Chapter 2

"Bah," Albel muttered, as he got up.

He felt as if his body died a horrible death and just returned to the land of the living. Last night he knowingly pushed himself to the limits. He'd been so tired that he hadn't even graced the blonde gorilla with a comment when he entered the inn. However, Albel did find it amusing when Cliff at just stared at first. When he recovered, he mockingly inquired about Albel's mental health. Albel just sneered, knowing he looked mentally questionable.

Albel smirked thinking of the inn maids that shrieked when they saw him. He came in casually from a storm covered in mud and blood. Albel didn't care or mind what people thought. They would always think him mad one way or another. Why not encourage them to think him mad. They'd stay out of his way better. Besides, Cliff's expression was priceless.

Stupid maggot, Albel thought.

His muscles ached and he blamed Fayt for tempting him with a spar. Yes, he'd entertained himself with the local monsters. It didn't take half the skill and energy it would've with Fayt. But then he had saw the boy sleeping under the tree… Such a tempting prospect. How could he resist? He frowned when he noted he started thinking about the boy again.

"Moving on," he growled, to himself.

He shook his head experimentally to see if he would have to tread carefully during the day. He didn't want to move and suddenly feel his head cave in. Luckily, he only had a minor headache. Albel checked himself over and began to start his day.

--

Fayt woke feeling as if his head was on the floor instead of on his shoulders. The pain made his body feel foreign and sickly. Every time he shifted, something jarred out of place. At least that's how it felt. He knew yesterday tomorrow would hurt and it did.

"Urgh," Fayt groaned, while he gingerly clutched his head with slightly raw hands.

He warily cracked open an eye and mentally congratulated himself on closing the shutters before he went to sleep. It took him a minute or two to pull himself into a sitting positing. Yet, when he attained the position, he fervently wished he remained lying down.

"Albel…" Fayt muttered. He blamed the snarky swordsman for making him spar yesterday.

Twenty minutes later, he stood with a hand on the headboard for balance. He looked around for the leather slippers he'd borrowed from Cliff. They were of course, bigger than what he usually wore, but his boots had to be cleaned. Mud and blood covered him last night, so he had to change into his 'extra' clothes.

Fayt was on his way to relieve himself when he stopped, alarmed and gaped at his reflection in the floor mirror. Fayt had a bluish bruise on the left side of his neck and under his jaw. He touched it and flinched. Fucking steel arm, Fayt thought crossly. He noticed that sparring in a thunderstorm with a sociopath that wielded an evil, talking katana and a steel arm with claws had it repercussions. He took advantage of the lengthy mirror and discovered an unhealthy amount of bruises on his body. He vaguely wondered how he would make it through the day.

That's not to mention how much he would fussed over by his team mates. Nonetheless, he knew concern would be well founded. He had bags under his eyes and his complexion took on a sickly yellow color. He suddenly did something between a sneeze and a cough. Fayt almost crumpled in pain; it felt as if his brain tried to jump out his head through his eyes.

"Damn it," Fayt swore, with a withering glance at his reflection.

After he gathered his wits he decided to eat breakfast. Fayt skipped showing since he'd already did a few hours ago. Plus it would've been very uncomfortable. Though the prospect of his team mates seeing him in that condition wouldn't be a walk in the park.

When he went to the bathroom his smiled at the autograph on the back of his shirt. The memory of Peppita autographing his shirt brought a smile to his lips; pain forgotten. He even turned to see it properly before he left. He almost laughed at the silly happy face.

Now that he was up and moving, his body didn't feel so bad after stretching the muscles with a walk around the room. He then walked out into the empty hallway. He continuously fingered the bandage he'd taped to his neck last night. Fayt didn't feel like seeking out the help out one of the maids because they were extremely chatty. All he had wanted to do was shower and sleep. He didn't have the patience to have dealt with them.

Fayt was lost in thought about he and Albel's 'conversation' when he abruptly bumped into someone. He heard the light sound of steel.

"Has your eyesight left you?" Albel demanded, as he glared at Fayt while he re-sheathed his sword.

