A/N: This was done several hours later 'cause I have no life. I do at times when I wanna have one :D My mother calls me a very boring child when I am actually very outgoing. Not my fault I'm stuck with you, mother, 24/7. SPACE DAMMIT. Well, I gotta apply to this college thingy experience even though I'm still very young. My age is on my pro xD Nothing else besides that 'cause I don't wanna have stalkers. I do like lurkers of this fic that might be shy to review, though. It's fun to always think they are constantly watching you. YES TO THE UK! :D I wish I lived there. ): I wanted to visit Big Ben, if not that…BERMUDA TRIANGLE. I wanna see if the legend is true. If they find me body, say I want it to be burned so it can become coral. :D I AM A HOME FOR THE FISHES. Ahem. Back to the fic.
Summary: What are the odds of a noble swordsman with a self-absorbed egoism to be swayed by such a frail boy in the cold streets of Airyglyph? .:Albel/Fayt:.
Extra Notes: 'Thoughts' are gonna be written in italics. For the song choice, trust me…I'm not a fan of Rihanna. But ya'know…All time low & Vanilla sky did an excellent job. I also like to suggest that you watch Vanilla sky's video version thingy 'cause it f--ing hilarious. The dude with the black hair (long-ish fringe) and that once scene with the other blonde dude partially naked equals love. Chyeah~ o//w//o
Disclaimer: Mmhmm. I own a Shadow the Hedgehog plushie. xD I just don't own Star Ocean. And glad I don't, I would have made Sophia died one way or another in a funny…erm, tragic way. .3.
Song of choice/Playlist: I have four in store for this chapter, one 'instrumental/classical', and three that is 'normal'. Go ahead; you're free to choose which one~! Just in case you have different preferences! Artist first, song next. Got it? Good. One last thing! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU TO LISTEN TO BOLERO. Give it a a minute and you'll sooooo like it, it helps when typing. ;D Gets ya pump! Dooo it, doooo it, doooooooo it~!
~.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.~
Simple plan – I'd do anything
All time low – Umbrella
Birthday Massacre - Looking glass
Moulin Rouge - Bolero
~.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.~

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Serendipity

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Impending

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How could Fayt just call this the end? There was a large purge of regret; he wanted to die by Albel, not by Vox. And even if he did have the chance to live, there were too many things left undone that he could've at least covered. Such as having a moment with Cliff and giving him as much attention for being avoided for so long, or apologizing to Nel for slacking off during his mission in Airyglyph. There is even a place for the King and the request Fayt suggested to only die out in the end, he might not even be alive to see a pact or a formation of peace. To top it all off, Albel found out the deepest secret of Fayt's life and therefore never letting the swordsman to trust the blunette's words: his love.

Fayt's emerald hues were drawing shut – the water was grubby, but clear enough to see. The last mentioning of memories flew past him: waking up in a strange surrounding with a semi-conscious Cliff and the redhead woman in Duggus forest, meeting Sophia, infiltrating the castle, meeting all sorts of new people, Albel, and finally Apris. That once little girl to a smug pony-tailed man and his haughty smirk – only in the castle has his tone taken any seriousness. Question is how did he know this was going to happen? Fayt took a moment to faintly smile, Apris mentioned to use common sense – he's a god, he should know that happens. God or what every holy being, he may know what happens, but Apris doesn't know about decisions.

"Are you prepared to die, Fayt Leingod?"

'No, I'm not!'

The pain subdued in teen's body and still hasn't felt the awful chocking of being submerged in water for minutes. His arm no longer left a trail of blood as the wound steadily heals itself – unexplainable but it happened. Fayt's eyes almost fully closed, traces from the light of the sun's rays projected in this pool of water with an approaching silhouette advancing to the teen's body, the lining of the individual's arm reaching out for him. As a response, Fayt gently lifted his uninjured arm when everything concluded in blackness.

