Dystopian Future

Ezra continued to be silent, he didn't know what Zemins wanted, what was his intention. He had apologised, but now? Did he try to prove something to him, it was he trying to make himself feel better? Rivik snorted at the man.
"Wow you noticed one thing, congratulations" he said sarcastically.
"Rivik! He is trying so shut up!" Jax finally snapped.
"Oh shut up, he shouldn't even be here!" Rivik looked at the wolf.
"Enough" Ezra knew the spirits had different opinions on this and he didn't wish to hear it. Ezra sighed and took his teacup once more turning away from Zemin. He couldn't deny he liked when he stroke his hair, but it wasn't like one thing made it all right. Maybe if what happened hadn't happen he could have gotten used to it, resolving in it being only nice and other contact as well, but he had gotten reminded why contact was scary.
"So that means you wouldn't care every time the urge became to much?" He asked coldly but became silent again for a short time. "So you care because you have to, due to your instincts?"
He wondered if Zemins even would apologise if he hadn't been mated to him, being forced to be stuck with him.

"Now he's even crying, he is so pathetic" Rivik complained making Jax glare before he charged towards him making the fox smirked before he avoided him disappearing to the spirit world soon followed by Jax. Ezra broke the connection with Rivik since ha had no desire to see the spirit world. But being left alone with Zemins, especially without seeing made him a bit worried, but he pushed that feeling away, knowing he could escape to the spirit world if he wished as well. And he would also hear if Zemin moved and he had magic if it came to that. He sipped on the tea ignoring that Zemin was on the brink of crying.

All of a sudden it felt as if the temperature in the room dropped by no less than ten degrees. Zemin was literally frozen to the spot he was standing on and he had no idea of what he was going to do next. Everything felt different, so extremely different.
If Ezra had been this cold when they’d met the first an second time, he strongly doubted that he’d be mated to him. There was a reason behind the stupid mating thing, there just had to be! Sure if was driven by primal instincts but that didn’t make it any less real. A subconscious part of him had obviously chosen the shaman, even if Zemin didn’t quite understand how all of that worked. It was just way too complicated to explain to its full extent. However he didn’t only care because of his instincts and to be honest, just hearing those words escape the other man, made him low-key pissed.
“Is that what you think? For real? Do you think that is really it? That I’m some fucking animal who only cares about fucking?” He asked and felt the blood raising in temperature. “And this is all new for me! It’s not exactly that I’ve been mated to anyone before because it only happens once. Once, Ezra, only once. Try to be newly mated and in heat yourself, then you’ll maybe understand why I was acting so primal”, he exclaimed and let out a frustrated growl. Shit, Zemin didn’t like this new I-don’t-care-about-anything bullshit. Not only did it make the wolf feel at a loss, but it also triggered him. A lot, it triggered him like crazy.

The carefully maintained, newly cut, nails slowly become longer, thicker and sharper - and the teeth followed in the same pattern. It wasn’t anything to be especially worried about and he didn’t mean to be threatening. When the anger took over, this was what usually happened. At least he didn’t shift fully, which would’ve been more than pathetic and just cowardly. For the time being he simply had to stand his ground and refuse to back down while he tried to slap some sense into the shaman.
“I’m totally am pathetic and fucked up to the core, but I honestly do care about you even if you’re literally the most annoying, stupid person I’ve ever met”, Zemin muttered under his breath and stared towards Ezra with eyes that had turned amber instead of dark brown. “...and I still like you.”

