White Rabbit

Note: Ok, I know I haven't updated this in soooo long...I hope everyone enjoys it! ^_^;

Chapter Nineteen

Carlos cursed profusely, glaring narrowly at the wall ahead of him as he dropped his head to the brick. How on Earth did he let one stupid slut get him in a position like this? No one had ever caught him so off-guard. As he ran a hand over his face with another low grumble, he considered the fateful thought, ‘Things couldn’t possibly get any worse, right?’ His heart sank to a new low as the short, prominent tap of someone at the door echoed through the bare room. He shut his eyes. Maybe if he made no noise- It came again and he swore loudly.

"Get the fuck out of here! And come back with some-..." His speech halted instantly and his throat clenched as his face paled, his last word coming out barely audible. "...clothes..." Jacques arched a single elegant eyebrow, his gaze raking over the man’s bare form with deliberate leisure before letting a coy smirk flicker to his lips in amusement.

"My, my, Carlos..." The voice alone sent a rush of blood instantly to places Carlos wanted nothing to do with at the moment, but his body paid no mind to his mental objection. He shut his eyes and struggled to think of anything but the man before him; footsteps coming toward him dissipated that hope instantly. "I don’t think I’ve seen something quite so pathetic in a long...long time." Ebony eyes narrowed at the dark immortal, but it only served to spark a humored look, and Jacques’s laugh sounded positively silky.

Even before he asked, he knew how weak it sounded. "Can’t you just...get me some clothes?"

"And ruin the fun? You humans really are stupid." Jacques looked far too pleased for the other man’s tastes. "I live for moments like this." Carlos stiffened, in more ways than one, as the Mirah pressed to him, the entirety of his deceivingly slender body flattening against his bared flesh and making an obvious erection all too evident. Carlos caught his lip painfully tight in a failing effort to stifle his moan.

"God dammit..."

"Come now, human...do you really think your god will help you?" Jacques spoke so fluently, like every word simply rolled off his tongue, and yet, behind it all, his accent held the barest, flickering inkling of some ancient language, almost as dark and enticing as the man himself. Carlos cursed again silently, wondering once again how the hell he got himself into this position.

"Don’t you have that...tiger kid...thing...to play with?"

Jacques gave a light sigh, and it almost sounded disappointed. "You don’t understand..." The man to the wall resisted the urge to swallow as a delicate finger lifted his chin, navy eyes staring him down with hard insistence. "There are certain things..." He tilted his head and pressed closer, his heated breath tracing along the man’s chin line as he did so. "...that sweet Lan..." Carlos felt rooted to the spot, immobile as the other’s soft, teasing lips just graced his skin, even the tiniest touch setting fire to the area. "...cannot do for me." Ebony eyes widened in surprise, and for the first time Jacques gave a small frown, observing the other carefully. "Unless of course...you prefer to bottom?"

Carlos sneered, his disgust obvious. "If you think for one second you’re getting that pretty stick of yours near my ass you got another thought comin’. You couldn’t fuck me if your life depended on it." Jacques only quirked an eyebrow with a look of interest.

"You sound quite certain for a man so..." He trailed a hand low and Carlos caught it just as the man’s thumb slipped dangerously close over his calf. "...vulnerable."

"Fuck you."

A true smirk curved into place over the immortal’s features at the words. "Ah...even the most imbecilic get it eventually. How lovely." Without a moment’s notice, his grip suddenly shifted, and the next instant, instead of his hand over the other’s, Jacques held his wrist firmly and tugged him down, crushing their lips together with newfound ferocity. No words described it.

The fires of hell itself came up to greet him in that fleeting instant, consuming him, devouring his existence with the mere press of the man’s lips. Before he gave it even a moment of thought, his hands circled back, trapping around the man’s neck and lacing tightly into the thick, silky black mane, forcing their lips impossibly closer. Jacques let out a low growl against him, but just as the immortal dipped his hand again, a startled gasp from the doorway caught both off guard and navy eyes spun to lock on wide-eyed gold.

