A/N I so appreciate every comment, every review giving me feedback with this, we aren't through the hard parts yet, though I promise once we are you'll get more fluff and humor. This is a darker piece and I'm glad everyone is liking it so well!...DESNA
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Leaving the guild and all of the things getting organized now…finally going to get some badly needed rest, Hestor walked up the steps in Bickslow's house to the second floor, pushing a hand through his silver hair and grimacing at how dirty his hair was…he was covered in sweat and dust and blood from all of the fighting, he was exhausted to his bones…his eyes lit faintly then and he stilled at the top of the stairs, looking down the hall to the open door of the large bedroom on the back of the house. The light was on…his lips quirked faintly, a crooked smile happening as he felt Kaleb…the man was in there…drawing a hot bath for Hestor…and he felt it…again…what he'd felt when that bond had locked into place. The love.
Kaleb loved him, truly, deeply…loved him, and that love had been there…it was an odd thing, feeling the age of it, the depth…the other man had…never…loved anyone else but him. Not Beck…as he'd occasionally thought…not the airship captain or the Duchess from Estrelle, not the Guildmaster of Redrise who ran an all female guild in Bosco that Kaleb had dated for a while…no…always him. It was staggering to Hestor, who had kept Kaleb at bay, at arm's length for as long as they had known each other.
He had known…the moment he had first seen Kaleb, when he was a child standing in the markets of White Sea City, shells in his hair standing outside a shop as the Pradesh children had hurried past on their way to the guild…he had seen Kaleb walking with Farron and…he'd known in that moment, the beautiful youth with the long chocolate colored hair and eyes of deep purple like the shells in Hestor's hair from the rare purple clams he dived for in the seaside village he'd been born in. So tall already…refined beautiful face, full lower lip beneath an elegant upper, distinct and masculine jawline and thick sooty lashes..even then Kaleb had broad shoulders…muscle already defined under his clothing..Hestor's heart had about frozen when his heart and magic had instantly reached for the larger older boy..
It had set the path he'd followed…he'd never really felt anything toward girls…or boys honestly until then…then…all boys…he only liked men, only wanted male companionship. His Sudehpah lessons had been focused heavily on being with and pleasuring men because that was where his tastes were, he was gay…to the bone…and proud of it. He'd been too wary though…he was assembling the keys of the Hall…and that set, until it was complete…was chaos to hold, his feelings a rollercoaster day to day, sometimes he was calm, sometimes hostile, sometimes seriously nasty and near murderous…depending on the key spirit who was closest to him that day. Until the set was complete…he'd have no peace…and he risked turning dark…becoming evil…and he knew…if that happened…Stella would step in, his Aunt, the Mother Seer of Stella, would have the Hands of Apep collect him and he'd be locked away in a temple until either he was purged of the evil or the "re-education" killed him.
He hadn't wanted Kaleb drawn into that...the beautiful powerful talented youth was a jewel…a blessing…to White Sea, named the heir to the Mastership by the then master Grenlow, Hestor had been there, part of Kaleb's team from the start of it when they were all barely past their ages of induction. He had watched Kaleb rise, watched the boy become the man, the youth turn into the fierce leader, the wizard saint, leading White Sea to ever growing prosperity, completing degrees, continually growing as a man and a mage and a leader, right into the Clan Wars, where he had been there…on that battlefield…and had seen more than 700 warriors of the attacking clans…drop dead as Kaleb had lashed out to protect Cristoff…Beck…Hestor…from the attackers who were swarming their position.
He'd been there as Kaleb had struggled with that…with killing so many people in an instant…faced the burdens of his powerful magic…and he had loved him…from a distance, through it all. He had hated the women who came and went, the men too, Beck…who had been Kalebs close friend before Hestor had even met him…who Hestor KNEW had slept with Kaleb at least twice in the years they had all known each other…yes his relationship with Beck was one of those pure…frenemy type relationships. On the same team, both loyal and..in love with Kaleb. Beck delighted in teasing Hestor, and Hestor delighted in insulting and taunting Beck…some of the worst fights Hestor had ever been in had been with Beck…he didn't care though because he had known Kaleb was his One, the soul meant to be with his, his oasis in the terrible storm that was holding the Keys of the Hall so he resented everyone who came wanting Kaleb…hated every single date Kaleb had…because he could say nothing…until he completed the Hall keyset, had all of them…he wouldn't be balanced…wouldn't be safe enough to have someone…to have Kaleb…he'd so wanted to be with the lavender eyed beauty Kaleb was stunning before his immersion in the divine crystal that had seen his hair become platinum blonde and his eyes pale to the vivid lavender they were now, he had always been a rare work of art in human form, a couple of times he'd even known Kaleb wanted to approach him, wanted to ask him out…and he had side stepped those moments…pushed the man away…to protect him.
Each trial of the Hall was about Death. The Hall of Two Truths was the Hall of Anubis where souls were judged, weighed, before they were assigned to either ascend to paradise, go to another life to grow more…or…were damned to Hell or destroyed utterly. Holding it…made him the High Priest of Anubis as far as the country of Stella was concerned, and…each and every trial for each and every key, had Hestor standing face to face with Death, he had died…or faced his death…for each and every key of the hall in one way or another. He'd gotten the first key as a small child…Kek-T was a demonic assassin…she killed his childhood…his innocence…was gone, at the age of 6 he faced death on an adult scale, had to overcome it…and he had never been the same.
Kek-T didn't care he was a small child…he was a mage of the blood that could hold the Hall, and he had to be strong, he had to abandon childish immaturity and understand the depths of magical responsibility…it didn't matter that he was 6. She had terrorized him…made him face death, made him see the horrors of the dark sides of the the Hall presided over by the God of Death. From then on…Hestor had stopped being a carefree child, and had become a holder of the Hall, bearing that weight and facing those two possible fates, one in the light with the full set in his hand…the other locked in a temple while Stellan Seiths and priests of all three of the Gods of the Heavens tried to "Re-educate" him so he could go on, complete the set, as a puppet of the Temple of Anubis. Holding no will or freedom ever.
Had he told Kaleb…that romantic sap would have not let it go, would not have kept his distance, he would have dived headlong into being with Hestor through it all and…could have died, White Sea and the Pradesh family would have lost him…could have…and Hestor wouldn't do that. The 7 Ivory keys had started calling him…the light of the set countering the darkness of the Hall, the Hall held the gateway into Hell…the Ivory Keys the light of Kingdom Plane and the heavens themselves. The Trials for the Ivory set had been…no easier. He had faced battles alongside Archangels on deep planes of Hell, he knew the cold of the third level of Hell first hand…he knew what the water of the river Styx held…he had even had to go wit for wit against librarians of the Hall of Knowledge in Heaven to gain Raziel's key. He'd known Kaleb was a dormant…for a few years now.
