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

[azewewish]

Title: "Catalyst" (Part Fifteen)
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 |



Dave rubbed his hands along his jeans as he stared at the door, tried to still the erratic thump of his heart. He shouldn't be this nervous. It was just a drink.

Just a drink, he repeated to himself. He should be able to control himself in a public place. He remembered that Harry'd been fond of this pub the last time Harry'd come to London. Before everything had completely changed.

"No time like the present," Dave muttered, but he didn't move. Instead, he took a deep breath and then he laughed at himself. "Fuck it."

Pushing inside, he looked around. It was still the same pub, with the same old, scarred furnishings, the same atmosphere, and Dave could understand why Harry liked it so much. It was noisy without being too loud and cozy without being stifling. Unassuming and unpretentious, it suited Harry to the ground.

His eyes roamed, collided with an amber gaze that left Dave unable to breathe. Fuck, Harry looked good enough to devour on the spot. Control, he reminded himself, shaking his head at how ridiculous he sounded. He just had to keep it together long enough to get through this meeting without embarrassing himself.

Even so, he took his time walking through the crowd before sitting down across from Harry. "Thanks for coming," Dave said, and winced as the inane comment left his lips.

A quirk of an eyebrow was the only sign that Harry'd noticed his nervousness. "Well, you did ask to meet me here."

"Yeah, I, uh..." He twisted around, vainly hoping for a server.

"If you would rather not meet with me, I'll understand."

Shock had Dave whipping his head back around again. "That's not..."

For a moment, Harry's hand moved, as if to cover his, but it stayed still on top of the table. "I know I have some distance to go to rebuild the trust you'd placed in me," Harry said softly. "I know it won't be an easy process."

"Harry...I never stopped trusting you." On impulse, he reached across the table and took Harry's hand. "There's no need to rebuild something that was never broken. Why would you even think that?"

"Your pupils are dilated, your breath is short, your heart is pounding, and you're looking at everything in the room except me. What else should I think?"

What else should he think? Dave stared in disbelief. "Maybe that your physical effect on me is still very much the same?" he finally asked, making a move to sit back. Before he could do more than shift, Harry's wrist twisted and his fingers curled around Dave's hand. "I spent a century wanting you, Harry. That's not just going to go away because we've realized we're not suited for each other. Right now, I'm trying very hard not to think about how much I want you to drag me across this table and fuck me senseless. It's me I don't trust. Not you."

For a weighted moment, there was only silence between them. Then Harry smiled, and it was like watching a rainbow burst after a summer storm. "Would it make you feel better if we fucked first, then talked?"

Dave could only blink at him in a state of confused lust.

Harry's thumb dragged across his wrist, a sharp nail catching on too-sensitive skin. "I'd rather thought, from your choice of meeting place, that we would be doing this the other way around, but I'm nothing if not flexible."

"I'm familiar with your flexibility." He shifted in his seat, tried to ignore the growing ache in his groin. Mental images paraded through his head, and Dave knew he was fighting a losing battle. "I, um...fuck."

His nostrils flared as he inhaled, and all he could smell was Harry. To hell with fighting. The battle had been lost before it began. "Men's room?" he muttered, unable to believe he was even suggesting it. "Or do you want to leave?"

"I've no wish to treat you as a cheap fuck." Before Dave could decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing, Harry was already standing and holding out a hand. "I think we could use the privacy."

Numbly, Dave nodded, and allowed Harry to pull him up. He kept his fingers entwined with Harry's, needing the contact. Cool air caressed his skin as they walked along the sidewalk, but it did nothing to cool the heat in his blood. Dave knew part of him would feel this way about Harry for the rest of his life.

Slowly, Dave started to realize they were going the wrong way. "My flat," he said, feet dragging along the concrete, and Harry just smiled over his shoulder.

"We're not going to your flat."

