I Will not Bow [Skylar]

Grayson followed after Skylar with a new sort of interest, he felt a little bit better having fed and done what he felt he needed to do, less like something was holding him back to the life he was leaving, and more like he could continue on with whatever his future now held. He would be glad to get this blood off of him, it was his own, it was theirs, caked on thick and leaving him smelling of gore, though the smell wasn't entirely unpleasant to his senses anymore, it was still rather gruesome to look at.

He looked around at the dimly lit manor, or maybe castle was more apt, whatever the case it was enormous and beautiful, even in the current state that it was in, "your home is lovely..." He mused, then looked over when they asked if he read, shaking his head and looking half ashamed, "no. I was never taught such things." He glanced down, "I was taught how to wield a sword...That was my only purpose..." He glanced down over his hand, "I...Guess it still is..." He was glad for this second chance at life, but also lamenting that he was merely a meat shield for someone else now, or so it seemed.

He looked up at them though when they spoke and tilted his head, "you fascinate me too." He said plainly, taking a breath before giving a half smile, "I...Would really like to bathe...Being covered in blood..." He looked over himself, "may I, sir...Madame...Master...Sire?" He made a face, "how would you like me to address you?" He wasn't sure the formalities between him and Skylar, and for a man used to titles and respect, it was confusing.

They started to protest that his only purpose was not to just wield a sword and fight any longer, unless he really wanted to continue that life, but there would be time for those conversations later. There would be time for all manner of conversations later, once he had time to think about all of this a little more.

"Of course." They nodded when they followed up on asking for a bath.

They led the way through a few more rooms and halls, the castle was sprawling but the space lived in didn't seem to take up much of it. "I was not fully prepared for this so I am afraid I do not have things set up for you as much as I would normally have done...but it will suffice for tonight, tomorrow I will do better." They promised.

They showed him into a suite of rooms that seemed to have been lived in recently, the windows and space prepared for beings such as them. They stepped into the room, lighting a couple of the lamps. "You may have these rooms...there is water, a place to heat it...there are clothes that should fit you in the wardrobe, and a bed for you as well." They explained, showing where the things were as they went.

"Take all the time you'd like, use anything in here that you would like...should you choose to keep to yourself for the remainder of the night that is fine, should you not wish to, I will be downstairs in the library."

They wanted to be helpful, but at the same time, they felt like perhaps the best help they could be would be to let the man have a little space, to get cleaned up, and have time to better think. Unless called back, they would turn to leave and head back downstairs as they had said they would.

Grayson was eager to follow them as they led him through the many halls and corridors oft he sprawling castle, taking in everything on the way so that he could find his way around later should he need to, "it's alright...I can hardly complain..." He chuckled softly, "that you are giving me shelter at all is more than I could ask for..." He hadn't expected this kind of accommodation at all, or any, it certainly made him feel less disoriented and lost to have somewhere to lay his head down.

The rooms they showed him to were lovely as he took them in once the lights were brought up, glancing around as he listened to Skylar speak, "yes, thank you." He threw Skylar a kind parting smile, waiting for them to leave before slipping off his clothes and preparing for a bath.

It took him a couple of hours total before he managed to completely clean himself of the blood, and even after the scrubbing he still felt like it would stain his skin forever. He was wearing one of the rather attractive outfits that had been in the wardrobe that was in the room, and looked it over still as he slipped into the library, "I have never owned clothes this nice before..." He smiled a little, "I've never been in a place this lovely..." Before the battle it had been a rather humble little hovel, and then barracks, never a castle, and never with a lavish room that was his to use.

He felt a little better as he moved to sit in one of the comfortable chairs, looking around at the books, "you have so many books...I never had them growing up." He ran a hand through his hair, "my master never wanted me filling my head with such silly learnings, it was only training, only war." He sounded almost mournful at this, and a little ashamed.

They were not sure if he would return or not, but set about occupying themselves as they often did as of late, reading, studying, things to wile away the hours when there was not much else for them to do, no one to talk to, not much to work on. They did very much hope he would though, eager to talk to him at length, to have someone else to talk to, to teach and mentor...to have around.

They finally heard him return, looking up from where they were curled in a chair much larger than them with a warm smile. It flitted through their mind that he was a great deal more handsome when he was no longer covered in thick blood and dust from battle and they could actually clearly make out all of his features.

