<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'"><i>'You killed someone... You made me slice a scalpel across his throat. Yet you claim you did it for me'</i><br/>
<br/>
In spite of the sheltered life Carter lived and his childish tendencies aside, the boy had always been clever, seemingly wise beyond his years. The fact he didn't simply accept that he was the only reasoning behind Asa's actions brought the vampire up short. Having no intentions of changing his story, because it was the truth--or part of it at least--he only reiterated what he'd already said. <br/>
<br/>
Excuses and half truths. In some cases, outright lies when the truth was at risk of coming to light. Asa had led Carter to believe all these years, that he lived and breathed his work. The nature of which had never been disclosed and that he'd made forbidden to ever ask about. And that is what he'd continue to let the boy believe. The whole truth an ever present darkness that was better off kept where it thrived best: in the dark. <br/>
<br/>
<i>'But you do neither of those things. You just remind me that things won't work. We can't be. I belong to the house, it's walls' </i><br/>
<br/>
"You know it isn't that simple," Asa murmured, his eyes muted--sad even--as he turned his cheek into Carter's hand. <br/>
<br/>
Carter being human was but one of many reasons why they could never be more. Only part of the reason he kept Carter at an arm's length, always pushing the other male away when he feared Carter might get his hopes up about them. Why he knew it was best if Carter eventually grew out of his school boy crush and realized that his feelings would never be reciprocated. And yet a largely selfish part of him wanted Carter's feelings to never change. The part of him that kept Carter prisoner, a restless soul forever captive to these cold walls; the part that could never let him go, wanted nothing more than for Carter to cease to exist if his love ever waned. <br/>
<br/>
<i>'You couldn't make me hate you... I don't think it's possible'</i><br/>
<br/>
For both their sakes, Asa hoped it to be true. But as he'd discovered over the years, anything was possible.<br/>
<br/>
<i>'You know how to shower right? Pants aren't normally a thing for the tub. Will you at least remove them and allow me to wash you in return?'</i><br/>
<br/>
Asa glanced down at his soaked pants, "My mind was preoccupied with more pressing matters,' he said, his smile sheepish as his gaze once again found Carter's. 'No' is what he should have said. Leave Carter to finish showering alone, is what he should have done. Giving in to the other's words, being taken in with that cheeky grin is what he shouldn't have done. It was just a shower, he reasoned, as he peeled out of the clinging fabric. They'd bathed together plenty of times before, this was no different. </span>