Radiant red sunlight poured in through the luxury oceanfront home's tall kitchen windows. Alain DeMuer stood at the bar, framed by the sunset's touch that deepened that hard lines of his face. His sleeves were rolled up and his solid arms frosted with sweat -- he had been hard at work in the kitchen, where he always loved to cook for his coy vampire friend, Sinjin. His loose white shirt was tucked into his pants but unbuttoned far down to keep him cool in the beach's pleasing warmth, but the cross that hung ever around his sculpted neck and rested on his scarred chest was nowhere in sight. Strong was his faith, but he couldn't bear if it hurt his friend.

"Are you ready?" He looked across the counter at Sinjin, into the shadows still out of the sun's reach, and smiled encouragingly. "The sunset's almost over... I want to share this with you."

Across from the lithe form of the ex-detective he was growing more and more familiar with stood the Spaniard, still basking in shadow. His black button down was open to expose the many scars across his pale, cold flesh.. but even with all those injuries, there was still a glimmer of fear in his eyes as he met Alain's.

"I.. don't know. I want to share it with you, I do, but I don't think--" The vampire hesitated and looked away from the stronger man's eyes, abashed. He could almost feel his dead heart move again...

Alain lacked much of the deadly beauty that Sinjin possessed, lacked the instinct of a natural hunter... but sped by concern, he moved as one and cradled Sinjin's cold hand in a moment. "I'll protect you... I promise." His wide, baby blue eyes, imploring, begged his friend to trust him.

"Please, I--" He paused, meeting his friend's eyes and silence struck him again. How could he say no to that? Damn him -- damn the man. Quietly, the vampire curled his cold fingers around Alain's and nodded slowly. "I trust you," he whispered..

The young Baron drew Sinjin backwards, step by step, until every inch of his broad, muscular back was awash in warm sunlight... and not one fiery ray touched the Adonis he protected in his arms. He watched his face and smiled every step of the way, until they were standing on the deck that overlooked the sea, with only a man standing between a vampire and oblivion. "...Open your eyes, Sinjin," he whispered.

When was the last time he ever truly saw sunlight or felt the warmth of day? He couldn't remember it any longer. And while fear gripped what was left of his dead heart, those whispered words stirred him. Quietly, Sinjin opened his eyes and felt like he saw the sun again for the first time in years.. in the other man's arms. Adonis he might be, but this man.. he was Apollo, and Sinjin could not resist his light any longer. "Alain..."

"Kiss me, Sinjin," Alain breathed, his pliant lips already obeying his heart's desire, parting for the little shadow he harbored in his arms.

The Baron of his heart need not ask twice. Sinjin curled his fingers into the front of the man's shirt and leaned up and into him. In life, he could not remember kissing and feeling this passionately about a man as he did in this moment. How did they avoid this for so long? How could they.. pretend?

((A collaboration between the players behind Sinjin Fai and Alain DeMuer.))