Harry's house in London didn't look like much from the street, mostly because of the high brick wall surrounding it, but when Harry unlocked the side gate to let them through, Dave could see that the gardens were as meticulously kept as ever. But, before he had a chance to fully look over what new additions there were, Harry had spun him around, and yanked him against a granite-hard chest.

Harry's mouth was on his the next moment, hot and insistent, and Dave sank into it, gave Harry everything he wanted, took all he needed. He twined his arms around Harry's neck, filled his hands with dark hair, slanted his mouth across Harry's, and simply allowed himself to feel.

"Inside," Harry growled, pulling back. Seeing Harry's eyes darken with lust, his breathing heavy, Dave felt a sense of savage glee. He could still affect Harry after everything that had happened between them.

"Good idea," he said, stepping in to flick his tongue over the seam of Harry's lips before moving towards the house.

The door hadn't even fully closed behind them when Harry had him against the wall, hands working at his shirt, lips on his jaw and throat. Each new touch sent fire licking through his veins, and he welcomed the sting of his fangs dropping as Harry's grazed over the tendon in Dave's neck.

"Harry..." It was a moan, a plea, a promise. His hands slid along corded arms, clung to broad shoulders as every sense was assaulted with too many emotions to name.

//I'm right here.// Cool air kissed his skin as Harry removed his shirt, then pressed against him, tongues tangling together.

Dave blindly tore at Harry's buttons, wanted naked skin under his hands. His fingers felt clumsy, fumbling. //Need...//

Harry pulled back and yanked the shirt off his head in one movement. "There," he said, and dived back in, nipping at Dave's lower lip.

//Oh fuck...// Dave splayed his hands across Harry's chest, sighed into the next kiss. He wanted to take his time, to savor every second and imprint it on his soul so he'd remember it forever. He started to move, fingertips tracing muscle and scars, reacquainting themselves with the tapestry of Harry's body, and Dave was pleased when Harry shuddered against him.

"Come." Harry grabbed Dave's hand again, led him up the stairs to the master bedroom, and fell back on the comforter. Waiting.

Dave swallowed, dug deep inside himself to keep from crawling right on top of him and riding him until they were both too sore to move. "You gonna leave those on?" he asked, instead, motioning to Harry's jeans, trying to inject the right teasing note into his voice.

It must have worked, because Harry just flicked each button aside, revealing even more skin to Dave's hungry gaze. When he finally pulled them off and tossed them to the floor, all Dave could focus on was the thick, heavy line of Harry's cock, and Harry's fingers wrapping around it in a careless gesture.

//Is this what you want? Me pleasuring myself for you?//

"No," Dave breathed, and gave in to the urge twisting inside him. He crawled on the bed, gently batting Harry's hand aside. He dipped his head, ran his tongue up the inside of Harry's thigh. When Harry sucked his breath in, Dave chuckled. "I'd rather pleasure you myself."

"By all means."

The temptation was too much. He had to have another taste. His tongue ran over muscled thighs, matted crisp hairs, savored the flavor of warm skin. Dave slowly worked his way inward until he could flatten his tongue against Harry's balls, fingers curled snug around the base of his cock. He took each one into his mouth by turn, tested the weight, humming his pleasure. Harry groaned his approval. Strong hands cradled his head; loving fingers stroked through his hair. //Look so beautiful like this.//

//And like this?// he asked, running his tongue along the length of Harry's cock until he could wrap his lips firmly around the head.

//Better.//

Dave's lips slid down in a slow glide until he had taken all of Harry. Then he started to hum. //And now?//

//Exquisite.//

Each slide of his lips along Harry's cock was a reminder. Dave did his best, used every trick he'd ever learned - including a few that he'd learned from Lawrence. He wanted Harry's surrender to this, wanted Harry to come apart beneath his hands and his mouth. And then he wanted Harry to pin him to the bed and fuck him until he couldn't walk.

Talking could most definitely wait until he'd had his fill.

***

It wasn't often that Viggo found himself mystified. Hadn't happened in centuries, really. Nevertheless, he found himself wondering just why it was that Karl had called him to come to London. There was no emergency with the mortal governments in Europe, Karl had said, but he might want to reschedule what he was doing and fly in right away.

