A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)
Darius is very affectionate. He loves hugs and cuddling, likes to hold hands or just have his hand on a partner's knee/around their shoulders, and using terms of endearment (in Farsi).
He also loves to cook so he shows a lot of affection through food, made from scratch of course. If he doesn't know how to make a dish (which is rare) he'll figure it out with a quickness.
J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)
Darius doesn't get jealous, he's way too old for that. If a partner is showing a lot of interest elsewhere he'll sit down with them and explain that he understands if their interests aren't with him anymore and doesn't want to stand in the way of that. He'll be crushingly sad though.
V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)
All of Darius's clothes are bespoke and 100% natural material. Hair jewelry, belts, rings, necklaces? Handmade.
He also has a like 12 step self-care routine (demons need to moisturize too!). When his hair isn't in a protective style his long curls are truly something to envy.
So excited to see Darius and Robin getting the first alphabet ask!!!
Darius:
Q - Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)
Darius will remember everything about you, whether it's a passing comment or something he observes. He shows it best through food though. You mention loving a dish that's hard to get/takes a lot of time? He'll make it from scratch.
S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)
He's very protective and will go to the ends of the universe for the one he loves. His first course of action is to extricate you from the situation, the next to do a non-lethal takedown and then extrication. He's never really thought about how he'd like to be protected because he's powerful in his own right and doesn't expect anyone to put themself in danger for him.
U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)
He'll start a conversation and it's clear he's already had half of it inside his head without realizing. Just starts chatting and whoever he's talking to is like "Hello? Where did this come from?"
Robin:
M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)
She'll make coffee and bring it back to bed where you'll snuggle, listen to the radio, or just chat about whatever.
Security
She'll try to lawyer her way out of dangerous situations (she went to law school) and if she can't Robin will just throw herself in front of you. She would feel guilty if someone tried to protect her and anything bad happened.
V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)
Very! She reads fashion magazines, cares just as much about what all the other art hos are wearing at galleries as the exhibits themselves, and has a particular love of 70s fashion.
The last time Lev had tried drinking had been several months after his twenty-first birthday. It was also the only time Lev had tried alcohol. This wasn’t nearly as bad, even if Lev had barely gotten through a drink and a half before getting sick that one time. This was much more manageable, even if Lev was now trying to be more aware of where he put his feet.
For a few moments Lev lingered on the edge of the crowd. The solid presence of Nik beside him and the way everything was just a little distant now helped Lev scan the room instead of staring blankly. He was starting to pick out who were humans, and who were not. He remembered Cameron saying there was more than just vampires in the club, but right now he wanted to prove to all three of them in Cameron’s house that he could do this. Being curious could wait.
Nik nudged him. Lev followed where he pointed as Nik said, “That guy.”
When he saw who Nik was talking about, it made sense. The man was alone, and looked more than a little drunk, unlike the pair of humans they’d talked to earlier. Lev didn’t even say anything, just nodded and started moving.
The next part was a bit of a blur to Lev. He wasn’t sure if he actually compelled the man, or if they just talked. There was a rushing in Lev’s ears that he was pretty sure was more anxiety than alcohol. It made it harder to hear the guy than the music blasting overhead. When Nik suggested one of Cameron’s private rooms, Lev agreed without questioning it. He hadn’t even known Cameron had those, though it made sense.
Nik led the way through the crowd. Compelled or not, their intended victim followed willingly enough, drink still in hand. Lev trailed on the rear. Quiet, don’t move, feed, don't kill him, Lev reminded himself. He could do this. He had this.
He eased the door shut behind them. The muffling of the music out there was a blessing enough Lev let out a relieved huff. His relative peace was soon interrupted by the drunk slurring something at him. Whatever it was, Lev quieted him with a hand over his mouth. Lev was pretty sure he’d used his vampiric speed to cross the room. Mostly because the guy’s eyes were wide, and Lev had been at the door the last time he’d checked.
“Don’t,” Lev said. Wait. Right. “Don’t scream,” he corrected himself, “And don’t move.” He wasn’t sure if it’d worked, so he took his hand away. The guy hadn’t moved, and despite his bug eyed look, he didn’t scream. Okay. Good.
Unexpectedly, guilt struck Lev. The man must be terrified. He dug through his memory to the night Nik fed on him. Ah. Yes, that would do.
“Don’t be scared, either,” Lev tried gently. He could see the guy relax some. He wasn’t sure he liked how hard it was to sort his thoughts, but at the same time, he’d never gotten this far into being drunk and unlike last time he didn’t feel the nausea that had ruined his one attempt at drinking before. Out of sheer curiosity, he added, “Go ahead and finish your drink.” No reason to fully ruin the guy’s night. And he felt like pushing his luck just a little.
There was only so long Lev could wait. He was just grateful the guy was almost done before they lured him away, anyway. “You’re going to be just fine,” he told the guy, leaning close. He’d meant to stick to the wrist, like Cameron had shown him, but now that he was in the man’s personal space he could literally see his heartbeat thrumming under the skin of his neck. That proved too much for Lev’s self control.
His fangs snapped down a second before he latched onto his prey’s throat. Unlike last time he could actually taste the alcohol in the blood. It burned a little, but not as bad as Lev had expected. The rush was heady, a thrill Lev didn’t think he was ever going to get used to. He wrapped his fingers around the collar of the man’s jacket and tugged him closer.
