Hungry Like a Wolf

[emikaelson]

"Would you like another pancake, love? I know we used up a lot of energy this morning." Elijah glanced across the breakfast table at his lover, and reached a hand out to clasp with his. It'd been a beautiful morning of making love and snuggling together beneath the covers-- assuring one another of their truest love. Having Cain home the last few days had been a slice of heaven for the couple.

Turning to grab a few more pancakes from the counter, Elijah held the plate out to Cain, and then suddenly his world went black and white, everything imploded and he was floating in a million little pieces again, ash against the sky tossed by the wind into the night, and then he wasn't.

Elijah awoke in a field lined by a large forest. High grass tickled his skin, and he realized that he once more was stuck with only the clothes on his back and what he carried with him. Was he dead? Where was the welcoming committee, Niklaus, Hayley? If not where was he and where was Cain, because he didn't want to do this life without his love.

Suddenly the original's heart began to pound in his chest as he sat up and looked around. There were hills set off in the distance along with the full forest blanketing the area south of him. He certainly wasn't in Duplicity anymore. Had they gotten tired of him? Was this what they did to people? Straightening up, the hybrid undressed and took to his wolf form, not wanting to deal with the wash of emotions that had set up a slow terrifying place in his gut.

Instead he became the wolf and turned to his natural habitat. Howling once he took off at a run into the forest to see where he was and if anyone (Cain) was there for him to find, or if he'd have to try and kill himself to make it out of here.

Comments

[sonofadam]

Cain had taken a few days off to make sure Elijah was alright, and he would dare say his lover was very much so the past few days. They spent it together doing very little except each other, and that they did a lot.

Things were good, life was good. They worked out their misunderstanding and sure, while his lover will hurt over a past lover, Cain did his best to ease that. Soon it will be over and Cain didn't think things could get better except getting out from under this world.

Be careful what one wishes for.

It was a strange light headed sensation that overtook him first and then the world was fading out from around him. He heard Elijah's question like it was from a distance, and he tried to call out to him. "Elijah!!" Did he hear? Cain couldn't be sure, things were very distant now, and it was like he was being pulled away.

He lost consciousness a few seconds later and woke up to the brightness of a sun shining on him, beating down with shadeless ferocity and he groaned, opening his eyes in a squint. He was outdoors, but upon sitting up, he realized he wasn't anywhere near the city. Or any building for that matter. To his right was a thick forest like nothing he had seen in the likes of Duplicity, or hadn't seen since humanity had developed weapon and equipment for deforestation. To his left was a rocky landscape full of broken rocks and scraggly plants. There was plenty for conver, not nothing moved.

"Elijah?" Cain sat up, panicking when he realized he was alone. No one, not a single soul within sight. "Elijah!!" He shouted again, panic raising when they're was no response.

Where was he? What happened? Was he kicked out of the city somehow... Then where was Elijah? Desperation ate at him as he scrambled to his feet, trying to figure out what and where he was. Was he still in the same world? What if he wasn't. The more he thought the more he got worked up. Should he move, should he stay... "ELIJAH!!!"

[emikaelson]

Panic settled in the wolf's gut like a case of bad deer. The wolf liked it less than the human did, because it was distracting and disturbed his natural cycle of order. He'd rather absorb the way the wind blew at the tiniest wisps of his fur, and the way branches and leaves sounded beneath his paws.

The forest was alive as the wolf itself. Bugs clamored along their busy pathways, tiny creatures all busily maintaining the lifecycle of the plants that they depended on and that depended on them. Something larger moved off to Elijah's left, but he didn't catch what it was-- it didn't smell like anything he knew and that kept him running.

At this point the wolf didn't know if he was running to or from something. He was looking for someone, mostly Cain. The man he'd spent his whole life looking for-- he couldn't lose him now. He'd break any world, any plane of existence to find him once more.

Stopping he howled again. It seemed as if no matter which direction he ran, the forest went on forever. Was there no end to this? Was he really all alone? Certainly not. There had to be something, someone else?

[sonofadam]

No response. Just the rustle of wind and leaves.

Cain looked up at the sky, figuring out that wherever he was, if it worked the way Earth did, then he had perhaps three, four hours of daylight at best. Glancing to the forest he shook his head, deciding to stay clear of it for now. There would be dangers in there once night fell, it was better that he found his shelter with the rocks.

But where was he, and where was Elijah? Surely if he was around, he would have heard him with his supernatural hearing.

"ELIJAH!!!" Shouting again, he tried not to let his despair wash over him, not yet. He hadn't figured out what happened yet, maybe Elijah was somewhere here too... Maybe. Unlikely... But maybe.

He had to think that way because he couldn't bear to think of any scenario where he lost his lover. Fifteen thousand years and he finally found someone to share his life with, a handful of months was not enough. If anything, he deserved to have this happiness. "Where the fuck are you..."

Trying to keep himself from drowning in his panic, he started to move. Maybe if he found a high point, he will be able to see what manner of place he came to. Maybe he'll see tracks. Maybe he'll see something, anything, to tell him where was his lover. Because Elijah had to be around here somewhere. If he wasn't, Cain didn't know what he was going to do.

[emikaelson]

Keeping the edge of the forest to the east, the wolf continued for sometime before it became tired and decided that it should find shelter before the evening came. It was an apex predator, but this was foreign land and there was no telling what Elijah might come across in the night hours. He wasn't really worried about his safety, but he didn't want to stir up trouble when there was no need to.

Taking on one last set of howls to see if there was any response the wolf went in search of a den. His mind tossed and turned as he looked between safety and what he was going to do if he couldn't find Cain again. The thought was becoming more and more real by the second. How was he going to escape existence if there was no reason for living and no white oak stake. Never did he appreciate that stupid city more than now.

Finding a den of leaves and branches nestled in and against a fallen log, the wolf curled up against it, and whimpered for the first time that day. The hybrid wasn't about defeatism, or any such negative belief, but he'd never faced a world all alone before. Tomorrow was a fresh day, and perhaps, just perhaps he'd be lucky and find his beloved then, he could only hope. Otherwise, he'd be lost, completely lost.

[sonofadam]

Every so often, Cain tried to shout Elijah's name, just in case his lover had heard him from the distance and was trying to reach him. He was always met with only the wind in response, a desolate empty sound as it blew over the uninhabited plains.

The sun was starting to set and he was starting to get hungry as well. He might need to find food too before the light was out, so he tried to do a little bit of foraging while there was still light, just to see what manner of place he was dropped into. Most of the wildlife he saw weren't things he recognized, and he decided he wasn't desperate enough to try poisoning himself to see what was edible just yet. Of all the ways to die, poisoning was pretty bad.

He will need to search for water though as none was in plain view.

Giving another shout, Cain followed it with a sigh. He found an outcrop of rocks that provided a partial shelter. It wasn't a den, but it would keep him from the elements, mainly the wind. The climate wasn't too cold in this place, so he shouldn't freeze without a fire overnight.

He felt like he was already dying inside, a slow torturous death that continued the longer he couldn't find his lover. Eventually it will be like before he was pulled into Duplicity and before he met his lover. Maybe even worse... there weren't even a sign of civilization around. It would be like regressing back to the days before mankind banded together in their civilizations, wandering the world not knowing what to expect.

