Bonds [Zora/Savvy]

Michael closed his eyes.

The pool was cold, and close to the ground. The edge lapped up over a beach of sand, which made it seem even more expensive than the fact that it was his family's personal pool could have. The clear blue watter lapped against his chest, which was now bare. It brough the blood from his body into the tide of the water, ebbing and flowing out over the water around them.

The blood came from the black barbed wire that coiled itself around and inside the skin of his torso, binding his broken wings to his back, a sight that seemed hideous, especially in comparison to the serene and angelic smile he wore, under the haloe of blonde tresses that symbolized the serious change in character he now exhibited.

As he stood, the water carried more blood around him, flowing into the depths of the pool, like some tainted aura. It reached her only to prove how very real the moment was. His illusions had failed him.

This gave him no reason to smile... his illusions failed, his body crushed, his secrets revealed... he should be broken, in tears, begging...

But no. He smiled. Because after years of pain, years of uselessness... someone had taken the moment to care for him

Rose had to fight her stomach as her husband's blood flowed through the water. Right now though, she couldn't focus on herself. How long had he been hiding this from her? How long had he had to suffer alone? It wasn't right. She moved closer, and put a hand oh his chest, careful to avoid the sharp barbed wire that was impaling his otherwise flawless skin.

"Why?" she whispered, her breath sounding hoarse even to her own ears. "You said you did this to yourself?" She could feel tears overflowing from her eyes. Had she done something wrong, to make him think he couldn't trust her with this. She frowned. It was true that they hadn't known each other very long, but she thought that they were friends, at the very least. And friends could trust each other to help each other.

She looked up at this new man, wondering how to help. He didn't look anything like what she had gotten used to, but she knew it was the same person inside. And he was alone, and in pain. She couldn't let this continue. He had to know that she was there for him.

Rose shook her head, feeling new tears welling up in her eyes. He was doing all this because his own family would hunt him down otherwise? There were so many things wrong with that. She sighed, and stepped closer. This brief moment of intimacy had broken any barriers that had been separating them. She reached up with one hand, and brushed away a strand of his soft golden hair.

"Why would your family hunt you?" she asked quietly. "Family is supposed to, support each other. I know your family isn't exactly orthodox, but. . ." She looked up into his eyes with an air of concern. "You shouldn't have to do this. It isn't fair."

She reached up to wipe the tears from her eyes. He must think her weak, to be crying like this over something that he did everyday. But to see him like that. . . it tore her apart. And to think that he had to do this just to get by. . . it made her sick.

Rose shook her head. It still didn't make sense to her. Of course, she didn't know the slightest thing about vampire culture. Up until a few weeks ago, she hadn't even know that they existed. She wondered how long it would take her to know everything she should about her new husband. A horrible thought hit her, and she opened her mouth. She was afraid to find out the answer, but she had to know.

"I-if mixed blood vampires are taboo," she said quietly, "then why does your family insist on you marrying a human? W-what's going to happen to me?"

She looked up at him with worried eyes. She didn't believe that he would ever hurt her - he was far too gentle for that. And he still looked so hurt, that she wished she had have waited to bring it up. Although he had once again shielded her eyes from his true pain, she knew now that it was there. She moved closer to him, but didn't touch him. She was afraid that she would brush up against that now-invisible barbwire.

Rose closed her eyes. Perhaps she shouldn't have asked after all. At least he had answered her honestly, rather than trying to hide the truth. She took a deep breath, and opened her eyes to look at him again. His words echoed in her head. An endless meal. . . she shivered. But he hadn't tried to drink from her yet. He hadn't even shown a desire to. She smiled, deciding to keep her trust in him, even if it proved to be a mistake later.

"I see," she said simply. "I guess that makes sense, then." She lifted her head to look up at the moon that hovered above them. "I should probably get to bed soon," she said with a sigh. Although she still wasn't tired, she knew that she would regret it in the morning if she didn't allow herself to get at least a little sleep.

In the morning, she would have to figure out what to do with this new information. She couldn't approve of him hiding what he was like that, even though he had said it was a necessity. Perhaps once they got to his house, once this honey moon was over, she would be able to convince him to unwrap the barbed wire. His family wouldn't be around then, and only she would see his true self. She yawned. But that would have to wait.

He stepped forward in the water, as he still came closer to her. His eyes softened, as he heard how sharp his own words were. He... he knew he would never hurt her like that... never use her... though... with each passing moment he became more and more desperate for even the smallest taste. A soft reminder of her scent, a thrilled sense of hunger... and then it would pass, growing stronger with each encounter.

"...I wouldn't use you like that. I... I don't have the same needs as them. Mine are different." he said, as he searched for some excuse, some example to set before her, to prove he would not hurt her. He closed his eyes, as he sank a little more into the water.

"I suppose some sleep could always be a good thing..." he muttered, as he moved quickly, out of the pool, taking a dive through the water to clean himself, before he slowly got out, once again clean and free of blood, the dark vampire with black trunks and a firm, flawless marble body.

Rose nodded.
"I know," she whispered. "I trust you. You're probably the only person I do trust." She smiled up at him, hoping he would see the sincerity in her eyes. Another yawn ripped open her mouth, and she covered it with one hand.

Her head worked over what he had said. What did he mean, his needs were different? She would have to remember to ask him in the morning. For now, she needed to get to bed. With a smile on her face, she wondered what tomorrow would have in store for her. Would her beautiful part-vampire take her to a new dazzling location, or show her their home? Her heart began to beat faster in anticipation.

She forced herself to stop thinking about that so that she could rest. She followed Michael back into the building. They walked in near silence; she didn't really know what to say. As they reached her room, she put a hand on his arm. She was relieved to find that she didn't touch any barbed wire.
"I'll see you in the morning, okay?" She almost wished that he wouldn't leave her alone, but she knew better than to ask for it. He would stay if he wanted to, and she would just have to be happy with that.