A Proper Date

Summary: Elrond takes Pete out on a date, eager to make up for the way he treated his lover in Pete's past life
Warning(s): References to D/s; mentions of violence and character death
Pairing: Elrond Thorne/Pete Whitmore; hints of Elrond Thorne/Galahad Stormrider; Dwayne Harrington/Rick Anderson; Jake Matthews/Alex Stone

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"Pete?" A gentle hand rested on his shoulder; long fingers stroked his cheek tenderly. "We're here."

Pete blinked awake. It took him a few moments to realise that he'd dozed off in the car, the gentle hum of the engine lulling him into a peaceful sleep. He found his eyes drawn to Elrond's green gaze and he reached out, gently touching the elf's cheek. "Sorry," he whispered sheepishly. "I should have warned you that I tend to fall asleep in cars."

Elrond's eyes crinkled as a tender smile touched his lips, and he turned his head slightly to kiss the palm of Pete's hand. "I would have let you sleep longer...you looked so peaceful, and I suspect you need it...but we do have reservations, and this is a special place to me that I wish to share with you."

Pete smiled and leaned in to kiss Elrond's cheek, then gently dropped his hand and undid his seatbelt.

Before Pete could open the passenger door himself, Elrond had got out of the driver's seat and was opening the door for him. He reached out a hand to take Pete's and help him out of the car, his eyes soft and warm as he looked Pete over.

Once he was stood on the sidewalk next to the car, Elrond didn't let go of Pete's hand. Squeezing it gently, he closed the door and locked the car, then led Pete towards the sushi restaurant he'd made reservations at.

As he followed Elrond into the restaurant, Pete's nostrils were gently teased by the tantalising scent of sushi and rice.

The restaurant was small and cozy, with a few tables and booths laid out. There was tasteful artwork on the walls, and the carpet was a deep, inviting blue in colour.

A petite Japanese woman with long black hair pulled back into a bun, wearing a red and white kimono, walked up to meet them. She smiled at both Elrond and Pete, inclining her head in what appeared to be a deeply respectful manner. "Did you want your usual table, Elrond?"

"Yes please." Elrond squeezed Pete's hand, and then followed the woman towards a small, private booth in one corner of the restaurant.

Pete glanced at the booth, noting that he could sit with his back to the wall, allowing him to see anyone who came in and out of the restaurant...and even those who moved around the restaurant. He didn't hesitate before sliding into that side of the booth.

As Elrond took the seat opposite, the woman placed a menu in front of each of them. "Grandmother will be out to see you in a few minutes." She glanced at Pete, a smile softening her severe features as she said, "She'll be happy to meet you as well." Without giving Pete a chance to respond, she walked over to one of the other tables.

Elrond looked at Pete, a fond smile coming over his face as he murmured, "You still want to be able to see the whole area, even when there's no obvious danger."

"I've always felt like that," Pete admitted. "I just never realised why...until you came back into my life and the walls between then and now crumbled." He reached across the table and took Elrond's hand in his own, entwining his fingers with the elf's. "I'm surprised you can walk freely around humans," he said. "Elves aren't as common now as they were in my past life."

"There are no other elves left in this world," Elrond said quietly, his gaze turning distant.

Pete gently squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry. That must be very lonely for you." He hesitated, but he had to ask. "Did they...were they wiped out? By the Ancient One?" He dropped his voice on the last question.

"No." Elrond sighed, deep lines of grief and ancient pain etched into his face. "It's true that many of them were killed in battles with the Ancient One, but most elves chose to leave this realm and make their home in others'. Those whose souls may reincarnate will not be able to reincarnate as full elves...although there are traces of those bloodlines in many humans alive to this day."

"Really?" Pete's eyes widened slightly.

"Yes. Those humans who appear to be younger than they are, who appear not to age as rapidly, may have an elf somewhere in their family history." Elrond's fingers stroked along Pete's hand.

