A Kiss and a Flutter [c]

[Vaigali]

The desert. It wasn't something Vaigali was as familiar with as he pretended, especially since he often avoided the large sandpit as often as he could. Plegia was dangerous, that much he could tell for certain, and if there was one thing the Pegasus Knight was good at, it was figuring out where the nest of vipers was. No, self-preservation had kept him out of the country that was teetering on the brink of collapse just fine without his hands on the scene to cause trouble, and that was something that the man was perfectly okay with. Less work for him to cause the same instability.

Unfortunately, however, he'd managed to piss off just the right amount of people in Ylisse at the moment, and since it was easier to fly over the Plegia-Ylisse border than the wall separating Ferox from the rest of the world, the Pegasus Knight was now in the midst of a small desert city, Bell left outside the city for their protection - there wasn't an outright ban against pegasi, but there were precious few people who had gained the trust of such animals, and Vaigali was infinitely safer, or at least was viewed as less of a threat or less or a target, with her waiting for his whistle than he was with her at his side. He had a bit of cover provided by a bandana and an easy smile, but he knew that he would have to be quick on his feet, and his wits, to make it through the city alive, here in Doluna where the Grimleal was considered either the country's savior or its ruin.

The man was currently in a tavern, picking up some supplies, keeping an ear out for gossip. Though when he saw the guards enter the establishment, a glance at them was enough to confirm that their stance was... less than hospitable. 'Time to melt away,' he thought to himself, finishing up his purchase and turning. The art of it was in the confidence that he exuded... He reached and grabbed the elbow of a charming redhead - something tactical, it was a little harder for people to tell what exactly what was happening when the hair was of a similar color, and he tugged the other into a kiss, their lips pressing together... and then Vaigali's voice came into play, soft enough not to carry. "Just play along. I'll get us out of here and then you can go back. Just play along."

Words. -- Tags. Kama Notes. And Vai goes straight for the kiss. Well then. Vai, I hope you liked having your family jewels, since something tells me you're about to lose them.

[Kama]

It was one of those days, where Kama couldn't make ends meet. In fact, the boy had told the pegi to stay out of town, because it was dangerous. Why did the horse follow him to this place was a mystery to him, but he was sure that it could amuse itself. It always had, and seemed to somehow find Kama no matter he was. At least it didn't come with letters on parchment, and that was a small mercy. He had debated once to just fly the beast over the ocean, but remembering how long it had taken them to journey here on a boat, and how the ocean was supposed to be, he changed his mind. After all, that would probably be too much for either of them to handle.

So the boy had been in a tavern, having ducked in after stealing some much needed supplies. He had to get out of town, but the boy had noted the guards and they weren't on his trail, but they wanted him. He had a cloak and had it up when he stole so the stand vendour didn't see his face, but they were looking for a suspicious cloak figure at the least. He needed a way out, and his eyes were darting all over the place, keeping his back to the guards in order to seem like he wasn't scared of them. He had to school his face after all, as the male tried to make sure that none of the supplies looked out of place on him.

That's when a hand tugged his elbow, and turned him around. The boy's hand was on the knife he had, rather then his sword, because a knife was easier and less noticeable. He expected a guard, but instead got a flash of red and then felt something on his lips. The boy's mind just froze like Feroxi, and then his eyes turned into slits. He was about to strike anyways when a voice came to him. The boy wanted to snarl still, but he heard the words. Did this guy know that he stole? Know of his situation? The boy didn't hear the rest of his words, too soft for him and his overactive mind, and then just gave in. For now, since the guy wanted to save him.

Whatever, he'll cut him later, as he tensed, the guards now looking at them.The lingering gaze was getting under Kama's skin, and he wanted to get out of this place. Maybe he should just stab this guy in the nuts now and save himself the trouble, and run for it as fast as he could. ''Fine.'' he breathed, agreeing to the male's words. Might as well, he liked the way the guards looked at his slender frame even less then this guy's soon to be non-existent jewels in just kissing him. At least he could take retribution on this one in private... when they were out of this mess.

I hate you for always saving me from myself. I love you for never delivering me from pain. Blood, blood, blood pour mud through my veins shut your dirty dirty mouth I'm not that easy.

