A/N: Remember, reviews make the world go round! Even bad reviews...as long as it's constructive criticism and not merely something saying, "you suck". If the story sucks, tell me how to fix it! Thank you….And, oh yeah, this is actually going to be a rather long chapter, longer than any I've written so far…I hope it's not to long...but I'll quit worrying now and let you read it. XD
Disclaimer: Neither Fay nor Albel is mine, nor do they want to be. After all, they've got each other.
Albel sat down on a log and gestured impatiently for Fayt to do the same. "Now, tell me why my pathetic underlings fear you. They practically wt themselves when I told them to go near you. They're trained soldiers. They fear no man. You're just a kid, fool. No one should fear you."
Fayt sighed tiredly. "Albel, I already told that I won't tell you. I want at least one person to look at me normally."
Albel growled. "You will tell me because I say so. I know that something is different with you; I just don't know what it is. So you had better tell me unless you want a slow, painful death."
Fayt laughed softly. "You threats don't work on me. I know you won't carry them out."
Albel snarled and put a hand on his sword hilt. "Do not anger me, fool. I will slit your throat without flinching."
Albel and Fayt stared each other down. Albel was furious. His eyes blazed with anger and his jaw clenched as he slowly drew his sword and held it to Fay's neck. Fayt stated back at Albel impassively, without any visible sign of fear. He was pretty sure Albel really meant to kill him this time.
Abruptly Albel grinned wickedly and let out a short laugh. He swung his sword around and drove it into the ground. Then he calmly resumed his seat as if nothing had happened.
Fayt still stood for a moment, feeling very confused. He wondered what had just happened to change Albel's mood so suddenly.
"Sit down, fool," Albel said impatiently. "I don't have all day."
Fayt reluctantly sat back down, afraid of making Albel angry again.
Albel was silent for a few moments and then he chuckled softly. "You're a fool, but a brave fool. I'll give you that. I could see it in your eyes that you finally realize the truth of my threats now. Ha, it's about time you cam out of you innocent little world. But, you were resigned to your death without fear. No screaming, no whimpering, no squirming. I respect those who accept their death gracefully. It makes them less entertaining to kill."
"Uh, thanks I guess," Fayt said quietly.
Albel smirked. "Since I am in such a good mood, I am willing to compromise with you, fool. I will tell you about why everyone fears me and you will tell me whey everyone fears you."
Fayt rolled his eyes. "I already know why people fear you. You have a terrible temper and you would kill them without hesitation if they angered you."
I already know all that," Albel said irritably. "I mean that I will tell you why I want to kill the miserable maggots. I wasn't always this way. You and I have both been through terrible circumstances that shape who we are now. I have become unhappy with all the weakness in the world, and you become a weak fool that thinks everything is your fault."
Fayt was surprised at Albel's introspective mood. "Albel, you don't have to tell me anything. I know you probably haven't had a good life and that's why you act tough. I respect you anyway. You don't need to make excuses for your rotten attitude."
Albel bared his teeth at Fayt. "I will tell you anyway. Maybe then you will see that your own misfortunes are nothing."
Fayt sighed. "Fine, Albel. Go ahead."
Albel rose and paced the clearing. "I suppose my childhood was alright. My father, Glou Nox was captain of the Dragon Brigade. I was supposed to follow in my father's footsteps and become captain myself one day. What a fool he was to believe in me. At fourteen I was supposed to go through the Ascension of the Flame ceremony and get my own dragon. I failed because of my weakness. The penalty for failure is death, but all I got was this." Albel slowly pulled off his claw to reveal scarred flesh.
Albel jammed his claw back on and slumped back into his seat. "My father dove in to save me from a worse fate. Because of me, a pathetic weakling like me is allowed to live and my father died."
"That sucks," Fayt said with a bitter laugh.
Albel's eyes narrowed. "You dare to laugh, fool?" Then Albel paused thoughtfully. "You always pity others, even if they do not deserve it. So you must have suffered worse than me if you can laugh at my suffering. This really isn't helping, is it?"
"No," Fayt said sadly. "But I do admit you have suffered. I'm sorry I laughed."
Albel waved him of. "Don't apologize. Do something about it."
"What do you want me to do?"
Albel grinned wickedly. "You will tell me, fool, what YOUR tragedy is."
Fayt groaned. "Do I have to?"
Albel glared at him. "I told you about my past."
"Yes, I appreciate it," Fayt said quickly, fearful of angering Albel. "Oh, alright, I'll tell you. Do you know much about symbology?"
Albel looked at him blankly.
"Err, I mean, runology."
"Ah, yes. The choice weapon of the Aquarian scum. But what has that to do with you?"
"On my planet we call runology symbology."
Albel raised an eyebrow. "This is all really fascinating, worm, but you need to get to the point."
"Well, my dad is an expert on symbological genetics. You probably don't know much about genetics and I won't attempt to explain it to you. But it has to do with being part of me, just as much as my blue hair and green eyes, except you can't see it."
"Stop attempting to confuse me," Albel growled. "You're making things too complicated, fool."
Fayt sighed. "You're right. I'm rambling. Okay, let's see. How can I explain this?" Fayt bowed his head and thought a moment. When he raised his head again, his eyes were sad.
"I'm a weapon, Albel, just as much as the Thunder Arrow, the Aquarian runological weapon. My dad put something into me that made me a human runological weapon. I don't know how the Vendeen found out about it, but they're willing to kill hundreds of people just to get to me. My very existence puts people in danger. I blew up their whole ship. You know I don't like killing things, but I'm a weapon, and I just did it. I can't believe all the killing because of me."
Fayt had looked Albel directly in the eyes as he spoke, but once he was finished, Albel looked away in inner turmoil. So that was that. He could never hope to become stronger than Fayt, no matter how much he trained. Fayt had a power he could never dream of reaching.
Fayt's eyes brimmed with tears "I shouldn't have told you. I knew you wouldn't be able to stand me anymore. You'd either fear me or try to use me as a weapon for your war."
"Don't flatter yourself," Albel said gruffly. "I fear nothing. And no matter how heartless people make me out to be, you're a person, not a weapon, so I'm not going to capture you."
"But you couldn't stand to look at me," Fayt protested.
Albel shrugged. "I wasn't thinking what you suspected, but I was equally ashamed of my thoughts. For a moment I envied you. I wished I had this great power you speak of. I have always desired to be strong, but now I have met my match. What does it matter if you did it with training or outside help? But one thing puzzles me, fool, if you are as strong as you claim, why don't you use this power more often?"
Fayt smiled sadly. "It only works under extreme emotional distress. And anyway, it's too powerful for normal situations. If I could destroy a Vendeeni ship, I could destroy a whole city."
Albel was silent a moment. "So that basically means you are as weak as usual unless beaten within an inch of your life. I shall take pleasure in becoming strong enough to beat you, but not too badly."
Fayt smiled. "Thanks, Albel. You never change." Fayt glanced at Albel and instantly made a decision, hoping he would live long enough to regret it. He reached over and gave Albel a quick hug and then backed away as far as he could.
Albel jumped up, his eyes flashing wildly and his sword drawn as if he could defend himself against affection with his weapon. "Don't do that!" Albel growled. "Don't make me lose all respect for you."
"I could say the same for you," Fayt said calmly. "You admitted tat I'm stronger than you. What happened to all the cocky bragging?"
Albel glared at Fayt and then smirked. "You've been with me too long. You're beginning to grow a backbone. I'm not sure I like this."
"Don't worry," Fayt said calmly. "I'm sure you'll always be weaker but cockier than me."
"Hmph," Albel said with a small smirk. "Dream on, fool, dream on."