"You were never tempted to...leave? To go to another realm?"

Elrond looked into Pete's eyes, his own intense and serious. "For centuries, I clung to the hope of eventually being reunited with you. If I had gone to another realm, if I had made my home there, I would not have been here for you. I would have never found you again." He raised his other hand to cup Pete's cheek, thumb stroking over his lower lip. "I would never have left you." His voice grew hoarse with emotion.

Pete pressed a kiss to Elrond's thumb. "What about now?" He had to ask the question. He had to know if Elrond would put his safety first...if he asked him to. "If I asked you to...would you take me to another realm? Where we could live in peace away from the Ancient One?"

Elrond didn't respond straight away. He held eye contact with Pete for several long moments, as if trying to read what Pete was thinking. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and very tender. "If you wanted me to take you to another realm where you would be safe, I would willingly do so. But I would not be able to stay with you," he admitted, his voice dropping. "I couldn't allow the Ancient One to harm anyone else. I would have to stay here until I could be sure he was defeated once and for all."

A tension he hadn't even realised he'd been feeling seeped out of Pete and he found himself relaxing, giving Elrond a tiny smile. "I don't want to leave," he admitted quietly. "But thank you." Knowing that Elrond would put him first made him feel good, but he wouldn't be able to leave and abandon this world. It was his home, after all.

"I know you wouldn't...but there is a part of me that would like nothing better than to take you somewhere you will be safe and no one can hurt you again," Elrond admitted quietly. "I lost you once, and I cannot bear to do so again."

"My family and my friends are here," Pete pointed out quietly. "And you. I might be safe in another world, but I wouldn't be happy."

"I understand." Elrond leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to Pete's forehead, then sat back again with a gentle smile on his face. "Do you know what you'd like to order?"

"I should take a look...." Pete opened his menu and scanned through the list of food, his lower lip caught between his teeth. "It all looks really good," he admitted, before raising his eyes to Elrond's face. "What's your favourite?"

"I tend to eat the temaki," Elrond admitted. "But to be honest, I have tasted, and thoroughly enjoyed, every type of dish they serve here. Even when the restaurant was first opened and they were still choosing what to prepare and serve." Another smile that reached his eyes came across his face as he added, "I have even tried eel."

"Eel?" Pete closed his menu and tilted his head. "I remember eating snake once, but it didn't taste the best." At the time, he'd been too hungry to really care what he caught and ate...just knowing that he needed to eat something to keep his strength up. "I can't imagine choosing to eat eel."

"When it's prepared well, it is particularly delicious," Elrond said. "But perhaps I am biased. This has been my favourite place to visit since it was first opened."

Pete smiled and reached across the table, taking Elrond's hand in his own. "Will you order for me?" he asked softly.

"If you would like me to, my precious one." Elrond squeezed Pete's hand, his gaze warm and loving.

Out of the corner of his eye, Pete saw an elderly Japanese woman making her way towards their booth. She was tiny and frail, but her dark eyes were bright and alert. Her kimono was green in colour and appeared to be very finely made.

Elrond squeezed Pete's hand and then released it before standing. He turned to the woman and bowed deeply to her. "Rina," he said, his voice warmed through with affection. "It's good to see you."

"Elrond." Rina smiled and bowed to him in return, then turned to Pete and gave him a nod of acknowledgement.

"This is Pete." Elrond's smile was warm as he reached out and took Pete's hand, guiding him to his feet and wrapping his arm around his waist.

Rina's smile was genuine and warm as she looked over Pete. "I'm happy he found you again," she said, in a heavily accented voice.

Surprised, Pete glanced at Elrond. Did she know about his past life as Galahad? Did reincarnation leave a mark when it occurred? He might have lived two different lives, have two different souls and experiences sharing one body, but he could admit that he was far from an expert on reincarnation.

