Title: Arrogance
Series: Changes
Author: Jo & Brenda
Pairing: David Wenham/Orlando Bloom
Rating: NC17
Summary: Orlando has a few questions.
Disclaimer: Never happened. Vampires still don't exist and we doubt Orli & Dave are fucking each other.
Notes: Because the children demanded it & we can't say no.


"My mind's in need so my body feeds
And it quenches my thirst"

-- Depeche Mode


"Orli, love, stop fidgeting." Karl's hand was gentle on Orlando's. "If you're bored, we can leave."

"How about if I'm bored?" Harry asked, sitting back as he sipped on his glass of Scotch.

"Sorry," Orlando murmured, flashing a quick smile at Karl.

"He always fidgets," Dave pointed out, grinning. "And if you were bored," he continued, looking at Harry, "you'd have already left."

"I shudder to think what the three of you would get up to in my absence. I'm staying out of self-preservation."

"You act as if Karl would actually let us get up to anything without you here." Dave grinned as he sipped his drink, blatantly avoiding Karl's level stare.

"Actually," Orlando said, still smiling, "I think he's scared that Karl would encourage us."

"You got it."

"Fuck off, puppy, I'm not that bad," Karl grumbled, the dark red of his wine catching the low light. The discreet hum of the restaurant was muted in their private corner.

Dave tried to disguise the chuckle that slipped out, turning it into a cough. "Really now, Harry...do you really think Karl would encourage us to get up to mischief if you left? I'm sure if I were to try to throw Orli on the table and rip his clothes off, Karl would stop me."

"Stop you?" Orlando blinked, eyes moving from Dave to Karl and back. "Like hell he would. He'd be cheering you on."

"He'd be participating in five minutes flat, and you both know it," Harry smiled, moving his leg out of the way of Karl's foot.

"He's not that much of an exhibitionist."

"Yank me up, bend me over the table and find out," Orlando muttered, not quite under his breath. He flashed them a dark grin when Karl choked on his wine.

"That's a lovely image." Harry closed his eyes as if to savor it.

"Christ, and you people call me perverted." Karl took a slower sip of his wine, his gaze faintly amused as it rested on the other three. "When did it become pick on Karl night, anyway?"

"It's always pick on Karl night, love." Orlando turned his sweetest smile on Karl, drawing soft laughter from Harry and Dave.

"Did you miss that memo?" Dave leaned forward, one elbow propped on the table, grinning.

"Apparently."

Harry leaned over, placed a soft kiss on Karl's neck, fangs lightly grazing the skin. "We're worth it," he whispered, breath drifting across puckered skin.

"Harry..." Karl's voice was a low growl as he shifted, eyes slowly closing, head tilted in invitation.

Orlando and Dave watched in fascination, once again struck by the sheer beauty that was Harry and Karl together. Neither one spoke, nor did they move. They just simply sat there, in their respective seats, and watched with wide eyes.

Lips traced a path along a throbbing vein, tongue skimming in a slow dance until Harry reached Karl's ear, nipped with sharp teeth, grinned when Karl growled again. One of Karl's hands fisted in Harry's hair, fingers sliding through dark hair, holding him in place as Harry teased the lobe with lips and tongue, whispered dark promises of seduction.

"Do you sometimes get the feeling we're extraneous?" Dave whispered to Orlando, well aware that the other two vampires could hear him.

Orlando nodded, eyes still fastened on Harry and Karl. "Do you ever feel like picking a spot and just jumping right in?" he whispered back.

"Yeah."

Gradually, Harry lifted his head, a wicked smile curving full lips. "You ever get the feeling the children are far too shy sometimes?"

"Hmmm...I think you may be onto something." Karl blinked, eyes still a bit cloudy with lust as they focused on Harry.

"Shy?" Orlando blinked, turned to stare at Dave. "Is he talking about us?"

"I think so." Dave managed to look downright indignant, amazing since he was grinning. "Are we shy?"

"Fuck no," Orlando stated, half crawling across Karl's lap to latch on to Harry's shirt, pulling him forward for a thorough kiss.

Harry simply tugged him forward so Orlando was firmly in Harry's lap, holding him in place as that clever mouth ravaged and laid waste to his senses, leaving him shaking when Harry finally lifted his head.

"That was a good start," Harry stated, licking his lips. "Still think Dave needs to give you a few more lessons in arrogance, though. Not keeping up with your studies too well."

Orlando frowned, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. "I thought you liked me not arrogant."

"Harry, love...I could give the child lessons in arrogance for the next thousand years, and you'd still say he needed more," Dave said.

Karl leaned over, gave Dave a quick, bruising kiss. "Knew there was a reason I adored you, child."

"So, orgy in the restaurant, I guess?" Harry asked, sliding his hands under Orlando's jacket.

"Won't we get kicked out for that?" Orlando looked around the restaurant, body instinctively moving with Harry's hands, seeking more of the warm touch. He ignored the amused look on Harry's face.

"We're still working on his inhibitions," Dave said with a mock sigh, voice sad. "You'd think with the way he likes to dance, that he'd have no problems being naked in public."

"Bet he won't care in about three seconds," Harry smiled.

