#violas fluffcember

Guy looked around the capital of El Dorado, somewhat fascinated by the lights glistening illuminating everything. Leon hadn't been in, when he had arrived at the castle. And everyone had been rather unwilling to tell him where exactly the lord of the castle had vanished to as well. It hadn't been the first time, so Guy was somewhat accustomed to waiting for Leon. Though maybe he should start actually announcing himself before he just showed up at Leon's place. That might prevent situations such as these to occur.

"Lord Guy, please go back to the castle."

Guy laughed and shook his head. He kept looking around. While he had heard of this Christmas thing that was celebrated in El Dorado, he had not yet heard of this special market going on right now. And Claude had said something about it. Which he definitely was regretting now, at least going by the way he was running after Guy.

"Aw, don't be like that, Claude. I like El Dorado during winter. I'll behave, Leon won't notice a thing," Guy called back to him.

Though, Guy decided, it was Leon's own fault. For not anticipating Guy's visit. Yes, that did sound more like it. He should have at least noticed Guy arriving, and coming back from where ever he had run off to this time. One thing Guy had been sure of was that he hadn't been in the castle.

Guy stopped at a stall, looking at the small ornaments on display. While also allowing Claude to catch up to him. Leon's knights were always so painfully fun to tease. Just like their Lord and Master. But Guy did still have some amount of respect for them. At least the stronger ones.

"I am under strict orders, Lord Guy," Claude said.

He wasn't out of breath in the slightest. A testament to his endurance, as Guy had not been lenient with his speed. Though he did not expect anything less of the one chosen by Leon as the leader of his army.

And always the one having to babysit him, whenever Guy showed up while Leon was out of his castle. In a way did Guy pity him. Surely he had much more important things to take care off. But then again, it was also partly Leon's fault.

"Now come on, it's…"

Guy trailed off as his eyes were drawn to another stall. Though not the wares were intriguing him, but rather the sole customer looking at them. Guy couldn't see much of him, but he did know him to be a man. With shoulder length silver hair, reflecting the light surrounding them in a slight mint colour.

"Who's that?" he asked.

Though the thing that had ultimately drawn Guy's attention to that particular man, was what he could sense. Or rather what he couldn't. The way he was expertly hiding his magic power. Appearing much weaker than he definitely was. Though the only thing Guy could tell was that something was off. That he was hiding just a little bit 

Claude followed his trail of view, before temporarily stiffening. Guy almost wouldn't have noticed it, if he hadn't looked at the knight in the right moment. He did stay silent for a while longer, before letting out a long sigh.

"Most likely an adventurer, why did you ask?" he answered.

Guy smiled at that and turned his gaze back onto the stranger. He simply could not believe that Claude was not fully informed what kind of adventurers entered and left El Dorado. Just in case one of them could pose a threat to Leon.

Not that there were many who could match him. Especially not when he did get serious about fighting. Which he did by far not often enough for Guy's liking. But it was somewhat endearing how his subordinates still cared for him in this way. It was a testament to their loyalty.

"I see. Go back already, I've found my past time," he said.

Something was very interesting about this man he was seeing. And Guy wanted to know what exactly it was that drew him in. So he would follow him around a little bit. Right now he didn't seem to have noticed Guy yet. Though Guy himself was hiding his power as well.

Claude let out another sigh before shaking his head. There was something the knight wasn't telling him, and Guy was very sure he also wouldn't proceed doing so, even if Guy threatened of tortured him. Which he wouldn't do, because then Leon would get angry at him.

"Lord Leon will not be appreciative if you harass visitors to his country," Claude said.

Guy chuckled and nodded. He wouldn't harass him. He would back off when he noticed that his advances weren't welcome. He did know how to take a serious no after all. And he just wanted to have a little bit fun, until Leon was ready to entertain him.

Ultimately he first wanted to claim Leon as his, before he pursued another interest. After all, while his 'no's were given out freely to Guy, they were never that serious in tone. More annoyed, because Guy decided to flirt with him in public.

"I won't harass him, I just wanna say hi. And then I'll come straight back to the castle, promise," Guy said.

He would just see what was up with this man, and whether or not the secret was worth knowing. And then go back and wait for Leon. Or maybe by then Leon would already be waiting for him to come back. Guy turned his attention to the knight next to him, as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"Come on, surely you have more important things to do, than play babysitter for me. I'll explain it to Leon, if he finds out," he added.

He definitely would, after all it wouldn't be Claude's fault, if Leon found out. Unless he told him himself, then it totally was his fault. But it wasn't his fault, that Guy wanted to have a little fun and was bored.

And even if he didn't have anything else to do for the night, he could definitely use some time off from his duties. To just relax and take care of himself. All of those knights were as big workaholics as their master, really.

"Fine, but please, I beg you, Lord Guy, do not cause a disturbance," Claude said.

Guy brightly smiled at him and nodded. Partly glad to be rid of his babysitter, to freely roam this Christmas market thing.

He did wave after him, as Claude retreated, walking back to the castle. A slight slump in his step, so unlike the uptight knight Guy knew rather well by now.

"I won't~ See ya~" he called after him.

Guy watched as he vanished within the masses, before he turned around to view his new target again. His smile turning more predatory, as he slowly approached the stand. The man was still looking at the wares in front of him, once in a while looking up as the shop keep said something to him.

He pretended to be another customer, looking at the wares. Magic stones, and of high quality at that. Guy could see what had drawn an assumed adventurer here. Especially if he would be able to use magic to some extent. Or was able to craft something from this. As he stood next to him, he finally was able to get a proper look at him as well. Hair neatly tied back into a low pony tail, orange eyes firmly focused on the wares. A scar running down the right side of his face, from the forehead, over his eye, to the cheekbone and vanishing beneath he scarf he had wrapped around the lower half of his face. Though it didn't diminish the mysterious type of good looks he had. If anything it enhanced them. Beneath the cloak Guy had seen from behind he was wearing a rather tight, outfit. At least what Guy could see. Dark pants, clinging to his legs and some belts, holding various pouches in place. Standard adventurer garb, from what he knew.

Guy put on his best smile, as the man turned his head, to look at him. Only mustering once him before turning back to the stones he held in his hand. He seemed to contemplate a little bit longer, before putting one back and putting the other in his bag. Taking out enough coins to pay it. He walked away without taking the change he definitely would have gotten.

"Always a pleasure!" the shop keep called after him.

Guy looked at the stone he hadn't taken, as he heard the shop keep let out a nervous sigh. As he looked up the man was still looking after the adventurer. So it was him the shop keep had been nervous about.

Guy looked to the stones. Even he could tell all of them were incredibly high quality. So the man should have nothing to worry about, right?

"Tough customer?" Guy asked.

He'd definitely stoop as low, as to engage in small talk, just to figure out more about this adventurer. He did follow his energy through the masses though. Just to not lose him.

The shop keep looked at him, a strained smile on his face.

"Lir? Nah, I mean, not really. He's just a bit…intense, I guess. Never speaks, but always takes incredibly high grade materials and stuff. Some even whisper that he's secretly working for King Leon, to make sure the wares in the market are the real deal, and no fakes," he explain.

Guy had halfway tuned him out after the first word. He had heard that name before after all. Though the rest of it was rather informative as well. Had that been why Claude had been so secretive about this man. He wasn't a simple adventurer, but reported right back to Leon?

That could be. That would also explain why he was able to hide his power so effectively. Yet that wouldn't explain why Guy wasn't allowed to know about it. He had met every single one of Leon's direct subordinates in the past after all. So why not this one?

Guy thanked the shop keep and went on to follow this 'Lir'. Still wondering where exactly he had heard that name before. He just knew he had heard it before. But it wouldn't come to him where. It was annoying him incredibly much. 'Lir''s next stop was at a stall selling sweets. Where Guy got to know, that he always, without fail, bought them for the children from the orphanage. Though the mass too big this time. Stumping the elderly lady selling the sweets.

His seemingly last stop was a stage. Surrounded by the lights, making it the perfect place in the market. Creating a serene and calm atmosphere. In front some people were walking, some standing. 'Lir' stood still close to a table, watching the stage. Or rather the kids, standing on the stage and singing. Right, Guy had heard that before. He had tuned it out though. They weren't even good after all. Though as he watched 'Lir', his expression softened, as he watched the kids, Guy did remember. He had seen the name on a gravestone. The one in the inner most garden of the castle. When he had asked Leon, he had just answered that 'Lir' had been a friend. Guy always knew not to pry any more.

But that name was anything but common. Though another possibility, checking all the boxes, crossed Guy's mind. Not many people saw him and just didn't react after all. Leon hadn't all those years back then. Having been thoroughly unimpressed by Guy. And now this man. Being rumoured to be a subordinate of him. While Leon was nowhere to be found, and Claude had been rather secretive about why.

Guy's smile formed into a grin as he approached the man again. Coming to a halt next to him, pretending to be listening to the kids as well. He had to say, if it hadn't been for that, he wouldn't have known. Most likely at least.

"Leave if you won't listen. It's disrespectful for the children," 'Lir' said.

Guy chuckled. His voice was a little bit on the lighter side, than Leon's. Though with magic as strong as that of Leon many things could be made possible. Especially changing something simple as an appearance or a voice.

But Guy knew that Leon cared so very much about all the citizens of his country. And especially the children. He just hadn't thought that he never went to see them outright. But rather disguised.

"Why are they singing? And always songs with the same theme," Guy asked.

'Lir' sighed and shook his head, his eyes not leaving the children on the stage. Gloved hands clasped together, appearing to want to keep out the cold. They were essentially singing the same themes over and over again. Praising Leon, or having invented some kind of romantic story. Guy had to say, he started to like it.

He turned his gaze to Guy again. Guy grinned at him, as he let out another drawn out sigh. Now that Guy was actually paying attention to it, he could hear the music from everywhere on the market. It did make for a great atmosphere.

"They are called 'carols'. Christmas carols to be exact. The children are singing them, to practice gratitude, so I've been told," he explained.

Guy nodded and scooted closer to him. He liked the more romantic ones best. He did wonder which ones Leon liked the best. Though Guy was more than sure that he wouldn't find out about it anytime soon.

Guy looked back to the children. Objectively speaking, they weren't good. At all. Though they did put in the effort. And that must be what seemed to be so endearing to Leon-…'Lir'. He always had possessed this soft heart, even when he wanted other to think he was cold as ice.

"I think I like it," Guy said.

'Lir' huffed and shrugged his shoulders. He stole some glances here and there at Guy, but didn't say anything else. Just kept his silence, and listened to the carols. Pretty much all of them were child friendly though. Guy wondered who had thought of the texts. He definitely had not heard of something like this on the main continent.

Though that surely was the result of this coming from another world. Which was relatively common in El Dorado, seeing as most of the higher ups, as well as the king, came from this other world. Both of them did raise their eyebrows when one a little bit more explicit came up. Guy grinned while 'Lir' just stared. His disguise momentarily slipping. It was only a split second, but Guy did spot familiar blue eyes and familiar blond hair. As well as a familiar, very pretty face.

"I think I like this one the most," Guy whispered.

Leon glared at him, before he turned away. So this really was what was going on. Leon going around his own kingdom in disguise, so to not attract too much attention. And obviously his higher ranking knights knew about this. Having vowed not to tell anyone. Not even Guy.

Leon pushed himself away from the table and approached a young woman, standing close to the stage. He had his scarf pulled up high again, making him look somewhat dubious. She did seem to recognize him though, and readily accepted the pouches with the sweets he had earlier bought. Afterwards, he approached Guy again and pulled him away with him. Off to a little alleyway, away from the attention. Though thanks to the lights having been hung up everywhere, still as bright. The song still ringing in the distance. Other's starting to play it from magic devices as well. A song talking about a king blessing a demon for this holy occasion. Their king blessing a demon.

"What are you even doing here?! Can you go about this the normal way for once and announce yourself?" Leon hissed at him.

