Black Roses: The Games Humans Play!

De roused slowly, completely unhurried taking into account he was aware of only one other heartbeat in the room and that was Rhion's. A calm, comfortable rhythm that meant all was well with his friend and their surroundings. There was nothing pressing that would need his attention immediately upon waking.

At least nothing that was not of his choosing and he would be choosing a long hot bath if this place had one to offer. It certainly hadn't looked like your typical prison cell. Well, what little he'd seen of it before collapsing anyway. Built on too large a scale for his comfort, and the décor seemed to verge on chilly and grand rather than comfortable, but it was definitely not a prison cell!

Come to think of it, what day was it? Was this still one-day in the demon stronghold---or were they on day-two now? He wasn't sure and Daniel was still asleep so he couldn't ask. Not that it mattered; time was always a little fuzzy to him anyway. Nothing ever seemed to come in the intervals that were considered normal by most people---he always had missing periods of time---stuff he chose to forget or time that belonged to Daniel alone.

Everything was one long dark bloody haze with death and pain filling up the majority of the time that had passed. Had it really only been a few days since he'd been gathering Daniel's paints for the mural in the church?

Already depressed, he made the initial attempt at eye-opening, and shuddered. His first---sort of--- sight was a huge combination painting/sculpture directly in line across from the bed. It portrayed a huge demon seated on a throne, pointing threateningly forward and scowling. The being depicted didn't resemble Mish-shy in the least, being for one thing possessed of a pair of twisting horns on a very bald skull. But it wasn't a thing he wanted to see on first waking up after tangling with the bastard!

Then he frowned. He really WAS in bad shape. Because a closer glare at the artwork indicated a couple of things outta whack. For one thing, the pictured being supported a comically curly mustache, which seemed to be rendered in a medium totally different from the original. A sort of brownish---clay? Beneath the scowling brows of the deity, two round pills of the same material had been inset, placed so that the mighty demon king seemed to be cross-sightedly glowering across his own majestic nose.

He blinked in confusion for a moment, then despite all his expectations a smile pulled at his lips even as he tried to feel disapproving. Damn crazy human! It wasn't his eyesight at all, Rhion had--- No, don't encourage him by laughing at such horseplay when we're in the middle of trouble! He's an idiot!

"Hey Rhion, what time is it?" He tried to open his eyes wider but groaned and snapped them shut against the dim light of the room. Studying the defaced artwork had really taken all the visual power he had for the moment.

"Early evening, slugabed." Rhion's voice was matter-of-fact, even vaguely cheerful. "Still day one," he added, as if guessing De's thoughts. "Our host's breakfast invitation has extended to include dinner. And I for one am starving; they laughingly call this kitchen "well-stocked" but I'll be putting in quite a few requests for more and better provisions tonight. They've obviously never guested a cook of my caliber before!"

He was sitting comfortably in one of the chairs scattered around the room, a book open across his lap. From the dampened curliness of his glittering hair, the place obviously boasted some kind of bathing facilities.

"Are you feeling well enough to socialize, or not?" he now added softly. "I can't make anything fancy, but if you'd prefer to eat here I can manage something edible if not very interesting."

"I'll have to socialize with those freaks sooner or later, I suppose." De's voice was laden heavily with irritation as he scrubbed his hands across his face as if to wake himself the rest of the way up.

"True, but you needn't start tonight, if you don't wish it." Putting the book aside, Rhion arose, stretching with liquid, feral grace and a grunt of pleasure as his muscles unknotted from too long a period of motionlessness so De could rest.

"I thought I was done with this shit once and for all," De about half growled out, responding more to his own thoughts than Rhion's comment. "So, any clue as to why we're rooming in the guest quarters rather than the dungeon?"

"He---Mish-shy---says he plans to train you to use this power of yours." Rhion's voice held just a tinge of skepticism, less than it should have really.

"Does he now?" De pushed himself up off the mattress "What's in it for him, I wonder?" It wasn't a question for Rhion but the older boy shrugged at him as he stood and stretched

"Need any help?" De shook his head but Rhion stood there anyway, watching as De gingerly made his way over to the wall mirror to check out the mess he'd made of himself this time.