Through the double intoxication of blood and drink, Lev tried to listen for whatever signs he’d felt before that had frightened him away from their last attempt. It took a herculean effort, but at some point he noticed the guy had started grasping at Lev’s sides. Lev pulled back, more curious than anything at the interruption. He could still hear a heartbeat, mostly steady, perhaps a bit weaker than before. Blinking back the impulse to bite down again, Lev shook his head.
“You, uh...” Lev’s own words came out a bit unsteady. He shook his head again. Cleared his throat. “You are going to forget you met us,” Lev said. On impulse, he leaned forward, licking the bites closed before he pulled further back, straightening the dark denim jacket he’d been clutching. “You had a good night, and um.” He paused, firmed his voice, and said sternly, “You’re going to call a cab home and drink some water before bed. Go on.”
To his surprise, the guy did, though he glanced back at them with confused looks before he slipped out the door. Lev waited until the door clicked shut to look at Nik. Nik grinned, giving him a double thumbs up.
Through the increasing buzz Lev felt, elation bubbled through him. He’d done it. Beginning to end. No death, no tears, no screaming humans. Just the rush of blood and alcohol and success. Maybe... Maybe Lev could make this work. Maybe everything would be just fine.
That thought had barely crossed Lev’s mind before Lev was standing in front of Nik. It struck him again how nice it was that he could look Nik right in the eye. It made it far easier to lean in and kiss him. If Nik was surprised, Lev couldn’t tell. Nik’s hands were on Lev’s waist, pulling him closer, and Lev wasn’t going to say no. He was just pleased Nik let him crowd him up against the wall.
“I did it,” Lev said when they finally broke apart. His head was more than spinning now and he didn’t care. “He’s not dead and I didn’t throw up and I didn’t cry and I did it and you kiss really good.”
That stupid grin that made Lev’s stomach do somersaults was back on Nik’s face. “You did a good job.”
Lev couldn’t resist kissing him again, though this one was shorter. “I think I can do this,” he said, trying to sound serious. It was very hard to sound serious. “Like all of this. I wasn’t sure. I wanted to be. But I wasn’t. But I am now.” He kissed Nik one more time, and then ducked his head to laugh against Nik’s shoulder briefly. “My cousin called it the cockroach gene. We always figure it out. In our own way.”
”I can see that,” Nik said, looking amused when Lev studied him.
To Lev that was enough of a stamp of approval for now. He was very tempted to see how long Nik was willing to keep kissing him, but another thought occurred to him. “You,” he said, trying to make sure his words were in order, “Haven’t eaten yet.”
“Yeah. I just wanted to make sure the baby was fed first.”
Nik was laughing. Lev was pretty sure Nik was laughing more at him than with him, but Lev liked the sound of it too much to care. He frowned, debating if he wanted to be offended. In the end he peeled himself off Nik. “Baby is fed,” he promised. “Baby is... not used to alcohol. Can I wait here? I don’t really think I could walk in a straight line right now, and I like that it’s quieter in here.”
That seemed to be good enough for Nik. He was gone, after promising to return, leaving Lev to sink down onto a surprisingly comfortable seat. It was strange, to be able to wallow in hope for once, but Lev thought he might like the feeling.
---
Once Zareth deemed Nik a safe enough host, he excused himself upstairs to Cameron’s office. He knocked once before sliding inside. He found Cameron sitting at his desk, rifling through paperwork, though Zareth had the sneaking suspicion that he hadn’t been doing paperwork for all that long.
Zareth sat in the chair across from Cameron, waiting patiently for Cameron to finally give him the attention he required. When Cameron finally looked up, Zareth leaned back against his chair. “So Nik’s hunt didn’t go over well, hm?”
Cameron’s brows narrowed just a fraction. “Did you come to waste my time by pointing out the obvious?”
“I was just curious about how well you knew your newest addition to the coven.”
“I would hardly call my situation a coven, Zareth,” Cameron said, frowning. “And what did you find out about the fledgling when Nik brought him by the bar? I assume you went rifling through his head the moment you laid eyes on him.”
He couldn’t really argue against that. The moment he saw the fledgling’s irregular eyes he felt the need to get a closer look. “He seems… different,” Zareth said. “His eyes are not normal, even by vampiric standards.”
“What’s that supposed to mean to me?” Cameron asked. “Should I just kill him?”
“I don’t think there’s anything too pressing,” Zareth said, holding his hands up. Gods knew Cameron was more intent on keeping any potential problems at bay than having to deal with them like any normal person. “There just might… be some magical interference.”
“Like a witch?”
“Maybe,” Zareth said. “Okay. So. How much do you know about your vampire lore?” Cameron looked at him like he was tempted to throw him out of the office. “Right, okay. So there was once a family of Hunters out there, or so the legend goes.”
“You’re saying that marshmallow of a human is a Hunter?”
“No,” Zareth said. “Not completely. I’m saying he might be genetically linked to a family line of hunters. A witch placed a curse on a family centuries ago- or maybe a blessing. It left a genetic marker in their eyes- making them appear more inline with other supernaturals than plain humans.” Cameron stared deeply at him, as if he were trying to decide what would be the best course of action. “Did you notice anything strange about him?”
“I noticed he lacks a sense of self preservation,” Cameron said, flatly.
