Title: Move Forward Fearlessly

Summary: Logre and Jeroden spend a few moments together and Logre finally decides that maybe he can move forward after all.

Pairings: Jeroden/Logre

AN: Did someone say Logre fluff? ...No? Well, that's what you're getting anyway, so enjoy!

-

It was well after midnight when the inhabitants of the Researchers' Clinic decided to call it a night. Those who were staying elsewhere lingered outside in the cool night air to talk for a few moments longer.

They didn't chat any further about the Golden Imperial, however. Perhaps thought it was best not to mention them outside the walls of the clinic. Or maybe they didn't want to worry or upset those who had encountered the supposedly "legendary" imperial.

Logre stood with them as they said goodnight to each other, reaffirming to them that he was fine and not to worry, before they parted ways. Logre had his own apartment in a quiet area of the city, and tonight he felt it best for him to retreat to his own place. He didn't want to impose on Isiah and his brothers for another night, even if they insisted it was fine. He had caused them enough worry and trouble as is.

Besides, Nitish could do with a night off away from Logre's troubling emotions.

As the other members of his guild headed in the direction of the inn, Logre found himself standing alone with Jeroden. He wasn't all that surprised, to be honest. In fact, he was relieved. Though a thought did occur to him and he turned to face the other man directly.

"I've been meaning to ask; where is it that you've been staying?" he questioned.

"Your guild had allowed me to crash at here the last couple of days," Jeroden answered quickly. "And tonight, they've offered to rent a room at the inn for me."

Logre furrowed his brow slightly, though he wasn't sure if it was from curiosity or disappointment. "Hm? You know where it is?" He indicated in the direction opposite of where he was going, where his guildmates just disappeared in. "They just left."

A half smile made its way upon Jeroden's lips. "They've given me directions. I'm sure I can find it eventually."

Logre felt a slight pain in his stomach. This one, he knew. It was of protectiveness. "Ah, want me to walk you there?"

Jeroden unexpectedly gave a short laugh in response before his shook his head. "I'm the one walking you home, wherever that may be."

Honestly, Logre should have seen that coming. "Hm?"

"Don't look surprised," Jeroden retorted with a grin, but the way he folded his arms tightly over his taut chest indicated that there was only a small amount of amusement from him. "After that incident that happened just a couple of days ago, I'm lucky I get to do this alone."

"That?" Logre murmured. It came rushing back to him, though, and he sighed while simultaneously touched his forehead in exasperation. "That was-"

"That was not nothing," Jeroden cut him off, the grin gone from his lips and a cautious but caring expression on his face. He even went as far as to bristle with protectiveness. It was...something he used to do during their years together training as knights.

He hadn't realised how much he missed actually seeing that. Sure, he didn't like to cause worry or trouble for Jeroden. For anyone. But it was...still nice to see. Nice to have someone protective of him.

Especially that someone who...he thought...

"They targeted you personally," Jeroden continued, either knowing or unknowing pulling Logre from his thoughts. "Even though those who were directly involved in that incident have been taken care of."

He suddenly smiled brightly at that and chuckled at some joke that Logre had no knowledge about. "Spectacularly at that, may I add."

...That didn't sound ominous at all.

The amused expression soon dissipated into that of protective concern once more and Jeroden continued. "But the ones who instigated such an unprovoked attack have not been found. I wouldn't be surprised if numerous members of your guild are watching you from the shadows right now."

Great. He was causing trouble for others again.

Jeroden stepped before him and suddenly snared Logre by his wrist, pulling his hand away from his forehead. "Stop that," he instructed as his head slid to cover his hand in his. "It's not you who's causing trouble."

Logre had to smile as he shook his head in response.

Even with ten years apart, Jeroden was still able to read his mind. Not entirely, but he knew him enough to be able to predict him. Infuriately, though, Jeroden left him guessing. Did back when they were trainees together. And even now, it seemed.

Jeroden kept a hold of Logre's hand with his own as he suddenly turned to look at the far horizon. "Yggdrasil looks...different from here, doesn't it?"

"It does," Logre said as he turned to look as well, making no attempt to pull his hand from Jeroden's. "How...close were you to Yggdrasil?" he asked.

"Ah," Jeroden murmured as a distant look appeared on his face. His lips drew into a thin line for a moment, his eyes somewhat glazed. "East of the tree. Upon the mountain side. Could overlook the entire valley. Had to remain low, though. Some...didn't think much of farmers."

Jeroden's hand tightened around his, and Logre squeezed back. He would like to know of the hardships that Jeroden had endured all those years. He wanted to know his fears and pains, so...he could help him in return.

Wasn't that ironic? No, perhaps hypocritical. Logre himself was hesitant to open up to anyone for fear of causing them unnecessary worry and concern. And yet he wanted Jeroden to open up to him. To tell him everything.

But...clearly not now.

"It's getting late," Logre said, breaking the silence of the night around them.

"Yeah," Jeroden murmured absentmindedly. He soon placed that friendly smile of his on his lips once again and turned to face him.

"I have an apartment on this side of town," Logre indicated with a tilt of his head. "Let's go."

"Of course."

Logre pulled his hand from Jeroden's hesitantly, reluctantly. And Jeroden's hand resisted for a moment before allowing him to pull away. He gave Jeroden a small, almost shy smile before the turned on his heel to lead the way.