(C) ELLIE @ GANGNAM STYLE

[Vaigali]

Vaigali's movements were slow, lazy, as he waited for his chosen partner to relax a little, agree to his proposition - he'd recognize the look of a hunted man anywhere, having been in the position more than a few times himself, and it was so much easier to manipulate someone who was desperate - but the moment that he heard the agreement, he couldn't contain a grin even as he tugged the smaller body closer to him. "Relax," he breathed against the other's skin, pulling away from the other's lips to kiss down the line of his throat, blue eyes subtly shifting outwards to glance around the tavern, judging how quickly the display was prompting people to avert their eyes. "The more you get into it, the more they believe it."

So many more people would have been concerned, but in that quick sweep, he could tell that already the guards were sufficiently distracted enough for him to subtly reach down, one hand finding the knife and swiftly knocking against a pressure point that had it falling into Vaigali's hand instead, where it flitted away out of reach. The pegasus knight had, after all, been a boy on the street once himself, long ago in a country across the sea. He knew when someone was looking to put a knife in his gut. Letting his lips trail up, he let out the softest whisper into the smaller's ear. "I won't hurt you. You have my word." Giving one last nip for show, he pulled back with a mock pout, making his voice loud enough for the others around them to hear. "Awww, but babe, what if I don't wanna wait?" he whined, putting in a slight accent to make himself seem even less noticeable.

It was fetching, pitiable, relateable - a man having trouble with his partner, obviously, just remarkable enough to be ordinary - and as such it was easily forgettable. Deciding to push his luck, Vaigali lifted the other up over his shoulder, grinning widely. "Well, if you insist, I'll have to take you somewhere to ravish you properly!"

Words. -- Tags. Kama Notes. And Vai goes straight for the kiss. Well then. Vai, I hope you liked having your family jewels, since something tells me you're about to lose them.

[Kama]

The red head was giving him advice, and even though Kama had only been a so-called urchin ever since he was shoved on this forsaken continent, he wasn't stupid. In fact, even though he was so socially misfit, the boy had taken to observing, even when in isolation. Indeed, this boy was used to doing things like this. He wanted to bite and claw at the other, for defiling him, defiling his body's purity. Most of the things that the other did were things that Kama had never experienced before. He knew of it, needless to say that one saw things on the streets, but he had always managed to slip out of all of the possibilities. Swift feet, a quietness that only grew sharper as he thieved, and then a sort of sixth sense for when someone wanted him.

Like that guard that kept looking over to the two of them, as the boy softly let out a soft groan of frustration. It would play in easily, as the other seemed to seize that noise and spin his tale. Kama had to admire how well this one was weaving webs around everyone, to the point he let the male take the dagger. Don't tell the martial artist how to use pressure points, Kama wanted to think, as it was easy to just flick and twist. But no matter, the boy closed his eyes as the other pulled away and pouted, giving him a look. Could he trust the other's promise? It was easy to assume 'for now' was hanging in there.

He was too disgustingly used to doing this kind of tale, Kama decided. Pretty filthy, and that meant if the Chon'sin child gave ground, he would lose horridly. That on his mind, the other male just picked him right up. The boy let out an exclamation, and huffed, feeling his face blush from... well was it shame or just play? Let the other figure that one out, as the guard that had been staring at him seemed to look disappointed. Good, Kama wouldn't even touch that with a ten foot pole. Squirming, as if to get free, but not quite putting strength, he would the other pull him out of the fire, that was that tavern.

And once they were safe, the boy would let the other hear his mind. Depending on the reaction, he would keep his... downstairs lovelies or he wouldn't.

I hate you for always saving me from myself. I love you for never delivering me from pain. Blood, blood, blood pour mud through my veins shut your dirty dirty mouth I'm not that easy.

(C) ELLIE @ GANGNAM STYLE

[Vaigali]

Vaigali was well aware of the feel of eyes on the two of them. It was one of the guards, no doubt interested in one of the two for the show, hence why he moved to make it look more like they were in a relationship rather than that it was a temporary arrangement. The Valmese man wasn't really one to share when it came down to it, not to mention that now that he got a good look at that face, it triggered in him some half-forgotten instinct to protect, though he pushed it away. This was self-preservation at its finest. Nothing more. Nothing less. The taking of the knife reinforced that, and yes, he could have twisted and made a scene of it, but that wasn't what he wanted, he wanted something soft and subtle, fitting of a pair that were just a couple rather than a quarreling twosome that had just happened to find each other.

