Red Blood High

“it smells kind of earthly, like the forest…but I can also smell myself and you on it, so, it’s really distinct.”
His hybrid nature could be a blessing. With both the enhanced senses playing at his side, he could smell much better than most people could. Hell, it was almost as if his genetics had been played specifically to allow that to happen. He didn’t need as much blood, he didn’t transform during a full moon, he could slightly prolong his time in the sun, and his healing factor was abnormal…not stretching bounds, but abnormal even for a normal vampire.
He could also blame the demon within for some things, though, he chose to exclude it from the equation and focus on what made him instead.
It was only when she noticed the pink of his face that it spread, brightening his pale complexion with a subtle bright red touch, as if his face were completely brightening.
“I’m fine, I’m fine.”
He found himself somewhat ignored as she led him to the moss nearby, sitting him down with a surprising tenderness, mostly due to the burns on his back.
The two of them were touching shoulders now, sitting beside each other in a way they wouldn’t have months before, as if a lot of their awkwardness (Or James’) had disappeared with time
Head shaking before he found the time to realize, he instantly shot down the option of going back home.
“No…I’m, fine….”
He trailed.
“I was just, umm…waiting for a chance to ask you something, and I realized just now that here it was.”
He responded, trying his best not to have anything come out too fast or confuse her.
“Do you…remember when you stayed at my home…and told me you loved me?”
Fuck it, this was getting old.
He leaned forward again, kissing her lips before she could react, holding it there for a moment before he separated, nose coming to touch hers’ directly as his blue eyes met hers’.
“Well…the funniest thing happened that made me realize I could get behind that. It doesn’t sound so bad.”

Though he said that he was fine, Amnesia found that she didn't entirely believe him, which was a big part of the reason behind why she had him sit down, grateful that he went along with it rather than try to argue. While she wasn't sure how bad it was, aside from being bad enough that it didn't need to be touched, it seemed better to be on the safe side.
Still, she waited for him to tell her what was wrong when he argued against needing to go back to the Strange Wood and insisted that he was fine. Her mind seemed to supply her with a plethora of possibilities too, and she had to force herself to simply stay quiet and let him talk rather than ask a million questions.
"Okay..." She trailed off, waiting for the question and fighting the panicky feeling that'd begun to build up.
She didn't even get to answer the next question when he surprised her by suddenly leaning in and kissing her. It seemed to end just as soon as it began, and she stared into his eyes as he touched his nose to hers and spoke again.
She was silent for a moment as the meaning of what he was saying worked itself out in her head. "Wait... are you saying... that you want to be my boyfriend?" Without any consent from her, a huge grin had begun to work itself onto her face, and unadulterated joy sparkled in her eyes as she fought the urge to squirm or attack him--or to do anything that might keep him from answering the question, really, though it was hard.

Even though she’d been the one to say it first, he couldn’t help his surprise when her huge grin erupted, as if he was somehow certain that she would deny him. Why he’d ever gotten that thought in his head, he didn’t know.
“I think that’s what I mean, yeah. Do you want to be my girlfriend?”
She’d already smiled like a maniac, so, the butterflies he’d felt in his stomach flew off, replaced with the warmness he’d felt before. He knew what she would say, he just wanted to hear her say it.
He found himself unable to wait too long though, shifting to where was in front of her, grabbing her and, though trying to make sure she wouldn’t wrap around his back, opening his arms and meeting her in one that linked behind her back, hands pressing against the fabric of the hoodie she was wearing. He’d tried to maneuver it so that her head was more towards his chest, lips and nose more on her hair as he looked down.
Another shower wouldn’t hurt her…but for now the earthy smell was her, and that was fine.

Amnesia didn't think she could possibly smile any wider, but that was exactly what happened in answer to James' question, and she quickly nodded her confirmation, as if her reaction weren't confirmation enough. "Of course!"
When he pulled her into a hug, she had to physically restrain herself from wrapping her arms around him, just narrowly remembering the burns on his back, and though it was strange to only be the recipient this once, there was also something nice about just being held. She found herself settling into it, pressing her face into the fabric of the jacket he wore as he hugged her.
Still, she didn't last long before she pulled back, looking more than mildly frustrated. "I wish I could hug you back," she huffed. But she couldn't, and she couldn't seem to just make herself sit still either. Not when everything in her felt bright and alive and above all else, happy. And she wasn't sure what to do about it all bubbling up in her, threatening to spill over.

