#Aro/OC

[archoniluthradanar]

On Meeting a Vampire - Chapter Two

On meeting a Vampire : an Aro Volturi short story

PART TWO

So Aro has entrusted himself to a mute female who lives alone in the forest. He is alone and still too weak from a werewolf attack to take off on his own to hunt for the rest of the coven. Unfortunately his thirst forces him to break his own promise to himself not to harm his savior. He bites her, only to find her blood is not red and doesn't taste good. In fact, it makes him quite sick.

Chapter Two and Final Chapter

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Aro had never felt so sick, not in over three thousand years. I cannot feed from this woman, he thought with annoyance. He looked up at Don'ea, his expression one of disgust. "What have you done to me?"

Don'ea stood next to the bed and leaned over Aro as he lay writhing on his side. She reached down to rest her hand on his shoulder.

The agony Aro felt in his body slowly eased up until it had completely ceased. His head snapped around to stare up at the woman. "The pain is gone. Explain yourself!"

Don'ea pulled the collar of her woolen dress away from the bite mark Aro had left on her neck. After wiping away the purple smudge with a small rag, she showed him the wound that was slowly healing, the torn flesh visibly mending as her skin sealed itself.

Aro watched in amazement, his wide eyes never wavering from her neck. "You healed me, then you healed yourself. The power to repair physical damage. Fascinating."

Aro had never heard of anyone being capable of healing vampire physiology. It just wasn't possible. They could mend torn off body parts using venom as an adhesive, and minor flesh cracks would heal naturally in time. This gift would be an invaluable asset to the coven, if he could convince her to return with him to Volterra. But how, when she could not be changed without some discomfort to the vampire changing her. And even then, Aro wasn't sure if the change would take. Don'ea was nothing more than a mystery to him at the moment. He had to gather more information.

If only she could speak, he thought.

"I have no power to heal, Aro. I have the ability to strengthen a body, any physical body, into healing itself." The woman sat at the foot of the bed and watched the man she had been caring for, now free to talk with her. "I am called Don'ea." She then glared at Aro. "Why did you attack me?"

"You can speak! Why did you wait until now to say something?" Aro sat up, leaning against the headboard of the bed. He might be shocked that all this time this woman had been able to speak and had hidden that fact, but he was far too interested in her to let the opportunity pass. He had to know more.

Don'ea gave Aro an enigmatic smile, his violent transgression already forgiven. How much was she willing to share with him. As of this moment, she hadn't decided. She pulled the blanket away from Aro's legs, showing him that they too had been healed of the werewolf scratches and bites. "With the aid from my ability, you did that yourself."

Aro reached down in amazement as his hands ran over the pale skin, now smooth and devoid of even the slightest scars from the attack. He twisted his hand around, seeing it now functioned perfectly, the re-joined pieces of his arm good as new.

"Now that I can ask questions of you, tell me about yourself, Aro." She knew a few things from her sorting through his thoughts, but with so many memories of himself and others mingling within the same mind, it was difficult for her to tell which were his and which were those he had accumulated. She wondered how such a thing had not driven him mad. Don'ea, when reading thoughts, kept what she needed and excised the rest. Aro, apparently, kept every memory he had ever read.

"I'm a vampire, Don'ea. We immortals drink the blood of humans to survive. I was getting weak and needed sustenance. I truly didn't want to attack you. Even now, I'm going to have to hunt soon. Because of you, I'll be fit enough to do that. I hope you will forgive me."

Aro wanted her to know his remorse was real. "My coven was here to destroy a pack of werewolves. I got separated from my people and was tracked by one werewolf who managed to attack me before I killed it. I had to find assistance, hence my finding myself on your doorstep, for which I am grateful."

She nodded in understanding. Her home-made soup was not palatable to him. Even water wasn't drinkable. And when he finally attempted to take her blood, it wasn't the kind he could survive on. "I had no idea, Aro."

"How is it you can understand Italian?" he questioned, suddenly realizing they had been conversing in his long-time adopted language.

"Is that the language I'm speaking now, Italian?" Don'ea asked Aro. She knew he spoke many languages, but she didn't know what they were.