Leon was facing him again, though not dropping his disguise. He had pulled the scarf down somewhat though, causing Guy to see the full extent of his changed face. Still as pretty as Guy liked it. Even if the scar gave him somewhat of a rugged appearance. Leon had probably thought it would make him look unattractive of something, so he wouldn't draw attention to himself.

"Could you answer me, Lord Guy?" Leon said.

Guy chuckled at the way he almost hissed the 'Lord' at him, just so he could keep up pretences. He liked it. It was different. And maybe Guy could even get away with being even more forward. After all they weren't amongst others anymore. Even if the sounds from the market carried to them. Guy cornered Leon against the wall of a house, smirking at him.

"But it's much more fun like this~" he purred.

Leon flinched and looked around. He let out a quiet string of curses, so unlike him, as he noticed what kind of situation he had brought himself into.

"Maybe you can…convince me to not tell Leon about this," Guy said.

If Leon wanted to keep this game up, Guy would play along. He didn't mind to do so actually. It was fun after all. And he would like to know how far Leon would be willing to take this game, before he fessed up.

Leon let out a long sigh and shook his head. He looked around, as Guy decided to throw caution to the wind and press his lips against Leon's. As soft as he knew they were. Leon did stiffen, but he did not push him away like Guy had anticipated. He hesitated for a moment, before he retaliated by wrapping his arms around Guy's neck, as he closed his eyes.

Guy didn't hesitate to attack Leon's neck next, using his hand to push that bothersome fabric of the cloak and scarf out of the way. It was annoying him. But because it was Leon he would make sure to be careful and not rip the outfit to shreds.

"How…ha…how do you think…Lord Leon would react…if he knew…" Leon breathed out.

He did not make one move to get away from Guy. Rather he pulled him closer, contrary to what he was saying. This was enough confirmation that Guy needed to not give up pursuing Leon anytime soon. Though maybe next time he would let him come closer, while he wasn't wearing a disguise.

Guy grinned as he thought back to the song. The Christmas Carol, as Leon had called it. If he paid any mind to it, he could still hear it in the air. Though right now the sight in front of him was more alluring. Leon letting him roam his hands so freely as well.

"Maybe he'll…'bless' me, for this holy occasion. Let's see, when I'll tell him," Guy breathed.

Leon stiffened at that, before he let out a shaky breath. Still not pushing Guy away. Still giving into his advances.

Blues and Greens, mixing together in a fervent play or colours. Leon watched the scene, a sigh drawing past his lips. He was waiting for Guy to come back, after having been invited by him once again. And once again actually taking him up on the invitation. Sometimes it was nice for him to get out. Especially now, that the most imminent danger to his country was gone, and he actually knew Chloe was here in this world as well. And she was safe at that. While it had broken his heart a little bit that she seemed to want nothing to do with him, was a different thing all together. He wouldn't dwell on it, at the same time it didn't mean he had to like it.

Leon shook his head, turning his attention to the sight in front of him again. How many evenings had he spend in his childhood, wondering if he would ever see something like this for himself. When now he was just one call away, from being able to. He just needed to visit Guy in his castle, and would be able to watch the northern lights for as long as he wanted to.

"I'm back, my bad, my bad. I should've told Ramiris to not bother me for a while."

Leon hummed and nodded, looking to his side, when Guy stopped there. Holding out a glass of wine to him. Leon accepted it readily, swaying it in his hand for a moment, watching the liquid move within the glass. He placed it on his lips, taking a sip, letting out a content sigh at the taste. Leon did wonder why Guy had invited him on a whim like this. When on the main continent things were about to get very, very heated. And surely Guy would want to watch he whole thing unfold.

It wasn't as if Leon wasn't glad about the distraction from his own thoughts. From his own worries and everything else. And whenever Guy didn't decide to get too touchy in front of others, he was nice company to have.

"Why did you call me here?" Leon asked.

He couldn't help but suspect that Guy had some sort of ulterior motive behind his invitation. That something was going on, which Leon was not getting. Especially, whenever Guy would just be calm about his visits. And not make a grand scene out of it. Which he liked to do often enough as well.

Parading Leon in front of his subordinates, as if he was some sort of prize Guy had won. Only for Leon to push him away, denying him any and all advances. Leon was willing to call Guy his friend, but sometimes he just got on his nerves.

"Do I need a reason to invite you, Leon?" Guy asked.

He smiled, not that predatory smirk Leon had gotten more than used to, nor a confident grin, when everything went exactly to how he had planned it. Just a simple smile before he let out a chuckle, as Leon raised an eyebrow.

"You seemed so agitated. And for some reason, you always calm down whenever I invite you up here. Not to my lower balcony, not to anywhere else in my castle. But up here," Guy said.

Leon blinked at the scenery in front of him, before he slowly turned to face Guy, staring at him. Still smiling, though now not looking at him anymore. Was he embarrassed, that he had actually noticed something like that about Leon?

Leon himself was more shocked about how very out of character that was for Guy. Though he sometimes would just drop bombs like that one Leon, and expect him to take it at face value. Which, granted, he most of the time did. Seeing as most of the time, he just had neither the energy, nor the drive to actually say something about it. But this was somehow different. All the times Guy had invited him at random, calling him up to the upper balcony and then just existing there with him for a while. A place where they actually always were alone. Velzard didn't come up here and Misery or Rain would, if they accompanied him here, stop at the door and then leave. Unlike every other time, where either or both of them would hover around Guy. Or where Velzard would pop out of nowhere whenever she wished to,

Not when they spend time on the upper balcony. Where the view over the northern continent was the best Leon could possibly imagine. Where he could watch the lights, and scenery in front of him, letting it calm himself. Always perfectly tempered as well, whenever he was here. So he wouldn't need to bother with any skills or magic to compensate for the lack of heat.

And those invitation had always come very coincidentally whenever Leon had been a little bit more wired than usual. Whenever something had gone wrong too many times, or something had worried him for a prolonged amount of time. Whenever he just couldn't find rest within his own castle. Yet at the same time his pride wouldn't allow him to reach out to someone else.

Leon took a deep breath and turned his attention to the view in front of him again. He knew Guy did monitor him to some extent, but he never would have guessed he would use whatever knowledge he gained to…comfort him?

"I…thank you…I guess," Leon mumbled.

He quickly took a sip of his wine, just to push down any unwanted emotions wanting to bubble up within him. Something about Guy's tone had sounded genuine enough as well, that Leon didn't suspect any other motives. He just wanted to cheer him up sometimes. Which was something friends did. Even if it did cause warmth to spread within Leon, whenever Guy did or said something unexpected like this.

And they were friends. Something Leon somehow always needed to remind himself of. He had gained Guy's respect and friendship by proving himself to the older being. By impressing him with his strength and mind and what not else, he always went on about.

"Don't mention it. Though I do wonder why you like the view here so much. When there are much more beautiful things out there," Guy said.

His voice dropped into an almost whisper by the end. Leon barely catching on to his last sentence, and definitely not noticing the way Guy was looking directly at him, as he was saying it. Leon's attention had returned to the lights, the natural phenomenon in front of him.

"Aurora Borealis. The northern lights are always a sight to behold. When I was a child, before stumbling into this world, I would dream of seeing them for myself one day," Leon admitted.

Back then those thoughts had seemed like a mere wish at best. Unattainable and just the dreams of a neglected boy. Wanting to see the beauty in the world. He supposed it was why this sight calmed him down, as Guy said it. Not that he had noticed himself, that it was like it. Though, thinking about it, he did feel lighter after those particular visits. More relaxed.

"Back then I would have never imagined being able to," he added.

Leon's voice dropped lower, though not enough for Guy to not hear him. He closed his eyes for a moment, not minding when Guy got slightly closer to him. Close enough to invade his personal space. Right now Leon couldn't find himself to mind particularly much.

Yet, as often as Guy did that anyways, Leon had long gotten used to it. Just like Guy had gotten used to Leon pushing him away in certain situations. Which didn't mean he would give up trying anytime soon. Not until he could call Leon his.

"You'll get used to it pretty quickly. Unlike other views," Guy whispered.

Leon opened his eyes again, turning his head to look at Guy. Their faces were too close, closer than Leon had expected it. Guy still looking directly at him, not once turning his face to the view in front of them. Focused solely on Leon and nothing else.

And now Leon saw it as well, and let out a long sigh. Even though he couldn't suppress the smile making it's way onto his face. He would have to admit to himself, that that was a first. A clever first at that.

"How many idiots have fallen for that?" Leon asked.

He turned his head to the front again, drinking a sip of his wine. The smile stayed on his face though, as Guy laughed and leaned against him, letting his head rest on Leon's shoulder. Sneaking an arm around Leon's waist while he was at it, bringing them so much closer.

"Aw~, none who have noticed it unfortunately. Though it did take you some time, Leon," Guy said.

Leon let out a sigh and shook his head. He had not expected Guy to try his flirting with him like this. Yet at the same time he should have. It was Leon's own fault for not expecting it, and just going along with what Guy was saying. While at the same time, he knew full well, that Guy wouldn't dismiss his little confession just so easily. No matter how much he was despising weakness, more often than not did Leon find that it was only him saying that sort of stuff. And never acting on it.

Leon slapped the top of Guy's hand with his free one, when it wanted to wander to places it definitely was not welcome. Guy's hand was barely welcome on Leon's waist, though he supposed as long as he didn't try anything else, he would be able to endure it,

"I guess I can give you points for trying, Guy," Leon said.

It had caught him off guard momentarily. And if he was a lesser man, or more impressionable it might have even flattered him. Thus it had been a good try on Guy's part. Not good enough to work, but a good try.

Guy laughed again, snapping his fingers, taking his hand from Leon's waist momentarily, so both of their glasses refilled themselves without the need of anyone disturbing their peace. Also a welcome try of him to keep Leon's attention solely on himself. Sometimes those more possessive traits of Guy, didn't even bother Leon, as much as he welcomed them.

"So I'll get a kiss then? As consolation prize?" Guy asked.

Leon rolled his eyes and shook his head. As if Guy wouldn't steal his fair share of kisses from him, without Leon being able to react in time. Even if he should be able to react in time.

"No," Leon said.

Guy whined at that, though didn't push his luck any further. Leon looked over at him from the corner of his eyes. He had called him here to cheer him up. And Leon really didn't like having any unpaid debts open. Especially to someone like Guy. Not that Guy would likely view it as a debt, but Leon did. Because now that he had mentioned he had deliberately done it to distract him from any bothering thoughts, the thought was there. That Leon owed him for this. Letting out a sigh, he turned his head and pressed a soft kiss to Guy's temple.

"That's for cheering me up…I guess," he mumbled.

Leon turned his attention to the view immediately again, hiding his mouth behind his glass, ignoring the way Guy's posture straightened at once, while still keeping his arm around Leon's waist. The silence between them was uncomfortable for a while to say the least. Before Guy chuckled and let his head fall onto Leon's shoulder again. A small smile settled on Leon's lips at that, though he sure hoped Guy would not look up to see it. He didn't need to give him any fuel to tease him with, after all.

As the days got longer and snow started to fall, in the country of El Dorado, Leon found himself just watching the outside from his office more often than he should. Yet at the same time it was so very relaxing to him. Especially with the way his office window was facing not the inner side of the castle, but instead the town surrounding it. And something about watching the children play in the snow calmed him down. He was getting told over and over and over again anyways that he was working too much. So he might as well tone it down a little bit more like this. The preparations for the season were done anyways, and everything else for the New Years and Christmas festivities was settled as well.

So Leon allowed himself to just watch with a cup of his favourite tea in hand. Something of it reminded him of his own childhood, while at the same time not. Whenever he had been playing with Chloe it had been similar. Running around in the snow, building a snow man and things like that. The moment she had gone home, he hadn't been allowed to run around carefree anymore. Part of his reason why he needed to keep his country safe. So these children would be allowed to play. Even those with more unfortunate circumstances to themselves.

