The Glass House: Chapter Ten

[wolfanfics]

Title: The Glass House
Author: Sashataakheru
Beta: The wonderful rana_narsilion <3
Fandom: The Chaser/AusComedy RPS
Starring: Adam Hills, Sepulchre (OC), Wil Anderson, Hamish Blake, Craig Reucassel, Tim Minchin, Julian Morrow, Chas Licciardello, Charles Firth, Chris Taylor, Andrew Hansen, Caleb (OC), Dr Rachel Hardy (OC), Antoinette Laurent (OC), Dr Samantha Reddings (OC), Dominic Knight, Shane Cubis, Gregor Stronach, Tim Brunero, Andy Lee
Pairings: Andrew/Chris; Adam/Hamish; Jules/Chas; Rachel/Antoinette(/Samantha); Adam/Seb; Adam/Wil; Craig/Caleb; Adam/Wil/Tim; Andrew/Craig, Wil/Chas; implied Tim/Craig
Word Count: 5,564
Chapter: 10/28 [Previous]
Warnings: language, snarky!Craig, smut, kink
Rating: FRAO
Disclaimer: I don’t know them, not associated with them, just a slashy fangirl admirer with a very active imagination.
Author’s Notes: FYI, fullwing = winged human capable of flight. Halfwing = fullwing/human halfbreed, usually unable to fly, sometimes have vestigial wings, but can be removed to pass as human and not as winged.
Author's Notes II: This is the movie Adam refers to. If you haven't seen it, I strongly recommend you do. It's just gorgeous. <3
Summary: Adam remembers Seb, Wil and Tim want to play and Adam wants in, and Jules and Chas have some much needed playtime.

After a while, Adam got up and turned the old TV on. He’d heard that Tango was on, and he wanted to catch it as a tribute to Seb, who’d first introduced him to this movie. He turned the sound down enough not to wake Hamish and settled back to watch it. Adam had watched Tango many times before. It was one of the first movies he’d watched with Seb, and because of what they did afterwards, it would always be somewhat of a turn-on for him.

This was back when SBS was still a legitimate TV station before it was forced underground when the Government went on a spree banning things that refused to broadcast in English. SBS failed on two fronts, as a lot of their foreign language films and programmes were considered filth on top of their mostly foreign language programmes. Someone obviously knew they were going to be in trouble before the station was raided, as most of their programmes and staff managed to vanish before the military police stormed their buildings. Thus it was no surprise to Adam that the station had reinvented itself and could be watched if you had a tuner that blocked out the Government’s interference. It was helpful for watching all sorts of stations that the Government deemed to be offensive.

Even those still loyal to the ABC who had left in protest when the Government took over and turned it into its own official propaganda service were hiding underground and producing their own ABC channel, refusing to let it die and be raped by the State and its tyranny. The State had constantly failed to realise just how loyal its citizens were to the ABC, and had they not been so subjugated, the protests would’ve been much greater than the few hundreds who took to the streets in defiance of protest bans to have their voices heard. Those that had escaped had disappeared. Everyone else was either dead or in prison. Aunty was but a poor cousin of what she once was, and few were left who shed tears for her. It was the end of independent opinion. Once she went, there was no one strong enough to resist any longer. They fell into line or vanished without a trace.

Adam’s favourite scene was the black and white tango, as he called it. The stage was spilt in half, one side black, one side white. The male dancers were split into two groups, one wearing white, one wearing black, lining up on either side of the stage, the white dancers on the black side, the black dancers on the white side. Each side traded blows, so to speak, until they charged at each other, both sides mixing together as their respective leaders paired up for a show-down. They danced beautifully, dancing tango together, both vying for dominance, until they came to a halt, neither able to topple the other. It was almost erotic to watch the dynamic between them. Adam had to admit some of them were rather attractive.

Adam smiled as that scene came on, remembering how Seb had described it.

“Two sides, they seem different on the surface, but are just the same on the inside,” Seb had said.

