Author's Note: OMG XD Three chapters in three days! *laughs* this story really does have a mind of its own! I can't seem to control it. But I honestly do love this particular take on Yuuri and Conrart as both of them are definitely allowed to express their emotions to others and it's so much fun. XD

Disclaimer: Own nothing.

*grins* Hope you guys still like it!

It was almost painfully early, only the first brushes of rosy light beginning to spill into the vast space and silhouetting the dancers as they moved fluidly their bodies sliding together in the elegant sweep of dance steps. Fingers brushed as did hips, Yuuri's blue cloak swirling about his legs as he dipped into the spin, soon coming back in close to Conrart's body, feeling the large hand curl about his waist, holding him there before they were moving again. Delighted, Yuuri's dark hair bounced slightly as his partner swept him into the moves of a dance Conrart had been teaching him.

"That's it, my Kitten." The swordsman purred against Yuuri's ear, nuzzling the warm cheek softly, lips sliding down the delicate curve of pale skin. "Move with me."

"Trying to challenge me are you, Lion?" Dark eyes flashed with sexual amusement, feeling a hand stroke down the curve of his back to rest against his rear, their hips sliding deliciously together as they moved. "I thought I was doing well…"

"Indeed you are." As the silent waltz reached its final notes, both parted and Conrart bowed deeply, drawing the slender hand that was tucked into his own to his lips, dropping a knightly kiss against the pale knuckles. "You are a splendid dancer."

"Trust me… I was not born with the gift of dance." A low throaty chuckle escaped Yuuri, his hand reaching up to tuck his dark strands back behind one ear, brushing another out of his sparkling obsidian eyes. "I have had many, many lessons. I think my success today is because I have a very good teacher."

"Thankyou for the compliment, my Lord." Tenderly turning Yuuri's hand over, his hips tenderly brushed against each fingertip, nibbling on one or two in the quiet action, gaining himself a heated smile from his lover that sent most of his blood heading south.

Conrart's last week had been nothing short of bliss. No longer did his classes seem lifeless or his training, even though he frequently still didn't participate in fencing, the buzz of energy within him seemed to make him feel… more than he ever had. The half-breed had found himself greeted by fellow students, some of them even talking to him for the first time since he had started attending the Academy. There had been approval in the eyes of his Instructors, even in Gunter's usually troubled gaze there had been a spark of hope and respect. Yuuri had curled on the bed beside him during the long evenings together, both of them sharing stories and their bodies.

"Don't you dare start with that. You know I don't like you calling me, 'my lord', I feel like a…" A finger poked lightly into his lover's broad chest, snorting softly at the utterly stoic look Conrart attempted to affix to his face in an attempt to keep the smile from rising to the surface. "Conrart Weller! Stop laughing at me."

"I am not laughing." Brows lifted in question.

"You are. You are wearing that look."

"I do not know of what you are speaking." Lips twitched ever so slightly.

"Liar."

"I would never lie to you, my dearest Love." Still wearing the stoic mask, his laughter was beating against him from the inside as he watched the colour flare along his lover's ivory cheeks, the tips of those ears even being coloured crimson and making Yuuri look all the more desirable and adorable.

"Conrart!"

And the stoicism cracked, Conrart's head tipping back as he let out a roar of laughter, his shoulders shaking with the force of his overwhelming mirth as he was swatted and watched the colour deepen across those beautiful features. His arms captured his lover before he could escape his reach, the slender body pressed back to his broad chest, his mouth dipping down to touch the nape of Yuuri's neck and nuzzle the ivory column of his throat. Laughter still bubbled out of him while he cradled the slender body against his own, sucking lightly on the boy's earlobe, letting out a pleased sound as slender hips squirmed back against his own.

A hand lifted to tunnel slender fingers into the long brown strands, tangling in them and holding Conrart's head just there for a few moments, while his head tipped to one side, encouraging the slow sensual nibble of that mouth up his throat.

Soon their bodies were swaying together, Conrart spinning Yuuri back into the dance, humming under his breath as they easily fell into the rather intimate waltz they had been perfecting before the sun had even risen. Happiness was suffused between them, their smiles quiet and shared.

