DISCLAIMER: DxD doesn't belong to me. All rights to Ishibumi and its respective magazines.
There is something oddly relaxing about open baths for Alice Gremory...
More than a bath, more than cleansing, Alice thought about it more of a ritual than anything else. To wash yourself from the impurities only to submerge in a calm and warm body of water, it was bliss every time he does it. Regardless of his state of mind, regardless of his current mood, he always leaves the warm water relaxed and rejuvenated, a happy smile on his face as he drinks some fruit milk...
Today wasn't any different. To think Lacchan would build an entire bathhouse for her human manor only herself and her servant to use it, as expected from someone as extravagant yet intelligent as her. Not that he's complaining of course, nude, chest-deep in the warm clean springs taking his time to splash his face with some water and relax in an otherwise stressful day, like always. In that moment, Alice Gremory was happy and relaxed...
Of course, even in such moment of bliss, there was a lingering thought that just wouldn't go awayno matter how he tried or how happy his mental state is at the time. The thought that the rude, boisterous, loud knight of Lacchan, Mordred Pendragon, became his sword master per her King's request.
He wasn't completely against the idea of a new professor in the arts of the sword, in fact, getting to learn more styles other than Okita's sandandzuki school excites him a bit, and it was a sign that Latia did want to help him in his growth as a devil and heir, something he was grateful for. However, as noble as her intentions were, she probably didn't put Mordred's animosity towards the heir into consideration, as always. The knight never bothered to hide her dislike for the Gremory even in front of her boss, and after that announcement, she wasted no time in making her opinion be known to everyone...
'Fuck no! To teach this smallfry swordsmanship?! I've seen how he swings his sword around and I'll tell you what chief, a toddler with brain damage holds a sword better than him! I don't think if I were to live an entire devil lifetime teaching him he would grasp the smallest lesson!'
'H-Hey, that's mean.'
'Mordred, if only for a short while, I request that you teach Akkun some swordsmanship. Self-teaching can only make someone go so far, and since neither of you are able to leave the Astaroth territory until further notice, which better way to pass the time and maybe know each other better? Please, if just for a while.'
'C'mon, chief. I don't wanna, not with this pipsqueak who probably cries against the smallest breeze...'
'Akkun, what are your thoughts in the matter?'
'I-I mean... If... If Lacchan thinks it could work... It's worth a shot...'
'Coward!'
'It is decided, then. Mordred, please teach Akkun the art of the blade from tomorrow on. I look forward to see his improvement...'
'Tch. Whatever...'
He wasn't all that thrilled about being taught swordsmanship by someone who clearly dislike him and has such a short fuse, even people as patient as Master Okita needed to take a few breaks between useless lessons so that they wouldn't explode on rage because of him, and he was almost certain that Mordred hates him even more now. Even with Lacchan's friendship and support, Alice thought that improvement was an impossibility, and all he was going to get from that was scorn and hatred, plus some bruises and cuts, no matter how hard he tried...
But for now... He was at peace, sinking into the warm waters of the bathhouse and trying to wash away his worries and weights as he always did during such. All of his muscles were relaxed and his head reached cloud nine, a perfect way to distract himself from his problems and troubles. Truly, a small piece of paradise to distract himself from his own demons and the hell that awaits him tomorrow...
*SHAA~...!*
"Hm...?" But like everything good in his life, such moment was cut short as he hears the sliding door leading to the springs opening. Out of instinct, he shifts his gaze to his back and with a blink and a gasp, Alice Gremory almost drowns himself out of surprise. No surprise, as the one standing at the door was none other than his sword master Mordred Pendragon, a single pink towel hanging from her shoulder and bearing nothing else. Her eyes widen a little seeing the Gremory heir, but aside from that, no other reaction but a curious hum. Alice emerges from the waters and try to hide his gaze, turning his head away from her bear figure. "S-S-Sir Mordred...?!"
"Ah, you're here, smallfry. I was wondering if you had bailed the moment you knew I was going to tutor you. Well, whatever." The blond knight shrugs and let out a small chuckle, her small feet echoing steps as she closes the door and walks towards the showerheads on a wall of the springs. Alice was shocked by her course of actions: she wasn't embarrassed at all for being naked in from of him? How come? She looks too nonchalant, even. Perhaps she is used in being naked like that? A small peek through the gaps of his fingers, and he sees that Mordred now sits on a small pink bench and picks a showerhead to bathe herself with it. "Man, that feels great. A bath after all that training is the shit..."
"Hm... Sir Mordred? Aren't you... Uh, embarrassed?" Alice manages to speak his thoughts on the matter. No matter how she sees herself as, being nude in an intimate moment such as bathing with someone else would make anyone ashamed or at least a bit hesitant to do anything else. Mordred, on the other hand, didn't seem to mind, specially as she rinses her body and pours some shampoo and soap onto herself. She turns to him and chuckles.
"What? Am I too manly for you? As if I'd feel intimidated by you, smallfry." Mordred flashes Alice a toothy grin while Alice again turns away. For what he could see, despite her claims and behaviour, there was no way for her to be anything but a pretty girl, specially since she lacks any... Masculine features, but shows a bountiful of... Feminine features. Maybe she's one of those people. He doesn't discriminate, of course, she looks pretty happy so that's fine by him. "This knight saw more action in a day than a pampered-ass spoiled little prince like you would see in a lifetime. You'll need a lot of fish'n'chips to think you can make me feel anything, specially shame..."
