The meaning of kisses

by guety

Summary:

A collection of snippets exploring Dimitri and Hyde's relationship through the years, starting with them as humans as continuing to the present day.

Notes:

Me? Writing Dimihyde that isn't pwp? It's more likely than you think!

Chapter 1: Passion

1766, France

The library is quiet, a stark contrast to the crowded ballroom Hyde has just left. Still, music can be heard even all the way up here, and Hyde can’t help moving his foot in sync with it, humming quietly. Tonight’s string quartet is outstanding. It’s almost a shame that he left the ball so early when there’s such excellent music to dance to, but he couldn’t stand remaining in that room a second longer. He’s tired of pleasantries, of entertaining young women who mean nothing to him while the only person he wishes to dance with remains always close, but never close enough. 

Nobody will think it strange that he’s left the ball early. After all, it is well known that he dislikes crowded places and tires of parties easily. Besides, he hasn’t been the first to leave, Guiltia having made his escape half an hour before Hyde. None of the servants tried to stop him on the way here, either, since he’s a frequent guest of the Romanee household, and the staff knows he’s a friend of the oldest son. In everyone’s eyes, he’s just looking for a quiet place to rest for a while.

When Dimitri arrives, exactly ten dances later, Hyde doesn’t need to turn around to know it’s him. His distinctive step precedes him - energetic and brisk, and altogether too loud. 

“Tired already?” He asks. “How uncharacteristic of you, Dimitri.”

“Even I, with my endless stamina, can tire of dancing if I don’t have a suitable partner.”

“I find it hard to believe that none of the ladies at the ball could match your skill.”

“They were all as talented as women of their position are presumed to be, but there is only one person I truly desire to dance with.” Dimitri approaches Hyde, beaming with that confident smile of his. “Unfortunately, he’s been avoiding me all night.”

“Perhaps with good reason.”

“Perhaps,” Dimitri says, and offers his hand to Hyde. “But I’m hoping he will dance with me now.”

Hyde takes Dimitri’s hand the way he would with a dancing partner, supporting it with the lightest of touches. “I’ve been told you are an excellent dancer,” he says. “I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

“Do I ever?”

Music starts playing again in the ballroom after the brief pause. A minuet. Dimitri bows and Hyde returns the gesture in time with the music. This is the first time they dance together, and yet they move in perfect harmony, mirroring each other’s movements. They spin around each other in small steps, their fingers brushing, eyes fixed on each other. They must look ridiculous, two men hiding in a library, dancing to the faint music from a ball they should be taking part in. It is ridiculous that doing this means so much to Hyde, when he’s been so much more intimate with Dimitri countless times already. And yet, dancing is such an integral part of their lives, but one he never gets to share with Dimitri.

Hyde’s body brims with a sense of superiority. There’s a ballroom full of women waiting for Dimitri to ask them for a dance, and yet here he is, hiding in the library just to spend a few moments alone with Hyde. To think that this handsome, intelligent man, the proud heir of a large old fortune, the most eligible bachelor, spent almost a year courting him!

They’re completing a turn when Dimitri grabs his arm and pulls him close, placing his hand on Hyde’s waist. Hyde looks at him, arching an eyebrow.

“I don’t recall this being a step of the minuet.”

“Is it not? Perhaps we’ve been dancing the minuet wrong all this time.”

Hyde says nothing, just smiles and places his hands on Dimitri’s shoulders, facing him. Dimitri cups his face, brushing the pad of his thumb against Hyde’s cheek. 

“You look so beautiful tonight,” he murmurs.

“You say that every night.”

“Because you’re always beautiful,” Dimitri says, with the same vehemence as when he’s debating philosophy with their peers. There is a fire burning in Dimitri’s eyes, and the adoration he sees in them makes warmth spread through Hyde’s chest. Hyde tried to resist that look for months, reminding himself of all the reasons why a relationship between them is a bad idea, but Dimitri’s heat has burned through all his walls, all his cold logic. 

Keeping his eyes on him, Hyde wraps his arms around Dimitri’s neck and pulls him closer. Dimitri leans in for a kiss and Hyde gives it to him, a chaste, brief kiss right where the cheek meets the lips.

Dimitri’s eyebrows draw a perfect arch. “Teasing me, Hyde?”

Hyde chuckles, and this time lets Dimitri kiss him. It is not a tender kiss between lovers, but the messy, rushed kiss between two people who know their time together is limited. Dimitri embraces him tight, pushing him against a bookcase. The shelves dig into his back, but Hyde barely notices the discomfort. He caresses Dimitri’s neck, his skin warm under Hyde’s fingers, his mouth so hot and inviting. Hyde’s heartbeat thunders in his ears, or maybe it’s Dimitri’s, their bodies so impossibly close that it could be his heart beating in Hyde’s chest. He’s so entranced in their passion that he needs a few seconds to register Dimitri’s hands sneaking to the front of his breeches.

“Dimitri,” he warns, placing his hand on Dimitri’s chest and looking at him.

“No one will come here,” Dimitri says. “Isn’t that why you chose this place?” 

“They will miss you at the ball.” Hyde’s absence might go unnoticed for longer, but this is Dimitri’s house. He’s supposed to be entertaining the guests. 

“Not for a few more dances.” Dimitri kisses his earlobe, his nimble hands quickly undoing the buttons of Hyde’s breeches.

This is insane, and Dimitri must be out of his mind. As unlikely as it might be, someone could come looking for them. If it’s a servant, they could just bribe them, but what if it’s a fellow noble, or worse, someone from their families? If word reaches their fathers, their relationship will be over. Their families will want to keep the affair as discreet as possible, so they might not be disinherited, but they will find themselves married within a fortnight, to any girl whose family’s need for money and connections overcomes their distaste for potential scandal. He’ll never be allowed to be alone with Dimitri again. But insanity must be contagious because instead of pushing Dimitri away, Hyde pulls him closer, hurrying to open his breeches. 

They have to go fast, with no regard for tenderness or romance. Hyde buries his face in the crook of Dimitri’s neck to muffle any moans, and Dimitri nibbles on his ear, occasionally whispering sweet nothings, so quietly Hyde can barely hear. Hyde’s body is burning as if every cell of his body was on fire. He stops caring about the risks and consequences. Only Dimitri matters, and his warmth in Hyde’s hand, his sweet voice so close to him. This is wrong, and yet he’s never felt more right, more complete. 

He sucks on the exposed skin on Dimitri’s neck, making him choke down something that sounds halfway between a moan and a laugh, and Hyde smiles, wide and honest. His body feels light, tingling. He feels alive. The Hyde who asks women to dance because that’s what society expects of him, who discusses philosophy and politics and makes polite conversation, that perfect young aristocrat, that is not a façade. It is part of him, an important part that he has refined to perfection. But this is him. The raw core of him he was not even aware existed until the first time he kissed Dimitri. 

They don’t immediately pull back once they’re finished. Dimitri pushes his forehead against Hyde’s, a sated smile on his lips. Hyde smiles back, nuzzling against him. He can’t seem to stop smiling today, can’t find the self-control to. His chest is warm and tight, almost too small for his fluttering heart. He’s sweaty and uncomfortable in his heavy clothes, his hand sticky. The distinctive scent of dust and leather-bound books mixes with the musky scent of sex still heavy in the air. It’s disgusting, and it’s perfect. Dimitri is perfect. Intense and ridiculous and sometimes incomprehensible, but Hyde has felt nothing close to the bliss he gets in these moments of intimacy with him.  

They clean themselves up in silence, exchanging no words of love. What would be the point? Hyde can see Dimitri’s passion in his eyes, and surely Dimitri knows Hyde would not take such risks for someone who meant nothing to him. There’s no need for words. Whatever the nature of their feelings, they are fruitless, and Hyde will not lie to himself and pretend this is meant to last.

This is not the selfless, pure love that appears in the novels his younger sister reads. If it was, they would not be doing something that could risk each other’s positions. If he was selfless, he would let Dimitri go. If he was truly devoted, he would run away with him. But he’s selfish, and he’s practical, and this is what it is. 

As a caution measure, they decide to return to the part at different times, so Dimitri leaves first and Hyde stays behind. He feels exhausted to the core of his bones, and the mere thought of having to go back to the ballroom fills him with dread. And yet, sitting in the empty library, Dimitri’s scent still clinging to him, he can’t stop smiling. 

Notes:

I'm going to admit that, while I did try to research as much as possible, my time and resources are limited, so if I got something wrong please don't be mean to me.

Chapter 2: Tenderness

Notes:

Thanks to everyone reading this fic and leaving kudos and comments! Since the chapters are short, I hope I can keep a consistent schedule.

1768, France

 

Morning light filters through the window, shaping the outlines of the furniture. The sky is slowly shifting from grey to blue with the promise of a beautiful, sunny spring morning. But the only beauty that Dimitri has eyes for is the one lying beside him. Unlike him, Hyde takes a long time to wake up, which gives Dimitri the chance to observe him in those quiet moments before the night turns into day. 

Taking care to not be too brusque, he runs his fingers over Hyde’s long blond hair. It’s Hyde's pride, and he takes great care to keep it shiny and clean, unlike most men who prefer to keep it short and use wigs. Dimitri loves touching it, running his fingers through it at every chance he gets. He directs his caresses towards Hyde’s ear next, tracing the curve of it, then down his neck. There is a single red mark defiling his pristine fair skin, right under his collarbone, left by Dimitri where clothes would hide it. He explores Hyde’s face as well, tracing his thumb over his lips. Such perfect, soft lips. Dimitri will never tire of kissing them.

Hyde’s eyes flutter awake and he gives Dimitri a dazed look. “Dimitri.”

Dimitri leans to kiss his forehead. “Good morning.”

Hyde wraps his arms around Dimitri’s shoulders and pulls him closer for a hug, nuzzling against his chest. 

“Leaving already?”

“Unfortunately.” 