Adam was never sure that’s what it really meant, but it was a rather cynical interpretation of what was a beautiful scene. Adam quite liked it. At least he saw it more optimistically as a metaphor for unity as opposed to Seb’s meaning.

Adam had always found it poetic, and sort of aptly appropriate. He also liked how there wasn’t an ending, not really. Adam wasn’t quite sure what it was, but it wasn’t an ending, not a proper ending that tied up all the loose ends. As the movie played before him, he found himself thinking about the first time he’d watched it with Seb all those years ago. The movie was almost 30 years old by now, but it didn’t look like it had aged a bit.

14th August, 2006.

Adam was curled up against Seb as they watched Tango, or Tango, no me dejes nunca, as its full name was. They were at Adam’s. It was getting late, nearly midnight, and Adam had work in the morning, but he didn’t care right then. Seb had told him about this movie ages ago, said it was one of his favourites. Adam had to admit he’d never been that keen on foreign movies, but Seb was determined to educate him in all sorts of ways, and Adam was loathe to stop him.

Adam watched the dancing, becoming rather engrossed in the story as it progressed. He had to admit the dancing was stunning. Seb was whispering to him as his fingers traced patterns over Adam’s chest. Adam loved the way Seb kept a strong arm around his shoulders, making him feel safe. Every now and then, Seb’s wing would brush against his arm, sending shivers down Adam’s spine. It was this slow, minimal teasing that drove Adam crazy, so by the time the movie was over, Adam was well ready for some action. Adam remembered distantly that Seb had once described it as lubing him up.

Seb had surprised Adam that night. Adam found himself pulled to his feet and into the bedroom, where Seb had laid out some interesting looking toys for them to play with. Adam swallowed, wondering how Seb had known about his desires so accurately. Seb stripped him, pressed him against the wall as he attached a set of leather cuffs to his wrists. The collar that followed sent shivers down his spine again. Seb even had something he used to secure Adam’s wings against his back so he couldn’t move them.

Adam found his hands raised above his head, attached to a ring in the ceiling he hadn’t ever noticed before. Adam wondered if Seb was going to whip him. He had to admit being scared about that. His wings didn’t help, being so bound against his back as they were. Seb wouldn’t beat his wings, would he?

What Seb had in mind was far more agonising that that. Having Adam’s legs held apart with a thick metal bar – attached to cuffs that were secured to his ankles, as Seb was kind enough to let Adam keep his foot on for the moment, Seb saw fit to blindfold him and spent a good hour teasing him some more, using his wings, what Adam thought was a riding crop, rope, and probably a lot of other things he couldn’t quite remember or identify.

And then Adam found himself thrown onto the bed, lying on his stomach, as Seb perched over him, pressing him into the bed. By the time Seb finally got around to the sex, Adam was about to scream in frustration, and Seb, always the tease, didn’t make it last nearly long enough to satisfy, leaving him desperate for more. Perhaps that’s how he kept making him come back, by leaving him hanging and desperate for more in both a sexual and an intellectual sense.


Looking back on it now, Adam begins to wonder if Seb saw him as anything other than a pet to be trained and brought up and played with until it was capable of looking after itself. He scolded himself for thinking of such things. He knew full well Seb never thought of him that way. His thinking was all over the place now, especially since Seb had gone.

Watching Tango had had the same effect on him as it always did, and had Hamish not been sleeping peacefully, Adam would be mauling him right now. But Adam wasn’t so cruel as to wake him just for sex. He did need his sleep, and he looked so beautiful asleep. He would have to go see if anyone else was around to deal with his needs. He wouldn’t force anyone though, but maybe Wil would be up for it.

With a glance over at Hamish’s sleeping form, Adam got up and turned the TV off. He went to go find Wil. He’d be able to look after his desires, at least for the moment. But he got a surprise when he found not Wil waiting for him, but Tim.

“What might you be after in here, hey?” Tim said.

“We both know what’s in there,” Adam said. “Wil about?”

“What do you think I’m doing out here?” Tim said.

“Oh, is that the sort of mood you’re in?” Adam said with a smirk.

