Roger's skin was hot against his own. When Jack moved his hand along skin covering the muscles on his arms, sweat slipped, dripping black and red onto his chest. Jack's hands slid up, resting on Roger's strong, broad shoulders. He felt the muscles moving, sliding, beneath his fingers.

Jack turned his head to the side, long silky blond locks shielding his eyes. They were closed shut in a lazy fashion at the moment. He felt Roger's large, sweaty hand clasp on the delicate bones of his throat that showed, twisted provocatively from his position. Clean sweat pooled at the dip formed by his collarbone. Roger's tongue felt rough as a cat's as he lapped at the salty substance. His soft brown hair tickled his shoulders as the necklace, the only clothing he wore, brushed against erect nipples.

He tasted Roger's blood trailing along with his own sweat against his lips, like melted pennies would taste. There wasn't a difference between life and money to the other world, he had known that at a tender age, and he knew he was lucky to be here.

He slid his hands down, just gently running fingertips over Roger's shoulder blades. He shuddered slightly and reached back, grabbing Jack's hands, and slamming them down onto the skins, holding them in place with one hot, sweaty hand. Roger pushed him onto his stomach, wrenching his arms in the process though he tried to turn the wrists not to hurt him. A little pain wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

His hand was trailing down a smooth hip. Roger's teeth left a crescent on Jack's shoulder, then sucked at the flesh found there, marking him, claiming him as his own. His tongue marked a trail between his shoulder blades, heading down, down, down…

Twenty minutes later, moving with his mate, Jack would throw his head back and cry out an indistinguishable word.

Jack turned sleepily, snuggling closer to Roger's warmth. For all his dominance, he always slept with his back to Jack's chest, allowing himself to be spooned from behind. He must've let go of the boy in his slumber and turned onto his back. He was used to doing this in their hut, because of the heat of the nights, but the cave was too dark and cool to simply sleep alone.

Roger shifted away from him, arm flinging out to slap him in the face. Jack sighed and sat up, defeated, it was morning.

"Roger."

"Mm?"

"It's morning."

"I know, go back to sleep."

"I can't sleep all day like you can."

"Yes you can," he threw his arm around the curve of Jack's hip and tried to draw him close.

"No," Jack pushed back defiantly, a few strands of golden hair falling over his eyes. He brushed these back, tucking them behind his ear. "We have to go speak to the others, tell them we were given a name."

He sat up, crossing his legs beneath him, and turned away from Roger. Roger couldn't help but thing he was the loveliest creature he had ever seen. Golden skinned, with small, bony shoulders. Shaggy blond hair, messily chopped off at the shoulders with their shaving knife, outlined his skull. Roger squirmed over to him and encircled arms around the tiny waist, his cheek pressing against Jack's warm back.

"Are you certain it was told to you?"

"Of course it wasn't 'told' to me, it was presented to me. I heard the name in my mind, as you released."

"Maybe it was only me."

"Only if you can get into my thoughts now."

"But what does it mean? Estaspray?"

"It was Etruhseperay," Jack corrected, "I don't know what it means, but that's what I heard. You came inside me and I heard you whimper and say my name then inside my head I heard Etruhseperay. It is our name, Jack and Roger Etruhseperay."

"Why couldn't we just be Braveheart, or Superior? At least those are real words."

"No love. We will go tell them our new name and make sure the fire is lit, then we will go swimming or hunt or whatever you wish to do, as this is your vacation also. But I promised we would go back first thing in the morning and tell them our name."

"I'm sure they won't care. They're probably slacking off, you know Maurice would've been better in charge, or Robert, or Bill. Why did you pick the twins?"

"Why do you think? Because they're like…him. They have heads on their shoulders. The littluns wouldn't follow Maurice or Robert like they follow us just because they're intimidating. They follow me because of who I am. They will follow Samneric because they trust them."

"They'd never be able to look after them four years ago, before you molded them into the hunters they now are."

"I know," Jack leaned back and placed a quick kiss on Roger's lips, "That's why I'm the chief. Now hurry, get dressed, the quicker we get out of here the quicker we can have some fun."

