Zephyros Aetai
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Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 21, 2009 17:02:58 GMT -5
Zephyros' eyes were barely open, his head held up by his hair. The knife slid across his throat and everything went black...
Suddenly he could see again... and what he saw made his heart stop... No, worse... because his heart had already stopped. He could see himself, white and broken, limp in Jason's arms. Jason held his body close, his face buried into Zeph's hair as he sobbed. Zeph reached out to comfort him, to get his attention... and his fingers passed through Jason's cheek. Recoiling, he felt himself panicking. Jason was crying, and he couldn't be dead... he couldn't be! He reached down, putting his hand carefully against the chest of the body Jason held. There was no connection... no warmth in that form. No sign that it had ever been alive, let alone that it was alive now. Zephyros trembled, trying to get Jason's attention somehow as the image faded from around him...
--
Zephyros sighed, smiling a little. Jason's arms were around him as he leaned his head against his boyfriend's chest. He sighed again, then stiffened as the warmth against his ear disappeared, and the arms that held him. His eyes flew open as his hands felt where Jason should be. Had Jason left him? Or... what if all he'd been through wasn't real? What if he really had been killed and all this was just the hallucinations caused by a dying, oxygen-deprived brain?
Zephyros sat up suddenly, his hands clutched against his heart as he screamed. Tears streamed from his eyes, his hair falling wildly about his face as he screamed again. He curled up, sobbing frantically as he rocked, so certain that this was just a dream... the end of his life seeming eternally long in the way dreams technically lasted only seconds and yet sometimes seemed to last for days. Even his distress wasn't real... he was already dead and not catching up to that fact yet...
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Jason Hiller
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University Freshman: Lycanthrope
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 21, 2009 17:14:34 GMT -5
Helen was the first to wake when she heard screaming from the room beside hers; she leaped up from her bed and rushed into Zeph's room, closely followed by Ariadne. Helen gathered the sobbing boy into her arms, holding him close as he rocked back and forth, tears running down his face. Her sister was beside her, offering what comfort she could.
Jason had jolted awake as soon as the first scream sounded above him, and was halfway up the stairs by the time the second one reached his ears. He barely noticed his parents beside him as he bolted into Zeph's room, practically throwing himself through the wide-open door and toward Zeph.
Helen and Ariadne were already there, and Jason reached between them to reach Zeph, to touch him and reassure him that everything was okay. Helen slowly moved away from Zeph, and Jason pulled his boyfriend into his arms, rubbing his back and stroking his hair, starting to cry himself as he whispered in Zeph's ear.
"It's okay, Zeph, it's okay... I'm here. You're safe. Hush, my heart..." He kissed Zeph's face, not caring that his parents were standing in the doorway and watching him. His only thoughts were for the sobbing, terrified boy in his arms.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 21, 2009 17:19:03 GMT -5
Zephyros clutched desperately at him, clinging tightly and pressing as close to him as he could. He buried his face into Jason's shoulder, unable to stifle the wail that rose in his throat. "Tell me I'm alive... tell me this is real and not just a dying hallucination... Jason, tell me I'm not dreaming!"
He still clung close to Jason, tears still streaming from his eyes. Maybe he should have insisted on getting more of those drugs... at least then he could sleep... Still pressed against Jason, Zephyros listened intently for his reply. Tell me... please Jason...
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Jason Hiller
Ireth ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 21, 2009 17:26:27 GMT -5
Tears ran down Jason's face as he took Zeph's hand in his own and looked into his wide green eyes. "You're awake, Zeph. You're alive, and you're with me. We're both okay." He pressed Zeph's hand against the mage's own chest, letting him feel the beat of his heart.
"Feel that?" he asked, trying to smile again. "That's your heart. You can't be dead if your heart's still beating, can you?" He moved Zeph's hand to his own chest, blinking at his boyfriend through his tears. "And here's mine... I'm just as alive as you are. We made it out... we're both okay."
He ran his fingers through Zeph's hair again, calming down a little. Then on a sudden impulse, he leaned in and pressed his lips against Zeph's, kissing him firmly and tenderly, wanting to give him the ultimate assurance that they were both alive, and this was real.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 21, 2009 17:32:10 GMT -5
Zephyros' hand pressed against Jason's chest a little, as if desperately seeking that reassurance. Then his other hand wrapped around Jason's head and held him in the kiss, as he slowly relaxed. He broke it off and put his head on Jason's shoulder, tears still sliding down his face. "Thank you... thank you..." he whispered, his arms still wrapped around Jason to hold him close. "I don't think I can sleep alone, Jason..."
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Jason Hiller
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University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 21, 2009 17:46:22 GMT -5
Jason nodded understandingly, looking up at his parents with quiet urgence in his eyes. His father, at least, might understand how much they needed each other.... he knew what had happened between them more than anyone else did. "Please... he needs me..."
