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Chapter Text

Kai stepped out of the dressing room, tugging the front of his skirt down to cover the pink lacey underwear underneath, stockings clipped to a garter belt disappeared under the frilly trim on the hem of the baby pink dress.

'Stunning,' Irene said, kissing his cheek. 'You're the prettiest girl in this place.' 

'Hardly when I'm stood next to you,' Kai said before kissing her.

'Let's grab a drink from the bar,' Irene led the way, Kai obediently following her, their fingers intertwined. Irene ordered for both of them and paid as they perched on stools and surveyed the room. In one corner there was a woman grinding on her partners lap, blouse pulled open and chemise pulled down to expose her breasts, at another table a man sat beneath it with his head buried in a woman's petticoats, occasionally coming out for gasps of air with slick and shining lips. 

Kai took a sip of the fruity drink that Irene had given him.

'So,' Irene said, leaning her head against his shoulder. 'If you could fuck anyone in here, who would you chose?'

'You.'

'Other than me I mean,' Kai kissed the top of her head.

'Anyone, as long as you were watching me,' Kai said. 

'Watch you moan as someone fucks you,' Irene said. 'See how you gasp for breath covered in your own cum,' She took a sip of her drink and smiled as Kai swallowed thickly. 'You're so pretty when you're covered in cum, and you want to be my pretty girl, don't you?' Kai tugged the front of his dress down to cover his errection a little better. 'Kai, you want to be my pretty girl, don't you?'

'Yes.'

'Tell me properly.'

'I want to be your pretty girl.'

'And how will you be pretty?'

'When... I'm covered in cum.'

'That's right, good girl,' Irene left lipstick on him when she kissed his cheek. 'You're going to look so pretty.' 

They were halfway through their drinks when he walked in. 

Lord Silver. 

Six feet tall and barely dressed. Well, he had trousers on and a shirt but the trousers were so tight that you could see everything and the shirt was entirely unbuttoned, cravat hanging untied around his neck. Irene wasn't totally surprised by the fact that Silver had nipple piercings, they were a nice way to accessorise she supposed. The idea of Kai getting them floated through her mind, but that was a question for later. 

Irene watched Kai's hand tighten on his glass before he relaxed again.

'What would you say,' Irene leant over to murmur into Kai's ear. 'If we took him up to a private room because if anyone here knows how to make my pretty girl feel good, it's going to be him,' She nipped at his ear lobe, he shuddered. 

'If he... is interested, I would not say no,' Kai said slowly and very carefully, not getting his hopes up. He wouldn't be suprised if Silver had no interest at all. Irene kissed his cheek again before jumping off her barstool and heading toward Silver before anyone else could grab his attention. 

'Little Mouse, here alone or...' His eyes wandered around the room before landing on Kai. 'Oh, well, now isn't that an interested development.'

'Say a word outside of here and-'

'I would never break the contract and rules of this place. My own little safe haven in London, home away from home, as it was,' Irene was not suprised that Silver would be a member of one of, if not the, elite sex clubs in this London. 'I didn't see your names on the list of new members. I own a stake here, I get a veto power.'

'We are here on a trial,' Irene said. 'We aren't sure if we plan on joining or just attending on the public days.'

'You dress him like that for a trial? You're brave. I'd be tempted to never let him leave.'

'I'm sure that you can discuss that with him later on,' Irene smiled. 'Care to join us for a drink, and a proposition,' Silver offered her his arm and she took it.

Silver locked the door.

'I don't want anyone else joining us,' He said. 'What's you're safe word?'

'Mercy if I need a break,' Kai stood stiffly at the foot of the bed. 'Red if I need you to stop.' 

'That's reasonable,' Silver nodded. 

'Absolutely not,' Silver said. 'You want to get fucked? Then you're going to have to do a bit more than lie then and take me up your ass. If you want to cum tonight, you put in the effort. Get over here and- no. I didn't say that you could take the heels off. The dress and adorable panties can come off but when I finally bend you over that bed and treat you like the slut that you are, you will still be wearing those high heels. Understood?' Kai nodded. His cock was throbbing as he pulled his panties off and awkwardly removed them without taking the heels off before Irene got up to help him undo the dress before taking her seat again without a word. She was a silent observer, maybe a helping hand at most. 

Kai had had plenty of practise in the heels but he was still somewhat ungainly as he crossed the room. Silver undid his trousers and pushed them down enough to pull his cock out.

'Get on your knees.'

Kai looked up with watering eyes as he struggled to take as much of Silver's cock into his mouth as he could, hitting the back of his throat before he swallowed around him.

