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This Image of You	By : FlayraDowitcher Category: +G to L > Hetalia: Axis Powers Views: 2818 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. This fic is for fun. I'm not making any money off of this fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
***Warnings: yaoi, violence, language, masturbation, slight humor.

***Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia or any references made in this fic. Everything belongs to their respected and rightful owners! I am not making any money off of this fic. It is for entertainment purposes only!

***R & R Please!

Chapter 3: Make Me Sway

Ivan was given a seat at one of the tables in the main hall where he was served a bowl of beef stew with a cup of warm milk. Gilbert had the same and he broke the bread in half to share with Ivan, handing it over to him. He waited patiently for Gilbert to talk as he dipped the piece of bread in the stew, finding the contents much tastier than he had thought. The broth was thick with potato and the beef chunks were cooked just right. If only he had some vodka to add then the meal would be perfect.

“So let’s talk.” Gilbert spoke up and Ivan paused with the spoon in his mouth to look at him. “You said my looks are not something to be feared in your world, right?”

“Right.” Ivan said with a nod.

“Well, they are feared here…and greatly so.”

“Why do they fear you? Do they think you have some magic powers or something?”

“That’s some of the reason.” Ivan’s brows lifted slightly. “People tend to think…because I look like this that I would be quick to turn evil…or that I was evil already. I’ve been called a ‘demon’ since I could remember.”

“Gilbert, I will tell you right now that you are not a demon because of the way you were born. There are no demons.”

“Yes there are. Maybe not in your world but they exist here.” Gilbert twirled his stew around in the bowl with his spoon lazily. “My parents were able to keep me hidden and safe because we were royalty. Once Ludwig came along the world smiled upon him and continued to shun me. I’m not bitter with Ludwig, not at all. I helped care for and raised him in his early years of life. I should be king but I can’t with the way I look so Ludwig has the throne. Which is fine, really.” He paused. “I don’t need all that responsibility…I like to lay back and have fun. But Ludwig tries to keep me from all that because…like your ‘Gilbert’ in the other world, I can be a little rambunctious and rebellious.” He smirked. “A little hellion.”

“Yes, a hellion you are but a demon you are not. But why ‘demon’? Is that the only fear they have?”

“It has been told by all the priests, medicine men, and enchanters that I have a demon residing inside of me and it is just waiting to be free.” Gilbert ate a spoonful of the stew. “Many things can awaken it…some say a wild and crazy lifestyle full of sins and fun can release it. Doing unlawful things…drinking to much…but I have ruled all those out already.” Ivan shared in his laugh before responding.

“So what haven’t you ruled out yet?” Gilbert smirked.

“What do you think?” Ivan frowned. “Yup. I may as well have a chastity belt on. Ludwig keeps me here in the church so I can be controlled with all that. Not only am I a cocktease but I am sought after by men quite a lot when I go out. Women are less likely to be so forceful and forward with their feelings. I enjoy attention and I like breaking moral laws. But unlike some other demons that are more socially accepted I am shunned. It’s because of my white skin and red eyes…that’s why I kept asking you about my looks.” He smiled softly. “It would be great to feel normal.”

“Do you think you are demon?” Ivan asked him, eating another spoonful.

“I don’t know.” Gilbert answered truthfully, looking to the side. “I really don’t. Sometimes I think it’s all bullshit and other times there’s that nagging little ‘what if’ voice in the back of my mind. I can’t turn into a demon because it would hurt Ludwig and ruin everything he’s done to keep me safe, content, and happy. I’m accepted here in the church and the castle. Ludwig stands up for me and punishes anyone who accuses me of anything. Remember, I don’t need his help but in reality, word of the king rules over mine. I can only defend myself so much before royal law has to step in. And I don’t want to become a demon…least of all an ‘evil’ one that may hurt people unnecessarily. I may even go crazy and forget who I am.”

“Gilbert, let’s backtrack for a moment. If having ‘sex’ is the last thing you haven’t tried then you contradicted yourself. You told me you’ve been with women and last time I checked, that was sex. Is it only man on man sex that will turn you?” Ivan raised an amused eyebrow. “I would be the person to find a homophobic parallel universe. Life is full of surprises, yes?” He smiled but noticed Gilbert’s lightly flushed face as he avoided making eye contact with Ivan. Ivan blinked stupidly for a few seconds before slowly lifting his lips into a grin. “Ooo…someone’s telling lies.”

