New update! ^^ - See the end of the chapter for notes
Remaining debt: 11.000.000 galds
"It took you a lot!", it's the welcome that Elle gives them when Alvin, Leia and Muzét are about to enter the water.
"Sorry, Elle, blame Gaius and Balan for having forced us to wait five minutes more", Leia says with a resigned tone while beginning to enter the water, "oh damn, it's cold!", she says with a squeak.
Alvin smirks and looks at her.
"Let me carry you then, princess", he says while approaching Leia rapidly causing her to open her eyes with horror.
"N-no, no, Alvin, wait, wait!"
But the girl's cries are completely ignored when Alvin takes Leia bride's style before running towards the water to finish with a dive that lets them completely drenched.
"I hate you!", Leia exclaims with a high-pitched voice when they appear again in the surface.
"How ungrateful", Alvin says with a teasing smile while beginning to float over the water facing up, "I was only trying to help you with…"
Alvin's sentence is cut when Leia pushes his body down the water surprisingly fast, making him begin to cough when he reaches the surface again.
"We are tied", Leia says with a satisfied smile while Alvin's laughs mix with his coughs.
"Fair enough", Alvin admits.
"The rest aren't coming?", Muzét asks with curiosity looking towards the beach. Alvin looks as well to see Karla and Gaius sat next to each other and speaking, Balan and Rowen lying down on the towels and Milla and Jude a little far away facing each other and intercalating speaking with rather intense kisses. Of course the kisses were winning over the speaking.
"Well, they seem to be rather comfortable as they are", Alvin comments with a smile just before receiving a splash just in his back that makes him exhale a little cry, and he turns around ready to glare at Leia when he realizes the way Elize is suppressing a laugh, "oh, so you want to go against me as well…", he begins with a threatening tone while approaching the water mat.
"Of course we are against you! And we are sure that you're not able of making us fall!", Teepo exclaims.
"Yes, I'm sure that Ludger can stop you!", Elle exclaims with conviction, causing Ludger to smile before fixing his eyes on Alvin while assuring the mat on one of its sides, a challenging look on his face.
Alvin exhales a snort of amusement while situating on the other side of the water mat.
"Hold your breath, kids", he says playfully just before beginning to push
The battle was rather balanced because the kids were much faster than Alvin had anticipated, so the moment Alvin tried to incline the water mat to one of the sides Ludger immediately began to incline it to the other while the girls helped him while leaning their weight (that it wasn't much but it was enough to make things more difficult to Alvin). At the end Alvin only managed to make Elize fall, but since he had used one of his hands to push the kid towards the water the judges (Leia and Muzét) considered that as cheating so Ludger's team was the winner.
"And your punishment for cheating is to buy us ice-creams!", Elle exclaims with a triumphal smile while crossing her tiny arms.
"Damn, if you only wanted that you could have asked instead of tiring me like this", Alvin exhales a little breathless.
"But it wouldn't have been that fun", Elize replies with a happy smile while Ludger helps her to climb into the water mat again.
"Hey, guys!", Leia begins to cry towards the rest, making the ones who were sat look at them and the ones who were lying down incorporate, "don't be lazy and come here already!"
"Yeah, what happens Erston? Are you afraid of your beautiful kerchief getting wet?", Alvin cries in a teasing tone.
Alvin and Leia begin to laugh when seeing the way Gaius rubs his eyes with patient, and at that moment Alvin sees Karla leaning towards Gaius to whisper something in his ear that makes him open his eyes with surprise.
Alvin frowns with curiosity asking himself what Karla has said him, but at that moment his thoughts go blank when Gaius stands up and with a rather slow movement he removes his t-shirt in one fluid motion to expose his perfectly well formed upper body, causing Alvin to gulp against his will. Oh fuck, his boyfriend was surely hot…
"It's a luck that the water is cold, right?", Leia says suddenly with a teasing tone, and Alvin's only answer is to duck her, although for the way she holds her breath just in time it seemed that she was expecting that reaction.
"Here I am, happy?", Gaius says looking at Alvin with a resigned sigh while approaching them.
"I should say more than happy", Muzét says casually causing Alvin to glare at her.
"What does she mean?", Gaius asks with curiosity.
"Never mind her", Alvin says with a dismissive gesture while forcing Gaius' body towards his to share a kiss…and when he feels the king's smirk against his lips he knows that he hasn't chosen the wisest movement to make.
"It seems that you were right about not being able to hide anything in your swimsuit…", Gaius comments just in Alvin's ears while enclosing his arms around Alvin's waist, and since the water was covering them until their chests the briefly grinding movement between their lower halves that Gaius makes remains unnoticed, although Alvin's soft gasp is a little suspicious.
"It's your damn fault for having removed your t-shirt like a damn stripper", Alvin snaps causing Gaius to smile wider.
"It seems that Karla was right about you liking that kind of sight", he comments casually.
"What?! Was that what your sister has told you?", Alvin exclaims while Gaius nods with an amused expression, "okay, seriously, tell me that I'm not that easy to read and that your sister is just as awesome as you"
Gaius exhales a laugh before kissing Alvin tenderly.
"Hey, don't avoid the question", Alvin snaps, but there is a hint of a smile on his face when Gaius kisses him again.
"I can't answer you subjectively because for me you're like an opened book so…"
"Ha ha ha", Alvin says with irony before kissing Gaius with intensity, enclosing his arms around the kings neck while this one hugs him even tightly…and the moment would have been perfect if a giant wave wouldn't have appeared splashing just over them, making them stop kissing and begin to laugh.
"Hey look! The rest are coming as well!", Elize says pointing at the seashore, and when Alvin looks he sees that the kid is right, and that even Rowen and Balan who seemed the most reluctant at first to leave their comfortable nap were there.
"It's a pity that I can't summon Undine", Milla comments when she arrives, "she would love to swim in the sea"
"Oi kid…", Alvin comments with a teasing smirk while signaling a rather evident mark on Jude's neck, "be careful with the mosquitoes. One of them has already left a mark on you"
Jude blushes and immediately covers his neck glaring at Alvin while Milla exhales a soft chuckle, and he opens his mouth to reply something but at that moment Milla surprises him by surrounding his neck with both of his arms and kissing him, making the kid immediately forget his previous embarrassment to respond to the kiss with enthusiasm.
"Good way of avoiding fights, Milla", Balan comments with amusement while approaching Leia and depositing a soft kiss on her cheek.
