Rooftop

AN: Ah, here it is! Sorry it took so long, everyone. I just moved to a new place and then we didn't have internet for a week, and RL has just been so busy. ^_^; Don't be mad! Anyway, I hope you like this chapter! It was very difficult to write, and it is the last chapter I will be writing for maybe a few months. This is the end of ARC ONE. I need a break, so after this chapter, and then after my break, I will begin ARC TWO.



Two Weeks Later


Still no sign of Fen.

Ethan was staying at yet another small motel in a rural town called Burraville, located right near a massive forest. But then again, most of Canada was forest. The room was dirty and disorganized, but that was through no fault of the establishment's.

Ethan had torn it apart last night. In a fit of anger, fear, loneliness, and the faint bitter worry of betrayal. Had Fen left him? Had this all been some elaborate plot to use Ethan's body? To just fuck him and leave him?

No. It wasn't that. Ethan knew it wasn't that.

He just couldn't help but think it while his emotions were so whirled up and shaken. All this was still new to him and a bit unnerving. Like, he had a washing machine in his head and it was stuck on the spin cycle. It was disorienting, nauseating, and angering as well. Ethan didn't want to feel this way, well, he didn't want to feel this way about Fen. Not this disloyalty.

Fen was trustworthy. And loyal. And loved him. Ethan knew he did. There was no question or insecurity about it. Ethan could finally believe it. Fen loved him.

But did Ethan love Fen?

He didn't have the right frame of mind to think about such things at the moment. Not when his mate had been missing for two weeks.

Fourteen days.

Three-hundred and thirty-six hours.

Pure torture.

Ethan had thought the plan would have gone smoothly, but he was only originally supposed to wait a couple days. The whole thing was flawless. Supposed to be, anyway.

After that incident with the cop, they'd driven straight to the airport and Ethan had purchased a ticket to the closest Canadian town. It had all gone so quickly. Before he'd known it, Ethan was standing in front of the loading door with Fen, passengers milling around them, and that unbearable voice on the speakers.

But all he'd heard was Fen's voice in his head. He'd promised Ethan that he'd go somewhere secluded, wait until nightfall, and then change back to his original form. He'd promised to then fly to where Ethan was.

Ethan had been so against the thought of being without Fen for even a couple of hours, let alone days. But Fen had smiled down at him, those honest gray eyes so full of admiration and love, reassuring him that they'd be together soon, and not have to worry about running away, or hiding anymore.

Then, he'd kissed Ethan so softly and sweetly, that Ethan had been unable to breathe for a moment, so overtaken with the gentleness of Fen's lips. Neither of them had been able to move apart, even as the flight attendant had called Ethan for boarding.

But, he'd had to go, or else miss his flight for the day and have that all be for naught. So, with heavy hands, he'd pushed himself forcibly away from Fen, and given him one last look over his shoulder, then he'd walked through the archway leading to the plane.

The rest was all a blur. He could still feel Fen, still feel that presence in his head. At least, he could until the plane took off, then...it was gone.

Not...gone for good, but Ethan had the feeling that Fen was just too far away.

The plane had landed and Ethan had gotten off, retrieved his bags from the luggage terminal and then taken a taxi to the nearest motel.

And then...he waited. Nothing but waiting and worrying and fearing that he would never see Fen again.

His thoughts had become dark and hopeless. How in the world would Fen ever find him?

He'd even asked that of Fen, before he'd gotten on the plane. And of course, the answer had been simple. Fen would find Ethan easily because of their Bond. He'd be able to feel where he was. Or at least, that was what Fen had said would happen.

Though, Ethan wasn't able to feel where Fen was right now. Perhaps because he hadn't bitten Fen like Fen had bitten him? Ethan wished now that he had bitten Fen. Anything to help this desperate feeling inside him, this fear of abandonment. Or even worse, this fear of the same fate as Ethan's family happening to Fen. Was Fen...dead? Had he been found and killed?

Why would he be running from this nameless enemies unless he feared for his life? Ethan couldn't think of anything that could be considered as horrible a fate as losing your life, so why else would Fen be so frantic to escape? Regardless, Ethan was going crazy.

Well...crazy again.

And he didn't want to feel this way. He'd already counted the ceiling tiles about a hundred times. There were 499 tiles.

One of them was missing.

Ethan jumped up from the bed and paced to the window, peeling back the heavy curtain and peering outside. It was rainy. Rainy and gray and dull. The flat parking lot shined in the late afternoon light, giving it a ghostly glow, and Ethan was reminded of the shining gray of Fen's eyes. If he ever saw him...No, when he saw him, Fen would have silver eyes again. Even as he thought it, Ethan shivered. There was something exciting about having Fen be his normal shape again. Though...the sex would be a bit difficult to get used too...

But Ethan didn't want to think about that. Two weeks! And he hadn't touched himself once. He didn't want to. Well, he wanted to. But not...by himself. He wanted Fen. His body hungered. Never before in his life had he hungered for anything. It was like something out of a tawdry romance novel. Like, he could even say, he craved Fen. If he saw him...No, when he saw him again, he was going to jump him. Just tear off his clothes and make Fen fuck him right there.

“Oh god, where are you?” He whimpered, shoving away from the window and shuffling back to the bed. He fell backwards onto his back and just lay there, looking up at those damn ceiling tiles once more. If he had to count them one more time, he was going to scream. There was always the television, but Ethan feared that he wouldn't be able to hear Fen's arrival if he had the set turned on.

He was getting thin again. Not on purpose. But, it was so hard to have an appetite when one's lover was missing. One's...mate. That was even harder. And Ethan had never even told Fen that he-

Was that footsteps?

Someone outside?!

Ethan raced to the door and tore it open, surprising a very startled looking woman who was walking past his door and making her jump back. Ethan rubbed the back of his head awkwardly at the slightly alarmed expression in her eyes, and he smiled sheepishly. “Uh...Sorry about that, Ma'am, I thought you were someone else...”

