Who: Eli and Nate. What: Meeting back up. When: Sunday night. Where: Outside where Eli, Logan, and Vel are living. Rating: PG. Status: Complete!
Nate was hunting down his contacts, his friends, and seeking out how they were, even as he revealed his new body, and his new status. He had started training with his dad and mom to control his strengthened telepathy and newly awakened telekinesis, and he was learning to use his skills in this body, even as he worked hard at his new job.
Tonight, it was Eli’s turn, and a combination of hacking, telepathic search, and good old fashioned snooping had earned him an address, which is where he headed, shortly after dark, one evening. He hoped he would be welcome, and that she would be fine with seeing him.
Eli was sitting in the front yard with one of the wolf pups, trying to teach him to sit. She’d fed from a blood bag earlier in the evening, not wanting to ask Logan how he’d gotten one. But she had to admit that not eating was stupid. When she fed, her skin plumped, her hair grew glossy, and she looked like the sixteen-year-old girl she had been. When she went without, it was like she aged quickly into the eight-hundred-year-old she was in her dreams.
She looked up when she saw a teenage boy approaching. She hadn’t known there were any people for miles around the safehouse, and she felt her eyes go wide.
“Hello, Eli.” Nate’s voice was different but in a lot of ways it sounded the same. His eyes were still the same, as well, and he grinned as he walked toward her, a backpack on his back, and bouncing in jeans and a t-shirt.
“How’ve you been?”
Eli’s jaw dropped and she grinned as she stood up. She ran toward him, glomping him happily, hugging tightly. “I’m so glad you’re here! But ... your dreams did this, didn’t they.”
Nate chuckled and hugged her tight. Then he nodded as she spoke, smiling still, eyes seeking hers out as he scanned her with his sight and senses. “Yes. Dreamed and dreamed and dreamed and woke up like this. Took me several days to not be hungry and in pain all the time, but I still am some.” He nodded.
“How are you?”
“I’m ... changed. Too.” She sighed, trying to think of the best way to tell him she’s become a vampire, that she can’t eat food or go outside during the day, that she can smell him, can tell it’s him without disbelief.
Nate nodded. “You feel different.” He smiled softly. “But also you.” He poked her slightly. “I think you are groovy, no matter who and what you become.”
“I am glad someone does,” she sighed. “I am not so sure of that myself.”
Nate smiled sadly. “I sometimes feel that way about myself. What makes you feel that way?” He reached out to hug her, if allowed.
She hugged him in return, then sighed at his question. She let her fangs descend, sharpened teeth that made her look feral, hungry.
Nate hugged her and smiled softly, and he nodded as he looked at her. “Make you look kind of cute, actually. And still groovy.” He smiled and gently poked her side, then paused. “Are they sensitive?”
“I am not cute!” She flailed a little at him, blushing and shaking her head yes. “They are. I’ve been drinking out of blood bags because I’m not really ready to ... I can’t drink from people without them turning.” She didn’t comment about how she could probably feed from Logan, but she hadn’t tried yet.
“Yes you are, Eli. I’ve seen a lot of people, and I am quite sure of it.” He chuckled, then. “Could you drink...” He paused, then grinned. “I have an idea. How much blood do you need at a go?” Thoughts whirled.
“I am not. And just a few pints,” she murmured. “I’m not biting you.”
“Yes you are.” He chuckled.
“I don’t want you to bite me.” He smiled. “I’m a telekinetic, Eli. I can move things with my mind, including blood. If I cut myself, I could feed you blood, without you ever touching me.” And no chance of turning.
She blinked, then cocked her head. “I don’t want you to cut yourself, Nate.” Eli shook her head. “This is too much to ask of you.”
“You didn’t ask me. I offered.” His smile was warm and compassionate. “I won’t force it on you, but I’d do it for you, anytime, okay?” She was someone he was willing to go that extra way to help.
It didn’t occur to Eli to ask why he wanted to, but she just nodded. “Thank you. If I must, if I have no other choice, then perhaps. But not until then.” She looked up at him, blinking. “When did your abilities manifest, then?”
“My telepathy has been growing slowly since my mini-coma awhile back, and my telekinesis kicked off when some people I care about were threatened, but it only really came alive when I grew a little older here.” He smiled to her and a small rock rose to his hand and flopped into it.
Eli couldn’t help but smile. “That is fantastic! I can smell and see and hear better. That is the only part of being what I am that I like.”
Nate smiled back. "Cool! Some good sides for sure, then, huh? " He was glad she had something to hold on to.
“I’m just glad that you’re you.” She closed her eyes. Nate had a smell that was all his own, and Eli plopped down on the lawn next to him. “Have you gotten the chance to skate more?”
"Some, yeah. Missing my partner in crime, though. " He nudged her shoulder with his own.
She chuckled, nudging him back. “We shall have to go sometime soon. I miss skating very much.”
“THere are a lot of places open after sunfall around here. We could totally go have some fun.” Nate smiled at her. He was glad to see her at least enjoying this moment. There wasn’t much he could do to change things, yet, but he was glad to help.
“I’d like that.” She smiled, flopping down on the grass. “Nate? If you liked a girl and kissed her and she didn’t fight you off, would you consider that a bad thing or a good one?” She was fishing for information about her kiss with Athelstan.
Nate blinked and sat next to her. Her question made him blink. “I would consider that a very good thing. If I liked her and kissed her, and she seemed to not hate it, I would smile hopefully at her.” He nodded. “And probably try it again.”
“I did, and he flailed a little then.” She was glad she couldn’t blush anymore. “It was only a little awkward.”
Nate grinned. “I imagine so, but we’re teenagers. Life is supposed to be awkward. If it wasn’t it wouldn’t be our lives.” He nodded.
Eli smiled. “How old are you now, anyway?”
“Eighteen. Possibly Nineteen. Got almost all my height and width, but not quite all, so I know I’m not in mid-twenties.” He chuckled. “And my ID only says 18, now.”
“Alas, I’m too young for you.” Eli blushed, biting her lower lip when she thought of the boy she fancied. He was twenty. Oops.
Nate snerked. “If you say so.” He shook his head. “I don’t think I want a girlfriend just yet anyway.“
“You should be looking for a wife, old man.” Eli laughed, poking him in the side.
“Bah! No thanks! I think a woman would have to be suicidal to want to be with me. My life is fucked.”
“Love makes it where that sort of thing does not matter. In my dreams, I love a boy, and he stays with me even though he knows what I am.” Eli squeezed Nate’s hand. “I have hope for you.”
Nate squeezed her hand in return. “I’m sure you’re right. I’ve never been good, in dreams or waking, in understanding love, so it’ll probably blindside me, you know?” He grinned at her. “I hope things work out for you and your guy, too.” He chuckled. “Let me know if I have to have a talk with him.”
“Nobody understands love, I don’t think.” Eli smiled, looking over at Nate. He’d turned into a handsome man, and she kissed his forehead gently. “You won’t have to talk to Athelstan. He is a perfect gentleman.”
He blushed and grinned. And instinctively kissed her cheek. “Good. You deserve the best.” He hugged her again and grinned. “Can’t have my friend getting less than the best.”
“You are kind,” Eli smiled, laughing when she was hugged. “See? You will find a lady in time.”
“Bah. We’ll see.” He grinned at her. “Thanks, Eli, You’re good people.”