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xerith-42 · 5 months

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Garrance Week Day Six! Snow/Warm

You guys remember the episodes in Malachi's castle? What if I made them even more gay? And made it better because having Garroth and Laurance's "greatest fear" being the girl they like getting with another guy is weak sauce.

The copium these two men (esp Garroth) are huffing truly is something.

Traveling with one of his best friends on a quest to rescue the other one and he's in love with both of them? Laurance couldn't have asked for a better deal. In spite of his worry for Irena's safety, he absolutely cherished the time he got to spend alone with Garroth while they searched for her. It was so refreshing to get out of the village to go on what was hopefully a low stakes quest. He wasn't scared of much largely because he had Garroth at his side. They always fought well, better together, and he knew nothing could stand in the way.

"She likely took refuge in that castle," Garroth theorized as he pointed at the castle in the distance. Laurance squinted to see it through the blue of the ongoing snowstorm. He could at least make out the general shape in the landscape, even if it was blurry.

"Let's hope so," Laurance said with a shiver. "Not exactly the biggest fan of the cold." Garroth turned to look at the man who was bundled up in his cloak.

"I thought being a Shadow Knight would have made you more adjusted to the cold."

"I got used to living in the Nether, and I'm not sure if you've ever been, it's pretty hot there. I'm designed to survive in that, not these conditions." Garroth chuckled a little at the bitchy tone Laurance had that made it clear he was complaining for the sake of complaining, not because he was really that upset.

"I'm sure we'll be able to warm you up once we're in shelter." Laurance tried to ignore his mind supplying him images of Garroth holding him close to keep him warm. Being able to wake up in his arms completely at peace. Not the time for it. Then again, it never felt like it was the time for it. Why not now when they were alone without any prying eyes? It's not like Garroth would ever notice, he's always been far too dense.

The doors to the castle creaked with effort as the two of them pushed them open. Just as quickly as it opened they were stumbling in, and the doors slammed closed behind them. Laurance was hit with a wave of warmth. Within seconds it became burning hot, and panic filled his system.

Fire spread across Phoenix Drop and screams filled his ears. Irena was on the ground, crying, shaking, on the verge of dying. Laurance glanced down and saw his own hand holding Garroth by the throat, blood starting to pool around where his claws dug in.

"NO!!" Laurance screamed, trying to fight back. But he couldn't do anything. He couldn't control himself.

"Don't worry, you won't die yet," A low voice drawled. "I'll make sure you have a front row seat to watch your beloved lord fall at my hand. Then I'll make killing you seem like a mercy."

"Don't touch her!" Garroth gasped out, before Laurance tossed him aside. His footsteps were heavy as he stalked towards Irena, who was begging for her life. It all blended together. Even as Laurance internally fought as hard as he could to control himself, there was nothing he could do. Nothing. Nothing.

He could only watch in horror as his own body grabbed Irena's hair, pulled her off the ground, and just as quickly wedged his sword into her gut.

"Goodnight, my love."

"LAURANCE!!" Her scream jerked him awake. Laurance's breathing was heavy, and he had to blink a few times to let the world come into view. The walls of the castle were dull, old rotting spruce that was sparsely decorated. The fire place was active, a young man with blue hair sitting by it with a young ghost child.

The last thing Laurance took in was Irena, sitting in front of him with tears in her eyes. He hated that look from her.

"Oh my Irene, you're okay," Irena gasped out, leaning forward to press her forehead to Laurance's. She was so warm. "You're back "

"What... What happened?" Laurance muttered out.

"I-It was Malachi. He's a ghost that haunts this castle and he can't control his magick. It forces people to see the illusion of their worst fear."

"I-It was just an illusion. It wasn't real."

"Exactly. We're all okay." Finally he could feel movement in his fingers. Laurance instantly brought a hand to her cheek, his heart swelling at the rush of heat he felt upon touching her. His eyes drifted to the side when he heard the clank of Garroth's armor. Everyone was alive. It was just an illusion.

"Thank Irene." Irena tore away from the embrace with a relieved smile.

"We're going to rest here for the night. In the morning I plan on seeing if I can't find an exorcist to help Malachi out of the castle." Laurance could only slightly move his head to look at the ghost child. "He really didn't mean any harm. He was never taught to control it."

"I-I understand. I'll gladly help in the search come morning." Irena gave him a smile, before she stood up and walked over to Malachi. Laurance felt a splitting headache the minute he tried to stand up, audibly groaning at it. In an instant Garroth was at his side picking him up.

"Come on, let's get you moving," He instructed. "You've been still for some time."

"How long was I out?" Laurance questioned as he managed to move his feet towards the door, with a bit of help from Garroth.

"Two hours."

"How long were you out?"

"Less than that." It was Garroth's nice way of saying ten minutes or less. He knew how competitive Laurance could be. And how sensitive he could be to potential shadow knight effects. At least, he assumed that was the case. Laurance let out a slightly nervous laugh, letting his hair fall down in front of his eyes as he leaned over part of the castles lower walls. Garroth wasn't quite sure how he felt about how pretty Laurance looked. Maybe he was just happy to see him relaxed after being caught in that illusion for so long.

"Care to tell me what you saw?" Garroth considerably tensed up.

"I'd rather not."

"I could tell you what I saw. Means it's less likely to actually happen." Garroth didn't respond. He'd made it clear that he wasn't going to give details on his vision, but he wasn't objecting to Laurance sharing. It might be nice to know what he was worried about.

"If you'd like to, you may." Laurance sighed.