She gave him an uneasy smile, then slowly resumed moving past his door, heading down to one of the rooms further down the front walkway.

Ethan backed into his room dejectedly. His heart had almost leapt into his throat at the hope that it was Fen outside. But, then again, that didn't make any sense, because why would Fen be walking around in his real form in the middle of the day? Well, he wouldn't be. Because Fen was smart. Smart enough to come up with this plan.

Which so far, wasn't working.

All he had to do was find Ethan. Find him, and then they'd find someplace to build their very own cabin. Their very own home together. Like a fairy tale.

Fen had said it would only take a couple of days for him to fly and pass the border. But it had been two fucking weeks.

A knock at the door?!

Ethan raced to the door again and whipped it open once more, a delirious smile already in place.

Nothing.

He really was going crazy again.

There was a bottle of sleeping pills, generic ones, on the bedside table. He'd bought them 9 days ago, when sleep had started eluding him. He didn't like them, cause he woke groggy and almost still tired, but at least he was getting sleep.

And he slept a lot. All he did was sleep. And wait.

But he was sick of waiting. So now, he would sleep. Grabbing the bottle and shaking out two pills, he threw them onto his tongue and swallowed them dry. It left a bitter tang in his moth, but he didn't really care. All he wanted was blissful forgetting. For a brief lonely night.

He lay down on his back, still fully dressed, and shoes still on his feet. He slept with his sneakers on, just in case he had to wake quickly. For whatever reason.

His eyes grew sleepy then, and Ethan closed them to quell the rising tide of exhaustion that suddenly rose over him.

In moments, he was drifting off, visions of silver eyes and black wings in his head.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Ethan woke with a start. Something was wrong.

No. Wait. Something....Someone was calling him.

He jumped off the bed, nothing but the need to go to that voice ringing throughout his head. It was outside, in the darkness. Who knew what time it was, but Ethan didn't even care. He tore open the front door, leaving it open behind him, and raced out into the night and quiet.

There it was again. Someone was calling him, someone, please be Fen, someone was calling. Behind the motel and in the trees of the forest that stretched out behind it. He took off towards that wooded area.

The only sound was the slap of his sneakers on the pavement, and the huffs of his breath as his anxiety ratcheted higher and higher. It had to be Fen, it had to be.

He didn't even slow as he raced headlong into the darkness, not even able to see the ground or any obstacles that may lie ahead, but came to an abrupt halt by a lone tree, and he clutched at the rough bark of it to help slow his jumping heart.

{Ethan.}

He whipped his head to the side and caught sight of two shining silver eyes reflecting the limited moonlight above a relieved looking smile.

Fen's smile widened and his eyes softened, gazing at Ethan and making him feel like he had just come home. {Ethan.}

He didn't even pause, just sprinted towards Fen, throwing himself at his mate in joy and relief. “Oh god, where have you been?!” Ethan cried, face buried in Fen's broad delightfully textured chest. It felt so good, so safe, so right, and it only got better when Fen's arms immediately rose and wrapped around his back and picked him up off his feet, lifting him and pulling him closer. Automatically, Ethan wrapped his legs around Fen's trim waist and just hugged him, squeezed him, tried to melt into him and make his body part of Fen's.

{My little love...These past days have been torture.} Fen's sinfully sweet voice wove through his head, as one of Fen's hands lowered to cup his bottom and hold him close.

It wasn't a sexual move, but the knowledge that it easily could be, made Ethan shiver. For now though, he needed to just be touching Fen, making sure Fen was alive and safe and unharmed. Then, he would smack him.

Fen laughed.

Frowning at the disruption of the moment, Ethan leaned back and scowled. “What's so funny?”

His mate just smiled softly, and pulled him back, smoothing down his hair. {You cannot even begin to understand how glad it makes my heart to hear you and your snarky way of thinking again. But why would you smack me?}

Ethan had forgotten that Fen couldn't, or wouldn't, censor his thoughts anymore, and he blushed a bit, embarrassed. “Well, because you made me so worried. I...” He felt his voice waver, and he swallowed a sob. “I thought you were...dead.” Saying it out loud made him closer to tears and he shut his eyes to try and quell them. It worked for the moment.

Fen continued to stroke his hair and the back of his neck, holding him up and nuzzling their cheeks together. {I am sorry I worried you so. I never wanted you to feel that way.} He held him tighter, turning his head and bringing their mouths close.

When their lips met, Ethan felt that hunger, that craving, suddenly and intensely swell up, and he swooned forward, pulling closer and parting his lips in an invitation that Fen quickly accepted. The first tentative stroke of tongue to tongue, like two lovers finally meeting again, had Ethan instantly aroused, and he moaned shamelessly, writhing and clamoring up into Fen's broad hot body like some wanton thing. “Make love to me.” He gasped heatedly, throwing his head back as Fen nipped down his throat. “Please, please...”

Fen shuddered, a soft grunt of almost-pain against his skin. {I cannot go inside the motel, Ethan. Someone could see me.}

“Make love to me on the ground then!” Ethan wailed, already reaching for his shirt and attempting to pull it over his head, but his fingers wouldn't cooperate and he was trapped against Fen's body. “Right here!”

Fen made that noise again, a needy desperate groan that made Ethan flame hotter. Then he seemed to make a decision, abruptly pulling back and lifting Ethan further off the ground even as he started to protest the lack of contact. He threw Ethan over his shoulder as if he weighed no more than a rag doll.

Confused by the abrupt change, Ethan hung quiet for a few moments, then he huffed angrily. “Fen! Come on!”

