October, 2017, Present Time.
"Aro? Aro, get your arse in this room! I've just spent a small fortune on you." I storm up the stairs as soon as we arrive back at the castle. I rush two at a time up the steps to the tower where I know Aro spends time with Caius's wife, whose name I can't remember.
I make it up the steps, gasping for air, as I reach the door. I need to do more exercise, I'm so unfit. I push the door open to find Aro and Caius's wife perching on the sofa, drinking something from glasses. I try to ignore the fact that the liquid is red and instead head to his side.
He doesn't acknowledge me but turns his cheek for me to kiss which I do reluctantly. His cheek is smooth, the skin so white and fragile looking. I let my lips linger for slighty longer than I should have and I know he notices, as he smiles.
I sit beside him on the sofa, and Caius's wife smiles at me. "Alex." Aro looks at me. "I don't believe you've met Caius's wife, Athenadora." He introduces and she holds out her hand which I shake firmly.
"Good to meet you." I announce and she nods in return. She doesn't speak. Aro turns to me with his manic smile. "Alex." He says cheerily. "Did you want to see me?" He asks happily and I dig out the ribboned box.
"Here." I pass it to him with no explanation. "Don't bother asking questions, just know that I've spent almost five hundred on you." I grunt and his eyes widen in surprise. "That's a lot of money, and I already have a watch." He says importantly and I jump up, angry.
"If you don't want the stupid watch, then give it back!" I yell, suddenly and he blinks. "Alex, calm down. I didn't mean to offend yo-"
"Fuck off!" I cut him off, eyes blazing. "I didn't want to spend money on you! It was Caius's idea. I've almost spent my whole bank balance on you!" I throw the box at him.
It hits his shoulder but he doesn't even flinch. He sits there disbelieving. "You're not deserving of this present. I don't love you, I don't even like you. You're an irritating disease that I can't get rid of and I could just get up and leave." I snap while Aro's face goes blank.
"Alex." He tries again but I turn around, and leave the tower, rushing downstairs, which is dangerous because of the spiral shape but I continue downwards, until I reach the ground floor.
I sprint off in search of the kitchen. The quicker I run, the more time I have to get away from Aro and the least likely he'll be able to find me. If he even bothers coming to find me, I'll give him a mouthful of abuse.
The ungrateful little bastard. 'You're overeacting.' Richard laughs as I rush into the kitchen before Aro can catch up.
I slam the kitchen door closed and lean against it so he can't barge his way in, although I know Aro is ten times stronger than me.
It's only then that I notice Enoch, smiling with amusement. "Hello, Alex." He's drying dishes as if he's just done the washing up. "How was your walk with Master Caius?" He asks seriously and I stifle a laugh.
"Master Caius? What is this, BDSM?" I snort and Enoch flushes red, turning around to face the dishes, his posture stiffening. "Oh, Enoch I didn't mean to offend you. I'm sorry, I just-" I trail off, feeling like an idiot.
He looks over his shoulder but doesn't turn to face me. "It's fine, Alex. It's just a title. For respect." He shrugs, looking angry and I feel myself deflate a little. I've finally made a friend, and here I am offending him. "I'm sorry, man. I mean it. You're the only friend I've got in this place." I admit and he snorts, turning to face me.
"We're friends are we?" He sneers angrily and I sigh at him. "I'm sorry, Enoch. I get it, Caius is your boss I guess and you're being respectful." I summarise carefully and his face softens slightly. He relaxes a little and puts the remaining dishes away.
"As for your question, my walk turned into a shopping trip for Aro's benefit." I tut, grimacing at the thought of the amount of money in my account. Enoch smiles. "What did you buy?" He asks casually and I almost start getting angry again at the memory.
"A watch. An expensive, branded, ridiculously priced watch. He's drained my bank account and he barely said thank you." I snap and he sighs, looking symphathetic. "He's never had a mate before. If anyone gives him gifts, they're usually from women and he hates that. He's ecstatic, I'm sure. He just doesn't know how to handle or respond to it." He assures and I relax a little.
