saraid@wf.net
Seacouver, six months later.
"Rich?" Duncan's deep voice carried through the mostly empty studio.
"In here, Mac." his former student and current lover called from somewhere in the back.
Duncan walked through the array of glass booths and soundboards and technical equipment, heading for the large center room that held only a baby grand and a large assortment of guitars.
He looked around appreciatively. He'd helped Richard design this recording studio, and then helped finance it, taking a cut of the profits as payment. He'd known this band was going to take off. And even if he hadn't believed that he would have done it, just to make Rich happy.
Somehow, making Rich happy had become an overriding motivation in his life. He didn't know how or when that had happened.
And he didn't care.
He paused just around the doorway, watching the redhead sitting at the piano. He'd encouraged Rich to take music lessons years ago, never dreaming he'd put them to use, just wanting him to have exposure to that. Duncan himself could play but seldom did, as he had no real talent for it. It was pretty obvious to him after over four hundred years, that he was only really talented at three things: swordfighting, lovemaking, and friendship.
Fortunately, those were the three most important things in his life. And once in a while he got to use all three at the same time.
Richard didn't look up or acknowledge him, just rifled through the papers on the small table beside him, picked up a couple of hand-written sheets and put them on the stand.
Then he started to play. Duncan stepped into the doorway and crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorframe, listening.
The music was unusual for Rich, not exactly the Ripped Chords' style. A ballad, the notes sweet and low, matched perfectly by his voice when he started to sing.
-Maybe in the next life
Maybe when he's gone
I'll still be waiting for you
I'll still be singing your song
Always hoping for a future
Always dreaming of the time
I can take you back to me
And tell the world you're mine
Duncan watched Richard's face. His eyes were closed as his hands danced over the keys, picking up the tempo. With drums it would sound like a Ripped Chords song now. He heard the chorus and smiled.
-I'll forgive you
I've forgiven you
My love is still true
I'll wait forever for you
I'm not sitting on my ass
I'm not letting my life pass
You go on and live without me
I know that you're still thinking about me
My bed's not empty
I have a friend
It's not you
But I don't pretend
Duncan's face twisted in a grimace. He wanted to be more than a friend, had for years. But one of the advantages of Immortality was that he always had time to try again. Maybe he should tell him. The chorus rang out now as Rich threw his head back and opened his throat. The sight caused a quiver up Duncan's groin.
-I'll forgive you
I've forgiven you
My love is still true
I'll wait forever for you
The one you're with, he's good and true
I know he'll never bring harm to you
But when his mortal coil has faded
My love for you still won't be jaded
The future rolls right down through us
If we don't catch it our lives are a bust
You know how many years I've got ahead
Don't let me live them with my heart unfed
I'll forgive you
I've forgiven you
My love is still true
I'll wait forever for you
It's been awhile
I miss your (pause) smile
I have your shirt
I can still smell you on it
You didn't mean to hurt me
We can't control where our hearts go
Duncan winced at that line, then looked up to see Richard looking at him as he sang the last few lines.
-I know that now
I know that now
I'll forgive you
I've forgiven you
My love is still true
I'm waiting for you
A small smile crossed his young lover's face as he dropped his voice and crooned the last notes, stopping his hands on the keys so they floated out into silence.
-But I'm not waiting alone
No I'm not waiting alone
Not sitting beside the phone
Not waiting alone
I have a friend
He's not you
But his love is true
I don't wish he was you
I don't pretend
Richard closed his mouth slowly and Duncan brought his hands up to applaud quietly as he came into the room. Rich turned around on the bench and smiled at him.
"Not too sappy, is it?"
"Depends on what the other guys are playing." Duncan grinned, trying to ignore the rapid beating of his heart. Was Richie trying to tell him something? Did he suspect how deep Duncan's feelings for him ran?
"I think we can spice it up enough." Rich stood and crossed to give him a hug, and it turned into an embrace. "I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have you, Mac."
"You'd get by. You're good at that."
Rich brushed a kiss across his lips.
"But you taught me that I don't have to."
