Archive of Our Own

The cold night air lingered in the room as Jimmy’s head fell back against the wall while Scott sucked the blood from his neck. The vampire simply could not care less, and neither did Jimmy at this point.

Scott jumped up from the bed, eager to leave. He never wanted to be around Jimmy that much nowadays. At least, that was what Jimmy had concluded.

“Tomorrow you should eat more sweets. It makes your blood taste much better,” Scott commented.

Jimmy was only just conscious enough to hear him. But this time, he did something he could only dream of doing.

While Scott was straightening out his shirt, Jimmy spoke up.

“Shut up.”

It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t commanding. But it sounded like a plea.

“What did you just say?!” Scott growled as he quickly moved toward the canary. He grabbed him by the chin and lifted it just enough for Jimmy to have to look up at him.

Jimmy had thought about this moment for a while. Maybe he would be free if his husband killed him. Maybe, just maybe. The fact that he was thinking about that already said enough. Scott S. Major had broken him. He was broken. Only being alive for your blood would do that to a person.

In his mind, he was already dead. His body, sadly, gave a reaction because of it.

“Are you… crying?”

Yes. The canary was crying. Silently. Very, very silently.

As Scott’s grip on him loosened, Jimmy didn’t waste any time. He slammed his head back against the wall. Again and again and again and again.

“Jimmy, stop that.”

And as if he didn’t want to hear or see Scott anymore, Jimmy brought his knees up and covered his face with the two small wings he had on the sides of his face.

Scott just stared at him.

He realized Jimmy was a mess. Bloody, hurt, sad, disheveled, and barely conscious. But there was no sound. No cry. No begging for forgiveness from the canary. Scott wasn’t used to it. In the three years they had been married, Jimmy was always a little bit distant. The canary knew the vampire married him for his blood. Still, they had a pretty good marriage. But for the first time in a long time, he had stood up for himself.

Scott cleared his throat. “Well, if you want to act like that now, Jim—”

“Scott, please. I asked.”

Silence fell in the dark room, and Scott was left thinking.

What happened? He is usually so obedient. He doesn’t look that well…

And slowly, the gears began to turn in Scott’s head. Maybe he had broken his husband.

Jimmy finally looked back up. He met Scott’s gaze with nothing but emptiness in his eyes and tears streaming down his face.

“Kill me, my love.” His wings twitched.

“… Please,” the canary added.

My love. He never called me that anymore.

Oh. Wait.

Kill him? Wait, what? I… I can’t. Wait, did he really just ask that?

“Jimmy, stop saying such things.” Scott quickly stood up and was about to leave when he felt something.

Jimmy was gripping his wrist with a weak pull as he slowly stood up from the bed. But because he was still very weak, he sat back down at the edge of it. His hair covered his face and he was looking down.

“Please, my love. It would hurt me less than living.”

Scott looked back at him and it was as if he had gotten a fresh set of eyes. His husband looked pale, and his hand was very cold. If Scott thought back to the beginning of their marriage, he would not have described Jimmy like that at all. Jimmy used to be tan, always complaining about being hot. Back then, they were happy.

Now even Jimmy had changed.

Vampires were accustomed to it by now. Scott had grown cold to it. He hated it, but there was simply nothing he could do. So he grew distant. He couldn’t help it. He had become cold and distant toward Jimmy, only really being with him for his blood.

But still, he wouldn’t kill his husband.

Sure, he had noticed that they didn’t talk, and he had noticed they grew apart. But this was too far.

Jimmy had changed because of him. Or… no. Scott frowned. He didn’t like thinking about it. He hated change. He always had. He had watched things shift, people shift, himself shift, and every time it made him feel unsettled in a way he could never explain. So he had done what he always did. He pulled away. He stayed quiet. He made himself small and cold and sharp so nothing could reach him first.

He hadn’t meant to do it to Jimmy.

But somehow, that was exactly what he had done.

“Jim, don’t be like this.” He crouched down in front of him. “I’m not killing you.”

