William’s P.O.V

I push the back door to the small yard space behind Blue’s, just wide enough to sneak a glance at Damon.

Kindling foolish disappointment, I find his back faced towards me blocking me from even a blurred view of his face. He was squatted to the floor, his body placed only a few inches in front of Sassy’s.

Sassy sat perfectly still, seemingly staring him down the same way he appeared to be staring at her. I was too far to know if he was speaking to her but if he was, she seemed completely unphased with her front legs holding her up tall.

I bite my lip to capture a laugh and let the door close gently behind me as I made my way back to the forefront of the shop.

When google responds to my quick question, informing me I had another half hour before I could close up the shop, I slump back into the chair, letting my fingers caress my bottom lip as my mind works overtime with a desperate need for answers.

I had actually told him about my eyes.

Something so simple seemed monumental in my mind as I let the memory spill over in my mind. I’d actually gone and told him about one of the many pieces of me that made me so weak, admitted my greatest fault to a relative stranger.

Yet, Damon didn’t give a single damn.

At least he didn’t appear to, he seemed unphased and unbothered. Two things that seemed to be his general attitude from what I could see. Somehow he quelled my greatest fears to nothing more than a stupid worry that seemed foolish now to have received such a large amount of energy hiding.

Damon didn’t act any different. He, in fact, brushed off the matter as if it was nothing, somehow sensing my need for him to do just that. I couldn’t see his facial expressions to know if I was right but I could tell he wanted to ask more, but he held back. Held himself back and carried on, asking me when I was finishing up here and then if he could stay with me when I told him it was soon.

I felt almost guilty now, for even thinking that Damon would react any differently than he had. Somehow annoying yet comforting, wrapped together in a warmth that made me smile. He seemed to have that effect on me, making me feel light and comfortable in a manner I hadn’t experienced in months.

But there was no way for me to know that, there was still so much about Damon I didn’t know. Too much for me to completely follow my instincts to trust him where I couldn’t trust anyone else and discount the way experienced argued against that.

I’d still told him and ever let my eyes fill with tears when I couldn’t control the way my heart sang at his somewhat innocent reaction.

I release a strained groan at the memory, burying my face in my hands while I spun in the familiar chair. My groan only loudens when my heart sings at the thought of him in such a lovely light. He made me vulnerable, made me want to try to trust when I knew I shouldn’t. He, in some way, embodied everything I needed in my life at this very moment. Which made no sense seeing how I only spoke to him on a number of occasions, but it was true.

God, he made my mind spin without even trying.

“Is this what you do for a job?” Damon’s voice asks so close and sudden that I basically leaped from my chair, before settling with a raising heart. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” He says as he circles to the opposite side of the counter to put some space between us, knowing I needed it.

“It’s okay,” I say through my labored pants before letting my eyes sneak up to take him all in and God Almighty if he didn’t make my heart beat a little faster.

“Something is seriously wrong with your dog.” He continues, pulling me from my momentary daze. I watch cautiously as he props himself against the counter on his side, with enough of an angle to leave the majority of his frame facing me. “Something you should know is that all animals love me, worship the ground I walk on and listen to everything I say. All but that damn dog.”

“Do they now?” I question and he nods seriously. “Well, I’m happy I picked the only smart animal you’ve encountered,” I reply, propping an elbow on my chair armrest to lean against.

My smirk grows with the way Damon scrutinizes me, I couldn’t see his eyes too well but they were bright enough for me to know they were on me.

“Funny.” He says blandly and I offer him a shrug. “Seriously, she’s the first animal I’ve ever met that hates me and I don’t understand why. She’s harder to understand than humans.”

She is a dog…

“Well you have insulted her on numerous occasions and I’ve been with her long enough to know that animals understand more than they give on,” I reply, letting the chair sway teasingly from side to side. “Plus, I’m finding it hard to believe that she’s the first to not lick your face with joy on sight.”

“I’m telling you, give me any other animal and you’ll see.” He argues as he shifts slightly, making himself more comfortable while moving a little closer to me.

“Whatever you say, Damon,” I reply before I let my gaze carry from his body and back to his face, afraid it would linger for too long. “You know… you don’t have to wait with me, I could just meet you back at the complex.”

