bsumone | Slightly less monstrous boys: prequel

"They never listen," he snarled. So much derision in his thus far gentle voice. Hunters, in his experience, were fanatics. Most of them were driven to eliminate everything that wasn't wholly human in their eyes. A long time ago, it was easier to reason with them, but now? As far as Su-jin knew there was no one governing body for the group and so they all attacked with different goals and ideals. The worst have always been the ones affiliated with the various religions of the world.

His grip on Silvio's arm tightened, just like the feeling in his chest. It's been a very long time, but Su-jin remembered how afraid he'd been when he was left alone, abandoned by the ones who were supposed to look after him as soon as they realized he wasn't like them.

"I'm sorry for your loss."

It had to be so much worse for a wolf. A creature such as himself could easily live a solitary life. Indeed, his first few decades with his partner were spent very separate. But a wolf? They were communal, social. They relied on their packs not just for safety, but for society.

Silvio was quiet for a time as they walked. He could hear and smell the anger from Su-jin. That told him so much about what kind of person he was more than anything else ever could have. And it honestly meant a lot to him. He just...needed a moment to gather himself. For immortals, even one as young as he was in comparison, a decade was barely any time at all to heal from such a loss.

"They were good people. I was orphaned when I was barely able to even walk. The pack took me in and raised me until I was old enough to decide what I wanted for my life. I chose them. We only ever helped travels lost in the woods and hunted forest animals..."

He didn't need to tell Su-jin that but he wanted to. It felt...right.

It's always the decent ones who end up getting wiped out. Nearly any socialized wolf could live safely near humans. Yes, there were those who delighted in destruction, but wasn't that true of any type of creature, human and otherwise? Ah, this poor wolf. To have lost his family not once, but twice.

"I hope, with time, your fond memories of them will make the pain less."

"I keep pieces of them on an altar I made. I...I can't see it. But I have to hope it's decent enough for them."

Letting out a sigh, he nodded to a tree that had fallen across a river to say they'd have to go over that. But before they got all the way across, he ended up having to reveal something he'd been doing the whole way as he made them pause so he could tie some fabric to a branch. Because that was what he'd been doing, subtly cutting off pieces of his own shirt to get stuck to things to give Su-jin a trail back when he had to leave.

"...you'll get lost without me and it probably won't be good for me to lead you out. This is the best I can do for you," Silvio offered in quiet explanation.

This wolf was sweet. Su-jin had a soft spot for a little sentimentality. Especially when it came to the ones people cared about. Really, was there any sentimentality that mattered more? He didn't expect to be shown the altar, but if he caught sight of it, the vampire would pay proper respect to Silvio's people.

Those dark eyes blinked when he noted what Silvio was doing. A soft smile touched his lips. "A few days in the woods won't hurt me. I'll find my way out eventually." A pause, then, "Thank you."

"Now you don't have to get lost. You strike me as someone who doesn't like when you go feral. Most wolves don't like that moment either."

On the other side of the river, he paused to breathe then nodded in the direction that they needed to go. It was a bit more to go but they were making good progress. Likely because Silvio was the one that was guiding them. He doubted he'd have much shirt left when they go there but that was fine.

"You have a good nose I bet. You can follow my scent back out this way."

The comment made him uncomfortable for a fleeting moment. His feeding habits weren't something he enjoyed discussing, even with Tiras. It took quite a while for them to settle on a feeding schedule that 1) didn't leave Su-jin half-starved and 2) didn't leave him feeling immense and crushing guilt.

His voice softened and it was clear he'd dropped his head when he answered with a weak, "Others get hurt when that happens..." The same was probably true with wolves, too. Being maddened by some external force wasn't a fun thing for anyone.

Su-jin wouldn't insult Silvio by insisting he stop trying to make a path for him to follow out of the woods. If he was able to move through the trees and underbrush without enduring knicks and cuts from the branches, well, he knew his limits and abilities better than any stranger.

"Not as good as yours, I imagine."

"Yeah. Yeah they do."

Because people got hurt when he went feral and he couldn't even control his. He just had to live with it. But Silvio didn't bring that up because this wasn't a competition. Being any kind of supernatural creature had its drawbacks just like being human did. There was no point in trying to claim one was worse than another. It wasn't fair.

He did let out a soft laugh at the comment about his nose though. "Good thing you smell good then, huh? For the sake of my nose?"

Su-jin chuckled in turn. He could only imagine what he smelled like to others since he was basically, like most creatures, nose-blind to his own scent. Blood, probably. And those floral soaps and lotions he buys for Tiras. No doubt more than a little of Tiras' scent is on him. Beyond that, Su-jin has no idea how he smells. Clean? He didn't use a lot of the lotions and potions that modern people did. A little moisturizer, some deodorant. That was about it.

"Do I?"

"Yeah. Your skin naturally picks up on things around you. It's nice. The trees are already clinging to you."

Probably a predator thing but he didn't care. He could like it anyway. After all he was a predator too so maybe that was why it made him feel so comfortable. It didn't matter what it was really. There was that underlying scent but it was the world clinging to him that he liked the most.

"Here."