"H-Hm, okay." Was all Alice could muster, still trying to look away yet failing miserably. She was rude and a bit too cruel, but a pretty girl is a pretty girl.
"But I'm glad that you're here. Come smallfry, help me wash my back." She exclaims, pouring some more soap into her towel and pointing at her back while looking at him. Alice's response to that was a perplexed hum, and one second later, a blush that covered his entire face, making his head look like a tomato. Mordred was unfazed. "C'mon man, isn't that what men like us do to build trust or something? If we're gonna be stuck with each other, might as well start with the right foot. Besides, I hate when dirt gets on my back."
"H-Huuuh... Hm... B-But..."
"Or maybe you want me to rip your arms off and use them as scratchers? C'mon smallfry." She huffs one more time, and that combined with her brutal threat made the Gremory heir purse his lips, sigh and comply with her demands; but not before picking a yellow towel and wrap it around his waist to cover his shames. She's free to think whatever she likes, but he won't risk an 'accident' between them knowing very well that the result might turn... Violent. Kicking a stool for himself, he sits on it as Mordred turns around and pass him a towel, her sudden movement catching by surprise and making him turn his gaze away. Alice thinks he just saw a nipple there. She was pretty nonchalant about it, even. "Here, rub it well or else I'll be mad."
"O-Okay." The Gremory heir whispered, gripping the wet cloth in his posession tightly and making it foam and drip a little. His eyes turn to her back once again, and he gulps a lump of air in his throat. There were scars and defined muscles there, but still, her skin was milky and fair, the bright lights from the baths make it seem it was glowing. A bit hesitant, Alice reached the soaked towel to her and started to rub it on her, making foam and bubbles form there. So sturdy and strong, yet curvious and fair; the back of a woman, indeed. "I-Is this good enough, Sir Mordred?"
"Haaaah~. Not bad, smallfry. Maybe you're good for something, after all." She chuckles after a careless satisfied moan, her semi-compliment making Alice nervously pout, too distracted by her naked back to care about the meaning in her words. Scrub, scrub, the up and down of the towel on Mordred's derriere was somehow relaxing, and the knight caught herself sighing and whistling in relief, as if a massive weight was taken off from her shoulders. However. "Hey, do it harder. The smudge won't go away if you keep with that lazy pace. Also, spread it more all over my back..."
"R-Right." Alice nodded, now reaching his his hands and arms beyond that small spot on her back, around her shoulder blades and running down her spine, being careful to not go too south and probably lose a tooth or two. Even through the towel, he could feel her skin was smooth and soft too, like silk. Oh no, his body starts to react a little to the situation, he must keep his mind busy before it was too late. "S-So... Uh... Sir Mordred... Well, how did you meet Lacchan, after all? Did she find you, or you became her knight by your own will or...?"
"Small-talk from a smallfry, eh? Can't say I dislike it, though." She chuckles, giving him a daring stare back from the corner of her eyes, and for that, Alice turned his gaze away, only returning when she looked forward back. "Well, it all started with some family affair, y'know? I dunno if you ever heard about them since they're a pretty small family, but I belong to a humble little house known as the Pendragon. Bet you never heard of them, huh?"
"No, first time hearing about them." Alice sincerely answered, and for that, Mordred gasped quite rudely, coughing a rough and dry one in shock. "Ah! But don't underestimate yourself, Sir Mordred! Even if they're a small House, I know some pretty formidable knights hailed from them! Maybe one day they'll have the recognition they deserve!"
"..."
"..."
"I... Wha... Ah... H-How... Uh... A-Ah..."
"...?"
"*SIGH!* Whatever." Mordred sighed, defeated.
Quick reminder that Alice Gremory is an idiot.
"But, anyway..." The blond knight continued, brushing her lingering rage away and mentally putting a reminder in her brain to sock the redhead later. "... I have a cousin, y'know. Tall, blond, handsome, wears glasses and suit all the time, deep voice and stuff; the whole deal and package, make girls wet 24/7. He's the son of the Head of the House, and thus were suppose to be the next big cheese. Meanwhile, despite being her cousin, I'm from the secondary branch, thus I hail from the part that serves as one of their knights, alongside other good-natured fellas. Can't complain, though. I got to keep one of their treasured holy swords, Clarent, and get all the respect a badass knight should!"
"Oh, I see." Alice nodded, her scrubbing her back in a slower pace now. So she was just like cousin Sairaorg during his banishment, downgraded to the secondary branch by higher forces. She didn't seem to mind, which means her spirit was as strong as cousin Sairaorg's. Indeed, a formidable knight!
"But then shit happened. That old cousin of mine fell in love with a maid and not wanting her to be kicked out from the House or himself to be engaged to another woman, he fled from home. Her pussy game must've been top-notch for him to do that shit, taking his sister alongside him." Mordred gave Alice a bitter chuckle, lowering her head a little, so much so the Gremory stopped on his tracks on cleaning her back so that she could gather her thoughts once again, resuming once she gave him a sign. "Uncle Uther was cool with it, but not the rest of the knights. After my cousin defected, we split up to try to find him by any means necessary. Long story short, I met chief after a few months of searching and under the promise that she would help me with it, I became her trusty knight. Ever since, I've been her bodyguard and stuff, kicking ass and doing chores. The last I heard about my cousin was... That he joined a certain shady bunch."
"Sorry to hear that." Alice offered some empathy points, and another chuckle came from Mordred.
