A/N: I am seriously enjoying writing this thing. I don't remember the last time I was ever this motivated…starting on the next chapter immediately after finishing the last one. Of course, it also helps that you guys are so eager to review that I don't have to wait a few days for some reviews before I update again…but anyway, thank you to koril-san for teaching me all about Stockholm's syndrome…I learn something new everyday. XD
Disclaimer: Star ocean is unfortunately not my creation…if I really owned it, I wouldn't waste my time making disclaimers.
Friday passed by very slowly. Fayt had hoped to sneak out of the house while Albel was gone hunting. It wasn't as if he feared that Albel would kill him. He simply would not be able to sneak out with Albel watching, even if he knew he would be safe. That bloodthirsty gaze unnerved him. Fayt looked out the window and saw Albel's demonic red eyes staring at him from within the forest. He was still a captive. Fayt sank wearily into the couch and willed the day gone.
Albel returned in time for lunch, dragging a body bag, which he unceremonious dumped on the kitchen floor, near the sink. He grinned. "Come to the table and have lunch, love."
Fayt shook his head and looked worriedly at the bag. The person was probably dead and decayed by now. Fayt could not eat with a dead body nearby.
Albel cocked his head to one side, watching Fayt's hesitation. "Don't worry, he's still alive. He passed out on me and I can't let him die not knowing. I left the bag a little open so he won't suffocate, but he doesn't deserve anything more than that."
Fayt still looked uncertain. He was definitely hungry; Albel could hear his stomach growl all the way from where he stood. But Fayt would not venture into the kitchen.
Albel frowned. "Come on, Fayt. I already told you he's not dead. I know your aversion to dead things." His mouth twisted wryly.
"No, that's not it," Fayt said nervously. "He's going to jump out at me and I can't handle that." He crossed his arms tightly across his chest.
"Bah,' Albel said dismissively. "I've drugged him good enough. I could throw him down the basement stairs and he wouldn't wake up."
Fayt crept forward and cautiously sat down at the table across from Albel. Albel smiled and gently placed his hand over Fayt's. Fayt turned pink and jerked his hand back immediately. Albel shrugged and nudged a large bowl of food towards Fayt. "Eat up. You'll need all the strength you can get."
Fayt eyed the bowl of noodles suspiciously. "How do I know you didn't poison it?"
Albel rolled his eyes. "If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so already. Besides, poisoning someone is the cowardly way out. No blood, no broken bones, no pain. That's no fun at all. And if I really wanted to kill you, I'd let you know your fate. You wouldn't die peacefully. But anyway, you don't have to worry about that since you're not going to die yet."
Fayt shuddered, thinking about what Albel could possibly do to him. He fell silent, staring morosely into the bowl of noodles.
Albel made an irritated noise. "I told you that you could trust me. Or is that you're afraid of my cooking?"
Fayt shrugged. 'I don't know anymore." His shoulders sagged. He felt helpless.
Albel frowned at him. "I am not going to let you starve. Either eat or I'll tie you down and force you to eat. Maybe a little pain will bring back your resolve to stay alive."
Fayt sighed dejectedly. Truly, he didn't feel like eating. Albel groaned and rolled his eyes again, muttering under his breath about Fayt's stupidity. Without looking at the boy, he set his bowl in front of Fayt and took Fayt's bowl. He began to eat and gradually let his gaze drift back to Fayt
Fayt was bright red. "Stop eating like that," he whined.
Albel delicately licked his fork. 'Like what?"
"Like you and your noodles are having some kind of sexual experience," Fayt growled. "Stop eating so..so…"
"Sensually?" Albel suggested.
"Yes! Don't do it."
Albel shrugged. "It's my house." He wrapped his tongue around the utensil and cleaned off ever last bit of noodles sauce.
Fayt was extremely embarrassed. He ducked his head and wanted desperately to run, to hide…to go anywhere to escape the display. Albel was purposely provoking him.
Fayt didn't even realize when Albel had stood up. He heard a chuckle and felt a warm breath on the back of his neck followed by the cold bite of steel.
Fayt jerked away, seeing Albel standing behind his chair holding a knife with a trace amount of blood on the tip.
Albel laughed at the horror on Fayt's face. 'Don't worry, you won't bleed to death. I just had to have a little dessert with my meal." He licked the flat side of the knife, cleaning off all of Fayt's blood. He grinned again. "You taste pretty good."
Fayt had lost his appetite by now. He pushed the bowl away and stood up. "I-I'm not hungry anymore," he said softly.
Albel pushed him back down and placed his hands firmly on Fayt's shoulders. He leaned in to whisper dangerously in Fayt's ear. "You will eat because I say so. Unless, of course, you want me to castrate you."
Fayt shivered and started again at the noodles, trying to summon up enough resolve to life the fork and take a bite. With a great deal of reluctance, he managed to eat a little of the food.
"Good," Albel purred seductively, tracing his tongue along Fayt's jaw line. "Eat up. You'll need all your strength for tomorrow."
Fayt's stomach tightened and he battle the urge to vomit. Albel paid no attention to Fayt's paleness and he resumed his seat across from his prisoner, staring at him with hooded eyes.
Fayt forced the food down and sighed. At last he was done with that ordeal. Albel watched him, his eyes twinkling with sadistic amusement. Fayt rose to get up and was hit almost instantly with a sudden rush of heat that made him lightheaded.
He sat down again, panting. Albel had to have drugged him. There was no other explanation. He searched vainly for something to drink, but Albel had conveniently neglected any refreshments.
"Open a window," Fayt pleaded.
Albel grated his knife against his fork, oblivious to Fayt. 'Why?" he asked absently.
"Because it's hot in here," Fayt whined.
"It's your imagination," Albel muttered, running his tongue again down the length of the knife.
"Please," Fayt whimpered.
'Would you sell your body to me to get rid of the heat?" Albel asked.
Fayt scowled. "Hell no. That would only make it hotter."
Albel shrugged indifferently. "Let it never be said that I'm a cruel man. I tried, Fayt. You just didn't want my help. Well, I'll be down in the basement if you need anything." He turned and left Fayt nearly crying with misery at the table.