He fiddled with the singed frayed cuff at his left wrist, stalling…because the cuff wasn't even attached to a sleeve anymore…that had been torn off during the fighting…
Kaleb knew…that he had kept what he was a secret from him…and Hestor felt the man's frustration…anger…over that. So the bond didn't just let them feel the positives…nope…they got it all…which was fine, gave Hestor warning about what he was walking into as he drew himself to his full height…cursing the fact his boots had been ruined and he lacked the heels now to make him taller…he hated being eye to pec on Kaleb and his damned overgrown brothers…Stellans were never tall…Hestor at 5'10" was actually pretty tall for a Stellan male, above average by a good bit…but not a one of Kaleb's brothers were under 6 feet…no…whatever Mr. Elan fed those children growing up had created a family of giants.
Not that he would complain…he liked large men, the more muscle the better, he was slender, had a swimmers body, definition sure and he was no slouch, he worked every single day, swam, sparred and trained every single day…in fact…now that all three Archangel Mages of the triad were realized, he would start training with them…teaching them to use their skills, their magic born abilities…all the more reason he and Kaleb had a lot to sort out tonight…unless he could somehow dodge it…his eyes narrowed in determination and he finally walked into the room he'd be sharing with Kaleb, taking in the two queen sized beds…the plush carpeting, the fireplace…large walk in closet…yes it would do…the bay window actually had a door to one side that opened onto a balcony with a comfortable looking sectional on it…he really would be able to rest and regain his strength here…if he could get Kaleb in hand…
Kaleb came out of the bathroom and Hestor blinked slowly. Barefoot…he was out of the wrecked white leather he'd been wearing and had loose silk sleep pants on, no shirt…his long platinum blonde hair loose and damp from a shower hanging around his broad shoulders drying. White tattoos almost glowed on deeply tanned skin…he'd seen Kaleb in less, had seen the man nude many times…but never while he was standing feeling the man's love for him through a magical bond.
Love or not…Kaleb's eyes narrowed "You've known for a long time." He said in an accusatory tone. Hestor met his eyes defiantly…and huffed out a sigh ending in an almost whine.
"I am filthy, exhausted, my body aches, we have been fighting for almost two damned days and it has been weeks since I've had a full night's sleep…my favorite shirt is ruined…my boots were destroyed…I want that bath." He tried looking pitiful, Kaleb was such a soft hearted man sometimes, especially for people he cared about…and right now…hestor was not above using that…
"Then come here…let's get you into the tub…I'll wash your hair while you explain this to me…" Kaleb said in a soft but very firm tone and Hestor pouted…perfectly willing to use tactics that had worked for him before when dodging his overly sharp Guildmasters questions. "I'm tired…" he whined
Kaleb gave him a bland look and pointed at the bathroom…Hestor huffed, sticking his tongue out at the man and heading into the bathroom, mind going…seeking that "out" there had to be a way to get Kaleb to give up questioning him for the next Gods only knew how long…
Kaleb followed him though, and Hestor was surprised when the man grabbed the wrecked cuff on his wrist and just…ripped it off of him, tearing it into two halves so suddenly the cufflink shot across the room and clattered on the floor. He narrowed his eyes on the taller man.
"Those are pearl…pearls I dived for…" he said and Kaleb met his eyes, unflinching.
"They are still pearl…still fine…and still right within reach…get undressed Hestor or I'm tearing these clothes off of you cufflinks and pearls be damned I'll pick them up later." Kaleb growled and Hestor pursed his lips.
"Well…if you insist on being difficult…"
"Hestor…"
"What? I'm not the one ruining things…what if that had fallen down the sink? Really…" his yelp when Kaleb gripped the front of his shirt and ripped it cleanly in half right off of him was shortly followed by a hiss and Kaleb actually taking a step back when Hestors palm shoved into his chest.
"Stop it…I won't be manhandled by you. I don't CARE how upset you are…I did what I had to, and it was for your sake…make no mistake about that, Kaleb Suraday Pradesh." Hestor snapped, undoing his pants quickly lest his impatient friend rip those off too…he was rather fond of the underwear he had on damn it…Eurrasian lace as soft as silk was expensive!
"My full name…really? You may be Keeper, Hestor but I'm not bending over and letting you rule me…you HID this, not just from me either…I deserved to know." Kaleb said as Hestor finished removing his clothes and got into the bath…hissing again at the hot water then groaning as he sank into it…even as his eyes flashed and hardened on Kaleb's defiantly.
"I hid nothing, I just didn't blab and run at the mouth like so many people tend to do…I was told not to reveal it…and unlike some Celestial mages I fucking pay attention to my responsibilities and magic!" Hestor said heatedly…moving to the far side of the tub away from Kaleb.
"You know…I don't think I have ever, in the whole time I've known you…even once implied you were anything but an exceptional mage who was fucking amazing with your magic Hestor." Kaleb said defensively, frown darkening his face…this was not going like he wanted it to…which…he should have expected, nothing with Hestor ever went how he expected it to…
"Irrelevant." Hestor snapped, looking away to find the body wash so Kaleb didn't catch the faint flush on his cheeks at the sideways compliment. Fucking Pradesh…even when angry they tended to build people up…he needed to stay a little mad…or he would be up all night going over all of this.
"No…it's very relevant. Come here damn it…I have to reach you…you'll never get all of that blood and shit out of your hair…took me seven rinses to get mine clean." Kaleb insisted. Hestor eyed him suspiciously and Kaleb smiled faintly at that.
"Hes…come here please." he said in a softer voice and at that Hestor moved, putting the bottle of shampoo into Kaleb's hand as he settled against the side of the tub sighing as Kaleb's hands slid over his hair and eased him down into the water to wet it.
"You aggravate me…" Kaleb said "I understand secrets are part of your magic but this was so personal…so important."
"You…love me." Hestor said quietly. He was tired…and Kaleb's hands felt very good, especially as strong fingers worked shampoo through his hair and over his scalp.
"Yes." Kaleb admitted
"Then let me get to bed early." Hestor tried and hissed when Kaleb fisted his hair and tugged a bit, pulling his head back so he was looking at an upside down Kaleb above him, eyes widening as Kaleb leaned over him…then sliding shut as he felt that full lower lip across his upper one. The kiss was..like a pressure valve letting go…the physical closeness seemed to open the bond more…both men having a few moments to feel the other. Kaleb's feelings of frustration, real fear facing new magic within his body, that soul deep love though…Hestor just took that in and for once…let his own feelings off his leash, Kaleb's soft moan against his lips sending a thrill through him.
"You love me…" Kaleb breathed and Hestor reached up, fingers gently touching the man's cheek.
"You are…my One. My truest love…and have always…had my heart Kaleb." He admitted.
"Why…" Kaleb whispered it…and Hestor understood the scope of the single word well enough he dipped down, rinsing out his hair before turning to face Kaleb, to fully look into his eyes.
"The Hall." He said plainly "Had I been unable to secure all of it…I'd have gone dark…and if we had been together…we both would have…and we both would have ended up imprisoned in Stella…" his eyes softened on the man before him "I could never risk you like that."