“I’d rather walk back with you.” He says making my heart stutter as he leaned his upper weigh on his arms, drawing him just that little bit closer.

“Why?” I ask, afraid it was because of my sight. Maybe he thought he had to babysit me now, that I couldn’t do anything without help.

“Because,” He slurs in a sultry way that makes my skin pull around my tightening muscles. “I enjoy spending time with you. I’ve told you before, you don’t piss me off nearly as much as people usually do.”

My eyes remain locked on the small blue oculus that seemed to glow in this moment. The swirls of blue appearing to pulse, as if alive within himself. Damon pulls back first, turning his head and taking the magical elements with him. His hands laid at his side, gripping the counter as he looked around the empty shop.

“I doubt anyone else is coming today, I’ll lock up early,” I announce after shaking my head to wash away the need and stand, hoping I didn’t upset Damon in some manner.

“Need help?” Damon asks, quelling my worries despite the slight strain to his voice, his head still facing away.

“If you could get Sassy on her leash and ready, that’d be great,” I say while digging under the mess of thrown items to pull free her leash. I circle Damon and offer it to him. He grabs hold of tough, leather just beneath my hand, the space between our fingers minimal. “Good luck with the one animal who despises you.” I tease before letting my hold of the leash drop, the metal clips clunking as it fell against his knuckles.

I make my way to the front of the store, to lock the door and turn the sign, smiling to myself at the deep rumble of chuckles which echo behind me from the guy who seemed to be breaking me down, brick by brick.

———–

I tug aggressively at the old door to slam it into place, clasping the locks shut over all the loops before backing away. I turn with my one hand wrapped with Sassy’s leash and look up at Damon, slightly stunned for a moment to find another presence for my walk home.

“Ready?” I ask and he nods, stuffing his hands in his pockets to ward off the afternoon chill before slipping into steps beside me with Sassy trotting between us.

“So, I know you probably don’t want to talk about it, but could you explain a little more about the way you see?” Damon asks hesitantly. The sudden question directed to my eyes taking me by surprise. He carries on quickly before any discomfort can build. “Just so I don’t make any stupid assumptions or mistakes in the future and know anything I should to make things easier for you.”

I keep my eyes focused on the path before us, scanning for one of my usual landmarks while I battle with my own conscious. It was a reasonable request, completely harmless and well-intended. If I wanted the friendship we were building, the friendship I so desperately needed, then I would have to push away my worries.

“You know when you rub your eyes too much or open them after sleeping and there’s a split second when everything is stretched weirdly and mixed together?” I ask glancing up to catch his quick nod. “It’s like that a little. Nothing has edges, they’re blurred clumps of color I had to learn to adjust to. Things I’m familiar with aren’t trouble, things like people and trees, cars and birds in the sky. But things I don’t know or haven’t seen before are could be anything to me.”

“If you know me, then why didn’t you recognize me earlier?” He asks with no signs of evil intent in his tone.

“Well lit areas also help and Blue’s isn’t really bright inside,” I explain as I fumble the following words before speaking them. “I don’t really know what you look like, I’ve only seen you in areas which are too dark for me to try and get a better glimpse. Direct sunlight is the best option but that’s not always the easiest option, so a lot of lamps and light in rooms help.

Silence dangles between us as our steps come to a stop in front of one of the road’s crossings. I lean over to push the button before glancing up to Damon, he was looking straight ahead, thinking on my words. I gnaw at my lip in wait, letting my eyes drop in worry that I may have overloaded him a little.

The system beeps while the red light on the opposite side turns green. Sassy trots ahead of us and we follow, Damon seeming to be in a thoughtful daze as he walked in step silently. He only spoke when we reached the other side of the road.

“So what do you see when you look at me?” He asks tentatively, his tone hinting to curiosity and slight hurt that didn’t make sense. His steps slowed until he stopped walking, forcing me to stop as well. I turn to face him and look up, the afternoon sky doing little to help me as he peered down at me.

“Blue eyes.” I start, my own eyes immediately drawn to them. “I see bright, blue eyes that are deeper than any I’ve ever seen before. You have a strong jaw, sharp like if someone molded them to be so. Black, kind of short kind of long hair that seems to be tousled differently every time I see you.” Damon’s lips tug at that comment. “That’s all I can see.”

