Chapter 3

April 6 2024; Floor 20

Kirito often found himself wondering how he could have gone form a solo player to a co-leader of a guild in such a short time. It seemed like it had been a mere three months since the death of Sachi and her guild, and here he was sitting on a pier beside his fellow co-leader, Galahad the Invincible Knight, talking over options to buy the log cabin nearby. Apparently, Galahad had been eying it for a month now, trying to decide if he should buy it, or just get a small flat closer to the font lines or Agil's shop.

This protective house shopping and guild leadership was hardly the weirdest thing to happen over the last three months though. After that night of crying into Galahad's shoulder, sleeping in his arms, and sharing heartbreaking tales of dead friends…things had seemed to take a leap into an unexpected direction. He didn't know what had possessed him to do it, but he had asked Galahad to celebrate New Years with him, and then gone and kissed him at midnight as the sky lit up in multicolored showers of light.

Klein and Agil had, of course, just happened to stumble onto them right then. The two men had whistled and cat-called until Kirito had been ready to pull out his sword and chase them off. Galahad, of course, had seemed amused by the whole thing, and had distracted Kirito by grabbing him about the waist and pulling him in for another long, lingering kiss.

He had thought he had heard a gasp and seen Asuna darting around a corner, but he was never sure. And honestly it mattered little to him. She was a skilled fighter, and nice, but they rarely had any interaction together unless it was a boss battle at the front line, and that was getting rarer everyday. He seemed to be finding ways to wander away form the front line, finding new places on previously cleared floors where he could enjoy the scenery, the company of his friends, and even more commonly now, come to the rescue of a 'damsel in distress.' The damsel occasionally being his…boyfriend, who seemed to have some kind of fan club that had cropped up. Kirito wasn't sure if the fan club, which seemed to be almost 50-50 male and female, knew that Galahad was a guy. He had days when he doubted it, and others when he was sure they knew.

Either way it seemed to make Galahad more uncomfortable than facing a new Floor Boss.

Now…Now he had a boyfriend, an alliance with Klein's guild, and a small guild of his own made up of Galahad, Agil, and a young girl Kirito had rescued named Silica. She wasn't the best fighter, but she was kind, determined, and had a dragon with healing abilities. She also, he was starting to think, had a crush on him.

Strangely enough, none of that bothered him as much as he thought it should. He was…happy.

"Why don't we wait to buy a house until after this next fight," he told Galahad. "If the house is still here after that battle, then we'll know it was meant to be ours."

Galahad sighed sadly, staring at the house on the other shore of the lake across from them. "Very well."

Kirito chuckled. "Maybe we can even take up fishing."

Galahad sighed dreamily. "I've never been fishing before."

"Then you've got something to look forward to other than Klein challenging you to another duel."

Galahad smiled. "He's really very good. Not as good as me, of course, but still damn good. It's a shame he doesn't have a better sword."

"Don't say that where he can hear you," Kirito chuckled. "He'd never stop complaining!"

"Please, I'd take his complaining over the Glares of Doom I've been getting from Asuna since New Years." Galahad shook his head. "I don't know what happened, but apparently I've offended her or something."

Kirito shrugged. "I might have a little sister, but I have no clue about girls."

Galahad sighed. "I wish I did. One of my best friends in the outside was a girl, and she never behaved like-" Galahad trailed off, his eyes widening. "Well, damn!"

"What," asked Kirito.

Galahad looked at his boyfriend, wondering if he should come out and tell him that he suspect Asuna either had a crush on him and was jealous of Kirito, or, and the more likely, that she had a crush on Kirito and was jealous of Galahad. No, he decided. It would be better to leave Kirito in the dark for now. He just wasn't ready for the kind of fallout that came from a spurned teenage girl.

= = = SAO = = = HP = = =

Two Days Later, Floor 56

"Lure it to the village. That's how we get the boss," commanded a stern feminine voice.

Around the small cavern room other players shuffled nervously. Glancing at each other, the map on the table in front of them, and the fierce red-headed second in command of the Blood Knights. Galahad's eyes narrowed, his lips thinning into a deep frown, and his fists clenching at his side. Next to him Kirito's eyes widened in shock as the others muttered.

