Hellhound AU

[just_aces]

Sometime round about 1900, a witch summoned a hellhound as a familiar.

He didn't mind it, hellhounds are loyal after all, and if some of her spells left him tired and drained, well, that was what he was there for, to keep her from using too much of her own energy for things. That and to eat the souls of her victims, sometimes.

But then, in the early 1970s, she ran afoul of a much stronger coven.

She was quite quickly banished to hell, but the hellhound couldn't be allowed to go with her, because, well, hellhounds are loyal and she was powerful and would have been able to use him to escape.

So the hellhound was made human, figuring that sixty, seventy, even eighty years if he was lucky would be enough time for the witch to have been consumed, so that even when the human-that-had-been-a-hellhound died, and Death herself realized that he was definitely not where, or what, he was supposed to be, she'd send him back.

But then one Charles Rowland kind of fucked up that whole plan by dying young and immediately running away from Death herself.

So the ghost-who-was-the-boy-who-was-the-hellhound has no idea what he was, or still is, under it all.

But, after a trip through hell to save his best friend (Hellhounds are loyal, after all) and time spent in a familiar position -though not a familiar kitchen- after that has been enough to knock a few things loose...

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[uptightboy]

With a slight twist of his face, Edwin was trying to relax. He was thankful for the attention to his neck because it did distract him. There was no pain but he did underestimate the sensation of being penetrated. Even by Charles. It was good. It was exciting. A lot. And not enough.

He moved his hips as Charles changed the angle, spreading his thighs just a bit more. He started to feel the slight warmth of the lube he made, along with its intended purpose. Right, it was working as intended, indeed.

"It feels good," Edwin muttered against Charles' ear, to let him know.

[just_aces]

"Yeah? That's good, that's the idea." He murmured against the crook of Edwin's throat. He just hummed in appreciation as Edwin spread his legs to settle at a better angle. The hand that wasn't working Edwin open settled into stroking along his thigh once more, kneading against the bunched muscle now and again, finally skimming fully up Edwin's side, holding him steady as he set to working a second finger in alongside the first.

He did the same as he'd done with the first, a gentle pressure and a slight curl to test the reflexive reaction, just how tight Edwin was against the digits, pleased to find that it wasn't much, "Still good?"

[uptightboy]

Feeling that hand on his side, and more fingers inside him, Edwin did feel his cheeks burn more. He was looking at Charles' hands a lot, just admiring and longing, and now, they are making him happy. The happiest.

He jumped a little when two fingers pressed inside him. The sensations were getting more intense and Edwin was trying to stay calm.

"Yes," he nodded, trying to steady his voice. "You are doing well..." he added and tilted his head to lay a kiss on Charles' neck in return.

[just_aces]

That praise warmed him almost as easily as the return kiss did, but he laughed softly a moment later, shaking his head, "I've got the easy job, not difficult to do this one badly."

It wasn't difficult to do it badly, sure, but it also wasn't impossible, and he knew -not from experience but from rumor and talk- that some people still weren't good at it regardless.

He smoothed his hand back down Edwin's side, kneading briefly at his hip again before continuing the path down his thigh even as he twisted the fingers inside Edwin again, finally starting to work them apart so that he could work Edwin open more fully. He nuzzled briefly at Edwin's temple before asking: "How much do you want to feel me?" Edwin was going to feel the stretch when Charles actually took him no matter how well prepared he was beforehand, it was just a matter of degree.

[uptightboy]

Edwin let out a little nervous laugh at that. It didn't sound like something difficult, yes, but still. And he already was thinking about having this knowledge used on Charles later, at another time.

He gave a soft sound, feeling Charles' hand on his body, and inside him, already getting used to it. His eyes fluttered shut as he felt being more opened up. It wasn't something he had felt before and yet his body acted like it was anticipating something.

"I..." he started, frowning a little as he was trying to think. "I want... I want to feel you enough. A lot," he whispered. Pain was nothing to him, he barely registered in anymore. But pleasure? Now, that was new.

[just_aces]

He made a quiet, considering sound, before brushing a kiss to the hollow of Edwin's throat, smiling up at him again, "Bit more then, just to make sure." He knew pain wasn't the kind of thing that registered for Edwin, or at least registered differently than it did for most people, but that didn't mean he was going to be careless enough to cause it by accident, and if it was something he was going to be doing on purpose, well that was a conversation they'd have to have later.