Hyde raises his head to look at him, still only half awake. Dimitri can guess he’ll go back to sleep as soon as he leaves, probably until noon. He brushes the hair off Hyde’s face, tucking a strand behind his ear, and finished the movement by placing his hand on the back of Hyde’s head, supporting its weight. They fall into a kiss easily, as if pulled by a magnetic force. Hyde is the first to pull back, looking at Dimitri with his lips pursed. 

“You taste disgusting.”

“That’s not what you said last night,” Dimitri replies, smiling. “Of course,  it wasn’t my lips that you were tasting then.”

“Dimitri.” Hyde gives him a look that he must intend to be stern, but there’s too much amusement in his eyes. “Is this an appropriate conversation to have between gentlemen?”

“It is when those gentlemen share a bed,” he says, sneaking a hand under Hyde’s nightshirt that Hyde quickly snaps away. 

“I might rethink the part about sharing a bed if you don’t behave.”

Dimitri smiles. If he keeps teasing, he might persuade Hyde to have one last session of lovemaking before he has to leave. With one of his past lovers, he would try. Even just two years ago, when he and Hyde were just starting their relationship, he would have been swept away by passion. Before, he was able to easily disregard any concerns about risks and consequences and focus on the present. But that was when he only considered how his carelessness could affect him. Now, when he thinks that Hyde’s reputation is also at risk, caution triumphs over passion.

So he gets off the bed and starts collecting his clothes, scattered all over Hyde’s bedroom. Getting dressed without the help of a servant is a tricky ordeal, but over the past two years, he’s gotten enough practice to get the hang of it.

Hyde sits on the bed and observes Dimitri as he gets dressed, his eyes following his movements. Rather than the expensive clothes Dimitri usually sees him in, richly embroidered and tailored to fit his frame, he’s wearing a simple linen nightshirt. And yet, the plain attire does nothing but enhance his natural beauty. His hair, usually primly combed and sculpted into perfect curls, cascades freely past his shoulders and down his back. He’s so breathtakingly gorgeous that Dimitri can’t focus and has to stop what he’s doing to look at him.

He met his share of beautiful men and women before Hyde, but Dimitri had never felt anything as powerful as what he felt the first time he laid his eyes on him across a crowded ballroom. That beautiful, elegant man completely infatuated him even before they exchanged any words, and Dimitri remains infatuated to this day. Of course, Hyde’s beauty runs deeper than just his face, otherwise, their affair would have been limited to a beautiful night together. But in Hyde, Dimitri has found a friend, a companion. A partner.

Hyde returns his look. “What is it?”

Dimitri shakes his head. “I simply enjoy looking at you.”

A smile dances on Hyde’s lips. “Understandable.” He gets up and takes Dimitri’s arm, buttoning the cuffs of his shirt. “But you should make haste.” 

Dimitri cups Hyde’s cheek on his hand, making him tilt his head so he can leave a kiss on his temple. “It will be all right.” He does not mean only his escape. 

Hyde says nothing, just helps him get dressed. Once they’re finished, Hyde takes one last look at him, arranging his shirt’s ruffles so they show properly under his waistcoat. “Well, you look presentable enough.”

“At least nobody will guess you tried to tear these clothes off me last night.”

Hyde snorts and gives a slap to Dimitri’s rear. “Go already.”

Dimitri opens the window and steps into the balcony. The chill morning air welcomes him, sweeping into his lungs as he takes a deep breath. 

“Don’t break your neck on your way down,” Hyde says, hugging himself. “I’m fond of it.”

“Oh, is it my neck that you like? I thought you preferred other parts of me.”

“I like your mouth too, as long as you’re not using it to speak.”

“But you love my clever conversation.”

“Dimitri, dearest, I’m afraid our definitions of the word clever differ.”

Dimitri laughs. He adores how Hyde always has a retort ready. One never bores around him. He pulls Hyde closer for one last kiss and Hyde lets him, docile. Although he’s aware that he needs to rush, he takes his time. They never know when they’ll be able to be alone next. now that he has Hyde in his arms, he’s not inclined to let him go. He wants one more kiss, one last second of Hyde’s body pressed against his. Perhaps Hyde is thinking the same, because, despite his previous protests, he clings to Dimitri, savouring his lips. 

At last, he lets Hyde go. “Well, I’m off.”

Hyde steps back into the room, an unreadable expression on his face. “I’ll see you at the ball.”

Dimitri turns around. If he looks into Hyde’s eyes now, he might not be able to go back, so he gets on the rail and starts his descent. He’s climbed down this wall several times already and knows where to grab, where to place his footing. And yet, far from getting easier, leaving Hyde’s room gets harder every time.

 

Notes:

I think that, if Dimitri and Hyde have been together for so long is because they make each other happy, and that's what I wanted to convey here. Next chapter will probably be sad tho whoops.

Chapter 3: Fragility

1770, Florence

 

Dimitri’s chest, firm with well-defined muscles, doesn’t make the most comfortable of pillows, but Hyde likes to rest his head on it nonetheless. The steady beating of Dimitri’s heart, combined with the feeling of his fingers tracing Hyde’s shoulder, soothes him. Despite the strain on his neck, he is cosy. Too much, in fact. There is danger in getting used to this easy intimacy.

It’s hard to not feel comfortable when, for once, neither of them is in a rush to leave. They’re staying in a guesthouse in Florence, on their way to Rome, where they’ll meet Guiltia to enjoy the roman carnival together. Guil is already there, having sent them a letter just a few days ago to tell them he’s met a “very interesting gentleman” he wishes to introduce to them. To their families, they’re just two young aristocrats travelling around Europe, experiencing everything the old continent has to offer and enjoying their last chance to be young and foolish, as most young men of position do before they settle down to fulfil their duties. Of course, what their families imagine as “foolish behaviour” involves visiting pleasure houses and fooling around with unsuitable women, rather than spending their days in bed making love to each other. 

“We don’t have to go back,” Dimitri says, bringing Hyde back to reality. “We could pretend we died, there’s plenty of bandits to blame on the roads.”

Not this again. “No self-respecting bandit would kill a couple of aristocrats instead of asking for a ransom.”

“Regardless, we could just disappear.”

“They’ll look for us.”

“That doesn’t mean they’ll find us.”

Sighing, Hyde disentangles himself from Dimitri and gets off the bed. He puts on a shirt and walks to the table, pouring himself a cup of wine.

“And where would we go?” He asks, emptying the cup in one big gulp. 

“Anywhere.” Dimitri gets up as well, although he doesn’t bother to cover his nudity. “I’m sure we could learn any profession.”

Hyde doesn’t point out how unlikely it is that any town would be welcoming to them as soon as they learn the nature of their relationship. 

“For the last time, no.” Hyde sets the cup on the table with more strength than he intended. “We’ll go back and find a woman to marry and do our duty. It’s our best option, you’d do well to accept it already.”

“I would, if this is what you really wanted.”

Hyde could say he wants this, could list all the reasons why, but Dimitri would see through his lie. So he says the truth. 

“What I want is irrelevant.”

“Not to me.” Dimitri’s voice is so soft, so different to his usual tone full of cheer and confidence, that it makes Hyde look at him. Their eyes met, and what Hyde sees in them disarms him. He’s never seen Dimitri look so raw, so vulnerable, like a puppy that has been kicked by its master. He might pretend to be invincible, but Dimitri is only a person, after all.

Hyde closes the distance between them, cupping Dimitri’s cheek. “I won’t let you make a choice that you’ll regret.”

“Hyde…”

“You would regret it.” Just like Dimitri can see through Hyde’s lies, Hyde knows Dimitri well, too. And he knows he’s not the kind of man who could live a simple, discreet life. He was born to be a noble, destined to do great things. Other aristocrats get educated in languages and philosophy because it’s expected of them, but Dimitri loves learning, no matter the subject. He’s read all the books in his family’s library and can cite random trivia from them. And he loves people, having taken an interest in the management of his state and the lives of his subjects from a young age. A man like him would wilt, leaving like a peasant. “And I would too,” he adds. He’s not naive enough to think he could live away from the comforts and pleasures he’s known all his life, with only Dimitri’s love to sustain him. 

“And will you be happy like this?” Dimitri asks, putting his hand over Hyde’s with such tenderness that it’s hard to believe that this same man was making love to him with a desperate need barely an hour ago.

Lamenting the situation would be a pointless exercise. Perhaps if they weren’t both men, if they weren’t aristocrats, they could have led a life together. But if they were not men, if they were not aristocrats, most probably they wouldn’t have fallen in love in the first place. 

Hyde has never resented the lot he’s been dealt in life. Why would he? He’s lived a comfortable existence. He’s enjoyed an excellent education and possesses a natural talent for music and the arts. There is nothing unsatisfying about his life. Yes, he can’t marry the man he loves, but it’s not as if most people are given that option. 

Besides, just because they can’t get married doesn’t mean their relationship is over for good. Plenty of nobles have lovers, and those who prefer the same sex are not as rare as it could seem. They will have to decrease the frequency of their rendezvous once they have wives and children and responsibilities, but there’s no need to stop seeing each other entirely. As long as they’re discreet, they could be lovers for the rest of their lives.

But Hyde’s so tired. Tired of secrecy and brief encounters, tired of constantly being afraid. Tired of having to share. 

“No,” he replies. “I won’t be happy. But it’s the best we can get.” 

Dimitri looks at him, his expression so tender that Hyde’s eyes fill with tears. He steps back and looks away, blinking to keep the tears at bay. If he cries now, if he lets himself be vulnerable, Dimitri could easily sway him. He could end up dooming them. Because Hyde has dreams too, dreams of sharing a life with the only person who completes him, of managing a state and doing great things together. Dreams so powerful that even his practical nature can’t contain them. 

“Hyde,” Dimitri calls in a soft voice, and for a moment Hyde fears he’ll try to persuade him again - and perhaps succeed this time. But Dimitri simply pulls him into a hug. Hyde buries his face on Dimitri’s shoulder, wrapping his arms around his chest. Dimitri runs his hands over Hyde’s hair and up and down his back, in a soothing caress. After some moments, he starts humming, the melody reverberating in his chest. Hyde has always loved Dimitri’s voice, low - although not as deep as Guiltia’s - and vibrant. Will he sing like this to his children, to his wife? The thought makes him want to cry, so he presses his face against the crook of Dimitri’s neck.

