Ciaran watched as the young master laughed like a lunatic after escaping death's grasp.

'Is he... ill?' He thought as he watched Pier through the vision provided by one of his formless shadows.

In all honesty, Pier was almost on the verge of being mentally ill.

The childish and flowery memories of the original Pier and the arrogant, hot-headed, yet cunning attitude of the new one did not sit in well together that it was starting to create an individual that looks like it has some sort of psychopathic tendencies.

Of course, Pier was thinking otherwise.

'I'm a fucking badass!' He complimented himself after he was done laughing.

It was a good activity for him to take his mind off from all of the frustrations and anger he felt while facing the annoying vampire who always screams as if he was on constant period.

'Do vampires get periods too? Not that Hex would but... who knows?' He thought as he laughed.

He even had the energy to joke about vampires and periods while he sat on the branch and tried to catch his breath.

The cold and his sweating body did not mix in well together so he felt all icky.

"Come out, Ciaran," He spoke after he closed his eyes.

The man widened his eyes after Pier called him out.

'How did he...'

"Come out or I'll add another scar on your face," He spoke and Ciaran shivered slightly at the threat.

'This brat is no joke'

The formless shadow then came out behind a few bushes and approached the tree Pier was in. The entity was looking up at the person who had his hood down while closing his eyes and resting.

Black smoke started to surround the formless shadow and after a few seconds, the man with green eyes and a well-built body was at the spot where the shadow had been.

"How'd you know it was me?" Ciaran asked as he touched the tree Pier was perched in.

"Lucky guess"

"Really?"

"Yeah"

"How does it feel getting chased around by a monster?"

"Fun"

"You're something else"

"Guess I am"

Ciaran shook his head as he started to climb the tree. The sturdy trunk was hard enough for him to grasp his hands and climb up.

"Is that the kind of monster from the fifth mountain?" Pier asked as he leaned his head on the trunk and he breathed a few times. He was still exhausted after all.

"No. Those are monsters that naturally lived on the second mountain"

"Damn, they're scary"

"They are"

"You get scared even though you're a vampire?"

"No"

"Then why'd you say you were scared"

"I did not. I just said 'they are'"

"Still the same meaning"

"I beg to differ"

"Plead rejected"

"Really?"

"Yeah"

"That's tough"

"Correct. So why?"

"Do I need to explain?

"Yes"

"What if I don't have any explanation"

"That makes you senseless"

"Mhm"

"Yes"

"Fine"

"Good. Now tell me"

"To sympathize with you"

".... that's stupid"

"You're my paradigm"

"Prince Vampy really be using big words"

"You use them too"

"I do?"

"Yeah"

"I guess I am your paradigm"

"That's correct"

Ciaran finished climbing up to the spot where Pier was. He looked at the young master who was peacefully closing his eyes.

"Tired?" He asked as he grabbed the large branch Pier was on. He then carefully lifted himself to sit on the branch as well.

The young master nodded his head as a response. He then opened his eyes.

The striking and breathtaking blue eyes that represented the clear skies greeted the vibrant and viridescent pair that emanated the calmness and captivating beauty of nature.

Pier smiled as he watched Ciaran sit near him.

"I'm sorry" The man spoke immediately without wasting another second.

"Why?" Pier asked as he tilted his head to one side as if he was a small puppy.

"Because of what happened earlier" he admitted as he watched the young master's reaction.

Pier laughed after listening to Ciaran's reasons.

This time, it was not a laugh that was sinister nor was full of malice.

It was a laugh so beautiful that it made the surrounding noises dull. The sound of critters and insects lurking in the bushes was drowned by the soft and pleasant voice.

Ciaran's eyes were focused on the young master.

Pier's eyes were squinted because of his laughter and it was then that Ciaran noticed something on Pier's face.

"You have dimples." Pier's laugh died down but he was still smiling as he watched Ciaran.

"I do?"

"Yeah"

The tall man moved closer to Pier as he inspected the young master's face.

"Look," he spoke as he poked his finger on Pier's face and the latter smacked Ciaran's hands away.

"Stop poking my face, idiot." He rolled his eyes as he furrowed his eyebrows and looked in another direction.

Ciaran smiled as he watched Pier's mood quickly change.

"I wasn't really mad because of what happened to me... well, slightly," He admitted as he sported another cute grin on his face.