He saw Kaleb's defiance rise and smiled, reaching to touch those pillowy lips and keep the words from coming. "We both know, had you known, you'd have ignored my opinion and protests and been at my side…and Kaleb…each trial was Death…I…could not bear to see you go through that with me. I couldn't have endured that on top of what I already had to face."
Kaleb sighed, lips moving to kiss Hestors finger before he reached, pulling the man to him and the long soft kiss that happened then had Hestor melting in Kaleb's arms, climbing right out of the tub to get into the man's arms completely…a life of staying at bay…so much time sitting stewing in that baywindow behind Kaleb's desk certain Kaleb felt nothing but friendship toward him…he knew, felt…that had always been wrong…Kaleb loved him, not just as a friend, truly deeply loved and wanted him…and that truth was…amazing.
Kaleb was reeling too…reveling in the reality that Hestor…deeply…loved him and had…that his feelings were in fact returned…and he was…overjoyed even as he was frustrated and angry Hestor had hidden what he really was from him…what Farron really was from Farron...but…right now…it just didn't matter. Right now…he was desperate for the man in his arms and was finally…feeling all of that fully returned.
Ripping silk happened…Hestor getting some revenge for his shirt by destroying Kaleb's sleep pants..and the pair just lost themselves in each other, tired and worn out…it didn't had so much of their feelings, their love for each other to express, Kaleb unable to get enough of pale skin and breathy cries, Hestor reveling in heavy muscle and silky moans that reached right into his mind as well as his ears. Kaleb was a next level lover, able to read those surface thoughts that all people had during love making, with what they wanted, what their body ached for, and Kaleb delivered. Hestor though…was the Keeper, he knew what his Archangels felt, knew how to push their bodies, pull things from them…and because his was a sharp mind that viewed every angle…exactly how to wrench deep pleasure from that body.
It was some time later…on rumpled sheets the pair lay, Kaleb's wings out, curving around them, Hestor running his fingers through the shimmering white feathers, sated…content…in love and loved with his One…who was his friend, now his lover and his future.
"They said to wait…Raziel and the other spirits of Enoch…that you couldn't know and your magic couldn't be released…that it had to wait…that there was a reason…and Kaleb…Fairy law wouldn't have done all it likely did…had the Blessings of Gods not added power and energy to that spell…" Hestor said quietly, he lay on top of Kaleb, head on the man's chest, playing with the white feathers of a wing and Kaleb's hand was rubbing his back.
"Well…I can't argue that, nor can I claim…you made the wrong choice…you've had the entire Hall a while though…" He added pinching Hestors ass and the Celestial mage growled, slapping Kaleb's chest.
"You were a dormant Archangel mage…I had to wait for those wings you brat, I'm the Keeper, getting you involved in all of the things I had to do with Zen would have possibly caused your magic to stir too soon…I wanted you…Gods I wanted you, you're my ONE Kaleb, you're like an oasis in a storm for me…I…there's so much…I've learned so fucking much and it's all so…huge…so much more than I can get my head around and I wanted to talk with someone…anyone…about it all and you, you're the person I can talk to about all the secrets my spirits share and i had to wait…" he said in a rush, emotion rising in part because he was so damned tired, and now…he was deliciously sated, in the arms of the man he loved, safe…he'd even had some time in a hot bath…his ability to stay stoic and all Stellan really was getting hard to hold on to.
"Alright…I'm sorry Hes…we're together now though…my sharp pointed star, and we can go over it all, you can tell me all about it all and we'll sort through it…" Kaleb said softly.
"After sleep…and coffee…at least two cups…and I refuse to get up at dawn like you do…" Hestor said and Kaleb laughed.
"Dawn is only about three hours away…so…I'll be sleeping in too…then…we'll get up, have sex…because i am so not done there…just too tired to do more right now…then breakfast and your coffee and we'll start working on all of it." Kaleb said.
"Boscan Coffee…Jinas coffee, the stuff here in Fiore tastes like someone dipped a brown crayon in water." Hestor said petulantly. Kaleb chuckled, patting Hestors ass and rubbing over the spot he'd pinched before shifting a bit, wings moving and vanishing, Hestor had taught he and Farron how to withdraw them. He slid Hestor to the bed, hovering over the man as he settled on the soft pillow with a sigh.
"I love you…" Kaleb said quietly and Hestor smiled up at him, cupping his cheek.
"And I love you…now sleep…I insist…this bed is soft and comfortable and i have you as a body pillow and you make me feel…calm…safe…and I feel like sleep is going to be just…wonderful with you beside me and I want to find out for sure." Hestor said tiredly. Kaleb smiled, curling around Hestor who nestled in against the larger man…both sound asleep in moments.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
"You have so much work and time into your education and career in diplomacy, may I ask why you were working a simple mage job when everything started happening in Bosco?" Freed asked.
He was sitting beside Farron in the SE car they had managed to rent to get them to Crocus in a more timely manner. The roads had been messed up but enough still connected they could get there by car far faster than walking.
It was a question he'd been idly wondering about since Farron had shown up with his brothers and Freed had heard the reason he hadn't been at the Consulate when the Princess overthrew everything and killed almost everyone there was because he'd been out on a mage job.
Farron smiled, something that made Freed's stomach do a little flip. He knew all about the sound mages career, had read all of his essays, papers, even several of the trade agreements and transcripts of some of his negotiations with Joya to end their forays into Bosco to get slaves.
If Freed ever had fanboy moments outside of his adoration for Laxus, which he would admit had gone overboard at times, they were centered around the tall man with the dark blonde hair beside him.
Farron was young, talented, refined, educated, tall...handsome...He wasn't a powerhouse, like Laxus, Cristoff or Kaleb, but Freed knew for a fact he had a hobby working as a DJ at nightclubs in Pelerno, danced and...was into fencing, swordsmanship and martial arts. His magic had expanded during the battle with the Spriggan…Archangel magic now all through him…but he hadn't changed…still doing the work he'd grown up doing.
"I work out almost every day, four days a week I go to White Seas branch in Pelerno and spar with the guilds instructors. I usually take a few mage jobs every month so I can get out of the office. My brothers tease me about being cooped up all the time and I make an effort not to be when I can, I was making that effort when the Consulate was attacked…" Farron sighed.
"If you'd been there though, you may have been killed…" Freed pointed out.
"Not likely, Kurino was involved in the attack...she has this...thing for me." He said with a faint frown. Freed lifted a brow at him.
"Why you? I mean...you're very attractive but she's a Princess, was the Crown Princess, she could have just about any man from anywhere." He said, feeling a little heat in his face, the whole question had been impulsive and as soon as he'd started to ask it he realized asking why implied Farron was somehow not desirable and he was...tremendously so in fact so he'd tried to recover the statement and then realized he'd just admitted he thought Farron was attractive and then his mind started flying for a way to make the compliment seem like nothing and the whole thing just turned into him fighting not to blush.
Fortunately, Farron, while he did glance at Freed and smile, didn't seem to dwell on it, instead just answering.
