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My giftee requested something with Kyle and Barrett, so here’s so fluff! :) Merry Christmas!!

–

“I think it’s… cute.”

“….Cute?”

“Okay. Adorable.”

“…Shut up.”

Kyle tossed his head back and laughed, relishing in the rare pink flush across Barrett’s cheeks. They marched together through the snow on their way to the church, where Doug and Gordon were throwing the annual Christmas party. They were going to be late because of a certain spat between them—mostly centered around the bright red and white hat that sat atop Barrett’s frosted hair.

Kyle grinned, and Barrett gave him a light glare. The former squeezed the man’s arm.

“Thank you for wearing it,” he said genuinely, his cheeks red from the cold and from laughter. The snow refused to keep coming, piling inches further up their ankles as they walked.

Barrett sighed, his breath forming a white cloud of steam, and his gloved hand found Kyle’s.

“Whatever. You’re lucky I like you.”

Kyle laughed again, and he didn’t miss the small flicker of Barrett’s lips.

When they arrived, Barrett shoved the door open without knocking and the two practically fell through, pink-cheeked and shivering. Warmth flooded from inside and cheers erupted. Mana swept forward, helping them out of their coats white Jake closed the door behind them with a grumble.

Once Kyle began to thaw and move freely, he was swept up by the others, handed eggnog and wrapped in warm, enthusiastic hugs. Music filled the air and Tanya was already glazed-eyed from drinking. Cami and Roy ran about, both dressed like elves, while Doug and Gordon laughed at them.

After about an hour, Kyle glanced around, spotting a familiar red Santa hat through the crowd, and almost burst into laughter.

Barrett stood off to the side, clutching an eggnog cup and talking politely with Jake, the silly hat still perched dutifully on his head.

Kyle grinned and weaved his way through the crowd. Barrett spotted him and welcomed Kyle’s hand in his own.

“Hey, Jake,” Kyle greeted.

“Human,” Jake muttered pleasantly, taking a sip from his eggnog, which judging from the redness of his cheeks and the burn in Kyle’s own belly, he was beginning to suspect was spiked.

Kyle turned to Barrett with a smile.

“Are you guys having fun?” he murmured.

“Better now,” Barrett stated, squeezing his fingers. Kyle’s smile widened.

Ceci appeared then, her eyes lighting on Jake. She looked gorgeous as always, her fiery hair pulled back from her face and her lips painted red.

“Jake, come on! Let’s dance!”

Before he could protest, she grabbed his wrist and yanked him away into the crowd.

Kyle laughed after them, feeling Barrett’s eyes. He turned to meet them, his eyes dancing.

“Yes?” Kyle asked innocently.

Barrett observed them.

“You’re drunk.”

Kyle giggled.

“Not drunk. Tipsy.” Kyle tugged on his hand. “Dance with me?”

Barrett hesitated, and Kyle began to frown before Barrett nodded and set his and Kyle’s drink aside. Kyle beamed as Barrett lead him over to the other dancing couples and drew him into his arms. Kyle placed a hand on Barrett’s shoulder, blushing when the man’s warm hand rested on his lower back. They began to sway to a sappy Christmas song, and Kyle once again giggled.

Barrett sent him a questioning look.

“You just look so… festive.”

Barrett’s eyes turned hard and he raised a hand, as if to snatch the hat off. Kyle caught his arm with a yelp.

“No, please, keep it! I love it.”

Barrett reluctantly agreed.

“You’re lucky I like you,” he repeated.

Kyle giggled.

On the way home, it was even colder than before. Gordon tried to convince them to stay, but Barrett assured him that they would be alright. Kyle was more than tipsy at this point, and he stumbled along in the snow, shivering from where he was tucked into Barrett’s side.

“So much fun,” Kyle slurred, “You look so cute.”

He giggled. Barrett shook his head, but didn’t answer.

They finally made it home, and Kyle waggled his eyebrows as Barrett undressed him. To his amusement, Barrett managed to keep a straight face the entire time, and once the fire was started and they were both in their pajamas, Barrett slid into bed next to him. Kyle immediately curled up into the other man, and Barrett wrapped an arm around the farmer’s tan shoulders. Kyle’s lips pressed against Barrett’s collarbone as his eyelids dropped, burrowing into the familiar warmth of the man’s body.

