Asch/Guy NC-17: Immemorial
Title: Immemorial
Fandom: Tales of the Abyss
Word Count: 5200
Spoilers: Uh... takes place almost a month after the Absorption Gate.
Summary: Asch hadn't expected to find Guy in Grand Chokmah. Guy hadn't expected to find Asch. Neither expected their pants to come off after dinner. (WARNING: NC-17.)
Notes: THIS IS A LOT LONGER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. Mostly because Akai fails at writing PWP. Not sure if this is a good thing or what.
The title comes from me picking up a dictionary and finding a random word that fit. After rejecting "fornication", "hooker", and "drillmaster" (I'm not even joking) this one came along: Immemorial - "extending beyond the reach of memory". I approved.
---
It was something of a pain, he couldn't help but think, this whole revenge business.
Really, there was no denying it. It had seemed so easy, initially - track down the bastards who'd gone and murdered his family, return the favour, and probably die in the process. It wasn't as though he'd had anything else to live for when he'd thought of it.
Distantly, Guy wondered how easy it would have been, had Van not kidnapped Asch and created Luke. If he would have met the kid head-on or simply done it in his sleep. If he'd have survived long enough to take the murderous father with him or simply leave him behind to pick up the pieces, just as Guy himself had done.
It was a stupid plan, he'd learned over time; Duke Fabre didn't seem to give a damn about Luke - or Asch when he was Luke - and the only one who seemed to care was his gentle wife, who had always been kind to him.
He hadn't trusted Asch, from the start. Had never been given a reason to, really; he'd attacked Luke time and again, aided Van, forced Ion to open the seals to the Sephiroths. In a lot of ways, he was just as guilty of what he so vehemently accused Luke of being - naive to a fault where Van was concerned.
They'd been raised to be that way, Guy knew. Asch as a subordinate, Luke as a student, both taught to follow his instructions (or orders, what have you) unquestioningly. Because Van was wise and good and so very kind, there was no reason to doubt.
Van knows best.
If he were perfectly honest with himself, Guy would have had to admit that he was no better than they.
It was Vandesdelca, his Vandesdelca. Why should he worry or suspect anything? And if he didn't - he who knew Van almost as well as the man's own sister, who had heard Tear's suspicions and accusations despite their shared blood - why should Luke or Asch, who had followed him all their lives?
All of that was moot now, really. They knew Van's plot, they knew the roles they'd played in both his rise and downfall. They'd defeated him, killed him, saved the world. They'd all gone home and went on with their lives.
Well... almost all of them.
Guy looked up from the plans laid out on the table before him, scrutinizing the architect's little details as work continued on around him. He'd thought it was a silly idea, building a whole new house rather than just finding some old relic to restore, but Peony had insisted - the Gardios family had been one of Malkuth's oldest, and his father had been something of an idiot to let it die with Hod. The money was there, and they had both time and resources to spare, so there was no excuse for the young noble not to strut his stuff, so to speak. He was still adjusting to the stuffiness of the city's latest fashion - another imperial recommendation, though an odd one, since Peony himself was the least formal of any of the Malkuth lords - and honestly speaking, he had no idea what he'd do with a big mansion. It wasn't as if he had a family to share it with, and considering his... special condition, there wasn't much hope in changing that anytime soon.
There was no shortage of women who would love to be the next Countess Gardios, naturally. Life was ironic that way.
He'd helped design the manor - what would become the Gardios family household, if such a family could ever exist again - but it didn't feel like home. Baticul wasn't home either, really, but the familiarity of it was soothing, as was Luke's presence, and the sight of his father's sword on the wall. There were memories there, ones that could never be replaced.
Peony had (hopefully jokingly) mentioned he ought to invite Luke to come and live with him there; Guy hadn't had the nerve to respond that it was tempting, so tempting. Though likely not for the reason His Majesty thought.
He missed having someone to talk to, the way he used to with his best friend, day after day.
---
It might have been fate, had he believed in such things. He'd been walking Luke - Peony's Luke, the rappig Guy liked to spoil but would never admit to it - down the streets near the palace one late afternoon, when he'd caught sight of a shock of brilliant red hair weaving through the crowds ahead of him. It had taken a moment's effort to urge the rappig into a jog (the lazy beast shared more than Luke's name), and a few more to catch up to the familiar figure who was zooming off in the opposite direction as usual.
Sure, it wasn't Luke, but over the months of actually having to cooperate with the former God-General, he'd gone from hating the bastard, to tolerating him, to having an... odd sort of fondness for the kid.
"Asch! Hey, Asch!"