“I’m sorry I can’t do more to help you with that.”
He responded, the flush of his face returning to the natural pale as they hugged, a thinking face seemingly taking shape.
“Would it feel like a hug to you if you grabbed my shoulders and leaned in? Or maybe wrap around the very bottom part of my back, that doesn’t feel bad”
He suggested, still somewhat holding her in his arms, though he wasn’t tightly, she could’ve moved if she wanted.
“If you won’t take that for an option, you can lead a kiss, I won’t stop you.”
There was a slight twinkle in his eye as he said this, a little bit of mischief he didn’t mind causing. Sure, they’d literally just said they were dating, and most didn’t do something like that this soon…but they’d been kissing for a bit now, so it wasn’t odd to kiss again.
After this, he looked down in her eyes, and, seeing the tired lines under them, he absently traced them with his eye, before staring back at her.
“Do you want to come and stay at my house again? It’s been a few months, plus you look tired. Wouldn’t hurt to sleep on a bed again, would it?”

Amnesia shook his head at his suggestions, though she appreciated the thought. Not only did both seem awkward, she didn't want to risk somehow hurting him anyway. She would just have to try and be patient while the burns healed--though patience wasn't exactly her best quality. Even so, she thought she could just be happy that he was here for a while, that she hadn't screwed up so badly that she'd lost him. It was a sobering thought, and one that she doubted would fade any time soon.
As he suggested a kiss as an alternative, Amnesia smiled and without the smallest bit of hesitation, leaned in and pressed her lips to his in a soft kiss reminiscent of when he'd kissed her at home.
Kissing may have been something new to her, but for some reason, it didn't seem at all strange or unusual with James, unlike many things that were new to her. Such as wearing clothing. Though she'd conceded to it quite awhile back, it still seemed odd to her, and in general, she felt more comfortable naked. It may not have seemed so from an outside perspective, but have taken to kissing the way she had was actually amazing.
When the kiss ended and she found James searching her face, she was quiet, unsure of what he was thinking and mildly surprised when he made his offer. Part of her wanted to agree just for the extra time with him, especially knowing that they really only saw one another infrequently, but she also held back.
"What about your back? You need the space for yourself. Besides, I'm fine. I'm not tired because of where I'm sleeping." It wasn't a lie, and with him around, she'd been distracted from just how tired she was. She didn't really want to admit why she hadn't been sleeping though, knowing it would probably just worry him more.

He been willing to try the other option, just to give her what she wanted, but he seemed alright with her refusal, shrugging his shoulders absently.
He hadn’t forgotten the burns were there, he still felt the dull vibration of their irritation on his back, so, when he suggested the kiss, he was happy to see she didn’t hesitate
He hadn’t expected such speed adaption, from the first time she’d kissed not understanding it to kissing him on the lips like any normal person would. Well…there were some things she still didn’t know about kissing, but, if she were willing he might show her later on.
“My back isn’t that bad, it’s just irritated…besides, I just asked you to be my girlfriend, I’d like to get to spend more time with you. Pleaaaasse.”
Saying this, he slid one hand away from her back, lightly poking at her cheek again, releasing another pooting noise from his lip. If she didn’t want to, she didn’t want to, but it didn’t mean he wouldn’t try.
“You went to sleep last time just fine.”