But Fen didn't answer, beginning to walk quickly towards the motel. Ethan realized where they were going and he began to pant excitedly, knowing Fen had given in. They could leave right after, so who cared if anyone saw? Besides, it was probably like, two in the morning, so anyone who saw them would most likely be half-asleep or drunk.

All that mattered was Fen, making love to him. Touching him again and making him feel wanted and loved and making Fen feel wanted and loved in return.

Fen stumbled, but Ethan grunted impatiently, and Fen quickened his step once more. They were nearing the back of the building now, Fen slowing and studying the open lot warily. But it must have been empty, because then Fen sprinted out onto the pavement, rushing directly to the front of the building and heading right for Ethan's room. Ethan didn't ask how he knew it was his room, because Ethan saw that he'd left the door wide open in his haste to get to Fen.

Once inside, Fen latched the door behind them, sliding a chair under the knob and shutting the curtains completely, throwing the room into darkness, all with Ethan still hoisted up on his shoulder.

Ethan was completely blind, and could not even see an inch in front of his face. The thick curtains shut out the light, and Ethan had left no lamp on. But, he didn't need light. For Fen was stepping to the bed and Ethan was lowered down onto it.

In seconds, Fen was atop him, that hot body covering his own, and Ethan whimpered, begging for it. “Fen, please, please, Fen, I want you, please, Fen, oh god-”

He was silenced by a fierce kiss that took his breath away, almost making his lips burn clear off in its intensity. Fen's hands were braced by his head and holding the majority of his weight up, but Ethan wished he was strong enough to have Fen rest completely on him. That was one drawback of Fen's size now. Ethan couldn't feel his full weight.

{Perhaps it is not my fault for being too big, but yours for being too small.} Fen murmured teasingly, fitting his hips down to cradle against Ethan's.

“Fen!” Ethan cried, arching up into that wonderful heat and rubbing shamelessly. He couldn't even find a coherent thought to reply, because all he wanted was more kisses. His fingers found their way into thick black hair and tugged insistently, forcing that mouth to please him.

Fen pulled back abruptly, raising up on his hands and knees. {Ah, Ethan, you must slow down, or I will not be able to be gentle.}

“Don't be gentle!” Ethan groaned, digging his heels into the mattress and thrusting his hips up into Fen's flat stomach. “Just...do it!”

There was a sharp hitching of Fen's breath, then one warm palm spread out onto Ethan's stomach, pushing him back to the bed. It slid down to his pants and quickly undid the button and slid down the zipper, reaching in and rubbing a palm over his cock through his underwear.

“Oh...god!” Ethan rasped, hips shimmying urgently as he arched into that softly rubbing hand. “More, please, more!” His feet were still trying to kick his ass off the bed, but then that palm was shifting up and over the hem of his boxers, slipping underneath and gripping his length tightly. The sharp points of Fen's claws didn't hurt, but their presence on his most sensitive flesh excited him more, making him feel helpless and vulnerable, which is exactly what he wanted with his mate.

One finger swirled around the head of his cock as the palm flattened and pressed to the underside of it, rubbing gently.

“Uhhnaa! Harder!” Loudly panting his need, Ethan tried to get up and undress, but the larger male reached for him, actually tearing his jacket and shirt in a rush to strip him. The jeans were shucked down his legs, and then his underwear was torn from his hips, leaving him naked in several tattered strips of clothing. But he didn't say anything, he was too far gone to care.

Instead of returning to his mouth, Fen leaned back on his calves and curved a hand under each of Ethan's knees, pushing them up to his chest and exposing him completely. The position had him flushing, trying momentarily to pull his legs closed, but Fen wouldn't let him.

{Do not be shy now, I need you to hold your legs up.}

Hesitantly, Ethan reached down, excited and shy, and curved his fingers near Fen's, grabbing hold of his knees to hold them to his chest as his mate moved down. A soft trembling breath left his lips as Fen's tongue dipped lower to his groin.

His breath hitched and his body twitched at the wet contact. “Oh...yeah...” His head fell back and he shuddered. “Fen...”

That tongue swiped over the underside of his cock and the flat width of it licked at his testicles then dipped lower, caressing his hole carefully.

{Ethan...I...} There was a thready sigh. {I will not last long...I have...} The tongue circled harder, and Ethan shivered when it lightly jabbed at his entrance. {I need this quick.}

Nothing wrong with that. Ethan had even briefly forgotten that he might have some difficulty taking Fen's length, since it was now back to full Fen size. But as that tongue licked the inner ring of his anus, he couldn't even care. More, more, more, please, more of that wet muscle. It jerked at his mental plea, slithering in and striking at his prostate.

“Mmmgh...god! Ahhah...please!” For the first time, Ethan noticed a subtle heating numbness spreading out from where Fen's mouth was latched onto his sphincter. It must be the special enzymes. And it felt odd. “I don't...Ahh...don't, no! God, yes, just, just do it then, I don't care about pain, just want you, want now!” Hips rotating wildly, Ethan let out an impatient sex cry, letting his legs go and planting them on Fen's shoulders to force him out. “Now!”

Another unsteady breath, then Fen was kneeling back, and he shifted closer on his knees, gripping Ethan's hips a little too roughly and lifting his rear off the bed. Ethan was pulled further down the bed, his ass was laid over Fen's thighs, and he closed his eyes in anticipation.

There was blunt pressure and a light push, but then suddenly it pulled away. Ethan raised his head and glanced down in confusion, and he was met with a full-frontal view of Fen's cock jutting out from between his open thighs, standing thick and proud with beads of white precum leaking at the tip. It had been forever since Ethan had seen it, and a faint fearful whimper escaped his lips. But he was more bewildered by why Fen had pulled away and he looked up in question.

