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“Hey!”
Claude opened his eyes and moved his head to see a figure approaching. Immediately, heat started to spread over his cheeks. Claude turned away, not wanting to see the person beside him. He did not even bother to see the confused, hurt look on the person’s face.
“What’s wrong? If something’s up, you can tell me.”
Claude remained quiet. He did not move from lying on his side. The crunching footsteps tugged at his curiosity, but Claude resisted from facing the other. Dexter, however, did not share his idea. The monkey sat staring beside him. He even tilted his head in confusion.
Gusion frowned at his boyfriend. It was odd enough that Claude hardly responded to him. When he returned to Claude’s house in that rundown town, Gusion was expecting to be engulfed in his boyfriend’s arms or at least get splashed with a bucket of water, as Claude would always do. But what he got was the complete opposite. Claude would sit solemnly on the couch and Gusion’s ‘Hello’ met a low grunt. If he asked why, Claude would just leave for their bedroom and locking the door behind him. Gusion slept on the couch for weeks.
Truthfully, he knew why Claude is avoiding him so much. Gusion bit his bottom lip. His hand mindlessly went to rub at an area where a dark mark once decorated his neck. There is only clear skin now. The Heart of Anima severed him from Kalon and the elves’ magic removed any residue of the evil God from his body and soul. In other word, Gusion was rescued from his fatal destiny.
Though, Claude did not seem to care.
Gusion sat down beside Claude and leaned against the tree’s giant root. The tree used to be his favourite spot as a child. Whenever the elders pushed him too much, he would retreat here. The tree had listened to countless of stories and venting of a very small Paxley, even until now. It was far away from others, standing alone on a small hill. It overlooked House Paxley’s giant mansion and the countless of buildings in Castle Eberleen.
“You’re still mad at me, aren’t you?” Gusion turned away, eyes looking down at his lap. Dexter’s head perked up at his voice. He got up and leaped onto Gusion’s lap, snuggling into the Paxley’s stomach. Gusion patted the monkey but his face remained blank.
Gusion tried to steal a glance at Claude. He hoped Claude would at least look at him, but he was still greeted by his back. Gusion sighed in despair.
“I know an apology isn’t enough. However, I have to say I’m very sorry.” Gusion said. Dexter gazed up to see teary eyes. “I’m sorry for lying to you. The mark appeared sooner yet I failed to see how severe the situation is. I took it lightly and I blame myself for it.”
Claude said nothing nor did his body show any reaction. It hurt Gusion. He shook his head and took a deep breath. His heart felt tight. Breathing felt like a chore. If not for Dexter nuzzling his furry face into his neck, Gusion would have broken down here and now. This monkey was a miracle to have, for once. Other days, Dexter was the one who drove him insane with his little pranks and tease. Seeing him trying to comfort him, Gusion never thought he would love this monkey.
“So I worked hard with my brother. We tried to find the Heart of Anima, turn Valentina and defeated Kalon. We did all that. I did all that, because I wanna be with you.”
A tear dropped onto Dexter’s head. The monkey gave a sorrowful squeak upon seeing the tear tracks on Gusion’s cheek.
His voice cracked, when he spoke again, “Meeting you is the best thing to ever happen in my life. You’re the one who understands me. You’re the one who I can be myself with. No one in my family, not even big brother, gave me that freedom. But meeting you, I finally know what it’s like to be alive.”
Gusion sniffled. He raised a hand to wipe away the tears. “That’s why, I tried my best to work with big brother and the others to find the Heart of Anima. I don’t wanna die. I don’t wanna leave you.”
Claude moved his head slightly, but it went unnoticed by Gusion.
“You’re the one in my thoughts during the mission. It stayed even when Kalon took over my body.” Gusion had a smile underneath his tears. “Just the thought of you and our memories together gave me the strength to fight him.”
When Kalon absorbed his body, Gusion’s consciousness slowly cracked. Kalon’s demonic essence spread through his veins like a virus. Even though it had been weeks since it happened, Gusion could still feel the particles crawling around as if they were small spiders. Claude’s face appeared before him during the evil God’s takeover. As the shadows crept in, the Claude in his memory gave him his bright smile
Gusion glanced at him one more time. Claude still did not turn to face him. The cracked on his heart grew bigger. A few drops of blood trickled down.
“I want us to be together…” He whispered, more to himself than to Claude.