"I just hated the fact that everyone ignored the struggling child while bickering who should help him. I mean, can't we just all help the kid?" Pier spoke as he reached out on a leaf that was a few inches away from him.

"Humans are fragile beings that get sick easily, especially children who are not fully used to the world yet," He spoke as he grabbed the leaf and picked it from the branch it was from.

"I'm not someone you guys should acknowledge as a part of your group but it wouldn't be bad to receive help from someone who knows how to handle things, no?" Pier spoke as he turned his head to look at Ciaran.

He inched closer to the man and removed himself from leaning on the trunk. Instead, he now leaned his face closer to Ciaran.

The latter closely watched Pier get closer to him.

Pier then brought the leaf he grabbed from the other branch towards Ciaran's hair and stick it there as if it was some sort of decoration.

"I see..." Ciaran spoke as he leaned in closer too.

Since Pier was leaning his head to reach Ciaran's hair, the other man was able to easily touch his nose on Pier's neck.

"Don't bite me, vampire," He spoke as he arranged the leaf on Ciaran's hair so it won't be removed easily when the man moves too much.

"I won't," He whispered as he brushed his nose upwards until it reached just right below Pier's ear. The smell was very good and intoxicating for him at the same time that it was a natural instinct for him to inhale the scent every time he was in close proximity with the young master.

"You seem to be getting comfortable sticking your nose all up my neck, your highness," Pier spoke as Ciaran now leaned his muscular body on his. He then moved to rest his back on the tree with how heavy Ciaran's body was.

It was the same position they were in when Pier and Ciaran climbed the vampire chief's house and Ciaran's senses were triggered because of the young master's scent.

"Guess I am," Ciaran replied as his hands found their way towards Pier's waist and tightened his hold on the young master's body while his nose was still buried in Pier's neck.

"Aren't you supposed to do this kind of intimacy with someone you like?" He asked as his own hands found their way on the vampire's hair.

"I do like you," Ciaran told him and Pier kept silent.

"Hmmm" He hummed in response after being silent for a few moments.

"That's pretty bold of you to tell someone you like them out of nowhere," He reprimanded the man who was busy sniffing his neck like a wild dog.

"I'm not the type to hesitate with my own actions," Ciaran spoke as he retracted his head slightly and stared at Pier's eyes.

"I see," Pier spoke as he lightly laughed at Ciaran.

The man observed Pier's expression.

Was there even a reason for him to deny his attraction to the being with an ethereal-like appearance? He did not find any reason to deny it.

"You don't like me?" He asked and Pier pinched his nose.

"I'm not new to these things, Ciaran, I don't get easily flustered nor do harbor romantic feelings just because someone told me they like me," He answered and Ciaran nodded his head.

He thought Pier was correct. They were not children who lacks experience with these types of things.

"Then I'll wait until you like me back," He spoke as his face inched closer to the young master's.

"That's unlikely," He spoke as he felt Ciaran's lips touch his jaw and peck at it lightly.

"Why?" Ciaran asked as his nose found its way again back in the young master's neck.

"We've only known each other for three weeks, almost a month probably," Pier pointed out and Ciaran chuckled as he lightly bit Pier's neck.

"Hey, I said no biting!" The younger man smacked his head.

"Do we need to know each other for years before you start liking others?" He asked and Pier shook his head.

"Not really, there are cases where people know they find the right person for them in their first meeting." Ciaran nodded his head at the statement.

"Correct. So what's wrong with us knowing each other for a few weeks?" He asked and Pier became silent for a few seconds.

"I feel distant, that's all"

"Distant?"

"Yeah. We only know each other through some things," He told Ciaran and the latter nodded his head.

"Then you can ask me anything you want"

"Really?"

"Yes"

Pier thought for a moment.

"What's your complete name?" He asked and Ciaran was confused for a second.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"I'm Pier Alexander Belmiunde. What's yours?" Ciaran removed his head from Pier's neck as he stared at the young master for a second before completely separating himself from Pier.

He was silent for a moment before he faced Pier again.

He bowed his head and placed his hand on his chest as he spoke.

"Fenrir. My name is Ciaran Fenrir Aegenwulf, young master," He spoke while bowing and the leaf that was on his hair also moved.

Pier found the leaf funny which caused him to chuckle.

