Peter
Lividdidnotevenbegin to describe Peter’s current state of mind.No, Peter was ready to tear limbs off anyone who even dared look at Theo wrong, and he’d do it real slow too, maybe twist the joints around a bit first until the skin just gave with a wet snapping noise over the backdrop of plenty of screaming.
Last night, after he’d gotten Theo into a fully blissed-out configuration, he’d gone back outside, but unsurprisingly, Bernard had scampered off once more.
That slick glob of gutter slime scratched up more of my bricks.More work for Sage.Once I have dealt with that demon excrement of a man.
Seeing Theo have to deal with that particular flavor of vampire struck Peter as especially unjust.Theodore lacks the circumspect nature and experience of a man who can step back to examine the situation and look for the best possible way to fuck Bernard up in turn.I do not.
After enduring yet more snot and tears last night thanks to Bernard’s mind manipulation, Theo had fallen back to sleep in Peter’s arms, right where he belonged.When he woke, Peter had retreated downstairs to allow Theo some privacy to get ready for the day.
Looking around, he realized the kitchen had changed.The smells were no longer the same, no longer minimal.Food was prepared here now—more than just hot chocolate—and all in all, the room saw more use.
I could get used to it.No, I am getting used to it.
Peter opened his refrigerator and surveyed the contents.Theodore, if given encouragement, followed a surprisingly healthy diet.Peter knew he preferred Greek yogurt and berries for breakfast, so he took the tub of yogurt out and spooned some into a smaller bowl, arranged the raspberries and blackberries on the field of white, then took out the granola and other toppings Theo only used if the fancy struck him.He arranged everything on the kitchen table, then he went about making coffee.
It didn’t take long until he heard Theo’s soft footfalls as he came down the stairs.He walked in with still damp hair, slightly pale after last night, but otherwise looking scrumptious.
“I took the liberty of preparing your breakfast, though I wasn’t sure about the granola.”Peter indicated the small spread.
Theo stood by the kitchen island and eyed the table set for one.“I’m in trouble, aren’t I?”
“If you fail to eat your breakfast, you might be.”Peter aimed for a light, jovial tone.
Theo narrowed his eyes further.Peter wished he were tearing off limbs right now.
“If you want me gone, just say so.”
Hmm, he attempts to lash out when he’s very upset.Poor thing.Like a kitten out of the nest.No, like a raven out of the nest?It doesn’t matter.I braved the snot, I can easily handle this.
“I want you here, Theodore.Indefinitely.”
Theo heard the words, Peter could tell, but his eyes remained mostly narrowed.“I’m tainted.Bernard fed me his blood, you said that yourself.You didn’t know that before last night, and since the day you met me, I’ve brought nothing but trouble to your doorstep.And I’ve been…mean.I know what you said yesterday, and what I said, but that was during sex.People say I love you during sex all the time.You didn’t know about that blood connection then.No hard feelings.Just tell me so I can get going.”
“Theodore?”
Theo straightened, tensed.“Yes?”
“I want youhere.I want you to feel at home.I want you to choose whether it’s a granola kind of morning or not.”
Theo’s head sagged forward as if he’d suffered a defeat.“Yeah, right.”
“Have you changed your mind, Theodore?”
Peter leaned back in his chair, hiding every last scrap of what he was feeling behind a veneer of nonchalance.
Theo sort of hunched in on himself, but just a little before he stopped and looked off to the side instead.“I can look after myself.I’m fine.”
“I know that, and I admire you for it.But you gave yourself to me, and I gave myself to you.Do you wish to go back on that?”
Theo’s body language was enough of an answer: a slight tremble in his jaw, a hand reaching out to grab the counter with white-knuckled force, eyes that couldn’t meet Peter’s.
“I didn’t say that.”It was barely a whisper.
“So don’t.And while you’re at it, get past the idea entirely so we can discuss the issue at hand.”
“Which is?”
