This chapter is from All American Rejects - The Poison

"I'm s-sorry."

Riftan tightened his hold on Maxi as she sat nestled under his arm beneath one of the oak trees.

"I told you to stop apologizing, the fault was mine." he mumbled, enjoying the feeling of her beside him as his back rested against the tree.

"B-but...you t-truly didn't tell S-sir G-Gabel?"

"Is that what he said?"

"W-well...no I just...h-he knew you w-would...be here."

"What did he say to you?" Riftan asked as he rested his cheek against the top of her head.

"He...he a-asked wh-when you w-would...arrive, I t-told him soon. He th-then a-asked if I've h-heard the s-story of h-how you bested...Ludgal or h-how you earned...your n-nickname."

"He didn't say anything else?" Riftan asked as he began to absentmindedly play with her sleeve, his thumb tracing over the tiny stitching decorating the hem.

He felt Maxi shake her head, making him lift his head up to avoid scratching his face on the tiny jewels decorating her hair.

What she was saying didn't sound so far-fetched. Gabel was always looking for an opportunity to spin some story, Riftan just expected the man to have said something that would no doubt make her uncomfortable.

"Riftan?"

"Hm?"

"H-how d-did he know?"

He hesitated, Riftan wasn't sure how good of an idea it was to tell the lady Gabel had possibly overheard everything they had done in the hall. Still, he never wanted to lie to her.

"I got too careless, he overhead some things he shouldn't have." He hoped it was vague enough that she wouldn't fully understand when that carelessness had occurred. He also hoped that with how she was sitting Maxi couldn't see the blush he could feel spreading across his face.

"Oh..." her voice grew quiet and for a moment he thought the unpleasant conversation had passed, allowing them to continue enjoying each other's company. That is, until he felt her body jolt before she began to scrabble out of his arms. "W-w-wait!"

Reluctantly, he let go of her, allowing Maxi to stand above him with a bright red face and tears in her eyes.

"Th-the...the d-door, was th-that him at th-the d-door?"

Well...shit.

Sighing, Riftan moved his hair out of his face before moving to stand up with her.

"Yes."

"And h-he t-t-told your c-commander?"

He simply nodded.

"Y-your c-commander kn-kn-knows th-that we..."

"Yes, he does but I told you, they won't tell anyone." he tried to say in a reassuring tone, but his voice sounded a little too irritated to him.

He watched as Maxi hid her face in her hands while shaking her head.

"I-I-I...I c-can't face th-them again." Her teary voice was muffled by her hands as her panic only seemed to rise.

Riftan knew it was cruel, but he couldn't help but find her frantic blushing and embarrassment a little endearing.

Chuckling softly, Riftan gently took her hands away from her face allowing him to lean and place a kiss on her forehead.

"It might actually be a good thing that they know."

Maxi took a step back, looking in complete disbelief at his words.

"H-how?" she squeaked out.

Fuck, I want to kiss her.

Riftan tried to focus on the feeling of her racing heart tapping against his thumb as he continued to hold onto her. It was a decent distraction from how adorable she was acting at the moment.

"They're the reason why your maids have left you alone today."

Maxi continued to look flushed and anxious, but the tears that were threatening to fall seemed to fade away.

"R-really? B-but...why?"

"So, I can see you every day before I leave." Riftan answered as his thumb began to sweep over the delicate skin of her wrist.

"Th-that's...kind of th-them..." Riftan watched as her expression started to fall, he had a feeling why. Unless they kept meeting up after the banquets, he'd only be able to see her three more times.

Using his hold on her, Riftan slowly pulled her in. Maxi quickly accepted the hug, and as she wrapped her arms around him Riftan could swear his heart felt lighter.

"Maxi?"

"Yes?"

"Is there someone you trust?"

She was quiet for a moment before he heard a very soft whisper.

"I t-trust you."

Her words made Riftan smile as his whole body warmed up. Squeezing her tight he kissed the crown of her head.

"Adorable as that answer is, that's not what I mean." Looking down at her, he saw her ears start to turn red.

"Wh-what do you m-mean?"

"A maid or a servant...really anyone that you can trust completely in the castle."

