Samuel blinked at Ben, then looked at Kerr - who seemed frozen - then at Remi in confusion. That sounded like a 'no, thanks' from Ben. So the burn mark was some sort of... gift? He looked back at the other two vampires again and that was when things got really awkward.
~*~
Kerr felt like he was entirely too much. Too vulnerable, too in love, too obvious, too insulted, too shocked, too wounded. Too. Fucking. Much.
He blinked and broke eye contact with Ben, looking down at his lap in an effort to gather himself, his wits, his emotions. Everything felt like it was flying loose inside him and he couldn't bear the thought of falling apart in front of guests. How gauche. He swallowed, tilting slightly to the left, where his hand lifted so that his fingertips could press against his lips, his elbow resting on the arm of his chair. He was trembling. He didn't like that.
Think. Think. It was difficult to. To process the fact that Ben was saying he didn't want to get rid of the fucking blight. He valued a potential alliance over Kerr's peace of mind? The foul leavings of a random fuck over his partner's happiness. What the fuck? He knew how it pained Kerr to see that fucking thing every night, how he avoided looking at it, touching it. That snarled 'Fuck you' had been genuine. He wanted his mark on his body. Jesus. Was that blasphemous to think in the presence of an angel? Fucking hell. That was probably better. Fucking motherfucker of hellfuck. Yeah.
He had to say something. He'd come back to Ben just a handful of nights before because he couldn't live without him but he didn't return just to get kicked in the dick. The only way the mark being gone would ruin Ben's alliance with Sardickiel would be if the cunt found out and he'd only find out once Ben's shirt was off and by that stage, who the fuck thought the cockhead would halt things just to bitch about his love burn being taken away? Not Kerr. By that stage, the fuckers would be ready to fuck each other too stupid to even give a shit. He'd probably just put another one on him. Kerr hoped next time it'd go on his cock and there'd be no magical ointment to stop the burn.
Ben clearly didn't give a shit about Kerr's feelings, it was that horrifyingly simple. He'd said all his pretty words and demurred about going to that dark angel fucker and they'd had a beautiful date - a fucking magical date - where Ben had professed love and appreciation for him, his sire, his one true love, his partner but when all was said and done... he didn't give a shit. Maybe the mark was a corruption, a bit of Sarcunthead that was twisting Ben into protecting it so that it would be able to stay and influence him?
Probably not, though. Ben was probably just an asshole.
Kerr cleared his throat, knowing the silence was stretching, that their visitors were wondering what the fuck was going on. Kerr set his jaw and dropped the hand away from his face, forcing himself to look into Ben's mesmerising gaze. "Well then. I guess it comes down to whose alliance you value more," he said, his voice quiet but so hard it could cut steel. The implication he kept in his own thoughts, barred from Ben's mind should he be looking, but he would know what Kerr was thinking anyway.
Him or me. Fucking choose. Fuck me for wanting it off you? No, fuck you.