"I'm not sure how it got going really, she started liking me...wanting me...when we were still kids, Dad did a lot of work at the palace directly with the King back then and I went along because after Mom was killed and Zen disappeared and was thought dead with mom, Dad didn't want me alone or out of his sight much. I ended up friends with Kurino and her brother and sister...when she was getting ready to induct and go through the process of getting rid of her virginity, she requested I be the boy who took it, but I was sick, caught this awful flu, and her father didn't want to wait for me to get better so he arranged someone else." Farron said.
"Later her sister requested me for her induction and I did it, Kurino confronted me about it the next day, said...I belonged to her and she didn't want me near her sister, she was mad I'd been there for her sister but not her...it was...bizarre." Farron shook his head, blonde hair falling over his sky blue eyes as he guided the car along the road. In the back seat the two other mages he had selected to work with him were sleeping, they would be driving in shifts, only stopping for calls of nature and to eat and stretch their legs when they switched drivers.
"The Corrupted Princess of Bosco has some sort of strange crush on you." Freed said. Farron shrugged.
"Yeah...so...I wouldn't have died had I been there because she led the attack...she would have done something else with me." He said, inwardly shuddering at the idea. The Princess had dark tastes in the bedroom, fetishes involving pain, blood and bondage and had taken two of his brothers more than once because she couldn't have Farron, he was too connected politically...Kaleb though, and then Cristoff when their younger brother had followed Kaleb to attend the Princess at her summons once because he'd healed him the last time Kaleb had been summoned and wanted to know what the hell was going on.
What had started as Cristoff just seeking answers and to maybe protect his brother, had caused a reversal to happen. Kurino redirected onto Cristoff, because the Dragon Slayer could take what she dished out without losing consciousness, and healed almost as fast as she did damage without leaving behind scars. She took particular pleasure in using Cristoff too, he was a big powerfully built strikingly handsome man, and his magic made taking him, with the snarls and growls, the fangs, all that much more fun for Kurino, she tortured Cristoff until his dragon came to bear, then she would work with her four handmaids and fuck him until he couldn't hardly move, let her handmaidens take turns on him, had even learned of his full moon compliance via his drunken state on that night and had made a point of taking him on two different full moons.
The Princess was a brutal lover, and he wondered what God Serena had done with her, he'd commented on using the Princess, that he and Larcade had deeply enjoyed her. Farron had no idea what that meant, or if it had any impact on Kurino or not, but he didn't really want to find out. When the King was found, and Bosco restored, Kurino would die for her crimes.
Deciding he wasn't happy with the topic, he changed the subject. He knew Freed was educated, a Rune mage of considerable talent and strength, and well read. Their bond gave him insight into feelings, but he wanted to know more.
"Before the invasion were you reading anything I should add to my list? I understand you're quite a connoisseur of Boscan and Minstrellan litterature in addition to Fioran of course." He shifted into speaking Boscan too, wondering if Freed spoke it well, what his accent might be if he had one.
"Prendatore's works on the ancient Gods of the Mithren Empire. He just released his latest a few days before the first attacks on Fiore began, I was able to get a copy of Goddess Artemis and it's very interesting reading!" Freed replied, barely any accent, a hint of a lilt but it made it sound more elegant.
They talked about their favorite books for the next couple of hours before stopping to shift drivers and Freed took the wheel, pleased when Farron took his former seat in the front beside him so they could continue their conversation.
Talk of books drifted into politics and Freed relaxed into talking with Farron enough he started asking all the questions he'd had about the work Farron had done. Discussing the nuances of society, cultural customs and their impacts and comparing which languages they both knew had Freed smiling faintly, unable to wipe the relaxed happiness off his face in spite of himself.
In his entire life, he'd never sat for hours with anyone and chatted about so many different things, things he was truly deeply interested in, and not once stumped or gone over the head of who he was talking with. Farron not only understood every question he asked, every topic he brought up, he had well formed and thought out responses that tended to provoke Freed's mind into deeper thought, further questions, and Farron was all too willing to explore it all with him too, asking his own thought provoking questions and enjoying Freed's responses if his own smile and occasional chuckles or outright laughter was any indication.
Two days into the drive the other two mages they were with had made a few comments about how well the two men got along and neither one denied it or did more than smile. Freed noted the woman, Fille, an archive mage, was disappointed more than once when Farron opted to move to the back seat with Freed when it was her turn to drive instead of sitting with her.
The young woman was pretty, with bobbed dark pink hair and wide gray eyes, she was Boscan, so forward and unshy about letting her desires be known. The end of the second day, she pulled Farron aside during one of their stops, Freed looked up frowning as she had stepped into Farron's tall body, running her hands down his sides and gripping his hips. He couldn't hear what she said but Farron had smiled at her, pulled her hands off of him and kissed one of them shaking his head.
"If you need some release Fille...I'd love some myself…" Canden, the illusion mage who was the fourth of their group had called out.
Fille had sighed but smiled "I do...I was craving the Ambassador, but since he is not so inclined, may we?" She asked, looking up at Farron. Farron smiled "Go ahead,Freed and I will wait with the car." He shrugged, walking from her as Canden, grinning, walked past him and swept Fille up to carry her off the road into the trees.
"Boscan women are amazing." Freed said.
"They are, but all Boscans are equals in the base pursuits of sating primal needs. We embraced them long ago, realized denying them caused more stress, anger, fighting, wars have been fought over those things and as a people Boscans already dealt with being somewhat fractured because of the Clans across the Grass Sea having so many disagreements. It was something we all agreed on, we all enjoyed sex. So...we sort of unified around that." Farron chuckled.
"It's a powerful drive, so if you think about it, it makes sense it could be used as a sort of common ground." Freed admitted.
"And so it is, you know with some of the clans out on the Grass Sea negotiations to cease hostilities or prevent them begin with sex? The leaders of the involved clans relieve their tensions with a group session usually in a wading area of the Grass Sea, since its waters are sacred for most of the clans. The last clan negotiations I went to assist with the first two days and nights were just one long drawn out orgy, by the time it was over though, all of the leaders were amiable and interested in talking." Farron chuckled and Freed swallowed through the constriction of his throat at the idea of the man beside him involved in things like that.
Farron was so refined, so brilliant and intellectual, the idea he was so well tuned into the more base and primal side of him, it made the darker side of the Rune mage hungry, the demonic within Freed thrilled at the prospect of having an Archangel…gripping those wings…making an Angel pleasure them...he bit into his lower lip when he felt his member twitch and looked off to the woods. Fille and Canden hadn't gone so far their indulgences couldn't be heard plainly from the road.
Farron seemed entirely immune, but all Freed could think of was walking off into the woods himself...with the Ambassador…Farron didn't miss that either…caught the feelings of lust, even felt that demonic side in Freed well up some, it's dark lust plying at the light of the Archangel within him.
"You know, in all the visits the Raijinshuu had with us in Bosco, I really never got to see you all much...I regret that." He admitted, smiling at Freed and the Rune mage smiled back at him.
"Well, there is much to be said about making up for lost time." He said lightly and Farron grinned, about to step closer, asking Freed to share pleasure with him right on the tip of his tongue, then both mens eyes snapping toward the woods when Fille could be heard screaming out her end "Farron!"
