FIC: "Catalyst" (Part Eleven) (Dave Wenham, Harry Sinclair, Karl Urban, Orlando Bloom)

Jul 04, 2010 10:09

Title: "Catalyst" (Part Eleven)
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 |



It felt as if they had only been out a short time when Orlando heard Karl in his head again. It startled him so badly that he stopped dead in the middle of the sidewalk. Josh was three steps ahead of him before he noticed.

"Hey, what's...ah, which one is it?"

"Karl. The bastard," Orlando muttered, all the hurt and anger rushing back with a vengeance. Then he heard Dave in his head, and he sounded so subdued that Orlando's anger popped like a soap bubble. "I, ah, c'mon."

"Where are we going?" Josh asked quietly.

"Pub down the street from Dave's. I'm, uh...supposed to lead you there, then go see Dave."

"How bad is it?"

"Hard to tell," Orlando replied. "Everyone's really...quiet. Like they're muting themselves."

"You gonna be okay?"

The concern in Josh's voice was comforting, and Orlando managed a jerky nod. "Just been a while, you know. Since I've really talked to Dave, I mean."

"If you want, afterwards, I can, um, make Karl scarce so you and Harry can...whatever."

"Thanks, mate." Orlando stopped outside the pub, nodded towards the door. "Don't imagine he's going to want to be away from Karl, though. They're in there, waiting for you."

"Okay." Then, before Orlando could move away, Josh pulled him close for a brief, tight hug. "It'll be okay," Josh said, and gave him thumbs up before heading inside the pub.

Orlando hoped it was true.

He took a deep breath to steady his nerves, and climbed the steps to Dave's flat. He debated using his key, but somehow walking in seemed weird, so he knocked instead. The door opened a moment later. Dave stood there, look disheveled, worn out, smile a tremulous one on his lips.

"Hey, Orli."

"You look like shit, love," Orlando said, the words out before he could stop them. He winced.

Dave just laughed. "I see some things haven't changed."

"Sorry," Orlando mumbled, stepping past Dave when he moved back and held the door open. A quick glance showed him the empty bottle, and it was easy enough to pick up the scent of alcohol on Dave. And the scent of another vampire that wasn't Harry or Karl. "So it's true. There's someone else."

"Yes," Dave admitted after a small hesitation. "There is. And he's one of the things we need to discuss."

Orlando nodded, shoved his hands deep in his pockets. He'd never felt this uncomfortable around Dave, not even when he was still mortal. "I see they left you in one piece. How bad was it?"

"Bad enough," Dave shrugged. He went back to the small bar. "You want one?"

"Not really. Are you sure you do?"

Dave set down the glass with a dull thud. Orlando could see his knuckles were white from gripping the counter. "I'm sorry." He didn't look at Orlando.

"For what?" He crossed the room, raised his hand to...offer comfort? Seek his own? His hand hovered for a minute, then he lowered it, unsure of his welcome. "It was my training, too. I knew you weren't done when you came out here. I could have..."

"Don't." Dave lifted haunted, bloodshot eyes to Orlando. "I'm your Sire. The responsibility and punishment are mine to take. I know the protocols and steps to take if a Sire is unable to see to the education of his fledgling. I abandoned you, turned my back on Harry and Karl, and I did it because I was afraid."

"Afraid of what?" This time he didn't stop when he reached out to touch Dave. Fuck everything else - Orlando needed the contact, and this was one of his best friends.

Dave shuddered. His eyes closed. "Of completely mucking things up with you," he said, voice rough and tired. "Of not being what you needed, what he needed, of disappointing everyone...mostly, though, I was afraid to admit I'd made a mistake."

A mistake. The confusion lifted, only to be replaced by a deep sadness that Orlando didn't even try to shield. "In bonding with Harry and Karl," Orlando asked in a hesitant voice, almost afraid to hear the truth, "or in creating me?"

"Oh, Orlando, you can't..." Turning, Dave cupped Orlando's face, and in his eyes, Orlando could see love and regret. "Creating you was the rightest thing I've ever done. Watching you grow into the man you were always meant to be, and knowing that I had even a small hand in it... It's been an honor." His thumbs moved in small circles across Orlando's throat. "But it shouldn't have been me. I was never the one you really wanted. I think I've always known."

I was never the one you really wanted. Seemed like everyone knew except him. "Perhaps not," Orlando whispered, "but it doesn't change the fact that I do love you."

