Eratos
Pt. Four: Fall No More




Author's Note: Song lyrics are Bella Morte's "Fall No More"




The Great Whales landed in Guygalos just on time, the weather was next to clear and the Summer air was warm and pleasant. The Imperial zoids unloaded before Hermann's wheels did, when all was unloaded, the Whales took off again. They were right in front of the palace and looking down at them with excitement, was Emperor Rudolph. He rushed down to greet Karl and his unit, he indeed got the happy news. Leon looked around the city, then turned in front of him. They all kneeled in front of Rudolph as he approached, but got up on his command.

"Is it true that you are finally getting married?"

"Yes, sire." Karl nodded, poker-faced about the entire situation, but Leon could read the excitement as it oozed out of his thoughts.

"I am happy for you and for Mjr. Aethelwulf." Rudolph smiled, nodding. "I always knew you made such a lovely couple."

"Emperor, if I may, I'd like to go back to New Helic City for a few days." Thomas requested, his pose suggesting seriousness.

"I'll have to work out some of the proper channels, but sure. I don't mind if you go back to the Republican capitol."

"Thank-you, sire."

"Hermann, O'Connell... see me in the courtyard after 3. I'll discuss your citizenship status and such." Rudolph turned toward the ex-Republics. "It won't take too long, but I will need to go over a few things with you."

"Yes, sir." Hermann nodded, then saluted.

"Colonel Schubaltz, Major Aethelwulf." Rudolph handed them a piece of plastic reminance of a credit card. "Feel free to use this for your wedding preparations."

"Thank-you, sire."

"Are you sure that is necessary, milord?" Leon asked, looking at the credit card. "I don't want to dry up your expenses and..."

"I don't mind, Major. You both deserve it."

"Thank-you, Milord."

Rudolph nodded and turned to walk away, Thomas whistled at the piece of plastic. "The Emperor's Expence Card... fancy."

"C'mon, Leon. Let's go shop!"

"W-wait! I hadn't even parked the König Wolf yet!" Leon was grabbed by Karl and they both rushed off to the shopping district.

"Ain't love grand?" Thomas smiled, watching them run off.

"Yes, and what are you doing going back to Helic City?" Hermann asked, smiling. "Gonna see Nancy?"

"That.... is a secret." Thomas blushed bright red.




Karl looked over his exceptionally-nice tailored uniform, admiring all the decorations. The uniform was black and the workings were gold. The tassels were scarlet red and his gloves were white. Leon was watching all of the proceedings as the tailors felt inside Karl's suit for any inconsistancy or mis-stitch. His indigo eyes were hidden with sweet-looking shades, he was admiring Karl and his overexcited expression.

//Leonardo Nygel Schubaltz? It does have a nice ring to it. Karl Lichen Aethelwulf? Hmmmm.... bah! I already decided to take the name Schubaltz. Besides, Aethelwulf is cursed anyway.//

"Leon?"

Snapping from his bubble of thought, Leon looked up at Karl but found himself admiring the beautifully decorated wedding uniform and the beauty who wore it.

"What do you think?"

"Just beautiful." Leon stood up and slipped his hands on Karl's waist. "But you're always beautiful to me."

Karl smiled sweetly, they leaned forward and kissed softly and longingly. Departing slowly, their eyelids fluttered open and their amorous gaze meet.

"Are you going to be fitted in a ceremonial uniform?"

"I have something better in mind. But I'll make it myself. I just need the materials."

"Okay." Karl smiled, his hands still on Leon's hips. "What else shall we do?"

"Eat. I need to."

"Your magic battery's low?"

"Yes."

"Alright. Where would you like to go?" Karl began delicately taking off the ceremonial uniform while the tailors ring up the cost.

"Someplace cheap but serves filling food. The bulkier the stuff, the more quintessence I can gain from it."

Putting on his normal, off-grey uniform, Karl looked back at Leon from the mirrors, smiling brightly. "It's been 5 years since we met and already we're getting hitched. We have come a long way from that alley."

"Yes." Leon nodded as he looked at Karl through the mirror. "Only 3 years ago, you couldn't even get me to say 'I love you'."

"Yes, we have come a long way." Karl nodded, putting his boots on. "I am glad we have. I am even more so about getting you to open up."

"Yes..." Leon slowly rose to his feet and adjusted his black uniform's necktie. //But there is so much you do not know about.//

"Let's go." Karl looped his arm around Leon's arm and collected the tailored uniform.




Find the end, let us start again
Feelings lost shall surge as oceans
So grey, she rises to the world
And her name, shatterd years ago
Scattered with the northern snow
Fragments hidden well within our minds"


"Leon.... why won't you talk to me about your past?" Karl asked, leaning against the doorframe. "You look like you have bottled up your entire life."

"Because my life is a dark void, no one shall be sucked into it." Leon finished folding his uniform, preparing for bed.

"But all dark voids can hold light, let me help you, Leon. You shouldn't close anyone from your life."

