Melanin

XXX

It had been years since Harry had last come home. He hadn’t quite managed to work up the courage to come home after watching Hellboy on the television. He watched Hellboy again, some weeks later as he fought the forest god. He had stood in the back of the ground, half of him cheering Red on, and the other half cringing as the old god, the last of its kind, was destroyed.

As the rest of the crowd shouted and snarled at Hellboy, damning him for saving them, Harry stood silently at the back. And he clapped. Hellboy might not have heard him, but Prince Nuada did.

The Prince watched the man clap slowly. Green eyes watched the demon, and the man by his side was the same man from the auction house. Nuada leant down, closer to the roof of the building he was perched upon. He wanted a better look at the young man called Ainion.

“We should go.” Dalton said softly.

“I’m going to have to go back, aren’t I?”

“Yes. You should have gone back sooner.” The vampire chided his friend. “You belong there.”

”I know. Do you think he’ll spank me again?”

“He’s spanked you!?” Dalton exclaimed.

Nuada watched them avidly. The green-eyed man, the one with the short black hair, looked good enough to eat. He sniffed, nostrils flaring, but he could only catch the rain and the flowery scent the dead forest god gave off. There was something about the other human, (though if he’s name was Ainion then he couldn’t be an ordinary human), that had gotten hold of the Prince.

“Yeah, I was thirteen, and we went to this Explorer’s Club in the city. Well, actually Hellboy went, and I snuck along after him. They had just gotten hold of this Mummy, and it was awake and it told Hellboy a story. I got curious. I prodded the Mummy, and I knocked it over. Considering it was rather old, it turned to dust. The club members blamed Hellboy and threw him out of the Club. When we got home, he was so angry with me. He threw me over his lap the second there was somewhere to sit down and spanked me in front of everyone! I mean, everyone! I don’t think my father has ever laughed so hard.” Harry’s cheeks were flaming red by the end of his story.

“That is priceless.” Dalton chuckled. He took Harry by the arm and started leading him away from the crowd. “It must have been kind of cool to have an older brother.”

“You realize that Hellboy is thirty-six years older than me, right? That’s like having two fathers!”

“Bet you loved it, though.”

“Yeah I did.” Dalton threw his arm around Harry’s neck and the two of them continued to walk back to their flat. Neither of them noticed Nuada following them home.

The Prince snuck in through the window as the two Wizards slept. He was very pleased to note they had separate bedrooms. He stood by the edge of Harry’s bed, his hand hovering over the man’s forehead. Finally, he touched the man’s fringe, pushing it back out of the way. The lightening bolt shaped scar on his forehead didn’t stand out as much as it did while Voldemort was alive, but it was still there. Nuada traced it with his fingertip, a small frown on his face as he imagined this man in pain.

“Who are you? What are you to me?”

“You don’t know?” A voice asked from behind him.

Nuada spun around, his dagger in his hand. He had been nicknamed ‘Silverlance’ because of his habit of using collapsible daggers, that could grow in length to form a rather long, sharp spear. The point of the spear embedded in the wall, as the vampire used his super fast reflexes to dodge the weapon. “What are you?”

“Half vampire.” Dalton told him, eyeing the weapon warily.

Nuada pulled it back, and when it was the length of a dagger again he tucked it into his belt. “Lle holma ve' edan.”10

“Hey now, there’s no need to insult me. This is my house remember.”

“I am Prince Nuada.”

“I know who you are. The one who killed his father over some jewellery?” Nuada bared his teeth at the vampire, snarling lightly. “You’re going to wake him up. Perhaps we should continue this at another time?”

Nuada took another quick look at the human in the bed, before he jumped out of the window. He landed gracefully, on his feet, four stories below them. He didn’t look back as he walked away. Dalton spent the rest of the night sitting, wide-awake, at the edge of Harry’s bed in case the Elf came back.

XXX

When Harry finally arrived at Professor Bruttenholm’s old home the place seemed to be deserted. Harry frowned at Dalton, looking around for the usual guards who patrolled outside of the mansion.

“I smell blood.” Dalton said after a moments pause. “A lot of blood.”

“Probably the guards.” Harry said calmly. Yes people had died, but they were not his concern. Nuada was probably already here. He had to keep the Prince from awakening the Golden Army; that was the reason Luna had warned him of the Elf’s plans. From what he had heard, and seen on TV, the Princess Nuala was living with his family as well. “Come on, I know another way inside.”

Hellboy jumped to the side, dodging the spear for a second time. The alcohol in his system made everything fuzzy. The room was spinning, but that damn Elf kept thrusting the weapon towards him and he wasn’t just going to stand there and get stabbed. He tripped. For a moment he thought the ground was rising up to meet him, and he didn’t see the metal point of the spear fly towards his chest. But Liz did.