Maxi moved back enough to look up at him, whatever panic or melancholy she had before seemed to have faded away into curiosity.

Smiling, Riftan brought a hand up to play with her earring, rubbing his thumb over the little amethyst stone.

"I don't know when I'll be back, so I thought we could send letters." He felt a little foolish saying it out loud but the smile on her face quickly reassured him.

"R-really?"

"It would need to be done in secret, which is why we need someone to help you with delivering and receiving letters."

Maxi kept smiling as she listened to him, her fingers tracing over the necklace again. "I'll th-think of...someone. H-how w-would it work?"

By the time Maxi had to leave for the night they were able to create a rather simple plan. From Riftan's side of things it was rather easy, the only thing he had to worry about was a nosy mage. He just had to send her a letter with some coins. From there, whoever she chose would pick up the letter from the courier and place it in a leather pouch under a marked rock beneath the tree they'd always met. In Maxi's case, she would need to somehow inform the one she trusted to take her own letter from beneath the rock along with the coins Riftan had sent to both pocket as their own payment and to pay the courier.

The more they planned everything out the more excited she seemed, and he'll admit it put his mind at ease. Letters could never replace the feeling of holding her or seeing her smile, but it was better than being completely cut off from her.

All they needed now was someone she could trust.

It was truly amazing how quickly Gabel could spoil his mood. Deep down he knew Gabel was serious in his remarks to teach him how to 'properly please a woman' however that didn't stop Riftan from hoping, nearly praying, that the younger knight was just trying to get a rise out of him.

Sadly, that didn't seem to be the case. Almost as soon as Riftan woke up he heard a knock at his door. As soon as he had opened the door Gabel let himself into Riftan's room with enough confidence that someone could mistake it as his own room.

Taking in a deep breath, Riftan tried to keep his voice down as he closed the door.

"Why are you here? Don't you have maids to pester?"

Gabel waved away his remark as his eyes scanned the room. "Hebaron offered to help out again today."

Riftan notices Gabel's eyes go towards the pressed flower on his nightstand. Before he could get anywhere near it, Riftan intervened, blocking him while Gabel gave him an annoyingly knowing glance.

"Rather adorable of her. I do hope you have gifted her something as well?"

Riftan tried to ignore the heat starting to spread across his face. There was nothing Gabel could do that would get Riftan to admit the hours it took for him to find a simple necklace for the lady.

"What do you want?"

Gabel frowned as he crossed his arms.

"Really? No good morning? No, how are you or thank you?"

Riftan didn't give Gabel the satisfaction of a reaction of any sorts. After a few seconds of silence Gabel sighed and shrugged.

"Fine, straight to the point then, no room for fun or flair. I came to make good on my promise to teach you."

"I don't recall you making any promises."

"I felt it was implied."

Riftan groaned as he ran his hand over his face.

"I don't need your help."

"Oh, is that so? You know, Vice Commander, in all the years I've known you I can seem to recall a single instance where you took a woman to bed."

"Why the hell would you notice that?"

"It's hard not to notice when nearly every time we stay somewhere a woman tries her best to sleep with you, and I do believe none have succeeded."

He wanted to argue against that, but he was right. It was an annoyance that others in the order had pointed out before.

"I still don't need any help; I've heard and seen enough over the years."

Like it or not, Riftan had grown up unwillingly hearing the other men boast about their 'conquests' and many would argue with each other on who was superior in pleasing a woman. From what little he had tried, some of that they said seemed to be true. Maxi did seem to like it when he kissed her neck.

Gabel scoffed, seemingly ignoring the blush that continued to linger on Riftan's face.

"From foul mouthed mercenaries?" Gabel clicked his tongue as he shook his head. "Their view of making love is simply hiking up a skirt and taking a woman like a mad fool."

Riftan frowned as he thought back to a moment not long after he was allowed to join the Blackhorn Dragon mercenaries. He had been sent out to go buy something from a nearby shop, he couldn't even remember what it was. All he could remember was noticing one of the mercenaries with a woman in the alleyway doing exactly what Gabel had described. He was so shocked at what he was seeing them do in the middle of the day, but he felt like he couldn't look away and Riftan could still vividly remember the annoyed look on the woman's face.