{I forgot.} Fen said, breath coming quick. Two quick finger burrowed into Ethan's ass quickly, twisting once and scissoring hurriedly. No pain, but surprise had Ethan arching up as those digits spread him out. Just as quickly, they pulled out and that blunt pressure of something much bigger returned. {Ready?}

Ethan writhed wordlessly, trying to impale himself and coax Fen inside, but the awkward angle prevented him from moving as he wanted. “Yes! Now! Please!”

Quickly and smoothly, Fen slid in, all the way to the coarse patch of curls outlining his erection.

“Oh god, yes!” Ethan cried, not feeling any pain at all, and even if he was, it was lost in the sheer joy of being connected to his mate once more. “Yes yes yes, oh god...” Trembling breaths reached his ears, and he glanced up as he realized it was Fen making those soft desperate sounds. “Fen...please...”

The larger male was hunched over Ethan's body, hands holding his hips and keeping him in place. His face was a mask of elation and tension, all rolled into one. The scent of musk and sweat was thick in the air, and was making Ethan feel slightly dizzy, but he reached up, feeling for skin. “Please, Fen...I need it...please...” Whimpering, he fell back weakly, arms falling to land by his face, wrists up and his body open.

A half choked sob sounded from Fen's throat, and the larger male shuddered, breathing deeply. {So good...} Came his soft voice, full of restraint and longing. {So good to be inside you again...} He looked down then, one palm stroking Ethan's thigh and moving up to grip his cock, thumb rubbing around the head.

Lost in the pleasure, Ethan just lay back as Fen started to move, driving himself deep and slow, almost too slow, but so very good. Shocks exploded in Ethan's stomach on each inside push, and he found himself striving for more as Fen pulled out to the tip.

“Harder! Please, harder!” Ethan begged, writhing and chest heaving as Fen struck his prostate. A throb of heat rushed all the way down to his toes and he curled them in his pleasure, lifting his knees and bracing his feet on Fen's thighs, spreading himself and moving into the rhythm. Though he wished he could, Ethan would not be able to last long. His cock throbbed, leaking a steady stream of precum which pooled on his stomach.

Fen's breathing picked up, and his hips sped up too, back arching away and wings shivering behind him. He slammed into Ethan, making the cheap motel bed squeak and shake, like it were about to break. The further proof of their energetic lovemaking had Ethan moaning, reaching up over his head to fist in the sheets. He pushed his hips to Fen's and the sound of skin joyously meeting skin rang through the room, matched in volume by the pitch of their voices.

Fen bent forward fluidly, hips still pistoning, and he stole Ethan's lips in a breathtaking kiss. A warm tongue dove into his mouth, coiling behind his lips and roving over his own. It ended just as quickly and Fen was kissing down his neck, sucking and biting at the pulsing skin. Another wave of heat throbbed through him, bringing him much too close to the edge.

“Please, oh god, I'm gonna...I'm gonna...!” Ethan let loose the sheets and reached up, grabbing for any part of his mate he could reach, and his hands landed on tightly tensed forearms, digging his nails in for relief. Fen had his hips in a deathgrip and dragged him across the bed with each deep forceful thrust, striking his prostate and making it throb. It was so good that Ethan couldn't even reach down to stroke himself, and even as he thought that, Fen brought up a free hand to lay over his cock, palm grinding up the shaft. “Ahhggha!” That was his undoing, and with his stomach muscles clenching spastically, Ethan came, spurting all over himself and coating his belly in white heat.

Fen came as Ethan was still convulsing, his mate's seed shooting deep inside him and making him squirm at the sensation. It felt good while it was happening, but it was always so messy after. So quiet, like he had been struck mute during his orgasm, Fen was only gasping and panting, his face betraying his true exhaustion and bliss. Ethan realized he was still making soft moans in time with the leftover waves of his release.

Fen groaned weakly and eased out of him, almost falling down to lay at his side and leaving him spread-legged and looking debauched. His body was sticky with his own semen, and as he let his muscles all go limp, he felt Fen's leaking out of him, dripping down his ass and soaking the sheets below. One heavy arm slid under his shoulders, lifting him easily enough and turning him towards a warm heaving chest, which he was laid upon. Ethan let his head rest tiredly over Fen's heartbeat, the sound so comforting to him as always. That steady even thump of life and strength.

In the quiet afterglow, as their bodies both trembled from exhaustion, Ethan belatedly realized he hadn't even taken the time to find out why Fen had taken so long to actually get up to Canada. He only been concerned with being near, with touching and loving, and getting to bed once again. He opened his mouth to ask, but Fen beat him to it.

{It is embarrassing.}

Sleepily, he looked up, confused. “What is?”

{Why I was late. It seems...after not using my wings properly for so long, and then trying to fly such a long distance as fast as I had...Well, I sprained my wings.}

“Are you kidding me?!” Ethan demanded, staring up in shock. “You mean, I waited for two fucking weeks because you had a sore shoulder?!” He'd gone through all that heartache because of a pulled muscle? He'd thought Fen dead!

{Ethan,} His mate sighed, pulling him even closer. {If there were a way to contact you, I would have done it. But there was no way. And I would have gone into a healing state like normal to make it go faster, but I was afraid it would take a week like the last time, and then it took so long to heal on its own. I just...Well, it made me feel weak. So, after I was healed, I made sure to practice my flying, for if we ever needed to escape, like we did before. Now,} he murmured confidently. {I feel that my wings are back to their old strength, and I could probably fly like I used to. But know that when I was unable to fly, I walked until my legs could not carry me.}

Ethan's frustrated anger faded somewhat, and turned melancholy. As long as Fen was with him now, then he wouldn't dwell on how crazy he'd been feeling while alone and lonely. Besides, he knew Fen was telling the truth, and that he'd tried as hard as he could to get to him, but sometimes, shit happened.