He was still a brat and a stubborn ass, but that was forever woven into who he was - rant and deny it as much as he liked, but Asch wasn't as different from his former self as he wanted to pretend he was.
Asch stiffened and turned to face him, half-reaching for his sword, that ever-present scowl crossing his lips. "... Guy. I thought you'd be in Baticul."
He didn't add with the replica, because they both knew he was thinking it, and Yulia be damned if he'd ever say one word more than he absolutely had to.
Guy shrugged his shoulders. "With all the traveling we did after the peace treaty, I never had a chance to think about it, but... I didn't think it would be a good idea to stay at the manor now that your father knows who I am." He didn't miss how Asch's lips tightened at the mention of his sire. "My family's fortunes were recorded in Grand Chokmah's treasury, so I figured I may as well start over."
"... Hn." Asch's reaction to the news was predictably bland. "I see."
Guy waited as long as it was polite, then continued with, "What about you?"
He didn't add Why didn't you go home? because they both knew that, too.
With Luke there, he felt he didn't have a home. In contrast, Luke felt like the usurper, the thief, the bar across the door preventing Asch's return. Idiots, the both of them.
The former noble averted his eyes. "I'm investigating the remnants of Van. Have you heard anything?"
Guy blinked at that. "Involving Van? No, nothing. As far as I know, he's in the core." Something in Asch's expression - difficult as it was to read - shifted his curiousity to concern. "... You know something I don't. What's going on, Asch?"
He turned away, as usual. "I don't have an answer for you. Just keep an eye on things."
I'd rather keep an eye on you, Guy had to stop himself from saying. Something like that was easily misinterpreted, and in a crowd like this it wasn't such a great idea. Asch was trying to walk off, though, so he swallowed his pride and reached out, grabbing hold of the young man's arm. "Hey, wait a minute."
Asch scowled at him, trying to knock his hand aside. He found it surprisingly difficult. "I don't have time to wait around. I have things to do."
Guy raised an eyebrow, ignoring his protests. "It's getting kind of late. You're spending the night at the inn, right?" Asch hesitated, then nodded. "Ha ha, no you're not. Come on."
The former God-General staggered forward as Guy turned, starting towards the palace. "H-hey! What are you doing?!"
"Relax, I'm not trying to kidnap you," Guy quipped, earning yet another scowl. "There's no point in you spending your gald on a fancy hotel when I've got room to spare. You can stay at my place."
"What? No!"
Guy couldn't help it - he smirked. "Why not? You look pretty frazzled. I bet you could use some relaxation time."
"I am not frazzled," Asch snapped, trying once again to escape, but Guy had a firm grip on his wrist. "And I told you, I have things to do!"
"Don't be so stubborn. There's no reason for you to refuse."
"I don't need a reason," the younger man replied tightly. "I just don't want to."
"Too bad."
"Dammit, Guy!"
Guy laughed, glancing back at him. "Never thought I'd say it was good to see you, but it is."
Asch was quiet for a moment. "...Missing the replica?"
He sounded almost sullen; the thought made Guy smile, amused. "Heh, yeah, I do. But don't misunderstand me - I'm not inviting you because of him."
"Hmph." Asch grunted. "... Why the palace?"
Guy motioned towards the half-forgotten rappig trotting along beside him. "Gotta take this guy home first."
Asch followed his gaze. "Why the hell do you have a rappig?"
Another laugh. "It's His Majesty's pet - I keep them exercised. Not a very glamorous job, I guess, but you've got to start somewhere, right?"
"... Hn. Let me go already - you don't have to drag me around like a child."
"You're not going to run off?" Guy grinned, then released him when Asch gave a grudging shake of the head. "This'll only take a minute."
It did, thankfully. Upon reaching the palace, he handed the leash over to one of the guards, who hurried inside to deliver the pet to his proper owner. Everyone knew how seriously Peony took his cute rappigs. Well, somewhat seriously, anyway...
Turning back to Asch - and feeling inwardly grateful the sullen teenager was still there - he waved a hand, leading the way back into the city. "It's not finished yet, but there are a few rooms ready, and most of the important features have been installed. The builders in Grand Chokmah are really incredible, to have erected the place so quickly."
Asch made a vague, noncommittal sound, rather typical of him. Guy was in a merciful mood, so he let the young man indulge in his silence until they arrived.
"Here we are," he lifted a hand for Asch to halt, then motioned towards the well-sized manor before them, a few workers around doing odd jobs to clean up for the end of the day. "The new House Gardios."
He hadn't known what sort of reaction to expect, but Asch's lack of response wasn't a surprise. "... Hn. It's big."
