Down Under in the Northwest

[Demeter]

Cole leaned against the airport wall. He was impatiently waiting for Jack's flight to get in. The arrivals board said the plane was on time but it was two minutes past ten in the morning. In otherwords, that plane, the one bringing Jack to him, was late. He straightened when "on-time" changed to "arrived." It would take a few minutes but than he'd have his Jack back in his arms.

While cole waited, still impatiently as ever, he thought about the last time he'd seen Jack. Two weeks had past since it had been Jack seeing him off in an airport. Over the last two years, he'd developed a very strong love-hate relationship with airports. Two weeks didn't sound like a long time but after spending the better part of three months in Australia, two weeks had turned into an enternity. And now, after those two years of doing the long distance relationship thing, he couldn't wait to have Jack in his life, right next to him, everyday and there would be no phones of video cameras involved.

The only downer, Cole thought as he looked through the crowds of people, was that Russell was on the same plane and coming to the northwest to attend the same university as him and Jack. He could still remembered the unholy glee he'd felt the first time he'd met Jack's ex-boyfriend. He looked forward to Custosstrating, again, just how much Jack no longer wanted Russell.

It had been last November, when he'd done some slick and fast talking to get himself down to Australia for the celebration of Jack's graduation from school. His parents had agreed, so the fast talking had been for his professors. Jack's graduation had coincided with finals week. Between hard work and having his mother's ability to confuse the living heck out of people, Cole had gotten himself to the outback and had given Jack a very welcome surprise.

That night, at a party for the graduates, he'd lured Jack into a dark corner. He hadn't yet given jack a proper greeting and he highly doubted that Jack's parents, however cool they were with the idea of their boy sleeping with another guy, needed to have a visual of them together in that way. He pulled Jack away from the dancing and towards the wall. He plopped down on a bench and grinned when Jack had crawled onto his lap.

It wasn't long before they were only aware of themselves. His hands had somehow not only ended up on Jack's ass but they'd wormed their way into the back pockets of his jeans. And Jack's fingers had been tangled into his hair, gripping tightly, almost painfully, as they tried to devour each other.

Cole had been on the point of pulling Jack away from the party, taking him home and having his very wicked way with the young man when the screeching voice had broken through the cloud of lust. He'd sliced a glare to his left and sneered at the man staring, open mouthed at the two of them. It took him a moment but he identified the man as Russell, the one who hadn't even had the guts to even think about a long distance relationship.

And now, that man was coming here. When Jack broke through the crowd, shouting Cole's name and plowing straight into him, Cole did the only thing possible and greeted him in the same fashion he'd done at that party and in full view of Russell. Again.

[Maira]

The plane could not taxi off the runway to the gate fast enough. He was sick and tired of waiting for his life with Cole to start and if the plane didn't hurry up he was likely to claw his way out the window he was sitting next to. For the first time the entire flight, Jack regretted getting a window seat as it meant he'd have to wait for the people between him and the aisle to get the heck out of the way before he could make his way off the plane and into Cole's arms again.

It wasn't like he hadn't seen Cole in a long time, it had only been two weeks, but before that they'd been together almost three full months. Cole had practically moved to Oz for his summer break from college. Jack's parents had gotten to know, and love, the older boy and were almost as sad to see him leave back to the states as Jack was. After they had dropped Cole at the airport, and after Jack had stopped quietly crying in the backseat, his mother had turned around and patted her son's leg saying, "You better bring that boy home on breaks from school, I'm going to miss both of my sons while they're gone." This, naturally, had caused Jack to cry more but this time he also had a small smile on his face.

Finally the passengers packed in like sardines started to move forward toward the door of the plane and Jack bounced up out of his seat and grabbed his carry-on back from the overhead compartment before moving as quickly as he could down the aisle. The trip from the gate to the baggage claim area seemed to take an inexcusably long time. Why the heck were there so many people in this darn airport today?!

Even before he spotted the number of the carousel his baggage was supposed to be at, Jack spotted Cole's fire red hair and he just started shoving people out of his way and running. When he finally had a clear view of Cole, Jack shouted, "Oy! Cole!" and then plowed right into him, jumping and wrapping his legs around Cole's waist and his arms tightly around his neck so he could kiss him soundly.

The shocked snickers and mutters of dismay at such public affection between two men were completely lost on Jack, his world at the moment consisted only of Cole. His scent, his warmth, the feel of his hands on his ass and back holding him tightly, and the way his lips bruised Jack's. Apparently two weeks was too long for Cole as well.

Only when he had to breathe or risk passing out did Jack finally relent and loosen his old on Cole, sliding down the other man's body as he landed lightly (if a bit unsteadily) on the floor. It was then that Jack realized they'd gathered quite the crowd, some smiling happily for the reunited couple, others frowning in disgust. And then Jack noticed one particularly dark frown coming from a very familiar face. Jack's head cocked curiously for a moment and then watched as Russell grabbed 3 suitcases from the same baggage carousel that Jacks own bags would be on.

Slightly baffled, Jack asked of nobody in particular, "He was on my flight?" Jack knew that Russell had decided to attend the same college that he was, as a transfer student actually from the one he'd been attending in Australia. He also had a funny feeling that the dark scowl the older boy was shooting him was the main reason Russell had switched schools. Russell did -not- like seeing Jack with another guy, not in the least. Of course, if Russell hadn't been so stubborn about not wanting to do the long distance thing and just picking back up when Jack got back from his year as an exchange student to the States, well then maybe Russell wouldn't be in this situation.

