spaces_between | (no subject)

[Illness came and went with Steve, and normally it didn't affect him as much as it probably should. He, of course, was concerned for his best friend because it was difficult to watch Steve go through yet another round of illness which was a day or so for most people but upwards to a week for the blond. He cared for Steve as much as possible, but there were times the lung ailments were bad enough that a trip to the hospital or a clinic was necessary. It had been awhile since Steve had had to go away.

He survived easily the first three days without meals, working more to have some extra money for when Steve came home. The rent needed to be paid, food needed to be purchased and he was in desperate need of some shoe repairs. With no one to come home to, he worked harder at the docks or any other odd job that he could find. Usually a charming smile and a wink earned him at day's work in most places.

By the fourth day, he was noticeably edgy and hungry. By the fifth, it was almost impossible to keep his 'normal' appearance anymore, which forced him to lure a pretty young woman to their apartment. She had been easily taken in and just as easily lured into the throes of passion where he drained every delicious drop of energy out of her. She died with the prettiest smile on her face.

He had bathed, washed his clothing in the left-over water and stood in his best pair of woolen trousers. He hummed a low pleasant tune as he combed his hair and set some grease to it before freezing at the sound of the door opening. He glanced at the body, her full breasts still rather exposed and sighed a little. He had been sloppy, hadn't he?

He stepped out from around the corner, his skin still faintly glowing and his teeth almost a blinding white when he smiled. And smile he did, tapping the comb on his palm as he swaggered his way over to his blond.]

Steve! You're home! You should have called, you know. I would have come and met you on your way in!

[ Even in a situation like this, Bucky is a distraction. He is alluring, so very stunningly beautiful when he's flush with power, at the peak of his abilities. There are so many reasons why women (and men) flock to him in droves even when he isn't trying, and he's very sure Bucky isn't trying right now.

But he can't look away from the naked dead woman in their bed just behind Bucky, the knowledge that Bucky had been hungry enough to partake all of her life essence made his heart clench and his stomach turn. He hadn't meant to be away this long, to break his promise to his best friend.

He swallows hard and looks up at him, wide-eyed. His incubus is preening like a very handsome peacock, the embodiment of perfection, as if it's just like any other day that he's got a dead woman on their bed. She looks like she's sleeping, pale and unmoving, and he doesn't know what to think. ]

No, it's all right. Buck, you killed someone.

[Steve's shocked disapproval was obvious, but he was in far too good a mood to allow it to hit home on him. He was very much aware of what he had done, but there was no regret for it and never would be. He had to eat, had to survive and she had not complained even at the end when he drank down the last of her energy. No, no, she had still weakly cried out her pleasure and then gone away completely.

He came to stand in front of his small blond friend, even if on those lonely nights he had repeated to himself the word 'lover' like it was a dream. Steve was so very special and would never end up like that one on the bed; he never allowed himself to get hungry enough to even risk that kind of situation.]

I'll stash the body after dark. [He waved away the pointed protest with another big smile.] Let's focus on you being home! I missed you, and I earned extra coin so when you came home we could celebrate with a big dinner! What do you say?

Who was she?

[ Steve had never stopped thinking about Bucky, his boy from Brooklyn, so very strong and handsome and so very not human. He's had plenty of time to get used to the fact that his best friend and now lover is a breed of demon, a stunningly beautiful one that fed on others to survive.

Seeing him like this, so strong and so compelling and so warm, he can't help but feel a pang of guilt. Still, he could never bring himself to turn from Bucky, no matter how horrific it is -- and a small, traitorous part of him twinges at how Bucky must have pleased this woman and thought about him all the time. He takes his hand, threading small fingers through his as he looks up at him, biting his lip. Dinner can wait. ]

Did you think of me when you were doing it with her?

Her name was Gloria. I didn't get more than that because it didn't matter.

[Callous perhaps, but he had needed her for one purpose and that alone. He had drawn her in easily and shown her the time of her life before she had passed, and he spared her no more thought than that. She was a food source and certainly warranted no more of his attention now that Steve was here and looking well.

He squeezed Steve's delicate fingers between his own, using the new hold to draw the blond to him so that he could curl his arm around Steve's waist and hold his lover against his body. He was giving off considerable heat, burning in the energy he had acquired.

Yet, the question had him looking scandalized.]

Lord no! I would never sully the memory of what we do together with her. I only think of what we do together when you are here to perform with me. I am loyal to you in that way, Steve. No one fills my head with happiness like you can.