Grenseal: *He saw Alen off to the military officers' residence near the palace and returned himself to the McDohl Mansion. He was quite sure that the blond would still be out cold from the blow he had given. He knocked quietly, not so loudly as to wake the Young Master upstairs, and when there was no answer, he entered. Quickly advancing to the bedroom of his beloved, he turned the lights on dimly and found Gremio still lying on the bed as he had left him. He sat at the rim of the bed and ran his fingers through the outspread golden tresses.* ............... *With a small sigh, he wiped at the remaining tear upon Gremio's closed eyes and smooth cheeks. Lightly, he shook his lover, his voice restrained with well feigned worry.* Gremio, love, wake up...

Gremio: ...? *He opened his eyes slowly. Grenseal was sitting next to him. //Grenseal... Oh, Gren... // He tried to smile, but was too tired. His body felt like... he had been sleeping with someone. //In the name of the Empire...! It... wasn't a dream after all... // He closed his eyes again and began to sob quietly.*

Grenseal: *He had been expecting much worse, but Gremio seemed to be too tired to do anything. He leaned down, kissing the forehead hidden by the disarray of the golden bangs.* Gremio, are you all right? I knocked but you did not answer... and it looked as though... you had been knocked out. *He ran his fingers gently through the silken tresses, purposefully revealing the mark he had left upon his lover's upper neck during the assault.* ...Hmm? What is this? *He traced over the red bruise.*

Gremio: *He didn't reply. He turned away from the knight, feeling almost sick. He had no idea what to say to his lover... Not that he wanted to say anything else than that he was sorry. He pressed his face against the pillow, unable to keep the tears from falling.*

Grenseal: *He kept on stroking Gremio's hair softly, crooning endearments with concern. His fingertip wiped away the tears sliding down the porcelain cheeks.* What happened, love?

Gremio: *He swallowed and turned his face away. He felt weak. He wished that it had been a dream... but his body told him otherwise.* I... I... Grenseal... I was... Please... just... go... *he whispered quietly. Of course, he wanted Grenseal to stay, but when the knight would realize what had happened...*

Grenseal: *He put on a small frown and rubbed gently at Gremio's upper arms. He noticed the red marks from the cloth which had bound the lithe wrists and took the slender right hand up in his.* ...This... Gremio, something did happen... *Green eyes narrowed, he took off his gloves and upturned the weeping face.* ...Who was here, Gremio? Are you hurt? *He asked in a soft voice, but he placed tension into his tone.*

Gremio: *He didn't look at the knight. He just couldn't. //He knows... He knows that...// Still sobbing, he took a deep breath.* Grenseal... I'm... sorry... Just... leave me alone now...

Grenseal: *He shook his head, leaning down to peck upon Gremio's forehead.* I can't. You... You are hurt, inside. Don't weep, love... *He slid his right hand non-threateningly to Gremio's pants and touched the crotch lightly from over the fabric. He felt moisture of his own saliva and Gremio's earlier release.* ...You need to clean up. *He whispered, still caressing his lover's waving hair.*

Gremio: ...just... go... away... *He burst into tears again, trying to turn away from the handsome knight. Why did Grenseal want to stay, knowing that someone had touched his lover? Why? The manservant shook his head. He was feeling ill... He wanted to rest, to forget all this...*

Grenseal: *He crooned some more, barely breathing the words, and nudged his hands under Gremio's back and knees to lift him off of the sheets.* Just rest... I will take care of you, Gremio. *He whispered and walked into the bathroom near Gremio's chamber.*

Gremio: *He gave up. He leaned on Grenseal, letting him lift him up. The knight wasn't going anywhere... And that meant that he still cared. More tears fell on the blond's cheeks. Grenseal still cared...? That was the only thing he wanted right now.*

Grenseal: *He sat Gremio down on the cosmetic counter at the bathchamber and began gently pulling off the shirt. He saw a blue bruise the size of a fist in the manservant's midsection; it was from the first blow he had given his lover.* ...He hit you...

Gremio: ...Yes... *That was only a whisper, but it was the first time he was ready to admit something had happened. Grenseal knew already, so why should he deny it? But... he had enjoyed it. Against his own will, but still. He felt a bit dizzy... but at the same time, he felt safe. Grenseal was with him now...*

Grenseal: *//....What have I done...// Guilt bit at his heart, yet he kept a calm, worried face. He would never tell Gremio what he had done. It would ruin their relationship. Instead, he pulled off the blond's shirt and gently slid off the pants, too. Not looking too closely at the residues of the sweet abuse, he led Gremio to the tub.*

Gremio: *He didn't resist. As long as the knight stayed with him... //Just... hold me...// He closed his eyes. He wouldn't cry anymore... He didn't need to. Everything was alright... Grenseal had said that he'd take care of him.*

Grenseal: *He embraced Gremio once, loosely, and stepped back to take off his uniform jacket and roll up the sleeve of his white shirt underneath. He turned on the lukewarm water and took up soap and washcloth.* Did he tear you? *He whispered softly, beginning to wet the slender body and applying white soap foams.*

Gremio: *He shook his head.* No... I don't think so... I... *He gulped. Should he tell Grenseal the details? Maybe not right now... but... sooner or later, he probably would. He didn't want to keep things like that from his lover.*

Grenseal: All right. *He nodded and resumed to soaping Gremio, washing beautiful golden hair with shampoo, too. When he got to the lower body part, he hesitated a moment but slipped a hand between the cheeks of slender buttocks.* Did he release inside? *He inquired softly, hesitantly.*

