A/N: Dayum, been a while, don't ya agree? Sorry, I was kinda wrapped up in school and just moved! :D Except, something is wrong with my mom and causing me stress, thus it's hard to write or have time. Plus, my connection was down for a few days, which made it even harder. Sigh, glad it's over now. Enjoy~!
Summary: What are the odds of a noble swordsman with a self-absorbed egoism to be swayed by such a frail boy in the cold streets of Airyglyph? .:Albel/Fayt:.
Extra Notes: Nothing much really, well, 'thoughts' are gonna be written in italics. Doesn't make much sense or speedy? Yeah . . . I'm just going along with the flow of 'cause my brain is dead, but still typing at the same time. Foreshadowing here...THIS IS GONNA REMAIN T. As in the rating, don't assume I'm changing the rating, 'cause, well...you'll see. 8D Oh, and Fayt's character in this chapter is UNPREDICATBLE to the point where you might drool. Chyeah. XD
Dedication: Maiyoko Iwagashi, seriously! Go on and read her fics. Do it, do it, doooo it~!
Disclaimer: Pfft, pfft, pfft. You thought I owned? Pshaw, I WISH. Well, not really. I might just make the game corrupted. Ahem. . .—cough, cough—BOYS LOVE~!—cough, cough—XD
Song of choice/Playlist: I have two in store for each chapter, one 'instrumental', and one that is 'normal'. Go ahead; you're free to choose which one~ Just in case you have different preferences! Artist first, song next. Got it? Good.
~.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.~
Groove Coverage - Poison
SecretGarden - Silent Wings
~.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.~

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Serendipity

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Troubling

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'I'm going to—no, I should KILL him.'

Albel's finger traced around the table for an item, it was fleshy and squishy, the swordsman plopped a blueberry on Fayt's lip, making the younger one stop midway in bewilderment. Before Fayt even had the chance to suck and swallow, a fist came crashing down on his skull, all his emerald eyes can catch was Albel gritting his teeth wrathfully with a speckle of pink-infused-red flushness. The impact on his noggin made everything look like there was double, until his eyesight finally reverted back normal and Fayt rubbed his noggin gently from the aching bump created on his head, "What the hell! Can't you take a joke? Geez!"

In the very cornerstones of Albel's mind, there was a certainty he would just unleash his fury with his katana, or rip out Fayt's tongue with his gauntlet. Restraining himself, he kept his katana secured around his waist, "Whatever toxin is in that drink surely drove you to unthinking stupidity. Come before I willingly slit your throat."

Slamming down the Fol on the table, the pair exits the little shop, the warm atmosphere of cinnamon apple spices vanished when said setting changed to the cold snow sinking through the fibers of Albel's footwear. The double-colored haired man never looked back to see if Fayt was following him, yet the swordsman felt no presence behind him. With an aggravated growl, Albel cocked his head to the side, scarlet orbs looking around the surrounding area. Sighing in exasperation, he took notice that the blue haired teen resting soundly on the snow, more or so, appears like just a dead body in the flurry.

"Hope he gets hypothermia."

Albel got a good grip on the ragged clothing of Fayt, dragging him over to the soldiers who looked at him oddly when entering the gate of the castle, Albel ignored all who asked if he needed assistance. Upon entering his room and closing the door shut, the swordsman released all his dragging efforts and gave a sinister chuckle when Fayt's head just impacted on the floor without warning. Albel kneeled beside, one metal claw of his gauntlet traced around the teen's hair to his throat, "Rest while you can, for I shall soon show you Hell."

Albel grabbed an apple from his fruit bowl, gazing down at the shine on the red skin, his teeth munched down, licking the small juices around his mouth, "Wretched being, let this be your punishment for curiosity."

"I want to taste you."

Albel automatically shuddered; the swordsman didn't even notice his apple fall to the floor from the sudden memory not too long ago. It sent a shiver down his spinal column, and so he took a seat on the corner of his bed, one hand covering half his face, "…Why in Apris' name did I remember that?"

Nodding off the feeling, Albel departed the room and back to the main chamber where Woltar eagerly awaited the good news. To his relief, Vox wasn't still not back.