Despite her reluctance to agree, Amnesia couldn't help but smile at his prolonged 'please' and laugh a little as he poked her cheek again, making the same noise as he had earlier. She reached up and took his finger like last time too, except this time she unfolded his hand and linked her fingers through his. She was enjoying their proximity and especially that rather than shying away from hugs like he used to, James seemed just as willing to be close and to touch.
Remembering the conversation at hand though, her smile slipped a bit, some of the warmth emanating from inside ebbing away. "You got hurt when I hugged you. I don't want to accidentally hurt you while I'm sleeping."
Amnesia didn't want to talk about that though--hurting him or nightmares. She wanted to hold onto this bit of happiness before he had to leave. So, changing the subject abruptly, she said, "Tell me more about boyfriends and girlfriends. I remember Khal explaining courting a long time ago, but I don't think there were boyfriends and girlfriends then..."
If there were, she couldn't recall him mentioning it. The way her memories had been returned to her, it was like they'd been shattered into a million pieces and half of those pieces had been randomly swept away, leaving her to try and make sense of the whole picture with huge chunks missing everywhere she looked. There was no way of telling whether or not whatever she remembered was the whole picture or if something had been cut out of it.
"It sounds a lot like courting from what you told me. Is it also something you do if you think you might want to marry someone?"

His fingers pressed lightly onto the knuckles of her hand, setting themselves comfortably between her fingers as she linked.
“Would you believe me if I told you you’re a pretty still sleeper? At least you were last time”
He wouldn’t push any more if that wasn’t what she wanted, but he really would’ve liked it if she’d come back with him. He’d noticed the small change in her, and, with that, he seemed to give up the ghost about that.
And then there was the question he’d expected from her to begin with, the one about the current situation they considered themselves in. Shit…they were dating now, huh? That was weird as shit…. but not really bad. In the time it took him to realize and begin to think again, she had continued, moving to add on something about marriage.
“Well, I don’t know what Khal stuck in your ear-“
He hadn’t said that rudely.
“-but I’m sure it’s changed a bit since then.”
Also…how old was she anyways? She didn’t act older than him…but of course she’d also forgotten a lot.
Guess she could brag about being older but looking younger for real.
“Boyfriend and Girlfriend is like practice for marriage. You date, you get to know each other, you make sure you’re compatible enough to spend life together…that whole thing.”
Though he didn’t necessarily like the thought of marriage, he didn’t mind explaining it.
“You worry about each other, you care for each other…a bunch of stuff like that. Of course, you get to know the person you’re dating really well.”
He had to make it clear while at the same time giving her what she asked for, basing it off the slim amount of time he’d spent dating. It’d always kind of turned on it’s head and messed up for him, but, he didn’t want to mention how often if had happened for him, just because he knew it’d make her sad or worried.
He couldn’t worry a new girlfriend like that.

When James seemed to abandon talking about her spending the night with him to answer her without questioning the change in subject, Amnesia felt a little wave of relief wash through her. Without realizing it, squeezed his hand a little as she fully turned her mind towards the new line of conversation and his answers to what she'd asked.
Though he didn't say it with any sort of animosity, Amnesia couldn't help but give James a look at the mention of Khal sticking things in her ear. It didn't seem to derail him though, and he moved on without anything else to say about the angel.
She nodded when he described it as practice for marriage; that pretty much lined up with what she'd thought, though she hadn't exactly been sure. Of course, marriage was something that was exceedingly strange for her to think about. It wasn't the sort of thing she'd ever seen for herself--it was something she'd scoffed at when she first learned what it was. A mate wasn't even in the cards for her. She had her small family and a friend, and she'd been content with that. The fact that she'd just become James' girlfriend, that she genuinely wanted to be, was amazing and completely baffling. And that was precisely why the explanation made her think...
"Is that what I'm doing?" The quietly spoken question was for herself, but she wasn't sure she had an answer.
Forcing herself out of her own, circling thoughts, she focused on James once more, smiling at him as she said, "Haven't we already done that? Get to know each other?"
Though, just going off his explanations, she couldn't help but think that she might've been acting a little like his girlfriend for a while before now, just by virtue of caring and worrying and wanting to get to know him and spend time with him... And she'd never realized just how different she was with him.