Sometimes he even found himself wondering what the kids would think if they knew. It had happened once in the past, many years ago now. That they had noticed him watching from his office. The kids had started to make it into a contest. Whoever made the best looking snow man. Even if Leon himself had never named a victor. He was content as long as they had fun. And as long as he could take a break from the stress of watching over his own country.

Leon sighed as his door opened. He turned back to his desk, frowning at the pile of papers he still needed to look over. He had hoped he would at least be able to finish his cup of tea, before he would need to get back to work again. Though his visitor definitely was not there to remind him of his work. Most likely the opposite actually. Guy strutted into his office as if he owned it. Leon wished he would have at least informed him about visiting beforehand. Not that he ever could be bothered with little formalities like that.

Leon turned back to the window again, allowing himself a little bit more of his break, as Guy strutted over. He knew he wouldn't get any significant work done with Guy hovering around him anyways.

"Don't ignore me, Leon~" Guy whined.

Leon sighed yet hid a small smirk behind his teacup. As if Guy would allow him to ignore him. While before the particular group of children having become the point of Leon's focus had been having a snowball fight, apparently they had now decided to bury that hatchet and go over to building a snow man.

"I'm not ignoring you. What do you want?" Leon asked.

He kept sipping his tea and closed his eyes for a moment, once he knew Guy was close enough to him. Somehow he wouldn't mind a little bit of a distraction right now. Guy stopped behind his chair, placing his hands on Leon's shoulders, before leaning forward. Placing his chin on the top of Leon's head, trying to figure out what exactly he was looking at.

He had found the kids playing their little game soon enough. Which didn't mean he understood what exactly they were doing, and why Leon had seemed so very relaxed while watching them. They were only kids, so he really didn't need to be jealous, but at the same time was it a rare sight. And Guy wanted to understand it better.

"I wanted to see you, my lovely hero," Guy said.

Leon nodded slightly, making sure to not cause Guy to lose his balance. While the sight would be an amusing one, it wasn't one he wanted right now. Not when Guy would definitely retaliate in some way or form. Nothing he was looking forward to right now. Nothing he needed to bother with.

"What exactly are we watching?" Guy asked.

Leon opened his eyes again, and watched as the kids talked amongst one another. Soon after they left, looking for more materials for their snow man. Leon wondered what it would look like once fully finished.

He knew the kids were from the orphanage nearby. So maybe they'd model it after their caretaker. A young woman, having fled the Eastern Empire, if he remembered correctly. Though some of his knights were always popular role models for the children as well.

"They're building a snow man. Basically they are playing," Leon said.

It couldn't be described any other way. Especially because the snow man would have no other function but to look cool or pretty or whatever. They just spend some time together outside. Though he could make a point, that it could be a good exercise to build a good team dynamic. They had to work together after all.

"In the end, that lump out of snow should at least slightly resemble a caricature of a human," he added.

Guy hummed, though Leon was sure he still didn't quiet get it. For once he wouldn't blame him. It was something he would need to experience himself. And if Leon hadn't been so cosy in his own office, he might have even offered to show him. Yet he'd rather stay inside.

"Mhm…I see. And you like it, because they are at peace while doing that? Playing?" Guy asked.

Leon nodded and made an affirmative noise. He was surprised that Guy actually tried to understand his point of view. Though whenever it was really just the two of them, he was surprisingly different at times. Almost domestic somewhat.

Guy stood up straight again and walked closer to the window. Leon put his cup down and did the same. Coming to a halt next to Guy. Guy didn't waste any time in stepping behind Leon, wrapping his arms around him. Placing his head on Leon's shoulder, just in time for the children to return. Leon threw a glance over his shoulder, finding his office door shut tight and locked. He let out a sigh and turned his attention to the kids outside again. A smile stole itself onto his lips. 

"See, I remembered that you don't like it when I show my adoration for you where other's can see," Guy whispered.

A shiver ran down Leon's spine at the tone of his voice. Also at the way his breath brushed over Leon's skin. He had seemed to have thought about that. Which was why Leon wasn't pushing him away. No matter how much he denied him his advances most of the time, some times he didn't really mind.

Leon placed a hand on Guy's while leaning slightly against him. Yet, unfortunately Guy never really always thought about that. Leon supposed it was a testament to their friendship…partnership that he let him get close enough to make him uncomfortable in the first place.

"Now if you could please always pay attention to that, Guy," Leon said.

Guy chuckled and lightly shook his head, as they kept watching the kids. Leon raised an eyebrow when instead of a scarf, the children put a black cloth, definitely meaning to resemble a cape around the snow man. Holding it together with a large stone, not unsimilar to how his small breast armour held his cape in place.

Guy noticed it at the same time and started to laugh, while Leon just let out a sigh. Still smiling at the scene. After the children were satisfied with their work, they waved to the snowman, before turning around, definitely having seen him watching them before. Or at least one of them had seen him and told the other. If the way all of them were accurately waving to him, before running off, was anything to go by. He definitely should not have dismissed that possibility.

"It somehow looks a little lonely, don't you think, Leon?" Guy asked,

Leon rolled his eyes and shook his head. He just hoped Guy wouldn't get any idiotic ideas, which would ruin the hard work of the kids. At least while the weather held up cold, which it would for a while longer, the snow man would stay standing.

That was something Leon always made sure, whenever he saw some of the kids build something there. That it survived the longest time possible. And while he wasn't always as successful as he liked to be, he tried. Leon's face fell as his thoughts drifted. Hating how he hadn't been able to try his best with her, too blinded by his own goals at the time. His own selfish desires. 

"Well, let's go and have some fun, alright?" Guy said.

Leon flinched slightly and looked at Guy. Who was grinning to both ears at him. As if he had noticed the shift in his behaviour. No he definitely had noticed. Before Leon could even try to object, or even try to get out of it by saying he still had work to do, Guy had already started pulling him away from the window. Somehow Leon found himself glad for the little distraction. He had no way of changing the past, and even if, it would probably cause a horrible butterfly effect in the long run.

Leon let Guy pull him towards the door. He didn't even know why Guy liked to walk through his castle so much. Whenever anywhere else he would simply use spacial movement to get where he would need to be. Never when he was visiting Leon. The moment they left the room, Leon pulled his hand from Guy, opting to simply walk next to him. Somehow he has a feeling, Guy had something planned for him. He just hoped it wouldn't be too bad.

Leon and Rimuru walked back inside the room having been set up as a sort of entertainment lounge. Leon had just needed to get some fresh air and get away from Ramiris' and Milim's shenanigans, while Rimuru had offered to accompany him outside. Partly because they had been worried Leon would run off somewhere, partly because Rimuru really had just wanted to spend some time with Leon. They did get along after all. Leon just had his own special way of showing he cared, as Rimuru had found out the hard way. In other words, he really, really just was a huge tsundere at times.

Both of them stopped as Milim sucked in a sharp breath, with Ramiris starting to laugh and Dino chuckling along as well. Awake for once and definitely enjoying himself. The ones of Rimuru's subordinates who were present, Shuna, Shion and Diablo just stared at the pair of Demon Lords, eyes blown wide. Leon followed Shuna's gaze upward, before a sigh left his lips.

"Since when…has that been there?" he asked.

Leon was relatively assured that the mistletoe had not been hanging there when he had left to get some fresh air. In fact, Leon was absolutely sure that he had seen none of those things.

If he had, he might have left immediately. He didn't need Guy to get any ideas after all. Not that he knew anything about that kind of thing. At least, Leon hoped so. After all, he couldn't even be quite sure where it had come from, here in Tempest. Judging from the rather shocked noise Rimuru made when they too looked up at that darned thing, it hadn't been the slime's plan. And judging from the reactions they had got so far, Ramiris was definitely involved in that somehow. How, he wouldn't question, but he just knew she was involved.

Leon couldn't even find himself to care about that. As long as she hadn't told Guy about it. When he looked down, he saw Guy staring at both him and Rimuru with a raised eyebrow, still sitting exactly where he had when Leon had left. Absolutely knowing because someone had told him.

"Ohh~~ Leon and Rimuru♫ need to ki~ss!" Ramiris all but screamed.

Leon let out a sigh and looked back to Rimuru. Now that she had screamed it out, everyone in the room surely knew. If they hadn't before. Rimuru's subordinates had seemed shocked that they had stopped beneath the mistletoe, after all.

Rimuru was waving their arms in front of themselves, frantically. Leon knew they hadn't had anything to do with it. That much was out of the question. Leon also supposed Tempest was still relatively new to this particular tradition, so he hoped he could get away with not going through with it.

"Uh…we don't actually need to do this, right?" he asked.

Leon got along with Rimuru well enough, but not that well enough. If he didn't like physical touches in public with Guy, who he had known for centuries now, he definitely wouldn't like that with Rimuru. Added on top of the fact that Rimuru still uncannily looked like Shizu. Which added another layer of awkward to the entire situation.

Rimuru let out a nervous laugh, letting their hands sink next to them before shaking their head again. Leon did see Guy lean on his seat from the corner of his eyes. Absolutely glad he didn't decide to cause a scene over this.

"Of course not. Don't worry about it, Leon, hahaha…ha," Rimuru said.

Leon nodded and wanted to keep going, when Shuna stopped in front of him, together with Ramiris by her side, both of them giving Leon and Rimuru a stern look. Surely they didn't intend to force them to go through with it. It was just a stupid tradition from their home world, so to say, after all.

"No! Rules are rules, as much as it hurts me to say, Great Rimuru," Shuna said.

Leon and Rimuru let out a sigh at the same time. Ramiris nodded at her side, definitely not having had the courage to face the two of them by herself. Rimuru's other subordinates, just like Milim started to grumble about Leon being lucky to have walked in with Rimuru at the same time. As if he had that planned or something.

Rimuru's winced at the stern look he was getting and deflated visibly. Until they seemed to get another idea. At least if the change of posture was anything to go by. "Who of you guys even hung that up there. And how do you know what that is?" Rimuru questioned.

The room fell silent, while Leon leaned against the doorway. Ramiris floating in front of him. He could just go his way, yet at the same time was he hoping that she would stop this nonsense herself. Surely she didn't plan to set him up with Rimuru. Rimuru's gaze fell onto Veldora, having gone silent as the first person. Which did seem rather uncharacteristic for the storm dragon.

"Veldora…"

Rimuru grumbled curses, causing Leon to hide a chuckle beneath his hand. Ramiris was still grinning at him, while Guy had scooted to the edge of his seat again. More than willing to put a stop to this, if no one else would.

"Look, Leon, it's really fi- HUH?!"

Leon interrupted Rimuru by turning around again, and raising a hand to push the bangs out of their face. Though the thing causing a miniature uproar to arise in the room was when Leon leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Rimuru's forehead. That much he would be alright with.

It also could be seen as a friendly gesture, without any romantic connotations in the end. Just a gestured shared between friend. So the situation wouldn't need to escalate. Simply because Guy was almost standing already. Leon absolutely didn't need him to cause a scene.

"A kiss is a kiss, right? Nothing of the tradition states it has to be one on the lips, if I remember correctly," Leon said.

Rimuru nodded and Leon didn't pay Ramiris' whining that that didn't count any mind, as Shuna calmed her down. He also didn't wait for a reply from Rimuru, instead going over to where he had been seated before, next to Guy, just so he would finally calm down again.

He also really hoped that none of the other's had noticed Guy getting more and more restless. Even if he knew Milim always chose to be perceptive when it absolutely should be none of her concern whatsoever. So unfortunately Leon knew if anyone had noticed it would be her.

"Leon~?" Guy said.

He threw an arm around Leon's shoulders, pulling him towards himself with a little bit more force than necessary. His voice dropping into something Leon could only describe as an almost growl, still trying to disguise it as something seductive.

Leon let out a sigh, though didn't push Guy away. Right now that wouldn't make any sense after all. He would just continue hanging off of Leon in some way or form, until Leon stopped resisting. Not that anyone was paying them attention. Rimuru's subordinates were too busy trying to get Rimuru under the mistletoe again. Just like Milim.

"Over my dead body, Guy," Leon grumbled.

