| Title: Cherished Authors: Jo & Brenda Series: Claimed Pairings: Karl Urban/Orlando Bloom/Harry Sinclair Rating: NC17 Summary: Vampires and pets and sex, oh my. Yeah, it's an AU. Disclaimer: As far as we know, vampires don't exist. Cha. Author's Notes: *Brenda points to Jo* It was all her fault. I just went along with it. *Jo points back at Brenda* Her Karl had designs on my Orli. She liked the idea so we let them play. This is what happened. *mwah* *Brenda & Jo look around, then whisper* But it's really *all* Harry's fault and if he says otherwise, it's a lie! For the other 1/2 of the Quartet. *mwah*
"You okay?" Orlando turned to see Dom's laughing grey eyes sparkling at him. "Yeah, you just startled me." "What?" Dom flashed him a sly wink. "You didn't think I was Karl?" Orlando choked again, laughing this time. "I knew you weren't Karl," he said. "No thunder." "Huh?" Orlando couldn't help but laugh at Dom's confused look. "Thunder?" "Up here." A long, slender finger tapped his temple and Orlando smiled. "In my head. Since the ceremony, it's like...I can't describe it. Karl's in my head. You know how the air feels just before a thunderstorm? All charged with energy and heavy and ready to explode and you know when it does, it's going to suck you in and strip you bare and you're going to love every second of it. That's what it's like when Karl's near me." Dom nodded, laughed. "I know exactly what you mean. That's how I feel when Sean's around. Speaking of Sean --" He looked around the room. "Come on." "Where are we going?" "Sean wants to meet you." Curious, Orlando followed him to the library. He remembered Sean from the ceremony -- remembered pale green eyes, short light blond hair, a friendly smile. "I met him last night," Orlando pointed out. Dom just shook his head and grinned. "No, that was a quickie," Dom said and smirked at Orlando's snort of laughter. "This is a real introduction. Oh, good! Viggo's with him." Viggo. Orlando's smile faltered just a bit as he remembered. Viggo intimidated him more than a little. Christ. He could very clearly recall the feel of that ancient mind in his. "Oh, goodie," Orlando said faintly, allowing himself to be dragged towards the vampires. "Relax. Here he is, Sean." Dom slid his hand into Sean's and stepped aside. "Ah, yes, Karl's young Orlando." Sean's hand enfolded Orlando's in a warm, firm grip and Orlando smiled. Karl's young Orlando. The sound of that made him tingle inside, and his smile broadened. He was going to like Sean very much. "Orlando Bloom." A quick handshake and Sean released him. "Sean Bean. And this," he said, indicating the blond at his side, "is Viggo Mortensen." "Pleased to meet you," Orlando said softly, shaking Viggo's proffered hand. "More so than last night?" Viggo grinned at Orlando's flustered expression. "Relax. I'm not going to do that again." Orlando didn't bother to hide his sigh of relief. "Call me Orli." "Half of what Viggo says is a lie and the other half isn't true," Sean said with an innocent smile. "Just remember that, and you'll get along great with him." Orlando blinked, unsure of what to say, as Dom's delighted laugh rang out. Viggo just gave Sean a mild look. "They're both blatant liars." Dom grinned at Viggo and batted his eyelashes at Sean. Orlando watched silently, wondered if he'd ever be that comfortable around any of them. He wanted to be. He relaxed a little, and then blue eyes focused on him once more. "So how are you holding up, child? Not too overwhelmed?" Viggo seemed genuinely interested, his smile open and friendly. Orlando relaxed more. "A little tired, but I'm okay." Orlando shrugged one shoulder, his jacket shifting easily with the movement. "I don't think I'm ever going to remember all these people though." Oh, smart move, dork. Admit to them that you're an idiot and can't remember shit. Orlando almost groaned in dismay. Then the two vampires laughed, startling him. "Don't try to remember them all," Sean advised. "No one's expecting you to keep them all straight to begin with. They know you're new at all this. You'll learn the members of Karl's board of directors in time and, I promise, none of them will bite." "And the only Council members you need to remember are myself, Sean and Harry, and Bethany, Marcus, and Kevin," Viggo added, sipping his brandy. "Those three report directly to Karl, so you're likely to see them the most. You can take your time learning the others." "Oh." That was a relief. A handful of names were going to be much easier to remember. Orlando took a deep breath and smiled as Dom flashed him another smile. "Just try not to let this imp get you into too much trouble," Sean remarked with a fond smile as he ruffled Dom's spiky hair. Dom stuck his tongue out, and then pointed a finger at Viggo. "You forgot someone." "I did?" Viggo looked mildly startled. "Yep." Dom nodded, obviously fighting to keep from grinning. "Dave." "Who's Dave?" Orlando asked tentatively as Viggo gave a mock groan. "My assistant, David Wenham. "All around whirlwind, troublemaker, and cheeky bastard," Sean added. He was smiling, so Orlando decided he was teasing. Yes, he was definitely going to like Sean. "And don't forget the bane of Harry's existence," Dom chirped, making the two vampires laugh loudly. "What? I'm serious! Ask Harry. He'll tell you. 