- Stirring Earth -
Ahem! Thanks for all of your support, guys. Reaaally appreciate it, yep, I do. ^_^ So, for this chapter... the warnings, that is: Kissing, touching, I believe some hinting at *inappropiate* stuff... Alex weirdness... Alex doing bad things... Slight AlexxFelix.
[Felix] Alex is such a jerk.
To you, he is. To the rest of us, he's a sekushii bishounen with hair to die for and a damn cool personality.... Er, sorta. ^_^ You're just mad he --
[Stephanie] Don't ruin it!
Er, right, right. Read on... er... readers! Oh, and Riyn, I think you missed the very last part of my notes at the end... This is the actual last part of Alex-ness... Wait for my next fic, called "To Steal a Heart." Lots of Alex there... Weird Alex... And this chapter... ::Sigh:: Once again, to Riyn's requests... -__-;; And I have managed to find a way to stretch this story one chapter longer... What I was planning for htis chapter will be held off until the next. Of course, now I have to find some new chapter titles... Ehhh......
.~.
Chapter five : Marring My World
- Expressions, questions, and broken rules -
.~.
At long last, it turned out Jenna had the stomach flu. (Amazing coincidence, huh?) She refused to admit her porridge did it to her. Thus, making her a teasing magnet to her brother and Picard.
"I told you guys to leave me alone! At the minimum, to shut up!"
"What are brothers for, hm?" Felix pinched her cheek, and Jenna made a move to bite the fingers. "Oh, bloodlust. Jenna!"
"What about him?" Jenna pointed at Picard, who was smiling very eerily like a certain priest from Slayers. (Kyeheheheh!) Jenna then thought that it was also very eerie that she knew that kind of information.
"What are friends for?" Picard smiled. Jenna hissed, sitting up and clenching her fists. Felix forced her back down.
"You need to rest, Jenna. No need to get riled up over the truth."
"Stop acting like our mother, Felix. And while you're at it, leave me alone!"
"Jenna, I know you'll try to use an Aura on yourself. We can't leave you alone, it'll only backfire further." Felix said, patting her nose. Jenna lunged up to bite him, and actually managed to. Felix yelped. "Jen -- ow!" He cast a hasty Cure on himself, still shaking the bitten hand.
"She'd make a good vampire." Picard said dryly. Jenna threw a pillow at him before falling into a coughing fit.
"You *cough* guys are so *cough* sadistic, you *cough* know *coughcough* that?" Jenna choked, trying to look menacing while in a vulnerable state. Felix smiled brightly.
"'Course we do." Felix tweaked her nose (Making sure not to get bitten) before leaving, dragging Picard with him.
"You trust her enough to leave her alone?"
"If she kills herself, ah well." Felix shrugged. Picard blinked.
"I thought you cared more about her than that."
"I'm a sadistic brother. And times change." Felix said brightly, walking into his room and shutting the door. Picard wandered over to his bed, burying his face into the pillow, loving the Felix-smell. "You have odd fetishes, y'know?"
"Of course I do." Picard said, his voice muffled by the pillow. Felix sighed and moved over to him. "I have a fetish with a certain Venus adept by the name of Felix. I have a fetish with his aged-cinnamon sort of smell. And I have a fetish with kissing him."
Felix chuckled and leaned down into the outstretched arms. Picard wasted no time in tilting his head to kiss the younger man. Felix responded eagerly, loving the warmth incasing his mouth, the hand moving up and down his back an additional pleasure.
Picard broke the kiss first and nibbled on Felix's lower lip playfully, winning a surprised gasp from him. Picard flicked his tongue out to sooth the nibbles, gaining a further moan from Felix.
"Now that I think of it, I've never told you I love you, have I?" Felix said, blinking. Picard adored his thoughtful phases.
"No. Nor have I told you *I* love you, either." Picard murmured, pressing their foreheads together. Felix
"You do?" Felix asked, his eyes widening slightly.
"Do you take me as the type of person to just sleep around with the closest body, Felix?" Picard said, his voice edged slightly with steel. Felix was speechless a moment, then he shook his head.
"Sorry." He whispered, kissing the Lemurian gently as his way of apology. Picard cradled his dark head to his shoulder, placing his chin on top of the mass of hair. "I do love you."
