The music from far below easily reached up to the second floor walkway overlooking the chaotic dance floor. Sebastian leaned on the railing as he looked down at the bustling people below. His master hadn't come to the gathering like they'd thought he would, so he'd been able to skirt his grand introduction and quickly ascended to the second floor without so much as a few nods of greeting and a small smile to the few guests that managed to notice him. 

It wasn't so much that he didn't stand out, because he'd definitely been sure to dress himself well, since his master took great pride in appearances, but it was just that... Looking to his side as his werewolf settled against the railing beside him, Seba bit back a grin. 

Ruoka was the one that truly stood out. The seamstress had given him another set of clothing when they'd met for lessons at the library earlier in the day. She had a very good eye as to what worked well with people, and Ruoka was no exemption. He stood hunched against the railing, grinning at him with a midnight blue waistcoat adorned with gold buttons and black lapels. He'd allowed Seba to comb his hair back a bit and pin it perfectly so that it worked with the top hat he'd insisted on wearing with the outfit. A pair of dark gray pants hugged his waist, and everywhere else, like a glove. Thankfully, they left just enough to the imagination that they were appropriate enough for the gathering. Finishing off the outfit with a pair of pitch black boots was the icing on the proverbial cake. 

"Master Seba." 

Hearing his name had Sebastian blinking out of his thoughts. 

Oh, I was openly staring at him. 

Of course, half of the people milling about on the floor they were on were staring at him, too, but he should have had better self control. 

Clearing his throat, Seba turned his attention back to the party in full swing down below. 

"Yes, Ruoka?" 

Being the stubborn, cocky, and cute person he was growing accustomed to, Ruoka nudged him with his hip as he moved closer, then leaned his head down so that he could meet his eyes. 

"Master may stare at me as much as he wishes. I am yours, after all," he said, his voice just barely loud enough for him to catch his words. 

Seba shrugged off his blush and straightened, but couldn't meet his werewolf's eyes. Instead, he quickly reached up and fixed the slight tilt to Ruoka's top hat, then lowered his arms with a nervous nod. 

"I'm going to go downstairs. I'm not sure why master hasn't come, but I think I should at least put forth a bit of effort," he said as he offered a small smile and stepped around Ruoka. 

He wasn't surprised in the least when he felt the man close behind. In all honesty, he had struggled to just make himself get out of bed earlier. Even when his master had returned home, he hadn't even bothered to move from where he'd been settled against Ruoka. The man's body heat was like a drug, and since he'd practically raised him, even in his human form, he was, surprisingly, still a comfort. 

I am surprised that master hadn't even sent a thought to me admonishing my behavior, though. 

He'd been able to sense his frustration, though he wasn't really sure if it had been directed at them or not. Heck, it would have been no surprise to him if Pretennon had been well and truly angry before he'd returned home. The man was a master at hiding his emotions, so when they could be sensed from across the house with minimal effort? 

He was just about to begin descending the large set of stairs down to the main ballroom when he noticed long raven hair out of the corner of his eye. 

Wait a minute...

His foot misstepped as he looked to his right, but a strong arm easily slid around his waist to catch him. The gesture was honestly expected, so Seba just reached down and grasped that firm arm as he watched his master disappear down a darkened hallway. 

I didn't think that he was coming...

"Master?" came Ruoka voice from his side as the man finished helping him straighten back up, then took his hand to guide him the remainder of the way down the stairs. 

Seba allowed himself to be tugged along as he finally returned his attention to where he was going. 

Oh.

The music had come to an end between songs and the awkward silence only hung in the air for a few tense seconds before whispers began to grow from within the crowd. Almost everyone's eyes were on them, and more specifically, Ruoka. 

He honestly thought that the man might become at least a little bit nervous with all of the attention on him, but he stood tall at his side with a handsome smile on his beautiful face. When that face turned toward him and the edges of Ruoka's eyes crinkled the slightest bit as his grin grew, Seba forced himself to not look down. Instead, he pushed his own nervous smile onto his lips, then began pulling Ruoka into the waiting throng of nobility. 

It felt as if at least half of the people present wanted to touch his werewolf in one way or another. The men wanted handshakes and to immediately begin harassing him about his political views while the women tried to simply grab at his clothing while simultaneously asking him to dance. Seba knew that the majority of people would be interested in the new gentleman werewolf, but unfortunately, there were still quite a few people vying for his attention, too, which eventually drew the two apart into different groups. 