"Don't be, smallfry. That just means I'll have to kick his pretty-boy ass harder for him to come to his senses. We might be family, but the moment he does something stupid, it is my job to correct him." Mordred offered her own thoughts in the matter. 'Family', 'senses', 'correction', those words ressonated a bit with him, and he felt he not only understood Mordred, but her cousin as well in a way. In the end, he blinks once or twice and stops with his scrubbing.
"Uh, I think I'm done with it, sir Mordred. Feel free to wash yourself from the foam now." Alice announces, and without warning, the knight picks a bucket of water and splashes herself with its content, also wetting him in the process. Some of it fell on his eyes, so he was momentarily blinded, rinsing his eyes so that he could see again. In the meantime, Mordred stood up, walked towards the springs and submerged into them, letting a small sigh of relief escape her lips. Once he is able to see again, Alice lets out a small moan of uncertainess, and turns around to walk away. "Uh... Well, if you excuse me... I should be leaving now..."
"Why the hurry? C'mon, dip in the waters, smallfry. There's enough space for the two of us." But before he leaves, Mordred calls for him, calling his attention to turn to her, where she had a hand in the air, signing for him to come join her. Alice purses his lips a little, again uncertain of which route to take. "It's boring as hell being all alone in this place. Make some company for this old chap, I also need to get used to that face of yours if we're gonna stick together."
"Uh... Well..." Alice's eyes slowly trail elsewhere, but never losing the small tuff of golden locks out of sight. What to do, what to do? He was indeed enjoying the springs before her arrival, and his body was still warm from them, but to bath alongside a girl, a pretty one at that too... There was something wrong it that, wasn't it?! "Hm~... I...!"
"..."
"..."
...
"I-I... I guess I can stay a little more." And the Gremory heir sighed, but decided to be brave for once and help himself with the waters, forming half a circle and walking back into he springs, a towel still covering his nethers, taking some distance away from the blond knight while getting into the springs. She offers some time to get along too, it would be rude to turn it down; plus, Lilith knows what she'll do in case she holds a grudge. Now, the two of them were in the springs, a good meter away from each other. To get rid of any inconvenient thoughts, he splashes some water into his own face. "Haaaaah~..."
"Hahah. You're really funny, smallfry." The knight's laugh echoes through the marble foundations of the open baths, but once it subsides, she lets herself be embraced by the warm waters and relax, her back on the border of the springs and head turned to the skies, small breaths blowing the steam that would emerge from the baths. An awkward stare comes from the redhead, but he soon joined her doing the same, eyes up in the sky, a relieved sigh from his lips. A moment of peace, even with her around, who could've thought? "By the way, how about you? What's your story?"
"Hm...?" Alice opens an eye to peek into her direction, and seeing her in that same position, he draws an interrogation mark. Still enjoying the waters, Mordred resumed.
"Not that I care or anything, but if you have something to get off your chest, you can tell me. You seem pretty close to chief, and I know for a fact that she would scare off someone as putty as you, so what gives?" There was a beat between the two. Alice looks down on his own reflection, a few drops of water and sweat making ripples on the clean surface, to recollect himself, and draws a grimace. "Also, don't bullshit me with those cut wrists. No accident or fight would cut it like that."
"...!" And instinctively the Gremory lad lifted a hand to cover one of his wrists, where closing slice wounds and old scars were showing, only to notice that Mordred wasn't even looking at him, thus making his hiding pointless since she already knew. His lips grow tighter, and despite the current warmth, his hands started to shake. She noticed something like that? As expected from Lacchan's trusty knight. "It's... Nothing important... Just... A punishment."
"Hell does that mean?" Now it was her time to peek a small one at him, her emerald eye looking through the steam and land on the redhead one lifting his arm to take a closer and better look at his cut wrist. Once again he turns to her, and they cross stares. One, two seconds of silence, and he bitterly smiles.
"I guess that's a way for me to compensate my own weaknesses." He sighs, now burying the scars on his wrists into the waters, as if trying to drown such ugly side of him. Mordred hummed in a way to wordlessly say she didn't get that. "To live with my arrogance, to live with my hubris, my failures... Sometimes, it's just so unbearable. My family... Is the greatest there is, my siblings are everything I could ask for. Sometimes I catch myself thinking... 'They already have everything, what difference would I make if I were to be with them or not?'. I try my best, but it's never enough, and to punish myself for that... Sometimes I do this."
"..."
"How unsightly, no? I think so too, this is why I always try to face them, besides punishment, as a reminder that I need to get better, for them." Alice continues, splashing some water onto himself and submerging neck-deep into the springs. He was getting emotional again, eyes stinging with tears ready to run, he needed something to distract his thoughts or else. Calming down, calming down, Alice shakes his head to get rid of the wetness. "Ah, but don't mind me, Sir Mordred. I'm just reminiscing of some bad experiences, think nothing of it. I'm not trying to beg for sympathy or anything. I just... Like to wonder, that's all."
Then, silence.
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"..."
"..."
"BAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH...!"
"...?!" But unexpectively, the silence was broken by Mordred's hysterical laughter, her green eyes wide open and her sharp dentition in full display as playful tears roll from the corner of her orbs much to Alice's confusion. He wasn't hurt, he wasn't offended at all, the Gremory heir was truly confused by her reaction. "S-Sir Mordred...?"
