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More Than Just Surviving	By : roxierocks Category: S through Z > Van Helsing Views: 3983 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Van Helsing, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-More Than Just Surviving
- 1
They were
in trouble.
And that,
Carl thought, was putting it lightly.
Squinting
around the darkened cell, he wrinkled his nose at the close quarters, barely
two by three metres, bare save for the moth eaten pile of blankets crumpled
against one wall. A thick set of sliding iron bars made up the fourth wall of
the cell, a heavy chain wrapped several times around one end, secured with a
large padlock.
Oh yes,
they were in trouble.
Carl
slumped onto the blankets, coughing as a dust cloud rose to engulf him, and
hugged his knees to his chest, carefully tucking his feet under his robes.
�Why did
they take our shoes?� he asked, the unpleasant cold of the stone floor seeming
to seep into his toes.
�So we
can�t run away.�
He scowled
at the slightly sardonic tone; wasn�t it obvious they were in mortal peril?
�Next time
you ask me to come anywhere with you, I fear I shall have to decline,� he said
conversationally.
�And why�s
that?�
�Because
you inevitably end up getting me almost killed!� He let out an exasperated sigh.
�It�s not bad enough that you take me to Transylvania where I am almost killed
by vampires, but you then had to drag me over to Germany, where, not
surprisingly, rumours of hags in the Black Forest turn out not to be rumours.
Honestly, Van Helsing, you nearly didn�t get me out of that mating ritual in
time!�
Gabriel Van
Helsing, his back to Carl, murmured �You forgot about Latvia.�
�I did not
forget about Latvia! God help me, I would take great
delight in forgetting about Latvia. And those pirates that tried to
tie me to their mast. As if they honestly thought I would be any good in a
bartering situation. Who would barter for me?�
He shook
his head, pulling his feet a little further under him, trying to alleviate the
chill there.
�To be
fair,� said Van Helsing, �Those pirates weren�t just after you for your
bartering potential. I think they rather wanted you for your body as well.�
He turned,
giving Carl a knowing look from under his hat, and Carl sighed impatiently,
hoping the cell was too dark to betray the pinkness in his cheeks.
�Will you
stop making lewd comments and focus on a plan to get us out of here?�
�Here� was
a cell in Fort Elszigetelts�g, a particularly vicious prison in
the middle of a wild forest on the Great Plane of Hungary. They had been
travelling through Hungary to reach south east Romania, where there had been reports of
Gargoyles, and stumbled upon a band of thieves in the woods. The thieves had
seized Carl and tried to slit his throat, upon which Van Helsing had promptly
disposed of them in a brief, efficient manner, and they had carried on their
journey.
Unfortunately,
the whole episode had been witnessed by several of the Hungarian Justice Keepers,
charged with keeping order for their country, and they had recognised Van
Helsing as a wanted man, shot him in the back (with a rather stunning
tranquilizer dart, Carl had to admit), put a sack over Carl�s head and carted
them both off to the prison, where they now sat, shoeless, weaponless,
helpless.
�I�m
thinking,� Van Helsing said.
�Well think
a little faster,� Carl grumbled. �I am not up for a hanging this week.�
�I don�t
think they�ll hang you,� Van Helsing replied.
Despite
himself, Carl brightened slightly at this news.
�They won�t?�
Van Helsing
shook his head.
�You�re
only accomplice to murder, not the actual murderer. They�ll simply torture you
until your spleen falls out and you die anyway.�
Carl
sighed, and sunk back against the prison wall.
�How
comforting.�
Van Helsing
paced in the small space, pulling off his hat and tossing it to the floor.
He looked
strange, Carl thought, without his usual leather coat. The item had been
confiscated along with their shoes, and Van Helsing seemed smaller, less
imposing without it.
Unfortunately,
this was not a very comforting thought in their situation.
His leather
vest had gone too, and Van Helsing was now clad only in his breeches and
sweater, the sleeves of which he had pushed up to his elbows, as if in defiance
of the cold.
�We need a
plan,� Carl stated.
�I am aware
of that Carl,� Van Helsing said. He sounded annoyed.
Hmm.
Perhaps best to keep quiet then?
�Any
ideas?�
If only he
could learn to keep his mouth shut.
Van Helsing
stopped pacing, fixing him with a piercing glare through the dark.
�I�m.
Thinking.�
�Oh yes,
right. Of course.�
Carl fell
silent, hugging his arms around his knees, wishing it wasn�t quite so cold.
Honestly,
if it was summer they wouldn�t be having this problem. The summers on the Great
Plane were reputedly hot, reaching scorching temperatures. But the winters,
though dry, were cold and windy, the ground hard and freezing, seeping into the
air and everything around.
Carl didn�t
feel very good He was shivery, he realised, slightly concerned by this
observation. He hugged himself a little tighter. It must be the lack of shoes.
�When�s the
execution going to be? Dawn, isn�t it?�
�Carl. If
you don�t shut up I am going to come over there and make you.�
Carl
winced.
�That, um,
doesn�t sound very pleasant.�
�No,� Van
Helsing agreed. �It doesn�t.�

Carl sighed, making a conscious effort to stem the flow of words that
constantly seemed to be battling to be free. It wasn�t exactly as if he could
help all the thoughts buzzing around inside his head, and he simply preferred
to have them out as opposed to in, cluttering his brain up. Not to mention that
every now and then he said something that someone, somewhere, actually found
interesting.
He blinked,
the dim around him fluttering in and out of focus for a second. He frowned,
reaching a hand up to his forehead, mildly surprised to find the skin there
clammy. He did hope he wasn�t getting ill. That was all they needed right now.
They stayed
like that for some time, Carl huddled on the floor keeping painstakingly quiet
whilst Van Helsing paced in silence, his tall form dark and brooding.
Finally, he
stood still, and Carl felt that dark gaze on him.
�What is
it?� he asked.
When Van
Helsing spoke, his voice seemed strangely flat.
�Nothing.�
Carl
frowned, raising himself up onto his knees.
�What�s
wrong?�
�I have no
plan.�
Again, he
seemed so empty. Carl had only ever heard that blankness in Van Helsing once
before.
When Anna
died.
�There must
be something��
�There�s
nothing. There�s no plan. No escape. We�re going to die.�
He said it so
matter of fact. It sent a shiver tripping down Carl�s spine.
He stood
up, stumbling slightly over his robe, still tucked under his feet, in his
haste.
�If I
didn�t know you better, I�d say that you�ve given up.�
Van Helsing
turned slightly, his eyes meeting Carl�s, and despite the dark Carl could see
that that was, in fact, exactly what Van Helsing had done. He had given up.
�I�m sorry
Carl,� he said. �I�m sorry I couldn�t save you.�
�Don�t be
ridiculous!� Carl snapped, moving forward to stand in front of him. �We are not
going to die in here. Now is not our time!�
Van Helsing
moved suddenly, swiftly, his left hand wrapping around Carl�s arm, yanking him
almost off the ground with the force of his grip.
�Don�t you
understand?� he asked furiously, eyes flashing. �There is no escape. I�ve
thought of everything. There is nothing. We are going to DIE!�
His voice
rose to a sudden shout, then he stepped back, letting Carl go and turning away,
leaning his head against the stone wall, the sudden madness gone as quickly as
it had come.
Carl both
loved and hated Van Helsing in moments like this.
He hated
him for not being invincible, for showing weakness when he was supposed to be
the strong one. But he loved him for still being a man, despite everything he
had seen and done.
He
approached quietly, placing a gentle hand on his friend�s shoulder, feeling the
slight tremors that ran through the other man�s body.
