A/N: Awww...poor Albel…I torture him so. :( pats him but at least nobody got mad so far that I've been using him to vent all my homicidal instincts on….I've never realized how much fun it is to stab my characters. Err…moving on.
Disclaimer: If I really owned Albel and Fayt, there would be gratuitous smooching in the game….and I wouldn't have to work so hard to reconcile game with fanfiction…or better yet...I wouldn't even have to write fanfiction! But I don't, so I do.
Albel did not like the feel of the air. The wind spoke with a sinister voice, the faint whisper of laughter as it rustled curtains. Albel couldn't pinpoint exactly where it was coming from, but it made him feel uneasy. The hair was practically standing up on the back of his neck. He felt watched, hunted. Fayt didn't seem to be feeling any of these effects. He went on talking cheerfully as the two of them were walking down the hall.
Albel didn't immediately notice when Fayt walked into the kitchen to see what they had for dinner. The lights in the hall had flickered and the voices seemed to grow louder, almost as if they were in the very walls. Albel tentatively put his ear to the wall to listen intently.
Suddenly Albel found himself slammed back against the opposite wall. He grimaced as pain registered in his skull. A slight flutter of breeze brushed against his lips and caressed his cheek like an invisible hand. "I told you not to underestimate us," a quiet voice whispered in his ear. Then the real pain started.
Albel was viciously pinned to the wall. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe. He gasped, choking on his own air.
"Hey, Albel?" Fayt stuck his head back into the hallway. "It's six. We can start dinner now if you want."
Albel couldn't reply. He let out a strangled whimper of pain.
Fayt traveled up the hall until he saw Albel, standing spread-eagled, pressed against the wall, his eyes wide with fright and breath coming in short gasps. Fayt noticed none of that. His gaze went immediately to Albel's wrists, which were illuminated by the light shining directly on Albel like a spotlight. His eyes instantly sought out the short incision across each of Albel's wrists, with fresh blood trailing down his arms.
"How could you go back to cutting yourself again?" Fayt demanded, "I'm here. You can't be missing me. There's no excuse this time."
Albel wanted desperately to make Fayt understand, but his body was already weakening with loss of blood and pain.
Fayt finally noticed the frantic look in Albel's eyes. "Are….you alright?" Albel said nothing and Fayt's eyes strayed back down to the cuts on Albel's wrists. They were slowly growing longer before Fayt's eyes.
Fayt frowned and reached out to tentatively touch each slash. His fingertips touched something solid where only air should have been. The air shimmered and revealed tow long, wickedly curved knives, slowly slicing through Albel's flesh. Fayt scowled and yanked them out of Albel's arms.
Albel gave a sharp cry of pain and pitched forward. The tension Fayt hadn't even noticed he was feeling loosened. Fayt breathed a sigh of relief as Albel fell forward. He almost didn't notice the knives in Albel's ankles until it was too late.
"Oh my god!" Fayt yelped, quickly pinning Albel back to the wall with one knee and both hands. Albel groaned.
"Sorry," Fayt said apologetically. "I almost didn't catch those in time. I couldn't have it rip through your ankles."
Fayt carefully steadied Albel against the wall with his shoulder and knee and began to pull the knives out of Albel's ankles. Unlike the ones in his wrists, they were buried deep into the skin, pinning Albel's feet to the wall. Albel was weak. He flumped forward over Fayt's back. Fayt could feel Albel tense and tightly grasp the back of his shirt as he pulled them out.
Fayt carefully leaned Albel back up against the wall. "There. Can you stand?"
Albel's eyes suddenly widened with a sharp intake of breath. Again he pitched forward. Fayt caught him and gently eased him to the ground. Fayt knelt, cradling Albel's head across his knees. "Any more knives somewhere?"
Albel stiffened and threw his head back with as short shriek. Fayt noticed a tiny line of blood traced across Albel's neck. He pulled out the knife and tossed it away. "Thank goodness that one's gone. They could have slit your throat or chopped off your head. Now you should be safe."
However, it seemed to make things worse. Albel's eyes were nearly closed. He took in short gasps of breath. He seemed to be fading.
"Please don't die," Fayt pleaded. He blushed. "I don't mean to molest you or anything, but I have to check for any more knives."
Albel watched Fayt silently through half lidded eyelids. His breathing became more ragged as Fayt frantically patted down Albel's body. At last he came to Albel's stomach and found a knife buried up to the hilt deep in Albel's belly.
Fayt wrapped both hands around it and tugged it out. Albel's eyes flew open. He screamed and arched his back. Albel's body gave out and he made a strangled choking sound and tumbled to the side, his eyes falling shut.
Fayt felt very afraid. It sounded like the death cough of a video game character. "Don't die!" Fayt shouted. Albel was barely breathing.
Fayt whimpered and bit his bottom lip. He couldn't take Albel to a hospital, but he didn't think bandaging Albel's wounds would be enough with him in this condition.
After some time had passed, Fayt had pulled off Albel's shoes and socks so could bandage Albel's wounds, and then had carefully placed Albel on the bed. After that, Fayt had gone into the hallway to cry in frustration. Finally, he had returned, his decision made.
Albel's breathing was still labored, but he was sleeping peacefully. Fayt hated to wake him up, but Albel might not live until morning.
"Albel," Fayt said softly, nudging Albel's shoulder.
Albel stirred and sleepily blinked open his eyes. "What is it, Fayt?" he asked tiredly.
Fayt instantly felt terrible for disturbing his friend's much deserved sleep. "I have something to tell you now, in case you die before tomorrow."
"Don't apologize," Albel said irritably, burrowing under the covers. "You did all you could. If I die, I die. Your conscience should be clean."
"But it's not," Fayt said mournfully. "I like you. I care whether you live or die. If you die, my conscience will plague me forever, knowing how poorly I've treated some I care about."
"Sorry, Fayt. Like is not going to cut it."
Fayt sighed and closed his eyes, surrendering. "I love you."
Albel was silent for awhile. Fayt started to think he fell back asleep. "You don't have to," Albel said at last.
"But I want to," Fayt said softly. "I've loved you for a long time, but I was afraid. I tried to be mean to you and push you away to protect us from anything happening. But somehow, you still loved me. When you told me all the pain you had been through, I couldn't bear to hurt you anymore, but I realized you had an excuse for loving me, but I don't have an excuse for loving you."
Albel yawned. "I'll chalk it up to be raised without a mother."
"But that's not the reason and you know it," Fayt said sadly.
Albel sighed. "Come here, Fayt."
Fayt crawled onto the bed next to Albel. Albel wrapped his arms carefully around Fayt. Fayt snuggled into Albel's embrace, feeling strangling comforted.
Albel stroked Fayt's forehead with his thumb. "If this is pity, I don't want it. I don't want you loving me just because I love you."
"It's not pity," Fayt murmured, sounding surprised.
"Good. Love is a funny thing," Albel mused. "Just when I thought I loved in vain-"
Fayt desperately clutched to Albel's chest. "Please, everything is okay now."
"Yes, everything is okay." Albel's voice was thick with sleep. "Seeing how we both love each other, maybe tomorrow we can make out."
"Albel," Fayt said sternly.
"Right, not that much." Albel sighed heavily and winced involuntarily at the pain in his stomach.
"Albel," Fayt said worriedly.
"I'm fine," Albel said tiredly. "Go to sleep, Fayt. I'll protect you." Albel's arms tightened around Fayt and then his eyes closed in deep slumber.
Fayt did not immediately go to sleep. He stayed awaked worriedly, knowing Albel could not protect him in his condition. He was wounded and exhausted. Fayt would have to look out for Albel for the night.