He was a little surprised there wasn't more visible damage; it usually took him a full day and a half to heal but apparently he was almost there already, a few sore spots but nothing a little food and another nap wouldn't cure. "Did you do this?" De peered at Rhion's reflection in the mirror questioningly as his hand skated over his ribs and side.

"Mish-shy came in while you were sleeping---patched you up." De made a face, a little disgusted at having been touched by the demon while he was unconscious.

Rhion grinned faintly. "If you mean 'Did he keep his hands to himself?' I must say he did. Though some of the looks I got were hungry enough to freeze my balls into snow-cones. The big bastard seems unsure of whom he's gonna try to grope next!"

Despite the content of his speech, which to De's mind was worrisome and definitely unwelcome, Rhion still seemed cheerful. So maybe he was just indulging in that strange humor of his, after all? He'd climbed back into his bronze leathers after whatever bath he'd had, the bastard had a bottomless pack as usual and it apparently had included clean untattered clothing, but De wasn't so fortunate. All he had to wear now was what the demons supplied and he just hoped there was some black included. "You could pretend to be a little worried about it, damnfool human," he scolded absently, beginning to rifle the cabinet drawers.

De gave him an exasperated look, but didn't really feel like arguing about it. For one thing, he wasn't sure of winning such a battle of words; he was still sleepy after all. "Bath?" he inquired sarcastically from over his shoulder.

"First door to the left." Rhion grinned lazily. "I thought to wait and share it with you, but you slept too damn long and I was beginning to itch. Of course, if you insist I can still help you out with the hard to reach spots."

"If I insist---?" De smiled, struggled with his composure for a few moments and then laughed despite his best efforts not to.

Then without having found a suitable stitch of clothing he turned to Rhion, adorned his best come-hither look and smiled a smile full of dark velvet amusement and sultry innuendo. "Seems to me like you coulda found "this" back home---not that I'm complaining, I just hope sex isn't the only reason you're stuck here with the likes of me? Didn't anyone ever tell you about 'bad boys' Rhion? You're supposed to fuck em and forget em."

"Would you like me to insist? Is that it? So you don't have to admit that you want me?" Rhion took one single step toward him; De smiled wider a dark sparkle gleaming in his eyes. "I'm not Daniel but I do have my charms." De promised surprisingly sweetly

Yup, De understood this---lust---plain and simple! Why come so far just to play this game---and why with someone like him? It didn't really matter, whatever the reason it'd be over when it was over but for now De would play. Hell he enjoyed playing with Rhion, for all the older boy's roughness he was still the gentlest lover De had ever had---and the best.

De grinned wickedly, turned and started toward the door just a little too slowly, but before he disappeared through the archway he stopped and glanced back at Rhion over his shoulder. "I know what I like---if you want me to insist, I will but you'll have to beg me first."

Rhion didn't seem to "get it." In fact, he studied De as if he thought the boy lacked good sense. "De---are you okay? Am I gonna hurt you---if we do that---everything? You just got---manhandled, or rather demonhandled---not that long ago, in case it's slipped your mind. Healed or not it might hurt you if I----if you---if we go at it like we usually do!"

"No---!" De snapped getting the feeling he was being tested on something and failing miserably. His fears were confirmed when Rhion pulled his brow together, and eyed him skeptically. It was almost as if he knew De was lying to him about this.

He faltered under the small amount of scrutiny, speaking before Rhion even posed his question. "Maybe, I mean---there is a certain pleasure in the pain of another. " Why was Rhion still frowning at him? "And you have reason---I mean, it's normal to---!" Oh gawd, why the hell was Rhion looking at him like that, it made him feel weird. Like he'd said or done something wrong.

"It's just that vampires share pain, I just assumed that everyone had a taste for it, especially considering---you know, what I've done to you and all." He halted, thinking about Shining Moon and getting Rhion stuck here in this god-forsaken place. For a second he nearly spilled out an apology but instead he stated the facts. "You kinda deserve your pound of flesh. All this was probably more than you bargained for."