Sam rolled over, smacking Eric in the face while he was at it. The second twin snorted and flung his arm over his eyes. Sam snuggled against his side but in the process managed to bury his face in Eric's exposed armpit. He pulled back, frowning.

Puberty stinks, literally.

"Eric, wake up," he slapped him on the stomach. The solid thud of bare flesh against bare flesh resounded.

"Prick," he rolled onto his stomach.

"Come on, get up, and go take a bath."

"Leave me alone."

"But you stink."

"So what? Nobody cares."

"I do. Do you think I want to make out with a hunter that smells like the pray?"

"Like you're that picky," he sat up rubbing sleepily at his eyes, squinting towards the boy on the other side of the bed. "Do you suppose the littluns are up yet?"

"They're probably still tired from last night. It still surprised me sometimes, how well they adjusted."

"We adjusted," Eric reminded him.

"No, not really, we were forced to."

"Sam, you said we weren't to talk about that."

"Because they could hear us, but they can't hear us now."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"You still have the dreams."

"Of course I have the dreams," he hissed, turning suddenly to meet Sam's eyes, "He fucking tortured us Sam, how can't I have the fucking dreams."

"I wasn't challenging you."

Some of the anger drained from Eric's eyes and his mouth lost some of its tenseness.

"I know that. I just…it's hard, you know? I've forgiven Jack, I think. But they still killed Simon and Ralph."

"We're not to say that name."

"Sam, you just said so yourself, they can't hear us."

"They killed Piggy also, Eric."

"That was Roger, Jack didn't kill Piggy, that was Roger."

"It's not about the deaths though, is it? It's about what he did to us."

"Jack didn't tell him to do that to us even, you know? He just kinda followed him for his own amusement."

"I know," Sam set a hand on Eric's shoulder. Eric looked at him from the corner of his eye then leaned over, placing a chaste kiss against Sam's lips. Slipping arms around Eric's waist, he leaned back, allowing his brother to sprawl out across his chest. Eric took his hand in his own and looked down at them, playing with their fingers.

"What do you dream about?"

"It's not really a dream," Eric's voice was soft, "It's more of a memory. It's always that day, the one before…he, was killed. It seems silly, somehow. I mean, Roger was so young then, but in my dream I am always scared of him. I feel his fists upon me and when the whip comes down I can't see because there's too much blood and sweat in my eyes. And I blink and look towards you, and you're still unconscious, and Jack's sitting there behind you. And he's just sitting there, not smiling or frowning, just…bored."

"And that was when you wake up?"

"No. That's when you wake up and Roger made that little gasping sound, you know the one I'm talking about. And he spit on me and climbs on top of you but you can't do anything because of the ropes and I see them cutting into your wrists and see the blood trailing down the arms. You weren't that bloody yet, because he had only hit you in the head to knock you out, and you were trying to get away. And then, then, he took you."

"Eric…"

"He did though, he took you. I saw him lift your hips and you were still so young and that's when Jack smiled. I know you didn't see that, but he did. When you sucked in the breath through your teeth and your hands curled up, that's when Jack smiled. And there was something jealous about his smile."

"It was before he and Roger had, umm, cemented their relationship. Jack probably was just watching lustfully, wishing he was I."

"I don't know. But I hate Roger for what he did to you."

"I have forgiven him, why can't you?"

"Because he raped you! He didn't rape me; I'd be able to forgive him for that. But he took you!"

"Why didn't you…" Sam trailed off. Eric's hands grasped at his arms and they held each other in silence. Sam kissed at the identical face, pressing lips into the hollow of Eric's eyes, trailing them down a little pointed noise. Eric's lips were salty when two small, pink tongues met. Eric's body went limp, allowing himself to be held by his other half.

"Come on, let's see what the littluns are up to."

Jack walked along the beach, kicking up sand lightly. It was warm and soft and felt lovely on his feet. Roger walked along beside him, silent as they neared the village-like gathering of huts. As a rule, he didn't like to talk among the others. This imbed behavior always appeared most strongly when they were away from the others for a period of time. He reached out, taking Jack's hand in his, and the blond smiled a bit.