He did his best to keep up with the large array of conversations being thrown at him, but his worry kept bringing his attention back over toward the larger group that had surrounded Ruoka. The man, surprisingly, was doing incredibly well keeping up with his own situation. No one seemed bothered by his slower responses, because it was obvious that he was taking the time he needed to consider each person's question before responding. It was also clear, if only to Seba, that the wolf had paid great attention to everything he'd ever heard growing up, because he wasn't struggling at all. 

By the time two hours had passed, Seba was getting rather tired. He had even allowed himself to be pulled onto the dance floor by a human, then a werewolf, before excusing himself to rest. While he sat, he was again accosted by unwanted conversation as his eyes watched his werewolf dance effortlessly amongst the other attendees. He'd never been taught to dance, of course, but he was evidently a master in mimicry, and it took him barely any time at all to catch on. It probably helped that the vampire who currently held onto him like a vise was giving instructions, too.  

To say that the women watching the dance floor were enraptured and jealous would have been a broad understatement. Even the ones currently vying for Seba's attention were splitting their's between them. 

He pressed his fingers to his forehead as a faint headache began to pulse behind his eyes. He'd fed before coming, but stress always did burn his blood reserves faster than relaxing days. Of course, the host of the party had expected that some vampires might need to feed, but no matter how much he glanced around, he couldn't find a single goblet of blood. 

Master, are you feeling alright? 

Seba looked toward Ruoka and felt his eyes widen as he noticed that the man had abandoned his dance partner right in the middle of the floor and was heading toward him while at the same time seamlessly dodging the other dancers waltzing around him. The group surrounding Seba immediately separated to give Ruoka room to get to him.  

"Master," Ruoka began as he knelt in front of him and reached up, clearly intent on checking him. Instead of allowing it, Seba caught his hand and tried his best to give him a smile that didn't look as tired as he felt. 

Judging from his pup's reaction, it didn't pass his test. 

"Master, are you hungry? I can go find you something to drink," Ruoka said as he stood back up. 

Seba couldn't really smell any blood within the room, and what he could was miniscule and stale, telling him that it was likely sitting at the bottom of already-drained goblets. It was unlikely that their host had procured enough for the event's number of vampires. 

"I don't think there is anymore, but if you wouldn't mind looking..." he said as he held back a yawn. 

Ruoka immediately nodded sternly, then disappeared within the mass of people around them. As soon as he was out of sight Seba was rushed by people, women and men alike, human and werewolf, offering him their own blood. Some even went as far as to nick themselves, making him hurry to raise his hand to cover his nose. 

He was just stumbling to his feet when strong arms caught him, then lifted his body up with little effort as a loud warning growl emanated from the chest he was settled against. It was clear that it was Ruoka, which made Seba quickly shake himself free of his exhaustion and request to be set back down. He was not interested in being carried like a child, ill or not. 

He was let down immediately, but his werewolf refused to completely release him as he took his hand and gently guided him through the throng of people that parted without a single word as Ruoka demanded the space with just his presence alone. It wasn't that the man was even being aggressive or displaying any kind of arrogance, either. 

He's letting his alpha aura finally come out. Everyone is moving out of respect and reverence. 

He'd seen such incidents a couple of times with the other wolf alphas, but to see others move aside so readily for the little pup he'd raised? 

He's not so little anymore...

Seba allowed Ruoka to tug him down a hallway and into one of the many sitting rooms set up for those who wished for a quieter conversation or just a simple rest from the festivities. 

He was brought over to a seat and helped to sit down, then Ruoka returned to shut the door before settling himself in front of Seba again. This time he did check his face with his hands, though he was gentle as he did so. 

"Master, I can go home and fetch you some blood from one of the servants," he offered, knowing that he was struggling. 

It had been a while since it had happened, but there was no doubt in his mind that his sickness was destroying what he'd eaten earlier. he needed to feed as soon as possible, but at the same time, he didn't want his master's servant's blood. 

Flaring his nostrils to take in Ruoka's scent, Seba slowly leaned forward until he fell right into Ruoka's arms, forcing the man backwards and onto the decorative carpet from the sudden surprise of his intentional fall. 

"Master Seba?" Ruoka questioned with a slight tilt of his head. 

Unable to speak, Seba looked down at his beautiful, handsome, gorgeous werewolf and swallowed his nerves as he leaned forward. He knew that he shouldn't be doing what he was. Shouldn't be putting Ruoka in such a situation, but he couldn't help himself. 

This is my choice. I will break my master's rules, because even though I'm extremely hungry and there are plenty of other people willing to feed me, there's only one person I want to sink my teeth into. 

 "Ruoka..." he said, struggling to get the single word past his aching, decending fangs. 

