This Is Make-Believe, Dear!

Title: Peace Under the Moon, Part Twenty-eight
Author: moodwriter
Genre: angst, romance, werewolf-AU (follows canon mostly)
Pairing: Adam/Tommy
Word Count: 2100 words
Rating: NC-17 (the whole story)
Warnings: language, violence, sexual scenes, D/s elements
Summary: Tommy is the omega of his pack, cursed and lonely. He wants something else for himself.
Disclaimer: Yes, I make things up about real people. They fascinate me. This is far from real.
Prompt: Recently I have been caring for a large number of animals. I've been surprised by the fact when an animal that is doing poorly is given a quiet place by itself many times recovers on its own.
Since I've been crushing on A/T this observation lead to a plot bunny. What if A and T were werewolves where T for whatever reason was at the bottom of his pack's pecking order and not doing too well. Either A "annex's" T for A's pack or T cleverly manipulates a situation where T is "given" to A's pack. Not being constantly picked on allows T to come into his own. And that's all I have. :-) This is justclaire1357's prompt. Sorry it took me forever to get here. I hope you like it. :)
Banner: By the lovely poutytrout




Peace Under the Moon, Part Twenty-eight


Some things will always make him feel like he's living someone else's life.

It's never a negative feeling, just a mellow thought like how did I get here? One of those things is waking up next to Adam, waking up to something Adam does, waking up to Adam's eyes or hands on him. Adam petting his hair, sliding his hand over his shoulder, touching the small of his back will always be one of the most beautiful things he's ever experienced.

Tommy opens his eyes, lazy and satisfied, but curious, too. It's the first morning after their mating. It's also the first morning after full moon when he's not aching and tired. Or he is aching, but it has nothing to do with the wolf.

"Morning," Adam says, and it sounds like I adore you.

"Hi." He can't hold back the smile.

Adam kisses him lightly. "Wanna take a bath? They brought us hot water."

He wants to curl closer to Adam and fall asleep again. Bath sounds good, though. His whole body throbs, and it's insanely erotic even though it shouldn't be. "Please."

Adam moves quickly, too quickly for an early morning, scoops Tommy into his arms and just lifts him up and carries him to the copper tub that's half filled and waiting for them at the other end of the tent. He can't even protest because he's too busy holding Adam's neck so he won't fall.

The bath water is hot, and it makes his skin turn pink fast. He doesn't complain, though, because hot means relaxed muscles. He closes his eyes, leaning back, resting his head to the back of the tub. Adam pours more water into the tub, touching Tommy's shoulder the whole time, and then he sits opposite Tommy. The tub is big enough for both of them, but he's still mostly between Adam's legs. They stay like that for a while, not talking, not even touching that much, just enjoying the quiet moment.

"I'm so happy you love me back," Adam says suddenly, and Tommy opens his eyes because it's lovely and insecure and not at all Alpha-like.

He extends his arm, and Adam puts his palm against Tommy's, lacing their fingers. Tommy smiles because nothing in this world is as adorable as insecure Adam. "You were made for me," he says, and he doesn't have to explain it at all. Adam knows what he means. Someone else could have destroyed him, but Adam gave him the will to fight. He's a person again with a mind of his own, and Adam appreciates that mind, wants to know it, wants to have and hold it. That's not the reason why he loves Adam, though. "You're the best person I've ever known. You try so hard. It's so easy to love you, so, so easy."

Adam pulls him close, wraps his legs around him, too, hands stroking Tommy's back, lips touching his ear. "I feared love. I have to be so many things to other people. I feared being this to someone else. I feared that I couldn't be enough, that I'd always leave the other person wanting more, unsatisfied. I've never met anyone like you. You need me, yet I'm enough to you. You have no idea what a relief that is."

Tommy lets his head fall against Adam's shoulder. This person is his home. "Don't worry. You'll always be kind of overwhelming to me - more instead of less. I'll be staring at you for the next ten years, wondering how on earth did I manage to catch you." He giggles, then tries to bite back the sound because it's embarrassing. He still can't handle happiness well. It always makes him feel like something bad is going to happen. But he has to have the courage to be happy.

Adam kisses his neck, then licks the wounds there, making them hurt in a wonderful way. His toes curl under the water. He's proud of those marks, and the thought makes him moan against Adam's skin. Adam's fingers brush against his hole, one pushing in easy because he's still a little wet from last night. He's also very relaxed. It's lazy more than anything, but it still makes his breath catch.

He lets Adam own his body, lets him pull those sounds out of him, lets him drive him nearly to the brink of sanity, and then stop, soothing hands stroking his sides. He doesn't even complain, just breathes, breathes, breathes until his heartbeats settle.

"I love this about you. I love how it makes you smell, how willful the wolf is and how compliant you are when you want to be. I love that. Love it." Adam kisses his jaw, then groans, reluctant all of a sudden. "We have to go soon. The party is starting, and this time we really have to be there." Adam sucks one of his fingers into his mouth, and that's not helping.

He bites Adam's neck because he can play this game, too. It's not a gentle bite, and that's exactly why it has the effect he was looking for. Adam spreads under him, lets him move, lets him play. He doesn't let go of Adam's neck, just strokes his dick, quick and eager, wanting to see Adam come, but Adam stops him before he gets there. The hand in his hair is gentle, and the words make his spine arch. "I want you aching when we get back here. These next few days are going to be so intense, everything so new, and I want to make it even more intense."

Tommy sniffs Adam's neck, Balir right there with him. He both loves and hates Adam's wants and needs, but he also likes the idea of Adam holding back, giving him that same gift. He licks Adam's neck and ear, straddling his hips. His movements are deliberate, but he's willing to wait. He just likes to play with fire.

