Kierra

He comes trotting in as if he owns the world, so after closing the door I tug on his ear, which just has him giving me his canine grin. Just as bad on four legs that he is on two.

"How in the world are you a gung-ho supernatural animal when a little cold has you crying like a babe?"

He cocks his head at me.

"Little cold? This is what you call a little cold?"

I nod, a wicked grin crossing my face.

"It's only maybe thirty or so degrees out there, can get down to the negatives. One year it got as far as negative forty-five with windchill included."

He just blinks at me, not grinning now, so I have to laugh at him. Going up to him I play with his cheek tufts.

"Aww, what's the matter Xavier? Those puppy paws of yours a little cold?"

My fingers get nipped, but I laugh anyway and walk away. Get two steps before my ass gets nipped too. Squeaking, I whirl around intent on swatting him, but he's across the room giggling at me, both in face and in my head. Rubbing the sore cheek, I narrow my eyes at him.

"Alright sir, see if you get your clothes."

"I'm fine walking around in the nude."

I yell out his name, unsure whether to be annoyed or convivial. Not that choosing one or the other is a choice since the amusement is clear in my voice. Bastion has a large smile that he's trying to hide behind a cereal box, but his eyes are dancing, so he isn't fooling anyone.

Having made sure the woman, who had to take her sweet ass time, bagged things together the way I put them up, everyone's clothes are all in their own bags. While I'm going through them all, I'm complaining to Bastion, making the woman sound like a damn slow-ass horse.

"Alright, I also picked up three dresser-like things, one for each of you guys. Going to get them set up in the basement for now until we can get things rearranged in the bedrooms. Think Benji is doing that now. They're all the same color so you're welcome to do whatever to mark them as yours."

Thinking about that, I retract my wording, especially by the twinkling in the false wolf's eyes.

"Marking that does not include bodily fluids of any kind. Can hump the damn thing all you want, but keep your spooge to yourself."

Can hear both Vamps below laughing at me, but I am highly serious.

"There's enough paint and ink materials in this house to find something. Speaking of which, Bastion have you fou... Thanks Imp."

Even before I'd been done speaking he was holding them up. Asking him to take Maii's bags down to him, I motion Xavier to follow me as I get the paints taken into my room with his bags. He starts shifting as soon as he steps into the bedroom.

Setting his bags at his feet and turning my back to him while tossing the paints onto my bed, probably should have grabbed some new brushes, but I can get some new ones later. My glancing up towards a shelf at the other side of my room has my face flaming red before I direct my gaze downwards again.

Whoops.

Seems either I forgot, or he did so on purpose, but Xavier had shifted in direct path of the mirror on my closet door. My upward glance had caught movement and went right to it, which happened to be his very nude self. I try to banish images before a headache sets in from the instant blood flow, but that doesn't seem to be happening.

Sidestepping further up my bed away from view of the mirror, I cautiously look back up to the shelf. All safe. Taking a deep breath, I hear his low chuckle. Ass. He did it on purpose.

"Kie do you ha... Oh, hi there."

Oh. My. Fucking. God.

My eyes close and I groan. My dear little sister has a knack for wrong timing. I walk around my bed and ignore them both, heading for my craft hoard bookshelf. Most of my canvases are in the basement, but the assorted paints and supplies are kept in here.

"Do I have what?"

I keep my eyes on the shelf as I look over it for brushes, mixers, and palettes. Images of tanned hard skin, defined muscle, and extracurricular bits not wanting to leave my head. Next thing you know I'll be painting his groin all over the damn windows.

Headbutting the edge of the wood, I groan under my breath. Giggles behind me are not helping my mood here.

"You know, you damn pack of laughing cows, I have work to do, what do you want? Other than to harass me?"

"Aww, but you missed such a lovely sight. Tight buns and everything. Got the whole full moon when I walked in."

Oh dear lord. Turning my head just enough, Xavier is standing off to the side, trying not to laugh as he also glows a duller shade of red. Jeans are on and pulled up, just not done all the way up as he holds a shirt in front of himself.

Just by the look on his face, can tell he had no intention of mooning my sister, so I turn and glare at her. Can't really blame her either, the door was open and not used to having this many males in the house at one time...or at all for that matter.

"Uhh, Benjamin needs the tools...are they still under the sink?"

I nod. She could have just checked for herself, just think she saw an opportunity to cause trouble, so I narrow my eyes at her. She smiles sweetly and darts off. Yep. Shithead. No closets in the house aside from the ones in the bedrooms and next to the front door, so tools got put under the sink where they're easily grabbed. She knows that.

