[ Inspire Me ] [ Shiro / Jace ]

[Ninia]

(I'm really sorry for the wait )

Jace followed Shiro around the store, watching the other fill the basket with food for tonight. Jace was grateful to the other for doing this. He usually didn’t cook proper meals for himself. He listened to Shiro when he asked Jace to look out for any meats he wanted, Jace nodded and started to look around. He scanned the different meats looking for something he liked. He eventually decided on chicken. He hadn’t had it in a while and it wasn’t too expensive. He glanced at Shiro “Is chicken alright or do you want something else?”

As he waited for Shiro to answer he glanced around the shop. It was really nice for a small shop, it looked like it had everything he’d need. He made a note to come here when he needed to shop. He turned back to the chicken. There was only two of them so how much would they need?

[squabbel]

Shiro was staring at a ripe tomato as he waited for Jace to finish looking at the meats. He looked back over his shoulder at Jace then at the chicken. His stomach lurched but he kept his calm. Although it wasn't the best choice of a meal for a vampire, he'd prepare it for Jace anyway, he'd just had to be very cautious as they ate. "That's fine," he said as he walked over and snatched up a pack of thighs and placed it in his basket before he walked back to the front of the store to check out with Jace.

"Give me about fourteen dollars, so I can use my grocery card, you'll get yours eventually," he told him as he looked back and held his hand out for the money.

[Ninia]

Jace nodded, following Shiro to the check out. He took his wallet out of his back pocket, taking out the money and handed it to Shiro. He waited for Shiro to finish paying and took the bag. When the other was done he started to walk back to his truck. Jace felt content, he was enjoying the time he was spending with Shiro, even if it was something as simple as shopping.

Once they were back at his truck, Jace put the Bag in the back and moved to the front. “So what do you plan on making?” He asked once Shiro was in.

[squabbel]

Shiro sat down next to Jace back in the truck, and stared out the window as the headed back home. He looked back at Jace, "Oh, nothing special, just some char grilled chicken with a small salad, I don't have much time to cook, besides, it's usually best to keep it simple," he told him. They eventually pulled up to the house. Shiro got out of the car, carrying the cleaning supplies as he headed back inside his home.

He motioned for Jace to follow him after he put the supplies away and headed for the kitchen. "Mind helping make the salad while I get the grill ready out back?" he asked as he washed his hands.

[Ninia]

“Sounds good to me.” Jace grabbed the grocery bag from the back of the truck and followed Shiro inside. He followed Shiro into the kitchen and placed the bag down on the table. He washed his hands and got started on the salad. “I’m not a very good cook but I can do little things. I used to try and help my Mum back home. I’d always end up making a mess though. My brother was the one that got Mum’s talent of cooking.” He paused, thinking of his family. He’d promised to go visit them soon.

“What about you Shiro, do you have any family nearby?” He hadn’t asked the other about his family yet. He wondered what they were like.

[squabbel]

Shiro listened to the human male as he cut open the package of chicken breasts, and began washing them under the faucet. Shiro had a faint smile on his face as Jace talked about his family and his adventures in the kitchen. He hated to admit it but he was becoming fond of having Jace around. Shiro was just minding his own business as he moved the chicken over and began spicing up the chicken with a little dry rub when Jace asked that one question, an almost indistinguishable smile on his face, suddenly dissappear. His face became blank before looking most hurt, then afraid.

He was silent, he didn't even move, he just stared at the chicken in his hands as Jace's words rung in his head over and over. 'What about you Shio, do you have any family nearby? Shiro, do you have any family nearby? Shiro, do you have any family? Do you have any family?' Shiro's face just fell even lower as he finally pulled out of his daze. He put the chicken down and pushed the rub aside. "No," he said simply, in a low, blank, tone. He grabbed the plate and turned around, not even half the chicken rubbed down yet. He didn't look over at Jace as he headed towards the back door, "They all left years ago," he said again, just as low, and just as blank, before shutting the back door behind him with a little more force behind it than normal.