"I think that we all use this technique of shutting-up-with-a-kiss", Leia comments making Alvin exhale a soft laugh, and then he is about reply something when realizing the way Gaius is staring (or better said glaring) at the seashore, his arms crossed over his chest.
"What happens?", Alvin asks confused while looking at the place where Gaius was fixed, and then he can't avoid a laugh when seeing that Gaius was staring at his sister, or better said at the young man that was talking to his sister to apparently ask her to take a picture at his group of friends, although it was evident that it was just an excuse to talk to her, and certainly Alvin couldn't blame the man for trying it because Karla was rather beautiful in that black and red bikini.
"What's the matter?", Rowen comments in a low tone approaching Alvin and looking with curiosity at the king, whose aura seemed about to get out at any moment.
"He has entered the older-brother-protecting-her-sister-from-woman-chasers mode", Alvin comments loud enough so Gaius hears him, causing him to look at him with a frown.
"I'm just watching just in case she needs some help to ask politely that gentleman to disappear"
Alvin bursts out laughing when hearing Gaius' choice of words.
"Oh man. You're more overprotective than I had expected", Alvin says between chuckles.
"I think that it's unnecessary to worry that much, Erston", Rowen concedes with a calm smile, "I think that your sister is old enough to take care of herself"
Gaius is about to protest but at that moment he shuts up when realizing that Karla is finally joining them.
"Have you ended looking daggers at that poor man?", Karla says with amusement while looking at her brother.
"I was just admiring the view", Gaius comments in such a fake casual tone that his sister raises her eyebrows skeptically while Alvin laughs again.
"Hey, now that we are all here I've just thought in a really funny game", Leia says with a wide smile while Jude stares at her.
"Oh, don't tell me that you're going to suggest…"
"Yep: piggy-back battles!", Jude rubs his eyes while Leia frowns, "what's the matter? We used to play when we were kids and you loved it"
"Yes, Leia but we were twelve years then so…"
"Oh?", Karla says with a pretended offended tone, "so are you suggesting that we are too old to play?"
"N-no, of course not!", Jude exclaims immediately with an apologetic tone while Karla exhales a soft chuckle.
Milla kisses Jude on the cheek tenderly.
"Come on, Jude. It will be fun", she says.
"And we are exactly six girls and six boys so we can do exactly six pairs", Elize says with a smile.
"Yeah! And Teepo will be the judge!", Teepo exclaims.
"Come on, let's not lose time so we can eat after this!", Leia exclaims while approaching Balan and making him lower his body to be able to climb to his shoulders.
"If someone wants to change pairs I wouldn't mind to…", Balan begins with a casual tone.
"What are you insinuating?", Leia says half-closing her eyes and staring at Balan from above.
"I'm ashamed to admit that my back would appreciate to be paired with the youngest", Rowen comments then, "It's not that I wouldn't enjoy carrying the rest of the ladies as well but…"
"What a polite way to call the ladies heavy, gramps", Alvin comments teasingly, causing all the supposed heavy ladies to hit him on the head.
"Okay, Rowen. I'll be your pair", Elize says with a smile.
"Thank you, Miss Elize. I'll do my best in proclaiming you victorious", Rowen says with an inclination.
"Well", Alvin says then with a smile looking at Muzét, "since it's evident that Elle will go with Ludger and the Outways brothers will want to be together that leave us no choice but to pair up, sweety"
Muzét exhales an amused chuckle.
"So you only choose me because you were out of options", she says with a teasing tone while settling her hands over Alvin's shoulders to climb over them, "how sad"
"Come on, Muzét. You know that if I wasn't already a boyfriend I'd go after you without hesitation", Alvin says with a wink causing Muzét to roll her eyes with amusement.
"That leaves me very much at ease"
Alvin begins to laugh when hearing Gaius say that with an ironic tone, and when he turns to look at him he realizes that Karla is already over her brother's shoulders.
"Don't worry, Erston. We'll make him pay for those words", Karla says with a charming smile while staring at Alvin, a challenging look on her purple eyes that were incredibly similar to her brother. Alvin smiles to himself cockily. 'Sorry, sis, but I'm going to make sure that Muzét is the one last standing'
"Get into positions, guys!", Teepo exclaims while flying over them, "The battle is going to begin in three…two…one…NOW!"
"I don't accept this result", Alvin snaps later when they are eating on the towels, his arms crossed and a frown on his face.
"Oh, don't be angry", Muzét says grabbing one of Alvin's arms, "we've finished in second place, it's a rather nice result!"
"Yes, don't you dare to protest", Leia says glaring at Balan.
"Hey, it's not my fault that you move so damn much that it was impossible to maintain the balance", Balan says with an offended tone.
"Oh come on, you could have last more than ten seconds at least", Leia exclaims.
"Must I remind you that my leg isn't completely adjusted yet?", Balan replies, and although Leia opens her mouth to speak again at the end she only scratches the back of her head, a slightly guilty expression on her face that makes Balan surround her shoulders while kissing her softly with a patient smile, finishing rather effectively the argument.
"My sincere apologies, miss Elize", Rowen says then, "I'm deeply ashamed for having failed you in my mission"
"Oh, don't worry", Elize says patting the gramps' back with a reassuring smile, "it's been my fault: I didn't imagine that Elle was that strong"
The little girl smiles a little red before showing a disappointed expression.
"Although I'm not as strong as Milla is…"
Alvin smiles to himself. It has been rather evident that those two had left Elle won…although of course, the poor girl had the bad luck of fighting with Milla after them, and if there was something that Milla definitely lacked was the capacity of holding back, even against kids.
"Don't worry, Elle", Muzét says with a smile, "we've made sure to beat my sister so we've taken revenge from you"
"You've played dirty", Milla says crossing her arms with a frown, "you've tried to unbutton my bikini while fighting"
"Well, the judge hasn't considered that as cheating", Muzét replies with innocence while smiling at Teepo.
"Because he is so scared of you that he doesn't dare to contradict you", Milla replies frowning even more, while Jude exhales a soft cough that is a clear attempt to hide a laugh.
"The only one who has cheated here has been him", Alvin accuses pointing at Gaius, who looks at him with a completely fake neutral expression because the amusement could be clearly seen, "in theory only the people who are over the shoulders have to fight and you…"
"He hasn't fought you", Karla points out with a smile, "he has never stopped grabbing me so it's rather impossible that he had used his hands to…"
"Oh, come on, he has kissed be while Muzét and you were fighting", Alvin snaps with a frown, "and it has not been a simple kiss, I almost choke when his tong…"
"Let's go for some ice-creams kids!", Ludger exclaims standing up suddenly and grabbing Elize and Elle by their arms, causing them to open their eyes surprised for that sudden action while the rest begin to laugh.
