Finding a Mate
Part 1
I came up with this idea during a dream. I was more than three-quarters asleep when this idea just popped into my head and seemed to almost write itself. I used to watch Highlander in the 90s until they killed off Richie Ryan. I stopped, watching after that but that doesn't mean I don't still love the older episodes. I came up with an idea of a race of immortals that are secret just like in Highlander, but there my idea varies from the show, although there are some similarities. I hope you enjoy, what I have written here and I would love to hear from you and while I don't mind criticism I do not appreciate being told never to write again by someone that just can't appreciate a story no matter how good or bad they thought it to be. The email I got was so offensive I stopped writing for a long time but finally decided that what one person thought didn't matter. If anyone needs reminding, this is fantasy, fanfiction, in other words, it is up to the imagination of the author. I welcome your reviews and hope I get many of them.
SpencerandHotchlover
"Have we found our third mate at last?" a man known as Aaron asked the other man who was known as Dave quietly.
"We shall see," Dave said, his voice calm, not letting his partner of over eight hundred years know of the million butterflies he seemed to have developed in his belly. He also made sure to keep his body language relaxed, so Aaron would not know how nervous he really was.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, Aaron knew him to well, because they had met and been together for centuries after all. This was soon proved when Aaron shot him a knowing look, but said nothing.
The two of them walked calmly across the college campus of Florida International University that was located in Miami. They had been tracking their target for sometime now, but Spencer Reid had moved from his home city of Las Vegas Nevada to go to college and both Aaron and Dave had figured that he would return after that. They had waited patiently to receive word back from their agents that the man they knew was their final mate had returned. It had never happened and so they'd had to follow a very cold trail. The two of them admitted to each other that they had miscalculated, as they had thought that Spencer was sure to return to his hometown after his education was completed, as after all most college students did. They had since learned that his childhood hadn't exactly been happy, as it had been one with a father who basically ignored his son and a very ill mother. Both Dave and Aaron were furious at the father for leaving his only son to his own devices and to take care of his mentally ill mother while he went to school. However, that could be dealt with at a later date, but now it was more important that they introduce themselves to their third mate, whom they had been waiting 800 years to meet.
The two of them had always known that they would not be complete without the third person that was supposed to be a part of their relationship, as had been predicted by a very powerful seer.
Dave was the oldest of them, by a considerable amount and he had started looking for his two mates traveling the world when he was about 100. He had finally discovered Aaron living in the Netherlands out in the country and he already had a family of his own. He wasn't happy though, that was plain to Dave from the first, so he had prepared a ruse so he could introduce himself to Aaron.
Aaron had been immediately attracted, Dave had seen, as he was good at reading body language, but then he'd had hundreds of years practice at it. However, Aaron had been determined to stay with his family as he had a lot of small children and it was them that he had wanted to stay for and not for his wife. He was afraid that his children would be mistreated if he wasn't there as his wife was a shrew, which was just an old fashioned word for stone cold bitch.
Dave could definitely sympathize, so he had arranged with Aaron's permission an accident for the wife, one that would never be traced back to him or Aaron. Aaron seemed relieved to be rid of her, though he worried for his children.
The two of them together had watched over the children for awhile to make sure they were taken care of and they had been taken in by a relative of his wife's and they were treated well and that was enough to satisfy his mate.
Dave knew that Aaron would miss his children, but the attraction between them was so strong that their connection was undeniable and his mate was an intelligent man, far more intelligent than most people of his time, so he knew that he would never be happy without Dave by his side.
Once the wife was out of the way and his children were settled if grief-stricken to lose both their parents, Aaron had consented eagerly to complete the bond that they shared.
The first time that Dave had slid into his mate and released his seed had been earthshattering and it had only gotten better since. Once Dave had released to seed into his mate's body the bond between him and Aaron began to form right there the only way to complete the rest of the bond was for the two of them to keep having sex at least once a day for two years.
Aaron of course, had been understandably nervous as he had never made love to another man before, but Dave had encouraged him, so that he got over his nervousness quickly.
Once that was done Dave told Aaron that they had another mate and once they found their third both of them would finally be complete.
