Well, hi everyone, here is my first fanfiction :D There are some things that you should know before begin reading:
- English is not my mother language, so grammatical errors may be frequent, I'll try to write the best way I can, so sorry in advance :)
- The fanfic is rated M, but you will have to wait some chapters before anything M-rated happens, in the first chapters there will be sexual tension and romantic scenes but they won't be very explicit, because I want their relationship evolves in an adequate manner, so...be patient please! I promise that the smut part will come :P
- If you don't have play Tales of Xillia 1 or you've played but you haven't finished yet, there will be spoilers of the story, so be careful.
I think that that's all. I hope you enjoy the first chapter ;) I know more or less how the story is going to be but I can't assure the time of uploading, I have a busy life right now :P
PD: I don't own Tales of Xillia or any of its characters, although I wouldn't mind meeting an Alvin or a Gaius XP
"Can you tell me again what I am doing here?". He was following her reluctantly, his hands behind his head.
He had agreed to meet with her near Sapstrath escaping from the others without warning (they were used to it by now), and when he had arrived at the inn where the meeting was going to take place, he has discovered that the inn was a cover. The housekeeper had guided them to a secret door behind the counter with an enchanting smile, like it was the most normal thing in the world, and now he was in a labyrinth of corridors and doors that all seemed the same to accept a treat that, according to her, was going to be extremely profitable for both…and surely proportionally dangerous for him.
She exhales a sigh of exasperation.
"I thought that I had explained the situation in the letter that I sent clearly enough so even you could understand".
"Ouch" , he said, feigning offense by her words "well, I didn't have much time to read it, those kids were putting all his efforts to know who was the sender, they thought that it was a lover".
He says the last part casually and laughs to himself when her cat's tail tenses. She was always so easy to tease.
"Hah, what annoying kids", she says after a moment of clearing her throat.
"Yeah, so annoying", he concedes, but only half-heartedly.
"In any case, I suppose that I can make you a summary: we are interested in what Rashugal is doing. We have heard that Nachtical is conducting some kind of experiments and we'd like to know what they are about".
"Hmph, so do you want me to inform you about the things that we discover, right?"
"Precisely". They pass across a pair of soldiers that make a little reverence when Presa approaches.
"I see that you have become quite important", Alvin says somewhat impressed.
"Of course, because on the contrary of certain someone, I've been able to prosper".
"And I see that because of that you are more high & mighty than usual".
She glares at him above her shoulder but he only smirks at her. She puts her eyes in blank and continues for the hallway incrementing the speed and making Alvin run after her. Eventually, Presa stops in front of a door that doesn't seem different from the others except for the fact that is guarded by a pair of big soldiers. She turns around and looks at Alvin.
"We have arrived".
"Really?", he stares at the guards "what is going on? Am I going to meet a king or something?"
He doesn't realize the momentary smile that adorns Presa's face.
"You'll see soon", she makes a signal to the guards, who apart from the door. Presa approaches and knock the door twice. After a moment, a deep voice says 'Come in' from the inside and Presa opens the door and enter, followed by Alvin.
When he enters, Alvin sees that he is in a reunion room, with multiple shelves surrounding the space and a round table in the center. There are people sitting around it: there is a little girl not older than Jude in a red dress, a giant guy in yellow attire, a pale man with black hair that combines with the rest of his clothes and in the center, looking directly at the door, a tall man with dark-skin, purple eyes and clothes red and black that were a mix of a suit and an armor.
"We have arrived, your Highness", says Presa making a reverence.
Alvin looks at her, mouth hanging open.
"Wa-was it true the king part?". Presa looks at him briefly and smirks at him, satisfied by his reaction. He only sighs and scratches his head.
"Hey, mercenary, show some respect, you are in front of the king", says with a frown the man in black.
"It's okay, Wingul", the King speaks, and Alvin recognizes the voice as the one that let them enter a moment before "maybe this is the first time that he visits Auj Oule, he needn't to know who the King is, isn't it right?"
The king stares directly at him, making Alvin a little uncomfortable, but he manages to make his usual smile and makes a reverence mimicking Presa.
"That's right, your Highness", he said, making sure to show confidence "it's my first time in Auj Oule in a long time, and I've never had the pleasure to meet the king personally".
"Where are you from, mercenary?", inquires Wingul.
"Xian Du", Alvin says without hesitation "although I am a free soul so I don't have a concrete home to be at".
The girl in red begins to laugh hysterically.
"Oh, Presa, are you sure that you haven't brought us a vagabond instead of a mercenary?"
"Agria…", intercedes the man in yellow, and surprisingly she obeys, although she manages to make a mock sign to Alvin's direction.
"Your Highness", inquires Presa looking at the King "I've known Alvin for quite a time, and although I can confirm that his trust is something that absolutely we can't count on unless there is money involved in the job", at that point Alvin looks at Presa feigning offense once again "his abilities as spy doesn't have a rival, he is the man His Highness needs for the job".
"I see", the King seems to reflect, still looking at Alvin "very well, I trust in your judgment, Presa". She makes another reverence. "But before we settle this, I need a favor to ask you".
"Who? Me?", says Alvin surprised.
"Yes, you. Please, have a fight with me".
Alvin doesn't know who in the room is the most surprised.
"Your Highness, what are you saying?", Wingul exclaims.
"You can't be serious", almost shouts Agria, forgetting the formalism.
The King looks imperturbable at Wingul.
"My father usually said: 'The best way of knowing a man of science is through a nice conversation, but the best way of knowing a man of arms is trough a nice fight'", he looks at Alvin again "say, mercenary, what kind of man are you? A man of science, or a man of arms?"
"Ehhh", Alvin puts his hands behind his head. "can I choose 'a ladies man'?"
"You, how do you dare…?", Wingul puts his hand on his sword.
"Enough, Wingul", says the King, "I take it that you are more a man of arms that of science, if you allow me the supposition".
"I think that I've never been called stupid in such a polite way, your Highness".
"Oh, no, please, don't misinterpret me, I've only based my assumptions because of the variety of weapons that you carry".
"Oh, don't worry, your Highness, I'm not offended at all, I always thought that in order to do a job like mine, something must be a little off within me", he says that with a smile, but the King stares at him after the last words a little more time that necessary.
"I see", he only said at last "well, if you would like to follow me".
"Of course, your Highness". Alvin makes a little reverence. Presa puts her eyes in blank again and makes an attempt of following them.
"You can stay here", he said to the other four, "I don't think that it takes us so long".
"Oh, without public may be a little boring, don't you think, your Highness?"
The King looks at him briefly. Honestly, the fact that the man doesn't react to any of his provocations is making him be a little frustrated, but at the same time he is curious about how a fight with him will be, and if by chance he were the winner, Presa's face surely would be something that he will remind her the rest of her days.
"Very well", he nods briefly and gets out of the room.
"Someone wants to make any bets?". Alvin looks with a smile at the other four. After some seconds of silence he sighs, "okay, okay, jeez, everyone is so serious"
He gets out the room and begins to follow the King, who is waiting him in the middle of the corridor, arms folded.
"By the way, your Highness have a name or something?", asks Alvin.
The King looks at him a little surprised, and Alvin internally celebrates his win for making him react.
"Gaius".
"Well, it's a pleasure, your Highness". Alvin makes another little reverence. "Can I call you Gaius?"
Gaius' eyes open a little more and Alvin smirks. Almost immediately, Gaius' face is imperturbable again .
"Let me think about it when we finish the fight", said after a moment.
"Okey, seems fair", says Alvin, still with the smirk in his face.
"So...Gaius", he thinks to himself, "this is going to be at least interesting".