Author's Note: We would like to apologize in advance for any offensive content, grammatical and/or spelling errors, and other mistakes in details that would annoy our audience. Hope you still enjoy the story . . . *hopeful smiles*
Darkness in the Twilight
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By Psycho Ferret and LunarCrystal
Heartache and Pleasure
Later that day, after Angelina was told to play with her toys in her own room, Gaddes finally came back from exercises on the field, dampened with sweat and so very ready to bathe. He came into Allen's room, surprised to find him sitting on the bed. What surprised him more was that he was gazing at one of Celena's old gowns in his hands - most of the fabric strewn about the bed in crumpled folds of crisp blue satin.
Allen sat cross-legged on the mattress, staring at the fabric before him. He wished... he wished he could have seen her in it. He wished he'd had a chance to tell her how beautiful she looked in it. After registering that Gaddes had entered the room, Allen lifted his head slowly to look over at the older man, blinking a little. The blonde slowly, sadly smiled, tears unshed lingering in the corners of his eyes.
"I wish I could have seen her in it..." he murmured softly, voice trembling.
Gaddes wouldn't dare sit on the bed when he was in such a state of disarray. Not to mention the wreaking stench of his clothing. All he had wanted to do was take a bath, and because he and Allen were – partners – he had privilege to the tub. Sympathy was a plague, sometimes, and it really did wrench at his heart to see Allen so distraught. Celena was a sweet girl, after all, and she was his sister and lover – purer love than any man could have hoped for in a woman. To lose her after having their child . . . sometimes, it was too much pain to endure, and he would find Allen sleeping as the tears seeped through his slumbering eyes.
"That gown . . . she wore it after you'd gone blind?" he asked softly.
"She did... I bought it for her months before, but she'd never worn it." Allen sighed softly, tucking his legs to his chest, fingers brushing against the cloth softly... cloth that no longer smelled like Celena. Though he could imagine it, just like he did with any other item of hers. Of course... after so long, none of them smelled like her anymore, they'd all absorbed the scent of the cedar wood of the chest they had settled in.
After a few moments, the blonde stood, the dress in hand. He couldn't stand to look at it any longer. He knew he'd cry if he kept this up. And... it was unfair to Gaddes. Quietly, he folded the dress, setting it carefully inside the chest and closing it, another sigh on his lips.
It was a touchy subject. If anything else was said about it, Gaddes knew Allen would be a wreck with the memories of his sister. He inwardly groaned - it's not that he didn't feel for him, or sympathize for him . . . he just really wanted to take a bath. It might be better, he thought, if he changed the subject quickly before Allen got even more upset.
Peeling off his shirt over his head, he gave a contented sigh as the cool air of the room hit his tanned skin. "Ah, well, I think I need to take a bath. Exercises were tough today." he winked.
Allen offered a small smile his way, watching as his lover started to undress. What better way to distract himself from Celena's death? And it wasn't like he didn't enjoy Gaddes' presence anyhow... that much had been proven over and over. The blonde slunk over to Gaddes, resting his hands on the man's hips, looking up at him from behind the little wire-rimmed glasses.
"Shall I join you?"
Gaddes quirked an eyebrow, rolling his eyes and leaning forward a little. He had a smirk on his face that told Allen to stop being such a woman. "If you're so inclined." he quipped. Allen pouted slightly at the implication, smacking him on the shoulder playfully. Woman. Pfft.
The truth was, Allen liked washing Gaddes' hair for him, cleaning the day's hardships from the other's flesh. It wasn't something an aristocrat would do, but... he ignored that and did it nonetheless. It was something he, himself enjoyed, the same treatment, and he'd decided to bestow that upon Gaddes as well.
Gaddes heaved a sigh, stepping away from Allen to go to the dumb waiter in the far wall by the fireplace. "I suppose we should get some hot water up here first." he grinned over his shoulder, and set about ordering three buckets of hot water. He closed the dumb waiter and leaned against the wall, wearing nothing but the stiff leather pants and his boots.
Allen smiled softly. His hands smelled strongly of the rosewater that had been spilled as he'd taken the time to stop angsting to clean it up. Unfortunately, the bottle was near-empty, now, after the incident... he'd had to get his hands on some more soon enough. The blonde sat down lightly, gazing around the room. After losing his sight, then getting it back, he'd learned to spot things easier, take in more... if he ever lost his sight again, he wanted to have as many memories of what he did see as he could manage.
"You know," said Gaddes, still leaning on the wall next to the shut door of the dumbwaiter, "Those glasses look good on you. But what *I* think is that you should take them off. Oh, and undo your hair . . . and the shirt. Yeah, you'd look better that way."
Allen blinked, glancing over at him. The man chuckled a little, reaching up and tugging the long locks of hair out of the loose ponytail, letting them fall about his shoulders softly. Soft, cerulean eyes watched his lover from behind the glasses as he calmly unhooked the shirt. The glasses were the last to go, carefully setting them aside. The blonde blinked a little to let his vision adjust to the sudden difference, though things were still a bit blurry.
"Mm... that better?"
Gaddes hummed thoughtfully, not moving from his spot - arms crossed over his bare chest. The sweat had since dried on his skin, leaving him salty and sticky with residue. Flashing a grin that Allen's probably couldn't see very well, he gave him a node. "It'll do for now." Oh, he was a cheeky one.
The blonde just smiled softly, inclining his head. to the faintly blurry outline of the other. It always seemed to be like this, rather playful and easy. It wasn't that he wasn't serious about being at Gaddes' side, moreso that the interaction with him was just... more friendly. With Celena, he'd been there to protect her, to be strong for her. He loved her, and he could feel at ease with her... but he had to be strong for her.