"H-Holy shit! What the hell are you even saying, smallfry?! Hahahahah...! Gosh, I haven't laugh like that for a while! Kahahahah...!" But Mordred's fit of laughs were merciless, she had a finger pointed at him as if to showcase how truly amusing his words were, only driving the young heir into further confusion. "To 'compensate your own weaknesses'?! To 'remind yourself to get better'?! I'd say, truly hysterical, smallfry! You truly jest if those are your real thoughts in matter! Trying to get sympathy from me with such sugarcoated words and idle thoughts?! I can't help but laugh! Hahahahahah...!"
"I'm... Glad that I've brighten your night, sir Mordred." Alice, despite knowing now the mockery sir Mordred was making off him, just nervously smiled, not knowing what to do in that situation. Confusion, realization, then acceptance, those were the steps he took to respond the knight's unkind, expontaneous bellitlement, and truth be told, he was expecting such type of reaction, only not in such magnitude and explosion. Oh well, he leans himself on the border of the springs and tried to relax again despite Mordred's laughter still echoing through them.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...!"
"..."
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Ahahahahahah...!"
"..."
"Hahahahahah...! Ahahahah... Ahah... Hah..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"You truly believe in that shit, huh? To feel unworthy of love and care, to be suffocated by no one expectations but your own; that is your honest cents on that, right? I think I get it." But once her last laugh was done, her tone became... A little lighter, a soft yet firm tone that made Alice turn a peek at her, seeing a rather unusual pout in her face turned to him. She hums something, splashes some of the waters on herself and turns to him once again. "You're one of those guys who think everything in the world is right but yourselves. That all the cogs in this clock called society are moving fine and dandy except you; that every praise is a hidden disdainful comment, hence why you can't accept or turn the cold shoulder to them; and every critique, every punishment, every bad thing that comes your way is justifiable because 'you deserve it' or 'it's just how life/things go', hence why you don't fight back and just wait for people to get bored of trampling you so that you can get up again. I'll keep it real for you, smallfry: that's not how the band plays."
"Huh...?"
"Sure, it's not easy to stand up among the best of the best, and the weight and responsability of being alongside them is truly, really terrifying and tiresome. No one wants to be the 'load' or the 'worst', specially when family is involved, and when you feel you're there, you feel like it's only natural for the world to punish you for that." She winks at him and makes a blasé pose with her hands in the air. "But, of course, that's such a defeatist way of thinking. The world as a whole rarely thinks about you, and so, you suffer unreasonably by thinking otherwise. Pain, grief, those feelings of hollowness and emptiness, that's just your mind doing the mental gymnastics; and if something bad happens, it's just something that happens. If you just focus on your own ideals and actions, regardless of what the others think, you will progress much better, and who knows, your neck won't hurt as much anymore."
"..." And Alice's mouth again draws an uneasy '~' smile, pouting a little while taking a rather rude sniff. She was quite right about his mentality, and apparently she had a deal with those same thoughts in the past. For her to smile and be confident like that now, he feels a bit jealous all things considered. Still, to change like that... It's hard, and not a thing that changes from one day to another. "Sir Mordred might be right... But for a noble devil like me, hailing from such a prestigious clan like the Gremory... I have an image to uphold not just for me, but for my family as well. If I can't do that, I've failed as a heir."
"And what's the point of being a slave to your reputation, living a life for someone else's opinion on you? I thought only japs cared stuff like that, but I guess that shitty mentality can spread like a cancer." She let's a playful scoff rudely slip through her lips, more of a mock than anything else, really. "For me, Sir Mordred, honorary knight of the round table of Camelot Kingdom, is thus: you gotta respect and love yourself first, and whatever comes later is the result of that love. Titles, names, affection, everything under the Sun falling on your lap are just bonuses for love and care. Furthermore, wouldn't recognition and prestige feel more well-earned if you do it wholeheartedly, instead of putting on a mask and cage your self to please people who might not even worth the effort? That's what I think, at least."
"..."
"..."
"As I said, Sir Mordred might be right." Alice repeated, taking a deep and thoughtful breath and letting himself slump on the border of the springs. "But that doesn't mean others are wrong or anything. If you say a lie a thounsand times, doesn't it become true in a way? I just can't ignore others, I just can't. Besides... As a Gremory, I can't be selfish like that either. I just... Love my family too much, and just ignore them to search for self-gratification breaks my heart. If I can't love nor uphold my name, then there is no reason for me to keep on living."
"Bah, 'prestige' this, 'recognition' that, 'family' furthermore; you truly want to continue to be wrong and play the victim of your own melancholy. Fine then, do it your way." Mordred sighs, standing up from the springs and darts arrows at the redhead while doing a pose. "I'm still gonna train you and stuff, that is chief's orders, anyway. But keep it in mind, smallfry: I don't think we can ever get along with that shitty mentality of yours. You wanna play on someone else's hand instead of being genuine? I don't care, but don't think I'll humour this idea at any moment during our spars."
"I... I understand." A deep breath, a whiny pout and an awkward smile, those were steps Alice takes to absorb and cope with complains and scolds, and this time wasn't any different. There he goes again, making people angry at him, and it will only get worse from there, as always. "I'm sorry, sir Mordred."
"You should be, smallfry. Thinking about it already gives me a headache." She sighs as well with a hand covering her face and a rather unlady-like groan. After that, a beat between the two, and for that, Alice slumps back into his melancholy, eyes closed and just trying to enjoy the springs as he can despite the heavy aura between the two. "Also, stop saying 'sorry' all the damn time, it gets annoying fast."
"I'm sorr-..."