He exchanged a look with Freed and snickered. "Canden won't be entirely happy about that." He observed "I think we should get into the car so I can pretend I didn't hear it."
"A talented sound mage didn't hear that? I wouldn't be surprised if Cobra back in Magnolia didn't hear that." Freed said smirking and Farron laughed as they climbed into the car and Freed took the driver's seat, Farron sliding in beside him.
Farron pointedly changed the subject giving Freed a hard look "So, about where do you figure we are?" He asked, holding up the map and Freed smiled, leaning over to look over the map and they started calculating their position and Fille and Canden returned, flopping into the back seat, Filles face bright red, Canden smiling and shaking his head.
"We were going over the map, there's an un-named town a little ways ahead, I know we just stopped but it looks to be about another hour, I vote we stop there for dinner if they have any place we could eat." Farron said and Freed agreed, both men turning to look at the pair in the backseat who only mumbled their consent, trying not to look at each other.
When they came into the town Freed was beaming when he saw the sign "Acalypha" on one of the buildings. Oddly his com couldn't get a signal out, but as soon as it could he'd be telling Lucy where the town had ended up.
They found a small cafe that had only meager offerings but a fresh meal was far better than something out of storage and they even discussed stopping there for the night, since above the cafe was a small inn and an actual bed instead of trying to wedge themselves into a mostly not comfortable position in the ever moving car to sleep wasn't exactly restful.
"Odd...I still can't get my com to connect…" Freed said with a frown, looking down at the device as they were carrying their packs from the car toward the inn.
"It shouldn't be having trouble…" Fille said, reaching for the device, as an archive mage she had some very good skills with magic powered technology. She frowned "That's strange...the signal isn't getting out…"
Farron was frowning, and, for the first time, he stretched his senses out, he'd been focused so much on Freed the last couple of days, just...enchanted by the elegant Rune Mage with his aquamarine gaze and beautiful face, slender lithe and graceful body, long emerald hair he'd started thinking about getting his fingers through...Distracted, and not paying attention to their surroundings like he should be.
His magic sought pockets of sound, they were in a town so it went to the obvious first, the inn and cafe, homes, a couple of small businesses, then it reached farther and Farron blanched, hearing commands being given..
"Alvarez...fuck...spread out!" He snapped and all four mages drew in their magic, Filles snapping open a console, Canden raised a hand and each of them split into four versions of themselves as they spread out. Freed yanked his saber free and it flew gracefully forming up runes swiftly that spread across the ground.
The attack though...when it came seconds later, was massive and not magical. From above them dozens of troops came down, it was almost raining a mixture of Alvarez soldiers and Boscan regular military wearing the distinct Gray and gold of the Princess' forces.
They fought, each one pushing all they had into protecting each other and the battered town and it's people but true to form, Kurino's strategy was underhanded. Freed stilled, eyes flying wide when he saw a cluster of children shoved forward, men carrying guns behind them, men with long swords gripping a few of them, blades to their throats.
"No…" he breathed and his anguished protest drew Farron's attention, the sound mage going still and straightening from his defensive stance, holding up a hand toward Canden and Fille.
"You can't be serious…" He whispered, the tallest man by the children smirked at him "Princess' orders, she says you like kids, so we were to gather some and if you continued to fight, start throwing them, dead...to your feet. She said you'd quit fighting quick...guess she was right." The man drawled.
"Disgusting tactics…" Freed hissed and the man raised his gun, an energy pulse fired right at the Rune mage caught him and lifted him from his feet, slamming him back against the wall of the building about 20 feet behind where he'd been standing and Freed staggered forward once the pressure dissipated allowing him to leave the indentation he'd left in the cinderblock, rubble crumbling from what he'd crushed with his body's impact, he coughed, trying to suck in some air, the blast had completely winded him and shocked his system so bad his lungs didn't want to work.
"Don't need magic to fuck up a dumb ass that can't keep their mouth shut. Want another pretty boy?" He demanded and Freed managed to get his head up to glare at the man, still struggling to draw in even a tiny bit of air with his screaming lungs.
"That's enough…" Farron snapped and the man pointed the gun at him.
"Careful Ambassador, you aint in a position to negotiate here, Princess wants you unharmed, she's got plans for you, but I can kill your friends and every fucking one of these kids if you give me any shit, starting with the pretty guy, or maybe pinky and pretty there...yeah, I see ya sugar, saw ya taking it from behind in the woods a few hours ago too...can't wait to see you stick that nice ass up in the air for me…" He leered at Fille and Farron stepped between him and the others.
"Threats don't exactly inspire cooperation from mages, your gun won't work if I don't want it to." Farron snapped and the man narrowed his eyes leveling the gun on him and squeezing but nothing happened, glaring when he realized Farron had done something to it he dropped it and smiled and Farron took a blast from the man to the tall guys left, crashing into the building beside where Freed was still struggling to breathe.
The men rushed them then, and Canden, fighting to keep the tall man from Fille, took a blast to the head Freed seriously doubted he survived but, in spite of his own best efforts to move, he himself was unable to avoid a blast that caught him in the shoulder and spun him so he crashed into Farron and both of them hit and went through the cinderblock wall.
Blackness engulfed him then and consciousness fled him.
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Lucy sat, chin in her hand, looking out at the busy street. They were in Bosco, Pelerno hadn't been spared in the fighting, but, the fighting in the capital city of Bosco had happened around the Palace and the Citadel, which was up the slope of the mountain range that was the western side of the city. White Sea's branch here had been largely unharmed, there were some scorch marks here and there, but, the guilds familiar…Halisifer, was an 8th plain of Hell Cerberus, who had been tamed by White Seas first guild master…after holding the 8th gate of Hell…protecting a guild really didn't strain the demon too much. He had kept many of the mages of White Sea safe when Kurino had attacked, several thousand citizens had been pulled down into the catacombs as God Serena's spell had gone off with the Jupiter canons on Kurino's ship and while the city of White Sea, the beautiful guild facilities on the surface…all had been lost along with several hundred thousand people Halsifer simply hadn't had time to yank down to safety…the demon had still saved thousands.
He had saved all who were at the Pelerno branch as well, protecting the massive guild facility that commanded an entire city block. Lucy sat now in the sidewalk cafe outside the gates of the guild, Hestor sorting through a list, making her a reading list so she could begin studying. There was already a white leather bound book before him, with silver adorning its cover…an actual primer on all of the known silver keys in existence and Lucy had about squealed in glee when he'd pulled it out, pouting when he'd slapped her hand.
"Not yet…I need to see if I have access to another one I'd prefer you start with…if Andros, the archive mage at this branch, can manage to get it, I want you to begin with the Zodiac primer…for obvious reasons." Hestor had said eyeing her and she'd pouted at him but the silver haired mage was absolutely immune to her and she'd finally huffed and rested her chin in her hand so she could people watch while Hestor sipped his coffee and checked book lists.