“Maybe you could just keep an eye on him,” Zareth said. “His thoughts all seem harmless enough. He’s been through a lot.”
“We’ve all been through a lot,” Cameron replied.
“His family wants nothing to do with him,” Zareth said. “They don’t seem to care about him- why else would they have abandoned him.” Cameron’s brows pinched together. “They likely won’t come looking for him. He was just a child when they left.”
“Anything else?” Cameron asked, turning back to his paperwork.
“I just think you should hold out on doing anything too rash,” Zareth said. “If it becomes a problem later on down the line you can kill him then.”
“Anything else?”
“No, that was it,” Zareth said. “I just wanted to give you a heads up.”
With that, Zareth got up from the chair and excused himself from the room. He made it back to his bar when he encountered Nik feeding off a young woman. He was dancing, eyes closed and likely buzzed. Zareth said above the music, “Where’s your friend?”
Nik opened his blood speckled brown eyes and gave Zareth a dreamy smile. “He’s in one of the private rooms,” he said. “I’m heading back in a second. Just needed to feed first.”
“Did it go well?”
“Went right as rain,” Nik said, moving to take another bite from the girl’s neck. “Minus the panic attack anyways.”
Zareth shook his head and went back to the bar. He let the rest of the night carry on as it should, keeping an eye on both humans and vampires alike.
--
The break for some peace and quiet was exactly what Lev needed. He was enjoying the feeling of success. He was even able to enjoy the partier Nik brought back later for them to share. He was pretty sure that human was also drunk, because Lev’s buzz never abated, but that was okay. If this was how being drunk was supposed to be, Lev was pretty sure he didn’t mind too much.
By the time Cameron came to find them, either their dessert had wandered off, or they’d been sent away. Lev wasn’t really sure. He and Nik had traded kisses back and forth for a while. Lev had no real interest in doing more than that. The effort it’d take to get undressed when Lev was ready to curl up and sleep this off was too much tonight.
Lev was the one who noticed Cameron in the doorway, frowning slightly at them. A flush crept up Lev’s cheeks, but he managed a smile for Cameron. “Hi Cameron,” Lev said, refusing to unwind from Nik just yet. He was comfortable. Instead, he enthused, “I managed it without killing anyone. Or throwing up. Or crying.”
“It’s time to leave,” was all Cameron finally said before walking away.
Lev blinked after him and then looked at Nik. “He's very to the point, isn’t he?” Lev mumbled, before sighing dramatically. “I don’t wanna move.” He would. But he didn’t want to, and that should be noted.
Nik gave an impressive yawn. “I’m pretty sure Cameron’s autistic, honestly, but the jury’s still out. Not like he’d ever admit it.”
After letting out another sigh, just because his lack of interest in relocating needed to be reiterated, Lev untangled himself. He held a hand out to Nik in offer. “I could tell you speculating about people's mental health is...” he gave Nik’s expression a long look, and then snorted. “Whatever. You’re probably right, from what I can tell.”
Nik accepted his hand. Lev was not one to waste an opportunity so after he helped Nik up he didn’t let go of Nik’s hand. They meandered through a much smaller crowd towards the front door. By the time they’d managed it, half tripping each other, Cameron’s car waited outside. Somehow they ended up in the backseat, because Lev was able to snuggle into Nik’s side.
They spent most of the ride glued to each other’s faces. If Cameron minded he didn’t say anything; Lev wasn’t interested in checking in on him if he was going to be so quiet. It let him enjoy having someone to make out with again. He really had gone too long without someone to ease the physical ache being alone so often left him with.
It was for the best that Cameron also herded them up the stairs. Lev had the sense of mind to not try to keep holding onto Nik while they stumbled into one of the bedrooms. Nik’s, Lev thought. It had a lot of reds, and Nik seemed a fan of red. Like the pretty specks in his eyes, Lev mused.
This time Lev did bother to undress, but mostly to avoid sleeping in the fancy clothes Cameron had provided. He flopped into Nik’s bed in his boxers, rolling into Nik’s solid weight with an ease that would surprise him in the morning. The quiet of the house was soothing after a night at the club. It felt right, tucked into Nik, cozy under the duvet, belly full and heart light.
Lev glanced up, some sixth sense warning him someone was watching. He relaxed almost instantly when he saw it was Cameron in the doorway. Lev couldn’t quite read his expression with how he was silhouetted against the hall light. Nik was already breathing deeply against Lev’s neck, so Lev assumed he was asleep. He kept his words to a whisper as he said, “Thank you. He probably shouldn’t have been driving tonight.” But he also meant, thank you, for giving me a chance. Lev had every intention of making this one count.
---
Once Cameron was sure both Levant and Nik were squared away in Nik’s bed, sleeping off their night, Cameron made his nightly visit to Darius. He leaned a bit heavier on his cane than he would have liked, tonight, but he spent most of the night in his office working on paperwork- at least when he wasn’t watching the clubbers (and Nik and Lev) dancing and feeding.
Sacha fell to Cameron’s side the moment he had arrived at home, likely sensing his need of her. Her paws were silent along the dark wood while they made the trek up the stairs to Darius’ room. His spine crunched with each step, though he did his best to ignore it.