“The only reason I’m living is because you want my blood, Scott. You don’t actually care anymore, do you? I’m always hurting but you don’t even see that. In fact, you don’t even see me anymore.”

Scott watched his eyes drift.

“Why are you hurting then?” he finally asked.

Jimmy let go of Scott and stood up, moving away toward the window.

“Scott, don’t act dumb. Do you even know how lonely I have it?”

Scott stood up too, but Jimmy kept walking away.

“I have nobody in this stupid castle! And the only reason you see me is to basically kill me anyways! You might as well do it!”

Scott’s jaw tightened.

“Jimmy, you’re not lonely, okay? You have me—”

Jimmy turned around.

“Don’t you dare say I have you. We haven’t had a normal conversation in like four months and no, this does not count! I don’t even know why you grew distant! Now you only come to this side of the castle to feed on me. The only reason I’m alive, Scott, is because some small part of me wishes it would go back to the way things were! Because believe it or not, I still care about you!”

Scott stared at him.

He still cares? Why?

“Why?” Scott asked, staring at the man he had once loved and cared about. He still did, really. He stepped closer, the words nearly forming on his tongue, when Jimmy cut him off.

“Because I still love you… even with how much you hurt me and make me weak. Even if you outlive me and forget about me. Even when you don’t care about me anymore. I still love you. And I know I have changed, but you should know, Scott, and please tell me you remember, but that’s because of you.”

Scott went still.

Blood loss. Weakness. Bruises. Pale skin. Tired eyes. It all clicked in an ugly, awful second.

His feeding had changed Jimmy.

Not all at once. Not in one obvious moment. But slowly. Bit by bit. The blood loss had worn him down. The constant nights. The ache. The exhaustion. Jimmy had gotten quieter, smaller, more careful with every visit. And Scott, who hated change so much, had seen Jimmy becoming different and blamed the difference itself instead of the reason for it.

He had thought Jimmy was drifting away.

He had been the one pushing him there.

“Oh… Jimmy, I didn’t—”

“Save it. Just leave, Scott.”

“No, wait. Jim, I still care about you. I just—”

Jimmy turned back toward the window and looked outside.

“No, you don’t.”

“Jim, I do.”

No reaction.

“Prove it, Scott. Tomorrow. Even if you just pretend. For one day. Maybe then I won’t—”

He swallowed.

“Tomorrow.”

Scott’s pride flared a little at the fact that Jimmy still didn’t believe him. That familiar, stubborn part of him bristled at being doubted. But underneath it was something else now. Something worse. Something guilt-shaped.

“Fine then. But after that, don’t ever disobey me again,” Scott muttered, more out of habit than anger, before storming off and leaving the room.

Jimmy got a decent amount of sleep, even with what had happened the night before. He couldn’t believe it had happened. All the blood loss had really given him an attitude.

As he opened his eyes, he knew he would be punished today. At least, that was what he thought.

To his disbelief, he heard a knock on his bedroom door.

He stood up and made his way toward it, already preparing for what was to come.

When he went to unlock the door, he found it already unlocked.

Weird. Usually he just comes in. Hm.

As he opened the door, he was stunned.

Scott S. Major was standing there with… breakfast? In pajamas?

“Hey, petal. Made you some breakfast. Oh, sorry, did I wake you?”

????

What the hell.

Did I die and go to heaven? What the—

While Jimmy was in pure shock, Scott moved past him and walked right toward the small table Jimmy had in his room. He placed the tray of delicious food down and sat in the chair.

“Jimmy? My dear, come eat!”

Didn’t have to tell Jimmy twice.

As he sat across from Scott, he looked at the food he had made: pancakes, toast, and eggs. For a moment, he just stared. At Scott, who was smiling. At the food. Jimmy couldn’t remember the last time he had eaten something this good. Made by Scott, no less. Even the fact that Scott was talking to him could make him cry.

“My dear?” Scott asked softly.

