musesandlyrics | 10.7. Sherlock Holmes quote
10.7. “Never theorize before you have data. Invariably, you end up twisting facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.”
Sherlock Holmes
Co-written with kindredmi6
[Follows THIS and THIS]
Logan was lying in the middle of the king-sized bed in the Paris hotel room he was staying at with Aidan for the time being. Their accommodation was always fully-funded, and this was no exception. They never ended up in dives, either, a fact for which Logan was eternally grateful. He wasn't a snob, and his family had grown up modestly, but he had become accustomed to this environment. He liked the creature comforts of the world. He was in nothing but a pair of black CK boxer-briefs, and had a beer can sitting on his chest with his head propped up on enough pillows for him to be able to see the plasma TV at the end of the bed. His stomach was black and blue in the wake of Rory's elbowing getting acquainted with it, to the point it was even sensitive to have a shirt on. Jeans and a belt were definitely a no, no. The side of his face was also bruised, and he had been in a flat sulk for hours now. Resorting the mini-bar was more a self-preservation tactic, and it helped the painkillers work that little bit better, as far as he was concerned.
All the TV shows were in French, though, and it was pissing him off. He knew French, but he didn't want to have to make the effort to watch. It was too much like study or homework. None of the movies on offer were any good, either, and considering it was a big enough production to even go to the bathroom, he had just taken to lying there like a lump and hating on the world in general. This was a Man Sulk. Not too unlike Man Flu, just without the snot and chest infections. It was also a cover for trying to stop and deal with his feelings over the position his brother was in. He was pretty sure if he tried to stop and think about Rory, he would just sit there and cry like an hormonal girl.
Aidan had been leaving Logan to his Man Sulk, not really sure what it was he could do to pull him out of it. Sex was out of the question with Logan's stomach too sore to try any sort of position. It also meant that Aidan was loathe to consider feeding on his lover as well. Logan would need all his strength for healing. So once Aidan had had another unsuccessful attempt at trying to get Logan to at least watch something he was interested in, Aidan had slipped out to feed. He'd found a charming barman down in the hotel bar who had been more than accommodating once his shift was over, and now Aidan was back with one less problem. He had no idea what the barman's near death experience had been, but it must have been a good one. The blood was more than satisfying and he had to stop himself before he entered the bedroom licking his lips and looking like the Cheshire Cat.
He loosened his shirt from his pants and started to undo the buttons as he sat down on a chair nearby the bed and looked at Logan. "I'd say find the porn channel, but even a wank must seem like an impossible feat right now. Bloody pathetic sight you are, love. If only I could kiss it better, hm?"
Logan stuck his lower lip out in a pout aimed at the direction of the TV, even if it was more in response to Aidan's words. He figured Aidan had been out feeding, and he understood the need. He just felt the urge to get bugged by it tonight because he hadn't been able to cater to that. It was another reason for him to sulk and he didn't even reply at first. He picked up his beer from his chest and swallowed down a mouthful of it. "I hate French porn," he decided. "In fact, the only French thing I like right now is fries. Everything else can go to buggery. And if you just had a taste of French, then they can kiss my arse too."
Aidan smirked a little. "No, no French for me. I only like the imported stuff. Some Australian bloke. Didn't really get why he was here, but who cares, huh? Probably had some tangle with a shark before he ran away to work in Paris." Aidan shifted in his seat, and tried to ignore the urge to follow up the feeding with sex. While the two didn't always go hand in hand, he was becoming spoiled by being able to feed on and then fuck Logan. He'd tried his best to keep his dick in his pants with the barman and now he was regretting it just a little. "Want me to start a game of Charades? You can lie there and guess while I act out things for your entertainment. Nothing like a bit of mime in France. I hear they love the shit."
"How's this for a mime?" Logan offered and held his middle finger up, giving the bird to nothing in particular. He knew he was being a right pain in the arse. It was just a hell of a lot easier than trying to get in touch with his inner hurt brother persona. He was trying not to take what happened with Rory personally, but it was impossible. The more he thought about it, the more personal he ended up taking it. He suddenly had a dislike for Australian things too. The burst of uncharacteristic jealousy forced itself up inside him and he glanced at Aidan, trying to figure out how much he enjoyed the feed. If only it was possible to have a bad one, like you could have bad sex. It might placate him a little. "I hope it bit his dick off."
Aidan started to chuckle as he got up after finally getting his shirt undone and left it behind on the chair as he unbuckled his belt and dropped his slacks. He stepped out of them to leave him in nothing, the boxer briefs not even making it into the ensemble he'd put on earlier. He walked up to the side of the bed before climbing onto it and lying down next to Logan. "I didn't shag him. Just so we're clear on that. I also didn't linger longer than I needed to feed. It was strictly a meal run. As horrible as that sounds... There's no point getting pissed about this when you know very well that I would never risk your health just to feed."