Aaron had struggled with the concept of having two different lovers at the same time, because it just wasn't done, but then neither was having sex with another man. Aaron had come to accept it over time though and was now eagerly anticipating finding their third and final partner.
Dave led the way to the administrative office and Aaron didn't comment, because he knew exactly what his partner was doing.
"Can I help you gentlemen?" asked the secretary who looked both men up and down subtly and thought that she would love to take a big juicy bite out of both of them, as they were two of the most handsome men she had ever laid eyes on. Both Dave and Aaron just oozed sexuality and also power just from the way they moved.
"Yes, we need to speak to Dr. Spencer Reid," Dave said with a smile that went straight to the secretary's core and gave her an extremely hormonal reaction and she knew that handsome man was aware of it to.
Aaron mentally shook his head in amusement, as he watched this knowing that Dave could charm the birds out of trees or even a predator that was about to eat him or at least attack him. Aaron had since learned it was just part of being Immortal, or at least extremely confident in your own abilities to get out of almost any situation, that kind of cocky assuredness.
Not much could really hurt them. Oh, they could be injured easily enough just like any mortal, but it healed quickly, even broken bones. Of course, there were also ways to kill them permanently dead, but only if you knew what you were doing.
Aaron had become Immortal by agreeing to have sex with Dave that first time or at least that had started the process and the same thing would happen to their third partner, but only if he consented. Dave was big on free will and had told Aaron on numerous occasions that their third mate Spencer Reid would have to consent to be with them both on his own.
That didn't mean that they couldn't wine, dine and romance him though if necessary, Aaron knew. Aaron also knew that Dave was very anxious that their third partner would reject them out of hand and not even give them a chance to do any of the things they wanted to do to convince him to join them like take him out to dinner. To tell the truth he was kind of anxious himself because he knew very well that their third partner might very well be completely straight or at least believe he was. If they were told to go away and not come back Aaron knew that Dave would obey, but he'd be unhappy about it and so would he.
"He's in class right now. Would you gentlemen, care to make an appointment," The secretary asked.
"That will be just fine," Dave said with a charming smile for what they had to say was for Spencer's ears alone with no witnesses.
"He has a slot at 1 o'clock," the secretary said checking Dr. Reid's schedule.
"That sounds just fine, if you could just pencil us in," Dave said.
"Can I ask the nature of your business?" the secretary asked.
"Let's just say we have a business proposition," Dave said refusing to divulge the nature of the business.
"Will you need directions to his office?" The secretary asked knowing she wasn't going to get anymore out of either man when it came to the nature of their business where it concerned the professor. It was not any of her business anyway, even if she tended to be rather protective of that particular man, as he just seemed to need it
"That would be appreciated," Aaron said speaking for the first time with a charming grin of his own that again metaphorically turned the secretary into a puddle of goo.
Both these men have such lovely sensual voices I could just listen to them all day, the secretary thought. And the fact that both of them were extremely handsome doesn't hurt either.
The secretary gave the two men directions and they nodded.
"Thank you very much for your assistance," Dave said with a smile.
"You're quite welcome," The secretary said. "I certainly hope that your business with Dr. Reid is successful."
"So do we," Aaron commented, as he and Dave walked casually out of the office, with the directions written down and in Aaron's pocket
The secretary washed them leave longingly, knowing that she was nowhere in those two men's league.
~~~Dave, Aaron, Spencer~~~
"Well, you certainly charmed the socks off her," Aaron said in amusement once they were relatively alone out in front of the school.
"Too easy," Dave said casually waving away his mate's compliment. "Now let's only hope it's as easy when we talk to Dr. Spencer Reid."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Aaron said thoughtfully, with his eyes focused in the distance, as he gazed at all the students walking to their classes. "I know it's very possible that our third mate will reject us out of hand and I too am hoping that doesn't happen. We might very well have to romance him, make him fall in love with us. For me the choice was easy, but that might not be true for him."
"Yeah, I remember when I finally found you," Dave said snorting amusement. "You were unhappy in your marriage, because your wife was a bitch, though I'm aware that wasn't a term that was used so long ago. It wasn't your wife's death that you objected to, but you wanted to make sure your children were taken care of which I could understand."