"MOTHERFUC-...!" And Mordred lifts a hand and prepares a punch, but once Alice recoils to tank the hit, a small 'tch' escapes her lifts and she dips back into the waters, a scowl decorating her face. She has all the time in the world to beat the shit out of him anyway, better save some of that energy during their training. "Whatever..."
"Hm..." And that was all Alice could muster as he returns to his position. Indeed, it was going to be a long and arduous training session with the knight, if she doesn't kill him midway. At least he knows she won't sugarcoat anything regarding it, and that would help a little. Just a little...
The path of a true heir was indeed rocky.
"You wanna continue to think that? Fine then, so I guess I just need to make you spunkier."
"Huh...?" And Alice opens an eye to peek back to reality, and turning to her direction, he saw Mordred now slowly crawl to him, using the waters to jump herself next to him and sit right next to him. Once she was close enough to make him flinch a bit and be face-to-face with him, a catty grin grows on her. "H-Hm... Sir Mordred...?"
"Y'know smallfry, you piss me off, like a lot. But~, if we gonna stick together, maybe besides swordsmanship, I can help ya with that wimpy side of yours too. For guys like you, a little spunk goes a long way." She approaches him even more and slides an arm around him to the other shoulder, pulling him closer to the point now they were touching skin. Alice gulps a lump of air feeling her soft and warm skin so close, even closer than before. Despite that, she continues to laugh and points her thumb onto her chest. "Let this bro here help you in that. Chaps like us need to help each other as we can. Besides, if I don't something about that side of yours, I might end up killing you out of rage. No offense."
"None... None taken." He murmurs, his eyes rolling to the opposite direction from her and feeling a side from his lip curving upwards in a nervous half-smile. Huh, maybe they did have some sinergy regarding thought, or she knew how her temperament works and how training him would result in the worst/typical outcome. "Well... If that makes Sir Mordred's job in training me easier, I will accept it. I'll... I'll try to be spunkier..."
"Good to hear that." She smiles with a nod.
She looked quite confident about making him 'spunkier', which made him both hopeful and hesitant, if just a little. He doesn't want her to grow mad or dissapointed at him, making Alice silently vow to try his best in this training, but at the same time, knowing his repetoire, failure was the most likely outcome, and all of that would simply make her madder at the heir. This mentality could change by getting 'spunkier', but at the same time, it was an uncertainness that made him wary, like a vice around his spirit that chained him back to the ground. To train his spirit that has been battered and sulk for so long, how would she do it? He was indeed very curious, but nonetheless, willing to do anything, anything, to reach his objectives...
"Okay, let's have sex then."
"..."
"..."
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...
"What...?"
"I know it might be coincidence, but guys do get a lot spunkier and confident after sleeping with a chick, right? Might be the hormones and testosterone going overdrive after the deed or something, might be an unspoken rite of passage between you lot, I dunno. But bottom line is: I feel the fastest and easiest way to make you ditch that stupid mentality is for you to have sex!" And as if she didn't just drop a metaphorical bomb onto his lap, Mordred ranted without losing momentum, lifting her hands and gesturing her middle finger from one hand going in and out a circle made by her index finger and thumb from her other. "And so, I'll allow you to insert your penis into my vagina and grind my insides until you ejaculate into my womb in the act known as 'sex'! Perfect plan, no errors!"
"W-Wait, sir Mordred. J-Just give me a second, just a second..." And Alice couldn't take it much longer, he hides his face behind a hand mask and turns away from her in order to collect his thoughts. Sleep, have sex, with a maiden such as her, for such a reason? It was a flimsy one at best, but at the same time... Even if the results were null, he still wants it.
He was a devil after all: the idea of sex and the likes were not alien to him, at all. Contrary to the usual morose, depressed aura might give off, Alice Gremory knew what sex was and the intricacies regarding it; either as a recreation exercise between two people, procreation or just an informal rite of passage. After all, once or twice one of his father's belles would visit the Gremory manor and give him some candy, and once he reached puberty he couldn't wait to build his own harem like his father's and other devil nobles, soon that idea being clouded by his melancholy and depression, but still a lingering thought on the back of his head despite his usual self retorting that no woman would want to lay with his pathetic, useless self regardless of status.
Puberty and his peaking adolescence combined with frustration and stress typical for his age, and you have a torn Alice Gremory, his libido and reason pulling his brain left and right as if trying to rip it apart from the middle. That scenario... It wasn't as romantic as he envisioned his first time to be, not at all. But at the same time, why turn down such opportunity, with a beautiful and charming, if not a bit too aggressive, lass of all things? So many thoughts racing through his mind right now...
"What? Don't tell me you're a fag or something? Nothing against it, sure." She reasurres him with a shrug, trying her hardest not to say further so that she wouldn't step on a landmine. She was a lot of things, but intolerant wasn't one of these, she's a knight after all.
"That's not it, sir Mordred. Is just... Uh... I haven't even kissed a girl outside of my family. I... Don't know how to react to that or even how I should feel about it." He admits, a finger scratching his cheek sheepishly. To be a devil at that age and still be a virgin, was a bottomless pit of disappointment he was, truly. In response, a rude scoff escapes Mordred's lips, a mocking smile there as well.
"Pfff~, really? Man, you're as pathetic as they come. Not even a smooch on the cheek or anything?" She continues to mock him, and Alice little by little sinks lower into the waters and blows some bubbles in it, not air by the way, but shame and embarrassement, while shaking his head negatively. "I guess even devils have their fair share of soyboys and the likes. We really will have to build that spirit of yours from the ground up, eh? What a training session this one will be..."
