Chapter Text
The sky blushes in many warm colors as the sun kisses it good night. The star of the day is leaving and it's time for him to prepare to close. Through the shop windows the colors sneak in, and for half an hour the world is painted in red, orange and pink.
Under those colors the flowers seem even more beautiful and the air wraps around him with many sweet aromas. He turns the plaque in the front door to “we are closed”, and since there isn't anyone in at the moment, he also locks the door. Outside the air is hot, but inside he keeps cool air for the plants.
It's not as if his flower shop is very popular, no, but he gets enough clients to get going.
Get going, it's enough. It's a good life. He enjoys the calm, the colors, the smells. To be able to work with his hands. A simple life surrounded by flowers, that's all he ever wanted. He sees a couple of butterflies twisting in a dance in the air and stops with a vase on his hand.
It's that time of the year, the time when all the things find their mates, and most of his customers turn into people romancing someone.
He never cared for a mate. In fact he doesn't think he needs one. He has no interest in relationships besides casual voyeurism. He does enjoy watching love, well, fictional love, or the love between animals.
Unfortunately he never met people who really loved each other. His parents were terrible, and even if Jayce believes in love, he thinks it's rare. Or maybe it's really only a fictional concept.
Out of this colored place of sweet smells, there's abuse, people trying to control and hurt the other. Even in fiction many times there's no love, they are showing something else and Jayce wonders if it's really all that exists.
One of the butterflies lands on his hand, a barely touch on his skin. Its wings move softly, white dotted with brown spots that almost seem like a burn. And he imagines a magic world of butterflies made of the light of a fire.
He's silly, he knows and the little thing flies away, meeting its mate, they dance again, and he gets back to work. He cuts some stems, changes the water in several vases, replacing it for new water with preservatives, some flowers won't last another day, and he takes those with him. Some to use in the bath, others to replant, some to put inside old books.
Books, they must be the cause of his silliness. Yes, of reaching this age still thinking about magical realms and impossible creatures. Well, there's no harm in imagination, he believes.
When he finishes the duty, the colors have already faded, giving space to dark purple and blue. It's still beautiful, and it's still cool as he gets to his little place.
He showers, and has a light dinner, before finally being able to sit at his bed and open a book. He smiles, this is his favorite part of the day.
The pages move, paper touching his fingers as his mind travels deep. Maybe too deep. Yes. He's so entranced in the pages that it takes him a while to realize someone is knocking on his door.
It's odd, for a moment he believes he must have heard things, but then there's the knock again. He sighs, who could be at this hour? Can't they see they are closed?
He marks the page with a dried flower, and leaves the bed in his comfy pajamas. He stands in his tall glory, he's a big man, and he even rolls up his sleeves to show up his muscular arms. He may be peaceful, but it doesn't mean the world is.
Jayce is not a stupid person, so he takes a look through the windows to see who is caring to bother his night. He sees a long figure in dark clothes. His forehead crushes, who would use such colors in this weather?
He takes a step closer, and is able to see a slim face, the hair is long and curly, and as he tries to take a better look, the man turns and Jayce petrifies, heart beating like a hummingbird.
The face is long and delicate, incredibly pale, prominent cheeks stand, carving a imponent face… that stares at him curiously. He seems like something out of this world. Jayce blinks at the ghostly figure and the man waves a hand, long fingers moving. He seems a bit nervous and helpless.
Jayce moves slowly, still not sure if he's not seeing things.
He opens the door and they both stare at each other. The eyes are hazel and look at him like in contemplation for a long moment. Then the long body shakes, and the trance Jayce was in is broken. Just now he realizes the man is not standing properly, he seems to be slouching, and Jayce gets a feeling he's in pain. There's drops of sweat on the marble skin of his forehead and Jayce worries.
“Good… evening, Mr Talis? I'm sorry for bothering you this time of the night. I can see you are off work, and that the shop is closed. But I really was wondering if you couldn't open a little exception and wouldn't help me?” His voice is rough, and as he talks his breath pattern gets badly.
“Are you feeling well?” Jayce asks. Maybe he should offer some water, a chair. He really looks like he shouldn't be standing.
“No, I'm afraid I'm not. Yet I don't mean to bother. Would you have any night flowers?”
He doesn't understand, what a sick man would do with flowers? And he doesn't have it, because who would buy a flower that only blossoms at night? Even for night events they still only take the ones that ornament the day.
“I'm sorry, I don't have this kind. But would you like a glass of water or take a seat? Maybe you should see a doctor?”
He sees despair in the eyes, and hates it. The fine lips moves but before he can say anything he shakes hard, and that's when It happens. Golden lines moves on his long pale neck, like the roots of a tree, the eyes change, turning liquid gold, and the little fangs shine through the lips.
“How unfortunate.” He says, and Jayce's heart vibrates. “It's odd though, I swear I could smell it. But it doesn't seem you are lying, yet it's the first time my instincts fail me.” His body swings, and he seems so fragile as if the breeze could carry him away.
“Your teeth.” Jayce blurts. Shit. He didn't plan to say it.
“Oh, it's not what you think. I mean it's, but it's not. You don't need to worry I'm not…” He bends suddenly, body falling. And Jayce catches him.
He doesn't plan to again. His body moves by instinct.
“Come inside.” He says, holding the body. He's more substantial then he thought, yet Jayce gets a feeling If he doesn't hold him tight he will disappear. It fills his mind with worry.
“That won't be wise.” The long hands touch him like that butterfly, he barely feels it and yet his whole body gets warm.
“Why? Because I shouldn't invite a vampire in?”
