Survival Used To Be Everything

[Ninia]

Aeron hadn’t noticed Venice come up behind him until the other wrapped his arms around him. He smiled at Venice’s words and chuckled to himself. He honestly didn’t know what he did to get a mate as caring as Venice.

Aeron turned around when Venice let go and followed the other to the bed, sitting down next to him. He pulled his shirt off before pulling the thin sheet down so he slip under it. He held it open for Venice to join him. Once Venice had, Aeron laid down and wrapped an arm around Venice holding him close. “It’ll be a long day tomorrow, our ‘leader’ will want to meet you as will most of the others but I’ll be with you.”

The camp fire had been put out now and the only light shining I the tent was from the moon. Venice’s skin seemed to glow in its light and Aeron couldn’t look away. He lent forward and placed a soft kiss on Venice’s forehead before slowly closing his eyes and letting himself drift off to sleep. For the first time in years his dreams were peaceful, instead of his past he dreamt of a future.

[chocobeast]

***Ninia, it's not that I don't like this thread that I'm always late on it...It's that I LOVE it and don't want to just post a one line blah on here...I love this thread LIKE MAD!!!!***

Venice blushed as Aeron sat down next to him and stripped. He hadn't expected the other to take off his clothes quite yet. He watched silently and curiously. Silent because he was still edgey about being with a Giver even if said Giver was his mate. Curious because he had always imagined his mate to be strong and rippling with muscles. Crazy thing was, he wasn't that far off. Aeron had a nice well toned but not too much so chest and stomach. In the dark, Venice could almost make out all the shadowy edges of each of Aeron's muscles.

Of course when Aeron asked him to lay with him, he blushed like the virgin he was. Obediantly but edgey, he curled up facing Aeron under their sheet. He was pleasently happy and surprised that he rather liked Aeron wrapping an arm around him and holding him close. He was lost in Aeron's eyes when he nodded 'yes' to meeting everyone. And truly, if Aeron had asked Venice what he just said, Venice would have shugged. He wasn't listening to a word.

Venice closed his eyes as he rested up against Aeron. This was his first true night with Aeron and he was beyond happy and content. He was no longer just Venice. He was Venice Mate to Aeron, Lifepartner.

He hummed when Aeron kissed his forehead. It felt truly sweet and soft. Not more than a few seconds later, he was passed out cold.

[Ninia]

(Me too! ^^ Nearly every post on here makes me smile and Awwww! And I don't mind waiting, it's better to take time on it then to rush)


It was early morning when Aeron woke. The first thing he noticed was a warm heat next to him; he opened his eyes slowly, letting them adjust to the light. He smiled at the sight before him, Venice was pressed against his chest, a completely peaceful look on his face. Aeron didn’t move, instead just watched him for a while. Venice was such a contrast to the world outside their tent. In the end he knew he had to get up. He sat slowly, not wanting to wake Venice, and stretched the kinks out of his back. He got out of the bed and pulled the cover back over Venice so the other wouldn’t get cold.

He moved as quietly as he could over to the bags, pulling out a relatively clean top. He pulled it over his head before glancing back to see if he woke Venice. It looked like he was still asleep so Aeron turned away to glance outside.

A few people were up, including Damon, and were setting up a small fire for people to get breakfast. Now would be the best time to talk to Damon, before everyone else was up. He hoped Damon would react better than yesterday, Venice was his mate and Damon owed it to Aeron to accept him.

He turned back to Venice and walked over to the bed. A much as he wanted to let the other stay in a peaceful sleep he knew he had to wake him. He placed his had n Venice’s shoulder “Venice, its morning. It would be best if we get up before all the others.”

[chocobeast]

Venice had the most peaceful perfect sleep he had had since he was a baby. All he could remember was listening to Aeron's deep voice and looking into those warm loving eyes. Then he was out cold. He rustled dreamily as he felt a hand try to wake him.

Venice heard a distant voice call to him. It said something about having to get up. He grumbled half hearted and breathless. He curled his larger body around something soft and bulky that smelled like someone he knew well. He purred contented as he buried his face deeper into that smell. It lulled him back to dreamland.

Not long after that, Venicewas dreaming about him and Aeron walking hand in hand and kissing next to a clean and clear perfectly sparkling creek.

[Ninia]

Aeron chuckled when Venice curled into his side but didn’t show any sign of waking up. Aeron reached out and gently brushed some hair off Venice’s face. He thought about trying to wake him up again but decided not to, he hadn’t got much sleep the night before. He stood from the bed and, giving Venice one last look, he left the tent.

