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[aut_nihil]

Pope doesn't go on as many missions as he once did. But he sees trouble brewing in the future, in the solo orders Carver was given, and he can't stomach staying behind when Carver might face the worst alone.

So he defies his own orders and he goes with Carver.

And things go sideways. They're outnumbered despite his best efforts and his warnings, and they're gathered up, hoods on their heads, arms tied behind their backs.

Carver's strong though. They're going to make it through this. He's going to get them through this.

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[fortitudosalutis]

The leader laughs at that, sounding genuinely amused instead of angry. "Did have to teach him a little lesson. He killed a whole bunch of my guys. You understand that, don't you?"

Carver's fingers twitch.

"Cause if you don't," the leader continues, cocking his head. "Then I think we'll have to repeat some things. Really make sure it sticks."

[aut_nihil]

"You think your lessons don't stick? What kind of leader are you if you can't get it right the first time?" Pope scoffs.

[fortitudosalutis]

"Or maybe I'm petty and like watching you two squirm," the leader replies, tone going colder. A warning. "Six of one, half a dozen of the other. I think we're gonna go again, Pope. Yeah, I think we're gonna go again."

[aut_nihil]

It's a game. It's a balancing act. He doesn't know if he can keep Carver safe but he's trying.

"I just fucked him," he retorts. "You want me to go again? You better make him fuck me, you'll have better luck." Like they will never do that because it's that absurd.

[fortitudosalutis]

"Well, now that you mention it..."

Carver goes very still. Barely breathing. He can't do that to Pope. He can't.

The leader laughs ever so softly. "I'll make it your call. How's that? He's pretty young, I bet he can go again. So, let's see him fuck you. Or I'll hold him down and have some more fun with him while you watch. That's fair, right? You got options. What's it gonna be?"

[aut_nihil]

"He fucks me," Pope grunts. "He's good to go again."

He won't be, he knows, but he can't stomach throwing Carver to these men again.

He is terrified.

[fortitudosalutis]

Carver swallows hard. "I can take it, sir," he manages, eyes ahead, even though his throat is almost painfully tight. "I can-"

"Loyal," the leader observes. "I wonder how long that'll hold. I'm gonna make you scream, kid."

[aut_nihil]

"He's giving you a show," Pope snaps. "You think this is easy for him? Fucking a commander?"

He's sweating. He's afraid. All he has is control of his breathing, nothing else.

[fortitudosalutis]

"Chain of command's a bitch to go again," the leader agrees, sounding almost sympathetic. He steps closer, walking up to Carver and trailing his fingers up Carver's arm. Daring a reaction. "You don't wanna, do you?"

Carver keeps his eyes straight ahead. He holds very still, barely breathing.

The leader tsks, and then abruptly backhands him. Carver staggers back, reeling.

"Give us a show, kid. Or we'll run a game on both of you next time."

Carver doesn't reach to touch his stinging face, even though he can taste blood in his mouth. There's no choice here, is there? No choice.

"Sir," he murmurs, trying to meet Pope's eyes. Desperate for guidance.

[aut_nihil]

He's afraid.

He cannot, at any cost, show it.

"Fortitudo salutis," he says. They will find strength from this battle.

He has to get Carver out of this alive. No matter what.

"Get over here, show me what you know."

[fortitudosalutis]

There's no hesitation in Pope's tone. A good, familiar mask. Carver breathes in through his nose, out through his mouth. They've got to war together. Pope's fucked him twice now. The second time made him come. The second time didn't feel like a wound. Maybe -

Maybe it can be like that.

Carver moves stiffly, going to Pope's side. "Fortitudo salutis," he murmurs. "Sir."

The respect is automatic.

"It'll-" he swallows. "It'll be easier if you lie down."

[aut_nihil]

He's relying on Carver for tips now. He's out of his depth.

He lays back down, one knee brought up protectively, and he watches Carver. Ignores the others. Time to ignore them entirely.

[fortitudosalutis]

It's hateful to have an audience for this. Carver tries to keep his breathing steady, to give Pope a calm face. Inside, he's quaking. Uncertain of every move. He and Riley figured this out on their own after they got tired of messing around in the armory and finally got a hotel room together on leave. They pushed the beds together and didn't do much except figure out all the fun ways to fuck.

It wasn't like this, with the enemy watching, jeering. With his commanding officer, who's more like a father to him than Carver's flesh and blood ever was.

Carver swallows. He kneels down next to Pope and reaches for Pope's belt, praying his hands won't shake. That he can even get hard. "Try to breathe," he murmurs, keeping his voice low. "Sir."