"Love you too, Felix." Picard said, feeling Felix's lax grip on him tighten suddenly. Felix groaned softly. "What is it?"
"I have that mushy feeling inside of me. That feeling Jenna says she gets everytime Garet tells her he loves her?" Felix grumbled. Picard chuckled, kissing his forehead.
"It's a nice feeling, isn't it?" Picard said, trying to soothe the ruffles of Felix's hair.
"I swore to Jenna that I would never feel that feeling!" Felix cried.
"Too bad, huh? Did you put a bet on it?"
"....Yes."
"Felix!"
"Five hundred coins and a bouquet of roses." Felix sighed.
"A bouquet of roses?"
"If I managed to hold out for the entire month, she would double the money. But I guess it doesn't matter, if I tell her (Which I won't), she'll ask who I'm in love with..."
"...And you can't do that."
"No, I can't. Unless you want to be kicked out of Vale with me."
"I'll go to the ends of the world for you, love." Picard said softly. Felix curled up tighter against him. To the ends of the world, up to the heavens, down to the depths of death... anywhere for him.
(SAP!)
While Picard was tending to Jenna, Felix went out for a walk later that day. With his hands in his coat pockets, he wandered through Vale, thinking about his family, Picard, Lemuria, the Abyss, Picard, and so on and so forth. Somehow, he found himself at the place where he had nearly drowned, so many years ago... How many was it? Nine years? Miraculous... This river had survived the earthquake, and for many days after it, it remained ridiculously hot. Once the rebuilding of Vale had started, it had cooled.
Sighing, he stared at the water, seeing his reflection -- messy brown hair, chocolate colored eyes, a normal nose, full lips... He saw another reflection.
"Hello, Alex..."
"Hello, Felix. Are you... happy... now?"
"Yes."
"Good..." Alex said softly. His eyes were sad as he stared at the gentle ripples of the river. "...I'm sorry, Felix."
"Hm? What for?" Felix glanced at him, and nearly jumped, seeing a single, crystalline tear slide down the Mercury adept's cheek. "Alex, why are you crying?"
"My silent affections were for you, Felix. I never told you... I'm sorry. You should have at least known... All these years..."
Felix didn't know how to respond as a few more tears slid down Alex's cheeks.
"Alex. . . ."
"Please, Felix. Before... before you go... please, let me give you something."
Felix was hesitant in answering, biting his lip.
"A-alright."
Alex turned to face him, eyes still brimming with unshed tears. He wiped hastily at them. He took one small step forward, and kissed him. A gentle, tender kiss that wrenched at Felix's heart. Felix shut his eyes, to keep Alex from seeing the pain swimming in them. When he opened them, after the pressure on his lips were gone, Alex had disappeared as well.
.~.
Oh, Venus. That was.. I can't describe it... Strange. I never knew -- Alex always kept that mask of coolness on. And he even helped me... How could I know? He loved me... ME, of all people. I'm such an idiot... If Jenna was here, she would probably slap me. Call me an inconsiderate jerk... I can't possibly tell Picard what happened here. It'll be... our secret. Something between us, Alex. I promise I won't tell. One of those last things I can hope to give you that you'll accept.
.~.
Picard found Felix skipping stones at the area of the river where he nearly drowned nine years ago. But he had no idea as of what other traumatizing events had happened here. . . . Of what Felix had seen in the water's reflection, in the eyes of another who had loved him once before.
.~.
I promise you, Alex. I won't tell. On *our* behalf.
.~.
The next day, Kraden awoke to find Alex gone. All of his sparse possessions were no longer in their normal areas. All he left behind was an evelope that was marked, "To be given to Picard."
When Isaac and Mia heard of this, they immediately thought something had gone wrong between the two Mercury adepts. The two never had really gotten along -- staying merely as acquaintances, and nothing more. This letter left behind startled them. Did something go wrong that they had no knowledge about? (Of course, there was plenty going on they had no whimsical idea about.)
Felix was worried. Most of the day, Picard was locked away in his room -- and of course, Felix was rather imaginative. Was he sick? Was he heartbroken? Was he mad?
Jenna could swear Felix was molting when he came to visit her.
"Felix, bro, you okay? You're paler than normal."