“Shut it! That’s not something I go around admitting, alright?! And I had to tell you SOMETHING because your dick was poking my back! What’s with the look?!” Gilbert grit his teeth at Ivan’s smile.

“Oh, nothing. I just find it funny that my Gilbert has had women and you haven’t.”

“So?! You have?” Gilbert crossed his arms.

“Nope.” Ivan finished up his stew. “Men all around. That was another reason my Gilbert was so attracted to me. I was good at what I did.” He slipped his foot under the table to tap it with Gilbert’s but cringed when the other’s heel dug into his toes. The boots provided little protection. “Owiee…” Ivan pouted. “In all seriousness, Gilbert, I know you are not a demon. Having sex isn’t going to expose it…that’s just silly! Just because you were born a certain way doesn’t make you evil. And even if you were…you would still be my Gilbie.” Gilbert focused his eyes on Ivan.

“Do you really mean that?” Ivan nodded.

“I do. Even if you were to turn into a demon I would still wish to have you as my own. I would take the chance.” Gilbert continued to search his eyes for a hint of lies but found none. He swallowed softly.

“Tell you what. If you beat me in an arm wrestling contest …I will let you kiss me.” Ivan perked up and clapped.

“And it has to be a REAL kiss! No little peck on the lips or cheek! Full contact!” Gilbert grumbled but accepted. “Do you think you will win?”

“Oh, I know I can win! Check these awesome muscles!” Gilbert flexed his muscles under the tunic.

“We shall see.” Ivan put his elbow on the table and ushered him with his hand. “Bring it on.” Gilbert smirked and pulled off his glove, gripping Ivan’s hand with his own.

“You’re going down! Ready? On three.”

Gilbert counted to three and their arms remained at a shaking standstill. Gilbert’s teeth were gritted and Ivan kept a solid smug smile across his face. He was tempted to break the gamble just to punch the bastard in the face but he held strong. Gilbert was unable to tell if Ivan had a professional poker face and his arm was ready to break or he was simply toying with him. He had to wonder if Ivan was holding back his strength to surprise him. But Gilbert saw his hand begin to push Ivan’s down by a few short inches and he let out a short laugh. Little by little Gilbert continued to lower Ivan’s hand further to the table, ensured of his victory. However, Ivan’s pleasantly smug face turned psychotic and in an instant Gilbert’s hand was slammed down onto the table. He felt the pain from his knuckles travel up his arm and into his shoulder.

“Damn it!” Gilbert hissed out and Ivan’s face returned to its normally cheerful demeanor.

“Just like in my world. Same reaction with the same outcome. Now, were is my kiss?” Despite being a punk Gilbert would always keep a deal and Ivan did win fair and square. He had just underestimated the stranger.

“I sure as hell can’t do it out here.” Gilbert looked around. “We’ll go to my chamber.”

“Ooh. I like the sound of that!”

“Don’t get any ideas! It’s just a kiss and nothing more.” Gilbert ushered Ivan to follow him.

“What if it leads to something else?”

“It won’t.”

Ivan followed him up some stairs lined with stone pillars. The church didn’t appear to have an upper level but it was big enough for it. The above consisted of a few doors, which Ivan concluded were kept for high status clerics like Gilbert. Gilbert’s hand paused when it rested on the iron handle before lowering the latch with his thumb and pressing open. He walked in first and held the door for Ivan to enter before locking it. Ivan looked around Gilbert’s room, finding it to be slightly messy and unorganized. Gilbird was in a small wooden birdcage that hung from a chain from the ceiling and chirped. Clothes were lying around, the bed wasn’t made, his desk was scattered with scrolls and his candle’s had all been burned down to the bottom. The room was dark to begin with but he watched as Gilbert replaced the candles with new ones and lit them.

“Nice little room. It’s fairly big. Bigger than the bedroom we shared in my world but the conditions are the same.” Ivan smiled. “So…do you want to start or should I?” Gilbert remained silent. “You know, my Gilbert wouldn’t be so shy. He would stand up to me and just kiss me without a thought or doubt.” Ivan had said these same words to his Gilbert the first time they kissed. If things continued on the way they were going then he would be claiming Gilbert’s innocence before the night was through.

“Did that Gilbert really do that in your world? Because I said I would let you kiss me but I didn’t specify ‘how’.” Ivan had to remember that this Gilbert was brought up in a totally different world so they still had their differences.

