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Chapter Text

* * *

"Back then..."

"Back then, all I knew was my name... at least, I think it's my name."

"Frey... That's who I've been since I landed here with no memory."

"I fell in love with this town and everyone in it. Venti, Mr. Volkanon, Vishnal, Clorica, Forte, Doug, Leon, Dylas, Bado... and everyone else who made me feel at home here."

"I love Selphia... but...it's the only place I know."

"I can't help but wonder what else is out there."

"And... I want to find love."

* * *

"Rise and shine, Princess." Clorica's soft voice announced, same as always, just before first light. Frey's eyes fluttered opened, but her mind remained blank. A dream, fading into the distance... already a long way away. A wistful feeling like nostalgia played at the edges of her consciousness. Her brow furrowed as she sluggishly tried to recall the life she'd led in that dream.

"Today is the day, isn't it?" The lady butler's sweetly polite speech interjected again, scattering the fleeting thoughts completely this time as Frey's eyes snapped wide open. "That's right!", she thought. It was really here. A nervous, fluttering feeling started up in her stomach, like panic that wasn't here just yet. A moment later excitement superseded it. She all but flung herself upright, eyes glittering as anticipation electrified her from head to toe.

"Today's the day!" She echoed Clorica, half in awe at the realness of the statement. Clorica twitched backward almost in slow motion, surprised at her sudden burst of energy. Everything Clorica did always had a dreamy slowness to it. One or two slow blinks later, she opened her mouth to speak again, her expression still surprised.

"Do you know where you're going to go yet, princess?" She inquired.

"Nope!" Frey declared cheerfully, flinging the bedcovers off herself and jumping to her feet, hands raised in the air as if she'd just stuck an acrobatic landing. "I figured I'd give everywhere a shot! After all, going just one place seems like a waste of a perfectly good adventure!" Clorica laughed softly and moved to help Frey get dressed, her practiced hands efficiently suiting up the odd princess of Selphia in the light armor she wore while adventuring in the local wilderness.

Two hours later, after a huge breakfast consisting mostly of pancakes at Ventuswill's insistence, as well as a very tearful, very LOUD farewell from Mr. Volkanon and Vishnal, Frey walked briskly toward Airship Way with Clorica by her side seeing her to the northern gate. They strode in silence through her fields to the North of the castle that had been her home these past two years. She glanced back at the towering edifice, the symbol of Lady Ventuswill's power, influence, and responsibility over the people of Selphia. And, come to think of it, of her own role in things as well. Being princess had turned out to be more work and duties than it was adulation and pampering, but thanks to her trio of butlers and the kind hearts of the townspeople, it didn't lack for the latter, either.

Upon reaching the gate they slowed and Frey turned back to her butler and friend.

"Everything has been arranged. The monsters will be cared for. Your responsibilities will go back to Arthur, much to his chagrin." Clorica added, giggling. Then her expression faltered. "We're... all going to miss you, Frey..." She said, her voice small and sad. The Princess embraced her friend, her own eyes stinging when she heard the tears in Clorica's words.

"I know... I'm sorry. This is just something I have to do." She whispered through her half-closed throat. How many times had she had this conversation yesterday, when she'd made the rounds around town, bidding all of them farewell, knowing she'd be leaving alone without ceremony early the following morning. She'd seen to all of them personally, despite a predictably over-the-top reaction from Porcoline. After all, didn't she owe them that, by now? Frey's brows furrowed for a moment as she recalled the one person she hadn't been able to find the previous day. "Hey Clorica," She said. The Butler met her eyes expectantly. "Do you think you could say goodbye to Bado for me? I didn't see him yesterday."

"Of course." Clorica replied immediately, smiling. "He was probably slacking off somewhere out of Forte's sight again." She giggled. Frey echoed the little laugh. Yeah... that sounded like him, alright. Still, something inside her twinged a little. Sure, her friendship to the town blacksmith hadn't been the deepest or strongest connection she'd made in the town. Mostly they fenced wits and exchanged teasing remarks at every opportunity. She couldn't say they were terribly close, but she'd still have liked to say goodbye in person.

"Thanks." Frey said, shaking off the moment of regret. "For everything, Clori. I'll miss you, too." They hugged tightly once more and then Frey stepped through the gate to the North, putting on her bravest face once again.

* * *

"Jeeze." Frey chuckled to herself, eyeing the bizarre figurehead of the airship as she prepared it to cast off, undoing all but the final mooring lines from the air dock in the northernmost section of town. "I can't believe Porcoline is letting me borrow this whole airship. What a crazy, generous guy."

Heavy footsteps, running at an exhaustive pace, suddenly snapped Frey out of her thoughts. She spun around in instinctive concern and curiosity then blinked in surprise, her mouth falling open a little as a tall, broad shouldered figure stopped in front of her, out of breath and looking as dishevelled as she'd ever seen him.

The big man bent over with his huge square-ish hands resting on his knees as he panted. Frey noted he was missing his work gloves, the bandage-like wraps around his hands to protect them from the impacts of his daily work exposed for once. His dark, always ruffled hair stuck out at odd angles everywhere atop his head. Even his dark beard framing his jawline looked mussed and untidy. He was missing his usual many-pocketed vest and the large belt he normally wore that carried his dwarven hammer at his side. the black undershirt he was prone to wearing under his work gear clung with sweat to the contours of his bulky frame, thick with muscle under all his rough edges and angular features. As he straightened up again, Frey noticed his face and delicately pointed leaf-shaped dwarves' ears were flushed. He looked for all the world like he'd bolted here from across town at a dead sprint without even throwing on a proper outfit.

"Bado!" Frey said awkwardly, not quite recovered from her surprise and his odd appearance. "Did you come to see me off?" Her big green eyes met his blue-gray ones as he looked down at her and his expression flickered through pain, shock, and finally settled into a stern, grudging mask.

"So you really are leaving, then!" He growled angrily. Then his grim expression cracked as hurt came into his voice "What's the big idea, leaving without even sayin' goodbye, huh?" He asked incredulously, still staring her right in the face. She blinked again then winced and tried to smile disarmingly.

"Sorry, Bado. I tried yesterday but I couldn't find you."

The tall dwarven man looked away, folding his arms and glaring down sidelong at the paving stones.

"So that's it, then? I just wasn't ever gonna see you again if I hadn't come runnin' out here just now?" He said quietly, his deep voice sounding insubstantial, for once.

Frey just stared at the man for a moment. What did this all mean, anyway? The imperturbable, contrary, and mischievous blacksmith of Selphia had never shown her even a hint of this kind of mood before now. She had never expected he'd react so strongly to her leaving. Fumbling for some way to diffuse the dour mood of the man, she tried a jibe in their usual style.

"Ah, come on, ya big lug." She chided, setting her hands on her hips and tilting her head at him with a smirk. "You won't miss me that much, will you?" She grinned expectantly at him, waiting for a quip in reply, but his expression collapsed into a cringe before he looked back at her, meeting her eyes once again with a long, fretful face.

"Sure I would..." He countered without a trace of humor in his voice. Frey's grin slid off her face and she felt her eyes widen again and her mouth opened in an 'oh' of surprise. He was being serious! Him!

"R-really?" She heard herself stammer, flabbergasted at the suddenly unguarded air of the man before her. Bado startled at her change in demeanor as if only just realizing he had been speaking out loud.

"Uh..." He blurted, face reddening "Well, yeah! I mean, who am I gonna test my new sales pitches on if you're not around, huh?"

Frey hung her head abruptly, sighing and smiling in spite of herself. "How did I know?" She muttered in mock-disdain. This kind of banter was more like the usual him. It reassured her. "And Forte will just deck you if you try it on her, huh?" She said, looking up at him with a grin. He returned it nervously and chuckled, reaching up to scratch at the back of his head in an unconscious gesture.

"Heh. Yeah, well... She's nowhere near as patient with me as you are, Frey." He admitted with a cheeky smile. Frey beamed at him, reassured at last.

But, that was before his face fell again. Her smile slid away once more as she saw it and she just stared, puzzled and unsure as he sighed and looked away.

They both stood silently, awkwardly. She just waited.

"Look... Frey, I..." He began, then broke off, swallowing and lapsing into silence again. Despite his substantially greater height he looked somehow smaller with his shoulders rounded and his head half-bowed. Then he sighed and began again. "I know you've already made up your mind to go, but..." He raised his head and looked her in the eyes again. The gray-blue of his eyes looked to her like a storm-tossed sea in this moment, a window to a tumult of emotions she'd hardly thought possible in him. "I wish you wouldn't."

Frey stared at the man, suddenly adrift in confusion and hesitation. Something in him looked truly miserable following the simple string of words. He looked like he would rather be doing anything else, like a good portion of him was ashamed to show so much as a single moment of unveiled emotions to her. But he was telling her this anyway... because presumably this was his last chance, she thought.

"Bado..." She began, not knowing what she intended to say next.

Suddenly she was not nearly so sure as she had been a few minutes ago that leaving Selphia was a good idea. Surely she couldn't do anything that would affect someone thus, if she could prevent such obvious disappointment and sorrow by staying. But what on earth would it mean if she stayed just for him, anyway? it wasn't like they were involved or anything. A hot little flush rose in her cheeks as the thought crossed her mind. She was pretty sure she'd never looked at the dwarven blacksmith in that light before...

Involuntarily her eyes combed over the big man from head to toe and she flushed again, abruptly looking away. Now was not the time to be noticing how fit and... butch he was, she thought with a strange squirming sensation in her belly. Embarrassment and frustration crowded into her mind along with all the other strange feelings mingling there. She'd been so certain of her course this morning! Now everything was a jumbled mess. It was all his fault. Abruptly an urge to run shot through her. She mastered the impulse, forcing it down and trying feebly at a smile. She couldn't fake it, so she just let the smile become what it was: a sad, sympathetic thing that bent her mouth upward without any real joy, now.

"Hey, now. Chin up, okay? This isn't really goodbye, Bado." She heard herself say. Was it true? She could hardly say for sure, just now, but the words flowed from her so naturally, she supposed they must be.

"It isn't?" He said, eyes searching hers hopefully. True, she'd very deliberately avoided promising anyone in Selphia, even Ventuswill, that she'd definitely return. It wasn't that she didn't ever want to come back, but she knew better than anyone how one's previous life could vanish. She hadn't wanted to make any promises she didn't know she could keep.

"Of course not, silly! I'll be back." She assured him, smiling now. Where were these words coming from? Frey braced herself to feel guilty for lying. It didn't come. Then with a pang she realized she wasn't lying. She met his eyes, unblinking, and feeling somehow responsible for reassuring him.

"Promise?" He said quietly.

She swallowed.

"Yeah."

Bado let out a big sigh, unfolded his arms and offered a hand to her. She looked at it, calloused and scarred where skin showed outside the wraps; rough from years of labor in his trade as well as his former career as a knight, occasionally alluded to in passing during their prior conversations. She grasped it with her small, slender hand and met his eyes again.

"Until then, I guess." He said reluctantly, holding her gaze. "Take care, Frey."

"You too..." She murmured.

Their hands parted and he silently reached down and untied one of the last two mooring lines, bracing a foot on the cleat and holding the rope taught. Frey swallowed, understanding, and untied the remaining rope by her feet. She hopped on the airship and took hold of the ship's wheel. The big dwarven man shoved hard on the hull of the bow and tossed the mooring rope over the railing onto the deck. He stared up at her and the airship as it floated away, almost like a statue that would be there just the same as now when she did return. Frey shifted her weight uncomfortably, a feeling like a stone in her stomach, as she steered the vessel into the clouds.

* * *

"I left home today, as planned."

"But, I was leaving behind more than I realized..."

"Including a promise to return."

Chapter Text

"You're going to Love the bathhouse!" Shara all but squealed as she tugged Frey along beside her on their way to the only inn the town of Sharance could boast. But, what Sharance lacked in quantity, it more than made up for in quality when it came to accommodations for travelers. It doubled as an eastern style bathhouse, something familiar to Frey thanks to the Bell hotel and bathhouse back in Selphia. Frey laughed as they approached the entrance over a quaint little footbridge built upon a stream surrounding the structure, half exasperated at her new friend's enthusiasm in showing her around town.

She'd arrived early in the morning and been immediately attracted to the sight of an enormous flowering tree, known as the Sharance Tree, she later found out. A slight, golden haired man with blue eyes had appeared from within the tree, apparently a dwelling in and of itself, introduced himself as Micah, and Shara as his wife. Upon finding out about Frey's talents as an earthmate as well as her lost memory, they'd immediately found plenty of common ground between them and hit it off right away. From there, Shara was only too happy to take Frey around Sharance to make sure she saw the best of the little town during her visit.

So far she'd shown Frey the grocery, her own flower shop, the extensive farm around the base of the Sharance tree, and now this inn.

"Welcome." A smooth, refined female voice announced as they passed inside. Frey found herself staring in appreciation. The beauty of the woman matched her voice to a tee, with long straight hair like shining black silk, and pale skin, flawless as new snow. "My name is Shino. How may I help you?" She asked serenely.

"Hi," Frey began. "I've just arrived in town. I'm looking for a place to stay." She extended her hand and the woman looked at it for a half a beat before smoothly accepting it with her own.

"We have plenty of rooms available, miss Frey." She said, making a note in a little book she carried and producing a key apparently from within the sleeve of her Kimono. "Use of the bath is included with the room fee. Please let us know if you need anything." She handed the key to Frey along with a little card detailing the pricing for the room and bowed her head courteously to her.

"Thank you very much." Frey replied, smiling.

"Mom!" A woman's voice called out, accompanied by small, tinkling bells marking the jogging footsteps approaching. A girl who might have been a younger Shino by the look of her appeared, slightly out of breath, and glared with a pout up at her mother. "You said I could greet the next customer!"

"Which you could have, if you'd been here to do so, Sakuya." Shino replied with a graceful smile at her daughter, the chastisement delivered with patience and poise, but there was something sharper in her eyes. Frey began to suspect that Shino was a more strict mother and boss than she was willing to display for a stranger.

"I was just appraising the new Ammonite shells Micah brought me." Sakuya explained, excitedly tallying unknown numbers on a miniature abacus she was carrying. "I think they're going to sell real high!" A gleam of excitement and mischief touched her garnet colored eyes and Frey felt a laugh bubble up in her throat. It burst out of her as an undeniably merry sound, utterly disrupting the slight mother-daughter argument that was underway in front of her. Sakuya and Shino stopped and stared at her blankely.

"I'm s-sorry." Frey said amidst the laughter, unable to stop herself right away. "You just reminded me of someone I know and it really surprised me." She bowed hastily to them both, thanked Shara, promising to see her the next day, then hurried upstairs to her room, still valiantly wrestling down the corners of her mouth to stop them from smirking. She found her room open, ducked inside, then slid the rice paper door shut in a hurry. She flopped down on the tatami mat and seized the pillow off of the folded futon bedding, burying her face in the thing to suppress the remaining giggles.

It wasn't that funny, really. But, it had taken her by surprise and her instant need to snuff out her inexplicable hilarity only multiplied the effect of the laughter until here she was, smothering a fit of giggles on the floor of her room like an overexcited teenager.

It died down after a minute or two, finally. She sighed in relief and felt herself smiling softly into the pillow. What would Bado have done if he'd ever met Sakuya? Frey couldn't help but imagine the shenanigans they'd get up to together via a mutual obsession with earning money in the cleverest way they could find. Something about the happily excited gleam full of mischief she'd seen in the girl downstairs reminded her so strongly of that man back in Selphia.

Frey's smile faded. The image of his long face, lined at the corners of his eyes and around his mouth, came back to her. The way he'd looked up from the skyport while she drifted away via airship six weeks ago haunted her still. Was he still miserably wishing she hadn't left? Surely not, she assured herself. Why on Earth would he still be bothered about it?

"Maybe because you are..." She whispered to herself on reflex.

Sure, she'd been troubled about his forlorn behavior for the first few days of her journey, but by the time she'd finished touring Kardia, she'd thought she'd succeeded in putting it out of her mind. This was surely just a coincidence, given that Sakuya had reminded her of him.

Yes, just a coincidence...

Frey set about putting her room in order, went next door to the restaurant for a rather delicious dinner, came back to the inn, bathed, and went to bed feeling much more at ease. The odd mermaid girl, Pia, had been a delightful companion while she'd been downstairs at the bath. The woman was likely crazy by any ordinary person's standard, but that hadn't stopped her from being almost magnetically amiable. Frey had laughed almost all through her conversation with her. Now she sighed happily as she set her head down on the pillow, snuggled into the Futon, cozy as a pile of woollies. Shara had even promised to take her around town the following day to see all the different business and meet the residents. That would keep her mind on her adventure where it should be. Plus, who knew? Maybe she'd meet a handsome stranger along the way?

Frey smiled again as she dozed off, feeling hopeful. She'd managed to completely quash the little knot of feeling and memory squirming somewhere in her belly since earlier that day. Or at least... very nearly completely.

* * *

The following day proved extremely interesting as Shara introduced Frey to various residents of Shara. The town could boast a wide variety of oddities in the form of its citizenry, including a father and daughter of the De Sainte Coquille family who spoke entirely in opposites, with a third member of their family who spent all her time making 'fashion forward' clothing mostly out of perishables. There was also a honest-to-goodness witch and her apprentice living and practicing the arcane healing arts out of their own shop. The apprentice, one Marian by name, was unfortunately quite mad by any reasonable standard. That hadn't stopped Frey from liking the girl immediately, but she was also warned not to accept anything to eat or drink from Marian and advised to run or dodge if she aimed the strange syringe apparatus she always carried with her.

"Oh, and you're interested in crafting and forging, right Frey?" Shara was saying, after they'd left the apothecary. Frey nodded, smiling at her energetic new friend. "Oh, then you really must visit the blacksmith's shop while you're here. He's a dwarf, you know. And, his assistant is half-monster, just like Micah!" Shara rambled on exuberantly, but Frey hadn't heard any of it after 'He's a dwarf, you know.'

'Damn...' She thought, frustrated. Not even her best efforts could withstand such a direct parallel to the very person she was trying to put out of her mind. She pressed her lips together and sighed quietly through her nose as they entered the shop.

"Welcome..." A flat voice greeted them as they came through the door. A woman with long, fiery red hair was arranging some armor on a rack by the shop's little counter. She'd turned her blue eyes to them for a moment, given her perfunctory greeting, then resumed her task, all but aloof to her customers. It put Frey off enough for her to stop in her tracks halfway through the shop, staring baffled at the woman for her lack of professional courtesy.

"Hi, Raven!" Shara called, utterly unfazed. She trotted over to the red-haired woman and began chattering excitedly at her. Raven, for her part, stared expressionlessly at Shara and gave laconic answers to her various comments and questions. Frey felt herself making a confused face and shaking her head in bewilderment.

"Don't be fooled." A clear, kindly male voice assured from her right, where a separate room housed the actual workshop of the town's blacksmith, "They're actually very good friends." Frey turned to look at the speaker, smiling.

"Ah that's a relie-" She choked on the words and swayed on her feet as her eyes widened in surprise.

There before her stood a man only a little taller than herself with a dwarven hammer in his gloved hands. His hair was a dark, sooty shade she knew all too well, and the gently pointed ears protruding from beneath his untidy coiffure as well as the furred collar of his work gear conspired in their turn to stab at her with their familiarity. But, it was the color of his one open, unscarred eye that had really shaken her. The blue-gray of storm clouds over the ocean...

Frey stared directly into the man's one eye, transfixed by the identical coloration and other similarities to her adopted hometown's own dwarven blacksmith. The dwarf before her smiled mildly at her, unperturbed by her shocked expression and she winced as she remembered the lined face of the tall dwarf, drawn with misery as she sailed away from him. Frey's face flushed and her eyes burned. She looked aside hurriedly, babbling an apology.

"I-I'm sorry..." She said, avoiding looking directly at the man. "You surprised me is all. I'm Frey." She said, mastering herself as best she could and offering him her hand, never quite making eye contact as she did. The dwarven man accepted her hand and shook it warmly.

"Well, Frey. It's nice to meet you, assuming this is the first time we've met?" He added with a hint of whimsy in his voice. "My name is Gaius. I'm the blacksmith here."

"It's nice to meet you, Gaius." Frey mumbled hurriedly, folding her arms around her midriff and forcing a smile for him. Gaius stared at her with that one Blue-Gray eye, the other permanently shut and marred with a long blueish scar over it. His eyebrows climbed up into his mop of dark hair, and his mouth opened in a little 'ah' of understanding.

"Hey Raven," Gaius called, turning away from Frey suddenly. "Do you think you could run over to Blaise's restaurant and pick up some lunch for me? I'm starving.", he added in perfectly calm tones that described no such urgency.

Raven blinked at Gaius once or twice, then nodded and headed directly for the door without a word. Shara watched Raven go, then cast a glance to Frey, then Gaius, and back again.

"Oh!" She said suddenly. "That reminds me! I need to run home and check on something I'm preparing for dinner for Micah tonight! Frey, I'm so sorry, but could we meet up a bit laer?"

"Oh, Uh, Sure..." Frey said reflexively.

"Thanks!" Shara chirped and just like that she, too, had vanished through the front door of the shop. Frey just stared after her friend's abrupt departure, blinking stupidly for a beat or two.

"I get the feeling, miss Frey..." Gaius said gently. She turned to him as he spoke, "That I remind you of something."

She swallowed, glancing at his eye and away again.

"Something you maybe don't want to be thinking about?"

"Um..." Frey said reflexively, kicking herself internally as she heard herself. It was as good as admitting it, after all. Gaius' gentle, knowing smile widened. It was like he could see right through her with that one eye.

"Where did you say you're from, Frey?"

"I didn't..." She mumbled, "But, uh, it's Selphia." She rubbed at her arm self consciously enduring his blue-gray gaze and registering a sureity in his manner as he nodded in reply.

"Ah," he said gently, then pulled out a chair at his work table and gestured for her to sit.

Frey couldn't have said precisely why, but she immediately moved to sit as he had indicated. Perhaps it was curiosity; Perhaps she was unravelling.

"So," Gaius said casually, sitting down across from her at the table and leaning on an elbow. "How is he?"

She blinked rapidly at him, saying nothing.

"I imagine the resemblance is a trifle hard to miss, what with how few of us there are in this region." He said mildly.

"You know Bado?" Frey said finally. After all, there didn't seem any point in denying what Gaius plainly had read in her reaction to seeing him.

"Yep." The smiling dwarf replied cheerfully. "My cousin."

"Cousin?" Frey echoed, eyes wide.

"Yep." He said again. "Same clan, hence the similar lack of fashion sense." He grinned, tugging on the furred collar of his jacket.

"He's never mentioned you..." She said without thinking, then blushed in embarrassment. "I mean-uh-sorry..."

"It's no surprise." Gaius replied easily, waving her off. "He's terrible about writing to me, too. But, we're not really estranged or anything either. We grew up together when we were kids."

"Really?" Frey found herself asking. It wasn't really any business of hers, but a sudden ravenous curiosity seemed to have taken control of her tongue. Gaius nodded.

"He lived with me and my parents as a kid. For all practical purposes, we're a bit more like brothers than cousins." Frey just stared at the man, vaguely wondering if the eager interest she felt about the information he was giving her was too plain upon her face. Gaius' smile widened as he watched her. Then he tilted his head slightly and threw her a curve ball.

"So... Just why is it that you didn't want to be reminded of him, if you're so interested in his history?" He asked, too mildly. Frey blushed and fidgeted. Damn. Too obvious as always. Why was she so bad at keeping a lid on her reactions?

"I, well... it's not that I-" She fumbled.

"You don't get along?" Gaius offered.

"We do... but..." She trailed off, looking down at the wood grain of the table, trying to think of what to say and how to phrase it. The dwarf sitting across from her remained patiently silent. She frowned at the table's surface, biting her lip for perhaps a minute, then raised her eyes to his one. "I left." she said slowly, feeling the concern showing on her face.

Gaius made a little 'ah' shape with his mouth, nodding with understanding.

"And I take it he wasn't fond of the notion?" He guessed gently. She shook her head, confirming.

"He doesn't handle rejection all that well." He sighed.

"I-It isn't like that!" She squeaked in instant protest, turning pink. Gaius raised both eyebrows slowly and merely stared at her for a beat or two. "There's nothing romantic between us at all." She insisted, shaking her head.

"You sure?" He challenged after a significant look. "I never said anything about romance, after all..." A smirk appeared on his lips. Frey felt her face grow even hotter, pointedly refusing to guess at what shade of red she was turning at the moment. She looked away and bit her tongue.

"So, why did you leave, Frey?" he asked gently, adding: "You don't seem terribly happy with the decision, if you don't mind my saying."

"I have been," She countered quietly, "Until I'm reminded of him, the look on his face when I left..."

Silence stretched for a few long moments between them as she wandered on her train of thought, eyebrows knitted together.

"I have no past, no home. I left Selphia to look for it."

Another pause.

"You know..." Gaius said, a smirk highly audible in his words. "Home isn't really a place." Frey looked up at him skeptically.

"Then what is it?"

"Well, let me put it this way," He replied, "Any road that leads to one you love leads home."

"I never said I loved him!" She protested hotly. Gaius' smile showed teeth now as it widened in amusement.

"No... no you didn't." He agreed.

"I don't." She insisted, glaring.

"Of course." He said, graciously tipping his head to her. She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously until he spoke again, grinning a fox-like grin. "But... you do feel something for him. Otherwise," He shrugged, "we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"You're the one who brought it up." She grumbled.

"In response to your reaction when you first saw me. It's only natural for a man to wonder why a woman looks at him like she's seeing a ghost."

Frey gave a little 'Hmph' and folded her arms with a pout. Gaius chuckled and stood up, walking away for a minute or two and returning with two steaming cups of tea. He put one in front of Frey and held the other up to his lips, sipping carefully at the hot drink. Frey eyed him out of the corner of her eye suspiciously.

"You're going to tell me to go back?"

He shook his head.

"Nah. It's not up to me to decide what you ought to do. I was merely curious. It's quite a coincidence that you walked into my workshop with him on your mind."

"You don't think I should go back?" She challenged. Gaius sighed.

"I think you should do what will let you rest easy, Frey. And, try not to bury your feelings. Odds are they're there for a reason."

"This is a hell of a first conversation to have with a guy..." Frey grumbled. Gaius smiled.

"Can't argue with that."

Frey sighed audibly, drooping a bit.

"I have to go back..."

"Do you?"

"I promised him I would." She admitted. Gaius' eyebrows went up and he hurried to hide a very sharp smirk behind his cup. Frey scowled.

"Oh, shut up."

His mouth tightened as he held a laugh down and shook his head.

"I didn't say anything."

"You were thinking it." She accused. He shrugged with a guilty, self-satisfied air.
She sighed again, and picked up the cup in front of her with a resigned air. They sat in silence for a long while as she drank the hot liquid down, thinking hard and staring down into the drink as if she expected council from it. Gradually, her fretful expression loosened and she relaxed, stroking a finger around the rim of the cup absentmindedly. Finally, tea long since finished, she slumped back against the chair and sighed, looking up into Gaius' face once more.

"Feel better?" He inquired mildly. She nodded.

"Yeah."

"Good." He replied, "Can I ask a favor of you, Frey?" She blinked in surprise, then nodded.

"Sure."

"Tell him to get off his lazy butt and write to me, will you?"

She gave a tiny huff of laughter, accompanied by a reluctant half-smile.

"Yeah, alright."

Chapter Text

The voyage back to Selphia was not a terribly long one, but it still gave Frey plenty of time to grow more and more nervous. There she stood, posture proud and confident at the helm of the ship: one woman sailing alone in the sky and perfectly comfortable doing so. Her independent nature and competence as a airship pilot unfortunately did nothing to prevent the multiplying of butterflies in her stomach; neither did it prevent her limbs from feeling light, numb, and insubstantial the more she considered why she was returning and who was waiting there for her.

No matter how many times she chastised herself internally she could not help but imagine how their reunion might go at least a dozen times an hour. Her mind furiously considered the possibilities: what he would say, how she would reply, what he might say after that. What ought she wear when next she went to him? What would it be like to... to date the big dwarven blacksmith? She felt her face heat up and her mouth tighten as she thought about it. She'd always kind of liked the man but she hadn't been in the habit of appraising him as a potential boyfriend before. But, if her quickening pulse as she thought about him in that context was anything to measure it by, she certainly considered him attractive enough...

Reflexively, she pictured his big broad shoulders and heavily muscled frame, not the whipcord lean muscle of Dylas, nor the sculpted, statuesque physique of Leon. No, Bado was a different animal entirely: broad, heavy, powerful. Every individual part of him was at least twice as big or thick or both than that of any of the other, younger men in Selphia. The only one that could boast broader dimensions was Volkannon... and perhaps Porcoline, she thought with a smirk, but only around the middle of him.