�If we are
truly to die,� he said softly, �there is no other soul on the earth I would
rather have the honour of dying with.�
Van Helsing
chuckled faintly.
�Not even
one of your bar maids?�
Carl
smiled.
�Not even
one of my bar maids.�
He felt Van
Helsing relax under his hand, then instantly stiffen again as a new voice
penetrated the gloom around them.
�How very
touching.�
*
Van Helsing
turned at the foreign voice, immediately stepping forward so that Carl was
behind him, squinting at the bars through the darkness, where the shadowy
outline of a figure could be seen.
�Who are
you?� he demanded.
�Who I am
is not important. Though I am, in some manner of speaking, a friend. It is
exactly who you are that I am concerned with.�
�Why?�
�Are you
not Van Helsing, reputed murderer throughout all of Europe?�
Van Helsing
scowled. He hated the term murderer.
�I am.�
�Ah, but
are you not also Van Helsing, holy man, sent here to vanquish the world of
evil?�
Van Helsing
stiffened, and behind him Carl gasped in surprise.
�How do you
know me?�
�As I said
before, I am a friend, or as close to one as you will find within these walls.
I am here to help you.�
�Why would
you want to help us?� Carl asked, stepping around Van Helsing to stand beside
him.
�I know of
your task, and I have�acquaintances in Romania. Terrible things, gargoyles. It is
in my best interest that you reach your destination.�
�But won�t
you get into trouble?� Carl asked. �I mean, if someone finds out you helped us
escape?�
The figure,
a man Van Helsing surmised, laughed; a sly, confident laugh that Van Helsing
immediately distrusted.
�You let me
worry about that, little friar.�
Van Helsing
frowned. There was something about this man�
�Step into
the light, where we can see you.�
The man
moved, shifting closer to the bars, and a grainy light spilled across his face,
revealing sharp, clever features, and a crop of short dark hair. He was small
and compact, and Van Helsing guessed he would be quick, speedy, if the need
arose.
�Who are
you?� he asked again.
The man
waved an impatient hand.
�As I said
before, that is not important. I am a guard at the prison, that is all you need
to know.�
�Yet you
will help us escape.�
Carls� tone
was sceptical. Van Helsing couldn�t blame him.
�And as I
have already explained, it is in my best interests to let you go.�
Van Helsing
turned to Carl, and he could see the doubt in the other man�s eyes.
�How do we
know we can trust you?� he asked.
The guard
laughed again, and Van Helsing clenched his teeth against the sound.
�You
can�t,� he replied. �You just have to hope you can.�
�I don�t
really see we have a choice, Van Helsing,� Carl murmured. �You said it
yourself, there is no plan.�
Van Helsing
nodded slowly.
It may be
their only chance, and if it truly was a trap, they were no worse off than they
were now; locked in a cell and waiting for death. At least this way they would
be doing something.
�We need
our shoes,� he said. �And my vest and coat.�
�Naturally,�
the guard replied.
�Alright
then. We accept your offer of help.�
�Very
good,� the guard murmured. He was eyeing them, thoughtfully. �I would like to
know, however, exactly how you are planning on repaying me for my act of
kindness.�
�How about
we not kill you?� Van Helsing growled.
He felt
Carl�s hand on his arm, and resisted the urge to lunge at the guard, despite
the bars between them.
The guard
tutted softly.
�Now is
that any way to speak to someone trying to help you?�
�What my
friend here means,� Carl spoke up, �is that we would be happy to repay in any
way we can, although you should be aware that we do not carry money or valuable
goods upon us, nor do we own anything very substantial at all.�
The guard
smiled, his eyes on Carl�s face
�Oh, but
what you lack in material possessions, you truly surpass in�other areas.�
Van Helsing
narrowed his eyes, unhappy with the way the guard fixated on Carl�s face so
intently. The disquiet he�d felt since the offer was first made intensified.
�Gentlemen,
you are not simpletons so I will not treat you as such and be honest.� He
looked at Van Helsing, his eyes sparkling with sudden malevolence. �I have
taken quite a fancy to your friend. He is beautiful. Surely you must have seen
it.�
Van Helsing
felt Carl quivering with embarrassment, but did not look at him, unwilling to
let the guard out of his sight.
�I want
him,� the guard confessed, the �want� slightly breathy with need. �But I am,
unfortunately, not allowed to touch the prisoners.�
�You�re not
allowed to free the prisoners either,� Van Helsing growled.
The guard
waved a careless hand in the air.
�Discrepancies,�
he replied. �There are certain rules that no man must break.� His eyes
flickered to Carl again. �No matter how much one might wish it.�
Van Helsing
felt Carl shudder, and resisted a sudden, strong, protective urge to put a hand
on his shoulder.
�Therefore
I simply wish for you to do the deed for me.�
Van Helsing
blinked.
This guard
wanted him to�with Carl?
�No.�
�Ah ah ah.
Don�t be so hasty. What are a few moments of pleasure for a lifetime of
freedom?�
That was
all well and good, but Van Helsing was pretty sure that Carl had never even
entertained the idea of�that with another man before, and Van Helsing certainly
wasn�t about to be the first one to proposition him. Especially under these
circumstances.
�No,� he
repeated. �If you want to let us out, let us out. If not, at least have the
courtesy to let us die in peace.�
�Uh�Van
Helsing?�
Van Helsing
frowned at the gentle touch on his arm, looking at Carl in question.
�Well, I,
uh�� Carl glanced furtively at the guard, then lowered his voice. �Maybe we
shouldn�t be so quick to refuse his offer.�
Van Helsing
stared at him.
�You are
joking.�
�I, well,
no actually.�
Carl was
blushing; Van Helsing could clearly see it in the dark, crawling up his neck
and across his cheeks.
�A few
moments for freedom,� he said.
�You�want
to do this?�
�No, of
course not.� Carl looked genuinely surprised by the idea. �However I�m not so
keen on dying today. Or having my spleen tortured out of me. And you said it
yourself, there is no plan. It�s about surviving.�
Van Helsing
was still staring at him, unable to quite accept what Carl was saying.
�You know
he�ll want to watch.�
�I�ll keep
my eyes closed.�
Van Helsing
desperately wished Carl wasn�t so brave. It would have been so much easier if
Carl had been repulsed, disgusted by the whole idea, except for the fact that
they would then be on their way to certain death. But then at least Van Helsing
wouldn�t have the rather unexpected image of Carl in his head, skin flushed,
eyes closed, head thrown back in pleasure.
An image he
suddenly couldn�t seem to get out of
his head.
�Are you
sure about this?�
Carl nodded
firmly, and Van Helsing felt a flush of something akin to pride for the other
man, who was so determined, who faced challenges other men would have long run
from. Who definitely didn�t deserve to be in this situation.
There must
have been some lingering doubt in his eyes, for Carl leaned forward suddenly,
placing a gentle hand on Van Helsing�s cheek and whispering �Gabriel, it�s
okay.�
Van Helsing
stared at him for a moment, searching those blue eyes for any trace of fear or
uncertainty, but Carl�s resolve was firm.
He pulled
away from Carl�s hand and turned to the guard, who had been watching them with
keen eyes.
�Alright,�
he said steadily. �We accept your conditions. But you must give us your word
that you will then free us.�
The guard
bowed his head in slight mockery.
�I give you
my word, for what little it might mean to you.�
He reached
into the pocket of his uniform and fished out a small pot which he tossed
through the bars, and Van Helsing caught effortlessly.
�You might
be needing that,� the guard chuckled.