[aut_nihil]

"I'm all right," he says, and doesn't say 'son', not now. He can't think about Carver at all or this won't work.

He unzips himself and kneels on the bed beside Carver. Makes himself lay down.

[fortitudosalutis]

Okay, Carver thinks, laying his hands flat on his knees. Trying to think, to force himself to move.

He shakes himself. He gets the little jar of lubricant and sets it closer, trying to fight back the tension. Knowing it must be worse for Pope. He can't drag it out. So, Carver runs a shaky hand through his hair and presses his hand on Pope's stomach.

"You want me to make it feel good?" he asks, very quietly.

[aut_nihil]

It's probably easier to take if it hurts. But he can't risk being injured anymore than he can risk injuring Carver.

"Do what you do best," he grunts at him, and pulls him closer. They have a show to put on.

[fortitudosalutis]

Carver leans in and just presses his forehead to Pope's, closing his eyes for a moment. Stalling just for a second, to take a breath. I trust you, Carver thinks, I always have, you kept me alive, you made me strong. And now it's his job to take care of Pope, to keep them both alive so they're not beaten to death or cut to ribbons in this goddamn hotel room.

So breathe, Carver orders himself. And get it done.

He keeps his forehead pressed to Pope's as he reaches for the lube and gets his fingers wet. As he then reaches down, smoothing his free hand over Pope's sides, his stomach, trying to keep both of them calm, and then between his legs. Pressing against him, rubbing circles to get him used to the idea, but not pressing inside yet.

[aut_nihil]

His breath catches despite himself, because it doesn't feel bad but he's braced for the intrusion and he doesn't want this. He has to do this.

At least it's with Carver and not one of the men standing around them.

He breathes out and rests a hand against the back of Carver's head. Makes himself relax.

[fortitudosalutis]

The first time Carver did this, any of this, was with Riley. They had time to figure it out when they weren't going at each other desperate and fumbling in the armory, both of them afraid they were going to get caught and drummed out. But after, on leave, they had time. They laughed and they figured it out, what felt good, how to take care of each other. It wasn't like this, forced and awkward, with the enemy looming.

Carver closes his eyes, nuzzling against Pope and praying the commander won't hit him for it. That this doesn't break the trust Pope has in them even though it violates the chain of command. He can feel how tense Pope is, how his breath catches and then how he forces himself to relax. Carver tries to be gentle, at least, to keep it from turning sharp or ugly. They can't afford more injuries.

This is just happening, Carver tells himself, and he presses a finger inside. Steady, and careful. He cups a hand to Pope's cock, not sure the commander can or even wants to get hard again, but maybe it'll make things easier.

[aut_nihil]

It makes it feel like sex, at least. Like sex and not like something formal and ugly. He parts his legs a little more and ignores the way one of their captors whistles.

It doesn't hurt. It just feels strange, like an intrusion, and he tries to just go away in his head. Think of a place no one can touch him, a long beach in Vietnam he visited once where he felt peace for the first time in a long time.

[fortitudosalutis]

Okay, Carver thinks, okay, at least it doesn't have Pope tensing up in pain. That's something, isn't it? Pope doesn't react to it much and Carver just breathes. He moves slow, curling his finger slightly, as he pulls back out and then presses in again. Trying to get Pope used to the sensation before he tries more, because there'll have to be more.

[aut_nihil]

"Keep going," he says, a low growl meant just for Carver's ear which is so close to his mouth his lips brush it as he talks. It would be easier if this hurt but they can't afford to hurt him.

[fortitudosalutis]

“Yes, sir,” Carver murmurs, keeping his eyes closed. It’s been a while since he’s fucked anyone completely sober. He doesn’t want to enjoy it but there’s something heady about the way Pope lowers his voice. How he spread his legs as Carver fingers him. Like it’s something genuinely wanted, and not forced on them.

He presses back in, angling up and rubbing gently for the spot that’ll make it feel better. He has a feeling Pope won’t know how to react to this.

[aut_nihil]

He very much doesn't. Carver's fingers stretch and probe and then, there, a flash of pleasure that makes his back arch. He doesn't necessarily want this to feel good but now that it does he wants Carver to do it again.

[fortitudosalutis]

There it is. Carver takes a slow breath, opening his eyes to watch Pope. Part of him wants it to feel good, even though he knows that makes it harder. But no one really takes care of Pope, do they? Carver bumps his head against his commander’s, all quiet animal affection, and keeps going. Angles up and rubs gently, waiting until he feels Pope arch into it again before he adds another finger.

“Like that,” he murmurs, very softly. “Sir.”