Then she thought of his big, scarred, square-ish hands. the short beard framing his jawline, his deep resonant basso voice. They'd be a study in contrasts: Her small, lean stature and feminine curves next to all his bulk and masculine angles. There was something terribly appealing about that difference, she thought, her eyes blinking slowly with a pleased attitude as she imagined it. And then there was his height! How on earth was she going to kiss him without standing on a chair or something?

Frey swallowed thickly, a fresh wave of nervous excitement jolting through her. Her palms began to sweat as she gripped the ship's wheel rather more tightly than was necessary.

First things first, she thought. Before any of that kind of thing, they'd have to actually become a couple. He had come running on that morning, nearly two months prior, running so that he might see her one last time. She already knew how he felt: that look on his face, the things he'd said when it seemed those were his last moments with her. It would happen, she assured herself. Of course it would.

Frey thrust out her chin at the clouds breaking over the ship's prow, fully certain of her path now that she'd chosen it. Sure, she hadn't found love in a faraway land as she'd originally hoped, but it was thanks to her journey that she knew where to look for it, now. So, she thought, it had been the right course regardless.

'Not long now...' she thought. her heart pattering faster in her chest.

* * *

"Well! Look who's back already!" Ventuswill boomed smugly from high above as she loomed over Frey in the great dragon hall. "We haven't even converted your rooms into storage yet...", She mused with a teasing air. Frey rolled her eyes and strode right past Selphia's resident god.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, featherbutt!" She teased back, smirking over her shoulder.

"Hey, where are you running off to, so suddenly anyway? You've barely just arrived!" The dragon rumbled irritably. Frey spun around and shrugged, still walking backwards so as not to pause her momentum. If she let Venti start in on her now, she'd be stuck there for another quarter of an hour at least. She had places to be and a particular person to see...

"Sorry, Venti. I've got an errand to run. I'll be back in a bit then you can catch me up on everything I've missed while I was away."

"Hmph!" The dragon snorted. "Impertinent as always!" But, her big black eyes glittered with amusement nevertheless.

Outside, Frey strode along the paving stones of Selphia's wide roads absentmindedly straightening her skirt or pawing over her long, twin pigtails of glossy, pale green hair. Her butterflies hadn't abated in the slightest, but she was, she thought, getting a little more used to the sensation.

In another few minutes she stood before a big oak door with cast iron hinges and handle. The returned princes of Selphia hesitated, then took a deep breath and strode right into the town's smithy.

The cluttered shop bore upon its shelves and walls the same eclectic range of goods that it ever had, bearing more resemblance to a curiosity shop than a smithy. Frey did not pause to glance at any of the wares, striding instead straight back to the work area to look for the huge silhouette of the blacksmith against the fiery glow of the forge in the back.

He was not there.

Frey stopped mid-stride, her weight resting on one foot while the other's toe perched on the stone floor of the workroom. She chewed her lip for a beat, then spun on her heel and walked back out to the shop's till and counter. Her eyes scanned the room hastily but no broad shoulders or blue eyes rewarded her search. She fretted at her lip again, folding her arms and staring sightlessly in the direction of the front door, wondering where she might look for him next. She sighed loudly; her right foot tapped nervously upon the wooden floor of the shop's front room in quick succession.

"Hold yer horses, I'm comin'." A deep voice grumbled from behind a curtained doorway in the back of the shop on the opposite side as the workroom. Frey's heart leapt into her throat like a startled cat. Her head whipped around and she found her gaze locked with a pair of blue-gray eyes so wide with shock they made her own into mirrors of that startled expression.

Bado stood frozen in the doorway to his small living quarters behind the storefront, one big hand still half-outstretched to brush aside the curtain. His lips were parted, jaw half-slack, and all the color had drained from his face. He just stared at her, the moment frozen for three rapid heartbeats, pounding so hard they hammered her ribs from inside her chest. Then, a reflexive smile flashed for a beat across his mouth, creasing the smile lines around the corners. He grinned broadly in a flash of teeth, color returning to his features, his pointed ears even going so far as to turn pink. Frey felt a clenching sort of spasm in her chest that caught her breath in her throat. Was this what it meant for a heart to skip a beat? That rough-hewn face of his shed its typical weary air and bloomed with blatant, boyish glee as she'd never seen it before.

But, it was only a moment: only a brief flash of elation that vanished behind the controlled visage of a man old enough to know how to temper his reactions. As he abruptly schooled his expression into a lazy sort of smirk and hid away that bright, joyful smile, Bado shifted his weight and folded his arms in an attitude of mischief and mockery she knew all too well. Those stormy ocean eyes still glittered brightly with emotion behind the mask of control, however. Frey leaned forward when she saw it.

"Well well well!" He declared loudly, "Look what the palm cat dragged in! Our wanderlust-afflicted princess!"

"Good morning, Bado." She said evenly, eyes still fixed on his. He drew in a deep breath and sighed it out, shoulders dropping briefly as he did so, as if letting down a burden he'd carried many miles already this day.

"It's good to see ya, Frey. This town ain't half as interesting when you're not in it, ya know." He said, warmth in his deep voice. She raked a quick glance over him and noted his unkempt image, almost identical to that morning she'd sailed away, but for a pair of darker than usual circles under his wearied-looking eyes.

"Tch." She clucked on reflex, heart fluttering, "Shameless flatterer." It felt so natural to fall into that snipping banter they'd shared so many times before. This time, though, he smiled softly, dropping any edge to his voice as he countered:

"Hey, I ain't blowin' smoke. I mean it. I might'a neglected to mention that before, but what with you takin' up a notion to move on and leave this town behind lately, I see that was a bad oversight on my part. I'm sorry for that, Frey."

She swallowed, mouth suddenly dry. Just as before, hearing him throw out his teasing tone and speak sincerely threw her off balance. What was she supposed to say to that? Just admit what had been on her mind ever since she'd walked into Gaius' shop in Sharance? Fear jolted down her backbone as she thought about it and she heard her mouth deflect the sentimental mood hanging in the air.

"Y-you're just a big softy, eh? I had no idea you could be so sappy." Her voice, only barely shaking, countered. The big man chuckled in a satisfied way.

"And you're always so relentless, Frey." He replied, shaking his head.

'No! What is wrong with me!' Frey hissed at herself in her mind. How would they ever get to the point of confessing love if she couldn't even handle exchanging a sincere greeting with the man?

"That was sweet of you to say, though..." She hurriedly added, half out of breath. Bado swallowed and blinked at her, slightly taken aback. She took advantage of his confusion and pushed a little further. "Selphia wouldn't be the same without you either, ya big goof." She felt her face heating up. "So, don't go changing, okay?"

The big man flushed, face and ears turning crimson briefly. He cleared his throat.

"I, uh... I'll give it my all, Frey." He said, voice rough. His eyes glanced at hers and away again. Then he seemed to shake off the temporary shyness and strode into the shop and over to a display full of small wares, adopting a much more casual air as he began arranging them. "So, what brings you to my humble shop this fair mornin', eh? Come to buy all my sale items?" He raised his dark eyebrows hopefully. She snorted.

"In your dreams, maybe." She countered dryly. He chuckled.

'Focus!' She chastised herself.

"Actually, I came to see you." She said casually. Did it sound forced? It sounded forced. Damnit. Bado frowned in suspicion.

"Yeah?" He intoned with skepticism, "What for?"

"I don't need a reason to come say hello to you." She replied, half flippant, half defensive.

'Shit. What is the matter with me?'

She attempted damage control with a smirk to accompany her next words:

"I'm the princess, remember? I could simply order you to come to me, if you'd prefer."

He smiled.

"Yikes. All that power is going to your head, Frey. Better watch out or someone will have to overthrow you."

She stuck out her tongue at him petulantly, making a show of trying to suppress a smile as she did so. He chuckled warmly and crossed the room, gesturing for her to follow as he headed for his table in the work room.

"Well, as long as you're here, why not sit for a spell? Can I get'cha somethin' to drink? Tea? Juice?" Frey padded after him, a wild streak of mischief suddenly taking hold of her.

"Got anything stronger?" She asked brightly. He cast a surprised look back at her then snorted as he spotted her wicked smirk.

"Ha ha. Very funny, princess. But I ain't gonna get caught drinkin' with you before noon." He cast a woeful glance at the ceiling. "Can you imagine all the yelling I'd get from Forte? No, no no. It's way too early for that. Pick somethin' reasonable: somethin' that's not gonna get me pummelled."

"Fine. Juice then." She replied imperiously. He gave her a half-smile and paced back out of the room, presumably to the icebox, muttering as he went:

"Should have known you'd want something sweet."

Now alone in the corner of the shop that overlapped with the workroom, Frey occupied herself inspecting the odds and ends her crush was peddling these days.

'This place is as eclectic as ever...', she thought, walking forward to a shelf that turned out to be a hand-forged shield propped on the edges of a few stacks of books and boxes. A row of little pink ornaments assembled out of fabric and ribbon were lined up in the center of it with a folded paper card proclaiming 'Love charms! 450g apiece.' She snorted, picking up one of the little trinkets and turning it over in her hand. 'Sheesh. What kind of blacksmith's shop sells love charms, anyway?' She thought, shaking her head with an inward smile.

"Here ya go." Bado's voice interjected as he offered a cup of orange juice from one of his big, angular hands.

"Oh, thank you." She murmured, hurrying to accept the cup and accidentally bringing the charm with her in her haste.

"What'cha got there?" he asked in mild curiosity, peering at the bit of ribbon protruding from her closed right hand.

"Oh, I just picked it up absentmindedly just now." She said hurriedly, shifting her hand behind her cup. He grinned.

"Come on, now, Princess. I can see from here it's a love charm." He leaned back in his chair and regarded her somewhat smugly. Was it just her imagination or was there tension behind the attitude? "So, you've got your heart set on some young buck around town after all, huh? Didn't think you were susceptible to spring fever, given you'd been livin' here better'n'a year and no boyfriend yet." Frey felt her eyebrows lift. She raised the stoneware cup to her lips and sipped at the tangy juice, glancing sidelong at him.

"Been speculating on that, have you?" She countered in careful tones, precisely measured to carry all manner of implication. He blinked and looked away, shifting in his seat.

"Nah, not really. I mean, you've come in here from time to time with Leon or Doug and I might'a wondered for a moment, but, uh..." He trailed off.

"Well," She interjected, forcing calm confidence into her voice. She tried to make her words sound offhand, as if she didn't particularly care if he knew this stuff or not. "There is someone I've been thinking about a lot lately, in fact." He paused, blinked at her, then mimicked her tactic of sipping at his own cup. His 'casual' tone was no more convincing to her than was her own.

"Yeah? Well, like I said... I figured as much... what with the charm and all."

"But it's not who you think it is." She continued as if he hadn't spoken. He bent an eyebrow at her.

"Oh yeah? What makes you so sure?"

"Just a hunch." She shrugged, smirking. He scoffed and looked away, a smile playing about the corners of his eyes.

"Fine. Keep your secrets."

"A girl's gotta have a few secrets." She countered primly.

"Heh. I suppose so." He muttered, giving in to a slight flicker of a smile on one corner of his mouth. Then, looking thoughtful, he continued: "Yeah, that's about right, actually. You're still so young, Frey. You should have plenty of dreams."

She stared at him, pursing her lips and knitting her eyebrows together.

"What's that about? You're talking like you're some old fogey." She challenged, genuinely confused. Yes, the big man was a good ten years older than her, maybe more, but by no means was he old. Besides, she was a grown woman, damnit! She wouldn't let something stupid like a number get in the way of her hopes.

"So? What's so weird about that?" He countered without any rancor.

"Well, you're not." She countered, pointing an accusing finger at him.

He raised both eyebrows. "How'd'ya figure that?"

"Well, you're still plenty fit and strong, and you haven't got a single gray hair." She explained gesturing to the whole of him with only a little blush in her cheeks. "You can't be any older than thirty-somethin', right?"

Bado blinked at her, then huffed a monosyllabic laugh.

"Good guess. Thirty six, in fact." he confirmed. "Still way too old for someone your age, though, so next to you I'm an old dog." He said almost absently, as if it were a thought he'd run through so many times it was practically unconscious, now.

Frey let silence stand just long enough that he glanced up at her eyes and away again. Then she took a breath, and a risk:

"Shouldn't that be for someone my age to decide?" She asked evenly.

"Wha-" He breathed, confusion on his features. A sudden, new fear occurred to Frey and stole away her confidence in that moment.

"Unless... you wouldn't want to be with someone my age..." She murmured, tension in her posture as it was her turn to glance nervously at him as she spoke. She let her anxiety and potential disappointment show through a little, perhaps hoping it might inspire the answer she hoped for. If that answer wasn't his, though, no amount of body language could change that, and she knew it.

"W-well, I--" He faltered, as if in a hurry to reply only to choke on his response. He aborted the sentence with a shake of his head and tried anew: "There ain't nothin' wrong with your age, little lady. It's gettin' older that sucks. Sorry if I gave you the wrong impression." He added, self-consciously scratching at one corner of his bearded jawline. Then he forced a smile in her direction. "You ain't got nothin' to worry about. Enjoy it while you can, okay?"

Frey frowned at him, shaking her head. She raised her voice and spoke firmly, as if he'd gone a bit deaf: "You're not old, Bado." She said flatly. He chuckled, a little bitterly. She hadn't gotten through to him. A little sinking feeling pulled at her chest even before he replied:

"If you say so, Frey."

She stared at him, saying nothing. He sipped at his cup again, looked at her once or twice, and generally squirmed subtly in the silence.

"Well, as much as I hate to admit it, I'd better get to work for the day or Forte'll skin me for sure." He sighed after a little while. Frey's heart dropped further. No... it seemed today would not be the day anyone confessed love. He gestured to her still-closed fist. "You can keep the love charm, though. On the house... for sayin' nice things to me about my age." He winked at her with a mildly weary little smile. "And good luck with your love affair, by the way. I hope it works out."

Frey felt her eyebrows tent above a little lost expression on her features.

"I... hope so too..." She murmured. He nodded, looking down.

"Well, see ya later, I guess..." He said quietly, resignation in his voice. Frey stared right at him still.

"Yeah... Can I come visit again soon?" She heard her mouth ask without checking in with her brain first. Bado turned and looked straight at her once more, confusion and a little of the surprised delight she'd hungrily observed when he'd first laid eyes on her that morning showing in his blue-gray eyes. He swallowed, then tilted his head and gave a little quizzical half-smile.

"What's with you all of a sudden? You don't need a reason, remember?"

"Oh!" She chirped involuntarily as she jolted upright, a hopeful surge making her stomach leap upward again. "Yeah, that's right." She laughed.

She stood up, nodded to him, and turned to go.

"Soon, then." She said, waving.

"Sounds good, missy." He replied, still sporting that half-smile.

She left the way she'd come, a confused bundle of giddy numbness and nervous jitters.

"What??" She whispered to herself as the door to the shop clicked shut behind her. She shook her head, befuddled. Had that gone horribly awry, or promisingly well? Both, perhaps? She sighed out a rapid breath and looked up at the sky. Everything had seemed so certain when she'd been sailing back through those clouds. Was she any closer to the man she'd cut her adventure short to return to?

Trying to work her way into a love affair was far more confusing than anticipated, she thought with another little sigh. But, he had seemed interested by her desire to see him again. All there was left to do was to see him again. How long should she wait? At least a couple days... gods she could already tell that was going to feel like forever.

Chapter Text

Frey lasted exactly two and a half days before she gave into the temptation to call on her crush again. Sure, she still had no assurances of his feelings and she was being driven slowly crazy by that uncertainty, but today she had a plan...

Just as soon as she finished her daily chores and stabled her flock of woolies before the fickle weather could rain on them, the princess of Selphia went trotting down the wide paving stones toward the town's smithy.

The damned butterflies started up in her stomach just as soon as she got within sight of the place. She determinedly pushed down the feeling as much as possible and leaned back as she tugged on the heavy iron handle of the door to the 'Meanderer'.

"Afternoon." Called a familiar deep voice as she stepped inside. Bado's tone was offhand and neutral. He hadn't looked up from a pad of paper he was scratching things down on. Frey couldn't read his garbled handwriting upside down in any case, but she could see he was making a list of some kind, some items circled or underlined while others were crossed out.

"Hard at work I see?" She teased from no more than two feet away from him in front of the shop's counter. His head snapped up and he smiled at her in pure pleased reaction to her presence.

"Well now!" He intoned approvingly, setting the pencil down on the forgotten notepad at last. "I'll be gettin' spoiled if you keep visiting me so often, princess." One corner of his mouth tugged up in a smirk at her, his head tilted slightly to one side in a playful manner. She grinned at him. "Not that I'm complaining, of course." He added

"Of course not." She replied, lifting an eyebrow. Feeling emboldened, she leaned forward against the counter as she spoke to him. "How are you today?"

"Can't complain." He replied offhand with a mild shrug. "Getting close to quittin' time so that's always a plus."

Frey made an exaggerated show of tapping her chin as she looked up at the ceiling, apparently thinking hard.

"Does it count as closing up shop though, since you always leave the counter open for business?" She gestured at the everpresent sign on the shop's counter inviting patrons to leave payments for their purchases on the counter and trusting to the 'honor system' to ensure they didn't walk out with the goods without paying. Bado just shrugged again.

"Maybe not, but the important bit is I won't be forging or otherwise workin' during off hours. And that's good enough for me." He added, smiling again.

Frey bent a suspicious eyebrow at him.

"Did you actually get some work done today, to make you so ready to close up shop?"

He made a show of looking wounded at her words.

"Hey now, have a little faith in me at least, princess!" He complained, "I may not work very hard on any given day, but I always get something done, ya know." He picked up the pencil and tapped meaningfully on the notepad, eyeing her. "I even came up with a swell new idea to make some easy gold. Wanna hear?"

"I... think I'll pass." Frey replied, leaning away fromt he notepad as if it smelled rotten. "I'd rather maintain plausible deniability, after all, in case Forte questions me."

"Don't wanna be partners in crime, eh, Frey?" the big man chuckled. "Well I can't say I blame ya. That girl is terrifying and no mistake. No restraint, I tell ya." He shook his head as he mentioned his foster daughter.

Frey leaned toward him again, tilting her head curiously.

"How long until closing, anyway?"

"Oh, about twenty minutes or so..." Bado replied, tugging at his beard absentmindedly as he gazed at the waning afternoon light through the shop's front windows.

The princess sprung her plan into action.

"How about a drink afterward, then?" She asked innocently, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. He did not take it as such.

"Huh?" The tall dwarf balked incredulously, then shook his head as if he'd been stunned. "Well... after work is the right time for it, but since when are we drinking buddies, Frey?" She shrugged casually, internally screaming at the butterflies to quiet down.

"Since now if you're up for it." She said mildly.

Bado scratched at the back of his neck, eyeing her and glancing away again in a hurry.

"Well..."

A broad, playful smile spread across Frey's face, she shifted her weight and tilted her head, eyeing him playfully.

"C'mon, it'll be fun. We won't get sloshed or anything, so don't worry so much." He didn't look terribly reassured.

"As little as you are, though, it wouldn't take much to overdo it..." He pointed out.

"I'll be careful." She assured him, dragging a fingertip in an 'x' across her upper chest. "Cross my heart."

He looked at her and away again, silently tugging his beard again, this time in a nervous gesture. plainly he was fighting himself on whether to accept or not. She decided a little begging wasn't beneath her.

"Pleaaase." She whined, leaning over the counter at him a little with a hopeful look. He looked at her, smirked, then gave a huge sigh as if he were acquiescing to an inconvenient favor of some kind. The smirk betrayed his real feelings on the matter.

"Fine. Can only hold out against them puppy-dog eyes for so long, after all..." He grumbled.

"Great!" Frey chirped, "I'll go to the grocery and buy it while you close up shop."

"Hang on, are you old enough to buy it?" He asked suddenly, pointing at her.

Frey blinked at him in surprise.

"Of course I am." She said, honestly surprised. "How young do you think I am?"

'I-" he began, stopped, and folded his arms. "Well, I know better than to guess a woman's age to her face." He said somewhat defensively.

Frey shook her head, smiling and rolling her eyes.

"Whatever you say. I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere, okay?"

"I'll be here." He replied mildly, opening the register to count the til."

Frey darted down Selphia's streets to the town grocer's, giddy with excitement. The plan had worked! Now they had a setting in which to spend time alone together and talk without feeling like the conversation should be brief for politeness' sake. All she needed now was alcohol.

The door to the store chimed cheerfully and she hurried to the shelves lined with bottles in the corner. From behind the counter, his head resting on his elbows, Selphia's only other resident dwarf eyed her with silvery gray eyes.

"Hey, Frey. What's got you in such a hurry?" Doug asked in a lazy, languid voice. He'd obviously been wiling away a boring shift alone in the shop, by the look of him.

"Just running a quick errand." She replied without turning around. She eyed the bottles, shook her head slightly. What the hell did she know about wine, anyway? She grabbed one at random. All liquor tasted foul to her in any case. Up at the counter Doug raised his head, looking from the bottle she set on the counter up to her face with a suspicious expression.

"Since when do you buy wine?" He said in wary tones, "And in a hurry, too. You got a hot date or something?" He smirked. His eyes were a little more hard than gleeful, however.

Frey felt her face heat up instantly. Damnit. Why did these reactions have to be so reflexive? She steeled her resolve not to acknowledge her embarrassment, lest it redouble, and replied with a cool tone:

"That's not really your business, but no. Not a date." She took out a little more gold than was required and set it on the counter, snatching up the bottle by the neck and turning to leave.

"Oh." Doug said, blinking. He seemed to relax instantly. "Well in that case, can I come?" Frey froze in mid step, turning back to look at him apologetically.

"Sorry, Doug," She said, genuine remorse in her voice, "It isn't a date, but it also isn't something I want an extra person attending, either..." He'd just have to forgive her for being cryptic, she thought. She wasn't about to admit to the red headed boy that she was trying to wile her way into the heart of an older man, even though it was absolutely the truth.

"Oh..." Doug replied awkwardly. "Uh... It's not... It's not Dylas, is it?" He asked haltingly, pulling a slightly disgusted face. Frey felt a smirk tug sharply on one corner of her mouth. She eyed him with mischief in her gaze.

"No. It's not Dylas." She assured primly.

"Whew. That's a relief." He sighed, then straightened up sharply and added: "C-cause you really ought to be able to do better than him. That's why." He said stubbornly, blushing. Frey let her smirk become a wicked grin.

"Of course." She agreed with a gracious nod. "He's all yours." Then she was out the door before Doug could finish shouting his all-too-ready protests at her back.

It didn't take long to get back to the Meanderer. She held the wine bottle up triumphantly as she came through the door, flipping the 'open' sign to 'closed.' surreptitiously behind her back as she let the door shut. She wasn't sure, after all, that the lazy blacksmith would bother with the sign. After going to all the trouble to fetch the wine, she did not want to be interrupted or imposed on.

"Letsee what ya got." Bado said amiably, accepting the bottle with one big hand and reading the label. "Not bad. Not all that good either. But I ain't real picky when it comes to alcohol." He shrugged. She followed him back to the table in his work room that doubled as a rough excuse for a dining table sometimes. He set two mismatched stoneware cups out on the table and gestured for her to sit. She did. His blue gray eyes fixed her with a warning glance as he popped the cork with a practiced motion.

"Now I agreed to have a drink with you, Frey, but you're starting slow, got it?"

She rolled her eyes.

"Sheesh! What do you suspect me of? I just thought it'd be nice to have a drink and a little conversation with you, but I'm here more for the company than the booze."

Bado blinked at her.

"Oh." He said awkwardly, "Well in that case..." He poured her a half a mug and filled his own. She accepted the cup with a little dip of her head as he slid it across the table for her, then he held up his own and they clinked the cups together. "Cheers, Frey."

She sipped at the wine. Disgusting, as usual. But, she controlled her expression as she swallowed and set the cup down. The big man across from her took a big swig that drained half the cup and set it down with a satisfied sigh. He looked up at her with a relaxed attitude and gestured as if to tell her to proceed.

"So, wha'd you wanna talk about so badly, eh?"

She fidgeted silently for a moment. There were any number of things she wanted to ask him about, to learn about him, but just now it was suddenly extremely hard to make her voice work.

"Nothing in particular." She mumbled, averting her eyes, and tracing her fingers along the lines of the wooden table's grain in front of her. "I just wanted to spend some time with you is all."

He chuckled.

"Now why would you want to go and do that? Ain't a princess got anything better to do than pal around with a lazy dog like me?"

Frey rolled her eyes and sighed in exaggerated exasperation.

"I'm not going to argue about this. Just take it for the compliment that it is." She said, bending an eyebrow at him. He chuckled softly again, but the smile on his lips widened even as he raised his cup to take another drink of wine.

"Well alright then." He allowed.

She watched him set his cup back down and brush a stray shaving of wood from the table. Then he looked up at her eyes expectantly and she struggled to hold that gaze for more than a moment. After a couple heartbeats she did look away again. This whole thing was harder than expected. Why hadn't her plan included specific strategies for the actual conversation part of the evening?

"Actually," She said, on a sudden inspiration as her eyes fell on those ridiculous love charms she'd noticed the last time she'd visited. "There is something I'd like to know."

"Sure." He said, shrugging and pouring himself a second cup. He was a big man, after all. The wine probably wasn't equal to the task of getting him drunk if he were sharing it. "Ask away." He raised the cup to his lips again.

"Have you ever been in love, Bado?" She asked in a deliberately steady voice, her heart hammering as she heard her voice actually project the words. Bado startled in the middle of taking another sip, aspirated wine, and choked. He squeezed his eyes shut, set the cup down with one hand and covered a fit of coughing with the other.

"What in-" He wheezed, "Whaddaya wanna know somethin' like that for?" His tattered voice choked out. He was staring at her as if suddenly realizing she were more dangerous than she looked. Frey attempted to smooth over the way she'd taken him off guard.

"Just courious." She shrugged, "I know next to nothing about you aside from what you do here in Selphia now. I guess I just want to know where you're coming from."

Bado frowned at her, hesitating. He didn't seem altogether sold on her explanation. But, after another few seconds of silence he made a cursory attempt to satisfy her request.

"Uh... well, yeah. Long time ago." he said brusquely, fidgeting with the cup in his huge hands. Frey sat staring attentively at him, waiting silently for more. He glanced up at her when she made no verbal reply, sighed loudly, and leaned back in his chair, resigned not to get into a silent contest of who was more stubborn.

"It was way before I came to Selphia. When I was in the Knighthood. I was nineteen at the time, I think."

Frey blinked in surprise, only now realizing she hadn't actually expected him to share the information, even though she'd asked.

"Wow, really?" She said, perking up with interest and leaning forward. "Was she a dwarf like you?"

Bado blinked at her and leaned back slightly. He looked like he had suddenly found himself in a situation he hadn't at all bargained for. But something about his attitude also seemed intrigued at her interest. He glanced away and scratched at the back of his neck, a nervous gesture.

"Well, no, actually. She was an elf. Quite a bit older than me, too... not that that means the same thing when you live as long as elves, mind." He added thoughtfully. The story seemed to have its own momentum as he dug up the memories, glancing upward with a slight expression of effort on his face. Then he grew uncomfortable, fidgeting and avoiding her eyes again. "I was pretty darn smitten. And, I had reason to believe she liked me too." He said, almost mumbling in his hesitation. His ears turned red as he said the last bit.

Frey tilted her head curiously.

"What happened?"

"Uh..." He hesitated, leaning back and tugging at his beard, "I was seein' things that weren't really there, turns out. When I confessed my feelings she told me off and wouldn't see me anymore." His face fell into the unmistakable expression of old pain, familiar as home but still not without its bite. His tone was almost for himself alone as he continued: "She didn't want nothin' to do with a romance with me. Guess I shoulda understood that. She'd as much as told me already by then, after all."

Frey stared at him, fretting. She hadn't meant to dredge up old hurts. What was she supposed to say now?

Her silence brought him back to the moment, he glanced up at her and smiled apologetically.

"But, love can make ya stupid, ya know?" He said, shrugging one shoulder. Frey felt her lips part slighly, but she still didn't have words. Bado leaned back in his chair, took another swig from his cup, and continued in a more casual tone, the momentum of his memories carrying him through the conversation.

"Anyway, after that I had a lot of flings and such, but nothin' ever serious. I never really fell in love after that first time." He said, gazing away thoughtfully into the distance. Then his ears turned scarlet and a slight blush came into his face. He ducked his head and fidgeted, glancing a her and away again.

"Well, that is..." He said haltingly, "Not exactly never... but that's as much as I'm gonna say on the matter." He nodded with an attitude of finality.

"Oh!" Frey chirped in surprise. Now that was an intriguing reaction. What did it mean, though? What other story would he be unwilling to tell after he'd already revealed how he'd been rejected by the first woman he'd fallen for?

"Enough about me, though." He said suddenly, brushing at the air as if shooing away a fly. "But, since we're on the subject, how are things going with your little love affair? Did that charm do the trick?"

"O-oh. Well, I don't really know yet..." She stammered. He quirked an eyebrow at her.