"Sorry~..." Alice whined again, his eyes trembling and fighting back tears of shame and despite being out of sigh now, he was pouting behind the bubbles. A small check back to Mordred."How about sir Mordred? Have you... Had sex already?"
"..."
"...?"
"O-Of course I did! I'm not a loser like you, and being a knight is hella easy to score a few times! Like, I had tons of sex already. Hahahah!" And the knight simply dismissed his question with a laugh and hands in the air, the warmth of the springs plus the steam hiding the fact his question made her cold-sweat and blush a bit. Not even an idiot like him would fall for that, by the way. She splashed some water on him. "Look chap, I'm trying to be nice here and start your training with the right foot. Bonding with someone you'll spend a lot of time with is also healthy, spartans and samurai used to do that all the time! Besides, even if that doesn't work, popping your cherry would feel nice regardless, right?"
"T-That's not the case, Sor Mordred! It's not like I don't want to lose my virginity or anything, but like that...!"
"Ah, shut up!" And the last thing Alice saw coming his way was a pink towel before everything going blurry and dark, the piece of cloth obscuring his sight until he was able to take it off, and the moment he did, Mordred has already sat on his lap, legs caging his own and chest getting too close to his. So close, he could take a better look at her, to her fair and glittering body, full with scars, her bright green eyes, the silvery-blond long hair that was undone, and defined yet slender body. Her nipples were also very pink, and she wasn't as petite as her usually suit would hide. One snap back, Alice turns back to the knight, who opens a mischiveous smile. "How do they call it? 'friendship of the thighs', eh? Let this bro over here help you with it! And if you don't get better and I end killing you out of frustration, at least you can say you didn't die a virgin. Sweet deal, no? So, what do you say, Alice?"
"..."
"..."
...
"I... I rather not..."
"..."
"...?"
"Fine then. I guess some people are just too romantic for this kind of stuff." And Mordred coughs a mischiveous cloud out of her mouth, relieved that one of the outcomes she foresaw wasn't too far-off. Of course he would say such: his spirit is weak, and even with some determination, not matter how free the offer is, he will undoubtably refuse that because, alas, he feels he doesn't deserve it or some shit. Oh well, if bullying him to fight back didn't work, nor offering something quite delectable, she can always beat the shitty mentality out of him with a sword and hope he doesn't die on the first spar. She gives a few affectionate slaps on his cheek and stands up from his lap, picking her own towel to dry herself. "Well, your loss, smallfry. As a knight, I think I get that romantic mentality of yours, or maybe its that shitty behaviour of yours speaking louder, but I'm fine with it, if not a bit, just a bit, hurt. I'll go and hit the sack, and you better do so too, I'm gonna wring you the other way tomorrow."
"Uh... I mean... Not here."
"Come again, smallfry?" But before she could even step out of the springs, his words caught her and made her stop. Come again? She turns a gaze towards him with her jaw slightly dropped, and after a second or two, he turns to her, a blush covering his whole face and a finger scratching his cheek.
"Not... Here, I mean." He hiccups, practically coughing his words, as she can see he was trying his hardest to say something. "I rather... Not do it... Here. We might... Get the springs dirty... And Lacchan will get mad. So, uh... Not here. Maybe... Somewhere we don't get into trouble?"
"..."
"...?"
...
"Good idea, chief would hate it if we were to get this place dirty." Mordred blinks and nods, realization soon hitting her like an arrow to the knee, and sharing those words, a smile spread on her lips, friendly punching Alice on the arm for the quick-thinking. "Okay then, how about my room? I never make my bed anyway, so nobody will bother to check it."
"If... You don't have any problems with me in it..."
"As if! If I'm inviting you, it means you can come and go, and I'm not talking just about the room!" She punches him once again, and proud and satisfied, the knight takes her way to the exit of the springs while whistling absentmindedly, leaving a blushing Alice behind. "See you later, smallfry! Also, don't be late; it's rude to keep a lady waiting!"
"H-Hm...!" And Alice only nods to her words, splashing some water onto himself in a sign, at least for her, that he was mentally preparing himself for the night.
He might not know, but she must prepare herself for it as well. Maybe she wasn't as spunky as she thought after that...
There are few things more relaxing than a good read after a day's worth of work. At least is what Latia Astaroth thinks, anyway...
Her slender fingers running across the pages, her gaze devouring word after word, her stance was elegant and stoic, yet her mind runs wild with beautiful landscapes, retellings of epic events and individuals she could consider her closest acquaintances despite never meeting them face-to-face. A good read before bed always calms her spirit no matter how taxing her day would be, and being a heiress from one of the 72 Pillairs, some were more than others, even now that she has her 'childhood friend' and fellow devil heir by his side, Alice Gremory.
Despite the literal dimensions between them, he heard from her dear uncle Ajuka Beelzebub, one of the strongest devils alive, that his best friend Sirzechs has gone completely hysterical ever since Alice's little rebellious streak, and from time to time summons the Beelzebub satan to see if he has heard about the Gremory heir or any clues to his whereabouts, sometimes not even a hour of difference between one call to another. Not just him, his entire family seemed to have gone on a searching spree for Alice, but Sirzechs was the one more affected, every minute without his beloved little brother Akkun driving him further and further into depression. Sure, he had an image to uphold, specially considering the upcoming summit between the three factions, but Ajuka being the one only he could vent his despair and melancholies on had exclusive view for the Lucifer's more pitiful side. One could call it tragecomedic, even, for the sheer desperation in Sirzechs...
