His hair was a bit messy, his eyes sparkled in the streetlight, his hands were a bit awkward, and his smile made the room feel warm. It was all a bit strange.
"Can I come in?" Velor's voice, soft and almost hesitant, broke through Zach's trance. Without thinking, Zach stepped aside, his mind a jumble of conflicting emotions. Why was he letting him in?
"It's been a while since I saw your face," Velor said, placing his jacket on a rack.
"Yeah," Zach answered, his voice barely a whisper.
"Oh, this," Velor said, walking towards the coffee table where the scarf lay folded neatly.
"Don't," Zach blurted out, instantly regretting the word. What did he mean by 'don't'? It was stupid.
"Huh?" Velor looked at Zach with surprise and confusion.
"Nothing," Zach mumbled, walking to the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water. He didn't drink it, he chugged it.
"How are you?" Velor walked towards Zach, who was wiping his mouth after chugging the water. "You look... smaller?"
"Is that so?" Zach took a small step back, his heart pounding in his chest. "I've been working lately."
"Make sure you eat properly," Velor said with a gentle smile, patting Zach lightly on the head. "Mortals like you can get sick in the blink of an eye."
Zach said nothing, frozen in place like a statue. His heart pounded in his chest, threatening to burst free. If Velor didn't back off soon, he might actually faint. This was all new to him, so overwhelming. He had never felt this way before.
"I will," Zach finally managed, his voice a raspy whisper. Heat bloomed across his cheeks, and he could almost feel the glow of his blush in the cool night air.
"Well, I just came to see you before I set off," Velor said, his smile soft and warm like a candle's flame.
"What do you mean?" Zach asked, confusion momentarily overriding his nervousness.
"I need to get out of town for a few months," Velor said, his smile fading slightly. "Family business."
"A few months?" Zach echoed, his fingers unconsciously fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
"Yes," Velor confirmed, his eyes never leaving Zach's face. "I might not be able to contact you as well."
"Ok," Zach managed, the word barely audible. His throat constricted, refusing to form any more coherent sounds. The irony wasn't lost on him—he'd been avoiding Velor for two weeks, a fact that now seemed to mock him.
Regret, sharp and unexpected, pierced through him. A few months wasn't long, objectively speaking, but a traitorous part of his mind whispered that it might feel like a year. What? Zach internally recoiled at the thought. Where did that come from? It's not like Velor won't come back…right?
His mind raced, grappling with these conflicting feelings. Why should Velor's absence affect him so much? He'd been doing just fine avoiding him, hadn't he? Yet the prospect of months without contact left an inexplicable hollow feeling in his chest.
Zach stood there, caught between the desire to say more and the fear of what might come out if he opened his mouth again. The night air felt thick with unspoken words and confusing emotions.
"I'll be back, don't worry," Velor assured him, a reassuring smile on his face as he pinched Zach's cheek lightly.
"Who said I was worried?" Zach frowned, crossing his arms defensively. Yes, he was worried, but he wasn't about to admit it.
"It's written all over your face," Velor chuckled. "I'll give you Mable's number, just in case something happens."
"Nothing's going to happen," Zach retorted, impulsively pinching Velor's cheek in return.
"Better safe than sorry," Velor said with a wink. "Also, were you going to bed when I called?"
"Yeah, I was already tucked in," Zach admitted, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks.
"Sorry to interrupt your bedtime," Velor smiled, gently guiding Zach towards the bedroom. "Now, now, go back to sleep."
Vampire strength was no joke. Zach briefly considered resisting, but it was futile. Velor effortlessly guided him back to bed, tucking him in with the same blanket he had kicked away earlier.
"Good night," Velor said softly, patting Zach's head as he always did. He stood to leave, but suddenly, as if possessed, Zach grabbed Velor's hand.
Zach's mind raced. What was he doing? This was dumb—no, stupid. He couldn't fathom why he'd reached out, but it was too late now. His hand remained clasped around Velor's, his heart pounding as he awaited Velor's reaction. It was too late to take it back anyway.
"What's the matter?" Velor asked, As Velor's hand gently enveloped his, Zach felt a surge of panic. This wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to feel this way about anyone, let alone a vampire. Yet here he was, his heart racing at Velor's touch
"Fuck it," Zach thought to himself, "Whatever happens, happens. You're 29, not 15."
"Well, you know..." Zach hesitated, his face flushing again. "If you leave, I won't see you for a few months, right?" He avoided Velor's gaze, feeling like he was living in one of those cheesy romance novels he always found so lame. This wasn't a romantic gesture, he told himself. It was just a normal conversation between friends. Right?
