De Amore

Posted: November 2002
Type: RPS
Author: Cinzia
Characters: KU/various
Rating: R
Summary: Does Karl know about love?
Disclaimer: This is NOT true, 'cause I just made it up.
Warnings: Possible spoilers for Return of the King. Should I warn about het content? Maybe just a little.
Author Notes: Five Karl-drabbles for Lobelia's birthday, inspired by Brenda's wonderful Theory.

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1) Rosa Rosae

Since their first days on set Karl's been hearing the gossip about their being together. Of course, he doesn't mind: Miranda is his little sister in the movie, and his best friend outside.

He loves her and loves everything about her: her sweet laughter, her long golden hair; he feels she can understand him--all of him.

She's so pretty.

Sparkling eyes hiding under a Rohan helmet, sweet soft body hidden behind a heavy armour, brave and free and proud in Éowyn's warrior disguise--she is prettier still.

"Beautiful."

Dominic's wonder makes her happy. Karl watches them laugh.

If only.

2) Horror Vacui

Face buried in the pillow, closing out the world--Karl thinks he will burn and vanish, like smoke.

He bites the pillow hard, not to let the funny little sounds gathering deep in his throat escape, when fingers open him up, cool and slick and sure, reaching inside, undoing him from inside.

If only, he thinks desperately.

He arches up, trying to get more--only there is no more to get. He is open, and he feels empty.

Yet he still wants this, still craves this, still...

Soft rounded breasts touching his back. Sweet.

... still spreads his legs for her.

3) Ex Tenebris

One evening after filming battle scenes, young Dernhelm stands on tiptoes and kisses Éomer of Rohan long and deep, iron helmet abandoned on the muddy ground, thick golden braid drenched and heavy with rain and fake blood.

Beautiful boy-girl, sweet and hard and free.

A boy is standing near, watching, saying nothing, eyes as grey as the sky darkening overhead.

"I love you," Miranda says, her pretty eyes smiling. "Even though you don't want to know about love."

Then she's gone. Dominic goes after her, two secret warriors in the Muster of Rohan.

If only Karl could call them back.

4) Nomina Rerum

"It's about definitions," Bernard says. "You give things their names to understand them."

Karl looks down at the Tolkien map spread over Bernard's desk, the myriad of names of valleys and rivers and mountains.

"When you name things, you know them."

If only it were so simple, Karl thinks. He had seen Dominic arrive, Miranda close behind. Very close.

"I don't know," Karl says to Bernard. "Whatever you call them, they can't be what they're not."

He'd thought he'd seen Miranda and Liv talking on the sofa earlier in the evening, but now he can't find them.

"Precisely," Bernard says.

5) Et Consumimur Igni

Karl finds Dominic sitting at his and Miranda's usual table at breakfast, spooning up honey for his tea.

"She's not here," Dominic says, licking honey from his thumb.

Karl watches, trying not to. "I know."

"I think," Dominic carefully says, "she's still at Liv's."

Karl looks at his empty plate. There's honey on Dominic's full bottom lip. "I know."

"You know?" Karl feels Dominic ask, lips barely moving under Karl's thumb. Slowly, deliberately, he takes his thumb to his own mouth.

Dominic's eyes are beautiful, lit with fire. Wonder spreads in Karl.

"Dom," he says.

And at last, he knows.

*****

THE END

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Cinzia