Part 5
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The next morning, Flik stepped out the door of the inn and into the early dawn sunshine, still looking a little weary from the previous night's events. About to start out on a walk around to wake up, he noticed a wisp of blond hair between the stacks of barrels beside the inn door. Upon closer examination, he found it was Gremio staring out into nothing, leaning his head tiredly against a nearby barrel. He looked listless, and slightly pale.
Flik took a few steps closer, pondering whether to approach him, and then remembered his own offer to be a friend made only a few hours ago. "Gremio...?" he finally called out softly.
Gremio looked up, surprised but not startled. "Oh... good morning, Flik."
Flik smiled slightly. "Good morning... are you hiding? Should I leave you be?"
Shaking his head, Gremio gave Flik a weak smile in return. "No, no... I simply needed a bit of air." He took a deep breath, almost as if he was gulping it down. "I am... remembering why I don't drink often."
Flik laughed softly and after a moment's hesitation, sat down beside him. "I will honestly admit I'm regretting a bit of the same myself this morning."
Gremio nodded, looking down at his hands folded in his lap. "It will pass though, I'm sure... and there is nothing to be gained by sitting around until it has. I intend to leave when my Young Master is awake and ready."
The pensive look on his face made the unspoken apparent - he intended to go on with or without Flik or Viktor - and Flik sighed softly. "Even though the idea seems even more worrisome by daylight, I still have every intention of going with you, and I'm fairly sure Viktor does as well. I only wanted to ask you..." Flik asked him seriously, "are you sure about doing this? The expression on your face, and in your heart... it's not one of happiness with the idea."
Gremio laughed quietly. "The expression on my face I will chalk up to feeling ill and uncertain. The one in my heart... is fear," he confessed. "I admit this is not how things should be, ideally, but I will make the most of it."
Flik turned to Gremio with a puzzled look. "And what would the ideal be?"
Gremio shook his head, still staring down at nothing in particular. "The ideal is something that ended years ago, on that rainy night when Ted collapsed in our front room in Gregminster."
Nodding silently, Flik closed his eyes, his own mind replaying him similar unforgettable nights. "I understand all too well... but... Is it Tir you're doing this for? His happiness? Doesn't your own count for anything?"
"He has been my happiness," Gremio told him with a heavy sigh. "Perhaps you couldn't understand, maybe it was only me, but..." He turned to Flik, regarding him earnestly. "When Master Teo chose me to become a part of his household, to watch over his son... everything fell into place. For the first time, I knew what my life should be, rather than an endless string of other people's expectations. I had a purpose. Does... this make sense?"
Flik stared at Gremio, surprised to hear words that he'd felt in his own heart so many times, and he reached out to place a hand over Gremio's hand. "In a sense, you've taken the words right out of my own heart. When I look back on my life, sometimes I think my life didn't really start until the day Viktor walked up to me in that tavern..." He paused, considering how much to say. "Life was hell before that, in a lot of ways."
Gremio smiled, touching Flik's hand in response. "That was how it was for me, as well. And so if I cannot help Tir, I have failed... and besides," he added, "as I told you all last night, the Beast Rune is one that should not be left to run wild. Though I've never in my life considered myself to be a part of... that family... a beast would not know the difference."
Nodding, Flik squeezed Gremio's hand. "Do you really believe all the runes choose their bearers?" he asked. "Or is it just this particular one, being a... a beast?"
Gremio lowered his head again. "I don't know... the only experience I have had with such things myself was when Ted chose to give his to Tir. I wonder what would have happened if... if the Soul Eater had not agreed."
Flik was silent for a moment, thinking. "Life is full of what ifs, Gremio..." he began slowly, "but it was Viktor who's told me, more than once, that we can't get lost in what might have been. We wouldn't be the people we are today."
Gremio nodded, and his face grew more determined, if still pale. "And as we have found ourselves in this situation, there is no point in wishing things were differently - I simply must act to make things better. And I choose the way that offers the best chance of the quickest success - after all, with no other true rune do we have both a lead and a connection already."
Flik nodded in return. "Emotion tells me to be wary, but logic insists that you're probably right... we just need to be on our guard if we're going to do this." Flik paused, looking up at the sky. "And I must admit that I'm really glad you decided to let us in on your thoughts... and if we're going to get a decent start," he added, "we might want to consider waking the other two sometime soon."
Seemingly surprised, Gremio glanced up as well. "Oh... it's past dawn already. I hadn't noticed..." He looked over at Flik, suddenly realizing something. "You and Viktor never came back to the room last night, did you? You weren't there when I woke..."
Flik colored slightly and nodded. "We thought... perhaps you and Tir needed some time to talk to talk alone after everything that transpired."
Not seeming to notice the blush, Gremio only appeared concerned. "Tir and I fell asleep not long after you left - or at least I did. ...You did sleep, didn't you?"
Flik nodded quickly. "Of course, we just got ourselves another room after we were done talking. Viktor is probably still snoring in bed, actually."
"Oh, good," Gremio said, with a sigh of relief. After he'd had a moment to think about it, he did color faintly himself. "Ah... yes. We should get an early start, if we're going to make it all the way through the mountains in a single day's journey... Tir doesn't tend to sleep late when he's not in his own bed, so he'll be up in no time..."
Flik nodded, and then smirked. "Viktor, on the other hand, will often sleep as long as possible when he knows he can get away with it, wherever he is, and especially if he's been drinking. Though really, I did more of the drinking last night... I ought to wake him if we want to depart sometime soon."
Gremio put a hand to his head at the reminder of the night before, but nodded in agreement. "Very well... we shall go see to our respective roommates, then?"
Rising to his feet, Flik offered Gremio a hand. "Absolutely. I don't revel the thought of the mountain pass at night, especially as it's getting colder."
"Indeed," Gremio agreed, accepting the hand up gratefully. He still didn't look well, though his mouth was set in determination. "Perhaps the winter will hold off long enough for us to finish this trip, if we move quickly."
Flik nodded, glancing up at the sky. "I hope so... I have the feeling it's going to be a long winter this year."
