It only took AJ a moment to pass control of the training group to Richard. His friend easily stepped up and gathered everyone to him. One of the elves was dispatched to help retrieve Donnelly from the water. Once those small things were taken care of, AJ devoted his attention to the one thing that mattered the most. Brian.
He took off at an easy run toward the forest. Finding Brian was the easy part. What to say to him would be the hard part of things. How was he going to make this better? With the training he’d managed to do the one thing he’d hoped to accomplish: force Brian and Donnelly to vent some of their anger against one another. Now came the hard part.
Brian had a good head start but AJ didn’t bother rushing to find him. He kept his pace easy, slowing to a jog as he reached the trees. It would do Brian some good to have some time alone to gather his composure before AJ caught up with him. Time to think about what had happened and bring his emotions back under control.
Those emotions were a knot in the back of AJ’s mind, shifting and changing. Anger, hurt, a little self-loathing, confusion, sadness. Hurting someone like that was not Brian’s style. He wasn’t prone to temper tantrums and didn’t quite know how to deal with it. AJ, on the other hand, was famous for his tantrums and knew quite well how it felt afterwards. He was also pretty practiced at wallowing in his own pain. Thankfully that wasn’t something that Brian did. He wasn’t the type of guy to wallow in something. He just worked his way through it and came out the other side.
Amusement had AJ’s mouth quirking as he kept jogging. That was one area that they were total opposites. Brian’s temper would simmer for a while before finally coming to a head and after it did he usually felt bad for a short while. Then he’d find the person he fought with and generally try to fix things. He didn’t like to be angry, didn’t like to explode on others.
AJ’s temper had always boiled hot. He would blow on the person that either set it off, or the one that was closest when it finally snapped. Then, afterwards, he would either be totally happy, acting as if nothing had happened, or he would wallow in his anger and pain and pretty much sulk, for lack of a better word.
Well, now he would do for Brian what Brian always did for him. Be the calm in the middle of the storm, helping to guide him back.
In the middle of the forest is where he found Brian, perched on the branch of a tree, staring at the break in the branches to the sunlight that streamed down. Despite the situation, AJ found himself smiling. How could he not? With the sunlight streaming down onto his blond hair, Brian looked so beautiful. He had one foot on the tree branch in front of him, that knee drawn up and his arm resting on that knee. The other leg dangled down, his foot swaying back and forth.
That beautiful face that AJ loved so much looked lost and sad at the moment, only lending him a poignant look that tugged at AJ’s heart and would have had a mortal weeping. The emotions of an Elf had a tendency to affect the mortals around them. Brian’s emotions would have been almost too much for a mortal right then.
“The sadness of your face and the tears in your song make my heart weep for you.” AJ called up to him. “Come and sing this song with me that we might change the tune and brighten the day.”
The formal words had a corner of Brian’s mouth quirking briefly. It only lasted a second, but it gave AJ some hope.
“I do not understand my own song well enough to sing it with you. I am lost amidst the notes and cannot seem to find the melody.” Piercing eyes shifted down to look at AJ. “Is young Donnelly hurt?”
True to form, AJ shrugged it off. “Last I saw, no. Not unless you count his pride. He’ll survive it.”
“You seem very nonchalant about him being thrown off a cliff into the ocean after being pounded on, song of my heart.” This was said sharply, a disapproving tone to it.
That didn’t bother AJ at all. He laughed. “I’ll admit I liked seeing him taken down a notch or two. He’s a rather arrogant little thing. This should humble him just a little. That, and some of the things that were bothering you bothered me too. Some of them.”
Sighing, Brian grabbed the branch and slid off of it, dropping gracefully to the ground. There were still times that AJ watched him and marveled at the change. This was the person that Brian was meant to be. He was so at ease in this form. Being mortal had been ok, but being an Elf was what Brian was supposed to be. This was who he was.
Before Brian could say anything, AJ stepped forward and cupped his face. “I love you, Brian Littrell.” He whispered in a soft voice.
Everything about Brian softened and warmed. His hands came up to rest on AJ’s hips. “I love you too, Alyck o Tuian. More than anything else.”