Ezra could feel the change in Zemin, and it wasn't like he didn't understood why the man reacted to his words, he may have done the same. But it didn't matter because Ezra still wondered about it, and it wasn't like Zemin had given him a lot to go on, and none of the books he had found explained it very well. He guessed it was something you couldn't understand unless you was a werewolf, or maybe they were all just shitty at explaining.
"To be honest I don't know what to think Zemin" he answered the other man. The first times he hadn't thought that, he still didn't know what to think, but as the time went on, he started to think that was the only thing Zemin wanted from him. He understood that it was a struggle, he really did, he wasn't stupid, but it felt that for every time they met Zemin expected more and more of him, actually not caring about what he thought. He couldn't of course be sure, but if they had been alone the last time and Xue hadn't interrupted it felt like Zemin would have attacked him. Ezra didn't know if that would have ever change, making him tense every time he was around Zemin, but as it was now, it didn't matter, because he didn't need to feel like that. Ezra sighed as he refilled his cup turning his head in the direction of Zemin, even if he couldn't see him.
"I understand to some degree Zemin, why on earth would I have even tried to help you before! I even fucking hugged you, hoping it would give you something, make you feel better. Something I never do, never, but it wasn't enough for you! And even if I understand the struggle to some extent, it wasn't like I could give you what you sought in a second, forget everything and be fine with it. But the problem here is that it's all about you! How hard it's on you, how you have urges and how you are mated to me. To be honest you actually know what's going on more than I fucking do! And it's not like I have a fucking choice in this, your instincts tell you something, understanding something I clearly don't, but I am apparently stuck with this, none the less. You know what my instincts told me? To run away from you, but I tried none the less. At least I learned to listen to them!" he stated coldly, even if he surprised himself over how honest he was towards the other man, he felt like he didn't deserve to hear any of it, but it wasn't like he could take it back now.

Ezra turned away, not that he could see anything even if he did, and for a second he thought of summon Rivik, but he knew the spirits needed to resolve this and would most likely be back when they had, or he needed to summon them when he went home. He couldn't hinder himself from smiling a small smile, well Zemin had the right to think he was annoying and stupid, in a way he was, even if Zemin's opinion didn't matter to him. At Zemin's last words he turned towards him again. He had wondered more than once, why on earth the man had taken a liking to him. He couldn't really understand, feeling there was nothing for Zemin to like, nothing at all, unless he wanted someone who could give him potions or amulets, something other people could do, even if he was one of the best. But he knew that wasn't the reason.
"Why?" was all he asked, not as cold as before, even if his voice wasn't warm either.

The shaman was right, neither of them had a choice in what was currently happening. So it wasn’t really easy for any of them. Zemin wanted Ezra who didn’t want him back, meaning it was basically a one sided love. And that could be hard on both people involved in the equation. Plus the fact that the other man really didn’t handle any sort of contact well. What a fucking mess. Would it ever be able to resolve itself or would they just have to keep living like this forever? At the moment it was hard to say, but the werewolf had some ideas concerning that matter - ideas which weren’t exactly positive.
“I’m sorry”, the wolf whispered and frowned. His shoulders sunk down and the expression across his face softened. “I already know that it’s about you equally as much as it’s about me”, he continued and took some small steps towards Ezra, slow and weary ones. He didn’t want to scare the other one and end up being killed. The death wish he’d had for the last couple of weeks had vanished, meaning that he had no desire to die. Not yet. Before it happened he wanted to at least try to make things right. If that resulted in him being killed, so be it.
“It’s no secret I have no clue about what I’m trying to get across..but I just want you to know that I’m not like one of those people who captured you”, Zemin mumbled and came to a stop, standing maybe a foot away from the shaman.

Why? The question made the werewolf’s jaw drop and it took him a couple of seconds before he understood the word. A small laugh escaped him and he pulled one of his hands through the thick, light brown hair. It wasn’t a mocking laugh, but rather a very sweet, genuine one.
“To be completely honest with you, I don’t know”, he admitted as the head fell to one of the sides. “You’re interesting, somewhat scary and I guess that’s intriguing me. Your scent is lovely and you always seem to be brutally honest..and..and you’re handsome”, Zemin mumbled thereafter and blushed. It wasn’t a sweet, rosy blush. Nope, his cheeks had turned brightly red, just like a pair of plump tomatoes. What a relief that Ezra wasn’t able to witness that specific part.
He slowly leaned closer to the older man, reaching for one of his hands. When he eventually found contact with the glove, he gently grasped it. Both eyes were fixed one the black fringe, the pale face and white eyes. So what was the conclusion? That he was absolutely out of his mind, totally nuts and fucked up? Yep, that actually sounded like a pretty good one.

