bsumone | Slightly less monstrous boys: prequel

That earned a soft laugh from Su-jin. "That's surprising." He's barely cooked a thing in at least 600 years. Soup, at least, was relatively simple. "I'm glad it's edible." Heating up leftovers was a much easier feat than cooking something fresh and new.

"I can stay for a while if you want company."

"If you're trying to make sure you're my friend it's working."

Really well honestly. And even if the guy wasn't trying it was still working. He was grateful for that as he sipped at the soup some more, letting it fill his empty stomach. Already this was so much better than what he usually dealt with. It almost felt like having a pack again.

"I wouldn't go that far... yet." It's one thing to help someone in need. Another entirely if Silvio still wanted to call him a friend after he recovered. "You might change your mind after more of my cooking."

"I doubt it since usually have to survive off of freshly caught rat." Silvio stopped at about half of the soup gone, not wanting to push his stomach to eat more just yet. Better to pace himself a bit. Instead, he held it out for Su-jin to put somewhere for him before relaxing again as best as the pain would allow.

"I already decided to call you friend. You're stuck with this wolf now."

Su-jin took the bowl, brushing his soft fingers against Silvio's. Though he'd had a long life, it was one free of most labor, leaving him with soft, uncalloused hands.

"I'll put this back on the stove." There was more soup left, simmering now on a very low heat. That said, he vanished a moment then returned, once more sitting on the edge of Silvio's bed. "If you feel like you can stomach it, I also brought some fresh bread. I thought some things that would be easy on your stomach would be best. But if you need to sleep, I can stay in the living room so you can rest."

"You can stay here." And no, he wanted to be more clear about that. "Please stay here. It's been ten years but it's still hard to sleep alone after the full moon. If I can smell you next to me it'll help."

It was truly hard to admit that but this was someone he was claiming as a friend now. He needed to be honest with him. He knew that.

That he could understand. As many nights as he spends with Tiras, it's the nights they're apart that are the hardest. He sleeps restlessly, but deals with it as best he can. So, yeah, he got that.

"Okay," he agreed softly. If it helped Silvio to rest, he'd stay there until he woke up again.

"Thank you."

Being alone for ten years when he never had been the rest of his life? It was hard. Especially as a wolf. The whole lone wolf thing was bullshit and most didn't realize that fact. Having Su-jin there to be near him while he slept meant a lot and he found the exhaustion claiming him, Silvio soon drifting off there on the bed without a care that he was above the blankets.

Being with someone was more important to him.

He waited until he was sure Silvio was resting soundly before he moved. Even then, he didn't go far. Mostly just a few paces around the room, searching for a blanket in case he noticed any shivering from the wolf. But he was quiet about it, lest he disturb his new friend's sleep.

As promised, he would be right there, sitting on the edge of the bed when Silvio woke.

It was hours later when Silvio stirred again. He was tired but he felt...alright. In pain but that was normal. But because he could smell that someone familiar was nearby he didn't feel that sharp pang of loneliness. Opening his unseeing eyes, his hand sought out the body he knew that was within reach and he smiled.

"...you're really still here."

He heard Silvio stir and turned to face him with a smile. Even if Silvio couldn't see it, he wasn't going to temper his expressions or fail to look at him. He's sure Silvio's hearing is better than average on account of him being a wolf and without sight. So he would easily know if someone wasn't addressing him face-to-face.

"I said that I would stay," he murmured quietly as he reached for that seeking hand. "I do my best to stay true to my word. How are you feeling?"

"Like I was locked with silver chains in a basement for three days." He gasped softly as if in realization. "Ah wait..."

Then he smiled a bit and found one of Su-jin's hands to give a squeeze. He wasn't great but he was going to be fine. "Could you get me a cold cloth for my eyes? They're aching. It'll help a bit."

"Of course." He squeezed Silvio's hand in kind then gently pulled it free so he could do as asked. It wasn't long before he was back with the cold, damp cloth, folded neatly so Silvio could put it over his eyes without a fuss.

"What else can I do for you?"

Taking the cloth, he put it over his eyes, sighing as the cold sank in. That was so much better already. Relaxing a moment, he let the ache fade a bit as he waved to his body.

"How are things looking? Am I still black where the bindings were?" He had a feelings that would linger until the next day. After all he'd never been able to have ointment for the injuries before.

"It's still bad," he affirmed. Even with some medicine, it wouldn't heal right away. Faster than a normal human's wounds would, perhaps, but not instantly. Silver was Silvio's bane, after all. Su-jin could see why with the damage it did to him. It made his heart ache when he looked at those injuries. Not only because they looked so very painful, but because they reminded him that Silvio was alone in the world.

"I had a feeling. I saw what silver did to my pack before I lost my eyesight. It's why my eyes won't ever heal." Silvio lowered his hands to rest over his stomach. Not much else he could do since he needed to stay still to keep the cloth on his eyes. They needed the relief he could offer them right now.

"We're powerful. We're fast. Silver will take us down every time despite that."

Ah, so there was silver in his eyes. That explained the pain Silvio was afflicted by when they met. Most monsters he's met have some weakness or other. He's never encountered anything that can harm him in an instant like that. Su-jin always figured the manner in which he fed was a big enough weakness. Maybe he got lucky in that respect.

"You're safe with me," he assured. "I won't let anyone harm you while you're like this."

"I believe you."

Letting out a sigh, Silvio relaxed where he was in silence for a moment. Just to focus on getting the ache to die down in his eyes again. Licking his lips, he finally spoke up again.

"Tell me some stuff about you. I wanna learn about my new friend."

There's a quiet, thoughtful moment before Su-jin decides to start from... not quite the beginning. "I came West in the last century of what's now referred to as the Middle Ages. Once I arrived in Europe, the council determined something like me risked exposing us to humanity. Rather than just end me then, they paired me up with someone who has regenerative abilities. Since then, we've moved around the world. I handle our legal affairs and papers. We collect books, I'm sure we have thousands by now. I like to be fashionable." It was a little something, at least.

"I could smell you were older than me but not that you were that much older. Several hundred if I could guess right."

Silvio noted how there wasn't a lot there but it was a start. If they were really going to be friends there'd be lots of time for him to learn more about him. So he wasn't going to be bothered by that. Instead, he just let himself smile as he thought about the fashionable thing.

"When I'm feeling better will you let me feel your clothes? I want to know what is fashionable these days."

"Of course." Su-jin let out a little sigh. "Men's fashion isn't what it used to be." He missed the days of men dressing like peacocks. Colors and textures used to be much more prevalent. "It's very dull these days."

"Dull? Like the colors?" He supposed that made sense. The colors had been more muted in styles even just a decade ago. It had been quite the change from what he grew up with.

"Colors and textures." Brocades had largely fallen out of fashion, but they added so much depth that clothing, especially men's clothing, now lacked. "Browns and greys are popular now," he lamented with a quiet sigh.

"They seemed pretty popular even ten years ago..." That was too bad. He'd always loved color when he was able to see. Well, he supposed he wouldn't have to worry about that now because what was he really missing at this point?

"Maybe it'll cycle back to getting those back one day."

"I hope so," he sighed. He's going to love the 1980s, okay?

"I brought you some clothes, by the way. I saw yours were quite worn when last we met."

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