As it was, he continued the easy stroking down and back along Edwin's side and thigh, steady, even passes as he continued the movements of his fingers.

What he finally asked, warm and amused, one brow lifting as he watched Edwin's face, was: "Would you like to do the honors, or should I get rid of them myself?" The question was asked with the barest little upward roll of his hips, just to be sure Edwin knew what he was asking about.

[uptightboy]

Something in Edwin's chest fluttered. Charles was always making sure he wasn't going to get hurt, even if the pain didn't matter to him. And something about that always made Edwin feel safe. Is it any wonder he fell for this boy? He smiled, nuzzling at Charles as he continued, all the worry releasing from his body.

And when he was asked that question, Edwin chuckled gently.

"I shall do it," he said with a chaste kiss on Charles' cheek as he moved his hands. He slowly slid his hands down the boy's chest and stomach to the waistline of his trousers. Edwin worked quickly, and determined, feeling his mouth watering as he finally freed Charles from his clothes.

[just_aces]

Charles was practically vibrating in anticipation by the time his cock finally swayed free, bobbing upwards against his belly in the space between them. The hand at Edwin's side lifted away to cradle his cheek, leaning up to claim another hungry kiss, hoping it would be enough to take some of the edge off instead of stoking those desires higher at the moment.

He gave another tug against Edwin's rim with both fingers in an easy curl, though he dropped his other hand from Edwin's face to find where he'd set the lube, pressing the jar into Edwin's hand the request escaping in a rush against his partner's lips, "Take care of that too, yeah? Want to make this as easy as possible." And yes, making sure Edwin was relaxed and receptive was part of it, but so was making sure Charles was slicked over as well.

[uptightboy]

Whimpering into their kiss, Edwin noted it wasn't only from need, it was also from impatience. But he kissed back, they needed to calm down, they needed to be... Oh, dash it. Edwin was sure he wouldn't be calm, not with the way Charles' fingers were inside him, and not with the feeling of his hard cock in his hand. Edwin's hand was already halfway toward the jar when Charles pushed it into it. Edwin almost dropped it in his excitement.

"Yes," was all he could stutter, wetting his fingers with a generous amount. He once again remembered how he was working on it, rubbing countless formulas between his fingers until he found the one. His lips parted when he finally wrapped his fingers around Charles' hardness, giving it a firm, wet stroke first. It was hot, and hard, and beautiful. Edwin tilted his head to look at it as he was working, squeezing the base before sliding his hand up to the head, adoring and coating it for him. He could barely wait to have him inside, to be as close as they could. "Charles... Charles, I'm... ready," Edwin said once he decided Charles was wet enough, and that he was also prepared enough. "Let me..." He whispered, rising on his knees.

[just_aces]

Even despite the fact that he'd literally just requested it, the slick slide of Edwin's hand on him was a surprise and he just made a half-strangled little sound, diving into another kiss as Edwin continued to stroke him, thorough as ever, but he nodded, letting his head fall back as Edwin moved. He withdrew his fingers almost reluctantly and settled both hands on Edwin's hips, not to control the movement but to track it, so he'd know when he could move again himself.

He was still practically vibrating with the effort of keeping still so Edwin could get situated, determined as ever not to cause him any pain, and more than that wanting to make sure Edwin knew that he was still very much in control here, it was up to Edwin how deep he wanted to go and how quickly he wanted to do so and Charles wasn't just happy and eager to be involved, but absolutely gone on this beautiful boy in his lap.

It was an effort not to just kiss him again, because as much as he wanted to, he also wanted to watch Edwin's face as he finally slid home.

[uptightboy]

Edwin didn't need to breathe for a while now. One would think he forgot the motion to attempt to take air into his lungs but no, when he spotted Charles' face as he was ready to take him, Edwin felt like it was that moment he stopped breathing.

One of his hands moved to grab Charles' forearm as he lifted his hips more. His other hand took Charles' hardness to position himself. When his tip pressed against him, only then Edwin realized how hot it was, and the slight shiver in his own movements. It was excitement. Edwin opened his mouth when he slowly lowered himself, letting Charles slide inside, past his rim. He kept his fingers there as if to feel how every inch was slowly disappearing into him.