“Thank you,” Kyle murmured.

Barrett pressed a kiss to his forehead and Kyle’s eyes fell shut.

“You’re just lucky I love you, Kyle.”

Kyle grinned, relaxing before he finally fell asleep.

“Who’re.. you..?”

Looking up slightly at the staircase, a bespectacled young man finds himself gazing at a petite blond in a wheelchair. “I’m Arthur,” he answers softly, his honey pink eyes fixing to the boy’s light violet.

The blond boy is gazing at him carefully, a look of slight worry on his features. His is head bandaged, there is a puffy band-aid at his cheek, and a few cuts and bruises are visible where he shows skin. His arms are scratched up and are also bandaged in a few places. His hands rest gently in his lap, and a few of his fingers are covered in bandages and silver medical braces; a medical blanket is draped over his shoulders.

Arthur waves at the youth, smiling lightly, “Are you Lady Ventuswill’s son?”

The younger blond looks away in what appears to be shyness, as his tanned cheeks flush a rosy pink and his eyes narrow. He nods once, gaze hesitantly flickering back to Arthur’s.

“I see. It’s very nice to meet you,” Arthur says, a warm smile rising to his lips. “Do you mind telling me your name?”

“.. Lest,” Lest answers quietly, “Lest d'Selphia.”

“.. -ir..? Sir Lest!”

Quick footsteps sound from the upstairs hallway, and an azure haired young man comes running up to the young blond. “Sir Lest, I..-” He stops when he sees Arthur standing in the foyer, and immediately bows, “I am so sorry! I didn’t know we had a guest!” He is clad in formal butler attire, gloves and all. His clothing is almost immaculate, except for a few green patches on his jacket.

“It’s quite alright. I was just speaking with your young master,” Arthur says, gesturing to Lest, who visibly blushes in embarrassment at the title. “I’m Arthur D. Lawrence. The thirteenth prince of Norad. I sent a letter to Lady Ventuswill that I would be arriving today.”

“Yes, yes of course! Please, come upstairs. I’ll take you to her,” the butler says, carefully turning Lest’s wheelchair around in the direction he had come running in. “Lady Ventuswill also wants to see you, sir. And Mister Volkanon, as well. It’s time for your checkup,” he tells Lest, who nods and turns his head to watch Arthur come up the stairs. He starts to gently push Lest, walking alongside Arthur who matches his slow, cautious pace.

“And what might your name be, if you don’t mind me asking?” Arthur asks the butler.

“It’s Vishnal, your highness!” Vishnal answers cheerfully.

“Ah, please, just call me Arthur. There is no need for titles,” Arthur says, smiling rather clumsily at the young butler. His gaze flickers to Lest, who shyly looks away from him once more.

“If that’s what you wish. It’s nice to meet you, Arthur.”

"And you, too.”

They stay quiet for a few moments, Vishnal leading them throughout the castle-like mansion.

”.. Lest?“ Arthur calls gently, causing the younger blond to look back up to him, "May I ask what happened to you?”

“Oh, erm..” Lest lightly bites his bottom lip. “We fell through the glass roof. I’ve been asleep for two weeks. I only woke up three days ago,” Lest says softly, light violet flickering up to now-wide honey pink, “I’ve suffered a concussion, bruising and cuts, as well as slight damage to my ribcage. That’s why I can’t walk.”

“I-I see.. are you feeling alright? I don’t want to force you..-” Arthur starts to say, visible worry gracing his soft features.

“I’m fine,” Lest says, smiling for the first time.

Arthur feels his face flush. How adorable, he cannot help but think.

“Vishnal has been a tremendous help. As well as Mister Volkanon and Clorica,” Lest says softly, now smiling up at the young butler, “Ven says I’ll be able to walk soon.”

“.. ‘Ven’?” Arthur questions.

“A-ah, I mean, Lady Ventuswill!” Lest corrects himself, looking embarrassed, “She says I’ll be able to walk in three more weeks, once my ribs heal.”

.. he calls her formally, instead of calling her 'mother’?

“Pardon my asking, but are you adopted?”