He pushed open the silent door to Darius’ room and immediately went to slump down into the soft chair next to Darius’ coffin. The pain in his back released just a bit and Cameron let out a small breath. He ignored the look Sacha was giving him, as if she were chiding him for overextending himself.
“The new fledgling seems to come with… complications,” Cameron said, “if Zareth is to be believed.”
Cameron told Darius of everything Zareth had told him, and his fears and concerns about what would happen if hunters made their way into Cameron and Nik’s lives. Nik was already a bit of a beacon himself, for hunters, but Cameron… in his diminished state… he wasn’t too sure if he could be as much of a protective force as needed to keep Nik safe- to keep Darius safe.
“Surely it would be in everyone’s best interest to remove him immediately," Cameron said, gripping his cane. “We cannot afford to be gambling with a fledgling who fears his own shadow.”
He glanced at Darius’ peaceful face, as if he were to speak to him in this moment, to offer him some advice. Though even with Darius being silent, Cameron knew well enough what Darius would be telling him.
No, don’t kill him. He hasn’t done anything wrong. Give him the same chance you gave Nik.
If Cameron were in a less charitable mood he’d feel inclined to roll his eyes. This was likely to blow up in their faces. He had managed to avoid hunters for the last five centuries and in the span of weeks… Cameron just hoped that Darius was right and that this would not become a problem.
Cameron stayed with Darius throughout the long hours of the night before finally growing tired himself. He slowly eased himself from his chair and began to leave, only to look back upon Darius’ sleeping face. The rising sun set Darius’ golden brown skin aglow, making him appear as youthful as always.
Cameron gave one last lingering look before he turned around and made his way back to his bedroom with Sacha in tow.
Nik smelled breakfast when he woke up. Or was it dinner? It was nearly noon(?) but Nik found himself climbing out of bed and starting for the kitchen anyways. Cameron was cooking and that meant Nik was going to get some food in his belly, but not before he got his coffee.
Nik rubbed his eyes, still wobbly on his feet. He barely caught himself when he almost walked into the bedroom door frame. Once he was sure he wasn’t going to crack his head open, Nik steadied himself once more and made his way down the hallway to where Cameron was cooking.
Nik beelined for the coffee pot, glad that Cameron made fresh coffee and even had a mug out waiting for him. He had taken his first drink when he finally leaned back against the counter and realized they weren't alone. “Oh, we have company?” He squinted at the man at the counter drinking tea. He didn’t seem to hear Nik, when he introduced himself. “You seem familiar.”
The man's entire body then flashed in and out of existence. The hair on Nik's neck shot up. He dropped his mug, a Spanish prayer rushing out of him like he'd been hit by a truck. “¡Dios mío!” Nik exclaimed, hand flying to his chest.
Cameron frowned at the shattered mug on the black marble floor. But Nik was still staring at the man. “Ghost? there's a ghost in the house?”
“He's not a ghost,” Cameron said, mildly.
Nik gaped at him. “That is a ghost, Cameron. He just— he did it again!” The ghost flickered in and out, taking a drink from its ghostly teacup. “Are we haunted? We are so haunted. Oh my God.” Nik made the sign of the cross across his chest. “Why aren't you freaking out.”
“That's just Darius,” Cameron said, moving to pick up the pieces of shattered mug. “He's going to be waking up soon.”
“Your boyfriend, Darius?” Nik said. “The one in that freaky coffin?”
“That would be the one,” Cameron said, throwing the broken pieces away. “He is starting to slowly wake up.”
“So he's haunting us with his ghostly presence until then?”
“He's not a ghost,” Cameron said. “You need to mop up this mess.”
Nik frowned and looked down at the coffee splattered across the floor. How was he supposed to focus on cleaning up a coffee spill when there was a ghost in the house?
“Nikolas,” Cameron said, exasperation flickering in that one word, “he is not a ghost. He is very much alive.”
“He's been in a coma for the last century,” Nik hedged. “I wouldn't call that ‘alive’. He's a ghost.” Nik moved over to wave a hand in front of Ghost!Darius’ face. Nada. No response. “You're lucky I don't call a priest,” Nik said. “He's haunting the kitchen.”
“Clean up this mess and then drink your coffee,” Cameron said. “You're annoying me.”
Well it's not my fault you have a ghost boyfriend, Nik thought irritably. Nik grabbed a dish towel from the drawer and threw it over the mess. He toed it dry and then threw it in the sink, his eyes not once leaving Darius’ form.
Cameron held out a brand new mug of coffee for Nik to take. The mug burned his hands, though Nik ignored it and took a big drink. Warmth bloomed on the way down, but staring at Darius still had his skin crawling.
“How was your hunt,” Cameron said, sliding freshly cooked bacon onto a plate.
“Actually,” Nik said, snagging a piece of too-hot bacon, “I have a date. Levant — that's his name — has a crush on me.”
“Oh?”
“I'll be getting into his house, and getting my solis ring, in no time.”
Cameron put the plate of fresh bacon on the counter, seemingly in front of ghost!Darius. Nik squinted. “He's not going to eat that.” Nik paused. “Is he?” Could ghosts eat food? He didn't think so.
Cameron turned his back to Nik and kept cooking. He didn't deign to give Nik a response. Nik stole another piece of bacon from the plate. “I'm sure you won't mind,” he told the ghost.
Ghost!Darius flickered in his spot as if that were an answer to Nik taking his food. Nik downed it alongside another two gulps of black coffee. “Lev and I are meeting at a coffee shop tonight at eight.”
