T H I R T E E N

A few cuts and bruises here and there and a slightly damaged shoulder was all Iris got away with, as reported by the doctor. No major injuries which relieved Kai to the greatest.

That night when Finch's party was gambled by the clouds and a brewing storm, Iris and Kai were peacefully inside a warm welcoming room sitting in silence.

Because Iris rejected the rule of Kai staying in a different room, the vampire sat on the floor leaning against the bed where Iris's legs were. Technically, he didn't need sleep, but he was invited into the bed.

Painted oceans with sinking boats stared down at the prince while he gazed back up at the art on the ceiling. If he wasn't so drowned in the depth of their situation he would've laughed at the art. He never believed in pirates and a great beast that conquered the sea, yet there they were painted right above him.

The quietness was both relaxing and loud. Though Iris enjoyed its presence Kai always felt words could replace it. He has been thinking about what to say but every time he opened his mouth all his scripts would evaporate and he was left clueless.

"Genevene."

Kai looked up from the floor surprised as Iris broke the silence.

"The girl, her name was Genevene."

Unaware of what to say, Kai turned his head and laid the side of his face on the bed where Iris looked down to connect their eyes.

"Kind of pointless to still grief about, huh?"

Kai shook his head, "You always did have a soft spot for vampires."

Finally cracking a smile, Iris patted the spot next to him so he could talk to Kai without rolling over on his injured shoulder. Less hesitatant this time, the vampire stood up and walked around the bed.

"I guess that makes you living proof." Iris joked as Kai sat down and copied his position, laying sideways and head on the pillows.

"It's not wrong."

"No, but even you get mad when I'm a little too nice to you guys."

"I don't get mad just, I always worry your kindness will get you somewhere bad one of these days. But I also hope it'll bring quite the opposite."

"What you call kindness I call being optimistic for you vampires. You're all gloom and see no future for yourselves, tell me I'm wrong."

Kai looked away from Iris's hazel gaze and picked at the sewing on the dark blue quilt. "Not all of us lost hope. So, you're half wrong."

"Stay one of those many, Kai. If not for you than for me."

The room abruptly illuminated in a quick flash of light, seconds later a boom of thunder rumbled through the sky. The sound of the rain tapping on their window was distant and not of importance until the storm started picking up momentum. Rain turned into hail and the velocity of the wind grew, trees whipped in its path and the sound howled like wolves outside.

Kai glanced over his shoulder at the trembling glass doors to the balcony the room owned. There were curtains shielding their view and Iris was glad he couldn't see the madness they escaped in the nick of time.

But that didn't stop the storm from showing itself to them.

The lights flickered two times but once would've been enough to cause frustration.

"Great," Iris groaned, "a crazy storm is just what we need."

"It'll pass by morning I'm sure." But it didn't quite seem that way.

"Speaking of which, big day tomorrow," Iris sounded bluntly excited, "are you going to stay here?"

Kai glanced down when he realized his was talking about staying on the bed. He quickly sat up. "I'm-no. I'm not sleeping with you."

Iris gave him a blank stare, "You say it like I meant something other than sleeping."

"What? I-I don't mean-I was not thinking that."

"Good. Then," Iris tugged on the covers which made Kai shuffle off the bed, then pulled them over his head. The vampire blinked at him several times with confusion before moving back to a black chaise lounge chair and sat on it. He poked at the buttons crawling up one of the sides as he listened to the rainfall dance outside the balcony. It was nature's melody but Iris's steady heartbeat was Kai's lullaby to a relaxing night.

††

"Ow."

"I'm not even putting pressure on it."

"It still-ow! Kai!" Iris jerked his arm away from the vampire which only aggravated his wrist more. He held it to his chest while Kai crossed his arms.

"I can't help you if you're going to be a baby about it."

"Help me? You were going to break my whole arm examining my wrist. I'm human you know."

Kai parted his lips but an impatient sigh left instead of words.

"Don't complain if you're going to whine when someone helps you-or tries to."

Iris looked down and pouted, such a soft face for a man with a reputation like his. "Sorry." He mumbled.

Kai nodded his head, "Good. Now I'm-"

"Wait wait!" Iris pushed down the duvet past his waist and sat up straight. He tugged on the sleeve of his shirt and glanced up at Kai. "Can you help me?" The white fabric hung off his hand like his shirt was too big for him.

