Author's Notes: Thanks to Nanowrimo(National Write a Novel in a Month), I decided to go ahead and start the Alister/Valon relationship and finally present my theories/timeline through this story. I highly doubt it'll be 50,000 words(Nanowrimo is actually a challenge of getting 50,000 words down in a month. Has to be for a story, but it's still become a mere challenge for me). That being said, I hope you enjoy this. Yaoi will not be happening too quickly and watch out for falling swear words! My interpretations of the characters is sure to raise some eyebrows, but I do my best to keep them as in character as possible. Set pre-Doma. Thank you for looking.
Alister didn't know nor care who the third Swordsman of Doom would be. All he cared about was making certain that the latest member stayed out of his way. He wasn't even at the Pacific island fortress when Master Dartz presented the person to Raphael and was thankful that he didn't have to be. All Alister wanted to do was finish making his new outfit and start another one before doing more research on Kaiba Corp.
For four years, Alister lived with his best friend Raphael in a secluded two story beach house near San Francisco. He was content with that, but he knew that it would last since a third swordsman was necessary for the Doma Organization. He could still hear the Pacific Ocean yelling at him despite being in one of the back rooms of the house. Usually, Alister had some nice, loud anger music on while working diligently over his sewing machine, but not today. No. He knew Raphael would be coming home with the new person shortly and he wanted to hear them arrive. Despite not being interested at all in the intruder, Alister still wanted to know who the new person was. At least so he could make it clear that he wasn't going to be making any friends other than Raphael.
Alister smirked when he remembered that he was naked as the day he was born. He almost always kept the windows open as air conditioning never quite compared to the cool, temperate breezes nature provided. Or, at least it did where he was originally from. Seemed San Francisco offered the same thing, which made Alister very happy. Feeling the air caress his naked skin and red hair made him happy too, but it wasn't every day he sat at the sewing machine with literally nothing on. He began to wonder what newcomer might think seeing someone strange young man naked, and Alister decided not to care. After all, he could never forget that he didn't have to impress anyone and Raphael was used to Alister's quirks. As for Master Dartz, he didn't live with them, so no worries there.
When he heard the rumble of a Camaro, Alister didn't even bother looking up. Instead, he kept his grey eyes on the black belly shirt that he had just completed. He knew Raphael and the new person had already arrived and he didn't need any kind of confirmation. He felt knots in his stomach and found himself unable to hold still enough to even step on the pedal of the sewing machine, much less thread any kind of needle. Though his interest in the newbie remained lacking, he couldn't help but wonder who it might be. He couldn't help that. Still, he immersed himself into looking for any flaws in the shirt, which was why he jumped when he heard Raphael call his name.
Gritting his teeth, Alister spun around in the chair, swinging one naked leg over the other. He raised an eyebrow when he saw that the newcomer was little more than a boy child. Before he could get a closer look, Raphael turned beet red.
"Put some clothes on, Alister!" He growled, obviously used to the redhead's behavior, but still capable of being horrified. The child only smirked.
Amused, Alister stood up and wrapped a large piece of fabric around his slender body before sitting back down. "There. Are you happy now, Raf?"
Raphael blinked about a dozen times before waving the boy forward. "Alister, this is Valon. Valon, this is Alister."
"Alister, is it?" Valon grinned. He looked like someone trying to hold back laughter.
"Yes, Alister." Came the redhead's curt reply. He took the opportunity to finally size up this young upstart.
Valon couldn't have been a day older than thirteen, but he carried himself in his black clothing like an adult. Or rather, a child that had to grow up all too quickly. His tweenie voice had an Australian accent, but Alister sensed more than just Australia in Valon. He couldn't quite say where, but his instincts indicated a Balkan and Iberian flavor in the younger boy. English, too because a Cockney sort of accent laced the tone of Valon's voice. Whatever it was, Alister detected a hard edge that he himself never seemed to attain despite surviving a brutal war which cost him almost everything.. He didn't know whether to be impressed or horrified.
"You certainly have no shame, mate." Valon crossed his arms, still smirking and also sizing up Alister. Raphael chuckled.
"No, I don't." Alister smirked right back. He couldn't help but find the youngest member adorable.
Valon's face was a baby's face, no doubt soft and warm. Not that Alister ever had the intention of touching him. He was not supposed to care that much, and he didn't have the time or the inclination to go anywhere near a thirteen year old. Especially not one who seemed cocky beyond belief. Not to mention as wild as his brown hair that looked like a desert tumbleweed. Somehow indifference just faded away, but that didn't mean that Alister wanted a new friend. On the contrary, he still wasn't interested in that yet he couldn't seem to dismiss the child easily.
Must be the eyes, Alister figured. Blue, like Raphael's but sharp, like Seto Kaiba's. Upon thinking of his enemy's name, Alister's lips tightened into a thin line. He kicked himself for not seeing it sooner. Eyes were the windows of the soul and Alister didn't bother to look in when he should have. He hadn't known Valon for an hour, yet he failed to sense the apparent ruthlessness reflected in those eyes, the very same eyes that still sized Alister up.
What could Valon be thinking, and why do I care?
