Project Great Madness

by Kakashiz

[DISCONTINUED] Great Madness ficbase, dedicated to my legion. Collection of random drabbles and one-shots, as seen from Kaolin's, i.e. my viewpoint. "We are the legion, we are Great Madness!"

1. Cocktail Bash

Author's note: Inspiration hit. And this is the result. A glorious 5.5k words. May the plot bunnies do as they wish.

Note: This is a life-verse AU (alternate universe), therefore all the legion 60's are longtime Daevas over a century old. But hey, we don't age. 'Dage' here refers to Cross, and means 'big brother' in Chinese.

Dedicated to Great Madness, for being my second family, and to Bahiam, Kexypitch and Crossloki in particular, for being my guardians of sorts :D

"We are the legion, we are Great Madness!" ~Reaza

Let the story begin.

Chapter 1: Cocktail Bash

I supposed I shouldn't have been surprised. It was to be expected that we would be out drinking to celebrate our legion's rise in ranking. It was almost traditional.

Not that I've ever been to a drinking party before.

Tonight was the night, and things were due to get rowdy in the Dionysia Tavern. We weren't called 'Great Madness' for nothing. I was invited, of course, as were all the newer and younger Daevas like me in the ranks of many war-hardened veterans. I hadn't played much part in the Manor runs that had brought about the promotion, but barring such things I was still a legionary of Great Madness, and I could hardly refuse when one of my favorite 'big brothers' Crossloki invited me along.

Most of the legion were already there when I arrived. I had never been in a tavern for reasons other than solely business, and even then never during drinking hours. Suffice to say that the loud, merry atmosphere and the mellow tang of alcohol in the air was a little disorientating. It must have shown on my face, for after blinking and a moment spent to regain my bearings, I spotted Kexypitch waving me over to his stretch of counter.

The sorcerer was sitting with Bahiam and Crossloki, a glass or two of colorful cocktails and mugs of beer patronizing the immediate stretch of counter before them. Kex was in his informal attire, a red silken vest adorned with silver stitching and standard black dress pants. Gold accessories decorated his get-up, dangling from various places on his vest in typical extravagant mage fashion. Bahiam was in a midnight blue trench coat with boots to match that complimented his gunmetal silver hair, his massive polearm ever strapped to his back. Bright silver buttons and a silver chain belt accented his look, as did the masquerade mask that covered one side of his face. Crossloki on the other hand was more casually dressed, a gray tee, jeans and a red scarf around his neck, with a beret-cap to top it off. I smiled, relieved. At least I wouldn't be overdressed, in my white chiton and all.

When I sat down between Bah and Cross, Kex on Bah's other side, the assassin promptly reached over and mussed my hair affectionately. It was something that annoyed me to no end, and I expected that he knew that perfectly well, judging from the devilish grin on his face.

"Hey, quit that," I laughed, batting his hand away and combing my fingers through my hair to straighten it. Bahiam smirked and ruffled my hair some more, making me squeal in protest. Kex snorted and took a swig of his beer, whereas Cross's eyes crinkled in amusement.

"So, why ain't you hanging with the ladies?" Kex inclined his head in a direction behind him, and I sat up straighter to look over Bahiam's shoulder. About a dozen women were clustered at one side of the bar, flaunting flowing evening gowns and daring cuts. I saw Aiania, Kathline, Euwyn and quite several others chatting and giggling together, wineglasses in their hands.

"As I recall, you were the one who waved me over," I retorted, grinning and reaching over to flick his forearm. Kex was gangly and small-statured, but I learnt never to judge by looks when he and Bahiam had helped me defeat Kraterr. He was a powerful mage.

"Only to save you from standing there like a little lost duckling," he teased in return, and we chuckled.

"Hey KaoKao, why don't you get something? Loosen up a little," Bahiam said after a moment, and waved the bartender over. "What do you want? Drinks on the legion."

"What? No, no wait, I can't," I protested, getting a little flustered as the bartender approached with several wineglasses. "I'm underage. No."

"It doesn't matter, Kao," Bah laughed. "No one'd ever know, and we won't breathe a word. Right Cross, Kexy?" He elbowed Cross in the ribs behind my back, earning him an exasperated look of long-suffering from the assassin, before he relaxed and smiled.

