FIC: Culture Shock [8/15]
Title: Culture Shock
Author: raven_writes and kitty_trio
Rated: Adult
This Chapter: Adult
Characters: Sean Bean, Marton Csokas, Karl Urban, Eric Bana
Chapter: Eight
Altonian society is industrial and colorless, grey. The Collective require obedience and conformity.
Solaris Five is a green planet. Its inhabitants are a collective of an entirely different variety.
When the crew of the Altonian cargo carrier, Patience, crash land on Solaris Five and meet the locals, the resulting culture shock is an eye-opening experience for them all.
Previous Chapters
Back to Chapter Seven
Karl moved onto the porch, Marton by his side, just in time to see Sean spew up all over Eric. "What the…?" There were loud voices coming from the bar, something crashed and Karl was torn between his cousin's predicament and the desire to know what was happening indoors. "Marton," he said hurriedly. "Take Sean to the seats, eh? Bit 'o fresh air will sort him out." He gave his companion a gentle push in Sean's direction to get him started and then stepped up to Eric, laying a hand on his shoulder to get his attention.
Eric straightened up, his eyes huge.
"What's happened?" Karl wanted to know. The noise inside was getting louder, thuds and exclamations followed by the sounds of shuffling feet.
“Bryan, drunk, on the prowl… Chris…,” was all Eric needed to say to indicate the altercation within the pub.
“But Sean…” Eric’s eyes swung back to where Marton was guiding Sean across to the seats. He flinched guiltily when a louder crash reverberated from inside. “Damnit, we’d better help ‘fore my new benches are destroyed.” Sending one last hesitant glance to his ill charge and Marton, Eric squared his shoulders and led Karl back into the melee.
Sean moaned miserably as he was once again made to move. At least this time, less swiftly, allowing his churning gut to settle. He dared not look up to Marton’s countenance, knowing his associate would once again be looking at him in disapproval.
“My apologies,” Sean managed around swallowing the bile that threatened to again escape his throat.
"No problem." Marton told him magnanimously. He'd been ill once himself, struck down on his first delivery run by a virus unpreventable by even Altonian vaccination. "Sit until you feel better."
The sounds coming from inside the bar increased and Marton lifted his head, brow furrowing as the decibel level grew. "I wonder what they're doing in there?" He spoke softly, mostly to himself. "I should look." he added.
“Wait,” Sean put out his hand, grasping Marton’s sleeve. Just as quickly he released it, apologizing for his impudence. “Pardon, but we should investigate together. My stomach has settled and my vision is no longer spinning… impaired. I have the impression something said by one of the combatants, or Eric, led to the altercation,” he spoke slowly, brow furrowed in concentration.
“I could not understand some of his colloquialisms, nor the other man’s.” Sean paused, tongue worrying his lip while attempting to recollect the events preceding Eric dragging him outdoors at a near run.
“Nevertheless, we should investigate,” he repeated rising to his feet, determined to overcome these embarrassing episodes.
Marton led the way, conscious of his team-mate's weakened state. He'd heard of violent behaviors, of course, but never actually seen any and was curious now as well.
They paused beside the open bar doors and peered inside. It was chaotic to Marton's eyes; men were leaping about, grappling with one another, arms swinging while furniture was being shoved aside. What was most puzzling was how the men trying to help seemed to be fighting one another to get close enough to stop the fighting. It was bizarre and inexplicable, it made Marton's heart race, a most unsettling sensation. He quickly backed away. "I think we should stay out here." he suggested. "Perhaps a brisk walk might steady both of us." It was close to a confession that he didn't feel all too well either, but he couldn't bring himself to actually frame the words.
With a helping hand laid lightly across Sean's arm, he began walking the perimeter of the square--which proved to be not very square at all-- and attempted to lead both their feet around the hazards of rocks and twigs on the ground while he talked; trying to take their minds off their mutual misery. "Karl was telling me some very interesting things." he began, going on to slowly explain the strange concepts of sexual intercourse, fun, sexuality, fidelity and procreation these people had.
Fleetingly, thoughts of Eric leading him over and around similar hazards occurred to Sean. However, his team-mate’s touch and guidance did not elicit either the irritated heat that had lead to his embarrassing outburst, nor the softer warmth of other touches later. Perhaps his lack of reaction was attributable to the bizarre concepts Marton was calmly retelling?