Directing my eyes over to the blushing male, he raises his hands in self-defense with a grin.

"Not my fault, I was pulling them up when she came up from behind me. Should probably be glad I wasn't grabbed and groped. My life could have been in real danger you know."

I snort, but my sister can be heard making the evil 'muahaha' laugh. House full of super hearing individuals is going to mean squat for privacy. Lovely.

Really not helpful that the sizes he gave me has them riding low on his hips. I narrow my eyes at him. Hope he catches that thatch of his in the zipper. That ought to learn him.

His hands are still raised, but he lowers them to zip himself up. I keep my gaze on his face as he does so, his amber eyes on mine, daring me to look down. I raise an eyebrow.

Small triangular goatee moves as he smiles. Peripheral vision lets me know he has to tuck a hand in before he can zip up so he doesn't catch himself in the small teeth. Cocky grin crosses my own face as I can see it without having to look down.

"You got zipper on purpose."

"Damn right I did."

He laughs as he buttons and pulls the shirt over his head. Black shirt with a skull and snake design on it in red, blue, and green. I thought it looked spiffy, and by his face, he agrees. Good.

"By the way, where do you want me when your mother comes?"

Was putting that off myself, as I have no clue. Biting my lip, I grab down some items that I need before I face him again with my hands up in an 'I have no clue' posture. He gives a small nod.

"I can go back out if you need me to. It's not that cold out. I've been up through Canada before, this is nothing compared to up there."

I smile and shake my head.

"No, if you plan on sticking around, she'll need to see you at some point. Still have to figure out how to tell her Bastion is mine. Not going to just say I'm babysitting for a friend. Wouldn't be fair to Bastion or her. So just be aware there may be fireworks."

He nods. I want to ask about his family, but with him being so much older, if he has any left, they probably don't know he exists. Just thinking of my own future has my own heart skipping beats left and right, so I keep putting it off as well. He motions to the paints with a raised brow.

"For the windows in Faline's room and a couple in the front rooms. Didn't want flat black. Can you grab me the drapes from the table?"

Nodding, he heads out as I go across the hall. The art may get covered up, but that's fine, it's there if needed. I grabbed drapes for the three windows in her room, and the three windows on the kitchen side of the front rooms.

Have a feeling the hours around here are going to get so wonky that it won't matter if half aren't covered. I'll get areas that are the most important for now, leave the rest for later. Three bedroom windows get painted top to bottom in stained-glass like designs.

I try not to make it too dark, leaving it semi-thin so it's obvious if the sun is up or not, just not too thin to let rays through. Same with the one right next to the basement door. The window on the kitchen side of the front door and window straight across the room from the one next to the basement door get the bottom halves painted.

Upper halves are left bare for two reasons; one for light, the other to be seen through. Blocking all visuals to the outside just doesn't sound like a good idea. Drapes get put up and tada, all done.

By the time I'm done the sun is reflecting light rays off the darker clouds. Calling Faline up and into her room, I have her let me know if it's good or needs to be darker. She's trying to be upbeat about it, but I can tell she's not happy.

"How about tonight after the sun sets you come running with me? Four paws, all out. Get Bastion all bundled up and all of us go out or just the two of us, up to you."

I give a small smile, trying to draw her in. She nods but not very enthusiastically. I will find a way to make this work. There is a way, just have to find it. The snow is still coming down, still just a light spattering, but it's sticking.

If it starts to become too much mom will have to be called and told not to come. People get stupid when driving in snow, don't want her on roads that hardly get plowed. Especially when her vehicle doesn't have four-wheel drive.

Wouldn't even have to fight her too much about it, as she doesn't care for snow. She thinks it's pretty and lovely to look at, just in pictures. Think I'm the only one in my family aside from my sister who really cares for the weather this time of year.

Then again, considering Faline is an October baby and I'm a December one, it fits. I guess. Her 21st birthday had passed about a week and a half before she became a Vampire. Forever too young looking to drink. Ironic, really. After her 21st and before my 26th.

Oh hell. Renewing her I.D. is going to be really interesting for the next twenty years or so. Now I know why Ava knows people who can forge papers. New identities for those who don't look to age at all.

I sigh as she heads back downstairs. Putting what's left of the paint in my room and washing up in the kitchen, I go and sit on my couch. Last time I recall doing so is when Asher was telling me about his life and learning to be what I am.

Few minutes of staring at the coffee table has him nudging me with a cold nose. Didn't even hear him come in. Or was he already in? Don't recall. I blink at him for a few seconds before he climbs up next to me and lays down with his head in my lap.

"What's wrong?"