Blushing. He was blushing again.
Crossing her left leg over her right, Sage watched in secret as the prince and his guard interacted in ways enough to intrigue the female vampire. They sat in the grand living room, bar by the doors, fireplace and couches opposite of the small prep kitchen. There were these massive windows off to the left where two glass doors led out directly into one of the gardens.
As Sage sat on one of the stools at the bar, she observed with a smile.
Every time Kai would accidentally brush his hand over Iris's, the human would jump away, leaving Kai confused and Iris blushing. Every time he'd lean in close to talk, poor Iris's face would grow hotter and redder than before, until he had to scoot away possibly claiming it was stuffy. Sage couldn't read their lips and the room was so massive she could only hear their mumbles very faintly, but not enough to make out any sentenses.
As the clock ticked, Sage was surprised no maids or servants came into the living room to check on them. It was just those three and occasionally a cook would wander into the small kitchen to get something or leave something. It was just a curious female servant and two males working on paperwork.
While she watched, Sage couldn't help but let her mind trial back to her love interest. Lilly. The maid was clumsy and almost too peppy for the vampire. She was pretty, short blonde hair with distinct freckles and sparkling blue eyes. Her figure was petite but cherishing. The way Sage's name left her lips, made a pleasant tingle shoot through her spine.
The vampire was swirling her straw in her cup with closed eyes and a growing smile as she daydreamed about the maid, missing the event leading Iris bolting out of the living room and slamming the door shut. Sage jumped when the large door closed and she studied her surroundings.
Kai was leaning on a coffee table, arms crossed and head buried in them. Sage put her drink down and slid off the stool.
"Hey, what happened? I missed it." She plopped down on the couch behind Kai and crossed her arms, waiting for the silent vampire to explain.
"I don't know what's going on, Sage." Kai's voice was muffled in his arms but Sage could hear his confusion like he was yelling at her.
"I think I know what's happening."
"No, this isn't about our..tension you think we have." Kai picked his head up and turned around, leaning his back against the table as he talked up to Sage. "He's acting like he's scared of me."
"I wouldn't say scared, maybe-"
"No, Sage. I told him about the blood."
Sage wasn't the demure type, she was boastful and cocky, but in that moment even her thoughts grew meek.
"Oh.."
"Yeah. I think that's why he's trying to avoid me. I think I missed up."
"No, no, hey let's think about this." Sage got off the couch and sat on the floor so she was eye level with Kai and their legs would overlap if either has them were stretched instead of bent up to their chests. "Iris has never feared you, even when you've gave him the greatest reason to. He's a very open minded person."
"Exactly. Which means he's probably thought about it more than once and realized he's safer away from me."
"Kai. How long have you buried your urges? It's been years. I think if you tell him that he'll notice there's nothing to be nervous about. Plus, it's Iris we're talking about, he'd never give you this treatment without a proper reason."
Kai looked down at his hands, he was pinching the skin between his index and his thumb-like he did when he was nervous-enough to wince at the pressure.
"I don't know, Sage. Things haven't been flowing normally lately and I don't think this will either."
"Well," Sage sighed, "if it turns out he isn't scared, I really know what's wrong. So I'll come tell you. But for now, this is your best shot." With that, Sage smiled at Kai and climbed to her feet, holding out her hand to aid the younger vampire.
"Thanks. I needed that."
"Of course." Sage punched Kai's bicep playfully before helping him pick up the papers yet to be finished.
††
In the training hall, all attempts to avoid practice had failed. Only Arlo and the first class guards were informed about the upcoming rivalry and though many thought it was a false alarm the King said better safe than sorry. So he doubled repetitions and the time.
Kai stood leaning on the jo stick in front of him, hands above the top and chin laying on his knuckles as he watched the King give a brief talk to the vampires.
It was hot, mid summer weather had blocked out the storm that hit Finch's kingdom and left theirs feeling sunny. Complaints were bound to fill the building, so Kai took precautions and wore a sleeveless shirt that hugged his sculpted figure perfectly.
As the King's speech grew to an end, Kai stood up straight and looked over at Iris, who sat against the wall near the door, and who surprisingly diverted his gaze as soon as Kai laid his eyes on him. He was already watching him. However, unlike before, Iris wasn't blushing or fidgeting.
They both snapped their eyes up to Arlo when he clapped his hands and ordered everyone to began. The vampire let out a sharp sigh and turned towards the prince as he got up from his spot, also wielding a weapon.
He prayed things between them won't flip to an awkward side.
"So are you," Kai cleared his throat, "are you okay training?"
Iris stopped in front of him but didn't connect their gazes. "It might be a little challenging but nothing I can't handle."