---

The most common question someone would ask then they are waking up in an unknown site would be: 'How did I get here?' 'Where am I?' And if they're near an unknown person, 'Who are you?' The who, what, and where didn't matter to Fayt, his concern is the outcome of the war. For all he knows, the blunette could've been knocked cold for hours or even days – he poked his stomach and sensed no weird disturbance for food. With this now confirmed the emerald hued could rest assure it has only been several hours. His shaky vision became settled when getting his sight adjusted to a strange alcove that resembled a lot like the trail where Peanut travels.

He looked back disappointed that it was all rocks; certainly Peanut didn't reside around this cave. Fayt jumped to a certain screech of marching men, the several being…Airyglyph's soldiers?

"New weaponry has been brought! Vox's unit, fall back!" Pause. "I said…Fall back, idiots!"

The blunette pondered the sight of the soldiers. 'Some must be supplying while the others are fighting, simple but a good back-up.'

Fayt chuckled; it was definitely Albel if he just went and insulted them offhandedly. The teen grew nervous when Albel mumbled a flow of colorful curses, unaware how Fayt has already woken up. Once the scarlet hued realized, Albel glared harshly at the blue haired and stepped aside for Fayt to stand up on his own two legs.

"You saved me…didn't you?" Fayt steadily rose, limping slightly due to the partially healed bruise as the pain pulsates throughout his body, "You hate me. Then why…why would you save me?!"

"The King wants you alive, that's all."

Emerald hues dejectedly looked down at his drenched clothing, faking a smile throughout his bitter sadness, "That's all, huh? I'm not afraid of receiving any sort punishment." He took a pause, reaching for Albel's katana and swiping the sword out of the scabbard with the blade's tip on his heart, "But if this is the outcome…forget about any second damn chance!"

Albel reacted quickly, clenching his hand into a tight fist to land Fayt a powerful punch to the stomach. Fayt dropped the blade near a large pillar of solid limestone because of the abrupt collision. The blunette didn't make it far, his body limped from shock and coughing out saliva and traces of the dirty water still dwelling his body. Fayt clutched his head with his pale cold hand relieving the minor dizziness, his hazed vision irked him further with a mouth open to reply to Albel's actions, "What in hell's name is your fucking problem! You hate me, but you don't want to kill me. Make up your damn mind what's going to happen! The King might serve me death; it's the same path either way!"

"The King wants you alive. Get that through your thick moronic skull!" Albel barked back, bringing his fist back up to examine his dear wound bleeding from such a blow. He felt so infuriated enough to even curse at his dreaded hand for never healing, just like he can never heal from all the wounds in his tormented notion of life. The swordsman let the wound ooze its rivulets of dripping blood spiraling around his arm like a bloody path. Albeit Fayt held concern for Albel, but what good would it do him to approach the chaotic man in such a state? Fayt used the support of the stony walls of the cavern to help his body regain the potency to stand perfectly erect rather than limping.

Looking past Albel's body reflected by the sunset's rays outlining his body with a glimpse of light despite his terrible disposition, Fayt found it startling that it has already became so late. Knocked out for so long from the morning of the battle to sunset? It was already dreadful enough that Nel and Cliff might be worried sick over him—if they lived through the battle—and probably wounded all over their bodies if they were alive, unlike Fayt who was barely scratched through the morning's battle except for his healing arm as well as the lingering pain in his abdominal area. Fayt deserved much more pain – physically and mentally. The teen hurt Albel more than swords and cuts combined, and there was nothing that could convince the scarlet hues otherwise.

Then popped an idea.

Albel is, without a doubt, infuriated beyond all belief. He tends to take them out on harmless individuals with curses and threats, thus it could result on only one conclusion:

Fayt's verdant orbs hardened in grimness, glistening from the sun's rays that made it far in the cave, "If the King wants me alive…then beat me until you're satisfied." Fayt dared to continue. The key is to provoke the swordsman, "You can do that much, right? Unless…you're a coward, a weakling."

