By the time they reached Altair, David had done a lot of thinking. His father's advice - his entreaty - had started the wheels turning in his head. Even though he'd spent his time fostering focused on getting back to Jack, he hadn't particularly thought about what would happen next, perhaps because in his heart he always assumed that anything they had together would be necessarily secret, forbidden. That if he wanted Jack in his life that he'd always be trying to fit himself into stolen moments between Kingly duties and Husbandly duties. But perhaps there was something else... if he could convince Jack.

He hadn't tried to contact Jack again. He had, however, spent a lot of the time reading the book his father had given him, then in the palace library, cross-referencing certain topics and pieces of history. 

Conveniently, there'd been a few pages tucked into the book with a folded spell circle much like the lizard climbing spell he'd been interested in. David memorized the spell configuration until he could weave it himself, walking up the walls and across the ceiling as easily as if it were the floor.

It hadn't escaped his notice that the guest apartments his father had Jack staying in was directly beside David's own. Jack's rooms were very well appointed, and more importantly to David, had their own adjoining small geothermal cavern that was open to the mountainside and held one of the mineral hot spring baths that Altair's palace was so well known for.

It was exactly the opening David needed. So, after a dinner that had been very pleasant despite the fact that Jack still seemed determined to avoid him and left early again, David went to bed without complaint.

David changed into a bathing robe, cast the spell he'd been practicing, then opened the window and stepped confidently out along the side of the castle.

It was freezing, and David immediately regretted his choice of clothing - and lack of boots. It wasn't far to where he could see the cavern opening, though, and he hurried towards it, looking over the edge to find his friend sitting in the pool inside. "Hi!" he said, more cheerfully than he felt and trying to keep his teeth from trying to chatter. "Can I come in?"

Jack sat up in the water immediately. "David, what the hell are you doing out there? Are you - " he turned his head to the side. "Are you naked under there?"

"Sure am! And it's freezing! Can I come in please?"

Jack sighed. He leaned back against the side of the pool with a frown, but waved a hand to motion him inside.

David didn't question it, sighing in relief as he crossed the enchanted barrier that kept the cold out of the cavern. He didn't hesitate before shedding his robe and hopping into the hot water, gasping at the intensity of the sudden temperature change. "Fuck!"

A smile twitched at the corner of Jack's mouth. "You could have come the normal way, you know."

"Would you have let me in?" David countered.

Jack looked away. "... yes."

"Oh." David ducked under the water briefly to melt the ice out of his hair, then settled on one of the seating ledges in the pool, watching him. "Well. I guess I was just showing off, then."

Jack still didn't look at him. "Did you learn that in Edreau?"

"No. I learned it this week after you locked me out of your windows."

Jack's lips tightened, silent for a long moment. "You could have stayed in Edreau, you know. I heard the Prince Radiance was quite smitten with you."

"I know," David replied, watching him, wishing Jack would look at him. "But he's not who I'm in love with, Jack."

He'd never said the words before, never dared. It would have meant change, would have meant that he couldn't deny that the things they were doing together weren't more than just meaningless play. He saw a visible expression of pain spread across Jack's face at them. "David - "

"Don't," David said immediately, moving closer to him. "It's okay. I didn't come here for that. I just came to apologize. I'm sorry I left to foster without talking to you, I'm sorry I wasn't at the palace when you returned. I'm sorry I didn't write, or tell you why I was trying to find someone to empower me, and - and I'm sorry I haven't been a good friend."

Jack's expression grew more sorrowful at his words. "You were," he said quietly. "You have been, David. It's just... things got so complicated, and... and then you were gone."

"I'm sorry for that," David replied softly. "I won't leave again, not without your permission. I'm yours, Jack."

Jack gave a soft, pained moan. "David, I can't - "

"Stop." David slid closer, finding his hand underwater and clasping it between his own. "Jack, listen to me. I'm offering you my support, my allegiance, my loyalty, and my love. And my body. That's my choice. But what you want is your choice. What you take is your choice, and whatever you choose, I'll support that, and do whatever I need to make sure that choice is safe for us and gives you what you need."