Adam takes hold of his throat, pushes him on his back in the tub, careful not to hurt him, and holds him there. Tommy is nothing but a smirking bastard right then because he knows he has power over Adam.

Slowly, Adam lets go, stops squeezing, and just touches his face gently, thumb brushing his lips. The look on Adam's face hurts him, the love there opening his soul, making him more vulnerable than anything. Adam takes hold of his elbows and pulls him up with himself. Tommy follows him easily, his heart in his throat. Adam dries him with a soft white towel, holding him close.

They've been touching the whole morning, but when Adam goes to get clothes from their bags the contact is gone, and he cries out because it hurts. It's shocking.

Adam is grouching nearby - there's less than a yard between them - yet he feels like his heart has been ripped out of his chest.

"It's gonna get better. You'll get used to it," Adam says softly, so much love in his voice it soothes his body and mind. He can't believe how much it hurts, the ache under his fingernails the worst.

"I don't... I didn't know." He takes a few tentative steps towards Adam, then holds out his hand. Adam takes it, and he feels waves of pleasure and contentment moving through his body. He smiles, then lets go of Adam's hand, and the pain is back, just under his skin. Balir growls. "It's so weird." He does it a few times in a row, and the effect is always the same. "How can we be apart?"

"We can, later. Right now, it's not possible." Adam gets up, and kisses him, and the touch lights a fire inside him. He can't believe how easy it is; how completely at Adam's mercy he is. "It'll always hurt, but not like this, not this bad."

When they are ready to go - wearing leather and lace because Adam can't be anything but Adam - Tommy can't stop staring at his husband. The ring on his finger is pure joy, and the memory of the separation pain makes his heart race a little.

"Excited?" Adam asks, kissing the top of his head.

"I think I'm a masochist," he says without thinking, and Adam stumbles a little. He looks at Adam, grinning. "Not that way. Just... In some way pain is pleasure to me. When I hurt, when it's the right kind of hurting, I don't mind."

Adam looks at him for a moment, then asks, "Makes you feel more alive?"

Tommy nods. "That, and also, pain keeps me awake. I can sink into music and stories and my own thoughts. This," he lets go of Adam and winces, "keeps it real, reminds me of things that matter. I don't know... I like it." He sneaks under Adam's arm the moment he's shown what he means.

"I'm gonna love every second of our lives together," Adam says, his lips touching Tommy's hair.

He feels like purring, that's how stupidly happy he is.

When they reach the other tents he sees his mother through the crowd, and just pulls Adam with him. He needs to be close to her, needs to tell her how awesome everything is, needs to see her smile. She's talking with Leila, her face animated and beautiful. She feels him coming over, just turns before he's close enough, and holds out her hands. He takes them, and kisses her cheeks. He feels the hollow pain inside him because Adam is not touching him, but it's okay. The love he feels right now is almost able to silence the ache inside him.

"You're beautiful," his mom whispers. "And I can see the difference." She doesn't explain anything, just laughs softly, and hugs him properly.

He feels Adam moving closer, pressing his nose against the back of his neck, needy as hell. He smiles, loving the fact that he's not the only one.

His mom pulls back, still holding his hand.

"Hello, Mrs. Ratliff," Adam says over Tommy's shoulder.

"Look what you did to my boy," she says, and Adam nods, so close to Tommy he can feel it. "You'll call me Dia from now on, won't you?" She leans close, and kisses Adam's cheek, lingering a little. Adam nods again, and Tommy sighs. He's surrounded by people he loves.

When Dia steps back Adam pulls Tommy against his body, arms around him, burying his face in Tommy's neck. They sink into their own little world even though people around them start noticing that they are there, surrounding them, taking part in their joy.

Leila, the savior, ushers everyone inside because she sees more than most people. She gives them a moment alone.

Tommy lets the moment turn into minutes because right now, he wants to be engulfed by Adam's scent.

"You make me whole," Adam says softly. "I don't want to let go, ever. Sorry."

"It's okay." They should probably go inside, but he wants to stay there in the breeze, his eyes closed, Adam's warmth keeping him warm, too.

Adam nuzzles his neck and ear. "You're loved."

"I know." The feeling is overwhelming, the knowledge of being loved. "I know."

"Let's go."

He makes an agreeing sound, but doesn't move, just puts his hands over Adam's.

"We can't stand here forever."

Maybe he wants to. "Please stay with me. Promise me we'll grow old together. I wanna keep you. Please." He remembers the blood on his hands and shivers.

Adam strokes the side of his head. "I see a bright future ahead of us, babies and matching underwear being a part of it," he says, laughing a little, and pulling Tommy tighter against himself. "Don't try to hold onto our lives. You'll be happier if you don't. I'll be here. I'll be yours. But we always have only today. Live with me in it."

He wants to be able to do that, but he's not there yet. Still, he nods.

"Ready?"

Maybe.

Adam lets go of him, takes his hand, and pulls him to the direction of the tent.

Inside, he looks around, sees friends, pack members, family, and he knows he can do this. Everyday is not going to be picture perfect. He'll lose things. There will be days when he has to fight, when he has to be strong, but he's not alone any more. He's with family.




The End


A/N: It's been an emotional journey. Thank you for traveling with me. :) *hugs*

This epilogue is not supposed to top the earlier chapter. I don't think it could even if I tried. It's supposed to show the day after, the life after, the life that continues after this story.

I can't read this the way you read this, but I do hope I managed to show what's going on here, who they are after, and what direction they'll take. I'll miss these two so much.

Thank you. <3