"True love will triumph in the end—which may or may not be a lie, but if it is a lie, it's the most beautiful lie we have." (John Green)

"So, ahem, do you want to spend some quality time with me?" Fayez shyly asked the blond vampire, who was currently twisting his lean body in impossible ways on the blue carpet.

Apparently, there was a name for that weird activity. Yoga. Zephyr claimed that there were many adepts like him around the world, but Fayez couldn't believe it.

Just why?

"What do you mean by quality time?" Zephyr asked, looking confused for a few seconds before his eyes widened. "Oooh, I think I know what you mean. Saints, Faye, I didn't know you were so naughty!" he added with a wide grin.

Fayez blushed and lightly hit his mate on his bicep.

"You're impossible, Zeph! Do you ever think about something else? That's not what I meant!"

"Ouch, Faye, have pity! You know, you're not supposed to hit a sick person. I'm fragile, I have to be handled with care" Zephyr complained, while adressing Fayez a devious smile that quite contradicted his words.

They remained silence for a minute or so, until Zephyr spoke again:

"So, what are you asking me exactly, sweet cheeks?"

"You know very well what I'm asking you!" Fayez snorted. "You're just pretending not to know in order to tease me further."

"Aw, you're growing up so quickly!" Zephyr sighed. "My little naive mate isn't so naive anymore."

"I wonder whose fault is that. It must be the result of being around you for so long" Fayez retorted, without any venom in his voice.

"Ouch x2. I have to admit that I'm way too good at corrupting innocent little lambs like you, though." Zephyr conceded, without looking the slightest bit ashamed about it.

Okay, Zeph really is a cheeky one, Fayez thought. I better stop beating around the bush, because he is enjoying this way too much. Plus, I don't have much time left, if I want for my plan to work. Time to be brave.

"Zephyr..." he started hesitantly.

"Yes, squirrel?" asked the man who was now in the "camel pose" - and still managed to look undeniably sexy.

How was he supposed to do this? There must be a proper way to ask his mate on a date, right?

Wait a minute. He now remembered his conversation with Helmut. His friend had told him everything he had to know about asking someone on a date, going as far as showing him extracts from popular romance movies.

Taking Zephyr's hand in his, he kneeled before the vampire, who was done with his yoga torture and was now looking at him with a startled expression.

(A/N: No, but yoga is great. Seriously. Try yoga. Okay, end of the propaganda)

"Zeph, you are my North, my South, my East and West. My working week and my Sunday rest I - ahem, I guess I sound lame right now, but it's true. I would be lost without you. You're the best vampire in the world, and I'm blessed to be your mate. Please, will you go on a date with me? I've brought you a ring and - crap, I forgot the goddamn ring! Why do I have to always fuck things up!" he exclaimed, feeling frustrated with himself.

He looked up to his mate again. Zephyr's expression had turned from amused to overjoyed in a mere seconds. Surely, this was a good sign?

"Faye, sweet pie" he cooed, "don't worry, you don't need a ring - rings usually are for wedding proposals anyway."

"What?" Fayez all but screamed. "Helmut lied to me! The audacity! How dare he? I swear I'm gonna kill the little caterpillar!"

"Don't call him caterpillar, this nickname is kinda cute. It would fit me better" Zephyr pouted childlishly.

"I already have a nickname for you, though." Fayez objected. "Little Chipmunk"

"..... You didn't just say that. Anyway, that was very sweet of you and yes, Faye, I'll definitely go on a date with you."

Fayez blinked owlishly, before throwing his arms around the smaller man and lifting him up in the air.

"Yesss! Thank you, Zeph! I mean, I knew you would say yes, because come on, I'm a catch, but I'm still so happy!"

"Calm down, Mister. Put me down now, or you'll regret it later." Zephyr laughed, before asking in an excited voice: "When do you want to take me on a date? If I'm not available that day, I'll make myself available for you!"

Fayez's own excitement died down at those words. Right. This was the sad reality. He wasn't taking his endearing mate on a date, not really. Not at all. He wished it was the case, because Zephyr looked so happy at the prospect, and he didn't want to bring him pain, only joy.

How could I think of disappointing such a charming creature? he thought to himself, as Zephyr was still looking at him with shining eyes, waiting for an answer. Maybe I could take him on a real date - and think of another plan to heal him later. Maybe I could still wait a few more days, come up with a better idea and ...

Suddenly, Zephyr started coughing violently. Although he quickly turned his back to hide from Fayez, the young vampire could still see the blood in the palm of his hand. Zephyr's health wasn't getting any better.

No, he decided. I have to do it tonight. I have waited enough already. I won't have him dying in my arms.

I feel guilty about deceiving my mates, but it can't be helped. I'm doing it in the name of love. If I were to die, I hope they would at least understand why I had to do it.

"Hello, Faye? Down to Earth. You didn't tell me when you wanted to go on a date?"

"What about right now?" Fayez eventually responded.

Zephyr looked at Fayez as if he believed the latter was joking. When Fayez merely looked back with a serious expression, he blushed, suddenly looking self-conscious.

"You really want to go on a date now?" he whispered-yelled.

"Yes." Fayez replied, trying to sound confident and playful, while he was feeling everything but that.