"I've never doubted that, nor my love for you," Dave smiled, and Orlando's heart broke at the sight. Dave deserved so much more than they had ever been able to give him. Without giving a second thought to what he was doing, Orlando stepped in close and brushed his lips over Dave's in a light kiss. When Dave didn't pull back, Orlando returned for a second kiss, lips easily molding to Dave's.

This time, Dave responded. With a small noise, he returned the kiss, sliding his tongue along Orlando's. The taste was so welcome, so familiar, that Orlando's heart broke all over again for both of them. He stepped closer, rubbed his chest along Dave's, threaded his fingers through fine hair, opened his bond fully to Dave.

//Are you sure?//

//We both need it.//

Dave's only response was a hum of approval as he slid Orlando's jacket from his shoulders and reached for the buttons of Orlando's shirt.

//Missed you.// Orlando shrugged out of his shirt, sighed into the kiss at the feel of Dave's hands on his bare skin. The next kiss ended with him removing Dave's shirt, each movement lazy and slow. //Just wanted you to be happy.//

//I am, love.//

//Good.// With that, Orlando let go of everything except the feel and taste of Dave. He took his time, relearning Dave's body, his scent, as Dave did the same, and it was no surprise, really, when they finally tumbled into the nearest bedroom, and onto a waiting bed.

The sex was lazy, slow, both of them moving together in fluid synchronicity. They acted like they had all the time in the world - both of them took turns driving the other to distraction with soft touches and softer kisses. Dave's body was a reassuring, well-known weight on top of his, and Orlando clung to that comfort, to Dave, as they moved together as one, the bond between them open and bright with everything they still had yet to say.

Afterwards, they curled together in silence, Dave stroking Orlando's back in languid circles, Orlando snuggled against Dave's side, head nestled on Dave's shoulder. And this, too, was comfortable and familiar, felt so much like the sluggish, lazy days they used to spend together when Harry and Karl were out of town on business and it was just the two of them.

"I've missed this," Orlando finally said, his voice little more than a whisper.

"Me, too. And I've missed you," Dave replied, tightening his arm around Orlando.

Orlando nodded and buried his face in the curve of Dave's neck. He wanted to remember this moment, wanted to imprint everything about it on his soul. It wasn't going to last, and he didn't need Dave to tell him that. "Gonna miss you when you're gone," he said, voice muffled.

"I won't really be gone, though." Dave tipped Orlando's chin up and smiled, thumb slipping over Orlando's bottom lip. "I'm always going to be in your life. I'm always going to love you. Nothing we say or do right now is going to change that."

Orlando managed an answering smile, but he just felt like curling up and ignoring the world for a few years. "I know," he said, striving to keep his voice light. "But you won't be ours."

"No, I won't. But I don't think I ever really was. And that's not a bad thing." He dipped his head for a drawn-out kiss, then settled back against the pillows. "I'm releasing Harry and Karl from their bonds to me."

"I had a feeling." But even though he'd known it, hearing it said aloud still hurt. "How'd they take it?"

"Well, Harry thinks he failed me and Karl was too busy trying to shore up Harry to be truly upset. You know how it is with the two of them."

He did. Pressing a kiss to Dave's shoulder, he twisted around until he was sitting on the bed, legs crossed beneath him, sheet pooled in his lap. He took Dave's hand and laced their fingers and, for a long moment, just sat there studying the way their hands fit together. "So what does that mean for me and you?"

"We've actually got a couple options," Dave said, eyes intent as he watched Orlando. "The one we choose, though, is up to you."

Fair enough. "What's the first?"

"We go on as we are. I remain your Sire," Dave said, and began rubbing his thumb over Orlando's knuckles. The touch was soothing, familiar, and Orlando felt himself relaxing. He hadn't even realized he'd started to get tense.

"I'm sensing a 'but' in there." Sometimes, Dave was far too easy to read.

"But," Dave said, making a face, "my life is here in London now, and I won't ask you to leave the Eternal Idiots, or to share what will most likely be an exile once Viggo and the rest of the Council find out everything that's happened. I would still be your Sire, but our only contact would be when you came to me. So..." He paused, and Orlando didn't miss the sudden nervousness that crept into his eyes. "I've asked Harry to take over your training if you decide to leave things as they are."

"If I decide..." Then Orlando remembered what Harry and Karl had told him. He gripped his hand tight onto Dave's. "Harry and Karl said...that it might be possible..." He couldn't finish. It was still too unimaginable to contemplate.

Thankfully, Dave took pity on him. "Is that something you want?" he asked, soothing Orlando through their bond. He was thankful for it, and to Dave, for not making him say it out loud.

