Chapter 4
Fayt wandered around Aquaria and smiled at the people he knew. It was forced though, he still felt irritable. He was somewhat surprised that Cliff hadn't followed him, the man did look as though he had wanted to. Just to make the previous thought truer, Fayt checked over his shoulder just in case. Instead, he was startled by Nel about to come up the street with Clair attached to her hip. Tynave and Farlene trailed behind them.
"So it has been peaceful lately?" Nel asked Clair. Suddenly, her eyes lit up with recognition and exclaimed, "Oh!"
Clair frowned in confusion until she saw Fayt too. "Fayt," she greeted, a warm smile graced her features. When she had stopped, Tynave almost collided into her and Farlene nearly tripped in order to avoid falling on Tynave.
All this fuss over me? Fayt thought, unsure of what he felt.
"Are you well, Fayt?" Clair inquired politely.
Farlene and Tynave flanked Nel and grinned in grateful thanks at Fayt. He was glad he was able to bring her back whole and alive, but he rather felt Nel had more to do with that than he did.
"Yes, thank you, Clair. I'm just getting some air," he replied, as he smiled truly at all of them. He thought that perhaps he was beginning to feel better.
"That's a pretty gem there," Farlene commented, with a gesture at his collar. Fayt inwardly winced, he forgot how high pitched her voice was. "It must be mighty powerful too. I can feel the energy waves radiating from it!"
Fayt unconsciously touched the jade stone and the energy tingle in his fingertips once again. "Not really." He then explained the properties of the collar.
"Use your head, Fayt," Nel said, as tactfully as one could with her arms crossed and narrowed eyes, "it obviously does more than you say it does."
"Yeah," Clair agreed. "Where'd you get it from?"
Fayt was slightly hesitant; no one reacted to Albel's name positively. Not that they didn't have reason. It was Nel's reaction he was afraid of. "I got it from Albel."
It would've been comical if they hadn't been dead serious, but all four women had alarmed expressions. "In that case," Nel said, with a wary glance at the 'once pretty gem', "you should get it checked out at the workshop. No telling what stipulations that could really be on that thing."
"I'm surprised you actually put it on." Farlene stared at him.
"Come on, you don't really think-"
"I don't think, I know," Nel stated firmly, with a finality that disturbed Fayt. "Get that checked out." She continued on by him with Clair.
Farlene and Tynave followed their idols, but Tynave stopped to turn back. "The queen says she would like you to be in her presence before you leave, but don't rush yourself!" She smiled and turned back around.
Fayt smiled feebly and waved at them. He found a stoop to sit on outside someone's house. He thought over some of the rumors and things he had heard about Albel. People all over Elicoor had heard of his name and thought he lived up to his Wicked title. Was he really as heartless as everyone made him out to be? He certainly seemed like it. Had his inner hatred become so severe that he was totally unfeeling?
It wouldn't be a surprise, Fayt thought. He knew what constant war and violence could do to one's psyche. There were times where he felt so much despair and loathing, he wished he could stop feeling altogether. So many things that had to be done because 'there was no other choice'. Fayt shuddered.
He had seen hatred so pure, he didn't know whether to shrink back to avoid it or just return the sentiments. He didn't doubt that when he went back to earth people who throw hatred and disgust full heartedly in his direction. No doubt his family's name would be tarnished and looked upon in suspicion. And Sophia and my mother Ryoko…
Fayt sighed deeply. Matters were completely difficult to consider in the universe, since no matter the planet he was on his problems would continue to follow him. He rubbed his eyes and told himself that he would no longer brood for the day. There were just too many things to sulk about and sulking wasn't his thing.
--
Fayt arrived at the busy workshop and looked around. Rigel continuously stuffed her face with some unknown food while the Killer Chef sharpened his knives madly. Fayt sometimes wondered if the chef was a war veteran or something. He sure appeared to be so. He sat down a box near the counter and wonder who he had stationed there.
"You look unwell."
Fayt looked up into beautifully mysterious eyes of Misty Lear. She straightened her robes and sat next to him on another box. He expected her to look like a kindly older woman. However, up close, she had a extremely attractive face and didn't look a day over thirty. She smiled at him.