Though Flik may have been right, there were no signs of winter yet as they made their way through the mountain pass. The occasional wild beasts still prowled, but nothing difficult for the four of them to take care of, and though it took until evening, they reached the north end of the pass without incident.
Although Gremio hadn't had all that much to drink the night before, his condition didn't seem to improve noticeably throughout the day. When they paused for a midday meal, he had nothing but water, and still looked ill when they stopped for the night in the foothills.
Regardless, as soon as they'd set up camp, he began preparing dinner, bringing out the fresh bread he'd purchased to go with his stew. Hungry as Viktor was, he was watching the preparations like a hawk, but almost immediately he saw that Gremio's heart wasn't in it. Cooking usually made Gremio happy, but this time as he stirred the ingredients together in the pot, he looked miserable. Pausing in his preparations, he squeezed his eyes closed for a minute, taking a deep breath and holding it, then stood and turned away.
"Uh, hey, Gremio?" Viktor got to his feet to follow, curious, and Gremio paused just before vanishing beyond the reach of the firelight. "Where are you going?" he asked. "Something you need to finish dinner?"
Gremio took another deep breath and shook his head. "I... I'm not feeling well," he murmured faintly. "The smell of food right now... I can't..."
Unsurprisingly, Tir was at his side almost instantly, his expression worried. "Are you all right?"
Gremio nodded vaguely. "I think I just... I just need some nice cool air, away from the fire. I will feel better then, I believe... As for the stew, it can stay as it is for awhile - I'm sure I'll be back before it's fully cooked."
Tir frowned. "I don't care about the stew, Gremio..."
Viktor nodded. "Just take care of yourself, all right? Dinner's not that important." As much as he'd have hated to say that under any other circumstances, Gremio didn't look too good, and now he was shaking a little. "In fact, I'll go with you, to make sure you're okay, and Tir can keep an eye on the dinner, right? He knows all about your stews."
Tir nodded, and Viktor glanced over his shoulder at Flik, who seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. "Hey, Flik - we'll be back a little later, okay?"
Flik looked up at Viktor's call, and looked somewhat puzzled, as if he hadn't been paying attention to what was going on at all. "Oh... yeah, sure."
Gremio tried to protest, but Viktor wouldn't hear a word of it - it wasn't safe for them to split up, especially if one of them wasn't feeling well. Finally Gremio agreed with a sigh, and a weak smile for Tir. "Let this be a lesson, Young Master - never drink foolishly, as I did last night. One way or another, you'll regret it."
Viktor had a hunch that it had nothing to do with the wine - a couple glasses shouldn't have prompted a hangover that lasted all day, even in someone as skinny as Gremio - and once they were out of range of the campsite, he spoke up. "Something on your mind?" He already knew the answer, of course - considering the news Gremio had dropped the night before, of course he had things on his mind.
Gremio just shook his head, swallowing hard before he could answer. "If you don't mind, Viktor... I'm not feeling much like talking. Or being talked to."
"...Okay." With a nod, he fell silent, watching as Gremio sat down beneath a tree, gulping in breaths of cold air and shivering. No, this wasn't from drinking, and Viktor knew it - but he'd said he'd keep quiet, and so he did.
When they returned to the camp later, Viktor found that the stew was as good as ever, even if it had been on the fire a little longer than usual. Despite Gremio having said that he felt much better, he had not a bite, and went straight to his bedroll instead. Finishing off Gremio's portion of dinner during the first watch (after all, why let the rest of the stew go to waste?), Viktor kept a close eye on him, just in case.
Though nothing happened during the night, Gremio didn't seem much better after sleeping, and refused breakfast. Even so, he paced restlessly until they'd broken camp and were on their way again.
Nothing changed as they travelled further into the territory of former Highland, providing Viktor with more reason to believe Gremio's discomfort was not at all due to the drinking. The next night, it was again left to the others to finish dinner when Gremio confessed to feeling too ill, and the small game hens Flik had snared were overdone, much to Viktor's embarrassment.
He'd have asked Flik what he thought of the situation in private, but while they were travelling, Flik often had struck out ahead of the others, as he held maps of the area. It wasn't really like Flik to go off and leave the rest of his party behind, Viktor thought, and he had no reason to want to reach their destination so quickly - but rather than rushing ahead on purpose, Flik seemed preoccupied, as if he was moving on instinct rather than going at the others' pace. Meanwhile, Viktor wanted to stick close to Gremio and Tir, in case Gremio's condition worsened.
He found it was just as well, when he heard a startled gasp from Tir early one evening, and turned to find that Gremio had fallen.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Gremio was assuring Tir breathlessly as Viktor knelt down beside them. "I just wasn't watching my step... stumbled over something... Just a moment, I'll be fine..."
Though they'd headed back into a thick forest, and the ground was somewhat uneven, the pallor of Gremio's face and the shortness of his breath left Viktor unconvinced. "It's okay - take your time," he told Gremio, helping Tir shift him to a more comfortable position, sitting against the base of a tree. "I'll go catch up with Flik and we'll take a little rest, okay? You take care of him till we get back, Tir." Tir nodded, settling down next to Gremio, and Gremio didn't protest as his Young Master loosened the straps of his pack so that he could lean back more comfortably.
Flik hadn't gotten too far ahead, and though the dim light of a cloudy day was fading into evening, his tracks were easy enough for Viktor to follow. He saw the telltale blue cloak through the bare trees soon enough, and called ahead to him quietly. "Flik! Slow down, will you?"
Flik glanced back in surprise, and nodded as he halted, letting Viktor catch up. "Sorry about that - I didn't notice I'd gotten so far ahead."
"Gremio and Tir aren't used to moving as fast as you and I," Viktor reminded him. "And Gremio had a little mishap or something a second ago..."
"Oh?" Flik looked concerned, and vaguely guilty.
"Nothing serious," Viktor told him quickly. "He just fell, so we're going to stop for awhile."