Van Helsing
stared at the pot, suddenly feeling strange and uncomfortable and having no
idea what to do.
This was
Carl. Carl for God�s sake. He
couldn�t just�do that�with Carl.
He felt
gently fingers covering his own, and looked up into Carl�s eyes, surprisingly
calm and reassuring.
�It�s
alright,� Carl said softly, pulling the pot from between his fingertips, and
stepping close. �Just relax.�
He leaned
forward, and Van Helsing closed his eyes, feeling Carl�s lips, gentle and soft,
on his own, then the touch of Carl�s tongue, again gentle, stroking along his
bottom lip. He opened his mouth obligingly, and felt Carl slip inside,
carefully exploring him, Carl�s hand slipping around his waist to draw him
closer, their hips pressing together.
Van Helsing
was suddenly aware of a need igniting inside of him, a need he hadn�t felt or
experienced since Anna died, a need he though he might never have again.
Carl�s hand
moved lower, stroking over his buttocks before cupping them, grinding their
hips in a slow, almost lazy motion, his teeth nipping lightly at Van Helsing�s
lower lip.
Van Helsing
groaned, his own hand moving to the back of Carl�s head, deepening the kiss
with an almost frenzied passion, as if Carl had released a barrier within him,
and there was no longer any way to hold back.
Carl nipped
at his lip again, then his lips travelled lower, along Van Helsing�s jaw and down
his neck, settling over the pulse point and gently sucking, his hand coming up
to bury itself in the long brown tresses, pulling Van Helsing�s head to one
side, exposing his neck, as his lips worked, teeth nibbling at the sensitive
skin.
Van Helsing
groaned again, and Carl looked up, blue eyes flashing with a hint of
playfulness before he pulled away, licking his lips and reaching for the
buttons on Van Helsing�s trousers.
Van Helsing
gasped, Carl�s hand reaching inside and wrapping around him, squeezing gently,
before pulling him out completely, the coolly air on his organ making him
shudder.
Carl
stroked him a few times, pushing his trousers down his hips with the other
hand, until he was at full hardness, then he dropped to his knees.
Van Helsing
held his breath, but Carl didn�t take him in his mouth straight away; he blew
across the head, placing his hands on Van Helsing�s hips to steady him, and
then ran his tongue down the underside, tracing the vein that throbbed against
the pink skin. Van Helsing bucked at the unexpected touch, and Carl�s fingers
tightened on his hips. He closed his eyes, then opened them again, the image of
Carl on his knees before him possibly one of the most arousing sights he had
ever seen in his life.
Carl sucked
one of his testicles into his mouth, rolling it over his tongue and causing Van
Helsing�s eyes to flutter shut, his hands forming fists at his sides, nails
digging into his palms. Carl released one and then gave the same treatment to
the other before sliding his tongue along the perineum, Van Helsing groaning,
and then travelling further, flickering across the beginning of the cleft
between his buttocks briefly before retreating, slipping back up the length of
his penis and taking the head in his mouth.
Van Helsing
cursed involuntarily, his hands going to Carl�s head, tangling in his hair as
Carl sucked gently, almost teasingly, at his tip, and it took all his self
control not to just thrust into the back of Carl�s throat.
Carl
relented and moved slowly but steadily along his length, pulling back and
forth, taking in a little more each time, swallowing as it hit the back of his
throat, accepting Van Helsing further.
Van Helsing
tightened his grip on Carl�s hair, fisting the short blonde strands, as Carl
sucked him deeper into his throat. It occurred to him somewhere in his pleasure
hazed mind that this definitely wasn�t the first time Carl had done this, but
the thought was pushed aside when he felt Carl�s hands slip from his hips to
his arse, swallowing heavily as he firmly pulled him the rest of the way down
his throat.
Van Helsing
let out a cry of surprise, eyes flying open and fixing on Carl�s which
flickered to his face. He slackened his jaw even more, then used his hands to
grip Van Helsing�s hips, pulling him out a little before cupping his buttocks
to push him back in. Van Helsing moaned as Carl repeated the movement, then
blinked up at him, his meaning clear.
Van Helsing
was too far gone to even attempt to resist, Carl�s mouth so hot and wet
surrounding, engulfing him, and he tightened his grip on Carl�s head, pulling
out then thrusting in, Carl�s throat muscles contracting deliciously around
him.
He did it
again, then again, thrusting in earnest now, Carl�s throat relaxing more with
each movement, his hands on Van Helsing�s arse pulling him in with each thrust,
a low moan in the very back of his throat trembling along Van Helsing�s cock.
That moan
made Van Helsing lose any reserve he still carried, and he thrust with abandon,
his grip on Carl�s head almost punishing, moving in and out of that warmth, the
friction of Carl�s tongue almost unbearable.
He felt
Carl�s hand curve around his arse, slipping along his perineum, touching,
briefly, the base of his cock, then pulling back again, stroking along his
cleft, slick with spit and sweat. It pushed carefully inside him, teasing the
tight ring of muscle then slipping past the resistance, inside, and the sudden
sensation of pain mixed with consuming pleasure sent him over the edge.
He cried
out, slamming himself hard into Carl�s mouth, twisting Carl�s hair in his
hands, as he spilt himself down the willing throat, feeling the muscles shaking
and spasming around him, his eyes squeezed shut as he rode the wave of his
pleasure.
He felt
Carl�s hands gently pushing on his hips, realising vaguely the other man
probably couldn�t breathe, and slowly pulled back, Carl�s tongue swirling
around the head and sucking gently as it slipped past his lips.
He
staggered, suddenly feeling quite weak, to the wall, slumping against it to the
ground, resting his head against the cool stone, eyes closed, his heart beating
hard behind his eyelids.
There was
the sudden rustle of clothing, and he cracked one eye open to see Carl pulling
his robe over his head, followed by his linen shirt and trousers.
He stood,
naked, and ran his hand up and down his arousal, the action almost mesmerising
as he met Van Helsing�s stare, his eyes dark with lust.
Van Helsing
had never seen Carl like that before, had never imagined seeing Carl like that
before, and, despite himself, he felt a stirring of interest as Carl walked
towards him, his hand still moving steadily.
He dropped
to his knees before Van Helsing and leant forward, giving him a bruising kiss,
then reached for his sweater, tugging it over his head and pulling his
trousers, already halfway down his thighs, off the rest of the way.
He shifted
forward, straddling Van Helsing so that his erect cock brushed Van Helsing�s
stomach, taking Van Helsing�s head in his hands and kissing him deeply.
Van Helsing
could taste himself on Carl�s tongue, sharp, slightly bitter, and he shuddered,
stirring against Carl, Carl�s hips shifting ever so slightly against him.
Carl stroked
a hand through Van Helsing�s hair, letting the tresses run through his fingers,
then brushed his fingertips against his cheek, the action surprisingly gentle.
Van Helsing opened his eyes, pulling back slightly to see Carl�s face clearly,
and Carl met his gaze, calm yet hungry, his groin moving against Van Helsing�s
insistently.
Van Helsing
groaned, reaching for Carl�s hips, pulling him against him, their bodies flush,
arousals trapped between their stomachs, and Carl bent his head, tongue
flickering across the mark left on his neck earlier, then moving lower, down
his chest, sliding across his nipple before taking it in his mouth, biting it
gently, his fingers twisting the other, Van Helsing moaning and writhing under
him.
�Carl,� he
gasped, his hands cupping the friar�s buttocks, squeezing them, pulling him
close, bucking his hips into Carl�s arousal, tiny stars of pleasure exploding
across his vision.