Karl snagged Harry's hand before it could make its way to Orlando's navel ring. "Much as I would love to watch, I have no desire to buy yet another restaurant for you to fuck in," he said, kissing Harry's palm before lacing their fingers together.

"Like I've made such a habit of it," Harry good-naturedly grumbled, squeezing Karl's hand.

"You are such a spoil-sport, Karl," Dave complained.

Orlando just slapped both hands over his stomach and glared at Harry. "How many times must I tell you, not in public?!"

"As many as it takes for you not to respond in that delightful way you do," Harry replied, kissing Orlando's chin before standing, sliding Orlando off his lap. "And, on that note, we've got to leave."

Karl stood as well, tossing his napkin on the table. "We should be home in a few hours."

"Provided Sean really does gag Marcus," Harry winked, bending to give Dave a slow kiss. //Try not to have too much fun without us.//

//We'll make sure to fill you in on all the details.//

//As they're happening.// Orlando grinned, tilted his head up for his own kiss from Harry, followed by one from Karl.

"Cheeky brat." Dave's insult was delivered with a fond smile.

Orlando just grinned. "Of course, and you love me like this."

"There you go..." Karl grinned. "That's arrogance."

"He's always been quick on the uptake when he wanted to be." Harry said, then strode out of the restaurant, Karl's hand still in his.

Orlando watched Dave across the table, sipping his drink, head cocked to one side. "So what's next on the agenda?"

"Dessert?" Dave shrugged, the movement bunching his jacket across strong shoulders. "Do we have anything we need to do tonight?"

Orlando shrugged, motioning for the waiter. "I'm still new at this. I never know what I'm supposed to do and what I'm not supposed to do. Or when."

"I thought we went over this." Dave waited until they'd both ordered -- cheesecake for Dave, the brownie sundae for Orlando -- before speaking again. "You need to speak up on anything that confuses you. I'm here to mentor you."

"I do," Orlando said, then mumbled, "usually", when Dave frowned at him. "It's just that it's all a little confusing at times. So many unwritten 'rules' we have to follow... Why doesn't someone just write them down?"

"Where would we keep it? And who would write it?" Dave snagged Orlando's hand, teeth nipping at his wrist. "If you suggest Vig or Craig, I'll have to hurt you."

"Please. Like I'd suggest those two keep track of anything other than each other." Orlando rolled his eyes, hand relaxed in Dave's grip. "And we could keep it...I don't know. Perhaps a master copy somewhere, then Xerox it for all the newly made vampires. Someone should give us a rule book."

"Ah, but that's why you've got us, love. We're supposed to be your rule book...well, I am, anyway." Dave's grin was wicked. "Wouldn't suggest you follow anything Harry and Karl do. They wouldn't know rules if they were naked and covered in Greek honey."

"So explain that." Orlando sat back as the waiter placed dessert in front of them. He attacked the chocolate and ice cream confection in front of him, spoon waving in a wild arc. "How do those two manage to get away with murder practically, yet if you or I were to try it, Vig would have our heads on a silver platter."

Dave savored the rich taste of cheesecake before answering. "You want me to explain Harry and Karl to you? Fuck me, we haven't got that much time on this planet."

"No, not them." Orlando wrinkled his nose. "Why is that they don't have to follow any rules and the rest of us do?"

"Good question." Dave took another bite, followed it with a slow sip of strong, black coffee. "You forget, I'm an infant myself. Best reason I can figure is because of their very unique status in the vampire world. It shouldn't have been possible for Karl to...claim, I guess...Harry like he did. From what I understand, that caused quite a stir."

"But why? Did no one think it was possible?" Orlando popped a spoonful of brownie, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce into his mouth, waiting in barely concealed impatience for Dave to answer.

"Alright, let's do it this way." Dave leaned forward, placed his elbows on the table, dropping his chin in his hand. "Tell me what makes you a pet."

"My bond and vow to Karl and Harry," Orlando answered without hesitating.

Anything else?"

"Umm..." Orlando gave the question the consideration it deserved, pondering it for several minutes before answering. "My desire to be a pet?"

"That plays some part in it, yes." Dave tapped his fork along the edge of his plate. "Anything else that's unique to pets?"

"They're all mortal. Well, okay, all but us."

Dave shook his head, smiling as he tapped his forehead. "We have the mental connection. The blood bond. The vows, the soulmate love. Now, what if I were to tell you that Harry and Karl had all of that -- the love, the mental connection, the bonds -- without one vow spoken between them, without one drop of blood tasted on either side?"

Orlando frowned a little as he considered that. "But there were vows. They've both told us that. And I can't believe the first time Karl bit Harry was when he was dying."

"No, that's not what I'm saying." Dave looked back at Orlando, gaze steady. "What I'm telling you is that they were already bonded before Harry lost the bet."

"No way. Are you serious?" Orlando stared at Dave, resisted the urge to question Karl through their link. "How? Is that why Harry lost the bet?"

"I have no idea how," Dave shrugged, leaning back in his chair, fork still dangling from his fingers. "No one does. That's what makes them so unique. From the first moment Karl saw Harry, the bond was there. Viggo once told me the zing was so palpable that he could feel it."

