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Romantic Executions: Continued	By : PrettySin Category: Anita Blake > Het Views: 3499 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Anita Blake series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 37
- 38
- 39
Alright… this site is fucking up the spelling and grammar of this story every time I post. Rest assured that when I put the document in the ‘type box’ that it’s as perfect as I can get it. *Sigh* Hope you can understand what was meant.

Oh yeah… Property of Laurell K. Hamilton… not us. Bluh.
********************

Jean-Claude was pacing the length of his office, the only sign he was under any stress. His strides were long, and it was merely seconds before he was moving back towards the couch. The Oath had been made, the four and their pets let in. They had taken their lodgings at the Circus.

All was going well. Suspiciously well. Things were never calm when the Council was at hand. And so... he stressed. Something would go wrong; he knew it. The when and the what were the questions that had driven him to pacing.

Well... that and other things... But he could not dwell on that. Belle Morte had heard of his Human Servant, and he had bought himself a small window of time, saying that she was resting, and that when she woke, there was a task she had been set. He needed to get Aahz back soon, prove to the Council that the grip he held on his city was stable. That the grip that he held on his Human Servant was equally so.

He needed to get her back, first.

Asher knocked on the office door. Merde. This was starting to be a habit...

Jean-Claude stopped pacing immediately, his gaze locking on the door. "Oui?"

"May I come in, Mon Ami?"

"Oui, you may come in."

Asher entered, shutting the door quietly behind him. "What will you tell Belle of Aahz?"

Jean-Claude sighed, resting against his desk. "I have told her that Aahz rests, and that she will be otherwise occupied when she awoke."

"Otherwise occupied for how long, Jean-Claude?"

"As long as the excuse slides past Belle Morte's notice."

"And when it fails?"

"When it fails we can merely hope that Ma Joli is back within the City's limits."

Asher's face darkened. "Are you saying you want to use her for the very reason you cast her aside?"

Jean-Claude cast an exasperated look at the other vampire. "Non, that is not what I am saying."

"Then what do you mean?"

"Are there not other reasons she would come back? Jesse? Perhaps to visit the club? If she knew the circumstances of her return, we could buy more time. Should we happen to come to an agreement during the time she is here would be complete coincidence."

Asher shook his head. "You are a fool."

"And you are a fool’s friend." Jean-Claude pointed out, "Mon Ami, every time I try to describe what it is I wish to do about Ma Joli, the worse it sounds. Perhaps I should just stop trying, non?"

Asher sighed. "What do you feel for her, all worldly influences aside?"

"She is my soul, Mon Ami."

"Is that not what you should tell her? Certainly, explain what is happening with the council, as you should have done in the beginning... but the emotion is what matters."

"I will call her, if you could perhaps keep Belle Morte and company busy?"

Asher nodded. "Of course, Mon Ami."

"Merci." Jean-Claude shot Asher a grateful glance.

"Non. Do not thank me." Asher turned, leaving the office.

Jean-Claude sighed, picking up the phone and speed-dialing Aahz's parents' house. She had insisted they add it, and...

"Saftis residence..." A sweet, maternal voice answered.

"Bonjour." Jean-Claude forced a smile into his voice, "May I speak to Aahz?"

There was a pause. "Is this John-Paul?"

Jean-Claude swallowed back the irritation that was rising in him. "Non. This is Jean-Claude. Is Aahz in residence?”

"Oh... Hun. I'm sorry; she's on a date. Can I take a message?"

The vampire blinked, taking a moment for the words to sink in. "Non... I apologize for interrupting your night."

"You sure Hun? You could try calling back in three hours or so... they went to the races... Aahz loves the races... Joey couldn't wait to take her..."

"Ma? Did you just say something about me?"

Jean-Claude's fingers tightened on the phone, and he looked up at ceiling. Mon Dieu...

"I... of course not..."

"Give me the phone, Mother." A second later Aahz's voice came over the line. "Hello?"

"Hello." Jean-Claude looked back down at the desk, fingers tracing random designs on its surface.

"Je...Jean-Claude... I... why... I..."

"I would like a chance to explain everything, if you will take the time to hear me out."

She swallowed audibly. "I... alright."

"Merci." He sighed softly, trying to decide where to begin.

"Aahz, I don't want you wasting my money on a phone bill with that... that... thing!"

"Ma!" Aahz jerked, closing her eyes. "I'm sorry."

He shook his head, "Non... they are her prejudices, not yours. I understand that."

"Aahz Heart Siawl Saftis! Listen to me!"

Aahz swallowed. "Ma... I'm having this talk with him, whether I have to walk down to the damn payphone to do it or not."

"I could call back later-"

"No!" Aahz nearly shouted. "Please... just... just tell me?"

Jean-Claude nodded, "Oui. I was informed several days ago that Belle Morte would be blessing St. Louis with her presence -"

Aahz blinked. "What does she have to do with me?"

"I am getting to that, Ma Joli."

She winced at his snappish tone. "I was just asking... and didn't I ask you not to call me that?"

"My most humble apologies." He sighed, "I did not wish to hurt you-"

"But you did... I just... please don't."

"Do not what?"

"Call me that."

He sighed again, "Oui... it is a habit that I fear will take time to break."

She sighed. "Fine. What were you saying?"

"I did not wish to hurt you, but the situation demanded certain sacrifices-"

"What?! What 'situation'? That... that demanded...You had to sacrifice my feelings?"

"If you would listen instead of incessantly interrupting, this would make far more sense and go much faster!" Jean-Claude's voice was edging on a growl, his irritation and stress from earlier making an appearance.

She jerked. "I tried just being there, remember Jean-Claude? It came back and bit me in the ass because it wasn't me you were seeing. It was Anita. And that's not what I want." She swallowed. "Did she not interrupt you on the phone?"

"Anita is dead. You are not. At the moment I am seeing no connection between the two of you."

"Other than you."

He rubbed his forehead, "You are being difficult."

Aahz swallowed, deciding to just let him talk.

"If I had been given the choice, this would not have happened. Belle Morte is slow to accept the women that her childre surround themselves with. I knew she would not approve of my choice in you, and so-"

Aahz frowned. "She wouldn't approve of me? Why? And So what?"

"She believes that only the partners she selects for us are suited. She looks down on those who do not accept her choices. You are far too gentle and kind for her tastes, and I could not explain it to you while you were in the city. I did not wish for you to change yourself to fit in, nor did I wish for Belle Morte to look down on you. While it is a rule that we do not harm each others Human Servants, but there is a form of torture that does not involve harm." Jean-Claude slid a hand through his hair, standing from the desk.

"Huh?"

A sigh escaped him, "Were you not listening?"

"Of course I was-" She stilled. "You know what? You're the one who called me. I don't have to listen to you get frustrated and then not explain something properly." She sniffed. "Call back when you can."

He’d opened his mouth to reply when the phone line clicked dead.

Aahz sank into the chair next to the phone, looking at the ring shining on her finger. Damn it.

************

Jason felt like smirking. Wait... scratch that. He was smirking. Belle Morte had arrived, usual crowd in tow, and... There was a newbie. Well... A newbie that was at least a hundred years older than he was. Still. Belle had dropped not-so-subtle hints that she and her motley crew would be sticking around for awhile. Jean-Claude hadn't seemed to pick up on the hints, though the wolf was certain the Master had.

But the newbie! He could have giggled. Morticia? Please! He hummed the 'Adams Family' under his breath, adding the snaps as he walked down the hall of the Circus.

"What is that you're humming?" A scathing voice asked from behind him, thick with a French accent.

Newbie ho! Jason grinned, turning to face her. "Cartoon theme. And how are you this fine evening, darling Morticia?"

She bit her lip, tilting her head as she approached him. "Horny." Her hair was a flat black, the color of coal, her eyes equally dim. "And you are lovely..."

"And so taken." Jason stepped back, his sense of Pack loyalty flaring to include Asher.

She pouted, stepping forward. "No one would know..." She ran a hand down his chest... leaving a trail of goo as her hand started to rot.

Jason's eyes widened in horror, and he backed up, his back hitting wall. "I... fuck, get the hell away from me!" Bile rose in his throat, and his eyes darted around the hallway.

Her eyes narrowed, then flashed as she let herself go completely. Terror... he feared her... and she hadn't fed on fear in so long... She leaned forward, pressing her mouth to his.

He gagged, managing to pull back enough to push her away from him. Fuck... fuck, fuck, fuck. He felt a scream rise in his throat as she came towards him again, and he swung at her desperately, looking for escape.

Morticia growled as he hit her, a chunk of her flesh flying away and she grabbed him, banging him into the wall over and over, feeling his bones break and his flesh give.

The scream exploded from him, and he struggled against her hold, screaming over and over as when he had gasped enough air to.

Finally, the were went limp and she bent to drink his blood only to be ripped back by a powerful grip. She screamed as she saw who it was. Asher.

He growled and squeezed at her neck only to feel Jean-Claude pull him back.