'Fucking whelp is the fucking bane of my fucking existence, you should let me kill him, Vig.' Just ask!" Viggo and Sean howled, laughing so hard that Viggo had to lean against the bar. Dom just stood there with a smug grin. "One of these days, pet," Sean managed to gasp, "Harry is going to overhear you, and then you'll be in trouble." "Nah, Harry loves me." Dom shrugged, looking supremely confident. "He'll just bitch and moan and complain." He grinned impishly and sidled up to Orlando. "Harry's a big whiner, but he'll love you, too." Orlando smiled as Viggo and Sean erupted into fresh gales of laughter. God, he hoped Dom was right. He really, really hoped he was right. He wanted to impress Harry, wanted Harry to like him. Because if he didn't.... Orlando couldn't even begin to imagine the repercussions if Karl's best friend didn't like him. + + + If there was one thing Harry could safely say, it was that he really really really fucking did not want to be here tonight. He sat on the back of his Harley for a long moment, looked at Karl's house, heard the sounds of muted laughter and classical music, smelled exotic foods, tasted the air of refinement and wealth. Harry hated it when Karl threw a party. He sighed, threw a long leg over the bike, set his helmet on the tank. No use dreading it. He needed to at least make an appearance. This was important. Harry needed to meet Orlando, needed to see if they'd fit. They were going to be a large part of each other's lives; it wouldn't do well for them to start off on the wrong foot. God, he should have been there last night, he... Stop. Don't go there. Not tonight. Tonight is not for grief. It's a celebration of a union. Strong fingers massaged his temples to ease the pounding that suddenly pounced behind his eyes. Fuck. He sighed again, brushed dark hair back from his forehead, straightened his infernal fucking tie and walked up the steps. At least Karl had a well-stocked bar. And always had his favorite Scotch. Yes, getting drunk again was sounding like the most marvelous idea he'd heard all night. A quick glance around the library showed that, as always, he was the last to arrive. He didn't see Karl. But he did see Sean and Viggo by the bar. Lovely, he was headed there anyway. He made his requisite nods to the other members of the Council, to his and Karl's mutual business associates, as he walked across the room, keeping one eye on the door. "Your pet run off with the help?" he asked Sean, as soon as he was at the bar. Sean grimaced. "As always, Harry, your wit leaves me speechless. He's off being sociable. Unlike you." He smiled back, then his gaze grew serious, classically handsome features twisting in concern. "Harry..." "No. Not tonight." He couldn't handle sympathy right now. It would kill him. Sean nodded, ran his hand over Harry's, gently squeezing the fingers before letting go. "Later, then." Yes, later. Much later. "Vig. How was the ceremony? Did you warp the young mortal's fragile mind with your probe?" He merely flashed a wicked grin, showing the small points of his teeth. "Karl wouldn't let me go too far." "Rather impolite of him," Harry answered. "Ah, Harry, my friend, you should have seen it," Sean grinned, jade eyes twinkling. "Karl was nervous." Harry fought the urge to choke on his drink. "You had to say that mid-sip, didn't you?" Sean's grin grew wider. "Well, yeah." "It was achingly funny," Viggo agreed over the rim of his snifter of brandy. Harry would have given anything to have seen that. The last time he'd seen Karl nervous was...God...it'd been centuries. He took an uninterrupted sip of his drink. "Speaking of the nervous bridegroom, where is he? And the mysterious pet?" Sean peered around. "They should be...ah, there they are!" He waved, and Harry turned to watch their progress across the room. Good Lord, but the boy was exceptional. Tall, slender, dark, so beautiful it hurt to look at him. The kick to his groin tore through Harry like a bullet. No wonder Karl was so sure about things. "Christ," Harry muttered to himself, glass paused halfway up to his lips. "Yeah," Sean agreed. "Karl did alright." Better than. The charcoal pin-striped