“Mm-hm, oh yeah. Mm-hm, thanks, Scott,” Jimmy murmured.

He lifted the fork and knife and started eating. First the toast and eggs, which were really good, and then the pancakes. The pancakes had chocolate chips in them. He threw his head back as he tasted them.

“Mmm! My love, these are so good!” he practically exclaimed, full of joy.

Scott was watching him with a smile. “Glad you think so. I didn’t taste them, so I was just hoping for the best,” he said, somewhat shyly.

Jimmy smiled at him and continued eating. When he was finished, he put down his fork and knife.

“Soooo, what do you want to do?”

Scott was practically smiling ear to ear.

While Jimmy was still kind of skeptical about this whole Scott-being-nice thing, he thought for a second before answering. “Could we go shopping? But of course in a city where they don’t know you’re a vampire.”

“Yeah, sure! But first—when was the last time you took a proper bath?”

“Oh…” Jimmy’s eyes couldn’t hold Scott’s gaze, so he looked down. “Maybe three days. I’ve been too weak lately…”

While still looking down, Scott answered, “Oh, right.”

Only then did Scott really see it.

The bruises. The paleness. The way Jimmy held himself like even moving too fast would hurt. Scott had seen the changing, but not the consequences. Or maybe he had seen them and simply refused to let them mean anything.

Change had always bothered him.

Not because he didn’t care, but because he did. Because every change he had ever witnessed had made him feel like the world was slipping further out of his hands, and if he let himself look too closely, he might see the same thing happening to the person he loved. So instead of facing it, he had gone cold. Distant. Sharp. As if being hard enough could keep things the same.

But it never did.

Scott felt guilty. Truly he did. But he just didn’t know how to fix it.

“It’s fine, Scott. I’ll bathe,” Jimmy said with a small smile.

Still, Scott couldn’t do anything to help.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll, uh, do the dishes and I’ll get ready too.”

Scott left the room quickly after that, and Jimmy got his bath ready. While waiting, he took his pajama shirt off and looked in the bathroom mirror. He also saw the bruising he had built up from all of Scott’s visits.

Ouch. This still hurts. I’ll have to wear a scarf of some sort. Wouldn’t want Scott to see.

While Jimmy was getting into his bath, Scott was also getting ready. The only problem he had was what to wear.

“Maybe pink? No, that’s too much. Or green? That makes me look like a tree. No! Agh, okay, maybe jeans.”

Finally, he settled on a black V-neck sweater layered over a dark plaid button-up. The collar, cuffs, and hem peeked out from underneath, making the outfit look far more put together than he’d like to admit.

Instead of jeans, he grabbed his loose brown cargo pants and slung a black shoulder bag over one shoulder. A simple necklace, watch, and ring finished the look.

He glanced in the mirror.

“…Okay, maybe I do still know how to dress like a human.”

As Scott walked out of his bedroom door, he was met with Jimmy.

Jimmy had on a faded blue zip-up hoodie over a plain white T-shirt, paired with loose light-wash jeans that somehow made him look effortlessly cool and pretty. Around his neck hung a silver pendant, half-hidden beneath a soft cream-colored scarf that matched the white of his shirt perfectly. A pair of navy Converse peeked out from beneath his jeans. He was wearing custom-made pieces so his wings could be free.

Scott paused for a second.

How was it possible for someone to look like they’d thrown on the first thing they found and still end up looking like they belonged in a clothing advertisement?

His husband sure was pretty.

“Oooh, you look good, petal,” Scott exclaimed, pride in his voice. He linked one of his arms through Jimmy’s and looked at him.

Jimmy had a slight blush across his face and was hiding behind his two face wings.

“Aww, Jimmyy, are you blushingg?”

“Nop. No idea what you’re talking about,” Jimmy said as they started to walk toward the front door.

Cute.

When they finally left the castle, Scott unlinked their arms. At the sudden movement, Jimmy looked at him.

Scott had a devilish smile on his face.

