First of all, I'd like to say thank you to everyone who reviewed this story. You guys are the reason I get inspired to write more, so thanks for sticking with me! :3
Also, has anyone noticed the latest reviews for this have been desperate pleas for an update? Did I leave the story on that bad of a cliff-hanger?
-::All or Nothing::-
-:Chapter X – Breaking the Rules:-
Saber left the water park, leaving Gilgamesh behind. She made a V-line straight towards the changing room, not even bothering to dry herself off, just putting her street clothes over her wet body, and then left.
She had no idea where she was walking, or how long it had been, when her mind was finally cleared of the angry fog that blocked every other thought.
Man, this entire arrangement was robbing her of her sanity.
Sighing, she stopped walking, leaning against a nearby pole and looking out at the street. It unnerved her whenever Gilgamesh managed to send her into a fit of rage. But, really, while it was hard for her, this wasn't something very characteristic of her.
She hated getting angry; there was only one person before all this that sent her on a tirade, and she had long ago severed ties with that person. Either way, she had always managed to keep an air of regal around her. She was in control of her emotions. She was not one to become emotional, suddenly.
And yet, here she was, becoming emotional. All because a man managed to get under her skin.
Biting her lip, Saber gently bopped the back of her head against the pole. How much of a fool was she really? Did she not know her own weaknesses? Was her ego really worth it, in exchange for being constantly put on the spot?
The bet hadn't even made it to the half-way point, and already she was ready to throw in the towel. There was no more, "I can manage," or, "I must pull through."
And there was no more mystery. She had finally come to her conclusion: Gilgamesh was an ass, through and through. There was nothing more, nothing less.
Laughter caught her attention, breaking her from her pessimistic thoughts. Looking up, Saber noticed a young couple walking into, what appeared to be, a bar. A neon sign hovered over the entrance, not yet lit, but there seemed to be many people inside, already.
Finding the sight unusual, Saber would have normally just wrote it off as people being irresponsible and continued on her way.
If, that is, a certain blond haired man's words didn't hang over her head like a guillotine, taunting her with the same words.
All things considered, Saber was not, nor ever will be, a stick in the mud.
xxxxx
It didn't take Gilgamesh long before he left the pool after Saber left. He was irritated, driving his motorcycle faster than what was probably allowed. Once inside his apartment, he snatched the first bottle of wine he saw, not caring to inspect it like he usually did, and he most certainly didn't even bother sampling it like the sophisticated man he was raised to be.
Downing half the bottle in under five minutes, he was pouring himself another glass when his phone rang. Glaring at the wretched device, he found himself slightly disgusted over the fact that the only reason he was checking was to see if Saber was calling to apologize.
It wasn't, though. Tossing the phone aside, he continued to down the rest of the wine quickly. Thankfully, Gilgamesh had long ago steeled his gut to take more liquor than most people. Not only was it much harder to notice when he was drunk, it was also much harder to get drunk.
Although, in a situation like this, he kinda wished he could get drunk easily. He liked the buzz the wine gave him, but it wasn't enough to ease his irritation and temper, and he hated fuming over things for a long period of time. This sort of thing was simply not worth his time. He had other things to worry about, like the stock market, his best friend's medical condition, appeasing his mother, and the such.
One hour and 8 bottles later, Gilgamesh was lying on his couch, nursing the first glass from the ninth bottle when he heard his phone buzzing again. He vaguely remembered that it had been buzzing for the past half hour. Temper rising, he snatched the phone, pressing the call button roughly before snapping, "What?"
He didn't bother looking at the call ID. He was going to chew this idiot's head off; he simply was not in the mood right now.
"Goldy, it's about time you answered!" The voice on the other hand only set the golden haired man's annoyance up. Grinding his teeth, not even bothering to hide his irritation, Gilgamesh replied, "Whatever it is you want, I am not interested, Great."
"Not even if it concerns a lady friend of yours?"
Gilgamesh's finger was already hovering over the End button when he heard Iskander's question. His mind slowly processing the information, he pulled the phone back to his ear. "What lady friend?"
"You should know. She's the only lady friend I know of." There was pause, and that's when Gilgamesh took notice of loud music and screaming. That fool Iskander must be at a stripe club of him. Typical. While he respected the other man's endeavor in pursuing the pleasures of this world, he did wish Iskander had better taste.