Damon smile falters, fading for a brief, pitiful moment before it stretches back with full force.

“Shame, I’m quite a sight.” He whispers before he continues walking.

My mind blanks for a moment, electricity racing through my veins at the way his words seemed to caress the edges of my ear like a ready tongue. Sassy tugs at her leash, forcing me to continue behind the two despite the annoying heat running up my neck. I sneak a glance at Damon, heart racing when I catch the ready smirk there.

“So the brighter and closer the better?” He asks, awaiting confirmation.

“Basically.” I manage after clearing my narrowing throat.

“I guess I should start wearing neon.” He mumbles pulling a laugh from me.

——-

I unlock my front door and take a breath before pushing the door open, stepping inside and leaving the space open for Damon to follow.

I set the keys down and throw my bag by the door, turning to try and gauge Damon’s reaction to my small space. It was the same as his, both in furniture and lack of personal artifacts. The only thing that made this place mine was Sassy’s things and the products in my bathroom.

“Feels weird being in the exact opposite of my place.” He comments, head shifting as he scanned bashfully.

“What kind of pizza do you want? I’ll order.” I say before slipping my phone from my pocket.

I open my phone, ears waiting for a response that never comes. I glance up to find Damon in the same spot, blue swirls focused on me.

“Damon?”

“Did you want to order because of your eyes?” He forces out while his small grocery bag dangles from his right hand. “Is it hard to cook?”

“Well, yes and no,” I answer, phone sitting in wait within my palm. “It’s not hard to cook, just takes longer and I thought that would be annoying for you, so pizza seemed like a good compromise.”

I don’t bother adding on how long it took me to come up with the courage to ask him to eat pizza with me, or how it took even longer to come up with ordering food was a good solution for my previous concerns. That was embarrassing.

“It’s not.” He replies simply. I nod before slipping the phone back into my pocket.

“If I’m cooking, you’re helping,” I demand while crossing my arms.

“Because you helped with breakfast.” He tosses back humorously.

“I didn’t know that making eggs was a two-man job.” I retort with a smile.

“It was eggs and bacon.”

“Next time I’ll make sure to lend the helping hand.”

“Thank you,” Damon replies, head held high by stubbornness. “You get everything ready and I’ll go feed Blaze.”

“Because the fatass needs more food,” I reply with a snort while he opens the door. He flips me off in response and lets the door close behind him.

I laugh to myself and unlock Sassy’s leash, fixing her with some food and water. I throw off my jacket and jeans, slipping into shorts before placing a record to play softly in the background. Washing my hands, I glide around the kitchen, pulling the needed ingredients out from the various cupboards and fridge.

The door flicks open to reveal Damon in different clothes from earlier. I make out a white muscle t-shirt which favored his large biceps and loose sweatpants that hung perfectly from his waist, or at least I assumed that last part… couldn’t necessarily see it.

“Terikayi chicken and noodles?” I ask watching him survey the table of food. He nods when he’s done and looks to me. “What are you good at in the kitchen?”

“Anything with a knife.” He says immediately.

I frown up at him. A pushed away a memory of him carrying a knife the night we met resurfacing. Was it normal for people to carry around knives? Especially one so large and peculiar.

“You can cut the chicken into small pieces and then the vegetables after,” I say and he nods with eagerness. He makes his way to the opposite counter and selected a large knife from the rack and gets to work. “You seem to like knives,” I state while filling a pot with water.

I let my eyes stretch to him, his back towards me as his arm tensed and twisted to produce the pressure to the exposed chicken.

“……I do.” He replies skeptically as if expecting a certain reaction from me.

“Why?” I ask as I carefully set the pot onto the stove before turning the small knob to an acceptable temperature.

“William,” He says jolting me with the use of my full name. I turn to find him facing me, the knife spinning between his fingers.

“Y-Yeah?”

“If I share things about myself that I don’t want to, can you do the same?” He asks with so much confidence and ease in his words, that ‘yes’ almost slipped off my tongue without thought.

“What makes you think there are things about myself I won’t want to share?” I reply, after allowing my inevitable response and replying with another question instead.

Damon huffs. The spinning knife twirls speed up as he pushes off the counter allowing himself to stand tall above me, the height making something deep within pulse to life. I stifle the lust before it could build, tall men had always been a super turn-on for me but I didn’t want that with Damon.