'Good girl,' Silver purred, his hand on the back of Kai's head, fingers combed into his hair. 'You have such pretty eyes when you choke on my cock. Almost like you're going to cry. Are you going to cry?' He pulled his cock from Kai's mouth with a popping sound, a sting of saliva connecting him to Kai's pink lips. 

Irene smirked and refilled her wine glass. 

Kai tilted his head back to look at the ceiling as he panted, trying to fill his lungs with the warm air, air that tasted like sweat, cologne and cum. Silver's fingers dug into his hips as he rode Silver's cock like he would die if he ever stopped moving. 

'Look at me,' Silver instructed. 'I want to watch your eyes as you fall apart, unable to cum because of the ring I put on your pretty little cock,' Kai whined. He wanted to cum so badly, Silver fucking him just right that he was sure that if he just took the cock ring off kai would cum straight away.

'Ple- please,' Kai whimpered. 'Let me cum. Please,' He thought he would go insane.

'Not yet. Trust me, it will be worth it,' Silver said. 'You can't cum just yet.' 

'Please.'

'No,' Irene said. 'You don't get to cum until I say so. You don't want to be a bad girl, do you?' 

'I'll be good,' Kai said. 'I'll be your good girl.'

'Good slut,' Silver remarked. 'Look at you bouncing on my cock like a slut, you want to be treated like a whore so badly don't you? You know that this is what you deserve. This is who you truly are,' He pinched Kai's nipples. 'What are you?'

'A slut,' Kai moaned.

'Do you know what I do to sluts?' Silver said. Kai shook his head. 'I fuck them full of cum. Do you want that?' Kai nodded eagerly. 'Then you're going to have to work a bit harder for it.'

'Look how cute your little dick looks,' Silver said. 'Unable to cum, bouncing as I fuck you,' Kai whined. 'I should wrap a bow around it. Make it nice and pretty. Do you want a tiara so you can be a pretty princess?' Kai nodded. 'That's a shame. Little sluts can't be pretty princesses.'  

Kai bit the back of his hand.

'Absolutely not,' Irene said, pulling his hand out of his mouth and grabbing his other hand to hold them above his head. 'I want to hear every sound that you make.' 

She kissed his forehead. 'Every pretty sound that my pretty girl makes.' 

Silver slid his hands down Kai's thighs and pulled them around his waist, Kai's hips jerked desperately as he tried to cum but was unable to do. 

Silver pulled out and cum immediately began to run out of Kai.

'No, that won't do,' Irene murmured and used her fingers to press it back into him as Silver poured himself a drink and took a minute to catch his breath. 'How are you feeling?' She asked, sliding her fingers into him with ease. 

'Full. Amazing.' 

'Do you think you've got a little energy left? I still haven't seen you bent over the bed and fucked like the proper slut you are.' 

'You feel so good,' Silver said, his hand settled on the slight bulge of Kai's normally flat stomach. 'Do you feel how much cum is inside you? Look at you, a slutty cum dump. How does it feel?'

'Amazing,' Kai gasped, drooling slightly. 'Please, please let me cum,' Silver moved his hand to touch Kai's cock, making Kai squirm and whimper. 'Please. Fuck, please.' 

'You're so desperate,' Silver purred. 'A desperate cum slut. But no. No I'm not going to let you cum. That's Irene's choice.' 

'Soon, Kai. You can cum soon.'

Silver and Irene shared a glass of wine as cum dripped out of Kai's ass as he lay face down on the bed trying to catch his breath.

'Was that everything that you wanted?' Silver asked.

'And more,' Irene said, clinking her glass against his. 'Are you still with us, Kai?' Kai raised a thumbs up. 'Excellent. Wine?' He made an unintelligible sound. 'I'll save you a glass.' 

'Are you sure you don't...' Silver trailed off with a smirk.

'Thank you for the offer but maybe some other time,' Irene said. 'I'll take Kai off to find our own room and get him cleaned up.'

'Feel free to stay here,' Silver said, getting up. 'I have two sets of rooms here for situations just like this. Take as long as you need. There's a bath tub in the bathroom, different toiletries if you want to have a good soak.'

'You did so well,' Irene said to Kai, kissing his jaw. 'Think you can take a little more?' He blinked. 'I want you to cum inside of me,' She chuckled as Kai rolled over, reaching for her. 'Let's just take this off...' She pulled the cock ring off Kai's aching dick before moving to straddle him, wet cunt brushing against him. 

'I'm not going to last.'

'I don't want you to.' 