suit and matching tie brought out the shine in lovely tanned skin, and the boy's mop of black curls practically begged for hands to run through it. The most ridiculously long eyelashes Harry had ever seen framed brown eyes so pure they should be in a painting. And he walked with an almost uncanny, unconscious grace that reminded Harry very much of Karl. Yes, he could definitely see the appeal. He'd been expecting beautiful. He just hadn't been expecting a living, breathing, Renaissance statue. And then he forgot all about Orlando, all about the room and the party as soon as Karl's gaze collided with his. Fuck. All of his suppressed grief and anger came bubbling to the surface at the sympathy and love in Karl's eyes. //Don't do this. Later.// //Fuck that.// Karl steered Orlando to him, stopped. Pulled Harry into his arms without a word, without another thought. Tears stung Harry's eyes and he ruthlessly pushed them back. //Karl, please.// //Shut up, Harry. You need this.// Karl simply tightened his hold. All Harry could do was press into Karl's familiar, warm, beloved body and hold on, silent sobs shaking him. It seemed like years before they moved, but it must have only been a few minutes, because everyone was still there, watching the exchange with varying degrees of curiosity. Harry pulled back, managed a small smile, wiped the few tears that had escaped off his cheeks. //Better?// //Yeah.// Harry nodded, accepted the kiss Karl gave him, and straightened out of Karl's arms. "Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way..." Sean rolled his eyes. "Only you could turn a genuinely touching moment into something sardonic." "Blow me." Karl sighed. "If I may introduce you to Orlando?" He looked between Sean and Harry. "That is, if it's okay with the two of you?" Harry grinned, his first real one in days. "Yeah, I guess." He looked down into the confused, wide eyes of Karl's pet, whose gaze had been darting back and forth between everyone like it was a tennis match. Better get used to it, child, we're always like this when we're all together. Harry held out a hand. "I'm Harry Sinclair." Slim fingers wrapped around his in a tentative handshake and, once again, Harry felt that visceral kick. "Orlando Bloom." The soft sounds of England flowed through his voice, and, for one brief moment, Harry was so homesick he could practically see his father's smile. Christ, he was way too raw tonight. "I'm sorry I couldn't be here last night." He smiled again, trying to keep things light. //Christ, Karl, he's looking at me like I might eat him. What the fuck have you told him about me?// //Nothing.// Harry just inwardly groaned. When Karl said nothing, he meant exactly that. Nothing. Which meant that Karl's new pet was probably wondering why the two of them had been plastered all over each other just a minute ago. Karl, you stupid fuck, Harry thought to himself. Didn't we specifically say we did not want that to happen? Don't you ever talk to anyone? "Well, it's lovely to meet you," Orlando said, smiling as well, although it didn't quite reach his eyes and Harry could feel the tension coming off the young mortal in waves. "Likewise. Perhaps we'll have a chance later on to get to know each other." He had a feeling he and Orlando would have a lot to talk about. And he wanted to put the child at ease. If Karl wasn't going to talk to him about his role in their lives, then Harry would do it. Child pretty much had the option of belonging to the both of them now. He needed to know that, needed to make that choice. "Ah, I see you've finally decided to grace us with your presence," Dom stated, strolling up. He leaned up to kiss Harry on the cheek, murmured a quick 'sorry' into his ear, leaned back. His fingers were already entwined with Sean's. "Yeah, well, I figured you missed me, imp." Harry ruffled the spiky blond hairs on Dom's head. He really did love Sean's pet. Boy had serious moxie. Dom's grin was cheeky. "Not as much as you missed me." He turned to Orlando. "Has he managed to completely scare you off?" "N-no," came the stammered reply. "Give him time," Viggo stated, leaning on the bar. "The evening is young." Karl slid an arm around Orlando, squeezed his slim waist. "If you remember to ignore everything that Vig says, you'll do just fine in life." Orlando managed another small smile. Poor boy looked overwhelmed. Harry was going to have to yell at Karl again later on. The man needed to learn the fine art of communication. Actually, the thought of yelling at Karl cheered him up mightily. It had been awhile since they'd fought. And made up. He smiled as he sipped his drink and listened to Sean and Dom good-naturedly bicker beside him. And tried not to think about anything else. |