Albel's scarlet orbs grew wide as saucers, fixed on the stumbling blunette approaching closer with much wary caution, Fayt's stern frown stuck on his pale-ish blue lips. Albel took the time to smirk, crossing his arms with the sense of superiority in his chuckle, "How amusing. Allow me to personally show you why my name is accompanied with 'Wicked.'"

"Go ahead, I promise I won't struggle." The teen said, letting his sight fall to the pebbles of the cavern.

'Just like he said before…'

Albel picked the blade of his katana, tightening it in his wounded hand as the blood split through his fingers towards the steel. There still remains of a dried maroon blood from his various sorts of killing throughout the day also including Vox's own blood – nobody is aware of his death, it could be classified as 'an accident' or 'died in battle.' Only the blunt end of his katana extended long enough to reach Fayt's body, his emerald eyes were clamped shut and fairly expects the worse to happen, the horrible sorting of pain made his body tremble slightly in fear. However, Fayt thought this punishment would be best suited for him, nevertheless this is his fault is what he kept in mind.

Fayt's heartbeat raced against the steps echoing the cavern with the steel blade of Albel's katana against the rocky surface of the cave, the scratching noises sending a dreadful shiver downward the teen's spine. For the next few moments, Fayt's emerald orbs dared to open to see what took Albel so long.

The only thing his eyes had the chance to glimpse upon is the sadistic snicker on Albel when at long last the blunt end of the sword swayed to one side with both hands on the blade. The end collided harshly on Fayt's jaw, making the lad stumble back with an incredible pain on his lower jaw and cheek – it wasn't over, this is just a 'refreshing' start.

Albel's red hues boredly looked over at Fayt wobbling, his hand gripping tightly on the pillars of stone to prevent him from falling. Coming closer to Fayt's body, he sighted several rocks from the pillar falling as Fayt's nail dug into the pillar – the blunette is frightened.

'Just how a lowly worm should be.'

The swordsman fetched a medium sized lump of rock located at the entrance of the alcove—the rock could be compared to the size a brick—returning back to his original spot whilst playing with the lump of rock, throwing it softly up and down in his hand. Albel wanted Fayt down on the floor, slashing his katana on Fayt's feet will just result in death from a blood loss – the scenario of death should be best avoided. The blunette's legs grew weaker throughout passing moments; Albel raised the rock as it almost touched the opposite end of his shoulder. It was then thrown—or rather darted—straight towards Fayt's ankles with succession for Fayt yelped in pain. His frail body hits the floor and chips off a piece of the pillar, injuring the side of his skull whilst the rock fragment breaking off and tumbling on Fayt's head in the process. The blue haired curled up in a ball, the intense pain tingling in his body and emerald orbs forming little tears from this agony.

Albel loomed over his body, not one trace of sympathy in his cold bloody-red eyes, not a word came out of his diabolical intentions and his lips sealed in his brutal smirk. Fayt's eyes fluttered open then turning wide and quavering what will happen next.

A foot planted on his rib cage, twisting and turning harshly upon impact, "How do you feel that your target has the upper hand? You even failed to tell me what benefits you seeked from me."

Fayt closed his eyes, biting his arm to prevent any shrill cries that could escape his mouth.

"Not speaking?" Albel scolded, lifting his arm and raising the blunt end of his katana and slammed it down on Fayt's face. "I have zero tolerance for those who refuse orders." He pressed his foot deeper, "Let me play fair for this very occasion…" Albel deliberately faked a smile, "Answer the fucking question, maggot!"

The teen feebly shook his head, his entire body shaking, wordless to seeing such a side of Albel Nox. All the good memories of friendship, getting along, having fun…where torn to the brutality that man has inflicted on the teen with more to come. Fayt bit deeper in his arm, feeling the pain near his torso quivering throughout his injured body with scarring imaginary of this never ending pain.

"Here I am, giving you a final chance to only disregard it? Mindless…foolish…tramp!"