Nothing else seemed to be out of place. Karl sounded healthy, which meant Harry and Orlando were fine. And Dave was also more than fine - and a little preoccupied with Harry at the moment, if the quick peek Viggo had taken was anything to go by. So it was with no small amount of confusion that Viggo found himself knocking on the door of Karl and Harry's hotel suite in London and wondering just why he was there.

The door opened to reveal a tall, dark haired young mortal who just stared at Viggo in confusion. "You're not the pizza guy."

"No, I'm not." His eyes narrowed a little as he smelled Karl all over the child. And from the sounds of things, Orlando was inside the suite. Odd. It wasn't like Karl to share his companions with Orlando instead of with Harry. "I'm Viggo."

"Vig...oh, fuck me, Lord Mortensen." Dark eyes went wide, and the mortal took a step back. "Um, come in. Karl!"

"The money's on the table by the...oh, Viggo." Karl came to a complete stop, Orlando right behind him.

"You did request my presence," Viggo said, stepping inside.

"I know, I just..." Then Karl shook his head, and came forward to hug Viggo, the motion hard and heartfelt. "It's good to see you."

There was another knock on the door. "That should be the pizza," Karl said, and gave Orlando a pointed glance, who was just staring at Viggo like he wasn't sure if he should run and hide. Even more mysterious. What had the child done this time?

"What?" Orlando looked at Karl, blinked. "Oh! Right. Pizza."

He scooped the money up and opened the door for the delivery man, and paid before curling a hand around Josh's arm. "C'mon, Josh. We'll just, um, go. To the other room," Orlando said, pointedly not looking at Viggo. Which just set off every warning bell Viggo had. "Leave the adults alone."

"Orlando Bloom, if you so much as take a step, you will regret it." Viggo was pleased to see him freeze, shoulders hunched. Then, Viggo turned to Karl. "Karl, what the hell is going on?"

"I would rather discuss it with you privately first."

"Would you?" Viggo arched an eyebrow. "Well, I'd rather be at my house right about now, staring at the waves from my balcony."

Karl closed his eyes, blew out a slow breath. Viggo admired the restraint, but what he really wanted were answers. "You can start by telling me why the child next to Orlando has your scent all over him, and why Orlando would think he'd need shielding from me."

Karl opened his eyes on a laugh. "That's actually the simplest explanation. Viggo, I'd like you to meet Josh Hartnett."

"Pleased to meet you, sir," Josh said. Viggo noticed that he took care to keep Orlando's body between himself and Viggo.

"Hartnett, Hartnett, I know that name..." Viggo's eyes narrowed, and he took a closer look at Josh. Ah, there it was, around the eyes and the laugh lines around the mouth. "You favor your aunt."

"So everyone says," Josh said, looking up just long enough to flash a quick smile. It faded as Viggo's gaze swung back to Karl.

"The scent, Karl?"

It was odd to see Karl look uncertain. The last time Viggo recalled that expression on Karl's face was easily a decade ago. "I'm taking him as a pet."

"If that's what you call simple, then I can't wait to hear the complicated part." He didn't miss the way Josh and Orlando flinched. Clearly, Karl had yet to learn that if he wanted to hide something, it was best to not let Orlando be involved. The child was an open book. "Would you care to explain why you feel the need for a third pet?" He didn't bother to ask how such a thing could have happened. Karl, it seemed, was destined to be the exception that proved every rule.

"I didn't feel the need, it just happened," Karl snapped, and finally, there was some honest emotion. Viggo'd been beginning to wonder who'd replaced Karl with a replicant.

"Surely the binding ceremony could have waited until you were both back in Los Angeles."

"You're here because of Dave," Orlando said, with a sigh.

"Dave?" Viggo swung his head between Orlando and Karl. "Dave's with Harry."

"We know where Dave is," Karl interrupted. White lines of stress appeared around his mouth. "We also know where he's been for the past five years."