And yet he definitely wouldn't indulge in all of Guy's selfish whims. Guy knew his boundaries and he damn well respected them, if he didn't want their relationship to regress to what it had been a bit ago.

Guy just chuckled and shook his head, placing the best smile on his face, as he held out a glass to Leon. A clear liquid instead of a wine glass filled with wine. Leon turned his head to look at Guy, lips pulled down into a frown, while Guy still smiled. Showing the tiniest hint of his fangs.

"Aw, come on. I just wanted to ask if you would drink something with me," he said.

Leon let out a sigh, though continued to grumble beneath his breath about the ridiculousness of the situation. Guy just chuckled at that, while still holding the glass out to Leon, until he finally took it in his own hands.

"How come that tradition didn't swap over to El Dorado as well?" Guy asked.

He leaned his head against Leon's shoulder, his grip relaxing somewhat. Finally, causing Leon to relax himself as well. Guy had nothing to be jealous about, ultimately. It wasn't like he wouldn't openly flirt with other's. Though Leon supposed that was just part of his personality.

Leon sighed and leaned slightly against Guy, looking down at the glass. He hadn't even thought about letting that tradition swap over to El Dorado's Christmas festivities. Mainly because he hadn't even thought about it in the first place. Partly because he just had never seen the sense of it. "Because it is childish and useless," Leon answered.

He was glad none of his knights had ever thought about suggesting that particular thing to be brought over from their old world as well. He didn't need that kind of thing, after all. It would just give the wrong persons the wrong ideas. Just like Guy.

Who in turn to Leon's answer laughed and lightly shook his head. Leon didn't even particularly care if he believed him. He wouldn't let it swap over, and that was the end of that discussion. And from now on he would be on his guard, whenever he was in Tempest during this time of the year.

"Translation: you had an iron grip on it, so it wouldn't," Guy said.

He chuckled when Leon looked at him, though still kept his smile on his face. And a hand on Leon's shoulder. So he wouldn't even get the idea to get up and leave the room again. At least not without Guy, it seemed.

At times, those parts of Guy's personality really did get tiring. Even if most of the time Leon couldn't find himself to mind. Found them somewhat endearing, even. Grounding at the very least.

"Think what you want," he mumbled.

Leon raised the glass to his lips and stopped after the first sip. Looking at the liquid inside, as he felt a slight burn in the back of his throat. They had all agreed to tone down their resistances a little bit for the evening. Just so they could all 'properly enjoy themselves' as Rimuru, Luminas and Guy had put it.

"This is stronger than your usual preferences," Leon said.

Or at least it was stronger than Guy's preferences whenever he was drinking with Leon. Which was probably just him matching his own preferences to Leon's preferences. And that was mostly wine.

Leon let his hand with the glass sink down to his lap, as he looked at Guy with a raised eyebrow. Smile having turned into a slightly predatory grin. Leon really should have expected as much. How he hadn't thought Guy would try to pull something like this eluded him.

"So you noticed," he said.

Voice feigning innocence, as Leon just shook his head with a sigh and took another sip. He supposed he could indulge him for a little bit. His gaze turning back to where Rimuru was struggling to not get pulled back beneath the mistletoe. A small idea settling in his head.

Leon purposefully started taking larger sips and letting Guy freely refill his glass, whenever it got empty, though only when someone else was looking in his direction. Which mainly was Rimuru, who seemed slightly concerned, though was also wise enough to not just say anything. Leon blissfully feigned ignorance, which Guy absolutely noticed. And while he was confused about it, he didn't say anything about it just yet. For now, he would enjoy it. Unless it went too far, then he would need to step in.

Yet the evening ended on a relatively calm note, without any further things like earlier happening. And by the time everyone either retreated to their lodging within Tempest or left, Leon was the one positively hanging off of Guy. Eyes closed, arms hanging loosely around Guy's neck.

"I will see to it that he gets back to his palace safe and sound~" Guy said.

Rimuru furrowed his brows at that, concern written all over their face. Leon was completely wasted, so Rimuru had intended to let him stay in Tempest. Even when he had made it clear beforehand that he needed to return home that very night.

And yet didn't Rimuru know if it was the best idea to let Guy handle that. When Rimuru had seen him be the one who had gotten Leon so very wasted like that. It was somewhat Leon's fault as well, letting Guy have his way like that. It still left a sour aftertaste in Rimuru's mouth.

"Thanks, I guess," Rimuru said.

Yet at the same time did Rimuru know he, for one, should cut Leon some slack. Poor guy was stressed enough on a regular as it was. And for the other, that Guy wouldn't try anything when Leon was in such a state. Hopefully at least.

Guy had made plans to return to Leon's castle with him anyway. Not that any of the others had known. Leon had known. Which was probably why he had chosen to let Guy handle this. He smiled as Leon mumbled something in comprehensive, nuzzling his face more into the crook of Guy's neck.

"No need for suspicion, little slime. Leon and I are friends after all~" Guy said.

It did absolutely nothing to ease Rimuru's worries. If anything, it amplified them. It was clear that Leon wasn't asleep, just rather, docile right now. And Rimuru didn't know how Leon got when he was drunk. This could very well end in a disaster, which he, as host, would be partly responsible for. Guy turned his head a little bit more in Leon's direction, smile turning more into a grin.

"Right?" he whispered.

Rimuru sighed and shrugged their shoulders, as Leon looked up at Guy. Eyes drooping, and definitely slightly glazed over. Next time, Rimuru absolutely would make sure to have an eye on what and how much Leon was drinking. He undoubtedly would be absolutely horrified at his own behaviour once he remembered it. For his sake, Rimuru hoped he wouldn't.

"To think he'd get thi-!"

Rimuru stopped and stared wide-eyed, when after shooting a look above his and Guy's heads, Leon pulled him closer and pressed his lips against Guy's. Guy himself seemed more than shocked at the action, though he did wrap his other arm around Leon's waist, pulling him ever so slightly closer.

Rimuru turned to look away as quickly as possible. Feeling like they had walked in on something rather private. And something incredibly forbidden. Knowing full well that this wasn't meant for their eyes at all. Leon pulled away before Guy would completely forget that they weren't alone.

"Normal…normally you-you carry me, Guy… Don't wanna walk…" Leon said.

His speech was slightly slurred, just like he did interrupt himself by hiccuping a few times. Guy chuckled at the endearing sight. Leon's face, completely flushed, eyes filled with something akin to need. Not necessarily sexual need, but just the need for Guy to stay close. Which he definitely would do.

Guy looked back to Rimuru, smiling at the slime all the while. Rimuru shied a step back, and stared back. Guy picked Leon up in his arms, as per request, eyes never leaving Rimuru's form. His smile never reaching his eyes.

"You saw nothing," Guy said.

"I saw nothing!" Rimuru practically shouted at the same time.

Guy nodded and held Leon closer. This had been a rather private sight, after all. One Guy would like to stay private at that. No matter how often he teased Leon and outright flirted with him, moments like this were between them.

Leon snuggled more against Guy, a content smile on his face. Eyes closed again, threatening to doze off at any moment. Before any other question could come, Guy looked at Leon. There was no question that should be coming either way. Rimuru hadn't seen a thing after all.

"Now let's get you home, Leon," Guy said.

Without bidding Rimuru goodbye, he vanished by using spatial transportation, reappearing in the front hall of the castle of El Dorado again. The night was already rather advanced, so except for a few guards, who hurried away rather quickly upon seeing Guy and Leon, they were alone.

"I know you're sober," Guy said.

This was specifically why he was somewhat confused about Leon not only putting on a show of being drunk, but even going as far as kissing him and asking to be carried. In a rather adorable manner at that. Guy didn't mind at all, while at the same time he did. Leon's affections were for him alone to see, after all.

But he knew Leon hadn't been as wasted as he had wanted to appear. While he might have drunken a little bit more than usual, it hadn't been that much. So why pull off such a show? The smile fell from Leon's face as he leaned back a bit slightly, face still completely flushed, though his smile replaced by a frown.

"Lie, you purposefully did get me tipsy," he said.

The flush on his cheeks was entirely from the embarrassment of his own actions. That didn't make it less endearing for Guy to look at. Leon crossed his arms in front of his chest, looking away. Alright, Guy had to admit, maybe he wasn't completely sober, but definitely not as wasted, as to not know what he was doing.

"And you also kept eyeing that damn mistletoe," Leon grumbled.

Guy thought about that statement for a moment. He had been wanting to catch Leon under there, just to steal a little kiss. Which hadn't been possible, because Leon had refused to stand up again, after having come back from getting a bit of air. And Guy hadn't wanted to drag him there. That would have been too obvious. But had they been standing beneath it, when he had talked to Rimuru just now? They had!

"Aw~ you did that for me?" Guy asked.

Leon grumbled more under his breath and rolled his eyes, to which Guy's smile just turned more predatory. He knew that Leon had some quite cute sides to him, but he never would have expected something like this. That was absolutely adorable. Even going as far as to jump over his own shadow for Guy.

Leon groaned and rubbed his face, leaving his hands in front of it. Still not making any move, so Guy would need to let him down. Though he hadn't lied. Whenever they did do it somewhere that wasn't Leon's bedroom, or whenever Leon was on the verge of overworking himself again, Guy did end up carrying him to bed.

"I will not make this a habit. Ugh, I hope I'll get away with feigning a hangover in front of Rimuru the next time," Leon said.

His voice, muffled by his own hands, didn't betray his embarrassment. Guy definitely wouldn't expect him to do this more often. He had to admit, he hadn't liked it as much, as when Leon was affectionate to him in private.

Somehow it made it less special. And while Leon did slowly come more out of his shell, when surrounded by those he trusted within his castle, that was as much as Guy was willing to tolerate. If anyone else saw how Leon could be, then who was to say they wouldn't try to take him for themselves?

"I'm sure you will, love," Guy said.

Like this was better. For Rimuru it would stay a drunken accident. And if it did get somehow out just what had transpired over there, then Guy might have to think a few things over again. What was needed for a truly balanced world for example.

For now, he would carry Leon to his bedroom, and thank him for indulging him like that. Leon sighed and held on to Guy again, leaning his head against his shoulder, frown replaced by a look of mild discomfort. One Guy would wipe away rather quickly.

Leon was sitting behind his desk, drawing up different formulae on a piece of paper. Scratching out certain symbols, when he noticed they wouldn't work very well together. He had abandoned his robes in favour of a light tank top some comfortable pants. If someone wanted something from his, they would be wise enough to knock, and then he could change his clothes with a snap of his fingers. It really wasn't that hard. Leon found himself looking up, watching the winter scenery outside his tower. Some dumb ass country really had to start a conflict shortly before the Christmas celebrations. The only time of the year when the king actually left him alone.

At least he had his tower tempered well enough to be bothered by the cold outside. He hoped he'd be done soon enough with the magic devices the king had demanded this time. Or rather his military adviser. And once he was done he could seal the doors to his tower to anyone but his subor-apprentences, as he needed to officially call them, and be done with the world for the rest of the year. Which by then would only be measly few days left, but still.

Leon took a deep breath and refocused on the papers in front of him. He did notice the shift in the air rather quickly. Yet he also recognised the mana that appeared within the room. Or rather who it belonged to.

"Leon~"

A small smile made its way onto Leon's lips, even though he stayed focused on his work. He still wasn't quite sure how he had gotten into this kind of…situation, but somehow he couldn't find himself to mind that much. Not when the other brought something of a comforting presence with him by now.

Though he could do without the hovering over his shoulder. Which wasn't all that surprising, because he never liked getting ignored for that long. Even when it had been him who had silently watched Leon in the beginning. With Leon only figuring out slowly what actually had been wrong.

"What?" Leon asked.

His voice had taken on a sort of absentminded tone, as he was drawing up some symbols. If he could get these to work, he might be finished sooner than anticipated. And then he finally could have his peace for a few days.

"What's going on here? Shouldn't you be enjoying some time off? You said you would have some time off now?"

