Where the Wild Flowers Grow
This was written for the Ficathon 2, over at the treatmuchright comm. I had to edit it down to enter there as there was a 500 word limit. This is the original version before it was edited.
Title: Where the Wild Flowers Grow
Fandom: Robin Hood BBC
Prompt: Heart and Flowers (incorporated both into the fic)
Rating: PG
Notes: I suppose it could be considered a missing scene set near the end of Season Twos 'Get Carter'. Carter/Much, mentions of Robin.
~~
"Where are we going?"
"We'll be there soon enough."
"Are we lost?"
Much rolled his eyes and glanced behind him, his look met with a cheeky grin and glint in the eye. A few more steps through the brush and he came to a halt, and Carter bumped into him from behind.
"Ouch, much as I enjoy getting this close to you, a little more warning next time." Carter grumbled, warm breath skimming his ear.
Much ignored him and instead took his hand and tugged at him to follow again, ducking under low branch of a tree, eventually leading them into a glade hidden amidst the trees.
Wild flowers covered the glade floor like a rag rug of bright colour, their scent mingled in the air.
"So, not lost." Carter grinned stepping further into the secluded spot and breathing in the air and turning to Much once more, eyes bright and eager.
"Well, we know where we are right now. so no, not lost."
Carter sidled close, and felt a shiver of apprehension, as he went to reach out the man before him. His eyes shifted across the glade to where they'd entered, before he looked back to Much. Much merely stared back in mild understanding before meeting him halfway, fingers brushing lightly against one another, entwining and their bodies followed suite, close to touching, a breath away from each other.
"He followed us?" Carter asked with a whisper, finger skimming along Muchs brow as if tracing the outline.
Much inclined his head in agreement but didn't say anything.
"He won't join us?"
Much merely smiled and pulled him close, lips brushing lightly against Carters and he whispered "No." before pressing closer, tongue edging over the other mans lips slow and tender.
"Why?" Carter managed to whisper before being seduced by the soft kiss being stolen from him, mouth opening to the slide of tongue on his lips, warm body pressing closer.
The question was soon forgotten, the kiss turning them both heady and breathless.
~~
They lay among the wild flowers, Carter fiddled with one, stem caught between his fingers and he twirled it back and forth. Much lay by his side, propped up on an elbow, watching him closely. Carter had been silent for some time as they lay spent on the floor of the glade.
"Why didn't he join us?" Carter finally asked once more, seeking answers. Much knew he would never truly understand.
"He can't."
"He loves you."
"He loves everyone."
"He's in love with you."
"He's in love with Marian."
"Isn't it possible to love two people in the same way?"
"Yes, quite possible, but still, Marian wouldn't understand."
"Maybe she understands more than he knows."
"Perhaps, but he won't take the risk."
"What risk?"
"Breaking her heart."
|Silence fell between them once more, and Carter ran the head of the flower over Muchs bare chest, watching the petals bend and brush against his skin. finally he spoke again.
"So in protecting her, he broke your heart instead."
"He owns my heart, he knows that and its enough."
Carter discarded the flower and looked up at him, a hurt in his eyes, but not for himself, but for Much and what he endured in his life for the sake of love. He reached up a hand and pulled Much closer again. Soon he would be leaving, he wanted his last memories to be of them, in the secluded quiet glade, where the wild flowers grew.
"If he owns your heart, what is left for me?" he asked as he pulled Much in for another kiss.
The whispered reply dropped against his lips and sent shivers through his body.
"Everything else."