jana_denardo (
jana_denardo) wrote2015-10-25 11:27 pm
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Free Fiction - Cabin in the Woods
I started this story at the beginning of the year as my way of mourning the loss of one of my heroes, Leonard Nimoy. However, it got too painful and I didn't know which way to take the story. With some time and distance and with the help of a great prompt from the annual Halloween
spook_me challenge I found my way. I didn't find my way to a good title mind you, but I hope you'll enjoy it none the less. It is in the same universe as my m/m/m story for the Love's Landscape challenge in 2014. You can find it here (note: you do have to be a member of the group to see this story but otherwise it's free. I hope to have it up on my new website shortly!) Triskelion It's set in Athens, OH, which is roughly my home turf these days. I hope you enjoy it!
My prompt: Dark Faerie by AIMaNeGrA
Summary - As Faolan mourns the loss of his hero, Derrek and Jason try to cheer him up. Surely nothing could go wrong with a lonely cabin in the woods.
Author's Note: This also fulfills a prompt from the allbingo challenge on dreamwidth for 'alone in the woods.' Also, it's not really the universe I signed up to write but this one screamed louder so it won.
Derrek stretched to work the kinks out of his neck. The document room had gone quiet at some point and he had been so preoccupied that fact had escaped his wolf-keen hearing. How completely embarrassing. He put away the documents Brighid had him investigating. It was actually more interesting than Derrek expected. They had been bequeathed the paperwork from the Bradleys’ who seemed to be independent paranormal investigators. The Lucerna, the group he worked with, was one of the largest such groups and were happy to add the Bradley’s materials to their library.
As he walked down the silent corridors back toward his temporary apartment, Derrek's skin twitched. Sometimes he wondered at those first Lucernas in the Athens area who decided to buy The Ridges and make it into their headquarters. While it was a beautiful Kirkbride building, it had been a mental health faculty, the Athens Lunatic Asylum, back in the bad old days. It still held a creepy air. Derrek hadn't planned to live in it. His pack usually avoided the place other than the meeting hall but his pack had his hackles up at the moment. It didn't matter that he was the alpha's identical twin or that he had done a few tours of duty as a marine in the Middle East. Some of them still didn't want a gay wolf in the pack. His twin, Douglas, would eventually beat some sense into them or send the troublemakers to another pack – not an unusual thing, usually to be sure the gene pools stayed healthy – but for now he had to live in the old asylum.
At least he had a great job handed to him by the co-leader of the local group, Brighid. The old woman was easy to work for. It was nice to have time to figure out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. The one thing that made The Ridges less creepy was Brighid's grandson and co-leader, Faolan. Normally, a hippie-dippie Druid wouldn’t be the kind of guy Derrek went for, especially since Faolan was already involved with another guy, a freaking vampire. One prophecy, one deranged wizard and a lot of putting aside inbred vampire distrust later they were a threesome. His twin's eyes had nearly popped out when he found out. Hell, sometimes Derrek felt freaked out about it.
He entered a more populated area of the complex. A couple passed him, their scent fully human. They were probably mages. Most of the people in the Lucerna headquarters were either mages or the odd Normal Human who worked for the group. Vampires, like the wolves, didn't like to mix with the others much so there weren’t as many of them living at the complex. Jason, his new lover, was an exception and only a part time one at that as he kept his own house. However, Jason liked watching humans but he was so old, he had to entertain himself somehow.
“Hey, fur ball!”
Derrek grimaced. Maybe he shouldn't have thought so hard about Jason. He seemed to have summoned him up. Jason might hotter than holy hell in bed but the leech was equally annoying. He turned, surprised to see worry knitting up Jason's dark brow. “What's up, bloodsucker?”
“I was hoping you were with Faolan.”
The concern in Jason's voice brought Derrek up short. “Why? Is something wrong?”
“You haven't heard?” Jason jerked his head toward the next wing before starting to walk that way.
“I've been in the old document room all day. You can't get a signal down there and I didn't go on the web.”
“Faolan's hero passed this morning.”
Derrek fell into step next to him, his stomach tight. He had no idea who that could be. Brighid was alive and well, and that was the only hero he knew Faolan had, well if he didn't include fictional ones. “Who?”
“Nimoy.”
“Oh damn.” Derrek didn't know anyone Faolan loved more than Spock, except maybe Sulu. He loved not only their characters but the men who embodied them for the work they did.
“I was hoping you'd be with him. He's going to be gut-shot.”
“We're here now.”
Derrek wasn't sure what Jason expected Faolan to be doing. He doubted the self-possessed druid would be weeping and even if he was, Derrek didn't know what he'd do. He wasn't good at comforting people. Even among the pack, he always felt awkward when he tried. It didn't help that he didn't share much of Faolan's Sci-Fi nerdiness, but what did that matter? A man he cared about was hurting so he needed to do something.
Jason nodded then picked up the pace toward Faolan's apartment. “I had a job to get done. I couldn't get here until now.”
“His sister is here, grandma too. He's probably not alone and this is...” Derrek almost said it wasn't the worst thing that had ever happened to Faolan but that was cold. Jason was probably right. Faolan would be upset.
When they got to Faolan's apartment, they found their lover on the couch, holding something, staring at it intently. Next to Faolan’s spot on the couch, the pillow looked like someone was sitting on it, and Derrek wondered if Rebecca had shown up to commiserate. One never could tell with the ghost who shared the apartment since Rebecca probably hadn't been sane when she was alive.
“Hey, buddy, you okay?” Jason sat on top of the ghost and slid an arm around Faolan's waist.
“Not really.” Faolan didn't look up from whatever he was holding.
Derrek bulled his way onto the couch next to Faolan. Now he could see Faolan held a picture of him and Nimoy from a convention. He noticed a Spock action figure on the table. Derrek didn't really understand Faolan's geekiness or his obsession with comic books and toys. It was something his own father would never have stood for. Appalachian to the bone, Dad had never gone in for expensive frivolities. It didn't matter if Derrek understood. He simply needed to be sympathetic. “Want to talk about it?”
“I don't know.”
“It's okay if you don't.” Derrek caressed the back of Faolan's neck then jerked his hand back with a yelp.
“Sorry.” Faolan put the picture on the coffee table then reached up to take off the blessed leather and silver encrusted gorget he wore.
Derrek put his burning fingers in his mouth as if that would cool them off. Vampires and werewolves shared a silver sensitivity.
Faolan shot him an apologetic look. “I forgot I had it on.”
Derrek knew that Faolan wore it most of the time, after having his throat torn out by his then-lover. “I'll live.”
“I knew this was coming. He was sick.” Faolan shrugged. “Still wasn't ready. Silly, isn't it? Being broken up about someone you don't really know?”
“Not really. I'm sure you're not alone,” Jason said.
“I'm not. But this feels different, you know. Spock and Sulu were the two I identified with growing up. Spock was ruggedly handsome and Sulu was just plain cute as hell.” Faolan smiled a little. “As an adult, I admired Nimoy and Takei for their other talents and activism. Our lives are hard enough. I wasn't ready to lose one of my favorite stars.”
Jason leaned over and kissed Faolan. Derrek rested his head on Faolan's shoulder, still feeling a bit of the odd man out. It wasn't easy being the last man in on a threesome. He still felt like he was on the outside. He didn't have Jason's instincts for making Faolan feel comforted. It wasn't like Faolan was pack and a little nuzzling and communal grooming would help.
