Eratos
Part Six: Song of the Wolf




Author's Note: This piece was inspired by David Arkenstone's "Cry of the Wolf"





The moons were full, it had finally cleared up the sky. With all the items and planners and such settled down and everything finally prepared, it was time to relax. Something nice and fulfilling was cooking on the stove, a bottle of champagne was in a casp of ice. The table was set and there was an elegant ring box on the counter. Karl was out of uniform, he was dressed in a white button-up shirt and black pants. His shirt was half-buttoned, revealing a pristene neckline and a beautiful male chest. He waited indulgingly for his fiancée to exit the bedroom.

To Karl's surprise, the sound of wolves howling in the background were heard. It alerted him greatly, he turned toward the direction of the window. The wolves howled again, an ominous tune to their dirge to the moons. Stepping closer to the wall, Karl was soon shaken when a loud howl was heard above his head. He twisted around to the door as the howls got louder. The howls stopped, the door opened and Leon stepped into the hallway. He was wearing a black turtleneck and black pants. His hair was slicked back entirely and his glasses were cutely resting on his nose.

"Karl-darling. What is wrong?" He pulled Karl in his arms, seeing how spooked he was.

"I heard wolves... and then one loud out above us."

"Do not fear, they are only wishing us well."

"W-wishing us well??" Karl was shocked at what he heard, but Leon's soothing kiss eased his troubled mind. They kissed deeply, their arms firmly around each other. Leon and Karl departed from their embrace slowly, Karl sticking his tongue back in his mouth. Their gaze was soft, loving, and endearing, their touch was featherlike and tender. Leon pulled the chair out, allowing Karl to sit down at the candlelit table. Pulling a box from his pocket, Leon opened it up to reveal a beautiful necklace. On the necklace was a emerald pendant in the shape of Leon's amethyst Mage's Cross. He slipped it delicately on Karl's pristene neck, hooking it together.

"The emerald brings out your eyes." Leon whispered before kissing Karl's neck.

"It's lovely." Karl's fingers stroked the smooth gemstones on the necklace, a smile on his lips.

"You're lovely." Leon kissed the corner of his lips and held him close in his arms.

They kissed again before the oven beeped to know the food was ready. The arch-mage poured the noodles in a strainer, then poured them back into the pot. Karl poured the champagne in the glasses and watched Leon stirring the sauce. The arch-mage churned some spice into the suace and stirred some more. Then dishing out the spaghetti and the sauce, he sat down at the table. They gave each other a toast, smiling.

"This smells so good." Karl smiled, twirling the noodles with the fork. "I must give your Earth knowledge credit, I hadn't eaten anything this delightful."

"I love to cook." Leon smiled and ate some of his food. "I am glad that the people of Zi can handle Earth food. Earthians can't handle Malfaesian cooking, it makes them sick with diarhea."

"Ouch." Karl ate some more noodles and sipped his champagne. "Have you tried feeding any of us some of that Malfaesian cooking?"

"Kinda afraid to. Dunno what it'll do. Malfaes herbs and spices are very... I mean... VERY strong. The weakest Malfaesian herb is called Yupine, it's so strong that it was considered a poison on Earth and it was given the name Curere."

"I see." Karl listened with intrigue. "What was Yupine originally used for in Malfaes?"

"It was a garnishing herb, used a lot by the royalty." Leon twirled noodles onto the fork. "Malfaesians however, would consider Earth food very bland, even the strongest Earth's got to offer."

"Wow. What do you think of Zi food?"

"Kinda stronger than Earth's food, but it doesn't give a bitter taste in my mouth. It's kinda light like that, I'd say better than Earth's food in all respects. But Zi lacks the variety of choices."

"Well, Zi also lacks some of the animals Earth had. I admit, I was confused when you mentioned to me something called a pig." Karl ate another forkfull of spaghetti.

"Pigs... yeah, I remember that story." Leon smiled and continued eating.

There was a few more minutes of blissful silence, there was the occassion wanting stare.




"I can't remember the last time I had a meal this good." Leon smiled at Karl as the Imperial Major cleared the table.

"My cooking is not that great." Karl smiled as he placed the plates in the sink.

"I protest, Karl. It is so good. I can't really complain too much. I hadn't really cooked in a long time. I don't know if I'm good anymore."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Leon." Karl laughed as Leon stepped beside him. They both stuck their hands under the sudsy water and washed the dishes. "I'd love for you to cook a meal for us one day."

"Are you sure?" Leon looked over at his green-eyed friend. "I don't want to make you sick or anything."

"No, not at all, Leon. I have you by my side, I have nothing to fear, right?"

"True. Never considered that." Leon looked away, sheepishly.

"I don't really know how to really thank you for all you've done for me." Karl spoke in almost a hushed tone, his eyelids half-open but his eyes still sparkled like gems.

"Karl..." Leon spoke almost just as softly, his hand rose from the water to stroke his cheek. "I will do anything for you and ask for nothing in return except your love."

"Still, I want to pay you back for everything, you made me feel truly alive."

There wasn't anymore need for words, their lips touched softly. Leon's gaze melted the rest of the ice around Karl's heart. "Don't worry about it, Karl. I enjoy your company, that is truly all I ever need. Everything else, I can supply myself."

"Except this..." Karl unbuttoned Leon's shirt, kissing Leon's neck. He peeled Leon's shirt away from Leon's muscular body, the arch-mage responded by unbuttoning Karl's shirt in return. Sitting Karl up on the counter by the sink, Leon kissed his neck five times, savoring each flavor.

"Leon..." His fingers slid in through Leon's soft slate-blue hair. "...I don't... I don't want this moment to end..."

"Neither do I..." Leon got on the counter with Karl, lying him down flat on his back. He pulled Karl's arms over his head and kissed his neck again. Slowly making his way down Karl's body, Leon's lips touched the warm, passion-heated skin each time he leaned down. Unbuttoning Karl's pants, the arch-mage looked into his lime-hued eyes.

"I want this... I want you."

"Then be my guest. Take me."

"I planned on it."

For the rest of that day, there was sex on the kitchen counter.




"Where will the honeymoon be?" Karl asked, resting against Leon's body as they lied in bed. They were nude, only their legs were covered with the blankets. The effeminate colonel's head rested against Leon's broad shoulder, his hand stroking Leon's chest affectionately.

"Someplace nice and warm." Leon muttered, staring at the ceiling. "Why? Where were you hoping?" He looked at Karl inquisitively.

"Oh, I was thinking the city by Mount Iselina."

"Oh that one." Leon smiled, then rubbed his hand up and down Karl's back. "I see what you're saying, that town is beautiful."

"Nice and peaceful and has a lovely view and the food is exquisite."

"I agree." They kissed deeply, but was soon interupted by the howling of wolves.

"Your friends are calling again." Karl chuckled, he kissed Leon again.

"I hear."

The wolves howled again, the two lied there in bed, listening to their song.

"Only 3 more days..." Leon muttered to Karl, feeling his lover fall asleep in his arms.

"Yes, only 3 more days and you'll be a Schubaltz."

A smile found itself on Leon's lips again, then they both closed their eyes to sleep.




-Continued-