He went up to a three feet tall obelisk and pressed a few touch screen buttons, which gave projections on which stores were here. After he swiped left seven times, he found out that the wing-gear store was on the top floor. When he pressed on the holographic projection, a woman appeared. A woman with black hair, wearing a leather outfit, a halter top, black pants, and combat boots. She spoke with a friendly and sweet voice. "Hi, my name is Bethany Ives, owner of Wing-Gear. He saw the projection walk around for a second. "At Wing-Gear, we aim to make clothing specifically for those of the nocturnal persuasion. Our clothing is specifically designed with nano-fibers, to give them a perfect fit every time, and accommodate not just your wings, but physical changes that occur when entering our nosferatu forms." She smiled. "Come to Wing-Wear, where fashion for vampires is our priority."
The mall was overly crowded today. Xairin could hear thoughts all around him. It wasn't as debilitating as it used to be when he was part human, but it was annoying. Xairin took the elevator, which was completely translucent. You could see each floor in perfect detail as the elevator rose sixteen floors. When it opened, Xairin was pleased to find Wing-Wear right in front of him. "That's convenient."
Xairin walked inside and began looking around. He knew he had several thousand currencies at his disposal, and planned on leaving with at least a thousand currency worth, or more, in new clothing.
He started with shoes, picking out several different types of shoes, four of which would come in handy in a fight, the others were more casual.
Meanwhile, his phone went off, a text message came through. "Hey Xairin, this is Jason Fifer. I tried calling you the other day, actually a few times. I don't want to bug you, but you seemed interested in maybe getting to know me. I’m not used to doing this, but, if you’re interested, I am but I also don’t want to read into things if I was wrong... If I don't hear back, I won't be texting back. I don't want to bother you if I read into things wrong." Xairin went into his phone's call registry. Jason had tried to call six times, each of which, while he was in his three-day hibernation.
"DAMN IT!" He said loudly. He quickly texts back. "Hey Jason, it's Xairin. I am so sorry I haven't called you back, I literally just saw the missed calls. I hate making excuses, but I promise I was truly unable to get to my phone." Xairin thought for a moment and text again. "I was flirting with you; you were reading into the right signals I was putting out."
Xairin finished trying on shoes. His phone beeped. "I'm so glad. I was scared I saw interest where there wasn't any, but my employees kept saying you were pretty forward with what I was hoping."
Xairin smiled. "Yes. I normally don't go for the rugged types, but something about you caught my interests."
"I'm not normally so forward. Mainly because I've been so used to my father keeping me from being me. I can't thank you enough for what you did for me." Jason text back.
Xairin smiled as he was looking through the pants section while he looked for a size 34/34. "Do you ever get to Bastion City? I'm pretty much stuck here for a few days until I go back out on Tour. I would like to see you?" Xairin text. He too was usually never this forward, but the way Xairin saw it, at least another immortal would know what they were signing up for if it worked out.
Xairin picked out thirteen pairs of pants, by the time the next text came ringing in. "I could be in Bastion City tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I could talk Sam into running things for a few days for me to check out the city. I've never been there before."
Xairin had to sit down on a bench as he looked over his phone. His heart pounded a little. Xairin really wanted to make things work with Ezra, but a werewolf could defend themselves far better against a group of reptilian immortals, plus Jason was an Alpha now. Xairin accounted for Ezra's psychic abilities, but even he knew using powers could wear you out quickly. Xairin had to admit part of him felt weird, asking Alex's brother out on a date, but at the same time, Xairin had to admit he was lonely and something about Jason definitely was alluring to him. The temptation to be with another immortal felt right. He texts him back.
“If you are interested Jason? I would like to maybe go on a date or two, hell maybe three or four, if you are serious about checking Bastion City out that is?”
“YES, I WOULD LOVE THAT!” Jason text back.
Xairin sent him a reply. "I do stay in a nest, House Holiday. I hope that wouldn't be an issue?"
Xairin made it to the shirts when his phone’s text alert sounded again. "Not a problem. I've always wanted to visit Bastion City. I'm sure I can find a room."
Xairin thought about that for a moment. Bastion city was still fighting displaced Immortals. "Let me make a few calls and see. There are some prejudices going on, so finding a room might be a bit of a stretch. Let me see if I can't work something out on my end?"
Xairin wasn't sure she would answer, and part of him decided maybe it was too early to call in a favor with his Grandmother, so he went for Damien instead. He sent a text message. "Hey, do you happen to own any rental properties or motels or hotels near or in Bastion City that would have a vacancy, or know someone that does?"
The young vampire had forty shirts picked out, mostly black themed shirts by the time Damien replied back. "I own a Hotel in Piper's Point, which I think is about twenty miles away from Bastion City. Why?"
Xairin texts his great-grandfather back. "Can you reserve a room there, a suite. One of your upper-scale suites, for a werewolf named Jason Fifer?"