She smiled when she saw Zen come out of the cafe carrying a tray, Kaleb walking alongside him, stopping briefly when a mage called to him with some questions. The brothers stood talking with the group of mages and Lucy sighed. She and Zen had been doing a lot of talking, had spent every moment they could together and she felt…better. All around, he knew more of the real her now, or she felt like he did, and she knew a lot more about him. She'd broken down more than once during their talks, realizations hitting hard…just what she'd put him through, but he forgave her, had said he did.
"Starting over here, I forgive you…it was…a bad decision made in an…impossible moment and I understand. I…really like Gajeel, and he…he was worth it. Even if it had stayed like it was, he was worth it." Zen had said quietly as they had laid side by side in Lucy's small bed in her cabin on the airship they had taken back to Bosco. He'd barely fit in it…she'd had to lay half on top of the big man while they had been there, looking out the window at the evening sky just…talking everything out.
No sex, a few soft chaste kisses here and there, but neither one of them was compelled by the magic anymore, the big bands on Zen's arms really did work. No…everything they felt now, it was real, it was just them coming from their hearts, and…it was amazing. She bit her lip when Zen turned his head and their eyes met, the man smiling at her, he turned to excuse himself from the conversation Kaleb was caught in so he could bring their food to the table.
Hestor watched Lucy, smiling faintly at her expression. He'd been prepared to just…hate the woman…but then he'd realized what was behind the pair coming together…the fact Zen hadn't been all over Lucy from the start had made him think hard on it, then…conversations with Raziel and Kaleb, going over it all and he'd seen it finally, The One magic. The greatest power in existence, the greatest magic, that the Makers themselves had blessed creation with. Love and the "One" magic that made two hearts, two souls…beautiful and perfect together.
Dragonslayers found it through the magic of their mating process. Seiths could see the soul meant to be theirs. Summoners…found theirs through this sort of relief that flooded them when they were near that person, like walking out of a desert into an oasis. He looked from Lucy to Kaleb…and felt that, his eyes softening as they always did on the guildmaster. He'd known a long time though, unlike Lucy…he'd found his "One" when he was young, 10 years old, Kaleb 12 when they had met and he'd felt it…like a fresh breeze off the sea on a hot day when their eyes had met and…he'd waited…he didn't doubt at all either, looking at the man, eyes trailing over the tall muscular body then meeting warm lavender eyes, he didn't doubt what he'd had to do anymore. It had been the right choices he'd made…and now, he was in love and loved in return, he had Kaleb, completely, and the certainty of that love was a balm on his soul, his heart, it made so much of what he'd endured…worth it.
Watching Kaleb date other people had been outright…agonizing sometimes. Seeing the Airship captain who had…used him so much, been…terrible to him. Hestor had wanted to kill that woman every time she'd waltzed into Kaleb's office with Hestor right there and had just started kissing and…climbing on…the one person in the world that could make Hestor whole.
Fortunately…Kaleb had tired of the woman, known she was using him, just hadn't seen fit to break things off right away because she traveled a lot as an airship captain and…the sex had been good and being in a relationship had kept Arman from picking at him about finding somebody. Hestor had privately celebrated the day he'd watched, right in the guildhall, as Kaleb had ended that relationship.
So he knew exactly what Lucy was feeling when the woman sighed looking at Zen. He was happy for them. Kaleb's pale lavender eyes suddenly held his and he almost choked on his coffee as that wonderful feeling washed over him faster than he could brace for it.
"You ok?" Lucy frowned, reaching to pat Hestor's back as he coughed and Hestor blushed, hating feeling his cheeks heat up in fucking public…he did NOT blush damn it…not in public! He was a mean nasty Stellan people kept a distance from and he LIKED it that way!
"Yes fine…my coffee has cooled…I detest lukewarm coffee." He grumbled setting the cup down and batting Lucy's hand away. Lucy raised a brow, eyeing him doubtfully. Hestor looked up when Zen and Kaleb reached the table and held his cup out to Kaleb "Please…I need a fresh cup, this is cold." he said airily.
Kaleb's brow lifted, he knew Hestor very well…and knew when his Stellan Celestial Mage was covering something up. He also…was not immune to those steel blue eyes, the hint of desperation there seeking him accepting the ruse so the summoner could save some face.
He took the cup and put the one he was carrying in Hestor's hand…knowing Hestor took his coffee just like he did, with copious amounts of honey in it.
"Of course, be right back." he said, giving Hestor an indulgent "I know what just happened here" look that had the summoner pointedly looking away from him sipping the steaming coffee and refusing to look at him, though he smiled faintly when Kalebs lips touched his forehead, and had to fight not to outright purr when 'I love you Hes' came in Kalebs silken voice into his head.
Zen didn't miss it either, but, like Kaleb, said nothing, instead setting out the plates of food he'd brought.
"So little quiches…Kaleb says they're good…I've never had quiche before so…whatever. Honey biscuits, danishes, donuts, bacon…and a lemon danish for me." He said as he set everything down, putting a bowl of strawberries by Lucy and making sure the honey biscuits were in easy reach for Hestor.
"Thank you." Lucy said warmly when Hestor refused to look at anyone, seeming engrossed in his book lists and coffee as he took a bite out of a honey biscuit.
Lucy's com vibrated and she picked it up, her eyes widened at the notice from her…all time…favorite shoe store that had an outlet in Pelerno. "Lings is having a sale on their shoes…" she breathed. Hestor's eyes snapped up instantly "All of them?" his boots…they had been ruined…and they had been Ling made boots.
Lucy grinned at the silver haired summoner "40% off until 5pm"
Zen chuckled, picking some things from the big plates to fill the one before him "Gives you loads of…time…" he trailed off as both Lucy and Hestor were on their feet gathering their things quickly.
"It's only 10am…the sale is until 5…" he said, confused.
"Yes…not much time…tell your brother where we've gone, if you want to help carry things please do come to the store as soon as you finish breakfast." Hestor said, putting several biscuits and a few of the mini quiches into a bag hastily.
"But…that's all day…" Zen frowned, still nonplussed, and just mildly confused.
"Explain to him later Lucy, he should be educated in the art of shopping at some point and I'm working on his finesse with his black fire spells, we'll be lucky to get anything from this season if we run…" Hestor said and Lucy nodded, kissing Zen's cheek as the two summoners hurried off, breaking into a dead run as soon as they were on the sidewalk.
Zen stared after them in amazement.
When Farron started coming to again he instinctively reached for his magic as pain flooded his senses so he could deaden his own responses to that. He noted his magic was sluggish, decidedly impeded and memories of how he'd gotten where he was came to him quickly enough he reigned himself in and suppressed reactions to the pain.
He was careful not to move, change his breathing or in any other way look like he was conscious as he listened, working through how to tap what magic was available to him. Farron was an Ambassador, and more than that, he was the one who took the high risk assignments so his father wasn't put into them, it was an understanding he had with King Altiene and the Steel Council and one of the reasons he was so valued by the crown and council.