He smiled what he hoped was a reassuring smile " I don't mind, really! I'm used to it, I can take a lot---I mean if you're worried about---p---!" He stopped only for a fraction of a second, gathered himself and continued on nearly flawlessly, "Previous damage, don't be." He kicked himself mentally for the pause, tried to look confident, as though all were perfectly normal.

Rhion frowned even deeper, not seeming to understand what he was saying. Then to De's astonishment he put a gentle halting hand on his shoulder, his face twisted up in some kind of mysterious expression De couldn't seem to make him himself understand.

What was worse was the fact that he couldn't stand there like a proper prince, couldn't keep himself from shrugging the seemingly gentle hand off his shoulder as though it were somehow hurting him. He backed up just half a step fidgeted nervously and then moved forward again trying to rectify his blunder.

"'Pound of flesh'; 'used to it'! Good gods above! What a sorry world we live in. I'm not gonna hurt you De. I don't even want to---! You've been hurt enough, and I couldn't even stop it!" Rhion sounded utterly disgusted, but De realized---though with bewilderment---that Rhion was angry with himself.

What the hell did the man think he could possibly do against even one demon let alone a pack? And why was he worried about troubles De had pretty much brought on himself, anyway? He acted as if he thought it was his job to protect De and he'd somehow failed horribly! Rhion was so---so strange.

"Then what *do* you want?" he asked simply, realizing he'd been babbling like a child trying to explain his lack of understanding to a teacher. He also realized he meant the question on more levels than he felt comfortable with, but fortunately Rhion responded to his most apparent meaning, the subject of sex.

"I was just thinking we could---do whatever you were ready for. I mean---If you want---I guess I wasn't expecting you to offer the whole kitchen and the sink too---like that---I just wanted to touch you---not!" He paused, tried to put together whatever idea was rolling around in his head and then said. "*I'm* not up for the rough stuff---okay? And payback is the last thing I'm after!"

De just stared at him for a few seconds, brushed away the memories that rushed forward at Rhion's stammering and then finally said, "Okay, whatever you want---you still gonna help me, right?" De wasn't sure if he was being rebuffed totally or if Rhion just wasn't into a quick rough and tumble tonight---maybe he was tired or something? Or maybe there was something else going on here that De didn't fully understand. Whatever it was the lack of knowledge admittedly made him a little nervous.

An idea slowly grew inside De's head "I can wake Daniel---you know---If you want." It mighta been the first time in his life he had truly felt small in another person's presence and he'd felt a lot of things in his time, rage, disgust, envy and even on occasion fear but never had he honestly considered himself beneath another---or at least not another vampire. Somehow Rhion was different, like Daniel was different---and thanks to that difference he suddenly felt absolutely filthy!

Maybe there was more to sex than simple lust and depravity, in which case De simply didn't measure up, at least not to what he was sure Rhion and Daniel had shared.

Now Rhion was *really* looking at him strangely. "No, I didn't mean that I wanted Daniel rather than you! Much as I enjoyed him--- De, I'm sorry, I forgot that last time I touched you in a different way than---what you expected---it seemed like you ended up hating it---and me. *That's* what I don't want to happen again, I guess I'm a little afraid it will---if I touch you again?"

Strong fingers slid into his hair, cupped the back of his head, as Rhion's other arm slipped around his body and pulled him close. He tilted his head back wordlessly, surprised and unsettled at the rush of weakness the other boy's touch inspired. No, it wasn't weakness exactly, just a sweet lassitude that made struggle unreasonable and all games a waste of time.

"I'm sorry I let them hurt you, De," Rhion whispered against his lips. He didn't give De time to frame an answer, and maybe the boy couldn't even have found one. He still didn't understand why Rhion was so bothered by it all. It made absolutely no sense in the world De had come from.

When Rhion's mouth came down on his, De's eyes slid closed and he stopped thinking. Almost stopped breathing, as the other boy's tongue gently forced its way between his lips and began a slow, teasing exploration. Kissing was stupid! Should be stupid, anyway. But Rhion could make the strangest things utterly erotic!