"You are looking better." They nodded towards teh clothes. "They belonged to my father...they are...a little bit short on you. But they will work for the time being." They looked him up and down as they did.

When he spoke about the books they tilted their head up and back, looking up at the collection stretched around them. "My family has collected many of them for a great many years. They had read every single one of them as well...I am not there as of yet, but I am close."

They tilted their head slightly, looking to him as he sounded sad at the lack of knowledge on his part. "Your master saw a purpose for you that he worked to fill. What he missed is how useful being well-rounded can also be. A soldier is useful...but can have limited purpose. But a soldier that has studied...that understands strategy and tactics...that draws from the lessons of ancient battles...but at the same time understands when words are better than swords, and knows how to use those words...a man who does not merely only have one answer for all problems he is presented with...that is a man who is truly dangerous." The smile grew a little.

"If you wish to learn, it is not too late for it." They offered.

He nodded, smoothing out a crease in the suit with a smile, "I am feeling better. Thank you." He pulled his legs up under him in the chair once he settled down, the chair not quite so big that he could do so easily, but it was still comfortable, and it felt good to relax.

He nodded when he spoke of the library, looking amazed at how much history and knowledge must be within these shelves, "there must be so much in these books...It is...Incredible..." He looked thoughtful as he slid from the chair, wandering over to gently take one off of the shelf, opening it and looking over the pages. He couldn't read from them, but they were filled with illustrations of animals he'd never seen before, with small paragraphs talking about them to the side, "incredible..."

He brought the book over to sit on the arm beside Skylar, pointing to the picture, which was of a great orange cat striped by black, what is this? What does it say?" He looked over at Skylar with bright eyes, not unlike a child learning something new for the first time.

Their words comforted him a bit and he nodded, looking thoughtful, "I would like to learn..." He shook his head, "I don't think my master wanted thinkers. I think he wanted flesh to die for him." His eyes shined with unshed tears, "that is all I was. Flesh to die..." He glanced down, "is...That still what I am?" He looked genuine in his question as he glanced at them, worry creasing his brows.

Watching the reverence he held for the books brought another smile. They had chosen him because he was an impressive and terrifying warrior, something they felt in need of especially as of late being alone. But at the same time he was quickly proving himself intelligent and thoughtful, qualities they also longed for in their life...it had just never occurred to Sky that they might manage to get both at once.

They looked over at the book he brought to them, asking eager questions about it's pages. They leaned closer to read the bit of information about the large beast painted in vivid colors. "This is a giant beast of a cat...they are as large as men, fierce hunters. Tigers, they call them...they do not live here however, they are in the lands over the oceans." They explained.

They grew quiet again, looking up and watching his expression as he spoke. "I'm sure the thought of men thinking for themselves felt like a threat...he didn't want to be questioned. He wanted to be obeyed. Otherwise you might ask why you were asked to die over something you would never see the benefit of yourself." They said a bit bluntly.

"If you wish to throw yourself into the fray, if you just wish to die...I cannot stop you from that. I do not control you. But it would be a terrible waste of potential." They added honestly. "You seem a man of intelligence. I am interested to see what else you might do with it, if given the opportunities. As I said...you are interesting to me...and I will be honest, there are few humans I can say that about. And you are the first that I have made like myself."

The let out a sigh, their voice growing softer and less matter of fact, but with a touch of emotion to it this time. "I suppose my reasons are a bit selfish, I must be honest...but I have found myself alone here as of late...I do seek someone to offer protection...just as I offer protection to you as well...but also...someone to speak with. Someone to keep me company. I've been...lonely..."

Grayson's eyes stretched with an impressed face as he lifted a hand to trace over the illustration of the large cat, "Tiger." He repeated, in a fascinated and awestruck tone, "I want to see a real tiger..." He laughed softly at his words and shook his head, closing the book and getting up to slide it back into its place on the shelf, "silly. They sound very far away..." What a silly thing to want to do, not to mention they looked quite deadly.

He glanced back at Skylar and nodded, "uneducated as I am, I still wondered why it was my destiny to die." He mused as he thumbed gently over the spines of the books, pulling another down to look through the drawings inside, unable to read the words but enjoying them all the same, "I wasn't ready to die. I refused to die in a battle I did not want to fight." His voice was level and contemplative, and when Skylar spoke again he glanced over at them, gently closing the book and putting that one back in place, "no, I do not wish to throw away this chance to be more than a pound of flesh." He said this simply, coming closer to Skylar.

