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

[azewewish]

Title: "Catalyst" (Part Thirty-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 |



Orlando could safely say one thing. Josh had definitely been busy while he and Karl were gone. As he strode across the grounds to the carriage house, he made note of all of the changes that had been made - the porch was now a wrap-around veranda, the windows had all been replaced, the paint and trim were now cheerful and light colors instead of the drab browns they had previously been. Didn't even look like the same place at all.

He knocked on the door - also new - and then took a step back to look around again. The first thing he noticed was that the azaleas were missing from the front lawn. He grinned. Typical of Harry to take the first opportunity to rip them out. He'd been bitching about them for years. The sound of the door opening pulled Orlando's attention around again.

"Um, hi," he said, with a small smile. Josh just looked at him, lanky frame filling the doorway. "Can I come in? So we can talk?"

"Sure," Josh shrugged, and stepped back. The second Orlando stepped into the foyer, he let out a low whistle.

"Dude, Harry wasn't kidding when he said you ripped everything up." At least half of the rooms on the ground floor seemed to be missing, and the dark oak paneling that had been on the walls had been replaced by a light green paint that opened the space even further.

Josh shrugged as he rocked back on his heels. "Sometimes it's easier to start from scratch, y'know."

Which was precisely the opening that Orlando needed. No time like the present. It was why he was here. "Yeah, um. About that. Do, um, do you think we could? I mean, start from scratch."

"Why?"

Alright, so Josh wasn't going to make it easy for him. Orlando supposed he deserved it. "Because you've managed to see me at my worst," Orlando said, careful to keep his voice calm and level. "I've been a bit of a dick to you, and I apologize for that. Things have been...unsettled around here recently, and we got off to a bad start. I'd like it to change."

"Okay, tell me how you'd do it. I'm not being facetious, by the way, I'm really curious," Josh added, when Orlando just narrowed his eyes. "Because, man, I've got to be honest here, I'm not sure why you'd care unless Karl put you up to it. Which he says he didn't, and I believe him, so I guess I'm still lost. Everyone's made it pretty clear that you're the number one concern around these parts, so why would my opinion on you even matter?"

"Your opinion matters because you matter to Karl." His first reaction had been to lash out, but he'd promised Karl that he would try, and it was far past time he started thinking with his brain instead of letting his emotions rule everything he did. "He didn't put me up to this, but it's not a secret that he wants us to be friends. You're a part of his - of our - lives now."

He raked a hand through his hair and moved to look out the window. "I can't deny that I'm the, um, how did you put it, number one concern right now, but it won't always be like this. To be honest, you haven't seen any of us at our best. Well, except perhaps Sean."

"Sean's a pretty cool guy. It's too bad he does nothing for me."

Orlando glanced over at Josh. When he saw the grin, he relaxed a little. "If you were after Sean, you'd also have to take on Dom, and, mate, I'm not sure anyone would want that job."

"Sean did mention that Dom was a handful," Josh said, then gestured down the hall. "Hey, look, you, uh, want a drink or something? I mean, if we're gonna have a come to Jesus meeting, I think I'm gonna need alcohol."

"A what?" Orlando asked, following Josh into the spacious kitchen. Orlando could tell a lot of money had been spent on this room - it looked like something out of a culinary school.

Josh ducked his head in the refrigerator. "Come to Jesus meeting. It's a slang term. Southern, I think, I dunno, an ex-girlfriend used to say it all the time. Means a heart to heart talk. Probably explains why she's an ex, come to think of it. She was always wanting them."

"Ah, right." Leaning against a counter, Orlando watched Josh fix two Malibu and Cokes. At least they both had a fondness for rum in common. "You know...I've been where you are."

"Where...what?"

"The new pet, coming into a very established relationship and not knowing what's going on. It's hard, and I know that. I wish you hadn't come into this whole fucked up thing we've got going on right now."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Josh was defensive, and Orlando couldn't blame him. His words had come out all wrong. "I just meant that I wish you'd shown up at a better time. After all this was over. Or months ago. Josh...Karl loves you. Just as much as he loves me and Harry."

"Dude, I hate to break it to you, but he doesn't love anyone as much as he loves Harry."

Orlando opened his mouth, then closed it. "Yeah, okay, point. But he does. Love you, I mean. I can feel it in my bond with him, and it's the real deal."

"I never doubted that he loves me. Even though neither of us has said it. I'm just not sure where the hell I fit into this whole crazy mess. I mean, you guys are all running around acting like what's going on with you is the end of the world and I think all of you have forgotten this is a choice you're making. If you're so freaked out at the idea you might die if you're unmade and then remade, then don't do it. No one's holding a gun to anyone's head." Josh paused, took a deep sip from his drink. When he looked up, Orlando was surprised to see deep circles under Josh's eyes. "Fuck it...look, I don't mean to belittle what you're doing. I get that it's important to you, and I respect that. But it is something you're choosing to do. And you've got everyone from The Elder on down with their panties in a twist because of it."

