The Gift of the Winds...

[Jason Hiller]

Jason smiled, petting Zeph's hair. "That's true."

He blinked and laughed when Zeph reached up and poked his nose. He looked down into Zeph's eyes, as green as the summer foliage around them, and smiled at the love he saw shining out of them, for he knew they reflected his own.

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zephyros smiled at him, then let his eyes drift closed. "Mmm... Probably shouldn't sleep here..."

He sighed, enjoying the feeling of Jason's fingers in his hair. It wasn't letting him keep it in his usual windblown style, but there were other ways to look good. Shifting a little, he stifled a yawn and stretched.

[Jason Hiller]

Jason shifted slightly, easing out from underneath Zeph to lay on the grass beside him and hold him close. "Go ahead and sleep if you want to. I'll watch over you."

He kissed Zeph's nose and snuggled against him, fighting not to close his eyes as well. It was extremely comfortable there, with the soft grass under him, the sunlight above him and Zeph's heartbeat beside him.

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph chuckled sleepily when Jason kissed his nose, wrapping his arms around him. He put his head against Jason's chest and yawned again. His breathing slowed as he fell asleep.

---

Zeph sat in the kitchen with a newspaper, reading through it. He'd let Jason sleep in... having kept him up with television the night before. He couldn't sleep any more, though there was a cup of coffee next to him. He took a drink of it, wrinkling his nose a little. He normally drank it with milk, but... he was breaking himself of that habit. There couldn't possibly be enough sugar in it to make it good without milk, but Zeph knew he was going to want the caffeine later.

He kept reading, mostly ignoring the ordered chaos around him. Blinking, he grinned and reread a paragraph. Oh how perfect. "I think I know what we're doing today," he said to himself quietly.

[Jason Hiller]

Jason walked quietly into the kitchen and stifled a yawn, running a hand through his shower-dampened hair. He spotted Zeph and gave him a wave of acknowledgment before heading to the fridge and pulling out a carton of soy milk, pouring himself a glass. He replaced the milk in the fridge and carried his glass over to Zeph's table, sitting down beside his boyfriend and leaning on his shoulder.

"Morning," he grinned, kissing Zeph's ear in greeting.

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph turned and kissed him back, "Morning. Sleep well?"

He held up the paper. "I know you can't read it, but there's a carnival in town. Interested?"

He couldn't help the grin that grew across his face. "It's Aritha's caravan. You could meet her family."

[Jason Hiller]

Jason grinned at the thought. "That would be great! I'd like to see her again. It would be cool to meet her family, too."

He took a gulp of soy milk, looking at the unfamiliar symbols on the newspaper. He knew what a few of them were called, but he didn't understand a word that was printed there.

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph tapped a finger on the table, "Well... her father. She calls the entire cavaran her family, but seeing as they are all human and she and her father... and her mother were born vampires... Anyway, it's always fun. And they won't scam us because I'm pretty much family anyway."

What with having formerly dated her and such, he thought. Jason knew they had been together, but it was still awkward sometimes to mention the fact that he was attracted to both genders when Jason only liked men. He finished his coffee, gagging a little at the end of it. "Ew, grinds. Anyway, Aritha would love to see us. And mother would be thrilled to have us out of the house."

[Jason Hiller]

Jason smiled. "Sounds like a win-win situation, then."

He was still quite relieved that Zeph's mother had been willing to at least tolerate their relationship as long as they lived under her roof, and couldn't bring himself to imagine what might have happened if she hadn't accepted them. Even so, Jason still felt compelled to walk on eggshells, so to speak, whenever he saw her. Being tolerated didn't equate to being liked.

[Zephyros Aetai]

"Very much so. Interested in spending maybe more than a day there? I could get us a hotel room," Zeph offered, reaching over and kissing Jason's cheek. His mother was at work; she wouldn't be around to see them.

"My family won't care, and I've definitely got the money." The idea of having Jason alone in a hotel where no one could burst on them was delightful, but only if Jason was okay with it. Zeph certainly wasn't planning anything more than cuddling, but still... no interruptions. No chances of his parents breaking down the door while he and Jason were kissing or just cuddling too close for their comfort. Even if he and Jason weren't... doing anything.

[Jason Hiller]

The thought of spending more than a day with just him and Zeph--and no chance of being ratted out by Zeph's mother--positively thrilled Jason. Yes, that was definitely win/win. He got Zeph all to himself, and Zeph's mother got to be spared that which she couldn't stand.

"I'm all for it," he grinned, taking a rather large gulp of soy milk and accidentally choking on it. He coughed to clear his lungs, then drew a proper breath and looked back at Zeph, smiling to show he was okay.

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph leaned forward a little, looking with concern at Jason. "That's a 'me' stunt, Jason. You almost had it coming out of your nose."

"So... you don't mind sharing a hotel room with me, where I could have my way with you if I were so inclined?" he teased, kissing Jason's cheek again.