“Did you always like Spock?” Derrek decided maybe Faolan did, in fact, need to keep talking.
Faolan nodded. “Always. When I was thirteen I decided to cut my hair like his and wore all sorts of short-sleeved blue shirts and black pants to school. You can image how popular that made me.” He chuckled.
Derrek snorted. “I'm trying to picture you dressed up as Spock.”
Faolan laughed louder. “I was the whitest Vulcan ever to exist.”
That made both Derrek and Jason laugh with him. Derrek had mistaken Faolan as the vampire when they first met: that's how white he was.
“On Twitter, Nimoy invited people to think of him as an honorary grandfather and I did.” Faolan scrubbed a hand over his eyes, but didn't cry.
“Why don't you let us help you feel a little better?” Jason asked.
Faolan eyed him. “Jason...”
“Not that!” Jason made a face. “Not everything is sex with me. I meant, why don't you go get your dvds, we'll have a Star Trek marathon, and Derrek can call for pizza.”
“I like that. Thanks.” Faolan got up, snatched up his collar to get it out of where it might accidentally touch his lovers and went into the back rooms.
Jason picked up something off the table as Derrek went to get the number for their favorite pizza place off the fridge. Derrek ordered a chicken chupacabra and a skeletonwitch from Avalanche Pizza.
“What is that?” Derrek nodded to the piece of paper.
“Nimoy's last tweet. It might even make me cry.” Jason handed it to Derrek as if he didn't want to be alone in that.
Derrek understood immediately. “Wow.”
Jason bobbed his head. “You know what we need? We need to find a good case for Faolan to work on to get his mind off this.”
“He's our leader. He's the one who picks the cases we work,” Derrek protested.
“Pffft, I'll talk to Brighid. She knows how to whip that boy into shape. She'll help us pick something interesting and hopefully not too dangerous. I'm in no hurry to join the recently departed.”
Derrek rolled his eyes. Jason was centuries old. He knew well how to keep himself alive. “Instead of a case, maybe we should aim for a vacation. We all could use some time off.”
Jason held up a hand. “He’ll never go for it.”
“A weekend in the hills? We’d be less than an hour away if something huge happened.”
Jason considered that for a moment then replied, “That might do it but we might have to trick him into it.”
“Noted.” Derrek hated himself a little for what he was going to say next but he had to know. “Hey, before Faolan gets back in here, I have an awkward question.”
“The answer is yes.”
Derrek pinched his lips together. “You don't even know what my question was.”
Jason cocked up his eyebrows. “Given the topic of conversation and you saying the question is awkward, could it be anything other than has Faolan made me dress up in Star Trek outfits for sex cosplay?”
“Yes, it could have.” Derrek wrinkled his nose. “But it wasn't. I have never done that.”
“Oh we can correct that.” Jason smirked.
“I'm not a red shirt!” Derrek headed him off at the pass.
“Fur-butt, werewolves are always red shirts.” Jason jammed a finger into Derrek’s chest.
Derrek gave him a little push back. “I know you damn leeches think so!”
“That's because we think, unlike some hairy bits of brawn I can name.”
“Jason! I'll make Derrek command gold and you the red shirt if you don't stop taunting him.” Faolan sauntered back into the living rom. “Derrek, I believe there was mention of pizza.”
Derrek nodded at the less than subtle order. “And I assume you're blue, Faolan?”
“Always science officer blue.” Faolan nodded with a hint of amusement hidden in his blue eyes.
As he got some beer out while they waited on the pizza delivery, Derrek wondered if he was going to be in for his first role playing sex game: the naughty landing party. He was going to suck at that.
XXX
“That's too involved and boring-sounding,” Jason was saying to Brighid and Faolan’s sister, Sorcha, when Faolan walked into her office. Derrek stood by the window talking softly on his cell.
“There you are.” Faolan slipped his lab coat off. It had been a long day in the base's clinic seeing patients. The skin of his arms where they stuck out from the short sleeves of his scrub shirt goose-pimpled. For as old as she was, Grandma still kept a cool office. “What are you three up to?”
“Finding you a job so you don't sit around moping,” Grandmother replied.
“I was seeing patients, not moping.” Technically he had been doing both. His life had been a tale of loss and Nimoy’s death had just hurt more than it should.
“I might have something.” Derrek hustled over, shoving his cell into his pocket. He paused to eye the back of Faolan's shirt. “Are you wearing Star Trek scrubs?”
Faolan splayed his fingers over the emblem on the shirt’s pocket. “I felt I had to.”
“Think of it this way, fur-face. You realize you're half in love with him, then realize he's a geek and wonder what the hell is wrong with you?” Jason laughed.
“No, I think that when I consider my relationship with you,” Derrek shot back and Jason's laugh morphed into a growl.
“That's a good one.” Sorcha beamed.
“Don't encourage him.” Faolan rolled his eyes at his sister. “Derrek?”
“Just finishing up some reservations for us. Jason and I wanted to take you away for a few days, cheer you up a little bit,” Derrek said.
“And he said ‘I know a place.’ I figure he’s the local, why not trust him?” Jason shrugged.
“You don’t need to do that,” Faolan protested. Yes, he was sadder than probably reasonable about someone he had only met once but it did feel like he had lost a member of the family with Leonard Nimoy’s passing. Still, did he really need to take a weekend off? On the other hand, when did he ever take a break?
“It’s that or you take the mission I’m looking at,” Grandma said. Faolan suspected he was being set up to say yes to the vacation. That would hardly be the worst idea in the world.
“We want to. Trust me, this will be good. I got us a nice little cabin in the woods with a fireplace.” Derrek bounced a little on his heels. Something about an excited werewolf always reminded Faolan of an overstimulated puppy.
“I’ll take your words for it. I try not to wander in the woods more than absolutely necessary.” Jason rocked back in his chair.
Derrek wagged his head. “I sometimes wonder what you see in the city boy, Faolan, what with you being a druid and all.”
Faolan snorted. “Sometimes I do too.”
“If Grandma and Sorcha weren't here, I'd remind you of why you like me.” Jason rapped his knuckles against his muscular chest.
“Grandma knows why he likes you.” Brighid waved him off. “If Grandma wasn't so old, she might like you too.”
“Grandma! Don't!” Faolan shuddered. His sister did likewise.
“I'm older than you, Brighid.” Jason smirked.
“But you don't age. I cannot say the same.” She twirled a lock of her white hair.
“If I can bring us back to a slightly less terrifying topic than Grandma's fantasy sex life, we really don’t have to go running off into the woods.” Faolan turned to Derrek.
“Oh shut it and just enjoy the break.” Derrek scowled.
“Don’t be such a workaholic and just enjoy,” Justin said.
“I’ll go pack then and thank you both.” Faolan thought ‘enjoy’ should be easy enough.
XXX
Derrek stared at the cottage jammed in among the oaks and the pines. The kidney-busting road up to its isolated location in the Hocking Hills had been little more than a goat-path made more unbearable by Jason's usual barbs and Faolan's melancholic silence. Faolan being sad was understandable. Okay, Jason being a total dickhead was also understandable. He was a vampire so it went without saying. Derrek wondered why he put up with Jason or brought him along. Derrek knew he might not be sure how he felt about Jason – what with him being a sarcastic bloodsucker and all – but Derrek had to admit Jason was too much fun in the sack. And of course he couldn't leave Jason behind. Derrek was the new man in the relationship. Jason and Faolan had been in love for years.
