“Gilbert…”
“Go away. I’m sleeping.”
When Egru whispered near his ear, Gilbert waved his hand as if shooing away a fly.
Upon reaching their campsite, a problem arose. Gilbert had lain down with his back turned and refused to move.
He consistently ignored offers of the food D’Élysée had gathered. He showed no response whatsoever to suggestions they go wash together.
Kneeling behind Gilbert’s head, Egru fidgeted anxiously before lowering his head. With hands clasped together, he whispered softly into Gilbert’s ear.
“I-I’m sorry for letting the mole go. After you so kindly gave it as a gift, I just couldn’t bring myself to eat it raw…”
“Just leave him be, Brother.”
D’Élysée said as he gathered towels beside the campfire.
“He says he wants to be alone. Everyone has those moments, don’t they?”
Detecting the mockery in his voice, Gilbert slapped the dirt ground repeatedly with his black tail. Egru lowered his head again and continued whispering.
“There’s a l-lake nearby. Soaking in the clear water will surely improve your mood.”
“…Can I feed on your energy?”
Gilbert asked, slightly softening his sullen demeanor.
“Th-that’s, well, a little…”
When Egru turned anxiously toward D’Élysée, Gilbert abruptly turned his head away again. His back, with arms firmly crossed, resembled an impenetrable fortress.
“Fine then. Stop tickling my ear and go.”
“Gilbert…”
“Let’s just go together, Brother. It’s discourteous to force someone when they’re in a bad mood.”
D’Élysée said kindly, placing his hand on Egru’s shoulder. After hesitating for a while, Egru carefully whispered.
“I’ve left Gilbert’s portion by the campfire. Please make sure to eat.”
“……”
“We’ll be back soon.”
After Egru left with D’Élysée and their footsteps completely faded away.
Gilbert belatedly jumped up and scanned the empty area behind him. When he saw no trace of Egru, his black tail drooped dejectedly.
The bowl Egru had mentioned was beside the campfire.
It contained a stew made with deboned seasonal fish and several edible roots. The berries Egru had carried all the way here were placed alongside it.
All of them had been gathered by that annoying Hero-wannabe.
The tip of his long tail struck the stew bowl, knocking it over.
Gilbert lay back down. His large frame landed on the dirt ground with a thud.
Only the sound of burning branches filled the lonely campsite.
***
Egru, with a slightly flushed face, pulled his top off over his head.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t excited about bathing with his brother after so long.
When I was younger…
They used to bathe using water boiled in a pot mixed with cold water. During warm seasons, they would sometimes bathe together in streams before returning home.
The current situation mirrored the latter perfectly. He never dreamed he would experience such warm, intimate moments again.
“Brother, there’s something I’d like to ask.”
D’Élysée said, helping Egru remove his shirt as it had become tangled around his head in his haste.
Quietly adding, “Arms up,” D’Élysée prompted Egru to hesitantly raise both arms.
I used to be the one helping him…
Now that the roles were reversed, with his younger brother assisting him, Egru felt a touch of bashfulness.
Finally free of the constricting shirt, Egru drew a refreshing breath. D’Élysée briefly examined the shirt, much smaller than his own, before hanging it on a branch.
“Be honest with me, Brother. Just nod or shake your head.”
“?”
“Do you truly not remember me?”
At this quietly posed question, Egru hesitated. It was a question he had anticipated would come eventually.
When Egru slowly nodded, D’Élysée’s expression hardened ambiguously.
“Then why are you so kind to me?”
“……”
“Do you usually approach strangers so readily?”
As the pitch of D’Élysée’s voice gradually rose, Egru nervously lowered his gaze. Each time his breath caught with tension, the ribs of his skinny torso became pronounced.
Looking down at his brother, who was quickly becoming flustered, D’Élysée firmly closed his eyes before opening them again.
“I’m sorry for startling you, Brother.”
D’Élysée’s hand gently gripped Egru’s bony shoulder.
“I worry about you being in danger. The world is filled with malicious people scattered like bombs everywhere.”
D’Élysée was well aware of his brother’s innocent nature.
He blindly trusted Salvanel and embraced the mysterious Gilbert.