A quick, "WHY?" came back.
"I want to show him around Bastion City, he was really nice to me, so I figured I would show him a good time and I know most of the rooms in Bastion City are flooded with the displaced, or are prejudice in general and would refuse to rent a room."
Damien text back. "When do you want it reserved?"
"Tomorrow, work?"
"I can make that arrangement." Damien's text read.
"You're not planning on taking a werewolf on a date, are you?" Damien's recent text read.
"Is that a problem?" Xairin sent back.
Xairin had picked out three business suits, a tuxedo, and some camping clothes by the time Damien finally replied. "No."
Xairin rolled his eyes and replied. "Good, because I'm not the prejudice type."
"I will have a master suite ready for him for tomorrow. How many nights?"
Xairin text back. "At least five, maybe seven. Go ahead and book it for a week. If he can't stay that long, I may stay there for a day or two to get away from Ethan's mansion for a while. I really need some privacy and some me time so if Jason can’t stay the entire week, then I will gladly take it if that is okay with you."
Damien text back. " Sure, it's fine. You know, I could buy you a place in Bastion City if you like? Consider it a gift. That way, it would give you your own space?"
Normally Xairin would have turned something like that down, it was too huge of an offer. But he had a family now. He knew that whatever Damien pulled off, there would likely be guards involved, which didn't bother Xairin, but having his own place to move around in and not worry about someone peeking in on him all the time, was tempting. He needed some time to himself, and having a place to call his own, was the best thing he had heard all day, the temptation to say yes was overwhelming. "Fuck it! He said. He furiously texts back. "If you're serious, then I am totally interested. I would prefer something in the suburbs if possible, kind of secluded, and I'm sure you will want a security detail, so it has to be something big enough for me to have some privacy. If you can pull that off, then I am absolutely down for having my own place. What will I owe you?"
Damien text back quickly. "You're my grandson. It will be a gift."
"If you are serious?! Then YES. I NEED MY OWN SPACE!"
"I will have one of my thralls in Bastion City looking around starting tomorrow," Damien replied.
"Perfect then."
Xairin picked out a few hats, a few more shirts, and then moved onto the shorts section. He texts Jason. "Tomorrow, there
is a hotel in Piper's Point, which is about twenty miles from Bastion City. There will be a reservation under your name. Text me the moment you get settled, and we can play things by ear. By the way, the reservation is good for seven days. My treat!"
Xairin was up at the checkout. The lady working the register's eyes grew wide as saucers as she started scanning all the clothing Xairin had brought up. Meanwhile, Jason text back. "Are you sure?"
Xairin grinned as he quickly texted back. "Yes, I am sure, council perk, you have a room in your name for seven days. If you can stay that long, either way, it's reserved. See you tomorrow night, Jason."
"I own my own business; I can have Sam manage it for me while I take a seven day vacation. I'm really looking forward to this Xairin." The last text read.
"That will be two thousand four hundred and eighty-six currency." The woman said. "Xairin handed her his I.D. card.
"Just charge it to my primary account." He told her.
Xairin was getting excited, a second chance to go on a date with a good-looking guy, and one that likely wouldn’t freak out if another immortal showed up to ruin things, had Xairin trying to look past Ezra. He texts back. "I'm looking forward to seeing you too, Jason."
Xairin gently grasped his I.D. card when the dark-haired girl handed it back. He put it in his wallet and put his hands on the counter. "Can you bag those in cloth bags. I really want to make sure I stay as environmentally friendly as possible."
"Sure." She said.
Xairin had text alerts set up to his account when any purchase or withdraw over two hundred came in. He logged into his checking account and checked even though he knew what it was, he still wanted to see what he had available. To his surprise, as the woman bagged his new things, his eyes lit up. Not only had he been funded his currency from enlistment, and his first tour, but he had also been paid a currency deposit from the Council Treasury. Xairin's heart skipped a few beats as he realized he was now a millionaire. Ten Million Currency had just been deposited the day after Rory's funeral.
Xairin couldn't believe it. "Oh my god."
"Excuse me? Is everything okay?" The woman asked.
Xairin looked a little dazed. "Yeah, fine. I um, just got paid more than I was expecting, that's all."
The woman smirked. "Over time, huh?"
Xairin nodded. "Yeah, over time."
_____
Jason had been moping around for days. He had his hopes up after the two women that worked for him told him what Xairin had said when he was sleeping. When Xairin didn't reply back, he admitted, he was depressed. Because of the way he had been treated by August, he was scared to try and date anyone. Having newfound freedom, and someone expressing interest, got his hopes up. Now, after Xairin finally replying back, he screamed out. “I HAVE A DATE! WHOO!”
Sam came running into the garage seeing Jason sitting on a bench, covered in grease on his face and arms. Only his hands were clean. “Did I just hear you say you have a date?”
Jason looked up with a bright-eyed expression. He was glowing. “He text me back, he finally text me. He is reserving a room for me near Bastion City tomorrow night!”