"Is that all you can say?" Guy laughed, weaving a path through the mess of tools and building supplies in the front yard, leading them both inside. The interior wasn't much better, sparsely decorated with random furniture and a few of Guy's possessions that Asch recognized from years ago.
"I requested they finish the second floor before the ground floor," Guy explained as he guided him up the stairs, "Since I don't really entertain visitors here. I got a lot of dinner invitations when I first arrived, mostly from out-of-favour nobles hoping to marry their daughter to the newly-found Count Gardios." He smiled then, an expression that was neither happy nor sad. "I usually don't get a second invite when they try to get me to shake her hand."
Asch snorted. "You never change."
The smile remained in place as Guy halted in front of a room a little off to the side. "You'd be surprised," he responded somewhat cryptically, continuing before Asch could decide whether or not he wanted to inquire about it. "This is the bath area. I figured you'd want to get cleaned up. Dinner'll be ready pretty soon, so make yourself at home until then."
Asch gave the room a look that clearly stated he would do no such thing, but Guy didn't let it bother him, waving him off and heading down the hall for what he had designated as his study. If there was one thing he knew about Asch, it was that he constantly believed he didn't have a home anymore.
... Like me.
Though in truth he wasn't sure what he believed, now; home was Hod, but Hod was gone. Home was Kimlasca, with Luke, but he wasn't so welcome there anymore. Home was here, in this manor all his own, but it wasn't because there was nothing here to make it home.
He decided, with a musing smile, that his mind was far too complicated for his own good.
---
Asch came looking for him about half an hour later, entering the study unannounced. When Guy looked up, his eyes widened at the younger man's attire. "... Uh..."
"Don't say a word," Asch scowled, in the middle of drying his hair with the towel around his neck. He was wearing nothing more than a bathrobe that barely came down to his knees. "Where the hell are my clothes?!"
Guy coughed into a fist, setting aside the documents he'd been reading over. "They're not where you left them?" he asked. He didn't say how the tabard he usually wore did his legs no justice.
"If they were," Asch responded tightly, "Do you really think I would be wearing this?"
A small smile crossed Guy's lips, and he pushed away from his desk, standing up to approach his somewhat irate guest. "Probably not. Wait, you left them in the outer room, didn't you?" At Asch's nod, he winced. "Ah... Anabelle probably took them out to wash them."
".... What."
Laughing faintly, though with a sympathetic expression, Guy waved a hand vaguely towards the washroom. "Emperor Peony's been trying to get me out of the habit of doing the household chores, half because I'm a noble, and half because he and Jade run me ragged. He found me a maid who somehow manages to do everything before I can even think about it."
Asch stewed, looking very displeased. "What the hell kind of maid washes someone's clothes without even asking?!"
"Anabelle," Guy supplied playfully, earning himself a venomous glare. "Well, there's no helping it now. It's probably better this way - they were kind of rank."
"... My clothes do not smell!!" At Guy's look, Asch glared more, trying not to look indignant. "Sh-shut up. I keep myself clean."
"Right," Guy responded dryly, shrugging his shoulders. "Either way, they'll be wet until morning. You can either keep wearing that, or borrow from me."
Asch just kept glaring for a while, considering this. Whether wandering the house in naught but a bathrobe was more or less humiliating than struggling into those ridiculously tight clothes Guy wore without the comfort of his tabard, he wasn't sure. At the feel of a light draft beneath the robe, however - the window was open across the room - his decision was made almost instantaneously. "... Get me some clothes."
Guy did his best not to smirk.
---
Asch looked very good in skin-tight pants and that velvet green jerkin of his, Guy decided a short while later.
Very, very good in it.
The former God-General himself wasn't entirely pleased; he spent most of dinner blushing, scowling, and grumbling - all of which was normal, aside from the excessive amount of blushing when compared to the other two. The meal was awkward, to say the least.
Guy was both grateful and annoyed at the table - and the tablecloth that came with it - for keeping him from staring at Asch's lower body. The tabard always covered... well, everything, and it made it all too easy to forget that Asch's body was just as toned and muscular as his replica's. One of them was bad enough, but a pair of bodies that amazing was downright unfair.
When he thought about it, it really wasn't difficult to imagine that Asch would be a lot less obnoxious if Luke didn't make him so damned insecure about his own place in the world. How to solve that little issue was an altogether different situation, unfortunately.
By the time they'd finished the meal, Guy had made his decision. "I can show you where you'll be sleeping, if you want," he offered, after the maid had started to clear the table, her determined look enough to fend off any silly notions of helping. Old habits, what could he say? He felt it wise to get Asch out of the room before the young man made the connection that it was this pleasantly bossy woman who had stolen his clothes, so he led the way down the hall towards the bedrooms.