And he laughs, rough and lovely, surprising him. “That's a myth. Something made up.”
He supports him, letting him lean on him and guides the vampire inside. “So you won't kill me?”
The other man pulls away and there's a pointy smile, as the eyes become pure gold. “Oh, no, that won't be educated, would it?” He sounds silly, and his leg fails him now. He does it instinctively another time, yes, Jayce takes him in his arms. A foot closing the door with a bang as the long arms slide around his neck.
“You smell delicious though.”
Oh. His face gets calid, as if the breath of the warm night is blowing on him. “Mr Talis...” He shakes on his arms.
“You can call me Jayce.”
“Jayce…”
He freezes another time, and another time he gets warm.
“Yes?”
“Why would you invite a vampire into your home?”
Jayce walks, taking him to his room.
“He was needing help.”
“That's true. So you are a kind person.”
No. Well, he doesn't bother others. But he wouldn't invite anyone like this. So why? He couldn't help it.
“I'm not kind. Maybe I'm the dangerous one.”
“You are not. I can tell those things.”
“Really?”
He lays him on the bed, his long curly brown hair sprawling around him. Pale skin glowing under white the light. He's breathing worse now. “Would some water help, or do you need blood?”
The man blinks. “Blood?”
Jayce's face burns hard. He knows he shouldn't offer it, but he can't help it. “You could take mine.”
He seems surprised for a moment, and then the eyes get fierce, semi closing, like two crescent moons, fine lines of gold shining at him. “Are you really offering? You would be willing to let me drink from you?”
Yes. He knows it's crazy, he doesn't even like vampire stories, he believes they are mostly abusive. So he really can't explain why he's acting like this. But he can't turn back.
“Yes.”
The fine trembling lips smile. “Come here.”
He goes, chest humming, as he bends over him, exposing his neck. He shivers when the long hands touch his skin. His butterfly touch is cold. But the breath is warm, caressing his neck.
Jayce closes his eyes waiting for it. And the soft lips touch his skin. The kiss is warm and perfect, and he wonders if he's always this kind when he eats.
And then the man giggles on his neck. “I can't believe it, you were really willing.”
He pulls away and Jayce stares confused at him.
As their eyes meet, the man smiles softly at him. “For more tempting that is. I'm not hematophagous, Jayce.”
What? “You mean you don't feed in blood?”
“Exactly.” He stays laying down, body shivering.
“But you are a vampire?”
There's a faint nod. “You got that right. Also the fangs are a big tell. It happens when I lose a lot of blood and don't eat regularly. I will probably pass out soon. I can't believe I entered a human house like this."
Oh. “Are you afraid of humans?”
“Your kind is dangerous, Jayce. They kill everything they don't understand. You are different, I can feel. I wonder if it was your smell that brought me here. It's not the worst way to die.”
No. “Must there be some way? A form to help you.”
“You said you don't have any night flowers. And the day ones, they don't have the right kind. It won't be enough.”
“I’m sorry, I don't understand.”
“Nectar, Jayce. I'm nectarivorous. I feed from flowers. I was… traveling, took a wrong turn. Met someone I shouldn't. I lost what I had with me, and almost my life too.” He points to his right leg.
And Jayce realizes liquid is flowing out, wetting the covers, it's yellow, like the petal of a flower.
“You are hurt?”
He nods. As Jayce gets close, there's a rip in the dark tissue, through it he can see a bandaged wound, it's bad, yellow liquid sliding through the tissue. He feels terrible. Wait, was it a human? He said humans are dangerous. He wonders what happened and at the same time he gets angry.
“Tell me what to do. I can't just let you die. Please, let me help you.”
He seems surprised again. “Come here.” He calls very softly and Jayce sits on the bed, close to him. The long hands reach for him, inviting. He bends and the man keeps his eyes on his as he touches their noses. He rubs lightly and Jayce sighs.
“I also don't wish to leave this moment.”
Jayce smiles, hoping they can find a way together. “So what can we do?”
He shakes again, face contorting. “We need to stop the bleeding, and I need warmth. I could feed on your flowers, I don't think they will help much, but it is better than nothing.”
Jayce nods. “How do I warm you?”
And the man smiles, slit eyes of gold, two moons shining at him. “I think you know. It's the season, Jayce.”
Oh. His face burns hard. He didn't think they would, he's not sure he can. But if it will keep him alive, he will try. “Are you sure?”
The laugh is weak now, but it wraps around him. “You really read too much fiction.”
“You mean we don't need to have sex?” He feels relieved.
“You don't have it in you. And I also don't have it in me. I know these things. Yet if this works I want to take you in the night with me. Would you go?”
Yes! He beams. The only places Jayce went where through the pages of a book.
“Have you ever flown, Jayce?”
Well, he feels as if he's flying just now. “No.”
“Good, I will show you how.”
He feels warm, and hope spreads through him. And something more he is not able to explain. “Would you tell me your name?”
The man blinks, cheeks getting a shiny color, as if dusted by soft gold. “It's Viktor.”
Viktor. He repeats the word in his mind, and it reverberates deep within. “It's a pleasure, Viktor.”
He smiles, fangs showing. And Jayce sighs again. Their eyes stay on each other and its like they are talking without words. He's asking if he would stay forever and Viktor is saying it won't be enough. It's odd, he was very sure he didn't need company. Wait. Are they…
And before his eyes the vampire faints, eyes getting distant, skin turning completely pale, all the warm golden gone. Jayce gets desperate. He calls for him, but he doesn't wake. No. No! He doesn't know what to do and for a moment tears only fall on his face. Then slowly a calm takes over him.
He's used to taking care of fragile things.