Chapter Text
Frank stood atop the imperial staircase walkway overlooking the foyer, waiting for the arrival of their guests and his future mate. Frank was a werewolf prince and diplomat who spent most of his time traveling and in meetings with world leaders. His goal was to have them more widely accepted in countries outside of the US, it was a noble goal and his parents supported him. The work he did made him happy and was important, but his parents saw how lonely he was. They were close friends with the vampire clan that also ruled in New Jersey and so they struck a deal. Frank their oldest and only biological son would marry their eldest Gerard in the first royal mixed species coupling. Frank had been upset at first when his parents told him, but his position and family are important to him so he agreed. That’s what had him standing on the stairs staring out at the long driveway, his suit pressed and his hands clasped behind his back.
Pete appeared at his side pushing his fringe from his eyes, “Are they here?” Pete was Frank’s adopted brother, his aunt and uncle had adopted him, but they died in an accident. Since Frank was young they were raised as brothers and he loved him as his blood.
“No, they are close though.” Pete took in Frank’s resigned demeanor, and his noble brother took everything in stride despite being royal. Frank the diplomat, Pete felt less than compared to him, he was a model and streamer, but Frank was too serious for all that.
“Are you nervous?” Pete asked, smoothing his shirt.
“I worry about making him comfortable and getting him to trust me. He’ll be staying in my room and I want him to feel at home. What’s he like you’ve met him?”
Pete had met him and his brother Mikey, while Frank was traveling and doing his job, and traveling he had gotten to know the vampires. They were sheltered and naive, he had helped Mikey come out of his shell, but Gerard was still awkward and introverted. He spent most of their visits watching TV and drawing silently.
“He’s shy and keeps to himself a lot, he’s an artist and loves watching TV. Their castle is three hundred years old and some of it doesn’t have heat or running water. This place is like a trip to the future for them.” he huffs a laugh turning and leaning on the stair railing.
“He’s an artist? I tried to find him online to get an idea about him, but he doesn’t have social media.”
“Their father is overbearing, he doesn’t allow them to have social media.”
Frank nodded taking it all in, “Do you think this will be a good match?”
“I think it’ll be a match you can make work, it may take some hard work, but you’re no stranger to that.” He smiles and Frank returns it.
They chat for a while longer until they see the motorcade starting up the long driveway and they make their way down the stairs. They take their places as their parents walk over to the door, the footman opens it as the vampires leave their car. Their parents leave the car first Donald is a tall thin pale man with disappointment on his face, and next is his wife a short blonde tan woman. Then Mikey exits he’s tall and thin like his father, hunching as he fixes his glasses following them to the door. Frank strains his neck to see Gerard as he climbs from the car, once he sees him he gasps at his beauty. His soft black locks sit around his ears, and he has a messenger bag on as he follows his family to the house.
Frank’s father, “Don, Donna it is so lovely to have you for this joyous occasion.” he hugged them each, his father was overjoyed at all this.
“It is lovely to be here,” he turned to Frank, “So you’re Frank, you’re quite a bit shorter than I thought you would be.”
Frank was taken aback by the obvious snub from the vampire king, but he let it roll off him offering him his hand, “It’s nice to meet you sire.”
The vampire shook his hand impressed it was so firm, “Good man, this is our pride and joy, Gerard.” Frank saw the shock at what his father said on Gerard’s face before it registered as a joke. Frank was getting the feeling his father had never paid the boy a real compliment and it showed, that Frank was not a fan of that backhanded behavior.
Frank extended his hand to the shell-shocked vampire, “Hello Gerard it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Gerard gave him a warm smile, and his eyes swirled into a soft lavender color. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Frank.” his skin was smooth and cold in Frank’s warm hand.
Frank was shocked by his eyes changing color, but he remembered his vampire line was all pure-blood and for vampires, this came with certain abilities. Gerard’s line tied back to the first-ever vampires, all pure blood until Gerard, the rumors about him in the media were brutal. Gossip Rags wrote contrite dribble claiming his mother had an affair and that’s why he was unmated, seeing his eyes Frank knew the truth. He was a pure-blood Way, shifting sight also known as ‘The Gaze of the Ancients’ was a rare vampire trait. Frank only wishes he could remember what the colors meant now as the vampire looks at him. His emotions were reflected in those eyes and he was curious about the vampires' first impression of him.
“Frank why don’t you show Gerard the bedroom you’ll be sharing.” His father encouraged him.
