TURNABOUT by Cryogenetic

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Soul Cal characters, blah blah blah, it's all Namco's.

SUMMARY: Astaroth gets some clothes and Marius starts letting himself get attached to the big lug.

Chapter Five - "My friend, Marius"

"Astaroth! Look!"

The golem stood up and quickly turned around to see his young friend out of breath and smiling, happy to see him. Astaroth quickly sat back down and did his best to not expose himself, he'd been given all the right stuff this time around and lately he'd been getting hard in his nether regions. It wasn't exactly something he could fight, it was all new to him. The most frustrating part was not knowing how to relieve himself, it was downright painful this morning. He couldn't help wondering if he would ever get to feel a more carnal desire granted in this new, more complicated life he was given.

"It is good to see you again, Marius. Did you find anything for me?" There was a slight urgency in the big guy's voice this time, he really didn't want to remain naked around the young man much longer. He could get hard again, and that wasn't something he wanted him to see. "Likewise! How are you feeling? I just came back from a blacksmith, he's going to make your armor only um I didn't know what it should look like so I wanted to ask you. I had to use all my gold but I wanted to do this for you. But.. I only have 2 days to tell him what you want or else he'll run with my gold."

The boy had spent all of his hard earned gold on him even without a guarantee of getting what he'd paid for? Astaroth silently vowed to repay him, he couldn't help but feel endebted to his content admirer.

"What do you want it to be like? Make sure you tell me every small detail though, alright?"

When the boy asked the question, only one thing came to the giant's mind as if by instinct..

"Black leather, spikes and a mouthguard would be just fine." After deeming that much too broad, Astaroth used his pointer finger to draw the armor he remembered so well into the dirt.

For a moment, Astaroth thought he saw a glimmer of fear from Marius but he decided that it's only fair. It was feared all over. When finished, the image scraped into the ground was none other than his original style of clothing. He wanted to stray from his former life including his familiar appearance, but figured nothing else felt as natural so he described in detail the old garb he was synonomous with. A selfish but entirely human feeling he felt.

"Alright. Ill make sure" The young man smiled. He felt the urge to hug his friend but figured that it was too soon to allude to his feelings, he was a dreamer and he'd found someone he really liked. He couldn't help but consider showing him affection. For an instant, Astaroth secretly felt the same way, but he would never act on it.

"Go now. Be care-" Before he could finish what he was going to say, Marius ran off like a cunning fox heading back to the grumpy smith he'd encountered before.

"Until then!" The voice was far by now, but Astaroth heard it just as well. "Until then, Marius"

--

For the last few days, Astaroth basked in the ambience of what he began calling his forest. Marius had told him he was going to spend some days at home to make up for his absence and Astaroth agreed it would be a good thing. Before he left though, they asked each other questions abot themselves and he got to know more about his friend. How he was waiting for his friend Illaria to come back so he could tell her once and for all, that he didn't like girls the same way most men do. Astaroth had doubts he could actually tell her though, he cared for her more than anything. Her warmth and smile, she was very important to him and it showed in how he'd talk about her. Marius had a rare occasion on his hands as he had Astaroth laughing out loudly at the idea of him wearing figleaves to cover himself until his newly requested armor was finished. Later, Marius had asked him a number of general questions like why his eyes could glow, just why he was so big and did it hurt being born.. Slowly that moved into more personal questions, and an almost but not quite flirting from Marius that Astaroth wasn't sure he knew how to deal with. The boy was becoming a man slowly and with that come desires and experimentation, Astaroth shrugged it off at first.. Eventually, A subject that was very uncomfortable to Astaroth came up but the mood quickly loosened and he then learned what to do about his big problem as of late. Marius explained how to stroke it slowly, not forcefully and to think of whoever it was he wanted and that soon after he'd feel relieved.. Relieved but sticky, Astaroth had to laugh when he told him that. The gentle giant also got the chance to admit that he was growing especially fond of Marius and to his surprise the feeling was mutual, as to where they'd go from there was beyond them both.

He was also starting to feel at home.

Truthfully, he was scared to be anywhere else at this point so he claimed these woods as his home. Plans rushed through his head to make a small abode and he thought to ask Marius for some help in building it. It would mean alot to him. Astaroth lay on the ground staring into the sky, it looked so beautiful to him now that he could appreciate it fully. Filled with blue and bright clouds. A stark contrast from his once familiar surroundings of steaming rocks, musty stenches and the neverending clanking of weapons for Ares. He let his mind drift and was felt alive, his guilt would always be with him as that was his curse. Against all odds though, he would try to live like any other. Even after the initial mistrust and resentment it seemed Marius treated him equally as a man. That alone, gave him comfort.

"I'm back! I have what you wanted!"

Shaken out of his daydream, he turned to see his small friend dragging two ridiculously huge and heavy boots, a large tunic made of leather with spikes adorning the shoulders and front and back flaps to cover the lower regions. The boots thick and lined with blunt steel studs, resting on the boy's head however was a mouthguard made of black cobalt metal, surely not needed for any practical purpose; Astaroth just wanted it. Finally, two gauntlets the size of which only Astaroth's forearms would be snug in.