Carl raised
his head again, hand still pulling at Van Helsing�s nipple, and kissed him
deeply, his free hand caressing Van Helsing�s cheek, then the fingers forcing
their way into his mouth, tangling briefly with Carl�s tongue before it
withdrew, and Van Helsing sucked those fingers in, much like Carl had earlier
sucked in other body parts.
Carl
groaned, his hand leaving Van Helsing�s nipple and wrapping around their cocks,
pressing them together, moving rapidly up and down, his fingers going in and
out of Van Helsing�s mouth at the same pace.
Van Helsing
let out a muffled yell, the sudden presence of Carl�s hand sending pleasure
spiralling deep inside of him, and felt Carl press his fingers a little deeper,
before withdrawing them altogether, his wet hand sliding down Van Helsing�s
side to his right hip, slipping around him to caress the cheeks of his arse.
Van Helsing shifted under him, arching his back as Carl�s hand squeezed them
both, lifting himself slightly off the floor, Carl�s finger gently pushing
inside.
He felt
himself tense up, stiffen, and Carl squeezed his cock again, forcing him to
relax even as he began to move the finger within him; a sharp, stinging,
unexpected pain.
Carl leaned
forward, blowing gently across Van Helsing�s earlobe before taking it in his
mouth, nibbling and sucking at it, pushing another finger inside him.
Van Helsing
cried out this time, unable to avoid the sudden wave of pain that shot through
him, Carl�s fingers stretching him, testing him, even as his other hand and
mouth were causing him almost unbearable pleasure.
Carl kissed
him, their tongued dancing inside Van Helsing�s mouth, another finger adding to
the pain, pushing deeper inside of him, moving in short thrusts, twisting, and
then a sudden bolt of pleasure as they found his prostate, lifting him right
off the floor, back arched, head thrown back, a loud cry escaping.
Carl�s
fingers thrust in again, that lightening bolt of pleasure intensifying, a curse
word spilling from his lips, then they were pulling out, and Carl wound his
slippery fingers in Van Helsing�s hair, pulling his head back sharply, raising
himself up onto his knees as he kissed him hard and deep, a touch of dominance
in his actions.
Van Helsing
gasped as Carl released him, slumping back against the wall, and Carl stared
down at him, eyes so dark with need now, his face more intense than Van Helsing
had ever seen him. He half stood, reaching for Van Helsing�s shoulders, sliding
his hands underneath.
�Turn
over.�
Van Helsing
had never heard Carl speak like that before, his voice rough, firm, commanding.
He did as he was told, twisting on the stone, pushing himself up onto his hands
and knees, feeling Cal behind him, running his hands across Van Helsing�s back,
down his hips, cupping his arse.
He felt
Carl�s thumbs, warm and rough, parting him, one pushing gently inside and the
sound of the pot the being opened.
Carl�s
breathing quickened, and Van Helsing closed his eyes tight, the image of Carl
coating himself, touching himself, burned to the insides of his eyelids.
He felt
Carl�s hand return, wet this time, then Carl was pushing inside him and the
pain was incredible, and he couldn�t breathe.
His hand, flat
against the floor, clenched into a sudden fist, his whole body stiffening at
the unfamiliar intrusion, and Carl stilled, his hand gently stroking Van
Helsing�s hip, trying to get him to relax a little before he pushed again.
Van Helsing
let out a chocked cry, and Carl�s hand moved around his hip, grasping his
arousal and pulling on it, the pleasure creating a heady mix with the pain, the
cry turning to a moan then a cry again as Carl continued to push, not stopping
this time, pushing smoothly inside him until he was buried to the hilt and Van
Helsing�s whole body seemed to be throbbing and burning.
He waited,
gasping, sweat dripping down his face, and felt Carl still, deep within him,
and then the most unexpected sensation of Carl�s chest, pressing down against
his back, Carl�s hands running across his shoulders and down his arms, resting
on his clenched fists and loosening them, entwining their fingers together, his
breath hot on the side of Van Helsing�s neck.
�It�s
okay,� he whispered, and Van Helsing moved his head jerkily, his cheek
colliding with Carl�s mouth, then Carl�s lips on his in a soft, gentle kiss,
his tongue flickering along Van Helsing�s jaw.
He shifted
his hips slightly, and Van Helsing closed his eyes against the burn, gripping
Carl�s fingers tightly, forcing himself to accept the invasion, to relax.
Carl kissed
his shoulder, twisting his hips gently, his cock barely moving inside Van
Helsing, and Van Helsing clenched his inner muscles, feeling Carl�s gasp of
surprise against his shoulder, his grip loosening on Carl�s fingers.
Carl
withdrew slightly, then slowly pushed back in, still barely moving, allowing
Van Helsing to adjust, before pulling out again, a little further, and then
pushing back inside. Van Helsing clenched his jaw as Carl continued to move, a
little more each time, until he was thrusting smoothly in and out, almost the
entire length of him, Van Helsing pushing back against him each time,
encouraging the motion.
Carl�s
hands were on his hips, holding him fast as he thrust, and he began to move a
bit faster, tightening his hold on Van Helsing�s hips as he pushed deep inside
him, Van Helsing lifting back and up to meet him, settling into a hard rhythm.
Carl
groaned, then suddenly pressed hard against Van Helsing�s prostate, causing him
to cry out, wrapping his left arm around Van Helsing�s chest, pulling him
firmly against him then dragging them both backwards, falling onto his knees,
Van Helsing almost sitting on him. He continued to thrust, short, stabbing
motions that hit Van Helsing�s prostate each time, causing him to let out a
gasping cry each time, the angle pushing Carl in even deeper, Carl�s arm still
wrapped around his chest, holding him in place, the right slipping around his
cock, fisting it in time to his thrusts. Van Helsing clawed at the stone floor,
gripping Carl�s legs, underneath him, lost in the pleasure tearing through his
body, Carls� hands and cock bringing him closer to the edge.
He cried
out, a long, continuous sound, and threw his head back against Carl�s shoulder,
his cock jumping in Carl�s hand as his orgasm screamed through him, Carl�s hand
still moving, his hips still thrusting.
Van Helsing
fell, limp, against Carl�s chest, and Carl stilled for a moment, his lips brushing
against Van Helsing�s throat briefly, before gently pushing him back onto his
hands and knees and gripping his hips, moving in a pounding, punishing rhythm,
his fingers white on Van Helsing�s hips, sweat dripping down his face onto Van
Helsing�s back until he slammed in hard, his cock jumping deep within Van
Helsing, the fingers on his hips painfully tight. And then Carl was bending
over him, pushing his hair out of the way and pressing a soft, chaste kiss just
behind his ear, before collapsing on his back and Van Helsing�s arms, unable to
support both their weight, gave way and he fell against the stone floor, Carl
heavy and suffocating on top of him, before rolling to the side.
Van Helsing
lay still, eyes closed, trying very hard not to think or breathe or exist.
He wasn�t
sure what the hell that just was, but it had felt like a lot more than simply
surviving.
Something
soft hit him in the side and he heard the guard, his voice slightly rough.
�Get
cleaned up and put your clothes on. I�ll find your shoes.�
He
couldn�t. He couldn�t move.
He heard
Carl stirring beside him, bending over him, then a gentle hand was cleaning his
stomach with a coarse towel.
He still
didn�t move, didn�t open his eyes, didn�t think he could, and then Carl moved
away again, and he concentrated on the sounds of Carl cleaning himself then
dressing, the familiar rustle of the friar�s robe soothing him, helping him to
breathe.
�Gabriel,�
he said softly.
Van Helsing
opened his eyes, focusing on Carl�s face.