But with Gaddes... he didn't have to be. He didn't have to protect Gaddes, he didn't have to worry over him. Granted, there were plenty of times when Allen still did worry over him, but never near as much as with Celena. No... she was soft.. Gaddes was rugged.
It seemed they stayed that way for a long while, until finally the water buckets were sent up - three hot steamy buckets full of fresh water. Glad for the interruption of the silence, he poured them into the small tub behind the ornate screen in the corner of the room. Without so much as a warning or invitation, Gaddes had already begun to strip behind the screen and was glad for the warm water that met his sullied flesh.
Allen had slipped on his glasses to make the trek to the other side of the room easier. The blonde slipped the leathery breeches and undone shirt lightly off, the boots already set aside, along with the gloves he'd taken off when he'd cleaned up the spill. Setting the glasses aside on top of the clothing, Allen shuffled in behind Gaddes, for a moment resting his chin on his lover's shoulder.
The sergeant closed his eyes, his smile pleasant and musing. Allen's chin was always clean shaven - always. He didn't think the man even *grew* whiskers, and if he did watch Allen shave once in a while, he would have really thought facial hair simply didn't grow on the man. "You know," began Gaddes lightly, "If I never saw you without your clothes on . . . I would have been left wondering if you really were a man sometimes."
Allen arched a brow slightly, his arms around the man's middle. "Why do you say that?" The blonde knew he wasn't the manliest creature ever... but he never thought it was that bad. One arm lifted, tracing his thumb idly along the other's jaw line, smiling softly at he tickle of that seemingly ever-present stubble.
"Because you're so pretty," Gaddes answered readily, more of a statement of fact than a compliment. His lips puckered comically as his stubble was petted under his chin, a grin quirking at his mouth. "I guess I should shave then, huh?"
As far as the pretty comment, Allen just sighed, shaking his head a little. It wasn't his fault he had a bit of his mother in him. "Mm... it'll just grow back anyhow." Allen grinned, nuzzling his cheek softly. "And I like it. Stubble just looks horribly stupid on me... when you can see it. But if you didn't have any, why... I think the world would be ending. You've always got it."
"Well," he said, his head automatically tilting back to invite more of Allen's gentle nuzzles, "I thought tonight would be special."
Allen continued to softly brush his fingers along Gaddes' jawline, pressing a gentle kiss to his lover's neck. "Mm... every moment with you is special, Gaddes."
Ah, the attention - he loved the attention and he wasn't ashamed to admit it. He got so little of it when he lived at his home, with his enormous family. Now he had a nobleman, pretty to boot with his long blond hair, all to himself. Not mention the adorable little girl that had become like a daughter to him as well. He would probably be a little put off if Angelina ever started calling him 'mother'.
With these thoughts in his head, he suddenly chuckled.
Allen blinked a bit, pausing his finger's travels. "What?" He had no idea what it was going on in Gaddes' head, so he was left to wonder. Some of the long hair slipped forward, brushing against the older man's shoulder softly.
Allen wouldn't know what to do if Angelina called either of them mother. He'd panic, probably... or blush and wave it off... or do something equally as flustered.
Gaddes let his chuckle die down a bit, but the grin was still there. "Oh, just thinking - you're more of a mother than I am. I just wouldn't fit that role very well if she ever started calling me her mum."
"Oh, by... Gaddes, only you would think of it, I swear. I don't know what I'd do if she called you such a thing. It'd just be... odd. Embarrassing, probably." Allen pursed his lips slightly, a little bit of a chuckle on his lips.
"Yeah," he grinned, sort of a lopsided musing. The water was warm and comfortable, just like Allen was warm and comfortable as he was pressed into his back. His hand came up and lightly touched the smooth chin of the noble, turning his head and planting a hard kiss upon his pink lips.
Allen purred softly, his eyes half-closed as he returned the kiss in kind. Yet another difference with Gaddes... you didn't have to be as wary of harming. Gaddes wasn't so fragile. Gaddes' weight leaning lightly against his was comforting and comfortable, and the blonde's fingers immersed themselves in the short, dark locks of hair.
For the moment, thoughts of Celena were long gone, replaced by need and hunger and comfort. It was just him and Allen, and that was what mattered. He felt the noble's soft fingers catch his hair, the gentle tug on his scalp thrilling and strangely arousing. This man before him - he was so pretty, for lack of a better term. It amazed Gaddes to that day that a man could just be so astoundingly attractive. Usually that wasn't how it worked.
Behind the blond hair, the muscled from, the deep cornflower blue eyes, was the most gentle man Gaddes had ever know. His skin was soft, perfumed and powdered every day. A doll, really. He had his own, life-sized, better-than-butter porcelain doll. As he kissed the plump lips of the man before him, he smiled slightly, thinking, 'So that's where Angelina gets it.'
Allen loved the brush of the other man's stubble, a sharp contrast to the smooth, soft texture of his own flesh. But his lips... they were always soft, always silken and the faintest trace of salt lingered on their surface thanks to the day's earlier activities. Allen didn't mind. Beneath the scent of the day lingered that musky, manly smell that was distinctly Gaddes, a familiar smell. Everything about Gaddes was familiar, things he had experienced before, but never grew tired of.
Wandering hands soon found the flesh of Allen's lean stomach, and he traced his fingers along the gentle, subtle grooves of his abdomen, grinning into his kiss. His other hand was held firmly behind the noble's head, embedded into the soft gold of his hair, the mixed scent of his salt and Allen's powder playing along familiar memories. He was just about to reach down, to stroke and tease the delicate manhood . . .
"Father . . .?" came Angelina's innocent voice from the doorframe. Gaddes pulled back, letting out a heavy sigh and letting his head fall to Allen's shoulder in resignation - never a moment to themselves, it seemed.