Gusion gave Dexter one last pat on the head, before gently nudging him to move off his lap. The monkey jumped away and went to sit beside Claude. His eyes went wide while staring at Gusion, as if begging for the Paxley to stay. Gusion gave the monkey an apologetic smile and the smile died quickly when his gaze fell on Claude. For all the time he stayed here, Claude never turned around, nor did he even say anything.
What was he expecting anyway? It was his fault for being so careless. The Elders and Aamon always said Gusion was too reckless. Unfortunately, their advice fell on deaf ears as Gusion tend to brush it off or pretend to listen.
Now, his own mistake had come to bite him.
Gusion stood up, brushing the blades of grass from his pants. “I uh-” He stole a glance to Claude again. He knew deep down Claude would never forgive him, but another part of him wished for a small amount of forgiveness. Anything to calm this raging storm inside him.
“I’ll be going now. Big brother might be looking for me.” It was another attempt to get Claude’s attention. Sadly for him, it failed. Gusion felt his bottom lip tremble. He quickly bit onto it, not caring of the faint metallic taste spreading on his tongue. “I’ll see you next time, then?”
Gusion took a few steps away from the tree, turning over his shoulders for the last time. Seeing the lack of reaction, he sighed heavily and resumed his walk.
Claude quickly sat up when he heard the retreating footsteps. He scared Dexter with his sudden action. His eyes widened and immediately, he turned to where Gusion was heading. Claude scrambled to be on his feet and propelled himself to the Paxley.
One hand reached out as he yelled, “Gusion!”
Gusion paused in his steps when he heard his name. He looked over his shoulder and exclaimed in surprise when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around him. Gusion had to take a step back to recover his faltered balance as Claude threw himself on him. He stood frozen with Claude hugging him tight. His face nuzzled into the crook of Gusion’s scarf-covered neck.
“I’m sorry,” Claude spoke before Gusion could open his mouth. The Paxley closed them and Claude continued, “I didn’t mean to hurt you like that.”
“What do you mean?” He whispered to Claude. If he spoke a little louder, Gusion might accidentally let out the sob he was trying to hold back. “Claude, I’m the one who should be sorry. I lied to you. I wasn’t all candid about the curse mark.”
“I know. I know!” Claude interjected quickly.
He never lifted his face. Claude inhaled the soft scent coming from the scarf. There was a hint of masculine smell from the cologne Gusion always sprayed on. However, underneath it all, Claude detected a hint of gentleness that released some tension from his shoulder.
Claude took one deep breath and mustered the courage to look up. His eyes met Gusion’s glassy ones. Seeing the unshed tears, the wet stains on his cheeks and the slight tremble of his bottom lip, Claude wanted to punch himself for hurting his boyfriend like this. He knew how much Gusion hated showing weaknesses and flaws. Standing before him, Gusion is at his most frail and it was all thanks to Claude.
“Gusion…” The other hummed in reply. The lack of bubbly tone pulled at Claude’s heart. He shook his head and tried to stay focus. “…I’m sorry for hurting you. Truth is, I didn’t avoid you because I hate you or anything. I didn’t avoid you because you lied about the curse mark. Hell, I didn’t even mean to ignore you in the first place.”
“Then, why won’t you look at me when I called for you?”
Claude raised a hand to wipe at the single tear from trickling down any further. Gusion flinched at his touch but soon accepted it. Claude let his palm cradle the side of his beloved’s face. His eyes softened as they gaze into Gusion’s.
“I blame myself mostly. I was scared at the possibility of you dying. I ran because I couldn’t accept that fact. I didn’t know what to do if you’re dead.” Claude frowned and dropped his gaze in shame. “When you came back alive, I felt so embarrassed at how I treated you before. I couldn’t bring myself to look at you. I feel like I don’t deserve you.”
“Claude-”
“I swear-” Claude cut him off. “-I have zero intentions to hurt you or even break up. Gusion, I don’t know what to say when you walk through that door. I just…”
Claude sighed. He lifted his face to see Gusion again. He studied the big, blue eyes. Then, the small button nose before going down to the parting pair of thin, rosy lips. Claude wanted to kiss those lips so badly but the situation is not right for it. He went back to Gusion’s eyes and smiled.
“I love you.” Claude said in a breathy, low voice. Gusion looked surprise with his wide eyes and lips slowly opening as if to object, but nothing came out. “I love you, Gusion. And just like you, I want us to be together. Forever.”