“Hm.”
Cameron slid some blood sausages in front of him. Nik practically salivated before shoving an entire sausage in his mouth. He was so hungry for blood he'd eat anything put in front of him.
----
After cleaning up breakfast and making sure Nik stopped being fussy, Cameron decided to take Sacha for a walk through the mall. It was busy, but not as busy as it could have been. It being around one meant people were still at work. It meant less people to bother him and his dog. Though he did still spy some people glancing curiously at them. Luckily Sacha's vest kept prying eyes and wandering hands away.
Cameron stuck to the ground levels today. Pain sliced down his back and legs and it was rather difficult to walk, even with his cane. Sacha kept right beside him while they made their way through the food court. The various deep fried food smells made Cameron's stomach twist.
He had been wandering for close to an hour when he saw Lev sitting by himself, eating a cinnamon roll with a fork. He was hunched forward, searching the internet for “what to wear on a coffee date.” Cameron raised a brow and moved to sit in the chair across from him; Sacha obediently right beside his leg.
Lev nearly jumped out of his skin when he looked up to see Cameron watching him. “Do you like the tea here too?” he blurted out. He sounded suspicious but it quickly morphed into a mortified look, at the thought of appearing rather rude.
Cameron offered him a small, closed lipped smile. “I was taking Sacha on a walk, Levant. I don't like to eat in…” he looked distastefully at the stalls around them. “...food courts.” He did not succeed at keeping the sharpness out of his voice.
Cameron did take note of Lev's wavering attraction to him, though the human also seemed rather inclined to recognize Cameron was very much a predator toying with their food. “What's your excuse for being here?”
Lev poked at his cinnamon roll. “I have a date tonight,” he said. “Just didn't have anything to wear. Went a bit too enthusiastic with my spring cleaning.”
Cameron leaned back and absently petted Sacha's head. Perhaps he could entertain himself with Lev's current predicament. Nik likely wouldn't know Cameron was interfering with his hunt. “You should let me help you find something to wear,” Cameron said.
Hesitation flickered across Lev's face while he looked over Cameron's suit. Cameron gave a small smile when Lev said, “I'm open to suggestions.”
“Excellent,” Cameron said. “There's a few stores I will take you to. I will find you something for your… date.” Pain licked down Cameron's spine as he stood up. He tried to not lean too heavily on his cane. “Come along.”
Lev folded up his cinnamon roll into its little tray and brought it with them while they went to the first store. He let Lev wander for a bit and take in the different clothes. They were clearly of better standard than Lev was used to, judging by his… hightops (that's what Nik called them).
Cameron thumped through a few shirts while Lev gaped at the price tags. He picked out a few different button downs and put them in Lev's hands to try. He took the cinnamon roll from Lev. “Go try them on.”
“These are too expensive,” Lev said, staring at the price tags.
“If price is an issue I will buy them for you,” Cameron said.
“I can’t let you do that.” Lev’s wide gold eyes flashed up to Cameron’s, another protest already half formed.
Impatience flashed through him. “You will,” Cameron said, compulsion weaving into his words. “Now go try them on.”
Lev blinked, dazed, and then went to do as he was told. Cameron found his own way to the changing room and sat in the chair usually reserved for significant others.
Lev came outside wearing the first shirt. Cameron wasn’t impressed with the extra line work and sent Lev back in. It wasn’t until the third shirt— a plain short sleeved button down— that Cameron was satisfied. “That's the one,” Cameron said, approvingly. He got to his feet while Lev went back to change into his original shirt.
When he came back out, the shirt was carefully folded in his hands. “After we buy this, I will take you to get some slacks,” he said. “Do you have dress shoes?”
“No,” Lev said. There was a flicker, deep in his thoughts, of that same cold green gaze and empty smile, and then. Gone again.
Cameron took the shirt and handed Lev his cinnamon roll. “Then we will get you some of those, too.”
Cameron led Lev to the register and paid for the shirt. Cameron handed him the bag and led Lev out of the store. Cameron's favorite pants store was two storefronts down.
He found a nice pair of slacks for Lev and then led him to the shoe store. Cameron went through another three pairs of shoes before he found the perfect pair to match the outfit Lev was to wear. Cameron was rather pleased with the productivity of the shopping trip. Lev was going to look satisfactory for his date with Nik.
“Would you like to get lunch?” Cameron asked. “Or does your cinnamon roll suffice.” Nik would have liked to stop for food. Perhaps Lev was the same way.
Lev gave him a small nod. “I could eat.”
“Perfect,” Cameron said. He glanced down at Sacha to check on her. She was perfectly fine so Cameron carried on to the… food court. “What would you like to eat?”
Lev said he didn't care, though his thoughts rang loud and clear for pasta. Cameron shielded most thoughts from himself, but every now and then they came through. “Why don't we get pasta?” Cameron asked him.
Surprise flashed on Lev's face, but he immediately looked pleased. “Okay.”
Cameron let Lev pick from the various sit-down restaurants available. They chose a small, quiet place that was service dog friendly. Cameron found them a booth and waited patiently for a waiter to bring them menus.
Lev’s thoughts ricocheted between prices while he looked at the menu. He tallied through, but reassured himself that he had the money since he didn't pay for any of the clothes. “Do you come to the mall for walks often?”
