Read When the Sun Sets [BL] :: 4. Fight or Flight [Part 3]

Eryx stares at his phone, it's quite late already and he just finished answering all the texts he had, a small sigh leaves his lips as he stares at the room's ceiling. I don't know what to do next, I have the quests, but still feel like I'm lost, as if no matter how much I walk I never leave the same place. He thinks blinking slowly. I wish this could end soon so I can actually feel like I can start living my own life. No falling behind, no fear of dying or losing my family.

He glances at the window, where the starry sky is, the stars are pretty tonight, he thinks with a soft smile. Can't I just ask Sevan to date me or something? The sudden idea comes to his mind. I could just ask him and go forward from there…

However Luc’s words keep spinning inside his head, on how all Sevan cares about is himself. Did he only date the heroine in the game because she matched his goals? Because she was a woman and didn't bother him too much? Or perhaps both the game and Luc don't know the truth behind Sevan's actions and choices.

Is reaching 100% likeability love or something else?

In the end, is the goal to make someone like you a lot regardless of romance or to truly love you? What are the criteria to decide what is love and what is simply platonic love?

After all Luc has 96% likeability however he definitely doesn't see Eryx as romance material as they're brothers and Luc is, without a doubt, straight.

If it was only romantic love, it wouldn't make sense for Eryx to be able to have 100% likeability with any target as some of them probably don't swing both ways.

My head hurts, he notes, taking a deep breath. I should sleep, he states to himself slowly closing his eyes, ready to sleep.

Eryx wakes up with the sound of the door closing, he jumps on the bed, staring at Sevan, who just entered the room. “You're still awake?” He asks, Eryx blushes, nodding with his head. His blush isn't due to the question or the fact that he woke up with the sound of the man entering the room.

But rather because Sevan looks absolutely stunning even in the dark room, his glasses are hanging on his shirt, his tie loose and the uniform's blazer is on his arm, his hair is messy and his usual white eyes are now in a slight tone of dark pink. “Your eyes are light sensitive” Eryx mumbles under his breath, but due to the silence of the night, Sevan hears him.

“Yes, it's a family condition”, he says, hanging his uniform and taking some clothes from his closet.

Vampires with light sensitivity tend to have different eye colors depending on the incidence of light in it. They also always wear special glasses because the sun can burn their eyes, it's quite more extreme than regular vampires who simply feel uncomfortable under the sun.

That's quite rare, Eryx thinks, staring at Sevan as he takes off his shirt. His body is as skinny as it appeared with his clothes on, and his skin underneath is as pale as his face, he probably avoided the sun a lot to never get even the slightest of tans. He can't help but stare, even if he's extremely thin, there isn't a single bone sticking out of his skin, meaning his muscles are developed, even if not enough to make a significant difference in his figure.

Sevan freezes as he's about to put on his pajamas, “Sorry”, he mutters turning to look at Eryx who's face is red as a tomato. “This was inconsiderate of me, I'll change in the bathroom next time”.

“Wouldn't changing in front of me be more uncomfortable for you than for me?” Eryx asks, trying hard to not direct his gaze towards Sevan's body.

The man ponders for a moment, as if the thought of being uncomfortable didn't even cross his mind. “I don't think I'm uncomfortable, however it was thoughtless of me to do so”. Sevan finishes dressing up and moves towards his bed. “You should sleep”.

“I know,” Eryx says with a sigh.

“If you're having trouble falling asleep, I can help you”, Sevan offers as he checks something on his phone.

“How?”

He raises his head, his dark pink eyes staring straight into Eryx’s. Fuck, he thinks as his heart starts beating fast, sure Sevan is incredibly good looking, but the fact that Eryx chose him as his target, makes him all so more conscious of the man. “My genus is sleep manipulation”, he says, he must be really good at singing, Eryx thinks as he notices again that Sevan's voice is incredibly melodical.

Genus is the term used to describe the special abilities vampires have due to their special blood, such abilities are influenced by the purity of their blood, age and other genetic traits, thus the name. There are around 100 types of Genus as well as variations of such types, some rarer than others and some are even cultivated and inherited within some families.

“In that case… I would appreciate the help”, Eryx says, trying to control his heart beat.

“Then, excuse me”, without a single hesitation or change in his expression, Sevan gets up from his bed, walking towards Eryx, and all the boy can think is how he wishes the other can't hear his heartbeat as it's extremely loud. In the dark room, there isn't much Eryx can see distinctively, but as Sevan gets closer he can see the man clearly.

His short auburn hair is down, reaching his eyebrows, his relaxed dark pink eyes are sharper as they're not underneath his glasses anymore, his thin blood red lips slightly parted as he speaks something Eryx can't hear due to his own heartbeat, his nose is short and thin, and his pale skin looks like snow.

“I must get closer to you for it to work, can I?” Sevan repeats, noticing Eryx was out of it, all the boy can do is swallow dry and nod.

Being a 19 year old virgin isn't something that influences many aspects of Eryx's life, he never really even saw it as a flaw, as he'll have sex once he feels ready. But the moment Sevan's forehead touches his and his dark pink eyes stare deep into his soul, he can't help but get an erection. Shame flowing through his entire body and he thanks the gods he doesn't even believe in for the darkness of the night hiding his red cheeks and ears.

“I will see you tomorrow Eryx,” Sevan whispers, his voice sounding almost hypnotizing. “Now, go to sleep”.