Irene swallowed his moan, kissing him hard as she sunk down until his cock was hilted in side of her. 

'I love you,' She rolled her hips against him. 'Fuck, I love you. You're perfect. God. You're everything I could ever want,' Kai held her hips as tightly as he could with tired arms.

'I love you too,' He said. 'Thank you for tonight. For every night. Love you. Fuck, Irene, please.'

'You can cum,' She said. 'Cum in me, Kai.' 

Kai was asleep. He hadn't managed to stay awake for very long after they'd showered and eaten the food that Silver had sent up for them, Irene coaxing Kai to eat with gentle praises, soft kisses on his forehead and cheeks. 

He'd be sore in the morning, and probably a bit emotional, he always was after an intense scene and that was more than usual. But Irene was prepared for that with chocolate and tissues and words of reassurance that she still loved him, no matter what.

Chapter Text

Vale knew what it was like to watch his own funeral and he wished that he didn't, however he had to watch. He had to know that they were going to be alright. He had to know. 

Irene cried. He wasn't surprised. She didn't even bother trying to hide her emotions, she was silently crying into a black handkerchief, Kai's arm around her shaking shoulders. 

She looked like she hadn't slept since he had died. 

"Died"

He could see dark circles underneath her eyes and livid bruising on her face and neck. Irene had fought harder than he thought she could, pushing herself further and harder, her fingers reaching for him as he fell back from the cliff. 

He could still hear her scream in some of his dreams. 

She leant heavily against Kai. 

Kai looked bad too, tired and bruised. He'd been knocked unconscious at some point. Leaving Irene alone to fight for both of the men that she loved. 

Kai stood up tall with Irene tight to his side. He wasn't crying, occasionally ducking his head to whisper to Irene. 

His clothing lacked the usual flair that Kai preferred. The kind of clothing that would hold up and sigh at before going "it will do". The kind that Kai would buy because it was a necessity for a task that he wasn't keen on, undercover work or when luggage got waylaid. Not from his usual wardrobe. 

Catherine was at Irene's side, her narrow shoulders hunched, her dress was old, not the latest style. Something that she already owned. Something that she would have likely worn at her own parents funerals. She wasn't crying. She was stoney faced, staring at the coffin like she expected something to happen if she so much as blinked. Like she didn't believe that he was gone.

She was holding Irene's hand and he wasn't sure if it was for her own comfort or for Irene's. Irene certainly held her hand tightly enough that he was certain that Irene was terrified that Catherine would be the next person that he lost. 

It hurt to know how much he had hurt them all, but especially Irene, who had lost a few people in the last year, his name would join the list of people that she couldn't save. Another name on her conscious even if it wasn't her fault. One more person to have nightmares about.

He ached with the urge to throw off his disguise, to go to them and hold her and tell her that it wasn't her fault. That he was okay. Vale longed for the nights where Irene had fallen asleep on his chest. Her cheek warm against his skin, he'd learnt the points in her back where she often held tension, learnt how to massage them until she felt relaxed and could fall asleep, then he'd taught it to Kai who insisted on trying the tricks out on Vale's back. 

Vale hadn't slept that well in years. He'd woken up unsure of what day it was, mouth dry from how long he'd slept for, but feeling more well rested than he had in months. It had become routine, after a case they would look after him, Kai would rub his shoulders and back until all of his muscles were nice and loose, Irene would make cups of tea and make sure he ate enough. Catherine would occasionally stop by, her youthful optimism a fond source of comfort and happiness. 

Singh was in his uniform, as well turned out as he always was, his energy turned to what he could control. He was stood so rigidly that Vale was sure that Singh would ache in the evening, the tension in his body palpable from across the cemetery. 

His oldest friend.

Forced to bury an empty coffin because a criminal mastermind had threatened everyone he held dear.

Singh had been there for so long that he didn't know what he would do without him to fall back on when he needed that support, when he needed a friend to call him out on being an ass or when he had over done it and needed to be knocked out for his own good. Someone to talk to who wasnt afraid to tell Vale when he was wrong, and how wrong he was. 

He'd been the one to urge him to tell Irene and Kai his feelings when it had been eating him up inside, had supported him through addiction and relapses when he could have left Vale in whatever gutter he'd found him in, which was probably what he deserved. Singh had given him every chance that he had not deserved, had never given up, even if he did not approve of his taste in romantic partners (their casual disdain for the law did irritate him somewhat) but he still stood by Vale's side, even in his apparent death.

His sister had been the only family member to attend, that hadn't really surprised him, it hadn't even hurt to know that his mother had chosen to not attend. 

