Title: Until You Break

Pairing: Van Helsing/ Dracula

Rating: T

Warnings: Slash, mentions of sexual situations, and obvious mentions of the Bubonic Plague

Also, this is a story that obviously deals with Van Helsing's and Dracula's history. In reality, Dracula was a prince so that's why I gave him that title instead of Count. And although the Black Death ran rampant in 1348 (I believe) there were constant outbreaks throughout early history. I imagine this story to take place during the timeline the movie gave. So about the 1440-50s. However, one of the major causes of vampire folklore in eastern Europe was because of the plague epidemics. Just food for thought I'd figured I'd share.

Reviews would be a great gift!

It had begun ever so slowly like the ravenous disease itself. Faint whispers that grew to bitterly muttered words to full out paranoid rumors. It was worse with each ravished village they stumbled upon. Death and malady clung to their clothing and minds as they roamed the countryside. It was taking a toll on the men but it was wearing down their commanders even more.

Vladislaus Dracula ran his long fingered hands down his worried but handsome face. Gabriel Van Helsing, his closest friend and surreptitious lover, watched him in turn as he thoughtfully chewed a hunk of cooked meat.

"I don't know what to do," Vladislaus admitted.

To get the young prince to admit anything was harder than pulling teeth. His thick and beautiful Romanian accent was choking his speech due to his anxiety. Gabriel swallowed unsure himself. The men seemed to be doing fine, but panic was something they couldn't afford in the midst of driving back the Turks. They had been succeeding, but their ruthless Dracula would not last long if he could not reign in his own men. Vladislaus' exhausted blue eyes looked up as one of his and Gabriel's most trusted men approached them. He bowed to his Lords though the movement was stiff with nervousness.

"What is it?" Gabriel asked furrowing his brow slightly.

"We…we all humbly request that you come outside my Lords," was the uneasy reply.
Gabriel's hazel eyes met his friend's and he shrugged lightly. Gabriel raised himself off the warm rug of their tent and helped pull Vladislaus up.

They wandered outside to encounter a sight they would rather not have seen. Of the small group of fifty men accompanying them, they were taking turns shrugging off their clothes proving to their comrades they weren't infected. They knew what the boils the plague produced looked like, and they paid special attention to any coughing lest it bring up blood. Gabriel sighed, saddened it had gone this far. He glanced over to his partner. The prince looked as if his knees would give out. His men were going mad with their fear of the pestilence. The latest men who had stripped down returned their clothing to their shivering frames.

"My Lords, we've all checked and none of us have the sickness…but we don't know if you are ill my Lords."

There was silence for a time, a few moments until Gabriel and Vladislaus realized what the men wanted.

They needed proof.

Their eyes met and for once it was Vladislaus who let his emotions shine through. The younger man seemed terrified so Gabriel nodded imperceptibly.

"Alright," he spoke outwardly, "It's only fair."

He didn't wish to divest his clothing in the frigid fall air, but he would do so anyway. A rebellion was high on neither his nor the black haired prince's lists.

His leather belt was unfastened, his sword and smaller blades clanking to the earth. He shrugged off his cloak and doublet, the evening air permeating the thick cloth of his cream shirt. That followed it's predecessors to the ground. Gabriel lifted his arms showing his men the smooth skin covering his tall lean body.

Vladislaus offhandedly noticed that Gabriel was beginning to tan from spending so much time in the sun. He quickly glanced down peeved to see that he himself was as pallid as ever. He couldn't afford to be caught ogling his lover so openly, but the young prince's eyes were glued to his friend and bed partner. Gabriel was a man of many talents. While turning and showing the men he had no disease the air of awe surrounding him was palpable, yet no sense of vanity or pride followed in his wake. Gabriel was as beautiful as he was intimidating. Vladislaus was the same, yet others feared his wrath far more than any physical blow.

"Are we done?" Gabriel asked lightly.

The men muttered to themselves though it was apparent they were still not appeased. "My Lord…"

Gabriel cleared his throat in embarrassment. His hands fisted at his sides before he let out a terse, "Fine." He quickly grabbed the hem of his trousers and pushed them down to his ankles.

Vladislaus was sure all the blood that wasn't traveling down to a now very interested organ was rushing to his face. He hadn't had the chance to fully admire Gabriel during daylight for months. His lover was perfect; tall, slender, handsome, confident yet humble. The auburn curls that reached the tops of his shoulders…the lean muscles forming perfect planes and valleys…every detail summed up made Vladislaus hot under the collar. Yet before he realized it, Gabriel was hurriedly pulling his clothes back on. There was a light dust of pink on his cheeks, but all present were more than willing to attribute it to the cold.