“Call me crazy all you want, but this is exactly what’s going through my mind. Well, I might actually be genuinely mad, however that’s not the point.” Good job! You’re actually trying to make this guy like you by stating the fact that you’re insane? How fucking stupid are you, Wang Zemin? Once again the cheeks lit themselves on fire, but the careful grip he had over Ezras hand didn’t budge. He just wanted the other man to understand that he wasn’t out to hurt him or torture him. That was literally all he wanted to get across in that short second.

As soon as he heard Zemin move his guard went up. He couldn't see what Zemin did, but he could feel and hear him get closer. But since it was slow, it didn't seem like the man planned on attacking him. True he could actually walk slowly towards him with a knife and he wouldn't know, but he didn't fear death so it mattered very little to him, and if Zemin captured him, well the wolf wouldn't be able to do much that no one else had done already, and he didn't feel the pain anymore, so it didn't matter either. Not that he actually thought that the man sought to do any of those things, no he actually had no idea what Zemin wanted, as always. He got irritated over the fact that the man could make him so confused, especially without doing anything, and for a second he thought of just leaving, until Zemin spoke again, and he shook his head, as he laughed a cold laugh.
"As I ever thought you was Zemin. That wasn't the fucking problem! It wasn't like I thought you were like them ever!" he snapped at the man. He had never thought Zemin would try to do what they did, because he was pretty sure that was something only humans would do, out of hate for supernaturals. But that didn't matter when it came to contact, it was still contact, and he had expected Zemin to hit him, not because he thought he would, no because that was what always happened in the past.

He hated to admit it, but hearing Zemin laugh felt good, seeing that it felt more right when the other one was happy, something that shouldn't matter to him, so he pushed the feeling aside and listened when the other one spoked. He could agree with some of the things, but normally that wasn't things that people took a liking to, who the fucked thought of it as interesting when you were scary, at that moment Ezra thought of Zemin more fucked up than himself, but what did he know, maybe people did took a liking to things like that. However at the man's lats words Ezra laughed, an empty laugh.
"For being surrounded by good looking people, and being one yourself, you need to get your eyes checked" he stated coldly. Even if he founded the other reasons weird, he could understand them more than his looks. It was true that he couldn't deny that he could have been good looking if it wasn't for all the scars covering his body and the messed up eyes. He felt Zemin lean in, and when he took his hand he tensed up, especially since he couldn't see, it made the situation worse. Sure the contact was gentle as it always had been coming from the other man, but the surprise didn't make it easier. It was just like in the past, before he had Rivik, he could hear and feel the people around him but never know when the contact would came, something they enjoyed, and they didn't always touch him, just torturing him with their presents was enough for him to make it awful.

He took back his hand, placing his other hand over it, and took a step back from the wolf.
"Why are you doing things like that" he asked in a low voice. "You know I can't see you at the moment, so why even do something like that without a warning? You have no idea what memories it will make me remember..."
He turned away from the man, he didn't know if it was out of shame, seeing how easily it was to make him remember, or if he was ashamed because he hadn't killed the other one yet. Or maybe it was something else, something he didn't even know what it was.