Giving in, Duncan pulled him close and probed Rich's mouth with his tongue, feeling the younger man relax against him, opening to him willingly.
"So, is that for Blair?"
"I thought the apology should be as public as the attack." Rich shrugged. "I hope it didn't hurt his feelings too much."
"Think he'll recognize it?"
"If he listens to the radio anymore." Rich laughed, pulling away. "I'm starved. Where we going?"
Duncan swallowed his disappointment and let Rich lead him out to the car, chatting amiably. No, he wasn't acting any differently. The words had just been words, words that fit the places in the song.
That caused him a pain he didn't think he could live with.
But he was going to have to.
Blair was still out there, and he'd be around for a long time. He'd need to be protected and trained when the time came. Considering his police association, that could be any day. And Rich planned on being the one who trained and protected him the way Duncan had done for Rich.
"Mac?" he realized Rich was staring at him as he sat with his hands on the wheel. "We going?"
"Uh, yeah, Rich. Sorry." he started the car and then glanced at him with a dark smile. "How do you feel about breakfast in bed?"
"It's dinner time, Duncan." Richard seldom called him that and it still made him shiver.
"So we'll pretend." he used the word lightly and Rich chuckled.
"We'll have to do both." he made it sound like a threat. "Dinner *and* breakfast."
"Ohh," Duncan pressed his foot on the gas. "I think I can handle that."
Jim and Blair were leaving the restaurant when Blair's eyes were caught by the poster plastered across the fence across the alley.
It was a little hole-in-the-wall place that served the best mexican food to be found, but suddenly Blair felt like he was going to lose everything he'd eaten.
"You okay, Chief?" Jim followed his glare across the alley and he had to smother a smile. "You knew about this, didn't you?" he asked.
"Knowing about it and dealing with it are two different things." Blair said quietly. He walked over to touch the slick paper, his fingers resting on one face.
Richard's face. Smirking. A big yellow blurb beside the band's name said "With the number one song "BLAIR"!
"They're the most popular thing on campus." he shrugged. "It's a good thing I didn't want tickets 'cause I'd never have gotten them."
"Did you want to go?" Jim wasn't worried, he was secure in Blair's love for him. And he had Richard Ryan to thank for the way things were now. If Richard hadn't met Blair and fallen in love with him Jim might have never admitted his own feelings.
"Nah. I hurt him enough already. Don't need to rub his nose in it." Blair yanked his hand back as if burned and turned to Jim, wrapping his arms around him and pressing himself against his partner, lifting himself with his arms around Jim's neck, pressing hard to him.
Jim grunted and took Blair's weight, wrapping his arms under his butt and lifting him closer, his mouth coming down on the smaller man's hungrily.
Blair's hands framed Jim's face as they kissed deeply, Blair wrapping his legs around Jim's and rubbing hungrily against him.
Jim broke off the kiss to gasp.
"Shit, Baby, what are you trying to do? You want me to ravish you right here?"
"Mmmm, that sounds good." Blair lowered his head to nibble delicately on Jim's neck and then bite once, hard, licking the spot as Jim grunted and jerked. "Back alleys, public places... turns me on."
"Little pervert." Jim teased, but he backed Blair over to the wall, on the other side of the dumpster, pressing him against the brick, trapped between it and Jim's body. "You like this?" he got a hand between them and rubbed Blair's straining erection.
"Oh, yeah...." Blair breathed it. "You want to take me, Big Guy? Right here, right now?"
"Yes, Baby, yes..." Jim squeezed and grinned against Blair's mouth as the younger man groaned and arched.
The sound of voices and a car door slamming on the street brought them back to their senses. Jim gave Blair one last quick kiss and stepped back, letting him slide to the ground, steadying him as he found his legs again.
Blair leaned on him, pressed tight to him, Jim's arm around his waist, as they stepped out from the shadow of the dumpster and met the group coming in, headed for the restaurant.
The five or six men and women all stared and Jim felt the heat of Blair's blush on through his shirt as his Guide hid his face in the bigger man's chest.
There were a few laughs and the people passed them by.