Leon let out a sigh, when Guy pulled him to the back of his chair by his shoulder. Severely under dressed as always, Leon noted. Not that he minded, Guy had a handsome physique, though unfortunately the merman was well aware of that fact as well. And liked to utilise it more often than not.

"Some kingdom or something to the east started a conflict. The king needs some shi- stuff from me. And his butler has already been coming by for the nth time it feels like, pestering me when it would be done," Leon said.

He refocused back on Guy's blood red eyes instead of staring at his bare chest. Guy definitely had already noticed, so Leon needed to shift the topic soon enough, before he decided to tease him with that fact.

Guy's eyes did darken ever so slightly, his pupils doing that interesting thing again, where they turned into slits the tiniest bit more than normally. And Guy's eyes already were rather unusual, even when he was disguising himself as a human. He definitely was not amused with that he was hearing. Leon just hoped he wouldn't try something dumb,

"Diablo, huh? Don't mind him. Need my help?" Guy asked.

The smile was back soon enough on his face, though a bit more predatory than Leon liked. And a bit more forced. He knew what kind of help he was offering, but he really didn't want to risk their current status quo.

It was a wonder that Diablo hadn't yet decided to blow his cover in front of the king. Though then Leon would see himself tempted to blow Diablo's own cover. Not that the butler knew that Leon was aware of his little secret.

"Be glad I'm disguising you as an apprentice of the mages tower. Don't tempt fate Guy," Leon said.

He was about to turn back to his work, when Guy grabbed his chin and brought his own face closer to Leon's. The air surrounding him heating up and cooling down in irregular currents. Or rather, Guy trying to cool down the air surrounding Leon.

He was excited about something. Probably about teasing Leon again. Excited enough that he let his magic run freely at least the tiniest bit. Just enough to clash with Leon's own magic. Just enough to annoy Leon a little bit further.

"Don't want to share me?" Guy asked.

His voice was merely a whisper against Leon's lips. Anyone walking in on them would be scandalised what Guy was allowing himself. After all it was out of the question that each apprentice to the tower swore their loyalty to the master first and the king second.

A smile settled on Leon's lips. A small one, as he didn't back down from Guy's advances. Had found that it wasn't worth it in the end, and he would have to admit that at least the was a intellectual attraction there. Maybe even a physical.

"No, I don't," he said.

Guy's smile turned into a grin, before his face froze. Most likely as he realized that Leon had not gone in the defence like he usually would in moments like these. No, right now he wasn't in the mood for that.

Guy blinked at him, clearly confused as a small noise escaped his mouth indicating just that. Leon's smile grew a little bit, as he brought his hand up, to brush some strands of fire red hair from Guy's face. Remaining on his cheek, as to make sure that Guy wouldn't back away from him.

"I don't want to share you. Oh great king of the seas, mightiest of the merfolk," Leon whispered.

He definitely would not have done that if he hadn't been absolutely sure that they were alone. Though he had to admit, that the way Guy's face flushed the tiniest bit was worth it in the end. Leon lightly clapped his cheek and turned away from him again, back to his work.

"I'll have time for you in a moment," he said.

Guy let out a laugh, a nervous little sound, as he backed away. Definitely having been caught in his own trap this time. Leon would need to make sure to do this more often. It was satisfying.

He watched from the corner of his eyes as Guy sat down on a nearby chair, his eyes never leaving Leon, as he resumed working. As long as he was quiet, Leon couldn't even find himself to mind all that much.

"Alright~ I'll just sit here and look handsome then," Guy said.

Leon chuckled and nodded, humming in agreement. While Guy's mana was cooling the room down slightly, Leon couldn't find himself to mind. It was a welcome addition, and good to keep his own magic in check. Which tended to overflow whenever he got too focused on something. Having cost him multiple desks by now.

Guy quite watched as Leon worked, mumbling something once in a while, scribbling down words on one page, only to erase them on another. Icy blue eyes focused solely on his work, while Guy's blood red eyes were focused only on him. Guy made sure the suppress the excess of mana flowing out of Leon. He thought it was adorable how distracted he could become once in a while. His mana, a combination out of the purest of light and the hottest of fires, clashing with Guy's icy cold one. Though Guy himself didn't have an affinity, he just liked to tune his mana in a way to accent Leon's in the end.

After some time Leon leaned back and let out a long sigh, looking down on the paper in front of him. He leaned forward again and copied some of the things onto a clean sheet of paper, before burning the ones he had scribbled on in his hands. That was the perfect sign for Guy.

"Done?" he asked.

Guy didn't let Leon answer him. He just grabbed his arm, and pulled him onto his feet. One look at the page Leon had last written on, told him he was finished. He would only clean everything up once he was, Guy had learnt. Though he also once again found himself fascinated by the knowledge Leon possessed.

"Great! Let's go, it's too warm in here," Guy said.

He didn't let his eyes roam for too long. Leon could get cranky if he thought Guy was trying to look at whatever he had been working on. At least if it wasn't quiet finished yet.

He had long given up the pretense of knowing absolutely everything after all. At least in front of Leon. He had seen through his 'all-knowing ruler of the seas' thing rather fast after all. Especially because he himself was incredibly smart. Something Guy liked about him so very much.

"I like it like this?" Leon said.

Guy laughed and shook his head. He snapped his fingers at the same time as Leon did, so at least some rudimentary robes appeared on him. With Leon having gotten 'dressed' in his full robes again. Long, flowing, black robes with golden applications. Almost vibrating with magic and yet giving Leon an almost regal aura.

Guy grinned to himself. It was fitting, with how all the apprentices of the Tower practically worshipped Leon. It wouldn't be far off to say they were his subjects, yet the Mage Tower was under the command of that King, Guy couldn't care less about.

"Aw, did my fiery passion not yet warm you up again. Is it not enough to melt your icy heart, my mighty sorcerer," Guy said.

Guy himself had just let some light robes and a thin tank top appear on himself. Just enough to brand him as an 'apprentice', so their whole gig wouldn't get discovered. Even if there was a certain meddlesome someone in the castle that knew about his game.

But it had been the best Leon had been able to come up with, so Guy could regularly visit him, even when he was busy. Without drawing attention to himself. It didn't mean Guy actually did spend much time researching anything in the Tower. Or learning anything.

"Idiot," Leon said.

There was a small smile on his face as Guy looked back at him. Tiniest wrinkles appearing by his eyes, telling Guy everything he needed to know. And that tone, that affectionate, slightly annoyed and yet endearing tone was music to Guy's ears.

Again and again he needed to remind himself that Leon was just an incredibly skilled human, and not one of his sirens from down below the ocean. Luring a willing victim to their doom. Even if he could easily pass as one. None of the sirens Guy had under his command could even get close to looking as beautiful as his Leon.

"You still love me," Guy said.

Leon let out a sigh and let Guy pull him further through the tower. Some of the other apprentices looked at them scandalised, while other, the higher ones, the ones Leon did trust, knew. They didn't know the whole truth about Guy, but they knew that he was no mere apprentice.

Leon was highly critical in choosing new ones after all. And while Guy would have easily passed all the tests Leon gave out to aspiring mages out there, wishing to learn under his command, his personality just didn't fit right. No, Guy was at the Tower for another reason whatsoever.

"I never talked about love, Guy," Leon reminded him.

His mouth had been pulled down into a slight frown, while he let out a sigh. Leon wasn't sure why he was so lenient with the merman himself. He did like his presence a lot, that much he would need to admit. Even if in the beginning he had just wanted to research his species even further.

"But I do still appreciate you," Leon added.

He still wanted to learn more about the merfolk, just like Guy had his own ulterior goal as well, Leon was more than assured. But he also would be lying if he said that was his only motivation for letting Guy stick around him so much.

Leon shivered as they stepped outside, into the icy winter air. As lovely as it had looked from his office, Leon would have rather stayed inside and looked at it from there. The temperatures had dropped far to low for his liking. Leon just hoped that it way all natural, or he would not get any free days any time soon.

"You know, for someone with such an icy demeanour, and I mean it, you're getting cold too often," Guy said.

He chuckled and grinned at Leon, who just rolled his eyes at the remark. It was one he had heard often enough from anyone around to tell him. The King had told him before, as had some of his servants. Some folks from the Tower as well. And Guy would regularly remind him.

Just like all of them were always exclusively stunned, when they found out what Leon's main mana attributes were. He was skilled with all of them, or else he wouldn't have been able to climb to the rank of master all those decades ago, but his main ones, the ones he had started with as a magician, still always came as a surprise to anyone out there.

"It's just a nuisance. I do prefer fire and warmth over the biting cold out here," Leon said.

He didn't like the cold, simple as that. He could bear with it, when it came from Guy's own special brand of mana, or even in his better days whenever Guy decided to bring Velzard along to visit him as well.

Another interesting one, he would have never gotten to know if not for his…unconventional relationship with Guy. He had known about the greater dragons out there, the king was close friends with one after all. But the ice dragon, graceful and beautiful just like the element she commanded, was something else entirely. Seemingly innocent, yet cruel at the same time. She did grind on his nerves once in a while, though whenever Guy was planning some mischief, they could get along rather quickly.

"Don't let Velzard hear that -"

"Lord Leon, where might you be going?"

Guy and Leon stopped immediately at the voice. Guy's eyes narrowing at the interruption of his well deserved alone time with Leon, while Leon just let out a sigh. That was the last kind of voice he had wanted to hear, when he himself just wanted a break.

"Diablo," Leon said.

He pulled his hand out of Guy's grip and turned towards the butler of the King approaching them with fast steps. Only shortly looking at Guy, before focusing on Leon again. Definitely demanding an answer to his question. Not that Leon would need to answer to him. Though it would make him look suspicious.

"I am taking a break. Surely his majesty would not be opposed to that. Or does he wish to slave me to my death?" Leon asked.

He crossed his arms in front of his chest and let his face fall into a mask of indifference. With Diablo he was never really sure how he should react. Even if he had the higher ground when it came to information, Leon never really could gauge his moods just right.

Diablo's eyes were drawn to Guy again, momentarily changing. Irises turning blood red and sclera turning pitch black with with his pupils thinning out into slits. Something Leon had seen Guy's eyes do as well before, whenever he was especially annoyed.

"Of course not. And this…person?" he asked.

He closed his eyes, as he smiled brightly at Leon definitely to regain his composure again. How he hadn't been discovered by anyone yet was a mystery to Leon. Though at the same time, Leon hadn't been any wiser to the fact that the butler was not what he seemed to be, if Guy hadn't clued him in.

For now he would stay silent on the matter, as long as Diablo didn't decide to blow Guy's cover. And through that expose the lie Leon had told to everyone asking. The fabrications he had made up, just so he wouldn't have to sneak around to see Guy.

"Surely you have met the newest apprentice to the mages tower. He wished me to see some of his progress," Leon said.

Diablo's attention snapped back to Leon immediately again. Leon went the extra mile and took a step forward, in front of Guy, shielding him somewhat from Diablo's field of view. Officially he was an apprentice of the Tower. So officially he was under Leon's protection. Not that Guy needed it.

"That does not sound like much of a break."

The smile on his face was still more than forced. While Leon just let out another drawn out sigh. He supposed Diablo was right. To anyone it wouldn't sound like much of a break. But Leon wasn't just about anyone.

"It is for me," he said.

He didn't even need to lie in that aspect. He liked looking over the progress of the younger apprentices whenever he had the time. It calmed him to see them succeed and somehow it also filled him with pride. They were his responsibility after all. And if they bloomed into strong sorcerers of their own one day, it would be his accomplishment.

"The tools and formulae will be done by the time I have agreed upon with King Rimuru. Do not worry about that, I do tend to stay true to my word," Leon said.

He had been able to make some major progress on the formulae already after all. And the tools could only be started to get crafted after those were done. But with how it was looking right now, Leon was assured he would be finished even earlier than he had promised.

Diablo nodded, his smile turning a smidge more genuine. He knew if wouldn't do well, to get on Leon's nerves. Everyone knew that Leon worked best on his own terms in the end.