Okay, right, that’s it. He is going to do something. I’m so screwed.

Jimmy thought about all the possibilities in his head. When Scott looked at him, Jimmy had a slight sadness in his eyes.

“Oh, don’t worry, Jimmy. I’m not thinking of doing something reckless.”

A heavy sigh of relief left Jimmy’s mouth. “Okay, good. But what were you thinking then?”

Scott’s eyes lit up instantly. Jimmy blinked once and before he knew it, Scott had turned into a bat. Jimmy stumbled back slightly.

“Wow, okay, you’re in bat form, I see. I still don’t know what you want to do, my love?”

Jimmy blinked once more and Scott turned back with a smile like a child.

“Flying competition! First one to reach the city wins!”

He quickly turned back into a bat and started heading toward the city. Jimmy wasn’t going to let him win that easily.

“Alright, let the fastest win.”

Jimmy, too, was flying through the air.

Flying was something they had always bonded over, even though Jimmy loved it more. He loved the air hitting his wings, but most of all he loved doing tricks in the air. When him and Scott were engaged, they always used to do competitions. However, Scott always won. This time was no different.

“Aw, you won again? How do you always win, Scott?!” they landed not far from the city, but just far enough for Scott not to be seen. As Jimmy was focusing on his breathing, partly because he was weaker but also because of the tricks he did, Scott transformed back.

“You know this, Jimmy. I’m faster because I’m smaller. Also, you were more focused on doing your back air flips or whatever.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Jimmy got his breathing back to a safe rate. “Well, want to check out the stores?”

Without skipping a beat, Scott nodded yes and interlocked their fingers as they started walking toward the bustling city.

They spent the next while wandering around like they had all the time in the world.

They got drinks from a little stall and laughed when Jimmy nearly choked on the foam because Scott insisted it looked like he had a white moustache. Scott, of course, thought that was the funniest thing he had ever seen and promptly wiped it away with his thumb, making Jimmy blush all over again.

They looked at trinkets in tiny shops, pointed at strange decorations, and judged ugly mugs like their lives depended on it. Jimmy found a little wooden bird figurine and held it up to Scott with a grin. Scott found a silver keychain shaped like a moon and told Jimmy it was “dramatic in a very attractive way,” which made Jimmy laugh so hard he had to lean into his shoulder.

For a while, it felt easy. Light. Like the world had finally remembered how to be kind to them.

Eventually they entered a clothing shop.

As Jimmy was looking at some jeans, Scott was looking at the hoodie section. He found one that was the exact color of Jimmy’s wings. He picked it up and asked, “Jim, you have to try this. It’s the exact color of your wings and you can fit them through so they can be out too!”

Scott pushed the article of clothing into Jimmy’s hands, turned him around, and started dragging him to the changing room. He pushed Jimmy in.

“Come on, try it on!”

“Okay, I will,” Jimmy said as he closed the curtain.

There was a small bench where Scott decided to sit. The curtain opened not much later.

Wow.

Scott looked like he was in pure shock. His husband was standing in what looked like the best hoodie ever. It fit him perfectly, even though he was still wearing that scarf. He looked so pretty. To Scott it felt like the first time he’d looked at him.

It was a story he wasn’t proud of.

Jimmy had kind of been given to him as a type of sacrifice to leave a certain city alone. They got engaged quickly, as Scott did like his blood, but while they were planning the wedding, they actually fell in love. Scott did leave that city alone after their beautiful wedding. Jimmy and Scott were very different, though. Jimmy was accepted into society, even as a hybrid human-canary. The humans loved the canaries. They even made clothes to fit their wings. But Scott was a vampire and was feared by many.

Still, they fell in love.

“So what do you think?” Jimmy proudly stood in front of a mirror as he looked at his reflection. He fluffed his wings out to truly see the color. Scott kept staring at him as a slight blush ran across his face.

“You’re so pretty,” he finally said softly.

Still, Scott wanted to see the whole hoodie. So he stood up and moved toward his husband.

