Prince Charming

Note: Oh look! It's on time again! Ha! Hehe...yeah. ^^ Feedback? *muchlove*

Chapter Fifteen

Teige woke up sore, every part of him aching with a heavy, thick kind of fatigue that wouldn’t wear off unless he got up and moved. But he didn’t feel like moving. He felt exhausted from head to foot and almost inclined to stay in bed all day, if it hadn’t been so scratchy and odd smelling. Wrinkling his nose, he shut his eyes, trying to will away the headache and focus on what could have possibly made him so sore. Somehow, the smell of the bed kept nagging at him, and he eventually frowned: hay, not surprising, cotton and wool, probably the sheets, beer, likely from the previous owner, then…Davinoff. He shot up in bed, realized he was wearing nothing, then returned back under the covers with a shudder. Of course. No clothes.

After they’d taken to the mountains, the weather had stayed so cold, he’d stopped bothering to undress except for the occasional times he attempted to wash his garments, unable to stand it after a certain amount of time, though Davinoff hardly seemed to agree. Waking up with nothing on put most everything back in gear in his head, and after a moment, he frowned, wondering first, how he had gotten from the fireplace to a bed, and second, where his partner had gotten off to while he’d slept.

Not all that sure what to expect, he’d almost prepared to wrap the sheets around himself and head for the main room in an attempt to find his clothes, when he noticed them neatly stacked at the foot of his bed. After taking a couple moments to comprehend the find, he gave the barest flicker of a smile, and reached out, slipping on first his tunic top, then his leggings, before working his belt and boots into place. Once satisfied with his state of dress, he ran a hand back through his hair, now nearing shoulder length again after his hack job with the sword, frowned at its state of disarray, then shrugged it off, leaving it be as he stepped almost hesitantly from the room.

First, he checked to see if Drake had taken the other bedroom, but found its sheets in an unaltered state from the day before, and smiled slightly. At least the man had chosen to continue sleeping with him the night before. A good sign, all things considered. Then, he checked outside, shivering slightly as he stepped out into the snow, a good deal deeper, it seemed, than it had been the day before. To his mild disappointment, he saw the man nowhere, and almost began to worry when he caught sight of footprints leading around behind the cabin. Relieved in a way, but still slightly anxious, he followed after, coming around to a small stable where he found Stallion, a fatter, round pony he assumed to be the ‘Lancelot’ the old man had spoken of the day before, and, to his relief, Davinoff.

“Here you are…” Teige said with a slight smile, not bothering to hide his relief as he came up, and for a moment the older man looked startled by his appearance, brown eyes giving him a quick scan with an unreadable expression before he turned back to the black steed. “I didn’t see you inside, almost worried you’d left without me, knowing you…” When the other refused to acknowledge him, he frowned slightly, trying his best not to let the emotion into his voice. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“Looked peaceful.” Back to two word half-sentences, not a good sign. Teige fought down the urge to scowl, folding his arms instead with a rather cross expression despite his efforts not to show it as he leaned up against the outside frame of the barn.

“That never stopped you before… You look like you could use more sleep yourself…have you even eaten anything yet?” He moved up off the frame, arms still crossed, as he approached the other.

“No.” Davinoff strapped something into place on the horse, still keeping his back turned to the other as he worked.

“Drake…at least look at me, will you? What are you doing out here? You need some help? I think we need to talk, and-“

“What the fuck do you want me to talk about, huh?” The larger man shouted suddenly, rounding on his companion and bringing them face to face, Teige’s back against a barn stall as he blinked in mild shock. For a moment, he almost shouted back, anger bubbling up at the man’s reaction instantly and a fierce knot tightening its way into his stomach, but then, he caught sight of the man’s expression and had to look all over again, sheer disbelief staining his features. Men like Drake never cried, did they? “What do you want me to say?” It sounded almost like a plea the second time as he turned his face away. “That I’m fucking falling in love with you? Or that I can’t stand one more damn minute of seeing you, cause you know what?” He turned back, his expression pained in a way that made Teige wish he could do anything, anything to ease his anguish. “They’re both true.”

“Drake-“

His companion mounted his horse, gaze turned once again to the distance, hidden from Teige’s view. “We can’t do this, there can’t…there can’t be any we in this! Men don’t do stuff like…what…we did…and-“

“Men don’t fuck, Drake?”

Brown eyes snapped to him, a whirling tornado of emotions swirling for one instant before the look hardened to darkness. “Men may well ‘fuck’ as much as they damn well like…but we-“

“Fucked. We fucked, Drake. It was dark, it was late…I kissed you; you screwed me, we both felt pretty damn good in the end, end of story. Nothing else to say. Now, will you get off your fucking high horse and let me on the damn steed?”

“Half of the supplies are in Lancelot’s stall. Do with them what you will.” At that, he pulled away, and in seconds, he left nothing but hoof prints in the snow to remind Teige of who had been there.

