He chuckled a little. "Well, yes, I suppose so."
The vampire looked around himself. They mostly used this as a storage room, so it wasn't long until Viago found a pillow and a box for each of them to sit on. One box was full of Deacons abandoned knitting projects, the other full of nice clothes Viago wanted to save from stains and failed to do so.
They continued to watch the sky.
"You know," Anton said, still in that soft voice that made the moment feel more intimate than Viago guessed he meant to. "You and I are rather alike."
"How so?"
"Well, I'm the leader of my group. And, the way I see it, you're the leader of yours."
The vampire glanced at him. Anton was enraptured by the sky, as if he had never seen it. The moonlight cascaded down onto him and showed the light crows feet, his ginger freckles, and dark eyebags. He was beautiful, Viago thought. "Oh, I don't know about that."
Anton shrugged and his jacket slipped from his shoulder a little bit. He inclined his head in a way that he wanted Viago to explain. It was rather like a puppy, but the vampire didn't say that in fear of offending him.
"Vladislav is older. Better at hypnotism, better at transformation. Stronger than I am, too. Deacon is... Well, I admit, I do try and school him just a little." Viago crossed his legs. "But he's much more confident than I am. He's just... young. When he is my age, he will be a good vampire."
A hand touched his knee. Werewolves ran hot, Viago knew this, but he couldn't help melt a little at the contact. "Don't be so hard on yourself," Said Anton. "You still organize them. Keep them in line, make sure they're safe and happy, while also making sure they're doing the right thing. That's what a leader really is."
"I thought alpha's in werewolf packs had to be the biggest and the strongest?"
Anton gave his knee a pat. "You're not a werewolf, though, are you?"
With a smile, Viago hummed. "No, I'm not."
The silence stretched on and on again. It wasn't uncomfortable, Viago doubted he could ever be uncomfortable around Anton. He didn't remove his hand. The vampire didn't ask him to.
Viago watched his thick fingers rub the fabric of his pants while he looked through the window once again. The vampire looked as well. Tried to be as casual as he could. Tried to, while brushing his fingers over the back of Antons hand.
The werewolf sucked in a breath and Viago immediately retracted his hand. "Sorry."
"No, no," Anton whispered. He took one of Viago's hands in both of his. "Just surprised me, is all. You're cold."
"You're warm." Anton giggled at that. He ran his own hand over the vampires knuckles. There was a scar, hardly visible from age, but there nonetheless. It was from when he first turned and had silver pressed into his skin by a rather lazy hunter. Anton touched it like it might still hurt.
The werewolf took a deep sigh. His body moved with the breath, dark eyes now fixated on Viago with such intensity and fondness that he couldn't look away. Whatever words he was going to say were definitely not the ones that came out of his mouth. "You've lived through a fair amount of history. Anything worth me knowing?"
With a smile, Viago said, "Plenty. People used to be much shorter, you know?"
"Really?"
The vampire nodded. "Especially in Europe. I was considered freakishly tall. Though, once, when I took a trip to France, I came across someone who was a full head taller than me!"
"What!" Anton made a doubtful sound with his mouth and looked above Viago's head, clearly imagining it.
"It's true, and-"
Viago must have talked for an hour, maybe more, his mouth was so dry and his throat sore. But he couldn't stop. Not with his friend looking at him as if the stars, now covered in cloud and smog, were there because of him and him alone. Anton hung onto every word, asked questions. He made Viago feel alive again. As if he could wear that special silver ring again, or that necklace he bought two hundred years ago.
"Can I ask you a personal question?" asked Viago before his mind could catch up with his mouth. "Does it hurt when you... turn?"
"Sometimes." The werewolf said it so easily. Viago knew that no matter what he asked, Anton would answer. Something about the atmosphere, the quiet conversation, the seclusion from the racket downstairs. It left them vulnerable and bare to each other. "If we resist it too much. Technically, we don't have to turn on a full moon. But it's tough on our bodies. Like... like bottling up your emotions, but if it was in a physical form, you know?"