“Thanks, my love. Wait, what are you— no, wait, don’t—” Jimmy said a little too late.

Scott removed the scarf in one quick movement. And before he knew what he saw, Jimmy covered his neck.

Oh.

The silence quickly took over them.

Finally Scott spoke. “Was that… did I…?”

“It’s fine, Scott, but can I have my scarf back… please?”

Neither of them spoke as Scott gave Jimmy back his scarf. Scott couldn’t hold his gaze, so he looked down.

Scott knew his bites gave the canary bruises. He knew it could hurt him. He knew the bites didn’t just disappear. And without proper cleaning they could get infected. He knew not to feed on him too much.

But Scott hadn’t realized he was doing exactly that.

He fed on Jimmy almost daily, which could hurt him very much. But since he only fed on Jimmy at night, he didn’t see it. He didn’t see the bruising, or the holes still aching in his skin. He forgot to clean them, too.

Now that he saw the horrible things he had done to his poor husband, he began to understand. Understand the pain Jimmy was in. Understand the suffering he endured pretty much every day. And the worst part was, he had treated him so badly. Treated the one he loved like he was nothing. Not even talking to him most days.

All because he hated change.

Not realizing he had changed Jimmy.

And yet Jimmy had said nothing until yesterday. Not until he literally wanted to die.

Scott started to realize everything very quickly. He had broken his dear husband.

He sat back down and looked down, staying like that for a while. Jimmy had already changed back into his own clothes and came back out of the changing room.

What happened next almost confirmed what Scott thought.

As Jimmy happily said, “I do like it. I’ll get it! My love, let’s go pay for it,” he smiled. Jimmy took Scott’s hand and pulled him up.

Meeting Jimmy’s gaze, Scott just nodded.

They walked out of the store with their hands interlocked. By now it was already lunch time. They wandered until they found a cute restaurant and sat down.

Lunch was warm and easy in a way neither of them had expected.

Jimmy kept stealing fries off Scott’s plate and Scott kept pretending to be offended, only to give him half of them anyway. Jimmy tried to act very serious about the drink he ordered, failed, and got foam on his top lip again. Scott laughed so hard he had to hide his face in his hand, then reached over and wiped it away with the edge of a napkin.

“Stop doing that,” Jimmy complained, but he was smiling.

“You keep making it too easy,” Scott said.

“You’re just jealous I look cute with a foam moustache.”

“I’m not jealous. I’m concerned.”

“Liar.”

Scott laughed again, and Jimmy, against all common sense, laughed too.

For a little while, the table between them felt less like a wall and more like a bridge.

After lunch they kept walking until they found a little place where you could decorate plates and other things with paint. They both wanted to do it, so of course they stayed.

Jimmy painted a meadow full of flowers. Scott painted a colorful sky, full of bright reds and soft blues, like a sunset that refused to end. There was paint on their hands, on their sleeves, and somehow on Scott’s nose.

Jimmy snorted. “You have paint on your face.”

Scott blinked. “Where?”

“Here.” Jimmy leaned across the table and wiped it off.

Scott went quiet for a second, then smiled. “You’re very distracting.”

“Good.”

They laughed again.

They had to wait a few days to pick the pieces up, but that only made it better somehow. Like they had made a little memory and left it there to wait for them.

When they left, they both said they were ready to go home. It was getting late, and Scott said he wanted to make dinner.

Jimmy said only if he could help.

Scott agreed.

As soon as they got home, they first agreed to change into something more comfortable. Jimmy changed into some sweats and came back down to the kitchen. Scott came down a little later, still carrying that quiet shock from seeing the bruises on Jimmy’s neck, but he forced himself to stay present. He forced himself to keep looking. To not turn away again.

That was part of it now too. Not just feeling bad. Not just saying sorry. Actually seeing what he had done.