"Haven't told him yet, huh? What on earth could you be hesitating for, princess?"

Frey squirmed under his gaze.

"Well..." She began, rubbing at one arm with the other hand. Wasn't she already as obvious as a girl could be? How could he be asking her about this? How could she still not be able to tell him?

"He's clueless." She sighed loudly, glancing up at his eyes briefly, then blushing profusely. Bado raised his eyebrows again, a silent request for elaboration.

"That is," She explained little by little, "He's pretty oblivious to my feelings, I think. And I'm not totally sure he feels the same way about me..."

"Ah." Bado said softly, looking down at the cup in his hands and smiling fainly. "Well, I know a little of how that feels, actually." Then he looked up and met her eyes again. She didn't look away this time. "But I can hardly imagine what kind of guy wouldn't be at least a little taken with you Frey. You've got nothing to worry about. You should just come straight out and tell him."

"O-oh..." Frey heard herself squeak. Her face had to be resembling a tomato by now. How on earth could he not be seeing through this? He really was dense, she thought. "You really think so?" She asked nervously.

He grinned at her.

"Yeah. Go for it."

"Okay, then..." She said, swallowing. "I guess I will."

"Do it soon though." He warned, pointing at her, "You know what they say: 'Time waits for no man'. -or, uh... girl in this case." he added, smirking again.

"If you're sure I should, then..." She trailed off, her mouth suddenly dry. Should she just come out and say it right now? It certainly seemed an appropriate moment for it, given what he'd just said to her.

"I'm positive." He assured, waving off her hesitation. "Just go for it. You've got the love charm, remember? I'm sure it'll turn out well. And, when it does, I can use you as a success story. I'll sell a million of the things! Ha!"

Frey hung her head, a reluctant smile on her lips.

"Leave it to you to say a thing like that..." She grumbled. He'd torpedoed the moment pretty effectively, alright. She'd have to build up her courage again when she wasn't reeling from one of his abrupt sidetracks to chase hypothetical riches via shop schemery. She sighed, feeling her brows fret again as she stared down at the table. At this rate...

"Hey." Bado's deep voice, suddenly quiet and free of teasing. She looked up and he caught her eye, one hand resting halfway across the table as if he'd been determined to get her attention one way or another, even if he had to wave a hand in her face. He drew a deep breath, looking concerned. "Don't Fret, Frey. I hate to see you worry like that, so... chin up, okay?" He smiled encouragingly. "There's plenty of people in this town who love you just the way you are, so don't worry."

Frey felt her face stretch into a stunned expression. He seemed to take it as a good sign.

"Even if this one doesn't work out for you, you'll be okay, okay?"

"...Okay." She nodded slowly. "Thank you, Bado."

His ears flushed again.

"Anytime."

They stared at each other a few beats longer. Frey made one or two abortive attempts to draw words up out of her butterfly-infested stomach, but her nerve was failing fast. She decided to regroup and revisit the attempt later.

"Well, I-I'd better get going." She said a little breathlessly, "Keep the rest of the bottle, okay?"

The big man looked puzzled at her.

"You don't want to take it home or anything?"

She smiled at him.

"Nah. I really hate the taste of wine."

His face turned surprised, then incredulous.

"Then why-"

"I told you already," She interrupted, "the drinking wasn't what I was here for."

He just stared at her, pointed ears bright red. One of them twitched. Her smile widened momentarily.

"Goodnight, Bado." She said softly, and turned to leave, feeling his dumbstruck stare on her back as she went.

Chapter Text

"Rrrrrgh...." Frey growled, head buried between her knees, fingers clutched around it, tangled in her hair. She sat upon her big double bed at the castle, agonizing over a choice she felt magnetically pulled toward.

'Just come right out and tell him', Bado had said.

"Tch. Easy for him to say" the princess grumbled into her knees. He, apparently so oblivious to her feelings, probably couldn't have known that he was essentially inviting her to confess her feelings to him then and there. She hadn't, of course, but now she thought she should have. Every waking moment since that conversation had been a torment of nervousness, regret, apprehension, excitement; the tangle of emotions in her writhed about so wildly she thought she might fly apart at the seams. She huffed an exasperated laugh. All of this was simply the unintended consequences of his advice to her... all this and the apparently inevitable confession she felt driven to make.

Compulsion toward coming clean with him aside, her butterfly-filled stomach and jittery nerves apparently didn't give a damn that some parts of her were so certain of her course.

'What if I've completely misread him?" a cruelly paranoid voice whispered in her thoughts. "What if he's just a sensitive guy who didn't want to see a friend of him and his foster kids sail away from this town never to return? What if Gaius was wrong, too?" She shook her head and whined quietly to herself.

No. She couldn't waver now. She was already in for a penny, in for a hoard of treasure, it seemed. How could she walk away now without knowing? Plus, these feelings showed no sign of diminishing. If anything, she was becoming more fixated on the big man by the day. How long could she take it before she really became crazy, anyway.

"Well, you're already pretty much talking to yourself..." She mumbled, rolling her eyes.

Always different parts of her argued with one another in the background. Her most confident self threw her hand up in the air, exasperated: 'why am I even hesitating? Who's gonna say no to me? I'm amazing.' A nervous part of her that loved only certainty, always seemed to have a counter-argument. 'Yeah, but he's already plainly said he's too old for you. Doesn't that mean he doesn't even see you as a potential partner?'

Frey's fingers dug more frantically in her hair in frustration. These thoughts had turned circles in her for four whole days now. Twice she'd even started walking to the Meanderer only to turn on her heel and stalk back away, fuming at herself but retreating nevertheless. Doubts lingered, thoughts warred, and she became more and more frazzled and impatient with herself.

Finally, a new voice, that of the part of her that was ready to throw her hands up and end this foolishness chimed in with an argument that flouted the others with a single cold rationale:

'At least once I just tell him, I'll freaking know. I won't have to sit here and wonder anymore. I'm done. This is nonsense. I have to get back to my life sometime!'

She raised her head and let out a great sigh, half relief, half resignation. For better or for worse, this new train of thought was correct. The suffering of wondering and worrying would be over as soon as she told him. If she were rejected, she could always just go back to plan A of going on a journey elsewhere in the hope of meeting someone, she thought, eyebrows quirking upward as she considered it. All in all, ending up where she started was pretty decent, as worst case scenarios went.

But, some part of her still realized she'd be no small degree of crushed by a rejection from him... Sure, Bado hadn't been the center of her attention prior to these recent months since she'd decided to leave Selphia for a time, but now that she had nurtured a very keen interest in him it seemed rather staggeringly important to hold his esteem.

She pictured his long face, haggard by worry and disappointment as she'd confirmed that she was about to board that airship and sail away. That image had never left her mind. Surely it had to mean something. She was friends with everyone in Selphia, after all. No one else had come running to quietly plead with her to stay while she had one foot on the ship, knowing the request would not be granted, but making it ayway... Surely only harboring some signicant romantic interest in her could have motivated such actions, right?

It all sounded rational, but that part of her that was never satisfied without absolute certainty protested quietly in the back of her mind.

"Enough." she said aloud, voice flat. She hopped to her feet from the bed, sighed again short and loudly, and marched out the bedroom door.

The familiar by now nervous fluttering of her heart and racing thoughts did not slow her steps or turn her around this time. Frey marched herself all the way across town to the smithy with a steady gait, even though her eyes were a little wide and frightened as she tugged on the big iron handle of the door.

She stepped into the shop and looked for the familiar outline of her crush with his broad shoulders and pointed ears. A quick glance around found him in his usual place, back by the shop's counter. He was on his feet arranging little this-and-thats on a display shelf. Aside from the big dwarf himself, the shop was empty.

"Ah, Frey! Good to see ya." Came his warm greeting.

"You, too." She replied, just a little breathlessly.

"So, what brings ya in, today, eh?" He smiled at her, "Come to buy a love potion to use on that crush of yours?"

Frey flushed deeply, heat rising in her face. She glanced away, shuffling her feet a little.

"Ah, no.... I'm hoping nothing that drastic will be necessary." She said with a nervous little chuckle. Then she glaced back up at his bue-gray eyes, their irises just a little reflective, as Dwarves' eyes tended to be. "But on that subject... I, um... I'm actually here for related reasons." She managed to say. He quirked an eyebrow at her and looked intrigued, folding his arms and looking at her expectantly.

"Oh?" He intoned curiously.

"Y-yeah. I was thinking about what you said the other day. Your advice..." She all but mumbled in a hurry. "And, well... I need to talk to you."

Bado snorted quietly in amusement.

"Well, I'm always happy to help ya, Frey, but you could do a lot better than me for love advice." He shrugged, looking slightly abashed. "I've been flying solo for about a decade, ya know." He smiled sympathetically at her. "You're probably better off talking to Nancy about it, actually."

Frey shook her head.

"No, no. For this it has to be you." She hurried to say, blushing hotly again as she heard herself say it.

Bado's dark eyebrows shot up at that. He frowned slightly, expression bewildered and wary.

"Uh, okay then, Frey. Just don't say I didn't warn you." He said slowly. She stared at him, hesitating for a beat."Go ahead, then. I'm all ears." he added.

Frey fidgeted, wringing a bit of her skirts in her hands.

"W-well I..." She began faintly.

This was it. Her heart hammered. Her confident self cheered. Her fearful self cringed, and above all the desire to end her suspense and plunge into whatever came next carried the words from her lips. All the time she'd spent on him in her thoughts of late coalesced into three words, delivered with abrupt certainty and force in her voice.

"I love you!"

One of those absolutely deafening silences followed immediately. Frey stood frozen, staring at Bado's face as his eyes widened, his eyebrows almost disappearing into his untidy hair. His mouth opened slowly, silently, in shock. His expression flickered, almost like a wince, then it changed, a sly smile on his lips and a wily quirk of eyebrows that made the bottom drop out of Frey's stomach even before he spoke:

"Well now, ain't that an interesting lie to be telling." He mused, his voice a little too deliberate to be casual. "You tryin' to get back at me for teasing you about the love charm?" Frey reeled back as if he'd slapped her.

"What? No, I-" She stammered, flabbergasted.

"I've been around the block more than once, missy," He drawled, "It's a bit too far-fetched. Try something a little more subtle next time you want to try and prank me, 'kay?" He folded his arms again and tilted his head at her, smirking condescendingly. his whole body carried a kind of tension though.

Suddenly her temper flashed up out of her. Her fists clenched at her sides. Her eyes hardened, and her voice came out as a bark of accusation.

"Y-you blockhead!"

Bado flinched in surprise at the intensity of her reaction. She continued, her voice at a carrying volume.

"I'm not playing around here, Bado! This isn't a joke, it's a confession!" She relaxed slightly, her expression turning from anger to bewilderment and insistence. "I love you!" She said again, almost urgently.

Bado's shocked expression made a comeback. He made no sound at all. He almost looked frozen. She stared at him, just waiting, just breathing. One, two, five heartbeats passed. Her face began to fall. He made no move and still said nothing. The silence stretched on and on. Her eyebrows tented above her eyes as they began to burn. Disappointment closed in on her. She looked down and fidgeted with her skirt again. When she spoke her voice was barely above a whisper:

"I just... had to tell you. That's all then, I guess..." She said resignedly.

"Frey, y-you..." She heard him fumble, his deep voice faint and weak for once. Then it burst out of him in loud protest: "You can't pick me!" he barked.

Now it was her turn to look shocked.

"W-why on earth not?" She stammered incredulously. His expression switched to something like outrage.

"Whaddaya mean, why not?!" He countered, gesturing in exasperation, "I'm too old for you, Frey! What are you thinkin'?" Perhaps the words were meant to sound like he was scolding her, but Frey registered too much pain in his voice for that to be true. He looked away, his expression a cringe. She blinked at him in stunned silence for a moment or two.

"That's not up to you to decide." She said softly after a time, suddenly feeling sure she understood what was going on, finally.

Bado looked up at her, confused. Frey took a deep, trembling breath, and continued:

"You can say I'm too young for you, if you really don't want me."

He winced.

"Th-that's not--"

"But only I can decide whether you're a good fit for me. Only I get to decide whether I want you." She smiled hopefully up at him, humble and sincere. "And, I've already decided that I do."

Bado stared into her eyes, searching. He looked lost, but hopeful. It took a whole minute or more for him to find his voice again.

”Well, I’d be lyin’ if I said I don’t have the same sorta feelings for you, too…” He said, pausing to draw in a deep breath. Frey held hers. "But if you’re a-asking me out…" He continued, voice carefully controlled.

"I am." Frey interjected, staring resolutely up into his blue-gray eyes. Her heart hammered in her chest, faster and faster.

"Then, I… I need some time to think this over." He said, voice shaking ever so slightly. A blush came into his cheeks and he looked away, adding, "This ain’t exactly a simple decision for me…"

Frey's spirits dropped, but she mastered her expression in time to mitigate the disappointment on her face. It wasn't a 'no' after all, but if she were honest, she hated waiting and was really hoping for a 'yes' immediately. She took a steadying breath.

"Th-that's understandable." She squeaked.

Bado winced, looking back into her eyes.

”I don’t want to leave you hanging, Frey, but could you give me until morning to give you my answer?" he said hopefully.

"Oh!" She piped. Having schooled her expectations for an indefinite period of suspense, morning didn't sound so bad. She smiled. "Yeah, I can wait."

The big man before her let out his breath with a relieved sigh and smiled faintly at her.

"Thanks. I'm grateful." He shoved his big hands in his pockets, body language suddenly a little more awkward. "So, will you, uh... will you meet me in front of the castle at ten o'clock tomorrow morning, then?"

"Of course. I'll be there." She replied without hesitation.

He smiled slightly again.

"Alright. I'll see you then, Frey."

The princess of Selphia nodded hastily and turned to go, legs shaky as she fled the scene.

Tomorrow morning. Less than a day to wait. There was still hope.

Minutes later her elation at having such a short period to wait had evaporated as she paced in her room, doubts gnawing at her with every heartbeat.

"It wasn't a 'no'..." She mumbled to herself, "He didn't turn me down. Not yet, at least..." She stopped in the middle of her chambers and sighed.

Well did the princess of Selphia know her own wiles when it came to waiting. She was no saint of patience, that was for sure. The only way to pass time when her mind was bent on obsessing over something was to drown out its buzzing with plenty of manual labor. The complaints of her muscles and the steady, simple tasks of farm work would give her something to focus on and hopefully tire her out enough to sleep tonight. She did not relish the thought of lying awake all night while her traitorous brain spun every possible scenario and outcome in her minds eye before she could meet with her crush in the morning to get his actual answer.

Frey sighed once more and trotted out the back door to her fields. Fortunately, there was never any shortage of work to be done.

Chapter Text

Frey fidgeted with one of her twin tails of silky green hair, an old nervous habit. She stood outside the great front gateway of Selphia's magnificent castle, dwarfed by the edifice, and scanned the various entrances to the central square. Her green eyes darted from one to another, anticipating a big broad-shouldered figure, but none appeared. She sighed fretfully.

"Well... This is the place..." She mumbled to herself, glancing again at her timepiece, brows furrowed. "...And the time..." She blew a piece of hair out of her eyes and sighed, spirits beginning to droop.

"I guess if he doesn't come, that's an answer unto itself..." She murmured.

Over a few minutes the various townspeople, beginning their day and wandering to and fro about town, glanced her way as they passed through the square. She blushed and stared determinedly down at her feet, rather than making eye contact. If she were indeed getting stood up, she didn't want an audience to the event. She was so flustered by the idea of someone like Arthur asking what she was standing around waiting for, she missed the approach of a pair of big, booted feet.

"Mornin' Frey." Came a familiar deep voice, sounding deliberately cautious. Her head snapped up and she blinked, wide-eyed at the big blacksmith, color coming into her face. He'd come.

He looked.... ragged. His hair was even more ruffled than usual; dark circles ringed his blue-gray eyes, but the eyes themselves looked bright and vital.

"Mor...ning." She squeaked, a little breathlessly. He smiled apologetically, brows tilted upward.

"I'm real sorry for making you wait like this." He said, voice abashed. She shook her head.

"No, no. I just got here, too." She insisted, a little breathless. He shook his head slightly.

"No, I mean... I've kept you waiting for an answer, after you said what you did yesterday." He sighed, keeping up that sympathetic expression, "They used to call me 'legendary' in the knighthood, but you've got more courage than I ever have."

"I... didn't mind." Frey said faintly, feeling herself blush even more. Her heart pounded a jittery rhythm in her chest, "I kinda dropped it on you outta nowhere, after all." She added, shrugging.

"Yeah, you kinda did." Bado replied with a little laugh and a tilted smile.

"Sorry." She replied, wincing.

"Don't be. I'm here now." He said warmly. But then the smile slid off of his face and he looked at her rather seriously. Are you ready for me to say what I've come to say, Frey?"

The acting princess of Selphia gulped, suddenly unsure all over again.

"I think so?" She said in a small voice, looking up at him with a mixture of hope and fear. The big man before her drew in a long breath and sighed it out.

"Well, here goes..." His brows fretted together and he looked straight into her eyes as he spoke: "We've known each other a good while, Frey. What matters to me is your well-being... so I feel honor-bound to tell you..."

Frey's heart hammered, her mouth dry.

"I think you're making a huge mistake, asking me out." He said, the words and breath leaving him in a rush, a wince on his handsome, weathered features.

Frey swayed on her feet, her heart missing its rhythm, leaving a sudden hollow sensation in her chest. Bado's hand had strayed up to the back of his head, anxiously running his fingers through his already-mussed hair.

"There just isn't anything worthwhile I can offer you." He continued, apparently oblivious to her shock and disappointment. "And regardless of what you say, I ain't as young as you. That's a fact." He added firmly, with a chopping gesture of one of his big, angular hands. "So... I'm sorry, Frey..." he said, cringing at her as if he was the one about to be struck down by a rejection. Her breath stopped and her mind reeled in anticipation of the blow.

'I really thought... maybe...' her thoughts whimpered softly. Her eyes began to burn.

"...Because I'm in love with you, too." Bado said in a hurried breath, as if it had taken a surge of courage to force it out.

"Oh!" Frey's high, breathy voice shocked her own ears with her raw exclaimation. Her mind blanked. She blinked up at him stupidly and he let a broad, humble smile spread across his face, cutting deep smile lines into his slightly gaunt cheeks.

"And I do want to be with you." He said earnestly, his posture submissive, almost as if he thought himself a beggar in this situation. "S-so if you'll have this overgrown dwarf, and all my eccentricities..." He drew in one more steadying breath, "I'd be elated to call myself yours, Frey." The sweet, apologetic expression, glowing with hopeful anticipation, on his angular visage sent a thrill through her, beginning with a swelling in her heart and chasing her breath out through her lips as her eyes fluttered involuntarily.

"Bado... you..." She gasped softly.

"-Until you snap out of it and come to your senses, that is." he added with a crooked grin, his head tilted.

"Blockhead!" She barked at him, voice suddenly strong again. An exasperated laugh chased the exclamation out of her mouth. Bado echoed the laugh with one of his own, deep voice rich and vibrant with a raw, joyful quality. A rasp of breath bookended the lovely timber of his basso voice as he laughed. His laughter always had ragged edges, just like the rest of him. She couldn't help it; a broad, elated grin spread Frey's own lips as she beamed at him.

"Mostly joking, don't worry." he said, winking at her.

"M-mostly?" She returned incredulously, "Jeeze! Maybe I am crazy for loving you." She laughed, shaking her head.

"Ain't a doubt in my mind, little lady!" he beamed. Then he cleared his throat and added, eyes darting away as he blushed, "But, uh... jokes aside, It's just really hard to believe. I'd never have dared hope for this to really happen." He finished with a nervous chuckle.

"Well, now you don't have to." Frey said gently, warmth in her cheeks, "I'm yours, Bado." His broad chest swelled visibly as he drew in a a big breath, smile growing and brows rising.

"And I'm yours." He returned, eyes softening as he breathed out the words. His arms twitched, as if uncertain and then tentatively spread out a bit to either side, his expression changing to a timid invitation.

Frey lunged forward with a laugh and threw her arms around the big man. He gave an 'oof' as she collided with him and squeezed as much of his bulky frame in her slender arms as she could, holding nothing back. His thick arms found their way around her, too, after another flicker of hesitation. Then he squeezed her to him tightly, going as far as to press one side of his bearded face against her head. He was warm... warm and solid and big. A giddy little laugh fluttered in her throat, but she kept her mouth shut tightly over it this time. Finally they loosened their grip around each other and withdrew enough to give eye contact again.

"Say, uh..." He began nervously, one of his big hands fidgeting with the ends of her hair. "How do you feel about nicknames, Frey? Like, between l-lovers, I mean." One side of her mouth tugged into a smirk at the way he stumbled over the word. Here he was, well over thirty and stuttering like a teenager all because she'd agreed to be his girlfriend. She tilted her head and looked mischievously at him.

"You have one in mind for me?" She asked sweetly. A hopeful light crept into his expression.

"Well, maybe, kinda..." He fumbled, but then committed: "Yeah." She grinned.

"Well, what is it?"

"I'd kinda like to call you 'Pet', if that'd be okay with you?" he ventured, emboldened by her encouragement. She quirked an eyebrow at him. "I think it'd be a cute thing for a big guy like me to call his little lady." He explained, blushing and glancing away and back to her eyes. A wicked little spirit flared up in her and Frey decided on the spot to tease her new lover.

"Hmmm... well..." She said, pretending to consider, "I suppose that would be alright, but only if I get to pick one for you." His eyebrows rose but he was smirking in a rather pleased way.

"Yeah I guess that'd be fair." He allowed. "What'll it be?" Her grin became downright devilish.

"Big Bear." She said, with a suggestive expression she hoped would cover the way she almost burst out laughing. A crimson blush spread over his face, including his poitned dwarf's ears. He choked on his words:

"That's... really dorky, Frey." He said, laughing nervously as he blushed still redder. Then his brow tilted up again and he surrendered: "But, then again... I guess that means it also fits pretty well. So... I guess I'll answer to it." Frey finally let the laughter out, throwing her head back as she did.

"I was only joking!" She giggled, "But, since you agreed to it, maybe I will use it from time to time." She smirked mischievously at him. He grinned back at her.

"You're trouble, pet." he said, trying out the nickname.

"You bet." She returned, still smiling.

He hugged her again, lifting her off her feet a few inches and laughing happily. She squeezed him, trying her best to tell him without words how excited and relieved she was. When at last he'd set her down and they'd stepped apart from one another, he looked sheepish again.

"Well, uh... where do we go from here, Frey? I guess we oughtta go on a proper date or something, eh?" He shrugged.

"You're so romantic." She teased

"Hey, I warned you that I'm rusty at this. It's been a dog's age since I've been anything other than very single."

She laughed, shaking her head and smiling.

"Well, that is what couples do, still, right?" He teased, still laughing at his own expense.

"Yes, Bado. Couples still go on dates in this day and age." She said patiently. "Where would you like to go for our first one?"

"Uh..." He raised his eyebrows. "I'm not too particular... Did you have somethin' in mind?" He sounded nervous again. She supposed she could spare him the anxiety of choosing their first date.

"Let's start with dinner then." She offered sweetly. "At Porcoline's?"

"S-sure." He said, voice raspy. Was he that nervous, even now? "What time?"

"Well... I really hate waiting." She said slyly, "So how about 17:00 tonight?" He blinked.

"Heh. Wow, uh... yeah. Sure." He said, swallowing, then nodded as if to convince himself. "17:00 it is." Frey grinned broadly.

"See you then." She hummed, hugged him once more, and skipped off toward her fields to begin her daily chores, glancing over her shoulder and waving to him with a smile. For his part, the big man-her boyfriend-waved an uncertain hand back at her, a faint smile on his lips.

"See you then." He echoed, voice a little light, as if he still couldn't believe it.

Chapter Text

As expected, Frey already managed to grow impatient over the course of the morning. The giddiness from the earlier events lasted long enough to complete her usual chores, but once her mind had accepted that she now had a tall, bearded boyfriend the remaining hours until their first date seemed more and more like torture. Her arms remembered squeezing him in a firm hug. Her ears remembered the rich, deep quality of his voice as his answer had tumbled from his lips. Her eyes remembered his sheepish posture as he spread his arms in invitation. And all of her hungered to see and hear and touch again. Her mind was so thoroughly stuck on replaying their conversation, she didn't notice the butler in the hallway to her rooms until she’d blundered right into him. 

“Goodness!” A deep, rough voice exclaimed as Frey bounced off of the sturdy, muscular frame of Mr. Volkanon. She staggered about, catching her balance even before his broad arms with neat white gloves grasped her arms to keep her from falling over. 

“Oh! Sorry, Mr. Volkanon!” She said shrilly.  

“Think nothing of it, Miss Frey.” He said, bowing graciously as he released her, “But what has you in such a distracted state, if you don’t mind my asking?” He looked at her with an amused expression on his lined face. Frey blushed.

“O-oh! It’s nothing interesting.” She fidgeted with her clothing and looked away. The old man grinned. 

“Is that so?” He returned, politely, “Well then I suppose I ought to admonish you for daydreaming?” 

“I’ll keep my eyes open when I daydream from here on out.” She promised with a mischievous grin. Then a thought occurred to her. “Mr Volkanon?”

“Yess, Misstress?” 

“Have you ever been married?” She asked. The older gentleman stared at her with eyebrows raised, apparently at a loss. Then he threw his head back and laughed.

“Ah, yes. I see now.” He chuckled, “Who is the lucky young man you’re seeing, Miss Frey?” His voice was warm as he asked the question but suddenly Frey’s insides grew cold. What would the old butler say about her  new thirty-six year old boyfriend? She’d scoffed at Bado’s reservations about the difference in their years and insisted on her right to decide for herself whether his age made a difference to her, but in this moment she found herself afraid.  

“Umm…” She squeaked, voice suddenly faint. She stared up at the broad shouldered butler with wide eyes. He guffawed again.

“How wonderful to be young and in love!” He bellowed, then burst into tears abruptly, wailing in a voice that sounded almost like a roaring bear. “WAAAAAAA!! It’s just s-so touching!” He bawled. Frey huffed out a breath, half exasperated, half relieved. 

“You big goof.” She said quietly, one side of her mouth quirked in a smile. At least his outburst seemed to have distracted him from prying about who she was seeing. 

“P-please excuse me, Mistress.” He stammered, dabbing his eyes with a lacy handkerchief, utterly incongruous in the hands of the huge, bulky man. “It’s just that you seem so grown up to my eyes, suddenly.” 

“Volkanon!” She chided, rolling her eyes. “I was already grown up by the time we met!” 

“But up to now you have never seemed interested in suitors!” He protested. “It’s so unlike you!” 

“Well, I just hadn’t managed to identify one I liked until now.” She said, somewhat embarrassed. Somehow this old butler could make her feel just as juvenile as how he apparently saw her. 

“Well please allow me to say that I wish you nothing but happiness in your romantic endeavors, Miss Frey.” The big butler offered between sniffles, still dabbing his eyes occasionally. 

“Thank you.” She said, nodding primly in an exaggerated attitude. The only way she could really stomach the princess treatment the castle staff gave her was by not taking it seriously. 

She left Volkanon to his work and walked back to her quarters for a change of clothes. She’d go to the bathhouse to clean up and refresh herself after the morning’s farm work. She couldn’t very well go to her first date with Bado covered in dust and straw, now could she?

Though it could not quite banish the butterflies in her stomach, the bath did wonders for Frey’s agitated state of mind. By the time she’d bathed, dressed, and prepared to walk over to Porcoline’s restaurant she was almost relaxed. Almost.

Unfortunately, every step she took upon the paving stones toward the Northeast corner of town spurred her nerves to further excitement all over again. 

‘What should I do when I see him again? Should I hold his hand? Hug him? Just play it cool? I should have asked how he feels about public displays of affection. I should have asked for us to go somewhere less busy for our first date. I should have just invited him for a walk! Why did I have to start with dinner? What the heck should I order?’ Frey’s thoughts turned relentlessly, her jitters working their way into a frenzy as her brain frantically tried to consider  every possible scenario. 

“Oh.” She piped quietly to herself as she realized she’d walked right past the restaurant toward the observatory tower to the East. She turned on her heel and scurried back to the front of the restaurant, blushing for no one. 

She stood in front of the large, and bizarre, lobster statues that ushered in the restaurant’s patrons, looking this way and that for the familiar silhouette of the town’s notoriously lazy blacksmith. It wasn’t quite 17:00 yet, according to her timepiece. So, he also wasn’t quite late yet, either. She sighed and tried to ignore the turning thoughts and her jittery nerves.

She didn’t quite want to believe that the people of Selphia, who had welcomed her so warmly when she’d literally fallen from the sky into their midst, would disparage her for choosing Bado for her lover. But, then again… he sure had a reputation around this town. She winced. It wasn’t just Volkanon; everyone in town spoke of the blacksmith with exasperation and bafflement. On one hand, his skills were known to be of the highest order of craftsmen in Norad; on the other, his blatant lack of work ethic and his not-quite-conman routine meant he was never taken seriously. Mostly it seemed to confuse or frustrate people, the combination of his most well-known characteristics. 