‘Talk to me, my love. Open your heart and talk to me so that I can help you. I love you, Brian. I want to help you.’
‘I don’t know how to explain it all.’
They shifted their bodies, AJ’s arms going around Brian’s waist while Brian’s arms went around AJ’s neck. They pressed their cheeks together. ‘Tell me what you’re feeling. What you felt when you were fighting with him. Walk me through your emotions.’
Brian gave a mental sigh. ‘He makes me so angry sometimes. You know that. The way he talks to you and the way he treats you, it’s not right. Some of it I can excuse because some of it is through ignorance. Some of it’s from pride. That’s understandable too. But some of it is just simply from a lack of respect. When he talks to you like you’re an idiot, it just gets my blood boiling.’
There was a pause in which neither said anything. Now that Brian was talking it was time for AJ to listen. He stayed where he was, cheek to cheek with the man he loved, waiting for more. It didn’t take long.
‘Other times he’s very devoted to you. Those times…even then he makes me a little angry. He talks about what the Goddess charged his family to do and I find myself annoyed. This, it doesn’t make me like myself very much, Alex, but I think I’m jealous.’
That was enough to make AJ startle a little. ‘Jealous?’
‘I know that we need al the help we can get for this war. Logically, I know that he’s helping to bring his family home. He’s charged by the Goddess to help in this war; to help you. But a small part of me, well, it almost feels like the Goddess is laughing at me with this. Like she thinks that I’m not a good enough baka, or that the baka is a joke. That I won’t be able to protect you. I wonder if maybe she picked Donnelly’s family all these years ago because she thought I wouldn’t be able to help you.’
‘Brian…’
‘I know it’s silly. I do. But since coming in to our titles, I’ve always acted as your protector while you protect the world. It’s my job to be your warrior. Having someone else called in with the sole purpose of serving you, protecting you, well, it hurts my pride a little. Like I said, I’m jealous that he has something I do not that makes him better able to serve you. I grew so used to being a team, you and I, and now I feel like I’m not needed. Like someone else has been brought in to take my place.’
The pain in those words was heart wrenching. AJ couldn’t keep silent anymore. He made a small sound of distress as he tightened his grip on Brian, holding him close. ‘Oh, my love, oh no. No one will ever take your place, do you hear me? No one. You are my warrior, my baka, my partner, the song of my heart. There is no one who could replace you!’
‘I know that you wouldn’t try to replace me, Alex. But the Goddess might. We can’t fight against her.’
‘I would. There is no way I will ever give you up. I will fight anyone I have to, including the Goddess herself, to keep you by my side. You are mine. I don’t care if others don’t see it. I need you in my life. I need you more than anyone. You’re the only one I trust explicitly to keep me alive and safe when it comes to war. You’re the only one I trust with my heart, my soul, and my body.’
AJ’s words were having a very calming effect on Brian. By the time AJ was done, Brian was relaxed once more. He pulled back and kissed AJ lightly. “Thank you.” He said out loud. “I knew that, but I guess a part of me just needed to hear it.”
The smile that AJ wore stretched over his whole face. He kept one arm around Brian’s waist, one of Brian’s arms sliding down to be around AJ’s waist as well, and the two set off walking through the trees. For a short while they only walked, taking a path down the cliff and onto the beach below. There they walked in the sand, letting it slide between their toes, listening to the water crashing around them.
A small cave in the bottom of the cliff drew their attention. AJ let his lips curve again and moved his arm so that he could take Brian’s hand. Then he ran forward, laughing lightly into the breeze.
The instant they were inside the cave, AJ spun and wrapped his arms around Brian again, plastering their bodies together. No words were needed to explain his intentions. They had privacy at the moment, which was something that was increasingly rare for them. But more than that, the beauty of the cave, the sand, and the ocean was dazzling. So AJ did the one thing that he knew would completely comfort the both of them; something that their bodies had been craving so bad they’d ached.
Brian met his embrace with equal fervor. Their lips met in a kiss so overwhelming that AJ closed his eyes and moaned into it, losing himself in the sensation. Brian’s hands were on his back, sliding down to cup his bottom and pull him even closer, wringing another moan from him.