"Good, that's...good."
Iris raised his head, his eyes eating up everything but Kai's face. "I assume you're good?"
"Well, good enough to train." The vampire smiled at Iris when he looked up for a split second, a rueful expression wearing his face, before he glanced away when grunts and wood smacking each other started growing in the training center.
"I guess we should start." Iris attempted to raise his weapon but Kai pushed it down with the end of his stick and stepper closer into his bubble he used to be invited into. Now Iris's eyes grew frantic.
"Or-" Kai narrowed his eyes at the prince, faces so close they could feel each others breaths. "-we can just pretend to look busy while we talk about what's really going on between us."
Iris gulped and though he desperately wanted to, he couldn't tear his eyes away from the navy ones luring him in.
"U-us? There's nothing to discuss about.." It felt wise to limit his denial since Kai's piercing stare was hard enough to leave him breathless.
"Why are you afraid of me? Is it because I told you about the blood?"
Iris squeezed his eyes shut since he couldn't look away. He exhaled heavily and rolled his shoulders back. "I'm not afraid of you, Kai."
He sounded convinced but not convincing, because Kai noticed he was shaking slightly and that pained him more than his lie.
"Right."
Iris opened his eyes when he no longer felt another presence in front of him and he watched Kai walk away while rubbing the back of his head. Guilt poured over him and he dropped his head in defeat, feeling those droplets of regret run down his face like he was standing in the rain.
††
"No more..." Iris tapped his hand against the grass with a wheezing groan.
"I told you he wouldn't last more than a minute."
Kai and Cyrus stood side by side, arms crossed as they watched Sage trap the prince in an arm lock. The female vampire grinned and released his arm.
"That is two to one I believe." Sage threw her hands up in victory, watching Iris bring his arm to his chest with a glare.
"Whatever. And you-" He pointed and accusing finger at his guard. "You said I'd loose!"
"You are a bit crippled." Kai raised his hands in defense and Cyrus chuckled.
"You guys make training look so fun. I'm jealous. Sunday over there in ruthless."
"I think Zillah is pretty strong." Sage said as she checked out the long red hair laughing with another vampire. "Or just pretty in general."
Cyrus shook her head and patted Kai's shoulder. "I'll see you guys later."
"Alright."
When Cyrus walked away Kai raised his hands at Sage, a gesture saying 'really?' and she mimicked him.
"What?"
"You really check out other girls when you're taken?"
"Ah, I wasn't checking her out. I'm very loyal to Lilly."
As they argued back and forth, Iris observed them like a child understanding nothing, like they spoke in a native language.
"Oh! She's here! I got to go." Sage left the argument on hold as she waved at a small maid who just entered the building. The girl waved back with a small smile.
Kai sighed when Sage smothered the maid in a hug and steered her out of the doorway. Iris watched with furrowed eyebrows.
"What was that all about?"
"What part?"
They had managed to brighten up the atmosphere after a few minutes of distancing themselves, and as Kai extended his hand out for Iris, things weren't entirely back to normal, but finally seeing eye to eye was a start.
"Sage is taken?"
Kai made a face and took Iris's weapon. "Uh, yeah. Did you not just see her crush her girlfriend?"
Iris blinked like he was slapped. "G-girl..girlfriend..?" He followed Kai to the racks with a processing mind.
"She's gay, after all."
That's when Iris froze in his spot. His eyes were wider than they've ever been and his lips were parted in utter shock. Kai glanced at him when he was dead silent.
"S-she's...what?"
"Wait, you seriously didn't know."
"I-I didn't..I knew she called women pretty all the time but I thought that was normal."
Kai let out an amused laugh. "Oh, Iris, what rock have you been living under? She literally couldn't be more open about it."
Iris's mind stopped functioning for a second there until he saw how unaffected the vampire was about it.
"You," He took a deep breath, "you're okay with it?"
Kai titled his head as though he was thinking about something. "You know, I just feel life is too short to worry about who people love. I do, I guess, worry about her liking a human, but another girl? I have absolutely no problem with."
"You're okay with it." Iris repeated but not as a question this time.
Kai was going to laugh again until that familiar burning red color returned to the prince's cheeks.
"I-I have to..I have to go." Iris started walking backwards, almost tripping as he ran to the door, leaving Kai standing alone and confused.
The walls felt like they were closing around Iris as he ran through the halls searching with desperate, excited, scared, eyes. He about bumped into a few servants but he was determined with his destination.
In a few minutes he was banging on a door with a racing heart. He jumped back when it opened and a surprised looking Sage stared back at him.
"Sage," He panted, his flustered cheeks weren't caused by his marathon, "I need your help."