“A new composition?” He asks, trying to keep his voice steady. The melody is unfamiliar.

Dimitri hums in affirmation. “I’ve been working on it.” 

He resumes humming, louder now. It’s a triumphant melody, a melody of love. It doesn’t match the sour mood of the conversation they just had, but that’s just how Dimitri is. Always positive, never letting obstacles deter him. It’s impossible to not be affected by his radiance. 

Hyde joins in the humming, having more or less understood the melody. His singing voice is much higher than Dimitri’s, and yet it’s always been easy to harmonize with him, their voices naturally complementing each other. Dimitri places his hand on Hyde’s waist and swings sideways, pulling Hyde with him. He keeps swinging left and right, in tune with their singing. 

“What kind of dance is this?” Hyde asks, amused. It barely even feels like dancing, their movements ample and graceless.

Instead of replying, Dimitri grabs Hyde tighter and spins him around. It takes Hyde by surprise and throws him off balance, so when Dimitri puts him down, he loses his footing and ends up falling on the bed, pulling Dimitri with him. 

“Warn me before you do that.”

Dimitri flashes him a smile. “And miss the element of surprise?”

Hyde tries to glare at him, but it’s hard to be serious when they’re tangled in bed, Dimitri completely naked and Hyde himself wearing only a shirt. So he gives up and kisses Dimitri, and revels in how easy it is to melt into him. Dimitri licks Hyde’s lips, slowly deepening the kiss, his hand tracing Hyde’s naked thigh. It would be easy to get wrapped up in their passion and forget about reality, but he can’t take the easy way now. He needs Dimitri to know. 

Taking Dimitri’s hand in his, he places it over his chest. “My heart is yours,” he whispers against Dimitri’s lips. “And I promise that will never change. But I can’t give you more than that.”

“Your heart is all I ever wanted,” Dimitri says, interlacing their fingers. He rests his weight on his elbow, pulling back to look at Hyde. “Do you regret giving it to me?”

His usual confident smile is gone, his look earnest.This is Dimitri with his guard low, leaving himself vulnerable to being hurt. And Hyde could hurt him, if he was strong enough to want to stop this. Or he could be playful, as always, and say yes to tease Dimitri, and it would not be entirely a lie. Many times he’s wished he never knew this bliss, if it can never be truly his. Perhaps a life being tied to a woman he’ll never be able to love or feel attraction for would not look so dreadful if he didn’t know what he was giving up for it. But saying he regrets loving Dimitri would never be the truth. Because he knew what he was getting into when he accepted Dimitri’s advances, and despite all the danger and the pain, if he went back, he would do everything all over again. Without Dimitri, he would never know how deeply his feelings can go. He wouldn’t know what it feels like to be alive.

“Dimitri, what kind of question is that?” He asks back. “Don’t you know I never go back on my promises? I don’t take commitment lightly.”

Dimitri chuckles. “I know. It’s one of your many lovely qualities.”

“Aren’t all my qualities lovely?”

“Absolutely, you are lovely.” Dimitri kisses his neck. “From your head to your toes.”

“You’re lovely too,” he says, “occasionally.”

“Occasionally?!”

Hyde chuckles, caressing Dimitri’s face. He makes such an adorable expression when Hyde teases him. “I love you.” He rarely says those words out loud, because Dimitri knows without him saying, and they feel too simple to encompass everything that Hyde feels for him. “Until the day I die, no matter what.”

“I love you too,” Dimitri says, “until death claims me.”

“Even if my beauty fades?” He teases.

Dimitri laughs as if the mere idea was ridiculous. “As if that could happen. As long as you’re Hyde, you’ll always be the most beautiful to me.”

There’s so much devotion in his voice, so much love, and Hyde should want those feelings to be directed to someone else. Unlike him, Dimitri is not unattracted to women. If he chooses well, he could learn to love his wife, and he’ll surely be a good father. He could have a successful marriage, and Hyde should want that for him. But he doesn’t. He can share Dimitri’s time and his body, but his love is Hyde’s and Hyde’s only. 

Notes:

I would say I'm sorry for the kind of sad chapter but am I really? Next will be happier tho

Chapter 4: Exultation

 

1770, Salzburg

 

Only the faint light of the moon and stars illuminates the garden, but that’s more than enough for their vampire eyes. Hyde is still getting used to the changes in his body, and has to marvel at how easy it is to make up all the shapes in the darkness and step on the ground without stumbling. He walks along the hedges and flower beds at a brisk pace, almost skipping, giddy after having drunk too many cups of wine. Dimitri follows him just a few steps behind, his hungry eyes on him.

They leave their sire’s mansion behind; the music leaking from it growing fainter as they walk. Tonight’s ball is in their honour, their introduction to vampire society. It might be quite rude to sneak out in the middle of it, given they’re the protagonists, but the things he wants to do to Dimitri call for some privacy. 

He lets Dimitri catch up to him after turning a corner, once they’re far enough from the house that nobody will see them easily. Dimitri pulls him closer and devours him with a kiss, so fierce it almost hurts. Hyde wraps his arms around Dimitri’s neck, melting into the embrace. Dimitri’s hands trace the line of his body all the way down to Hyde’s behind, giving it a squeeze. 

“I’ll give you so much pleasure they’ll hear your moans from the ball,” Dimitri whispers, his voice hoarse.

Hyde can’t repress a smile. “I’m not sure the guests would appreciate that.”

“True, how rude of us to flaunt our love when not all of them have partners.”

Hyde’s smile turns into a full giggle, and he doesn’t even bother to hide it behind his hand. He never thought they would ever use the word “flaunt” in the context of their relationship. What was there to flaunt, when their love is something that should not be in the eyes of good society? But for vampires, love between men is not a deviation, but the norm. Their sire had assured them this before he turned them, but it still feels too good to be true. No more sneaking out of rooms at dawn, no more secrecy, no more fear.

Tonight, as he danced with Dimitri - the first time they ever danced together in front of people other than Guiltia - part of him was expecting sneers and judgemental looks, but none came. They were just another couple in the crowd. After the first few dances, other vampires approached them to request a dance together, and they both ended up dancing with their sire as well, and all of that seemed so perfectly natural. As the night advanced, when all the tension had left his body and the wine had gotten to his head, he even dragged Guil to dance with him. What a simple pleasure, to dance with a dear friend without anyone deeming it inappropriate, to choose his partner. To be able to dance only for the pleasure of it, and not because it was expected of him.

After so much dancing, Dimitri’s eyes always on him even when they were both busy with other partners, he’s longing for some time alone with his lover. Perhaps they didn’t need to get so far into the garden to unleash their passion, since vampire society seems far less prude than the human one - Hyde has spotted a few other couples being a tad too intimate on the balcony - but the thought of strangers seeing him kiss Dimitri still paralyzes him. 

But here, in the darkness of the garden, he kisses Dimitri everywhere. His lips, his cheeks, his neck. He opens his waistcoat to get better access to his chest and buries his face there, inhaling. He’s always liked Dimitri’s scent, a mix between sweat and perfume, but he seems more sensitive to it since he became a vampire. There’s something new to it, some base fragrance that Hyde has yet to identify, exquisite and unique to him. Craving sweeps over him and he’s suddenly overwhelmed with a hunger that feels similar to lust, and yet not quite the same. He wants Dimitri, all of him, wants to put his lips on his skin and taste him, to sink his fangs on his neck and drink, until every drop of Dimitri’s blood fills his veins, wants to -

“Getting thirsty?” Dimitri asks, pulling Hyde from his trance. “Your eyes turned red.”

Oh. So that’s what this feeling is. 

He steps back, putting distance between him and Dimitri. Their sire has warned them that blood thirst is more intense during the first few years after a vampire is turned, and they’ll need to feed often. But he did not expect it to be so sudden, so intense, and he certainly wasn’t expecting it to appear when he’s having an intimate moment with Dimitri. 

He knew what he was getting into when he became a vampire. He knew the costs, and he decided that the chance of an eternal life to share with Dimitri was worth becoming a monster. And yet, seeing Dimitri as food, being consumed by the desire to devour him, even just for a moment, fills his mouth with bile.

“Perhaps we should go back,” he suggests, avoiding Dimitri’s gaze. 

But Dimitri grabs him, his hand gentle around his wrist. He takes it to his lips, placing the softest of kisses, his lips warm on Hyde’s skin. “Feed on me.” 

“Dimitri…”

"What's a little blood, when I've already given you my heart?" There’s no fear in his eyes, no hesitation, but no resignation either. The look in his eyes isn’t like that of a lamb about to be sacrificed. Rather, his expression is the same as the day Hyde made love to him for the first time, when Dimitri taught him how to give him pleasure. 

Hyde has to laugh. He’s always considered Dimitri the impulsive one, but he’s clearly more prepared for their new life than him. He rests his head on Dimitri’s shoulder, burying his face in the crook of Dimitri’s neck. He doesn’t have a pulse anymore, but he’s still warm, comforting. He’s still Dimitri.

“Then you drink my blood too,” he says. He won’t insult Dimitri by asking if he’s sure, but he won’t take more than he’s giving either. “It’s only fair.”

Dimitri gently grabs his chin, making Hyde look at him. There’s a sparkle of red in his green eyes. “With pleasure.”

They melt into a kiss, tender and deliberate. He opens his mouth to let Dimitri’s tongue brush his, just slightly, their lips pressed together. They break out of it slowly, looking into each other’s eyes.

Dimitri tilts his head, leaving his neck exposed. “Go ahead.”