It was cooler outside and Aeron shivered slightly before walking over to where Damon was sat near the fire. Not many of the others were up and out just yet but those nearby greeted Aeron, welcoming him back. He just nodded in greeting. Damon glanced up from the fire when he heard Aeron approach. He offered a smile to the other before looking back at the fire.

“I went to Ellis’ tent this morning to check on our guest.” Damon paused to see Aeron’s reaction but Aeron kept a blank face as he sat next Damon. “You can imagine my surprise to find he wasn’t there.”

Aeron was silent. He rested his chin in his hand and sighed “His name is Venice and he was with me last night.” He didn’t say more than that deciding to tell Damon that Venice was his mate when the other was awake.

[chocobeast]

Venice's dream soon changed to him looking for Aeron in the dense forest. He called to him loudly. But the forest kept getting thicker and darker. He searched frantically. He felt lost scared and worried.

Venice woke up with scream. His heart was pounding out if his chest. He was sweating profusely. And all of his muscles were tense. He almost couldn't breathe.

Still somewhat frantic, he searched the bed next to him. Aeron was gone. He jumped into his shoes and flew out of the tent. He needed to be sure Aeron was okay.

[Ninia]

Aeron and Damon sat in silence, listening to crackling of the fire. Damon hadn’t said a word since Aeron had told him that Venice had stayed with him and he didn’t know if that was bad or good.

Damon finally decided to speak when Aeron tensed. He looked away from Damon towards his tent, frowning…had he heard something. He felt panic rise in his chest and he stood, leaving Damon to watch his back in confusion “Aeron…?” Aeron didn’t answer him. Instead he headed towards his tent, slowly at first but gradually building up his speed until he was running.

Aeron was close to the tent when a small body came flying towards him. He stopped just in time and opened his arms for Venice. He wrapped them around his small frame holding him close “I’m here Venice, calm down. I’m here.” He spoke softly and rubbed his mates back, trying to calm him down.

[chocobeast]

Venice's eyes were clouded with tears as he ran full blast out of the tent. He wasn't watching where he was running and slammed face first into something soft and immoveable. At first, he was so startled and shocked, he yelped and then fought as he felt a pair of large arms close him in.

Suddenly though, he smelled the unique scentt that was Aeron and heard his gentle voice. Relieved and thrilled, he thrust his whole bodyweight into Aeron. It was so quick and exciting, he accidently toppled them over onto the hard ground. They both grunted a painful off as Venice landed on top of Aeron. And aeron landed on the hard ground.

With his face still red and covered in teartracks, Venice proclaimed, "Aeron! I was scared. I thought that you left me. I thought I lost you. I can't lose you. You mean to much to me."

He then leaned down in front of the small audience and kissed Aeron lovingly on the lips. He didn't care who saw. He just wanted to show Aeron how much he truly meant to him.

[Ninia]

Venice struggled in Aeron’s arms but Aeron only held him closer. He wasn’t going to let go until he knew Venice was clam. “Venice it’s me.” He hoped, in his panic, Venice would recognise his voice and relax.

“Ven-” Aeron was cut short as Venice suddenly pushed his whole weight onto his unprepared mate. Aeron felt himself start to fall backwards. He held Venice tight so the other wouldn’t hit the ground, ignoring his own wellbeing. Aeron grunted as he hit the ground, wincing at the pain. He groaned as he slowly sat up, gathering his bearings.

Before Aeron really knew what was happening he felt Venice press his lips gently against his own. Aeron could feel Venice’s relief in the kiss and he knew then that the other had truly feared the thought of losing him. Aeron held Venice closer returning the kiss with passion, not realizing Damon had followed him and a few others were looking over in their direction.

Damon stared wide eyed at the two, not quite believing what he was seeing. His brother and this stranger…Damon shook himself out of it and glanced around seeing a few others coming over, giving them confused looks. “...Aeron?”

[chocobeast]

Venice kissed Aeron back just as passionately. His fear and body melting away iinto Aeron. His blue eyes were tightly shut and his mind was tuurning into a relieved mush.

That was until, "...Aeron?"

Venice knew that as the voice that went with the angry man that Aeron said was his brother Damon. He broke the kiss to loook up into that man's eyes. His own were still foggy from the unshed tears. He still didn't like what he saw. The other male was hovering close over them and frowning at him.

Venice slowly crawled off of Aeron and then helped his Aeron stand. He was bright red with embarressment as he fiddled to straighten his clothes and dust off Aeron's.

"Ummm...I...ummmmmm." He mumbled all language leaving his mind blank. He buried his face in Aeron's side. Why did he have to be so...so...ugggggggg...he couldn't even come up with a belittling word for himself.