Inwardly, he hoped he wouldn't come to regret this - and that he'd read Asch properly. He really didn't feel like getting skewered.
"This is it," he called them both to a halt not long after, leading Asch into the room he'd indicated. It was just as sparsely decorated as the rest of the house, with one exception - the floor was littered with various small machinery and toolboxes, all related to fontech. Obviously the maid had been all but forbidden to disrupt whatever deranged organization the occupant had created.
It took one glance around the room, and then another at Guy, who was grinning at him, for Asch to realize exactly who that occupant was.
"... No."
"Sorry! I don't have anywhere else," Guy shrugged his shoulders, looking rather blatantly unremorseful.
Asch glared at him. "I'd rather sleep outside."
Raising an eyebrow, Guy smirked faintly. "It'd be pretty cold without any clothes."
"I have-!" the younger man cut himself off when he remembered that he was still wearing Guy's clothes. He had a moment of pondering whether it would wound his pride more to give in or return the clothes and leave anyway. It wasn't like he'd never spent the night in wet clothes before...
"Come on, Asch," Guy rolled his eyes, scuffing a hand through his hair. "It's just one night. It's not like you haven't done it before."
Asch shot him another scathing look, fists clenching at his sides. "I was five!"
"And six, and seven, and eight..." Guy grinned again, ticking the numbers off on his hand.
The former God-General came as close to pouting as was possible for him. "Sh-shut up. I was just a kid."
"Well, you're not a kid now, and neither am I," Guy returned easily, "So we should be able to handle this like adults, right?"
"...." The glare was his only response for a long, long moment, until Asch finally grumbled out a reluctant agreement. "Fine. But you better keep your hands off me."
"Says the one who used to snuggle up to me."
"I said shut up!"
---
In the end, neither could really say how it all started, or who was responsible.
Asch awoke midway through the night to find himself snuggled against another body - and said body was quite comfortably snuggling back against him. He wasn't sure how it had happened, seeing as he was used to sleeping alone, and quite frankly, he didn't cuddle. Ever.
"Bastard," he muttered, hands shifting to try and push the blond swordsman away. He didn't budge, though he did seem to stir as if waking up. "I told you to keep your hands off!"
Guy mumbled something incoherent, face buried against his neck, then said a bit louder, "... I am..."
Asch blinked. It was true, in a way; Guy's arms were around his neck, stretched out on either side, but his hands weren't touching him in any way. Somehow, that fact only served to irritate Asch further. "That's not the point! Get off me!"
There was a long, strained silence. Then, he felt warm breath on his neck as the other man replied, "You're groping me."
"...." Asch swallowed. Then carefully moved his hand. "Idiot. Don't act like it was intentional. I can't even see."
Guy chuckled against his skin, lifting his head to meet Asch's angry eyes in the darkness. "Nobody's saying anything like that. ... Unless you were hoping I'd go for it?"
Asch spluttered. "I - was - not!"
"I would, you know," Guy added calmly, before the younger man could continue his protests. "If you asked."
Asch stared at him. The smile his former servant wore was disturbingly sincere.
A scant second later Guy was kissing him - or was he kissing Guy? - and neither could deny how amazing it felt, or be bothered with protests. For two men who spent precious little time in their lives with such activities, they were surprisingly good at it; either that or too inexperienced to care.
Either way, when Guy parted his lips Asch dove between them, tongue stretching to explore, hands moving to touch a body he hadn't felt this closely since his childhood, on nights when it was too cold or dark to spend alone, even if it could have earned him a reprimand from his father. Reluctant and remote as Guy had always been, he had always remained a pillar of security, of safety against both chills and storms. Even after learning of Guy's true intentions, of the man's change of heart because of the replica - not him, and how that fact burned him to the core - he couldn't help but remember all the nights he'd spent curled against his attendant's side, grateful for the warmth but too proud to say as much.
He'd changed in that time, he supposed, but not that much. Certainly not yet.
"Clothes," he muttered when he broke the kiss, somewhat breathless, hands lowering to graze over the buttons of the Malkuthian lord's shirt. Even as he did so, he pressed his other hand against Guy's shoulder, urging him onto his back.
Guy blinked, still dazed by the intensity of the apparently-unexpected kiss. "... You're alright with this?"
"Shut up," Asch hissed, swinging a leg over his body to straddle him. "You're the one who started all of this."
"I wasn't complaining," Guy responded in a mild tone, hands lifting to tug at Asch's vest. Though he knew that Asch was rather obviously taking on the dominant role, the feel of the young man's rump against his groin was all-too tempting. He hoped Asch would at least share the experience. Nobody liked a selfish lover.