Was this a deserted planet, or a baren one? He didn't know, and his heart ached to think he might need to find out over the next millennium. With the setting sun he tried to sleep, and although nothing disturbed him, it was a restless one.

[emikaelson]

It was a long night for both Elijah and the wolf. Dreams of violence, human and carnage from were form plagued them both as they tried to sleep, and then sometime in the early predawn hours a snake wandered into the makeshift den and attempted to warm itself beneath Elijah. Not even a growl would deter it from trying to squeeze under the mound of limbs and fur. Normally the creature would make a quick meal, but not knowing the poisons it could be carrying, Elijah chose to leave it be and begin his morning search for water early.

He wandered deeper into the forest and eventually found a beautiful fresh spring, tributaries looked like they met here and traveled off into different directions. There was a cliff with a waterfall that the wolf could climb and get a vantage point, a small lay of the lands he'd been traveling.

It looked like he'd gone about half the length of the forest, and he had about another day's journey before he reached a rocky outcropping where there might be caves that Elijah could live in.

The vampire would have to figure out which of the animals in the forest had blood that was drinkable because he was starting to be fatigued. He could go a long time without blood-- he'd had training in all his many years, but he'd weaken quickly and wouldn't be of much use to himself or others after a while.

There was still no sight of Cain or any other human-like creatures. This disturbed Elijah greatly. He almost curled up here and didn't move anymore. He didn't. There was still the smallest grain of hope that he might still find Cain somewhere.

Transforming back to himself, Elijah took the time to bathe in the spring and lay out in the sun. He called out to Cain several times, this time using his human voice. Sadly, only the gurgling of the water, and the rushing of the waterfall met him in return.

[sonofadam]

Dawn broke the troubled sleep of the fitful immortal, turning on the bed of rocks he reclined against with discover the aches from limbs that stiffened overnight. He groaned and sighed, looking forlornly out at the morning sky from where he was half shadowed by the rocks.

He was thirsty, his lips were parched and he needed to find food and relieve himself, yet Cain couldn't find the energy to move. If he was alone again, was there any point to any of this. Another ten thousand years, watching civilization culture from nothingness... He couldn't do it again.

Eventually it was his body that forced him to move so he could at least relieve himself although he wondered if he should be valuing the liquids if there was no water.

But he wasn't in a desert, there was a forest just behind him which meant definite water and food source, he had only to find it. So sighing, he considered the land before him and turned back in the direction he came from yesterday, towards that lush greenery. He gave another shout for his lover, bellowing loud enough to nearly make himself hoarse, before he started trekking towards the outskirts of the forest. Maybe he could keep to the edge of it and see what he could find. Walking in would definitely lose him in its foliage so he could only hope he didn't have to until he knew there was no other choice.

It was not reassuring that he still didn't recognize most of the flora or fauna, and having spent all his life living in one place, if he was back on Earth, he would recognize most plantlife by sight if not by name. It was further disheartening. Sighing for what must be the twentieth time that morning, he started to move.

[emikaelson]

Taking one last look at the lovely little bit of paradise in the midst of his lonely and increasingly hopeless situation Elijah inhaled deeply and pressed it out slowly before taking off in the blink of an eye. He didn't bother to take to the wolf again. This time, the hybrid chose to make time over using intense wolf senses. He had to know if Cain was over near the rocks; if he was anywhere Elijah knew that he'd have taken shelter in caves or something similar in rocky outcroppings-- at least to start with.

Coming quickly to the edge of the forest, the vampire bellowed loudly. "Cain, Cain, are you out here?"
He wandered along this part of the greenery, searching back and forth for signs of his loved one. Eventually he dropped to all fours and howled out his song, praying that his lover might hear him.

Then he caught it, a smell upon the air, a familiar scent-- could it really be that Cain was around here? He didn't want to believe his senses, but did his wolf's nose lie? He sniffed at the path again and noticed the footprint that had bent the grass, it was barely visible, but it was there.

Joy surged through the hybrid, and the wolf howled again, this time a happy tune-- gone was the forlorn sound. It called out to its mate to the one that it loved above all others and set off to go find him.

[sonofadam]

Cain wandered for what seemed like hours along the edge of the trees, finding water on their leaves to wet his parched lips. There wasn't much moisture, but it was something, better than nothing at all.

Every hour or so, he really didn't know with no sense of time, Cain tried to shout for his lover. It was a hopeless attempt, but just he couldn't give up completely or he had no reason to continue moving. Yet as the hours progressed each shout for weaker, less of an attempt and more just him trying to keep going.

Until after the last one he thought... Was it... A howl, in the distance? He couldn't be sure, not Auth the rustle of leaves and wind that made it difficult for his human hearing. "ELIJAH!! I'M HERE! ELIJAH!" Louder this time he shouted again, knowing even if he couldn't hear, Elijah could and the hybrid would surely and definitely come to him.

The first feeling of hope since arriving took over Cain and he started to run back in the direction he came. He sprinted, dashing, tripping over vines to go stumbling but that didn't stop him. "Please, please let that be you."

[emikaelson]

Traipsing after the scent, the wolf went back and forth trying to decipher which direction his mate lay in. It was difficult because it seemed like it went not one, but in two different directions. At first the wolf headed toward the rocks where there was the strongest scent, since that is where Cain had relieved himself the most and been for the longest time before moving along.

Finding the area of rocks where his beloved slept empty, turned Elijah's stomach in two. So close and yet so far. At least the hybrid knew that he was getting closer. He howled yet again, hoping to all hope that Cain could hear him from here.

He knew that if he were to switch into vampire form it'd be harder to track, but he would move more swiftly. Inhaling deeply one last time, bones broke and reformed once more and this time when Elijah took off, he sped off with a picture in his head of a joyful reunion. It would happen.

Then he heard it. Faintly in the distance. The call that saved his life. Elijah, I'm here, Elijah. Faster than he had the energy for, the vampire made his way until he was standing there, at a small clearing watching Cain drink water from the edge of a leaf. Elijah had never seen such a beautiful sight in his life. He didn't care if there wasn't another person in this entire place. Cain was there and that was all that mattered to him.

"Cain.." He spoke normally, knowing that his lover would hear him now. All he had to do was turn his head.

[sonofadam]

Cain.

So quickly that Cain whipped his head around that he surely gave himself whiplash, but he didn't care. All that mattered was Elijah was there, standing as the most beautiful sight he had ever seen, a majestic beauty that had the immortal dashing forward.

He embraced him with the force of a two hundred pound man bowling into him, arms open and wrapping this lost love like he was afraid the man would disappear if he didn't. In truth they had been apart no more than a full day, yet it already seemed decades, so horrible were these 24 hours of hopeless loneliness that it may as well have been years.

"Elijah. Oh God, Elijah, I thought... I don't know where we are. But when I woke and you weren't there or anywhere, and... Elijah! Fuck I'm so relieved. I wouldn't know what I'd do..." He just buried his face against Elijah's shoulder, breathing quickly and having trouble catching his breath. He hiccuped although his eyes remained dry.