He growled a little, when after dizzying minutes of tasting him Rhion pulled back a bit to study his face almost too curiously. Damn, what was he looking for now with that searching expression? De was hard as granite from a damnfool kiss, wasn't that enough for this crazy human? "I don't hate you, you idiot!" De blurted. "Bah, you're stupid!"

De didn't know what he'd intended to say to reassure Rhion but that certainly wasn't it! He was astonished when Rhion smiled at him with a return of wickedness in his eyes. "Time for your bath," the blond said almost too sweetly. "And I *insist* on helping."

"All right, whatever!" De muttered, too rattled by Rhion's shifts in attitude to even try to be seductive now. He stalked into the indicated bathing room, closely trailed by Rhion who was humming as he began to shed his leathers.

De found the showers without a problem, wanting now to get clean and get on with life rather than basking in a tub. He couldn't figure out if Rhion wanted him or not, although that kiss----! Blasted human, his attitude had been so peculiar at first, maybe the kissing had been some kind of tease? A tease that wasn't meant to go anywhere after arousing him like that? Was Rhion capable of being that much of a bastard? Probably!

He felt the warmth of Rhion's body close behind him as he quickly stripped his pants off and turned on the shower. Stepping into the heavy warm spray the other boy still trailed him closely, and when he felt Rhion's hands flow lightly down his sides De turned swiftly, hiding his relief as he raised one hand and pressed it against wet naked flesh.

De ignored him, taking a step back and running darkening eyes swiftly over Rhion's entire body as the steamy water cascaded over the blond. No wonder he didn't feel up to any rough stuff---he'd had the shit beaten outta him!

By some miracle they'd missed his face, but the rest of him was a colorful mess. The leathers had covered it, and De personally hadn't seen Rhion unclothed since, well, their dalliance in the storm! He stared at the bruises that striped Rhion's body in shades ranging from black to purple to greenish-yellow and felt almost nauseated for a moment.

Rhion processed De's expression and made an exasperated sound. "Well, what did you think, I was standing around knitting while you were trying to fight them off? It's not such a deal, I just don't heal as quickly as you do. Are you gonna come over here where I can touch you or stand there grinding your teeth and swearing at nothing?"

De snapped his eyes back up to Rhion's face and quickly tried to wipe the fury from expression. It was true, what had he been expecting? Of course Rhion was bound to have been hurt during the fighting, he wasn't a vampire like De and considering his his youth his immortality probably wasn't all that strong yet. That meant he was vulnerable, obviously more so than De considering the events of the past few days.

Gawd he was such a fool! He could have gotten Rhion killed with all this nonsense. Well, he'd do better next time. Take fewer risks where Rhion's flesh was involved.

He stepped forward, ran his hand over the bruises and up along the side of Rhion's neck until he could wrap his fingers in the older boy's hair and tug him gently downward and into another one of those wet kisses of his.

He felt like apologizing, but not with words. He wasn't any good with those things but this he could do. Slow and gentle, only natural considering Rhion's current physical condition.

He pulled back for a moment, let his companion wrap him in an unfamiliar embrace and used an unguarded moment to gaze into the multifaceted color of Rhion's unusual eyes.

When he was caught looking, really looking, he let his eyes slide leisurely away, as if he hadn't been doing anything of the sort. No way in hell had he been caught thinking about how "pretty" Rhion's eyes were. How he could count the endless colors of autumn burning out from the Darkness of his eye to meet the light. No way he'd thought them more exquisite than any jewel he'd ever laid eyes on.

He leaned in and latched onto Rhion's neck and began to chew on the tender flesh with more care than he'd ever used on anything. He was a little surprised to find that skin had a taste all it's own, soft and subtle, yes. But as sweet and fresh as any delicacy De had ever tasted, almost as good as blood even.

Rhion groaned softly at the uncharacteristically gentle attention, arched carefully against the smaller boy. Enough to prove that despite his battered condition at least one part of him was in working order. In fact De's tender suckling seemed to be turning him on to an amazing degree, crazy human! This mushy stuff worked on him better than raw sex, did it? Curious, De carefully ran one hand down Rhion's body without ceasing his soft gnawing, caught his engorged manhood and squeezed ever so gently.