"You don't know?" Aro asked, a laugh in his voice, finding all this amusing.

"No. I can speak any language. I merely have to touch you, which I have been doing a lot. It's an immediate transference of knowledge from one being to another. " She smiled at Aro, who was still finding himself more impressed. She sat on the floor near the bed, after fetching a wet rag. Aro's shoes were stained red, she assumed it being the blood of his attacker. She attempted to clean them so that they would at least be wearable.

Aro watched her as she did her chore. "Tell me, my dear, you're not a witch or fae, are you?" the ancient vampire asked, a look of revulsion on his face.

Don'ea laughed. hearing his query. "No, Aro, nothing like that." She placed his shoes next to the bed. "You have improved faster than I anticipated. Soon, you will be able to leave."

Her voice suddenly seemed almost melancholy. He had heard that tone often enough with Marcus to recognize it. Would she miss him when he was gone?

Getting out of bed, Aro tested his legs, satisfied he was not in pain nor limping any longer. He walked the length of the cabin and back.

Don'ea smiled, clapping her hands. "You see, you're so much better." She tried to suppress a yawn. She suddenly felt the drain of the day's events. She headed to the kitchen to soak the soiled rag in soapy water and cleaned her hands.

Aro, on seeing the woman yawn, knew she was fatigued. "Please, take back your bed, Don'ea. I have no need of it. Vampires don't need to sleep."

Don'ea went to the small, curtained-off corner of the room that was her makeshift bathroom to take care of her personal needs and wash up. She slipped into her nightgown and returned to the outer room to find Aro waiting for her. She lay down on the bed, stretching out. She looked up at the dark-haired vampire, who placed the blanket he had been using over her body. "Thank you, Aro."

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Aro asked Don'ea, feeling somewhat bold and assuming her feelings for him were ones of attraction, said, "If I grow bored and choose to rest, may I lie next to you? No more attacks, I promise. I will be ever the gentleman."

It was an assumption both knew to be true in any case.

"You may share the bed with me, of course. It's more comfortable than the chair. And Aro, I'm not afraid of you. I never was." Don'ea turned on her side, slipping her hands beneath her pillow. She tried to hide a smile, which Aro noticed and questioned the reason for her humorous expression.

"Your pants. Now that your legs are healed, it looks funny to see you wearing such torn clothing. Too torn for me to repair."

"Well, I can wear them without your critique, my dear, or I can remove them," he replied with a smirk, although Aro hated not being properly dressed.

Don'ea said, "No!", perhaps a little too loudly.

Aro merely smiled and blew out the candle sitting on the small table by her bed, then headed for the door. "I'm going to step outside, Don'ea. I won't be gone long. I just want to see..."

"I know, Aro. Trust they will come back for you." She smiled at him, then closed her eyes.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

By morning, Don'ea turned onto her back and stretched, her arm hitting a body. She turned again and saw Aro lying on the bed, far enough away so as not to touch her. His eyes were seemingly a brighter red. She assumed he must have fed last night. She raised herself on one arm, and peered over at him. "No sign of your people?"

"No," he said, feeling uncertain as to where they might be and if they still lived. "I may be alone now, and I was never one suited to the nomadic existence."

"You're not alone, Aro. At least you don't have to be."

Aro turned his head to look at Don'ea, her expression one of kindness, more kindness than he had experienced from anyone in a long while. The emotion was all but completely foreign to him now, not having been kind to anyone in a very long time. He reached out to her and touched her face, the skin smooth and warm. He had thought to draw her into his world, and here she was doing that to him. Aro inched his body closer, close enough to feel her breath on his cool cheek. He leaned in to kiss her.

Don'ea had not kissed anyone in a very long time, her imposed solitude keeping her from such an opportunity. She felt her heart race at the feel of Aro's cold lips on hers. He had pulled back, but she protested with a sound, to which he responded with an even deeper kiss, pushing her onto her back.

Aro had not felt desire for anyone since Sulpicia had left him, declaring herself free of her long-term imprisonment. How had this happened? He had experienced delight in learning of Don'ea's gifts, his mind pondering the uses of such gifts. Now he found himself wanting not only Don'ea's gifts, but Don'ea herself.