"I'm worried about what Alex said to Picard!" Felix cried, shaking his head furiously back and forth. Jenna glanced at a clump of brown hair on the floor.
"Fe, are you shedding?" She asked worriedly.
"I don't know!" He responded, dashing out of the room. Jenna sighed and sat back. Maybe... Maybe Felix was right, she did need more rest...
.~.
Oh, Alex, what did you tell him? Is it important? Should I care? Did you TELL? Alex! Please! No! You couldn't have, I swore not to -- you have to keep your own end of the deal, unspoken as it was! Ohh, I am losing hair...
.~.
"Picard? Can I come in?" Felix knocked at the Lemurian's door, his voice hesitant.
"You can."
Felix grimaced, and taking one last look down the completely deserted hallway, he stepped in.
"What is that letter...?"
"He gave me some advice, Felix. Nothing more." Picard was staring at the frolicking flames in the hearth, and as Felix glanced at it as well, he noticed the letter curling in on itself beside the logs.
"Can you tell me?"
"Mm, well..." Picard sighed as Felix sat down next to him, placing his head on his shoulder. "He told me to keep quiet about it."
Felix raised an eyebrow.
"Oh. I understand." Felix said quietly, closing his eyes. Picard chuckled, much to his surprise.
"Alex said you would." Picard murmured, running his hand through Felix's hair.
The Venus adept had to smile slightly at that, knowing Alex would keep an eye on the two of them, whether he was in Prox or Garoh, or anywhere.
...That was kind of eerie, now that he thought of it.
.~.
Alex, take care of yourself, alright?
.~.
Felix sat up quickly. He blinked away the blurriness at the corners of his eyes... Hey, wait a minute. This was...
He glanced down.
What was running through his mind at that very moment : Oh, *shit.*
"FELIX!"
"Dammit!" He lunged forward and ended up falling on his face. (Ow.) Scrambling onto his feet, he dashed around the room, gathering clothes (Yes! Clothes! Muwahahahahaha!) as he went. Stopping in a corner of the room, he jumped into them, and dashed off to his sister's aid.
Picard woke shortly afterwards, noticing the lingering warmth next to him on the bed. He sighed. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea as he had thought...
The door opened, and Felix walked back in.
There was a pregnant pause.
"Did we...?" Felix asked cautiously.
"I think so." Picard smiled nervously. Felix walked forward and dropped himself into his lover's arms.
"Jenna wanted to know what that noise was." Felix said humorously, kissing his cheek. "I didn't answer her."
"You think she knows?"
"Nah... I've always been a weird brother."
Picard raised his eyebrow.
"You *are* weird..." He said, pinching Felix's cheek. Felix yelped.
"Hey!"
"...You're the twig, remember?"
"Picard!"
Picard twisted suddenly, causing both of them to fall onto the bed. He ran a finger along Felix's jawline, and as he reached his chin, traveled downwards, and tilted Felix's face towards him. As he held Felix's chin there, he leaned forward and kissed him gently. Once he parted from him, Felix curled up against him. They had almost been caught. Almost been caught and thrown out of Vale.
"I love you," Felix whispered urgently, burrowing his head further into the junction of Picard's neck and shoulder. Picard smoothed his hair.
"I love you, too." He said soothingly.
...They'd get through this.
.~.
End V
.~.
-_-;; Arghh....
[Felix] ........
Darn it, all I'll do for some reviews. Originally, this story was going to be only seven chapters (I remember some stories being like 40+ fics... Like my former Q/A), but due to Riyn's request, it's been slightly extended to eight chapters. Has anybody noticed that trend in the chapter titles? ^__^
[Felix] *Grumbles* You love Alex, don't you?
Nah... But he's an interestin' character. Alex with you, Alex with Jenna... Har, it's all fun. And, since FF.Net's broken down as I'm writing this, I'll have to do reviews from memory...
**Riyn**: You got your wish, huh? ^__^ Alex is kawaii...
**Shadow**: Yes, do get used to it.
**Shiro**: Oopsie. Guess I forgot about you.
[Felix] *Grumble* On purpose.