Roger hung back, letting Jack lead the way up to the huts. The first thing he noticed was that the fire set in the middle of the huts had gone out. Two boys lay asleep beside it, lying close together as if they had been cuddled for warmth but had pushed each other away when the morning heat began to grow. Jack didn't allow anyone else to light the fire and had directed the tribe to keep it lit like they had in the earlier years, but to use dry wood lest they make smoke and direct a ship's attention.

Oh well, neither had really expected them to keep it going.

They walked past the ashes, both looking straight ahead of them towards their hut, not directing eyes towards the dead fire. Roger found himself reaching out to touch the little drops of light hanging from Jack's ears. They were catching the morning sunshine like the dew.

"What the…" Jack stilled for a moment then quickened his pace, marching into their hut. Roger grinned a little when he heard Jack's hand slap against something soft and human sounding. He stood at the doorway, looking in. Jack grabbed hold of Henry's arms and yanked him so hard out of the doorway he probably could've dislocated his shoulder if it were in the right position.

"What were you doing in my hut," he hollered, pushing the young boy onto the hard, rocky ground.

"I, I-"

"Answer me!"

"I was just looking for the specs Jack, I swear, to light the fire!"

"You know I don't allow anyone in the hut besides Roger, Samneric, and I! Why do you think you would be allowed in there?"

"I just, the fire-"

"You know I was coming back this morning, the fire was not that important!" Jack kicked the boy in the head with his heel, making him whimper and curl up to protect himself.

"You don't have to be such a dictator about it."

"What was that?"

"Oh, just punish me already!"

"Oh, I will! Roger!"

He stepped forward eagerly, ready for Jack's instructions.

"What right do you have to punish me?" Henry suddenly uncurled himself and sat back, quickly getting to his feet. "You can't even do it yourself, you make…him do it. You're not strong enough to be our chief."

"Not strong enough," Jack's voice was suddenly laced with sweetness.

"No you're just Roger's little bitch, you know that, we all know that! Why don't you just fucking put on a dress already and bare his freaking children!"

"Henry, dear, I don't need children, I have all of you," Jack replied sweetly, then swung out with his fist, punching him hard right across the face. The solid smack resounded. Henry fell back, Roger catching him before he could fall. Jack shook his head quickly and the younger boy dropped him.

"I wish I had a belt so I could give you a proper whipping, but we know beatings are not as fulfilling as other punishments. Roger, gather the others."

He nodded, a small frown marring an otherwise smooth face. He brushed past the twins as he walked between them. They were approaching, looking down at the fire in understanding. Jack held Henry down, one foot upon the small of his back. Henry attempted to get up but Jack responded by grabbing a spear from Sam's hands and pressing it against the sensitive flesh of Henry's neck. He stilled.

"What's happening," littluns were emerging from the huts, rubbing sleepy pre-adolescent eyes with hands sooty from the night before. They noticed Henry lying on the ground, hands cautiously gripping the rock. They seated around them, grabbing fruits as they approached from a pile leftover from last night, so they could eat during the too-early assembly.

"I found Henry here in my hut, and I believe you all know this is against my rule. I let you do almost anything you wish upon this island, but my hut is the one place none of you are allowed. Why would any of you possibly assume just because I am not here to witness it that it is allowed. Also, when I decided to punish him for this crime, he applied I am not strong enough to be your chief."

Some of the boys were already hissing at the prone figure before them. Some were still too sleepy to do anything but yawn, and some of them were swallowing.

"He also decided to tell me that you all believe that I am no longer as powerful as I once was. Is this true? I hope not, because I still decide who lives and who dies on this island. Roger is my chosen one. I am not his bitch, I am his mate. We do everything together and this is why I have him follow out my punishments. I could follow them out of I wished, but I know he gets a certain…pleasure from this, understand?"

The boys were quieter at this then Jack had expected. Maybe Henry was right, about the general idea on Jack's growing weakness.