"I'm fine," Fayt said, somewhat uneasy about her being so close to him. As if she could see right through his polite façade. Usually she kept entirely to herself and he could begin to see why. Her youth was questioned by many. Now that he saw her in his perspective… Yeah, they had a reason to suspect a real potion of youth.
Misty chuckled. "My beauty astonishes you. As it does everyone else. People can tell I've lived for a while but no one knows my real age. I love to keep them baffled." She winked conspiratorially at him and Fayt couldn't restrain the laugh that escaped him.
Misty brightened and looked curiously at his collar. "Hmm, you must have great friends."
Fayt looked at her with incomprehension stamped across his face. "What do you mean?"
"That collar…" Misty trailed off. "It's emitting strong energy waves."
Fayt blushed slightly. "About that…" He had told her about the collar while he purposely left out the fact that Albel had given it to him.
"I see," Misty said thoughtfully.
It seemed she did actually see. She gazed at him with her upturned palm waiting for the collar. Fayt unbuckled it and felt something underneath his hand.
"Oh! Are you injured?" Misty exclaimed, in slightly horror.
"No, no," Fayt reassured her. "I just forgot it was there. I should be fine now." He walked to a nearby mirror to inspect the cut. Underneath the gauze, there only remained a pale, thin scar. One would have to practically squint to see it.
"Well, that's good," Misty sighed in relief. "What caused it?"
"Asking certain things at the wrong time of the wrong person."
"Like what?"
"…Stuff."
"I see."
She nodded and murmured that it would only take her at the most, twenty minutes to see the effects on the collar. Fayt sat back down on the box and sighed. What would do when he got back to Earth? He had no plan for staying there on Elicoor 2 or going with any of his comrades. Except for Sophia. However, Fayt told himself he would clear the air with Albel before he left the planet.
"Fayt?"
He started and his heart leaped in his chest. "Oh!" He put his hand over his chest. "You just scared me a little." His breath sounded shaky to his own ears.
"A little?" Misty's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I didn't know a great warrior such as yourself could be startled so easily."
"Thinking," Fayt said, in way of an answer.
"It must be something very easy or very difficult. It's probably the former."
"If it was easy it wouldn't take so long, right?"
"Ahh, that's where human nature steps in. We can make even most simple decision more complicated than it has to be."
Fayt scratched his head in thought. "I guess."
"Hmm… Now back to the collar," Misty said, a little breathless. "Are you in love?"
Fayt stared at her. "What?"
"Guess not," she said She sounded wistful.
"Hold on, what are you talking about?" Fayt's heart rate had increased and millions of possibilities all involving Albel, being bonded, love and… Chaos. Chaos all in his head. Please don't let it be any kind of voodoo magic.
"No need to be alarmed," Misty said comfortingly. "Usually only two kinds of people receive something like this. It's also an extremely rare artifact."
Fayt still looked warily at the collar. Maybe Nel was right. It looked harmless in Misty's broad feminine hands, but now he knew better. Nonetheless, his interest was piqued. "What kinds of people?"
"Well, it's more commonly, thought it's not common at all, given to people who are lovers." Misty stroked the collar fondly. "The other kind are usually the best of friends or companions."
"Why those two kinds of people?" He was more than interested now, he'd think about all the crazy possibilities of why Albel gave it to him later.
"Well, mostly because this collar protects against every status ailment, increases healing in both mind and body, significantly raises your attack and defense, it even revives you if were killed in battle."
Fayt was numb with shock.
"There's just one thing that confuses me…"
Fayt pulled himself out of shock long enough to ask, " What's that?"
"Well, it appears that it cuts your fury usage by ninety percent," she said confused. "Does this friend of yours like to fight?"
"That's putting it lightly," Fayt said sarcastically. "What's it called?" He took the collar from her and tossed it lightly back and forth between his palms. It wasn't very heavy and from what he could tell, all weight was in the jewel.
"It's nameless."
"Huh? Nothing's ever nameless. It has to have one."