"Fucker certainly never mentioned that," Orlando grumbled. He resumed eating his dessert, glancing at Dave as he took another gooey bite. //They keep insisting we're like them, only in reverse. Why didn't that happen with us?//

//You trying to tell me you didn't feel something between us that day in my office?//

"We weren't bonded, though," Orlando said, after swallowing his mouthful. "Karl would have known and said something. He knew the exact second Harry bonded himself to me."

"Which is what makes us different...the zing without the bond." Dave finished the last bite of his cheesecake, closing his eyes in rapture.

"Still doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense," Orlando muttered, scooping up another bite of brownie.

Dave picked up his coffee cup, eyeing Orlando over the rim. "Things like this rarely do."

//Do you have any idea...// Orlando swallowed the last bite, grinned, "...how much that sounded like Viggo?"

Dave glared across the table. "You're begging for me to turn you over my knee, aren't you? Like Viggo..." he mumbled, drumming his fingers on the table.

Orlando smirked, draining his own coffee cup, flipping a credit card on the table when the waiter approached again. "You think that would deter me? Try it and see."

"You'd just beg for more, pervy brat."

"And you'd give it to me." Orlando winked, lounging back in his chair in a perfect mimicry of one of Harry's poses.

Dave laughed, the sound rich and low. "Christ, you've got him cold. I should take you to Council with me one night, have you do that for the lot of 'em. They'd love it."

"Harry'd beat my ass." Orlando grinned, then buffed his nails on his shirt, faking a yawn. "He's actually pretty easy if you pay attention. Now, Karl...he's the hard one."

Dave instantly fixed Orlando with an arrogant look, slouching back in his chair, fingers resting lightly on the table. "Karl's easy," he drawled, his voice the perfect mixture of elegance and sin. "Once you get to know him."

Orlando blinked, then lost his composure, laughing so hard that the nearest diners turned to look. "Oh, that's brilliant! You have to do that in front of Karl sometime!"

Dave waved him off, sitting back up. "I value my life, thankyouverymuch," he said, once again sounding like himself.

"Coward," Orlando retorted, leaning forward. "I'll do Harry for them if you do Karl."

"Sounds tiring," Dave grinned, sounding positively gleeful. "You sure you don't want to practice doing me here before we tackle them in front of the Council?"

Orlando's grin changed, eyes now challenging. "On the table here? We're liable to scandalize the staff."

Dave simply stood, tugged Orlando out of his chair, then pushed him on the table. He shoved the few dishes aside as he climbed between Orlando's open legs. "Karl may not want to buy the place," Dave said, licking a wet path up Orlando's neck "...but that doesn't mean I won't."

"We're going to get kicked out," Orlando managed to say, hands lifting to grip Dave's arms.

Dave's lips traversed along Orlando's jawline. "Would you rather take this someplace else, then?"

"Here, there, doesn't matter to me." Orlando turned his head to capture Dave's lips, his tongue sliding along the seam before delving inside.

Dave allowed the kiss for a timeless moment of tangled tongues and sliding lips before lifting his head. "Much as I'd love to take you right here, I don't think I want the rest of the restaurant to know what you look like when you come for me." Dave dropped his voice, eyes hot. "That's for my private enjoyment."

"Then I suggest," Orlando murmured, shivering a little at the intensity in Dave's eyes, "that you take me home." He smiled, slid one hand behind Dave's neck, fingers lingering over that one spot that made Dave shiver himself.

Dave pulled him up, captured him in another full-bodied kiss that had them both gasping. "Yeah, home sounds lovely." Dave didn't even bother to count the number of bills he left on the table for the tip. He was too intent on getting Orlando the hell out of the restaurant and home to the nearest flat surface.

Orlando grinned at the restaurant's other patrons, amused by the scandalized looks thrown their way as Dave dragged him through the door and towards the car. "Shame we didn't bring one of the bigger cars," he said as they arrived at the Viper.

Dave looked down at him. "Why's that?"

"Wouldn't have to wait 'til we get home. That is simply not big enough to do much in."

"Who said we had to be in the car?"

The next instant, Orlando was flat on his back on the hood, Dave covering him, hands delving under his slacks and...oh, fuck...

Orlando tried to speak, couldn't. So he settled for groaning, fingers threading through Dave's hair, yanking the other vampire down for a hard kiss as his hips arched into the hands touching him.

Impatient fingers tugged, pulled down on bothersome clothing, freeing Orlando's cock to the chill night air. He had a split second to shiver, then Dave's warm fist circled him, started twisting, teeth nipping on Orlando's earlobe. "Get rid of the shirt," he murmured.

"Good idea," Orlando breathed. Clumsy fingers fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, then, with a muttered curse, he grabbed the fabric and yanked. Buttons went flying, several pinging off the hood of the car as the cool breeze kissed his now bare chest. Fuck the shirt. He had more at home.

Dave's mouth slid along Orlando's collarbone, fangs cresting the skin, fist continuing its fast assault, inundating Orlando with pleasure off the scale. He'd never get used to this...not if he lived forever. But he wouldn't complain.

//How do you want to come, love?//

//Hard and fast.// Orlando pulled Dave up for another kiss, sucking on Dave's tongue, fangs grazing the soft flesh. His hands delved under Dave's shirt, seeking and finding warm skin. Hard to think, even after everything he'd been through, that all this was his.

