FIC: Catalyst (part 6) (Harry Sinclair, Karl Urban, Orlando Bloom, Dave Wenham)

[idiosyncratic]

Title: "Catalyst" (Part Six)
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 |



For a long time, Orlando just sat in the car and looked at the front door. This couldn't be a good idea, regardless of what Harry had said.

"You know where he is," Harry said, not even bothering to look up from under the hood of the GTX.

"Maybe," Orlando replied, and flopped onto the nearest stool. He wasn't ready to concede the point.

Strands of dark hair fell in Harry's eyes when he looked up and pinned Orlando with a level look. "You know. And it's been over a week. Either go talk to him, or let it go. But don't come back until you've made up your mind."

Fuck, but he hated it when Harry used that calm, rational tone of voice. "But..."

"Orlando."

"Fine, I'm going."

Deep down, Orlando knew Harry was right. Not that Orlando would admit it in Harry's hearing, of course, but still. He knew he had to deal with this, deal with Karl.

"Fuck it. Nothing ventured and whatever else."

It took him thirty seconds to cross to the front door and ring the bell. He rubbed his hands down the outside of his jeans, trying to think of something brilliantly witty to say when he saw Karl. He felt like an idiot for standing on the porch of his own house, acting like a houseguest or a beggar or salesperson.

When the door opened, Orlando found himself looking up into dark eyes that were not at all familiar. "Who the bloody hell are you?" he asked, then caught a familiar scent. His nostrils flared as he took a closer look at the mortal, then his eyes narrowed. "And where is Karl?"

"You must be Orlando."

"Yeah, I must." What the bloody fuck was going on, and who was this guy? This very tall, very good-looking, and shirtless guy who reeked of Karl's scent and was wearing a pair of Karl's pajama pants?

"Wow, man, it's a pleasure. I'm Josh." The mortal stuck out his hand. "Karl's been telling me a lot about you. Don't suppose you brought Harry with you?"

Harry? This guy knew about Harry? "No, I didn't." He ignored the outstretched hand. Where the fuck was Karl?

"Josh, love, whoever it is trying to sell us something, send them..." Karl rounded the corner, stopped short when he saw Orlando in the doorway. "Hello, Orli."

"Karl." Orlando's reply was curt, but he made no effort to soften his voice. Not when Karl stood there, also wearing just a pair of loose pajama pants and smelling strongly of the mortal who now leaned against the doorframe.

"I see you've met Josh."

"I came by to talk to you," Orlando said, pain lancing through his jaw as his fangs dropped. What the hell was wrong with him? There wasn't any threat here. "But I see you're busy."

"Orlando..."

"Don't worry," Orlando said, taking a step back. "I'll call ahead next time to avoid interrupting you."

With that, he spun on his heel and started towards the car. //Harry, I wasted my fucking time. He's busy. With someone else.// Orlando managed to get his fingers on the car door handle before a hand wrapped around his upper arm and spun him around.

"Still running?" Karl asked.

Orlando stood completely still; he tried not to breathe. "I prefer the term strategic retreat."

"You came over here for a reason. I'd like to hear it."

Orlando's only movement was to curl his hands into fists. Harry's advice replayed itself in his head, an endless loop that Orlando found hard to ignore. "I told you," he said, lips barely moving, "I came over to talk to you. About Jake."

"Jake?" Orlando could see the exact second when the name made a connection in Karl's brain.

"But I see you're busy with...Josh, was it?" Karl was so close that the mortal on him was all Orlando could smell. Something ugly started to form inside him; he shoved it down ruthlessly until the red faded from his vision. "We'll talk later. Now, let go of my arm. Please."

"You're jealous." There was something that sounded like awe in Karl's voice. And hearing it snapped the final, fragile thread of Orlando's control. Almost without thought, his hand curled into a fist and plowed into Karl's stomach, the power of the punch reverberating up his arm.

Karl abruptly let go, staggered back a step, then stars exploded behind Orlando's eyes when Karl's crisply delivered return jab connected with his chin and sent him sprawling to the ground.

Karl'd hit him. It took a few seconds for that to penetrate the pain and haze clouding Orlando's head. Never mind the fact that he had hit Karl first. Karl had just hit him. With a low growl, Orlando launched himself at Karl. He went in low, like Harry had said, and drove his shoulder into Karl's stomach, wrapping his arms around Karl's waist so they both went stumbling back from the car. Fuck it, man, if Karl wanted a fight, Orlando would be happy to oblige him.

The brawl was ugly, brutal, and short. Orlando tried his best to remember everything that Harry had told him - aim low, avoid the head, avoid the fangs - but he hadn't thought to ask how to defend himself against a sustained attack. For every punch he managed to land, Karl came back with three. Lightning strikes against his sides, sharper cuts plowing into his gut and ribs, cutting off air, blows to his head that rattled his brain and left him dizzy.