Shaking his head, and clearing his mind of thoughts of Russell, Jack turned back to Cole and shot him his trademark facesplitting grin. "I love you," he said softly then twined his fingers with Cole's and tugged at him to help get his suitcases.

[Demeter]

Cole stagged backwards when Jack jumped on him but he kept his footing. And seriously enjoyed Jack's style of greeting. When Jack finally released him and said that he loved him, Cole could only grin. He swallowed the goofy grin and nuzzled at Jack's neck. "I love you." And that grin only got bigger when he saw the scowling Russell. He turned his head to look at Jack. "You didn't notice him? Ruby spotted his parents are the airport and texted me, telling me that he was on the same flight after she got the information out of his mother. I supposed she wanted me to have fair warning. I get the feeling that your mom doesn't trust him. "

He could only shake his head when Jack laughed at the idea of anyone distrusting Russell but Cole didn't like the looks Russell was shooting him. He kept arn arm around Jack's waist while they hauled suitcases from the belt. He raised an eyebrow at the four suitcases and the box with Jack's name. "Your Mom?" he asked as he loaded the box onto a luggage cart.

Later, once they loaded up Cole's Jeep and had gotten onto the highway, Cole starting telling Jack all about the college and the team and the dorm building where they were staying. It was a co-ed dorm and they shared the floor with the women's team. "And there is no need to worry about anyone giving you a hassle over being with me. I disablused them of that idea last year and I think they all stopped caring when we caught the captain rolling around the locker room floor with the team's second string goalie, who is also his room mate."

They talked all the way to the college and all the way through getting Jack checked in. The person checking Jack in could only roll his eyes every time Cole cut him off from mentioning just who Jack's room mate would be. Cole, hauling the one of the suitcases and moving the box along with his foot, followed Jack up to the 10th floor of the dorm building and waited while Jack found and unlocked the room's door.

While Jack looked through the desk drawers on the empty side of the room, Cole annouced that he'd be snopping through their teammate's stuff. "Well, never would have pegged this guy for being gay. Hey, Jack, come here and look at this guy. Isn't he hot?"

Cole grinned when Jack huffed and turned around. He could only grin when Jack saw that the framed picture Cole was pointing at was one that had been taken of them over the summer. Cole crooked a finger at Jack. "Come here, Roomie."

[Maira]

During the trip from the airport to the dorm they talked about everything ranging from the soccer team they were both on for the college, to the ridiculously large box of "goodies" Jack's mom had packed for him, to the latest antics Cole's crazy extended family had gotten up to while he was in Australia with Jack. The entire time they talked and drove Jack held Cole's hand captive with his own, his thumb absently rubbing circles on Cole's skin.

Once they got to the college Cole did a quick drive-by tour of the campus before finally parking at the dorm the various athletic teams shared. They unloaded the jeep, hauled all of Jack's suitcases and the box inside and found the tables set up to check in. Jack thought it was a bit odd that Cole kept interrupting the person trying to check him in but he just chalked it up to Cole's excitement.

Once he found his room and let himself in, Jack and Cole hauled his bags inside and he started rummaging through the empty side of the room to see where he'd want to put everything. As he was doing that, Cole was snooping through his room mate's stuff and at one point said something about a really hot guy, Jack huffed and then turned to see what Cole was talking about. Instead of seeing a picture of some guy he didn't know, the frame that Cole was pointing at held a picture of the two of them taken while Cole was visiting him in Australia. Confusion flitted across Jack's face for only an instant until Cole crooked a finger at him and told him, "Come here, Roomie."

That simple phrase earned Cole another grin from Jack but instead of going to him, Jack said matter-of-factly, "Two small beds just won't work," and then with a smirk he started moving furniture out of the way so that they could shove their two twin beds together.

Once their room was arranged the way they both liked it, Cole helped Jack unpack his things. With the two of them working together it really didn't take that long and in almost no time they found themselves sitting on their bed talking more, mostly about how Cole had arranged for them to be room mates. Only Jack couldn't really concentrate on the talking, all he could do was stare at Cole's lips and with another small smirk, Jack effectively shut Cole up with a kiss almost as intense as the one he'd given him at the airport. Unknown to the two of them, that's when Liam, Cole's dad, happened to walk in.

*****

Liam knew that Cole had gone to pick Jack up from the airport that morning but Rayne had insisted that he run a small box of their son's stuff that he'd forgotten to him anyway. Liam was almost certain that they wouldn't be back from the airport yet but he'd headed over to the campus anyway. Knowing that Cole had the same room he'd had the year before, Liam didn't even bother to check in with the desk and headed right up the elevator to the right floor.

Weaving his way through the crowded hallway, it was move-in weekend after all, Liam made his way to Cole's room as quickly as the masses of people and luggage would allow. Reaching his son's room, he saw the door was open and realized that Cole must be back from the airport already. With barely a tap to the door, Liam let himself in and was about to greet his son but instead he stopped dead in his tracks.

He knew that Cole and Jack were dating, he had no delusions about what that meant, he'd even seen them snuggling on the couch, holding hands, and giving each other quick pecks on the cheek or lips. He had never seen them like this however. They were both fully clothed, thankfully, but they were totally oblivious to his presence in their room. Jack's hair was shorter than before, and a bit more spikey, but that didn't stop Cole from tangling his fingers in it and Jack had his arms wrapped around Cole like he was holding on for dear life.

Feeling his knees get a bit wobbly and his head start to spin a bit, Liam sat on the closest thing he could find, a big cardboard box, and hoarsely greeted both boys, "Hey Cole, welcome home Jack."