Dave sped up, tightened his grip, wrist flicking as his thumb grazed over the head. //So fucking beautiful.// Dave's mental voice was full of reverence as he lapped at Orlando's jaw and neck, teeth marking and claiming familiar territory.

Orlando's moans were continuous, hips thrusting against Dave's fist, body writhing on the hood of the car. He wanted more, wanted to touch naked skin, wanted to taste it. He wanted, and Dave's shirt became another casualty as the buttons popped off and flew in all directions. Dave growled low in his throat when Orlando's fingers dug into his back, and his movements took on a brutal intensity, fangs breaking skin. A pink tongue lapped at the small pools of blood and Dave's fingers weaved their dark magic, had Orlando arching up, twisting to meet every hard stroke.

Orlando opened his mouth and gasped, and then Dave was there, thoughts twining around Orlando's until they couldn't be separated. He was himself and Dave, feeling the hand moving over him, tasting the blood on his tongue. With a small, wordless cry, his back arched, and he came, spilling over Dave's fingers in a hot, sticky flood.

Dave lifted his head, lips stained with blood, and sucked on his fingers, licking them clean. "Better than the cheesecake," he grinned.

Orlando grinned in response, lifting his head to kiss Dave, tongue sliding in. The taste flooded his mouth, dark and coppery, rich, exotic. "Mmm," he murmured, pulling away, still grinning. "Definitely."

Dave stood, the sides of the ruined shirt falling to his sides, outlining a sleekly muscled chest and stomach. "You ready to head home, now that you've seduced me with your masculine wiles?"

Orlando snorted with laughter as he rolled off the hood of the car and got to his feet. "I seem to recall someone jumping me the second he found a suitable flat surface. But yeah." He stepped in close, slid his arms around Dave's waist, nuzzling Dave's warm neck. "Let's go home."

Dave returned the embrace, cheek sliding over soft curls. "You don't need to feed or anything?"

"I..." Orlando paused, felt a slight twinge. "Actually, now that you mention it..."

"You need to learn to pay attention to your body, love." Dave pulled back, eyes kind as they roamed Orlando's face. "What've we been talking about the past few weeks?"

"Listening to the signals my body gives me," Orlando replied, voice soft. He leaned back against the fender and gave Dave a sheepish smile. "I got busy and forgot."

"You can't forget this," Dave replied softly. "You're like a diabetic of sorts. You don't get enough mortal blood at regular intervals and your body will shut down. Alright?"

"I know." Orlando nodded and peeked up at Dave. "I'm sorry."

"Good. 'Cause explaining you in a blood-induced coma to Harry and Karl would ruin my night." Dave winked, then unlocked and opened the driver's side door. "You're driving. We'll stop by the Bank on the way home...easier than hunting right now."

Orlando slid behind the wheel, looked at Dave with wide eyes when he got in on the other side. "Can't imagine they'd be real calm about that, huh?" He eased the car out into traffic, changing lanes to turn at the light.

"I don't imagine I'd want to be in the same country," Dave smiled, lounging back in his seat, eyeing the billboards as they sped up La Brea.

"Can't say as I'd want to be, either." Orlando shifted gears smoothly, feeling the power thrum through his body as he drove. He glanced at Dave and smiled. "Best thing would be to call Vig from somewhere like Guatemala and have him tell 'em if it ever happened."

"Somehow I don't think even Vig would want to take the two of them on in that situation."

"No?" Orlando spared another glance from the road. "So it's that bad?"

"Last coma I heard about a newbie going into had the guy waking up over 70 years later." Dave glanced at Orlando's profile, his smile pensive. "You want to try and deal with Harry and Karl for that long by yourself?"

Orlando's soft whistle was barely audible over the radio. "That is bad. Bet it plays hell on the pet bond."

"Ya think?" Dave snorted, placing his hand over Orlando's on the gearshift. "Alright, what's the question for the night?"

Orlando was silent for several minutes, thinking. "Well," he said finally, turning down the street that led to the Bank. "What would happen if I did screw up and go into a coma? Does anyone know since no one's ever been in this situation before?"

"Good one." Dave nibbled on the pad of his thumb, lost in thought for awhile. "I know that a pet dies if the vampire dies. But the vampire doesn't if the pet dies...he's just..." Dave paused, "...subdued, I guess. I don't know what would happen to a vampire whose pet is there, but not there, if you know what I mean."

"So it's not something that's ever happened -- that you know of -- but we can assume it wouldn't be a good thing?" Orlando nodded when Dave did, looking thoughtful as he maneuvered through the last remaining bit of traffic. "That leads me to another question though. What would happen to us if Karl or Harry died?"

"Jesus..." Dave didn't even want to contemplate life with either of them, but forced himself to consider the question as Orlando parked. "Well, we're pets, yes...but we're also vampires," he said, climbing out of the car. "And we've got multiple bonds going on. I think we'd be fine physically...but I don't think Harry or Karl could survive without the other, to be honest. If one goes, I think the other wouldn't be too far behind."

"I can't believe we'd be too far behind if both of them went," Orlando said, voice soft, serious. The alarm chirped once as he set it, following Dave into the building.