... Not that they were lovers or anything.
"Good." Asch didn't continue, all but tearing Guy's shirt aside, hands wandering up and down his chest. He didn't resist as Guy returned the favour, motions halting only when the shirt was urged down his arms and discarded off to the side, out of sight. Then his was back to that smooth, exposed skin, indulging in every inch of it, watching for the slightest reaction as he stroked and tweaked.
This is working out better than I thought, Guy thought absently, eyes half-rolling back. He hadn't realized it would feel so damned good. "I didn't know you were this open to it," he managed breathlessly, hand lifting to travel through Asch's hair. It was different from Luke's, somehow; not quite as soft or pampered as it used to be. The hair of a soldier, not a king's nephew. Still pleasant nonetheless, and he continued to let his fingers wander.
"Neither did I," was all Asch bothered to say in response, before he leaned in for a second, more heated kiss.
It really was a good thing he'd grown fond of his former master, Guy thought absently, mouth opening to let Asch's tongue delve inside, as he felt a hand graze against his pants. Hatred would have made this entire situation far more difficult. Awkward, at the very least.
"Why the hell do you have to wear such tight pants?" Asch muttered irritably, fighting to get said pants off his hips.
Guy smirked. "To entice bad-tempered young nobles, of course."
Asch snorted. "Bastard." He finally won, discarding both pants and undergarments, taking a moment to glance over his prize.
Guy felt a sudden, unexpected blush cross his cheeks. "You don't have to stare like that."
The former God-General chuckled, which only served to surprise Guy even more. "I think I like you this way."
"...Huh." Guy blinked. "I guess I should be flattered."
Asch rolled his eyes and grabbed one of Guy's legs, lifting it to rest on his shoulder. "You have anything?"
"Huh?" Guy repeated, before he realized what the question meant. This all seemed too matter-of-fact, he thought absently, a bit annoyed. If Asch was going to treat this like some mission...
Then again, asking about lubrication meant that Asch didn't want to hurt him, and cared about his wellbeing. ... Or at the very least, didn't want to deal with his complaints later on.
"Top drawer," he mumbled, reaching out to the side, scrabbling at the wood in a vain attempt to reach the handle. "Fontech lubrication for screws." He smirked a little at that.
Asch was nonplussed. "Won't that burn? Don't tell me you're a masochist."
Guy laughed aloud, the sound brief yet pleasantly genuine. "Sorry to disappoint you. It's water-based, and non-corrosive. Expensive stuff, but don't be stingy."
"As long as you don't start rambling about what else you do with it," Asch muttered, batting away his hand and retrieving the tube, pouring a generous amount on his hand.
The blond swordsman snickered. "Really? It's cool, though! I've started this new machine - Aston gave me the blueprints and the intricacy of the parts isnngh," he trailed off into a faint groan, feeling two fingers ease their way into him.
"Shut up," Asch interrupted, sounding almost affectionate. His hand began to move, and Guy forgot how to talk for a few moments. Which was probably Asch's intent, really. Foreplay was a lot harder when accompanied with shop talk - even if the shop talk was really cool.
He let it go when Asch kissed him again and added another finger; much as he loved his fontech talk, certain things did take priority...
"Get... out of those damned clothes," he hissed between clenched teeth when they broke off the kiss, his hands lowering. He had to stop for a few seconds when he felt the fingers within him curl, brushing against something that very much wanted more.
"They're your problem, not mine," Asch replied, the smirk audible in his voice. Guy's eyes narrowed, and he moved to take care of said problem. "... Watch where you're groping!"
"Your problem, not mine," Guy echoed with a placid smile, earning him another glare. He finally succeeded in tugging Asch's pants down to around his knees. "There. I made it your problem."
"Who says it's still a problem?" Asch retorted, withdrawing his fingers so quickly it made Guy hiss. He lifted the blond man's other leg up, exposing him more, and edged closer.
"Heh... no one, I guess." Guy smiled faintly, lifting a brow. "Take it easy, alright? It's not a race, or a fight."
Asch rolled his eyes, said "Don't be a baby," and began to press inside.
A baby? Guy would have protested if the feel of the younger man's length within him hadn't threatened to overwhelm him. "Nngh... if you want to switch..."
"Oh hell no."
"But you don't think I can handle it," Guy quipped, pausing to gasp as Asch rocked deeper into him. "S-so wouldn't you be better suited to...?"
"No," Asch repeated, and thrust all the way in, eliciting a groan from them both. And that was the end of that conversation.
