Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

A/N: This is it. The final chapter. Enjoy. ^-^

Chapter 13 - Warnings: None.

Both Raf and Luca were on the move before Leon even hit the sand, uncaring of the fact that the man who had slain their little blond companion could be aiming the next arrow at either one of them. The only thing that mattered was the unmoving form of the regally robed boy a short way down the beach. Even Hadrian looked stunned by what had happened and he had meant for it to turn out the way it had. What had changed during the walk down to the beach, or even before that was anyone’s guess, but whatever the reason, Hadrian seemed to have realised, albeit too late just what was about to happen.

He had no problem taking people’s live before, but there was something about the blond, something about his master that made the man stop and think about what he was doing. Perhaps it was a memory of the friendship he and Luca once had, a strong friendship that they had once believed would endure whatever the world had thrown at them. Evidently they had not anticipated something as simple as possession of a slave to drive a wedge between them that quickly grew into a gaping chasm at an exponential rate.

Perhaps it was something else that made Hadrian come to his senses at the last minute but whatever it was, it was too late to change anything. The man who had fired the bow had disappeared back into the trees, his job done and it seemed as though Hadrian had every intention of following the stranger’s example and making himself scarce, but something kept him rooted to the spot, watching the events unfolding before him.

Down beside Leon, Raf skidded down on his knees in the sand and moved to turn the body of their companion over, Luca skidding to a stop nearby, spraying sand as he all but collapsed beside the two youths, his eyes already shining with tears at seeing his fallen lover. Gently, ever so carefully, Raf rolled their blond companion onto his back and brushed sand away from his body, cleaning the robe absently, as if he was putting off something else. He didn’t really want to look at the blond’s face, or the area where the arrow struck, as if he didn’t want to acknowledge that he’d really been struck.

Something was amiss though.

Luca was just sitting there watching as if afraid to touch the young man before them and with tears obscuring his vision, it was no wonder he didn’t see what was missing. It was only when Rafael finally looked up from where he was needlessly smoothing over the robe that he noticed a few things that were decidedly unusual.

The first was that there was no blood at all, anywhere. The second was that the arrow was nowhere to be found when it should likely have been protruding from the blond’s chest and part of it likely snapped off and laying in the sand from when the youngest male had fallen.

Rafael was in motion in seconds, opening the torn robe to examine the wound and found no such thing, as he had quickly come to suspect. “Luca! I think... I think he’s still alive!” He cried. “Help me!” He demanded, finally checking for a pulse in their motionless companion’s neck. When he felt one, weak and fading but there, his heart leapt into this throat and tears gathered in his own eyes. He didn’t feel as though he had time to even wipe them away, as though every second counted as they attempted to essentially bring their companion back to life.

The arrow had indeed struck the blond, as they had witness mere minutes earlier but by some miracle, the arrow aimed with deadly accuracy had struck the pendant Hadrian had given the young blond to return to Luca. That pendant had saved Leon from certain death, but the force behind the arrow had dented the pendant and winded the youth. Raf could only surmise that a mixture of shock and pain at the attack itself and then being unable to breathe properly caused the youth to pass out and now even though there was a chance to save him still, unless he started breathing again, he really might die because of lack of oxygen to the brain.

“Luca, I-“ Raf began, looking at the young man before him and shaking his head, hating the helplessness he was feeling right then; he had no idea what to do. Luca on the other hand, seemed to have some idea as he hastily shuffled closer and lightly pushed Rafael out of the way. His shaking hands and the shortness of his breath betrayed his desperation as he bent over the youth and leaned in close.

Raf watched with wide eyes as Luca paused for barely a moment to take a deep breath and then sealed his lips over those of the conscious-less male before starting compressions on his chest. The younger male watched Leon’s former master move back and forth from the boy’s mouth and chest for what felt like an eternity and even though neither male had any idea as to whether it was working, or even if Luca was doing it right, before long, their blond companion was gasping hoarsely and coughing as he tried to drag oxygen into his lungs.

Luca sat back for a moment, staring in disbelief even as Raf leaned in and started gently rubbing the youth’s back, so gently in fact that it was as if he was afraid of breaking the young male panting heavily in the sand; his attentions so light that they were very likely doing nothing of what the former merchant’s boy had intended for them to do, and that was to help ease the other’s breathing somewhat and calm him down a little.

