Star Ocean: Till the End of Time

Someday My Prince Will Come

Jamarie

Put Out that Fire, Burn with Desire


"Mama! Papa!"

The cry of a child could be heard amongst the flaming destruction. Although the scene itself proved as a tragic and horrific sight, that didn't stop Roger in his search for his parents. The screams and cries around mirrored that of his own, but unlike the others, his cries were meant for his loved ones, not instructions or orders of evacuation.

"Mama! Papa! Where are you?"

Roger's cries grew desperate, his tears now a never-ending crystal stream which cascaded down his grubby cheeks. His lungs burned from the thick grey smoke and his body felt as if it were one with the fire about him, but he didn't care.

"Mama! Papa! Please, please answer m-"

He paused in mid-yell from the appalling sight before him. Roger fell to his knees, his coppery eyes wide in sheer disbelief. There, in a heap before him, lay the bodies of his parents – Beaten, bloody and stained from the smoke just like him. He immediately flew to their sides, and with as much strength as he could muster, turned them over. He gasped.

His parents were dead, slashed and stabbed in numerous areas and had some of their flesh burned from the merciless flames. The river of tears increased, its owner slumping over their unmoving forms as he sobbed uncontrollably. Although his nose blanched from the stench of coagulated blood, he listened not to it, choosing to remain with his parents until the villagers managed to put out the fire, or till the flames consumed him along with them. His parents didn't deserve this; this death wasn't meant for them.

"Well, well, well, if that isn't a touching sight; spending your last moments with the corpses of your depraved parents… how foolish."

Roger turned to face the source of that callous voice, already knowing who it was without so much as a second guess. He rose from his position, gazing up at his parents' murderer in defiance. In his anger, a fresh new set of tears sprang to his eyes, as various emotions coursed through his being.

"How could you! They did nothing wrong, they were framed! What gives you the right?"

"Unless you shut up, your pain evoked from my blade would be the last thing you'd experience in your pathetic existence."

"Oh yeah? Come on, try me! If you think I'm going to come quietly, you've never been all the more wrong! If I were to pass on, then who'd avenge the deaths of my parents? Who's to spread the word that Albel Nox, captain of the guards and servant of her majesty, really is a blade-wielding incarnate of evil! You speak and carry the title of justice, yet you go around killing off the innocent in your haze of sadistic pleasures!"

A violent slap was delivered to his right cheek, the claws of the man's mantle leaving fresh bloodied marks on his flesh. Albel growled down at Roger, his lips pulled back into a snarl as he initiated another attack on the defenseless youth, back-handing him so hard that it sent the young Menodix crashing onto the ground below him.

"Insolent worm, it seems that you don't know your place! Your parents were merely given their rightful punishments for the crimes they committed; cheating their clients off their money. They still had the guts to open that inn of theirs, to remain in this country when they knew they'd be found out soon enough."

"You're lying! My parents did no such thing! I know, I help them out in the inn, and they've never cheated anyone out of their money's worth! My Papa and Mama are the most honest and admirable people I ever knew, but I doubt you'd ever understand that! They were framed, framed I tell you!"

"Humph, for a maggot, you're pretty brave," commented Albel, as he kneeled before the Menodix.

"And such a pretty little thing too… I'm going to give you a choice; a choice to live or die. You're called Roger, aren't you? Well then, Roger, choose me, or a lifetime of hell."

Albel received a spit at his face from that, and he wiped at it disinterestedly with his normal hand. Roger glared defiantly at the swordsman, disgust and hatred dancing in his eyes.

"The hell I'll go back with you, bastard!" And Albel saw red.

"You'll pay for that you ungrateful brat!"

Albel was on him in a flash, twisting one of the youth's arm against his back, before using his knee to force the boy onto the ground face first. Roger cried out in agony from the swordsman's violent actions, his back hurting from the knee digging deeply into his back. Roger craned his neck to the side, hoping that small action would help ease his discomfort. When Roger finally ran out of things comment on, a satisfied expression spread across Albel's features, as he eased his knee off the poor boy's back and straddled his hips. He leaned down and whispered lowly into Roger's twitching ear.

