New update! ^^ As always, sorry for the grammatical errors. I'll fix them when I have some time - See the end of the chapter for more notes
Remaining debt: 19,440,000 galds
It takes Alvin a couple of seconds to realize that his alarm is sounding. He forces him to open his eyes and with clumsy hands he manages to turn it off. He realizes then as well that he feels surprisingly hot, but when he turns his head back he realizes that Gaius is impossibly close to him, his bare chest touching his back and one of his arms surrounding his waist. Alvin smiles. Okay, that was the cause for his sudden heat.
Alvin manages to turn around despite how tightly Gaius is embracing him until he is facing the king. This one is still completely asleep, his handsome features relaxed and his breath calm, and Alvin finds himself gulping. He had never been a person who particularly liked waking up with someone by his side. Even when Presa and he were together, at first he slept in a different bed until he get used to share it with her, but still he always got up first without waiting for her to wake up as well (thing that she always reproached him) because he considered excessively intimate to spend more time than necessary lying down with someone, and the mere thought of doing that suffocated him because he didn't want to feel that he was getting attached…
But now there he was: being the one who suggested sleeping together and staring at his sleeping boyfriend (damn, it still sounded a little weird calling Gaius that) with a surely stupid and satisfied expression on his face. Alvin sighs laughing at himself. Meeting Gaius surely had changed things.
Alvin waits almost a minute, and when he sees that Gaius isn't showing any hint of waking up by himself he decides to lean forward and kiss him. God, a part of him wanted to die from embarrassment for how damn sappy he was being right now but well, another part (and he didn't want to admit that it was a big one) didn't care that much.
Gaius frowns lightly when Alvin kisses him, and a couple of seconds later he has half-opened his eyes and he's staring at Alvin with a slightly confused face that makes Alvin chuckle.
"What's the matter, your Majesty? You seem to be a little lost", he says smiling teasingly. Gaius smiles back at him.
"My apologies. It's the first time that I wake up with company and I've been momentarily confused"
Alvin laughs for the serious response.
"Well, and how does it feel to wake up with such a handsome man by your side?", Alvin asks with a smirk.
Gaius looks at him with a pretended confused look and looks behind him, as he trying to find someone to his other side.
"What handsome man are you talking about?", he asks with a confused tone, just before beginning to laugh when he sees Alvin glaring at him.
"Okay, your Majesty", he says with a lightly offended tone while pretending to incorporate, "in that case I suppose that you don't care if this man leav…"
But Alvin doesn't end the sentence because at that moment Gaius forces him to lie again on the bed just before leaning over him and capturing his lips in a rather intense way. Alvin can't avoid exhaling an appreciative gasp while he returns the kiss with the same intensity, his legs parting unconsciously to allow Gaius to settle between them in a more comfortable position.
"Must I take that as a negative?", Alvin says with a too satisfied smile when they separate, their noses still touching. Gaius chuckles.
"Yes, you must", he leans again and kisses him again, this time more calmly, "have you slept well? I suppose that I haven't snored because if that has been the case I imagine that I would have awakened out of the bed"
Alvin laughs when the image of a sleepy and confused Gaius waking up in the floor appears on his mind.
"No, you're a rather satisfying sleeping partner, your Majesty"
Gaius smiles.
"I'm glad to hear that. And…how do you feel?"
Alvin frowns before understanding Gaius' look.
"Ah, you mean my ass? It's fine, I only feel a little discomfort, so…", he raises his eyebrows rather suggestively, "if you want we can continue with your practice, since you seem rather willing"
And to remark his words Alvin bucks his hips up a little so their morning erections connect lightly, making Gaius gasp surprised before smiling.
"It's a rather tempting idea but I think that it's better if we get up. If we arrive later than the others then…", Gaius stops talking and exhales another gasp when Alvin begins to kiss his jaw before beginning to ascend slowly until his ear, "Alvin, are you even listening to me?", Gaius asks with a tone that tries to be resigned but that ends sounding more breathless than it should.
"We still have some minutes", Alvin whispers against Gaius' ear while biting softly his earlobe, and he smirks when Gaius grabs the sheets with more force, "but if you want to leave now I won't stop you…Erston", and when he finishes talking he licks the earlobe the slowest he can.
Gaius exhales a low groan. Then he grabs Alvin's chin with one of his hands forcing him to leave his ear, and when Alvin looks at him he can't avoid a gulp when he sees those purple eyes looking down at him hungrily.
"You're too damn stubborn", Gaius says with a deep voice, and before Alvin could reply anything Gaius attacks his mouth violently, making Alvin moan with satisfaction as grabbing Gaius' face with both of his hands, kissing him back with the same fervor. He hoped that as the time passed he would get used to Gaius and his libido calmed down a little but damn it, right now he only knows that he didn't want to waste any opportunity. Besides, as long as Gaius responded like that, he didn't care to be marked as a fucking pervert.
Alvin opens his mouth during the kiss allowing Gaius to deepen it, his hands settling on Gaius' shoulders before keep traveling by his firm back while Gaius' hands begin to explore Alvin's skin under his t-shirt, making him reveal his sculpted stomach.
Alvin takes the hint and stops kissing Gaius for a moment to discard his t-shirt in one fluid movement, and the moment his chest is exposed Gaius goes directly to one of his nipples and begins to suck it softly, making Alvin arch his body while exhaling a needy moan. Gaius immediately uses his hand to cover Alvin's mouth without stopping his attentions on his chest.
