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</div></div><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Luca held Aries as the other cried on him. He brushed his hand through the red hair and listened as the words spilled from Aries' lips. The vampire would never know how those words made Luca feel. He wanted that too, to stay with the vampire for as long as possible. To never lose him, to share in all kinds of things. But was it even possible? Could he hold onto Aries like he wanted? <br/>
<br/>
<i>I can't hold onto him...</i> the thought struck Luca hard. <i>I can't keep him.</i> Luca sucked in a sharp breath and embraced Aries tighter. Mostly to hide his face from the other as he couldn't keep the shock of emotion from overtaking him. Despite how his arm stung, and how tired he was, he knew Aries was far worse than him. For how long had the other suffered? He didn't need to ask. It likely felt like an eternity. <br/>
<br/>
When he was certain his voice wouldn't give him away, Luca finally replied, though he hadn't released the vampire either. "You're not a weapon, and I won't use you. I <i>can't</i> do that. It's not right. And you are helpful, you've helped me a lot. But you're not a tool, Aries. You're a person. And it wasn't your fault what happened. Alex wanted to take you from me right from the start. I think no matter what, we would have run into this situation. So it's not your fault at all." Luca swallowed hard. He had to close those emotions off. They were dangerous. It would only end in disaster for him anyway. He knew that. Aries didn't want to live, he craved death like someone who craved an antidote to a poison. Nothing was going to change that. <br/>
<br/>
Especially not a human, whose growing attachment and desires were nothing compared to a vampire who'd lived an eternity of hell. Luca hugged Aries tighter, as if the action would simply shut it all off. He released the vampire right after, almost abruptly and turned quickly so Aries wouldn't see the remains of his distress. Bending down, he retrieved Aries' sweater and handed it back to him. "If you can make it, I'd like to go to a hunters headquarters. I need a few things from them," he said, keeping it deliberatley vague as he didn't want to worry the vampire anymore than he already was. Even so, his body decided different and he coughed hard, ending up bracing himself against the wall of a building before it was over. With a groan, he pressed his hand against his head and sighed. His headache was killer. A shiver shot through him and he let out a soft, shaking breath. "It's not too far, but... I might need to lean you. I'm sorry..."</span>