[Ninia]

As soon as the question had left Jace’s lips the whole mood in the room changed. Jace watched Shiro’s movements stop and the content smile slip from his face. He was immediately regretting his question. Jace stopped what he was doing and turned to face the other, who was more silent than usual. “Shiro?” His voice held is concern. Shiro seemed to be pulled from his thoughts and answered Jace’s question. His voice sounded cold, distant, a tone Jace hadn’t heard Shiro use before.

Jace watched in silence as Shiro grabbed the plate and walked past him to the door, not sparing him a glance. He jumped when Shiro slammed the door shut. Jace stayed where he was in silence, not knowing if he should follow Shiro or give him time to himself. He thought about what Shiro had said. His family had left him? Or been in an accident? Whatever had happened to Shiro’s family, it was obviously a touchy subject for the other. Jace walked over to the door Shiro had left through, he hesitated slightly before pulling away. It was probably best if he gave the other some space. Jace went back over to the salad and continue preparing it, but even as he tried to focus his eyes kept drifting back to the door.

[squabbel]

Shiro, placed the plate of chicken on the grill and opened up the lid rather quickly. He hastily turned on the gas and pulled out the matches. He wasted no time lighting the match, but before he lit the grill he paused and just stared at the small flame at his fingertips. Shiro began to shake a bit as memories of seeing the fire that engulfed the forest outside the capitol flooded through his mind. The quiet male was trembling visibly, and the match was held very precariously in his hand, threatening to fall. The flame finally made it's way to Shiro's fingers, causing the male to jump and drop the match right into the grill.

The flames suddenly jumped alive, Shiro actually letting out a small yelp, jumping and actually falling down on the grass. Shiro laid there, face down in his backyard, and stared off into the distance. Suddenly the once proud vampire began to break down. Tears began to stream across his face, causing grass to stick to it. Shiro slowly brought his knees closer to his chest, and clawed at the ground underneath him. His wig had been knocked loose, though he hadn't noticed, his long silver ponytail curling around his leg. He cursed to himself, angry that such an Innocent question, had done so much to him.

[Ninia]

Jace was nearly done preparing the salad when a cry from outside caught his attention and he turned to face the door Shiro had left through. He quickly dropped what he was holding and rushed over to the door, swinging it open. The first thing he noticed was the fires on the grill. Jace eyes widened and he immediately moved to put it out. Once he was sure the immediate danger was gone he looked around for Shiro. His eyes landed on the other’s form and Jace knelt down beside him.

“…Shiro?” Jace stared at the other, his dark chocolate hair now replaced with long snow white locks. Jace reached out slowly with a shaking hand as he tucked a strand behind Shiro’s ear. Shiro’s face was hidden from the other but it was clear the other was in tears. Jace felt a tug on his heart as he watched the other in so much sadness. Before he could stop himself, Jace wrapped his arms around Shiro, holding the other close hoping to comfort him.

[squabbel]

Shiro laid there on the ground, chewing on his inner lip hard as he heard Jace rush out of the house and deal with the grill. He inched across the ground in a futile attempt to grab at his wig only to figure out it was useless, and just curled up in a ball again, pretty much drooling all over himself. He felt disgusting all of a sudden, and the memories just kept flooding in, he couldn't take it. Soon he felt Jace tuck one of his long strands of hair behind his ear, and he tried to hide his face in his knees, his cold ears making him start to shiver.

He then felt Jace's warm arms around him, and his initial response was to struggle, he didn't want to be touched, he just wanted to wallow his own tears. He squirmed, but the crippling sadness had weakened him too much, it was useless. The tears began coming out at a whole new level as he curled up and hid his face in Jace's shoulder and sobbed softly, his forearms pressed against his chest.

[Ninia]

Shiro resisted at first but soon gave in and let Jace hold him. Jace didn’t say anything, just held Shiro close as his tears soaked through his shirt. He didn’t know how long they stayed like that, Jace trying to give Shiro some sort of comfort. Eventually he decided try and get the other inside. He helped Shiro stand and gently lead him inside sitting him down on the couch. He knelt in front of him, taking his cold hands in his. A shock ran up his arm and Jace jumped a little before shaking his head. He pushed the questions he wanted to ask to the back of his mind and focussed on helping Shiro.