"It's just bruising," Logan mumbled, frowning a little now. It wasn't quite as simple as that, though, and he knew it. They were hard enough hits he took to be quite painful and restrict his actions. At the very least, any sex or anything would be painful and probably really unsexy when he just whimpered his way through them. There was also his mental state of mind. Witnessing his brother getting fed on so intensely was fucking with his head. He couldn't deny it. He needed to deal with it, too. It had taken him right back to his own experiences when Aidan had admitted to wanting to Embrace him so he didn't die. Initially, Logan really hadn't taken that confession well at all. It freaked him out, and took time for him to deal with. "Is this Prince bloke and what he did to Rory... is that going to affect you in any way? Like, I dinnae know. Your feelings, your whole hiding thing?"
Aidan scratched at his stomach before he realised what he was doing and tucked his arm up under his head to stop himself. He didn't mean to keep rubbing the bruised are back in Logan's face, but he was also mindful of the psychological hurt. Maybe Logan didn't want to talk about his brother much and Aidan would respect that. For now. He could keep things superficial, keep dancing around the elephant in the room. He had all the time in the world, after all. "The Masquerade? No, it shouldn't. I'm assuming your brother's known about Kindred for a while and the lid's not been blown just yet. Blaise also wouldn't do anything that did jeopardise it. He hasn't gotten this far without knowing what he's doing."
Logan sighed so heavily, he nearly spilt his beer and only just managed to prevent it by making a reflexive grab for the can. Of course, the sudden movement hurt his stomach, and he squeaked and then hissed in response, only to scrunch his face up and lick the small splash of beer from his fingers. "How the fuck am I supposed to know if I can trust him? Trust any of them? What do they want from Rory? Why the fuck is he here? Aye, I get that the lassie is here, but she's connected to the Oh Great Royal One. None of it makes sense and it gives me an eyeball twitch and a strange urge dress up like Braveheart and declare war for my country with my arse."
Aidan chuckled in amusement before he rolled onto his side and looked at Logan. Some of his brown hair was falling out of its ponytail, but he didn't really care. If he couldn't look a little dishevelled with his own lover, the world really was a harsh place. He touched his fingers to Logan's arm where he knew there was no bruising. "Please don't, if only for my sake. Not sure I need you waging war with your arse. I rather like your arse where it is. I also don't have the answers, not yet. The best we can do is just talk to the Prince and try and get them. He might actually be cooperative given your Rory's brother. I've sent a message to the Prince of London asking them about Blaise, seeing if they think he's trustworthy. At least it's a start."
"Cannae you put a fast-track on that or something? Do you get, like, a Kindred boot up the arse if you start being a pest? I didnae even realise it was this intense. I mean, I knew of the hierarchy from what you told me, and how it all went down, but to have it here in my face and have Rory swept up in it, it's fucking intense." Logan reached over to put the can on the nightstand to avoid anymore spillages. "I get enough to know he isnae gonna kill Rory or anything. That's a big no-no. I just get worried there is more to this than meets the eye."
"It's as fast as it'll get to the Prince. They're pretty important, and popular people. Doubt mine's the only message they'll be getting. No boot up the arse but I might not get invited to tea and scones next time. What kind of more?" Aidan asked as he arched an eyebrow questioningly. As much as a Kindred's instincts had been honed over centuries, he'd learnt early on in this partnership that Logan's gut was something to be trusted. "I know it's probably a head fuck right now, but trust me. This heirachy exists for a reason. And if Rory is a part of it, it's for a reason. The Princes don't just get involved in random people's troubles."
Logan shook his head a little. "I dinnae know. Maybe Rory has information on something. He obviously knows about Kindred, which is something I would never have realised unless he told, and of course, he's nay gonna tell me is he? Because of The Masquerade, and the fact I have been ignoring him for years. I just think if he knows that, nevermind the cooincidence that it's a world I'm already involved in, then there has to be other things. How did he find out, for one? Why did he find out when he's a Demon Hunter? I'm nay sure I'm buying it solely revolves aroond fine Kindred pussy. That's nay Rory's style. Then you say this vampire killer chick is involved, too. If she is here with Rory, then Rory must know aboot that, too, aye? And if we can assume that, couldnae we assume that the King and Queen of Fangy Things knows too? If they're in this position where they need to be all-knowing, if she is there, they would know. So, my question is, why is the French Prince allowing a vampire killer in his inner circle? And why the feck is Rory involved? Is the vampire killer the reason my brother nearly got Embrace? Was it some sort of revenge thing for her presence?" He started to rub his head when the circles he was thinking in were verbalised. It always seemed to start to ache when he tried to figure this out.