"I'm sorry, Alvin", Gaius says with an enervating triumphal tone, "but the judge hadn't considered that cheating either"
"Because Teepo is even more afraid of you than of Muzét", Alvin replies.
"Oh, is that so…?", Muzét says then while staring at the poor toy which immediately goes flying after Ludger and the rest, making Muzét cross her arms disappointed because she couldn't fly after him at that moment if she didn't want to destroy Gaius' incognito.
"So…", Karla says with a smile, "I'm afraid that we have won fairly"
Alvin glares at her. Now he knew how Gaius felt when Karla and he teased him…
"Yes. Besides, it's been your fault for having lost concentration just for a kiss", Leia adds at that moment with a teasing tone while Balan nods.
"Leia is right", Alvin glares at Gaius, and he is about to say something when the king continues, "besides, you've used that same distraction technique several times while we fight so you don't have any right to complain"
Alvin opens his mouth to protest, but at the end he realizes that Gaius is right so instead of the hit that he has been about throw at Gaius he only exhales a frustrated sigh before kissing the king violently.
"If you weren't so damn attractive…", he begins before Gaius kisses him back causing Alvin to exhale a satisfied gasp while responding with equal fervor momentarily forgetting that they weren't alone, although the laughs that at that moment sound make him remember that fact rather fast.
"Well, if he has kissed you like that I can understand that you have lost your concentration", Milla says his daughter a smile while Jude chuckles.
"Guys!"
All the group looks startled at the place where Elize's voice has sounded to discover the girl running towards them, an exalted expression on her face.
"Hey, what's up kid?", Alvin says with a worried frown.
Elize points out at the sea.
"We were about to buy ice-creams when a man has seen something beginning to get out from the sea. It seems like an Elite Monster"
Elize has barely ended the sentence when Milla, Gaius and Muzét are already standing, every one of them with their respective fighting aura surrounding them.
"Well", Milla says stretching her arms above her head, "I think that's time to find some money for Ludger's debt"
"Indeed", Gaius says, his eyes shining with the emotion of the imminent fight, "besides, we can't allow the monster reach the beach or people will be in danger"
"Umh…haven't you forgotten something?", everyone looks at Alvin, "we haven't brought any weapons. How do you plan to defeat it?"
"Oh, don't worry about that", Muzét says with a smile, "I can make a portal and bring the weapons in less than a minute"
"But if you do that everyone will discover who Erston is", Jude says.
"I'm not going to make the portal here, dummy", Muzét says with a patient smile before signaling with her hand the zone of the beach huts, "if I make it inside one of the tents no one will see it"
Alvin exhales a sigh.
"Okay, okay, I get it, we haven't any more excuses, let's kill that monster quickly"
Everyone laughs when hearing Alvin's resigned tone.
"Let's go!", Leia says while standing up as well, "the last one that hits the monster pays the ice-creams!"
"Oh, great idea!", Elize says, "Elle and I have seen a rather big ice-cream with looked delicious!"
And that is surely expensive, Alvin thinks to himself.
"Fine", he says with a smile before pointing at Balan and Karla, "you are in charge on determining who has been the slowest…and it's cheating to try to bribe them", he adds when seeing the way Leia has just lent towards Balan to whisper something in his ear, and for the way his cousin gulps with a little blush on his face he knows that he has said it too late.
"Don't worry, Alvin", Karla says with a reassuring smile, "I promise that I'll be fair and I won't favor my brother"
"That won't be necessary", Gaius says with a smile, "because I plan to be the first in giving the hit"
"Oh, is that so?", Alvin says, a cocky smile on his face, "then let's change the bet: if Gaius doesn't manage to hit the monster first he will pay all the ice-creams"
Gaius smiles widens, his eyes shining because of Alvin's challenge.
"And what happens if I win the bet?"
Alvin smirks at him.
"You can order every one of us to do something and we can't say no", Alvin ends the sentence pushing his hair back oh-so-casually, and when he realizes the way Gaius' eyes shine with lust for a moment he has to suppress an even wider smirk. Oh damn…now he was really desiring to help Gaius to win the bet. The thought of Gaius being able to order him something and him being forced to obey suddenly sounded really hot…
"I accept the bet", Leia says without hesitation, "I know that Erston would never order us to do anything bad"
"Yes. If Alvin was the one involved, I don't think that I would accept…", Milla adds.
"Hey!", Alvin exclaims offended.
"We should begin to move", Rowen comments, "the monster seems to have realized our hostile intentions and he is beginning to focus on us"
"Okay, let's go towards the beach hut", Jude says.
Everyone begins to walk towards there.
"So…", Gaius says with a casual tone so only Alvin could hear him, "if I win I can order you to make anything I want…"
Alvin looks at Gaius with a sensual smile.
"Yes, whatever you want…your Majesty"
Gaius nods thoughtfully.
"So if I asked you something as doing the paperwork that I have a little behind schedule you'd have to do it…", Alvin regains his serious expression again while gulping, "…or if I asked you to assist to one of my completely boring speeches you would have to assist without protest, or…"
"Okay, I'm not letting you win", Alvin snaps, and he is about to pass Gaius to go with the rest when Gaius grabs his arm and makes him turn around to give him an intense kiss.
"…or if I asked you to spend the rest of your life with me you couldn't reject that proposition, right?", he says suddenly with such a tender tone that Alvin feels himself gulping again, but for a complete different reason.
"Idiot", he snaps, "the point of you winning is to make me do something that I wouldn't normally do willingly"
And although as always he hasn't been able to answer romantically it seemed that Gaius has understood for the way he looks at him.
"Well, then I think that I'll go with the paperwork thing", he says with a teasing tone.
"Asshole", Alvin snaps without being able to avoid an amused smile, "come on. Let's kill that monster so you can buy ice-creams to all of us"
Gaius exhales a laugh while releasing Alvin from his embrace to keep following the rest.
"We'll see about that"
"Thank so much for the ice-cream, your High…Erston!", Elle exclaims with a happy smile half-an-hour later, "you've bought us the biggest of all!"
"Yes. Thank you so much!", Elize says, "I'm sure that if Alvin had lost, he wouldn't have bought us one so big!"
"Okay, why do you always mention me to say bad things?"
Everyone begins to laugh when hearing Alvin's offended tone.