He'd been taken prisoner before, been beaten, tortured, even raped, the Joyan War Queens were a nasty bunch, so were some clan leaders. He knew too well how to handle himself, but he wasn't worried so much for himself, he hadn't been alone when he was captured, he had Freed, Fille and hopefully...Canden to worry about.
He heard things that made his stomach turn, things that meant he wasn't the first one to come to, though the others probably hadn't come to in pleasant ways.
"Not so hard Trent, shit her foreheads hitting my damn hip hard enough to bruise...nnngh, shit that's good though…" Someone groaned.
Flesh slapping flesh, wet sounds...gagging noises...Alvarez wasn't like Bosco, not in any way, the men who crewed Alvarez ships were denied enjoyments, had deeply rooted antiquated prejudices and comfort limits. He'd seen that when they had been fighting. They were the old barbaric mindless rape and pillage types, like berserkers really, sad, pathetic...twisted versions of humanity.
He felt someone run a hand over his arm and realized most of his clothes were gone, only his boxer briefs were still on.
"Don't touch him...the Princess will cut your hands off and shove em up your ass if you touch that man, she wants him all to herself, made that super clear. You wanna mess with a guy, Take the brunette or the green haired one, brunettes not in great shape though thanks to Aiven though, dumb ass. You're the worst fucking shot we have you know that Aiven? I made it fucking clear I wanted all of them alive and you hit the guy in the fucking head….dumb ass." Someone said.
"All of you shut up…" A smooth feminine voice that sent tendrils of disgust through Farron sounded then.
"Princess…"
"Gods just cum already and let the girl breathe you two. You lot have been fucking her for hours, why aren't any of you enjoying the green haired man? He's got a fine body…" She demanded.
"Aint into guys…" Someone said petulantly. Kurino scoffed "Ignorant fools, pleasure is pleasure, no matter, take him and the Ambassador to my quarters, I'll enjoy him myself, and have the medic look at the brunette, no sense wasting a life, if one of you grows some depth and intelligence he'll make a nice alternative to the woman for the crews stress relief."
Farron kept his body lax, it wasn't easy, as soon as he was unbound from whatever he was tied to pain lanced through him from multiple injuries, the worst being his left shoulder.
"Why hasn't the medic seen to any of this?...oh Gods...you idiot just cum already!" She cried in exasperation. "You were sent in here to see to injuries not just to fuck the girl!"
There was a grunt, and bit of a groan and the release of wind "Sorry Princess...I just...fuuuck...really needed that…" A man groaned.
"Fine, now you've gotten it, see to Farron first as soon as he's bound to the bed, then the green haired one and then I want that Brunette healed, I don't want his death to possibly upset Farron…" She said.
"Yes Princess." Was the immediate answer as he was carried somewhere and finally laid on a soft bed, he felt and heard Freed, the man had to be gagged because the sounds he made were muffled by something. It was him though, Farron could smell the man's subtle sea breeze type scent, could feel his alarm through their new bond and he reached through it…gentle…soothing, and felt Freed latch onto that as the other man was laid down on the same bed.
Inwardly he cringed, Kaleb and Cristoff had described this scenario to him, when Kurino had them both a few times she would chain them to her bed side by side so she could easily move from one to the other.
He laid still, feeling the medic go over him, crude healing magic working awkwardly, Gods healing really was an art in magic and he was far too accustomed to Cristoff and Xally who were both vastly better at it than whoever this idiot was.
"I repaired the fractured shoulder Princess..: The medic began.
"They broke his shoulder?! Morons! Titus!" She cried and Farron inwardly grimaced, Titus, the Knight who had been drummed out of the order because he'd turned to dark magic and defied the light, it figured Kurino had him with her, She'd become fully, completely evil, why not have the man who had fully turned his back on the light and formed a Black Knight cult as her guard?
"Yes my Princess?" Titus' voice...he'd heard it before, he could feel the man's heated stare on him. Titus had always adored Kurino, was in love with the woman, and had always, always resented Farron, had told Farron before he'd been kicked out of the knights and had fled into hiding he thought Farron was a fool.
"She wants you, the most powerful, perfect woman on Earthland is in love with you, wants nothing more than you...forgive me Ambassador, but why aren't you in her bed? She wants only you at her side, she would marry you, put a crown on your head...I don't understand why you keep your distance from her." He'd said.
It was out of order, had been beyond bold to say that at the government function they had been at, and especially to the Boscan Ambassador when Titus was himself there as a guard and was supposed to be silent protection.
Farron supposed Titus had no issues with the cruel streak that was a mile wide in Kurino, or her dishonesty, lack of morality, integrity, Gods she had turned on her own father, done Gods knew what to him….
He could maybe find out...since he was here, and he didn't doubt it would take time to get free...he could find out what had happened to King Altiene.
"Titus, go now, Trent and his men broke Farron's shoulder, it could be a couple of days before I can safely start working on him now...if I go deal with them...I'll kill all of them for this...they even shot one of Farron's mages in the head and that could very well turn him further against me than I'm already sure he is…" She sighed.
"Idiots! I am sorry Princess, I heard you give them their instructions and you were very clear about how to bring Farron and his people in without injury, brilliance using children as leverage, these Alvarez soldiers, they lack the discipline my own men have…" He said soothingly "I will deal with them at once."
He heard the knight leave the room and the door closing, cutting off the sounds of the ship, then he knew...he and Freed were alone with Kurino.
The bed dipped and while he'd stayed still through being handled with broken bones and other injuries it took much more effort not to recoil when he felt her hand slide up the inside of his bare thigh and settle right on his cock, which, if it hadn't been flacid before it would sure as hell shrivel and retreat now. Gods he hated this woman with his whole being now.
"Farron...hmmm, your name is Freed according to my men...you're very handsome, not as tall as my Farron, but still lovely. I wonder how well you two know each other...I've known Farron since we were children did you know that? After his mother died and they thought Zen had died with her, he and his father were so very sad, my father made sure to have them to the palace almost every day, my father and Farron's father are close friends, you know…" She was idly stroking Farron as she spoke and he felt bile rising in his throat, revulsion twisting through him at her touch...he hated her...he really did, but he had to stay calm, had to remain in full control of himself and wait for the right moment to speak.
"He's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen,with eyes the color of the sky in summer….his long hair like dark gold, you know it used to be brown? It got lighter as he grew up...Zen's did too...you have lovely eyes, Freed...nice lips...I would remove the gag to kiss you but you're Fioran, you lack the same self control and presence Boscan men have, you might forget I'm a crown Princess and once this whole conflict is over and I have put down the final seeds of rebellion in my country...I will be it's Queen just as I was born to be." Her hand left him and Farron felt Freed tense at his side, she must have turned her attention to the Rune Mage.
"You have fine skin...fair...and beautiful eyes...I think I'll keep you as a consort since Farron seems to like you, he wouldn't have anyone along with him at a time like this if he didn't. Hisui, that self important cunt, I know she summoned him...means to have him for herself, I don't doubt...when I found out I put my own plans, important ones securing my hold on Bosco aside so I could prevent it from happening, so I could intercept Farron before Hisui got her hands on him." She was saying idly in this light sing-song voice that sent chills through Farron.