“Do you ever wonder what the hell is wrong with the Lucerna? We live in an old insane asylum and we keep scary cabins in the woods. Joss Whedon and Stephen King would have a field day with this place,” Jason said, getting out of the car. He went to the trunk Derrek opened.
“Can we think of it as a cute little Black Forest cabin?” Derrek gestured to it as he left the car, even though he did agree with Jason just a little. “Look at the peaked roof and gingerbread. That's what it's trying to be or maybe a Swiss chalet.”
“Black Forest cottages sort of inspired the Grimm fairytales,” Faolan said as he dragged out of the car. “Usually full of dangerous killers.”
“Great. Now that we've established our little get away in the woods is going to be turn into a murder cabin, can we go inside and try to do what we came here for?” Derrek sighed as he grabbed his luggage.
“You really didn't have to do this. I'll be fine. It's not as if I personally knew Mr. Nimoy.” Faolan ambled toward the cottage.
“Quit saying that. Do not make me show Derrek the video of you dancing around the living room when you learned Nimoy friended you on Twitter.” Jason toted both his and Faolan's overnight bags to the door. “It's okay to say it. You liked the man and you're sad.”
Faolan sighed as Jason put the key in the front door lock. “Yes, I suppose I am.”
“This should help, a weekend with no distractions other than me and fur-face.”
“Are you going to be sniping all weekend? I might not know what I’ll do if the answer is no.” Faolan brushed past Jason, going into the cabin.
Derrek knew sniping could happen. That was what their relationship was. A three-way snarkfest. Derrek wouldn't know what to do if Jason started being nice to him or for that matter if he started being respectful of the vampire, at least verbally. He did respect Jason but no werewolf could ever let a vampire know that.
Faolan didn't go further than the big overstuffed couch, flopping down. Jason and Derrek took the luggage into the bed room except for one bag that Jason left by the couch.
“I'll go get the food,” Jason offered.
Derrek nodded then sat next to Faolan. Jason could handle the take out pizzas and other quick fix meal items they had brought. He dragged over the duffle bag. “We brought all the dvds for the original Trek, some of Next Gen and DS9 along with Ghostbusters, Star Wars and half a dozen of your favorite animes. Whatever you want to do, we'll do. We've got tons of beer and popcorn and I should probably go out and get the beer.”
“You guys know what I like,” Faolan said.
“It’s easy. Take the druid out to the woods.” Derrek pointed out the window. “And bring a bunch of geeky stuff and it will all work out.”
“It's a sound idea.” Faolan nodded with a hint of a smile on his face.
“Good.” Derrek leaned in, brushing his lips to Faolan's.
“Starting without me?” Jason asked as he banged through the door with the cooler and a couple canvas grocery bags.
“Would I do that?” Derrek eased to his feet. “I'll go get the beer.”
That task didn't take long. By the time Derrek had the beer put away Jason was on the couch with Faolan who'd been dragged to the center spot to make room for Derrek on the other side.
Derrek snuggled in with them having brought three of Tin Man Brewing’s Klingon Warnog Roggen dunkle ales for them. They put in season one of Deep Space Nine after Faolan decided they had already rewatched several episodes of original Trek the night Nimoy passed away and Faolan wanted to see something less painful. The Wrath of Khan had been summarily banned for the weekend. Derrek couldn't blame Faolan. Even he had trouble watching Spock die and now it would be just too painful for Faolan. Derrek looked at Faolan's face thinking this long weekend in the woods is just what they needed.
XXX
Faolan walked out into the woods alone. Slivers of moonlight tumbled down through the nude branches. He'd convinced Derrek he'd be fine on this own. Druids and moonlit woods were a natural mix. He didn't need a werewolf body guard. He needed alone time. Jason had either sensed that or was displaying his usual disdain for things that weren't a bustling town. If he got lucky Derrek and Jason would distract each other with some hot and heavy sex. More likely he'd walk back into a half-destroyed cabin and them snarking at each other.
But for now, he'd have silence. He needed a little of that even though he did really appreciate what the two of them were doing. He tucked his hands into his pockets after tugging his felt cap tighter on his head. The February wind howled through the woods, biting at him.
Faolan didn't mind terribly. Druids were supposed to appreciate all seasons. He liked winter well enough and had an affection for paintings of trees minus their leaves. Sorcha and Jason called it morbid. Faolan didn't care. He liked what he liked. Snow muffled the sounds of his foot falls as he sauntered further into the woods. Spying a roundish hunk of limestone jutting out of the ground, Faolan hiked over dusted off the snow and parked his butt down. A cold damp leeched through his jeans but Faolan ignored it as he leaned back to watch the clouds play peekaboo with the moon.
He lost track of how long he was there when Faolan felt a light touch on his shoulder. He turned his head expecting to see a stubborn leaf that had just come down from the oak over head or maybe a conifer's cone.
Faolan jumped as he spied the tiny faerie sitting on his shoulder. The Kindly Ones were so named because they weren't and people wanted to appease them by pretending they were nicer than they were. It was a safe way to keep alive longer. She was tiny, lovely, and her dark eyes utterly terrifying, like Tinkerbell's evil sister.
Faolan held his breath, trying to recall a spell that would send her back to the fae realm. He couldn’t take a chance she was harmless. Before the spell congealed in his brain, she whispered in his ear. Faolan vaguely understood that the words were foreign then he felt the door slam in his mind, locking himself from his body. Through the fog, he knew was her marionette.
XXX
Jason levered himself off Derrek's lap, hearing the front door open. No one was that hot yet. He was mostly playing with Derrek a little, trying to strengthen the bond between them. It was never easy between vampires and werewolves. He did care about the little hothead though even if he was a fur ball.
Faolan walked past them, barely acknowledging him. Jason followed him into the kitchen, worried about the numb expression on Faolan's face and the fact Faolan was tracking snow everywhere. He usually went ape shit about everyone taking their shoes off at the door. He put a hand on Faolan's shoulder.
“You okay?”
Faolan grunted at him and Jason thought he saw something purple in Faolan's nearly white hair where it stuck out from his hat. No, that was probably just the blue felt of the hat.
“You're cold. Let's get you out of these snowy things and into a nice warm bed,” Jason suggested and Faolan leveled a flat, dead look at him. “Or maybe some pizza and cuddling on the couch.”
When Faolan said nothing, Jason glanced over at Derrek who shrugged and said, “Pizza is a place to start.”
“I'll put one in the oven.” Jason pulled the take out boxes from the fridge.
“Faolan, what? Jason, watch it! He's got a knife!” Derrek bellowed.
Jason couldn't quite process that. Who had a knife? The answer came when Faolan buried the kitchen knife in Jason's chest. Jason screamed. Faolan remained eerily silent, his eyes still lifeless. Jason’s heart thundered, driven by pain and worry. What the hell was wrong with Faolan?
“Did you hear that?” Derrek bolted into the kitchen, hauling Faolan off of Jason as their lover yanked the knife free and was looking to resheath it in flesh. Derrek’s eyes were wild, a counterpoint to the flatness of Faolan’s.
“Me screaming? Fuck yes.” Jason pressed a hand to his chest, knowing the wound would already be knitting together. If Faolan tagged Derrek with the knife, the werewolf wouldn't be as lucky.