[emikaelson]

Surely it was lucky that Elijah had the strength and stance of a vampire, otherwise the smaller man would have toppled when the brute force that was Cain slammed into him with all his fear, love and relief-- the exact same affections were returned when the hybrid leaned forward to catch him, arms extended wide as he swept the large man up into his embrace and spun him around like a jock and his high school sweetheart.

"I thought my life was forfeit when I could not find you. I wasn't sure how, but I did not want to live if you were not here." There was obvious strain in Elijah's tone as he answered his lover, turning to place a bevy of kisses against the open cheek tucked near his neck.

"I thought- I was all the way... but, I found water. You must be so thirsty." He placed Cain back on his feet, and ran his fingers through his lover's hair trying to keep himself from taking advantage of the other right here and now, just to make sure of him. It was so difficult not to feel the need to touch every inch of him here after feeling the desperation of not knowing, not knowing if they were going to find each other again.

[sonofadam]

Water. Yes, he was thirsty and hungry and exhausted, but none of that mattered when compared to the importance of this reunion. Suddenly there was meaning to this life again, he wasn't stranded in a barren land but given a new world for the two of them. Hope shone through for their new life, and it was all Cain could think about, that it didn't matter because Elijah was here. Whatever hardships this world may have, he looked forward to exploring them with his lover.

Pulling back from his lover when he was rested back on the ground, Cain kissed him, hoping Elijah didn't mind his sandpaper lips and tongue. He was parched, but he didn't care as this was far more important. Where Elijah hadn't ran his hands over him, Cain did, large hands caressing his back and running over his sides like he had to make sure this was truly the hybrid in person.

After what seemed like an endless kiss, Cain pulled away, coughing from how dry his throat was. "You said you found water? Do you remember the way back? We can talk while we walk, and can set up shelter near it."

[emikaelson]

Elijah would have taken the sandpaper tongue and lips all day on every spot of his body if that's what was offered. He would never tire of kissing his beloved. The passion between them never seemed to even simmer down from the red hot boiling heat that they always created when they came together.

However, concern crested Elijah's brow when his beloved began to cough from the dryness in his throat. If he'd been a vampire, the hybrid would have cut open his own veins and offered himself right then and there. As it was he could only nod. "I do remember, of course I do. It's about a half a day's walk at your speed. How about we talk when we get there. I'd rather take you there quickly, and get you some water. Then we can do something about feeding you, and possibly me."

Lifting Cain as easily as a loaf of bread, Elijah took off and began the trek back toward the spring, water and tributaries. He paused a few times along the journey to allow them to catch their breath and let Cain regain his balance, never long enough for them to do much more than to cling and reaffirm their love and be on their way once more.

Finally, they reached the place where Elijah had slept the night before as a wolf, and spent the morning as a human. "Here, welcome to our very own little piece of paradise. The water is chilly, but refreshing and the sun dries you quickly. Please drink, it will refresh you enough so that we might go find something to eat."

[sonofadam]

Cain never was one to be carried, but he also learned to not argue when sometimes the necessity required it. Like now, when he was weak from not having eaten and thirsty and tired. So he let Elijah take his weight while he laid up against the vampire's chest and listened to his pounding heart. They were together, that heart was alive. That was all that mattered.

Half a day's walk for Cain was little for a hybrid, although it was still long enough that Cain worried for his love. But between the two of them, despite them both being immortals he understood who was stronger, so he voiced his concerns only as supportive kisses during their brief moments of rest. Soon he heard the sound of running water as well, and it was nothing short of paradise what Elijah took him to.

Cain didn't hesitate to drink, knowing nothing could truly kill him, not even thirst, but he would prefer to not be desiccated. When he finally had his full, he looked back to Elijah standing over him.

"Did you manage to figure out where are we? I don't recognize the flora..." Which meant they were probably not returned to Earth. "I was so afraid I lost you forever." Even now, a shadow of that fear remained at the back of his gaze when he looked up at his lover.

[emikaelson]

In the past, they'd both carried each other a time or two, so Elijah didn't even think twice when he picked up his lover to speed him toward the destination. It was out of necessity and only made sense to do it this way. If it'd been easier to do it some other way, then they would have done it that way.

Relief was visible on Elijah's face once they reached the spring and Cain had his share of water. Sure, they were both hungry-- but it had only been a little over 24 hours or so since they'd last eaten. They could easily last longer without food. Although, Elijah was certain that between the two of them they would figure out something to eat soon. Neither of them would die from poisoning or starvation, but neither were comfortable.

Glancing up at his lover, he moved into Cain's shadow and slid his arms around the immortal's waist, happy that they were here together. It was Elijah's turn to nuzzle his head into Cain's shoulder now, kissing lightly at the side of his neck. "I love you." He said softly before carrying on about anything survival related, because that was the very first matter of his survival, ultimately.

"I don't know where we are. I've seen a snake, and something that looked similar to a deer, but wasn't. I know we're not on earth, but I've no notion of where we are. I imagine we're going to have to hunt and gather for ourselves and find out what's good for us in the non-fun manner. My body will handle poisonous food better than yours, as I constantly, quickly renew. So, I should be our taste tester, I think. Then if you don't mind, when you are full, I will need blood."

[sonofadam]

Cain too had seen signs of game trails on his trek around the outskirts of the forest and was relieved to hear that Elijah had seen bigger creatures as well. If it could move and was bigger, then Cain was confident it could be eaten. Larger creatures were dangerous but rarely poisonous.

"It doesn't matter what it is. If it looks big enough, we could use it. If you've seen a snake, then that means these creatures are close enough to be eaten." Cain hoped so. There were plants, so he assumed this world functioned on similar building blocks of life and he should be able to digest them. It would be incredible cruel indeed if this world was one that he could not find food in at all.

One thing caught his attention though. "You don't need to wait for me to be full to eat. Not both of us need to starve here. Just let me drink a bit more water to get hydrated again." If Elijah views to drink from from, Cain didn't mind. With Elijah at full strength, the immortal knew the hybrid had better chances of bringing hunting down game.

[emikaelson]

Of course Elijah completely agreed with Cain's assessment on the hunting situation. He'd originally been trained as a hunter by his father, who'd been known for his skills as one where Elijah grew up. He was twenty-five when he turned and had twenty-five years of training from his father. He was only scorned for the love that he showed his brother Niklaus, but Elijah and Klaus still never rebelled from their duties.

Not only that, but Elijah had the vampire and the wolf, two creatures even further skilled at hunting than the previous mortal. Add to that Cain's skills and the pair were uniquely suited greater than most people who'd ever lived out here to survive in this brand new wilderness than any other.

"I was thinking the same thing. I would have gone chasing after the game, but I was more intent on finding you first. You were the first thing I considered essential to life." He squeezed Cain's hand, and then let him go to retrieve more water. "Take your time. I really am fine to wait until after you've eaten if you want. I'm tired, but not enough to be weak yet. I've gone long periods without blood."

[sonofadam]

Cain was careful to not throw himself into the water and end up making himself sick on it, but drank slowly with breaks to talk to Elijah. He smiled when his lover confessed what necessitated for him to keep living, and he gave the hybrid's hand a squeeze to agree with him; yes, it was the same vice versa. Finding Elijah too had been Cain's first and foremost thought, and he was searching for him rather than water when he had been circling the forest earlier.