“They indulge in these… assignations in preparation to entering in procreative units?” Sean asked eyes raised to Marton’s in puzzlement. He had only a rudimentary understanding of the Collective’s procreation programs, and little to no concept of his body’s sexual uses. Odd stirrings in his genitals had always been ignored until they dissipated. Nor did he ever mention them during routine medical exams.
"No." Marton shook his head emphatically. "From what I could gather, the assignations are purely recreational and procreation is another matter entirely separate. Which," he added, tilting his head to one side in unconscious imitation of one of Karl's mannerisms. "makes perfect sense when you think about the same-gender pairings Karl referred to. Procreation there is obviously not a goal at all in that instance. It's fascinating."
“Ahh,” Sean nodded, though he really didn’t understand. Not the same or opposite gender part, but the why of it all. “Does it perhaps stem from the tactile stimulation that abounds here and the touching Eric practices with frequency?” Sean realized he still had a hold of Marton’s sleeve rubbing the textured fabric between his fingertips. He let go, warmth seeping onto his cheeks.
"I think so." Marton responded quietly, thinking through what he had been told and what he had concluded from his own observations. "But also emotions come into it, I think. Karl spoke of love, an antiquated term to be sure, but one which seems in common use here. They bond, I believe, much like the animals at the produce farm we visited last season do. Do you recall? The administrator said that some species required life-long matings in order to be productive while others chose mates for only one season? Perhaps that is the difference between what Karl referred to as 'love' and what he said was 'fun'. What do you think?"
Sean nodded again. Though he had been impatient at the time to return to their duties, he did remember the administrator’s lectures while they toured the farm.
“Correct, the life-mates, Oh!” Sean stopped, catching Marton’s sleeve again. “So our hosts are one of these same-gender life pairs?” He beamed at his ability to make the correlation to this convoluted discussion of Solaris Five’s sexual practices.
"No." Marton corrected, secretly pleased that he was not the only one to make that same mistake. "Apparently, they are... cousins." he disclosed. "The offspring of siblings. Siblings are those who share the same set of parents, I learned." Marton added the last quickly in case Sean did not know it and wanting to spare his feeling ignorant. Another effect of this strange new world, this caring what others thought and felt. "While this relativity does not preclude sexual relations occurring, I was told that being raised in close proximity to one another often quells this desire, that specific feeling being overwhelmed by the feeling of familiarity. Karl said something about it breeding contempt, but I didn't quite catch the gist of that comment."
They were almost halfway around the square, at the furthest point away from the pub and had stopped moving as their discussion became intense, but to Marton's keen ears it seemed that the noise was dying down and it was probably safe to start heading back. "Shall we?" he invited.
“Fascinating,” Sean replied to the familial classifications. He nodded Marton forward, but cautioned before they took many steps, “We should advance with care. I do wish to study this phenomenon ‘fighting’, though from a safe distance. Our glimpse earlier was quite… unsettling.”
Head clearer after the walk in the bracing atmosphere, Sean recollected the larger combatant pointing in his direction when the small one first began speaking. “I do believe some of the odd terms both combatants, especially the smaller, were screeching, erm discussing at a loud decibel, relate to my presence next to Eric. With Karl translating of course, I’d like to debrief Eric on what actions led to…”
Not paying attention to his surroundings, Sean stumbled over an upraised root or something blocking the path. Reaching for Marton’s out stretched arm, Sean clamped down hard on it as rustling and odd noises came from the shrubbery.
Marton too, heard the strange sounds and, considering their proximity to the side of the building housing the bar and noting the similarity between the noise he was now hearing and the sounds made by the fighting men earlier, decided instantly that as there was no-one else available, he and Sean had best investigate.
Gently prying Sean's fingers from his sleeve, he pushed aside the long grass in the way and, stepping forward, parted the branches of the tall shrub from behind which the sounds emanated. While it was dark and difficult to make it out details it was still clear to his mind that the situation was as he and Sean had feared; two of the men he'd seen in the pub earlier were rolling around on the ground behind the bush, engaged in violence.