It felt way different than the fingers. Charles stretched him well and the lube was doing its intended job too. Edwin closed his eyes as he was trying to concentrate. He didn't slide it in all the way just yet, just a little, just as much as he wasn't overwhelmed with.

"Bear with me... just a tick..." He whispered, barely noting he said it out loud. He moved up, only to slowly slide down again, taking it deeper this time. He was working at a slow pace, moving up and down, taking in more of Charles with each movement. His hand was still there, still feeling everything. 

[just_aces]

Charles' spectral heart was hammering against his ribs and he just made a half-hitched little noise at the request, managing a nod all the same, fingers kneading against Edwin's hips once more.

He did manage actual words a moment later, though they were strained, "Take all the time you need." Despite the strain, he absolutely meant it, there was no version of this, no reality where he didn't let Edwin take this as slowly as he needed or as quickly as he wanted, even though the slick hot clutch of him was going to drive Charles mad before long.

He lifted one hand from Edwin's hip to cradle his face again, thumb sliding along his lower lip, just watching the concentration and bliss on his face, thoroughly enjoying how distant and different it was than Edwin's usual collected demeanor.

[uptightboy]

Edwin gasped at the touch on his face, leaning into it. He turned his head to kiss Charles' palm, his eyes still closed. He slowly, ever so slowly inched the last of Charles into him. It also brushed against something deep inside him that made his body jump from a spark of pleasure. Edwin wanted to feel it again but he was already full and felt just so much.

He took Charles' hand at his cheek, squeezing it as he finally opened his eyes to look at him. He could barely believe how his heart could barely calm down, and his breath... Edwin felt like he was actually alive.

With a moan, Edwin moved up, just to slide all the way down again. A surprised, sweet noise escaped him when he felt Charles deep again. This was definitely not in the books.

"There..." Edwin smiled. "Charles..." he sighed, his words feeling heavy in his mouth. He leaned in for a kiss with trembling lips, wondering if Charles could hear his ghost heart beating because it was so, so loud...

[just_aces]

It was probably a good thing that Edwin went in for a kiss, because otherwise Charles would have started babbling nonsense and probably wouldn't have been able to stop.

That almost-tentative kiss to his palm, the noises Edwin made, the absolute bliss writ clear across his face, it was all almost too much, especially on top of just how it felt to be buried so deeply and so fully inside the other boy. It was too much and not enough and Charles felt some deep well of possessiveness rising up in him again. That bone-deep certainty that Edwin was his, not just his to have -though that was part of it- but his to keep safe, to protect.

It was a wave of feeling that manifested in that banked-ember glow returning to his eyes and the soft growl stirring deep in his chest once more. The hand at Edwin's cheek slid back into his hair, cradling the back of his head, while the hand still at his hip kneaded there for a moment before dragging down his thigh and back up again, Charles' own hips giving a fitful little roll, as if he couldn't keep still any longer.

[uptightboy]

With a sharp intake of breath, Edwin pulled back when Charles rolled his hips. He heard his growl through his body, and when he opened his eyes he saw the glow in Charles' eyes. And he was gorgeous. He was everything Edwin wanted and needed.

"Charles," Edwin swallowed. Warmth pooled in his spectral body, waking up all his senses as if he still had a body. As if he could still have a world he no longer was a part of. Edwin grabbed Charles' shoulders, his thumb brushing over his collar. "Please, I... take it, take me," Edwin stuttered, his hips bucking as he was trying to set a deeper, firmer pace. "Oh, Charles..."

[just_aces]

That growl ticked up just a little, something almost inquisitive, as if making sure Edwin really did mean that, but Charles grinned again a moment later, stealing another quick kiss as his hips gave another, somewhat steadier arch.

He didn't have a lot of leverage with Edwin sitting astride him like that, but maybe that was for the best because Charles wasn't entirely sure he'd be able to control himself completely otherwise, and not just due to the hellhound instincts, but also just because of how much he wanted Edwin and the dawning realization of how long he'd wanted him just like this.

His hand at Edwin's hip curled, kneading again as the other slid through his hair to settle at the nape of his neck, giving a full-handed squeeze even as Charles arched his hips again, just a little, as if testing his range of movement, and it was only a moment before both hands dropped to Edwin's hips, encouraging him to move as well, falling into an almost-steady rhythm before long, burying his face against the arch of Edwin's neck again.