"You're welcome", Gaius says with a smile, before glaring at Rowen, "although I must say that the conditions of 'first hit' hadn't been clearly explained"
"Do you think so?", Rowen says with an innocent smile, "well, I think that as long as an attack impacts on a monster it doesn't matter if the attack is done from far away or directly"
"I think that too", Jude says, "after all Rowen's attacks are distant attacks so if they didn't count, he wouldn't have any possibilities of winning"
Gaius exhales a soft sigh and nods, although the frown is still on his face.
"Well, we have defeated the monster and that's the most important thing", Leia says.
"Indeed. And we have obtained almost half-million galds for it", Milla adds.
"And besides you've been able to test your present", Muzét adds while signaling Gaius' sword, and that last comment finally makes Gaius smile.
"Yes, and I have to say that's a really good sword. Thank you"
"After all the trouble it gave it better be good", Alvin comments, and when Gaius half-closes his eyes he immediately continues, "I mean, it caused trouble to obtain it but I told you already that it wasn't dangerous at all and…"
"…and thanks to that we managed to reunite 1 million galds so it was really worth it", Ludger adds suddenly, and that last argument makes Gaius stop glaring at Alvin, who suppresses a relieved sigh while giving a thankful smile towards Ludger.
"Jude, the ice-cream is sliding for your arm", Muzét points out suddenly, signaling Jude's arm in which in fact there was a wet line of chocolate ice-cream.
"Oh, I haven't noticed", Jude says looking at forearm, "Karla, please, can you pass me a handkerchief from the bag?"
"It's not necessary, let me", Milla says suddenly, and before anyone could say anything Milla grabs Jude's arm and while closing her eyes she licks the wet ice-cream line with slowness, and this time she really seems confused when she opens her eyes again to discover that everyone is suppressing a laugh while Jude is staring at her holding his breath, completely red, "what happens?"
"Nothing", Alvin says with a smirk when he sees that Elle and Elize are far enough to not to hear, "although I think that you've left a little ice cream on Jude's fingers, so you could lick them as well…"
"Alvin!", Jude exclaims, and for the way Milla smiles she seems to have understood Jude's nervous reaction.
"Poor Jude", Leia exclaims while licking his own ice-cream, "he is too easy to make him react"
Alvin doesn't know why but those words make him look at his cousin, and he can't avoid a wider smirk when seeing the way Balan is clearly avoiding looking at Leia.
"It seems that Jude isn't the one who gets easily affected", he comments casually while signaling Balan with his eyes, causing him to glare at him.
"What?", Leia says, and then she finally realizes the slight blush on Balan's face, "come on, don't tell me that you too…"
"If you ate the ice-cream like a normal person…", he says almost in a whisper.
"Excuse me?", Leia exclaims, "I don't think that there are a lot of ways of eating an ice-cream"
"Well, I'm positively sure that to use so damn fast your tongue is not necessary at all", Balan replies causing the rest begin to laugh, except Jude who was still trying to regain his normal color.
"You should feel ashamed of being such a perverted ones", Alvin says then, "look at Erston", Alvin looks at the king who looks back at him with suspicious, "he doesn't get affected at all by this kind of thing, right?"
And at that moment, he decides to grasp softly with his teeth the side of his ice lolly without averting his eyes from Gaius, and he has to suppress a laugh when seeing the way Gaius tenses, his breathing hitching momentarily.
"Yes, he seems completely imperturbable", Karla comments with amusement, causing her brother to glare at her while Alvin kisses the king's cheek playfully.
Fortunately, just at that moment Elize and Elle come back so everybody stops teasing their respective couples, and the next hour passes rather quickly while lying on the shade taking a nap like Alvin, Balan and Rowen, or playing with the beach balls like Muzét, Leia, Milla and Jude, or making sand castles like Elle, Elize and Ludger, or simply sitting and chatting like the Outways brothers.
After another half an hour Karla excuses herself when she receives a call from the school, and at that moment Alvin finally wakes up together with Rowen and Balan when Milla, Elize and Leia approache them.
"Hey", Milla says in a whisper, "we've been talking and we have thought in a present for Karla"
"Yes", Leia adds, and after checking that Karla is still talking by phone far away she continues talking rapidly, "this morning when we have bought everything she has been staring at a dress in one of the shops, so some of us are going to buy it"
"But right now?", Alvin asks in the same tone, "but if you suddenly disappear she is going to suspect…"
Elize shakes her head.
"Don't worry, Elle and I will keep her busy but just in case she asks, tell her that the rest have gone to do another job. Jude and Muzét will go with Milla and Leia, and it would be good that you, Rowen, accompany them as well to make the excuse of doing a job more convincing,"
"Of course, Miss Elize. Count me in", Rowen says with a smile while standing up.
"And do you really think that Karla isn't going to suspect?", Balan asks with a unsure tone while Milla makes a dismissive gesture.
"I don't think so. I'm sure that Erston has told her how obsessive I am about doing jobs so she will surely believe it, right?", Milla says with a smile, but before Gaius could reply anything Leia speaks.
"Okay, let's go already. Karla has just hung up"
When Karla comes back and it's informed about the sudden 'job' she gets really surprised, but as Milla has guessed she doesn't suspect anything, so it seemed that Milla's supposition about Gaius having spoken with his sister about Milla's obsession with jobs was correct.
Just after the group has left, Elle and Elize approach Karla and ask her to participate with Ludger in a contest of 'making-figures-on-the-sand', to see who manages to make the most credible sand-siren, and as they were expecting Karla immediately agrees and pairs up with Elize to go against Elle and Ludger, who obviously was going to be the other 'siren'.
"Well", Alvin comments with a smile moments later while seeing the way Elize is burying Karla completely in the sand, "I think that the kids are making a great job entertaining your sis"
"Yes, they are", Gaius replies with a smile, "although she seems to be having fun"
Alvin smiles and nods, because Karla wasn't only allowing the kids to bury her but giving her advices about how to put the sand so she really looked like a real siren. Alvin smiles to himself. No doubt about why she was such a good teacher: she really loved kids.
They both continue looking the sand-contest for several minutes, and when Alvin verifies that Balan was immerse in one of his multiple books a couple of towels far from them he decides that it's a good moment to ask Gaius about some things, since they were practically alone.
"Erston", Gaius looks at him slightly surprised when hearing Alvin's sudden serious tone, "umh…you don't have to speak about it if you don't want to but when I spoke with Karla by phone about your present she mentioned something about being a while since the last time you two see each other…", Alvin stops talking when noticing the almost imperceptible tension on Gaius' body, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have aske..."
Alvin shuts up again but this time is because Gaius' mouth is over his to deposit a brief but tender kiss.