[Ninia]

Aeron glanced up at Damon when the other called his name. This hadn’t been how he’d wanted Damon to find out but it didn’t really matter now. Either way he knows. Aeron sighed when Venice broke the kiss, missing the contact with the other but he stood anyway and let Venice fuss over him for a bit.

Aeron wrapped an arm around Venice, holding him close as he struggled for words. He didn’t take his eye off Damon. Without exchanging a word, Aeron gently steered Venice back towards their tent and Damon followed silently behind them. Once inside Aeron turned to his brother who leant against one of the boxes in the room. The two were silent until Damon spoke.

“Explain.” Damon’s voice was stern and distant but Aeron could also see that his brother was confused.

Aeron held Venice close and looked his brother straight in the eye “Venice is my mate.” That was it, so simple but it brought Aeron so much happiness he’d never known.

Damon’s eyes widened slightly. A part of him knew when he saw the two kissing outside, Aeron wasn’t one to fool around with people, but it was still a shook to hear it out loud. His eyes left Aeron’s and moved onto Venice, looking the other up and down. Eventually he stood, and walked over to the two.

Aeron tensed as he approached them but Damon stopped in front of Venice. He stared at the other for a while before suddenly grinning at the small male “I guess he’s one of the family now.” He leaned back and let out a deep laugh “I can’t believe it, you’ve really found your mate. Why didn’t you let me know sooner? Ah.” He looked back at Venice “I’m Damon, sorry for how I reacted earlier. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

[chocobeast]

***Ninia, I'm sooooooooooooooooooo sorry about the waait on this one. I always save my best for last...and that made this suffer. Sorry. ***

Venice liked the feel of Aeron's arm around him. He had no issues following him wherever he wanted to lead him. Even if that meant going back inside the tent. He had a bad feeling though that this was going to end with a tense standoff. So he was really really grateful that Aeron was staying by his side even after they had entered the privacy and entrapment of the one exit tent.

Venice determinedly but still shyly kept his eyes on Damon as he clung to Aeon's side. He was scared of what the other male thought of him or the fact that he and Aeron were together. Did Damon think he was some sort of sexual deviant? Or did he think Aeron was being weak to like the company of a tiny bearer? Would Damon demand that he leave? Could Damon disown his brother and have them kicked out of the group?

Venice's mind was racing when Damon demanded an explaination. He wanted to say. 'God if I really knew what was going on, then you would be the first to know.' Instead, he looked up into Aeron's carefully schooled stoneface look and waited for what he would say.

Venice gasped when Aeron admitted right then and there that they were mates. He had been kind of feeling that this was a fantasy. Even after the marking, he had still had this feeling that it would come to an abrupt halt when others would begin to know. He hadn't expected Aeron to announce it so firmly and so boldly. Venice wanted to tackle him again. Kiss the ever-loving bejesus out of him. However, he knew better.

Venice wasn't paying that much attention to Damon anymore. His eyes were still focused on the man that confessed his love of him to another. He stared fondly up at that strong angellic face. Sweet red pouty lips. Long well kempt hair. He was about to lean up and kiss him when he felt Aeron tighten his grip on his side possessively.

Venice curiously looked back over at Damon to see the other male looking his up and down appraisingly. He felt mad and scared at the same time. He wasn't a piece of meat or a prize to be won from Aeron. He shuffled closer into Aeron for support and protection. And just in time too. Damon was walking straight over to him.

Venice felt Aeron tense when Damon stopped in front of him. He knew that if the big bad brother tried just anything, Aeron was going to be there right in the middle of it protecting him. He swallowed the lump in his throat and dared look up into Damon's critical stare. He was probably pale with fear. And his empty stomach was turning 360 degrees.

Then Damon smiled?

Then he laughed?

Venice was in pure shock when Damon smiled down and him and then laughed. He didn't hear a word even as it was spoken only inches from his face. All he heard was the laugh until..."I'm Damon, sorry for how I reacted earlier. I didn't mean to scare you."

Venice's knees were wobbly as he dared stand under his own weight again. His face was most likely still pale and his eyes were probably still huge from the shock. But he offered Damon a hand, in a squeaky voice he introduced himself. "I'm Venice."

He did his level best to keep a tight grip on Damon's hand for the handshake. He was once told a strong handshake makes a strong impression.

He let go and offered, "Nice to meet family. And when I am mated to Aeron, you will be my first family member in forever."

[Ninia]

( wow that's a really long post. Sorry mine isn't as long, and like I said before I don't mind waiting as long as you don't forget about this thread then I don't mind ^_^)

Aeron was shocked at his brother’s words. He’d expected shouting, arguing, not Damon accepting it so quickly. Maybe his brother had changed since coming here. He wasn’t the same temperamental teen he was when they were first dumped here.