"Be quiet", Gaius exhales licking softly the already hard nipple making Alvin gasp again, "or we'll have to stop…"
However Gaius' sentence is suddenly cut when Alvin begins to lick Gaius' fingers that were trying to keep him silent, his tongue passing between them slowly before taking them in again, making sure to not to avert his look from Gaius while doing so, whose breath seemed to be heavier than before.
"Damn, Alvin…", and oh yes, to hear Gaius saying his name with such a sinful voice was enough for Alvin to get even more turned on, and when Gaius leaves his chest to capture his lips again, tongue invading his mouth without asking permission and hips beginning to grind down against his, Alvin can't avoid another moan that fortunately is muffled by Gaius' mouth.
They begin to kiss messily again, and Alvin separates his legs even more so Gaius could grind against him more easily while he settles his hands on Gaius' hips, encouraging him to fasten the pace. Gaius complies, the new rhythm making the bed creak as a response, and when Gaius diverts his mouth to Alvin's neck this one has to bite his bottom lip in order to keep quiet.
When Alvin feels that he is not going to last much longer, he makes Gaius stop abusing his neck and settles his hands on Gaius' pants, lowering them until his member is exposed, and then without warning he grabs it and begins to stroke it with a fast pace. Gaius closes his eyes momentarily for the unexpected pleasure while exhaling a surprised groan that makes Alvin smirk, at least until Gaius grabs his member as well and mimics Alvin's actions by pumping his member with the same rhythm that Alvin is using on him, making the last one bury more into the mattress, hips moving against Gaius' hand searching for release.
"Gaius…yes…", Alvin exhales before Gaius kisses him again, both of their breathing mixed together and getting faster while their hips move desperately, and then after some thrusts they finally reach their climax while moaning in the other one's mouth.
They don't move for some moments, both trying to regain their normal breath, and it's not until some moments later when Alvin finally realizes that his stomach is covered with both of their releases .
"Oh shit", he exclaims pushing Gaius away a little so he doesn't get dirty as well, "emh, can you…?"
Gaius quickly nods while getting up. He goes then to the bathroom and returns some seconds later with some toilet tissues.
"Thanks", Alvin says when Gaius gives them to him, and when he had finished cleaned himself he leans his head against the pillow again and sighs with satisfaction, "damn, I wouldn't mind to wake up like this more often"
Gaius chuckles while sitting on the bed again, next to Alvin.
"I'm not sure if I'll be able to catch your rhythm", Gaius says with irony while leaning to kiss him lightly.
"Hah, you say that but it's been you the one who has begun", Alvin says with a teasing tone.
"Excuse me? I've been the one who had suggested getting up and then you…", Gaius shuts up while trying to find the words making Alvin smirk.
"And then me what, your Majesty? What have I done?", he asks innocently. Gaius opens and closes his mouth a couple of times before shaking his head.
"Never mind", Gaius finally says with a sulky tone, and when he tries to get up Alvin forces his head down again and kisses him, without being able to avoid a smile when Gaius immediately responds. He was never going to get tired of teasing Gaius about how difficult was for him to speak about anything remotely sexual when he hadn't any problem in doing it…and when he did it so damn well.
"Don't worry, your Majesty, I'll take the blame this time if it makes you feel better"
Alvin begins to laugh when Gaius rolls his eyes as exhaling a resigned sigh.
"You're impossible", Gaius says, but he is smiling.
"Yeah, it's part of my charm", Alvin says returning the smile.
When they check the clock they realize that they have only five minutes to reunite with the rest, so without losing any more time they get up and get dressed in a hurry. At some point Alvin realizes that Gaius is staring at his neck.
"What?"
"Nothing…just be sure to not to remove your scarf"
Alvin frowns just before getting pale and running to the bathroom to look at himself in the mirror.
"Oh fuck", he says staring at the new marks (and yes, it's marks in plural) that adorn his neck, "fuck, fuck, fuck, I don't know if the scarf is gonna cover them"
Alvin puts it on as he usually wears it and as he had feared he can't hide all of them. He exhales a frustrated sigh while removing the scarf rudely. He is about to try to put it in a different way when he feels Gaius' arms surrounding his waist.
"Sorry", Gaius says looking at Alvin in the mirror, "I didn't realize that those marks were going to be visible"
Alvin exhales another sigh and turns his head to kiss him.
"If you weren't that good using your tongue this wouldn't have happened", he says teasingly, and he laughs when he sees Gaius' eyes open wide before averting them with embarrassment, "don't worry, I'll find a way to wear this damn scarf. Go with the rest"
Gaius nods before kissing Alvin in the cheek lightly.
"Next time I promise that I won't touch your neck anymore", and it's Gaius' turn to laugh when Alvin shows an expression of disappointment, "it was a joke, I'll only be sure to not to leave any evidence"
Alvin laughs because of the choice of words, and after kissing Gaius again this one leaves the room while he removes his scarf again still unsatisfied with the result. Damn it. He was going to hide those fucking marks even if he had to spend the morning locked in the bathroom.
Fortunately, just ten minutes later Alvin is able to reunite with the rest who were already having breakfast. He had managed to re-arrange his scarf to wear it a little higher than usual (his shirt completely unbuttoned) and for the marks that couldn't still be covered like that he had used sticking-plaster.
"Wow, what has happened to you?", Jude comments a little worried.
"Too sleepy to shave me properly", Alvin says simply sitting next to him, since Gaius' bench was already complete with Rowen and Muzét.