“Then I will take the lead.”

Ivan stood before him and rests his hand on Gilbert’s cheek, stroking his bottom lip with his thumb. Gilbert looked baffled by the soft touch and that was what Ivan wanted. The only way he won Gilbert in his world was bringing out the lustful needy beast within. This Gilbert was equally as horny and sexually deprived as his first Gilbert. He felt the skin beneath his hand grow warm and he stroked the soft cheek before dropping his hands to Gilbert’s sides. Ivan wrapped his arms tightly around Gilbert’s back to pull him close, touching the tips of their noses together. With a tiny moan of delight, Ivan tilted his head slightly to capture Gilbert’s lips with his own. No taste or smell of powder, only warmth. Ivan deepened the kiss by forcing the other’s lips open with his tongue and pressing the muscle inside.

Gilbert moaned and his eyes widen at the deep, passionate kiss that began to warm his whole body with a familiar craving. Ivan’s tongue was moving freely in his mouth and the more he struggled the tighter he was held. He let his tongue meet with the slightly larger one, rolling and pressing back against it, almost as if he was trying to push it out. Ivan’s hands were now running up his back to press his body closer while the same tongue tried to force its way down his throat. Gilbert was moaning in both pleasure and annoyance, trying to break free. Ivan’s rough kiss made his knees grow weak and his limbs feel heavy. This wasn’t him! He wasn’t anything like this! But when his growing erection pressed against Ivan’s, they both broke away to moan. Ivan pressed himself closer to Gilbert so they could feel the heat from each other’s erection.

That was when Gilbert lifted his head to crush his lips back to Ivan’s, trying to dominant the kiss. It wasn’t a quick victory for Gilbert because he was lost in Ivan’s kiss, which held a missing piece to his life’s big puzzle. He thought he would hate the kiss but it sent more stimulation through his body than aged wine did. Gilbert even welcomed Ivan’s wandering hands, not protesting when the other lifted him by his rump. Gilbert remained lost in the kiss and didn’t realize that Ivan had laid him down on the bed. A second later, Ivan’s weight and heat were above him, kissing the breath out of him. The larger man moaned and planted himself between Gilbert’s legs, rubbing their erections together. When Gilbert felt the size of Ivan’s manhood he immediately began to protest.

“S-Stop!” Ivan ignored him, moving his lips to kiss his neck and lift his leg. “Stop Ivan!” The other man did not answer but continued to use his weight to keep Gilbert in place while the hands wandered all over. Gilbert had to begin fighting back once he saw Ivan’s fingers fumbling with the over tunic buttons. “I SAID STOP!” Gilbert squeezed his free leg between them and used his strength to begin pushing Ivan off of him. Ivan remained silent as he grabbed Gilbert’s ankle and pushed it away.

“I haven’t finished yet! You didn’t say how long it could be!” Ivan held both his arms down and loomed above him. Gilbert could feel the shadow covering him with his legs spread and his body helpless against the monster above him. Yet his erection wasn’t seeing a monster but begging for relief.

“Stop this. Let me go.” Gilbert said softly but his answer came with being flipped onto his stomach. Ivan forced his hips up and planted his knees inside of Gilbert’s to keep them apart. He attempted to flare his arms around but Ivan’s quick skills were able to immobilize him.

“You want this, Gilbert. You always have.” Gilbert shifted in his grasp. “Imagine me coming up to you and tearing off your clothes…exposing your creamy body to the world.” Gilbert heard himself moan and felt his face grow hot. “I would strip you right in front of that altar and let the other clerics watch as I fucked you long and hard before them.”

“I mean it! Let me go!” he moaned out and felt his body thrust back against his will. He could feel Ivan’s massive erection pressing into him from his pants, which he was grateful to have on.

“Come on…let us prove to everyone how wrong they are.” Ivan licked the shell of Gilbert’s ear and felt the man’s body shiver beneath him. Everything about this Gilbert was the same, body wise. The same spot made him melt like this so the other spots he knew of had to work. Gilbert shifted his head slightly and Ivan got to bury his nose in the pale hair just like he used to do. His Gilbert would smell of something fruity from his shampoo but this one held the scent of musk. It wasn’t any less invigorating. “So soft…” He purred into the pale hair before he saw a glitter of stars behind his eyes and intense pain in his nose. Apparently Gilbert had tossed his head back to stun him. Ivan was tossed off from the bed with a mighty grunt from the other.

