Title: As the Rain Fell

Pairings: Fafnir/Flavio

Words: 1,396

AN: I honestly wasn't expecting to fall for these two as much as I have. I thought I would do a couple of drabbles to make up for that ending and then continue with my originals. I'm not. And I blame Flavio entirely.

Probably be best if I start a book of oneshots on these two, huh?

It had been raining for two days straight. The weather was cold and rather miserable. And somewhat foreboding. Flavio couldn't explain why, but ever since he gotten up that morning, he felt as if something significant was going to happen.

And he couldn't help but fear the worse.

Moving toward the guild-house with the selection of items they needed to place in storage, Flavio felt a his eyes widen in surprise, a gasp lodging in his throat at the sight he had encountered as he turned a corner. He knew something terrible was to happen, but he wasn't ready for what he was seeing.

Fafnir, with his back toward him, had Arianna wrapped up tightly, intimately, in his arms, the purple-haired princess resting comfortably against his chest as she stood upon tiptoes. Their heads were angled toward each other's. Flavio couldn't see them completely, but their positions, the angling of their bodies, and the sense of intimacy in the air.

They were…They had to be…

The tray of storage items he had been holding suddenly slipped from his unknowingly trembling hands and crashed loudly onto the floor, sending the contents sprawling in all directions. The noise was deafening, so it immediately caused the two to spring apart, instinctively pulling themselves in defensive positions.

Fafnir immediately spun around to face him, at first an expression of annoyance on his face. However, his expression soon lifted into that of surprise.

A tense and deafening silence quickly fell over them.

Flavio ordered himself to say something. To make a joke. To move and pat Fafnir on the back, and congratulate him. Do something. Anything. He had been preparing for this day. He knew it would happen. But...all he could do was stare at Fafnir and Arianna with wide eyes, his heartbeat thundering in his ears.

He felt…sick. Nauseated. Unsteady on his feet.

"Flavio?"

His chest hurt. He could barely breathe.

"S-sir Flavio?"

The next thing Flavio knew, he had turned on his heel and desperately ran outside into the cold rain. He didn't feel the cold, though. Didn't feel how the cool rain took his breath away. All he could think to do was run.

It was…so stupid of him. He had never ran away from anything before in his life (monsters and foes not included). So why was he running away now? He was only making things worse. He was only hurting Fafnir with his immaturity.

But he couldn't help it. Seeing…seeing Arianna in Fafnir's arms like that…No…It hurt too much.

…He wanted that to be him.

Did Arianna know how lucky she was?

Pushing past the other occupants in the streets, ignoring those around him, Flavio just kept running. The rain did little to slow him down, despite slipping on a few occasions. He didn't stop until he reached the beautiful water fountain in the east side of town.

Flavio panted as he leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees. He stared down at the ground in front of him with wide eyes. His hair clung to his forehead as he watched with an unblinking gaze the rain drops hit the puddles pooling on the ground, watching the ripples in a mesmerised state.

His chest felt tight, his lungs burning. His vision was blurry from tears. When did he start crying? He was a trained survivalist. He shouldn't be crying! How pathetic…

Pushing himself to stand up straight, he rubbed at his eyes. Even though he knew it was futile, he kept rubbing them, mixing his tears with the rain.

The rain was cold, heavy, and constant. But he didn't really register any of it. The feel, the scent, the sound. Nothing.

What was wrong with him? Why was he acting so stupid? He should be...supportive. Understanding. Encouraging. That was what he was meant to do. He always knew that one day Fafnir wouldn't need him anymore. He always knew that one day Fafnir and Arianna would become a couple. Princesses and knights always received their Happily Ever Afters. In all the story books the princess and knight would marry. That was what everyone expected. That was the way things simply were.

He...never stood a chance.

And that hurt.

"Flavio!"

Flavio felt a sob hitch in his throat when he heard loud footsteps approaching him from behind. Oh no. Of course Fafnir would chase him out into the rain. Unintentionally hurting him more with his concern. Why? Why did he have to be so…? He wasn't ready for this yet.

"Flavio?"

Hunching his shoulders, Flavio folded his arms around himself and purposely turned his back to Fafnir. He couldn't face him. He didn't want Fafnir to see how pathetic and pitiful he was.

"Flavio, look at me."

Flavio shook his head adamantly. No, he couldn't do that. It would only hurt more.

"Go back to the restaurant, Fafnir," Flavio murmured, somewhat surprised by how hoarse and strained his voice sounded. "You'll catch a cold out in this rain."

"I don't know what you think you saw, but that wasn't it," Fafnir suddenly said to him.

Despite himself, despite the way his stomach knotted at the false sense of hope, Flavio felt a laugh slip past his lips. "Sure, Fafnir."

He heard a sound, akin to a growl of frustration when Fafnir suddenly stepped forward and grabbed him by the arm. Fafnir then spun him around abruptly and pulled him into his arms, crushing him against his chest. Flavio immediately parted his lips to utter a sound of surprise as he fell limply within Fafnir's hold. He soon began to struggle, however. He didn't want a pity embrace. Things were hard enough as they were.

Flavio, however, abruptly ceased in his struggling when Fafnir's slipped his hand around the back of his head and pressed his lips against his. For the longest moment, all rational thought left him. Only the sensation of Fafnir's lips against his, kissing him slowly and softly, flooded his brain.

Was…he dreaming?

Keeping his arms around him tightly, almost as if ensuring that he didn't run away again, Fafnir pulled back from the kiss and looked at him. The rain continued to thunder around them as Fafnir stared into his eyes, his gaze firm yet oddly tender, too. It took all that Flavio had not to tear his own eyes away from the man in front of him.

"I turned her down," Fafnir unexpectedly said to him.

Flavio drew in a sharp breath as his heart all but skipped a beat. He wasn't sure he heard right. Did that mean…?

"Arianna is a sister to me," Fafnir continued as he raised his hand to gently caress the side of Flavio's face. "I was only comforting her. That's all."

Goosebumps run up his spine as he released a shuddering breath. He…didn't know what to say. Fafnir was telling the truth, right? He wouldn't lie to him.

He didn't know how to verbally respond. Honestly, he felt like laughing and crying at the same time. Instead of doing either, he lifted his hands and gently touched the sides of Fafnir's face. Slowly, Flavio pulled Fafnir toward him and brought his lips against his once again. He encircled his arms around Fafnir's neck tightly when Fafnir immediately wrapped his arms around his waist, pulling and holding him closer. He felt tears pool along his lashes once more, but they were from relief.

They were both soaked to the bone from the rain, but neither of them cared. They were too wrapped up in each other to care about what was happening around them. Honestly, though, the rain was somewhat…comforting. The sound was soothing and the feel somehow ensuring. It encased them, surrounded them.

However…

"It's freezing out here," Fafnir murmured against Flavio's lips as he pulled back ever so slightly. "Let's head to the inn and get warm."

It was only then that Flavio realised how cold he truly was and shivered. "Ok," he murmured in reply as he pressed himself against Fafnir's side, allowing him to escort him to the inn.

He would have to apologise to Arianna about his abrupt actions, but that could wait. He just needed to be with Fafnir for a little bit longer.