"Yes, that's right," Velor replied, his voice soft and soothing. Even though Zach couldn't see his face, he could sense a smile in his tone.
"Then stay a bit longer…" Zach mumbled to himself, so quietly that even a ghost couldn't hear. He wanted to dig a deep hole and live in it to escape this embarrassing moment. Never in his damn life had he said something like this out of the blue.
"What did you say?" Of course this sly vampire had heard him and dared to ask him to repeat it. Zach wanted to groan. He could smell blood from a mile away, travel at lightning speed, and now he was playing dumb?
"Nothing," Zach muttered, snatching his hand back and turning away. "Just leave already." He burrowed deeper under the covers, hoping Velor would take the hint.
"Come on, say it again," Velor chuckled, his hand gently resting on Zach's shoulder.
"No," Zach replied, his voice muffled by the blanket. There was no way he was repeating those words again, not in a million years.
"Zach?" Velor said gently, it tickled Zach's chest, "say it again"
"Please"
Well, it looks like A Million Years came sooner than Zach expected.
"I said stay a bit longer," he mumbled, his face burning. It wasn't the blanket making him hot this time. It was... well, he wasn't going to acknowledge who.
"Can you say it again while looking at me?" Velor asked, a playful lilt in his voice.
"Of course not, you dumbass" Zach retorted,
Velor burst into laughter, the sound filling the small bedroom. Zach couldn't help but smile, despite his embarrassment. What was so funny, anyway?
"You always do something so unexpected, Zach. I have to give you that," Velor chuckled, his voice still laced with amusement. Zach felt a sudden weight on his arm, a warmth radiating through the blanket.
"What are you doing?" Zach asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. He wanted to move, to see what Velor was up to, but his body refused to obey his commands.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" Velor replied, a playful challenge in his tone.
Zach tried to peek, but the blanket obscured his vision, but all he could see was a blurry figure who leaning on his arms
It was Velor, his flame-like red hair a stark contrast against the white sheets. His cheek rested on Zach's covered arm, a tender gesture that made Zach's heart skip a beat. A foolish grin played on Velor's lips, but it was his eyes that captured Zach's attention - gosh, they were divine. The beautiful colour, the mix of blue and grey, a depth that seemed to draw Zach in. The sight was breathtaking.
"See, now I can see your face better," Velor smiled, his lips curving upwards, his eyes crinkling at the corners. It was all too perfect, too much for Zach to handle.
"S...stop that," Zach stammered, his face burning even hotter. He had lost count of how many times he'd called himself stupid, but his current behaviour was definitely topping the list.
"Stop what?" Velor asked innocently, poking Zach's cheek with a playful grin.
"Stop teasing me," Zach retorted, impulsively biting down on Velor's finger.
"Ouch, that hurts!" Velor giggled. It was clear as day that Velor was thoroughly enjoying this.
"Go already," Zach grumbled, attempting to roll over and escape Velor's teasing.
"Didn't you say you wanted me to stay a bit longer?" Velor countered, clearly relishing Zach's flustered state.
"No one said that," Zach mumbled, pouting and turning his face away.
"Alright, alright," Velor chuckled, finally relenting. "I really have to go now" Velor said, his voice tinged with regret. "Dominick is waiting, and…" he hesitated, "there are things I need to take care of. Important things."
"Okay," Zach mumbled, a wave of disappointment washing over him. "Have a safe trip, then."
"Don't worry about me," Velor reassured him, gently twirling a strand of Zach's hair around his finger. "I'll be back in no time."
Zach opened his mouth, words he'd never dared to think hovering on the tip of his tongue. But fear gripped him, and he swallowed them back. "Just... come back safely," he said.
He waved goodbye as Velor lingered for a moment at the door, a final smile on his face before he left.
After Velor left, an emptiness settled over Zach. It wasn't that something was missing, exactly, but the sudden absence of Velor's presence was palpable. The realisation that he wouldn't see that face for months hit him hard. "Stupid," he chided himself. If only he hadn't avoided Velor these past weeks. But what's done was done, and regret wouldn't change anything now.
Zach stretched, the tension slowly leaving his body. He settled back into bed, hoping sleep would come quickly. Not because he was desperate to see Velor again or anything... Okay, maybe just a little. But mostly, he wanted time to pass, for the next few months to speed by.
As he lay there, Zach realised with a start that the coming months might change more than just the seasons. They might change everything.