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Chapter Four
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�Hey, wait! Fayt!� Cliff yelled after the boy. �Dammit.�
Seeing that Fayt wasn�t about to come back, he whirled on Albel, glaring furiously. �Well? Are you so cold that you won�t even go after him?�
Albel grimaced. �Tch. What for? If he�s a man, he can deal with it.�
Cliff lashed out a fist so suddenly it was nearly impossible to see. It struck Albel squarely in the corner of the mouth, sending the swordsman stumbling back against the wall. The connection between hard bones and splitting flesh echoed in the room.
Albel was too stunned to react at first. He watched Cliff with wide eyes and parted lips that already released a river of blood down his chin.
The blonde allowed Albel no time to compose himself. He threw out his left hand and wrapped it threateningly around the Elicoorian�s neck, squeezing hard enough to keep the other in place, but not so hard that it would crush the breath out entirely. �He�s still a kid as far as I�m concerned. And you�re an evil bastard for misleading him like this, after all he�s been through.�
Albel tried to cough, but the fingers gripping his throat prevented him. Remembering the sword still clutched in his hand, he jammed the hilt hard into Cliff�s abdomen. The blonde folded in sudden pain and released his hold, allowing Albel to take advantage of the switched roles and push Cliff away forcefully with his foot.
�Don�t you ever touch me again, maggot,� Albel growled and spit a stream of blood at Cliff�s feet.
�I�ll smash your face for that,� Cliff said and straightened in obvious pain. He prepared to throw another punch.
Albel snarled, eyes blazing, lifting his sword with obvious intent. But before he could bring it down with crushing force upon Cliff�s shoulder, the blonde reached out a hand and caught the blade hard near the hilt, pushing it back. The skin of his palm split open immediately and blood flowed in torrents down his arm, dripped from the sword�s crossguard. But neither was prepared to relent; they stood against one another, teeth bared, red spotting the floor.
�Give it up already, worm. Nobody wants you as his hero,� Albel proclaimed blackly.
Cliff unflinchingly tightened his grip. �That�s fine. But I still don�t like you.�
The swordsman offered a sardonic grin, baring bloodstained teeth.
�I�m not the only one, either. Nobody wanted you to come with us. You don�t belong here, Nox, and you never did. Soon as we dump you off on that ball of dirt you call a planet it�s all over. Fayt might have showed you unconditional pity all this time, but you went and royally screwed that up didn�t you? What do you have now?�
The stubborn grin dissolved from Albel�s face. �Shut up.�
Cliff pushed on, ignoring the blade sinking deeper into his flesh. �Did you hear what he said? He was ready to give up his future to go with you. Did you even notice that he might have actually cared for you?�
Albel�s teeth were grinding. �Shut the hell up.�
�Of course you didn�t. Sadistic murderers aren�t capable of things like that anyway.�
Ruby eyes flashed pure hatred at that word and Albel saw red. He momentarily lost his awareness and no longer cared what happened. He was only vaguely conscious of his forehead slamming into something hard before his arms acted. When his vision cleared he saw that he had Cliff on the floor, the blade buried in the side of the man�s abdomen so deep it scraped against the metal floor. Cliff was howling.
Albel yanked the sword out swiftly, fully taking in the scene before him. Regret frosted the outskirts of his mind, but he refused to move. He had never really meant for it to get this serious. But damn it, the ape had it coming.
�Oh my god! Cliff!�
Albel lifted his head and caught the familiar stream of Maria�s blue hair as she rushed to the blonde�s side. She fell to her knees and instantly checked the severity of the injury. When her eyes suddenly shot ice in Albel�s direction, the swordsman looked away.
Maria�s eyes roved the bruising split on Albel�s lip before returning to the Klausian. �What the hell is going on here?!�
Cliff groaned and sat up. �Forget it, Maria.�
The girl quickly pressed her hands against his chest. �Don�t do that! You�re injured, Cliff!�
�It�s just a flesh wound. I�ll be fine tomorrow.� The blonde slowly stood and covered his abdomen with a hand to stop the blood. �Tell Marietta to change course to Elicoor II. We�re taking him back first.�
Maria stood and protested more but Cliff was already staggering away. She bounded to catch up and offer him her arm, but not until casting a vexing look over her shoulder. �Please wait here until I return,� she said, though it was more a command than a request.
