Disclaimer: I'm a teacher doing this for fun, please don't sue me for dabbling in Konami's creative property...

Summary: WOOT! Borus and Percy in the bath!!! with alcohol!!! fun times. Feelings are shared, wine is spilled and an ultimatum is given.

Two Men and a Bath

Borus sighed contentedly as the warm water enveloped him. He thought back to the warm light that surrounded him the day before as Lady Chris used her rune to seal his fading spirit to his broken but healing body.

"It felt just like this," he said. "Only not so wet."

"What did?" Percival asked as he slipped into the warm water himself.

"When she used the Rune to bring me back." He slipped beneath the surface briefly and smoothed his pale wet hair from his face. He settled himself on the submerged bench and let the healing waters surround him. Percival handed him a glass of dark liquid which Borus accepted gratefully.

"It may not be the best thing for your head, but you definitely need it, my friend." Borus smiled as he inhaled deeply of the heady scent of fermented grapes, blueberries and plums. "Chisha," he thought, "Shiraz… no Merlot, three years old, but a good vintage." His categorical memory of wines rattled back to him as he sipped the deep red liquid and sighed.

"Thanks Percival."

Half a bottle later, Borus was lamenting to Percival.

"How am I ever going to repay her? I mean, I own her my life." His head was fuzzy—fuzzier than normal after only a shared half of a bottle.

"What do you mean?"

"Lady Chris. She saved my life yesterday. She didn't have to but she did. And I'm sure I slowed you all down afterwards…" He traced circles in the warm water, his dilated eyes staring at nothing.

"Nonsense."

"I mean, she already has all of me, my life, my devotion, my heart. What else can I give her to repay her for her graciousness?" Percival snorted.

"You could maybe be a man and tell her how you feel?" Inebriation kept Borus from hiding his panic at the suggestion. Percival couldn't help but chuckle.

"How is she supposed to know that she has all of that if you never tell her, doofus?"
Borus' face fell.

"I don't know." He replied. Percival shook his head, partly in frustration and partly in amusement.

"I swear to Sadie, you and Lady Chris really would make the perfect couple. You are two if the most dense people I have ever met, especially when it come to emotions." Borus scowled at the brunette knight, who only chuckled again. The sound of voices through the wall brought a halt to their conversation. The stern mezzo and sultry contralto of the Zexen knight captain and the Karayan chieftain drifted on the evening air. The two men grew quiet and listened to the conversation.

"…I really can't guarantee how the council will take these terms, Lucia." They heard the silver maiden's voice say.

"I do understand your predicament, Chris, but I hope that you and your knights will help them to see reason." Lucia's voice replied. Borus and Percival moved quietly to the wall separating the two baths. They listened silently as the two women continued to discuss the peace negotiations. Borus closed his eyes, listening rapturously to his silver goddess' voice while ignoring her words. He barely felt Percival press a newly refreshed glass of wine into his hands.

"I'll be returning to Brass Castle tomorrow morning." The disembodied Chris said growing fainter as she headed toward the bath's exit. Borus, hearing the subtle sounds of someone leaving the warm water, scuttled to the edge of the dividing wall and peeked through a tiny gap that had not been properly sealed into the women's bath. He caught a brief glimpse of her pale flesh turned pink by the warm water as she wrapped a white cotton robe around herself.

"Salome will remain here to continue negotiations and I will do my best with the council, Lucia. Do not worry." He watched Chris stride purposefully from the bath before sighing heavily. A narrow green eye met his through the crack in the wall.

"It's not polite to peek into a lady's bath… Sir Borus." Lucia stated in her sultry voice, giving Borus quite the start. Borus yelped slightly as he lost his balance and fell into the water behind him, dumping the contents of his glass into the water with him. His face flushed crimson, even through to his scalp, giving his hair a strawberry tone. Percival laughed outright as he helped his friend up. The Karayan chief chuckled deeply but her laughter held a touch of sympathy for the young man. Borus sat back down, pouting and poured himself yet another glass of wine to replace the one that now colored the bath, polishing off the bottle. He watched Percival wipe tears of laughter from his eyes as he regained his composure.

"Sorry Borus, but that was hilarious."

"Fine, laugh at the injured fool's expense." Borus replied sourly.

"Aww, Borus, don't be like that." Borus had never wanted to strangle Percival more in his life. He sipped his wine and thanked Sadie that Lady Chris had left the bath before this debacle.

"Fine. If you're going to be such a sour puss, I won't let you escort Lady Chris back to Brass tomorrow."

"What are you talking about?" Borus tried to keep his voice sour and cynical but he had a feeling that Percival could hear the curiosity creeping into it. Percival always seemed to be able to read his moods.

"Well, I'm supposed to be her escort back to Brass tomorrow, but… well I mean, if you're going to your father's like you said earlier, then you'll be heading that way as well. And I figure a half day journey alone with the Lady before you leave for Goddess knows how long might be just the chance you need to talk to Lady Chris. You know, to tell her how you feel." Borus just blinked at his friend. This was very unusual, he thought, for Percival to give up a chance at wooing the lady for himself.

"At least you can tell her why you're taking this leave, and… I don't know, just talk with her. But Borus," Percival's voice grew softer and deadly serious, a tone that is quite unusual for the normally jovial knight.

"If you don't take this chance to talk to her, I'm going to assume you've given up and will pursue the Lady in earnest for myself." Borus heard the finality in his friend's voice and saw it in the set of his deep brown eyes.

"Do you accept?" Borus' head was swimming with this change in situation. He heard the weight of the possible consequences in his voice as he agreed and the two men shook hands.

"But why Percival? Why give me this ultimatum?" Percival's hand landed heavily on his shoulder as Borus asked the question.

"Because Borus, I love you like the brother I've never had. And I want you to be happy. But you've been stuck since she came into our lives. It's time for action, my friend, or it's time to move on." Borus sighed at the statement and downed what remained in his glass.