It quite astonished the vampire at how fickle Iris was. He held a grumpy status and lived a somewhat care free life. While many assumed Kai would be the gloomy one, he was the positivity in Iris's life; and vise versa.

So seeing the prince look so vulnerable made Kai's heart skip a beat, as unexpected as he himself found it.

"You're a handful." Iris extended his arm out for Kai while he scooted closer with a grateful smile.

"You love it."

The vampire scoffed as he gently helped shrug the prince's shirt off.

"Right."

"Can you check my shoulder, too? I won't complain this time." Kai gave Iris a look, "okay I'll complain less. Just don't touch it so hard."

"Saying that makes me want to."

"Shut up." Iris angled his body so his shoulder was exposed properly for Kai. He flinched lightly when the bandage was ripping off and the cold air invaded his wound, but when Kai ever so gingerly feathered it with his fingers, it felt good.

Soothing, even. For the touch however. Not the emotions.

Kai sighed softly as he felt the wound out. Before he could mention anything Iris spoke first.

"If you apologize again I'm going to hit you."

Kai drew back his hand. A playful yet pitying smile crawled onto his lips.

"Is that a threat?"

Iris glanced over his shoulder, "It's a promise."

"Then..I'm sorry this had to happen. I should've protected you." Kai looked up from the injury he patched back up and into Iris's unimpressed hazel eyes.

"I handled it, Kai. What's the point of training if you're the one doing all the work? Yes, the vampire was different from what I'm used to but the outcome wasn't."

"I understand that. But-"

"But nothing. I'm fine. You really want to make it up to me, go find out if they have green tea."

The vampire looked over at their door and then back. "I don't know if I'm allowed to wander."

"Say it's at my request if someone asks."

Not wanting to disappoint and certainly needing to make it up to the prince, Kai nodded his head reluctantly and stood up from the bed. He slipped his coat on that was draped over a chair and opened the door.

Once alone, Iris placed a hand on his shoulder and frowned. He didn't want to show how much the injury really hurt because seeing the guilt on Kai's features pained him more. While he was out he decided a shower with its hot water was the best medicine.

He tossed his legs over the side of the bed and stood up with a pleasant sigh. Stretching his limbs felt nice, especially after sleeping on a different mattress. It might've been odd that he noticed the difference but Iris knew he couldn't wait to get back to his own luxury.

††

Hectic. Hectic was the perfect word to describe the halls in Finch's mansion. Humans scurried from one room to another completing who knows what chore and doing impressive multitasking, it surprised the vampire to the greatest.

Kai breathed a sigh of relief when he shut their bedroom door and leaned against it with his head up. Luckily they bought the excuse of Iris sending him out, but he still got dirty looks. Normal.

When he looked down his body instinctively jolted in a surprised way. Iris was staring at him with a tilt of his head, like a puppy, while he sat buttoning up his shirt.

"You look like you just escaped death."

Kai opened his mouth to complain about the chaos outside but he just shook his head and pushed himself off the door.

"Wouldn't be my first. Anyway, here you go." He held out a black mug to Iris, its contents steaming with flavored tea.

Iris stopped buttoning up his shirt, leaving three loose, and took the mug with the same pleasant smile he always wore when he came face to face with his favorite beverage.

"You're the best, Kai."

The vampire hovered in front of him to watch him try the hot drink. He smiled when pleasing his prince was a success.

"Did you take a shower?" As he turned to sit next to Iris he ran his fingers through his lightly moist hair. Iris's eyes fluttered shut out of instinct and he subconsciously leaned his head closer to his touch. Resulting to him laying his head of Kai's shoulder.

"Yes. Hey, keep doing that. It feels good." His voice was softer than usual, alluring almost.

Kai blinked at him in surprise, his hand freezing in Iris's hair, unsure what to do.

Again, them being so close willingly and maybe just because they wanted to, sped up their heartbeats. Or at least just Kai's, which began to worry him.

That wasn't normal and he didn't like how frequent it was starting to happen.

Slowly, he moved his hand down and repeated the action of combing his hair with his fingers. His usual scent of vanilla was altered by Finch's shampoo. It actually smelt minty. Kai would flinch and freeze ever time Iris would take a drink of his tea but then he'd relax and continue like he was wired to do so.

Making Iris feel good made himself content, so he didn't stop until the prince was on the edge of dozing off. As much as he would prefer him to rest more, time was something they weren't good friends with. And there was a ghost auction needing to be investigated.