In Absentia, Chapter 1

[tigerstriped86.livejournal.com]

Title: In Absentia, Chapter 1
Author: tigerstriped86
Fandom/Pairing: TW/OZ crossover, Tripp/Beecher
Rating: M for Mature (Because me as a fictional character is definently getting Beecher nookie-end of discussion).

Prompt 107: In Absentia
Summary: The final chapter of the John Tripp Mysteries begin.  While searching for Torchwood Two's mysterious Archie, John and Toby are going to discover how much they need each other.  And how much the universe can pull a person apart.  Sequel to One Dangerous Gentlemen and Broken Bridges.
Disc.: I do not own Torchwood, OZ, or most of the characters.  They belong to their respective people.  However, I'm pretty sure since John Tripp is my freakin' creation that if he gets ripped off I have a flaming chainsaw with your name on it.  How does that work?  Pure force of will.  That's how.  
Author's Note: Yes, I'm aware the name of the story is the same as the prompt.  I thought it was really cool.  I didn't even know absentia was a word.  Almost sounds like an Addams Family member to me.  And Turning and Burning shall return soon, promise.

“I'm pretty sure we're lost.”

Tobias looked from the steering wheel as the car flew down the dirt road. “That's just bad luck.”

“So you're going to blame me?” John quirked his eyebrows back at Toby.

“Didn't say that. I know exactly where we are.”

“You do? You weren't confused by the pub barman telling us to take two lefts and a right once at a castle ruin? It's hard enough trying to find one measly person in this country.”

“Scotland.”

“Scotland, right. Makes me long for the days of the SUV emblazoned with the logo. At least we could always keep track of Jack if we wanted.”

“You know...”

“Don't say it. Talk about bad luck.”

“Is it possible Archie doesn't want to be found? You couldn't find him with your power and he's not on the scanner.”

“That magic wand of yours might not work.”

“Only if your brain doesn't.”

“The reports said to follow him out this way. He's just way into field missions.”

“Or he's just legend.”

“Like Harkness?”

“It's getting dark, Toby. Maybe we should stop for the night.”

Toby watched the last remnants of the sun vanish behind the blinking lights of the laptop John was clicking away on trying to triangulate their position and Archie's last known whereabouts. He wondered why they weren't just using a flash light and a map.

“John...”

“Hmm?” John looked up from the laptop, a pencil stuck between his teeth near the notepad in a side compartment on the door.

“Found you some castle ruins. Care to stay the night?”

“Jinkies, Toby. Think old Mr. Jenkins will dress up like a pirate ghost and try to scare us off?”

Toby managed a grunt as the car parked. He refused to acknowledge John's quip. Against the ever-fading twilight and the shadows made by the headlights of the car, the castle ruins were creepy. The rooms were all open to the air. Most were nothing but free-standing walls surrounded by a hastily made wooden fence that might just deter a cow. The lid of trunk closed with a resounding clang.

The wind was still and the air slightly humid. They walked in silence with blankets and makings for a fire. Both preferred to not spend the night in a stuffy car with the radio blaring. The stillness and the crickets were comforting after a lifetime of voices and confined spaces. It seemed as though kids had been coming through the ruins and graffiti marks could be seen in many of the walls. Hastily carved names of lovers and phrases of hope and destruction greeted what few turns the place had.

Tobias stopped at the staircase and began setting up the candles. The scent and the tiny beams of light were more soothing than the million watt torches they used on missions. A light mist was already beginning to fall and both were resisting the chill. Sparse amounts of grass were beginning to peek through the remnants of the stone floor. John set to spreading the soft blankets on the ground while Toby lit the candles that had a slight scent of vanilla and cinnamon to them.

John peeled off his shirt which clung against his skin. Toby watched his shoulders, his freckles invisible in the dark. He smirked as John fell against the blankets and began to squirm and snuggle until he found the right spot. His shoulder blades were very picky and sensitive. Most mornings he woke up to John's neck sprawled against his arm, almost nose to nose. Tobias always woke up a fraction of a second before John, the morning sun reflecting just briefly in the flecks of gold in his eyes and his smile.

