Chapter 10 Xander moaned as his back hit the front door, hands held near his head as Speed mapped his mouth with his tongue, before leaving him panting, as Speed kissed down his throat. He looked down at Speed, who looked up, his eyes burning with lust and passion, he groaned load that ended in a whimper when his nipple was bitten through is shirt then suckled. Speed chuckled pulling back slowly, kissed him again and pulled him into his bedroom, yanking off clothing as they went. ** Xander woke slowly, his body felt so relaxed that it was seriously hard to get it to obey his commands to move. He hummed softly as he finally manage to roll on to his side, taking stock of his body. Very relaxed, his ass was a little sore but the left over throbbing was telling him that he definitely had a good night, memory, absent for the time being, little throbs from his chest. A quick glance to him that the reason he was aching was the bite marks on his chest, so apparently he had a very good night...Now if only he could remember it. He slowly sat up and looked around the unfamiliar room, noting his clothes in a neat pile nearby with a note on top. “Right, club, dancing...” He muttered to himself. “Didn’t drink though...Speed.” His eyes widened as the memory flooded through him and felt his cheeks heat with a mix of embarrassment and arousal. “Very good night.” He muttered shaking his head, picking up the note. ‘Xan, Sorry got called in. Shower, breakfast is in the fridge for you. We’ll talk later, hope you’re not too sore. :) Didn’t want to wake you, I noticed you didn’t have your wallet on you so I left some money for a cab back to H’s. Later. Speed.’ “Right, shower...” He looked around the room, picking up his clothes and stepped out of the bathroom and found the bathroom. He took note of the bite marks on his skin as he washed, glad to note that Speed had remembered his warning and had not bitten him on the neck. He had a few bruises too. “Yep, good night.” He grinned to himself in the mirror and then chuckled at the ‘I got thoroughly fucked’ face he had. He dressed, easily found the kitchen and followed the directions on his meal to reheat and quickly ate, grabbing the money on the counter and called for a cab. He felt a little odd being in Speed’s place without him being there. He headed for Rio’s for a change of clothes and his wallet before he rode over to his first house, to finish off the roof. ** Xander looked over the side of the roof as he finished sealing the last tile in place when he heard footsteps and waved at Horatio as he stepped out far enough to look up at him. He cleaned up the mess of tools on the roof before climbing down the ladder. “Hey.” Xander gave him a smile before collapsing the ladder down and carried it inside before returning for the rest of his tools. “Busy day?” “It was.” Horatio agreed, following him inside. “I’m guessing you had fun out last night as you didn’t come home.” “I did.” He flushed a little, ducking his head. “Speed figured that it was a good night as he couldn’t get you to wake up when he had to leave.” Horatio gave him an amused smile. “You must have been well content.” “It took me a little bit to remember where I was and why I was there, I was that content.” Xander grinned. “He working late?” “He is.” Horatio nodded. “You coming home for dinner?” “I was planning on it.” Xander nodded, finishing up putting his tools away after checking them, then studied Horatio for a moment. “You okay with this? I know you said that you two shared or weren’t exactly committed to each other, but you seem unsettled.” He tilted his head, watching as Horatio took off his sun glasses, fiddling with the ear pieces. “I admit that I am somewhat unsettled, yes.” Horatio agreed slowly. “Not solely because of you and Speed, going out for a night of fun.” He hesitated for a moment, “I’m not even sure why, not completely.” Xander stood, studying him and nodded slowly. “So, dinner?” Xander offered, letting Horatio set the subject if he wished. “We can talk then if you want.” “I think that might be an idea.” Horatio nodded, sliding his glasses back into place. “I need to figure this out, and you always were good at reading people, knowing some things that even they didn’t realise.” “We can do that.” Xander nodded, grabbing his back pack and locked up the house. “Take away? Or shall I raid the fridge and see what we can pull together?” He asked settling on his bike. “I already ordered.” Horatio smiled slightly, before climbing into his hummer and they headed to his place. ** Once they were home, Xander showered and changed in to a pair of sweat pants and singlet, before joining Horatio in the lounge room where he had placed the take away that had arrived while he had been in the shower. “Are you ready?” Xander asked after they had eaten in silence for a few minutes. He watched Rio out of the corner of his eye as he nodded slowly. “Alright, how long have you and Speed been seeing each other on and off?” He asked. “Two years.” Horatio replied, not really pausing to think about it. “And you always come back to each other, when there isn’t someone else in the picture?” Xander asked, picking at his noodles. “Yes.” “Do you see other people to throw others off, from getting too close to seeing that you too are seeing each other?” “No, that