She knew, probably. She wasn't stupid. She knew about Moriarty's network. She'll have figured out the threat to them all and why Vale had done what he did. 

She was the only family Vale considered himself to still have, they weren't as close as they were growing up, but they both knew that they only needed to ask and the other would be there for them, no hesitation, no questions. 

He hadn't told her about Switzerland. 

Hadn't asked for help when he made it back to England.

It was safer this way.

It started to rain. 

His sister was the first one to drift off, pausing to speak with the others before she left. 

Singh was next, Catherine left with him, leaving his two closest friends, his partners, stood at the freshly filled grave. 

There were no flowers.

He watched Kai finally start to cry, Irene pulled him close, holding him so tightly that she was wrinkling his coat, neither of them cared about the rain soaking them through as they stood embraced, weeping onto each other. Tears mingling with the rain on their faces.

This was what he was leaving behind. 

The people who had always shown him unconditional affection, who had taught him that love was not a transaction, that there was nothing wrong with him. 

He was leaving behind lazy mornings in bed, Kai making them all tea as the only person who tolerated mornings. He was leaving Irene kissing his cheek as she left for the Library. Dinners by candle light as they listened to his ramblings about cases with rapt attention. 

He was giving up their love.

But if it meant that they would stay safe it would be worth it. 

It has to be worth it. 

They still had each other. They weren't dealing with this grief alone. 

Even if he never came back to them, even if they moved on from this world finding new homes and positions and passions, they would not do it alone.

Chapter Text

Irene yawned and stretched, her spine clicking as she raised her arms above her head before curling up against Kai's chest.
'Morning,' She felt his voice vibrate from his chest, low and sleepy and rough.
'Ugh,' She mumbled. 'Does it have to be?' He kissed her forehead.
'Sadly, it is,' He sat up enough to look over her shoulder at the clock. 'We don't have to be up for at least another hour though.'
'Excellent,' She nestled closer, pulling the sheets up to her jaw. 'Hold me.'
'Yes, ma'am,' He laughed and wrapped her up in a tight embrace, he would he a fool to ignore that instruction.

Slow, lazy mornings were their favourite, days where they could turn the alarm off and pull the blankets up over their heads and just lay there, enjoying each other's embrace, revelling in the comfort that the other person's presence gave them.
Sometimes they'd talk, talk through work stresses and issues and find the solutions, sometimes they'd discuss books (one lazy morning led to an argument that finished with Irene sat on Kai so that he could not get up and leave whilst she lectured him on the finer details of the Sherlock Holmes series.)
Sometimes Irene would lay with her head on Kai's chest, listening to the pounding off his heart, clinging to him like he was going to vanish from her life if she dared to let go.
Those mornings followed sleepless nights and nightmares, when Irene woke up crying, reaching for him, needing him. Feeling alone and scared until he was pulling her close and whispering that it would all be okay to her as she settled on his chest and reminded herself that he was here. He was alive. She was not alone.
And sometimes, on the rare occasion when the house was empty, Irene woke to Kai between her thighs, pulled from her dreams with pleasure.

Catherine hated mornings. They were slow and annoying and often far too cold.
Her eyes felt heavy and gritty after hours spent reading in the dim lamp light before she was too tired to read another page, dropping the book onto her face and startling her awake.
If there was no reason to get up, no work waiting for her, no Irene knocking on her bedroom door and telling her to get up.
Catherine would happily sleep the morning away if she could.
Her ideal mornings didn't start until ten at the absolute earliest. And then they started with a chapter of whatever she had been reading when she'd fallen asleep, perhaps two chapters if she wasn't hungry yet.
Maybe she'd shuffle downstairs for a cup of tea but she was going back to bed with it, making a nest of pillows and blankets to bury herself read, hand sneaking out to pick up the tea cup in between pages.
If she was forced to get up earlier, she'd stumble downstairs and ignore people until she'd eaten toast piled high with jam and a cup of tea. She wasn't ready for conversation until full of sugar.
It was safer for everyone around her to simply appease the sugar addiction.

Vale rarely had a sleep schedule. Mornings for him were whenever he woke up. And there was never the guarantee that he'd wake up in his own bed or even in the same place that he had fallen asleep.
Sometimes he woke up on the embassy couch. Sometimes his own.
Once the floor of a pub and several times in a police cell.
Singh mocked him relentlessly for those times.
If he slept all day and worked all night his "morning" could be anywhere from nine in the evening to three in the morning.
Cases where he'd worked around the clock were the most confusing as he'd sleep once it was all done and wake up two days later, starving hungry and with only a vague idea of what year it was.
The ideal morning however started early with breakfast and coffee, pouring over the morning news or perhaps a new textbook on anything from medicine to zoology without any interruptions until all of the coffee had been drunk, or maybe interruptions from his friends, who would top up the coffee pot and join him.

