"That's what we're trying to determine." Karl sat down next to Dave, twined their fingers together. "What happened with the two of you?" Harry ran his hands over Orlando's tense back. "It's alright. Just answer the question." "It wasn't much," Orlando said, leaning against Harry as he watched Karl and Dave. He hoped he didn't sound too defensive. "We were all just hanging out, waiting on you guys, and then Dom started talking and asking what about us..." he gestured at Dave, "and, um..." "And he was sitting in my lap at the time." Dave shrugged. "I don't think either one of us was really aware of it until they pointed it out." "And that's it?" "Not quite. He, um...well...they left the room and, um, Davekissedme." "It was an experiment, and he," Dave pointed at Orlando and grinned, "has been ready to jump out of his skin because of it." "Was it a successful experiment?" Karl asked\. "From my end it was very successful." Everyone looked at Orlando. "And you?" Harry asked, pulling his arms around Orlando's waist. "Was it successful for you, as well?" He looked back at the eyes watching him, his own gaze finally settling on Dave. Who was smiling. "Yes." "And now he's convinced that the two of you," Dave said, rubbing his thumb across Karl's knuckles, "are going to kill him for it. Damned if I know where he got that idea." "Damned if I know either. Come here, love." Karl patted his knee, and Orlando reluctantly walked over and dropped down, keeping his head lowered. Harry dropped to the floor at Dave's feet, curling his arms around his legs. "What's going on in that pretzel mind of yours?" Orlando shrugged, toying with the folds of denim at his knee. "I didn't...I just..." He paused and took a deep breath, glancing up when a hand covered his. "Just tell them," Dave said softly, a smile in his eyes. "I don't know." Orlando shrugged again. "It just seemed like, well...like you wouldn't want me to...and then there's the fact that I shouldn't feel this way with...and..." He lifted his head, looked at Karl. "I'm not normal, am I?" "None of this is normal," Karl reminded him. "But it's not a bad thing." Dave covered Karl and Orlando's joined hands. "It'd be weird if we weren't a little attracted to each other, don't you think?" "I didn't go into this expecting to get three vampires out of it," Orlando pointed out, unwinding enough to lean against Karl. "And after the other night on the sofa...well, I didn't...I thought Dave and I were just friends." "We are friends." Dave smiled at him. "Just looks like we might end up being more than that is all." Orlando peeked at Harry, then at Karl. "You're not...?" "No," Karl assured him with a kiss. "We're not." "We're actually relieved, to be honest," Harry added. "You are?" Dave glanced down. "And why the hell aren't you up here, anyway?" "Karl's taking up the whole sofa." "Oh, for fuck's sake." Karl scooted down, taking Orlando with him. "There." "You don't want me to sit next to you, just say so." "Harry, if you don't get your ass on this sofa, I swear..." "Shouldn't do that, old man, it's a sin," Harry teased, dropping into the empty space. Dave immediately curled up to him. "Alright, explain this relieved business. Don't tell me you two were anticipating this," Dave said, eyes narrowed slightly. "They couldn't have." Orlando lifted his head and looked at Karl. "Could you?" "Not really, we weren't," Harry explained, rubbing his hands on Orlando's calves. "But it makes sense. The two of you are a lot like us." "Yes, but why are you relieved?" Harry smiled down at Dave. "Because we're a complete circle now. The four of us. No one feels left out. We've all got each other." "But...we're not really a complete circle," Orlando pointed out in a quiet voice. "Well, not until Sunday, no," Harry replied. "Figured we'd take care of the rest of it then." "For once, Harry, you're the obtuse one." Karl looked down at Orlando. "Are you talking about what I think you are?" "Yeah." Orlando looked at Harry. "You'll bond with Dave on Sunday, and then Karl will." He paused, waited for Harry to nod. Karl's hand continued to move across his back. "But we're not really a circle unless...unless Dave and I bond, too. Somehow." "And I've got an idea about that," Harry said, tilting Orlando's head to meet his gaze. "But you're going to have to ask for it." Dave blinked, looked between Harry and Karl. "Are you suggesting...that I...Christ..." "No, it's