But surely he and Sean could handle this without resorting to calling for aid? Sean was right behind him as he stepped through the opening he'd created and Marton came to a halt by the feet of the two combatants after taking a small sideways step to give Sean room by his side.
"Hey there! You two! Stop that!" Marton said with all the authority he could muster. Reaching down, he grabbed the ankles of one of the men and began to drag him aside, confident Sean could handle the second.
After only a brief assessment of the situation, Sean followed Marton’s lead. The circumstances and this world in general might be alien; working in concert with his associate was not. The pair of ankles Sean grabbed did not cooperate as well as Marton’s. The feet bucked within his grasp, and unintelligible screeching similar to what he’d heard in the bar came from the shadows on the ground.
“No! Stop! Cease this violence!” Sean called out as forcefully as he could. The squirming body and sounds grating over his nerves made his heart rate escalate. He tugged with all his might, finally separating his combatant from Marton’s.
“Silence!” Sean bellowed, “I told you to stop, so do So!”
Karl stepped out into the night air for the second time, raking his fingers through his hair to pat down any disturbance his recent activity might have left. He felt a little guilty over taking the time for a calming ale before coming in search of his guests and his anxiety ramped up a notch when he discovered they were not sitting where he'd told them to wait. He scanned the square but could see nothing moving. "Oh, shit." he muttered to himself as Eric came out through the doors to join him. "Where the fuck…?"
A loud yell interrupted his cussing and his eyes swiveled to the immediate left of where they were standing. Eric turned as well, his mouth opening as if to speak. The bushes next to the pub rustled ominously; the yells and curses were emanating from within. He and Eric shared a quick look of concern before they moved as one, feet pounding on the wooden slats of the porch as they made haste in that direction.
Mouth working though unable to speak Eric ran; guilt and worry hastening his steps. Once in view of the tableau of their charges and the others, he came to an abrupt halt as if smacking into a wall.
A snorting laugh broke loose. Like some bizarre tug-of-war Sean and Marton each had a foot in their hands, trying to separate the figures on the ground.
“Sean, let go,” Eric called softly between guffaws. He wrapped his fingers over Sean’s, but was promptly shaken off.
“No!” Eyes flashing with green fire, Sean rounded on Eric. “This unseemly violence must cease!”
Reeling from the intensity of Sean’s look, body tightening in a way that had no bearing in this situation, Eric looked down. Okay, so he wasn’t the only person fully aroused here. Obviously Marton and Sean had stumbled upon Chris’ and Bryan’s second favorite pastime: make-up sex after a fight. Clothing in disarray, Bryan’s trousers open, only Chris’ body atop his keeping his bits from being on display.
“Love,” Eric tried again amidst chortles, “they don’t need our help. If anything, if you two don’t let go I think you’ll get an eyeful of something much more ‘unseemly’.”
While Eric wrestled with Sean, Karl took a different, more subtle, approach. Doing his level best not to bust out laughing, he stepped as close to Marton as he could, and spoke directly into the other man's ear, no mean feat, as Marton was presently engaged in grappling with a tiger and understandably flailing around quite a bit.
"They're mating." Karl said quietly. "Not fighting."
Marton went absolutely still as he digested the brief words, abruptly releasing his grip. His face heated up as blood raced to the surface of his skin; his first experience of complete embarrassment. Ducking his head, he stepped away from the fray. "They're…" he glanced at the two men on the ground and then away again. "Really?" he whispered, disbelieving.
Foot released, Bryan rolled to cover and protect his lover from the madmen. His efforts wrenched Chris from the insane blond, who promptly fell into Eric’s arms.
“Fucking hell Bana! Call off your mad dogs!
“Shh love, your Bry will protect you…” unmindful of the cool breeze across his bare bum, Bryan soothed his lover kissing all over Chris’ florid face.
Still hiccupping giggles, Eric wrapped his arms around Sean, literally lifting his squirming form off the ground. He backed toward Karl, mirth and contrition dancing across his face.
Feeling the solid earth disappear from beneath his feet finally broke into Sean’s outrage. Struggling against the hard, hot body surrounding and restraining him, he gasped when he looked back to the figures on the ground.