"Wait," Kirito called out, pushing to the front. "You can't be serious! If we do the Boss will go after the villagers -"

"That's the goal," she replied, cutting him off.

Galahad's frown grew even deeper as the young woman didn't even bother to look up from the map. One hand was still on the table where she had slammed it down to get their attention, and the other had moved over her hip to rest on the hilt of her sword the moment Kirito had moved closer.

"And while the Boss is busy killing NPCs we can attacked it and kill it," her voice was stern and cold.

Galahad was reminded fiercely of his ex-girlfriend during the final days of their relationship, when she seemed to be able to do nothing more than hate him. He wondered what had changed the polite young woman he had met two years ago in the Town of Beginnings. This Asuna was a far different person than he remembered, and not for the better. Sure she had grown strong, bold, skilled, and courageous. But it seemed as if being trapped in this game had stolen away her humanity as much as it had for the infamous Red Players. There was no compassion in her eyes anymore. He wasn't sure if it was just from so many hours trapped here, fighting for her life, or if this behavior was being directed towards Kirito and himself because she seemed to have formed an emotional attachment to his boyfriend, despite the fact that they rarely fought together anymore.

"But they're not just objects like trees or rocks," defended Kirito. "Look they're-"

"You think their alive? Really," she asked with contempt as she finally looked up at him.

Kirito took a step back, the shock at her open contempt of him blatant for everyone else in the room. Around them the others looked nervously between the two. Asuna the Lightning Flash and Kirito the Black Swordsman, were two of the most dangerous players in SAO. Two of the most dangerous players in the room as well, next to Galahad the Invincible Knight. Nobody else wanted to step in to interrupt them in the case Asuna took her bad mood out on them as well.

"In this game they are just objects," she defended herself. "And unlike us, if they're killed they can always respawn."

Galahad closed his eyes in regret at her words, stepping up to Kirito's side even as Kirito looked down at the map, a sorrowful look full of disappointment filling his dark eyes. "Sorry, but I'm not okay with that plan."

Asuna stood all the way up, her hand clenching around the hilt of her sword. "I'm in charge of this plan. Okay. In case you forgot I'm still second in command of the Knights of the Blood Oath. You'll obey my orders. Like it or not."

Kirito straightened his shoulders and met her gaze with his own. It became obvious very fast that Kirito was going to point out that he, and many others here, we're not part of Asuna's guild, and as such did not have to follow her orders. He could in fact, point out that he was the leader of his own guild, The Hallow Knights, and that he out ranked her. Not that Kirito's intention to say that was bad. In fact Harry was of the impression that Asuna needed to be reminded that she was still a teenager, not a seasoned 5 star General. That went for the rest of her guild as well. They had all gotten aires recently, which had Galahad worried.

Galahad reached out and rested his hand over Kirito's clenched fist. Not here, the movement clearly stated. Asuna's eyes flickered down at their hands and then back up at them, her already stern gaze growing colder. Galahad gave her the same stern glare he had used when facing down Voldemort that final time, making her flinche and look away, before he gently pulled Kirito back through the crowd to the back of the room and closer to the exit. If Asuna should chose to attack, or her fellow Knights chose to do so to defend their Vice Commander, then Harry wanted to be able get Kirito out as quickly, and with as little damage, as possible. Based on their numbers no one would die in the conflict, should it happen right now, but that still wasn't good enough. They would never beat all 100 floors of Aincrad if they kept falling to posturing and in-fighting.

Agil caught his eye, nodding slightly that he was prepared to step in if needed, but Galahad waved him off just as carefully with a slight tilt of his head.

Slowly the meeting calmed down and continued on. No one else willing to interrupt as Kirito had, causing the meeting to swiftly finish. The other players all shuffled out of the cavern as quickly as they could without looking nervous, confused, our curious. Though both Galahad and Kirito could feel the gazes of the others who had gathered for the meeting, on their backs. They moved off through the grass, away from the others.

"Try not to let it get to you," Galahad said in the most soothing voice he could muster, considering he felt much the same way.

"How can I not." Kirito scowled. "Galahad-"

"Hey," called out a deep voice behind them. "What is up with you guys?"

Kirito and Harry stopped, turning to look behind them at the giant of a man approaching them.