John patted the makeshift bed as Toby lit the last candle. The light reflected off the remnants of a second portion of wall. They were covered from most rain by the staircase and most biting wind by the second wall. Toby's shirt joined the small pile of clothing to be washed. John's hand caressed his chest, weathered with slight age and a slight bit of fur moving across the pecs. Toby's arm moved around John's shoulder, tracing the dots of pigmented skin he knew so well. John's hand began to move slowly downward onto the other stomach. Toby was more barrel-chested than washboard ab and John preferred him that way.

Toby snuggled deeper into the blankets as John's hands trailed down his chest to the line of his belt. They hadn't had privacy in days. Sleeping in the car in big cities. Always searching and asking about Archie and investigating paranormal occurrences left in his wake. Toby didn't close his eyes as he sighed and lifted his chest up slightly with his breath. Latin phrases and the words in absentia moved in shadow across the old bricks. He heard the sound of his belt clasp clink against the blanket. A pop followed and the slow movement of his zipper.

Toby ripped himself from his jeans in one fluid movement and settle a fraction of millimeter closer to John. John's hand felt a familiar friend, happy for the attention. Toby was hard but never spoke of how much he wanted. He just moved closer and closer until their skins were melded in sweat and lust. John shivered as Toby walked his fingers down John's ribcage and stopped just above his belt line. He waited and tortured his lover. His hand slid down the back of John's pants and squeezed just slightly on his firm backside.

John moved, never taking his eyes off of Toby. One hand remained lodged on John's ass for mere moments more before it felt around and landed on the sensitive area just below the belly-button. John chuckled and then kissed Toby as his foot slid over Toby's legs and John's weight lightly landed over the ash blond's body. Kisses moved from lips to chins to beard lines. Toby bit softly into the side of John's neck and he heard a groan in response. John felt around the blanket and his hands moved toward the small of Toby's back, gripping just slightly.

John's lips and body moved downwards, slowly at first and then quickly. Stopping just briefly to admire Toby's pecs and hard nipples, John moved greedily towards his goal. He loved to make Toby squirm, to hear him groan, to know that he had his complete attention. And so as Toby's hands moved up John's back and intertwined into the red hair, the first growl of the evening began low and reverberated off the ancient walls of absent kings.

John stopped, smiling, watching Toby watch him. In those eyes were the youth and the humanity that Toby hadn't associated with in what seemed like a millennium. Prison made you dark, a shadow, a shamble of yourself. Here with John, both were free to caress and nestle into the other. To allow a bulwark against the wrongs and the abuse they had committed against themselves and others to disappear for a fraction of a second. When Toby finally did close his eyes for just a moment it was in bliss as John's tongue danced and darted over his sensitive areas.

Toby didn't utter many words. He once uttered a no during that night.

“It's unfair to you.”

“Your pleasure is never unfair for me.”

“I want to taste you this time as well.”

John felt his body turning in experienced hands and the feeling of Toby's tongue upon his member while he himself caressed Toby was monumental. It did happen quite frequently, but it always felt so right and natural that it never ceased to surprise John. It felt as though electricity snaked and connected between the two. There was no air between their skin and they breathed through each other. One's stomach would exhale as the other inhaled. Toby's finger found the entrance to John's ass and that brief second of contact created a tremor of lust. John returned his hands to the small of Toby's back.

The sound of two men enjoying each other echoed into the absent night until it was almost too late. Toby came to the edge and then John felt it. John came to the edge as Toby backed his head away for air. This continued twice more until neither could stop it nor see anything except each other in the corner of their eye. They came in blissful concert and then settled in. And John's nose was merely inches from Toby's nose as they fell asleep in each other's arms, smiling.

It must have been around three in the morning when John awoke. The blanket covering them was around his knees. He reached for his jeans blearily and blew the candles out before the wax dripped upon their heads. He was slightly disoriented but distressed. He stumbled away from the candle fog until he could see the stars. Then he heard it again. The sound of the children laughing.

He turned several directions, the sound encompassing him. He felt Toby's hand across his shoulder and concern in the grip. John was shaking and sweating. John fell back asleep in his arms muttering a phrase.

“The children...where are they?”