FIC: Catalyst (Part Forty-Seven) (Harry Sinclair, Karl Urban, Orlando Bloom, Dave Wenham)
Title: "Catalyst" (Part Forty-Seven)
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 | Part Forty-Five | Part Forty-Six |
Sean barely waited for the muffled 'come in' before strolling into the library, bottle of champagne in hand. He wasn't remotely surprised to see Karl and Harry lounging on the sofa, curled together like two cats. Well, maybe more lions, but still. The analogy fit. Karl lifted his head from Harry's shoulder at the sight of the bottle. "If you brought gifts, you can stay."
"It's Harry's house, you can't make me leave," Sean pointed out, with a grin for Harry, who returned it. "But I might share, since you're the one getting hitched and all. Again."
"More like adding to his harem," Harry replied, absently toying with the ends of Karl's hair.
"Yes, well, sheiks are supposed to have harems," Karl said, with an airy wave.
"That's right," Sean said, "you were once, weren't you?"
"Self-styled, but yes." Sean noted Harry got Karl's elbow in his ribs for the comment.
"The tribe was quite happy with me," Karl said, settling back down as Sean collected glasses and popped the cork on the champagne.
"Reckon they weren't too bright then, were they?" Sean asked, with a raised eyebrow. He easily dodged the throw pillow that sailed in his direction. "Careful now, you don't want to go into your bonding ceremony with the evidence of me kicking your ass all over your face."
"You are sadly out of practice these days, old man," Harry pointed out. "Sean's been much more diligent of late."
Sean raised an eyebrow at Harry. //Is that what we're calling it?//
//Well, you are very diligent. Especially when you're on your knees for me.//
Sean just chuckled. //That's not diligence, that's indulgence.// "I appreciate that my efforts haven't gone unnoticed," he said aloud.
"I could still take him," Karl said.
"Let's wait until tomorrow to test that theory," Sean said, and handed Karl and Harry their glasses. "To Karl and Josh. May Josh lead you on a merry chase."
"I think there's no doubt of that," Karl laughed, raising his glass to lightly clink it against Sean's.
"Definitely not." Harry's grin approached gleeful, and Sean immediately took a step back. That expression never boded well for the person on the receiving end. "Especially not with Josh and Orlando."
"Good point," Sean said. He almost missed the odd, almost pained look that crossed Karl's face. "No getting cold feet now. You've got guests starting to arrive."
"No, no cold feet," Karl said, and his voice had the most peculiar note that Sean had ever heard. He shared a look with Harry, who looked as confused as Sean felt, then focused on Karl again when he rose and started to pace.
"What is it?"
"It's..." Karl trailed off, looking for all the world as if he was having an argument with himself. Finally he stopped, shook his head. "It's about Orlando. And you. And your bond."
Harry went completely still. "What about it?"
Karl let out a pained sigh. "Your pet bond with him. It's not complete."
"What do you mean, it's not...oh. Oh, fuck me."
"Clue the clueless in, please," Sean said, looking back and forth between the two of them.
Harry offered Sean a rueful smile. "Do you remember Orlando and I going through the ceremony?"
"Well, no, but at yours and Dave's..." This time, it was Sean's turn to trail off. "Fuck. All you did was give him your mark."
"Precisely," Karl stated. "They never went through the actual ceremony."
Sean took a minute to absorb the news, then he started snickering. Because, well, honestly, who could blame him for finding the humor in the situation. "So, you've been living with the child for ten years, treating him as a pet, him acting like he's yours...and it's not even a full bond?"
"Shut up," Harry growled, slumping back on the sofa, one hand over his eyes. Sean wondered if he was counting or praying. "I made the vow and so did he. I just never thought about completing the actual ceremony."
"Fuck, but this is brilliant!" Sean could feel the laughter bubbling up and tried hard to swallow it. The idea that Harry, of all people, had forgotten the ceremony... "Have you told Orlando yet?"
Karl shook his head. "To be honest..."