Fayt had stumbled back against the wall and didn't notice he was staring at Albel. Albel had no bruises, no sleep deprived bags under his eyes, and he didn't appear to be sick. Sometimes, Fayt doubted Albel was human. Maybe it's a Elicorrian thing… He almost recoiled when Albel flesh hand reached towards his neck.

"Why didn't you heal yourself?" Albel fixed him with a stern stare while he toyed with the bandage Fayt hadn't noticed came loose.

Fayt had felt too tired and sleepily befuddled to even try to attempt Symbology. Besides, why heal a minor cut that could easily heal on its own? Fayt didn't like to use Symbology unnecessarily. He said as much to Albel.

"Hmph. Thought you were stronger than that," Albel replied derisively.

However, Fayt felt it lacked its usual bite. Maybe he's tired too, thought Fayt. Thought Albel appeared nothing short of his Wicked title. Fayt didn't give in to Albel's obvious goad and shrugged in his own answer.

"Come on," Albel said simply. He turned on his heel and walked back where he came from.

Fayt dumbly stared after him before he willed his feet to follow the man. A few seconds later, Fayt found himself outside Albel's open doorway. Albel had his back to him as he searched through his sack. Fayt was extremely confused to as to why he was there. If Albel was going to ignore him…

"Albel, what do you-"

"Can you ever stop sputtering your idiocies?" Albel asked irritated. "Now get in here and close the door."

Fayt frowned at himself when he automatically complied and stood uneasily in front of the door. The produced feelings of relief and apprehension in Fayt. Both feelings ruled for dominance as he tried not to fidget.

"Stop fidgeting and sit down," Albel continued to order.

Fayt glared at Albel's back. How did he know? He then looked around and saw no chairs. The only thing he could sit on was…

"The bed?" Fayt blurted out. He didn't know why the idea made him uncomfortable.

Albel paused his movements before he snarled, "What do you think?"

Fayt went over to the plain bed and wondered why he felt so strange. His stomach decided it wanted to get antsy. He guessed his heart wanted to jump in when it started to beat wildly. Fayt convinced himself that it was only because he felt he was invading Albel's personal space. Even though many people stayed there, Fayt figured it was always someone's personal space for as long as they occupied it. The sudden sagging of the space next to him jerked him out of his musings.

He turned to see an expressionless Albel with a pewter jar in hand. Fayt blinked when Albel painfully ripped the hanging bandage off his neck. It was then Fayt noticed the gauze, a circular metal object, and bowel of extremely clean looking water sat beside Albel with a wash cloth.

"Uh…" Fayt sounded, unsure of what to say.

"Sit still and let me clean it," Albel said business like, while he put the jar in his lap.

Fayt logically concluded that jar held some sort of salve in it. He frowned and wondered did Albel really think he was stupid. "I cleaned the cut last night."

Albel gave him an annoyed look. "Where did you get the water to clean it?"

Fayt thought. "Outside of here. In the back where they have the barrels at," he answered.

The older man glared down at Fayt. "You stupid fool. You should always be kept up to date with a location's information."

"What do you mean?"

"There's a severe sickness going around. And your innocent cut looks questionable." Albel raised an eyebrow at it.

Fayt touched it and winced. "I didn't notice."

Albel rolled his eyes and said, "What you don't notice could fill books."

"Hey!" Fayt exclaimed, offended.

Albel poked Fayt's cut with his claw and made Fayt shrink back with a low yelp. "Now sit still or I'll let you on your sickly way."

Fayt did as he was told and was surprised by the gentleness Albel displayed. He'd had opened Fayt palms and squeezed some strange juice onto them, and then massaged it into his skin. Fayt restrained the moans that threatened to escape him, and felt nervous sitting so close to Albel. His hands feeling better, Albel started on his neck.

Somewhere along the way, Fayt had closed his eyes and his senses had heightened. He could smell lye on Albel, and though it wasn't exactly pleasant, Fayt thought it fit him. No one really had much choice in what scent soap was, especially in towns that had known poverty. 'Sweet smelling soap' as the poor people called it, usually was only available to rich people.