“So what? Are you just going to live the rest of your days without ever touching anyone? Is that really how you want it to end up? I understand that it brings back bad memories but you know..that’ll never stop until you let anyone try to give you good ones”, Zemin stated and let both hands fall to his sides. Maybe he’d been in the wrong again by daring to touch Ezra? It had been another step in the wrong direction, right? Or was it one in the right one? Damn, he couldn’t tell anymore. Everything was so goddam confusing and fucked at this point he just had to roll with his guts, something that usually worked out pretty well. But that didn’t mean he tried to touch the other man again, since he didn’t have a death wish.
The werewolf observed his bare feet while fidgeting with the yellow sweater. So Ezra thought the wolf was good looking at least? Well, that was nice to know, knowing that there seemed to be nothing else he liked about the sad little puppy. However looks didn’t matter in the end, so he didn’t get too excited because of the words.
“My eyes are just fine”, Zemin said and crossed his arms over the slim chest, raising one of the dark eyebrows. “Do you have a problem with what I jut said? That I think you’re handsome and interesting? In that case it’s too bad, since I can’t just change any of that just because you don’t like it”, he muttered and poured with his lower lip, making him look like an angry kid. “And take a look in the mirror for gods sake, you’re definitely a lot more good looking than you think you are.” The silence that followed those words immediately turned very thick and the flaming hot cheeks were on the brink of melting. They’d become so warm it actually kind of hurt, and not in a good way. Maybe he was about to actually set himself on fire, like one of those random combustion cases?

Then it came - the insane laughter. Zemin sunk down on the floor, on top of one of the carpets. Just like before it was totally genuine, yet just a tiny bit creepy. He couldn’t stop it though, as it just poured out of him. The entire conversation was so fucked up and weird he couldn’t even take it any more. Why did he even try? Everything would be a lot easier and better if he just gave up and stopped trying.
One tear fell after another and eventually the mad laugh was mixed with violent sobbing. Jesus, he was auch a crybaby - always resolving to crying his eyes out no matter where he was or whom he was with. It had always been that way.
“Look at me, I’m so fucking pathetic”, the werewolf managed to stutter before the laughter and sobbing took over once again. “I’m literally laying on your floor in a fucking pile and I have no idea why I’m even trying. Maybe I just want to try to help you, maybe it’s as simple as that? But it’s not because I like you and..and it’s so goddam complicated I don’t even want to deal with this shit any longer”, he bowled and started rolling across the carpet, once again looking like a small child throwing a temper tantrum.

Ezra wasn't sure what to answer, he had managed so far without contact, not really missing it, having nothing to miss. Maybe he would have missed it if he had gotten used to it first, maybe if things had gotten better with Zemin before it turned to shit and he had learned to accept it. He couldn't tell, since it had never gotten that far.
"I don't know Zemin" he finally admitted placing his hand on the counter as he lifted himself up, soon sitting on it. "It didn't brought back memories before, at least not simple contact as a handshake or so, because you normally don't touch people in other ways unless you are close to them, so I was fine, had been for almost ten years, avoiding it all, until you walked into my life"
The wolf was the first one to ever touch him since his few attempts to make it happen back in the days. And Ezra couldn't even tell if he wished it had ended differently or not, being reminded of how bad it was, maybe for the best. True it lead him here, but who knows what would have happened otherwise? Or maybe it was just him, seeing the worst in every situation, maybe everything had been fine and he had started to enjoy it more than he thought he would. Well there was no reason to think about it, seeing it would never happen.
"You are free to have your own opinion, if you find me interesting and handsome, well I couldn't careless, as long as you stay away" he told the other man, not understanding why it would be a problem, even if he didn't agree with him. "And I know that you don't know the interior of my home, but I do own mirrors, and I have studied myself more than once, even if I prefer not doing so. And it's a bit hard, liking yourself knowing how you could have looked"

Ezra was more than puzzled when he heard Zemin laugh, he could find nothing in their conversation that was worth laughing at, at least not to the extent the other man did. And for a second he became worried that Zemin had really lost it, maybe he had? He didn't know the man, not really so who knows what the reason was. And when he started sobbing, Ezra got even more worried, despite that he didn't want to. He wanted to not care, but it wasn't as easy as he had thought with the man in front of him.
"I wouldn't say you are pathetic, I would say that you care to much" he told him honestly. "I don't know why you are trying either, I didn't really ask for your help, and I shouldn't be your problem, especially since it seems to only cause you misery"