"Well, that's a relief," Flik sighed, then caught himself. "I mean, it's too bad about Gremio, but I'm not sure I want to keep on walking right now myself."
Viktor eyed him curiously as he sat down. "You sure seemed like you were in a hurry to get somewhere a minute ago."
"Not really - I keep walking because I'm supposed to keep walking. You of all people know how that works." Shaking his head tiredly, Flik removed the pack he carried. "Honestly, I'm in the kind of mood where I'd like to be curled up in a big warm bed listening to music or reading a book."
"Highland winters never were much fun," Viktor acknowledged with a nod, "and even if it's not Highland anymore, the winters still act the same."
Flik shivered. "Dreary...not even any snow yet."
With a shrug, Viktor looked up at the cloudy sky. "Soon enough, I bet. Not that I need to tell you that."
"I feel it..." Flik acknowledged, nodding thoughtfully, "and I do love snow. But I think I'd love it more from my bed. My feet are tired. I admit to being out of shape more than I realized."
Sitting down next to him, Viktor gripped one of Flik's boots for a moment and squeezed. "So let them rest. I don't think any of us is so eager to get where we're headed that we need to move on further today. In fact, we've got a pretty good clearing here," he realized, looking around. "Big enough we could settle down here for the night."
Flik turned to Viktor and sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. "I just haven't been feeling well, so all the walking gets to me even more than usual. I feel like all my joints, especially my hips and my shoulders, just ache. I'm not sure if I'd rather it be the flu or just the fact that I'm getting older."
"Hmm, yeah, that's a tough one." Viktor slid an arm around Flik's shoulders, scooting around to let Flik lean back against him, nearly sitting in his lap. "If it's some kind of bug, you should rest and let it pass. If it's old age, well, bah - we should get up and keep going, it's the only way to get past it."
Flik pulled off one of his leather gloves and swiped a hand across his forehead with a sigh. "Thanks..." he murmured. "I feel really warm. can you grab my water? It's just on the other side of you. Tir and Gremio know we've stopped for a bit too?"
Viktor obliged, handing him the water. "Actually, I told Gremio to sit down for awhile before I even came to check on you."
Flik nodded. "I've been rather worried about Gremio, you know..."
"Don't worry about it, I'll take care of him," Viktor told him, mussing his hair fondly. "I just hope whatever's going on with you and whatever's going on with him aren't some kind of sickness going around, or we could be in trouble... but you know, I can handle dinner tonight and everything, no worries."
Flik looked up at Viktor, reaching a hand up to run one finger along his jaw and then over his lips - an ordinary gesture from him, though he did not feel ordinary. "Me... I'll... I'll be just fine." He then grinned. "You're going to cook tonight? How will Gremio take that?"
"He'll argue," Viktor said with a shrug, "and say he's fine, and then if I let him, he'll probably make something all aromatic and end up asking me to stir the pot while he wanders off into the woods, green-faced. But maybe this time he'll just give in before it gets that far."
Flik frowned. "Do you think he's sick or just worried...?"
Viktor glanced back in the direction where he'd left Tir and Gremio a short time ago, and thought about what he'd observed. "I think he's scared half to death."
Flik sighed deeply and nodded, looking a little green himself at the thought of what they were walking into. "Should we stop him? I mean, as ridiculous as it sounds, the two of them are no match for the two of us..."
Squeezing Flik a little tighter, Viktor chuckled under his breath. "You know what I think about the whole thing. But what are we going to do, tie them up and carry them back to Gregminster?"
"That would be a bit ridiculous..." Flik agreed. "But Vik... I don't feel right about this either. I had this dream... no, never mind, it was just a stupid dream," he finished suddenly.
Viktor tilted his head forward, looking curiously at Flik over his shoulder. "So? I'd be happy to hear it anyway."
Flik shrugged, closing his eyes. "I don't really remember all of it anyways. I remember a big fight, battling something... then I remember walking in the dark, not being able to see, and having something, someone, calling to me, calling my name. Maybe it's just delusions from being overtired."
Not overly concerned, Viktor nodded. "Sounds like a typical kind of nightmare for guys like us."
Flik nodded mutely, hoping that was the case and leaned his head against Viktor's chest. "...Do you want my help gathering wood for a fire?"
Viktor chuckled again, resting his head on top of Flik's. "Since when do we need a fire? I'm plenty warm with you leaning against me."
Flik laughed softly and ran his hand up and down Viktor's chest teasingly. "I miss warmth of a different kind... but... I was actually thinking of dinner when I asked, and the fact that it's probably going to snow later."
Viktor nodded, grinning and squeezing Flik. "Oh yeah, dinner. Don't get me started on some other kind of appetite, you tease, or you might not get any real food."
Flik turned his face up towards Viktor, nuzzling at his neck. "What would be so bad about that?"
A faint rumble came from Viktor, almost a purr deep in his throat, like a giant cat. "Oh, nothing... I just thought I'd warn you."
Flik laughed softly as he turned the nuzzle into a nip at Viktor's throat. "I consider myself fairly warned....though I suppose it wouldn't be fair to let Gremio and Tir starve, which they might if we let Gremio try and make dinner again tonight."
Viktor sighed heavily in mock resignation, and shifted as if he was about to stand up. "Okay, okay, I'll go let them know I'm in charge tonight..." He grinned down at Flik. "And you can stay behind and set up camp with Tir once they get here - Gremio really needs to take a load off, since he hasn't been eating. ...Or you can come and help me get wood."
"I did offer to gather wood..." Flik pointed out, raising an eyebrow, "and I never mind having you all to myself for awhile."
Viktor laughed. "I didn't say 'gather' wood, did I?"
Flik colored slightly, replaying Viktor's words in his head. "That is not the innuendo my mind is coming up with, is it? I think I want it to be. Or have I truly gone delirious?"
Viktor laughed some more, kissing Flik's cheek lightly. "If not, I can help you get there a little later... maybe it'll even be contagious, huh?"
Flik laughed softly as well, turning his face so that he could kiss Viktor properly. "Now you're teasing me..."