Silvers best mornings were ones when the lovers from the nights before had already left so that he didn't have to deal with them.

Li Ming was always awake well before Ao Shun, he was a morning person and Ao Shun was not. He would be up at six on the morning every single morning, rolling out of bed before the alarm could go off. His routine was rigidly set.
Ao Shun would be reluctantly waking up when Li Ming returned from the gym and turned the shower on. He'd be conscious enough to locate his slippers and shuffle off to make coffee whilst Li Ming was drying his hair and selecting both of their outfits for the day.
They'd meditate together as the coffee cooled down.
Ao Shun would finish two cups of coffee before finally saying good morning to Li Ming, kissing his forehead and going for his own shower.

Chapter Text

Kai woke with dull morning light creeping through the curtains, the room pleasantly warm, Irene's soft breathing a soothing lullaby. He rolled over to look at Irene, she was still asleep. It was rare that she was the first to wake up.

She was on her back, thin nightdress all tucked up in folds of azure silk, revealing soft, pale thighs. She sighed in her sleep, kissable pink lips parted slightly. He propped himself up on his elbow as he slid his hand up her thigh, smiling to himself when he saw her nipples harden through the thin nightdress. 

'Irene, love?' He asked softly. She didn't stir. 

He cupped her breast, thumb brushing over her nipple through the nightdress. He slipped the strap off her shoulder, gliding his fingers across soft skin, baring her chest to him. 

Irene was still asleep, lips still parted, her breath hitching as Kai touched her. His hand slid down her chest, following the dips of her stomach and down to her thighs.

Kai hummed his approval as his fingers found wetness between Irene's thighs already. He loved it when he found that she was already aroused even in her sleep. He wandered what she was dreaming about on those days. 

Did she think about him? Dreams of him sliding his fingers into her wet cunt like he was doing whilst she slept on, of him sucking on her breasts, teeth on her nipples. 

She moaned softly as he slipped two fingers into her, thumb circling her clit. He watched her eyelids flicker but she didn't wake up. Sometimes she'd wake up at this point but other times she wouldn't even be stirring until Kai was pulling out of her, cum dripping out onto the bed. He was sure it was sometimes an act, pretending to be asleep so that she could open her eyes at the perfect time. 

He pulled his fingers from her and pondered for a moment how he wished for her to wake up, with his tongue inside of her or his cock. Both were pleasurable. 

He decided tongue as there was something special about Irene's eyes fluttering open as her hands blindly found their way into his hair as soon as she was even partially aware of what he was doing, still blinking sleep from her eyes as she caught his. 

He slid down the bed. Pushing her nightdress up over her hips as he pressed her legs apart in order to settle in his favourite place in the world, in between her thighs.  

He bowed his head and ran his tongue over her, savouring her taste with a soft moan before moving to run his tongue over her clit, fingers sliding back into her. Irene shifted, sighing softly.

'Kai?' She sleepily said. 

'Morning love,' He said. Irene moaned again, eyes barely open but fingers finding a place in his hair. 'You like that?' 

'Yeah,' She rolled her head back on her pillow, hips jerking as he curled his fingers. 'Good morning to you too,' She said. 'Been awake oh- awake long?'

She'd woken him once by climbing on top of him and taking advantage of the errection that he'd gained at some point in the early hours. There was no wake up call like feeling her cunt around his cock. 

'No, not really,' He said. 'But I woke up hungry and, darling, you are just good enough to eat,' Before Irene could come up with a quip in response to his horrible pun he dropped his head and wrapped his lips around her clit, sucking on it and cutting any reply off as Irene whined. 

She tightened her fingers in his hair, thighs shaking. Kai hummed, lips against her flesh, fingers sliding in and out of her. 

She choked on his name as she tightened around his fingers. Kai moaned his pleasure as he lapped up the wetness from her cunt before licking his fingers clean as well. 

'Did you sleep well?'

Chapter Text

‘I thought you wanted a virgin sacrifice,’ Irene said, pulling at the bonds on her wrists. ‘Guys, I hate to let you down, but I had sex half an hour before coming here and let me tell you-’

‘Gag her if she says another word,’ A hooded figure said.

