Denial, Chapter19: I Never...
Title: Denial, Chapter 19: I Never...
Author: darkentwisted
Characters/Pairings: Carter/Much/OC
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Angst, Explicit Slash.
Words: 3,320
Disclaimer: BBC & TA own; we just want to play in their universe
Notes: This continues the 'Round-Robin' fic 'Denial' and is set during "Walkabout"
Betaed by the incredible robinfanatic and wastingyourgum.
Summary: Carter and Much plan the perfect evening together before returning to war. Fate, and a new friend, have other plans. Title taken from lyrics to, (Mr Brightside by The Killers)
Want to play? Come join us! Check out the Rules and join in the Round Robin fun!
Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Denial, Chapter19: I Never...
By
Darkentwisted
It had been a long time since they had seen dry land. Their legs were still wobbly as the men departed. The crew left for shore leave and soldiers headed to war and to their destinies. Cyprus was the gateway to all of it. Many a young man would remember his first night with a woman there. For some unfortunate young soldiers, it would also be their last.
Much took in everything around him. It had only been a a couple of years since he had crossed the ocean to this place under less pleasant circumstances but this time it was different. He was a free man with coin in his pockets and an entire bazaar before him. He looked at Carter as he inspected every item excitedly. Carter assured the former servant he could spend his money as he liked but stayed close to make sure the shop keepers didn't take advantage of him.
Much was proud of his new counting skills but still would nod at his new master making sure the amount was correct. He soon had a nice stash of exotic fruits and spices in his pack and hummed happily as he stared at the brightly coloured fabrics the locals wore. Carter caught his squire by the sleeve when two very attractive girls surrounded him, dancing in colourful scarves. Much was entranced by the lovely music and the even more lovely women. When Carter came over and rattled off a few sentences in the native dialect to them, they looked at him, smiled and danced away.
"What did you do that for?" Much looked at his partner, large eyed. "They seemed to like me and they were very pretty."
"And more expensive than the coin in your pocket they were trying to take my friend," Carter grinned.
"You mean they were?"
"For hire? Yes," Carter mused. "As I said on the ship, anything can be had in Cyprus...for a price."
"Oh," the squire paused, "I didn't know that. Robin always took care of the things we needed when we came here." He blushed with embarrassment at his lack of experience.
Carter mercifully changed the subject. "I think we've done enough shopping for the day. Time for a drink."
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The small tavern was dark, crowded, and definitely meant for tourists. The room was a cross-section of humanity. Signs on the walls in many languages told the men what to order. Men and women of every skin colour looked at them as the two soldiers made their way to the bar. "I don't know about this. You know I don't handle spirits well, Master," Much worried as Carter muttered strange words to the stout barkeep.
"Yes, but I like the way you handle me after you've had the spirits," Carter teased, making his companion blush crimson. Much sputtered at the remark making Carter place his hands on the young squire's shoulders. "It was joke, Much. You shouldn't take everything so seriously. He looked around then whispered in his lovers ear, "But I do intend to have my way with you after we get our fill and get back to the room."
Much smiled and nodded. To be alone again and not have to sneak coy glances and hidden touches for fear of getting caught would be lovely and he felt a knot of anticipation in his stomach. They had a lot of time to make up for and a long time ahead where they would have to carefully keep their love secret again. If this was to be their last night of true intimacy before they could go home to England, he intended to make full use of it.
Fate had other ideas and came with a loud crash and yelling.
"My word!" Much exclaimed as he grabbed his drink protectively with one hand while the other flew to his sword. Three men behind them were looming over another and it wasn't looking good for the fourth man at all.
To his horror, Carter broke in between the men and spoke in the limited words he knew of clipped Cypriot Greek. "Why are you attacking this man?"
The larger of the two men, arms crossed, spoke back, "He is a friend of yours? He cheats at lots! We will show him what happens to cheaters! You, too, if you are his friend!"
Carter immediately fired back, "He is not a friend but I will not let you harm him either. We are men, let us settle this without bloodshed." He turned to the young man behind him. "Yeoman Brooks, what did you do?"
"Well...just trying to earn a little extra...," the dark haired man stammered.
"Did you try to cheat them?" Carter broke in impatiently.
Brooks nodded at the men as they stared him down.
Much knew that look. It reminded him of a certain outlaw he used to know back home and it was nothing but trouble. "My advice, Sir, would be to give back the money and leave...now."
The young man grinned widely, reached into his tunic, and tossed the sack of coins on the table. "I was getting bored anyway."
He turned and left the tavern calmly to the surprise of the other men around him. Much and Carter followed after being assured the men were happy with just having their losses returned.
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"Excuse me, but we just saved your life!" Much called to the cheeky yeoman, wide-eyed.
"And?" Brooks spat back at the two soldiers.
"Well, a little gratitude....," Much started.
"I said thanks!" The young yeoman turned and grinned. "What do you want me to do...kiss you?" He eyed the squire up and down and winked. "Although I don't think that would be a problem, handsome."
Much was too astonished to speak. So Carter did for him. "Such fresh words you use with my squire, Brooks. Remember yourself."