[Demeter]

The only thought in Cole's head was how fast he could get Jack naked. All thoughts of Russell, school, and of how parents and students were roaming the halls just beyond a simple door were gone from his head. All that mattered was Jack.

They'd been sitting on the bed, chatting, when Jack had jumped him. It had been all too easy to just fall backwards, dragging Jack with hi. From there, with Jack wriggling around on top of him, Cole just let nature take over. With blood draining downward and all rational thought gone, Cole focused only on Jack. While ravishing the younger man's mouth with his own, one hand tugged on Jack's shirt while the other fumbled with the belt, button and fly of Jack's jeans.

Once that goal had been achieved, that hand, acting on it's own since Cole just wasn't capable of thinking, dove into Jack's unfastened pants. The fingers of that hand slipped between boxers and skin and found Jack. One quick stroke down the length of him before scooting around to grip his ass. Cole tilted his hips up while encouraging Jack to rock his down. He was nibbling on Jack's neck and both hands were on his ass and he was considering flipping them over in order to get those pants off completely when it happened. The most embarassing thing possible happened. He heard his father's voice. Both him and Jack went still.

At the sound of a strangled cough, Cole lifted his head. It took him a minute but he eventaully realized just where his hands were. And that his father really was in his dorm room, where he'd just been thinking about giving Jack a "Welcome Back" shag. "Uh, Hi, Dad," he said while Jack scrambled off him. Cole sat up and not so covertly plopped a pillow into his lap. He glanced over his shoulder at the brightly blushing Jack before looking back at Laim. "Christ, Dad, haven't you ever heard of knocking" he said, "I don't go barging into your room whenever I feel like it, do I?"

Cole wasn't about to mention that his mother was a bit of a screamer and everyone knew when to steer clear of that part of the house. He didn't think it would help the situation,

[Maira]

At Cole's reaction to being jumped, Jack couldn't help but be a little pleased with himself. When he felt the other man tugging at his belt, button and fly of his pants, he couldn't help but shift a bit to make Cole's job easier. When Cole finally got through all the obstacles and slipped his hand into his boxers, Jack felt his body respond immediately and the moan that escaped him wasn't exactly quiet.

And then a familiar voice said something. Cole went dead still beneath him and Jack followed suit. At a shaky cough, Jack glanced toward the door and was horrified to see Cole's dad perched on the box of goodies that his mother had sent along. In an instant he scrambled off of Cole and hid behind him when the other man sat up, pillow strategically placed in his lap. As carefully as he could without giving himself away Jack rezipped, buttoned, and belted his pants and watched, blushing furiously, and waited to see what would happen.

*****

Once Jack was off of Cole, and hiding behind him, and Cole thankfully put a pillow in his lap, Liam was finally able to look at the pair of them. At Cole's reprimand for not knocking Liam held up his hands in defense and answered, "I did! It just must not have been loud enough for you guys to hear, and anyway the door was open. In most cases that means knock and walk in which is what I did. If you didn't want company you should have shut and locked the door or something."

Then, realizing he was rambling like a nervous teenager, Liam shut up and got to the point of why he was in his very preoccupied son's dorm room. "So, um, your Mom sent me with a box of stuff that you forgot at home. She also wanted me to tell you that you're both supposed to come to dinner, she missed Jack and wants to make sure he was well fed over summer since you came home 'scrawny' or something... I dont know, she's just being her normal crazy Mom self."

His duty done, Liam shakily got up off his perch and headed for the door. When he reached it, he flipped the lock on the door knob. Without looking back into the room Liam said over his shoulder, "Welcome home again Jack, see you both at dinner, its at six." Then he quickly slipped out the door and firmly pulled the now-locked door shut behind him.

*****

"Holy shit that was awkward," Jack blurted as soon as the door shut behind Cole's dad. "I like your parents and all, but now I'm even more glad we opted to live on campus I can't imagine trying to have any privacy at the house." He couldn't help but shiver at the thought of more awkward moments like what had just happened. Instead of focussing on that though, Jack slipped his arms around Cole's waist and kissed and nipped at the sweet spot where Cole's neck met his shoulder.

[Demeter]

Cole could only blink. Had the door really been open? He knew that he'd shut the door but had the latch not caught? He didn't say anything because he couldn't think and he didn't get up to take the small box from his dad because he couldn't get up yet.

When Liam finally left, Cole groaned and sagged against Jack. "Awkward. Very awkward," he mumbled. And when Jack nibbled at his neck, he could only fall backwards and let nature take its course again.

***

That night, at dinner, Cole did his best to avoid eye contact with his father. Judging by the smirk on his mother's face, she knew about this afternoon. He fiddled with his peas and listened as Rayne grilled Jack about his up-coming college education.

***

Rayne did know all about the situation. When Liam had returned to down a beer in one, long gulp, she'd pried it out of him. He'd been closemouthed about what ever happened and she'd only gotten a few mumbles about catching the boys in a compromising position. Judging by the way father and son refused to look at each other, it must have been a very compromising position. She wisly didn't mention that them when her parents had walked in on her and Liam wrestling on her bedroom floor. Oh yeah, they'd been wrestling all right and had tumbled into something a lot more fun then wrestling when her parents had caught them.

Rather then call his attention to the fact that her son was a lot like his father, Rayne smiled at Jack. "So, Jack," she said while scooping more mashed potatoes onto his plate, "How are you settling in? Cole is taking care of you, yes? Being a good roommate?"

