by Kit Fortier
Fox opened his eyes, and Ben had removed his graduation robe and draped it over the naked figure on the floor.
"Dad?" Ben said.
Fox scrambled to his knees and went to the man's other side. His eyes were open, the same silvery blue that Fox fell in love with. Ben took his hand, Fox took the other.
"What… what happened?"
A surge of relief washed over Fox at hearing Jake's voice.
"You stopped him, Dad. He's gone."
Terrible long moments passed before the man spoke again.
"It worked?"
Fox roared with laughter, bringing the man to his feet and hugging him.
"It worked, you son of a bitch--it worked!" Fox smiled bright--but recognition wasn't there.
"I'm sorry, I know I'm supposed to know you," he said. Fox took a shaky breath, containing his sad shock.
"It's okay," Fox said with a soft smile. "Do you know who you are?"
After a few, witheringly long breaths, he spoke. "Leighton," He said.
"Good," Fox nodded, "That's good." It wasn't the name Fox wanted to hear, but it was his name.
"That's… That's not right either," the man said. Ben stood and put a hand on the naked man's shoulder.
"Do you know who I am?" Ben asked.
"You're Ben, right?"
Ben nodded.
"Ben, Ben, Benjamin Hunter-Hughes…" The man said.
"Yes! That's right!"
"You-you're my son?" He asked.
"Yes! Yes, Dad-I'm your son!" Ben cried. He scooped up his graduation robe and put it over his father. A good fit, considering Ben's height.
"My name," the man began. "My name is Leighton, Jacob, Hughes," he spoke slowly, as if trying to place the words. Fox nodded, but hope was fading fast that he'd remember someone who wasn't his flesh and blood. He turned to go-somewhere. Anywhere.
"Teddy bear," the man said.
Fox lit up, spinning back around. "Yes," he replied. "You've been called that."
"Papa bear," the man added. Fox nodded vigorously.
"Daddy bear," the man said. Fox blushed.
"You've been called that on occasion," Fox said furtively. Ben raised an eyebrow.
What came next floored Fox.
"Foxy."
Fox inhaled deeply.
"My name will be Leighton, Jacob, Foster, Hughes."
Fox leapt into his man's arms. "Jake!"
"I'm… I'm alive?" Jake asked.
"Yes! Yes, you big dumb bear," Fox said through his tears. "You're alive!"
Ben cried. Jake turned around and let Fox down gently, striding over to his son.
"Ben, my big Ben," he said softly, holding the boy close and shushing him. Upon mention of Big Ben, the boy let out a watery laugh.
"I don't even let Mr. and Mrs. S call me that, Dad."
Jake pulled back, concern on his face. "That's not okay then?"
"No Dad. From you, it's definitely okay."
Jake pulled his son in again, and the two held each other for some time.
29. Aftermath
*** Jake
Jake listened as Fox explained what happened. How Jake overloaded the wizard with an overabundant amount of spark. How Ben managed to see that Jake's spark hadn't disappeared. How Fox used all three sources of light, of raw energy, blood, to reconstruct Jake. Had it not been for Ben, Fox would never have thought to see what was right under his nose. Also, had it not been for both Fox and Ben giving a part of themselves, Jake might never have come back.
He listened with a sense of pride in his men. His son had a sensible head, and his Fox had incredible instinct to spare. Instinct drove his resurrection, as it were. Instinct, and love.
The Samuelses were waiting. They were worried.
"Took you long enough," Taylor said with a smile. He hugged Ben as they crossed into the foyer.
"We thought you two took our boy to eat without us," Sarah called from the kitchen. "Don't know why you would-we're makin' dinner here!"
Jake, Fox, and Ben shared a look of relief. The Samuelses hadn't suffered anxiety or fear that would definitely have come from the encounter at the end of the graduation ceremony. Sully's glamour served as a blessing in disguise.
"Did you get your diploma, Leigh?" Taylor asked, eyeing the robe draped over Jake.