All the while, Fayt eyes formed into slits, a huge smirk plastered on his face. A smear of blood dropped from his lip, his thumb quickly wiped it away. His emerald orbs were fixed on the bloody thumb, licking it with the smirk still there, "Going to show me Hell? I wonder how he's going to go about that with me on his mind." Clutching the apple left half bitten on the floor, Fayt crunched a piece on the other side, "Cheers to my little victory!"

Back on the scene with Albel, he was actually forced to eat a meal without fruits ever since Woltar would never stop his whole worrying spree. Yet, the red-eyed man looked down at his food, waiting as if it were going to grow legs and move. Woltar shook his head in annoyance, "Word spreads fast around the castle. Is it true you manage to get the child?"

Albel began poking the meatloaf with the fork, "Why doubt me? Of course I did."

"Oh? With what methods?"

If the swordsman were drinking any sort of liquid, he would just spew it out.

"That is—not of your concern, old coot."

Woltar laughed, and then he exits the room.

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Practically disgusted with the meal, he only ate one-fourth of it, this time; Albel was engrossed polishing his katana. Wandering back into his room, there was something weird when his door was slightly open. Furrowing his eyebrows, he peeked inside and notices the apple rested on the table instead of the floor, dangerously closing to fall from the ledge. The color of the flesh was an ugly yellow color, rocking back and fourth until it finally hit the base.

Albel advert his eyes back to the entrance, asking a fellow maid busily carrying a tray of tea and its pots.

"Oh, that boy? He went off saying 'He'll find me', and just ran off out of the castle…"

Albel's eyes twitched to how dim-witted the maid is to just leave Fayt to set out when he had nuisance just dragging the immobile body to the castle. Now he has to go off, scampering this cold town for one simple rebelling teen? 'I should have just killed him when I had the chance.'

There was always a possibility to just forget about Fayt and just gather better soldiers, but the nagging part of his head told him otherwise. Rather that, it would just a soon-to-be-expected lackluster talk and lecture why he just let Fayt depart, complements from Woltar. Growling, Albel shoved the maid to the floor, too enraged enough to be concerned even if glass items fell and scattered the flooring.

And so, Albel never was aware how time-consuming he searched.
It might have been better to just ask.
Or even order one of the soldiers to look around the area.

"You are so stubborn, you know that?"

The shock made Albel jolt forward, hitting one of the metal poles in the process. 'That was very unlike me…'

What's worse, Fayt was laughing from the ledge of a house, sitting perfectly still while his legs swished back and fourth. "Are you alright?" Fayt manage to choke out those several words from the glee of laughter that made his stomach hurt.

An aggravated swords wielder treacherously drew out his katana, "Return to the castle."

"Let me think about it…" The bright green eyed placed a finger under his chin, tilting it slightly as he pretended to think hard, "Oh, right! No." Dropping down his hand back to his side, Fayt lifted his legs up as Albel attempted to cut off them off.

"Worm! I will not repeat myself! Come down here before the pierce those eyes of yours."

"Hmm? All talk--" Fayt sprang across, latching onto a close metal pole, swinging himself to another close ledge thick enough to be able withstand the impact, "--no bite."

Albel growled.

"You know what I want. Do it and I'll accept going to the castle." said Fayt, smiling genuinely as ever.

When the swordsman was going to question, the newfound smug smile on Fayt's face reminded him of what happened in the shop.

Albel: "You said that was joke!"

A moment passed with silence…

Fayt pointed his index finger to his face, "I'm serious here."

The scarlet eyed took the idea to contemplation, it seemed to be the only potential resolution, "…You just might escape again, and I might as well just imprison you with shackles and chains."

"As satisfyingly kinky that sounds, I give you my word!" Fayt even placed one hand to his heart while the other was held up in the air as a loyal honor.

Albel cringed when he noticed some town dwellers stopping to browse at the two, giggling and overhearing the situation, momentarily gritting his teeth to how expected nosy people are, especially listening on to the conversation of his no less! Snarling, the swordsman took a grasp on Fayt's wrist, dragging him farther away to the back of brick houses where the poorer or less unfortunate lived, and it seems they could care less about the two entering inferior quality territory. Albel clasped his gauntlet hand to shield Fayt's eyes, in response Fayt shook his head to get a good view, but to no avail.

'I-I am making a fool out myself!'

