Enabling

Disclaimer: All characters herein are express property of Square Enix. The do not belong tome and I am not making any profit from this story

Author’s note: Sorry it took so long!

They really ought to have talked over sleeping arrangements more. Albel had not thought to mention his tendency to fall into the throes of nightmare. Nor did he know that Vox was quite temperamental when roused prematurely from sleep. The result of their first evening of sharing a bed ended with Albel kicking Vox in his groin and Vox, in retaliation, pushing Albel onto the floor. Albel thought he had gotten away the better of the two with only a small bruise on his temple from where he had landed; Vox would be in pain for several days.

Breakfast was an awkward affair. Waking up to one another’s company was unusual and after the rough night there was just a bit of shared animosity. Vox glared at Albel across the table, a hand gently massaging the inside of his thigh. Albel ignored the look, buttering his bread, feigning a lack of concern. Each time he tipped his head to the side he felt his temple throb, but he could ignore that pain. Knowing that Vox would be limping and walking with a bit of care for a day or so brought a nasty grin to his lips.

“Stop smiling, you miserable child.”

Albel bit into his bread. “I’m not smiling.”

The man growled quietly. He finished off his breakfast and then stood to address Albel.

“I’ll be at camp, training my men for several weeks. I doubt I’ll send for you.”

“That’s fine.” Albel scowled.

“Make sure you’re not seen when you leave.”

The man nodded once in Albel’s direction and then turned and left the apartment. It felt awkward to be left alone in someone else’s quarters. It felt even more odd to the boy considering he had just been married and now he would not see his ‘husband’ for a considerable amount of time. It was a reverse honeymoon, Albel told himself with a smirk as he pulled his cloak on and prepared to leave. Two or three weeks apart would do them good; perhaps they would actually want to see one another afterwards.

