THE PRICE OF HONOR
Disclaimers: Final Fantasy XII and all other related characters, events, etc. do not belong to me.
Overall Story Notes: (minor spoilers) The story is about Gabranth and Larsa so in my story, Gabranth DID NOT die in the end of the game. :)
Chapter Notes: Chapter 18 happens a little over a week after the events of Chapter 17. Rated M.
Author's Notes: Post-game events begin now! Text in italics are flashbacks.
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It was about dusk when Larsa finally entered Gabranth's chambers and straight to the older man's bedside. It had been scarcely more than a week since the battle between the Resistance and the Imperial Army—since his brother Vayne's untimely demise—and since Gabranth had fallen into a coma. He had not woken up since that time in the Strahl, but he was alive—and for Larsa, at least for now, that was enough.
Basch dutifully took Larsa's ceremonial robe before taking his leave. The Solidor nodded at Basch, though his eyes looked upon Gabranth's armour, which the latter wore, with so much sorrow that the blonde had to look away. It was not easy to stand by the young lord's side while pretending to be his twin—but the melancholy with which Larsa looked upon him each time was almost unbearable.
"He is strong your Excellency, he will come back to you." Basch murmured softly as he squeezed the boy's slumped shoulder.
Larsa fought back the tears as he clutched one of Gabranth's hands in his own, noticing for the first time the long scar on his palm. "I wish he would wake sooner... Basch, I fear for him."
"The healers have assured that Noah shall live... but when he will wake, that is up to him." The older twin pressed a large palm on his brother's forehead. "His fever has broken, I believe he will wake soon. He has promised to protect you, did he not?"
Larsa nodded mutely.
"Then he shall. Stubborn though he is, Noah was never one to break his promises." Basch nodded once more as he stepped back. "I shall take my leave of you, Excellency. You have only to call should you need me."
The young lord slid between the sheets, resting his head on Gabranth's chest as he lay sleeping. The steady sound of the blonde's heartbeat was comforting to Larsa, and he soon fell asleep—the exhaustion of his duties finally catching up to him.
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"Your Excellency!" Gabranth, a Judge fresh out of the Imperial Academy, rushed into the Council Chamber. "I bring news of the Empress!"
Emperor Gramis quickly dropped the quill he was holding as he abruptly stood up. "Senators, I must ask that this council be suspended." He turned to the young Imperial at the door. "Is it time?"
Gabranth nodded, "The midwives say that the Empress is about to give birth."
Emperor Gramis left the chamber in uncharacteristic haste, his expression a mixture of apprehension and excitement.
The hallway of the Empress' chambers was deserted, with only one of the midwives standing outside the large double doors. She frowned upon seeing Gabranth, a Judge, approach the chambers. "The Empress has asked that no Imperials be sent near her chambers while she is to give birth. She sees it ill-fit for men of war to be so near her new-born child."
Gabranth gritted his teeth at the insult, intent on showing the midwife her place, but the Emperor stopped him with a gentle hand on his forearm.
"He is to stay, Matron, Gabranth is to be the guardian of my youngest child."
"Your Excellency-!" The blonde started in shock at the Emperor's words. "To be the guardian to an heir of House Solidor is too great an honor for one such as I. I am not worthy."
"Indeed he is not! Your Excellency, I beg you reconsider." The elderly woman shook her head in dismay as she cast a disdainful look in Gabranth's direction.
"My mind is set." Emperor Gramis said firmly. Matron bowed respectfully as she opened one of the doors and lead both Emperor and Judge to the receiving area of the Empress' chambers.
"Please take a seat your Excellency. I must now attend to the Empress." Matron once again bowed before disappearing into the main bedroom, the heavy door closed behind her with a dull thud.
The sound of shuffling and the sound of the Empress' muffled cries seeped through the oak doors and Gabranth could see that the Emperor was ill-at-ease. "Fear not, your Excellency. The Empress is strong and has given birth to three healthy princes, she will be well."
Emperor Gramis smiled weakly, "Nothing escapes you, Gabranth. I have chosen well. I would not have another look after my child."