"Oh god." Blair pushed away from Jim and gave him a promising smile. "You saved me again. My Blessed Protector."
They walked back to the truck.
"What did I save you from this time?"
"Terminal embarrassment."
Jim started the engine.
"Next time you get into the mood for a public frolic, let me pick the place." Jim said. "I bet I can find one where we won't be disturbed."
"Oooh. That sounds good." Blair leaned over and lay his head in Jim's lap, idly stroking his cock through his jeans. "Think you can drive any faster?"
Jim got them home in record time.
"Hey, Mac." Duncan raised up on his elbows and met the blue eyes of the man beneath him, felt his chest move as he panted. "Am I the first?"
"You know you're not." Duncan grunted, rolling off him and pulling Richie to his side, settling the red curls on his chest and holding him close as their bodies cooled.
"Not your first man." Rich slid a hand down his leg and teased with clever fingers, wondering if he could get a repeat performance. Duncan grunted and spread his legs slightly, giving him better access. "Am I the first student you've slept with?"
"You're the first one I've made love to." Duncan's own fingers crawled down Richie's back to stroke the cleft of his ass. Remembering the past hour brought a flush to his skin. *Let him make what he wants of that.* he thought.
"I thought so." Richard slid on top of him and rubbed their renewed erections together, Duncan grabbed his hips and directed the movement gently.
*Why did he ask that?* Duncan had time to think before his body took over again. But he had no answer.
Then they stopped thinking for a while.
Blair felt his back slam into the living room wall and growled deep in his throat as he closed his teeth on Jim's shoulder, payback.
Jim groaned, pressing Blair against the wall, burying himself in that perfect ass just as deep as he could. The pain of Blair's bites was a throbbing counterpoint to the pleasure.
"God, Blair, Baby, I'm gonna...I'm...I love you..." Blair shifted his mouth to Jim's pulse and felt his lover shudder around him. The wet heat that filled him made him shudder and bite harder as his own orgasm swooped down and carried him off.
His scream was muffled by the sweaty skin between his teeth.
"Blair...Baby."
Blair raised his head, still dizzy. They were on the floor, he was laying across Jim's half-sitting lap. He didn't remember getting there.
"You okay?" Jim sounded concerned, both hands stroking the long curly hair away from his face.
"Oh, man." Blair sighed deeply. "That was mind-blowing, literally. Are *you* okay? I bit pretty hard..." he lightly touched Jim's abused shoulder. Even without Sentinel senses he could feel the welts raised on the skin.
"Yeah, where did that come from?" Jim caught the hand and brought it to his lips, nibbling on the tips of his fingers. Blair shivered.
"I don't know...I just had this urge..." he leaned and kissed the sore spots tenderly. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"I kindof liked it." Jim stood slowly, pulling Blair up after him, cradling him close. "You don't usually get rough, but it really turned me on."
"Really?" Blair's voice was amused, loving. "I'll have to give in to those urges more often."
"You've had them before?" Jim was leading him unresisting to the bathroom.
"Oh, yeah. I used to like to play rough..." Blair stopped in mid-sentence.
"With Richard?" Jim asked, keeping his voice neutral.
"With women." Blair shrugged. "I've had girlfriends who really got off on it, and since we were usually the same size I couldn't really hurt them..."
"So why's it different with me?"
"You're..." Blair shrugged, unable to express himself. They got to the bathroom and Jim turned on the light and Blair whistled. "Damn, Jim. Why didn't you say something?"
"Because I liked it." Jim checked the mirror and saw that he had several clear mouth imprints scattered over his broad shoulder. Blair had broken the skin in a couple of places and a touch of blood had seeped out. "You really went for it there, Chief."
"I'm sorry, man." Blair pulled his shoulder down for a closer look, then grabbed a washcloth and tenderly wiped the blood away. "You think I should bandage that?"
"It's not much more than a scratch." Jim reached into the shower and turned the water on, waiting for it to get hot before stepping in. Blair followed automatically.
They took turns under the steaming spray, and then washed each other. Blair was especially gentle with Jim and the bigger man closed his eyes to enjoy the care.