"Don't apologize", Gaius says softly, "in fact it should be me the one in apologizing for not having talked to you about my sister before…or better said, about my past at all", he adds with certain guiltiness.
"Don't worry", Alvin begins with a dismissive tone, "by now I'm aware that you only want me for my hot body and for that it's not necessary to speak at all", Alvin ends the sentence with a teasing smirk, and when Gaius glares at him as he was expecting he exhales an amused laugh
"Well, you're not mistaken in assuming that I find your body really attractive but to suggest that I only love you for that is rather…"
"It was a joke, idiot", Alvin says bumping softly Gaius' shoulder with his own, "I know that you love me for my charming personality as well"
"Yes, although right now I wouldn't call it 'charming'", Gaius points out with irony, causing Alvin to exhale a soft chuckle, "so, what would you like to know?"
Alvin thinks for a couple of seconds before speaking.
"Well, I don't know if Karla has told you that we met her a year ago at Xian Du", Gaius nods as an answer so Alvin continues, "of course we didn't know that she was your sister and at first she didn't say anything about it, although certainly we were really silly at the time for not realizing that you were siblings because she knew a lot about your past"
Gaius raises his eyes surprised.
"Did she speak about me?"
Alvin nods.
"Yeah. She told us about you winning tournament at the Coliseum when you were only twelve, and that at that same age you were able to sense the tsunami that took place during the battle of Fezebel, and…"
Alvin gulps and averts his eyes. Damn it, now he wasn't so sure about wanting to know about Gaius and Karla's story, because Gaius was going to feel bad while remembering what he was about to say and…
At that moment Alvin feels Gaius' warm hand settling over his own and he looks at Gaius again to find the king looking back at him with a smile.
"…and?", Gaius repeats with a soft tone that clearly indicates that he wants Alvin to continue, so that is what Alvin does.
"…and she told us about she being betrothed around that time to a man from the Long Dau Tribe, and that it was that man's fault that the King at that moment didn't listen your advice to retreat resulting in the most part of your army being eliminated, and that that man never returned from the war"
Alvin is about to add something else but he decides to shut up. However, it's Gaius the one who mentions the thing that he has been afraid of saying.
"And didn't she mention that that man was last seen with me and that consequently she suspected from then on, rather reasonably, that I had something to do with his disappearance?"
Alvin gulps and forces himself to look at Gaius again, and when he realizes that there is no sadness in the king's face he can feel at last the tension that he hasn't even realizing he had finally disappearing.
"Yes. She mentioned that too"
Gaius nods.
"I have to say that you practically know all about my past thanks to my sister", Gaius comments with a smile before putting his serious expression again, and after making a little pause he continues talking, "yes, it's true that I could sense the tsunami coming, and it's true as well that Karla's fiancé considered my advice of retreating as the words of a scared kid and convinced the king of ignoring my suggestion"
Alvin nods to himself and before ever thinking he speaks.
"It seems that your sister's fiancé was a real jerk...", Alvin insults himself internally, "sorry, maybe I shouldn't speak like that about him, because according to Karla they loved each other and…"
But Alvin shuts up, because to his surprise, Gaius' jaw tenses when hearing his last statement.
"Yes, I know that Karla loved him, but I'm rather sure that it wasn't the other way around", Gaius says those words with a tone that tries to be casual, but a quiet anger can clearly been heard.
Alvin frowns confused.
"Why are you so sure? I mean, it's true that Karla told us that he went to the war to make a name for himself but according to her it was to make her proud"
"That was a lie", he says cuttingly, "Karla never told him anything about her wanting that, it was just the opposite: she almost begged him not to go, but he ignored her desires because he was almost eighteen at that time and resented me for having been summoned to the war despite my short age, and for that reason he decided to go as well, not only to make a name for himself but especially to try to surpass me", Gaius frowns, "he decided to put his pride before Karla's wishes, so I'm afraid that from then on I couldn't possibly believe that a man like that truly loved her, and after the war that belief was confirmed"
Alvin doesn't say anything because Gaius was right, and although some people could think that the king did the same when he left Karla behind it was not the same at all, because Gaius did that precisely because he loved his sister so much that he didn't want to put her life in danger, and consequently the best option was to cut ties with her. And yes, maybe at that moment he ignored his sister's wishes of him remaining with her, but he did that to assure a future for her, a future for everyone, and that couldn't be possibly compared to the desires of a stubborn man who only wanted to feel better than the others.
"So…it was true that you have something to do with that man disappearance?"
Gaius nods.
"Yes, but it's not what you all were thinking", he says, "I didn't kill him, and in fact that man is still alive"
Alvin's eyes open wide in astonishment.
"What?"
"After the tsunami wiped out almost our entire army, the little few that survived formed subgroups in order to assure the King's safeness while we were coming back to the capital, and I made sure to be in the same group that Karla's fiancé to be able to share some words with him"
"And that conversation included a battle?", Alvin suggests, causing Gaius to raise his eyebrows surprised.
"How do you know that?"
Alvin smiles.
"'The best way of knowing a man of science is through a nice conversation, but the best way of knowing a man of arms is trough a nice fight'"
Gaius eyes open wider briefly before smiling.
"I didn't know that you remembered that"
"I have a really good memory, your Majesty. One of my multiple talents", he adds, causing Gaius to exhale a soft chuckle.
"Well, you've guessed right. I told him to fight with me in order to determine if he was worthy of being my sister's fiancé. When hearing that he got angry and accepted without hesitation, and he made the first mistake by underestimating me, so it only took me one hit to make him fall and to put my sword against his neck"
Alvin can't avoid remembering then his first fight with Gaius, and although he makes the effort of not showing the hint of a smile that is threatening to come out Gaius seems to be thinking the same for the way his eyes shine playfully for a moment before speaking again.
"At that moment I told him that since it had just been probed that he didn't stand a chance against me, that meant that it was impossible for him to protect my sister, and that he better leave her alone if he wanted to keep living. Of course I hadn't any intention of killing him, but I made sure to be rather convincing while threatening him, and then he made the second mistake: instead of trying to keep fighting, or instead of trying to convince me that he really loved Karla and that he really wanted to make her happy despite his weaknesses, he didn't deny anything, and the only words that escaped his mouth were: 'Please, let me disappear'"
There is a little pause and Gaius exhales a deep breath.