Raphael said nothing, but he looked at the two of them with a sort of understanding. Alister knew he would understand. They were best friends for four years and had no one but each other. Now, Valon appeared practically out of nowhere and neither one of them knew what to make of him. Raphael was iron though, so there was no doubt that the child would not fuck with him. But, Alister couldn't help but wonder if some sort of target was pasted on his own beautiful face. Valon seemed the sort who loved creating targets and he proved it by opening his mouth.
"You look like a girl."
Alister and Raphael both raised their eyebrows. It wasn't the first time Alister had been mistaken for a female, but he never felt as stunned as he did now. From everyone else, the phrase was just an honest, thoughtless statement followed by sheepish grins and an, "Oops, sorry". From Valon, they were fighting words. Alister refused to take the bait.
"You got a problem with that?" He inquired, one eyebrow raised.
"Nah." Valon shrugged. "I just think you're quite fuckable."
What? Alister's jaw would have fallen on the floor if it weren't screwed on. He could feel his muscles tighten. No way a little boy is going to flirt with him. He didn't even allow older people to pull stunts like this. He'd sooner eat a pile of shit before letting a kid get away with it.
"You'll never have me, little boy!" Alister snapped.
Before Valon could say anything, Raphael raised a hand. "That's enough!" Those two words were more than enough to wipe the cockiness off the boy's face at least for a second. "I didn't bring you here to start a fight."
"Is that what you do, Valon?" Alister leaned forward. "Fight? You like starting fights?"
"You've got a problem with that?" Valon shot right back.
Leaning back against the chair, the redhead replied. "Yea, I do, actually. Fighting doesn't solve everything in the world. Don't you know that?"
The Australian boy fell silent, his eyes suddenly downcast as if someone else had echoed that sentiment to him in the past. Alister and Raphael looked at each other, neither one of them believing that the wind could be blown out of the child gasbag so easily. It made Alister wonder about Valon's past, but he decided that he would never ask since he himself barely disclosed anything about his own wartorn past. Raphael barely ever mentioned his. He didn't think Valon would be any different. Still, Alister kept Valon's sudden reaction in mind. Maybe the child wasn't a Seto Kaiba at all, but those eyes reminded him of his worst enemy. He couldn't help feeling that way.
Valon looked back up. "Yes, I know that." Within seconds, those blue eyes gleamed with the mischief of a devil. "It's still fun to be strong though. I want to become stronger. In everything, especially dueling. I'll beat the both of you soon enough."
"I doubt it." Raphael stated, his voice quiet yet carrying the finality of sheer confidence.
Alister, on the other hand, found his heart pounding as he clenched his fists. "How do you walk with balls like that?"
"I don't walk with them". Valon shrugged. "I just bounce around a lot."
"Must be painful." Alister replied with narrowed grey eyes.
Another shrug. "Not really."
Raphael stood between them. "Knock it off, you two!"
With a sigh, Alister ran his hand through his near shoulder length red hair. "He's going to drive me crazy, Raf, I know it."
Looking at a snickering Valon, Raphael said, "Only if you let him get under your skin."
He's already there. Alister inwardly groaned. He could just see it now. Valon playing some stupid prank sure to piss him off, they get into a fight and Raphael has to clean up the mess. He couldn't predict the future, but the boy's eyes said it all. Alister found himself smiling. Goddamnit! He couldn't help himself. Those blue eyes were full of a curious life that neither he nor Raphael had.
Valon tugged on Raphael's coat sleeve. "I want to see the rest of the house. Can I go to the beach afterward? I want to swim. The ocean looks beautiful."
"It's cold!" Alister suddenly snapped. The cool air gliding on his skin reminded him that the ocean must be freezing. "You can't swim in that!"
"Yes, I can!"
"No, brat! You can't!"
"Mind your own business, ass canister or whatever the bloody hell your name is!"
"What the fuck did you call me?" The fabric flew off his body as quickly as he stood up. Alister didn't even realize it until Raphael's blue eyes widened into planets and Valon almost fell on the floor laughing. But, the redhead didn't give a damn if they saw his dick or not. He only cared that a brat who had been in the beach house for less than an hour called him an 'ass canister.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Valon gasped between laughs. "I meant Alister." He stood straight up, laughter gone as quickly as it came. "I don't have to listen to you!"
"The hell you don't!"
"I said knock it off!" The quiet threat in Raphael's voice shut the both of them right up. "Put some clothes on, Alister." He turned to Valon. "And as for you, you'd better behave yourself. Alister is my best friend and I won't have anyone insulting him. Got that?"
Alister didn't see the look on Valon's face because he was too busy fishing for his dark pants and matching boots, but he knew that the boy 'got it'. When he put on his new belly shirt, the other two were already in another room, but Alister would catch up with them soon enough and he'd actually be smiling since the shirt showed off his midriff perfectly. He bet Valon didn't have abs like his. Then again, no one had abs like his.
In spite of his promises to not give a shit, Alister found himself wondering about that mouthy kid. He himself never acted that way when he was thirteen and he knew for sure that he'd been through more than Valon could ever dream of. He certainly couldn't have been spoiled, Valon seemed too rough for that. Where were the boy's parents? What about his family? Did Valon lose them too? How else would he end up in Doma serving Master Dartz? Why would he? He didn't seem the sort to share the same beliefs Raphael and Alister did. Then again, he still didn't know Valon and didn't doubt he'd end up doing so whether he wanted to or not.