A quick look around the room showed it to be in even worse shape than he remembered it being, but that was most likely because of the clothing strewn about in addition to his previous mess. It wasn't his problem at the moment. Tomorrow, they might clean it up, but Ethan was past the point of really caring. It felt like they'd been running for years, instead of just weeks, and though he'd usually be careful to clean up after himself in places where he was staying, now he just didn't want to.

He'd leave a big tip for the maid.

Now though, he wanted to sleep, pressed to his mate once more and feeling complete because of it.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Ethan woke slowly, still sated and body content, though very crusty. There was some underlying promise of pain laying dormant for the moment, and he knew once he tried to move, it would rear it's ugly head. But, for the time being, all was well.

He groped at his side for his mate, and though the bed beside him was empty, he knew it hadn't been for long. The sheets were still warm and the air was thick with the tang of musk and that unmistakable scent that was Fen. He smiled to himself, sighing happily. It had been so good to be in Fen's arms once more. In his real arms. Knowing Fen was making love to him as his original self.

{I am glad you think so.} Came a silken voice from in front of him, even as the bed dipped.

Ethan opened one eye shyly, still grinning like the Cheshire cat, but cheeks reddening slightly as he opened the other eye to peer at his mate. “I do.” He whispered, reaching out and opening his hand to hold Fen's. They wove their fingers together, and Fen shifted to lay beside him on his side, face to face.

The light from the bedside lamp behind Fen outlined him angelically, and Ethan stared, captivated. Fen really was beautiful. Muscles under uniquely velvet-like skin, dark as night and shining with blue undertones. Long black hair, thick and straight, down to his back with a few shorter pieces framing his face. Eyes like pure silver and staring back at him with equal admiration. For the moment, Fen was nude, and Ethan made himself look down at his lover's body, gulping nervously.

When it wasn't hard, Fen didn't look so intimidating. Almost like a normal guy, well, a larger than normal guy, but still. When Fen was hard though, it was...a little frightening. Though Ethan knew Fen would never hurt him. Not ever. Last night had been...Or was it 'this morning'? Anyway, it had hurt just a little, because Ethan hadn't slept with normal-Fen in over...a month? Less than a month? Regardless, it would take some getting used to.

But it had felt so good.

{You are going to make me want to mate again if you continue that line of thought, you know.}

Ethan giggled, scooting closer to Fen and tilting his head up for a kiss, which Fen silently gave him, soft and warm. “Why would that be bad?” He whispered, pressing back to Fen's mouth again and enjoying the way their skin clung together like it didn't want to part.

In answer, Fen sighed audibly, kissing back once again, then shifting and moving to sit up. {You would bruise even further and also, it is almost sunset. I would like to leave once it is dark. We have a ways to go. I do not want to stay in this area.}

“Why not?” Ethan asked, sitting up lazily and wincing as his weight centered on his butt. He fell back quickly before Fen could see, but it was too late.

Fen merely rose an eyebrow at him and shook his head, but there was a small grin on his lips. {I do not want to stay here, because this is too near to the airport. And since you used your bank card to pay, you can be traced here.}

“By who?!”

Fen blinked at him. {Ethan...Have you forgotten that I knocked a police officer unconscious? Assault is a felony offense. And since his vehicle was most likely equipped with surveillance equipment, they have our temporary license plate number from the dealer.}

Ethan stared blankly at Fen for a moment, then he suddenly got it, and he jolted upright, ignoring the sharp pang of pain in his rear. “Oh shit! They can look up who bought the car! And then...then...Oh no! We're gonna go to jail! We gotta get out of here!” He shifted to step off the bed but his feet got tangled in the sheets and he tripped, falling to his face and swearing loudly as his chest thudded to the carpet.

The sheets were too tight around his thighs and he had to pull his legs off the bed, then he frantically worked to free himself. Calmly, Fen stepped over to him and lifted him off the floor, sitting him gently on the bed and kneeling before him to help him with the restricting cloth.

{I seriously doubt they will be breaking down the door any time soon, my love. We are in a different country and it has been two weeks. If they were actively looking for you or me, I think they would have come by now.}

Ethan frowned. “Then, why do we need to leave?”

{It is not the police that I worry about. If there is an automatic teller machine around here, I want you to withdraw as much cash from your account as you can. I do not want to leave a trail for anyone to follow.} Fen leaned back from Ethan's knees, smiling. {There, you are free.}

He stood, granting Ethan an eye-level view of Fen's manhood, which he gawked at in shock for a moment, before his vision blurred and his cheeks burned once again, and he had to avert his gaze. “Thank you.” He mumbled thickly, then stood himself and reached for his boxers and quickly slipped them on. In the heat of the moment, he had no problem being naked around Fen, but...Once the proverbial lights came back on, he felt so shy and unsure again.

{That is part of your charm, Ethan. A pure sweet virgin one moment, and the next...} Fen smirked at him from over his shoulder as the larger male wrapped a makeshift loincloth around his hips. {A wanton screaming incubus. One that bewitches and ensnares my senses completely.}

That had Ethan feeling like his face was on fire, and he cleared his throat with difficulty, dipping his forehead to hide his eyes and making him thankful to have left his bangs somewhat long. “Umm, I'm uh, gonna go take a shower, kay? Then...we can, uh, leave. Alright. Good.” He shuffled towards the bathroom awkwardly, feeling like he was about to catch fire.

He went to shut the door behind him, but something made him pause, and he left it ajar, fingers leaving their reassuring grip on the wood. No barriers, no hiding, no shutting himself away. Being mated, though not a usual human practice, was still a concept he understood, and he wanted to prove he could fulfill his part of the Bond. It was as close to married as he would get, he supposed.

{It is not a marriage!} Fen called from the other room, amusement in his voice. {But, we could arrange it to be one!}

Ethan snorted, half laughing and half relieved. “But only cause I never had a choice in the matter!” He clarified quickly, so Fen wouldn't be hurt.