Her arms reached up to entwine her hands within his silky hair. Then she froze, pulling herself from beneath Aro.

Rising off the bed, she left to wash up and dress. Silently, she prepared breakfast while Aro watched her in confusion from the bed, wondering if he had offended her in some way. He wondered why she had responded to him so passionately, then turned off her emotions to take care of a mere chore.

Don'ea ate quickly, then drank a cup of hot herbal tea. She contemplated a problem nagging at her thoughts. She could not love this creature in so short a time, could she? Had she and Aro heart-bonded in some way through their interactions? She had known it to happen, but not with a creature so different from herself.

After considering the issue while eating, Don'ea decided Aro had to know the truth. She felt he was entitled to know everything if they were going to integrate their lives together. She wasn't inclined to tell him herself. Instead, she sat beside him on the bed, and stretched her hand out to him. "Go ahead. Read me. Learn the truth, Aro di Volturi." He seemed to hesitate at first, but decided to do as she asked. She felt his hand take hers, then he was holding it between both of his.

Aro sighed as he opened his mind to her memories. His eyes suddenly opened as he sifted through her past. He became intrigued by the visions he saw of her childhood with whom he assumed to be her family. Images of her home flashed in his mind. Tall towers, glistening in the sunlight. People dressed in strange clothing walking the streets. He saw her conversations with others in a language he wasn't familiar with. He reached her youth and educational years.

Aro felt a certain jealousy when he envisioned further conversations, this time with men. Then he saw her work. She was in something that rose upward from the ground, and into the sky that changed from light to darkness. When he saw how she had come to be in this place through her eyes, her vessel crashing to the ground, his eyes went wide. It was all there. Who she was. What she was.

His mind reeling, he released her hand, and whispered, "No wonder your blood is inedible to me. You aren't human. You're not even from this planet."

Don'ea placed her hands in her lap and looked at Aro, her gaze on him intense. Slowly her hair began to change colour from reddish brown to purple. The eyes that bore into Aro's were now a blue so bright, they seemed to glow with pure energy. "This is my true appearance."

Aro stared at Don'ea. She still appeared human, but with obvious and not so obvious variations "You never cease to amaze me, my dear. You're even more beautiful, if that's possible." He rose from the bed, and turned to reach out to touch her cheek. His fingers moved to her hair, gently pulling up a strand, then letting it fall. He looked deeply into her eyes, examining them with his vampire vision. They looked normal except for their intense colour. "How old are you? How long have you been on Earth?"

Don'ea thought a moment. "I've been here on your world slightly over one thousand years. My age is more difficult to say, since our accounting of years is probably different than your accounting. Suffice to say, I'm at least 1500 years old."

This news pleased Aro immensely. She was long-lived just as he was. If she agreed to return with him to Volterra, he would not lose her in fifty short years.

"If you joined us, your gifts would make our coven the most powerful on the planet."

"My abilities are not gifts, Aro. All my people possess these powers. And I will not allow you to use them for your own purposes." Her expression darkened when she gave Aro that warning.

The door suddenly flew open to reveal three of the Volturi guard. Don'ea saw a dark blonde man alongside a man with dark skin waiting by the door, while a taller man entered the cottage.

"Master Aro, are you all right?" Felix asked, scanning the room, only seeing Aro and a woman.

"Yes, Felix. I am well, due to the care I received from this woman. Is everyone else safe? Are they here?"

"No, Master Aro. Masters Marcus and Caius felt it best to keep everyone home. They sent us back to find you."

Demetri smiled, glad to see Master Aro in one piece. "By the way, we routed the pack, Master."

Felix glared at Don'ea. "So who is this human? Shall we kill her?"

Don'ea held up a hand, palm forward in a defensive stance, as if waiting to see what the tall man did.

Aro raised his hand to restrain the protective killer instinct of his guard. "No, Felix. She took care of me when I could barely walk. Killing her would not be a proper thank you to her for her assistance. And feeding off her would be useless. Her blood is indigestible to our kind."