At their words, he felt such a sympathy for them, closing his eyes a moment as he listened to them speak, their wants, their desires, their reasons for saving him touched him, and in the next moment, he knelt in front of them and took their hand, pressing their forehead to it, "then I will remain at your side. I will serve you as your protector..." He glanced up at them with a gentle smile, "and your companion...If you would have it."

"Perhaps someday...we will travel. And we will see tigers and all manner of other things." Skylar contemplated the thought for a moment.

As Gray came and knelt in front of them they looked a little surprised when he took their hands, but also touched, realizing the symbolism for such a gesture to come from a soldier and protector, a gesture of loyalty, a promise to serve.

"I would like that...very much." They smiled. "And I promise to do all that I can to be someone worth your care and protection." They promised.

"I promise not to abuse your service and protection. And I will grant you every opportunity that I am able to for you to study and learn...everything here, in this estate and this library is at your disposal."

They were happy and excited to no longer be alone here, and what sort of future they might have between them. It suddenly held so much more potential and promise when it was not just them against the humans closing in, who wanted them run out and killed simply for existing.

====

Skylar was used to being a cautious person, especially after what had happened to their own family. 

But with time the countryside had grown quiet, they'd grown confident in Grayson's protection, and with time passing and nothing happening...they had grown careless. And it had very nearly gotten them killed...and it still might. Hunters, out of seemingly nowhere, and they were smart, going in to immobilize them before going in for the kill, they had missed, but still left a painful, jagged bloody gash through their clothes and down their side where the stake had missed it's mark. 

They had used a moment of distraction to go up and over the wall, darting away at superior speed...but this had been a game they'd kept up now all night, just when they thought they had gotten clear...the men were back. They dared not go home, for fear of being trailed. They didn't know where else they could go where they could hide, rest, recover, and the first gray and red light of dawn was peeking over the horizon...they didn't have much time left. They huddled for the moment under the cluster of brush and trees, eyes darting around trying to determine where they might still be able to go, what they could do...they didn't want to die like this. They squeezed their eyes tightly shut, a single bloody tear tracing down their cheek...this was not how they wanted to die. 

Grayson had failed in his duties, he was meant to protect Skylar, but in an instant he'd failed and now he had little idea where they or the men who were chasing them were. He has his sharpened senses strained to their limits as he listened on the breeze for anything...Anyone...There! His face was a mask of dark determination as he stalked behind the men that he so easily caught up to, hunters, humans, in his short time thus far in this new form he'd grown a distaste for these kinds of people. His own past as a human had already sullied his views, but he still saw some beauty, hunters like them though, killing with little care, it disgusted him.

His eyes flashed in the dark as he noticed one of them straggle behind, and within an instant the man was dead, neck snapped and blood trickling from his mouth, Grayson was gone before the man's companions could even react.

He kept his eyes peeled until he caught sight of Skylar cowering against the slowly creeping dawn under brush, swooping in beside them and holding a finger to his lips, "I have you." The words were a whispered promise as he scooped them up, holding them close against his chest as he pulled backwards into the shelter of the trees.

But Skylar was still bleeding, and the sky was getting lighter, he glanced around with a tense expression before the sounds of the hunters got him running. He knew that he would be okay for a few hours in the daylight, but Skylar wouldn't, and his urgency to find them somewhere to hide was making his movements much speedier, his face was calm however, though distinctly concerned.

He gasped when he spotted a rather derelict old house, clearly abandoned, the sounds of the men were far enough away that he felt safe slipping into the shelter, glancing around the abandoned building until he spotted what looked like a door on the floor, half covered by a rug. Opening it with one hand revealed a cellar, and he was quick to slip inside before setting Skylar down on the ground, pulling away for a moment to situate the rug over the door as best as he could before coming back to their side, scooping Skylar close again, "I have to go kill them..." He looked up towards the door with a hostile expression as he said this, "I have to." He looked down at them, "you're hurt..."

Skylar startled at someone behind them, but relaxed in immediate relief to find it was Grayson, they didn't argue, fight or even speak as they were gathered up, arms wrapped around Gray's neck and holding on tightly as he looked around for a place to hide them away. Normally they were so much more in control, never wavering in any situation...but this time the tables had turned, and they were afraid, deeply afraid, and were so glad for Gray to be there, to have come for them, no matter how undignified it might appear at first.

