Fubuki no Kaen
(MarthRoy)
Authors: Xan and Vallen
Rating: R
Warnings: One thing… Or, lot's of things: This is a story with yaoi/shounen
ai/slash, whatever you want to call it. If that sort of stuff isn't your thing,
then don't read it. But, we hope that you do…
Disclaimer: The characters Marth and Roy, plus "Altea", do not belong to us. We
just use them for our pleasure.
Feedback: Yes. (That means we would love to hear from you and what you think!)
Notes:
Xan: Here we go again, guys! Another
chapter! This one is another fun one (aren't they all?) but not as
dramatic as the last. Hope you don't mind. Oh, and I did the
thank-you's this time.
Vallen: *bows repeatedly* We're sorry!! That's all I have to say… Oh,
and thank you for all the wonderful feedback! It fuels our inspiration!
Thanks to: Li Kayun (yes, THE KISS! We were really excited about
it. And it may be "obvious from the title" but we still like it
that you dupe it out), Seraphim (Well, here is the more you asked for!
Yumminess indeed!!), Miru-Miru (^_^ Greedy-ness is okay when it's for
fanfiction! If you weren't greedy, we'd feel unloved. And yes, Rowen
did see all that!), Pichu*Star (Yes, poor Marth-baby! He's all
confruzzled. *pats Marth* And thanks, we hope its not awkward!), RcA (Yes
and there's still more fun yet to be had!), Sami Sasamy (Yay, somebody loves it
as much as us!), Oketsu Ame (Sorry we didn't get this out sooner! We had
"parental problems" *cough*xansparentsaremean*cough*), Shea (Thank
you! At least we're unpredictable to somebody! Thanks!), Spectrum
(YES! Somebody caught the Matrix reference! I was gonna say
something about that, but I forgot -_-;; but I'm glad you did! Rowen
is like Marth and Roy's own personal Morpheus, so we decided to stick that in
'cause it was funny. And of course Marth took off, wouldn't you?), LiL
PriNCeSs Me (Thanks for your praise! We like doing things unexpectedly,
so that means a lot!), Unproductivity (Yangst! That is a great
word! Sorry for making you wait so long, but here it is!), Alex Brown
(Wow, a fan for life! As we've said before, your comments mean LOADS to
us and hearing that we're doing well really boosts our day!), lupa with a pen
(Yes it IS worth it!), Winstrough (Hey, glad even non-yaoi fans like it!
That means that it's not just smut-writing), tikimoof (We're not confusing you-
you're confusing yourself! ^_^ Oh, and we did see the Two Towers
and we both loved it! Xan's got an Ent fetish while Vallen obsessed with
Gollum. (Vallen note: He's so cute!! *chu!* end note)
Don't ask. And yes, I've read the books but Vallen hasn't), vv (Of course
Marth talks to himself! It's a sign of intelligence, Einstein actually
said that. And no, Rowen can't always read thoughts, just sometimes),
YoshiMars (YES! A ROWEN FAN!! We love that old guy to bits, he's
just so fun!), PandaBear007 (Thanks!), Spanish Ninja Sneasel (Hm… I'm
pretty sure that we'd decided to use magic from the very beginning. It
was just a matter of getting to it. Rowen was a risk because some
original characters turn out really badly, but we're glad you like him!
And what's wrong with it being centered around Marth? It'll be like that
for a while because Roy's kind of just there…), Boethas (Thank you, intensity
was what we were going for! It was supposed to be a very dramatic and
climactic scene and I'm glad we did that! Oh, and y'all can thank Vallen
for all the cliffhangers- that's her department), Klar (OH MY GOD WE LOOOVED
YOUR FANART! It's so pretty!), Spade (YES! 10/10! Score!),
divinehero&yami (Like I said, thank Vallen for the cliffhangers)
"That was stupid of you," Rowen told Roy. The two of them sat in the cabin, but the teen was hunched over in a chair, keeping his distance. "Who knows when he'll come back now."
Roy growled and looked even more uncomfortable and brooding.
"Shut up, old man. You told me that already."
The ex-general's face was shadowed, but there were several bandages and bruises on it, his upper lip still a bit puffy. In other words: a mess.
The weather mage shrugged and resumed his knitting.
It was dark by the time Marth returned to the cabin. He put Cloud away and patted Roy's mare affectionately. He didn't feel like going into the house, so he made himself a little nest in the straw and curled up, asleep among the horses.
"You can go to sleep now- He has returned," Rowen informed Roy, lifting his eyes from the needles in his hands.
The teen stood, glancing around.
"I don't see or hear him."
"Trust me on this one. Go to bed and I guarantee that you'll see him in the morning," the mage replied, getting up and exiting to his own room for the night.
Roy grumbled to himself, climbing into the cot that was his temporary bed.