Santiago, Felix, and Demetri glanced at one another. "How is that even possible, Master Aro?" Demetri asked.

"You all will know soon enough," Aro replied. "And a truly fascinating story it is."

He held out his hand to Don'ea, who took it, letting herself be pulled closer to Aro. "My dear, these are three of our guards. Felix, Demetri, and Santiago. Gentlemen, this is Don'ea, the woman who found me and provided me with care. She never stopped believing you would came back for me." He looked at her, and lifted her hand to his lips, kissing it.

"You'll be returning home to Italy now," Don'ea said in a whisper.

"Yes, that's true, Don'ea. And what about you. Do you still hope your people will return here to find you?"

"It's been far too long," she replied with a smile, but when she looked up at Aro, her eyes could not hide the utter misery she felt inside. Crashing on this planet, trying to stay away from humans, building a home for herself here, only to have this inhuman creature arrive and capture her heart. She didn't want him to leave. She didn't want to be alone anymore.

As if he knew this, he lifted her chin with his cold fingertips, then leaned in to kiss her with cold lips. He made to her the same offer she made to him. "You don't have to be alone anymore, Don'ea. Come back to Volterra with me. Join us. It's true, your abilities would be a great asset to our coven. But I don't ask just for that alone." His red eyes questioned her.

She smiled at Aro. "No one can change me into a vampire because my body can't be dosed with your venom. And I'm safe from your kind feeding off me, since my blood is not compatible with your dietary needs." She wondered if he really cared for her, or merely saw her as someone to make use of.

He held her hands in his, her thoughts non-existent to his mind's probing. "Stop blocking me, dear one. Open your heart to me."

She nodded as she stared into his crimson eyes. She found them intriguing, beautiful even. "I have never met a vampire, although I have heard of the lore. Humans can be quite superstitious."

Aro gazed at the female standing before him. She appeared human, but was not human. And he found himself wanting her more and more.

"If you decide to accept me, my dear, you may return to Volterra with us. We'll give you a home and companionship. You may use your gifts to defend the coven, if you're willing. I won't ask any more of you than you're willing to give." He took her hands in his, kissing the palm of one. "Perhaps some day, you will consent to be my mate."

The guards were surprised at what they saw unfold before them. Aro had met a human with whom he had formed some attachment, and was now going to bring her home with them to Volterra.

Her eyes went wide at his words. This was unexpected. "Aro, will I fit in?" Her eyes were fixed on his, something shining there he would later come to understand.

"We are alike, you and I, even if we are different. We both live long lives. Neither of us can be harmed. It seems a perfect match to me. " His hand brushed over her cheek while she felt his emotions flood her heart. The connection was so strong, she knew even time could not break it.

Don'ea looked around the cabin.

Aro asked her, "If there's anything you wish to bring with you, if you agree, Felix will gather them." He took his cloak off the hook by the door and put it on. He took her cloak that also hung by the door and placed it around her shoulders.

"No, there's nothing here worth keeping. All right, I'll join you, Aro. Your home will be my home, your people my people. And you..."

She wasn't able to finish before Aro gathered her in her arms and kissed her. He breathed in her unusual scent, so inhuman and unique. "You will be mine, my dear. Alien as you are and unable to be changed, I think we can make it work." Aro slipped an arm around her waist, leading her from the cabin.

"Wait." Don'ea went back inside and going to the small table that sat beside her bed, picked up a shiny metal box and slipped it into her cape pocket. Then she rejoined Aro and his guards outside.

Aro picked Don'ea up in his arms. "It's faster this way," he said, grinning.

The pair, along with Felix, Santiago, and Demetri, headed for Volterra...for home.

A/N : I was going to call this tale "Aro and the Alien", but felt it would give the reveal away.

[twibunny]

Orion (oc) x Aro (volturi)

One shot, covers them dancing together, and Aro slips on human blood.

Blood his mate let spill in celebration

.

[octolingplush]

accidentally made all my ocs aspec. oops

[differentnighttale]

Two Asexuals having a chat

Character N:You're so beautiful

Character T:*lurches up from their pinic mat*Sorry,excuse me what did you just say?

