Both Alike in Dignity

A/N: Didn't get a chapter up last night as I had to fill in for the local darts team, despite never playing before. A friend of mine is captain and begged me to come in and play to keep them from giving a game away. Predictably, being a total noob at it, I did terribly. And then it was too late to do a chapter (okay okay and I was too drunk). Anyway since this will probably be a regular occurrence, new chapter schedule: Tuesdays and Fridays. I'd hoped this chapter would be a long one to make up for it going up a day late, but it's actually super, super short. Since the whole story is pre-written, nothing I can really do about that. Sorry guys. 8/ It's still a fun chapter though, and Sebastian finally shows a little crafty backbone. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Word Count (overall): 17785
Word Count (this chapter): 1168
Updates: Tuesdays and Fridays

Chapter Ten


“See? This is much nicer,” Sebastian said, flopping down onto one of the beds and stretching out like a big cat. “At least this room doesn't pose as much of a danger to my health as Blaine.” He smirked. Two beds, a nice room and a decent shower. No fighting about sleeping on the floor or sleeping together. Soft sheets and a springy mattress. This was bearable.

“Mmm, and much easier for Blaine to track us, since they'd only take a card,” Jasper said, shutting the door behind him. He leaned against it and crossed his arms over his chest. “But I suppose safety doesn't matter to you as long as you get to be a prissy little shit.”

That held way more venom than Sebastian had been expecting. He moved up onto his elbows and stared at Jasper. “If I'm such a prissy shit then why did you bother with all this?” he asked. He'd never asked for Jasper's help. Never expected it. He would have died there, or he would have found some way to crawl back home. Neither of them would have ended up in this ridiculous situation. Death seemed appealing compared to all this running. He was weary. Worn out.

“I don't know,” Jasper said, giving a loose-shouldered shrug. “Impulse. That I'm starting to regret.” He paused. “Once I'd started, seemed a waste to just... let him.”

Sebastian looked away, not wanting to acknowledge how much the words stung. Jasper regretted it, didn't think he was worth it. He should have expected it. “Yeah,” he said, squirming out of the raincoat. He just wanted to strip off, cool down, maybe take a bath in ice. It was just his luck that the one day he ventured out into sunlight, it had to be baking hot. Fate was a fickle bitch.

“So why don't you just leave, if you regret it so much?” Sebastian asked, pulling his gloves off with his teeth. Trying for nonchalant. He kicked his shoes off and unwound the scarf from his neck, significantly more comfortable now that he'd rid himself of all the apparel.

“I'm not leaving now,” Jasper said, watching Sebastian avidly. “Too much invested. You're stuck with me until I get us out of this mess. Since I pretty much got you into it and all.” He shifted fluidly against the door and licked his lips.

“You sound so enthused,” Sebastian said. He took his cap off and ran his hand through his dark, damp hair. Sebastian sprawled back out on the bed again in just his t-shirt and jeans, the shirt riding up just a little, exposing a sliver of pale skin. He was too over-heated to give a shit.

Jasper's eyes fixed on the flash of bare skin like it was a homing beacon. He licked his lips. Sebastian was sprawled out like an invitation, on display, delicious and dishevelled. “Hot?” he asked, his voice coming out in a husky croak.

“Yeah,” Sebastian said, not oblivious to the way that Jasper was looking at him. He could feel the other's gaze burning into his skin, acutely aware of that sliver of flesh he was showing the other male. He didn't move to tug his shirt down. Desire was a powerful weapon, but he had to be very, very careful about how he played this game. He didn't trust Jasper. “I can't... I don't know how to explain. I guess I can't regulate my body temperature like you do. Small amounts of time in the sun and the heat isn't going to do much damage except for a sunburn. But too long and my body temperature just climbs... like a fever. The higher it goes, the more it fries my brain and the more delusional I get. I mean, it's not permanent. Just like if I get too cold I go into a stasis. Kind of like a snake? Except I can't get too hot either.”

Jasper blinked, a frown marring his features. “Huh,” he said. “I never realised it was like... that complicated. I guess.” He paused. “You could take a cold shower or something?”

Sebastian smirked. “Yeah, I could,” he said, “but I can't be bothered to move.” The idea of getting up, going all the way to the bathroom, stripping off and then taking a shower seemed like too much work.. He settled for tugging his t-shirt up a little more, revealing his flat, tight stomach for Jasper and cooling himself down in the process.

Predictably, Jasper couldn't tear his eyes away. Sebastian's stomach was flat and lean, his jeans riding low on the distinct, clear lines of his hips. Lickable. And not a hair on him. “Do you... uh... shave?” Jasper asked, his voice rough.

Sebastian watched Jasper watch him, smirking at the slow perusal of his body. He blinked at the question. “Uh.” He cleared his throat, his voice too low. “Yes. I don't like hair.” Jasper was covered in that shit. Sebastian grimaced.

“That's really, really gay,” Jasper said, his eyes still fixed on Sebastian's skin. They flicked up to the vampire's face, then back down again. Unable to help himself.

“Mmm, this century's propensity for equating good personal hygiene with homosexuality is really quite fascinating.” Sebastian stretched slowly, his muscles sliding smoothly beneath his skin, his body moving gracefully. Even if he hated the clothing that Jasper had picked out for him, he enjoyed the power they gave him.

Jasper's gaze followed the lines of Sebastian's body as he stretched. The other was absolutely gorgeous, but then many vampires were. They were an aesthetic, proud, narcissistic race that turned only the most beautiful, thus propagating their allure.

“I know what you're trying to do,” Jasper said, his voice husky. He coughed, cleared his throat and shifted, still staring. He looked up at the vampire's face, this time his gaze staying there.

Sebastian smirked. He wasn't exactly being subtle. “Yeah?” he asked, moving up onto his elbows again, meeting the wolf's eyes. “Jasper, I'm hungry,” he said, his voice low. He only asked because he knew the other couldn't. Not so soon after last time. Not without eating.

Jasper stared. Indecision flickered across his face, swiftly followed by desire. “I can't,” he said, swallowing hard. “I need to eat, and... I can't. You know I can't. You can hunt in a bit. Or something. Yeah?”

“Fine,” Sebastian said, hiding a victorious smile. He narrowed his eyes. “I'll go after I get some sleep. You can do what you want.” He turned onto his side, putting his back to Jasper. Only when he was facing the wall did he allow himself to smirk. He'd found a way to control Jasper, whether the other liked it or not.