[Maira]

Jack loved his mother, and liked her cooking well enough, but whenever Cole's mother cooked Jack always packed away at least a second helping of everything. His own mother would be hurt if she ever found out, but he liked Rayne's cooking a lot better than hers. So, when she plopped what he was pretty sure was a third helping of mashed potatoes onto his plate while she grilled him, he happily tucked into it. As it was, he'd only been half paying attention to her questions but when she asked if Cole was taking care of him and being a good roommate, he was jolted out of his inattention by Liam choking on his water. Jack's face flushed slightly before he could get himself under control and he managed to answer, "Yeah, it was a nice surprise that my apparent anti-social roommate wasn't some stranger who wanted nothing to do with me but was just my sneaky boyfriend trying to surprise me." Here, he turned and smiled at Cole, and ran his foot closest to the older boy up his leg.

*****

Liam loved his kids, all of them not just the biological ones, and much as he loved them he was strangely happy to see Jack and Cole leave to head back to campus once dinner was done. As soon as the door shut behind them, Liam went in search of his wife to growl at her for nearly making him spew his water all over the table with questions that he was pretty certain she was asking just to get a rise out of him or Cole.

Except when he found her in the kitchen with the music turned up loud and dancing, totally neglecting the dishes she'd clearly been putting in the dishwasher, the manner of growling totally changed. The lion and the man both enjoyed the sight of the smooth and seductive way that Rayne moved but after only a few moments the low rumbling sound that escaped Liam wasn't angry, but very, very appreciative. Finally, when he couldn't take it anymore, she stalked over to her and slipped his arms around her waist moving to the music with her as much as his meager dancing skills would allow.

*****

On their way home from dinner with Cole's parents, Jack insisted they stop at the store and get some new bedding. Having separate bottom sheets wouldn't be much of a problem, but the separate upper sheets and blankets would make for some very awkward cuddling and he wasn't about to miss out on any of that if he didn't have to. Once they were home at the dorm and the bed was re-made with the new bedding, Jack flopped back on the bed with a big yawn and muttered something about having a full stomach and being majorly jet-lagged and within seconds he was out cold.

[Demeter]

Cole sat in his history lecture, twirling his pen around and glaring at the classmate sitting closer to the front of the hall. He was half listening to the professesor and occasionally jotting down important sounding dates. He'd always been good at school so his mind was more focused on his classmate and trying to devine his purpose for being here. Russell had wormed his way into the history class. Logcially, Cole knew that some of Russell's courses wouldn't transfer over and that he would have to take some extra classes to make up those missing credits. But did one of those classes have to be his history class?

He knew that Jack trusted the guy but Cole just didn't like him. School had only been in session for a week but Russell seemed to pop up everywhere. At practice, in the library, student store, the coffee shop, walking behind them from dorm to campus. In the goddamned restroom even. The guy was defiantly lurking around and Cole didn't like it. Russell made his skin crawl. When class ended and everyone was waiting to shuffle out the door, Russell went past him, purposefully bumping against him.

Cole shot a glare at the vampire and was surprised with the amount of hate that Russell looked at him with. A little stunned, he leaned against the hallway wall and watched as the Australian walked away. Shaking it off, Cole went off the other way. He reached the dorm in short order and, spotting Jack sitting in the common room, he dropped his back, jumped over the back the couch and landed next to him. He grinned at Jack and looked down at the stack of books at his feet. "Freshman year sucks. Second year isn't turning out much better. How much time do we have till practice starts?" he said after giving his boyfriend a quick kiss on the cheek. "Did Captain talk to you about this weekend? You up for some club-hopping?"

[Maira]

One week. It had only been one week! Jack's head was about ready to explode from all the work he had to get done and when Cole jumped over the back of the couch and plopped down next to him, Jack couldn't help but startle. At Cole's words, Jack quickly looked at his watch and answered, "We've got about an hour." Then, after a quick kiss, Cole asked him about club-hopping and Jack looked at his stack of books and whimpered before answering, "Umm, maybe?"

The captain hadn't talked to him actually, and Jack wasn't sure what was going on but he really wanted to enjoy some time out with Cole. He had a ton of work to do though, and one report already due the next Monday. He really didn't want to fail out his first quarter and he wasn't sure that ditching his homework to go dancing was the best idea. But the look on Cole's face, and the suggestion in his eyes, melted Jack's reserve a bit and he changed his answer to, "If I can get a good start on my report before we go then sure." The smile on Cole's face at his changed answer made Jack smile in turn. Seeing his boyfriend happy always made Jack happy too.

[Demeter]

Cole laughed softly. "I'll have you back in plenty of time to finish your paper. It's just a little dancing, some hanging out with the guys and some hiding in dark corners, doing wicked things to each other." He could see some hesitation on Jack's face and in his voice. "Its Friday afternoon, classes are done for the day and practice won't run long. And we don't have a game this weekend."

It took a little more persuading but he got Jack out to the clubs that night. They had a good time, going to the clubs that allowed those younger than 21 to enter. The danced and watched as their teammates danced. Cole even got Jack into several dark corners and as one in the morning approached, his control was starting to fray. They were in one of those corners, with Jack doing his best to crawl into Cole's clothing when an errant throught just popped into his head. He had to go to the restroom.

And that was a really good idea. He could take Jack with him and they could hijack one stall and indulge in a mutual wanking session that would hold them till they got back to their room.