Though the pegasus rider did have to admit, that squeak and flush was rather cute. Maybe he wouldn't mind making this a permanent partnership... but that was another thought that he shelved for a later time. Focus, Vaigali, you have a mission here. He forced himself not to react at the slight squirming, knowing that it wasn't something that would break the smaller free and possibly injure him - there wasn't nearly enough strength in it for that - and that it was only his natural possessive streak, honed to an edge after a lifetime of being in the street and having things taken from him, that was telling him to slap the other's butt and tell him to behave. Not that he wouldn't mind slapping that butt. It was quite touchable. But that wasn't the point of picking him up, nor did it make him look like anything but a pervert, so he restrained himself from the urge.

Vaigali kept on carrying the smaller through a few streets, ears pricked and eyes attentive for any unwanted gazes, but after a few sweeps yielded nothing, he gently tumbled the redhead off his shoulder and onto his feet again, though he clasped their hands together and tugged gently, towing the other along through the streets in the direction of the outskirts of town and the desert that awaited on the other side. "Come on, pretty one," he coaxed, his voice soothing, hoping that the other would pick up on the subtle message of asking to just play along. "Once we get back to camp, I'll make it all up to you, okay?"

Words. -- Tags. Kama Notes. And Vai goes straight for the kiss. Well then. Vai, I hope you liked having your family jewels, since something tells me you're about to lose them.

[Kama]

Kama just wanted to pout at this point. However, training and self-control stopped any impulse, and the moment they were out of sight, his face became impassive again. He didn't have to act the boyfriend, and his temper cooled like ice. He shoved those feelings deep inside, as his feet finally touched the street again. In a habit he acquired long ago, the male tapped his feet against the ground, as if adjusting his shoes. But the biggest point of that was to make sure that he was stable, and his inner self hadn't been disturbed. Luckily for him, the loot he had stolen had not been damaged, and but it seems it hadn't even been noticed. Not that it was much. An apple for the pegi, and a couple other pieces of food for himself, along with some wire.

Very simply things really. The male felt his hand being taken, and the flash of annoyance was shoved back in, letting only his cheeks flush. They weren't out of it were they? The tone wasn't really caught by Kama, but the fact the male continued with contact was enough to tell him to play along. With a sigh, the male looked off the side. ''.... Fine.'' he said, sounding almost sulky. But that was the best he could do, he had never been that good of an actor. In short bursts, sure, but in longer periods? No, it always broke apart because his mind was like a sort of pitt, drawing him back.

It was cold and it protected him, and he had always thought it was peace. Many would tell him peace was not supposed to feel like the abyss, but then again a feeling was hard to describe didn't it? The boy was trying to keep his goal ahead of him and not fall back into that comforting abyss, to fall back into his natural self. It was just something Kama had always done, for isolation had been his only friend. Terms such as loneliness didn't apply to him anymore. But keeping it at bay now was suggested, for he still had some time to go before he could let go. Maybe he could even let go of the unnatural hate he felt towards this male for violating him in simple terms.

But perhaps, he would just shove it all away and continue on his own as he had always done, regardless.

Vaigali

I hate you for always saving me from myself. I love you for never delivering me from pain. Blood, blood, blood pour mud through my veins shut your dirty dirty mouth I'm not that easy.

(C) ELLIE @ GANGNAM STYLE

[Vaigali]

Vaigali really wanted to chuckle at the sound of the other's voice. He was sulking, and even though usually the pegasus knight hated when people would act like that, on this one it almost seemed... cute? Smiling in spite of himself - or was it? after all, smiling would only help his facade, but the man would like to think that such deceptions weren't quite so hardwired into his actions yet - he reached out, using a single finger to tuck a stray strand of hair back into place. "Chin up, pretty one, we'll be there soon," he soothed, towing the other along by their conjoined hands through the streets. "I promise it won't be painful."

It was almost strange. Almost any other times he'd done something like this, he would have whistled already for Bell, trusting in the pegasus' near god-like ability to know whenever he whistled and respond quickly. And yet here he was, his hand taken up by a stranger's, tugging him out of the city and towards the desert, aiming for the rock a little ways out that was a landmark. He was near his campsite, but it would do well enough for his purposes... especially if he got to pin the smaller male to the rock and was lucky enough to taste him again.