"Not a word," Cross promised, grinning.

"You're a Daeva anyways, Kao. You've got a long life ahead of you so I doubt it matters if you play naughty for a night," Kex put in cheekily. "Hmm, a naughty Kao. I kinda like that idea." He reclined in his wood-backed stool, grinning. "Ah, the sweet days of my youth."

"Which are long, long gone," I finished for him, snickering. "Touché, but that kinda makes you sound old."

Kex gave me a lazy wink. "I may be an old man but I'm still awesome," he declared. To demonstrate his point he pointed his index fingers at me in the shape of a gun. "Pew pew pew." He waggled his fingers at me and I promptly burst into giggles.

"Would you like anything, lords and lady?" the bartender inquired mildly.

I glanced at the boys' cocktail glasses on the table dubiously, hesitating.

"You don't have to if it really bothers you, mushu," Cross offered sympathetically. "You could always have a virgin drink."

Bah and Kex snickered in the background, but I found that rather more amusing than embarrassing. The whole affair was starting to gain the taste of a challenge, and challenges were undoubtedly rather exhilarating. Especially the sort that were easily completed given I was willing to accept it.

"No, I want to do this," I said with growing conviction. "Any suggestions, dage?"

"Shugo Wanderer would probably be a little much-"

"Much?" Bah interrupted. "That thing knocked even Shu out."

"I heard that!" Shurer yelled back from a few seats down. "I demand a rematch!"

"I'll get back to ya!" Bah yelled. Meanwhile, Kex and Cross were deep in thoughtful discussion.

"Maybe Asteria Sunburst? Or Arcada's Dusk? No, that's too strong for a first timer. Apex Rose? It won't be even entertaining, that. Or…"

Everyone paused, and turned to stare at me.

"Eracus Sunset," all three said at once. "Perfect," Kex announced. "One of that for the lady, sir."

"Will do, milord." The bartender turned to prepare the drink. It became rather unsettling then as all three of them watched me with some sort of sadistic amusement. The bartender set the cocktail before me, a vibrant rose-pink concoction streaked through with warm chrome swirls.

I picked up the glass tentatively, not missing the way three sets of male eyes remained trained on me intently. Taking a deep breath, I brought the glass to my lips and swiftly gulped down a large mouthful.

Might I say that I had no idea that one was supposed to sip when drinking alcohol.

The acrid burn of the liquor stung my throat, the sharp bitterness lancing up my nose making me gasp and splutter. Bah, Kex and Cross roared in laughter as I coughed, tears streaming from my eyes. My incredulous and affronted squeak of protest only made them laugh harder, tears of mirth pouring down their faces as they pounded the table, howling helplessly.

"Guys!" I spluttered, eliciting a fresh wave of laughter. "Sorry mushu," Cross choked amidst his laughter. "The look on your face… it was just… just…"

"Priceless," Kex finished, still sniggering.

I pursed my lips in mock irritation, but I found it hard to keep a straight face for long. Not long after that I was laughing along with them, and I soon found out that Eracus Sunset actually tasted okay if I sipped it slowly and let the sweet finish override the sour twist.

The night grew longer and, having overcome the first barrier, I tried several different cocktails with cheerful abandon. I didn't resent being held up by the guys, on the contrary, I actually rather enjoyed myself. At some point a shriek of laughter coming from the congregation of females made us look around to see what was so funny. Apparently they had been getting steadily tipsier, and someone decided to do an agrint transformation and dance the 'Stupid Cupid' moves from last year's hilarious Valentine theme.

Looking around, I noted the surroundings with growing amusement. Madmedic was out cold, Littlerock slumped on the counter next to him. The templar was exultantly waving his shot glass in the air in victory, before his head lolled forward and he passed out as well. Whitesage was sprawled out on one of the lounges in the corners, unconscious for completely different reasons. In his intoxication he had attempted to hit on Euwyn, and was duly rewarded with a magnificent black eye for his effort. It was beyond amusing, seeing that it was unlikely that he would remember a thing the next day. It seemed that, for a healer, Euwyn could still pack one hell of a punch. Vipermage on the other hand I expected to be having a good time, judging from the two women hovering around him, giggling and flirting.