“No, a woman's giggle.” Derrek grabbed Faolan's arm, twisting it, trying to get him to drop the knife. Justin winced in sympathy as Faolan grunted. Jason was beginning to think Faolan had turned into the walking dead.
“No. Faolan, snap out of it.” Jason wanted to shake Faolan until he came back to his senses but that nonsense only worked in movies. “What's going on?” This time Jason was sure he spotted movement near Faolan's ear. He tore off Faolan's hat even as Derrek jammed Faolan back against the counter. Faolan kept his death grip on the blade. Glowing with a soft violet light, a tiny woman with demonic claws clung to Faolan’s hair. “Gotcha!”
Jason snatched the dark faerie out of Faolan's hair, hand moving faster than most human eyes could track. She screeched, yanking a hunk of blond hair out of Faolan's head as Jason hauled her away.
“Unhand me, filthy leech.” Her voice was shockingly deep and smoky for such a tiny thing.
“Even faeries know vampires suck.” Derrek snorted then swore when Faolan twisted out of his grip. Faolan slashed at him, making Derrek dodge.
“Pun intended?” Jason fought to keep his grip on the tiny female who was as slippery as a hill after an ice storm. He hoped to hell Derrek could keep himself safe. Jason didn’t want to risk letting the faerie go so he could help him. “Think Faolan packed any of his silver?”
“I can't imagine he has. Let me ask him just as soon as he's done trying to fucking stab me! Sorry about this, Faolan.” Derrek kneed Faolan in the groin. Faolan sagged forward, groaning. This time he dropped the knife and Derrek let him go long enough to take hold of it.
“Men, always so damn weak!” The faerie almost squirmed out of Jason's grip. He pinched her wings between his fingers and she bit him.
“Fuck! Derrek, get a glass and some salt. Faolan should be down for a minute now that you ruined any plans for this weekend. Couldn't have aimed for the gut?”
Derrek showed his teeth in a wolfy challenge. “Next time you deal with him when he goes all knife-wielding maniac on us.”
Derrek threw open a cabinet door and grabbed a pint glass before snatching the salt shaker off the kitchen table. Jason pinned the faerie to the countertop, surprised when Faolan managed to get up and kick him right between the legs. Jason bellowed, nearly losing his grip on the fae. Derrek knocked Faolan down and captured the faerie under the glass before she could wiggle free of Jason’s fingers.
“Pin him down while you're lying on the ground anyhow,” he said to Jason.
“Fuck you.” Jason rasped as Derrek attempted to lay a ring of salt around the glass with one hand and keep the glass firm to the countertop with the other all the while the faire shrieked. Jason struggled over to Faolan, grabbing his ankles to pull him back down. In spite of the pain throbbing in his abused balls, Jason got Faolan pinned. He had been a wrestler for centuries after all. He was good at grabbling even if his lover suddenly seemed stronger than ever. Faolan started to chant something so Jason clamped a hand over his mouth. “Derrek, hurry the fuck up. He's biting me.”
“Just a sec, there! Got the salt circle made,” Derrek said the moment Faolan went limp and stopped gnawing Jason's hand.
Faolan groaned lowly.
Jason didn't let him up. He wasn't falling for that. “Faolan, you back with us?”
“Oh, God. My head.” Faolan moaned.
“I'd ask which one but I’m betting the answer is both.”
“Don't be a dick, Jason,” Faolan groaned.
“Guys, she's going to hammer through this glass soon and can't she just fly out of the salt circle?” Derrek's voice pitched high.
“Jason, let me go. My wand is in my pocket,” Faolan said.
“We need a better name for that,” Jason said, releasing Faolan.
“Or we need not be a perpetual twelve year old.” Faolan dug his wand out of his coat pocket and struggled to his feet. He pointed the wand at the faerie under glass.
“If I had known you were a mage, this would have gone differently,” she retorted, obviously not the least bit sorry she had hijacked Faolan's mind.
“It's time you went back where you came from for good.” Faolan cast his spell and she disappeared from her glass cage with a protracted wail. Faolan slumped down on the floor.
Derrek stretched out both hands to them. Jason wanted to roll up to his feet because it hurt his pride to have a werewolf help him, even if that werewolf spent a good deal of time rolling around with him in the sack. Instead, he took Derrek's hand as did Faolan and Derrek hauled them both to their feet
Faolan rubbed his face. “I am so sorry. I couldn’t stop myself. She was calling all the shots.”
“We gathered that,” Derrek said.
“I’m just glad it was Jason I stabbed.”
Jason shot him a sour look. “Thanks for nothing.”
Faolan narrowed his eyes. “You know what I mean.”
Jason rubbed the already healed skin. “Yeah, I do. Just how the hell did you get brain hijacked by a damn faerie?”
Faolan kicked his boots off by the front door and shook his head. “I just wanted to watch the damn moon and she dropped out of sky. It happened so fast I couldn't even start a spell.” He limped over to the couch. “If nothing else, I'm no longer sad. I feel too guilty about all this.”
“It wasn't really your fault.” Jason sat down next to him.
“Yeah I know but it feels that way.” Faolan sighed.
“No one was seriously hurt.” Derrek held up his hand. “You know what I mean, Jason. So it's all okay.”
“Yeah, besides, I said it when we got here. A lonely cabin in the woods is horror fodder. A bloody massacre was bound to happen.” Jason reached over and slapped Derrek's arm.
“Next time, you pick the getaway. Druids like the woods. Werewolves like the woods. Vampires are just a pain in the ass.” Derrek rolled his eyes.
Faolan started to laugh then it broke into a sob. He covered his mouth, trying to hold it in. “I am so sorry. You tried to do something nice for me and I ruined it.”
Jason wrapped his arms around Faolan. “Nothing's ruined, buddy. We came out here to make you feel less sad and we ended up taking more bad magic out of this plane so that’s a win, right?”
Derrek leaned against Faolan's opposite shoulder. “He makes an excellent point.”
Faolan wiped his eyes. “I know. You are the best, guys.”
“We know.” Jason beamed.
“And since I'm the only one who didn't get kicked in the balls and probably the only one who could take this nice huddle to another level, why don't we just put in another dvd? I'll get us more beer and that pizza and we just relax,” Derrek said.
Faolan took Derrek's hand. “I need a shower first, a ritual cleansing.”
“Go on. The pizza will take a little while anyhow,” Derrek replied.
Faolan dragged to his feet. “You two are the best thing ever to happen to me, you know that right?”
“I’m the best thing that ever happened to anyone.” Jason rapped his knuckles against his chest hoping to see Faolan smile. He was rewarded for his efforts with one smile and a punch on the shoulder from Derrek as a bonus.
“Think about that in the shower. This arrogant dickhole is the best thing that’s happened to you.” Derrek shoved Jason over on the couch.
“Try not to destroy the place while I’m in the shower, okay?” Faolan shook his head and walked off.
Jason pinned Derrek to the couch, giving the squirming man’s neck a gentle nibble. “Murderous rage-inducing faeries aside, I think this weekend away is working out well.”
Derrek relaxed a bit, stroking Jason’s hair. “Told you it would.”
“Now if you and Faolan could quit kicking everyone in the balls, it would be a great weekend.” Jason beamed.