“Yes, I am.”

Ah.. that’s why father didn’t mention relatives.

"By the way, Vishnal, have you seen my sister?”

“Miss Frey? I believe she is with Clorica, in the dining room,” the butler answers, “Are you hungry?”

“I am, but I can wait.”

"Here is Lady Ventuswill’s room. I will inform her that you have arrived, Arthur,” Vishnal says cheerfully, carefully stopping Lest’s wheelchair. He steps in front of the two, gently knocking at the door before he lets himself in, closing it quietly behind him.

“If I may ask..” Arthur starts to say.

“You can ask me anything,” Lest says with a small nod.

“.. how.. how did you fall through the glass roof?”

Lest blinks at the question, looking up at the young man. His gaze slips moments later however, and he brushes a tuft of platinum blond behind his ear. “We..”

Arthur notices Lest’s ear is also bandaged, with a large, puffy, square shaped bandage gingerly covering the top of his ear.

“We fell out of a zeppelin. That’s what we were told.”

"And by 'we’.. you mean you and your sister?” Arthur asks, earning a small nod from the young blond. “I see.”

"And your sister.. is she doing alright?” Arthur asks, watching as the corner of Lest’s lips relax into a warm smile.

“She just has a broken leg and a few bruises. I broke her fall.”

Arthur feels his heart rise to his throat. That’s why he’s so hurt, he thinks, The glass and his sister.. He took the brunt of the damage. "May I..-”

Creak..

“Arthur! Lady Ventuswill is ready to speak with you!” Vishnal says cheerfully, opening the door enough for the older blond to pass through.

“Thank you, Vishnal,” Arthur says, nodding politely to the young butler. He walks toward the door, fingers gently resting on the knob. “It was nice meeting you two. I hope you feel better soon, Lest,” he says softly, smiling warmly at the younger blond.

Lest shyly looks away again, “Thank you..”

Ah. He got shy again, Arthur thinks, gazing momentarily at the youth, I wonder why? He seemed fine..

“Can you.. come and see me again..?” Arthur blinks at the question, taken by surprise. “.. of course. I’ll be seeing you, then,” he answers gently, causing Lest to smile somewhat.

In spite of his role in helping to save Selphia from the Sechs Empire’s invasion, Doug could not come to terms with his guilt over the matter. Misguided judgement born from a lifetime of thirst for revenge. He’d joined the Sechs in order to wage war against the dragon they told him destroyed his village. His parents. His whole family. By the time he was given the truth, it was too late to save her. She was already dying… but his interference, in his mind, accelerated her demise.

Everything he’d said, his demeanor to others in town, his very existence, was in crisis. He’d earned redemption, found someone to love, made friends, and in essence gained a whole new family.

But Doug still had a vast amount of healing to do.

In the dead of night his thoughts lead him here, to the Dragon Room. Lady Ventuswill, the Divine Wind, god of Time, once sat here. Once upon such a time, he stood here with his blade drawn, ready to do an impossible battle in the name of revenge. Another time, injured and tired, he made an offering of pancakes to the dying god. Now tonight, shivering in the late Autumn breeze, he sat down, drew his knees close, and cried. A shred of self-restraint kept him from wailing to the heavens, but even so his hitched breath and choked sobs echoed in the vast chamber.

Doug had no idea how long he sat there, weeping his remorse into his pant legs. Cold, lonely, and miserable.

I shouldn’t be allowed to be alive, he repeated in his head. So many what-ifs. That if he hadn’t been a Sechs spy and reported to the Emperor, they might not have found out about the Rune Spheres. Or found out about the Earthmate who was working to save Ventuswill.

“Lest… I’m so sorry…” he murmured into his knees. The last thing he expected was an answer in the darkness. “Sorry for what, Love?” Doug jolted, wincing with stiffness. “Lest… I’m… what are you doing here?” Lest chuckled, “I live here, you know! Heard a noise and decided to look, and lo and behold I find my sweetheart!” But his expression then turned serious. “You look like you’re having a crappy night, you wanna talk about it in my room? It’s a hell of a lot warmer in there than out here.” Lest extended a hand, to which the dwarf took readily. His hand was so warm… so comforting… a beacon of hope for a lost soul.