Allen tensed slightly, all too startled. Oh gods. Of course, it would be right then. Taking a moment to steady himself, his voice, his breathing, he slid on his glasses, biting back the grumbling that began to surface. For a moment looking at Gaddes, exasperated, the man stood, slipping out of the water, wrapping a towel around his waist. The blonde padded over to his daughter, kneeling down before her.
"What is it, princess...?"
"Oh!" she let out, feeling the little splashes of the water he trailed out, hearing the water rustle. She blushed, her little head scrunching into her shoulders, "I didn't know you were bathing with uncle Gaddes. But - I can't find my horse. It's usually in the same place in my room, but now it's not there."
Gaddes heard well enough from behind the screen, grumbling quietly to himself. He decided he might as well take the time to start washing himself before Allen came back to continue their romp in the tub. Taking some glycerin soap, rubbing it into his hand, he started washing his hair and body.
"Mm, it's alright." He'd walked down the hall in a towel before... it wasn't the first time this had ever happened, after all. Allen took her hand gently in his, walking back towards her room. "We'll find it for you, okay?"
She was, of course, oblivious to the fact that Allen was naked except for the mere towel that covered him. All she really wanted was her little horse, that had somehow gone missing. Everything in her room was in a meticulous spot, a certain place and never moved or else she wouldn't find it. So for something to go missing like that was just odd and disturbing - or she had little regard for her own handicap and never bothered to put things back where she'd found them.
They entered her room, and she stepped over to the bed, carefully with measured paces. "It's usually under my bed, father."
Allen pursed his lips slightly, crouching down by the bed and peering under it. He wandered around the room for a bit, looking for it. Ah, yes... the little wooden toy lay on it's side on the other side of the room. Bare feet padded quietly across the room and he scooped up the item, walking back over to her and settling it in her small hands. "There you go, princess. It was all the way across the room."
Her eyebrows lifted into her silver bangs, her grin showing her little baby teeth. She dropped to the floor next to her bed, leaning into the soft covers that hung over the edge and set the horse on the floor. "Will you play with me, father?"
Allen blinked a little, ruffling her hair softly. "I need to finish my bath, princess." He always felt bad when he had to leave Gaddes there like he had... and he missed it, anyway. He enjoyed it just as much as Gaddes did, and then pulled away, even if it was by his daughter... it was always testing.
"After your bath?" she tried sweetly, leaning her head toward him and smiling in that adorable, irresistible way.
"Mm... alright, princess, alright." Allen kissed her forehead softly. "I'll be back here when I'm done." With that, the blonde turned, walking outside, shutting the door and heading straight back to his room. Once inside, Allen headed quietly towards the bath, running a hand through his hair with a sigh, setting the towel about his waist aside.
Gaddes was just rinsing his hair out, taking the cup by the tub, filling it with water and pouring it over his head. He had a grin on his face as Allen came back, the flutter in his chest unable to be quelled. "She really is too cute to resist, you know." he said to him, smoothing his wet hair as the last of the soap suds fell down his back. "We're a happy little family, aren't we?"
Allen smiled softly, sliding back where he had been before, resting his soft hands lightly against Gaddes' back. "Mm, we most certainly are. She wants me to play with her afterwards." Allen shook his head slightly, sliding off the glasses and setting them aside as he brushed his lips against Gaddes' cheek.
Gaddes gave an exasperated sigh, "And I suppose you failed to remind her that dinner will be ready soon?" He smiled nonetheless, leaning into kiss.
"It completely slipped my mind," he murmured softly against the tanned flesh, the smile evident in the curves at the edges of his lips. He smoothed his hands over Gaddes' back, his eyes halfway closed, hair slipping over his shoulders.
Even as Allen's hands worked over his skin, as his own hands found themselves reaching up behind his head to feel the noble's silken face, he still managed to keep conversation, despite the distracting blood flow into his manhood. "Have you thought about her education lately?" he said softly.
"If we weren't right on the edge of war, I'd send her to school or get her a tutor. But I suppose I'm going to have to take that role, mm?" Allen sighed softly, taking the soap and lathering up his hands, leaving trails of it as he worked it into Gaddes' flesh. He always enjoyed things like this, with Gaddes.
Gaddes forced such thoughts from his mind, knowing it would only make him talk about Basram and their massing armies - their secrets and how Asturia was defenseless against such power. No, they couldn't start talking about that. For now, he was content in being with his lover, in the role that he played in his family and all the perks that came with it.
He smiled when he could feel Allen grow hard against his back, wanting to hold it and tease it, play with it. But given their positions in the small tub of soapy water, he satisfied himself with stroking the insides of Allen's legs that were on either side of him. Eventually, one of his hands found his own hard member and he gently stoked it to stimulate the gentle tingle, making him groan softly.
"Gods, I love you. Even if you are a noble priss sometimes."
Allen shivered slightly at the soft groan that fell from Gaddes' lips and he trailed his hand along the other's side, lightly batting the brunette's hand away. "Let me take care of that," he murmured softly, playfully, his voice purring. So much had changed about him since the first time they'd touched one another like this. He wasn't hesitant any longer, or too frightened to try and please his lover.
Allen's own arousal was silently reminding himself of its presence, but he ignored it for now. Just feeling Gaddes, indulging in his flesh.
The softness of Allen's hands always made him fall back in pleasure. The heavenly feeling of the noble's gentle fingers working over the pulsing organ, pumping the hot blood into the vessels and touching every nerve in his spine. It sent a chill through his body, electrifying and rendering him helpless against the other man's bare chest. He leaned his head back onto Allen's shoulder, a sigh escaping passed his contented smile, and a groan emitted from his throat.
"Gods, you feel so good," he breathed.
