ℓεт үσυя мεмσяιεs gяσω sтяσηgεя αη∂ sтяσηgεя - Stri & Socks

The more time that passed with Myrnin’s eyes bordering on gold, the more nervous Nico got. He knew there were times when Myrnin was unpredictable. When Myrnin wasn’t himself. When he seemed more like a god than a human, when he looked at everyone else like they were ants beneath his feet rather than equals. It had taken him a few tries to understand that the change happened when Myrnin’s eyes flickered golden.
It was the gold-eyed version of Myrnin that made Nico nervous about being his friend. It didn’t matter how capable he was of trusting green-eyed Myrnin if the gold-eyed version could take over at any time. Why would he waste the effort of trying to trust someone he could only trust part of the time anyway?
“Myrnin,” Nico said, padding through the room as lightly as he could. It was the maze again, though he couldn’t fathom why. It wasn’t like the House to throw them into a room twice within such a short time period unless it was the lodge.
“Myrnin, talk to me… stay yourself, please…” If there was a note of desperation in Nico’s voice, could anyone blame him?

Nico could tell that a change had come over Myrnin. Based on his previous experience with the vampire, he had a feeling he knew what it was. He had followed for… for what, exactly? What did he think he might be able to do? He couldn’t make Myrnin come back to himself. He didn’t think he knew Myrnin well enough to do that. So what, exactly, had he been thinking? He shuddered at the thought. The only thing he was good at was killing monsters. Regardless of whether Myrnin could be considered a monster in this state, Nico didn’t think he wanted to kill him. There was a part of him that was friends with the Myrnin with green eyes. He had so few friendships that he didn’t want to lose one of the few he did have.
There was that decision, then. The House was dangerous. If Nico could help it from killing or trying to kill Myrnin, then he was going to have to do whatever it took. He took a few steps forward, following Myrnin a few paces behind.

Dealing with Myrnin was a mystery in and of itself. Dealing with this Myrnin was even more difficult. He was everything that made Nico wary of his supposed friend, with an added helping of some of the inhuman nature that made the monsters in Nico’s world what they were. The only difference was that if Myrnin was killed, he wouldn’t come back like those monsters would. And Nico had less of a chance to kill him, even if he wanted that chance.
He was about to say something when whatever it was Myrnin had done took effect. He felt his vision go dark, the sharp pitching forward of his body, and then… nothing.

Nico didn’t immediately wake. His body lay still, his hair strewn across his forehead and pushed about by the breeze flowing past him. He looked asleep, though his brow was furrowed. Dreams, perhaps, or just the remnant of the last thought he’d had before he had fallen. He had been fairly certain that Myrnin would kill him if he saw it as convenient. Or even vaguely amusing. Weren’t there people who killed ants for amusement? His thoughts were hazy, drifting from one extreme to another with barely anything concrete between them. When he finally opened his eyes again, he was surprised to see a pair of green eyes leaning over him. Green. Green. For a moment, he was fairly certain it was the best color in the world.

Nico hesitated for a long moment, shocked by the sudden feel of arms around him, by the touch that was more comforting than he knew how to explain. There was no history to back up that familiarity. There was no reason for him to accept Myrnin’s touch as something warm and comforting, but he didn’t try to pull away. The embrace was gone a few moments later, though, and Nico let his head lay back on the ground.
“I’m okay,” Nico replied, voice hoarse and small. “I’m okay,” he repeated, as though trying to convince himself. He didn’t want to blame Myrnin for what had happened. It wasn’t really the vampire’s fault. He didn’t control when he got scary, but… maybe it would be best to avoid him. Maybe it would be best to leave Myrnin alone regardless of what his eye color was, if he could switch on a dime like that.
“Are… you… alright?” Nico asked after a second or two of silence. He found he cared more than he thought he should.