"I am well aware, Lord Leon. I just wished to see whether the progress was keeping up steady," Diablo said.

That didn't stop him from annoying him pretty much every day. Somehow it did got Leon to wonder how much free time he actually had, if he could make the trek from the castle, to the Tower and back every day, without neglecting his other duties.

Yet at the same time did Leon know that Diablo was hiding quiet a bit if magic himself. Magic he normally would need to at least get registered in the castle, if not in the Tower. Another secret Leon would keep to himself for now, for it might just serve him well in the future.

"It would, if I wouldn't be constantly getting interrupted by someone feeling the need to pester me about the progress being done. I wonder who might be at fault for that," he said.

Diablo stiffened at that, eyes opening as his smile froze on his face. He knew very well that he was meant with that, and that every delay he caused he would get chastised by the King for. Something he definitely wouldn't want to happen.

"Have a good day, Diablo," Leon said.

Before he could say anything else, or get on Leon's nerves in any other way, Leon grabbed Guy's hand and pulled him away, before using a simple teleportation spell to get them outside of the Tower barriers. Just far enough that Diablo wouldn't even get the idea to follow, if he didn't want to openly show Leon that he had magic. Magic Leon would then have to report to the King.

He instinctively walked to the cliff where he had liked to spend his time before he had met Guy. Or rather, exactly where he had met Guy for the first time. Where Guy had basically stalked him for weeks, before Leon had been able to figure out just where exactly he had been sitting.

"I'm not sure whether the ground should have frozen more, or melted away completely. But I am sure that that was insanely hot, Leon," Guy said.

He stopped, causing Leon to stand still as well. A grin plastered on his face, as he pulled Leon closer, wrapping an arm around his waist. Guy's voice had dropped lower, something that never failed to send shivers down Leon's spine. He supposed he was showing Guy a lot of different sides to himself today.

Yet ultimately it wasn't Leon's fault that Diablo had decided to get on his nerves when he had actually looked forward to whatever Guy had planned for him. As long as he didn't get too handsy Leon never really minded. Leon turned his head away, hoping he would be able to blame the cold on the slight flush on his cheeks later on.

"Can you stop it with the fire and ice images?" he asked.

Guy chuckled at that and placed both of his arms loosely around Leon's waist. Loose enough that Leon would be able to easily escape if he just so much as wanted to. Giving him this opening was Guy's sign, that he could back out if he wanted to. That he didn't want to make Leon uncomfortable.

Leon did smile that at. No matter how mighty Guy wanted to appear, he did have something of a soft spot for people he liked, Leon supposed. And Leon had just been lucky enough to land a spot in there.

"Aw~ but I like them. They fit us. My fiery passion and habitat of the icy, unrelenting sea, and your cold demeanour, yet the hot blood flowing through your veins withing your…uh…" Guy trailed off.

He placed his head to the side, thinking about it further. What kind of comparison he could come up with that would be satisfying to himself. Leon had half a mind of knowing who exactly had put that imagery into his head in the first place.

He also could come up with a pretty good one himself, he supposed. Yet he wasn't all too sure if he wanted to give Guy that kind of opening, to way more idiotic poetry about their personalities. Leon looked around and sighed.

"Withing the fiery magic I wield? Fire is one of my specialities after all," Leon suggested.

Guy's eyes lightened up at that, as he quickly nodded. Leon rolled his eyes and shook his head. He shouldn't have said anything. And he would make sure that the actual perpetrator of this idea wouldn't get any more dumb idea into Guy's head. But only later.

Leon leaned forward the slightest bit, resting his head against Guy's shoulder, as he let his own posture slump for a moment. He definitely deserved this kind of break once in a while. Letting himself get soothed by the gentle waves with which he could only compare Guy's own unique magic with. At least sometimes.

"Please stop spending too much time with Velzard," Leon mumbled.

Guy laughed and tightened his hold on Leon. He was glad that Guy wasn't pulling him down in the water, because he really, really didn't want to get wet right now. Standing by the ocean surely would be enough for him.

Guy raised one hand to card through Leon's hair, something possessive bleeding into his expression as he looked at him. For now that would need to be enough he supposed. At least until he knew what kind of contract Leon was bound to the King under.

"Aw~ but she's like a sister to me, I can't do that. You know you love me either way," Guy whispered.

The weather had calmed down for the evening, as before snow had been falling relentlessly. Painting the scenery outside a pure white, practically glowing in response to the lights shining outside. Leon was sitting in the living room, reading a book, just enjoying the peace and quiet for some time. Tucked into a corner, with a blanket and an almost steaming hot mug of tea, he would be glad to spend the rest of the night like this. Though he knew the house was too quiet for that. And while three out of five regular occupants had gone to their extended families for the holidays, one particular man was missing so far.

Leon hadn't heard anything from Guy for the entire day. And while he knew that Guy had been gone to the office for a short time, Leon wasn't really sure if he had returned. The entire house had been too quiet for that. Or rather, it had been too quiet for Leon.

"Leon, I need to talk to you!"

Leon let out a sigh and nodded. That was more like that. Hearing Guy's voice from somewhere did calm him down, very much so. At least like this, Leon knew that he had come back home safe and sound. The streets were rather dangerous with the snow outside.

Leon looked up from his book as the door opened. After a moment more Guy came into sight, walking towards him with fast steps. Leon let a bookmark slide into his page, just in case, and placed the book on his lap. Guy had sounded rather urgent when he had called out to him.

"Alright? About what?" Leon asked.

He furrowed his brows as Guy flopped down next to him. Something was wrong about the way he was behaving. Very wrong. Leon tried to remember if something else had come up today. Only to come up with nothing. They had been alone for three days. So it couldn't have something to do with Misery, Rain or Velzard.

"Did something…happen?" Leon asked.

Guy groaned and leaned against him. Something must have happened for him to react like this. While Leon couldn't always read Guy's expressions, he was rather confident that he could get away with it most of the time.

Yet right now, it stumped him what might possibly be wrong with Guy. No, actually, he didn't have a single clue about it. And that when they mostly talked about pretty much everything under the blue moon. At least these days. Ever since, Guy had decided that Leon would move in with him.

"No… I mean yes, but…" Guy said.

He let out a long sigh as he trailed off. Pulling his bottom lip between his teeth. Only amplifying Leon's worry about the situation. It definitely wasn't like Guy to stall for time like this. So it must be something big. And Leon couldn't even think that Guy was cheating on him or something, because he was assured he would be calmer if that was the case. Guy looked at him, looking him up and down.

"You look lovely today, by the way," he said.

Leon blinked at him before he looked down on himself. A simple white button down, paired with some nice fitting jeans. Nothing special, and nothing noteworthy. At least to Leon.

He raised an eyebrow and waited for Guy to go on. Surely this wasn't everything. And Guy told him often enough how 'lovely' or whatever compliment he could come up with at the moment, Leon looked. That in itself wasn't anything new or noteworthy. Not to him at least.

"Anyway, Velzard is a pain in the ass," Guy said.

Leon sighted and let Guy pull him into a one-sided hug. He should be aware that Leon wasn't fond of things like that. Talking about everything and nothing, just so he wouldn't need to talk about what was actually bothering him.

Leon looked back down to his book, looking for the sentence he had left off with. Maybe that would speed up Guy's resolve to tell him what he had done this time. Because by now was Leon convinced that this was about something Guy had done and not something else.

"And that's what you needed to tell me," he said.

Leon didn't need Guy to tell him that. He often enough had some kind or another argument with Velzard. She got on his nerves often enough, just for the sake of it. From that alone, he could tell why her younger brother didn't like to spend much time with her. Not that Leon had any other choice, though.

Guy let out another over-dramatic sigh and placed both arms around Leon. He buried his face in the crook of Leon's neck, while Leon only kept half of his attention on Guy, while he turned the rest of his attention back to his book.

"No, but…ugh…" Guy said.

From that reaction alone, Leon could tell that Velzard had said something to him. Probably prompting him to tell Leon about whatever he had done. Which was now why he had to do it, or she would call him a coward. Or hold it against him for the rest of his life.

"You love me, right?" Guy asked.

Leon closed his book and looked at Guy. Eyes meeting, as Guy looked at him for an answer. Leon just raised an eyebrow at the question. He couldn't possibly have fucked up something this badly, could he? No, Leon would have noticed it earlier if he had.

"You told me! You love me! Right!?" Guy asked again, when Leon didn't answer.

Leon let out a long sigh and leaned slightly more against Guy. Guy knew he wouldn't say things like this lightly. And if his feelings had faded, he would've let him know. So why was he even asking that nonsense? It wasn't even as if Leon didn't tell him enough about that fact.

"I suppose I do, yes. Why?" Leon asked.

His patience was wearing thinner and thinner with each thing Guy tried to stall with. He knew it couldn't be that bad in the end. Guy was most definitely overreacting. Leon waited again as Guy looked everywhere but at him. He still held him, so Leon supposed, or rather hoped, it would be fine.

Guy nodded to himself, before he looked back at Leon. On the one hand glad to be at the centre of his attention, on the other more than horrified of it. Part of him would've had it rather that Leon only listened to him with one ear, while concentrating on that book of his.

"Just always know I love you as well, my darling. You are the light of my life, my better half, my-"

"Guy Crimson, out with it!" Leon interrupted him.

Guy's mouth snapped shut as he looked at Leon. Eyes blown wide, before nodding again and looking down. Making sure to hold Leon close enough that he wouldn't be able to run away. Guy would net let Leon leave him, under no circumstances.

He took a deep breath and placed his chin on Leon's shoulder. Either this would go horribly wrong, or Velzard had blown Leon's reaction totally out of proportion. Why he even still listened to her, when it came to his beloved, Guy wasn't really sure.

"Well… you know how you assumed… a certain someone didn't want to see you for the holidays?" Guy asked.

It was a sore topic amongst them. At least some of the time. Guy thought Leon cared a little bit too much for his childhood friend, while she couldn't give any fewer damns about him. Well, not entirely, someone did coax her into contacting Leon more often. Which made Leon happy, so in theory it should make Guy happy.

It didn't.

Leon raised an eyebrow and slowly nodded. He had been wondering why Chloe hadn't texted him for a while, and then just made an assumption. He hadn't wanted to text her first again. Leon did slowly get it into his head that he could come on a little too strong with her.

"Go on?" he said.

Though he had only mentioned that once, at most twice in front of Guy. Mostly he would talk to other people about that, simply because he knew Guy didn't like the topic. And yet he wasn't really sure why Guy brought it up now. Or rather, he was wondering why he was only bringing it up now.

Leon had a hunch what Guy wanted to tell him after all. A very good hunch at that. And yet he could've just kept it to himself. Leon looked down, thinking the situation over a little bit more. Though there could be a rather good reason as well. And if it had been Velzard who had coaxed him into confessing, it might make even more sense.

"It might be that she actually has texted you… and I… well…" Guy said.

Leon looked up again, looking directly at Guy. Causing him to trail off and look away. He let Leon go, only to wipe his hands on his pants. This really must've weighed on him more than he had initially let on.

"I didn't want to spend Christmas without you! So I deleted the text and hid it!" Guy said.

Leon sighed and opened his mouth to reply something. To ease the situation a little bit, only for Guy to hug him again and pull him closer against himself.

"I'm sorry~! Please don't hate me!" Guy screamed.

Leon let out another sigh and placed his hands on Guy's. So that was what was up. Leon had expected it. And he had known that it had been Guy who had definitely deleted her text. The initial one, at least. The one asking him if he had any plans for Christmas already.

"Did you really assume that Chloe only texted me once?" Leon asked.

She hadn't, even if Guy had probably assumed that much. Very evident from his expression in response to Leon's question. The confused way he was looking at Leon.

"What?" he asked.

Leon chuckled and shook his head. Somehow, Leon could understand why Guy would assume she would text him once and the not again. And he also knew why Guy had reacted the way he had. That possessive side of his showing its head again. Though, the whole situation had already been a couple of weeks ago. So Leon had thought they would just not talk about it.