“Of course. You sure you’re ready for this? Because I don’t want to rush you. If you’re not 100% ready, fuck off and don’t come to me until you are,” Tim said.

“I am ready. It’ll be alright. We’ve done this plenty of times before,” Adam said.

“Not since Seb died. I fucking know how much that affected you. Are you seriously trying to tell me you’re ready to be beaten so soon after that?” Tim said.

“I’ll be fine, Tim. I can handle it,” Adam said.

“I have power of veto here. Do remember that. Part of my responsibility is your mental wellbeing, and I’m not convinced you’re in the right state of mind yet,” Tim said.

“Can I just fuck you then?” Adam said, changing tactics.

“Isn’t that what you have Hamish for?” Tim shot.

“He’s sleeping, and I need sex now,” Adam said.

“Christ, you’re an impatient bastard,” Tim said. He thought for a moment. “Okay, I’ll let you play, but there’ll be no pain, no beatings, nothing kinky. I don’t think you’re ready for that yet. Go on, go strip and find Wil.”

“Thanks, love. I knew you’d agree eventually,” Adam said.

He shot Tim a grin before ducking inside the room. Tim made sure no one else was around and shut the door behind him.

“I worry about you, Adam. Don’t you go crazy on me,” Tim murmured.

The room they were in was dark and featureless. It was designed that way. The light coming in from the tiny windows made the room seem cold and dank, and the walls, floor and ceiling were like some dark plain box. It was nothing short of a bondage dungeon-cum-interrogation room, built to be intimidating and cold.

Tim watched as Adam did as he was told, pulling his clothes off and throwing them in a pile with Wil’s before coming to stand beside him. Wil had his head bowed. He was still in submissive mode. Tim approached them and lifted Wil’s chin up.

“Yes, sir?” Wil murmured, surprised at the affection.

“No Master today. Adam’s not ready. We’ll go play next door,” Tim said.

“Fair enough. But could you lock me in my cage while I watch you two play? I think I need some cage time,” Wil said.

“Don’t, Wil, I want you too. Please,” Adam said, taking his hand as he looked across at him.

“Adam, I haven’t been caged for over a week. You know how I get when I don’t get caged,” Wil said.

“Can I at least fuck you first?” Adam said.

“Alright. Just make it hard. It’s nearly that time again, and I need the pain,” Wil said.

“I’ll do my best,” Adam said.

“Come on, boys. Enough chatter,” Tim said.

Tim took them both by the hand and led them into a smaller room hidden behind a door with a St Andrew’s Cross attached to it that they sometimes used. This was where they played when they didn’t want anything hardcore. There was carpet, and a softer light to this room than the last one, and a bed for times when all one wanted was to lightly tie someone up and fuck them senseless.

Wil broke ahead and clambered onto the bed. He was eager to get started, and Adam followed. Tim stood back and watched them together on the bed as Wil grabbed Adam close to him.

Adam spent little time on foreplay. Wil wasn’t interested in it anyway. Soon, Adam was pinning Wil down as he fucked him hard, bruising his shoulders as he pressed him into the bed.

Tim thought about joining in, but decided against it. He'd wait until Adam was done with him and he could cage him. There was a cage in this room as well, in one corner, for such purposes. Tim wasn't quite sure why Wil liked the caging so much, but it did make him less recklessly aggressive, so he figured it had some use. Wil never really talked about why he liked it, just that it helped calm him and his restless mind. Tim wondered if he'd suffered some sort of trauma earlier on that necessitated this behaviour now.

It was true that every fullwing had deep scars and traumas buried in their minds, even if they never discussed them. Their lives were never easy to lead, and that they stood out so easily meant they were easy targets for abuse and mistreatment. Plus, you just had to clip their wings and they'd be grounded for weeks. They were never designed to be anything other than short-lived expendable soldiers, and some fullwings had adjusted to non-military life much better than others.