"Then there is the second question. Do we want to stay here, or explore? I haven't seen a land as untouched as this in a long time... If there is any creatures of intelligence here, they are not nearby. This wilderness looked natural as far as I could see... But that doesn't mean there isn't civilization somewhere."

Cain honestly wouldn't have cared either way. He had wandered most of his life, and spent the recent few years in the comfort of civilization, but he could just as easily adapt back to the simple ways of nature as long as Elijah was by his side. Yet the vampire had always been surrounded by people, even back in the days of his humanity. While certainly capable, Cain wasn't sure Elijah would endorse the idea of returning to the wilderness with only Cain for his company.

[emikaelson]

Elijah's heart still bounded with joy every time it looked upon the other man. How rare was it that Duplicity would send more than one person at a time from it's precious hold, and then even rarer still that it would send a couple together. What tiny percent of forces allowed these two to be sent from the clutches of that hedonistic city into the wilds of another world together. Relief and awe flooded the hybrid's senses the longer he sat and spoke with his lover, realizing just how small the chances were of them making it here together.

It didn't take Elijah much thought before he answered. "I say that we stay here. At least for a time, we have as much time as we want, and a nice life carved out in this little slice of a world wouldn't be so bad with just the two of us and no one governing us, telling us what to do or how to do it. I can't tell you the last time I was free to govern my life and mine alone."

Glancing at Cain he hoped that he'd chosen the right answer. "I will defer to you though, this isn't just my decision to make. Of course, we can always do a little of both. Stay a while, and then when we feel like exploring, do some of that too."

The original figured that if they were here long enough that they would want to get a feeling for the lay of the land around them and that he'd probably want to take several trips out to see what topography and things lie in the world around them, even if they chose to come back to their little space after. There was nothing wrong with being an explorer either.

[sonofadam]

Cain shook his head, just wanting to watch his lover a bit and smiled. "Doesn't matter, let's just stay here for now." He grinned, the feeling of ecstasy that they were still here together, despite everything, the miracle of their story. Slowly that fear of the past 24 hours faded and he just reached up to hold Elijah's hand.

Finally having enough water for the while, he sat back and looked up at his lover. "It's been a while since there's been anywhere to explore on Earth, and here we have a whole new world for us. A better one," he murmured, thinking of their living from now on. He looked at the area around them with new eyes, the idea of his new home settling in his mind.

"We can definitely stay here. It's pretty decent, we clean this place up, set up shelter a bit away so it'll stay dry." He was eager, already planning. "We can explore slowly... Mmm. You'll look good in furs."

[emikaelson]

"Sounds perfect to me." Elijah wasn't about to argue with Cain, when all he wanted to do was relax without worrying about what sort of sex game the city might throw at them next. He didn't even have to worry about anyone sexually tempting either of them. He was happy to have his lover all to himself for a while.

They hadn't gotten this quiet honeymoon phase before, where the world didn't matter and there wasn't someone barging into their relationship every month, forcing one of them or the other to want to hide something to make life easier for the other--and now that the Kyle secret was completely out, life was perfect. Elijah didn't mourn his loss one bit.

It was only Cain that Elijah sought to be with and think about, Cain that he was happy to be alone on a deserted world with.

"Do you want to set up a shelter for the night while I go hunt us some food for the night? I've got bigger teeth than you, and we don't have any weapons yet.." He growled playfully and then laughed. "I'll try to find something to get us those furs to wear. This plant-life is not so great..."

He looked down at the vines and leaves that he'd used to cover himself after leaving his clothes behind when he became the wolf. He had a choice-- and he'd made the more practical one, his wolf was better suited to life in the wild than the vampire in a suit was.

[sonofadam]

Now that they weren't still distracted by their current situation and finding each other, Cain had time to give his lover a glance over. A real glance over, taking in the vines and leaves and rather rustic appearance that he adopted. Cain was still in the morning robe that he was brought here in, but clearly Elijah had removed his clothing, probably when he shifted forms.

"It's a good look on you," he said with a grin of appreciation. "You look very dashing in leaves." Laughing softly, able to laugh again now that they were together, Cain gave the hybrid a wave. "Yes, go be the hunter while I tend to the home, love. But."

Cain raised his wrist, gesturing that Elijah should take some of his blood. If he should be fighting unknown beasts and going through questionable terrain, he should regain some strength first. As long as he didn't drain Cain, he should be fine. "I don't know if I can set us up a camp yet, but I'll see if I can start the fire at least. Been a while since I had to start one with stones and twigs."

But he knew how, they both did, and they were the best to survive here out of anyone in the world. Even if they didn't, it wasn't as if this place could kill them either. Eventually they might go exploring, after they have established a home here and it became a luxury to expire rather than a necessity.

[emikaelson]

Shaking his head as he looked down at the leaves that barely covered his essentials while he moved and sat. The whole reason he bothered at all was to keep him from scratching the good as he moved around the forest areas. Human males were not made for running through forests without at least a little bit of cloth protecting them.

"I think I'll feel better when I have a bit of fabric. I used to be good at tanning leather and I've watched my mom stitch a time or two." He didn't bother to mention the years he spent learning to fashion clothes for his brothers and sisters before it became much easier to purchase such things in a store than to make them by hand. Rebekah could help, but Elijah didn't make her do all the work, all the time for all of them.

When Cain held up his wrist, Elijah grinned. "Are you sure?" He kissed at it, and took his kisses higher. He was feeling rather grateful to have his lover in his arms-- arms that he slid around Cain as he moved his lips up to the crook of his shoulder and neck, where his kisses became deeper and more pronounced. The vampire did his best to pleasure Cain for several minutes before he dug his teeth in and began to drink.

It was as if he hadn't fed in weeks, Cain's blood was so rich and heavenly-- after being so afraid he wouldn't ever have it again, Elijah found it difficult to stop for the first time in years. He wanted to hold that rich flavor, scent and intimate feeling of knowing his heart, his body and soul all at once as he fed for as long as he could. Elijah forcefully pulled himself back after a minute and swore.

"Fuck." Not one to normally swear so easily, Cain would easily notice how worked up the vampire was by that simple feeding-- chest heaving, eyes blown even after they returned to normal, body alive and alert, every fiber was ready for more. Yet he wouldn't take more. There was far too much temptation there. "I-I need to go now..." Elijah announced and began to back away from Cain, working to recover from the blood high he was riding.

[sonofadam]

Cain wouldn't have offered if he wasn't sure, but he had also underestimated Elijah's desires when the vampire began to kiss along his arm up to his neck. He moaned softly at those kisses, the light licks and caresses from the man he thought he had lost forever. It was almost enough to harden him in his loins and he was sporting a semi erection by the time Elijah made his bite.

The sting was nothing, and he closed his eyes as Elijah drank his fill.enjoying the draw as Elijah enjoyed the taste. Yet Cain wasn't at his full strength, so when Elijah continued drinking and persisted past the first mouthfuls, his breathing started to speed up along with his racing heart. It wasn't to dangerous levels yet, but it was enough that Cain put his arm over Elijah's and his head began to spin from the sudden bloodletting of his already weakened body.