Viago nodded. He did know. Knew that the feelings in him right at that very moment, with Anton's thumb drawing kind circles over his knuckle and his dark eyes shining from the moonlight, was chewing him from the inside out.
He bumped his shoulder against the werewolfs. "What do you miss most about being human?"
Anton sighed, full of humour and Viago knew he already had the answer on the tip of his tongue. "The sleep. Juggling a job and the pack, doing community service, and stuff, it takes up so much time. Doesn't help I have chronic insomnia, so I barely catch a wink."
A pang of guilt hit Viago's chest, but he said nothing.
"Guess it's worth it sometimes, though. If I get to hang out with you. You lot." Anton bumped his shoulder against the vampires. It cheered him up a little, while also setting free a swarm of butterflies in his stomach. "What about you? what do you miss the most?"
Viago thought to warmth. Being a living corpse, his body didn't absorb heat all that well. He would give up so much to be able to wake up, already soaking in rich sunlight and wrapped in a blanket and duvet and warm arms.
He thought about all the valuables he gave up, all the ones he didn't have the heart to depart with. The chill of silver against his palm. The sting of it on his collar bones on exceptionally cold days. Shiny, glittery, impressive rocks pressed into pretty rings that he could no longer wear.
Remembered the way his mouth watered at the smell of fresh bread, instead of the way he now gags and covers his nose. The slight crunch of the crust, followed by the cozy flesh of the dough. Spread with jams or butter or anything Viago fancied.
He missed them so much. Nothing, though, he missed more than-
"Sunrises. I used to wake up at devilish hours of the morning to watch it. Would stand on my balcony, still half dressed to bake it into my skin."
Anton hummed. "I suppose that makes sense. What else did you used to do? Did you ever go to the beach? Sun bathe on the sand?"
Viago let out a strangled noise. "No, and I wish I had. Nobody wants to go to the beach at night. And Wellington is so windy, the sand gets in my mouth."
"I should take you up to Taranaki. They have black sand beaches. We have one here too, but it's less windy up there."
The vampire gasped. "Black sand? Oh, I wish I could see that."
"And you will." Anton gave his hand a squeeze. "I promise I'll take you up there. I'll swing by at night, and we can make a weekend of it."
"I'd like that." Viago squeezed back.
Silence befell them once again. This time, though, it wasn't the stars they were interested. Their eyes met.
Downstairs, it was quiet. A low murmur of voices now. Their friends were winding down for the night, and Viago could hear Deacon calmly knitting away.
"Where's Anton?" One of the werewolves said. Viago had to strain to hear any words, but Anton clearly didn't. He sighed and closed his eyes, as if he could will away his pack.
He rested his forehead against the vampires shoulder. Viago didn't even realize they were close enough to do that. "It's funny," said Anton. "I didn't wanna come before, and now I don't want to leave."
"I could try something, if you like?"
Looking up at him, Anton gave him a strange expression. Viago just closed his eyes and focused, focused. He furrowed his brow and squeezed his eyelids together.
"He left earlier," Dion told his friends. "Said he wasn't feeling that great, and told us to have fun."
The boys all said something along the lines of "ahh ok" or "that's cool". Viago could just make out the noises of them before downstairs was silent once more.
When he opened his eyes again, Anton had his whole attention turned to him. "That was amazing."
If the vampire were alive, he would turn bright pink. "Thank you."
"How'd you do it?"
"It's not something I've tried before. It's more Vlads trick, so I wasn't sure if I could do it."
Anton laughed a little and shook his head in disbelief. "You're fantastic. An excellent hypnotist."
A shy smile made its way onto Viago's face. "Oh, I don't know..."
"I mean it." The werewolf punctuated by squeezing his hand. Viago watched the way his warm fingers traced around his own, where his silver rings used to be, then up to his nails.
Viago took a deep, shuddering breath. Not that he needed to, of course. "Why are you so nice to me?"
The question surprised Anton, clearly. "I'm nice to everyone."
"Not like this." Viago saw how Anton was with everyone else. He was polite, giving, selfless. But he was all that and more to Viago. Lingering touches, stares that lasted just a few seconds too long, kind smiles that brought Viago back to his balcony in the sunlight.