Viktor kissed back through his smirk, holding Flik against him just a little longer. "And myself too - I guess I'd better go tell Gremio and Tir what's going on before I get too distracted."
"I'll clear away a spot to put the wood when we get back..." Flik agreed with a nod.
Snickering, Viktor stood and turned away to leave. "Yeah, you do that..."
Flik glared playfully, but as soon as Viktor was out of sight, he slipped back to the ground with a heavy sigh, opening his water and gulping it down as fast as he could, sighing to himself.
When Viktor arrived, he found Gremio still leaning weakly against the roots of the tree, and Tir hovering nearby. Funny how this would be pretty much backwards from how Gremio wanted things, he thought, and wasted no time. "Gremio, I'm cooking tonight - you take a load off."
Despite his obvious discomfort, the statement made Gremio sit up quickly. "What on earth are you talking about? Why shouldn't I-"
"You know why," Viktor stated, cutting him off. "So do the rest of us. If you're not feeling well, don't push yourself - we're not kids or nobles here, you know, and we don't need to be waited on hand and foot. We can cook for ourselves now and then."
"B-but..." Gremio protested, looking flustered. "But it's my duty to cook dinner! What can I do if I'm not cooking?"
"You can rest."
"Rest? But I'm just fine!"
This wasn't going to get them anywhere, Viktor realized - not on his say-so. Taking the easy way out, he glanced over to Tir. "Hey, Tir - what do you say to me doing the cooking tonight?"
Tir didn't disappoint. "Good, I'm hungry. But please try not to burn it this time," he added as an afterthought.
Viktor glared at him. "I didn't burn it - it's this style of cooking Hai Yo showed... ah, screw it," he said, giving up with a shrug.
"I wasn't meaning to insult you," Tir said quickly, apparently not hearing the teasing in Viktor's voice. "My apologies..."
Looking down at him, Viktor chuckled as he turned to go back to Flik. "No offense taken, kid - relax a little. And make sure Gremio does too." Though Gremio had calmed at Tir's agreement with Viktor, he still looked flustered, and not entirely healthy.
"I will try my best, rest assured," Tir replied, moving a bit closer to his guardian.
"We found a good place to set up," Viktor informed them as he turned to go. "If you're feeling up to it, I'll mark the way there as I go, and you can follow. If not, I'll be back in a little while to give you a hand."
That was how to get Gremio to see things his way, Viktor thought with a smirk, whistling as he walked back through the forest to where he'd left Flik, leaving marks on the trunks of the trees here and there as he passed them. Just get Tir on his side... and Gremio would never argue.
After the short walk, he paused at the edge of the clearing. It looked like Flik had completely dozed off, and that wasn't like him at all. Viktor lost the smirk, wondering if this was more serious than he'd thought.
Sensing his presence, Flik rubbed the back of his hand across his eyes and stumbled slightly as he got to his feet. "Hey... off to get wood now...?" he asked drowsily.
Being a little concerned, Viktor stifled another bout of snickering. "Flik... I don't know, maybe you should just lie down for awhile," he suggested. "You already look pretty beat."
Flik shook his head and smiled. "It's okay... I can't let you do all the work, and if I fall asleep now, I'll be up half the night and end up just as tired tomorrow."
Viktor looked dubious, but nodded. "If you say so. But just let me know if you're not feeling so great, okay?"
Flik nodded and reached for his hand. "I will."
Taking Flik's hand between his own, Viktor rubbed it lightly as they headed off into the forest. "So do you want to gather wood first, or get wood first?"
Flik chuckled softly. "I don't know... how long can you hold out?"
Viktor grinned at him. "I don't know, I'm a hungry man."
With a smirk, Flik kicked a piece of wood at his feet. "Hungry for what, though?"
Viktor picked up the wood and checked it over to make sure it was dry, still grinning. "All kinds of things."
Flik nodded and kept walking, picking up another piece of wood. "Stew, maybe?"
Bending to pick up another, Viktor shook his head. "That would just be invading Gremio's personal life, wouldn't it?"
"If we get him drunk again, he might not mind very much."
"I do still have a little flask stashed away in my things..." Viktor said with a grin. "I don't know if that would make him better or worse at the moment, though."
Flik paused to consider it, then shrugged. "You know, I'm not really sure... but I do think I've been more sober in the last week than I have in the last few months, with the exception of the one night at the inn we were all drinking."
Viktor raised a hand to pat Flik on the shoulder lightly. "Good going. I can't say anything like that, because before we set out I think I was going from completely sober to dead drunk on a pretty regular basis... but I haven't gotten to the 'dead drunk' stage again since we set out."
Flik nodded. "So in some ways this trip is good for us...."
Viktor shrugged, and bent again to pick up another long fallen branch, cracking it in half. "In some ways? I haven't had any problems at all yet, really."
"Yeah... not yet."
Viktor paused and looked over at Flik - he didn't sound too sure. "Is everything okay with you?" he asked. "Really?"
Flik opened his mouth as if to say something and then shrugged. "I'd say no, but I don't know how to explain what is wrong, so keep pretending that nothing's wrong."
Viktor hesitated a moment longer, then continued on his way, snapping some dead branches off a fallen tree. "That 'tugging' thing you were talking about before?"
Nodding, Flik scooped up another branch. "Yeah... I think it has something to do with that dream about something calling out to me."
Viktor thought about it for a moment. "Does it feel like there's somewhere you need to go? Or you have no idea where they're calling from?"
"No, I have no definite idea of where I'm supposed to go or what I'm supposed to do," Flik answered immediately.
Viktor continued thinking about it for awhile, and couldn't come up with any ideas. "...I haven't felt anything."
"As I said, I might just be going crazy."
"I'm not sure which way I'd rather have it," Viktor told him, with a chuckle he didn't quite mean. They'd gathered plenty of wood for dinner, however, so he turned back towards where they'd intended to make camp. "Well, either way... just let me know if you end up needing to go somewhere, all right?"
Flik nodded. "Of course I would... but I'm not likely to abandon Tir and Gremio even if I did think I needed to go somewhere else."