"What's up with you and the second in the command, Kirito," he asked with a shake of his bald head. "You're always getting into it. And not in a good way."

Kirito looked at Galahad and sighed. "I guess we just don't click anymore, Agil."

Kirito closed his eyes, his mind flashing back to the first battle Asuna, Galahad, Agil, and he had fought together. He had known in that moment that Asuna was going to be a player worth watching, and he had thought that the shy strength she had shown him meant that she would be a leader that players could look up to. But lately, sometime between New Years and since she had stumbled across Galahad and him taking on a mid-boss on their own, she had become cold and distant with him. It was like joining the Knights had sucked whatever humanity had been in her, out. He couldn't understand how she could allow herself to use other people as bait, even if they were NPCs. If you started down that path…Kirito swallowed. It was a small step, but one that would make it easier to justify other "sacrifices."

"Well," he sad in a bland voice. "She took my advice. But who knew she would join the top guild and be a floor clearing badass." Kirito looked away and took Galahad's hand, leading him away. "Later, Agil. Galahad and I have plans to look into a house."

Agil, smirked as the two walked off hand in hand. He supposed he could understand why Asuna might be acting a bit colder to Kirito. She was a pretty girl, probably not to used to guys ignoring her for someone else. "Don't get into too much trouble you two," he called out making Galahad throw his head back and laugh.

Kirito scowled at Galahad, jabbing him in the ribs with a finger as they rounded the bend. "What the heck, Galahad!"

Galahad laughed and rubbed at his sore ribs. Kirito scowled at him and opened his mouth to complain only for Harry to lunge in a plant a kiss on his lips. Kirito's eyes fluttered shut and he leaned into the kiss, letting himself be swept away. He felt Galahad's lips form a smile against his own.

"Do you want to go back to town," Galahad murmured against his lips.

Kirito blushed and looked away "Alright."

Galahad kissed his neck, then kissed it again, and again. "Nothing you don't want to do. Remember, Kiri-chan."

"Yeah," Kirito said breathlessly.

With that Galahad tugged Kirito through the portal that would lead them back to the to the 50th floor, where they had a small apartment.

=== HP/SAO ===

A Few Weeks Later, Floor 50

"Good lord," Galahad slumped back against the bed frame. "That was a mess. I mean honestly!"

"I guess so. I still can't believe they followed Asuna's plan. I suppose in the end her plan wasn't any worse than the others trying to find their friends killer." Kirito sighed and pulled up his menu, removing his shadow jacket. "I understand it though. Wanting to know why one friend betrayed the other."

Galahad tilted his head to the side, letting one arm slid out from behind his head, stretching it out towards Kirito. Kirito removed the last of his clothes, and blushing scarlet, he stepped forward to take Galahad's hand. Galahad smiled and drew Kirito down onto the bed next to him with one hand while calling up the menu to remove his clothes with the other. Kirito tucked himself in against Galahad, resting his head on Galahad's shoulder even as the other pulled the blanket up over them.

"It's a sad thing, Kiri-chan. But for a lot of the players this is still a game. They can't bear to think that what we all learned that day was true. That if we die here, we die in the real world as well. It's their own mind protecting them." Galahad placed a kiss on the top of his head. "I thought you stopped worrying about that after you met Lisbeth and got your second sword."

"I guess," he mumbled.

Galahad smiled and looked out at the stars from their window. "How about tomorrow you and I go out monster hunting? We can test out your dual-wield skill and my new sword."

"Mortal Dread," Kirito whispered. "That was some prize you got for beating that last Boss."

"We'll see." Galahad closed his eyes. He had a feeling it really was something different. He didn't know for certain but he had started to notice things happening around him in the game. Fluctuations in the system. Rare items appearing that weren't in any lists. Like his new sword, Mortal Dread. He didn't like that it looked identical to the sword of Gryffindor. As far as he was aware the creator of SAO was not a Wizard, nor was he a Squib. A sword like this shouldn't exist.

Galahad glanced at where the sword was sitting on their table next to Kirito's black sword. He swallowed thickly as the moonlight reflected off it's polished surface. He had a bad feeling about it.

Pushing away the worry, Galahad let himself drift to sleep in his lovers embrace.