The thirst that had toned down momentarily, seizes his throat again. He leaves a kiss on Dimitri’s neck, soft and careful. Tentatively, he opens his mouth, pressing his fangs on Dimitri’s neck. He’s only done this once, when his sire let Hyde feed on him to guide him through the process, so he’s unsure of how much strength he needs and how much would be excessive. If possible, he would rather go through this without hurting Dimitri. But Dimitri puts his hand on Hyde’s neck, encouragingly, so Hyde goes ahead and takes a bite, his fangs piercing Dimitri’s skin.

The most delicious nectar fills his mouth. Sweet and salty, it tastes like iron, and the earth, and Dimitri. Is blood that delicious? Or is it just because it’s Dimitri’s? He swallows once, and a second time, and the part of his brain that is still rational thinks that he should stop soon before it gets dangerous, but Dimitri moans into his ear, uninhibited and wanton, and hugs him close. His hand is firm on the small of Hyde’s back, keeping him there, pressed against his body. Dimitri’s erection rubs against Hyde’s thigh, and Hyde stops thinking. He drinks to his heart's content, Dimitri sighing with delight in every gulp. It’s only when he’s sated that he lets Dimitri go.

Dimitri slumps forward as if all strength has gone from his limbs, and fear settles in Hyde’s heart. Has he gone too far? Can a vampire die if he loses too much blood? He grabs Dimitri to steady him and Dimitri grabs him as well, pulling him into a kiss, full of tongue and teeth, and way too short. It’s over before he can ever register it, and the next thing he knows is Dimitri’s biting him. 

This is the second time Hyde is fed from. The first time, when his sire turned him, was an uncomfortable experience. He felt invaded, violated, and yet could not avoid feeling pleasure from it. This is completely different. It’s as if Dimitri was taking all blood from his body and replacing it with an aphrodisiac. His veins burn, his whole body alight with pleasure. It flows and crashes inside him, almost as overwhelming as an orgasm, but it doesn’t scratch the itch inside him. Instead, it makes him want more. He clings to Dimitri, wanting his fangs to bite deeper, wanting him deeper inside him, satisfying him in the way only Dimitri can.

He feels lightheaded when Dimitri stops drinking, and he can’t tell whether it’s from blood loss or just arousal. 

“Don’t drink anyone’s blood but mine,” he says, overwhelmed by a possessiveness he’s never felt before. “And I’ll only drink yours.” 

Dimitri smiles at him. “We’ll only ever need each other, and we’ll never prey on humans,” he says. “From now on, we are one.” Hyde has never seen that ferocity in his eyes before, but he feels no fear. If they’re monsters, they’ll be monsters together. If they fall, they’ll fall together. His previous doubts fade, because now he understands. He’ll give life to Dimitri and Dimitri will give life to him. It’s as easy as that. 

They make love under the night sky, uncaring about the very real possibility of being seen or heard. They forget they’re supposed to be at the ball, their blood running through each other’s veins and filling them with irrepressible desire. Decades later, Hyde will reminiscence about these moments with shame. How embarrassing that he was once so young, so consumed by his desires, that he would drink from Dimitri without restraint and have sex in the open, like animals! But today, he’s young and happy, and he’s in love and nothing else matters. 

 

Chapter 5: Commitment

Notes:

I'm back! It's been a while since I added to this story, but I have the next chapters drafted so hopefully, it won't take me so long to post the next one.

1807, England

Sunlight seeps through the mantle of leaves of the apple tree, casting shadows that dance over the pages of Hyde’s book. There’s not a single cloud in the sky, a gentle breeze rustling through the leaves and loosing a few strands from Hyde’s carefully tied up hair.

The lovely quietude of the terrains on his sire’s isolated country manor seem artificial, at odds with the turbulent times their homeland has been living and with the mood taking over Hyde’s heart ever since Dimitri and their sire left on a trip to sort out some unfinished business regarding what used to be the Romanee family state. He takes a deep breath, his eyes scanning the page he’s been looking at all morning without actually reading a single word, his wandering mind unable to focus. They should have been back by yesterday. He tells himself there’s no cause for worry, as there are plenty of factors that could draw out a trip, and only a few things that can harm vampires. But the past years have been chaotic, and even their sire is not invulnerable.

He’s considering going back to the house to wait with Guil–an offer he refused earlier this morning, feeling too restless to stay indoors–when the sound of brisk steps along the path, too loud for the peaceful morning, spreads a smile over his face. He knows they belong to Dimitri instinctually, as if his soul could tell when its other half is nearby.

“Hyde!” Dimitri beams as soon as he spots him. “Guil told me I’d find you here.” He’s cladded on a long travel coat, worn-out leather boots embracing his calves. 

“You’re late,” Hyde says, setting his book aside. He does not get up, instead letting Dimitri come to him. “What happened to that punctuality that you always boast of?”

“Our business took longer than expected.” He takes off his coat and spreads it on the grass before sitting next to Hyde, wrapping him in an embrace. “Did you miss me?”

“Hardly.” He nuzzles against Dimitri’s neck, inhaling his scent. His throat constricts with thirst, but he ignores it. It’s been almost two weeks, but he doesn’t need to feed as often as he did when he was freshly turned. It can wait.

“No? Well, I did miss you.” Dimitri kisses Hyde’s neck, his fingers sneaking down the collar of his shirt.

Hyde turns his head, loosely wrapping his arms around Dimitri’s shoulders.

“How was our homeland?”

“Boring without you.”

Their lips meet in a long, deliberate kiss. Dimitri pulls him close, enough for Hyde to notice his lust.

“You missed me indeed,” he observes, running his hand over the inner side of Dimitri’s thigh.

Dimitri smiles, undoing the first bottom of Hyde’s waistcoat. “How could I not, when you are this lovely?”

“Do you really intend to take me right now?” Hyde chuckles. “It’s the middle of the day.”

“Why not? The weather’s splendid, and there’s no one to disturb us here.”

Despite his words, Dimitri’s touch is more teasing than sexual. Their passion, once an ever-consuming fire always entangled with fear, burns gentler now that they don’t have to limit themselves to brief clandestine encounters. Over the past few decades, Hyde has discovered the pleasure of taking it slow, of not giving in right away. And yet, being able to have Dimitri whenever he pleases has done nothing to diminish his desire. After forty years together, he’s grown to know Dimitri better than he knows himself, and that has only strengthened his love.

“Unless, of course,” Dimitri continues, his hand travelling up and down Hyde’s back, “that you’re in the mood for taking me.”

“Tempting, but exerting myself before lunch? I’d rather not.”

“I’ll have to take care of the exercising, then.” Dimitri kisses him again, softer this time. “But before that, I have something for you.”

Hyde arches his brows. “Oh?”

“It’s one of the things I was looking for. Here.” He takes a small wooden box from his coat, placing it on Hyde’s open palm. Inside, Hyde finds a golden ring, with an opulent mounted emerald surrounded by diamonds. He’s seen this ring before, a lifetime ago.

“Dimitri, this…”

Dimitri nods. “My mother’s ring. It was passed down to my brother’s wife after she died, but they sold it before leaving the country. It took me some time to track it down.”

Dimitri’s mother died a few years after they became vampires, having never recovered from losing her favourite son, officially reported as dead. His father passed away a few years later as well, but his siblings and their children were able to escape France before the queen was executed. As far as Hyde knows, his own sisters escaped as well and the youngest is still alive, having taken residence somewhere in Spain with her children and grandchildren, but he prefers not to inquire too deeply. He gave up on his family the day he chose an eternal life with Dimitri.

Hyde examines the ring, turning it around on his fingers. The craftsmanship is excellent, befitting the proud and elegant woman who used to wear it.

“And you’re giving it to me?”

“As heir, I was supposed to give it to whoever was to become my countess as a wedding gift. But now that there’s no family state for me to inherit, I’m free to choose who to give it to.” 

Hyde slips the ring on the finger of his left hand, but it gets stuck. “It’s too small for me,” he says, with feigned nonchalance. Their nobiliary titles mean nothing now and this is just a ring, but Hyde can’t ignore that Dimitri went out of his way to recover it, just so he could give it to him. The gesture alone makes Hyde’s chest feel warm and tight.

“My mother was a petite woman.” Dimitri tucks a loose strand of blond hair behind Hyde’s ear and leaves a kiss on his temple. “It’s still yours, if you’ll take it.” 

Hyde lets out a long sigh and closes his fist around the ring, the emerald pressing against his skin. For humans, marriage is a contract between a man and a woman, to raise children and manage a house together. And as a noble, Hyde always saw marriage as a way to bond his household to another powerful family, a transaction to ensure the continuity of their bloodline and forge friendships. It was a duty. Of course, it was preferred if one could at least find a companion in his wife, but love was not a requirement.

But for vampires, love is all that matters. There are no ceremonies or written agreements. The only thing two vampires need to be considered as life partners is to willingly choose to spend their eternity together. As simple as that. All he needs to be Dimitri’s husband is to want it.

It will change nothing between them. Whatever name they give to their relationship, whatever they call each other, their commitment remains the same. It’s been a long time since they swore to belong to each other. But it still means more to Hyde than he could ever express in words.

He looks up at Dimitri. “Marriage is not something I thought I would ever desire.”

Dimitri’s smile is as bright as the spots of sunlight reflecting on his eyes. “I do take pride in my ability to change your mind.”

Hyde returns the smile, resting his head against Dimitri’s shoulder. “Careful, you may yet change my mind about wanting to spend my life with you.”

Dimitri’s eyes widen in a fake offended expression. “Hyde!”

Chuckling, Hyde takes Dimitri’s hand. “We don’t need to exchange any more vows, do we?”

Dimitri interlaces their fingers. “I don’t think that’s necessary, no. However,” he adds, bringing Hyde’s hand closer to leave a kiss on his wrist, “perhaps we could take the chance to consummate our union.”

“Why do I have the feeling this was all an elaborate plot to convince me to make love out in the open?”

Dimitri places a warm hand on Hyde’s waist, sending sparks through his body, even through the layers of cloth. “Do I really need a plot for that?”

Hyde laughs, letting his husband lay him on the ground and have his way with him.