“No matter what happens?” Came the question laced hope.
“Even when the world is ending…” Claude closed the gap between them. “I’ll stay with you.”
A satisfied smile appeared on those lips. A huff of a laugh came out as Gusion finally broke through his despair, happy at the confession.
“I love you too, Claude.”
Their lips got closer. They both closed their eyes as they felt each other’s breath warming them.
But before their lips met, Claude’s face met with something furry. His eyelids flew open and jumped when he realized he was kissing Dexter’s head. Gusion noticed something was off and his eyes widened in shock at Dexter wrapping his arms around his neck, burying his face into Gusion’s chest.
Claude growled in annoyance. “Hey! What gives, Dexter?!” He yelled at the monkey.
Dexter made a noise that sounded like a laugh before sticking his tongue out at him. Then, with another monkey laugh, he buried his face into Gusion’s chest again.
“Way to ruin the moment, buddy!” Claude was still fuming. He grabbed onto the monkey and started tugging him. “Come on, now. Off you go!”
The monkey cried in protest, holding tighter onto Gusion. If not for the thick material of his jacket and bodysuit, those claws will surely be painful.
Seeing the shenanigans in front of him, Gusion could not stop himself from snorting out a laugh. Claude managed to tear Dexter off Gusion and is now scolding the monkey while shaking his little body. Dexter, however, was not giving up the fight and is screeching with his long arms swinging about. This was not something new.
In fact, it was a scene that warmed the iciness in Gusion’s heart. He watched the banter before him and smiled. This was once a part of his life. It was a routine that tend to happen continuously and when the tragedy hits - the curse mark appearing on his neck, Gusion was cut off from experiencing it ever again.
Seeing this happening, Gusion wished time stood still so he could cherish it.
Claude and Dexter were not showing any signs of stopping their fight. Gusion let out a sigh, like how a parent would to their children. He clapped his hands once just to have their attention.
“Alright you two. Knock it off.” He placed both hands on his hips. “Dexter missed me as much as you did, Claude. Isn’t that right, Dexter?”
Dexter chirped in joy. Claude shot him a sharp glare to which Dexter replied with a smug look on his face. Gusion rolled his eyes and faked a cough.
“I said knock it off!” He yelled, but nothing hid the obvious shakiness of his voice as he tried to fight back the laugh.
When Gusion smiled, showing the top row of his pearly whites, Claude felt his hear skipped. Memories of their first confession replayed in their mind. The bright moon over the flat rooftop of the house they shared, overlooking a very rundown town. Their confession was definitely not romantic. Claude was stumbling with his own words and Gusion’s brain trying to digest the fact he fell in love with a petty criminal.
Nonetheless, the kiss under the moon was something both of them will never forget.
And here, underneath the tree on a hill in Castle Eberleen, a new memory core will be forged. Another treasure to be cherished and remembered.
A gloved hand reached up to cup Claude’s cheek. Dexter noticed the two young men closing the gap and quickly moved away. Their lips met in a very soft, comforting kiss. There was no lust in them. No fire that burned their veins to excite them. There was nothing else, except for love and affection. Their souls connected through this kiss.
As they parted, the reminiscence of love could still be seen in their eyes.
“So…” Gusion tilted his head but his gaze never left Claude. “Care to join us for breakfast? You know those cooks prepare a lot. And there’s gonna be tons of leftovers even if we gave them to the servants.”
Claude shot back with his signature grin. “Hey, you know I’m always down when it comes to food. Besides, you rich folk got the best ones.” He slung an arm around Gusion’s shoulder.
They started to head back to the mansion, together. “Still-” Claude lifted his nose and Gusion swore his nostrils could’ve grown any bigger. “-Maggie’s diner is forever my best spot to start the day.”
“Oh please.” Gusion rolled his eyes. “That’s the only spot you go to anyway. It’s not like there’s any other places you visited in that town.”
“For real! I’m telling you. Maggie’s the best one.”
“Yeah, yea whatever.”
They bickered and laughed all the way until the Paxley’s family emblem appeared, hung on the archway. Behind them, the sun rose from between the mountains. Its golden rays illuminated the once foggy, gloomy Castle Eberleen. Other than giving light to a dim city, the dawn brought along new found hope and happiness.
And…a new beginning to the young couple of House Paxley.