�You have
to get dressed.�
He was
holding Van Helsing�s trousers and sweater out, and Van Helsing slowly sat up,
took them wordlessly as he got to his feet, a gentle ache already starting in
his backside.
His eyes
fell on the bars, on the darkened patch of stone which still held traces of
white, the damp towel lying nearby.
He
grimaced. The guard. He had almost managed to forget they were being watched.
He squared
his shoulders suddenly.
He hoped
that bastard had had his fill, because he wasn�t getting anything else.
He pulled
his clothes on with jerky, uncoordinated movements, and could feel Carl�s eyes
on him, but didn�t meet the gaze, not yet ready to face him.
He found
his hat, still lying on the floor from when he�d thrown it earlier, and placed
in carefully on his head.
The guard
was back, holding their shoes and Van Helsing�s coat and vest through the bars.
Van Helsing ripped them from his hands, tossing Carl�s in his direction without
looking at him, yanking on his vest and boots, then his coat, checking,
briefly, that his tojos were still hidden inside the sleeves.
The guard
was watching him with a slight sneer, and Van Helsing returned the look
stonily, his eyes cold and hard.
The guard
withdrew a key from his pocket, then inserted it into the padlock, unwinding
the chain and slowly drawing the bars aside, making as little noise as
possible.
Van Helsing
did look at Carl then, who was standing a little way behind him. Carl looked
unsure and nervous, the confidence he had found during their�ordeal...seemingly
vanished. Van Helsing gestured silently for him to go first, keeping his face
as blank as possible, and Carl nodded, shuffling out of the cell.
As he
passed the guard, Van Helsing saw the plain leer upon the other man�s face, and
felt a sudden anger sweep through him. He clenched his fist and strode forward,
determined not to rise to it and just pass the guard and carry on walking, but
the guard reached out, wrapping his hand around Van Helsing�s arm and leaning
forward to hiss in his ear �How did he taste, your little friar friend? How did
he taste on your tongue?�
The anger
intensified, a red wash before his eyes, and Van Helsing pushed him hard
against the iron bars, grasping his throat in one hand, squeezing hard.
�Ask me
now,� he hissed. �Ask me how he tastes now.�
The guard
spluttered, his fingers clawing at Van Helsing�s hand, and Van Helsing was only
vaguely aware of Carl pulling at his arm, begging him to let go. He pulled on
the man�s throat, jerking him away from the wall and hurling him into the now
empty cell. The guard lay on the floor, dazed, and before he could regain his
senses, Van Helsing slammed the iron bars shut, locking the chain around them
with the key, still lodged in the padlock.
He held the
key up, the guard blinking confusedly at it, one hand held protectively around
his injured throat.
�Try
getting someone to fuck you out of that one,� he said, then turned and stomped
through the open door at the end of the hall, Carl a hair�s breadth behind, the
key still clutched tight in his hand.
*
Carl was
silent as he followed Van Helsing through the maze of prison corridors. He
stayed close behind, trusting Van Helsing to lead them safely past any guards,
guiding them with mysterious inner instinct he seemed to have.
Finally,
they reached a door that led them to the outside wall of the prison. The high,
thick, spiked wall of the prison.
Carl looked
at it doubtfully, then suppressed a cry as Van Helsing
yanked on the hood of his robe, pulling him
back into the building and closing the door. He gave Carl a look which told him
to be quiet under all circumstances, then pressed his ear against the wooden
door.
Carl held
his breath, the heavy, solid footsteps of a man passing outside the door, then
fading.
�Guards,�
Van Helsing said. It was the first time he had spoken since leaving the cell.
�We�ll have
to time this exactly right.� He looked deep in thought for a moment, then
nodded decisively. �After the next one�s been by, I�ll give you a leg up and
you can drop down to the other side. Don�t wait for me, run straight towards
the tree line. There may be lookouts.� He frowned. �They may try to shoot you.
Just run. Don�t look back.�
Now it was
Carl�s turn to frown. He wasn�t happy with this plan. Not happy at all.
�The wall
is too high. You�ll never get over on your own. And it has spikes all along the
top. Sharp spikes. We�ll be shredded before we reach the other side. I�m not a
very good runner. And if the lookouts see me they�ll be ready for you, which
means you�re doubly likely to be shot.�
Van Helsing
narrowed his eyes, lips pressing into a thin line.
Despite
himself, Carl felt a flash of fear, remembering the way he reacted to the guard
earlier.
�Do you
have a better plan? How long do you think it will be before they find our
friend back there? People will be looking for us. We have to move.�
Carl
sighed.
�Oh
alright. Then let�s get on. The longer we hang around here the more likely they
are to catch us.�
For a
second Van Helsing�s eyes blazed with a mixture of anger and frustration, and
Carl winced inwardly, wishing he wasn�t quite so irritating sometimes.
�Shh,� Van
Helsing hissed, and Carl bit his lip, those heavy, measured footsteps
returning.
Van Helsing
waited for a few moments, then nodded at Carl, pulling open the door and
grabbing Carl�s hand, yanking him to the wall and bending down, offering his
hands as a foothold. Carl stepped into it, bracing himself against the wall,
and Van Helsing pushed him upwards, hard, his fingers scrabbling at the wall
until they found purchase upon the flat of the top, wrapping his fingers around
the iron spikes and wincing as they bit into his palms.
He felt Van
Helsing�s hands under his feet, shoving him upwards, and he pulled with all his
might, hoisting himself towards the spikes. He threw one leg over the wall,
over the spikes, and winced as the tip caught his ankle, piercing the skin. He
manoeuvred himself to balance precariously over the spikes, his feet digging
into the wall for dear life, his manhood looking at a rather unpleasant
spearing if he slipped. He tilted desperately towards the ground, lifting his
other leg over, letting go with one hand, and then he was falling, landing on
the ground, jarring his shoulder painfully. He lay for a moment, stunned and
winded, then forced himself to stand, running on painful legs towards the tree
line, a good twenty metres away.
He did as
Van Helsing told him, ran, didn�t look back, blocked out all sights and sound,
just concentrated on the tree line, on reaching it, and even then didn�t stop,
crashing though the trees until he could run no more and collapsed, cradling
his wounded shoulder as he slumped against a tree trunk, gasping for breath.
He waited,
eyes closed, jumping at every rustle, until finally he heard the familiar thud
of Van Helsing�s boots, and a hiss of �Carl!� through the trees.
He
staggered unsteadily to his feet, taking a few steps in the direction of the
voice, the stopping, a surprising wave of dizziness washing over him.
What was
wrong with him? Had he hit his head or something? Why was he so hot?
�Van-�
He tried to
speak, but his throat was too dry. He swallowed, tried again.
�Van
Helsing.�
His voice
sounded faint to his ears, scratchy somehow, and when he tried to take another
step, the trees tilted around him, suddenly turning upside down as Van
Helsing�s arms were catching him and his eyes were staring down at him and then
he didn�t know anything anymore.
*
When Carl
awoke, he had a splitting headache.
It was dark
and he was aware that he was lying down, his back pressed against the cold
ground, a heavy blanket thrown over him.
Not a blanket,
he realised a moment later, his mind trying to clear some of the fuzz that had
enveloped it, but Van Helsing�s coat. That was why it was so heavy.
He tried to
move, but he seemed suddenly so weak, and the heavy coat was pinning him down,
trapping him.
Panicked,
unable to move, he cried out, thrashing under the leather, suddenly feeling
like he couldn�t breathe, oh God, he couldn�t breathe.