Albel silently watched the two leave the room and stood still until the sound of their steps faded. Then, exhaling, he tossed the sword angrily aside and slumped heavily down onto the edge of the bed. He rubbed his eyes in an attempt to ease the pounding behind them. The sound of rushing blood thundered in his ears.
In truth, Cliff�s wounds were not critical beneath all the blood, and his pure Klausian genes would have him healed up within hours. Though Maria had wanted to keep the issue of his and Albel�s brawl quiet, it was soon known throughout the ship that something was amiss once she complied with the former captain�s demand that the ship head to Elicoor II first, even though Moonbase was the closest initial stop. Naturally, a change in course had to be broadcasted over the loudspeakers. Gossip buzzed through the halls, though no one knew just what had happened.
Fayt had been dozing from the lingering effects of the sleeping pills when the announcement came on. He laid there for a long moment even after Maria�s voice faded into the normal silence. Fayt didn�t need to hear anything more than that simple declaration to know what had happened. He threw the coverlet away and sat up, wondering if they were both still alive. Obviously Albel was. Even if Cliff had slaughtered him, it was doubtful that they would be going to Elicoor to deliver his remains to Airyglyph as a priority. And there would probably be more of a fuss if something happened to Cliff. But still�
Fayt threw on his shoes and made his way directly to Albel�s room. The door was still open when he got there, though no one was inside. He was about to head toward the sick bay but stopped dead in the doorway and stared. There was blood on the floor. Fayt clapped a hand over his mouth, panic welling in his stomach. He bolted through the corridor toward the stairs, nearly knocking over one of the crewmen in his haste. The man barked a curse at him but Fayt didn�t stop.
The door slid open and Fayt watched Cliff and the doctor look up at him with surprise. Green eyes wildly searched the white bandages wrapped securely around Cliff�s lower torso and hand, but it didn�t appear as though the Klausian was hurt too badly.
�Cliff�� Fayt breathed.
The blonde offered his usual careless grin. �Hey, don�t make that face. It doesn�t suit you.�
Fayt was indignant. �Don�t joke around! What in the world did you guys do to each other?�
Cliff dropped his smile and looked the boy levelly in the eyes. �Listen, Fayt, I know you don�t want to hear it, but I had to do it.�
�Is he okay?� It was clear that they were the only ones that had been in the room.
Cliff turned to the doctor and offered her a charming smile. �Would you mind letting us talk in private for a moment, babe?�
The doctor gave him a disapproving look but complied. Once she had gone, Cliff turned back to Fayt.
�I can�t believe you did this,� Fayt said immediately. �You had no right to start a fight over something that doesn�t involve you at all.�
The Klausian looked angry. �Doesn�t involve me? You know, when I first met you I told you it was my job to protect you until you were brought aboard this ship. But I never stopped looking after you, Fayt, and it wasn�t because I knew how important you were. It was because I actually cared about you. No matter what, I�ll always care about you.�
�Then why?�
Cliff sighed. �He doesn�t love you, Fayt. He doesn�t love anything. He�d sooner kill something than try. He was only using you.�
Fayt opened his mouth but couldn�t find the words to protest.
�I just don�t get how you could fall for someone like that when there are so many people out there that do love you. You deserve someone that does.�
Fayt swallowed thickly. �I don�t know what I deserve. There might be people that care for me, but I know deep down they�re afraid. Who would want to be in love with the embodiment of destruction anyway?�
�Fayt, it�s not like th��
�It is! I�ve even seen it in your eyes, Cliff.�
The blonde did not reply; he would be lying if he denied that in particular, but he did not agree with Fayt.
The boy continued. �That�s what I liked about Albel. He�s never looked at me that way. Not even after he found out what I was. What I�m capable of. If anything, he respects me more for it.�
�That doesn�t make it alright.�
Fayt suddenly grew irritated. �What happened between us was my decision. He doesn�t have to care about me if he doesn�t want to.�
�Come off it, Fayt. I know you�re not cheap like that and so do you. Stop fooling yourself.�
�I never asked for your help, Cliff. I can handle my own life just fine without you protecting me all the time.� Fayt began toward the door but was halted abruptly by a firm hand around his wrist.
Cliff was looking into his eyes with such uncustomary seriousness that Fayt almost dropped his mouth in shock. �Listen, if you really don�t want to go back home, then come with us.�
His mouth fell open then. �What?�
�If you want a new life, then just stay here. I promise I won�t protect you anymore.�
Fayt was speechless. He wasn�t sure he had even heard right.