"...you don't know how to tell him," Harry finished, then groaned. "Fuck. Neither do I."
"Just do it tonight," Sean shrugged. "Viggo'll be here, you'll have your witnesses, all you'll need to do is repeat your vows publicly and let Viggo do his Jedi mind-trick to cement the deal."
"And how do we explain that we neglected this for ten years?" Harry asked.
"Well, if this was Karl we were talking about, I'd just say that there would be no need to explain anything, since he's not very good at it. You, on the other hand..."
//Keep it up and I'll turn you over my knee in front of Karl.//
//Promises, promises.// But Sean inwardly shivered with anticipation at the thought of Harry's hands on him. Not the time, not the place... Although, they would have to find the time soon.
"You're not helping," Harry said.
"Admit it, this is bloody hilarious." Sean turned to Karl. "When'd you finally figure it out?"
"I, ah, well," Karl said, and flashed them both a sheepish grin. It looked damned odd on him. "Josh is actually the one who brought it up."
"Josh figured out Orlando and I didn't have a ceremony?"
"No," Karl admitted, dropping onto the sofa beside Harry with a huff of annoyance. "He was taking the piss because I'd only had a small ceremony with Orlando and then said something about he was glad Orlando had you to make sure he had a proper one."
"Then I suppose I need to have a talk with him."
"What, now?" Karl asked.
"No, I'll wait until after. Contrary to what Sean thinks, you and Josh need a ceremony just for you. It wouldn't be appropriate for Orlando and I to usurp that."
"You're just now worried about being appropriate?" Sean could practically feel Harry's ire, couldn't resist needling him just a little more. He was under no illusions that he'd eventually be paying for it at a later date - either on his knees or in the boxing ring.
"I appreciate the gesture," Karl said, steadfastly ignoring Sean's comment. He brushed a light kiss across Harry's lips.
"What gesture?" Viggo asked, strolling into the room. "Ah, champagne. I do believe I'll have a glass, thank you."
"And here I was just about to offer you one," Sean said, as he snagged another glass and filled it. "As for what gesture -"
"Sean." The steel in Harry's voice silenced Sean, but it did nothing to diminish his amusement.
"I have the oddest feeling that I walked into something that I really don't want explained," Viggo said, drily, eyeing them over the rim of his champagne flute. "But I'm going to ask anyway. What have the two of you done now?"
"It's more what one of them didn't do," Sean said, unable to resist. There was an excellent chance he wouldn't be able to walk once Harry got finished with him, so he was going to make it worth it.
"Ah, that sounds far more interesting."
"Don't look at me," Karl said. "For once, it was Harry."
"Do tell."
Harry stood and went to the bar. Sean figured he was headed straight for the scotch, and was proven right a moment later when he slammed the decanter and a glass on the counter. "It would seem that Orlando and I have yet to complete our pet ceremony."
"You haven't?" Viggo paused in the act of raising his glass to his lips. "But I thought at yours and Dave's ceremony that you..."
Karl laughed, cutting Viggo off in mid-sentence. "Gramps, are you trying to say that you forgot, too?"
"Now I don't feel so bad."
"No, I just..." Viggo stopped, his expression so peculiar that Sean burst out laughing. "Interesting."
"Interesting? I tell you that Orlando isn't actually my pet and hasn't been for the last ten years, and all you can say is interesting?"
"Well, you have to admit the fact that both you and I seem to have overlooked properly bonding Orlando to you is..."
"Interesting," Sean said, sinking into a nearby chair, wiping his eyes as he continued to laugh.
"It's not like either of you've needed it," Karl pointed out.
"I'm just imagining how much worse Orlando's going to be around you once the bond is completed," Viggo smirked.
Harry just shot him the finger. "I'll talk to him tonight. I'd like to complete the ceremony before we unmake him."
Viggo turned to Karl. "Speaking of tonight, I must say, you're not nearly as nervous this time around."
"I've already done this once. It's easier the second time."
"Now that's something you don't hear from just any vampire," Sean said, pasting an innocent look on his face when Karl turned to look at him. "What?"