"Face it; you're no match for me, my little fool. However, since you interest me, I'll give you a head start and won't kill you yet; you're far too young. So, for now…"

Albel's free hand began to wander, touching, caressing places no one should. Roger squirmed in fear and distress, but that action only earned him a smack at the back of his head. Albel allowed his hand to rub circles along Roger's back, before trailing down to massage and kneed his ass in an excruciatingly seductive fashion. Albel leaned forward to lick a wet trail across the ends of his furry ears, causing Roger to groan and whimper in protest. He hated this, this sick and perverse torture, but he was powerless to do anything.

And the fun wasn't over yet, oh no, Albel's ministrations was just about to hit its grand finale.

Albel's hand released the brunette's ass, to grip at the furry and swishing tail of Roger, pulling it back in an arc, before licking languorously along its underside. Roger gave a startled cry, before biting at his bottom lip to restrain the moan which threatened to spill forth. This was wrong in so many ways.

"Enjoying it now, are we? If you choose to live, then I assure you, you'd receive much more of such attentions."

When Roger made no move to reply, Albel quickly unsheathed his blade and forcefully yanked his head backwards by the hair. Roger cried in protest, but immediately grew silent when he felt the edge of a blade pressed threateningly against his throat. He whimpered and shut his eyes, praying that Albel, this nightmare, would just go away.

"It's not that hard of a choice…"

-0-0-0-

"STOP IT!!!"

Roger awoke with a start, before giving a loud yelp when his make-shift hammock tipped over, allowing gravity to do the rest as he fell onto the forest ground. The brunette landed with an unceremonious "Oof", before rising to rub his sore ass. He sighed when that action caused the images of his nightmare to resurface.

For 4 years he had been plagued by that memory, that event from his past, and he most definitely couldn't get over it. Although Albel had obviously molested him when he was 8, the main cause of his anger came from his parents' deaths from the hands of said man.

Deciding that it was no point to bring up memories of old, Roger rubbed the remains of sleep from his eyes, before making his way towards a nearby spring. Stripping out of his clothes, he paused to gaze at the water's clear surface, but more specifically, his own reflection. An unreadable expression crossed his features.

For just once in his life, whenever he looked into a mirror, he'd hoped to see something worthwhile; but he was wrong. He saw nothing, nothing at all… until yesterday. Apparently that stranger could see it; he could see something Roger couldn't, and that alone made his day. Roger smiled and took a deep breath, plunging into the ice-cold waters of morning.

He was determined to put out that fire and start anew.

-0-0-0-

Meanwhile in castle Aquaria, brilliant emerald shot wide open in the darkness, its owner sitting up stiffly on his bed. Beads of sweat collected on his forehead and the male wiped at it with the back of his hand in an almost dazed manner. Fayt blinked once, twice, and then three times, unable to comprehend the reasons which led to his very, er-… provocative dream. It was that Menodix again, only this time, he had been ten times sexier and sort of naked.

That thought caused Fayt to blush in shame for ever thinking about Roger in such a way, but actually he knew that he didn't really mind it one bit. However, these new feelings were scaring him, plaguing his mind and even bothering him at night no less. In addition, the pressure of choosing his future queen was building up, yet he knew he couldn't bring himself to marry some princess he never even met before. That would be cheating her of her feelings, plus he'd only be lying to himself if he allowed such a procession to take place.

Fayt knew that there was something he and Roger shared, and that something proved to be of a higher priority as compared to some stupid rules. He inwardly cursed at the godforsaken person who actually created such a rule. He saw no reason as to why he couldn't fall in love with someone not of eminent status, after all, if the prince was happy, the country would be happy as well, right?

He pulled the blankets aside and his gaze immediately shifted downwards at the area between his legs. Fayt swore. He definitely needed to talk to Sophia about his feelings, but first, he believed a cold shower was in order.