"I do remember!" The cocky seaman looked over his shoulder. He turned with a big grin and offered his hand, "Yeoman Charles P. Brooks. At your service. Forgive me, Squire Much." His eyes gleamed with mischief. "I didn't recognize you at first with your braies pulled up."
Much sputtered and turned as red as the hennaed hair of the women in the square, as his Master gripped his arm. "Breathe Much... just breathe." Carter calmed his friend as he shot a glare at the cheeky sailor.
"But he--and you!" Much was reduced to wide-eyed disbelief.
"Everything's fine." Carter assured him. "We will see yeoman Brooks to his room to make sure he gets there safely then we will be off to our own room."
"Awww, lovebirds," Brooks smiled. He turned and shot the two men a slightly embarrassed glance. "Yeah, about the room. I kinda don't have one. I lost all my money and then you guys intervened before I could cheat it back."
Much rolled his eyes at the cheekiness. "Seems I recall you were about to be ganged up on. It's like being at the Trip with Allan A'Dale all over again."
"Then we can see you back to the ship?" Carter reasoned.
"Nahh. I have a better Idea!" The young man pulled a bottle of fine wine from under his cloak. "You have a room, no?"
The two soldiers looked at each other, Much's stern stare meeting Carter's kindly one.
"Don't think it master. We had plans!"
"We still do. I'm sure Brooks will quietly sip his wine then fall into a sound sleep." Carter shot the young seaman an amused look.
"Not anything I haven't seen in the crow's nest before anyway," Brooks snorted, meeting Much's shocked round eyes.
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The room was small and sparsely furnished for the price but comfortable. "Nice room. Much nicer than I would have afforded on the wages I left the ship with," the sailor mused. "The king pays his knights well."
"Well enough," Carter mused as he took off his scabbard and propped it next to the small bed.
Much did the same and turned to the young sailor. "I trust the extra blankets will be enough for you?" The squire was still slightly annoyed he and Carter would have company on what should have been their 'perfect evening together'.
"It's fine," Brooks grinned. "I have everything I need, good wine, good friends and a warm place to sleep." He uncorked the bottle, took a swig then turned it to his new found companions. He was even more rakishly handsome in the dim light of the single candle in the room. His delicate but strong features, fine cheekbones, and light brown hair were so similar to Robin's, yet his frame was more sturdy. He was a nice looking man, not as attractive as his lover, but Much surmised he wouldn't kick him out of a bunk either.
"No, I shouldn't," Much stammered. "Spirits and I don't really agree."
"All the more reason to commune with them," Brooks grinned as he palmed the neck of the bottle into the squires hand.
Much took a cautious sip and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. He was already feeling the warm effects from the watered down wine they were served earlier but this was the full draft. Its rich flavour washed over his tongue and warmed his insides as his lover's hands suddenly snaked around his middle. "Master!" he yelled. "Not now! Here in front of him."
"It's all right Much," Carter's voice silkily purred in his ear. "As I said, Brooks doesn't mind."
"Not at all," the young man replied taking the bottle from the former manservant's hand and sipping the strong liquid. He brought his lips to Much's and silenced his pout with a deep, wine-flavoured kiss.
Much had only tasted Carter's lips for so long. His mind shut down at the sensation of kissing another man. He turned to face his lover and found his lips covered again.
Carter smiled as he took the bottle from the yeoman's hand. "I think this evening just got a lot more interesting."
Much still wasn't sure what was going on and his head buzzed with the intoxication of liquor and the sensation of more than one set of hands under his clothes as his lovers undressed him.
Carter turned the squire in his arms. "We don't have to do this. I will understand if you want me and me alone."
Much nodded. "I do want only you but for tonight, we will do what you want as long as I have you when it's over."
"As you wish, my love," Carter smiled as he held his partner.
"I'll be gentle with both of you." Brooks hugged them both as all three men stood naked and kissed each other. They collapsed on the small bed and quickly became a tangle of hands and mouths. Much reeled at the different sensations of the two men. Carter's long, smooth, graceful limbs encircled him compared to the shorter more muscular ones of the stranger that now caressed him. He lost track of who he was kissing as both men took their turn ravishing first his pouting lips then each others. Brooks looked up at Much studying his expression as he took the squire's length gently in his mouth and Carter whispered lusty words in his ear. Carter stood and guided his own length into Much's mouth, hissing at the unexpected heat.
The three men became a machine of perpetual motion as they brought each other to closeness. Much had never felt such sensation as he was brought over the edge into the yeoman's eager throat, feeling his lover spill into him at the same time. His muffled moans were joined by his lover's as Carter stifled his own sounds of lust above him. Only Brooks remained silent as the two men collapsed on top of him, satiated.
How the game started, neither of the three men could recall. In truth, it started with an innocent comment Much made, as soon as he caught his breath. "Well! I've never done that before!"
"Oh, what have you done before?" Brooks smiled wickedly, laying back on the blankets as Carter cradled his naked manservant protectively in his arms.
"Well I've..." Much stopped from embarrassment. It was true, he was limited in his sexual experiences. "I don't think decent gentlemen should talk of such things."
