FIC: Catalyst (Part Forty-Five) (Harry Sinclair, Karl Urban, Orlando Bloom, Dave Wenham)
Title: "Catalyst" (Part Forty-Five)
Authors: Brenda (azewewish) & Jo (idiosyncratic)
Series: Claimed Universe
Notes: Click here for full disclaimers and pairings.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven | Part Eight | Part Nine | Part Ten | Part Eleven | Part Twelve | Part Thirteen | Part Fourteen | Part Fifteen | Part Sixteen | Part Seventeen | Part Eighteen | Part Nineteen | Part Twenty | Part Twenty-One | Part Twenty-Two | Part Twenty-Three | Part Twenty-Four | Part Twenty-Five | Part Twenty-Six | Part Twenty-Seven | Part Twenty-Eight | Part Twenty-Nine | Part Thirty | Part Thirty-One | Part Thirty-Two | Part Thirty-Three | Part Thirty-Four | Part Thirty-Five | Part Thirty-Six | Part Thirty-Seven | Part Thirty-Eight | Part Thirty-Nine | Part Forty | Part Forty-One | Part Forty-Two | Part Forty-Three | Part Forty-Four |
"It was a possibility," Josh said, shrugging as he took another swallow of his wine. "Vampires can be...arrogant. Especially the older ones."
"And have you met many of the older ones?"
"A few." Josh leaned back in his seat and began to study Karl as intently as Karl was studying him. "And considering I've met Lord Butler on several occasions..."
Karl threw back his head and laughed. "Ah, yes, Gerard," he said, still chuckling. "Harry and I turned Orlando loose on him early on."
"Somehow, I don't think charm works on a man like Lord Butler."
"No," Karl conceded, "but you'd be surprised what a lack of interest in our history or ways will do to the ego."
"So you're saying that Orlando has no interest in learning about the culture and history of your race?" Josh frowned slightly. "I'm not sure that I'd find that a good thing."
"It's not that he doesn't want to learn, it's just that he doesn't think our history is as important as Gerard thinks it is."
Josh snorted. "I don't think there's anyone alive that thinks your history is as important as Lord Butler. Except maybe Liv."
"Exactly. I think the nicest thing Orlando's ever said about Gerard is that he's stuffy." Karl paused as a server arrived with their appetizer. After they each had a sampling on their plates, he looked up at Josh again. "One thing you really do need to understand about Orlando is that he gets bored very easily. He actually knows more than he lets on about our history and culture, but he's learned it from listening to me and Harry and Dave, as well as Viggo, Sean, and a few others. Gerard, though...he likes to lecture."
"Sounds lovely."
"Precisely."
After another bite of antipasto, Josh cupped his chin in his hand and studied Karl. "You know, it's funny that anyone, especially Orlando, would think that you don't love him just as much as Harry does."
Karl paused, fork halfway to his lips. "What do you mean?"
"You have no idea how much you talk about him, do you?"
"Who?"
"Orlando." Josh chuckled and shook his head. "You find a way to bring him up in just about every conversation. You don't bring up Harry half as much."
"Orlando's a big part of my life," Karl said, with a half shrug. "I imagine others will be saying the same about you in a few years."
"Harry's a big part of your life, too," Josh pointed out. "And has been for a helluva lot longer than Orlando."
"Yes, but you didn't get off on the wrong foot with Harry."
Josh cocked his head and looked at Karl, a small wrinkle forming between his eyes. "So this is all for my benefit?"
"Sort of. While I freely admit that I do bring Orlando up a lot in casual conversation, part of it right now is to show you that he's not...what was it you called him? Oh, yes, a spoiled little diva."
"And you think he needs you to defend him, and Harry doesn't?"
"I didn't say that."
"No, but you may as well have. Look," Josh said, lifting an eyebrow in warning when Karl opened his mouth, "I don't want to argue about this. I like Orlando. He's a good guy and I think we're on the way to being great friends. But he's also a spoiled brat where you're concerned and you can deny it until the cows come home, but your actions will still speak louder than words, and so will Orlando's. Even Harry agrees with me."