Cliff smiled weakly. �You don�t have to decide right now; consider it an open invitation.� He released Fayt�s arm slowly. �But I wouldn�t mind, and I�m sure everyone else feels the same. Actually, I�ve been wanting to bring it up for a while, but I guess I just thought it would sound stupid. Maybe that�s why I flew off the handle when you said you wanted to go with Albel. So, ugh, I�m sorry.�
It was all so sudden that Fayt could do nothing but simply stare at him.
�Anyway, the rat�s fine. Maria moved him to a different room until we get to Elicoor II. It�s the room in the opposite corridor.�
Fayt took that as a cue to retreat and began to do so.
Cliff watched him for a reaction but did not receive one. �Fayt?�
The blue-haired boy stopped but did not turn around.
�Just think about what I�ve said, okay?�
He nodded once and left the room. His legs felt like lead as he moved back toward the stairs leading to the lower level of the ship. What was happening all of a sudden? Life seemed to be less chaotic when Luther controlled it.
Once Fayt had gone, the doctor reentered the room and raised a questioning eyebrow at Cliff. He shrugged and cracked his face into a wide grin. �Got any more of those painkillers?�
�Now Cliff, you know you can�t fool me with that one anymore,� she said with her hands on her hips.
The blonde�s face fell into a mock snarl. �Damn.�
The woman was still looking at him with open expectancy. Cliff scratched the back of his head and dropped his playful air. �Aaagh, he would barely hear me out.�
�So he�s going back to Earth after all?�
Cliff flopped down onto his back and rested his hands behind his head. �He didn�t say. But at least he�s got another option. I just hope he makes the right decision.�
The doctor sat down in her chair and studied him carefully. A moment of quiet passed. �You really care for him, huh?�
Cliff rolled his head in the opposite direction. �Well that�s what happens when you go around with someone for a long time like this, you kinda get used to having them around. Besides, I guess I can�t blame him for not wanting to go back home. At least he�d be safer here, you know?�
A small smile hugged the doctor�s lips but she said nothing. She turned and began typing on her console. Muted electronic sounds filled the stillness in the room.
Fayt numbly made his way to the door where Cliff had mentioned in the sublevel of the ship, wondering if perhaps the swordsman was being detained there. He stopped before it and looked up. Though he was worried over Albel�s condition, he was sure that knocking on the door at this hour and after such an incident would reward him with cold silence. Well, there was still a little time left before they would arrive at Elicoor, which meant that he might be able to see Albel some time tomorrow. That was if the stubborn warrior would leave the room. Knowing Albel, the fight with Cliff would have him riled up through the next day. But as Fayt turned away, he knew that he wouldn�t be able to sleep. He decided to wander about the ship for a while instead.
As he meandered toward the lounge, he saw Maria walking toward him from the bridge. She looked as though she had something to tell him and Fayt moved to meet her halfway.
�Fayt, how are you doing? You�re not sick are you?� she asked once they stopped.
Fayt shook his head. �No, I�m doing okay. What about you?�
�I suppose you heard about what happened from Cliff?�
He nodded.
�He was insistent that we take Albel back home first, and well, knowing how bullheaded Cliff can be sometimes that�s not too surprising. But I just wish I knew why they were fighting like that. Neither of them would tell me anything.�
�You know them. They haven�t liked each other from day one,� Fayt offered.
Maria thought. �But Albel stabbed Cliff. That�s nothing like their routine arguing.�
�Yeah�I know.�
Maria crossed her arms and studied him. �Really, it feels like I�m being kept in the dark about something here.�
Fayt caught her implication and snapped to attention. �Oh, no. I really don�t know anything about it. But as long as they stay away from each other it�ll be okay, right?� Well, it wasn�t like he was obligated to tell her things that she didn�t need to know. Besides, if Cliff hadn�t said anything there was no point in bringing anything up.
�Hmm. I suppose so. We�ll be arriving at Elicoor II in two days, but�� Maria�s face brightened. �Hey, Fayt, would you mind keeping an eye on Albel until we get there? I hate to ask but you seem to be the only one he gets along with, and I don�t want any more skirmishes on my ship. I�ll take care of Cliff.�
Fayt was surprised but agreed. �Um, sure. I�ll do my best.�
�Thanks, I knew I could count on you.� She looked at her watch and groaned. �Sorry, Fayt, I�d like to talk with you longer but I�ve got some things I need to see to. If anything comes up just let me know. Otherwise I�ll see you tomorrow?�
�Sure. Goodnight, Maria.�
She gave a short wave and hurried away down the corridor. Fayt watched after her, sighing inwardly before dropping into a chair and resting his forehead on the heels of his palms. He hated feeling like this, and since he had come to really like everyone on the ship, especially Maria, taking part in secret affairs felt all the more like acts of betrayal. He and Maria had both undergone genetic alterations, fought together, and in a way he considered her a sort of sister. Besides, she was the captain of this ship. He didn�t want anything correlating to himself to reflect badly upon her.