Sarah peeked around the corner from the kitchen, and upon seeing Jake rolled her eyes. "Fox, did you and Jake get frisky in the school bathroom or somethin'? It looks like he ain't got any clothes on under that."
Ben blushed furiously.
"We'll tell you later over dinner," Jake said. "It's gonna take some explaining." A rush of relief swept over him-the Samuelses hadn't remembered a thing.
"Well, okay. We're gonna have steak for dinner in a few hours, sound good?"
Ben barked a watery laugh. "Sure, Mrs. S. Lemme help you."
While Sarah complained about Ben fussing over her, Jake pulled Taylor close to where he and Fox stood.
"We're going to go with Ben when he starts up in San Diego," Jake said.
"That's great, man! I'm glad you're going with him. Sarah and I were thinking about setting up shop with him. But if it's okay with you guys, we can take a little more time before we move down there, too."
Jake hugged Taylor close. "Thanks buddy."
Taylor patted Jake's back. "Anytime. You know, Ben's not gonna have to be there in San Diego for another month yet. Remember, we're gonna take him on a road trip and see everything we can from here to the Grand Canyon. You wanna come along?"
Jake and Fox shared a look.
"Actually, that'd be great," Jake said.
"Yeah, I've been meaning to get a long drive in," Fox said, discreetly pinching Jake's butt. Jake stifled a cry and shot Fox a filthy look.
"Am I missing something here, boys?" Taylor asked with a grin.
"Yep," Jake replied, maddeningly unhelpful. "Don't want to get you in trouble with the missus," Jake said with a wink.
"Man, being married sucks," Taylor whined.
"What was that, hon?" Sarah said from around the corner.
"You heard me, woman!" Taylor shot back.
"Fine. I guess you don't want me to do that thing I do with my fingers when we--" Sarah was cut off by Taylor, who dashed around the corner.
"I said I love you, sweetheart," Taylor said, laying it on thick.
"Mm-hm."
Jake and Fox walked into the kitchen, inadvertently breaking up a little scene.
"Oh, I'm so sorry for interrupting--" Fox said.
"Honey please. We may have raised his boy, but it don't mean we didn't get it on every now and then," Sarah smirked.
"Yeah, sometimes we used my music roo--" Taylor was interrupted with a pinch to his side.
Jake groaned. "That's your, your sex-having room? The room where you--" Jake pointed at the two, "have sex?"
Taylor blushed and grinned. "You make it sound like some sort of weird dungeon thing, big guy. Have to admit soundproofing is helpful," he said. "Don't worry," Taylor spoke-whispered, "I took the cameras out last year."
"Cameras?" Jake bellowed.
Fox laughed. It was Jake's turn to blush. Taylor gave his old friend a smirk.
"Well that's great now, I'm gonna go take off this graduation thing and put on some clothes," Jake said loudly. He tried to drown out his embarrassment from having sex in the same room as his friends did, apparently.
"You go on ahead, then," Sarah said just as loudly.
"Hey Jake--there's a dildo in the--" was all Taylor could get out when Sarah kicked him in the calf. "What? They'll get more use out of it than I will!"
"I thought you got that for me?" Sarah snarled.
Jake took Fox by the hand and left just as the two got started.
"I learned it's best to leave the room when they're having at it," Jake said, closing the door behind them.
"Think it'll be that way with us?" Fox smirked as he kicked off his boots.
"That depends on what we do t
o make up," Jake said softly.
Fox said nothing as he stripped off his clothes.
"Baby," Jake began. Fox lifted up one finger to stop him before he laid down on the bed. Fox patted it, inviting Jake in.
Jake unzipped the graduation gown and folded it neatly. He stashed it on a shelf before laying down on the bed with Fox at his side.
Fox lay on top of him, as he had the night before, breathing him in.
"Fox," Jake tried again, when Fox put a hand on his mouth.
"We made a promise, Jake. Back at Devils Tower. Nod if you remember."