Suddenly, he felt Albel shift closer to him. So close that Fayt smelt blueberries on his breath. I never knew he liked those. He didn't have much more time to think because Albel's hot breath continuously skimmed over his face and neck. Fayt fought not blush when fingers and claw points lightly glided across his flesh. When Albel got the gauze around his neck the first time, Fayt noticeably shivered but didn't make a sound. Well, besides the intense breath he let out through his nose.

I'm such an idiot, Fayt thought embarrassed. He didn't even know where all the strange feelings were coming from. That itself was enough to make him slightly nervous. Like why was he embarrassed? It was just Albel. Then why do I feel like this?

"Cold?"

Fayt opened his eyes at the playful tone and saw Albel's eyes crinkled with amusement. Those red eyes were so close to his own, he could see Albel's eyes were a deep scarlet hue. Like blood. Though as Fayt blinked he noticed that he was cold. Well, except for the places that were usually warm. Fayt could just feel another blush trying to climb up his neck and decided to change the topic.

"A little bit," Fayt confessed, as he clenched his hands into fists and felt icy fingers touch the warm palm. "Hey, why are you saving me from a sickly death, Albel?"

Albel sent him a sharp glance before he continued to wrap Fayt's neck. "I can't have some measly disease killing you before I do." Albel smirked at Fayt.

Despite the very possible threat, Fayt smiled. He knew it was a mistake before he even did it.

"Stop smiling, maggot!" Albel snapped. He jerked the gauze around Fayt's neck causing the boy to choke on his giggles.

Fayt tried to put up his hands in surrender. "Sorry, I'll appear depressively ill." Fayt mockingly appeared sick and sad.

Fayt almost missed the twitch at the corner of Albel's mouth. However, a heated glare replaced the twitch. Albel yanked the gauze again so that Fayt had to struggle to look up at him.

"You know, worm, I can reopen that wound quite easily," Albel hissed threateningly.

Fayt's eyes teared slightly since he was suffocating yet again in the past twenty four hours. Albel could be scary at times.

"You could," Fayt breathed, as he felt his chest rattle. "But where's the challenge killing a sick man?" Fayt knew he could always get the older man to back off if he challenged him.

Albel gave him a long measured look before he released him. "Hmph." He finished wrapping the gauze, and it was surprisingly comfortably snug instead of tight.

"What's that?" Fayt asked, as he looked dubiously at the round metal.

"It's a collar." Albel held it up in Fayt line of sight. "It helps you heal, and prevents freezing and paralysis. It'll also keep those worms from hoarding around you all day."

Fayt would've wondered at Albel's strange display of 'Albel like' concern but he was taken with the collar. The bluish metal had a large square, green stone on the front of it. It looked very nice and appeared to be multifaceted. Fayt also noticed it matched his eyes. He thought it was strange he'd never seen Albel wear it. Matter of fact, I don't think I've seen this in stores.

Albel regarded him coolly. "Does it matter?"

He then put the collar around Fayt's neck and closed the clasp shut on the back of it. Fayt started to feel better instantly and went to go look in Albel's small room mirror. It looked strange but it seemed to fit him perfectly. He felt the tingle of healing magic when he touched the jade square. The collar also covered the gauze completely.

He was startled when Albel appeared behind him abruptly. "The sooner you're better, the sooner we can have a real fight, fool."

Fayt eyed him and smiled softly. "I can't wait."

--

Fayt left Albel's room while the other man roughly pushed past him. He heard Albel vaguely mutter something close to, "Pathetic excuses for monsters." Fayt had ascertained from that that Albel would go train. He, himself saw his yellowish complexion returning to normal and went to lay down for another hour or two. He didn't want his friends spazzing when they saw him. The collar only covered his neck, and the rest of his skin couldn't be hidden. He knew Cliff would sit on him all day if it kept him in bed.

Fayt shuddered and closed his eyes.

--

Fayt awoke generally feeling and looking better. He'd hoped that everyone would've had their breakfast and already went out into town. He quietly peered out his door before he stepped out. Satisfied it was safe, he stepped into the hall. Where he was practically knocked over by a small someone.

"Hey! Fayt!" Roger screamed, in his ear.

Fayt shoved hard at him. "Not so loud, Roger!"

