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Leo wiped his brow and bent over to try and catch his breath, his arms trembling with the effort of supporting his upper body on his knees. His legs also began to buckle a little under his slight weight. Nearly every muscle in his body was sore to some degree, though not as much now as when they'd first started these exercises. He'd jokingly said that recovering in the hospital hurt less than learning to spar with Klaus. Though, to be fair, he'd had access to pain killers while he was injured, but building up his muscles and wrestling against a giant of a man didn't come with such a luxury.
"Can we take a break?" Leo called. "I'm friggin' dying here!"
Klaus stood on the other end of a large room, shifting his feet over the fine hardwood. They'd cleared out one of the more sparsely-furnished rooms in Klaus' mansion, and had been using it as a gym for over three weeks. At first, Klaus had taken it very easy on Leo, considering that he had just come out of the hospital; designing him a lighter program to follow. As the days wore on, however, and Leo proved that he was in better health than ever thanks to the ingenuity of the Hellsalem's Lot medical system, he'd increased the difficulty level on everything they did. Leo hadn't minded the weights and strengthening exercises so much, as he'd been wanting to take time to define his muscles for a while. It was the hand-to-hand combat that he'd always been wary of, and he had good cause to when Klaus was his opponent. With almost anyone else, Leo could always fall back on the one and only fighting move he had in his arsenal: his head-slam. But that was definitely not an option with Klaus.
"Take a drink, catch your breath. Then we'll continue."
Leo leaned back up onto his feet and released a groaning complaint. He trotted over to his water bottle on the floor by the doorway, and snatched it up.
"You're a slave-driver, Klaus! Why do you think I never wanted to do this? I have no chance against you, and knowing that your 'holding back' is enough to put me this much out of breath is just depressing!"
Klaus watched Leo take a generous swig of water with apologetic eyes.
"I'm sorry, Leo. But you do know that the point is to learn technique, not to try and actually beat me, correct?"
Blue eyes glared at the large man, standing in his white tank top and black track pants, with barely a drop of sweat anywhere on him. Leo, on the other hand, already saw the beginnings of a wet patch in the middle of his own shirt. And under his arms. And down his back.
"That's not the point." Leo growled, tugging at the nozzle of the water bottle with his teeth. "You put a man in a competitive setting, he wants to win; plain and simple. Doesn't matter if it's just practice."
Klaus spread his arms helplessly, showing off his biceps and shoulders unintentionally, to which Leo's eyes went flat with jealous annoyance.
"There's nothing for it. I don't trust your training to anyone else, and just think; if you train against someone like me, then regular thugs on the street will seem like child's play."
Leo groaned in frustration, slumping his shoulders dramatically.
"If I can't even dislodge your foot or deflect your strikes properly, how am I ever going to take on Alterworldly attackers?"
"You are just beginning, Leo, give yourself time." Klaus advised. "You're still learning the basic framework of moves; once your body becomes familiar with them to the point where you can react without thinking, that's when improvement will begin."
"Yeah, I know…" Leo sighed, having heard this same sentiment in a million different iterations over the last three weeks.
"Your footwork has become excellent, your reaction time was exceptional from the beginning," Klaus went on, "it's just the strategy that you need to improve."
"I know!" Leo half-shouted, half-groaned. "Geeze, maybe I should just use my eyes instead of worrying about any of this! I'm too much of a weakling to be a match for anyone!"
Leo had been struggling for the past few days, having learned just enough to know exactly what he did wrong every time it happened. In truth, he was doing much better than when he knew nothing at all, but Klaus had been hard pressed to find different ways of boosting Leo's morale. The rest of the team had gotten wind of their training sessions, and had taken to flooding him with advice and different fighting style suggestions as well, putting unintentional pressure on him to succeed. Except for Zapp, who had been poking fun at him in his usual subtle manner, which Klaus did his best to discourage when he was present, but could not prevent when he was not. Although Zapp did motivate Leo to learn how to crack a human skull in the crook of his arm, but Klaus refused to show him how.
Klaus did show him everything else that he needed to know to begin learning to how spar; a few martial arts forms, dozens of defensive moves, and a smattering of boxing and wrestling techniques as well. The problem was, Leo was so small that even the moves meant to disarm a larger opponent were proving difficult, as they did to anyone so fresh into the exercises. For once, Leo didn't find being pinned, restrained, or struggling against Klaus' massive strength a turn-on. Not when the goal was to improve his self-defense.
