Release the Hounds
By Stepherz
Mush's POV
He pushed through the throng of newsboys, and grabbed my arm. If it weren't for the look on his face, I wouldn't have allowed him to so much as touch me. He ushered me back through the crowd and, still ignoring the others, led me outside.
A single look from Jack, and no one dared follow us.
He kept leading me, farther and farther away from the lodging house. When he shoved me into an alley and stalked in after me, I began to grow nervous. Why was he taking me away from the others? And after everything, why would he even show his face there? He stood with his back towards me, and was slowly turning around.
I expected to see his face contorted with anger, or malevolence. But when he looked at me, it was just the opposite. His features were upturned in a smile, and his eyes glittered warmly. I shuddered, and stepped away from him, as he advanced. But he shook his head, and I stopped dead in my tracks.
"Don't go, Mush…" He wasn't pleading, and he wasn't demanding… it was somewhere in the middle.
I didn't go anywhere.
He shifted towards me, and although I had to fight the urge to flee, I did nothing of the sort. His smile was unfaltering, and I looked away, confused. How could he be smiling? There was nothing to smile about.
Or so I thought.
Jack's POV
He was more skittish than I expected him to be, but I tried to ignore that. As I walked towards him, I could see the damage I'd done. I planned to undo that, and very soon. His eyes were red, and bloodshot, and his forehead was covered with beads of sweat. I reached out, and brushed them away with my hand.
Damp tendrils of his black, curly hair loomed upon his forehead as well, and frayed out it tufts behind his ears. I shook my head fondly, as he flinched, and stepped back.
I furrowed my brows at his actions, but still said nothing. I knew he was confused as to my change in attitude. He probably thought that I was in denial about the entire thing. Either that, or he thought that I was the biggest nonce he'd ever met, and that I had no conscience at all.
I had to say something, or he was going to get more upset.
"Mush?" I started softly, crooning gently to him. "Please…listen to what I have to say."
He stopped and stared at me, and I knew I had his undivided attention.
Mush's POV
I was waiting for him to say something, and I thought for a moment that he wouldn't say anything at all, but just expected me to pay attention to him, as if he were about to speak. That alone confused me more!
I blinked at him several times, but waited patiently.
"Mush…I love you." That was it? Is that what he dragged me out here to say? I opened my mouth to speak, but he held up his hand at me, and I fell silent.
"I love you more than anything. I would give up everything, just so I could be with you." He licked his lips, and I bit my own. Yeah… he would give up everything…except Spot.
He proved me wrong.
"I…I ended it with Spot." My eyes dilated, and I found my jaw hanging slightly open. I stared at him, as if he'd just told me the world was going to explode, in shock.
The sun had set by now, and we were alone, in that dark alley, with nothing but the stars to flicker across the tension on our faces. I could see him, but barely. The moon had decided not to show itself on that particular night. His expression was etched by the dim luminescence. I could see the solemnity in his eyes, and I believed him.
I half-smiled, not knowing exactly how to react. Jack beamed at me.
"You did?" My voice was quavering, and it sounded weak to my own ears. He seemed not to notice, and nodded slowly.
"Yes." He looked about ready to leave it at that, but thought twice and stepped towards me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"I gave him up…just for you." He whispered huskily into my ear, and I quivered gently as his hot breath maneuvered down my neck.
He really did love me, then.
Jack's POV
He smiled, and I kissed his cheek. He trembled in delight, and I made my way to his lips. He was a bit reluctant, and I didn't blame him, but I inhaled his mouth in a delicate, tender kiss.
This was possibly the most romantic moment I'd ever had with him, but I wasn't letting that slow me down. I didn't need to savor it, but I did anyway.
I had been relieved to find that he hadn't told the rest of them about me. I'd made an excuse to each one when the time came up, or just told them that it was a one-time thing, and that it would never work with the rest of them around. If they found out that I'd been lying, and playing them all for fools, they'd have declared war on me for sure.
I was still nervous about Spot…I wasn't sure why. As long as I didn't let loose that he wasn't 'normal' there wouldn't be much of a problem. Only one thought crossed my mind as I devoured Mush's lips in that dark alley.
That thought was of confusion. I was nervous…and the only thing that was really bothering me, was something that I couldn't piece together.
Finally, our kiss died down, and we stood, with our arms wrapped tightly around each other… the bond was nearly unbreakable.
Come to find out… there was only one person who could break this bond. Just one…that's all it took.
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AN - Another cliffhanger! Gosh, I'm really sorry… there's going to be more fluffy moments now, but it won't last forever…you hear me? Nothing good lasts forever [actually, that's the name of the next chapter! lol]