"I admit that I was pushing that man to the limits, and that he was probably feeling guilty about what had just happened and consequently he wasn't acting as he would do in a normal situation, but the fact is that a man who was claiming to want to be the best surrendered the moment he was cornered without fighting, and a man who was claiming to love and to want to protect my sister wasn't able to defend his supposed firm feelings for her, because he was afraid of losing his life"
Alvin is about to speak but he realizes that Gaius is about to keep talking so he decides to wait.
"When the fight was over and I came back with the rest of the soldiers without him no one said anything, but the next day the rumors of me being the cause of that man disappearance had already begun to spread, so when I came home Karla was already suspecting me and asked me explanations", Alvin notices that Gaius tenses up a little, "maybe the best thing to do would have been to tell her the truth, but I decided not to say anything because at that moment I wasn't sure if that man planned to come back with her when things calmed down, and in that case I didn't want to tell her how shamefully he had acted, so I decided to wait until knowing what had happened to him. However, at that moment I wasn't powerful enough and I hadn't enough contacts to try to find that man discretely, and it wasn't until five years later when I met Wingul that I could trust in someone enough to ask him help with the search, and when we finally found him several months later we discovered that he was married. With a five years-old boy under his care"
Alvin eyes snap opened while Gaius shakes his head, lost in his thoughts.
"I know that I tend to be rather hard with the ones who claim to be something that they aren't, and I know that maybe I couldn't ask that man to be stronger because it was not his nature, and I know that despite not having tried to prove me wrong in what I said that man could have really loved Karla at that moment… but then I think that if that last assumption had been true, if he had really loved my sister, he would have tried to contact her after having ran away, and even if he kept being afraid of me trying to kill him, he could have been waited to contact her three years later when I left Karla behind…but he didn't: he chose to disappear, letting my sister believe that he was dead while he had already rearranged his life with another woman in the most far away country of Rieze Maxia", Gaius looks finally at Alvin, "do you think that I'm wrong when thinking that a man like that couldn't possibly truly love her?"
Alvin shakes his head without hesitation when realizing that despite Gaius' cutting words there is a hint of doubt on them.
"No", he says, "I can understand that man for fearing you, and I can understand too that he would have decided to save his life by denying his feelings towards your sister, but however weak that man may be it's as you've said: he had five years to try to contact Karla, and he didn't do it. Besides, if you say that he had a five-years-old kid that meant that it didn't take much to forget your sister to find a new woman. So he was a total jerk"
Gaius exhales a soft laugh not expecting the last sentence, and then he leans forward towards Alvin to kiss him softly but intensely at the same time, and Alvin knows without needing words that Gaius is thanking him right now for having supported his thoughts. Alvin smiles to himself. He was always going to be surprised of how unsure Gaius could be despite his decisions were right almost the hundred per cent of the times.
"But there is something that I don't understand", Alvin says when they separate, "why wouldn't you tell Karla anything when finding that man?"
Gaius averts his eyes.
"Because I was stupid", Gaius says with such guiltiness that Alvin gulps, "by when I discovered what had happened with her fiancé Karla had already rearranged her life and was focusing of becoming an history teacher, and since she had stopped asking me about that man I thought that she had forgotten him, so I decided not to tell her anything", Gaius exhales an empty laugh, "I was stupid. I forgot that we are very similar, and that the fact that she didn't show any emotion towards that man didn't mean that she didn't care anymore"
Alvin gulps again, and he is about to apologize for having asked when suddenly Gaius looks at him again with such a thankful look that Alvin's eyes open with confusion.
"But fortunately, after fifteen long years, I had the extremely luck of meeting you, and besides making me fall in love you made me realize that to keep everything by myself was a mistake, and that it's necessary to let your loved ones to know that you care for them in order to not to lose them, and that was what made me contact my sister again after all those years and speak to her sincerely, about everything, and thanks to that she could feel finally at ease by knowing the truth and she accepted me by her side as her older brother again so…", Gaius smiles, "thank you, Alvin"
Alvin exhales a deep breath.
"Damn you…", he snaps just before covering his eyes in embarrassment trying to hide the fact that he is about to cry. Damn king, how did he always manage to say things that affected him like that?
"I love you", Gaius whispers while surrounding with his arm Alvin's back, making him exhale a sigh.
"That doesn't help, you know?", he snaps, but despite his words he grabs Gaius' face with rudeness and kisses him violently, without caring about the strangled gasps of the people surrounding them, and it seemed that Gaius didn't care it either for the way he responds with equal (or probably more) enthusiasm.
"Me too", Alvin adds against Gaius' lips when they separate, "but the next time that you say things like this, please, make sure that we are fucking alone, okay?"
Gaius exhales a soft laugh.
"I have forgotten how sensitive you are", he says with a tone mix teasing and tenderness.
"Shut up", Alvin snarls kissing him again, this time more calmly.
They remain in a comfortable silence for some moments, laughing from time to time while seeing the way Elize and Elle keeps transforming Karla and Ludger into sand sirens.
"Oh, damn, I almost forget", Alvin says suddenly, causing Gaius to look at him confused, "I'm just curious: if you had won the bet what would you have made me do?"
Gaius shakes his head with an amused smile.
"I was expecting a more serious question", he says with amusement.
"Hey, we've talked seriously before", Alvin says with a smile, causing Gaius to exhale a soft laugh.
"Honestly…I don't know", Gaius says, "because as you have said before almost all the things that I would like to make you do I know that you would do it willingly so…"
"I wouldn't do your paperwork willingly"
"I know", Gaius says with a chuckle, "but I wouldn't ask you to do that either. I don't like to make people do things with which they are not comfortable"
"Me neither", Gaius looks at him skeptically, "hey, I admit that maybe I would make some people to do some things to tease them but I'll never make anyone do something embarrassing"
Gaius exhales another laugh.
"I know", he says kissing Alvin softly.
There is a little pause before Alvin speaks again.
"Well, if you are interested, I do know what I would have asked you", Alvin says with a casual tone, making Gaius raise his eyebrows surprised.
"Oh, can I ask you what it would be?"
Alvin bites his bottom lip with certain embarrassment.
"Umh…when we fought a year ago against you and Muzét…do you remember how did you transform yourself?"
Gaius frowns, trying to remember.
"Yes, I remember, although more or less. I know that the suit was rather tight and consequently more uncomfortably than the one I usually wear, and I don't understand why tattoos had to appear on my skin, and I find certainly useless that the suit itself left my body so exposed because if I received a direct hit then…"
"Yeah, Erston, you remember it perfectly", Alvin says after clearing his throat, and blaming for thousandth time that his swimsuit was so fucking tight.
There is another little pause.