He sat back when Elijah let him go, one hand driving into the earth behind him to keep him upright while his other hand went to to slap over the bleeding bite mark. "Wait," he called before Elijah could run off. "Your blood first." Cain wasn't in life danger, but it was better if he didn't continuously bleed while Elijah was away. Who knew if there were any creatures here that would be drawn to the scent, and Cain really couldn't afford to lose more if Elijah wasn't benefiting from it.

"It's alright," he reassured the vampire too, knowing what must be going through that honorable head. Sometimes Elijah was his own worst enemy.

[emikaelson]

No, Elijah wouldn't have left without offering Cain his blood in return. He just needed the space for a time because he didn't trust himself right away and knew that his lover couldn't spare any more blood right away when he hadn't eaten in over a day. The original felt horrified by his loss of control-- sure he hadn't really harmed the immortal. It would have taken a lot more blood, and time for Cain to be out for the count, but he'd taken enough to leave the other weaker than he'd wanted to.

"No, it's not. I'm sorry." He sighed and rushed back biting at his wrist to offer the best qualities of his blood to the one that he'd wronged in his joy. "I shouldn't have tried that until I got back with food. I love you too much, and you are too much like a drug for me, my favorite addiction. I had been so afraid of never seeing you, never tasting you again..."

There was a fine tremor in the original's voice that he trampled as quickly as it had come on. They were together now and nothing else mattered. No one here could drive them apart or offer them citations for not acting correctly in public. "I'm so glad we're here together." He leaned over and licked up the remaining dribbles of blood that he'd left behind, kissing over the area before he took it to Cain's mouth-- tasting himself fresh on Cain's lips, mixing flavors to remind them that they belonged together, in every manner speaking.

"Okay, are you okay for me to go hunting now?"

[sonofadam]

Cain tasted his lover's blood, just a mouthful, enough to help hurry the wound to healing and no more than that. Cain wasn't the only one that needed their energy, and he lifted his hand from supporting himself to rest of over Elijah's arm a second time, this time in assurance. "No," he argued adamantly against that apology, "You needed the energy. And I expect you to bring back the best this place has to offer in return, so it's fine."

They kissed and made up, and Cain put his hand around the back of Elijah's neck to bring their foreheads together and bask in each other's presence. "Your terrors are the same as mine, and so is your relief. I don't care where I am as long as I have you here with me and supporting by my side. If I have only one wish, it is that."

He kissed Elijah again softly, touching of their lips together, before he slowly released the hybrid.

"Yeah, I'm going to be okay. Now go while you still be the light, and make sure you don't get lost... Do you need me to shout for you every hour so you may find your way back easier?" It was easy to get lost with nothing but leaves all around them. It was remarkable that Elijah was able to lead them back to this water source in the first place.

[emikaelson]

It was almost physically painful to release Cain again, even if he knew they'd only be apart for a short time this go around. With the way they'd both been drawn into Duplicity and then dropped out of it, it seemed like anything could happen to the either of them or the both of them at the drop of a hat. As long as it always kept happening to them together that was all that truly mattered.

"No, I don't need you to yell for me. You forget, my wolf can smell you and the water from miles and miles away now that I know the scents. Hopefully I won't have to go too far to find food." Elijah stood and moved into a small clearing a few feet away.

"I love you." He blew a kiss at Cain as his bones began to break and his body contorted into that of a majestic white wolf. The wolf barked and turned in a couple of circles acknowledging its mate happily, and then turned on its heels and ran off into the forest.

After about two hours, Elijah the man came back with a hoofed animal slung over his shoulders. The neck had been bitten into and lightly torn at by a wild animal obviously, but other than that, it looked in perfect condition.

"Honey, I'm home and I brought dinner. I hope." Blood covered the original and while it didn't seem to bother him as he moved into the camp, once he dropped off the animal in an area far enough away to keep the smell at bay, and yet close enough that they could keep an eye on it -- he moved straight to the water to cleanse himself. He'd also brought two small rabbit like creatures that he was going to use to skin and use for a loincloth until he could make more formal clothes for himself.

Coming up out of the water, he wandered over to Cain and began to shake himself in his lover's direction flinging water everywhere. The sun had set and so it would be harder for him to dry-- therefore it was his duty (of course) to share all his pain with his beloved, who hopefully, maybe had set up a fire for him to dry by?

[sonofadam]

Cain knew of his lover's abilities of course, and thanked the heavens his lover had them or they might not have reunited even if the passed within half a mile of each other. He had shouted hoping to be picked up by those senses, and was glad that he hadn't given up like he was close to being.

"Good hunting. I love you," he murmured back to the wolf as the majestic creature dashed off.

In two hours, Cain managed to clear a nice clearing for them and by some feat, had a small fire going in a pit that he dug out with his hands and surrounded by rocks and wood. He had foraged back some dryer wood pieces they could use to burn and the plant life gave the fire a strange greenish tint when it burned, but it was just as hot and just as good as a normal fire and no weird smells or gasses got released, so he deemed it safe enough to continue.

When Elijah returned, there was the fire and relatively straighter sticks they could use to spear the meat, as well as flatter sharp pieces of stone they could scrape and skin with. These items were laced in separate piles in the clearing, and the immortal himself had laid down and was napping lightly by the flickering flames. The night had been fitful, and he was weak and tired. Knowing his lover was safe and the fire going well, he relaxed enough to rest his head, until Elijah's return, and his stray water droplets, roused the immortal from his slumber.

"Hey..." He groaned, blinking owlishly at the flames highlighting his lover's form. "You're back. The hunt went well?" He yawned, sitting up.

[emikaelson]

It was delightful to come back to a cleared area and a warm fire. If Elijah had paid more attention and seen that his lover was actually sleeping, instead of merely being lazy and laying around, he never would have shook himself like a dog over the other.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you like that. I didn't realize you were sleeping. Yes, the hunt went well. I felled what amounted to a deer and two rabbits. They aren't exactly the same as our deer and rabbits, but close enough. I figure I can use the rabbit's fur for a loincloth, and then we can use the deer skin for something more important."

Elijah looked over the sets of tools that Cain had made and while rudimentary, they would work for cutting up the deer and the meat tonight. Elijah took the sharpest rock and then found something that looked like it could scoop and pull, so that he could separate edible parts from the non-edible. They'd have to set up what they could eat, and what they'd smoke and dry for later. Most of that could be done tomorrow, or overnight. Tonight, Elijah really just wanted to get some food in Cain's belly.

It took him about two hours to pull apart the deer-like creature and find a piece suitable to cook over the fire for dinner, to set it up, and actually spit roast the large piece of meat. At least it smelled good as it cooked-- they didn't have any spices yet, and so Elijah hoped that there was enough decent flavor to it.

The whole time, Elijah let Cain rest or kept up chat, whichever his lover preferred. When it was finished, he pulled it apart, as it seemed easy to pull off the bone, and laid a nice size pile of shredded meat on one of the large leaves that he'd found and confirmed wasn't poisonous.

"Here, finally. Dinner. I hope that it is good. It smells like it could be pork, venison or even caribou back home. I hope you enjoy it."