Casper nodded once in assent. "Stay with him. I'll find a spare mattress you can sleep on." He left, beckoning to his wife and daughters, who followed in silence.
Jason curled up close to Zeph once they were alone, his eyes on the door. His family soon returned with a mattress, pillow and blankets, which they laid out on the floor beside Zeph's bed. Jason watched them as he slipped away from Zeph for a moment, lying down compliantly on the mattress and snuggling into the blankets.
He heard the door click shut and saw the beam of light from the hallway vanish, and heard the footsteps outside fading, but he waited for several more seconds before rising slowly from the mattress and crawling into bed beside Zeph, pressing close and wrapping his arms around him.
"See, this isn't bad at all... I'll be right here for you all night, and every other night." And maybe they won't notice if I share your bed all the time, and just make sure my mattress looks slept-on...
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 22, 2009 1:14:24 GMT -5
Zephyros cuddled with him tightly, his face pressed against his chest. He sighed softly, listening to Jason's heartbeat.
"I could get those drugs again..." he said softly. "I have a prescription for them if I needed them... Apparently I do..."
He remained pressed against Jason, needing that proof of his presence. His breathing slowed a little as he listened to Jason's heart, the steady beat comforting him.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 22, 2009 1:20:27 GMT -5
Jason bit his lip, pressing closer to Zeph and closing his eyes. "That might not be the best idea... I wouldn't want you to get addicted to them if you had to take them too often. On the other hand, you'd be asleep the whole time they'd be affecting you, so that might not be a problem..."
He sighed softly, the warmth of Zeph's body and the sound of his heartbeat lulling him to drowsiness. "But, drugs or no drugs, I will always be here to comfort you when you need me. I promise. Even when I can't be there in body, keep me in your mind and your heart, and I'll never leave you. Ever."
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 22, 2009 1:30:56 GMT -5
"I know... I..." he yawned widely, his eyes closing, "I love you... for that and more..."
He opened his eyes again and gave Jason a sweet smile, reaching up to put a hand on his cheek. He kissed him again, yawning and putting his head back on Jason's chest. "Just don't get in trouble for sharing the bed, Jason..." he said softly, falling asleep.
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Jason Hiller
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University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 22, 2009 1:52:51 GMT -5
Jason smiled, kissing Zeph back softly and nuzzling him as he too fell asleep. "I love you too... more than I can ever say."
- - -
Jason stirred slowly, blinking groggily at the sunlit ceiling. This wasn't his room... He lay still for a short while, listening to the sound of someone breathing softly beside him, and remembered what had happened the previous night. Poor Zeph... Jason shifted slightly and nuzzled his sleeping boyfriend, playing gently with his hair.
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty... it's been a hundred years. Wake up." He kissed Zeph softly on the mouth, laughing softly into the kiss.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 22, 2009 2:06:41 GMT -5
Zephyros' eyes flicked open as he kissed Jason back. "You are so fond of that comparison..." he mumbled. "It's not fair that you always wake up first..."
He stretched carefully, catlike, and wrapped his arms around Jason. "We shouldn't be caught like this..."
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Jason Hiller
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University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 22, 2009 2:16:05 GMT -5
"Mmm," Jason mumbled compliantly. Reluctantly he rolled over, out of Zeph's arms and over the edge of the bed, flopping down on his stomach onto the mattress below. "Oopf."
He raised himself up on his hands, yawning and stretching like a dog would, and wincing a little as his back cracked. He stood up and looked over at Zeph, running a hand through his tousled hair and grinning sleepily.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 22, 2009 2:38:55 GMT -5
"You make funny noises when you're sleepy," Zeph chuckled, combing through his hair with his fingers. The blond curls fell about his face as usual, even when he raked his fingers through them to brush them out of the way. He blew at one and sighed. "Thank you, Jason... I actually slept tonight after you came..."
He smiled at Jason, sitting up with the blankets curled up around his legs. "Um... what's the food policy around here? I think I'm actually hungry."
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Jason Hiller
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University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 22, 2009 2:49:56 GMT -5
Jason straightened the blankets on his mattress meticulously as he spoke. "Breakfast is at eight sharp, and latecomers don't eat until lunch at noon. Likewise, latecomers to lunch don't eat until supper."
He glanced up at the clock on the wall. "Just past seven-thirty... we should be fine. I'm going to get some clothes on -- be back in a minute." He slipped out of the room, heading down to his own and getting dressed quickly. He returned to Zeph's room, running a comb through his hair as he did so.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 22, 2009 3:13:07 GMT -5
Zeph had changed, and was sitting on his bed, made neatly. Not as perfectly as Jason's, but not as if he had no idea how to make a bed. More, it was as if he saw no reason to make it perfect when he was just going to mess it up again in a few hours. Before he left for good, he would make it perfect... But there was no real point yet.