For the small breeze with the swishing winds of snowy chill passing between Fayt's legs shiver, practically limping to the stabbing needles of the ice that felt like white-hot knives trickling down warming water—or blood, even though that wasn't the case. "I'm wait—" Was all the emerald orbed managed to say, his bottom lip was caught between a crooked kiss and a tiny exposure to a warm tongue with the slightest tint of saliva. The double colored hair swayed away from Fayt, mentally agonizing 'kissing' a peasant: a nobody.

'All for that old bag!'

The metal claws sunk into Albel's skull, exaggerating the thought of trying to make his noggin bleed from self-loathe at the moment, even making a list of those lower-class to him was inadequate. Alternatively, Fayt felt no rose-colored sensation, but rather a very loud laugh came out; he clutched his stomach and his bottom landed on the icy cold snow. A tear from the outburst made him calm down, and Fayt tried to clear out the words albeit his laughter yet ceased, "You know, Albel," Fayt let his laugh die, only giving the remains a quiet chuckle, "If you actually kiss anybody like that, I can only imagine their reaction!"

Albel stood up from his spot, swaying away a little bit further to try avoiding the subject, but Fayt was more perspective than meets the eyes. He noticed a rather stranger reaction than usual, no remarks or name-calling based on insects, or anything closer to an arthropod of the sort. Fayt stood up as well, poking his head to annoy Albel for attention. When appearing left to right like a little irritating pest, Albel had enough strength to ball up his fist close enough to hit Fayt, rather which he ducked in time.

Fayt: "Could it be...that you never kissed somebody, Albel?"

Fayt persisted to know more, creeping more into the information that appears to have endless bounds, and it appeared there was only one way to do so: tickling. Fayt cracked his knuckles; sneaking his fingers close to the exposed skin, then finally Fayt wriggled his fingers around Albel's exposed torso. Albel cringed, biting in laughter from the constant touch around his body, it almost felt disgustingly joyous. The swordsman prepared his gauntlet, swiping unsuccessfully to at least scratch the teen's fingers, squirming away to break free and strive not to laugh.

"Damn it, no, I never had! Q-quit touching me, fool!" Albel pushed himself away, viciously huffing from anger and exhaustion; he tried to catch his breath before calming down and regaining composure, "How dare you!"

The blue haired grunted, puffing up his cheeks and crossing his legs Indian-style, "How dare I not? Sorry, but I'm so happy I got to be your first--no matter how horribly displaced."

Albel never answered, expecting fully for the blue haired boy to follow him along the way. The stroll felt like a bubbling and fuzzy feeling—more or so in Fayt's position—but Albel kept that awful looming glower that made all quiver in fright and swiftly tried to avoid his course, he even went his way to kick a child the stood before whom was eating until its food with now rotten with snow, dirt, and glass. Since he would never apologize, Fayt did the apologizing instead to the peasant. By the time they reached the steps, the short old man stood firm near the entrance, shivering lightly from the windy breeze, yet his face remains neutral. His bristly eyebrows rose, becoming aware of the pissed swordsman and a dirty, but naturally smiling blue haired teen coming along. Woltar raised his arms, his hands clapping with relief, "So he has come, unscratched too. Wonderful!"

Albel scowled, avoiding talking to Woltar and rather stomping towards the stairs, his shoes clattering the items around while the wood creaked loudly through the first floor. Fayt shrugged, waving at Woltar as a subtle 'hello' when Woltar motioned Fayt to enter the castle, Fayt kicked off the snow on his ragged shoes before entering.

"Hello youngster, follow the maids so they can give you a good bath, the others will prepare a meal."

Fayt paused, nodding then, "Alright, thanks. So, uh...where do I sleep?"

"In a guest room that will be prepared momentarily."

Woltar turned around, going around in a bee-line towards one of the rooms; his shoulder was tugged by Fayt quickly, making the short senior look up, "Yes?"

"Actually, Albel wouldn't mind at all for me to sleep in his room."

Woltar raised his eyebrow high, apparently stunned by the comment by keeping quiet. There were so many questions piling in mind that there was no way to say it or express it.

Fayt: "That reminds me...do you have some rope?"