When they finally did halt again, Conrart froze and moved protectively towards his lover when clapping suddenly erupted from the doorway. A maid stood there, half gaping like a stunned fish, her hands still clapping together in appreciation for the graceful and elegant dance that she had just witnessed.

"Conrart."

They had arrived late the previous evening, Conrart being grateful that none of the guards on duty had recognised him as they had entered through the gates and thus alert the entire castle to the fact one of the Maou's children had returned to the castle. It was also the reason he had awaken his lover early, guiding the sleepy Yuuri to the quiet dancing room in one of the quiet parts of the castle, knowing that the dancing would please his lover.

Twisting, his hands guided the hood back upwards over the beautiful face and raven black locks, smoothing it down into place and gathering his lover to him, cradling the slender body close to his chest, while he regarded the maid with stern cinnamon eyes. Until Yuuri was comfortable when others where his hair and eyes were concerned, he would protect the boy with everything inside of him.

"Can we help you?" Conrart questioned the maid firmly, curling his arm around the slender shoulders of his beautiful healer, squeezing them softly in reassurance.

"I am so sorry, Lord Weller." The maid responded with an extremely troubled expression, eyes wide as she regarded the pair that stood in the first golden rays of the sun together, looking so elegant wrapped in each other. "Forgive the intrusion, please…"

Sighing softly, he brushed a thumb lightly over his lover's cheek, rubbing back and forth in an intimate caress before tipping Yuuri's head upwards just enough to be able to dip his head down and devour the mouth that parted under his own, welcoming him. Calming himself with the action, he finally released the heated silky lips, lifting his head just enough to be able to regard the maid once more. "I apologise for my harshness," Closing his eyes a moment, he soothed himself with his lover's body pressing closer to his own. "It has been a long journey and we are both still quite exhausted."

"Of course, my Lord." Bowing deeply, she excused herself quickly, though her eyes remained wide as they glanced back at the two men as they stood together in the small practice hall.

"I wonder what that was all about…"

Carefully shutting the door with one last goodbye to his Mistress, Yuuri glanced down the corridor and sighed softly as a beautiful blonde woman was coming down the corridor to enter the sitting room where Yuuri had just brought Lady Julia to meet the Maou. Was this woman the Maou? Was this Cecilie Von Spitzweg? Bowing once the woman paused by the door, his hand reaching out to carefully open it for her, keeping his head low and watching her pass him without a word. His thoughts immediately turned to his lover, now with a few hours of freedom he could return to Conrart until Julia had need of his services once more.

Moving gracefully down the corridor, his long blue cloak flaring out around him, taking his time so he didn't get lost as he had earlier that morning, he headed towards the training grounds knowing his lover might prefer a few hours of practice while he had been busy.

Stepping out from the darkness of one of the castle corridors and onto one of the covered walkways, he was startled to find three maids leaning against the railing, all of the peeking around the edge of it. Sangria, Doria and Lasagna if he remembered correctly when Julia had greeted them earlier. Striding to the railing, he leaned against it and peered down at exactly who they were looking at and couldn't help but smile in amusement. Conrart was a graceful fighter, body lithe and light on his feet as he swept through several practice moves he had seen at the Academy, his practice blade slicing through the air with a soft hiss of steel.

"Oh my… so handsome." Sangria whispered, her blue dress being tugged lightly by the wind. "I heard a rumour from Valentina that Sir Weller was spotted in the dancing hall this morning with a Double-Black. She said… oh my…" Her cheeks flustered behind her glasses, clearing her throat, it was clear exactly what she had been told… "Her Majesty said she feared he would never return to Covenant Castle…"

The mention of the Maou in regards to Conrart made his blood run cold for a minute, his obsidian eyes flickering back to the powerful form of his lover, feeling his heart clench tightly at the thought of anyone else being with the knight. "I don't mean to eavesdrop." Yuuri bowed slightly towards the maids, his hands tucking into the sleeves of his long jacket. "But I was just curious as to what you meant by that comment…"

Doria twisted to regard him before smiling softly, nodding towards Conrart. "Sir Weller is her Majesty's second Son, he was sent to the Academy in hopes that it would… change his opinion about certain issues…"

Immediately his gaze jerked back towards Conrart, a sudden wash of understanding flaring within him as to exactly why his lover had been so angry so troubled about his half-blooded status. Here Yuuri Shibuya was asking the man to return to a place that might score the man's soul even further… "Lady Cecilie was delighted by the news that he had returned on his own rather than forgoing during the festivities. However, Lord Bielefeld and Lord Von Voltaire are not so eager for his return from the Academy, Lord Bielefeld was livid at the news."