"Mon Ami... I will take care of her..." Jean-Claude moved forward, his hand taking Asher's place at Moritcia's neck, "The Petite Loup... Make him yours, Mon Ami. His life fades..."

Asher stilled, looking at his friend before flying to his lover, pulling the broken wolf into his arms. "Mon Loup! Jason..." Blood was draining freely from him, his body bent and broken. Asher closed his eyes, praying as he began the marks.

Jean-Claude turned his attention to Morticia, his hand ripping her throat free and snapping her neck. When her body continued to twitch, he grabbed her rotting shoulder with his other hand, the first digging into her chest to rip free her heart.

Jason felt a tug in his chest, the sensation faint. No... he just wanted to sleep... He was so very tired... a little rest wouldn't hurt...

"Mon Loup... look at me..." Jason's eyes were open for an instant, but that was enough. Husky blue light flared from Asher's eyes and over took the wolf, making Jason's eyes glow for a moment before dieing.

Asher swallowed, then leaned down, biting into Jason's neck and drinking. One... two mouthfuls and he pulled back... indeed, most of Jason's blood was on the floor and wall... Woods... he could smell the pack... it was working. Asher bit his lip then ripped his shirt off, cutting his chest above his heart with a fingernail. Blood trailed over his golden skin, and Asher raised Jason's head. "Drink..."

Jason, used to doing what he was told, even at the edge of death, did so. His mouth closed over the cut, tongue flicking out to help the blood down as he drank.

Jean-Claude watched in silence, standing over the prone form of Morticia.

Asher shivered, the old words coming from him as if torn. "Blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh, the two shall be as one. One flesh, one blood, one soul..."

Jason felt the pain start to fade, his mind fully intent on the vampire before him and the blood he presented.

Jean-Claude watched, midnight eyes impassive as the were in front of him began to heal, his broken body repairing itself to the best of its abilities.

Minutes seemed like hours... years... and finally Asher pulled back as he felt himself weaken. "No... no more Jason..."

"Jean-Claude! Asher! What have you done to Morticia?!" Belle's voice was strident as she entered the hall.

"She broke the Oath." Jean-Claude said calmly, watching as the wolf slowly pulled back from Asher.

Asher looked down at Jason, stroking his head. "You will live now... with me... forever..." Asher brushed a kiss over Jason's blood reddened lips. The wolf was nowhere near fully healed but... he would live.

Belle glared down at the corpse, kicking it. "You should have told me!"

Jason slowly reopened his eyes, looking up at his vampire. "Hm?"

Jean-Claude arched a brow, "You would have found out either way, would you not?"

Musette slipped from the shadows, taking her place at Belle Morte's side. "Are you so sure, Jean-Claude?"

"Oui."

"Sshh... I will take you home..." Asher lifted the wolf, turning to glare at the council. "This is my human servant. I will kill for him, make no mistake of it."

Belle glared. "A wolf!" She nearly spat the word, and Asher turned. "And here I thought a little bitch like you would approve."

Jean-Claude's lips quirked, "Take care of the Petite loup, Mon Ami. Do not worry."

Musette snarled, "You dare speak to Belle Morte in such a manner, Asher?"

Jason rested his head on Asher's shoulder, eyelids heavy.

"Oui. Now be a good puppy Musette and play dead." Asher kissed Jason's forehead, carrying him out of the building.

"Jean-Claude! I demand remuneration!"

"She broke the Oath. We are within the bounds. You deserve none." Jean-Claude looked at his sire with empty eyes, ignoring Musette's growl of indignation.

Belle growled, stomping from the room.

Jason swallowed as Asher shut the door behind them, his eyes taking in Asher's rooms. "What happened?"

"Shh... Rest. I must ready a bath." Asher laid the wolf on the soft couch.

Jason felt sleep tug at him, and he nodded, eyes shutting. He really was tired...

"Je t'aime..." Asher whispered, brushing his lips over Jason's.

The wolf stirred slightly, managing a small "Hm?" before sleep pulled him under.

The blond vampire shook his head, heading into his bathroom. A warm bath... he would clean his wolf's wounds...

Jason was curled into the best fetal position he could manage when Asher came back, his breathing as even it could be.

Asher was coming back into the sitting room when his phone rang. What? "Hello?"

"Asher?" Aahz's voice was hesitant.

Asher blinked, "Cherie?"

"Hi... Um." She swallowed. "Could you do me a favor?"

"What is it that you need?"

"I'm worried about Jean-Claude. I... hung up on him earlier because he snapped at me... and..." What the hell was she doing? Wasn't this Jean-Claude's fault? "Just... did he feed Jesse?"

Asher sighed softly. Jean-Claude had snapped? It was no wonder she had left him... "Oui. I believe Jean-Claude fed the Beast... if he did not, I'm sure Jesse will not allow him to forget."

She frowned. "Asher, what's wrong?"

"Wrong, Cherie?"

"Asher, you sound worried. Did something happen?"

"Oui."

"What?" Her tone was sharp. "Who got hurt? Kitty? Or... or... Asher, what happened to Puppy?"

The vampire let his eyes shut for a moment, "Belle Morte had in her company one of the rotting kind. Mon Loup had developed a phobia of such things somewhere in his past, and he found himself the center of her attention."

"Asher... is he okay?" Aahz sounded small and scared. "Please tell me he's okay?"

"His body will recover, though it may be some time before he is completely restored. For the moment, however, he is safe."

Aahz swallowed, and something was yelled in the background. "I'm coming home, Asher. Not to Jean-Claude, but to St. Louis. I want to see Jason... and if you want I can watch him while you are busy in the day.... hell, I'll be going to my parent's old house... that's about an hour away... he could stay there with me..."

Asher's eyes opened, "I will be with him when I can, but if you would watch him while it is daylight..."

"Of course, Asher." Aahz bit her lip. "I love him, just like I love you and the rest of the club's family."

Jason groaned softly as he rolled over on the couch, though his eyes remained shut.

"Oui... merci, Cherie. I must go..."

"Alright. Tell Jason hi."

"Of course. Au revior."

"Bye, Asher."

Asher hung up the phone, turning to Jason. "Mon Loup, it is time for your sponge bath." He brushed the wolf's lengthening hair back.

Jason blinked his eyes open, leaning into his vampires touch. "Mm... kay..."

"Mm." Asher kissed him briefly before lifting the wolf into his arms.

Jason's arms wrapped around Asher's neck, his eyes drifting shut as he rested his head on the vampire's shoulder.

Asher eased Jason down onto the toilet, crouching before the were. "Mon Loup... look at me..."

Jason opened his eyes, the clear blue still husky with sleep.

"I need to take off your clothing, non? Get that evil bitch off of you..."

The wolf nodded, "Yeah..." He swallowed, feeling somehow... closer to the vampire than before.

Asher reached up, pulling Jason's t-shirt over his head, tossing it into a pile he would later throw away.

Jason watched Asher's movements, his eyes slowly clearing. "Asher?"

"Oui?" He began to undo the fly on Jason's pants. "Can you lean back a bit? The material is bunched...."

Jason leaned back, letting the cool of the porcelain at his back sooth some of the ache that still remained. "What happened?"

"Morticia..." Asher's fingers paused as they finished undoing the button. "She tried to kill you."

"She..." Jason shuddered at the memory, "She's a rotter..."

"Oui. And she is quite dead, I assure you."

Jason swallowed, "Why didn't she kill me?"

Asher stilled. "I could not let you die, Mon Loup."

"Oh." Jason bit his lip, eyes lowering to look at his lap. "I... how did you save me? The last thing I remember was getting slammed into a wall... a couple times."

The vampire watched Jason's face closely. "I made you mine... and I made myself yours..."

The wolf blinked once... then twice. "I... you...?" He shook himself, trying to regain control of his thoughts. "Wow."

"Do you understand?"

"Like... Anita was bound to Jean-Claude and the Ulfric? And Aahz and Fang..." Jason's eyes met Asher's. That could explain the closeness he was feeling... and why he didn't really hurt...

"Oui. But I intend for this to last much longer... unless, of course, that is not what you want..." Asher slipped into an old mortal habit, biting his lower lip.

Jason raised his arm to smooth a hand down Asher's hair, ignoring a throb of pain from his shoulder. "I think... we should give it a try..."

"Mon Loup... stay still... you'll hurt yourself more." Asher said as Jason winced.

"It doesn't hurt that much..." Jason bit the inside of his cheek, letting his arm fall back to his side. His breath hissed out of him as his shoulder twinged, the feeling more like that of a rip then a twinge. "Maybe... maybe it does..."

"Sshh... you will feel better... by morning better still..." Asher kissed his temple. "And Aahz is coming home to stay with you in the day..."

Jason shifted, leaning down carefully to brush his lips over Asher's, "Thank you..." Aahz was coming back? He felt a twitch in his lips, recognizing the hint for a smile. It felt like he hadn't seen her in forever... but it'd only been a few days... maybe less...