"Are you sure that you haven't been attacked by a vampire or something?", Leia chuckles, and although she has said it as a joke Alvin's eyes open more momentarily before regaining his normal expression, while Rowen suffers an involuntary cough at that moment that it sounds more like a laugh for Alvin's ears.
"Don't worry Leia, we haven't been attacked, I would have known", Alvin is surprised when Gaius speaks but fortunately his serious answer makes Leia laugh and after that the conversation is diverted, everybody forgetting Alvin's neck…or well, almost everybody, because the too-satisfied look that Balan has fixed on him after Leia's comment was really suspicious.
When they finish eating everybody leaves the inn. Every group is already equipped with supplies for three days, since they have estimated that it will take them that time to complete the deliveries and the hunts.
"You have taken note of the monsters you have to fight, right?", Jude asks looking at Gaius and Rowen.
"Hey, why do you ask them and not me?", Alvin says a little offended, making Jude blink at him a couple of times before turning again to the other two without saying anything, leaving Alvin sulking for his lack of confidence in him while Muzét taps him on the head as a way of consoling.
"I suppose that you won't need any help but if a job turns to be too tedious don't forget to call us", Jude says.
"Same here", Rowen says, "if some delivery turns to be dangerous or complicated don't hesitate in contacting Alvin or me by phone"
Alvin can't avoid a laugh when he looks at Gaius crossing his arms, offended for having been excluded.
"Guys, I say you goodbye already", Leia says with a smile by looking at the hunting group, then he turns to Jude and the rest, "I'll catch you in a moment"
"Where are you going?", Milla asks surprised.
"I'm going to accompany Balan to the station", Leia says while this one exhales a resigned sigh.
"I've told you that it's not necessary…"
"You do the same when I have to go to any place for an article so don't complain", Leia says with a stubborn frown, and maybe it's Alvin imagination but her cheeks seem to be a little red, although his cousin is too busy avoiding looking at her and doesn't realize.
"Have a nice journey to the station", Alvin comments teasingly, making Balan look at him, and when Alvin sees how his cousin smiles he regrets immediately having done so.
"And you be careful with the vampires, Alfred", Balan says casually, and damn, it hasn't been Alvin's imagination: his cousin has looked briefly at Gaius before looking back at him. Alvin gulps. Damn it, he knew it now for sure…he better stop making jokes about Leia and him from now on if he didn't want Balan to answer back.
Leia looks at his mobile and when she sees the hour she exhales a gasp.
"Crap! You're going to lose your train if we don't hurry! Come on, let's go", he grabs one of Balan's hands without warning making this one open his eyes wider, "see you later, guys!"
Leia begins to run towards the station dragging Balan behind, and Alvin notices that when his cousin manages to walk with the same pace than Leia they haven't release the other one's hand yet although they kept discussing. Alvin smiles to himself. It seemed that things were moving on their own.
"Well, we'll reunite here in three days then", Jude says, and the rest nods.
"And the group who earns more galds wins!", Elle exclaims while Ludger says goodbye to the rest with a gesture.
"Oh, that's a good idea", Milla approves looking at Elle who smiles back at her. That pair was dangerously competitive when they team up.
"Good hunts in Rusalle!", Teepo exclaims.
"And be careful", Elize adds with a smile.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of them", Muzét says, making their three hunting partners to look at her surprised, "what? I'm stronger than you, so I'll be the one who protects you if something goes wrong", she explains.
Rowen begins to laugh when hearing Muzét confident tone and Alvin has to bite his bottom lip to not to laugh as well when he sees Gaius half-close his eyes and look at Muzét as he had been challenged. It seemed that the King was more competitive than it seemed at first glance.
"Do you think so? Maybe then we could have a fight to probe your theory", Gaius says, and the tone that he uses clearly indicates that he won't accept a negative.
"Well, guys, have a good delivery time", Alvin says as a final goodbye while Muzét teases Gaius about not being sure about using all her power in the fight so he had an opportunity, making Gaius indignant when hearing that. Alvin smiles. Those three days were going to be funny.
The advantage of traveling with Muzét was that when the group was small (four or five persons) they could teleport to almost any place thanks to her power, so they could go directly to Rusalle without having to go to Trigleph first. However, they realized that it was a technique that required an enormous quantity of magic, so although Muzét insisted that she only had to rest a little before being able to be at full power again they decided not to use it again except if it was a case of extreme necessity.
The first day was rather intense, because they had to fight against almost any monster that they crossed and to recollect the materials that were asked by the clients, being some of them rather tedious to get (who the hell wanted cockatrices' feathers in perfect shape?). That forced them to not to go at their full power and to kill the monsters without completely pulverizing them, task that resulted to be much more difficult than it seemed at first glance because of Gaius and Muzét.
"Muzét, can you stop using that fucking enormous fireball, please?", Alvin pleads when the third cockatrice in a row was burnt to dust.
"Sorry, I just can't stand monsters with feathers", she says while suffering an involuntary shudder.
"I can't blame Muzét", Gaius comments, "and the way those monsters undulate is rather disturbing as well"
"Yeah, I've noticed that you aren't exactly controlling yourself either", Alvin adds staring at him, "if you continue using that laser beam of yours it won't be monster brave enough that wants to approach us"
"That is not a laser beam. In fact, is rather more powerful", Gaius says frowning, a little offended.
Alvin rolls his eyes while exhaling a rather desperate sigh.
"How about this?", Rowen says suddenly, "let's make a competition: the one who manages to kill more monsters leaving them in one piece wins"
Alvin raises his eyebrows.