In short, Leo had started off optimistic and determined, but was now being worn down by the sheer workload involved in becoming a competent fighter. Klaus only allowed him one day every week without training, and while Leo knew that was the best route to go, he had reached a bit of a breaking point.
"Do you need to stop for the day?" Klaus asked softly, after Leo's small outburst. "If you've had enough, it might be better to rest your mind and body, and regroup tomorrow."
Leo shook his head.
"I won't improve if I just quit when it gets hard. But I can't improve if I just keep getting upset either, damn it!"
Rubbing his face, Leo turned away from Klaus, and took another sip of water. He heard Klaus take a step or two closer, then stop when Leo made another angry sound. Leo sensed that his lover was at his wit's end trying to make him feel better, and he knew he wasn't making things any easier.
"Every fighter has been through a discouraging phase in their training." Klaus said, keeping his tone at the quiet level he always used to keep Leo calm. "Even those experienced like Steven and I meet with obstacles. I cannot stress enough how all of this will pay off, if only you can find the determination to stay with the program, stay with me, and I'll help you grow stronger."
Leo had known the pep talk was coming, had waited for it, and when it was finished, he let himself go still. He didn't want to keep fighting. He was tired, sore, and ready to be done for the day. He also couldn't leave this room without feeling as though he'd accomplished more than just adding to the list of reasons why he was incompetent. When Klaus fell silent, Leo didn't turn to answer him. Instead, his shoulders shook a bit and he slowly sunk down to one knee, covering his face with a hand and dropping his water bottle from the other.
"Leo, are you alright?" Klaus asked, concerned. The man immediately came to him, walking briskly as he saw the signs of his lover's breakdown.
As he reached out to grasp Leo's shoulder, the smaller man moved suddenly. His hands shot out and seized Klaus' extended wrist, and he performed a quick action that required a loud grunt of effort. The next second, Klaus was thrown headfirst over Leo's shoulder, his own momentum carrying his weight rather than Leo's small frame. He landed flat on his back, and Leo didn't waste any time restraining Klaus' arm by shoving his foot down onto one of his shoulders and pulling it back against his chest without even rising off his knee. Green eyes blinked in shock, and stared up at nothing for a second before focusing, upside-down, on Leo's face. Leo was breathing heavily from the exertion, and his own blue eyes opened wide as he took in his victory with disbelief.
Klaus was no dimwit; he deduced what had happened at once, and the surprise on his face melted into slight chiding as he lay there.
"Well done, Leo. But was playing dirty really necessary? I thought you were genuinely distressed."
Leo almost beamed as he planted his foot a bit harder and smirked. His voice dripped with satisfaction.
"This is a dirty city; have to use every advantage, every weakness. In your case, that's me, when I'm hurting or sad. You couldn't expect me not to use that against you at least once, come on! I haven't had a decent shot at you yet, and nothing else was working. So I had to get creative."
He could almost hear Klaus' mental tutting as the man shook his head and closed his eyes for a second.
"I can't deny any of those claims. Congratulations on your first win, even if it wasn't quite a fair match."
Leo scoffed.
"Me, up against you? That's anything but fair if you ask me, isn't that the point? Doesn't matter, I'm just going to enjoy this."
"I'm thrilled that your ego has been given a boost," Klaus said sweetly, before his tone took on an edge that made Leo wary, "but you forgot my other arm."
Without letting Leo contemplate that for even a split-second, Klaus rolled, swinging his free arm upwards and catching Leo by the back of his neck. Leo yelped, and tried to use his feet and legs to push Klaus away, but the man just had too many pounds and too many years of experience on him. It only took a few more seconds of scuffling before Klaus had Leo immobile atop him, his own muscled legs wrapped over Leo's to pin them to the floor, same as his arms. Leo was now spread-eagled atop Klaus, held down over his body like he was a second article of clothing.
"Damnit, Klaus!" Leo cried, infuriated. "Why couldn't you let me savor the one bit of success I had!?"