"I made Roger come with me here this morning, for I promised I would return early to announce our chosen name. I made a promise and kept it, though neither of us were willing to return so early. I thought you were all willing to keep promises. You promised to follow my rules in order for food, shelter, and security. And what do I get in return?" At this, Jack stomped down hard on Henry's back, eliciting a high-pitched grunt of pain. "Roger, come here," Jack set a hand on Roger's cheek and kissed him softly on the lips, handed him the spear, and turned to go into the hut. Roger took his place, holding Henry on the ground. Roger waited until he was inside before kneeling down, gripping Henry's long-messy hair in his fist, and tugging it so fiercely a few strands came out.

"Don't fuck with power," Roger's lips barely touched Henry's ear. He was standing at full attention when Jack returned with some old cloth ripped in strips.

"Tie him up," he threw the cloth strips to the ground. The boys swarmed around the cloth strips and boy like ants on a dead bird. Some held him down; some tied, some just scratched and hit him for fun.

"Is the raft still in shape," Jack turned to the twins who were just standing there, appearing pale and a little faint.

"The raft?"

"Yes, the raft," he sounded impatient.

The raft had been built last year when some of the littluns had been curious about a small, nearby island. They had been looking for a project and believed the island was too far away to swim to (which it may have been, nobody had tried) and decided to construct a raft to get there. The island had been almost empty. About the size of a gymnasium, it was scattered with some banana trees and had a natural spring, but only some birds and lizards had been found living on it. The natural lagoon there couldn't even be used for swimming, as the entire island had been surrounded by fire coral and jellyfish (one of the boys hadn't been able to sit for a week). They had never returned after the disappointment.

"Yes, I think so," Sam spoke up.

"It's by the lagoon still."

"Good. Put Henry on it, Roger and I will be down there shortly."

The boys grabbed hold of Henry's legs and dragged him over the rough rock, down the slope, and disappeared, a small trail of blood following from where rock scraped along his back. The twins cocked their heads in unison, studying their chief.

"Follow them."

They didn't speak, but turned and walked carefully along the trail.

"What are you going to do to him," Roger's lips were wet.

"You can't beat him yet, I'm sorry."

"Because of his comment?"

"No, because after you beat him we'll have to have someone to take care of him, because I'm gonna make sure you give him the thrashing of his life. We'll bring him to Fire Island, and we'll leave him there for two weeks. I doubt he'll try to swim back, but the littluns are usually down there anyway, we'll just make sure there's always someone down there to make sure he doesn't try to escape. We'll have our feasts down there, make sure he can see us since we could see him, he'll be starving for meat. By the time we all go to bed, he'd be to scared to swim."

"You're deliciously sadistic."

"Don't tell him we will bring him back. I want him to believe he'll remain there until he dies of starvation. The trees will only hold him for so long."

"This is why I love you," Roger stepped forward, taking Jack's head into his hands and just looked down at him. A thumb caressed a golden cheek.

"Walk behind me."

"Always."

Henry was deposited, sobbing and begging on the sand. He crawled forward, taking Jack's hands in his own, and kissing them. Jack pulled back and slapped him sharply across the face me.

"Cross me and face the consequence. Die here and allow the birds to peck at your rotten flesh. Don't bother to yell to the others, they can't hear you and they won't help you anyway."

"Jack, please, my chief, you're my chief."

"I was your chief, now I'm your judge and executioner."

"Jack!"

"And god fucking damn it, stop kissing my hands!" He stepped back onto the raft where Roger already waited, arms crossed. The twins were also there, ores in hand. Henry crawled over towards the raft, hurrying. Roger stooped, pick up the rocks the littluns had piled on the raft earlier, and chucked them, barely missing Henry's head. He ducked and fell back, retreating.

"Have a nice life, Henry," Jack stepped back and allowed Roger to wrap arms around his waist. Samneric paddled back towards their island. The one full of food and fire and shelter. Henry was left a crumbled pile of momentary revolt.

"Sir," Samneric spoke up.

"Quiet, I know what I'm doing."