Winking Sage Cider

A/N I've purposely withheld this chapter in order to collect reviews, research, and make damn sure everything I put in to this story is accurate.

Hey, I like a good read as much as anyone, even if it's my own. Do it right the first time and all that. Besides, how can any of you say you missed me?!

....^_^; Even if the reviews did kind of fluff my ego a bit. *Cough* Right. My ego. *Strokes his Ego...*

I've decided this will be a resolution fic. Not for New Year's. No, I mean Albel coming to absolve his problems hopefully in the TLC way we all know we want to see Cliff use on him: dragging him by the rat tails for the bedroom. Or maybe over the shoulder like a fireman? Hm... *Ideas for writing, hm hm....* In any case, there is a great deal of Albel's history left in obscurity, but not nearly as much as Cliff's. This will not go on forever, despite what the ? chapter size indicates. I deem a healthy fic as complete in itself by ten chapters - and maybe an entirely separate smutty chapter for fun. Err... fun... right. *Cough* Anywho. As for the Fayt x Albel idea - I've decided to do it. Just not right now.

Onward.

SUMMARY: After the team acquires Albel in the dungeons of Airyglyph and Woltar condemns --er, briefs the angsty Elicoorian to their plight, it seems they're stuck with him all the way to the Urssa Lava Caves. Curiosity has been known to get people killed, but what about blond Klausian cats? A claw arm, strange uniform, and a butt that won't quit are solid grounds for inquiry.

Warnings: As stated, this will contain major spoilers due to the fact it follows along with actual events of the game. Star Ocean EX is an all-character scenario re-telling of Star Ocean: The Second Story, and I suppose this will be a 'no dragon to lift you to the Lava Caves' scenario. And -several- other things will be taken out-of-line for the sake of helping this story in entirety and make it a story, not a game. Weak of heart or the likes uncommitted to the pairing of Cliff x Albel should leave now. As for Albel addicts: be warned that when I DO write the chapter of how he got to be -- screw it. I'll put it up when I get there.

Excessive use of the word ass. As though anyone minds. Jeez, you act like you've never read a shounen-ai (for now) before.

Spoilers: Yes.
Lemon: Sadly not. But, I am feeling naughty, so maybe some severe teasing is in order.
Chapter: 2/10?
Pairing: eventual Cliff x Albel, and just to be mean, some Albel x Fayt teasing today.

Disclaimer: I don't own it. Would have made them the stars if I did. Quotes, food, all that good stuff and characters from the game Star Ocean: Till the End of Time are property of SquareEnix and Tri-Ace (but not respectively).

*s - refer to bottom Notes
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Chapter Two: Blades of Ryusen

"Explain to me why we're not in a rush to get to the Marquis and save this world from the Vandeeni?" Maria inquired a tad impatiently as the party made their way down the mountainside. Powder blue mane bounced as she glanced behind herself to check their tracks.

Just down this way and they would be in Kirlsa, but they would be there just after noon. Earth warm enough that the snow flurries melted before they got past everyone's waist and sky a sheet of swirling forebodence made the valley interesting to pass through. It was Maria's second time through there, and she thought it worthy to point out that there must be a great deal of iron in the soil to turn it that rusty color.

Cliff had taken note, but no one other than Nel was able to confer with her about it. Albel was taking the long way to purposely avoid them. It's not like they needed him until they reached the caverns anyway. As far as the blond was concerned it was for the better.

He had enough of a headache as it was without listening to unwanted retorts and the clatter of a gauntlet that reminded him of last night.

"Well," Fayt perked, shooting abyssful emeralds for the young woman he walked beside. "They still think I could blow them out of the sky whenever I please right?"

A drawl from the silently miserable man behind them. "Right. We've got them believing our bluff, so we may as well use it. Besides, we still don't know where we're going. It's not like Albel's very forthcoming with his all-mighty insight." Group silence followed that truth.

Silence was a ninja's best acquaintance, so it was only fitting Nel be the one to shoo the unwanted fellow. "From the references our kingdom has, the Urssa Lava Caves is where Duke Vox and the King of Airyglyph performed their 'Accession of the Flame' ceremony. It's Airyglyph territory." Always trust her to be full of information.

And a curious nineteen-year-old to exploit it. "Accession of the Flame?" Fayt peeped.

Cliff knew eyes like that could kill, even at the boy's tender age. Heartbreak was a horrible thing to die of, and from his own collection of experience girls adored them. Of course, they equally adored the rugged, handsome blond that could sweep them off their feet and take them to dinner. Eyes that green would inspire jealousy in others, and the Klausian wasn't sure just ah...

...whether he preferred seafood or a good ole' stadium hotdog, so to say?

Fayt could very well go either way and be stellar at it as he saw, but he kept that to himself. For the better. The blue-eyed fighter didn't need to get involved with men again - much less a boy half his age. Cliff had an eye for beauty, and knew better when to be selfish and swipe such a gem for himself.

Last time that happened he had ended up having to explain to a Tetrageniot exactly what had gone on at her fiancé’s bachelor party. Since then, he'd sworn not to fold when some pretty thing asked to be spanked. Puppy eyes were bad enough with two of them.

