so_far_fallen | For makesudothings

On his part, Damon found the whole ordeal tiring and a chore. He had no desire to celebrate a corrupt, selfish coward of a ruler's choice of bride, or anything to do with him. But, Aria wanted it. He could have made an excuse. Quite easily. But he was loathe to leave him alone, especially in such a state. If he became vulnerable...he needed to be there for him.

Taking off his jacket, he tucked it under his arm, eyes dark and disinterested at the crowds, the colour...watchful of his young lover.

Aria found a stall selling paper lanterns and exchanged a handful of his home made wrist bands for one. He brought the lantern over to Damon and crouched on the ground.
"Shall we send this off together?" he asked, smiling up at him.

Damon offered a small smile as he squated down, the movement like he always was. Graceful and seeming attractive.

"If you wish, love...what should I do?" He placed a gentle hand at his back, carefully supportive though Aria wouldn't know.

"Just hold it steady, please," Aria replied. He took some matches from his pocket and lit the lantern. He stood carefully and gestured for Damon to do this same, holding the lantern between them.
"Let it go after three. One... Two... Three!"

As the lantern drifted gently, slowly into the sky Aria watched it, mouth open a little, smiling at how beautiful it looked. He put his arm around Damon's waist and rested his head on his shoulder as he watched it's ascent.

Damon nodded, his hold loose, but firm enough as he pressed in. He couldn't help a slight smile at this; Aria like a child again. The small instances he got of this...so endearing. It made him feel a little of use...

"It's lovely," he smiled. Yes, the sunset, but also...he glanced down at his lover, kissed the top of his head softly. People murmured around them, perhaps watching him...he didn't much care for that. They should look at Aria too. "As are you, love."

Aria glanced up at him, smiling contentedly, a pleased twinkle in his eye.
"Thank you," he said, softly, and it sounded more than just thanks for the compliment, there was something deeper in it.

However, just then a mighty cheer rose up and people began to rush to the roadside, pushing one another to get a good view as a procession of horses and guards approached, leading an open carriage.
Aria tensed and stepped back from Damon, giving him an anxious look. He knew he'd soon realise what this celebration was for and he didn't know how he'd react.
It almost didn't seem to matter, Aria's heart was in his throat, his dear husband was so close.
Would he see him? Did he want him to see him?

Damon smiled back, his expression a little tight, but he meant it, "Any time, love. You know this."

Or so he hoped. At the cheer, he rolled his eyes slightly and glances over his shoulder. As his lover stepped away, he caught his hand and shook his head, "It is alright, Aria."

He wondered if he could bluff this, and, well -"Everyone knows of it. We are here now. I am here for you."

With that, he held him back against himself, and steeled them to watch.

Aria was still tense, even stood close to Damon who was trying to reassure him. He was almost regretting coming at all, he didn't know what this would achieve. He just wanted to make sure Narim was well and happy.

As the carriage drew closer Aria could see them.
Narim looked the same as Aria remembered, dark hair flecked with grey, smiling but proud, commanding obedience without effort. The new bride was a woman, a blonde, younger than Aria, perhaps nineteen. She had long hair in perfect, pale ringlets and a pretty, smiley face.

Aria stared silently at the carriage as the crowd whooped and cheered around him, he seemed mesmerised.

Damon didn't watch the procession, he watched Aria. And the more he watched, the more disconcerting his reactions seemed to be to him. He squeezed his shoulders briefly before starting to step away, sure he wouldn't even notice. And, as such...if that man was his husband? He wouldnt want to be seen with Damon.

Aria didn't notice, not really. His entire focus was on Narim, he could feel his own heart beating loud and fast in his chest.

As the carriage drew level with them Narim's gaze met Aria and he froze - the older man stared at him a moment, then looked away as though he hadn't seen him at all and continued to wave to the crowd.

Aria's heart physically ached, it was an actual pain inside his chest that felt like it might kill him.
As the carriage went on it's way and passed them Aria took a deep breath, swallowed, then looked down and closed his eyes to blink back the tears threatening to spill.