Seemingly understanding immediately, Ruoka reached up and wrapped one arm around Seba's lower back as his other hand settled against the back of his head, guiding him down to his throat as he calmly tilted his own head backward, giving him plenty of room to bite where he wished. 

"Drink," Ruoka said calmly. 

With that simple, single word of permission, Seba nuzzled against Ruoka's warm neck, then licked it twice before closing his eyes and sinking his fangs into his werewolf's hot skin. 

As he began to drink, his body immediately started to relax as Ruoka's familiar blood was greedily accepted and spread throughout his system. It eased his exhaustion and made him sigh with relief after only a few mouthfuls. He considered pulling away after taking a tiny bit more, but the hand settled within his hair pressed down the slightest amount before he could even retract his fangs. 

"Master, we have already broken every rule we have been given. Drink your fill and rest. I... we, will bother with whatever repercussions there are later."

He wanted to argue, but firstly, his fangs didn't want to retract from Ruoka's warm skin. And honestly, the man's blood tasted like the most delicious wine he'd ever tasted. He hadn't realized how addicting it truly was until he'd been forced to not drink it. Absentmindedly, Seba chewed a bit on Ruoka's neck, adjusting his fangs the slightest amount and making the man beneath him give out a quiet chuckle in response. 

"...adorable vampire." 

Huh? 

His mind began to feel weighted, as if he truly was feasting on wine instead of blood. He'd missed what Ruoka had just said, but when he'd finally managed to retract his fangs and push himself up on the man's chest in order to look down at him, his werewolf didn't seem even the least bit dazed. 

I know I took quite a lot...

When Ruoka's tongue slowly slipped out to lick along his bottom lip, Seba felt his face heat with the man's hot blood. 

"Master is a messy eater when he is very hungry..." 

I... I am? 

Looking up at a mirror settled across the room, his face paled at the mess of blood beginning to dry around his lips and chin. He quickly lifted his fingers to his lips, intent on licking them and cleaning himself off, but right as his tongue pressed against two of them, his wrist was grabbed, then gently guided away as Ruoka lifted the hand he still had pressed against Seba's back. 

"Master, may this humble servant help clean you up?" 

There was a hunger in the man's eyes that spoke volumes as he leaned upward, putting their faces mere inches apart. The close proximity, mixed with the heady feeling of being completely sated made Seba have to fight to not look away. 

He's given me so much blood... and saved me from possibly being dragged away by someone else.

"You may," he eventually said in a quiet whisper as he finally averted his gaze. 

Ruoka gave him nearly a full minute to reconsider his words, but when he didn't take them back, the man slowly leaned in the last few inches, closing the distance between them as his tongue softly pressed against Seba's chin, then retracted immediately. 

When it didn't return again, Seba tilted his head and returned his attention to the man... only for him to give out a surprised chuckle in response to what he saw. 

"Why is your tongue sticking out like that, you strange pup?" he asked, his words directed at the tip of Ruoka's tongue that was sticking out from between his lips the slightest bit, as if he had forgotten what he'd been doing in the middle of doing it!

"Master seemed nervous. I didn't want to make you nervous when you're not feeling well," Ruoka replied, making him blink down at him and frown slightly. 

"So you're fine with making me nervous when I'm feeling fine?" he asked, worried that if he said that he was, in fact, feeling much better, that Ruoka might start laying into him much more strongly. 

When the man smirked and quickly nodded, Seba let his head sag between his shoulders, shaking it a few times before he felt Ruoka nudging through his light curtain of bangs. Before he'd even finished lifting his head back up, the man had swiped his tongue across his chin again, but this time, he didn't stop at just that. It disappeared for only a brief moment before returning, then disappearing and returning again and again. 

It was such an odd sensation to have someone cleaning his face like a cat that Seba couldn't help but laugh a little as Ruoka got really into it. He had most of the blood taken care of in less than a minute, but when his tongue began swiping across his lips, Seba felt them shiver in response. 

Seemingly having caught his reaction, Ruoka paused for only a brief moment as their noses softly settled against each others and their breath mixed together. When that damp, warm tongue returned to press against his lips for a second time, Seba tilted his head ever so slightly. Another lick occured after a few moments, then a retreat. Then another. As Ruoka's tongue returned again, Seba unintentionally licked his lips at the same time. He immediately made his own tongue retreat after it met Ruoka's, but when his werewolf leaned in a little more as he propped himself up with his arm, putting himself just close enough to settle a tiny portion of his upper lip against his, Seba was unable to hold back his curiosity.  

Just want to... try. 

He slowly leaned forward, closing the near-nonexistent distance between their mouths as his lips awkwardly pressed against Ruoka's. 

(Edited)