"I am honoured." Gabranth was about to say something more when the sharp cries from within the chambers escalated to a degree that both Judge and Emperor could hear the Empress too clearly. It was unmistakable to Gabranth's ears, they were the cries of one in excruciating pain.
The Emperor was on his feet at once as rushed to the doors to the bedchambers. He turned the knob, but it was locked from within. Gabranth asked the Emperor to step back as he knocked on the hardwood with his gauntleted fists—gently at first, but as the cries from within escalated even more, he began pounding on the door. The feeling of cold dread began creeping up his spine and he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
There was something wrong.
"Open this door!" Gabranth shouted through the thick oak as he pounded on it relentlessly. The Emperor was beside himself with worry, the Empress could be heard from within as she wailed and screamed as if in agony. The shuffling from within became even more erratic, but no one from inside seemed to have any intention of opening the door.
"Your Excellency..."
"She will be well Gabranth..." Emperor Gramis whispered as he collapsed weakly unto the couch, rubbing his shaking hands together. "She will be well..."
For a moment, the cries died down and Gabranth let himself hope that all was well. However, a piercing scream echoed from within—it was almost chilling in intensity, and it made Gabranth's blood run cold. The Emperor stiffened from where he sat, fingers digging into the upholstery as the wail died down—and there was silence. A cold, dead, silence.
"No." The Emperor cried out. "My love..." Emperor Gramis once against rushed to the doors to the bedchambers and began turning the knob almost frantically, as if in some sort of panic. "Open this door at once, in the name of the Emperor! I shall have you all hanged! Where is she? Where is my wife!"
The door finally clicked open from within, and a midwife stepped out, blood staining the once immaculate white of her dress. Gabranth suddenly felt sick.
Before any of them could say the word, the Emperor rushed inside the room—the midwife calling uselessly behind him. Gabranth grabbed the midwife roughly by the upper arm as he spun the frightened woman around. "What of the Emperor's child? What happened in there? Speak, woman!"
The woman was frantic as she tried to find the right words, "the prince... the prince—we were able to save the prince! But... my lady... the Empress... we couldn't—we tried... truly, we tried—we couldn't!"
"What of the Empress? What have you done!" Gabranth demanded angrily, his hold so tight on the woman's arm that she cried out in pain.
"The Empress has passed! The pregnancy was too difficult for her—we did our best to save them both!" The midwife spat out angrily as she broke free of Gabranth's suddenly lax grasp.
"GET OUT! GET OUT, ALL OF YOU!" The Emperor's voice echoed from the bedchambers—he had never sounded so terrifying. All the midwives rushed out of the chambers, the smell of blood was heavy in the air. Gabranth knew this smell... it smelled of death.
The blonde stepped into the main chambers, there was so much blood... the pristine linens on the Empress' bed was stained crimson.
"Did you not hear what I said? Get out! Get out Judge, or I shall have you executed—along with this child, born out of my beloved's pain and death!" The Emperor howled in an almost menacing manner, his grief overcoming reason. Gabranth swallowed nervously, but did not cease in his approach. He could hear someone sobbing—it was very faint, but he was certain he heard it.
"Do not harm the young prince! He is your son, your Excellency!"
"Never! He is not my son! He is my curse! He is a curse!" Emperor Gramis wheeled around, there was crazed look in his eyes as he suddenly grabbed Gabranth's sword with one hand—a small bundle precariously held in the other. The bundle stirred and the small baby began to cry. "I shall put an end to this!"
Gabranth made to grab his sword, but was only able to grasp its blade. He held it tightly, though he felt the cold steel begin to cut through his gauntlets. "Do not do this, your Grace! The Empress would not want you to do this!"
Emperor Gramis tried to pull the blade away, but the Judge did not relinquish his hold—though blood began trickling down the cold steel. "Why... why do go against the will of your master!"
"Because the Emperor I serve knows that this is not what he truly wants." Gabranth spoke steadily, though the pain in his hand began to shoot up his arm. "I must protect you, your Excellency, even from yourself. This is my duty to the Empire and to House Solidor."