His hands stroked with varying pressure and speed, pressing another kiss to the man's neck. "You're so beautiful like this," he purred, his breath hot, husky against the other's flesh. He loved the way Gaddes reacted, he loved the feel of Gaddes beneath his fingers, pressed up against his skin. It was intoxicating, a drug, and it gnawed at him pleasantly. So good...
The warm water that surrounded them both did not do anything to quell his erection, already firm and hot beneath Allen's velvet touch. The noble's soft skin at his chest felt so good as it rubbed against Gaddes' back, and he pressed into him, feeling Allen's own firmness at his lower back, relishing the feel of it as the hardness ground into his back. He wanted more than this, he longed for more than just the touch - he wanted . . .
Gaddes," Allen breathed softly, his eyes closed, one arm looped about his lover's waist as the other kept up a steady pace against the brunette's heavy manhood. There was a faint moan as Gaddes moved back against his arousal, the friction sending little jolts of pleasure flickering through him.
Usually he would be taking initiative, as he was the more confident of the two of them. But the warm water of the bath made him feel lazy, and so he stayed pressed against his lover, laying there in the water with a smile on his lips and Allen's hands working. It just felt so nice, so relaxing to be there like that, being touched so intimately by the man he loved - oh, yes, he loved him. It didn't really need to be said, the idea of his love being more of an inherent, obvious thing.
After a few more precious moments like that, he breathed out a heavy sigh, relenting what he needed to do. "We should get out soon," he whispered.
"Mm," Allen almost whined. He did, however, pout slightly. The water was beginning to cool, however. He could see why... and plus, it was drawing closer to dinner. The blonde sighed softly, resting his head against Gaddes' back. "We should..."
But he made no move to get up. It was comfortable here.
They indulged in a few more moments of their quiet, warm company. It wasn't as if Gaddes could help it either. But the water soon grew cold enough to be uncomfortable, and so finally resigned to stepping out of the tub. At least he was clean now, though his erection would have to calm itself before dinner or else his pants won't fit properly. Sheepishly grinning, he wrapped the extra towel about his waist.
"Ah, I hate having to get away from our pleasures sometimes. Duty stinks."
Allen stood from the water, drying himself off quietly, a faint smile on his lips as he tugged on his glasses. "Mm... undoubtedly." He drew his hair loosely back, then glanced over at the other.
A hint of his younger self shimmered in the almost shy, hesitant smile he offered. "You'll stay here tonight, won't you?"
Gaddes gave him a grin, quirking his brow and leaning toward him in a playful manner, "If you want me to."
Allen snorted softly, thwapping him lightly on the shoulder as he started to get dressed. "Of course I do." Allen flashed a little grin over his shoulder at the other man, shaking his head slightly.
Gaddes chuckled, leaving him to get himself dressed in his room down the hall. Just because he spent a lot of time in Allen's room didn't necessarily mean he'd move in. They still had images to keep up, but despite that, the message was pretty clear that Allen and Gaddes were - more than really good friends. The soldiers knew how it was in the army, and so remained tactful, saying nothing on the subject.
It was then that Angelina decided to pop back into her father's room, just as she felt her Uncle Gaddes hurry passed, carrying the moistness with him in the air and the smell of her father's glycerin soap. It wasn't the first time she had smelled her uncle in the scent of flowers, so it didn't seem strange to her - it merely indicated that her father was free to be bothered again. And she did that readily.
"Father, father!" she called, running into his room excited and colliding into the mattress of the bed - she knew it was there, it's just that sometimes she was careless to recall exactly how many steps it was away from the door.
Allen smiled softly as he left, managing to get his pants tugged on over his softening erection just a few moments before his daughter burst into the room. Gods... he was rather glad she couldn't see sometimes. It'd be thoroughly embarrassing. He started when she came in and hit the mattress, blinking a little. Taking a quick moment to fasten his pants, the blonde padded over to her, crouching down next to her, stroking her hair. "Princess, are you alright...?"
Shaking her dizzy head, she felt around for her father, turning and throwing her arms around his neck. He smelled strongly of flowers, like the very spring time, and his hair was still damp. Her little button nose sniffed curiously, and she smiled, burying her face into his neck.
"Father, father!" she giggled, "I was waiting and waiting and you took so long! Are we going to play now?"
"For a little. Then dinner, okay?" Allen smiled softly, hugging her gently. "Dinner isn't too far away." A hint of Gaddes' scent clung to him, but he didn't mind in the least. There were far worse things he could think of to smell like, after all.
The blonde stroked her hair softly, holding her close. She was... so small.
The little princess was, of course, glad that they got to play - even for a little bit. It was mostly just her going on about what she named the little wooden horse that was earlier discovered in a far corner of her room, and what adventures he had been on - something about pirates. She was thoroughly put out when Allen finally insisted to drag her off to dinner, and she had no choice as he picked her up swiftly and carried her, balancing her with his arm under her pantalooned bottom and her silver curls pressing into his golden locks.
She sighed happily as she was carried. "Father, you're always so soft," she said, giving him kisses on his cheek, pressing her nose against the skin and rubbing it a little. "Not like the other people here. Or Uncle Gaddes. Uncle Chris and Uncle Ethan are sorta soft, but not like you, Father."
Allen laughed a little at her words, holding her close, walking with his boots thunking quietly on the wooden floor. "Am I? Well, it's certainly because I'm your knight and I certainly can't be dirty and rough around a princess like you. No, no... I wouldn't dare." The blonde man chuckled softly as he walked with her in his arms, slipping inside the mess hall. "What makes me so soft, I wonder?"