"Yeah, those were the days," Aaron said reminiscently. "I had always had urges I didn't understand, probably because having sex with another man was absolutely taboo, so it never even occurred to me that I might be interested in my own-sex. I married Marilyn at my parents urgings, mostly my father's and I was unhappy almost from the first. I remember actually hoping that she died in childbirth, as unworthy as that is of me, but she never did."
"Personally, I don't consider it so after all she put you through," Dave snorted. "I was watching you for some time as you know and I know how unhappy you were. I just knew that I wouldn't have any trouble convincing you to be mine and that soon proved true."
"Well, you solved that problem quite handily," Aaron said with deep affection in his tone.
"It was easy to arrange a little accident for her," Dave said causally, not against murdering someone who deserved it and Marilyn Aaron's wife certainly had. "Of course, back then there was minimal technology, which meant no security cameras or people with phones that could take a picture. Nowadays, if I had to kill someone for whatever reason I'd have to be very careful about it, since there're cameras everywhere."
"I think you meant to say we have to be very careful about it," Aaron corrected. "You know I always back you one hundred percent and if you do have to kill someone that threatens our family then I would help you."
"I stand corrected," Dave smiled already knowing that Aaron would back him 100%, as mostly they agreed on actions to be taken depending on the situation.
"Yes, you do. Both of us were born in a very violent time even if you're considerably older. I had been wanting to kill Marilyn for years, as she really was a stone cold bitch, as you're well aware of. I didn't though, because I would have been the first suspect, but you made sure I had an alibi. It was much easier to get away with murder back then, just by making it look like an accident," Aaron said with casual amusement. He didn't miss his former wife Marilyn at all, as she really had been a first-class shrew, but he had to admit he did miss his children, even though they were long dead, but it was likely they had many descendents. "I'm only glad that she wasn't pregnant at the time because we did have 14 children after all, which meant that she was extremely fertile for a woman of her time and we had only been married about 17 years. As much as I detested Marilyn I adored my offspring."
"Believe me, I'm well aware of how much you hated her guts," Dave said, chuckling in amusement.
"Oh, I didn't just hate her guts I hated the very atoms that made up her guts," Aaron said cheerfully. "However, I was the chief's son and therefore, I had to obey my father if I didn't want to risk being disowned and thrown out of my home. Other men had been thrown out due to less serious offenses then refusing to marry someone that they didn't particularly care for. I wasn't going to take the risk, because I had plenty of other brothers that would have been happy to take my spot as chief when my father died."
"That happened anyway," Dave said and Aaron nodded.
"Yes, I know, but at the time I didn't have anything else to live for, except for becoming chief, and since the men back then tended to die so early in their lives compared to today it was very likely I'd be chief in a few years. Hell, very few of them lived to be 50 much less older than that, but unfortunately, my father was one of them, " Aaron said. "Many men died by the time they were 30 or 35 due to poor nutrition, poor health, poor sanitation and so many other things, even if I wasn't aware back then that's what caused so many people to die so young."
"Too true," Dave agreed easily. "Luckily, things have now improved a great deal once the humans finally figured out that sanitation mattered and so did nutrition."
"Also exercise," Aaron said and Dave nodded at that because it was true.
"That doesn't matter so much for us, because we are not going to die due to lack of exercise or poor nutrition, but it certainly does for other people. Still, exercising helps maintain our bodies, so we don't become overweight, since we may not be mortal, but we can still gain weight as we do eat."
"Yeah, I know," Aaron said grinning at Dave. "I certainly appreciate that you put in the effort to maintain your body, the one you had when we first met. I certainly wouldn't love you any less if you happened to start to gain weight, but still..."
"I understand what you mean," Dave said gently, as he ran a hand up and down Aaron bare arm, thinking that the short sleeved polo shirt fit his mate like a glove and he certainly appreciated the view. "You do things for those you love so much, more than you will for anybody else, except yourself. I exercise so much not only for you, but for myself as well as that way I can eat what I want without having to worry too much about gaining weight."
"Exercising is a lot easier nowadays though with the modern exercise equipment," Aaron said by way of agreement.
