Vampire Heart 32

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Scroll 33: Inept
Vicente decided, after staring at the ceiling for several minutes straight, to do what he initially intended: get dressed. He slid off the bed and kicked off his boxer shorts before opening his wardrobe.
Naoko started down the hall, "He can't be too far from me since I wasn't flung into him yet..." Vicente grabbed a pair of jeans, a shirt and another pair of boxer shorts blindly. He exhaled sharply and threw the clothes on a dresser. Naoko glanced through the crack near the hinge of the door and reddened instantly. She backed up quietly and froze. Play it off like you didn't see anything... Nothing happened... she thought as she backed down the hall.
Claude spat his drink mostly into his cup again,"Bloody hell! I told her to not do that while I'm drinking..." Claude hissed. "Never mind..."
"Hmm?" Jaden asked.
"What happened?" Dameon asked.
"She walked in on him, but he doesn't know it, yet..." Claude said simply.
"Wow, they're good at that," Jaden muttered.
"Yeah, but Naoko doesn't feel guilty..." Dameon muttered.
"I just told her to talk to him...not make them even..." Jaden shook his head in disbelief.
"I don't think hers was intentional, but she doesn't regret it because she kind of wanted it in the back of her mind," Dameon replied.
"How do you know that?" Jaden asked.
"I'm an incubus. I know everybody's dirty little secrets..." Dameon replied.
Vicente slipped into his clothes quickly and glanced over at the ajar door. "That was stupid. I didn't even think to close the door..." he muttered before exiting the room. He slouched forward and slid his hands into his jeans front pockets. He glanced over to the attic steps and saw Naoko sitting there. "Hey..."
"Hey..." Naoko replied. "Care to join me?"
"Sure," Vicente nervously replied. He sat beside her and glanced around the room in silence. "I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't think..." Vicente stopped when Naoko slipped her hand into his. "I just heard you scream..I didn't want to chance anything happening to you."
Naoko smiled, "I know. I was more embarrassed than upset."
"I wish I weren't so absent-minded," Vicente muttered.
"But the second you took to knock could have been my life..." Naoko muttered.
"You know...Jaden and Dameon don't help me defend you at all. They're just excess baggage," Vicente mused.
Naoko laughed, "I'd never get rid of them."
"It's either me or them," Vicente said playfully.
"I wonder who I'll pick..." Naoko replied.
"Well, Dameon tried to rape you, Jaden half-kidnapped you and I just walked in on you. I think my chances are still better," Vicente replied.
Naoko kissed his cheek before laying her head on Vicente's chest, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Vicente asked. "I'm the idiot, here."
"I kind of..." Naoko blushed, "I saw you, too..."
"Hmm?" Vicente's face was completely puce.
"I was about to walk into the bedroom and I happened to glance over..." Naoko trailed off.
"Well" Vicente tried to keep his tone even, "I guess we're even, then."
"I'm sorry..." Naoko covered her face with her hands.
Vicente mussed her hair, "I'm still the idiot, here. It's fine."
Naoko stared up at Vicente who had closed his eyes and was trying to not blush. "Jaden said you were depressed."
"I am," he replied.
"You gonna talk about it or do I have to order you to talk?" Naoko asked.
"I feel like we're changing us by lengthening my leash..." Vicente admitted.
"I want you with me when I shower, regardless after today," Naoko muttered. "Do you want to undo the spell? We can do that, Vicente."
Vicente stared down at her. He bit his lower lip and closed his eyes, trying not to show any emotion, "I just want you to be happy."
Naoko smiled at him, "Vicente, I want to know what you want."
Vicente blushed, "It's not important to me that we undo the spell. I just want to make you happy."
"You know, you really are the best friend that anybody could ever want," Naoko said simply.
"For you, I try," Vicente admitted nervously.
"I think the necklaces are pulling on our emotions a bit more than usual..." Naoko whispered.
"It's not the necklaces. I do care about you, and I want you to be happy. I do everything in my power to make you happy. And being a little farther apart from you doesn't mean much compared to your happiness," Vicente replied.
Naoko stared up at Vicente, blushing. Vicente was still puce from her earlier remarks. "I care about you too..." Naoko admitted. She leaned in closer to Vicente and brushed her nose with his before kissing his cheek.
"Who was Dameon in your dream?" Vicente asked. Naoko blushed and tried to mask her embarrassment. "Hmm..." Vicente nodded. "You don't have to tell me,” Vicente added quickly. “Come on, Claude made you breakfast."

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Vampire Heart 34