(He hated that he was like this, that he was so fond of relying on promisculality to protect himself, to shield the parts of himself that someone might consider vaguely redeeming simply so that no one would get close to him, make themselves a target, or worse, think that he was a project that could be tamed and fixed again when really he was going to whatever version of hell there was, all at the price of his little brother's smile, but no no no, he couldn't think about that, not now, not when he was on a job, he needed to stay in character, and that meant that he had to flirt as though he actually was interested in it rather than in hating himself for preying on innocents like this.)

Confident that they were alone now, he dropped the hand he had grasped, bringing his free hand to his mouth as he let out a piercing whistle, which would bring Bell in a matter of moments in case he needed to make a quick escape. He didn't know the sort of person he had brought back with him, after all, and a pretty face didn't mean anything - he was a prime example of that. "So... what were you in trouble for?" he asked casually, folding his hands behind his head casually as he shifted his weight, a mannerism that he'd picked up from Layle - or had his brother picked it up from him, he didn't know anymore - he let his bright sapphire eyes flicker over the soul he'd picked up again.

Words. -- Tags. Kama Notes. And Vai goes straight for the kiss. Well then. Vai, I hope you liked having your family jewels, since something tells me you're about to lose them.

[Kama]

Why did it feel like loss?

They had been walking, and now the two were out of the town, away from the troubles, and then a sharp whistle brought his thoughts forward. But he didn't get to see what the boy had whistled for, rather he had been slightly... disturbed by the way his chest had constricted when his hand had been let go, almost abruptly. The young temple heir couldn't comprehend it, so easily smoothing away the feeling with the ever cold of his mind was something he had learned to do. And with a few pats, the feeling was locked away, the only indication a small frown before his face returned to absolute neutral. Closed off, distant, and yet some thought of it as beautiful. Although he hated when they said that.

The male dared to ask him what he was in trouble for, and the male just stared at him for a moment. Ah yes. ''I guess that doesn't matter. I expect you to tell me when I tell you.'' he said simply. Not quite monotone, but a voice that held a calm in the face of even possible danger. Then again, if this male had been any sort of dangerous, Kama would be on the ground, clothes ripped yes? Not just asked a question as innocuous as 'What did you do'. And perhaps that would be obvious in his words, as they didn't even contain a hint of a doubt towards being betrayed. Was it trust or just safety in knowledge?

Kama couldn't decide which was the truth. The male slightly opened his coat, and showed what he had stolen. ''I did what anyone would to survive. Steal what I needed since I have no money. Food for myself, an apple for my companion and some wire, mainly for quite a few things. Nothing big, I couldn't risk it here.'' he said, before shrugging as if he wasn't bothered. The food was truly minimal, but Kama would survive weeks on that alone. He was used to fasting, if not by now then definitely at the temple as well. But that didn't matter either, as he heard the furl of wings, and his head tilted up... and his eyes widened.

There was not just one, but two pegi in the sky, one of them looking more pristine and human cared for. The not so pristine one landed beside him, and then nudged him, as if smelling the apple. The boy let out a gentle smile, unable to hold his cold demeanor to the creature, and gently fed it the apple. He had even forgotten the other, as he gently brushes away some of the sand that had made it into it's fur and feathers, the pegi nuzzling him affectionately... and then, when it would normally bare it's teeth at the male, just made a small noise towards the other mount. As if it had made friends or something with the other mount. Although, Kama didn't really know much about his mount.

After all, until after he came here, he had never even seen a Pegasus.

Vaigali

I hate you for always saving me from myself. I love you for never delivering me from pain. Blood, blood, blood pour mud through my veins shut your dirty dirty mouth I'm not that easy.

(C) ELLIE @ GANGNAM STYLE

[Vaigali]

Vaigali had figured that the other would want to be let go as soon as possible given how he'd reacted at first to the kiss, but when he turned his head to the side slightly, he caught the sight of a frown in the corner of his eye. Oh so the little cutie had liked that, huh? Well the pegasus knight would be more than happy to indulge him later, right now he was just going to pretend that he hadn't noticed. It would serve him better to pretend that he hadn't taught himself to be skilled in these games, after all. How cute though... the little one expected to be told exactly why he was being hunted in return. For a moment, he briefly considered spinning a lie or simply not telling the other before discarding it - what would it matter if the other knew why Vaigali had needed to avoid attention anyway? It wasn't as if it were information that would get him completely and irrevocably in trouble, after all.

