Series: Escaflowne
Pairings: Van x Allen, Hitomi x Folken
Rating: PG-15 (and increasing)
Warnings: AU, OOC , some angst, and some fluff.
Disclaimer: See prologue.
REUKNIGHTED
Part Three.
Pacing the balcony restlessly, Van berated himself once again for being a weak coward and not telling Allen his feelings.
A sudden movement high in the sky caught his attention and his eyes widened as a column of white light shot down from the Mystic Moon.
"It has to be him!" He exclaimed softly, his heart raced faster and without thinking about it he let his wings unfurl and carry him to the forest where the beam had disappeared.
Reaching the place where it looked to have disapeered, he landed and walked a little way until he came across a small glade.
Allen looked about him trying to determine where he was, the amount of forest and vegetation suggested to him that he was in Fanelia - exactly, well nearly exactly where he wanted to be.
His senses kicked in as he registered the presence of another person near by. Inwardly he groaned, he had no weapon and no idea if the person was friendly or hostile. Quickly and gracefully he rose to his feet and cuffed the tears from his face - it would not do for a Knight Cai-li to be seen crying, " Who's there?" He called out, deliberately adding a cold menacing edge to his court bred voice.
"A..Allen?" A shaky but unmistakable voice questioned from the edge of the glade, " Allen it is you!"
"VAN?" He asked incredulously, there was no way it could be real, he had only just returned to Gaia - the only way Van could have arrived so fast was if he....
His thoughts trailed off and his eyes widened as Van stepped into viewing range. White feathers shining silver and blue under the light of the moons swirled about the young angelic king. The next thing his stunned mind noted was Van's attire - or rather lack of it. He was standing before him clad only in his trade mark beige trousers, even his sword belt and shoes were missing and Allen couldn't help but blush and silently curse his pale complexion as he tore his eyes away.
"Where did you go?" Van asked softly, half afraid that the Knight in front of him would disappear again at any moment, " I missed you."
Allen's head shot up to look at Van and he was surprised to see that the young king was as red as he had been moments earlier, and Van blushed in such an appealing manner, the flush of colour staining his cheeks and seemed determined to colour his muscled chest too. He was so enraptured by the angel in front of him that he nearly forgot to answer. Quickly re-gathering his scattered wits he answered, " I was transported to the Mystic Moon," and in a softer voice added, " and I missed you too."
Van looked at him and then took a half step backwards, noting for the first time exactly what Allen was wearing, " Your clothes!"
"Yes, they are different - but very comfortable" he moved to demonstrate, not noticing the look on Van's face. Allen's outfit was identical to the one that the dream Allen had been wearing.
"Black suits you." He thought not realising he had said it out loud until Allen grinned at him and said, " Why thank you" and gave a small half bow repressing the urge to laugh as Van turned crimson.
"I'm glad you are back, we all missed you." Van managed to control the blush but he was starting to get nervous as Allen approached him with a determined look upon his face.
"I need to tell you something Van." Allen started but Van interrupted him, "No Allen -not now, come back to the castle and get some rest" he didn't want to hear anything yet, this was still too much like a dream. If Allen were still in the castle in the morning when he knew himself to be awake then he would talk with him - until then this was just a dream he never wanted to wake from.
With a sigh Allen nodded and started to walk out of the glade. He was surprised when a pair of small arms gripped him about the waist.
"Van? What are you..." He trailed off and gripped the hands about his waist as he was lifted into the air.
"You need to eat more, Hitomi was heavier than you - although if you tell her that I'll deny it!" Van laughed quietly in his ear and Allen let himself relax in Van's arms.
They reached the castle and landed gently on Van's balcony. Reluctantly Allen moved away from Van, his back feeling cold removed from the warmth of Van holding him. He turned slowly and face the king who was stood looking out over the forests.
" Van I do need to tell you something" he tried again, he had to tell Van now before he lost his resolve and chickened out again.
Van turned and looked directly up into his eyes. All words Allen had been thinking of fled, and before he could think about what he was doing he closed the gap between them and firmly placed his lips against Vans. His whole body tensed waiting for Van to push him away, to banish or execute him for taking such liberties. But to his delighted surprise Van's arms stole about him and the mouth beneath his opened and kissed him back. Van melted into Allen's arms as he kissed him - he was truly in heaven.
Outside the door, Hitomi gently crept up and opened it. She had taken to checking on Van each evening to make sure that he got at least a few hours sleep. She frowned as she saw the site in front of her, the bed was empty and the curtain from the balcony was moving indicating that he was out there.
Moving across the room she prepared to call out but her mouth dropped open in a silent �O� of surprise as she took in the view. Van stood with his wings unfurled dressed in just his trousers clasped in a desperate looking embrace and passionate kiss with a black clad blonde that could only be Van�s Heavenly Knight. Feeling heat flood her cheeks she backed away and out of the room, closing the door behind her. It was only once the door was firmly closed that she allowed a huge grin to replace the frown as she bounded down the hall to tell Folken the good news.
Back on the balcony, Allen pulled Van to his chest and deepened the kiss, soon the burning need to breath forced them to separate their mouths - although their arms remained locked firmly in place.
"I never dared dream that you would feel the same" Van's voice was filled with wonder and he raised himself on tiptoes to kiss Allen.
"You were the reason Van - deciding to tell you what was in my heart was the wish that bought me home" he murmured against Van's mouth.
Slowly the darkness faded into light and Van realised they had been standing on the balcony all night. Gently he pulled Allen into his room and sat him on the bed.
"Let's get some sleep" Van suggested and slid under the silk sheets, motioning for Allen to do the same. Quickly removing his coat, boots, belt and shirt he followed Van under the covers. He shuddered slightly at the feel of cool silk and pulled Van against him, wrapping his arms about him possessively.
Van felt happier and more secure than he had ever done, " You better not be a dream, and you'd better still be here when I wake up" he murmured as sleep started to claim him.
"Hush, I'm not a dream and there is no place I would rather be than sleeping with you in my arms." He whispered and watched Van fall asleep with a happy smile, nearly kittenish in it's contentment slide onto his face and stay there
"Kawaii" Allen murmured and let sleep take him as well.