"Slayer," Aidan murmured as he rolled onto his back again and looked up at the ceiling. He was listening to Logan, but his mind was on what he'd managed to dig up while trawling for information. The thing that bothered him most was the rumours and hints that Rory's best friend, the girl, was maybe Kindred herself. The trouble with Childers was that while they didn't always have the same restraint when it came to feeing, they were the ones that needed to put in the hard yards with keeping the Masquerade up. Unless you knew the Sire, you weren't always aware of them. What Aidan did know was that she'd been linked to a known Toreador, only it had been a year or so ago. "What do you know about Airlie?" he asked Logan quietly.
"Oh come on. Are you seriously gonna argue there is a difference? Last I looked, slay meant kill, so dinnae even..." Logan said with a small frown. It was hard enough to get his head around Rory being caught up in all this. In fact, he went back to staring at the TV, falling quiet. "I thought we covered this, too? She's Rory's best friend, has been since their college days. Only, she graduated, and Rory didnae. She's a musician, that's what she graduated in. She was the back up singer for a rock band last I heard, but I dinnae think she's still doing that. I dinnae know. Like I said, havenae exactly been in Rory's loop of late. I dinnae mind why you're so suspicious of her. You couldnae get a nicer lassie. She's only here 'cause Rory is hurt. She was babysitting Wee Willy back hame before she came here."
Aidan's eyebrow kicked up as he glanced over at his lover. "And you don't think your brother is in the same camp? He is a Hunter. Hunters just came after Slayers. The terminology... In the beginning, how could they not focus on killing. They existed in the stone age. It's only now that things seem to be needing to change. With Kindred they don't need to hunt us. They don't need to kill us. It's the other scum they need to worry about." Aidan scrubbed a hand over his face before he huffed in frustration. "Because I think the reason your Rory knows about Kindred is her. That rock band she was a back up singer for? The leader was Kindred. Toreador. And I just have this feeling that she was Embraced."
Logan shot Aidan a sharp warning glare. He might not be Kindred, but he could have a passionate and fiery temper on him when he wanted to, and his family was one thing that seemed to poke away at it. His loyal Scottish blood ran freely through him, and even if his family was estranged, they were still his flesh and blood. "Dinnae even liken Rory to what she does. I dinnae care about this lassie, alright? I dinnae. And I dinnae even know why you're defending her. How can you be so sure you arenae gonna be a target, huh? Rory hunts only evil, things with a long record of hurting humans. Otherwise, he leaves the supernatual beings alone, because Scotland is riddled with them. Edinburgh is riddled with them. I didnae ever deny what Rory did, and I never liked what he became after he lost his girls. I still dinnae like it. So dinnae be going in all cheerleader for this lassie, because I dinnae like what she does, either. You said yourself they dinnae know aboot The Masquerade, so how are they going to ever know to distinguish from the scum if they do get wind of it?" He pulled back, holding his stomach as he just stared at Aidan, horrified. "You havenae even met her! You cannae just assume links by association like that! You're saying Airlie is the reason Rory got attacked?! You're mental! Who cares if he was Kindred! You're Kindred, do you go aroond Embracing your team mates?"
Aidan held his hand up. "Why are you so quick to assume she doesn't kill just the evil beasties? You didn't even know who, or what she was. You've never heard of them. And for good reason. They work in secret just as much as we do, but obviously the supernatural know of their existence. Assumptions are easy to make, yeah? I'm not doing it to get your back up, and I'm sorry, love. I am. Obviously you know more about how Rory was than I do. I'm just trying to help you out, yeah? Cover the angles." He took Logan's hand and kissed the back of it as he tried to give him one of those smiles that usually turned Logan into jelly. They also usually led to some very heated sex, but Aidan knew that was staying off the menu. "No, no. I'm not saying she's the reason. I'm just saying she might be the reason he knows about Kindred, not just because of the Prince, or the girl. There were just some things said that had me wondering. Only you're right, I don't know her. I don't know anyone involved. Just you."
Logan had to internally stop himself from pulling away and just reflexively yelling at Aidan out of sheer frustration and a need to blame someone... anyone. He was trying to find answers, and seriously, the chick with a killer synonym in her name was going to be his scapegoat. It wasn't like he was going to go out and bitch her out or slap cuffs on her. He just needed to understand better, because none of it made any sense. What he didn't want was his lover seeming to go into bat for someone that could be the very reason Rory was hurt. It was pissing him off, and the smile didn't work this time. He just looked back at the TV with a small frown still on his face. He wasn't going to apologise. It was Aidan who told him about this vampire killer anyway, whether she was selective in it or not. When you were regularly fucking said night creature, you tended to get just a little defensive. "Airlie's a sweetheart. If anyone did that to her, I want to kill them. She wouldnae have chosen to, either. I mind when Rory's daughter was born, Airlie was so exicted aboot a family of her own one day. She wouldnae give that up."