Damon hissed softly, angry. He was...-

He didn't touch him; to offer comfort would be looked upon as pity. Aria was just like that. But he remained close to him, quiet, simmering. That...bastard.

Aria's mood had changed so suddenly, before he had been content, happy even, enjoying himself. Now he felt miserable.
Now Narim was out of sight he could hear snatches of conversation from the chattering people around him.
"... blonde like the last one, must be his type. She's quite lovely."
"Not as lovely as Aria, I was at the ceremony when his Highness wedded that lad, saw him with my own eyes."
"Let's pray Rased will look more kindly on his Highness with this one, she doesn't look like the betrayin' kind."
"You'd of said that of Aria had you seen him, goes to show there's wickedness in the most unlikely places."

Aria had heard enough, he felt dizzy.
" Damon... can we go home... please...? " he begged, quietly.

Damon wanted to rip all their throats out...slowly. Precise. Because he had been on the recieving end of such vitoral himself in his youth - he knew. Words were just words. But they could linger, hurt.

"Yes, love." He held out his arms to him, willing him. Let him be there. Take care of him. "Come."

Aria went to Damon, letting him put an arm around his shoulder. He curled into him, almost burying his face in his shoulder as they walked together. In that moment he wanted to hide from the whole world and never come out again.

He walked them home in silence, paid the carriageman and when they reached the entrance, Marriana bit her lip in soft distress at her older master's mood and his other master's apparent sadness... He told her gently but firmly, not to disturb them.

He carried Aria inside, murmuring softly to his ear and lips, gentle soothing words that probably made no sense...and undressed him, laying him on their bed.

"You should rest, pet. Too much excitment, I expect," he remarked, lying smoothly, saving him from explaining when he knew anyway. "I shall be here..."

He started to get up again, leave if he wanted.

Aria pulled a pillow towards him and hugged it close for comfort, partially burying his face in it as he curled up on his side.
" ...I'm sorry Damon... " he murmured, not looking up at him, " ...we should never have gone..."

Aria felt terribly, both upset by that evenings events, but also ashamed because he knew he'd deliberately gone behind Damon's back to do this.

"Yes, well...I could have told you this, love." He slowly, carefully removed the pillow, slipping off his jacket and shirt and replacing it with himself, drawing him close, kissing his cheek. "I am here, love...try not to dwell on it."

Aria said nothing, there was nothing to say. He cuddled closer to Damon, resting his head against his body. He clung tightly to him, then closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but there were too many thoughts rushing through his head.

"Aria..." Damon lifted his face to make him look at him. "Look at me, pet."

Aria didn't want to look at Damon at that moment, he felt too ashamed of himself, too guilty, He lifted his head but avoided Damon's gaze.

" ... mmm?"

He smiled gently, stroking into his hair. "I am here."

Simple, to the point...and he meant it. "I will always be here for you. Do not...hide it."

Aria nodded. "Thank you. I appreciate it, I do, really... I'm sorry."

He hoped Damon would know what he meant by that.

He kissed Damon's cheek, gently, then offered him a weak smile. "I think I may sleep now, if that's alright?"

"Of course." Damon nodded, not entirely satisfied, but...he expected no less. "Call me...should you need me."

Aria nodded.
"Thank you. Goodnight."
He kissed him, then rolled onto his side and closed his eyes.

Aria knew where Narim would be staying, and though every sense in his body was telling him that this was a stupid idea, he wanted nothing more than to visit him, to try to explain things, to beg forgiveness.
On the one had he didn't want to sneak out without Damon's knowledge, it felt wrong. But, on the other hand, he needed to see Narim so badly. It was something even the most rational part of him couldn't talk him out of.

Damon, of course, didn't sleep...and he didn't even need his senses to know there was something pressing heavily on his lover's mind. He went about the house, reassuring Marriana, getting the food orders about...and all the while he kept an ear out for his movements, if he needed him.

Aria lay there for over an hour, thinking about all of this until it exhausted him. When he could think no longer he sighed quietly and crept slowly out of bed.

He padded silently across the room and dressed himself, then very carefully slid the window open and climbed out.