[uptightboy]

Edwin whimpered as Charles moved again. There. There it was. He felt it. His whole spirit felt it. There was no way back, they were each other's in so many ways now. They were one and it felt like being born.

The squeeze on his neck, the movement of Charles' hips, everything was there to make Edwin feel like he'd lost his mind. To think he was just another animal with only one thing on his mind. As Charles buried his face in his neck, Edwin grabbed at the back of his head. He moved his hips in sync with Charles wanting to feel him more intense, and deeper, and faster, and more more more.

"Charles," Edwin moaned. "Charles, I love you..." If he had to take breaths he would have choked, for sure. But thankfully Edwin had no breath, so he could try to talk around the moans that were continuously breaking from his throat. "I love you. I- It feels so good, Charles..." his voice was strained, almost sounding scared. But it was far from fear Edwin had felt.

[just_aces]

Any other time Charles might have been concerned about that strain in Edwin's voice, but at the moment, thanks to everything, especially Edwin's hand on the collar, he could feel that feedback again, he knew what Edwin was feeling because he was feeling it too and it just made everything that much more intense.

He knew he wasn't going to last much longer under that near-tsunami of sensation and desire and want and satisfaction all tangled up at once in ways he couldn't even begin to pick apart. Instead he set his teeth against the jut of Edwin's clavicle, not biting and not grinding his teeth against it, just pressing them there to pale skin, tongue curling back and forth against the spot, sucking a mark there even as his hips continued the steady rolling movement in counterpoint to Edwin's own movements.

With one last broad lick across the mark he'd left Charles finally managed to find words himself again, pressing them hot and insistent against Edwin's skin, "Love you, so much. Always have, Edwin, always." Another faint growl as he nuzzled against the mark he'd left at the base of Edwin's throat, "Mine." And another almost gentle nip against the same spot, "My Edwin. Always." He knew he wasn't going to last much longer, but couldn't collect himself enough to give that warning, instead just clutching at Edwin's hips more tightly as if to keep him in place.

[uptightboy]

Teeth were against his skin again and Edwin let out a sound close to crying. He closed his eyes, his fingers grabbed on Charles' hair as he felt the press of teeth and the tongue. The strangest thing was that this time the mark stayed. Just like the collar on Charles. Edwin couldn't see it yet, though, all he knew that need gripped him more and more. So much, that his magic also picked up how out of control he was getting, pouring into the nearest channel it could which was the bond between them.

Edwin jumped when he heard Charles talk. His words, his growl, all in tandem with the roll of his hips... Edwin felt like a powerful spell was being cast. But it was just them. Their love and them belonging.

"Yours," Edwin said. "Mine..." he whimpered, dipping his hand between them to grab himself as he felt he needed more. Finding just how hard he already was. When Charles grabbed him tighter he went with him, following his lead because he was already close too. Again. And before Edwin knew it, he followed his stray magic through their bond, feeling Charles' and his pleasure and a happy, almost manic chuckle left his throat before he could stop it.

[just_aces]

Charles decided that he liked the sound of that laugh, if only because it was so much more unfettered than Edwin usually was, it was definitely the kind of thing that might have been alarming in another situation or at another time, but right at the moment was almost precisely what he expected to hear.

It was when Edwin's hand moved that Charles realized he'd left Edwin bereft, and that had him making an almost apologetic noise, because his vocabulary had gone again already, but he also couldn't actually uncurl his hands from Edwin's hips to take over stroking him, and it seemed that Edwin did have that task well in hand, for the moment.

He knew he should probably be a little concerned about the strength of the magic cycling between them, it was dangerously close to how things happened when he accidentally overloaded a spell, but they weren't casting anything at the moment, at least not on purpose. Though they would likely both be surprised later to find how much deeper the bond between them went once this was finished.

Charles soon lost all semblance of rhythm, movements gone instinctive and unsteady, hands sliding from their grip at Edwin's waist to the tops of his thighs as if to hold him in place more firmly as Charles arched against him again, muffling the sound he made -keening and hungry and satisfied all at once- against Edwin's throat as his climax swept through him.

He didn't go hazy as he had the last time, but he was definitely running on instinct more than actual thought, likely gripping Edwin's thighs tightly enough to leave finger-mark bruises there.