“Oh… Oh… we’ve disrobed him…” heat infused his face as Sean blinked at an equally flushed Marton.
"I... Um... I think not." Marton managed, conscious of Sean's regard, his utter confusion. "I believe they were, err, mating and we misconstrued the situation." He shot an apologetic glance at the two men on the ground as he said this.
"Damned right we were." One of them responded, his ire still clear.
The second, his face as red as Marton felt his own to be, looked first at Marton and then at Sean, understanding belatedly dawning. "You mean you... Oh, no. That's too rich." He began to chuckle and then to laugh outright.
Behind him, his arms still wrapped firmly about Marton's waist, Karl too began to laugh and Marton could feel the reverberations of his captor’s mirth where his chest pressed against Marton's back. A strange feeling filled Marton’s throat; his stomach tightened and breath was suddenly hard to come by. The tightness sought release and he had no choice other than to comply. The corners of his mouth turned up, his eyes narrowed and a strange, strangled, noise burst from between his teeth and out into the night air. Marton realised this sound was laughter and while he could not stop it, he did manage to lift his shoulders in a mute apology aimed at Sean who was staring at him wide-eyed.
"It's... We... It's... funny," he chuckled.
If anything, more heat suffused Sean’s body. He fought off Eric’s cloying touch, the hardness and heat of the man doing inexplicable things to his anger- and now embarrassment-enflamed body. The apologies he was about to deliver stuck in his throat at the unsuppressed laughter from not only the cousins but one of the men on the ground… and Marton?
Eric’s laughter dried in his throat when Sean, once again, pulled away. He sent a wounded look Karl’s way at how comfortably Marton rested within his cousin’s embrace. He was the toucher, the hugger of the two, not the oft sardonic Karl. Karl wasn’t known as the cuddle-buddy type, he was.
“Chris, Bry, sorry lads. We’ll be on our way. But, you might want to move a wee bit deeper into the bush before someone else stumbles across you, eh.”
Barely suppressing the urge to thrust out his lower lip in a pout, Eric couldn’t keep the hurt from his voice as he turned to the others, “C’mon, we should head home or at least feed our guests something other than beer.”
On to Chapter Nine
Author: raven_writes and kitty_trio
Rated: Adult
This Chapter: Adult
Characters: Sean Bean, Marton Csokas, Karl Urban, Eric Bana
Chapter: Eight
Altonian society is industrial and colorless, grey. The Collective require obedience and conformity.
Solaris Five is a green planet. Its inhabitants are a collective of an entirely different variety.
When the crew of the Altonian cargo carrier, Patience, crash land on Solaris Five and meet the locals, the resulting culture shock is an eye-opening experience for them all.
Previous Chapters
Back to Chapter Seven
Karl moved onto the porch, Marton by his side, just in time to see Sean spew up all over Eric. "What the…?" There were loud voices coming from the bar, something crashed and Karl was torn between his cousin's predicament and the desire to know what was happening indoors. "Marton," he said hurriedly. "Take Sean to the seats, eh? Bit 'o fresh air will sort him out." He gave his companion a gentle push in Sean's direction to get him started and then stepped up to Eric, laying a hand on his shoulder to get his attention.
Eric straightened up, his eyes huge.
"What's happened?" Karl wanted to know. The noise inside was getting louder, thuds and exclamations followed by the sounds of shuffling feet.
“Bryan, drunk, on the prowl… Chris…,” was all Eric needed to say to indicate the altercation within the pub.
“But Sean…” Eric’s eyes swung back to where Marton was guiding Sean across to the seats. He flinched guiltily when a louder crash reverberated from inside. “Damnit, we’d better help ‘fore my new benches are destroyed.” Sending one last hesitant glance to his ill charge and Marton, Eric squared his shoulders and led Karl back into the melee.
Sean moaned miserably as he was once again made to move. At least this time, less swiftly, allowing his churning gut to settle. He dared not look up to Marton’s countenance, knowing his associate would once again be looking at him in disapproval.
“My apologies,” Sean managed around swallowing the bile that threatened to again escape his throat.
"No problem." Marton told him magnanimously. He'd been ill once himself, struck down on his first delivery run by a virus unpreventable by even Altonian vaccination. "Sit until you feel better."