"Can I at least go to my bedroom and changed into a more suitable outfit?" Zephyr inquired in an hopeful tone. " I also want to take a shower. I'm all sweaty and - "

"No, you can't - I mean, you look perfect just the way you are. Please, don't make me wait."

It was the truth. Zephyr always looked good, regardless of his outfit, or the amount of make up he put on his dolly face. So good, in fact, that his mates had a hard time taking their eyes off him. In comparison, Fayez thought he had the charisma of a mop, though the three prefects begged to differ.

"Oh, thank you, squirrel, for boosting my ego - not that my ego needed any boost, though. It's settled, then. Let's go." Zephyr muttered, but Fayez could tell he was pleased by the compliment.

If I survive, Fayez promised to himself, I will take him on a real date. I will tell him a lot of sweet words, and they will all be true, because -

"Do Ake and Ash know about this date?"

"Yes, why?" Fayez asked back, while eyeing his mate suspiciously.

"Oh, nothing!" Zephyr replied innocently. "So... how did they react?"

"Well, Ashur didn't say much and Akhenaton was a bit... jealous, I reckon." Fayez said, as he thought back about his other two mates' reactions.

"Ake was jealous? Oh my God, I knew it! The grumpy man is so predictable!" Zephyr cheerfully exclaimed.

"You look a bit too happy about it." Fayez commented, with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, don't get me wrong, I know you love the three of us equally and all. It's just that... Akhenaton will never admit how much he cares, yet he always gets so jealous. He kept claiming you would ask him on a date, but you asked me first so I WIN!!" Zephyr yelled, while throwing his arms in the air to make the victory sign.

The scene would have appeared comical to someone else, but Fayez was actually starting to feel sick. First, Akhenaton getting jealous, which was the cutest thing ever, then, Zephyr looking so thrilled to be asked on a date... He didn't deserve them. He didn't deserve any of them. Ashur was wrong to trust him.

"Okay, enough talking" Fayez eventually said. "Let's go on this date."

"You're right" Zephyr easily agreed. "The sooner we start this date, the sooner we can fuck."

"Zephyr!"

"I mean, the sooner we can have sex." Zephyr corrected in a contrite tone.

" That's not the p - How can someone who looks so angelic can be so devilish?" Fayez wondered aloud.

Suddenly, Fayez was backed against the wall, and found himself looking down at his kinkiest mate.

Nothing angelic about this one. He doesn't fool me anymore.

"Oh, but I think you quite like it when I talk dirty to you" Zephyr purred in his ear, while gripping his nape with a surprisingly firm hold. "I have a feeling you're not as innocent as you look."

"Zeph-"

"Do you sometimes try to imagine how our first time together will be like?" Zephyr continued in the same sultry voice, which gave Fayez shivers.

"I- I don't" Fayez responded feebily.

"Oh, pity, cause I do. I can picture all your cute reactions, as we caress every inch of your body with the tips of our fingers."

Fayez leaned back against the wall, as he started breathing heavily. He had to regain control of the situation quickly, before it was too late.

"Zephyr-"

"We will make you feel so good, you'll come back for more. You'll be begging us to keep playing with you." Zephyr whispered against his skin. "Akhenaton is so good with his hands. You'll open like a flower on his fingers, I can tell. He will scratch your inner walls and rub your pleasure button until you're a moaning mess."

"Christ, Zeph, I-"

"As for Ash" Zeph continued, unperturbed by Fayez's quivering legs. "wait until he rims you. Your body will be shaking harder than it is right now, I promise. My mate likes to take his time, especially with a little sub like you. He will give thrust slow and deep into you. It will be an exquisite torture. I can't wait to see that. It will be my masturbating content for the next centuries"

Fayez would have fallen without Zephyr to hold him. As he pulled his mate against him to hide his erection, he felt his mate's arms circling his midsection.

Fortunately, the hallway was still desert.

"I know you wonder about what I'll do to you, soft cheeks." Zephyr continued, while pressing his thumb against Fayez's lower lip. "There are many things I want to try with you, but we'll take our time to get there. First, I want to ride you and look at you lose all sense of pride, while I milk you with my ass. I want to play with those pink nipples until they are swollen, too"

Fayez stiffled a cry, as he came in his pants.

He didn't have time to feel ashamed, though, because his mate hugged him tightly, pressing light kisses against his neck, his cheeks and his ears.

"Sorry, babe, you just look too hot when you cum, I couldn't help it" Zephyr said, pretending to be sorry while giving him his best puppy eyes.

No living creature could be mad at Zephyr. Such a thing wasn't possible.

"I - You... Nevermind. Just don't tell the others about what happened. I can't believe - you didn't even touch me and now... my pants are all wet" Fayez muttered, shaking his head slowly.

"It never happened, sweatheart" Zephyr promised. "So, where are we going?"

"My old bedroom." Fayez replied, as he finally regained control of his senses.

Zephyr looked surprised, but nodded in agreement.

"So, my dreams are coming true in the end. We're going to -"

Fayez quickly put his hand on his mate's mouth, but of course, Zephyr being Zephyr, the vampire playfully licked his palm.

I hope Helmut got my message, cause I need his help, Fayez thought, as he took Zephyr by his hand and lead him toward his bedroom.

Unedited as always.