Authors notes: YAY! We are celebrating here, we have reached 169 readers! That's right for the people with minds like mine, 69! So in keeping with that theme, there will me a little smut added! So lots of readers, and only 1 review! (From the wonderful AureliaVerity, if you see this let me know you have) Come on, we all know we can do better than that! As always, I do not own Howl's moving castle, or its characters! If I did, do you think I would let Howl near anyone else? Max and this story line are mine though, and I want to hear your thoughts on both! So enough of my babbling, on we go…
Hours had passed since Michael's departure from the room, it had taken Howl all the energy he could muster to drag himself up onto his bed, now cold and alone with the absence of Michelle.
He had managed to pull his trousers the rest of the way and kick them onto the floor with his also discarded top. Cocooning himself in the duvet, Howl tried to calm and settle his mind for sleep, images of Michael still haunting his mind. The castle had grown still and quiet as he laid there, the small night-time whispers from Michael and Max long since died down, and a grumping Calcifer now crackling quietly to himself while snoring lightly, only just audible in Howl's bedroom above.
A knot pulled tight, deep in Howl when a thought struck him hard as it floated on by in his head. Had he taken advantage of Michael? The young boy, love of his life, had been out of his mind on wine and confusion. The age was not a problem; in Ingary things where done differently than in wales and the age gap meant nothing. Howl still felt he had, in some way, influenced an intoxicated Michael. Michael was so venerable, still adjusting to the change that no one could find the cause of, settling into the form cursed upon him and then latching onto whatever or whoever he could.
Michelle had kissed him first and that had to mean something, and how hard Michael had become under Howls gaze, was it all trickery on Howls part or did it mean something more?
Howl's train of thought halted suddenly, causing panic and confusion to ensue in his jolted mind as he heard a soft click and squeak as his door knob began to twist, and his door begin to open slowly, a sliver of dim light fell onto his face, his eyes tightly clamped closed in defence. Light footsteps crossed the small gap between the door and the Howls resting place, his breathing hitched in his throat.
The covers around Howl's almost naked form began to move as they were lifted carefully, and a weight slipped in next to him causing a dip in the bed which Howl began to slip slowly into, coming closer and closer to the pool of radiating heat by his side. A soft and warm lump could be felt by Howl, just in the dip of his back, the soft lump was growing rapidly harder and harder against the small of his back. The feel of it against him made Howl's own length begin to swell and harden, a pressure building in the small restraints of his boxers.
This had to have a meaning; Howl had nothing to do with this, had he? The now Michael, evident from the warm poker against his back, far from the giggly feminine creature that had become Michelle, had come to his bed in the earliest of hours and had got in it with him, all through free will.
Beating hard, his heart lurched as Howl felt a warm hand come down on his painful leaking erection, and a small moan escaped him as a thumb begin to move in small circular motions over the covered sensitive and swollen head. The hand twisted, wrapping around him and moving painfully slowly over his length, Howl's mind let over to a torrent of pent up of lust.
Howl's body defied his wishes as he thrust into the big hand involuntary as it began to work faster and faster, up and down his length, a low moan escaped his lips followed by "Michael, ohh… feels so good…" As the words left his lips, Howl's entire world clicked into place at once, and then smashed into a million more pieces as the large rough hand grasped his swollen length, full ball's and began to squeeze painfully as a familiar low voice whispered into his ear.
"You blew it didn't you old man Howl!" Howl felt short rough stubble scratch against his face as teeth began to graze against his cheeks, "This is a warning Howl, and I think you should listen carefully," as Max uttered the last word he squeezed Howl again, harder, a low stifled moan of pain betrayed Howl as it slipped from his lips and a small laugh sounded from Max deep into his ear, a strong smell of wine burned at Howl nostrils.
"If you lay a hand on my woman, or even look at her with your love sick eyes again Howl, I something bad might just happen!" The drunken threat lodged in his mind, and a taste of venom swelled in his throat at Max's words of owner ship over Michael. "She doesn't want you Howl, it's me she want's and you will not get in my way! And if you even try to do a single thing to me Howl, Michelle will know, and she will never ever forgive you, and you know it, for hurting some she loves so much!" Howl flinched involuntarily at the threat.
Max placed a small rough kiss on Howl's cheek as he released him and left the room quickly, "See you later pretty boy." He had called back over his shoulder as he closed the door throwing the room once again into darkness. Moments passed, moisture in Howls eyes began to slowly bead into tears, a blindingly bright light erupted in the room, radiating from a single small point in the room.
"Howl, are you alright?" A low crackling voice rang out as the bright light died down to a small ball of fire, unmistakably Calcifer.
"I'm… I'm not sure!" A shaky Howl replied weakly, self-loafing welling in him at his own weakness.
"I tried Howl, but nothing; I couldn't touch the slippery git! If I could, I tell you, he would have had what's coming to him!" The concerned and worked up fire demon grew quiet for a moment, as a small smile tugged at the corners of his fine lips.
"I couldn't either! But why? Have I really lost that much power Calcifer? How did you know I needed you?" Confusion was heavy in Howls words.
"We were linked Howl, I will always know when you're in need." Howl's heart shifted as heard it's former residents kind and sincere words.
"It's obvious and understandable Howl once you take a good look at everything, that is, if you know all there is to know" Confused, Howl motioned for the fire demon to continue. "After what you did to Michael, it's taken a toll on us both, and it will take a while to regain are power's fully, but it's made his- her," he corrected himself quickly, "made her more powerful, and Max is under Michael powerful protection, my own magic is tied into it, very strong, very beautiful to watch, she is capable of things we can't predict Howl, and she's learning fast." Calcifer's words rang in Howl's head and it took a moment to process what had been said.
"What I did to Michael? You mean, I… did I do… well, you know,-"Calcifer answered quickly, putting the answered to Howl without dancing around the subject or allowing his babbling to continue.
"Yes Howl, you wanted a woman and you already had feelings for Michael so you got your wish, at a price of course, nothing comes free as you well know. You may not have accepted your feelings for Michael, but they were there and when you mistook Michael for a the female of your dreams, what formed was a female body that had come with your pure want, so strong in fact that it ripped power from where it could, giving her power to rival us both together. A demon and a great wizard's magic bound in the form of a young man turned a young girl witch."
The speech confused Howl to no end, but he understood. And all that Howl got from the long winded explanation was that he had changed Michael into Michelle, but that was all! The feelings that Michelle had shown for Howl were all her own, not an illusion or magic! He wanted Howl! But was it love or lust?
Notes: So, this chapter could have gone better but it's okay! Some things have been explained and we got a like slash in there, but will it frighten Howl off! So remember to review and alert, it really doesn't take long to do, it keeps the plot bunnies happy! And me happy and writing! Do you want to hear more from the POV from Michael or do you want to stick with Howl? And Remember, "A writer with no audience, is not a writer, simply a person who writes." I'm not sure if I made this quote or read it at some point in the past, but it's true; let me know I have an audience and review and tell me what you want to hear!
Next time:
What happens when Howl makes a big gesture? Michael's power grows, encouraged by Max, and begins to live a material life, much to the dislike and distaste of the frivolous wizard Howl.
Michael gets to thinking, "Howl we need to talk…" and loses herself in slender arms.
Remember to alert as not to miss the above coming in a new chapter soon! Love you all!
The 'whichwitchiswhichwriter' xoxoxo