He tilted the other’s face up to look at him as he wiped the tears from his cheeks softly. “Shiro…” He didn’t know what to say, he’d never been good when people he cared about were in tears, he felt helpless just sitting there. “I’m sorry for bringing it up…I…”

[squabbel]

Shiro held on tightly to Jace as he was helped up by Jace, and whimpered softly as he shuffled back into his home. He grunted as he tripped as he stepped into the doorway, but he never let go of his red haired neighbor. His tears still streamed down his face even after he was lowered down onto the couch. He felt Jace take his hands in his and he felt him jump, but Shiro just gave his hands a light squeeze as if pleading for him to stay. He bit his lip and hunched over in the couch, trying to get closer to Jace. He crossed his legs and kept his arms close, like a turtle that was hiding in his shell. Shiro winced once he felt some pressure coming from behind his glass eye. Without giving it a second thought, he reached up and took out his prosthetic, it's surface wet from all the tears. Shiro pulled his hand away and rubbed his eye dry of tears, even though he was still crying.

He let Jace lift up his chin and make him look him in the eyes, and pressed his head against the boy's hand as he wiped away his tears. Shiro's sobs had turned to nothing more than soft sniffles and a few beads of water running down his face. He could see that Jace didn't know what to do, but unfortunately Shiro felt just as helpless. He shook his head, and hiccuped softly, "N-no, i-it's not your fault, you didn't know," he told him squeezing Jace's hands again, "just...please.... stay with me?" he asked looking deeply into his eyes.

[Ninia]

Jace eyes widened as he saw the other remove his fake eye. His head was once again flooded with questions about his eye, his hair, the breakdown he was having. Jace pushed these to the back of his mind again, he knew they would be back later but now was not the time to be asking them. “I’m not going to leave. I’ll stay for as long as you want me.” He wasn’t going to leave Shiro in this state. Even if he said it wasn’t his fault, Jace knew it kind of was, he was the one who brought the topic up. But it wasn't just guilt that kept him here, it was mainly that he didn’t like seeing Shiro in tears, it felt wrong to him.

He moved to sit next to Shiro and wrapped an arm around Shiro’s shoulders, holding him to his side as he rubbed his back. The tears were starting to subside and the only sound coming from Shiro now was quiet sniffs. They stayed there like that for a while until Shiro had calmed down a bit. He ran his fingers through Shiro’s hair taking in the white locks.

[squabbel]

Shiro leaned against Jace as he sat down by him, and rested his head against his shoulder. Deep down, Shiro felt partially disgusted with himself for not only making a pact with a human by clasping hands, but letting him hold him close like this even after his promise with Abel, but still It felt so right. "Thank you Jace," he said as he closed his eyes and just sat there close to him. There was no telling how long he sat there letting Jace run his fingers through his hair.

After what seemed to be an eternity of silence Shiro finally opened his mouth to speak. "I feel like I don't deserve your trust Jace, I've pretty much lied to you this whole time about who I am, even though it's only been a couple days," he said shifting in his seat. He found a surprising amount of comfort being in Jace's hold. He let out a small hum, "It's been so long since I've been this close to someone, I forgot what it felt like," he said, the tears had finally stopped. Shiro paused for a bit, unsure of himself, "it feels.... nice," he told Jace softly. There was another moment of silence before Shiro interrupted it again, "I guess you have allot of questions..." he looked up at Jace, "where do you want me to start?"

[Ninia]

Jace didn’t know how long they sat there like that in silence before Shiro broke it. He stayed silent for a while after Shiro had finished, wondering where to start. He grinned at Shiro “We should probably just start over huh” He said trying to lighten the mood slightly. His grin faltered a little as he thought of his first question. He decided to stay away from the topic of Shiro’s family for now knowing it would upset the other again.

“Don’t feel like you have to answer all my questions, I won’t mind. Just the ones you feel comfortable answering.” Jace hadn’t forgotten that they hadn’t known each other very long and it took time to trust people and let them in. “I guess I’ll start with the obvious ones if you don’t mind me asking…why did you hide your hair and eye?” He glanced at Shiro’s hair again, in awe of its colour. Jace didn’t know why but he felt a bit…hurt that the other had hid parts of himself from him; he knew he shouldn’t but he couldn’t help it.