He never even noticed the cave wall against his back. Or when he flipped them around to pin Brian there. The passion between them was raging like a wildfire. The desperation and anger that Brian had felt were being channeled into lust, taking them under. Their kiss turned rougher until they were ravaging one another’s mouths.
A hand fisted in AJ’s hair, yanking his head back. He gasped at the feel of it. Then he was being pushed, falling backwards to connect with the sand and the small water from the incoming tide. Even as Brian was moving toward AJ, the both of them were stripping their clothes off, needing the barriers out of the way. Brian practically leapt on top of him, his mouth instantly going to AJ’s neck.
A guttural cry slipped past AJ’s lips. He arched against Brian, hands fisting in Brian’s curls. The water crashed around them, splashing over their bodies and tingling against their skin.
Brian’s mouth traveled lower, leaving a warm trail down AJ’s stomach as he kissed and nipped the skin. “Oh, holy shit.” AJ swore. He heard Brian chuckle, dropping even lower. When his mouth found what he was seeking, when he took AJ’s thick cock deep into his throat, it had AJ arching up off the sand with a loud “Fuck!”
‘Your language skills always fall apart during sex, Alex. You ever notice that?’ Brian teased him.
AJ couldn’t think. He could barely remember to breathe. His body felt like it was centered on that one part, focused only on the feeling of Brian’s mouth as he slid up and down, occasionally scraping with his teeth.
The water around them changed subtly at the call of AJ’s magic. Instead of splashing over them, he used it like hands, sliding it up and over Brian’s legs, against his back. He enjoyed the sound of his lover’s breath quickening. It thrilled him even more when he wrapped a bit of water around Brian’s cock, giving it a firm tug, and Brian gasped just as he deep throated AJ. Their moans echoed together.
Brian pulled back, yanked free of AJ’s hands, and looked down at him with that dark passion that always thrilled AJ deep inside. “So you want to play like that, do you?” Brian murmured tauntingly. Without warning bands of air grabbed AJ’s waist and flipped him over. Sand rose up around his hands, holding them there. Brian’s hands were on his hips suddenly and AJ couldn’t help but gasp. “Now, Brian. Now, now, now!” he begged shamelessly. God, he needed him!
“You want me, Alex?” Brian asked in a voice husky with desire. He rubbed himself against AJ’s ass, teasing him. “You want this?”
“Dammit, yes!” Panting, AJ rocked his hips back. He could easily have grabbed Brian with air and forced him forward but he was beyond normal thought. All he could think of was that Brian had better move and soon.
He wasn’t disappointed. Brian grabbed his hips tightly before thrusting in. AJ let out a scream as his body shuddered under the violent pleasure of it. He dropped his head down as he pushed back to meet Brian thrust for thrust. His hair created a curtain around his head. That hand of air that Brian was so fond of was wrapping around AJ’s cock, pumping him in time with the thrusts.
The breeze blew through the cave, making moaning sounds deep inside that matched with the sounds tearing out of Brian and AJ.
It was Brian who reached his peak first. His hands clenched in AJ’s hips and his body tightened like a bowstring. AJ’s name tore past his lips, lost in the gust of wind that blew in. The force of his release was enough to send AJ flying sky high. That warmth inside built and built from his toes up, bathing him in its warmth, beckoning him to the pleasure he knew was waiting. When he reached that peak he flung himself off the other side with a scream of his own, so lost in the haze that he never even noticed the sheet of water that flew up outside the mouth of the cliff.
The two collapsed together, letting the incoming tide wash over them, soothing their warm skin. AJ could only lay there and concentrate on breathing. His body felt numb. “I love you, Brian.” He managed to force past his lips. It was the best he could do.
Brian, on the other hand, seemed energized. He chuckled in AJ’s ear, kissing the side of his head before climbing off of him. AJ didn’t have time to wonder what Brian was doing before he felt himself being lifted in the air. He narrowed his eyes as he saw Brian’s grin. “Brian, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Love you too, Alex!”