Notes:

I think it's very cute how Hyde wears rings on basically every single finger except for the ring finger on his left hand, and recently there was this japanese fancomic about it and it got me thinking. Maybe he does have a ring for that finger, but it's too small for him to wear.

Chapter 6: Complicity

Notes:

This chapter has (non graphic) mentions of Old Eclipse group sex so if that makes you uncomfortable, feel free to skip it!

Harajuku, 1998

 

“I was so moved by your performance I couldn’t stop crying,” Hyde reads, his melodic voice slightly higher-pitched than usual. “I’m looking forward to your next single, and hope I can keep supporting you for a very long time.” He folds the letter and places it on the table. “What a sweet little lamb.”

It’s a typical evening of reading fan letters and classifying presents in the Eclipse household. Dimitri sits on his favourite spot on the left side of the couch while Hyde seats on the right side, his back leaning on a mountain of pillows stacked against the armchair, his feet on Dimitri’s lap. On the floor, Saga sits among boxes of presents, while the sound of Guil’s piano coming from the music room next door provides a lovely soundtrack for the night. Their dear vocalist appreciates their fans’ support, he really does, but he believes the best way to show that appreciation is by creating more, and better, music. Reading fan letters would cut precious composing time. 

“Japanese fans are truly dedicated,” Dimitri says, rubbing his thumb over the arch of Hyde’s foot. He can tell he’s hit a good spot because Hyde brushes his other foot against his thigh in an appreciative caress, subtle enough that Saga won’t notice. “How charming.”

“They’re polite too.” Hyde takes a sip of wine before grabbing a new letter from the coffee table. “At least nobody has tried to sneak into our rooms yet.”

“But you guys love when people sneak into your room,” Saga says, his hands working on the pile of presents. “Wow, this guy legit knitted you a sweater, Hyde. That’s insane.”

“That’s lovely, I’ll make sure to wear it,” Hyde says. “But Saga, dear, don’t be mistaken. We are quite selective with who we allow into our room.”

“Exactly! They need to be as least as beautiful as we are.”

Saga rolls his eyes, a gesture that fills Dimitri with pride. Just a few years ago, he could barely hold a conversation with them without blushing and avoiding their eyes, but here he is now, talking to them as colleagues, even if not entirely as equals yet. The pup has come far. 

“Whatever,” Saga says, tossing a teddy bear into the pile of presents for Guil. “Stop sitting on your ass and fucking help already, Dimitri.”

“I am helping! I’m making Hyde comfortable.”

“And you’re doing a wonderful job at that,” Hyde says, not raising his eyes from the letter he's reading. “But go get me more wine, please.”

“You’ve already drunk two bottles,” Saga points out.

“All this reading is making my throat parched,” Hyde says, rising his legs so Dimitri can get up. 

Well, Dimitri can’t possibly let Hyde go thirsty, so he promptly gets up to fetch a new bottle. Hyde has indeed drank a tad more than usual tonight  - he’s been in a good mood lately, making him prone to lower his guard - but it’s not as if alcohol can harm him, and just a sip of Dimitri’s blood will deal with any hangover. 

Saga’s eyes follow him as he goes to the kitchen and back, and Dimitri can tell he’s trying hard to not stare at certain parts of his anatomy, especially a certain very large, very impressive bit. Poor pup isn’t yet used to being around a perfect being. 

“Dude, don’t you know what clothes are?” Saga says, looking everywhere but Dimitri. 

“See?” Hyde says, pointing his empty glass towards Saga. “Even the youngster has more shame than you.”

“The real shame would be covering up my perfection.”

“At least put on a shirt,” Saga grunts. “Your back looks like you’ve been mauled by a really angry cat.”

Dimitri smirks. Certainly, Hyde’s ferocity could match that of a wild animal. “It was a wolf, actually,” he says, filling Hyde’s glass before sitting back on the couch. “A very hungry one.”

“The wolf might devour you next time if you’re not careful,” Hyde says, sending him a meaningful look that’s almost enough to get Dimitri hard.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Saga throws a box of chocolates at them, which they avoid with ease.

“Keep the sexual talk to your bedroom.”

“But you adore our sexual talk!”

“And, for the record, you’re always welcome to sneak into our room, Saga. With or without Guil.”

“Yeah, no thanks,” Saga grumbles, a blush spreading through his cheeks. How endearing that he’s acting all prude when the four of them have already mingled beneath the sheets on more than one occasion - things can get messy after a gig, with all that adrenaline running through their veins, their bloodlust peaking after using their vampire powers. “I’ll go take this to Guil,” he says, picking up the box where he’s been putting the presents aimed for Guiltia. Just as he gets to the door, he looks back at them. “Don’t start fucking on the couch while I’m gone.”

Hyde exchanges a look with Dimitri. “Oh please, we would never.”

The greatest thing about having been with Hyde for two centuries is that they don’t need to talk to communicate. He knows what Hyde has in mind, and he can barely contain a chuckle as they both wait until they hear Saga and Guil’s muffled voices from the adjacent room. Hyde counts to five, moving his lips without producing any sound, then leans back on the couch, letting out a very realistic, very loud, fake moan. “Oh, Dimitri.” 

Dimitri returns the mischievous look Hyde is giving him. “You’re so beautiful, Hyde!” he yells at the top of his lungs. 

“Oh no, don’t touch there.” Hyde smirks at him, his foot caressing Dimitri’s thigh.

Hyde is only being silly - the right amount of alcohol gets him like this, when he’s in a good mood - but Dimitri can’t help finding his naughty smile arousing, nonetheless. His husband is just too erotic.

“Not here?” he yells back, sneaking two fingers under Hyde’s knee, one of his most ticklish sensitive spots. 

Hyde covers his hand with his mouth, his next fake moan wavering with contained laughter, and kicks Dimitri’s hand away.

Next room, Saga’s voice goes suspiciously loud, as if he was trying to drown out their moans.

“Oh Dimitri, you’re sooooo big!”

“You feel so good inside, Hyde!!!”

“Yes, give me more!”

It’s so different from how Hyde actually sounds in bed that Dimitri has to bite his lip not to laugh, but the hilarity of the situation doesn’t kill the spark of arousal burning inside him. He fully plans to make Hyde scream his name for real later tonight. 

Saga’s voice is even louder now, enough that they can make out what he’s saying. In contrast, Guil’s voice remains soft and neutral. Their brother has had a couple of centuries to get used to their sense of humour, and at some point, it stopped having any effect on him. 

They keep moaning each other’s names and whatever ridiculous sex talk they can think of, Saga’s voice growing louder and louder in return, until it becomes a shout. But Dimitri won’t lose in a shouting match.

“Hyde!! I’ll fill you with my love!!”

“Oh no, not the fist!”

A loud bang, as if someone had punched the wall, interrupts them.

“I know you’re faking!” Saga growls, sending Dimitri and Hyde into a fit of laughter. 

“He’s so adorable,” Hyde says, wiping a tear of joy from his eye.

Dimitri kisses the back of Hyde’s hand. “You are adorable.”

“I consider myself to be more captivating than adorable.”

“But I adore you, which makes you adorable.”

Hyde gives him a smile, his eyes sparkling. He may pretend Dimitri’s flirting is ridiculous, but it still gets to him, even after all this time. “Then I assume that makes me lovely, as well.”

“You absolutely are.” He cups Hyde’s face, brushing his cheek with the pad of his thumb, then moves his hand back to tangle his fingers on Hyde’s hair, so long and silky. “You’re the loveliest person in the world.”

Hyde’s smile widens. He’s always gorgeous, but in moments like this, when they’re at home and his guard is down, his beauty is so radiant it’s dizzying. Placing a hand on Dimitri’s chest, Hyde leans forward, tilting his head just slightly. An invitation. Dimitri takes it, sliding his tongue between Hyde’s parted lips. It’s a slow, gentle kiss that tastes like wine.

Hyde is the one who breaks it, shifting to sit upright. He takes a long sip of wine, placing the cup back on the table before speaking. “It’s unfortunate that we won’t be able to tease Saga much longer.”

Dimitri’s mouth curves in a sad smile. They both can tell the days of being Eclipse are reaching their end. Saga is not yet aware of it, but Hyde and Dimitri have known Guil for as long as they’ve known each other. Their brother has always had a tendency toward melancholy, even when he was a human, but it’s been getting worse in recent years. Even music, his greatest passion, doesn’t seem to fill him anymore. 

Dimitri and Hyde have tried to support him, especially after they became independent from their sire, but there’s only so much they can do. What Guil needs is someone who can complete his soul, the way Hyde completes Dimitri’s. He thinks that, at some point, Guil hoped Saga would be that person, but unfortunately, that hasn’t turned out to be the case. Whoever it is who can heal Guil, he won’t find him in Eclipse. 

“I will miss the pup,” he says, taking Hyde’s hand. 

“Will you feel lonely when that time comes?”

“How could I, when I have you?”

There are many things that Dimitri treasures, but he’s lived a long life. He’s used to seeing change around him, and he’s parted ways with more people than he can count. The only constant he needs in his life is Hyde. And whatever happens, they’ll be together. One, until the end of their days. 

Notes:

I really wanted to write dimihyde being silly, and I feel like they enjoyed teasing Saga a lot back in old Eclipse days.

Chapter 7: Loyalty

Notes:

Thank you apocrypha73 for giving me advice on this chapter!

2001, Harajuku

 

Wrapped in his favourite bathrobe, Hyde pours himself a glass of champagne. He stands by the window as he sips, looking at the beautiful city nightscape that their new loft offers. Hyde has been living in Harajuku for two decades, but it still amazes him that the city is so full of light, even at night. Everywhere he looks, buildings are covered in flashy lightened advertisements and neon signs. When Hyde was a human, an entire city having access to electricity was inconceivable. And yet, barely 200 years later, this is just part of everyday life for the inhabitants of Tokyo. Hyde has experienced so much in these two centuries, seen so much change. But there are things that remain the same.

“Mind sharing your thoughts?” 