Derrek tapped Jason’s cheek. “Fetch the beer. I’ll get the pizza in the oven.”
“Better idea. Let’s go join Faolan in the shower.” Jason bailed off the couch and gave Derrek a hand up. He wasn’t surprised when Derrek didn’t argue that idea in the least and if Faolan was less sad over the loss of his hero, then mission accomplished. The paths to cheering him up were many and Jason hoped they had a chance to try them all.
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My prompt: Dark Faerie by AIMaNeGrA

Summary - As Faolan mourns the loss of his hero, Derrek and Jason try to cheer him up. Surely nothing could go wrong with a lonely cabin in the woods.
Author's Note: This also fulfills a prompt from the allbingo challenge on dreamwidth for 'alone in the woods.' Also, it's not really the universe I signed up to write but this one screamed louder so it won.
Derrek stretched to work the kinks out of his neck. The document room had gone quiet at some point and he had been so preoccupied that fact had escaped his wolf-keen hearing. How completely embarrassing. He put away the documents Brighid had him investigating. It was actually more interesting than Derrek expected. They had been bequeathed the paperwork from the Bradleys’ who seemed to be independent paranormal investigators. The Lucerna, the group he worked with, was one of the largest such groups and were happy to add the Bradley’s materials to their library.
As he walked down the silent corridors back toward his temporary apartment, Derrek's skin twitched. Sometimes he wondered at those first Lucernas in the Athens area who decided to buy The Ridges and make it into their headquarters. While it was a beautiful Kirkbride building, it had been a mental health faculty, the Athens Lunatic Asylum, back in the bad old days. It still held a creepy air. Derrek hadn't planned to live in it. His pack usually avoided the place other than the meeting hall but his pack had his hackles up at the moment. It didn't matter that he was the alpha's identical twin or that he had done a few tours of duty as a marine in the Middle East. Some of them still didn't want a gay wolf in the pack. His twin, Douglas, would eventually beat some sense into them or send the troublemakers to another pack – not an unusual thing, usually to be sure the gene pools stayed healthy – but for now he had to live in the old asylum.
At least he had a great job handed to him by the co-leader of the local group, Brighid. The old woman was easy to work for. It was nice to have time to figure out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. The one thing that made The Ridges less creepy was Brighid's grandson and co-leader, Faolan. Normally, a hippie-dippie Druid wouldn’t be the kind of guy Derrek went for, especially since Faolan was already involved with another guy, a freaking vampire. One prophecy, one deranged wizard and a lot of putting aside inbred vampire distrust later they were a threesome. His twin's eyes had nearly popped out when he found out. Hell, sometimes Derrek felt freaked out about it.
He entered a more populated area of the complex. A couple passed him, their scent fully human. They were probably mages. Most of the people in the Lucerna headquarters were either mages or the odd Normal Human who worked for the group. Vampires, like the wolves, didn't like to mix with the others much so there weren’t as many of them living at the complex. Jason, his new lover, was an exception and only a part time one at that as he kept his own house. However, Jason liked watching humans but he was so old, he had to entertain himself somehow.
“Hey, fur ball!”
Derrek grimaced. Maybe he shouldn't have thought so hard about Jason. He seemed to have summoned him up. Jason might hotter than holy hell in bed but the leech was equally annoying. He turned, surprised to see worry knitting up Jason's dark brow. “What's up, bloodsucker?”
“I was hoping you were with Faolan.”
The concern in Jason's voice brought Derrek up short. “Why? Is something wrong?”
“You haven't heard?” Jason jerked his head toward the next wing before starting to walk that way.
“I've been in the old document room all day. You can't get a signal down there and I didn't go on the web.”
“Faolan's hero passed this morning.”
Derrek fell into step next to him, his stomach tight. He had no idea who that could be. Brighid was alive and well, and that was the only hero he knew Faolan had, well if he didn't include fictional ones. “Who?”
“Nimoy.”
“Oh damn.” Derrek didn't know anyone Faolan loved more than Spock, except maybe Sulu. He loved not only their characters but the men who embodied them for the work they did.
“I was hoping you'd be with him. He's going to be gut-shot.”
“We're here now.”
Derrek wasn't sure what Jason expected Faolan to be doing. He doubted the self-possessed druid would be weeping and even if he was, Derrek didn't know what he'd do. He wasn't good at comforting people. Even among the pack, he always felt awkward when he tried. It didn't help that he didn't share much of Faolan's Sci-Fi nerdiness, but what did that matter? A man he cared about was hurting so he needed to do something.
Jason nodded then picked up the pace toward Faolan's apartment. “I had a job to get done. I couldn't get here until now.”
“His sister is here, grandma too. He's probably not alone and this is...” Derrek almost said it wasn't the worst thing that had ever happened to Faolan but that was cold. Jason was probably right. Faolan would be upset.
When they got to Faolan's apartment, they found their lover on the couch, holding something, staring at it intently. Next to Faolan’s spot on the couch, the pillow looked like someone was sitting on it, and Derrek wondered if Rebecca had shown up to commiserate. One never could tell with the ghost who shared the apartment since Rebecca probably hadn't been sane when she was alive.
“Hey, buddy, you okay?” Jason sat on top of the ghost and slid an arm around Faolan's waist.
“Not really.” Faolan didn't look up from whatever he was holding.
Derrek bulled his way onto the couch next to Faolan. Now he could see Faolan held a picture of him and Nimoy from a convention. He noticed a Spock action figure on the table. Derrek didn't really understand Faolan's geekiness or his obsession with comic books and toys. It was something his own father would never have stood for. Appalachian to the bone, Dad had never gone in for expensive frivolities. It didn't matter if Derrek understood. He simply needed to be sympathetic. “Want to talk about it?”
“I don't know.”
“It's okay if you don't.” Derrek caressed the back of Faolan's neck then jerked his hand back with a yelp.
“Sorry.” Faolan put the picture on the coffee table then reached up to take off the blessed leather and silver encrusted gorget he wore.
Derrek put his burning fingers in his mouth as if that would cool them off. Vampires and werewolves shared a silver sensitivity.
Faolan shot him an apologetic look. “I forgot I had it on.”
Derrek knew that Faolan wore it most of the time, after having his throat torn out by his then-lover. “I'll live.”
“I knew this was coming. He was sick.” Faolan shrugged. “Still wasn't ready. Silly, isn't it? Being broken up about someone you don't really know?”
“Not really. I'm sure you're not alone,” Jason said.
“I'm not. But this feels different, you know. Spock and Sulu were the two I identified with growing up. Spock was ruggedly handsome and Sulu was just plain cute as hell.” Faolan smiled a little. “As an adult, I admired Nimoy and Takei for their other talents and activism. Our lives are hard enough. I wasn't ready to lose one of my favorite stars.”
Jason leaned over and kissed Faolan. Derrek rested his head on Faolan's shoulder, still feeling a bit of the odd man out. It wasn't easy being the last man in on a threesome. He still felt like he was on the outside. He didn't have Jason's instincts for making Faolan feel comforted. It wasn't like Faolan was pack and a little nuzzling and communal grooming would help.
“Did you always like Spock?” Derrek decided maybe Faolan did, in fact, need to keep talking.
Faolan nodded. “Always. When I was thirteen I decided to cut my hair like his and wore all sorts of short-sleeved blue shirts and black pants to school. You can image how popular that made me.” He chuckled.