Irene hadn't freed herself because she still didn’t know where the copy of the The Malleus Maleficarum was, but that did not mean that she was in the mood to be gagged, or was ever in the mood for gagging, she didn’t even let Kai do that if it wasn’t his birthday. At least they hadn’t gone for the stereotypical, nude woman tied to a stone slab for two reasons, no, three reasons.

One: There was nowhere that she was willing to hide a knife whilst nude.

Two: It was the middle of the night in the middle of the woods in the Black Forest

Three: She hadn't shaved.

Oh and they would see her Library brand and then that would raise questions, though Irene supposed that maybe if they thought that she was another witch then they would be a little less willing to rip her heart out with a knife made out of obsidian (so dramatic) if they thought that they may accidentally anger whatever these people were worshipping, probably some demon or another, or if that she was capable of enacting some form of vengeance upon them.

She opened her mouth to explain that if they checked her back, they would see her marked as a demon's property and instead had a dirty rag shoved into her mouth.

Rude.

She attempted to complain through the rag, but they couldn’t hear her or understand her furious rambling.

This world didn’t have magic, so Irene didn’t know what they were expecting by sacrificing her, demons simply did not exist in this worlds recorded history, it was aggressively neutral on the metaphysical scale without Fae or Dragon influence.

The chanting around her was growing in volume and from underneath robes, the figure stood at her head drew out a knife.

That was Kai’s signal to swing into action, book or not, neither were willing to let her be sacrificed.

Irene shut her eyes and sighed into the gag as there were the sounds of people being punched, kicked and otherwise assaulted around her as her partner swung to her rescue.

‘You look good as a damsel in distress,’ Kai said, tugging the gag out of her mouth. ‘Have you been having fun?’

‘I have no idea where the book is, and there is a rock digging into my spine. Let me up.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

Chapter Text

Catherine's fingers were shaking as she traced the edge of the keyhole. Irene was unconscious on the floor of the cell opposite her, her face a bloodied mess, her clothing torn and just as bloody as her face. 

'Irene,' She hissed. 'Irene. Come on, I need you to wake up. Please, wake up.'  

Irene didn't move. 

Catherine wasn't sure how long they had been in the cells for. It was at least two days but there was no light so she couldn't tell, there was a window, smashed glass and iron bars, but the plants outside were so thick that there was no light making it through the thick canopy of leaves. She was bitterly cold and hungry. They'd dropped meals off three times and on the third time they had dragged Irene from her cell. Catherine had heard screams bouncing down the hallways, unable to do anything but sit there and listen, she hadn't eaten the food and the tray had still held the stale bread and cold, thin soup when it had been taken away again. 

Her stomach growled.

She returned to the metal bench built into the wall and heavily sat down, until Irene was conscious there was nothing more that she could do. She was just a girl. 

Tears stung her eyes. Crying would not help her. She needed to do something. Anything had to be better than sitting and watching Irene, hearing the wheeze of her chest with each breath, broken ribs probably, maybe even some damage to her lungs. She'd attended first aid seminars but they had all been basic. About stabilising someone for long enough to get them to a proper medical professional, not how to treat them yourself.

Catherine wasn't even that good in those classes. She didn't find it particularly interesting, she couldn't even remember half of what she was taught. Pressure on bleeding wounds. No sleeping after a concussion. That was it. 

That wasn't helpful.

Catherine climbed up on the metal bench and looked out of the small window, blocked with metal bars. Even if she could use the Language there was no use trying to climb out of the window, the plants outside was so overgrown that she couldn't see the floor. There could be anything down there, it could be just as dangerous out there as it was inside and that's before she thought of the guards that would be patrolling.

Catherine never envied the dragons before but now, God what she would give to have wings and be able to sore away from this place. 

She could save Irene.

She could be more than just a... 

Her fingers shot to the chain around her neck. 

A gift from Kai for her eighteenth birthday. 

A thin silver chain with an azure blue pendant wrapped in Silver wire. 

She pulled it out from underneath her bodice. They must have either not seen it or decided that it wasn't worth taking from her. 

She turned the stone over in her hand. 

'For when you need me. Even when you have left.' 

The note from Kai had said. He hadn't said anything or acknowledged it. Just given her a small smile when he had noticed her wearing it. She turned it over again and swore as she caught her finger on the end of the silver wire and blood welled up from the tiny tear in her skin. 

She thought of what Irene had told her about prior escapades. An obsidian pendant smeared with blood and thrown to the winds with a name and hope.

She pulled the necklace off and pressed a drop of blood onto the stone. 

'This better work,' She said as if it could hear her. 'Ao Kai!' She screamed as loudly as she could as she threw the necklace. Watching as it vanished with a flash of silver and blue. 