I didn't exactly drink that much, although I couldn't say the same for my three companions. After Aion-knows-how-many rounds of drinks and champagne, Kex had passed out on the table like many others before him, snoring softly – albeit with rather less fanfare – and both Cross and Bah were roaring drunk.

"Betcha I coul' kickh yer ash," Cross slurred. "Like, righ' now."

"Pssshhh." Bah waved a hand haphazardly in the air. "I c'n takh you on any dae'." The gladiator was a smidgen less intoxicated, but at that point, I expected that the only people still sober were those that were actually trying to be, namely me and Aiania. Actually, on second thoughts, just Aiania. I still wasn't as proficient at burning off toxins (alcohol – but hey, I'm a first-timer), and my thoughts were starting to get fuzzy.

After watching Lathander belt out a rather off-tune version of 'To All The Ladies' while perched precariously on top of a table (points to him for not toppling over – even with Rurulca trying to drag him off), and a couple which I suspected to be Fikhan and Guinethe making out in a dark corner, I'd thought I was jaded to the curious and insufferably amusing effects of alcohol. But what I heard next alarmed me slightly.

"Then I chall'nge joo to a doo'," Cross drawled.

"Chall'nge accepted," Bahiam shot back, and the both of them stood up unsteadily.

"Guys, you sure about this?" I asked in concern.

"S'fine mushu." Cross waved me off. "I'll kickh hish ash and be backh in five."

"Cocky lil thingh, arn't joo?"

As they stumbled towards the exit, still bickering amicably, I shook my head in exasperation and chuckled under my breath. Those two were gonna have a hell of a hangover tomorrow. And with them dueling under the influence, they'd probably get more than just a headache. I supposed I was going to have to watch over those two to make sure they didn't kill each other by accident.

Downing the last of my Cantas Breeze, I stood up. Heat rushed to my head unexpectedly and I swayed slightly, nearly tripping over my own feet. The world spun briefly and I dug my fingers into the tabletop, waiting for everything to level out. Hell, I had to ask Euwyn or Aiania if Dispel worked on alcohol, but then again even on that tiny possibility that it could, I was hardly in the best condition to learn a new technique right now.

I left Kex to his beauty sleep on the counter and staggered outside as gracefully as I could manage. The cold night air bit into my face, sharp and waking me up ever so slightly. A little distance away, Bah and Cross were duelling fervently, blades flashing in the air, though whether or not the alcohol affected their performance I couldn't yet say.

Then, as I watched, Cross overreached with his daggers, and before he could withdraw and salvage his form Bahiam had grabbed his forearm and yanked hard, dragging him forward. There was a faint pop and Cross flinched, his dagger clattering to the ground as he slashed at Bah ferociously with his other hand, forcing the gladiator to let go and back up. Cross's left arm hung limp at his side after that, even as he fought to keep his ground against Bah's polearm with only one dagger.

Then Bahiam gave Cross a solid shoulder to the face.

Accounting for the fact that the gladiator had almost a foot on him, Bahiam's shoulder went straight into the assassin's nose. A dull crunch reached my ears. Cross yelped, dropping his other dagger, and I winced in sympathy. Normally he wouldn't have been so sloppy, I expected, but then again it was probably the alcohol. In such conditions Bah naturally had the upper hand, since his form and his way of battle were generally sturdier and required less focus and timing that Cross did. On the other hand, assassins thrive on perfect timing and deadly precision, neither of which were on his side as of the moment.

The duel was pretty much over, with the win to Bahiam, but dage had his revenge. With his one good hand clutching his nose, he twisted his body and gave Bah a solid kick on the side of his head. It offset Bahiam's already alcohol-addled balance, and with a wobble the gladiator fell over. Cross's legs didn't support him for long after that either, and down he went as well.