"Non... I'd do almost anything for you, Mon Loup." Asher kissed Jason a bit more firmly before tugging down the zipper on the were's pants. "Let's get you into the tub."

Jason stood slowly, thankful his legs were holding his weight as he pushed his pants down carefully. "Almost anything?"

"Almost anything." Asher took Jason's hands, placing them on his shoulders. "Step out, Mon Loup..." The vampire licked his lips. "For example, should you go crazy and wish for me to kill someone else I love... I could not."

Jason stepped out of the pants, "What about..." His brow furrowed, trying to think of something the vampire wouldn't do. "Fucking a duck?"

"Non. I prefer wolves..." Asher smirked, kissing Jason's hipbone. "Alright?"

Jason shivered, "Yeah..."

"Aahz sends her love, by the way." Asher stood, lifting the other man.

"Okay." Jason settled in the water as Asher placed him in the tub, looking up at the vampire with absolute trust.

Asher closed his eyes. "Mon Dieu... do not look at me so..."

Jason blinked, unaware that he'd looked at the vampire in any other way than he normally did, "Look at you how?"

"As if I could do you no wrong..."

"But... I don't think you could... or would, anyway."

Asher swallowed. "I have cursed you to live for eternity with someone less than whole, Mon Loup... Do you understand this?"

Jason's brow furrowed into something close to a scowl, "Who says you aren't whole?"

"Do not rile yourself, you know I speak the truth-"

The wolf growled softly, "It's not true, Asher! If you were less than whole you wouldn't have saved me, or... or wasted any time with me or anything!"

"Mon Loup, please! You will injure yourself further!" Asher pleaded, his eyes worried. Lord help him if he lost another. There would be no pulling him back.

Jason jerked, his eyes widening. He'd just... heard Asher... in his head... He slid down slightly in the water, eyes wide and shocked.

Asher grabbed at him. "Mon Loup? Should I call a doctor? Why do you look startled? Have I scared you in someway?"

Jason slowly blinked, his eyes focusing on Asher's hands. "I... just heard you... in my head..." He felt a grin slide across his features. "That's kinda cool..."

"What? But I did not project my thoughts..." The vampire looked confused.

Jason shrugged, looking up at Asher, "You're not going to lose me."

"You cannot promise that, Mon amour..."

The wolf's head tilted to the side, eyes becoming confused, "Amour? But..."

"But what?"

"You can't..." Jason's brow furrowed, "You l... love me?" Fuck. He sounded weak... and hopeful... and innocent.

Asher considered him for a moment, then nodded. "Oui. Je t'a-" He cut himself off, forcing the English past his lips. "I love you more than I thought possible..."

Jason swallowed, "Holy shit." Did he love Asher? There was trust... definite trust, but love? It was a big step... a really big step, one he wasn't sure he wanted to make. Well... he wanted to make it... but was he ready for it?

The vampire paused. "Do not feel pressured, Mon Loup. I understand. Just relax and let the water ease your aches and pains."

Jason licked his lips, letting himself sink farther into the water. "Asher?"

Asher blinked. "Oui?"

"Why?"

"Why what?" Confusion spread across his face.

"Why do you love me?" Jason bit his lip, looking up at Asher again.

Asher sighed, sitting on the toilet where Jason had been minutes earlier. "You like the difficult questions, non?" He paused, thinking. "The easiest way I can say this... because you are you. Because you accept me for what I am... and you do not flinch when you see my scars, which even I flinch at. Jean-Claude tries not to but... and you are smart, witty, caring... you make me smile... not to mention..." Asher shook his head. "No. It is not your... no."

Jason pulled his knees carefully up to his chest, crossing his arms on top of them and resting his chin on his arms. "My what?"

Asher sighed. "It is not the reason I love you... truly... one might call it a bonus, non?"

A grin tugged at Jason's lips, "Call what a bonus?"

"Merde... you're not letting me out of this, are you? If I had the blood, I'd blush!" Asher rolled his eyes. "If you must know, I'm quite enchanted with your firm little ass!"

Jason laughed, "Where the hell did I leave my good pants?"

The vampire raised a slow brow. "Pardon moi?"

The wolf smirked, "Nothing..."

Asher studied him for a moment. "You must be feeling better, non?"

"Much." He smiled, shifting slightly. Something in his leg jarred that even his new healing abilities had yet to reach, and he bit his lip. "Almost..."

"Ah. Well... I am not certain when Aahz shall arrive, but judging by the harpy I heard in the background, hopefully soon for her sanity."

"She's got a harpy?"

Asher smiled. "I believe it is her mother, non?"

"Oh." Jason smiled back, then glanced at the water. "Now... I think you said something about a sponge bath..."
"You know, Mon Loup, you amaze me... hearing only what you want to hear even while gravely injured." Asher tsked.

"That's not all I can amaze you with..." The wolf waggled his eyebrows suggestively, grinning.

Asher rolled his eyes. "Indeed..." He grabbed a sponge from the side of the tub. "What first..."

Jason raised his head, letting his legs straighten in front of him, shrugging 'innocently'.

Asher quirked a brow. "Really? Is that what you want?"

"Maybe..."

"Indeed..." The vampire set the sponge down, standing.

Jason tilted his head, looking up at Asher again, eyes deceitfully wide. All that was missing was a halo.

Slowly, Asher began to undo his shirt.

The wolf swallowed, his eyes following Asher's every move in a predatory manner.

"Now... did you want me to join you, or merely be nude as I bathed you?"

Merely being nude? What a waste... "Join me?"

"Of course, Mon Loup." Asher undressed quickly, easing himself into the tub so he didn't hurt his human servant. Human servant? Non... he was not quite human, was he? Were servant? Perhaps...

Jason's arms slipped around Asher's waist, and he smiled up at his vampire. "You know... I think I could get used to this."

"Get used to what, Mon Loup?" Asher kissed the wolf, shivering. Merde, he was weak. He'd used up more energy than he should have by doing all four marks in one night.

Jason kissed the corner of Asher's mouth, "Being with you. Like this. Definitely has potential..." He snuggled closer, unconsciously trying to share his warmth.

"Oui... if you wish for pleasure, I can give it to you... or I can hold you. It is you choice and I am happy either way..." Asher kissed the corner of Jason's mouth, mimicking his movements.

Jason's lips brushed over the vampire's, "If I say holding now, can we do the pleasure bit later?"

Asher smiled. "I will pleasure you a million times over if that is what you want." He blinked. "Later, as you've requested, of course."

"You sound shocked."

"Shocked? Non. You are hurt... and sometimes it is nice to just be held, non?"

Jason rested his head on Asher's shoulder, face pressed against his neck. "Yeah..."

"Now... let me get you clean. I do not trust that bitch not to carry disease or some such thing..." Asher swallowed. Merde. He's been so scared...

Jason kissed the vampire's shoulder, "Mmkay."

Asher pulled back, picking up the sponge. "Now... where is my bath gel?"

The wolf blinked, shrugging. "Um... dunno."

Asher sighed, looking around. "Ah! There it is." He leaned over, grabbing the flower scented soap.

Jason felt the water settle back as Asher leaned back into the tub.

The vampire squeezed some of the soap onto the sponge, working it into a lather. "Alright, Mon Loup?"

"Yeah..." Jason reclined against the wall of the tub, watching the vampire with clear eyes.

Asher brushed his lips over the wolf's. The bitch had been a true rotter, for there were trails of her viscera fluids over Jason's chest despite his shirt. Sighing, Asher began to wash away the grime.

Jason bit his lip, letting Asher clean him. Was the vampire unhappy? Or...

"Mon Loup, sit up please... I need to cleanse the blood from your sides and back..." Merde... it was dawning closer still that his love had almost died.

"Sure." Jason shifted, turning to present his back to the vampire.

Asher swallowed, leaning forward and brushing his lips over a spot where the skin had split. "Je suis si désolé, Mon Loup. Je devrais... lui avoir été là arrêté... Je t'aime.... et je jure qu'il ne se produira encore jamais... jamais...." (I am so sorry, my wolf. I should have been there... stopped her... I love you.... and I swear it will never happen again... never....)

Jason glanced over his shoulder, shaking his head, "Veuillez ne pas être désolé, Mon vampire..." The French slipped from him as if it were natural, coming from something he hadn't realized had truly been there. (Please do not be sorry, my vampire...)

Asher jerked. "Parle vous francais?"

"No..." Jason shook his head again, "It... I don't know where that came from..."

"Perhaps it is because of the marks... it does not matter." The vampire carefully wiped the blood away. "You are healing very slowly.... I believe there was something about her... fluids... that is delaying you."

Jason sucked a sharp breath in as the soap intruded an open cut. "M-maybe..."

"I am sorry..." The vampire swallowed. "I wish I was not hurting you..."

Jason swallowed, shifting slightly, "It's okay..." Ow...

"Non... no it is not...." Asher quickly finished cleaning the wounds. "You are finished... I just need to rinse..."