Abel lifted his leg up slightly, then letting it fall back to plunge deeply into Fayt's ribcage. There came a sense of distort: a result of broken ribs. His arm wasn't enough to muffle the throbbing, finally releasing a blood-curling scream emitting loudly inside the cave. Fayt's hand made his way to his abdominal area and tried his best to turn away from the ruthless Nox.

The swordsman 'hmph' loudly, contemplating to help the blunette in a different perspective. Albel dully kicked Fayt, making the teen roll the side, nevertheless positioned scrawled on the floor with his broken ribs laying on the mess of smaller rocks.

"Are you willing to say anything now?"

Still no sympathy in his voice of pure venom to Fayt's tears strolling down his whitish cheeks, mouth quivering along with his body curled up, his arm holding the bite marks plunged deep within his dirty skin. Albel grew slowly satisfied with the boy's form; he deserved such malice from the swordsman after a week vanishing from trace. After finding those documents on his table that morning just to discover what is hidden beneath Fayt's outgoing personality. Albel's eyes grew half-lidded in annoyance to such a promiscuous brat, "Based on those papers, I have a feeling you might have contact with one of them even now. Are you still someone's bitch?"

Emerald hues softened to the deep red rubies for eyes, "Yours…"

Albel cringed, holding the blade tighter in his hand. Without a sense of direction, Albel began to thrash the blunt end around Fayt's weakened body in the identical way someone would be whipped – except Albel does not have a whip, only his katana.

"Enough, Albel!" Rang in a voice, Albel craned his neck to see but felt someone jab his torso, temporarily stunning his body in place.

Woltar—the perpetrator—ordered Fayt to stand.

Better said than done.

"With Vox dead and you wasting your time on a single human is the reason most of our men are dieing! But I cannot believe that I gave you this opportunity to use wisely and instead you do not. You went along with Luther's words, I am very disappointed."

The emerald hued fell back down just as he was so close to standing up. This made Woltar shake his head in consideration to Fayt's bruised body - all amazingly done in a short period of time by the fierce Nox. The old senior hurriedly stepped out of the cavern, coming back soon afterwards with a large package in hand and then planted said object on the ground, "I can handle the rest for today. You must be at the castle by nightfall; it seems this war is ending sooner than we think."

Woltar exits for the last time out of the cave, the distinctive reverberation of flapping dragon wings and a snarl from the giant reptilian vibrates in the cavern with echoes. Albel finally regained the ability to move his body, he drops the katana on the floor to examine the package; it was slightly larger than someone would usually need. Inside rested a single blanket wrapped around a pot of warm vegetable and beef stew. Hidden farther in the package rested two bota bags filled with fresh cold water, two bowls and several silverware, the last portion is a separated being a white box of healing supplies assorted from bandages to alcohol to clean any wound or natural herbal remedies for any stricken sickness.

The pot was the first to slide out of the package, followed by the blanket, the utensils and bowls, and finally the healing aid box. As Albel poured the stew in one bowl, his bloody-red eyes glanced over at Fayt, then blinking several times to the blunette's position: his back lays on a pillar of stone whilst sitting crookedly upright in the darkest corner of the small cave. Albel sighed; this is to be expected of a scarred and tortured young teen trying his best to avoid getting in a close range of the swordsman: the torturer. The man rested his bowl on the side of the pot, standing up and walking over to deliver Fayt's bowl.

Emerald eyes peered up; his hands instantly clawed the ground from fright like trying to latch onto something so he won't be dragged away. The man grimace on Fayt's reaction; there came a shred of guilt welling up in his chest as this counts as a first for Albel to ever regret his actions against the captives. The swordsman picked up the steeled Earth that was left abandoned and placed the bowl on the floor. Albel used the very tip of the sword to slide over the bowl to Fayt without having to move any closer. He then threw away the sword subsequently, turning his heel to prevent Fayt hyperventilating from the display of a raised sword.