'Why the hell did I do that? Am I really attracted to him? That's what I was afraid of…'
Marth awoke to a sharp pain on his head the following morning. He opened his eyes to discover Cloud standing above him, calmly chewing his hay. Several strands of blue hair were hanging out of the horse's mouth. Marth groaned and pulled them out.
"That's my hair you're eating," he told the horse. "Although I can't see how you can confuse hay and hair anyways. They're not even the same color."
Cloud shook his mane and stepped aside as Marth got slowly to his feet, brushing the straw out of his hair and clothes. He was filthy from head to foot, covered in mud, straw and dried sweat from the day before. He needed a bath.
Marth walked out of the stable and over to the well. He pulled up a bucket of freezing cold water and stripped down to his breeches. He began to clean himself, even his hair. When he was done, he dried himself off, using a bit of the robes as a towel. His hair he left wet, preferring to just let it drip-dry. He went into the cabin, not knowing what to expect.
"Ah, the prodigal son returns…" Rowen's voice from the kitchen greeted Marth the moment he walked in.
Marth sat down in a chair and looked around. "What's going on?"
"Oh, not much really. I'm making breakfast, if you call it that," the amethyst-eyed man indicated to the oatmeal/broth mixture. "I'm not the world's best cook- But I have a feeling you wanted more of an answer to that question, ne?"
"Food sounds fine." Marth neatly ignored the older man's question and pulled on his shirt.
As Rowen set down Marth's bowl of morning food, he paused.
"Should I wake your friend or do you want to do it? I would guess that he'd like to eat as well."
The exiled prince stood up. "I'll do it." He went into the room he shared with the young general.
Roy was asleep on the cot, looking younger and more innocent, as he always did when he was asleep. Marth stood next to the cot, looking at him for a moment before he woke him up. He had a sudden image of how Roy had looked when they were still Trave's slaves- naked except for the shorts and shackles and color. He had looked younger there too. Marth shuddered at the unpleasant memory and crouched down.
"Roy," he said softly, shaking him. "Roy, wake up."
The teen sat up almost immediately after Marth had touched him, looking disoriented.
"… Yes, Sir!" he shouted, knocking the ex-prince's hand away. Then he woke up. "Uh… Where am I?" Roy muttered, rubbing his eyes gently, wary of the bruises. The ex-soldier saw Marth and blinked,
"Oh."
Marth had drawn back sharply, startled by Roy's reaction.
"Sorry for waking you, but Rowen's making breakfast now," he said.
"Hm…" Roy murmured, pushing aside the blankets and getting out of bed. "I'm surprised you're even talking to me. Or have you pushed that away from your mind?"
"I haven't." Marth looked down at the floor. "How's your face?"
"It's okay. Sore, but okay. You really pounded me yesterday… I'm surprised you didn't break my nose."
"It wasn't for lack of trying," Marth admitted. "And I apologize for some of the things I said yesterday. They were uncalled for."
"Don't apologize," Roy said sharply in a low voice. His eyes grew a little darker as they looked at Marth.
Marth closed his mouth, not saying anything. His eyes bored right back into Roy's.
"I honestly have no idea why I kissed you. If you wanted an answer, I have none to give. I don't like girls, so I prefer to just not get tangled with anyone… I guess I slipped up," Roy replied, his voice tight, as if it was being wrenched from his throat.
Marth paused for a moment before speaking next.
"I didn't mind. Actually, I enjoyed it. But if you claim that if was unintentional and you don't want to get 'get tangled' with anyone, then I won't pursue it any further." The ex-royal turned and walked back into the kitchen, fighting to keep his face blank.
The auburn-haired teen stood there, eyes wide and staring at the spot where Marth had been.
Enjoyed it? The stoic ex-prince had actually enjoyed it? Okay, okay, so what if he still remembered the feel of Marth's soft lips and the aftertaste of blood lingering on his own. Granted, it had been Roy's own blood, but the sharp, metallic substance had only added to the sensation.
He finally found his feet right on the floor where he had left them and walked to the kitchen, sitting stiffly in a chair. Marth was there too, eating wordlessly.
Rowen handed Roy a bowl as well and eyed him.
"Perhaps you two should fight more often," the mage teased quietly. "You know what they say: The worse the fight, the better the make-up sex…"
Roy stood up angrily, knocking the chair over.
"Will you not shut up?! I am trying to sort this in my head and here you are, talking like a gossiping primary school girl!" he yelled, wishing he had his sword. But then again, if Marth couldn't beat the mage…
Rowen shrugged, going to the tub and washing a few dishes.
"Hm. Perhaps seeing actual people has made me forget my hermit-like actions," he mused, then threw only Marth a glance, as if to say: I did not mean to offend you.
Marth put down his spoon and looked calmly at Rowen.
