He shook his head, walking over to the bed and turning on the TV. The background sound would probably do some good. He just needed to take his mind off things and, right now, he had no idea how to do it.

His instincts told him that the best way to do it, as usual, was playing some Nintendo, and even though he particularly didn't feel like it, he follow it.

And after thirty minutes or moving the controller from one side to the other, chasing back guys and just playing, he didn't feel any better.

Nick turned it off and let himself fall onto the bed.

This wasn't right. He just... he just couldn't do this. He had always thought that rejection was the future for his actions, but never in his darkest hour had he thought it would be this bad, his desolated.

He checked his watch. Three pm. They would have to left for the venue in less than an hour. They would do the meet-&-greet, change, so some warm up and then start the concert. He looked forward to it, but for different reasons. It was a good way to spend two hours. He wouldn't have to think, he would be too busy focusing on the steps. He wouldn't have to feel, the music would cover that.

In the soundless that his room stood, the knocking of his door took him by surprise. He didn't feel like talking to anyone, but feared that if he didn't answer, they would have more questions about his well being. And so, he stood up and walked over to the door.

Opening, he found himself forcing himself to show no emotion. He felt empty inside, he was to demonstrate it on his face.

"Can we talk?--"

"I don't wanna talk."

"Nick, we--"

"There's nothing for us to talk about, ok?"

"I think we do have stuff to talk about."

"No we don't Kevin. I think you were rather clear last night." And when Nick tried to close the door on Kevin's face, a strong hand stopped its way. Nick sighed.

"Please Nick."

It was pointless. Kevin had always been a stubborn old man and if he wanted to talk, he wouldn't stop until he talked with Nick.

Reluctantly, he opened the door and closed it after Kevin.

When they both entered the room, Nick walked over to the small fridge, getting out a bottle of water. He needed to do something with his hands, have something to entertain his mind while he talked with the older an. Otherwise... otherwise he wouldn't stand the conversation.

"I'm sorry about last night." Fists clenched against the bottle, lips tight.

"You don't have to say anything."

"I do. I didn't... I think it didn't came out right." A snort and desire to scream, to throw the older man and out wondering why had things turned out this way.

Nick shook his head and bit back the snort. "You don't want me Kevin, I got that pretty loud."

"I care about you--"

"Don't say it Kevin. I really don't wanna hear it." And He didn't. He knew the whole 'I care about you as a friend' routine and he didn't want to go through that with Kevin. He had pictured the words in his mind more times than not but hearing, hearing it was something he wasn't sure he could face.

"You're my friend Nick. You always have. I will always be here for you but I don't want--"

"I know where you're going Kevin so don't say it, alright? I don't need to hear it. We're fine. We're cool. We're friend and I know that so now if you'll excuse me, I was trying to read."

Kevin could feel the wall standing between him and the youth without even probing into his mind. IT was so loud, so fierce and tangible he would have to be blind not to see it. He sighed, nodding as he did so. He understood Nick's feelings and respected his decision. It had been hard for Nick to say those words, Kevin knew, and for that he thought even higher of the young.

"We leave in thirty minutes," Kevin said as he turned around and walked over to the door. He left himself out and, in the process, heard the sigh of relief Nick let out and the constricting of his own heart.

When the door closed, Nick walked back to his room and lay down on the bed. He would spend the next thirty minutes there, trying to bite back the scream that seemed to threaten to come out and tell himself that time would help, that the scars would heal and that, at some point, he would be able to be in the same room with Kevin without feeling like he was dying inside.

He would. He had to look at Kevin every day, so he would force himself to do it.

*****

To say it had been once of the most difficult concerts of their lives would be the underestimation of the year. It had. Oh god, it had. And they had gone one concert with Brian having a very terrible stomach ache. Once, Nick had sang with the flue, mucus rolling down his nose in very single song. There was that time when AJ had barely been able to stand up, feeling so bad because he had an infection. Oh, and lets not forget when Howie had sprang his ankle and every single step, it looked like he was gonna fall and both Kevin and AJ kept going over to his side.

So, to say that this concert had been awful, almost unbearable, was a lot to say. A lot.

And it had. Kevin and Nick were in no speaking terms, so that had been a tough one. Every time their glances passed each other, you could feel the tension in the middle of the area. Brian, whenever he looked at his cousin, couldn't wonder how was it that Nick would suffer and Kevin wouldn't see who he had in front of him. And, if that wasn't enough, AJ and Howie had no idea of what was going on, so they felt like they should investigate it.

And so, two and a half hours had felt like a lifetime in between glances, glares, puppy dog looks and sighs. It had been one long concert.

In the van, it hadn't gotten any better. Kevin, as old and wise as he was, had decided to ignore everyone if not at least for Nick's mental sake. Brian had tried to talk Nick out of the shell he seemed to have placed himself into, who refused profusely. And Howie and AJ kept talking to themselves, wondering what was going on and why no one decided to let them in on the scoop.

Neither of them said anything, and really they wouldn't. They usually had the very bad habit of getting in each other's business. But when things were this messed up, when three out of five wouldn't talk, then that meant things were beyond wrong at this point.