Damon heard the window open, shut. And he willed himself not to go and drag him back right away. But he would follow. This was something...Aria needed to do.

Aria walked quickly, his mind a muddled mess as he hurried through the streets. He didn't know what he was going to do when he got there, but he couldn't stop himself from going either.

After twenty minutes he arrived at a large house reserved for special visitors. The front door was being guarded by half a dozen guards, some of them Aria recognised. He took a deep breath and approached them.

The first guard saw him from a distance and alerted the others, they drew their swords and positioned themselves ready to fight if necassary.
"I mean no harm," Aria said, quietly, stopping a few meters from them.
The first guard gave him a wary look, but then his expression became one of confusion as he recognised who was stood before him.
"...Your Grace?"
"Hello Elijah," Aria smiled. The guard sheathed his weapon and the others followed his lead.
"I am glad to see you well, Your Grace," Elijah said.
"As I am you, Elijah, and please, 'Your Grace' is no longer necassary, it's just Aria now."
The guard looked uncomfortable, he glanced at the door behind him, then back at Aria. "I am not sure I can let you pass."
"I understand," Aria nodded. "But could you possibly send His Majesty a message to tell him I'm here. I doubt he wishes to see me, but if it's all the same..."
"I'll go, Your Grace," one of the other guards volunteered. "You'll always be Bride to His Highness in my eyes - the same thing happened to my sister, you see, but the blame is not hers, and nor is it yours."
"That is not your place to say, Marius," Elijah said, quietly, "But go, give His Majesty the message and report back here with his answer."
"Thank you," Aria said, smiling. He watched as Marius disappeared into the house, then he stood aside and waited.

Damon was there, watching from a little ways above, just on the smaller roofs in fact. He wouldn't have attacked the guards, but if they started to gaud...

Nobody spoke as they waited for Marius to return - it didn't take long.
Aria stood as he heard Marius approach, his heart beating fast as he waited for the reply.
"His Highness will meet with you," Marius said, and Aria felt both overjoyed and sick at the same time.

Marius led Aria into the house and took him to the drawing room. "He will join you shortly," he said. "Good luck."
The guard left and Aria waited.
It wasn't long before a figure stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.
"Aria," Narim greeted, his voice betraying none of his emotions.
"Your Highness," Aria replied, his voice shaking as he turned and bowed to Narim.
"This is a surprise." Narim came further into the room and stood by the fireplace, whilst Aria fidgeted nervously. "Why did you come here?"
"I... I miss you, Narim.... " It was all the answer Aria could give.
"As I miss you, Aria, but our time has passed."
"...What happened... I didn't mean for it to... I've come for your forgiveness..." Aria murmured.
"Oh Aria, you know I can't do that," Narim replied, casually. Aria was hurt by the lack of feeling in his tone.
"Please, Narim, I love you so much..." the blonde began, trying to take Narim's hand.
The man snatched his hand away. "Don't touch me!" he snapped. "I know all too well where those hands have been!"
Aria froze and drew a deep, shuddering breath, the hurt too much to bear. He used the back of a sofa to support himself and bit his lip to keep from sobbing.
".... I tried to stop them... I tried so hard...." he murmured.
"Evidently not hard enough," Narim sniffed. "I only agreed to meet you so I could tell you myself that you are never to try and see me again, do you understand? Do you have any idea how much you humiliated me? After all I have done for you. When I took you in you were a street urchin and this is the thanks I get for trying to help you?"
"...I'm sorry.... plea..."
"I never want to see you again. You're disgusting and dirty and nothing will ever change that now. I won't have other people touching my things, you know that. Now, get out,"
Aria looked up at him, his eyes pleading with him to show some mercy, but Narim's returning gaze was icey and cold and void of any sympathy at all. Aria nodded, slowly, wiping his eyes, then he hurried out of the room, hugging his arms around himself, his head bowed low.

As soon as Aria left the house and passed from the view of the guards he found a tree to sit under and started to cry.

Damon held his station outside the room, by the window, with little effort. He never gave way to emotion, for he didn't feel it often. That was his choice. But, that didn't mean he was ignorant.

