Don't Cry Alone
Part Three: Sanctuary
Song lyrics are Bella Morte's "One Winter's Night"
I think with teary eyes
Of you my love on this dark night
I recall my time with you
In lonely rooms of saddest blue
Love and loss entwine
To never fall into the light
And my feelings true
Shall never rest until I die with you
------------------------- His cheek against his brother's rising and falling chest, his hand softly stromed against the six-pack contours of his sleeping brother's abdomen. Arms held him tightly within the sanctuary of the darkened inn room, breath so soft escaped his lips and nose in slow intervals. His cheek and eye no longer throbbing with pain, his brother's touch eased the pain. He remained awake while his older brother slept, he wasn't tired this night. Too much unclosed things had begun to trail in his mind. He had come back to pay respect to the bride, but she hadn't treated him with the slightest bit of respect since they first met. He loved her once.... once. But now that he learned she'd tear the heart from his chest rather than to pamper its' aching needs, he wanted nothing more to do with her. A deep sigh drew from his chest and escaped his lips, his good eye fluttered shut thoughtfully. But then in the recesses of his mind, he felt his brother's lips against his once more. Although soft, sweet and tender, there was that bit of urgency and despair. He remembered that during the kiss, tears had touched his cheeks, his brother's tears. He didn't want to make him cry again, he didn't want him to worry about him anymore. Sitting up to admire his brother's handsome face, he saw soft strands of golden hair slide neatly against his face. Sleeping soundly with his head nested in the feather pillow under his head, the Imperial colonel dreamed of things to come. Twisting around in his sleep, now on his side and his arms still around his younger brother, his sleep proved to him to be less than peaceful. Occassionally he'd wince and flinch, as if he was being beaten or the sound of the lashing whip was heard in a violent whipping. The younger sibling frowned at the faces his brother made, his fingers clawed into his back, causing him to yelp. "Karl...!!" ------------------
And hand in hand one life
Moves against the tides of time and fate
And hand in hand one life
Turns its back on those who cannot see
And from this dying world
An echo carried softly on the breeze
Sounds of the Reaper's grace
A silent tear falls to a grim defeat
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Thomas shook his brother awake, worried about the tears that suddenly seemed to fall down his cheeks. Karl opened his eyes to see his younger brother looking at him sadly. But before any questions were asked, anything was spoken, Karl kissed his brother on the lips. Masking a hidden secret with subtle and soft kisses and hugs, Karl didn't want Thomas to worry about him. Gently pushing himself away, Thomas looked at his brother with those sad, sad green eyes. "Karl..." "Yes?" Karl asked tenderly, his hand on Thomas's barely-bruised cheek. "Why were you crying in your sleep?" "I-it's nothing..." Karl rubbed his thumb against Thomas's lips, his eyes shined in the moonlight like two emeralds under a silver light. "Nothing to cry over. Just old war scars." "Brother." Thomas kissed his brother again, his hands found their way on his back. What he felt snapped him from the kiss and pulled away. "War scars? Those feel like whip lashes." Karl blinked, then frowned, sitting up from the bed and letting the blankets fall from his body. "It's nothing." The handsome colonel frowned, his hand on his own shoulder. "Just punishment for a mistake." "M-mistake??" Thomas sat up quickly, his arms around Karl's waist. "W-what kind of mistake?" "Something that I did that humiliated the Minister. It's an old wound, nothing much. It doesn't matter anymore. The past is the past." "But Karl. They stopped using whips as punishment before Minister Prozen landed into office." Thomas pleaded for his brother to open up to him. "Tell me what really happened." -----------------
I watch the candle's light
Dance in time across your face
Your soft pale skin on mine
Lost in your gaze I slip away
Embrace the night my love
For it may be our last
But let not this moment fade and our memory
Shall never know the grave
On a cold winter's night
----------------- "It was punishment for failure, Thomas... leave it at that." Thomas knew better, his cheek pressed against Karl's torn back and closed his eyes. His green eyes sparkled with tears, his arms begged and pleased for Karl to hold him close. Turning around to face the dirty blonde lieutenant, Karl lied him down on the bed and kissed him deeply. His hands carressed Thomas's firm, unbroken back, holding him close to his body. Thomas's fingers slid through his golden hair, their lips pressed firmly together, their tongues slid in each other's mouth. "Do not worry about me and my past away from you, Thomas." His lips softly pressed against the bridge of Thomas's nose. "But I can't help but to." Thomas whispered, his hand caressed the back of Karl's shoulder blade. "There is nothing to fear. I am okay. I am here, ain't I?" "Yes..." The kiss was deeper and longer, more passionate and fuller.
---------------------
Shameless to the eyes that peer in
Behind the curtains our silhouettes are grey
And the cattails sway in gentle mist
Beside the mirror's gleam
From a soul that shines like stars
In the heavens from afar
Every word rings true
I'll never rest until I die with you
On a cold winter's night
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The sun began to rise when the kiss was finally broken, the two brothers never felt more relieved than now. Their gaze met softly, Karl ran his fingers through Thomas's curly dark blonde hair. The silence was shattered when Thomas's stomach growled and he blushed with embarassment. "I thought you ate those cookies and brownies before we went to bed." "I-i did." Thomas smiled, his cheeks rosy with embarassment. He looked so cute and cuddly. "Well, it's time to get up and head back, we'll eat breakfast before we go back to base." "Okay." Thomas sat up, smiling contently at his brother. "I swear your stomach does more thinking than your head." Karl smirked slyly. "What's that supposed to mean? Karl! Don't be so mean!" Karl chuckled and kissed Thomas's forehead, causing the young lieutenant to blush. "But I'm your older brother, it's my right to be." "Karl!" Thomas pouted, watching his older brother giggle as he headed for the bathroom.
-Continued-