Frey chewed her lip. She too had not really seriously considered him before: not as a lover, especially. But that expression, so lost and bewildered, as she had floated away in the airship. No one had ever wanted her quite the way he did: enough to look at her as his heart broke in silence while he accepted her decision to leave him behind with no more reassurance than a vague promise that she’d return someday.

The town charlatan seemed so earnest when it came to her. But perhaps no one but her knew this side of him? Or wold they think she was merely being taken in? No one around here seemed to respect him. What would they have to say about a man like that holding the hand of their Princess? She frowned, brow fretting. ‘What on earth am I going to say to them?’

Just then, from inside the restaurant, a beautiful figure with long ears emerged, carrying a harp under one delicate arm. Meg stepped out in front of the entrance, across the doorway from Frey and held up her harp, ready to begin playing for passerby to invite them into the relaxing atmosphere of the dining room. Her eyes happened to pass over Frey as she moved, and she started, lowering the instrument again. 

“Frey?” She asked curiously, “What are you doing out here?”

“Me? I, um…” Frey began, twisting the fabric of her skirt in her fingertips. She felt so nervous every time someone else asked a question that invited revealing her newly founded partnership. She knew why, but  she was the one who’d asked him to have dinner with her in the busiest corner of the whole town. Having created this scenario herself, shouldn’t she be more confident about it? Why was the idea of telling someone she was dating Bado making the butterflies in her stomach go crazy now, when she was about to be on a date with him in broad daylight? 

“Oh!” Meg chimed, grinning. “You’re meeting someone, aren’t you? Don’t try to deny it. I can see you blushing from here.” 

‘Stupid.’ Frey thought furiously as she felt her face heat up, just as Meg had accused. 

“Heh. Well, y-yeah. I am.” She admitted, smiling sheepishly at the elven woman. 

“Ooh!” Meg squealed, “A hot date?” She was all but dancing in place as she pried Frey with her big eyes glittering. 

“Yeah, you could say that. I mean, I think so, anyway.” Frey fumbled, laughing nervously and shifting her weight on her small feet. 

“Heya Frey.” A deep voice suddenly sounded behind her, a little out of breath. She turned almost fast enough to wrench her neck. The tall, broad form of Bado himself cast a shadow over her as he looked down, apology in his expression. Remembering her conversation, Frey glanced sideways at Meg, who was blinking in a confused fashion at the pair. 

“Sorry I’m late.” Bado said abashedly. “I sure didn’t want to make you wait on the first go-around.” He sighed, looking fretful. Frey just smiled up at him. How could she have worried what others would think of her choice of partner? That earnest expression; his simple wish to live up to her hopes, despite his certainty she’d ‘come to her senses’ and choose someone else. It didn’t matter what they thought of him. She knew what she felt for this man, especially when he stood before her, all eagerness to please and awe that she’d actually chosen him. He may be a lazy slacker in his chosen profession, but no one in Selphia appreciated their Princess quite the way he did. 

She slipped her slender hand in between the palm and thumb of his big, angular one and grasped it gently. Bado looked down at her hand in his and back up at her. The surprise lifting his brow melted into a humble, pleased expression, a smile tugging on one side of his mouth. 

“Don’t worry about it. I was just talking to Meg. I didn’t even realize it was past time.” She said cheerfully, and looked back over her shoulder at the musician. 

Meg stood with eyes wide and mouth agape, not even trying to hide her stunned expression. Bado looked quizzically from the elf to his girlfriend and back, but she offered no more explanation than a little giggle and tugged him toward the door. 

“C’mon.” She said, winking at the still slack-jawed Meg on her way into the restaurant.

Chapter Text

The interior of Porcoline’s restaurant flooded Frey’s senses with familiar sights and sounds. She didn’t eat here every day but she did visit Porco, Arthur, Meg, and Dylas regularly. She blinked and smiled slightly at the smells and sights and sounds of the busy eatery full of her friends and neighbors and travelers come to visit the town thanks to her efforts as Princess to make Selphia a destination.

She looked about and found Dylas working his shift as a waiter as per usual. He bustled over, having noticed new customers entering, and then did a double take when he realized the particular combination of people his customers were. His yellow eyes flicked downward, lingering on the princess’ hand clasped with the big blacksmith’s, then snapped back upwards to squint skeptically at her.

Frey squeezed Bado’s big hand and stuck her chin out at the half-monster and all his surly attitude, daring him to say something. Dylas faltered in the face of her hard stare, and he simply ushered them to a table for two before scurrying away.

Bado shifted about as he settled into the chair, gingerly, as if worried it might collapse. Frey looked curiously at him and he cleared his throat and looked embarrassed.

“They, uh… don’t often make furniture with guys my size in mind.” He explained reluctantly, “You only have to find your rear end on the floor a few times before you learn to be cautious.” Frey smirked, letting out a tiny puff of air, just the ghost of a laugh.

“Anyway…” Bado continued, looking around, his shoulders rounded and hands fiddling with his fork. His eyes darted around the dining room. Frey followed them to each table and each other patron. Some glanced their way from time to time. Most were too absorbed in their own meal and company to notice the strange pair sitting nearby. She looked back to her date, noting the way his knee bounced up and down in rapid succession from the jittering motion of his foot poised with the heel raised off the floor.

‘ He’s nervous.’ She thought, swallowing as a strange combination of emotions rose up. Sympathy, nervousness of her own, and an affectionate kinship with the man; it was good to know he could feel as anxious as her own inexperienced self even with the several years he had ahead of her.

Dylas returned, poured water, and deposited menus. He said nothing as he turned and left them again. She didn’t mind his unpersonable service in this case. Better he stay aloof than say something to rattle her or Bado even more.

“This is nice. I’m glad we came.” She said, trying to assuage him a little with small talk, even if it felt a little silly.

“What? Oh. Yeah.” He said absently, took a sip of water, and glanced off to his left again.

“What’s eating you?” Frey asked, tilting her head as she tried to coax eye contact out of the big man. His gaze snapped to hers and he sighed, looking down.

“Am I that transparent?”

“Well, yeah.” She said, “You’re acting like some kind of fugitive. What’s going on with you?” Her tone rang with concern.

He sighed. “It’s Nancy. She’s watchin’ us from over there.” Frey followed the direction he’d glanced a moment ago and bent her brow.

“She’s just having dinner with Jones like always.” She said, shaking her head faintly.

“I saw her look over at us and raise her eyebrows. Lookin’ at me like I’m doin’ somethin’ I shouldn’t be.” He glanced at Frey, expression guilty.

“I doubt that’s actually her intention.” Frey countered skeptically, “But even if it were, who cares? I’m here with you because I want to be. We aren’t up to anything sketchy.”

“Depends who you ask.” He countered, looking dejected, “Just because you’re alright with my age doesn’t mean everyone else is.”

“Well,” She said, pausing thoughtfully. He looked back up at her. “I’m not dating everyone else, am I?” She said with a crooked smirk. “So it hardly seems to matter what they think of my age or yours.” Finally, he cracked a smile and huffed out a little laugh, his posture becoming relaxed at last.

“If you say so.” He said skeptically, but his eyes softened as he spoke.

“I do.” She said, pointing at him, “Now what do you want to eat? I’m starving.” He looked down at the menu and blinked as if he’d only just realized it was there.

“Uh…” He flipped the thing over, stared at it a moment, scratched the back of his head, and then put it back down. “Why don’t you order for me, Frey?” He said finally, with a good-natured expression. “I don’t really come here ever, so… you probably know better than I would what’s good to order.”

Frey tilted her head at him, smirking. “You don’t?”

“Nah, I just forge myself meals most days. Sometimes Kiel cooks for me, though.”

“That’s sweet of him.” She replied, smiling.

“Yeah, he’s a good kid. Not much like his dad, but that’s just fine. He doesn’t need armor or a sword to be noble.”

“Does Forte cook for you, too?” Frey asked, pleased to have finally drawn him far enough out of his nervousness to hold up a conversation.

“Uh… yeah. She does, occasionally.” He said reluctantly, turning pale.

“What’s the matter? You don’t like her cooking?” Frey asked.

“Let’s just say, Forte’s cooking has proven… survivable so far.”

“That bad, huh?” She replied, wincing. Bado chuckled.

“I got an idea, princess: why don’t you judge our next town eating contest. Your constitution is about as good as Volkanon, right?” He grinned a wily, wicked smile at her. It sent a little zing up her backbone.

“I-I think I’ll stick to competing, instead.” She said.

“Oh? Smart choice, but hey, if you’re into cooking, yourself, I’d love to have a taste sometime, Frey.” He added with a hopeful little tilt of his head.  Frey smirked.

“Sure thing. By the way, what exactly is the difference between cooking food and forging it?”

“Not owning a regular oven!” Bado laughed. “It’s not so bad though. I used to cook practically all my meals over campfires in the Knighthood, so I’m pretty used to usin’ somethin’ like the forge for scraping meals together.”

Frey perked up with interest. He didn’t miss her excitement. He shook his head as if to say he thought her silly for finding this drivel interesting, but continued anyhow:

“Eating so many meals in the field has had the decided advantage of makin’ me pretty content to eat whatever’s in front of me. I ain’t particular… except when it comes to cheese, I guess.” He added in a low grumble.

“You don’t like cheese?”

“Nah. Can’t stand it. Just the smell makes me feel like I’m gonna lose whatever I have eaten.” He said, grimacing slightly. “Though… Kiel has put it in a couple things he’s made for me and I didn’t mind it as much then. Maybe you just gotta know what to do with the stuff when cooking? Still, I wouldn’t choose it at the grocers if ya paid me to!”

Frey made a mental note so she would not accidentally disgust him with a slice of pizza or a cheese roll someday while trying to cook for him.

“Well, let’s steer clear of the fondue on the weekly specials menu then, shall we?” She said sweetly.

“That’d be appreciated.” He returned, quirking a smile. “So, what’ll it be? My fate is in your hands, after all.

“How about… a tempura bowl?” Frey asked with a smirk.

“Cheater.” He accused with a grin. “You asked Kiel what I like, didn’t you?”

“Doing your research isn’t cheating.” She said primly, stacking the menus neatly on the edge of the table to signal they were ready to order. Bado chuckled.

“Come to think of it, you’re always giving gifts around town. You know what rings everyone’s bells around here, princess?”

“More or less.” She shrugged. “It’s not actually hard if you listen. Most folks will tell you about themselves without too much prodding.”

Her date’s smile grew wider and warmer. Something seemed to twinkle in his blue-gray eyes.

“You sure are a good egg, Frey.”

Frey blushed, adjusting the menus on the edge of the table again, and smiling obliquely at him.

Dylas finally showed himself again, grabbing the menus unceremoniously and taking out a notepad. He determinedly looked at it, rather than them.

“One tempura bowl and one curry rice, please.” She said politely.

“Anything else?” He said in his clipped way.

“Something to drink?” Frey asked Bado. He gave a little half smile.

“I’ll stick with water. I want my wits about me so I can keep up with you.” She smirked in reply to this.

“No, thank you. That’s all.” She said to Dylas, who promptly turned and walked away with no further ceremony.

The pair blinked at one another awkwardly for a beat or two after their waiter left, then both attempted to speak at once, cut off their sentences, and blushed. It was like some kind of extremely odd mirror, Frey thought. She tried again.

“So… I don’t think I’ve told you yet, but I met someone who knows you while I was on my trip.” Bado tilted his head and quirked an eyebrow, interested. Then a look of dawning comprehension came over his weathered features and his mouth made an ‘oh’ shape without quite voicing it.

“You probably mean Gaius, right?” Bado said, “There ain’t that many people around who know me outside of Selphia, after all. Or, at least… not that many you’d be likely to bump into.”

“Yeah it was Gaius. You’ve never mentioned you have a cousin in Sharance.” He shrugged at this.

“Doesn’t really come up in conversation much. How’d you figure out we were connected, anyhow?”

“Well, the family resemblance, for one thing.” Frey said, smirking. Bado frowned, folding his arms, but the twinkle of mischief she so often saw in his eyes was back.  

“Aw, c’mon! I’m way more handsome than that little shrimp, don’t you think?”

“Fishing for compliments, now?” I already confessed to you, so you know already that I find you attractive.” Despite it all, though, Frey blushed as she said it aloud. She was understating it. She found him very attractive. So much so, in fact, that she had developed a habit of shooing thoughts along those lines out of her mind before more… intense ones started popping into her head.

“You can’t blame a guy for wanting to hear it again, though.” He countered, “And I don’t suppose you’d mind at all if I told you on the daily that you’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

Frey’s face immediately burned red-hot. She swallowed, tongue tied, and stared at him with big, round eyes. It was hard to say if she were more embarrassed or pleased. Bado grinned a victorious—and wolffish—grin.

“I may be out of practice with this sorta thing,” He said, “but I still remember enough to know that a girl will never tire of being admired by her fella, and visa versa.”

“W-well I’ll admit I don’t mind it.” She allowed, “And…” She rallied her nerve and put together something that hopefully would satisfy him without embarrassing her too much, “I never had to stop myself from ogling a guy too much before I noticed you.”

Bado’s wily grin grew a few degrees more proud and he drew in a breath that belled out his broad chest a little.

“There you go.” He said happily, “A bit more practice and I’ll expect you to make me blush next time.”  Frey gave him a confused look.

“Is this a contest?”

“Just a little game between lovers.” He offered lightly, still sly.

“Well… I hope you’ll be ready to face my competitive streak.” She said finally, smirking at him. He laughed warmly, the sound filling up her chest with a confusing, giddy feeling. Several people throughout the restaurant stopped their conversation and looked around at the big man, his laughter loud and sudden enough to catch their attention.

Feeling their eyes on him, Bado shifted in his chair, ducking his head as if a bird had swooped low and skimmed his hair. He cleared his thought quietly.

“Ahem. Sorry ‘bout that.” He mumbled abashedly, eyes darting to hers and away again. Frey’s smile grew bigger and fonder.

“Don’t be.” She said sweetly, “I don’t mind them looking.”

“Thanks.” He said quietly, looking sheepish but pleased, now. Then he shifted again, standing up from his chair. “I’ll be right back. Just need to use  the facilities for a moment.” As he left, an interesting idea popped into Frey’s head.

‘ He wants to play games, eh?’ She thought with a wicked smile. She waved Dylas over again as he passed on his way back from delivering an order.

“Yeah?” He said gruffly as he arrived at her table.

“I changed my mind about ordering a drink.” She said, fingertips steepled before her to make her mischievous expression a little less obvious.

“‘Kay. Whaddaya want?” Dylas replied, brusque as always.

“One glass of ‘prelude to love’ with two straws please.” She said deliberately in a confidential voice. Dylas immediately wrinkled his nose at her.

“Don’cha think you’re layin’ it on a little thick?” He accused, frowning. She raised her eyebrows at him.

“That’s not really any of your business, is it?” She said in a mild tone, eyes glinting dangerously.

“Fine. Go ahead and embarrass yourself.” The half-monster growled at her. “He ain’t gonna be impressed by this. You’ll just look desperate.”

“Oh? Is there something you know about him that I don’t? I had no idea you two were on such familiar terms.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully with an outstretched finger, “And here I thought you were partial to red-haired dwarves…”

Dylas’ face purpled with anger and he spluttered indignantly at her:

“Shaddup! I don’t know shit about no dwarves!” The half monster turned on his heel and stalked away to the kitchen. Frey shrugged to herself. ‘ Well, that was easy.’ A few seconds later she distinctly heard a delighted giggle coming from the kitchen. She grinned wickedly to herself.

‘Phase one complete.’ She thought smugly as she heard the heavy footsteps of her very large boyfriend returning.

“Sorry for the interruption, Frey.” He said as he sat down at the table once more, “Where were we?”

“Playing games.” Frey replied, looking at him with a victorious air. He raised an eyebrow at her as if to ask what she had up her sleeve.

Dylas obligingly brought the beverage at that very moment and set it down between them on the table. He flashed a disgusted look at her as he turned and left. She made a mental note to tease him again later for that. Meanwhile, Bado was staring at the new arrival to their table.

‘Prelude to Love’ was a beverage made of pink melon and strawberry. The extreme combination of sweet and sour fruit flavors hit one’s tongue without any subtlety whatsoever. So, as one might expect, it wasn’t all that popular to refined palettes. It was something only someone very young and VERY deluded by infatuation would order with a straight face. Bado and Frey both inspected the heart-shaped slices of strawberry and melon perched on the edge of the goblet-like glass. Frey suppressed a giggle. Bado frowned at her.

“Is this your move?” He said, unimpressed. Frey shrugged, still smirking. Bado shook his head. “Well, like I said: you need a little more practice if you want to make me blush.” He picked up the glass and sipped at the drink carelessly. Frey’s grin widened a hair as he grimaced “Yeugh. That needs a lot of alcohol to justify being that sweet.” He grumbled, sticking his tongue out as he set the thing back down.

“WOOOONDERFUL HELLOOOOOO, LOVERRRS!!!” A truly ridiculous voice sang loudly in their midst. Bado jumped sharply in his seat and looked up to find the extremely rotund form of Porcoline De Santa Coquille himself leaning over the edge of their table and ogling them both with huge, starry eyes. Bado leaned away from the portly chef, eyes wide, mouth clamped shut. Frey just barely stifled a laugh.

Porco twirled in a graceful circle, scattering fruit and vegetables from the overstuffed pockets of his apron, and cast an arm upward with a flourish, scattering a fistful of small red flower petals over the couple. Frey leaned back in her chair in a gloating attitude, arms folded, mouth stretched in a wicked grin as petals settled in her new boyfriend’s hair and beard. The owner of the restaurant spun in place and scattered two more handfuls of petals over them before leaning dramatically over the table once more, gazing excitedly at Bado from far nearer than the big man was comfortable with, judging by the way he was almost falling out of his chair to lean back away from the other man.

Every patron in the restaurant was staring now. Frey glanced about with satisfaction. It may be extreme, but she was certain there was no better way to extinguish their trepidation about being public with their relationship than to blow the lid off the thing with ample fanfare. Ridiculousness could be a pretty decent substitute for confidence, when you got right down to it.

“You just let me know if there is ANYTHING we can do to make your evening more romantic !” He said, voice gushing with delight. “We do so love to entertain newly smitten couples, you know, especially MOI.” He added with a chortle behind closed lips as he looked conspiratorially at Frey, eyes blazing like bonfires.

For his part, Bado looked rather speechless. And, rather red . His delicate pointed ears almost looked like more of the flower petals stuck in his hair and beard. Frey’s eyes twinkled as she stared at his mortified face.

Finally, having performed his duty as he saw it, Porco left them to their meal, which Dylas was setting out between them now. As he retreated from Bado’s personal space, the portly man  snatched a sip of the ‘Prelude to Love’ from one of the red straws protruding form the glass without ever breaking eye contact. He probably hadn’t even noticed he’d done it. Porco’s compulsions around food and drink were one of the more interesting aspects of dining in his restaurant. Fortunately the quality of the food more than made up for all the eccentric behavior of its chef.

Bado and Frey stared at one another over the steaming plates of delicious food, he speechless, her gloating.

“ That was my move.” Frey said deliberately.

“Well!” Bado huffed, looking at her as if he’d only just realized he’d brought a silver wolf to dinner. “You have all the subtlety of a battle hammer, Pet.” He shook his head ruefully, “But, I have to concede the point. Is my face actually on fire, or does it just feel that way?” Frey laughed a purely joyful laugh.

“I did warn you.” She all but sang, then added thoughtfully: “You’re very cute when you’re embarrassed, especially those red ears.” She grinned.  

“Yeah, yeah.” He returned, smiling with half his mouth “No one ever let’s me out of knowing my ears are too cute to be butch.

“The rest of you is butch enough to spare.” She assured him, blushing slightly, herself, as she eyed his broad shoulders. He didn’t miss her stare, and looked back at her with a confidence that had been altogether absent at the start of the meal.

“Well, shall we dig in?” She piped happily. “Wouldn’t want all Porco’s efforts to go to waste, would we?”

“More like we’d better eat this stuff before he does it for us.” Bado countered, picking up his fork. They shared a chuckle over the joke and began to eat. The food was as delicious as always. Periodically they dared each other to take a sip of the ridiculous drink she’d ordered, laughing at each other's disgusted expressions after the liquid hit their tongues.

Their conversation came easily now, and Bado’s knee no longer bounced in nervous agitation. His posture was loose and his smile and big, booming laugh came easily. Frey smiled freely, too. Sure, being in a new relationship was all kinds of uncertain, anxiety-ridden, racing-thoughts-making trouble, but this was… well, fun ! Her affection for the big man seemed to be growing before her eyes. By the time they'd finished their meal, paid (she insisted this time), and walked back to the front gates of the castle, they were talking so freely and happily together, they hardly had a thought to spare for anyone around them, or what they might think of their mutual attraction.

“Well, I’ve sure enjoyed our first date, Frey. I hope you’re up for another soon?” He added hopefully with a gentle smile. Frey grinned happily at the big man.

“Very soon. I’ll come visit you tomorrow and we’ll figure out the details. Sound good?”

“Sounds perfect.” he returned, grinning broadly now. They stared at each other for a beat or two, suddenly uncertain all over again. It was time to say goodnight and part ways. She knew very well they should let this lovely evening end on a high note, rather than trying to drag it out just because they didn’t particularly want to say goodbye. But… something should happen first, right?

She stared at him, eyes shifting to his mouth and down his broad chest. She remembered the great solid warmth of him when they’d embraced the day before. She wanted that feeling again. She leaned toward him. He had been staring too, watching her closely for clues. As she shifted her weight in his direction he mirrored the motion, moving one big foot to redistribute his weight.

“I, um…” Frey mumbled, suddenly tongue-tied., “May I have hug?” The smiling expression that bloomed on his weathered features shone with a humble and tender affection. His brows rose and he gave a little sigh through his nose.

“You can have anything I’m capable of giving, Pet.” He said, low and soft. “I still can’t believe a guy like me can be so lucky.”

She grinned, chest swelling with emotion, and on pure, joyful impulse she leapt at him.

The look of surprise that took over his expression flashed in her vision for the briefest moment as she flung herself at him, and then she was in his arms. Those strong, thick arms that caught her on reflex and held her tightly to the big sturdy frame of the man she’d unexpectedly grown to love. Her feet off the ground and her heart soaring, Frey squeezed Bado with all the strength in her. She didn’t care who saw. She wanted them to see. Her trepidation from this morning had been usurped by actual pride in her choice. She’d chosen to be happy by opening herself up to this overly tall, pointy-eared fool, and by all the Divine Dragons she was happy in this moment: as happy as she could remember ever being.

For his part, the big dwarf mutely squeezed her back with careful vigor, almost reverent of her smaller person. She supposed he must be used to handling others a bit gingerly so as not to harm them with his strength. He was certainly a lazy man, by his own reckoning even, but weak he was not. She’d seen him casually lift crate-fulls of merchandise that had been delivered to his store before with one burly arm. She smiled against his shoulder. Her gentle giant, she thought, warmth in her belly.

Eventually, he lowered her gently until her feet were reunited with the earth and smiled down at her, color in his face and ears.

“Thank you, Frey… for giving me a shot.” He said, looking sheepish again. She shook her head.

“Aren’t you the one giving me a shot? I’m the one who asked you out, remember?”

“Yeah but you’re clearly out of my league!” He laughed, “So it doesn’t matter who asked who. I’m just over the moon about it all. I’ve had my eye on you practically since the day we met, but I never thought I’d actually get this chance.” She tilted her head as she looked up at him.

“Then what was all that at the airship when I was leaving?” She asked. A pained expression overlapped his smile.

“Desperation, I guess.” He replied quietly. “I thought I’d never see you again. It was… just too much at the time. I couldn’t hold back.” Aching from that sadness in his voice, she wrapped her slender arms around his middle and spoke softly into his shirt:

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright, Frey. It was your choice. Your life.”

“I’m still sorry. If I’d known how you felt… I…” She trailed off.

“Well… that’s on me, I guess. Sorry I went to such lengths to hide it form you up until then. I just never figured you’d answer my feelings. I didn’t want to be throwing somethin’ at you you didn’t want. And… Well I guess I was afraid, too.”

“Afraid?” She asked, looking up at him curiously.

“Yeah. If I hid how I felt I could at least carry on without knowing for sure you didn’t like me. If I confessed and you shot me down, well… I’d feel quite the fool. I ain’t a young man anymore. Yeah, yeah-” He said rolling his eyes. She always argued with him when he called himself old. “I won’t be old old for a long time, thanks to my bloodline but I ain’t young either. There ain't any excuse for a man my age to be pining after someone your age and expecting something to come of it.” He smiled at her. “All that’s left to think is I’m just unreasonably lucky.”

Frey shook her head, but didn’t argue further. She just hugged him again, and approached the subject with her own heart on her sleeve.

“I’m really glad you said yes.” She told him earnestly.

“Me too.” He said simply, returning her hug.

“See you tomorrow then?” She offered.

“Absolutely.”

“Until then.” She said softly.

“‘Til Then” he agreed.

Chapter Text

The following morning as she awoke and recalled her first date with her new boyfriend, Frey sincerely thanked her past self for making plans to see him the very next day. Really, even waiting that long seemed like idiocy. Her desire to spend time in his company, to learn more about him, and to explore their new relationship consumed her waking mind. She kicked off her bedding and sprang upright to get ready for the day.

As was her morning routine, she dutifully took care of her fields and monsters and checked in with Venti and Arthur on her responsibilities as Princess. As she was combing through the harvest report in Arthur’s office, however, the prince unexpectedly commented on her new obsession.

“I heard something rather interesting from my landlord this morning over breakfast.” He said, not quite offhandedly. Frey felt a slight jolt go through her at his carefully controlled tone.

“Oh?” She replied, bracing for whatever he was about to say about her date.

“Porcoline seemed to think you are dating our resident lazy blacksmith.” Arthur said in an interested but neutral tone. “I would have thought it just typical Porco eccentricity, but his story was corroborated by Dylas, who I’m fairly sure could not fool me with a lie. He’s just such a transparent soul, you know.”

“Yeah, can’t argue that.” Frey mumbled, remembering any number of times Dylas had angrily denied any affinity for Doug. She rolled her eyes as she thought of it. Really, those two needed to just bury the hatchet and start dating, already.

“Well?” Arthur added expectantly after a moment.

“Well what?” Frey asked, playing dumb.

“Are you dating Bado?” He asked patiently. Frey blushed, despite her most sincere efforts to act casual.

“Yeah, we are dating. Last night was our first date, in fact.” She said, avoiding eye contact by scrutinizing the harvest report. Arthur said nothing, but his silence was so loud, Frey couldn’t help but glance up at him. The prince sat primly with his teacup in his hand, plainly waiting for her attention.

“Frey…” He said seriously, staring her in the eyes.

“Yeah?” She said, hoping her anxiety wasn’t showing too obviously. No one could make her sweat like Arthur. He was just too damn… professional .

“What game are you playing?” Arthur asked, the barest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Game?” She echoed, genuinely confused, now.

“Are you doing this to get his attention? I could certainly see Bado going along with it as your confederate, but surely this kind of theatre isn’t necessary. Why not just approach him frankly?”

“What?” Frey said blankly, “What the heck are you talking about? Him who?”

“Whoever you’re trying to court.”

“I’m… really confused.” Frey said, pinching the bridge of her nose, “I’m pretty sure I just told you Bado and I were on a date last night. I’m courting him. I did approach him frankly, and now we’re a couple.” Slowly the smirk fell out of Arthur’s expression and he leaned back and stared at her, a subtle, but baffled expression crossing his cool, composed features.

“You are seeing Bado? He is your lover?” Arthur asked, scrutinizing her with his strange, garnet-colored eyes.

“Yes.” Frey said stiffly, resentment beginning to bubble in her belly. “I believe I already told you that… twice. She stared at Arthur, not exactly glaring, but not terribly warmly, either. The Prince stared blankly at her for a beat, then mastered himself and bowed his head ever so slightly.

“I apologize. That was terribly rude of me. I just never expected… that is to say, I was surprised. I should not have jumped to conclusions, though. Please forgive me.”

Frey relaxed a little at this. At least Arthur could always be counted on to maintain civility.

“It’s alright. I realize it might look strange, but I found he and I have a certain chemistry, and that drew me all the way back to Selphia to explore the possibilities.” She said, trying her best to be forthcoming. If anything would convince others of her sincerity, her own honest feelings were the most likely thing to do the job.

“Well,” Arthur began, tilting his head slightly with renewed interest, “That is fascinating. I do not wish to pry, but I’ll admit you have piqued my curiosity. What is it exactly, that you see in him?”

Frey blushed hotly, thrown by the Prince’s frank line of inquiry.