Tim was also aware a lot of fullwings needed kink to get off during sex. He had spent many a night pondering his desires and why he loved Wil and Adam subbing to him. He still didn’t have an answer. Tim had been lucky to avoid most of the constant abuse some other fullwings had suffered. Maybe it was compassion that made him want to look after them both. Christ knows they both needed it. Fullwings never talked about their pasts though. None of them really knew how to deal with their experiences, and with no one willing to help, Tim was sure life was slowly driving them all mad. Perhaps that’s why they never lived to see 50.

For Wil, though he never said so, it seemed the caging was a safe space for him, like a mother's womb. He needed a few hours in there every week, or he became difficult to handle. Tim didn't mind. It didn't seem to hurt anyone, and Wil was always better because of it, so he didn't bother to ask questions. Maybe one day Wil would tell him why he needed it, but until then, Tim would remain in the dark.

“Tim? Timmy? You still with us, mate?”

Wil's calling broke Tim out of his thoughts. “Oh yeah, sorry. I'm still here. You two done now?”

“Yeah, cage time. Unless you wanna fuck me hard as well,” Wil said.

“No, I think it's time we caged you. Come on,” Tim said.

Wil beamed a smile at him as he climbed off the bed and crawled over to the cage in the corner. Tim knelt by it as he let Wil into the cage, securing him inside before locking the door and standing up again.

“So, now it's just you and me. Anything you're after?” Tim said.

“Well, you could come here and snuggle if you wanted, for a start,” Adam said, beckoning Tim towards the bed.

Tim smirked and joined him, bringing the fullwing into his arms as they lay on the bed. Adam was suddenly affectionate, having dealt with his most of his desire. Tim let his wings drape over them both as a makeshift blanket as they both lay there naked.

“Do you really think I can lead them all, Tim? Am I the right person to lead them?” Adam said.

“Seb chose you, didn't he? Do you doubt his decision?” Tim said.

“I don't doubt his decision, no. Well, yes, maybe a little. I just thought that by the time I would have to lead, he'd still be here. I feel like no one's got my back anymore. I'm being stupid, aren't I?” Adam said.

“We're all behind you, Adam, you know that. Everyone's endorsed you. Seb gave you his sword. Not me, not Wil, not Jules, but you. He wants you to lead us,” Tim said.

“I suppose I just thought he'd be there to share our victory with us. He'd be standing there with us as we bring peace to the land. Now, it won't happen. It'll just be us. Seb's gone. He's fucking gone. What the hell are we going to do?” Adam said. He could feel that lingering grief creeping up on him again. He fought it back, not wanting to fall to pieces in front of them.

“We keep fighting. To stop now would be an insult to everything Seb stood for,” Tim said.

“I suppose so. I'm already feeling guilty about everyone who's going to die when we begin the rebellion. How can I lead them out when I know they're not all going to survive?” Adam said.

“You suffer from a bad case of caring too much. We're soldiers, fighting a war against our oppressors. Yes, people are going to die. There's nothing you can do about that. Worry about things that you can do something about,” Tim said.

“My, you are an angel, aren’t you?” Adam said, smiling up at him as he cupped his cheek.

“Please. I'm no angel, and neither are you. Remember why we're fighting. We need to be free. This whole damn country needs to be free. I think you need a damn good fucking to take your mind off things, at least for a moment,” Tim said, trailing his fingers down Adam's side towards his navel.

“Hmm, I think you might be right there,” Adam said, cheering right up as soon as Tim began teasing him.

Adam pulled him into a gentle kiss as Tim rolled them over, allowing Adam to shift so his wings weren't being crushed. Their kisses intensified as Adam's desire grew. Tim was always good for distracting him when he needed it most. Adam found his hands reaching for Tim's wings and gently stroking down the bone, watching Tim shiver with pleasure at the sensation.

“Fuck. Is that the sort of mood you're in?” Tim said, inhaling sharply.

“You haven't let me play with your wings for ages, and you, unlike Craig, aren't going to bite my head off if I even dare to touch your wings,” Adam said with a smirk. Shut it, Adam. I'm not that bad. Uh, yes you are. You can shut the fuck up too.

“I can make him relent. Why doesn't he give in to you?” Tim murmured against his skin.