"And when I start spoiling you, what then?"
"Won't happen," Josh grinned. "Unlike your other pet, I don't get off on the attention. And speaking of, let's stop giving it to him. Tell me about Harry."
Karl just smiled. He was looking forward to the day he could remind Josh of those words. "Harry's completely unspoilable," Karl said, as their empty appetizer plates were whisked away. "Believe me, I tried. For decades."
"I'm not surprised."
"Don't get me wrong," Karl added. "I still try my best. He just shrugs it off. I've never met anyone like him."
"When did you know you were in love with him?"
"The first time he kissed me." Karl thought back to that long ago night, and the desperation and raw need in Harry's kiss. "I'd been fascinated by him long before that, but...I knew. In that moment, I knew I would give up everything I was or would be for him. It just...it took me awhile to realize it for what it was."
"And you never thought it was a pet bond?"
The question didn't surprise Karl. To be honest, he was more than a little pleased that Josh had asked it so soon. "No. Can you imagine Harry as a pet?"
"Not really," Josh answered.
"Don't misunderstand me." Karl chose his words carefully, well aware of the slippery slope he was on. "Pets have to be strong of will and mind to be able to handle the bond and still maintain their own personality and core, and strong enough to deal with their loved ones and friends dying while they live on. They also have to live with a vampire's disposition and lifestyle, which takes considerable skill and diplomacy and knowing when to stand one's ground. But Harry...even as a youth, the spark I had with him was something else entirely. Unlike anything I'd ever known or heard about. I had no idea what to do with him."
"Somehow, I get the feeling it was mutual."
"More than," Karl said. "We circled around each other for five years before we actually admitted it."
Josh leaned in, only moving back far enough for the server to bring their dishes to the table. "What happened to change that?" he asked, softly.
"He died." Even after so many centuries, Karl remembered every single detail about that dark evening, dread still coiling through him at the sight of Harry, broken and bleeding, on that battlefield.
Josh's voice was low, hesitant. "What happened?"
"There was a battle...it's not important over what or why. But, during the course of it, he'd taken a mortal wound. Here," he said, touching his chest near his heart. "He was so pale...almost gone by the time I got to him. I had to beg him to take the Gift."
"Wait, back up." Josh pointed his fork at Karl. "You had to beg Harry to get him to ask you for the Gift? But that means...actually, back up again. You said he was dying. It takes an act of Council to decide on who gets the Gift and who doesn't."
"Until Orlando, Harry had been the only made vampire who didn't have a full Council vote," Karl finished, quietly. "Viggo knew that I wanted Harry with me for eternity, so when Harry finally said yes, all it took was for me to tell Viggo and I immediately got his blessing. And I was almost too late. He was so far gone he could barely feed from me."
"Jesus." Josh looked flabbergasted. Karl didn't blame him. He still couldn't believe Harry'd said yes, even after all this time. "What changed his mind?"
Karl swallowed, rueful smile crossing his lips. "I told him I loved him."
Josh stared at Karl for another moment, then nodded. "Yeah, I can see that."
"Luckily for me, he felt the same," Karl said, focusing on his plate before looking back up at Josh. "He's the only fledgling I've ever Sired."
An odd look flitted across Josh's face as he watched Karl. "Never felt the urge again?"
"Not until Orlando. And you already know how that turned out. However...who knows what the future holds."
"True." Taking another bite of his dinner, Josh chewed and gave Karl a thoughtful look. "So that was it, then? You said 'I love you' and never looked back?"
"Not quite." Karl's lips quirked at the thought of anything to do with Harry being simple. "We had...a contentious beginning. I was away often and he was still struggling with his new roles and the fact that everything he knew was different."
"Yeah, Sean told me the story of Harry getting jealous of you mentoring him when his Sire wasn't fit to do so."
"Did he?" Karl was impressed. Sean didn't talk about those early days with many, and he especially never mentioned Harry without a good reason to do so. "In a way, I suppose I owe Sean a thank you, because it was Harry coming out to confront me that changed things between us."
"How so?"
"I realized there were compromises that I had to make if I meant to keep him."
