[C][M] Astringent Fate

Rayner flinched a little as he was touched but Hayden looked up at the man lovingly.

He wasn't afraid, he was proud, Dario was a selfless man taking in someone like this who needed it more than anyone.

Immediately he had known that Rayner was a Vampire and seeing one so sickly looking was a shock, but he didn't care, as long as Dario didn't get hurt he didn't mind a Vampire living here.

"Good thing Desi is all bark and no bite, he isn't hurt, just shaken I think."

His eyes turned back down to that man, stroking his hair gently as they cuddled.

"Calm down...shhh..it's alight now."

"He wouldn't dare bite. He knows I'm a lot stronger than he is."

Desi knew that Dario wouldn't be scared to retaliate if he did anything worthy of being hit.

Dario rubbed Ray's shoulder gently as he rested his head against Hayden's copper hair.

"Shh, you're safe now. He's gone."

Desi wouldn't be coming back for another day or two. Ray was safe for now.

Slowly Rayner calmed down, his soft sobs turned into slowly panted breaths through parted lips.

His two sets of fangs were visible from between his lips, he had gotten scared and they had extended defensively though he had done well to keep them hidden from Desi.

"There we go, much better."

Hayden muttered softly, stroking the tears from the man's cheeks and leaning back a bit to let him breath.

His hand stroked through the man's hair gently.

"I was just about to cook, I think comfort food is in order. Don't you Dario?"

He muttered, a smile present on his face.

"Up you get."

The boy got to his feet and offered Ray a hand up, who took it tentatively and pulled himself up to stand slowly.

"Definitely."

Sitting down together and eating a nice hot meal definitely sounded in order.

He patted Ray's back gently, smiling down at the Vampire.

"Hayden's a wonderful little cook. He'll make us something delicious. Don't you worry."

His boy could cook something fit for a king.

Rayner followed Hayden out of the bedroom slowly, the boy brought him out into the living room and set him down on the couch.

"You can sit here and Dario will put a movie on for you while I cook alright?"

The Vampire nodded softly as he curled up with the pillow he had clung to the previous day. Truth be told he was starving but still apprehensive about eating actual food.

Hayden padded over to Dario, leaned up to press a kiss to the man's lips.

"You're doing a wonderful thing."
He murmured before heading toward the kitchen to cook.

Dario returned the kiss, his arm wrapping around the Shifter.

"Thank you for helping."

It seemed that Ray was already at least somewhat attached to Hayden. It was great to see his boyfriend helping out with the man he was trying to help out.

He let Hayden go into the kitchen and disappeared to go find a movie.

"We have a choice of Pirates of the Caribbean or Get Him To The Greek. Which one do you want to watch?" He held out both cases for Ray to pick from.

"I'll do what I can to help."

He murmured with a little smile before disappearing into the kitchen. There fun could wait, it was time to do a little emotional healing.

The sound of water boiling, mixing and chopping sounded from the kitchen as the boy eagerly got to work.

Rayner looked up as Dario spoke to him, his eyes trailing over both options. He hadn't seen either one and didn't know what the right choice was.

"What ever you want is fine."

He murmured with a small shrug, being allowed to make choices for himself was a little intimidating.

"Okay. Let's put...this one in," he decided, holding up Pirates.

He took the disk out the box and held the box out for Ray to take. Pirates was more light hearted.

It would hopefully cheer the boy up a little.

He knelt down to put the DVD in the player then moved to sit on the couch next to Ray.

His arm rested on the back of the couch behind Ray as he leaned back to get comfortable.

"There are three other movies in this collection. If you like this one, we can watch the others another time. How does that sound?"

Hayden hummed to himself happily in the other room as he cooked, he would make something delicious to cheer everyone up.

Rayner took the box from Dario and turned it over, slowly reading it, placing it down on the side table.

He glanced over at Dario for a moment. He was still shaken and seeing the man mad had been frightening but the human had promised to help him.

Slowly he inched a little closer to the man, he felt as though he was safer if the man was closer.

Dario smiled when Ray shuffled closer.

His hand moved from the back of the couch to ruffle his dark hair affectionately.

He was so glad that Ray wasn't flinching away from him in fear.

He wanted Ray to feel comfortable around him.

Rayner leaned into the hand stroking his hair, he liked these gentle touches, the were comforting.

"Dario..."

He murmured, looking up at the man softly, the sadness in his eyes still lingering from the day before.

"Cy...wont ever want me back will he?"

His Sire was done with him, he wasn't going to come back and he had been told to stay away.