Bahiam was actually much better off than Crossloki, as I could see after a swift, cursory examination. Bruises, several cuts and probably a mild concussion, nothing a seasoned warrior like him couldn't handle. Cross, however, was in a practically pitiful condition. By the time I got to him, there was blood all over his face and dark smears on his tee. The assassin himself was barely conscious, muttering unintelligibly as I pulled his hand away to examine his face.

His nose was broken, smashed in by Bahiam's shoulder. Fortunately for him Bahiam wasn't wearing his armor, else he'd probably have had a fractured skull as well. As it was the force of the collision had already given him a concussion, one considerably worse than the gladiator's. I highly doubted a proficient assassin like him was accustomed to having his face smashed in. Bahiam's counter to Cross's overreach had left its consequences as well, in the form of a dislocated shoulder. Already it was beginning to swell. Throw in his being drunk, and he was going to have a hell of a morning to wake up to.

Running a hand through my hair, I sighed in frustration. I was a field medic, yes, but I found it hard to focus due to the alcohol in my blood. Asking for help wasn't really an option, since I knew that Sage and Mad were both officially out cold, Euwyn probably wasn't any better off than I was, and Aia long gone to who knows where. Resorting to simpler, and in result more time consuming methods were my only option, and for that I needed warm water, a basin, bandages, Odella powder, an ice pack. None of which I had on me.

I needed him back in my studio if I was to get anything done.

I contemplated Dage's prone form for a moment. Oriel was only accessible through teleportation, and the studio section wasn't even close to the teleportation landing point… there was no way I could get him that far alone.

"Kex!" I left Bah and Cross outside briefly and stumbled back in. Picking my way around tipsy crowds, I finally located the sleeping sorcerer. "Kex, wake up. I need your help."

No response.

I grabbed his shoulders and shook him hard. "Kex, wake up. I need you to make me a gate."

He mumbled something and sluggishly pushed my hand away.

"Kex. Wake up. Now."

"Too…early…Leave me alone…."

"KEX!"

He bolted upright with a yelp and promptly fell off his stool, hair mussed and eyes wide. "Whazzgoinon?"

"Bah and Cross dueled. Dage's in a pretty shitty condition right now."

"So? You're a healer, right? Go heal him." He groaned. "God, my head hurts."

I smacked him upside the head. "If I could would I have woken you?"

"Well, what do you want me to do then?"

"Make me an illusion gate to Oriel. Straight to the studio block."

Kex blinked at me. "What?"

"You heard me." I was starting to get slightly impatient. Time for a little blackmail. "Else when Dage wakes up tomorrow morning I'm pointing him and all his hung-over glory in your direction."

The sorcerer shuddered at the thought. "Gods, you're so mean." He hoisted himself to his feet with noticeable effort. "Fine. I need to get back home anyway."

He shuffled outside, with me tailing after him. When he saw Cross's bloody, mutilated face he let out a low whistle. "Bah really did a number on him, huh?"

"You could say that. Now get the gate up before I have to add 'blood loss' to Dage's list of afflictions."

"Okay, okay, don't get your royal panties in a twist." He stretched and yawned. "Here we go."

As Kex worked on forming the gate, his face screwed up in utter concentration, I knelt next to Cross. Time was of the essence, especially in regard to his shoulder. The longer I left it the worse it'd get. Slipping a hand behind his back and bracing it against his shoulder blade, I grasped the front of his shoulder with my other hand. Taking a deep breath, I pushed hard. With a faint crack his shoulder popped back into place, and I exhaled heavily. He was so going to feel that tomorrow.

"Here's your gate, Kao." Kex yawned again and sank to his haunches, rubbing his temples vigorously. "Gosh, I gotta crash right now. Don't think I even remember how to walk."

"Need any help?" I offered half-heartedly. Beside him, Bahiam was slowly sitting up, a hand pressed to his head, masquerade mask skewed.

"Nah, I'm good," Kex mumbled, then glanced at Cross. "Compared to him, anyway," he muttered under his breath, then raised his voice again. "Get him patched up, I'll see you two in the morning." With that, he promptly slumped backwards on the floor with a 'flump', dead to the world

Bahiam and I shared a look and shrugged. I felt kinda sorry for Kex, but I had more pressing matters to attend to. Squatting behind Cross, I lifted him by his upper arms, wrapped my arms around his chest and attempted to stand up. The result being that I nearly fell over, what with my impaired balance and all. That assassin clearly weighed more than he looked.