Asch was surprisingly good, Guy thought - when his mind felt like giving him a few seconds of coherency - considering how much of an antisocial prick he was. Then again, it wasn't as though he had much experience or reason to judge. Being afraid of women didn't help him any when it came to sex, and even if he wasn't scared, any knowledge would have been useless considering he was on the receiving end. All in all, though, he couldn't complain. It was a tight fit, and somewhat uncomfortable, but when Asch moved just like-
"A-ah...!" Guy inhaled sharply, hands lifting to grab ahold of Asch's shoulders, feeling that hard length brush just so against whatever his fingers had touched not long before, making his entire body tremble. Asch sensed it, judging by the way he shifted to hit it again, harder, forcing the other man to cry out. "D-dammit... you bastard..."
"This is the worst pillow talk ever," Asch snorted, leaning down to bite his neck.
"Nn..." Guy started to reply, but another hard thrust set his head spinning, forcing him to wait until it passed. "Give me a break. I spent--mm!-- most of my life hating you. Still getting used to the idea of--nngh!-- getting along..."
"You call this just getting along?" the former God-General mumbled against his skin, biting harder.
"W-well... in a manner of speaking..."
Asch had to roll his eyes at that. He decided they were doing entirely too much speaking, and leaning in to shut his partner up the best way he could think of.
Neither of them lasted particularly long; with Asch's hand firmly wrapped around Guy's length, moving within him, and their tongues dancing to the rhythm of their thrusting, the former servant came with a muffled cry, followed closely by the young man he'd once called his master-- and now was not ashamed to call him an ally. He let his breath out in a gasp as he felt Asch collapse on top of him, trying to calm his pounding heart.
Letting out a shudder, one hand lifting to Asch's hair, he found himself murmuring, "Mm... Luke..."
Asch stiffened instantly, pushing himself upright to glare at him, all semblance of weariness fading in the midst of his sudden irritation. "What did you say?!"
Guy chuckled breathlessly, realizing his mistake, and moved his hand to press against's Asch's chest. "Let me finish, geez. I was thinking about when you were a kid... how much I hated you." He smiled at the sight of the angry red blush that crossed the young man's cheeks. "I always thought it was only Luke who changed my mind... but I guess I underestimated you."
Asch stared at him. "Don't screw around."
"We already did," Guy responded musingly. Glare. "Come on, I did mean it. You really think I'd have let you do that if I felt the same as before?"
The former God-General muttered something incoherent, and grudgingly allowed Guy to tug him down against his chest once more. There was a lengthy, awkward pause as they both fell into silence, until finally Guy broke it once more. "Actually, His Majesty was saying you'd be a lot less of a brat if you got laid."
"....." Asch gawked at him. Really, there wasn't much else he could have done. "... That's... that's why you--?!"
Guy grinned, unable to hold back his amusement. "No, but your expression made it worth saying."
Asch continued to stare for a long moment, and Guy started to laugh; he continued to do so until Asch hit him with a pillow.
Fandom: Tales of the Abyss
Word Count: 5200
Spoilers: Uh... takes place almost a month after the Absorption Gate.
Summary: Asch hadn't expected to find Guy in Grand Chokmah. Guy hadn't expected to find Asch. Neither expected their pants to come off after dinner. (WARNING: NC-17.)
Notes: THIS IS A LOT LONGER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. Mostly because Akai fails at writing PWP. Not sure if this is a good thing or what.
The title comes from me picking up a dictionary and finding a random word that fit. After rejecting "fornication", "hooker", and "drillmaster" (I'm not even joking) this one came along: Immemorial - "extending beyond the reach of memory". I approved.
---
It was something of a pain, he couldn't help but think, this whole revenge business.
Really, there was no denying it. It had seemed so easy, initially - track down the bastards who'd gone and murdered his family, return the favour, and probably die in the process. It wasn't as though he'd had anything else to live for when he'd thought of it.
Distantly, Guy wondered how easy it would have been, had Van not kidnapped Asch and created Luke. If he would have met the kid head-on or simply done it in his sleep. If he'd have survived long enough to take the murderous father with him or simply leave him behind to pick up the pieces, just as Guy himself had done.
It was a stupid plan, he'd learned over time; Duke Fabre didn't seem to give a damn about Luke - or Asch when he was Luke - and the only one who seemed to care was his gentle wife, who had always been kind to him.
He hadn't trusted Asch, from the start. Had never been given a reason to, really; he'd attacked Luke time and again, aided Van, forced Ion to open the seals to the Sephiroths. In a lot of ways, he was just as guilty of what he so vehemently accused Luke of being - naive to a fault where Van was concerned.
They'd been raised to be that way, Guy knew. Asch as a subordinate, Luke as a student, both taught to follow his instructions (or orders, what have you) unquestioningly. Because Van was wise and good and so very kind, there was no reason to doubt.