a good idea," Karl stated, looking at Dave. "It would bond the two of you, complete the circle. Blood for blood." Orlando sat there, his body still, his eyes moving from Karl to Harry to Dave and back again. "I...I'm not sure I understand," he said after a minute, forehead wrinkling in confusion. "I want us to be a circle, but I don't..." "Orlando. Think. What do the three of us have in common that you don't?" Orlando's eyebrows shot up and he slid back, almost falling off Karl's lap. "You...are you saying...? Jesus, you are." One hand lifted and touched Karl's mouth, a finger sliding between parted lips to touch a fang. Orlando was pleased to see that his hand didn't shake. "That would mean..." "Yes, it would." Harry leaned over, placed a hand on Orlando's cheek. "But we can't offer it, or even speak of it. You have to ask. And you have to ask Dave." "I...now?" Orlando asked, his voice breathless. "And what about Dave?" His eyes shifted to Dave. "You haven't said how you feel about this yet." "Well, I..." "What if he doesn't want to?" Orlando twisted to face Karl, his hand coming to clutch Harry's in a tight grip. "Let me finish." It was a soft admonishment. Dave glanced at Harry, then at Karl, finally resting his eyes on Orlando. "I wouldn't mind the bond, child. Harry's right. It would complete us the way Harry and Karl complete each other. I'd be proud to. Just as long as you realize what you're doing. This is a big step." "No shit." The words caused the three vampires to laugh. Orlando crawled across Harry to straddle Dave's lap, knees on either side of Dave's hips. "Does it hurt?" "Yeah, it does." Dave placed his hands on Orlando's knees, moving upwards. "Hurts like hell. But then you sort of pass out, so it's not so bad after." "What's it like?" "Well, when...ah...when Vig did it to me..." Dave paused, rubbed his hands over his eyes. "Well, it's like the binding ceremony. I drink from you, you drink from me, but, it's different. Because, um, I have to basically kill you." Orlando blinked. Blinked again. "Oh." Such a woefully inadequate word for all the thoughts going through his head, but it was the only one he could force out of his throat. "I see. Um, well...how..." His hand fluttered in the air. Harry reached out, caught Orlando's hand. "Calm down. No one's going to do anything you don't want." "Right." Orlando gave them a weak smile, took a few deep breaths. "If, um...if you kill me, how can I...you know, drink from you?" "You do that first." Dave moved his hands up to Orlando's back, soothing tense muscles. "Then I give it back to you...but, it, um...it's poison. And that's the part that hurts, and...you basically..." "You die," Karl supplied. Dave threw him a grateful smile. "To give your body a chance to reintroduce the new blood." "And then you wake up, and you're..." Dave gestured at himself and Harry and Karl. Orlando wondered if he was as pale as he felt. He leaned back into Dave's hand, twined his fingers with Harry's. Then he looked at Karl. "What if it...what if it doesn't work?" "What do you mean, what if it doesn't work?" Karl looked mystified. "There's a chance that your body will reject ithe blood, yes," Dave said, his voice gentle. "But that's part of the risk of getting it." "It won't be an issue for you." Harry brushed his hand through Orlando's hair, playing with a soft curl. "Your body already has our blood. If you were going to reject it, you'd have done so by now." Karl looked at him steadily. "We're not going to lose you. We wouldn't have suggested it if we thought that was even a possibility." Orlando regarded Karl for a long moment. Then, without speaking, he slid from Dave's lap and crawled across the tangle of bodies to Karl. His arms wrapped around Karl's shoulders, and he pressed his face against Karl's neck. "I love you," he whispered. "I love you," Karl replied as he stroked Orlando's back. "Do you promise," Orlando said, lifting his head to look deep into Karl's eyes, "that I'll wake up?" Karl looked at Harry for a long moment before returning his gaze to Orlando. "I promise." Orlando studied Karl's face for several minutes, not speaking. Finally, he smiled. "Then I want it." "Does that count as asking?" Dave rested his chin on Harry's shoulder, looked at Karl. "What? I've never done this before." "Yes, but you've been on the receiving end of it, cariad." Harry shook his head, pulled Dave to