Aidan was watching Logan intently to see if they were about to get into an argument. He wasn't exactly deliberately provoking his lover, but at least this way he would talk about what was going through his head. Aidan had over a century on Logan and he still couldn't wrap his head around the situation Rory was in, not without drawing a few diagonal, or squiggly lines. Ones that Logan clearly wasn't a fan of. "Maybe not, but it's a chance that could have been taken from her. I'm not saying any of this to be a prick, but Rory wasn't just going to stumble on Kindred knowledge and if it wasn't for the brunette, then it had to be for a reason."
"But why so fixated on Airlie? I dinnae get it. How do you know Rory just... I dinnae know... had a really awesome threesome with this brunette and the Prince dude? It could happen. Buchanans have really large cocks and we could rock a threesome," Logan insisted, trying to connect all the dots himself. "I saw Airlie, and I wasnae getting any Kindred mojo off her at all. Nay that I have some sort of superpower to sniff it out like you all do, but she was just Airlie. Same as always. Just more skittish and nervous, mind, but Rory's just had his blood sucked oot of him. That's a one way ticket to skittish and nervous as far as I'm concerned. And seriously, the way Rory was turning on that brunette lassie, there's been shit going on between them. No laddie just bitches a lassie oot on that level if it was a few random fucks. He seriously pounced on her, it was... was like he wasnae even my brother."
"Brujah has a way of warping someone. And I don't know why Airlie other than there's just something not sitting right in my gut and my mind keeps coming back to her. She's someone he'd risk a lot for, right?" Aidan raised his eyebrows as he rolled onto his side again and faced Logan, his fingertips brushing against his hip where there was no bruising. "Does this mean you want to try a threesome when you're more, ah, up for it? So the cock thing runs in the family... Such a lovely trait to have been shared around. Do you think it's wise having Rory go back to the Prince's palace with the brunette under the same roof? Even now that he's Ventrue there's still some truth to what he was feeling when he pounced on her."
Logan growled through a heavy sigh of annoyance and frustration. "She doesnae have anything to do with France, yet here we are in France with my brother sporting nay one, but two Kindred hickies on his throat." He looked down at Aidan, pursing his lips a little. "Oh come on. Like you're going to let anyone touch me in your presence. I dinnae want any threesome I'm involved in turning in a blood bath. Aye, it runs in the family. All three of us are hung. So maybe this all does just boil doon to cock, only Rory hasnae ever had a taste for cock, so I dinnae know. None of it makes sense and I hate it when I cannae find answers. How am I supposed to know, but it isnae like I'm going to be allowed to call the shots, is it? He has a Prince fanging on him, willnae the Great Royal One be just a wee bit territorial?"
Aidan pressed a kiss to Logan's shoulder as he slowly moved closer, still careful not to touch the bruised and tender area of his stomach. "Okay, okay. Forget Airlie. I'll drop that side of things. I was just... curious. And you're right. I really wouldn't let anyone touch you. Unless of course it was something you really did have interest in. No blood bath, promise. Just perhaps a few warning glares. The Great Royal One will be protective of Rory while he's under his influence. That much I do know. He might also have a point in his compound being the safest place for Rory right now, but that doesn't mean we should trust him. I think maybe I should try and talk to him."
Logan wasn't convinced. No way would a threesome be fun like they used to be. He knew how possessive Kindred got. He had seen Aidan nearly tear a guy's head off once for brushing suggestively up against Logan in a bar. Only thing was, turned out the bloke was another Kindred, so it was always going to get messy, considering the claim. "Warning glares during a fuck. Fun..." he commented sarcastically. He wet his lips, feeling restless but at a loss of actually being able to move around too much. He had always been a wriggler and fidgeter when he was stressed out. "He would have to let you near first to talk to him. Make sure you put on your sweetest smile and puppy dog eyes."
Aidan indulged in giving Logan his sweetest smile and puppy dog eyes as he looked up at him. "Like this? The kind of look that might make you forgive me for being a possessive prick on occasion? You just focus on getting better. I need that body healed so we can at least do something fun in this city. I knew there was a reason I stayed away from fucking France. Nothing but trouble."
Logan pulled his lips to the side. "I used to love it. All... French and shit. Excellent night life, and all that bollocks. Now I just dinnae even know what to think. How can I like a place that hurt my brother? Even if I know I have no right to be a prick aboot all this because I'm the biggest prick of them all. Even Austin kept in touch with Rory, and he's off jumping oot of planes in Afghanistan. I feel like I've misjudged this whole thing, misjudged everything. I dinnae like feeling like this, it's doing my fecking head in."
Aidan frowned when he realised this was one thing he couldn't exactly help Logan with. He could talk to Blaise, find out what he could, but what guarantees were there that the Prince would let Logan near him? That Rory would even want Logan near him. And then he thought about the fact that Rory might not even let Aidan anywhere near him, warning off the Kindred despite his apparent tolerance for them. "I know, love... I know. Mine's going out in sympathy."