With difficulty I managed to get a firm grip on him and stood up halfway, his head lolling back onto my shoulder. Dragging him backwards towards the quiescently floating gate, I paused.

The gated floated about two feet in the air, and Aion forbid I be able to jump through that with Dage's added weight.

Biting back a growl of frustration, I summoned my wings. The alcohol was. Not. Helping. At all. Flapping hard, I hoisted the deadweight that was my cherished 'older brother' up inch by laborious inch, and, with a burst of energy, hauled him through the gate.

My wings gave out the moment we were through, and I dropped back on my feet heavily. Kex had dropped us right outside the studio block, exactly where I wanted. Pleased with the results, I struggled with Cross to the portal that would bring each Daeva to outside the doors of their respective studios.

Right before teleportation, I hesitated. My studio was rather shabby and plain, since I hardly spent any time trying to decorate it. Even though it wasn't like Dage hadn't seen it before, a part of me childishly insisted that he would probably prefer his own studio to mine.

Sighing, I willed us to Cross's studio. We materialized outside his door and I dropped him, being careful not to crack his head on the floor. Raising a hand to the door, I rapped my knuckles on the whitewashed wood.

"Who's there?" the squeaky voice of his butler asked.

"Kaolin. Crossloki's in a bad shape and I need to patch him up."

The door opened, and I dragged the assassin inside. To hell with the bed, I thought, and left him on the floor next to it.

"Get a basin and some warm water ready. An ice pack too. I'll be right back," I instructed the tiny shugo as I made my way to the relationship crystal.

"Will do, miss."

A wave of dizziness assaulted me as I stepped into my room, forcing me to stop and squeeze my eyes shut. Damned alcohol. Swallowing hard, I stumbled towards my chest-of-drawers and pawed in it for my stash of bandages and Odella powder. On second thoughts I grabbed a mana potion as well. Those things were like little energy shots, and I had no doubt that I'd need it before long.

When I arrived back in Cross's studio, the basin, water and ice that I'd asked for were there. His butler had also removed his beret-cap and scarf, and propped up his head on a pillow. The shugo lingered unobtrusively in a corner, watching silently as I set my armload next to Cross and sat down.

Jamming the ice pack on his shoulder first, I then tore off a length of bandage. Folded and dampened with warm water, I patted his face with it, carefully cleaning away the blood. Cleansed of the blood, his face looked even more grotesque, heavy bruising coloring the skin around his mangled nose. Something I could set and heal in 10 seconds flat had I been perfectly sober. As it was I could only dab spots of Odella powder around the inflamed area and concentrate deeply, carefully resetting Cross's nose, aether glowing white at my fingertips. Aion forbid I accidentally set his nose crooked, though that would be insufferably amusing.

The process took a little over 20 minutes. The Odella powder responded to my aether, speeding up the process, and once I was done with that I smeared more powder on his face and went to work on the bruising. It was getting harder and harder to focus, what with the fatigue and all, and at that point I was rather awed at Kex's ability to pull off an impeccable illusion gate, drunk as he was.

Fortunately his concussion wasn't as serious as I'd feared, although with my patchy skills as of the moment he could be sure to wake up with the mother of all headaches in the morning. Downing the mana potion, I mended the mild internal bleeding.

When I finished with that I was ready to pass out any moment. My attempt to overcome the fuzziness had been extremely draining, and I took a moment to squeeze my eyes shut and just breathe.

One last thing. I removed the ice pack from his shoulder and set it aside. Peeling off his now damp, cold and bloody tee and pulling it over his head, I tossed it aside and examined his shoulder. The ice pack had eased the swelling somewhat, though it was still bruised, but nothing I couldn't fix. I eased the inflammation, then sighed wearily and sat back, admiring my handiwork (and perhaps more – I'll never tell). Cross still looked rather battered, but he'd live. Reaching for the bandages, I packed it with Odella powder and rolled it over his injuries.