"And that wasn't something that was easy for you," Josh said, with another small nod.
"I'm a born vampire," Karl said, simply. "Compromise isn't in my nature, and I won't apologize for that."
"Guess I'll have to keep that in mind," Josh replied, with a quick grin.
"I'm better at it than I used to be," Karl protested. "It's easier with practice. I doubt I'll ever be as comfortable with it as Orlando or you, though."
"No, I imagine not." Cocking his head, Josh studied Karl for a long moment. It stretched out until Karl began to wonder if he had food on his chin. "Have you ever had any children? I mean, I know Harry had a daughter..."
"No. Lauren was the closest I ever came." Karl felt the familiar, bright flash of grief, but it was muted these days. "She was so beautiful, from the day she was born. And seeing Harry with her..."
"With you two as parents, I'm not surprised she turned out to be a remarkable woman."
Karl offered a smile, touched that Josh was cognizant enough to call him parent. "She was one of the most remarkable people I've ever known."
"But no desire for one of your own?"
"A few thoughts over the centuries, but there's been no one I wanted that deep a connection to. What about you? Any thoughts as to children?"
"Maybe one day," Josh said, with a shrug as he ducked his head. "Still young, y'know. Not ready to be a father."
"Well, you have plenty of time now. Or will, as soon as the ceremony's completed."
"Guess so. Although, wouldn't that...you'd be alright with me fathering a child?"
"Well, not with another vampire, but yes. It's not unheard of for pets to have children with mortals."
"I mean, mentally," Josh clarified. "I'm still talking hypothetical, but would you be alright with the idea of losing another child one day? Any child I had would be mortal."
Ah, that. "I don't know," Karl replied, truthfully. "But I wouldn't ask you not to become a parent because of it."
"I guess it's something we'll have to think about," Josh said, with a soft smile. He was still smiling when Karl lifted his hand and pressed a soft kiss to the inside of his wrist.
"I guess it is. For now, though, we'll just enjoy ourselves."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Josh said, as he speared another bite of lobster. "Though...I might get used to this here, and then you'll have another diva on your hands."
Karl laughed. "Heaven forbid that happens."
(To Be Continued)
Authors: Brenda (azewewish) & Jo (idiosyncratic)
Series: Claimed Universe
Notes: Click here for full disclaimers and pairings.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven | Part Eight | Part Nine | Part Ten | Part Eleven | Part Twelve | Part Thirteen | Part Fourteen | Part Fifteen | Part Sixteen | Part Seventeen | Part Eighteen | Part Nineteen | Part Twenty | Part Twenty-One | Part Twenty-Two | Part Twenty-Three | Part Twenty-Four | Part Twenty-Five | Part Twenty-Six | Part Twenty-Seven | Part Twenty-Eight | Part Twenty-Nine | Part Thirty | Part Thirty-One | Part Thirty-Two | Part Thirty-Three | Part Thirty-Four | Part Thirty-Five | Part Thirty-Six | Part Thirty-Seven | Part Thirty-Eight | Part Thirty-Nine | Part Forty | Part Forty-One | Part Forty-Two | Part Forty-Three | Part Forty-Four |
"It was a possibility," Josh said, shrugging as he took another swallow of his wine. "Vampires can be...arrogant. Especially the older ones."
"And have you met many of the older ones?"
"A few." Josh leaned back in his seat and began to study Karl as intently as Karl was studying him. "And considering I've met Lord Butler on several occasions..."
Karl threw back his head and laughed. "Ah, yes, Gerard," he said, still chuckling. "Harry and I turned Orlando loose on him early on."
"Somehow, I don't think charm works on a man like Lord Butler."
"No," Karl conceded, "but you'd be surprised what a lack of interest in our history or ways will do to the ego."
"So you're saying that Orlando has no interest in learning about the culture and history of your race?" Josh frowned slightly. "I'm not sure that I'd find that a good thing."
"It's not that he doesn't want to learn, it's just that he doesn't think our history is as important as Gerard thinks it is."
Josh snorted. "I don't think there's anyone alive that thinks your history is as important as Lord Butler. Except maybe Liv."