Anton made a small, considering sound. "I suppose... I suppose it's because you deserve nice things, Viago."
Something about his words and the way he said it, the way Anton looked at him, made Viago's bottom lip tremble. He didn't miss how the werewolf looked. Eyes trained there and Viago watched him lick his top lip.
"The sun's going to be up any second now," Anton whispered, scared to break whatever moment they were having.
"Watch it for me." Viago didn't expect those words to come out of his mouth, but they did, and he didn't take them back.
The two of them stood from their boxes and made their way to the window. Viago stood facing the opposite wall, shoulder brushing Anton's, who looked out at the stars with his forearms braced on the windowsill.
He watched him. Watched the way the orange of the wakening sun made his hair glow. How Anton looked at every detail, committing it to memory just for Viago.
"It's beautiful," he said. "There's an orange line on the horizon. I can see the silhouette of buildings and trees and hills."
Viago hummed and closed his eyes while Anton described it for him. He didn't leave out a single detail. The vampire could visualise it behind his eyelids, the oranges and yellows and the stars winking out one by one.
"It's warm," Anton told him after a long stretch of silence. "I'm happy, standing here. It's like nothing I've felt before. I know this is where I'm meant to be, right here."
Slowly, Viago opened his eyes. The wall he faced was dusted with the suns light and he could see dust flying in the beam. He turned to Anton to find he wasn't watching the sunset, but was watching him. His eyebrows pinched in a slightly desperate manner, eyes so full of affection that Viago might have cried.
"You're so stunning and spectacular that I don't know what to say."
With care not to catch the sunlight, Viago hooked his pointer finger around Anton's. It was barely a touch, but he pulled him into the shade and he came willingly.
Time slowed down. Viago wrapped his arms around Antons neck, while the other held his waist. All the touches they made were hesitant. Silently asking; is this okay? Is this what you want too?
When they finally met in the middle for a kiss, timid and light, Viago didn't miss anything about being human.
Didn't miss the warmth of sunlight hitting him because Anton was pressed against him, just as warm and soothing, kissing him the same way the sun used to.
Not the silver jewellery because Anton already made him feel so special and valuable and adored. With the way he melted into him, wanting to merge their bodies together.
He didn't miss proper meals, not with Anton tasting like everything he had ever craved.
And, for once in his tri century life, Viago didn't miss watching the sunrise. Anton brought enough colour into his life that any more would be blinding. Distracting, even, from the man kissing him like he was made of glass and not a dangerous creature of the night.
When they separated, Viago surged back forward. He slid his arms off Antons shoulders to cup each of his cheeks. He kissed him and then kissed him again and again until the sun was fully up and baring its light dangerously through the window.
Once their lips were kissed pink, they pulled apart. Viago was overwhelmed by the way Anton looked at him. It was almost enough to pull him in again and smooch him silly.
Anton sighed and pressed their noses together. "I want to go even less now."
With a giggle, Viago pawed at his face. "You have work in the afternoon. As much as I would love to... continue like this, we have plenty more time."
The words spilled out so quickly that he was sure his anxiety wasn't hidden all that well. Anton hummed and swayed them both side to side. Viago closed his eyes and he was taken back to the boat he was transported on, on the way to this country. Soft like a lullaby.
"You're going to rock us both to sleep," whispered Viago.
Eventually, Anton departed and crossed through the sun beam to close up the window. The wooden barriers squeaked as they rolled back along the metal rod. Once again the room was pitch black and Viago could safely make his way to the ladder.
His roommates were well in truly asleep by now, so they made it to the front door in similar hushed whispers as before. Only this time, they managed a few kisses between.
All the curtains were pulled, of course, so Viago could wait by the door. Anton still didn't want to leave, and Viago didn't want him to go.
"Hey," said Anton against his lips. "Come around to mine tomorrow night. We can plan that trip."
Viago nodded and gave him a firm goodbye kiss. When the door was closed, the vampire leaned against it with a dreamy sigh.
A week later, he sat in the passenger seat of Antons car with black sand under his nails.