Riftan's once annoyed expression fell for a moment as he suddenly realized something.

I had almost done that.

Looking away from Gabel, Riftan remembered his drunken actions toward Maxi the other night and the way she had pushed him away.

"Oh my, don't tell me that's what you intended to do. I'd advise against beddin-"

"Do you take me for a fool? I have no intentions of doing anything that would give her a bastard." Riftan snapped back as he began to feel disgusted with himself.

Did she have the same expression as that woman in the alley?

"I take you for a man who has never played the part of a paramour before." Gabel quickly explained as he took a step back from Riftan.

"What did you just call me?"

"Paramour, an illicit lover. Which is what you are."

With the tone he was using, it felt as though he was poking fun at the fact Riftan agreed to become her 'paramour', but he honestly felt no shame in it. The label of what he was to her didn't matter as long as it meant he could hold and kiss her, that he could fall asleep knowing the truth of her feelings, that both had a hold of each other's hearts.

"If you don't leave right now I'm throwing you out the window." Riftan threatened, not wishing for Gabel to continue with his pestering.

"It's rather strange how shy you are about this." Gabel said with a light chuckle that was quickly cut off when Riftan took a step towards him.

"Yes, alright, I get the hint." he said while holding his hands up in defense as he made his way to the door. "Just know, you can't escape my advice while we're on the road."

Riftan picked up his pace towards Gabel who quickly left the room, nearly missing the door as Riftan slammed it shut. This time he could hear something crack in the wood and he knew that

If Gabel came to visit again the door might not survive.

When it was finally nearing the time, he would normally go meet Maxi, Riftan tentatively left his room, keeping a lookout to make sure Gabel wasn't around. It was a little demeaning to feel the need to hide from someone he should see as an ally, but the idea of having someone younger than him try and give him advice on that matter wasn't something he looked forward to.

Just when Riftan felt he was in the clear he heard Triton calling out to him, causing his shoulders to drop.

"Ah, Calypse, I see you've decided to grace the halls with your presence."

Riftan turned to watch his commander approach him, judging by the armor and the sweat staining his tunic Riftan could tell the man had just finished sparring.

"You have Gabel to thank for my lack of presence." Despite the venom in his voice his commander laughed.

"The lad means well."

"I'm sure he likes to believe that." Riftan continued to look over his commander, his eyes narrowing when he noticed the older knight wince slightly as he adjusted the straps on his armor.

"I thought I had advised against you sparing. We can't have you crippling yourself over something trivial."

Triton huffed while shaking his head. "There's no need to mother me, I'm not some withered old man."

"We should have the mage cast-."

"Lighten up, Calypse, I won't lose my sword arm over some sparing." Triton interrupted while waving away the idea.

"It is the vice's job to worry about his commander's condition." he grumbled.

His commander shook his head again. "Alright, I'll go see to a mage if it'll keep you from fretting, but in return I need you to stop sneaking out and attend what few banquets are left."

"Are the reparation negotiations nearly over?"

Triton nodded. "After we're done here, we'll have to report back to His Majesty in Drachium. After that, you should be free of any duties for a while."

Despite the fact Riftan knew this was happening, a feeling of loss still washed over him. It was strange, a month ago he was looking forward to hearing this news but now...now he had to keep reminding himself of the letters he would get from her.

"Understood." he said while trying to keep his voice as neutral as possible.

Seeming to sense the shift in Riftan's mood his commander placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I also need you to keep in mind what doors you should be exiting."

Riftan cleared his throat and nodded, trying his best to continue to act nonchalant despite his commander's teasing.

Seemingly satisfied, his commander gave his shoulder a light pat before he started to leave. However, Triton only took a few steps away from his vice before turning around.

"Oh, before I forget. Do be careful with how you indulge yourself at the banquets, I heard too much sugar is bad for your health."

Riftan's face became so hot he could have sworn someone had set it on fire as he felt completely dumbfounded by his commander's comment. The older man didn't seem to mind Riftan's reaction as he continued to walk away but as he turned the corner Riftan could swear Triton started to chuckle.

Gabel had better make some peace with his life, because Riftan was going to kill the man the next time they sparred.