"Exactly. I think the nicest thing Orlando's ever said about Gerard is that he's stuffy." Karl paused as a server arrived with their appetizer. After they each had a sampling on their plates, he looked up at Josh again. "One thing you really do need to understand about Orlando is that he gets bored very easily. He actually knows more than he lets on about our history and culture, but he's learned it from listening to me and Harry and Dave, as well as Viggo, Sean, and a few others. Gerard, though...he likes to lecture."
"Sounds lovely."
"Precisely."
After another bite of antipasto, Josh cupped his chin in his hand and studied Karl. "You know, it's funny that anyone, especially Orlando, would think that you don't love him just as much as Harry does."
Karl paused, fork halfway to his lips. "What do you mean?"
"You have no idea how much you talk about him, do you?"
"Who?"
"Orlando." Josh chuckled and shook his head. "You find a way to bring him up in just about every conversation. You don't bring up Harry half as much."
"Orlando's a big part of my life," Karl said, with a half shrug. "I imagine others will be saying the same about you in a few years."
"Harry's a big part of your life, too," Josh pointed out. "And has been for a helluva lot longer than Orlando."
"Yes, but you didn't get off on the wrong foot with Harry."
Josh cocked his head and looked at Karl, a small wrinkle forming between his eyes. "So this is all for my benefit?"
"Sort of. While I freely admit that I do bring Orlando up a lot in casual conversation, part of it right now is to show you that he's not...what was it you called him? Oh, yes, a spoiled little diva."
"And you think he needs you to defend him, and Harry doesn't?"
"I didn't say that."
"No, but you may as well have. Look," Josh said, lifting an eyebrow in warning when Karl opened his mouth, "I don't want to argue about this. I like Orlando. He's a good guy and I think we're on the way to being great friends. But he's also a spoiled brat where you're concerned and you can deny it until the cows come home, but your actions will still speak louder than words, and so will Orlando's. Even Harry agrees with me."
"And when I start spoiling you, what then?"
"Won't happen," Josh grinned. "Unlike your other pet, I don't get off on the attention. And speaking of, let's stop giving it to him. Tell me about Harry."
Karl just smiled. He was looking forward to the day he could remind Josh of those words. "Harry's completely unspoilable," Karl said, as their empty appetizer plates were whisked away. "Believe me, I tried. For decades."
"I'm not surprised."
"Don't get me wrong," Karl added. "I still try my best. He just shrugs it off. I've never met anyone like him."
"When did you know you were in love with him?"
"The first time he kissed me." Karl thought back to that long ago night, and the desperation and raw need in Harry's kiss. "I'd been fascinated by him long before that, but...I knew. In that moment, I knew I would give up everything I was or would be for him. It just...it took me awhile to realize it for what it was."
"And you never thought it was a pet bond?"
The question didn't surprise Karl. To be honest, he was more than a little pleased that Josh had asked it so soon. "No. Can you imagine Harry as a pet?"
"Not really," Josh answered.
"Don't misunderstand me." Karl chose his words carefully, well aware of the slippery slope he was on. "Pets have to be strong of will and mind to be able to handle the bond and still maintain their own personality and core, and strong enough to deal with their loved ones and friends dying while they live on. They also have to live with a vampire's disposition and lifestyle, which takes considerable skill and diplomacy and knowing when to stand one's ground. But Harry...even as a youth, the spark I had with him was something else entirely. Unlike anything I'd ever known or heard about. I had no idea what to do with him."
"Somehow, I get the feeling it was mutual."
"More than," Karl said. "We circled around each other for five years before we actually admitted it."
Josh leaned in, only moving back far enough for the server to bring their dishes to the table. "What happened to change that?" he asked, softly.
"He died." Even after so many centuries, Karl remembered every single detail about that dark evening, dread still coiling through him at the sight of Harry, broken and bleeding, on that battlefield.
Josh's voice was low, hesitant. "What happened?"
"There was a battle...it's not important over what or why. But, during the course of it, he'd taken a mortal wound. Here," he said, touching his chest near his heart. "He was so pale...almost gone by the time I got to him. I had to beg him to take the Gift."
