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Simon didn't need to look anymore where he needed to go. He could walk the path before him in his sleep now.
Well. If he was able to sleep.
He looked up at the Cross of the church, the night lights illuminating the giant sign of belief. Of a God. Centuries ago, he would have avoided places like this. Churches and Vampires were rarely a combination that ended well. A memory, at which he had to sigh, appeared in his mind.
A mob of people stalking him with fire in their hands out of his home town.
But things changed. People changed. And sometimes, if one was incredibly lucky, they found someone who could change their life.
Simon shook his head at the thought. At this delusion that still haunted his mind. He was way past this. Way past of hope, to be free. But maybe..
“You're late.” A voice ripped him out of his thoughts and as he looked up, he had to force away the softest of smiles.
“I didn't think you would time me.” The Vampire grins and takes the last steps up to meet Ryland before him. The Priest only chuckled and grabbed onto Simon's coat as he came closer.
“I was mayhaps a bit impatient..” Ryland mumbled and rolled his eyes, at the smirk forming on the immortal's face.
“Oh, were you? What happened to patience being a virtue, Father?” Simon replied and watched the blush spreading on his cheeks. His own hand raising to cup it gently. Rubbing his thumb over the warmth of his skin.
“Shush.. I-.. I just wanted to see you.” he confessed and blue eyes met the red ones in front of him.
Simon's dead heart skipped a beat at his words.
Something had been forming between them. Something that neither wanted to name and that went beyond the heated moments they had shared in the church.
And he was afraid. For reasons that Ryland would never know off. He would make sure of it.
“I am very happy to see you as well Angel.” Simon smiled, despite the ache in his chest and met Ryland's lips in a gentle kiss. His arms wrap around the human's waist to pull him closer, as the other’s hand slid into his hair.
When they pulled apart after a few seconds, Ryland rested his forehead against Simon’s. A smile formed on both their faces. Simon could stay like this forever if he could, but instead Ryland took his hand, as he retreated from his hold.
“Come. I want to show you something.” The priest smiled and Simon followed him. Or better worded, let himself get dragged by the taller man.
They walk between flowers, planted by the community of the church. Beautiful yellow Tulips and Daffodils growing out of the earth below. Both men ever so careful to not step on any of them. The Flowers reminded Simon of Ryland. A man who had endless hope and care for others around him. Who chose to gift his care to a being of the dark. To a damned man who thought wasn't worthy of it. But yet Ryland tightened his grip on his hand, a wide smile on his face, as he guided him to a field behind the church.
They stop in the middle of it and the Priest let go of his hand. Simon ignored the tingles in his hand, already missing the touch of the other.
“Why have you brought me here?” Simon asked, his eyes following the human as he sat down on the grass. Ryland looked up and reached out his hand again.
“Come sit beside me.” He smiled and the Vampire relented, open to whatever Ryland had planned this time and sat down beside him. His eyes followed him as the other leaned back into the soft earth below them. Blue eyes looking up into the star filled sky.
“I often come here to watch the Stars.” Ryland gently said and his arm raised up into the sky. His fingers drew into the air, as he connected a constellation of stars. Simon followed his gaze and could find the Vulpecula or “Little Fox”.
“This one is quite fitting.” Simon voices, turning back to look at the man.
The Priest grinned and met Simon's gaze. “Yeah, it is one of my favorites.”
Simon chuckled and laid down beside him. He enjoyed watching the joy spread in his face as he picked another constellation. A gentle wistful smile formed on his face as he remembered being the same as a young boy, laying in the grass and listening to his mother..
“This one is the Gemini Constellation. It is about-” Ryland started, but Simon interjected.
“The half-brothers Castor and Pollux. I know.”
“Okay, someone knows their Stars and Myths very well.” The Priest laughed and knocked his shoulder against Simon's, who only rolled his eyes at him. Ryland turned on his side and his brows furrow as he sees the expression on Simon's face.
“Are you okay?” he asked gently, only receiving a nod in return.
