~Achilles~
"I'm surprised you're still here." Klara said to me in the cafeteria of the hospital. She was speaking to me between sips of her blood packet, and eating away at her Cesar salad that had way too much dressing on it. Sure, at first glance she looked like Xander with the brown skin, freckles, green eyes, along with similar features but there were so many more differences. Klara was lighter than Xander by a shade or two, her freckles were barely there and they didn't smile the same way. Klara barely smiled at all, just a quick upturn of her lips whereas Xander grinned so easily. Being around her made me miss Xander even more.
Klara continued chewing obnoxiously on a crouton and I made sure not to make eye contact with her too familiar green eyes. "Lots of vamps don't stick around when their partner goes into regeneration. It's too painful. And yet, here you are, visiting everyday for the past month. My brother is prone to infatuation as much as he doesn't want to admit it. But, maybe you're not as bad as I thought you were. I mean, sure, you seem nice." Klara shrugged. "You have that whole rugged good looks thing going for you," and here she hesitated. "Maybe you are nice."
Nearly everyday was like this with Klara, her expecting me to disappoint her or let Xander down and yet what seemed to bother her was that I was as dedicated as I said I was. She was strange, and complicated but I couldn't dislike her, not with those eyes, anyways. I let out a dry laugh. "Maybe I am nice, but, honestly Klara, I don't see how anyone could see their partner in a coma and just leave. I'm not that kind of guy. If anything, you're nothing like I expected."
The past month had shown me that Klara was, simply put, a ferocious vampire. She fought tooth and nail for everything she wanted and so she got it. The first week after Xander's collapse, I'd been useless, unable to think, or even function without him. But, Klara had been eerily composed. She organized his mortgage payments, investments, charities, talking to Huntington U to establish some kind of extended leave, spoke with the Galatrickiton composition team all while keeping Xander's parents calm. She'd managed to do all that while securing a month by month condo lease across the street from the hospital, and organizing consultations from the best vampire regeneration doctors to see Xander.
She was leaps and bounds more efficient than I was. I had been there when she was making her calls and keeping things organized but my mind was constantly fixed on the past few days with Xander before his collapse. Stuck on when everything had been perfect.
It was only after all the dust had settled that I saw that careful composure buckle at the seams. Maybe it was when her voice broke when she talked to Xander during her visits, or the way her eyes sometimes glazed over when we visited Xander's apartment to clean things up.
The cafeteria of the hospital was normally pretty quiet, most other patients had blood transfusions or blood rejection issues but Xander's family and I were there every day without fail.
I got up from my seat to throw away my mostly uneaten food. Everything here was so incredibly bland, and my turkey melt tasted like cardboard. "I think I'm going to visit Xander and I'll see you tomorrow."
Klara nodded, but then said something softly, "All this time, and I never asked how the two of you met."
I hesitated, sitting back down, and rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly. "It's kind of embarrassing."
"Oh?" Klara's tone warmed with interest, the small smile appearing and disappearing just as fast.
"A bar," I whispered, "well, more like a gay bar."
Klara blinked, before twirling her fork around her salad. "So, a one night stand that became more? A little spontaneous for Xander..."
Blushing furiously, I looked away, realizing just how embarrassing it was. Well, of course people would think meeting at a bar meant it was a one night stand. Lying and say we met in an elevator would've been so much easier. I cleared my throat. "No. I got wasted and Xander helped me home and that's when I realized he was...when I realized I was his. Just like a lightening bolt sensation , and I was so drunk but I still knew. No one would compare to him."
Klara was watching me thoughtfully. She sighed dramatically. "You are nice." Klara huffed like she wished I wasn't. Shaking her head she waved. "I'll see you tomorrow, then, Achilles."
I waved back at her making my way out of the cafeteria and to Xander's room.
#
Every day for me was the same. I went to work, came back to the hospital to sit by Xander's side, spending most nights as a wolf there and all my other moments were spent talking with Xander's family and doctors about his condition. Xander's parents were there as much as I was but at different hours, they normally stayed with him during the day and by the time I got off from work they'd go home to relax somewhat. From what I understood Henry was staying with Amma. At first Henry had been staying in a hotel, but eventually broke down and said he couldn't bear to be alone.
He seemed like he was wasting away on the hospital bed, looking shrunken and small and like someone else. Xander still had the black veins on his face and I felt like every day it was getting harder and harder to come to terms with the fact he could never wake up.
I sat by the edge of Xander's bed, fitting our fingers together, and speaking softly.