Now that his mind had idly strolled on to the topic, he had to roll his gaze around to per chance spot their missing fifth member. Sure, it was amusing to picture Albel writhing and hissing and having to be tied down like some wildcat so one could get that silly skirt off. ...More amusing than pitying the poor girl that could fall for him, and be left skinless on the countryside.

Or maybe just chained up like when they'd found him the other day? He had to wear that burdensome collar for a reason right? ...Okay, maybe it was more than simply amusing, hung-over mind on a tangent befitting the 'blond' myth. Well, Albel was part blond... Maybe they had their own little rumor about the sort on this planet?

"Less than thirty percent*?!" Maria shrieked, leaving what little fantasy that had been building in the Klausian's head to shatter and remind him he -had- been drinking last night.

A scratch at his head as boots stopped, noticing the party had done so a few feet ahead of him to share this. Nel shrugged and hands went on to her hips while the children gaped at her. "It's only what I've heard.

"It could just be to boost the intimidation factor to Airyglyph's side."

Left with little else to do, the Quark leader folded her arms over her chest and glared at the soil. "Yeah, but if only three out of ten men - if they're lucky - come out with a dragon, doesn't that condemn a lot of otherwise useful men to their deaths?"

Another shrug from the redhead Cliff had taken to staring at, dangerous dark jade orbs drifting for him briefly. "It's the tradition of the Dragon Knights."

Now it was the boy leader's chance to interrupt, taking a step forward. "What kind of tradition is that?!"

"Theirs," was the only answer she could give, eyes pulling shut regretfully. "What they do in their kingdom is their business isn't it?"

"That's no reason to send men to their deaths!" A stamp of booted heel, as if her protest would somehow change everything.

"Calm down, Maria." It was Cliff's chance to drop in, staring down to Nel more seriously past the pounding in his skull. No wonder Albel was so irritable, if he always drank like that.

"Every one of those guys on a dragon, like Demitrio, fought with their dragon initially?" This boy needed to stop getting so interested in things. At this rate he was going to bust with useless knowledge by the time he was thirty.

"Not in the lava caves, but I can only assume so," she confirmed dismissively, her weight falling in to the hip away from slit fabric. Damn teases, these ninja girls. "But, these men do it of their own will, so how they waste their lives is their business after that. I won't pity them."

Someone was obviously a little cold-hearted Cliff noted, hiking a brow. Then there was a mild shake of his head. "Didn't Albel say he thought he'd never be going back there?"

Maria eyed him harshly. "You were paying that close attention to what he was complaining about?"

"Sort of," he confessed, shrugging it off himself. "That was your first time meeting him. The guy's nuts."

"Even so," came a careful note from blue zebra-print scarf, hands returning to shapely hips. "If he even thinks about betraying our trust..."

He already knew where this was going, a fist slapping in to a gloved palm with a grin. "...it's not like we can't just beat him back in to place right?"

There was an unfitting chuckle from their young leader then, shaking his head and turning back for the path they'd yet to cross again. "Let's just get on to Kirlsa. Albel said he would meet us there." With half of the group not caring for the swordsman, it was no wonder he was avoiding them. Fayt couldn't help but harness a bit of sympathy for the guy. Part of his curriculum had involved psychiatry and sociology, the former a lost art with the Federation stability and the latter crucial for dealing with said Federation.

As far as he saw it, Albel was honorable in his own deranged way. Even if it had caused charges of treason to be brought against him, he hadn't seemed to care. Honorable, but not a leader at all.

He wouldn't take the blame for anyone under him, as was proven at the facility. Instead, he followed his own moral code that somehow didn't have a mention about people dying. What he had done to Nel's companions outside the mine Fayt would never excuse, but neither could he just brush off the disgustingly lonely vibe that made him prickle every time he was around the swordsman. And what had been his deal when Woltar had made the crack about his father? Their partnership as captains didn't seem to be on the most stable foundations.

Not that Albel was stable, mind anyone. As Cliff had so eloquently put it: he was nuts.

As promised - rather strange coming from the likes of Albel as they were concerned - the youth with his gauntlet was waiting there at the entrance to the mining town. Pulling his thin form off the wooden frame of the rock face support, he could only glower to them the same way he always did.

Unless, Cliff pointed out to himself, he was amused with a stomach full of what he couldn't classify as either a whiskey or a wine. Three square meals hm? Why did he not believe that with this boy's size?

"That old man has already set aside the inn for you lot," was his greeting, sounding in his default pissy self. This, of course, put the group on edge. Up until he spun on a heel to turn away. Dramatic as always.

"My reservations are elsewhere," he crooned with a toss of steel fingers, weight shifting. Letting the limb fall to his side he could only smirk past the jagged span of hair now more copper in hue than they had ever seen it, and over the shoulder guard so he could make sure they wouldn't think he was talking to air. Cliff thought it was black, personally. "Be ready for Arias by first light, or I'll leave you to find your own way."

With that said he began to leave. Fayt wanted to follow and interrogate him further, but he only balled fists at his sides. Honestly, was he -trying- to piss off everyone? "What was that about?" he finally grated out to himself, pupils in green depths drawn tight with impending frustration.