In the end, Karl had just managed to straddle his hips, landing steady blows, when Harry drove up on one of the bikes. In less time than it took to blink, Harry was in motion and had bodily yanked Karl off of him. Orlando could only curl into himself, wheezing and feeling like he was going to throw up with every breath.

Above him, Harry and Karl were engaged in a rather vocal argument.

"Jesus Christ, Karl, were you trying to kill him?"

"Fuck you, he started it."

"Need I remind you that you're a trained soldier and he's not? Jesus." Harry dropped to his haunches, reached out to brush sweat and blood-soaked hair from Orlando's forehead. //How're you feeling?//

//Like a truck just ran over me. Several times.// Orlando swallowed, grimaced at the pain shooting through his ribs. He knew how bad he felt, so he could only imagine how he looked. He refused to even glance at Karl.

//Perhaps boxing lessons are in order when you heal.//

Harry's mental voice sounded far too amused. Orlando lifted his head to glare at him. Or tried to, at least. It wasn't easy with the way his muscles screamed in protest and one eye felt like it was swelling closed. //Fuck you if you think I'm doing that again.//

//He said you started it. Is that true?// At Orlando's brief nod, Harry threw his head back and laughed. "Fuck me, but I wish I'd seen it."

"I'm sorry to have deprived you of entertainment," Karl replied, tartly.

"You know, if you weren't so pissed off right now, you'd be proud of him, too."

"Oh, I think he is, somewhere deep down," Josh said, stepping beside Karl. Orlando saw Josh brush his hand along Karl's back before stepping forward and holding his hand out to Harry. "You must be Harry. It's an honor to meet you, Sir. I'm Josh."

"Pleasure." Harry grabbed the offered hand, and stood, giving Josh what looked like a very thorough once over. "You're not another companion."

It wasn't a question.

"No," Josh answered. "I'm not."

Harry turned to Karl, lifted an eyebrow. "Something you wanted to tell me?"

"I was waiting until I saw you in person," Karl said. "I wanted you to meet him."

Harry shook his head, looking half amused, half resigned. "Christ, you know how to complicate everything."

"You wouldn't have me any other way."

Managing to shift around to a seated position, Orlando held himself gingerly. It felt as if half the bones in his body were cracked and the other half were threatening to strike. His muscles were even worse. And he wasn't about to mention his head or stomach. Just as soon as he could stand, he planned to find somewhere quiet and dark to curl up. Preferably with a lot of alcohol to numb the pain.

"You need some help up?" Josh's voice was low, gentle, as he knelt beside Orlando. The concern in his eyes made Orlando want to punch him. Which would probably just piss Karl off all over again. As ideas went, it had merit as far as Orlando was concerned. Fucking bastard.

//Don't even think it. The child's done nothing to you.//

Orlando lifted his head to find Harry watching him with a calm expression. "I wasn't going to do anything." Not that he thought he could even form a fist at the moment, let alone use it on someone. He ran shaking fingers through his hair, wincing as he encountered a nasty knot. "And don't think I'm not going to ask what the bloody hell is going on, either."

Harry gestured at Karl, the movement mostly sarcastic. "I think now would be appropriate."

"Thank you, I wouldn't have guessed," Karl replied, narrowing his gaze at Harry. Who just returned the look with equanimity. Sighing, Karl finally turned to Orlando. "There's no easy way to say this, so I won't try. I'm claiming Josh. As a pet."

Orlando blinked. The words simply would not compute. He must've hit his head harder than he'd thought. "I'm sorry?"

"I'm claiming him. There's a bond there... It wasn't my wish to tell you like this. I'd hoped to return home in the next few days and talk this over with the both of you first."

Claiming...pet... The words rattled around in Orlando's skull, finally sinking in. "You're taking another pet?"

"Like I said, I'd wanted to discuss it with you and Harry first."

"That's not supposed to -" Orlando stopped so fast he bit his tongue. The tiny sting was lost amongst all the other pains radiating through his body. "Never mind, sorry, forgot who I was talking about. The rules don't apply to you."

"Orlando -"

"No, don't," Orlando said, holding up a hand as he tried to get to his feet. Only Harry's hand under his arm kept him from falling flat on his face. "I'll get used to it."

"I don't want you to fucking get used to it!" Karl shouted, sounding angry all over again. Orlando had no idea why he would be - it seemed from where Orlando was standing that Karl was getting everything he wanted.

"Karl, don't." Josh stopped Karl from moving with a hand curled around his arm. "I think you and Orlando need to talk."

"Excellent idea." Harry placed a kiss to Orlando's forehead. //Talk to him.// Then he gestured at Josh. "Why don't we go for a cup of coffee?"

"I'd love one," Josh replied, and stepped away from Karl, giving Harry a friendly smile. "Come with me while I change clothes?"

