Author's note: For those of you who get annoyed easily by mistakes in details, I apologize in advance. My knowledge of swordplay is limited to what little research I was able to do online, and from an outside source whom I sometimes bother with inane questions about the difference between a rapier and a sword rapier.
That said, on with the story.
Darkness in the Twilight
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
By Psycho Ferret and LunarCrystal
A Shred of Hope
While everyone else had fun at dinner, Celena thought it was a bit of a let down - though she was glad they were able to take the pizza home with them to eat later. The majority of the household were nightowls, but Celena was still used to turning in early, so she went to bed quietly, dressed in nothing more than a long t-shirt. She was determined. She wanted to have a good time with Allen, but he was always occupied with other thoughts. He had angered her with his old fashioned thinking, but she still loved him . . .
And for reasons she couldn't explain, she *wanted* him . . .
Allen was quiet, speaking with Ethan for a long while before he retired for the night. He slid quietly inside the room he shared with his sister, a soft sigh on his lips as he got ready for bed. Her vulgarity had startled and, really, disgusted him. He'd raised her since he'd gotten her back to be a lady and then all of a sudden, it had been pushed aside. It was a different world, but still... to think of him tossing away his ideals, his mannerisms, to change in that manner, well, Allen couldn't see that ever happening.
Ethan had taken up sleeping on the couch so his brother could use the bed in his room... but this night, that point was argued. He'd share a bed with his brother, then. A little illogically nervous about the thought of it, Ethan retreated to his room before his brother, taking a shower and tugging on his boxers for bed. Normally, he slept unclothed, but now... he couldn't, not with his brother there.
"Allen," she whispered in the dark, watching him undress with nothing but the little moonlight that came through the window. "We need to talk, Allen." she said seriously, and she couldn't recall any other time when she'd felt so serious.
Allen arched a brow slightly, sitting down on the edge of the bed, sliding under the covers gently.
As usual, she attached herself to his warm muscled frame, burying her face in his backside. She rested her cheek against the skin, "Allen? Are you even listening to me?"
"I am, of course." Allen nodded slightly, smiling a little. "I usually do."
"Okay, good," she affirmed, closing her eyes, "A couple things I wanted to talk about then. . . first about today. And how sorry I am."
"It's alright, Celena... both of us have been tense because of the occurrences."
She bit her lip and relented with the next topic, "The other thing . . ."
"What is it?" Allen asked quietly, blinking a little.
She squeezed him tightly, not really wanting to say it but just wanting to let him *know* what she felt, and what she wanted. Her hands had been stroking his chest, smooth and perfect as it was. Soon they wandered lower, letting her soft hands rest gently on the curve of his hip. She sat up a bit, leaning down towards his ear and whispered, "I want you . . . now."
Allen tensed a little, starting slightly. Here? Now? "Celena, we can't... this isn't our bed..." The blonde felt a flicker of panic flutter through him. Here? With the others so nearby? When did she get so bold...?
"Please?" she begged softly, nibbling his ear and letting her hands trail down a little lower on his stomach.
Allen grasped her wrists to stop her. "We can't here..." It was too risky. Too damn risky...
Celena pouted, grinning slightly. Her fingers stretched and wriggled as the reached and found a sensitive spot on Allen's lower abdomen. "Why not?" she asked.
Allen pulled slightly away from her, pushing her hands up away from him as he forced back the laughter. "Stop it, Celena. I've told you why not."
"Okay," she relented, tracing her lips down his side, drinking in the smooth skin. She placed little tender kisses upon his flesh there near his hip. "How about just a little fun then?"
"Celena, please... just stop." Allen sighed softly, tugging her up, putting his arms around her loosely.
"But why?" she asked, and now she truly was concerned. She had been in fine spirits just a second ago, playful and frisky - and for some reason, he didn't want to. She pouted again, letting her fingers be content with the feel of his warm flesh.
"I just don't want to right now." He sighed softly, resting his chin on top of her head. "I'm sorry..."
Celena groaned, pressing her cheek against his chest. "Ugh, I don't know why but I *really* want to . . ."
"Maybe it's because we haven't. I don't know." He gently stroked her hair, his eyes softly closed.
Oh, how she was tempted to tease him - to *feel* his manhood . . . as odd of a thought as that was. She knew it would be soft like the rest of him, though she didn't know why. So she'd wanted to find out. Why is it that she always did and he didn't? "Can't we just play a little bit?" she begged softly.