"I think you gloated long enough." Klaus responded, sounding far too cheerful and not out of breath at all. "Besides, I can play dirty too."
Leo huffed and fruitlessly tugged on all his limbs at once, writhing atop Klaus to no result. The man might as well have been a mattress, his frame spread out around and beneath Leo so much, but he was hard with muscle and not nearly as comfortable to lie on. When Leo kept squirming, Klaus easily flipped them over, flattening Leo on his front now, cheek pressed to the cool wooden floor. Another round of grunting and struggling followed, with Leo being certain that Klaus wasn't even using his full weight to pin him there, despite his captive state.
While Klaus had him pinned there, he drew in a deep breath through his nose, near Leo's neck. It prickled the small hairs there at once, making Leo shiver.
"I can smell your bodywash." Klaus told him. Leo struggled against the wave of need that struck him at those words, and griped,
"It's sweating off, it has to be, after all our training."
A low growling sound rumbled out from Klaus' throat, and he buried his nose into Leo's mop of curls. The young man gasped, jerking a little as he felt the larger man's hips slowly grinding down onto his backside.
"I think you smell like determination and effort…hmm…you feel good like this, too."
Leo's brain struggled to stay on track, and he tugged at his wrists, demanding,
"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?"
He could practically hear the evil grin of Klaus' fanged mouth as he answered, slow and assured,
"I told you; playing dirty."
Lips began kissing along the back of Leo's neck, and he instantly quivered at the sensation.
"You can't be serious, we're in the middle of the house, and..."
Leo's protest faded when Klaus' large hand left one of his wrists and instantly clamped down on his slender hip, holding Leo more firmly as Klaus continued grinding against him. The hard length of Klaus' interest was unmistakable, and it made Leo's mouth water just thinking about it.
"Did you…" Leo ventured, breathy and curious. "Did you get turned on because I threw you?"
"God, yes…" Klaus admitted, mouthing at Leo's bare shoulder and even tugging at the strap of his tank top with his teeth. "I'm as surprised as you are, but…it was quite exciting, seeing you like that."
"Seriously!?" Leo asked in disbelief, arching up as best he could when Klaus nibbled at his nape.
"You heard me."
Klaus said shortly, and let go of Leo enough to reposition both of his arms stretched out above his head, held down by one of Klaus' hands. The other reached beneath Leo to palm at his chest, down his waist, his hand wide enough to span across the width of Leo's torso. He drew in a sharp breath as his body responded to the unexpected turn of events. The only struggling he did now was for show, his limbs turning to water as strong fingertips teased him through his gym shorts.
To be fair, it had been so long...
While recovering in the hospital, Leo had been plagued by the fantasy of Klaus getting him off right there in his room, since his right arm was broken and he couldn't tend to it himself. He'd even plucked up enough courage to tease Klaus about the idea, but the big man had blushed and told him that it just wasn't an appropriate place or time. Even once Klaus had taken him home, the man was hesitant to do more than relieve Leo with his hand or mouth rather than full-on lovemaking. To say nothing of his hesitancy to let Leo reciprocate, so Leo hadn't tried to rush it.
Then they had begun training, and as invigorating as it had been, Leo found himself tired out after every session. With Leo no longer working his delivery job, they practiced every day but Sunday. This meant Leo had not been up for focusing on their love life beyond wrapping up in Klaus' arms and being tired and happy at the end of each day. While that was tender and sweet and comforting, the more carnal side of their intimacy had been neglected a bit.
It seemed, however, like that was about to change. Right here, right now.
"I'm so proud to see you improving, Leo." Klaus nearly purred into Leo's ear as he caressed his hardness. "You fairly glowed when you pinned me down. But, to be honest…I like you the best when you're fully surrendered."
"W-what makes you think I'm…surrendered?" Leo played along in a timid voice.
Klaus firmly rolled him over onto his back, pressing his hips down against Leo's in the same motion to keep him there. Leo gasped as Klaus' arousal was thrust down against his own.
"I don't see you trying to escape."