Then Vladislaus finally noticed that all eyes were settled on him. He flicked his gaze around the soldiers loyal to him and gulped. He looked to Gabriel, and for once it didn't give him a sense of relief to have the older man wink at him. He would have venomously denied that his hands were shaking had anyone said so aloud. His regal clothes fluttered to the ground as his heart pounded in his chest. He paused as his hands firmly gripped the hem of his un-tucked shirt.

He couldn't let them see…

"Vlad," Gabriel pressed gently.

The raven haired prince gulped before rushing into movement. He whipped his clothes off and stood there in the quickly cooling air. The silence was deafening to him and he was burning with shame. He most certainly did not have the plague. But there were blemishes on his skin. They were leftover marks from a night of passion, but they looked as if someone had beaten him…and badly. From the neck down his cream skin was procured in bruises, angry red scratches, and deep teeth marks.

Vladislaus knew they looked horrendous in the daylight. But he'd never minded them before. He swallowed thickly when he was forced to see the look on Gabriel's face. There was horror and worst of all guilt. Because both men knew it had been Gabriel who'd caused those marks. He hadn't realized he'd been treating his beloved so roughly. Gabriel opened his mouth to speak when another enraged voice broke out.

"Who did this my Lord?"

Vladislaus turned his head trying to see which one of his men had spoken. When he couldn't he hurriedly pulled his clothes back on. It was becoming too cold to be without them…at least, not without Gabriel and he participating in certain activities to keep themselves warm.

"What happened my Lord?"

"Where did they come from my Lord?"

"Were you assaulted my Lord?!"

"Don't be absurd. No one would be able to rape a Dragul!"

Gabriel could see Vlad wished for nothing more than to flee and be left alone.
"Enough!" he barked. Even Vladislaus nearly flinched at his tone. His lover's usually warm eyes cast a belittling glance over their soldiers.

Vladislaus felt better with his garments back on his person, but he kept his gaze on the ground. Something the man hated more than anything.

"Seeing as you all are so curious," Gabriel continued steadily, "we'll just have to tell the story won't we Vlad?"

"Yes." He answered without hesitation though he prayed frantically that his partner was about to make up a fabulous tale. Gabriel did not disappoint.

"There was a man foolish enough to harm a Dragul. Your Dragul." Enraged murmurs drifted in the air. Vladislaus belatedly noticed that maybe Gabriel's story wasn't going to help much. "He took advantage of our leader. The leader who doesn't sleep so that his men might live through this fight. He slipped into the tent while I was on patrol," Gabriel was amazing at lying on the spot, "Our Prince was asleep. I don't know what happened before I returned." Vladislaus had to look away to stifle a chuckle. The man knew exactly what happened. "When I came back, I must have surprised the attacker for it gave our Prince enough time to get the upper hand and…well, Vlad would you like to them…?"
Apparently Gabriel's vivid imagination had run out of steam. Vladislaus smiled warmly at his lover in gratitude before the tenderness fled his eyes and mania replaced his demeanor. His voice took on the ever so seductive tone Gabriel adored to hear when Vladislaus spoke of certain issues.

"I took my sword and I cut off his head. Mounted it on a pike to rot in the sun."

Death was one of them.

At the knowledge of the slaughter of a would be "assassin" there were cheers among their men.

"Alright men, that's enough excitement for tonight. I suggest you get some rest," Gabriel said. Gabriel could be commanding without being condescending, that was one of the many reasons the men loved him.

Both commanders watched their soldiers amble idly back to whatever menial tasks they had been partaking in before. Another disaster narrowly avoided.

No one noticed when Gabriel linked his arm with Vladislaus' as they walked back to their tent. Neither of them spoke for a time, simply enjoying the blissful silence for a change. However, Vladislaus needed to let out some pent up frustration. He let out a heavy laugh recalling Gabriel's tale.

"You cast yourself in such a bad light," Vladislaus murmured.

"Yes but you have to admit, trying to have you all to myself with all the men around is rather foolish," Gabriel smiled. Vladislaus leaned over to Gabriel's ear, hot breath sending shivers down the older man's spine.

"So can 'this fiend' defile me once more?"

"I'm afraid once won't be enough for him," Gabriel smirked back.

End.