Chapter 16

Okay, Stan, just act like normal, so that no one gets suspicious of us, Kyle requested of his best friend.

Whatever you say... Stan found it hard to listen, Although I can't really hold it back...

Man... Kyle whistled as he and Stan sat down to watch people play DDR, You know, since we're in love with each other, than makes you-

We're boyfriends, now, Stan swished his tail and moved his ears playfully, as if he were a 3-week-old kitten.

Hah! Now we can say we're not single anymore!

But if anyone asks-

Just admit it. If they're a homophobe, then that's their own problem.

You're right, I suppose.

You suppose?

I don't know, though... Somehow, I can see why a lot of gay males find it hard to come out of the closet with who they are, and it's all because people can't accept it so easily. Beorc are so rude and misunderstanding, aren't they, Kyle?

They are. Creatures with extremely short life spans... though I suppose there are exceptions. Speaking of a "rude and misunderstanding beorc", where's Cartman? Did you not invite him to your party?

Of course not, Stan sipped some piña colada, He's a total sack of lard.

I agree wholeheartedly. Though I am somewhat scared that he'll use his fire magic on you when he sees you again. You know, those who have beast laguz blood, such as ourselves, are very vulnerable to fire, so we should be careful.

But doesn't our heron blood protect us?

Me, maybe, since I'm half heron. But since only about 1/4000th of you is actually heron, then that merits some concern.

But I'm the apostle! Doesn't that count for something?

Even so, the fact that you are 75% cat laguz should tell you to stay away from Cartman's fire magic. It's dangerous, and I... I don't know what I would do if I lost you.

Okay. Besides, I have the great prince of Serenes and Hatari to protect me! Stan slapped Kyle on the back as someone just got an "A" on the song Angelus by Hitomi Shimatani.

Hey, I just realized something, Kyle's ears stood up, You know how I can see into the past?

Yeah?

You saved me from being feral that one time, right?

It... it was tough to revert you, yes. The song... the song I used to free Yune from your body... I asked Mom about it later, and she said it was the galdr of release, a song that only an apostle of Altina can sing. And that would be me. So be damned lucky I pulled out the lyrics from the top of my head, dude!

I am, I am, I am indeed. If you didn't release Yune, then I wouldn't be here, now would I?

Crap!

What is it, Stan?

It's already 12:00 a.m. Mom says she wants the party done by then. And there are still a ton of people here. Stan got up, shouting to everyone, "Sorry, people, but it's 12:00 and my mom says she wants the party to end at 12:00 a.m. So please, take your final food selections and leave now."

The whole crowd wailed in unison, as Stan had expected, even without either goddess' voice.

"I'm really sorry, but Mom and Dad will get me in trouble if something bad happens while they're gone, and I want to act responsible," Stan attempted to explain, "I know it sounds babyish, but... please. Have a good night!"

Even though they did so reluctantly, the gigantic crowd of teenagers complied and left the house. All, that is, except for Stan and Kyle.

"So, that takes care of things..." Kyle said.

"Yeah..." Stan plopped himself on the couch nearest him, "Beorc teenagers can be so... tiring."

"Well, you're part beorc," Kyle giggled, sitting right next to Kyle, "So, like you're the one to talk."

"S-Shut up!" Stan's tail was stick-straight, "Only about 10%, doofus!!"

"Tee-hee..." Kyle grabbed the young apostle by the cheeks, treating him somewhat like a child, "10% is 10% is 10%, silly. Calm down... Say, Stan?"

"Yes?" Stan set his tail back down.

"May I stay over here tonight?"

"If you're think about seducing me, stop it. My parents would get into a fury."

"But this is the opportune moment to do it! They're not even here."

"Please... Honestly, I'm not emotionally ready for that, or in any way, for that matter. Still, you can sleep in my bed, so long as you promise not to try anything too funky on me."

"Okay..." Kyle's ears stayed low as he and Stan made their way for Stan's room, "Sigh... And I had such a menu of things to do to you, too..."

"You had better empty that dirty mind of yours, Kyle!" Stan briefly morphed into a winged cat, gave Kyle a small scratch on the cheek, and became humanoid again, "Remember, you promised..."

"Okay, okay, sheesh!" Kyle reassured as he and Stan went in the room, "Your parents would know for sure, I know, I know, I know. Stupid beorc."

"I'm not a beorc!" Stan growled, "I'm Branded!"

"Whatever," Kyle took off his socks, shoes, and hat, laying down on Stan's bed, "Come over here, Stan!"

"Tch... okay," Stan doffed his own socks, shoes, and hat, laying right next to Kyle, "Hey! Get off me!"

"But you didn't say we couldn't snuggle, right?" Kyle looked at his boyfriend endearingly, swishing his bushy tail and twitching his ears.

"Oh, fine..." Stan consented.

"Yay!!" Kyle cheered, falling right asleep.

"Kyle, you awake?" Stan poked Kyle to establish a level of consciousness, "Man, you fall asleep as fast as I do."

This was so true.

Wow, Kyle looks pretty sexy when he sleeps, Stan felt a red color come on his face, Especially up close. Man, am I lucky to have a boyfriend like him... I wonder if I should...

The Branded boy could not help but move himself close to the Jewish kid. Both boys were in a perfect position to do this, and Stan was so close to Kyle that he felt the wolf prince's toasty breath on his ears.

Wow... Stan's face could redden no further, Kyle... he's so... warm... Boy... I'm so close now that I can hear his heart as it beats slowly... I find this rather ironic, since my own heart is racing so fast...

And Stan was not lying. While he felt Kyle breathing on him, the Jew boy's heartbeat was so faint and so slow that it seemed like he was about to die.

"Ugh..." Kyle rolled around a little, unexpectedly embracing Stan with both arms.

"Kyle!!" Stan scolded, Great... Well, at least, I know that we can't lose each other tonight... Dammit, now my heart is beating even faster, thanks to this guy... So fast, that I think... I think...

Stan couldn't have possibly helped himself when he looked at Kyle's comely sleeping face, raising his own just enough to touch his lips to those of the other boy.

His lips taste as delicious and lukewarm as his breath... Stan thought as his mouth lingered on Kyle's for a rather long time. He closed his eyes, still feeling the ecstasy of how wonderful Kyle's lips tasted.

"Wha?" Kyle's consciousness came back, much to Stan's surprise, Stan!! What are you-

"Huh?" Stan opened his eyes again, "Kyle! Hah, so you're awake after all..."

"I was actually asleep the whole time you were kissing me," Kyle grinned, "But you know me. Being half heron, I can sense some things that you cannot."

"But...!" Stan attempted to explain, "I'm the Apostle of Begnion, the voice of Ashera and Yune! You... And you're not!!"

"Makes no damned difference," Kyle patted Stan on the head, putting his other hand over Stan's heart, "Well, maybe a little... Hey, are you okay? Your heart's about to explode... again."

"Well... I... um..." Stan tried to look for an answer, "Well, I can't help it if you embrace me and look so sexy when you sleep!"

"???" Kyle looked perplexed and content at the same time, "You really... do love me."

"Well, of course I do!" Stan forced himself and Kyle back down, "I love you, Kyle. Not only as a friend, but as a lover, also."

"If it's me embracing you that you want, Stan..." Kyle reached his arms out, "Then... Let me embrace you all night, and let your heartbeat race to unspeakable speeds."

"Yes..." Stan agreed, holding Kyle so close that he felt their hearts touch, "Enfolding like this all night, and always... That is how I want our love to be."