He sounded tired, and Viktor reached out, finding Flik's hand behind him instinctively. "...It'll be okay, all right?"
Flik stopped short, tugging on Viktor's hand. "Vik..."
"Yeah...?"
Viktor stopped too, looking back at him in concern, but Flik only stepped closer to him and set down the wood he was carrying, taking Viktor's hand between both of his own. "Thanks..."
Viktor smiled, shifting his load of wood into the crook of one arm, and leaned forward to kiss Flik lightly. "Don't mention it."
Flik looped his arms around Viktor's neck and kissed him back. "I guess we ought to go and get dinner ready now, eh?"
Viktor nods, smirking a little. "Or we could take just a little longer... because you know, it's been a little damp lately, hard to find dry firewood and all that..." He shrugged. "Or we can go look for more later."
Flik grinned and raised his eyebrows, understanding what Viktor meant. "You don't think they'd come looking for us, do you?"
"Probably not, unless Gremio takes a turn for the worse or something..." Viktor stated. "He wouldn't leave Tir alone, and I don't think Tir wants to leave him alone now either." He winked at Flik. "But you know, the idea that you might get caught just makes it all that much more fun for some people."
Flik blushed immediately. "I... uh... well, not that it would be a huge deal if they did catch us," he stammered, "I just... "
Viktor raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Oh, really...? A little exhibitionist streak, huh Flik?"
Waving one hand in a rather ridiculous fashion, Flik opened and closed his mouth several times. Finally he sputtered, "What would ever make you think that?"
"Aw, come on - I expected you to be completely humiliated at the thought," Viktor laughed. "What else am I supposed to think when you say it wouldn't be any big deal to get caught?"
Flik shook his head. "Maybe you've opened me up to things a little more than you realized... or maybe I just can't stand not having you whenever I want to."
A wide grin crossing his face, Viktor leaned over to set his share of the firewood next to Flik's. "Maybe..."
Flik crossed his arms over his chest and watched Viktor carefully. "Maybe what...?"
Viktor shrugged. "Either way, it's nice to hear."
"What, that I want you?" Flik asked with a grin.
"That I've gotten under your skin in some way or another."
"You even have to doubt that you have?"
Viktor shook his head, laughing, and sat down, gesturing to Flik to join him. "It's nice to be reminded, though..." It was nice to see that Flik wasn't too sick to mess around a little, too, he thought as Flik obliged.
"I could remind you in other ways..." Flik remarked, absolutely straight-faced.
"I bet you could..." Viktor leaned over to slip an arm around Flik's waist, his hand resting on the curve of his hip.
Leaning into Viktor, Flik smiled. "I suddenly don't care so much that we're freezing out in the middle of nowhere."
"Oh yeah...?" Viktor asked slyly, sticking his cold fingers into the waist of Flik's pants.
Flik jumped and glared at him. "Your hands are cold."
Viktor just nodded casually. "I wonder how I could warm them up...?"
Flik reached for Viktor's hand and brought it to his face, breathing hot air on each finger, one by one. "Just to start..."
Viktor grinned. "That's not bad, yeah." Still uncertain, he paused, running his free hand along Flik's cheek. "Are you really okay? You do feel pretty warm... or maybe it's just that my hands are cold."
"I don't know..." Flik leaned his cheek against Viktor's... "Does it feel like I have a fever?"
"I really don't know about things like that, that's why I asked." Viktor turned his head slightly, nuzzling Flik's cheek. "Of course, you're pretty tempting anyway."
"I'm starting to feel warm in other places..." Flik chuckled, running his fingers through Viktor's hair. "So I'd have to say that you're just as tempting."
Viktor put his arms around Flik, lowering him carefully back onto the ground. "Yeah, you're either sick or you've got liquor stashed away I didn't know about - or I'm rubbing off on you more than I thought." Leaning over Flik on his elbows, he smiled more softly. "I just want to make sure I don't wear you out or hurt you or anything, got it?"
Flik chuckled again softly, looking up at Viktor with an obvious twinkle in his eyes. "Wear me out...? Nah... and the only thing that hurts is the rock currently jabbing me in the side... but hey, we're going rustic, aren't we?"
Viktor glared down at the offending rock and tossed it aside. "Better?"
"Absolutely," Flik told him with a grin. "So... where were we?"
"Right where we are now. So what next?"
Flik stared up at Viktor and laughed. "You were debating about whether I was sick or drunk."
"Right... And at the moment, I don't care too much."
Flik reached up to pull Viktor's face down to his, kissing him softly. "Still hungry?"
Viktor kissed back with enthusiasm, then nodded. "We should probably make this a quick snack though - Tir's probably hungry by now too."
Flik bit his lip, trying not to see that in any other light but the literal one, and nodded. "Well... what do you want most then? You may place your order now, hungry bear."
"You really are taking after me tonight," Viktor observed. "Hmm... anyway..." He placed a kiss on Flik's chin, then moved down to raise his shirt, just enough to place another kiss on his stomach. "A little of this... a little of that... variety's good."
Flik squirmed as the cool air hit his skin. "Well... I suppose... a combination platter would be acceptable..."
Viktor nibbled a little further up to Flik's chest, sliding his hands under Flik's shoulders to hold him gently. "A balanced diet's important, y'know."
"I do think I've been a little undernourished out here in the wilderness..." Flik laughed softly, slipping his own hands under Viktor's shirt and sliding them lightly up his back.
Viktor shivered slightly himself, and rolled onto his side, pulling Flik with him and pushing a knee between his thighs. "Well, feel free to make a pig of yourself this time."
Taking Viktor's words to heart, Flik pressed himself closer and dug his nails into Viktor's shoulder as he kissed him again, nibbling at his lower lip. "Fine dining, indeed..."
Viktor groaned deeply, one hand tugging Flik's shirt upwards as the other dealt with his belt. Both were discarded with ease, and he turned his attention to Flik's pants next.