Rhion shuddered, actually made a sound that could've been called a whimper. He pushed into De's grip, heated steel wrapped in the softest velvet flesh imaginable. The water tumbled over them both like hot crystal. De watched it sparkle in the bright threads of Rhion's hair as he fondled the other boy almost dreamily. Perhaps Rhion wasn't as weird as he'd thought---there was something almost mystical about this manner of touching---though of course he was just showing consideration for Rhion's injuries, it wasn't so boring after all---

Rhion's fingers slipped around De's wakening erection, began pumping him slowly. De drew in a quick sip of breath as warmth spread through his body in a rich, tantalizing wave. Nope! Not so boring at all---

Rhion went to his head like wine, made him abandon all common sense. It was foolishness but something in the older boy's touch made it worth the risk.

He let his mouth slide across Rhion's flesh, lapped at the water that gathered on his powerful shoulders. Nipped and kissed across the flesh for longer than was necessary but for some strange reason De found that he was enjoying this sort of touch, he'd never really explored the feel of another person, not like this, with his fingers. And never so slowly, actually focused on the touch and taste and reality of another person's body totally aside from its use for his own pleasure or devious plans.

All his past experiences had been filled with hunger and lust, thick and rabid even at the best of times. This was different, this he actually liked? ---Yes, he liked this, needed it? So why did he suddenly feel overwhelmed, why did he wanta cry?

He shoved the feeling away after sobbing only once, but that was okay, sounded more like need than weakness---it was too full and breathy to sound like that.

He gasped when Rhion's hand skated around his hip, skated up his back and then back down again to curl around his hip and urge him forward, rub their erections together. He moved his hand, allowed Rhion complete control of the moment, shuddering as he set them into an sensual rhythm that kinda reminded De of dancing---weird, but good!

It only seemed natural to run his hands over Rhion's sides, continue upward and curl his arms underneath Rhion's, wrap his fingers around the backs of his shoulders and pull him closer, hold him.

He nestled his head into the curve of Rhion's shoulder, face outward toward the room but that was just so he could try and breath in the cooler air---not that it helped that much he was still lost, couldn't even remember his own name---didn't even care anymore!

Standing there like that De was suddenly at peace; his mind's only concern was that moment, of taking whatever this was Rhion was giving him. He couldn't put a name to it but like so many other things at that moment, it didn't matter.

They rocked together languidly, lost in each other's touch, until the water cooled a bit. Rhion pulled back slightly then. "Your hair's a mess," he murmured. Like De cared! He hung in Rhion's grip placidly, felt the other boy reach for something. The cool rich scent of sandalwood, thick lotion coating his hair. Rhion's fingers, working the scented soap through the heavy mane again and again until it fell like wet silk around his shoulders. He'd never thought of a hair washing as being sexy but damn with Rhion doing it---!

Soapy fingers gently slid down to caress his erection again; he moved into the touch blindly, hissed as Rhion's other hand stroked down his back like a fall of warm satin. Something about that touch made his head spin, his body sing.

He was so close to ecstasy it was ridiculous, all from these simple touches and more importantly the knowledge of who was behind them.

As if reading his mind, Rhion breathed softly into his ear. "To answer your question---yes, I want you! But there's so many ways to touch, De----wanna show you all of them---if you'll let me---?"

He wanted to shout "Yes!" more than he'd ever wanted anything in his life. But he couldn't answer, couldn't go there! And maybe Rhion knew it, because he didn't wait for a reply. Instead he caught De's lips in another of those kisses, only hotter; this time he thrust his tongue in deeply, again and again, almost as if mimicking

a more intimate penetration. His hand was still working De's erection gently but with shameless skill, and Damian was more surprised than he'd ever been in his life when a sudden rush of sensation washed through his body like hot liquid and he nearly fell to his knees from the force of his unexpected climax.