"M-master..." Lan moved his lips, but no sound came out and finally he shifted nervously in the doorway. "I...what are you doing?"

Jacques gave a brief, deciding glance over the smaller figure before turning abruptly from the man on the wall and spreading his wings experimentally with a light smirk. When they folded back again, displaying the still completely nude man behind them, Lan’s eyes widened to a near impossible size and Jacques laughed. "Carlos is in need of some clothes, my sweet. I do believe your rabbit friend took the liberty of borrowing them."

"Ashi..." Lan glanced to Carlos once more and flushed brightly, but a tiny smile found its way to his lips nonetheless. "I knew he was smarter than you."

The addressed man instantly jumped to his own defense. "Why you little-"

Jacques spun on him with an icy glare. "What is he, now?" Navy eyes flashed dangerously and Carlos felt his face pale slightly. The immortal smirked, and the feral look threatened more than even the fiercest words. "If you so much as lay one finger...on that boy..." He brushed a thumb neatly over the man’s lips, watching with satisfaction as Carlos fought the urge to swallow, obviously fidgeting. "...I will personally exceed your wildest expectations of hell."

For some reason, Carlos had no doubt the man would gladly carry out that threat and let out a breath when the immortal stepped away from him. Once apart, Jacques sneered lightly, brushing his hands lightly over himself as if he’d just touched something filthy before spinning on his heel and moving toward the door.

"Come, kitten. Oh." He glanced back over his shoulder, waist-length raven locks shifting across his back in the movement. "By the way, Carlos? I suggest you find something to cover yourself...unless you plan on making such a pretty sight for the police."

Ebony widened. "They’re...the...they’re here?!"

"Did you think you could steal the law’s play toy without consequence? Your runaway rabbit has the cops swarming the place...they should be closing in anytime now." The immortal made a brief nod to Lan as he passed through the door. "Personally, I hope you’ll forgive me if I don’t stay for the pleasantries."

"Shit! Wait!" Carlos quickly scrambled from the wall, making it to his forgotten shirt halfway across the room and cursing mentally that he hadn’t picked it up before the other man’s arrival. Quickly passing over that thought, frowned at his childish attempt to use one shirt for cover. Jacques’s expression brought bright shame to his face and he glared heatedly. "What?!"

The immortal smirked again, and Carlos decided he hated him. Hated each and every one of his stuck-up, self-satisfied expressions, and most of all though, he hated his eyes. His sparkling, gorgeous navy eyes that always reflected his mood perfectly, mocking him now with their amusement and betraying exactly how little the immortal thought of him.

"Need my help, mortal?" Lan giggled, and Carlos hated it that no matter how he silently threatened, it only improved the boy’s mood. The interaction seemed to amuse the Mirah further, his dark eyes bright with humor.

"If you can magically poof me some clothes, save my research, and get me the hell out of here in the next...oh, I don’t know, three minutes?! Then yeah, you bastard, I need your help."

A single dark eyebrow lifted and after a brief moment of thought, Jacques shrugged. "Follow me then, human."

Carlos stared, disbelieving. "Wait...w-what??"

Jacques never turned back to him though, and as he disappeared around the corner, Carlos cursed his life more than once and followed after. As soon as he made it out, he heard the effects of the police already on upper floors. The immortal looked unconcerned though, and moved with a steady, curt stride, covering distance like nothing, his dark wings shifting occasionally to his pace. Finally, Carlos objected to being kept in the dark.

"Where are we going? And what about my cloth-"

In one instant, black surrounded him, and the next, Lan stared as the man collapsed. Jacques spoke fluidly, as if nothing had just passed. "Check his pulse, kitten...I fear I may have hit him a bit hard." Lan swallowed, but quickly scrambled behind the dark immortal to the fallen man. "Make no noise...and hurry. There’s an officer at the head of the stairs."