Jason nodded, resting his forehead against the wall, his eyes shutting. "'Kay..."

Asher winced, rinsing out the sponge then letting it absorb as much water as it could. Merde, he hated this... carefully, he wrung it out over the were's back.

Jason made a noise in his throat, the whimper leaving him before he could hold it back.

The vampire dropped the sponge. Non. He could not cause him any more pain.

Jason bit his lip, glancing over his shoulder again. "Asher?"

He was quiet for a moment. "Oui?"

The wolf swallowed, turning slightly to see his lover better. "I'm sorry..." It wouldn't have been a problem if it hadn't been for the rot... it... He fought back a shudder.

"What? Non. You have nothing to be sorry for. Nothing, understand?" Asher's tone was fierce. "I just do not like causing you the kind of pain that you do not enjoy."

"Still..."

"Non. There is no still and there are no buts. The only thing that matters is that you still draw breath."

Jason turned completely, brushing his lips over the vampires. "Okay... can you finish? I don't want her on me..." He was feeling dirty as it was.

"Oui." Asher was quiet as he finished washing the were, his movements careful and wary of hurting his lover.

Jason bit the inside of his cheek to keep silent, smiling shakily in thanks at Asher.

"Do you wish to stay in the bath for a while? If so, I will turn on the warmer." The vampire stilled. Merde. He should have done that to start with! Idiot!

Jason nodded, "If you want..."

Asher sighed. "Mon Loup, I am not the one who nearly died..."

"I wouldn't mind."

"Then I shall turn on the warmer." He stood, water rushing down his body.

Jason blinked, swallowing. He licked his lips, letting his mind wander to all the possibilities the situation held.

Asher paid no attention to the wolf's reaction, rather distracted as he leaned over and flipped the switch.

Jason forced himself up, his hands resting on Asher's shoulders. He lowered his mouth to a trailing drop between the vampire's shoulder blades, licking it up with a soft sound.

Asher stilled, a shiver running down his spine. "Mon Loup..."

"Mm?" He caught another drop on his tongue, this one under Asher's left shoulder blade.

Fuck... fuck... wrong swear... you have no blood for fucking... Asher swallowed. "What... what are you doing...? Not that..."

Jason paused, unsure if the vampire wanted him to stop. "You taste good..."

"Oui... and... you feel exquisite... but..." Asher bit his lip. "I've no blood left for... such activities..."

"I've got some for you..." Jason brushed his lips over a drop, his tongue flicking out to brush his lover's skin.

"Non." Asher nearly moaned the word. "You... you need it."

"Please?" Jason swallowed, moving his mouth to the other shoulder.

The vampire could have cried as torn as he was. "Mon Loup... I fear I shall cause you pain... more pain..."

The wolf shook his head, "You won't... I trust you..." He nibbled gently, his hands sliding down Asher's arms.

Asher did moan then, and he released his power... but it seemed it realized how hurt his wolf was and instead went to trying to give him still more of his energy rather than taking away.

Jason felt it enter him, and he swallowed. "Asher..." Was this normal?

"I... oui?"

"I... is this normal?"

"Oui.... it seems my power recognizes you have a greater need than I do..."

The wolf licked his lips, "What kind of need?"

"Your need to heal." Asher lowered his head. Merde. Now they were having the 'I can't get it up, I'm sorry...' talk.

Jason rested his head against the smooth skin of Asher's back, "Suppose..." He swallowed. Dammit. "But..."

"But what?" The vampire glanced over his shoulder. "Mon Loup... I can pleasure you without a physical release for myself..."

"Yeah, but I want you to be with me..." Jason felt like pouting, his arms wrapping around Asher's waist.

"Oui... and I know but I am sorry... I also refuse to go feed someplace else as I am not leaving you alone."

"I'll be fine, though-" A faint noise made Jason fall silent, and he froze until it came again. "Sounds like someone's at the door."

"Merde! I am going to kill whoever it is!" Asher growled. "Mon Loup... you shall have to move so I can maim them..."

Jason pulled back, head tilted to the side. "If it's someone we know, are you going to hurt them?"

Asher sighed. "Perhaps I shall just scowl a lot, non?"

The wolf's lips twitched, "Mmkay."

Asher kissed him quickly. "I shall be right back. Just... relax..." He stood, grabbing a towel to wrap around his waist.

Jason settled back into the corner as Asher climbed out. Damn... this sucked. He blinked. Wait... No! Bad wolf! Sucking led to other things... things he really didn't need to think about...

Asher stormed to the door, then ends of his hair wet against his shoulders as he threw the oak door open. "What?!"

Stephen cringed, shrinking back from the irate vampire. "I... Jean-Claude and Richard sent me... to see if you needed to feed... Said something about you being tired..." The wolf bit his lip, swallowing hard.

"Merde... Stephen, is it not? Entre vous, si vous plais..." Asher stepped back. "So Jean-Claude has told the Ulfric what has happened?"

Stephen nodded, stepping into the room. "Yeah..."

Asher waved a hand at the couch, then paused. Merde. That was Jason's couch. Jason and his... Not there.

Stephen moved towards it and froze. It smelled of sex... and reeked of blood, Jason, and things the wolf didn't want to put a name to. "Jason's here?"

"Perhaps my bed... it is... merde." Asher sighed.

Jason slipped from the bathtub, wrapping a towel around his waist and padding into the other room. "Hey Steph..."

Stephen turned to his friend, then glanced between the vampire and Jason. His eyebrows rose. "Hey J."

"Jason... sit down. I'll not have you hurting yourself further when I had to carry you in there to start with!" Asher paused. "Please."

Jason lowered his eyes, nodding and moving to sit on the couch. Dammit...

Stephen nearly let out a low whistle, "Am I interrupting...?"

Asher glanced at him. "As I have no blood circulating, it would be rather hard, non?" He crouched in front of Jason. "Mon Loup... Je suis désolé. I was... worried. One thing I am is over protective, whether my lover needs it or not, non? All I ask is that you do not over exert yourself after so close a brush with death..."

"I'm not over exerting myself..." Jason bit his lip, eyes focused on his hands, which were picking at his towel.

Stephen shifted his weight, looking away to give the couple some semblance of privacy.

"Alright." Asher stood. "Stephen, would you object to doing this on the couch in my library?"

Stephen shook his head, "No... that's fine." He glanced at Jason, who kept his head stubbornly lowered.

The wolf shut his eyes, feeling somehow... rejected. Pushed aside. Thrown away. As if Stephen's blood was better than his, and that was why Asher was accepting the other wolf's offer. He knew it wasn't true, but...

"This should not take long, Mon Loup." The vampire said quietly, then disappeared into the other room. What had he done to anger his human servant? Be over protective? That must be it... He would have to try not to crowd the wolf so then. Asher swallowed. Merde, but he was the expert on fucking up relationships!

Stephen followed Asher, glancing back at Jason. The stripper hadn't lifted his head, or seemed to acknowledge that Asher had spoken to him in anyway. Stephen bit the inside of his cheek, a heavy feeling flooding him.

Asher rubbed at his forehead with his hand. "Lay down please. Are you aware of the effects of my bite?"

Stephen nodded, stretching out on the couch. "Yes."

"If you feel it necessary you may disrobe." Asher's tone held no feeling, as if he was talking to a piece of wood rather than a person.

Stephen shook his head, unwilling to provoke Jason's wrath by being naked in front of his... well. What was he? Boyfriend? "No thanks."

Asher shrugged. "Fine. I shall pay your cleaning bill." He sat on the edge of the couch. "Look into my eyes."

Stephen met the vampire's gaze, thinking idly that that really was a very cheesy line.

Jason dropped his head into his hands. God, he really was a fuck-up. Asher was worried about him. That was why he hadn’t wanted to drink from him! It was obvious, the vampire had said it himself! But... he still felt as if he was an old rag, or... The wolf sighed, pulling his knees up to his chest, not caring that his towel had fallen nearly completely loose. His breath caught in pain as his leg jarred. What if Asher was right? What if he was over exerting himself? He'd gotten himself out of the tub and to the couch fine, but something wasn't letting his leg heal completely. It was starting to piss him off.

He glared down at the offending appendage, and gagged. A thick glob of the bitch's goo was clinging to an open cut, preventing it from healing. He struggled not to think about it as he forced himself to stand and move to the bathroom, hoping to get it cleaned before Asher found him.

Asher forced himself to drink from the wolf. He smelled of the pack... but it wasn't Jason. The vampire swallowed again and opened the marks, allowing the power he was absorbing to go towards healing the were. It didn't look as if it would be needed for anything else.

He pulled back, licking the cut closed. "Thank you." Had Stephen even come? Did it matter? Non. Asher straightened, pushing his hair back.

Stephen was panting as he nodded, "Welcome..."

Jason gasped, nearly dropping the sponge as the wave of energy caught him off guard. Not that he'd gotten a guard for that particular door yet. He forced himself to finish the cleaning, dropping the sponge back into the bath.