"And the prize for the winner is…?"
Rowen chuckles.
"Oh, Alvin, it seems that you have still some mercenary habits in you: the prize is the pride of having been able to fulfill the task more effectively than the rest"
Alvin stares at Rowen. It was impossible that such a lame trick were going to work…or so he thought until Gaius speaks.
"Good idea, Rowen. Like this we can establish as well who is better in battle, since having the ability of controlling your own strength is indispensable if you want to be the best fighter"
"Yes, and it sounds funny", Muzét says, and then her face brightens, "oh, and let's make that the one who loses is the one who plucks the cockatrice"
Alvin stares at them alternatively before stopping his look on Gaius. How childishly competitive that man could be? Although he had to admit that it was a little cute…and yes, he couldn't believe that he had used the word 'cute' to describe Gaius.
"Oh, good idea", Rowen says with a smile, "although I wouldn't mind to do it myself if that troubles you, my Lady", he adds as making a little reverence, making Muzét blush mix embarrassment for having been read so easily and gratitude. Alvin smiles to himself. He didn't want to imagine how damn popular Rowen had to be when he was young.
"Well, let's not lose any more time", Gaius says, "we have cockatrices to defeat"
Gaius and Muzét begin to walk (or 'fly' in Muzét's case) with a faster pace than before, leaving Rowen and Alvin a little behind.
"Sometimes it scares me how manipulative you can be, gramps", Alvin comments, making Rowen laugh.
"Well, don't forget that I am Rowen J. Ilbert the Conductor. I still remember the best ways of establishing tactics in battle", Rowen answers making Alvin laugh this time.
"I'll never dare to forget, don't worry"
At that moment Alvin realizes that Gaius and Muzét have stopped and are waiting for them, looking at them curiously.
"Does something happen?", Gaius asks. Alvin only smiles and pats his shoulder a couple of times.
"Nothing, your Majesty. Nothing", and he laughs again when Gaius shows an even more surprised expression.
They continue with the hunts, and at the end Alvin found himself getting involved in the game that Rowen had invented as much as Gaius and Muzét, every one of them counting how much monsters were defeated with precision. They only made a little pause to eat, so by the end of the day they have already all the feathers than they need. Gaius has been the winner (thing that hasn't surprised anyone) and Alvin couldn't help to feel a little frustrated for having been defeated. It seemed that he hadn't any right to laugh at Gaius for being competitive. He was really similar.
After making a camp in one of the caves of the mountain they had dinner and then they went immediately to sleep. Everyone had brought sleeping bags, and probably in any other moment Alvin would have spent some time thinking in an excuse to sleep the closest to Gaius but right then he was so tired that he entered his sleeping-bag and dropped to the ground instantly asleep without caring who was by his side.
However, the next day when Alvin wakes up he discovers that Gaius had situated next to him, and that in fact one of his hands was resting on his hip. Alvin immediately looks at Rowen and Muzét but when he realizes that they are still sleeping he exhales a sigh of relief. Damn it, what has Gaius been thinking when he had done that? If Muzét or Rowen had woken up first they would have seen them for sure…and damn, why then was he smiling like an idiot and wanting to kiss Gaius? He better get up or he would end doing something stupidly risky.
After Alvin gets up, Rowen follows him almost immediately and some minutes after Muzét and Gaius. They eat something and then they return to the hunts again. Fortunately, the day before they had done almost all the jobs that required materials and the ones that left were about killing monsters of certain areas that were making trouble to the people of the surroundings, so they could finally fight without getting worried about crushing the enemies.
As the day before, they fight until they make a stop to eat, and thanks that almost all the jobs were done by then, they decide to spend some time resting…well, some of them, because Gaius and Muzét decided to have their fight to see who was stronger.
"Seriously, it has to be now?", Alvin asks. He was lying down on the ground facing up, his arms behind his head and eyes closed, without any intention of standing up.
"Of course", Gaius says, "at this hour most of the monsters are gone so we can use almost all the valley"
"Oh Alvin, don't tell me that you aren't going to look how I win", Muzét says with a pretended sad tone making Alvin open his eyes again just in time to see Gaius half-closing his looking at her. Rowen laughs.
"Well, if you both agree on doing it now I'll be observing you from here to decide who is the winner", Rowen says.
"Thank you, Rowen. Let's go, Muzét", and with that, the both combatants get away.
Alvin remains lying down for some moments, but at the end the curiosity wins against his desires of taking a nap and he incorporates to sit down, one of his legs extended and the other drawn up to his chest so he could rest his arm on his knee.
"Do you want to bet who wins?", Alvin says looking at Rowen.
"I don't know why but I think that it'll be a tie", Rowen comments with a smile looking at Alvin briefly before looking at the pair who was fighting several meters in front of them. Alvin looks at them as well and he smiles. Yes, Rowen was right, because although Gaius and Muzét had pretended to want to see who was stronger, right now they were fighting rather calmly, and although the attacks that they were both using were really powerful and someone less strong would have had serious difficulties in stopping them, it was obvious that they were only testing the other one's abilities, and enjoying it.
Alvin knew that it was stupid but he couldn't avoid feeling a slight pang of jealousy when he looks at them fighting so equally. He knew that he was never going to be as good as Gaius, and that although they could fight rather nicely together and against each other, if Gaius got really serious he would lose for sure. Alvin shakes his head. It was stupid to feel bad for it. It was normal that Gaius was stronger: he was older than him and he had much more experience, and in Muzét's case she has been literally created to fight humans, and although that was a thing of the past she was still really powerful. So yes, he knew that he hadn't any motive to be jealous…but well, although he knew it he couldn't help to feel like that. At least a little.