"Yeah, definitely," Dave said. "It was a lot harder to maintain my weight back before things like treadmills and elliptical machines or even free weights existed."
The two of them had exercise equipment, top-of-the-line, at every single house or castle or mansion they owned and of course, it had to be replaced every few years when something new came out, as equipment wore out if used often and the two of them definitely did at whatever house they were living in at the time.
People who knew this, which were very few, might ask about the expense involved and both men would wave that person off without answering or change the subject and most people came to the conclusion that the two men could afford to have top-of-the-line exercise equipment at all their properties, even though such machines were hundreds of dollars apiece, sometimes even more.
Mostly the two of them lived pretty quietly, because for one thing they were basically Immortal, so it wouldn't do to call attention to themselves. The fact that Immortals even existed must remain a deep dark secret, except for those who were also Immortal and a very few trustworthy mortals.
If most normal people found out about the fact that Immortal people actually existed, well, they would be hounded and the governments of the world might try to replicate it, capture some of their kind and do experiments on them. No, it was best if the world never knew that people who lived almost forever even existed. Besides, tens of thousands of mortal deaths would result from the various governments determination to capture one of their kind, because they looked perfectly normal and only the fact that they didn't age past a certain point and healed rapidly from any injury marked them as Immortal.
Aaron for instance had stopped aging when he started having sex on a regular basis with Dave, as Dave's semen carried his powerful genetics, energy and lifeforce, which became a part of Aaron over time. Within a year Aaron's body aging process had slowed considerably and then after two it had stopped completely. If Aaron had decided that he and Dave didn't belong together before those two years were complete, then he still would've aged, albeit at a much slower than normal pace, but he would have eventually died, even if that was 500 years later. Now though Aaron was completely Immortal and had been for 821 years and the connection that had begun to be forged the first time they'd had sex was now as strong and thick as an iron cable, absolutely unbreakable.
"As fun as this trip down memory lane is, it's about time to meet Dr. Reid in his office and we don't want to be late, as that wouldn't make a very good first impression," Dave said rising from the bench he was sitting on.
"No, it wouldn't," Aaron said suddenly serious and also anxious and a little nervous as well something he almost never was.
"I know you're anxious, so am I, as this is very important," Dave said and Aaron looked to see the worry on his face, which was smoothed away a few seconds later. "This meeting is probably the most important that we will ever undertake. From all we can find out about him, through our agents and a little judicious hacking Spencer Reid is very logical and scientific. I doubt very much he believes in things, such as Immortals, because it sounds straight out of a fantasy novel. I'm not claiming he won't feel an attraction to both of us, because of course he will, just like you did when I finally located you."
"But for all we know he's perfectly happy in his job as a professor of physics," Aaron said understanding Dave's fears. "He might even have a steady girlfriend or a boyfriend that he won't want to give up. Hell, he might even be on the verge of proposing or feels his significant other is."
"If he is truly happy with his life we will not interfere," Dave commanded. "It will be a dark day indeed if we lose our third mate, but we can't force him, because he'll only be unhappy if we did, connection or not. No, he has to go into a relationship with both of us with all the information we can give him and with his eyes open. We have to be completely honest, no keeping things from him because he'll be rightfully furious with us if he discovers we did and that will only make it hard to get him to agree to an equal three way relationship. Alright, he might not agree anyway, since three way relationships aren't exactly the norm, but still I feel very strongly we have to be completely forthright with him."
"Yes, I completely agree," Aaron said calmly nodding. "From all reports he is a genius and it's very likely he can pick up a lie or even a half-truth no matter how subtle."
"Good, I'm glad we agree," Dave said, as he strode towards the building that housed the physic classes and also the professors offices.
"I read the same information you did and likely picked up the same impressions," Aaron reminded Dave unoffended. This high-handed manner of Dave's was quite normal, but usually it was just when he was distracted or anxious. As Dave had said this was a very important meeting, likely the most important they'd ever go to, so they wanted to make a good impression, which meant being on the same page.
"Yeah, you did," Dave said. "Sorry."
