Tango

Albel gave a heavy sigh, smiling still as he petted his son’s silky black hair. “You’ll understand one day”, he said, moving to lay Detrin down on the bed and tucked him under the blankets next to his side. The father moved to lay on his side, keeping his eyes between the little boy with his stuffed dragon, and the door to the room, hoping that it would reopen soon with Fayt coming in to scold him as he usually did, but Fayt was outside, looking up at the window to the room he just left, hoping that Albel would be there, glaring at him in that manner he always did. Since neither party moved from their situated spots, they both ended up giving up their search. Albel laid his head on the pillow, resting his unscarred hand on his child as he closed his eyes to try to force some sleep into his system while Fayt walked off down the silent street to the only place with life in it at this time of night: The local tavern.



When the blue swordsman walked in, no one seemed to notice. The regulars continued their business of arguing and poker, while the more lonely patrons sat at the bar, sipping their foamy mugs with distress in their hearts. Fayt joined them, feeling he had the most in common with these men. He ordered his drink, plopping a few heavy coins on the counter that he dug out of one of the many pockets in his pants. He hugged onto his jug, not even wanting to drink from it…until someone said something. “Well, if it isn’t the ‘savior of the world’”, chuckled a solider with his squad. “Hey man, he did save us…”, hicked another solider before downing his cup. The first solider just laughed. “Sure, he did…Only because Albel pussied out on us. He failed us all and abandoned us…We had to rely on these strangers that almost killed us in the first place!” he yelled, standing up as he threw his cup on the floor, causing the clay it was made of to shatter into tiny pieces all over the cobblestone floor.



“Don’t start with me…”Fayt warned, not even looking in their direction. The berated solider growled, spitting on the floor before shutting the face plate on his helmet and grabbed his spear from the wall. Fayt’s jade eyes only glared from the corner, making it easier for him to roll out of the way when the spear came crashing down in the place where he was sitting. The solider tried to spin to catch Fayt from the side, but ended up tripping over the barstool that Fayt kicked at his legs. The solider fell, a mix between his own drunkenness and the weight of his armor. When he lifted his head, he froze at the unique broadsword that was at this neck. “Say what you want too about me. You’re right. I am a Destroyer of Worlds…but Albel. Your captain never abandoned you…and he saved your sorry asses from annihilation without asking for anything in return! Show your respect...or you’ll have me to deal with.”



The solider looked away, ashamed of his own failures in life that lead him up to being humiliated like this in the middle of the night. He refused to say anything, but Fayt didn’t need him too. He reached over, chugging the potent beer down to the bottom of his mug and put it back on the table before tucking his sword away. He left then, pushing the swinging doors violently enough so that they smacked on the walls they hung from. Fayt was alone again, but this time he had no place to go but back to the room. He had at least accomplished his goal however, which was to clear his mind and find the words that he wanted to tell Albel. He would bet that Albel would give him a good earful though before he got a chance to say anything, but something told him that it would be just like any other time. Both men would vent their steam before going back to being pals…but Fayt was starting to hope that this ending would be much happier than just a friendly laugh.