Albel slouched against the cavern's walls, slowly eating his food with a heavy dislike. He never was a fan of soup, no less a stew made of mostly meat with barely enough vegetables. The annoying clatter of metal hitting against porcelain made something in his mind constantly nag him to stay calm. Scarlet eyes drifted to Fayt, on every single attempt to pick up the spoon it would fall from Fayt's scratched-up fingers and the result hitting the porcelain bowl. Albel snatched out the bota bag, hurling his own bowl out of his sight and chose to drink water instead. Albel's lips never met the nozzle once something snapped in his mind from the clattering again, the bi-colored haired man stomped over to swipe away Fayt's bowl regardless of his fear.

"I'll do it. You're getting me irritated that you can't even hold a spoon."

Albel set down the water container, dipping the spoon in the stew with a fair amount to sustain the utensil. Fayt slightly opened his mouth—his bruised jaw prevented it from opening it any wider—accepting being fed to by notorious Wicked One. Meanwhile of being fed, a stream of thoughts ran in Albel's head that he hasn't noticed his body was controlling itself to feed Fayt, 'Woltar's right…I got so caught up getting revenge by teaching Leingod the feeling of being used. Lansfeld was my influence to that, damn him! Damn him! Damn him! Damn him! And why the hell is Leingod not accepting the food anymore?!'

Albel shook his head of his unruly thoughts, looking at Fayt in the eye with shock. The blunette's face is covered with stew—this explained why every single time Albel scooped up the food, it felt like he was just feeding to air or the stones or something—vegetables strolling down his cheeks, a slice of carrot clinging on his eyelid and the corner of his mouth, and a piece of beef hanging on his nose.

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Albel rubbed his temples at the far end of the cave—opposite to the blue haired—whilst Fayt cleaning his face with the water from the bota bag, the meat and vegetables floated on a puddle right beside the one just made from the water. The blunette shook his head to wipe away the remaining liquid left on his fringes, followed by violent shivering from chilly winds the night inconveniently provided. Albel kept watch of the freezing emerald hued, this would be the perfect moment to apologize, but he had too much pride to do so. Sophia is an exception regardless of the matter. And so he gathered enough courage to insist the following, "It's safe to get the cover…"

Fayt crawled on the opposite side, making a turn to avoid the swordsman or coming anywhere in range. His fingers clutched the cloth, yanking it from the package. Emerald eyes peeked at Albel who rests against the cavern's walls with arms crossed and eyes closed to catch up on some sleep – only if sleep was actually a possibility. The blue haired teen took careful precautions to not even rustle out the faintest of sounds, creeping closer and sitting right beside Albel. Fayt flapped the blanket so it may cover the two bodies.

'Albel would never hurt me without reason…there is always an explanation to his actions. Whatever side he shows me…I still love him for it, no matter how callous.'

He snuggled closer to Albel's body and on his chest, feeling a better sense of warmth from their bodies combined than the blanket itself. Albel's eyes fluttered open, his nose growing ticklish from the strands of blue hair; his eyes grew wide that Fayt finally got close to him even after being beaten close to death. A slight pang of relief crossed him, Albel should be disgusted for the tramp approaching him – no, he wasn't. Quite the contrary, Albel is overjoyed to have the feeling of being comforted with Fayt abut, to have Fayt's skin touch his.

The teen's voice cracked under the cold and tried his hardest to speak his thoughts, "I know you won't believe me if I say it, but I love you, Albel." Fayt sighed, mumbling the rest from the awful ache in his jaw, "I've tried to kill myself and I let you beat the crap out of me." He painfully laughed, "What more can I do to prove it? Nothing ever seems convincing."

Albel shrugged, pushing himself away and storing everything in the package to depart, "Foolish worm, those are only half-assed feelings. If you cannot provide a back-up for your interpretation, then I have no choice but to keep considering your words as just empty words." He hesitated for a moment, thinking it was better not to bring these useless items at all - there would be no purpose to bring it. Objects such as the medical box provided no help to the short trip back to Airyglyph. "Your question should be your clue. I don't hold the answer."