The sounds coming from inside the bar increased and Marton lifted his head, brow furrowing as the decibel level grew. "I wonder what they're doing in there?" He spoke softly, mostly to himself. "I should look." he added.
“Wait,” Sean put out his hand, grasping Marton’s sleeve. Just as quickly he released it, apologizing for his impudence. “Pardon, but we should investigate together. My stomach has settled and my vision is no longer spinning… impaired. I have the impression something said by one of the combatants, or Eric, led to the altercation,” he spoke slowly, brow furrowed in concentration.
“I could not understand some of his colloquialisms, nor the other man’s.” Sean paused, tongue worrying his lip while attempting to recollect the events preceding Eric dragging him outdoors at a near run.
“Nevertheless, we should investigate,” he repeated rising to his feet, determined to overcome these embarrassing episodes.
Marton led the way, conscious of his team-mate's weakened state. He'd heard of violent behaviors, of course, but never actually seen any and was curious now as well.
They paused beside the open bar doors and peered inside. It was chaotic to Marton's eyes; men were leaping about, grappling with one another, arms swinging while furniture was being shoved aside. What was most puzzling was how the men trying to help seemed to be fighting one another to get close enough to stop the fighting. It was bizarre and inexplicable, it made Marton's heart race, a most unsettling sensation. He quickly backed away. "I think we should stay out here." he suggested. "Perhaps a brisk walk might steady both of us." It was close to a confession that he didn't feel all too well either, but he couldn't bring himself to actually frame the words.
With a helping hand laid lightly across Sean's arm, he began walking the perimeter of the square--which proved to be not very square at all-- and attempted to lead both their feet around the hazards of rocks and twigs on the ground while he talked; trying to take their minds off their mutual misery. "Karl was telling me some very interesting things." he began, going on to slowly explain the strange concepts of sexual intercourse, fun, sexuality, fidelity and procreation these people had.
Fleetingly, thoughts of Eric leading him over and around similar hazards occurred to Sean. However, his team-mate’s touch and guidance did not elicit either the irritated heat that had lead to his embarrassing outburst, nor the softer warmth of other touches later. Perhaps his lack of reaction was attributable to the bizarre concepts Marton was calmly retelling?
“They indulge in these… assignations in preparation to entering in procreative units?” Sean asked eyes raised to Marton’s in puzzlement. He had only a rudimentary understanding of the Collective’s procreation programs, and little to no concept of his body’s sexual uses. Odd stirrings in his genitals had always been ignored until they dissipated. Nor did he ever mention them during routine medical exams.
"No." Marton shook his head emphatically. "From what I could gather, the assignations are purely recreational and procreation is another matter entirely separate. Which," he added, tilting his head to one side in unconscious imitation of one of Karl's mannerisms. "makes perfect sense when you think about the same-gender pairings Karl referred to. Procreation there is obviously not a goal at all in that instance. It's fascinating."
“Ahh,” Sean nodded, though he really didn’t understand. Not the same or opposite gender part, but the why of it all. “Does it perhaps stem from the tactile stimulation that abounds here and the touching Eric practices with frequency?” Sean realized he still had a hold of Marton’s sleeve rubbing the textured fabric between his fingertips. He let go, warmth seeping onto his cheeks.
"I think so." Marton responded quietly, thinking through what he had been told and what he had concluded from his own observations. "But also emotions come into it, I think. Karl spoke of love, an antiquated term to be sure, but one which seems in common use here. They bond, I believe, much like the animals at the produce farm we visited last season do. Do you recall? The administrator said that some species required life-long matings in order to be productive while others chose mates for only one season? Perhaps that is the difference between what Karl referred to as 'love' and what he said was 'fun'. What do you think?"
Sean nodded again. Though he had been impatient at the time to return to their duties, he did remember the administrator’s lectures while they toured the farm.
“Correct, the life-mates, Oh!” Sean stopped, catching Marton’s sleeve again. “So our hosts are one of these same-gender life pairs?” He beamed at his ability to make the correlation to this convoluted discussion of Solaris Five’s sexual practices.