Derrek snorted. “I'm trying to picture you dressed up as Spock.”
Faolan laughed louder. “I was the whitest Vulcan ever to exist.”
That made both Derrek and Jason laugh with him. Derrek had mistaken Faolan as the vampire when they first met: that's how white he was.
“On Twitter, Nimoy invited people to think of him as an honorary grandfather and I did.” Faolan scrubbed a hand over his eyes, but didn't cry.
“Why don't you let us help you feel a little better?” Jason asked.
Faolan eyed him. “Jason...”
“Not that!” Jason made a face. “Not everything is sex with me. I meant, why don't you go get your dvds, we'll have a Star Trek marathon, and Derrek can call for pizza.”
“I like that. Thanks.” Faolan got up, snatched up his collar to get it out of where it might accidentally touch his lovers and went into the back rooms.
Jason picked up something off the table as Derrek went to get the number for their favorite pizza place off the fridge. Derrek ordered a chicken chupacabra and a skeletonwitch from Avalanche Pizza.
“What is that?” Derrek nodded to the piece of paper.
“Nimoy's last tweet. It might even make me cry.” Jason handed it to Derrek as if he didn't want to be alone in that.
Derrek understood immediately. “Wow.”
Jason bobbed his head. “You know what we need? We need to find a good case for Faolan to work on to get his mind off this.”
“He's our leader. He's the one who picks the cases we work,” Derrek protested.
“Pffft, I'll talk to Brighid. She knows how to whip that boy into shape. She'll help us pick something interesting and hopefully not too dangerous. I'm in no hurry to join the recently departed.”
Derrek rolled his eyes. Jason was centuries old. He knew well how to keep himself alive. “Instead of a case, maybe we should aim for a vacation. We all could use some time off.”
Jason held up a hand. “He’ll never go for it.”
“A weekend in the hills? We’d be less than an hour away if something huge happened.”
Jason considered that for a moment then replied, “That might do it but we might have to trick him into it.”
“Noted.” Derrek hated himself a little for what he was going to say next but he had to know. “Hey, before Faolan gets back in here, I have an awkward question.”
“The answer is yes.”
Derrek pinched his lips together. “You don't even know what my question was.”
Jason cocked up his eyebrows. “Given the topic of conversation and you saying the question is awkward, could it be anything other than has Faolan made me dress up in Star Trek outfits for sex cosplay?”
“Yes, it could have.” Derrek wrinkled his nose. “But it wasn't. I have never done that.”
“Oh we can correct that.” Jason smirked.
“I'm not a red shirt!” Derrek headed him off at the pass.
“Fur-butt, werewolves are always red shirts.” Jason jammed a finger into Derrek’s chest.
Derrek gave him a little push back. “I know you damn leeches think so!”
“That's because we think, unlike some hairy bits of brawn I can name.”
“Jason! I'll make Derrek command gold and you the red shirt if you don't stop taunting him.” Faolan sauntered back into the living rom. “Derrek, I believe there was mention of pizza.”
Derrek nodded at the less than subtle order. “And I assume you're blue, Faolan?”
“Always science officer blue.” Faolan nodded with a hint of amusement hidden in his blue eyes.
As he got some beer out while they waited on the pizza delivery, Derrek wondered if he was going to be in for his first role playing sex game: the naughty landing party. He was going to suck at that.
XXX
“That's too involved and boring-sounding,” Jason was saying to Brighid and Faolan’s sister, Sorcha, when Faolan walked into her office. Derrek stood by the window talking softly on his cell.
“There you are.” Faolan slipped his lab coat off. It had been a long day in the base's clinic seeing patients. The skin of his arms where they stuck out from the short sleeves of his scrub shirt goose-pimpled. For as old as she was, Grandma still kept a cool office. “What are you three up to?”
“Finding you a job so you don't sit around moping,” Grandmother replied.
“I was seeing patients, not moping.” Technically he had been doing both. His life had been a tale of loss and Nimoy’s death had just hurt more than it should.
“I might have something.” Derrek hustled over, shoving his cell into his pocket. He paused to eye the back of Faolan's shirt. “Are you wearing Star Trek scrubs?”
Faolan splayed his fingers over the emblem on the shirt’s pocket. “I felt I had to.”
“Think of it this way, fur-face. You realize you're half in love with him, then realize he's a geek and wonder what the hell is wrong with you?” Jason laughed.
“No, I think that when I consider my relationship with you,” Derrek shot back and Jason's laugh morphed into a growl.
“That's a good one.” Sorcha beamed.
“Don't encourage him.” Faolan rolled his eyes at his sister. “Derrek?”
“Just finishing up some reservations for us. Jason and I wanted to take you away for a few days, cheer you up a little bit,” Derrek said.
“And he said ‘I know a place.’ I figure he’s the local, why not trust him?” Jason shrugged.
“You don’t need to do that,” Faolan protested. Yes, he was sadder than probably reasonable about someone he had only met once but it did feel like he had lost a member of the family with Leonard Nimoy’s passing. Still, did he really need to take a weekend off? On the other hand, when did he ever take a break?
“It’s that or you take the mission I’m looking at,” Grandma said. Faolan suspected he was being set up to say yes to the vacation. That would hardly be the worst idea in the world.
“We want to. Trust me, this will be good. I got us a nice little cabin in the woods with a fireplace.” Derrek bounced a little on his heels. Something about an excited werewolf always reminded Faolan of an overstimulated puppy.
“I’ll take your words for it. I try not to wander in the woods more than absolutely necessary.” Jason rocked back in his chair.
Derrek wagged his head. “I sometimes wonder what you see in the city boy, Faolan, what with you being a druid and all.”
Faolan snorted. “Sometimes I do too.”
“If Grandma and Sorcha weren't here, I'd remind you of why you like me.” Jason rapped his knuckles against his muscular chest.
“Grandma knows why he likes you.” Brighid waved him off. “If Grandma wasn't so old, she might like you too.”
“Grandma! Don't!” Faolan shuddered. His sister did likewise.
“I'm older than you, Brighid.” Jason smirked.
“But you don't age. I cannot say the same.” She twirled a lock of her white hair.
“If I can bring us back to a slightly less terrifying topic than Grandma's fantasy sex life, we really don’t have to go running off into the woods.” Faolan turned to Derrek.
“Oh shut it and just enjoy the break.” Derrek scowled.
“Don’t be such a workaholic and just enjoy,” Justin said.
“I’ll go pack then and thank you both.” Faolan thought ‘enjoy’ should be easy enough.
XXX
Derrek stared at the cottage jammed in among the oaks and the pines. The kidney-busting road up to its isolated location in the Hocking Hills had been little more than a goat-path made more unbearable by Jason's usual barbs and Faolan's melancholic silence. Faolan being sad was understandable. Okay, Jason being a total dickhead was also understandable. He was a vampire so it went without saying. Derrek wondered why he put up with Jason or brought him along. Derrek knew he might not be sure how he felt about Jason – what with him being a sarcastic bloodsucker and all – but Derrek had to admit Jason was too much fun in the sack. And of course he couldn't leave Jason behind. Derrek was the new man in the relationship. Jason and Faolan had been in love for years.
“Do you ever wonder what the hell is wrong with the Lucerna? We live in an old insane asylum and we keep scary cabins in the woods. Joss Whedon and Stephen King would have a field day with this place,” Jason said, getting out of the car. He went to the trunk Derrek opened.
