In The Hanging Tree

Are you, are you coming to the tree? Where they strung up a man they say had murdered three.

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Klaus regretted each musty breath he took, every single one wielding an intake of spoiled liquor, long since dried blood and the stench of after sex, but not the kind the blonde man actively engaged in. This sex was relentless, one-sided, and animalistic.

It was the scent of rape.

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Strange things had happened here, no stranger would it be if we met at midnight in the hanging tree.

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In the cell he waited, waited for his coming death with a steely calm that shook his captors and even led them to leave him be.

The calm and serenity he had frightened them. Hell, they couldn't even look him in the eyes without cowering.

His death was something he was resolute over, a variable that wouldn't change, but he was fine with it.

Death was worth the crime he'd committed, worth the sin he'd forced upon the man he fell in love with and kidnapped. Those few months of living in the plateau valley with the son of sheriff Raizen were worth his awaiting fate, but...

He only regretted he wouldn't see Taki one last time before he hung.

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Are you, are you coming to the tree? Where a dead man called out for his love to flee.

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The day had been sweltering in that tiny shed of a cell. That same stench now clung to Klaus like he owned such a rancid smell as did sweat, dust and blood from the beating he'd received from the sheriff himself not long ago.

A black eye, a bloody nose, a purple, swollen cheek, and enough broken ribs to last him into the next life and back.

Klaus tiredly slouched in the corner of the cell, his eyes closed as he patiently waited for his death. Too bad it wouldn't come until dawn.

Suddenly the door to his cell slammed open.

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Strange things had happened here, no stranger would it be if we met at midnight in the hanging tree.

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"Ya got twenty minutes, an' that's it. 'f sheriff find you out here, he'll have our heads."

A heavy pair of feet left, replaced by the unsure padding of dainty ones. Klaus knew those feet all too well.

He tensed as they came to a stop beside him, then relaxed as a gentle hand carded through his dirty hair.

He opened his mouth to speak, but all he managed was a soft groan as his large hand pulled the slender form into his lap.

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Are you, are you coming to the tree? Where I told you to run so we'd both be free.

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Klaus ignored the throbbing pain in his ribs and buried his face into Taki's neck, inhaling his sweet and pure scent.

Gentle hands hugged around his broad chest, pulling him as close as he could.

"Klaus", he whispered in a broken tune, wonderful blue eyes spilling tears onto the blonde's shoulder.

Then without warning soft pink lips mashed themselves against, tan chapped ones with worried urgency.

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