"It's alright," Aaron said calmly. "I'm nervous and anxious to and not ashamed to admit it, to you at least. You were right when you said that this meeting is probably the most important one we'll ever have, so we need to make sure we do this right. I know I was against us having a third partner back when you first told me, but now I'm eager as you are."
"I understood your reservations," Dave said quietly placing a gentle hand on Aaron's arm, that was not precisely sexual in nature, but still very intimate. The two of them walked briskly towards the physics building. "When you were born having a threesome much less with two men just wasn't done. In fact, it could have been downright dangerous and gotten you stoned or at least chased out of the village as an undesirable. Being chased out of your home at that point without supplies and only the clothes on your back would likely have been a death sentence in itself, so yes, I definitely understood your reservations. Even today threesomes are not exactly normal, though I know some people go for that sort of thing, but if they do they're considered deviant at best. Most people though just play at that sort of thing and it isn't serious. They do it for the adventure of it."
"Yes, I know," Aaron said in quiet amusement, as Dave wasn't telling him anything that they hadn't already discussed quite extensively before they had even left Bavaria where they were currently living. However, he knew this was a way for Dave to lessen his anxiety at least a little and also repeat vital information to remind both of them what they had discussed.
Both men fell silent as they entered the physics building, as they didn't want their conversation overheard.
~~~Dave, Aaron, Spencer~~~
"It's nice to meet you, I'm Dr. Spencer Reid," Spencer said shaking both men's hands cordially. He didn't let his expression change by a hair, though not without difficulty, but internally he thought that this David Rossi and Aaron Hotchner were two of the most handsome specimens of manhood that he had ever seen. Unfortunately, it was clear from the way they interacted that they were already heavily involved and been together for a long time. He didn't usually go for men with so much hair on their faces, but for some reason he was strongly attracted to the David Rossi, who had a goatee and mustache. Well, at least he didn't have sideburns, Spencer thought in amusement.
Oh well, it was too bad but he should've expected it. Who would want him, as anything but a temporary lover? He was plain and boring after all. This is what he had been told often up until he was ten, by his father who had then left the family, and also by the bullies that had used to beat him up on a regular basis, so was it any wonder he believed it.
Spencer wasn't aware at that time that, the two men now sitting in front of his desk were about to make him an offer he couldn't refuse.
"So what can I do for you gentlemen?" Spencer asked finally after the three of them had studied each other. He tried his best to ignore the attraction he felt for both men, as it was much stronger than he had ever felt for any other man. It was almost as if his libido was literally tearing itself apart, because he felt as if he was being pulled in two different directions. Spencer tried to appear calm, but he had definitely noticed that he was being pulled quite literally in the two men's direction, not physically, but mentally and emotionally and it was nearly a physical force. He kept telling himself that he didn't have a chance with either one of them, because they were obviously heavily involved with each other. This is what caused him to feel as if he was being pulled in two different directions as he refused to give into his libido that was insisting that these two men were attracted to him and that they would be perfect together. Spencer had never even thought about doing a threesome before and even if he had he never would have had the courage to actually ask two men to try such a thing. He had dated very little actually, though he was certainly no virgin, but he usually took care of his own needs.
"What we have to say is going to be hard to believe, nearly impossible actually," Dave began.
"But we request you listen to us without interruption until we are done," Aaron finished.
Well, that was some start, as not only were the two of them being extremely mysterious the two men must've been together for a long time, because they were able to finish each other's sentences Spencer thought in quiet amusement.
"Alright then, why don't you tell me why you requested a meeting?" Spencer said.
Dave and Aaron shared a look and a message seemed to pass between them, one that Spencer couldn't decipher.
"It's like this," Dave began, then went on to tell Spencer a fantastic story about Immortals, mates and bonds, with Aaron adding his own side story in bits and pieces.
"Alright, what you're telling me is impossible," Spencer told the two men, as calmly as possible, though a huge part of him yearned to believe the story. "If this is some kind of practical joke, well, I'm going to find out who thought it up and give them a piece of my mind. Either that or both of you have escaped from the loony bin, because what you told me about Immortals mates and bonds...well...it just isn't possible. There is no possible way that I could be this third mate you were telling me about. No possible way. Besides, Immortals don't exist, as it is scientifically impossible," Spencer repeated shaking his head in denial.