“RED!” She screamed. Her worry for her lover was unnecessary, however. At the very last moment, before the spear could touch Hellboy, another body blocked its path.

“Tanya awra!”11 Harry hissed. He looked down at the metal tip that had broken off from the spear, and was sticking out of his chest, inches from his heart. He looked up at Nuada in time to see the spear apparently heal itself, re-growing the tip of the weapon without magic. “Bloody fucking hell, that hurt!”

The Elvin prince watched the human man. His hand was pressed against the wound, and stranglely the metal had not moved an inch. Nuada knew for a fact that if a human were to go near the metal to remove it, it would keep inching closer and closer to the victim’s heart. But it wasn’t moving. Maybe this boy wasn’t human? The scent of the man’s blood finally reached him, and he breathed in deeply, nostrils flaring. His eyes widened, mouth opening in shock. “Melanin?” He asked, voice soft as a feather.

Beside him, his twin sister gasped at her brother’s word. “Mate?” She asked him, her voice hushed so only he would hear her. “You must heal him. Nuada, heal your mate!”

Harry had remained on his feet. His face was flushed, and the vampire hovered close to his side, worrying his bottom lip. Harry looked strangely calm for someone who had been stabbed, for someone who was going to die. But then again, he thought, no one really knows what happened to me during the war, except Liz. And even then she didn’t know that Harry had died, and remained dead for five full minutes. He looked straight at Nuada; his green eyes alight with pain and sadness.

Nuada shook his head lightly. He could not give up his quest now, not when he would soon have all three pieces. Not when he had come so far. “No ce ammaer ab lû thent.”12 Prince Nuada whispered, wide eyes holding the gaze of his mate’s. He took hold of his sister’s arm, his grip punishingly tight. Together they disappeared. When they were gone, Harry allowed himself to collapse to the floor.

XXX

“At least he doesn’t have the last piece,” Johann Krauss said. He was the spirit of a medium, housed in a special suit that enabled him to walk and talk and touch things. “That’s a good thing.”

“We have to rescue the Princess.” Abe Sapien said. One hand was held behind his back, and the other was clutching at Johann’s suit. “Please!”

“It’s too dangerous. We have to focus on finding the hidden final piece of the crown.”

Harry watched them argue from where he sat. Dalton, not being technically living, had been able to remove the piece of metal from his chest. He had used his own magic to heal himself, but Mr. Krauss wasn’t taking any chances with his safety. He was banned from searching for the crown piece, apparently no one was rescuing the Princess, and he wasn’t even allowed to tell Hellboy that Liz was pregnant.

The hand Abe held behind his back clenched and unclenched. Harry’s eyes caught the flash of something shinny, hidden beneath his blue fingers. Harry rolled his eyes. When Abe stormed from the room, Harry followed him, ignoring Krauss and Director Tom Manning who were calling for him to come back and rest where they could keep him safe. Harry snorted at the thought that a human and a bag of smoke could protect him better than he could protect himself. He knew he would get stabbed, but he knew he would survive. He wasn’t sure if Hellboy would though, so he had figured the end justified the means, and allowed the spear to impale him.

“You have the last piece.” Harry said, looking around to make sure no one else was there. He spotted Hellboy who waved slowly, but didn’t come any closer.

“No,” Abe protested. “No I don’t.”

“Blue, I’ve grown up with you. I know you better than that.”

“I have to save her, Ainion, I have to.” Abe clutched at Harry’s shirt, pulling the younger man against him. The boy looked no older than early twenties, despite the fact that he was almost in his thirties. Harry had come to terms with the fact that he would always be small.

“She is your Melanin.”

“What? I don’t understand that language Harry.”

“All Elves have a soul mate, one person they are destined to love forever. However, with the expansion of human kind, and the fact that elves find it hard to reproduce, in recent years its become harder and harder to find a Melanin. You appear to be the Princess’ soul mate, just as I belong to the Prince.”

“Nuala and I, we connect with one another. When she’s around, it’s like I’m different, better than I could ever hope to be. She completes me. She makes me happy. And I am told I make her happy as well. The Prince did not appear to react to you like that, Ainion.” Abe spoke slowly, not wanting to offend his youngest family member.

Harry just chuckled. “The Princess’ heart is more open than her brother’s. In time, he will learn to feel what the Valar intended him to feel.” He smiled slowly. “He is already attracted to me. He spent the other night watching me sleep.”

“That was, uh, more than I needed to know.”

