Enabling

Disclaimer: All characters herein are express property of Square Enix. They are not mine and I make no profit from this story.

Cold oak, Albel noted miserably as he shifted restlessly in his seat at a military meeting, was even colder when one was sitting upon it without the lair of comfort underwear provided. Then again, if he dwelled overly on the discomfort, his thong had not been the most adequate for keeping warm either. He supposed he noticed the chill more now since he was so conscious of his nudity underneath his sarong.

Each time he shifted Vox would look over at him and grin knowingly. The look made Albel want to leap up and claw the man’s face off.

It had been some time since he had sat down and made the list of pros and cons in regard to the duke. To his relief the cons heavily outweighed the pros. He was not sure how he would live with himself if he had discovered that he had become affectionate towards the man.

The meeting was nearly over, the conversation having switched to less important matters taking place in the city. It was at that point that Albel began to zone out. He had been having such a pleasant dream this morning that when he woke he was still hard. He wished to return home to finish the dream off properly.

Just as Arzei was about to dismiss them Vox stood and called for everyone’s attention.

“If my fellow captains do not mind, there is yet another issue that I wish to bring to light.” Here he fixed Albel with a stern look and Albel felt himself pinned beneath that heavy gaze.

“Please,” the king waved his hand amiably, “enlighten us, Vox.”

The duke nodded and sat once more.

Cautiously, Albel glanced around at the other faces. Walter was watching Vox with wary old eyes. He couldn’t blame the man; Vox usually proposed crazy war tactics that took days to talk out of the man’s mind. The king, on the other hand, seemed perfectly ignorant of the trouble that was about to be rained upon him. Albel almost felt inclined to pity him, almost. If Arzei hadn’t learned by then to suspect Vox of throwing them all a curve then he deserved to be knocked on his ass.

“As you know, majesty, our familial line is in danger of dying out soon. I have no heirs and you are unmarried.”

The king started a bit. “And what has that to do with anything?”

“Our family line is not the only in danger of extinction.”

Vox turned his attention to Albel again and the other pairs of eyes followed. Albel scowled and Vox continued.

“Glou Nox passed onto his child all the noble rights he had acquired in his life, yet Albel has no children to pass his rank and wealth to.”

“Albel is young yet,” Walter interrupted, unsure of where this conversation was heading, “he may yet find a wife and produce an heir.”

“Perhaps,” Vox replied with a frown, “but we have come up with our own plan.”

“We?” Walter turned his head towards Albel.

How miserable he was at that moment. Again the urge to leap at Vox and claw his face off arose. If he hadn’t been so acutely embarrassed at the moment, Albel was certain he probably would have acted upon the impulse. Vox saved him from having to respond to the questioning glance.

“I propose that we align our two families together through marriage. I need not point out the obvious that Albel cannot bear children like a woman, or he has disclosed no such ability to me” Albel snarled at the jab, “but I have come up with a solution to that problem as well. I will take Albel as my consort and in several years I will find him a concubine with whom he will bear children. Those children, once born, will be of both endowed with the privileges of both my familial line and of the Nox line.”

One must envy the way the man spoke without pause, allowing no protests to be made until he had had his lot to say. Perhaps that was another trait Albel could add to the pros column.

After a brief pause, where all three sets of eyes were riveted to the duke, there came an explosion of response.

“Albel is too young for marriage.” Walter protested, standing and placing himself in front of Albel so as to shield him from the duke’s sight.

“I’m of age, old man.” He growled, rising angrily. “I’m eighteen.”

“And you think your father would wish for you to marry someone his age? Vox is nearly as old as your father!”

“Don’t pretend to know what my father would want me to do! I would think he would be proud that I had come up with a way in which to further our family line. My children will be royalty.”

“You’re father was not interested in furthering his rank,” Walter cried exasperated, “he would want you to marry for love! Do you love Vox?”

The room went silent. This time all attention was upon Albel, awaiting his response. The boy flushed angrily, scowling at all three of the men.

“Of course I don’t love him, how could I? I’m merely looking for the most beneficial match.”

He turned his eyes towards the duke, expecting to see some angry or hurt expression at being so dismissed, but the man had his gaze fixed upon the king. Vox didn’t look disturbed at the denial of love; Albel thought the man was grinning in delight.

Arzei called them to order, commanding that they all sit. They were given a minute to gather their wits and calm themselves.

“This marriage you propose,” Arzei started after being in deep thought for a minute “has valid points. The extension of both our familial lines is important to maintaining a semblance of class order in the country. It will also provide us with a rightful heir to the throne. However, I see many problems with this proposition as well.”

“Such as?” Vox demanded.