Misty shook her head amused. "These don't. There are many different charms, jewelry, or even articles of clothes that behave the same way that does. But the nickname for something of that nature in our modern tongue would be… 'Love Token' I guess."
"Modern tongue?" Fayt raised an eyebrow. "Is that the best you come up with?"
Misty laughed. "It's not my fault what our ancestors deemed a proper language. In the old language friend/lover were the same word but depending on what kind of context you used the word in could you distinguish the difference between the two. It also was the abstract word for twin… Well, soul I mean."
Fayt's brain processed all she said. "How can lover, friend, soul, and twin be related?"
"Hmm, thousands of years ago souls were considered the very essence of a person. People always thought that someone born with a twin were always missing a part of their soul, so twins often lived together to prevent the separation of their souls." Misty looked over the counter and called out, "Rigel could you bring us some cider?" A mumbled reply. "Thank you."
"Okay, I understand the twin/soul thing," Fayt relented. "But how they related to lovers and friends?"
Rigel came around the counter with a bottle in one hand and a mug in the other while she chewed on a honey covered bun in her mouth. "Hermm umm ggghhmmm."
"What?" Fayt said confusedly, as he took the bottle.
"She said, 'Here you go'," Misty said helpfully. "Thank you, dear."
Rigel nodded occupied with bun in her mouth and went back to where she was.
"You get used to her after a while," Misty said, with a slight shrug.
"Uh huh…" Fayt drunk from the bottle since he knew Misty liked mugs.
"Back to what I was saying…" Misty put her mug down. "People who are in love and love their friends are usually attached at the hip."
Fayt smiled into the bottle with an image of Nel and Clair flashed through his head.
"People who have close relationships are usually happy. One wise man said one day that 'They who are together and happy, share souls'. A lot people believed this because if you've been around someone long enough they start to rub off on you and you on them. So his statement had truth in it. He also said, 'A soul knows itself'."
Fayt sipped from the dark green bottle. "What does that mean?"
Misty glanced sideways at him. "You say that a lot." Fayt blushed slightly. "It's okay, I like you, so don't ever worry about asking me anything."
Fayt studied a particularly nice rock on floor.
Misty laughed slightly. "You're funny. No, really it means that in a way your attracted to yourself. Being able to relate and empathize with your mate or friend is one of the bases of a good relationship. Thus forth, sharing souls really means: souls that have things in common."
Fayt laughed at her frankness. "I understand now."
"Good, where do you think the phrase 'soul mates' came from?" She stood up with a fond smile. "I'm glad to have assisted you and tell you some of our planet's history. I've just gotten an idea for a new product and I'm going to get started immediately. Good day."
"Good day. Thanks again." He put the collar back on. Now that he paid attention he felt the magic ripple throughout his body. He'd speak with Albel about the collar definitely. Two birds, one stone…
---
Albel walked back into Aquaria smeared with blood. He'd trained and purposely avoided people the whole day. He was starting get to his boiling point of being around so many annoying maggots in one place. He roughly pushed past a trivial piece of trash and the man whimpered pitifully. Well, he needed some sort of outlet.
"Scared maggot?" Albel threatened, as he sent the man who whimpered his most murderous look.
The man trembled violently. "Y-yes. Are y-you going to k-kill me?"
"I should, shouldn't I?" Albel sneered. "I'd rid this world of your insignificant and useless existence." He unsheathed his sword.
"Albel?"
He turned around irritably to see who would dare interrupt him. Albel's eyes met green eyes wide with confusion.
"What do you want, fool?" Albel made no motion to re-sheath his sword.
"What are you doing?" Fayt asked, as he came over to stand next to Albel.
"Mind your own business. This is no affair of yours." Albel confronted the boy with a glare.
Fayt had a deep frown on his face and appeared to think of how to dismantle the situation. Can't the little fool stay out of things that don't concern him? Albel thought, annoyed even more.
"I brought you some…" Fayt trailed off, and stared past Albel's shoulder.
"Stop wasting my time, worm," Albel said, while he turned around to finished with the pathetic excuse for a man. He looked down and saw nothing but empty space. He jerked his head up to see a running figure some good distance away.