"His brothers?"

"Yes."

Swallowing hard around a brutal lump that formed in his throat at the thought of just what situation he had drawn his lover into by his own selfish desire to have Conrart with him. His knuckles were white as he gripped the edge of the railing, his entire body shaking slightly, expression deeply troubled beneath his hood.

Cinnamon eyes suddenly lifted from the blade he held and glanced towards them, freezing as he spotted Yuuri standing by the railing and immediately he straightened, sliding the weapon into a sheath resting nearby. Conrart was carrying it with him as he approached them, all of the maids suddenly looking a touch nervous, when the tall knight paused on the other side of the railing, his lips turning upwards into a small smile. Sweat clung to the flushed tanned skin that peeked through the half unbuttoned shirt that was practically clinging to his well toned chest and stomach.

"You look like you need a bath." Yuuri leaned against the edge of the barrier, his hand reaching out to tenderly touch a damp strand that clung to the warm brow, brushing it back away from those beautiful eyes.

Conrart smirked, a hand resting against one trim hip, chest rising and falling a little quickly from his exertions of the last few hours. "I thought you liked me hot and sweaty."

"In some cases I do."

Every one of the maids flushed at that, their eyes lighting on Yuuri as Conrart shifted forwards leaning into the hand that stroked over his cheek softly.

"How was your morning, Kitten?"

"Enjoyable, my Lion." Smiling sweetly at his lover, he actually gripped the edge of the railing, hefting himself upwards onto it, swinging his legs over the barrier and feeling hands catch him around the waist, easily supporting him and settling him back onto his feet. "Though most of my thoughts seemed to be about you I must admit."

"I am glad to hear that." Conrart smoothed the hood down, before glancing up at the maids with quiet interest. "Ladies, would you happen to know if it would be possible to have a lunch prepared for out in the garden?"

"Charmer." Yuuri purred, reaching out to drawn his lover's head down and practically devour that mouth that hovered so tantalisingly within reach. The heat pulsed through them both at the connection, the arm that drew him to that heated body clasped him tightly and as he felt Conrart's hunger for him he couldn't help the soft groan that slipped out in response to their intimate contact.

"So… Ladies is it possible?" Conrart still wore that slightly arrogant smirk, clearly pleased with the kiss he had just shared with his lover and the extremely flushed looks of the maids who had witnessed the sexual intensity that seemed to surround Yuuri and Conrart whenever they were together.

"Ye…yes… we will have it there in half… an hour…" One stuttered, all of them clearly flustered by the heat that seemed to dispel the autumn nip in the air.

"Perfect, just enough time for a bath."

Yuuri's clothes were carefully folded and set on one of the benches, the slender Double-Black groaned softly as the heated water slowly lapped up his ankles and calves, shuddering with the delicious heat that burned its way through him. Stepping down into the large heated bath, the boy stretched and glanced back over his shoulder, letting out a soft sigh that Conrart had had to return his borrowed weapon before joining him in the bath.

The sound of a splash of water suddenly made him freeze, his obsidian eyes blinking once to try to spot the source of the noise and became aware that someone else was watching him. A pair of startling green eyes burned through the swirls of steam, staring at him with an intensity that made him shiver right down to his core. That emerald gaze swept down the length of his body, stopping at where Yuuri's pale thighs met the surface of the water, clearly interested in what rested there.

"Are you going to come in?"

Yuuri jerked hard at the low elegant purr of that voice from the other bather, a blonde head rising from the water barely ten feet away from him, those jewel green orbs dark with something akin to desire while they took him in as if he were some kind of prize.