Wasn’t that a bit odd? That Ezra didn’t even care that he’d just gotten a really nice compliment from the werewolf? Because as soon as Zemin got a compliment he valued it deeply and kept it close to the heart, while the shaman seemed to plain out ignore it. It was a reaction he hadn’t seen before, that was at least something he was sure of.
“So if I said you’re the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, would you just shake those words right off and not care for one single second? Not even feel a bit excited?” The wolf asked, mostly out of curiosity. No, Ezra wasn’t the most beautiful person he’d ever met, but for some reason he’d climbed the ranks very quickly - something that deeply terrified Zemin as he couldn’t make it stop. But that didn’t mean the man wasn’t handsome, because he totally was. Maybe he couldn’t see it for himself due to all the scars and the white eyes, however the werewolf could.

Very well, moving on with all the thoughts and all of that shit. So the other man believed that Zemin cared too much? In that case the counter part cared way too little. That actually kind of proved that they were an interesting match and that they’d probably make an excellent team. Of course the wolf wanted more than that, but it was a slow start. Hopefully it could progress into something more? Just maybe?
“If I care too much then you care too little”, he stated and nodded shortly. “We’d make quite a team you know, against the vampire”, Zemin continued and smiled briefly, before he turned serious. “Speaking of that, I think it’s something we really need to deal with. I know you just opened up this strange shop and all, but to be fair I think this is way more important.” Speaking of swiftly changing the subject? His father had done it almost all the time and now so did he. Nice to know he actually took after someone who was worth taking after. Now all that was left was for Xue to do the same, and not be influenced by his older brother. He might’ve been smart and handsome, but he was also a whiny little puppy that had so many problems it was close to insane. One of those problems was Ezra, for fucking sure.
“Of course I understand if you have no intention on working with me, but really think we’d be great at working together..and by the way, I’m truly sorry about walking into your life from out of nowhere.” At the end of the sentence he bowed again, yet again acting as his old man. Bowing has been a very important part to their culture and he planned on keeping it alive until his last breath.

"Well I never got compliments in the past, if you don't count from Rivik, and he is just odd when he gives them, so I learned to live without them and not caring about them. It's the same with insults, I simply don't care what people think of me, since I don't care about them" he shrugged his shoulders. Maybe he just didn't care because he was unused to get them, or because he didn't believe in them. When a strange complimented or insulted you, he saw no reason to care, since their opinion didn't matter to him. Zemin wasn't a stranger, but it mattered very little. "So if you want me to say thank you, I can do it to be polite since it what people seem to do"
Something he also felt was false, you said thank you to either a stranger, as their opinion mattered, or to someone who did mattered, and then the person shouldn't need a thank you. Or you simply said you too, for some odd reason. He found a lot of the social things just idiotic, and maybe that's why he was as honest as he was, not caring about the norms, or to please someone else. He was still surprised that Zemin said he liked that, but he guessed it was better than someone who lied all the time, especially if it was to please someone else.

Hearing those words Ezra laughed a somewhat warm laugh this time.
"On that I can agree, I care to little, not that I am complaining seeing it makes life easier, but I can see how other sees it as a problem, if nothing else" It did make life easier, not caring about what others thought, did or said, but he also saw the problem in it, or started seeing them more after the brothers moved in. It wasn't like he didn't care about anything, he did care about the spirits, but seeing how the brothers acted against each other and towards other, made him realise that he was odd caring as little as he did. Truth he was always odd compared to others, but he didn't thought to much about it, but having the brothers close, or somewhat close made things like that more obvious, even if he didn't do anything to change that fact.
"It's not open, and it's not like I actually care to much about the shop. I think Rivik cares more about it than I do. And yes, the vampire is a problem" he sounded more irritated and bored, than he sounded scarred. He didn't know what the vampires plan for him and he didn't care, but he did know that he wouldn't be able to fight the creature alone. The spirit would do very little damage towards him, and his magic would do more, it was true but not enough to bring him down. Maybe if he managed to draw him to the spirit world, but it was far from easy. He knew he needed help and Zemin offered, it wasn't like he had an list of people he could chose from, and he had thought about it before everything, using the man to help him take down the vampire, knowing he needed it. And working together didn't scare him, he had never worked with anyone else than the spirits, but in a working relationship he didn't need to have any contact with the man, he should be forced to be in the same room and talk to him, but he has done that for awhile now and he made it work, as long as Zemin didn't get to close. If Zemin had suggested that from the start, he would most likely hesitate, but for other reasons like he didn't know if he could trust the man, and what his intentions was. Now he didn't hesitate as much, knowing that he could leave Zemin if he wished for it.
"I am not against the idea of working with you, knowing I can't do this on my own. If we would make a good team or not, I can't say seeing I have never worked with anyone before" he told the man, wishing to inform him of that at least. "And can't say you are better off because I entered your life either"