Despite the news, Latia remained silence about the Gremory in her territory. She had her own thoughts and opinions in the matter, sure, but considering how adamant Akkun was about not returning to the Gremory state, she rather simply feign ignorance and have the Gremory heir train and improve in her vicinity for the time being. She'd be lying if she said she didn't see the romance behind Akkun's actions and objectives, as foolish as they were as well, and if she were to reveal his location to his despairing family now and ruin his journey, no only she puts her entire 'friendship' with him into jeopardy, such careless moves could sink him deeper into depression, as in his own words, 'He wouldn't have the courage to face them with no results after that stunt'. Foolish indeed, but not less romantic...
Hence why she instead offers some guidance, help and company during his stay at her manor. If she couldn't convince him to withdraw from his typical rebellious phase, she can at least offer a helping hand and speed up the process so that everyone can be satisfied as soon as possible in the end. They were 'childhood friends', after all, if he's in a pinch, it is only natural for her to assist as she can instead of belittling or judgding him. Mordred was in for the ride as well, her vocal disagreement nowithstanding, the heiress happy for her begruging cooperation. Perhaps Akkun can find himself a friend in her, and her in him as well, although by their brief interactions, it might take longer than she anticipated...
*DON! DON! DON!*
"Hm~...?" The heiress of the Astaroth was about to turn a page when she heard a dull, dry knocking sound coming from a place nearby. What was that about? It was during a moment of distraction between one paragraph to another, but now that she pays attention, that unfamiliar sound was ceaseless and repetitive, breaking some of her concentration. A moment of thought, and she concluded that was coming from Mordred's room. "Is she training at this hour again? But I told her to not do that before she breaks another closet. Honestly..."
And closing her book, the Astaroth heiress decided to investigate the mysterious sound coming from not very far. It was the middle of the night, and that might bother the other servants of the mansion, despite the fact that they would hardly complain anything to her. A small fireball to iluminate the place, Latia followed the dull sound of those knocks through the empty corridors, the small mystical flame being the only thing brighten the otherwise dark pathway.
Her barefeet produce no sounds as she walks, making the knocking resonates louder and clearer as she approaches a certain someone's room, her dear knight's, which carelessly had a small opening on the doorframe, strange sounds besides the firsts coming from it as well and drawing a small line of light from it. Mordred probably entered the room in her usual sloppy way and didn't notice it open before doing whatever Lilith knows inside. Latia was a bit curious, yes, but she decided not to call for her Evil Piece, instead reaching for the knob to silently close the door and return to her reading, her knight should do what she she wants without being disturbed. But in a careless step, one of her eyes peeked inside the room, and from it...
"Haaaaah~❤...! H-Hm...! Hmm~❤...! H-Harder~❤... Faster~❤... Make me your bitch, Alice~❤...!"
"Sir Mordred... Sir Mordred...!"
Oh my, doesn't that look like a scenario of an erotic novel? From the small opening to Mordred's door, Latia Astaroth saw inside her dear 'childhood friend' Alice Gremory and her trusted knight Mordred Pendragon entwined on each other in the act of copulation.
Adjusting herself so that she could have a better few while a hand covers her agape mouth, the heiress witness Mordred's face buried on her pillows, trying their hardest to contain her screams and moans, as her lifted derriere was being held by Alice by the hips, indecent noises of flesh meeting flesh echoed in the dimly-lit room and salacious fluids damp the covers. Oh, and the knocking sound from before? It comes from the clash between Mordred's bed and the wall, now being so close that Latia can also hear the creaks on the bed frame and muffled screams. They seem to be enjoying themselves.
*CREAK! CREAK! CREAK!*
"❤~...! ❤~...!"
*BAM! BAM! BAM!*
"H-Huuuuh~❤...! Haaaaah~❤...! H-Haaah~❤...!"
*SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!*
"Hmmmmmmmph~❤...!" And Mordred couldn't help but to hold her pillow for dear life as her insides were pounded from behind, the ceaseless poking on her womb making her reach cloud nine. Such a lewd pose, face buried on the bed as her knees support and hold her lower half, which were being held in place and clashing against Alice's own, it would be her biggest shame in life to be in that position if it wasn't for the fact that it felt so fucking good. After so many thrusts, her orgasm comes as her lips leak once again, staining the sheets with darken and red spots, yet her partner wouldn't stop at nothing although she could feel his pulsating organ reaching its limit. He was also desperate in some way.
"S-Sir Mordred...! I'm coming... I'm coming again...!" And this final warning came a bit too late as Alice held Mordred's waist as tight and closer as he could and from within, filling the epicentre of her womanhood with his seed. Her toes twitch, her fingers curl into fists and she had to bite the pillow so that no indecent noises could escape her teeth. She can feel it, she can feel his warm, thick orgasm plowing into her flower, each throb, each shot making her quiver and cough moans, until it started to overflow through her cannals and slip through the gaps of her lips. In the end, as he finishes, the blonde knight finally let go of the sheets to breathe, small gasps, tears and sweat down her face, her little tongue sticking out. One two seconds twitching in pure ecstasy, and she collapsed, a satisfied moan doing so, and a small rude final spams from her lower lips, leaking semen and love juices...
"H-Holy shit, smallfry... That was... That was quite rude, even for you... Heheh, what if I get pregnant?" Mordred laughs between gasps for air, turning around and supporting her upper half with her hands, seeing the load Alice poured into her spilling from her most sacred parts. Alice flinches a little to her comment.