"If this is about his duties keeping him so far from home..."

"It's not."

"Then what is it?"

"Told you Harry should've been here," Josh whispered in Orlando's ear.

"No one likes to be told I told you so," Orlando whispered back, shoving an elbow in Josh's ribs.

//You do it all the time.// Orlando jumped at Viggo's comment, and did his best to look innocent as Viggo pinned him with a hard look. "The two of you, sit. Now. What is it that Dave has done that required me to fly halfway around the world, and why couldn't it wait until you were back in L.A.?"

Karl waited until Orlando and Josh were on the sofa, the pizza box still in Josh's hands. Viggo had a feeling none of them would be eating for awhile. Then Karl turned to look at him, emotions once again carefully shielded. "Before I tell you, you have to promise me that you won't say anything until I'm finished speaking."

"Karl..."

"It's important."

"Alright." He stood and waited, watching Karl closely.

"The past ten years've been...informative," Karl started, looking like he was choosing each word with care. "Dave and Orlando have enriched our lives, you know this. But lately...over the last few years...Harry and I have noticed certain changes in our bond with Dave."

And suddenly, everything was starting to make a lot more sense. Small wonder it had taken them so long, he thought, but stayed silent as Karl started again. If Harry and Karl wished to relocate the Council to London to be near Dave, well, he couldn't say that he blamed them. It was past time the Council thought about changing headquarters again. They'd been in Los Angeles a long time.

"We noticed certain changes, and we... I guess you could say we ignored them," Karl said, looking as if each word pained him. "As long as Dave was healthy and not under any mental stress, and as long as Orlando was fine, we didn't bother to look into it. We've all taken companions, so the fact that Dave seemed to be enjoying himself with one while he was here didn't concern us."

From the corner of his eye, Viggo saw Orlando's mouth open and Josh's hand clap over it. Good. One of them was exhibiting some intelligence. He refocused on Karl, who was now studying the signet ring on his finger.

"To make this short, we knew there were things Orlando didn't know yet, but we assumed that his training and instruction into our ways were simply taking longer due to Dave being here in London, and that when Orlando was here visiting, that they'd be making up for lost time. Then, several days ago, Harry and I had to explain who Liv was to him."

Liv... A deep wave of regret and denial swept over Viggo before he could ruthlessly tamp it down. He couldn't believe it. Dave would never behave so foolishly. "Are you telling me that Dave never explained The Elder to him?"

"I'm telling you that, for the past five years, there's been no one to see to Orlando's education," Karl confirmed, in the softest voice that Viggo had ever heard. "There were no plans made for when Dave came here to London. He never appointed anyone to act in his stead and Harry and I never bothered to make sure that things were progressing as they should be."

"Don't." Viggo shook his head. "You know as well as I that the sole responsibility of educating a fledgling is with his Sire, regardless of any other company the fledgling might keep." Dave was his. He refused to believe, after over a century, that Dave could have fooled him so completely. That he could have abandoned his sacred duty in so cavalier a fashion, especially to a man he claimed to love.

"There are...extenuating factors."

Viggo simply stared at him. Extenuating? There was no excuse for Dave's actions, and Karl knew it. The mere fact that he would attempt to justify the situation was insulting. "Do not take me for an idiot. This is beyond -"

"He's turned Orlando's training over to Harry and wishes to sever the pet bonds with myself and Harry."

Sheer, unadulterated shock stopped Viggo's tirade in mid-word. "He's doing what?"

"He's setting us free. All that's left is for you to complete the ceremony. That's why we asked you here."

"I don't understand." Certainly, Viggo had noticed that Dave had been happy in London, and that things with Harry and Karl and Orlando weren't exactly the way that Dave had expected them to be (which had been partially why Viggo had given Dave the London assignment - to give them all a little space to put themselves back into perspective), but this? "He loves Harry. He and Orlando are bound both by blood and love..."

"It's not enough, and you know it. He wasn't meant to be ours."