[Jason Hiller]

Jason laughed at Zeph's teasing, replying in kind. "Easy, tiger. You know how I am about that... I'd need a lot of persuading." He winked and nuzzled Zeph's cheek.

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph actually looked surprised when Jason nuzzled his cheek, then smiled at him. "Hmm... well, I'll have to take it slow."

Very slow. He didn't actually want... that. Zeph had very good reasons for why he and Jason hadn't done anything like that, and it wasn't just how Jason was so incredibly body-shy. Which was funny because Zeph had seen nothing to object to when they went swimming... and trunks were not that concealing when they were wet. One of these days Jason was going to end up catching him swimming in the nude... since the werewolf sometimes got up early and sometimes slept really late, so Zeph could never be sure when it was 'safe' to swim sans trunks. And he was damned if he was only going to go swimming clothed when it was easier and more comfortable nude. He loathed wet clothing.

"So... shall we pack a bag or two and get a room before going to see Aritha?" he asked.

[Jason Hiller]

Jason nodded, draining his glass of milk and licking his lips. "Sounds like a plan to me." He set his glass back down on the table and stood up, slipping a hand into Zeph's. "Ready when you are."

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph put the paper down and stood, holding Jason's hand a little tightly. "Then we should get moving, huh? I should let my parents know..." So they couldn't worry about where he was, though his mother would be having hysterics about him being alone with Jason where no one was keeping an eye on him. He moved close to Jason and put his head on his shoulder as they walked to Jason's room. Zeph gathered his effects and then moved to his room, gathering clothes and bringing his packed bag back.

"I'll go let my parents know and arrange for our trip." He kissed Jason on the cheek and left for a moment.

[Jason Hiller]

Jason packed his bag quickly and carefully, not wanting to forget anything essential. He paused for a moment once he was done, a twinge of fear nagging at him. What if Zeph's parents didn't trust him or Zeph enough to let them go off on their own for more than a day?

Although... if they allowed their sons to go off to college half a world away from home, where they could pretty much do whatever they wanted, with whomever they wanted, without their parents knowing, then surely this wouldn't be as much of a problem. After all, it wasn't like they were going to do anything. Jason knew that neither of them were really ready for that yet.

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph ran into the room and closed the door behind him, leaning against it and breathing heavily. "If we are going to do this, it is going to be before my mother gets home."

His ears were still ringing from the blistering rant his mother had gone off on. Even over the phone it had nearly ruptured his eardrum, or so it felt like. His heart was racing, and he was extremely grateful his mother was several hours away. "Mother won't be able to find us, and she refuses to go to the carnival, even if she liked Aritha.

"Actually, she doesn't even like Aritha any more, now that she knows Aritha is a vampire. All that 'cursed' stuff from the Catholic church again. For a woman so against magic, she sure lives in a world full of it."

[Jason Hiller]

Jason winced. "You told her Aritha's a vampire?" That probably hadn't been the best idea.

"Well, she has to find out about these things sooner or later, I guess... now all that's left is for her to find out about me."

[Zephyros Aetai]

"No, Aritha told her against my advice. 'Fervent Catholic' doesn't mean much to her, or didn't at least. And that can wait, I'm sorry. I like my heart where it belongs, thank you very much," he said, still pressed against the door. "The interesting thing about this is that the servants are all on our side. Which means if we get out of here now, we're golden."

[Jason Hiller]

Jason nodded, getting to his feet from where he sat on the edge of his bed, zipping his bag shut and picking it up. "I'm ready. Lead on."

[Zephyros Aetai]

Zeph nodded, getting his bag and opening the door. "Alright... Luckily mother will calm down by the time we come back..."

He led Jason to the yacht, noticing the car already sitting on the deck. He turned and grinned at Jason, pointing. "See? Our side. Probably helps that everyone who works for us isn't like Mother is about relationships like ours. And I think her main objection is it's me. The youngest, and pretty much her favorite. Which is reallyreally annoying."

He pulled Jason on deck quickly as the engine started. "Well... here we go," he grinned.

[Jason Hiller]

Jason nodded, grinning in excitement as he echoed Zeph. "Here we go."

[Zephyros Aetai]

---

Zephyros rolled his eyes, trying to keep his tone patient. How hard was it to get a hotel room? He was paying in CASH for goodness sake! And he was over eighteen, and he was... oh. He was well known, and so were his parents...Who would naturally have called ahead. He sighed and leaned forward, explaining that he was more than willing to bribe the man to get a room for himself and Jason.

That worked, and finally he turned with a triumphant look as he held up two door keys. "Finally. Come on, let's get settled. Room... 314."

[Jason Hiller]

Jason sighed in relief, standing up from the chair he had sat down in to wait. That had taken long enough. He took a key from Zeph, picked up his bags again and started to head down the hallway toward their room. Though he would never admit it aloud, he wondered to himself just how determined Zeph's parents--correction: Zeph's mother--was to frustrate them at every turn.