"No." Marton corrected, secretly pleased that he was not the only one to make that same mistake. "Apparently, they are... cousins." he disclosed. "The offspring of siblings. Siblings are those who share the same set of parents, I learned." Marton added the last quickly in case Sean did not know it and wanting to spare his feeling ignorant. Another effect of this strange new world, this caring what others thought and felt. "While this relativity does not preclude sexual relations occurring, I was told that being raised in close proximity to one another often quells this desire, that specific feeling being overwhelmed by the feeling of familiarity. Karl said something about it breeding contempt, but I didn't quite catch the gist of that comment."
They were almost halfway around the square, at the furthest point away from the pub and had stopped moving as their discussion became intense, but to Marton's keen ears it seemed that the noise was dying down and it was probably safe to start heading back. "Shall we?" he invited.
“Fascinating,” Sean replied to the familial classifications. He nodded Marton forward, but cautioned before they took many steps, “We should advance with care. I do wish to study this phenomenon ‘fighting’, though from a safe distance. Our glimpse earlier was quite… unsettling.”
Head clearer after the walk in the bracing atmosphere, Sean recollected the larger combatant pointing in his direction when the small one first began speaking. “I do believe some of the odd terms both combatants, especially the smaller, were screeching, erm discussing at a loud decibel, relate to my presence next to Eric. With Karl translating of course, I’d like to debrief Eric on what actions led to…”
Not paying attention to his surroundings, Sean stumbled over an upraised root or something blocking the path. Reaching for Marton’s out stretched arm, Sean clamped down hard on it as rustling and odd noises came from the shrubbery.
Marton too, heard the strange sounds and, considering their proximity to the side of the building housing the bar and noting the similarity between the noise he was now hearing and the sounds made by the fighting men earlier, decided instantly that as there was no-one else available, he and Sean had best investigate.
Gently prying Sean's fingers from his sleeve, he pushed aside the long grass in the way and, stepping forward, parted the branches of the tall shrub from behind which the sounds emanated. While it was dark and difficult to make it out details it was still clear to his mind that the situation was as he and Sean had feared; two of the men he'd seen in the pub earlier were rolling around on the ground behind the bush, engaged in violence.
But surely he and Sean could handle this without resorting to calling for aid? Sean was right behind him as he stepped through the opening he'd created and Marton came to a halt by the feet of the two combatants after taking a small sideways step to give Sean room by his side.
"Hey there! You two! Stop that!" Marton said with all the authority he could muster. Reaching down, he grabbed the ankles of one of the men and began to drag him aside, confident Sean could handle the second.
After only a brief assessment of the situation, Sean followed Marton’s lead. The circumstances and this world in general might be alien; working in concert with his associate was not. The pair of ankles Sean grabbed did not cooperate as well as Marton’s. The feet bucked within his grasp, and unintelligible screeching similar to what he’d heard in the bar came from the shadows on the ground.
“No! Stop! Cease this violence!” Sean called out as forcefully as he could. The squirming body and sounds grating over his nerves made his heart rate escalate. He tugged with all his might, finally separating his combatant from Marton’s.
“Silence!” Sean bellowed, “I told you to stop, so do So!”
Karl stepped out into the night air for the second time, raking his fingers through his hair to pat down any disturbance his recent activity might have left. He felt a little guilty over taking the time for a calming ale before coming in search of his guests and his anxiety ramped up a notch when he discovered they were not sitting where he'd told them to wait. He scanned the square but could see nothing moving. "Oh, shit." he muttered to himself as Eric came out through the doors to join him. "Where the fuck…?"
A loud yell interrupted his cussing and his eyes swiveled to the immediate left of where they were standing. Eric turned as well, his mouth opening as if to speak. The bushes next to the pub rustled ominously; the yells and curses were emanating from within. He and Eric shared a quick look of concern before they moved as one, feet pounding on the wooden slats of the porch as they made haste in that direction.
Mouth working though unable to speak Eric ran; guilt and worry hastening his steps. Once in view of the tableau of their charges and the others, he came to an abrupt halt as if smacking into a wall.
A snorting laugh broke loose. Like some bizarre tug-of-war Sean and Marton each had a foot in their hands, trying to separate the figures on the ground.
“Sean, let go,” Eric called softly between guffaws. He wrapped his fingers over Sean’s, but was promptly shaken off.