[sonofadam]

Cain kept Elijah company, but seeing that his lover had things well in hand, he unproductively remained between talking and resting, drifting in and out of dozing and stoking the fire to keep it burning. He was glad that Elijah had woken him upon his return though, wanting to chat and keep him company while the hybrid showed off his ability to skin the animal.

It was a large one, more caribou or moose sized than deer, and had such a set of horns on its head that Cain wondered if they could do much with it. Probably not without the proper tools to cut it since it looked as if it would weigh a good ton.

"A primitive world... All for the two of us. I wondered if this could be another thing of the city's, but it doesn't seem like that is the case." In the other instances, there would be other citizens around, in smaller areas. He had heard of people being transported to other places before, but he didn't think it would be something like this. So this was just an eden for them two.

Cain accepted the portion of meat, blowing on it lightly before he took his first bite. "I haven't had roasted venison in a number of years, and it's still one of the best for roasting. A little gamy though... might need to punch it a few times before next time." But he didn't really care. He was starving, and this tasted wonderful.

[emikaelson]

Settling down by the fire, Elijah sprawled out and finally allowed himself to really relax for the first time that day. It had been a long while since he'd worked that hard in a day. Back in Duplicity, he worked hard, but his jobs were far more simple and required much less effort on his part. Although he had to admit that it was fun letting his wolf free to go hunting. Chasing and bringing down giant game had been a rather large accomplishment. The vampire could have done the same thing, but it was fun to give the wolf a chance, since he hadn't gotten to do so since the woods in Duplicity were so limited.

Having drained some of the blood from the creature, Elijah had it in a little small funnel cup-like creation he'd put together on the fly-- and sipped from it as Cain enjoyed the meat from the beast that the vampire had cooked. In the next several days, he'd work at finding spices and other edibles that might work to accompany their meals.

Leaning against Cain, he smiled and nodded. "No, this doesn't seem like it would be anywhere Duplicity might own. I think they just opened a portal and shoved us through." He turned and watched as the immortal scarfed at the meal he was given. "I'll work harder to make it taste better for you next time..." He said off hand, noticing that the amount he gave Cain was mostly gone by the time the words were out of his mouth.

"Cain I get you more? I also brought some water up from the spring when I came back from my bath if you'd like some?" Elijah didn't wait for an answer but just began placing more meat on his lover's plate and poured a little funnel cup leaf of water for Cain to drink from.

[sonofadam]

"Yeah, I can use a second helping." Not that the verbal answer was required. Elijah was already helping him with a second serving and Cain was helping himself to it knowing they had plenty to spare. The creature was big, and if the meat could be kept from spoiling, they had enough here to last them a few weeks. They might be thoroughly sick of venison jerky by then, but the immortal was sure that they could find other game, and spices, and roots that might be eaten to accompany their meals.

"Thank you for this," Cain sighed happily as he ripped into the fresh meat that had the grease still dripping and sizzling from the fire. Until he got tired of it, he was going to enjoy it for all it was worth. "And thank you for doing the lion's share of the work this evening." He turned to give Elijah a kiss with greasy lips, laughing softly because he knew they won't have napkins to wipe them with anytime soon.

"It's got flavor, so don't worry. How does the blood taste? Passable?" Evening was already settling in and it was already getting dark outside of the ring of their fire's light. They would not be able to do more until they had more light in the morning, but Cain hoped they could weave some containers from leaves and turn most of the meat into jerky. "Thankfully we're not dropped in the rainforest, otherwise the meat will be done for before we can do anything with it."

He finally settled back after the second helping and just leaned contently against Elijah while watching the flames dance in their fire. "What do you think? Should we try to roast what we can tonight and deal with the smoking and drying tomorrow?"

[emikaelson]

"You're more than welcome my love. It's the least I could do after taking advantage of you earlier. Your blood was so rich and it dragged me under in a way I can't remember being towed away in a long while. You really are my favorite addiction. This blood is barely anything in comparison." He chuckled, glancing down at the thick red cooling liquid that he held.

It was hardly worth mentioning when it came to talking about blood worthy of a vampire's time. It was something that would sustain him and that's what mattered the most for the evening. Elijah preferred humans by far and would often go out of his way to make sure that his blood was from the vein, not even packaged. Considering there was no packaged blood here, and the only human was Cain, it looked like the Hybrid would be supplementing his diet often, especially given the lack of alcohol as well, which staved off the constant cravings that he underwent.

Elijah Mikaelson's hunger was a masterpiece, and needed quite a hefty dose of blood each day to satisfy it. This new world would be a challenge, but one he would happily rise to nonetheless.

"I'm glad that your food is passable. I'll learn to get used to mine. You have a little on your lips there. If you lick at it, you can have a taste. Although, I have a feeling it's going to taste slimy and like copper, close to all the blood you taste. You don't have the palate for it yet." He grinned and leaned over to kiss his beloved again, licking at his lips to taste some of the meat that Cain had been eating.

"That's what I had planned on doing. I can see okay in the dark, but I am ready for the day to end and to lay with you tonight under the stars and try to rest, since I didn't get much sleep last night without you." Elijah got up from where he was and began to put the rest of the meat on the fire at different angles so that it would make a tall roasting bridge of all the pieces.

[sonofadam]

Cain had noticed that Elijah had been roasting more and more pieces even as Cain was filling up, but given that they had a whole animal to get through, there were a lot. "Would mixing my blood in make it tastier? Or would that just ruin a good thing?" But with no other humans, no alcohol, at least until they figured out how to make moonshine, and limited in all their resources, they have their work cut out for them.

Cain didn't understand the nuances of blood drinking, and he doubted he ever would, despite Elijah's rather optimistic 'yet'. Not something he planned to tell the vampire though, some things were better off not said.

"Come rest with me," Cain said, arms going around Elijah's shoulders and creating a support for his lover. With Elijah held close he kissed him again, slowly, to let them mutually get used to the taste of each other and explore the tastes of their dinners. "We don't have to hurry... There is... absolutely no reason to... in this word. Time is meaningless here... truly meaningless."

Cain smiled at that thought, and rested his head against Elijah's thoughtfully as he took up Elijah's hand and entwined their fingers. All motions that he thought were useless and insignificant until he found the right person he wanted to do them with.

"There's a lot to get used to here, yeah, we need to learn how to live our life slowly again, back to our roots.... I wonder if I can work the land again.... or if I'm still cursed to turn every land I plant in barren."

[emikaelson]

The yet was something Elijah merely dreamed about. It wasn't as if he had any realistic dreams of his partner suddenly enjoying the taste of his blood, or enjoying the rite of mating as vampires did. He understood that Cain did things to please Elijah because he could and Cain wanted to make the hybrid happy, and because Elijah was who he was, he allowed it to be that way. Elijah in return did his very best to make Cain happy, and to make his life worth living and not something that he dreaded any longer.

Taking his time to answer, Elijah first leaned against his lover and then spoke. "I think your blood is too special to ever be mixed with anything other than your own body fluids, or mine."

Next thing he knew Cain was kissing him like time was missing and they were the only people in the world. It was a feeling that Elijah missed when they were in Duplicity. There was no competition, no worrying about the future. It was just the two of them, and their mouths and bodies open to each other, touching and tasting, exploring gently what they'd begun over four months ago.