"Come back and face your doom, maggot!" Albel shouted, after the retreating back.
"I think he ran away."
Albel angrily put his sword back in its sheath and whirled to glare at Fayt. The boy had a mild sheepish look on his face and shifted from foot to foot.
"Does his cowardice amuse you?" Albel hissed. "This is all your fault, fool." He quickly walked away from Fayt.
He couldn't stay around long, he just might gut the fool in broad daylight. He wondered why the boy had blatantly lied to him when he usually was truthful. It was odd behavior, was he embarrassed or something? Well, the baboon is something to be embarrassed about, Albel thought with a smirk. Though if the boy was in fact in a relationship, serious or sexual, with Cliff, why did he not desist in trying to explain to him. That and following him around.
"No, it isn't amusing and it wasn't my fault," Fayt said, behind him. "Why were you threatening him anyway?"
"I don't need to explain myself to you."
"Albel…"
The inn where he stayed at was in front of him but he couldn't let the worthless worm use that tone with him. He turned around and yanked on Fayt's collar. "State your purpose before I cut your tongue out of your mouth."
He saw Fayt's adam's apple bob underneath the collar before the boy answered, "I brought you some pie and I wanted to talk to you."
Albel stared at him as if he lost his mind. "Are you serious?" he half choked out. He just noticed the pie in Fayt's hand and shook him free. "We have nothing to discuss."
However, the boy wasn't deterred in the least. "A misunderstanding needs to be cleared up."
A misunderstanding, eh? Yeah, right. "What kind of pie is that?" The boy looked slightly confused and blinked. Hmm, maybe I should smash the pie in his face to make him understand.
"Blueberry."
Albel looked at him sharply. Hmm, perhaps this fool has some use. "Hmph. Come on." He walked into the inn.
"How come you're not staying at the castle?"
Albel ignored the people in the inn that gawked at him and Fayt. "It's bad enough I have to be in the excuse for a city. I'd like to sleep without all the pompous assholes surrounding me."
He heard Fayt sigh in resignation. The was such a 'savoir of the weak' type of person, Albel thought it was funny. Albel loved to get him upset and flustered. Fayt always turned the most humorous shades of red. Albel wondered how much of prude Fayt was. He decided that he would find out soon, if not today then tomorrow.
They finally arrived on the fourth floor, which only had one room and Albel took his key out his waistband to unlock the door. The room was richly furnished, but the only thing Albel really like was his canopy bed and plush carpet. The whole room was done in black and Albel liked it that because he felt he was one with the darkness. He set the key on the ebony dresser.
Albel sat on his bed and watched Fayt through the thick wool curtains. The boy seemed in slight awe of his room. Albel had to admit with the craftsmanship of the wooden furniture and rich material it was something to be awed at. Besides, it was better looking and more convenient than his room at Airyglyph castle. Every piece of furniture was made of ebony and was extremely well cared for. Even his bed posts had the King of the Dead carved into them.
"This room looks expensive," Fayt said, as he sat the pie on the dresser.
"This room has privacy," Albel countered. "My expenses of none of your concern. What do you want to say?"
Fayt seemed a little hesitant but came over to sit next to Albel. Everything was quiet for a moment before Albel turned around and growled, "Well?"
"Uh…" A blush crept up Fayt's neck and into his face. Before the embarrassed expression graced his features the boy had an expression something akin to lust.
Interesting…"It's about what you think happened between me and Cliff." Fayt looked earnestly at him.
Truthfully, Albel did not want to hear about their relationship. He didn't even know why it peeved the hell out of him. Cliff just didn't seem like Fayt's type. Of course he didn't want Fayt for himself. Yeah, right, a voice said in his head. He ignored it. Sophia seemed more appropriate for Fayt to be with. A comely, obedient housewife. Though that life did seem rather dull.
"What do you think you saw to give you the impression Cliff and I were together?" Fayt asked.
Albel felt himself fume. "I. Do. Not. Think," Albel snarled. "I know what I saw."
He felt Fayt's frown on him and heard the boy sigh again. "What did you see then?"
