Author's notes: And steamrolling onto chapter five! Almost at the half way point … Thank you very much Animegoil for your comment on how neither character seems to be dominant over the other – it's something that I consider to be very important, and I'm glad it's coming across that way. It's very different when you write a one shot piece or a 2 or 3 part series, as you're often dealing with a moment or scene, so it's not unusual then for perhaps one character to be slightly more in control of the situation than the other character, as the scene might call for it. However, in a longer story that contains many scenes there just has to be some sort of balance, especially with characters such as Alfeegi and Kai-stern where neither is really anymore dominant than each other. They might have all sorts of kinks in the bedroom, but as a couple they need to be on equal footing. Big thanks as always to Wink and Yamatoforever for your always kind and inspiring words, and I'm glad you're enjoying the Alfeegi/Kai-stern,Crimsonredwolf. Rest assured Misura, Ruwalk is not going anywhere fast soon. In fact …
Kiss: Superstar. Jolt.
The first date was not a disaster, although it certainly came close to being one. Alfeegi had ended up deciding that he was more than capable of finding someone to go on a simple date with all by himself, brushing off the aid Kai-stern offered. He drew up a list of those who might be potentially interested in such an outing, crossing out those who might expect too much on a first date before next eliminating those who would expect him to pay for both of their meals. Just because Alfeegi earned more than most did not mean that he was willing to waste his well earned money on feeding someone else.
The person he had eventually chosen had been a young accountant. Milva was interested in the sorts of things that appealed to Alfeegi: finances, productivity, and rules. He had envisioned an evening spent over wine discussing economics and the political ramifications, which was exactly how the evening had turned out.
And Alfeegi couldn't remember ever being quite so bored in his life.
Milva, while intelligent and knowledgeable, offered nothing different or new. If Alfeegi had held the same discussion with Kai-stern, they would have most likely ended up arguing about an aspect of the economy that Alfeegi considered incredibly important but which Kai-stern would try and dismiss with a wave of the hand, before tackling the issue from a completely different perspective. They rarely ever actually agreed on anything, and sometimes Kai-stern took it too far, forgetting that it was Alfeegi who was in charge of this particular facet of Draqueen, and that while Kai-stern knew a lot, he couldn't hope to know as much as Alfeegi did on the subject. But their discussions were always interesting, as long as Kai-stern wasn't attempting to get out of writing up a report properly or trying to hide his latest budget blowouts. In those cases, the human was merely annoying and wasting his time.
But anything had to be better than pure boredom.
Alfeegi had decided after that to allow Kai-stern to set him up on a date. But only once. Except, that date had gone rather well, and while Alfeegi hadn't really connected with the lanky elf that Kai-stern had introduced him to, he'd still had fun going down to a tavern and talking about everything from politics to the differences between the types of music in the Elf community and the Dragon Clan one. It had been a very long time since Alfeegi had attempted to socialize with anyone outside his small circle of friends, and while it had been somewhat terrifying, there had also been a sense of freedom there, as well.
It was, in a way, a much needed jolt. A reminder, as Kai-stern had said, that there was a world beyond Ruwalk. It didn't mean, Alfeegi could admit sardonically, that he was moving even an inch away from his best friend, but it was still nice to reconnect even slightly with a side of himself that had least threatened to exist occasionally before he had fallen so deeply for Ruwalk.
Kai-stern wasn't perfect, and some of the dates where as off-key as his first one. But more often than not Kai-stern had a habit of finding people who complimented Alfeegi's own tastes and opinions while still having something of their own to offer. It was almost surprising how easily Kai-stern managed to set everything up, and with interesting, appropriate people. Alfeegi had found parts of dating again difficult at first, as each time he went anywhere public with his 'date' all eyes would fall on the pair. Alfeegi was well known, even if generally only by name and his fabled temper, and people always seemed so curious to know what he was doing and why he was with whomever Kai-stern had set him up with.
Ruwalk had joked on more than one occasion that Alfeegi was becoming quite the social butterfly, so it was hardly surprising that others had started to gossip and take an interested in him. With a warm smile, Ruwalk had even suggested that, if Alfeegi was interested in meeting someone nice, he knew someone who Alfeegi was sure to get along very well with.
THAT date had been a complete disaster. Alfeegi had really tried, if only for Ruwalk's sake. But after an hour of fending off wandering hands while simultaneously being put to sleep by conversation so bland that even Milva would have been bored, Alfeegi had feigned an emergency back in his office and hightailed it. Kai-stern had found it far too amusing, while Ruwalk had been genuinely crushed, before brightening up considerably when he remembered another friend that Alfeegi just had to meet. Alfeegi had the good sense to tell his best friend no on that occasion.
It had been a little … difficult … to get used to the ease Ruwalk seemed to have over Alfeegi dating other people. Which was all sorts of silly, really, considering that there was no real reason why Ruwalk would possibly not want Alfeegi to date other people in the first place. In fact, Ruwalk had taken him aside and warmly commented on how happy he was that Alfeegi was taking time out from his busy schedule for himself, and how he hoped that Alfeegi would find someone as wonderful as Maria. Or Joona. Or Levina. Having his own personal life to suddenly have to deal with, it was becoming more difficult to remember which 'love of his life' Ruwalk was currently dating, and which ones had already met a heartbreaking dead end.
