Title: Catalyst: Part Forty-Three Authors: Brenda & Jo Disclaimer: Never happened. Karl let himself into Josh's house, and was greeted by the sound of a piano playing from somewhere in one of the back rooms. He followed the melody down the hallway and into the music room, where Josh and Harry were seated side by side on a piano stool, playing what sounded like a ragtime jazz number. Karl just leaned against the doorjamb and watched with a fond smile. It was clear that Harry wasn't nearly the musician that Josh was, but he was holding his own. When the song ended, Karl clapped his appreciation. Josh whipped his head around while Harry just lounged back and gave Karl a warm smile. "I'd be careful, Josh," Karl remarked. "Harry's a meticulous student." "Yeah, uh, he mentioned. I mean, that he'd been teaching himself to play." Josh patted Harry on the knee in a fraternal gesture. "He's not bad." "You should have heard him when he first started out." Karl strolled into the room. "At least I improved," Harry replied. "Unlike your attempts at oil painting." "I was an Impressionist," Karl said, loftily, and dropped into the only empty chair. "You made Picasso look rational." Josh winced. "That sounds, um, not good." "It wasn't that bad." "Yes, it was." "Shut it," Karl said, doing his best to ignore the laughter dancing in Harry's eyes. He was never going to hear the end of the painting era, he just knew it. "It was bad," Harry assured Josh, then turned to Karl. "What brings you out here?" "My conference call ended early. I thought I'd take Josh to dinner before my next meeting." "Just as well." Harry stood, stretching to the ceiling. "Sean and I are meeting a client for drinks at Bar Marmont, so I should get dressed." "Oh, I don't think Sean would mind if you were naked," Josh grinned. When Harry gave him a questioning look, Josh shrugged. "Didn't you both say he used to have a thing for you?" "Centuries ago," Karl replied, smiling to himself as he thought about those long ago days. "Not that I blame Sean, of course." Harry brushed a kiss across Karl's lips. "Try to stay out of trouble." "There's no fun in that," Karl protested, tugging Harry down for another, longer kiss. "Besides, Orlando's the one you need to tell that to." "Why? What's he doing tonight?" Josh asked, curiously. "He and Dave just got back in town." Harry's grin was just this side of evil. "He's got an all-night meeting with Viggo and Dave to go over his new job and responsibilities. Paperwork and all that." "Sounds like fun. Only, y'know, not." "Anytime the three of them get together, there's bound to be a good story out of it," Harry stated, and with a last fleeting kiss to Karl and a wave to Josh, strolled out. "Admit it," Josh said, standing and crossing the room until he was in front of Karl. "You really came out here to make sure Harry and I were behaving." "Nothing of the sort." Karl tugged on Josh's hand until Josh straddled his lap. "I just thought you might be hungry. And I thought maybe we could go over the ceremony." "Oh," Josh said, draping his arms across Karl's shoulders, "we are still having one, then?" "Cheeky child," Karl replied as he leaned in to nip Josh's lower lip. "Well, it's been so long..." Karl snorted. "You poor thing. Languishing for ages out here, wondering when I'm going to make an honest man of you." "Never happen. I'm far too depraved to ever be honest." "Depraved, is it?" "Musician," Josh said, as if that explained everything. Which, when Karl thought about it, it probably did. "So, you'd prefer we live in sin and debauchery, then?" he asked, with a lift of his eyebrow. "I figure we'll be living in sin and debauchery anyway. Besides, my mother and sister both went shopping for the perfect outfits to wear and I think Aunt Kate would kill me in a very painful manner if she got to miss out on witnessing an actual pet ceremony." "Well, we certainly wouldn't want to disappoint Aunt Kate." Josh poked Karl in the ribs. "Dude, I'm serious. Wait 'til you meet her." "I live in fear of her disapproval." "You should. She might even be a match for Harry." "You think so?" When Josh nodded, Karl turned that idea over and couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. "Maybe we should give them a bottle of The Macallan and stand back and see what happens." "As long as the rest of us get to watch. Out of the line of fire, of course," Josh added. "Of course." "You think I'm kidding, man." "I don't at all," Karl replied. "I look forward to meeting everyone in your family, especially your aunt." "They're looking forward to meeting you." Josh went silent, an odd look crossing his face, and Karl watched him for a moment. Then he reached out to gently cup Josh's chin. "What?" "Well..." Josh looked uncertain for a moment before exhaling loudly. "Don't be surprised if my mother catches you for a talk." "A talk?" "About this whole situation. Multiple pets, Harry, all that." "I see," he replied, slowly, trying to do his best not to laugh. Josh was far too adorably earnest like this. "I told her everything already, so there won't be a shock, but she's..." "Worried?" "Concerned. She's my mother." "I remember mine well enough," Karl said, with a soft smile. True, time had worn the edges of his memories, but he could still recall her smile and warmth and love. "I promise I'll do my best to assuage her fears. Orlando tells me I did alright with his own mother, although I didn't meet her until much later." "You did? Well, that's alright, then, isn't it?" "Is there anyone else you'd like to invite? I thought I'd do it properly this time." "Properly...?" Josh trailed off and gave Karl a suspicious look. "It was a proper ceremony with Orlando," Karl said, quickly, fighting back more laughter at Josh's expression. "Just...a small one. Very small." Josh's eyes narrowed. "How small?" "Me and Sean and Dom and Elijah. Oh, and Viggo." "That's it??" Josh blinked. "His family wasn't there?" "Well, no." Karl fought the urge to squirm himself. "There wasn't time." Josh just cocked an eyebrow. "You're one of the richest men in the world. I'm pretty sure you could have gotten his entire family on one of your planes at a moment's notice. Admit it, you just didn't think about it." "Well, I had other, um things...alright, fine. I didn't think about it. They forgave me, though." "Uh huh. Well, at