Placing two worried fingers to the man’s throat, Lan let out a light breath and gave a nod to the immortal. Not a second later, footsteps and bustled shouting confirmed Jacques’s previous warning.

"It’s pretty dark down here, Jack...you sure-"

"Look, the lieutenant said to search everywhere. Just get down there, alright? I’m going back to check on the first squadron. Be back in ten."

"Yeah, yeah." A few mumbled comments later, and a dissatisfied-looking officer came down glumly, gun still harnessed by his side and hand to his cap as he rearranged it with a scowl. "Dirty bastard...always assigning me to these-" His speech froze as he locked eyes with navy. Before a look of surprise even fully dawned on his features, Jacques acted, and at the tumble from the stairs, Lan looked up. Seeing the fallen officer, he made a startled squeak and the immortal shot a warning glare, quickly silencing his worry.

"Undress him."

"W-wha-..." Navy narrowed, and Lan made a skittered, clumsy move across the floor, hands shaky as he began working with the man’s clothes. Satisfied with the boy’s actions, Jacques instantly turned his focus to the situation at hand, silently taking in his options and thinking over the situation. One could almost see the winding thoughts toss in his gaze as he eyed the stairs. Finally, he turned from them and spoke curtly.

"Stop." Lan paused, his task nearly finished. "Cover Carlos as best you can. We must leave now. I can’t keep this up. I need time...and we have none. Move." Keeping his angry flush to himself, Lan gripped what he held tightly in frustration, and obeyed. As soon as he finished, the immortal gave a brief nod of acceptance, motioning for the boy to follow after before quickly making to the stairs.

Watching the man leave, Lan cursed as tears built and he forced down the lump in his throat. Eyes locked in a glare to the floor, he forced his body into transformation, forgetting completely for the time being about his clothes. First his ears, then a tail; his hands shifted, legs changed, his whole perspective lowered and he gave a low, predatory snort to the disintegrated clothes as they fell in shreds about him.

Quickly, still snarling, he pawed roughly over the unconscious man till he got him clumsily spread across his back. He hated how he lost so much coordination in this form. How did tigers stand it? Once settled well enough, he made it up the stairs, struggling the whole time not to let the man fall. Finally, at the top, he gave a dissatisfied pant to the immortal, but Jacques paid him no mind.

"Come, kitten...." He frowned over the tiger before him, and finally shook his head. "You need to work on your human strength...that animal is so inconvenient." He got a low, rumbling growl of warning and snorted. "Don’t threaten me, kitten." Glancing about the empty halls, he gave a brief nod. "Keep quiet...the less guns I have to deal with...the better."

It took little to get past the police. Even with swarming cops, lights, and guns everywhere, a few cloaked movements and a little more magic got them out completely unseen. Once free of the mayhem and into the reasonable silence of the outside, three forms shimmered into sight behind Carlos’s previous drug roost, Jacques first, then the shapes of Lan, still transformed, and Carlos atop his back. After a brief glance about, navy paused on the golden beast beside him and gave a quick nod before motioning the other to follow again. As Jacques, Carlos and Lan disappeared into the dark of night, the last minutes of Halloween faded, and the graveyard bell tower struck midnight.

o—o

A sharp pain greeted him the instant he woke and Carlos gave a loud groan, bringing a hand across his eyes and muttering low curses instantly, almost by instinct. Unbeknownst to him two navy eyes turned his direction at the movement, and Jacques made a silent movement to the boy beside him. Lan stood quickly and moved to kneel by the unconscious man.

When he placed a hand on the man’s forehead though, Carlos’s reaction was immediate and the boy gave a startled squeak as a death grip caught his hand. Unfocussed ebony traveled over his terrified features, and finally, his grip loosened slightly.

"What the hell...? What do you think you’re doing, kid?"