“No!” Eyes flashing with green fire, Sean rounded on Eric. “This unseemly violence must cease!”
Reeling from the intensity of Sean’s look, body tightening in a way that had no bearing in this situation, Eric looked down. Okay, so he wasn’t the only person fully aroused here. Obviously Marton and Sean had stumbled upon Chris’ and Bryan’s second favorite pastime: make-up sex after a fight. Clothing in disarray, Bryan’s trousers open, only Chris’ body atop his keeping his bits from being on display.
“Love,” Eric tried again amidst chortles, “they don’t need our help. If anything, if you two don’t let go I think you’ll get an eyeful of something much more ‘unseemly’.”
While Eric wrestled with Sean, Karl took a different, more subtle, approach. Doing his level best not to bust out laughing, he stepped as close to Marton as he could, and spoke directly into the other man's ear, no mean feat, as Marton was presently engaged in grappling with a tiger and understandably flailing around quite a bit.
"They're mating." Karl said quietly. "Not fighting."
Marton went absolutely still as he digested the brief words, abruptly releasing his grip. His face heated up as blood raced to the surface of his skin; his first experience of complete embarrassment. Ducking his head, he stepped away from the fray. "They're…" he glanced at the two men on the ground and then away again. "Really?" he whispered, disbelieving.
Foot released, Bryan rolled to cover and protect his lover from the madmen. His efforts wrenched Chris from the insane blond, who promptly fell into Eric’s arms.
“Fucking hell Bana! Call off your mad dogs!
“Shh love, your Bry will protect you…” unmindful of the cool breeze across his bare bum, Bryan soothed his lover kissing all over Chris’ florid face.
Still hiccupping giggles, Eric wrapped his arms around Sean, literally lifting his squirming form off the ground. He backed toward Karl, mirth and contrition dancing across his face.
Feeling the solid earth disappear from beneath his feet finally broke into Sean’s outrage. Struggling against the hard, hot body surrounding and restraining him, he gasped when he looked back to the figures on the ground.
“Oh… Oh… we’ve disrobed him…” heat infused his face as Sean blinked at an equally flushed Marton.
"I... Um... I think not." Marton managed, conscious of Sean's regard, his utter confusion. "I believe they were, err, mating and we misconstrued the situation." He shot an apologetic glance at the two men on the ground as he said this.
"Damned right we were." One of them responded, his ire still clear.
The second, his face as red as Marton felt his own to be, looked first at Marton and then at Sean, understanding belatedly dawning. "You mean you... Oh, no. That's too rich." He began to chuckle and then to laugh outright.
Behind him, his arms still wrapped firmly about Marton's waist, Karl too began to laugh and Marton could feel the reverberations of his captor’s mirth where his chest pressed against Marton's back. A strange feeling filled Marton’s throat; his stomach tightened and breath was suddenly hard to come by. The tightness sought release and he had no choice other than to comply. The corners of his mouth turned up, his eyes narrowed and a strange, strangled, noise burst from between his teeth and out into the night air. Marton realised this sound was laughter and while he could not stop it, he did manage to lift his shoulders in a mute apology aimed at Sean who was staring at him wide-eyed.
"It's... We... It's... funny," he chuckled.
If anything, more heat suffused Sean’s body. He fought off Eric’s cloying touch, the hardness and heat of the man doing inexplicable things to his anger- and now embarrassment-enflamed body. The apologies he was about to deliver stuck in his throat at the unsuppressed laughter from not only the cousins but one of the men on the ground… and Marton?
Eric’s laughter dried in his throat when Sean, once again, pulled away. He sent a wounded look Karl’s way at how comfortably Marton rested within his cousin’s embrace. He was the toucher, the hugger of the two, not the oft sardonic Karl. Karl wasn’t known as the cuddle-buddy type, he was.
“Chris, Bry, sorry lads. We’ll be on our way. But, you might want to move a wee bit deeper into the bush before someone else stumbles across you, eh.”
Barely suppressing the urge to thrust out his lower lip in a pout, Eric couldn’t keep the hurt from his voice as he turned to the others, “C’mon, we should head home or at least feed our guests something other than beer.”
On to Chapter Nine