"I...I don't know," he admitted quietly. "I don't know what I want right now."

"It's not something you have to decide right away. And I'll warn you now, unmaking, from what I understand, is a painful, slow process. Full recovery takes months." Dave continued rubbing Orlando's knuckles. His eyes never left Orlando's. "And I don't know if you can be remade. As far as I know, it's never been done."

"Karl...he said Liv might know, and that...that we could ask her. After. If, y'know..."

"If anyone would know, she would." Dave gave a gentle tug, and Orlando went willingly into Dave's warm embrace. "If you choose to do this, I won't lie. Part of me will be sad you won't be mine anymore, but I will understand. Harry should have been your Sire from the very beginning. It won't change the way I feel, either," he continued, arm tightening around Orlando's shoulders. "I will always love you, and that is its own bond."

"Always love you, too," Orlando mumbled, clinging as tight as he could to Dave, to what they had. He didn't care if this made him weak; he needed this. "Wish both of you could, y'know, be my Sire."

Dave's laugh was soft against his ear. "I'm afraid that would be impossible, even for Harry."

"I know," Orlando replied, miserably. He plucked at the sheets, certain he would be fine with staying here for a few years with Dave and avoiding reality.

"Well, you're in London often enough, and now that I won't be avoiding you, I have a feeling you and I, at least, will be back to where we were before this whole mess."

Orlando looked up, biting on his bottom lip as he studied Dave's face. "Promise?"

"Not a promise," Dave said, before leaning in to brush a light kiss over Orlando's lips. "My solemn vow."

"That's good enough for me." He kissed Dave again, this one slow and lingering, and was pleased to see Dave's eyes had darkened by the time Orlando lifted his head. "So tell me about this hunk you're tossing us over for...and he better be a hunk, or I'll be severely disappointed."

"Oh, you have no idea."

"So tell me, already!"

"Well, his name is Lawrence. He's originally from New Zealand - he was a woodsmith when he was mortal." Dave scooted them both so he was against the headboard and Orlando rearranged himself so he was cuddled close, head on Dave's chest to hear the steady, slow beat of Dave's heart. Dave, for his part, started playing with Orlando's hair. "He's a little older than Sean, I'd guess, and has spent the last few decades in computers. He founded LM, Inc."

Orlando's head popped up. "Nuh uh."

"Y'huh," Dave replied, grinning. "I knew that'd get your attention."

"You're telling me your lover is the owner of the best videogame company out there?"

"And still designs a lot of the games," Dave confirmed. "Wait 'til you see the game room he's got set up in the flat."

"That's it, I'm definitely staying with you guys when I'm here on business."

"We'd be happy to have you. And he's a teddy bear, so I wouldn't let his size intimidate you."

"Size?" Orlando made a rude noise. "I've got Harry for size, remember."

"Lawrence makes Harry look small."

"No way."

"God's truth. You'll see when you meet him. He's taller than Harry and actually bigger through the body, if you can believe it. And miles of lush, dark skin and hair that I can knot my hands in. And tattoos."

"Tattoos?" Orlando asked, voice faint. Tattoos were incredibly sexy (which was why he'd got one in the first place, and should probably get some more, really), and then his mind started turning. He wondered what sort of persuasion it would take to get Harry to get one. Or two. Or several.

Fingers snapped in front of his eyes, and he blinked. "Stay with me," Dave grinned. "Not that the very x-rated thoughts running through your head weren't very nice."

"Harry with tattoos..."

"Would be hot like the sun," Dave agreed, with a lusty sigh. "But I think you've got about as much chance in talking him into doing it as you do giving your friend Elijah the Gift."

"Why not? Harry likes my tattoo just fine."

Dave kissed the tip of Orlando's nose. "Love, you could have tattoos, piercings, or shave your head and he'd still think you're gorgeous. But he'll never go for marking his body."

"We'll see." Dave was probably right, but Orlando refused to give in without at least a little effort.

"Let me know how that works out for you." Then he pulled Orlando to him for a hard kiss. "Now...think we've got enough time for another round, or do you have more questions?"

"No," Orlando said, hands slipping beneath the sheet to curl around Dave's cock. "No more questions right now."

//I was hoping you'd say that.//

(To Be Continued)

dominic monaghan, elijah wood, lawrence makoare, karl urban, dave wenham, sean bean, claimed 'verse, catalyst, viggo mortensen, harry sinclair, liv tyler, josh hartnett, co-written by brenda and jo, orlando bloom

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