“Just because I haven’t battered you with questions doesn’t mean I’m dumb or that I don’t have them. I have a lot but I’ve kept quiet because you clearly seem to hate questions.” He says blatantly, reading me like a child’s book. “I don’t like questions either, but if I am going to share with you, then I want you to do the same.”

“And why should I?” I retort, watching him carefully as he shrugs and turns back to the chicken.

“Because you clearly like this little friendship as much as I do,” Damon replies before the rough clamping of the knife against the chicken continues.

I mindlessly pop open a pack of noodles before letting them sink into the boiling water. Mind scrambled with the straightforward responses and statements Damon offered, his honesty refreshing and alluring.

“And if there’s something one of us absolutely doesn’t want to answer?” I ask while he brings the chicken over to me in a small, purple bowl.

“Say banshee and it’s off-limits.” He says standing above me with a smirk while I frown.

“Banshee? Why banshee?” I ask but he shakes me off while washing his hands and the knife.

“Don’t worry about it.” He replies through a chuckle, eyes watching the water cascading off his knuckles and into the drain. Neither of us speaks while he steps to the other end of the island which held the vegetables and chopping block, him waiting for my agreement or decline to the offer.

“Why do you like knives?” I ask finally, the question carrying my agreement to his conditions with it.

“My old man taught me how to fight and I picked up on knives pretty quickly.” He replies instantly, his voice straining with pain. “The feel of them grew on me.”

I let his words settle in my mind, realizing for a shocking moment that this was the first time either of us talked about our families. I kept private for my own reasons; a homophobic father and counterfeit mother that weren’t worth mentioning and a past that did more bad than good to mention.

I hadn’t thought about someone having an equally horrible past, family or worse circumstances even, that would keep them hiding things as I did. But what if Damon was like me, in more ways than I originally believed. It seemed possible and the case that he too had things he didn’t want to face or relive.

“So have more?” I ask and he looks my way in question. “You had one the night we met, do you have more?”

“Oh,” He breathes before chuckling with a hum. “Yeah, I got a lot more. That one was just my favorite, that’s why I had it.”

“You have a favorite knife?” I question while dousing the chicken with different seasonings.

“Don’t you?” He replies, his tone holding so much conviction that for a moment, I thought that I should. That was until he laughed and let his new knife rip against the poor vegetables, somehow not catching a finger between the vigours cutting. “What happened the night I found you?”

The word banshee presses against my lips, pleading to be released in order for the topic to be put to rest. But it didn’t seem fair to say no on the first question, I could at least offer him a piece of the truth anything other than the truth and the bastard would call me Taylor.

“The shop owner, Blue, he was supposed to come when my shift end but something happened with his wife so I was stuck there waiting. By the time I got the sense to leave, it was dark out and I could barely see anything.” I explain, useless eyes focused on the chicken I was mixing together. “I turned down the wrong road and it was like I closed my eyes, then these people were all around me and I freaked out.”

“Did they hurt you?” He growls deep, stunning me for a moment as I look up to find him already looking at me.

“Did you just growl?” I ask with disbelief and slight fear.

“Did they hurt you?” Damon repeats slowly through clenched teeth, knife still in his hands as if waiting for the word to strike.

Not this time

“No,” I reply watching him warily. “What would do if I said yes?”

“Doesn’t matter now, you said no.” He says, returning his attention to the peppers he was slicing into before.

“I could be lying.” I offer but he snorts making me chuckle at the sound. I knew I did it a lot, but that was uncontrollable and I hated it. Yet somehow with Damon, it was almost cute.

“I thought by now you would’ve realized that I know whenever you’re lying and whenever you’re not,” Damon replies as he reached for another pepper.

“It’s creepy that you do and unfair that I can’t do the same.” I shoot back but he just laughs again.

“Not my fault your heart is so loud.” He mumbles.

“What?” I ask as he places the pan I set out on the stove beside the now bubbling pasta.

“What song is this?” He diverts and succeeds when my ears pick up on one of my favorites. “You have to be joking, this is one of the greatest songs ever.”

“It sounds weird.” He comments despite the slight sway of his hips which were undeniably adorable. “Like sad people dying.”