"A-Ah~. Don't say careless things like that, Sir Mordred." He whines, and her response is a laugh. The changes of her getting pregnant, even as a former human-turned-devil, were very, very slim, yet careless comments like that were enough to put the poor Gremory heir on the edge, a bastard would case quite a ruckus.
"Hahah! Jay-kay, jay-kay. C'mon, don't be like that after screwing me seven days 'til sunday." Another chuckle from the knight, this time no weight onto her words, although one careless laugh made her flinch with a shock in between her legs. Maybe her body wasn't still used in being deflowered. She disguises her discomfort with another awkward laugh, a finger on her lips. "Let me help ya with that shyness. Here, give me a kiss, a wet and long one~."
"..." And Alice purses his own a little, his green orbs tilting to a side much to Mordred's surprise and curiosity. "H-Hmm~... I-I mean... Kisses are... For the person yo love only..."
"..."
"..."
*TUG!*
"Ugh...!"
"Now who's being careless? So are you calling me a basic whore? I'm hurt, y'know." And Mordred chuckles once again, her slender legs reaching for Alice's midsection and tenderly hugging and pulling him closer, his crotch rubbing onto hers and being on the same level for a staring contest. Now locking him between her thighs, she was close enough to bite his cheek in mischief. "I'm giving you a full-course and there you go spitting on the plate. Just enjoy yourself a little bit more, why don't you?"
"... Sorry."
"Say 'sorry' one more time, and I'll seriously hurt you." She warns, but mellows out a bit, now using her arms to pull him even closer to lock lips with him in a tender kiss.
Shy as always, even on the heat of the deed; Mordred had to slith her tongue to deepen their small moment, sucking and biting his own appendance so that he could get on the mood. It worked, she feels his hot manly rod rubbing onto her stomach, and without warning, slide inside her once again, making her moan into his mouth. Maybe he was getting bolder? Mordred tighten the grip of her legs around his waist and pulled his head closer so that he couldn't escape and she wouldn't lose control and let her own moans slip.
However, as he picked pace and speed, her hold onto him became wilder and possessive. The leglock became a vicious grip, her feet gripping on the base of his spine and using their obscene strength to force him hit her deeper and harder, his scrawny frame being no match for her typical knightly strength. The hold onto his head also became like trap, her hands now holding he by the sides of his head and gripping deeper into his red locks, as if she's trying to crave her fingers into his smooth. The duo was now linked by the croutch and mouth, their lower halves clashing and producing lasvicious sounds, while their intense liplocking were accompanied by rude and coarse sniffs, not wasting a moment to breathe and only trying to go on with the kiss and blow hot air into each other's mouth. For an outsider such as Latia, they seemed to want to merge into a single entity.
Eventually, among muffled screams and spurting noises, the clashing of flesh ceased and a breathless 'Uwaaah~' was heard as the two parted lips, their mouths sore and smeared in saliva, yet still linked by their lower parts, Mordred's flower overflowing once again and brimming a white solution between the gaps between their intimacies. Despite the merciless thrusts and her womanhood dripping in blood and seed, Mordred smiled daring while holding Alice's face to take a good look at his breathless, tired expression...
"H-How was it, smallfry? Feeling lucky now?" Her voice was a bit trembling and hesitant, but her bold façade remained anyway. No response, so she forced her thumbs into his mouth, taking a good look into his insides as mischief. Also, she felt like he was going to say something stupid, so the only way she knew to avoid that was to simply stop him from talking. "Wanna take five? You can suck on my tits during it, and when you're really done, I'll gonna lull ya to sleep, I will even pat your head if you wanna. How about it?"
"H-Hm..." Still being held by her, Alice simply nodded and lightly bit her fingers into his mouth. His face became as bright red as his hair, yet the heir couldn't simply turn her down, it just feels really good. Satisfied, the knight said nothing, only slid him lower onto her bosom so that he could play with them, his mouth soon finding its way into one of her nipples to bite and suck the glittering and salty flesh, Mordred biting her lips to suppress another moan, another orgasm coming by having her breasts played with. Maybe he was indeed becoming a bit bolder.
So entwined into each other, they didn't notice the door leading to Mordred's room finally closing properly. Now completely covered in shadows, Latia Astaroth turned around and let her soundless steps take her back to her room. It was too dark to notice, but a small smile was plastered on her usually stoic face, a satisfied one at that. Maybe she was worrying over nothing, they could get along just fine if they tried even through... Unusual 'methods', so one problem less to worry about, plus the fact that Mordred won't kill Alice during their spars, probably.
By the following sounds and moaning however, they could at least cast a muting spell on their room to avoid bothering the other servants and herself. It woulddistract het too much in her reading...
Mordred's room would brim with a faint pink aura and a dense steamy aroma for the following hours into the night after the door had been closed...
What are your thoughts?
An actionless chapter if you will, although with a different type of action, heheh. We learn more about his swordsmaster, building up some relationship and finally some moment alone so that they could have a change to... Bond. Must be because she's welsh. My first time writing smut, btw, hope it worked, but I guess for what it is to show, it could've worked just as fine.
The heir of Gremory still has a long way to go, of course, and not because he got some trim that he'll change from one day to another, but... Everything needs a start I guess, and Mordred being his bud should help fix that. We can only hope from here on out. I hope you liked this chapter regardless and thank you for your time. Don't forget to R&R, stay safe and until next time.
Hellhound out.