The Open Book
Chapter One: Unearthing Emotions
By: KellyCRocker59
I love this pairing, which is FordexKyle, just so you know. Please review, and enjoy!
Forde stood with his back to a pillar, his sword raised. There they stood; his lord, Ephraim, his fellow knight, Kyle, and himself. They were fighting their way through Castle Renvall in hopes of finding Ephraim's dear sister, Erika. They were surrounded by cavaliers, who had ambushed them from behind, and Forde was, not for the first time, fighting for his life. He galloped forward, thrusting the steel sword held in his hand right through an approaching cavalier.
He turned, whipping his head to throw a stray blond lock from his face, to see Kyle run a cavalier through with his lance. Even in the heat of battle, he had to admire his fellow knight's beauty. The man held a stern gaze, his hazel eyes locked in the heat of combat. His green hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat, and his lance arm didn't falter as he impaled another cavalier.
Forde had, at first, had trouble deciphering his feelings for his fellow knight. He had never held more than friendship for a man, and yet Kyle had somehow changed that. Forde had felt only a desire to simply look upon the man's face when they were training as squires, as he found the then-squire very handsome. But that was all he had felt.
They had grown to be friends when they shared a room during training, and they had talked and gotten to know one another. Kyle had told Forde about how he had grown up on a farm, learning to fight from the other boys who were always picking a fight with him because he was richer than them.
Forde had told Kyle about his life in the city, about his merchant father and fortune-telling mother, how his brother and himself were often left to fend for themselves, even though they lived very well. They told each other much more personal things as the years past, Kyle telling about how his father had been abusive, and Forde telling about how other boys had often beat him up because he liked to draw so much.
They had talked, laughed, had fun, and then things had changed. Kyle began to get more serious as they turned sixteen, and Forde began to get more lazy. Kyle began nagging Forde about sleeping during practice, and Forde began teasing Kyle about how he never laughed. They were still best friends but...things had changed.
When they were knighted, General Seth took note of how well the two unconsciously played off of each others strengths, and always sent them on missions together. That was when things really began to change.
It was one night when they were taking on a mission in Carcino that it happened. Forde and Kyle had just finished guarding a small band of merchants through a swampy woodland path, and were filthy. They returned to the inn that they were staying in and both decided to take a bath in the community tub, which had been closed off for them compliments of the innkeeper.
They were supposed to have taken baths and showers together plenty of times, like the other knights and squires, but every time Kyle would save a shower for Forde and himself, who was the only man he was comfortable sharing with, Forde was late because he had dozed off, and his best friend was done when he got there.
So this was the first time that they had ever seen each other...without clothes. And when they had stripped, that was when Forde got his feelings for Kyle. He turned to see the man's sculpted and chiseled perfect chest that looked almost exactly like his own in terms of features. He looked at the man for a while, and then realized that he was staring and quickly sank into the bath tub.
Now, as he looked at Kyle during the middle of combat, as he often did, he couldn't help but let his eyes graze over every inch of this man, and wasn't afraid to acknowledge how much he loved him. In his head, of course.
But, sadly, Kyle was not the type to have feelings for...other men. He was kind to women, many of whom swooned over him. Somehow, he managed to get out of every situation with his virginity in tact, which would have been very easy to lose. When Forde had asked his best friend about it, the man had blushed and said that he was saving himself for the right person.
Forde agreed with and supported Kyle when it came to that, and told him he was doing the same thing. However, he would never tell Kyle that he was saving himself for his best friend.
Forde was jolted from his thoughts as he saw a cavalier racing toward him. He moved fast, drawing his lance and running the man through. He turned to Kyle, who was now galloping down a path to the north, all of the cavaliers gone. The golden haired knight turned to Ephraim, who ordered for him to follow Kyle. He inwardly yelped in joy and raced to joy his best friend.
He caught up with the green haired man soon, who turned to him and nodded to him. From anyone else, Forde would have thought they were giving him the cold shoulder, but this was just the way Kyle was. They soon met enemies in the form of a mercenary, soldier, and archer in an open area. They took them out quickly, the two of them riding once more down the hall.
Forde was caught off guard, however, when a bolt of thunder came crashing down toward him. He was able to nimbly dodge it, Kyle pulling out a javelin and throwing it right through the mage's head. Forde and Kyle cautiously walked past an area filled with water, only to find an orb of dark energy rising from the ground. It came up right below Forde, whose horse went wild and began bucking, throwing the man off.
Kyle hurriedly circled the wall and threw another javelin at someone Forde couldn't see. Kyle then rushed forward around the corner, and Forde heard the sound of slashing and other fighting. Kyle returned with his armor even more soaked with blood, and quickly got off of his horse to see to Forde.
The knight hadn't realized until just then how much Kyle seemed to care about him. The other man was taking care of him, was always there to help him when he needed it the most. That only led him to think whether or not the other man shared his feelings. No, there's no way that he could feel that way. He's a real guy. Girls are always all over him. Forde thought sadly as Kyle knelt beside him.
"Forde, are...you okay?" Kyle asked, slowly leaning in to examine the wound that went deep into the man's side.
Forde tried to sit up, only to wince and fall back down. Kyle sighed.
"This isn't good. Here, just...um..." He trailed off, and Forde saw, for the first time, Kyle actually in a worried state.