Albel closed his eyes and flashes of memory assaulted him. "The day I tended to your cut. I came back to the inn and I heard noise from upstairs… The noises you make are… interesting." Albel was entertained by the crimson that crawled into Fayt's cheeks. "I put my ear to the door to investigate and…" Albel grimaced. "My curiosity got the best of me."
"You opened the door didn't you?" Fayt said, he sounded strangled with a horrified look. Then realization washed over his face. "Oh, well I understand how it looked."
Albel look skeptically at him but said nothing. Fayt preceded to tell him about his run in with the annoying raccoon child. However, the more he heard the more ridiculous it sounded. At the end, he reluctantly decided to believe the fool. But a little fun wouldn't be wasted.
"Porcupine quills, eh?" Albel sounded, with a slight smirk.
Fayt closed his eyes and shuddered in memory. He opened them and smiled weakly. "Yeah."
"…Let me see."
Fayt moved backwards so quickly he bumped his head on the bed post. "W-Wha?"
"If you're telling the truth then you'll let me see." This just too much fun, Albel thought. He quelled the laughter that threatened to spill at Fayt's expression.
"B-but-"
"If Cliff bandaged you up as you say, what's the harm in letting me see?" Albel jibed, as he inched closer to Fayt.
Practically plastered against the bed post, Fayt uttered a pathetic, "Wait."
Albel stopped moving and looked at him expectantly. Fayt looked like a man awaiting the gallows and he slowly put his hands to his button on his shorts. Green eyes quickly darted up then down, and a new shade of red colored the boys cheeks. Suddenly, his shoulders slumped and he sighed. Albel didn't like the way his fingers fell from the zipper.
The little maggot isn't going to ruin my fun.
Albel had his metal clad hand slowly pull Fayt's zipper down. His expression is something I'll fix in my memory for a long time, Albel thought. "I see I need to do it for you."
Fayt sat frozen with his eyes locked on Albel's red orbs. It looked as if he wanted to look anywhere else than Albel but couldn't. Albel dragged his gaze down Fayt's body while he pulled the zipper down. He saw a blue piece of cloth peek out from between metal teeth. He hooked one claw on the inside of Fayt's boxers and slightly skimmed it across abdominal muscles. The rapid movement of the skim made Albel look up at Fayt.
Sweat had began to break out on the boy forehead and he was slightly flushed. His eyes were heavy lidded and his mouth slightly parted open to let a little pink tongue lick the full lower lip. Albel stopped his ministrations and quelled an unexpected arousal. This boy means nothing to you!
"Turn over," Albel commanded. He was rewarded with a swift execution of the order. Eager, are we? Albel thought amused with Fayt's thoughtlessness.
Albel stood up and immediately tugged down Fayt's shorts and boxers. He saw the light brown spots cover Fayt's buttocks. The little worm got you good, thought Albel wryly. He drew a finger down one cheek and marveled at the firm, soft skin. He almost chuckled from the thought that it almost looked freckled. It was then Albel noticed the boy continuously shuddered under his finger.
Albel grinned with the thought that his fun wouldn't be ruined after all. He stroked the cheek with more pressure and breathed in the space between. Fayt trembled ferociously. Albel then put his hands on the bed and leaned over the youth. He slinked up against Fayt's body until his head was near Fayt's. He felt the heart underneath his beat thunderously and breathed purposely on the younger man's neck.
"Fayt," Albel breathed, hotly in the addressee's ear.
Albel felt Fayt will himself to be still. "Yeah," he uttered, in an extremely small voice.
Having him at mercy… Shuddering and trembling…Albel dismissed those ridiculous thoughts immediately and put his focus back on Fayt. Albel leaned on one elbow, put his head down, and looked Fayt dead in his face. The eyes were fearfully wide and… Is that anticipation I see? Albel thought surprised. Interesting.
"You really should learn to restrain your lust."
Fayt's expression went through so many transformations that Albel laughed. He was then angrily uplifted from his cushiony spot and had to roll onto his side to keep from falling off the bed. Fayt jumped up and put his clothes back in order.
"It's not funny, Albel!" Fayt snapped, beet red.