Harry merely laughed harder. When he had calmed, he held his hand out and Abe placed the piece of the crown within the younger man’s palm. “Let’s go find the Golden Army.”

“You aren’t going anywhere without us!” Liz chided, coming up from behind them.

Harry was quick to hide the piece of gold, knowing full well that the others wouldn’t let him hand it over. “Of course you are coming. Dalton, you ready?”

“Yes, my Lord, I am.” The vampire gave a low bow, and then stood ready and waiting. “How are we getting there?”

“We’ll borrow a plane,” Johann said. If he had a face, Harry thought he might have been smirking.

XXX

Harry had it all planned out in his head. He was going to arrive and say something witty in Elvish, and catch Nuada off his guard. Then he had planned to trade the crown piece for the Princess’ freedom. He’d hand her over to Abe, then go to give the piece to Nuada. The Prince would then realize they were meant to be together, because Luna had promised the Prince would come to terms with it in time, and they would kiss, forgetting all about the Golden Army. And then Hellboy would say something to embarrass him.

But that wasn’t how it had happened.

It couldn’t have gone more wrong if Harry had planned it to.

When they arrived Nuada had his sister by the arm and they were both shouting. It looked, for a moment, as if the Prince might strike her, but Harry knew better. The empath, Abe, should have known that as well, but he let his own emotions take control of him. “Marcaunon, give him the crown piece!” He shouted, and both of the Elves turned to stare at him.

“We don’t have the crown piece,” Hellboy said slowly, flicking the ash off of his cigar.

“Yes he does. Give to him. He’s hurting her.” Abe continued to shout. Harry rolled his eyes, exasperated. He was about to speak, but there was a dagger at his throat. Nuada’s free hand was around his waist, and he led the man towards the dais hurriedly, the dagger never moving from his neck.

Nuada did not seem to care that it was his mate he was threatening. Though, in truth it bothered him a lot and he was just very good at hiding his discomfort. Nuala watched him with worried eyes, her hands pressed to his mouth. “Give me the piece,” Nuada ordered.

“Hû nîn mant han,”13 Harry told him with a smirk.

The dagger pressed just that bit closer to him, and Nuada hissed against his ear, “give it to me.”

“Garich i dhôl goll o Orch.”14 Harry hissed at him, eyes narrowed in anger. It wasn’t so much that he was angry at being threatened. It was more the fact that the Prince seemed to be rejecting him as a mate, and that was what made him angry. He had given up Draco, whom he had once love, and loved still, so he could be with his Melanin. And the Prince thought that an army of bloody metal was more important that Ainion.

“Anno nin-”15 Nuada shouted. He trailed off as Harry held out the golden crown piece. He snatched it from his mate’s hand, and pushed the boy away. Harry stumbled, but righted himself before he could fall. Nuada watched him, his hand came out in case he had to catch the other man but Harry pushed the hand away. He stalked off the dais and went to stand by his brother.

“Save it, Red,” he snarled before the demon could even open his mouth.

Harry had watched him awaken the Golden Army, and he had watched as his family fought them off. Strangely (or perhaps not so strange he thought as he noticed Nuada’s gave never left his person) none of the army attempted to attack him. That fact didn’t stop him from attacking the army though. He never moved from where he stood, but he waved his wand in front of him and the golden machines fell to pieces in front of him.

Hellboy gave him a high five, and pulled Liz into a hug when the last of the army was destroyed. “It’s not that easy,” Harry whispered, interrupting the celebration.

“You cannot kill something that does not live,” Dalton added. He pointed at the machines. They were slowly pulling themselves back together again, reattaching severed limbs and heads.

“Oh shit,” Hellboy cursed. Nuada’s smile stretched across his face.

There had been no other choice. Hellboy had to challenge Nuada’s right to command the Golden Army, and Nuada had to accept. Harry watched them fight one another. Each attacking, and defending, and parrying in turn. When his brother’s sword caught the Prince across the face, the Princess bled as well. Harry’s heart clenched at the sight of blood on the Elf’s face, but he hurt just as much when it was his brother who was injured. When they finally stopped fighting, Nuada lay panting on the ground. Hellboy held the spear to his throat.

“Kill me,” the Prince said, “for I will not stop.”

“Don’t!” Abe cried, “You’ll kill the Princess as well.” Abe had rushed to her side, and was now holding her hands tightly as she smiled warmly back at him. Nuada turned his head to watch them, before his eyes sought out Harry’s. Green eyes watched him, carefully assessing his injuries, but they did not seem to hold any emotion for him apart from worry that he might die and take Nuala with him. He turned his face away slowly, hesitantly looking away from his mate. His mate did not want him. He did not want to live with that knowledge. It was selfish to damn his sister, but he could not live knowing he had driven his Melanin to despise him.

