Accidents Happen

Rating: I gave up on this already. I'm keeping it at R for language, Fawkes, and other things.

†

Jean teetered unsteadily on his feet, side aching and muscles screaming in protest. Rugby had been worse than usual that day, with offence/defense drills lasting well into three or four hours. It wasn't a gentle sport at even the best of times, and with desensitization drills for six or seven hours... well... it would be safe to say that he felt like shit.

He struggled gamely over to his chair, stumbling inelegantly over the futon that Ed had left out. Cursing slightly, he kicked it out of the way and collapsed into his chair.

Oh, jeezus... shinsplints, bruises, slight muscle tears, aching wrist, aching shoulder... Iden would have a fit if he could see him now...

That thought made him open his eyes, a sudden pang shooting through him. He should go to the bathroom now to clean up just in case... if Ed saw him like this, the poor kid would kill himself from guilt.

But... but... a few more minutes of rest wouldn't hurt. The scrape on his forearm stung and bled, the ground-in dirt reminding him of –

Stop. Don't go there.

He sat back with a long, suffering groan which ended in a strangled gasp as his shoulder accidentally hit the back of the chair.

"You're in quite the shape, aren't you... Do you always leave your door open, Jean?"

Ashton sat just behind the curtain on the windowledge, a thin trail of smoke leading off the cigarette he held in his right hand and out the slightly opened window. Sure, it was against the rules, but since when did things like rules stop him?

"Anybody ever tell you, you look good in red?" The smirk could be heard even in his voice.

"Don't smoke in my room," Jean managed to say automatically. For one very happy moment, he was quite proud that he could even say anything. Then reality came screaming back.

Considering that a good half of his neurological functions just shut down and a good seventy-five percent of his physical functions had been shut down, it was permissable that he just sat there and gaped.

"Just what praytell are you going to do about it? You look in no condition to even stand up not to mention force anything on me." Ashton blew smoke in Jean's direction, grinning. "You're too easy like that, I was hoping for a bit more of a challenge.."

Jean's good (relatively speaking) hand groped around behind him, coming to rest on The Extravagant Universe. With what was left of his strength, he heaved the book at Ashton. It wasn't very large or heavy, so the thud wasn't nearly as satisfying as it could have been, but it might get the job done. "Put that damn thing out."

Ashton just chuckled. "Sure, I'm done with it after all..." He promptly extinguished the butt on the windowsill, flicking it out the open window. Latching the window again, he hopped down, walking over to Jean. "Really, you look like shit..." If it weren't for the twisted little grin on his face, one might think that Ashton was actually worried.

"Thanks ever so," Jean retorted. He judged his injures, decided that pain was preferable to molestation and got up, wobbling only slightly. "You try running around on a rugby pitch for seven hours. You'd be bulldozed, too." He edged away.

Ashton was quick to follow. "My, my... You're awfully persistent, how much longer can you force your body to move before it gives up and tells you to shove it up your ass, Jean?"

"As long as I need it to," Jean growled, gritting his teeth and keeping himself going. He was moving too slow... damn.

"Somehow I doubt that..." Ashton's moves were quick, fluid. In the next second he had Jean up against the nearest wall, arms pinned behind his own back. "Don't push yourself, Jean... There's no point in running from someone you can't escape.." his breath hissed in the blonde's ear. "Besides, it's easier on you if you don't struggle so much..."

"Screw you!" Jean snapped. "Don't you fucking dare...!"

"Somehow I remember Ed saying almost those exact same words.." Ashton chuckled, turning his head to look at Jean. "I don't, however, recall that stopping me.."

Jean was so screwed, and they both knew it. He couldn't do jack shit like this and Fawkes was going to take advantage of that. Stupid, stupid... he began to squirm, his entire body throbbing in pain.

Ashton pushed fractionally harder against Jean. "You're not helping yourself any..." Mildly irritated, he bit down on the blonde's neck, hard.

A soft, unasked-for moan slipped out and Jean sagged.

Soothing the bite marks with his tongue, Ashton calmed a bit, letting his hands wander. Glancing at the bite with half-lidded eyes he smiled to himself. That would definitely leave a mark... Ed was going to kill him..

Jean tugged one hand free and tried to push Fawkes away. "Why do you keep bothering me!"

Grabbing Jean's wrist, Ashton pressed him harder back against the wall. "Haven't we been through this before?" He traced the shell of Jean's ear with the tip of his tongue, free hand trailing down his side, the curve of his ass, the back of his thigh. "You're special, Jean, you're different, and I want that for myself even though I know I've got no right to.."