When they were clean and nestled in the big bed upstairs Jim brought the topic back up.
"So, you obviously still like to do things rough once in a while."
"Uhhh, yeah. Guess I do." They were spooned close together, Jim holding Blair to him and speaking quietly into his ear. "It doesn't mean anything." he sounded defensive.
"I've never been able to get rough." Jim sighed into Blair's hair. "I've always had to be careful, afraid of hurting my partner..."
Blair turned in his arms and met his eyes in the darkness.
"You can do anything you want with me, Jim. I thought you knew that."
"I didn't want to do anything you wouldn't like."
"Hey. If you want to try some - " Blair grinned suddenly "- *adversarial* sex, I'm not gonna complain."
"Adversarial? Is that a word?" Jim teased.
"That's what a woman I knew called it. She really liked rough stuff, like being held down and bit and manhandled. Said it let her really let go."
"And what do you like?" Jim brushed a kiss over the lips so close to his.
"I like just about everything." Blair answered lightly. Then he got serious. "I'd love it if you got rough with me, Jim. Sometimes I feel like you think I'm breakable."
"You are, Chief. Everyone is."
"So break me a little. I'll bear the wounds with pride." Blair pushed himself forcefully against Jim's big body. "Pick me up and put me where you want me, Jim. Hold me tight enough to leave bruises." the smaller man put his hands behind his back and leaned his head back, exposing his neck. "Show me how crazy I make you."
"Blair..." Jim began to object, but Blair leaned over and bit his chest once, hard, and he jumped.
"C'mon, Big Guy. Do your worst." he rolled to lay on his back, hands above his head, offering himself.
Jim didn't think more than a minute. Just the idea of Blair offering himself that way started a wildfire in his blood. He could hear Blair's heart pounding and the blood rushing through his veins, smell his excitement growing.
"You mean like this?" he growled low in his throat and rolled over on top of Blair, one hand going to catch both slender wrists, anchoring them, pulling his arms tight above his head, stretching him, enjoying the sight.
"Oh, man. That's good, Jim. C'mon, here..." Blair arched his head back, the pulse in his throat pounding visibly. Jim didn't even try to resist, just leaned and closed his teeth at the juncture of neck and should, biting down hard, feeling the shudder that shook his lover.
Blair groaned, began squirming under him. Jim straddled him and held him down with his body, covering him, letting Blair take more of his weight than ever before.
He bit his neck a few more times, sucking, leaving dark strawberry marks, his free hand going to Blair's nipples and stroking,then pinching, hard, alternating with teasing fingertip strokes. Blair groaned and tugged against his hands, hard, as if he was really trying to escape.
Worried, Jim released him and sat up. Blair's blue yes opened and stared up at him, confused.
"What's wrong?" he gasped. Jim could hear and smell how aroused he was and it made him even harder.
"I - I don't want to hurt you..."
"Jim, honey, *please*, hurt me." Blair's smile was wicked.
"How do I know if you're enjoying it?" the younger man saw that his friend was really worried.
"Okay." Blair propped up on his elbows and closed his eyes. "When I was with Darla -- I saw her off and on for about a year, we didn't date, it was strictly sex -- we used a release word."
"If she said it you let her go." Jim understood.
"Or if I said it." Blair licked his lips. "She was way rough when she got going. Both of us used it once or twice...and we decided if we were going to be rough before we got into bed."
"Okay. That would work." Jim sat back on his knees, bringing their dicks into contact. Blair squirmed a little, encouraging, and Jim grabbed his hips, holding him tight, feeling the smaller man's muscles clench and quiver beneath him.
"Here." Blair held his hands up, wrists together.
"Choose the word." Jim grabbed them and stretched him up again, leaning over him to nuzzle his chest, tongue tracing patterns in the dense curly hair.
"Ummm," Blair sighed and thought, then yelped when Jim bit, a sharp little nip.
"Pick it *now*." he ordered.
"I need one that would never be said in this bed otherwise..."
"Uh-huh." Jim's free hand slid beneath Blair, cupping his ass and squeezing, urging him to arch upwards.