✦

The sound of dice hitting each other fills the silent room. Nicolas Algeo’s apartment is located at the heart of Iris City, on the last floor of one of its tallest buildings, the view allowing him to see almost all of the city from his living room’s window.

And the man sitting on the kitchen’s counter, playing with dice is Azrael Sofer, 183cm tall, white short hair, fox-shaped azure eyes, plump lips that are most often than not up in a smirk and his skin is a warm tone of brown, reminding Nicolas of a golden desert. Although Azrael is more than 100 years older than Nicolas, they never felt much of a generational difference as one would expect. After all they both are insanely in love with each other.

Azrael's voice is like a cat’s purr. “What you're trying to say is that Eryx came out and you're scared that he is gay just because you're gay”, he points out as he leans on the kitchen's counter, staring at his husband, his fingers playing with two red dice.

Nicolas sighs, passing his fingers through his really short red hair, his odd eyes glancing at his partner. He walks towards Azrael, he was in the middle of dressing himself when the man arrived home, so now Nicolas is completely naked in the kitchen chatting with him.

His body is lean and toned as he works out a lot, and Azrael's burning gaze on his body makes Nicolas' burn, his collarbone and neck becoming red with the heat he's feeling. He pulls Azrael so that he's facing him, sitting on the man's lap, his arms laying around his neck.

“I know one can't just choose to be gay, but I can't help it, you know, I'm just scared”, his voice is soft, his tone is quite different from when he spoke with his family, a bit lower. “What do I do? I still want to grab him and tell him to just find a nice girl and settle down”.

“Love, if he's lying or just imitating you, the moment he touches another man's dick he'll give up”, Azrael comments, caressing Nicolas' bare back.

Nicolas lays his head on Azrael's shoulder. “It's a really hard path to take”, he mutters.

“Yes, but he must walk the path he feels he belongs in, didn't we choose to do the same? If Eryx is indeed gay, aren't you happy he felt safe enough to share this with you?” Azrael says, placing a kiss on Nicolas' head.

“I guess, I just want my baby brothers to be happy”, he says, turning his head so that he can see Azrael's face. “I was lucky to have you, but I can't be there to protect him from the world, you know, and he has no one else”.

“Isn't Luc at the Academy?”

“Luc is a fool, he would rather bite his tongue off than admit he cares about Eryx”, Nicolas shakes his head with disappointment.

“Even so, he's not alone, Love, your brother is stronger than you think”, Azrael says softly, placing another kiss on Nicolas' head and moving his hand to his lower back.

“I just don't want to know he's having a hard time when it's already too late”, Nicolas sighs.

“We all have things we hide from our family, Love, including you”.

“I know”, Nicolas closes his eyes, sighing again, “I can't shake the feeling I wronged him somehow”.

“Love,” Azrael pushes Nicolas to face him, “You're a great older brother, you did everything you should and could to help Eryx”.

“Even by turning a blind eye when he was buying the drugs we were supplying?” Nicolas smiles coldly.

“If you didn't, he would've got the drugs somewhere else, somewhere unsafe. You did what you had, Love”.

“You always sweet talk me and I end up never fixing my mistakes”, Nicolas points out.

Azrael shrugs. “In my eyes you're perfect, Love”.

“That's why you have an erection although we are having a serious conversation?” He asks, moving his hips as he feels a hard thing poking his skin. Azrael laughs.

“What you're feeling is my gun, Love”, he places his lips on Nicolas' ear, whispering his next words. “My erection is a bit more to the side”.

Nicolas’ swallows dry, his whole body becoming red with embarrassment, although he and Azrael are together for a century already, he can't help but feel butterflies in his stomach and tingles on his skin every time the man touches him and whispers in his ears, his whole body shivering. “I can't, I need to go to the casino in a bit”, he whispers back, trying to control his fast beating heart. “I'm never able to walk properly afterwards… Last time my employees asked if I had hurt my legs”.

The man laughs again, a mischievous smirk on his lips. Fuck his smile is dangerous, Nicolas thinks, his breath becoming more irregular.

On the other hand, Azrael is thinking about how if Nicolas didn't want to provoke him he wouldn't have walked around naked, as he tends to do that, subtly say he's in the mood, play around a bit and then succumb into his arms. Last time he spilled water in my pants, Azrael thinks with a smirk, it runs in the family, not being honest with their feelings.

“It's your choice, Love, you know I'll never fuck you if you don't want me to”, Azrael says, clearly provoking Nicolas. His feelings are clear on his face, something he rarely does unless he's with Azrael, feelings of conflict, desire and disappointment.

“I want to, but you're a bit too rough”, he bites his lips, pondering.

“You only cum when I'm rough, Love, so not my fault”.

Nicolas slaps Azrael's arm, annoyed at his words. “We can do it if you let me put it in you”. He stares shyly at Azrael's azure eyes.

Azrael smirks, “I would die for you, Love, having your dick in my ass is nothing”.

Another blush takes over Nicolas' body. “You don't need to say that every time I ask to put it in”.

“But then, I wouldn't be able to see you all shy”, the other provokes, placing kisses on Nicolas' collarbone. “Red looks mesmerizing on you”, he whispers before clashing their lips together.

While the night just ended for most, for them, it just started.

This content is intended for mature audiences for the following reasons.