Word Count | 4,355
Sherlock Holmes
Co-written with kindredmi6
[Follows THIS and THIS]
Logan was lying in the middle of the king-sized bed in the Paris hotel room he was staying at with Aidan for the time being. Their accommodation was always fully-funded, and this was no exception. They never ended up in dives, either, a fact for which Logan was eternally grateful. He wasn't a snob, and his family had grown up modestly, but he had become accustomed to this environment. He liked the creature comforts of the world. He was in nothing but a pair of black CK boxer-briefs, and had a beer can sitting on his chest with his head propped up on enough pillows for him to be able to see the plasma TV at the end of the bed. His stomach was black and blue in the wake of Rory's elbowing getting acquainted with it, to the point it was even sensitive to have a shirt on. Jeans and a belt were definitely a no, no. The side of his face was also bruised, and he had been in a flat sulk for hours now. Resorting the mini-bar was more a self-preservation tactic, and it helped the painkillers work that little bit better, as far as he was concerned.
All the TV shows were in French, though, and it was pissing him off. He knew French, but he didn't want to have to make the effort to watch. It was too much like study or homework. None of the movies on offer were any good, either, and considering it was a big enough production to even go to the bathroom, he had just taken to lying there like a lump and hating on the world in general. This was a Man Sulk. Not too unlike Man Flu, just without the snot and chest infections. It was also a cover for trying to stop and deal with his feelings over the position his brother was in. He was pretty sure if he tried to stop and think about Rory, he would just sit there and cry like an hormonal girl.
Aidan had been leaving Logan to his Man Sulk, not really sure what it was he could do to pull him out of it. Sex was out of the question with Logan's stomach too sore to try any sort of position. It also meant that Aidan was loathe to consider feeding on his lover as well. Logan would need all his strength for healing. So once Aidan had had another unsuccessful attempt at trying to get Logan to at least watch something he was interested in, Aidan had slipped out to feed. He'd found a charming barman down in the hotel bar who had been more than accommodating once his shift was over, and now Aidan was back with one less problem. He had no idea what the barman's near death experience had been, but it must have been a good one. The blood was more than satisfying and he had to stop himself before he entered the bedroom licking his lips and looking like the Cheshire Cat.
He loosened his shirt from his pants and started to undo the buttons as he sat down on a chair nearby the bed and looked at Logan. "I'd say find the porn channel, but even a wank must seem like an impossible feat right now. Bloody pathetic sight you are, love. If only I could kiss it better, hm?"
Logan stuck his lower lip out in a pout aimed at the direction of the TV, even if it was more in response to Aidan's words. He figured Aidan had been out feeding, and he understood the need. He just felt the urge to get bugged by it tonight because he hadn't been able to cater to that. It was another reason for him to sulk and he didn't even reply at first. He picked up his beer from his chest and swallowed down a mouthful of it. "I hate French porn," he decided. "In fact, the only French thing I like right now is fries. Everything else can go to buggery. And if you just had a taste of French, then they can kiss my arse too."
Aidan smirked a little. "No, no French for me. I only like the imported stuff. Some Australian bloke. Didn't really get why he was here, but who cares, huh? Probably had some tangle with a shark before he ran away to work in Paris." Aidan shifted in his seat, and tried to ignore the urge to follow up the feeding with sex. While the two didn't always go hand in hand, he was becoming spoiled by being able to feed on and then fuck Logan. He'd tried his best to keep his dick in his pants with the barman and now he was regretting it just a little. "Want me to start a game of Charades? You can lie there and guess while I act out things for your entertainment. Nothing like a bit of mime in France. I hear they love the shit."
"How's this for a mime?" Logan offered and held his middle finger up, giving the bird to nothing in particular. He knew he was being a right pain in the arse. It was just a hell of a lot easier than trying to get in touch with his inner hurt brother persona. He was trying not to take what happened with Rory personally, but it was impossible. The more he thought about it, the more personal he ended up taking it. He suddenly had a dislike for Australian things too. The burst of uncharacteristic jealousy forced itself up inside him and he glanced at Aidan, trying to figure out how much he enjoyed the feed. If only it was possible to have a bad one, like you could have bad sex. It might placate him a little. "I hope it bit his dick off."
Aidan started to chuckle as he got up after finally getting his shirt undone and left it behind on the chair as he unbuckled his belt and dropped his slacks. He stepped out of them to leave him in nothing, the boxer briefs not even making it into the ensemble he'd put on earlier. He walked up to the side of the bed before climbing onto it and lying down next to Logan. "I didn't shag him. Just so we're clear on that. I also didn't linger longer than I needed to feed. It was strictly a meal run. As horrible as that sounds... There's no point getting pissed about this when you know very well that I would never risk your health just to feed."