“W-well…” Frey stammered, “I know how he seems, and all, but Bado is really very genuine. He’s not always very direct , I’ll admit, but if you ask the right questions and get a feel for how to read him, you realize he never actually lies. He just likes to play with words, I think.”

Arthur raise his eyebrows and tilted his head curiously, patiently waiting for more. The vacuum of his silence pulled more from Frey’s lips than she might’ve wanted to share with the prince.

“Besides, I kinda like all his buffoonery. He never gets up to any real dangerous mischief, so what’s the harm in it?” She felt a smile bend her lips as she remembered his game of trying to make each other blush and how she’d turned the tables on him. “He’s a good sport, if you play with him.”

Arthur blinked serenely, betraying no clear emotional response to her explanation. By now, though, Frey was starting to have fun describing aloud what she liked about her new paramour. With a shrug, she threw caution to the wind and leaned into the odd conversation completely.

“I hadn’t really thought of dating him until after I left a few weeks ago. But you see, he came to say goodbye to me the morning I left, and all but told me he liked me. He was so distraught about my leaving, I ended up promising him I’d come back.” She explained plainly. Arthur continued to watch her with his tightly controlled reactions. Suddenly, Frey wanted nothing more than to disrupt the man’s composure a little.

“Plus, he’s so… butch . She added with a wicked, self-satisfied smirk, her eyes full of mischief as she pictured him with all his broad, angular dimensions and well-muscled physique. Physical attraction on its own is a good enough reason to ask someone out, right?” She added, raising an eyebrow at Arthur, who, to her immense satisfaction blinked rapidly as the slightest suggestion of a rosy color came into his cheeks. He gently cleared his throat.

“As you say, Princess, attraction certainly plays a role. As a man, I certainly consider it of substantial importance when considering a woman as a potential partner.  But, um… if I may, I generally do not find myself attracted to women who are half again my age.” His voice was not pointed, merely curious, by his tone. Frey just shrugged.

“What can I really say to that?” She offered, “Attraction isn’t exactly a deliberate thing, now is it? I like what I see in him. And I’ve had the good fortune to have my feelings reciprocated. What’s left to say about it?”

“Plenty over time, I suspect. But, I’m not here to judge. I was merely curious because it is, as you well understand, a bit unusual.” She only shrugged again at this. “In any case, as long as you both conduct yourself as I would expect you to with any suitor, I suppose there is no real harm in it. It helps that he’s a dwarf.” The prince mused thoughtfully, “If you end up together in the long term, his slower aging will make you two match a little more closely in appearance in your middle years, I should think.” Frey felt her face burn hotly at this.

“W-we j-just went on our first d-date!” She squeaked, clutching the edge of her skirt with white knuckles, “I'm really not ready to think about anything so far in the future, you know!” Arthur smiled serenely and gave her another of those slight bows.

“Of course. Please excuse me. I got a little ahead of myself. It is part of my role to think of how the crown is represented in all things. As acting princess of Selphia, you too reflect on my father’s administration, albeit indirectly.” She felt another little jolt of surprise, and let a tiny squeak out as she finally understood why Arthur was gently interrogating her about her new boyfriend.

“We’ll behave ourselves.” She said in a hoarse voice, blushing furiously.

“Good.” Arthur nodded graciously, “I’m glad you see what I’m getting at, here. A scandal would certainly create a world of trouble and extra work for me, you know. So, be smart, Princess. No illegitimate heirs if you plea—”

“GEEZ!” Frey shrilled, “I promise we’ll stay out of trouble just please s-stop! I am not ready to think about all this yet!” She covered her fiery complexion with two hands and shook her head vigorously. She’d thought she’d gained the upper hand talking about how attractive the big blacksmith was to her but now Arthur had gone and put that in her head. Suddenly she was fighting feverishly to suppress a whole series of rather inappropriate scenarios her imagination had reflexively constructed based on Arthur’s implication.

‘ Gods and dragons! I haven’t even kissed him yet!’ She thought in exasperation. Perhaps the prince who sat across from her was a bit of a pervert… after all, what else could explain why Arthur had beaten her to the punch when it came to extrapolating her attraction to Bado so far as sex was concerned. She shook her head again, fighting not to undress her dwarven boyfriend in her mind.

“Well, this conversation has become quite embarrassing, so I think I’ll be going now.” Frey said, matter-of-factly, standing up with a decisive air. Arthur nodded graciously.

“Of course, you are free to go, Princess.”

“Thanks.” She muttered, and stalked out of the room. Upon reaching the street outside, she wondered if the early summer weather would make a sunburn a plausible excuse for her red face. She sighed. “Well, that was mortifying.” She mumbled, “Should have known better than to step into the ring with that one, I guess…”

She began to walk in the direction of the residential district where Bado’s home and shop were located, slowly, to give her blood a chance to cool down.

‘ Geez.’ , She thought indignantly, ‘ Stupid prince. If I lose my nerve because of this I’m going to throttle him for it!’ The notions he’d planted in her head had dug their claws in and held fast. Oh sure, being attracted to Bado had implicitly meant she would like to sleep with him in theory . But she hadn’t gotten as far as really considering it or imagining it, for that matter. She’d only been back a week! And getting his attention and declaring her interest had consumed all her focus up to now. She hadn’t thought of sex as being on the agenda, even if it came along with the idea of having a boyfriend in the first place. She shook her head sharply.

“ Gods, I’m totally out of order! It’s way too soon to be thinking of this!” The butterflies in her stomach made a comeback as she neared the smithy. How was she going to hold up a conversation with him like this? She turned around on the spot and paced back down the street the way she’d come, glaring red-faced at the paving stones.

“ I know I said I’d come talk to him today but maybe I should wait until later at this point. What if I blurt out something stupid?” Suddenly a new thought came unbidden into her mind. Had he considered the possibility yet? Her face burned yet more feverish as she thought of it and her feet stopped her mid-stride. She turned around and stared back toward the ‘Meanderer’, suddenly drowning in her curiosity.

Did Bado want to sleep with her? Presumably the answer was yes, given he’d reciprocated her love confession in the first place. But… some part of her wanted to know for sure. Did he think of her that way already? Had he… she gulped… fantasized about her before? She may have only recently realized her feelings for him, but she didn’t really know how long he’d harbored his interest in her.

Frey fretted as she stared down the street, thoughts tangling and jumbling inside her head all the while. She just stood there, stuck for a minute or more before a devilish little idea hatched inside her mind. It brought a fresh blush to her cheeks but a smile curled her mouth at the same time. Perhaps she could get her answer without having to ask directly, seeing as how that would be too embarrassing to consider so early in their courtship.

A couple minutes later she stepped inside the ‘Meanderer’ with a gentle chime of the shop’s bell. Her eyes quickly scanned the room and found Bado just as he turned to see who had come calling. He smiled warmly at her, eyes bright. She swallowed, warmth in her belly as she considered her strategy.

“Heya, Pet.” He called, using the nickname he’d chosen for her. “You’re here earlier than I expected.” He grinned a crooked grin at her. “Already eager for another tête-à-tête?”

“You could say that,” She admitted, smirking at him, “But I prefer to think of it as being efficient.” He mirrored her smirk. “Unless, of course you’d rather wait?” She offered, raising her eyebrows at him. He leaned back, folding his arms.

“I didn’t say that .” He replied, with a tilt of his head.

“Good.” She smiled broadly. “Another date, then?”

“Please.” He said, still smirking. “If I haven’t sent you running yet, I’ll savor this as long as I can until you wise up and pick a younger guy.” Frey frowned at him.

“Will ya knock that off, already? I came back here for you , you big dummy! If I’d wanted some younger guy there is literally a whole world out there in which to find one. I wouldn’t be standing here if I didn’t want you, specifically.” She folded her arms and tapped her foot impatiently as she said it. How long was it going to take to convince him her feelings were not some fleeting fancy?

“Y-you what?” Bado stammered, blinking at her.

“I wasn’t planning on coming back to Selphia, necessarily.” Frey explained, “But you looked so sad that morning… I ended up promising you I’d return. After that I couldn’t stop thinking about you. And Gaius certainly didn’t make that any less so.” She added, grumbling. Bado laughed weakly.

“Well I’ll be damned! I-I’ll have to thank him for that, won’t I?” He shuffled in place, fidgeting nervously. “Y-you really came back… just for me ?” She nodded.

“Yeah. So quit with all that talk about me ‘coming to my senses’ and so on, okay?” She pleaded, tilting her head hopefully up at him. The big man looked abashed, but pleased, beaming at her as he drew in a long breath that swelled out his broad chest.

“Well, alright then.” He mumbled, eyes a little distant. He shook himself slightly and regrouped. “S-so, uh… now that we understand each other on that point… where d’you wanna go for our date?”

“The lake.” She said immediately. He blinked at her.

“The… lake?”

“Yes.”

“Uh… well… yeah, okay.” He said, posture uncertain.

“What’s wrong?” She asked, genuinely curious. He stared at her, bewildered.

“I, uh… nothin.’ Nothin’.” He repeated, blushing as he looked away. His ears rapidly reddened and the left one twitched visibly. She grinned malevolently.

“Ah…” She said, comprehension dawning, “Shouldn’t there be a sales pitch for one of your ridiculous chain mail bikinis rolling off your forked tongue right about now?” Bado blushed still more furiously, refusing to look at her.

“Uh, no I wasn’t gonna—that is I may have considered—but it ain’t up to me, is it?” He shook himself. “A-anyway… uh, w-when did you wanna go? Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow’s great.” She replied, a satisfied smirk on her lips. Her plan was working already. “Meet me in front of the castle at 10am?”

“I’ll be there.” He said, nodding.

“Great!” She chirped, and stepped forward to catch him in a quick hug, her slender arms wrapping tightly around his middle for a beat. He startled briefly before squeezing her back with a chuckle.

“Affectionate little thing, ain’t ya?” He said, smirking again.

“Yeah. I hope you don’t mind.” She said, smiling up at him.

“Not at all.” He returned warmly, squeezing her again.

“Tomorrow, then?”

“Tomorrow.” He confirmed, mirroring the broad grin she gave him.

Chapter Text

Frey shifted her weight on her tiny feet as she stood in the sun waiting for her dwarven boyfriend to answer his door. She’d risen early, hurried through her chores, and set out across town in a light, airy, blue dress over her swimsuit. She carried a bag over her shoulder and a basket in her other hand. In her somewhat flustered state the day before she had neglected to specify a time or make specific plans for what they might eat while they were spending time at Dragon Lake. So, to compensate for the oversight, she made a picnic lunch herself and determined to call on her boyfriend at 10am at his own home.

She knocked on the door for a second time, a little louder. Could he still be asleep? He was, by all accounts, not what you’d call a morning person, after all. As she waited, Frey’s thoughts ran away with her again; ever since Arthur’s inquiry the day before she’d scarcely been able to stop wondering about her lover’s more intimate side.

She floundered wildly between feeling certain that he, a red-blooded man who wanted her for his girlfriend, had surely considered the idea of going to bed with her already, and wondering if she were simply fixated on her attraction to him and projecting her newfound insecurity. Everyone had different appetites where these things were concerned, after all. Who was to say he was the type to look at someone that way before they’d even been on a second date, anyway?

“ Am I a pervert?” She wondered, sighing. “ Really, I shouldn’t be looking at him that way before we’ve even kissed, right?” Her imagination conjured an image of the big man in a disheveled state, hair mussed, half-unrobed, voice husky, eyes smoldering…

She shook her head vigorously. “Stop it!” She had to get a handle on these thoughts before—

“Wow, you really don’t waste any time, do ya, Frey?” A familiar, deep voice sounded behind her. As recognition shifted into place in her mind, she blushed profusely, her mind not quite free of the rather more lewd image of the very man who now stood behind her. She blinked rapidly as she turned around, trying to think of an alibi for her red face. Her mind went blank as her eyes fell upon Bado.

The tall man stood before her, apparently at his ease, as if all were normal… wearing a huge floppy sun hat with silk flowers in pink and yellow stitched to the band, and sporting a pair of dark sunglasses on the bridge of his angular nose. He was also outfitted in simple, dark blue men’s swim trunks and a t-shirt that would have fit her like a tent.

Really, it was kind of him to give her such a plausible reason to be blushing as she blinked stupidly up at him. He stared back at her through the shades for a beat or two, then raised a finger to nudge the eyewear down the bridge of his nose and peer at her over the frames.

“Somethin’ on my face?” He inquired, smirking.

“On your… head.” She replied slowly, staring up at the hat.

“You like it?” He asked, looking up, “Just borrowed it from Lin Fa.”

“I…” She began, then let out a laugh as she surrendered to it. “Sure. It’s very pretty.” She sighed, shaking her head.

“Thanks.” Bado replied, still smirking. “Sunburned ears are the worst thing, so…” He explained finally, shrugging. Frey perked up.

“Oh! Well I made sunscreen with my chemistry set back at the castle, so we shouldn’t have to worry about getting burned.” She tried not to remember that her ulterior motive had more to do with encouraging them to wear less once they arrived at the beach.

Bado raised his eyebrows. “Dang, Frey. Is there anything you can’t do?”

“I can’t reach the top shelves in the pantry.” She shrugged with a silly smile, eyes climbing up his considerable height.

“Well, at least I know I’m good for something.” He laughed good-naturedly.

“Are you ready to go?” She asked excitedly.

“Uh, Sure?” He offered, eyeing her bags, “You seem to have everything accounted for, by the look of things.” She blushed.

“Well, better to have overpacked than to miss lunch, right?”

“Can’t argue with that.” He agreed, holding out a hand. She un-shouldered her bag and placed the handle in his waiting palm. Then she noticed for the first time he was barefoot. She blinked down at his big feet then looked up at him quizzically. “Oh, heh. Uh… I don’t really own any open-toed shoes, y’see. Those’re a good way to lose a toe when you’re forging.” He winked at her.

“Oh!” She squeaked. It made sense, but the whole picture of him in his current state had bamboozled her expectations. She hesitated, not quite sure how to proceed. Her eyes settled on him but the rest of her would not quite move.

“Are you ready?” He asked after a breath or two as she stared absently at his chest. The t-shirt he wore might be more fabric than her whole dress, but it wasn’t so large as to obscure his broad, muscular frame completely. She started and shook herself.

“Yeah. Sorry.” She hurried to say, blushing again. He smirked at her. They began to walk side by side toward the western edge of town.

“So, what’s sunscreen made of, anyway?” He asked in a casually interested tone.

“Mostly fireflower, ironically.” She replied, grateful for a talking point.

“Huh. I’ll be darned.” He replied

“A lot of things in medicine mixing are counterintuitive like that.” She said offhandedly. “Some ingredients are just a lot more than they seem, I guess?” She added, glancing sidelong at him with a conspiratorial smile.

“You implying over there?” He asked, bending an eyebrow.

“Maybe.”

He snorted. “I like to think I’m a what-you-see-is-what-you-get sort, actually.”

“ Actually , you are really odd.” She laughed. “I kinda doubt anyone’d figure you out just based on what they see.”

“There’s that relentless side of you again.” Bado said with a slightly crooked smile.

“I mean,” She said, playfully exasperated, “That there’s certainly more to you than I’d guessed. In a good way.” She added as he eyed her wryly again. “For instance: I had no idea you wanted to date me. Could’t you have given me a hint before I made up my mind to go traipsing off into the wild blue yonder?”

“Well, how was I supposed to know you’d actually consider it?” He laughed. “They don’t write songs about princesses and blacksmiths.”

“I’m not a real princess.” Frey shook her head as they passed into the open field before the lakeshore. Bado stopped walking and Frey turned to eye him curiously. He slid the sunglasses down again and she watched his blue-gray eyes size her up, looking almost wistful.

“Sure you are.” He said quietly, “Certainly lovely enough to be from a fairy tale, anyway.” Frey felt her cheeks heat up again.

“Flatterer.” She accused. He half-smiled at her, eyes soft despite the twinkle of playfulness in them.

“You know I ain’t capable of lyin’ to someone’s face.” He said, voice quiet, almost intimate. “Weren’t you just telling Arthur that yesterday?” Frey’s eyes widened and a jolt of fear went up her backbone.

“He told you about that?” She squeaked. A big, booming laugh burst out of the tall man.

“He mentioned you were rather complimentary, yeah. Seems he wanted t’be sure I know how lucky I am, but he shouldn’t’a bothered. Nobody knows it better’n me, already.” A warm smile spread across his face, cutting those familiar smile lines deep into his cheeks.

Frey blushed still more as Bado’s dwarven eyes glinted at her with the bright, almost metallic shine that flashed from them in sunlight. That gaze, so warm and pleased… it was as likely to melt her as the summer sun growing hotter above them.

“He didn’t say anything weird to you, did he?” She ventured, still concerned Arthur might have mentioned the more salacious parts of their conversation.

“Er… Well, nothin’ I didn’t expect outta him, anyway.” Bado admitted, somewhat evasively. Frey gulped. “But that one can be weird in general, ya know?”

“Can’t argue with that.” Frey muttered. She gestured to a lovely spot where the trees grew near to the shore where they could sit in the shade but still be close enough to enjoy the breeze off of the lake’s surface. “Do you wanna set up over there?” She asked, eager to put her mind to work on something other than worrying about what Arthur might have said to her boyfriend.

“Sure, looks like a nice spot.” Bado agreed, walking just a pace behind her as they moved to the intended place. They set their things down against the nearest of the trees and Frey began rummaging in her bag. She pulled out the big blanket she’d brought and spread it out over the ground, sandy between the grass this close to the shore. She arranged stones from nearby on the corners of the blanket to keep the wind from moving it, then sat down and gestured for Bado to sit with her. He did so, leaning back on his hands and watching her continue to rummage in her bag. The big, floppy hat wobbled each time he turned his head. She mustered her resolve and began phase one of her plan as she found the bottle of sunscreen she’d made the previous evening for the occasion. She held it up to show him and pointed up at his hat.

“You won’t need that anymore once we get a bit of this on those ears.”

He reached up reflexively and touched the brim of the hat, looking suddenly nervous.

“Is that right?” He mumbled.

“Yeah. Want me to put some on them for you?” She offered hopefully. “It works really well. I used this recipe a lot last summer, too.”

“I…” Bado began, chewing his lip and furrowing his brow. “Well it ain’t exactly that I don’t want you to, but…” She tilted her head at him, confused. His pointed dwarf’s ears were rapidly reddening. Even his cheeks were beginning to show a rather rosy glow. He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I’d better do my ears myself.” He said gruffly, glancing at her eyes and away again. His left ear twitched visibly. Frey stared at him.

“O…Kay.” She said slowly, handing him the bottle and watching his expression for clues. “Are you ticklish or something?” She asked after a beat.

“Ah… no, not exactly.” He gave a little nervous laugh. “Let’s, uh… let’s just wait until we’ve been on a few more dates, first.” He looked up at her wide eyes and his expression turned sheepish. “For the ears, specifically.” He explained, voice a bit rough.

“Oh!” She piped, understanding clicking into place, “I didn’t realize they were—I mean, assuming you mean…” She trailed off, feeling suddenly unequal to saying it aloud.

“It ain’t just me. It’s kind of a dwarf thing.” He explained, seeming embarrassed but smiling at her nonetheless, “I’ve just got it particularly bad.”

“Good to know.” She said, smirking at his expense and feeling somewhat gratified that he could be bashful about these things, too. She handed him the bottle and he accepted it, beginning to apply the sunscreen to his legs and arms first. She did the same in turn, trying hard not to stare at him when he did get around to rubbing the mixture onto his pointed ears. She busied herself covering her shoulders, neck, face, and ears and then, when everything else was done, she moved on to phase two.

“Could you unzip me, please?” She asked, lifting her long hair in its usual twin tails out of the way and putting her back to Bado. He turned to her and stared, blinking for a moment. His ears, having just mellowed to nearly their usual color, flushed red anew.

“Uh, sure.” He mumbled, and delicately pulled down the zipper in the back of her dress.

“Thanks.” She said, sliding the straps over her shoulders and pulling the garment off over her head. She looked shyly over her shoulder at her boyfriend as she sat on her heels, her swimsuit—and most of her— revealed to him. To her profound satisfaction, he was ogling her with an intense gaze. His throat moved as he swallowed, eyes combing over her from head to toe. She smirked. That was a good sign.

“Like it?” She ventured in a light tone, “I picked it just for the occasion.” Her swimsuit was a white bikini-style with a short ruffled skirt around the rim of the bottom piece, and small white bows on the shoulders of the top. A pattern of green leaves adorned the fabric with a summery pop of color. Bado blinked at her and grinned, abashed.

“Sorry for staring.” He said, sounding as if he’d been holding his breath, and rubbing the back of his neck. Frey smiled a wicked little smile at him.

“I’ll let it slide.” She said slyly, “ If you hurry up and take your shirt off.” The big man’s eyes widened and he blinked stupidly at her, blushing. She almost laughed out loud. Three months ago she’d never have even guessed that the big, butch blacksmith could look so… cute !

“Uh…”, He fumbled, “I… was planning on keepin’ it on, actually.”

“Why?” Frey asked, genuinely surprised. Bado turned his head and looked along the shoreline. Other members of Selphia’s citizenry were arriving here and there for sunbathing, fishing, or swimming. He eyed the people in the distance and turned back to her with a slight wince on his features.

“Not everybody appreciates seein’ a big hairy guy like me topless.” He explained reluctantly. Frey gave him an exaggerated pout.

“But that just wouldn’t be fair !” She turned herself all the way around to face him and watched with satisfaction as his eyes combed over her from head to toe again.

“Uh…” He fumbled, shaking himself out of his stare.

“Should I put my dress back on?” She asked, feigning innocence rather blatantly, “So you won’t have to be the only one overdressed?” She raised an eyebrow at him as she said it.

“I’d rather enjoy the view as-is.” He admitted, the slightest hint of wickedness creeping into his smile as he made a point of glancing down at her top while she watched his expression.

Frey leaned toward him, raising her eyebrows and speaking in conspiratorial tones: “Then you’d better hurry up and reciprocate .”

A short huff of breath escaped him in a monosyllabic laugh. “You are trouble.” He said, smiling a crooked smile. Then his expression grew embarrassed again. “You sure you won’t mind it, though? I ain’t kiddin’, ya know. I’m like a bear-skin rug under here.” He plucked at his collar and she could see a bit of chest hair peeking up through the gap by his neck.

“You’re stal-ling.” She accused in a sing-song voice. He chuckled again.

“Alright, you asked for it, princess.” He lifted his burly arms and grasped the edge of his T-shirt, pulling it off from back to front over his hair, ruffling it into a tousled state as he did so. He ran a big hand back through the dark, mussed hair atop his head to get the front pieces out of his eyes, and consequently messed it up even more. “Now don’t go sayin’ anything to hurt my feelings,” He chided as he looked up at her, embarrassed and expectant all at once. “I wouldn’t be doin’ this for anyone but you, after all.”   

Frey’s eyes widened and she made no attempt to disguise her stare. Dark, ruffled hair, nearly as thick as that which crowned his head, spread across Bado’s broad chest and down his abdomen in a wide, dark row that completely obscured his skin along the center line of his body. She gripped her right hand with her left to counter the immediate urge to reach out and touch. What would it feel like to run her fingers through all that? The curiosity was almost overwhelming. She gulped, finally returning her gaze to his eyes as her face grew a fiery shade of red.

“Geez. You really weren’t kidding!” She laughed. He winced and his posture deflated a bit. A pang jolted her heart as she saw that sign of insecurity. She had never known Bado to seem vulnerable before; his carefree, unvexed attitude generally showed no sign he gave a hoot for what anyone thought of him. Immediately a strong urge to prop up his confidence assailed her. For all her embarrassment over the idea the day before, she suddenly wanted her new boyfriend to know just how attractive he was to her.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that.” She said, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear and looking as coy as she knew how to, “I didn’t say I don’t like it.” As she finished speaking she let her eyes wander over all his substantial frame again, devouring this first real look at his body with obvious enjoyment. When she’d swept her gaze over the whole of him, taking her time and smiling wickedly, she snapped her emerald eyes back up to his and gave him a look she hoped would describe how much she liked the idea of getting more physically acquainted with what she’d just seen.

Bado’s face slowly transformed from a tense, almost cringing expression, braced for a blow to his ego, to surprise, to an almost disbelieving smile that tugged just one side of his mouth. His ears burned red and the blush had spread across his lined face. He brought a fist up before his mouth and cleared this throat.

“W-well now, that’s a look that could melt iron, and no mistake.” He said in a slightly raspy voice. “You best take it easy on me with that, Pet. I dunno how long I can go without bursting into flame, especially with you wearing that .” He eyed the bikini again and gulped visibly. Frey grinned, heart swelling with pride. Her plan seemed to have worked just as intended. No longer nervous, she felt a little guilty for trying to manipulate him rather than just asking plainly what she wanted to know.  

“Sorry for layin’ it on so thick.” She said, smirking. “I’ll admit I had an agenda.” He looked at her quizzically. She looked away, blushing anew. “Something Arthur said to me got me wondering if… that is, I got curious to know if you’re attracted to me, physically . Bado leaned back and stared at her, dumbfounded.

“Frey, you…” he began, trailing off and blinking stupidly at her, “How clueless are you?” She looked back at him sharply. He let out a big laugh, tilting his head back. She waited for him to look at her again and blinked at him, frowning.

“Here I am, struggling to be a gentleman for you on our second date and you’ve gone outta your way to make it harder on me.” He said, the laugh still in his voice, “You ain’t ever gotta worry about that, Pet.” He said warmly, grinning at her. Suddenly, he leaned forward and reached out a big, angular hand. Her eyes grew wide and her breath stopped in her throat as he grasped one of her small slender hands in his wide, warm palm, drew it up before his face and brushed the back of her hand with his lips.

“If anything, you’re too attractive, Frey.” He said quietly in his deep, basso voice. She swallowed, electricity in every inch of her. “Scrambles my brains every time I look’t you in that swimsuit.” He gave her a mischievous smirk.

“Thanks.” She said, still blushing as she smiled at him.

“O’course.” He returned releasing her and leaning back on his own big hands. She watched him a little wistfully. He tilted his head and smiled at her in a plainly affectionate attitude. “You’re young, Frey. And I’m gonna last a good long while. Dwarves always do. There’s plenty of time. We don’t need to rush anything.”

She smiled back at him. “You really are a gentleman.” He gave another of his big, booming laughs.

“And that was almost a compliment.”

Frey rolled her eyes. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.” She said, still smiling at him.

“Yeah, I know.” He agreed. “It’s still funny, though.” She shook her head. Bado sat up and pointed at her, adding:

“But just because I’m on board for takin’ it slow doesn’t mean I’m not interested. Don’t you doubt it again, y’hear me?” He winked at her. She grinned.

“Yeah, I hear you. Thanks, Bado.” She gazed at him, feeling fonder all the time.  Who would have guessed the man who always had some half-baked scam in mind, but could never behave crookedly enough to make it work, would someday manage to steal her heart?

Finally, Frey stopped staring at him and picked up the sunscreen once more.

“No ulterior motive this time.” She explained, “I just don’t wanna get burned. Could you get my back, please? I’ll do yours, too.”

“Sure thing.” He said, smiling as he reached for the bottle. She turned around again, sitting primly as she waited. After a few seconds of mild suspense his thick fingertips brushed across her shoulder blades and down her spine, smudging the mixture in broad strokes to start with. Then, his wide, warm palms began working the sunscreen over her skin. She smiled softly to herself, enjoying the touch.

That he was indeed enticed by her, as she now knew, made it all the sweeter how he carefully assisted her without any obvious desire in his movements. Not only did he want her, as she’d hoped: he was perfectly willing to set that aside for her benefit. If she were completely honest, though… her mind was always going to run away with the sensation, no matter how chaste he endeavored to be. She tucked the feeling away for now, looking forward to reliving it later when she couldn’t be there with him.

“There, that outta do it, I think.” He said as he finished.

“Thanks.” She said again and turned herself around and picked up the sunscreen once more. “Ready for me to do yours?”

“Sure.” He said and repositioned himself with his back to her… his broad, muscular back… Frey swallowed, chiding herself as she gathered some of the sunscreen into her hands, rubbing them together briefly. She hesitated only for a moment, hands shaking just slightly, before pressing them to his skin.

The sinews of his powerful physique shifted beneath his skin whenever he moved. She tried hard not to let her mind wander but with his body at her fingertips it was impossible to reign in her imagination completely. Grateful he couldn’t see her expression just now, she wondered idly if he’d struggled similarly as he’d touched her back.

“Alright.” She said finally after another minute or so. “I think we’re all good.”

“Great!” He smiled, “Thanks again for making that for us. You definitely came prepared.”

“No problem.” She replied. “So, are you ready to go swimming?”

“Swimming, eh?” He replied, leaning back onto his elbows. “You sure you wouldn’t rather lay back and relax in this great spot we got?”