And like a lost soul, he let it guide him wherever. In this case, to the adjoining room. A place he’d been many times in recent weeks. A place of security, safety, secrecy, and intimacy. Where feelings flowed freely and promises of a future dwelled.

Doug sat down on the bed, shivering slightly. The sudden rush of warmth confused his body slightly. Next thing he felt was a bundle of fabric hitting his lap. Lest had given him a pair of his own pajama bottoms. “Your legs are soaked.” Was the simple answer to why. Without a word Doug made to change, tossing his bottoms in a corner as he slipped on the dry ones. “Little long in the legs, there…” He mused out loud. Lest smirked, “Well yeah… bit taller, heh heh…” A pillow came flying in Lest’s direction, hitting him in the chest. “Shut up!” Came the halfhearted reply. But Doug was smiling, if only a little now. Lest noticed. “See? You love my teasing, really…”

The Prince sat down, shifting close to his stricken lover, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and pulling him close. “So tell me, Love… what brought you here so late, and so upset?” He leaned up to nuzzle his nose into the soft, red hair of the dwarf beside him. Doug curled into the comforting frame, heaving a sigh. He didn’t deserve this. Someone so caring, so loving, so willing to help him…

“Just some emotional baggage that got the better of me.” Just the fact that I should’ve thrown myself off a cliff a long time ago for what I’ve done. Lest nodded. “Seems you have a lot more of that than you let on… you wanna unload some of it tonight? It’ll help.”  Doug paused. Did he really want to do that? The consequences of doing so could be severe. Lest sensed his hesitation. “You don’t have to, Doug… you wanna sleep instead? You know my bed’s big enough for two.” He smiled, and winked playfully. “If you want to talk, do it when you feel comfortable, okay? You can even wake me up.”

Doug nodded, thankful for Lest’s understanding. “Thanks… you really are too good for me, y’know?” Lest grinned, laying himself down and sliding under the covers. “I am, really. But then again, you’re too good to me, too… so it evens out, ha ha.” The redhead rolled his eyes. “Suuuuuuurre…” He slipped in beside Lest, cuddling up close. “‘Night.”

Lest wrapped an arm around Doug once more. Now all he had to do was wait. He knew his lover well, and if he knew any one thing at all, it would be that once the smaller male was totally secure, he would speak. Truthfully Lest had always worried about Doug. He seemed sad underneath his bravado, distant at times and lost. Maybe now he would finally find out why.

It didn’t take long before he felt the other shift, moving to face him eye-to-eye. “Lest…?” The response was a hum, and a nuzzle. “I… I wish I knew where to start.” Lest hummed once more, “Take your time, Love. I have all night to listen.” He felt Doug sigh. “I just.. ugh, I hate words sometimes… I’m almost as bad as that Horseface up the way…”

Lest giggled lightly. “Maybe. But I have a feeling this is an exception to the rule.”

Doug rolled his eyes. “I guess… well, um… I’ve just been thinking about Venti…” He fished for Lest’s hand, needing security. “Lest, even though I helped defend Selphia after I found out I’d been lied to by them, I still feel… like I’m to blame for everything that happened. As a kid my whole clan was massacred. The Sechs took me in, and fed me the lies that Ventuswill was responsible. I wasn’t smart enough to question it, I just blindly believed it and grew up a bitter, vengeful, wayward adult who lusted for revenge. I became a Sechs spy and infiltrated Selphia… and then you came along and challenged everything I knew. I hated you at first, you were always ahead of me! You restored Venti’s life force, and then stood there as I made to attack her…”

Doug’s voice began to crack. Lest reached with his free hand to gently wipe away the tears that were beginning to flow from his lover’s eyes. “That was the first time I realized I was a huge damn fool. I couldn’t trust anything or anyone, so I gave you the final Rune Sphere. In my hands, it threatened to be my undoing. In your hands… it would be used to prove the truth. Or so I thought.” He paused. “…I think it was that moment, as I ran from the castle, that I realized I cared a bit more about you than I wanted to, ha ha…”

Lest squeezed his hand assuringly. Doug sighed once more. “What’s been bothering me so much is that I feel responsible for Venti’s death in some way. I helped work against her and Selphia for so long that I might as well have been the one who killer her. My actions up to when the Sechs stole the Rune Spheres and then invaded were anything but helpful. It doesn’t matter in the end that she was destined to die… but that I…” His breath caught in his throat, and his exhale was a strained sob. Lest pulled him flush against his body, and once again Doug sobbed, succumbing to his inner turmoil.