him. "Orli, you have to ask. Dave. Not me. Not Karl." Orlando looked at Harry, then grinned. And promptly crawled back across Harry to sit with Dave. "That child's got more energy than Dominic on a sugar high," Karl grumbled good-naturedly. He laughed when Orlando stuck out his tongue. "So, it's me and you," Orlando said, making himself comfortable as he cuddled up to Dave. "Looks like it." Dave sounded amused. "Will you do it? Will you give me the Gift?" Dave let out a deep breath. "I would be honored to share the Gift with you, Orlando Bloom." He bent his head, gave Orlando a soft, slow kiss. "You ready?" Orlando exhaled slowly as he rested his forehead against Dave's. "Yeah, I think so. Doubt I'll ever be any more ready." Then he laughed, pleased that it sounded only slightly shaky. "This is going to make us late for dinner." "Put it this way, though," Dave laughed. "At least now you'll be better equipped to handle Vig." "How do you mean?" "He's my Creator. His blood flows in mine." Harry shook his head, smiling. "And yet I still love you." "You do?" Dave blinked, lost his breath. "You think I would entrust his life to anyone I didn't love?" "I...um...Jesus, Harry, just..." Dave reached out a hand, yanked Harry to him for a fierce kiss. "I love you." "I know." Harry ran his fingers down Dave's arm. "We'll be here." "Right here." Karl and Harry settled themselves on the sofa. Orlando noticed their hands were tightly gripped together. Dave leaned forward, crested his fangs against the soft skin of Orlando's neck. "I'll be as gentle as I can," he promised, and held Orlando's body tight as he bit through flesh, striking Orlando's vein. Orlando thought he might have yelped, but wasn't sure. In fact, he wasn't sure of anything other than Dave. And Dave's mouth on his throat. He arched, head falling back, hands gripping tight to Dave's shoulders. This wasn't bad, Orlando told himself. No worse than when Karl or Harry bit him. Well...not much worse. Not yet. He could feel Karl and Harry in his head, feel their love for him, and he smiled. Then it changed, became...more. And less. Time slipped, slid, the smell, the scent, the taste of Dave filled his brain...he felt weak, light-headed...was going to pass out, hands slipped from Dave's shoulders, couldn't move... Abruptly, Dave pulled back, licked the small marks, ran his tongue over his lips. "Christ, you really do taste remarkable." Orlando tried to open his eyes, found that he couldn't. He made a small sound in his throat. Or did he? He wasn't sure. All he knew was that he was tired. Very tired. And Karl was there, somewhere. Orlando could hear his voice. And Harry's. Could hear them both. "Alright...now," Orlando lolled his head back to Dave, who held his wrist up to his teeth. He kept his eyes locked with Orlando's as he bit through the soft flesh and held his wrist up to Orlando's lips. "Hurry, child." Orlando curled weak fingers around Dave's forearm and fastened his mouth over the wound. Copper filled his mouth, exploded across his senses. He remembered this from bonding with Karl. Only...this wasn't like Karl. It was something more, but not. Orlando whimpered as his eyes closed and his fingers tightened on Dave's arm. He lost concept of time, of himself...there was only blood on his tongue, power in his veins. Wanted more, wanted to devour, to suck the vein dry... "Enough." Dave's soft command was a little weak. He pulled his wrist back, licked the wound closed, rested his head against the back of the sofa for a moment. "I feel really fucking dizzy." //You're not the only one.// Orlando tried to curl up into a small ball in Dave's lap. "When's it supposed to start hur...oh. Nevermind," he whispered. //Karl...Harry?// Karl reached over, grabbed his hand, held on tight. //I'm here, little one.// Harry took his other hand, wiped the thin trickle of blood from his mouth. //We're both here.// //We're all here.// Dave, stroking hands across his back. Orlando couldn't even marvel at hearing Dave's voice inside his head...he hurt too fucking much. //When do I get to pass out?// Orlando moaned, dug his fingers into Harry's and Karl's hands. //Because this really fucking hurts, and I think I've had enough of this fun.// //Should be any sec...// Dave looked up, exhaled slowly as his eyes met Karl and Harry's. "Guess that answers that." Onto Part Nineteen
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