There was a large hurrah at the front of the mess hall, closest to the door. Most of the soldiers gave great cheers of laughter. "The Princess has arrived!" announced one of them. She never remembered their names, really. But she could recognize which soldiers were the ones she spent the most time with. She giggled, her little frame shaking in her merriment, and sheepishly pressed her face against her father's.
Gaddes quickly came over, taking Angelina from Allen's hold with a smile. "Come on, princess." Gently, he carried her over to the captains table and set her down on a small stack of books in the chair across from where Allen would sit.
Allen laughed softly. These were good men, he'd trust his daughter with them, all of them. They'd proven their worth, after all. They accepted the girl so easily, they played with her, treated her like the jewel she was. Allen walked over across from her, sliding onto the bench quietly, rolling his shoulders slightly.
Gaddes sat with the crew, as always, keeping up his socializing. Kio came out with a tray of food for his commander, like he always did - having long ago accepted playing the part of the waiter. But he didn't mind so much anymore. Angelina's little hands leaned in the table, biting her lip and bouncing in her chair.
"What's for dinner?" she asked excitedly.
Allen chuckled a little, shaking his head. "Test it and find out, princess," he murmured softly, looking over the arrangement himself. A bit of pork, potatoes--mashed and buttered, of course--a nice, hearty roll... a glass of wine for Allen--he wondered idly the reason. It was really only special occasions when he drank it, but he didn't question it, really.
Without any reservation, she took her index finger and stuck it into her potatoes, pursing her lips. Was that what he meant by testing it? Gaddes groaned a little, giving Allen a look. He was soon behind the little girl, one hand at her wrist as he wiped off the finger. When he was done, he took her hand and let her touch the biscuit.
"You have a biscuit here," he whispered to her, "Then turn the plate in a circle, and after the biscuit you have potatoes, then turn it again and you have some pork. Okay, princess?" He kissed Angelina cheek and carefully handed her the fork.
"Oh, pff, Gaddes. I had to do it myself." Allen waved a hand a little. "And if she doesn't learn now, she won't later." The blonde shook his head slightly, patting her hand gently.
Gaddes straightened, still giving Allen that look that said he was just as protective of the princess as her own father. Angelina started eating carefully, cautiously using her fork and guiding it to her mouth. He placed a hand atop her silver ringlets. "She's just a child, not a grown man. Nor was she ever sighted like her father. Have a care, Allen." His tone was - very fatherly . . . especially for Gaddes.
Allen sighed, shaking his head a little. She'd have to learn eventually... she'd best start learning things now. But he didn't argue it. He just couldn't get all this right. He wasn't stern enough, or he expected too much. He wasn't right for this. The blonde ate quietly, long locks slipping forward.
Gaddes went back to his seat, though he had many a word he could say to Allen at that moment. He bit back the urge to tell him that Celena understood the needs, that he should be able to understand them too. But his pride - that damnable pride Allen held made the knight feel that his daughter shouldn't be as helpless either. Why didn't he understand that a five year old blind child was not as able to do the things her father could?
"Father," whispered the little angel from across the table. For the moment, she had given up on her pork and let her fork rest upon the plate. "You're sad. Why?"
Allen blinked, lifting his head and looking over at her. "Ah? No, it's alright, princess." Allen chuckled a little, "It's just too bad there isn't garlic in the potatoes, hm? It'd make them so much better. Go on, eat up." Allen patted her hand softly, forcing his thoughts away, picking up the fork and eating.
"Do I have some milk?" she asked, patting the table in front of her to find her glass.
Allen reached over, settling her hand against the side of the glass lightly. "Always, princess." The blonde smiled softly, looking at her.
Smiling, she pulled it to her with two eager hands and sipped it carefully. They finished the rest of their supper, with only a few complaints from Angelina who insisted that she was very full and couldn't eat another bite. Her plate was still relatively full, but as always, her father gave in to her charms and let go to play among the soldiers that were left lounging in mess hall before the hearth.
She giggled and ran into the sea of men, and all of them caught her in turn, twirling her off to the next man as her ribbons were sent dancing around her. A group toward the back eventually caught her, and she stayed there in one of the men's lap to listen to a story being told by one of them. Gaddes watched with an amused grin, as did the rest of the crew. Oruto gave a smirk.
"That kind of cute should be illegal," he said.
Allen watched, chin settled in a gloved hand. It was adorable... and touching the way these big, burly, roughneck soldiers treated her like a jewel. She lightened the air around here immensely. It was... amazing, really, the way it happened.
"It should... we don't even need soldiers here. Just wave her around for a few moments and Basram won't bother us ever again."
"Sure enough," agreed Kio. Riden, good natured as always, smiled pleasantly at his captain.
"She looks a lot like Miss Celena!" he quipped. There was a sudden silence from the crew. One moment they had been laughing, the next was just overwhelming calm. Riden looked around, his smile fading. Sometimes he just didn't realize how tactless he really was.
Allen tensed slightly. He'd felt his own thoughts careening towards those very notions. The blonde bit down on the inside of his bottom lip lightly, stilling. He really should have gotten over it by now, should have settled it away to where it didn't bother him... but he couldn't.
"Um," said Pyle quietly, leaning forward on his hay bale a little, "Boss?"
Meanwhile Kio hit Riden over the head, making a gentle 'biff' sound as his hand scuffed the young soldier's scalp. "Moron."
Allen closed his eyes halfway, pushing himself up from the bench. A shaky smile was offered before he stepped over the bench, turning. "I think I'm going to sleep," he murmured softly, "I suddenly feel a bit weary." Obvious he just didn't want to talk about it. He wasn't tired, no... but he wasn't going to cry in front of them and that's what he felt like doing.
Quick strides took him out of the hall and heading towards his room, growing more and more shaken with each step.
"You're not tired," admonished a voice, not too far Allen's sensitive ear.