"It's been a while since the last time I saw Gaius so relaxed", Rowen comments then.
"Yeah, he told me that you have had a really busy year", Alvin says without thinking, and he realizes too late what he has just said. He should have remembered that he hadn't to know about it, because that meant that Gaius had spoken to him about that and in theory they weren't that close…And yes, he knew that he was being ridiculous right now because Rowen knew that they were together for sure but for the moment he preferred that he kept pretending that there was nothing, and it seemed that Rowen realized it as well because he didn't make any comment.
"Yes, rather busy, and stressed, but thanks to Gaius' tenacity we've managed to achieve a lot of success as well. He reminds me to Nachtical before he changed", Rowen says with a smile, "he never faltered when negotiations weren't going well, or when it seemed that an alliance wasn't going to work. He never gave up and he always gave his all"
Alvin smiles.
"Yeah, his Majesty is a rather awesome man", he comments in what he tries to be a neutral tone, although he knows that some tenderness has slipped.
They remain silent, both observing the pair that is still fighting, and after a moment of hesitation Alvin speaks.
"Rowen, can I make you a question?"
"Sure, what is it?"
Alvin bites his bottom lip.
"Do you know…I mean, have Gaius ever spoken to you about the Chimeriad?"
Rowen looks at Alvin with surprise.
"Well, we haven't talked too much about them but yes, I have a general idea about them"
Alvin nods.
"Why? Are you interested in them?"
"No! I mean, well, yes, I suppose that a little", Alvin says scratching his head awkwardly. The truth was that he was really interested, because the only thing that he knew about them was that Presa has been accepted shortly after he betrayed her and that wasn't enough at all.
He wanted to know more, because although Gaius and him were finally together and they loved each other (and okay, they were really compatible in bed as well and that was something extremely satisfying), the truth was that they didn't know much about the other one's past, and although he had finally learned that the past didn't mattered at all, he still wanted to know about it, and he knew that the Chimeriad belonged to an important part of Gaius' life, so he wanted to know if not all about them at least almost all.
"If you're interested, why don't you ask him personally?"
Alvin scratches his head and sighs with a nervous smile.
"Well…umh…you know…I just don't want to make him remember something bad…I mean, I'm not saying that the Chimeriad are bad, what I mean is…", for goodness sake, he seemed an idiot like now, why couldn't he speak as a normal person?
"I understand why you are trying to say", Rowen interrupts him gently, "you are just afraid of making him remember that they are no longer alive, right?"
Alvin nods.
"Yeah…I suppose that he has already get over it, but it's never funny to be reminded that your friends are dead, no matter how much time passes", he says.
"Yes, maybe you're right, but it's true as well that, as the time passes, memories that at first were only painful gradually may develop into something that you can remember with a smile on your face, because the initial pain has finally faded and only the good parts remain"
"Or the bad ones, depending on the person", Alvin points out making Rowen laugh.
"As optimist as always", Rowen says with irony making Alvin smile at last, "of course I can't say it with absolute security, but I think that it's rather safe to assume that the king is the kind of person who would treasure a memory, not one that would destroy it by only remembering the bad parts, don't you think?"
Alvin laughs briefly and finally nods.
"Yes, I think that his Majesty is stubborn enough to not allow the bad parts to win"
Rowen laughs.
"Yes, 'stubborn' is the perfect word for describing him"
"For describing who?"
Rowen and Alvin raise both their heads surprised. They were so focused on their conversation that they hadn't realized that Muzét and Gaius had already come back.
"You've already finished?", Alvin says, his voice a little more high-pitched, a little guilty than usual for having almost been caught talking about Gaius behind his back.
"Yes, the heat was beginning to be a little unbearable", Muzét explains. Gaius nods in agreement while unbuttoning the top button of his shirt, that action causing Alvin to stare while gulping. The fight must have been intense because Gaius had both of his sleeves rolled back and he was sweating a little, his dark skin shining and his breathing a little heavy as well, almost as heavy as when they were…okay, Alvin, time to stop thinking if you don't want something awkward happens, Alvin thinks to himself suppressing a sigh.
"Oh, that means that you haven't reached a conclusion about who is stronger?", Rowen says with irony.
"No, but indeed we have made a decision that I think that would please you", Gaius says looking at Rowen with a smile, who raises his eyebrows surprised. Gaius is going to speak again but Muzét is faster.
"I'm going to become his bodyguard", she says with a happy smile.
"His what?", Alvin says with a confused look while Rowen exhales a surprised gasp.
"Oh my, that's a great idea. You've taken an excellent decision, your Highness", Rowen says inclining lightly his head. Alvin frowns.
"Okay, can anyone explain to me what this bodyguard thing is?"
"Rowen has been telling me for a while that I need a bodyguard", Alvin can't avoid to show an incredulous expression that makes Gaius smile slightly before keeping talking, "because although it's true that I am very capable of defending myself, if I am involved in a negotiation there is the possibility that I won't be able to react in time if there is any danger"
Alvin looks at Rowen briefly. Had he thought about Cline when he had suggested it to Gaius? Probably yes: if that kid had had a bodyguard with him, maybe he would have still been alive…
"And do you want to do that job, Muzét?", Alvin asks her trying to push away those bad memories.
Muzét nods immediately without any hesitation.