"There's no easy way to put this... I lost control. I saw the future where I gave into every cruel thought ever put into my head in that hell." Laurance shuddered at the memory, and at the cold sweeping around him. "I need you to promise me you won't let it come to that." Garroth knew exactly what Laurance was saying, but he was unsure if he could promise it. Especially with the sudden feelings for Laurance he was barely coming to terms with.

"I..." Garroth's sentence trailed off. He felt truly tongue tied. Normally Irena would know just what to say, but she was likely comforting Malachi or Dante. "I pray to Irene it never comes to that."

"I do as well." Laurance shivered again, which made Garroth laugh slightly. He took off his own cloak and tossed it at Laurance, who caught it with a confused expression.

"Go get warm by the fire. I'll keep watch tonight." Garroth didn't leave any room to argue. Laurance gave him a half-hearted smile before trudging inside as he wrapped Garroth's cloak around himself. Laurance kept a safe distance from the fire, even though Malachi had already gone to bed and Irena was on the other side of the room talking to her new guard. It left Laurance to just sit on the floor staring into the flames.

It was something he often did as a child. Laurance was incredibly rowdy while he was growing up. it was hard to keep him focused or still for very long. Except on cold winter nights when his father would put a log on a fire and go off to bed. Cadenza and Laurance would sit and watch the flames for hours, often falling asleep in front of the fireplace as a result. It was always something that held his attention, that caused some kind of fascination. Something he never quite understood.

This time Laurance could barely look at the fire for a few minutes before turning his head away and leaning against the wall in a way that it would be out of view. He could still faintly feel some warmth from it, but he couldn't stand to keep looking at it. It just reminded him of that all to real vision. Laurance draped Garroth's heavy cloak over his curled up body like a blanket. It actually made sleep come to him very easily in spite of the cold. It was almost like Garroth was holding him...

Sleep didn't last long. It felt like the moment Laurance was able to dream, just the flash of Irena's terrified face jolted him awake. And the moment Laurance was awake, he was cold. The fire was starting to die from nobody attending it, even if Irena and her guard were sleeping around it. Laurance's eyes darted to the closed door. If they were cold inside, how was Garroth faring outside?

He tried to be quiet in his movements, but if this guard was any good, he definitely knew Laurance was sneaking past them. He ducked out of the castle quickly, shoving the door behind him and coming face to face with a very confused Garroth. Well, the helmet hid his expression, but Laurance had seen enough of his face to make a guess at what it looked like.

"L-Laurance? What are you doing out here?" Garroth asked.

"Couldn't sleep," Laurance replied quickly, before shoving Garroth's cloak onto him. "You sound like you're freezing."

"You do too." Laurance brought his arms around himself, pulling at the edges of his cape.

"Nah, I-I'll be f-f-fine." Garroth resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Practicality overtook emotion. Garroth pulled his cloak on, fastening the clasp, before grabbing Laurance's arm and walking him over to the small onning that came off the eastern part of the castle wall. Laurance glanced up at him confused, but his vision was quickly filled when Garroth brought an arm around him and held him close.

Nearly instantly Laurance was filled with warmth as Garroth pulled his cloak across their bodies. It was the best way to conserve warmth. And the most romantic. It was like a scene out of one of Laurance's stupid fantasies he would have while daydreaming at the academy while pretending to pay attention. But this was real. It felt real. Laurance's blood usually ran cold, but in this moment, he felt a lot warmer than he had since coming back.

"Are you comfortable?" Garroth almost whispered. Laurance just nodded, snuggling into Garroth. More points of contact meant heat would be generated faster. That was the excuse. Laurance always had plenty of them. He knew Garroth would need them any time they got intimate together. "Rest well."

"Don't think I can," Laurance admitted. "But I don't mind being out here with you." Garroth didn't ask why, he didn't need to. Instead he let silence settle and the winter winds to whip it away. Laurance's body had been unusually cold, but he seemed to be warming up now. His body was still capable of generating heat, which would be key to him surviving these conditions. It just meant he had to share heat with someone.

"Would you like to know what I saw?" Laurance nodded.

"If you don't mind telling me."

"I just figured that you told me your to help ensure it doesn't happen. I-I'd like to ask you do the same."

"Gladly." Despite not sleeping, Laurance was usually a man of many words. Except when he was really tired. It may not have been obvious to anyone else, but Garroth could tell when Laurance started giving one word or one sentence responses.

"I saw Zane return to Phoenix Drop. I saw him... I saw him hurt people I care about, including you." Laurance let out a small hum. He liked to hear Garroth admit he cared about him. "A-And there wasn't anything I could do about it."

"But that's not true."

"Hm?"

"You don't trust Zane. You won't fall for his deceptions a second time."

"L-Laurance, I don't know if I can bring myself to harm my own brother."

"Even if he tried to kill us, again?"

"Would you not be conflicted if it were Cadenza?"

"Cadenza wouldn't be so obvious about it though." Garroth laughed gently at Laurance's argument. "She'd be way better at being secretly evil. Your brother has already let the mask slip too far down." Laurance snuggled further into Garroth's embrace, a burst of warmth coming from his body as he did. "We're gonna be fine."

"If you say so." In spite of his paranoia, Garroth did mean those words. He believed what Laurance said. He knew that when it came down to it, he would throw his own life into danger to protect the ones he loved, and if that meant striking down his brother in the process, he would do it. And he knew it wouldn't come to that point. Laurance wouldn't let it.

The two lay in silence for the rest of the night. Neither of them slept, but they were able to relax. And when morning came, they never spoke of it.

Laurance bitterly misses the feeling of Garroth's cloak wrapped around him while nearly freezing to death in Gal'ruk. And winters on the Alliance Island get colder than Garroth has ever experienced. He constantly yearns for the feeling of Laurance's breathing on his chest.

Whump quota met.