He felt the rushes, the conflict, pain, so much sheer pain...imploring in Aria, his voice and tone and posture. And he smiled darkly. Of course he would love that animal. But he didn't know how twisted such a love was.

He didn't deserve to learn this way, however. Casually, he observed the guards, paying off one from the shadows to stealthily follow him home, see he got there safe.

Then, he slipped into Narim's quarters, compelling his new 'bride' with Glamour so as not to be disturbed. He sat in the private chamber as if he owned it and waited, back to the door, pouring a drink. At least the wine was good.

Narim seemed unaffected by his meeting with Aria as he returned to his room. He didn't notice Damon at first, he was more preoccupied with the fact that his new bride seemed to have fallen asleep.
"Claudette," he snapped, making his way towards the bed. "Wake up, Claudette, this is our wedding night, you can't sleep yet, my dear."
He reached out to shake the shoulder of the sleeping girl, but then paused as he noticed the subtle movement of a shadow in the corner and whipped around to see what it was...

"Let her sleep...I'm sure it's preferrable to your hands pawing at her," Damon snorted, stepping casually into view, mock-toasting him. "Hello, there."

Narim jumped, startled, and took a step back.
"Who in Rased's name are you?" he demanded, recovering quickly, his surprise turning to irritation. "How dare you enter my private chambers."

Narim didn't care for an explanation, he just wished to be left alone with the beautiful young creature in his bed that now belonged to him. He turned from Damon and yelled for his guards.

"They will not come." He rolled his eyes. "Do I look as if I am harming you? Sit, fool."

Narim did not sit, simply glared at this stranger.
"Who are you to dare order me around?" he demanded.

Damon's smirk merely grew. "My name, is Damon Salvatore. Do well to remember it. Now. I am here on business." His eyes narrowed with anger. "It is about Aria."

Narim bristled, but then calmed himself and turned his back on Damon, smirking.
"I'm afraid you've had a wasted trip - whatever your problem with him that whore is no longer my responsibility. If you need to discuss him I suggest you do so with the owner of Snipeville Brothel, the wretch belongs to him now."

There's a slight rush of air and Damon is across the room, a hand clamped about his throat, squeezing tight, his voice dangerously low, "Shut. Your Mouth."

He could scream all he wanted; no one would come. "There is no 'problem' with Aria but you, filth. I am here to warn you."

He shoves him down to sit in a chair, leaning over him, his eyes dark, beautifully feral as he lets his inner vampire through just slightly. "You have hurt Aria deeply, and for that, I should kill you right here..." he hissed.

Narim was caught completely by surprise, he had no time to scream. He clawed at the hands around his throat but was unable to pull them off.
Damon's message was clear - Narim sat down, shut up, and at least listened to him in silence. Even so, there was part of him too proud to show exactly how scared he was. He rubbed his neck and swallowed, hate in his eyes as he avoided Damon's monstrous gaze.
"What business is it of yours?"

"That is not of your concern, but you -" He flicked at his forehead. "Will stop this soiling of his name."

"Don't dare threaten me," Narim hissed, "I am not a man accustomed to being threatened, nor a man to stand for such a thing."

"Well, get used to it." He ducked his head, slowly smirking. "Because this is a threat." He raised his head and bared his fangs, hissing.

Narim's eyes widened and he recoiled in horror.
"...demon...." he murmured, his voice shaking somewhat.

"Ah ah..." Damon chuckled, his face slowly returning to normal. "No name-calling. Do we understand each other? You will leave Aria alone..."

Narim gave Damon a wary look but forced himself to glare back at him.
"I have been leaving him alone - it was he who came to visit me."

"I am aware of that," he said quietly. "But after this, I want you to go to that whorehouse and get all his earnings. All that pain you inflicted...money is nothing to Aria but I say do it. Give it all to me, save it aside...and tell no one. About me, however...you can do as you like."

And with that, he leaves.

Narim is left alone, teeth clenched, glaring at the space where Damon was.

"This isn't the last of this," he growled under his breath.

For makesudothings

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that SOB! /pissed off again, reading this in the morning...and Damon is cool as usual

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