“That makes absolutely no sense.” I protest through giggles as he douses the heating pan with oil while taking on the task of handling the noodles. I all but drool as I watch him weave around the kitchen without a spec of doubt.

A man who could cook is a man who could get it.

“You still haven’t told me the name.” He replies taking me from my thirsty thoughts.

“Everybody wants to rule the world.” I fill in, watching for the moment of recognition that never comes. “By Tears for Fears,” I add but the words slide off him as his cut vegetables slide of the chopping block. A colorful arrangement of bell peppers, mushrooms, onions and carrots falling into the awaiting pan.

“Name is nice but I’ve never heard of it.” He admits, blue swirls glancing my way between his focus to cooking.

“Then what on earth do you listen to?” I ask, genuinely intrigued about what music could pull someone from such a classic.

“You wouldn’t know any of it.” He replies, continuing before I could press any more. I let the chicken pour into the pan of awaiting vegetables, leaving us side to side, a barely noticeable gap left between us yet I didn’t feel the urge to widen it.

“But you like this,” I state, not needing to question it with the way he still swayed while his head tipped back and forth in a rhymic motion.

“Sadly.” He agrees with a small hum. “Who would’ve thought.”

“You are very strange Damon.” I voice looking up to him while he steers the chicken.

“Is that a bad thing? To be strange?” He asks, his eyes parting from the pan to look at me, seeking an honest answer.

“No,” I say honestly, smiling happily at him. “Not with you.”

Damon stills, eyes glued to me while my feet took me closer to the hypnotic sapphire gems. My arm brushes against Damon’s, the second his skin rubs against mine my eyes flutter shut, an undeniable rush of energy circuiting through me making my entire soul buzz with life.

Damon steps closer, letting more of us touch, his head just above mine, close enough to me to hear his raging heart and desperate breathes. My body goes into a desperate reboot while his height shadows over me, his presence a strong warm thing I wanted to latch onto.

My heart thumps to the brink of collapsing at the contact that was meant to make me break out in hives and empty my stomach. But instead, it ran through me like electricity, switching on every light inside of me to leave me full of a profound, radiant energy that made my mouth dry with the need for more.

I force my eyes open, force myself to look at Damon and jump back when I see him. A shriek tears from my lips making Damon blink rapidly stepping back to create even more distance between us.

“S-Sorry.” He scrambles out, his body stiff like my own. “I didn’t mean t-to do that. I’m sorry.”

His earnest words fly straight over my head as I look at the blurred image of him that I was used to, the image of him I’d seen for a split second clear in my mind.

My heart heaves with confusion, worry and ache at the handsome man I’d seen, or had I. No, I had. I saw him, saw the strong jaw with the bright, blue eyes and the luscious pink lips everything in me screamed to claim in a sudden wave of hunger.

I blink repeatedly, letting my fingers brush the still tingling skin that left every inch of me thirsty with want and raw desire for the blurry man who stood across from me.

“I’ll go.” Damon breathes when my silence rings on.

“No.” I snap quickly, running a hand over my face and through my hair. Forcing myself to pull it together for just a moment. “No, it’s fine. It’s okay. J-Just forget about it and let’s finish this off.”

Damon nods quickly, whispering numerous apologies that landed on deaf ears as he slowly repositioned himself in front of the stove.

Blue swirls pinning me every other moment, fear and worries practically rolling off of him in waves while I trapped myself against a counter. Using my back to shield me from his probing eyes, my mind a muddled, bewildered thing that rung.

The image of Damon still fresh and tempting in my mind, my heart swollen in my chest with want and need to be close once more.

I’d seen him. For a moment, not a second longer, I’d seen him. Experiencing a clarity I hadn’t touched since the attack I saw Damon. Saw all of him, not just the conspicuous parts….

…….and he was beautiful.

————————

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! WILLIAM SAW DAMON AKFROGDFOGMDFG

Thoughts?

I’m actually losing my shit. Like how, why, qué??? This book is messing me up deep inside.

Do we want to continue the next chapter from the same spot?? I do but I love hearing thoughts for advice. So please share them.

Vote up if we were pleased and comments all your wonderful opinions and emotions.

Until next time,
Byeeeeeeeeee Humanssssssssssssssss