"Wait, back up." Josh pointed his fork at Karl. "You had to beg Harry to get him to ask you for the Gift? But that means...actually, back up again. You said he was dying. It takes an act of Council to decide on who gets the Gift and who doesn't."
"Until Orlando, Harry had been the only made vampire who didn't have a full Council vote," Karl finished, quietly. "Viggo knew that I wanted Harry with me for eternity, so when Harry finally said yes, all it took was for me to tell Viggo and I immediately got his blessing. And I was almost too late. He was so far gone he could barely feed from me."
"Jesus." Josh looked flabbergasted. Karl didn't blame him. He still couldn't believe Harry'd said yes, even after all this time. "What changed his mind?"
Karl swallowed, rueful smile crossing his lips. "I told him I loved him."
Josh stared at Karl for another moment, then nodded. "Yeah, I can see that."
"Luckily for me, he felt the same," Karl said, focusing on his plate before looking back up at Josh. "He's the only fledgling I've ever Sired."
An odd look flitted across Josh's face as he watched Karl. "Never felt the urge again?"
"Not until Orlando. And you already know how that turned out. However...who knows what the future holds."
"True." Taking another bite of his dinner, Josh chewed and gave Karl a thoughtful look. "So that was it, then? You said 'I love you' and never looked back?"
"Not quite." Karl's lips quirked at the thought of anything to do with Harry being simple. "We had...a contentious beginning. I was away often and he was still struggling with his new roles and the fact that everything he knew was different."
"Yeah, Sean told me the story of Harry getting jealous of you mentoring him when his Sire wasn't fit to do so."
"Did he?" Karl was impressed. Sean didn't talk about those early days with many, and he especially never mentioned Harry without a good reason to do so. "In a way, I suppose I owe Sean a thank you, because it was Harry coming out to confront me that changed things between us."
"How so?"
"I realized there were compromises that I had to make if I meant to keep him."
"And that wasn't something that was easy for you," Josh said, with another small nod.
"I'm a born vampire," Karl said, simply. "Compromise isn't in my nature, and I won't apologize for that."
"Guess I'll have to keep that in mind," Josh replied, with a quick grin.
"I'm better at it than I used to be," Karl protested. "It's easier with practice. I doubt I'll ever be as comfortable with it as Orlando or you, though."
"No, I imagine not." Cocking his head, Josh studied Karl for a long moment. It stretched out until Karl began to wonder if he had food on his chin. "Have you ever had any children? I mean, I know Harry had a daughter..."
"No. Lauren was the closest I ever came." Karl felt the familiar, bright flash of grief, but it was muted these days. "She was so beautiful, from the day she was born. And seeing Harry with her..."
"With you two as parents, I'm not surprised she turned out to be a remarkable woman."
Karl offered a smile, touched that Josh was cognizant enough to call him parent. "She was one of the most remarkable people I've ever known."
"But no desire for one of your own?"
"A few thoughts over the centuries, but there's been no one I wanted that deep a connection to. What about you? Any thoughts as to children?"
"Maybe one day," Josh said, with a shrug as he ducked his head. "Still young, y'know. Not ready to be a father."
"Well, you have plenty of time now. Or will, as soon as the ceremony's completed."
"Guess so. Although, wouldn't that...you'd be alright with me fathering a child?"
"Well, not with another vampire, but yes. It's not unheard of for pets to have children with mortals."
"I mean, mentally," Josh clarified. "I'm still talking hypothetical, but would you be alright with the idea of losing another child one day? Any child I had would be mortal."
Ah, that. "I don't know," Karl replied, truthfully. "But I wouldn't ask you not to become a parent because of it."
"I guess it's something we'll have to think about," Josh said, with a soft smile. He was still smiling when Karl lifted his hand and pressed a soft kiss to the inside of his wrist.
"I guess it is. For now, though, we'll just enjoy ourselves."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Josh said, as he speared another bite of lobster. "Though...I might get used to this here, and then you'll have another diva on your hands."
Karl laughed. "Heaven forbid that happens."
(To Be Continued)