least Orlando had Harry to give him a proper ceremony." "Ah," Karl said, again fighting the urge to squirm. "They, um, didn't actually have one..." "Didn't..." Josh narrowed his eyes, and Karl was reminded of a look his mother used to give him when he was very young. "Don't tell me they didn't." "Alright, I won't tell you." Karl raised his hands in defense. "They just never, well, it never came up, I suppose. They made their vows to each other and exchanged tokens." "What the hell do you mean, it didn't come up?! The ceremony is a legally binding contract. How the hell could it not have come up during the last decade?" "It just...stop glaring, I didn't do anything wrong. Besides, why are you yelling at me and not Harry?" Josh didn't look remotely repentant. "He's not here." "Of course," Karl replied, sardonically. "That makes sense." "You and I both know if the head of the Council doesn't complete the ceremony, it's not a real pet bond, no matter how many vows there are." "You try telling them they don't have a real pet bond." "Actually, you are." "Of cour— Wait, what?" Karl stared at Josh, wondering if, perhaps, Josh had been hit on the head during the remodeling. "Like hell I am! The last time I interfered between the two of them, I was locked out of Harry's head for two weeks." "Orlando needs that bond completed before you even think of letting him undergo the unmaking. Otherwise, it's just your bond to hold him here." Every argument Karl had been about to make died in his throat. "Alright," he said quietly. "Wait, you mean it? You're agreeing, just like that?" "Orlando's safety is worth the inevitable argument with Harry." "Good," Josh smiled, showing off twin dimples. "Now, didn't you promise me dinner at some point?" "So I did. Where would you like to go?" "I'd say dazzle me, but that wouldn't be too hard for you." Josh leaned in and brushed a quick kiss across Karl's lips. "Take me to your favorite place." "Fair enough." Karl drew back slightly, eyes roaming over Josh's clothes. Then he shook his head. "You'll have to change, though." "You're taking me to a coat and tie place, aren't you?" Josh made a face as he slid from Karl's lap and stretched, raking hands through already rumpled hair. "No, just..." Karl grinned, thinking it might be the right time to introduce Josh to Trivinia. "Just a little dressier than jeans, a faded t-shirt, and flip-flops." "I do play gigs that require a suit, you know," Josh replied. "I mean, nothing as nice as what I've seen you sporting, but I do know how to dress." "I never thought you didn't. Just that you'll be required to attend a few more formal functions than you're used to." Josh wrinkled his nose as he quickly stripped off his clothes and strolled, naked, out of the room. Karl followed him upstairs and into the bedroom, admiring the view. "I don't see why Orlando can't function as your concubine when you need an escort," Josh said, digging through his closet. "Oh, he will. On the nights when Harry's not attending the same function." Josh's face fell, and then he made a rude noise. "And you call me evil?" He turned back to the closet and jumped when Karl slid a hand along his hip. "I'll make a deal with you. If you have a gig and if Orlando or Harry are free, I won't expect you to attend." "I tell you what," Josh said, pulling his shirt over his head, "I'll attend unless I've got a gig. And I promise not to schedule them just to get out of functions." "Fair enough," Karl conceded, knowing it was the best he was going to get. He did, however, lament every piece of clothing that Josh put on, as it hid that excellent body from his view. Although he did admit the black slacks and royal purple button-down did look very nice. "Better?" Josh asked, twirling in a small circle. "Much," Karl smiled, and stood, holding out a hand. "Not that I had a problem with you naked." "That," Josh said, sliding his hand along Karl's, "is because you're a dirty old man." Karl tilted his head, grinned, and tugged Josh into his arms. "I can't argue with that." "Not at all," Josh replied, a touch breathless, and Karl smiled as warm skin pebbled under his lips. After a moment, he reluctantly pulled away. "C'mon. We don't want to be late." "Do we have a reservation somewhere?" "No, but unfortunately, I do have a meeting I need to get to after dinner, so we are on somewhat of a schedule," Karl said, and led Josh to the garage and the Viper, which was still miraculously in its bay. "Bummer," Josh replied, running a hand along the hood. "I thought this was Orlando's car." "He wishes. He's been trying for ten years to get me to give it to him." "Why doesn't he just buy one? I mean, he's got to be making a decent sum working for you." "It's the principle, or so he tells me." "Of course it is," Josh said, and Karl didn't need to look to know Josh was rolling his eyes. "No one's pointed out that principles won't get him the car?" "Oh, Harry has," Karl said, and tossed the keys to Josh. "Frequently." Josh juggled the keys, then flipped them back to Karl. "Uh uh," he said, and just as quickly slid into the passenger seat. "I'm just starting to get along with him. No way in hell I'm driving his car without his permission." "I told you, it's not his car." "You tell him that." Karl just shook his head and climbed into the driver's seat. The engine purred when he turned the key, and he spent a moment silently thanking Harry for keeping the cars running so smoothly. They set off down Mulholland, Karl hugging the familiar turns with ease. "I never did thank you for that, by the way," he said, after they'd turned off Sunset and onto Robertson. "For what?" "Giving Orlando a chance." Karl smiled, even though he kept his eyes on the road. "I knew you two would get along once you both relaxed." "Yeah, well. He's not such a dick once he's away from you two." "Oh, is that what it is?" "Told you that you and Harry spoil him rotten." A flash of teeth revealed Josh's smile, and Karl bit back a chuckle. "And he's a terrible show-off." "I'll give you that one." "And you, especially, encourage it." "I do not!" "You do, too," Josh retorted. "You actively encourage his bad behavior." "I encourage him to think outside the box." "Is that what we're calling it?" Onto Part Forty-Four main Catalyst page If you enjoyed this fic, please leave feedback here. Thanks!