"Yes, it sounds interesting!", Muzét says. Alvin is about to ask again but at the end he doesn't say anything. He didn't know why but he suspected that Muzét was trying to thank Gaius for having been the first one in accepted her a year ago, when she was still out of control and lost.
"Oh, and maybe by having Miss Muzét by our side the people who are still doubting about spirits being alive begins to finally believe us", Rowen says with a wide smile, and by the way Gaius smiles back it seemed that they were already thinking in using Muzét to scare certain unpleasant people. Alvin suffers an involuntary shudder. He didn't want to imagine how he would feel if those three were against him…
The rest of the afternoon they finally ended all the pending jobs, so they sent a message to Jude telling him that the next day they would be returning. Muzét insisted in teleport them right then but the three of them rejected her suggestion. After all, due to the two intense days of fighting plus her fight with Gaius, if she teleported them that would leave her too exhausted. Besides, they hadn't any particularly hurry to get back.
The sun had begun to set, so they decided to camp in other of the caves and Alvin took opportunity to call Yurgen to give the report of the obtained materials. When he came back to the cave, he found Muzét sitting on the floor with almost all the supplies that left surrounding her and reading a book with a too concentrated look. Rowen was next to her with an expression of someone who has accepted his fate, being that fate not very fortunate.
Alvin approaches Rowen slowly.
"What is she doing?", he whispers so Muzét doesn't hear him.
"She has insisted on taking care of the dinner tonight", Rowen answers in the same tone.
"But…she knows how to cook?"
"I'm afraid that it doesn't seem so", Rowen says, "but I'm not brave enough to try to stop her", Alvin gulps. Certainly, he didn't want to take that risk either.
Alvin looks around.
"And his Highness?"
"I think that he has gone towards those trees", Rowen says signaling them, "I suppose that he will have gone to train"
Alvin's eyes snaps open.
"You're serious?", Rowen looks at Alvin with a rather amused look.
"You can go to check it out if you don't believe me"
Alvin is going to answer when he realizes that Rowen is giving him a perfect opportunity to be alone with Gaius.
"Okay, I'll take a look", Alvin says with a too cheery tone, "emh…", he lowers his voice, "please, try to save some food", he adds pointing with his head at Muzét, who has just begun to select some aliments that no normal person would dare to combine.
"I've already kept some supplies safe in my sleeping-bag", Rowen answers with a proud smile making Alvin chuckle before leaving the cave with a goodbye gesture.
It doesn't take him much to find Gaius. The moment he enters the little forest he begins to hear the typical sounds that indicate that someone is training, and he just have to walk a little forward to see Gaius (as Rowen has supposed) training.
He had left his jacket on a rock, his sleeves were still rolled up and because no one was looking he had unbuttoned more than a button of his shirt, so their pectorals were partially visible together with the marks that Alvin had left on him the previous day. Alvin exhales a deep sigh. God, Gaius was turning him on too much right now looking like that. He had to calm down, they hadn't much time and if they began something they would surely be interrupted and…
"Alvin?"
This one jumps in surprise when hearing Gaius saying his name.
"H-hey", he manages to say with a smile. Well, at least the little shock had helped to focus in Gaius' face, "damn it, how can you be training now? We've been fighting all day"
Gaius exhales a short laugh.
"Well, I've supposed that the dinner was going to take a while since Muzét is the one in charge of it"
"And instead of spending time with your handsome boyfriend you prefer to be here", Alvin says shaking his head, "what a shame, your Majesty"
Gaius laughs when hearing Alvin speak in such an exaggerated tone.
"In fact, I was expecting that my handsome boyfriend was clever enough to go after me", Gaius says beginning to approach him, his smile still in his face, and Alvin is about to smile as well but he manages to keep a rather unimpressed expression.
"Is that so?", Alvin says casually. By then Gaius is rather close to him, so close that Alvin can see Gaius' eyes shining rather playfully. Damn…could be Gaius trying to suggest…?, "and…why would you want me to go after you?"
Gaius exhales a sigh before speaking.
"I was hoping that you would fight with me a little"
Alvin blinks a couple of times. Okay, he wasn't expecting that. At all.
"What?"
"It's been a year since the last time we fought, and the fight with Muzét this morning had made me remember the fights with the Chimeriad and our fights as well"
When Alvin hears Gaius name the Chimeriad he forgets his previous disappointment. Maybe that was a good moment to ask him about them, although it was true that right now Gaius seemed more interested in fighting than in speaking, so thinking it better he would ask him later about it.
"Oh, okay", Alvin says at the end, "although remember that now I'm a respectable business man: don't expect the skilled mercenary that I was a year ago"
Gaius chuckles.
"Must I remind you that during this year I haven't had time to train much? Maybe this time you can even hit me…", Gaius says with a teasing tone.
Alvin half-closes his eyes when he hears the last sentence.
"Well, then don't blame me if you end crushed, old man", he says, and he smirks when this time Gaius is the one who glares at him just before grabbing his sword and attack Alvin, who obviously was expecting it and stops the attack, the smirk still on his face.
"Oh", Gaius says with a rather impressed tone without averting his eyes from Alvin, "it seems that you have still some reflexes, ex-mercenary"
"And it seems that your speed hasn't decreased despite your sedentary year, your Majesty", he says in the same tone, and his smirks widens when he sees Gaius' half-closing his eyes slightly. Oh damn, he hadn't realized how much he had missed this but now there he was: attacking Gaius as his life depended on it and Gaius responding with the same intensity, and he finds himself being unable to stop smiling during the fight.