And it had been a little bit difficult, and a little bit hurtful. But then, Alfeegi had always known that it would be.
The dates were hardly all that frequent, a couple of times a month when he was having a hard time of it at work, maybe three times a month when things were a little quieter. Sometimes, he didn't go on a single date for months on end. Occasionally, he went on a second date, but it wasn't until Jovan that Alfeegi went on a third date, and then a fourth.
And then a fifth.
Jovan was part Dragon Clan, part Silvian, and was one of Tetheus' key military advisors. He smiled easily and with warmth, but there was always an underlying seriousness in everything that Jovan did that Alfeegi couldn't help but find attractive. Jovan was rather attractive in a completely superficial sense as well, tall and broad, with slightly wild hair that shone either black or purple, depending on how the candlelight fell on it.
On their sixth date, at an upper-class tavern that served the most wonderful seafood, Jovan kissed him.
"But it wasn't Ruwalk," Kai-stern said with a knowing grin when Alfeegi told him, although his eyes shone with slight exasperation. And Kai-stern was right in a sense, because dark and serious Jovan was certainly not Ruwalk. But, Alfeegi had never actually been kissed by his best friend, and so it would have been rather difficult to compare the two.
He had been kissed by Kai-stern, however, and it was Kai-stern that Alfeegi had found himself instinctively comparing Jovan to when their lips had met. Jovan's kiss had been soft and welcoming, inviting exploration and reciprocation, which Alfeegi had hesitatingly returned.
And it had been … nice. More than nice. But Jovan wasn't Kai-stern, and Alfeegi wasn't exactly sure why that mattered quite as much as it did. He hadn't even thought of their drunken kiss since that night over a year ago, an innocent kiss bourn from friendship and a desire to comfort as opposed to anything deeper.
"No, he wasn't Ruwalk." And he wasn't you. "But, I think I'd like to still see him again." Kai-stern smiled so brilliantly in response that Alfeegi couldn't help but smile a little as well. Kai-stern had a strange way of affecting people like that, although Kai-stern's smile did falter slightly when their coffee finally arrived.
The café they had decided on visiting on this particular afternoon was located just outside the castle, and it had a habit of driving Kai-stern absolutely nuts with its dinky piano music and tiny coffees. They had almost been thrown out the afternoon that Kai-stern had 'innocently' asked if the waiter could top up his small, half-filled cup with some rum or brandy – he wasn't really all that fussed, whatever the waiter happened to have on him would be fine – and Alfeegi was sure the only thing that had saved them from an embarrassing rendezvous with the footpath was the fact that the owner had recognized them.
Of course, the dinky music was even dinkier the next time they visited, and the cups almost impossibly smaller. Kai-stern was usually near perfect when it came to concealing his emotions, but even his legendary control had let frustration slip across his features and darken his eyes.
Alfeegi had found it rather amusing. It was, in actual fact, the only reason why he ever insisted that they come down here – there was sure to be something new to annoy Kai-stern.
And it was only fair, really, considering the lengths Kai-stern often went to just to annoy Alfeegi.
As Kai-stern looked mournfully down at his barely there coffee, Alfeegi's gaze followed Kai-stern's own. Pale hands were wrapped around the porcelain cup, only a shade separating them in colour. They weren't pretty hands, not in the traditional sense. Not overly large, and calloused and somewhat rough, they were certainly not like the hands of most diplomats that Alfeegi had ever met. On a visit to Draqueen, a Manian diplomat had confided in Alfeegi that a diplomat's handshake was often more of a first impression than their clothes or features. As a result, more money was often spent on hand care products and nail manicures than any other type of product.
Alfeegi seriously doubted Kai-stern had ever had a manicure in his life – not that Alfeegi had, either. But Kai-stern's nails were cut short, and while they were clean, they were slightly jagged and worn.
And Kai-stern's hands weren't pretty in any real sense. But they were gentle and kind while concealing a strength that often went unnoticed. Alfeegi would trust Kai-stern's hands over perfectly polished porcelain, any day.
"Alfeegi? Did you hear me?" Given the amusement in Kai-stern's tone, it appeared that it was not the first time Kai-stern had tried to get his attention. Somewhere between mournful eyes and '…hear me?', Alfeegi had somehow managed to get himself hopelessly lost in silly thoughts concerning Kai-stern's hands.
"I was busy thinking about something I have to do when I get back to Draqueen," Alfeegi replied dismissively, although Kai-stern hardly seemed to buy it.
"Right. Anyway, I was wondering when you were going to see Javon next?"
Javon, that was right. They had been talking about Javon. A small smile came to Alfeegi's lips.
"Friday afternoon. We're going to go over some reports together."
"Ah, the perfect date," Kai-stern responded wryly. "Don't overdo the romance, Alfeegi. You might scare him off." Alfeegi huffed quietly in response. Who was Kai-stern to talk about romance, anyway? Kai-stern seemed to spend more time with Alfeegi than any of the occasional flings he happened to be sleeping with at the time. Not that Alfeegi minded, spending time with Kai-stern was … nice.
Well, most of the time. As long as Kai-stern eyes were free of a sparkling glint of inspiration, they tended to get along fine. Now, if only Kai-stern would remember that.
Knowing Kai-stern, the other man would probably argue that that would take all the fun out of it. Occasionally – very occasionally, mind you – Alfeegi wasn't all that sure that he would actually disagree completely with such a statement.