For a long moment Jack just stared at him, stricken. Then he dropped his gaze, shoulders slumping. "... I really missed you."

"I know," David murmured, stroking his hand under the water. "I'm sorry, Jack. I missed you too, so much. I... I thought I was doing the right thing."

"I didn't like the thought of you being with other people," Jack muttered, jaw clenching, and David felt a spark of hope. "I didn't like being with other people."

"I didn't either," David replied softly. "But I'm willing to deal with it if it means I can support you."

"It's not fair to you, though."

David smiled, feeling more certain. "It's what I've decided, though." Then, even though it might be pushing his luck, he continued. "We're both going to have to sleep with other people regardless. Might as well get what we want out of it. If that's what you want, Jack."

Jack let out a huff of breath, and as his eyes looked over him, there was an expression David hadn't seen before. It was undeniably hungry, and made David's pulse thunder against his eardrums, his body hot in a way that had nothing to do with the mineral pool. "I shouldn't want it," he whispered, but that was answer enough.

David moved closer, giving Jack plenty of time to push him away. "And neither should I," he murmured, kneeling over his lap. "But I do. And I'm offering myself to you, Jack. Let me serve your magic with my body."

He could feel Jack's hands tremble as they moved to stroke slowly up his thighs, tightening on his hips. "... you're empowered now," he said, words rough.

David stroked his hands up Jack's chest, over his shoulders. Much broader than his own, tantalizingly strong. He felt overheated in a way that had nothing to do with the hot pool. "I am," he murmured, stroking the back of his neck. "So no-one will take note of any differences tomorrow. Jack...please...."

"Fuck," Jack whispered, and then he was kissing him, with no question of his intent. And it was obvious from those kisses, from the way that he touched him, that Jack had become no stranger to intimacy either during their time apart, but David found he didn't mind. What mattered was Jack, and pressing closer to Jack with a moan that would have been embarrassing if David didn't need him so much, didn't ache for the press of his body that felt so very good against his own under the water.

Jack tangled one wet hand in his hair, holding him to trembling kisses. Licking into his mouth hungrily, sucking and nipping his lips. "I didn't like the thought of someone having you before me," he growled between kisses, voice raspy with desire. "I'm sorry I was jealous. I'm sorry I shut you out of my rooms...."

The admission was tantalizing. David couldn't help but squirm harder, pressing his quickly hardening cock against him and enjoying the press of Jack's own. "I'm sorry I had to have someone else empower me."

His friend broke from his lips, glancing away. "... that's... not what I meant."

...oh. David felt a shiver of nervous excitement and want, and swallowed hard. "Well," he started softly, "you could still be the first to have me like that."

Jack shuddered visibly, drawing him closer, pressing a kiss to his jaw. "You shouldn't say that," he whispered hoarsely, and yet one hand pushed between them to stroke his inner thigh as he claimed David's mouth again. Jack's caress was restless, moving tantalizingly higher until he was pressing a hand against his sex.

David's breath caught in a whimper that Jack kissed away, caressing him gently. Letting the length of his fingers press against him as David squirmed until they were sliding along his opening. David felt like he couldn't catch his breath, unexpectedly trembling with how good it was, with the elation of Jack's admissions and the anticipation of more. He'd touched himself like that often while jerking off, longing for Jack, imagining Jack, but it was nothing like the helpless, aching want he felt with Jack's hand between his thighs. Every part of him ached for it. "Please," he breathed, trying to press into the stimulation. "Jack, please more...."

Jack kissed him harder with a helpless groan. "We shouldn't," he whispered, even as he gently rubbed a finger up into him, slick with more than water. "Davd, we can't...."

The elation of even just feeling Jack's fingers inside him left David gasping as Jack added another. He didn't try to hold back his pleasure, whining as Jack started to fuck him with then despite his words. Jack pumped them in him carefully but with obvious want, breath coming heavy against David's mouth. 

But it was Jack's protestations - completely contrary to his actions - that held David's attention. 

Perhaps there was another way to convince him. 

~~~

Author's Notes:

omg, I'm so sorry for the coitus interruptus?? Tapas sizes are too small for extended kinkytimes!! :o