“Yeah I'm okay, just..” The Vampire started, switching to his side as well to properly look at the other man and then looked down, as he saw the gentleness in the other's face. Their hands were close to each other and maybe it was just a spurt of weakness, but Simon let his fingers trail over Ryland's hand. Over the prominent veins adorning the back of his hand. He could feel Ryland's eyes watching his movements.
“You remind me of someone, who was very close to me..”
“Oh.” Ryland replied, flicking his eyes between his face and his fingers. “May I ask who it was? You do not have to tell me if it is uncomfortable.”
“No, it's okay.” Simon shook his head and played with a thick vein absentmindedly. Ryland smiled gently as he noticed it and flexed his hand to make it even thicker. It was as if the Vampire was in a trance. He didn't do it for hunger it seemed, but almost as if to distract himself.
“You remind me of my Mother.” The Vampire confessed and Ryland's eyes widened.
“How come?”
“She used to tell me stories about the Stars. About its Heroes, Lovers and many more. She..” he stopped and breathed in, even though he didn't need any air in his lungs anymore. “She told me that the Stars watch over us and that they protect us.”
“She sounds like a wonderful woman.”
“She was..”
Ryland's heart sank as he realized the meaning of his words and winced. He should have known, should have guessed that the people dear to you die when you're a Vampire. Not everyone wished to be immortal.
“I'm so sorry, Simon..” he whispered and the Vampire shook his head with a sad smile.
“It's okay, it was a long time ago. I can talk about her now.” Simon replied and then a gentle smile formed on his lips.
“She would have adored you.”
“Oh.” Ryland could only blush heavily at his words, his heart racing. “Okay. Yeah. Cool.” He winced at his choice of words, but he didn't know how to respond to this. What did it mean? What did it mean for the both of them? What does he himself mean with what did it mean for both of them?!
But before he could spiral further, a hand on his cheek stopped his thoughts. He snapped up and saw an amused Simon looking at him.
“Don't forget to breathe Angel.”
“I am breathing.”
“Well yeah, but a very irregular, panicked breathing.”
“Yeah, but still breathing.”
Simon shook his head and laughed. Ryland joined in seconds later. Both men fell onto their backs as they tried to calm themselves. But looking at each other seconds later, after they calmed down a little, made them laugh again.
A few minutes passed until they actually calmed down and both the Vampire and the Human looked into the sky. The Moon had now joined the Stars. Illuminating the field they laid on.
Ryland looked back to the smaller beside him, noticing once again the wistful look on his face. He didn't know if it was right to ask, if it was too much. But this moment was also the first time Simon opened up that much. He wanted to know more about him, to get to know him and to see a different side of the Vampire.
“You can ask me, Ryland.” Simon's eyes were still focused on the stars as he spoke up, a slight smirk forming, when Ryland jumped a little.
“Rude..” Ryland murmured and ignored the chuckle from Simon. “Can I ask how she..”
“How she died?”
“Yeah..”
Simon closed his eyes and sighed. His hand flexed in Ryland's, who was very close to taking his question back. Afraid that he went too far in his question. But Simon stopped him.
“It's a long story.” he starts and looks back up at the sky. “She had to go somewhere and never came back. To this day I don't know what really happened to her but.. I have a feeling it had to do with my Father.”
“Your Father?” Ryland asked carefully and Simon nodded.
“He was a tyrant. He..” The Priest looked down as he could feel Simon's hand twitching, the Vampire moving his knuckle bones side to side. And a low growl escaped his throat as his jaw ticked. Ryland immediately moved, taking the other's hand into his. Noticing how it calmed him slightly.
“He hated us. Hated my Mom, but kept her as a prize. Loathed me for existing and he succeeded in showing it every single day. At some point we were able to escape his grasp and I thought we were finally free. But I guess he found a way.”
“Did you ever confront him?”