A cheeky little grin was his response towards the look she gave him.
“I’m playing, I’m playing.”
Jokes aside, he began to explain. A part of him wasn’t sure if he was being clear enough, though he wasn’t sure how much clearer he could be, given the limited knowledge he had on the subject. He’d hoped she would understand him, and, as he explained, he looked for changes in her facial expressions, feeling the slightly squeeze of her hand and squeezing lightly back in response.
She was giving him enough questions to keep his mind running, this much he could say, so, when she asked another, he somewhat nodded his head. That was kind of how they’d been doing it.
“Yeah, in a way. Getting to know each other is a part of it. Though, we’d also be trying to learn each other’s preferences, what we like and don’t like, and trying to figure out what makes the other tick. A lot of people like to think marriage is two people becoming one person, but that’s all up to what you wanna think of it.”
He stopped for a moment.
“Also…there’s a lot of things we haven’t done yet, like go on a date or anything like that. There’s a few other things people that are in a relationship would do when they got closer, but we’ll hold out on talking about that.”
He wasn’t about to make her curious about sex after only like a moment of being her boyfriend, that he wouldn’t do. He liked sex as much as the next person, and, he might answer her honestly if she wanted to know, but a part of him was still afraid he might trick her into doing something.

As she felt him gently squeeze her hand, Amnesia looked up with a smile that was almost apologetic and loosened the little bit of pressure she'd unknowingly put into her fingers. She didn't let go of his hand though, feeling perfectly content as they were. They sat close, facing each other with their hands clasped between them, his other hand still resting on her back. Sitting in the forest with him underneath her favorite tree, Amnesia felt more relaxed than she had in a long time, and the tiredness that had been kept at bay through the events taking place slowly began to creep back in.
"Like how you like space and don't like hugs?" Amnesia asked him with a little smile, though when she thought about it, that hadn't seemed true at all today. He was the opposite of usual, initiating hugs instead of flinching away from them and being close unless she pulled away.
Her eyebrows drew together, and her aquiline eyes held confusion when she met his gaze, as well as a small amout of concern. "Just because I like hugs and being close, you don't have to make yourself do something you don't like, you know. I don't want you to do something you don't like... I'm used to making sure you have distance," she said, and despite her contentment where she was at, self-consciousness battered at her, causing her to untangle her fingers from his and start to draw back from him.
"A date?" she asked, giving him an utter look of confusion as an image of the fruit came to mind. She had no idea what the phrase 'go on a date' could possibly mean, and it even caused all other questions to fade to the background as she tried to puzzle it out.

“I never said I hated hugs…I just wasn’t used to someone being so open with me. You’re a lot more open then I’m used to, but it’s not as bad now that I know you better. Especially now, If I’m your boyfriend, you can hug me all you like.”
He replied, not completely telling her why he’d been so averse to hugs but giving her enough to hopefully help her realize that he wouldn’t mind a hug.
“Besides, I like kisses and you kiss me without a thought, so I can enjoy hugs.”
When she went to draw back, he raised an eyebrow, smirking as he scooted somewhat closer, cutting the distance she’d attempted to put between them.
“Don’t tell me you’re gonna worry about distance now. We’ve hugged and kissed several times, there’d be no point in distance now.”
Though, as he said this, he let his hand slide from her back, dropping it more to his side, though he remained close to her.
Another thing she didn’t know anything about? Well, he was just clearing up everything today.
“A date…. like, going out with, because I can use it now, me. Say I take you to eat or you walked with me around the forest, that could be considered a date. It’s a way for couples to spend time together. Heck, us sitting here talking, hugging, and kissing could be considered kind of like a date, if you think about it.”

“I never said I hated hugs…I just wasn’t used to someone being so open with me. You’re a lot more open then I’m used to, but it’s not as bad now that I know you better. Especially now, If I’m your boyfriend, you can hug me all you like.”
He replied, not completely telling her why he’d been so averse to hugs but giving her enough to hopefully help her realize that he wouldn’t mind a hug.
“Besides, I like kisses and you kiss me without a thought, so I can enjoy hugs.”
When she went to draw back, he raised an eyebrow, smirking as he scooted somewhat closer, cutting the distance she’d attempted to put between them.
“Don’t tell me you’re gonna worry about distance now. We’ve hugged and kissed several times, there’d be no point in distance now.”
Though, as he said this, he let his hand slide from her back, dropping it more to his side, though he remained close to her.
Another thing she didn’t know anything about? Well, he was just clearing up everything today.
“A date…. like, going out with, because I can use it now, me. Say I take you to eat or you walked with me around the forest, that could be considered a date. It’s a way for couples to spend time together. Heck, us sitting here talking, hugging, and kissing could be considered kind of like a date, if you think about it.”