"Well?" The sleek, muscular boy who was clearly close to Yuuri's own age stood slowly in the water, droplets cascading down across the expanse of his body. "Are you coming in? Or do I have to drag you in?" One foot closer, the water lapping across ivory white skin that was delicately flushed by the heat, golden curls clinging to heated cheeks.

The usually sexually relaxed Yuuri backed up a step, his rear bumping against the edge of the bath he had entered, his hands gripping the edge and felt the slight slickness of the stone, which told him that he would not be able to pull himself out to escape. He needed to get to the stairs to his right. The golden haired boy was gorgeous in every sense of the word and the heated stare made Yuuri's cheeks burn fiercely, but thankfully it didn't do more to his body. His length remaining unresponsive to the presence of the naked boy in the bath with him, a relief that Yuuri was grateful for. The only one that got a response out of him was Conrart and he desperately hoped his lover returned soon or this wasn't going to end well.

"Please, can you keep your distance?" Swallowing hard, when the stranger didn't pause at his request, Yuuri gritted his teeth together, biting his lower lip hard enough to draw a droplet of blood to the surface.

"Am I not to your liking?"

"Stop."

"Oh… do you really want me to?" A hand suddenly caught Yuuri's jaw, lifting his chin so that green eyes could meet obsidian, the boy studying his features with interest. "Such lovely eyes, I have to admit I have never seen a Double-Black before in the flesh, but I have to admit I could certainly have a weakness for it if all Double-Blacks are like you."

Attempting to wrench his chin out of the boy's hand, he pressed a palm against the muscular chest, attempting to push the boy away a little more. "Please stop."

"Aren't you hungry? I thought I heard your stomach growl before…" A white palm brushed down against Yuuri's belly, sliding down lower, clearly expecting something that definitely wasn't there, green eyes snapping up the moment those fingers touched the limp length against Yuuri's thigh. "Oh… a shy one?"

A shiver of sensation flashed through all of the healer's body, his hips jerking slightly as he was squeezed. The golden head came down, clearly seeking Yuuri's mouth, even as the dark haired boy attempted to turn his face away, trembling as he was practically cornered all over again. He wanted to scream, but he couldn't find his voice, couldn't find the air which seemed to have fled his lungs. Conrart. His mind was caught on the sight of his lover downing the thugs that had attacked him back in that dark city street. "Conrart." It was barely above a breath, his entire body shaking with the force of his fear.

"What did you say?" The blonde leaned in closer, green eyes searching Yuuri's dark ones, golden brows coming together as his grip on Yuuri loosened clearly having not intended to frighten but to seduce.

"Conrart!" The scream escaped Yuuri, the name actually managing to escape his mouth, tears streaking down his cheeks as he pressed back against the steam warmed stone side of the bath.

There was a sharp crack, wood splintering as the doors to the heated bath were practically shattered open by the force of a powerful body hitting them, the panels snapped against the doorframe with a deafening thunder as the dark haired man stood for a moment assessing the situation, eyes instantly narrowing on the blonde with deadly intension.

Within an instant, Conrart was wrapping an arm around Yuuri's chest, drawing the boy up and out of the water with a grip beneath the armpits, sweeping the trembling body into his embrace, his hands sweeping over the damp body in only a second, checking for injury. Reassured within an instant that no wound had been inflicted, his cinnamon gaze rose to pin the blonde to the spot with a look of such rage that the green eyed beauty actually flinched under its intensity.

"Love." Conrart whispered softly, cradling the sobbing Yuuri to his throat, stroking the humidity dampened black locks. "Did he hurt you?" Water soaked into Conrart's shirt and pants, while the slender Double-Black was supported on one of Conrart's knees as he crouched beside the bath, his chest heaving slightly showing that he had actually been at a dead run, strangely responding to Yuuri's distress before the boy had even screamed for him. "Yuuri… Kitten…" Crooning softly, he was desperately attempting to stop the tears that almost felt like they were burning his fingers with the heat of them, his heart twisting in his chest to see the usually smiling face so filled with terror again.

"Scared me… Conrart…" Fingers fisted in the man's shirt, clinging to him as tightly as possible, barely able to contain the violent shivers that wanted to race across his skin.