Spencer didn't say so, but he hoped the story was true, because he wanted the two men with a kind of desperate need that he didn't really understand, as his libido had never reacted so strongly to anybody else.
Both Dave and Aaron looked at each other and a message passed between them again.
"We figured you would react that way so why don't you give us a chance to prove it," Aaron suggested calmly.
"What are you suggesting?" Spencer asked with a raised skeptical eyebrow.
"Well, why don't you hand us that letter opener on your desk," Dave suggested having noticed it as soon as he entered Spencer's office, as his observant eyes missed nothing.
Spencer looked at the letter opener which was pretty sharp skeptically, but handed it to Dave anyway already suspecting what he was about to do.
He watched Dave like a hawk, as he took the letter opener from Spencer's hand making sure to brush his fingers over the other man's knuckles. He did this deliberately for he wanted Spencer to feel his touch, in a gesture that was much more intimate than a handshake
Spencer didn't quite gasp, he managed to contain it, but his unreadable expression shifted a little which pleased Dave no end, because it told him that Spencer was affected by his touch.
Aaron watched this with quiet amusement, but no little anxiety, well concealed for he knew what Dave was doing. The goal was to touch Spencer as much as possible, so that he wouldn't be able to deny his attraction to them, subtle a little gestures that were designed to keep Spencer in a state of constant, low grade arousal. Sometime just being physically attracted without the touch wasn't enough, especially for someone like Spencer who had been born in the modern era and wasn't the type to believe in the mystical and the magical. Yes, a lot of people would ask somebody out on a date if they were strongly physically attracted to them, but neither he nor Dave believed that Spencer was that type. No, Spencer was the type that would deny the attraction, especially since he was likely able to tell that he and Dave were involved and had been for years, as it would be obvious to anybody who was the least bit observant.
Spencer watched closely, as Dave cut a wide gash across his palm, not even flinching at the pain it caused and took out his handkerchief to help stem the flow of blood, so that it didn't get on anything.
"Why in hell did you do that? You're going to have to get that seen to," Spencer almost shouted, but then watched in amazement as Dave lifted the handkerchief.
What the...?" Spencer almost shouted before he caught himself and calmed down, as he didn't want anybody coming in here to find out what was going on. "Impossible!"
"So you say, and yet you saw it with your own eyes," Dave said his amusement well hidden, as it wouldn't do too offend the man that he was already beginning to love.
"I must be hallucinating," Spencer figured flatly.
"And what could possibly cause you to hallucinate?" Aaron asked. "You're not taking any drugs that would cause that reaction and you also don't have a high fever, which can also cause you to hallucinate."
"Perhaps, you and Mr. Rossi brought something with you that's caused me to see a cut on his hand that then it healed within a few seconds," Spencer nearly accused them, looking suddenly desperate to believe that explanation.
"There is nothing that could cause you to see a specific illusion not even brainwashing, although I suppose if someone had held you captive for a long time it would be possible," Dave said. "Usually if you hallucinate you hallucinate about things out of your childhood or other things that you've experienced yourself, something I suspect you already know, but your logical brain is trying to come up with an explanation for what you saw."
"Yes, I do know," Spencer admitted, as he stared at Dave's hand, which was still bloody, but there was no wound or even a scar in sight and Dave's handkerchief was soaked in blood and turned a reddish brown as it dried.
"We can give you a further demonstration if you like, but not here," Aaron said gesturing at Spencer's office. "It's too public we need somewhere with more privacy."
Spencer stared at Aaron then switched his gaze to Dave seeming to be seriously thinking about the unspoken message.
His libido was urging him to go for it while he's brain said that what he had seen was not possible. Finally his libido won, for the moment anyway.
"Alright, fine, I have another class in about 10 minutes. If you want to wait around, I'll lead you to my apartment afterwards as that's my last class of the day," Spencer finally decided. "I'll meet you at the front of the school when it is over. Be prepared to prove to me that what you told me is true, because I still think the hand healing was some kind of trick. Just fair warning, I don't give second chances to people who I feel have tried to make a fool of me, as I simply don't have time for a jokesters or pranksters nor the inclination to put up with them."
