When Marron came to, the ache in his head throbbed worse than ever and the world was draped in the dark blue velvet of night. There were stars smiling their silvery smiles down upon him and the moon was so bright it almost seemed to hum as it glowed against the velveteen sky. Marron looked up and saw Gateau, leaned against a tree, head drooped onto his shoulder, snoring slightly. The Mage carefully lifted himself off of his sleeping friend’s lap. He pulled the blanket tightly around himself. When he tried to brush his hair from his face, he recoiled in disgust. What could only be vomit had crusted over his normally silky tresses. Marron realized he must’ve smelled pretty bad too. Oh, how could he have let himself commit such a grievous sin? He felt a wave of shame wash over him as he thought about what a damper this would put on his dignity. He shook his head and stood up a little too quickly. His legs shook and he grabbed at a nearby tree to stabilize himself with one hand, while the other clutched the blanket, holding it around his trembling frame. He felt like throwing up all over again, but the previous episodes had left his stomach quite empty, so of course, this was impossible. He walked for a little while, swerving frequently and colliding with more trees than he could count on the fingers of both hands before he came to the nearby lake. He approached the water’s edge and tested it with his toes. It was very cold, but then again, Marron, didn’t have much of a choice. He hated being anything but clean, and he was quite the opposite in his current state. He dropped the blanket and broke into a run straight into the lake. What could’ve been a gasp or a yelp escaped the bishounen’s lips as he was suddenly enveloped in the icy water. He decided to get this over with as quickly as possible. Using his fingers as a comb, he rid his raven tresses of any residual grime and then scrubbed his skin with his palms until he felt he couldn’t get any cleaner. He stepped out t of the lake, dismayed to find that the night air was just as cold if not more so than the water on his bare skin. Shaking like he was having a seizure, Marron had no choice but to use his blanket as a towel. He eagerly wrapped his trembling frame in the thin fabric which only provided menial insulation as he headed back to the picnic site.
Everyone else was asleep. Tira and Chocora were curled up in their picnic blanket and Carrot was sprawled out in the middle, his limbs all askew around him as he snored. Gateau had fallen asleep in a sitting position and was leaned up against the trunk of the Memorial Tree. Most of the other people who’d attended the party had either left, or were lying in drunken heaps here and there. Marron didn’t like the idea of spending the night, wet and shivering on the cold earth, but his only blanket was soaked through. He sighed, seeing the only other choice in the matter...He knelt before the slumbering Gateau and wriggled against him until he was secure in his friend’s arms again. He sighed again. Though there would be hell to pay the next morning via his niisan’s screaming about perversion of the innocent and how shounen ai was “just plain wrong”, Marron would rather be warm and accept his punishment later than freeze. He looked up at Gateau’s face, lax with sleep. The moonlight played upon his features, somehow making them look ...softer and more gentle...not as fitting to an energetic bisexual powerhouse of a man. The gentle breezes played with Gateau’s spiked bangs, coaxing them out of the imprisonment of hair gel. Pink petals, the children of this natural wonder, left their tree’s motherly branches, and showered the world, it’s inhabitants at peace in their sleep after a boisterous day. Marron reminded himself of the story behind this legendary tree; If you confess your love beneath it when it is in blossom, you will be happily married for the rest of your life. He and his friends had played beneath this tree as children, unaware of the magical aura that surrounded it. He remembered standing next to Tira, watching with a craned neck as his brother and her sister artfully climbed the massive tree. Tira too, had climbed it many times, only to be too afraid to come down, having to call on the efforts of the ever-heroic Carrot to bring her back. Marron himself had climbed the tree only once, and had ended up in that very same predicament. Only this was many years later. He was about nine years old on the fateful day, chased up the tree by bullies who would’ve otherwise beaten him to a pulp. He’d climbed to the very top and refused to budge until nightfall, well after his attackers had given and gone home. It had taken every ounce of resolution he had within him not to weep as Tira had done all those years ago when she was barely past toddler hood. She had an excuse back then, but for a boy his age, to cry like a baby and call for help, it was just shameful. Luckily, Carrot had found him, and twelve year old Gateau was in his company, which would later work in little Marron’s favor. Carrot had climbed up to just below where his little brother clung fearfully to the tree, and was trying to reach him. As Marron reached for his brother’s hand, he leaned too far and went plummeting toward the earth. He collided with a tree branch on the way down, breaking three of his ribs, but he never hit the ground. Gateau had always been well-built and strong for his age, and he easily caught Marron in his arms. As he remembered this little “episode” of his childhood, Marron couldn’t help but smile. How ironic life could be sometimes. Here he was again, seven years later, in Gateau’s comforting embrace below that very same tree. He snuggled closer to Gateau, liking the warmth that the older man provided. As he did this, a small murmur escaped the blond’s lips and within it, Marron could just barely make out his name, and something about how he tasted. Marron shook his head. Gateau Mocha: Egotistical, perverted, and totally incorrigible. But kind and caring just the same. Without even slight hesitation, Marron lifted his hand and began to gently trace the muscular contours of Gateau’s neck with his fingertips. An odd sort of smile played upon the warrior’s lips, “Oooooh yeah, Marron, you looooove me dont’ ya?” he mumbled sleepily. Marron smiled as he moved his hand up and used his fingers to comb back Gateau’s heavily gelled hair.
“Yes, Gateau-chan,” Marron said softly in all integrity as he continued to stroke back his companion’s greasy hair, “and I can say that now that you and the others are asleep. I don’t have to be shy and withdrawn now, my love,” he whispered, allowing his lips to gently brush Gateau’s neck. The man simply let out a sleepy mew of pleasure. Marron continued, “Even though you are asleep, somehow you can hear me, I know it,” Marron look a deep breath as he sat up and brought his face very close to Gateau’s, “Thank you for all you’ve done for me. I just pray that the legend of this tree is as true as it is beautiful...I...” Marron closed his eyes and drew in a deep healing breath. He was now so close that his lips were touching Gateau’s, “I love you...Gateau...” and then they were united, the mage’s lips upon the warrior’s and what felt like an electrical current surged through Marron’s body. Marron was filled with a sudden warmth that had nothing to do with body temperature, (though his was rising at an alarming rate). When he left Gateau’s lips, the older man emitted what Marron swore was a purring noise and said very softly, “Good night, Marron-Chan. Ai shiteru.”
Marron smiled and felt tears forming in his eyes. He laid his head on his love’s chest and whispered “as do I, Gateau-Chan. As do I.”
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