Game Eleven: My bluenette.

What was the matter with him? Why did he just stand there like that? Fayt said he’d been a coward. But he was not alone in this. Fayt said he’d been selfish. But that wasn’t true. Everything that had happened to him, and everything that was, Fayt kept inside as to not be a burden. He kept these things inside to make things easier for everyone else, and easier for Albel to hate everyone. At least Fayt had tried to seek Albel’s friendship whilst hiding his true feelings. No matter what those feelings were- in fact no, all the better that it was something like love.

He swallowed- what should he do?

Is it really that difficult to work out? You said you wanted him to change back, that you wanted to hear those things from his mouth, not the mouth of a child. And you did. And you let him leave. You did nothing. Well, do something! Everyone agrees, right? Go get him back! You can’t end things like that!

And then something amazing happened. He moved, again.

What was the matter with him? He sounded like a complete idiot now. He looked like a fool. He had humiliated himself- not that the past day hadn’t been humiliating enough. It would probably take Sophia a year to stop squealing over him, he tried to joke with himself. He was disappointed when he didn't feel any better because of it, when that gut feeling within him of utter despair remained.

Albel probably thought he was weak- he was probably weird out by the whole thing. Someone loving him. Another guy, loving him. Fayt loving him.

He covered his face with his hands. Why had he said it? Why? Had being a child again taught him nothing?! Stupid, stupid, stupid!!! And now, he would never be able to be normal around Albel again.

What before he thought was meagre and insufficient was what he would now miss the most. To think that before, he was worried about Albel only talking to him about training and politics occasionally.
And now? Truth was, he would have liked nothing better than to have the samurai march up to him and start yelling at him about how soft he was- like how weak the Aquarians were. Or how he would beam in content when Fayt agreed with him.

Now he really was left with nothing at all.

The other members of the group had watched a larger shadow leave and assumed it was Albel’s, but when another swept by quickly with two long hair pieces trailing behind it, they sat up from their depression in awe. Was that Albel? Then whom had the other taller figure been? What was going on?

He made his way through Kirlsa’s streets and winded up opposite Woltar’s mansion, between the two buildings on the cobbles. It was all he could do not to break down and cry, dwelling in hopelessness and defeat.

He was such a fool.

“Fool. It’s not alright. It’s not alright at all.”

Fayt turned in surprise and froze with his eyes wide.

Albel was standing right in his face, with a mixture of confidence and uncertainty.

“Pardon?” Fayt repeated quietly, both happy to see the samurai and fretful as to where this would lead- perhaps another argument- or maybe…

“What you said about forgetting everything…I came to say, that it's not alright.”

“You…did?” Fayt wiped one of his eyes to hope to stop a tear from falling- failing.

“I came to tell you…regardless of whether it's 'alright with you'…that I WON'T forget yesterday, and this morning.” Albel was red and frowning, his chin high and his exterior stubborn.

“Really…you mean-” Fayt winced- what did Albel mean?

Albel interrupted him with a glare. “That’s enough! You’ve said enough for yourself…way too much in fact,” and Fayt blushed sheepishly, “but, if you can live with loving someone like me…then… there’s no reason…why I can’t too. I mean, fool, that I feel the same way.” Albel explained, nodding shortly.

Short, but sweet.

“You do?” Fayt asked again, dumbfounded.

“Stop doing that!” Albel clipped him over the head, very close now, 'ow!' “I said I did, didn’t I? Sometimes I say things I don’t mean…like yesterday…this isn’t like that. I'm telling you the truth.” Albel's expression became a point softer, and to anyone but Fayt, it wouldn't have been noticable.

“You... love me too?” Fayt asked, his mouth quivering unconsciously.

“…yeah…” a nod, a hint of embarrassment but a great deal of relief.

Fayt was smiling now, and then he grinned in jest, folding his arms dubiously like Genis.

“What, you’re not even gonna say it? You’re the worst boyfriend ever,” he shook his head. “OW!” receiving another thwack round the head. “Stop that!”

“I will when you behave yourself, besides, I have to get you back for every time you annoyed me when you were a little kid.”

“Hey, I was adorable!” Fayt was indignant.

“Maybe. But you ate like a little monkey.” Albel was grinning now.

“Did not!” Grumble. “Oh, come to think of it…I am really hungry…”

But Albel shifted uncomfortably. Fayt looked and analised his expression carefully in all his expertise; a new expression- one not easily desiphered. Could it be-? Albel 'actually' summoning up the courage to say something nice?

“Achem-! Do you... want to maybe, go get something to eat...together? We could get... ... ...muffins. I'll... pay?”

Fayt’s face was bright again. Pure joy.

Hug!
Albel was taken aback, as Fayt buried his face in the samurai’s chest and a muffled “Yes please!” was made as a reply.

“Right. Lets go then.” Albel coughed after a quick hold back, and when Fayt had finally let go he went red, taking the boy’s hand once more.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Cookies, milk, nap. Bah, what am I, your mother?

They had been left to sort out their own love life, but the proceedings were taking far too long for their liking. Albel hadn’t slashed Fayt into tiny pieces and stomped him into the ground like that muffin, had he? And when Cliff mentioned this- this was when they started looking for the pair.

Albel woke up again and looked down, cocking an eyebrow groggily.

This was far too familiar. Cookies…milk…and a sleeping bluenette resting over him soundly. However, he settled back down comfortably at once, this time he was not forced back into the tree behind them, with it’s overlapping leaves providing shade from the rising sun that illuminated the sky in a blue tinged with the remnants of dawn.

This time Albel let out a yawn and stared at him instead, with a sort of gloating pride.

“Albel?” a startled voice- immediately making him think- baboon. He looked up, his arm and claw tightening securely around Fayt’s body, and even though Sophia stared, miffed, his face still read ‘mine!’

“What do you worms want?” Albel asked to the collected group of the bluenette’s close friends- yet another reason to have to tolerate them now. “Can’t you see we’re trying to rest?” he asked again, and Cliff rose a fist to this when a gentle (and also amused) Mirage slapped the other blonde hard round the head to stop him, the composure never once leaving her face as she did so.

“We’re sorry we bothered you. Everything sorted out now?” she asked plesantly.

Albel would only nod in reply.

And then when the fools had left, a voice mumbled below him and a hand grasped his clothing. “Albel…hmmm…love you…” Fayt’s face brushed over Albel’s stomach happily- a nice dream- a dream Albel could feel although he was awake.

“Hmph,” Albel looked Fayt over in complete pleasure, “dream on fool, dream on,”

And from the corner of his mouth grew a smile.

The end