“There are obvious implications regarding the military. With both of you heading a third of our military, it is dangerous for you to join in such a union. Though you claim there are no emotional attachments between you I am sure that over time some bond will create itself. When that happens there is the risk of emotions clouding judgement and hindering the proper running of the military. Another concern I have, if indeed neither of you do care for one another, is what will happen should you divorce. It is already trial enough dealing with the animosity you hold towards one another. Should this hate amplify I am not sure our army could function effectively. I must make my concerns for the country and the war the first priority. ”

Divorce had not even entered into Albel’s mind. Arzei was right; if they divorced there would be such hate between them that the military wouldn’t be able to run accordingly. Albel felt his spirits sink. He would have to find another profitable match. As much as he had denied it to Vox, he was looking for a mate that was either equal in rank or that would enhance his rank and the rank of his children. Looking for love was as ridiculous as attempting to cross a river when one could not swim. All that one would do is drown. Vox had presented the perfect opportunity for him to enhance his line, but his hopes were dashed. With so few nobles left Albel had a feeling his quest would be long and difficult.

“You make a good argument, nephew, but your fears can all be dismissed. Albel and I do not care for one another nearly enough to risk the good of our country. We are merely joining together in a beneficial union. I do not expect Albel to be tied to me in any way other than in monogamy with the concubine I select for him. Should he have any other children with another woman they will be dubbed as illegitimate and they will not receive any aid from me. Albel will remain in his quarters and, as far as I’m concerned, he need not see me at all unless it be in regards to our children.”

Dimly, Albel wondered if he should be as hurt by that statement as he was. The whole point of marriage, in his mind, was to live with one another and create a life with another person. Vox was, he thought, trying to relieve his nephew’s worries. Surely he did not mean to be so dismissive of him.

And…if the children he had with this concubine were to be both his and Vox’s then they should be raised with both of them. Their birth mother could tend to them when they were away on military business. Albel did not want to have children just for the sake of reproducing. He wanted a family as well. The welfare of the potential children they would have, however, was not in question at the moment.

Arzei pursed his lips in thought. “That bothers me as well, Vox. If you two marry then you should at least attempt to keep the outward appearance of affection.”

“I have thought of that as well, but I believe it will be much better should we not openly disclose our union. In fact, this marriage should be kept as secret as possible for some time.”

The king raised an eyebrow. “And why do you believe that?”

“Should it be perceived that there is affection between Albel and I it is possible that the information could leak to Aquaria. The capture of a captain would then be even more desired by those scums. They would think that that they would be able to upset the army greatly by capturing one of us. The military would be effected if one of us were to be captured, and though it would not be as big an upset as the Aquarians would desire, it would still be highly problematic. We must avoid such an outcome. The less we publicize the better.”

“You make a valid point. Albel, is there anything you wish to add?”

Again, Albel was rooted to his spot. His mouth was unusually dry and it took him a moment to force his mouth open, but at last he unhinged his jaw and muttered,

“I just want children.”

Across the table, Vox shut his eyes in what appeared to be aggravation. Of all the things that Albel could have said, he had to say that?

Arzei nodded at the boy then looked at Walter.

“What do you think of this matter, Walter?”

The old man was silent, looking first at Albel, who had turned his eyes towards the floor, and then to Vox. He sighed heavily. “If it is what they both desire than I see little way in preventing it. There are great benefits to be reaped with such a union; however, there are also many risks. Regardless of what you say, Vox, both you and Albel are impulsive and disobedient. It would not surprise me if either of you went against his majesty’s orders to rescue one another from some danger.”

Vox and Albel bristled at the accusation. Vox seemed the more insulted, having been called disobedient as though he was a misbehaving child.

“What concerns me most,” Walter carried on, “is the implications for Albel. Whereas it may be easy for you, Vox, Albel is young. Though I do not condone sordid love affairs, being tied sexually to one woman for the remainder of his life is quite unfair.”

The old man paused and turned his attention upon Albel. To his disgust, Albel felt a small tug at his heart at the concern in those deep-set, aged eyes. There was no one left to care for his wellbeing, since he took very ill care of himself, and it appalled him to think that Walter was stepping in for his father. How many times had Glou talked happily of the future his son was to have? Of his beautiful wife and energetic children? Glou had been so eager to be a grandfather…

“I don’t care about sex.” He blurted out angrily, trying to blot out the unhappy memory of his father, “Just marry me off to the bastard and let me have my children.”

That outburst seemed to end the discussion. Arzei cleared his voice and stood.

“The proposal has been made and I will think over it very carefully. There are many angles that must be examined. We will convene in no less than a week to discuss this once again. I am hopeful that by that time I will have come to an answer.”