“Of course,” he turned to Gerard offering his arm to the vampire who bowed his head taking his arm and letting him lead him. Gerard observed Frank as they walked, he was shorter than him, but he was very handsome, he felt quite lucky his family had chosen Frank. Frank seemed very soft and regal, his job made him travel a lot, and maybe they would travel.
Frank led Gerard gently down the hall past the library and up the stairs to his rooms, they were silent, but the walk wasn’t uncomfortable. Frank found Gerard easy to lead with a very agreeable constitution, slyly eyeing the vampire as they walked. He leads him to a large door and opens it letting him inside, the room isn’t just one room. The door opens to an ornate hall with soft recessed lighting and wainscoting on the wall with marble floors.
“This is the restroom,” he gestures inside showing Gerard the fancy restroom with a large tub in the center, “This is the sitting area,” Gerard sees through a pair of French doors to a small living room area with a TV and big comfy couches, books piled on shelves around the TV. “Lastly this is the bedroom.” The bedroom has a large California king bed with bedside tables and large windows facing the bed. The ceiling has a painted dome of a pale blue cloudy sky with a beautiful chandelier over the bed. Gerard was taken aback by the beautiful rooms that he would be sharing with his handsome little mate.
“I’ve never been in the bedrooms, when I visited I spent most of my time in the sitting room with the TV and the pool table. This is so fancy.” Gee gushed, gripping his messenger bag strap.
“Yes, the grounds are incredible, when we get a chance I’ll take you out on the walking path, the natural beauty is refreshing,” Gerard looked at him with an unreadable expression, “or if you are more of a city dweller we’re only thirty minutes from Manhattan.” Frank tried to compromise.
“I’ve never really been to the city, father liked us to remain home so he could ensure we followed the rules and remained… pure.” he blushed looking down.
Frank was beginning to see just how much control over the vampires the king had and he wasn’t liking the picture he was getting. Gerard was twenty-seven with no social media had never been out without his family and had no real friends. He is socially backward barely able to make eye contact and skittish. He was going to need to do a lot of work to get him ready for stately appearances and social gatherings that are a large part of his work, networking.
“Would you like to unpack your bag?” Frank asked, abruptly.
Gerard jerked back out of surprise, “Oh all I have in here is some books,” he looked down at his bag pushing some hair behind his ear.
“Well, would you like to put them in the sitting room with the others? This is your home now also.” Frank spoke softly not wanting to startle him again, like a deer in the wild.
“I’m a bit embarrassed about the reading material.” his blush creeping down his neck.
Frank smiled, “It’s alright, I have been known to dabble in several different kinds of literature, I will not judge.”
Gerard stepped closer as he reached into his bag and began handing the books to Frank he turned them in his hand reading the spines. ‘The Moons Chosen: Mating Rituals of Werewolves’, ‘The Lunar Bond: A History of Werewolf Tribes’, and ‘Heart of the Pack: Love and Loyalty in Werewolf Bonds’. Gerard’s head was bowed deep his hands clasped in front of him embarrassment at his limited understanding on display.
“You wanted to learn more about werewolves?” he smiled, looking up at Gerard, his eyes a dull gray. He knew what that color meant, uncertainty.
“May I show you what I’ve been reading?” Gerard nods and he leads him to the sitting room. He lays the books down and crosses to the books next to his designated sitting area. He picks them up and shows them to Gerard, “I wanted to get to know vampires, specifically your lineage better.”
Gerard reads the spines feeling like he may cry ‘Immortal Beauty: The Aesthetic Traditions of Vampires’, ‘Blood and Eternity: The Origins of Vampiric Nobility’, ‘The Ancients’ Lineage: Families of the First Vampires’, and ‘Living Forever: The Psychology of Immortality’. Gerard hugged the books to his chest and wiped at his eyes, it was a big gesture he cared to learn. Frank stood wanting to comfort the vampire, but not wanting to overstep or be improper, he reached out touching his arm gently, they shared a smile.
“This is very sweet, I don’t know why I’m crying.”
“It’s a connection you didn’t have before and now you have it. I wanted to learn about you. We didn’t have a lot of say in this, but my goal is to understand you and build a life with you. I want to provide you with comfort and a life you enjoy, it will be an adjustment for us both, but I am committed.” Frank gives him a small genuine smile and Gerard feels hopeful, although he didn’t mention love he had hoped it would blossom between them.