"But you haven't said me what my transformation has to do with your petition"
For a moment Alvin thinks that Gaius is mocking him, but when he looks at the king and sees Gaius' expression he realizes that he honestly doesn't know. Alvin suppresses the urge of beginning to laugh. Oh damn. How could Gaius be so innocent sometimes?
"It has everything to do with my petition, Erston", he says with a smile, and when seeing that Gaius' expression hasn't changed Alvin speaks again, "I would like to have sex with you in that form"
Gaius' eyes snap opened.
"Really?"
Alvin exhales a laugh.
"Yes, really", he repeats, "damn, do you know how fucking hot are you in that form?"
Gaius' eyes open even wider if possible.
"It wouldn't have occurred to me that you liked that kind of disguise"
Alvin laughs when hearing Gaius' tone.
"Well, I like it. A lot. Of course that doesn't mean that I don't see you hot as you are normally but in that form…", Alvin can't avoid a sigh.
"And…", Gaius clears his throat and when Alvin looks at him he realizes that Gaius is averting his eyes, a little embarrassed, "and just out of curiosity, with me in that form what role would you prefer?"
Alvin hesitates before answering.
"Probably both. I mean, until yesterday I had only imagined it with you being in charge but after last night…", Alvin smiles seductively, "…I would really love to take you as well"
Gaius nods.
"Interesting", he only says, making Alvin exhale a laugh, "although I'm sorry to say you that I don't know if I'm able to adopt that form again. After all I only could use it because Muzét used all her power and she was using Maxwell's power as well so…"
Alvin kisses Gaius interrupting his blabbering.
"Don't worry. I have a really good imagination and I plan to keep using it", he says with a joking smile, making Gaius laugh.
"Pervert", Gaius says with a teasing tone.
"Thanks for the compliment, your Majesty", Alvin says playfully before kissing Gaius again, and just when they are about to deepen the kiss they both suffer a jolt of surprise when a figure suddenly appears behind them.
"We're back, lovey-dovies!"
"Damn, Leia…", Alvin exclaims causing the girl to begin to laugh.
"Sorry, I couldn't resist the temptation", she says with a smile before lowering her tone, "we've bough already the present, do you want to give it to her already?"
Gaius nods.
"I only need to speak to Muzét to recover my present"
"What have you bought her?", Alvin asks with curiosity.
Gaius smiles.
"Normally I always send her flowers or books, but this year it'll be something a little different"
Alvin is about to ask more details but at that moment Karla has already realized that everyone is back, so he decides to go to the rest while Muzét and Gaius goes discretely towards the beach huts again.
At the end, besides the dress they had bought her as well a couple of books and a rather big chocolate cake, and for the face that Karla was showing it seemed that she wasn't expecting the presents at all.
"We think that we have guessed the dress size well", Leia says, "and the books are about Elympios' history and they are very recent, but if you prefer something else…"
"No, no, not at all, I love the presents", Karla says with a wide smile while embracing them, looking right now like a little kid, "thank you so much, it wasn't necessary…"
"Yes, it was", Alvin says with a smile, "so stop mimicking your brother and accept them"
Everyone laughs when hearing Alvin's comment.
"Speaking of which…where is he?", Karla says with a confused frown looking around.
"My apologies for the waiting"
As always, Gaius appears suddenly followed by Muzét with a little box on his hands that he immediately offers to his sister.
"No flowers this year?", she says with a smile that Gaius returns without saying anything, and when Karla finally opens the box she exhales a gasp, her eyes open widely, "this…"
Everyone at the same time leans forward to see Karla sustaining a bracelet, and just with one glance Alvin realizes that it's a really expensive jewel, and that the little gems that are adorning the thin golden chain are probably rubies.
"What is that?", Teepo says with curiosity.
"It's…", Karla gulps, and now her eyes are shining and her voice is trembling a little, "it's our mother's bracelet. She always wore it until she had to sell it in order to help in the buying of some of the lands so our family could begin to prosper", Karla looks at her brother, "how…how had you found it?"
"I haven't exactly found it", Gaius says, "the truth is that when our mother sold it I immediately went to speak with the man that had bought it. At that time I was only ten, and consequently I hadn't anything that valuable to make an interchange. However, I made a deal with the man: I asked him to keep for himself the bracelet during the next five years without selling it, and I told him that at that time I would come back and I would pay him all the money that he had lost during the five years for not having been able to sell it. It seems that the man saw that I planned to keep my word, so he accepted"
"Holy crap", Alvin snaps without being able to suppress his surprise, causing Gaius to smile.
"I know that the deal can seem a little unfair but at that moment I had nothing to offer, but since my father had begun to train me to become a warrior I calculated that by that time I would have enough money to pay it, and I was right. I came back five years later, and although the man had died from an illness he had kept his word so her daughter, who was in charge of the business by then, gave me the bracelet back. But…", Gaius shuts up and averts his eyes from Karla's, a guilty expression on his face, "but at that time I have already left you, and you were still angry due to everything what had happened during the war, so I thought that if I offered you the bracelet at that moment, it would seem as if I was trying to gain your favour again, and I didn't want you to think that, so I decided to wait until the moment in which you and I could speak normally again", Gaius looks at Karla again, an apologetic smile in his face, "I'm sorry. At the end it has cost us more time that I initially calculat…"
Before Gaius could end the sentence Karla throws her arms around his neck and hugs him tightly, making the king open his eyes with surprise.
"Karla?"
"Idiot", she whispers, and now there is no doubt that she is crying, "you're an idiot"
Gaius remains quiet for a couple of seconds before smiling and returning the hug, embracing his sister with tenderness.
"You're welcome", Gaius says, and although Karla calls him 'idiot' again this time she says it with a hint of laughter in her voice.
"Thanks, your Majesty, you've managed to make our presents look like shit"
When hearing Alvin's words everyone begins to laugh, including Karla, and Alvin smiles relieved because he was rather sure that if the previous 'tension' between Gaius and Karla had continued for just a little longer, he would have ended doing something stupid, like being about to cry the same way Leia and Muzét were at that moment.
"Don't say that", Karla says with a smile stopping hugging at her brother but keeping an arm around his waist in an affectionate manner, "the moment I come back home I'm going to begin to read those books, I promise"
"Okay, but we can eat the cake now, right?", Elle says, and when seeing the way the girl is staring at the food everyone laughs again.
After they finish the cake, some of the group (concretely the girls plus Ludger) decide to enter the water one last time, but after that they decide to come back because it was already getting late.