Gradually the coughing stopped, the boy’s breathing slowed to normal and Luca returned to the youth’s side, tenderly brushing away the locks of sandy blond hair that had fallen over his little angel’s face. Rafael was still stroking over the youngest male’s back, staring at the one who had all but given them a heart attack when it became clear that there might still be a chance that he may live. Of course, considering the alternative, neither he nor Luca would hold it against him, not when they could have lost him forever. They seemed numb for the time being though, as if the situation had befallen someone else and they’d only been spectators.

It hit home when Luca carefully gathered Leon in his arms and wept against him, face buried in the junction of the youth’s neck and shoulder, apparently oblivious to all around him. Raf had to admit that he admired the man for being able to cry not only in front of another man but because he loved so deeply and held onto that love in the face of the young slave’s absence that it was with relief that he was crying, not regret over having been unable to find the boy sooner. Rafael simply sat there, staring at them, his heart ceasing its hammering against his chest before he found himself able to look away from the reunited couple of sorts and gaze down the beach in search of the man who had been the cause of so much grief.

Not surprisingly, Hadrian was nowhere to be seen, having apparently gotten over his shock, or whatever emotion had rooted him in place, and beaten a hasty retreat. Having not seen the attempt to prevent the arrow from being loosed, being too intently focused on the arrow itself and the boy it was targeted for, Raf felt only fear and hatred for the man.

Hadrian done nothing but hurt them, strike fear into their hearts over what one man was truly capable of and the events that had unfolded on the beach proved just how much of a coward and a bully he really was.

But at last, he was gone, no longer able to overshadow their lives.

Looking out across the ocean, Raf wondered what was to become of him. Since Leon had been reunited with Luca, it was obvious that they’d be inseparable, safely tucked away in whatever accommodation the blond’s favourite master had acquired for himself. But where did that leave him? He was a merchant’s son, he knew a few tricks of the trade, sure, but he had no wares and no money with which to buy anything. He had nothing but the robe over his shoulders.

“Guess this is goodbye, kid.” He murmured, forcing his gaze from the waves to look upon his slumbering companion one last time before he gained his feet and inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with fresh sea air and exhaling smoothly as if expelling all the things associated with Hadrian from within him, cleansing himself of all thoughts of someone who would no longer be a part of his life. He would still bear the scars, both he and Leon, and they’d both be forever marked by the man’s crest where it was branded into their skin but they were free and they’d both move on, Leon would forget about him soon enough since he was back in the presence of his preferred master.

Without allowing himself to look back, Rafael began walking away across the sand, back the way they’d come.

“Wait.”

Luca was calling him, looking more composed and no longer weeping into his beloved slave but the youth was still held tightly to him.

“You love him, don’t you?”

Rafael offered no reply, didn’t even turn to look upon the man addressing him.

“If you mean as much to him as he does to you, I’d ask that you stay with him.”

“Our bond was one formed in the midst of terrible circumstances, he’ll forget me now that he’s back with you.”

“Stay with him. Stay with me. He’ll be happy if he has the company of those who love him.”

“You’ll... share him? And what makes you think I want to go back into slavery now that I’ve gained my freedom? Don’t you think I’d rather return to whatever life I had before I was ripped from it?”

Raf looked angry, Luca just looked saddened and shook his head slowly, gathering his precious bundle into his arms. “If you loved him, it wouldn’t matter the circumstances, you’d stay with him regardless.” He said softly. “I’m offering you a place to stay, warm and comfortable, food, baths and good company.”

Rafael shook his head. “Maybe I do love him, maybe I don’t. Maybe I don’t even know if really is love or if it will last now that we have no threat looming over our heads. I do know that I have my freedom and he has you. Perhaps loving someone is knowing when to let them go.” He trailed off into a whisper and shook his head, looking back in the direction he intended to leave in. “If he really wants it, he’ll be able to find me. Until then, this is goodbye.” He finished and resumed walking across the sand, leaving Luca watching him go with his lover a bundle cradled in his arms.

Soon enough, the male was gone, leaving only fading footprints in the sand.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so they say; perhaps he’d find out for himself.

End.

There you have it. I can't write an ending I'm happy with to save my life, but I hope this is adequate. For those of you who stuck with me through it all, you have my thanks, as do my reviwers, your comments were and still are much appreciated. Hope you enjoyed it.

Leon.