"Tovarishch?" A young boy of thirteen stepped around the well-trimmed hedge, dressed in the silk attire of an Imperial noble. His hair was just long enough that he could tie it back at the base of his skull loosely with a silver cord, and was a deep shade of cobalt like the evening sky. He'd spotted his closest companion, a boy with sleek, pale blond hair and crimson eyes, sitting alone on a stone bench that was carved to look like the native plants. From there, his companion had a lovely view of one of the many fountains on the grounds of the Moldova mansion. His head was bowed, and a confused frown was on his lips, as if he didn't know what exactly to think of a certain situation.

"Tovarishch, are you all right?" the first boy took a seat beside his companion, touching his shoulder.

"Radu..." his smile was deeply relieved, "I hoped to see you..." Radu stroked his companion's blond hair.

"What is it? Something is bothering you. Tell me, please?" The blond's arm went around Radu's back and pulled him close, the two of them cuddling for comfort and the desire for intimacy.

"Today... Today was my Awakening... Radu... After today, I can never walk beneath the bright sun... Never again."

"Awakened?" To the vampiric Methuselah, the Awakening was the day the virus—the one that caused their thirst for blood—became active. It slowed the aging process and greatly extended the Methuselah's natural life span. Though they looked the same age now, in a few years time Radu will have aged much. Normally, Tovarishch awakened near the same time, usually within days, and Radu was eager to join his lifelong companion. Up until now, one of their favorite pass times had been playfully tormenting the Terran—who lived among them, usually as servants—in good sport during broad daylight.

"Oh, Radu... What do you want to do? I will not stop you if you continue to venture outside the barrier... But I cannot... Like my father and grandfather before me... I will rule the night with the rest of my kin." The blond looked as if he might cry, as if he had suffered a great loss by having to give up the sunlight, but Radu gently planted a kiss on the center of his forehead.

"Then from this day forward, I won't go out into the sun either. Ion, you and I will always be together. I will always be here for you. I'll shun the hurtful sun and embrace the moon for you. I promise." Radu gave a glowing smile.

"You will? From now until the end of our lives?"

"Yes... Forever." Satisfied, Ion smiled back. Radu draped his arms across Ion's shoulders and pulled him closer, their heads leaning together and fingers knotted. Ion reached up, and carded his fingers through the loose hair that framed Radu's fair face.

"I will miss the blue glow that has stunned me on many days under the sun... and made me love you all the more. Perhaps the moon will allow such a beautiful color to come forth? It shines like... Like the deep cerulean of the sea, Radu. No, even better than that, like the most flawless of sapphires." Radu blushed with pleasure at such complements, smiling shyly. "Tonight, you will be by my side as I am recognized as a noble of the House of Moldova, will you not?"

"Always. And you'll be at my awakening?"

"Yes. Tovarishch, I love you, and would never dare to leave you..." he cupped Radu's cheek in his palm and turned his head ever so slightly, and they kissed to seal the deal. Ion blushed and pulled away, as if astounded by his own boldness, but Radu caught him and pulled him back, kissing him again, enjoying it far too much to let it go.

"Ion... I don't care if someone's watching, and I'll always want a kiss from you. Don't be afraid to take one whenever you'd like." Ion nodded.

"You have told me this before, but... Forgive me, Tovarishch." Radu smiled again.

"Shouldn't we be getting ready for your Awakening ceremony?"

"Yes. Shall we go?" he grasped Radu's hand and pulled him up, and they kept their hands in each other's as they returned to the House of Moldova, which was the lavish Persian-influenced abode of the Duchess of Moldova, Mirka Fortuna. Ion's grandmother. Radu's family home was nowhere near as beautiful or richly decorated, but he was also not nearly as high born. His own parents had passed from this world not so long ago, but near the same time as Ion's, leaving Radu the sole heir to the Luxor family fortune. He was a Baron already at his age, and would inherit his property when he, too, was Awakened as a Methuselah. However... Ion was born an Earl, and outranked him twice over, and as soon as he was appointed Duke of Moldova at the time of Mirka's death, he would be one rank short of royalty, which was a title only ever to be worn by the Empress Augusta Vradica herself.

For now, he stayed in the Moldova mansion, and, though Mirka seemed to enjoy his company while Ion was around, she was rather cold and distant otherwise. He'd accidentally heard a conversation between her and Lord Baibars one evening, involving himself and Ion's adoration of him.

"You know, it really is unhealthy for my grandson to pursue such lowly enjoyment with a young man of the Baron's rank..." she sighed and shift her silk-clad legs, re-crossing them with elegance. He watched her run a single, slender finger along the outside edge of her wine glass, listening as it emitted a clear ringing.

"If you disapprove, then why did you agree to their union as Tovarishch?" Baibars' voice was deep and hard to hear, but Radu leaned closer to the gap in the door.

"Partly to make my grandson happy... He wouldn't have been if I hadn't agreed..." again she sighed, "Usually, noble families only make ties to each other for gain, but... This time I have let my kindness overshadow my duties... The bond of Tovarishch is a strong one, one not easily broken, but the only one who receives benefit from this is, well... The Baron. He has nothing. No family but himself, very little to inherit, no great legacy... Goodness, I regret this union every day..." she shook her head. "Do you see the way he leads Ion to behave?"

