(Schu notes: This chapter is "special". You know, wink wink nudge nudge say no more special. It stays in the R rating, but I just thought I should let you know. Beware the slight levels of cheese.)

Siegfried tried to sleep huddled against himself. He was cold and Raphael hadn't even bothered to spare a blanket. He looked at the Frenchman sleeping soundly, nestled comfortably in the blankets. He had a content look on his face, like that of an innocent child. However, Raphael was far from an innocent child, this Siegfried knew. Siegfried's attention quickly moved to the window, where he thought he had seen something move. He stayed low to the ground as he crawled to be underneath the window. His suspicions were confirmed as the window opened. He tensed his body as he saw someone silently enter their room. The intruder quietly made their way to Raphael's bedside and drew a blade. Siegfried had no time to think as he snuck up on the intruder from behind, grabbing them around the neck, placing one hand over their mouth. Siegfried greatly overpowered the person who he was now grappling against and so, he kept his grip tight as he led them back to the window from whence they had come. "Who sent you?"

"You aren't worth telling."

Siegfried frowned. "Try to kill him again, and you will die," he whispered harshly in their ear before tossing them out the window. With that being accomplished, Siegfried closed and locked the window and returned to the floor beneath it. He looked to Raphael's bed. The fencer hadn't even noticed what was going on and remained deep in sleep. Siegfried sighed. "Of course," he said to himself.

"Siegfried," Raphael mumbled, turning over in his bed and settling once more.

"Yes?" Siegfried answered. However, there was no answer back. Raphael remained asleep. Was he dreaming of him? The thought of this caused Siegfried to lightly smile before he leaned back against the wall and tried once more to go to sleep.

…

"Why do you look so tired, Siegfried? It's quite embarrassing to have my bodyguard trudging along behind me."

Siegfried yawned. "Sorry, I didn't get much sleep."

"Why's that?"

He glared at Raphael. "Where to begin? I was on the floor, it was hard and cold. It was cold and I had no blanket. You didn't even bother to spare a blanket. I could not get in a position to sleep."

"Hmmph. How did you sleep before?"

"I told you, I was possessed."

Raphael waved his hand. "Fine fine, whatever you say. Just so long as you aren't doing anything to me in my sleep…"

"GOD DAMNIT, YOU UNGRATEFUL BASTARD!" Siegfried exclaimed stopping in his tracks. "Forget France! I'm not taking you home."

Raphael whirled around, eyes wide. "Siegfried?"

"No! I don't want to hear it."

"Siegfried, don't go! You promised to take me home."

"I don't want to take home someone as selfish and ungrateful as you."

"I'm ungrateful? I'M ungrateful? This from the man who's breaking his promise after I took him in when I saw he had nothing. After I bought him clothing and weaponry. After I made sure he had food to eat and a place to sleep. After this, I'm being called ungrateful."

"You're only doing it to serve your own needs."

"Did I or did I not do all the things I just said? Besides, where would you be if it wasn't for it?"

"Not being treated like a dog after saving your life."

"What, the helping with the thieves in the forest? You're still going on about that? I'm sorry I was a little cold, but I was wounded and…"

"Not then! You could have handled yourself. Plus, it was only yesterday. Someone tried to kill you last night. I stopped them and made sure they wouldn't again. I saved your life."

Raphael threw his arms into the air in a dramatic fashion. "I was asleep! How was I to know?" He sighed and spoke calmly, "If I'd known I would have thanked you."

Siegfried scoffed. "With what?"

Raphael seemed to be flustered and blushed when the question was asked of him. "I don't know. But I would have thanked you. And I thank you now. I sincerely thank you. If what you say is true, then I wouldn't be standing here now if it wasn't for you. That being said, I ask you continue forward with me. Just to home. I don't ask anything of you afterwards. Just home. I need you."

Siegfried sighed. "Fine. Fine, I'll do it."

Raphael smiled. "Thank you. And by the way, I probably would have let you sleep in a bed. Gotten another room or something."

"My, how benevolent of you," Siegfried groaned, voice dripping with the same sarcasm Raphael often gave him.

"I know."

The two continued their walk westward, Raphael with a pleased look on his face, Siegfried with one of uncertainty. He knew he'd been manipulated once again.

…

As the night fell, the two reached the next town and the next inn. Tired from a full day of walking, they quickly went up to their room.

Siegfried sighed upon seeing the sight of the single bed. "Of course. One bed. So much for thanking me. I'll be on the floor, your highness."

"It's all they had, Siegfried," Raphael said, acknowledging the bitterness in Siegfried's speech. He went to change into his pajamas as Siegfried found a comfortable piece of floor. The Frenchman returned and climbed into the bed. "Siegfried," he said.

"What?"

"Thank you."

"For?"

Raphael propped himself up on his elbow to look at Siegfried. "Well everything really. Taking me home, being my body guard and all that. You never had to."

Siegfried blinked in surprise before turning his head away. "You commanded me. You wouldn't shut up."

Raphael laughed lightly. "I would have eventually. I always do eventually."

"Then why did you do it in the first place?"

The fencer shrugged. "You were useful to me. I knew you'd make this trip easier. And you fell right into it." Raphael noticed the expression of dislike and confusion on Siegfried's face. Raphael smiled softly and spoke in a manner that Siegfried was not used to hearing. "It's only been a few days, but I haven't regretted a moment you've been here. Have you?"