Aeron looked away from his brother and down to his mate. Venice was pale and shaking slightly, but he kept a calm face in front of Damon and Aeron felt pride swell in his chest. Venice may be small but he wasn’t backing down from Damon’s much larger form.

Damon continued to grin when Venice offered him his hand. Damon shook it with a tight grip, pleased to find out Venice kept a strong grip. He wasn’t as weak as he looked. Good. Damon had accepted him as Aeron’s mate but he was glad to see that he wasn’t a weak willed person and could actually stand up for himself rather than hide behind his mate. Venice’s next words did surprise him slightly.

“You two haven’t…?”

He looked over at Aeron and the other nodded, confirming what Damon had guessed. The two hadn’t officially mated yet. Well he supposed that could be a good thing. IF they did there was a chance Venice could become pregnant and bringing a child into this world would undoubtedly be tough for everyone involved. But at some point the two would have to decide if they were willing to go through with it.

“Have you told anyone else?”

Aeron shook his head, loosening his hold on Venice now he knew Damon wasn’t going to do anything. “Only Ellis knows. I was hoping we could tell the others today. We need to let them know Venice is staying with us as well.” Aeron knew that at some point Damon would have come round and accepted Venice, glad that he had straight way, but he had no idea what everyone else would do. But no matter how they did, he’d stay with Venice.

As if he could see what was going on in Aeron’s head, Damon smiled softly at the pair. He was glad Aeron had found Venice. Maybe it was because they were brothers but Damon could see the start of a slow change in Aeron for the better, and it was thanks to the fae next to him.

“I’m trusting you to look out for him now, ok.” With that said he turned to leave heading back to where he sat this morning, in a better mood.

Aeron let out the breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding and visibly relaxed. Even if Damon hadn’t approved he’d stayed with Venice but it was comforting to know he did.

[chocobeast]

Venice never even considered the thought of no having mated mated with Aeron being a weird thing. That was until, "You two haven't...?"

He blushed bright red and bowed his head to hide his embarressed smile. Aeron was a wonderful guy. He was sweet, handsome, and strong. And it wasn't Aeron's fault that they hadn't consumated their relationship. 'Maybe,' Venice thought to himself. 'Maybe we outta..."

Venice was glad the subject changed quick though. Though he was enjoying Aeron's hold on his side. He leaned against the taller man as he felt a sort of relief wash over him. It had to be coming from Aeron. Though he was happy to have Damon on their side too.

Then Venice saw Damon's interested and curious stare turn into a soft smile. He smiled back. Damon could have been a real jerk to them and made their lives a living hell. It was nice to see him actually be nice. Venice relaxed even more into Aeron.

Venice smiled at Damon as he left. "I will. I will do my best to take the best care of him." He then leaned up and kissed Aeron on the lips gentle, soft, and loving. His eyes were closed and his back was to Aeron's side making the angle nice with Aeron holding him like that.

Finally, when he broke the kiss, he smirked, "So, that was your family? Not bad Aeron. Not bad." He chuckled and then winked like there was more to it. Really, there wasn't.

"So, did I make a good impression? And, do I act the same around your leader? And who is the leader?" Suddenly Venice was feeling energentic and enboldened now. He had survived one of a bearer's greatest fears and lived too tell about it. Now it was time to tackle more.

[Ninia]

Aeron returned Venice’s kiss. It was soft and sweet but held a pure feeling of love. Venice pulled away first and Aeron rested his forehead against the others, wanting to keep contact even though he already held Venice close.

Aeron chuckled quietly when Venice winked and smiled at him “That’s my family. Don’t worry about Damon, if he didn’t like you he would have just said so. He’s changed since being here and for the better. He looks out for all the others, a few even think he’d be better suited to be the leader but Damon just sits back. He’d rather not deal with all the responsibility and help Lycus out instead.”

Aeron loosened his grip on Venice but didn’t let go completely. He led him out of the tent back to the centre of the camp. They sat down by the fire a bit away from the others. “Our leader is a Zercan named Lycus. He’s been here longer than most of the others. He may seem cold and intimidating but he is a fair man, he doesn’t talk much about his past and focuses on surviving each day. Just act normal around him, probably not as freely as you would to me or Damon though, at least not until he’s accepted you and don’t worry, he will.”

Aeron reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair out of Venice’s face and smiled reassuringly. Lycus would accept Venice. And if he didn’t Aeron wouldn’t abandon Venice, if he was forced to leave, Aeron would leave with him. But it wouldn’t come to that.

He glanced up at the tent closest to the fire in the middle of the camp. It belonged to Lycus. The man would come out later to let everyone know what they’d do today. When he was done Aeron would take Venice to see him.