What if it wasn't for her to use, but to give to Irene? What if she needed to be a Librarian and use the Language?

Catherine sat down heavily.

Irene was still unconscious but her breathing did sound a little easier. 

Now all she could do was wait.

And waiting was agony. With nothing to ease her mind, to distract her, Catherine could only let anxiety rule her mind. Thoughts spiraled out of control. What if Irene died. What if no one came. What if this was her fault. Oh god was it her fault? Was Irene going to die because of her? No one was coming. Kai wasn't coming. They were alone. She was alone. They were going to die there, alone in squalid little cells. 

They had tortured Irene, was she next? What would they do to her? Would she be strong enough to survive it? 

What would they do to her?

Will it hurt to die? 

She fought exhaustion, forcing her eyes to stay open, focusing on Irene's breathing, watching the guards as they came down to check on them. She'd never be able to overpower one, but maybe if she cried and pouted they'd pity her. Maybe someone here had enough of a heart to help her. 

Catherine fought exhaustion through another meal, picking at stale bread and forcing herself to eat for the strength, appetite having long since abandoned her. 

Eventually, however, Catherine had to shut her eyes. Maybe when she woke she'd find this was all just a terrible nightmare and she could laugh about it with Irene and Kai over breakfast. 

Maybe she'd wake up and they'd have been saved.

Or maybe Catherine would wake up to crashing stones and a thunderous roar that made the world tremble in the silence after it. 

Irene was awake as well, trying and failing to stand. Her mouth dripped blood and her face was streaked with tears, hair a tangled and matted mess. 

'Irene,' Catherine scrambled up. 'Oh god. Okay. I don't know what is going on but-' She screamed as the wall behind her cracked and dust began to fall. 

'Doors unlock,' Irene's voice was horse from screaming but the cell doors swung open. Catherine scurried out of her cell as the wall collapsed entirely, Irene collapsed back onto the dusty floor, her whole body trembling.

'Irene, we have to go,' Catherine said, trying to drag Irene up. 'This may be our way out.' 

Irene's breathing rattled in her chest as she struggled to lift her head. 'Please. I can't carry you. I'm not strong enough and if you dare suggest leaving you behind I'll... I'll-' 

'Catherine!' She turned around as light flashed making her eyes burn before she saw Kai stood in the ruins of her cell as she blinked white spots out of her eyes. 

'They've hurt Irene,' Catherine said. 'We need to get her out of here.'

'Do you know the way out?' Catherine nodded. She'd made sure to pay attention when they were being forced into their cells. 'Good. Lead the way, I've got Irene.'

Kai scooped Irene up. She whimpered in pain, tears welling in her eyes as she curled against Kai. He kissed the top of her head and murmured soothing things to her as they left the cell.

Irene was sleeping. 

Catherine and Kai were not.

'It's okay, Cat,' Kai said. 'You can sleep. You're safe.' 

'I-' She scrubbed at burning eyes with the cuff of an oversized cardigan that Kai had given her to wear. She wasn't sure who's it was. 'I can't do this. Kai. I was so scared. Librarians aren't supposed to be scared.'

'Yes they are,' Kai said. 'Come here,' She shook her head. 'Catherine, it's okay to be scared. It's okay to be upset and worried but you did the right thing.'

'I did nothing.'

'You asked for help,' Kai said. 'Sometimes that is the only thing you can do, sometimes it is the best thing that you can chose to do,' He held his arms out to her and this time Catherine accepted the embrace, letting him hold her tightly. Kai could feel her shaking as she cried, her tears wetting his shirt. He stroked her hair and held her until she finally fell silent. 

'I'm sorry,' Catherine whispered, voice hoarse from crying. 'I've let everyone down.'

'No, no you haven't, Cat,' Kai said firmly. 'You were in a horrible situation and none of it is your fault. You did not let anyone down. And even if you had done, you're still my little girl okay? You're still very much cared for and loved and Irene would tell you the very same thing if she were awake right now, okay? You're our girl, Catherine. We don't care what happens or what you do. You're our girl.' 

'I can't lose her.'

'You haven't,' Kai said. 'Library or not, you'd stay with us for as long as you wanted to. You're our girl. Just as you are. Just Catherine. You. Anything else is extra. You are what matters. What means something to us.'

'He's right,' Irene croaked. 'Mm. Can someone turn down the lights? Curtains or...whatever,' She shut her eyes again. 'Yes. What Kai said, and other sentimental... shit.' 