Albel let his katana back in its scabbard, on the other side rested the steeled Earth. Fayt dwelled too much in contemplation by Albel's word he never realized the swordsman picked the teen up in his arms, just like the other time Fayt did to Albel in front of Peanut. The blunette's cheeks flared up, feeling every bit comfortable in his arms yet confused to this strange toll of selflessness.

"Your body is very fragile and in no condition to walk. I don't have my dragon, nor do I doubt your Hauler beast will help us much. I need to get back to Airyglyph without some idiot dragging up the time."

Fayt's mouth remained shut. All his questions were crossed out, an insult was thrown to make him feel relieved, and particularly the suggestions like a mental list checked off. The lad remained smiling, eyelids growing heavy over time.

"Albel…I…love…you…" Where Fayt's final words until he fell into a deep snooze followed by light snoring.

'How can I trust your words…?' The man trailed off, tired although glad that in no time he was close to Airyglyph. The rain came again, however less dangerous from the recent night when the landslide created the large pool of water. A black umbrella came falling from the mountains, red orbs gazed at the sky with rain pouring on his silky face. It truly felt like it came out of nowhere, although Albel didn't hesitate to the pick the umbrella from the ground, covering the two from the rain without difficulty holding both Fayt and the umbrella the whole while. Albel continued forward on the peregrination, blank in expression passing mounds of dead bodies.

Apris gazed over the mountain; his large leaf with a vine grip protects him from the rainfall. A warming smile met the god's lips, "You are trying so hard, Fayt. You deserve to be rewarded." Apris held his wrist high, his gleaming amber eyes gazing at the swaying velvet bag of his.

"No, you deserve to get my wonderful help."

Fayt felt the droplets of rain on his cheeks, his green eyes watched with radiance of Albel strictly keeping his eyes on the track. Fayt wrapped his arms around Albel's chest, his ear picking up the sound of Albel's steady heartbeat soon racing.

'I know I mean something, I have to have some significance in Albel's heart. This proves it, this definitely does…'

The teen smiled, falling back soundly asleep.

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The next morning came by like a breeze, Fayt felt pleased to wake up in Albel's arm on his bed, not alone in solitude in Aquios. Fayt made the slightest movement, thus waking up Albel from the sudden stir. His scarlet eyes frantically search the room as it rested on the puzzled teen – Albel sighed in relief.

'Good…he hasn't left…'

Albel ordered Fayt to follow him to the audience chamber where the King waits. The bi-colored haired grew tense; death would be a reasonable punishment if only Albel hasn't grown attached to Fayt. If that was the case then he would care less and find it a show to enjoy. The swordsman stood a good distance away from Woltar once arriving to the audience chamber and eyes glued where Fayt stood in the center of the room, emerald hues petrified deeply under the intense gaze of the King. All stood silent and time felt something that could drag the blunette to a pitiful demise.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Uhh…yeah…"

This was an awkward start for the Fayt.

The King verbalized further, "You should know why I wanted you here today. Your crimes are the following: treason, trespassing on our nation, and bringing vital information to the enemy."

Fayt bit his lip, clamping his eyes shut whilst clenching his fist as his knuckles grew pure white.

"The penalty is apparent, therefore…" The King grew unyielding, eyeing the shaking teen and leaving the pause to drag on the point of anxiety for both Albel and Fayt in this ineluctable situation, "Under my command, Fayt Leingod will be sentenced to—"

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A/N: That wraps it up for this chapter! :D Those who like ATL, I found their version of Umbrella less annoying than the original from Rihanna. .3. I couldn't resist putting the umbrella scene~(there is another reason. Hint: Japanese.) I'm nervous to post up the next…more like worried…Ah well. And I admit I procastnated this long (even though it's not long at all)'cause I didn't want to check it over. xD War explanation will be covered in the next chapter. Review if ya can~! :)