Sam looked at him in disbelief. “Are you fucking serious?”
Jason got up and started showing her the texts. She read them quickly. “Council perks, huh?” She rolled her eyes. “Well he is a prince I guess.”
She looked at him while crossing her arms. “Bastion City is about a five-hundred-mile drive, how do you plan on getting there by tomorrow? Last time I checked you can't teleport.”
Jason scoffed. “SHIT!”
Sam nodded. “Yeah, see, this is why owning a hover car, or some type of flying vehicle comes in handy.” She rolled her eyes. “You still have your flying license, right?”
Jason nodded. “Yeah, I do. I can probably go to enterprise over in Alderson and rent something.”
She put her hands up. “If you are really serious about meeting this vampire. I tell you what, I have a spare hoverbike, it gets about two hundred air miles on a full charge. So, you would have to stop maybe twice to recharge. I can let you borrow it.”
“An older electric battery type?” He asked.
“An early model hover bike, no solar, so you will have to stop, but you can borrow it, besides it would cost you a lot less to just stop at a charging station then go to Enterprise and pay out the ass for a rental for a full week.”
“Sam, thank you, thank you so much!” He said.
Sam sat down, crossing her legs while leaning forward. “So why a vampire Jason? Why this vampire? Is it just because he said you were good looking and you are jumping at the first person to show an interest?”
Jason looked at her. “I know you’re concerned; I do. Now that I’m free of August, I want to date and finally get on with this part of my life. My alpha drive is driving me crazy to try and date. I have never been this horny before in my life, and I just want to meet someone. Besides, the guy is hot, he seems nice, and, besides, if I end up having sex, you don't have to worry about a vampire not being clean, if you know what I mean?”
She smirked. “Gross.”
Jason shrugged. “I’ve been with six guys in my entire life and one of those times, Sam, it was…”
She stopped him. “I don't need to know about any stories of you getting shit on your dick. Spare me, okay?”
Jason nodded.
“Jason, since you are an Alpha, you need to be worried about bonding, remember?”
Jason titled his head. “I thought about that. It did cross my mind.”
Sam was blunt. “You get there, and let's say things are going great. Being an Alpha, you’re going to be a fucking horny mad man, we all know how some Alphas get until they bond, what are you going to do, if you’re like your mother, and bond with this guy the first time you have his legs in the air?”
Jason smirked. “Maybe I will get lucky and be like August, and can’t bond at all. Besides, I don’t even know if he is a top or bottom yet.”
Sam scoffed. “Jason, you need to figure that out before you go, don’t you think? As for your father, he is just too much of a bastard and too mean to bond. You are like your mother and have a heart of gold. You need to be careful!”
Jason sat there smirking. He knew she was right though. “Sam, I don’t want to ask the top or bottom question yet, that just makes it seem like that’s the only thing I want. I do want a real relationship for a change and none of the wolves here in Flow are even close to being my type. They’re either too girly, too manly, or a gossip hound. I don’t want to be judgmental, but I’m not attracted to any of the other gay guys here in Flow.”
She nodded. “I get it. But he is a vampire Jason. They don’t bond like a werewolf will when they are an Alpha. I don’t want to see you getting hurt.”
“Sam, I think this guy Xairin is a nice guy, plus he’s my type and after what he did to August, and freeing me, the guy has to be a good guy to even want to do that for someone he didn’t eve know. Besides I love redheaded guys. I love guys that are right in the middle of being a healthy balance in their mannerisms. Sam I was checking him out a couple of times when he got here and when I drove him to Alex’s grave. I felt weird about it, sure, but I don’t know, something about him I guess.”
She sighed. “What about him being a vampire? You know how some wolves are about dating outside our species.”
Jason looked at her. “That part doesn’t bother me. Let them be racist, I’m not! Plus, I mean, it's not like we can have kids anyways, we are both guys.”
She nodded. “True, but eventually technology is going to advance enough for gay immortals to produce kids in probably one of those at home artificial womb kits. When that happens, we are not genetically compatible in making half and half kids with other immortals Jason.”
Jason smirked. “You are really over thinking this. I just want to go on a date with a guy I find attractive and maybe find something meaningful. I don't care if he is a vampire, and let's say it did
work out. I bond, he falls for me, or hell, I fall for another vampire down the road because it didn’t work out. Kids are the last thing on my mind, and the way I see it, there are plenty of kids that are adoptable.”
She put her finger up. “True, very true. But again, adopted kids are not allowed to be heirs to a throne, and you are talking about going on a date with not just any vampire, but a vampire fucking prince. You need to think about that. And you need to think about how some of the wolves in town are going to react if they find out you end up bonding with some other immortal outside our race.”
“So, I can bond with a human, but not a vampire, or an Aeonian, or hell, what about getting a werecat in the bed, that would make heads spin, huh?” Jason said sarcastically.
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