After a period of complete shock, staring at the tracks in silence, Teige’s knees finally gave way. Body collapsing onto all fours in the snow, his fists slammed through the ice, numb to the freezing effects of the action as he shook. “Gods, damn you!” He screamed to nothing but the ever-silent Lancelot in his stall, hot salt tears stinging in his eyes as his fists clenched and unclenched in the brittle ice beneath him. “You think this fat pony can carry half of your damn crap, you fucking bastard?! It’ll probably keel over before I get ten feet, and then what, huh! Without you here to rescue me…” His fingers shifted through the snow, picking up a small icy pile and watching as some melted in his palm before he dropped it back with a shudder, sitting back up on his heels, knees still in the snow as he wrapped his arms around himself, glancing back out after the silent, empty path Drake had so recently traveled. “I love you, too, you know…”

It took him far longer than it should have to saddle up Lancelot. After Stallion, Teige figured he could pack up just about anything, and given the new horse’s small, docile nature, loading the surprisingly few number of things onto his back shouldn’t have taken much effort. For understandable reasons, however, he couldn’t quite manage to keep his mind totally on his work, and yet, after a considerably slow packing session, he did eventually make it on his way.

Atop the highland pony as he pulled away from the barn, glad to have found most all riding materials necessary already placed in the animal’s stall, Teige began his journey with an anxious heart, unsure of even his own intentions as he started trailing after Stallion’s far-deeper footsteps.

“Well, Lancelot…think you can be my hero for awhile?” The pony gave a very fitting snort, sending a bout of steam into the air even as Teige’s blue gaze traveled into the distance. “Because somehow…I get the feeling we have a long ways to go…”


Five hours later, several miles ahead…

A noon sun struck bright light on the icy ghost town like a luminous glow outside a crystal ball. As he came to its outskirts, Stallion’s dark hooves pawed the snow with anxious energy, in some ways similar to the turmoil in his master’s mind, though Davinoff’s unrest had nothing to do with the eerily uninhabited village. Together, they crossed through the icy streets, never once glimpsing a living soul, and by the time they’d made it through, the area’s desertion had gotten even to his already considerably preoccupied mind. He had planned on perhaps stocking up on supplies in the city, at least after giving his abandoned lover over half of the food they’d managed to come by, but with no one even visible in the windows, let alone the streets, he’d given up the idea rather quickly.

Suddenly altogether too eager to get as far from the place as possible, he spurred his horse into a rapid gallop, and, in his haste, nearly ran over the village’s sole occupant. Stallion bucked with a startled whinny, nearly throwing his rider off in the process, and in the end bringing Davinoff’s full attention on the sudden appearance before him, a few hushing noises soothing the horse back down to a mere agitated calm even as he examined their intruder. He didn’t recognize the man, tall, well built, with rust-colored hair just a shade darker than his own, but he felt sure he’d seen him somewhere before.

“Who are you? What happened to the village?”

Raspel smiled, not his usual predatory, teeth-bearing grin, but an almost pitying half-smile that slithered onto his features like a poisonous snake. “The first word? And two full sentences at that… From such a silent man, my, my…Cyprien’s runaway minx has really has opened you up, hasn’t he?”

Memories swirled backwards at the comment, providing images from weeks ago, a long ago buried jealousy as he watched Teige exit a bar, laughing, with another man’s hand in his. Davinoff’s grip tightened on the reigns, hardly a noticeable difference, but enough of one to make his steed uneasy, as if the beast had somehow read his thoughts, scuffing the snow with a restless need to depart. “What have you done with-“

“Oh, you don’t have to worry yet…he’s quite a bold little thing actually, following you down the mountain this very moment, quite safe and sound…unless of course the wolves get him-“

“Damn you!” Unwanted thoughts of the smaller man’s carcass, strewn out on the snow in odd shapes with crimson staining the ice, spilled into his thoughts unbidden and he cursed the knot in his throat, the sudden need to turn around that instant and assure himself of the man’s safety, run his hands over every inch of him just to make sure-… His cheeks heated in a way very inappropriate for a man of his size and caliber, and he quickly diverted his gaze to the side. “Why-“

“Don’t worry…keep running all you like…but in the end he’ll catch you…because you don’t really want to escape, do you?”

When Drake turned his gaze back, the man had disappeared, no footprints in his wake, and the mounted warrior cursed, torn between turning back, giving in and proving to himself that no harm had befallen the other, and keeping on ahead, ignoring the strange man’s appearance and praying that no injury on Teige’s part would transpire in his absence. In the end, pride won out. Teige had assured him numerous times before of his ability to handle himself, though, on previous occasions, he had, for good reason, not trusted him for an instant. After their time together, Teige had learned to defend himself, at least to a degree, hadn’t he? Guilt tore at Drake’s chest as he spurred his horse onward into endless forests of white, trees whipping by at an almost dangerous pace considering the slippery ground they moved on, but Stallion knew how to run, how to move, work with the landscape. Davinoff didn’t worry about his horse’s ability to keep his head on straight, only his own.