Van knows best.
If he were perfectly honest with himself, Guy would have had to admit that he was no better than they.
It was Vandesdelca, his Vandesdelca. Why should he worry or suspect anything? And if he didn't - he who knew Van almost as well as the man's own sister, who had heard Tear's suspicions and accusations despite their shared blood - why should Luke or Asch, who had followed him all their lives?
All of that was moot now, really. They knew Van's plot, they knew the roles they'd played in both his rise and downfall. They'd defeated him, killed him, saved the world. They'd all gone home and went on with their lives.
Well... almost all of them.
Guy looked up from the plans laid out on the table before him, scrutinizing the architect's little details as work continued on around him. He'd thought it was a silly idea, building a whole new house rather than just finding some old relic to restore, but Peony had insisted - the Gardios family had been one of Malkuth's oldest, and his father had been something of an idiot to let it die with Hod. The money was there, and they had both time and resources to spare, so there was no excuse for the young noble not to strut his stuff, so to speak. He was still adjusting to the stuffiness of the city's latest fashion - another imperial recommendation, though an odd one, since Peony himself was the least formal of any of the Malkuth lords - and honestly speaking, he had no idea what he'd do with a big mansion. It wasn't as if he had a family to share it with, and considering his... special condition, there wasn't much hope in changing that anytime soon.
There was no shortage of women who would love to be the next Countess Gardios, naturally. Life was ironic that way.
He'd helped design the manor - what would become the Gardios family household, if such a family could ever exist again - but it didn't feel like home. Baticul wasn't home either, really, but the familiarity of it was soothing, as was Luke's presence, and the sight of his father's sword on the wall. There were memories there, ones that could never be replaced.
Peony had (hopefully jokingly) mentioned he ought to invite Luke to come and live with him there; Guy hadn't had the nerve to respond that it was tempting, so tempting. Though likely not for the reason His Majesty thought.
He missed having someone to talk to, the way he used to with his best friend, day after day.
---
It might have been fate, had he believed in such things. He'd been walking Luke - Peony's Luke, the rappig Guy liked to spoil but would never admit to it - down the streets near the palace one late afternoon, when he'd caught sight of a shock of brilliant red hair weaving through the crowds ahead of him. It had taken a moment's effort to urge the rappig into a jog (the lazy beast shared more than Luke's name), and a few more to catch up to the familiar figure who was zooming off in the opposite direction as usual.
Sure, it wasn't Luke, but over the months of actually having to cooperate with the former God-General, he'd gone from hating the bastard, to tolerating him, to having an... odd sort of fondness for the kid.
"Asch! Hey, Asch!"
He was still a brat and a stubborn ass, but that was forever woven into who he was - rant and deny it as much as he liked, but Asch wasn't as different from his former self as he wanted to pretend he was.
Asch stiffened and turned to face him, half-reaching for his sword, that ever-present scowl crossing his lips. "... Guy. I thought you'd be in Baticul."
He didn't add with the replica, because they both knew he was thinking it, and Yulia be damned if he'd ever say one word more than he absolutely had to.
Guy shrugged his shoulders. "With all the traveling we did after the peace treaty, I never had a chance to think about it, but... I didn't think it would be a good idea to stay at the manor now that your father knows who I am." He didn't miss how Asch's lips tightened at the mention of his sire. "My family's fortunes were recorded in Grand Chokmah's treasury, so I figured I may as well start over."
"... Hn." Asch's reaction to the news was predictably bland. "I see."
Guy waited as long as it was polite, then continued with, "What about you?"
He didn't add Why didn't you go home? because they both knew that, too.
With Luke there, he felt he didn't have a home. In contrast, Luke felt like the usurper, the thief, the bar across the door preventing Asch's return. Idiots, the both of them.
The former noble averted his eyes. "I'm investigating the remnants of Van. Have you heard anything?"
Guy blinked at that. "Involving Van? No, nothing. As far as I know, he's in the core." Something in Asch's expression - difficult as it was to read - shifted his curiousity to concern. "... You know something I don't. What's going on, Asch?"
He turned away, as usual. "I don't have an answer for you. Just keep an eye on things."
I'd rather keep an eye on you, Guy had to stop himself from saying. Something like that was easily misinterpreted, and in a crowd like this it wasn't such a great idea. Asch was trying to walk off, though, so he swallowed his pride and reached out, grabbing hold of the young man's arm. "Hey, wait a minute."
Asch scowled at him, trying to knock his hand aside. He found it surprisingly difficult. "I don't have time to wait around. I have things to do."
