Kage: swoons I can't believe how many reviews I got! This is my most popular story! I am so so so so so so sorry I didn't update sooner! But, I got my laptop for xmas ((XD!)) then my dad practically wiped the old computers' entire memory, including this chapter, which I almost had finished! I tried to get it back, but I can't figure it out, so I have to type a whole new chapter out... sigh

Well, thank you all so so much for reviewing! I'm determined to make this chapter extra-good as a thanks, nn. I also made it a bit longer than usual, so you'd better enjoy, teehee.

Please Note: When I put Author's Notes up here, PLEASE READ THEM! Some of the questions I get in reviews have already been answered in these notes or in the warning.

WARNINGS: shonen-ai, slight YAOI, hints of RathxRunexThatz just because I love the tripling! ((What? Well, it ain't a pairing! P)) Beware of angst as well, lol.

Disclaimer: If it were mine, would I really be writing this crap?

Thanks are at the bottom! Enjoy!


Chapter 6- Comfort

Alfeegi sighed and flipped another yellowed page in his thin book, raising his eyebrow as the main character did something particularly perturbing and not quite... what was the word?

The Dragon Officer leaned back into his large pillow, bathing in the comfortable warmth his large bed provided for him. Clad in a white button- up shirt and comfy black pants under the large covers, he was trying to read himself to sleep, but it wasn't working. He had plucked the book off the shelf randomly, noting it as one he had started a long time ago, but had never finished.

Suddenly it became apparent to the aquamarine- haired officer as to why it had never been finished. Bordering good and bad, Alfeegi's mind struggled to decide whether to put it down or not. It might be considered a good book with a few quirks, but then it might also be considered a bad one with some good spots.

It was... frustrating, he finally decided, but continued to read anyways. The plot was boring enough to want to throw it down, but interesting enough so any innocent reader would want to know what happened to the characters.

Genius or stupidity? That was the question...

Alfeegi sighed again and snuggled deeper under his covers, wanting nothing more than to flip onto his side and drift into sleep, but he knew he could not. It had been almost two weeks since he and Ruwalk confessed their feelings towards each other, but the White Dragon Officer was quite young in the romantic area of his life, so had requested to take things slow.

Thus, there was no action to speak of between the two... yet.

However, every time it got a chance, Alfeegi's mind would drift into sweet thoughts about the one he loved, and the officer would get such a rush it would make it impossible to sleep.

He couldn't help it... His heart seemed to swell with every adoring thought considering the other. His mind would whirl at the mere mention of Ruwalk's name. Trying to fall asleep with the childish officer on the mind was impossible, and so, Alfeegi read.

A sudden knock sounded on the large oak doors of the aquamarine- haired officers room. Said dragon blinked, looking at the door uncertainly. Who would be up at this hour? Before he could get up and make himself presentable, the doors creaked open and a familiar brown- haired officer with red tips poked his head in with a grin.

"Ruwalk!" the other whispered loudly in surprise.

"Hi!"

"What're you doing here?" Damn the heat rising to his cheeks!

"I wanted to see you!"

"...Ruwalk?"

"Yes?"

"It's the middle of the night."

"So?"

"So, so... um..."

"...People are normally asleep at this hour, right?"

"Right!"

"So?"

"So... ah, damn..."

"I win!"

"...Why are we whispering?"

"Because it's night! You said so yourself!"

"Oh..."

Giggle, "So whatcha doin'?"

Trying to think of a legitimate excuse for you to leave without me seeming like I don't want you to... "Reading,.."

"Sounds boring."

It is. "It's alright."

Nod, nod. "...So can I come in?"

"Uh..."

Without waiting for the other to answer, Ruwalk bounded into the room happily after shutting the door and landed with a small thump on the large bed. He crawled over to the comfortable dragon so he was right beside the other.

Leaning so he was dangerously closer to Alfeegi's face, he grinned widely, "Hi."

"U-uh umm...H-h-hi..." the aquamarine-haired officer stuttered, blushing wildly. He tried to get a coherent thought in, but all the muscles in his body were screaming at him to close the distance between him and his love.