Walking down the hallway, finally being close to their dorms so they could each wonder their own things without the rest of the gang bothering them, gazes just crossed each other. Most of them, one could say. Every gaze except clear blue eyes with dark green.

When Kevin opened the door, he could still feel Nick's mind shouting inside his psyche, Brian's concern and Howie and AJ's confusion. It was close to unbearable. If he didn't have centuries on his back, centuries of experience on this, he knew he would feel over charged and would probably need to exteriorize his animosity.

Still, he felt slightly that way.

Every time the blond would feel pain, Kevin's instinct would be to go there and comfort him. His nights, when the youth was younger, were haunted with the fact that he was alone in a new group, feeling homesick every second of it. And most of them he would find himself standing up from his tired sleep and going over to the youngster's room, cradling in him his arms and prodding his mind to easy him from his demons.

Kevin knew he shouldn't. He shouldn't abuse his powers over the mind of his... Kevin shook his head as he entered his room. He wouldn't think about it. He had promised to let faith dictate what would happen. That he wouldn't intervene. And he wouldn't. He would protect his charge over everything. Over himself too, if he had to.

Kevin walked over the bed, picking up his papers, turning the TV off most out of habit than necessity.

The door of the fridge opened, a bottle of wine making its way towards Kevin's hand. He grabbed it, a glass of wine over the other hand. He poured a glass of the dark liquid, the bottle standing in the middle of the air, Kevin's attention on the taste. His mind needn't to think of the bottle. His age and experience had showed him that just the barely thought of the bottle on the air was enough for it to remain there.

Placing his mind on a blank so he wouldn't wonder about the youth, he drank, the blood running down his throat with a soothing feeling. He would wait until the guys' mind would fall on a pattern, letting him know they had fallen asleep and then, he would go hunting.

*****

Watching Kevin enter his room, Nick couldn't help but sigh. He didn't want things to be like this. Not now. Not after this.

When Brian and Howie walked into their rooms, AJ dropped his arm around Nick's shoulders. "Nick, I want to talk with you."

Nick felt like sighing again. He had a small idea what it would be about. "I..."

"Don't try to get away from this. Lets go to your room."

With heavy feet, Nick did walk over his own room, Alex trailing behind him. When he closed his door after his older friend, he walked over to the TV and turned it on. The background sound always helps -- especially regarding the discussion he knew would be held in the next couple of minutes.

"What happened?"

This time, Nick did sighed. Way to go to the point Alex. "What do you mean?"

"Don't play dumb with me. What happened? You and Kevin aren't in speaking terms and Brian seemed... angry at Kevin as well."

"This has got nothing to do with you."

"Oh no? You're my brother. The three of you are my brothers -- it is my business."

Nick shook his head. "Not this time Alex. Really. Not this time."

"No. Something is going on and it's rather bad. Each time Kevin would look at you, he... I don't know, but something happened. You wouldn't even say a word to him."

Nick blinked in surprise. Kevin was looking at him? He hadn't noticed. "It just..."

"And this morning, you slept in. Kevin doesn't usually let us sleep in. What is it?"

"I don't want to talk about it. It's my problem."

"When you miss your cues it's everyone's problem."

Nick sighed once again. "He's... last night I wasn't feeling well. I think Kevin realized that."

Alex eyed the blond warily. He was lying; he knew it. But right now, it wasn't going to do any good to try to push him. "If you say so. Just know that... if you wanna talk with me -- about Kevin or anything -- you can just call me."

"Thanks," Nick said sincerely.

Alex nodded at him and showed himself out the door. He would ask later.

Nick walked over to the room and let himself fall on the bed unceremoniously. He was so tired. The day had been... awful. He sighted softly, closing his eyes and dropping his arm over them. Thinking that he would change in a minute, he fell asleep without noticing.

*****

Alex being the last one of the bunch to fall asleep, worrying too much about their youngest charge, Kevin stood up from the bed and put on his jacket. He took the last sip of the bottle as he put on his gloves. They were all concern for one another, which let a smile go over to his lips. They cared. That was always good.

Kevin could feel Brian's troubled mind wondering into the land of the lost thoughts, his eyes squinting a little and the young man flinching. With a little probing of Kevin into the younger's mind, Brian fell into dreamless sleep. This wasn't the night for nightmares to any of them. Kevin would see to that. He didn't care if probing into their psyches was right or not. After all, it wasn't as if he had to put every notch of attention into them. It was more of a... reflex. Their thoughts were in him -- they always had. So, in some part, it gave him so space to tranquil them.

Reaching his door, he stopped for a second. There was someone else outside. Not one of the guys -- one of their bodyguard. Eric?... Yeah, it was Eric. This wasn't the way he wanted to be, but he needed to go hunting. His mind was far too trouble for sleep to come without some outlet of his emotions.

And so, he walked out of the room and the taller man stood up from his chair a couple of feet down the hallway.

"Kevin? Kev, what are you doing up so late? I thought you'd be fast asleep."

Kevin smiled slightly at the older man, lowering his dark shades and looking straight into Eric's brown eyes.

The other's eyes misted for a second, letting Kevin know he had Eric's utter attention.