Karl waited until Harry and Josh had disappeared inside the house before speaking to Orlando. "You really are jealous. I wish I knew why."

"Why? You're taking another fucking pet and you want to know why?" Orlando leaned against his car, one arm curled around healing, but still aching, ribs. Bad idea. The movement sent pain spiking down his spine, and it took a moment before he could breathe again.

"It's not as if he's going to take your place."

"God damn right he isn't," Orlando snarled, straightening just enough to glare at Karl. "But I'm sure he's perfect for you."

"I'm not going to fight with you over this. You know what the bond means. There's nothing I could do about it, even if I wanted to."

Orlando felt as if all the energy had been drained from him. He was sure that he would have ended up back on the ground if not for the car behind him. "Alright," he said, quietly. "But you'll have to forgive me if I hold off on congratulating you right now."

"I don't want your congratulations. I want you to listen to what I'm telling you." Sighing, Karl leaned next to Orlando. He was careful to put some space between them, for which Orlando was grateful. He wasn't sure he could handle being touched at the moment.

"I love you," Karl said quietly. "I will always love you. From the moment I saw you on that dance floor, I knew you were fashioned for me and Harry." His laugh was soft, without mirth. "But you were always more his. He understands you in ways that will take me centuries to learn. Not that I'm not looking forward to doing it, but you two... Sometimes I truly do feel you were meant to be solely his."

Orlando stared at the grass in front of his feet and tried to keep his face blank. He wouldn't give Karl the satisfaction of emotion. "Perhaps," he finally said, through lips that felt numb, "this is a discussion for Viggo, not me."

"Is that something you want? Orlando, look at me." When Orlando reluctantly raised his head, he was rocked all over again by the raw, wounded look in Karl's eyes. "Are you telling me you want to break our bond?"

"Have I ever given you reason to think that?"

"No, but -"

"Even at our worst," Orlando said, surprised that his voice wasn't quivering, surprised that his body was completely still for once, "when I thought I wasn't good enough for you and I first found out about Harry, I never wanted the bond broken. But you're standing there, telling me you've claimed a new pet and that I should have been solely Harry's...what the fuck else am I supposed to think?"

"You're supposed to listen to me and let me finish speaking is what you're supposed to do," Karl answered quietly. "Not for a nanosecond, not once, not ever have I wished for Viggo to undo what we have." Unlike Orlando, Karl's voice shook. "I may not understand you, and you may be more Harry's than mine, but you are mine. And there is nothing - there is no one - that can break that for me. Not Josh, not Harry, not even Viggo can undo the love I have for you. I will never give you up, not without one hell of a fight. I want eternity with you, and I have from the very first, even before Dave gave you the Gift."

Orlando tried to breathe, to focus, but it was hard to see through the shimmer hazing his vision. So he struggled to focus on his hand, on the heavy ring there as his thumb slid over the smooth band. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Jake," he finally said, voice barely above a whisper, and he clenched his hand tight around the ring. "I should have. I was going to. But it just went on and on, and then I couldn't figure out how to tell you without hurting you, and I know I fucked things up..."

"Shhhh, that doesn't matter now." Then Karl's arms wrapped carefully around him, and he inhaled, smelling the sharp taste of clove, of home, and that was all it took for the tears to come. With a small sob, Orlando clutched at Karl's shoulders, held on as tight as he could. //It's alright. I've got you.//

//M'sorry.// Orlando buried his face in the curve of Karl's neck and struggled to regain control. //Never meant to hurt you.//

//No apologies. We've both done much to atone for.// Warm lips brushed Orlando's throat, his cheek, and strong hands slid along his back. He lost himself in the sensation, shutting the rest of the world out for a few minutes.

Finally, he managed to lift his head and meet Karl's serious gaze. "I want you to meet him."

"Him...? You mean Jake?" Karl looked stunned, and it was enough to bring a faint smile to Orlando's face. "I'd be honored. If you're certain."

Orlando nodded, slid a hand down Karl's arm to lace their fingers together. "Should've done it months ago."

"That's neither here nor there. Just name the night and place."

"Soon," Orlando promised. "He's been asking about you lately. I think he thinks Harry and I are making you up out of some fever dream or mass hallucination."

Karl's soft laugh was a welcome balm to Orlando's senses. "Harry's called me a nightmare often enough." Then he grew solemn, cupped Orlando's cheek in his palm. "I hope you'll give Josh a chance. I think you'd like him."

For a moment, Orlando just looked at Karl and chewed his bottom lip. "I'll try," he said, finally. "I can't promise more than that right now."

"That's enough," Karl said, and brushed his lips over Orlando's. Without coaxing, Orlando parted his lips, swayed into Karl's warmth as he sought more. //Shall we go inside now so I can give you some proper TLC?//

//Best idea you've had in ages.//

(To Be Continued)