Who: Brother Athelstan and Eli What: Surprise! When: 4/2 or so, during the age plot. After this post. Where: Their house Rating: PG Status: Complete
Athelstan felt as though he was seeing his bride on his wedding day, waiting for Eli to come up the stairs. He was still confused, still a bit wary - but she’d proven it was her. It was hard to shake the feeling of awkwardness. Hopefully she wouldn’t hold it against him.
She didn’t really fit into her clothes anymore; her hips had broadened and her breasts gotten bigger. Instead of the clothes she had before, she was in one of Logan’s old t-shirts and a pair of his boxers. She was even more pale than before, and her hair longer. “Athelstan?” Fortunately, her voice was the same.
God forgive him, but his first impulse was to stare. She was taller and more willowy, with a gentler way of holding herself. He blushed furiously, fighting the absurd impulse to look away, to give a strange woman en dishabille her privacy. “You’re stunning,” was all he said.
Eli’s pale cheeks went scarlet. She was just glad her new body still held the blood that she’d taken the day before. “I ... it was not by choice. I wonder if this is meant to be me later on? If I had aged?” She bit her lower lip. “In my dreams I looked even younger than how I looked ... before.”
“Oh?” Athelstan was curious, and it helped him focus. “But you are very old in your dreams, I thought? Or do you mean you just look younger?”
“In my dreams, I was turned when I was twelve, and I was a very young looking twelve. I spent eight hundred years looking like a child.” Wrapping her arms around his waist, she let her head rest upon his chest. “If I must stay this way - if I do - at least I do not look so young.” It was why in her dreams she’d always taken in so many paedophiles, they were naturally attracted to someone who could consent but looked like a child.
Athelstan pulled her tight, grimacing at the implication. “No one is ever going to harm you as long as I have breath, Eli.” Regardless of what she looked like.
She closed her eyes, breathing in his scent. It relaxed her immediately, and she burrowed closer. “You take care of me, my Athelstan.”
"I could say the same." Athelstan smiled wanly, though he did laugh as something occurred to him. "Good Lord. Your father will be ... Confused." Likely displeased, if only because Eli was even more beautiful now.
Eli’s laughter was muffled against his chest. She looked up and smiled. “I should take a photo of him to make you laugh.”
Athelstan couldn’t entirely hide the whuff of laughter himself. “I’m sure he’ll be all right.” Really, he’d have imagined Logan to be much more upset if Eli hadn’t had a boyfriend. He’d speak his piece if anyone harassed her, after all. “I like to do it anyway. It keeps Papa on his toes.” Eli grinned, winking up at Athelstan, who she was pleased to find was still very much taller than her. It made her feel safe.
He did laugh at that, going for a kiss. It still felt like Eli in that regard, and he sighed, relieved. “I’m just glad your mind did not change with your body.” She could have forgotten him, for all he knew.
“That is happening to some people. I would have been very upset.” If she’d changed to how she’d looked in the dreams - she didn’t even want to think too long upon it.
Athelstan shook his head. “Nightmare fuel.” He didn’t let her go yet. He didn’t want to.
She tugged him down gently to kiss him, so she could get used to the way his mouth felt with new lips, the way teeth and tongues danced with different partners.
That was fine with him. He could tell she was exploring, and let her lead, so to speak - moving along with her, but not taking the lead. It felt impossibly delicate and beautiful and he almost didn’t want to breathe.
It was still amazing to her the way people could communicate simply with touch. She liked it. It was a subtle thing, but she understood that he was grateful it was still her, that he didn’t care that she was changed. And it made her smile against his mouth. “Thank you.”
“For what?” Athelstan cocked his head. He didn’t think he’d done anything to be grateful for.
“For being so accepting,” she murmured, letting her lips run over his Adam’s apple. “You could have been scared.”
“I was. I still am. But at your heart, it’s you.” Athelstan closed his eyes. “As long as it’s still you, Eli, there’s very little to be frightened about.”