"It's just bruising," Logan mumbled, frowning a little now. It wasn't quite as simple as that, though, and he knew it. They were hard enough hits he took to be quite painful and restrict his actions. At the very least, any sex or anything would be painful and probably really unsexy when he just whimpered his way through them. There was also his mental state of mind. Witnessing his brother getting fed on so intensely was fucking with his head. He couldn't deny it. He needed to deal with it, too. It had taken him right back to his own experiences when Aidan had admitted to wanting to Embrace him so he didn't die. Initially, Logan really hadn't taken that confession well at all. It freaked him out, and took time for him to deal with. "Is this Prince bloke and what he did to Rory... is that going to affect you in any way? Like, I dinnae know. Your feelings, your whole hiding thing?"
Aidan scratched at his stomach before he realised what he was doing and tucked his arm up under his head to stop himself. He didn't mean to keep rubbing the bruised are back in Logan's face, but he was also mindful of the psychological hurt. Maybe Logan didn't want to talk about his brother much and Aidan would respect that. For now. He could keep things superficial, keep dancing around the elephant in the room. He had all the time in the world, after all. "The Masquerade? No, it shouldn't. I'm assuming your brother's known about Kindred for a while and the lid's not been blown just yet. Blaise also wouldn't do anything that did jeopardise it. He hasn't gotten this far without knowing what he's doing."
Logan sighed so heavily, he nearly spilt his beer and only just managed to prevent it by making a reflexive grab for the can. Of course, the sudden movement hurt his stomach, and he squeaked and then hissed in response, only to scrunch his face up and lick the small splash of beer from his fingers. "How the fuck am I supposed to know if I can trust him? Trust any of them? What do they want from Rory? Why the fuck is he here? Aye, I get that the lassie is here, but she's connected to the Oh Great Royal One. None of it makes sense and it gives me an eyeball twitch and a strange urge dress up like Braveheart and declare war for my country with my arse."
Aidan chuckled in amusement before he rolled onto his side and looked at Logan. Some of his brown hair was falling out of its ponytail, but he didn't really care. If he couldn't look a little dishevelled with his own lover, the world really was a harsh place. He touched his fingers to Logan's arm where he knew there was no bruising. "Please don't, if only for my sake. Not sure I need you waging war with your arse. I rather like your arse where it is. I also don't have the answers, not yet. The best we can do is just talk to the Prince and try and get them. He might actually be cooperative given your Rory's brother. I've sent a message to the Prince of London asking them about Blaise, seeing if they think he's trustworthy. At least it's a start."
"Cannae you put a fast-track on that or something? Do you get, like, a Kindred boot up the arse if you start being a pest? I didnae even realise it was this intense. I mean, I knew of the hierarchy from what you told me, and how it all went down, but to have it here in my face and have Rory swept up in it, it's fucking intense." Logan reached over to put the can on the nightstand to avoid anymore spillages. "I get enough to know he isnae gonna kill Rory or anything. That's a big no-no. I just get worried there is more to this than meets the eye."
"It's as fast as it'll get to the Prince. They're pretty important, and popular people. Doubt mine's the only message they'll be getting. No boot up the arse but I might not get invited to tea and scones next time. What kind of more?" Aidan asked as he arched an eyebrow questioningly. As much as a Kindred's instincts had been honed over centuries, he'd learnt early on in this partnership that Logan's gut was something to be trusted. "I know it's probably a head fuck right now, but trust me. This heirachy exists for a reason. And if Rory is a part of it, it's for a reason. The Princes don't just get involved in random people's troubles."
Logan shook his head a little. "I dinnae know. Maybe Rory has information on something. He obviously knows about Kindred, which is something I would never have realised unless he told, and of course, he's nay gonna tell me is he? Because of The Masquerade, and the fact I have been ignoring him for years. I just think if he knows that, nevermind the cooincidence that it's a world I'm already involved in, then there has to be other things. How did he find out, for one? Why did he find out when he's a Demon Hunter? I'm nay sure I'm buying it solely revolves aroond fine Kindred pussy. That's nay Rory's style. Then you say this vampire killer chick is involved, too. If she is here with Rory, then Rory must know aboot that, too, aye? And if we can assume that, couldnae we assume that the King and Queen of Fangy Things knows too? If they're in this position where they need to be all-knowing, if she is there, they would know. So, my question is, why is the French Prince allowing a vampire killer in his inner circle? And why the feck is Rory involved? Is the vampire killer the reason my brother nearly got Embrace? Was it some sort of revenge thing for her presence?" He started to rub his head when the circles he was thinking in were verbalised. It always seemed to start to ache when he tried to figure this out.