Character N:*blinks confusedly *isn't your dress beautiful.The moonlit illuminates your skin and contrasts with your dress you're wearing.

Character T:*blinks multiple times*Oh,I thought you were you know ,flirting with me or something.

Character N: *raises eyebrows* I did not understand what you mean by that.Im complimenting you.

Character T:I think you look rather dashing too.You look like a male Artermis.

Character  N:*laughs louder* well, thank you.

[cloudeling]

there should be more romance repulsed characters. there should be more aro characters in general but i deserve characters who would rather throw themselves off a skyscraper than be in a romantic relationship

[oc-dev-prompts]

Tag the OC who's on the ace spectrum, the aro spectrum, or both!

[seaquestions]

dunmeshi things. i've finally fully accepted that i can't be regular abt laios on main. also, mau! my oc! everybody make dunmeshi ocs naow!! <- my royal decree. (id in alts)

[lotostar]

Happy month of the gay everyone!

❤️💛💚💙💜

It is time for the annual pride animals post 🦊😺🐺

[starshine-cal]

My brain off adderall: ugh work sucks when can I leave

My brain when properly medicated at work:

(I pinky promise this is my own tweet that’s why I blocked the username LOL)(also this post brought to you by every Jedi we know post-order falling getting into romantic relationships with seemingly very little conflicting feelings after living their whole lives with the orders teachings haha)(guy who was young padawan when the order fell: “but I can’t date people! Only the sith date people!” Skdkdkdl)

[bella-goths-wife]

How alec, Johnny and Jane court Cullen reader

Warnings: obsessive behaviour, possessive behaviour, oblivious reader, inexperienced reader, mentions of abuse from Cullens

Alec:

Alec has to be subtle about his affections and intentions with you

Your ‘family’ already hate him, they have since the day Edward was introduced to the volturi and could report to the Cullens every thought alec has had of you

His courting had to remain subtle for his forbidden flower, for his sweet Juliet to his Romeo

He found that at first his best option for being close to you was ask for a dance at one of the balls that the volturi threw for the introductions of new members of big time clans

These balls were for the most part mandatory, meaning your family couldn’t just lock you away and you could spend time with other vampires with minimal fear

Alec would walk to to you with one of the volturi kings next to him so that If you accepted a dance with him, they could distract the Cullens long enough for Alec to slip the two of you onto the ballroom floor

He never was one for dancing before you, coming from a poor village in the medieval times he never really had to learn

Even after joining the volturi, he copied basic moves whenever he had to dance with someone for the sake of politeness

But after meeting you and realising that you came from a different time period to him, he begged some of the female volturi members to teach him some steps to dances from your time

He tried to master them but sometimes you still have to correct him, to which he’ll claim that you must be seeing things to save himself embarrassment

He also tried to learn courting culture from your time, but he never could do with all the politeness from it

He preferred being improper with you, it gave him the opportunity to see the real you

So he’d sneak up to your room after the Cullens locked you up for the night

He’d sneak through the window and the two of you would spend the night talking and laughing together, considering neither of you needed to sleep

It made him feel closer to you, made him feel special to have that time with you

He knew that no one else had that experience with you, and that made his worries of you being taken from him

He’s done everything in his power to make sure the vampire clans know that he has claim on you and is courting you, he’s seen the newer clans looking at you like a piece of meat and he thought it best to show who you belong to

If any others try and intrude on your time together, they’ll be hissed at viciously and the volturi kings will be told of the interference to their plan to match you with either Alec or Jane

His last act of devotion to you was to swear you that he will free you from the Cullens grasp, and you can only pray he’s truthful

Jane:

Jane isn’t the most loving person

She struggles to express most emotions, but showing her adoration and love is the hardest

So she tries to court you in more practical ways, such as acts of service

Anything that you need doing, she will have the task completed by sundown

Your struggling to find clothes because the Cullens only give you childish clothes? Jane had handmade clothes tailored to match and compliment your body type and skin colour and she leaves them in your room for you

You’re thirsty but you don’t have any blood to feed with? Jane killed a human for you two to share during your teatime