{It is only a matter of time then. Though, you will not be able to wear white on the marriage day, since I have already deflowered you.}

Ethan heard snickering in the next room, and he fumed. “Stop that!”

Fen just laughed louder, that deep voice rumbling through the small motel room.

Still grumbling, Ethan turned on the shower and stepped inside, a little too quickly and the cold water made him yelp.

{You alright?}

“Yeah, yeah. Fine.” He grumbled, shivering as the temperature slowly got hotter. Soap and shampoo were grabbed and Ethan washed himself quickly, knowing that they might not be able to shower properly for quite some time, and then he jumped out of the shower and toweled off. It had taken all of five minutes, and Ethan was impatient to leave. He wanted to be alone with Fen.

Well, they were already alone, but he wanted to be more alone.

Completely dry, Ethan went out to the main room with the towel around his waist and he saw Fen already slipping his makeshift loincloth back on. His last view of Fen naked, was that last strip of gorgeous butt cheek as the cloth slid up and covered it.

Yummy.

{Focus, Ethan. Focus.} Came Fen's amused murmur. {We must leave now.} The larger male grabbed their notorious two bags, still in one piece even though they'd been through hell so far, and stepped to the door.

Ethan joined him, and they shut off the room lights, leaving what was hopefully their last hotel/motel room behind as they walked outside. Then, Fen didn't even wait as he put the bags on the pavement of the parking lot, and spread out his massive wings, blocking out the dim light of the street lamps. He held out one hand to Ethan, who took it cautiously. He knew what was going to happen, though he hadn't expected it.

“Can't we just...like, walk or something?” He muttered nervously, reaching up to hook his arms around Fen's neck as a strong arm curved down to pull him up at the waist. “Does it have to be flying?”

But Fen just smiled at him, and those wings began to flap, up and down in great big beats, slowly quickening until Ethan could hear the steady thump of them. Fen hoisted him up further, so his feet left the ground and he clutched more steadily to Fen's neck and shoulders. The tempo picked up, and then they were lifting off the ground, slowly, then faster once Fen had more room to use his wings.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the cold Canadian winter air blowing by them.

{Hey,} Fen broke the quiet, arms tightening around Ethan's body. {Want to do something fun?}

Ethan had his head pressed to Fen's chest, right over his heart reassuringly, and he didn't move to ask, “Like what?”

Without answering, Fen shot his wings straight up into the air, above their heads, and they suddenly dropped, free falling and dropping like a ton of bricks.

“Ohwhatthefuck!” Ethan screamed, suddenly about to throw up, and what blunt fingernails he had were sunk into Fen's skin in terror. “PleasegodnoIdon'twannadie!”

They spun in the air, heads plummeting to the earth, and then one wing arched out, billowing into an arc and they spun faster. It was worse than any rollercoaster and Ethan hadn't even a moment to breathe before Fen was opening both wings like a parachute and they were suddenly spinning through the air, doing the most horrible stunts.

As quick as it had started, it stopped, Fen's wings returning them to a normal even flight. That larger male was laughing uproariously. {I told you I could fly like I used to.} His chest rumbled and Ethan swallowed the nausea in his throat, suddenly angry.

“Don't do that! If I die because of some stupid stunt, I will kill you!” Ethan growled, slapping at Fen's chest, then reaching back up to grasp at his neck tightly. “And I mean it, you know.” He tightened his legs too, suddenly nervous Fen would do another dive.

{Alright, love. I promise not to fly like a maniac. I promise to be good and fly steady, and you can trust me enough to let yourself relax, right?}

Damn, Fen was persuasive. And manipulative. “I trust you. But, don't do it again. Or...no sex.”

Fen laughed like he didn't believe his threat. {This from the boy who, just last night, was begging for me to f-}

“Alright! Okay, I get it, jeez...” Ethan huffed, blushing against Fen's chest. “Just be careful, please.”

Still chuckling, Fen dipped his head down and kissed his temple. {Yes, Dear.}


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Ethan had lost track of time, but it was most likely very late. Maybe near dawn even, but he couldn't be sure. “What time is it?” He mumbled blankly, almost zoning out from the steady beat of Fen's wings.

{I have no idea, but I think it has been several hours. I will need to rest soon, or I fear my wings might seize up again.}

“Well, why not land and rest for a while?”

They started descending immediately. {Sounds good to me.} The fall was controlled and slow though, like Fen had earlier promised.

At the ground, Fen flapped his wings rapidly for a moment, tossed the bags to the ground and then his feet were landing on the thick undergrowth of the forest floor. He let Ethan down to his own feet, and then stretched out his wings before folding them close to his back.

Ethan's legs were asleep and he wobbled for a moment, leaning against a nearby tree trunk for support. He glanced around, inhaling deeply. It was quiet here, with only the crickets as their companions. The air was fresh and clean, and the trees were old and massive. Staring up at the one he was touching in awe, Ethan was surprised when he yawned. “Jeez, why am I always so tired?”

{Well, I have no doubt that you did not sleep normally while waiting for me, correct? I know I slept horribly.} Ethan was pulled back to Fen's chest for a close hug, then released slowly. {Last night, with you by my side, I had a wonderful sleep.}

Ethan had too. But, he was still sleepy. Another yawn had his jaw cracking. “Is there someplace here we could set up a camp or something?”

Fen smiled and looked upwards. {Why not sleep in a tree? The branches are thick enough to hold us and we would be safe from passing animals.}

The earnest look on Fen's face made Ethan laugh. “A tree?” He snickered. “I haven't slept in a tree since I was ten! What are we? Kids?”

Fen's expression dimmed abruptly, his eyes going hard. {What is wrong with that? I have slept in my fair share of trees before. In fact, my people are quite used to...} He trailed off, an unhappy curve to his lips.