The Emperor suddenly felt weary... the Judge's words washed over him, as if calming him down from his frenzy. He dropped the sword and pulled the small bundle close to his chest, for the first time peering into impossibly wide blue eyes. "My love..." Emperor Gramis whispered as tears began to fall down his cheeks. The baby was still crying, but he slowly calmed down into soft sobs.
"Thank you... Gabranth... I shall forever be grateful." The Emperor sounded more like himself as he gently handed over the young prince to the blonde. "Today, you have proven yourself worthy. From this day forward, I bind you to my son, Larsa, and he shall be bound to you. Protect him from all that I cannot." Emperor Gramis pressed Gabranth's hands to the small bundle. "For now, leave me... to say my farewells."
Gabranth bowed dutifully as he accepted the small prince in his arms. The prince—Larsa—looked up at him, large blue eyes, flushed cheeks, and lips set in a pout—a mirror image of the Empress herself. "So I am now bound to you, little prince?"
The baby frowned then began to bawl, obviously frightened at the sight of the Judge's helm and his threatening voice through the steel. Gabranth sighed as he exited the Empress' chambers, crying prince in his arms. This was going to need a lot of getting used to.
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Gabranth grunted in his sleep, the first reaction he had had since he lost consciousness. Larsa quickly sat up at the sound and saw the blonde's eyebrows furrow slightly before his face relaxed to its normal blank state. "Gabranth!" Larsa cried out. "I saw it... I know you're there... please! Please wake up!"
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"A chocobo?" Gabranth frowned as the now 9 year old Solidor heir came up to him. "The Emperor wishes you to learn to ride?"
"Indeed he has, Gabranth. He bid me to choose whichever chocobo I want and that you must teach me to ride." Larsa beamed proudly as he followed his Judge protector to the Imperial stables.
The Judge nodded to the stable-hand who had come out to help them. "The young lord wishes to choose his own chocobo, perhaps the juvenile born the year past? From the plains of Ozmone?" The stable-hand nodded as he disappeared into the barn, emerging a short time later with a small yellow chocobo in tow.
It was an adorable thing, still quite small for a chocobo, but already taller than a man. Its feathers were still pale yellow and it still had its down. Gabranth approached the chocobo and checked its beak, felt its feathers and its legs. "A healthy juvenile, and very tame—this would be suitable for you, Lord Larsa."
Larsa shook his head stubbornly, a frown on his face. "I do not wish to ride a juvenile! I cannot ride a juvenile chocobo to war can I? I want a war chocobo... a large one!"
The blonde shook his head in dismay, he knew this was bound to happen. "Get the one from the Tchita Uplands... the large one, if you please." Gabranth addressed the stable-hand, and the latter already knew which chocobo Gabranth was referring to. The Tchita Uplands produced the finest paraders. Very large and very tall, majestic chocobos—born and bred for parading, meaning they never ran, sprinted, or did anything aggressive.
As expected, the young lord was delighted when the chocobo was brought out and quickly asked the grooms to saddle it. Larsa flatly refused to let Gabranth ride the chocobo behind him, insisting that the Judge ride his own alongside Larsa's chocobo. Gabranth acceded, knowing there was no danger as the parader would only walk at a very slow pace, no matter how much the young lord egged it on.
The pair was soon having a leisurely stroll about the palace grounds when Larsa let out an exasperated sigh as he dug his heels into his chocobo's sides. "There is something horribly wrong with my chocobo, Gabranth. It will not hasten its pace! Make it go faster!"
"I'm afraid I cannot Lord Larsa. The parader will not hasten its pace, not even for me." Gabranth teased as he let out a hearty laugh. Larsa, on the other hand, did not enjoy being tricked and made fun of so he led his chocobo away in a huff—intent on ignoring the Judge till he felt like talking to him again.
Larsa locked himself in his chambers the rest of the morning, still angry at Gabranth for tricking him. The Judge felt a little guilty for doing so, but his better judgment would not allow the young lord to ride anything other than the juvenile from Ozmone or the Tchita parader—chocobos were in no way easy to mount. Gabranth could remember how many broken bones he had suffered learning to ride on wild chocobos.