“I told you to stop, damn it!” Ivan was completely stunned and felt blood in the palm of his hand. “Don’t touch me like that again!” He looked up at Gilbert through pain-silted eyes, recalling the blush and the tent in his pants. “Out of my chambers! NOW! Or I’ll kill you! Hero or no!” Ivan realized he was defeated for this round so he stood up, still holding his bleeding nose, and left the room.

Gilbert slammed the door shut and latched it tight. He rests his back against it before slowly sliding down the wood to sit on the floor. His pants squeezed his erection and his body was still tingling with wanton desire of sexual pleasure. He bit his bottom lip before removing his glove and slipping his hand inside the front of his pants. Just touching his heated erection sent another jolt of pleasure and he gasped softly. What had happened back there? Something Ivan did awakened a sense of longing in him. Something he had not discovered when he would fool around with other men. He would have let Ivan take him right there if it weren’t for his stupid promise to Ludwig. All he could do now was pull the muscle from its confinement and stroke along it to relieve some of the pressure yet knowing it wouldn’t do much good. It would ease the ache but something ‘more’ would do much better.

“Stupid Ludwig…stupid church…stupid…stupidness!”

He thought about what Ivan would feel like pressing into him. He was aware that it would hurt but he was used to pain. Gilbert had imagined himself posing in crazy positions during sex but nothing gave him the tingling feeling of Ivan’s actions. His back arched to lift further into his hand as he pumped faster. This was something he had to do constantly and now that he had the real touch of something more it wasn’t doing enough for him. With a soft hiss he came into his hands that he had quickly cupped around the head to capture most of the white substance. The other clerics would spot the stains quickly on the black pants and he had to scramble to stand up. He went over to his water basin and took the cloth there to clean himself up. After tucking himself back into his pants and feeling unsatisfied he heard Gilbert chirp a few times from his cage. Gilbert looked over at the yellow bird and glared.

“Don’t you judge me! I know you’re doing it!” His response came with another chirp.

Ivan sat in front of the fire with his head tilted forward and a rag to his nose. The bleeding was starting to lessen but the pain and large purple bruise would still remain. Gilbert always did have a hard head, literally. This ‘attack’ did not happen the first time with his Gilbert. Of course, Gilbert wasn’t from this time and he wasn’t raised in a church to control him. Morals and values seemed more important here than in his world. Ivan knew Ludwig was a big cause of Gilbert’s doubt but he couldn’t see the younger brother believing in such a thing as a ‘demon’. Least of all his own brother! Either these times were really affecting their doppelgangers equally or Ludwig knew something that he didn’t. Maybe he did not get along with the man but he could admit that Ludwig was witty and intelligent.

“Ah, the blood has stopped.” Ivan said and smiled to himself, dropping the rag onto the table. “So close and yet cock-block Ludwig strikes again. “Be kind, Ivan. Be kind. If you can’t say something nice then don’t say anything at all.”

He wanted to throw the insults at Ludwig just as he did in the other world but that didn’t land him very far with the man. He was trying to make things different and so far change appeared to be happening, just not in the way he was expecting. Ivan folded his arms on the table and rest his chin there, staring at and all around the fireplace. His eyes were feeling heavy so he closed them and envisioned being back in his world with his Gilbert. With all the talk of Ludwig it had brought back a particular memory that had started the two’s feud.

“But I don’t want to, Ludwig!” Gilbert crossed his arms and looked away from his brother.

“Gilbert, it is time to go. You have that final to study for. I’m offering to drive you to the library where Antonio and Francis are already studying! This is important for your GPA and for your career!”

“Lud, there are other things I would rather be doing.” Gilbert smirked when he heard the sound of a motorcycle engine approaching them. “Like hanging out with Ivan.” Ludwig frowned.

“I hate that man! I told you to stay away from him! I mean it, Gilbert! He’s trouble!” Ivan had pulled up to the front of the building and balanced his bike with his feet. He smiled at Gilbert and waved. “Don’t you dare go with him, Gilbert! Get in the car now!” Gilbert looked at Ivan, then to Ludwig, then back to Ivan again.

“I’m headin’ for some beers and peanuts! I’m studying THAT!” Before Ludwig could answer Gilbert he ran off and jumped onto the back of Ivan’s motorcycle.