Jean hissed angrily, bringing a leg up sharply to connect with Fawkes' groin. "I don't belong to anyone," he spat.

Ashton hissed in a breath through his teeth, keeping himself standing with the wall and Jean as his supports. "Never said you did..." he breathed, dropping to his knees and dragging Jean down with him. "You keep that fight...if you ever lose it I'll know you're not worth my time anymore..." He stole one swift, harsh kiss before backing off, retreating to the windowsill to sit and look out over the campus once again.

"Get yourself cleaned up, you seriously look like shit and Ed'll be back soon.. You don't want him to see you like that, right?" He didn't bother looking back at Jean even once, as he absently nibbled the end of a cigarette, not lighting it.

Jean's face set. He grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt, getting his body to move properly. Open the door, keep it open, walk down the hall... oh, damn.

Ed blinked, looking at Jean. He was at the taller blonde's side in nearly an instant. "What in the hell happened to you!"

Jean's hand went up to shield the mark on his neck before he realized Ed hadn't noticed that yet. "Rugby practice."

"What the hell are they doing to you out there, you look like hell!" Ed held up Jean's other arm, examining the scrape with a worried look. "Is it like this every time and you're just not telling me?" There was the slightest note of hurt in his voice.

"No," Jean lied promptly. "We were doing offence/defence drills today and... well... things got a little rough. I am one of the lightest members on the team."

Ed sighed. "You'd better get that cleaned up before it gets infected.."

"I will, promise." Absently, he took his hand away from his neck, revealing the slowly purpling bruise. "Want to come down with me?"

Ed's brow furrowed slightly. "What happened to your neck.." Leaning in closer, he frowned more. "Those look like tooth marks..."

Ohshit. Jean's hand clapped back over the bruise. "S'nothing."

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Ed reached for Jean's hand. "It's not 'nothing', don't lie to me! Was it Fawkes that did it! Where is he!"

Jean caught Ed's reaching hand with his free one, muscles protesting. He winced. "Ed, leave it, all right? It's okay."

"No it's not okay!" Ed shook his head. "I'll fucking kill him!"

Patience broke. "What am I, your personal pet?" he snapped. "I can take care of myself, Ed. Don't you dare try to protect me like that!"

Ed shrank back. "But...I..." His voice broke, words failing him. And dammit he really felt like crying.

Jean sighed, releasing him. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lost my temper at you. But this one's between me and Fawkes and... there's a lot more to it than that. If I just hide behind you, he won't leave me alone." He managed a smile. "Come on, I need to go get my arm cleaned."

Ed had to fight back the tears, but nodded. "Alright... I could just go wait in the room if you want?"

Jean shook his head. "I need the moral support. I hate getting sports injuries cleaned. The only reason why I am is because you told me to."

Ed smiled a bit. "Alright then, let's get going."

"That's better." Jean took Ed's hand in his uninjured one. "So what have you been doing while I got the crap kicked out of me?"

"Just out for a walk, stopped by the library for a couple of hours...I think...Actually, I think I was at the library most of the time..." Ed grinned a bit.

Jean laughed. "Find anything interesting? I still haven't gotten a chance to poke my nose in."

"Oh, there was all kinds of stuff!" Ed started off into a long-winded explaination of the various subjects he'd studied that day.

Jean smiled slightly, only half-listening to Ed's excited babble. His hand tightened slightly in silent apology, though he knew that Ed probably wouldn't realize it.

Ed paused for a moment. "Hey, are you listening to me?" He pouted slightly.

"Yes, dear."

"That's not funny.."

Jean just batted his eyelashes at Ed and grinned.

Ed pouted. "We're almost there..."

"M'hm?" The taller blonde gently disengaged his hand from Ed's. "I promise to pay attention to you after I get fixed up, all right?"

"Okay.. you want me to wait outside?"

"It's up to you."

"I don't mind either way, if you want me to be in there I'll go with you.." Ed shrugged, looking up at Jean.

Jean paused for a moment. It would be nice to have some support, but he didn't want to risk breaking down in front of Ed. "Do me a favor, kiddo, and wait here. I'll be out in a few, okay?"

"Alright..." Ed found a nice spot against the wall to sit, ignoring the chairs.

It took a few minutes for Jean to get cleaned up, accompanied by a yelp.

Ed fidgeted outside while he waited, toying with his hair. He still couldn't get over Ashton messing with Jean. Again. It really just made him want to punch that redheaded bastard. Again.

Jean left the infirmary with the nurse on duty yelling at him to 'take it easy, dammit!', a sour look on his face.

Ed looked up at the sound of the door. "You gonna be okay?"