"The stable hands tell me that Larsa has locked himself in his chambers." The Emperor looked up from his paperwork and looked at the Judge before him. "Care to tell me why this is so, Gabranth?"
"The young lord wished to ride a war chocobo, your Excellency. I opted for him to ride a Tchita parader... much to his disapproval." Gabranth could not help but feel a bit ridiculous having to explain his actions for a child's tantrum.
"You have to forgive me for spoiling him so—"
"Your Grace!" A groom rushed into the study, a panicked expression on his face. He spared a look at Gabranth before bowing again. "Your honor... the young lord Larsa—! A chocobo has run off with the prince astride!"
The Emperor stood up, a familiar fear shooting through him. "Gabranth!"
"Be at ease your Excellency, I shall bring him back." The Judge bowed. "I take my leave."
"Which one has he taken?" Gabranth walked briskly to the stables, ready to mount Aesir but stopped in front of the now empty stall. "Where is Aesir?"
One of the stable-hands rushed up to Gabranth, "Your honor, Lord Larsa has taken your war chocobo! As soon as he was mounted, the beast ran off—the young lord can scarcely brace himself on its back! Pray, you must be quick!"
Gabranth cursed under his breath as he ordered another war chocobo be saddled. Aesir was his chocobo, caught and trained by him personally and was raised for war—he did not take well to inexperienced riders and answered only to Gabranth. The Judge mounted the prepared chocobo and set out in the direction pointed to him—if the gods be with him, he would be able to catch up to Aesir, with the young lord still upon him.
Gabranth had been riding hard for a few minutes when he heard another chocobo fast approaching behind him. "Lord Vayne." The Judge greeted as the Solidor's red chocobo ran alongside his. "I will find my brother and slay the beast. Do not get in my way, Judge." The teenager spurred his mount on and soon disappeared from sight.
Finally, a black spot appeared in Gabranth's line of vision and he heard the young lord's faint voice from the distance. The Judge urged his chocobo to a sprint until he was within earshot. "Lord Larsa! Hold on tightly! Aesir!"
Larsa was crying as he held tightly to the war chocobo's neck, he called out to his Judge protector. "Gabranth please... I am afraid! Please...!" The young lord's grip slipped through Aeris' black feathers, fingers and arms weary from holding on. "I'm slipping!"
Gabranth reached out an arm and was able to grab hold of the young lord's sleeve before Aesir bucked suddenly, completely throwing off the Solidor—his sleeve slipping from the Judge's grasp.
"Father! I have told you not to keep the savage beast in our stables!" Vayne hissed as both heir and Judge stood before the Emperor—the Solidor was nothing short of furious. "Just as you keep this hound in the castle!"
"You would do well to hold your tongue, Vayne. I may be your father, but I am Emperor still. My decisions are absolute, or do you question your Emperor?" Gramis stood up to his full height, shooting Vayne a look that quickly silenced the angry teenager.
"Never. Forgive me, your Excellency. Still, because of this man's beast, Larsa has broken is arm and lays unconscious—this cannot go unpunished!"
"What have you to say for yourself, Gabranth? Before I pass sentence."
Gabranth removed his helm and tucked it under an arm. "I have no words to excuse my fault, your Excellency." The guilt within the blonde ate at him, so ashamed was he at failing to protect the young lord.
"And with good reason." Vayne interjected.
"Enough, Vayne. Leave us." The Emperor dismissed his son, his patience wearing thin.
The teenager looked at the Judge with contempt before he bowed to his father and took his leave.
Once alone, Emperor Gramis rested his head on his palm—exhaustion and worry washing over him. "Gabranth, how could you let this happen... Larsa—my son—"
"Forgive me, your Grace. Though my words mean nothing..."
"The beast shall die. This is your sentence."
Gabranth swallowed hard but nodded. "As you will it, your Excellency."
Aesir nuzzled Gabranth's hand affectionately as he approached, happy to see a familiar face from where he was chained. The chain clinked as the black chocobo nipped at it, turning beady eyes to the blonde—as if asking to be set free. Gabranth's heart was heavy in his chest as he ran gloved fingers through the shiny black feathers. "Aesir... forgive me."