“GILBERT!” Ludwig shouted his brother’s name and all Ivan did was wave happily before shooting off down the street. Ludwig would attempt to follow them but Ivan always managed to lose him.

Gilbert was holding on to the back bars of the seat instead of Ivan’s waist. He had said since it is referred to as a ‘bitch seat’ he would lean back instead, which somehow made all the difference in his mind. Ivan simply called it the ‘raised backseat’. He drove them to a little diner where they stopped to share some coffee and talk ‘business’. After that they headed to a local bar to share in some drinks and cheap bar food. That same night they ended up helping some of Ivan’s gang rob from an opposing group. It had only taken a few more nights like that for Gilbert to finally be accepted into Ivan’s gang. Of course Ludwig had found out but it wasn’t for a while.

“Hey, wake up!” Ivan was awoken by one of the clerics shaking him. “You can’t sleep here. Go to your room if you wish to sleep.”

“Sorry.”

Ivan stood up and proceeded back to his room yet he ended up losing his way. He had finally stumbled upon the elaborate chapel where he spotted a person in white robes kneeling before the altar. He squinted his eyes and noticed the pale hair, which he recognized undoubtedly as Gilbert’s. He figured he should go and apologize to Gilbert even if he didn’t want to. This Gilbert had to be handled a bit differently so saying ‘sorry’ maybe get him back on the man’s good side. Gilbert was, after all, a big softie at heart when he wanted to be. Quietly, he walked up behind and knelt down beside the other. It had been years since he knelt in a church but for Gilbert he would do anything. Ivan cleared his throat slightly but received no answer.

“Hey…Gilbert? I just…wanted to say that I was sorry for doing what I did. Sometimes I can get carried away and- are you sleeping?!” Ivan studied his face thoroughly to confirm that Gilbert was indeed sleeping. The closer he leaned in the easier he could hear the gentle snoring. The man had actually fallen asleep in a kneeling position. “You always were comfortable on your knees.” Ivan licked his lips and soon found a pair of pink eyes looking back at him. “Uh oh.”

“What are you doing here? This is a sacred place…nice shiner.” Gilbert smirked and Ivan’s eyes crossed to see just a hint of the purple bruise there.

“Are you here to repent?”

“Pfft. I don’t repent. I’m only doing this because I have to. It’s so fucking boring. I could be out drinking and dancing right now with my arms around beautiful tavern women. But no. I’m stuck here in this place of righteous losers. At least I get to kick the shit out of monsters.”

“Ah, yes, monsters. Your brother has spoken of them.” Ivan looked up at the strange abstract sculpture of something holy.

“We think they are here because of the tear in the sky.”

“If the tear is a window to my world then we don’t have any monsters there. They must be coming from somewhere else…and I can’t believe I’m actually talking like this without vodka in my system.”

“Our world is plagued by monsters. They show up every once in awhile. Trolls, goblins, griffins, demons, and the occasional dragon. Those are the only ones we have seen. The griffins aren’t too bad unless provoked. The others don’t need a reason.”

“Well, I’ve never fought a monster before but I have beaten and killed many dangerous, monstrous men. And your brother seems to think that I will be helping you fight these things.” Ivan smiled sweetly.

“Yeah, you will be. Noob.” Ivan pouted.

“I’m not a noob! I’m highly trained fighter! Look how easily I overtook you in that arm wrestling match.”

“I let you win.” Ivan chuckled and then thought of a devilish idea that would put him back on bad terms with Ludwig but may just win him the trust of Gilbert.

“How about you and I slip out of this place and you can show me all the fun spots around here?” Gilbert looked at him in surprise. “I bet you haven’t had anyone to sneak out with.”

“I know a secret way out of this place! We can meet up with Francis and Antonio! They’re my buddies who are normally too drunk to care about my looks.”

‘Well, they haven’t changed.’

Ivan said to himself. Francis and Antonio were another set of Gilbert’s schoolmates who he connected fairly well with. Alfred was his buddy for sports, movies, and media. Alfred was a partier before Arthur put a ball and chain on his ankle and the other two are more ‘sit and read the Sunday paper while talking about nonsense.’ Until nightfall, then it was a whole different group.

“Alright then. Let’s boogie!”