Ethan frowned, brain furiously churning at the sudden shift in mood. He hadn't meant to offend, just tease. And what was that about Fen's people? “Alright. Fine.” Ethan muttered. “Can you help me up, then? I can't climb this thing by myself.”

Fen didn't say anything, but he came close and knelt by Ethan's feet. {Climb up and hold tight, alright?}

“But...won't that hurt your wings? Or...like, make it difficult to fly?”

Fen chuckled grimly, and Ethan saw him flex his fingers against the ground, deadly claws more apparent as they shifted up the dirt. {I have no need for flight to go such a short distance. Climb on, please.}

Those impressive wings were jointed shut, held close to Fen's back and there was a space between them that Ethan could climb between quite snugly. He wanted to bury himself in those feathers. Rub his face against them, maybe...have them brush over his naked skin.

{Ethan...} Fen warned, voice sounding strained.

Without another word, Ethan gripped Fen's shoulders from behind, wrapping his arms tight around Fen's neck and hauling himself up. His legs followed suit and fitted over the back of Fen's hips. Wings sat on either side of him, huge and feathers shining in the thin light of the night.

Why were they always traveling in the night?

Fen stood once Ethan had a firm grip on his back, and raised his arms up, claws digging into the bark, and then Fen was climbing up the tree. Hand over hand, and Ethan glanced down amazed, to see Fen's massive clawed feet digging into the tree like it was made of putty, claws catching and holding as Fen took them higher.

At the first thick branch, high enough to keep them out of sight, Fen swung up over it and tucked his legs underneath to perch on the balls of his feet, then he reached behind him, and Ethan felt those hands helping to move him down safely. They stayed holding him secure as Fen turned and sat heavily on the branch, making it shake and Ethan's stomach flip. But then Fen moved again and leaned his back up against the trunk of the tree. He hung one leg over the edge and bent the other leg at the knee. He pulled Ethan closer, and had him rest at his side.

Sleeping in a tree wasn't something Ethan had ever done before, without a tree house anyway.

Up here in the darkness, there wasn't much to see other than his mate's immediate presence and he stared at the larger male. Fen was so...

Mysterious. There was much about him Ethan didn't know. Not only as a person, but as a species. Fen's kind weren't that different from humans. Similar shapes. Sort of.

Weaving their fingers together, Ethan was struck by the size difference between their hands, and he lifted Fen's hand to examine closer. They were much like his own. Larger and darker, with a distinctly different skin texture, but similar nonetheless. He traced the lines on Fen's palm with his fingers, feeling the grooves and the calluses that he'd not noticed before. Fen's hands were the hands of a worker, a fighter. Someone who'd had to battle life just to survive. There were lines on Fen's finger pads, making distinct fingerprint designs much similar to his own. Little whirls and spirals and more calluses. So similar...but still so different.

His gaze shifted to Fen's face. Those strong cheekbone and square jaw. Silver glistening eyes and plump purplish lips. That hair was behind Fen's shoulders, and Ethan pulled one handful forward, letting it slip through his fingers. Then he reached back and cupped one of Fen's ears. He'd expected it to be pointed, like some elf or sprite, but it was rounded, like his own.

How could two beings be so alike, yet still so different?

Ethan couldn't take it anymore, and he kept hold of Fen's hand as he shifted and squirmed his way up into Fen's lap. “Speak to me.” He begged softly, hands on Fen's chest and his thighs straddling Fen's hips. His feet dangled over the sides of the branch they were perched on, but he wasn't afraid. His mate would protect him.

Fen opened his eyes and smiled then, and those hands came to rest on Ethan's hips, holding him secure. {I will always speak to you. Is the quiet of the forest making you nervous?}

Ethan shook his head. “No. That's not what I meant. I want you to talk to me. Use your real voice.”

Recognition flared in Fen's eyes and for a moment, there was a look of sadness too, then those silver orbs slid away from view as Fen averted his gaze. {But there is no reason to, for you would not understand me.} He looked back up, the fleeting emotion replaced with a vague kind of carefree haze. {I much prefer being able to understand each other.}

Ethan frowned, brows drawing together and eyes shrewd. He wasn't fooled one bit. “Why don't you want to share your language with me? Don't you think I should be able to learn more about my mate?”

Fen flinched, and Ethan knew he'd somehow become a master of manipulation, because Fen sighed in resignation and cleared his throat. After a moment's pause, he hesitantly opened his lips and spoke in a voice deep enough to make Ethan's skin vibrate and his toes curl in a very pleased way, four short words.

Fen put Barry White to shame.

Though, Ethan had no idea what had been said.

{I said, 'I love you, Ethan'.} Fen said in thought-speak, still sounding somewhat awkward.

Well, he hadn't wanted to make Fen feel weird for whatever reason, so Ethan leaned forward once more and kissed him gently on the lips. “Thank you for sharing that with me.” He sat back again. “But, why didn't you want to do it? I liked your voice, and I...Well, I'd like to hear it more often. But not if it makes you sad.” He clarified quickly.

Silver eyes rose back up to meet Ethan's, and Fen smiled then. {My love...} Fen gave a light-hearted chuckle, gently caressing Ethan's hips with his fingers. {You always know just the right thing to say. And it is not that it makes me sad, but rather...} Fen bit his lip, thinking for a moment. {It is just that I have not actually spoken to anyone for a rather long time. About three years, since-} Silver eyes grew wide and Fen swallowed as he stopped talking abruptly. {What I mean is...I just, am not used to it. And the reminder of not being among my own kind is sort of bittersweet.}

“Do you miss your people? Your home?”

{...Not exactly.}

“That doesn't make sense, Fen.” Ethan stated rather flatly, refusing to let him drop the subject. He wanted answers. It felt like he'd been waiting for Fen's past forever, but he'd actually only started to care in the last couple weeks, since his rebirth. “I wanna know. Not all of it, but I want more than what you're giving me.”