Pulling away with a relaxed smile, Elijah laid there and stretched. "It's going to be strange getting used to not having a rushed schedule. I think I'm going to like it." He leaned in and kissed Cain again, taking his time, but not as long this time around, squeezing their linked fingers tightly as he pulled away.

"I was never one to try working the land. My father only ever trained me in hunting and we never really stayed in one place long enough for us to really garden. I've grown some herbs, but nothing significant before."

[sonofadam]

One thing that Cain learned though, was never might not happen when you're an immortal. Eventually, the question was when and how. Maybe one day he would learn to enjoy the taste of Elijah's blood, and if he was to choose to never see his lover again and learn to love that crimson red fluid, he was probably going to choose the latter.

"Is that so," Cain murmured, chuckling softly as he was both full and content, and just satisfied to be leaning against Elijah while they discussed things idly. "Just our body fluids. I don't know whether to tell you you have excellent taste or be grossed out."

They didn't have anything but the loamy earth to rest on today, but it was soft, and Cain took off his robe so they might have something softer to rest their heads. It meant he laid bare next to Elijah, but that wasn't exactly a concern.

Tomorrow they can work on bettering their little corner of this world, dealing with the pelt that Elijah found and making comfortable bedding upon the earth. Maybe establish a lean to, or they could hunt for a nearby cave in the thick foliage of their surroundings. There were so much they needed to do, yet nothing they absolutely had to in this world. It was such simplicity that Cain hadn't allowed himself to live normally.

"You know the tale. I'm cursed. Besides being unable to die, God made sure the land is no longer open to me. I can't grow a flower on it anymore if I wanted to." It wasn't that Cain missed the toiling, but until he had been outcasted, that was all he did day in and out. This world reminded him a bit of Eden, the pureness, untouched naturalness of the wilderness that surrounded them. They would be living off the land and unable to cultivate their own crops might make things a little more challenging. While they had the whole land for them, foraging was harder to do than growing some of their own.

[emikaelson]

It was nice to lay down naked on the ground next to Cain, perhaps there were rocks and patches of grass that itched, and maybe a few bugs that made their way this way and that, settling on skin every now and then that had to make the occupants wonder if they were the biting and stinging kind. Not that they were anything more than temporary nuisances.

Still, he could roll over and lay his leg across Cain's and curl into the other man's body creating all the body heat they needed against the slight chill of the evening. It was a perfect start to their life as a couple in this small slice of a tropical paradise.

Elijah let out a short laugh as he thought about what he said and how it sounded. "It may not sound all that appealing right now, but when we're in the middle of sex, I don't often hear you complaining about these things. You are the best lover I've ever had." He leaned in close as he said those last words and nuzzled the shell of Cain's ear. kissing just behind it lovingly.

Leaning back a little, he mused about planting a little garden for themselves and all the other things they had to do. They would need to make a smoking house and somewhere to keep the meat they dried away from predators when they weren't around. They'd be fine in a small lean-to, but their food needed protection. "If you have troubles, I can always help. You know I don't mind doing something you can't. You can just teach me how it's supposed to work, and I'll do the work."

Elijah trailed his finger down the center-line of Cain's chest, aimlessly curling it in the hair here and there with affection. "We'll need to make storage for food, and water. You can work at that. The game was pretty easy to get, and there's smaller creatures that I can get for another set of loincloth for you. That way we don't have to worry about what we sit on so much." He grinned, knowing what it was like sitting in a giant pile of dirt, or catching a stick the wrong way. It was just easier with a piece of cloth covering each side.

[sonofadam]

Cain grinned, chuckling at his lover as they took turns leaning over and peppering light teasing kisses over each other. When Elijah was done, it was Cain's turn to lean in and nuzzle slightly, simply enjoying their love for each other and their opportunity to bask in it in a world that was uninterrupted.

"We can try to build something off the ground, to make it harder for predators... if there are predators. Have you seen signs of any big ones when you went hunting?" Regardless of what this forest had them up against, Cain was doubtless they were the stronger of the two. Even without Elijah's supernatural abilities, Cain himself was a formidable opponent, and when one couldn't die, one simply couldn't lose.

"We'll scavenge and forage tomorrow for vines and other things that we can use. We'll need to sharpen tools too, set up a tanning area, need a place to dispose of wastes... and... and..." Cain hushed when Elijah interrupted his active thoughts with a gentle kiss and the way his fingers played over his chest.

There was his first indication he was no longer in Duplicity, his tattoo was gone, as Elijah had noted. But at the time, Duplicity was his only connection to his love and he had been more worried than elevated at this small celebration. Discovering that Elijah was here, safe with him had been such elation that he hadn't even thought about that silly black mark until now.

He kissed back and sighed, chuckling and knowing his brain was on overdrive thinking about all this. There was so much they had to do, and so much time. He smiled again, knowing they couldn't do it all in one day, or plan it in one night when they were both exhausted.

"Mmmmm. Wearing fur. I always did like fur, and no active environmentalists to tell us otherwise. Or worrying that we can somehow make the world extinct by hunting away all the animals between just the two of us." Cain had those concerns before, back on earth, and hence sometimes did things for the organizations. But here, they could literally do what they wanted and have no one to answer to but themselves.

[emikaelson]

Choking on a laugh, the last thing that Elijah had anywhere near his thoughts was animal rights activists. Here he was thinking about leaves, sticks and bugs near his privates and Cain was worried that someone might not approve of their use of fur to cover up. It was all good when he had a robe, but Elijah's clothes were miles away in a direction away from everything they needed here at camp. Sure, he could probably take a day trip to go find his undergarments, but it was pretty unnecessary when he could make something in half the time.

It was only him and his lover and if they were both dressed the same, then neither would worry about anything. Plus, leathers and furs were nice to wear. Still laughing softly, Elijah smiled. "No, there's no environmentalists to splash red paint on our loincloths and talk about us slaughtering bambi and thumper." He laughed once more and then sighed glancing up at the stars.

"It's amazing how many stars are up there. It might not be our night sky, but it's so beautiful and clear. You can see everything. I wonder what galaxy we are in, what world or parallel universe this could be. It's strange and fascinating. At least there's only one sun, and it doesn't carry any more radiation than our own. You know..." Elijah thought, and rolled his lips inward.

"Maybe this is a stupid question, but what was it like to live through the ice age. I can't even fathom...and dinosaurs, did they come before you? I know these are rather inane questions and never believing in much of anything, faithwise, I never thought of them before, and yet... I guess it could have all worked with science, if you were created after everything else. I ... it's so curious." He reached out and caressed his lover's face.

Elijah thought with wonder what it really meant to be alive as long as Cain had, and how much he'd really seen. The beginning through now. All the legends. He'd know... It struck Elijah in the heart and made him realize once more what a lucky man he was that this man here loved him, and only him. How on earth did he deserve this immortal, he'd never know.

[sonofadam]

Cain laughed back, knowing how it sounded but shook his head. "They're right, you know, humans in the past few centuries were killing the earth with their advancements. I wouldn't care except if they one day wiped themselves out..." He would be alone. Cain grew silent and reached to hold Elijah a little closer.