In Ludwig’s chamber Feliciano tossed and turned on the bed trying to escape the heavy candlelight. Ludwig had been glued to the prophecy book and the documents Kiku had written up for him. Ludwig was deeply engaged in trying to find a better reason and more logical explanation for what has occurred. Every time he thought he was coming to an answer he would hit a dead end. There was no way they could look through the tear for it was up in the sky. The tear was never there before and Ludwig continued to wonder if Ivan really did fall through the tear.

Ivan’s story was the only one that currently made sense. The other option, or options, would be that the tear is caused by something else and Ivan was just a coincidence. Ivan showing up was a whole other mystery in itself and Ludwig was nearly pulling his hair out trying to come to a conclusion. He felt like he was trapped in a large labyrinth of mysteries and puzzles. He hated when he couldn’t make light of something illogical. He had to figure out if Ivan was trouble for them or a godsend. His brother seemed impressed with Ivan but Ludwig still couldn’t be sure. He had some doubt in his mind.

“Wiggy please, come to bed.” Feliciano pleaded softly from the bed, hugging the pillow close to him.

“I’m not tired yet. Just put the cover over your head to block out the light, then.”

“But the sound of your quill is loud…” Ludwig sighed heavily. “And you know I can’t go to sleep without you beside me! Not with all these monsters running amuck!” He whined and buried his face in the pillow.

“Feli, realistically any strange being can levitate into the room and slit my throat with you still soundly asleep beside me. It’s false security. Now go to sleep. We have a magic barrier up and the clerics have been praying continuously. You’re perfectly safe.”

“B-But Ludwig-!” Ludwig looked over his shoulder at him with a firm glare.

“I can keep you safe just like this, wide awake, rather than sound asleep next to you. Use your head, Feli.”

“But having Ludwig next to me is more than just security…” Feliciano waited for an answer but when one didn’t come he threw the covers off of him. He stepped into his hide slippers and slipped a bed robe of velvet blue.

“What are you doing now?” Ludwig asked him without looking up from his papers.

“Going to go and sit by the fire for awhile. I can’t go to sleep until you do. You have to learn to relax more, Wiggy.” He sat in the rocking chair, shifting it further to the warmth with his feet. He rocked back and forth in the chair while staring at Ludwig’s back, stiff with stress. Feliciano tried to stay awake for him but eventually he fell asleep in the chair while Ludwig worked on tirelessly through the night.

Gilbert showed him a secret door through an old painting that led to the opposite side of the cemetery. They exited through a faux pillar dressed in dark, heavy woolen cloaks to mask their escape. Taking a horse from the stable would be too obvious so instead they took off on foot through the snow. The soft city lights were close by and they followed the road into it. The city still looked like large tombs and elongated gravestones. It still gave him an eerie feeling but nothing a little alcohol wouldn’t cure.

Gilbert brought them to a local tavern that was alive with music and filled with people. Ivan held on to the back of Gilbert’s cloak as they made their way through the crowd. Unlike most of the bars and clubs they went to in the other world this one was by far the smelliest. It was do to the primitive atmosphere. They both heard Gilbert’s name called and turned to see none other than the two they came to meet. Antonio waved them over and Gilbert took Ivan by the hand to lead him over.

“Who’s your friend?” Francis asked, looking at Ivan.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you but order my buddy and I a round and I’ll tell you all about it!”

Ivan welcomed the wooden cup full of ale and sipped it, finding it bitter but not unpleasant. He listened casually to the Gilbert’s tale of how they had stumbled upon one another. Francis didn’t seem to believe it but Antonio was wide-eyed with awe. These two appeared to be exactly the same in this world, which meant that Ivan would have a set of friends here also. These two never particularly cared about his relationship with Gilbert and he couldn’t recall if they were at the viewing or not. If they had come to the funeral then he wouldn’t have known.

“So how did you manage to sneak out this time?” Francis asked him. “Did your new friend here encourage you to play hooky?” Gilbert chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.

“He’s a new fighter in training so I figured I’d show him around the place.” Even though Ivan attacked him Gilbert could not pass up the chance to sneak out to a tavern. Gilbert was well aware now that Ivan was acting on lust and grief for the loss of his lover. Gilbert knew he was so irresistible and he liked to play with fire so long as he didn’t get burned. “I’m testing him out on many levels. He may very well be our hero.”

“I prefer the term ‘champion’.” Ivan said with a smile. “ ‘Hero’ is too…over used.”

“Fair enough!” Antonio said and cheered to it. “So how will we be able to tell if he is our ‘champion’ or not?”