-0-0-0-

"Sophia! Sophia! Come on, open up!"

Fayt shouted, growing frustrated at her lack of acknowledgment, as he banged incessantly at her door. His hair was dripping wet from his shower, and all he had on was a fluffy white towel wrapped tightly around his waist. Apart from that, he was naked, wet and cold. Initially, he wondered what possessed him to rush out in his after-shower attire, but right now, he couldn't really bring himself to care. He had more important things to worry about and his best friend wasn't helping.

"Sophia Esteed!"

As if on cue, the door to her room slowly creaked open to reveal a dazed and bewildered female, the side of her nightgown drooping past her left shoulder and her hair in complete disarray. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, before leaning forward to squint at the new comer in a comical fashion. It was obvious that Sophia wasn't a morning person.

"Sophia, can I come in? I really need to talk to you."

"Wha…? Fayt, is that you? What in the world are you doing up at such an ungodly hour- Are you wearing a towel?"

Fayt rolled his eyes in exasperation, having no time for this nonsense as he let himself in, ignoring her confused and somewhat offended expression. He sat himself at the edge of her bed and patted the spot beside him. There was a moment of silence, before Sophia's sleep-induced mind registered the meaning behind his actions. She frowned in annoyance, turning to shut the door behind her.

"Oh, alright… but whatever it is, it better be important, or you'll regret the day that you messed with my sleeping schedule."

Sophia planted herself next to her friend, trying to keep herself awake for his sake. Seeing as her attempt was verified good enough, Fayt proceeded without so much as an interruption.

"Ok, you know my mother wants to marry me off to some princess from god-knows where, right? Well, you see, I can't, but not because I refuse to marry; that's far from the point. You were absolutely right when you proposed the idea of marrying out of love, and that's just what I plan to do."

"Are you serious?"

Sophia was wide awake now, their current topic of discussion proving rather interesting and exciting in her eyes. She never knew Fayt was capable of falling in love, much less charming the ladies, but apparently some poor sap bought it. Either that, or Fayt was truly romantic and sensitive, thus ascertaining her secret belief that even her inexperienced friend would be able to get a girl in the end. Thankfully, everything worked out just peachy, so she failed to understand what the problem was.

"Yeah I'm serious," Fayt replied, "But it's not as easy as you think. My situation's actually extremely complicated. You see, during my trip to Peterny yesterday, I met someone who, to put it quite frankly, attracted me. From that moment on, I couldn't get that person out of my head, heck, even just now, I woke up to a-a-…er… hmm."

"It's alright, I get you. Please, continue," she beckoned.

"Right, and the best part is, I think our relationship could actually work out. I guess you could call this the typical 'love at first sight' situation."

Sophia's eyes twinkled as she grasped the male's hand in silent encouragement. Her best friend was in love, and she never felt all the more proud!

"That's wonderful, Fayt! I'm sure she'll make a fine wife, and I bet her majesty would be delighted by this news!"

Fayt gazed at Sophia in uncertainty, his movements nervous, as he let out a shaky breath. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"There's only one problem though-"

"Yeah, yeah, so what if she's a peasant? I'm sure her majesty could work something out if-"

"Erm… Actually, there's more than one problem," said Fayt.

"Oh, well then, I'm sure she'll be willing to learn how to be a princess if she really loves you that much."

"Eh…more."

"I'm sure her status can't be that bad, could it? I mean, even dishwashers have their class-"

"Yeah, but it's more along the physical appearance," Fayt replied hesitantly, motioning to his ears as an example. Sophia caught on in an instant.

"Oh! So you fell in love with a humanoid? I think that's positively adorable, Fayt! Is that what all the fuss's about?"

"No, not exactly, you're not done guessing so… please, carry on. The list is nearly completed."