The brunette officer smiled even more and kissed the corner of Alfeegi's mouth, causing said dragons face to deepen to a tomato- red color. Giggling softly, the Yellow Officer crawled under the covers and laid his head against the others arm, eyes roaming over the yellowed pages of his book.

"So, what're you readin'?"

Alfeegi shut his eyes and took a deep, steadying breath before answering, "Lost Hope."

The other dragon made a face, "Why?"

"Why... what?"

"Why are you reading a depressing book?"

"It's not... ok, well, it is a bit depressing. I started reading it awhile ago, and thought I'd finish it."

"Is it any good?"

"Well... it's hard to decide..."

The brunette huffed, "I don't think you should read it."

"Why?"

"What if the end is really sad?"

"What if it is?"

"Then you'll feel sad, right?"

"If the author portrays it vividly enough, then... probably."

"Why would you want to feel sad?"

"Uh..."

"You should read happier books that make you feel good at the end. Not angsty depressing books like that."

"'Angsty' is not a word, Ruwalk."

"I don't care," he announced, snatching the book out of the White Officers hands and flinging it across the room. There was the wild fluttering of pages before the old book landed with a crash against the far wall, then the floor.

"Ruwalk!"

"What?" the other huffed. "It's a depressing book and you should read other things. Plus, it was bad, you said so yourself."

"I said I couldn't decided if it was good or not!" he sighed in exasperation as he scrambled out of bed to retrieve the fallen book, "And even if it was, you didn't have to throw it! What if it hit a vase or something valuable?" he trailed off as he picked up the book and inspected the damage. It had landed on it's front, so it was fine, but he had lost his place now.

Alfeegi sighed in relief. Despite it being not a very good book, it was still his, and he liked to take care of his possessions.

The White Officer suddenly let out a surprised squeak as he felt two thin arms wrap around his waist warmly. "Sorry," murmured a voice behind him, sounding slightly guilty.

Alfeegi felt as if his face had caught fire, he was blushing so wildly, "Don't worry about it," he managed to get out in a steady breath.

"Mmm..." the other sighed audibly, brushing his lips softly against the area between Alfeegi's neck and shoulder, making the other shiver in pleasure.

Suddenly, Ruwalk drew back, grabbing the aquamarine-haired officers elbow and dragging him backwards, "Let's go back to bed." Alfeegi blushed at his own dirty thoughts that aroused from the statement.

The White Officer set the book down on the table next to his bed and clicked off the lamp, relying on the moonlight that shone through his window for light to see by. He crawled back into his warm bed after Ruwalk, and flipped over automatically. He had always slept on his left side, so the fact that his back was to his love only registered after said officer pouted loudly.

"You're still mad, aren't you?" he accused.

"What? No," Alfeegi sighed, realizing what he had done and flipping over so he was on his back, "Sorry, I just usually sleep on my left side. It was just a habit. I'm not mad, honest."

Ruwalk's pout melted into a warm smile, "Ok, just making sure. You can sleep on your side, I don't care."

"Are you sure? I don't want you to feel like I'm ignoring you. It's just hard for my to sleep on my right side."

"Yeah, watch," the brunette scooted closer, nudging the other so he was back on his side, before wrapping his arms back around his waist. "This way we both get what we want."

Alfeegi blushed again, and thanked the darkness for concealing it.

"Why?" the other suddenly asked.

"Why... what?"

"Why is hard for you to sleep on your right side?"

"...I broke my right arm once when I was little, and had to sleep on my left for about a month. After it healed, I went out and accidentally broke it again not a week later. Eventually it got to where I was just used to sleeping on my left side."

"Wow... you broke your arm again right after?"

"It was... an accident."

"You must've hated it."

"Why?"

"You write with your right hand right? You couldn't fill out any documents or anything for two months!"

"I wasn't doing paperwork my whole life!"