just happens after a little while.” Horatio shook his head. “I’m not really sure who started it but, it didn’t bother me at the time.” “But it’s beginning to.” Xander stated and watched as Rio paused, fork hanging over his food as he thought about it and then slowly nodded. “When was the last time you dated someone else?” “Three months. A few weeks before Speed got shot on the job.” Horatio replied. Xander watched him for a moment. “And him?” “Two months ago, was the last time I heard about him going out with someone else. They broke up just after he got shot.” Horatio replied after thinking about it. “It sounds like either you are both on a dry spell or you have accepted it.” Xander paused to take another bite. “You’ve become protective of Speed since his accident, which is understandable. It could just be that you are ready to settle down with one or two people, your choice, or it could be that your subconscious decided to stop hiding from something and are ready to do the same. Sometimes it can take you without you realising it.” He smiled faintly. “It happened to me, with you two.” “I can accept that.” Horatio nodded, still eating. “It could have been that you were both hiding in plain sight, even from yourselves before and now whatever was holding you back is gone.” Xander shrugged. “Enjoy it, discussing it with him, let him know that you would like to change the rules that you had before and enjoy it.” “You think so?” Horatio gave him an amused look. “Hey why get upset over a good thing? You and Speed are good together, you already watch each other’s backs and protect the others, you can speak without words and you already know each other pretty well. I say it is a good thing.” Xander pointed out, pointing at him with his fork. “And what about you?” Horatio raised an eyebrow. “What about me?” Xander asked bluntly. “I’m the new factor, either I get to see you both or I don’t, not really going to bother me all that much, I’ll find someone else in time.” He shrugged. “To be honest I think we’d both like for you to stick around, he likes you, I like you, so I think it might work out.” Horatio set his fork aside and leaned back into the couch. “I’m a little worried that you might start to feel left out.” “Maybe, maybe not. There is no way to predict how any of this is going to go, now or later.” Xander shrugged it off. “I’m just going to enjoy what I’ve got, while I’ve got it and see how it goes.” He closed up his take away container and settled back into the couch. “We both know how fast things can change in this world and how little warning one would get.” “True, then we will see how things go.” Horatio nodded in agreement. “Speed agrees with you, we had a chance to talk on the way to a scene.” “Does he know that you are planning on changing the rules?” Xander asked tilting his head. “No, I don’t think so.” Horatio shook his head. “But he did say that he would join us here when he finished up.” “I was wondering why there were a few extra containers.” Xander smiled. “Now you know.” Horatio chuckled, then slowly leaned towards Xander and caught his lips in a soft gentle kiss. Xander blinked a little in surprise at first then, shifted a little closer and opened his mouth, and moaned deeply as Horatio mapped his mouth with his tongue. He shifted when Horatio’s hands tugged and pulled him closer until he was sitting in the man’s lap, his arms wrapped around the older man’s neck. He pulled back a bit when Horatio eased his tight grip around him, resting his forehead against his for a moment. “You remember that you once called me, the citizen solider and I found a song for it, so you knew that it was me contacting you?” Xander asked softly, pulling back so he could look the man in the eye easier. “Yes, I do.” He smiled, remembering the song. “I know a song that suits the questions you have right now.” He eased himself off Horatio’s lap and headed to his room and quickly found the CD he was looking for and returned to the lounge room and put it in the player. “I think this song is quite suited to your moment.” He picked the right track and let it play. My best friend gave me the best advice He said each day's a gift and not a given right Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind And try to take the path less traveled by That first step you take is the longest stride If today was your last day And tomorrow was too late Could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past Donate every dime you have? If today was your last day Against the grain should be a way of life What's worth the prize is always worth the fight Every second counts 'cause there's no second try So live like you'll never live it twice Don't take the free ride in your own life If today was your last day And tomorrow was too late Could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past Donate every dime you have? Would you call old friends you never see? Reminisce of memories Would you forgive your enemies? Would you find that one you're dreamin' of? Swear up and down to God above That you finally fall in love If today was your last day If today was your last day Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart? You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars Regardless of who you are So do whatever it takes 