Nel for the most part looked amused. "How thoughtful." When she was answered with a group stare, she only stared back knowingly and settled her fists at her hips. "He's giving me a chance to inform the Crimson Blades of our arrival. That will take some time," she decided, lids falling heavy in listing off possible messengers. "Enough time to spend the night."

"I have to admit, that trail takes a lot out of a person, even on the way down." This was Maria's first time on such a wild planet, and for as much as Mirage trained her, changes in climate, elevation, and just plain hiking in improper shoes had worn her weary.

"If he'd just travel with us he wouldn't have to worry about getting shot in the ass by the 'enemy'," was all the Klausian had to say on the matter before he buried his forehead in a palm. "But I'm not gonna go hunting him down. He wants to be like that, let him. Sleep would do us all some good." Especially him, if he wanted to find some hair of the dog that took such a solid chunk out of his ass the night before.

Still not convinced, Fayt stepped up to the conversation. This wasn't 'let's bash Albel Nox' day as he was concerned. "But Arias isn't Airyglyph domain right? Why are we backtracking this far?"

Now it was Cliff's turn to get irritated, not wanting to think too desperately hard when he was so close to a good night's rest. "I doubt it's because he wants to go sightseeing. He seems to know exactly where he's going, and if he doesn't then we'll just beat it out of him right?"

"I guess... But, hey," Fayt cheered halfheartedly, flicking rich sky blue out of his face. "Woltar and the king both trust him, so there has to be a reason for it. I think I'm going to go find out about it. See you guys later?"

There was just a nod out of them; Cliff leading the way for an exhausted Maria, and Nel was already missing.

"Suppose that leaves me all to myself," the boy pouted with hands going to his hips in disbelief. They always split up when they came in to a town, but he wasn't comfortable with the idea that Albel insisted on being away from them when he was supposed to be their guide. Once he was over it he started for the manor of the Storm Brigade leader, Count Woltar.

"Up the stairs, and to the middle room," one of the soldiers informed him once he asked. There was a nod out of him before he numbly handed him a thank you and began to trot his way up the steps.

Fingers came around the handle and he twisted it to get himself ready to enter, but just a crack and he heard a thing that make him freeze.

"You knew my father?"

Nel? Now emerald eyes were starving for details, but he left the duty of uncovering the situation for his ears, crammed against the door jam. Amidst the sounds of training outside, and the bustle of servants downstairs he had very little to discover. Up until he heard their usually sangfroid and level-headed ninja woman snap at the old voice he recognized as the man's he'd come to see.

Eyes pulled wide at what he heard, relieving his weight from the cracked door. ...So that's how it was...* The teenager almost tripped over himself when he heard them exchanging farewells. Oh no! What would she think of him if she caught him eavesdropping?!

Yanking himself off the door swiftly, eyes darted for a place to dive himself in to. Why could there be no hiding places on this floor?! Maybe... if he just hid behind the door, she wouldn't see him! Oi, brilliant logic Leingod his inner voice told him. Or was that a Noxian sardonic note? It didn't matter! Boots hurried to get him off the walkway and to the one of the right, cramming himself away just as he saw the redhead leaking out.

Honestly, he would never be able to say he had expected to be grabbed in his escape. Feline reflexes went for what she had sworn was a door shutting, before Nel was confronted with only the emptiness of the upper floor and warily continued downstairs.

As for Fayt, he was stuck with terrified emeralds pulled wide to lock with swirls of ink inside pools of fresh-spilled blood on earth.*

"Don't you know it's rude to spy on people? Or maybe fools just don't know what's good for them."*

The firm hand smothering his mouth shut, the same that had grabbed about his face from behind, kept him from sputtering his shock. Being face to face with a psychopath was not exactly what he had bore in mind this afternoon.

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Note 1: The Accession of the Flame ceremony can be uncovered as soon as you first meet Albel. In the Dictionary for all those curious, look up: Albel Nox, Duke Vox, Glou Nox, and the Accession of the Flame in Misc info.

Note 2: According to the Dictionary, the success rate of a man in this ceremony is less than 30%, and no one has ever walked away from their failure. Anyone who is not considered worthy by the dragon is killed via dragon's flame.

Note 3: This PA is actually able to be uncovered at this point of the game. It's where Nel obtains one of her father's weapons, the Blades of Ryusen, and learns that Woltar was the one to kill her father in his mission to Airyglyph territory some years ago. That old man's just full of secrets isn't he!?

Note 4: Elicoorians, as described by the Dictionary, have eyes that are able to see patterns of energy unlike their human cousins. Nel is a human living on Elicooria, while Albel is Elicoorian - like the queen of Aquor. You can actually see in his official art the rings of black in his eyes.

Note 5: You can find Albel in this room and he'll talk about Woltar tricking him in to going to the caves.

Next Chapter: The road to Arias is a dead one, but that only feeds the humor of the Black Brigade Captain. Why does he find war so amusing? Won't Cliff ever stop teasing him?! And what's this about lemonade?