Roger frowned down at him. "Where'd you get that from? Can you take me out to do some manly fishing today? Sohpia wants a great man like me to help fetch the bacon for tonight's dinner. Why are you wearing those strange clothes? Are you okay, you look really sick."

Fayt's mind spun at the boy's constant barrage of questions. "I got it from Albel. No, I can't. I'm not feeling well today. My other clothes got extremely dirty. And no, I think I have a cold." Fayt stood and dusted himself off. Roger looked a little wide eyed.

"Does Albel like you or something? Whadda mean you're not feeling well? Don't be a wuss. Oh yeah, what's that on your back?" He rudely yanked Fayt around. "Eww, that happy face looks really ugly. So what you have a cold, you'll get better! Come with me!" Roger tried to drag Fayt down the hall.

Fayt jerked his hand out of Roger's unexpectedly strong grip. "No, I'm not going. Get Cliff to go with you!" Fayt definitely didn't feel like babysitting today.

Roger stomped and pouted with his chest puffed out. Geeze… "I don't wanna go with Cliff! I wanna go with you! Besides, all Cliff wants is me to say lame lines to get girls. Of course, I don't have to do that because I'm ssssoooo manly!"

Fayt backed away from Roger. "I'm not going, Roger. And that's that." Fayt felt annoyed that he was being harassed by a little raccoon chauvinist in the morning. He crossed his arms over his chest.

Roger glared at him. "You sound just like my parents! Fine! Don't go! But you'll pay for this!" He shook his fist at him then disappeared down the stairs.

"Sheesh…" Fayt sounded, as he hoped he wouldn't have any more encounters with anyone he knew. He leaned back against the wall and sighed.

"You okay, Fayt? You look a little peaky."

Fayt reluctantly opened his eyes to see Maria with a concerned expression on her face. "I'm fine."

She gave him once over. "Hmm, maybe you should eat something."

Fayt tried to wave her off. "It's nothing, I'm fine really."

Maria gave him a little push towards the stairs. "Go eat. Now." She booked no arguments.

Fayt mentally growled at being treated like Roger should've. Maria could be like a bossy older sister at times. He walked downstairs and was greeted by Cliff.

"Shit, Fayt. You look like hell," Cliff commented, as he finished his own breakfast. Fayt always said no food stood a chance in front of Cliff.

"Such encouraging words," Maria said, sarcastically. She looked sharply from Fayt to Cliff. "Make sure he eats."

"I'm not a kid!" Fayt protested, to a swinging doorway. He looked back at Cliff who had a huge grin on face.

"Pull up a chair." Cliff waved his hand invitingly over the table.

Fayt and sighed and moved over to the table. He went to sit opposite of Cliff when he got a hard shove that sent him to the floor.

"Roger! Whadda think you're doing!" Cliff yelled.

Fayt got up and glared at the swinging doorway again.

"The nerve of that kid! You okay?"

Fayt peered over the table and saw Cliff's gray eyes, and blonde hair. He stood up and sat down. "AHHHH!"

Every head in the dining area swung towards him. It was unbelievable pain in his ass. He vaguely saw Cliff jump up through tear blurred eyes.

"Come on," Cliff said, with an arm under his own to support him.

He felt Cliff half drag him upstairs and into a room. Fayt didn't know whose it was but he was bent over a dresser. How lewd is this? Fayt thought ironically, being briefly reminding of his morning visit with Albel. A visit that wasn't lewd at all but somehow connected to him being bent over like a virgin sacrifice now.

At first it sounded like Cliff was choking, but then Fayt noticed it was stifled laughter.

"What's so fucking funny?" Fayt said indignantly.

"Well, it seems you have porcupine needles in your ass."

"What?"

Cliff finally burst out laughing. "That kid must've put a porcupine on your chair when he knocked you over. What'd you do to him?"

Fayt felt more than incredulously engulf him. "What I did to him?"

"Okay, okay," Cliff chuckled, full of mirth. "I'm going to have to take them out with tweezers."

"Tweezers?" Fayt squeaked.