"I...I'll stay here, Kyle. You need to make sure that Lord Ephraim is okay. I'll be fine. Just imagine it to be tomato sauce. That stuff never hurt anybody." Forde said with a smile, trying to make a joke out of the situation and failing miserably.
"Forde...I...are you sure?" Kyle asked, looking worried.
Forde nodded. Why was he acting so distressed? The man had never seen his best friend acting the way he was; of course, he had never gotten so deep of a wound before.
Kyle sighed.
"Please, stay right here. I'll...be back in a little bit. Please...don't do anything foolish." Kyle said, now stern.
"I won't; knight's honor." He said, raising a hand in oath with a smile.
Kyle looked unsure, but finally turned to get on his horse and gallop around the corner. Forde sighed. He had wanted Kyle to stay there, to comfort him and to touch him, even if it was just to examine the wound.
His mind began to wonder as he laid there in pain. He had thought of his...desires, as he called them...many times before. It had disturbed him, scared him, even, when he had first recognized his feelings for Kyle for what they were.
But, after a short time, he began to accept it. Besides, it wasn't as though it was all men that he cared for; only his best friend. In love with best friend, now that was awkward. But he couldn't help that he felt the way he did.
He thought, many times, about what it meant to be the way he was. A man in love with another man. He had thought of men like this as wimps, sipping tea and screaming at the sight of spiders. But he wasn't like that. Sure, he like to paint and draw, and he had gotten beaten up for it, but that mean he was a wuss? No. At least, he didn't think so.
It felt like hours before Kyle came back for Forde, a look of worry and stern focus on his face. The man, without even thinking, scooped Forde up in his arms and set him on the back of his horse, pulling Forde's horse along so that he could lead both of the horses at the same time. The two were silent as Kyle led them back to the entrance. Forde saw many new faces, as well as his general, Seth.
However, Forde's eyes slipped closed slowly and he fell asleep thinking about how nice Kyle's back felt against his head, even if it was armored.
When he awoke, he was in the tent that he and Kyle always shared, lying in his sleeping bag. He found his armor and shirt off, his side bandaged, and turned to see Kyle with his head not too far from Forde's, asleep with all of his armor still on. Forde sighed.
Had the other man stayed with him the entire time? Forde leaned over and slowly unbuckled the locks, sliding it off of him. Kyle's brow furrowed, but then he relaxed again. Forde smiled. How he loved the man.
He slowly reached out, against his better judgment, and grazed the side of Kyle's face with his finger, feeling the light stubble there with a smirk; he had not gotten a chance to shave.
He pulled his hand away and just looked at the other man for a second. Then, the other man stirred. Kyle's eyes slid open, but when they did, Forde was flipped over and yawning.
"Forde? Are you okay?" Kyle asked.
His best friend turned to him and looked at him.
"Yeah, I...think so. Still a little sore."
Kyle gave a stern nod.
"Good. I didn't want to see missing out on the fighting."
Forde then remembered the other people he had seen before drifting off to sleep.
"Hey, who were all of those people?" Forde asked.
"They were with Lady Erika. She has developed quite a little group. We shall be traveling with them back to Castle Frelia."
Forde nodded, and then his brother came into his head. Maybe Franz was traveling with the princess.
"Hey, Kyle, do you know if Franz was with the princess?" Forde asked.
"Oh, yeah. He seemed worried about you. You know, he's really becoming quite a good knight."
Forde smiled.
"I knew he would. I mean, look at me. Success is in his blood."
"Yeah, success at finding the easiest and best way to fall asleep, no matter the situation."
He knew Kyle too long to know that he wasn't kidding. It stung to think his friend thought of him that way. Then, his mind shifted to a completely different subject.
"Hey, Kyle. Do you think painting and drawing are girly?" He asked.
Kyle looked a little surprised by the question. He was the only one who knew about Forde's secret hobby.
"No, Forde. I think it is a rather soothing hobby. Why do you ask?"
Forde turned his face, a blush spreading across his cheeks.
"No reason."
"Well, if that is all, then I'm going to head out and check in with Lord Ephraim." Kyle said, slowly standing.
Forde tried to stand, wanting to go with his friend, but let a small bit of a cry of pain out as he tried to stand and the wound was agitated.
"Forde, are you alright?" Kyle asked, kneeling beside the other man and looking at the opened wound, fingers grazing the skin.
Forde blushed as the man slowly pulled back what Forde assumed to be the bloodstained wrapping, realizing that it was too dark outside to see. Kyle pulled back the last bit and threw it to the side, reaching over and grabbing several bandages that Forde had not seen.
"Okay, that should do it." Kyle said when he was done, looking up from his close position to the wound.
However, he had forgotten to back up, and Forde found their lips grazing each other, their faces so close together. Without thinking of the repercussions, Forde leaned in, taking the knight's lips in his. Kyle returned the passion, slowly winding his fingers into Forde's hair, both of them closing their eyes. When they finally parted, both panting, Kyle looked shocked at what they had just done.
"I...need to talk to Lord Ephraim." He said quickly, rising.
"Kyle, wait!" Forde pleaded as the man went to open the tent flap.
Kyle turned to him, and Forde saw in his eyes a mix of emotions; guilt, shock, pain, love, desire, humiliation.
"I...need to think about this, Forde." Kyle whispered, opening the tent and walking out slowly.
Forde hung his head. He blew it. He had lost his best friend when he had made that move. And yet, he couldn't seem to regret kissing him.