"Uhhhh - *Simon*." Blair said and then grunted as Jim's fingers tightened, digging into his skin. His wrists would be bruised, he knew, but he didn't care. He was so hard he thought he'd explode if Jim ever got around to touching him.
"Simon?!"
"It's not a word I think of when I'm here with you..." Blair trailed off and groaned again, arching helplessly as Jim roughly massaged his ass.
"Okay. Simon. Now shut up." Jim covered his mouth in a brutal kiss. Blair felt his lips cut on his teeth and groaned louder. Jim pulled back, licking his own lips. He could smell the blood, taste it in his mouth.
"Blair?" he sounded unsure.
Blair closed his eyes and began to struggle, not hard, tugging at his trapped hands, wiggling his butt, trying to get away from the digging fingers, but not really.
It only took Jim a minute to be sure his partner was enjoying this. A glance down proved that Blair was as hard as he'd ever seen him, his breathing fast, sweat collecting to shine in the darkness.
"You like that?" Jim pinched his nipples again, harder, and held him down when he struggled harder, using his body to cover the smaller man.
"Oh, god, yessss." Blair hissed with pain and arched again, hips thrusting up.
"You want me?" Jim released his wrists and grabbed him around the waist, moving to the side and flipping him over with ease, a talent he'd learned as a cop. Blair groaned and grabbed the headboard, tried to pull himself away. Caught up in the game now Jim grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled him back. Blair's howl caught him by surprise and he stopped, hand still tangled in his hair, waiting to see if he said anything.
Blair was silent, head pulled back, hands clinging tight to the headboard, body tense with anticipation.
Jim couldn't control his reaction to the sight. He'd never had anyone laid out for him like this...it looked good.
He straddled Blair, his dick hot on his ass. Blair wriggled as if he was trying to get away but all it did was bring Jim closer to him. Keeping his hand in Blair's hair, arching him back, Jim used the other to reach for the lube they kept by the bed. He spread it liberally on himself and Blair's ass, leaning to bite and suck at his shoulders as he did, nuzzling the delicate skin over his kidneys that twitched and shivered.
Jim sat still, nuzzling that skin. Testing the texture, hearing and feeling Blair's heat and need...
"Jim...." Blair moaned. "C'mon, lover, don't zone on me here..."
Jim responded with a fierce nip to his ass, one on each side. Blair thrashed slightly and Jim lay over him until he stilled again.
"How do you want me?" he purred into the smaller man's ear, his hand still pulling his head back, tangled in his hair.
"Any way I can get you." Blair moaned, then struggled again, this time putting some strength into it. Although small he wasn't a weakling and this time Jim had to concentrate to hold him down and keep him in place.
"C'mon, c'mon, be a good boy..." Jim muttered as he sought for entry. He got the tip of his dick into him and Blair froze, Jim staring down at him with lust, seeing the beauty of him, Blair's body sculpted in tension, lean muscles stark, sheathed in sweat. "That's it...!" Jim grunted as he drove in, one smooth lunge, and felt Blair shake beneath him.
Jim lay down, releasing his grip in Blair's hair, hands going to cover his on the headboard, every inch of Blair's body covered by his own, feeling his young lover tremble, his breathing loud to Jim's hyper-sensitive senses, his body so hot around him, under him.
"*Jim*..." Blair was frankly begging.
"Shhh." Jim murmured into his ear, nipping it, little sharp bites that sent shivers running down Blair's already sensitized body. "Feel it, lover. Feel me in you. I'm around you, Blair, in you....I own you."
Blair groaned helplessly at his last words. His legs spread wider, encouraging. He released the headboard and brought his hands around behind him to pull Jim's head closer, trying to twist his neck enough for a kiss. Jim raised up on his elbows, driving himself deeper and Blair groaned again, louder, as he shifted to kiss him, deep, hot and hungry.
"Oh God, Jim...I love you...fuck me, please..." Blair was panting and moaning as he begged.