�Stop.�
A hand
stilled him, placed gently on his chest, and he immediately went limp, staring
up into Van Helsing�s eyes, trying to dispel the sudden alarm he had felt.
�It�s
okay,� Van Helsing said softly.
Carl
blinked a few times, forced himself to take a few breaths. He could breathe
after all.
�Are you
alright?� Van Helsing asked.
Carl nodded
slowly, and Van Helsing helped him to sit up, carefully lifting the coat of
him.
�How are
you feeling?�
Carl opened
his mouth, then closed it again. How was
he feeling? Confused, panicked, ill, shaken. All of the above.
�What
happened?� he asked.
Van Helsing
regarded him carefully for a moment.
�I think
you have some sort of virus,� he said. �It weakened you, must have started when
we were in the prison. I think all the, er, physical activity was too much for
you to handle.�
He seemed
suddenly to be avoiding Carl�s eyes.
�You had a
fever, but it broke this morning.�
�Morning?�
Carl squinted around at the dark trees. �How long have I been out?�
�Two days.�
�Two�days?�
Van Helsing
nodded and looked at Carl, eyes suddenly very serious.
�I thought
you were going to die,� he said quietly.
Carl stared
at him, speechless. Die? All he�d felt was a little dizzy.
�I�m fine,�
he said.
�You are
now. At least I hope you are. Your recovery seems very sudden.�
�My near
death seemed very sudden!� Carl exclaimed, then immediately regretted it when
Van Helsing�s face closed off, his eyes becoming carefully blank.
�You should
eat something,� he said tonelessly, gesturing to a spit of what looked like
rabbit meat on a small fire that Carl hadn�t even noticed before.
�I�m going
to check the area.�
Carl opened
his mouth to protest, but Van Helsing was already slipping through the trees,
his footsteps quick and light as they faded from Carl�s hearing.
He sighed,
rubbing a hand across his slightly damp forehead.
What on
earth was wrong with Van Helsing? Carl hoped to God it wasn�t about�what
happened, because really, that had been their only way out, they had had no
choice.
Carl wasn�t
a fool. He knew that things would have to change between them, that they
couldn�t just pretend it had never happened, but Van Helsing had another thing
coming if he thought that Carl was going to allow Van Helsing to shut him out.
Nothing had happened yet that was so bad it could destroy their friendship, and
Carl wasn�t about to let it happen now.
He crawled,
slightly unsteadily, towards the fire, gingerly picking a piece of meat off the
spit and nibbling it. It wasn�t very good, but he was grateful for something to
fill his stomach with, even as his body rebelled against the idea, and no
sooner had he eaten it that it came back up again, and he vomited against a
nearby tree trunk.
He sat back
on his heels, wiping his mouth with a sleeve, and froze when he saw Van Helsing
nearby, leaning against a tree trunk and watching him.
�Sorry,� he
murmured, embarrassed that Van Helsing had witnessed him loosing what little
dignity he had appeared to have left.
Van Helsing
didn�t speak, but walked towards him, bending down and taking his chin in his
hand, peering into his eyes.
�Are you
alright?� he asked.
Carl
shrugged, feeling awkward with Van Helsing so close.
�Just your
awful cooking,� he joked weakly, but Van Helsing only narrowed his eyes in
concern.
�You should
lie back down,� he said. �You need to get your strength back. We have to move
in the morning.�
Carl
frowned.
�Are we
still near the prison?�
�Not
particularly. I�ve been moving us a little farther away each day, but we�re
still not far enough. They�ll be looking for us, and I have no doubt that
they�ll be faster than we are.�
Carl
nodded, absorbing the fact that Van Helsing had had to carry him, unconscious,
through the woods for two days. He must be exhausted.
�You should
sleep,� he said. �I�ll keep watch.�
Van Helsing
shook his head, taking Carl�s arm and leading him firmly back to the fire.
�You rest,�
he said. �I watch.�
He pushed
Carl to the ground and covered him with his coat.
�Sleep,� he
said firmly. �I�ll wake you when we have to leave.�
Despite his
protests, Carl found himself becoming sleepy, and snuggled under Van Helsing�s
warm coat.
�Maybe just
five minutes,� he murmured, closing his eyes and resting his head on his hands.
Just five
minutes�
*
Van
Helsing, huddled close to the fire, watched Carl sleep.
He was tired, but not from physical
exhaustion. Mentally, he wasn�t sure how much longer he could keep it together.
It had been
an exhausting few days.
First with
the capture, then the whole doomed situation, then, well, what happened with
Carl, and then Carl almost dying on him. It was no wonder he was feeling the
strain.
But the
thing that was really getting him down, even more so than Carl dying, was Carl
himself.
How was it
that feelings for someone could change so drastically in such a short space of
time?
Van Helsing
would swear before God and the whole Heavenly Host that he had never had any
sort of feelings other than friendship towards Carl before. No lust, no sexual
urges, no desire. Just plain friendship.
But now�now
his skin felt hot whenever he thought of Carl touching him the way he had
touched him in that cell, when he thought of Carl kissing him, of Carl talking
to him or Carl breathing or just�Carl.
But it was
more than that, more than just lust, more than just sex. Because when he had
thought Carl was dying he had felt so scared, so terrified. He had felt more
than just friendship, more than just desire.
Dear God.
He was in love with Carl.
How in all
of hell that had happened, he wasn�t sure, and now that it had happened he had
no idea whatsoever how to deal with it.
He couldn�t
tell him, that was certain. He had no idea how Carl would react, and Van Helsing
had always assumed that Carl wasn�t that way inclined.
Which
raised another matter he was trying very hard not to think about.
Because,
judging by exactly what Carl had done to him in that prison cell, Carl had
almost definitely been with another man before, which just about shattered
every logical and sane thought in Van Helsing�s world.
Because
Carl couldn�t�he didn�t�he wasn�t�was he?
It appeared
that Carl was a lot less innocent than Van Helsing had presumed.
And that
made the situation all very, very complicated, because no matter how hard Van
Helsing tried, he couldn�t rid himself of the idea that his intentions towards
Carl might not be entirely unwanted.
And no
matter how hard he tried, he couldn�t forget the way Carl had kissed him,
afterwards.
He closed
his eyes, remembering how terrified he�d been when Carl had seemed so close to
the edge. After he had passed out, Van Helsing had had no choice but to pick
him up and run as far away from the prison as he could, deeper and deeper into
the forest. Throughout the next day he had become progressively worse, running
a high temperature and probable fever, unable to wake. Van Helsing had been at
a loss, having no water, and eventually had to leave him to track down a
stream, using an empty bottle of holy water to take some back to Carl, forcing
some inside him.
But they
couldn�t stay in one place for too long, and on the second morning, afraid that
constantly moving Carl was just making the fever worse, he had stayed in one
spot, not too far from the stream, and waited.
The fever
broke about midmorning, and Carl woke during the evening.
Van Helsing
could tell, just by looking at him, that he had no idea how close to death he
had come.
He was
awake now. Still not out of danger, but awake.
They would
move on in the morning, and Van Helsing would take him back to Rome. Screw Romania, and screw the gargoyles. It was no
longer safe for them anyway. The guard had known their mission and destination;
he could send other guards after them.
He wouldn�t
compromise Carl�s health or safety.
He looked
across at the friar, buried deep under his coat, only his pale hair visible.
No, he
wouldn�t risk losing Carl for anything.
*
Carl woke
to cool, heavy mists, which Van Helsing assured him would burn off as the soon
as the sun was high enough up, something Carl wasn�t entirely happy about. With
his fair hair and pale complexion he was a magnet for sunburn. He wondered idly
if Van Helsing would lend him his hat.