Sophia gave him a weird stare, before crossing her arms in a huff. Did Fayt intend on making her guess until the cock crowed the start of dawn? If so, she wasn't in the least bit entertain by the entire prospect. She needed at least 6 hours of beauty sleep, needed an hour more to satisfy herself, and the young prince wasn't helping.

Just then, a thought hit her, causing her to frown in suspicion. Now, was it her, or did Fayt seem to be avoiding the slightest mention of his lover's gender? All evidence seemed to be pointing at the obvious fact that whoever he fell in love with, was a female, but then again, it was Fayt. So, she just decided to try her luck.

"…Fayt, your love interest isn't even a girl to begin with, isn't he?"

When Fayt gave no reply to that, Sophia instantly knew that she hit her target dead on with accuracy. On normal circumstances, she would've been horrified to no end, but Fayt was her best friend and she would never judge him, even if he started to experience questionable sexual preferences. She squeezed his hand in a comforting gesture.

"Fayt, hey, it's alright. I'll not judge you for something like that, since that would be stupid. That's love for you; you can't help who you fall in love with, it just happens. I just want you to know that, no matter what happens, you can always come to me with your problems and I'll try my best to help you out. But first, please tell me about your lover."

And Fayt did just that, as he launched into the tale of how he had encountered the young Menodix boy and the emotions he had been experiencing from then onwards. He told her how Roger had somehow managed to enter his thoughts so frequently and easily, that it could allow him to disregard almost everything or anything else of importance. He confessed that he had touched the boy rather intimately, even dreamt about him in ways that could be deemed as immoral or taboo. And all this while Sophia listened to him in earnest, knowing that's all she could do for her friend as of now.

"Sophia, do you think it's wrong? That is, for me to fall in love with guy who's about 6 years younger than me no less! I know it sounds rather pedophilic, but… I just can't help it, Sophia. I think I love him. What should I do?"

Fayt clutched at his head in frustration and confusion, eyes going unfocussed as he immersed himself in deep thought. Sophia gazed at her friend sympathetically, not knowing what sort of advise to give him but one. She grabbed Fayt's wrists, pulling them away from his head as she looked him in the eye, determination and assurance dancing within her jade orbs.

"Fayt, sometimes you'll only know the answer yourself, if you actually take a chance just to see where that decision leads you. You won't know if it's the right choice or not if you don't even try. Things like this – love and its possibilities- are sort of like a cold pool. Just take a deep breath and take the plunge, because seriously, you'd never know until you risk it all."

Fayt smiled at her in thanks, treasuring that advice and reminded himself to apply it. Sophia was right – He had to give this a try, to give him and Roger a try, least he truly lived to regret it. He nodded, helping Sophia into bed and tucking her in as he did so. She fell asleep instantly, but not without wishing him a whispered "Good luck" first.

"Thanks, Sophia, for everything."

With her support and his new will, Fayt returned to his room and changed, his spirits effectively enlightened. The young prince grabbed his cloak and some Fol, slipped a small note underneath Laselle's door, telling him that he'd not be attending lessons today, and exited the castle.

The sun had already painted its picturesque rays across the horizon, the villagers already preparing themselves for the day. Fayt strolled leisurely towards Peterny, set on finding Roger, and allow nature to take its course.

-0-0-0-

After a few minutes of walking, Fayt found himself in Peterny's main square. Since it was still pretty early, he decided to sit himself down on the steps which led up to the town's church, and took this time to observe the morning life before him. Fayt watched as the flower girl came running to open up her little stall and in her hands were cradled baskets of flowers and garlands. To her side was the herbs and fruits stall, its owner taking his time to display his array of produce. In the centre was the already opened café, its staff catering to the needs of its clients.

Fayt inhaled deeply, relishing in the peacefulness of the morning, before digging into his pocket to fish out his sack of Fol. He had brought out just enough to buy Sophia a present as thanks for her advice earlier today. Initially, he had pondered on what to get her, with her being a girl and all, but them it hit him: Sophia simply loved flowers and could often be found in the castle gardens tending to them for hours. So, to make his life a whole lot easier, Fayt decided to get her a bouquet of assorted flora.