"Wolfram." It was a snarl, cinnamon eyes burned with the twinkling flecks of steel within their depths, pinning the naked blonde to the spot in the bath, a raw hatred scorching for a moment through Conrart. In all his life he had never resented his younger brother, had loved him with all of his heart but the sight of Yuuri pinned against the edge of the steaming bath by another man set off the razor sharp edge of jealousy that another might steal the one good thing in his existence from him.

"I didn't know he was yours." Wolfram barked back, unrepentant as he gazed over Yuuri with the same interest he had possessed earlier. "I don't know how he could stand to have those filthy human hands on him."

Conrart stiffened at that, looking as if he had been physically struck by the blonde. Those words echoed in his ears, words that he had heard from his beloved little brother's mouth and seen the disgust there in those jewel green eyes. He had always adored Wolfram, they had been so close as youngsters until Wolfram had found out that Conrart's father had been human that Dan Hiri Weller was nothing more than some common swordsman from Big Cimaron.

"Filthy human."

"I'm sorry."

Brown eyes blinked sharply at the soft words that came from his trembling lover, seeing those beautiful obsidian orbs swamped by tears, but no longer of fear, but of regret and guilt? "You have nothing to be sorry about, Kitten." The back of his free hand caressed one soft cheek, attempting to brush away the tears that clung to fine black lashes.

"But… I asked you to come here. I… I was selfish in asking you to…"

"Nonsense." His anger and pain fled quickly at the honest regret in those sweet depths that had always looked on him with adoration. "I knew full well what I was coming home to." Hatred, dislike and disappointment.

Curling more into Conrart's arms, Yuuri wished he could get under Conrart's skin and remain in the warmth of those arms until all the pain and fear that ran through him faded into nothingness. How had he breathed without Conrart at his side? How had he existed without this man being only a step behind? How had happiness existed without Conrart's smile?

"I will say this once, Brother." Brown met green for one long moment. "Yuuri is not a toy for you to play. You so much as say one wrong word to him and I will not hesitate to take it out of your hide on the duelling field."

A slight smirk touched the corners of the blonde's lips as he slowly emerged from the water, stalking like a fox across the damp stone, hips swaying in a fashion that would have had most women and men drooling. "I promise, Human, I won't say a wrong word to him." Wolfram flashed Yuuri a dazzling smile, white teeth catching the light as he practically swaggered once he slipped on his pants, not bothering with the towel and thus making the dampened fabric cling to every curve the blonde possessed apparently for Yuuri's benefit.

Yet, the dark eyes were closed as Yuuri turned away and buried his face into Conrart's now soaked shirt.

It was a long while that they remained like that, Conrart merely holding Yuuri until the shivers that had struck him earlier faded into nothingness and his body settled back into the warmth of the embrace.

Obsidian eyes blinked slowly back open to gaze upwards into those cinnamon depths that seemed to shimmer with a thousand tiny silver stars. One hand lifted to trace across Conrart's cheek, smoothing back the still sweat dampened strands of hair and a thumb idly traced along his lover's lower lip in appreciation and affection. "Thankyou."

"No problem, Yuuri. You take as long as you need." Conrart leaned into the soft stroke of fingers against his skin, drawing the slightly chilled thumb between his lips, sucking on it warmly and feeling his lover squirm in his arms at the action. How could he have ever wanted someone else? "You seamed to have soaked me again, Kitten."

"Well… you were already wet." A shaky smile came to his lips, while he was finally settled onto the stone when his lover took the time to strip off his clothes and glance amusedly at the door he had busted through.

"Here less then a day and I'm already destroying the place."

"But you had good reason to." Yuuri's smile grew wider at those words, relaxing as the powerful body of his lover stretched for his own enjoyment.

A hand caressed up along one of Conrart's thighs, fingertips rubbing at the powerful muscles that flexed beneath the tanned skin. Leaning forwards, when he shifted on his knees, his mouth touched against the junction of hip and thigh and heard the deep groan from his lover as something stirred against his cheek.

One large palm coiled into raven strands, smoothing them back and encouraging Yuuri to continue his unhurried kisses across the tight belly, warm thighs and strong, trim hips.

