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It was a peaceful night at the Castle. The window of Pyro’s room was slightly open, and he could feel the breeze of the cold wind gently blowing through his white hair. He was sitting at his desk, writing about what he has learned so far in Oakhurst. He’s very secretive about his research, not showing it to anyone, especially not to Owen and Scott.
The thought of them finding out that he’s writing about possible effects and ideas for the cure makes him uneasy. It’s not that he wants the cure, not anymore, but the idea of it intrigues him, from an academic point of view. Writing research even after becoming a vampire makes him feel more alive, more… human. He’s still thinking about Truffle, and the fact that Apo killed him. He still doesn’t understand why she would do it. This gift really has changed her, or perhaps, shown the true her. The dark, violent, bloodthirsty her.
His train of thought is broken by the door of the room making a creaking sound as it opens. He assumed that nobody would be home at this hour, especially Scott, who was now walking towards him. Pyro quickly covered his research with a random book on his table, hoping Scott hadn’t seen him writing.
“Hello Sire, what uhm… What brings you here? I assumed you would be outside terrorising the townsfolk, since it’s night time.”
“I mean, I could ask you the same question. Why aren’t you outside, during this beautiful night?”
Scott was now next to Pyro, his back being held by the front edge of the table. He was wearing a red button up shirt with long, layered bishop sleeves, and a ruffled, layered black skirt. He also had on a black corset, tightly hugging his waist.
“Oh, well, I just wanted to get some reading done, since I’ve been busy these past few weeks.”
“I see. Well, it’s good that you still have your passion for reading. I heard Apo’s lost all of her previous traits, and gone, well, slightly feral.”
Pyro’s expression shifted into something broken, even though he tried not to show it, Scott noticed.
“She uhm, she butchered Truffle.”
“Oh. I wasn’t… Aware.”
Scott put his hand on Pyro’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry that happened, I know you cared deeply for that pig.”
“Th-Thank you, Sire.”
They stayed in silence for a while, Scott looking around Pyro’s room, looking at what he’s reading, at the view outside the window, and how Pyro decorated the place.
Pyro was looking at Scott. He had always admired him, but seeing him now made him admire him even more. The way the wind ruffled his perfect, white hair to the side. The way his eyes softened in the quiet. The way his corset hugged his waist. The way he held himself. What wasn’t there to admire?
At this point Scott sat down on the table, still holding his back straight.
“Pyro?”
“Yes, Sire?”
“What were you writing before I came in here?”
This caught Pyro off guard. He hoped Scott didn’t see him writing, although he shouldn’t be shocked he did. Sire sees, hears and knows all.
“I uhm… I- I was just…”
“You were..?”
Pyro was fidgeting with his hands now. He knew that lying would do him worse compared to him telling the truth, but he felt this knot in his throat that made him unable to speak properly.
“Are you going to say anything or will you continue staring at me like a wet puppy?”
“...”
Scott moved the book that was covering Pyro’s research, and took the papers underneath into his hands to read them. Pyro didn’t stop him, there was no point in it.
He watched Scott’s eyes move along the lines written on the pages, waiting for his reaction, hoping Sire won’t lose his trust in him, the trust Pyro just gained back, but knowing what happened last time, he probably will.
Scott put the papers back down on the table, and for a minute or two just looked into Pyro’s eyes. Both of them could hear Pyro’s heart beating louder, and louder, and his breath getting heavier, and heavier.
Before saying anything, Scott took a deep breath and sighed, laying his chin on his own palm.
“Pyro…”
Pyro’s heartbeat was now very loud, and so was his breathing.
“Can I trust you?”
Pyro’s face and shoulders relaxed a bit.
“Of course, Sire!”
Scott looked frustrated with this answer.
“See, you say that, but then you research about the cure behind my back, which then makes me think you’re working with the humans.”
Pyro’s expression looked worried now. He didn’t want his Sire to think that he was working with the people who are trying to kill him.
“No, you’ve got it completely wrong, Sire… I would, I- I’d never work with those people, knowing they want to hurt you!”
Scott’s expression lightened, and he even had a light smile on his face now.
“Okay. I believe you.”
This statement made Pyro happy. He wanted his Sire to trust him. And getting that… Meant everything to him.
“Thank you, Thank you, Sire.”
Scott got off the table and started to walk towards the door, but stopped in front of it before leaving.
“Another thing.”
“Yes, Sire?”
“If you go behind my back to work with them, I will make sure that you never get that cure. If it even exists.”
As Scott was exiting the room, Pyro spoke up.
“I don’t want a cure.”
Scott turned around with one of his eyebrows raised.
“Sorry?”
“I- I don’t want a cure. I’ve decided that, when this is over, I will go back to the capital, and show all of them this gift, and make them pay for how they treated me.”
This had Scott a little shocked.
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Hm.”
Scott wasn’t leaving anymore, although the door of the room was still open, meaning he wouldn’t stay for long either. Pyro couldn’t read the expression on his face.
“Is something wrong, Sire?”
“Nothing. I just thought that you had wanted to stay with me in the castle after this was over.”
Pyro’s face got red, or as red as it could since he wasn’t “alive”.
“Oh! No, I- I do… I would return to you after I finished my business in the capital. If- If that’s what you would want…”
Scotf chuckled and walked towards Pyro, patting his head.
“I’m messing with you.”
“Oh… Yeah… Right.”
He was walking out of the room now.
“But good to know that if I wasn’t, you’d be up for it.”
And then the door of the room closed, leaving Pyro all alone to process what just happened.