Vox nodded curtly at his nephew. It was not how he had desired the meeting to end, but he had an entire week to bully Arzei into complacency.

Walter excused himself hastily. He glanced at Albel once, an odd look in his eyes that the boy could not place. The king left then, leaving Vox and Albel alone. Albel had not yet stood from his chair. He was not certain his feet would hold him steadily.

Vox walked over to him, standing behind him and placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Not to worry. I am very confident in my ability to sway my nephew.”

The boy nodded once, refusing to lift his head.

The man moved to stand before Albel and examined him. Without warning he reached out and grabbed Albel by the arm and practically threw him onto the table.

Albel let out a cry of alarm as his back hit the table. Before he quite knew what was happening his legs were spread and wrapped around Vox’s waist, his sarong pushed aside. The slick tip of the duke’s hard cock pressed eagerly against his entrance and Albel panicked. Without lubrication or preparation of any sort he would bleed. He wasn’t masochistic enough to enjoy that feeling. Just as he was opening his mouth to cry his opposition, Vox pressed forward, forcing into Albel’s tight passage.

The cry that was wrenched from his throat was nothing short of animalistic. It was a low, guttural sound filled with pain. Tears sprang into his eyes but he was too stubborn to let them fall. Pain or no, he would not cry!

Where this sudden need to fuck had come from, Albel did not know. The table in the military meeting room seemed hardly an appropriate place. Even he had some reverence.

“Learn to carry a phial of lubricant with you.” Vox panted into his ear. “You never know when or where I will desire to take you.”

Albel clamped his teeth down on his lip, biting hard enough to bleed. He could make no response to that, wished not to respond and acknowledge that he was willingly lowering himself to being someone’s sex slave. But he would not be so proud as to ignore the suggestion. If he could save himself some measure of comfort he would.

To his relief, his body began to open up for the man eagerly pounding into him. Vox attempted to distract him by pumping him in time with the thrusts into his body and it was enough to make the pain shift from the central focus of Albel’s mind. The moans began to escape him; ignoring pain was something he had taught himself long ago and he happily used that skill at that moment.

Vox was in much more of a hurry than he had been their previous encounters. He did not try to savor the moment; he seemed only to be after release. In the last few moments he leaned up, tugged at Albel’s shirt and latched his teeth to a nipple. Albel arched into the mouth, letting out a strangled noise of pleasure.

The added feeling of a mouth suckling fervently at his nipple along with the hand stroking him in counterpoint to the hard the thrusts into his body sent Albel over the edge. His orgasm was not as fulfilling as it had been other times, given the rushed situation, but it was still blissfully enjoyable.

The duke finished shortly after, prompted by the strong clenching of Albel’s inner muscles. When he took his mouth away there was a ring of purple teeth marks around Albel’s nipple. The man grinned at the brand he had left. He pulled out then, wiping himself off with his hand and then shaking the semen off.

Albel struggled into a sitting position. His heightened senses were quickly calming and the stinging in his backside presented itself. Vox helped him to his feet, watching as the boy straightened his sarong and wiped his body clean. He then led Albel from the room, grinning at how carefully the boy walked. No amount of care could hide the small limp that gave testimony to their recent activities.

Albel wished to open the subject of the meeting with the Duke, but one glance at the man told him that Vox was in no mood for such a discussion. When Vox was properly sated, he had discovered, the man desired to have peace and quiet. How long this lassitude lingered, he was unsure; he was always either told to leave or go to sleep.

As much as he loved to annoy Vox, Albel had presence of mind not to tread on thin ice. Arzei would be watching them. If they quarreled too much or showed too much affection then their proposed marriage could be in jeopardy. It was difficult territory to navigate and only strict silence and seclusion could save them.

He was escorted back to his quarters and before the duke left he gave Albel a reassuring squeeze on the ass. Confident that he would not see the duke or receive a summons from Vox until a week later, Albel tended to his wounds carefully and then went about planning for his brigades next skirmish.

END

I love you anon! This is for you! Ahem, yeah, short chapter. Really, my planning page for this consists of five bullets and then, in bold print, ‘Table sex!’ I thought I’d get some actual plot relevance going. Chapter 3 is as far as my planning has thus gone. I have quite a few ideas, but as to the next chapter, I’m still uncertain. I’m amazed I’ve pounded out this many chapters so quickly. Anyway, REVIEW! This chapter was made up so quickly because of reviews! Leave me happy comments, paragraphs of praise or suggestions! The more you write the more I write. I love how authors beg for reviews; both pitiful and hilarious.