Game Eight: Friends love!

Albel woke up…but when had he fallen asleep?

The last thing he remembered was the refreshing liquid and toasty warm savory in his mouth when he had started to... drift off to sleep. But where was- and he looked down as something… 'on him'... moved. And he nearly jumped Fayt off.

What the hell!

He sat up to see the empty plate of cookies and glasses of milk- two glasses. That afternoon had just been one large blur of giggles and niceness- and either the milk didn’t agree with him, or he felt sick because of it. Fayt was going to turn him into a Sophia if he didn’t change back soon… he went pale. Anything but that!

He could only lay in horror as Fayt shifted and mumbled in his sleep. “Best friend.” Albel twitched uncomfortably. If he could just inch away to escape- he began- but Fayt held on tightly. He was trapped! “Albel… huwaaah… mm- love you…” Fayt snuggled close.

“The hell!” Albel exclaimed in a whisper, sitting right back now, forcing those little eyes to flutter open. He had not signed up for this! Love?!

“Albel?” Fayt yawned sleepily, rubbing his eyes.

Albel clamped his mouth shut to contain a noise that the sight of such a thing was the cutest thing he’d ever… but he quickly looked away as Fayt looked up at him. “You have 5 seconds to get off me,” he growled.

Fayt seemed confused. “But you said I could…”

“That was the milk talking- now get off!” Albel ordered.

“Oh… ok…Albel?” Fayt looked up as he sat now nearby.

“What?” Albel was red, avoiding Fayt’s searching eyes.

*grumble*

“Heh, heh…I think my tummy’s hungry,” Fayt mused, holding it and listening again.

“Again! Bah- you eat like a lum!” Albel’s brow furrowed, still mighty disturbed over Fayt’s confession, after all, the bluenette was still a 20 year old young man and these feelings were all his- did that mean that… Albel gulped and his mouth quivered.

“Albel, can we get some food?” Fayt asked hopefully.

And yet despite his triumph with Sophia, Albel was left reluctant once more, walking ahead of the boy to avoid even hand contact.

When they got back to the house where the dimming evening light could not darken the rooms, Albel took the boy into the kitchen where Mirage was taking her drink well.
“Oh, well this is certainly cute,” she commented, as Fayt filed in behind Albel like a little soldier.

Albel looked to Mirage, the only one who seemed to be on his side in this affair.

“I need…” he began, to be alone, “to train,” he decided, and Fayt looked up, “look after the squirt for me until I get back?” his tone was flat, it was hardly a request at all, but all the same Mirage nodded.

“Sure,”

“Thanks…” he turned to Fayt very briefly, “stay here and stay out of trouble. Got that?” and Fayt nodded obediently. Albel's rat tails swung behind him as he left the room.

“Milk?” Mirage offered at once, standing and going to the fridge as the hallway door swung open.

“Yo!” Cliff grinned to her, looking aside and lighting up as he saw Fayt. “Hey there little man! Heads up!” Cliff hugged the startled boy from behind and swung him into the air playfully, to which Fayt erupted into giggles.

“Cliff, that’s enough, put him down,” Mirage was stern, and Cliff’s reaction was instant. “Here you are, Fayt,” she added, holding out milk in a small glass actually meant for sake and other beverages, and Fayt plodded pass bemused Cliff- who had practically stolen Fayt’s seat now- to fetch it.

And instead of downing the drink like Mirage did her sake, Fayt sipped at it delectably. “Thank you Margie!” Fayt beamed, going over and sitting next to Cliff.

“Heh, you’re welcome, Fayt.” She smiled warmly.

“Hey Mirage? Did either you or Maria find anything out?” Cliff asked, but Mirage shook her head- end of subject.

“So, what did you do today, Fayt?” Mirage asked suddenly, and for a moment Fayt looked up a the white tile ceiling to think about this.

“Albel’s my best friend! He said so too and everything!” Fayt claimed, and both Klausians looked from what little before had been distracting them.

“Did he?” was all Mirage had to offer.

Cliff rubbed his chin in a manly way and then wiped the growing smile from his face.

“Love, huh, must be a new concept for Albel,” Cliff grinned.

“Love?” Fayt repeated, pausing again from sipping his milk.

“Yeah Fayt, friends, family, partners, lovers, all of them love each other in their own way, Albel’s probably just realized that and is freaking out!” Cliff chuckled.

“But Albel’s my friend! He said so he must know…gasp! Do you think Albel loves me?” Fayt asked, looking down thoughtfully.

“Uhh…no comment?”

“What Cliff means is… well… yes… no comment…” Mirage nodded, the two Klausians falling silent.

Slurp. Sip.

“Hey!” Cliff decided finally. “I almost forgot! Look what I got!” he danced, taking the white bag Fayt had been eying tactfully and taking out a deluxe box.

The very smell of what was inside wafted into Fayt’s nose and he jumped up excitedly.