"Not exactly what either of us were imagining for our six months, huh? " I said quietly, wishing so badly things could be different. "I don't know if maybe you can hear me deep down there somewhere." My voice wavered, "I love you so much and I'll be here everyday waiting for you to wake up. So, you can take your time and get better and I'll still be here. I never thought I could love someone so much, Xander. You've become the person I'd feel lucky to share my life with. And Iâ" my voice broke as I started crying, hot tears running down my face. "I just want you to be okay. I'm so sorry if this is my fault." I squeezed his hand with both of mine, sniffling noisily but trying to compose myself.
I moved away grabbing a tissue box off his beside table. Klara and I had to change out the boxes everyday. Whoever visited Xander normally ended up crying. A lot. Even I'd never cried so much in my life, probably because I never felt so helpless.
Mom, Harrison and Xander's mom kept telling me I couldn't have known and it wasn't my fault. But, I saw the way Xander's vampire friends, and Henry and Klara looked at me. If we hadn't met or at the very least if Xander hadn't taken my blood, none of this would have happened. And I agreed with them. As much as I liked to pretend my being a shifter and Xander being a vampire didn't matter, we weren't the same species and we never would be.
I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face before stripping and shifting. It was easier to sleep comfortably as a wolf rather than a human in Xander's room. I'd gotten a small rug that was on the floor at the foot of Xander's bed.
There were other small changes in the past month. New blackout curtains, some shelves put in with photographs, Xander's knick knacks and other personal touches. It didn't feel like a hospital room anymore but it also didn't feel anything like a home.
The one thing I'd struggled to bring from Xander's apartment was the handmade music box he'd given me. I wanted so desperately to wind it up but something was stopping me.
I curled up on my rug on the floor, distracted by the smell of the hospital and the smell of Xander that was all wrong. Somehow I made it to sleep.
#
A fitful rest and a few nightmares later, I woke up to go through my day like a zombie. Every morning I would stop by my apartment to shower and head to work. Some days Klara would bring me breakfast because she claimed she couldn't have her brother's boyfriend wasting away.
After work I went back to the hospital, but realized something was wrong as I walked down the halls. My walk became a brisk gait as I felt like I needed to get to the room immediately.
In front of Xander's room my eyes locked on someone I never expected to see again.
Klara's arms were crossed over her chest as she glared up at Corey, Xander's ex, who I felt like kept on intruding on our lives.
Corey was standing there and holding a bouquet of yellow roses and waving them about slightly as he argued with Klara. The first time I'd encountered him as a wolf I didn't take too much stock in what he looked like. But, now I saw that he was tall and muscular, and I wasn't sure why it surprised me that he was mixed. A lot lighter than Xander, with dark brown eyes and short fuzz for hair in waves. Reasonably attractive, I guess, but what truly made me recognize him was his scent. And the fact that my wolf marked him as someone who was a danger to my mate.
"What do you mean I don't get to see him?" Corey grumbled to Klara. I was standing a few feet away but neither of them had noticed me. "You know Alex and I were together for two years, Klara. As soon as I saw the message boards the first thing I did was buy flowers to at least be able to visit him."
"No," Klara snapped in a dark voice. "You don't think I know the kind of shit you pulled?" She pointed a shaking, threatening finger in his face. "I wasn't born yesterday and why in the fuck do you think I'd let you visit him? You don't get to have it both ways, Corey. Now, just get out of here before Xander's boyfriend gets back, I don't want this upsetting him."
But Corey wouldn't let up. "This is the third straight day I've been trying to visit. It's not even like Alex has to know I visited or the guy he's dating. Just give me a few minutes with Alex." Corey was nearly pleading.
Klara started to raise her voice, and whatever composure I expected her to have started to fizzle away. "Get the hell out of here, Corey. If you try to come back, I swear to Godâ"
Corey raised his voice as well, his deep voice booming across the nearly empty hall. "You were always such a bitchâ"
"Oh?!"
"Yeah!"
Klara walked right up to him, less than half his size and radiating anger. "What are you going to do, huh? Are you going to hit me? You're used to doing that, right? You fucking piece of discarded shit with an ego that's bigger than you fat, blown up head. I know what you did! And, if you think I'll let you walk into my baby brother's room while he's defenceless, and half-dead you have got another thing coming for you."
Corey reared back his hand and I ran forward, pushing myself between Klara and him. My instincts swooped in and stopped the punch by holding up my forearm.
There was a moment of confusion as both Klara and Corey noticed me.
"Oh, Achillesâ" Klara began in a devastated voice, pushing out from behind me.