“Only time will tell, I suppose.” Gilbert answered, chugging more of his ale.

A few drinks in and Gilbert was already red nosed and tipsy. Francis and Antonio were in the same state and the three had joined the jamboree. The minstrel band stepped up their playing and the drunken customers met on the tiny dance floor. The dance floor was only the open area inside the circle of tables so there was not much room. Gilbert, as usual, was grandstanding without any shame. History just kept repeating itself here. Now if only Gilbert would break out the ‘hip’ dance moves then Ivan could conclude he was in a very deep and long dream.

“HEEELP! I NEED HELLLLP!” A desperate cry from the open entrance stopped the music and everyone inside the tavern. “Someone must help us! There’s a troll loose in the city streets! It’s already killed three local goats and wounded a person! Will anyone help?!” A man pleaded desperately with the tavern’s costumers. Ivan looked to Gilbert right away whom he saw releasing his whip from his belt. Ivan quickly stood up and rushed over to him and the others.

“What are you going to do?” Ivan asked.

“I’m going to fight the troll, of course!” Gilbert answered.

“You’re drunk, Gilbert. You can’t beat a troll without your full wits!” Antonio pointed out.

“No one else here has the skills to beat it properly without losing a limb or getting a bone crushed.” He stretched the whip between his hands with a snap. “Let’s rock!”

“Wait, Gilbert!” Ivan tried to reach out and catch him but even a drunk Gilbert was a fast Gilbert.

“Don’t worry about it, my strange friend.” Said Francis, wrapping a friendly arm around Ivan’s shoulders. “Gilbert can be just as deadly drunk as he is sober. It’s an art form.” Ivan gave an uneasy smile and politely removed Francis’ arm.

“I think I’d best go with him. You two stay here and…and…keep the crowd inside!”

“You don’t know how to fight a troll!” Antonio countered. “You’re not from here! You’ll get yourself killed! Trolls are nasty things!”

“I’ve seen worse, believe me.” Ivan smiled and grabbed whatever weapon he could.

Gilbert could smell the troll’s horrid scent growing closer up ahead. He had fought many trolls before and this one would be no different. Monsters were appearing all over and many have been beatable. The screams from up ahead assured him that he was going the right way. He could admit to himself that his reflexes were a little bit off but he was certain he could handle it. This was his job as a warrior cleric: to help protect and slay the monsters that stalk the earth. Ludwig had given him the title and position in hopes of building up a positive reputation for his elder brother. If people were assured he was here to protect them as a cleric then most would turn a blind eye to his whole strange appearance. So far it hasn’t worked but it kept himself entertained.

He came to a halt when he saw the lumpy troll raiding a fruit cart, searching for the left over rotten fruits. The troll was covered in long stringy hair and its face was almost completely covered with more. This particular troll carried a rock tipped club, which was unusual for the species. Gilbert readied his whip when he heard a happy chuckle from his right.

“So this is our big bad troll, hm?” It was Ivan. “Adorable, isn’t it?” Gilbert smirked, the alcohol still in his system.

“Yeah, reminds me of a blind date I once had.” Ivan laughed at that and held up his weapons.

“This is what I’ve come to fight with!” Gilbert made a face at the broken wine bottle and a pair of sheering scissors.

“What the hell are you planning on doing with those?!” Ivan gave him a proud and smug smile.

“I’m going to shank me a troll, of course!” Ivan laughed happily.

“You’re fucking insane! You can’t win with just those objects!” The troll had spotted them and roared loudly, swinging his club around like a mad brute.

“I’m willing to give it the old ‘college try’.” Ivan swung the scissors around his index finger and cracked his neck, that psychotic look from before returning.

“You’re no ‘champion’! You’re a maniac! Do you have a death wish?”

“The same one you have had for years. Doesn’t it suck being so much better than everyone else that no one can defeat you? Life tends to get very boring.” The two of them had always stroked the other’s ego with that little tidbit of their lives. Since Gilbert’s death Ivan didn’t feel comfortable saying it but maybe with this upcoming battle of uncertainty things could turn out differently.

“Here it comes! You ready to rumble?” Gilbert asked him with a smirk.

“Oh, I was BORN ready!” Ivan laughed manically and Gilbert ignored it this time.

The two ran head on to the monster.

End Chapter 3 TBC

***How long can Gilbert hold out?! What more mysteries will unfold?!***

***Suggestions always welcomed!*** dialogue
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