Author: Cheza-chan
Rating: Young Adult (PG-13/R)
Summary: It is quite feasible to find love in the midst of a universal war.
Disclaimer: I could never create a game with such wonderful characters (whispers: except Sophia—damn, why'd her name have to sound so similar to mine).
Author Note: Waaaaaaiii! Thank you Kaorustalker30, for loving my bunny scene! I just… I remembered the little critter's always on the bridge with the girl, so I just decided to leave him there. I love my bunny scene very much… (nod nod). La la! This next chapter… Gawd, I wanted to send them to the beach so bad. And after I read through the Dictionary section they give you in the game's menu screen, I was able to, once again, create another chapter! I hope you enjoy it!
Old Adages – Chapter Three
Albel stared at the waves crashing over the rocks below and frowned. He had never been this far north of Elicoor II and what made the trip unpleasant were the half dozen voices clamoring loudly behind him. He glanced over his shoulder; even the Menodix child and the woman runologist from Aquaria came along.
"Careful you don't fall!"
Albel's eyes widened suddenly and he clutched at the arms of the blonde that had snuck up behind him. Surprise was quickly replaced with the intent to kill. Cliff tightened his arms around the smaller frame as he stared out at the waters, unaware that his life might be in jeopardy. After founding Quark, sights like this had become rare. His muscles tensed with anticipation of being used to propel him through the waters.
"I can't breathe, worm," the brunet hissed.
Cliff laughed and ducked his head to teasingly nibble at the younger man's lips. Just as Albel was about to turn the act into an actual kiss, he glanced over the blonde's broad shoulder and scowled at the eyes watching them. "Are you embarrassed?" Cliff asked softly.
"What's to be embarrassed about? Other than the fact that I chose an alien worm for a bedmate?"
"Hey! You're more alien than I am."
"Whatever. Your people are beckoning," the brunet muttered, clasping Cliff's face with his clawed fingers. He turned the man's head and indeed, Mirage was waving them over. The smile on her face was one Cliff had seen literally over a thousand times. He grinned and released Albel to head back to the group.
The Elicoorian's crimson eyes narrowed and he followed after the Klausian male. Albel noticed that with each step the older man took, the footprints in the sand grew deeper. Glancing ahead of them then up at Cliff, he thought it best to step out of the man's shadow. And he did so just in time.
Cliff crossed his arms before him, firmly digging his feet into the sand so he didn't slide far.Mirage lowered her leg and the man whistled, shaking his arms. "You're serious."
"It's been a few years," the woman said with a pleasant smile. "It's nice to see you haven't gone soft on me."
Fayt couldn't believe what he had seen: Mirage, always calm and levelheaded, had attacked her partner. The look in her blue eyes was one to be found in Albel's crimson orbs. He glanced at the Elicoorian and shook his head at the broad grin splitting the man's face.
"Fayt." Peppita's voice broke through his thoughts and he glanced at the smiling girl. "We need to find somewhere to change," she stated, crossing her arms.
"Why do you need me then?" the boy mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"To keep us safe."
He sighed.
The Klausians dropped their fighting stances before even starting. Their eyes spoke: "After we change."
Sophia and Peppita left, dragging Fayt with them, and everyone else scattered to claim their own changing areas. The first to return was Albel, wearing a pair of deep russet-colored trunks. He sat on the sand, his sheathed katana standing upright in the crook of his right arm.
Maria and Nel came back next, Maria's suit more ornate than the female Elicoorian's. It appeared as a two piece—her midriff showing—but in back, connected by a single plastic loop, several thin straps ran from the loop to the top then from the loop to the bottom. If Lieber were to see her, he'd fall unconscious from a massive nosebleed. Maria had tied a red ribbon around her loosed hair and draped the ponytail forward, over her shoulder. Nel wore a strapless one-piece. Roger and Peppita came running back to the site and took their seats between Nel and Maria.
Mirage and Cliff were last for they had to take center stage. Cliff crouched beside Albel before joining his sparring partner. "A kiss for good luck?"
"Why?" the brunet scoffed. "You're going up against a woman."
Cliff hung his head with a deep sigh, "She's bested me over nine hundred times in over a thousand sparring matches." Albel tilted his head back, laughing loudly, earning stares he had long since become immune to. "I've had a few wins!" the blonde said in his defense.
"How many?" Albel snorted.
"Eleven…" Cliff mumbled.
The brunet roared with laughter. "Why are you telling me this—to gain my sympathy? At this point, I think you're even more pathetic than before."
"Thanks," Cliff grumbled sarcastically, slowly rising.
Albel grabbed his arm, pulling him back down, and locked their mouths together in a fierce kiss. "Make it twelve, worm."
"Will do!" Feeling renewed and full of life, Cliff was ready to take on the world.
§§§
Albel kept his wrapped hair looped around his right arm and away from the water he waded knee-deep in. Behind him was the excited and happy laughter of the children, and ahead of him was the broad, muscular back of the man he followed behind. The fight had ended in a draw; Mirage called it. It was apparent that she had lost the edge she'd gained over her male counterpart. Albel silently cursed the wave that broke against them and shook his soaked false arm.
"My body hurts." It was the first words Cliff had spoke since they're started walking. He stopped and stretched, groaning painfully. "Her kicks were always murder." He lowered his arms and smiled at the younger man. Albel absently raised his right arm away from the water as another wave passed, never taking his eyes from the blue ones before him. "I lost," the blonde smiled.
"Idiot," Albel growled low in his throat. "It was obvious you won. I wouldn't be talking to you if you hadn't."
Cliff's smile broadened and he held out his hand to the brunet. Albel sighed and walked toward the man. He brushed by the outstretched arm and the appendage snaked its way around his slender waist. They moved further away from the group.
§§§
By sunset, they were heading back to the continent of Gaiit. Everyone carried something or someone. Adray carried the young Velbaysian and Nel carried Roger. Mirage was just about ready to tell Sophia to get on her back for fear of the girl tripping and falling because she seemed asleep on her feet. Between Mirage, Maria, and Fayt, they carried beach gear.
Fayt turned in the direction he heard his name being called. Mirage was beckoning him over, Maria already at her side. She had a lax grip on the half-asleep Sophia's arm. The boy smiled and joined them so they could work out a trade. Fayt gently lifted his friend into his arms and she instinctively curled against his chest. They continued to the edge of the island where their ride to the continent waited.
Cliff Fittir smiled; he was carrying the exhausted Albel Nox. The Elicoorian's head rested against the back of the blonde's neck, his arms draped limply over the Klausian's shoulders. For someone with a title of "the Wicked", he looked absolutely peaceful when he slept. The young man's brow furrowed as he was shifted and he turned his head in the other direction, sighing softly.
Cliff shared a smile with the Diplo's captain and the Earthling that had brought such an unlikely band of people together.
A/N: (scrunches up her nose) Seemed short… but… oh, well! I thought it was nice! I've already thought up the final chapter, but I want at least one more chapter between this one and the final one… Ideas… anyone? (smiles)