Asher sighed, slowing the flow of energy. Non. This was stupid. If he kept this up, he would be of no help to Jason when he did need it. He glanced at Stephen, noting the stain on his pants. Good. At least he hadn't been a complete bastard. "Please, feel free to make use of the bathroom to clean yourself."

Stephen shook his head, standing a little shakily from the couch. "I'll... just go..."

Asher rubbed his forehead again. "Oui. Merci. I would have taken from Jason but... I fear he needs the blood I gave him far more than I."

Jason blinked, listening to the sounds of Stephen's exit. He hadn't taken that much from Asher, had he? Fuck.

Asher entered the living room, frowning as he realized it was empty. Either way, he wanted the taste of Stephen out of his mouth.

Jason swallowed, slowly moving out of the bathroom. "Asher?"

"Oui?" The vampire paused in pulling a bottle of water from the mini-fridge he'd had brought in for Jason.

"I'm sorry..."

Asher frowned. "What on Earth for?"

Jason adjusted his towel, unsure of whether he wanted it off or on. "For everything I've done wrong in the past ten hours? Including the last bit here..."

"Mon Loup, you have done nothing that requires an apology..."

"Have too."

Asher quirked a brow. "Like...?"

"Like... got beat up by vampire-rot-bitch and made you worry and be forced to save my life. Pushed on the whole sex bit a little while ago, managed to convince myself I was being rejected not ten minutes ago, definitely need to apologize for that one. Um... didn't hold still long enough for you to clean as thoroughly as you probably wanted to, was wimpy when you were cleaning -"

Asher's eyes flashed. "Morticia was not your fault and thus it is Belle, not you, who owes the apology. The sex issue was something I greatly enjoyed having pushed, and ten minutes ago... rejected? Non. Never. And you held no still because you were in pain. Wimpy? Non. You were... in pain..." He sighed. "My English is merde..."

Jason moved towards his lover, "I'm still sorry... and if you want to switch to French, you can. Apparently I've got this spiffy new feature. No batteries needed and understands foreign languages. New and improved Jason!"

"Batteries?" Asher blinked. "And you are perfect, just as you were before."

The wolf just shrugged, his head tilting slightly as he stopped in front of Asher. Close enough to feel the other's body heat, but not close enough to touch.

The vampire swallowed. "Mon Loup, did you truly believe I would prefer to drink from anyone else besides you? I assure you I never meant such a thing..."

Jason shrugged again, biting his lip. "I guess I'm clingy tonight... jumped to a conclusion or something."

"Jason, I would never prefer another over you... never. You are the one I... am linked to for eternity. How can I prefer someone else?" Asher's tone was passionate, thick with French. He HAD to convince his wolf... could he stand losing someone else? Non... merde... non...

The were worried at his lip, "I don't know... You're all spiffy and great and I'm a stripper. I wouldn't blame you..." He blinked. Was this going to effect his job?

Asher growled softly. "And you are an intelligent young man. You are the one linked to a freak. Should th-"

Jason's growl was louder, anger taking him over like a flood. "You're not a fucking freak, Asher! It's not your damned fault that you got scarred! But they're just that - scars! They don't mean a God damned thing, besides that you lived through it. If you lived through it you aren't a freak! You're brave, and strong, and..." Everything Jason wasn't and couldn't be.

The vampire jerked back. "Mon Loup..." Surely... surely this beautiful man... this man that he loved... surely he did not think so... Surely he could not call him brave... or strong... Non...

Jason took a deep calming breath, shutting his eyes for a long moment before opening them again. "You're not a freak."

"May I kiss you?"

"Definitely."

Asher stepped forward slowly, staring at Jason as if he'd never seen him before as he brushed a hand along the were's face. "Mon Loup..."

Jason turned his head to press his face into Asher's hand, nuzzling it. "Yeah?"

"You amaze me... and... I do not..." Asher shook his head, leaning down to brush his lips gently over Jason's.

Jason brushed his lips back over the vampire's, "Don't what?"

"Je ne sais quoi..." Asher kissed him again, gentle still, but showing what he could not put into words.

The wolf returned the kiss, stepping forward to press the line of his body against Asher's.

Asher made a noise in his throat, holding the wolf carefully to him.

Jason's arms wrapped around his lover, and the sweet, gentle kiss continued.

The vampire deepened the kiss, lifting the wolf into his arms. Screw the couch... he wanted Jason in his bed...

The were made a surprise sound in his throat, hands moving to Asher's shoulders.

He pulled back. "I want you in my bed..."

"I want me in your bed too."

"You will be..." Asher opened the door, carrying Jason in.

Jason smiled slightly, resting his head on Asher's shoulder. He'd seen the room before, but it was still a shock to him. The bed was huge, bigger than a king size, despite the wolf's doubt that such a size existed. The blankets, pillows, and the lighter blanket at the foot of the bed were a deep crimson, nearly blood red. The sheets were a stark white in comparison, though the rest of the room favored the red.

The desk in the corner, as well as the bookshelves lining one of the walls, seemed to have a red sheen to the polished wood. The bedside table had a small, red cloth covering the wood, and the lamp dominating its surface did not break the color scheme. Even the carpet was a deep crimson, and Jason knew from experience it squished between the toes in a way that only really fresh carpet does.

Asher eased the wolf down onto the bed, brushing his lips over the were's again. "Mon Loup... I want to taste you... and be inside you... or would you prefer to be in me?"

Jason licked his lips, "Think we can manage all of the above?"

Asher swallowed. "Perhaps not tonight..."

"Well... we've got an eternity, right?" Jason smiled, the expression leaning towards suggestive. "Let's start with the first two."

"Oui..." Asher leaned down, nipping at Jason's jaw.

Jason shivered, head tilting to the side to give Asher more room.

Asher kissed down Jason's neck, sucking at the pulse there. Thank God... He'd... Asher shook his head.

Jason swallowed, biting his lip as Asher's still wet hair fell over his chest.

The vampire tossed his hair back, starting to lick and kiss and nip his way down until he could tongue the were's navel.

Jason gave up on trying to muffle his sounds of pleasure, instead pressing up into Asher's mouth, soft noises escaping him.

Asher smiled, looking up at his wolf's face. "Is it Christmas, Mon Loup?" He teased before tracing the edge of the soft towel with his tongue.

A groan rose in Jason's throat, "No..." He swallowed back the sound, "Try Halloween... Trick or treat?"

"Mm... I call this a treat... definitely... a treat..." The vampire said as he slid a hand up the were's thigh and under the edge of the tented towel.

Jason shifted, aching to be touched. His eyes shut, and he struggled for a steady breath, "Me... too..."

"Good..." Asher grasped Jason's member, unwrapping the towel with his free hand. "Mm... my sweet and salty treat..." He kissed Jason's hip bone.

Jason moaned, his hips raising off the bed. "God... Asher..."

"Oui...?"

The wolf shook his head, eyes squeezing tight.

Asher chose to pity him, licking along the wolf's length.

He cried out, eyes snapping open as Asher's tongue caressed him. He'd expected to be teased to within an inch of control, and he still could be... but he wasn't complaining.

"Mmm..." Asher licked at the tip of the other man, probing the slit there.

Jason's hips pressed up again, and he groaned. God...

Slowly, careful not to scrape his fangs, Asher pulled Jason's hardened member into his mouth where he began to do what his kind does best... suck.

Jason bit his lip harshly as Asher went down on him, a sound rising in his throat. If he let go, he'd scream, and the walls in the Circus weren't exactly soundproofed.

Asher stroked him with his throat, raising and lowering his head.

The scream rose, and Jason's hips moved with the motion of Asher's head, the were unable to keep them still.

The vampire grasped Jason's hips, forcing them to stay still with one hand as Asher stretched, reaching under the edge of the bed and picking up the bottle of lubricant he'd stashed there for situations like this. Carefully, he poured some in his hand, warming it before circling Jason's entrance with his lubricated finger.

Jason's breath caught, his lust filled brain not computing immediately what he was feeling.

Asher slowly slid his finger deep, sucking harder.

Jason moaned, his hips trying to move against the vampire. He growled softly when he was forced back down, though the sound was cut off as Asher's finger slid in as far as it could.

Asher teased him to the point where the wolf had nearly climaxed three times before he pulled back, easing his three fingers free. "Mon Loup..."

Jason whimpered softly, "Y... yes?"

"May I take you now?" The vampire licked up his lover's body, pausing to tease one of Jason's flat nipples.

Jason's whimper turned into a moan, "Yes... God, yes..."

"Yes what....?" Asher licked at the swollen nub.

Jason's back arched as his hands gripped the red comforter, "Please, Asher... take me..."

The vampire nodded, easing Jason's legs apart with a knee as he began to coat himself in the lubricant. "I have you..."

The wolf swallowed, forcing himself into a sitting position. He was being selfish... "Always..."

Asher blinked, tilting his head. "Is something wrong, Mon Loup?"

Jason shook his head, reaching out to slide a hand down his lover's chest.