After some minutes, Alvin has removed his scarf due to the heat without caring how he was going to be able to put it on again, his sleeves were rolled up as well and he knew that he wasn't going to last much more because the fatigue of the day was already showing, and despite Gaius seemed to be in better condition than him he was beginning to get tired too, his breathing heavy and his attack less powerful than when they begun, but still neither of them wanted to stop. Not yet. Not when they were having so much fun.
"What happens, your Majesty? Already tired?", Alvin says with a cocky smile, although he is barely able to speak without gasping for air.
Gaius smiles.
"Of course not. I could be like this for another whole hour if you were able to endure it", Gaius says with a superior tone making Alvin laugh for the enormous lie, and then he attacks again, and as he had expected, Gaius stops the attack easily, but what he wasn't exactly expecting was that the attack ended with both of their swords forming a cross and their faces inches apart, making him remember certain episode that took place a year or so ago, an episode that made in part possible that they both could be like his now, and by the way Gaius' breath hitches, Alvin knows that he hasn't the only one who had remembered it.
They remain like this for some seconds, the swords screeching because of the continue pressure but neither of them paying attention to it, too focused in looking at the other one with barely suppressed tension. Alvin exhales a deep sigh trying to calm down and averts his eyes from Gaius' lips, but when he looks back at Gaius and he realizes the way he is looking back at him, all the calm that he was trying to achieve suddenly disappears and he leans his head forward crashing his lips with Gaius' awaiting ones, swords falling to the ground and hands grabbing the other one's body with frantic desperation.
"Alvin…this isn't a good idea…", Gaius says with a warning voice, although his words lose some of their effect when he immediately returns Alvin's demanding kiss
"Well…I've never been too clever anyway…", Alvin manages to say while settling his hands on Gaius' chest with the clear intention of keeping unbuttoning his shirt, but just when he is about to take the first button out Gaius grabs both of his hands firmly but tenderly at the same time.
"Alvin…we really shouldn't keep going", Gaius says with a soft voice.
Alvin exhales an exasperated sigh.
"Why? And don't tell me that you don't want it because by now I can read rather well your expressions, Erston"
Gaius exhales a deep sigh and Alvin feels the gripping in his wrists intensify. Yes. Come on, just a little push and Gaius would accept…
"So…", Alvin approaches his face to Gaius again, making his lips almost touch, "do you really want to stop?"
Gaius averts his eyes and closes them at the same time that he takes a deep breath, and when after some seconds he looks at Alvin again this one is surprised when Gaius suddenly kisses him so briefly that it seems more a peck on the lips than a real kiss.
"No", Gaius says, "you're right, a part of me doesn't want to stop at all…but I seriously think that we shouldn't do this now", Alvin opens his mouth to protest but before he could say anything Gaius speaks again, "think about it, what would happen if Rowen or Muzét suddenly come?"
"I'm sure you would be able to hear them before they could see us", Alvin says immediately, making Gaius raise his eyebrows.
"You overestimate my abilities, because I'm afraid that during our sexual encounters I'm only able to be focused on you and nothing else"
Alvin's eyes widen when hearing Gaius' words just before clenching his teeth with frustration. Damn him, how could Gaius say those things and don't expect him to want to keep going?
"Well, okay, we don't need to do it but there are other things that he can clearly do…", Alvin suggests as resting his hands on Gaius pants with a rather intentional look.
"Yes, and can you explain me how we are going to clean the mess later?", Gaius asks with a patient tone.
"We can use…", Alvin looks around desperately until his eyes stop in the clothing that is dropped in a rock nearby, "my scarf", Gaius' eyes open wide, "what? I can always clean it later"
"So you plan to come back with Rowen and Muzét with a scarf covered with cum"
"I'm not going to wear it, idiot", Alvin snaps, "I can always hide it or simply discard it or…", but Alvin stops talking when he sees Gaius' look, knowing that he is not going to convince him, "okay, FINE, we won't do anything, your Majesty, happy?"
Alvin separates from Gaius with a frown and leans against the nearest tree with his arms crossed over his chest. Gaius doesn't move for some moments but at the end he approaches Alvin and without saying anything he leans as well against the tree that is closest to Alvin, putting both of his hands on his trousers pockets. Alvin exhales a loud sigh.
"Seriously, sometimes I hate how calm you are", Alvin says without looking at Gaius yet. He doesn't want to see the fucking calm expression that he surely had at that moment when he was still trying to calm down himself. Damn it. He knew that Gaius was right and that it wasn't a good idea to do anything since they hadn't much time but fuck, it was frustrating to know that he was only the one in losing control and…
"You think so?", and the tone that Gaius uses makes Alvin suffer an involuntary shudder, because it wasn't precisely a neutral tone. Alvin looks at Gaius, and he gulps when he sees that, in fact, Gaius' expression is everything but neutral, "do you really think that I'm calm when you are around?"
Alvin frowns, this time with confusion.
"Wha…?", at that moment his words die on his throat when Gaius moves until he is in front of Alvin and grabs his face with both of his hands, kissing him hardly and needy, making Alvin exhale a moan mix of surprise and pleasure just before kissing back. Their tongues connect for some seconds before Gaius separates a little, their foreheads still touching.
"I thought that you would know by now that although I may not be the most expressive man, that doesn't mean that I don't feel anything", Gaius says with a serious tone, "but it seems that you need some kind of reminding"
Gaius takes one of Alvin's hands, and without stopping looking at him he makes it rest against his own chest, and Alvin exhales a gasp of surprise when he feels Gaius' heart beating way faster than his own. What the hell?