"Marius, You carried all of that back here by yourself?" From the look of things he knew that was the case, but after putting the armor down Marius looked as if he'd accomplished some heroic crusade. He had a big grin on his face and went even as far as crossing his arms and pushing out his chest in a show of self-satisfaction like no other.

Marius nodded. "Mhm, I did!"

Astaroth chuckled at the radiant youth.

Then just as easily, his resolve cracked and he began fidgeting and looking down at the ground before answering his friend's query. "See, no one would help me carry it even halfway, they knew about you-- They knew who wore this before. But you're different now, so I payed them no mind. Oh! Here, try it on!" He offered with a smile, innocent and humble. After pausing, letting what Marius told him sink in the bigger male took the largest part of the armor and fit it on, it was perfect and snug. Then he slid his feet into the big boots and tied his gauntlets tightly. All he needed now was the mask, but he decided not to wear it as he assumed it could frighten the boy. The last thing he'd ever want.

"Wow." was all that slipped from the young one's lips, followed by a wide-eyed look that was filled with fascination and a smidgen of fear at first.

Astaroth quickly grew concerned. "What is it? Does it frighten you? I won't put the mask on, I promise." Astaroth's worry was so endearing to the boy that he just smiled and without thinking ran up to him and hugged his burly friend tightly. A little reserved but pleasantly surprised by the gesture of affection from the boy, he gently distanced him for his own good. "Be careful, you could hurt yourself; these are sharp." Pointing to the numerous spikes attached to the black armored shoulderpads. "I wouldn't want you to get cut."

"Oh. Then can I take it off...?" He offered, this time intentionally pushing the boundaries by moving his index finger over the leather in a swirling motion. Astaroth slowly moved the boys hand down and sighed. "What's wrong? I thought you said you liked me? I-I'm sorry, just I tend to be a little free-sprited. Too much they say.."

Nervous, Astaroth struggled to get the next few words out but he pushed on.. "Yes, you are very much that. As well as kind and gentle yet...much too curious for your own good." They both sat down on a large rock nearby, shaped strangely when compared to the others around it. Hearing such praise from his huge friend it became easy for Marius to start melting into it, and while Astaroth was looking in the other direction the boy snuck up in the lap of the larger male. A movement performed as swiftly as any ninja or infiltrator, now getting comfortable was another matter entirely. "Marius, What are you doing?" Genuinely confused by the impulsive youth, it was quite humorous watching him fidget to get settled in his friend's large thighs..

"Is this alright?"

How could Astaroth deny him? The brunette male practically oozed with a joy and honesty that stood out proudly amongst the many who would never follow what their hearts told them. When he looked into the eyes of his admirer, he saw what he wanted; even if it was just friendship. It was enough... For the first time, he would try to feel and be completely human; and why shouldn't he? The younger male had such an affinity for him, despite his unusual appearance and gruesome history of past crimes. Crimes etched into his legacy by his master, Ares. The God of War. Whatever design Ares had on him to humiliate his former servant, this wasn't bad at all he found. In fact, he was beginning to embrace it, that he would make his own decisions now; find his own purpose. So...

He decided he would now choose.

A brief pause and a deep sigh, his brow furrowed. What have I to lose...except him?

He wrapped his massive arms around his friend, and whispered gently. "I wouldn't want it any other way. But... Why..me?"

"I don't know. I just like you, the way you talk to me and I guess it's the fact that I can feel your soul. It's not easy to describe. I don't know, I sound like an idiot.."

"No, you don't. Not at all." Despite it's infamy for being terrifying, when Astaroth spoke to Marius it was smokey and deep. Soothing.

Marius snuggled in a little more and couldn't resist mentioning all the other things he loved about his friend. "Not to mention your body... I really like that part alot. Maybe one day I can make you feel really good." He grinned.

"Maybe, I'd like that." It was all that needed saying and Marius would give him that luxury and so he took the offer, under one condition. "But only if, I can repay you for all you've done for me already..."

"Agreed." Marius said. It didn't matter how he came into this world, all that mattered was that they had forged this unlikely bond in a matter of weeks and it was ever strong. A thought struck Astaroth like lightning, Marius was still out here and it was getting dark.

"Marius?"

"Mm?"

"Don't you think you've been gone for a while now, they may begin to worry. I would hate to keep you from your family, that's something I'll never have so I don't think you should take it for granted..." The words came out easily this time.

"You really think I should?" Marius was clearly enamored, and Astaroth was mildly amused by the question. Still, he pressed on.

"Yes, I'll be here. Besides, I've something to do..."

"Really? What?" Seeing those shiny eyes looking right into his, it gave him a warm feeling but it was obvious he just wanted another reason to stay.

"Don't worry about it for now. I'll tell you what... When I see you again, I'll take you there with me. Alright?" He felt it was only fair that he showed him his recent discovery there in the now familiar woods, a beautiful cave with a waterfall flowing over its entrance.

"Promise?" Marius looked into his eyes for an answer.

"Yes, I promise." He ruffled his dark hair, not being able to resist the impulse.

"Now go, it's getting much darker now. All this cloud cover won't help much with lighting the way home. Be careful..."

Marius quickly gave Astaroth a big hug, "I will! I'll see you again soon! Goodbye!" and he ran off back to Rellos in haste as usual.