“Because he hates me?” Adam said.

“You don't know the magic trick for making Craig let you touch his wings. You should hear him beg for it. Hottest thing ever. I'll have to show you some time,” Tim said.

“I'll hold you to that,” Adam said. “Now can we quit talking about Craig and get on with fucking?”

Tim chuckled and bit down on Adam's neck, making him yelp. Adam responded by grabbing Tim's shoulder and wrestling him, trying to reverse their positions. Tim wasn't having a bar of it, and soon Adam was the one pinned down as Tim got ready to fuck him.

“Gods, Tim, hurry up,” Adam growled as Tim slowly pushed forward.

Tim grinned and slowed down, taking his time pushing all the way in. Adam growled in frustration, his dick growing harder the further Tim went.

Tim didn't hurry, enjoying the sheer pleasure that came from Adam's desperation. He was only going to go for the hard fuck when Adam was properly prepared, and he wasn't needy enough yet. He loved the sensations that came from thrusting as slowly as he was. He forced himself to keep his pace until the time was right. Adam squirmed underneath him, urging him to hurry up.



Julian wasn't working for once. Chas had convinced him to give it a rest, at least for one night. Spurred on by the possibilities for a night off, Julian had dragged Chassy away for play time. It wasn’t often Julian stopped long enough to properly relax, and Chas was keen to make sure he did. That was how Julian found himself lying on his back on his bed, Chassy lying on top of him, giggling every time he kissed him.

“Jules works too hard,” Chas whined as he licked his face affectionately.

“That’s because I’ve got a lot of work to do,” Julian said.

“More work means less play time. Seriously, when was the last time we spent an evening together?” Chas said.

“Oh, I’m sure it wasn’t that long ago,” Julian began.

“You wouldn’t say that if you remembered. I mean, I like being with you at work, but sometimes I want it to be just us, like this, you know?” Chas said.

“I wish we lived in a world where that kind of thing really matters. It’s just not possible, Chas. There’s far too much work to do and not enough time to do it in. Can’t you understand that?” Julian said.

“Shh. Jules be quiet now. No more work talk. It’s play time now,” Chas said, pressing a finger to Julian’s lips to silence him.

Julian just smiled at him before that finger pried its way into Julian’s mouth. There was a groan of appreciation from both of them. The sight of his fingers in Julian’s mouth was doing all sorts of things to Chas. Julian’s eagerness was enthralling, so much so that Chas decided they both needed to be naked.

Chas sat up as he pulled Julian into a kiss, drinking in this moment of intimacy. Julian held him tightly. He was just discovering how much he had missed this. He suddenly wanted to pin Chas down and have his way with him. Before he could act, Chas decided he was going to run things tonight.

“It's my turn, Jules, since you've been neglecting me for so long,” Chas said as he grabbed Julian's wrists.

“And what will that entail?” Julian asked, too curious to give up now.

“It'll involve you doing what I tell you to do, Jules, that's what. Now, hand me some cuffs. You know how much I love you in cuffs,” Chas said as he straddled Julian's hips.

Julian smiled and obeyed, leaning over to fish the cuffs out of the second drawer, where the rest of their toys lived. Julian meekly offered his wrists to Chas knowing all this would be worth it in the end, even though he wasn't the one in charge for once.

The cool metal clicked shut, and Julian was trapped. In any other circumstances, this would not be arousing in the slightest, but Chas’ presence made all the difference. Cuffs were only arousing when Chas was the one holding him captive.

“One more thing, I think,” Chas said as he slipped off the bed and rummaged around in their closet for a collar. He found the one he was after and climbed back on the bed again.

Julian merely whimpered with need as he saw the leather collar in Chassy's hands. There was something Julian adored about being subjugated like this. He never let it happen too often though; he didn't want to make a habit of it, and Chas did rather enjoy being his puppy.

Chas leaned in close as he secured the collar around his neck, whispering what he was going to do to him in his ear as he did so. It sent shivers down Julian's spine. Chas was getting very good at talking dirty.