“If the mood arises,” Cameron said. “I don't much care for the smells or the people. But Sacha enjoys coming every now and then.”
They gave the waiter their orders and their menus. Cameron made sure to order a bowl of water for Sacha so she didn't go thirsty while they ate. Cameron said, “You will look very satisfactory for your date. I am sure your friend will be pleased.”
Lev seemed pleased with Cameron's astute observation. Lev’s thoughts were full of wistfulness. “I hope so,” he said. “I really like him.” Lev's thoughts flashed between Nik and a pair of green eyes and an empty smile. “I don't have much luck in dating,” Lev admitted to him. “I'm not putting all my hopes on the first date.” His thoughts, however, betrayed his words. Lev was clearly a romantic.
“I'm sure it will be a fine date,” Cameron replied. “A coffeehouse has rather low stakes.”
The waiter bought out their food and Sacha's water bowl. Cameron picked at the tomato pasta sauce on his plate. He took a bite and watched Lev eat. Lev did not seem to have the same kind of restrictions with food Cameron had. He had struggled with eating long before he ever became a vampire. Cameron had ignored Nik when he accused Cameron of having an ‘eating disorder’.
“Are you enjoying your meal?”
Those golden eyes flicked up to his. The smile Lev gave him was hesitant, but genuine. “It’s delicious,” Lev promised. He didn’t seem to be lying; while he was no glutton like Nik, there was a clear burst of pleasure every time he took a bite of the creamy pasta.
Cameron couldn’t even fault it for being too heavy on the dairy and carbs. Lev had picked something with chicken, mushrooms, spinach, and even sundried tomatoes. “I’ve always had a soft spot for a fancy pasta dish.” Lev spoke the words like a confession, even lowering his voice a bit.
“Yes,” Cameron said, still picking at his food. “The Italians did a good job with their food.”
“If nothing else we do need to tip our hats at how flexible their food is,” Lev said thoughtfully. “You can make pasta into one of the cheapest meals, in a pinch, but then there’s the good stuff. For my eighteenth I treated myself to one of those whatever star restaurants. Three hundred bucks for the whole dinner but I swear I’ve yet to figure out how to recreate it. I’ve tried for years. Best thing I ever ate.”
Cameron nodded tiredly. “I am sure you will figure it out,” he said. “I try to learn from the source when I am trying new recipes. Currently I am learning from a Hispanic woman to make meals for my… partner. It seems to be going well. Perhaps you could find yourself a teacher as well.”
“Oh, aw, that’s so sweet,” Lev enthused. “Your partner is very lucky to have someone who cares so much.”
Cameron gave a small, uneasy smile. “I do.” Cameron thought about the different meals he prepares for nik, to make them as authentic to native Mexican food he could. “He hasn't complained yet.”
“I should hope not,” Lev said, half offended by the idea. “You’re putting in a lot of effort. Oh! You know what? I should cook for you some time. Whatever you want, I’ll make it.” This smile was brighter, more open than the others.
“That would… be very generous of you.”
Lev shook his head, a flush spreading across his cheeks. “No pressure or anything. And no end date to the offer. Just a thought, is all.”
“I will keep that in mind,” he said.
They continued to talk and eat (well, mostly Lev ate) before finally finishing their food. Cameron paid for the dinner and made sure to tip the waiter handsomely. “I should be getting home,” Cameron said. “Before Sacha gets mad at me.”
He patted her head when she looked up at him. She was indeed ready to leave and get Cameron home. He had overdone himself today and pushed himself too much. But at least Nik's date was going to be properly dressed— and Lev seemed properly enthused. It was all in a day's work.
“That’s alright. I need to go home and get ready.” Lev fidgeted after he stood, before saying, “Thank you. For your help, and the lunch. And I’m sorry about the other day. I’ve been a little on edge lately, and you— well, you’ve been really sweet despite my rudeness.”
Cameron cocked his head. He seemed rather genuine. He doubted any of Lev's self preservation skills, but kept that to himself. “All is forgiven. I will see you around.”
Cameron took Sacha and let Lev go off in his own direction. Crowds were starting to form in the mall by the time Cameron left. He and Sacha got into his car and made their way back home where Nik was sure to be crawling up the walls.
---
All in all, Lev was hesitantly pleased at how the day had gone so far. He wasn’t sure why he’d agreed to let Cameron pay for so much today, but he had to admit the clothes Cameron had picked out were both high quality and fit well. When he checked himself in the mirror he had to admit he didn’t hate what he saw. He made one last attempt to tame his dark waves, but as always his hair did as it wished. Ah, well. Nik had already seen it, and he’d dressed up. More than he really needed to, even, for a coffee date, but he couldn’t figure out how to convince himself to dress more like himself.
With that in mind, Lev tucked his wallet in his pocket, scooped up his book off the bedside table, and left for the coffee shop a good hour and a half before he needed to be there. Just in case, of course. Nevermind that it was a ten minute walk at worst.
He picked a table in the back to leave his book at while he picked something to drink as he waited. After he’d gathered his chamomile-mint tea, he reconsidered, and moved to a table that was easier to see from the front so Nik could find him. There. Now. To wait another hour. At least this gave Lev the opportunity to finish his book before Nik got here.
