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Seiichirou stared blankly at the knight in a red half-cape standing before him. He rarely interacted with the First Royal Order, but he found he was actually surprised to be getting such pushback from this man. The Second and Third Royal Orders were far more influential than the First, and he was on good terms with them both. Perhaps the aggression came from that, then? The First blowing off some steam from a perceived rivalry between the Orders?
Whatever the reason, Seiichirou didn’t particularly care about it, he just let the words wash over him. It was nothing he hadn’t heard before, even if it had been some time since he had.
“You’re awfully uppity for someone that just grabbed the Holy Maiden on his own! Where do you get off giving us orders like this?”
Seiichirou simply nodded. “Yes, yes, perhaps I am. Regardless, you must follow these new guidelines if you wish to have your expenses approved. This new system was spear-headed by His Excellency the Prime Minister himself, so please consider who is actually giving the order, and who is simply a messenger.” He absolutely would use every name in his arsenal if it meant getting this man to just agree and leave him alone so that he could get back to one of his other projects.
The man opened his mouth as if he was about to shout some more, then he suddenly paled and his jaw slammed shut audibly. Seiichirou idly wondered if he cracked a tooth or bit his tongue in shutting it so fast, but he didn’t care to ask. He also didn’t have the chance, as the man spun on his heel and swiftly scurried away.
A shadow loomed over his shoulder, and, sensing a familiar presence, Seiichirou looked behind him and spotted a broad, black-clad figure. “Ah, Aresh, it’s you. I wondered why he looked so frightened. You don’t have to glare like that, you know. You’ll get wrinkles.”
“I don’t want to hear that from you,” Aresh muttered, reaching out to brush his fingers across Seiichirou’s cheek. “Doesn’t being talked to like that bother you?”
“Why would it?”
Sighing, Aresh shook his head, writing it off as another inexplicable quirk of the man in front of him. “Well, that’s fine then. Come to think of it, I don’t believe I ever heard the full story of how you ended up here along with the Holy Maiden.”
The two started walking, Seiichirou handing a form over for Aresh to look over. The same as the one he had just given to the Vice Commander of the First Royal Order. Aresh didn’t bother looking it over yet, watching Seiichirou curiously. “Hm. That’s because this is the first time anyone’s asked. Everyone seems keen on assuming I’m some kind of pervert. It says something interesting and disconcerting about the lot of them, don’t you think?”
Aresh flashed a smirk at the way Seiichirou had managed to politely call all of his detractors degenerates, and nodded an agreement. “You might be on to something. So?”
“I heard a girl scream in terror and ran to see what was happening. A hole was swallowing up a kid and when our eyes met, she begged for help. Of course I ran to do what I could, it was clear there wasn’t any sort of time to find anyone better suited. The moment I touched her hand, though, I was blinded by a bright light, and once my vision cleared, we were there in that room. It’s not a terribly exciting story.”
Grabbing his shoulder, Aresh turned Seiichirou to face him, his expression earnest. “You tried to save her? That’s how you ended up here?”
“Yes. As I said, it isn’t terribly exciting. I just did what any adult would have in that situation.” Knitting his brows, Aresh shook his head and tugged Seiichirou into a fierce hug. He gave a token effort of resistance, fighting the grip just enough to be able to turn his face so he could breath, rather than be smothered by the folds of Aresh’s cloak. “Aresh, what-?”
“That’s not something ‘any adult’ would do. I train knights for a living. Very few people have the wherewithal to act so decisively in a moment of crisis. It’s the sort of thing most people need to learn. The kinds of people who would do so on instinct are precious, few and far between, Seiichirou.”
Flushing at the praise, Seiichirou grumbled and struggled free of the hug. Smoothing out his clothes, he refused to look at the younger man as he muttered, “It really wasn’t like that at all, Aresh. You’re giving me far too much credit.”
Aresh reached out and tugged on his ear, ignoring the protests that accompanied it as he held the ear out to hear him clearly, “You’re not giving yourself enough credit! As usual. Honestly, what do you have against accepting compliments? It’s one of your worst traits, you know.”
“I accept that,” Seiichirou grumbled rubbing his ear once it was released, glowering up at Aresh.
“But you aren’t going to do anything to improve it, are you?”
“Modesty is a virtue.”
“There’s a difference between being modest, and being overly diffident.”
Sighing heavily, Seiichirou shook his head, frowning deeply. “I just don’t think it’s good to let others hold unreasonable expectations. Under-sell and over-deliver. It’s best not to get others’ hopes up too high.”
“You’re very shrewd.”
Seiichirou grinned, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. “Thank you.”
“That one wasn’t a compliment.”
“I’m taking it as one anyways. It’s a trait I’ve worked hard to cultivate.”
“How has no one thrown you into a river yet?”
“They have, actually. Third year of university. Of course, alcohol and bets were involved, but…”
Aresh let out a long suffering sigh that Seiichirou found so comical he laughed out loud. Even as his cheek was pinched and Aresh growled at him, he continued to laugh until his mouth became otherwise occupied. He took half of a step back, intent on reminding Aresh that they were at work, and anyone could see them. He was stopped by a strong arm wrapped tightly around his waist, holding him so tightly that Aresh straightened up and his feet left the ground.
It lasted only a moment, but for his embarrassment, it could have been minutes. He was set back onto his feet, his face bright red, and he glared up at the smug knight. “Just what was that!?”
“Made you stop laughing.”
“You- You can’t just do that! Not here, what i-mfh!?” Lips covered his again, briefly, but effectively.
Staying close, Aresh mumbled, “Keep mouthing off like that, and I’ll have to keep kissing you.”
“You don’t play fair,” he grumbled.
“Neither do you.”
Seiichirou sighed, fiddling with his glasses as he looked away, trying to regain a sense of dignity. “There’s a saying in my world, that all is fair in love and in war.”
“You come from an interesting people…”
“Well, it isn’t one of our sayings. It belongs to a different people than my own. But, you made me think of it just now.”
“You’re the one that mentioned fairness,” Aresh pointed out stubbornly.
“Regardless. Anyways, I need to deliver this last sheet to Commander Radim or his second, then get back to Accounting. The changes aren’t major, but please look that over, and let me know if anything is unclear.”
Aresh frowned, clearly unhappy with the reminder that they were working and would need to go their own separate ways again until the end of the work day. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. Your missives are always easy to understand. Let me know if the First gives you any more trouble.”
“I’d rather handle it myself, thank you.”
“But-”
“No ‘buts’! If I let you handle things like this, resentment will only grow. Towards me, and towards you and the Third. It’s best both personally and professionally for me to handle these issues on my own. Besides that, it’s just words, and I have your barrier if it ever becomes more. I doubt that it will, though. I’m pretty sure I’m just seen as a more acceptable target of their jealousy over the Second and Third. If it keeps things civil, I can put up with it.”
Another frown and another sigh, but Aresh nodded, “Fine. Though I think it’s already gone beyond ‘civility.’”
“Frankly, I barely listened to a word he said. It isn’t worth my effort.”
“You’re going to get thrown into a river again.”
“Good thing I can swim, then. I’ll see you later, Aresh.” They had arrived at the offices for the knights, and Seiichirou looked up at him, standing before the door leading to the Second.
Aresh nodded, brushing fingers over his cheek again, showing tremendous restraint in not leaning in for another kiss. “Right. See you at the Earth hour, Seiichirou.” Flashing him a bright smile, Seiichirou nodded, then quickly turned businesslike to the door, and continued on his errands.