For awhile, he relied on the whipping wind and chilling frost to dispel his worry, praying that maybe if he just moved fast enough, everything could wash away like a morning tide, but eventually, he had to slow down, for both Stallion’s sake and his own, and the concern only grew tighter, more edging and persistent on the boundaries of his conscious, forcing its way in to his every thought. Long before sunset, he led Stallion up a slope, eventually coming across a wide mouthed cave after a rather steep, rocky incline. Though the sun still hung high in the sky, likely at least an hour before dusk, he had no desire to go on, and the smooth cavern walls would provide perfect shelter from any storm that happened by, with plenty of room for fire and furs.

“Come on, Stallion…” He muttered quietly, a very foreign need for some form of conversation in the air taking over his common sense as he slid off the horse, running thick fingers over the beast’s smooth black muzzle. “Guess this is where we sleep tonight, huh?” The horse gave a disgruntled whinny, stamping a front hoof lightly against the cold dark granite as if to express his worry for his master’s sanity. “Yeah, I know…don’t remind me.” Drake sighed, moving back to lean against a cavern wall before collapsing against it, slipping down against the stone and dropping his face in his hands. “Gods, damn me…send me to hell now.” His eyes shut tight in an effort to block out the things he wanted to say before he shook his head, dropping his hands to the ground uselessly and picking up a small stone. Rolling it idly between his fingers, he grumbled mildly. “I’m talking to a horse…” Stallion snorted indignantly. “…a very…important…horse.” The steed seemed satisfied, moving off to munch on a patch of fresh, unearthed roots.

The minutes dragged on like eternities, Davinoff’s restless spirit causing him to set up camp, gather a lifetime supply of firewood, explore the cave (which wasn’t really much of a cave but more a conveniently hollowed out piece of mountain as he found out, hardly going back any distance at all), and still have time to pace restlessly across the granite lip outside. Several times, he almost saddled up, resisting the increasingly persistent urge to scale back up the mountain, find Teige and somehow bring them back together, or, if nothing else, at least confirm his safety.

When darkness fell, though his fire burned healthily and nothing else showed signs of disarray, his patience wore out, and he had just finished placing the saddle when the sound of slipping rocks and a quiet, encouraging voice made his heart turn to butterflies in his throat. He turned just in time to see Teige, his head turned the other way as he patiently encouraged an obviously exhausted and reluctant Lancelot up the slope. When Teige finally made it to the top, his head lifted for the first time, and their eyes locked without a word, Teige determinedly silent as he waited for the other’s reaction.

Note: Bwah! Well...you didn't expect me to go through this whole story without at least a little after-sex angst, did you? :gonk: Nyah. It could have been worse. xD On to my most beloved reviewers!


Review Replies

MakaiKitty: Finally! About damn time Drake realized what he really wanted. Hot and sweet, the perfect combination. Very well done ^-^ Hopefully a certain two vampires don't make any trouble for the now happy little couple. (Yeah, like that's not going to happen)

xD Oh, no worries. The happy little couple can make enough trouble all on their own...but I'm glad you're happy. ^^ Still, you've been known to make me wait longer than fourteen chapters *cough*BlaiseandConnie*cough*...and hey! This is faster than White Rabbit...(by one chapter...^^;). But yay anyway, cause people liked it. As for the vampires, well...they'll be there to stir things up as soon as Drake and Teige eventually manage to settle things down. xD Handy little plot devices, those blood-sucking fiends, aren't they? xP ^^

Katica Locke: OMG!! That was ... that was beautiful and sexy and so, so hot. I can't even find the words. Just the first kiss alone made me melt. I found myself holding my breath more than once. Very, very well done. Your descriptions are paint and canvas in the hands of an artist. I should be taking notes, lol. Can't wait to see what happens in the morning.

*redblush* Notes? You?? ^^;; You've no idea how highly I regard your work, I think you're definitely several steps ahead of me, and to get such high praise from such a talented author is just absolutely lovely. Thank you so very, very much. It means a lot to see another review from you, and it's flattering to know you're still reading it, let alone enjoying it as much as you say. Thank you again for the wonderful feedback!