Viggo couldn't remember the last time a pet bond had been severed before the death of either the pet or vampire. His mind was still reeling when Orlando pushed Josh's hand away and stood.

"I knew enough to know I wasn't being trained properly," Orlando said, looking as miserable as Viggo had ever seen him, "but I didn't say anything to anyone." He paused and took a deep breath. "This isn't about him not loving us, or about us not loving him. It's about putting things right. And to do that, I...we need to speak with Liv."

"To Liv? To sever a pet bond?"

"Not the pet bond. The Sire/fledgling bond," Karl said, and stared at Viggo until he got it.

"You're..." Viggo let out a slow, steadying breath. He had to hand it to the lot of them. They never did anything by half-measures. "Unmaking is a painful, slow process, child. Recovery takes months. Are you...are you certain you've thought this through? All of you? What it would mean?"

"I only know what they've told me," Orlando replied. Viggo noted he appeared calm, but tension and stress radiated from him. "I know it's going to hurt, and there's a chance I...I won't survive it. I know I'll be mortal until I can be turned again...if I can be turned again, and that in itself will be difficult for me. I've thought it through as far as I can. I don't know everything, and neither do they, but I know that I should have been Harry's fledgling. I should have been his just as much as I'm Karl's." His voice had risen, and a gentle squeeze of Karl's arm seemed to restore some of his calm. "If I can be who and what I was supposed to be, shouldn't we have that chance?"

"I'd hoped I was wrong," Viggo admitted. Josh, he noted, was silent, watching the drama unfold with concern, but no confusion. Already, Viggo could see that Karl had taken better care with Josh than he had with Orlando in the beginning. "Anyone with two eyes could see that you and Harry had something rare...but since Karl'd claimed you so quickly, I'd honestly thought you were meant for both of them."

"I think I was meant for both of them," Orlando said. "But I think..." Another silent communication with Karl seemed to steady him. "I think I was meant to be Harry's first, not Karl's."

Viggo could only agree. "Like I said, anyone with eyes could see that."

"We made mistakes ten years ago, and now we're trying to fix them," Orlando continued. "Dave...I'm not abandoning him. He and I will always have a bond between us. But we all know this isn't right."

Viggo thought nothing else they did would surprise him. Not after all this. He was wrong. Orlando shrugged off Karl's arm as something silent passed between them, and then Orlando knelt in front of Viggo. "Please, my Lord," he said, softly, "I'm asking for your help in this."

"Oh, child..." Viggo touched his hands to Orlando's shoulders, urging him up, touched beyond all measure by Orlando's gesture of faith and fidelity. "Even if you weren't dear to me, I would have no reason not to honor your request to see the Elder and seek her counsel. Although I will warn you, she's a little...well..."

"Overwhelming," Karl interjected, with a grin. "At least, to newcomers."

"She's also the most knowledgeable person I've ever met," Viggo added, even though he privately agreed with Karl. Liv was definitely a handful. "If anyone has the answer...if there is an answer...she'll know it."

"Just mind that you don't fall completely in love with her and leave us for her before we get everything all settled," Karl said.

Orlando rolled his eyes. "She's a woman."

"Well, yeah," Josh said, looking confused for the first time. "And from what I've heard, pretty hot. What's her gender got to do with anything?"

"Our dear Orlando," Karl said, laughing, "only likes men."

"His loss."

"Give him time. He hasn't met Liv yet," Karl added.

"Or Monica," Viggo said.

"Who's Monica?" Orlando asked, looking between Karl and Viggo with suspicion.

Karl just grinned. "Ask Harry. The lucky bastard."

Viggo raised an eyebrow. "I thought the three of you..."

"From time to time, of course, but you know how she and Harry get. And you know how possessive she is where Harry's concerned."

"That I do. Almost as possessive as you are of him." Viggo patted Orlando on the shoulder, then turned to look out the window and survey the city's skyline. "I just hope I'm there the first time Harry chooses to introduce her to you."