"Hey, I've just thought something", Leia says suddenly when everybody is coming back.
"Seriously?", Balan says with a pretended surprised expression, causing her to glare at him before accepting his sorry kiss with a resigned smile.
"Yes, seriously: right now we should take note of all our birthdays, so this thing of almost forgetting one (or in this case two) won't happen again"
"Excellent idea, Miss Leia", Rowen says with a smile, "besides, with this Elympion mobiles now we can take note of the dates more easily"
Everyone turns to look at Gaius at the same time.
"Don't worry, Erston, when we arrive home we will give you the dates in a note", Alvin says with an obliging smile.
"What are you insinuating?", Gaius says with a threatening tone that only makes the rest laugh.
"Oh, so Alvin's birthday is the next", Elize says when everyone has said his, "and it's in less than a month! We better begin to think in a present quickly…"
"Hey, hey, relax!", Alvin says with a smile, "besides, it's not necessary that you think a present: you can help me with my hunts instead"
"We do that already", Leia replies with a smile.
"Well, then you can help me by speaking with my clients when…"
"No!"
Alvin sighs resigned when everyone answers with a chorus, and he is about to reply when seeing the way Gaius is lost in his thoughts.
"And you, Erston?", he says with a smile, "do you know already what you are going to give me?"
Gaius smiles back.
"Maybe", Alvin raises his eyebrows surprised, and he is about to open his mouth, "but you'll have to wait to see it"
Alvin exhales another sigh.
"You better think in something good and expensive. After all, I'm going out with a king for a reason", Alvin says with a teasing tone that makes Gaius roll his eyes with patient.
"Oh my, brother, be careful. It seems that Alvin only wants you for your money", Karla says with a pretended horrified tone that contrasts with his affectionate smile.
"That's inaccurate", Balan says suddenly with a too scientific tone, "because I'm positively sure that besides the money Alfred is rather interested in your brother's body as well"
"And in his bedroom skills…", Muzét adds, causing Ludger to begin to speak louder so Elle and Elize focus on him.
"Okay, can you stop making me look like a jerk in front of my sister in law?", Alvin exclaims.
"I'm afraid that it's you the one who has begun", Rowen points out with a smile while Alvin exhales a sigh.
"Don't worry, Alvin", Karla says while patting Alvin's arm, "I'm rather sure that you love my brother. The face that you show when you're together is rather impossible to misinterpret"
"Yeah, you show a much stupider expression than usual…it's a joke, it's a joke!"
However although Leia tries to run away from Alvin he is faster than her, so he manages to grab her and after putting her over his shoulders like a bag he runs towards the sea, and when they surface again they are completely wet and laughing.
"Hey! Don't go playing without us!", Elle exclaims running towards them, and although they had planned to come back already at the end everyone ends on the water again during almost another hour until they decide (this time for sure) to come back.
"Oh damn, it's been a bad idea to swim with clothes", Alvin says when they are walking towards Karla's house. As always Gaius and him were in the last line of the group alone.
Gaius laughs.
"You're certainly sensitive to the cold", he says with a smile when seeing Alvin grabbing a towel to put it around his shoulder.
"Yeah, and I'm engaged with a man who seems to love it", and then Alvin realizes the way Gaius' eyes have opened when saying those words, "sorry, I mean…I know that we aren't engaged, I-I wanted to say…"
Gaius ends Alvin's sentence with a kiss, and this time it's not the normal kiss that they usually used to shut the other one up, but one so full of intensity and (yes, it was going to sound sappy but it was the truth) love that it takes Alvin's breath away completely.
"Don't apologize", Gaius says with a smile when they separate, "I really like how that word sounds"
Alvin exhales a snort of amusement trying to hide his embarrassment.
"However don't expect me to marry you yet. After all we only have been together for real a couple of months", Alvin says with a teasing tone that makes Gaius laugh.
"You're certainly right. However, you haven't said no directly either so may I suppose that you would feel more inclined to say yes in a future?"
Alvin's eyes open wide, because despite Gaius amused tone his eyes are serious.
"Are you seriously proposing me to marry you?", Alvin asks just to be sure, and he seems to have a really funny expression at that moment because Gaius chuckles.
"Not right now, of course. After all I have still work to do in order to 'unify' Elympios and Rieze Maxia…but…", Alvin gulps when realizing that Gaius is completely serious now, "but in a future, I would like to be able to make you that proposition, and of course I would be delighted if you decided to answer me positively", Gaius gulps, "Does that bother you?"
Alvin can feel Gaius tensing, as he was afraid of the answer, so he immediately kisses him and without hesitation he speaks.
"No, your Majesty, that doesn't bother me at all", he says with a smile, and he is proud of speaking with such a firm voice despite his heart is beating like crazy right now, and when Gaius smiles, relieved and genuinely happy, before kissing him again with intensity Alvin insults himself internally for having a lump on his throat.
Damn it. What the hell was his problem getting his hopes up like that? Come on, for goodness sake, they couldn't even kiss in public when there was a risk to be discovered so to marry was impossible…right? But thinking about it…if that possibility wasn't viable Gaius wouldn't have suggested it in the first place… so maybe…was there really a way? A way to be together like a normal couple? A way to live together? A way to get married?
"Come on, guys! Continue that in the house, I'm freezing!"
At that moment Alvin realizes that they have stopped.
"My apologies, Leia. It seems that Alvin can't take his hands off me"
"What?", Alvin exclaims making the rest laugh, and although he glares at Gaius when he sees the king's amused expression he can't remain 'offended' for too long, and after kissing him again they begin to walk again, their hands intertwined.
Alvin smiles to himself. It was too soon to begin to think in things like living together, and way too soon to think in things like getting married, but well, at least now the possibility wasn't zero as he had been thinking during all that time, because Gaius has always been (and he still was) a man of certainties, and if he was expecting to propose him one day…why shouldn't he believe in that as well?
As always, I have problems with the ending of the chapters ^^U I hope that you've liked the chapter despite of the probably excess of fluffy and happiness xD As always, feel free to leave whatever feedback you consider necessary and thank you so much for the ones who keep reading and commenting ;)
Next update as always: two-three weeks from now! :)
Note: if someone is interested, Gaius and Karla's past can be found in the wikia of Tales of Xillia. I've only added the things related to Karla's fiancé because there wasn't any information about him except the fact that he disappeared and that Karla blamed Gaius for that, but as always if someone finds any more information about that please don't hesitate in letting me know! ;) Also, you can see the bracelet that it's described if you search this fanfic in Archive of Our Own, since there I can post images :P