(Earnest's P.O.V.)
I watched Gallant grab a couple of chairs from the kitchen, putting them before the fire, resting his shirt upon the front, and I bit my lip roughly as I saw his chest. Damn, those abs are deliciously muscled yet so soft and warm...I can't believe that I was actually touching Gallant's chest through that soaked shirt. It's torturing me on the inside...
He then headed to the bed, took off two blankets, and two pillows, putting the pillows down as he wrapped one of his blankets around him, and sat down upon the pillow, putting his removed trousers upon the bottom part of his chosen chair.
He smiled softly, "Come on, it's okay, I promise I won't cross the line.". I sighed heavily, and moved slightly to remove my shirt, hearing a exhale from him, and putting the shirt on the other chair's front, and grabbing the blanket quickly to wrap around me, hiding myself as I removed my trousers, placing them upon the bottom part of my chair.
I quickly sat down upon my pillow, taking deep breaths of relief as heat warmed me up, and I glanced nervously as a particular loud thunderclap sounded out. I felt a hand grab into mine, and I looked into Gallant's eyes instantly, and there was a emotion in them. He spoke quietly, "You're safe here, Earnest. The storm won't get you.".
I smiled warmly, blushing lightly, and I sighed heavily, "I suppose you are wondering why I am afraid of thunderstorms.". Gallant nodded, spoke softly, "I understand if you don't want to tell me.". I shook my head, "I really want you to know.. I was only a child, perhaps 5 or 6 winters old at the time. It was long before Father died. He was showing me the well, and he gave me one of the buckets to carry, through it was half full.",
"I guess that he didn't want me to struggle in pain if the bucket was too heavy. We were heading back to the village when it started to rain. It began to thunder sometime later when we came upon this hill. Father tried to comfort me, saying that the thunder was simply drums that someone was using in accordance to accompany the rest of the band in its turbulently party song which was for a angel's birthday or perhaps the Maker's birthday either way.",
"Then a loud one scared me so bad that I fell, rolling down the hill, barely hearing Father call for me, and the bucket flew, hitting my foot. When I came to a stop at the bottom, I had a sprained foot. Father was worried yet relieved that I was okay mostly, yet ever since that day, I had a fear of thunderstorms.".
Gallant was entirely enraptured by the story if I understood his look right, and he blinked, sighing deeply, "At least you had a good dad all this time. I wasn't happy with mine the last time I ever saw him.". I frowned deeply, clenching his hand a bit firmly as I asked nervously, "Does that...relate to..those scars on your back?".
Gallant closed his eyes, his face taking upon a painful expression as if he's remembering something or..someone. He opened his eyes, staring upon me with that familiar serious look, "I've only told this to only one other, my 'sister', Josie, and then...now..you. You promise you'll keep it to yourself?".
I nodded, giving a grim expression, "I swear upon my heart that no one, repeat, no one will ever take the secret from me for I'll keep it to the grave.". Gallant exhaled deeply, and then spoke in a soft, wistful tone.
"I was not actually born or raised here in Evergreen. I am from the Marshlands.", I widened my eyes in surprise, yet I didn't dare to speak, and he noticed, seeming grateful for that. "I was born in this town called Qularis, simply a hundred people or so last time I remembered, and my parents were swell, great people. Father were a member of the richer merchant group, with Mother being part of this quilting group.",
My childhood was glorious, then came the adolescent years. I became a natural at flirting and courting with the ladies, and Father was so proud and very glad. Then one night, at the tavern that I sometimes visited with Father, he bragged to his friends that I can get the best of the best women of the town, and have heirs to inherit his business.".
"Don't get me wrong, I love kids, playing around with them, but the way Father said it, well, it became a annoyance prick in the back of my mind as if he's meddling with my life. Mother never meddled with me as she wanted me to be happy in the life I want to choose to have. Then things slowly changed with me noticing boys.",
"The fact that Father wanted me to marry a woman and have heirs, I didn't want to be forced into that, so I was often with boys, flirting and teasing them playfully. I was happy with them, girls and boys becoming my friends as they knew I was still looking for the meaning of my life, yet Father misunderstood badly... Turns out he didn't like how I was attentive toward boys, and that I was into them, and then he attempted to change me!",
"My life was changed immediately upon that day, and he was so pissed off, the most angry I ever had seen in my life. In that house...he thought I needed a lesson..took off his belt, tore my shirt open...He called me hurtful words as...he whipped me...I screamed out in pain...Mother was devastated by my father's evil demeanor..",
"That night I decided to leave..Mother healed me the best she could, but she was sad as she knew that any longer I defy him in that town, he would do worse...I knew Mother would manage without me as I practically know all the skills that a boy needs to survive...I left that house, that town, but not without Mother giving me about the best advice I've taken to heart.",
"'Woman or man, I do not care as long as you're happy for you must follow your heart, and the One will be in your arms sooner or later. Please don't forget me, my dear son, Gallant of the Marshlands.'. After I made it over the pass into Evergreen, I decided to defy him further by becoming a strongman instead of a merchant. I've never seen him or Mother again since...". He slowly finished, his shoulders and head seeming to hold up easier as if the burden has left him.
I exhaled slowly, taking in everything, and bit my lip softly, "So you actually didn't court anyone or...bed them?". Gallant shook his head. "To be honest, competing takes much of my attention so I've never courted anyone through I always flirted or teased all the time, and no, I never dared to bed anyone, not even sleeping together either. Mother taught me better than that.".
He then smiled, "Josie and her mom took me in at the first moment I got to know them. Oh, they saw the scars, alright, but only Josie questioned me when we were a bit older by then.". I nodded slightly, and I wanted to do something as I realized that he's into men for real, and I scooted closer, quickly pecked a kiss upon his cheek.
Gallant exhaled sharply in shock as he looked at me with this indescribable emotion. Then he blinked softly, licked his lips, then suddenly belted out a song, a near copy of my song! He heard me sing!
I've heard more than a hundred rumors
Seen love mentioned many thousand times
But despite all the places I've looked,
It's still no clearer, it's just not enough
I'm still nowhere near the meaning of love
The meaning of love
The meaning of love
Noted down all my confusing feelings
Spent an evening watching people
Still, I couldn't say with precision
Know it's a feeling and it comes from inside
But what's the meaning, the meaning of love?
The meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
From a fleeting sense that I struggled to understand
Love seems something like wanting a hug or kiss
Well, I could be wrong, I'm just not sure you see
I've never been in love before, never been in love before
Never been in love before
Next, I asked several friends
If they could spare a few minutes of their time
Their looks suggested that I'd lost my mind
Tell me the answer, my Lord high above
Tell me the meaning, the meaning of love
The meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
From the notes that I've made so far
Love seems to be something like wanting a hug or kiss
Well, I could be wrong, I'm just not sure that you see
I've never been in love before, never been in love before
Never been in love before
The meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
Tell me the meaning of love
Tell me
I exhaled sharply, shocked to see that Gallant felt the same way as I am, and I loved his singing voice! So deep and warm..It's not like a drum, but more like a resonating wolf howl. He looked at me nervously, rubbing his neck, and he gave that infuriatingly hot crooked grin, and I attempted to flirt again, "If I'd ask you that I want to kiss you, would you return it back?".
Gallant exhaled, "Yes.". His husky voice breathed, and it sent shivers down my spine, and I moved forward, grabbing his blanket corners toward me, forcing him to lean down, and finally, I kissed him steady and hesitantly, moaning slightly as he returned his lips upon mine roughly. Damn, he's a good kisser!