"You're just jealous."
"Ha!" Sean burst out laughing, joined this time by Harry and Viggo. "Dom's more than enough pet for me."
"I shudder to think what he'd do to you if you were to attempt to take a new pet," Viggo said.
"I'm not interested in another pet, and besides, aside from those two, no other vampire's ever taken more than one. We all know that's not how it works. Not if it's a true bond."
"Which still leaves Orlando as the only one," Viggo commented.
"Ah, but I still think he was meant for Harry, not Karl," Sean replied. "Karl just got greedy and used his bond to Harry to cement a claim that was never supposed to be his."
"I won't apologize for it." Indeed, Karl didn't look remotely repentant. "Regardless of how it happened, Orlando and I belong to each other."
"In any case, I doubt I could have handled Orlando on a full-time basis," Harry said. "The arrangement we have is for the best."
Karl chuckled. "Although, I'm beginning to think that Josh has a good point."
"About what?" Viggo asked.
"Orlando does manage to find himself the topic of an inordinate amount of conversations."
"Maybe you should just not mention him around Josh," Sean said. "I mean, I know the child says he's not the jealous type, but..."
"Karl with two jealous pets?" Viggo drained his glass of champagne. "Frightening combination."
"I'll somehow have to live with it." Karl polished off his own glass. "And speaking of, shall we?"
"An excellent plan," Viggo stated. "The sooner we get this part done, the sooner I can renew my acquaintance with Kate Horan."
"You know Josh's Aunt Kate?"
Viggo clapped Sean on the back. "We did approve her petition to be made, remember."
Harry watched the two of them leave the room with a small smile. "Think they'll stop bickering long enough to get you and Josh settled?"
"One would hope," Karl replied, then leaned in to give Harry a soft kiss. "I'm glad you're here for this one."
Harry pulled back and busied himself straightening Karl's already perfect tie. "If I'd been there for yours and Orlando's ceremony, you'd've never had him."
"I know. And that's why I'm just as happy you weren't," Karl laughed, with another kiss, then gestured for Harry to lead the way.
(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 | Part Forty-Five | Part Forty-Six |
Sean barely waited for the muffled 'come in' before strolling into the library, bottle of champagne in hand. He wasn't remotely surprised to see Karl and Harry lounging on the sofa, curled together like two cats. Well, maybe more lions, but still. The analogy fit. Karl lifted his head from Harry's shoulder at the sight of the bottle. "If you brought gifts, you can stay."
"It's Harry's house, you can't make me leave," Sean pointed out, with a grin for Harry, who returned it. "But I might share, since you're the one getting hitched and all. Again."
"More like adding to his harem," Harry replied, absently toying with the ends of Karl's hair.
"Yes, well, sheiks are supposed to have harems," Karl said, with an airy wave.
"That's right," Sean said, "you were once, weren't you?"
"Self-styled, but yes." Sean noted Harry got Karl's elbow in his ribs for the comment.
"The tribe was quite happy with me," Karl said, settling back down as Sean collected glasses and popped the cork on the champagne.
"Reckon they weren't too bright then, were they?" Sean asked, with a raised eyebrow. He easily dodged the throw pillow that sailed in his direction. "Careful now, you don't want to go into your bonding ceremony with the evidence of me kicking your ass all over your face."
"You are sadly out of practice these days, old man," Harry pointed out. "Sean's been much more diligent of late."
Sean raised an eyebrow at Harry. //Is that what we're calling it?//
//Well, you are very diligent. Especially when you're on your knees for me.//
Sean just chuckled. //That's not diligence, that's indulgence.// "I appreciate that my efforts haven't gone unnoticed," he said aloud.
"I could still take him," Karl said.
"Let's wait until tomorrow to test that theory," Sean said, and handed Karl and Harry their glasses. "To Karl and Josh. May Josh lead you on a merry chase."
"I think there's no doubt of that," Karl laughed, raising his glass to lightly clink it against Sean's.