What he didn't say was that he'd had enough of pranks in high school as those doing the pranking were often cruel to the recipient and unfortunately, he'd been a favorite target. As a professor he tried to discourage bullying, pranking or hazing someone else, but he was not always successful.
"Alright," Dave answered immediately understanding Spencer's point of view very well. Their third and final mate was apparently a pretty serious individual, but then Dave suspected that he had a less serious side that he and Aaron could bring out if given enough time. He also suspected that nobody saw the less serious side very often not unless Spencer felt completely comfortable with the people he was with.
"Alright then, I'm sure you gentlemen can find your way out, because I have a class to teach," Spencer said, watching as the two men rose as one and headed for the door, without a word, but with purpose and determination in their steps.
Spencer watched them go with a very thoughtful look on his face
~~~Dave, Aaron, Spencer~~~
"So how do you want to handle this?" Aaron asked Dave, as the two sat in the shade of a tree on a bench. Dave had washed his hand in the closest bathroom and thrown away his ruined handkerchief. There was now absolutely no sign that he had ever slashed his hand so deeply at all.
"I think we're going to have to do something that he'll believe whether or not he wants to, something that he can't deny. Something that his seemingly logical brain can't come up with an explanation for," Dave said thoughtfully his voice quiet, as he didn't want any of the students or professors to overhear him. "I don't think any little cuts like I did across my palm are going to convince him that he's not hallucinating or imagining things."
"That wasn't a little cut, but still I understand what you mean," Aaron said thoughtfully, his voice also soft. "We're going to have to do something dramatic, something that his brain might have trouble accepting, but it has to be done. As you said we need to do something that his brain can't come up with an explanation for, but that he can't deny on a logical basis alone."
"One of us is going to have to remove our shirt at least and cut ourselves across the chest, as deep as we can go without hitting a bone or anything else important. It will only be a superficial gash to us, one that will heal in less then five minutes, although such an injury would put a normal person in the hospital to get stitches and likely a blood transfusion."
"I suppose I'll volunteer, since you did the demonstration last time," Aaron said. "We need Spencer to believe that both of us are basically Immortal. Yes, we can be killed, but that's extremely difficult at best, so I suppose it's kind of a limited Immortality."
"It doesn't matter," Dave shrugged. "We still basically live forever so long as we don't get caught in an explosion for example and even then it's possible to live through that, although we can lose limbs."
"I seriously hope that never happens to either one of us because they can't be reattached," Aaron said shuddering at the possibility.
"Yes, but so long as they are not completely severed they will heal so long as somebody positions them again properly. Believe me, such an ability does come in very useful, even if an arm or a leg is only hanging by a string or a tendon."
"You've actually seen this occur?" Aaron asked.
"A few times," Dave admitted comfortably. "It's never actually happened to me mind you, but to other people who are like us, ones I've known since I was a boy. It's amazing to watch really, as I saw a healer reposition the leg of a friend of mine. I kind of grew up with him and was with him when he nearly lost his leg in a sword fight. Jeremiah always was rather foolish and hotheaded."
"So you grew up together and you were with him when I'm assuming he was challenged and he accepted," Aaron said and Dave nodded.
"He was a extremely drunk when he did and unfortunately, he's always been more hotheaded and has a shorter temper when he is," Dave sighed, as memories of Jeremiah flowed over him. "Usually he was pretty decent with a sword, but not when he was as drunk as..."
"A skunk," Aaron suggested.
"I suppose so," Dave finally agreed. "In any case, he was impaired in every possible way, mentally physically, emotionally..."
"He was lucky to survive," Aaron said and Dave nodded in complete agreement
"He definitely was," Dave agreed.
"How come I've never met him?" Aaron asked.
"I haven't seen him in probably nine hundred years at least," Dave said. "Believe me, I would've introduced you long before now if it had been possible. For all I know he might very well be dead, for he always was careless with his own life. I think he believed that his Immortality would protect him and me or anyone else trying to warn him that we could still be killed if we weren't careful went in one ear and right out the other."
"He sounds incredibly..." Aaron's voice trailed off.