The vampire shivered, "Mon Loup..."

"Yeah?" Jason bit at his lip, his hand brushing over Asher's pale nipple.

A moan tore from his throat. "I..."

Jason swallowed again, leaning down to tease at the nub with his mouth as his hand slid farther down.

Asher's eyes slid shut slowly, his head falling back with a noise of encouragement.

Jason pulled his lover's nipple into his mouth, caressing it with his tongue. His hand dropped to Asher's lubricated hardness, grasping it gently.

"Mon Loup... please..." Asher's tone was ragged. "I need you..."

Jason nipped lightly at the nub, soothing it before pulling his mouth back. "Now?" He tasted good, though...

Asher blinked open his eyes, watching his lover's gaze. "I... take... take your time..." He'd gotten to play, after all... why shouldn't his wolf get to?

Jason leaned up, brushing his lips over his lover's, "Thank you..."

Asher shook his head. "It is... purely selfish..."

Jason didn't reply, instead nipping at Asher's jaw, traveling steadily back down.

The vampire moaned, pressing into the were's hot mouth.

Jason moved his mouth back down to Asher's nipple, pulling it into his mouth again.

"Mon ... Mon Loup..." Asher stroked Jason's hair, struggling not to force his love's mouth lower.

Jason nibbled at the skin under the nub before moving his mouth down again, shifting to reach Asher's abdomen.

Asher stilled, his stomach tightening. "Mon ... Mon Loup...?"

"Mm?" Jason licked at the soft skin just between the scars and unmarred skin.

The vampire shifted against him. "You..."

Jason's tongue dipped into one of the scars, and he blinked up at Asher, caressing the scarred skin with his mouth as he would the clean. "I...?"

Asher jerked, shaking his head. His wolf... didn't even seem to be feeling the scars as his kissed and licked and nibbled them...

Jason started to move his mouth back up Asher's chest, this time on the scarred side, though his hand began to teasingly stroke the vampire's length.

Asher moaned, shaking his head again. "I... I can take no... no more. I need you now..."

Jason pulled back, his fingers trailing over his lover's lubricated hardness. "Mmkay..."

Asher reached down, jerking Jason's hand away. "Non!"

Jason jerked, eyes immediately lowering to the bed. "Sorry... I-"

Asher swallowed, closing his eyes. "I... non. I am sorry... I... feared that I would... come and..."

"Oh." Jason raised his gaze slowly, leaning up to brush his lips lightly over Asher's.

"Oui..." Asher shifted until Jason was laying down. "Mine... Mon Loup..."

Jason blinked, unsure of when Asher had opened his eyes. "Yours."

The vampire smiled, nudging the wolf's thighs apart.

Jason spread his legs, letting his lover settle between his thighs.

Slowly, Asher pressed inside, cursing in French when he was fully inside. "Dieu, you're tight..."

A whimper of pure pleasure was the only reply.

Asher braced his weight on his arms, rocking his hips slightly. "Is... is good?"

Jason moaned softly, his hips moving with Asher's after a brief moment, "Very..."

Slowly, Asher pulled out before pressing back in. "Merde..."

Jason's hands rose to Asher's shoulders, sliding over the vampire's back as he moved with him.

Asher shivered, shifting so that he could slide and hand down to stroke the were's member.

Jason groaned, one of his hands reaching Asher's bum, "Ash... Asher..."

"Mmm...." Asher thumbed the were's tip. "Tell... tell me what you want..."

Jason clenched himself tightly around Asher, pressing up into the vampire's hand, "I want... you... to fuck me..."

The vampire groaned. "Your wish... is my command..." He began moving quicker, harder, tilting his hips so that he was constantly rubbing that magic spot within the were, his hand's rhythm matching his thrusts.

Jason felt like screaming, tightening himself on Asher on every down-thrust. His hips moved with the vampire's, and he cried out as Asher's grip on him shifted, the sound bordering on the scream that threatened to surface.

Asher leaned down, nipping Jason's lower lip. "Mine..." He growled. "Now... come for me..."

Jason did as he was told, his climax exploding from him with the scream. His back arched, pressing his body up into Asher's.

Asher followed, swallowing. Merde... His wolf... his...

Jason came down slowly, his breathing ragged. "God..."

The vampire buried his face in Jason's neck. "Mon Loup... my precious, darling lover..." Who thought him brave and strong... lord, was he wrong. Asher was many things, one of them weak. He blinked, and a bloodied tear fell. Merde...

Jason rested his cheek against the top of Asher's head, his eyes shutting. The faint smell of salt and something metallic tickled his nose, but he ignored it, his hands running over Asher's back.

Asher squeezed his eyes shut, swallowing as another tear followed the other. Whether Jason was in love with him or not... they were together.

Jason's eyes opened as he realized what the smell was, "Asher?" His vampire was crying? Why? Had he done something wrong?

"Oui?"

"Are you okay?"

Asher nodded, refusing to raise his head. "Of course..."

Jason lifted his head, brow furrowed in a frown as he looked down at the vampire. "Are you sure?"

Asher sighed, shifting until he could look into Jason's eyes. "Oui. merely a sentimental old... vampire."

Jason blinked, eyes clouding with confusion, "Why...?" He raised a hand, brushing the tinted drops away with the pad of his thumb.

"Because... I am yours." Asher kissed Jason's palm. "Because it seems eternity since someone wished to be with me despite my disfigurement... Jean-Claude would have... had he not moved on. He would not share Aahz, nor would she have shared him... besides... she is as a sister." He paused. "That made non sense..."

Jason shook his head, "It made sense... kinda..." He brought his thumb up to his lips, licking the tears away, the stab of the salt sweetened by the taint of blood. "I don't want you to cry about me."

"You are worth it, Mon Loup. Consider these tears of fear and relief. You nearly died on me."

"Oh...yeah." He'd forgotten, his mind occupied with thoughts of Asher and body seemingly numb to the pain.

"'Oh... yeah' indeed." Asher scowled. "She is lucky that it was Jean-Claude who took care of her. I would have made her suffer. Greatly..."

Jason bit his lip, trying not to remember her rotting hands on him, or how those fleshless fingers had dug at his neck... "Thank you..."

"For what?" Asher nuzzled the wolf's cheek.

"Saving me." Jason shivered.

"Do not think of her... Think of me." Asher pulled gently free of his lover, sitting up.

"I always think of you." The wolf tilted his head, propping himself up on his elbows as his eyes traveled from the vampire's face to his chest. The scars, which had seemed so extreme and harsh in the bath seemed to have softened in the half-dark of the bedroom, and Jason frowned. No... the ones at the bottom... they were... no way. It was impossible.

"Mon Loup? You looked shocked... what is wrong?"

Jason pushed himself into a sitting position, trailing his fingers over the scars above Asher's hipbone. The pits where the holy water had pooled seemed to be smoothing, fading, somehow.

The vampire shivered. "Jason..."

"Yeah?" Jason swallowed, his fingers moving up the line his mouth had taken. The scars there all seemed to be filling in, becoming perfect again.

"What are you doing?"

The wolf's hand smoothed over his lover's nipple, and something pushed from him, the smell of Pack seeping into the air.

"I... don't know..."

Asher inhaled sharply. "Mon Loup..." He looked down at his lover's hand and nearly gasped. His... his scars!

Jason's hand slid over the scars, next to the formerly scarred skin. His fingers trailed over the ridges and bumps, and the wolf looked up at Asher's face. "Um..."

"What....? I... I do not understand..." Asher tried not to panic. Was this a dream?

Jason swallowed, biting his lip, "Neither do I." His hand stopped moving, but the smoothing skin didn't, the scars seeming to drip away.

"Mon ... Mon Loup..."

Jason jerked as a knock sounded from the other room. His eyes searched Asher's nearly unmarred face, the scars a mere shadow of their harshness. "I... door?"

Asher swallowed. "Leave them... they... they'll leave..."

"Okay..." Jason bit his lip again, his eyes leaving Asher's face to study the vampire's chest.

Asher raised a shaking hand, touching his now smooth face. "How...?"

Jason shook his head helplessly, watching as one of the worse scars filled in. "I don't know..." The knock came again, more insistent.

"Merde... I... is this a dream? It must be... being with you... and... and this..."

Jason pinched himself and let out a soft yip, "Not a dream..."

"Silly wolf..." Asher kissed the sore spot.

Jason jumped again as the door to the bedroom swung open, having not heard the other door being forced. He met Jean-Claude's eyes over his lover's head and looked immediately away, biting the inside of his cheek.

Jean-Claude's brow furrowed. Something wasn't right... Jason would normally have taken every chance to tease him about walking in on... this, but... "Mon Ami?"

"Oui?" Asher's voice shook. Should he turn?

"Has the Petite loup recovered?"

Jason nodded mutely, hoping Jean-Claude would just leave.

Asher swallowed, standing and facing his former lover. "He is better... though not completely."