"You want me to fuck you?" Jim rotated his hips in little teasing circled, moving his hands to Blair's to keep the smaller man still. Blair struggled against them and Jim felt a new flash of heat, when he thought he couldn't have gotten any hotter. "You want it hard?"
"Please!" Blair got his arms under his chest and surged back against Jim, impaling himself.
Jim almost lost it then and there.
"Any thing you want, love." he gasped as he started to move.
He took him hard and fast, harder than he'd ever dared before, slamming into him, any pretense of lovemaking abandoned. Beneath him Blair screamed, half in pain, feeling himself tear slightly, and buried his head in the pillow to stifle it. His dick was driven into the bed and he felt his orgasm building and gave himself over to it, coming in hot spasms that shook his whole body. His ass clenched around Jim's dick and Jim thrust once more, his hands finding Blair's hair again, and yanking his head back until Blair's muscles protested, and then he was coming, pouring what seemed like gallons of scalding semen into his welcoming body.
Jim collapsed on top of his young lover. Blair had the presence of mind to fold one arm beneath himself, which gave him room to breath, and then they both lay still, gasping, Blair turning his head to one side, out of the pillow.
The sounds of their breathing filled the loft. After a long time - thirty minutes, perhaps more - Jim stirred, getting himself up to his elbows with an effort, brushing a kiss over Blair's neck as the younger man lay still.
"You still with me?" he whispered.
"Mm-hm." Blair moved his arm, which had been cramping, and snuggled into the pillow.
"You okay?"
"Way better than okay." he smiled sleepily, not opening his eyes.
Jim studied him, concentrating. All he found were the usual smell associated with sex, except..."
"Blair. Did I hurt you?!" Jim reached for the bedside lamp, but Blair opened his eyes and caught his hand.
"Hey, Big Guy. Leave it alone." he tugged on the hand and Jim lay down beside him reluctantly. "I just want to lay here and feel your arms around me..." Blair smiled as Jim obliged, wrapping him snugly, letting Blair cuddle close to his broad chest. "Hold me all night?" Blair asked, sleep quickly over taking him.
"Every night." Jim promised, not sleepy yet, worried by the smell. He recognized the copper-tang of blood.
"I've never loved anyone like I love you, Jim." Blair mumbled.
He was asleep before Jim could answer.
When Blair got to the station the next day, after classes and a staff meeting, Jim was quick to notice that he was limping slightly. He leaned over his desk, supposedly to rag on him for being so late, but his low voice was actually concerned and filled with remorse.
"You okay, Sandburg?"
"Great, Big Guy." the look Blair gave him was pure mischief. "Why would you ask?"
"You seem to be having a little trouble walking...."
"Nothing a long hot soak won't fix." Blair winked and went back to the paper he was working on. Jim sat at his own desk with a grimace. It got worse when a harried-looking delivery boy carrying a huge bouquet of flowers walked in, looking around nervously.
"Flowers for Blair Sandburg?" he called hesitantly.
Several cops grinned knowingly and pointed in their general direction. Blair glanced at Jim with a grin.
"You shouldn't have." He whispered as he stood to accept the offering.
"I didn't." Jim answered as he stood and leaned over Blair's shoulder to read the card.
Blair -
Apologies aren't what I'm best at, but I'm giving it a try. There'll be two front-row tickets waiting for you tonight - bring your cop. I'll love you forever.
-Richard
"What the fuck is this?" Jim whispered before Simon worked his way over and gave them both a long look. Blair tucked the card into his shirt pocket, giving Jim an uncertain grin.
"Another girlfriend, Sandburg?" Simon teased sternly. "You're interrupting police business."
"Sorry, sir." Blair just managed to keep from smiling. Though he'd never said anything, Blair and Jim agreed that he knew what was really going on between them. "It's an apology from an old friend."
"Humph. Just get that paperwork finished, okay, Ellison?"
"You bet." Jim answered easily, but inside he was worried. Was Richard trying to get Blair back?
They left it until they got out that evening. After they got into the truck Blair turned to Jim and smiled a little
"What do you think?"
"I think he wants you back." Jim shrugged. "I can't blame him."