He stood, crouched behind Hellboy whose back was turned, and pulled a knife out of his boot. He raised his hand, and prepared to jump. Once again, he found Harry between his blade and his intended target. “Daro I!”16 Harry said, slapping the knife from the Prince’s hand. “Is it so hard to not pick a fight?”

“Reminds me a bit of Draco, don’t you think?” Dalton drawled, coming to stand beside his friend.

Hellboy turned around. He still held the spear in his hand and he raised it to Nuada. “Ainion, get out of the way.”

“No.” The Wizard answered, swallowing. He didn’t like going against his brother’s instructions, because his brother generally only ordered him around to keep him safe. But he wouldn’t allow the Prince to be killed. “No, Aratoamin, I won’t let you.”17

“You have to, Marcaunon. Now get out of my way.” He took a step forward but Harry didn’t budge.

“How dare you threaten him?” Nuada hissed. He reached out and took hold of Harry’s arm. He pulled the boy backwards, moving to stand protectively in front of his mate. He crouched down, preparing himself to jump to his mate’s defence, but the red demon just stared back at him slack jawed.

“What are you doing?” Hellboy asked incredulously.

“He is protecting his Melanin,” Nuala answered. She had a knife in her hand as well, and it was poised above her own heart. “Should I?” She asked softly, her gaze searching Harry’s.

“No. No one needs to die today. Please put it down, Princess.” She lowered her hand, and Abe was quick to take her weapon away. “Can you all just go outside for a minute? Please?” Harry looked around at them. They were his family, new and old, and most of them had learnt better than to argue with the young man when he wanted something.

“We’re right outside, Ainion, ok?” Liz said softly as she reached out to take the crown from Hellboy. As she left the room, she set it on fire, melting the gold beyond repair.

“If you scream, I’ll know you want help.” Dalton grinned cheekily, “plus, I’ll smell you if you bleed.”

“Well, I know I’m safe with you around,” Harry deadpanned, his tone very dry. The vampire chuckled, and even Hellboy cracked a smile at his brother’s dark sense of humour.

“If you need me,” the demon said.

“I will always need you, but I’m big enough to take care of myself, don’t you think?” Hellboy gave him a pat on the back, and it was strong enough to send Harry pitching forward. Nuada’s arms around his waist steadied him, and kept him from falling.

“Hello.” The Elf said.

Their faces were inches apart. With a smile, Harry did what he had planned to do from the beginning. He leant in closer, his lips meeting those of the immortal, and he moaned softly as the arms around him tightened. Their lips moved against one another’s, the soft flesh parting beneath curious tongues. Harry gave another moan, having found himself pinned against the floor, with the Elf above him, pressing down against him.

He could feel every inch and hard plane of Nuada’s body, every muscle. Harry pulled his head back, panting, trying to draw in as much breath as he could before Nuada’s mouth moved back to claim his own. Hand’s tangled in the Elf’s long blond hair, pulling his head down further. Harry’s legs rose, curling around Nuada’s hips, locking the other body in place.

Their clothing remained in place, and their bodies were not joined that night, but Nuada felt Harry come into his heart and his soul, and he knew they had become one in the way that mattered most. Harry felt the rush of the other’s magic through him, and he arched his back. His orgasm rushed through him, and where he was hard a moment ago, he was now soft and sticky and satisfied. Nuada continued to rock on top of him, his release having passed as well, and he smiled down at his Melanin.

“I am sorry I harmed you.” His fingers reached out to brush Harry’s throat. There was no mark, but Nuada could envisage the exact place where his dagger had touched easily enough.

“It is forgiven. Just don’t do it again.”

The Prince nodded slowly, another warm smile on his face. “I have not felt like this in so long.” He mused. “What have you done to me?”

“How do you feel?” Harry enquired, reaching up to brush the Elf’s hair back away from his face. He placed a chaste kiss to Nuada’s cheek, and smiled.

“Happy.” He was awarded with a kiss to the chin from Harry. “Le no an-uir nîn?”18 He asked hopefully, his fingers tracing the dips and curves of his mate’s face and neck.

“For much longer.” Harry vowed. “Le melon.”19 He breathed, gasping as Nuada’s stole another kiss from him, just as passionate as their first.

“Thank you, little one.”

It was meant as a compliment, but Harry narrowed his eyes anyway. He didn’t like to be reminded of the fact that at 28, he still only looked nineteen or twenty-years-old. He punched Nuada lightly on the shoulder and scowled. “I’m not little.”