He was forcefully brought out of his thoughts however, when he was greeted by a very familiar and pleasing voice – or at least to him, anyway.

"Good morning, sir! Mind if I joined you?"

Fayt inclined his head to meet the shy yet ardent irises of the young Menodix, before chuckling lightly, patting the spot next to him. Accepting the silent invitation, Roger happily sat himself next to the older male, before taking yet another bite out of his apple. A comfortable silence laced between the two, but it was soon broken by Fayt, who all but stared intently at the succulent red morsel in the brunette's hands.

"Hey… Is that from the lunch box I gave you last night?"

"Mmumph! Mmph um! Umh?"

Came the indistinctive response, as Roger munched the sweet fruit's contents, too hungry to care about personal etiquette and the whole shebang. Fayt laughed in fondness, reaching out to wipe at the thin trail of juice which slowly made its way down Roger's chin, before leaning in to lap at the now dry area. That action caused Roger to blush furiously from head to toe, as he gazed down at the apple core in his hand, secretly wishing that he had joined the stranger sooner.

Roger, after managing to fight his blush down to a considerable amount, cleared his throat to address his companion properly.

"Yeah, thanks again for the food, it was really thoughtful of you," he beamed, sliding closer towards the older male as he hugged his arm in an almost childlike manner. In response to that, Fayt reached out to gently stroke the unruly locks of the brunette, unconsciously playing with the boy's ears as he did so. However, Roger didn't seem to mind and he inclined his head to gaze curiously at him.

"Anyway, what're you doing up so early, sir? Are you going to do some shopping for your family? Are ya, are ya?"

"Not exactly," Fayt laughed, rising and dusting his cloak off in the process.

"I'm actually here to buy some flowers for a very good friend of mine. Would you like to help me pick some out?"

Fayt pointed towards the flower stall, but was left confused by Roger's lack of enthusiasm.

Roger rubbed the back of his neck, at a loss of what to say towards Fayt's apparent astonishment. It wasn't that he didn't want to help choose flowers; on the contrary, he'd jump at any opportunity to spend time with the older male, but he had a better idea and for once, he wished to repay the stranger back for his kindness.

"Sir, actually I know a better place to pick flowers, but you might not be interested to go," he began hesitantly. Fayt quirked a delicate brow in responses.

"Oh? And where exactly might that place be?"

"Deep within Duggus Forest -Past the fog and briers, the nightingale and cuckoos and springs of pure, there, deep within the clearing, is a bed of lovely and pleasantly scented flowers. They are wild flowers of course, but many haven't been picked and sold in stores before, while others may even be rare."

Fayt hummed appreciatively, nodding his head in approval, but if he wasn't wrong, Duggus forest was the home of bandits, not to mention lurking with danger. He had heard stories that travelers had often wandered deep within its shadowy depths, only to never return, ever. Then again, they were just stories, and the bandits have been awfully unobtrusive these past few days (probably due to Albel), so he saw no harm in going. Besides, he trusted Roger with his life.

"That sounds wonderful, Roger, but how do you know so much?"

"Oh, well," the Menodix stared shyly at his shoes, hands clasped behind his back as his body rocked to and fro.

"Could we- could we talk about that later? It's not like I have anything to hide, but… I really wish to repay you for your kindness, and I feel this is the only way I know how."

Fayt nodded, choosing not to press the boy any further. If Roger wasn't comfortable to reveal so much about himself, it was fine. After all, Roger had been the one telling Fayt of his life, not him, so he figured there was a limit to such personal knowledge. Fayt offered the brunette his hand, who readily accepted it, as he was hurled onto his feet and off the steps. With the thought of spending some quality time with each other, the two walked hand in hand towards Peterny's Western exit, through the Sanmite Steppes, and deep into the forest where they would ultimately be alone, together and undisturbed.

-0-0-0-

"Are you sure you can't at least give me a clue as to who the heck you really are?"