Albel stopped laughing and quickly drew the curtains around three sides of the bed. He stood up and grabbed Fayt's arm before Fayt could walk out of the room. When he yanked Fayt around he was bumped with Fayt's obvious arousal. He looked down and smiled at Fayt's panicked look.
"Hmph. You are quite a pathetic fool," Albel whispered, before he tossed Fayt on the bed. He quickly pounced on the bewildered boy and tried to kiss him. Fayt pulled away like a blushing bride and Albel frowned at him in frustration. He grabbed a handful of Fayt's throbbing erect to still him. Fayt froze just as he predicted.
"Albel," Fayt panted dazedly.
"Stay still," Albel hissed warningly.
He grabbed a handful of blue hair and wrenched opened Fayt's mouth with his tongue. The boy tasted sweet, like blueberries and was so hot Albel felt as though Fayt's mouth was a lava cave. A few seconds later, Fayt groaned and shamelessly clutched Albel against his body. Albel moaned in reply and threw his leg over Fayt to raise himself over the boy. He then proceeded to grind full flush against Fayt and the responded by grinding his own hips back. Suddenly, Fayt froze.
Albel reluctantly parted to look down at him. Green eyes blinked rapidly while the boy tried to slow his ragged breath. His expression was total inexperienced innocence. You've become a debaucher of the innocent, a voice taunted in his head. Much like it did not too long ago. Albel frowned at the voice and vaguely wondered if he suddenly sprouted a conscience. And if he did, it was extremely inconvenient. Besides, Fayt knew where everything was headed right? If he knew then why does he look so lost? Albel frowned even more.
"Albel…" Fayt said unsurely, he also looked uncomfortable.
Albel grimaced and jumped. "Get up," he told Fayt sternly. When the boy sat there stupidly, Albel yanked him to his feet.
"I-I-I-uh" Fayt sputtered.
Albel was now in a very foul mood. "Shut up!" Fayt closed his mouth abruptly. "Get out, little boy." It was more than obvious to Albel Fayt wasn't ready to have sex with him, or even period, just yet.
Fayt ineffectively glared at him. "But…" They both then noticed Fayt's bobbing erection. "Er…" A new blush tinted his cheeks.
"I have a remedy for that," Albel said, with a wicked grin on his face.
He dragged a completely unresisting Fayt over the window and flung it open. Every night he kept a stone bowl filled with water on the roof outside his window to splash on his face after every time he had a nightmare. Albel grabbed the large stone bowl and threw it all on Fayt. Fayt sputtered angrily from the ice cold water while Albel shoved him toward the door.
"I don't play with little boys," Albel said, before he began to close the door. "Don't initiate anything unless you're prepared to handle it like a man." The last thing he saw was Fayt's dumbstruck expression.
He sighed and leaned against the door. Fayt would always bring a tidal wave of emotions over Albel. Things he's never felt, or things Albel felt that should be best forgotten. Ever since he met the little maggot his world had been turned upside down. Albel shook his head and breathed in deeply through his nose.
He stepped out of his clothes, happy that his own erection was now free, and laid the gauntlet on the dresser next to his pie. Albel smiled softly wondering how the fool knew he liked blueberries. He reached out and frowned at his bared bone.
Count Woltar had found the most skilled Symbologist with a specialty in healing to try to save his warm. His stupidity had cost him the life of his father his half of his arm. Symbology had only kept his tendons and bones intact. It also allowed him to move it freely. No one had seen what his arm looked like except for his mother, Count Woltar, and the Symbologist who healed him.
He leaned against the window and looked out. Aquaria was a beautiful city, one that did have moral values and goodwill. However, his life was nothing like the city. He loathed it with bitterness because it was all the things he wanted as a child. All the things he never had and probably never would.
Then he leaned out the window further to feel the warm breeze caress his skin. No matter how long he'd lived in Airyglyph the hot weather still felt like home to him. Maybe they'd stop in Kirsla before Airyglyph. Albel dismissed his sullen thoughts, at least his had his blueberry pie.
"Damn," he muttered, as he noticed the bowel was empty. He hoped he wouldn't have any nightmares that night. But he knew it was all in vain. His demons haunted him every night.