When he woke up the following morning Kirito was already up, drinking a cup of tea and munching on a bread roll with cream. His new black jacket was on and Harry took a moment to simply enjoy the way it hugged his body. He turned to look at Galahad, blushing like always at the sight of Galahad's nude body. It pleased Galahad a bit, knowing that Kirito found him attractive. For the longest time Galahad had felt ugly. He had always been so skinny and short, his only saving grace he had thought was that he gained a bit muscle mass and toning after six years of Quidditch and running after Dark Lords. He had actually started to feel good about himself up until the day he found Ginny slipping a love potion into his morning tea. The following months of Ginny's criminal court case for illegal use of love potions, brought back all the insecurities he had about himself as a child. Suddenly he had started to question if anyone loved him, or if everything he had known about his friends was a lie.

It had taken George and Mrs. Weasley cornering him and lecturing him for days on end before he broke down in their arms, crying about the betrayal he felt. He had told them things he hadn't told anybody before. He was grateful for the unconditional support and love they gave him in return. That didn't mean everything had been fixed overnight, but it had certainly begun healing the rift that had formed during the revolution of Ginny's betrayal. It had also allowed him to share his two biggest secrets.

He was thankful that they loved him despite it all.

Galahad leaned down and kiss his boyfriend lightly before stealing his cup of tea and downing it before Kirito could protest. Smirking he set the empty cup down on the table and opened his menu, selecting his best battle robes and armor. It was a bit flashy, especially next to Kirito's somber black outfit. But Galahad liked it and knew that Kirito enjoyed what Harry looked like in it as well. In some ways it was a lot like Klein's outfit more than it was like Kirito's, but this was a game and he was used to the strange fashions of the Wizarding World. Plus he had grown up with Albus Dumbledore as his mentor. He was allowed a little eccentricities.

Kirito had sighed at the loss of his tea and turned around to watch Galahad done his armor. The pants were loose and stark white fitted into black knee-high boots that had gold and black armor atop them similar to what you might find on an English medieval knight. The top was much more Japanese in style. It was a bright emerald green, with a white under-layer. It greatly resembled something you would see worn at a shinto shrine, with long, flowing sleeves, slitted shoulders, square neckline, and a long length down the front and back. When you got close, or Galahad moved just right, you could see the geometric shapes in the fabric that were in a slightly lighter shade of green. And the golden runes along the hem and neckline also caught your eye. Also like Klein, Galahad wore a Japanese style chest plate, in black and gold. Though Galahad's was half the size of Klein's, ending just beneath his upper chest, and did not have the matching shoulder plates.

Galahad smirked at him as the final piece of his clothing, a black circlet style crown with golden clasps, settled into place on his head. The single green gem on it winking at Kirito from where it was nestled against Galahad's ink black hair.

"Ready to head out," Galahad commented with a smirk and a twirl.

Kirito coughed into his hand, blushing yet again, and picked up his sword. "Sure."

Galahad smiled at him, snagged his own sword, sheathing it on his right hip, and flounced out the door in front of Kirito.

They made their way together, side by side, through the town. And like always, Galahad drew everyone's attention. Kirito couldn't blame them for looking at his boyfriend and drooling. Galahad might be a guy, but he was fairly androgynous and dressed up like he was, well he was like some kind of fantasy wet dream for most gamers. His black hair was was chin length, though it always looked wind blown, or as Agil said, like Galahad had just been thoroughly fucked. His green eyes were luminous and piercing, and when he met your gaze you felt trapped by them as if he could see into your very soul. That gaze had freaked Kirito out the first time he had met it, what felt like lifetimes ago, not long after he had failed his first and only SAO guild. It was that gaze that had kept Kirito from giving in to the guilt and grief. It was that gaze that pull him up from the gutters and gave him purpose again.

He would follow Galahad to the very ends of this game even if that meant his death.

Galahad looked over his should at Kirito, who had slowed so that he was two steps behind, and smiled. "Keep up, Kirito. We've got monster to fight!"

Smiling a wide, real smile, Kirito speed up and took Galahad's outstretched hand. Around them the world vanished in a flash of light.

A/N: Thank you, AngelFaux, for pointing out some of the errors in the chapters. This is unbeta'd so I am grateful for any help.