Allen sighed softly, his eyes closed. "Must we?" He was weary, from the varied amounts of excitement... and disappointment during the day. He continued to softly stroke her hair.
Celena let out a frustrated breath, "No, we don't have to."
"I'm sorry, Celena, I really am..." he hugged her close, sighing a little.
"It's okay," she lied, settling herself in his warmth and hold, "Why don't you ever want to? It seems like every time I want to finally do it - you don't. Do you find me attractive anymore, even if you can't see me?"
"Of course I do, Celena." He sighed, frustrated. "I just don't feel the need to." An odd thing, considering his past habits. But even still... so many things had changed.
"Does - does that mean we won't ever . . .?" She whispered, slightly horrified.
"I never said we wouldn't, Celena, just calm down."
"Oh," she said, not really comforted by what he'd said. She sighed again, only it was a little gentler this time, only tracing her hot breath across his chest in soothing waves of heat. "You saw the tutor today. I saw you holding a card with Braille on it. Can you read it?"
"Only a few letters currently." Allen smiled a little. "She's blind as well. It was... it was nice, really. Just think, soon enough I'll be able to read again, Celena..."
"So that's what you're so excited about," she smiled in response to his happiness, "Maybe your thoughts keep you from wanting to bed me."
Allen sighed softly, shaking his head a little. "I can't wait. It's been so long since I've been able to read anything."
"You'll read, brother," she reassured him, giving him some tender little kisses on his chest, "And then you can read to me . . . And then maybe you can bed me." She grinned in the dark.
"Oh, would you stop it with that?" Honestly. He sighed a bit.
"What?" she said innocently, "I'm only teasing you."
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry." she sighed again, settling her head finally. "Let's just - go to sleep . . ."
Allen shook his head a little, keeping his arms a little. Good. Sleep. He rested his chin on top of her head again. "Good night, Celena..."
~
Time passes without so much of a glimmer of hope for home and safe return. Not that Celena minded, as she'd begun to warm up to this strange new place called Earth - what with discus the play music, Linkin Park, and pizza. She still pestered her brother to get a cell phone. Allen had been occupied in his thoughts too, and his obsession with learning Braille and reading. Sarah Mills was a very patient teacher.
It wasn't before long that Allen was able to read the simple children's books in that miraculous raised lettering - within two months, to be exact. He was, of course, thrilled, finding that his favorite hobby on this planet was reading. Now that he could again, anyway. Chris had braved showing Celena how to drive a car after she'd badgered him enough. In the end, it was not unlike controls for a melef, of which she knew how to pilot.
It was just a matter of those silly lines on the road that she had a problem with.
Chris had suggestion, once they're paperwork was all sorted, albeit illegally, that they try to find work - preferably under the table. Then he had to explain what 'under the table' meant. Nikki was able to help out Celena in finding the silver haired girl a job, so Celena was able to help out at the coffee shop - it was the one thing she could make well that she didn't burn.
The time eventually came when the three Terran siblings decided the Schezars had overstayed their welcome. Well, that and Chris just *really* wanted his room back. So they also helped in finding a small apartment for them, with a loft. It was a tiny place, just a studio sized apartment and affordable enough for Celena since she'd started working with Nikki. It was quite literally two blocks away from the beach.
Chris and Ethan were very charitable with the furnishings. Their late uncle had died three years before and left them the town house they now live in. But he also left behind furniture that they had no use for. So it only ended up in storage. That was quickly donated to the Schezars, as well as extra comforters and a dresser for them to share. It was more than enough.
For once, it was Celena that was supporting Allen, instead of the other way around. He'd go to Braille classes with Sarah, his progression rather quick. He was excited, thoroughly, and would read out the simplest things to his sister. A childish enjoyment. But he was delighted by it and once more he would speak with smiles and grins, animated. He got more and more used to this place, and no longer needed as much aid as he did before--though he still needed a bit of it to get around.
Ethan made sure to visit the Schezars a lot, hanging out and laughing, chatting away. He found an odd kind of brotherhood in Allen and they shared little secrets with one another and would laugh about them later. He was glad to see the siblings getting along again, though they did still have their occasional fights. But who didn't? Ethan made it known, quietly, to Allen that he found his sister intimidating. He'd blush and wave his hands about, pouting. "She's just so mean. Sometimes it seems like she hates me."
But Allen would laugh and say that it was just how siblings were. That's all it was, wasn't it?