Cliff chuckled again. "Yes, tweezers. I need my hands for the ladies. Oh yeah, squeaking doesn't become you, Fayt."

Fayt felt his face burn. "Just get it over with."

"No problem."

---

Albel came in the inn to see if Fayt was feeling well enough to go training with him. He had given the boy ample time to recover so it shouldn't be too much of a hassle to find him. He looked around town and hadn't seen Fayt. He'd run into the blue haired control freak at the weapon shop though. Maria told him Fayt was probably still eating breakfast. He didn't stop to thank her. No reason to; he would've found Fayt eventually.

She probably made him eat, Albel thought with a snort.

When he ventured to the second floor of the inn, he heard strangely familiar cries. Cries that sounded like Fayt. Interesting…

He pressed his ear to the tell tell door and it was confirmed. It was Fayt.

"Not so hard!"

Albel rolled his eyes, most definitely Fayt.

"Be still and it won't hurt so much. Besides, it just a little prick."

Albel almost gasped at the sound of Cliff's voice. Not only that, the sexual innuendo was thick in the air. Fayt couldn't possibly… Not with that blonde maggot! Albel don't know why the idea repulsed him… Well he did. However, he knew it was none of his business of who Fayt chose to bed. But his curiosity got the best of him.

He quietly opened the door and peered inside. The first thing Albel saw Cliff's hulking figure and Fayt apparently bent over in front of him. Suddenly, Cliff bent over and pulled back sharply, while he kept a firm hand on Fayt's hip. Albel heard Fayt's sharp intake of breath and felt irrational rage.

Fayt could do better than that stupid maggot! Albel thought acidly. Like you? A voice taunted him in his head. Albel breathed in deeply and closed the door, shoving all voices aside in his head.

He went to go train alone.

--

"You all right now?" Cliff said, in a sickenly sweet voice.

"Shut up," Fayt snapped, embarrassed and angry.

After Cliff had told Fayt to take off his pants since the needles would come out better if cloth wasn't obstructing the way. Fayt had adamantly refused until Cliff pulled a needle out. Cliff also said he still would have to put band aids all across his ass. Fayt knew it was a very bad day.

He rubbed his behind and promptly headed for the door.

"Going somewhere?" Cliff asked, as looked ready to pounce Fayt in a second.

"I'm gong to lay down," Fayt assured Cliff.

That seemed to please the Klausian because Cliff visibly relaxed. "Good, I'll bring up your food, all right?"

Fayt just nodded and headed out to his room.

--

Fayt had woken from his daylong nap and felt energized. He'd told Cliff to leave him alone and that he wouldn't go out. His protests finally won out and the man left him alone. Fayt wondered how life would now be without everyone around. It would be strange and he didn't know if he could just act like nothing ever happened. He walked over to mirror to look at himself.

He looked normal and felt it too. Maybe he should go train since he had nothing else better to do. Better than mope around the inn all day thinking in circles. He walked out of his room and into someone, again. He wished the halls were wider. He was roughly shoved against the wall. Is the whole world against me?

"Still can't see, eh, fool?"

Fayt looked up to see a very cold look in his direction. He stood up and straight and noticed how Albel seemed more agitated than usual. For him anyway. "Want to go train?"

"I don't feel like babysitting tonight. Besides you'll slow me down," Albel sneered. "If you want to train, go ask that blonde maggot who's always drooling over you."

"Cliff? I don't even know where he's at!"

"Why don't you look in your bed?" Albel started to walk off, when Fayt grabbed his arm tightly.

"What're you talking about?"

Albel hit Fayt hard in his abdomen with the hilt of his sword. "Nothing of importance. Why don't you just go back with him? You'd never have to watch your back again. Seeing as he'll always be right behind you."

Albel strode angrily away leaving Fayt more confused than he had been all day. Does he think I'm sleeping with Cliff? Eww, he's like my older brother! Fayt would've gone after Albel, but he didn't want to test Albel's limitless probability of violence. He went back into his room confused and upset with the world. People kept expecting things from him and it was getting annoying. He decided to clear his mind by writing.

At first he didn't know what to write about. But then, he knew. From the beginning.

Fayt started with:

We were on vacation…