Lev was a good five pages from the end of the book when he heard a familiar voice. His head jerked up on instinct, zeroing in on Nik at the register. Nik tossed him a smile that made Lev’s heart flutter, and finished his order. Lev took that time to get himself and his thoughts under control, and marked his page with his receipt before he closed it.
By the time Nik made it over to Lev’s table (with an americano, two extra shots, of all things) Lev had at least got his brain to stop buffering enough to offer a (possibly too) enthusiastic, “Hello!” Followed immediately with, “You made it!”
“Yes I did.” Nik looked amused. Amused was good. Amused was better than annoyed.
“I got here a little early,” Lev confessed. “I’m gonna go get another drink. Are you hungry...?” Lev mostly planned on seeing if they had any pastries leftover so his hands had something to fiddle with if he got nervous, but it seemed rude not to offer.
“I could eat.”
Lev nodded twice, standing. He left his phone and book behind, but gathered up his now empty cup. “Do you want anything in particular or do you want me to surprise you?”
“Surprise me,” Nik said easily. He took a sip of his americano, those dark eyes following Lev’s every movement.
Lev nodded again, tapped his pocket to reassure himself he had his wallet, and marched off to get some sweet treats. Or. Well, no. From what Lev had seen so far, Nik hadn’t really indulged in any sweets. Hadn’t really indulged in much of anything, foodwise, now that Lev thought about it. A challenge then. One he was anxious to fail, but he’d set himself up for this, so—
This late at night the pickings were slim, so Lev chose a blueberry and a lemon poppyseed muffin and figured Nik could choose his favorite. With that in mind he picked a more fruity tea this time, and circled back feeling pleased with himself. “Take whichever, I like both,” he told Nik as he sat down.
After Nik took the lemon poppyseed and took a bite, Lev picked at his own, pulling off little chunks fastidiously. “How was your day?” he finally asked, to break the silence.
“Eh, boring,” Nik said. “Spent the whole day waiting for our date.”
Lev was torn between the way Nik’s playful wink and grin left him thinking truly sinful thoughts, and utterly flustered by the blatant flirting. He pulled off another chunk of his muffin to buy time. “We could have met up sooner,” he finally said sheepishly. “I’m not much of a night owl myself, anyways. I wouldn’t have minded.”
Nik gave a dramatic sigh. “Unfortunately the sun would have burned me to a crisp.”
A startled laugh burst from Lev. “That’s a new way to say you’re nocturnal,” he said, trying to swallow his next chuckle. “I bet you get a lot of mileage with the vampire jokes closer to halloween, huh?”
“You have no idea,” Nik said conspiratorially.
Lev tapped the cover of his novel. “At least I don't have to worry about you judging me on my reading material then,” he joked.
Nik glanced at the book cover. Lev did his best not to stare at how his eyes crinkled when he looked amused. “Oh, the night is still young,” Nik said breezily.
It was truly a losing battle. When Nik’s gaze met his again, Lev found himself wondering what they’d even been talking about. “Right,” he said faintly, finding himself smiling back on autopilot. He made himself refocus with effort, and cleared his throat. “I might be a bit rusty on the whole dating thing. It’s been a few years since I last went on a date. I’m pretty sure this is where we ask the usual questions about favorite colors, music, hobbies, preferred number of kids, movies, and stuff, right?” A nervous chuckle escaped him despite himself.
Nik barely gave that a thought before he launched into his answers. “Uhhh. Right. Favorite color: red. Music: anything with a beat. Hobbies: guitar, singing and sex.” After shooting those answers off rapidfire Nik took another sip of his americano, looking pleased with himself.
Lev paused, piece of muffin halfway to his mouth. He could feel himself going redder and redder the longer he waited, so he blurted out the first thing that came to mind: “My favorite color is blue. Like, summer skies kind of blue.” And then snapped his mouth shut before he commented on anything riskier. Lord knew the thoughts running through his head had no business being said aloud. A man like this had no real reason to be sitting there across the table from him, like he didn't walk right out of one of the stupid romance novels Lev read.
“You okay? You seem nervous.” Nik’s eyes glittered. Lev couldn't tell if he was feeling nervous or unnerved. Nik had gone utterly still, even as an amused grin curled his lips.
“I, um—“ What had Nik asked? Lev needed to stop staring at those lips. Eyes weren't much better, depthless and dark enough to drown in. “Ah— sorry. Full disclosure, I suck at small talk, and— um. Honestly? I find you distractingly, um. Goodlooking. And that’s not helping my conversation skills. At all.”
“I dunno,” Nik said. “You seem to be doing well. Considering.”
Lev knew he was flushed. He took a sip of his tea to give himself a moment to gather his thoughts. “So what do you do when you aren’t sitting around waiting for a date?”
Nik opened his mouth as if to say something, and then paused. Lev couldn’t tell if his expression was thoughtful or calculating. In the end he said, “Lev. Do you believe in ghosts?”
For a moment Lev genuinely thought he was being teased. But... Nik had leaned in a bit, and some of the laughter had left Nik’s eyes at the question. So he gave the question some genuine thought. “I don't know if I believe, but...” He chewed on his lip. “I can't bring myself to disbelieve either. What if I’m wrong and they are? Best to act as if they do just in case.”
“What if I told you there was a ghost in my house?” Nik asked seriously.