Hyde startles. He was so absorbed in his thoughts he didn’t notice Dimitri getting out of the shower. His husband hasn’t bothered covering his nudity, as it has become the norm with him, a towel on his shoulders being the only piece of cloth on his body. The scent of soap envelopes him, a few droplets of water escaping his long hair and trickling down his chest. He has a fresh bite mark right over his left nipple, two red dots staining his otherwise unmarred skin like droplets of blood on the sand. 

Hyde licks his lips, remembering how it felt to leave it there. Remnants of lust wash through his body, mixed with guilt from how much he enjoys drinking Dimitri’s blood, a sense of shame he hasn’t been able to completely shake off over the centuries. He averts his eyes from the proof of his desires, distractingly playing with his hair. It’s still wet, since he was feeling too lazy to take the time to blow dry it right after his shower. He’s always been proud of his blond hair, but lately, he’s thinking that keeping it this long and beautiful is more hassle than it’s worth.

“I might get a haircut.”

“Oooh! In need of a change?”

“We’ve reached the end of an era, after all, haven’t we?” 

Dimitri grins. “You’re absolutely right, as always. Perhaps I should cut mine too.”

“Why not? Short hair has always suited you.”

“It’ll suit you too,” Dimitri says, leaving a kiss on his temple, “you’ll look gorgeous no matter what.” He hugs Hyde from behind, intertwining his hands over Hyde’s stomach. Hyde leans on him, Dimitri’s height allowing him to rest his head against the nook of Dimitri’s neck. He would never admit this out loud, but he loves the way Dimitri is a tad taller, his frame slightly bigger, so he can embrace Hyde easily. Their bodies are a perfect match, made for each other.

It’s been three months since Guil disbanded Eclipse. Finding themselves free after decades of rehearsals, recordings, and world tours, Hyde and Dimitri used the chance to spend quality time together, locking themselves in a hotel room for weeks. Eventually, they tired of never leaving the bed and got themselves busy finding their current apartment and redecorating it to their taste. And once they were done with that, they got even busier spending some more quality time in every room of their new home, enjoying the freedom of having very loud, very kinky sex without interruptions or distractions (not that all interruptions in the Eclipse household were unwelcomed, but sometimes a couple wants to make love without the sound of a piano in the background or their bandmates joining in for a bit of healthy team bonding). 

Still, there’s only so much sex a vampire can have before he starts craving something else to occupy his time with. Vampires need to have a purpose in order to remain focused and sane during their long lives, and that is especially true for Dimitri. He’s not a man made for inactivity, he needs to feel useful, accomplished. Hyde can tell he’s been contemplating some grand new idea, and he has an inkling of what it is. 

“A beautiful sight,” Dimitri says, his eyes on the window. “And testament of how far humanity has come.”

“And yet, they waste that potential. They hurt each other, they suffer and struggle and easily fall prey to our kind.” 

When Hyde was freshly turned, he wanted to believe that all vampires were like their sire and his companions, drinking only enough to survive and only turning those promising young men who were willing. During his first decades as a vampire, he, along with Dimitri and Guiltia, lived a comfortable, shielded existence among peers who wished to coexist peacefully with humans while avoiding too much interaction. But he soon realized that plenty of vampires were not like that. Vampires who hunt humans, taking advantage of their weaknesses. And humans are weak, those wonderful, fragile creatures. Their short lifespans prompt them to evolve and innovate, but also cause them to despair. 

“Well, lambs need guidance.”

“You want to take part in Visual Prison again,” Hyde says. It’s not a question.

“Isn’t our duty as vampires to offer our songs to the scarlet moon? And, as the superior beings we are, isn’t our duty towards humans to comfort them through our music?”

“I concur, but it’s unlikely that Guil will want to make a comeback.” They have talked little with him since Eclipse disbanded, but their dear brother seems perfectly content with his current life. He’s the happiest Hyde has ever seen him. 

“I don’t mean with Guil.”

Hyde turns around to look Dimitri in the eye. This is what he was expecting.

“So, you and I? That is not a terrible idea.”

“It’s a great idea! We don’t need anyone else. You and I will be invincible together, Hyde. We’ll win Visual Prison and make our own rules.”

Hyde grasps what he wants at once. “Rules to protect the humans.”

Dimitri smiles. “I knew you would understand. So, will you sing with me? I’ll make your voice shine the brightest.”

Hyde’s chest expands with warmth. Dimitri is an even bigger perfectionist than him. He never does things halfway; whatever he does, he spares no time or energy to meet his very exigent standards. That he’s suggesting to do this together is testament not only of his love for Hyde but also his faith in his skills and commitment to a just cause. And this is indeed a lofty purpose. There is an imbalance in the world, and there is no one more fitted to correct it than them.

Dimitri is right. Their contrasting voices complement and perfect each other, merging to create the most beautiful harmony. Besides, with Guil out of the contest and Saga too busy sulking, it’s not as if they’ll have any worthy rivals. 

“The other vampires will not like it,” he says, taking Dimitri’s hands.

“No, but do we care what the others think?”