"Definitely not." Harry's grin approached gleeful, and Sean immediately took a step back. That expression never boded well for the person on the receiving end. "Especially not with Josh and Orlando."
"Good point," Sean said. He almost missed the odd, almost pained look that crossed Karl's face. "No getting cold feet now. You've got guests starting to arrive."
"No, no cold feet," Karl said, and his voice had the most peculiar note that Sean had ever heard. He shared a look with Harry, who looked as confused as Sean felt, then focused on Karl again when he rose and started to pace.
"What is it?"
"It's..." Karl trailed off, looking for all the world as if he was having an argument with himself. Finally he stopped, shook his head. "It's about Orlando. And you. And your bond."
Harry went completely still. "What about it?"
Karl let out a pained sigh. "Your pet bond with him. It's not complete."
"What do you mean, it's not...oh. Oh, fuck me."
"Clue the clueless in, please," Sean said, looking back and forth between the two of them.
Harry offered Sean a rueful smile. "Do you remember Orlando and I going through the ceremony?"
"Well, no, but at yours and Dave's..." This time, it was Sean's turn to trail off. "Fuck. All you did was give him your mark."
"Precisely," Karl stated. "They never went through the actual ceremony."
Sean took a minute to absorb the news, then he started snickering. Because, well, honestly, who could blame him for finding the humor in the situation. "So, you've been living with the child for ten years, treating him as a pet, him acting like he's yours...and it's not even a full bond?"
"Shut up," Harry growled, slumping back on the sofa, one hand over his eyes. Sean wondered if he was counting or praying. "I made the vow and so did he. I just never thought about completing the actual ceremony."
"Fuck, but this is brilliant!" Sean could feel the laughter bubbling up and tried hard to swallow it. The idea that Harry, of all people, had forgotten the ceremony... "Have you told Orlando yet?"
Karl shook his head. "To be honest..."
"...you don't know how to tell him," Harry finished, then groaned. "Fuck. Neither do I."
"Just do it tonight," Sean shrugged. "Viggo'll be here, you'll have your witnesses, all you'll need to do is repeat your vows publicly and let Viggo do his Jedi mind-trick to cement the deal."
"And how do we explain that we neglected this for ten years?" Harry asked.
"Well, if this was Karl we were talking about, I'd just say that there would be no need to explain anything, since he's not very good at it. You, on the other hand..."
//Keep it up and I'll turn you over my knee in front of Karl.//
//Promises, promises.// But Sean inwardly shivered with anticipation at the thought of Harry's hands on him. Not the time, not the place... Although, they would have to find the time soon.
"You're not helping," Harry said.
"Admit it, this is bloody hilarious." Sean turned to Karl. "When'd you finally figure it out?"
"I, ah, well," Karl said, and flashed them both a sheepish grin. It looked damned odd on him. "Josh is actually the one who brought it up."
"Josh figured out Orlando and I didn't have a ceremony?"
"No," Karl admitted, dropping onto the sofa beside Harry with a huff of annoyance. "He was taking the piss because I'd only had a small ceremony with Orlando and then said something about he was glad Orlando had you to make sure he had a proper one."
"Then I suppose I need to have a talk with him."
"What, now?" Karl asked.
"No, I'll wait until after. Contrary to what Sean thinks, you and Josh need a ceremony just for you. It wouldn't be appropriate for Orlando and I to usurp that."
"You're just now worried about being appropriate?" Sean could practically feel Harry's ire, couldn't resist needling him just a little more. He was under no illusions that he'd eventually be paying for it at a later date - either on his knees or in the boxing ring.
"I appreciate the gesture," Karl said, steadfastly ignoring Sean's comment. He brushed a light kiss across Harry's lips.
"What gesture?" Viggo asked, strolling into the room. "Ah, champagne. I do believe I'll have a glass, thank you."
"And here I was just about to offer you one," Sean said, as he snagged another glass and filled it. "As for what gesture -"
"Sean." The steel in Harry's voice silenced Sean, but it did nothing to diminish his amusement.