Lan snorted lightly, withdrawing his hand snappishly and massaging his wrist with a disdainful look toward the man on the ground. "He’s still alive, master." Carlos got the distinct impression that it somehow pained the boy to announce this news, as if he were terribly sorry to voice that specific truth; it enraged him. How dare that useless-

"I see." His thoughts cut off at Jacques’s smooth interruption. "How do you feel, human?" The immortal seemed to hold little interest one way or the other, but gave a passing glance to his ‘employer’ nonetheless, and it only further picked at the fallen man’s patience.

"Where am I?"

"You’re safe. For now." The way he said it, Carlos heard the undertone of ‘as long as I keep it that way’. Jacques had full control of the situation now and that alone gave him reason to toss his life away that moment, but, considering he was, in fact, alive at the moment, it meant the immortal still wanted something from him. He still held leverage. The sooner he found out what it was, the better. Best get straight to the point.

"Why am I alive?"

"You owe me some things, mortal. Disgusting as it is...you have a place in this revolting world, and until I have what I want, I can’t very well leave."

Carlos raised an eyebrow, surprised the man gave such a direct and, seemingly, honest answer. Jacques took his surprise into account, but paid it no mind. "Your position is useful to me."

The recently unconscious man gave a snort of disbelief. "So...let’s get this straight. Right now...you need my help." Jacques grimaced, but said nothing. "...and as soon as you’re through with me...you get out of this world...and I’m rid of you forever?" The immortal chuckled.

"That’s if I’m in a good mood, human...but yes."

"All right. First off...what do you want from me?"

Jacques eyed him, as if making some silent decision before answering plainly. "The formula. You never got it to me."

For some reason, this frustrated him, and Carlos frowned. "That’s all?" The immortal raised an eyebrow and he cursed his silent stupidity. If the man wanted to keep him alive for one reason, how much stupider could you get than to downplay its importance? No. If Jacques wanted that formula so bad... "How about a deal?"

Navy narrowed. "I saved your life, human." Debate flickered slightly. "What do you want?"

Carlos barely believed it. It worked? What did he want? He paused, but it took almost no time before he knew exactly what he wanted. The one man that had somehow managed to slip through his clutches, damage his life, his pride, and now, near everything he had. "Ashi." He lifted his head. "I want that man to pay for what he’s done. I want him broken...and I want to watch it happen."

o—o—o—o

"So..." Ashi pressed loose pink back from his face, eyeing the floor intently. "I suppose...I get to sleep on the couch tonight, huh?" Ebony glanced his way curiously at the comment, and he heard the door shut as Garnen entered closely behind him.

"If you want." The rabbit glanced up abruptly at the calm tone. "...but you don’t have to..." Violet blinked in confusion. "Hell...you can sleep in the bathtub for all I care." Garnen shrugged off his coat, hanging it up and loosening his tie by habit. "So long as you’re quiet, you’re welcome to do whatever you like." He looked the rabbit over closely with mild consideration. "I, for one, am going to bed. It’s late, and I’m tired. You seem to have this great habit of exhausting me."

When the man turned toward the stairs though, Ashi reached out by instinct, pausing him. "Wait..." The officer turned his head back, but kept silent, waiting for him to speak. The rabbit caught his lip, suddenly unsure. "I..." He shut his eyes, now, put on the spot, his original thoughts didn’t feel so confident, and he came at a loss for words. "Never mind I guess...um...goodnight."

The officer nodded, eyeing him skeptically. "Goodnight."

Ashi cursed silently. How much worse could he get? When the officer turned away again, he swore out loud. "Dammit!" Garnen looked back in surprise, and Ashi felt his cheeks tint. "I uh...ignore me...sorry...just...never...never mind. Again."

Garnen frowned slightly, turning back again to look the man over carefully. "There something you want to say, Ashi?"

"I-..." The rabbit frowned and took a breath. "I guess...I never thanked you...for coming after me...and...I just..."