The blonde pressed his forehead against the soft feathers of his mount... tears prickling at his eyes. For him, Aesir was much like him—taken from the wild, an outsider amongst Imperials. "Goodbye Aesir." Gabranth raised a dagger to the chocobo's throat.
"Gabranth, please stop!" Larsa's voice broke through the silence of the night. Gabranth turned from where he stood, both surprised and relieved to see the young lord awake—though with an arm in a sling. "Lord Larsa—you should not be here."
"Nor should I..." The Emperor emerged from the darkness, supporting the young lord as he limped towards the Judge. "And yet here we are."
"Your Excellency, my young lord... both of you must not be here." Gabranth whispered hoarsely. "It is... not proper for royalty to be without their cortege in the palace grounds. Moreso, here... where I am to carry out my punishment."
"Father please!" Larsa cried out, "tell him!"
"Yes, yes... Larsa, you must not be so impatient. It is unbecoming." The Emperor scolded, albeit gently.
"Gabranth, Larsa told me that he ordered the stable-hands to saddle your chocobo... and that he mounted him without your knowledge and consent. That it was his entire fault that this fate had befallen him... what say you to this?"
Gabranth shook his head. "No, your Excellency. I am with fault. Had I not left him... had I not brought Ae—the beast into the Imperial stables—Lord Larsa would not have—"
Emperor Gramis raised a hand to silence the Judge. "Gabranth, from the first day I held Larsa in my arms—I bound him to you and you to him as guardian and protector. I asked you to be his shield—to protect him from all... but never for his own wrong doings. This day, my son came to me and confessed his faults while you took the blame without word in your own defense. You have proven to me your loyalty to my house and your love for my son. Kneel, Judge Gabranth."
Confused though he was, the blonde followed and knelt before the Emperor and the young lord.
"As shield and protector of my son, so I ask you now to protect the Empire. Uphold her laws and be swift in justice. Gabranth, you knelt down before me a Judge—rise now, a Magister."
The blood was pounding in Gabranth's ears as he heard the Emperor's voice—he could not believe it... was he truly to be a Judge Magister of Archadia? The blonde rose on shaky legs, head still buzzing with confusion, unbelief, and unmasked elation. "Your Excellency... I—I..."
Emperor Gramis broke out into a hearty laugh. "Before battle you stand unfazed, before an old man and a child you stand speechless. I am surprised Gabranth."
"Gabranth, I have come to apologize for my indiscretion." Larsa finally spoke as he pulled away from his father and limped towards the blonde. "Would you find it in your heart to forgive me, for that which I have done?"
"There is nothing to forgive, my lord." Gabranth smiled as he held the boy's upper arm firmly to support him. Larsa clung to him as he turned to look at Aesir. "Do you think... Aesir would find it in his heart to forgive me?"
"I am sure he will, Lord Larsa."
The Emperor approached the forlorn chocobo and regarded it carefully. "This chocobo... it is not from here is it? Not bred in captivity?"
"No, your Grace. I caught him when my mother and I fled from Landis—I trained him... and he has gone with me to every battle since then."
"He reminds me very much of you, Gabranth, when I first found you and brought you to the castle." The Emperor smiled fondly. "Young and headstrong, more than willing to prove yourself... yet still brash and careless as youths are."
"Shall I grow up like Gabranth, father?" Larsa asked as he looked up at the new Judge Magister. "I would very much like that."
Gabranth's smile faltered—his was no life for one such as Larsa. "I am bound to serve, little lord, you were born to lead."
"And so he shall, under your protection. I shall hold you to your oath, Judge Magister Gabranth."
"With my life, your Excellency."
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Gabranth stirred in his sleep, eyebrows furrowing once more as his fingers twitched slightly in Larsa's hold. The young lord rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he watched the blonde stir—silently wishing that he would wake up at last. "Gabranth... if you are in there... if you truly do love me, please wake up."
Slowly, the blonde's eyelids fluttered open—blue eyes slowly focusing on the young lord's face above him. "L...Lar—sa...?" Gabranth's voice cracked as he spoke the name weakly.
"I am here Gabranth... always..." Larsa whispered back as he cried into the Judge's neck.