Flik yanked at Viktor's shirt, already breathing heavily, and sighed at the feeling of skin against skin. He nipped at Viktor's ear and then stopped short, breathing into it. "Did you hear something?"
Too distracted to notice the strange edge to his voice, Viktor chuckled breathlessly. "I hear you panting in my ear, sure."
Flik clutched Viktor a little tighter, keeping him still, and listened. "I thought I heard footsteps."
Viktor froze, holding his breath and listening. He wasn't hearing anything at all, but something suddenly didn't feel right.
"Am I just being paranoid?" Flik whispered.
Viktor shook his head vaguely, still listening, and rolled aside. "Don't know. Should I give a holler, or you want to put your shirt back on?"
Flik frowned. "If they hear us, they should be polite enough to go away, don't you think?"
"If it's Tir or Gremio, sure. But if it's not, who knows?" Viktor glanced around suspiciously.
Flik sighed. "Did you even hear anything?"
Viktor shook his head again. "No, but your ears are sharper than mine... at any rate, I'm not hearing anything now. So if anyone was around, they either passed by..." He paused, and smirked at Flik, trying to shake the uneasiness. "Or they're waiting somewhere around here to watch."
Flik chuckled and nipped at Viktor's neck again. "In that case, I guess it would be polite of us to resume the show?"
Viktor nodded warily, still glancing around, even as he slipped an arm around Flik again. "I'd agree, except that I'm getting a weird feeling... I mean, we're in former Highland territory now, and I bet there are plenty of people who hate our guts."
With a nod, Flik gave in. "I wouldn't want Gremio to worry about us, either... perhaps we should head back? I am feeling hungry in the usual way at this point."
"Yeah, same..." Viktor muttered, eyeing the nearby bushes. "I'm kind of worried about Tir and Gremio too, if there happens to be anyone else close by." He turned back to Flik, kissing him quickly before tossing him his shirt and grabbing his half of the firewood. "Here's hoping you were just imagining things..."
Flik dressed again quickly and reached for the rest of the wood. "Do I have any leaves in my hair?"
Viktor glanced back, and relaxed slightly as he brushed a few from Flik's head. "Not anymore."
Flik grinned and started back to where'd they left their bags. "So, chef Viktor, what's on the menu tonight?"
Viktor grinned, despite keeping a closer eye on their surroundings than usual. "Oh, I don't know - I was thinking just some light soup or something, with whatever bread we have left. I want to get Gremio to eat something too, you know."
"Mmm...soup...." Flik smiled, rolling the words over his tongue. Reaching the place he'd cleared for the fire, he dumped the wood there and sat to arrange it. "Do I get to cheat?"
Viktor nodded, setting down his own firewood and rising again. "I'll go get Tir and Gremio, if you want to set up - Gremio's been carrying our rations anyway." Before leaving, he glanced back once more. "And hey, Flik? Keep your sword handy just in case, okay?"
With a worried nod, Flik slipped it into its place in his belt. "Hurry back...just in case." He went back to stacking and crisscrossing the wood before igniting it with a flick of his hand - a trick of his Lightning Rune.
As he watched, Viktor paused again. "...Also, I don't really want to say this in front of the other two," he added, "so I better just ask now. You're the navigator... we're not too far from L'Renouille, are we?"
Flik almost visibly cringed. "No... we're not... not far at all."
"That's what I thought," Viktor muttered with a frown. "And you know, men aren't the only things that might be prowling for us in that case."
"True..."
"Don't say anything about it to them," Viktor started reluctantly, "but I've been feeling kind of funny the last few days... like maybe something's watching us, or whatnot... like we're not alone. But whatever happens, happens." With a shrug, he drew out the Double-Beat crystal he'd picked up in a battle as they'd made their way through the pass. "I'd feel a lot better if we could find a runemaster."
Flik nodded in agreement. "I've been feeling the same way, and it's starting to make me really antsy... so... please don't be gone too long, okay?"
Viktor put the crystal back in the pouch at his waist, and came back long enough to kiss Flik on the forehead. "I'll be back as soon as I've got them on their feet, I promise."
As Flik returned to tending the fire, coaxing the flame to catch the larger pieces of wood, Viktor turned to go, and tried not to think about the possibility that he was leaving Flik alone in a hostile land. Flik could take care of himself, after all.
Gremio had remained sitting against the tree after Viktor had gone, and Tir had been trying to think of something he could do - Gremio looked utterly exhausted, and was beginning to grow a bit shaky. As far as Tir had been able to tell, he hadn't eaten a thing for the past few days, since they'd gone through the pass.
"Young Master..." Gremio sighed tiredly, his eyes closed, "Viktor and Flik have been gone for quite some time, do you suppose we should go after them...?"
Tir shrugged and continued rummaging through his pack for a piece of bread. "I'm quite sure they can take care of themselves, Gremio... and we are all more worried about you at this point." Finding the bread, he held it out hopefully. "Have some bread and water and rest until they return."
Though Gremio nodded and accepted the bread, he grimaced as he tore off a bit and popped it into his mouth. "I'm sorry to be such trouble..."
Coming to sit beside Gremio again, Tir brushed the hair away from his guardian's face gently. "It's no trouble, for the many times you've cared for all of us, and me especially."
Gremio took another small bite of bread, swallowing hard. "Thank you, but I... I would prefer to serve you, rather than have it the other way around." With a sigh, he leaned back against the trunk of the tree, closing his eyes again. "I worry that instead of protecting you, I'm simply drawing you into more danger..."
Tir leaned towards Gremio, wrapping an arm around him and leaning his head on the other's shoulder. "Nonsense... if there's any danger, it's because you are trying to protect me... forever. That makes it entirely worth it."
Gremio took another deep breath and opted to put the bread away, taking a sip of the water before setting that aside too and resting against Tir uneasily. "I suppose... and you are no longer a little boy who needs me as you once did... But sometimes it seems that things would be much simpler if that were the case."
Tir nodded solemnly and closed his eyes as well. "It probably would be... but Gremio, I will never stop needing you. I hope you know that."