"If you're going to be spending the night here, you might want to bring some clothes in here t- Never mind. Us changing the same room would probably be rather frowned upon by your parents."
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Jason Hiller
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University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 22, 2009 3:21:20 GMT -5
Jason grinned. "Yeah, I can see that. Better safe than sorry." He spotted his shirt lying on the floor, where it had landed after presumably being tossed around by a nightmare-stricken Zeph. Jason picked up the shirt and started folding it neatly, then frowned and stopped, draping it over his arm instead. It was just going to be dumped into his laundry hamper anyway.
"So I've been trying to think of places I'd like to take you today, and I can't choose," he grinned.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 22, 2009 5:26:20 GMT -5
"Start at the nearest and we'll make a circuit?" Zeph suggested, noticing his shirt. "I bet I kicked that away in my sleep... Probably before I had my nightmares. Thank you for leaving it... It probably helped for a while..."
He stood and walked over to Jason, putting his head on his shoulder a little. He knew he wasn't going to get all the cuddling he wanted once they left this room, so he wanted to get all he could right now.
Besides... something somehow felt... wrong about the day. Maybe it was just because he was waking up in a country he'd never been in before... and way too far north. The magnetic fields could be messing with him. It had been known to happen before... it would just take a few days to readjust...
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Jason Hiller
Ireth ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 22, 2009 13:59:16 GMT -5
Jason snuggled close to his boyfriend, kissing his cheek and looking up at him. Something about Zeph's posture felt a little bit off... he met the mage's eyes, curious. "Is something wrong? Other than, you know, nightmare memories?" He leaned his head against Zeph's chest, stroking his soft hair.
"We were all worried about you," he murmured. "When you screamed... I swear I felt my heart stop for a second. And when I reached you, and you thought you were dead..." He trailed off and swallowed hard, holding Zeph tighter and squeezing his eyes shut.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 22, 2009 14:20:29 GMT -5
Zephyros stiffened for a moment, "Y-you a-all? Did I wake the entire house? Oh gods... I'm sorry."
He went back to the first question, holding Jason close. "I don't know... the day feels odd. Almost like I'm afraid something is going to happen... I don't know. I'm not any good at divination, so it's probably nothing. I have about one real power, and you know what that is."
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Jason Hiller
Ireth ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 22, 2009 14:41:33 GMT -5
Jason nodded, his fingers tightening a little in Zeph's shirt. "Yeah, I know. You've saved my life with that power," he smiled.
He pulled away a little, looking over at the clock. "It's almost eight. We should get downstairs for breakfast."
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 22, 2009 14:53:11 GMT -5
Zeph nodded, kissing him. "Just needed to get one more in," he grinned, hugging Jason close for a moment more. Then he slowly pulled away, putting a hand on Jason's cheek. "I've grown a bit... I'm still somehow taller than I was even though I haven't been eating well... maybe that's why I'm so thin," he said softly, grinning.
"Come on, let's go... Let's try to get some weight back on me, huh?"
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Jason Hiller
Ireth ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 22, 2009 15:04:31 GMT -5
Jason nodded, kissing him back before pulling away slightly and taking Zeph's hand. "Don't worry, we'll fatten you up. And then you can start working out again and turn it all into muscle," he grinned, heading out of Zeph's room and down the stairs. He sniffed the air and grinned. "Smells like breakfast is ready."
They reached the kitchen, seeing that Helen and Ariadne weren't there yet. Casper was seated at the table, reading a newspaper, and Heidi stood at the stove, tending a pan of bacon and eggs. She looked up and addressed them as they entered the kitchen.
"Good morning," she smiled. "I hope you slept well. How do you like your eggs, Zeph?"
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 22, 2009 15:08:02 GMT -5
Zeph laughed at him. "I don't 'fatten up' well, Jason. I bulk up maybe..."
"Not cold," Zeph grinned. "I don't usually eat eggs, so however you would make them normally. No need to go out of your normal routine on my account."
He looked over at Jason, then looked around. "Is there anything I could do to help?"
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Jason Hiller
Ireth ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Nov 22, 2009 15:18:40 GMT -5
Jason looked around as well, seeing that there really wasn't all that much to do. His mother had plates and cutlery set out on the counter beside the stove, and there was a carafe of coffee on the table with cream and sugar and two mugs beside it.
Jason pulled away from Zeph a little, stepping toward a cupboard. "Zeph, would you get the orange juice and soy milk out of the fridge while I get some glasses? They should be at the front of the top shelf. Please and thank you."
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Nov 22, 2009 15:33:46 GMT -5
Zeph moved to do so immediately, looking for somewhere to put them. There was a lack of room on the counters, so he set them on the table. It was odd, and mundane to be helping make breakfast, even so pathetically. And it gave him a slight glow inside. He could learn to enjoy this mundane life, where there weren't servants to cater to his every want. After all, it was so different from everything he had known before, and made it easier to forget what had happened the month previous.
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