"You seemed to be handling the situation pretty well when I got there..." Ashi glanced up. "You’ve always said you could take care of yourself...I guess I never really believed you...but you do a pretty good job." Ashi opened his mouth but Garnen interrupted before he spoke. "Even if you did brake about thirty laws doing it."

Violet narrowed, and Ashi clamped his mouth shut with a pout; Garnen smirked and the rabbit sniffed. "Fine. If you’re just going to make fun of me...I'll stay on the couch. I like couches. They’re...couchish..." The officer raised an eyebrow as the albiri sat, crossing his arms stubbornly across his chest and simply daring the man to say something.

"Ah. Fascinating decision. Goodnight then."

"Garnen..." It came out as a whine then and the officer resisted the urge to groan as he turned back for the third time.

"What? Oh."

Instead of sitting, Ashi lay back on the couch now, one leg up and the other dangling over the edge. His expression had returned to a pout as he twirled one finger absently through a lock of pink, and his voice continued in an almost childish tone. "You didn’t give me a chance to thank you..." The officer frowned at the sight, his eyes instantly drawn to the movement as Ashi’s avid tongue darted fleetingly between his lips.

From his own standpoint, Ashi suddenly felt much more comfortable; this, he could do. Thank people, admit wrongs, accept emotions, no, but get someone’s attention? Turn a guy on? Manipulate emotions to get what he wanted? Yeah. He could handle that. After ten years of experience, Ashi felt very confident in his ability in to do all those things, and not the least bit troubled in his current position. The same couldn't be said for Garnen.

The officer instantly snorted, struggling with the rabbit's deliberate, and successful, attempt to mess with his focus as he eyed him. Spread out on his couch, open and offering, there was no denying the effects Ashi's actions brought about, but too many other things ordered his conscious against it, and he forced his eyes away, preparing to leave again.

"You already thanked me. I accept your thanks. Now go to sleep."

Needless to say, this reaction far from satisfied the albiri, and, left with no other immediate options, he went for the most direct approach possible. "We've already done this once, Garnen. Why are you objecting now?"

For some reason, those specific words infuriated him, and the officer spun. "I don't want to fuck a whore, Ashi!" The sudden ferocity of his words caught the rabbit momentarily off guard, and for a few seconds he simply stared. When the words sunk in, he shot to a standing position.

"What the hell do you think you're talking about? You already did! I-"

"No. I didn't." Ashi's cheeks burned, but before he could shout again, Garnen stood directly before him, features hard and determined. "I had sex...with a man...who I cared very much about...with the hopes that one day...I could make love...to a beautiful man...who meant everything to me." Violet stared, wide eyed, and suddenly, he had nothing to say.

"I-...but..."

"Never once...did I fuck a whore." Ashi's expression pinned up in worry, betraying his newly tumbling emotions completely. He opened his mouth, but only to shut it again, and lowered his eyes, at a loss for what to say.

"But I'm better at being a whore..." Garnen raised an eyebrow, and he worked up his courage to lift his eyes again, meeting the other's gaze fully. "What could you possibly like about that stupid man? He's weak...and he cries...and he blushes all the time...and runs away, and...and..."

"And what?"

"And...he needs help..." Ashi folded his arms, dropping his gaze again. "He can't always take care of himself...not like he wants to. Sometimes...he gets himself in so much trouble he just...can't get out of it by himself anymore..."

"Sounds like we're back to talking about the whore Ashi."

The rabbit flushed. "Yeah well..." He locked gazes with intent almond and mumbled quietly. "They were both sort of the same person in to begin with..."

Ebony eyed him carefully, tracing over the face as if to imprint every aspect in his mind. Finally, Garnen shook his head. "No...I think I fell for the one who blushed all the time."


Note: Wow. It feels like I haven't updated this in forever. ^^; I hope the come-back chapter wasn't too horrible. As always, I look for reviews! Some of you can probably tell, the story's drawing nearer to a close...I'm trying to write as much of this as I can while I have the time so I can get my updates back on a regular schedule. Hope you enjoyed!