But, Corey was talking at the same time. "What the hell?"
I shook my head. "You don't get to be here for this." The anger I felt was bigger than me, and it ballooned out from all the anxiety and stress I'd felt over the past month, and all the relationship problems me and Xander had had because of his ex.
"Listenâ I don't know who you are." Corey started.But, my growling stopped him. His eyes widened as he realized who I was.
I leaned into him, clenching my fists at my sides and trying to control my breathing. White hot rage was making me see red. My words came out hard and clipped. Glacial. "I need you to leave. Right. Now."
He tried to talk but my growling was too loud, and I felt my face partially shifting as my canines dropped. I wanted to do terrible, inhuman things to him and my wolf brain was so close to unleashing itself.
I clenched my hands, feeling my nails cutting deep into my skin. Blood was hot and wet in my hand but that didn't stop me from wanting to be violent.
Of course Corey was a vampire and when he saw my hand he took a step back. His face contorted in anger before he scowled and threw the roses on the ground. Stumbling, he took a step back. "I care about him, too."
"You don't hurt the people you care about." I said around a mouthful of canines, watching him walk away.
Klara was immediately touching my bloody hand. "Woah, are you okay?"
"You know about Corey," was all I could get out. Xander had told me he'd only ever told Elle. And then me, and then his psychologist.
Klara hesitated, bringing me into Xander's room and ushering me into the bathroom. She pulled my hand into the sink, turning on the tap as a rush of cool water doused my hand.
"He doesn't know I know," Klara said softly. "And, it's better that way. Ma and Pa don't know and if he wants to tell them that's up to him, not me. I just kind of connected the dots after his breakup."
Klara left my hand running under the cold water and took out a first aid kit from a cabinet, getting out a bandaid. She turned off the tap, continuing quietly as she put the band aid on my cut. "I get it, you're a big bad wolf. But, you need to calm down. Take a deep breath or something."
I exhaled deeply, trying to calm down, and watching her fingers move quickly. They didn't look anything like Xander's; too small and bony. "Thank you."
"Well, thanks for defending me, too." Klara said, throwing out the wrappers.
An awkward silence spread between us as we left the bathroom, the both of us watching Xander's bed. It was weird, every time I got back from work I would hope he would wake up. And then he didn't, that never changed.
He was there, as disconcertingly still as usual and my chest ached seeing him there. Xander, but not Xander. Walking over to his bedside, I picked up the music box, moving it around in my hands.
It was more than symbolic, completely representative of my relationship with Xander. It was this fragile thing that had the ability to be beautiful. And it had been, I hadn't even realized how much until Xander had collapsed. Love could be heartbreaking in the same moment that it could be everything. And somehow the past six months had made Xander that thing. Yeah, there was some magic involved between us, but if I had to be honest any relationship probably needed some.
So, holding the music box and knowing I didn't have Xander to share it with hurt in a way I couldn't even begin to describe.
"This is the nicest thing anyone has ever given me." I said in a choked up voice, showing Klara the smooth wooden sculpture of the midnight black wolf. The wolf was poised on its paws and howling at an invisible moon, snout raised skyward. It was on top of a simple box stand which had a little wind up feature.
"I just wishâ" I hesitated, inhaling sharply. "Maybe if we never met, he'd be okay."
"Don't say that." Klara interjected just as quietly.
I shook my head, unable to stop feeling emotional. "There was so much we were supposed to do. Valentine's Day was great and then bamâthis happens. I just wish I could tell him I'm sorry and I love him." I wound up the music box for the first time in over a month, hearing the gears clicking away before the notes started pealing.
But, before the music even started something changed. My silver cuff started to shimmer. As the notes of our song began to play my cuff started to pulsate in time with it. Then, that same coldness from the day I met Xander came back to engulf my body. It was like a cold winter breeze had hooked into my veins and I shuddered, exhaling cold fog.
Klara's eyes were wide in alarm but I couldn't speak to reassure her. I was suddenly so cold my teeth were chattering. Klara raised her hands to touch my but her fingers twitched in hesitation like she didn't know what to do. She was talking but the music was just so loud.
This was a breakdown, I had to be having a breakdown. Or maybe this was all an elaborate mental hallucination. Yes, that he to be it. The music was swelling louder and louder and Xander's body was changing on the bed.
The black veins that had been bulging from his face started to get smaller and smaller until they completely disappeared and Xander's brown skin was clear once again.
And then his eyes opened.
#
Overall thoughts?
Kind of a packed chapter, does anyways want clarifications?
Thoughts on Klara?