The Young Are Usually Wounded

[viggoslayer]

I sit on my stool looking at the canvas, the tip of my paintbrush between my teeth, examining the colors. I've moved over by the large window allowing the moon light to stream across the splay of color I've been working on these past few days. Deciding on softer shadows, I take my brush and continue my work, singing absently, pausing every so often

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[d4vid_b]

I am with Marius preparing to go find these hunters when Andreas rushes in saying that Stav is attacking Viggo. We have decided to go in human form as with hunters about and the order informed that is probably best. I feel Marius bristle but tell him that I will deal with it.

I have been at the brunt of one of Stav's outbursts and his rage is irrational and extreme when he is like that. I thought he was getting better but after Marcus and the hunters on this camping trip, now this so soon. I am worried what is going on with him.

I come round the corner to the hall and see Viggo standing looking perplexed, and naked, outside of Stav's closed bedroom door. Nakedness is nothing new to me but I have had to learn to wear clothes around Stav. I wonder if this has anything to do with what happened. Though he doesn't usually react violently to nudity.

Viggo looks at me as I walk up to him. A quick glance and I see no injury. The fact he is standing outside the door tells me that Stav must have gone back in there.

I take off my jacket and hold it out to him. "Put that on in case he comes back out. What happened?"

[viggoslayer]

I take the jacket and put it on and shrug, "I'm not exactly sure. We had no issues while out in the woods, not with each other at least. I just came down to give him his camera and he opened the door, threw the painting I made at me, told me I didn't know him and hit me."

I shake my head, "His rage was so strong, then he suddenly," I look into David's eyes, "it was as if I scared him. I took form and held him down so he could not hurt me."

I tilt my head and look at the wall, "I told him I did not want to hurt him, that was when he - it was as if he was frightened of me."

Shaking my head, "He seemed to open up to me, or least lower his guard, while we were alone. Why would he suddenly think I mean him harm?"

[d4vid_b]

I nod my head knowingly when he says Stav's rage was so strong. I've also seen the scared side of Stav, more often than the rage for sure but even that is nowhere near as prolific as his attitude.

As soon as Viggo says it I know what set off the scared Stav. It was very similar to my own experience with him. His rage though was set off by the same thing as what happened with Marcus. One second I am telling him he had pretty eyes and the next he was trying to rip my throat out.

Viggo didn't say that though. I don't answer Viggo yet but look around and move to pick up the painting which is laying over by the wall. I look at it, the frame is broken but can be fixed. Maybe it was my fault for putting it up on the wall. I thought he would like it. I had guessed it was one of Viggo's and I have noticed how Stav pretends to not watch him.

I turn the painting over and look at it. "What is this of anyway?" Looks like a colour pot threw up on it to me but I am not about to say that to Viggo.

[viggoslayer]

I look at the painting, "Inner turmoil surrounded by a deep need. I will admit it is what I see when I look at Stav, the feeling I got through the many night in the library with him. But it is only my interpretation."

The frame is nice, or was at one time. I wonder if Stav framed it.

[d4vid_b]

I raise an eyebrow. The interpetation is quite spot on just not sure about the painting. "Well he's quite smart. I'm guessing he thought the painting was of him." No idea why that would suddenly bother him though. "I thought he liked it so I framed it and put it up on the wall for him."

Only way to tell is to talk to Stav. I reach out and knock on the door. No answer and I didn't expect there to be one. Well he knows I won't back off so if he won't answer the door I will give him a warning. "I'm coming in Stavko whether you want me to or not."

I usually give him some time to get himself together or make the choice himself to let me in so I turn back to Viggo. I am more than a little curios about something. "Why did you take him in particular to go with you on your camping trip?" I want to be sure of his motives.

[viggoslayer]

"The books he reads."

David gives me a look as if I did not answer him. I explain further, "The books he read, the few conversations we have had - I could sense an artistic aura about him. I had already made plans with a friend, but he had to cancel."

I look at the door knob, but no movement, "He has quite an eye for photography. I thought it would be good for him to realize how talented he is."

[d4vid_b]

That eases my mind. I sense no attempt to deceive me in his words and from what I now of Viggo he doesn't strike me as the type to take advantage. I just wanted to be sure that his actions had Stav's interests at heart and not his own.

I sigh softly. Considering what has happened and the fact he is now going to have to deal with this alongside me that I have to give him some sort of heads up about Stav.

I glance down the hall to be sure no one else is around then I look back to Viggo. "I'm sure you've guessed by now that something is a bit off with Stav. Well I am going to give you a short rundown on what you're dealing with. This stays between us." The look he gives me tells me he knows.

I continue. "Stav is the end product of a crack addict mother and an abusive father who saw him as nothing more than a way to make money." No way am I filling in the blanks for him. It was bad enough the first time I had to hear it I don't want to have to repeat it. Even now I have trouble keeping the growl of disgust and anger out of my voice. "I ever find the bastard...."

I stop there and take a breath. "Anyway that's why he is the way he is."