Hyde returns Dimitri’s smile. If they change the rules to make it harder to hunt humans, they’ll make plenty of enemies. But what does it matter, as long as they have each other? What is the hate of their peers compared to Dimitri’s smile, to his warmth? This is what they’re meant to do. Together, he and Dimitri can beat any rivals and destroy all enemies. They will be the most beautiful, the most radiant. They will be kings.

~~~~~~

It’s the first time they compose a song together. They used to give their opinion on Guil’s melodies, especially regarding their parts, and they usually offer advice when one of them is composing something, but they’ve never created something together from the very beginning. It’s easier than he expected. They want their songs to offer comfort to the lost little lambs, and their feelings are the same in that regard, so the lyrics come to them naturally. 

Singing together is easy as well, Dimitri’s deep voice supporting his, harmonizing with it. There was no doubt in his mind that they possess the skills to please the mother of all vampires, and it is with pride and satisfaction that he accepts the drop of blood that falls on his arm, twin on the one landing on Dimitri. As soon as it touches his skin, a distinctive mark appears on his skin, shaped like a crescent moon, different to the one he carried for decades, and yet so similar.

“Eclipse,” Dimitri says, as if reading his thoughts.

“So it’s up to us to carry on the legacy.” It feels wrong. The name Eclipse was created for Guil, after all. 

“There’s nothing to worry about,” Dimitri says. “Our Eclipse will be indestructible and everlasting.” He beams as he speaks, so confident and positive. 

Dimitri is the sun, warm and radiant. And just like it happens with the sun, prolonged exposure to Dimitri can cause fatigue and headaches. But just like mortal creatures need the sun to sustain their lives, Hyde needs Dimitri to maintain his. Dimitri’s blood runs through his veins, giving him life, and Dimitri’s soul completes his. 

He presses his forehead against Dimitri’s. “We will only crumble when we’re no longer needed.”

Dimitri nods. “And until then, we are one.”

 

Chapter 8: Devotion

Notes:

Here come the sexy times! I changed the rating to explicit because yeah, this chapter is 90% just graphic smut, so if that's not your thing, then feel free to read only the beginning and end and skip the middle of it.

Present time, Harajuku

 

Hyde needs blood. He hasn’t voiced it, and he won’t until the craving is powerful enough to weaken him. He can be adorably stubborn like that, sometimes. But Dimitri knows anyway. Hyde becomes a little crankier than usual when he’s thirsty, his remarks harsher, his hand often on his temple in an attempt to rub away the bloodthirst-induced headache. All the little signs that would go undetected for the untrained eye are easy to spot for him after so many decades together.

Saying that Hyde dislikes drinking his blood would be inaccurate. He certainly appreciates the taste, and he loves what being fed on does to Dimitri. Rather, what he dislikes is how much he enjoys it, so much that he still struggles to fight the urge sometimes. And, especially, he hates that he craves it more than Dimitri does. It bothers him to think that he’s taking more than he gives. He’s righteous like that. So lovely.

Dimitri, however, is perfectly fine with Hyde taking all the blood he needs. Everything he is, and everything he has, from his soul to the blood in his veins, belongs to Hyde. Feeding his husband, pleasing him, is his duty and his privilege. But directly offering his blood usually only worsens Hyde’s mood, so over the years, he’s developed better strategies. 

He finds Hyde in one of their bedrooms, cladded in a white silk robe with golden embroidery on the cuffs that embraces his body, accentuating his slim waist. He’s looking out the window, his perfect figure contrasting against the night sky. 

“What a beautiful sight.”

“Tokyo?” Hyde asks, without turning to look at him. 

“I mean you.” He approaches Hyde, embracing him from behind. “You look gorgeous tonight.”

“You keep saying that.”

“And you keep getting more and more beautiful.”

Hyde snorts, as if he thinks Dimitri is being ridiculous, but he loves the praise, as long as it’s honest. Which Dimitri always is. 

Hyde shifts his weight, resting his back on Dimitri’s chest. The motion leaves his neck exposed, so Dimitri leans forward to leave a trail of kisses from the crook of Hyde’s neck to his ear, and then back down until he reaches his shoulder, pulling down the gown as he goes. The sweet scent of lavender - Hyde’s current favourite soap - mixed with the familiar aroma of his blood, fills Dimitri. He nibbles on the tender skin on Hyde’s neck, just hard enough that he’ll feel it. 

“Do you want blood?” Hyde asks, tilting his head to look at him. 

“If you’ll allow me.” What he actually wants is for Hyde to relax and feed on him, but Hyde will insist on him drinking as well, so it’s all the same.

“Go ahead, then.”

“Not yet.” He leaves another kiss on Hyde’s neck. “You’re too tense, it’ll sour your blood.”

Hyde arches his eyebrows. “That’s ridiculous.”

“It is not. I have centuries of experience drinking your blood and thus I’m an expert on the matter.” He takes Hyde’s hand and guides him towards the bed. “Come, I’ll give you a massage.”

Hyde gives him a sceptical look. “I doubt a massage will change the taste of my blood.”

However, he doesn’t resist when Dimitri unknots his gown, making it slip down his body before he folds it neatly and sets it aside. Sitting on the bed with Hyde standing up between his legs, he caresses Hyde’s skin, running his hands up and down his sides and admiring his perfection. Despite a natural inclination against physical exercise, Hyde has taken good care of his body over the years and he’s not as thin as he might seem, with strong limbs and an abdomen packed with lean muscle. Dimitri adores it.

Hyde looks down at him, arousal sparking in his eyes. “Get on with it,” he says, his voice cold with feigned indifference. “I don’t have all night.”

How adorable that he’s pretending he doesn’t want this.

He makes Hyde lie facedown on the bed, then grabs the massage oil and pours a good amount on his hand, rubbing his palms together to warm it up before applying it to Hyde’s back. He starts with ample motions, rubbing the oil all over Hyde’s skin to make it slick. Once Hyde’s back is warmed up, he switches to focus on each group of muscles one by one. Dimitri strives for excellence in everything he does, so of course, he’s an outstanding masseur. He’s also been doing this to Hyde for long enough that he knows all the places where Hyde tends to be sore, the muscles that most often get knots. It doesn’t take long for his massage to have an effect on Hyde’s body.

Hyde does his best to appear unaffected and keep up the charade, but Dimitri can read his body like a book. The way he tenses when Dimitri rubs a stiff muscle, and how he lets go of that tension once Dimitri’s skilled fingers dissolve the pain into pleasure. Soon, Hyde’s body is all soft and pliant under him. Dimitri could bite him now, then coax him to take a sip too, but he can think of more satisfying ways to proceed.

He kneels between Hyde’s legs and, spreading his cheeks apart, gives a good lick to the sweetness inside. 

“Dimitri,” Hyde says, turning his head to look at him. His voice is neutral, but his face is flushed with pleasure. “What kind of massage is this?”

“One with a happy ending.”

Hyde arches an eyebrow. “Are we in a pleasure house now?”

Dimitri doesn’t reply. Giving pleasure to Hyde is a much better use of his tongue right now. He savours Hyde’s entrance, alternating between licking the outside and sliding his tongue inside. He knows the change between those different sensations drives Hyde crazy, and if there’s anything Dimitri loves, that is pleasing Hyde. And among all the ways of using his mouth for pleasure, this might be his favourite, along with sucking Hyde’s blood. There is something about licking Hyde’s entrance that makes it particularly lascivious. Besides, giving pleasure like this requires patience and tenacity, which makes the reward of Hyde’s moans even sweeter.

And Hyde does moan. He attempts to muffle any sounds, his face buried in the pillow, but even all his self-control isn’t enough to completely suppress the little noises of delight that escape him each time Dimitri teases the sensitive area. Arousal pools deep inside Dimitri, his erection painful. He longs to be inside Hyde, to fill him and make him scream his name. But he could make Hyde climax just like this, using only his tongue. It would be a slow orgasm, one that would leave Hyde relaxed yet not entirely sated, ready to drink Dimitri’s blood. He toys with the idea. After all, tonight is all about Hyde. But before he can make a choice, Hyde decides for him.

“Dimitri, stop.”

He does, immediately. “Something wrong?”

Hyde turns on his side, resting his weight on his elbow, and looks at Dimitri over his shoulder. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.”

Dimitri crawls closer to Hyde and lies beside him on the bed, leaving a kiss on his arm. “And what am I doing, other than fulfilling my marital duties?”

“Oh, so this is a duty?”

“My duty, my pleasure, and my privilege. Don’t you know that?”

Hyde sighs, turning to face Dimitri. There’s no tension in his body, but a wrinkle remains on his brow. Sometimes Hyde overthinks. “Do you actually want to drink my blood?”

“I do now.” Licking Hyde has awoken his thirst to taste more of him.

“I’ll let you, then.” Hyde places a hand on Dimitri’s chest, making him lie on his back before straddling him. “If you behave.”

“Oh?” Dimitri’s eyes widen. This is not how he was expecting the night to go. Hyde is not a submissive lover by any means, but in general, if Dimitri is the one who initiates it, Hyde lets him take the lead till the end. But well, if this is the way Hyde wants it to go, he’s not complaining. 

“Now stay put,” Hyde instructs, and Dimitri promptly obeys, crossing his arms behind his head to show he won’t move. That clearly pleases Hyde, as he smiles. “Good boy.”

Keeping his eyes on Dimitri, Hyde grabs the lube and coats his fingers with it before taking them to his entrance. He proceeds slowly, working on the rim before inserting two fingers inside, little by little. He doesn’t take his eyes off Dimitri all the while, a naughty smile on his lips. What a tease. 

Hyde doesn’t need that much preparation to take Dimitri, and even less after Dimitri has licked him, but he loves testing the limits of how long Dimitri can wait. And Dimitri loves enduring the sweet torture of watching without touching, of repressing his instincts and remaining a mere spectator while Hyde pleases himself. So he stays put and waits, carefully observing as Hyde’s fingers move in and out of his entrance, his husband’s legs trembling just slightly from the pleasure. A drop of precum pools on his beautiful, long erection, and Dimitri has to resist the urge to lick it. But when Hyde buries his fingers deep and the sweetest of moans escapes his lips, Dimitri’s patience meets an abrupt end.

“Hyde,” he croaks, his mouth dry.

“Yes, Dimitri?”

“May I touch you, please?”

“Getting impatient, are we?”

“How could I not, when you’re so tempting?”

Hyde gives him a teasing smile. He pulls out his fingers and grabs Dimitri’s erection, mixing the remnants of lube on his hand with Dimitri’s precum and smearing it all over his length. Once it’s all slick, he guides it towards him, sliding it between his cheeks without putting it inside. “Is this what you want?”

It’s a good thing that Dimitri doesn’t need to breathe, because he has forgotten how to. Hyde is gorgeous. No, that’s an understatement. He’s sublime. Perfect. A divine creature. 

“Hyde,” he moans.

Hyde rocks his hips, giving Dimitri a taste of his warmth, but still not letting him slide inside. It makes pleasure spark all over Dimitri’s body. “Yes, Dimitri? Is this what you want?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to thrust inside me?”

“Yes,” Dimitri manages, his voice weak with desire.

“Do you want to fill me and make love to me?”

“I do.”

“Do you, really?” He takes Dimitri’s hand to his cheek, nuzzling against it. “I was under the impression that this was all just a plot to get me to feed on you.”

“I want that too,” he says fervently. “I want to meet all your needs and wants. I’m all yours, Hyde.”

Hyde sighs. He looks at Dimitri, a soft glint of affection in his eyes. “You’re too devoted for your own good.”

How ironic that Hyde is saying that. “I only give as much as I’m taking.”

“Is that so? Then I guess I should do some giving as well.”

He lowers his hips, his warmth enveloping Dimitri. So tight, so wet, adapting perfectly to his shape. By instinct, he grabs Hyde’s thigh, wanting to push deeper inside, but Hyde catches his arm and pins it to the bed.

“I don’t recall giving you permission to touch me.” His voice is icy, but a fire burns in his eyes. “Stay put or I’ll have to punish you.”

As tempting as receiving Hyde’s punishment is, Dimitri obeys, remaining still while Hyde takes him in little by little until he’s completely buried inside. He doesn’t move even as Hyde starts rocking his hips, rubbing Dimitri inside him in a motion that’s too slow, too gentle.