Shaddup. -_-;
**Saturos**: ...0_o;; Um.... That's nice... ::Edges away::
....Dang, I have bad memory or something. Sorry, I'll do the rest next chapter... ^^;;
-love is so simply complicated sometimes-
Ahem! Thanks for all of your support, guys. Reaaally appreciate it, yep, I do. ^_^ So, for this chapter... the warnings, that is: Kissing, touching, I believe some hinting at *inappropiate* stuff... Alex weirdness... Alex doing bad things... Slight AlexxFelix.
[Felix] Alex is such a jerk.
To you, he is. To the rest of us, he's a sekushii bishounen with hair to die for and a damn cool personality.... Er, sorta. ^_^ You're just mad he --
[Stephanie] Don't ruin it!
Er, right, right. Read on... er... readers! Oh, and Riyn, I think you missed the very last part of my notes at the end... This is the actual last part of Alex-ness... Wait for my next fic, called "To Steal a Heart." Lots of Alex there... Weird Alex... And this chapter... ::Sigh:: Once again, to Riyn's requests... -__-;; And I have managed to find a way to stretch this story one chapter longer... What I was planning for htis chapter will be held off until the next. Of course, now I have to find some new chapter titles... Ehhh......
.~.
Chapter five : Marring My World
- Expressions, questions, and broken rules -
.~.
At long last, it turned out Jenna had the stomach flu. (Amazing coincidence, huh?) She refused to admit her porridge did it to her. Thus, making her a teasing magnet to her brother and Picard.
"I told you guys to leave me alone! At the minimum, to shut up!"
"What are brothers for, hm?" Felix pinched her cheek, and Jenna made a move to bite the fingers. "Oh, bloodlust. Jenna!"
"What about him?" Jenna pointed at Picard, who was smiling very eerily like a certain priest from Slayers. (Kyeheheheh!) Jenna then thought that it was also very eerie that she knew that kind of information.
"What are friends for?" Picard smiled. Jenna hissed, sitting up and clenching her fists. Felix forced her back down.
"You need to rest, Jenna. No need to get riled up over the truth."
"Stop acting like our mother, Felix. And while you're at it, leave me alone!"
"Jenna, I know you'll try to use an Aura on yourself. We can't leave you alone, it'll only backfire further." Felix said, patting her nose. Jenna lunged up to bite him, and actually managed to. Felix yelped. "Jen -- ow!" He cast a hasty Cure on himself, still shaking the bitten hand.
"She'd make a good vampire." Picard said dryly. Jenna threw a pillow at him before falling into a coughing fit.
"You *cough* guys are so *cough* sadistic, you *cough* know *coughcough* that?" Jenna choked, trying to look menacing while in a vulnerable state. Felix smiled brightly.
"'Course we do." Felix tweaked her nose (Making sure not to get bitten) before leaving, dragging Picard with him.
"You trust her enough to leave her alone?"
"If she kills herself, ah well." Felix shrugged. Picard blinked.
"I thought you cared more about her than that."
"I'm a sadistic brother. And times change." Felix said brightly, walking into his room and shutting the door. Picard wandered over to his bed, burying his face into the pillow, loving the Felix-smell. "You have odd fetishes, y'know?"
"Of course I do." Picard said, his voice muffled by the pillow. Felix sighed and moved over to him. "I have a fetish with a certain Venus adept by the name of Felix. I have a fetish with his aged-cinnamon sort of smell. And I have a fetish with kissing him."
Felix chuckled and leaned down into the outstretched arms. Picard wasted no time in tilting his head to kiss the younger man. Felix responded eagerly, loving the warmth incasing his mouth, the hand moving up and down his back an additional pleasure.
Picard broke the kiss first and nibbled on Felix's lower lip playfully, winning a surprised gasp from him. Picard flicked his tongue out to sooth the nibbles, gaining a further moan from Felix.
"Now that I think of it, I've never told you I love you, have I?" Felix said, blinking. Picard adored his thoughtful phases.
"No. Nor have I told you *I* love you, either." Picard murmured, pressing their foreheads together. Felix
"You do?" Felix asked, his eyes widening slightly.
"Do you take me as the type of person to just sleep around with the closest body, Felix?" Picard said, his voice edged slightly with steel. Felix was speechless a moment, then he shook his head.
"Sorry." He whispered, kissing the Lemurian gently as his way of apology. Picard cradled his dark head to his shoulder, placing his chin on top of the mass of hair. "I do love you."