They made a steak dinner with potatoes and a salad, since Scott didn’t really eat normal food, but when he did, it was always steak of some sort. The kitchen stayed soft and warm while they cooked together, and for once the silence between them didn’t feel cold. It felt careful. Like both of them were afraid to break the moment, but in a good way. In a way that made it feel precious.

They sat down and had a romantic, quiet dinner.

And still, even with all the warmth, there was something on Scott’s mind the whole time. Something heavier than the food in front of him. Jimmy noticed the way Scott would occasionally look at him, then away again, like he was still trying to understand how badly he had hurt him. Jimmy noticed, but he didn’t push. Not yet. He was too tired for that, and maybe a little scared too. But not of Scott in the same way as before.

After dinner Scott insisted on cleaning up, and Jimmy went to the couch to lie down and watch a film.

Scott quickly finished the dishes and walked into the living room. Jimmy was lying on the couch with his head turned to the TV, not noticing Scott. Scott smiled at the sight.

His dear husband was finally happy and chilling. Just like old times.

Without really thinking about it, Scott climbed over him and lay next to his love. Scott could stay here forever.

Jimmy thought the same.

At that moment Jimmy remembered why he loved the vampire. He wished this could happen every day. Still, he didn’t know if it would. He had only asked for one day. The thought lingered and stung. Maybe he could ask for an extension? Maybe the vampire would say yes. Maybe.

Or maybe he could ask if they could do this every month.

“Scott…?”

Scott gave a small murmur of acknowledgment, not opening his eyes and hugging Jimmy close.

“…Can we do this every four months?”

Scott sat up very quickly with a slight glare in his eyes.

“No, wait, I’m sorry. I know I asked for just one day. I’m sorry, I just thought—”

But Scott didn’t let him finish panicking this time.

He grabbed Jimmy’s face and slowly moved forward, not rough, not sudden, just steady enough to make Jimmy freeze for a second. Jimmy didn’t know what he was going to do. Maybe feed on him? Maybe he’d made Scott angry again. Maybe he had asked too much. Maybe he should have stayed quiet.

Maybe he should have just accepted the day and nothing more.

But Scott didn’t hurt him.

Scott moved his thumb carefully along his lover’s face, slow and gentle, like he was trying to prove something with every little motion. Like he was trying to say, I’m here. I’m here, and I’m not leaving. I’m not going to turn this into pain.

And finally he did what he wanted to do.

When his lips fell on the canary, Jimmy finally calmed down. He could feel his posture relax as Scott kissed him. He felt his cheeks burn up and started to lean into Scott’s touch.

For both of them, it felt like breathing in fresh air after months of smoke. Like a cold summer morning. Like a room that had finally been opened after being shut too long.

Jimmy thought back to their happier times.

Maybe, just maybe, Scott would care again.

As they parted, Scott smiled at Jimmy. But it wasn’t just a smile. It was tired, and sad, and honest in a way Jimmy hadn’t seen from him in a long time. Scott moved his arm and embraced his lover like he was afraid Jimmy might disappear if he held too loosely.

“Jimmy, please don’t ever let me treat you like that again. Don’t ever let me be selfish again. I’m so sorry, petal,” Scott finally said.

Jimmy felt like he was frozen.

Did Scott really say that?

Jimmy couldn’t believe it. Scott continued, his voice getting quieter and heavier as he spoke, like every word hurt to say but he needed Jimmy to hear them anyway.

“I’m so sorry I grew distant and cold. It’s a reaction I have to change, but today I realized that I caused that. You have to promise me to tell me when I do that because I won’t know. It’s stupid and you shouldn’t have to, but I struggle to notice. And I hurt you so much. I mean—”

Scott leaned back and looked at the canary’s neck.

“Look. I didn’t even see this. I didn’t realize it. And instead of talking to you about it, I just hurt you more.”

He inspected Jimmy, and this time there was no denial in his face. No excuse. No hiding. Scott let his fingers drag carefully across the very place he had hurt him, but this time his touch was light, almost reverent, like he was terrified of making it worse.

“Jimmy, this is not okay. I— I was abusing you and I… I didn’t see it.”