"I already told you," Gilgamesh stated, "I have only one friend, and he most certainly isn't female. Even if he doesn't look a bit feminine at times…"
"She seems to know you pretty well, though." Iskander chuckled. "Called you an egotistical bastard. I gotta say, she's certainly got a spitfire personality."
Before Gilgamesh could comment or even ask what the other man was talking about, Iskander cleared his throat loudly before continuing, "But look, that's not what I'm calling you for. I'm in no position to escort her out of here, but since she seems know you very well—"
"I am not some babysitter, Great. If you called me just to set me up on another one of your insidious blind dates, I swear I will—"
"I'm not asking you to babysit her! I'm asking you to take her home because she's stone drunk! She might even be drugged for all I know."
Gilgamesh leaned back, humming. "And what would make you think I will take time out of my day to take someone I don't even know back home? If she's drunk, it's her fault, and a responsibility she must bear."
It was just then, right before Gilgamesh was about hang up again, that he heard something, no, someone, on the other hand, laughing hysterically and blubbering nonsense.
And he knew that voice.
"Iskki, o's tha'? Friend of s'yours?" Dialogue he couldn't make out came right after the slurred speech, high pitched and whiny, before Iskander spoke again, "Yes, Saber. I'm talking to Gilgamesh. Do you remember him?" His speech was slow and direct, as if talking to a child.
Of course, if the voice itself wasn't incriminating enough, or even the name, "Saber," the next bit of speech coming next hit the nail on the coffin. "'at bas'ard? Ya, I now—knew, noun, know, 'im. Com'ere." Suddenly, the voice filled the speakers, along with Gilgamesh's stomach dropping. "'ey! Bas'ard! 'Member me? Ya, you, you said I don't, 'at I can't 'ave fuuuuun. Well, 'o's 'aving fuuun now, hmmm?" She broke into vicious giggles, her voice fading.
Gilgamesh was already half way to the door when Iskander returned. "As you can see, she's, umm, impaired as you just heard. She can't even walk a straight line."
"Where are you? I'll be there as quickly as possible."
xxxx
Gilgamesh was steeling himself for the sight he was about to see the entire ride to the bar Iskander told him about. However, no matter how bad he expected it to be, he was not prepared for seeing a very, drunk and very disheveled Saber.
Her small frame was leaning heavily against a small young man with chin-length black hair and a panicked look on his pale face. Iskander towered easily over bother of them, his hands on his hips, glancing every so often at the bar, as if keeping an eye out.
"Iskander!" Gilgamesh called out, slowing the bike to a stop. Iskander turned, smiling, though strained, a wide grin in return and lifting a hand in greeting. It was also at this moment that Saber looked up, her glazed, unfocused eyes looking up at the golden haired man. She squinted, leaning forward and nearly losing balance in the process, carrying the poor boy with her.
Swinging his leg out the bike, Gilgamesh didn't even take a step when Saber finally realized, her eyes widened and face broke into a lopsided grin. "Gilgy!" she cried, tearing herself away from the boy and staggering toward Gilgamesh, her arms spread out wide. "Hi!"
Gilgamesh rushed to catch her the moment he noticed her losing her balance, baring grabbing her as she literally stumbled into his arms. She giggled against as he steadied her against him, and that was when Gilgamesh got a strong whiff of alcohol. Scoffing, Gilgamesh looked up at Iskander, who had made his way over, the larger man's eyes narrowed with concern. "Iskander, what happened?"
Scratching his head helplessly, Iskander shrugged. "Sorry, Goldy, but I don't even know. By the time me and the boy got here, she was pretty drunk already. Not as bad as this, but it was probably a good thing I came when I did."
"Tell me the full details later," Gilgamesh replied. "Right now, I need to get her home."
"Good luck with that," Iskander replied. "She's a bit of a handful right now."
Gilgamesh mumbled a, "Great…" under his breath before shifting his gripe on Saber, who had at the moment chosen to hang passively in Gilgamesh's arms. However, when he began to shift her around, she had plans. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Saber nuzzled against him. "Gil, where're we goin'?"