“C’mon lazybones,” She laughed standing up and offering him a hand, “It’ll be fun.” He accepted the hand but made no effort to get up as she leaned back and tugged on it. Not an inch of him budged. She stumbled, off-balance having expected to be leaning back to help pull him up. Laughing as she glared playfully at him, he finally did shift his weight and stand.

Now he towered over her, looking down from his great height and smiling warmly. He gave her a nod.

“Lead the way, princess.”

She began padding down to the shore on her bare feet toward the dazzling surface of the lake. Upon arriving she dipped a slender foot in up to her ankle and stopped, tensing as the cold water embraced her. She let her breath out slowly and stepped in with the other foot, raising up her arms as she inched her way into the lake a little at a time. Behind her, Bado chuckled.

“You’ll face down a charging buffamoo, no problem, but can’t handle a little dip in cold water?” He teased, then lunged forward, plunging the whole of him into the water. His enormous stature displaced a wave of water that splashed against her belly, sending a shock of sensation through her. A shrill gasp escaped her lips and she stuttered “Y-ou!”

Bado re-emerged and shook his head vigorously, scattering droplets of shining water in the sunlight as he bobbed up out of the water and settled himself, merely sitting on the sandy lakebed in the shallows.

“I’ll get you for that!” She shrilled, and dipped her arms into the lake, splashing him vigorously with energetic motions. Bado turned his head, laughing as the water hit him. A moment later he swept one big arm about him and sent another wave toward her. Frey let out a shriek as the cold water collided with her chest, and redoubled her efforts, flinging water relentlessly at her lover’s face. He retreated, spluttering and smiling.

“I’ve got you now!” She cried triumphantly as she continued scoping water at him.

“Oh yeah?” He replied, and lunged for her. She squealed as he scooped her up in his great arms, gathering her up against his chest. A gasp slipped out as she felt so much of his body suddenly pressed against hers, and then she was flying through the air. Briefly she caught sight of his mischievous, grinning face before gravity plunged her through the surface of the water.

Bubbles tickled her sides as the cold water rushed all around her, the water dampening the sound of her boyfriend’s basso voice laughing at her expense. She stood up as her feet touched the sandy bottom and the water slid off of her in ever direction as she gasped in utterly scandalized tones.

“Bado!” She cried, voice shrill and incredulous. He flinched and ducked his head, still grinning but sheepishly bracing himself to be told off. “Do that again!!” She shouted, eyes blazing, a wide, silly grin on her face. Their laughter overlapped one another as she waded back over to him.

The two made sport of seeing how far Bado could toss her smaller person for a quarter of an hour. Then they floated on their backs and spotted shapes in the clouds. They even ended up in a game of Marco Polo with Doug and Amber who had both come to the lake on their own for an afternoon diversion.

Eventually Doug left to go bother Dylas, who he’d spotted fishing on the shore, and Amber climbed out of the water to sunbathe until her odd butterfly-like wings were dry. Comfortably expended from their exertions, Bado and Frey too retreated from the water to their spot on the shore to rest and eat the picnic lunch Frey had prepared.

Bado was delighted with the salted salmon onigiri she’d made, knowing him to be a fan of rice balls. They chatted comfortably for perhaps an hour or two, the conversation wandering to and fro, and even involving a brainstorming session for his next big scheme.

Finally, heart full and warm with the day’s very agreeable experiences, Frey let herself be convinced they should pack up their things and walk back to town. When they neared his home she slowed her steps, but he shook his head.

“I’ll walk you back to the castle.” He offered. She accepted, smiling. Far be it from her to decline another few minutes together.

“Thanks for everything, today.” He said, bathing her in that warm, affectionate gaze again when they arrived at her doorstep in the East wing of the castle.

“Of course.” She returned, looking up at him with veritable stars in her eyes “Thank you for going out with me today, and putting up with my scheming, earlier.”

“What kinda hypocrite would I be if I denied others their schemes?” He grinned.

“A fair point.” She replied, then opened her arms to him for a hug. He chuckled and bent low for a moment, scooping her up and squeezing her to him with his thick arms around her and her feet dangling at least a foot off the ground. She closed her eyes and savored the warm embrace, sighing happily. As he set her down again, their hands found one another and they stared into each other's eyes.

“C’n I see y’again tomorrow?” He asked quietly, speech growing rough as it often did when he felt at ease.

“Please.” She replied, still leaning toward him. “Want to come by the castle this time?”

“Sure.”

“Noon? We could make some lunch together?”

“Perfect.” He replied, smile widening. He stooped suddenly, bending his neck and delivering a quick, gentle kiss on her cheek. Blushing furiously, Frey blinked mutely up at him, one hand resting her own fingers lightly where his lips had touched her. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Pet.” He murmured, everything about him looking pleased.

“You too.” She squeaked, short of breath and burning hot. They parted, hands still grasping one another until distance required that they let go. Frey watched his back as her lover made his way across the town square toward his home, waving faintly as he looked over his shoulder at her and smiled again.

Finally as he disappeared around a street corner, she stepped inside, closed the door, and leaned against it, her face blazing still. Her heart pounded and her head swam.

“Take it slow, huh?” She mumbled, “With these feelings?”

Chapter Text

Frey awoke in the peaceful quiet of a warm summer morning and immediately furrowed her brow. Where was Vishnal? He had been so insistent on being the one of the castle butlers to give her her wake-up call in the morning. She sat up in bed and looked around, a little concerned. The excitable young man was truly a walking disaster when it came to certain tasks, cooking being the worst of them, but not once had he neglected a duty of his profession.

Suddenly the memory of the day before came back to her. The big floppy sun hat, convincing Bado to remove his shirt, enjoying his hungry stare at her in her swimsuit, feeling the warmth of his hands on her skin, and pressing her own hands to his broad, muscular back. Frey put her curiosity about Vishnal’s whereabouts aside for the moment and flopped back onto her plush double bed, smiling. Truly it had gone better than expected. Not only had she gotten her confidence bolstered by his forthright admission of attraction to her, he’d promised patience and assured her there was no rush.

How had she missed him during her first year in Selphia? She’d known for a long time she wanted to meet someone and enter into a romantic relationship. And yet, her eyes had failed to bring this diamond-in-the-rough to her attention somehow. Perhaps it was mostly to do with his errant ways as a shop-keeper? She thought wryly, remembering the first conversation she’d shared with the man.

He’d offered her ‘memory restoration medicine’, a gleeful air about him even though he obviously hadn’t expected her to believe the pitch. Then, as her eyes had lit up and she asked ‘How much?’ His face had fallen. He squirmed and stalled and finally chided her for believing things that are too good to be true, sheepishly apologizing for the lie and encouraging her to rely on the townsfolk, him included, if she should need any help.

Later he’d inquired as to whether she’d been able to recover any of her memories. When she’d told him she hadn’t with an anxious, distant gaze, he’d smiled reassuringly.

“Your memories are in your head, so I can’t help you get them out, but this town is a good place to start a new life. Just settle in and wait for your memories to come back on their own.”

Even way back then he’d encouraged her to take her time. Yes, dwarves had plenty of longevity in their ancestry, but she got the feeling that wasn’t all. Maybe he simply hated to rush anything? Or maybe Bado was simply a person who believed things would work out, given time.

Smiling throughout her rumination on her boyfriend, Frey rose and readied herself for the day. She dressed in light, comfortable attire suitable to the warm weather: a white button down shirt and a short, scallop-edged skirt over skin-tight, knee-length shorts.

Today she’d enjoy another chance to see how her new relationship would continue to unfold before her. She drew in a deep breath, feeling it fill her up and expand her chest. Then, letting the air rush from her lips, quirked upward in a self-satisfied smirk, Frey walked toward the castle kitchen to make herself some breakfast and plan what sort of lunch she’d make the two of them.

As she passed through the dining hall and into the kitchen, Frey suddenly had an answer for her earlier question. Vishnal zipped past her, a frilly apron—probably one of Volkanon’s—tied upon his person. He darted two and fro, arms full of ingredients, utensils, dish towels, and other culinary odds and ends. Frey blinked at the young man. Sure, Vishnal was always a high-energy sort but the sight of him now implied new levels of hyperactivity. Selphia’s princess felt her eyebrows climb higher on her forehead.

“What in the…” She murmured to herself.

“He’s in one of his moods.” A soft, sleepy voice sighed beside her. Clorica had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, beside Frey. She gave a little startle, then smiled as she recognized her friend.

“Hi Clori,” She said warmly, “What’s he bent on this time?”

“Well…” Clorica began in her slow, meandering way of speaking, “He wants to learn to cook well, as you know—butlers need to be able to, after all—so he decided today he would make lunch for Lady Ventuswill.”

“O-oh…” Frey replied, eyes widening. “Well… that’s quite the undertaking.”

“I know…” Clorica sighed, “Usually Volkanon makes Lady Ventuswill’s meals or orders them in from Porcoline’s. So, not only is she accustomed to their skill level, but cooking enough food to feed a dragon at a gourmet level is an undertaking only those two would normally be capable of.”

“We thought it best to indulge his excitement, this time.” Volkanon’s deep voice joined the conversation as he, too, appeared in their midst.

“Geez!” Frey gasped, “I know it’s part of your butler skills and all, but I wish you guys would make some kinda sound when you come up behind me!”

“My apologies, Miss Frey. I did not mean to startle you.” Volkanon said graciously with a perfectly executed bow, his manners impeccable as always.

“Sssooo…” Frey started warily, “You’re just gonna let him carry on? What happens when Venti tastes his food?” She winced. Vishnal’s abominable cooking was bested at being the worst only by Forte’s occasional culinary attempts. Volkanon released a large sigh through his nose, too polite to give voice to it.

“I have taken the precaution of ordering her a meal from Porcoline. If he succeeds, well… You have plenty of monsters in your barns who enjoy a good dish for a treat now and again, yes?” Frey nodded, admiring the older man’s commitment to fostering his pupil, no matter how disastrous his endeavors were. They all knew very well Vishnal was not at all likely to succeed. His abundance of enthusiasm often led him, as it had today, to biting off significantly more than he could chew. The lad didn’t attempt to run before he could walk; he attempted to tap dance before he could walk.

“Well…” Frey began again, “As long as there’s room for me to use the kitchen to as well…” She shrugged.

“Ah, as to that: I’ve already prepared breakfast for you, Miss Frey.” Volkanon said proudly, proffering a tray of spectacularly bright yellow scrambled eggs.

“Oh!” She piped, accepting the dish. Far be it from her to turn down one of Volkanon’s delightful creations. He gestured back to the dining table and the three sat down together while Frey enjoyed the repast. “Thank you! I was actually talking about later today, around noon.” She explained, then scooped up a forkful of egg. Delicious, as always.

“Oh?” Clorica turned with a mischievous expression on her sleepy face. “Bringing your boyfriend over?” She asked, smirking slowly.

Frey paused in mid-bite, eyeing the butlers with wide eyes as her face flushed red.

“Ho ho ho!” Volkanon boomed jovially, “Is that right, Miss Frey? We shall have to provide him our best welcome! Are you going to tell me who the young man is or will I just have to wait until he arrives?” Clorica’s eyes widened and she exchanged an embarrassed look with Frey. Clearly she hadn’t meant to out her friend. Frey buried her frustration. It was her own fault for obfuscating the information from Volkanon in the first place. Clorica wasn’t to blame.

“He’s… not.” She said slowly, looking down and moving her eggs around her plate with her fork.

“Not coming?” Volkanon returned, “Why Clorica, I wish you’d be more careful not to mislead me!”

“No.” Frey interrupted, glancing up at the older butler. “He’s not… a young man. It’s Bado.” She said finally, concentrating on preventing her face from forming a wince as a shocked expression took hold of Volkanon’s features.

“I—Well, I—” Volkanon stuttered, blinking. He’d never frozen like this that she’d seen before. He shook himself. The man would sooner swallow a cactus that willfully do something he saw as unprofessional . “Please excuse me. I admit that took me by surprise. Miss Frey, how, if you don’t mind my asking, did you come to find yourself in a relationship with… Bado?”

“He kinda gave me a hint that he was interested, so after I’d traveled around a bit, I came back and asked him out.” Frey replied, not knowing how else to answer.

“My word.” The butler shook his head, “I have known for some time that several of the young men about town have taken a fancy to you Miss Frey, but I never expected our resident blacksmith to number among your suitors.

Frey shrugged. “I don’t think he expected to, either.  He was just upset that I was leaving, so he stopped hiding his feelings as well as usual.” Volkanon stared somewhat fretfully at her. Clorica bit her lip nervously and looked sidelong at her mentor.

“Miss Frey,” Volkanon intoned in a patient, almost pleading tone, “I would not presume to deny our princess her dalliances , but I do hope you’ll give careful consideration to your future before settling down.”

Frey blinked at him, mouth falling open in a stupid, vexed expression. Dalliances? Sure, she hadn’t been thinking of her still very new relationship as leading up to marriage or anything, but she hadn’t been looking for a careless fling, either. She swallowed. Volkanon hadn’t meant to be rude, of course. His good intentions and her esteem for the man made it awfully hard to challenge his perceptions outright.

“I assure you,” She began carefully, “I am not being careless. We’ve found ourselves quite compatible so far.” Volkanon stared at her, wheels clearly turning behind his eyes.

“I only wonder if you will not find you prefer a more… reliable partner in future.” He said after some consideration.

“I appreciate your concern,” Frey said somewhat stiffly, “But you have nothing to worry about.” The old butler tightened his jaw as he looked at her, as if he wanted nothing more than to press the point. But, he simply nodded and rose.

“Well, I suppose someone ought to at least supervise Vishnal’s attempt. Good day, Miss Frey. I hope your own activities go well today.” He bowed again with his ever-perfect form, and strode into the kitchen, back straight.

Frey clicked her tongue and looked aside with a frown, irritation bubbling in her belly.

‘ Basically, you’re saying he’s good enough to toy with but not to keep?’ She thought with a spike of resentment. The way Bado looked at her… his gentle reassurances… his own insecurities he’d revealed. How could she possibly think of him as a ‘dalliance’ when clearly it meant so much to him that she’d given him a chance?

‘ Reliable…’ Her frown tightened.

Certainly he neglected his responsibilities when it came to work, but was Bado truly unreliable? Could she count on the man with the worst reputation in town for being a lazy, scheming slacker? She chewed her lip.

“Frey,” Clorica ventured, calling her attention. “Don’t take it as disparaging your judgement. Mr. Volkanon simply wants the best for you. Almost like a father does for his daughter.” She said, smiling reassuringly.

“I know…” Frey mumbled, her brow still knit together in a fretful expression.

“Besides, I understand his concern.” The lady butler added. “Bado is… not the most responsible person in town…”

Frey looked up at her friend, searching her eyes with a frown.

“You too?”

Clorica shifted uncomfortably and tucked a lock of her long hair behind her ear.

“Well, by his own admission he does not take things seriously, particularly where is work is concerned. Spending all his time on schemery instead of doing an honest day’s labor.” She ‘tsked’, eyes growing hard. “If he spent half the energy he does on trying to con people, his business would be flourishing.”

“He’s not actually dishonest, though.” Frey countered sheepishly in the face of Clorica’s unusual firmness.

“Oh, we all know that.” Clorica agreed waving a hand dismissively, “I dare say that’s why everyone tolerates his chicanery. It’s just… Frey, do you want to get married, someday?” She said suddenly, looking searchingly at her friend’s eyes. Frey blushed, eyes widening.

“Well yes, but—” She began, but Clorica held up a hand.

“And how do you imagine your future husband? You, with all your industrious efforts here on the castle farmlands and with your own shop in town’s square on holidays; would you really be happy, paired with someone who doesn’t share your work ethic and passion, Frey?”

Frey stared at her friend. She wanted to defend him, to insist she knew him better than they did. But the truth was she didn’t know how she’d feel in a few years. What Clorica said was true, at least as far as the difference in their personalities.

“I just can’t quite picture it.” Clorica said, sighing.

They stared at each other a long moment before Frey looked away.

He had all but come undone when he’d thought she was leaving forever. He’d agreed to try at a relationship despite his insecurities. He so clearly wanted her but never demanded anything of her, simply humble and grateful for her affection. Wasn’t that enough? She sighed.

“I don’t know the future.” Frey said finally, “I only know what I feel now.” Warmth bloomed inside her. She looked up at Clorica and held her gaze. “When I’m with him, I feel happy. There’s something about him… something I never saw before, but I think it’s always been there.” She recalled the way he’d looked at her the day before as he told her they needn’t rush anything. “I’m not sure how to explain it, but… I really like him, Clori.”

The sleepy butler tilted her head and looked at her friend curiously.

“I can’t quite understand that.” Clorica admitted, smiling gently, “But I do want you to be happy, so… “ She trailed off and shrugged, her smile growing. “I can go along with it.” Frey smiled at her friend and pulled her into a hug.

“Thanks, Clori.”

“Sure.” The lady butler said, squeezing her back. Then she leaned back and glared sternly at her. “But it’ll be a different story if he does anything to hurt you!” She said firmly in her delicate, wispy voice. Something about a stern Clorica was just adorable. Frey smiled a lop-sided smile.

“Okay, okay. I’ll tell him.” She chuckled. Clorica nodded, then stood up.

“Well, I have a lot of work to do today,” She said, yawning, “I’d better get to it.” Frey nodded and watched her go. As her friend slipped through the castle hallway and out of sight, the smile slid off of the princess’ face. She wanted to remain firm in her convictions, but these were people she trusted and admired. She could not easily dismiss the uncertainty they’d sewn in her mind.

The laziest man in town. A con artist without the stomach to actually con people. A blacksmith who makes dull weapons. No wonder the townspeople would be reluctant to approve such a suitor for their princess. But… She’d chosen him . He hadn’t conned her into anything. He’d even tried to talk her out of picking him. She wanted him. Wasn’t that enough?

It was all too much, too confusing to untangle. She sighed and shoved the thoughts away. Best to come back to them some other time. For now, she already had plans for a very agreeable day with Bado and she wasn’t about to let it be ruined by their apprehensions.

Chapter Text

The cheerful jingle of the shop’s bell greeted Frey just as it always did when she stepped over the threshold into the ‘Meanderer’ blacksmith’s—and curiosity shop, thanks to Bado’s frequent experimentation with ordering bizarre stock to sell. One other customer, Doug, stood milling around in the section by the corner wall where a number of short swords were arrayed upon a wall rack. Bado was nowhere to be seen. Upon hearing the sound of the bell, the redheaded dwarf glanced carelessly up at the door, then blinked as his gaze sharpened with interest upon seeing her. 

“Hey, Frey!” He called, “Whaddaya think of this?” The short young man lifted one of the short swords, an oddly hefty looking thing for its size, with intricate designs running down the center of the blade. Doug twirled it about himself in a sequence of practiced maneuvers, but the unusual weight of the weapon threw off his balance and he wobbled, nearly dropping the thing onto a display shelf of knick knacks. He frantically grabbed at the base of the blade with his off-hand and regained control of the weapon, throwing her an embarrassed glance. Frey sighed shortly through her nose and shook her head slightly. It was a good thing for this miniature buffoon that the larger of the two dwarves in Selphia consistently crafted weapons that were too dull to be of any real danger to their bearer. Even so, they were imbued with the magic of ‘retournen’ so they were still effective at defending oneself from monsters. Doug cleared his throat, recovered control of his weapon and settled it gingerly back on the shelf. 

“Still working out the kinks in that one...” He muttered. 

“Seems like it.” Frey agreed, her tone less than impressed. The redhead shook it off. 

“S-so, what brings you here? I hear you have your own forge and everything at the castle. Whaddaya need from this place?” He asked. 

“Just picking up my boyfriend.” She replied, taking a step toward the workshop area of the building, searching for a familiar, bulky silhouette. “We have plans.” 

Doug blinked, mouth falling open. 

“O-oh wow. It’s true, then.” He said, somewhat disbelieving. Frey leveled a look with an undertone of challenge to it. The hint went completely unnoticed by the little fool. “I mean, I’d heard the rumors, but... I guess I just didn’t think it could be true.” He stared at her, bewildered, scratching his head like some comical play-actor. She sighed, rolling her eyes. 

“Boy it will be nice when everyone finally wraps their head around the idea so I can get on with my life without constantly explaining myself.” She grumbled. It was poor manners and she knew it, but damn it all! This idiot wasn’t putting any effort into tact, so she felt no desire to rein in her frustration either. 

“O-oh, um. Sorry. It’s just... unexpected, ya know?” Doug babbled, fidgeting. “A lot of us thought—uh, well, that is to say... We were starting to wonder if you were even into guys.” 

“Because I haven’t taken any suitors before?” She asked flatly, her expression unimpressed. He nodded. She sighed, rubbing her forehead with one hand. “Look... I don’t have to explain my tastes or my choices to you or anyone else just for their curiosity’s sake...” 

“N-no, yeah, of course not.” 

“But you tell whoever you meant by ‘we’ that Bado has been everything I want in a boyfriend thusfar, and if they don’t like it they can just keep their opinions to themselves and mind their own business.” She jabbed a finger in his direction to emphasize her point, and Doug nodded vigorously, leaning back. 

“Yep, yeah. I’ll tell ‘em.” He squeaked, wide-eyed. 

“Good.” Frey nodded, then turned on her heel and paced across the floor without looking back at the shorter man. She came to the doorway to Bado’s cluttered room at the back of the shop that served as his living quarters—and stockroom, judging by the odds and ends crowding the space. She brushed aside the drape of fabric that served as a ‘door’ and stepped into the room with a tense expression. She didn’t necessarily expect to find her paramour in his bedroom. Bado was well known for leaving his business unattended and relying on the ‘honor system’ to manage the store for him in his absence, but using this place as a refuge while she calmed her nerves in the wake of dealing with other people’s doubts about her relationship sounded like a good course of action. She was surprised, therefore, to see the man himself, huge, and long-limbed, draped over his oversized bed, with hands carelessly flopped over his chest, an open book covering his face. Her shoulders slumped slightly and one corner of her mouth tugged sideways in an unsatisfied expression. Here she was, defending him right and left to her friends and neighbors and he was literally sleeping on the job! Was what Clorica had said true? Was what Frey herself had said true? Was Bado everything she wanted in a partner? What if their lives overlapped more someday in the everyday mundanity of work and managing a household? How would she feel then about his obvious lack of work ethic? ‘I just know this is what I want now’. That was true, she was sure. It would just be easier to feel confident about it if she didn’t have these other thoughts to contend with thanks to people constantly bringing it up! She sighed aloud, and the form of the man lying sprawled out on the bed emitted a sound. He was laughing ! 

“You sure told him.” Bado said gleefully, voice muffled by the book over his face. 

“Y-you! You were awake the whole time? Why didn’t you come out?” She demanded, flustered. Bado removed the book from his face and sat up. 

“Guess you could say curiosity got the better o’ me.” He grinned.  She snorted. 

“Well, next time I’ll leave it to you to contradict them yourself!” 

“Nah... let em think whatever they want. All we gotta do is keep doin’ as we like. They’ll get used to it.” He said, folding arms behind his head and looking up at the ceiling with a relaxed air and a little smile on his lips. 

“You really don’t care what they think at all?” Frey asked dubiously. 

“Well, no, it’s not like that exactly.” He said, furrowing his brow in thought. “It’s more like... if I know I’m doin’ no harm... then it’s just a simple difference of opinion, and that I can live with. Can’t get very far in life if you can’t handle that .” Frey sighed and looked away, feeling weighed down by his words. When she offered no comment, he turned toward her, then sat up. 

“Frey?” He called quietly. “You okay?” She shrugged. 

“It’s been getting under my skin right and left, these things they say... the stupid questions... the stupid looks on their faces.” She said quietly, folding her arms around herself. A little sound escaped him, not quite a huff of laughter and not quite an acknowledging ‘hm’. He stood, paced calmly across his room and delicately rested his wide, warm palms on her shoulders. She blinked, waiting, but he did not speak. Finally, she looked up at his face, curious. Only once she had done so, meeting his gaze, did his words come. 

“It get’s easier as ya get older, Pet. An’ you’re a special kind o’ person. You notice more, think about these things a little more than most. I know it ain’t always comfortable, but that way o’ bein’... it’s a good thing. Promise.” He gave her a soft, encouraging smile, crow’s feet crinkling at the corner of his eyes. Her mouth twitched upward at the corner in spite of her determination to sulk. She let it, unfolding her arms and propping them on her hips. 

“You practice these little speeches?” She asked, tilting her head. His smile widened a touch. 

“Never.” He said, “Just comes out o’ me after so long bumbling around in this world, I guess. She returned his smile, then let out a breath and leaned into him for a hug. As his warm, solid presence enfolded her she relaxed against his huge frame, sighing. Time after time her tension, her worries calmed in his steady presence. Dating had opened up so many uncertainties to be anxious about, but whenever she had doubts about him specifically his knack for settling her nerves would present itself. She had things to learn from the laziest man in town, and he consistently gave her gentle support and acceptance. He might be clumsy, a unique breed of buffoon even, but he was undoubtedly earning her affection at every turn. She squeezed him in her arms.

“Thanks.” The word was muffled, spoken with her head tucked against his chest, but he tightened the hug for a beat in answer. 

“Any time, missy.” 

After another long indulgent moment feeling the comfort and assurance of that gentle embrace, She drew back, looking up at him with softened eyes. 

“Well? Shall we get going? We’ll need to go buy ingredients, after all.”

“Sure. Let me just make m’self a bit more presentable.” He replied, and shrugged on his many-pocketed vest. Next the big man ran his thick, squareish fingers through his mussed dark hair, making it look even more carelessly arranged. His was not the perfectly suave kind of dishevelment, but an appearance somewhat more genuinely careless. His sense of fashion was... not , as such. Rather, he seemed driven simply by a combination of utility and comfort. The absolute honesty of his casual approach to presenting himself was... endearing. 

“Alright, ‘m ready now.” He smirked, holding his hands out to the side as if presenting himself. She laughed, shaking her head, and grasped one of those hands in her smaller one. 

“Lovely. Let’s go, you dandy.” She teased with a curl of mockery in her voice. He echoed her playful air and they stepped out into the shop hand in hand, laughing and chatting back and forth. Frey very deliberately allowed herself a sense of great satisfaction at the wide-eyed stare Doug aimed at them on their way out the front door.

A trip to the grocery was exactly the kind of uneventful, domestic moment Frey adored. They chatted idly, flirting and laughing as they picked out ingredients for a hearty meal of union stew. A complex recipe, the dish was generally reserved for special occasions. Today was not a holiday as such, but cooking a hot meal for her new boyfriend felt plenty special. Plus the many steps to the recipe would give ample opportunities for them to collaborate in the kitchen. The true gems of personal connection often find one in the midst of a task undertaken together, as she well knew, and so she had resolved to create that opportunity in hopes of creating a memory to treasure. 

This time, the odd reticence in Blossom’s attitude as they meandered about the shop did not trouble Frey as the other incidents of the day had. She concentrated on Bado’s words from earlier... A difference of opinion... one they would all just have to get used to. She told herself firmly that it did not matter if Blossom did not like to see them holding hands in her store. They had as much right as anyone to just be together. And their own were the opinions that mattered most in this. His warm, broad smile soothed her as she looked up at him, holding tight to those thoughts. Finally, ingredients in hand they strode back to the castle at a leisurely pace walking side by side almost close enough to touch. 

“I hope you aren’t assuming I can make this kind o’ fancy thing just right.” He said with a little laughter in his voice as they approached the castle doors. “Kiel’s the one who cooks well in our family.” 

“I’ll be the expert, you can be the muscle.” She chirped, grinning at him.

“Well, That I can do.” He said, tilting his head in a conceding sort of way. She combed over his sturdy, well-built frame towering above her, and smirked slyly. He repaid the expression with a crooked half-grin of his own as he transferred some of the spoils of their errand from one hand to the other—with more tension in his biceps than was strictly necessary—and pulled the huge castle door open with barely any visible effort. Playing along, Frey sauntered through the open doorway with a little extra swish to her hips. She was just preparing to cast a coy little glance back at him when something snapped her out of her playful mood in the matter of a single blink: Smoke. The smell registered first. Then her widened eyes perceived the slight haze to the air throughout the castle. 

“A fire?” She breathed, feeling adrenaline surge into her bloodstream, preparing to tackle the crisis. 

“Hm.” Bado grunted, his own expression instantly grave, resolved. He set down their groceries by the wall and then appeared at her side a heartbeat later. Indistinct voices, raised in alarm came echoing from the corridor to their left. Frey bolted in that direction, knowing even before the huge man’s heavy footfalls sounded behind her that he would follow. A moment later she recognized the voices: Volkanon, Vishnal, and Clorica. It was coming from the kitchens. The smoke grew thicker until they rounded a corner and saw thick dark blooms of it billowing out from the doorway to the castle kitchens. 