"You do not need to, Kitten." The soldier whispered, his words almost cut off by an appreciative groan as lips found the underside of his throbbing length, nibbling slowly up along the shaft. "Honestly… if you do not feel…"

"I want to."

Lapping up along the underside, the head of it slipped between damp lips as Yuuri's hands curled about the strong hips before him. Bobbing his head slowly, he swallowed around the rigid length that throbbed heatedly against his tongue, the saltiness making the Double-Black hungry for more. Groaning heatedly, his own body was stirring in response to what he was doing to Conrart, his teeth tugged heatedly on the tip of that stiffness, tugging at it playful before nipping delicately at the slit.

"By the stars… Yuuri." Head thrown back in ecstasy, Conrart's hips arched into that teasing mouth, one hand rubbing through his long hair, tangling in it, though his own was so tempted to bury in the mass of raven curls that framed the sultry features of his Yuuri. Desperately wanting more, he knew any restraint he showed was rewarded during moments like this, the pleasure only growing as his entire length was sucked and teased with a wet friction from a mouth that knew how to please someone until they came from that single touch alone.

Purring in satisfaction, he lived up to the nickname his lover had given in, rubbing his cheek against the long fingers that caressed his cheek and throb, the light touches encouraging but never forcing. "He was right about one thing." Inky black eyes narrowed on the twitching cock before him, giving Conrart a sensual smile, desire burning in the lust filled depths of obsidian. "I am starving."

"For what?" The words were raggedly torn from between parted lips, Conrart's muscles quivering with the slowly building release that was being rung from him as that mouth continued to slide over the erect length of him, warm palms rolling and massaging his balls until they were tight against his body.

"A taste of you."

A curse escaped his lips as he swallowed hard against the release of his lover's name from his lips, his hips jerked one last time as he spilled into his lover's talented mouth, spasms almost driving him to his needs as he was being practically eaten alive by Yuuri.

Neither male noticed the blonde that hovered by the door, peering through the crack between where the doors had once had a lock, green eyes taking in the sight with a spark of jealousy tinging his features at seeing the boy that had captured his attention so completely earlier pleasuring his brother so well.

A cry of utter pleasure filled the air as Yuuri's back arched as Conrart drove deep into his willing body, his hands resting against the stone edge of the bath to keep himself upright under the deep powerful thrusts of his lover's length all the way into his body. Fingers clawed at the damp stone, head thrown back, panting hard as one hand curled around his throbbing length working it until it was ready to burst, his hips pushed backwards against his lover's driving movements. It was so hot, the friction setting him practically on fire until he could barely breath through the waves of raw ecstasy that seared him from the inside out.

"Yes." Trembling, he felt the burning hot mouth latch onto his throat, teeth nipping at the tender spot just over his pulse, leaving another of the dark marks that told others that Yuuri belonged to the powerful soldier that curled over his body. "Conrart! Oh… Kami… harder!"

Several sharp thrusts later and both of them came together, bodies entwined within the water of the bath as Conrart caught his slender lover as they both collapsed into sated piles of bones and quivering muscles. Yuuri was sprawled in his lover's lap, his back against the broad tanned chest, his head tipped back on one broad shoulder gulping down cool air in an attempt to soothe his overheated body. Though he was glad for the fact that hard throbbing length had not slipped free of his body, but was throbbing in time with Conrart's pulse within him.

Knees parting on either side of his lover's thighs, he let out a cry of pleasure as he slipped down the last inch onto that heated length, chest heaving in desperation to draw air into his starving lungs. A hand was down between his parted thighs, stroking him slowly, Conrart's low erotic laughter filling his ear as he was nuzzled.

"I've never had a lover that was so… hungry for physical relations before." Not that he was complaining, the blatant sexual connection between them was like a living thing, something he was quite eager to continue and knew he would never tire of Yuuri.

"The appropriate phrase I think… would be… 'the sex is unbelievable, why not have more of a good thing?'"

"Am I a good thing?"

"Always." Yuuri arched as his body rocked slightly against the intrusion, feeling the slickness inside of himself and purring in satisfaction again to know that it would only add to the experience. "I can't believe… we've been together only a week."