As if he could tell what Pete was thinking about, Elrond squeezed his hand gently and murmured, "Some people are gifted with what humans now call the second sight. It enables them to see things that might not be visible to ordinary people."

Pete nodded and relaxed, some of the tension seeping out of him at the reassurance. He smiled at Rina. "I'm really happy to meet you," he said quietly. "Thank you for being here for him when he needed it."

Rina's smile grew and she nodded, as if pleased by his words. "What would you like to eat?" she asked.

Elrond glanced at Pete, who simply smiled and nodded, indicating that he still wanted the elf to order the food for him. Then, Elrond turned to Rina with a smile and proceeded to order the food for both of them.

"It will be brought out soon," Rina promised, then turned and walked away.

Elrond turned back to the booth and gently guided Pete back into his seat, then sat across from him once more. "I met Rina when she was a little girl," he explained. "She was trapped in a burning building, and no one could get to her."

"No wonder she's so fond of you." Pete reached across the table and took hold of Elrond's hand again. "Does she know that you're an elf?" he asked curiously. "She must have noticed that you don't age."

"It's like I said. Some humans have the ability to see more than others. Rina is one of them...and she could see that I wasn't human from the start, before she was old enough to truly understand the human nature." He took a deep breath and turned Pete's hand over, tracing gentle circles on the palm. "After Arendin and Rain were killed, I didn't want to let myself get close to anyone else. Losing them, especially at the hands of the Ancient One, was so painful..." He sighed.

Pete reached out with another hand, gently brushing away the tear that had slipped out of Elrond's eye. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I wish you hadn't been alone for so long."

Elrond closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. When he opened his eyes again, they were shadowed with ancient pain and grief...but there was also an intensity in his gaze when he looked at Pete that left a warm feeling in the pit of Pete's stomach. "I decided it was better to be alone than lose anyone else and have to face the grief of losing them," he admitted. "But when I saved Rina...she needed someone. The rest of her family had perished in the fire. She had no one left."

"You adopted her?"

"Not officially. But I became her guardian. Her protector. And when she was old enough and told me she wanted to open this restaurant...I made it happen for her," Elrond said softly. "I made a lot of wise investments over the centuries, so I was able to ensure her and her family have had comfortable lives to do whatever they wanted."

Pete already knew that Elrond had changed from how he'd been when Pete had lived as Galahad, but the further proof of the elf's change made him happy. "Do you ever get questions about the fact you look like an elf?" he asked softly.

"There's not a lot of magic left in the world, but I can still use small amounts of it," Elrond answered. "Making myself appear human is a simple illusion that needs very little thought to keep up. However, given how much technology has advanced in this time, I have thought about lowering that illusion," he admitted. "It isn't even as if the Ancient One doesn't know that I'm still alive. As much as I wish it were otherwise, we're linked in a way I cannot break...and just as I would know if he died, he would know the same if I did."

"The Ancient One's been quiet," Pete said softly. "He must know that people are being freed of his control; that they're forming bonds to stand against him. So why isn't he trying to do something to stop it?"

Elrond took a deep breath. "I suspect that he's made no attempt to come after those who have escaped because he's too busy strengthening his hold on others. From what Rick and Dwayne have said, he's exerted his influence over their college and Tristan's school. At the moment, with so many people under his control, a handful escaping isn't going to hurt him a great deal."

Pete winced at the words, but he was glad that Elrond didn't try to lie to him. He shook his head, remembering the harsh, brutal, public punishments Dwayne had subjected Rick to while under the Ancient One's control. "Rick mentioned that there are two sets of couples who have formed bonds of love and submission in the college. Do you think they'll be safe if they stay at the college, under the Ancient One's control?" he asked, a worried note creeping into his voice.

After a brief hesitation, Elrond admitted quietly, "I actually think they might be safer staying there than they would be if they left and joined us. While they're there, the Ancient One has no reason to turn his attention on them. I know Rick has made plans with them to exchange information...and also for them to let us know if anything happens and they feel the Ancient One is growing too powerful or dangerous for them to stay."

