krystalkatzficz | When Winter Ends part 2

“Are you going out, Master?” Nino asked as he cleaned the large table. The boy was dressed in a light grey outfit. His hair, long enough to reach passed his waist now, was tied back with a tie though several strands fell about his eyes causing him to frown with irritation whenever he tried to blow them away. It was a sight that Sho often enjoyed watching, more so now than he had before, he liked the way Nino’s nose screwed up in concentration and frustration.

“Yes, there is something that I need to do in town” Sho answered. He would rather stay away from town but unfortunately every so often he had to deal with the annoying humans and vampires that seemed to be wanting to intrude on his land. Nino looked up hopefully and Sho gave a smile “Would you like to come with me? You can go to the shop while I attend to my work”

“I will, thanks” Nino nodded finishing his work before going to his ‘bedroom’ by the fire. It was the same place Nino had placed himself the night he had taken him in. Then there had just been a few potato sacks upon the floor with a tattered blanket but now he had a proper bed with a curtain running across the front to allow him some privacy. Sho had often thought that it was time his boy had a proper bedroom but Nino had never asked. For all that he was a mouthy brat he knew that he was luckier than some. Nino returned wearing a furred cape around his head and shoulders, it was his prized possession Sho had brought it him for him a few years ago when there had been another bitter winter and he had taken care of it since that first day.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, master…” Nino grinned bobbing his head up and down enough to disturb the hood from around his head and Sho smiled fixing it easily before pinching his nose. His thoughts from earlier about bedding his boy were in his mind with so much force at the nearness of them that he almost felt breathless. Such a thing was impossible as he didn’t need to breathe, but he could feel the heat flowing from the boy and washing over his cold skin. Nino was looking up at him with his honey coloured eyes, the whites having long since lost the unhealthy yellow tinge, his cheeks were a little flushed now. His tongue poked out of his mouth slowly running around the pink of his lips and Sho was tempted to bend and kiss him. Nino’s head cocked lightly to one side, a smile forming on his pink lips as he whispered;

“Master?”

“Come on, I don’t wish to be long in town” Sho growled breaking the spell it felt he had been under. “Make sure you keep up, I won’t wait for you…”

“Yes, you will master, you always have…” Nino rolled his eyes dramatically and Sho scowled a little and turned sharply on his heel, so he could stalk quickly out of the room to prove his point. Though, his boy was right, he’d often said the words, but he always made sure to wait for Nino when he needed to. Nino laughed behind him and Sho made sure not to look back though he noted that he had already slowed his steps to allow the young human to catch up with him.

They were both silent as they made their way down the long winding track that led to town. The sun was covered by grey clouds and he was sure that there would be a biting chill in the air that Nino was protected from in his cloak. A bird sang somewhere to his right and he heard the faint sound of a rabbit’s heart hammering in the forest but otherwise they were alone in this part of the country-side. He often wondered how Nino had found his way to his home, it was quite far from the beaten track after all and if he had come through the town he would have learnt to stay away from him. Nino never spoke of his life before however, including the time just before arriving at his doorstep and Sho had never wanted to force him.

War was a common theme in their lives and he suspected that Nino was one of the many victims of that. His family likely killed, and his home destroyed, it was unlikely that his boy had any family still living. Nobody had ever come looking for him after all.

Although they weren’t welcome in town they were a familiar sight to the townsfolk now and nobody stayed to stare at them as they entered the town that was only a few houses more than a village. The fountain at the centre was full of people gathering water for the day, he could smell the sickness on them, and Sho was glad that he and Nino had their own. The thought of Nino having to surround himself by these people everyday was enough to cause him to shudder in disgust. His hand was firm against Nino’s shoulder as he pushed him towards the general store. Sho ate very little in the way of human food but Nino needed food and he suspected that they would soon be caught in another harsh winter. The sky was promising bad weather and he could smell it when the wind blew.

“Get as much food as you can. Food that will keep…” He said somewhat needlessly, Nino wasn’t stupid and had managed the daily running of the household for years, but his boy nodded with a smile holding out his hand for money which Sho readily gave from a small coin purse he kept around his neck.

“Yes master, will I meet you here when I am done?”

“Come to the tavern, my business will keep me there longer than yours will…” His hand lightly moved from Nino’s shoulder up against his neck until he was brushing a finger lightly against his cheek. Nino almost shivered at the touch, but he fought it easily biting hard on his lip. “Any change you may use on yourself…”

“Thank-you…I will see you soon, master…”

“Don’t be long, and don’t speak to strangers…”

“Nobody is stranger than you master…” Nino quipped before bobbing his head with a grin and running to the store. Sho watched him go with a smile and then sighed, brushing his fingers through his hair and squaring his shoulders as he prepared himself to deal with the other vampire that was waiting for him in the inn.

TBC

A/N: I hope that this is okay ^_^