Gremio reached over to place a shaky hand on Tir's gloved one, in what he hoped was a comforting manner. "So you say, Young Master, and I suppose at your age it feels that way... I would like to think that..." He took another deep breath, putting a hand to his head. "I'm sorry, Young Master, I'm not feeling myself..."
Tir stared at Gremio worriedly, slipping the glove off his hand to place his fingers on Gremio's forehead. "I won't ever change my mind... please, is there anything I can do, Gremio? Should I run and look for Viktor and Flik? You are really beginning to worry me..."
"There's absolutely nothing wrong with me, Young Master," Gremio insisted, shaking his head. "I simply..." He paused, thinking. "There is so much to think upon in the past few days... Once we find that Rune, I imagine I will rest much easier, whether we succeed or fail."
"Why? Why do you think so? Won't you explain so that I may understand too?"
Gremio closed his eyes wearily for a moment, then opened them again, staring blankly into the darkness of the forest at dusk. "There is not much to explain," he reasoned. "If the Beast Rune wants me, or if I can take it, then we will have done what we set out to do. If not, we will simply have to deal with it, and move on. I have faith, Young Master, that what is meant to be will, though we are ultimately responsi..." His voice trailed off slowly as he stared at something nearby in the near-dark.
Tir followed his gaze, peering into the forest. "Gremio... Gremio, what do you see?"
He felt Gremio shiver, and suddenly realized what he was seeing - two eyes shining within the underbrush. His blood ran cold as as two more eyes rose into view just beside them.
"Young Master, ready your weapon..." Gremio ordered him quietly. "I fear the Rune is already aware of our presence."
Tir jumped to his feet in alarm, grabbing his staff from the ground beside them. "Should we call out for Viktor and Flik...? Gremio... I'm worried. Would you be angry with me for using my own rune if...if I needed to, to protect us...?" His heart pounding, he stared off into the darkness.
Taking Tir's hand, Gremio shook his head and tugged him back down, though his eyes remained intent on the two pairs only a short distance away. "Remain calm... most beasts can smell fear, and I have no doubt that their rune can do the same. I believe... it may simply need a strong master." Moving to a kneeling position, Gremio took up the axe he'd placed beside them, but did not raise it to a battle position yet. "Do nothing, unless we are attacked."
Tir nodded and watched carefully, taking a deep breath and burying one hand in Gremio's cloak to comfort himself. "I will do as you say..."
Gremio took another deep breath, and stretched an empty hand toward the faintly glowing eyes. "If it is you, show yourself," he said quietly but firmly. "You smell the blood of those you have served so many years, don't you? And now you have been betrayed, abandoned... left to wander like a stray." He hesitated, and dared to smile. "I imagine you're not pleased with my blood now, are you? We are weak, and we have let you down. But we have little in common aside from our blood..." He beckoned slightly. "Come to me, and perhaps we can-"
His gentle words were cut off as the creature, a two-headed silver wolf, lunged from within the shadows, fangs bared. Half hidden behind Gremio, Tir kept his two hands still firmly on his staff and jumped back as the beast lunged. Unlike the incarnation of the Beast Rune Tir had previously seen during the last war, it was not much larger than a normal wolf, but still daunting.
The creature did not attack yet, but simply growled and tossed its head. Gremio rose to his feet, raising his axe. "Be ready, Young Master," he cautioned Tir quietly. "And yes - if necessary, use your Rune."
With a nod, Tir held his staff out in front of him defensively. "I understand...please be careful..."
Gremio and the silver wolf circled each other cautiously, each waiting for the other's move. "I don't mean any harm to you," Gremio said firmly. "But - misbehave, and you shall find yourself treated no better than any common mutt."
The wolf lunged forward abruptly, and Gremio leapt back, just out of reach of the snapping jaws, before bringing the handle of his axe around to strike the left head of the beast.
Tir stood back, watching, not wanting to interfere unless it became necessary, as Gremio had asked. Watching the two circle each other, he saw Gremio in a light that he usually forgot existed. His friend had always been nurturer and caretaker, chef and pillow and friend... not a fierce and powerful warrior.
Gremio dodged again as the wolf made another lunge, and brought the blade of the axe down across the wolf's right shoulder. The wolf turned, snarling, and reared up to pounce, catching only the end of Gremio's cloak as he ducked and struck a backhanded blow to the beast's throat.
Seeing the beast nearly strike Gremio, Tir suddenly jumped into action, leaping forward and spinning his staff to bring it down hard on one of the two heads from the opposite direction, hoping to distract it a bit. Gremio turned, his eyes hard and cold, and only barely managed to block one set of gnashing teeth with the handle of his axe. Bracing himself, he kept his grip tight as the left head tried to bite through it. "Th-thank you, Young Master," he managed as he wrenched his weapon free. Tir nodded, swiveling his staff again to catch one of the beast's legs, trying to knock it off balance while avoiding the sharp sets of teeth snapping at him.
Gremio took advantage of the distraction to swipe the handle of his axe against the left head again, hoping it might be enough to knock the beast down, if only for a moment. It worked, but the beast recovered quickly and turned, leaping straight at him before he could blink.
Seeing the danger, Tir yelled and leapt towards Gremio, trying to block the beast half with his stick and half with himself, nearly ready to yank his hand from the staff and use his rune. Gremio gasped in alarm, but before he could react, the beast simply vanished in mid-leap, leaving not a trace.
Tir collided with Gremio, knocking both of them to the ground, but quickly rolled to his feet and jumped up to look around. "Where did it go?"
Gremio also rose again swiftly, holding his axe ready as he looked around. Finally he lowered it, and when he spoke, he sounded more like the Gremio Tir was used to. "I b-believe that it was... t-testing us... Young Master."
Tir breathed deeply, lowering his staff, before muttering darkly, "And did we pass?"
Leaning on his axe weakly, Gremio dropped to his knees. "I... I think we did..."
Tir prowled around, checking the bushes warily before nodding and slipping to the ground beside him. "I am not sure if that is good or bad."