"Karl, what's he talking about?"

"Ask Harry," Karl repeated. "After we get things sorted here. About that..."

"I can sever the bonds as soon as everyone is ready," Viggo said, feeling the weight of his years for the first time in centuries. The fact that Dave had brought them to this was still barely believable. "That's going to be the easiest and least painful part of this whole mess. I hope, for his sake, that he has a good reason for wanting this, aside from the abandonment charge."

"Viggo -"

Viggo gave Orlando a level look. "I can't ignore it. He will face the charges and accept the punishment for it." Sire abandonment was among the worst of crimes. "I'm not sure if we would be doing him a favor."

"Just keep in mind there's Lawrence to think about, as well."

"And Lawrence is...?" Something told Viggo this was going to be just another complication.

"Lawrence is the reason he's breaking the bonds." Orlando dropped onto the sofa and reached for the pizza box. "Dave, apparently, found himself a rich sugar daddy and fell in love."

"I think, and I could be wrong, but...I think Dave and Lawrence might be planning on asking you to perform the iunctum ceremony," Karl added.

"He...what?"

"From what Dave told me, they met at a party right after he got here, and they've been living together ever since."

"And you think it's that serious between them?"

"There's definitely something soul deep going on."

"I see," Viggo said, even though he truly didn't. "I think I could use a drink."

He had a feeling it was going to be a very long night.

***

Dave had lost track of the number of orgasms he'd had. All he knew was that he was boneless and sated, and if Harry planned on another round, he was just going to have to wait. Lazy fingers stroked along Harry's arm and shoulder as they lounged on the bed. "I'm sorry." It seemed poor compensation after everything, but it was the only way Dave knew how to begin.

"The apologies should be mine," Harry replied. "I claimed you knowing I had no right, knowing how you felt about me, and knowing that I wasn't thinking properly."

"I'm not apologizing for that," Dave said, with a soft smile. "As Karl reminded me, we all walked through the door willingly. I certainly don't regret a single second what we had together."

"Then why apologize? If it's for Orlando's lack of training, you have to know I've already forgiven you."

"I should have been honest with you as soon as I met Lawrence. I knew the night I met him that he wasn't just another companion, but I was afraid to tell you."

Harry's laugh was soft, rueful. "I'd suspected you'd taken a lover. But I had no idea..."

"I didn't allow myself to think about it, so how could you?" Dave traced his fingers over Harry's cheeks and chin, memorizing still beloved features.

Harry turned his head enough to kiss Dave's palm. "He must be remarkable, indeed, to have captured your heart."

"You can judge for yourself. You're all invited for dinner tomorrow."

"All of us?"

"Yes, all of you," Dave laughed, and dipped his head to nibble at Harry's throat. "He wants to meet everyone."

"Mmm..." Harry shifted, cradled the back of Dave's head. "I look forward to it..."

"I'm glad," Dave said, then traced a slow path with his tongue back to Harry's lips. The kiss was heated and slow, neither of them in any hurry to end it.

//Still trying to wear me out?//

//Is it working?//

//Not yet.//

Dave lifted his head, looked into amused amber eyes. "Guess I'll just have to try harder then."

"Just as long as I can return you to your Lawrence in one piece."

"He's not expecting me tonight," Dave answered, the words breathed onto soft skin. "I trust that meets with your approval?"

Gentle fingers moved from his shoulders to his hair, threading through it in careful possession. "I will always make time for you."

//And I you. But I will never ask for more than you can give.//

//I made a vow to you, Dave. No matter how this all plays out, that still stands.//

It was far more than he'd expected, and far more than he knew he deserved. "I'm honored."

"It is you who honor me," Harry said, and in his return smile, Dave finally had all of the answers he'd been seeking. All of the disparate pieces of his life finally clicked into place.

"I do love you," he said, hoping the simple words would convey all he couldn't verbally express.

"Always," Harry promised. Those were the last words spoken by either of them for a long time.

(To Be Continued)