Perhaps he was cherishing himself now in exactly the same manner.
D’Élysée squeezed Egru’s shoulder firmly. He felt a constricting lump in his blocked throat. No matter what, he had been different from them from the beginning.
“Do you remember Levian, by any chance?”
Egru shook his head vigorously. Red hair? Chain-smoker? The Holy Land? Guild Alliance? Despite D’Élysée’s persistent questioning, the response remained the same.
“That’s a relief.”
D’Élysée’s face finally brightened.
“Good. He’s not even worth remembering. His speech and behavior are so filthy that even washing his mouth with soap wouldn’t be enough.”
Egru, who had been watching cautiously, finally smiled along as D’Élysée embraced him.
“I’m different from such ruffians. I’m the brother who grew up with you. I can’t even be compared to others.”
D’Élysée buried his face in the slender nape of Egru’s neck. His sharp nose pressed against the soft, bare skin.
“We are each other’s only family.”
As he inhaled the docile pheromones, a deep thirst rippled in his light green eyes.
Every time Egru’s dark brown hair brushed against his skin, the peculiar stimulation intensified.
“It’s alright if you don’t remember now, Brother. I’ll teach you one step at a time.”
Before losing his composure, D’Élysée forcibly lifted his head. He embraced his brother tightly, though not enough to hurt him, then released him from his arms.
“It will be resolved soon. Trust me.”
Egru nodded deeply. His eyelids appeared slightly swollen, as if he had been sniffling with emotion.
D’Élysée smiled while tidying the disheveled dark brown bangs.
My innocent, pitiful brother…
When would he understand my true feelings?
D’Élysée bent down to press his lips against the small, round forehead. Egru’s fine hair stood on end as he smiled broadly.
“Would you kiss my cheek too, Brother?”
“?”
“I said I’d teach you one step at a time.”
His thick hand reached for the pointed ear that extended horizontally. Starting from the thin earlobe, he pressed it firmly before gently caressing the tip with his index finger.
“We used to do this often when we were young.”
D’Élysée manufactured a clear expression devoid of any ulterior motives.
Blinking his amber eyes, Egru casually rose to his tiptoes. As D’Élysée readily bent his waist, Egru lifted his head and kissed him on the cheek.
Touch.
Ah…
D’Élysée’s complexion instantly flushed crimson. The brief contact burned with intensity.
The person himself would never dream of it. How such naive behavior could ignite such carnal desire.
His veined hands repeatedly clenched and unclenched of their own accord. The urge to devour something immediately permeated through to his fingertips.
D’Élysée took his time exhaling calmly. He tensed his throat to prevent any sound escaping that might cause his brother to misunderstand.
How far would Brother…
The frustrating desire led to a sinister idea.
“Brother, could you help me take off my shirt too?”
D’Élysée looked down at Egru with pitifully drooping eyes.
“My hands have grown so large that unbuttoning has become difficult. When I was young, you always did it for me…”
“!”
Egru eagerly reached for D’Élysée’s buttons, as if asking to be entrusted with the task. He appeared genuinely delighted by his younger brother’s childish request.
Pop, pop. The buttons came undone one by one from the bottom. Each time Egru’s meticulously working fingers were felt through the shirt, D’Élysée’s pulse quickened.
As the final button between his collarbones came undone, he swallowed dry saliva.
“Keep undressing me, Brother.”
Egru promptly nodded and moved behind D’Élysée, pulling down the shirt. The garment slid over his broad shoulders.
The bulging back, a result of endless training, was revealed. His physique had been diligently honed to balance strength and speed without sacrificing either.
Tonight, the clouds were sparse and the moonlight bright. The cascading lunar radiance particularly accentuated the contours of his intensely developed muscles.
Even at a glance, the finely woven musculature harmonized perfectly with his firm waist. A formidable spine powerfully supported his upper body, and occasional prominent veins twitched with tension.
“Brother, I…”
Every time D’Élysée took an excited breath, his large ribcage rose and fell. Egru’s entire figure was reflected in his languidly relaxed light green eyes.
“Here too…”
D’Élysée brought Egru’s hand to press against his pants buckle.
“Would you take these off for me too?”