James surprised her, in his new attitude towards hugs and closeness, and Amnesia couldn't really say that she understood where it came from. He made it sound as if he'd had to get to know her before he got used to it, but that didn't really seem true. They'd been friends for a long time, and it was only just recently that he'd seemed to stop minding her hugs so much and only when they'd talked at his house that he'd actually initiated contact himself for the first time.
Even so, if not for his words, then at least for him closing the distance she'd attempted to put between them, Amnesia thought he must be telling the truth about being okay with it now. Usually she would've seen relief at having put distance between them... Him wanting to be close would take getting used to, not to mention getting used to not having to alter her behavior. It'd become second nature to watch how close she got, to only steal quick hugs when she was exceptionally happy and to only kiss his forehead very rarely that it would undoubtedly turn out to be difficult to stop doing those things.
"I just thought you wanted distance," Amnesia explained to him as one corner of her mouth quirked up. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
Though that was the last thing he seemed now. Actually, this was probably one of the best moods she'd seen him in, and in a rare change of pace, he even seemed more relaxed than she did.
As he explained what he meant by dates, the confusion that had captured Amnesia cleared up, the mental image of the fruit dissipating as he explained what he meant, and a smile formed as he said that what they were doing could be considered one. "I think I'm going to like dates then. We should have one whenever we see each other." Which was never as often as she would like, but if this was what they did whenever they did see each other, she'd be happy.

“Everybody wants distance sometimes, but that’s not a bad thing. I’ve had a few months to figure out that I’d rather see you than worry about how awkward a hug makes me feel. So, I’m willing to be okay with them…. also, I’ll repeat, i’m your boyfriend and you’re my girlfriend. If we didn’t make each other a little uncomfortable at least once, it would be strange. If you want to hug me or kiss me or anything like that…do it, I’d rather you do it and remind me that you still care for me than not. I’m going to express how I feel, so you should too.”
Though there’d been others before, he hadn’t really felt the same. He wanted this one…to work, as little as he got to see her. He’d have to make more of an effort out of seeing her, and hopefully help her learn somethings so she could get used to this. It didn’t have to be just a title.
Smiles had become his favorite expression today, aside from an angry scowl, and, when she spoke again, he found himself smiling once more.
“Okay. We can both think of ideas for dates. I’m not hard to please, show me around the forest if you’d like.”
He didn’t like the thought of dealing with animals in the middle of the night, but, this was what she considered home, so he’d make his best attempt.

Amnesia couldn't help but give James a teasing grin when he repeated that they were boyfriend and girlfriend. "I think you like saying that." If she were being honest, she liked it too. Something about it felt right and just made her happy.
"I always hug you when I really want to," she reminded him, though that wasn't necessarily true at this moment, since she didn't want to hurt him, which also meant that she couldn't prove her point by hugging him either. She did reach out for his hand again after a short pause though, this time actually picking up both in hers. Even that little bit of contact created a nice feeling in her middle that she cherished.
"You're already at my favorite spot," she admitted, motioning to the tree beside them. "This tree's probably the oldest one I've found yet. You should see the flowers it makes. They'll probably bloom soon... No leaves, just thousands of petals. And it's strong. All the other trees go to sleep during the winter, but this one holds on, just a little bit. Enough to feel. I think I love it best because it stays around through the winter, rather than leave me all alone. I usually like to sleep out where I can see the stars, but especially in the winter, when I can't feel anything else, being closer to the trunk is really nice."