Sneaking from the man’s apartment was an easy feat, given how stealthy Albel could be when he chose to. It was unlike him, to tiptoe about, like a thief in the night. He hated it, it was disgraceful to sneak, only pathetic maggots who could not hold themselves in battle should sneak, not a captain of a third of Airyglyph’s army. But he supposed it was essential that he lower himself and creep from Vox’s rooms without being noticed. He hated it, but he would do it, if only because it had been an order.

~~~~~~~~~Rather than wait about in the city for either a mission from the king or the duke’s return, Albel decided to make a trip to Kirlsa to train his soldiers. He was always complaining of the lack of good soldiers; who better to whip those simpering men into shape than himself? Albel was a firm believer in the adage that ‘if you want something done you have to do it yourself’

So to Kirlsa he went, taking up residence not in the soldier’s barracks, but in the mansion Woltar had in the town bordering the Kirlsa training facility. The old man would be in the capital city for some time, so he would not need to worry over being bothered by the pesky old man. If the Count had been there he might have stayed in the barracks, regardless of the comfort the mansion offered.

He kicked in the door to the mansion angrily, snarling at the maids who were moving about their daily work as they looked up at him in shock. Rather than waste his words on the worms, he immediately went upstairs to the room he had always occupied during his stays in Kirlsa.

Throwing his bag down and himself onto the plush bed, Albel glared up at the ceiling, eyes focusing on a crack in the mortar. This, he admitted to himself, was not what he had expected his first day of marriage to be like. After a long day of riding on his lum his ass hurt, he was hungry due to the lack of decent restaurants on the road towards the town, and he was alone. Not that he minded being alone, he rather preferred his solitude, but he had thought that his first day of marriage would be spent with his spouse. Apparently that had been a ridiculous notion.

A maid brought up a bowl of warm broth later that evening, which soothed Albel a good deal. Not that he was complimenting the girls, but the kitchen girls in the mansion were quite good at their art. If they could only keep their mouths shut and stop giggling every time he entered the room he might be inclined to think better of them. Even if the company was lacking, the food was not and Albel demanded another bowl when he had finished. And, what the hell, he thought, he had just been married and deserved a treat, he would have a maid draw him a bath as well.

He minded to be careful with his metal arm, draping it over the side of the tub so that it might not get wet. Albel was always careful with his artificial limb. It handled rust well, but he still did not wish to have to go armless for a day or two so that it might be cleaned.

Having indulged himself more than he probably ought to, Albel retired, happy to have a bed all of his own. If he and Vox were to ever live together in some semblance of peace then they would need to learn to share, but there would be time for that. At the moment the boy buried his face into his pillow and stretched out languidly.


Days passed quickly into weeks and Albel had made a schedule for himself that he stuck to religiously. Mornings were spent training his soldiers, lunch he ate with his men, during the afternoon he trained them again and then at dusk he returned to Woltar’s mansion. It wasn’t a complex schedule, but it suited Albel well. He never knew just what kind of practices he would dream up and any plans he had made at the beginning of a week might be shattered. So why waste time planning beyond the next step he would take?

During his time at the training facility and in Kirlsa he had not received a single note from Vox. There was a chance that the man was not aware he had moved to Kirlsa temporarily, but certainly someone would have forwarded a message had the duke sent one. Rather than dwell on it, Albel threw himself into his work. Marriage had not changed him one bit and he was determined to keep it that way. He would not go easy on his men because he was preoccupied with marital worries. The country could not afford for him to go easy on his men.

Having received no notes, it was a surprise when one day, nearly three weeks after arriving in Kirlsa, a set of dragons flew over the town and landed in the training facility, Duke Vox among the riders. Husband or not, Albel would not tolerate the man treading upon his toes on his own turf.

In a whirlwind of violet cloth and glinting steel, Albel rushed onto the scene, confronting the man with in a shrill voice as he demanded to know just what the man was thinking, landing his dragon in the middle of his training field. The boy got angrier with each second that passed, his voice rising and getting even more shrill.

Vox grinned at him tauntingly, taking the barrage of insults with a grain of salt. He rather thought the boy was simply over reacting because he was angry that he had not received a note or summons. He had the urge to silence Albel with a dominating kiss, just to teach him his place and humiliate him a bit in front of his soldiers, but that would be too brazen. Instead he simply stood and took all the insults Albel had to offer.

The attack ended abruptly as Albel realized that there was no retaliation; he was being humored. Well, if that didn’t piss him off even more…

After demanding that they speak in private, Albel dragged Vox away, into Kirlsa. They put up the pretense that they were going to settle the dispute over a mug of ale in a restricted pub. They were going to settle the dispute, that was for damn sure, but first thing was first…

Vox slammed the boy against the closed door as soon as they entered Albel’s bedroom. His mouth immediately crashed upon Albel’s, forcing the youth’s mouth open with his tongue and claiming him with a fierce kiss.

Albel growled in response, scratching his human hand down the man’s back as the other wrapped about broad shoulders to bring the duke closer. Hands were running up and down his sides, pulling at his sarong until it fell from his hips, tugging his leggings down his thighs, reaching around to squeeze his buttocks and make sure he was obeying the commandment that he no longer wear underwear; he obeyed.