Jean-Claude's eyes widened in comical surprise before his expression was schooled back into a cool mask. When he spoke, his voice was off, near cracking. "And you?"

Jason bit his lip. That was such a stupid question. What did it look like?

"I... It seems that I am healed." Asher shook his head. "I... I do not understand it, Mon Ami.... how?" The golden vampire nearly pleaded, half panicked. "Is this... a trick? A... a temporary... effect or... or... how?"

Jean-Claude glanced at Jason, then back at his second in command. The only thing that could possibly effect Asher's form was the marks, but... "Petite loup, have you felt your beast recently?"

Jason shook his head, "Not... not really. I mean, I smelled Pack a few minutes ago, just after the scars, but... Not since the rotter..."

Asher swallowed. "What... what would that have to do with it?"

"Your marks with Jason may be the only changes your body has undergone in many years, Mon Ami. His beast may have..." The Master of the City shrugged, "Sensed your own feeling of inadequacy-"

Jason shook his head again, "But my beast never acts like that! No one's does!"

"Have you asked anyone else if they have sensed such a thing?"

"Well... no..."

"Then how are you to know, Petite loup?"

Asher frowned, sitting back down on the bed. "Would it be vain of me to request a mirror?"

"Non." Jean-Claude kept his gaze on Jason.

"I'll get one." The wolf fought not to roll his eyes, pulling himself from the bed and padding towards the bathroom.

"Mon Loup?" Asher nearly followed him.

Jason turned, head tilting to the side automatically, "Yeah?”
"I..." Asher glanced at Jean-Claude. "Hurry please. I do not like being apart from you."

Jason nodded, disappearing into the bathroom, leaving his lover with the other vampire.

Asher looked at Jean-Claude. "Mon Ami... why is it that you are glaring at my lover?"

"He has been impertinent." Jean-Claude turned to face Asher again, his eyes seeming to drink in his former lover's appearance. It had been so long since he had been able to look without flinching...

Asher's eyes nearly flashed. "How so?"

"You heard him, Mon Ami."

Asher growled softly. "Do not make my lover unhappy, Jean-Claude. I will not stand for it. Jason is allowed opinions. He is his own person."

Jean-Claude sighed, "Oui, but if his opinions do not-." The vampire cut himself off as Jason came back into the room, holding a silver mirror, the handle long and decorative.

"Stay out of this. You have fucked up enough relationships. As of this moment, you do not control Mon Loup. Raise a hand or your voice against him and it is me you act against. Are we clear?" Asher's tone was chilling.

Jean-Claude's eyes narrowed dangerously. The wolf was his animal to call. Jason had been his for years... but Asher had marked him, claimed him as his own. Asher had saved him. "Oui. Crystals have not been so clear, Mon Ami." Jean-Claude's voice was cold. Jason wondered if icicles would hang off the vampire's nose if the temperature were true.

"Good. Make no mistake, the love I once held for you is still there, but it has changed. There has been too much between us." Asher shook his head. "As I begin to wonder with you and Aahz." He pulled Jason to him, wrapping his arms around the were.

Jean-Claude fixed Asher with a look that would have made strong men quiver. "I would appreciate it if you were to leave her out of this."

Jason let Asher fold him into his embrace, his bare back resting against the now smooth skin of Asher's chest.

Asher shook his head. "Non. I must warn you... she is coming."

"It matters little. I have news." Jean-Claude clasped his hands behind his back, fists clenching. Asher had invited her back? Merde! The visit would not go well, not nearly as well as it could have gone had Belle Morte not been present.

Jason bit his lip, fingers tracing the mirrors handle. Well...

"News?" Asher kissed Jason's temple. Jean-Claude was a good liar... but Asher knew that he was... feeling mixed emotions about her return.

"Oui. Belle Morte wishes you to return with her to the Council. Your servant will be accounted for as well."

Jason felt Asher tense behind him, and looked down at the mirror. Shit.

"Non. I will not go."

"There seems to be no choice, Mon Ami." Jean-Claude shook his head. "She will not hear it. She would pull me from my city, if she could, but she cannot. I am sourde sange. You, however... You will go, lest reacquaint yourself with the face of her rage."

"Non." Asher shook his head. "And if I must, there will be no way I should take Mon Loup."

"She wishes him to be present."

Jason bit back a response. He really didn't want to piss anyone off... at least for the moment.

"Then she can fuck herself. Mon Loup will be going nowhere near that hell."

"Mon Ami..."

"No!" Asher nearly screamed the word. "No." He repeated, slightly more calm. "And do not try to convince me of this."

"It will do no good in any case." Jean-Claude's gaze slid over first Asher, then Jason, and back to Asher. "She will convince you without me."

A low growl trickled from Jason's throat, surprising everyone in the room, including the wolf. "No one touches Asher."

Asher kissed Jason's shoulder. "It will be okay, Mon Loup..."

Jason looked up at his lover, "If she touches you, I'll kill her."

Jean-Claude snorted softly, "Or try to, anyway."

Asher brushed his lips over the were's. "Non. She will not touch me if she still thinks I am scarred...."

"But you aren't..." Jason bit his lip, brow furrowed.

"Oui, the Loup is correct. Mon Ami, she will push harder now that you are unmarred. She will want you back at her side."

"Oui... but she does not know that I am healed. If we keep it that way..." Asher tapped his lips with a finger tip.

Jason worried his lip between his teeth, "How?"

"I hide. As I always have. I control shadow and with clothing and my hair down..." Asher shrugged. "She should never notice the difference. She does not like to look too closely at her creature..."

"It could work..." Jean-Claude nodded slowly, "You must be careful, Mon Ami. She does not like being lied to..."

And it sounded like she was so good at it... Jason turned slightly, handing the mirror to Asher. It appeared silver... but it was not pure, diluted to the point where it would not burn.

Asher stared at himself for a moment, stunned. "Mon Dieu..."

"Oui." Jean-Claude let his hands fall back to his sides, "Will it not be hard to hide?"

The blonde vampire swallowed. "Oui... but I shall try..."

Jason frowned. "What about that weird Halloween stuff everyone's selling? There're fake burns and scars and..."

Asher stilled. "Do you think that could work?"

The phone rang then, breaking the thoughtful interlude.

Jason nodded, "It could... I'll get it." He leaned across the bed, picking up the phone. "Hello?"

"Jason?" Relief flooded Aahz's voice. "How are you feeling? Better? You're not being a butt, are you?" The last was slightly teasing.

Jason smiled widely, "Hey... when am I not a butt? That's a direct insult to my butt-ish-ness, that is."

Jean-Claude froze. Non. He did not want to be anywhere near her. Not now.

Asher quirked a brow. "Flirting, Mon Loup?"

"Seriously... Jason... how are you? Asher was very worried when I talked to him..."

Jason widened innocent eyes at his lover, then winked. "I'm fine, Aahz. Seriously."

Asher smiled, shaking his head. "I see."

"Good. Don't die before I get there tomorrow to see, okay?"

"I knew it. You just wanted to watch me twitch." Jason mock pouted, near laughter.

Jean-Claude fought the urge to step back from the room. He did not belong in their happiness. It was not his place to intrude...

Asher set the mirror on the bed, sitting down. "Jean-Claude... you may sit... though perhaps you'd prefer the chair..."

"Wrong. I want a hug... and to hit you for scaring everyone." Aahz sighed. "I should be there around noon, alright?" She was quiet for a moment, then, "Could you tell Jean-Claude please? I... don't think I could deal with him ye-snapping... at me right now..."

"I'll tell him." Jason glanced at the vampires as Jean-Claude took the chair at the desk. Aahz was going to have a fit when she got here...

"Thanks, Jason." She paused again. "How's everyone else? Kitty and Kitten and Alex and-"

Asher looked at his friend. "You scowl... Do you not want her to return? Weren't you telling me just a bit ago that was what you wished?"

"They're good... The Cat's have been quiet, though... Greg, one of the new guys, was kidnapped or something... His lover got him back. Was all hush hush." Jason's voice lowered, trying to give the vampires a semblance of privacy as he told Aahz the recent events.

Jean-Claude shook his head, "That was before I spoke with her, non?"

Asher quirked a brow. "Oh?"

"Greg? Gregory, the blond with the long hair, blue eyes? He helped me move?" Aahz bit her lip. "He's okay though?"

"Oui. She has no wish to see me. It is painful to be away, but I will not force her to do anything she does not wish to do." Like listen, he thought bitterly. That was all he had wanted her to do. To listen and understand. It seemed both were out of reach.

"He's fine. How're you? We're all missing you out here." Jason ran a hand through his hair, trying not to listen in on the conversation behind him.

"Living. I think." She swallowed. "It hurts, Jason. I want to come back to him but... I don't understand most of what he says because... it's in vampire lingo and I... I don't know it all... and I ask and he gets angry and...." Tears and pain filled her voice. "It's hard to breathe..."

Asher shook his head. "Is that what she said?"

Jason bit his lip. More than anything, the pain in her voice hurt him. "Well... what was he trying to explain?"