Dave gave their names to the receptionist, then sat on one of the plush sofas to wait, pulling Orlando into his lap. "Why all this talk of Harry and Karl and dying tonight?" he asked, nuzzling Orlando's neck.

"Sorry. We can talk about something else." Orlando shifted, made himself comfortable, head tilted to the side to give Dave better access. "You said I should ask things as I thought of them."

"We can talk about whatever you want." Orlando shivered when Dave's warm breath stirred the hairs on the back of his neck. "Ask me something else."

"Well...you and I are soulmates. Or halves of the same soul, whatever." Orlando waved a hand when Dave started to speak. "What happens to me if something happens to you?"

"Morbid tonight, aren't you?" Dave remarked, kissing the soft spot between Orlando's neck and shoulder. "You'd diminish -- perhaps not as fast as Harry or Karl -- our bond isn't as strong, hasn't been in place as long -- but you'd feel it. More so than they would."

"So it would eventually kill me?" Orlando twisted to look at Dave, fingers sliding up the open edge of Dave's shirt.

Dave's reply was soft. "Yes."

Orlando sat quietly for several long minutes, digesting that. It wasn't a surprise. Not really. He'd been expecting that answer. Then he cocked his head, looked at Dave through his lashes. "Tell me...was Vig serious when he said he could make me mortal again?"

"Of course." Dave's thumb brushed against Orlando's cheek. "Why?"

"Just wondering." Teeth worried Orlando's bottom lip. "He could do that?"

"He's an Elder, love," Dave reminded him. "He has the power to make and unmake."

"I know, I just thought...maybe he was trying to scare me or something." One shoulder lifted in a graceful shrug as Orlando's eyes moved around the room. "Something like that would probably be pretty painful."

"I've heard it is, yeah." Dave turned Orlando's head back to his. "Why are you asking?"

"Huh? Oh. I was just wondering." Orlando smiled and gave Dave a brief kiss. "I didn't realize that it was possible to reverse the change."

Dave opened his mouth to reply, but stopped when the receptionist called them into one of the spas. He stood, twined his fingers with Orlando's, kissing their joined hands. "To be continued, alright?"

Orlando rolled his eyes. "I'm going to start calling you Harry, Jr. if you keep that up." He followed Dave through the doors, grinning.

"Keep what up?"

"The whole 'to be continued' thing. He does it constantly, usually when he doesn't believe me."

"He's a smart man," Dave replied, opening the door, gesturing for Orlando to walk through. "I can think of worse mentors."

Another roll of his eyes was accompanied by a soft chuckle as Orlando strolled through the door. "I did mean it, you know. I was just curious."

"Fine, you can ask Vig about it, then." Dave's smile blossomed when Orlando groaned.

"I'm not that curious," Orlando retorted, giving in to the urge to stick out his tongue.

Dave leaned in, sucking on Orlando's tongue briefly before pulling back. "You're being rude to your guest, love," he murmured, tilting his head to the other side of the darkened room.

"Mmm...I suppose I am, aren't I?" Orlando murmured as he turned, unerringly facing the room's other occupant. He sauntered across the room, each step slow, languid, body flowing across the floor. "And is my guest male or female, do we know?"

"I requested a male...young." Dave's voice drifted across the room. "He should be waking up any second."

"Very young." Orlando knelt beside the lounge, one hand hovering over the chest of the young man sleeping there. He felt another hunger pang flash through him as the tip of his tongue slid over a fang. "And pretty, too."

"Of course he is," Dave replied, sounding richly amused.

Orlando glanced over his shoulder, eyes finding Dave easily in the dim light. "Are they always pretty?"

"Beauty attracts beauty." Dave leaned back against the wall, gaze raking over Orlando in a lazy sweep. "Vampires are more attracted to it than mortals...beauty enthralls us, beauty of the flesh and spirit. It's part of who we are."

"I suppose so." Orlando looked back at the young man as he began to stir and pondered that. He realized he'd never seen an ugly vampire. With a smile, he bent his head, nuzzling the soft skin below the jaw. He could feel Dave's eyes on him as he knelt, murmuring soft words of endearment, enthrallment, the low tones wrapping a cocoon around him and the young mortal on the bed. "Do you accept me?" he asked, placing tiny kisses along the side of a soft neck.

"Yes," came the whispered reply, voice tinged with sleep and desire, soft blond strands of hair shifting under Orlando's hand. Permission and acceptance...two things Dave had taught him were essential to being a vampire.

"May I...?" Orlando continued placing small kisses down the slender neck, pausing at the hollow of the throat, feeling the pulse throb against his lips.

"Please," was the soft response, the young mortal tilting his head back in invitation. And it was an invitation Orlando took gratefully, pain lancing through his jaw in a split-second flash as his fangs lengthened, then pierced the soft skin.

The sharp flavor of iron, the sweet tang of purity, tore through him seconds later, had him reeling. Dave had assured him he'd get used to it in time, but he failed to see how. Each time he fed, it was like the ground bottomed out, sin and darkness swallowing him whole.

//Easy, love. Control it.//

Right, control. Jesus, how did one control this? It was like trying to control a hurricane. He closed his eyes, one hand resting lightly on the young man's chest, forcing himself to feed slowly. Finally, with a great effort of will, he lifted his head, nostrils flaring as he breathed.