Freed tried to say something and Kurino chuckled. "Fine...if you try to use your magic though...I'll punish you...and sweet pretty man...you wouldn't enjoy that." She warned and Farron felt Freed shudder at his side.
Freed recognized insanity when he saw it, Gods knew he and the Raijinshuu had put down enough dark guilds and fought enough people who had gone mad for various reasons, that he knew without a doubt Kurino was insane. From the sing-song voice, to places where her hair was missing from being pulled out, the too wide eyes, the voice...all of it.
"I would not use magic on you Princess." He said softly when she removed the gag and Kurino smiled at him. "Good boy, now, since I shant be able to show Farron my skills yet because of my foolish soldiers, and I have waited and waited…" She lunged in and Freed managed not to recoil in disgust when she kissed him.
He'd been with a couple of women, his father had forced them on him when he'd been caught with a stable boy when he was 13. They hadn't been particularly gentle with him either thanks to his fathers orders that they "Fuck the deviance out of him."
He'd even been with a couple of women since then, a drunken night with Cana after he had recovered post Tartaros hadn't been entirely bad and then the beautiful young woman at one of the book stores in town had lured him into their receiving area at the store and they'd had a nice lusty romp there that he'd actually enjoyed.
He just, prefered men, not at all ashamed anymore to admit he was gay and fine with that. He went out with Bickslow a couple of times to a club in Hargeon Bickslow was fond of and that Bickslow said attracted men who would be receptive, since he had been in one of his moods where he was seeking male company too. Bickslow had always sort of teetered back and forth, scoffing when Freed had asked him if he was gay or bi.
"Neither, shit...I'm is pleasure man." He'd responded with a grin and Freed had seen since then what he meant after a few visits to Bosco with Bickslow to see his family. Freed had come to love the Boscan culture and its bath houses too, Gods the Boscan people knew how to cultivate relaxed happiness that was for sure.
Now...if they could just get this insane nut job out of the way that was kissing him roughly. She didn't taste bad, and she was beautiful, a classic Boscan beauty with smoky dark green eyes glossy black hair and rich tanned skin, Kurino had curves to rival Lucy and the other beauties of Fairy Tail, but her beauty was only on the surface, the woman was evil and out of her mind.
She was also running her hands everywhere on him and he wasn't sure what to do about that, he couldn't prevent her, his hands were bound above his head just like Farron was beside him but he'd had to get her off of Farron, watching her fondling him, touching him, had infuriated Freed, that this nightmare of a woman was taking such liberties with his bond…his charge, someone he promised to protect and make sure his choices were always protected, and a good man and this woman had killed hundreds of thousands of her own people, had schemed with the black wizard himself to overthrow her father and take over her country, she had tried to kill Kaleb, and now...now she had plucked himself, farron and the two mages from White Sea up and was taking them Gods only knew where or for what purpose.
One thing was certain though, she meant to have Freed now, and was working on his cock, her hands trying to coax him to get hard and she made a frustrated sound when it wasn't working. He really did have trouble getting hard for women in the first place, add in the fact that Kurino repulsed him as a person and well….
"Sweet but slow to please...in time you'll get better but until then, friends in Joya provided me with methods…" Kurino said softly and from the table beside the bed she grabbed a vial and poured the pale green liquid into her mouth before grabbing Freed's face and kissing him again, forcing his mouth to open and when he did it was flooded with a vile bitter fluid that brought tears to his eyes as he gagged on it.
"It absorbs quickly, so you won't be able to cough it up. No real effect on women, a little boost to sensation but otherwise, nothing, in men though…" She smiled, her fingers hooking the waistband of his underwear and pulling them down. Freed's first instinct was to fight, he didn't know what else to do but he wasn't going to let this woman continue.
It was then Farron moved.
Farron had listened to enough, hearing the struggle and Freed gagging on something was the final straw, there wasn't going to be a good moment to grab Kurino's attention and if he let this go, he wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
"Farron…" Kurino breathed, immediately climbing off of Freed and moving to the taller mage beside him.
"Kurino...where is Altiene?" He asked, it was a light tone, one he deliberately made hazy like he was still dreaming. She looked at him warily so he added a question about her brother "and Riky? Wasn't he supposed to be here?"
She smiled then, eyes flooding with affection. "He will be, Daddy isn't here, he was being a naughty Daddy so I sent him away to Joya." She said in a child-like voice.
"Joya? But they don't like men…" He responded, forcing himself to stay still as her hands slid over his chest and her lips played down his neck.
"One of their Battle Queens, Breta, she always liked Daddy, wanted to see him wear a collar and leash like a puppy dog...would you play with me Farron?" She purred, her hand sliding between his legs and he hesitated, unsure how to react, what to do...this wasn't the Kurino he knew...his eyes moved over her, she looked...wrong...she had bruises everywhere and her nose had definitely been broken and not set right...there were clumps of hair missing from her usually lustrous thick mane of glossy black tresses too.
He was too far away to reach Kaleb, and couldn't talk to Freed for obvious reasons, fortunately though, Freed was a sharp man.
"We'd both play with you Princess…" Freed said in a light voice, moving his body so Kurino's eyes flew to him, instantly locking on what the potion she'd forced into him was creating, hardening him nicely for her use.
She smiled "...no touching...the others...touched too much, I used to like that but...I want...gentle...I want..Farron…" she breathed eyes turning back to Farron who smiled up at her gently, alarmed by the way she was talking but careful not to show it.
"Why just Farron? I can be very gentle too…" Freed said and his pouty tone made Kurino smile more, her hand slid up his thigh and she started fondling him, for reasons he wasn't quite sure about, Farron didn't want to see her do that and moved beneath her. Her other hand flew to his face, cupping his cheek as she stared longingly at him.
"Farron is...kind...safe...his family is good..he's good...he would never hurt me, he never wanted to use me or control me…" she said softly.
"I've loved you my whole life Farron Pradesh…" She whispered and kissed him, the bitter potion traces made her taste vile, but Farron took the kiss in, kissing her back, remaining gentle, slow and Kurino groaned, pulling her hand from Freed so both were holding Farron's face as she kissed him with growing fervor.
"Farron and I can keep you safe...we can play with you...be with you…" Freed said smoothly and Kurino whimpered, pulling back to look over at Freed then Farron.
"You wouldn't be upset...if I had both of you? Your friend is so pretty, Farron…" Kurino said. Farron smiled "I wouldn't mind...it would make me happy for the three of us to play…" He said, exchanging a glance with Freed.
That one exchange was enough, Freed knew, and Farron knew he could trust Freed, they would work together to handle Kurino and try to somehow, regain their freedom. It was going to be much harder now with this...eerie...freakish Kurino to deal with….
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
A/N: shout out to Nightmare Senshi. Hestor is a special bean and very much her special bean and keeping him in focus for his scenes so I could work through the concepts I have on the Archangel Mages has been work. As a character he's about as cooperative as Vander when you try to pin him down and get scenes to come out how you want them!