Title: Scolding

Author: Ladye Black

Warnings: Spoiler for the London Assignment, and Carl uses a bad word

Archive: Ask.

Pairing: VH/C

Disclaimer: Still just writing fanfiction.

Notes: Thank you to Helyn for allowing me to her wonderful nickname for… 'that woman'.

Carl stalked up to the room of the inn they'd rented for that night. Van Helsing could clearly tell that something was wrong with his lover, and this time, he had an inkling of what it was. Sighing, he decided to wait a few minutes before confronting the young man.

Ten minutes and a tankard of ale later, he considered himself suitably fortified against the oncoming maelstrom he was about to provoke. Slowly, he made his way up the stairs and into their room.

Carl sat on the bed, arms crossed over his chest, looking as though he hadn't been waiting for Van Helsing. He probably had been, though.

"Carl," Van Helsing started cautiously. "What's wrong?"

"If you don't know then I'm certainly not going to tell you," Carl huffed.

"Does it have anything to do with that kiss?" Van Helsing asked tentatively.

Carl exploded. "You're damn right it has something to do with that kiss!" Van Helsing tried to say something, but Carl cut him off. "It was enough when you kissed Icky Vicky, but Anna!" The younger man pulled a disgusted face.

Van Helsing was more amused than angry. "'Icky Vicky'? Carl, surely you don't mean Her Majesty Victoria?!"

The young friar had the grace to look embarrassed. "She certainly didn't seem like a Queen to me with the way she kept on throwing herself at you, and don't change the subject!" he ended sharply.

The older man shrugged; it had been worth a try. "All right, then, what is your problem with it? In case you haven't noticed, she's dead." He felt a small pang of grief for that, but he hadn't considered her as much more than a comrade. She had been the one who wanted to make it into something more. He was quite content with Carl, even when the other man became like this.

"You still kissed her!" Carl exclaimed, obviously not getting the point. "You promised, 'no more kissing of pompous bints'! Remember?"

Van Helsing sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Yes, Carl, I remember. One can hardly call Anna a 'pompous bint', as you like to put it. She didn't know we're together, and I didn't want her to die thinking she was alone." He stared into Carl's eyes. "It meant nothing more to me than offering comfort to a friend and comrade."

Carl eyed him skeptically. "Are you sure?"

Van Helsing smiled tiredly and knelt at Carl's feet, taking the man's hands into his own. "Yes," he answered exasperatedly, then leaned up to take those tempting lips with his own. "This means much more."

Carl looked a little dazed from the kiss. "You sure?"

The older man's smile turned predatory as he stood up, then pushed Carl back onto the mattress so that he was leaning over him. "Yes," then he closed the soft mouth with his own lips that the other wouldn't be able to argue any longer.

The only sounds Carl made the rest of the night were breathy, little moans and soft pleas.

The End

So, what'd ya think?