But he was pulled to an abruptly stop.

A pair of strong and familiar arms suddenly wrapped around Logre from behind and he instinctively became tense and still. Though, despite his sharp reflexes, he did not try to push the arms away. Not when he knew who they belonged to. Not when he realised how warm they were. Especially not when a chin rested on his shoulder and a nose nuzzled against the side of his head.

Still, the action surprised him and Logre tensed slightly as he peered at Jeroden from the corner of his eye. "What are you-?"

"Sorry," Jeroden murmured, his breath ghosting against his ear and the side of his neck, which brought a light shiver down Logre's spine. "It's just occurring to me now where I am in this world."

Oh...Yeah, he had expected something like that.

Jeroden's arms tightened around him and he buried his face against his shoulder. "I've really missed you..."

Logre's breath hitched in his throat for a moment before he released it slowly. His hands instinctively reached up to touch Jeroden's arms, gently brushing against the skin with his fingertips.

Scars. There were light scars on his arms. From war, training, or perhaps just the hardships of the Cloudy Stronghold. But they were there. Callous, noticeable. The same as the callouses of Logre's own hands.

Here they were, two battle-scarred men. Together after years apart.

Another sigh slipped past his lips and his eyes slid closed. Maybe it was indeed time for him to look to the future instead of the past. It...won't be easy. But he owed it to Jeroden, to his guild, to his prince and to his emperor to at least try.

Try...that was all he could do.

"I've missed you too," he murmured as he tightened his hold on Jeroden's arms and subconsciously sunk back against him.

One of Jeroden's arms slid down to wrap around Logre's waist as the other rested across his chest, allowing him to press himself further against his back. Holding him closer and tighter. Shielding him with his arms and body.

"It almost feels like a dream."

Logre sighed. "I know."

A dream they were both afraid of waking up from. They didn't want to experience that pain. Waking to realise that it was all a dream. The joy turning into heart-wrenching pain.

But...it wasn't a dream. It wasn't.

Gods, this was real.

"It's so peaceful here," Jeroden murmured with his face against the side of Logre's neck. "Will I really be able to accept it?"

"You will," Logre immediately replied. "I know you will. I...I'll make sure."

Jeroden released a sigh that turned into a slow, low chuckle. "I don't want to let you go."

...He didn't either.

But it would better if they didn't do this out in the open. Unwanted interruptions and all that.

"...You're going to have to, or do I have to carry you home?" Logre said with humour in his voice as he lifted a hand to lightly pat Jeroden on the head.

Jeroden didn't remove his hold on him, though he did pull his face away from his neck to instead rest his chin on his shoulder. "Home, huh?"

That word sounded odd hearing it. His apartment wasn't a place he had actually considered home all these years. Just a place to rest. A place that kept a roof over his head. A place where he plotted in how he was to return to his "true" home.

But Tharsis was his...home now, wasn't it? With his guild, with his prince, and with...Jeroden.

"It's not far now," Logre said as he tugged on Jeroden's arms as he tried to step away.

With a sigh that was both playfully yet sincerely disappointed, Jeroden allowed his arms to fall away from Logre. It was momentarily disconcerting how cold Logre suddenly felt when Jeroden pulled away from him. But he brushed it off and took the lead once more.

Despite such a bustling city, filled with explorers and adventurers coming and going as they pleased, the streets were thankfully quiet at this time of night. As Logre took the ever-familiar path to his apartment, the sound of echoing footsteps was for once reassuring. Jeroden matched his steps with his own, keeping pace and keeping close.

Finally, after a few minutes of silence, Logre paused out the front of his apartment. A small, two story apartment with steps and a porch, made from of sandstone like the other buildings around it. A small flowerbed was situated beneath the window, though empty as Logre had never thought of doing anything with it.

As he dug around in his pocket for the key, he turned once more to face Jeroden. The other man was looking up at the building. "So, this is where you've been living?"

"It's not much, but it's enough," Logre said as he pulled out the keys finally.

Jeroden nodded his head absentmindedly. "It looks like a place that can be turned into a home."

Home. Gods, that word was making his chest hurt for some reason.

"Can I stay the night?" Jeroden suddenly asked as he turned his gaze from the building to look directly into Logre's eyes.

Logre honestly didn't need to consider how to answer that. "Yeah."

Despite the dim moonlight around them, Logre could easily see the way Jeroden's eyes lit up with relief and...happiness. He really was happy just to be around him, wasn't he? No matter where. No matter what.

"Jeroden?"

"Hm?"

Logre paused for a moment, that feeling of nervous, of hesitancy speaking to him from the back of his mind. But he pushed it back and continued. "...You can move in here, too."

Jeroden looked surprised, hopeful, and Logre felt that nervousness again. But, no, it wasn't nervousness. It was a strangely shy form of embarrassment.

"I divide my time between here, the clinic, and Mark's Grand Court anyway," Logre continued as he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "Besides, we've got some catching up to do."

"Yes, we do," Jeroden immediately replied as he stepped toward Logre once more, to stand close to him. As he did so, his hand reached out to take Logre's, pulling his hand away from his hair to hold it once more. "I'd feel better being close to you again."

Logre felt the tension he didn't realise he had in his shoulders disappear and he smiled a small, but genuine smile at the other man. "Yeah, so would I."

Hmm, he just might be ready to move forward after all.