{You are not going to let me brush this off this time, are you?}

Ethan was stern. “Nope.”

With that, Fen sighed again, in more resignation and frustration and a little bit of reluctance all rolled into one. But, Ethan could see that he was actually going to tell him a little bit of his past. Eventually.

He was silent for a long time.

Ethan soon became too impatient and he lightly slapped at Fen's chest. “Come on now, I'm waiting.”

Fen looked up, meeting his eyes blankly. {Alright...What do you want to know?}

Ethan drew a blank. What did he want to know? Now that he had free range to ask, he couldn't think of anything. So, he went with the simplest question. “What are you?”

Thankfully, Fen seemed to understand that there was no insult meant, only curiosity, and he smiled grimly. {I am of a race called the Luftleute, therefore I am a Luftleutian. We are the people of the air, born wingless, but shortly after our first age-mark, we go through the painful transformation that brings us the ability to fly.}

“Luf-lute-tee? Is that the name of your...uh, planet?”

{Luftleute. And no, that is not the name of my homeland. Earth is my homeland.}

“No it's not!”

Fen held up his hand in a mock boy-scout gesture of truthfulness. {I swear. This is my planet, and this is actually the continent I originate from.}

Ethan was flabbergasted. There was absolutely no way Fen was...Canadian. “How does that even work? I know there's nothing about people like you in the history books.”

Something of a devilish smirk crossed Fen's lips. {Have you never heard of something called an 'angel'?}

“You are not an angel!” Ethan exclaimed, eyes wide. “Angels don't molest people in the middle of the night on the top of their buildings!”

Fen laughed softly. {I came to comfort you. Is that not something an angel would do?}

That certainly was something to think about. He chewed his lip again, unsure. “Are you really an angel?”

Behind the smile, Fen was serious, and he shook his head. {No. Not an angel. Though, my people are the reason you're people believe in them.}

Ethan blinked rapidly, unable to completely comprehend what Fen had just said. “You...You...Expect me to believe that you and your kind are the reason humans believe in...in...Angels?” That was way too far-fetched.

But Fen was still serious. {All it takes is one kindly old Luftleutian rescuing a young virgin maid and her father from bandits, and those two people spouting stories of winged people rescuing them, and then the stories just get wilder and more vivid.}

“But...how did...Where did you come from? Your people? Have you always lived here and just been hidden?”

{We live on the other side.}

Ethan waited for more, more to explain whatever that had meant, but Fen seemed to be finished. He groaned, rolling his eyes. “You're not going to make this easy for me at all, are you?” Fen didn't answer. “Fine then, next question cause my head might explode anyway. What's your full name?”

{Erifen Poitiru.} This was spoken with Fen's real voice again, and Ethan felt sudden shock of pleasure zip down his spine at the rumble that reverberated through him.

The language flowed and jumped in a way that Ethan had never heard before. If he had to describe it, he could say it was if birds had acquired the ability to speak with chirping, and make a more diverse version of it. Sort of lovely in it's difference.

“Say it again?”

{Erifen. Poitiru.} Fen's lips quirked slightly as he repeated the name slowly, and Ethan could tell Fen had enjoyed speaking words in his native language. And that made Ethan feel better for making him use it.

“Eri...fen. Poy...ti-ru...” Ethan tried it out, rolling the name on his tongue. “I like it. It's...kinda pretty. One more time?”

Fen's eyes turned smoky and he nuzzled forward to brush his lips against Ethan's. {Erifen....Poitiru...} Then he fully tipped his chin up, connecting their mouths and pulling Ethan's lower lip between his own and biting lightly.

It took all Ethan's will to pull back, already panting softly and hips shifting minutely against Fen's. But he managed it, and he leaned back to sit up straight, taking his mouth out of Fen's reach.

“Don't try to distract me.” He chastised.

Fen's expression told him that that larger male had been trying to do exactly that. {I am sorry then.} He murmured, not apologetically at all. {Continue, please.}

Ethan had to think for a minute, then he thought of a really good question. “How did you find me? Like, when did you first see me? It couldn't have been that night on the roof. You don't...” He looked away. “You can't have been so in love with me so soon and only just seen me. And besides,” Looking back up, he chewed his lower lip. “-you knew all that stuff...about my past. How?”

Fen looked nervous. {I...I just...I saw you the day...I was there when...} His lips crumpled unhappily and Fen dipped his head forward. Ethan felt his tremble. {I saw you on the day you're family was shot.}

Ethan felt like the floor had fallen out from under him.

“How is that...? You can't have...? That's not...” There were no words. It was...Fen had known of him for that long? Had been watching him for the last three years? Before, he'd merely though Fen had looked through his memories, maybe even read his mind to find out about his past. But now, to know Fen had actually seen all those days in foster care, when he'd...

When those boys had cornered him and...

He hadn't done anything to stop it...

How could he have...?

{Ethan, I was not there. I only found out after. I...} Fen looked up and met Ethan's, silent pleading in them. {I wish more than anything that I had been there. I would have saved you. I swear.}

He wasn't really mad about it, not even really even sad. That part of his life was...Well, it was shut off. He would not be thinking about. Instead, he moved his sitting stance to lay his head on Fen's chest. “It doesn't matter. I don't...I know you would have helped me if you had been there, but...” He sighed and shivered. “Can we go to sleep, please? I'm tired and don't want to talk anymore, okay?”

Gentle hands lifted from his hips and rested over his back, holding him close. {Ethan...Okay. Let us sleep.} Two wings rose up and wrapped around them, making a make-shift blanket of feathers and velvet skin.

Ethan nuzzled into it, content to just escape for the moment.

{Sweet dreams, my love.} Fen murmured, then, once more for good measure, there was a softer, {I love you, Ethan.}

Ethan fell asleep without a word.

TO BE CONTINUED