"It's always darkest before the dawn..."

[allaloneinthemoonlight]

Who: Seamus O'Reilly and Xavier Carlisle
What: Delusion is pointless
Where: Carlisle Estate
When: Approximately 36 hours after THIS and THIS

It had been about 36 hours since Luka tried to take his own life. It would only be a couple of hours before the sun rose, and Luka had been kept in the hospital for a whole 24 hours, and then some, for observation. Seamus hadn't been able to shake the image of Luka slumped on the bathroom floor in his underwear, blood everywhere. It was only from instinctive need to protect Luka that stopped Seamus going into a frenzy. He had been halfway there, though, and when Greg told him not to entirely heal Luka's wounds so it wouldn't look suspicious to the paramedics, it was probably a miracle Greg didn't literally have his arm bitten off. By this point, Seamus had been in full protective mode, nursing Luka in his arms and not letting Greg near him. Greg knew when to keep his distance, but thank god he had called 911 without seeking Seamus' okay or Seamus could well have done something stupid by that point. It was even Greg's lightning-fast decision making that had him pulling Seamus into a hug against him like he was consoling him so the paramedics wouldn't see that he, well, had fangs and eyeballs that looked like they belonged on a serial killer to humans.

Seamus had gone in the ambulance with Luka, managing to control himself and shift back from his Kindred form. Luka had been in a bad way at that point, and all Seamus had been able to do was look on while they attached him to this tube, and that wire, and stuck this needle into him, and hooked that beeping thing up to him. Seamus knew nothing of medical equipment. Even when he had still be mortal, medicine hadn't been at all this advanced. This was all really confronting to him, but the whole rapid drive to the hospital, he had held Luka's hand. And then thank god for humans who walked with them in The Masquerade. Greg had called Skye to come to the hospital ASAP so Greg and Seamus could depart before the sun had come up. Greg took Seamus back to Luka's hotel room and they waited out for the sun to set again.

When they went back to the hospital, Luka had been out to it... understandably. He had his wrists sutured and they had pumped his stomach. Being night again by that point, though, Xavier had pulled a lot of strings and gotten the Kindred physician, Wesley, to take over Luka's case and it meant that rather than being admitted, Wesley authorised for Luka to be discharged into Xavier's care... or Seamus', rather. Luka had been mostly out of it upon his discharge and Seamus had carried him out to the limousine for the drive back to Westchester. Greg and Xavier rode with him, and the whole time Seamus had Luka's head nursed against his shoulder. When they got to the estate, getting Luka out of the car had been an awkward moment when Luka managed to throw up all over one of Xavier's favourite suits, Seamus' sleeve, Greg's shoes, and the marble stairs. But he had been so out of it that he probably barely even realised what was going on. Seamus had just left Greg and Xavier with the mess and carried Luka to his wing.

Now, hours later, they were in Seamus' bedroom. In his bed, Luka was in a long-sleeved t-shirt and a pair of cotton pyjama pants, out like a light in Seamus' massive antique canopy bed. Beside him, Seamus was lying with him, an arm protectively wrapped around him whilst his other hand was soothing stroking his fingers through Luka's thick curly hair while Luka slept. His eyes had barely left him, watching and feeling to make sure he kept breathing, and on the bed beside them lay a pile of unravelled bandages Seamus had removed to carefully remove the sutures from Luka's wrists to heal the wounds completely. When Xavier came into the room with a soft knock on the door and sat down on the side of the bed beside Seamus, Seamus just glanced at him. "You don't have to say 'I told you so'," he murmured.

Comments

[bloodstainedheart]

Xavier had watched from the door for a few moments just to make sure both Luka and Seamus were okay. He had known basically from the start what was going on here, and it had been - unfortunately - a situation he couldn't just stick his nose into. For one, he had his hands very full at the moment from many different angles, and two, he knew Seamus was very skeptical about the whole thing. There was no sense trying to tell him how to suck eggs, it was just a saddening situation that it had to take such an horrific turn to eventuate. The link Seamus had to Luka was not only strong, but undeniable now.