The Yellow Officer grinned goofily, "I know. I was just teasing," he giggled and hugged the other tighter, nuzzling his back lovingly.

Alfeegi pouted a moment, before it melted into a content smile. He snuggled against the others warm chest, feeling very safe as the two drifted off to sleep, the moon their only witness.


Alfeegi slowly stirred and opened his dull copper eyes slowly. A dream about Ruwalk? Ruwalk... Tears sprang to his eyes as his mind was flooded with the events of the past days. He sniffed and rubbed red-rimmed eyes, trying hard to not cry.

He had cried himself to sleep last night, and still had his back to the door from his position on the floor. He got up slowly, his aching muscles screaming in protest, but he didn't care. The White Officer stumbled over the bed and sat down on the edge heavily with a sigh.

His eyes slowly traveled from his floor, up the table by his bed, and finally rested on Lost Hope, the book he had tried to read so many months ago. Almost a year wasn't it? Ruwalk had insisted on sleeping with him practically every night since that first night, and had not permitted Alfeegi to finish the old book. The few nights he wasn't sharing the bed, the aquamarine-haired officer hadn't had the heart to pick it up and start reading it again.

So, the old book had lay there, unmoving, since that first time.

Hot tears pricked Alfeegi's eyes again as the dream he had the previous night came back to mind. Actually, it was more like a memory. The White Officer shuddered at the ghost-like feeling of past arms wrapping around his waist for the first time. God, his heart felt like it was being squeezed. It was too tight, too tight!

Sighing miserably, Alfeegi got up, walked slowly over to the bedside table, picked up the book gingerly. Crystalline copper eyes studied the hand that had picked the book up, still bandaged. Images of that horrid earthquake in the vault filled his head, making his eyes widen slightly.

The panic.

The fear.

Ruwalk...

"I love you, Alfeegi."

Alfeegi shook his head, blocking those images and sounds out of his mind, and slowly made his way back to the wooden shelf that stood proud on the other side of his room.

Knock, knock. "Alfeegi?" a voice called out from behind the bedroom door, which the dragon ignored. Another knock, another questioning call, then an hesitant blonde head poked in the room with inquisitive blue eyes.

Rune watched curiously as the other dragged his feet to the huge bookshelf in his room, a tattered red book in his weak grasp. The former elf blinked and moved over to the other.

"Alfeegi..." he spoke softly, taking the book gently from said dragon, laying it on the shelf, then steering him back to sit on the bed. The dragon let Rune lead him away, though the corner of that tattered book stayed in the edge of his vision for a few moments.

Alfeegi found the former elf's presence immensely comforting, just from him being there. He didn't know what it was, but just being around Rune was calming his writhing heart and clearing his heavy mind. He found himself sitting on the edge of his bed again, the blonde's hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

"Rune, I-I..." tears welled up in his eyes again, but they weren't stinging or bitter this time. They were clear and, as he cried, Alfeegi felt more refreshed with each tear that fell. He felt as if the pain was being washed out of his soul and down his cheeks in clear rivulets.

The aquamarine-haired officer rubbed his eyes a little, but Rune took his hand, "It's better if you just let it all out," he told him gently. Alfeegi sniffed, and a fresh flood of tears flowed down his face.


The White Dragon Officer sighed against his pillow, finally finished. It felt as if he had been crying all day, but Rune had never left his side.

Alfeegi had resorted to laying stomach-down on his bed, clutching his pillow and pouring out his wet sorrows in his soft, clean confines. Rune had sat beside him, rubbing his back and whispering reassurances to the heart-broken dragon.

Alfeegi turned his head so he could see the former elf out of the corner of his right eye. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice hoarse and strained from crying so much.

The blonde gave him a comforting smile, "I hope you're feeling better."

He nodded, "Actually yes. Much better, thank you." He blinked, then turned his head with another sigh and stared at the head of his bed. "It's... hard..."

Rune nodded, "Sometimes we lose the people we love."