Satisfied, Chas got to work, pinning Julian's shoulders down as he bit Julian's neck, slipping his tongue underneath the collar for added teasing. Julian closed his eyes and leant back, letting Chas have his way.

Chas noticed his closed eyes, and decided a surprise blindfold was in order. Leaving Julian lying there, Chas went to look for something to use as a blindfold. He could use the one in the second drawer, but he wanted something else. Something different. He found what he wanted in one of the boxes in the closet. One of Julian's scarfs. It was made of silk, and was given to him as a present a couple of years earlier. Chas had quite adored it when he'd caught sight of it and thought it suited Julian perfectly.

Chas clambered back onto the bed again, smirk crossing his face as he saw Julian looking at him, wondering what was about to happen.

“Oh, is that-?” Julian started.

“Shh. It's a blindfold. Well, it's your scarf, but we're making it into a blindfold. Because I want you to really lose yourself tonight. I think you really need it. You're all tense and grouchy, and I don't like grouchy Jules,” Chas said.

“Have I been grouchy?” Julian said, surprised.

“Yes, yes you have. You get grouchy when you're tense, and you're always tense when you’re worrying about the rebellion. You need to let go and relax every now and then,” Chas said.

“Oh, right. I didn't realise,” Julian said.

“Well, now you know. I do notice these things. Now, shut up and let me blindfold you,” Chas said.

“Yes, sir,” Julian said.

Chas lifted up Julian's head as he tied the scarf around it, making sure it was thick enough to cut out any light. Chas finished with a kiss to Julian's lips, loving the wanton cries Julian couldn't help giving him.

Chas turned Julian over onto his back and proceeded to leave bite marks all over it. That is, until he reached the two small scars near his shoulder blades. Chas licked each slowly, feeling for Julian's reaction. Chas had a suspicion there were nerves near those scars that he decided he should investigate to see if they did what he thought they might do.

Julian groaned and shivered at the sensation. Chas had never touched those scars before, but Julian was quite wiling to let him if they kept doing that.

“Did that feel good, Jules?” Chas murmured against his neck.

“Christ, yes. Do that again,” Julian begged.

Chas didn't answer. He worked his way down Julian's back again and licked the scars, watching for Julian's reaction. Julian whimpered pathetically, as if he'd never felt anything like it before. Chas was pleased with this discovery. He licked them once more for good measure before continuing down his body towards his arse.

Blindfolded and cuffed, Julian could do nothing as Chas teased him, nor did he want to. He could feel the stress melting away as his arousal grew. It really had been far too long since he'd done this. He'd have to schedule in a few more nights like this.

By the time Chas was ready to fuck him, Julian was pleasantly exhausted and totally wired. He was whimpering pathetically again, much to Chas’ pleasure. The blindfold had heightened his senses. Everything felt so much more intense than he thought possible.

Chas pressed against him as they fucked was the height of pleasure. Julian could've sworn they were one person, with Chas' voice in his ear and his arms around him. Julian definitely wanted this to happen more often. He would make sure of it.

Lying together afterwards, Chas rested his head on Julian's chest, listening to his heart beat. There was the faint droning of planes in the sky, as if threatening to discover their hideout right at that very moment, called by their love.

“Are they supposed to be patrolling this close to us? I've never heard them around at this time of night,” Chas whispered.

“I don't know. It is unusual. Maybe there's something going on,” Julian said.

A series of explosions followed, and there was no doubting what they were. Julian knew the sound of tanks shelling buildings all too well.

“I think something's going on. I wonder what they're shelling?” Julian said.

“Jules, it's fucking close, whatever it is. Are we in trouble?” Chas whispered.

“I don't know. I don't think so. It's too far away to be them targeting us. Don't worry about it,” Julian said, sounding braver than he felt as another explosion rang through the air.

Chas didn't say a word. Julian held him tightly, the sudden fear triggering his instinctive need to protect his puppy. The shelling reminded them both that they did not live in a country where they were free to do as they pleased. War was coming, and soon. They would need to be prepared.