"I'm not that old," he continued again with a soft laugh as he admired the stars up above them. Without any light for miles around except their little campfire, it was possible to see all the stars out now. He didn't recognize any of the constellations either, further proving they were in another world.

"Both those things happened millions of years ago, at least, according to scientists. I've never seen any dinosaurs, never even heard of them on all my centuries until they first discovered their fossils in the recent years... For all I know, those could be planted by God when he made the Earth. I really don't know. But if they're real, then at least... They tell me I haven't lived for millions of years." That would have been more painful than he could express. Cain doubted he could remain sane after that. He didn't know how he was still sane up until now, or maybe insanity had a physical component that his healing prevented.

"Time really blurred all together," he murmured, his soft free carrying loudly in the quiet darkness. "I don't know how old I am... Scholars debated that the Bible went back to 6000 years... But I know I am older than that."

[emikaelson]

"Hey, hey now. They can't wipe themselves out, because I can't be killed either. We can't be killed together. Especially now since the white oak tree that was a part of my making doesn't exist here or anywhere else in the muti-verses we may end up. It's you and me forever and ever, Cain. I'm mean, look, we even made it out of that God forsaken city together." He reassured his lover once more of the fact that they would always be together. It really did seem like their souls were destined to follow each other no matter where they might end up and Elijah took great comfort in that knowledge.

He needed Cain more than anything else, and the need grew stronger with every passing second. Even now he could feel the strong tug at his heart, twisting and pulling with the ache of pure love and desire. Being pulled in, Elijah brushed his face against Cain's and kissed it where he went, nibbling softly along his neck, and jaw, silencing him for a moment with a lingering kiss-- needing to share the overwhelming love that was clawing at his heart for its attention. Cain was far more important than any heavenly bodies in the sky. Far more beautiful as well-- at least in the eyes of the original.

Feeling foolish now for daring to ask such strange and silly questions, Elijah buried his head into his lover's neck and stayed there. There was so much conflicting evidence and writings out there concerning the Bible and science, and how the two worked together. It shook a lot of what the hybrid had taken as fact for quite some time and what he took for fact currently. He also knew that the worlds that he and Cain came from could be different as well. Where one had a God, the other might not.

Still, how to blend together the bible and science along with reality, which seemed to be far different from all of it at times was difficult, so maybe Elijah wasn't that stupid, just curious. "I know there have been debates about dinosaurs lasting throughout time, that maybe they were the dragons of the Middle Ages, or the great monsters of several great bodies of water. I merely wondered..." Elijah muttered against his lover's neck and shrugged.

"There have also been debates about everything. I mean, the flood, the ark of the covenant, things that seem so unreal, and yet, there's proof here and there that is questionable, but also promising if it is verified. I guess, it just now ran through my mind about how much you've really seen. I've seen a lot, but you've seen so. much. more.." He lifted his head, and looked at Cain, running a hand through his hair. "You are the most amazing man I have ever known. How in the world did I get so lucky as to be the one you fell in love with? You could have anyone? Yet you chose me..."

[sonofadam]

Cain didn't think it was a silly question, just perhaps a misinformed one that had the timelines a little mixed up. He didn't blame Elijah for not knowing though, there were many things that approached mythological proportions regarding his life. There were many things that were unbelievable if he hadn't lived through it himself.

It just occurred to him, perhaps on the same way it did Elijah, that Cain now has eternity to tell the hybrid all about it. To live out a new chapter with him, with a companion who would be there to whether the ages with him. It was an astounding realization.

Brought back to a distasteful grimace when Elijah had to mention that damn flood. "Can we not talk about the flood?" It happened alright. Didn't quite wipe everything out as the book said, but did enough damage and Cain had spent a month struggling to keep from constantly drowning. It was what gave him the first real fears of large bodies of water, and the discovery that his body would constantly die over and over even if he wasn't quite alive yet to die again. Up until then, he never experienced something that drastic.

He sighed away that memory and leaned into Elijah's loving caresses and touches. "I think I am the fortunate one. You had people, choices, and even family..." While Cain had nothing and had only been given memories that were false, but such a glimpse of happiness that even that small slice of it was enough to devastate him when he woke in the morning. People who didn't experience loneliness as he did wouldn't understand.

"I'm not sorry for that city. It didn't do anything to me that was new... Well. Not in the long run... Can't say I've been violated by monsters before, but it gave me you." Which was true in every sense of the word. Without that strange world, he would never have met Elijah, wouldn't have the possibility to, and never gave been brought together with him.

[emikaelson]

"So the city did do something completely new then. It gave you love that will last a lifetime in me. I'm new. You're new to me. A healthy, loving, forever relationship. I could never have imagined that even fifty years ago." Elijah felt the same. He could have gone around disliking Duplicity for everything that it had done to him, all the ups and downs, but mainly it had done one amazing thing and that was Cain. It gave him the man he was going to spend the rest of eternity with.

"I still say that I'm the lucky one because you could have picked from a large handful of people in that city. There were plenty of immortals living there and you still found me, and chose me out of everyone else." The original would always be in awe of Cain's love for him, and how he waited even when Elijah was such a uptight, downright arse and made a fool of himself for someone that would never end up loving him as much as Cain did.

Lips found lips and lingered there, hovering as they spoke tender words of affection and then brushed whisper soft kisses back and forth while fingers carefully treated Cain's body to a casual perusal of some of his more sensitive spots. It wasn't meant to excite, so much as to share a completely personal and intimate moment together, celebrating all that they had here in this private world of theirs. Maybe they wouldn't be here long-- but they didn't know it.

Even if the world changed tomorrow, they'd still have their eternity together and no matter where it was, they would find a place together where their lips and bodies would always be able to share soft , gentle touches like this.

[sonofadam]

"Yes, you were new," Cain agreed, smiling softly in the darkness and although he couldn't see Elijah's expression fully in pitch black, he could imagine the soft returning smile on the hybrid's handsome face as he said those words, telling him of his awe and love for him. "You're making it sound like I made the wrong decision," the immortal joked, but he was leaning into those touches, feeling the soft caresses and not growing aroused from them, but beloved. Those hands were quite familiar with his body by now, yet they kept searching, exploring in this unencumbered environment to renew their familiarity with the territory.

Cain placed a tender butterfly kiss on his lover's skin in return, unable to truly see where he was kissing but enough to know it was in Elijah's shoulder area. He kissed along it when he found out it was list just above the collar. "There were other immortals... But I loved you first. Regardless of how it started, there was no changing that." Cain wasn't a man who loved easily, or let people get inside his walls, but Elijah had bypassed them all and there was no way Cain could have stopped his own feelings after that.

He sighed softly, his arms going around to embrace his lover to him under the stars. There was very little moonlight out tonight, but enough for him to see the other's slender outline.

"We should name this place heaven. Valhalla. Or whichever version of afterlife that has an absolute happiness like this. Peace and love... Never thought I'd get it. But you are it, and this must be what heaven is like." Maybe that was what happened, that he finally found an end and this was the version of the silver city that awaited him. Who knew. Cain just knew he was happy.