KKM:
Shorts::Holiday
New Years Shuffle
By: Lotus Curtiss
(Michelle)
What did he just drink?! It was a taste of pure shock in his mouth. It was a sensation that burned its way down his throat. It was an after feeling of numbness in what ever soft tissue it touched. It was a warm spread across his skin that. It was loosing the strength in his legs to where he was almost stumbling. What in the hell did he just drink?! The sharp smell of alcohol finally hit nose. That's what it was. Served him right for sneaking out to join the celebration in the streets of the city below. Served him right for disguising himself like normal. Now he was leaning against a corner of a building, drunk. Intoxicated. Woozy. After all, the stein was thrust into his hand instantly once he was with in range of the festival. Barely even old enough to consume liquor. Almost twenty but...
Someone help him.
Sweat was building behind the mask that covered half of his face, crossed the bridge of his nose and then only covered the other eye. He wanted to rip it off, tear it away but he relied on the building holding him up for support. That was until very familiar hands took him by the shoulders and spun him around. Through vision warped around the edges he could see comforting eyes looking at him on the other side of the mask.
He breathed. "I can explain..." Now his voice was slurred, jumbled. Incomplete. "Conrad..."
"Your safe, that's all that matters." He couldn't help but smile at that. "I'll wait a while till you are more sober before returning. For now, you did want to experience the celebration of Covenant Day in the city?"
Overcome with elation, he flung his arms around the man in a tight hug -or was it the liquor- clumsily. He didn't care what action he had done, seeing as his guardian was not about to scold him for his current state or the endeavor he had taken, he had reflected on it the entire time he was against the building. Almost twenty, yet still a far cry off but always waiting around the corner.
So they walked through the crowds and ate from the vendor stalls but Conrart had taken liberty to only give him beverages that were only juice from the sellers. They remained linked by arm and several not so quite quiet whispers about how they looked so charming together coming from the citizens. His face was if still not flushed from the alcohol earlier only deepened. Often taking glances at Conrart who he was now nearly eye level with. Somewhere along the way, he found himself swept up onto one of the many dance circles by Conrart or if he was plucked by a random citizen if he got to close to the fray. Yet Conrart was there to pull him out.
They made it to one of the side streets, an ally brightly lit with a few stragglers trying to make their way home. Tired. Drunk. A little. Barely even clinging to the mans arm that was holding him up now. With a tilt, through some stupor, he caught one of the features that made this man charming in a way, a scar peaking up from behind a thin mask. Leaning up and on tipsy tip toes, kissed it with a smile, not even comprehending what he had just done. A goofy grin appeared.
He found himself sitting and leaning against cooling stone, it felt nice against his sweat soaked attire, then a more welcome relief as a cool and damp cloth slid along his face and neck. Ice cold water made its way down his throat, easing the burning numbness and into the pit of his stomach. It was quiet except for the trickling of a small stream. The mask no longer suffocating the pores.
Still a little drunk and extremely worn out, he leaned into Conrart, snuggling closely and sighed. Sleep was claiming his stupor mind and he let it be taken away.
"Good night Your Majesty."
"Yuuri..." There was a grumbling complaint, jumbled. Incoherent.
"Yuuri." The last thing he heard before finally passing out.
He slowly woke as sun streamed in overhead and covered his eye lids. An unwelcomed intrusion. Wanting to keep the assault at bay, he turned his face from it and into a darker place, breathing steadily but his senses were waking up. He could feel the stiff fabric against his nose, smell the scent of sweet nature, washed linen and faint sweat. His hands clung to the material, it was warm and a soft throb against them; his ears now picking up on that throb, a gentle beat rhythmically and then there was the movement of air, steady, even behind it. Finding it endearingly lovely. He gave a sigh of content. Slow. Simple.
"Yuuri...it's morning." He groaned, not wanting to wake. "Time to get up." Did he have to? "We could play a game of catch." That sounds nice. "And spare swords later." Really? "Then admire the stars at night." What was this turning into? "There would be no paperwork for the day." Really?! "We could go see the city." Was he offered a chance to escape? "Go camping and see Pochie." Pochie?! He must be a good dragon leader by now. "How does that sound?" Wait...why was Conrart's voice next to his ear? So calm and gentle in his ear?
Finally stirring to see the shade of a familiar brown filling his peripherals, registering the single metal chain just beyond his hair. Looking about, first right then left then glancing up to see Conrart just watching him in wonder. He nearly flew away in shock but his body was still laden with sleep and returning all feeling. It explained why he was so comfortable last night...One moment! He was experiencing Blood Covenants Day in the city last, eating the tasty food and drinking...he had alcohol! Gasp! Not even twenty yet. His face smoldered in remembrance and buried itself into the strong shoulder of Conrart. Uh. Eh. Hmm. There was a tightening of an arm around him. That same arm that held him close during the sessions of dances.
Date. It was a date. He dated Conrart. There was a sharp pound of a heart beat in his chest. Why does a single date sound so shocking? Bad? Terrible? But it was so fun. Enjoyable. Then there were those whispers from the citizens about how charming they both were, how they make a great couple, how they were so compatible, how much Conrart was possessive of him, how much they were in love with each other. Hold it! Love? Crazy! Horrible! Stupid! Notion. Still...it was so wonderful. Wonderful to finally put his heart at ease over an emotion he had been feeling for so long, eating at him forever, annoyingly itched in the back of his mind. Gave him sleepless nights in trying to figure it out. Face it. He was never on a level of being good with the girls and mainly romance in general.
"Conrad." He called, not bothering to move from where he was. "Tell me, please do not use a shallow answer; look deep inside yourself when you do, what are your true feelings towards me?"
He felt the body go rigid in shock and the breathing still in the moment, capturing the Guard off balance; more like an arrow through the heart than a waiver in mental capacity.
"Tell me all Conrad."
"Yuuri..." It was a single sound that made him dare a peek that turned into his head being cradled and lips taking his.
It was not words but actions that spoke.
"I don't want to leave your side. I truly belong to you. I love you from deep inside. I love you with all of my being. I truly belong to you."
Now with eyes locked. There was a burning compassion in those chocolate pupils, matching the intensity of the kiss given. Ah. It had always been there, trying to reach him but now, it finally crossed.
Tentatively Yuuri returned the kiss, blood rushing in his ears, so this was what it felt like to have one whom loves you unconditionally was like. It was alluring, beautiful, magnificent and sickly sweet. "I love you too, Conrad."
Meanwhile...Over in Covenant Castle...
It was an uproar that the Maou had gone missing, Gunter was frantically running about, practically turning over everything, not just the rocks and shrubbery, all the while self-proclaiming that it was his fault that the King was gone. Gwendal was dealing with the stress and trying to ease it away with a ball of yarn and knitting needles in his hands. Wolfram...Eh... Wolfram...Uh... Wolfram...was shouting insults at random objects about what he was going to do with Yuuri when he returned. Pulverize him to a pulp! Burn him to ash! Make him remember who his fiancé was!
Lets just say...the level of chaos in the castle was through the stratus field and beyond space at the moment.