Roger whined, throwing his hands up and flailing them to emphasize his frustration. When the cloaked figure all but shook his head good-naturedly, Roger gave up, falling back into his make-shift hammock with an aggravated groan. Fayt laughed and resumed to the action of picking flowers.

Fayt had been rather surprised when he found out that Roger had made Duggus Forest his home, not that he was complaining of course; the place was amazing. Within this clearing grew millions of beautiful and aromatic flowers, along with a crystal clear stream with ran through the area, its thin trail coming from a clandestine waterfall, shielded by the foliage. Although the place was indeed beautiful, not to mention rather enchanting, Fayt wondered about Roger's real home; why he never chose to live there along with his friends and family.

The question had been nagging at the back of his mind for quite sometime already, and he knew that it wouldn't be long before he had to let it all out. And he did.

"Roger, you have a lovely place here, your home, but what about your real home? I heard tales of the Ancient City of Surfeiro, of it having sunk below its waters many years ago, but if I'm not wrong, a village had been built above its ruins – The village called Surfeiro. Many humanoids reside there, and I'm sure your family and friends are there as well, so why live here in Duggus Forest?"

Roger chose to remain silent from Fayt's gentle prying, as he crossed his arms at the back of his head to gaze up at the forest canopy. The little sunlight which streamed in through the various cracks between the leaves, danced upon the forest floor, creating a soothing and somewhat lazy atmosphere. Roger sighed heavily, recalling the memories which plagued his mind over a period of 4 years. It hurt to bring them up, but he guessed it wouldn't really hurt to confide in someone, especially his companion.

"Well I-I-… Sir-"

"Do you trust me?"

Roger sat up to stare at the older male, an unreadable expression clouding his features.

"What?"

"Do you trust me?" Fayt repeated, reaching out, beckoning the brunette to take it.

Roger directed his gaze from the stranger's cloaked form, to the out-stretched hand in consideration. He was rather used to taking the older male's hand, the action being commonplace and effortless, but it seemed different now, as if it had an entirely deeper meaning towards that mere gesture. He knew the stranger was indirectly asking for his eternal trust… and friendship? – No, it was more than that… they were more than that.

Roger climbed out of his hammock and approached the cloaked male without hesitance, pausing to sit before him and curl himself against his companion's chest. He felt the stranger's arm wind protectively around his lithe form, stroking his hair and ears –and unconsciously his tail- in the process. He instinctively snuggled up against him, feeling so right in so many ways. His eyelids fell half-closed as he retold his story.

"My Papa was the mayor of the village of Surfeiro, and was a great man – Brave, honest, tride and true. Everyone looked up to him; he was a great leader, had a wonderful wife and was a wonderful father. My Mama was the village inn keeper and our home was always open to weary travelers. The three of us lived happily together, but then our happiness was soon shattered mercilessly by a tragedy."

"I had been 8 years old then, and my parents had been suspected of cheating their clients out of their money. We were framed by a group of bandits we had unknowingly catered to – We gave them warm food, a place to stay, and they sold us out. Papa more or less established control over the situation, but by then her majesty's informants had already contacted Albel Nox to deal with the matter personally. Unfortunately for us, we didn't know exactly how personal he got."

"When Papa and Mama denied all charges against them, Albel hadn't been pleased and had threatened to kill us if we didn't admit our crimes. There was a fight but my father stood no chance against Albel. I had been at the City of Aquios at that time running a few errands, so when I reached home, I was greeted by the sight of brilliant dancing flames – fire."

"Albel Nox didn't kill my parents, but barricaded the inn doors, sealing them inside before setting the entire house on fire. Papa and Mama would've gotten out alive, but since they suffered serious injuries from the fight, they died from suffocation due to the smoke. By the time I managed to get to them, the fire had subsided to a considerable amount and that's where I saw him for the first time – Albel Nox, my parents' murderer."