Had he been less focused on what Jack's hands were doing, Cole might have heard a "No, you idiot," but he wasn't paying attention. The restroom thought pressed on him again; this time with the very strong suggestion that he had to go alone. He pulled away from Jack and set his hands on Jack's waist. ""Listen, Babe," he said, "Gods but you drive me crazy. I'm gonna go use the john and then why don't we get out here? We can go back to the room and study each other. Gods, that was bad. Just stay right here and I'll be right back."

Cole took himself off and waited in the short line for the mens room. Except, once he got into a stall, Cole encountered a problem. He didn't have to go. In fact, he had no clue why he was in the rest room. Grumbling, Cole adjusted himself and flushed the toilet. After washing his hands and splashing some water on his face, Cole left the room.

He returned to his dark corner but Jack had wandered off, probably in self defense against viewing the couple now occupying the small space of wall. Cole roused Diablo and told the cat to find Jack. Since Diable liked the little dysfunctional magic user, he sifted through the smells until he found Jack's scent. Together they followed the scent to the dance floor. There they stopped dead. Jack was wrapped in Russell's arms and they were dancing in a very suggestive manner. Hell, Russell was trying to put a hicky on Cole's man.

And yet, something was very wrong. Jack's eyes were too dull and didn't seemed to be focused on anything. Growling, Cole stalked across the floor. He yanked Jack away from Russell and turned to the older man. "Stay the hell away from him," Cole know that he had partially shifted. His eyes and fingernails would have become more cat-like and there was a deep growl rumbling up from his chest. "Jack is mine, you ball-less little creep."

[Maira]

It had taken a bit of begging, and multiple reminders that they didn’t have a game that weekend to interfere with his paper writing to get Jack to agree to go out that night. Once they were at the club and Jack started to relax and enjoy himself, the evening just flew by. Alternating between dancing and sneaking off into dark corners with Cole to make out served only to get Jack worked up and ready to jump Cole the first chance he got. They were in one of those dark corners and Jack was on the verge of asking Cole if they could find a supply closet or something more private when out of the blue Cole was pulling away, saying he needed to use the bathroom. Before Jack could say something witty about joining him for some more private time, Cole turned and left him standing alone in the dark.

*****

He watched with a smirk as Cole left Jack alone. The lion was stubborn, had a very strong mind, and Russell had needed to push a little harder than he’d thought he would have to. Still, he had gotten him away from Jack without his mental touch being detected.

Knowing his time would be limited, Russell approached Jack, barely whispering into his mind, You’re happy to see Russell, Cole won’t mind you dancing with him while you wait for him to come back. Unlike with Cole, it took very little use of his ability to influence Jack. The younger boy had been exposed to Russell’s ability for so long that his mind actually almost seemed to welcome it. So, after that barest of suggestions, Russell slipped up behind Jack and slipped his arm around his waist.

*****

Cole had just disappeared into the crowd when Jack felt a familiar arm around his waist. Jack turned and smiled warmly at Russell and greeted him with a quick hug and, “Hi you!”

“Seems your date left you alone. Wanna go dance while you wait for him to come back?” Russell asked him after the hug.

Seeing as how things were only friendly between him and Russell, Jack knew that Cole wouldn’t mind so he answered, “Sure, that’d be fun!” and he let himself be led away onto the dance floor.

*****

As he led Jack away from the corner, dancing their way through the mass of people, Russell let suggestions trickle into Jack’s mind that the more intimate dancing they had done while dating would be fun. Bit by bit, the space between the two closed and before long Jack was in Russell’s arms. The vampire practically groaned with pleasure when his little magic user was once again where he belonged, pressed up against him. It had been too long and he hadn’t realized just how badly his body craved Jack’s until his blood started pounding in his veins and the old familiar longing to bite the younger boy surged through him as Jack’s body moved in time to the music, pressed against his own.

Giving in to his urges, Russell let his hands reacquaint themselves with Jack’s body and his lips found their favorite spot on his neck; right above the pulse point. The urge to bite became even stronger the moment that Russell’s lips touched Jack’s skin. It took everything in his power not to latch on right there on the dance floor, his parents wouldn’t approve of such a public Turning, but he did let himself taste Jack’s skin by slowly licking from that pulse point up to just under Jack’s jaw and back down. The younger boy was a bit sweaty from dancing so his skin was a little salty. Underneath that Russell could taste the faintest hint of something familiar, something that drove him even more wild. The taste of sex. Russell’s mind just ignored the fact that it wasn’t him that had caused that in Jack, and it promptly forgot that Cole even existed and would be coming back for the boy that was now practically writhing in his arms thanks to Russell’s feelings of excitement leaking through their shared mental connection.

After a few more moments of dancing and licking and kissing Jack’s neck, Russell finally gave up fighting his deepest urge, he had opened his mouth to bite and his fangs were pressed against the delicate skin of Jack’s neck when suddenly the younger boy was yanked away from him. As Jack was yanked away, one of Russell’s fangs caught the boy’s skin and scratched him. The taste of Jack’s blood in his mouth, however small a taste, nearly drove Russell to pounce on Jack despite their surroundings or the very pissed off and partially shifted lion standing in front of him snarling at him. There was a growl and some angry words from Cole about Jack being his before he finally turned away and took Jack with him. As the pair left Russell growled out in response, “We’ll see about that you flea-bitten beast.”