Review Replies

Trickster Kitsune: Yay! ashi can take care of himself! I've seen so many stories where the main character is completely helpless that Ashi is a nice change. ^^ And he left poor Carlos in a very embarassing situation, though he deserved it. Hopefully Lan will be saved in the next chapter (yeah, I've given in and I like him now)...

And oh dear... Ashi sure did break quite a few laws. ^^ It'll be interesting to see how he gets out of it (even if Garnen does help).

I vote for holiday smut! ^_^

Please update soon!

^_^ I’m glad you appreciate Ashi’s character…ironically I made him that way specifically because someone mentioned how pathetically helpless my last sub-male was… He’s sort of been my challenge, and I’m glad you like how he turned out!

Carlos! Yes, yes…oh, I never planned it…but the opportunity was too good to pass up. I had to do something with him in such a position didn’t I? ^^;

Thank you so, so much for your reviews on ‘Breaking the Fall’! And you added me to your recommended reading list! Thank you, thank you! *happy dance* ^_^ I’m thrilled you liked it so much.


Falcon Bertille: Whew! *Finally exhales after holding her breath for the entire chapter* That certainly was exciting! I loved it when Ashi got his revenge on Carlos by demanding a kiss at gunpoint, just as Carlos had done to him. And the entire scene with Garnen and Tray in the car was absolutely hilarious. Jacques continues to rock my world. I know he's evil, but he is also very, very cool. Thanks for the explanation about what he is -- it's great that you have such a detailed conception of your story world. Lan finally won me over this chapter, when he saw Garnen rushing to Ashi's rescue, and thought it was romantic. That was so sweet! (And I liked the fact that he got Garnen's name wrong, just like a real person would when discussing someone they'd only met once.) Great stuff. I'm sorry that your internet is being so problematic. Just post the next update whenever you can. I, for one, am willing to wait for as long as it takes.

Oh, I hope you won't be mad at me if I point out one tiny little thing. "Rye" is a type of grain, like rye bread. "Wry" describes something twisted or distored, like a wry smile. At one point, you used the former when you meant the latter. It doesn't detract at all from the story, but I thought you might like to know. (I make mistakes like that all the time.)

I have weakness for Christmas fics, so that would be cool. Happy Holidays!

Love,
Falcon

Mad at you? Mad at you?? I’d never be mad at you! You’re like, the most awesomest of awesome…oh gosh I know awesomest isn’t a word. ^^; Nah. I’ve got an editor to tell oh so many more problems with my work…one correction will make me anything but mad. Thank you for pointing it out! ^_^

I’m glad you like Jacques! I have fun writing for him…and you certainly get a bit more of him this chapter, hm? ^^; I hope he continues to keep up to your expectations.

Phew. Most people seem to trust Lan now…good. As for my internet…I think it’s fixed again! Yay! So I should be able to post on a proper schedule…(if my creative brain continues to work as it should…not so reliable as technology I’m afraid…^^;).

I’m so glad you liked ‘Breaking the Fall’! Your reviews were wonderful, especially since you took time out to get them there even through the holiday rush. Without so many around to review, the ones I got were that much more wonderful.

MakaiKitty: Wow. Ashi got to rescue himself? Poor Garnen must feel a little useless? *LOL* Looks like it may end happily after all? *crosses fingers* Now I jut have to go read you X-mas fic. (sorry it's taken me so long) ^_^

*chuckle* Yeah, well…surely he has a little purpose in this world, right? Besides…consider what might have happened had he not turned up…and Ashi was left with nowhere to go and evil on his trail? ^^; No problem that you took awhile, as long as you get around to it…I’m always happy to see a new review! No matter how long it takes to get there. ^_^ (Though I won’t lie and tell you I don’t love fast reviews…it’s always nice to get feedback quickly). ^_^;

memorietrail: yes it was great but still want more please

Well, here you are! Nice to see you return to my review panel. ^_^ Thank you for the continued feedback!