"I am very much aware of the debt that we owe you, Master Mage. You have been more than generous, opening your home and sharing your food with us, even giving me training. But, that business is our own and it would be appreciated if you didn't interfere."
'Please Rowen,' Marth sent to him privately. 'Don't make him any angrier. I'm the one who will have to suffer for it.'
The mage shrugged again with a small no.
"I realize that now. I apologize," he said aloud shortly, then turned his mind to Marth: 'Fine, fine… He is fun to tease, though.'
Roy found himself cursing at himself for even walking to the hermit's doorstep. He let out his breath in a heavy, exasperated sigh, bending over to straighten his chair.
"What's on the agenda for today?" the blue-haired man asked the both of them quietly. "Because if it's possible, I'd like to train with Roy as well."
The ex-general looked at Marth in surprise once he had sat down again, throwing glares at Rowen from time to time.
"What?"
The weather mage look thoughtful for a moment,
"That's fine. It'd give my creaky bones a rest…" he murmured, even though it was very unlikely that he would get tired.
Marth glanced towards Rowen, knowing full well that the mage was pleased at the prospect of a show.
"Gaimen is not a weak man, as I'm sure you remember," Marth looked back up into Roy's eyes. "We are going to attempt to reclaim an entire kingdom by ourselves. We have to train if we hope to pull this off because it won't just be Gaimen up against us. He has control of the army and the castle guards. And he will not hesitate to annihilate anything that threatens his power."
"And I will watch," Rowen interjected, done with the dishes. "Maybe even give you a few pointers… And don't tell me that you're both master swordsmen, because I know you aren't. You're still young and there's much you can still learn."
Roy resisted the urge to glare at Rowen, and instead focused on Marth.
"I will do everything I can, and we do have one advantage if he chooses to use the guards on us. I know what they can and can't do because I trained most of them myself."
"As do I," Marth said, although they had seen the Royal Guards in two different ways, Roy as a fellow soldier and Marth as a prince.
"If we're all done eating, we can go now."
Roy stood up, handing the mage his bowl somewhat-roughly.
"I'll be right back. I need more clothes and my sword if we're going to be outside…" He disappeared into the room.
'I take it you're going to go easy on him?' Rowen glanced at Marth, 'Or do you still have anger to work out? If you wish to train with magic, train with me. It would be painful to watch you and him go at it with you using magic.'
The barest of evil smiles crossed Marth's face as he leaned over to lace up his boots.
'Just a little. But unlike you, I am a Prince and I have strict morals, old man.'
'I am no sort of old man, you whippersnapper!' Rowen looked indignant as he reached over to rap Marth on the head sharply. But the exiled prince ducked, a bit of a mischievous gleam in his eye.
Roy walked in just then, looking at the two of them with a raised brow. The teen was wearing more clothes than before and looked considerably warmer. His sword (in its sheath) was slung over his shoulder. He shook his head and walked outside.
Rowen let out a short laugh, grabbed his larger sword, and moved towards the door.
"Coming?"
Marth nodded, his expression fading back to its normal icy one. Falcion was lying in its sheath on the table. He took it and followed Rowen outside.
The auburn-haired teen was there, stretching out his muscles that hadn't been worked out in quite a while. Actually, the cold had made him unusually stiff and he needed to move around more to keep warm.
"What are we starting out with? I can do some exercises if you want to take the old man first," he questioned.
"If you think you'll need that long to warm up and be ready to fight me," Marth replied, stretching himself. He flexed his fingers, concentrating as they glowed faintly blue. He turned to Rowen.
'How does one warm up using magic? Or is it even necessary?'
The mage's strong features turned serious once again and his mind-voice was that of a teacher's.
'Your mind must be completely ready for what you are about to do, or it may misfire. That's what makes evil mages- when mages aren't focusing on the magic and concentrate on their own amount of power. They become obsessed with it and it poisons their body. The best thing you can do is prepare your mind and make sure your body is in good shape, because as you've seen before, your health just deteriorates when your body isn't ready,' he explained mentally, then watched as Roy crossed the area to meet Marth.
The ex-general unsheathed his sword and tossed the scabbard aside.
"I'm ready."
Marth nodded, inwardly absorbing Rowen's words and committing them to memory.
"As am I."
To Be Continued…
Xan: Well, that's all for now guys! Hopefully we'll get the next chapter out a little sooner next time, but I have the notebook back now so it shouldn't be a problem! (ed's note: I was proof-reading this for Vallen and she kept spelling 'Gaimen' as 'Gaimer'. *giggles* I think that's funny…)
Vallen: *chuckles evilly* Yes… Blame that cliffhanger on me. We were sitting in bed, looking at the notebook and pointing at the spot where we wanted to leave it. "Or we could be evil and leave it here…*point*"