She even asks for it to be baked into pastry’s even though neither of you can digest food anymore so you both end up coughing it up

You need entertainment while you’re locked away in your room? Jane will sit outside your door and read your favourite books and poems to you and keep you entertained

She also tries to work on her physical affection for you

She offers you an arm when you walk together through the garden at night, she places her hand over yours when you need comforting, she will place small kisses on your hand when greeting you in private

These are all things she never thought she’d be comfortable with until she met you, so she’s slowly improving in private

When she’s feeling extra possessive, she will cover you head to toe in her signature scent either by spraying you with perfume or briefly holding you and rubbing her cheek against your neck

This means she can put a subtle claim on you to show that you are hers and that anyone who tries to touch you will feel the wrath of her painful stare

Her final act of devotion from when she saw you last was swearing to free you from the Cullens so the two of you could stay near each other forever

She does all of this and yet your still completely oblivious to the affections her and her twin hold for you

Johnny (post meeting you)

Johnnys methods of courting is mainly just trying to help you discover more of yourself and help you separate your identity from the one forced upon you by the Cullens

I suppose it would fall under the category of quality time as he will spend hours upon hours with you helping you learn a new skill or remember an old memory

He helps you acclimate to the more modern parts of society that the Cullens never taught you about, such as dating culture and party culture

He tries to find things for the two of you to do that he thinks you’ll enjoy the most

An example of this is him taking you to a petting zoo and letting you control all the cute animals because it made you feel better then hunting with the Cullens

He also used his power to his advantage and he will shape his shadows to make shadowy animal figures for you to admire

He will also get very secretly proud of himself every time he sees you’ve enjoyed yourself doing an activity he chose out

He’s also very big into PDA as he’s less afraid of what the Cullens will do to him

He’s always got an arm around your shoulders or waist when you walk or he’s holding your hand as you talk to each other

But always with permission, he understands that you can have a slight touch Phobia because of your time with the Cullens

He was also raised as a lord, so all of his courting will subconsciously be very gentlemanly despite his playful and rough persona

So that means the sidewalk rule is being obeyed, he’s always taking your arm when you walk together and he’s always generally acting with honour and decency

He’ll do all this and you’ll still swear that he hates you though

Thoughts guys? 😭

[archoniluthradanar]

On meeting a Vampire - Chapter One

On meeting a Vampire : an Aro Volturi short story

PART ONE

This fiction will be a short story of no more than 2 chapters about an unexpected meeting between a strange young woman and an ancient vampire. Aro del Volturi is lost in some unnamed forest, left behind by his coven during a battle. He manages to reach a small cottage inhabited by a young woman who lives alone there. She's finds the man is not quite normal. On the other hand. Aro finds his savior to be somewhat odd herself.

I was going to make this a one-shot but it got too long for that, yet too short to be considered a long fic.

Chapter One

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Although his assailant was dead, Aro di Volturi's immortal body was filled with pain only because his attacker had been a werewolf. When it came to vampire versus werewolf, this fight ended in success for the vampire, but not without it's sacrifices. Aro was now alone in the forest, wherever this place was. His fellow coven members had left him behind, chased off by one of the few enemies that could defeat vampires. They would come back for him once they had lost the pack, but he needed immediate help.

Caius had insisted the werewolves must be hunted down to extinction. They were powerful, but disorganized. Still, he had nearly been destroyed by one some time ago, and his fear of them made them an enemy that had to be eradicated. The coven had destroyed many of the werewolves, but one had targeted Aro when he was alone. He fought against the hairy beast, who used bared teeth and sharp claws to take down Aro. His cries of pain echoed in the forest, but he didn't give up on his attack, until the beast fell to the ground, its blood flowing into the dirt.

Struggling to remain standing, Aro finally managed to limp his way through the trees and brush. The darkness did not impede him, having vampire vision, but his usual speed was not there for him. He continued this way for nearly an hour. His acute hearing picked up only the distant rumblings of thunder, nearby animal sounds, and the rippling of a creek not far away. Then he heard a heartbeat, human and most likely female by the rapidity of it. Aro headed in the direction of the heartbeat to find a small wooden cottage sitting in a clearing surrounded by trees.