"Chloe texted me again, after I didn't answer her initial text. When I normally always would in a matter of seconds," Leon explained.

She had been more than worried, actually. Because he would text her back relatively fast no matter what. Just like he would be rather quickly when responding to texts from Guy. With everyone else, he'd rather take his time. Which was why he had gotten multiple other texts from her in response.

"We agreed to meet up between Christmas and New Years. She wanted to spend her holidays somewhere else as well. And just wanted to initially know if I planned to go home," he added.

Leon didn't elaborate much more on that matter. Chloe had said she wanted to spend Christmas with some of her friends. Though since a few years now she had gotten cautious to go home as well, when Leon went home. He supposed she must have figured some things out at least, and wanted to act as a shield of sorts.

Leon shook his head and sighed. He hadn't planned to go home anyway. Contact had broken off for good the moment he had moved in with Guy. Courtesy of Guy, Velzard and some others helping him out in that matter.

"What?!" Guy said.

Leon pried himself out of Guy's embrace and stood up for a moment. He stretched his arms and back. He had been sitting for too long at a time after all. Guy's face had gotten paler a little bit in response. He supposed Leon going home would be the last thing he would want as well.

Leon nodded and crossed his arms in front of his chest. He had just told Chloe he would do the same. Getting a more than delighted response that she was glad he wouldn't spend his time alone. Well, she didn't know that he wouldn't either way, but that was beside the point.

"Doesn't mean I'm not…well not angry, but rather disappointed that you hid the initial text from me," Leon said.

He wasn't angry when he had noticed it, and he wasn't angry when Guy hadn't mentioned it. Disappointed, yes, a little bit. That he thought so little of Leon, to assume he wouldn't talk to him about something like that. Like their Christmas plans. And that Guy thought he wouldn't want to spend their first Christmas together.

Especially when Guy had rather elegantly talked himself out of having to spend his days together with Misery and Rain with their extended family. Leon sat down on Guy's lap, Guy's arms finding their way around his waist immediately again. While Leon crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"You know, functioning as your seat is not really punishment, my love," Guy said.

He grinned at Leon, placing his head on Leon's shoulder. Leon leaned to the side to get the book back, so he could go on and read a little bit more, before Guy would definitely take Leon to eat somewhere for Christmas. Because Leon couldn't imagine that he hadn't been able to book a table at some restaurant or another. Just like the next few days.

Leon moved especially much as he grabbed his book and made himself comfortable on Guy's lap. A small smile sneaking on his face. They had been dating for long enough that Guy should know by now that Leon could play this game as well. Especially so, when it was just the two of them.

"It will be, if I decide you're sleeping on the couch tonight," Leon said.

He turned around halfway to see Guy's shocked face. Leon raised a hand to his cheek and placed a small kiss on his lips, smiling at him. Leon turned back and picked his book up again, leaning against Guy. He heard him take a deep breath, probably to argue his way out of a punishment.

"So behave, the decision has not been made yet, after all," Leon said

"The lake gets real slippery if you aren't careful!"

Golbez flinched as he looked around. He had made completely sure that no one was around to see him. Not this close to Baron. Never this close to Baron. Rubicante would definitely kill him if he knew he had gotten caught. Though as he took a moment to take in the words being said, he noticed that something was off. This wasn't a knight of Baron. The voice was too young for that.

So a child had noticed him sneaking around the castle. He turned around and saw said child, standing close to the edge of the frozen lake. Wearing a jacket that definitely was not fit for the cold weather in Baron right now, but at least a scarf around their neck. Golbez saw light blond hair from where he stood, shoulder length, tied back. Right now he didn't really know if it was better or worse that this kid had seen him.

Golbez brought the voice to mind again. Slightly androgynous but leaning more towards the male side. So probably a boy. Would his parents believe him if he said he had seen a strange man…boy…sneaking around the castle? Though at the same time was he too far away to really do some damage. Though looking at the kid again, Golbez did wonder something else.

"Where are your parents?" he called to him.

For now he would make sure the kid told no one about him. But he didn't know who exactly this kid was, so killing him was out of the question. Even if he knew him killing him would be out of the question. He wouldn't kill an innocent child just because he had seen him. It would be different if it had been an adult, but that wasn't the case.

The boy shrugged his shoulders, but didn't back off, when Golbez walked closer. Somehow it wounded his pride that this kid seemed so undisturbed by him. At the same time, he really got it. Golbez himself was only 16 years old, and incredibly lanky in build. His recent growth spurt leaving him with too long limbs and at the mercy of Barbariccia's teasing remarks. So yeah, he probably wasn't the most intimidating looking. Didn't mean he couldn't rip this kid or his parents apart with his magic.

Golbez let out a startled sound as he slipped and fell right onto his ass. The kid laughed at that, though he did make his way onto the icy, frozen, lake, over to Golbez. With careful, yet graceful steps. It almost looked practised at that. Golbez did find himself wondering if he had done this before.

"Told you so," he said.

Golbez glared at him, though fell right on his face when he tried to get up. By that time the kid was right next to him, and Golbez finally was able to get a good enough look at him. His jacket definitely was not suited for this weather. It looked way too thin. At the same time did he not seem to mind it too much.

Golbez sighed and resigned to his fate. He sat down on the frozen water and looked around. He had walked quiet a way out here. He hadn't even meant to do so. He just had wanted to find a place were he could safely practice some greater dark magic. And then the frozen lake had come into view. It was a bit away from Baron, and did end in the ocean. Though as he had started walking on the ice it had seemed sturdy enough, so he had just kept going, until the kid had seen him. That again made him wonder why that kid was here all alone. Shouldn't he be with his parents, or friends or something like that?

The kid had a grin on his face, as he crouched down. He was thin as well. Worryingly so. Didn't they feed their children in Baron? No that couldn't be, the country was practically overflowing with abundance. Part of the reason why Master Zemus had made him stay close to the border, so once the time was right he could infiltrate the court of the king, together with the archfiends.

"Where are your parents? Should you really be here, all by yourself?" Golbez asked.

The kid shrugged his shoulders again and crouched down. Grin falling from his face as he looked at the ice beneath them. Golbez watched him and waited for an answer. Another possibility came to mind. What if he didn't have any parents anymore. Why hadn't he thought of that sooner.

After some more moments did the kid let out a long sigh and looked up. Eyes as blue as the skies meeting his deeply magically altered, purple ones. Though Golbez thought to see the kid's eyes shine a light violet if the sunlight hit them just right.

"Old man's away on a mission and mom…well you know…" he said.

Golbez nodded. He didn't know, though he would take from that that the kid's mother was dead. And his father seemed to be a knight. He did start to rack his brain, which divisions were out of the castle right now. Some of the dragoons had left together with some of the mages a few days ago. So one of them probably.

The kid sighed and made a motion mimicking kicking up dust. Golbez thought about it some more. Judging from his eyes he probably was the kid of one of the mages. Or he had at least some potential within him. Whether he knew that or not was another matter entirely. One Golbez couldn't care less about. The kid looked around, before hugging himself probably to get some more warmth into his body. So he did mind and just didn't want to show it. Was there no one around who would take care of him, while his father wasn't in town? Or did the just not want to listen. He did seem like a rather headstrong kid after all.

As the kid kicked up some nothing again, he did slip as well, falling onto his behind as well. The thing that did tip Golbez off was the faint cracking sound. His eyes widened as he looked down, seeing cracks not only form beneath himself, but also beneath the kid. That couldn't only come from the kid falling down. Though it probably also partly stemmed from him falling on his ass twice. Yet before he could react, the ice cracked more beneath them, and the only thing Golbez managed to do was to pull the kid closer to him, before the ice fully broke beneath them.

He had to commend the kid for not screaming his lunges out, and just look very, very shocked at the events happening. Golbez himself cursed, as he quickly spoke the words for the teleportation spell he knew. At moments like these he was thankful that the archfiends liked to annoy the hell out of him. It had been his drive to learn that particular spell rather quickly. In the blink of an eye only the cracked hole in the ice was left, while the two of them were gone.

They reappeared in a small cabin Golbez had claimed as his. Where he could meditate away from the archfiends, and even sometimes away from his master. Even if the spells to keep his master out of his thoughts were rather ineffective at times. He did count his blessings whenever his master decided to leave him alone on his own accord.

The boy had started to cling to Golbez, as they had firm ground beneath their feet again. Well, Golbez had firm ground beneath his feet. The boy was dangling in the air, as Golbez held him up. He set him down and waved his hand to light a fire in the fireplace. The cabin was small and unused, but he had made the best of it.

Both of their clothes were soaked through though. And now, if anyone had actually seen them, it would seem like he had just kidnapped an innocent kid. Golbez groaned and shook his head. Not the issue right now. Right now he needed to make sure the kid didn't catch a cold or something worse.

"Get out of your clothes," he said.

Golbez really, really didn't want to have to explain a dead kid to anyone really. Not to Barbarriccia and Rubicante, not to his master, and definitely not to the kid's father. Especially if he was a knight, who could bring major trouble for Golbez. No, he really, didn't need that right now. Or ever.

Golbez walked to a small chest where he had stored blankets and some change of clothes. He took out some of the blankets, opting for the thicker ones, even if he didn't really need them, and took out a change of clothes as well. He looked over his shoulder back to the kid only to sigh.

"I'm not going to look, kid, I'm not that kind of creep. You'll catch death if you stay in those clothes," he said.

Golbez turned his back to him again, and reorganised the rest of the contents. At least the fire was slowly filling the cabin with some kind of warmth. What did the kid think he would try to do? Did creeps like that really live in Baron? And if he said something like that, that should mean something, right?

Golbez shook his head and sighed. He held one of the blankets behind himself, so the kid could cover himself with it. They would just have to wait for his clothes to dry, until Golbez could send him home again. After some moments Golbez looked over his shoulder again, to see the kid having completely covered up.

"Good, now turn around, so I can change as well, kid," he said.

The boy pouted at him, but did comply. Golbez brushed some of his wet hair back and peeled himself out of his thin shirt and everything else. He already hated everything about this situation. Though maybe if he befriended this kid, he could get some more intel on the inner workings of Baron. Depending on how high ranking his father was. This definitely would be a dangerous game he'd be playing.

Golbez turned around, to see the kid having sat down in front of the fire. Golbez gathered the kid's clothes and hung them up together with his own. Afterwards he draped another blanket around the kid, just to be safe. He looked even smaller like this. Thinner. What the hell was his father doing?

"My name's Kain, you know?" he mumbled.

Golbez raised an eyebrow and shrugged his shoulders. That was a first step he assumed. Kain still didn't look at him, but rather stared at the flames. Golbez got some dry bread and dried fruits as well as nuts out. It wasn't great, but better than nothing, he assumed.

Finally he sat down next to Kain, the kid being wrapped in two blankets, while Golbez himself just sat there in some shorts and a tank top. Except for the clamminess left behind by his wet clothes he wasn't bothered by the cold. Probably part of his lineage. Kain did snuggle closer to him though.

"You're not from Baron, are you?" he asked.

Golbez hummed before he let out a sigh. He supposed it was that obvious. Though there was nothing wrong with just wandering around he supposed. At least that would be the angle he would play.

"I'm not. I travelling and was just passing through. Might've gotten a little lost," Golbez lied..

He let more of his magic course through his right arm, the one Kain was leaning against, to heat it up even more. To warm Kain up even more. He kept telling himself, that this was for his own selfish reasons. That he wasn't doing this because he cared for the kid. He just did want to avoid the trouble a dead child could bring.

"The name's Go-…Theodore by the way," Golbez added.

He wasn't quite sure what possessed him to tell the kid his birth name, but somehow it made more sense. It also might cause the kid to be less suspicious of him. 'Golbez' wasn't the most inviting name. Hence why his master had given it to him.

Kain hummed and took the dried fruits Golbez handed to him. Nibbling on them at best. He wondered if it would be too much, if he already started asking more questions. Though maybe he could at least somehow made sure that the kid would want to keep meeting up with him. At least a little bit of information he'd surely be able to provide.