When he had successfully rid Albel of the restricting garment, Vox pulled back from his ravishing of the boy’s mouth and dragged him to the bed. He tossed the boy down, quickly unbuckling his armor, dropping it to the floor with a loud clang, and then hurriedly pulled his shirt off and unbuckled his pants.

Albel spread his legs eagerly, welcoming the man to him. Vox needed no further invitation; he knelt on the bed, pulling Albel to him by the boy’s thighs. Albel let out a small sound that could have been a laugh as he was dragged across the covers. His legs were pushed up and he rested them on Vox’s shoulders.

The man probed at his entrance with a finger, swirling it about quickly, forcing in a second digit and then pulling them out. They were both in too much of a rush for foreplay of any kind or even preparation. Vox guided the head of his cock into Albel’s tight hole and pushed forward until his flesh was pressed firmly against Albel’s.

Albel arched, opening his mouth in a silent scream of ecstasy as he was filled so completely. Vox did not wait for him to adjust; the man started thrusting into him, pounding his body into a submission he was all too willing to give. Each time his prostate was hit he would stiffen, body quivering in pleasure, and moan his approval. Several times the duke reached up to fondle his chest, circling his nipples with thumbs and then pinching them.

Release was easy to find; the sweet pressure of a body dominating his own, his sweet spot hit mercilessly, the grunts of appreciation given by his partner sent Albel over the edge. He arched violently, squeezing the duke with his inner muscles. Vox growled at the feel, dragged over the precipice by the clenching of the body around him. He shot his seed into the plaint body beneath him, pulling out a moment later and rolling onto his back next to Albel.

The slim body next to him heaved, panting for breath. Albel lay still, body lax and languid. He had neither the heart nor the energy to move. When Vox leaned over him to press two semen coated fingers to his lips he opened his mouth without thought and sucked the digits clean. The man grinned at him, pulling his fingers free and rewarding the boy with a soft kiss.

Rather than rush to straighten themselves and put their clothes back on, Vox drew his sluggish spouse into his arms and kissed at the nape of the boy’s neck. Albel sighed, having finally caught his breath. They remained abed for several hours, discussing several things. Albel pressed for his concubine once more and received an agitated no in response. Vox wanted to join their two branches for an attack soon; Albel had no objection, but naturally they would need permission from the king.

The topics ranged from serious to idle and as they were redressing Vox asked offhandedly, “What have you been doing to keep yourself occupied while I’ve been away? I’m sure you missed me.”

Albel let out a loud laugh as he tugged his leggings into place. “Miss you? Why would you think something ridiculous like that?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” the man turned to him with a grin, a predatory look in his eyes, “you were so eager to be taken, it was quite clear you were desperate for my attention.”

“Anyone’s attention would have sufficed.”

“Had just anyone given you their attention they would have found themselves dead in a ditch.”

“How possessive of you,” Albel said, stepping forward and opening the bedroom door, purposely brushing the duke as he passed.

They left the mansion to return to the training facility. Several odd glances were given them as they left the bedroom; meetings were not typically held in the boudoir. Albel made it a point later that evening to remind the servants how easy it was for him to kill and how easy it was for one of them to simply disappear should there be loose lips in the house. The message was clear enough. Later he feared that perhaps the threat was too bold, implying that there was something he was hiding (which there was), but then again it was in his disposition to threaten. Perhaps it wouldn’t seem so odd.

The issue of the dragons was decided on the walk back; Albel would allow them to be housed in one of the empty stables, seeing as a large unit of cavalry had been sent on a mission recently and the space was free. Vox in turn agreed that next time he would land the creatures in the town rather than impose on the facility’s land.

Vox remained for several days. He claimed that he was ‘keeping tabs’ on Albel, making sure he wasn’t screwing up in his training of the soldiers or something or other. In private the keeping of tabs was in regards to how his spouse was fairing.

They stole moments during the day, during the lunch hour when they were pretending to tolerate each other’s presence. It was odd, to pretend that they did not want to see one another and then to pretend to be civil when they did not want to be. A play within a play, Vox mused one afternoon as he sipped a glass of wine after a quick romp.

Albel did not respond, brushing his hair out instead, but there was a soft grin on his lips. It was not a smile. Albel did not smile.

No matter how happy he was during the brief hour the two of them had together, when he laid down at night Albel fell into unhappy brooding. He reflected each night, about how he would not be able to live with Vox for some time; how, even if the man’s resolve crumbled and he was given his concubine, they would not be able to raise the children together. If they could not do that then…it was not truly a marriage.

Before he turned over in bed to sleep Albel cursed and called himself a fool ten times. The situation was nothing like he had imagined or planned. He decided that he would simply need to be strong, bury any affection he might have and push forward until he had what he desired.

~END

This chapter took FOREVER to write! Writers block…So, I’m very glad it’s out and I have the next chapter planned. Now for your job, reviewers! Please be kind enough to answer these two questions in your review, it would please me greatly and make me write the next chapter faster. 1)what has been your favorite part so far and why? 2) what do you want to see happen or expect to see? You don’t have to write me a whole freaking paragraph (though it would be awesome if you did!) but just a little feedback can help a lot. And I really do thank you for the reviews. I love looking at them and responding. I as well, Anon, think of the in-game models as the most accurate. I can’t see Vox as gray and old, otherwise this fic probably wouldn’t exist!