Jake nodded. Dread rolled like a boulder into his stomach.
"You broke it," Fox whispered. He moved his hand away from Jake's mouth. Fox trained his eyes on Jake's lips.
Jake screwed his eyes shut. Tears squeezed out, rolling into his temple and disappearing into his hairline. His breath hitched as he opened his eyes, and then opened his mouth to speak.
"I know you want to say you're sorry, Jake. I know. But if we talk now, we may fight, and I might say something we'll both regret. So, please, big guy, please? Right now, I just want to lay with you. I want to hold you, here, now. Can we do that?"
"Okay, babe. Okay." Jake was on the verge of a complete breakdown. "I love you, Fox."
It was a moment, but a long moment before Fox said,
"I love you too, papa bear."
*** Fox
Fox alternated between shedding tears into Jake's pelt and tugging gently at it. He could tell Jake was aching to talk, but held back, clearly waiting until Fox came to him.
His man had been scrubbed out of existence then willed back into it. After what happened today, unless Fox robbed other people of their sparks to do it, what would happen then if Jake...
He didn't know. He didn't want to know. He would never allow himself to fall into that position. He'd throw himself in front of a bus if it meant saving Jake, and for Jake to do that for him…
He thought about his reaction. How he destroyed almost everything within a hundred foot radius of him. Yes, he reconstituted what he could, but the fact remained, he could be a bomb that no one or no thing would survive.
Thank goodness it was only things damaged, not people.
Fox rubbed his face against his man's chest. The scent of him hadn't changed, which comforted him. His heart beat strong as ever, which soothed him. And he still loved him, God, Jake still loved him.
But his anger continued to burn.
"Fox, sweetheart, you're gonna rip my chest hair out," Jake winced.
"Oh, shit--sorry, big guy," Fox said, releasing his grip. He soothed where he pulled with soft touches and was rewarded with a relaxed sigh.
Fox couldn't prolong the inevitable much longer.
"Papa bear," Fox started.
"What do you need, baby?"
"I know you want to talk. I know I do too. But I don't want to fight, and I know we will."
Jake frowned.
"So, let's try something else," Fox said, sliding up Jake's body, putting his face near his. "Instead of telling each other, show me. Show me that you're sorry. That you love me. And for the next however long we need it to be, let's not say a word, alright?"
Jake's eyes went glassy. True to Fox's request, he said nothing. He kissed Fox, drinking him in as a dying man in a desert drank water. They worried on lips, slid tongue against tongue. They tasted each other until their lips were swollen and red. Jake scooted himself down, leaving Fox where he was. He faced down on the bed, holding himself up as Jake shifted towards the foot of the bed. As Jake moved, he kissed every part of Fox, pressing him close with his hands. He kissed at the point where his collarbones met. The cleft of his chest. His stomach. The button of his navel. His treasure trail. The base of his groin. Then, at last, back around to each cheek of his buttocks.
Jake's worshipful tongue flicked against his back door. His mouth pleaded for entrance to the manna that was inside. Fox moaned as Jake kissed, licked, gently nibbled the puckered skin. Fox took a sharp breath when he was at last breached. A shockwave of sensation had Fox seeing stars one wave after another.
Fox was in tears, but he wasn't sobbing. He was lost in the apology. Then came the full bore of Jake's apology as he pushed into him. Fox moaned with pleasure as Jake pressed all the way to the hilt. After all this time, Jake inside him felt like home.
Fox could hear Jake's words with every thrust--I love you I'm sorry Please forgive me I love you always.
Fox in turn would say you hurt me I need you don't leave me ever I love you don't stop.
Jake caressed his ear with his nose, touches from his lips. His man's sweat sealed the space between them as he poured his apology into him one deep, slow, full thrust at a time. His apology filled Fox, the sensation he craved. He was tight around Jake, and Jake's flesh gave him a sense of fullness, of completion.