The good thing about their little studio apartment was that it had a spacious window in it. The bed faced it, and in the mornings, the sun would shine gently upon them as they slept. It warmed Celena's bare shoulder and made her eyes flutter open. She smiled, of course, when she saw Allen's slumbering face just across from her. The warmth of the sun, and the soft blankets that covered them made Celena feel - light headed.
Gently, she leaned over to him and kissed his lips to wake him. "You should wake up now," she said gently.
Allen shifted a little, an arm draped about her waist. "Mm...? Morning already, is it?" The knight sighed, stretching a little, a faint smile on his lips. It was nice, really, the place they'd gotten. It was nice to live on their own, to not have to hide anything.
She giggled softly, amused as he stretched, and decided to place more velvety kisses upon his face. "If you don't get up, I might do something nasty." she threatened.
"And I'd believe it, mm?" He didn't know what her obsession, really, was with such things recently, but she'd gotten less and less subtle about it. He leaned over, kissing her cheek gently as he sat up with a quiet yawn.
She fell back on the bed, throwing the covers over her dramatically. "Darn." she let out with a huff. Allen smiled slightly and stood, stretching a little more before shuffling over to the dresser and grabbing some clothes. Morning was always a little hard for him. Not because he ached or any of that... just because they were mornings.
"So what will you wear today?" she asked, lounging on the bed and propping her elbow as she leaned her head into her hand. "Black, grey, black or gray?"
"Oh, hush, you. At least this way I don't have trouble matching, mm?"
"Well, it wouldn't hurt you to wear a little blue now and then." she argued validly, getting out of bed herself with nothing on but a night shirt. She stretched and yawned loudly. "Mm, work. Fun."
"Maybe eventually." Allen shrugged a little, sighing softly. He liked the way he dressed, even if it wasn't colorful. At all. Ethan seemed to approve, anyway. "Well, just think of the money you're making doing it."
"Which reminds me . . ." she put a hand on her hip, her eyes narrowing upon her brother.
He was, of course, oblivious to the actions as he started dressing. "Hm?" Allen tugged a t-shirt on, turning his head towards her.
"Have you thought about what to do to earn money yet?" she asked, "I mean, I can't keep paying for everything, you know . . ."
"Well, what is there for me to do?" Allen shook his head slightly, sighing.
"I was actually thinking about that," Celena tried hopefully, approaching him like a wife and wrapping her arms about his waist. It made him stop buckling his pants for a moment, "Have you thought of teaching?"
Allen paused, arching a brow. "Teaching what? There's nothing I can teach..." The blonde shook his head slightly.
"Didn't Chris ever show you his sword collection?"
"Ah, no, but what does that have to do with teaching? And I couldn't see the collection anyhow, you know."
Celena grinned again, taking his hand and poking him in his palm. "By 'see' I mean this kind." She chuckled a bit, dropping his hand and moving to pick out her own clothes. "Honestly, sometimes you can be so dense."
"Well? What does that have to do with teaching?" Allen sighed heavily, shaking his head a bit.
She brought out some pants to wear, black cargo pants with rings around the waist band, and a small black shirt. "If people collect swords here," she said while stepping into the pants, "Then they would probably be curious to use them, don't you think?"
"But didn't they say that actually wielding them is illegal?" Allen cocked his head to the side a little. "Unless, of course, there's a demand for fencing. Because I can certainly do that."
Celena was getting excited herself, zipping up her pants and throwing on her shirt quickly. She went and picked up the packet of information that Chris was nice enough to give her the day before. "I've got all the information right here. They have tournaments."
"Ah? Well... I'm sure I could manage that." Allen smiled softly. He could take up his swordplay again. What more could he ask for? The blonde turned towards his sister, holding out his arms. "Come here, you."
She squealed delightedly and ran into his arms, squeezing him. "Oh, Allen! It'll be just fine, you'll see."
Allen laughed softly, hugging her close, brushing his lips against her forehead. "Reading and swordplay! It's like I'm getting my old life back!"
"So - does that mean we can start making out now?" She grinned.
Allen sighed, thwapping her lightly, playfully on the head. "Oh stop that, you. Don't you have work?" He smiled a little, shaking his head at her.
"In an hour." She kissed him quickly, jumping onto the bed. "Until then, I'm all yours . . . rrrarr."
Allen just grinned over at her. "Read what it says to me, the pamphlet. Please?"
