#elfalba

Miraculously, or perhaps just weirdly, when Alba dug him out, babbling apologies the shapeshifter was still laughing lightly tears of mirth in his eyes. When his chuckles subsided Elf looked up at Alba holding him by the shoulders with a small fond smile, black eyes lit with some undefinable something. “Alba-san sure has a lot of faith in people, huh? Letting Guilty Justice take care of Dezember’s group, Alf’s intentions, an’ me, it’s a shock ya haven’t got stabbed more than ya have.”  

“Hey! All those have worked out!”

Elf waved him as he stood up; “yep, yep, but one day you’re gonna be thankin’ jerks like me and Shion-kun for looking out for ya,” 

Alba frowned at those words, but less their content, and more their tone. There had been something there, like when they fought Alba could just get the sense of something more hiding behind Elf’s easy words and careless demeanor. If only Elf could just speak plainly about these things, they wouldn’t have even needed to fight. Maybe he could cut off something stupid by simply asking?

“Well, enough relaxing, back to saving the World!” Like a switch had been flipped the tone was gone and Elf was all light bounce again. Literally as he practically skipped back to his overturned seat, setting it right and plunking down. 

“Elf, if something’s wrong, just tell me.”

Elf turned to face him, smile in place, tone light. “I know I know, no more suicide plans, don’t worry Alba-san, I got things to live fer now. Promise. Oh, speaking of things to live for, the other you seemed real focused on research, or privacy since there’s no record of-” Elf had clearly decided the conversation as he immediately starting babbling about something completely different.

So. Annoying. Elf was easily the most capricious, selfish person Alba had ever met. He could go on for hours about any little detail, or perfectly deflect the big questions leaving very little room to get in, and pry the truth loose. Which wasn’t to say Alba hadn’t, but whatever thing was between Elf, and Ros they were both equally tight-lipped. 

Giving up for now Alba took his seat with a pout. He would find out though; Ros and Elf were both extreme people who didn’t do things in half-measures even if they got hurt in the process. Leaving them to settle things between themselves was a terrible idea. But first theoretical cross-dimensional magics, a thankfully less complex problem than two geniuses fighting for no discernible reason.

---

Alba felt like very little time had passed when he yawned, but it was a good indicator that it’d been a good few days. He could, vaguely, recall Crea, and Alf coming with food a few times, so, yeah, probably days. Yawning Alba stretched back; without the worry of someone slowly wasting away, or screaming nightmares where he drowned in blood, he was free to take his time now, so no need to get desperate or put off sleep.  

Alba turned to tell Elf that it was probably best if they took a sleep break only to find the tanned boy-no, man, he’d been older than even Alba was now when he’d come back after all-only to find the other had already come to that conclusion. By falling asleep in his seat: head lolled against his chest, arms dangling at his sides, breathing light. The moonlight from the side window lightened one half of his form, even as it threw the other into darkness, contrasting and enhancing of the bags that had gathered beneath his closed eyes. 

The light shone off his hair creating patches of silver, that caused Alba’s breath to catch short. Then Elf slid slightly in his direction, his head landing on the brunette’s shoulder sleep undisturbed. Unconsciously Alba followed the movement down, and caught a flash of lighter skin before he pulled himself away embarrassed. He really needed to get this ‘staring at guys’ thing under control. It was probably the lack of sleep, so sleep was needed. For both of them.

Luckily Elf had put himself in the perfect position to easily be scooped up into Alba’s arms, from there it was a simple as taking a step. The surroundings blurred for a moment, and Alba stood in his guest room with a slumbering Elf in his arms. Well ‘guest’ room with it’s piles of books, green sheets, and strategic but apparently random placement of furniture made it feel more like Elf’s room than anything. Which, to be fair, was because Elf was pretty much it’s full time occupant, almost a full 4 months after everything he could sleep by himself, and took the opportunity to basically move in with Alba.

Or not, reflected Alba after laying Elf down and finding upon trying to step away that Elf had latched onto his vest in his sleep. Gently prying himself away made a small terrified sound eminent from the tanned’s(burned?) throat. Whelp, there was only one thing to do now: Alba knew nightmares, and Elf wouldn’t be the first guy he’d been caught alone with in bed if someone came to check on them. 

Learning Crea was mentally older than he thought? Wonderful. Ros’ stream of violence immediately following? Less so.

Besides Elf was cute. 

Pausing only to give Elf’s searching a quick squeeze of reassurance Alba removed all he felt safe doing, and laid next to the still uneasily resting man. Alba’s plan had been to pull Elf’s back to his chest Elf, as he so often did, had other thoughts. Thoughts that made his experience forcing his way into Alf’s bed obvious. First, and foremost, Alba had allowed himself to be closer to Elf than Alf would so when Elf turned towards the other presence on the bed, and reached out blindly, he reached too far. Second: Alba was taller than Alf so what would have reached Alf’s shoulders was closer to Alba ribs. All this added up to Elf’s incredibly bony elbows digging full force into Alba’s ribs even as Elf’s hands came back searching and finding purchase in his hair. Elf was not cute! Elf was never cute! 