“Hyde,” he whines, but he stays put, despite the heat swallowing him, inviting him to thrust inside. 

“You’re being so obedient, for once.” Hyde leaves a trail of kisses on Dimitri’s forearm, all the way to his elbow, then licks along the length of it, until he reaches his wrist. “I’ll have to give you a reward.” His eyes spark red and Dimitri swallows, anticipating what’s coming. 

Hyde bites Dimitri with a ferocity at odds with his calm behaviour. He digs his fangs in without holding back or trying to minimize the pain, which only excites Dimitri further. Pleasure shoots through him from the wound on his wrist, his veins burning with ache and delight.

Unlike Dimitri, who prefers to drink in big gulps, Hyde feeds slowly, in elegant, small sips that send sparks of pleasure down Dimitri’s spine. Arousal sweeps over him in waves, each more powerful than the one before. The physical pleasure of Hyde’s fangs piercing his skin mixes with the euphoria of sustaining Hyde’s life, of being the only one who can quench his thirst. By the time Hyde stops drinking, Dimitri can no longer think straight.

“Hyde,” he pleads. “I want to make love to you.”

“Do you?” Hyde asks, using his finger to pick up one last drop of blood that trails down Dimitri’s arm and taking it to his lips. “But I already fed, isn’t that what you wanted? We could stop here.” He raises his hips, pulling Dimitri out of him until only the tip remains inside.

The mere idea of stopping now makes Dimitri want to sob. Hyde drinking his blood has turned desire into desperation. 

“Hyde.”

“Yes?” Hyde lowers his hips again, burying Dimitri deep inside him in one quick movement. He doesn’t break eye contact, his cheeks slightly flushed. “What do you want?”

“I want to make you feel good.”

“Oh? But I am feeling good.” As if to prove his point, he rolls his hips, hitting a spot that makes him moan. “I quite enjoy using you. You’re mine to use, after all, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am.”

Hyde sends waves of pleasure all over his body with each thrust, but he’s being so careful, so slow. And he’s so magnificent on top of him, so utterly sensual. Being teased and toyed with excites Dimitri, to the point where he can barely control himself. He wants - needs - to drown Hyde in pleasure, make him scream, make him lose himself until he can think of nothing but Dimitri. Wants to be good for Hyde, satisfy him and surpass his expectations.

Hyde, of course, knows exactly what’s going on in Dimitri’s mind.

“Perhaps you’re thinking of making me lie on my back and thrust inside like a savage?”

“Isn’t that what satisfies you the most?”

Hyde smiles. “I don’t think you’re in the position to be cheeky right now.” He runs a hand over Dimitri’s chest until he finds a nipple that he proceeds to pinch hard. It hurts so good. “But I’ll forgive you if you beg nicely.”

“Hyde,” he pleads. It’s easy to, in his current state of desperation. “Please.”

“Please what? You’ll have to be more specific.”

“Please let me pin you to the bed and penetrate you until I drive you insane with pleasure.”

“So honest,” Hyde chuckles. “Very well, you’re allowed to take me.”

Dimitri wastes no time. As soon as Hyde gives his permission, he grabs him and shifts him over, pushing Hyde to the bed and getting on top of him in one quick motion. He’s usually more gentlemanly than this, but it’s almost impossible to control himself at this point.

“Such a brute,” Hyde complains, but he’s smiling and, when Dimitri penetrates him again, he wraps his legs around his waist, pulling him closer. 

His instincts are screaming at him to ram inside Hyde as hard as he can, but he gathers enough self-control to fall into a steady rhythm instead, not gentle but not too fast either. If he thrusts too hard too soon, he’ll finish before he can get Hyde to climax, and he’s not so far gone that he’ll forget to prioritise Hyde’s pleasure above his own.

Under him, Hyde gasps and moans quietly, his hand drawing circles on Dimitri’s neck. He’s so warm, burning with passion. 

He holds Hyde’s hand down, their fingers laced, and kisses Hyde’s neck, over and over, until Hyde tilts his head and makes him lean in for a deeper kiss. Hyde is so tight around him, squeezing him, moving in sync with his thrusts, pulling him deeper, deeper. Dimitri is about to reach the point of no return when Hyde breaks the kiss, their lips brushing as he whispers his command. “Stop.”

Dimitri does, immediately, because he’ll never go against Hyde’s wishes, but his head is fuzzy. Why is Hyde asking him to stop, right when it’s feeling so good? Has he hurt him, somehow? He looks at him, searching for any signs of discomfort, but all he finds in his eyes is affection, with a hint of amusement.

“I love it when you’re so obedient,” Hyde says, playing with Dimitri’s hair, “it almost compensates for how obnoxious you are the rest of the time.”

“And I love when you’re so demanding,” he manages to say through the sex-induced fog taking over his brain, “but you’re really testing the limits of my self-control tonight.”

“But isn’t meeting my demands your true calling? You do love proving yourself to me.”

“I do.” He buries his face in Hyde’s neck, taking in his scent. Hyde’s natural fragrance is mixed with Dimitri’s, creating a sublime aroma. Staying inside Hyde’s warmth without thrusting is torture, but he won’t dare move until Hyde commands him to. 

“Hmm, you’re almost impressing me tonight.” He brings his thumb to Dimitri’s mouth, rubbing it against his teeth. Dimitri sucks it, but he doesn’t bite. He doesn’t have explicit permission yet. “Good boy.” Hyde digs his heels into Dimitri’s back. “You can move now.”

Dimitri doesn’t need to be told twice. Soon, he’s back to his previous rhythm of steady thrusts, picking up the pace little by little. Hyde keeps his thumb on Dimitri’s mouth, his hand firmly on his jaw to keep Dimitri’s mouth half open. A reminder that even now, with Hyde moaning under him and Dimitri making love to him as he pleases, he’s at Hyde’s mercy. Dimitri wouldn’t want it any other way. Hyde owns him, all of him. It’s the way it should be. He sucks on Hyde’s thumb eagerly, licking it in time with his thrusts, and carefully watches how Hyde comes undone under him. His moans get louder, less restrained, and he clings to Dimitri with his free hand, his nails digging into his skin. His body tenses, letting Dimitri know he’s getting close. It spurs him on, and he picks up the pace, his movements becoming frantic and messy. 

“Now,” Hyde moans. “Bite me now.” It’s more of a beg than a command, and Dimitri doesn’t make him wait.

He digs his fans into Hyde’s skin, sucking on the sweet nectar that fills his mouth, ramming into Hyde as hard as he can. Hyde lets out a high-pitched moan, his body going taut as a bow. He’s impossibly tight around Dimitri, squeezing him. Dimitri feels Hyde’s orgasm all over his body, his chest wetting with Hyde’s release, and it triggers his own climax. He hugs Hyde close as he releases inside, wanting to fill him to the deepest parts, calling Hyde’s name in a raw, low groan.

They stay still for a long moment, Hyde slowly relaxing under him, until remaining inside becomes too much stimulation for his oversensitive body. He pulls out carefully and lies beside Hyde, wrapping his arm around him. Hyde turns to his side, tracing his fingers over the mark left by his fangs on Dimitri’s arm. 

“Thank you,” he says. 

“No need to thank me for what’s yours.” Dimitri caresses Hyde’s hair, leaving a kiss on his temple. “Are you sated now?”

“Yes.”

“Then that’s all that matters to me.”

Hyde sighs. His body is all lax, his skin almost sparkling with a postcoital glow, but a shadow of concern casts over his eyes. “Are you sated, Dimitri? You barely drank.”

“I am.” He kisses Hyde’s thumb, licking the fresh wound. “In all these years, you’ve never left me unsatisfied.”

“I wasn’t talking about the sex.”

“Isn’t it part of the same thing?”

Hyde smirks. “I supposed you’re right.” 

“So, did I do a good job?” he asks, smiling because he knows the answer.

“I’ll give you a passing grade,” Hyde says, tracing a finger over Dimitri’s collarbone.

“Don’t you mean passing with honours?” 

“Now, let’s not get too cocky.”

Dimitri laughs. He is cocky, but with reason. As if anyone else could satisfy Hyde’s needs. 

Hyde rests his head on Dimitri’s shoulder, clinging to him for warmth. He acts as if Dimitri is the cuddly one in this relationship, but he always stays close after sex, never in a hurry to go to the shower despite his distaste for being covered in body fluids. He’s always been like this. Even when they were humans and the fear of being discovered haunted all their encounters, he always seemed to find excuses to remain with him just one minute, one second longer.

Dimitri strokes Hyde’s hair, remembering the night he first held Hyde in his arms like this. They were so young back then, barely even adults. Hyde trembled that night when he undressed him, and Dimitri is still unsure how much of it was simply because of the cold, and how much was fear and anticipation. That night, as he made him reach an orgasm for the first time, Dimitri thought Hyde couldn’t possibly get more beautiful than he was at that moment. He was wrong, of course. Physically, Hyde hasn’t changed in over two centuries, but the wisdom of the years has refined his beauty to a point beyond perfection.

“What are you thinking about?” Hyde asks, turning his head to look at him.

“I was reminiscing about our first time. Do you remember it?”

“How could I not? The stench of that inn you took me to is unforgettable.”

“Discreet places where gentlemen could meet weren’t known for their luxury back then.”

“I still think you chose the worst one.”

“It was the safest one. I was afraid you wouldn’t come otherwise.”

“I almost didn’t.”

“And aren’t you glad you did?” 

Hyde gives him a playful smile. “I wonder.”

“Hyde!” 

Hyde laughs, the kind of genuine laugh that he rarely shows unless he’s alone with Dimitri, and shifts to lie on his side, wrapping his legs around Dimitri’s.

Dimitri observes Hyde. After being tense all week, hunger making him irritable, he’s finally content and comfortable. Dimitri would sacrifice anything for Hyde to always be happy.

“Do you ever regret it?” he asks, looking into Hyde’s eyes.

“Having sex in a bed that was quite probably infested with fleas?”

“Not that.”

Hyde looks at him. “How unlike you to ask a question that you know the answer to.”

True. Dimitri has full confidence in the strength of their relationship and in Hyde’s feelings for him. Hyde might express himself through jabs and sarcasm, but acts speak louder than words, and he’s shown his commitment time and time again. And yet, the fading burn of Hyde’s fangs on his arm reminds him of the concessions that Hyde has had to make, the little worries on his mind.

“Sometimes I enjoy hearing you say things I already know. Like how good I am at sex and how attractive you find me.”

Hyde snorts and gives him a light kick on the shin. But just like Dimitri can tell when Hyde is only joking, Hyde knows when Dimitri is being serious.

“Dimitri, don’t you remember what I promised you the last time you asked me that?”

“Of course. You said that your heart will always be mine, no matter what.”

Hyde nods. “Yes. And I can say that despite your best efforts, you have not given me any reason to break that promise. Yet.”

“Yet?!”

“I wouldn’t underestimate your ability to irritate me.”

“Hyde!”

Hyde laughs again. It’s Dimitri’s favourite sound in the world, closely tied with Hyde’s moans of pleasure and his singing voice. “For someone so cultured you can be an utter fool sometimes, Dimitri.” 

“Love turns us into fools.”

“Which explains why I’m still with you.”

Dimitri looks at Hyde, opening his mouth to protest, but what he sees in Hyde’s eyes stops any words before they can come out. It’s impossible to even feign indignation when facing such an adoring gaze. 

“I don’t like being a slave to my instincts,” Hyde says, kissing Dimitri’s wrist, “but it was a price worth paying.” 

He shifts to rest his weight on his elbow so he’s looking at Dimitri from above. His hair falls over, brushing Dimitri’s face. Dimitri tucks it behind Hyde’s ear, cupping his cheek.

“You don’t need to repress your hunger,” he says. “I’m yours whenever you need me.”

“I know.”

“But you still never ask.”

Hyde smiles. “It’s not as if you ever do what I tell you, so in that we’re the same.”

“Touché.” 

He caresses Hyde’s face, losing himself in his beautiful blue eyes.

“Remember, we’re gods because there’s two of us,” he murmurs. They’ll never prey on humans, never give in to despair, as long as they have each other. It’s because Hyde is by his side that he’ll never stoop to the level of vampires who act like savages.

“Yes. And the two of us are one.”

“Forever.”

They melt into a kiss, deep and slow. His taste still lingers in Hyde’s mouth, Hyde’s scent impregnating his skin. They’re two individuals, but one heart, one soul. Hyde and their little lambs are all he needs, and anything Hyde needs, Dimitri will provide. It is the way it is, and how it will always be. They share one fate. Now and forever.

 

Notes:

Aaaaand that's the end! Thank you everyone for reading and supporting what's essentially a collection of my dimihyde headcanons turned into a story.