Once put down in the root cellar they found their feet again, rising up to help Grayson cover up their escape. When he returned to them, pulling them close again they didn't protest...normally such familiarity might have brought about raised eyebrows, a less enthusiastic response...they'd become good friends, but there were still lines, still walls. But right now his presence was comforting, and Sky's hands clung tightly to the folds of his shirt, as though afraid he might melt away from them otherwise, and leave them here alone.

"No." They shook their head rapidly, if anything their hands dug in deeper. "No, you can't...please...there's too many of them...it's nearly dawn...please..." They said quietly, rapidly, almost breathlessly.

"Please...don't leave me here alone." They said even quieter, looking up at him with frightened eyes past a smear of blood streaked tears. "Please Grayson..."

He was surprised when Skylar only clung to him tighter, looking more scared and vulnerable that he'd ever seen them. There was something so inherently human about seeing those emotions in their eyes, and he was washed in a wave of protective nature. This was why they'd saved his life, why they'd given him a second chance. He nodded when they pleaded for him to stay, "okay. I will stay." He moved with them still held close to his chest, tucking them both back behind a shelf that had overturned in the corner of the room, it didn't hide him as well, but kept Skylar safely out of view, "your wounds..." He frowned, voice a soft whisper, "what should I do?" He was still fairly new to the idea of healing or treating these sorts of injuries.

Without really realizing what he was doing, he began to run his hand gently over their hair, leaning back against the wall and humming softly, "you are safe." He looked down at them, "I have you, Sky." His eyes had shifted from a hostile anger, to a gentle concern, he didn't have to be doing this, he didn't have to be comforting them like this, but he wanted to. Skylar had done much for him over the time they'd spent together, this was the best he could do to return that favor. His face grew mournful however and he glanced to the side, "I am sorry I let you get hurt." He'd failed in his duties, the thought caused him to pull them closer.

It was dark in the basement, and they were tucked into the farthest back corner...should they happen to come here it would hopefully be enough. Fighting in these enclosed quarters would not be pleasant. They did not breath, so did not have to quiet that, but still forced themselves to be quiet, still. As Gray settled down they tucked themselves up against him, not loosening their grip on his shirt. "I am glad you came." They said quietly. "I was so afraid...that...that is how I would go...I'm glad you came." They repeated, looking up to where they knew his face would be even in the mostly darkness.

"I was quick...the wound is not lethal. It will finish healing itself up when I next eat...for now...it is just uncomfortable." They grimaced, feeling the twinge and sting of it, the trickle of blood that still seeped out of it at a slow rate.

Part of their brain, the part that was dignified, always in control, the pure blooded stately one, to the one that served...wanted to pull away. Wanted to straighten their clothes and regain their dignity, to be in control of this situation they now had so foolishly found themselves in. But his company was an unexpected comfort, not just his protection, but to feel him near, to rest against him, to feel protected against them. Their head came to rest against his shoulder, the first pulls of the desire to sleep coming over them even as they fought them off.

"I was careless...I do not blame you." One hand came free from his shirt to rest against his cheek for an affectionate moment, before the hand dropped back to their lap. "You came...you are here..."

Grayson shushed them softly with a gentle smile as he looked over their face, shaking his head, "none of those thoughts." His voice was still just barely skirting a whisper, but he knew Skylar would hear him regardless, "I would not let you die this way, or anyway." He continued to run a hand over their hair, looking slightly relaxed when they assured him that the wound was not fatal, "good. I do not know...If my kind can heal..." He glanced down, "I am still quite ignorant to many of my abilities." He chuckled softly at this, shifting to lean more comfortably against the wall he was pressed into, it was going to be an incredibly long day, one that he would not see sleep for, but he would attempt to see that Skylar could sleep.

He looked surprised when he felt their hand against his cheek, his face softening considerably at the act, "of course I came." He hummed softly, a low, deep rumble in his chest, "you are my charge, and my friend, I am sworn to protect you no matter what." His voice was hushed as he brushed a hand over their cheek, "now sleep. I will keep watch. No man will harm you under my care, Skylar." There was a promise in his words as he looked over their face with a soft, yet serious expression.