When Leo opened his mouth to argue, Klaus smashed their lips together, pressing Leo's head back onto the floor as he kissed him deeply. Those full lips were hot and slick, an even slicker tongue poking out to tangle with Leo's when he opened wider to moan. That broad hand was back, now joined by the other as Klaus released Leo's arms entirely and began stroking over his body. Leo's brain didn't register that he was free right away, but when it did, he dropped his arms at once to wrap around Klaus' neck. He melted easily into Klaus' body as the man tugged his hips up and ground them together with a desperation that Leo had rarely felt from his lover before.
"I give up, I give up…" Leo chanted in a breathy voice when they tore their mouths apart, and his fingers dug into Klaus' biceps. "I surrender, already…but…we can't…in here…"
Klaus looked like he hadn't heard the protest for a moment, as he continued to thrust his hips forward against Leo's. When it did register, Klaus hauled Leo right up and put him over his shoulder as he stood up, marching them out of their modified gym. Leo clung on, gasping and feeling the thrill he always experienced when Klaus manhandled him.
"God, Klaus, you haven't tossed me around like this since I've been home. I've really missed it."
The floor nearly thundered with Klaus' heavy footsteps as he tramped through the hallway, into the foyer, and up the massive staircase.
"I've been too frightened of hurting you. But I've seen how you perform during your training lately, and after what you did just now..."
He didn't have to finish his statement, Leo knew what he meant. After all this time, Klaus was finally certain that Leo's body was sound enough, that he couldn't be so easily hurt now, and that meant he could ravish him without restraint. Leo excitedly began nuzzling at Klaus' neck, biting at his earlobe, and sucking there loudly as his entire body was rocked this way and that from the man's long strides.
When they reached the bedroom, Klaus stepped inside and immediately pressed Leo up against the door to close it, seizing the back of his curly head and pulling him up for a heated kiss that nearly left him breathless.
"Get these off me..." Leo gasped, tugging at his tank top and the waistband of his shorts at the same time, as though the clothing burned him. "I'm hot…"
Klaus ripped the tank top up and over Leo's head, raking the fingers of one hand down his bare chest before lifting him away from the door and carrying him to their bed. He threw Leo down onto the mattress, all gentleness gone in his assurance that Leo could take it, and Leo began stripping off his remaining garments. Klaus did the same, and when they crashed back together in the middle of the mattress it was all heat, and skin, and burning desire as they kissed and writhed in their desperation to consume each other.
"Leo, I want you this very moment." Klaus groaned a mere handful of seconds later. "I can't wait."
The smaller man bucked against him, grinding his lower body up against his lover's to show his agreement, letting out a whining plea. That was all the permission Klaus needed to retrieve the bottle from the nightstand on his side, and then spill a great deal of lubricant on his fingers in his haste to pour it out. Leo faced away from him, propping himself on his elbows and presenting himself shamelessly for Klaus' preparation.
"Please, please…" Leo begged quietly, feeling how red his face went at the words.
Klaus' free hand cupped his lower back, then slid down farther. At the first touch of slick fingers, Leo sighed and leaned back even further. It had been so long, and he wanted it more than he'd wanted it ever before. It took time, even though they were both impatient and aching with need. Klaus made sure that Leo was ready and open, his body having tightened over time. By the end, Leo was moaning and rocking back against Klaus' hand as two of his huge fingers thrust in and out of him, striking his pleasure center nearly every time.
"You're ready for me." Klaus mumbled sweetly, his breath hot against Leo's lower back, where he'd been laving his tongue and giving suckling kisses to make Leo shudder even harder.
Leo only whimpered, feeling himself dripping onto the sheets with anticipation. He felt the mattress shift as Klaus positioned his huge body behind him. The touch of him at Leo's entrance seemed to light him like a live wire, and he gasped loudly, waiting. Klaus still took his time, sinking in very slowly to be sure Leo would not be in any pain. He couldn't spare Leo discomfort completely, but Leo was so worked up, and his body so charged with sexual tension that it hardly mattered to him. He had never arrived here, at this level of desperation, with so little foreplay.
"Oh, Klaus…yes…god, yes…"
Klaus let out a moan of pure enjoyment as he sheathed himself as far as he'd ever be able to within Leo's small body, and began to move his hips. The lubricant made the way easier, as always, and Leo loved how Klaus filled all the space inside him that he could possibly manage, spearing him over and over with his length while Leo slowly began to lose his mind. The feel of hot flesh moving inside of him, rubbing against his inner walls, hammering in the most delicious way against that spot that felt like heaven…it was wonderful.