Dario pulled Ray into a gentle hug, stroking the Vampire's shoulder and back as he laid a gentle kiss to the top of his head.

He didn't want to answer that question.

In his mind the answer was a definite no with the way Cy had acted last night.

But he didn't want to see Ray any more upset than he already was.

Ray's shoulders sagged as Dario embraced him, he had known the answer deep down in his heart the entire time, he just needed to abandon that hope and learn to move on.

He hid his face in against the man's neck as his arms wrapped around him tightly.

"I just wanted him to love me...I tried...so hard."

He muttered in a near whisper, he had done everything he was told as best he could, but it was never enough, he was never good enough and now he was good for nothing.

Dario hugged the Vampire closer when he buried his face in his neck.

"Shh, sweetheart. Shh."

Poor Ray had been through so much. He didn't want him to have to suffer through much more.

"Do you want to hear some good news?"

He nodded softly as he hugged the man tightly, he felt better be close to someone, having Dario around made him feel as if he wasn't completely alone.

Despite all his worries and fear Rayner actually curled up in Dario's lap, nestling in against the man.

The human was like a shield, protecting him from the world around him which seemed so bent toward being against him.

Good news would be welcome for once, he hadn't had any of it in a long time.

"I talked to Silt earlier."

He cradled the Vampire against his chest when he curled up in his lap. It was great seeing Ray so happy to be near him.

"He said he might have found your name."

He pressed a kiss to the top of the Vampire's head.

"He found your wallet. He's going to post it through the door soon so we can see."

Rayner's eyes lit up as he looked at Dario, his lips parting in shock.

They had found out who he was? He didn't remember owning a wallet, Cy had always taken care of everything, he never needed to carrying around money.

"Really?"

He muttered excitedly, he wanted to know his name, he wanted to know what he use to be like, who he use to be, maybe he could be that man again.

Dario nodded with a little smile.

"Yes. We'll be able to find out your name."

And when they did, he'd have his name. He wouldn't need to go as Honey or anything else.

"We just need to wait for Silt."

Rayner looked more alive in that moment than he ever had, he was excited and hopeful, the thought of being someone instead of just a possession made him feel alive again.

"I hope he comes soon."

He muttered as he settled down a little in Dario's lap, his gaze turning to the door in anticipation before slowly sliding over to the television.

Hopefully the movie could distract him until Silt came over.

"Do you want to call him and tell him to move his skinny butt?" Dario asked with a little laugh.

Seeing Ray this bright was amazing.

He hoped he could see him this bright more often.

He hoped that finding his name would help the Vampire move forwards.

Rayner nodded enthusiastically, normally he was patient and quite but right now he was anxious to know, this was something that had dwelled on his mind for a long time.

"Do you think he would hurry if I did?"

He was oblivious to the fact that Dario was joking around, he really wanted to call the man and ask him to hurry, he was overwhelmed with anticipation.

"I'm sure he would."

Dario shifted Ray around a little so he could reach into his pocket.

He pulled his phone out and flicked through the contacts until he found Silt's name. He pressed the call button and held the phone out for Ray.

Dario would encourage anything that bought out such strong, positive emotions in the boy.

If that just meant calling Silt, then he would happily let Ray call Silt.

Silt's brows furrowed when he saw Dario calling him, he was meant to be spending time with his boy, that meant he wasn't meant to be around.

He answered the call. "What's up?"

The demon asked leisurely as he walked through town.

"Uh...hi, I was wondering if you could hurry up to Dario's place." He muttered softly, the sound met with a laugh from the demon.

"Just a little bit inpatient are we? Yeah sure, I'll run up there now, if I can avoid humans I should be up in a few seconds."

With that the demon slid down an empty side street, moving a breakneck speeds before slowing when he was in view of a human, speeding up again when it was safe to do so.

I only took a few minutes before there was a knock on the door and a small leather wallet was forced through mail slot, followed by what appeared to be his middle finger directed at Dario.

Dario nuzzled against the Vampire when he muttered softly into the phone.

His eyes flickered up when there was a knock on the door, grinning as he caught sight of the man's middle finger.

"Thanks, Silt. Owe you one," he called out.

Dario nudged Ray. "Want to go get your wallet?"

Silt popped open the mail slot again, only his eyes visible through the hole.

"Damn right you do."

He muttered before wandering off, he was going to go reward himself for a job well done.

As soon as Dario asked Rayner was on his feet and padding over to grab it.
He clutched it to his chest tightly before moving back over to the couch, placing himself back in Dario's lap.

His hands shook in excitement as he looked down at it and opened it.