"You never saw me," Kevin said slowly. "I was in my room all night."

"I never saw you," Eric repeated instinctively.

"When I come back, you won't see me either. You'll do your watch and keep an eye on the guys' room. They can't leave their rooms while I'm gone."

"They won't leave their rooms."

"Good Eric. Now sit down and continue your guard."

And the older man did just that.

Kevin, a small grin on his lips, entered the elevator and was out of the hotel without anyone else seeing him -- or not seeing him.

He walked the street slowly, thoughts and ideas he didn't want to think about making its way towards his mind. His eyes darken slightly, loosing focus for a moment.

*****

Kevin's eyes darken considerably and he could feel the fangs coming out of his teeth at the threaten that had been in the statement. He wouldn't let Alec, nor Elli touch the youth. He would protect him.

*****

Kevin turned right somewhere, the breeze cold against his neck. He didn't have a plan in mind, he was following his instincts. Like always. Like before. But, he had to tell himself, before, he had done it all wrong.

*****

Kevin walked into the living room of the castle. Elli was talking friends of different cast. The older man -- for quite several years -- chuckled at comment.

*****

He walked down the street, sounds not reaching his ears, light not reaching his eyes.

He jaw was set tight. He could still see Elli's face. His lips in that awful smirk, letting Kevin know he didn't need Kevin's words to understand the things underneath.

He hated that smirk; even now, so many centuries afterwards, he still hated that smirk.

He crossed the street, few cars making their way by. The sounds dismissed, the lights dimming. Kevin didn't know if it was real or just his mind playing tricks on him. He didn't care.

Kevin did hear a yell, a cry, and turned around.

A woman screamed, her hands in her hair. He followed her line of sight and his eye caught a guy running with all his might, a purse hanging from his hands.

That was enough for Kevin.

Kevin run, following the man. The air was cold against his face.

That smile. That grin.

Kevin run faster.

The man turned around to the left, getting in an alley.

Kevin followed suit.

That smug smile, those black eyes taunting him. He knew the truth.

Kevin wanted him dead.

The guys slowed his pace, opening the purse.

He never saw Kevin approaching. The guys raised his head, dark eyes locking with Kevin as Kevin threw him against a wall. The guys complained. Kevin didn't hear. He could only hear the taunting, the laughter, the references to the blond boy, to fresh meat, to sweet taste on thin lips.

He could only hear Elli's laughter.

Kevin roared, picking up the guy from the neck of his jacket, throwing him against the wall on the other side of the alley. Something crack. It wasn't his neck.

Kevin wanted him dead.

The man said something, Kevin didn't hear. There was no sound outside, only in his mind. There was no nothing, only grins and chuckles. Only canine teeth looking back at him, lips going over them. A promise of fresh meat against those teeth.

Kevin wanted him dead.

The guy fell down onto the floor by his own weight, broken bones hurting everywhere. But Kevin didn't see. He didn't hear.

Kevin punched the guy in the jaw. Another crack. He punched him in the ribs, in the stomachs. Two more cracks. There was a scream. It wasn't the guy's. Kevin barely heard it resound in his ears, another roar coming from deep in his chest, down in his throat. Anger built up for centuries.

Revenge went through Kevin's blood, through his mind.

Canine teeth stared back at Kevin in his mind. White teeth, red tongue going over them.

Kevin wanted him dead.

Kevin kneeled in front of the man, roaring slightly, his teeth shining under the dim light. Throwing back his head, Kevin sunk his teeth in the soft flesh. The man's flesh. Not anyone else's. Kevin's teeth. Not Elli's. The man's flesh. Only the man's flesh.

The guy whimpered but Kevin didn't hear. He didn't hear anything. He only saw black eyes grinning back at him. His anger subsided as the blood poured from the wound into Kevin's mouth. He drank it hungrily. He needed it. He craved it. He craved redemption, forgiveness. He craved his own forgiveness. One he couldn't get. He would never get. Kevin would never forgive himself.

When the blood stopped coming, when the beating died in the chest, Kevin stood up, wiping the remnants of the blood on his mouth with the back of his palm. It was sweet. It was good. But it wasn't enough. Not for so many years of those black eyes looking back at him, for that smug smile on those lips laughing at his mistakes.

Kevin paused, trying to remember the reason why he had chosen this guy in particular. The image of the woman screaming came back to mind, taking off his memory of those eyes for only a second. He looked around, fining the purse, picking it up. He closed it, turning around and walking back to where he had first spotted the guy.

Sound left once again, lights dimming in his eyes. He didn't care. Sounds and lights weren't need in his continuous torture. His mind could still remember that face. He didn't need light.

He reached the lady, talking another woman, younger than the first, trying to console her.

Kevin didn't say anything, barely stopping as he paused by the woman's side, placing the purse in her hands. The woman turned around, Kevin sensed that much. There were words staying in the air, but Kevin didn't hear them. He just continued walking.

He walked down the street, lights barely reaching his eyes. He walked in instinct. Eyes and lips and teeth still in his mind. Kevin pressed his lips in a thin line, his jaw clenching. He hated those eyes and lips and teeth.

He wanted those eyes, lips and teeth dead.

He wanted him dead.