'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life Let nothin' stand in your way Cause the hands of time are never on your side If today was your last day And tomorrow was too late Could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past Donate every dime you have? Would you call old friends you never see? Reminisce of memories Would you forgive your enemies? Would you find that one you're dreamin' of? Swear up and down to God above That you finally fall in love If today was your last day Song: If today was your last day by Nickelback Xander listened to the song, lost in his own memories that the song pulled up and turned the CD to a new track once the song had finished and paused it. “Don’t you think?” Xander asked tilting his head, locking eyes with Horatio. “I do.” He nodded slowly. “I know I do.” They both looked towards the entry way to see Speed watching them with a thoughtful look on his face. “I think it answered a lot of questions, and I like it as I have been in that situation.” “You have.” Xander agreed. “You have another one you want to share?” Speed asked looking at the player as he took a seat next to Horatio. “It reflects my state of mind before and after I got here.” He nodded slowly. “To be honest I’m not so sure if I’m not still in that state, not as fully as I was before...” He hit play and smiled slightly as he was pulled in to sit between the two men. Tonight I'm so alone This sorrow takes ahold Don't leave me here so cold Never want to be so cold Your touch used to be so kind Your touch used to give me life I've waited all this time, I've wasted so much time Don't leave me alone Cause I barely see at all Don't leave me alone, I'm Chorus: Falling in the black Slipping through the cracks Falling to the depths can I ever go back Dreaming of the way it used to be Can you hear me Falling in the black Slipping through the cracks Falling to the depths can I ever go back Falling inside the black Falling inside falling inside the black You were my source of strength I've traded everything That I love for this one thing Stranded in the offering Don't leave me here like this Can't hear me scream from the abyss And now I wish for you my desire Don't leave me alone cause I barely see at all Song: Falling inside the black by Skillet “Xander?” Horatio asked softly, concern written all over his face. “I don’t know, all I knew was once I was on the road was that I had to get to you and that it would be a lot worse if I didn’t.” Xander whispered, leaning his head against Speed’s shoulder. “You needed someone to hold you away from the edge.” Speed stated, wrapping an arm around Xander’s shoulders. “I still do, you two have become that rope. I may appear to be good, but I still have to fight a life time of habits.” Xander nodded slightly. “Hunting.” Horatio stared at him. “Hunting, fighting, revelling in the rush and the freedom of movement.” He sighed. “I think that is partly why I dance so often, it’s partly the same thing, but I still have to fight not to hunt.” “Have you been?” Speed asked, running a hand through his hair. “A few times, enough to take out some of the more dangerous demons in town, and enough for them to know that I am in town.” Xander stared at his hands, picking at his nails. “You’re the White Knight that sent ripples through the crime underground.” Horatio blinked as it clicked. “You told me about the White Knight the night you arrived here...it never clicked they were talking about you.” “Most people don’t even know what I look like, just that if they piss me off they can’t hide for long.” Xander shrugged. “Eric warned us, last week when we had the gathering here.” Speed shook his head. “No one knew who it was...” “Now you do.” Xander raised his head to look them both in the eye. “You both have heard my tales of things I’ve done over the years, but I don’t think that it ever sunk in that it was me and how dangerous I can get when provoked.” He lowered his eyes again. “I don’t think I ever want you two to see me sink that far in to what I call the protector mode.” “Even H, has that, Xander and he can get damn scary once he has been provoked. We all can, half the criminals in Miami know not to piss of the red head, or if they do then to leave fast and hope to all hell that he doesn’t catch up with them.” Speed kissed his temple. “We all have a temper and we all have a breaking point.” He pointed out. “We might not know the full extent of your adventures, Xander, or how good a fighter you are, but we...” He looked at Speed who nodded. “Will be here for you, no matter what. I think we both agree that we have you now and we aren’t going to give you back.” He chuckled and watched as Xander shivered at the slightly evil sound. “You are ours now.” “Definitely ours, and we are both possessive and protective.” Speed agreed with a deep mischievous chuckle, before kissing him deeply. Xander moaned into the kiss, panting hard when he was released by Speed only to be pulled into a deep possessive kiss from Horatio. “I think this will be better conducted somewhere with a little more room.” Horatio said calmly after releasing him. “Speed, locked the door, we’re moving to my room.” He hauled Xander up and pulled him to his own bedroom, with Speed a few steps behind, chuckling at the dazed look on Xander’s face.