Corenn: NYAH ! New chapter, new chapter *dance* And don't worry, the smut was... just fine *___* *whip the saliva at the corner of her mouth* When I think I won't be able to see the continuation for a month... I thing I just will die... T__T
Cyprien+Raspel *feel sudenly like becoming christian* Allmighty Lord, please, make that she die... Make that she die...
No way ! I you do that, Goddy my lawyer have the order to publish the well-hidden photos of your last week-end with Lucifer >__<
Cyprien : Goddy ?...
Raspel : But she's a MONSTER !
Cyprien : A bit late to find that out...
Raspel : I HAVE the right to hang on my illusions, y'know...
Anywaaaaaay, this was HOT. The long-awaited lemon finally written^^ At least, Drake isn't sexually-confused anymore XD ... isn't it ?
And I WILL found where you live, so when my mother will send me in America I will run in your house... Exept that I will lost myself and found myself in Haiti... but maybe I won't send you postcard, 'coz you will drop from the sight XD And I will kept Cyprien and Raspel to make... fun... with them ^___^
Cyrprien : Raspel, what're these... things here ? With lot of leather and metal ?
Raspel : You mean the handcuffs, whips, toys and... and others things in the middle of beautiful young men lying in the floor ?
The two *look at each other* *became white* GYAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Wish me good hollydays ^__^
Cyprien : HELP US !!! I'LL EVEN BECAME PRIEST, BUT SAVE ME !!
Raspel : SAVE US !!!
Bishonen these days... They're so full of energy, aren't they ? ^__^

*rotfl* XD WELL then...*tries to imagine Cyprien and Rapel becoming Catholic priests* *tries to imagine them coming even close to celebate* *fails miserably* XD It's still a hilarious image though...and from what you've put them through so far...I could almost picture them trying. I'm glad you enjoyed the -ahem- lovemaking...and you have no idea how tempted I've been on occasion to pair up God and Lucifer!! :gonk: *keels over* But...hehe...yeah.

As for Drake sexually confused, well...if he's not sexually confused, he's emotionally confused, or physically confused, or confused in some odd other way that most people couldn't obtain confusion over even if they tried. The poor guy's just a bit simple minded like that...but he must be loved anyway. xD Handcuffs, whips, chains, leather, and beautiful young men? WHY ARE THEY RUNNING?!? XDD Don't know much about Raspel...but Cyprien certainly wouldn't mind that! xD ^^

Hollydays...*giggle* -Ahem- It's...uh...actually spelled holidays...you've spelled it hollydays twice now and it makes me think of Christmas (because it has 'holly' in it...)...it also makes me grin...xD But I figured I'd point it out to you anyway. ^^ I do wish you happy hollydays though...xD A nice safe, smutless trip, yeah? *grin* Have fun! (Oi, and thanks again for another review...they make me giggle. xD)

Falcon Bertille: Very, very, very nice!

I love the way you develop the intimacy between these two characters -- the way that they share their secrets, and their souls, before sharing their bodies. It gives the lovemaking a very powerful tenderness. There were several really sweet moments during that bit, like when Drake was worried about not being as skilled as Cyprien, and Teige assured him that he had nothing to live up to. And I loved the way you stretched out the whole sex scene, giving us lots of kisses and caresses before the actual "act". I think a nice, slow buildup is the sexiest thing in the world.

As always, some nice bits of humor. Poor Teige, mistaken for a female by the girl of his dreams! I couldn't help smiling a bit when I read that, even though I felt bad for him. Also, Drake's endless belts were funny, too.

And you did a great job fixing up a lot of the veiwpoint issues that I mentioned.

The language is this chapter was so lush and lovely, I couldn't pick out a single favorite phrase. So here's my top three (in no particular order):

"Teige’s eyes had fallen shut, dark feathery crescents staining his rapidly heating cheeks..."

"...capturing petal soft lips in his own, savoring the feel like the first taste of sweet honey before a feast."

"...stretching his gleaming body like a pagan sacrifice below and displaying him for none but himself to see, reflections of the dying embers dancing over the beaded droplets on his skin and shimmering like tiny gems..."

I can't wait to see what happens next!

Love,
Falcon

^^ Because they had never gone so far as to even kiss before (besides the highly provoked stage kiss in chapter nine, which, as Drake pointed out, totally doesn't count...), I was a bit worried that it might have come off as sudden, even if they had made it to chapter fourteen, so I'm glad you think the intimacy was still developed well. And my second worry, as I mentioned, was that I had ended up dragging it out too much with so many re-writes...so it's reassuring that nothing came off as too fast or overdone. ^^

As for Teige and the girl of his dreams, I couldn't resist. xD I still have it in my head that Teige is a lot more heterosexual than Drake will ever be by a long shot, regardless of the fact that he can proudly flaunt a dress and corset without qualm. And the belts thing, well...Drake just seemed to have a lot of belts in the past. xP ^^;

Thanks again for the help with that...whenever I go back over to fix some of things you mention, most of the time it's pretty simple, but sometimes I find myself reworking whole setences, or even parts of paragraphs, and by the end, I'm sometimes wondering whether I haven't just messed it up worse than it was before. ^^ But yeah, you've really been helping me with that. ^^ Thankies!