“Yeah.. But that didn't end well.” Simon sighed and Ryland could see his watery eyes. The Vampire sat up, crossed his legs and let his head hang low. Ryland followed him and took the man's hand into his again.
“Simon..”
“I lost my very own Star, who did everything in her power to protect me and I couldn't do anything to protect her.” His voice broke and the first tear fell. “She told me that the Stars would protect us, but they didn't do anything. They didn't intervene, as he took her away.”
The Vampire hadn't spoken about this to someone else since 1912. Since..
He shook his head and ground his jaw. This wasn't the time to think about it.
“After that I hated the Stars. But.. they also were the last memory that I had of my Mother. I..Fuck-” Simon trembled as his tears rolled freely down his cheeks.
“I just miss her so much and I feel so alone..” he sobbed and seconds later there were arms around him, holding him tightly against a warm chest. A loud heartbeat echoed through his body, as Ryland held him.
“It's okay, you're not alone anymore. I'm here and I will never leave you, I promise.”
“You can't say that. Not you- Please..”
“Yes, I can.” Hands cupped his tear stained cheeks, making the Vampire look up at the Priest in front of him. The man's own eyes filled with tears.
“Simon, with everything I have you will find your love in the stars again. You will be happy again. I will make sure of it.”
“You can-” Simon started, but lips on his own stopped him. The Vampire whimpered as he reciprocated it. Throwing his Arms around his own personal Angel, to press him closer to him. Maybe he could do it this time. Maybe he really could be happy with the man in front of him finally.
Maybe Ryland could bring the stars back to him.
They parted after a few moments and leaned their foreheads against each other. Breathing heavily.
“Maybe it's too early to know, but I care for you. More than my belief would allow me to.” Ryland whispered and Simon's breath hitched, wanting to interrupt again but lips stopped him again.
“Please give me a chance to show you that even a damned man deserves to feel love.”
And gods, Simon would love to accept it. Would love to accept the love the Priest had for him. But he didn't want to drag him down with him. Mayhaps this was a mistake, to even get close to him.
But he could also make this right.
He nodded and moved forward, pressing Ryland into the grass below them. Kissing him with all the desperation that he had. Ryland Grace was his and everyone could be damned, to try to take him away from him.
The Priest whined into the kiss and wrapped his arms around his shoulders, pulling the other closer to him, til not even a gust of wind could get between them.
“You are mine, Ryland. You are my Angel. And no one else except me will have you. Remember this.” Simon growled against his mouth and he got his answer, as Ryland flipped them over, straddling his hips.
“And you are mine, Simon. I promise you this.” He breathed out, his eyes dark with want for the Vampire. Simon smirked and pulled him down into another kiss.
The Moon and the Stars stood witness to their new beginning.
The Vampire and The Priest walked back with rumpled clothing and messed up hair. A smile adorning both of their Faces, as they find their way back to the Church Gates.
“I will see you soon.” Ryland whispered against Simon's lips and kissed him gently. They parted after a few seconds and he had to hold back his grin, at the whine Simon let out.
“See you tomorrow, Father.” Simon whispered back and watched as his Angel vanished into the Holy Place with a smile.
He stood there for a few more minutes, until he started to turn to walk back, but a shiver ran through his body suddenly. All the hairs on his body stood up and a low growl escaped his throat, as he suddenly felt a wave of danger around him.
Simon's red eyes scanned the Church Grounds, trying to find the source of it.
But as fast as it appeared, as fast it vanished. Leaving the Vampire with a bitter taste in his mouth.
“What the fuck was that.” Simon murmured, an uneasy feeling washing through him. Something that he hadn't felt in a very long time.
He scanned the entire Ground one last time, before he decided to turn around.
Even though the thought of hiding in the Church Tower crossed his mind, he knew that he couldn't do this.
Ryland was safe. Nothing could happen to him this time. He made sure of it. Planned everything, so that his Angel wouldn't fall to his demise.
And as the Vampire walked away, a pair of eyes followed him.
“Hello, Butcher.”