“Can we think of it as a cute little Black Forest cabin?” Derrek gestured to it as he left the car, even though he did agree with Jason just a little. “Look at the peaked roof and gingerbread. That's what it's trying to be or maybe a Swiss chalet.”
“Black Forest cottages sort of inspired the Grimm fairytales,” Faolan said as he dragged out of the car. “Usually full of dangerous killers.”
“Great. Now that we've established our little get away in the woods is going to be turn into a murder cabin, can we go inside and try to do what we came here for?” Derrek sighed as he grabbed his luggage.
“You really didn't have to do this. I'll be fine. It's not as if I personally knew Mr. Nimoy.” Faolan ambled toward the cottage.
“Quit saying that. Do not make me show Derrek the video of you dancing around the living room when you learned Nimoy friended you on Twitter.” Jason toted both his and Faolan's overnight bags to the door. “It's okay to say it. You liked the man and you're sad.”
Faolan sighed as Jason put the key in the front door lock. “Yes, I suppose I am.”
“This should help, a weekend with no distractions other than me and fur-face.”
“Are you going to be sniping all weekend? I might not know what I’ll do if the answer is no.” Faolan brushed past Jason, going into the cabin.
Derrek knew sniping could happen. That was what their relationship was. A three-way snarkfest. Derrek wouldn't know what to do if Jason started being nice to him or for that matter if he started being respectful of the vampire, at least verbally. He did respect Jason but no werewolf could ever let a vampire know that.
Faolan didn't go further than the big overstuffed couch, flopping down. Jason and Derrek took the luggage into the bed room except for one bag that Jason left by the couch.
“I'll go get the food,” Jason offered.
Derrek nodded then sat next to Faolan. Jason could handle the take out pizzas and other quick fix meal items they had brought. He dragged over the duffle bag. “We brought all the dvds for the original Trek, some of Next Gen and DS9 along with Ghostbusters, Star Wars and half a dozen of your favorite animes. Whatever you want to do, we'll do. We've got tons of beer and popcorn and I should probably go out and get the beer.”
“You guys know what I like,” Faolan said.
“It’s easy. Take the druid out to the woods.” Derrek pointed out the window. “And bring a bunch of geeky stuff and it will all work out.”
“It's a sound idea.” Faolan nodded with a hint of a smile on his face.
“Good.” Derrek leaned in, brushing his lips to Faolan's.
“Starting without me?” Jason asked as he banged through the door with the cooler and a couple canvas grocery bags.
“Would I do that?” Derrek eased to his feet. “I'll go get the beer.”
That task didn't take long. By the time Derrek had the beer put away Jason was on the couch with Faolan who'd been dragged to the center spot to make room for Derrek on the other side.
Derrek snuggled in with them having brought three of Tin Man Brewing’s Klingon Warnog Roggen dunkle ales for them. They put in season one of Deep Space Nine after Faolan decided they had already rewatched several episodes of original Trek the night Nimoy passed away and Faolan wanted to see something less painful. The Wrath of Khan had been summarily banned for the weekend. Derrek couldn't blame Faolan. Even he had trouble watching Spock die and now it would be just too painful for Faolan. Derrek looked at Faolan's face thinking this long weekend in the woods is just what they needed.
XXX
Faolan walked out into the woods alone. Slivers of moonlight tumbled down through the nude branches. He'd convinced Derrek he'd be fine on this own. Druids and moonlit woods were a natural mix. He didn't need a werewolf body guard. He needed alone time. Jason had either sensed that or was displaying his usual disdain for things that weren't a bustling town. If he got lucky Derrek and Jason would distract each other with some hot and heavy sex. More likely he'd walk back into a half-destroyed cabin and them snarking at each other.
But for now, he'd have silence. He needed a little of that even though he did really appreciate what the two of them were doing. He tucked his hands into his pockets after tugging his felt cap tighter on his head. The February wind howled through the woods, biting at him.
Faolan didn't mind terribly. Druids were supposed to appreciate all seasons. He liked winter well enough and had an affection for paintings of trees minus their leaves. Sorcha and Jason called it morbid. Faolan didn't care. He liked what he liked. Snow muffled the sounds of his foot falls as he sauntered further into the woods. Spying a roundish hunk of limestone jutting out of the ground, Faolan hiked over dusted off the snow and parked his butt down. A cold damp leeched through his jeans but Faolan ignored it as he leaned back to watch the clouds play peekaboo with the moon.
He lost track of how long he was there when Faolan felt a light touch on his shoulder. He turned his head expecting to see a stubborn leaf that had just come down from the oak over head or maybe a conifer's cone.
Faolan jumped as he spied the tiny faerie sitting on his shoulder. The Kindly Ones were so named because they weren't and people wanted to appease them by pretending they were nicer than they were. It was a safe way to keep alive longer. She was tiny, lovely, and her dark eyes utterly terrifying, like Tinkerbell's evil sister.
Faolan held his breath, trying to recall a spell that would send her back to the fae realm. He couldn’t take a chance she was harmless. Before the spell congealed in his brain, she whispered in his ear. Faolan vaguely understood that the words were foreign then he felt the door slam in his mind, locking himself from his body. Through the fog, he knew was her marionette.
XXX
Jason levered himself off Derrek's lap, hearing the front door open. No one was that hot yet. He was mostly playing with Derrek a little, trying to strengthen the bond between them. It was never easy between vampires and werewolves. He did care about the little hothead though even if he was a fur ball.
Faolan walked past them, barely acknowledging him. Jason followed him into the kitchen, worried about the numb expression on Faolan's face and the fact Faolan was tracking snow everywhere. He usually went ape shit about everyone taking their shoes off at the door. He put a hand on Faolan's shoulder.
“You okay?”
Faolan grunted at him and Jason thought he saw something purple in Faolan's nearly white hair where it stuck out from his hat. No, that was probably just the blue felt of the hat.
“You're cold. Let's get you out of these snowy things and into a nice warm bed,” Jason suggested and Faolan leveled a flat, dead look at him. “Or maybe some pizza and cuddling on the couch.”
When Faolan said nothing, Jason glanced over at Derrek who shrugged and said, “Pizza is a place to start.”
“I'll put one in the oven.” Jason pulled the take out boxes from the fridge.
“Faolan, what? Jason, watch it! He's got a knife!” Derrek bellowed.
Jason couldn't quite process that. Who had a knife? The answer came when Faolan buried the kitchen knife in Jason's chest. Jason screamed. Faolan remained eerily silent, his eyes still lifeless. Jason’s heart thundered, driven by pain and worry. What the hell was wrong with Faolan?
“Did you hear that?” Derrek bolted into the kitchen, hauling Faolan off of Jason as their lover yanked the knife free and was looking to resheath it in flesh. Derrek’s eyes were wild, a counterpoint to the flatness of Faolan’s.
“Me screaming? Fuck yes.” Jason pressed a hand to his chest, knowing the wound would already be knitting together. If Faolan tagged Derrek with the knife, the werewolf wouldn't be as lucky.
“No, a woman's giggle.” Derrek grabbed Faolan's arm, twisting it, trying to get him to drop the knife. Justin winced in sympathy as Faolan grunted. Jason was beginning to think Faolan had turned into the walking dead.