*****

Jack had lost himself in the dancing and he didn’t even remember most of it. All he knew was that after Cole had left for the bathroom Russell had found him and they’d made their way onto the dance floor. It was supposed to be nothing more than dancing but by the look of rage and hurt on Cole’s face Jack couldn’t help but wonder just what the older boy had seen that he was taking so hard. Curious, but not willing to risk making Cole any more angry, Jack just kept quiet as he was led out of the club. They stopped by the coat room and collected their jackets and Jack’s scarf and then headed outside into the chilly autumn night. Jack hurried to put on his scarf and coat and then waited for Cole to lead the way back to the dorm as he still wasn’t totally familiar with how to get there himself.

The walk back to their room was spent in silence, as was the ride up the elevator and the walk down the hallway to their door. Once inside, Jack walked to his side of the bed and plopped down, watching Cole pace for a few moments before toeing off his shoes and taking off his coat and scarf. As soon as he tossed the coat and scarf aside he noticed a change in Cole. He had stopped pacing and had a look like he smelled something (a look Jack found quite amusing under normal circumstances). When Cole’s gaze turned to Jack, the boy saw rage in his boyfriend’s eyes again and he couldn’t help but shrink back a little as he asked quietly, “What Cole? What is it?”

[Demeter]

He paced a circle around the room to try and calm himself down. He did not need Diablo getting out to take revenge on Russell. And he paced to think. Something about what he had witness was bothering him. Jack told him that he had no romantic interest in his ex anymore but they way they'd been dancing together spoke otherwise. But something was still off and he knew it was right on the edge of his mind.

He almost had it when something new invaded his sense. The smell of blood. Eyes wide, Cole turned to face Jack. When he spotted the streak of red on the man's neck, his anger lighted again. When he saw Jack back away from him,Cole shook his head. He didn't want to scare Jack. "Nothing, Love, you've just got a little cut on your neck. Hold still and I'll get it for you."

He ducked into the bathroom they shared with the dorm next door and wetted a washcloth in the sink. After wringing out the excess water, he headed back into the room and sat next to Jack. "This might hurt a little, Jack, but I want this cut cleaned," he said before touching the cloth to Jack's neck. Trying to be as gentle as possible, he cleaned the cut. It wasn't bad but anything that was deep enough to draw blood needed to be washed out. After he tossed the washcloth in the laundry bin, he cuddled Jack close. "I didn't mean to scare you, Love," He paused for a moment to nuzzle his lover, "Jack, what kind of vampire is Russell?"

[Maira]

The look on Cole's face was getting downright frightening. Jack started to shrink away from the lion, and only then did Cole seem to realize he was scaring the younger boy. When Cole softened his look, Jack immediately calmed down too. At Cole's words about him having a cut on his neck, Jack stiffened. Odd cuts on the neck after dancing with a vampire never boded well. Even if Jack was almost 100% certain that the particular vampire he'd been dancing with would never cross a line and bite him against his will. As Cole tended his cut, Jack sat in silence and wondered just what had happened before Cole had found him and Russell dancing.

Once the cut was cleaned to Cole's satisfaction and he had pulled Jack close for a good make-up snuggle, Jack accepted the older boy's apology by saying quietly, "Its okay, no harm done." After a nuzzle from Cole, Jack turned and was going to kiss him but the next question stopped Jack short. What kind of vampire was Russell? Honestly Jack had no idea. "I don't really know, it never came up. I know his parents are the head of their bloodline in Australia, and because of that they were always busy, but other than that I have no idea. They offered to bite me once too, but I decided not to go through with it and I guess that would have been a good time to ask but I just didn't think to."

[Demeter]

Cole shook his head. It sounded just like Jack to not ask about what sort of vampire Russell was. But, Cole thought as he twisted the side and lowered the two of them to the bed. He already didn't like Russell and while that made him predisposed to thinking the worst, this sort of behavior was unacceptable. "Jack, something odd happened tonight. Do you remember when I left to go to the bathroom, right before you started dancing with him?"

When Jack nodded his head, Cole kissed the back of his neck. He growled lightly because Jack smelled of Russell and neither or Diable liked just how much of their lover was covered in the vampire's scent. "I had the sudden need to use the john but when I got there, I had no need to go. Nothing, I didn't even know why I was in the restroom so I left and found you with Russell.

"There are certain types of vampires that have the abilty to control minds. My father's friend Leo is one such person. Tonight, when I found him trying to bite your neck, you had this unfocused look about your eyes. Jack, do you even remember what happened between the time I left to use the bathroom and when I found you? Has anything ever happened before, when you were with him, when you couldn't remember what happened?"

[Maira]

When Cole lowered them to the bed to snuggle, Jack was ready to forget what had happened at the club and just relax. Only Cole kept asking questions and kept talking about a type of vampire that could control the minds of other people. And everything Cole was saying seemed to imply that he thought Russell was one of those vampires and that he had been controlling Jack's mind. Not just tonight at the club, but at other times too.

Angry, Jack jumped up off the bed and turned around to glare at Cole where he still lay on the bed looking a bit shocked. "How could you even think that Cole? I know there are hard feelings between the two of you because of me, but for years he was my best friend. He was my boyfriend Cole. Why would he have done those things to me? Why would he do them now?" Jack was doing his best not to lose his temper and storm out of their room, but it was quickly becoming a losing battle. Unable to hold it in anymore, Jack finally let loose, "If he wanted to control me so badly, why didn't he just make me think I wanted him to bite me before I even came to the States the first time huh? I know he wanted to! Or when I came back to finish up school and wouldn't take him back because I am in love with you. He could have forced me then too! But he never did Cole! Never!" And with that, Jack spun on a heel and bolted for the door slamming it behind him.