"Not in so many words, perhaps, but oui. That was the implication."

"I... what'd he say...?" Aahz took a moment, gathering her memory. ""I did not wish to hurt you, but the situation demanded certain sacrifices-" To which I replied, "What?! What 'situation'? That... that demanded...You had to sacrifice my feelings?" He said, "If you would listen instead of incessantly interrupting, this would make far more sense and go much faster!" I said... "I tried just being there, remember Jean-Claude? It came back and bit me in the ass because it wasn't me you were seeing. It was Anita. And that's not what I want....Did she not interrupt you on the phone?" And he said... "Anita is dead. You are not. At the moment I am seeing no connection between the two of you." and I replied, "Other than you." He said I was being difficult... then I let him say, "If I had been given the choice, this would not have happened. Belle Morte is slow to accept the women that her children surround themselves with. I knew she would not approve of my choice in you, and so-" I interrupted with, "She wouldn't approve of me? Why? And So what?" And he snapped, "She believes that only the partners she selects for us are suited. She looks down on those who do not accept her choices. You are far too gentle and kind for her tastes, and I could not explain it to you while you were in the city. I did not wish for you to change yourself to fit in, nor did I wish for Belle Morte to look down on you. While it is a rule that we do not harm each others Human Servants, but there is a form of torture that does not involve harm." And I then said, "Huh?" He asked if I was listening and I said I was… and then I asked that he call me back when he could explain it without snapping at me cause I didn’t understand something…" She swallowed. "I don’t think I helped it…. But… aren’t I allowed to be hurt? Con… confused?"

"Ah. Perhaps you were wrong, Mon Ami?"

"Jesus." Jason breathed. "No wonder he's been so pissy." He glanced over his shoulder at the vampires before turning back, "He's right, though. You both are."

"When you can prove I am wrong, Mon Ami, I will accept it. As it is, there is no proof."

"I just... I can't... couldn't understand then. Is that my fault?" Aahz swallowed. "Never mind. I'm being stupid, so-"

"Perhaps when she gets here..." Asher bit his lip.

"You're not being stupid." Jason sighed, "Maybe I can explain. I've spent enough time around them, it might help."

Jean-Claude sighed, "Perhaps."

Aahz bit her lip. "I'm sorry."

"Try, Mon Ami... that is all I ask..."

"It's okay. Do you want any help? I'll do my best..."

Jean-Claude's eyes hardened, "Is that not what I have been doing?"

"Please... Jason... I want to give this my best shot. I... I don't want to feel like this forever. Like I'm missing... my heart..."

Asher sighed. "Never mind."

"Okay." Jason tried to smile, "What do you need explained?"

Jean-Claude forced himself to be calm, "What did you wish to say, Mon Ami?"

"Everything?"

"Non." Asher shook his head. "I just believe that love is worth fighting for."

"Let's start small. What's confusing you about what he said? We should try to ignore all romance-y stuff for the moment, though."

"I am tired of fighting, Mon Ami. It is a losing battle on all sides."

"The... I just... everything. I don't know what parts there were even..."

Asher closed his eyes. "I am sorry, Mon Ami."

"Alright." Jason sighed, "How about the torture bit? That one's pretty easy."

Jean-Claude shook his head, "It is not your fault. I am afraid it is mine."

"Alright... I am sorry, Jason."

"Either way." Asher shook his head.

"It's okay, really." Jason ran a hand through his hair. "It's all in how they see the form of torture. Like the rotters," He shuddered, "What they do... they don't see it as painful. For them it's pleasure, not pain. The Council can figure out ways of doing things that they find fun, or exciting, that isn't either for us. It won't be painful, necessarily, but it'll leave you feeling dirty and unclean. Scarred, in some cases." His voice was low, clearly the voice of experience.

"Non." Jean-Claude sighed, "We will cross the bridge when we come to it, Mon Ami, will we not? It will be as it has been for centuries."

"Oh." Aahz bit her lip. "That... that's not how he was talking. I couldn't understand it."

Asher nodded. "Indeed." He furrowed his brow. "How does one put on scars? The fake ones?"

"He's good for that." The wolf smiled slightly, shifting the phone. He blinked. How DID you put on fake scars? "Hey Aahz?"

Jean-Claude frowned slightly, "That is an excellent question."

"Yeah?" She blinked.

"Do you know how to put on those weird fake scars? I had a girlfriend that could do it. She took a make-up class or something... It was cool. Can't remember her number though... besides, she slept around and's probably pregnant by now."

"Jason... that was me. Minus the sleeping around."

"Seriously? I remember your number though..."

"Can I hit you? And yeah... I do, why? It's a simple adhesive... it'll stick until you want to take it off and can look damn real..."

Asher blinked. "Aahz knows how?"

"Oh... Um... Halloween costume I needed help with." Jason bit his lip, glancing at his lover and shrugging.

Jean-Claude arched a brow. Ah... He'd been correct. He knew only what she had shown him, nothing more.

"Jason... are you sure that's a good idea? I mean... with Asher..." She bit her lip. "He's... touchy... ish... about his scars... what if you offend him? I mean, we all know he's Mr. Sex God number two... sorry, Jean-Claude's first in my book... Asher can be number one in yours... but he's... self conscious about them..."

Jason turned to look at Asher, covering the mouthpiece on the phone for a moment, "Can I tell her?"

"Why?" Asher blinked.

"'Cause... I don't like lying to her. Makes me feel bad." Jason shot his lover the puppy eyes.

"Fine... go ahead." Asher leaned over, kissing Jason's jaw.

"Thank you." Jason smiled, kissing the corner of Asher's mouth before pulling back. "Okay... well... The Halloween costume's kinda for him."

Jean-Claude seemed to sink in his chair. Jason couldn't lie to her, but he could. The thought made him feel worse than any lie had, and he hated it.

Aahz blinked. "Huh?"

Asher stroked a hand down Jason's back before facing Jean-Claude.

Jason shivered, shifting slightly on the bed, "Well, it's like this..." He opened his mouth to explain then shook his head, "Never mind. You'll see when you get here. There's too much to explain, and I'm all not completely getting it."

Jean-Claude didn't straighten in the chair, though his gaze met Asher's steadily.

"Alright." Aahz shook her head. "Anyway... I'll be there around noon. Tell everyone I love them, alright?"

Asher sighed. There was nothing to say.

"Yeah. Loves back." Jason paused, "In the strictly friend kinda way, though."

"Of course, Jason." She smiled. "Get better, alright?"

"I am better!" He protested, though the whine was broken by a grin.

"Then you're doing a back flip for me when I get there."

Jason winced at the thought, "I'll think about that. Maybe a summersault or cartwheel..."

"Then get better. Cause you aren't doing those things until you're totally healed. When's the next moon? That should help speed the healing."

"Soon enough that I don't want to think about it." Jason shook his head. He sounded like a woman talking about her monthly flow!

"Are you talking about periods or the change?"

Jason snickered, "In some of the Pack's cases, both."

"You're getting hit on the behalf of women when I get there." Aahz smiled. "I need to go."

"Ooh... a beating... Kinky." Jason smiled, "See you later."

"Bye." She hung up.

"Kinky?" Asher pouted. "I trust I am included?"

Jason hung up the phone, crawling back to his lover. "Do you honestly think I could leave you out?"

Jean-Claude sighed, standing, "I will speak with you later, Mon Ami. Petite Loup... you will rest, will you not? You are not fully healed..."

Jason blinked up at the other vampire. Wow. Feelings... "I'll be okay. Really."

"Take care of yourself, Mon Ami." Asher pulled his lover into his lap. "Be careful."

Jean-Claude nodded, disappearing through the bedroom door, then the front.

"What did she say, Mon Loup?" Asher pressed a kiss to Jason's temple.

Jason settled against Asher's smooth chest, fingers exploring the skin with gentle familiarity. "About which topic?"

“Everything.”

"Well... we talked about Jean-Claude and his lack of explanatory skills... She didn't seem to enjoy that talk. She said I needed to get better and that I'd have to do a back flip for her to prove I was. Oh. And that she'll help with the weird Halloween-y scars even though she doesn't know what's going on."

"Ah." Asher nuzzled him. "How is she?"

Jason shivered, "She seems okay..."

"Oh?"

"Mmhm."

"Mon Loup... you should sleep. I'd like to lie with you until I go to my coffin at dawn..."

Jason bit his lip, "Do you have to go to your coffin?"

Asher furrowed his brow. "Surely you would not want me here... after. I'll be naught but a body... a dead body..."

"So?"

The vampire stared at him. "Jason...."

Jason felt like pouting, "What?"

"Is that truly what you want?"

"Yes."

Asher nodded slowly. "I'll stay then. But if you do not... wish it in the future after tonight, tell me."

The wolf brushed a kiss over Asher's lips. "Okay, but so not thinking it'll be a problem."

Asher smiled. "We shall see, Mon Loup..."
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Romantic Executions: Continued