“I do like saying it. Do you not want me to say it anymore?”
He asked her, head cocked with another playful smirk on his lips.
“Do you not like saying it? It’s fun to say! Try it,”
Adding this on to the end of his sentence really quick, he nodded his head at her words.
“I know you do. I’d let you hug me more now if my back wasn’t irritated. Make it up to me later, alright?”
He watched her with curious eyes, hands gently grabbing hers and holding on.
Head following her motion, he looked and attempted to listen, head moving to stare at the old tree nearest them.
“We’ll remember this then. You can bring me back here when they bloom, that’d make for a good date.”
These words were fresh on his tongue, unusual and barely spoken before, but now becoming something he’d used often in a single day.
“You know…you don’t have to be alone out here all the time.”
It seemed as if he had found his way back full circle.
“All you have to do is come by, you know where I live. I won’t make you come back with me, but my doors open if you feel like you want to see me. Even if I’m half asleep in my boxers answering the door, I don’t think I’ll care. Just gonna let you know I hog the bed, though.”
As he spoke, clearly aware that he had brought the conversation back, his thumb moved and began to casually circle one of her knuckles, staring down at them until he finished his sentence
“But, you have to promise me you’ll use my shower before you jump into bed.”
This one was more a chuckle, but he kind of meant it.

"I didn't say that!" Amnesia argued before realizing that he'd somehow turned her attempt at teasing back around on her. She stuck her tongue out at him, then smiled as she complied with the suggestion, saying, "You're my boyfriend, and I'm your girlfriend."
The look she gave him suggested that he should've known that she was already a step ahead of him. "Don't worry, I will," she promised firmly.
"You think so?" Amnesia asked, looking up at the stretching branches with the little buds across them and the stars that twinkled beyond them. She had never considered that a tree blossoming was something anyone else would want to see, largely because no one else seemed to take the interest in nature that she did, but the thought that James would want to come see it was a nice one, even if she wasn't sure how much he'd actually like it.
When James began to speak again, her head came back down, gaze returning to him. The way he spoke, it seemed less like he was making an invitation and almost like he was asking her to come visit him without saying as much.
"I don't really feel alone except in the winter," she tried to explain and paused.
While that was perfectly true, she actually loved the thought of seeing him more often than she currently did, and it felt like her mind was trying to come up with excuses for why she couldn't just because she wanted to hide the real reason why she was hesitating.
Biting her lip, Amnesia looked down at their joined hands, thinking about what James had said earlier about caring and worrying and getting to know each other. After that, it somehow felt wrong trying to hide the nightmares from him and pretend it didn't exist. Besides, aside from possibly worrying him, she couldn't even pin down why she was reluctant to reveal it to him. Telling him would at least let him know why she should stay in the forest without making him think she just didn't want to be around him.
"I... don't think you really want me to stay with you. I've been having nightmares since you got hurt. I think I move around a lot; I'd probably hurt your back. That's actually the reason why I'm so tired too... I've been trying to get rid of them by making myself too tired to dream. I haven't slept in a few days actually," she admitted to him haltingly and quietly.

There was a small skip in his heartbeat when he heard her say that, as if this were his first time hearing it. It sounded fresh and new…and generally enticing…he could stand to hear it much more.
He gave a half nod as she assured him she would.
“Remember that. You owe me a hug! You can trade that in whenever you’re ready.”
He might’ve winked, though, he didn’t see her necessarily getting what he meant, so, he instead simply left it like it was.
At the mention of the tree, he nodded somewhat quickly.
“Of course. That’s flowers in full bloom. A lot of people would call that romantic, getting to see it. Surprised It’s not a hotspot for other couples.”
It was more of a side comment, that last bit, though he did nothing to hide it from her ears.
“You could come see me in winter too. Heck, come see me whenever you want. I don’t get to see you enough.”
He silently followed her gaze, staring down at their connected hands, before he listened to her words, feeling a bit of pain for her before he began to speak.
“Hey…. i’m not going to break…. if you couldn’t tell, I can get up from more than a cute stubborn girl who refuses to sleep and pushes me out of bed. Don’t…do that to yourself, Amnesia. If it makes you so worried I can turn my back away or stay close to you while you sleep if it helps…but don’t keep yourself from sleeping. It won’t help…”
Saying this, his hands lightly disconnected, before both of his interlaced hers, sliding through and resting on the edges of her knuckles.