The mortal's head lolled back, and Orlando could see the soft smile playing across achingly beautiful features. His kiss was soft, brief, reverent. Something else Dave had taught him. Gratitude. "Thank you for this gift," Orlando whispered across full lips before standing, swaying a bit as the new blood raced through his veins.

"Easy, love, I've got you." Orlando leaned gratefully into Dave's embrace, clutched onto strong arms.

"Now..." Orlando twisted in Dave's arms, touching lips still stained with blood to Dave's lips. "Now I'm ready to go home."

"Alright." Dave led Orlando out of the room, asked the receptionist to put the visit on their account, and had Orlando settled in the passenger seat of the Viper seconds later. "Feeling better?" he asked, once they were on their way home.

"Much," Orlando smiled, head tipped back against the seat as he watched Dave drive. "Thank you. I'd have forgotten to feed for another few days."

"Don't make me schedule it into your appointment book," Dave smiled, speeding along the twists of Mulholland with practiced ease.

"You know, that's not a bad idea," Orlando teased. "So what's on the agenda for the rest of the night?"

"Whatever you'd like," Dave replied. "We've got time before Harry and Karl are done."

"Well...I'm wide awake now." He shifted, watching Dave through his lashes as he pulled one leg up in the seat. "And fed...."

Dave glanced at Orlando, expression unreadable, before shifting his eyes back to the road. "Which means?"

"Which means...." Orlando's voice dropped to a low purr and he leaned in, one hand sliding along Dave's thigh. "I've got lots of energy now."

"Does it?" Dave's gaze sidled back to Orlando's, small smile curving his lips.

"Mmhmm...." Orlando leaned in even more, hand drifting higher, lips touching the sensitive spot just below Dave's ear. He smiled, licked that same spot, loving the way Dave shivered.

Dave bit his lower lip, concentrated on getting the car parked before twisting in the small seat, tongue stealing inside Orlando's open mouth in a hard kiss.

Orlando melted into the kiss with a happy sigh, one hand sliding behind Dave's neck as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss. He growled deep in his throat when the gearshift jabbed his thigh, shifting to avoid it. Fuck...car was too small for this...

"Inside. Now," he groaned, tilting his head back when Dave's lips found a sensitive spot on his throat.

"Love it when you decide to get demanding."

Orlando was out of the car and around it before Dave got his door closed. "You do, hmm?" He smiled, pressing Dave against the car, pinning him there, hands braced on either side. "I've been told I can be very demanding."

"Haven't seen too much of it." Pure blue eyes gazed at Orlando, clearly challenging.

"No? Guess I'll have to fix that." One hand twisted in the edges of Dave's shirt, and Orlando pulled him towards the house. //See if you can keep up, love. I'm younger than you.//

//Youth means nothing. Harry and Karl are ancient and they don't even have to get undressed to wear you out.//

"I've noticed they can do the same to you." Orlando said over his shoulder as he tugged Dave into the house, kicking the door shut behind them.

Dave raised an eyebrow, and Orlando was struck once again at how like Karl, like Harry, Dave could be. "I never claimed they couldn't."

"Why are we discussing Harry and Karl? I can think of much better things to discuss," Orlando murmured, sliding Dave's jacket and shirt off, tossing them across the back of a nearby chair. He smiled, eyes roaming over the expanse of bare skin and sleek muscle. Fuck, but he'd never get used to this.

"Such as?" Dave leaned against another chair, fingers brushing across his belt buckle, loosening it slowly. Tease.

"Like getting naked and finding the nearest flat surface." Orlando batted Dave's hands aside, still smiling. "Let me get that for you."

Dave lifted his hands, placed them on the chair behind him, tilting his hips forward. "By all means..."

"You're getting entirely too much like Harry," Orlando laughed as he slid the belt free before undoing Dave's slacks. The fabric was pushed down over muscular thighs, dropping to the floor to be kicked aside.

"Now who's bringing them up," Dave smirked, peering at Orlando through lowered lashes. "You're wearing too much."

"So do something about it."

Dave pulled Orlando to him, finished shredding the ruins of Orlando's shirt, smoothing his hands across tanned skin. "That more like what you had in mind?" he asked, didn't wait for a reply before lips crashed against lips, stealing breath and reason.

//Definitely.// Orlando met Dave's kiss, tongues tangling together, sliding over each other. His fingers sank into Dave's hair, tugging, body pressed against Dave, feeling the warmth from Dave's body seeping into him.

//What do you want this time?// Long fingers stripped Orlando of his slacks, shoved them over slim hips, curved around muscle and bone in a possessive grip, and Dave's tongue continued to weave in and out of Orlando's mouth in a dark pattern.

//You.// The answer was swift as Orlando captured Dave's tongue, sucked on it. His hands roamed over bare skin, tracing lean muscles as he pressed against Dave. //On your knees...under me...don't care.//

//How about both?//

Then Dave was on his knees and Orlando had to bite his lip, grip Dave's shoulders in a painful grasp when a velvet tongue stroked his cock from base to tip and soft lips closed over him. "Fuck," he breathed.

//Tasting you first.// Dave lifted his eyes to watch Orlando, and one hand cradled the tight sac between Orlando's thighs as his mouth continued to weave its magic over needy flesh.