Fayt leaned back and stretched his legs out. So what should he do now? He doubted if Albel was asleep, but going down and standing guard at the man�s door would be asinine. If Albel knew he had a watchdog he�d probably despise Fayt forever, if he didn�t already. The boy shut his eyes against the light, musing deeply. He gradually fell into a troubled sleep.
He was lying on a grassy hill, the cool summer wind gently flowing over his skin when he opened his eyes. The long stem that he chewed on arched over his face and swayed hypnotically in the breeze. It was still twilight, but the stars were so bright that the entire land was bathed in silver light. A lighter blue bar had settled over the eastern horizon, indicating that the sun would rise soon.
Everything was quiet but for the sound of the wind through the grass and trees. He watched the stars twinkle high above, not wanting to move. It was too comfortable, too peaceful. Where was he, anyway?
The sound of vegetation-muted footsteps approaching suddenly perked his ears and he tilted his head in their direction. Someone tall and slim was walking toward him, but he couldn�t make out whom it was. He squinted to get a clearer look.
�I thought you were going to start a fire.�
He sat up, bracing his weight with his arms behind him. �Sorry, I was enjoying the view too much.�
The man was now before him, one hand on his hip. �Hn. A typical fool, as always.� The man then kneeled down beside him.
He recognized the other as Albel now that he could see clearly, though he already knew that it was. But why were they the only ones there? Where was everyone else?
Albel leaned forward and bit the stem out of Fayt�s mouth before spitting it aside. He adjusted his body shamelessly up against Fayt�s, his mouth feather-brushing the other�s. �I was looking forward to something hot.�
He felt warm with self-consciousness. �Then why don�t you make it yourself?� Where in the world did that come from?!
Albel smirked in approval and hooked his fingers into the collar of Fayt�s shirt. He ripped the zipper open easily and violently yanked the material down its owner�s arms. �Don�t tell me what to do.�
It was then that he noticed that Albel was not wearing his claw, but more than that, his left arm was no longer marred.
He gasped at the kiss of cool wind on his bared skin and groaned at the warm tongue that took over. Those hands were already opening his pants and tugging them down. He wanted to look around just to be sure that they were alone, but he head wouldn�t obey. He just watched Albel strip him and then himself. He was already turned on, but the doubt that he felt wouldn�t go away. He shyly tried to maneuver his legs. But his body acted oppositely, and he was lying down on his back with his legs open. He felt his lips part in a coy smile.
�I don�t have to tell you twice, do I?� Albel said and accepted the invitation.
The man�s body heat filled him unnaturally, and he felt like his skin was burning. He wanted to wriggle away, but instead he clamped his hands on Albel�s hips. �So? What are you waiting for?�
Albel lifted his hips and penetrated him so deeply that his initial reaction was to cry out. But he only groaned and squeezed the skin caught in his grip. The pain he expected was not there, though every point of contact between his and Albel�s body was a scorching fire. It burned, but the agony was bliss. He decided to forget about struggling and just go along with the ride.
He had never felt anything so physically crippling in terms of pleasure. He didn�t know just when the fear that such a thing might kill him entered his mind, but he suddenly acknowledged it. But if he wanted to stop this, it was far too late.
When he reached the edge it was as if time stopped and he was pushed out of his body, free to climb to the heavens. But he was only able to touch that eternity for a second before his plummet back down began. They were both sweating, and the predawn breezes were soon cold. He shivered to the bone.
Albel suddenly moved away. �The sun will be up soon. We should get going.�
He looked with confusion at the man standing over him. �Why? It�s so nice here.�
Albel voice became urgent. �I don�t want to see it! Now get up!�
He obeyed and began to dress. What was Albel suddenly so afraid of? The sunrise? But that was ridiculous. �What? Are you gonna turn to ash or something?� He didn�t like the tone of his voice when he said that. There was no concern in it whatsoever. It felt as though he was purposely stalling.