Setting the uniform down, Leon's eyes stared at the buttons and patches of the Imperial unit he was in. His hand slid on the cold metal patch representing his recent rise to Major.

"I dare not to."

"Why not? I thought we could talk to each other about things."


"Till the rains fall no more
Till the nights no longer find us here alone
Till the rains fall no more
Till the nights no longer find us here alone"


"There is nothing to be said. Good night, Karl."

Leon climbed into bed and turned off the light, he turned to face the wall but remained awake. A few seconds later, the tired Major felt a warm, naked body press against his. Karl's arms slid around Leon's abdomen, his chin rested on Leon's broad shoulder. Feeling the warmth of Karl's body against his flesh, Leon felt something inside him warm up as well. He slipped his hand gently on top of one of Karl's, caressing it gently. He turned in Karl's arms, so they were face-to-face, Leon's arms snaked around Karl's trim body. Not a word was said, there was no need for words. It was clearly easy to see that Karl was greatly worried about Leon. Afraid that the cold void of Leon's persona would swallow him whole, the green-eyed angel tried all he could to pull him out. He had seen Leon struggling to re-find his humanity, he had seen that Leon can and does feel emotions. Karl knows Leon is hurting badly, but wishes that Leon doesn't fall alone.


"In death's eyes, sorrow lingered once
Seeing her life torn apart,
the shackles fell to see her walk the Earth
In her eyes, life is present still
During the day I watch her sleeping
I hold her close forever more"


Before the beautiful silence was shattered, both of them leaned forward and their lips touched, Karl's hand slid through Leon's slate-blue hair, his fingers meshed between each silky tuft. Leon was enthralled in the moment, his indigo eyes showed to Karl, life that was never there. Another soft kiss and Karl's hand stroking Leon's hair affectionately, Leon's own hand slid upward. His fingertips touched Karl's cheek, his thumb pressed against his lips. Karl took Leon's hand with both of his, he sucked and caressed each finger passionately, erotically. He could feel power in Leon's hand, raw, unbridled, phenominal cosmic power, but regardless of that, Karl's touch was soothing. Leon's body was honey gold in color, very Californian-like. But Karl's fleshtone was pale, almost porcelain white. Karl kissed Leon again, his fingers caressed Karl's pink cheek softly.

"I know you are hurting." The green-eyed angel whispered, his hand resting upon Leon's muscular chest. "Tell me why you are hurting, and I'll do anything to ease it."

"My life is hell, Karl. I have been alive for 15,000 years, I have witnessed and caused billions of deaths in my lifetime. I had seen many corruption and war, enough to make me sick with illness. I cannot die, the Eternal Sleep will never grace me, bless me from this wretched existence. I am Forever Walking, a product of my power and also its' daunting price. I had witnessed loved ones wither to dust before my eyes and I could do nothing to stop it. I am cursed, Karl. Cursed until the universe can bear me no longer..."


"Till the rains fall no more
Till the nights no longer find us here alone
Till the rains fall no more
Till the nights no longer find us here alone"


"You are not cursed, Leon. Not to me. You're everything I ever hoped for in a lover and then some. You make me laugh, you make me smile, before I met you, I never knew what it was like to be human. I never knew there was life other than the military." Karl slid a lock of slate-blue hair from Leon's eyes and smiled. "You make such a miserable military existence less daunting and breaking. Life's a tragedy, but it's also a comedy. Laugh a little, Leon."

A smile crept itself on Leon's pouty lips, then they kissed again, tasting each other's sweet lips. They were smiling at each other, the biting cold of the room seemed less so in each other's warmth.

"You're so beautiful when you smile, Leon. Don't ever lose it."

"You're so beautiful either way." Leon pulled Karl close, kissing him deeply.




"Yo, Leon." Karl waved his hand in front of Leon's eyes. "Your meal's here."

"Oh. Sorry." Leon smiled sheepishly and cut into the steak with his knife and fork. "I been thinking about something."

"Yes, Leon?" Karl looked up, putting a shrimp popper to his lips.

"Well, I been thinking about the wedding in whole. I would really be honored if I took the Schubaltz name."

"Oh Leon." Karl smiled, then ate the popcorn shrimp. "I would have taken Aethelwulf, but that works."

"Are you sure you wanna? The name is a curse."

"But... you're not cursed, Leon."

"I know." Leon ate the piece of steak and sighed. "It's just that..."

"What?"

"It's nothing. Lost my train of thought."

"Oh."

Leon and Karl continued eating, when the bill arrived, Leon took it in his hands. "I'll pay for this."

"We have the card."

"I know." Leon smiled, winking at Karl. "But it's tradition that the gentleman pays for his date's meal as well."

"You truly are that, a gentleman."

"I know." The handsome arch-mage grinned, he finished his meal before paying.

"Where do we go now?" Karl asked, grabbing his bags and his hat.

"Flowers.... all weddings have flowers."




-Continued-