"Eat, you need the strength," Golbez said.

Reluctantly he placed an arm around his shoulders, pulling him a bit closer. He turned his gaze to the flames afterwards just staring at them, as Kain hummed again. Golbez pretended to not notice how he started eating faster and taking more afterwards.

"Don't worry though, my old man won't notice me been gone," Kain mumbled.

Golbez nodded, but furrowed his eyebrows.  Did he really have such a strained relationship with his father that he would think that. Though he had said his father was out on a mission, so that was probably was he meant. It still stuck him as slightly odd.

'And the rest of the country wouldn't care if I died.'

The thought came a bit later. Filtered though, because Golbez' had let his guard down. He didn't like using the gift his master had given him. It did cause him to much headaches. The thought did shock him. Even if he could relate to it too well. He wouldn't pry for now, but definitely later.

"Who is your father, kid?" he found himself asking instead.

Golbez snapped his mouth shut at the sigh coming from the kid. Making him sound much older than it should make him sound. He turned to look at him, only to see Kain staring down at the bread he was holding right now.

"I'm just curious. He must be a knight, right?" Golbez added.

It was almost an afterthought with which he added the sentence, but he was glad that he did add it. Kain did seem to relax a little bit more. He still didn't answer though and just started slowly eating again. More reluctantly this time.

The silence was already enough to tell him that his father must be someone important. He probably was scared that Golbez would try to use him. So he could get closer to his father through him. He wondered if something like that had happened to him often already.

"He won't give a damn about me, y'know? And he's not a knight, he's a dragoon. The best of them," Kain said.

Golbez eyes widened, and he did the best he could to shut his master's voice up. Of course he had been observing. And of course he wanted to use this situation. Golbez couldn't let him. Not when this kid seemed so defeated.

Not matter if his father was the commander of the dragoons of Baron. The strongest of the dragoons, the best that had been seen in ages. And incredibly influential when it came to the king as well. But Golbez was looking at Kain, and he saw not am opportunity to get closer to his father, but a lonely boy. Definitely not older than 6 or seven.

"Uhu…cool, I guess. Go to sleep, you need it," Golbez said.

He tried to play it off, while his head felt like it would split apart any moment now. His master furious for not playing this situation more to his advantage. He would lie his way out of a punishment later. Right now he was else wise occupied.

Kain stiffened and looked up at him with big eyes. In the light of the flames the violet shone through even more. Definitely some magic potential there. The lightness of the colour made Golbez assume more of an affinity towards white magic. Not that he minded right now. Or cared.

"I meant that. Go to sleep. Once you're awake, you're clothes are gonna be dry and we can see what you wanna do. Or eat, or something. I guess you can stay he until you're old man is back or something," he said.

His master's voice calmed down within his head at that. Seeing the opportunity to act further with this chance. Golbez just wanted to make sure the kid was alright a little bit longer. He did know all to well how much it could hurt if the own father was too occupied with his work, after all.

"Watch out!"

.....

"We'll look for another way out. Don't worry about us, Cecil!"

"Alright, but please be careful, brother!"

Kain slowly opened his eyes, his side and head hurting like hell, as well as his left leg. Though that pain was something he was accustomed to very well, so he didn't even pay it any mind. His leg has been hurting on and off for the last 16 years. The last thing he did know was that they had been attacked by some Malboros. He had been hit and after that everything was gone.

"Careful there."

Kain blinked as Golbez came into his field of view, crouching in front of him and extending a hand to him. His sight momentarily swam as he looked down on himself. His upper body was bare, a rudimentary bandage wrapped around his middle. He armour had been placed to the side, together with his spear.

The thing confusing Kain was that they were alone. Thankfully it was warm enough in the area they had been in, that he wouldn't need to worry about hypothermia. Or any other sickness. After all there was some blood seeping through the right side of the bandage. So donning his armour would probably hurt like hell.

"What happened?" he asked.

Kain took Golbez hand, reluctantly, but ultimately thankful for it. It was better than nothing, and it seemed like whatever had happened they were stranded alone. Kain didn't dare to try and cast any white magic on himself, and Golbez didn't possess the capabilities to cast white magic. Courtesy of whatever Zemus had done to him.

Golbez helped him into a sitting position, before sitting back himself, letting out a long sigh. Kain looked around, only to see multiple collapsed walls surrounding them. And a single way forward. He had heard Cecil though. Had they gotten separated?

"Palom though it would be a great idea to cast Meteo within this enclosed space. Rydia, against all better judgement thought it wise to assist him with that. I was able to get you out of the way, but the two of us ended up separated from the rest," Golbez explained.

Kain slowly nodded and let out a sigh. Only to turn into a wincing sound, as a stinging pain rang through his head. He brought a hand up, only to find his head bandaged as well. That did explain some things. His splitting headache for example.

Kain closed his eyes for a moment before letting out a sigh. This was definitely not ideal. Though he supposed it was better him being trapped alone with Golbez than any of the others.

"One of the stones hit your head, most likely giving you a concussion," Golbez added.

Kain nodded. That also must have been what caused him to pass out in the end. He should really thank Golbez for caring enough about him, to get him to safety. Though he supposed he couldn't really not see it.

Both of them had done horrible things, and both of them wanted to atone for those. Both of them feeling the guilt of what they had done. Kain let out a sigh and opened his eyes again. They would need to find a way to meet up with the others.

"Well, let's go then," he said.

Cecil would definitely not sit around, or let them look for a way out themselves forever. He knew him well enough to be sure of that. And while that might be a good solution, they didn't have the time, for everyone to backtrack just because the two of them.

Golbez looked him up and down, before sighing and nodded. He helped Kain up and stayed close, though not too close. Just enough so he could help, if something would happen. Kain did appreciate that a lot. Afterwards he let his armour vanish with a flick of his hand.

"Just tell me, if something hurts, alright? Or if you need a break. Head injuries are not to be trifled with," Golbez said.

Kain nodded and hummed in agreement. He knew that much, and somehow it was both weird and endearing how caring Golbez was. Kain had seen that side to him before. Once in the Tower of Zot, in an incredible rare moment, where the sparing between Kain and Barbariccia had gone a little bit too far. With Golbez lashing out at her for that.

Sighing his shook his head, and focused on the way in front of them. It was a godsend that apparently no monsters were appearing on their route. Though he didn't want to know what kind of beasts the others had to fight off. They did walk in a companionably silence, once in a while a shiver running down Kain's spine. He supposed his injuries had taken a bigger toll on him than he had thought. He could ask Golbez for a break, but Kain knew he would be fine.

As they continued on, Kain's body started to cool down more. He let out a sigh, stopping immediately, just like Golbez. Both of then staring at the way Kain's breath, both of their breaths were very much visible. Which they hadn't been before. So it hadn't just been Kain's body slowly shutting down from his injuries.

"Shit," Golbez mumbled.

He unfastened his cloak, draping it around Kain without a second thought before guiding him aside. Looking around the entire time as they walked. Kain held Golbez cloak close to him, a shiver running down his back, not at the air growing colder and colder surrounding them, but rather at Golbez scent obviously stuck to his cloak.

He also realized that this was why they hadn't seen any monster on their way. This way in itself was the trap. Luring them into a false sense of security and letting them slowly but surely freeze to death. With the added aspect of Kain's wounds from the earlier fight and light concussion this was even more dangerous. Especially as his eyes threatened to droop, from the warmth getting provided by Golbez.

They sat down together, Kain rather focusing on his breath, watching the little puffs come out and vanish in the cold air, rather than the warmth. He supposed it was a clever way to dispose of someone. And if they had been one of the more inexperienced members of their party it might even have worked. Both Kain and Golbez had lived most of their lives on various battlefields though. Both of them were far from inexperienced.

Golbez pulled Kain to sit in between his legs, placing his arms around him. Even through the layers of cloths, Kain could feel his body heat. Also something he had noticed a long time ago. How abnormally high it was. Thinking about it, it was the same for Cecil, so maybe it was a Lunarian thing.

"How are you holding up?" Golbez asked.

Kain took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. As he opened them again, he watched his breath again. He definitely couldn't fall asleep right now. At least until Golbez had succeeded in getting a little fire to surround them. Which definitely would take him a little bit longer.

So he needed to find something to distract himself with. And not only by cuddling more into Golbez embrace and watching as his breath condensed in the air.

"When we were kids, we always would pretend we're smoking," Kain said.

He smiled at the thought. A carefree past, a somewhat carefree childhood. Just playing and laughing and running around with Cecil and Rosa. Having fun and playing pretend. Kain always being the one to pretend to be the most grown up, just because he's the oldest.

He did chuckle at the confused noise coming from Golbez. Definitely thinking Kain had lost his mind. Kain wasn't even sure why he thought about that in particular. Though maybe Golbez would also be a little bit interested about how his little brother had spend his childhood.

"Rosa, Cecil and I. Once winter rolled around, Cecil and I would pretend that the breath was smoke from a cigar or whatever," Kain elaborated.

Golbez hummed and placed his chin on Kain's shoulder. It wasn't the first time that Kain just talked about Cecil to Golbez. He did that whenever both of them were up for watch together as well. Just to avoid some awkward silence.

Or whenever both of them couldn't sleep and just ended up sitting together one way or another. Kain supposed his earlier sentiment of not really trusting Golbez really was just him being a hypocrite.

"Cecil would eventually-"

"And you?" Golbez interrupted him.

His low voice rumbling against Kain's shoulder. Kain looked at him and stayed silent for a moment as he thought about his question. Why would he want to know more about Kain? Especially when his childhood was so closely intertwined with Cecil's anyway.

"You always talk about Cecil. And while I appreciate that, I want to know more about you as well, Kain. You do intrigue me after all. Have been ever since back then," Golbez added.

Kain stiffened for a moment as he looked to the front again. Looking at his own breath again, as his skin heated up. Great, now he supposed he would be getting a fever as well. They probably should wait her until the other's arrived. That might be the safest option. But then he would need to come up with a lot of things to talk about.

"I…uh…well…" Kain started.

His breath puffing out with each word, as he tried to make sense of what Golbez had just confessed to him. He had always assumed that Zemus had targeted him based on his own mental weakness. And not because Golbez had been…intrigued by him.

Kain took a deep breath and cleared his throat, chuckling slightly when even that became visible. He started to recount much more things from his past. Making sure to talk about both sides, Cecil's and his own. All the while Golbez worked on getting a little magic flame to appear. The cold and slightly humid air surrounding them made that endeavour all the harder, but Golbez wasn't anything but determined. He also kept his eyes on the little puffs coming out of Kain's mouth, smiling to himself.

He liked it a lot whenever Kain told him about Cecil. Even though he had no chance to experience it himself, at least like that he could hear about his younger brother's childhood. Yet he hadn't lied when he had said Kain intrigued him as well. It was why he was most at ease when he was around him. And why he had been the first to jump in, to get Kain to safety in the earlier attack. Part of Golbez was glad that they had ended up alone. An ugly, possessive part, still left behind in the back of his mind from his days under Zemus control.

As Golbez got the flame to work, not in the physical form, but rather by transferring the heat directly to Kain through his own body heat Kain started to relax. Which wasn't hard for him as well. And with the additional warmth, Kain's voice got more slurred as well. Something Golbez welcomed a lot. He hadn't dared to object when Kain had wanted to start walking so soon after waking up. Not wanting to argue with him. He knew Kain could be stubborn. And something about the way, he would be even more so, when talking to him, caused Golbez to smile even more.

That at least subconsciously Kain felt comfortable enough with him, to be stubborn with him. To show a little bit of that childish side he had left. And that he trusted him enough to share these insights about his past with him.

Golbez kept watching the little puffs of Kain's breath, even after he had fallen asleep. He would stay like this a little longer, and then pick him up and carry him on. Just until he could sense the other's nearby again, then he would wake up. So they wouldn't get the wrong idea. Until then, he would use the condensed breath as an indicator that Kain was breathing slow and steady.