Once out in the hallway, Jack saw that some of their floor mates were staring at him in shock. Nobody ever expected Jack to be the yelling type. He was such a fun-loving, easy-going guy most of the time that people just seemed to assume he had no extreme emotions of any kind. Glaring at them even more furiously than he had at Cole, Jack stormed off down the hallway toward the elevator. Once inside he punched a bunch of buttons and then just rode to the third stop it made. He was hoping that with all the stops he'd confuse Cole and manage to get some alone time. Of course, he also secretly hoped that the Lion was smarter than all that and found him after a while. Once he got off the elevator, he took that floor's exit into the stairwell and went up the remaining flights of stairs to the roof of the building. He needed some air.

[Demeter]

Cole could only stare in shock as Jack stormed out of the room. The younger man had some good points. He knew why Russell would do those things now; the other man knew that he'd lost Jack and was wanting him back. He didn't have the same history with Russell that Jack did and he'd seen the looks the man had been giving Jack. Growling lightly, Cole rolled off the bed and headed for the door. Outside, his floormates quickly got out of the way. No one, he thought, wanted to get near an angry lion.

It took him some time but he eventually found Jack on the roof of the dorm. He let the door slam behind him and just came up to stand beside Jack. "Right about now, I wish I could show you exactly what I've seen when Russell is near you. The looks he's given you and the glares he's given me. I wish I could show you what the two of you looked like tonight, Jack, when I came back from the bathroom and found you dancing with him. Jack, I love you and I just want to keep you safe. I'm concerned because he did try to bite you, in a very public place."

[Maira]

"I still don't believe he tried to bite me tonight Cole. I don't even remember him kissing me, let alone on my neck, so how on earth would he have been close enough to bite me," Jack answered more coldly than he meant to. Almost as soon as the words were out of his mouth, the cut on his neck gave a twinge and Jack stilled, except for his hand which crept up to where the cut was. Was it true? Had Russell really been close enough to his neck for at least one of his teeth to cut him? When had it even happened? Jack couldn't even remember any pain... "Shit..." he muttered almost silently as he turned to face Cole and plop down on the edge of one of the roof's planter boxes in one shakey motion.

Worried, and suddenly ashamed, Jack wondered aloud, "What exactly was it you saw us doing tonight when you found us?" If Russell really did want him badly enough, and really was the type of vampire that Cole thought he was, Jack couldn't help but wonder just what else he had forgotten over the years that he'd known the older boy.

Jack listened as Cole explained what he'd seen at the club. He also explained the many times he'd caught Russell watching Jack, or glaring at Cole. By the time Cole was finished, Jack had tears silently slipping down his cheeks and he couldn't meet the older boy's eyes. His voice thick and quiet with tears, Jack practically whispered, "I'm sorry Cole, I'm so so sorry..." Then the silent tears turned into silent sobs and his body shook as he cried. How could Russell, his best friend for so long, really truly be the person Cole made him out to be? But why would Cole lie about what he'd seen either? This just all hurt way too much.

[Demeter]

Cole sat next to Jack and held him. He gently rocked Jack from side to side before using the hem of his shirt to dry his face off. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Nothing. I can't say that I've ever had the experience but it must be hell to go through this." He stood, drawing Jack up with him. "Come on, let's go back to the room. I'll run a shower for you and make you something warm to eat."

He got Jack back into the room and ran a hot shower the boy. While Jack showered, Cole puttered around the room, heating up some of the goodies Ruby had sent over with her son. He stacked up the pillows and blankets and got the tv set up to play one of Jack's favorite movies. It was still fairly early and he wanted Jack to relax. Once Jack was back in the room, dressed in his version of pajamas, Cole grabbed a quick shower. After dressing in flannel sleep pants and a old t-shirt, Cole came back into the room.

He climbed up on the bed and snuggled with Jack. He kissed the young man's temple. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Jack. Now, come on, Baby and relax with me. Don't think about tonight anymore. Just zone out for a while," he said while drawing a blanket over the two of them and pushing the play button on the TV remote.

[Maira]

The rollercoaster of emotions had exhausted Jack and within fifteen minutes of Cole hitting play he was out, snoring softly as he snuggled in closer to Cole. His dreams were fun, and somehow pulled the sounds from the movie into them blending into a dream where it was almost like Jack was part of the movie. He woke a few times, just enough to realize he was actually not living the movie but sleeping through it while snuggled up with his boyfriend in their very comfy big warm bed.

Sometime in the middle of the night Jack's dreams shifted, they took on an even more familiar tone to them. They were so real that he quickly forgot he was dreaming at all.

It was right before he was scheduled to leave for his year in the US and Jack was spending two weeks with Russell and his family. The boys, like they always had, shared a room and a bed and Jack was happily snuggled up with Russell. The blond haired Russell was twining his fingers in Jack's much darker hair and was teasing the younger boy, telling him that he had a surprise for him but that they had to go on a scavenger hunt to find it. Jack was tired and wanted nothing more than to snuggle but finally he caved and allowed Russell to lead him from their bed.

Back in his dorm room, Jack climbed out of his bed with Cole and silently slipped out the door into the mostly abandoned hallway. Waiting for him in a shadow at the end of the hall by the elevator, a deeper shadow moved and took Jack's hand when he was close enough and led him into the elevator.

