''How long was I out?'', Zelo asked the blonde in front of him, his hand encased tightly in hers.

''A few days'', was Hayi's soft whisper, her eyes more concentrated on the picturesque hand of Zelo's. Her eyes didn't meet his since her head was bowed down low; her hair forming two curtains which hid her face from view.

''It isn't so bad, Hayi, really.'', he tried to reason with her, trying to sit up on his four-poster bed. She reacted immediately; her hands pushed at his firm chest and pulled the covers up to his chin.

''Don't do that. You know you tire easily.'', she spoke sternly, her mannequin-like face revealed to Zelo's eyes finally.

''Was it as bad as last time?'', he asked, his mind trying to pull together some remnants of that night. All he could make out was Hayi's crying face and his carpet.

''You scratched the halls' carpet right outside...'', she trailed off, holding up his hands for him to see, red fluff of carpet stuck in between his nails.

''...Did I hurt you?'', he asked some more. When she didn't answer, he noticed that her lip was cut and both her arms were covered, even in this sweltering heat.

''Show me.'', he said it more like a command rather than a request. She rolled up the sleeves of her pale-grey cardigan and showed him the horizontal scratch marks.

He opened up his arms to her and sighed contentedly when she climbed in to them without any sort of hesitation. Her forearm was in his grasp now; he was muttering numerous apologies to her ears in hope she might overlook this as she had done the others.

''Did you atleast take a healing draught?'', he asked concernedly, pressing his lips to her wounds. She winced slightly at the contact but nodded nevertheless; her face visibly relaxing after Zelo's lips left her skin.

She fell asleep in his arms after that and he followed soon after. When he woke, he found his arms empty and his bedroom door slightly ajar.

He was about to step out of bed when Hayi entered, her hands holding a breakfast tray with Zelo's favourite breakfast; Danish pastries, a bowl of fruit and a glass of orange juice. She brought it over to the bed and started feeding Zelo despite his protests.

They spent the entire evening like that; talking, laughing and reliving past memories. When Daesung had come to give Zelo his daily dose of antidote, it was Hayi's hand he held and Hayi he made faces at because of the antidote's bitter aftertaste.

Hayi was alert as ever after that.

''You're tired, love. Go to sleep. I'll be fine.'', Zelo coaxed, his hand brushing a stray lock of her hair away from her face. Hayi shook her head but yawned for the umpteenth time.

''I don't want to~'', she whined like a little child. He couldn't help but gave in. So they lay in bed, Hayi listening and Zelo reading aloud Bram Stoker's Dracula, until the grandfather clock in the hallway outside struck midnight.

Hayi had yet again fallen asleep in his arms and he couldn't help but smile unknowingly at her sleeping face.

She needs to be like this always, he decided.

Untainted and innocent and mine.

Sure, he was going through a tough time these past few months with his unknown transformations and Hayi's sudden change in age and appearance. She had told him to let it go, he remembered.

But, then again, his vivid and carnal transformations weren't really helping, either. He wakes up in the middle of the night, his entire body aching for something he could not put a finger on. His eyes chnaged colour and his teeth and nails elongated themselves by a few inches; making him look like some kind of a weird hybrid.

The only thing which could sate him was the antidote.

Or Hayi's own blood.

Oh, how he regretted that night. He had given in to his monstrous nature and the next thing he knew, he had bit down on Hayi's left hand and almost drained out all the ichor out of her.

She hadn't woken up for days after that.

But, when she did, he was there by her bedside, holding her hand and sobbing. Incoherent words tumbled out of his mouth and the only word that she had understood was her own name.

Her hand was so cold, he remembered, visibly shivering at the thought. He had thought that it would never become warm again when suddenly, heat spread from the tips of her fingers to her palms before spreading throughout her body.

He had never been so grateful for the fact that she wasn't just human.

She had said that it was his very own warmth that warmed her back.

He had looked at her with a look of amusement and half-mockery when the words escaped .

Hayi moved in her sleep, rolling over so that her back was to him. He pulled her closer and pulled the covers over both of them; to shield Hayi from the cold he had begun to fear which would take her.

''I'm not letting anyone hurt you, Hayi. Even if I have to sacrifice my own life for yours, I won't let you get hurt.'', Zelo whispered, his hand buried in her strawberry-blonde hair.

She nudged the slightest bit, as if in response to Zelo's statement. Her face, which looked radiant and perfect a few moments ago, was now sullen and drawn, her lips forming a thin line.

Her face showed it all.

The last thing she wanted was Zelo sacrificing himself for her.

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hi, there. C:

here's an update. full fluff and drama, too, i guess. :D

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