“STOP! Not on the stove! That’s a grease fire!.” Came Volkanon’s booming voice. Vishnal yelped a moment later and there was a sound of water splashing onto the floor. Frey stopped in the doorway and scanned the room. Volkanon stood leaning over with an arm thrown in front of the young man, who looked to have been interrupted in the act of tossing a bucket of water. The floor around him, as well as good portion of his own clothing was wet, and he looked as though he might burst into tears, anguish plain on his face. The stove was engulfed in flames, their angry orange glow licking up the sides of the cabinets above with eager appetite. Fire spread sideways down the length of the kitchen counter, already finding plenty of fuel in the wood of the furnishings. The entire room was in imminent danger of becoming engulfed. 

“Volkanon!” Frey called. She felt Bado close behind her, stooping slightly to try and duck under the worst of the smoke.  The burly butler turned his head sharply to her. She held out an arm and murmured a quick incantation. A swirl of silvery blue light wreathed about her arm, condensing into droplets hovering in dreamy motion as the spell took shape. She met eyes with the old gentlemen, trusting he would know her intention without explanation. 

“Miss Frey!” He boomed. “Please be careful! A pan full of oil is afire on the stovetop. We must remove it before you can use your magic to effect!” She nodded, her eyes landing on the center of the conflagration. Just then Clorica ran in with a heavy looking blanket. Nodding, the huge butler gathered the thick cloth, which seemed to be damp on second glance, and lunged forward. He moved with assurance, the power and grace of all his physical training self-evident. In a blink he had covered the pan and most of the stovetop in a heavy shroud of dense cloth. The fire in the pan sputtered beneath the smothering weight, and then that quarter of the kitchen was only smoke and blackened wood. Volkanon nodded to to Frey, and she loosed her magic , spraying the cabinets with a forceful get of conjured water. Bit by bit she smothered the fire about the rest of the kitchen as Volkanon carefully slid the pan, still covered, off the burner. Finally, Frey bestowed a final jet over the last flickering tongue of fire and looked from person to person to check for signs of injury. A big hand cupped her shoulder and she heard Bado growl: 

“Outside. Smoke’s not somethin’ we should hang around in.” 

She nodded and jogged to the exit, the pair of them joined by the butlers. Upon reaching the entrance to the fields behind the castle, they stopped, glancing at one another with wide eyes and tense expressions. Vishnal looked as if he were about to be sick, pale, miserable and trembling.

“I’m so sorry...” He said in a quavering voice. Volkanon eyed him, a mixture of pity, frustration, and sorrow in his lined face. He did not speak. “I’m sorry... I’m sorry.” Vishnal continued to whisper. Clorica stepped close and wrapped her arms around her friend. 

“It’s alright. We’re all okay.” She said gently. He shook his head, curling in on himself. 

“B-but... the kitchen...” The boy whimpered. Frey stepped closer too. 

“Hey... Clori is right. Let’s just be glad no one was hurt.” 

“Mmhmm.” Bado echoed in his deep Basso voice. He hooked a thumb over his shoulder back at the doorway they had exited through. “Nothin’ in there that can’t be replaced, easy enough.” 

“I...” Vishnal squeaked, “You’re right, o-of course... but still...” 

Volkanon drew a deep breath that swelled out his broad chest. 

“Lad, a mistake is only a crime if it is not learned from. Do not let this lesson go unheeded, and you will have no further punishment than the experience itself.” 

“Y-yes sir.” The young man replied, mustering his resolve and nodding to his mentor. “Please allow me to help repair and replace everything. Volkanon nodded firmly. 

“Very good.” Please go and fetch my tools and a rubbish bin. You will join me in removing the debris as soon as the smoke is properly vented from the castle. The big butler turned to Frey and Bado. 

“I apologize, miss Frey, but I must ask that you stay clear of the west wing for the time being. We will have everything in order as soon as possible, and ask for your patience and your forgiveness for the inconvenience.” 

“Of course.” She said, a little breathless. “But, wouldn’t you like some more help?” She glanced over her shoulder at Bado, who nodded in agreement. Volkanon bowed to them. 

“No, Miss Frey. Between us there will be labor enough. Please do not let this incident impede on your evening any further.” She swallowed, nodded to the old gentleman, and and wished them well, taking leave of the dour mood and leading her boyfriend away toward the rear entrance of the east wing where her quarters were. 

“Well, now.” He said as they passed through her rooms. “That was certainly unexpected.”

“But unfortunately not entirely surprising either.” Frey sighed. 

“That bad, eh?” 

She nodded. Vishnal was well known to be a disaster in the kitchen. Though, todays escapade had ended rather more... theatrically than most. 

“I’m sorry, Bado... looks like our plans have been derailed.” Frey sighed, looking down and fidgeting with one long pigtail of pale green hair. Her eyes stung as disappointment settled in. 

“Hey there, pet, chin up. Ain’t nothin’ a little adjustment can’t fix.” He said, collecting her hand in his and moving toward the door. “It won’t be as fancy,  but I reckon we can still make a reasonable approximation of union stew in my forge. An’ no one know’s how to cook in a forge better than yours truly.” He grinned at her. 

Frey sniffled, looking up at him. She let a smile crack her sad expression. 

“Yeah?” She squeaked, “What’s the trick to it?” 

“Ah, no trick really. Mostly just a sense for how hot the furnace is and how to regulate it. That an’ good ol’ seasoned cast iron. I’ll tell ya all about it. C’mon,” He coaxed, “No need to hang around feelin’ bad. We still got the makings of a very nice evening goin’.” The big man gave her a wink, his blue-gray eyes bright. Frey’s heart jumped into her throat, fluttering as a giddy feeling bloomed within her. Even as she’d started this relationship with Selphia’s blacksmith, she’d never considered him a charmer persay. He wasn’t particularly gifted with smooth talking, despite his his salesman aspirations. It wasn’t a performance, either. Maybe that was why it brought a warm blush to her cheeks: This was just him, genuine, warm, affectionate, and offering a cheerful solution to their predicament. 

“Alright,” She agreed, her voice soft and a little breathless, “Let’s go.” 

Chapter Text

Bathed in the warm glow of the forge fire, Frey chopped vegetables beside her boyfriend in the workshop of the Meanderer smithy. Bado had cleared off all the scraps and clutter of his trade to make room for a somewhat more elaborate recipe than he would typically be making in the furnace of his workspace. He stood comfortably at the counter along the wall, built custom for his own great height. She on the other hand stood upon a step stool he’d recently made in his spare time, explaining that he’d had an inkling it would be handy to have around for his diminutive new girlfriend. 

She tried to concentrate on her task, really she did, only... She glanced up at him again. The big blacksmith had divested himself of his usual work attire for the more tame task of cooking and left only the tight black undershirt he was accustomed to wearing beneath his gear. It clung to every angle of his muscular chest and shoulders, even climbing partway up his neck, but despite the fact it covered a great deal of him it was nonetheless perfectly descriptive of his physique. She swallowed, thinking back to their date at the beach when she’d not only seen but pressed her hands to that solid, sinuous body. Out there at the lake the context had made sense. And here? In his home... in private— Her breath almost stopped in her throat,  tantalized and petrified all at once by the direction of her thoughts.  

‘ Damn it all, Frey, get a grip!’ She thought irritably, chopping a carrot with a little more force than was strictly necessary. Bado glanced at her cutting board. 

“You feelin’ frustrated, pet?” He asked gently. She stopped short, eyes widening, then blushed. 

“Uh... yeah, but... more with myself than anything else.” She admitted, staring hard at the chopped produce rather than looking up at him with her red face. 

“Ah, I gotcha.” He said, sounding ridiculously calm and relaxed. Why did he get to be so composed on their third date and she had these butterflies in her stomach still?

“I...I’m nervous.”

“Hm.” He acknowledged, “What’s makin’ ya feel that way right now?” A sudden surge of restless energy fired up inside her. She felt like she had to move, run, focus on something that would take up all her attention. Anything to avoid feeling this squirming something in her gut. Afraid to embarrass herself, yet having no idea what she should say in answer. What could she say in answer to that question? The bare truth would be too mortifying to say aloud. Why did she have to be nervous? She’d chosen him and he’d chosen her! It wasn’t fair she should feel this way! It shouldn’t— Frey straightened up, set down her knife and deliberately exhaled slowly, forcing calm upon herself. Bado waited patiently, watching her with serene blue eyes flickering with firelight from the forge. She chewed her lip and tried to regroup: 

“I’m usually a confident person... I decide what I’m going to do and I go for it.” 

“You sure do.” He agreed, smirking.

“And I know I want this... I know I want you...” She looked up at him and their eyes met. Had he stoked the forge recently? It felt so hot in here... Frey swallowed as Bado’s silvery blue irises receded around dilating pupils. He held himself motionless as he waited for her next words, almost like a sculpture of bronze or marble. “S-so... these nerves... trying to process everything... everything new about being in a relationship. I guess I don’t know how to cope with it yet. And not knowing what to do or how to handle myself in this situation... I’m not used to feeling this way. It’s a lot.” She swallowed again, her mouth dry. Bado set down the knife he’d been mincing garlic with and wiped his hands clean on a damp cloth. He plucked up her left hand in his right, angling his body toward her, and stroked a calloused thumb over her slender fingers. 

“There’s no hurry, Frey. You can take all the time ya need. An’ if there’s somethin’ I can do or do differently that’ll help... jus’ tell me, alright?” He smiled at her and her heartbeat stuttered. She blinked rapidly, her face burning. How? How was she supposed to reconcile the overwhelm, the  nervousness with this—this... passion ? She wanted to be here with him , but not stuck inside her thoughts like this. She wanted to be present with him... and physically present, especially. 

“Is it hard for you too?” She blurted out. 

“Is... what exactly? Bein’ in a relationship?”

“Yeah.”

“Well... I do get nervous, same as you I expect.” He said, tugging the point of his beard thoughtfully. 

“You seem a lot calmer than I feel right now...” Frey observed. 

“Well... this is my place, ya know?” He smiled, half-abashedly. “I was plenty nervous on our first date at Porco’s place, and out there on the beach too. You remember how reluctant I was to take m’shirt off, right?”

“Right...” She squeaked, blushing at the mention of it. “S-so, what do you do about it?” 

He folded his burly arms across that broad chest and squinted up at the ceiling, still pulling on the point of his beard. 

“Well... it was you who brought me ‘round then, remember? You bein’ playful... you bein’ honest. You told me what you thought in those situations... so I didn’t hafta guess at it, ya know?” 

“Oh—“ Frey piped, genuinely surprised. She thought back to their first two dates. Come to think of it, she’d been nervous too, especially at the beach. Wondering in suspense what he thought of her body, making excuses to show herself to him only to explain it all directly in the end. She’d felt better too once all their cards had been laid out on the table. She took a deep breath, and prepared to lean into the waiting, invisible arms of vulnerability again, trusting it would pay off. 

“I’m a little...” She gulped, feeling breathless, “I mean... being here in your home. It’s just the two of us and all, and... “ She licked her lips again, feeling herself begin to tremble. 

“ Steady... try again.” She thought as he tilted his head at her, waiting for more. 

“I’m very... very attracted to you, Bado.” She said almost in a whisper, staring up at him with a wide-eyed sheepish expression. Was she waiting to be shamed for fixing him with her hungry gaze? The big man blinked, his face and pointed ears darkening with a rich blush. His left ear twitched visibly. Blinking rapidly, he unfolded his arms and rubbed at the back of his neck, laughing in an abashed sort of way. 

“Ah I—I think I understand now.” He said finally, putting off meeting her gaze again by glancing around the room. “I don’t think of this as a very ‘sensual’ type place, t’be honest. So, it, uh... didn’t occur to me when I suggested we make our dinner here. I’m sorry if comin’ here feels like I’m puttin’ ya on the spot, Frey. I don’t mean to.” 

“I know.” She agreed, “It’s silly. I’ve been in this shop with you any number of times before. Lots of times there were no customers or anyone else here either. But now, with our being l-lovers and all...” She swallowed, her face glowing with heat. 

“It ain’t silly.” He murmured, staring at her with the look of burning embers in his blue-gray eyes. “It’s... somethin’ I’m sure looking forward to with ya, Frey. When we’re ready, that is.” 

“Me too.” She replied in a faint voice, “It’s just...” She held up her trembling fingers and looked at them fretfully. Bado’s big angular hands folded around them and squeezed, warm and strong. 

“Don’t focus on the jitters. What do you want to do right now, this moment?” He said, offering her his gentle gaze. 

“I...” She breathed, eyes flicking down from his eyes to his lips. She shook herself. “Let’s finish prepping these ingredients.” The task. Concentrating on their task would be easier, simpler. 

“Alright.” He squeezed her hands, smiling, “Let’s do it.” 

They returned to the cutting boards and little by little filled Bado’s big cast iron pot with bite-sized pieces of vegetables from her fields, spices, herbs, and their combined effort and attention. Along the way they chatted about a range of topics, including a few different ‘money making ideas’ he’d been incubating recently. She found herself laughing, everything in her lightened as they worked side by side. When at last he hefted the pot through the open hatch of the forge and positioned it inside among the coals, she felt her restlessness reemerge. She watched him as he adjusted things, scooped coals onto the lid of the pot with a long, iron shovel. Tracing the lines of his muscular arms with her eyes, watching the firelight paint his chest and abdomen orange, she couldn’t help but imagine exploring the landscape of his person with her hands as well as her gaze. 

“There we are.” Bado said, satisfied, and dusted off his hands. He turned about, met her eyes, and laughed nervously. “Oh, boy. There’s that look again.” Frey blinked a few times as she registered his words and looked away blushing profusely. 

“Sorry.” She hurried to say, wrapping her arms around herself. 

“Nothin’ to be sorry about.” He chided in a low, soft voice. His big hands settled on her shoulders and he waited patiently for her gaze. She gave it. “Frey, I feel a bit guilty for puttin’ you in a situation that makes you anxious. But, I hope you know well enough by now... what the sight o’ ya does to me.” She swallowed, feeling heat kindle in her belly. “I promise I’ll never try to push ya into anythin’, sweetheart. I want everything we do together t’be comfortable for ya. I wanna be totally sure it’s what you want too. I can be patient. There’s no hurry. Just let me know what you’d like to do. If bein’ here alone together is a bit much for today, we can take the food somewhere for a picnic dinner.” 

Frey stared up at her lover: older, wiser, more experienced than her. Everything in her melted at his words. She struggled to string her thoughts together. 

“I... have very little idea of what I’m doing.” She told him in a quiet, intimate volume. “I know you’ve got more experience than me. I might mess up. I might miss things that are obvious to you.” He chuckled softly. 

“Pet, if you think I won’t do the same just because I been around the block before...” She stepped closer, just shy of touching him. His words trailed off. Staring down at her with brows raised he waited. His throat moved as he swallowed. This man, her chosen partner... he was only waiting for her say so.

“Even with all the worries my mind can think up...” She murmured, “This is right where I want to be. Here, alone with you... I am a bit nervous, but...” She swallowed, shivering. “I’m also excited .” She gingerly rested her open hands against his stomach and leaned against him, gazing upward. He tensed beneath her fingers, his face shifting to surprise, then beginning to mirror her own... flushed red, eyes dilating. His pointed ears grew almost purple. The left one twitched again. She smirked, making note of that little tell. 

“I can hardly think of anything right now other than...” Her hands smoothed around his waist and she  pressed herself to him in a slow embrace. She sighed out her breath, still trembling. “Getting closer.”

“I... see that.” He said, smirking. Carefully, he traced thick fingers up her arms and cupped her shoulders in his huge hands. She concentrated on the touch, a simple gesture, not even sexual, necessarily. But... her body tingled and the heat inside her swelled. His right hand moved, merely brushing the backs of his fingers against her skin as he traced along her neck, up under her chin. She moved with the touch, eyes fluttering closed, breathing, waiting. “You’re pretty fired up right now. Plain as day.” He murmured, stroking her cheek with his thumb. “Let’s start simple though, alright? I don’t want ya gettin’ overwhelmed.” 

“Okay...” She whispered. 

“Good girl. Come here.” He collected her hands in his and stepped backward, tugging her gently along. He sank down onto one of the bench seats of his work table and settled himself. She stood before him, virtually at eye level now that he’d sat down. Then, his hands found her waist and gently moved her until she turned in place, her back to him. She glanced over her shoulder curiously, then made a tiny sound of surprise as he pulled her closer. The back of her knees bumped the front of his, and he tugged her again. She carefully sat, perching herself on his knees, shifting her weight until her backside settled comfortably on his legs. She heard him slowly exhale, then his deep voice rumbled through her as he spoke: 

“I think... this’ll be a good place to start.” He carefully moved her long green pigtails in front of her shoulders, then pressed his hands to her back, rubbing gently at the tensed muscles, gradually forming a rhythm. Frey closed her eyes again, focusing on the warm, firm press of his thumbs as he worked out the knots in her shoulders. With each muscle that relaxed under his attentions she too began to unwind from her electrified state. It felt... wonderful. His patient, steady attention, intimate yet chaste, asked nothing of her as he massaged all the way down her back. She’d been starving for him to touch her, a fire burning inside, pushing her toward him. And now, he gave her the warmth, pressure, and pleasure of his touch without answering that fiery call. Surprised, but not disappointed, Frey relaxed completely into the wide palms and strong fingers of her boyfriend. Finally, after who knows how many minutes she melted backward against him with a long, contented sigh. He laughed quietly, wrapping huge, strong arms around her and hugging her to him with a pleased air. 

“How’s that? Better?” He murmured in her ear. A little shiver went through her as his deep Basso voice reverberated inside her through their bodies pressed together. 

“Yeah.” She purred, “I’m surprised though... I thought you’d want... more.” He laughed again, the sound a warm fluttering sensation in her chest. 

“Maybe.” He admitted, “But... s’more important to me that you’re comfy right now. There’ll be time enough for ‘more’ later. I want it to be something you can enjoy without anything complicatin’ it. ‘Excited’ is good, don’t get me wrong, but...” He chewed his lip briefly, thinking on his words, “If ya go with ‘excited’ on its own, things can feel... a bit confusing in the afterwards parts.” She blinked, wheels turning. 

“Did that happen to you?” 

“Mmhm.” He agreed, nodding slightly. “Way back, and not just the one time either. Heh. Takes me a few tries to get somethin’ through this thick skull o’ mine, ya see.” She twisted around, turning her body so her side was at his front, and with only a little effort she could meet his eyes, her nose almost touching his. 

“I’m calmer now.” She hummed, blinking slowly into his soft gaze, “So... could we, maybe...” She looked down at his lips. He shifted, wrapping his left arm around her. His right came up, brushing her bangs out of her eyes and trailing a surprisingly delicate touch down the side of her cheek. 

“Mm.” He hummed a quiet assent, and moved with her as she reached for him. Their lips met, careful, curious, patient. She shivered as the bloom of sensation sent warmth and tingling and joy through her. Euphoria was hers as Selphia’s princess and her peculiar choice of suitor kissed again, then again, a third, fourth, fifth, and more following the first. She smiled against his mouth, letting out a breathy laugh as his beard brushed against her. Her fingers threaded through his dark, ruffled hair. The taste of him as she kissed him again and again consumed her thoughts. There was nothing but the sensuous enjoyment of this moment. Finally, all but breathless she drew back slightly and bumped her forehead against his, her breath sighing out of her through smiling lips. 

“There, now.” He hummed in pleased tones, “That’s the way.” He pressed ticklish kisses against her cheek, her temple, her forehead, the whiskers of his beard making her giggle and squirm. “Ain’t it better to be relaxed for this?” He purred. She nodded. 

“Thank you.” 

“O’course.” 

She gazed up at him, eyes glittering with all her adoring feelings and the pleasure of those kisses. He met that gaze and seemed to grow lost in it for a beat. There was a pause as he stared into her eyes, something turning behind his blue-gray irises. 

“We’d, uh... We’d better check on the food, eh?” 

She nodded. 

“Yeah probably should.” 

He carefully helped her to her feet, his attention fixed on her almost as if he could not even see anything else in the room. Finally, laughing, she ruffled his hair playfully. 

“Stop! You’re staring too much!” She laughed. The corners of his mouth curled. 

“Can’t really blame me, can ya though? Bein’ so nice to look at like y’are.” 

“Behave!” She chided with a delighted smile, “You were doing so well for a while there.” He laughed aloud. 

“I will, I am.” He assured, raising hands palms out.  She stepped back a pace and he stood. Her softened gaze followed his back fondly as he returned to the forge and tugged on thick mitten-like sleeves to reach inside and pull the pot close to the hatch. 

“ I almost left you behind, never knowing what we could have had. That would have been the biggest mistake of my life.”  

“Needs a bit more time, I think.” He said, tasting the broth with a clean spoon. He replaced the pot inside the forge and shut the door. Tugging off the forge gloves he turned back to her and blinked. 

“Frey?” 

She wiped away a tear from each eye. 

“Hey, you okay?” He asked, moving closer. One of his big hands raised reflexively toward her. She welcomed it, cupping her hand over his as he caressed her cheek, his expression concerned. She laughed through her tears. 

“Thank you, Bado... for running out there to meet me that day... before I left.” She sniffled, smiling at him. His expression flickered with surprise as he registered her words, then he mirrored her tender smile. 

“Sure thing, pet.” 

She hugged him, holding the huge man to her diminutive person as if she were holding him to the earth itself, lest he float away into the sky. He returned the hug, curling about her from his greater height. By and by she dried her happy tears and they began talking of all kinds of lighthearted subjects again. The stew made a delicious dinner and the companionable domestic tasks of tidying up afterward were as soothing to her spirits as the meal itself. 

After everything was cleaned and put away he offered to walk her back to the castle. So hand in hand they strolled quietly through the streets of Selphia chatting pleasantly on the way to her home in the center of town. At the door she rose up onto her toes and he bent with a chuckle to meet her, kissing her lips with a smile as they bid one another goodnight. Privately she dared anyone in town who might be passing by to bear witness. They deserved this love, no matter what anyone else thought of it. 

With no doubts and no worries for once, Frey watched her boyfriend walk back across the town square, throwing a smile over his shoulder after a few strides before continuing on his way. She sighed, completely content, and stepped inside her rooms. 

“ I don’t know exactly what I was expecting from all this... but I know now coming back for you was the best decision of my life.” 

Chapter Text

Frey sighed aloud with a dreamy air and a stupid smile plastered across her face. She blinked slowly in the steaming bath at the Bell Hotel, reveling in the hot water sending her body into a song of relaxed pleasure. Sinking down into the aromatic herbal bath water up to her chin, she hummed a satisfied note to herself. Rather than the bath itself, however, it was the recent memory of kissing her new lover for the first time that drew that sound up out of her. 

“Whoa, you’re in a real good mood, aren’t you Frey?” Meg observed, blinking at her as she stepped down into the water. Frey let her eyes flutter closed and murmured through smiling lips: 

“You could say that, yeah.” 

“What’s the occasion?” 

“Oh, she is smitten, yes? It seems I am hearing about it all over town!” Another voice joined, instantly recognizable as Xiao Pai by her strange way of speaking. Frey’s eyes snapped open and she sat up, turning to the newcomers. Forte and Illuminata also appeared from behind the half-curtained doorway of the changing room.  

“What? All over town?“ Frey heard herself blurt out. 

“You better believe it.” Illuminata grinned, propping her hands on her hips “But honestly you can’t blame folks. Such intriguing gossip. Last man any of us would have guessed you’d find yourself entangled with!” 

“Kiel has been... excited about it.” Forte confirmed, folding her arms over her breasts and looking away, her expression disapproving. Frey felt herself blush. If Kiel was involved, there was really no telling what exactly the rumor mill was bandying about. 

“Oh?” Xiao asked, wading down into the water with a hiss as she adjusted to the heat. The rest joined with Forte coming somewhat reluctantly at the end. “It seems he is happy for his foster papa, and so he talks about it? And you, Forte?”

“He’s looked out for us in his own way ever since our parents passed away, but I wouldn’t call him a father figure.” Forte grumbled, frowning. She lowered herself into the water, glancing sidelong at Frey, who gulped. She hadn’t quite figured out how to broach the subject with Forte or Kiel when next she spoke with them, and now that lack of forethought was going to bite her in her naked ass right here in the public bath. Good grief. 

“You didn’t answer the question.” Illuminata observed, looking sly. Forte shut her eyes and wrinkled her nose, folding her arms again. 

“Such things are not my area, and not up to me when it comes to others.” Forte said, tension in her voice, “But... I am certainly of the opinion he is not nearly good enough for Frey.” Her face turned red as she spoke, and she kept her eyes away from everyone in the bath. 

“W-why on Earth not?” Frey countered in a weak voice. This whole situation was beyond embarrassing, but she wasn’t about to let something like that go without comment. 

“Why d’ya think, Frey?” Illuminata asked, bending an eyebrow at her. “He’s completely irresponsible!” 

“And lazy.” Xiao agreed, still smiling. 

“By his own reckoning, even.” Meg added, suppressing a giggle. 

“You girls aren’t giving him enough credit.” Frey protested, looking around at them. “You don’t know what he’s li—“

“Oh, I do, though.” Forte interrupted. “I have known that buffoon all my life.” 

“You don’t know what he’s like as a boyfriend .” Frey countered pointedly. Forte shifted to the red of fresh summer tomatoes, spluttering a reflexive protest. Frey ignored it. “Not that anyone has bothered to ask before making all kinds of assumptions,” She sniffed, “But that ‘buffoon’ has been a perfect gentleman and very good company, I’ll have you all know. I am quite smitten and with good reason, so keep your judgements to yourself.” She turned her nose up and crossed her arms. 

“Aw, don’t be like that, Frey!” Illuminata said brightly, unperturbed. “Even so, did you really expect no one would be surprised at least? Indulge us!” 

“Yes, yes! I am wishing to know more as well!” Xiao added, clapping her hands just above the water. 

“We are happy for you if you’re happy, Frey.” Meg said, brushing a bit of her hair behind her long elf ears. “If anything it would be nice to know what other side there is to Bado.” 

Frey peered at them from the corner of one eye, reluctant. 

“No more badmouthing him?” She said warily. Meg and Xiao Pai nodded. Illuminata sighed. 

“You’re no fun... but okay. If you insist.” 

“Forte?” Meg asked. The lady knight kept a sullen silence, her eyes averted still. Meg sloshed through the water to her and grabbed hold of her shoulders, her body colliding with a gentle splash against the other girl’s back. Forte yelped aloud but Meg wrapped her arms around her collar and squeezed her. “Pleeeaase!” 

“Alright, alright!” Forte shrilled, her face now resembling a beet in color. “Just let go of me!” Meg obliged with a giggle and backed off. After all that having the beautiful elven girl ambush her was the thing that overwhelmed Forte? Frey smirked, taking note of that. 

“Sooooo?” Meg turned back to Frey, sitting primly in the water now with her arms around her knees, her eyes shining. Frey sighed, a smile tugging on her lips. 

“You all are so nosy!” She laughed, feeling herself blush. 

“Of course!” Illuminata confirmed happily. 

“Is he being very romantic?” Xiao pried. Forte snorted. 

“Well, I think so. But, to be honest, I don’t think it’s from him trying to be.” Frey said.

“How’s that?” Illuminata tilted her head, pointed elf ears tipping upward slightly. Frey shrugged, looking up with a thoughtful—and pleased—expression. 

“It’s not about showmanship. He’s just... very genuine.”

“Genuine? Are we talking about the same guy?” Illuminata asked skeptically.

“You said you wouldn’t trash talk about him.” Frey said, pointing a finger and a warning glare at her. Illuminata raised her hands in surrender. 

“Alright, alright!” 

“He is genuine.” Frey said firmly, “And gentle, and humble, and funny. He’s a good sport. We end up playing around a lot. Just doing simple things together, nothing fancy. It’s really easy to be around him.” 

“Nothing fancy...” Meg echoed, “So he doesn’t do any, I don’t know, grand romantic gestures or anything?” Frey burst out laughing. 

“Grand romantic gestures? Who, Bado?” She folded a hand over her stomach as her laughter continued. “No, no. He’s not like that.” 

“You just said he’s romantic , though!” Meg pouted, “How can he be romantic without trying ?” 

“He’s just... himself, a guy I really really like, turns out.” Frey smiled gently, eyes going distant. “He’s always really happy to be doing whatever with me. He’s never pushy or in a hurry. Talking to him makes me feel like I’m already enough as-is. No ‘grand gestures’ or ‘proving oneself’ necessary. And, he just cares... about every little thing where I’m concerned... always wants to make sure I’m happy with where we’re at and what we’re doing. He’s still his casual self like always, but I promise you, ladies, he isn’t lazy as a boyfriend.

“Wow,” Meg laughed, “I never would have guessed. I’m glad he’s so sweet with you, Frey. We really would have to have words with him if he wasn’t being good to you.” She glanced over at Forte, who eyed Frey and nodded, still doing her best to remain stern-faced.

“It seems he is different with someone he loves.” Xiao agreed with a sappy expression.

“Yeah, yeah, but how’s the sex?” Illuminata said suddenly. Four feminine voices gave strangled shouts of surprise in unison and four bright red faces bent incredulous glares at the would-be detective. 