"Slayer," Aidan murmured as he rolled onto his back again and looked up at the ceiling. He was listening to Logan, but his mind was on what he'd managed to dig up while trawling for information. The thing that bothered him most was the rumours and hints that Rory's best friend, the girl, was maybe Kindred herself. The trouble with Childers was that while they didn't always have the same restraint when it came to feeing, they were the ones that needed to put in the hard yards with keeping the Masquerade up. Unless you knew the Sire, you weren't always aware of them. What Aidan did know was that she'd been linked to a known Toreador, only it had been a year or so ago. "What do you know about Airlie?" he asked Logan quietly.
"Oh come on. Are you seriously gonna argue there is a difference? Last I looked, slay meant kill, so dinnae even..." Logan said with a small frown. It was hard enough to get his head around Rory being caught up in all this. In fact, he went back to staring at the TV, falling quiet. "I thought we covered this, too? She's Rory's best friend, has been since their college days. Only, she graduated, and Rory didnae. She's a musician, that's what she graduated in. She was the back up singer for a rock band last I heard, but I dinnae think she's still doing that. I dinnae know. Like I said, havenae exactly been in Rory's loop of late. I dinnae mind why you're so suspicious of her. You couldnae get a nicer lassie. She's only here 'cause Rory is hurt. She was babysitting Wee Willy back hame before she came here."
Aidan's eyebrow kicked up as he glanced over at his lover. "And you don't think your brother is in the same camp? He is a Hunter. Hunters just came after Slayers. The terminology... In the beginning, how could they not focus on killing. They existed in the stone age. It's only now that things seem to be needing to change. With Kindred they don't need to hunt us. They don't need to kill us. It's the other scum they need to worry about." Aidan scrubbed a hand over his face before he huffed in frustration. "Because I think the reason your Rory knows about Kindred is her. That rock band she was a back up singer for? The leader was Kindred. Toreador. And I just have this feeling that she was Embraced."
Logan shot Aidan a sharp warning glare. He might not be Kindred, but he could have a passionate and fiery temper on him when he wanted to, and his family was one thing that seemed to poke away at it. His loyal Scottish blood ran freely through him, and even if his family was estranged, they were still his flesh and blood. "Dinnae even liken Rory to what she does. I dinnae care about this lassie, alright? I dinnae. And I dinnae even know why you're defending her. How can you be so sure you arenae gonna be a target, huh? Rory hunts only evil, things with a long record of hurting humans. Otherwise, he leaves the supernatual beings alone, because Scotland is riddled with them. Edinburgh is riddled with them. I didnae ever deny what Rory did, and I never liked what he became after he lost his girls. I still dinnae like it. So dinnae be going in all cheerleader for this lassie, because I dinnae like what she does, either. You said yourself they dinnae know aboot The Masquerade, so how are they going to ever know to distinguish from the scum if they do get wind of it?" He pulled back, holding his stomach as he just stared at Aidan, horrified. "You havenae even met her! You cannae just assume links by association like that! You're saying Airlie is the reason Rory got attacked?! You're mental! Who cares if he was Kindred! You're Kindred, do you go aroond Embracing your team mates?"
Aidan held his hand up. "Why are you so quick to assume she doesn't kill just the evil beasties? You didn't even know who, or what she was. You've never heard of them. And for good reason. They work in secret just as much as we do, but obviously the supernatural know of their existence. Assumptions are easy to make, yeah? I'm not doing it to get your back up, and I'm sorry, love. I am. Obviously you know more about how Rory was than I do. I'm just trying to help you out, yeah? Cover the angles." He took Logan's hand and kissed the back of it as he tried to give him one of those smiles that usually turned Logan into jelly. They also usually led to some very heated sex, but Aidan knew that was staying off the menu. "No, no. I'm not saying she's the reason. I'm just saying she might be the reason he knows about Kindred, not just because of the Prince, or the girl. There were just some things said that had me wondering. Only you're right, I don't know her. I don't know anyone involved. Just you."
Logan had to internally stop himself from pulling away and just reflexively yelling at Aidan out of sheer frustration and a need to blame someone... anyone. He was trying to find answers, and seriously, the chick with a killer synonym in her name was going to be his scapegoat. It wasn't like he was going to go out and bitch her out or slap cuffs on her. He just needed to understand better, because none of it made any sense. What he didn't want was his lover seeming to go into bat for someone that could be the very reason Rory was hurt. It was pissing him off, and the smile didn't work this time. He just looked back at the TV with a small frown still on his face. He wasn't going to apologise. It was Aidan who told him about this vampire killer anyway, whether she was selective in it or not. When you were regularly fucking said night creature, you tended to get just a little defensive. "Airlie's a sweetheart. If anyone did that to her, I want to kill them. She wouldnae have chosen to, either. I mind when Rory's daughter was born, Airlie was so exicted aboot a family of her own one day. She wouldnae give that up."