Gremio didn't respond right away, and Tir looked over to find him trying to hold himself together, the struggle evident on his face. Finally he gave in, and lowering his head, was violently ill.
Tir knelt beside him, rubbing his back gently. "Are you okay? Did it injure you?" He fumbled in the growing darkness for their water and offered it to Gremio worriedly.
His breathing much too heavy, Gremio shook his head. "I-I'm fine... I just..." His voice trailed off weakly. "I am in no shape for fighting at the moment... I am going to faint..."
Tir put his arms around Gremio, drawing him back into his embrace. "I will not leave you. Do not worry... Viktor and Flik will return soon, and we will get you somewhere safe..." His voice cracked even as he tried to reassure, and his eyes scanned the darkness for any sign of their friends.
A shout came from somewhere off in the woods, and Gremio lifted his head slightly. "Ah, see... Viktor is coming... And Flik won't be far behind. Tell them what happened... Tir, I... thank you..."
Breathing a bit easier, he slumped back into Tir's arms, and Tir hugged him tighter. "Viktor!" he called out into the darkness, trying to remain calm. Gremio was okay for the moment, but he feared deeply that any further encounter would be far worse.
Jumping over the last of the bushes in his path, his sword already in hand, Viktor looked around in a rush. "I heard you shout - what happened? Is he all right?"
Tir took a deep breath and quickly filled Viktor in on what had happened. Viktor's expression grew ever more grim as the story unfolded. "I believe he hasn't been injured," Tir finished, "but we should probably try to find somewhere safer to stay for the night..."
Viktor sighed, looking down at Gremio, unconscious in Tir's arms. "But where is 'safer' where this thing's involved? Maybe we could find a village or something, but it's already dark... I'm not sure stumbling around in the forest at night is any safer than just staying put and staying alert."
Tir nodded and sighed as well. "We will just have to keep careful watch... and perhaps a nice fire will give a little more light and keep things away from us."
Viktor nodded, and touched Tir's shoulder. "Hey, don't get me wrong, I'd like to have a nice cushy room at some inn tonight myself, and Flik was thinking the same even before all this happened. Maybe tomorrow, when it's light... but Flik's started a fire already, or was going to, at least, so we've got that."
Tir just nodded again; there was no good solution to get them out of the situation. "If you can carry Gremio, I can get his bag and mine..."
"Just what I was thinking," Viktor agreed, kneeling down to take Gremio in his arms. "Yeah, get the bags if you can - I still need to make supper. So much for getting him to eat something," he muttered. "But maybe he'll wake up later - I'll keep the pot on all night."
Tir nodded and hefted their two bags over his shoulders. "I did get him to eat a bite of bread before we were attacked...."
Seeing that everything was taken care of, Viktor headed back towards Flik and the fire, motioning for Tir to follow. "Good, good. That's probably half the reason he could stand and face that thing tonight - that and guts. Gremio's one of the most stubborn guys I've ever met." Tir nodded again, biting his lip as he tried to remain calm and collected.
Flik had indeed built a roaring fire, and came running towards them once he realized that Viktor was carrying Gremio. Placing a hand on Gremio's forehead, he looked from Tir to Viktor. "What the hell happened?"
"The Beast Rune happened." At the look on Flik's face, Viktor shook his head. "Don't worry, it seems to be gone now, and he'll be fine - I think he just passed out, that's all."
Flik sighed and frowned, turning to Tir. Tir knew he must look terrible - he could feel himself shaking uncontrollably, now that he had time to think about what had happened. "Come sit by the fire and get warmed up," Flik suggested. "I'll set out the blankets while Viktor makes some soup."
Setting Gremio down carefully, Viktor started looking through the packs for ingredients. His eyes wandered back to Tir, and after a moment he abandoned the food, sitting down beside his young friend instead. "Hey, he'll be okay..." Viktor told him, "he just needs to rest for awhile. Don't look so glum." Tir nodded and turned to Viktor, his eyes watery, but he found himself unable to say anything.
Flik moved to sit down on the other side of him, looping a comforting arm around Tir's shoulders and giving Viktor a worried look over the top of Tir's head. Viktor slipped his arm around Tir too, hugging him lightly. "Listen, I think I know how you feel here... but you just have to take it as it comes, right? He'll wake up sometime soon, we'll get some food in him, and he'll be just fine."
Flik nodded in affirmation of Viktor's statement, and Tir sighed sleepily between his two friends. "We've all seen worse," Flik pointed out, "and as long as we stick together, I believe everything's going to be just fine."
"And I'm giving him an ultimatum, as soon as he's conscious," Viktor stated. "We're not going one step closer to L'Renouille - in fact I'll drag him back all the way to Toran if I have to - until he's in his usual good health again."
Flik nodded and rose to tend to the fire again. "Tir, if you're tired, go to sleep... We'll keep the soup warm for whenever you wake up."
"Yep." Viktor looked back to the pack. "I'll get started on that... It's no special stew," he admitted with a grin, "but Flik didn't seem to hate my soup, back in the days we were working as mercs together." Flik grinned slightly at the memory, and glanced over at Tir.
Left alone by the fire, Tir instead crawled to where Gremio was lying, on the blankets where Viktor had set him down, and lay beside him, wrapping one arm around him and closing his eyes.
Flik and tossed another piece of wood onto the fire, catching Viktor's eye. "The Beast Rune?"
"Two-headed silver wolf - couldn't be anything else. At least it's smaller now, not a big huge thing like last time," Viktor told him, pouring some water into the cookpot and setting it over the fire. "It could mean it's weaker now... But Gremio seemed to think it was just a test, so who knows? All I know is, from what Tir said, they didn't seem to hurt it much and it could have finished them off pretty easily if it had come back right away, so I think he's right that it didn't mean to kill."
"But it might come back."
Viktor nodded. "Yeah... it might. Soon as it's daylight, we're backtracking and finding the nearest place with walls."
Stealing another glance at Tir, lying with his arm protectively across Gremio, Flik sighed and poked at the fire. It was going to be a long night.