They
removed all signs of their camp quickly and efficiently, and Van Helsing forced
Carl to eat some cold rabbit meat.
�Your
stomach�s empty. You need to keep up your strength.�
They set
off, Carl following Van Helsing�s lead, and it wasn�t too long before Carl
realised they were going in the wrong direction.
�Um, Van
Helsing? Correct me if I�m wrong, but isn�t Romania that way?�
Van Helsing
didn�t break his stride.
�We�re not
going to Romania.�
�Oh.� Carl
had to run a little to reach his side. �Then where are we going?�
�Rome.�
Surprised,
Carl opened his mouth to respond, and a fly zoomed down his throat. He coughed
and spluttered, unable to breathe as he leant against a tree trunk for support.
�Carl!� Van
Helsing was immediately at his side. �Are you alright?�
Carl
nodded, spitting onto the ground and clearing his throat.
�Fly,� he
said.
Van Helsing
looked relieved.
�Why are we
going back to Rome?� Carl asked.
�It�s too
dangerous for us to go to Romania now,� Van Helsing replied. �That
guard knew where we were going. He could send someone after us.� He grimaced
slightly. �And I have no doubt he will.�
�Yes, well.
You didn�t have to strangle him and throw him in the cell, did you?�
Van Helsing
narrowed his eyes.
�He said-�
he broke off suddenly.
�I heard
what he said,� Carl replied, and Van Helsing coloured slightly; he obviously
thought that Carl hadn�t.
There was
an uncomfortable moment of silence, then Carl sighed, adjusting his robe. A Van
Helsing had predicted, the sun was burning off the mist, and the air was
unpleasantly hot.
�I suppose
we should keep moving.�
Van Helsing
nodded and took and the lead, and they did not speak for the rest of the day.
Carl found
this new silence most disconcerting.
He and Van
Helsing had always found it quite easy to converse; they would joke and laugh
together, and Carl had never felt this strained atmosphere that he felt between
them now. It disturbed him. He didn�t like to feel that Van Helsing could no
longer talk to him, but any attempt at conversation was brushed to one side.
When the
sun began to set, they stopped at a small clearing, setting up a fire before
nightfall. Van Helsing left Carl to tend to it, whilst he went to find them
something to eat.
Carl
shivered by the small flames, the air quite cool now in the absence of the sun.
He was more
than a little relieved when he heard Van Helsing returning. It wasn�t that he
was afraid exactly, it was just sitting in the woods alone made him uneasy; Van
Helsing�s presence was comforting.
�How are
you feeling?� Van Helsing asked.
�Oh, I�m
fine,� Carl replied. �In actual fact, I feel quite-� He broke off as he saw
what Van Helsing had over his shoulders. �Good heavens! How on earth did you
manage to catch that?�
Van Helsing
smiled and lowered the adult wild boar the ground beside the fire.
�It was
injured,� he said. �Otherwise I wouldn�t have had a chance.�
They spent
the next half hour in silence, both helping to cut and skin parts of the boar.
The rest, Carl wrapped in his linen shirt, so that they could take it with
them.
Satisfied
and full, they lay back on the uneven ground, close to the merry fire.
Carl closed
his eyes and tried to pretend he couldn�t feel the atmosphere between them, but
it was no good. There was a definite strain, a nervous tension, and Carl was
getting tired of it.
�We could
talk about it.�
Van Helsing
feigned ignorance.
�Talk about
what?�
�You know.�
As if
either of them had honestly been able to think of anything else.
�What good
would talk do?�
�It might
get things, well, out in the open.�
�I think
we�ve already had enough things out in the open, Carl,� Van Helsing replied,
with obvious meaning.
Carl
flushed.
�I just
think this�this tension is unhealthy.�
For a
moment Van Helsing was silent, and Carl thought he wasn�t going to reply.
�Alright,�
he said finally. �I have a question for you.�
That
sounded ominous.
�Yes?� he
asked nervously.
�Who,
exactly, have you been fucking?�
The
crudeness of the words hung in the night air, and Carl felt his whole body heat
in embarrassment.
�I, Van
Helsing, I haven�t, I mean�� he spluttered.
�Don�t lie
to me,� Van Helsing said, his voice soft and dangerous. �You knew what you were
doing in that cell. So who have you been doing it with, Carl?�
Carl felt a
sudden flush of anger overtake his embarrassment. Van Helsing was treating him
as one would a naughty child!
�What
business is it of yours?� he asked coldly.
�Oh I think
it�s my business,� Van Helsing replied calmly. �You see I�m almost certain
you�re not doing it with another monk, and that leaves your options rather
limited. Which means that you�re doing it out of the abbey.�
He moved
suddenly, leaning over Carl, gripping his forearms tight, their faces only
inches apart.
�Do you
visit the whorehouses, Carl? Is that how you get it? Do you pay for it?�
Carl had
never seen Van Helsing like this. His eyes were blazing with fury and anger,
his features twisted grotesquely. He looked quite mad.
And if Carl
hadn�t been so incensed, he would have been very afraid.
�How dare
you!� he cried. �How dare you accuse me of such things! You know nothing about
me, Van Helsing, nothing. You use me for my weapons and genius but know nothing
of the person I am inside.�
�I know
you�re a little whore,� Van Helsing growled. �I know you were desperate for it
in that cell. I know you would have done it with anything that asked.�
Carl
twisted his right arm free, and his hand made a sharp crack across Van Helsing�s face.
Van Helsing
stared at him in shock, and Carl regarded him coldly.
�Get off
me.�
Van Helsing
complied, and Carl immediately sprang to his feet.
�Whatever
you think you know about me, I am not
a whore. Nor have I ever paid for one.� He smiled unpleasantly. �I would have
thought that was more your forte.�
He turned
and walked into the dark woods, relieved when Van Helsing didn�t try and stop
him.
He didn�t
go very far, he may be angry but he wasn�t stupid, and leaned back against a
tree trunk, realising suddenly that he was shaking.
How dare
Van Helsing accuse him of those things? It just went to show, really, how
little attention Van Helsing ever actually paid him. Anyone who knew Carl would
know that he would never debase himself to such levels, or use another human
being in that way.
In fact his
lover had been a French man, a friar who lived within the abbey walls for a
year and had taken a great liking to Carl, and Carl to him. And they had definitely
been doing it inside the abbey.
Of course,
Carl wasn�t about to tell Van Helsing this; in fact he would quite refuse to
speak to the man at all until he apologised. A very heartfelt apology.
Honestly,
could Van Helsing really have thought that Carl would do that with anyone he didn�t trust with his life? Was Van Helsing
really so dense that he thought what had happened in that cell had been for a
mere escape route? Was he really that stupid?
Carl
sighed, and sank to the ground, leaning his back against the trunk.
Van Helsing
was an idiot, he decided. They both were.
He was
drifting off to sleep when he finally heard the familiar tread.
He stayed
very still, not entirely sure he wanted Van Helsing to find him.
The
footsteps came nearer, then stopped suddenly.
Carl opened
his eyes and saw Van Helsing standing a little in front of him, blending into
the shadows.
He got
warily to his feet, in case Van Helsing tried to attack him again.
They stared
at each other for a very long time.
�I�m
sorry,� Van Helsing said eventually.
Carl didn�t
move.
�God Carl,
I�m just so sorry. I shouldn�t have said that, any of it, I just look at you
and I-� His voice cracked and he broke off, eyes falling to the ground.
�You what?�
Carl asked quietly.
Van Helsing
met his reluctant gaze.
�I want
you,� he said hoarsely.