"Why do you say that?" Cinnamon eyes closed as he caressed his lover slowly, enjoying the slower seduction of their bodies sliding together in that intimate dance they had started earlier that morning.

"It just seems as if… we've been together for a lifetime, feels so natural to be with you. Feels… right." One obsidian eye flickered open, sparkling at Conrart before he kissed the smooth jaw, licking up the side of Conrart's cheek in humour play.

"I feel the same way, Kitten."

"Meow."

"Cheeky."

"So… about that picnic…?"

"Should we skip it?"

"No, I'm hungry."

"I thought I fed you earlier." A rush of heat at the thought of exactly what his lover had eaten left his length twitching sharply within that tight clenching passageway making them both groan in response to it.

"You did, but I'm hungry all over again." Laughter bubbled up from Yuuri as he stretched languidly, before slowly rocking their bodies together. Taking his time, he worked them both into a heated frenzy all over again, their hips moving together in that sexual dance of bodies. Their voices calling out into the ceiling as they shared another hard release, their bodies collapsing back in the heated water.

Yuuri reluctantly slipped free of Conrart's lap first, almost stumbling until his lover caught him and steadied him. The soldier enjoyed the chance to slowly dry both of them, enjoying the time to caress his lover's slender form and press kisses over every inch of the flushed skin.

With Yuuri's cloak tucked over one arm, he held the door open for his lover, the dark haired boy stepping out into the hallway before him. The man's hand reached out to smooth down the obsidian curls that were still a touch damp beneath his fingertips, carefully brushing them down into place. Turning his head just enough to press a kiss against Conrart's palm, he leaned against his lover's side, feeling an arm slip around his waist and cradle him close as they were walking out towards the gardens.

"Hopefully they won't mind that we're late to collect our food."

"I'm sure they won't mind, Kitten." Both of them were sharing a quiet smile between them when Conrart froze, his grip tightening protectively around his lover's waist, keeping him close as the corridor seemed to be filled up with the towering form of a dark haired giant of a man, whose steel blue eyes narrowed immediately on first Conrart and then Yuuri with something akin to interest.

"So the rumour is true." With ground eating strides, the dark haired giant moved towards them, his presence filling the space and the air seemed to drop in temperature by several degrees. "You have returned."

"Only during the festivities." Conrart responded, his jaw clenching tightly as he felt Yuuri tense beside him, the boy clearly uncertain what was going on. "You have no need to worry about me staying…"

"You have upset Mother." Blue eyes narrowed sharply on Conrart. "I expected better from you, Conrart."

"Back off!"

Both men blinked suddenly as Yuuri suddenly stood between Conrart and Gwendal, obsidian eyes burning with determination and expressing his distaste over the way Conrart was being treated by everyone around them as if he were some kind of animal.

"Yuu…"

"I asked him to accompany me here. If you are so determined to make his stay unbearable and drive him away with your pigheadedness and your younger brother's unfounded bigotry, he's better off without your sorry asses in his life."

Conrart stared down at Yuuri, awe reflected in his cinnamon eyes as he witnessed the same bold defiance he had seen that night against the brutes that would have raped him. Yet, it was the fact someone was defending his honour that made his heart melt all over again.

"Do not speak as if you know, Boy."

"I know enough." Yuuri was seething, the faint shimmer of magic casting a soft blue radiance around the slender form, warning Gwendal that any attack on Conrart would be met with sharp retribution. "I know that his own brothers who should treat him as family treat him like a stranger… a disappointment."

Gwendal's jaw clenched tightly, blue eyes taking another look at the boy before him and lighting on the dark combination of hair and eyes surprise flickering there for a moment before it vanished. Head lifting slightly, he regarded Conrart coolly.

"Kitten."

Black stormy eyes lifted to Conrart's face, the anger slowly beginning to fade as he looked up at Conrart, clearly searching for reassurance, desperately wanting to know that he had not disappointed his lover with his outburst.

"Thankyou." It was a soft whisper, before he touched a fingertip to his lover's cheek, before regarding his brother once more with a stoic gaze. "If you have no further things to discuss with me, Brother, I would beg your pardon as Yuuri and I are late for lunch in the gardens."

OH XD