“I-iluminata!” Meg shrieked “You can’t just ask something like that!” 

“We’ve only just kissed !” Frey balked, “Will you give us a bit?!” 

“If anyone says anything more about Bado and sex I am going to lose my mind!” Forte snarled, raising fists as if to say she did not need her sword to vanquish anyone who would defy her. 

“That is a question more personal than we have been intending for.” Xiao said breathlessly. Illuminata blinked at all of them in turn. 

“What? Are you all a bunch of blushing virgins or something?” She cocked her head again, looking genuinely perplexed. “What do you think boyfriends are for , anyway?” Four red, indignant faces glared at her. She sighed. 

“Damn! And here I thought we’d get a bit of entertainment out of this conversation...” She shook her head ruefully. “He looks like he’d be nice and big too...” She muttered. 

“Rrahhh!” Forte shrieked, stood and stormed out of the bath with a cacophony of splashing. Frey covered her burning face with her hands, waiting until Forte had slammed the door leading out of the changing room into the hotel behind her as she left. 

“No, Illuminata, I haven’t seen his—“ She gulped, “I haven’t seen him undressed yet, okay? I’ve got no info for you. Besides, don’t you think that’s a little invasive? How do you think he’d feel knowing you’d asked about that?” 

Illuminata grinned. 

“I’d think he’d be pleased if he got to having a good reputation from it.” 

Frey groaned into her palms. 

“Let’s just table this conversation, shall we?” 

“If you insist.” Illuminata sighed, “But if he turns out to be really good in bed I’ll bet you’ll change your mind about telling.” She smirked. 

“ Or , maybe I’ll maintain some measure of decorum and not describe my boyfriend’s performance in the bedroom to you!” Frey shot back. 

“Bor-ing.” Illuminata droned. 

“Anyway,” Meg interjected, laughing nervously. “We’re really happy for you, Frey. It seems like your new relationship has been really good so far. I hope you’ll have lots more good memories together.” 

“Thanks, Meg.” Frey said, smiling at her with genuine affection. “It’s good to finally hear someone say something nice about it.” 

“Don’t take the rest the wrong way, Frey.” Meg said, her brow bent in sympathy. “It’s only that we all adore you, so it’s hard for anyone to measure up in our eyes.” 

Frey blushed, looking down and fidgeting with her feet beneath the water. 

“All of that been saying,” Xiao Pai added tentatively into the silence

“It’s ‘Being said’, Xiao,” Meg laughed.

“All of that is being said already,” Xiao amended. The others shook their heads, smiling “We... can talk about the kissing, yes?” 

“You’re all terrible!” Frey laughed, blushing anew. 

“Well, Forte did leave already...” Meg said, raising a knuckle to her lips. 

“I guess we’ll have to take what we can get.” Illuminata agreed, settling down a little lower into the bath to lean back against the stone wall. 

“ Fine!” Frey laughed, “But only because Meg said something nice about our relationship and I happen to be very excited about the kissing.” Xiao and Meg leaned forward, eyes bright. Illuminata smirked. Frey sighed, looking up and letting her eyes soften as she went back through the memory. 

“He rubbed my shoulders... massaged my back. His hands are so warm and gentle and big... it felt great. And when he was done I-I just sorta melted back into his arms. I asked if we could. He touched my cheek...” She raised fingertips, pink and wet from the bath, to her face. ”And kissed me. It was... wonderful .” She sighed, eyes closing, a smile on her pink lips. “Warm, slow, and soft... we weren’t nervous or clumsy, just relaxed. He took his time and kissed me over and over. It was like... sunlight , but inside me, in my chest and my mind. I’ve never felt so good...” 

“Wow...” Meg squeaked. Frey opened her eyes, finding her friends staring wide-eyed at her, even Illuminata. 

“Well!” Illuminata said after a beat in which Frey laughed nervously. “If you’re describing it in poetics it must have been good.” 

“Yes, I am thinking so too!” Xiao agreed, looking awed. 

“I don’t think any of us have ever considered him before, ya know?” Illuminata said, her brow furrowing in thought as she raised a hand to her chin. “I never would have expected him to be some kind of secret Cassanova.” 

Frey laughed again. 

“Well, he’s the first guy I’ve been with since I lost my memory so I dunno how he compares with anyone else you’d call a ‘Cassanova’. I just know I like him very, very much and I’m super glad to have him all to myself.” She beamed, allowing herself a little gloat.

“Yeah, he sounds...” Illuminata wrinkled her nose, “Real... domestic. Dunno if I’d call it ‘Cassanova’.” 

“Well, whatever you call it, I’m pretty sure it’s my flavor.” Frey said, nodding confidently. 

“That is good.” Xiao said, her gaze drifting as she got lost in her thoughts, “I am thinking I too would enjoy someone ‘domestic’.” 

“Augh, you’re both boring! Where’s the danger, the intrigue!? Don’t you ever dream of a tall, dark, handsome stranger with an air of mystery ?” Said Illuminata. Frey wrinkled her nose in disgust. 

“Ugh. Cliche much?” She laughed, “Besides, a man like that sounds like more trouble than he’s worth.” 

“Getting into a little trouble is what it’s all about! Jeez, I forget how young you guys are sometimes!” 

“I’m in my twenties!” Frey scoffed. 

“And me as well!” Xiao added. 

“I rest my case.” Illuminata sighed. Meg shifted in place. 

“Okay, big-talker. How old are you ?” Frey countered, sticking her chin out at the auburn-haired elf. Illuminata raised an eyebrow at her. 

“Don’t you know better than to ask a lady her age?” 

“You just asked me point blank how my sex life was!” Frey protested. 

“Yeah, but I didn’t ask your age .” 

“Ahem. Frey,” Meg chimed in, leaning toward her, “Remember, it’s a bit different for elves. We live longer, and don’t age at the same rate.”

“So shouldn’t she know better by now?” Frey asked flatly. 

“ Actually , that reminds me! How old is Bado , anyway?” Illuminata sat up and looked at Frey with sharp interest. 

“Thirty s-six.” Frey replied, leaning back away from the woman’s hard stare. “Why?” 

“Hmm... that’s a fair bit younger than I would have guessed.” Illuminata raised her eyebrows. “Old Volkanon is only half dwarf but he’s still fit as a fiddle and he’s pushing ninety.” 

“ Ninety?” Frey asked, her jaw dropping. 

“Yeah. Dwarves don’t live as long as elves, but they still go longer than humans. You thought about that at all, Frey?” 

“Well, no...” Frey admitted, shrinking down into the water. “We just started dating recently. I haven’t been thinking about anything so far down the road.” She chewed her lip. 

“Nor should you be worried about anything like that.” Meg said gently, “Love will find a way wherever it grows. Just focus on enjoying it all for now, Frey.” 

“Thanks, Meg.” Frey smiled. 

“Of course.” She nodded. 

“What abo—“ Illuminata started to ask, but Meg pressed a hand over her mouth. 

“I think  you’ve said quite enough for one day, Lumie.” She grated. Illuminata sighed loudly through her nose and folded her arms, but she did not throw out another challenging topic, thank the divine dragons. 

“Well, I’m beginning to become a raisin.” Frey chuckled, and drew herself up out of the steaming water. “I think I’ll head out. Talk to you all again sometime. And, um... thanks... for being interested. It was actually pretty fun to talk about him with you.” She smiled, a little embarrassed. They chattered their own goodbyes and well wishes at the same time and Frey laughed and shook her head. 

She passed into the changing room, dried and dressed herself, and stepped out into the hotel proper. She drew in a deep, refreshing breath of the cooler, drier air outside the bathing rooms and sighed it out again. Only a step into her departure from there, however, she stumbled at the sound of Forte’s voice: 

“Frey,” The lady knight called out, quiet and yet commanding. Frey spun around and found her standing beside the bathing room doors as if she’d been waiting all this time to speak to her whenever she came out again. 

“Forte?” Frey called curiously. Forte stepped up to her with a strange, unreadable expression. “What is it?” 

“I still say he’s just a big idiot...” The young, blonde knight said irritably, but then her voice fell to a softer, more private volume: “But... don’t do anything to hurt him, alright?” Frey blinked at Forte, smiled, and dragged a fingertip in an ‘x’ shape over her heart. 

“I’ll be good to him. Promise.” She replied. Forte nodded, allowing a small smile. 

“Thank you.” 

Chapter Text

The morning after her impromptu interview with the four ladies in the bath, Frey rose with the dawn and drifted through her chores like the love-struck fool she was, thinking only of the next opportunity to see her lover. His kiss still seemed to linger at her lips, the giddy sensation in her stomach rising again each time she remembered that dreamy moment of new intimacy. His voice still seemed to resonate in her chest when she recalled his words just as if she were still leaning against his bulky body. And, his gray-blue eyes, like a cloud bank over a shining sea, still seemed to pierce her with his gaze, curious, tender, hopeful, longing. 

The princess of Selphia sighed for perhaps the hundredth time already that morning as she pulled weeds, watered crops, brushed woollies, and more. Ordinarily such an all-consuming preoccupation would have left her restless, even agitated, waiting to act, to resolve whatever it was holding her thoughts hostage. This, though... This was a treat unto itself, the warmth inside her kindled by every thought, every memory of him. This anticipation was a torment as welcome as honey on her tongue. And so, every sigh was accompanied by a knowing, wicked little curl at the corner of her lips, and every task was a vessel to hold her wandering thoughts until she could again seek him out. 

By and by the sun climbed into the sky and others began to stir, their comings and goings barely noticed. She exchanged pleasantries with her butlers, and only smiled when Clorica giggled at her dreamy mood. Finally, when the last of the mornings tasks were complete and she’d finished the scrambled eggs Volkanon had prepared for her, Frey began walking toward the smithy, leaning forward with every step. 

“Bado? Hello-o?” She called into the empty shop minutes later, craning her neck to check the workshop and every corner of the store for his huge silhouette. Gone? Where on earth would he be before noon if not here? 

“Oh! Hi Frey!” The chipper voice of a diminutive young man called just as Kiel brushed the drape aside and peeked out of the door to Bado’s single room at the back of the shop.

“Kiel?” She replied, “What are you doing back there? Where’s Bado?” 

The lad shrugged, offering her a good-natured smile. 

“I come by about once a week to tidy up in here. Bado isn’t much of a housekeeper, you know? Forte is pretty hopeless too, but I live with her so I can keep on top of it a bit easier. He’s gone off somewhere this morning. But don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll be be back sometime today.” The lad explained in his cheery way. Frey chewed her lip, glancing around the shop as her mind automatically began to list places she might look for her boyfriend. 

“You two are pretty funny lately, that’s for sure.” Kiel laughed after a pause. Frey’s vision refocused on the young man and she blinked at him. This was, after all, Bado’s foster-son for all intents and purposes. Just as with Forte, she found herself unprepared to address her romance with the closest thing Kiel had to a father since the passing of his and Forte’s parents. 

“Funny?” She echoed, swallowing nervously. 

“Yeah,” Kiel replied with laughter in his voice, “All gooey-eyed and distracted all the time. You’ve got it pretty bad, doncha?” She gave a nervous little chuckle, squeezing the fingers of one hand in the grip of the other. 

“Yeah, you could say that.” She said, chewing her lip. He beamed at her, oblivious, it would seem, to her nerves. A silence lapsed for a few beats before she decided she could stand the suspense no longer. “Um... Is it, are you... alright with it, Kiel?” She ventured finally. His face shifted to a wide-eyed blinking stare almost that of a child as he considered her. 

“Well, yeah! Why wouldn’t I be? As long as you’re both happy, it’s a good thing, right?” He said simply. The breath held in her chest escaped slowly, and Frey offered the boy a smile. 

“Yeah. Thanks, Kiel. You and Forte are important to him, and to me. I didn’t want this to make an issue between us.” 

“No issue.” He shook his sandy mop of hair. “Keep making each other smile, okay?” 

“Right.” She grinned. He mirrored the expression, then added: 

“I think you’ll do better to look around town than waiting here, though. If he’s determined to cut work, he’ll be somewhere Forte won’t pass by him while she’s on patrol.”

“Good point. Any idea whereabout?” She inquired. The sandy-haired boy tilted his head, his eyes unfocusing as he thought on the question. 

“Hmm.... I would try the watchtower.” 

“The watchtower?” She echoed, surprised. 

“Yeah. He’s not good with heights.” Kiel explained cheerfully. 

“I... wait, what?” Frey shook her head. 

“He’s not good with heights,” The boy repeated, “so Forte wouldn’t think to look for him up there.” 

“Oh...kay...” Frey said slowly. The lad’s reasoning was shaky at best, but not knowing where else the big man would hide himself it seemed as good as any first stop. “I’ll go check there first, then. Thanks.” 

“Mmhmm!” Kiel chirped. 

Frey left the Meanderer, both pleased and puzzled by her conversation. Despite having the simplest set of motivations in the known world, Kiel could be a bit hard to understand at times. She hoped his support of her romance with Bado was—and would stay—a simple, positive matter in his eyes. 

Walking at a brisk pace in the still relatively cool air of the morning, she made her way to the northeast corner of town where Selphia’s watchtower stood sentinel. Just past Porcoline’s place she stood before the tall, narrow edifice, cocking her head as she squinted up at the top. No figure stood by the railing, peering out over the landscape. Well, it was an odd suggestion in the first place, she thought, but just to be sure...

Frey stepped up to the ornate metal doors with their gold-plated ornamentation and pulled the long-handled lever protruding from the wall to their right. Years ago this must have been more of a defensive structure, but Selphia had grown up around it, and now, though it still offered a long and sweeping vantage of the surrounding country, the tower was nestled safely inside the city. That must have been the reason it had gradually become more of a tourist attraction than anything else. At some point Ventuswill had even approved refitting it as a windmill. Frey passed inside and climbed up and up the winding stairway around the center column of the mill’s mechanism. Really, if Bado truly was hiding atop the tower, it was a decent place to do so. Forte would indeed be disinclined to leave her patrol on a detour all the way up the long stair.

Finally she reached the top, only a little breathless thanks to her ridiculously active lifestyle, and pushed open the less ostentatious wooden door at the top. Blinking as she re-acquainted herself with the daylight, Frey looked around the platform at the top of the tower and startled. By the Divine Dragons, there he was! The big blacksmith lounged back on one of the benches installed for tourists and travelers to relax and take in the spectacular views, completely at his ease—and napping, by the look of him! 

“Bado!” Frey called, almost laughing. “What the heck are you doin’ up here?” 

The big man’s eyes snapped open and he grinned broadly. 

“Dreamin’,” he replied, “How else do you explain wakin’ up to a princess callin’ my name?” 

She shook her head, scoffing playfully, and trotted over to him with a spring in her step. He shifted to a sitting posture and she sat down beside him, wrapping her arms around his chest and tugging him against her with a pleased note. He chuckled, returning the hug with one big arm around her shoulders, and kissed the top of her head. 

“Better question is what’re you doin’ up here this time o’ day?” he asked, sounding as pleased as if he already knew the answer. 

“Looking for my wayward boyfriend, that’s all,” she smirked at him. 

“Oh yeah? Maybe this ain’t the best hiding spot after all, if I got found so easy...” He tugged his beard thoughtfully, “Not that I’m sorry about who found me, mind.” 

“I got a tip-off from Kiel. He said you’d be up here because you don’t like heights.” 

“Little brat. He better not go tippin’ Forte off the same way,” the big man growled, but with a good-natured smile on his lips. 

“If you wanted to play hooky, you should have just come to me first, ya know,” Frey said in tones of mild reprimand, poking him in the center of his broad chest. “We could make ourselves scarce together easy enough.” 

He gave her a wicked little smirk. 

“You’re trouble.” 

She grinned. 

“Just so.” 

“Well, it’s a good note for next time, but bein’ we find ourselves both both at the top of this tower on such a fine day, why not make a date of it here and now?” 

“Fine by me.” She purred, settling in beside him and breathing in a deep lungful of the crisp midmorning air. He adjusted himself next to her, stretching out long legs and crossing one booted foot over the other. Everything about the man seemed pleased and relaxed. She basked in it, soaking up his easy mood. 

“What is it you do when you come up here, anyway? Aside from napping, I mean.” 

“Thinkin’,” he replied. 

“Scheming, you mean.” She countered. He shrugged as if to say he would not bother to deny it. 

“Only most o’ the time,” he grinned. 

“And the rest?” 

The jovial tone of his voice fell away as his face shifted to a carefully neutral expression. 

“Mm... well, sometimes when somethin’s got me stuck or sleepless I come up here. Try an’ sort it out, or at the very least just keep it outta other folks’ way.” 

She turned toward him, brows twitching toward one another. 

“You can talk to me about, you know, things that bother you like that. You don’t need to ‘keep it out of my way’.” 

He glanced at her from the corners of his eyes. 

“Thanks, Pet. I will. Just... don’t take it the wrong way if I don’t always come out with it right away.” He tapped a finger on his head. “This ol’ skull is pretty thick. It takes a while for thoughts to get in and out, an’ I don’t always know how t’put em into words.”

“I can be patient,” she promised, “I just don’t want you forgetting you have someone who wants to know every little thing. It’s no burden.” 

“I getcha.” 

He squeezed her gently against him.

“Sometimes I feel like if I spend too long just turning my thoughts over again and again by myself I get more stuck,” she sighed.

“Yeah? What kind o’ things... er, that is, I’m here if you wanna talk about anythin’ too, ya know?” he fumbled, shifting himself slightly on the bench. She smiled out at the drifting clouds above them. 

“Thank you,” she replied quietly, letting herself drift for a few seconds, waiting to see what would come. He did not prompt her again, only brushing the top of her head with a little nuzzle of his bearded face, and leaning back against the wall of the tower’s top behind the bench. Finally, after she’d achieved a certain level of stillness, a thread of thought surfaced, quietly pleading to be released into daylight. 

“I... worry sometimes... about my past,” she said slowly, letting the words come without forethought. A small rustle of movement told her he’d turned his head to look at her face. “It’s been a while since I came to Selphia. I’ve gotten comfortable with starting everything over again here, with not having my past. My memory is gone... and maybe it’ll never come back, but... what if it does ? I can’t be two people, but what will I do if I remember the people from before, or if one of them ever comes to Selphia and recognizes me? To them it’s probably as if I died. What about all that got left hanging in the wind when I disappeared from their lives?” She chewed her lip. “I... don’t remember who or when, but... I’m pretty sure you’re not the first person I’ve kissed, Bado. What if...” She trailed off, brows knitting together as her throat tightened. 

Beside her, Bado looked up and out at the sky, his gaze unfocused, and let out a soft sigh through his nose. She turned her head, watching his thoughtful expression as the wheels turned inside his mind, just waiting. Finally, he flashed her a gentle smile, and squeezed her again with the arm still wrapped around her shoulders. 

“Your situation is pretty unique, don’t get me wrong, Pet,” he began at last, “but you certainly ain’t the only one to leave another life behind ya. Jobs, homes, relationships, and people in general come and go in a life an’ for all kinds of reasons, too. That’s as normal as breathin’. Plus, we can’t ever know what’s comin’, really. You losin’ your memory is standin’ proof of that ain’t it? So, way I figure it, best we can do is just decide what to do now, based on what we know right now. Past is gone. Future’s gonna be whatever it’s gonna be. Even so, we’ve always got now, ya know? Right now you got me; that you know for sure.” He brushed the fingers of his right hand through her bangs, sweeping them aside and looking steadily into her eyes, then leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Whatever else comes, we’ll cross each bridge as we come to it.”

Frey blinked rapidly, caught between her closed throat and her heart feeling as if it might burst in her chest with emotion. He was right, and not only that, but he’d demanded no promises, no assurances from her. Instead he’d offered comfort in spite of that extant uncertainty. Like everyone else in Selphia, Bado had known from the first that she was a mystery even to herself. Their first conversations had established that, revolved around it. Even back then he’d encouraged her to take her time, make a new life, and take everything one day at a time.  He’d never hesitated on account of that, only worrying she’d never want him .  Rather, he’d fallen in love with her regardless of whatever had come before, the same as anyone, she realized, who only knew their partner for who they were now. 

The princess of Selphia seized her lover around his barrel chest and buried her face in it, clinging tightly to him and hoping the gesture gave him some idea of the gratitude she could not yet put to words. Two huge arms folded around her and returned the pressure of the hug. He pressed his cheek to the top of her head, rumbling quiet reassurance, just a caress of speech. 

“It’s alright, Frey. I don’t gotta know where ya came from to love ya.” 

She trembled, eyes squeezed shut, just marveling at her good fortune to find herself int he arms of a man who would give her those words, raw and free of any pretension. Finally finding her words again, she let them come in a rush. 

“I love you, Bado.” 

“And I you, Frey,” his reply came, glowing with warmth.

The princess drew a shaking breath, electrified with emotion. It needed—no, demanded —expression. She wriggled her way up onto her knees and pulled him into a kiss, firm and fiery and eager. A little jolt of surprise went through the big man at her sudden pounce, but a heartbeat later he replied in kind, pressing his mouth to hers with equal fervor. 

Again and again they repeated the movement, adoration and heat growing and twining inside her. His touch was confident and yet careful, mindful of his size and strength, holding back just enough to let her push him. She parted her lips and let her shuddering breath puff against his mouth before she nipped at his lower lip. Binding her more tightly to him he mirrored her, his tongue flitting out against her mouth just barely: a query. She tilted her head and they crashed together. She slipped her tongue into his mouth and he replied in kind, exploring one another in breathless, molten kisses blended together into one long exchange. 

Somewhere in that feverish flow, a mewling little sound escaped her, involuntary and unexpected. She shivered as he groaned in reply, the sound sending a thrill all the way down her spine. His deep voice had grown rough and husky at the edges. This was different from before, when he’d repeatedly assured her he hadn’t brought her into his home alone to pressure her into anything. Here she’d sought him out, and this was neither of their own homes. Then he’d been concerned with keeping her calm and relaxed once he’d noted her amorous state. Now, he was just as stirred up with it as she, and no suggestion to temper their fire yet escaped his lips. He pulled her into his lap, seizing her left thigh and lifting it over his legs until she was straddling him, front to front, and easier to reach than twisting toward one another on the bench side by side. 

Her breasts pressed against his collar, she gave a breathy whine as he squeezed her tightly to his chest. He growled her name. Her skin rose into goosebumps. Head swimming, she gasped quietly as he tucked his face into the hollow of her neck and kissed her throat. Hot breath condensed against her skin. His tongue dragged against her; then she felt a nip, his teeth grazing the soft flesh. Her eyes rolled back, lids fluttering shut. The flood of desire in her grew headier than wine in a matter of moments. Sensations stirred and writhed for her every scrap of concentration as her huge dwarven lover stoked the fire in her with every touch. She drifted, drunk with the pleasure and yearning, forgetting they were well beyond a public display of affection at the top of this tourist trap—that is, until the sound of laughing voices and pounding feet on the stairs sent a shock of surprise through her. 

Her eyes snapped open. Bado made a noise, half grunt, half growl, all frustration, and promptly helped her to her feet. She plopped herself down on the bench beside him, panting through her puffy lips with heartbeat thundering in her ears. The big blacksmith arranged himself in an apparently careless posture, but even with one foot propped on the opposite knee, he gripped the ankle of that leg in such a way as to cover his groin with with his big forearm.

The voices in the stairwell grew louder and closer until the door thumped open, causing Frey to jump with a little squeak of surprise. 

Doug and Dylas burst out onto the platform, grabbing and swatting at one another as they apparently raced one another to the top. Gods help her, these idiots were always about making stupid little competitions with one another these days. 

“No fair! You ain’t won if you cheat, you crooked old nag!” Doug barked. 

“Having longer legs ain’t cheatin’, half-pint shrimp!” Dylas snapped back, grinning. 

“But pullin’ me down when I was ahead of you is! ” 

“ You pulled my tail first!” 

“Doesn’t matter! Wasn’t a real race! We’ll just have to do some other contest, now.” Doug shot back, folding his arms, then looked around them for inspiration for whatever stupid task they’d challenge each other to next. His gaze found the pair of lovers sitting silently on the bench and he did a double-take. 

“O-oh, hey guys,” he stammered, then blushed as he apparently noticed the details of their flushed faces and too-casual posture. Dylas followed his look but failed to notice what the shorter boy had. 

“‘Ey! Will you two officiate somethin’ for us real quick?” He barked. Doug jabbed him in the ribs with an elbow. 

“Shaddup for a sec, will ya?” he hissed. Then, turning his attention back to the princess and her boyfriend, he said in careful, embarrassed tones: “S-sorry if we startled you guys. We’re just leaving now.” He gestured over his shoulder with a thumb and Dylas looked at him in annoyed confusion. 

“What about—“ he began, but Doug stomped on his foot. 

“Shut up , oats-for-brains!” He grated between clenched teeth. Then, turning the expression into a forced smile, he waved to them. “Have a good one, you two!” Unequal to stringing words together, Frey simply lifted a hand in a faint little wave, her head still swimming. Doug dragged a protesting Dylas back through the doorway and slammed the wooden door shut behind them. She could hear their barking and snipping for several more seconds as their footsteps receded down the tower stairs. 

“Ayayay,” Bado sighed, rubbing his forehead with one big hand, “Those two have some unbelievable timing.”

“Yeah,” Frey laughed weakly, glancing at him sidelong as her face flushed anew. 

“Probably for the best, though,” the big man muttered abashedly, “Sorry for gettin’ carried away there, Pet.” He ducked his head a little but she didn’t miss the slight smirk on his lips. Her own lips curled into a small, wicked curve that quickly became a grin. 

“No you’re not.” She accused, her voice dripping with devilish mirth. He grinned back. 

“Caught red handed,” he mused, “but only cause you don’t seem t’mind one bit either.” She bit her lip as she leveled a simmering glance at him from the corners of her eyes. Bado laughed aloud, his deep voice frayed at the edges by his jovial outburst. 

“That was a bit different than the other day at your house,” she observed. He rubbed at the back of his neck, wincing. 

“Yeah, th-that was... I-I just didn’t want ya t’feel like I’d set ya up in there. If yer gonna spring it on me out here though... well, I can’t really be expected t’be a ‘proper gentleman’ all the time, can I? I think I’ve made it plenty clear by now I think you’re one fine little lady, pet. Only stands to reason I’d like a taste here and there, don’t it?” He smiled at her like he fully expected to get away with it. She couldn’t keep her lips from curling, though she tried not to grin too broadly. 

“I suppose,” she allowed in exaggerated tones of concession.  It had been so completely apparent that she had cast propriety aside in favor of feeling his mouth on her, after all. His wolfish grin devoured her from the other side of the bench. She burst out laughing. 

“ Stop staring! You’re terrible!” 

He scoffed. 

“I think I done mighty well to hold back so well ‘til today, what with you schemin’ to get us as undressed as city laws allow out there by the lake, an’ all.” He eyed her as she blushed. She swatted his arm, maintaining her feigned high-horsing. 

“It’s perfectly appropriate to wear swimsuits at the beach, Bado!” 

“Yeah, well... seems you don’t mind bein’ less than ‘perfectly appropriate’ either, princess,” he accused, his teeth still showing. 

“If it’s alright for you to want a taste now and again, it’s only fair that I should be allowed the same, don’t you think?” she countered primly. 

“I sure ain’t complainin’.” 

“Good.” She hooked two fingers in his collar and pulled him down within reach of her lips. He followed her motion until their mouths pressed together again with a hum of satisfaction. A big hand wrapped around her hip and pulled her against him, closing the distance between their bodies once more. Her hand braced against his muscular chest as she let out a small sound of surprise as her rear slid over the boards of the bench toward him. Despite all the teasing words, they kept their exchange a little more chaste this time, perhaps not wishing to repeat the shock of being interrupted doing more intimate things than simple kisses. 

Finally breaking apart several seconds later, they bumped foreheads gently together and breathed their way back from the dreamy delirium of those kisses. 

“We, uh... We’d better keep our dates in public places for a bit, ya know?” He said somewhat breathlessly. 

Illuminata’s words from the bathhouse echoed in her memory and Frey blushed crimson. 

“Y-yeah.” She agreed, biting her lip. 

On the other hand, it felt so right, so good, being with him like this. At this exact moment, in this exact frame of mind, Frey was having extreme difficulty reasoning out just why they shouldn’t run home to his place or hers and go wild on one another. 

“ Take it easy, Frey,” some more reasonable part of her warned. This was her first real relationship since losing her memory, after al. What if she rushed into things and regretted it later? Though, it was extremely difficult to imagine regretting anything that led to her lover growling with desire against her throat again... 

She shook herself, took a quick breath, and stood up before she let herself do just the opposite of his suggestion to guard themselves against temptation just now. 

“Well let’s get ourselves in front of folks again, then, before I have to call for a chaperone to keep me in line,” she laughed. He chuckled, his pointed ears turning rosy again, and rose from the bench to his full height to follow her down the stairway and out of the tower.