After All These Years

Chapter 1: Longing

Drake and Dave were babbling to each other, nothing could be really understood; about ring, clearing his mind, and something about relaxing and processes… when Horvath entered the room. He seemed annoyed so his voice was thundering as he asked Drake to shut up and guard the door. Dave stared at him, nervously; actually terrified, and stuttered about Horvath's mere presence in the room. "Youuuu…." Was all he could produce before a lame attempt of escaping; Horvath took none of it and using his cane dragged Dave back and against a wall.

"Hello Dave."

"Hi." He looked at Dave up and down and then neared him, standing a breath away from the boy, who was shaking and swallowing hard. "You look just like him." He sighed softly before lifting his cane dangerously close. "Where is the Grimhold?"

"I look just like who?" And the cane was pushed against Dave's cheek making the apprentice press against the wall and close his eyes in fear. "I don't know where the Grimhold is…"

"He hasn't told you? About who is in the Grimhold?" Horvath gave Dave a soft pitiful stare. "Tut, tut; Sweatheart, you put your faith in the wrong man."

"Sweet…" Dave could not finish his question because Horvath pressed his body fully against Dave's, who squirmed uncomfortably with the contact. "What are you doing?"

"Shut up, Victor!"

"Vic…" Horvath shut him up by forcing a kiss on Dave's lips; the boy, who was beyond panicking now, muffled his protest but felt Horvath push his tongue against the sealed seam of Dave's lips, and bump his hips against Dave's, the arousal was quite evident, and that scared Dave to no end. When Horvath pulled back, his free hand sliding under Dave's shirt to feel the boy's body, Dave tried to push the Morganian away. "What are you doing!"

"I'm getting what I've been waiting the last thousand years." Murmured Horvath hotly, the jewel in his cane took on its blue glow, and Dave's hands were suddenly pulled over his head by the piping that used to be beside him. Fear and panic now clouded Dave's eyes and he tried to struggle but it was in vain; he'd taken off the ring when Drake suggested it and it was in his jean's pocket. Some nipping was delivered to Dave's neck and the boy tried to pull away, voicing his rejection; but Horvath would have none of it, he ripped open Dave's shirt and pinched the apprentice's nipples, gaining a squeaked unwanted moan.

"I'm not this Victor gu…" Another kiss was forced over Dave's lips, and he continued his struggles. Horvath overpowered him, and started undoing the boy's jeans with a smirk. "No, please, don't! Stop!" Horvath reached into Dave's underpants, and found what he'd been seeking since this whole attack started; unwillingly Dave had become aroused with the caresses and kisses, and Horvath took tight hold of his hardened length. "Stop, please…" Dave begged one last time, eyes full of fear and pain…

"No power on Earth will ever stop me."

"Wanna bet?" Startled they both turned to see Balthazar standing on the other side of the bathroom, Drake levitating beside him and apparently struggling with what seemed to be an effortless spell from Balthazar's part. Dave let out a sigh of relief as his master smirked at Horvath, who just allowed the boy to drop to the ground and regain some dignity. "Want your guy back?" And Balthazar threw Drake towards Horvath, who wasn't capable of moving too fast and was thrown to the far wall with Drake over him.

Balthazar hurried to Dave and got him up, teleporting them to the catwalk over the old lab. Balthazar took a moment to lean away from Dave, and rest from the spell he'd just performed; after all teleporting one was hard enough, two was simply draining. While he rested he looked at Dave, studying the damage done to the boy. He had several bites over his neck, his shirt was ripped apart and his pants, although complete were open; Dave was trying to get hold of his own emotions, hiding himself and trying to put his clothes back to order yet failing miserably. Finally finding his voice Balthazar saw the boy jump when he spoke; "You ok?"

"No!" He said, about to have a nervous breakdown (again) and looked at Balthazar angrily. "What the heck is going on! First that crazy Depeche mode guy calls me the Prime Merlinian and then Horvath tries to Rape me? Why? Who in hell was Victor?"

Balthazar lowered his eyes and straightened, he wasn't uncomfortable with the question, just… not ready to answer. So he took a deep breath and signaled at his apprentice to follow. He was quiet as they walked down the steps and once in the safety of the lab Balthazar found a shirt and threw it at Dave, so he could change. Dave took off his backpack and the broken shirt, throwing it to the floor and putting on the sweater. Balthazar set the clothes on fire, and sat before the desk, looking solemn, sad even, and opened the Encantus.

"First you must understand that I was Merlin's apprentice." Dave nodded, amazed but willing to listen. "He places a spell over us to keep us from aging until we stopped Morgana, the one trapped in the Grimhold. Victor, Horvath and I were his most trusted apprentices, and he teach us the ways of his art and all his secrets. Of all of us Victor was the most powerful, by right of blood." Dave frowned. "Victor was Merlin's son; his only son. For centuries we apprentices fought Morgana and all her lackeys but were betrayed by Horvath."

"Why?" here Balthazar swallowed hard, this was the part that was the most difficult for him to explain, but Dave deserved no better.

"Victor and I were… lovers." This bit of news had Dave's eyes widen slightly, he seemed surprised, amazingly (and thankfully) not repulsed by the information as Balthazar had feared so he continued. "Horvath was also in love with Victor and when he asked Victor to be his Victor refused and told Horvath we already were together. It crushed our friendship to the point that Horvath went to Morgana for revenge; and got it."

"What do you mean?"

Balthazar turned the page of the Encantus revealing the death of Merlin, in the background the lifeless body of Victor could be seen, shadowed by the dark inks the Encantus usually held. "Morgana attacked Merlin, we were warned and when we got there Victor got between Morgana and myself; he took the first few attacks and died because of his injuries. Merlin then handed me his ring, and told me… That I should find the Prime Merlinian the one who will hold the same soul his son had. Because only the Prime Merlinian can destroy Morgana."

"So I'm Victor's reincarnation?"

"Yes."

"And this guy Horvath is after me, because I remind him of this Victor?"

"Yes."

"And he could try to rape me again?"

Balthazar swallowed hard. "Yes."

Dave let out a gasp and stood, pacing from side to side and talking. "I understand the whole thing about been the Prime Merlinian and this guys reincarnations; and even that another sorceress took Morgana's soul into her body to give you time to find me… But… but the fact that his crazy guy is after my ass, literally, is not very reassuring! What keep me from running away?"

"That if you do he'll find you, and… finish what he started in the bathroom."

Dave started to pull a David Stutler, hyperventilating and paling; Balthazar stood, worried for his student and placed his hands over the boy's shoulders. "Deep breaths Dave, deep breaths." He said softly, squeezing the boy's shoulders and discovering it wasn't working… Balthazar did what he thought was the only thing he could do right now. His heart was aching for Dave, the reincarnation of his lost love, and probably it was a little too rash… alright it was way, way too rash but he could not help himself; he needed to sooth Dave.

So he kissed the boy.

Dave froze, literally froze, under Balthazar's lips surprised. Balthazar understood, his mind having gone into a frenzy of emotions but he understood and was about to pull away…

Dave answered his kiss.