Wren patted Stitch and told him to stay as he slipped out the door after the vampire. Happy to be outside, he smiled, breathing in the cold, fresh air. Clouds coated the sky, keeping in most of the cold as a breeze whisked by. Wren didn’t even need his jacket— maybe from being a werewolf, maybe from his nerves. He couldn’t tell.
He walked happily next to Valentina, looking up at the sky with a grin.
She wore a heavy black coat, the kind that looked sorta like the type mystery solves like Dick Tracy used to wear back in the day. She also wore boots, black and lined with fur. The umbrella was to keep the sun from killing her. She walked along angrily, cursing the cold angrily as her nose and cheeks got red, since this coat didn't have a hood on it and she had forgotten her hat.
“Hey,” Wren mumbled, looking over at her. “You seem pretty cold. Do you want my jacket? I’m warm basically wherever, so I don’t really need it.”
He took off just his standard brown jacket. All he had was a t-shirt underneath, showing his toned arms and tan skin. He held it out, cocking his head like a dog would do.
She blushed and nodded. "Uh yeah…that…that'd be great." She smiled a bit, not used to such kindness. It caught her so off guard that she actually accepted it. 'Fantastic now I'm gonna smell like dog all day!' She sighed and kept walking.
Wren was surprised that she had actually said yes, but he slipped it on her shoulders anyway. The jacket was unusually warm and smelled of the hot chocolate she had made him previously, despite not having any on it. His hands lingered on her shoulders for just a slight bit too long, until he realized what he was doing. He quickly pulled away, shoving his hands in his jean pockets and looking down at the sidewalk.
She inhaled the smell and smiled a bit as she buried her face into the hood. Her heightened smell adored the rush of new delicious scent that surrounded her,no matter where it came from. She even had a little bit of pep in her float as she stopped at a stop light and pressed the button, humming a bit.
“You seem happy,” Wren mumbled, keeping his voice low. “It’s nice.”
He smiled over at her, his big brown eyes holding a kiddish twinkle. His heart raced just slightly as they set on the woman.
He took his hands from his pockets and let them hang loose by his sides, swinging in just the slightest as they walked, then stopped for the street light.
She suddenly realized what had happened and her eyes went cold as she zipped up the jacket and impatiently pressed the button till the two could cross. She made sure to keep a few steps ahead,back to her usual cold pissy self.
Wren was getting tired of this, but his nature made him slightly too scared to ask about it, so he just automatically assumed it was his fault. He let out a quiet whimper and cursed himself silently for it. He hated when he did that.
He took that respectful distance behind the woman and ceased to interfere, until curiosity got the best of him.
“I’m… sorry,” he crooned. “Did I… did I do something? Or is it just… who I am?”
He said the last part even quieter than the previous.
"A vampire must always keep steady and refined form, never to slip into such silly things as emotions. Especially a young lady such as yourself, an iron front. You are a cold dead hearted beast, not some frilly girl with flowers in her hair." She was quoting her mother, anyone could tell. Her mother was strict and pounded the values Valentina should have into her head. Her father was more the romantic type, sweet and endearing of his children.
Wren cocked his head, looking like a confused puppy yet again. “That’s… basically the opposite of how my parents raised me.”
He was quiet for a moment before continuing.
“I think people should have the freedom to create their own values,” he uttered. Despite being a big doof, he spoke quite elegantly. “At least, that’s my moral.”
"Well you are a werewolf I am a vampire. We are raised differently." She said coldly as she turned another corner, lightly levitating above the ground. Her eyes rolled as she spoke, hugging herself, still cold. But she was used to the cold, she was never anything else.
Wren narrowed his eyes. “How you were raised shouldn’t effect the choices you want to make.”
He didn’t even know what he was trying to do right now.
“I’ve seen how happy some little things make you…,” he mumbled. “You should pursue them.”
Wren looked at her again with his large, brown, puppy-like eyes. “Your life’s been tough. It’s ok to let go just a little bit.”
Suddenly she stopped, stiff backed, and she turned around. Her pink eyes had begun to glow a little bit. "You leave me and my life alone Wren." She growled out. "Life has given me clots I'm just trying to make blood." She said lowly. "And you have no say in my life. It's MINE. Not yours. So leave it alone." She then zipped off fast in front of him, flying off fast. She was pissed. 'Who the hell does he think he is?'