"You know better than to worry, don't you?" Blair asked soothingly. "I'd like to go. It would give a sort of closure. I really wasn't fair to him, you know."
"If you want to go, we'll go." Jim shrugged. "So we need to go home and change."
"Thanks, Jim." Blair sat back with a thoughtful look on his face.
"How do I look?" Richie spun before Duncan, who looked vaguely worried.
His jeans were ripped until more skin showed than was covered and Mac knew the white t-shirt and black leather vest - Duncan's, borrowed for the night - would come off soon enough. He stood and grabbed Rich, pulling him hard against him, nuzzling his neck.
"Too good to let you go out there." he shrugged in the direction of the stage. "C'mon, just a taste..." he dropped to his knees in front of his young lover and grabbed his hips, bringing his mouth to the distinct bulge in his pants, nipping at the material covering his erection.
Richard laughed, putting his hands on Duncan's shoulders for balance, throwing his head back.
"Mac, I've gotta get out there soon..." he warned in a whisper.
"Richard!" Frankie's voice was followed by a pounding on the door. "You ready yet, man?"
"More than ready!" Rich shouted back as Duncan gave him one last caress and stood unwillingly. His arms were still around his former student when the tall drummer came in, his heavily muscled chest looking as if he'd oiled it recently.
Frankie just grinned at the two of them. The band was used to seeing Duncan around, used to his hands on their lead singer. They didn't give a damn who he slept with, as long as he stuck with them.
"MacLeod." he greeted with a broader grin, taking in Richie's advanced state of arousal. "Getting him ready to go on?" he teased.
"Doin' my best." Duncan smiled briefly. He wasn't sure what Richie was going to do after he discovered Duncan's surprise for tonight.
"The guys are waiting. Wanna get going?"
"More than you know." Richie threw Mac a promising look and Duncan couldn't resist. He grabbed him and pulled him close, against Richie's mumbled objections, and kissed him until Rich gave up and kissed him back while Frank studied the ceiling with interest. When Duncan finally let him go Richard wiped his face with one large hand.
"Fuck, Mac, I just forgot every lyric." he complained. Duncan smiled complacently.
"But you won't forget me." he grinned.
"Never." Richie promised. Then he left with Frank, leaving Duncan to take his usual seat in the front row, just to the left of the mosh pit.
"Sandburg? Yeah, here they are." the ticket-taker grinned at them. "Compliments of the house and all that."
"Thanks, I think." Blair took the envelope and opened it, ignoring the complaints of the people behind him hoping to get tickets from no-shows.
"Front row left." he showed them to Jim, who was keeping himself between Blair and the crowd protectively. "Not bad for opening night."
"There's a mosh pit." Blair grinned at him.
"You're wounded." Jim retorted.
"Hardly." Blair snorted. "You'll have to do worse than that to keep me out of a mosh pit."
They found their seats. Both were quick to note the large dark-haired man sitting next to them.
"Whew. Look at him." Blair whispered, knowing Jim would tune in to hear him above the crowd noise. "He's gorgeous."
"Not as beautiful as you." Jim nuzzled his ear.
Duncan stared briefly. Richie had been right, Blair Sandburg *was* beautiful. Very different from Rich, unique. He could see why his student had wanted him.
Still wanted him.
Mac shook his head as they two next to him began making out like they were alone.
*I hope Richie forgives me for this.*
When Richard came on stage Blair almost jumped out of his skin.
He'd forgotten he looked so good.
He'd forgotten he sounded so good.
The crowd was surging and screaming around them, but the three sitting there, were all just staring, each caught up in his own thoughts.
Jim glanced at Blair, who was staring as Richard segued into a rousing rebel anthem, and wished that telepathy was a Sentinel sense.
Blair stared at Richard, wondering if he'd truly forgiven him. Maybe they could be friends.
Duncan watched all three of them. It was really just an exercise to keep his thoughts off Richie, so he'd be able to walk when this was over.
Blair stood the pounding rhythm for about three songs, then stood and moved for the stage. Jim stopped him, but Blair shook him off with a grin and slipped into the milling crowd of the pit. With a groan Jim followed, loosing sight of Blair momentarily, but following him by scent.
