###
"You two go on ahead by yourselves. Mia and I have something we need to attend to before we head back," Alex told Matthew and Karis.
"Auntie Mia, are you okay with this?" Karis questioned.
Mia smiled. "I'm fine with this… you two take care, all right?"
Matthew nodded, and the four parted ways.
###
It had been three days since they separated and started heading back towards where it all began… the mansion where they all lived. Matthew and Karis spent most of the three days talking about miscellaneous things… their childhood, their recent adventure, and where they would ideally like to go after this (they never told one another, but secretly they hoped that the other would drag them into a bedroom where no one could interrupt this time).
Matthew nominated that they go to the edge of the world and see the Gaia Falls properly this time.
Karis wanted to travel towards the northern arctic parts of the continent. Somewhere chilly, because we had too many hotheads in our group, she laughed.
On the fourth day, they were approaching the mansion. Everything was going to plan. They would throw the amulet onto Sheba, get the information out of Sheba, and then go save the world. Easy.
But before they could walk up the winding hill towards the mansion, Matthew and Karis were pulled back. "You can't go there now," a female voice murmured.
"Mum?" Matthew turned around and was greeted by the sight of his mother, cloaked in a dark robe [cliché here, sue me]. "What are you doing here?"
"The mansion was overtaken." Karis's blood ran cold at this. "You mean dad… and all our uncles and aunties and friends… were corrupted?"
Jenna's eyes shifted away from the pair and looked towards the crowd. She finally turned her head back after surveying the environment. "Listen. Right now, go to the Scarlet Inn, and book a room for a night there. Do it under a pair of false names… I also suggest you dye your hair colour. Unfortunately Karis, yours simply stands out too much.
Karis blushed. Her hair did stand out too much, no matter how many times Matthew said it was beautiful.
"Yours too Matthew." Jenna briefly took off her hood and the children gasped. Jenna's hair was now a dark black, so no one could easily find a red-haired fiery woman that looked like she was still in her twenties. "I'll talk to you later at the inn in the dinner room… make it 7PM, sharp."
She walked away without saying goodbye. Karis shivered a bit. "Matthew, I hate to say this, but… how do we know your mother isn't corrupted at the moment?"
Matthew sighed. "I have no idea, to be honest. I would have put the necklace on her, but I just didn't have the opportunity to. I have a better idea. We stay at a different inn, but we go over there at 6:45 and keep surveying the scene. We walk in at 7:15, making sure there is no danger there. I hate to break a promise to my mother, but we have to be cautious."
Karis paused for a moment. "That is the longest time I have EVER heard you talk, by the way."
Matthew laughed, but said nothing.
Karis whined. "Oi, keep talking, you silent protagonist!"
Matthew smiled at her, but still said nothing.
Karis then pouted. "Fine… looks like someone will be sleeping on the floor tonight."
Matthew groaned. "Can you not blackmail me?"
Karis grinned back. "Too bad, I have to control you somehow."
###
They walked into the inn room, admiring the new colours of their hair.
"You know, I never thought I'd say this, but… black seems to suit you really well Matthew, hahaha!" Karis laughed.
Matthew smiled. "Well, I'd definitely have to say that black also suits you to a T."
Karis scowled. "I can't wait for my natural hair colour to grow out again. Seriously."
Matthew was the one who was now laughing. "How about you take the shower first? I'll tidy up our inventory and then take a shower."
Karis smiled at him. "Always the gentlemen, eh?"
###
Karis shivered, but not from the cold. It was the fact she was considering doing this…
###
She lowered her head to the thing she wanted the most.
Which happened to be licking Matthew's abs at that moment.
She didn't know what possessed her to do it, but… she did it, and she kinda regretted it. Even though he was hot. Really, really hot.
###
She walked out of the shower room and into the main room of the inn, where the double bed was. Matthew had his back to her, sorting clothes out on the bed as Karis sneaked up to him.
She finally got there, and suddenly pushed Matthew onto the bed.
"Och dom säger att stan har blivit tyst och ful och öde älskling…"
Startled, Matthew turned his head around and saw Karis as nature intended it to be.
"Att det kommer bli en lång kall vinter…"
"I don't know about you Matthew… but I want it. Last time, after I overthrew the Emperor and went crazy… I kinda chickened out. But believe me, there hasn't been a day since I dreamed about you and I together, like a married couple…"
"Jag har lärt mig att saknaden är värst när nån har sovit som ett barn…"
Karis's voice had dropped to a whisper, as she pinned Matthew down.
"Genom en iskall vinter…"
Matthew struggled. "Karis, what are you doing? This isn't right!"
Karis kept up her hold. "You mean you've never imagined me under you? Me naked, and you just fucking my brains out?"
The crude language was what turned Matthew off. Although he was guy, he had bigger priorities at the moment. And Karis cursing like that… wasn't normal. "Karis… please… I've had my fair share of sexual dreams, but… now isn't the best time…"
Karis purred. "There's no better time than the present…"
Matthew managed to release the hold Karis had on him, and kissed Karis. "I love you Karis, but it isn't the right time. My mother is out there playing some sort of game, and the world is endangered at the moment. It just… isn't…"
Karis smiled. "99% of guys would have taken this opportunity. I should have known you weren't one of them."
Matthew put a shirt around Karis, covering her naked body. "Karis, I could never treat you like that. Our love is deeper than some surface thing that calls for us to relieve some stress by fucking each other."
Now it was Karis's turn to blush as she heard the vulgar words come out of HIS mouth. "Uh… I hate to be rude, but could you turn around as I get dressed?"
Matthew blinked. "Yeah, it's okay. I'll go take my shower now."
As Matthew walked into the shower, Karis put the rest of her clothes back on. And started crying.
Crying because she felt dirty for acting like.
Crying because she loved Matthew, so, so, so much that she would do anything for him.
Crying because Matthew treated her like this. Treated her like she was the most precious thing in the entire world.
###
In the shower, Matthew was also crying.
Crying because he could see Karis loved him so much to even attempt seducing him.
Crying because he loved Karis so, so, so much that he would do anything for her.
Crying because he had to deny his loved one of something she really, really wanted, because it showed how precious that he was to her.
"Du är min hjälte för du vågar vara rak
Du är min hjälte för du är precis så svag som jag
Kom och hjälp mig jag behöver dig igen igen igen…"
One didn't notice the tears that descended slowly onto the bedsheets. The other didn't notice the tears that joined forces with the water, as the water carried the tears away, and as the bedsheets absorbed the tears.
### End Chapter 11 – Tears
AN: The first chapter in all of my fanfictions where I don't have a starting author's note. I didn't think I needed it, hence, I didn't add it in…
Alright, so a big thank you to Chocotaku, who reviewed my story in the first hour it was up, and who was also nice enough to keep supporting me even though I've been through hard times. The reason why this chapter was up so quickly was probably because she was so eager that I had to oblige her. Sorry, I can't add guns into this story… how about my next one? :3
Feel free to criticise, this one is probably my worst and best chapter at the same time. Best because it was easiest to write, worst because of the way it kinda slid towards the M rated side.
The song name is called Vinternoll2 by Kent, a Swedish Band – you can search up the English translation, it's great.
Crap, my after notes nearly take up 1/3 of the story. Just wanted to explain that this story isn't going to be M-rated anytime soon, and the normal R & R. See you next time!