"Your home. Where else?" Either Gilgamesh didn't notice the subtle change in Saber's tone, or he was simply dismissing it as a part of her being drunk, alongside with her clinginess.
Saber, however, shook her head. "Can't. Iri not 'ome."
"What?" Gilgamesh was in the process of sitting Saber in front of him (all the while imagining how he was going to drive her safely home without either one of them getting injured) when he heard this. Looking up at her, he asked, "Then where is she? And for that moment, the rest of your family?"
"Out." She giggled. "Night trippy. Go to place faaaar 'way. Less noise an' stuff…"
Swearing under his breath, Gilgamesh groaned, running a hand through his spiked hair. 'Not good, not good,' he thought. 'If no one is home, there is no way in hell I'm leaving her alone.' There were so many things that needed to be taken care of, and he didn't know if this was Saber's first time drinking. And, like Iskander had implied, she might even be drugged. She needed to be monitored, not left alone.
Swearing again, only louder this time, Gilgamesh climbed onto the bike, starting it up. Saber craned her neck to look at him curiously, but Gilgamesh did not meet her eyes. He stepped off the pavement, reeving the engine and set the bike roaring down the street. The position he had put himself in, basically literal back-step driving, was uncomfortable and unsafe, so he rushed as much as he could, wanting to get to his apartment as soon as possible.
Yes, his apartment. Against his better judgment, he decided in a split second to take her to his apartment. He was really the only trustworthy individual who could watch out for Saber in this drunken state at the end of the day. He had even been hesitant on returning Saber home to her family, left up with the explanation of how she ended up like this when even he didn't have the entire story.
He wasn't an idiot. But she sure as hell felt like one at this moment.
xxxxx
Once at their destination, Gilgamesh carefully navigated Saber through the parking garage to the elevator, all the while stabilizing and observing her the entire time. Despite what Iskander had said, she had been on her best behavior, better even than when she was sober, staying close to his side and following his orders like a good girl.
Gilgamesh's nerves finally relaxed a bit when they got inside his apartment, and when he had carefully set her down on his couch. Ordering her to stay put, he rushed into the kitchen, snatching up the waste bin and sprinting back, setting it down next to the couch.
Her eyes were closed when he did, though, and her breathing was even. 'She's already asleep?' he thought in mild amazement. Although that was good for him. It meant that he didn't have to worry too much about her activities. Back in school, when he and his best friend broke into his mother's wine cellar and drank too much, Gilgamesh remembered having to always keep an eye on his friend, in case he decided to wander off somewhere inside the vast mansion.
And while Gilgamesh didn't have to worry too much about Saber wandering too far, he was concerned about any possible bile or other side effects that would come to being drugged, if she was drugged.
Moving away from the couch, Gilgamesh removed his jacket and set it on the rake. In doing so, he noticed the reek odor of cheap beer on his shirt. Grabbing his shirt and checking, he clicked his tongue while jerking the offending fabric off. His hair fell back down to its natural state in the process, and he had also removed the golden earrings after they nearly got caught in removing the shirt.
It was then that Gilgamesh heard someone gasp. Turning immediately towards the noise, his red eyes met green eyes as Saber blearily stared back him. She had also sat up, her legs no longer resting on the couch.
Dropping the earrings and shirt unceremoniously on the ground, he went over to her, looking her over quickly. So far, she was only displaying the symptoms of being drunk, but he would continue observing her until he was certain that was all he had to worry about.
Tilting her head, Saber poised an innocent-sounding question. "Wha're you doin'?"
Normally, if she had asked him while sober, he would have taken the time to tease and poke fun at her expense. But this time, he answered straightforwardly, "I'm making sure you're alright. That was very reckless of you, Arturia."
"No it wasn't~" she sang. "It was fuuuuun!"
Cringing, he snorted, "At who's expense?"
She merely replied with a giggle, leaning back before awkwardly straightening up. Her face suddenly scrunched up, green eyes narrowed and glaring up at him. Arcing a gold brow at her, Gilgamesh crossed his arms. "What?"
"Yo're hawt."
"What?" Before he could even process what she just said, (out of the blue, mind you!) before he could really do anything, she leapt at him. Managing to grasp a hold of his shoulders, she somehow also managed to boost herself up by side shoulders and plant a wet, sloppy, and very open mouthed kiss.