Pete nodded slowly. He glanced up as Rina returned to their booth, carrying the plates of sushi that Elrond had ordered for them, and smiled at her. "Would you like to join us?" he asked. "I'd like to get to know you a bit better, since you were so important to Elrond."

She gave him a warm smile and patted his hand gently after placing a plate in front of each of them. "Perhaps next time. For now, it would make me happy if you both simply enjoy your food." She walked away, towards one of the other tables.

The scent wafting from the plate in front of him made Pete's stomach growl, and he gave Elrond a sheepish smile. "I think I was hungrier than I thought," he admitted, before beginning to eat the sushi.

The sushi tasted even better than it smelled, and Pete sighed in contentment, closing his eyes for a moment as he savoured the taste. When he opened his eyes again to find Elrond looking at him with a warm, affectionate smile, he felt his cheeks flush, even as he returned the smile. "It's really good," he said, quietly but sincerely. "I can see why it's one of your favourite places, even outside of it being owned by one of your chosen family."

"I'm happy I can share this with you," Elrond whispered, a soft smile touching his lips. "There have been so many things through the centuries that I wanted to share with you," he admitted quietly.

"I'm here now." Pete gently gripped Elrond's hand. "Anything you want to share with me, anything you want us to do together, we can," he promised.

Elrond's eyes searched Pete's face. "Tell me?" he whispered.

Pete smiled tenderly at the request. "I love you. I forgive you. I will never leave you. I belong to you and with you...just as you belong to me and with me."

"Thank you." Elrond relaxed visibly and resumed eating.

They ate in a comfortable silence. Pete found himself relaxing in Elrond's presence, feeling a sense of peace that had been sorely lacking in his previous life. Just being able to sit opposite Elrond like this, enjoying a meal with the elf...it was such a simple thing, but it would have made him so happy in his past life.

Shaking his head, Pete pushed away those memories. Yes, his previous life had been difficult...painful, at times...but it hadn't been all bad. And now, he had what he'd wanted so desperately then. He had Elrond's love and attention. And even though they were facing danger from the Ancient One, he had to admit that he was happy.

They finished their meal in easy, companionable silence and Elrond carefully wiped his mouth, then took a sip from his glass of water. "Would you like to go anywhere else before we return to the house?" he asked.

Pete thought about it for a few moments, but with a sheepish smile, he had to admit, "Really, I'd just like to go home and...spend the rest of the day together. Maybe tomorrow, we can do a bit of training?" he suggested.

"That would probably be beneficial for everyone, not just us," Elrond commented. "This battle might not be fought physically, but keeping us all in good physical shape can only be an advantage."

"And perhaps we can help Rick further develop his healing abilities?" Pete suggested, thinking about the last person Rick had healed...and how that had nearly gone wrong, as the Ancient One had possessed the man as soon as Rick had healed him.

"You're right. Developing mental abilities and skills is just as important as the physical ones. Especially as Davison and Dwayne, at least, are descended from the Ladies of Justice, and therefore have powers that have yet to be awakened." Elrond pushed himself up out of the booth and held a hand out to Pete.

Pete put his hand in Elrond's and allowed the elf to pull him to his feet. When Elrond wrapped an arm around his shoulders, Pete leaned heavily into him, and pressed a kiss to his shoulder. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too, my precious one." Elrond led him towards the woman who had welcomed them into the restaurant and paid for their food. He then guided Pete outside and towards his car, reaching out to open the door for Pete before stepping round to the driver's side.

Pete sat back in the passenger seat, buckling his seatbelt, and gave Elrond a soft, affectionate smile as the elf got in the car. "Thank you for sharing something so special to you with me," he whispered.

In answer, Elrond reached out and took Pete's hand in his own, squeezing it gently. He continued to hold Pete's hand as he put the car into gear and began driving back in the direction of the house.