'Irene!' Catherine had to stop herself from flinging herself onto Irene's bed. Kai however hurried to her side, leaning over her and taking Irene's face in his hands, long fingers stroking over bruises as he kissed her. 

Normally Catherine could mock such visible displays of affection but she had to admit that it was nice how it love her parents were.

'Get over here,' Irene said, reaching a hand out to here. 'Come on.'

And it was nice to sit on the edge of the bed and have them hold her. 

Chapter Text

Irene rubbed her hands together, breath coming out in a small cloud. Waiting in the shadows of the old college buildings, snow turned to sludge on the road as she waited. At least it wasn't still snowing, she would be furious if she had to siltand around and wait whilst it was snowing. 

The dragon that they were meeting with had only wanted to negotiate with Kai, which was fair enough however it would have been nice if they'd told them this ahead of time as Irene would have stayed at home where she had books and blankets. 

'Irene!' Kai came skidding around the corner. She jumped as he bolted toward her. Without breaking his stride, he grabbed her hand and started to drag her along behind him as he ran.

'What happened?' She asked but this question was answered by the clatter of people running around the corner behind them, shouting at them to stop.

'I'll explain later but I don't think he'll sign the treaty.' 

'Why are we running?'

'Outnumbered. I'm reckless not suicidal.'

It was just like old times, Irene thought, the only difference was that neither was clutching a book that they'd just stolen. She almost laughed. She had missed this.

Irene was not built for politicking. She was meant to feel the wind in her hair, feel the pounding of her heart and run. Run for her life.

Kai's hand was warm in hers. 

She knew he could run faster but he was keeping pace with her, not letting go, tightening his hand.

They burst through the doors to a library, startling people from their silence. Normally Irene hated making noise in a library. But there was a need as they picked a random corridor and ran down it. 

'There,' Irene picked the first closed door she found.

The pair toppled into The Library, Kai kicking the door shut.

Irene laughed. 

'I've missed this,' Kai said, sitting up. 'We don't run for out lives as much as we used to.'

'What a strange thing to miss. But you being there is what makes it so good. I don't miss running for our lives. I miss running with you.'

Chapter Text

The first place they had sex where they weren't supposed to was in a bathroom in Silver's house, sliding out when the champagne hit and stumbling into the first room that they found. Irene's dress had far too many layers for it to be a quicker or easy fuck. But Kai sat her on the counter and pulled her underwear to the side, his trousers already open, cock hard and ready. 

The second time was also fueled by drunken fumbling, they had stopped by at Vale's only to find him about to leave, he'd told them to wait and he'd return within the hour and there was nothing better to do. Kai hadn't even been particularly surprised when Irene had crawled onto his lap. Irene had sat and chatted with Vale as she felt Kai's cum drip out of her.

It was only the third time that they both realised that maybe, just maybe, that there was something about the fact that they shouldn't be doing what they were doing where they were doing it, that just really got them both going. 
When Kai leant over and whispered to he'd very much like to fuck her in the first supply cupboard that they found in the library that they were perusing Irene was wet in a second, biting her lip and already thinking of him pushing her up against the shelves and fucking her hard and fast before anyone questioned where they may have wandered off to. 
She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the women's toilet and locked the 
door behind them. Kai nearly ripped her skirt in his haste. 

Going down on Kai whilst he sat in his father's throne had taken more planning the usual opportunistic fucks but it was certainly more exhilarating. It was so open and anyone walking by would see what they were doing. 

They should not have had sex in Melusines little lair but they were bored of waiting for her and there was a sofa. She nearly caught them, if it hadn't been Kai hearing the squeak of her wheels they would have been caught. Irene nearly tripped as she climbed off him and tugged her skirt back down as Kai tucked himself back into his trousers and willed his errection away. Melusine probably knew. The room smelt of sex and their clothes were now creased when they weren't before. 

Irene's favourite place wasn't any room particular special to anyone or any place where they were even likely to get caught, though they were likely to be seen.
It was a hotel balcony.
Outside where anyone can see but they'd been driven back inside by torrential rain, leaving them the only two outside. 
Kai chased beads of rain down her throat with the tip of his tongue as Irene, wearing just one of his shirts, clinging to her skin as they were soaked through from the rain.
'I love you,' Irene panted against his lips. 'Kai. I love you,' He gripped her hip with one hand and uses the other to cup her jaw, kissing her softly.
'I love you too,' He said, his hips grinding against hers at odds with the softness that he had spoken and kissed her. 'Do you want to go inside?'
Irene thought of the soft bed and being pressed down into it as they made love. 
'No,' She said. 'Let's stay out here. Let's show the world how we love each other.'