"Just fine," Jean said with a slightly forced grin.

"Alright..." Ed got to his feet, dusting off his pants a bit. "You should probably rest anyway, right?"

"Don't wanna," Jean said petulantly.

Ed frowned. "You should anyway, let's go back to your room. What else would you plan to do anyway if you didn't rest?"

Jean paled imperceptibly. "Let's go... somewhere else," he said, almost casual. "Maybe... outside?"

"I guess..." Ed shrugged. He'd have to deal with it for now. Oh well, there would be plenty of alone-time later.

Jean nibbled his lower lip. "We could always see if Iden's cleared out of our room," he suggested slowly.

Ed perked up slightly. "Yeah?" Maybe..

"Yeah. Come on, gopher." Moving at a brisk pace, they managed to make it back into his room at a record time. Jean scowled briefly at the window, sweeping a half-smoked cigarette butt out. "Goddammit, Luce, you're not supposed to smoke in the building!" It was a lie, to cover the stench of tobacco, but Ed might not even notice.

Ed stretched a bit, looking around. "You gonna get some rest now?" He turned a happy-go-lucky grin on Jean.

Jean plonked down onto his bunk with a soft groan. "Don't know," he mused, turning a clear sapphire gaze on Ed.

Walking over to the bed, Ed sat on the edge, dangling his legs. "You should..."

"It's not like this is an entirely new phenominon. I've been playing rugby for years, and this is no worse than some of the injuries I've gotten."

"But now you've got me to worry about you, so you should rest." Ed pouted, looking back at Jean over his shoulder.

Jean shot Ed a wry smile. "I doubt that's what you had in mind, though..."

Ed looked contemplative. "But you do need your rest..."

"I'll get it later. Promise."

"What now then?" Ed somehow managed to squeeze onto the bed next to Jean, tight fit as it may have been, slipping his arms around the taller blonde's neck.

"You seem to have a pretty good idea..." The world's cutest pair of puppy eyes gazed beseechingly at Ed. "Kiss and make it better?"

Ed just grinned. "You know that look doesn't work on me..." Despite his words, he acted to the contrary.

"Well, I must be doing something right." Jean hissed as Ed's small hand accidentally brushed a bruise.

"Sorry..." Ed paused, blinking. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

A tiny smile quirked Jean's mouth. "I'll be fine. Just be careful where you put your hands."

"You expect me to be paying attention to that?" Ed pouted, tracing Jean's lips with the tip of his index finger. "Honestly, I'm too busy focusing elsewhere."

Eerily catlike, Jean's eyes lidded and his tongue flicked briefly out to caress Ed's fingertips. "M'mm... the better you make it, the less it'll hurt."

Ed blushed considerably. Jean had one hell of a way to rouse thoughts in his head that really didn't need to be there. He swallowed compulsively.

"M'mm..." Jean purred, gently biting the tips of Ed's fingers. "Slowpoke..."

Ed sighed, nuzzling up under Jean's chin and nipping at his throat. "You're doing that on purpose..."

"Course I am."

"Do you know what that does to me, Jean?"

Jean chuckled, low and warm, running his tongue over Ed's lips before claiming them in a kiss. "I have a pretty good idea..."

Ed's hands gripped Jean's shirt tightly. "You know what that leads to then, right?"

"Yeah." Jean bowed his head, gently nipping Ed's neck. "I don't know why, but I think this is the right thing to do."

"What about Iden? What if he comes back? Did you lock the window?" Ed spouted questions, suddenly paranoid.

"Shh..." Jean soothed. "I'll go lock the door right now and leave Iden a message, all right?" He got up to do just that, almost falling over as his muscles sharply protested.

"Are you sure you're up to this, though?" Ed worried at the near-fall.

"Yes," Jean said firmly, coming back. "I promise to be good and get some sleep afterwards, but you need this."

Ed swallowed compulsively and nodded. "Okay..." He was nervous as hell, and it probably showed in his eyes when he looked at Jean.

Jean put a gentle hand on his friend's head. "Relax, kiddo. Just relax."

Smiling, Ed looked up at Jean. "I know... I trust you..."

Jean smiled back. "Good. I'm not particularly sure that I trust myself."

Ed sighed softly, pulling Jean down into a kiss, hot and hungry. Come and give me what I need..

Jean pressed a damp, open-mouthed kiss to Ed's throat. "I hope you know what you're doing," he murmured. "Because I sure as hell don't."

"Don't look at me, I've never done this before," Ed tilted his head back automatically. "Just...go by what feels right, I guess..."

