Even though Jack hadn't meant to bulldoze right into such a sore spot, he couldn't back out yet. His own traumas were publicly available in news archives, so he couldn't bring himself to feel too badly about dredging up Kieran's old hurts. He was certain someone had told him that wasn't exactly fair. Just because you aired your dirty laundry outside, didn't mean you could dig through someone's hamper. But if the hamper just happened to be open and it's just sitting there in plain sight?

He frowned and quickly pulled out his phone. His mother had been a nosy little shit who thrived on gossip. He swallowed back a smile and looked over at Kieran as he finished up his note and marked it as important. "So I take it no one staked you."

"My siblings knew me," Kieran said with a hint of fondness. "Of course, they locked me up for a month, but, despite my tirades, they saw through the monster I'd become to the man I was afraid to be."

Kieran broke off with a heavy sigh. He glanced at Jack before returning his gaze to the street ahead. "Seeing them again only reminded me of the eternity I'd condemned myself to. One might say I have abandonment issues."

Jack scoffed and waved his hand, gesturing to the world at large. "When you outlive everyone else? No shit." He crossed his arms as he slumped back against the door, anger on Kieran's behalf bristling against his curiosity. "What happened to your shitty sire?"

"Colette."

He had been expecting a location or a refusal to acknowledge the man's existence. "Come again?"

"I am merely one in a long string of fancies. Her sister caught Lorenzo's eye, and he lost interest rather quickly," Kieran explained. His bitterness and anger hung heavily around them as he glared at the steering wheel. "She had been seeking a husband, and he simply wanted entertainment. A year of courting and seduction, and she was rewarded with a curse and a pretty gold chain. Three years later, Colette seduced him and ended his tour of the colonies."

Finding out more about Kieran's past wasn't as exciting as Jack had been hoping it would be. It was just depressing. He hoped there were vampire therapists out there. It sounded like they needed them. "What… What happened to her sister?" he asked, hoping for a sliver of happiness for someone he'd never met, but he braced himself for the worst.

"She's residing somewhere in the French countryside, I believe," Kieran dismissively replied.

Relief filled Jack. "I knew Benoit was French!"

"French Canadian, actually."

He huffed and rolled his eyes. "I was close. Makes more sense than fucking Montana."

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"Montana?" Kieran raised a brow at Jack.

Jack scratched at his ear as he looked away and fiddled with his earring. He'd slipped up. "I looked her up, too. So sue me."

"Oh? I have a list of names for you to entertain yourself with. If ever you become bored."

The temptation was suffocating. The only thing keeping Jack from jumping at the prospect was the realization that Kieran was using it as an excuse to keep him around. It was a form of payment. They were both fucked up in their own ways.

"You don't gotta bribe me, y'know," Jack said quietly. "I'm… When I get a routine, I stick to it. You've become routine."

It wasn't as reassuring as he'd wanted it to sound. Not with the apprehensive frown Kieran was giving him. He screwed up.

"God, that makes it sound worse. That's not the only reason I'm sticking around? I like you. Really." He crossed his arms again and gripped at his elbows, digging his nails deep into the fabric of his coat. It wasn't the same as being able to feel his nails through the thinner fabric of his old hoodie, but the pressure still gave him some grounding. He swallowed and pushed past his embarrassment, rushing to get the words out. "I've been looking for excuses to date you again. If that makes sense. You make good breakfast, and… Yeah. Stuff."

"I'll happily cook you breakfast whenever you'd like," Kieran said. He reached over and lightly caressed Jack's cheek. His smile widened as Jack relaxed and leaned into the touch.

"Me, too. I'm not as good. I'm good with toast. I make a mean Irish coffee," Jack offered with a nervous giggle.

"I look forward to it."

"Speaking of breakfast and drinks, you wanna try Lola's? With me?" He did it. He was doing the inviting. There was no risk involved, but he felt his friends would still be proud of him.

"I would love that. Let me know when. As always, my schedule is flexible."

"Mine, too. I should, uh…" Jack pointed to his apartment. It was nice not having to make excuses for his awkwardness. "I had fun today. I mean, not fun-fun, but I liked it. It felt nice. Being out. With you."

"I enjoyed spending time with you as well." Kieran shifted in his seat to face Jack. "I missed it. I missed you."

"Me, too." Jack barely kept himself from adding on an "I guess" and ruining the moment. He bounced a little in seat before leaning toward Kieran.

He was expecting to meet halfway for a light kiss, but just as their lips met Kieran's fingers laced through his hair, pulling him in for a deep and hungry kiss. It was a bit much, and he was disoriented from trying to keep up. He was breathless when Kieran pulled away with an uncertain frown.

"No, I'm good," Jack insisted, grabbing at Kieran's wrist. "You're good. A lot, but good. Good. Great."

"Good." Kieran leaned back in and kissed the angle of Jack's jaw before inhaling deeply. "I'll see you later, my sweet siren," he whispered.

Jack nodded and opened the car door, eagerly anticipating the cold touch of snowflakes on his burning face. It would have been an okay exit, but he caught himself on his seatbelt. He winced as he dropped back into the seat.

"Don't hesitate to call or text if you need anything," Kieran said, reaching over and pressing the release for the seatbelt.

"Yeah, catch ya' later."

image [https://i.imgur.com/eZY0YUq.png]