Celena sighed, rolling onto her back and lifting the pamphlet in front of her, "Fencers of America - tutors wanted, training in foils, rapiers, sabers, katanas and wakazashis, xians . . . blah, blah." she sighed, "Do I have to read the whole thing? They're just looking for good instructors on all this stuff."
"Well, where is it for? And when do they want them by?" Allen grinned excitedly, perking a bit. He could do this, he knew he could.
"It says here they want to prepare for a winter tournament. . . which is in five months." She said, counting the months in her head.
Allen nodded slightly, pursing his lips. "I'd best start up practicing all over again, then. I'll just have to find a place where I can." Allen grinned a little. Maybe he could get Chris to come too. Maybe he'd enjoy it.
"Practicing swordplay again." tsked the comely girl on the bed. "What of your precious reading?"
"Oh, of course I'll be reading as well. Don't you think for a moment, I'd give that up."
She put her hands up in defeat. "No, no no. Of course not." She scrambled onto her knees, kneeling in front of him on all fours like a cat, "Can I help you practice too?"
Allen shrugged slightly. "It all depends on where I'm going to take up practicing. I can't practice it here. And doing it outside would just get me arrested."
"I'm sure that Chris will think of something." she tried, crawling over towards him and grabbing his middle so that he fell onto the bed.
Allen started a little, then fumbled, pulling himself away from her, standing. "Ne~h... I'll have to ask him about it. And if nothing else, he can join in, too. He likes sword so much, he might as well learn how to use one."
"Right." she nodded, falling back onto the bed, dismayed. "One hour. No kisses . . . no love . . . Celena is sad."
"Oh, stop being so dramatic, Celena." Allen pouted a little, turning his head towards her.
"Why?" she shrugged, "Either way, I don't get what I want."
Allen sighed, turning and stalking out of the room, snatching up his cane. Thankfully their apartment wasn't too far from the place they'd stayed at with Chris and the others. And he knew his way well enough there.
~
"Allen, what are you doing here?" It was Chris who answered the door, both Nikki and Ethan gone to their own jobs. "Aren't you usually in the library by this time?"
"Ah, Celena told me about the pamphlets you'd given her. About the tournament? And, well... I can't practice swordplay outside or in the apartment. I was wondering if you knew a place where I might? I've been out of it for so long that I'm not sure I'm as good as I was."
"Swords? Oh! Oh, yeah - yeah, you can practice just in the back of our house, the little grassy area there is private." he said.
"Ah? Thank you. And, well, I was wondering that since you like swords so much, would you wish to learn to use them?"
Chris' eyes widened a bit. "Use them - like . . . for real?"
Allen smiled softly, nodding. "I doubt you'll have any real reason for it here, but still. I'd be more than willing to teach you."
"Oh, my . . . " He didn't even finish his sentence. He bolted upstairs to his room, grabbed a few swords from the rack and was back downstairs in front Allen before the blind man would know he'd gone anywhere. "When do we start?"
Allen laughed a bit, waving a hand. "Those are more decorative than anything. Likely if we use them, they'll break. I have the one brought with me from my world. However, if we look hard enough, I'm sure we might be able to find one in that collection of yours worth using."
"Then by all means, please, come in." He let the knight walk in passed and closed the door behind him. Once upstairs, he was bringing out rapiers and boken from every little corner of his room. "How will you be able to tell?"
Allen smiled, going over different points that would hint to them being decorative or actually useful. He traced his fingers over the lengths of them, carefully taking a few swings with them. The majority were set aside, until he came to one, a fine bladed rapier that Allen tested against his own. The blonde smiled a bit, nodding approvingly. He held the sword out to Chris, gently holding it near the base of the blade with the hilt towards him. "See if it's light enough and if it feels comfortable enough."
"O-Okay." he said, taking the hilt and testing the weight. A couple experimental bobs of his arm, and a swing or two, and he was hooked. He wanted to do this. And this was the perfect sword. "Perfect," he said to him.
Allen smiled a bit, nodding to him. "Good, good... now all we have to do is get my own sword over here and we can start." Allen himself was excited. He always loved practicing his swordplay, it was wonderful. And it wasn't like he couldn't do it, even after he was blinded.
"Isn't your sword in your cane?" asked Chris, already engrossed in several fantasies of him becoming a swashbuckler.
"Oh, not that one. The one I brought with me from Asturia. That's the one I prefer. And this one wouldn't be any good with actual handling as we're going to do. Something quick would be easy and it would work." Allen shrugged a little, smiling. "My rapier is far more suited to me."