Once the two boys were safely out of the house, they climbed into Russel's waiting car and Russell drove away from the vacation house, driving to the beach just a few miles away. The ride was quiet with anticipation, the boys fingers intertwined as Russell drove. When they reached the beach, Russell led Jack to a bonfire our near the surf. As they approached Jack thought he saw somebody leaving, likely one of Russell's other friends who had helped set up Jack's surprise. Other than the one maybe-person, the two boys were alone on the beach.

The sky was clear and the night air was cool, made brisk by the breeze blowing in with the waves. Russell had missed Jack and he wasn't about to let the other boy be stolen away by that damn lion. So, instead of watching him with Cole anymore, Russell had decided it was time to claim Jack once and for all. The two boys settled down on a log near the bonfire and Russell pulled Jack in under his arm to keep him warm. After they sat watching the fire for a few moments, Russell worked up the nerve and asked Jack to stay with him instead of going to the States. "Please Jack, I love you and I don't want you to go away from me. Stay, let my parents turn you like they offered, and we can always be together."

Jack wanted to speak, to explain to Russell that he loved him too but that this was an amazing opportunity and that if Russell really wanted to be with him he'd find a way to do it despite the distance. Only that isn't what Jack heard himself saying. Instead he heard, "Russell, I know we could make this work long distance if you wanted, but I still want to go. If it would make you feel better though, we could make a promise to each other. When I come back your parents can Turn me, but I still want to go.

Frustrated that Jack's sleeping mind was changing his plans, Russell pulled the younger boy into a tighter, more intimate embrace and directed things more strongly that before. Pulling Jack in more intimately, so he could look the younger boy in the eyes, Russell bargained, "I don't want to wait for you, and what if you find somebody who steals you away from me? I could always Turn you myself before you go, you'd have part of me with you the whole time you're away if we do it that way."

Immediately Jack brightened at the idea and he planted a kiss square on Russell's mouth, when he pulled away, Jack answered enthusiastically, "Of course! That's an even better idea!" Russell was practically shaking with the effort to keep Jack's mind believing what he was telling it, but he was also smiling darkly in triumph. Jack was almost his.

Pulling back just slightly from Russell to see him better, Jack asked eagerly, "Will you do it here at the beach? That would be an amazing memory to take with me." Russell nodded in affirmation and then leaned in for another kiss. That kiss turned into many and quickly his passionate kisses were moving down Jack's neck to his pulse point. Russell kissed there once, then tenderly tasted Jack's skin with his tongue, and finally without any more warning than a breathlessly whispered, "I love you Jack!" Russell's fangs slid effortlessly into Jack's perfect skin.

If Jack hadn't been so far under Russell's influence, the boy likely would have cried out in pain but instead he moaned in ecstasy since Russell was currently able to alter how Jack perceived pain. Jack's pleasured moans urged Russell on more than he expected and, almost like a switch inside of him flipped, he gripped Jack tighter and started to drink. He drew and drew on the wound at Jack's neck, the hot coppery tang of blood driving Russell wild as it splashed into his mouth.

The more blood Russell too, the more out of control he got and only when Jack's moans of delight turned to weak whimpers of the dying did Russell realize what he had done. In that instant the mental connection between them shattered and in his panic Russell couldn't reestablish it to finish wiping Cole from from Jack's mind. When the mental connection snapped, Jack also lost consciousness and collapsed into a heap on the cold sand. Cursing himself for a fool, Russell gathered Jack into his arms and opened his own wrist before pressing it to the younger boy's mouth forcing the life-saving drops of blood into it.

After two very long minutes where Russell wasn't sure if he'd drained Jack to far or not, the younger boy stiffened in Russell's arms and then grabbed the other boy's wrist, pulling it even harder into his mouth. As Jack now drew on Russell's wound, Russell was almost certain he felt the beginning of fangs pressing into his skin. That wasn't possible of course, it took time for the Turn to actually take effect. The longer Jack had Russell's wrist in his mouth though, the more convinced the older boy was that something unusual was happening and that Jack was already Turning.

When Russell felt his own strength start to lessen ever so slightly, he pulled his wrist from Jack's grasp and tsked at him, "Enough is enough lover, you can have more later if you still want it."

When the source of blood was taken from him, Jack glared up at the thief and was shocked to see Russell holding his own bloody wrist, putting enough pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding. "Why did you take it away? Will it stop me from Turning? I thought you wanted me to have part of you with me?"

Russell gawked. Jack was still in the dream, this was still under his control! Wanting to test it, Russell answered Jack matter-of-factly, "You will still Turn, you were just taking too much. I would have gotten weak if you'd drained more from me." Russell watched as Jack nodded his understanding and then smiled with relief. Then Russell continued, "Now, I know you have to leave in the morning but you are going to have some changes you're going to need help with. I want you to call me when you notice them okay? I won't change my phone number the whole time you're away so I'll be easy to call. Just don't tell anybody we did this tonight okay? You're still a minor and they'll separate us if they find out." Jack nodded and agreed to the terms.

The most important part of the evening taken care of, Russell tried reaching out mentally to Jack one more time and cringed at the pain it caused as he pushed gently at the other boy, **You're tired, lets go home. When you wake up in the morning you will think this all happened before you won't even remember this as more than a dream.** When Jack blinked slowly and tiredly, Russell knew his push had taken and he asked Jack, "Are you ready to go home?" Jack yawned and then nodded, letting Russell pull him to his feet.

By the time they got back to the car Jack was practically asleep on his feet and Russell helped him into the car. When they got back to campus and to Jack and Cole's dorm, Russell pulled up to the side of the building without a camera and then unloaded Jack from the car. When he was found in the morning, everybody would just assume the boy had been sleepwalking.