"Is my name not to your liking?" He asked as he was still bowing his head.

"No... haha... it's actually very nice," Pier spoke as he stopped laughing but the smile on his face still remained.

"Really?" Ciaran asked.

"Yes, now stop bowing, your highness. A prince should not bow to someone else," He voiced and Ciaran straightened his posture.

He sported another manly grin as he was happy that Pier liked his name.

"I'd get on my knees and bow for you anytime you want me to," He spoke as he grabbed the back of Pier's hands and brought it to his lips.

"..." The young master was silent as he watched the affection Ciaran was giving him.

"Have you fallen in love with me yet?" Ciaran asked seeing that Pier only stared at him.

The young master rolled his eyes as he retracted his hand from Ciaran's grasp.

"That's very sweet of you," He expressed sarcastically and Ciaran's deep voice resonated out his throat in a hearty laugh.

"You should expect more," He then winked which made Pier's eyes roll again.

"Why did you like me anyway? I don't see anything in me that you should like. Our relationship from the past weeks had been walking on thin ice too," He uttered and Ciaran looked at the surroundings they were in.

The giant snake that ate the three-eyed frog was nowhere to be seen anymore. He guessed it went back to the tree it came from.

"Should there be a reason for my liking towards you?"

Pier shook his head.

"Not really but there should at least be something, right?" He responded.

"You act like you are a child, you whine a lot, you are also grumpy most of the time," Ciaran pointed out and Pier had a disbelieving look on his face.

"Hey-"

"But you are also beautiful, mature, intuitive, smart, and wise," He continued and Pier closed his mouth.

"I could point out many reasons why I like you and I'm willing to discover more," Ciaran told him and Pier watched the vampire prince who was also observing him.

"I'd like to ask if a lowly creature like me can try and win the young master's heart?" He asked and Pier snickered at Ciaran.

"That's cheesy"

"What's a cheesy?" He asked.

"Nothing," He spoke as he fixed the way he sat and faced Ciaran.

"You do not need to get my permission, Ciaran. If you want to then do so," He spoke as his eyes met with Ciaran's and the two were locked in a stare.

"However, it's my responsibility if I allow myself to like you," He whispered while his face started to lean in Ciaran's own.

The vampire prince stared at the young master who was getting nearer in his face.

"Make me fall and I'm completely yours, Fenrir," Pier whispered when their faces were only a few inches away from each other.

Ciaran growled when Pier called him by his second name. It was arousing to listen to for him.

"Don't call me by that name when we're alone," He whispered back as he tried to close the distance between them.

But Pier immediately leaned back causing Ciaran to not catch his face.

The older man's eyebrows furrowed as he watched Pier who was laughing at him.

"There are many things that are more important than your feelings, Ciaran" Pier spoke and Ciaran nodded his head.

"I know. I just want to sort out my emotions first" He responded and Pier had an approving look on his face.

"Why'd you come here anyway?" Pier asked as he dangled both of his feet from the branch and stared at the cold and dark forest around them.

"I was worried you'd get into trouble again"

"Well, I did get into one"

"My guts are always correct when it comes to you"

"Wow, that's pretty brave of you to say so"

"It is?"

"Yeah"

"After this... will you stay with me?" Ciaran asked and Pier stopped completely doing anything as he thought about the question.

"I don't know, Ciaran. I still have many things to do," Pier admitted as he looked up at the sky that was covered with trees.

"I see"

"So you'll stop liking me now that I won't stay by your side after we stop the rampage?" Pier joked as he snickered when Ciaran raised his eyebrows at him.

"No"

"Really?"

"I am not just a vampire, Pier, I am also a chief who sticks to their words," He spoke with seriousness in his voice.

It was then, fireflies started to get out from their respective hiding spots. Their bodies glowed as they roamed around the area Ciaran and Pier were in.

Ciaran touched Pier's face and he brought his face closer.

"Even if you don't stay with me after the rampage, I will continue becoming the person worthy for you. Not as the Prince of Vampires, not as the leader of a clan, but as Ciaran Fenrir Aegenwulf, someone you will give your heart to."

Pier listened to the man's words.

"Even if you stray far from me, I will search the ends of the world until you become mine," He spoke with confidence as he brought his face closer to Pier's and his lips touched the young master's forehead.