[uptightboy]

The fact that Edwin was more occupied by Charles and what was happening, rather than the strange magic that spiked between them could tell that he was really gone. He wasn't taking magic he was basically oozing it, without even noticing. And all around was only them, him and Charles. And for Edwin, it was only Charles that existed in that moment.

It was only Charles. And his name on Edwin's lips whenever he could speak it. It was his hands on his thigh and his hardness inside, and then his peak- Edwin could feel it. Inside. And through his magic. It was intense, new, and deep and Edwin closed his eyes as the sensations hit him just a bit too much. He wasn't even sure if it was his peak that reached him or if it was Charles' that he felt and pushed him over the edge. But it didn't matter. What mattered was that Charles was his. And his hands were holding him so tight- so tight that Edwin could feel the marks forming already. And he loved it. He loved to have proof that he belonged to Charles.

"Charles..." Edwin whispered because every time something new happened to him, or if he felt something he had never before he needed to call for Charles. And he had never felt like this in this afterlife. Light, and free, and tired, and full. And belonging. He nuzzled at Charles' temple, wondering if he'd ever be able to let him go from his embrace.

[just_aces]

Charles was panting as if he'd just been running sprints, because the part of him that knew he didn't need to breathe was buried somewhere under the layers of instinct and sensation and even as he sagged back against the couch again he snaked one arm up along Edwin's back to draw him along with, keeping him held close, running a string of open-mouthed kisses along his jaw and down his throat, just nosing at the mark he'd left again before letting his head roll back fully as if that might help him catch the breath he didn't actually need.

He kept his arm curled around Edwin, keeping him as close as possible, stroking a hand along his spine in slow, steady strokes, from nape to waist and back up again. The other hand was still curled tight against his thigh, though he managed to disengage that hold after a moment, stroking slow and gentle there as well.

It was going to be a minute before he actually managed to remember how to speak again, but even despite that he was still spilling contentment and satisfaction and devotion over that bond between them. There was nowhere else he wanted to be and no one else he wanted to be with right at the moment.

[uptightboy]

Edwin half collapsed on Charles as he leaned back, breathing heavily, chasing useless breaths just as the other. His arms were around Charles, unable to let go still after his orgasm. The hand on his back and the one on his thigh were like a balm to his spirit. He may not feel pain quite like others but he feels the comfort after it. Sometimes it's the only time he registered that something painful had happened with his body. He let out a stuttering breath, holding onto Charles tighter and leaning his forehead on his shoulder. 

He could feel all through the bond, everything Charles could not say to him in words. And Edwin returned it all. The love, the devotion, the promise of safety and loyalty. The promise of forever.

Edwin was absently kissing Charles' shoulder and neck as he was trying to recover, to put some thoughts together but it was futile. It was maybe the very first time in a long while that his rushing thoughts were finally halted. After a bit he turned his head, just to look at Charles' collar, reaching to run his fingers over it, frowning at the faint glow on it.

"Charles... I'm afraid I fell in love with you again," Edwin muttered.

[just_aces]

His brow furrowed just a little at that mumbled statement, but it only took him a few moments to sort it out and he smiled, brushing a kiss to Edwin's temple, arms having settled in a loose loop around his waist, "Yeah?" His voice was quiet, warm, a little hazy but in the best kind of way, "Probably a good thing I finally sorted out I've been in love with you all along then, innit?"

It was something he'd suspected for a while, that the reason his feelings for Edwin hadn't changed was because there was nothing there to change, but it amused him a little that it took something like this, and being able to feel exactly how Edwin felt for him thrumming between them over that bond, to actually put it all into perspective.

"I meant it, you know." Another gentle brush of his lips against Edwin's temple, "Always been yours, since the start. And you're it for me, always have been."

[uptightboy]

"All along?" Edwin muttered into Charles' skin. He had never understood the phrase 'butterflies in his stomach' up until now. He listened to Charles' words and he could barely believe them. They were just too good to be true, even if Edwin knew they were! With a tired smile, Edwin closed his eyes. "And yet, it took you so long to figure it out," he teases softly. "You gave me a proper scare," he added, still being anxious about that thought. About having to go on about his afterlife with an unrequited love for his best friend.

Edwin shifts, so he no longer has Charles in him and drapes over him just a bit more comfortably. He is aware that if he had a proper body it would ache in various ways for sure. But all he feels is Charles' hands and the remnants of his magic.

"Have you felt it?" Edwin whispered. "The binding magic..."