A/N Still alive.

#

Thankfully, his mouth was full, so Zero didn't have to find a reply. He had a feeling his patented fuck you wouldn't cut it.

Worse, he knew Kaname wasn't playing another one of his freaking mind games. Zero had seen the pets who'd been cast aside once their purebloods got bored with them. They rarely spoke of Shizuka, but when they did, Hotaru had been wistful. Even the Fuji's… Zero knew they'd all run back to their master the second he glanced their way.

Well, there were worse things, and nothing said he couldn't have a little fun on the way…

"Fake, master?" Zero batted tearful eyes when Kaname's attention snapped down to him. "You think my feelings for you are fake? How could you! I've given you everything, I-"

"I believe you," Kaname interrupted hurriedly, sounding strained.

Zero sniffled, sitting up and wiping his eyes. "Promise me you'll never doubt my love again," he begged, "Promise me! My heart can't take it."

"I…promise, pet."

"Thank you master," Zero smiled beatifically, and bent down to finish the job. Kaname came, finally, and after cleaning him up a little, Zero rested his head against Kaname's arm, smiling softly, occasionally letting his hand graze Kaname's thigh, tracing designs, the picture of contentment.

"Do I get to sleep with you, or do I have my own room?"

"We'll fuck in mine, but then you'll have to move to yours."

"I wish you wouldn't say that word," Zero said, astonished with himself for keeping a straight face. "It's so unromantic. We make love, Kaname. You shouldn't cheapen it, what we share is special."

Kuran sighed, but he was clearly still too post-coital to raise a fuss. Besides, he'd asked for it.

"You can stop acting now."

"Acting? Acting!" Zero raised his voice several octaves. "You think-"

"I'm sorry my love," Kaname said softly, soothingly, eyes full of sparkling regret as he took his hand away from the gearstick and wrapped it about Zero's shoulders. He leaned over and kissed Zero's head. "I'm just stressed about this contract. Forgive me?"

The moment Zero met his gaze; the regret vanished and was replaced with sheer mocking devilry. I can play this game too.

"Of course darling." Zero smiled, saccharine sweet. "Anything for you."

"Anything?" Kaname chuckled, "I'll hold you to that, sweetie."

Bastard.

#

Their entrance into Kuran Castle was just as horrific as Zero could imagine.

First, Kaname opened his car door for him. Well, he didn't open it so much as waited on Zero's side of the car whilst a button opened Zero's door for him. But then, he offered his hand to help him out the car.

Zero glared at it for a fraction of a second before smiling softly, letting his eyes go all starry-eyed as he took it, giggling, god help him.

A valet came to take the car, and servant or not he wasn't shy about staring at Zero or more accurately, staring at Zero's hand which was still holding Kaname's.

Zero didn't even try to let go, just letting the valet stare until their eyes met and Zero projected smugness. He was channelling Kaname, but in all honestly, no one did smug better that the pureblood.

The real gauntlet was the castle. Staff lined up to greet their lord and master. They were wearing proper maid uniforms too. Zero could hardly believe his eyes, but yes, there was a uniform.

All of them were looking at him.

Zero put on his best coquettish smile, tucking himself into Kaname's arm as Kaname led him over to one lady in particular.

"Nancy, this is Zero. He's mine. Get a room set up will you?"

Zero could taste the satisfaction when Kaname said mine and so could everyone else. He wasn't shielding his aura and the possessiveness radiated from him like light.

He'd bothered to introduce them, so Zero studied the woman. Vampire. Whatever. Level C, average strength probably in her late eighties although she naturally looked a few decades younger and… she clearly suspected him and Kaname of being up to mischief. There was a solid maternal disapproval to her.

"Of course, Kaname-sama. It will be done. Welcome back, Kiryu-san."

Oh yeah, she knew something. 'Welcome back' his left buttock. How did she know he'd been here before? Or was she helping Kaname with the act? Had he told her to say that?

"We'll be in my study. Don't disturb us."

Did he have no shame? Kaname might as well have said I'm going to fuck him over my desk now, bye bye!

"As you say, Kaname-sama," she replied stoically. Not a vampire to play poker with. Ever.

And then they had to walk past everyone, holding hands.

It was going to be a long weekend.

#

"You can speak freely here," Kaname said the instant the door shut.

There was an unnerving awkward silence. Zero hated it. Whatever they had going between them, things were never awkward. He reached desperately for something to say.

"Is it like that every time you come home or was that performance just for me?"

"A bit of both. Whenever I leave there's always someone waiting for my return," the look in his eyes told Zero he hated that, sometimes. It was the first sign Zero had ever seen to suggest Kaname didn't always like his way-too-privileged lifestyle.

Eugh, feelings.

"Tonight was for you. Sandra, the blonde maid, sends reports to Aidou. He'll be on his way already, to see who has caught my eye."

"Even your friends spy on you? Wow."

Kaname's smile was bitter, "Ah but it's in my own best interests. After all, what if I needed them for something, shouldn't they be prepared in advance? And what if I was doing something they didn't know about? How could they help me then?"

"Or you could just, you know, make them, almighty pureblood ra ra ra." It was probably mean, but Zero found it reassuring that even Kaname had problems.

"Espionage aside, they are my friends. I don't want to bend their wills to mine. Also, I'd feel like a hypocrite since I spy on them too, only I do it better."

He grinned and Zero rolled his eyes, fondly, goddamnit.

"And what's your excuse?"

"Their protection, naturally. As inner court, they're obvious targets."

Guess Kaname hadn't been lying when he said he couldn't talk to Zero without a dozen people knowing inside the hour.

"At least I don't have to worry about you placing spies in my household."

"Because I couldn't care less about what you eat for breakfast?"

"Precisely. You have no idea how much I enjoy your company Zero." He tilted his head. "Are hugs allowed or is it post-coital cuddles only?"

Zero frowned, subtly glancing around him for cameras. "I thought we were safe here."

Kaname's mouth twisted. "Nevermind." He moved over to his desk. "You did well earlier, please maintain that character for the entirety."

"I am a professional, you know. Speaking of, I assume your number one fanboy needs to catch us in the act? I normally don't have to wait this long for you to pounce on me."

"Mmm," Kaname agreed, "but I find myself unwilling to expose your delights to his eyes. I have something else in mind…"