"I know what you're thinking and no, he wasn't stupid by any stretch of the imagination, but he didn't often use his intelligence," Dave said finishing Aaron's thought easily, not in the least offended. "He was just reckless and careless and passionate, not a good combination for anybody, whether Immortal or mortal, but especially if you never learn to tame those instincts. He never thought about his actions or how they would affect other people and as far as I know he never learned to temper his impulsiveness. I often tried to tell him that we might be harder to kill then mortals, but we could still die, just as they could, but he never listened, not once. In any case, we lost contact a very long time ago as back centuries ago there were no phones or computers or the Internet. Really, there was no way to even send a letter or if you did it was extremely slow and it was only possible if you knew that person's location and they hadn't moved on in the meantime."
Yeah, it is much easier to keep in contact nowadays," Aaron agreed.
"Definitely," Dave said. "We can just pick up the phone wherever we are and talk to somebody on the other end, although I don't like to talk about anything confidential since phones can be tapped, listened in on and the calls traced. I know there's no reason for anybody to listen in on our conversation, but you never know."
"It doesn't hurt to be cautious," Aaron said. "No, nobody has any reason to tap our phones, even if they knew we existed, since we live pretty quietly. On the other hand though, both of us have made enemies over the centuries and who knows what they're up to."
"Yes, that's true," Dave said quietly, as he watched all the students walking hurriedly towards their classes. "Neither one of us set out to make enemies, but some people just take offense easily and can hold a grudge forever, which includes our kind. We're basically human after all just with the added ability to live for centuries. Well, today is not a day for thinking about old grudges, because if my timing is right Spencer should be coming out any minute now."
Just as Dave spoke the words, Spencer came out the front door and looked around for the two of them.
"Well, I see you're still hanging around," Spencer said sounding rather surprised.
"You sound rather surprised at that," Aaron said with a little smile.
Spencer shrugged looking a little embarrassed. "I am actually, as I figured that the two you would be gone by the time I finished with my last class of the day."
Spencer didn't say what he was actually thinking and that he figured that it was a practical joke just as he had suggested to the two men he was now talking with and that once they'd realized they hadn't conned him they would vanish into the wind. He had been rather distracted during his lecture as his mind puzzled over what he was sure he'd seen, though none of the students had seemed to notice thank goodness.
"You still think it was a practical joke then," Dave said.
"If it is it's a rather elaborate one and I definitely don't understand the punchline or the reason behind it," Spencer admitted candidly.
"Why don't you give us a chance to prove that it wasn't a prank, just like we suggested in your office," Dave suggested.
"Alright," Spencer agreed. "I suppose you deserve at least that much consideration, since you didn't disappear the second we separated."
Like that was going to happen, Aaron snorted mentally. The two of them weren't going anywhere until Spencer ordered them out of his life and he had to absolutely mean it for him and Dave to comply. It couldn't just be said in anger, without any real meaning behind the words, because he and Dave would stick around if that happened. Until Spencer calmed down actually, so that the three of them could talk about the subject rationally. On the other hand, he could also see it from Spencer's point of view and couldn't blame him for thinking that he was part of a practical joke.
"Let's head out then," Aaron suggested. "We'll follow you to your apartment, but perhaps, you had better give us the address just in case we get stuck in traffic."
"That's a good idea," Spencer agreed easily and gave the two men his address without arguing.
"We'll meet you there," Dave said.
"Alright," Spencer agreed, heading for his car.
Aaron and Dave watched him go as Spencer walked casually towards the parking lot.
"Well, let's go prove we are what we say," Dave suggested, with a humorous twinkle in his eyes.
"Let's hope that Spencer isn't one that faints at the sight of a lot of blood, as many people do," said Aaron, as the two headed for their own rented vehicle.
"That is a possibility I hadn't considered," Dave said with a thoughtful look on his face. "I suppose we'll see."
Aaron said nothing just walked beside the man that had been his lover, his partner, his equal in every way for over 800 years now. He had hope for the first time that getting Spencer to join the two of them as their lover and equal would not be as hard as it had seemed at first.
~~~Dave, Aaron, Spencer~~~