Wren stood there, dumbfounded. His heart dropped to his stomach and he felt somewhat of a profound sadness wash over him. He debated whether to follow after or go back. So he just stood there, thankful no one was there to watch his heart break just a little. The wolf inside pleaded to be released and chase, but Wren put it at bay and pushed forward slowly.
By the time Wren got there Valentina was waiting by the store front, texing on her phone, eyes low cut and glowering when she looked up, glancing at him. "Jeeze for a wolf you sure do move slow." She said with clear annoyance in her voice. She put her phone in the cocoa pocket, lifted up the sleeves and deeply inhaled, taking in the smell with the slightest smile, before stomping into the store.
Wren muttered something to himself and followed, the smells of the market meeting his nose.
“Maybe if you didn’t wa— well, float off so fast, I would have been able to keep up,” he mumbled. “And I’m not a wolf. At least, not right now.”
"Even if you're in your human form shouldn't you have some hella good muscles? Be able to keep up?" She snapped back, grabbing a grocery cart and floating in slowly as she checks her texts, her mother sending her messages about all that they would need.
“Well I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you,” he said quietly. “But calm down, Zippy.”
He walked alongside the cart, trailing slightly off as to not be in “punching” range. Wren kept his hands in his pockets, hunching his shoulders a bit.
"No." She said and floated in front of him, trying to figure out where to get everything. "And you can't make me." She said haughtily. Everyone knew that was true. (Punching?)
(If she wanted to perhaps punch him, lol)
Wren narrowed his eyes and looked away, his eyes wandering on the shelves instead. The smells of the market were so strong they gave him a headache and he looked— and felt— clearly upset.
(She would never ever do that. Not yet anyways)
She noticed it but didn't bother to care, sorta lost in her task until while walking together someone she knew from school walked over. "Hey Val!" The overly cheery neko cat girl said with a sly smile on their face, or what she thought was sly. It was actually just slightly less toothy then her usual happy go lucky grin. "Oh hi Violet." Valentina said nonchalantly while putting some meat into the cart. "Hey I was wondering, is it true the princess of all Vampires is DATING a lowly werewolf?" "What-No Violet. You know how easily cold I get. He happened to offer me his jacket, so I took it as extra layering. I wouldn't date a werewolf if my life was on the line." She stated with a huff. Violet looked really sad and slinked off as Valentina roled her eyes. (Don't worry. That book? It's gonna follow Valentina around. Gonna put some love spells or something on her, make her say the truth of what she really thinks about him. Just tough it out for now)
(Don’t worry lol, Wren should be just fine :)
Wren eyed the cat-woman with a smile, dismissing Valentina’s remarks.
“Hi,” he said cheerily, reverting just slightly back to his true nature. “I’m Wren. Can’t promise you’ve heard the best things about me if you’re hanging around with Val, but it’s nice to meet you.”
Wren held out a hand, walking up. He had no clue how she would react, due to him being a “lowly werewolf,” but he tried his best to act as friendly as he could. Which was, very friendly.
Her hair stood on end as she shook his hand, and then she ran off and away without a word. "Your a dog, she's a cat. It's just nature." Valentina explained plainly as she continued her shopping. "Now go fetch some milk, boy." She said with a certain sass of mockery to her tone.
Wren scoffed under his breath. “Okay.” He said, his voice completely monotone. He slipped out of sight, walking down an adjacent isle. His eyes wandered across the fridge, looking for the jug of milk.
Valentina sighed as she continued her shopping,waiting for him to come back.
Wren tapped his lip with his finger, scoping for the milk Val normally would buy. He found it, and with a deep breath, walked back. He swerved through isles until he slid up back beside the woman.
“Here you go,” he said, no doubt with a somewhat clearer mind.
She nodded and then handed him the basket. "Stay here." She the flew off and in 5 minutes flat came back with two arms full of groceries,and put them in the cart. "There. We can check out now."
“Dang, you’re quick,” he said. “And you asked why I couldn’t keep up.”
He pushed the cart along past her, making his way to the checkout. Once there, he began loading onto the counter.
She walked up and waited for everything to go through, and paid. "Aerodynamically a wolf is faster than a vampire on land. But we take over top speed in the air. Even harpies are not nearly as fast as vampire folk." She said plainly.