"Well considering what we just did, my dear Much..." Brooks raised up and kissed the blushing squire, "I think it is safe to say there are no 'decent' men here." Brooks shook the half empty bottle of wine. "We will make a game of it. If you haven't done it, you have to sip." He started the game. "I've never slept with a woman." The men looked around the room at each other and Much made a face. His cheeks glowed as he nervously took a quick gulp of the strong drink.
"You never told me that," Carter whispered against his brow. "I always assumed with you at Locksley, then in the Holy land that you would..."
"Robin always came first," Much interrupted. He mused sadly, "I almost did. Her name was Eve." He misted slightly at the memory of the young maiden. "She was sweet, clever, and oh so..." He changed the subject trying to put the sad memory of what was never to be out of his mind. "How about you?"
For the first time since Sherwood, his master's brow creased in anger. "I don't want to say." He then softened. "It's a bad memory with someone I regretted."
Much accepted his lover's cryptic answer with a nod. The expression of distaste on his master's face said it all. "And yourself, Yeoman Brooks?"
"More than there are sips in that bottle," he winked. "Your turn, Much."
The squire pondered carefully. He still had so many questions about Carter's past but it was clear the knight did not want to mention it. He smiled. "I never loved someone as much as I do now." Carter gladly took the bottle and sipped after him.
Brooks did the same and looked at his new friends sheepishly. "I have a confession. I kinda got myself into trouble just so I could meet up with you guys. I figured you would come to my aid and I could thank you properly." He sobered and looked away. "It gets so lonely on those long voyages. Not many people on board I can call a friend and even fewer I can be so honest with." He turned to them. "If you want me to leave, I'll understand."
Carter shook his head. "No harm done and we are clearly enjoying your company." He glanced sideways at his squire's frown. "You might have some extra apologising to do to him though." He looked out the window at the ocean. "Yes, the sea is a lonely place. I always wanted to make love on a beach. I've never made love on a beach before." He grinned and took the bottle.
Much took it from him smiling. "Why am I so surprised?" He got cuffed around the ear for the cheekiness and pulled in for a long kiss from Carter.
Brooks held his hand up at the offered bottle and mused, "Just be careful not to get sand in places you'll wish you hadn't later." He smiled sadly. "I hope you two find your beach and grow old together. You do make a lovely couple."
Much gazed at Brooks and decided to break the melancholy. He thought for a second. A wicked grin crossed his face. "I've never had two lovers work me over at the same time before."
"But you just..." Carter smiled at his squire's cleverness. His amused expression was met by a defiant one from the sailor. He grinned as he took the bottle. "Well I guess it's time to fix that."
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Carter woke up sore in places he didn't know even existed. Much was curled up in a ball of warmth in front of him but what disturbed him was the chill to his back. He sat bolt upright and looked around the room. The pile of blankets was neatly folded and no other soul was there besides himself and his lover. His heart sank for a moment as he remembered his money bag. He grabbed the small cloth purse from his belt and opened it. To the knight's surprise the coins were still there save for a couple. Inside was a small curled up piece of parchment. He walked over to the dwindling candle and read the surprisingly elegant writing.
My Dear Lord Carter,
I do hope you don't mind, I helped myself to a couple of your coins on the way out...just in case. I also finished the last of the wine, I'm afraid. You see I had to answer my own 'I never'. I've never loved a man so deeply before and now I find myself in the enviable situation of loving two of the finest men I've ever met. Seeing you both together, after so many nights admiring you from afar, has made me realize that maybe two men can be more than friends. I now fondly look forward to the day I meet my own 'squire'. Speaking of which, tell Much I hope he can forgive me for sharing your private evening with him and that I am jealous as hell that, the good Lord or Allah willing, he gets to spend eternity with the man I only got to have a short time with. I say the same to you about him as well.
Listen to me -- enough talk. The light is growing dim, the night short and I have a long way to go. I WILL see you again and repay yours and Much's kindness threefold. Until then you knights are in my thoughts, prayers and most important, my heart. Oh, I don't think anyone else needs to read this but you two so be a pal and burn this if you will. Thanks and love always, boys.
Yeoman Charles Percival Brooks
Carter smiled in the fading candlelight as he held the parchment up to the flame and watched it get consumed.
Much stirred across the room and reached his hand over to the empty space next to him. He frowned in his sleep when it met with nothing. "Carter?"
"I'm here, Much," Carter mused as he walked back over to his lover. He climbed back into bed and chuckled softly as his squire flung his arm protectively around him.
"Where's Brooks?" Much asked sleepily, his head now nestled in the nape of Carter's neck.
"Oh back to his ship I suppose," Carter thought as he absently stroked his lover's hair with his fingers.
"Good I have you all to myself again," Much smiled.
"At least till it is time for us to go as well," Carter answered. "And for the rest of your life if you like." He smiled when he was answered by familiar soft snores. He kissed his lover's brow. "I'm not going anywhere without you."
On to chapter 20!
(Product Warning: If your DENIAL last longer than eight hours, please consult Carter and Much and apply lavender copiously until symptoms subside.)