Allen paused, his hand on his doorknob, turning his head slightly towards where the voice came from.
And there she was. An angel, so perfect, so beautiful, standing cheerfully beside him, smiling playfully at him like she used to. The blonde's eyes widened slightly, looking at her. "I... Celena...?"
Her dress was blue, but it wasn't the puff and lace frills that she wore while she still lived - this dress was long and hugged her lithe frame beautifully. It almost made her glow. Her eyes danced with sparkles, blinking slowly and demurely as she leaned forward and kissed him tenderly. "You're quick," she grinned.
Allen smiled weakly, slipping to his knees, head bowed. "I thought you were gone from me... I thought I'd never see you again..."
She took him gently into her thin arms, not really warm but not cold either. Just there, solid and real. Her fingers found his hair, and she stroked the long tendrils, nuzzling her head into his own, to bend down and whisper to him, "I was never gone from you."
"But... five years..." Allen shuddered a little, resting against her. Comfortable in her embrace, though it was somehow... different.
"Five years?" said Gaddes. He was thoroughly worried, and didn't hide it from his expression as he stared at Allen where the knight sat on the floor, hugging himself. The sergeant crouched down to look Allen in the eye, searching his gaze for any signs that he might be losing his mind. "Allen, are you alright?"
Allen started a little, looking over at Gaddes. Tears lingered in his eyes and he smiled weakly. "She... she never was gone, Gaddes..."
"What are you talking about?" asked the soldier evenly, placing a gentle hand on his lover's shoulder. "I was worried, you know. The way you left like that, after Riden opened his big mouth. Allen, are you sure you're okay?"
"She... she never left, Gaddes. She's here..." Allen still smiled, looking at the brunette.
Gaddes continued to gaze at Allen cautiously, his eyes wary and narrowing. "Allen . . ." but it would be wrong to remind him that she was gone, dead and buried. Would it. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he pulled the knight to his feet. "Come on. Let's at least get you out of the hallway."
Allen blinked a little, letting himself be led back into his room. He glanced over the brunette's shoulder towards Celena, soft tears slipping over his cheeks.
"Now, now," said Gaddes, letting Allen sit on the bed. He cupped the other man's face in his hands, wiping away the tears with his thumbs. "No crying. No tears." His eyes held nothing but worry for his friend. Despite everything, he *was* still his friend. Their relationship was special, after all, and he cared so much for the man before him - it would probably have made other gay men cringe.
Allen sighed, shaking his head, letting him wipe away his tears. Celena... was alive. She'd come back to him. She had finally come back to him...
"Allen?" he said. For some reason, the man hadn't responded at all with what Gaddes was saying. He was just telling him about Angelina and the dolls she had made Gaddes play with when she coaxed him to play with her earlier that day, but his brief attempt to get Allen out of the doldrums fell onto deaf ears. He grasped the knight's shoulder firmly, looking into the deep cornflower eyes, "Are you even listening to me?" He sighed, "I suppose our time together is off for tonight. You don't seem like you're much in the mood."
Allen blinked, looking up at Gaddes. "Wh? What? No... Gaddes, don't go." Allen bit down on his bottom lip lightly, slightly confused. "I-I'm sorry... I was distracted."
"Alright," Gaddes relented, "But we should get the princess tucked into bed first. I - I'll be right back." And with great reluctance, he left Allen sitting on the large bed, alone in the room. The door shut softly, and suddenly the silence was deafening.
A soft rustle of movement came from behind the knight, and slowly, gingerly, arms that were ever so gentle snaked around Allen's middle, a soft female face nuzzling affectionately into his neck, her nose rubbing against his earlobe.
Allen blinked a bit, lifting his head slightly. "Celena," he breathed softly, a small smile on his lips.
Her hold on him tightened protectively, squeezing him fondly from behind. Her teeth found his ear, teasing it with her tongue before suckling it and pulling back. "I could distract you some more if you like," she whispered into his ear, her breath hot and real.
Allen was silent, that smile on his lips. A shiver crawled up his back, his head bowed. Yes... yes, he remembered this.
Her hands slowly lifted, touching his neck, pulling back his hair that had gone loose. She planted tender, long lasting kisses on his neck, pulling him onto the bed with gentle encouragement. It was like there was a soft candle glow inside of her, making her a little brighter than the rest of the room, her blue dress so vivid in its powder blue hue.
"Make love to me," she said to him, her eyes lingering and of the deepest sapphires, sparkling as if the very diamonds were plucked from the sky and placed in them.
Allen lay back at her urging, looking at her with definite fondness. "I missed you so much," he murmured softly, making sure she was pulled close, fingers trailing over her shoulders.
But she only smiled at his words, slowly leaning into him and about ready to kiss him again - when Gaddes came through the door. Upon seeing Allen's position, he grinned and shook his head, "Okay, I guess you are in the mood. But the princess asked that you tuck her in after me. I did my part." He flashed the knight a smile.
Allen blinked, turning his head towards Gaddes. The blonde sat up, surprised... and upon realizing how he looked, blushed furiously. "Oh, gods," he murmured. That was embarrassing...
The blonde stood quickly, walking quickly past Gaddes and heading towards his daughter's room.
Giggles immediately came from beneath the covers of Angelina's frilly lace bed, her head covered in rag ties for her ringlets - Gaddes clumsily helped her with those - and now she was hiding. The moment she heard her father enter, the giggles couldn't be helped. She loved being tucked in.
Allen smiled softly, his embarrassment passing him. Ah, yes, Angelina. He padded softly over to her. "Princess," he murmured softly to her, all too happy to tuck her in. "I'm here."
"I'm not Angelina." she giggled, still hiding under the covers, "I'm Uncle Gaddes!"