As it had on the way to the restaurant, the gentle hum of the car's engine lulled Pete into a light, peaceful doze. Elrond's hand was warm in his own, and he could feel the elf next to him. It didn't matter if he was fully aware or not, because he could trust Elrond to watch his back.

Even though he was dozing, Pete wasn't truly asleep, and he opened his eyes when he felt the car come to a stop, Elrond parking it outside the house.

There were two familiar figures stepping out of the house, and Pete smiled when he recognised Rick and Dwayne. While Rick was leading the way, Dwayne hovered next to him...close and protective.

Pete squeezed Elrond's hand gently, then opened the car door and stepped out, walking over to the other couple. "Are you going out for a meal as well?"

"We've eaten already." Rick smiled and reached out to slip his hand into Dwayne's. "We're going for a run. Together."

"Yeah?" Pete smiled, glancing at Dwayne. "You thinking you might take up running too?"

"Maybe. But it's also about making better memories to overshadow the difficult times." Dwayne moved closer to Rick and wrapped his arms around his boyfriend's waist, pressing a kiss to Rick's shoulder. "Since, you know, one of the ways I tormented Rick..." His voice trailed off.

"Hey." Rick placed a hand over Dwayne's and squeezed lightly, leaning back into his embrace. "We're making new memories, okay? Better memories, to fully heal both of us from that pain." He turned in Dwayne's embrace and reached up to caress his lover's face, then leaned in to give him a deep, lingering kiss.

Pete felt Elrond's hand come to rest on his shoulder and he leaned back, smiling up at the elf and pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

When Dwayne and Rick finally separated, both looked a little flushed. Dwayne took Rick's hand and, looking into his eyes, murmured, "Thank you, my naughty angel." He looked towards Pete and Elrond. "Everyone else is still in the house. Rick thought we might go to Terry's house on the way back...see how he and Kit are doing, and if they have any questions about the Ancient One and what's going on."

Pete nodded. "Just be careful, okay? The Ancient One is still out there...and I don't think we're anywhere near the strength we need to be at in order to fight back against him."

Dwayne nodded in understanding. "We'll be careful," he promised. "And if we do run into any problems...we know how to get hold of you." He gave Pete a brief smile and nodded to Elrond, then walked away with Rick, gripping his lover's hand tightly.

As the other two men disappeared from view, Pete turned to the front door and took out his key. He unlocked the door and stepped inside, aware of Elrond following close behind him.

When the door was closed, Pete took a deep breath and turned to Elrond, wrapping his arms around the elf and holding on tightly. "Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you for taking me on a date...thank you for showing me a place that's so important to you," he whispered.

"You are so important to me. I want to share everything with you," Elrond whispered, gently cupping Pete's face in his hands and looking into his eyes.

They stood like that for a few moments, just drinking in each other's presence, until the sound of quiet conversation intruded. Pete stepped away from Elrond, reaching to take the elf's hand, and led him into the main room.

Jake was seated on the couch, with Alex nestled in close to his side. They both looked up as Pete and Elrond stepped into the room.

"Everything all right?" Pete glanced at Alex, searching his face to see if the other young sub was feeling better emotionally than he had been.

Alex nodded and gave a smile that, although small, seemed to be genuine. "We were talking about playing a board game," he said quietly, before asking, with a hopeful note to his voice, "Would you like to play with us?"

Jake wrapped his arm a bit tighter around Alex, fingers resting lightly against his hip, and said softly, "We haven't decided on what game to play yet, so if you want to play and have a preference, put in your vote." He smiled.

"What do you think?" Pete tilted his head back to look into Elrond's eyes. "Do you want to play a game?"

Elrond squeezed Pete's hand and led him to the couch opposite the one Jake and Alex were seated on. He settled Pete in next to him, arm wrapped around his waist.

Pete leaned back into the gentle but possessive touch and gave the other couple a wide smile. "So...what are our choices?"

The End