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"P'Kim, I'm cold."
Which has Kim sliding Porchay off of his lap and their bodies sit separately on the sofa. The chill of Kim's body seeps through the wool blankets. Even if they sit alongside each other, eventually the cold radiating off of the man's skin will find its way beneath Porchays skin.
"Yeah, sorry," Kim murmurs.
Kim doesn't hate being a vampire, per se, he hates one specific characteristic.
Being cold to the touch.
Now, in the humid, overbearing heat of the summer, it was always nice to have a walking ice box. Kim had long adapted to the sun, because there's no other way he'd really survive in Thailand if he didn't.
Usually if they went out, Porchay would have his arms wrapped around Kim's, or have their fingers interlaced. Though, when in the comfort of their home, it became too much.
See, now the science is simple; Kim is cold, cold air is dense. Porchay simply adjusted by wearing socks around the house.
But what about cuddling?
At first, they were stumped. As the problem immediately rose in Kim's mind, so he would buy blankets; wool or fleece, and drape it around Porchay. There, his boyfriend became an adorable, warm cocoon. Kim would cool him down as Porchay stayed cuddled in his lap.
It was only 15 minutes before Porchay started to shiver. Kim couldn't tell if Porchay was trying to be nice or genuinely wanted to cuddle with him.
The first time, he tried to say he was fine. Only to shiver—teeth clacking with each time he tried to reassure Kim with I'm fine! And readjusts the blankets again. They settled and watched TV.
Thirty minutes passed and Porchays cheeks tinted pink. He excused it as being "flustered."
Kim idly stroked Porchays hair, talking about dinner for Porchay, if he wanted something spicy this time.
When there's no answer, Kim repeats the question.
He's met with a "huh?"
Porchay only had to turn his head and Kim immediately knew. Without hesitation he was jumping up and giving Porchay every blanket and comforter there was in the house. With haste, Kim was making Porchay three different things; hot chocolate, tea, and warm soup. Vampires were fast, and Kim took advantage of that; swiftly preparing things for Porchay, quickly tending to his hypothermic boyfriend.
Kim slept in the guest bedroom that night.
Now, whenever they cuddled, it was two blankets between them, cozy ankle socks on Porchays feet, and no more than fifteen minutes on the couch.
Like clockwork, when fifteen minutes were up—Kim counted in his head, he'd gotten really good at that—Porchay would shift a little bit. His feet would cross over each other.
"Phi, I'm cold."
That would be Kim's way of knowing it was time. Time to separate from Porchay. His boyfriend, his world (and food source).
Kim can't bare to only hold him for so little time each day. He's experienced solitude and loneliness, but somehow it came back tenfold when Porchay pried himself out of Kim's arms, waddling back to the bedroom to warm up.
Oh, they don't sleep in the same bed either.
Because last time they tried, Porchay didn't wake up for hours.
Which led to a half hearted fight on Porchays health and safety. Words like "break up" and "hypothermia" were thrown around in the same sentences. Which only confused the hospital staff as the couple bickered.
When they got home, their argument persisted.
It was the first time Porchay yelled.
"I'm not breaking up with you! Not for any reason—especially not because of something you can't control! I'd rather my lips turn blue everytime I kiss you stupid than leave!"
Kim was, in fact, kissed stupid that morning. Porchays lips were so close to going blue and it took the force and strength of every ancestor in Kim's bloodline to pry the human boy away.
That was a while ago, and Porchay has become comfortable in admitting to Kim when he's too cold to continue cuddling.
It hurts, but it's for his lover's safety. Kim would drive put a stake through his own heart if he were to be the reason Porchay was dead.
Now, Kim is watching as Porchay folds up the blankets and sets them on the couch. A soft smile adorns his lips as the blankets are stacked. He even fluffs the soft throw pillows.
After, Porchay gives the quickest little peck to Kim's cheek. It's so difficult not pulling Porchay back into a hug, to bury into the warmth of his neck, a feature that made him so human and alive. He remembers having his lips on Porchays neck, teeth scratching the skin and then puncturing it, forcing moans out of Porchays lips. How Kim gripped his wrists against the kitchen wall.
Kim eyes his jugular momentarily before clearing his throat, "Are you going now?"
Porchay crosses his arms as he thinks about it. He's put some distance between them now, for the sake of himself.
"Yeah, I'll just buy the cilantro and come back," Porchay confirms, then asks, "Why don't you get started on the side dish?"
Kim, surprised, sputters for a second.
Porchay interrupts his shocked state by holding up a finger to Kim's face, "Ah, I know what you're going to say. You hate human food."
Kim nods, embarrassed, despite this not being a new discovery.
Still, Porchay persists and continues to tell Kim what to do.
"I have a list of measurements laid out—you're plenty capable of doing that much, no?"
Kim, silent, nods his head. He'd do anything. Simply cutting and measuring out the other ingredients wouldn't be too hard.
So, when Porchay heads out the door to grab the missing ingredient, Kim makes his way to the kitchen.
He looks at the stove as he turns it on, sighing quietly at the flame. Warmth.
He wishes he was a human. Kim was never going to turn Porchay into a vampire. Ever. Not even with the man's permission.
___
"Kim! I'm—"
Porchay is startled by the touch of warm hands against his cheeks. Causing them to light up red in response. He was expecting the cold hands of Kim.
So this is a new sensation. He looks at his vampire boyfriend, confused.
"K-kim...! You're warm! Do you have a fever— do vampires have fevers— mm!"
He's cut off by Kim cupping his face. Warm lips touch his. Kim's tongue is only mildly cold. Compared to the other times it feels like Porchay was sucking on an ice cube.
They pull away when the warmth of Kim's hands start to fade. Porchays cheeks are bright red.
He shakes himself from his stupor, enough to ask "Why are you warm?!"
Kim smiles softly to Porchay, "I figured something out..."
His hands come up to the flame of the stove, flickering steadily as it heats up a pot of water. Porchay watches, thinking Kim was going to touch it.
But Kim doesn't. He keeps his hands in front of the flames like it's a fireplace.
Then, he brings them to Porchays cheeks again. A gentle smile on his lips yet he looks to be asking for approval.
The approval is given. Simply by Porchay leaning into Kim's warm hand.