𝕸𝖘. 𝕴𝖓𝖋𝖆𝖒𝖔𝖚𝖘 (𝕻𝖆𝖑𝖆𝖞𝖊 𝕽𝖔𝖞𝖆𝖑𝖊 - 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 1)

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕰𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 (8) - Revised

Waking up to a feather light kiss above a wounded shoulder and the adorable grin of the one called my promised is something I could most definitely get used to. Just waking up next to him in general is something I could get used to. This is the first time I can truly recall where I've gone to bed and woken up with the wanted company of someone close to me. His dark hair is all over the place, slight curls flat against his forehead, day old eyeliner smudged around his eyes. I find that this unfamiliar intimacy is something I could come to crave, as the action fills me with a warmth I've never truly felt before. When Remington notices that I woke up, he sits up and places a pair of black glasses on his face. He's so cute with his messy hair and rumpled clothing.

He laughs lightly, the corners of his eyes crinkling ever so slightly behind clear lenses. "Good morning. They're just glasses, sweetness."

'Good morning my dear. You look lovely today.' The demon says, and blood races to my cheeks.

"Good- good morning to you bo-both. That- that doesn't m-mean you don't look cu- cute in them Remy." I refute, jutting out my bottom lip slightly in a half-pout.

I wonder, briefly, why it is that he even needs glasses. I'd always thought vampirism meant the lack of physical ailments upon turning.

"Stop being mushy and get out here already. It's noon!" A knock on the door, thankfully still ajar, and a laugh from Sebastian is heard and then there is nothing but silence from outside.

"Is- Is there a particular r-reason Sebastian doesn't h-hate me a-anymore?" I ask, adjusting the shoulder of my overly large black sweater so that it doesn't rub against my injury.

"He never hated you in the first place, sweetness. Emerson told us what you did to get him back here, which was terribly reckless of you. Sebastian saw what you did for Emerson, and the state you were in when we finally found you. You could have saved yourself, but you put Emerson first and Sebastian knows this. He finally understands that you're not going to hurt us, so I guess he's accepted you into the family. He'll have to get over how much of a trouble magnet you are." Remington grins.

"I have, and I will I suppose. Now, hurry the fuck up!" Sebastian's voice carries from down the hallway once more, and I watch in silent, fond observance as Remington rolls his eyes.

"Guess I forgot to spell the room." He murmers offhandedly, the soft tone of his voice like a spring breeze through a field of freshly bloomed roses.

I find myself loving the sound of his voice, of his laugh. Loving the way the corners of his eyes crinkle as he smiles, or the way he dances along to a David Bowie song on the radio.

Yawning, I reach up a hand to cover my mouth, still exhausted from today's events, or was it yesterday? I don't exactly know what time it is. Grinning, Remington wraps his arms around me and suddenly I'm laying next to him once more, despite Sebastian's wishes. Remington's skin is cold, his gentle touch sending shivers down my spine, though I didn't expect him to be warm. Whether I wanted it to or not, once a sting of pain travels through my shoulder, I remember the events of yesterday. I remember the fun I had with Emerson, how he made me laugh and feel safe. How they all make me feel safe. How happy it made me when it felt like I had a family seeing me off from home. Then I remember the pain. The pain of my skin being ripped into by feral fangs. The physical and emotional pain of ripping the souls out of living things once more.

'You can talk to us about anything, my dear.' The demon prompts, deep voice a gentle promise to listen.

After a moment, I relent. It would be nice to be able to talk about my feelings, to not be afraid to be truly vulnerable with someone.