"Ah...? Now... surely, Gaddes, you've gotten a lot smaller. And... what happened to your voice?"
"Oh!" she said, then she tried to make her sweet little voice deeper and growling, "I mean, I'm Uncle Gaddes. . ." But the giggles still escaped her.
"Oh, Gaddes... alright, then, I'll tuck you in. Silly old man."
She lifted the covers from her in a flurry of lace, revealing her blushing face. "Just kidding! I'm Angelina!" she announced triumphantly.
"Oh my... you had me utterly fooled, princess. You're such a sneak," he teased, tickling her a little.
She scrunched away from him, giggling some more and weakly pushing his hands away. Settling back into her feather down bed - nothing but the best for a princess - she snuggled her head into her pillow. Her giggles died down, but she still bit her pink lip, showing her adorable baby teeth. "I'm ready to be tucked in now," she declared.
Allen smiled softly, kissing her forehead. "You're so adorable... sleep well, princess, okay?" He brushed his fingers against her cheek softly.
"Goodnight, Father." she said sleepily, whispering, "Goodnight, mother."
Allen tensed a little, blinking. He bit down on his bottom lip softly. "Ah... goodnight, princess." Allen gently kissed her forehead, standing, making sure she was tucked completely in before turning and walking out of the room quietly, shutting the door behind him.
Gaddes was already naked on the bed, lounging like he was being fed grapes by many beautiful slaves, and where he hung would have otherwise been covered with a sprig of grapes. But as it was, he only looked the part, but did such a good job of it.
"She was me, huh?" he commented, having heard the little girl's ploy from down the hall.
Allen laughed a little, rubbing at the back of his neck. He glided over to the other's side, slipping off his clothes smoothly. At the sight of Gaddes as he was, desire flared within the young blonde. Gaddes really was beautiful in his own way. He traced his fingers against the other's cheek softly, his voice purring.
"Why Gaddes what happened? You've gotten so big..."
"Only where it counts," he grinned. His hand found its way behind Allen's head, roughly pulling him forward and giving the knight a deep kiss on his plump pink lips.
Allen moaned softly into the kiss, tipping his head back slightly to meet the embrace easier, head tilted just faintly to the side. The blonde had his eyes closed behind glasses that were virtually useless in the dark, leaning into the kiss, hands bracing himself on either side of Gaddes' hips.
"I think you're wearing way too much clothes," he said, pulling away slightly so that he could help Allen out of his shirt. Playfully, he bent down and licked the erect pink nipple on his lean chest, his hand working at removing the pants. While, at the same time, another hand found its way into Allen's hair, softer and free of calluses.
"Mm, you're always so soft," said Gaddes, successfully removing the leather pants and moving down the length of Allen's body. The hands at Allen's head were stroking his hair, caressing his earlobe, and a mouth gently nibbled the soft flesh there.
Allen smiled softly, his head tipped to the side. Soft... all but for the arousal settled between his legs. The blonde did what he could to help slip out of the clothes, not caring that they were simply cast aside. Allen slid his hands over the other's shoulders and chest, gasping just softly at the attention to a sensitive nipple. With Gaddes, he could be as responsive and wanton as he wanted. He had no quarrel with it and neither did Gaddes.
As Gaddes worked his way down the length of Allen's body towards the pulsing shaft, so too did another begin to pay attention to the sensitive flesh just behind Allen's ear. Gaddes was oblivious however, his mouth occupied with the velvety fuzz around the smooth member, feeling it throb beneath his lips, his wandering hands stroking the outside of Allen's thighs.
The mouth at Allen's neck worked down with kisses along his lean chest, going to the nipple and suckling it, teasing it with a smooth tongue - the faintest hints of silver curls shining in the Mystic Moonlight.
Allen tipped his head back against the pillows, eyes fluttering softly. A moan slipped from his lips, hips shifting slightly at the attention to his flesh. Gods... it was so good. It always was. His fingers met silken hair, immersing the lither digits in the mass.
Full, swollen lips that tasted of peaches and flowers met his mouth, kissing him deeply, hands working behind Allen's neck and stroking the gentle hair at the nape, soft fingers combing through it. Gaddes was at Allen's lower end, his callused fingers still working around the knight's defined thighs, his mouth gently enveloping the pulsating mass, sliding along his tongue like the smoothest cream.
Allen moaned softly into the kiss, moving his hips slightly at the attention to them and his thighs. Pretty eyes fluttered open and while it was for the most part dark, a candle still burned. His vision wasn't as horrible as it could have been at that moment.
Pale flesh, smooth and fair met his vision, with silver curls falling over sapphire jewels, sparkling and shining. She continued to kiss him, her lashes fluttering as her eyes closed again and deepened the passionate kiss.
Gaddes appreciated the moans, fighting the urge to grin and plunging Allen's throbbing shaft deep into his throat, moving slowly to let the warmth of his mouth radiate through, pulling back slightly to lick and tease the head before doing it all over again.
The kiss was returned of course, in kind and just as passionate. The touches of both he loved made his lithe form shiver, this fingers curling in the soft hair, fluttering his eyes closed all over again. "Nn... Cele'," he moaned, murmured softly... unaware of the fact that it was only Gaddes. that it was Gaddes' touch that pleased him so.
"Mmm," said Gaddes, pulling out of his passionate thrusting so that he could speak. His eyes hungrily rolled up the length of Allen's pure and fair form, "Did you say something?"
Allen opened his eyes halfway, sitting up slightly to look at Gaddes, pale cheeks flushed by desire, full lips swollen from passionate kisses. After a moment, he tipped his head back against the pillows again, his eyes fluttering closed. "So good.. both...."
