✔️TOUCH | Caius Volturi

9.

BY THE TIME THEY HAD LANDED THE JETS AND DRIVEN THE DISTANCE FROM THE TARMAC TO THE CASTLE, NOAH WAS ABSOLUTELY EXHAUSTED AND CLOSE TO FALLING ASLEEP IN THE BACK SEAT OF A SLEEK BLACK SUV WITH CAIUS AT HIS SIDE AND FELIX BEHIND THE WHEEL. Noah wasn't sure how much he trusted Felix to drive but he was too tired to care and even Felix seemed worn out from the long travel, he didn't have the say childish joy that he usually exhibited. They all just could not wait to be back in the castle where they wouldn't have to do too much for at least a day or so. They were all worn out from the fight and travel, even those who didn't require sleep at all. 

"Don't sleep yet," Caius nudged Noah's thigh with his own and the human instantly sat up straighter, shifting his body further away on instinct alone. He grumbled something incoherent even to his ears and leant against the door. Caius sighed, shaking his head but didn't try and rouse him again. They had just entered the garage of the Volturi castle when Noah slipped into sleep and Felix parked easily in space, perfectly aligned. The other cars parked around them with people unboarding and unpacking their belongings, heading off into the castle to do whatever it was they did when they weren't at work.

Caius glanced out the window and smiled at the sight of Athenodora and Donnatella hand-in-hand waiting for them. The blond king reserved his smiles but he always had one to spare for his lifelong companions. He opened his door and stepped out as quietly as he could to not rouse Noah. Felix had already disappeared, not caring to help them with their bags though Caius knew they could surely handle them. 

"My sweet!" Athenodora cheered at the sight of him and rushed over, grabbing him around the waist in a hug and he let a laugh loose as he hugged her with one arm, his other wrapping around Donnatella's shoulders. They'd been away for only a few days and yet, his wife and her mate acted as though it had been a small eternity. Caius always felt so welcome when he returned home, even before he had a human of his own to make it feel homely. When they pulled back from their hug, Athenodora moved to look around him at the vehicle, searching for Noah and Caius chuckled. 

"We have a sleeping beauty," Caius smiled and rounded the car to find Noah, opening the door carefully and the human jolted where he sat. For a moment, he stared at Caius with wide horrified eyes as though he didn't recognise him but a second later, he relaxed into his natural waking state. Caius couldn't help but wonder what he had thought as he'd awoken-- did all the fear and disgust return to him at that moment? Caius felt bad for the abrupt awakening but he still made the effort to smile, stepping back to allow Noah room to step out into the garage. 

The human was a bit wobbly on his feet but Caius knew better than to reach out to grab him. By the time he'd reached the women, he was walking straight and looking incredibly awake. It was as if he hadn't been asleep at all. Athenodora and Donnatella smiled at the sight of him but made no move to touch him as they had with Caius. Noah dipped his head in greeting and smiled. 

"Hello, how have you two been?" he engaged in small talk, distracting from the slight awkwardness of not being able to touch one another. He ushered for them to walk and Caius rolled his eyes before grabbing the duffel bags from the car and following them into the castle. As ever, the ladies hadn't been doing much in their absence, they'd spent time in the gardens and the library but they had no intention of leaving the castle and so they hadn't. One another's company was all they required.

Noah had taken to talking where he couldn't touch and soon, the awkwardness dissipated. By the time they reached the kings' corridor, Athenodora and Donnatella were ready to leave them once more. There was only so much that could be said while Noah was a walking zombie. As awake as he appeared, his movements and words were sluggish and Caius was sceptically trailing behind him, worried he'd fall down the harsh stone stairs.