Albel turned to face him. �Would you care?�
Suddenly the dawn broke into the indigo of the sky. Streaks of red cracked across its surface like snakes. Intense discomfort filled him when he looked at them, but he didn�t know why. But when he looked back to where Albel was standing, he saw that the man was already gone.
He was overcome with the urge to run after, whichever way that was, but his legs wouldn�t move. His skin grew colder as the sun rose higher. All he could do was watch as the land adopted the vermilion light, like a field of blood.
Fayt awoke in a cold sweat. He sat up from his slumped position in the chair and looked around. No one was about in the ship and everything was still quiet. He breathed deeply. It was just a dream. He stood and began toward the opposite end of the corridor, wondering how long he had been asleep.
His footsteps echoed metallically as he descended the stairs, which was nothing new, but something about the silence served to renew his uneasiness. As he turned the corner to go to his room, he saw that someone was leaning against the wall outside his door. It was Albel.
Fayt�s first reaction was to stop and run away, but he quickly realized how strange and ridiculous that would be. He kept walking, refusing to flinch when Albel�s head lifted and pierced him with a red gaze. His eyes quickly found the bruise and small cut on the corner of the swordsman�s lip, but nothing else seemed to be out of the ordinary.
He was within a foot of the door and about to express his concern over Albel�s condition, but the Elicoorian spoke first. �I want to speak with you. Now.� There was no room in his statement for any protest.
Fayt stopped and blinked. An image from his dream flitted past his mind�s eye and his face grew warm. �Okay.� He couldn�t think of anything better to say. He went inside first, already wondering what it was that Albel wanted to say. He was terrified.
The door closed behind them and Fayt turned around to face the warrior. Albel didn�t have his sword with him. Strange.
�Did you mean what you said back there?� Albel asked bluntly.
Fayt instantly understood that Albel was referring to his desire to go to Elicoor II. He looked down and nodded. �But I didn�t think you�d mind. I was wrong and I�m sorry. I�m sorry for everything that�s happened.�
Albel snorted. �I didn�t come here for an apology.�
�I didn�t ask Cliff to do that.�
�I know that, fool. You needn�t state such useless things.�
�But why did you stab him, Albel? Were you guys just going to kill each other?�
�That was not intentional.� Albel refused to say any more on the subject.
At least he was acting like himself now, and Fayt believed him. He met scarlet eyes but this time Albel was the one to look away. He was clearly uncomfortable with whatever he was going to say.
�Look, I didn�t think you were serious. I knew what you wanted, it was obvious to even the most dimwitted fools with eyes in their heads, so I gave it to you, as a sort of farewell.�
Fayt�s eyes went wide. His anger was steadily rising, but he remained quiet to force Albel to say more.
Albel grimaced. �I�m�sorry you took it the wrong way.�
Fayt was indignant. �That�s it? You didn�t need to come here to tell me that, I could have figured it out myself.�
�No. That�s not it.� Albel�s tone had elevated to match Fayt�s. �But if you want I will go and leave you to your sulking.�
He began to do just that but Fayt stopped him. �Wait. I don�t want you to go.� He was strangely relieved when the swordsman stopped. �What did you want to tell me?�
Albel turned halfway but didn�t look at Fayt. �I won�t object if you still want to come.�
Fayt�s stomach did something strange. It was like a mixture of nausea and excitement. �What?�
�Tch. Don�t make me repeat myself.�
Fayt was astounded at the turnaround. �But, you just said��
�I�m just as surprised as you. I don�t know why, but I think you should come with me. Though I never expected someone like you to desire something so illogical when he�s got so many friends.�
Fayt understood everything that Albel refused to say. Any anger and indignation he felt before dissolved. �I don�t know why either, but, I think we�ve got a lot in common, at least.�
�Bah. You�re nothing like me.�
Fayt smiled to himself. �But we fight well together.�
It was Albel�s turn to smile, though Fayt couldn�t see it. �I cannot refute that. You have the uncanny ability to stay out of my way.�
Fayt suddenly thought of what Cliff had said. �He doesn�t love you, Fayt.� But did he really want Albel to love him? Maybe he just wanted to be near him. Wasn�t it good enough if Albel wanted the same thing? But Cliff had extended his own invitation as well. Fayt wouldn�t deny that he thought of Cliff as a very good friend and would have accepted that invitation instantly if not for that pull in the other direction. It was clear that Albel needed him far more than Cliff did. And he may have had his own need as well.
�Albel?�
The addressed looked up.
�I�ll go with you.