It was enough for Gaddes to smile and go right back to working on bringing some life to Allen's erection, already red and swollen, his mouth like a hot blanket and his tongue playing with the sensitive head again, twirling around and flicking playfully against the smooth flesh. His hands were placed firmly on each of Allen's strong legs, sometimes rubbing and smoothing in his own passion.
Celena continued to glow softly as if she had swallowed the very candlelight that barely lit the room, her own flesh smooth and free of scars. She kissed, her tongue plunging deeply into Allen's mouth, and her gentle fingers tracing the scar at Allen's shoulder, the sensitive vein smoothing beneath her touch.
Allen shuddered as both returned to their ministrations. Head tipped back, kissing the figure of his sister back, shifting his hips slightly to the other man's attentions. Soft moans continued to slip from his lips, especially as Celena's tongue pushed deep and Gaddes took yet more of the blonde's member into his mouth. The sensations were wonderful, electrifying. He loved them both...
Gaddes, feeling that he'd given enough attention and therefore was in a position to demand it, stopped his passion upon Allen's member, bringing himself up to Allen's mouth to kiss him. It was sudden, how quickly he replaced Celena's figure - not a split second, and she was gone, as if she was never there. Gaddes, of course, was oblivious, and kissed Allen deeply, pulling back to whisper to him, "My turn."
Allen flickered his eyes open, the light color darkened with his desire. For a moment, confusion lingered, but the feeling of heavy lips against his washed that away and the husky murmur next to his ear was enough to sit him up. He nudged his lover back, on his knees between the man's legs. Leaning down, Allen tucked a long lock of hair behind his ear, hand settled at the base of Gaddes' impressive erection. He pressed soft butterfly kisses along the length of it, every once in awhile teasingly darting his tongue out to nip at the engorged flesh.
Rendered helpless for a moment, he was left with nothing to do but moan in the intense pleasure as Allen's soft, sensual kisses glided over him. His hands embedded deep into Allen's hair, his brow furrowed as he took in the sensations, lightening running through him with every movement of the noble's tongue. From behind Allen, two soft bare arms snaked around the knight's middle, deftly stroking and catching Allen's own erection, soft naked hips of fair flesh pressing into Allen's rear, and silky breasts coming to rest upon the small of Allen's back.
Allen moaned around the flesh at his lips, closing his lips around the head and suckling, letting his tongue lead as he dipped his head, taking more of the length past his lips. A small shiver crawled up his back and he arched slightly into the touched at his own manhood.
"Give us a rub then, love," breathed Gaddes, forcing Allen's gaze to meet his own - nudging him to come up to meet him so that they could hold him close, his own erection along side Allen's. Again, the busy hands that seemed to belong to Celena disappeared.
The blonde pushed up, scooting up next to his lover. He purred softly, leaning close to him, nuzzling softly at the man's neck. Again, a soft purr on his lips, his breath hot against the other man's flesh.
"Do you like his touch?" breathed Celena into Allen's ear, a finely boned hand pushing back his hair as her lips brushed against his ear lobe. Gaddes didn't hear, of course, nor was he aware that anyone else was there. His lips were parted, and a low moan emitted from his throat, shifting his hips, feeling his shaft rub against the other's, and he thrust bravely and with passion, his arms holding his lover close - nearly clutching him.
Allen braced himself on the mattress, moving against Gaddes' thrusts. "Yes," he breathed in a moan, his eyes closed, fair cheeks flushed. The younger man shuddered, bowing his head against his lover's shoulder.
"What?" breathed Gaddes, for he was much in the heat of his passion and wasn't really paying attention to anything Allen might have said - or anything he himself might have said, for that matter.
"Touch me," he murmured softly, huskily, to no one in particular. Either touch was grand, setting his mind aflutter. The lithe body trembled slightly with passions, heated flesh next to Gaddes' own.
Gaddes readily did as he was bidden, reaching down below to stroke and press him against the other, the friction heating their already heated flesh, and another moan escaped. Celena's hands were wrapped around Allen's chest, her nails embedding themselves into his flesh and she clawed down his pectorals, her teeth biting the soft flesh of his back.
Allen arched his back sharply--he'd ache for it later, likely--and he cried out softly, his voice trembling as well as his frame. It was intense, the mix of feelings. In the morning, he would wake to find no marks where there should had been some. He drew closer to his release at the twin ministrations, their feelings sharply contrasting one another.
Moving faster and faster, the friction sending electric tingles of the intense pleasure - suddenly everything around them was gone, the bed, the sheets, even their bodies... all that was left was feeling as it pierced through him, wracking his body in chills and numbing his brain. Time could not pass in that place, there was no such thing. It seemed like such a long time when Gaddes cried out, his eyes open wide and searching the darkness for nothing . . . then he fell back onto the pillows, utterly spent.
Allen's mind momentarily shut down as he released, crying out with Gaddes, his thin frame trembling as it passed through him, washing over him in a heated bath of passion. The blonde shuddered, slumping over next to Gaddes, head pillowed on the older man's shoulder. His breath was heavy and hard for a bit, the sound softening and evening out slowly. His eyes were half open, long hair spilling across his and Gaddes' shoulders and the sheets, as well.
Celena draped over Allen as he had draped over Gaddes, though she found herself more along the noble's side, a lazy hand stroking around the pectoral muscle of her brother's chest. Gaddes was already falling asleep, from sheer exhaustion, his own arm pulling Allen close. Celena still planted gentle love kisses all along the smooth, flushed skin. "I love you, Allen," she whispered.
Allen shuddered a little, curling up between the two of them, soaking up the warmth of Gaddes' closeness. His eyes drifted closed, his mind sluggish. "Love you," he murmured softly in return, a lazy, tired smile on his lips, one arm draped over Gaddes' middle.