Brown eyes slowly open, cringing in the reintroduced sunlight, and was unsurprised to behold black unkempt hair, and matching clothes. Unsure of how conscious a decision any of it is Alba holds his breath, and just admires the man in front of him. His broad shoulders, and well-toned arms laid bare in his short sleeves. His rugged face, relaxed and illuminated in the soft light of dawn easing the faint lines of stress, and the more recent, more wondrous ones from laughter, and smiles. The faint slit of red hinting at his unusual, but occasionally gentle red eyes. 

Wait. Alba’s still rebooting brain, a bit....distracted, didn’t read the warning signal in time and he was suddenly introduced to the part of Ros’ anatomy Alba knew almost too intimately: his fist. 

“The heck was that!?” Demanded Alba from the floor.

“That’s what I should be asking isn’t it you pervert; watching someone sleep?”

“That-” Alba turned red with no defense, and thus decided to deflect. “Who dragged who into bed!?”

“You dragged me; you were passed out in the middle of the hall, so I moved you to bed, but you clung like a little baby. Did you confuse me for your stupid bear Mr. Pervert.?”

“Don’t make fun of Kumachi! I-I mean me! Honestly, sometimes I wonder why I was so desperate to save you from the voi-” The place between dimensions. Timelines. Where Elf’s friend might be. Elf, who had still be alive when he left, according to Ros. Elf, who he hadn’t actually seen die, maybe, just maybe he could still save the tiny tanned genius moron. Maybe sleep was good for him after all. 

With eyes alight Alba made for the door, he would need to find a stable way to the Sea of Time, to find someone who’s name he didn’t know, a way to view outside it in time. No, between dimensions; he needed to ensure Elf’s time was safe to after all. 

“Hey Hero.” Alba blinked, and turned back to face Ros already halfway out the door. He looked anxious, worried. “You were so slow just now, sure you shouldn’t get some more much-needed beauty rest? To at least pass for average?”

"And isn't it just completely unreasonable, Foyfoy!?" Asked Hime turning on her husband blonde hair flaring out, and framing her face.

"Yeah, totally." He parroted back dumbly.

"And yet you insist on teaching my Father's lies."

Oh. Crap. "Well, it's the King's orders after all. 'To continue the glory of the two legendary Kings, let's raise up some heroes.'"

"Actually about that;" interjected a certain maid. "Why is FoyFoy-kun the hero? Weren't you actually the most useless person? Go share a jail cell with Alba and repent for 180 days. Even that normally useless butler was more helpful." 

Hime stomped her foot. "That's not true FoyFoy was very helpful."

"Ahh well it's important to protect your precious usless husband and all."

"Ahh~n, husband. Even if it's true it's embarrassing. He's just a teacher a teacher!" When Ares had properly received her 'reprimand' she turned on Foyfoy. "Teach them the truth."

"Huh?"

"My father's not gonna find out, so make sure those kids learn everything we did...but leave out the part where Dad's responsible."

"Yes dear." And so FoyFoy was smacked around by his beautiful, violent, benevolent kind wife. He still couldn't really complain. 

--

Elsewhere the observers of the world sat. "Umm Elf, aren't you being unusually inactive? Normally you'd just charge ahead to 'keep things interesting'."

Elf November turned to his helmeted companion. "Well, what I want most of all is to be entertained and Alba-san is entertaining, so I'm gonna try and get him first."

"Get him?" Zehn October asked. "Wait, is this...are you trying to ask Alba out?"

"Yeah of course." Elf spread his arms wide and began gesturing wildly. "A majorly exciting world full of bad demons and good guys. An exciting world where I'll never be bored and Alba-san will be able to be praised, after all, that King has no intention of actually killing him, I just need him to keep Alba-san alone for a bit longer."

Zehn lowered his head into his hands and sighed. "This isn't how you do romance Elf. And what's the point of bringing Dezember back?"

"Well obviously Alba-san can't play the role of villain, There will be a new Demon King, ya can count on that."  Elf's smile became razor sharp as the smaller astronaut looking demon sighed.

"I am officially now rooting for the tiny, serious, Royal Guard."

--

Elma Toryuu did not like to think himself someone prone to hatred. He was a Royal Guard despite his young age. He was disciplined, strong, and calm. However watching the blonde demon boy in front of him Toryuu could certainly feel his blood boiling.

It wasn't enough that the actual hero of the world, who'd saved and trained him, was locked away with his deeds taken by people less deserving. Now he couldn't even visit said hero without a demonic escort.

Really if the King hadn't given this murderous brat free reign he would- "Oh! Oh-ho!" Juli turned around and gave Toryuu a very intense glare. "You wanna kill me, don't c'ha? Don't c'ha? I like that blood lust. Hehehe, well go ahead and try, I'm really looking forward to it." One arm came up already transformed into its demonic state.

The Royal Guard ground his teeth, but held back from drawing a sword. The demon couldn't hurt him either. "Just take me to Alba-sensei."