"I have to…I have to…" Leo babbled, reaching down to stroke his own cock as the pleasure coursed through him. He might have been able to come with just Klaus inside him, but it always felt better to have both joys at once.
"Yes," Klaus answered breathlessly, "put your mended arm to good use…does it feel good to have your own hand back?"
"Mm-Hm…" Leo groaned an affirmative into his forearm, where he rested his head. "Feels so good…"
Klaus' chest nearly burned Leo as he leaned over his back and ran his huge hands over Leo's chest, flicking his nipples and then soothing them with light circles. Then he cradled Leo's sides, his thumbs merely a few inches from meeting across Leo's back.
Time vanished as they shared uncounted moments like this, heat and sensation, pleas and groans, words that sometimes made sense, and sometimes were nonsense. Touches, kisses, thrusting and stilling, loving…until neither of them could contain their joy any longer.
Leo began a moaning chant when he was close, and Klaus read his signs at once, clutching him tighter and slowing his thrusts. Leo liked it when he slowed down, while his own hand moved more rapidly on his cock. The combination they'd found together over all these months worked like magic for Leo, and he finally came with a series of loud and fluttery breaths. He wrung out a few more waves of pleasure from himself as Klaus gave him a few sharper thrusts against his prostate, and he saw stars, going lightheaded at once.
"Oh shit…I'm…" Leo breathed, chuckling a little with happiness and pleasure.
"Are you alright?" Klaus grated out, sounding raw and close himself. Leo merely nodded, and weakly nudged his hips back, encouraging Klaus to keep going. The man did so, his breathing going more ragged and speedy than before.
Leo listened with a grin, little sounds still trickling out of him as Klaus' hardness hammered the last ounces of pleasure it could from his spent body. Until at last, the big man gave a stuttering moan, and pulled out at the last second, splashing Leo's thighs with the fiery evidence of his completion.
They fell down onto the mattress side-by-side, breathing sharply and feeling hot enough to set the sheets ablaze.
"Wow…" Leo breathed after a few seconds. "Why…why have we waited…so long to do that again?"
Klaus offered a laugh through his panting, and shook his head next to Leo's shoulder.
"Foolishness…I imagine."
"God…I feel so good right now…" Leo said dreamily. "I don't even care."
Klaus only sighed in agreement. After a handful of minutes spent stroking each other and pecking kisses against cheeks and lips, Leo spoke again.
"I, uh…need a shower. I'm kind of disgusting…I was disgusting before we even did that."
A reproachful look came over Klaus' face, and he leaned up on one elbow to direct it down at Leo.
"We were only a bit sweaty, and trust me, you've smelled much worse before. It would take a lot more than that to keep me from ravishing you."
Leo rolled his eyes.
"As endearing as you're trying to make that sound, I'm still gross after all that. I'm going to shower."
"Let me join you?" Klaus asked, leaning down to rub his nose against Leo's. He pulled back playfully.
"You'd better if you want me to cuddle up to you afterwards; I want to lie around, relax, and watch something with you for the rest of the night. I think I've earned it."
"So you have, my darling boy." Klaus murmured. "Nothing has been harder won."
Leo felt his heart swell to the bursting point as he realized the deeper meaning to what Klaus had said, and he bit his lip bashfully, smiling. He forced himself to mutter the words that leapt to his mind, knowing if he didn't say them, he'd always wish he had.
"Nothing else has been so worth it."
Klaus beamed at him, cupped his face gently, and pressed their foreheads together. With that, it felt as though they had wiped the slate clean. An intangible truth settled around them both; they would always make it through together. Whatever obstacles this crazy city threw at them, whatever challenges they created for themselves, they would emerge stronger for the struggle. Neither of them needed to say it aloud, but they both felt it, here and now, between them.
"Leo, sweetheart...I absolutely love you."
As Klaus kissed him once more, soft, slow, and tender, Leo's eyes slipped closed, hiding away the glow of his blue orbs. The glow of redness on his face, however, only spread as he pulled back to respond against Klaus' mouth,
"Yeah…love you too."
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THE END ;) Check out the male or female podfics of this story if you liked it, links at the very beginning of chapter 1!
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