[viggoslayer]

Through my many years I have seen much, I have seen this even. Humanity is cruel. My heart does ache for him though, I am not cold to the heartache of others.

"I knew there was something horrid in his past. Thank you for letting me in your confidence David."

I look at the painting, "Perhaps he did realize I was painting him, that I knew him. There is so much conflict with him."

I look down at myself, "Perhaps I should go David, let you speak with him. Perhaps some distance from me would be best."

[d4vid_b]

I raise an eyebrow at him. Perhaps I misjudged. "If that is what you wish. I myself would rather he give an explanation or at the least an apology." I reach for the doorknob. "His past does not excuse him from doing wrong and he needs to know that. I would prefer you should stay."

I don't test the knob as I know it will be locked, Stav's door always is. With a little bit of a twist and brute strength though the door gives and opens.

His room is empty but I hear the shower running behind the closed bathroom door. That is a good sign. He is calming himself down.

I look to the wall where he tore the painting off and then notice something laying on the floor. I pick it up. Now that is a hot photo, then I notice who it is. I frown and move to the bed where the rest of Stav's photo's lay. I look them over then go back to looking at naked Viggo all wet and sexy. What I have seen with my own eyes and what Christian not long ago told me. Now this makes some sort of sense.

I turn to Viggo and hold the photo out to him. "Pretend for a second that you do not recognise yourself in this photo Viggo, what would you see at first glance?"

[viggoslayer]

I look at the photo and take it in, "The ripples of water as the sunlight bounce off the droplets of water, the way the sunlight highlights the hair."

Apparently I am missing something, but I hope to find out soon. Stav is in the shower and I feel a bit wrong just barging into his room, but I am with David so I pretend that it is ok.

[d4vid_b]

Wow. I stare at him. Him and Stav both don't think normally and when I think on it they are similar in some of their ways too. I'm not sure I should be the one to fill him in on it either though I can tell him what I see in the photo.

I turn it back to me and look it over once more then look back up at him. "Funny, I don't even notice the sunlight or the water. My attention was more focussed on the hot naked dude." I chuckle. "But then I'm just normal like that."

I hear the lock in the door behind me click open and I turn my head towards it. "Maybe I should ask Stav what he sees..."

[st4v]

I manage to get myself calmed down under the water. It's always so soothing. I feel like a complete idiot. I don't know how I am going to face Viggo after that.

Bad enough I now have to go out and deal with David. I heard him at my bedroom door which is why I got in the shower in the first place. I needed time to collect myself before talking to him. He will have all his usual questions and I'm going to get a lecture and I just know he will force me to go talk to Viggo, and apologise.

I turn the water off and grab a towel and ruffle it through my hair then wrap it around me. I feel naked still and I know that David knows I am uncomfortable with the whole nudity thing and I know he loves to push that.

I grit my teeth and move toward the door to get this over with. It's then that I hear a voice, David, I can barely make out what he is saying, but it's definitely him talking to someone. Something about normal.

It has to be Viggo.

Oh man.

I unlock the door and as I open it I hear him say something about asking me.

I open the door and see him standing there looking at me. Before he has a chance to even get on my case I look past him to Viggo. It's really hard to even meet his eyes and I feel my face heat up. I fight against the urge to be a smart ass. I know that won't fly with David.

I look back down at the ground. "I'm sorry for going after you and saying what I did."

[viggoslayer]

"Thank you."

I take a few steps toward him, "Stav, if I offended you I apologize. I enjoy your company, you are very talented and I was hoping we could take more photography outings."

I still don't know what David meant by the picture. If there is some correlation between Stav's actions and the picture I would like to know.

[d4vid_b]

I see Stav's slight blush when he looks at Viggo and that really confirms it in my mind. I've never seen him do that with anyone else. Viggo is oblivious. I am debating on whether I should push Stav.

Maybe a little.

I hold out the photo toward Stav. "I really like this picture Stav, Viggo looks hot in it doesn't he?" Well maybe more than a little push. The resulting deep blush on Stav's face and his stammered 'what' as his eyes look to mine all 'oh shit' is all the answer I need.

I turn and walk back past Viggo slapping the photo into his hand as I go. "He's all yours."

[viggoslayer]

I watch David leave the room and then look at the photo in my hand... hot? Well alright - I guess, but what the hell was that all about. David is an odd duck.

I look back at Stav and he is blushing, why would David say something like that? He knows Stav has issue with nudity and... my eyes suddenly realize he is naked. The towel low on his thin hips, his hair wet, droplets falling onto his chest...

Licking my lips I look back up into his eyes, "What David Said, about me, does that have something to do with your anger? I have no intentions for David. He may find my desirable, but - no offense - he is rather odd."

[st4v]

I stand there just about mortified. I see Viggo look me up and down then lick his lips! I just... My face burns and I...

I swallow hard wondering where the anger is. Why it hasn't risen up in me. Instead I feel a heat low in my belly and did it get hotter in here.

I stammer out. "Yeah he is..."