"Love you too, Felix." Picard said, feeling Felix's lax grip on him tighten suddenly. Felix groaned softly. "What is it?"
"I have that mushy feeling inside of me. That feeling Jenna says she gets everytime Garet tells her he loves her?" Felix grumbled. Picard chuckled, kissing his forehead.
"It's a nice feeling, isn't it?" Picard said, trying to soothe the ruffles of Felix's hair.
"I swore to Jenna that I would never feel that feeling!" Felix cried.
"Too bad, huh? Did you put a bet on it?"
"....Yes."
"Felix!"
"Five hundred coins and a bouquet of roses." Felix sighed.
"A bouquet of roses?"
"If I managed to hold out for the entire month, she would double the money. But I guess it doesn't matter, if I tell her (Which I won't), she'll ask who I'm in love with..."
"...And you can't do that."
"No, I can't. Unless you want to be kicked out of Vale with me."
"I'll go to the ends of the world for you, love." Picard said softly. Felix curled up tighter against him. To the ends of the world, up to the heavens, down to the depths of death... anywhere for him.
(SAP!)
While Picard was tending to Jenna, Felix went out for a walk later that day. With his hands in his coat pockets, he wandered through Vale, thinking about his family, Picard, Lemuria, the Abyss, Picard, and so on and so forth. Somehow, he found himself at the place where he had nearly drowned, so many years ago... How many was it? Nine years? Miraculous... This river had survived the earthquake, and for many days after it, it remained ridiculously hot. Once the rebuilding of Vale had started, it had cooled.
Sighing, he stared at the water, seeing his reflection -- messy brown hair, chocolate colored eyes, a normal nose, full lips... He saw another reflection.
"Hello, Alex..."
"Hello, Felix. Are you... happy... now?"
"Yes."
"Good..." Alex said softly. His eyes were sad as he stared at the gentle ripples of the river. "...I'm sorry, Felix."
"Hm? What for?" Felix glanced at him, and nearly jumped, seeing a single, crystalline tear slide down the Mercury adept's cheek. "Alex, why are you crying?"
"My silent affections were for you, Felix. I never told you... I'm sorry. You should have at least known... All these years..."
Felix didn't know how to respond as a few more tears slid down Alex's cheeks.
"Alex. . . ."
"Please, Felix. Before... before you go... please, let me give you something."
Felix was hesitant in answering, biting his lip.
"A-alright."
Alex turned to face him, eyes still brimming with unshed tears. He wiped hastily at them. He took one small step forward, and kissed him. A gentle, tender kiss that wrenched at Felix's heart. Felix shut his eyes, to keep Alex from seeing the pain swimming in them. When he opened them, after the pressure on his lips were gone, Alex had disappeared as well.
.~.
Oh, Venus. That was.. I can't describe it... Strange. I never knew -- Alex always kept that mask of coolness on. And he even helped me... How could I know? He loved me... ME, of all people. I'm such an idiot... If Jenna was here, she would probably slap me. Call me an inconsiderate jerk... I can't possibly tell Picard what happened here. It'll be... our secret. Something between us, Alex. I promise I won't tell. One of those last things I can hope to give you that you'll accept.
.~.
Picard found Felix skipping stones at the area of the river where he nearly drowned nine years ago. But he had no idea as of what other traumatizing events had happened here. . . . Of what Felix had seen in the water's reflection, in the eyes of another who had loved him once before.
.~.
I promise you, Alex. I won't tell. On *our* behalf.
.~.
The next day, Kraden awoke to find Alex gone. All of his sparse possessions were no longer in their normal areas. All he left behind was an evelope that was marked, "To be given to Picard."
When Isaac and Mia heard of this, they immediately thought something had gone wrong between the two Mercury adepts. The two never had really gotten along -- staying merely as acquaintances, and nothing more. This letter left behind startled them. Did something go wrong that they had no knowledge about? (Of course, there was plenty going on they had no whimsical idea about.)
Felix was worried. Most of the day, Picard was locked away in his room -- and of course, Felix was rather imaginative. Was he sick? Was he heartbroken? Was he mad?
Jenna could swear Felix was molting when he came to visit her.
"Felix, bro, you okay? You're paler than normal."