He noticed smoke coming from a stone chimney, so obviously the occupant was there. Why would a woman be living alone in this desolate place. Perhaps her mate was out hunting. Perhaps she was a widow due to some obscure human war. Aro truly didn't care. He needed her aid whoever she was, and perhaps her blood as well if he were recover more quickly.

Aro made it to the door and knocked. He leaned against the door jamb, wanting nothing more than to lie down and mend himself. Cracks had appeared on his face and neck, and they seemed slow to heal. One hand had been torn off at the wrist. He managed to save it with a laving of venom over the breaks. He hid the damaged limb within his black cloak. There were deep bites on his legs that were causing him a great deal of pain. Aro knew they would take days to heal. He knew he would need to rest if that were to happen.

The door opened to reveal a young woman with long red-brown hair that was pulled up in a loose bun. Her blue eyes took in the appearance of the man at her door. She looked him over, seeing torn pants and bloodless wounds on his legs. He was holding onto his arm as if it was inured as well. She started to reach out her hands to help him, but quickly pulled back.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean you any harm, but I am injured. I need help..." Aro nearly fell to his knees, but he knew if he fell, she alone would not have the strength to pick him up. Unsure what language she spoke, Aro didn't know if she even understood him. He spoke many languages, so if she would just say something, he would be able to recognize her native tongue and communicate with her.

Don'ea watched the man before her, obviously having trouble standing. She didn't want to let him in, but she could not let him remain outside. The air smelled of ozone. She had heard the thunder getting closer, and it was likely a storm was approaching,

Giving the man a weak smile, she slipped her arm beneath his, trying to support him as he stumbled inside. She led him to the bed that sat in the far corner of the large room and helped him to sit down. She mimed for him to take off his cloak. Going back to the door, she hung the black cloak on a peg in the wall next to the entrance, which was now barred with a wooden arm that crossed the entire width of the door.

She threw another log into the fireplace, and went back to help the man. His coat had to be removed, Don'ea feeling it was too binding. She knelt down and removed his shoes, which were wet with something sticky and covered in dirt, so she slid them under the bed until she could clean them. She slid out a round metal bowl from under the bed, showing it to Aro. She tried to mime its use, but was sure he understood when he smiled and shook his head. She then stood to find another blanket in a small wardrobe that was next to the bed.

Aro lay back, groaning in pain. He closed his eyes, one hand flung over his forehead. Never had he felt so incapacitated in all his existence, at least not since his transformation. Where was the rest of the coven. Surely Demetri would be tracking him by now, unless... Aro dared not think of the possibility the werewolves had destroyed his people. If that were the case, no help would be arriving and he would be on his own.

Don'ea was finally able to observe the stranger's appearance. He was the most attractive man she had ever seen in this place. She inhaled some pleasant sort of scent exuding from his body. But what had intrigued her more was the colour of his eyes. They were a deep red. In her time here in this forest, she had never seen anyone with red eyes. Brown, green, blue, but never red.

She pointed to the the other corner of the room where a clay oven sat. Nearby was a table with crockery and knives. Eating utensils, cups and plates sat on a shelf that was secured into the wall above the table.

She filled a glass from a clay pitcher with cool water and offered it to Aro, who shook his head. He tried to smile his thanks, but pain forced his expression to change to one of discomfort. Every bite throbbed. His hand still was not secure enough to use. It would take time for the venom to bind the torn parts together.

Aro lay perfectly still as he now gazed at the woman assisting him with such diligence. He had lucked out in finding her here. But with what end.

Don'ea reached down to place her hand on his forehead. He had no fever. In fact, his skin was dry and cold as snow. She lay the blanket over Aro, covering him carefully. Then she returned to the oven where a pot of soup sat atop the fire-fed heat. She slowly stirred it, eager to sit and eat her supper. She had made plenty, so if her guest was hungry, she could feed him. The hot soup might help him warm up.