Long arms wound themselves around the young lord's small form and pulled him close. Gabranth took in a deep breath, inhaling as much of Larsa's scent as he could—it had been too long. For a moment they lay there, tangled together in silence, except for the Solidor's soft sobs. Gabranth ran a hand up and down the boys back to comfort him as he pressed a light kiss on the top of Larsa's head.
Larsa suddenly sat up and looked down at Gabranth, eyes staring down at the knight with such intensity the latter had never seen in Larsa's guileless eyes before. "Lord Larsa?"
Before Gabranth could say anything else, Larsa's lips were upon his—firm and demanding, catching the blonde completely by surprise. The Judge tried to slow the boy down, but the young lord pressed harder against him. Larsa's tongue slipped into Gabranth's mouth—hot and needy, and Gabranth was lost. He pulled the young lord on top of him, fingers tangling in onyx hair as he easily dominated the kiss.
Larsa pushed himself up until he was straddling Gabranth's hips, half-lidded blue eyes fluttering closed as he rolled slender hips against the man's quickly growing arousal. Gabranth rolled his head back against the pillows at the sudden surge of pleasure which shot through him and moaned. Warm hands ran over the feverish skin of Gabranth's chest, resting over the well-formed muscles of his abdomen. Larsa was breathing hard, dark strands of hair strewn about his face, wet from sweat—trailing to the hollow of his collar bone.
Gabranth strained himself to sit up and dipped his tongue into the hollow, calloused hands gripping Larsa's slim hips as he grinded desperately against the young lord. Larsa unexpectedly gripped the Judge's shoulders and shoved him back down with surprising strength.
Gabranth landed on his back against the mattress with more force than he expected. Larsa tightened his grip on the blonde's shoulders and pinning him down with his intense blue gaze. Gabranth thrust his hips upwards in growing impatience at their current state of over-dress, but did not attempt to sit up once more.
Satisfied that the Judge would stay down, Larsa straightened himself over Gabranth and began rocking his hips. Gabranth groaned at the friction, hands ghosting over the young lord's thin tunic before literally ripping the fabric apart. Larsa gave a sharp cry of surprise at Gabranth's uncharacteristic force, but paid it no heed as the ruined tunic was pulled off his body.
Larsa's hips had stilled, but his chest was heaving as if he had run for miles.
"I want to feel you, Gabranth." Larsa breathed as he ran an uncertain hand down the blonde's sternum, over the hardened abdomen, before it lingered over the top Gabranth's breeches. A sharp intake of breath gave Larsa his answer without need for words. He undid the already loose laces and slipped his fingers beneath the rough fabric, his eyes not leaving Gabranth's face. The Judge's lips were parted slightly, small puffs of air coming faster as Larsa's fingers trailed lower. His eyes were closed, bet there was no innocence in the expression. There was desire. An unbridled lust. Need. A tightening of features that bordered on pain as Larsa's fingers wrapped tightly around his manhood.
Gabranth's eyes drifted open, locking on Larsa's. A large hand on the boy's wrist stilled the intimate caress. "Lord Larsa—"
"I will not give you up Gabranth. You should know that by now."
Larsa knew that Gabranth understood when the older man released his wrist and thrust up into his hand. The blonde moaned hotly at the touch, burying his head deeper into the pillows as his hips thrust into the tunnel of Larsa's hand. One hand gripped at Larsa's hip while the other dipped into the confines of the Solidor's trousers. A sharp cry of pleasure ripped through Larsa's lips when Gabranth gripped the satin length of his own manhood, stroking the hard flesh.
Larsa moaned and whimpered as he rolled his hips into Gabranth's expert touch, his body felt like it was on fire. The intensity with which Gabranth held his gaze was too much that Larsa turned his head away, suddenly embarrassed by his overwhelming need—but a firm hand on his chin forced him to look back down at the Judge.
"Do not look away from me Lord Larsa."