Aidan was watching Logan intently to see if they were about to get into an argument. He wasn't exactly deliberately provoking his lover, but at least this way he would talk about what was going through his head. Aidan had over a century on Logan and he still couldn't wrap his head around the situation Rory was in, not without drawing a few diagonal, or squiggly lines. Ones that Logan clearly wasn't a fan of. "Maybe not, but it's a chance that could have been taken from her. I'm not saying any of this to be a prick, but Rory wasn't just going to stumble on Kindred knowledge and if it wasn't for the brunette, then it had to be for a reason."
"But why so fixated on Airlie? I dinnae get it. How do you know Rory just... I dinnae know... had a really awesome threesome with this brunette and the Prince dude? It could happen. Buchanans have really large cocks and we could rock a threesome," Logan insisted, trying to connect all the dots himself. "I saw Airlie, and I wasnae getting any Kindred mojo off her at all. Nay that I have some sort of superpower to sniff it out like you all do, but she was just Airlie. Same as always. Just more skittish and nervous, mind, but Rory's just had his blood sucked oot of him. That's a one way ticket to skittish and nervous as far as I'm concerned. And seriously, the way Rory was turning on that brunette lassie, there's been shit going on between them. No laddie just bitches a lassie oot on that level if it was a few random fucks. He seriously pounced on her, it was... was like he wasnae even my brother."
"Brujah has a way of warping someone. And I don't know why Airlie other than there's just something not sitting right in my gut and my mind keeps coming back to her. She's someone he'd risk a lot for, right?" Aidan raised his eyebrows as he rolled onto his side again and faced Logan, his fingertips brushing against his hip where there was no bruising. "Does this mean you want to try a threesome when you're more, ah, up for it? So the cock thing runs in the family... Such a lovely trait to have been shared around. Do you think it's wise having Rory go back to the Prince's palace with the brunette under the same roof? Even now that he's Ventrue there's still some truth to what he was feeling when he pounced on her."
Logan growled through a heavy sigh of annoyance and frustration. "She doesnae have anything to do with France, yet here we are in France with my brother sporting nay one, but two Kindred hickies on his throat." He looked down at Aidan, pursing his lips a little. "Oh come on. Like you're going to let anyone touch me in your presence. I dinnae want any threesome I'm involved in turning in a blood bath. Aye, it runs in the family. All three of us are hung. So maybe this all does just boil doon to cock, only Rory hasnae ever had a taste for cock, so I dinnae know. None of it makes sense and I hate it when I cannae find answers. How am I supposed to know, but it isnae like I'm going to be allowed to call the shots, is it? He has a Prince fanging on him, willnae the Great Royal One be just a wee bit territorial?"
Aidan pressed a kiss to Logan's shoulder as he slowly moved closer, still careful not to touch the bruised and tender area of his stomach. "Okay, okay. Forget Airlie. I'll drop that side of things. I was just... curious. And you're right. I really wouldn't let anyone touch you. Unless of course it was something you really did have interest in. No blood bath, promise. Just perhaps a few warning glares. The Great Royal One will be protective of Rory while he's under his influence. That much I do know. He might also have a point in his compound being the safest place for Rory right now, but that doesn't mean we should trust him. I think maybe I should try and talk to him."
Logan wasn't convinced. No way would a threesome be fun like they used to be. He knew how possessive Kindred got. He had seen Aidan nearly tear a guy's head off once for brushing suggestively up against Logan in a bar. Only thing was, turned out the bloke was another Kindred, so it was always going to get messy, considering the claim. "Warning glares during a fuck. Fun..." he commented sarcastically. He wet his lips, feeling restless but at a loss of actually being able to move around too much. He had always been a wriggler and fidgeter when he was stressed out. "He would have to let you near first to talk to him. Make sure you put on your sweetest smile and puppy dog eyes."
Aidan indulged in giving Logan his sweetest smile and puppy dog eyes as he looked up at him. "Like this? The kind of look that might make you forgive me for being a possessive prick on occasion? You just focus on getting better. I need that body healed so we can at least do something fun in this city. I knew there was a reason I stayed away from fucking France. Nothing but trouble."
Logan pulled his lips to the side. "I used to love it. All... French and shit. Excellent night life, and all that bollocks. Now I just dinnae even know what to think. How can I like a place that hurt my brother? Even if I know I have no right to be a prick aboot all this because I'm the biggest prick of them all. Even Austin kept in touch with Rory, and he's off jumping oot of planes in Afghanistan. I feel like I've misjudged this whole thing, misjudged everything. I dinnae like feeling like this, it's doing my fecking head in."
Aidan frowned when he realised this was one thing he couldn't exactly help Logan with. He could talk to Blaise, find out what he could, but what guarantees were there that the Prince would let Logan near him? That Rory would even want Logan near him. And then he thought about the fact that Rory might not even let Aidan anywhere near him, warning off the Kindred despite his apparent tolerance for them. "I know, love... I know. Mine's going out in sympathy."
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