Orlando's head fell forward, half-lidded eyes fastening on Dave's. Jesus, watching Dave was hot -- beyond hot, really. And watching his cock disappear between Dave's lips was even hotter. Slivers of sensation spiked through him, drawing soft moans from his throat. "So good," he murmured, hand cradling the back of Dave's head, urging him to take more. Lean hips thrust, and Orlando could feel the slick slide of his cock down Dave's throat.

Dave tilted his head back, and Orlando thrust deeper, struggling not to close his eyes. Close, yeah, just like that...so...his eyes narrowed when Dave abruptly stopped, licking his lips with a small smirk. "Not just yet."

"Bastard," Orlando muttered under his breath, well aware that Dave could hear him. Not just yet? He'd see about that. Long fingers splayed over the back of Dave's skull, and Orlando returned the smirk. "And why not just yet?"

"Because I don't feel like it," Dave shrugged, making no attempt to free himself.

"So what do you feel like?" Orlando smiled slowly when his fingers found a sensitive spot under Dave's jaw and he shivered.

"You." The answer was prompt, if somewhat breathless. "Showing me some of that arrogance that Harry assures me is there."

"And what," Orlando murmured, voice low and husky, "makes you think you deserve me, hmm?"

Oh, gotcha with that one. Orlando couldn't stop the inward grin when Dave just stared up at him for a long moment. Then Dave shrugged Orlando's hand off of him and gracefully stood, leaning into Orlando's chest. "Because you belong to me," Dave stated, tongue licking tiny points of fire across Orlando's neck.

"Is that so?" Orlando couldn't suppress the tiny shiver that raced through him. His hands settled on Dave's hips, pulled him closer. "I rather thought that you belonged to me..."

Dave pulled back, eyes alight with a dark challenge. "Prove it."

Orlando didn't need to be told twice. Slender fingers curled around the back of Dave's neck and pulled him in for a hard kiss. //It's always 'prove it' with you people.// His mental voice held a touch of indignation as their tongues dueled, neither one willing to yield dominance just yet.

//Show, don't tell.// Dave's fingers sank into the soft curls of Orlando's hair, and their hips ground together, both moaning when erections slid against each other in slick friction. So fucking good...but not nearly enough.

With a soft growl, Orlando caught Dave's wrists and pushed, bending him backwards over the chair. //I'll show.// His hips moved against Dave's as his mouth slid down Dave's throat, licking and sucking, fangs grazing over soft flesh. Oh, yes...he'd definitely show. Cocky bastard.

Dave didn't answer, but his reedy gasp was music to Orlando's ears. They both tumbled to the floor in a tangle of limbs, and Orlando wasted no time in pressing his full weight down on Dave, smiling again when Dave rocked his hips upward. "Orli..."

"Yes?" Orlando continued to smile as he sucked on the soft patch of flesh in the hollow of Dave's throat. His fingers still firmly encircled Dave's wrists, pinning them to the floor above his head as he settled between Dave's parted thighs, rocking just enough so their erections slid against each other.

"Brat." Dave strained against Orlando's hands, eyes dark with need. Absolutely beautiful. And Orlando's.

"I've been called that before," Orlando said, lifting his head to smile down at Dave. And was immediately snared by the hot look in Dave's eyes. His smile was slower this time, thumbs rubbing over the insides of trapped wrists. "What do you want, love?"

"You...inside me..." Every word was choked out through clenched teeth, and Dave arched his hips again, desperate for more.

Before the words were fully out of Dave's mouth, Orlando was on his feet, yanking Dave up with him. Fuck, but he didn't need to be told twice. Didn't bother to look where he was going as he backed up, didn't need to as he pulled Dave with him up the stairs and into the bedroom.

They tumbled together across the bed, Orlando's hand reaching blindly for a bottle of oil on the nightstand. Dave twisted in his arms, hands and lips on every part of Orlando's body he could reach, and Orlando thought he was going to incinerate before he ever even got the fucking bottle open. "Just...slow down," he panted, finally flipping them both over so he was on top again.

"Fuck that. Now." Dave pulled Orlando's needy lips back to his own for another kiss, wrapping his legs around Orlando's hips.

Okay. Now was good. Actually, now was better than good. Orlando couldn't stifle his groan as warm, knowing fingers closed around him, spreading oil over hard flesh. "Dave..."

"Now," Dave growled, sharp fangs nipping Orlando's collarbone, fingers digging into his back. And Orlando just groaned again, giving in to the urgency as he sank into Dave's body with one, smooth thrust.

"Yes..." Dave hissed, nails gouging, leaving small blood trails along Orlando's back. Yes...fucking yes, even. Orlando thrust deep, swallowed Dave's grunt with his tongue, and fought to keep from passing out. If this was a fraction of what Harry and Karl felt when they had each other, it was a wonder they'd both made it past their first year together. Jesus, but Dave was...just....

Orlando began to move, sliding in deep with each slow thrust as his lips slid over Dave's, tongue licking and tasting in small, teasing strokes. And Jesus....