"He had given me a choice: to die by his hands, or live my entire life at his beck and call. Obviously, I chose neither one of his terms and that angered him. After threatening me again and when I still refused, he-he-…."

Roger trailed off, stuttering and gripping tighter at the older male's cloak. He felt tears well up in his eyes, but he blinked them away, exhaling shakily before burying his face in the crook of Fayt's neck. He continued in a whisper, almost ashamed.

"He touched me, touched me in places no one should, and I-I- it felt good and I liked it, but it was different when you did it… so I hated it."

Fayt's hold on the young Menodix tightened a surge of rage and contempt coursing through his veins at the thought that Albel had touched his Roger in such a way, and under such sadistic circumstances. He knew the man was cruel, but never like this. Why wasn't his family informed about such an important issue?

'So this is Albel's little secret,' thought Fayt.

He looked to the shivering form in his arms and his gaze softened.

'And now I know…'

Roger inhaled deeply, the mere scent of his companion managing to effectively calm his troubled mind down. He continued.

"After that, the villagers managed to put out the fire, but since they had no idea that my family had been framed, they weren't very happy; in fact, they felt downright betrayed. As a result of their anger, I was cast out of my own village, from my own friends and people, and here I am – living in the forest and stealing to survive…. Do you hate me now, sir?"

Fayt frowned from beneath his hood, hugging the boy tighter against him if that was even possible. He knew that, in spite it all, he could never judge Roger, much less hate him. The boy had earned a special place in his heart, and in that moment, Fayt knew that it was really love which drove him to meet Roger day after day without fail.

Roger gasped when the male made no move to push him away – not from fear and certainly not from disgust. His sincere actions moved him, so much so that he allowed himself to cry after a period of four years. However, instead of shedding tears of sorrow and grief, his tears were of relief and bliss.

Fayt hushed him gently, slowly rocking the boy back and forth in his arms as a form of comfort. He placed his hands against Roger's wet cheeks, tenderly wiping away his tears, before leaning in to place a soft kiss on his forehead. He nearly laughed when he felt the boy's tail respond to his actions, the furry thing swishing from side to side in contented manner.

"I will never hate you, Roger. You're someone special and I would never wish to hurt you in any way. It's clear that you've already gone through so much. Thank you for telling me all that, and for the lovely flowers; Sophia would love them."

Roger cocked his head to the side innocently, his tears already forgotten.

"Sophia? Who's that, your sister?"

"Something like that, yeah," Fayt replied, as he arranged the bouquet.

Roger beamed at him, his cheeks tainted with a faint shade of red.

"Oh... So, what are we now?"

Fayt hummed, feigning consideration as he plucked a single freesia from the ground.

"Hmm… I don't know. What do you want us to be?" he teased, tucking the flower behind one of Roger's ears.

"Does it really matter? Being alone has always been easy for me, but ever since I met you, I feel that that's no longer possible. I just can't live the rest of my life without you by my side."

"Then you'll never have to."

Fayt closed the distance between them, and Roger knew no more when the male's lips claimed his in a passionate kiss.

To be continued…

Author's notes: And that's a wrap! Mostly fluff in this chapter, but I hope you lot down mind. After all, fluff makes the world go round! We get to see Roger's life story here, as well as Albel's. Ooooooh! And we get to see Fayt's romantic side too, yes yes! Initially, I never planned this chapter to turn out like this, but it did, and I love it! And guess what, I did an Albel x Roger fanart for the heck of it XD Whoever can tolerate my horrible drawing and wishes to see it, feel free to include it in the review and I'll send it right over!

Special thanks to:

Taitofan – Thank you ever so much for your lovely review! I hope you'll stick with me till the end of time lol! More love's on its way so please expect it! Oh yeah, and welcome fellow Fayt x Roger/ Albel x Roger fan! It's always nice to have some company!

As for the rest of you lot, thank you! You were awesome in reading my fic! You could actually stand it lol! For a side note, since my exams are coming, I'll most probably update it in November so stay tuned! And as usual, read and review!