Larsa forced himself to look back into Gabranth's blue eyes, feeling his embarrassment slowly disappear in the face of unrestrained desire. The young lord braced his arms on either side of Gabranth's head and flexed his back with another groan, thrusting almost madly into the tunnel of heat of the blonde's hand. Gabranth let his head fall back into the mattress and moaned, trembling hands running down the young lord's slick back before rough fingers dug into the sensitive flesh of narrow hips.
Reining in his burning arousal, Gabranth deliberately began to roll his hips, palming both his and Larsa's erections in one hand. Larsa breathed deeply as he thrust harder into Gabranth's touch, grinding his manhood against the other's in a hard, intense rhythm. The Judge moaned behind grit teeth. He had not known that young lord could be so passionate, each thrust hard enough to push them farther up the bed.
Gabranth opened his eyes and was filled with Larsa, body gyrating above him, head thrown back with his lower lip caught between his teeth to temper the moans which he could not completely stifle. The blonde pumped faster and Larsa's head snapped forward, looking him straight in the eye.
"Gabranth. Take me."
Gabranth's fingers dug deeper into Larsa's hip at the demand and he hissed. The pleasure was rising too sharply through his body, and he could not think clearly. But it was not the time... not yet.
"No... not yet." The blonde gasped out with much difficulty as he felt his abdomen tightening and his eyes rolling to the back of his head.
Panting hard, Larsa grit his teeth and thrust even harder against the Judge—almost in desperation. "Gods please... Gabranth, I need you."
The boy's rhythm was hard, fast, and persistent. The mere sight of the Solidor heir in the throes of uncontrolled passion was not helping Gabranth's crumbling resolve. Gabranth knew that holding himself back through pure self-discipline would not work a second time.
The blonde sat up and captured the boy's lips in his own, his hand stroking between their sweat-slicked bodies. Larsa cried out when Gabranth sped up his strokes, fingers clutching painfully at the older man's shoulders. Gabranth drank the boy's cries of pleasure as he moaned into his mouth, tongue claiming the welcoming wetness. The blonde lost himself, thrusting and grinding his hips into his palm and against the heat of their undulating bodies. He thrust up again, and again, meeting Larsa thrust for thrust until Larsa was undone, Gabranth's name leaving his lips as white streams splattered on their feverish skin. The blonde grasped the Solidors hips again and grinded up against him until he too soon followed.
For a moment, they lay there in silence—Gabranth was the first to move, feeling the warm body panting hard on top of him. The Judge blinked several times to regain his vision, dispelling the bright flashes which refused to leave. Within moments, the ceiling of his chambers came into focus again.
He looked down at the Solidor heir who looked utterly spent... and embarrassed as he tried his best to bury his onyx head between the crook between Gabranth's neck and shoulder. Smiling affectionately, the blonde pressed a kiss against Larsa's temple and ran long fingers through the now unruly black strands. The boy leaned into the kiss and sighed in contentment.
"Can we stay like this?" Gabranth finally asked.
Larsa sighed as he turned to his side to watch Gabranth's face. "Yes."
"As what? Judge Magister and heir?" The blonde thought bitterly, somehow forgetting that Larsa was the only heir left in House Solidor.
"As Judge Magister and Regent... until I come of age."
There was a terse silence which followed. Gabranth ran his fingers through matted onyx hair as he pushed it back from the boy's face. "You deserve so much more than this."
Larsa remained silent as he looked at Gabranth carefully. "I cannot come away with you... nor be just Larsa..."
Gabranth closed his eyes.
"But I will ask—no, beg—for you to stay." Larsa cupped Gabranth's face in his hands, thumbs brushing wayward tears that had begun to fall down sun-tanned cheeks. "Stay with me, Gabranth. Run away from me no longer."
The Judge opened his eyes and looked at Larsa's earnest face. The emotion reflected in Larsa's eyes was almost too much, but Gabranth took it all in, he would not turn away from Larsa again. Among the conflicting emotions within him was a questioning apprehension that pulled at heartstrings he never knew he had. How long did he have with his young lord before Larsa grew up?
Gabranth shook his head and smiled sadly. If he could have this, if only for a little while, he would have given up the world.
"Then I shall stay, as long as you will have me."
"Then I will have you forever."
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1 more chapter left before the Epilogue. :)
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