2. Chapter 2 (1/1)
part two. could be the end, not sure. let me know what you think - i hope you enjoy it. as usual, i own very little. except auldearn.
he only returned for the bear because it was valuable, he told himself. it had nothing to do with the fact that he'd had auldearn for years – since before they were commonplace, back when owning such a toy was like owning an ipad or a private jet – and certainly nothing to do with needing something to cuddle now he could no longer see vlad. no, it was a valuable artefact that was too historically important to be lost in the castle and neglected. worse, what if wolfie got hold of him? that was the only reason he was sneaking back into the training room just days after he left it forever, he reminded himself – to preserve a piece of history.
he froze in the doorway of his old room, realising he wasn't alone there. vlad, sitting in a pool of candlelight with a crumpled, worn piece of paper in one hand and an old, much-loved teddy bear in the other, was slower to become aware of his presence, but he didn't seem to have to look round to realise who was standing in the doorway. he continued to stare at the note, afraid to look up and find he was imagining things, as he spoke."are you back to stay?" bertrand swallowed hard; the picture before him was so tragic and so beautiful, and for a moment he almost believed vlad had missed him before he remembered that vlad was a master of manipulation."no." at the sound of his voice, vlad scrambled to his feet, turning to face him, still clutching auldearn protectively to his chest. he had no right, bertrand was dimly aware of thinking. that was his bear. it had been since he'd swiped it – along with a crate of its
others - from the docks in 1903, sensing an easy way to make the money he'd need to get around the world in his search for the chosen one. "i just came to collect something i'd forgotten." vlad clearly knew what he was referring to, because his grip on both bear and note tightened.
"please, bertrand, i can't do this without you.""is that what you think i want to hear?""no. no, i think you want to hear that i'll be okay, and maybe i should tell you that because even a slayer could see you'd be better off without me, but i won't. if i only get to be a selfish
at once in my entire reign, then this is it. i need you, bertrand. come back to me. please."bertrand sighed. "you didn't want me before. you never let me get close."
the chosen one frowned down at the bear in his hand for a moment before holding it out to bertrand."i didn't know you had a teddy bear." bertrand took him and quickly checked him over for damage to the stitching, a little thrown by the change of subject."does it matter?""yeah. yeah, it does. bertrand, please, look at me." knowing that if he met the boy's eyes, the battle was lost, bertrand resisted for all of ten seconds before the younger vampire got impatient. "look at me." his voice rang with authority, the kind only the chosen one could command, and bertrand's gaze snapped up obediently.
"i didn't know... my father always told me vampires couldn't love, and i believed him. i mean, look at my mother. so when i realised how deep my feelings for you ran... well. i always knew i was weird. but you're a proper vampire. i thought you couldn't love me, so i kept you at arm's length so i wouldn't get hurt.""your father was wrong." bertrand spoke quietly, but vlad nodded."i realise that now. the note was enough to show me that you weren't just saying things to keep me on your side, or whatever. if you had been, you wouldn't have left. and then i found the bear, which i suppose you just keep around because he's old and valuable, but-""auldearn.""what?" bertrand glanced down at the toy in his hands, wishing he hadn't spoken."the bear. his name is auldearn." vlad stared at him, the faintest hint of a smirk appearing on his lips.
"anyone would think you cared, bertrand.""he's been my only constant companion for a century. forgive me for giving him a name in a dull moment. yes, i care enough to come back for him. but nowhere near as much as i care for you, which is why i have to leave. even proper vampires feel pain." vlad's face fell as he remembered how they'd got onto the subject of auldearn in the first place."bertrand. please. stay, i'll stop pushing you away. i'll treat you better, i'll...
ing you flowers, anything, just don't leave me." bertrand shook his head, turning to leave – it was an effort, but he'd managed to take two whole steps when his student's voice stopped him in his tracks again. "i love you, bertrand. i always did."
he froze, trying not to believe him, not to get his hopes up – and then a pair of arms snaked around his waist from behind, squeezing gently. he was lost; he turned in vlad's em
ace, allowing the boy to draw him into a kiss, auldearn still clutched tightly in one hand as the other ran itself through the chosen one's hair. after what seemed like a long time – and a long, wordless conversation in which many assurances were exchanged – they finally
oke apart. vlad looked up at him hopefully.
"will you stay?""always."