As Ezra spoke, an ingenious thought hit Zemin. The shaman needed the werewolf to be able to even stand a chance against the vampire. This meant that the werewolf in question could state some terms and maybe negotiate his way to something that he urged for. It was worth a try, no question about that.
He looked at the other man with squinting eyes and a troubled expression across the rest of his face. What he was about to ask for could only result in one way or the other: him getting smacked to death or an agreement. Zemin took a deep breath, preparing himself for what might come, before he stood up and shot out the chin. Again, it was a good thing Ezra couldn’t actually see him for the time being. Very, very good as he looked more cocky than ever before. Jesus Christ, what had he even become?
“I will help you but only in one condition”, the wolf began and smirked, which made him look even more cocky as well as evil. Not evil evil, but rather adorable evil.
“..go on a d-date with me”, he blurted out, somehow managing to stutter more than once. “Not one of those fake ones, no. It should be an actual date with drinks and food and I don’t fucking know..dancing? And before you say no, I hope you do consider the fact that my teeth can bury into the skin of a vampire with close to no effort.”

The last statement was actually true. Vampire skin was especially hard to penetrate, however that didn’t apply to the teeth of a werewolf. Maybe that was why their species had almost gone extinct? Because they posed a threat to the vampires? If that was the actual case, it wouldn’t surprise Zemin one bit. He knew that they’d treated him as an animal to push him down, to simply make himself consider himself as useless. But the truth laid elsewhere, as he wasn’t completely useless when it came to fighting.
“I’ve only killed a few of them, but it was rather easy”, he continued with a nonchalant tone stroking over his voice. “I mean all you really have to do if you’re me is get a good grip on their throats and pull until their flesh starts ripping apart.”
The werewolf laughed and rolled his eyes, both in disgust of the memories and the bragging. He was nothing compared to the shaman so again - why on earth was he still trying to impress Ezra? Even after his stupid little request about the date. Nobody wanted to go out with a bragging werewolf that, in fact, was more than pathetic.

Zemin started fiddling with his sharp nails, with the amber gaze stuck on the floor. Great, now he had absolutely no chance of getting his way. He probably hadn’t even had a shot before he told the older one about his vampire kill count. Plus the fact that he’d left out the part about him being surrounded by allies and working buddies, which basically made him a big, fat fraud. And even though his teeth were sharp and deadly, he wouldn’t be able to get close to his former boss. Vampires were a lot stronger, faster and lethal.
Then there was Zemin who was some mix between a feral beat, a scared puppy and a whiny little bitch. Let’s not even talk about the fact that he slept with almost every guy in his entire school. Sadly that also included one of Xues best friends, a ghoul that was two years older than the baby brother and more than gorgeous. On the more positive hand, that had been one of the least shitty experiences he’d had in one of the bathroom stalls. If Ezra never gave Zemin a chance, he’d probably end up with one of his old crushes. That was most likely for the best, huh? At least he wouldn’t have to make the shaman uncomfortable, even if it would be painful to be in a relationship with anyone else except from his actual mate. Tough decision.