Shock paralyzed him, his body stiffening and back bending away from the added weight on his chest.
What. The hell. Was going on? He couldn't think; his mind was racing a mile a minute, trying desperately to figure out, to understand, what the hell was happening. No one had outright ever tried to kiss him before. Not without his permission, and not even with his permission. He had always been the initiator, and he had always been in control of his surroundings.
But not here. Not with her. He was never in control with her.
Not even his own body was under his control, it seemed, as the moment he felt Saber's tongue prodding his lips, as if begging for entrance, something inside him broke. His arms moving around her, no longer obeying the now tiny part of him that was screaming for him to not engage, he brought her close, holding her up in the process.
Granting access to her, Saber's tongue shot inside his mouth, only to be barred by his own tongue. Working the very magic that tamed even the wildest of women, he battled against her for dominance, willing quickly due to the unfair advantage of him still being sober. Taking this victory as a chance to taste the forbidden fruit, he explores every nook and cranny of her mouth.
Soon he felt Saber's body becoming lax against his, all the while moaning heavily into his mouth. Tightening his hold on her, he half-dragged, half carried her back to the couch, dropping her rather roughly before placing a knee between her legs.
Having not yet broken the kiss, he pinned his now-free arms around her, enjoying every second he was getting. The little voice in the back of his head was getting louder, yet he continued to ignore it, lost to his desires and passion.
Finally needing air, he broke away, leaving Saber gasping loudly in the process. Gilgamesh's red eyes glowered down at her, watching intently as her chest heaved desperately. Leaning down, his mouth latched onto her neck, nibbling, licking, and kissing on her collarbone.
Moaning again, Gilgamesh felt Saber's hands reach up and touch his chest, before, this time eagerly, running her hands down his taut stomach. Gilgamesh couldn't help the light shiver as her cold hands stroked along the contours of his body.
He wanted to continue. He wanted to take that. Damn the consequences! He was horny and she was in heat! Let man be man and woman be woman! The meeting of flesh was inevitable in his mind, and, for that moment, he was perfectly willing to take that step.
But when he took his right hand down, towards the pair of sweatpants she had worn over her swimsuit, something clicked—no, shouted at him—to cause him to stop.
Pulling away faster than he had intended to, where he nearly lost balance on the couch, Gilgamesh suddenly began very, very aware of the fact that his leg was still between hers. Jerking it away from the temptation, he stood up, too quickly, causing all the blood (except a certain… item) to rush to his head, distorting his vision for a second and making him wobble a bit.
Looking back, Gilgamesh felt his face heat up at the sight of Saber, laying there on the couch, completely disheveled.
All because of him.
Gilgamesh turned to his head immediately away, shaking the thought out. "I'll get you some water," he rasped, somehow losing his voice. He quickly left the living, taking the corner too quickly towards the kitchen. Banging his hip against a chair, he grunted, swore, nursing his now bruised hip.
Distraction. He needed a distraction. His face felt as if it was on fire, his hip hurt, his head was buzzing, yet he could not get the image of Saber lying down out of his mind. Finally, he noticed an unopened water bottle on the counter. Snatching it up, he rushed back to the living room and offered it to Saber. Or rather, he slapped it down on the coffee table next to the couch, telling her to drink from it before ducking down the hall, towards the bathroom.
xxxxx
Cold water ran down his face as he fervidly splashed the liquid on his face. When he was sure the hot had left his face, he guided a shaky hand to turn off the sink, sighing in relief.
That was one matter taken care of. His hip wasn't hurting as much either, which was good, too. As for the, um, matter below the belt, it would have to wait. He just needed to calm down. He needed time to relax, think clearly, and, most importantly, not give a knee-jerk reaction. Easy, right, he thought to himself as he turned, eying the shower behind him.
But, just to be on the safe side, a cold shower could help with reliving himself.
Whelp, since I seem to have given you a cliff-hanger in the previous chapter, it is only fair I give you another in this chapter. :D You can thank me later.
Anyone out there cursing me for teasing? :P Good, because you will soon empathize for Gilgy shortly. Trust me.
Ain't I such a stinker?