Alfeegi blinked again. That's right. Rune would know better than anyone. He had to give up his entire lifestyle for the Dragon Lord, but in the end his twin sister, Tintlet, who was so close to him ended up sealed by Varawoo's power. He had lost his friends, sister... his entire world.

"How do you do it?" Alfeegi's raspy voice questioned.

Clear blue eyes saddened slightly, "You find ways, and eventually the pain dulls out. Usually you can find comfort with the ones that love you as well."

The White Dragon Officer wondered if the other was referring to Rath and Thatz. It was no secret that the three were together, but it wasn't an issue at the Dragon Castle, obviously. He sighed and flipped over onto his back, staring at the white ceiling blankly.

"Would you like me to get you some tea?" Rune asked.

Alfeegi looked over at the other, "Please?" His throat and head were killing him.

Eyes curved into a smile, the blonde nodded once, then got up gracefully, and exited the room with the same fluid motion.

The other dragon sighed and shifted his gaze to the window, only to discover it was dark out. Wow, he really had cried most of the day. Crystalline copper eyes dropped slightly.

"You find ways, and eventually the pain dulls out. Usually you can find comfort with the ones that love you as well."

Damn... he had hoped it would be easier than that...


Kage: Suspense! o0;;; Lol, just kidding. Hope you liked, and I'm really REALLY sorry this came out so late! Wouldn't you believe that I had 5 pages typed out of this, unsaved, when my computer crashed? I REWROTE THIS CHAPTER 3 TIMES! Ugh! I REALLY hope I don't have to do that for the next chapter; it was such a pain!

Ahem, anyways... 8 pages on Word, hoped you liked, n.n I know it wasn't very fluffy or thrilling, but the next chapter will be cackles The plot thickens! I already have it all planned out!

Oh yeah, THERE IS NOTHING GOING ON BETWEEN ALFEEGI AND RUNE! I just figured Rune to be the most comforting/thoughtful, so I gave him the task of making Alfeegi feel better, n.n

Thanks to...

ShadowDown: Cruel? Moi-puppy eyes- Psst, read the Author's Notes, okay? Lol, it's ThatzxRathxRune together, n.n

Suzumi: Suzumi-san! Glad to see you again! Ah, I'm called evil again... well, keep reading, I can't say it gets better for Alfeegi though... n.n

Magi Valkyrie: - meep- I've never moved anyone to tears before... Keep readingfor more tear-jerkers, XD

yaoi-is-gay-13-headdesk- I'm not that cruel, am I! Jeez, you're the third person!

DragonessFei: ...Be nice to the author ya'll... lol. huggles Gil Yayy kitty! Don't worry, he cheers up for a bit.

XloneWolfX: - snickers- We'll see...

Tinkeu: 0.0 More tears! Jeez, I hoped it was sad, but this is ridiculous! I can't have all my readers crying on me

CrimsonRedWolf: Well, you're not calling me cruel but... -scared- Lol, more angst ahoy!

Dagger: Can't promise that much fluff except for memories, sadly. ((For now!)) Oooh, really? I mean sshh I'll keep it a secret -wink-

Nasa Ow/d Maxwell: Aw jeez, again with the 'mean' thing! Honestly, I don't enjoy tormenting him! ((To an extent... D))

minea -shrugs- Hopefully Ru will behave better, ne?

Lady Kilgorin -blushes- Glad you liked it! Hope you liked this chapter!

Naz: ...You're talking to the girl who spends every penny she ever gets on manga. You think I have enough for a thesaurus? Lol, well, I didn't update 'soon' but I hope you like it anyways!

reviewer: I can't promise you won't cry some more, lol. Hope you liked this chapter!

reviewer: Ohohohohoho! Like I would tell-wink-

Getocat: I pin red eyes on Tetheus, lol. -shrugs- My sources say his eyes are yellow, heh. I'm glad you like the pairing in this, and that you like it so far! You deserve a cookie just because you called it 'un-cliche'-hands over pile of cookies-

Dragonlover: Better keep reading to see if he DOES get his memories back -wink-

Don't forget to leave review okay! Luff you all!