Author's Note:You know, there's just something awesome about opening my webmail, and finding that I'm getting reviews again... I might have to start checking it every day now... I love you guys...
Pyroclastic Flow: Yes, the reviews gave me a nice kick in the rear, that's for sure. -nod- ...Hey, gimme back my flag! -snatches it back- I'll get Evia to make you one. xD ...By the way, I took a quick look out of curiosity at your profile, and I was wondering... might you be the same Gala I saw on several other RomeroxAlbel-related (read: mentioned once or twice) sites?
Psychodog: Hee! I'm surprised by how many non-yaoi fans actually read my fics... o-o; 'Tis quite flattering, if you ask me. Anyway, on another topic, I can't stand AlbelxFayt. Just... NO. Some are okay, but on the whole, I just can't see Albel ever loving Fayt. For a while, I could, but then I saw Romero...
FoxFury: It's obvious, hm? I figured it would be - it's a fun pairing...
Warnings: shounen-ai
Pairing: Romero and Albel, implied FolstarxRomero
Afterlife
LeFox
Chapter Three: Another Master
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"...Explain yourself."
Romero looked up from his throne - a hideous thing, made entirely of human bones - at his creator. Folstar, the God of Death. It was the first time he had appeared to Romero in over a century; not that Romero minded this. He loved his creator with all his heart... but, whenever Folstar decided to pay a visit, it usually meant he had done something to displease him. In this case, it involved, of course, Romero's decision to keep Albel as a servant. Folstar's narrow, glowing eyes fixed on him in such a severe and penetrative way that he shrunk back in the throne. The God of Death was his only real fear; the only thing he had ever really had to be afraid of. But at the same time, he adored this devine being...
"Surely you know of his talent," Romero said, clearing his throat. "I simply could not allow such skill to go to waste-" Folstar moved toward him abruptly, grabbing him by the collar of his robe.
"You lie. You dare to lie to me!" he hissed. "Talent? Skill? What use is this to you? What use is he to you? Romero," his voice softened, and he released the King's collar. Smiling gently, he smoothed Romero's white hair with one hand, tipping the demon's pale, somewhat frightened face up with the other. "...You know how proud I am of the way you handle your own matters. You know I would never disapprove of you without due cause..."
Romero sighed, closing his eyes. "...I do know, Master."
"Then why do you test me so? What is your true purpose for this man?" he asked tenderly, resting a hand on the side of Romero's face. Romero didn't speak. He leaned against Folstar's cold hand, eyes still closed. He was a part of this being, easily created, and easily destroyed... and yet, Folstar, this icily beautiful and powerful creature, had never harmed him... and never would. He was sure of that.
"Romero," Folstar murmured, stroking the demon's lips with his thumb. "When I created you, you swore an oath of loyalty to me. You have never disobeyed me... rarely angered me... never sought to rebel against me..."
"...If you desire it, Master, I will cast him out." Romero whispered. He would never go against Folstar. Never. "My loyalty to you is absolute..."
"Have I left you alone too long?" The god knelt before Romero, resting his head on the demon's knees. "Have you, perhaps, grown lonely here...? Are the servants I create for you not to your liking...?"
Romero looked up sharply, distressed at the sight of his master, kneeling to him. "Master," he exclaimed, reaching forward boldly to hold Folstar's face between his hands. "Master, please, don't blame yourself for my decision to keep Nox with me. Blame my own recklessness, blame his attractiveness, blame anything... but I beg of you, don't place the blame on yourself... I love you, Master, I worship you... nothing you could ever do would ever, ever change this. Loneliness means nothing to me. The servants you allowed me are excellent..."
"...And yet... this man, this Albel Nox, is far better than any of them, correct?" Folstar seemed to be thinking. "You proved this only moments ago in your room."
"You witnessed that, then," Romero sighed. "I had no intention of hiding it from you, of course... but forgive me - I never intended to tell you, myself." Folstar nodded, to Romero's immediate relief. This showed that his creator was not angry with him - if anything, he was merely disappointed. The god fell silent for several long moments, his head resting on Romero's knees, stroking Romero's legs beneath the robe.
He finally looked up slowly, his hands moving slowly up Romero's legs. "...You need this," he said tranquilly. Several more minutes passed, before... "Very well, then. Keep Albel with you; you require someone who can keep you sharp - mute servants won't do anymore. Albel enjoys a good argument, from what I've seen of him; he resents authority; he is disloyal except to those who can control him. And he is in your thrall, Romero, he knows you're stronger than he is. He hates you for it, but in time, he may come to respect you. Keep him by your side. Make him loyal to you, and only you..."
"Yes, Master. Thank you."
"Just don't make me... regret this decision, Romero."
—
Romero walked quietly into his room, slightly surprised that Albel was still on his bed. His long, tangled two-tone hair was draped around him, twisted and caught around his arms, framing his face in dark waves. The sheets were wrapped around him. He had tossed and turned in his sleep, and had kicked off several of the sheets already... though it seemed as if he had finally found a restful spot; he was even smiling in his sleep. Or, rather, smirking. His claw of an arm was thrown across his chest, while the other was tucked against his side. And beside him, on the pillow...
Ah, so that was where his mask had gone... he walked over to the bed, picking up the lost mask.
"...You bastard." He looked up. Albel was awake, watching him through sleep-clouded red eyes. "You seduce me, then walk away?" Long, black eyelashes fluttered over those eyes, and the eyebrows furrowed in an attempt at looking angry. The look succeeded in making Albel resemble a sleepy child, roused from their midday nap.
How innocent he looked... and how frigid he was inside. Romero smiled sweetly. "You want me to finish what I started," he guessed, stepping to Albel's side of the bed. He dropped the mask on the nightstand. Albel glared almost childishly, pouting sleepily as he sat up. He had to struggle with the sheets for a brief moment - they were wrapped too tightly around him. He finally settled on carelessly tearing them with one of his acute claws. Romero arched an eyebrow at this. Destroying his belongings? Hm. Albel clearly didn't realize he was a servant just yet...
"You should always follow through when you start something," Albel snapped. "That's why we lost the war with Aquaria, if you ask me. The king refused to follow through with it after Vox died." Romero honestly couldn't see what that had to do with anything... hadn't the war ended in a truce? ...But of course that would have been a loss in Albel's eyes. And he would find some way to speak negatively of Vox...
"...I would hate to disappoint you," Romero smiled, letting his robe slip over his shoulders and chest, coming to rest at his waist. Several abstract, swirling tattoos covered his chest, and for a moment, Albel wondered whether these might be runes. A closer examination proved that they were simply intricate designs, no more, no less. Romero leaned over him, kissing him roughly. When he finally drew back, he whispered hungrily, "This time, I promise I won't abandon you. And of course, I shall finish whatever I begin." With that, he let the robe fall to the floor, and gathered Albel into his arms.
Author's Note: Ha. You get to wait for your yaoi. Oh, and... as Pyroclastic Flow pointed out, these updates are pretty fast. I usually update maybe once a month, if that... you can tell how well I care for my fics by how frequently I update. And, also as Pyro-Flow pointed out, the rating of this fic might go up soon.
P.S.: I leave it up to you to decide what Folstar looks like. I personally think he looks a bit similar to Romero, but that's just me...