She stroked his cheek. “Someday, I want to marry you. When you are older, and if you ever grow ready.”
He’d had an idea of that, but hearing it was still humbling. Scary, yes, but thrilling, at the same time. “I ... really.” Athelstan laughed softly. “That is a big commitment.”
She smiled and nodded. “Which is why we are waiting, my silly Athelstan. You are blushing.” Her hands moved to cup his cheeks, relishing their new warmth.
“I’ll do it properly when the time comes.” With a ring and a pledge to God. He knew she wouldn’t begrudge him that. “If it does.” She didn’t want him to force anything, not ever. “I think I shall have to go with Mama to buy new clothes.”
“It will.” It wasn’t forcing it. He knew it in his heart. “With all due respect, is she able to be out and around?” He knew Logan’s fiancee was very close to giving birth.
“She may wish to be, I know many women usually try to walk to start the birth.” Eli smiled. “Women are not so fragile. Many women walk during birth to ease labor pains.”
“Oh. I had no idea.” Not for the first time Athelstan had to realize just how little he really knew about women. “That’s fine, then, I suppose. I hope it all goes well - would it be offensive if I prayed for her and the little one?”
“Of course not. Prayers are never offensive when given out of love.” She ran her fingers through his hair, sighing contentedly at the soft curls being exactly the same.
“I always ask anyway.” Athelstan figured it was just safer. “Some people think it patronizing.” He sighed as well, maybe nuzzling against her hand. He liked the gesture - it was sweet and safe.
“Some people are cruel,” she murmured. She just liked being near him, just touching him.
“Honestly, I’m just glad that my prayers were answered about the recent madness.” Athelstan shook his head. “I feel very bad for those who lost their lives - but I wanted my loved ones to be safe.” He’d been alarmed on that day. Felt he had no choice.
“I woke up after it was done.” She sighed, looking down at her feet. “I have a friend who is a vampire, who has a ring that helps him to walk in the daylight. He says he wants to help me to try it, to see if it works. I am nervous.”
Athelstan froze. “To try to walk in the daylight?” he echoed. He didn’t say anything else, at least not outwardly; he couldn’t take that from her, but the idea of it failing was the most painful thing he could contemplate.
She sighed to herself. “I will only allow a finger to be exposed to the light, but even so, it will be quite painful if it does not work.” She chuckled and looked up at him. “I am more cautious than Damon, I would not just leap into the sunshine. Besides, I do not miss it so much, you always smell of it.”
“Do I?” Athelstan’s smile was bashful, but less afraid than before. “What does it smell like?”
“Have you ever driven in the summertime with the windows down? And there are flowers and growing things?” Eli grinned up at him, kissing him once more. “That is what you smell of.”
Athelstan blushed. “You’re very expressive. You make me feel somehow much more than just an average bloke.”
Blue eyes locked onto his lighter ones, and Eli shook her head. “Because you are, Athelstan. Do you wish to ... do you wish to see you as I see you?” She could give him her memories of the first time they’d met, how he’d made her feel special even then.
“Yes.” It didn’t take him long to decide. He was curious how she could even do that.
She almost felt shy. Closing her eyes, she gently pulled him down for a kiss, letting her memories of the time she’d met him - and every time she’d ever realized how much she loved him - flood into him. She hoped he’d understand. He was perfect to her.
He didn’t quite understand what was happening, but he could feel the pure love coming from her, if not the memories themselves. It almost made him shiver. “How did you do that?” he managed, lips barely apart from her own.
“I don’t know,” she murmured. “I just ... have to focus on giving you the memories. In my dreams, it was how I showed Oskar how I was turned.”
“That was amazing, really.” He smiled. “Humbling. If I ever needed proof you love me!”
“There are other ways for me to show you that, my Athelstan.” Eli grinned and kissed him again, hoping he’d figure out what she meant.