“No. Faolan, snap out of it.” Jason wanted to shake Faolan until he came back to his senses but that nonsense only worked in movies. “What's going on?” This time Jason was sure he spotted movement near Faolan's ear. He tore off Faolan's hat even as Derrek jammed Faolan back against the counter. Faolan kept his death grip on the blade. Glowing with a soft violet light, a tiny woman with demonic claws clung to Faolan’s hair. “Gotcha!”
Jason snatched the dark faerie out of Faolan's hair, hand moving faster than most human eyes could track. She screeched, yanking a hunk of blond hair out of Faolan's head as Jason hauled her away.
“Unhand me, filthy leech.” Her voice was shockingly deep and smoky for such a tiny thing.
“Even faeries know vampires suck.” Derrek snorted then swore when Faolan twisted out of his grip. Faolan slashed at him, making Derrek dodge.
“Pun intended?” Jason fought to keep his grip on the tiny female who was as slippery as a hill after an ice storm. He hoped to hell Derrek could keep himself safe. Jason didn’t want to risk letting the faerie go so he could help him. “Think Faolan packed any of his silver?”
“I can't imagine he has. Let me ask him just as soon as he's done trying to fucking stab me! Sorry about this, Faolan.” Derrek kneed Faolan in the groin. Faolan sagged forward, groaning. This time he dropped the knife and Derrek let him go long enough to take hold of it.
“Men, always so damn weak!” The faerie almost squirmed out of Jason's grip. He pinched her wings between his fingers and she bit him.
“Fuck! Derrek, get a glass and some salt. Faolan should be down for a minute now that you ruined any plans for this weekend. Couldn't have aimed for the gut?”
Derrek showed his teeth in a wolfy challenge. “Next time you deal with him when he goes all knife-wielding maniac on us.”
Derrek threw open a cabinet door and grabbed a pint glass before snatching the salt shaker off the kitchen table. Jason pinned the faerie to the countertop, surprised when Faolan managed to get up and kick him right between the legs. Jason bellowed, nearly losing his grip on the fae. Derrek knocked Faolan down and captured the faerie under the glass before she could wiggle free of Jason’s fingers.
“Pin him down while you're lying on the ground anyhow,” he said to Jason.
“Fuck you.” Jason rasped as Derrek attempted to lay a ring of salt around the glass with one hand and keep the glass firm to the countertop with the other all the while the faire shrieked. Jason struggled over to Faolan, grabbing his ankles to pull him back down. In spite of the pain throbbing in his abused balls, Jason got Faolan pinned. He had been a wrestler for centuries after all. He was good at grabbling even if his lover suddenly seemed stronger than ever. Faolan started to chant something so Jason clamped a hand over his mouth. “Derrek, hurry the fuck up. He's biting me.”
“Just a sec, there! Got the salt circle made,” Derrek said the moment Faolan went limp and stopped gnawing Jason's hand.
Faolan groaned lowly.
Jason didn't let him up. He wasn't falling for that. “Faolan, you back with us?”
“Oh, God. My head.” Faolan moaned.
“I'd ask which one but I’m betting the answer is both.”
“Don't be a dick, Jason,” Faolan groaned.
“Guys, she's going to hammer through this glass soon and can't she just fly out of the salt circle?” Derrek's voice pitched high.
“Jason, let me go. My wand is in my pocket,” Faolan said.
“We need a better name for that,” Jason said, releasing Faolan.
“Or we need not be a perpetual twelve year old.” Faolan dug his wand out of his coat pocket and struggled to his feet. He pointed the wand at the faerie under glass.
“If I had known you were a mage, this would have gone differently,” she retorted, obviously not the least bit sorry she had hijacked Faolan's mind.
“It's time you went back where you came from for good.” Faolan cast his spell and she disappeared from her glass cage with a protracted wail. Faolan slumped down on the floor.
Derrek stretched out both hands to them. Jason wanted to roll up to his feet because it hurt his pride to have a werewolf help him, even if that werewolf spent a good deal of time rolling around with him in the sack. Instead, he took Derrek's hand as did Faolan and Derrek hauled them both to their feet
Faolan rubbed his face. “I am so sorry. I couldn’t stop myself. She was calling all the shots.”
“We gathered that,” Derrek said.
“I’m just glad it was Jason I stabbed.”
Jason shot him a sour look. “Thanks for nothing.”
Faolan narrowed his eyes. “You know what I mean.”
Jason rubbed the already healed skin. “Yeah, I do. Just how the hell did you get brain hijacked by a damn faerie?”
Faolan kicked his boots off by the front door and shook his head. “I just wanted to watch the damn moon and she dropped out of sky. It happened so fast I couldn't even start a spell.” He limped over to the couch. “If nothing else, I'm no longer sad. I feel too guilty about all this.”
“It wasn't really your fault.” Jason sat down next to him.
“Yeah I know but it feels that way.” Faolan sighed.
“No one was seriously hurt.” Derrek held up his hand. “You know what I mean, Jason. So it's all okay.”
“Yeah, besides, I said it when we got here. A lonely cabin in the woods is horror fodder. A bloody massacre was bound to happen.” Jason reached over and slapped Derrek's arm.
“Next time, you pick the getaway. Druids like the woods. Werewolves like the woods. Vampires are just a pain in the ass.” Derrek rolled his eyes.
Faolan started to laugh then it broke into a sob. He covered his mouth, trying to hold it in. “I am so sorry. You tried to do something nice for me and I ruined it.”
Jason wrapped his arms around Faolan. “Nothing's ruined, buddy. We came out here to make you feel less sad and we ended up taking more bad magic out of this plane so that’s a win, right?”
Derrek leaned against Faolan's opposite shoulder. “He makes an excellent point.”
Faolan wiped his eyes. “I know. You are the best, guys.”
“We know.” Jason beamed.
“And since I'm the only one who didn't get kicked in the balls and probably the only one who could take this nice huddle to another level, why don't we just put in another dvd? I'll get us more beer and that pizza and we just relax,” Derrek said.
Faolan took Derrek's hand. “I need a shower first, a ritual cleansing.”
“Go on. The pizza will take a little while anyhow,” Derrek replied.
Faolan dragged to his feet. “You two are the best thing ever to happen to me, you know that right?”
“I’m the best thing that ever happened to anyone.” Jason rapped his knuckles against his chest hoping to see Faolan smile. He was rewarded for his efforts with one smile and a punch on the shoulder from Derrek as a bonus.
“Think about that in the shower. This arrogant dickhole is the best thing that’s happened to you.” Derrek shoved Jason over on the couch.
“Try not to destroy the place while I’m in the shower, okay?” Faolan shook his head and walked off.
Jason pinned Derrek to the couch, giving the squirming man’s neck a gentle nibble. “Murderous rage-inducing faeries aside, I think this weekend away is working out well.”
Derrek relaxed a bit, stroking Jason’s hair. “Told you it would.”
“Now if you and Faolan could quit kicking everyone in the balls, it would be a great weekend.” Jason beamed.
Derrek tapped Jason’s cheek. “Fetch the beer. I’ll get the pizza in the oven.”
“Better idea. Let’s go join Faolan in the shower.” Jason bailed off the couch and gave Derrek a hand up. He wasn’t surprised when Derrek didn’t argue that idea in the least and if Faolan was less sad over the loss of his hero, then mission accomplished. The paths to cheering him up were many and Jason hoped they had a chance to try them all.
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