The word hung in the air.

Abusing.

Not teasing. Not being careless. Not just making mistakes. Abusing.

And Scott said it like he meant it. Like he understood it now. Like he was finally looking at the thing he had been too blind, too scared, too stubborn to see before.

Vampires usually never cry, but right now Scott was. He lowered his head against his lover’s shoulder. He hated this. He hated himself. So much.

He hated that Jimmy had asked him to kill him.

He hated that he had actually made his husband get to that point.

He hated that the words kill me were even something Jimmy had felt safe enough to say out loud, and terrible enough to mean.

Jimmy didn’t know what to say. He knew vampires hated change, but Scott hadn’t realized just how much he hurt Jimmy. He didn’t know. And Jimmy hadn’t told him either.

That didn’t make it okay. Nothing made it okay.

But it mattered that Scott was finally seeing it.

Jimmy finally moved, wrapping his arm around Scott and pulling him closer.

“Scott… it’s okay. Please don’t cry. I chose not to tell you.”

Scott looked back up slowly, his eyes red and full of guilt. “Jimmy, I should have just known. I’m so sorry.”

“My love, please—”

“No, Jimmy.” Scott shook his head, more firmly now, like he needed Jimmy to hear the truth and not let him soften it away. “I hurt you. There is nothing I can change about that. I abused you. And it’s only my fault. It’s not yours.”

He swallowed hard.

“And the worst part is… you said ‘kill me,’ and I just stood there. I let it get that far. I let you believe that was the only way out.” His voice broke a little at the end. “I will never do this again. Never. I don’t care how much I hate change, I don’t care how uncomfortable it makes me, I am not going to make you live like that because of me.”

Jimmy’s chest tightened at that. Not because it was sad. Because it was true. Because Scott wasn’t brushing it off. He wasn’t pretending it had been normal. He wasn’t asking Jimmy to make excuses for him.

He was taking responsibility.

Still, Jimmy smiled, small and tired but real.

“Okay, Scott. But I’m okay.”

…

“Promise?”

“Promise. This was the most fun I’ve had in a while. I’m okay.”

And maybe that was what finally reached Scott the most. Not that Jimmy forgave him instantly. Not that everything was magically fixed. Just that Jimmy was still here. Still talking. Still giving him a chance to do better.

Scott couldn’t hold himself back anymore and kissed Jimmy again.

When they separated, Scott made a promise.

“I promise to never hurt you like that again. Not ever again. I’ll learn how to accept change and— and make you happy, okay? I’ll learn how to be better. I’ll learn how to listen before I make you suffer for it. I swear it.”

Both of them smiled at each other.

“I’ll be happy to help you learn, my love,” Jimmy said softly.

Scott chuckled, wiping his tears.

“I’ll get better, I promise you.

I love you.”

“I love you too, Scott,” Jimmy smiled.

They both couldn’t help it and kissed again.

This time it was passionate and deep.

Two Weeks Later

Two weeks later, Jimmy stood on a little stool in the castle kitchen while Scott carefully reached up to place the decorated plates on the highest shelf.

They had picked them up three days ago.

Jimmy’s meadow had turned out even prettier than he remembered. Tiny flowers covered the plate, painted in bright little patches of color that somehow made it feel alive. Scott’s sky looked like it was glowing even when the light hit it wrong, painted with swirling clouds and colors that blended together far better than either of them had expected.

They had both laughed when they saw them.

Not because they looked bad.

Because somehow they looked exactly like the day they made them.

Jimmy’s plate was bright and soft and full of life.

Scott’s was colorful and dramatic.

Just like them.

Scott stepped back after placing them on the shelf and tilted his head.

“Mine is better.”

Jimmy immediately groaned.

“Scott, we have had this argument every single day.”

“Because every single day you're wrong.”

Jimmy laughed despite himself.

Scott came up behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist, pulling him carefully off the stool and back against his chest.

“Still think I did a better sky,” he murmured.