"I know it's a choice." But Josh was right, it didn't hurt to remind himself of it every once in awhile. He was choosing to do this. "And yeah, you've been dropped into a shite situation. And I am sorry about that. About a lot of things." Orlando swallowed the rest of his drink and set the glass in the sink. Then he rubbed the back of his neck, took a deep breath, and looked back at Josh. "Maybe we should have this conversation after all this is over. Let things die down."

"You really think that'll change anything? You'll be mortal and recovering in order to get your strength back, I'll be getting used to...well, whatever my new role is and all of the changes that'll bring." Josh let out a laugh that held no humor. "Just tell me what you're looking to get out of this. What's in it for you if it's not brownie points with Karl?"

"Brownie points? Is that what you think this is all about?" The fuck? He started to wonder why he was even bothering and had to swallow the urge to tell Josh to fuck off. "I'm doing this," he finally said, aware that his voice was cool and more than a little haughty, "in order to regain peace in the house. I'm doing this because I thought it would be nice to start over again and maybe make a new friend. Clearly you're not interested, and that's fine. You have my word that I'll stay out of your way and that I'll be civil when our paths do cross."

"Last time I offered you my friendship, you spit it back in my face," Josh replied, just as coolly. "Forgive me if I'm a little skeptical of your motives."

Fuck, he hated that Josh had a point. He hated that he was pissed off at Josh, at himself, at the whole situation. He hated that he was probably going to have to go to Karl and tell him that he'd failed. "You're right. I was a dick. But I already apologized. And I do mean it. I'd like to start over."

Josh stared at him for so long that Orlando had to fight the urge to fidget. He was utter crap at things like this. Probably explained why he was made for Harry and Karl, come to think on it. "Alright," Josh finally said. "Apology accepted. We start over. You first."

Him first. Okay, he could do this. "There's a Council meeting tonight. So, we'll be on our own. Um...Elijah and Dom are coming over for dinner. So I can tell them about, y'know, and, um, it'd be nice if you could join us. "

"Dinner?"

"Actually, we usually order pizza or Chinese and spend the night watching movies in the theater or playing Call of Duty or just goofing off." He'd offered; it was up to Josh to accept it. "Just thought you might be going a little stir crazy down here by yourself, that's all."

Josh laughed. "You make it sound like I'm some sort of maiden pining away in a tower for her lover. I do have friends and a job and a life," he added, but he was still chuckling, so Orlando figured it was still all okay. "Tell you what, man. I'll cook."

"You cook?"

Josh motioned to the kitchen. "Did you think I have all of this for show or something?"

"Um." He hadn't really thought about it, to tell the truth. "Guess not?"

"You mentioned you were a vegetarian. Anything you don't eat?"

"Red meat." Orlando grinned at Josh's confused look. "See, there's this whole thing about needing extra protein after you get the fangs, so I had to modify my diet."

"To include chicken?"

"And fish," Orlando said. He looked around the kitchen, then walked to the door to peer out at the unfinished dining room. "Why don't you come up to the house? Kitchen's fully stocked, I'll play bartender, and we won't let Lij pick out the movies for the night."

"Bad taste?"

"Mate, you have no idea."

"I hang with musicians all the time. Trust me, I know from bad taste."

Taking another chance, Orlando stuck out his hand. "Good enough for now?"

Nodding, Josh took the offered hand. "Yeah, man, we're cool. And thanks for having the balls to man up."

"I can admit when I'm wrong. Just, y'know, don't hold it against me if I act like a prat again. I'm scared as fuck right now, no matter what Harry's vowed."

"Vowed?" Josh looked at Orlando as he rinsed out the glasses and dried his hands. "This about the unmaking thing?"

"Yeah," Orlando nodded, hands deep in his pockets again as they started towards the front door. It was mostly to keep Josh from seeing them shake. "He's promised not to let me die."

"Hell of a promise."

"I know."

"I doubt even he's that good."

Orlando laughed, and he hoped Josh wouldn't comment on how high-pitched it was. "Man, you've seen Harry. You think even God would take him on?"

"When it comes to you and Karl, absolutely not. I can think of far worse people to have as a protector."

"Well, he's yours, too."

"Huh?"

"You're Karl's. Which means you're his."

"Ah, right. Yeah, he, um, he mentioned something like that when I first met him."

"Not surprised. Harry takes his responsibilities seriously. And if you've earned Karl's trust and love, you'll have his as well."

Josh started to say something, but Orlando's attention was drawn to the sound of a car coming up the drive. "They're here," he said, with a slightly stressed smile. "Um, you mind if I talk to them first? In private?"

"Uh, yeah, sure. No problem." Josh clapped him on the back and made his way into the castle just as Dom and Elijah got out of the car.

(To Be Continued)