Though Vaigali's sapphire eyes lit up curiously at the sight of what was there. A few scraps of food and an apple was enough to attract attention like that? Or at least elicit a hunted air around the little thing. The pegasus knight had stolen far more in his day, but then he'd also been in far more dangerous streets. Plegia was, in a way, like child's play for the foreigner. "Awful lot of trouble to go to just for that much," he stated with a shrug, just in time for Bell to find her way down, apparently with a friend. He rolled his eyes when she snorted, sniffing at his hands. "I don't have anything for you," he stated plainly, watching her snort and huff when she watched the other pegasus get the apple from the male that had accompanied her rider. Interesting... so that was the reason for the apple. Not as well-kept as Bell was, or at least not as clean anyway, but then Vaigali's pegasus always had been a bit more finicky about her appearance. He didn't groom her often, gods forbid that she get used to such treatment, but it didn't look as if the other had even gotten that much.

Vaigali's gaze turned calculating for a moment, though he was careful to turn them back to his mount. He could very well just walk away now, swing himself up onto Bell's back and fly away. He had done far more than most would have done. And yet... something compelled him to stay. Maybe it was the thought of his little brother; maybe it was the fact that he knew in his gut that someone so naive could only last so long out here without help. But he pushed Bell's head away from him just in time to avoid a nip to his fingers, turning to speak to the other again. "I'm Vaigali, and this here is Bell. I guess you could say we're border-hoppers. Which, as you might imagine, quite endears us to the Plegian soldiers on the borders."

Words. -- Tags. Kama Notes. And Vai goes straight for the kiss. Well then. Vai, I hope you liked having your family jewels, since something tells me you're about to lose them.

[Kama]

Of course, his stealing this time was paltry, but compounded to the fact that he was a foreigner, a person that dashed across the border to boot... much like the male in front of him. Surprisingly, the two could like like siblings almost if one just glanced over them. But he watched his beloved Pegi eat about half the apple before stopping, nudging the boy to the other pegi. Blinking, he looked at the pegi, and shyly offered the apple to her. There was a soft blush on the boy's cheeks, and he seemed actually nervous. He couldn't hide these feelings, animals had always been able to bring out even the most hidden of his feelings. Whatever the pegi decided, the male's eyes turned to the other as he spoke.

''Bell.'' he'd say very softly to the pegi. Clearing his throat softly, he looked at the male. ''Yes, perhaps it... is small, but like you, I crossed the border. I was in whatever country that was before. I'm... not from this continent.'' he said, his voice neutral about it. The fact that the word 'Plegia' meant nothing to him was perhaps something. He had no idea where he was actually, and thieving had been the only way to get by. He did realize there were three countries here and that he was in a second one, but he still was worried about the guards. His instinct to defend himself would probably lead him to killing them if they fought him, so he avoided them.

''... Kama.'' the boy said, very quietly, and avoiding the male's gaze, looking at Bell again. Giving her another shy smile, the male decided to ask a question that was on his mind. ''I... I don't even know what these are. What are they?'' he'd ask, feeling a bit stupid about it. Horses and Pegi were things he had never seen, up in the mountain temple. He was hidden within the inner Sanctums and no creatures were allowed there. Except of course, his teachers, himself and a being that they called a Manakete. A dragon per say. so these winged horses were not only new to him, but unusual. He had associated what a horse was after some time here, remembering the small description a teacher had once told him.

Of course, he still didn't know how to ride one properly. He could do it on instinct, which was something, but he didn't know exactly how. So the male, expecting the other to just leave him here at any moment, wondered if he would get his question answered. He felt... so out of sorts. But maybe that was just the lack of sleep and the stress combining with the events of today. Or maybe it was something else that was lurking within the boy's emotions. Something he had never felt before, or been told about despite the best efforts of his teachers. After all, he had been the perfect heir, completely peaceful, and yet empty.

Maybe he really didn't understand himself, not with all of these feelings that kept showing up randomly.

Vaigali

I hate you for always saving me from myself. I love you for never delivering me from pain. Blood, blood, blood pour mud through my veins shut your dirty dirty mouth I'm not that easy.

(C) ELLIE @ GANGNAM STYLE