"No, my Lady, I have not," he replied honestly.

"Teaching him to disobey like an uncivilized hooligan rather than properly as a noble should, taking him outside the barrier to mingle with commoners... Augusta help us... What did they teach that boy before they died?"

There had been no secrets between Ion and Radu until then. He didn't want to shoulder his Tovarishch with the burden of knowing his own grandmother disapproved of his choices, and never much cared for his partner. But that was the only secret he'd ever keep from him, who he otherwise voiced all of his thoughts and dreams to, no matter how silly.

He and Ion, as Tovarishch, shared a room and a bed. They shared everything else too, always trading plates before a meal, taking classes, bathing, everything. They relied solely on each other for companionship, and would defend each other without question.

Sometimes, when they were outside the barrier during the day, the young Terran would jeer or say demeaning things to Radu, commenting on how he was a bastard child and an orphan with no where to call home, but Ion verbally set them straight each and every time.

"Radu... What if I make a fool of myself?"

"You won't! You're the Earl of Memphis! Grandson of Mirka Fortuna! These things are imprinted into your blood!" Radu gave Ion a little push from behind, urging him on down the hall. Ion stumbled a little, but regained his posture, and continued his walk.

"Who do you think will be present?"

"Everyone. You're popular, Tovarishch, remember?" Radu took a quick step forward, and embraced Ion from behind, smelling the sweet lavender soap he had used on his hair, "And when we return, we'll both stay up all night and celebrate your Awakening together."

"You will... Say up with me?"

"I told you, I'll forsake the day with you. I love you. It's only fair. I don't want to wait until I'm Awakened to be with you again, because who knows how long that'll be? Maybe it would only be a couple of days, or even weeks, but what if it takes years? Or decades? I couldn't bear that." He squeezed Ion tightly, "Good luck, Tovarishch." One final kiss on the cheek, and Ion breathed deeply, reaching for the elegant silver handle on the door before him, turning it slowly. The entire room went silent, and all eyes were on Ion as he stepped in with practiced grace, crossing the room to where Mirka Fortuna stood, and beside her was an elegantly carved ebony table with a jeweled, solid gold chalice filled with the Methuselah Life Water he would need to drink from here on out.

Mirka beamed and stretched out her arms in a welcoming gesture. Radu glanced around and gaped almost in total bewilderment. The room was filled with several hundred people, all here to see the awakening of this single individual. Radu frowned. Who would be there for him when he Awakened? No one. Not one single person... Except Ion, he realized. Even if he was the only one, Ion would be there for him, and they would celebrate it together, just like they would tonight. Radu stepped a little lighter behind his companion.

"Ion, my Grandson," Mirka embraced him, "Finally, we can fully recognize you as one of us." She looked up at the crowd, "Behold! Ion Fortuna, heir to the Moldova family fortune!" Her voice, which was softer and more beautiful than any siren, echoed throughout the hall. Everyone stood in silence as the sun began to sink below the horizon, casting all of them into semi-darkness through the stained glass windows.

Ion knew the routine; he would wait in absolute silence until the sun had completely vanished, then, in one gulp, he would consume the Methuselah Life Water. There would be a celebration and a feast, and then Ion would stay up for the remainder of the night with Radu for company, and thus complete the transition from day life to night life and begin his life as a true Methuselah.

Both Ion and Radu closed their eyes and waited, side by side, their heads bowed. Then, it was time, and as the last ray of sunshine vanished, Ion grasped the chalice in one hand and brought it to his lips, drinking all of it in a single breath. It was bitter, almost unbearably so, and made his eyes water, but he did not set it down until the last drop slid between his lips. He smiled, and everyone clapped and cheered their happiness as he set the chalice back on the table. Ion bowed deeply, and he and Radu embraced, followed by a kiss on the forehead from Mirka.

The feast was held at a pair of long tables in the Great hall, with Ion, Mirka, Radu, and some of Mirka's closest friends at the head table. The boys were busy gathering food as Ion was repeatedly patted on the back and congratulated by friends and relatives alike. Radu smiled, undaunted by all of the attention the Earl was receiving, and the two of them traded plates as was their daily ritual.

"I don't know what this is, Tovarishch, but I thought we should try it," Radu pointed to the vegetable-and-rice combination in some sort of sauce that was on the plate he'd given Ion. Consequently, Ion had given him the very same."I agree. I gave some to you too." Both were extremely eager to get to the dessert, because there were all sorts of delicious things for them to try, so both had chosen only a few things; they would truly fill up on dessert yawned widely, thoroughly exhausted now that they had been up all night. He and Ion were back-to-back on a plush Persian rug that had been given to Ion as a gift when he was born, both of them nodding off.

"Ion... Can we go to bed yet?" Radu's voice was soft and heavy with fatigue."Soon. Grandmother said we must stay up until dawn... That would be... In only a few minutes... Look..." He gave a listless gesture toward the window. Sure enough, outside the barrier it was obvious that the sky was lightening to a bright shade of cobalt and would break into a multitude of colors as soon as the sun crawled over the horizon.

"Radu?" he heard the deep, heavy breathing of the boy behind him, and he glanced back. Sure enough, Radu was sound asleep. With a soft sigh, he closed his eyes and he, too, entered the dream world.