Adam got his hard fucking in the end. He was tired and aching, but felt all the better for it. Tim had drawn out the proceedings long enough that by the time they were done, Wil was begging to be let out of his cage. Together, the three of them lay in each other’s arms on the bed. There was an instinctive need to be close now that the sex was out of the way.

“I love you guys,” Adam murmured.

“Love you too, mate,” Wil said, half-asleep.

“Can we get under the blankets? I’m getting cold,” Tim said.

Adam and Wil both giggled. “Way to spoil the mood, Minchin,” Adam scolded.

“Oh, sorry. But can we? This warehouse is fucking freezing,” Tim said.

“I suppose he does have a point, Adam,” Wil said.

“So get in bed then and quick bitching about it,” Adam said.

Wil gave Adam a quick kiss in response before lifting up the doona and crawling underneath it. Tim and Adam soon followed, and then they had more than just their wings for warmth. Adam found himself in the middle, with Wil and Tim curled up beside him, leaning their heads on his chest. He pondered more conversation, but really, why spoil the mood? They were all in need of sleep anyway.

Adam tried to sleep, but he couldn’t quiet his mind. He lay awake, staring at the ceiling, while Wil and Tim slept on, those insidious worries plaguing his thoughts again.

He listened to the shelling in the distance, reminding him that life was not all sex and cages. The earth was trembling from the explosions. It occurred to him that if they were attacked out of nowhere, right then, most of them wouldn’t survive. That scared him more than anything. He was responsible for everyone there. Every death was his fault.

It was the sound of a plane flying very close overhead that made Adam want to hide in the covers and pray desperately that no one would pay any attention to their warehouse. After a second pass, the plane flew off and could be heard no more. Adam tried to relax after that, holding his two sleeping friends close in a bid to stave off his worry.

“Adam, will you fucking go to sleep already?” Wil whispered as he grabbed his hand under the doona. The shelling had woken him enough to know that Adam was still awake.

“Can’t relax. I can’t believe I’m living in Australia. There’s fucking shelling out there. We’re living in a war zone. None of this helps me sleep,” Adam murmured.

“Shh. You need to sleep. Shut off that brain of yours and rest,” Wil said, bringing him into a gentle kiss.

“I’ll sing to you if that’d help,” Tim whispered, their slight activity pulling him out of his light slumber.

“Thanks, but you don't have to. Maybe I should go and leave you two to sleep,” Adam said.

“Nah, I like sleeping against you. I don't want to lose my pillow just yet,” Wil said.

“Try meditating. Maybe that would calm your mind long enough,” Tim suggested.

“I think what I need is for that fucking shelling to stop. I can’t sleep when such a threat is so close to us,” Adam said.

“Poor baby. Just try and sleep. The shelling isn’t getting closer; if anything, I’d suggest it’s moving away from us,” Wil said.

“I won’t be able to sleep tonight. All I can think about is getting ready to fight or flee, should they come here. I might go and check on Hamish. I’ve got things to be doing anyway. You stay here and sleep,” Adam said, sitting up.

Wil and Tim moved close together as Adam left the bed and dressed silently. Neither protested his decision. He could go for a week without sleep if necessary, but it was exhausting, and it ruined your reflexes. If you didn’t sleep, you went mad. They both understood his reasons though. Once you were in fight or flight mode, you couldn’t relax until you were certain the threat was gone. Some fullwings slipped into this mindset quicker than others, and Adam’s awareness of his responsibility to all the rebels under his care would most certainly trigger that for the slightest threat of discovery.

Wil brought Tim into his arms as they snuggled back under the doona again. Adam crawled onto the bed and kissed them both.

“Sleep well,” Adam murmured as he lulled them back to sleep.

He gave them both another quick kiss before leaving them alone, heading off to check on Hamish. The shelling was getting quieter, but all Adam could think of was retreat and surprise attack. No wonder he couldn’t sleep. He was already making emergency plans to evacuate the warehouse if an attack came. He needed to be prepared. No one would die without reason while he was in charge.