Carl
couldn�t pretend he was completely surprised. He had almost been waiting for
something to happen.
He took a
few steps toward Van Helsing.
�You can be
extremely dim sometimes,� he said, and then he kissed him.
It wasn�t
gentle as it had been in the cell. Their teeth clashed, and Van Helsing bit
down hard on his bottom lip, but Carl didn�t mind. Somehow they both understood
that this was what they needed. They had been gentle, now it was rough and
desperate as van Helsing pushed him back against a tree, his hands tugging
sharply at Carl�s robes, yanking them over his head and shedding his own
sweater.
Carl gasped
at the cold air on his chest, and then groaned as Van Helsing slipped his hands
inside his fine linen trousers, wrapping his fingers around his cock and
stroking it firmly.
Carl felt
his eyes roll back in his head, gripping Van Helsing�s shoulder tightly. Van
Helsing made a low growling noise, attacking Carl�s exposed throat with his
lips, the movement of his hand rough and merciless.
Unable to
stand it any longer, Carl pulled Van Helsing�s free hand to his mouth, sucking
greedily on the fingers before pushing them back down his trousers, guiding
them to his arse.
He cried
out as the first finger pushed inside him, moving relentlessly, soon joined by
the second, stabbing in and out of him in quick, stretching thrusts, brushing
his prostate, causing him to throw his head back against the tree, hoarse cries
escaping his mouth,
He pushed
the hands away and dropped to his knees, unbuckling Van Helsing�s trousers with
shaking hands, pulling out his erection and swallowing it in one gulp, sucking
as much of into his mouth as he could. Carl wasn�t interested in giving Van
Helsing pleasure this time. He pulled back, Van Helsing�s cock stiff and
gleaming with his saliva, and hastily divested himself of his trousers, Van
Helsing following, then leaning back against the tree and pulling Van Helsing
to him, wrapping a leg round the other man�s waist, Van Helsing�s hands
slipping under his buttocks to lift him.
Carl
tensed, waited for that undeniable mixture of pain and pleasure, waited to feel
Van Helsing inside him, splitting him apart.
Van Helsing
stopped, staring at him.
�This will
hurt,� he said.
�Just
fucking do it,� Carl growled.
That dirty
word, tripping off his lips in a voice that sounded so unlike his own.
Van
Helsing�s eyes darkened and he relaxed his grip, Carl sliding down onto his
cock, groaning, and not entirely from pleasure, as Van Helsing pushed inside.
�God,� he
gasped softly, the blasphemy not even registering as Van Helsing began to
thrust up into him, short, sharp thrusts because Carl�s weight prevented him
from doing more, and the bark was rough on the back of Carl�s of head as he flung
it backwards, the burning, intense pleasure eating him from the inside out, his
internal muscles squeezing Van Helsing�s cock, desperate, harsh grunts in his
ear.
�Carl,� Van
Helsing said breathlessly, his breath hot on Carl�s face, and Carl could only
moan in response, and then Van Helsing was slamming up into him, a hand on his
cock pulling ruthlessly, and he was gripping Van Helsing�s shoulders, one hand
half entangled in his hair and then there was pleasure, white hot and raw,
tearing through him and he could hear his own voice, crying out loudly, yet it
seemed to come from far away.
Van Helsing
held him for moments more; his forehead pressed against Carl�s, their breath
mingling in the chill air.
Finally, he
pulled away, slipping from Carl�s body, and Carl laid his hands flat against
the tree truck, bracing himself for the sudden lack of support.
For a long
time neither of them said anything, Carl�s head pressed against the tree, eyes
closed, Van Helsing half bent over, hands on thighs, then Van Helsing
straightened, taking Carl�s hand firmly in his own.
�Come on,�
he said softly, and Carl allowed himself to be led back to their camp, where
the fire had long died.
Van Helsing
pulled him to the ground, on top of his coat, and he used Carl�s robe to cover
them both.
Carl lay
still and silent, listening to Van Helsing�s heart beat beneath his ear and
feeling the warmth emanate from the other man�s body.
He drifted
into a steady sleep, that gentle beat the pattern of his dreams.
*
When Van
Helsing woke he was always instantly alert, and that morning was no exception.
Carl was
snoring softly on his chest, and Van Helsing looked down at him with a faint
smile.
He could
only pray that last night had resolved their situation and not had the opposite
effect.
He slipped
out from underneath Carl, collecting his trousers and sweater, which they had
left in an untidy pile, and dressing quickly, then set about restarting the
fire.
He didn�t
know how long Carl had been awake before he felt his gaze, but turned suddenly
to find the friar sitting up and smiling at him, his robe wrapped around his
body.
�Good
morning,� Van Helsing said, trying not to let his tone convey anything.
Carl
yawned.
�Morning,�
he replied, standing and wondering sleepily over to the pitiful fire, the robe
acting as a sheet. �More boar for breakfast?� he asked.
Van Helsing
nodded. �I�m afraid so.�
�Mmm, I
don�t mind.�
Carl yawned
again, and Van Helsing suddenly felt very uncomfortable. Were they just going
to pretend that last night didn�t exist? Looking at Carl now, all sleep rumpled
with messy hair, Van Helsing thought that might not be such a bad idea. If Carl
had any sense at all, he would back away right now, before it was too late.
Carl,
however, seemed to have very little sense, and when Van Helsing turned to find
the boar they had carefully wrapped up, Carl said �You�re not going to start
avoiding me again, are you?�
Van Helsing
froze.
�I don�t
know what you mean,� he lied.
He heard
Carl sigh slightly behind him.
�Please, do
me the courtesy of not treating me like an idiot.�
Van Helsing
turned to look at him.
Carl was
watching him with careful eyes.
�Look,� he
said. �If you just want to pretend last didn�t happen-�
�I don�t.�
Carl
stopped a minute, then smiled.
�Good,� he
said. �Neither do I.�
There was
another moment of silence, then Van Helsing went to unwrap the boar, and Carl
helped him to skin another piece in silence.
Van Helsing
was constructing a spit on which to cook the boar when Carl spoke again.
�St�phan,�
he said, staring into the fire.
Van Helsing
frowned.
�Sorry?�
�The name
of my lover,� Carl said, raising his voice a little. �It was St�phan. He was a
friar, from Paris, come to live at the abbey for a year. We rather took a fancy to one
another.�
�So I
gathered,� Van Helsing replied, a hint of a smile in his voice.
Carl looked
up.
�It was
never completely serious,� he said. �We always knew it wouldn�t go anywhere.
But he was just so lovely.�
Van Helsing
felt his stomach drop. Was Carl trying, subtly, to tell him that he didn�t want to be serious?
�I liked
last night,� Carl continued, and his eyes were fixed very solemnly on Van
Helsing�s face. �But I need to know if you�re prepared to stick it out with me.
Because, quite frankly, it�s not going to be easy.�
�How do you
mean?� Van Helsing asked cautiously.
�Secrets,
lies, always having to check who�s behind you. We do live in an abbey.�
Van Helsing
looked at him.
He had been
through more with this man in the past few years than most people went through
in a lifetime. They had laughed together, grieved together, saved each other�s
lives. Carl knew him better than anyone, and, he was sure, that no one quite
knew Carl the way he did.
Carl�s eyes
were slightly caged, worried, and one of his fists gripped in his robe in
anxiety as he waited for Van Helsing�s answer.
And Van
Helsing knew, in that moment, that he
would fight his way through hell and back for Carl.
�Oh,� he
said, a slight smile on his face. �I�m sure we can find a way to deal with it.�
*
- 1
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More Than Just Surviving