Aro was watching the woman surreptitiously. For a human, she was quite lovely. But he found it odd that she had not uttered a word since his arrival. And the scent he had breathed in while she was helping him get comfortable was unlike any he had ever smelled. Not unpleasant, just different.

"My name is Aro. I am from Volterra in Italy. I am here with my people, but we were separated and I was...attacked. To whom do I owe my thanks for offering me sanctuary?"

The woman turned at Aro's words, her blue eyes filled with expression, even if she said nothing.

Don'ea had gone to fill a bowl with some of the hot soup, again offering it to Aro. And again, he shook his head. Perhaps he was just not thirsty or hungry due to the pain he was suffering.

Aro lay back, unable to do anything else. He watched while the woman ate her meal, knowing she might end up becoming his meal if the coven did not find him soon. He hated to thank her for her aid by killing her, but there might be no help for it.

Lightning lit up the darkness outside through the few windows of the cottage. The thunder had grown so strong, it sometimes shook the small house as it sent sonic booms into the air.

Don'ea went to unlatch the door. Opening it, she peered out to observe the downpour that had finally arrived. She worried that this man's people would be stuck out in the deluge. What she didn't want was for his attackers to sniff after his scent and end up here.

She closed and latched the door, then went to wash her soup bowl. She kept the flame under the pot low, in case her guest grew hungry later. She might want more herself, but preferred to help her guest for now.

Don'ea went to the bed and pulling up the blanket away from Aro's legs, she wordlessly examined his wounds. She pulled at the torn pieces of cloth which were also damp with something sticky-wet, like his shoes. She carefully touched his legs. The wounds were oddly bloodless, the flesh not appearing torn like a bite, but broken like crockery that had been dropped in a way as to not shatter the piece, but leave it intact with smooth-edged cracks. Obviously bite marks confirmed his story. She still wanted to know why his flesh was so cold.

Laying the blanket back over his legs, she sat next to Aro, her hand resting on his. She watched him for any reactions or unspoken needs he might have. He seemed to be resting, his eyes closed once more. While he was in repose, she studied his thoughts. She smiled in amusement. It was a jumbled mess of centuries of history, his and that of others. This man, if he were a man, needed her help, and to learn from him, she would offer it freely.

Don'ea was about to rise to get another bowl of soup, when she felt a hand grab her wrist in its vise-like grip, pulling her down. She watched as Aro held onto her, his irises having darkened to black, with an expression that might have terrified her.

Aro, in his hunger, drew the silent woman to him. She never uttered a sound, not even in fear. A mute. She must be a mute and unable to speak. Aro bared his razor-sharp teeth and swiftly bit down on her neck. He felt the heated blood flow into his mouth. Instantly, he spat out the fluid. Wiping his hand over his mouth, he drew it back and saw a purple smear.

"What is this?" His stomach suddenly twisted as he retched. "What have you done to me?"

A/N : Aro has never found blood he didn't like. Until now. So who is this strange woman Aro has fallen in with?

[fixing-bad-posts]

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as a man who is not interested in romance: it's something to celebrate. it is a sign that I am "Aro" and pretty!

[goose-24-7]

CAN WE PLEASE FUCKING RESPECT CHARACTERS SEXUALITIES THIS IS NOT HARD

[pinkfestivalpeanuttree]

"omg there was only one bed" and if the bed-sharing was familial? if it was platonic?

what about going to a parental figure's room after a nightmare and being comforted late at night?

what about found families cuddling on the couch under lots of blankets?

what about friends showing up at obscene hours of night to crash at their house because it's a safe place for them?

what about siblings sleeping on bunk beds or in separate rooms but end up sharing one bed anyway because they need to know that the other one is safe after a traumatic experience and their other siblings wake up before them and take pictures of them cuddling to tease them later?

what about reluctant found families or reluctant friend groups having to share a bed and as they drift off to sleep, surrounded by these people who they didn't want to get close to but ended up not only caring about, but trusting and relying on, coming to the realization that they would do anything for them???

what about platonic intimacy and being able to rest and rely on your loved ones because you trust them? what about that? huh???

[kingspacebar]

Pride Month Day 16 ~ Michael (He/Him)

[some-pers0n]