"I'm like this because of you", Gaius says, and then he grabs Alvin's other hand, "and I'm like this because of you", and okay, Alvin wasn't expecting Gaius guiding his hand to his own crotch so he could feel how damn hard he was. Oh damn. Knowing that Gaius was like that for him was extremely arousing…
At that moment Alvin hears Gaius' chuckling and when he looks at him again Gaius' serious expression has been replaced for an amused one.
"You weren't expecting that", Gaius states with a satisfied smile, and Alvin can't avoid a laugh, the tension between them finally disappearing.
"Nop, you've totally surprised me", Alvin says with a smile. He removes (with certain reluctance) his hand from Gaius' lower half and rests it on Gaius hip, although he keeps the other hand on Gaius' chest, still feeling his accelerated beats.
"So…", Gaius continues, but now with a more relaxed tone, "what I'm trying to say is that don't think for a second that you're the only one who feels like this. I can promise you that if I went with the flow every time that I desire you, you would never be completely recuperated from you lower back, but since you are so damn impulsive and you certainly don't hold your sexual desires back, I'm afraid that one of us have to be mature enough to control himself, and unfortunately it seems that that role has been assigned to me"
Alvin begins to laugh when hearing Gaius accusing tone at the end of his talking. Fuck, he had really been a fool, because he knew that Gaius loved him, and that he desired him, but he hadn't realized that Gaius' feelings towards him were that intense. Until now he had been thinking that he was the horny one and that Gaius was the most relaxed, but now he knew that he has been mistaken: both of them felt exactly the same, the only difference was that Gaius was sensate enough to control his impulses when there was a risk of being discovered. As always, he was the more mature of the both…although well, he was older than him so it was normal.
"Okay, Gaius, I'm sorry. I promise that from now on I'll behave when we aren't alone…or well, I promise that I'll try"
Gaius rolls his eyes with resignation making Alvin laugh again, but despite his teasing he was being serious.
"Oh, and thank you", Gaius frowns, "because thanks to you my poor scarf has been survived to a probably sure destruction"
"You're welcome", Gaius says with a smile before kissing Alvin calmly but intensely before leaning against the tree again.
They remain in a comfortable silence for some moments until Alvin remembers something.
"By the way, what the hell is Muzét trying to cook?", he exclaims, "how much time has already passed? Twenty minutes?"
Gaius nods.
"Maybe we have underestimated her and she is cooking an extremely complicated but delicious food", Alvin looks at him with skepticism and Gaius sighs, "yes, probably we won't be so lucky. Well, as long as she is a good bodyguard I'm not got to complain"
Alvin chuckles, and although he hesitates at the end he decides to speak.
"Certainly, you're specialist in taking uncommon people by your side, your Majesty"
Gaius smiles.
"Yeah, I know, although you realize that you are including yourself in that category, right?"
Alvin exhales a short laugh.
"Yeah, I have assumed it", he smiles, and then he bites his bottom lip with certain nervousness, "and…you know…it hasn't to be now but…I-I would like to know about them. About the Chimeriad"
Gaius raises his eyes surprised and Alvin fears for a moment to have made him uncomfortable but when Gaius smiles and he sees that there is no sadness in him he suppresses a sigh of relief. It seemed that Rowen was right. As always.
"Alright. It's a rather long story but when we have some time I'll be glad to tell you about them", Gaius says, "and I haven't forgotten that you still have to tell me about your year"
"Oh, that's right", Alvin sincerely surprised. It was true that he had promised Gaius to tell him about it.
"And…", Alvin is surprised when he sees Gaius gulping before speaking again, "…and if you felt like it, I would like to know about you as well…I mean, about your past…but of course just if it doesn't bother you and…"
Gaius is interrupted when Alvin kisses him to shut him up, and he couldn't help to be smiling during the kiss. It seemed that he hadn't been the only one in being afraid of asking the other about his past. God, they really were a pair of idiots.
"Okay, your Majesty, but don't expect an exciting story"
"Let me be the one in deciding that", Gaius says with an amused tone while Alvin laughs again.
"Well, it's decided then", Alvin says, "tomorrow when we come back to the inn we'll have a long talk…although before that…", Alvin smirks, "we'll make good use of the bed, or the shower, or the place that you decide, and I won't take a 'no' for an answer"
Gaius' eyes snap open before exhaling a laugh.
"Don't worry", he says while leaning forward, settling his mouth on Alvin's ear making him gasp, "I wasn't planning to say no to such a tempting proposition"
Alvin gulps. Fuck, he couldn't wait to the next day…
"Okay, I'll take your word, your Majesty", Alvin manages to answer a little breathless against his will, "well, we should come back before Muzét decides that maybe Rowen is a good condiment for the dinner"
Just a couple of minutes later they are already on the cave, and they find Rowen staring at his mobile with rather serious expression, as he had just received a call, and Muzét looking at him with expectant eyes.
"What's happened?", Gaius immediately asks.
Rowen looks at them.
"Jude has called", he says, "they've found Milla"
Alvin exhales a surprised sigh. It seemed that his talk with Gaius and their next sexual encounter have to be postponed.
I know, great ending xD I hope that you've liked the chapter despite the almost lack of M content :P In the next chapter I'll use a little of canon story but don't worry, it won't be much (or I hope so ^^U) And thank you so much for the lovely comments of the previous chapter. I really appreciate them ;)
Next update as always: two-three weeks from now! :)