He didn't collapse only because Rhion held him up, almost as if the other boy knew how badly he would react to such a weak showing. Dazed and gasping, he almost pulled away in humiliation before he realized how Rhion was moving, thrusting against him. He stilled in wonder, forgot about his own concerns as he processed the feel of Rhion's urgent movement and how it shuddered to a gasping finish, the wet heat between them unfortunately sluiced away immediately by the now tepid water.

How could such shimmering gentleness end like this, in the most shattering pleasure he'd ever known? He'd expect Rhion to respond to such---silliness, such romantic slop as gently caressing each other while bathing. But how could it affect *him* in such a way?

Rhion hung on him heavily for a moment, his breathing deep and ragged. "Damn!" the older boy remarked, fumbling for the faucet. "I'd say---we're clean. Wouldn't you?" He chuckled richly as De pulled back in a mix of exasperation, amusement and total confusion.

"You're crazy!" he announced somewhat more mildly that he intended. He wanted---damn, he wanted nothing more than to climb right back into Rhion's arms and try that again! It hadn't really been sex as he understood it, it shouldn't have affected him so powerfully, but gawd it'd been good! "And I'm hungry!" He wasn't really, no more than a vampire ever got for normal food, which wasn't much. But it gave him an excuse to leave the room and search for clothes, gather his scattered wits so he could pretend to be unaffected by---by what? By Rhion? Maybe the human wasn't the only crazy one here!

The older boy trailed him, grinning slightly, after picking up his leathers along with a heavy thick towel. "Want me to dry you off, De?"

"No!" he damn near shouted, and Rhion began laughing in earnest. Used the towel carefully on his own damp, discolored body, studying the Dark One with dancing eyes until De wanted to hit him. Or kiss him. Or both!

Flustered, he began the search for suitable clothing, and even more importantly, some kind of weapon. Like hell he'd go unarmed to a demon's dinner party, especially with a wounded human in tow!

He already knew that Rhion wouldn't stay there in bed like someone with sense, not unless De wanted to go to the trouble of tying him down. And honestly attempting such a thing might lead to more trouble than it was truly worth.

After he'd dressed in the only halfway decent thing the wardrobe had to offer he got down to more serious business---scanning the room for a weapon. He needed something that would be effective against demons. Small enough to hide under his clothes but large enough to still do some major damage if it came down to that.

After going through the kitchen cabinets he realized the blasted demons weren't fool enough to leave something convenient lying around. So as he had been trained he started looking through the decadence of the place, breaking down its beauty into 'usable parts' all the while hoping that greed blinded the demons as thoroughly as it did the vampires.

He eyed the thin crystal pane that hung high over the bed, deciding it was the best option available he proceeded to strip the pillows of their cases.

He methodically tucked the cloth into the edge of his pants before spending a few diffult moments scaling the damn satin slick wall. He used the pillowcase to pad the crystal and then his elbow to bust it out.

Then he carefully gathered only the serviceable pieces and tossed them down to the bed where they landed with a soft thud. All the while Rhion simply watched, his expression quite mellow. He hadn't bothered to dress yet, either, was actually humming tunelessly, lost in some private daydream and quite content to let De handle all the practical work. Weird human!

"That green stuff works a little---slows up the healing time. So if you can slit a demon's throat it's effective enough. You got less than ten minutes before they heal and revive, though. It's a momentary timeout at best. " De explained as he used the other case to make two makeshift sheathes.

Then taking the strips of cloth from Rhion he picked out two pieces that suited him and wrapped the handles before inserting the blade portion into the sheath and handing one to Rhion. He tied the other around his calf, careful to make sure it was firmly in place before standing and covering it with his pant leg.

Rhion shrugged and began attaching his own weapon prior to dressing. "Well, since he managed to gather up my blades before sneaking out the door---not that they had a whole lot of effect on the bastard anyway! I'd say this is as good as we're gonna get for now. I'll probably cut my dick off walking down the hall though!"

Too late, he noticed Rhion's lazy grin, his "gotcha!" look. "What's your point, De?" the older boy drawled, carefully pulling on the bottom portion of his leathers with an air of smug satisfaction.