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Plopped on his bed, scarlet eyes were lost in the amidst of thought and anger boiling down in his veins, his jaws were sore from gritting on them much too long, and even in much more pain when his sharp tooth accidentally bit down on his tongue while eating a grape. If lady-luck was damning him now, chocking on water would be the next step once his door slammed open as Albel was sipping now on water. A maid huffing with hands on her knees, bubbles and splotches of dirt all over, with his elbows he raised his body, red eyes squinting into a death glare to the maid following near. One she regained her breath and equanimity; she clasped her hands together, bowing her head, "Excuse my rude interruption! Please, we all need your aid taking care of Master Fayt; he refuses to listen to us! He wanted your presence, please help us!"

"No."
That was his answer: straight out, blunt, and right to the point.

Albel Slumped his body back on the bed, he took a long gulp of water that chugged down his throat. Ignoring all pleads, one eye open in shock when maids where running around in the background with a half-naked teen running even faster. Lady luck didn't curse him by chocking, but instead spitting the liquid and spewing the substance on his legs and body, dropping the wooden cup to the floor. Pushing aside the maid, Albel's gauntlet claws sink deep in the wooden door, little bits chipping off and sticking to the metal.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Everyone stopped in their tracks, even Fayt clutching the towel around his waist even tighter, the soap suds following a slippery track on the stone tiles, water dripping from his blue hair, his fringes covering his emerald eyes glittering in delight. If Albel wouldn't have been born into hate, murderous tactics, slightly abusive, and sadistic, Fayt could have the only cheesy scenario of both running into each others arm.

"Albel! Get these strangers away from me, I don't want anyone to touch me...You wash me!"

Albel managed to totter away from a glomp coming his way. Fayt landed painfully on the floor, his chin slightly bruised, cut, and slightly reddish-pink from scraping the delicate skin on the stone tiles implanted in the dried tar—a substitute for concrete— drip of blood proved that the scratch made it bleed a few drops. A little devious plan bunny came into mind, Fayt's bawled his fist together, scraping at his fingers on the rocks, emerald eyes gathering tears to a puddle of green glittering eyes, "You--you let me get hurt. How could you?" In the instant, Fayt wiped away the crocodile tears from his eyes with his palms, "I'm cold, I'm hurt, and you're not going to do anything...?"

Albel: "Are you kidding me? You are not hurt." Albel tried to pry his eyes away, trying to look everywhere instead of Fayt's half-naked body, the water dripping down from hair to arms, sliding down across his chest and to the towel. The candle lights scattered around the castle can even bring out the grimmer on the teen's wet legs. Clasping his gauntlet claws to his mouth, he prevented to show an escape of drool coming from his mouth.

"Are too! And it's your fault!" Fayt exclaimed, twitching in anger before lifting his body from its sore slouching on the sturdy floor. When getting up as feet touched stone, Fayt grabbed Albel's wrist, dragging him over to who knows where.

"Who do you think you are? Don't touch me, maggot!"

Down a flight of stairs, they reached a center piece where a large bucket rested, those who deserve got a good wash and were able to bring it outside if it was actually summer—thus not quite so often—and so large enough to fit about two to four individuals, as it was wide, so was it tall. A little step board may it possible to sink into the watery suds and water itself remains there. Fayt manage to tug all of Albel's weight—more like Albel was purposely dragging his feet for extra weight, in an attempt to go squirm away—and dumped him into the water. The wet liquid made Albel shiver, his legs rubbed against a rough material instead of the oak of the tub, the feeling was removed when it brushed against his skin as it was pulled, and confused scarlet eyes did a double take when gazing at the rope, the item which Albel must had felt.

Suddenly Albel realized his wrist were tied together, being pulled backwards behind his head along with his arms, a sudden tension and nervousness made Albel glance up. Noticing a serious lusty fog in Fayt's eyes, making the chill from the water seem like nothing.

The towel soon was drooping from Fayt's waist, soon going to slide off due to the excess water on his body and trying to drift away the cloth, making Albel more awkward to even speak up.

"Albel, you're so pretty..." whispered Fayt, quietly and hushed with his warm breath creeping closer to Albel's neck, and soon immobilizing the swordsman from any body movement once the towel slipped away from Fayt's waist and drifted along the water of the vast tub.

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A/N: Well now, March felt like a death month. Who knows, hopefully April won't be that way either. Doubt it, I'm gonna have a week off, starting today until next, next Monday. :D HALLELUJAH~! Review? n.n;; I know, mistakes are everywhere, what'dya expect? I ain't the best in the world~