"I'm worried about what Alex said to Picard!" Felix cried, shaking his head furiously back and forth. Jenna glanced at a clump of brown hair on the floor.
"Fe, are you shedding?" She asked worriedly.
"I don't know!" He responded, dashing out of the room. Jenna sighed and sat back. Maybe... Maybe Felix was right, she did need more rest...
.~.
Oh, Alex, what did you tell him? Is it important? Should I care? Did you TELL? Alex! Please! No! You couldn't have, I swore not to -- you have to keep your own end of the deal, unspoken as it was! Ohh, I am losing hair...
.~.
"Picard? Can I come in?" Felix knocked at the Lemurian's door, his voice hesitant.
"You can."
Felix grimaced, and taking one last look down the completely deserted hallway, he stepped in.
"What is that letter...?"
"He gave me some advice, Felix. Nothing more." Picard was staring at the frolicking flames in the hearth, and as Felix glanced at it as well, he noticed the letter curling in on itself beside the logs.
"Can you tell me?"
"Mm, well..." Picard sighed as Felix sat down next to him, placing his head on his shoulder. "He told me to keep quiet about it."
Felix raised an eyebrow.
"Oh. I understand." Felix said quietly, closing his eyes. Picard chuckled, much to his surprise.
"Alex said you would." Picard murmured, running his hand through Felix's hair.
The Venus adept had to smile slightly at that, knowing Alex would keep an eye on the two of them, whether he was in Prox or Garoh, or anywhere.
...That was kind of eerie, now that he thought of it.
.~.
Alex, take care of yourself, alright?
.~.
Felix sat up quickly. He blinked away the blurriness at the corners of his eyes... Hey, wait a minute. This was...
He glanced down.
What was running through his mind at that very moment : Oh, *shit.*
"FELIX!"
"Dammit!" He lunged forward and ended up falling on his face. (Ow.) Scrambling onto his feet, he dashed around the room, gathering clothes (Yes! Clothes! Muwahahahahaha!) as he went. Stopping in a corner of the room, he jumped into them, and dashed off to his sister's aid.
Picard woke shortly afterwards, noticing the lingering warmth next to him on the bed. He sighed. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea as he had thought...
The door opened, and Felix walked back in.
There was a pregnant pause.
"Did we...?" Felix asked cautiously.
"I think so." Picard smiled nervously. Felix walked forward and dropped himself into his lover's arms.
"Jenna wanted to know what that noise was." Felix said humorously, kissing his cheek. "I didn't answer her."
"You think she knows?"
"Nah... I've always been a weird brother."
Picard raised his eyebrow.
"You *are* weird..." He said, pinching Felix's cheek. Felix yelped.
"Hey!"
"...You're the twig, remember?"
"Picard!"
Picard twisted suddenly, causing both of them to fall onto the bed. He ran a finger along Felix's jawline, and as he reached his chin, traveled downwards, and tilted Felix's face towards him. As he held Felix's chin there, he leaned forward and kissed him gently. Once he parted from him, Felix curled up against him. They had almost been caught. Almost been caught and thrown out of Vale.
"I love you," Felix whispered urgently, burrowing his head further into the junction of Picard's neck and shoulder. Picard smoothed his hair.
"I love you, too." He said soothingly.
...They'd get through this.
.~.
End V
.~.
-_-;; Arghh....
[Felix] ........
Darn it, all I'll do for some reviews. Originally, this story was going to be only seven chapters (I remember some stories being like 40+ fics... Like my former Q/A), but due to Riyn's request, it's been slightly extended to eight chapters. Has anybody noticed that trend in the chapter titles? ^__^
[Felix] *Grumbles* You love Alex, don't you?
Nah... But he's an interestin' character. Alex with you, Alex with Jenna... Har, it's all fun. And, since FF.Net's broken down as I'm writing this, I'll have to do reviews from memory...
**Riyn**: You got your wish, huh? ^__^ Alex is kawaii...
**Shadow**: Yes, do get used to it.
**Shiro**: Oopsie. Guess I forgot about you.
[Felix] *Grumble* On purpose.
Shaddup. -_-;
**Saturos**: ...0_o;; Um.... That's nice... ::Edges away::
....Dang, I have bad memory or something. Sorry, I'll do the rest next chapter... ^^;;
-love is so simply complicated sometimes-