Jimmy snorted. “Still wrong.”

Scott kissed the side of his head.

“You were wrong first.”

Jimmy leaned back into him, smiling. “You've been saying that for two weeks.”

“And I'll keep saying it.”

“Until?”

“Until you admit I'm right.”

Jimmy turned around in his arms and looked up at him.

“So forever, then.”

Scott gasped dramatically. “How dare you.”

Jimmy laughed, the sound bright enough to fill the entire kitchen.

Scott froze for a second.

Not because anything was wrong.

Because he realized he was hearing that laugh more often again.

The real one.

Not the polite smile Jimmy used to force. Not the quiet little chuckle he gave when he was tired.

A real laugh.

The kind Scott had fallen in love with.

Without thinking, Scott smiled too.

Jimmy noticed.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Scott.”

“Nothing.”

Jimmy narrowed his eyes.

“You have the smile.”

“The what?”

“The smile where you're thinking something embarrassing.”

Scott immediately looked away.

Jimmy burst out laughing.

“Oh my god, you are!”

“Petal, stop.”

“No.”

“Jimmy.”

“No.”

Scott couldn't stop himself from laughing too.

The sound echoed around the kitchen, warm and easy.

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

They didn't need to.

Jimmy turned in Scott's arms and tilted his head up. Scott's hand brushed gently against the scarf still around his neck.

The bruises underneath were already fading.

This time there was no fear in Scott's touch.

Only care.

Only a quiet reminder that he remembered.

Scott had been careful. Softer.

He asked before feeding now.

He cleaned the bites properly.

He checked how Jimmy was feeling almost obsessively sometimes.

At first Jimmy had found it a little ridiculous.

"Scott, I am capable of walking to the kitchen myself."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Completely sure?"

"Scott."

Now it had become something they both laughed about.

Because beneath all of Scott's worrying was something Jimmy hadn't felt in a long time.

He felt cared for. Seen. Loved.

And Jimmy, in return, had started speaking up.

When he was tired, he said so.

When something hurt, he told Scott.

When he needed help, he asked for it.

Neither of them were pretending anymore.

It wasn't perfect yet.

Some days were still awkward. Some conversations were still difficult. Sometimes Scott still caught himself pulling away when things changed too quickly. Sometimes Jimmy still expected the worst.

But now they talked about it.

And somehow that made all the difference.

Because healing wasn't pretending nothing bad had happened.

Healing was choosing to move forward anyway.

That evening, they sat together on the couch again.

The room was dim and quiet, lit only by the soft glow of the fireplace and whatever film Jimmy had picked this time.

About halfway through it, Jimmy had somehow ended up practically lying on top of Scott.

Not that Scott was complaining.

One arm was wrapped securely around Jimmy's waist while the other rested on his shoulder.

Jimmy's wings were spread slightly, draped over both of them like a blanket.

Scott absentmindedly ran his fingers through Jimmy's hair.

Jimmy nearly fell asleep from it.

“Comfortable?” Scott asked softly.

“Mhm.”

“Good movie?”

“Mhm.”

“Are you actually watching it?”

“…maybe.”

Scott chuckled.

Jimmy smiled against his shoulder.

For a little while, they just sat there.

No arguments. No pretending. No loneliness.

Just the two of them.

Together.

Eventually Jimmy shifted slightly and looked up at him.

“Hey, Scott?”

“Hm?”

“I’m glad you stayed.”

Scott's heart broke and healed all at once.

Because two weeks ago Jimmy hadn't been sure he would.

Scott pressed a kiss against his forehead.

“There was never a world where I wasn't going to stay, petal.”

Jimmy smiled.

This time, he believed him.

And as Scott pulled him a little closer and Jimmy settled comfortably against him, neither of them noticed the film ending.

Neither of them cared.

For the first time in a long time, the castle felt like a home again.

For the first time in a long time, change didn't feel like loss.

It felt like healing. It felt like hope. It felt like a beginning.