His words make sense and I feel quite stupid at my outburst at Aro in the tower. "I'd barely met Caius's wife and now she probably thinks I'm such dickhead." I flop my head onto my arms, sighing.
Enoch can't resist a smile and takes a seat at the table. "Maybe you should apologise to Aro. He's really not used to this type of thing." He repeats and I rise from the table with a deep sigh.
"Okay, Enoch. You win." I groan at the idea of having to apologise to Aro's smug face. "Get the kettle on, Enoch. I'll be needing it after this little incident." I leave the kitchen, hearing Enoch's amused chuckle.
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I reluctantly knock on the tower door, gasping for air after tackling the spiral staircase. I hunch over, waiting for the door to be opened when I hear Aro from the other side of the thick wood.
"I do not wish to speak to you, Alex." His voice is audible but muffled. I groan with frustration. "Aro, stop being an attention seeking little-"
"Do not bother insulting me." He interupts before I can finish.
"You did your fair share of that earlier, humiliating me in front of Athenadora." He sounds embarrassed and I feel a small jolt of triumph for a second before snapping back to reality and shame.
"I'm sorry, Aro. I've come to apologise." I try turning the handle, but it remains stiff and uncooperating. I bang my forehead against the door, irritated at Aro's comments.
"Please leave, Alex." I hear him sigh and I feel quite bad for my actions. 'You're such a dickhead.' Richard snarls, and I flinch at his tone of voice. I snap back to reality and knock at the door again.
"Aro, please. Open. The. Door." I enunciate each syllable, hoping he'll at least open it by a crack. "Aro?" I try again, but he stays quiet for a few more seconds.
"Alex. I....I opened the box. It's a beautiful watch. It must have cost a lot of money. I'm very happy." He admits quietly, so quietly I have to press my ear against the door.
"I'm glad you like it, Aro. Now let me in. Please." I add as an extra little thing in the hope he'll open the door. I wait anxiously, relieved when the door swings open and Aro stands there, looking sheepish.
"Alex." He acknowledges, and I offer a small sorry smile. "I'm sorry, Aro." I apologise quietly and he crosses his arms over his chest. "Sorry about what?" He demands and I groan at him. "For being so over dramatic. I'm sorry." I summarise and he smiles a sad smile, nowhere near the usual manic idiot he usually is.
"It is fine." He sighs, making room to walk through the door. I duck under his arm that props open the door and head into the tower room, where thankfully, Athenadora isn't there.
As Aro sits on the sofa opposite me, I notice he's wearing his watch. "Thanks for wearing it." I gesture towards his wrist and he shrugs, still acting miffed. "Thank you for buying it." He pours some more of the red liquid into his glass and sips thoughtfully.
"It seems that every other day you have something bad to say to me." He sighs regretfully and I hang my head, angry at upsetting him. "Like I said before, I did not choose you to be my mate. It is naturally occuring. I am just the one who carries it out and tries to make it work." He summarises softly while I stare out through the tower window, looking at the bright sun.
"Let's go on a holiday." He announces randomly and I turn to face him, noting his manic smile is back in place and his eyes are shining.
"Seriously, just when I start to think that you might be slightly sane, you go and say something like that." I tut disapprovingly and he shrugs. "I thought you might like to go somewhere, for a getaway." He says 'getaway' like a foreign word and I stifle a giggle.
"Cool. How about Greece?" I suggest, looking it up on my phone. I glance up at him for a response to see him stiffen, but his manic smile is still plastered across his face. "Greece?" I try again and he smiles brightly. "Sounds wonderful. I'll get the tickets today. Just you and me. In the sun." He adds nervously and I realise one important thing.
"Your skin. Won't it give off smoke or something?" I half joke and he smiles softly again. "Not quite. But it does react to the sun, yes." He sounds sad, but quickly smiles up at me. "Greece it is." He decides, leaping from the sofa.
"I'll get the tickets today." He repeats excitedly, pulling out his wallet. "I'll go now. You stay here. Right here."
"Aro, I-"
"Stay here, I'll be back with those tickets!" He promises but I rush over to him.
"Aro, isn't is dangerous for your sk-" He leaves through the door before I can finish. Guess I'm going to Greece.