Chapter 19
Abel's condition steadily improved, and he was back on his feet by the time the third day passed. It would take some time for him to fully recover, but every day they waited was a risk, and Marth was eager to get moving out of the area.
Standing outside the inn, Marth lingered behind the rest of the Altean soldiers who had already begun to move out. Cain and Abel were nearby; although Abel was regaining his strength, he had to lean on his red-haired partner for support, and they were the last to leave the tall building.
Looking around, Marth waited patiently for the two purple-haired siblings to appear, hoping to have a chance to say thank them one last time and say goodbye. They finally emerged from the inn; the only luggage they carried was a small bag on Kelgar's back. Marth approached them, and they smiled at each other. "Heading out as well?"
The two nodded. "It's been fun, but we've got a home too, you know," Kelgar grinned.
"Allow me to thank you one last time," Marth said. "For everything."
Kelgar's polite bow was followed by Krystal's curtsey. "It has been an honor, Prince." Looking up, she caught his eye, and Marth could see the sincerity with which she spoke. "If you'll excuse me, there's one last thing I must do before you all leave."
Standing back upright, she nodded to him one last time before breaking into a short jog to reach the two cavaliers of whom she had yet to say farewell.
Cain turned as he heard footsteps approaching, and he smiled as he saw Krystal. "Here I thought you'd let us leave without saying goodbye," he joked, repositioning himself so Abel's weight on his shoulder was a bit more comfortable.
Krystal rolled her eyes and laughed, but her expression sobered a moment later. "I came to apologize once more." She spoke in a low tone, forcing herself to meet Abel's gaze. He looked at her with kind and forgiving eyes, and she bowed her head apologetically and respectfully. Moving on, her face hardened and she stared at Cain and leaned a bit closer. "I want you to remember what we talked about," she said sternly.
Cain looked at her with confusion for a moment, but he nodded his head slowly. They had talked about many things, and he wasn't sure which specific one she was mentioning.
"I suppose this is goodbye, then." Krystal stood on her tiptoes to plant a light kiss on his cheek, and then laughed at his incredulous expression. "Don't worry; I'm sure fate will have us cross paths again." With a wave of her hand, she turned to walk back to where her brother waited.
Raising his hand to touch the spot where Krystal kissed, Cain turned his head to see Abel, a silly grin on his face. Abel's expression had turned a bit sour, and his green eyes narrowed.
"What's the matter?" Cain teased him. "Jealous?"
"Yes, actually," Abel responded simply. "Jealous of her." With that, he slung his other arm around the redhead's neck and pulled his face close, firmly pressing his lips against Cain's.
Cain's amber eyes widened in surprise as Abel grabbed him, but they fluttered closed the moment their lips met. Without really thinking about what he was doing, he responded to Abel's kiss, running his fingers through Abel's thick hair and holding his head gently to keep him close… and suddenly, he remembered exactly what Krystal had been talking about.
[Sitting next to the bed, where he had been for countless days prior, Cain stared at Abel's pale body, breathing only when he saw the rise and fall of his partner's chest. Krystal sat in the chair next to him, her sympathetic gaze locked onto not Abel, but Cain.
"You really care for him, don't you?" She murmured quietly.
Offering only a small nod in response, Cain didn't meet her eyes. "He's my best friend," he finally mumbled, so quietly that Krystal wondered if he had even been aware that he was speaking out loud.
"I've never seen such a bond between friends," she commented, leaning forward in the chair.
With a tired sigh, Cain held his head in his hands. "Ever since we were young, he's just… always been with me. He was always there. Without him, I feel so lost, so alone."
"He's your partner?" Krystal asked tentatively, waiting to see Cain's interpretation of the word.
"He's my… best friend…" Cain repeated slowly, lifting his head and turning to look at the purple-haired woman with confused eyes.
Krystal raised her hand to give him a gentle whack on the back of his head, since he wasn't getting her point. "You love him, stupid."]
The memory emerged for only an instant before Cain's mind melted into thoughts of nothing except for how perfectly right this moment felt. Abel's lips were warm and welcoming, and what could have only been a few seconds felt like a lifetime.
They broke apart only for the need of air. A single tear rolled down Abel's cheek, and Cain wiped it away with his thumb, pulling the green-haired man into a tight hug.
"I was so afraid of losing you," he whispered, his grip tightening just slightly.
Abel rested his chin on Cain's shoulder. "You didn't," he responded in a voice just as quiet. "I'm right here with you."
Lost in a world where only he and Abel existed, Cain didn't realize for quite some time that a small crowd of other soldiers had gathered nearby and were staring at the two of them; some with their jaws hanging open in surprise, and others with knowing smirks.
Finally opening his forest green eyes, Abel glanced over to the crowd, and his face flushed red with embarrassment as he realized they were being watched. He turned back to Cain, his cheeks as brightly colored as his partner's armor. He was holding on to Cain's arms rather tightly, leaning most of his weight onto the other soldier; if he let go, he probably would have fallen. "I know it's a bit corny to say you make my knees weak, but…"
Cain's hearty laugh filled the air. "Does this make me your knight in shining armor?" Before the green-haired cavalier could respond, Cain leaned down and scooped him up into the air bridal-style, one hand underneath his knees and the other supporting his back.
"Wha—hey!" Abel protested as Cain lifted him, but he was grinning.
Abel joined in with the redhead's laughter as he carried him all the way to where their horses were stationed. Swinging his leg into the stirrup, he mounted the horse with Cain's assistance. Cain quickly jumped onto his own horse, holding the reigns loosely and giving the beast's neck a quick pat.
Looking up, they realized that most of the League had already moved out, and they were quite a bit behind. Exchanging glances along with wide grins, Cain tightened his grip on the reigns. "Race you to the front," he challenged, his amber eyes shining with life.
"You're on," Abel countered, giving his reigns a quick whip to get his horse moving, leaning forward in the saddle for balance as he darted away.
Cain quickly raced after his partner, welcoming the wind that blasted against his face and roared in his ears. Too busy enjoying the present to worry about the future, the red and green clad cavaliers sped off into the distance, leaving trails of dust and echoes of laughter in their wake.
The End! ゚・✿ヾ╲(。◕‿◕。)╱✿・゚