Then he heard Blair's whisper, cutting through the noise for his ears only.
"Catch me, Big Guy."
Jim turned in time to see Blair make it onto the stage and pose before throwing himself off.
He was caught by the crowd and passed around, legs spread wide, howling with laughter, until he got to Jim and Jim yanked him down and into his arms.
Blair was gleeful, clinging to Jim and literally bouncing up and down.
"That was so cool! I'm gonna do it again!" and he was gone, slipping out of Jim's arms like an eel, back to the stage to dive again into the crowd.
Worried, Jim worked his way to the front and this time caught his lover as he came off, the impact knocking them back into the people behind him, the press of the crowd keeping them upright as Blair attacked him with hungry eagerness.
Neither of them noticed as Richard waltzed his way over to the edge of the stage and glanced down with disbelief.
There was a brief intermission as the band caught its breath, and then they were back. The lights were low and a single spotlight shown on Richard as he stripped out of the t-shirt, down to boots and jeans. His lean body glistened as he stood for a minute.
He glanced down at the front row and Blair held tight to Jim's arm as his eyes traveled over them. There was the suggestion of a smile on his lips.
"Everybody here knows I got my heart broken a few months back." he said quietly into the mike, then waited for the roar to die down. "But we all get over these things." his mouth twitched in a smile. "Anyhow, *Blair* is here and I wrote a new song just to play tonight. You guys will be the first to hear it."
The roar grew and Jim winced, covering his ears. Blair leaned close, rubbing the back of his neck, and missed Richard's glare at the man next to them, who shrugged.
"Tune it down, Jim." he said softly, soothingly. Jim nodded, then shrugged.
"Listen to the song." he whispered. Blair's head was close enough to hear him.
-Maybe in the next life
Maybe when he's gone
I'll still be waiting for you
I'll still be singing your song
Always hoping for a future
Always dreaming of the time
I can take you back to me
And tell the world you're mine
-I'll forgive you
I've forgiven you
My love is still true
I'll wait forever for you
I'm not sitting on my ass
I'm not letting my life pass
You go on and live without me
I know that you're still thinking about me
My bed's not empty
I have a friend
It's not you
But I don't pretend
When he'd finished those first few verses the rest of the band kicked in with enthusiasm, the song becoming louder, harder.
-I'll forgive you
I've forgiven you
My love is still true
I'll wait forever for you
The one you're with, he's good and true
I know he'll never bring harm to you
But when his mortal coil has faded
My love for you still won't be jaded
Richard was screaming now, his voice strong enough to carry even that volume and sound good.
The future rolls right down through us
If we don't catch it our lives are a bust
You know how many years I've got ahead
Don't let me live them with my heart unfed
I'll forgive you
I've forgiven you
My love is still true
I'll wait forever for you
It's been awhile
I miss your (pause) smile
I have your shirt
I can still smell you on it
You didn't mean to hurt me
We can't control where our hearts go
-I know that now
I know that now
I'll forgive you
I've forgiven you
My love is still true
I'm waiting for you
-But I'm not waiting alone
No I'm not waiting alone
Not sitting beside the phone
Not waiting alone
I have a friend
He's not you
But his love is true
I don't wish he was you
I don't pretend
The crowd was jumping and screaming but Blair was sitting very still. A promise of eternal love from a man who'd live forever.
God, it was so...so...he shook his head. There was nothing to compare this to.
He was aware of Jim's tense form beside him.
Richard was gasping for breath as the crowd thundered. He was staring at Blair.
Blair met his eyes, it seemed like across miles.
And they both smiled.
The Blair turned and kissed Jim, with all of his heart, pouring everything he felt into that one kiss, feeling Jim's response, knowing he understood.
Beside them Duncan watched the exchange and grinned with satisfaction. Richie might have his head for this...he wasn't guessing which one...but it had been worth it.
He might loose Rich to this beautiful young one someday - but that day was along ways off, and for now he had him.
Like Richie, he could wait.