“If you say so, Melanin. Far be it for me to deny my mate anything.” The Prince chuckled, highly amused and rolled off of his love. “They are waiting for you. Should we go to them?”

“Sure,” Harry drawled, accepting Nuada’s hand and allowing the Elf to pull him to his feet. “I hope you’re prepared to be laughed at. Hellboy can’t resist a joke at my expense.” He pulled his wand out, and waved it twice, cleaning both himself and the Prince of their pleasure and then deemed them ready to leave. “Prepare to meet the family.” He drawled, swinging open the doors.

“Ainion!” Liz gasped, the red mark on Harry’s neck still visible. Harry had not realized it was there so he had not healed it. “Is that why you asked us to leave, so you could get your freak on?” She grinned at him, wriggling her hips lightly, teasingly.


He narrowed his eyes at her, hand flying up at cover his neck. “Have you told Red about the baby yet?”

Her eyes widened at him, then narrowed. She silently promised him pain. “Baby?” Hellboy asked, looking between them in confusion.

She held up two fingers and smiled shyly. “Babies. As in plural.”

“Twins?” She nodded. Hellboy grinned.

Harry watched them with a smile on his face as well. Nuada’s arm came around his waist, and he leant back against the Elf. His mate wasn’t evil; he knew that. He was angry and bitter at the human world and he had wanted revenge. He hadn’t gotten his revenge though, but he had gotten something better. Harry smiled at the Prince. Nuada pressed a kiss to his lips, smiling back at him, pleased with the outcome of the evening. So he hadn’t been able to destroy all of mankind, but he had a mate who loved him. And he could always convince his Melanin to take over the world with him next year.

As if he could read his thoughts, Harry chuckled lightly. Some people just couldn’t change. He knew the Prince would probably continue to hate all humans, but him, for the rest of his life, but Harry was confident that he would be enough to distract his mate. Having the twins arrive soon would also help keep them all on their toes. Harry had the fullest intention of making Nuada help out. It would be good practise for their own future children, of which Harry wanted at least three.

“Who is having twins?” Hellboy asked suddenly, looking at Nuala with a raised eyebrow. She blushed crimson and turned her face away, giving a quick shake of her head when her brother met her gaze.

Liz and Harry looked at one another and laughed. Liz took Red’s hand and placed it on her stomach, still laughing, even as Hellboy’s mouth opened into an ‘o’ as his eyes widened. Harry shook his head again, pressing against the Elf as he giggled. His brother was stupid sometimes, but Harry loved him anyway. He rather hoped Hellboy never changed.

This group of misfits was his family, and freakish as they were, there wasn’t a thing about them that Harry would change.

He was happy with them, just they way they were.

He smirked at Nuada, and winked. He did like the idea, though, of expanding his family. He wondered what his Melanin would say to that.

The End


1 – “Le suilon” [Lay swee-lonn] Translation: I greet thee.

2 – “Mae govannen” [My go-VAH-nen] Translation: Well met.

3 – “Lle tyava quel?” Translation: Do you feel well?

4 – “Mára mesta” [Mah-rah meh-stah] Translation: Goodbye.

5 – “Tevenyel” [Teh-vehn-yell] Translation: I hate you.

6 – “Ainion” [Eye-nee-on] Translation: Angelo, meaning angel.

7 – “Marcaunon” [Mar-cow-nonn] Translation: Henry, meaning ruler of the home. (Harry: see Henry).

8 – “Llie n'vanima ar' lle atara lanneina.” Translation: You’re ugly and your mother dresses you funny.

9 – “Dolle naa lost.” Translation: Your head is empty.

10 – “Lle holma ve' edan” Translation: You smell like a human. (It’s an insult).

11 – “Tanya awra!” Translation: That hurt.

12 – “No ce ammaer ab lû thent” [No kay ahm-myre ahb loo thehnt] Translation: May you be better soon.

13 – “Hû nîn mant han” [Hoo neen mahnt hahn] Translation: My dog ate it

14 – “Garich i dhôl goll o Orch” [Gahr-eekh ee thole goal oh orkh] Translation: You have the hollow head of an orc

15 – “Anno nin” [Ahn-no neen] Translation: Give me…

16 – “Daro I!” [DAR-oh ee!] Translation: Stop that!

17 – “Aratoamin” Translation: My champion.

18 – “Le no an-uir nîn?” [Lay no ahn-oo-ear neen?] Translation: Will you be mine forever?

19 – “Le melon” [Lay mell-on] Translation: I love you

* * *

I hope you enjoyed it… I don’t know where they lived in the film, since it definitely wasn’t New Mexico, so I’m making it New York.

TBC...