As I was rolling a strip of the bandage over his nose, something caught my eye. Pausing, I reached out, my fingers moving the small distance to ghost over his face, tracing the large scars that had permanently marred his handsome features. A large cross, arcing from his forehead down to his chin, miraculously missing both his eyes. His namesake, perhaps? I wondered what had caused it, and whether it symbolized something profound to him. Why hadn't he gotten it healed? Was it because he didn't want to? Or had he been unable to?

I tied off the bandages. Drawing on the last vestiges of my strength, I got up and pulled the duvet off the bed, throwing it over him. Then, finally giving in to fatigue, I collapsed onto his bed without any further thought, and was asleep within seconds.

xxx

When I opened my eyes in the morning, it took me a moment for my surroundings to register in my head. Sunlight was streaming in through the windows, and all my medical possessions were piled on the table. Cross was nowhere to be seen.

I yawned and rubbed my eyes, only then discovering the duvet tangled around my body. My heart warmed. Then I remembered that I had fallen asleep in a dress and got myself all flustered wondering if Cross saw anything and if that was why I had the duvet over me.

Hopefully not. Hell no.

My face flaming, I got up and smoothed down my dress. A pounding headache was starting to assault me, but I healed away the stressed nerves without missing a beat. Perks of being a sober cleric. Gathering up my things from the white antique table, I took the relationship crystal back to my studio.

Dumping my things on the dresser, I washed and changed quickly into a fresh dress. Familiar as I was with my chain armor, I'd rather not have to wear the heavy thing around where and when I didn't need it. Thing wasn't easy to put on either. Reaza had taken our legion off the active roster for several days, for reasons that I could now understand. We could hardly get anything done while most of the Daevas in the legion were in conditions like these, and I doubted anyone would even want to do anything other than sleep in for the day. At times like these I was infinitely grateful for the man and his forethought.

Dragging a brush through my tangled hair, I attempted to make myself presentable as fast as I was able. Dage wasn't supposed to get out of bed, at least not until I had him properly patched up, just in case he did anything stupid and ended up worse off than he already was. Not that I had anything against him in this case. Cross had always been a willful Daeva, and besides I had been patronizing his bed.

Still. Duty dictated that I track him down and finish my job, even though I was a cleric and he an assassin, who would not be found if he didn't want to be.

I teleported back to his studio. The bathroom door was open, something I failed to notice earlier in my hurry to get back to my own studio, and the air was still moist. Acting on a hunch, I opened the front door. As expected Cross was there, elbows resting on the railing as he leaned on the balcony, gazing out with a distant look in his eyes.

"Dage." I knew he was aware of my presence, soft as I had opened the door, but I greeted him all the same. He wasn't wearing much, just a pair of long trousers and a white towel draped over his shoulders. He'd removed the bandages, I saw. His hair was spiky and unruly from his shower, already half-dry, and I just stared for a long moment. At the purplish bruising coloring his left shoulder blade. At least, that was what I kept telling myself. It was rather hard not to appreciate the assassin's lean, bare back.

"Mushu," he replied mutedly without turning, more an acknowledgement than anything else. I joined him at the railing, sneaking glances at him. By right he ought to be sporting a massive headache, a painful nose and a tender shoulder, and yet he showed no outward sign that he was even aware of his injuries.

"How do you feel?" I ventured, watching his face closely.

"Fine," Cross grunted shortly in reply. 'Fine' indeed. I smirked, then cast my gaze away, feigning nonchalance. "Well then," I replied tartly. "You can take aspirin for your head and an ice pack for your shoulder."

He was silent for a while, as if considering my words, then let out a faint huff, the edge of his lips twitching up into a smile. "What will I do without you," he murmured, sarcasm tingeing his tone as he smirked out into the landscape. Thoroughly enjoying the power that I had over him, slight as it was, I decided to let him suffer through his pains for a little longer. A little amusement at his expense wasn't something I was about to turn down.

We stood there in companionable silence for some time, looking out and admiring Oriel's grandeur in the late morning sun.

"Wanna duel?" I asked abruptly, breaking the silence. Cross started, then turned to fix me with a half amused, half incredulous look. "What, now?"