"I am not here to rub your nose in anything, darling. I am here to guide you and support you. I understand how terrifying it has been for you. I can feel the shock and fear off my own mate, but I will talk extensively to him once I know you are holding up okay." He paused, watching with a faint smile as Seamus never missed a beat in the natural urge to be touching Luka right now to comfort him, to soothe the pain. Luka was on medication to help him sleep, thanks to Wes, but having Seamus close would no doubt have brought him some peace that he was denied to lead him to this place to begin with. "Do you believe he may be your soul mate, Seamus?" he asked him quietly. He had a small window here. Once the sun began to rise, Seamus would probably be out for the count too. Xavier also planned to be the same with his own love. Everyone was in dire need of a deep rest at this point.

[allaloneinthemoonlight]

Deep down, Seamus had known that. Xavier was classy, he wouldn't gloat, or rub his nose in his mistakes. He was Seamus' mentor and the only Sire he ever really knew. If anything, Seamus was glad Xavier had come right now. It helped calm him a little and reminded him that even though this was terrifying and he felt like he was drowning in all these new sensations, in his own feelings, in Luka's turmoil and pain... he wasn't the only person who experienced this. Xavier and Greg had gone through this and they made it through to decide decades on that they wanted to mate. It was a blood union and not just a soul union. With that thought, Seamus' eyes moved back to Luka's sleeping face, his thumb brushing across his temple. He was so pale. Would there be a day some time off in the future that he would consider wanting to mate with this guy?

There was a very small nod, but a faint frown reflected much of Seamus' inner discontent. "I'm not going to leave him alone. I know this has taken you away from all the other stuff, but I can take care of him. They said he's going to feel rough for a good few days. He'll probably have a hangover from hell. I can't let go of him right now. Everything else, it's just... it's going to have to wait. And just tell Molly I'm sorry. I'm sorry if this has made Jett even worse to deal with, but I can't stay away from Luka. I won't."

[bloodstainedheart]

"Seamus, you are every bit my childer as if I Sired you myself. I would never leave you high and dry in a difficult or tormenting time. You could have come to me, darling. I understand why you did not feel you needed to. You were somewhat skeptical as to what was happening, and that is no err on your part. It was just simply lack of understanding. But I am glad you sought Greg's help in my absence. What you have been through is horrific. Perhaps we all erred when it came to Luka. We knew of his psychological strain, however he seemed okay being back in Jett's presence... but also yours. You understand what happened with the situation, yes?" Xavier asked in concern. That was why he hear. Seamus needed to understand how all of this had change him and his life. Hopefully for the better, and also for Luka.

He watched Luka sleeping deeply. He was completely sedated, breathing evenly, yet looked warm and comfortable in Seamus' bed. Seamus had all the covers wrapped up around Luka, pillows probably fluffed for him, ensuring he had comfortable clothing to sleep in. On the face of it, it was a very domestic scene. One lover taking care of the other when ill. It was a little strange to witness, because Seamus had never been in any sort of romantic relationship. Not even close. "I will speak to Molly, and we will make sure Jett is aware of what has happened. Hopefully it will help cement in his mind that Luka does need you in his life."

[allaloneinthemoonlight]

Very carefully and slowly, Seamus shifted a little away from Luka so he could sit up in the bed propped up against the pillows. Luka didn't stir at all and Seamus checked to make sure the covers were tucked comfortably around him. He had never seen this coming, that wasn't a secret. But now he suddenly had this other person in his life, that was evidently a part of him, and everything had changed. Everything was going to change, anyway. "I need him to come stay here with me," he told Xavier quietly, even if the elder Toreador would have probably already deduced that much. Over the years, Xavier's estate had become sort of a sanctuary for Kindred. Whenever one close to them needed somewhere to stay, there was never not an offer, and the size of the manor was like a small palace, so there was plenty of room. "I want to take care of him, and I want him near me. He can't be alone and I won't inflict that on him any longer. I don't entirely understand it. I can't lie about that. But I want to."

He, too, watched Luka sleeping for a few moments then. He had this inner urge to keep checking he was okay. And he was... or would be. Wes had assured him of that, and promised he would keep a very close eye on Luka, then when he was feeling better, he would discuss therapy with him. "I never wanted to make this hard on Jett. At all. I know how hard it is to be a childer, I remember it well. But I think I'm in love with Luka, and I don't understand it because I have only just met him. It's... my head feels like it's spinning."