He nodded a head to a cabin that had just come into view for Su-jin. It was nothing special but it didn't have to be. Silvio was the only one who lived there.

Perhaps it is a predator thing. Well, at least he smelled good! Small victories!

Su-jin's eyes fell on the cabin and he gave the exterior a quick once over. It didn't look like there was any immediate danger to him. It wasn't even a conscious thought, just something he'd learned to look for over the centuries. It was small, suitable for a lone person. His lodgings were usually a little larger due to his fondness for fashion. He could imagine himself in a little getaway like this, but not as a primary home. He's too spoiled for that.

"If you like, I can come check on you in a few days." And probably bring him some fresh clothes.

"You don't have to. I'm not going to be any kind of a host." To put it...mildly. He'd still be healing from silver burns and then gaining the energy to feed himself. It never looked good. No point putting someone through that. Wolves were used to it but it was a sorrowful sight for anyone else.

As it turned out the door wasn't even locked and Silvio let them right in. He had them go to the couch where he slumped onto it and got out the bottle to take more of the drug he'd been given.

Shuddering a little, his eyes closed.

For Su-jin he'd see the altar to the pack on one side of the wall. A piece of something for every single member of that pack as well as candles that hadn't been lit yet. Otherwise the cabin was largely bare save for some furniture here and there. Nothing that matched since Silvio had gotten it all while blind.

"You can help yourself to food or drink if you want. I know it won't give you anything but sometimes it's nice to eat something that doesn't give you nutritional value. Just for something different."

"You wouldn't have to treat me as a guest," he assured. It was concern that drove the offer, not some burning need for hospitality. He knew the moon was coming up and without the pack to look after each other after... Silvio would probably be tired and weak. A little extra help couldn't hurt his recovery.

The offer for something to eat or drink was tempting, but he didn't often indulge in that. Su-jin had a deep-rooted concern that eating for pleasure rather than sustenance would lead to eating for pleasure... Even after all these years with a partner who not only could tolerate his needs, but enjoyed them, Su-jin still couldn't shake the guilt it brought him.

"I'm fine, thank you."

"Then you can make yourself comfortable. But I get if you're in a hurry. I'll be okay."

He had been for around a decade now by some miracle. Lonely and in constant pain but that wasn't anything he couldn't live with. He'd get used to it given more years in his life. Of that he was certain. Mainly because he had no other choice.

This was Silvio's life now.

"Can I make you something to eat or drink?" Maybe some tea or coffee, whichever happened to be Silvio's choice, would help with the pain? Or maybe help to take the edge of it off, along with the drug. He offered the wolf a soft smile even though he knew Silvio couldn't see it. "I may as well be useful while I'm here, no?"

That made him tilt his head and turn to face Su-jin. His eyes opened but he didn't direct them to the man. For, well, obvious reasons. But he did listen to his movements. "You don't have to..."

He hadn't had someone there for him in a decade. Having it so suddenly? Silvio wasn't sure how to handle how good it felt.

That's not going to stop Su-jin from padding to the kitchen. His steps were light, but he made sure they were heavy enough that Silvio could keep track of him. It wasn't always the most comfortable thing to have someone in your space after a long time alone.

"I don't mind." He liked being able to help take care of others.

"I..."

Then he remembered that he should accept help when it had been offered. That was how he'd been raised. If there was someone who genuinely wanted to have your back then turning them down was foolish. Silvio sighed a little and gave a soft smile.

"...thanks."

That pulled a smile across Su-jin's lips.

"Are you hungry? I can cook something for you."

"A little. I have some leftovers of a stew I made but you can make whatever you want. Though I don't have much. I was supposed to get supplies and hunt today." And they could tell how well that went given the fact that Su-jin was here now.

"There's probably...something though."

"Leftover stew is good. I wan warm that up for you. And..." he began looking around, but didn't yet start opening cupboards. "Do you have any bread?" Because bread and stew go together!

"It's probably stale but yeah." He could smell it wasn't moldy at least. So it was fine to eat. But stale? Definitely. Still, that wouldn't be so bad when dipped in stew. "You can open whatever you need to, by the way."

"I'll toast it," he countered. Stale bread still made good toast.

With Silvio's permission, Su-jin started hunting around the kitchen: a pot to reheat the stew, a pan to warm up the bread, something for Silvio to drink.

"I'll put everything back when I'm done." Just where he found it to make things easier for Silvio to find when he needed them in the future.

"Thanks."

Listening to the sounds of someone else in his territory was surprisingly soothing. Closing his eyes again, he rested his arm on the back of the couch so he could use it as a pillow while he listened to the sounds. Just typical kitchen noises but they were done by someone who wasn't him. It made all the difference.

One looking at him would think he was asleep but he was anything but that. He just hadn't realized how much he'd missed having another person around like this.

"It's no problem."

It isn't long before the scent of the stew came wafting from the kitchen and a little sizzle could be heard from the oil in the pan Su-jin was using to crisp the bread. Once everything is done, he spoons out the stew into a bowl which he then sets on a place with the toasty bread. A glass of water and he's wandering back out to the living area to serve the meal to Silvio.

"Here you go. Are you feeling any better at all?"

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