So that was it, Lest mused, that his lover had tremendous guilt. He could try to help with that. “Doug? I need you to listen to me. And I need you to understand something.” He loosened his hand from Doug’s grip and slid it upwards, tipping his chin upward. Lest felt a tremendous sadness coarse through him. Doug was so vulnerable at this moment, so broken… he leaned forward, and pressed a reassuring kiss to the other’s lips.

“What you said is one hundred percent true. You did indeed do all those things, think all those things, and commit some terrible acts in the name of revenge. But remember this too - what you did in the past cannot be changed. Neither can your motives that drove you to do what you did. What matters most, is that you realized your errors before true harm could be done. You weren’t Ethelberd, you weren’t inherently evil nor corrupted by an impossible goal. When you realized you’d been lied to that whole time, is when you started down the path of redemption. And that alone is a victory worth taking pride in.”

Lest’s words hit Doug like lightning. It was almost as if time stopped, the world ceased. Was this… forgiveness? “Doug, you had a hell of a time. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to come home and find you don’t have one. That everything and everyone you cared about was suddenly wiped off the map. I can understand why you latched onto the lies you were told to get you join their cause. It makes a hell of a lot of sense. But in the end you rose above them. You helped Selphia win a war that surely we would have lost without your help. You risked your life to snatch back a Rune Sphere for me, so that Venti could gain just enough strength to help me with the final battle. If not for that, we would have all been doomed. I, in fact, owe you my life, and Venti did too, in a sense.”

Doug had gone eerily still, the impact of Lest’s words sinking in. This was forgiveness, closure. Permission to leave the past in the past. To look forward instead of backward. To look Lest in the eye and know for the first time in his life, he’d made the right choice. “Lest… I… I-I don’t know what to s-say…” Lest pressed two fingers to his lips. “Hush, Love… sometimes words are actually overrated. Just understand this - in the end, in spite of a very rocky start, you are ultimately a hero in this tale. Not a villain, not a foil, but a hero. And you know what? I couldn’t be happier to have you as my hero. I’m a lucky guy.”

Through his tears, Doug broke a smile. He couldn’t process this overwhelming feeling of relief. All he could do was move even closer still, millimeters away from Lest’s lovely face. “I don’t deserve you. Really I don’t.” Lest closed the tiny gap, leaning into kiss his lover deeply. Doug kissed back with renewed vigor, and finally when they broke for air, he laughed playfully. “Aw, mushy crap!” Lest giggled, taking his hand and intertwining their fingers. “No, you don’t deserve me. But you have me anyway, so make the best of it. I know I certainly will, heh heh!” Doug blushed. “Stop that!”

“Mmmm it’s cute when you blush, so I think I’ll keep it up.” Lest sighed, content. “But perhaps we should continue this later, hm? I think I see the first light of day creeping up behind the curtains…” He felt Doug shift beside him. “Ugh, make Vishnal wake us up later.” Lest grinned, almost evilly. “Don’t worry, he’ll walk in to wake me up, see you in bed with me, and about-face right out that door. I would kill to see his face after that!”

“That’s mean,” Doug giggled, “I almost feel bad for him!” “Don’t,” came the response, “He’s gotta learn how to walk in on couples if he wants to be a proper butler! You know, the whole ‘ready for anything’ kind of lesson?” Both giggled, but soon felt the weight of their all-nighter on their eyes. “Mmm, let’s rest, Love. We can always talk more later.” Lest snuggled close. “Yeah. Thanks, Lest… I love you so much.” He felt a kiss being planted on the back of his neck. “I love you too, Doug, Sleep well…”

But Doug had no plans to sleep, if he could help it. His mind was filled with new thoughts. Lest’s words had sunk deep and had given him exactly what he needed to move on. Everything was going to be okay, he himself was okay, and if he played his cards right, the future would be okay, too.