“And you’re being serious, and not just pulling my leg?” Lev did his best not to sound dubious, just in case Nik was telling the truth. He seemed serious.
Nik frowned at that. “Do I sound serious?”
Right. “Well,”Lev said cautiously. “I would ask if it’s doing anything, or if it’s just. There, first. I usually assume the ghost was there before the people in the house. Unless it’s a new build, in which case the police probably need to be called, cus ghosts in a brand new house kinda implies someone died before you guys could move in. Assuming you’re living with your partner, that is.”
That seemed to be the right answer, because the vaguely offended expression on Nik’s lively face vanished. He slumped in his chair and sighed as he played with the lid of his cup. "My boyfriend's old boyfriend is haunting us. He drinks... tea. He just sits there and drinks tea like he isn’t haunting us with his ghostly presence."
Well that was far more complicated than Lev had expected. He picked his next words carefully. “It doesn’t sound like he’s doing much of anything then,” he offered. “Are you able to talk to him?”
Nik squinted, his nose wrinkling thoughtfully. “I don’t… think so?” Almost immediately his expression shifted. “But that doesn’t stop it from being creepy.”
Lev couldn't fault him for that. “That sounds stressful,” he said. On impulse he reached over, touching the back of Nik’s hand. Nik stilled, but Lev plowed ahead, determined now, “If you need a break from the ghostly ex-boyfriend stuff, you can text me any time. I’ll leave my ringer on and everything. Sometimes it's easier when you have someone you can talk to.”
For a moment Lev swore Nik looked a bit unnerved. He was smiling again quick enough Lev immediately doubted himself. “I’ll keep that in mind,” Nik said lightly.
Lev pulled his hand back, clearing his throat awkwardly. He cast about for a less loaded conversation, and landed on a weak, “You planning on crashing any more parties this week?”
Now that they’d moved away from the topic of ghosts, Nik seemed to relax back into his playful mood. He even gave a conspiratorial look around before he asked in a stage whisper, “Why? Know of any parties?”
Lev tipped his head back a little laugh. He rested his chin on his palm. “No, but I’ll let you know if I do, as long as you promise not to rat me out as your informant.” He enjoyed this, liked that Nik could take his attempts and bounce the conversation back into a lighter mood with ease. It made him easy to talk to.
“I’m no narc. Your secret is safe with me.”
The rest of the date was easy banter like that. It was getting late by Lev’s estimations before they wound down. Nik offered to walk Lev home and Lev tried not to be too quick with his acceptance. He held the door for Lev, which only made the butterflies in his stomach worse.
The walk back was quiet, but in a comfortable way. Nik was strolling along beside him, hands in his pockets. Lev snuck glances at him when he wasn't watching to make sure he didn't trip. It was nice, Lev thought, that he didn't have to look up to see Nik’s face. He almost wished the coffee shop wasn’t so close. They were at his house far too soon.
Nik followed Lev right up to his steps. Lev turned at the door, debating. He took a deep breath and hugged Nik, quick but genuine. “Thank you, for tonight,” he rushed out. “I had a lot of fun, and I’d like to do it again, if you want.”
Before he could do anything stupid, he turned around again and bolted inside. He turned the lock out of habit and leaned against the door, heart pounding so loud he almost feared Nik could hear it through the door. Having made it inside, he felt like this might have been the stupidest option he could have picked. Who hugged someone and then ran away? By the time Lev peeked through the peephole Nik was gone. Lev heaved a sigh, and shuffled to the bedroom. Hopefully he heard from Nik again. Like. Even just once.
————
Nik found Cameron on the couch with a glass of vodka when he slammed the door open. “I was so close!” Nik raged. “I was right there and he ran inside and locked all the doors.” He grabbed a pillow from the couch and yelled into it. “He hugged me, Cameron. He hugged me? GAH.What was that.”
“Your date not go well?” Cameron asked, rubbing his temples, as if the sheer volume of Nik's voice was giving him a headache. Yeah well. At least it wasn't his thoughts he was hearing. Those were a jumbled mess. Sacha got up from her spot and came over and sat next to Cameron. She rested her fuzzy head on Cameron's lap.
“That's just it!” Nik said. “It went so well!”
Before Nik could make another step forward Cameron told him to close the door. As soon as he did nik got back to his previously scheduled meltdown. “I had him eating out of the palm of my hand, Cameron. I was so charming and polite and flirty. And it was working! I know it was!”
“And he just hugged you?” Cameron asked, a small insufferable smile inching at his mouth. “And ran inside?”
“I almost ate him,” Nik said, seriously. “Right there on the porch. His heart was pounding so hard and he's lucky he just ran inside. I was ready to take a bite out of his neck.” Nik pointed at Cameron. “I told you three weeks is too long.” Hunger was clawing at his insides.
“No it's not,” Cameron said, mildly. “You just need to breathe through the hunger. And relax. This has been a lesson in control. So control yourself.”
Nik, once again, screamed into the pillow but he took deep breaths until the hunger was no longer clawing at him and had instead settled into a mild simmer. That hunger would never go away completely, Cameron had once told him. But it was manageable.
Well. Maybe for Cameron. Nik was so hungry. All the time. It hunted him throughout the day and all throughout the night. The only time he felt any peace was when he was playing music— or when he had been at that concert. It was like he needed to fill a void inside him and all the blood in the world just wasn't enough.
