Love at Random

Christmas with the Vampires

"Hell hath arrived." Was the very first thing Marius heard when he opened the door to find Bolin, his ex, backed by furiously cascading flurries. It seemed to be all the introduction Bolin felt he needed as he pushed past the stunned man into the bright apartment.

"Indeed it has." Marius finally said after many moments. When he turned to examine the man he hadn't seen in hundreds of years, he found Bolin's nose scrunched as he sniffed the air.

"It smells like Christmas threw up in here" Bolin commented, shrugging off his coat. Ah yes, the stove he thought as he slinked down the hall to his kitchen.

"Who do I have to kill for telling you where I live?" he asked as he turned off the simmering potpourri mixture filled with cinnamon, cloves, and the like.

"Oh please, I have my ways." Bolin scoffed, leaning on the door frame. Marius hoped it gave out on him. Given the state of his apartment, chances are it actually might.

"Of course you do. I'm sure your hoard of whores has grown demonstrably" he quipped, pushing past Bolin as he headed back down the hall toward the living room.

"You've certainly gotten bolder," Bolin said looking around at the way vibrant colors touched every inch of the room.

"Yeah, well, I don't much give a fuck about your opinion anymore," he said placing a pillow in his lap as he sat down on the couch.

Bolin simply chuckled muttering "Case in point" under his breath. He made a move to sit next to Marius but when Marius flashed his fangs he thought better of it. He instead sat on a recliner in the corner which he regretted immediately. It was like every spring in it was either in love with him or had a personal vendetta against him. Clearly a torture device in disguise.

After many moments of glaring at Bolin expectantly, Marius finally said "It seems I have to ask the question directly so Bolin why are you in my apartment?"

"There's going to be a blizzard and I don't think I'd make a good popsicle," he joked. Marius didn't find it funny.

"And you thought you'd seek shelter with your dear friend, Marius?"

"Exactly."

"Except we aren't friends at all and the hundreds of years that I haven't seen you haven't been long enough."

Bolin had to fight to keep the pained expression from surfacing. "Ok, that's fair. We aren't friends but we could be."

"How do you figure?" Marius asked sinking back into the couch and crossing his arms over his chest.

Bolin beamed brightly and waved "Hi! I'm Bolin. I live about 3 hours away from here. I have 2 cats and a condo. I've owned about 6 businesses in my lifetime and they're all still thriving. I believe I'm at least a billionaire but I would have to have someone check-"

"Of course you are," Marius scoffed.

"Are you seriously angry at me for being successful?" he asked aghast knowing that despite the looks of his apartment Marius had to be wealthier than him.

"No Bolin, you're not the only one with money. I am angry at you for a great many things. That doesn't even top the list."

"Well then, out with it. We have nothing better to do." Bolin said, resting his elbows on his knees and waiting for Marius to speak. But he didn't speak, he just stared. They stared at each other without saying anything for many minutes and then Marius got up and sat on the floor with his back facing Bolin. Bolin got up automatically and sat with his back pressed against Marius without being prompted. It was like muscle memory even after all this time. "It's been 300 years and you're still-"