"Oh, that's right. I forgot you still had that one." he said, putting his own rapier back in its sheath. "So, when did you want to start teaching? I mean, officially for those people? 'Cause I remember where they're headquarters are in town."
Allen cocked his head to the side a little. "Well, they'd likely want to see a little bit of my skill, so I was thinking I'd practice a little first, just to get used to it all over again."
"Alright, Allen. You know where I live. Did you guys get a cell phone yet?" he asked him, starting to gather his swords and put them back into his closet. Of course, he left his hand picked rapier out of the closet.
"Not yet. I'd figure we'd best get funds from both of us before we get one. After all you aid we'd have to pay a monthly bill, right? So we'd have that, as well as the rent money and Celena can't continue to support us both like this."
Chris clapped Allen on the shoulder, "You should apply for the teaching job. If you're really from the kind of world you say you are - they'd be stupid not to hire you."
Allen smiled softly, nodding. "I can only hope they wouldn't shut me out simply for my blindness."
Chris stopped, his grin slowly fading as he sank down onto his bed, "Oh, geez. I didn't even think of that."
Allen nodded slightly, running a hand through his hair. "I would only hope they'd be more open-minded, however, I can see where the risk might come in. If you cannot see, then you cannot know where your student is and it would be a little difficult not to harm them. As well as the fact that I would have a slight problem knowing what they were doing wrong if it wasn't something I had seen or experienced myself."
"There's always shadowfencing." Chris shrugged.
Allen arched a brow slightly. He'd never heard the term before. "What?"
"Um, Shadowfencing. It's where you . . . and the student . . . Oh, here." And he got up, moving behind Allen, putting his arms along where Allen's were, his body nearly pressed against the other man's, "Like this. And they follow you this way . . ."
Allen nodded slightly, a faint smile on his lips. "True enough, then... that would be far less dangerous. And earier to tell what they're doing wrong."
The older gentleman removed himself from Allen's space, moving in front of him again. "So, you see? You can do it just fine."
Allen smiled softly, nodding a bit. "They'd likely use dulled blades, as well. The blonde pursed his lips slightly, thoughtfully.
"Right," agreed the brunette. Then he too became thoughtful, fidgeting a bit with his hands, looking at the ground. "So, Allen," he began timidly, "How are things with your sister?"
Allen arched a brow slightly... then sighed, shaking his head. "It's still a little strenuous between us, but the frustration is beginning to ease a little."
"Hmm, yes . . . Well, I was wondering, Allen," he said, still timidly and desperately trying to remember how this was done in all of those books he'd read. He had to be formal to this man before him, because otherwise it would just be rude. His brow furrowed in concentration, "Sir Allen, might I . . . that is, could I possibly ask your permission . . ."
Allen waited calmly, a soft smile on his lips. He had an idea of just what was going to be asked, but he stayed silent. He didn't say anything, still standing calmly before him.
The look on his face, Chris thought, he must know. He was nearly sweating from the nervousness, taking a deep breath before continuing, "May I court Celena?"
"You are a good man, Chris. You've helped us very much, innumerable times and I can't thank you enough, ever. While I am her older brother and while it usually works this way in our lands and obviously something here... it is not my decision to make. If she chooses to, then I will approve of it. I do not think you would do her any harm."
Chris let out a breath that he'd been holding unawares, his shoulders slumping from the relief of Allen's words. "Ah - thank you. Yes, I guess I'll just ask her out on a date." He smiled happily.
Allen smiled softly, nodding to him. He could feel the other's relief. She was a pretty thing, wasn't she? He could see why it was that what...? 2 people now had asked him the same thing?
"Uh - should I escort you out? Or did you want to hang out for a bit?" Chris asked.
"Mm? No, no, it's fine. Are you doing anything tomorrow? I'm completely free, so if you'd wish to start up practicing, I would be more than happy to do so."
"Awesome! Yeah, I'm totally there." he said excitedly, following Allen downstairs.
Allen smiled softly, nodding to him, walking calmly. "I'll warn you that I might be a bit shaky with it at first. I haven't practiced in awhile, after all."
"Oh, yeah - no problem." He opened the front door for his friend. "I'll be here tomorrow. Unemployment sucks that way."
Allen laughed a little, nodding to him. "Tomorrow, then." The blonde turned, walking quietly out and heading back to the apartment he and his sister shared.