"Maybe this wasn't such a brilliant idea after all." Jean gave a breathy little gasp when Ed's hand brushed delicately against his side. "Then again..."

Ed lifted his head to look at Jean again, not quite sure what that meant. "What is it?"

"Never mind." Jean quietly removed Ed's hand from his left side. "Do me a favor and don't touch me there, okay?"

"Sorry..." Ed nodded, running his fingers through Jean's messy hair. "What then?"

"Depends on what you want to do." Jean's eyes slid shut and he nipped Ed's neck. "You could always think of something. I got us this far..."

Ed tugged up on Jean's shirt, grumbling a bit when he couldn't get it any farther. "A little help?"

The taller blonde chuckled at Ed's impatience, though he did manage to obediently remove the shirt. "Happy?"

"Maybe.." Ed slid down a bit, kissing down Jean's neck and chest, fingertips trailing almost tentatively along his spine.

Jean arched languidly, into the hand on his back, purring low in his throat. A slightly dreamy smile came to his face.

Ed paused, letting out a slightly shaky breath against Jean's chest. "How the fuck do you do that!"

Jean slitted open one eye. "M'mm...? Do what?"

"Purr like that..." Ed experimentally let his tongue flick across a nipple.

Jean let out a surprised yelp, fingers flexing automatically to grip Ed tightly. Voice low and husky, he countered, "How do you make me purr like that, h'm?"

Ed closed his eyes. "I don't know..." He sighed heavily, pulling himself back up to catch Jean's mouth in a hungry kiss. He needed more..

Jean overbalanced, falling back until his was somewhat propped up against the foot of his bed. His knuckles accidently rammed against a tin box. He allowed himself a small, wicked smile. "Oh, Ed..." he purred, nipping slightly.

"Hm?" Ed blinked, shifting slightly.

"I hope you're feeling up to screwing me senseless." Maybe, at a later date, he would be embarrassed about that...

"Wasn't that supposed to be the point?" Ed moved to nibble on Jean's earlobe.

"Then get on with it." Jean flicked the tin closer. "Use that; it warms up fairly easily."

Ed blushed at Jean's straightforward attitude and fumbled slightly with the tin. This is so unfair... how can he do this...? He shivered as gentle fingers delicately lifted his shirt, gently drawing it up over his head.

"Fair's fair," Jean murmured, gently nuzzling the other blonde's neck.

Ed growled, latching onto Jean's lips and staying put. The kiss was fierce, and maybe a little too rough, but Jean didn't complain.

He felt hands at the waist of his jeans, but he ignored it. Getting Jean's shorts off was of paramount importance. He had to growl a few times, but eventually, they were stripped down.

"You ready?" Jean asked, getting comfortable.

"I should be asking you that, you know," Ed grumbled softly, trying to hide his nervousness. The balm was warm and slick between his fingers. If he was a bit clumsy at this, Jean didn't notice and didn't make a sound other than a gentle whimper.

A soft, almost pathetic, sound crept from Jean's throat at the intrusion. He tried not to curl up around himself, tried to let Ed do it...

Slightly scared, Ed gently stroked Jean, murmuring comforting nonsense. But god, it felt so fucking good, and he knew he said it out loud, because there was a weak laugh and Jean moving back against him –

It dissolved into a chaos of sensation, Jean writhing beneath him and making small, choked noises. Almost automatically, Ed reached around to touch him, and there was this heady, indescribable sound...

Ed fastened his teeth onto the unmarked side of Jean's neck. "Mine," he hissed. "All mine..." A soft whimper agreed and then –

They collapsed together, curled around each other, Jean still purring. He nuzzled his face into Ed's sweaty neck, yawning.

The only thing Ed's totally blissed-out mind could think of was a weak, "Oh, wow."

Jean chuckled sleepily. "M'm?"

"We're doing that again, you know..." Ed could feel Jean snuggle closer. "And next time, I want to watch you."

"M'm," Jean agreed, settling himself comfortably, head butted up beneath Ed's chin. He was more than content to stay like that.

Ed's arms tightened around Jean's body, fingers running lazily through the unruly mop of pale hair. "G'night Jean," he said softly, though he knew the other man was already asleep.

•

Iden tugged Jean's note off the door, smiling to himself. "Well, well, well..."

Lucifer and Aiden peeked over his shoulders. "What is it, man?"

Smile becoming more of a grin, Iden crumpled the note and stuck it into his pocket. "They finally got around to it. Come on, I'm not going in there until they're both fully dressed and coherent."

Aiden and Lucifer exchanged grins, eyes twinkling. Number two on The List had just become null and void.