But this whole time, Jake hadn't sped up. Hadn't demanded. He kept his pace constant, purposeful, and it steadily pushed Fox to the edge. He put Fox first, as he always had.
Jake flipped him over. His eyes welled up as he continued his forward progression towards Fox's release. Fox held out a hand, and Jake's fingers intertwined with it. Jake held Fox's legs close, opting not to do any of the other things that drove Fox crazy.
Fox knew why. This wasn't about lust. It was about love.
Fox's heart burst. The dam burst. Release spilled out of him smoothly, thick, coating his midsection with his essence. Jake took his essence and lathered Fox's hardness with it. He began pressing against Fox with his own back door.
The warmth surrounding Fox was mind-numbing. It was campfires and starlight and the scent of soil and pine. It was home again. Being inside Jake. Just as he brought Fox to release by being in him, he worked himself up bringing Fox to the edge inside him. Fox knew he wanted it just as much as he gave.
And again, Fox submitted to the warm grip of release as he filled Jake too.
Fox sat up and pushed Jake back, his feet on the pillows, his head at the foot of the bed. He straddled his man, and kissed Jake on each cheek, on the chin. Fox pressed his head back and closed his eyes. This was for Jake to feel.
He moved down to the thick pelt he loved and nuzzled it. Fox took deep inhales of Jake's scent as he moved down the middle of him. He kissed Jake's inner thighs, then took both legs in his.
Unlike Jake's soothing touches, Fox held anger in his heart. It was poisoning him. So Fox ran his hardness home so hard that Jake cried out without a word, sobbing for a moment as Fox stayed in place.
Fox knew it hurt. And now Jake knew it too.
But Fox eased back, thrusting deeply, completely. He aimed for that part of Jake that demanded attention. He knew he found it when Jake gasped, clutching the blankets. Fox would withdraw completely, then shove all the way through to the base. He repeated the process until Jake ran his fingers through Fox's hair. He gripped it and pulled his man in for a desperate kiss. Fox gave him what he begged for. Fox swallowed Jake's groan, and release poured out of the big guy gently. Fox continued to ride Jake until he began to soften.
When that happened, Fox pulled out of his lover, and slid up his body, slathering Jake's essence between them. He used his full body to rub against the bigger man, their lengths hardened at the sensations between them. Fox pulled Jake up as he lay back, pulling Jake on top of him for the finale.
They kissed. They slid. They were desperate to feel, to taste. Fox could feel it in his heart, relished in the weight of him, the reality of him. He would never lose him again. Their movements became more frantic. Sweat and seed and hunger and want saturated the skin between them. Jake threw his head back and screamed through his teeth as his climax poured between them. Fox followed with his own climax not long after.
There was more desperate kissing, which slowed to languid kissing. Jake enjoying Fox, and Fox holding Jake.
The both of them sat and stared for a while as the sweat cooled from their bodies. Jake straddled Fox, his eyes searching Fo
x's for an answer he didn't know the question to. All the while, through these past moments, Jake's tears never abated. Fox pulled the bear of a man near and buried his face in Jake's chest.
Jake shuddered. He spilled over with unspoken words. Please forgive me. I'm sorry. I love you. Please forgive me.
Fox kissed Jake's chest and looked up at him.
"I forgive you, baby."
Jake burst into racking sobs and just held Fox close. Eventually he stilled, and the two found sleep.
They stayed that way until morning.
Copyright
A Touch of Lightning: A Beyond the Pale Novel copyright © 2019 by Kindle Direct Publishing. First edition October 2019. Book Cover Art by St. Jinx (@st.jinx.art). All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any format, print or electronic, without permission in writing from the copyright holders. For further information, please email [email protected].
About the Author
Kit has been a writer practically all his life. Traveling across the northern hemisphere will do that to anyone! When he's not writing, Kit can be found acting on stage, directing in front of the stage, rehearsing off-stage, or coaching acting both on and off stage. He's a veteran, a part-time educator, and a doting cat-dad, living in Southern California.