"I have the oddest feeling that I walked into something that I really don't want explained," Viggo said, drily, eyeing them over the rim of his champagne flute. "But I'm going to ask anyway. What have the two of you done now?"
"It's more what one of them didn't do," Sean said, unable to resist. There was an excellent chance he wouldn't be able to walk once Harry got finished with him, so he was going to make it worth it.
"Ah, that sounds far more interesting."
"Don't look at me," Karl said. "For once, it was Harry."
"Do tell."
Harry stood and went to the bar. Sean figured he was headed straight for the scotch, and was proven right a moment later when he slammed the decanter and a glass on the counter. "It would seem that Orlando and I have yet to complete our pet ceremony."
"You haven't?" Viggo paused in the act of raising his glass to his lips. "But I thought at yours and Dave's ceremony that you..."
Karl laughed, cutting Viggo off in mid-sentence. "Gramps, are you trying to say that you forgot, too?"
"Now I don't feel so bad."
"No, I just..." Viggo stopped, his expression so peculiar that Sean burst out laughing. "Interesting."
"Interesting? I tell you that Orlando isn't actually my pet and hasn't been for the last ten years, and all you can say is interesting?"
"Well, you have to admit the fact that both you and I seem to have overlooked properly bonding Orlando to you is..."
"Interesting," Sean said, sinking into a nearby chair, wiping his eyes as he continued to laugh.
"It's not like either of you've needed it," Karl pointed out.
"I'm just imagining how much worse Orlando's going to be around you once the bond is completed," Viggo smirked.
Harry just shot him the finger. "I'll talk to him tonight. I'd like to complete the ceremony before we unmake him."
Viggo turned to Karl. "Speaking of tonight, I must say, you're not nearly as nervous this time around."
"I've already done this once. It's easier the second time."
"Now that's something you don't hear from just any vampire," Sean said, pasting an innocent look on his face when Karl turned to look at him. "What?"
"You're just jealous."
"Ha!" Sean burst out laughing, joined this time by Harry and Viggo. "Dom's more than enough pet for me."
"I shudder to think what he'd do to you if you were to attempt to take a new pet," Viggo said.
"I'm not interested in another pet, and besides, aside from those two, no other vampire's ever taken more than one. We all know that's not how it works. Not if it's a true bond."
"Which still leaves Orlando as the only one," Viggo commented.
"Ah, but I still think he was meant for Harry, not Karl," Sean replied. "Karl just got greedy and used his bond to Harry to cement a claim that was never supposed to be his."
"I won't apologize for it." Indeed, Karl didn't look remotely repentant. "Regardless of how it happened, Orlando and I belong to each other."
"In any case, I doubt I could have handled Orlando on a full-time basis," Harry said. "The arrangement we have is for the best."
Karl chuckled. "Although, I'm beginning to think that Josh has a good point."
"About what?" Viggo asked.
"Orlando does manage to find himself the topic of an inordinate amount of conversations."
"Maybe you should just not mention him around Josh," Sean said. "I mean, I know the child says he's not the jealous type, but..."
"Karl with two jealous pets?" Viggo drained his glass of champagne. "Frightening combination."
"I'll somehow have to live with it." Karl polished off his own glass. "And speaking of, shall we?"
"An excellent plan," Viggo stated. "The sooner we get this part done, the sooner I can renew my acquaintance with Kate Horan."
"You know Josh's Aunt Kate?"
Viggo clapped Sean on the back. "We did approve her petition to be made, remember."
Harry watched the two of them leave the room with a small smile. "Think they'll stop bickering long enough to get you and Josh settled?"
"One would hope," Karl replied, then leaned in to give Harry a soft kiss. "I'm glad you're here for this one."
Harry pulled back and busied himself straightening Karl's already perfect tie. "If I'd been there for yours and Orlando's ceremony, you'd've never had him."
"I know. And that's why I'm just as happy you weren't," Karl laughed, with another kiss, then gestured for Harry to lead the way.
(To Be Continued)