What he felt with Karl, what he felt with Harry, was phenomenal. But Dave...Orlando didn't think he had words to describe it. Best he could come up with was soul-fucking. And then he ceased thinking at all when Dave rolled his hips, changed the angle of Orlando's thrust...oh yeah, right there. Instantly, Dave's back bowed, and his head thrashed back, small moans emitting from those lush lips. Orlando leaned forward, wrapping one hand around Dave's cock and skimmed his tongue along a line of sweat racing along Dave's neck.

//So beautiful...// Orlando sped up a little, pulled back just enough to watch Dave's face. Yes, beautiful. Beyond beautiful. His lips found Dave's throat again, tongue lapping lightly at the beads of sweat gathered there. He could feel Dave in his head, the dual sensations that came with the bond. His fangs crested over the pulsepoint, pressing hard enough to indent, but not break, the skin.

//Please...please...// The word was a continuous mantra inside of Orlando's head, and he sped his movements to match, fist and cock working in a continuous rhythm -- long, sure, deep. //Please...//

Orlando whimpered as his fangs pierced the vein and rich copper flooded his mouth. This was heaven, truly. The tight bundle of sensation and emotion that was Dave exploded in Orlando's mind as he slammed into the willing body beneath him. Dave's orgasm tore through him a second later, ripping through his system with the force of a hurricane, triggering his own. Instantly, he was swept along a dark current of lust and need and want and surrounding all of it was the steady, pulsing bond of Dave in his head, his blood.

//Jesus...// Orlando didn't even have the strength to speak as he collapsed on top of Dave, sucking in lungfuls of air, hands soothing Dave's body as it trembled against him. He was barely aware that his own body was trembling as well. He lifted his head, smiled as he pushed damp hair from Dave's forehead, and started to speak. His mouth clicked closed as he felt a fleeting presence in his mind.

"I think we had an audience," Orlando murmured with a tired chuckle, wondering just how long Harry and Karl had been tagging along.

"Took you long enough to notice," Dave murmured, lazily stroking Orlando's sweat-dampened back. "Shame they missed the visuals."

"Oh, I don't know, the aftermath is still a sweet sight." Both Dave and Orlando turned tiredly toward the door, and saw Harry leaning against it, Karl wrapped around him.

"'Bout time you got home." Orlando smiled as he untangled himself from Dave, then flopped gracefully on his back, stretching and tucking his hands behind his head as he watched the two in the door.

"We'd have been sooner, but we were, ah, distracted," Karl said, smirk clear in his voice as he strolled into the room.

"Is that what we're calling it these days?" Harry grinned, following Karl. He kicked off his shoes and stretched beside Dave, dropping a light kiss on his lips. "Child wear you out?"

"Gearing up for the next round," Dave mumbled, snuggling into Harry's warmth.

"God, he sounds like me now," Karl laughed, sitting beside Orlando on the other side of the bed, massaging his scalp with gentle fingers. "Have a good time without us?"

"Of course," Orlando murmured, nodding as he curled against Karl. "Don't need you to have fun, you know."

"I think they're a little tired, Harry." Karl's rich laugh filled the room, joined by Harry's when the two younger vampires growled softly.

"Well, I'm sure they've had it very rough while we've been gone." Harry nuzzled Dave's neck, his smile gentle. "So, how many times did you get him to come?"

Dave seemed to consider the question for a moment. "Only twice," he yawned. "We had to feed him."

"Was hungry," Orlando mumbled around his own yawn, snuggling closer to Karl. He smiled when Harry reached over and stroked his hair.

"I was wondering when you were going to feed," Karl murmured, voice only faintly rebuking.

"Should post it in his date book," Dave nodded.

"That's why he has you, cariad," Harry reminded him.

"You try reminding him, then."

"I am still here, you know," Orlando grumbled, lifting his head just enough to glare at the other three. He gave an indignant snort and put his head back down when they just laughed.

"Of course you're still here. Hard for me to forget that with you draped over me like a blanket."

"Don't hear you complaining," Orlando mumbled against Karl's throat.

"Much better," Harry stated, amusement coloring his voice, pulling Dave tighter against his body. "The arrogance lessons seem to be going well."

"With you as a mentor, how could they not?" Karl asked, linking his fingers with Harry's across the bed.

"If you two would shut up, I'd like to take a nap." One eye peered at Karl, and Orlando let out another soft snort.

//They don't ever shut up, Orli. Haven't you figured that out yet.//

"You think they're tired?" Karl asked, much too innocently.

"Dunno what would give you that idea." Harry placed another soft kiss on Dave's shoulder, and ran a hand along Orlando's chest before standing. "Guess we get to find our own amusement for awhile."

//Yeah, you go do that.// Orlando didn't even open his eyes when Karl eased away from him and stood. Instead, his slender frame rolled over, seeking and finding Dave's warmth in the middle of the bed.

//Just be quiet about it.// One blue eye peered up at Harry and Karl before it closed again, and Dave wrapped himself around Orlando.

"And they say youth has stamina," Karl stated, voice sad, and Orlando heard Harry's answering laugh before their footsteps echoed down the stairs.

//Thought they'd never leave.// Dave's mental voice was a sleepy mumble.

Orlando just mumbled something unintelligible and snuggled closer to Dave, already more asleep than awake. Legs tangled together, and Dave barely had the strength to pull the blanket up over them before curling around Orlando once more.


~fin~