With a wild laugh, Brian flung AJ out into the ocean. It wouldn’t have taken much effort at all to stop himself from hitting the water but AJ didn’t want to. Anything that put that smile in Brian’s eyes and on his face was totally worth it. So he held his breath as he hit, trying not to gasp at the cold water. When he surfaced again, Brian was swimming toward him and others were gathering on top of the cliffs. “You’ve asked for it now, Littrell.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donnelly wrapped his arms around himself as he watched Brian and AJ play in the water below. Quietly he stepped away from the others to sit on the cliff’s edge, letting his feet dangle down. They looked so happy down there. It was quite a different side than he had ever seen from them before. Yeah, he’d caught glimpses of their playfulness when they were together, but never this kind of abandon. They were like children, splashing and flinging water at one another, shouting taunts and insults. The same as any teenagers might do. Minus the fact that they were naked.
Fighting with Brian had actually helped Donnelly clear out his head. After he’d dragged himself out of the ocean and stomped off to sulk for a bit, he’d managed to make his brain think everything through. To look at things from Brian’s perspective. Once he did that, quite a few things slid in to place.
In Brian’s shoes, he’d probably be feeling the same way. Annoyed at this cocky little newcomer for barging in and acting like he was the boss, then insulting people left and right. But more than that, taking the place that had been rightfully been his. No wonder Brian was upset.
Now that he sat here, watching them, Donnelly found his mind trying to figure out ways to fix this. All his earlier anger was completely gone. Thinking bred understanding and understanding bred forgiveness. How could he stay mad when he could clearly see the reasoning behind it and could even see himself feeling the same way if roles were reversed?
A loud shout broke Donnelly’s train of thought. He saw Alyck waving at them all before cupping his hands around his mouth. “Instead of watching why don’t you all join us? It’s a free afternoon! Take advantage of it, cause training starts tomorrow!”
It took no time at all for Geoff and Richard to streak past Donnelly, wearing only their boxers. It was also easy to see AJ concentrating on the flow of air to bring his friends far enough out that they’d land nearby. Surprisingly, Tao was the one who ran next, wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Bayani and Crisanto jumped next; those two never did anything apart. Ubayy and Nura didn’t jump, which wasn’t surprising at all. Ubayy was too stuffy and there’s no way he’d allow Nura to do it.
But the final shock came when Donnelly saw Brian watching him. Next thing he knew, Brian was rising up, water wrapped around his waist, creating a funnel straight down to the ocean. He rode this tower of water up, up, up, until he was right in front of Donnelly. Then he held his hand out, smiling.
Donnelly found himself smiling without even realizing it. He hesitated only for a second, then pulled his shoes off, tossed them in the grass, followed by his shirt. He reached out, taking Brian’s hand in his, and let the man pull him out in to the water. It wasn’t much, but it was the start of peace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By the time they all climbed out of the water an hour later, their group had grown in size. Many of the elves had joined in the fun, Flreu included, and it had been a blast. AJ felt more peaceful than he had in quite a while. He felt Brian’s peace, too, and that had been what he’d been hoping for.
They reached the top of the cliff, most of them still laughing together. AJ saw Donnelly smiling at Brian and Brian’s smile in return. The two had made some kind of peace, it seemed. Brian’s gesture had gone a long way toward that. Things weren’t perfect but there wasn’t any animosity between them anymore for AJ to sense.
With a laugh full of joy, AJ spun a full circle, arms out to either side. Before he could say a word, a loud sound from above drew all their attention. AJ looked up to see Tripha spinning through the sky above them. He would have called joyfully to him but Tripha interrupted him before he could say anything, sending a thought directly to his mind. ‘You have a guest, a’anish. He is coming through the forest. I gave him permission to enter.’
A guest? Confusion had AJ turning to Brian, raising his eyebrows. The look Brian gave him said he didn’t know either. So AJ ignored the cries of the guest, not thinking about the fact that they might never have seen a dragon before, and turned his attention to the forest.
There was a figure stepping out of the trees. AJ felt his breath catch and his eyes go wide. No… it wasn’t possible. Was it?
“Alyck Tuian as I live and breathe! Get your fine ass over here and hug me!” The man cried.