Siegfried thought for a moment. When he readied his answer, he turned back to Raphael and opened his mouth to speak. But he did not speak. There was Raphael on the bed, sheets pulled back, his familiar smirk looking softer, kinder and welcoming. His loose shirt deliberately exposing a teasing amount of his chest, the man's presence beckoned for Siegfried to give in. "What are you waiting for, Siegfried?"

Siegfried thought once more and stood. He walked slowly to the bed, not breaking eye contact with Raphael. Siegfried leaned over the bed and traced Raphael's cheek and jaw line with his hand. The smile on Raphael's face was a telltale sign that the man knew what Siegfried was thinking. Siegfried took the chin into his hand and leaned closer to it. "Raphael," he whispered before he drew Raphael into a kiss. He didn't know what had come over him. Why was he kissing this man? What drew him to Raphael so much? During the kiss, Siegfried lied down on the bed and took Raphael into his arms, holding him close as if he were fragile.

A chuckle came from Raphael as the kiss ended. "Please don't tell me that was your sword."

Siegfried laughed softly. "It wasn't the sword."

Raphael stroked Siegfried's long, soft hair. "Good," he said, bringing his companion into another kiss. Raphael took Siegfried's hand in his and took control of it. He brought it to rest on the front of his pants. Siegfried pulled away quickly as he realized his hand was resting on Raphael's still clothed erection.

"Raphael," he started.

"Yes?" That was all that was said as Raphael's eyes gave their command and Siegfried readily complied, moving his hand in a gentle stroke over the front of the pants. Siegfried grasped the bulge lightly and was pleased by the gasp escaping from Raphael's mouth. "Siegfried," Raphael sighed in ecstasy as he wrapped his arms around the strong body and kissing his lips. "I'd like you to live with me. If, when we return to my home and no one suspects a thing of me, I'd like you to live with me."

"Why?"

Raphael moved his head to the crook of Siegfried's neck and kissed it. "Because I'm finding that I like you."

"If this is how you treat people you like…"

"Have you ever been with a man?" Raphael interrupted.

"No. Have you?"

Raphael chuckled, smirked, and stroked Siegfried's cheek. "It was an accusation placed against me when my family tried to surrender me. Little did they know it wasn't a false one. So, are you going to show me how you use your sword? Long, hard strokes, was it?"

Siegfried looked questioningly at Raphael. His eyes then widened as he came to the realization. "You weren't talking about swords yesterday, were you?"

Raphael chuckled lightly and brought Siegfried down for another kiss. He pulled away from the kiss and began to direct Siegfried. "Kiss my neck." Raphael tapped his neck where it met his shoulder, indicating the spot where he desired a kiss. "I like being kissed there."

Siegfried complied with Raphael's request and the fencer moaned at the contact. Siegfried sucked lightly at the skin and licked at it with his tongue.

"Good," Raphael sighed. "Lower."

"Your shirt is…"

"Lower."

Siegfried removed his mouth from Raphael's neck and kept eye contact with the Frenchman as he moved his hands underneath his shirt. His hands caressed the man's chest as he removed the clothing. Raphael complied and helped in taking the shirt off. Once it was removed, Siegfried went down and kissed Raphael's collarbone. Siegfried felt Raphael run his hand through his hair, urging him on. Siegfried moved his mouth to Raphael's left nipple and played around it with his tongue. He heard Raphael gasp as he started to lightly suck. He could feel Raphael arching his back so that their bodies could be closer. Siegfried moved on to service the other nipple in the same way. Raphael sighed and continued to pet Siegfried's hair.

"Lower," Raphael commanded once more.

Siegfried traced his hand over Raphael's chest as he moved down to kiss the man's stomach, tongue playing around his navel. Raphael laughed lightly. Siegfried was honestly surprised to find that Raphael was ticklish and kept this information for later use.

Raphael pulled on Siegfried's hair, indicating that he wanted to look him in the eye. As Siegfried looked up, he noticed Raphael's look was calm and gentle. He stroked Siegfried's cheek. Siegfried captured the hand in his own and kissed it. Raphael smirked. He said his command in a near whisper, "Lower."

Siegfried looked surprised for a brief moment at the request. After his eyes dipped down to Raphael's waist, they drifted back to the duelist's eyes with a questioning look. Raphael met his eyes with an encouraging nod, which motivated Siegfried to slip his fingers under the waist of Raphael's pants, slowly tugging them down to reveal the rest of his body.

Siegfried sat up and admired the man below him. There truly was a strange beauty about him. He had an attractive face complete with alluring eyes and a stern, yet confident expression. Another nod and a sly smile from Raphael was all Siegfried needed to continue.

…

"Siegfried…Siegfried…" Siegfried heard his name whispered softly as he awoke from his sleep. He opened his eyes to see Raphael looking down at him, smiling softly. "Good morning, Siegfried."

"Good morning," Siegfried responded, stroking Raphael's cheek.

Raphael patted Siegfried's chest. "Come on, get up. Let's continue on."

As Raphael left the bed, Siegfried sat up. "Wait, that's it?"

"What's it?" Raphael asked, locating his shirt and putting it on.

"Nothing to say?"

"About?"

"Last night?"

"Oh!" Raphael made sure his clothing was on perfectly before turning back to Siegfried. "You aren't compensating."

Siegfried fell back onto the bed. "That's it?"

"Well, what do you want?"

"I don't know, acknowledgement?"

"I did acknowledge you." Raphael turned to walk out, peaking over his shoulder. "Come on, lets get you to a bath house, I don't want anyone knowing that I like to sleep with smelly Germans."

Siegfried sat up, a smile on his face. Raphael liked sleeping with him! The smile quickly faded, however, as something else crossed his mind. "Smelly?"