"Why not? Scared I might kick your ass?" I teased, bumping his shoulder amiably. Knowing satisfaction filled me as pain flickered across his expression, albeit so briefly that I nearly missed it.

"Maybe." He grinned at me, a mischievous glint in his ruby eyes. I knew him well enough to know that he was recalling the same memory that I was – the last time we dueled, the only reason why I hadn't been sent to the obelisk in five seconds flat with two stab wounds in my back was because he had been going very, very easy on me. I knew that, had he been going all out, I would have lost instantly without even knowing what hit me. Even now, shirtless and in considerable pain, I had no doubt that he could still face me down easily with one hand tied behind his back.

"Chicken," I grinned back, perfectly aware of the game we were playing. I admired him to no end, something he was also aware of, and I knew exactly what he wanted when he kept his intense gaze on me, lips still curled up at one end in that lopsided smirk of his.

"No," I said, as flatly as I could make it, pasting on a mock-stern expression. "Your fault, your problems."

Cross pouted ever so slightly, and the result was an expression so adorable that it was damn funny to see on the face of the usually laid-back and inscrutable assassin. It made me smile despite myself, and, smothering a laugh, I relented. "Fine." He knew I could hardly refuse him anything, especially when it was something I'd intended to do all along. Amused, I touched a finger to his temple, sending healing aether into his system. His triumphant expression only made me burst into laughter at the sheer absurdity of the situation.

It was enjoyable, fun even – I was content, happy to be here, just messing around with Dage. Somewhere, Kex would probably be waking up, and he'd stay in bed if he knew what was good for him. Bahiam would probably be good as new, or at least close enough. I wondered what happened to Sage, whether Euwyn and the girls had as eventful a night as I did, and where in Atreia Aia had run off to. I'd probably never know.

Life was good.

At least, until Cross planted his hand firmly on top of my head and mussed it with a purposeful vengeance. It scattered the strands all over my face, making me shriek in laughter and indignant protest.

"DAGE!"

~Fin~

xxx

A/N:

Cross-verse towards the end, since my plot bunnies have decided they adore him, and therefore this kind of thing is what comes out xD so basically pink fluffy bunnies all over him that won't get off or leave him alone. EPIC BACKSTORY AND CROSS FANDOM ALSDJFHASDFL- no dage don't make that face. I know you're gonna make that face.

Originally I was going to have Bah and Cross draw, but then based on some information on past duels from Bah and the fact that Cross decided to enjoy messing me up (Kathline and Aia can be witnesses), I decided some editing was in order.

Credits to Latona for the cocktail and song names, they were perfect :D and also to Kex for being really supportive throughout my writing week.

Also to my RL friends AKA Leafy and Ivory for shrieking incest at me when I referred to Cross as Dage. This was kinda how it went:

Me: So this is the draft, what do you think?

Friends: (reads)…This is incest.

Me: What? No! I made sure everything was nice and fluff free-

Friends: INCEST

Me: But but there's nothing in there that-

Friends: INCEST

Me: I was very careful-

Friends: INCEST

Me: Stop-

Friends: INCEST

Me: I don't-

Friends: INCEST

Me: Hear me out ple-

Friends: INCEST INCEST INCEST

Me: I give up e.e

And best line ever, credits once again to Latona.

Me: Dage's so happy (for mastering cooking) that he's actually going hyper.

(Cross delightedly telling everybody about it in the background)

Latona: The Man, The Myth, The Legend – slap that on his apron xD

That, and how Cross looks holding a frying pan and a salt shaker, totally made me crack up. Made my day. Thank you Lat xD Gratz again, dage x3

Note: We fanfic writers have our own slang, so yeah. Fluff is cute lovey parts. Kaolin = fluffholic xP incest is forbidden sibling romance. Bunnies are the name we give to plot ideas.

After my editorial run over this fic I've decided that it's not exactly one of my best pieces. It's a little choppy and not as entertaining as I hoped it would be. Still, I hope you enjoyed it :D Have any comments, story requests or whatevs, leave 'em in a review, I'll look at 'em. There's the review button right down there. There will be more individual one-shots in the future.

Peace out,

Kakashiz/Kaolin