Gremio: *He glanced at the knight, with somewhat uncertain look in his eyes.* ...I... think not... I... wasn't... uh, paying attention... *His voice was a bit weak. He didn't like the fact that Grenseal was asking such questions, but it was unavoidable.*

Grenseal: *He slipped a long index finger inside Gremio, trying to keep anything suggestive out of the touch. He knew that he hadn't released inside his lover, but he acted as though he was checking, probing deep into the soft orifice.*

Gremio: Aah... *He wrapped his arms around the younger man's shoulders. This really was what he wanted... With Grenseal holding him, he would forget the assault. He spread his legs, allowing the knight easier access.*

Grenseal: *Gremio's damp arms soaked his shirt, but he did not care at this point. He snaked his free hand around the soapy figure and continued to work his finger.* Good... you aren't damaged inside... *He traced the tender lining with his fingertip, pressing against the prostate.*

Gremio: ...Aaahn... *He closed his eyes. It felt so good... He felt certain warmth go through his body. He would only feel that when his lover was touching him... It made him shiver from pleasure.*

Grenseal: *He pumped his fingers gently into Gremio, feeling the linings flutter to his touch. He drew away just enough to yank off his own shirt with a free hand. His lips found Gremio's and he suckled upon the pliant mouth, enjoying the sweet little moans.* Love...

Gremio: *He arched his back, moaning silently. //Oh, Grenseal...// *

Grenseal: *It felt as though he couldn't get undressed fast enough. Working clumsily with just one hand, he managed to get out of his pants in the kneeling position. Gremio was inviting him; he could see that, and it roused his need. He stepped into the tub, all the while stimulating the sensitive tract with a digit. //...He did not come under attention that time... this time... he will.// Certain of that, Gren added another finger inside Gremio and gently helped the blond stand against the tiled wall of the tub.*

Gremio: *He pressed his body against his lover's hand. He wasn't feeling dizzy anymore. Just a thought of having Grenseal close to him... It made him want the knight. And the knight was there.* Aah, Gre...Grenseal...

Grenseal: Yes, love... I'm here for you... *He whispered, sincere yet his voice laced with the guilt of what he had done. Pulling the slender body by the waist, he thrust his fingers in a steady rhythm, now rubbing his own lower body against Gremio's.*

Gremio: *He could feel it... How much Grenseal wanted... To be with him, make love to him. He moaned his lover's name, wanting him even more...*

Grenseal: *Gremio's desire was contageous and well-returned. He became hard against the soft lower abdomen where he rubbed, occasionally brushing against Gremio's length. He arched the slender jaw with a nuzzle and suckled at the revealed throat. All-consuming need crashed over him, and he practically lifted Gremio as he thrust in from below. Making love standing up like this was awkward, but he couldn't wait until after the bath. Sliding inside the warm sheath, he sighed and began to rock up.*

Gremio: Yaaah...! *He cried out for pleasure. He arched his back, pressing against Grenseal and trying to accommodate to the thrusting. He moaned loudly... It didn't even cross his mind that someone might hear them.*

Grenseal: *He kissed Gremio deeply, silencing him with passion. He kept on thrusting up, hitting the weak spot inside hard. His hands were gripping the small buttocks for leverage, holding Gremio upright as he was ravished.*

Gremio: *Pleasure was driving him insane... He would have screamed, but Grenseal's kiss prevented that. The bliss was too much... He leaned on the wall, letting Grenseal hold him up. He had completely forgotten the previous assault by now.*

Grenseal: *He drew out once, completely, and turned Gremio to face the wall. Taking the slender arms, he placed the fair hands on the tiles.* Support yourself... *He murmured and thrust in again, this time from the behind. He could use his legs to widen Gremio's thighs now. Holding the thin waist with both hands, he slid them forward to fondle with the standing member as he pleasured his beautiful lover.*

Gremio: *His hands were shaking, but he managed to support himself a little... He moaned and gasped as Grenseal trust in again.* Aahnnn... Gren... Ooh.. *He panted, completely giving himself to the green-eyed knight. The pleasure was unbearable. He'd have to give up soon... but he didn't want to. He wanted to stay like this, close to Grenseal... even if he'd probably lose consciousness afterwards.*

Grenseal: *He kissed at the back of the blond's neck, licking at the damp golden hair sticking to the creamy white skin. Wanting to orgasm together with his lover, he increased the pitch of stroking upon the standing member with both hands and thrust in with more vigor.* I love you... *He spoke softly, as if he were speaking an apology.*

Gremio: Aah... Gr-Gren... *He could feel the tears of joy in his eyes. He loved Grenseal, too. He was just too excited, on the brink of orgasm to say it aloud... Shuddering, totally lost in ecstasy, he cried out the knight's name.*

Grenseal: *He gave Gremio's member one final, urgent stroke and began to break into shudders of release. He gasped and grunted quietly, his voice suppressed yet very much aroused. With a few jerking motion, he emptied out to Gremio.*

Gremio: *He could feel Grenseal's release... And then it was his own turn. Crying out loudly, he came onto his lover's hands. He felt sleepy... Now, his consciousness was threatening on leaving him. He didn't want it to happen... before...* Grenseal... I... love you... *he muttered quietly, then slipped into the darkness.*

Grenseal: *He caught Gremio's sagging body, again murmuring to the now-asleep ear* I love you... *He drew out of the warm body and cradled the blond to him, savoring such moment and shunning himself for having deceived and hurt his beloved. He'd never doubt Gremio again...*