Guy raised an eyebrow, ignoring his protests. "It's getting kind of late. You're spending the night at the inn, right?" Asch hesitated, then nodded. "Ha ha, no you're not. Come on."
The former God-General staggered forward as Guy turned, starting towards the palace. "H-hey! What are you doing?!"
"Relax, I'm not trying to kidnap you," Guy quipped, earning yet another scowl. "There's no point in you spending your gald on a fancy hotel when I've got room to spare. You can stay at my place."
"What? No!"
Guy couldn't help it - he smirked. "Why not? You look pretty frazzled. I bet you could use some relaxation time."
"I am not frazzled," Asch snapped, trying once again to escape, but Guy had a firm grip on his wrist. "And I told you, I have things to do!"
"Don't be so stubborn. There's no reason for you to refuse."
"I don't need a reason," the younger man replied tightly. "I just don't want to."
"Too bad."
"Dammit, Guy!"
Guy laughed, glancing back at him. "Never thought I'd say it was good to see you, but it is."
Asch was quiet for a moment. "...Missing the replica?"
He sounded almost sullen; the thought made Guy smile, amused. "Heh, yeah, I do. But don't misunderstand me - I'm not inviting you because of him."
"Hmph." Asch grunted. "... Why the palace?"
Guy motioned towards the half-forgotten rappig trotting along beside him. "Gotta take this guy home first."
Asch followed his gaze. "Why the hell do you have a rappig?"
Another laugh. "It's His Majesty's pet - I keep them exercised. Not a very glamorous job, I guess, but you've got to start somewhere, right?"
"... Hn. Let me go already - you don't have to drag me around like a child."
"You're not going to run off?" Guy grinned, then released him when Asch gave a grudging shake of the head. "This'll only take a minute."
It did, thankfully. Upon reaching the palace, he handed the leash over to one of the guards, who hurried inside to deliver the pet to his proper owner. Everyone knew how seriously Peony took his cute rappigs. Well, somewhat seriously, anyway...
Turning back to Asch - and feeling inwardly grateful the sullen teenager was still there - he waved a hand, leading the way back into the city. "It's not finished yet, but there are a few rooms ready, and most of the important features have been installed. The builders in Grand Chokmah are really incredible, to have erected the place so quickly."
Asch made a vague, noncommittal sound, rather typical of him. Guy was in a merciful mood, so he let the young man indulge in his silence until they arrived.
"Here we are," he lifted a hand for Asch to halt, then motioned towards the well-sized manor before them, a few workers around doing odd jobs to clean up for the end of the day. "The new House Gardios."
He hadn't known what sort of reaction to expect, but Asch's lack of response wasn't a surprise. "... Hn. It's big."
"Is that all you can say?" Guy laughed, weaving a path through the mess of tools and building supplies in the front yard, leading them both inside. The interior wasn't much better, sparsely decorated with random furniture and a few of Guy's possessions that Asch recognized from years ago.
"I requested they finish the second floor before the ground floor," Guy explained as he guided him up the stairs, "Since I don't really entertain visitors here. I got a lot of dinner invitations when I first arrived, mostly from out-of-favour nobles hoping to marry their daughter to the newly-found Count Gardios." He smiled then, an expression that was neither happy nor sad. "I usually don't get a second invite when they try to get me to shake her hand."
Asch snorted. "You never change."
The smile remained in place as Guy halted in front of a room a little off to the side. "You'd be surprised," he responded somewhat cryptically, continuing before Asch could decide whether or not he wanted to inquire about it. "This is the bath area. I figured you'd want to get cleaned up. Dinner'll be ready pretty soon, so make yourself at home until then."
Asch gave the room a look that clearly stated he would do no such thing, but Guy didn't let it bother him, waving him off and heading down the hall for what he had designated as his study. If there was one thing he knew about Asch, it was that he constantly believed he didn't have a home anymore.
... Like me.
Though in truth he wasn't sure what he believed, now; home was Hod, but Hod was gone. Home was Kimlasca, with Luke, but he wasn't so welcome there anymore. Home was here, in this manor all his own, but it wasn't because there was nothing here to make it home.
He decided, with a musing smile, that his mind was far too complicated for his own good.
---
Asch came looking for him about half an hour later, entering the study unannounced. When Guy looked up, his eyes widened at the younger man's attire. "... Uh..."
"Don't say a word," Asch scowled, in the middle of drying his hair with the towel around his neck. He was wearing nothing more than a bathrobe that barely came down to his knees. "Where the hell are my clothes?!"
Guy coughed into a fist, setting aside the documents he'd been reading over. "They're not where you left them?" he asked. He didn't say how the tabard he usually wore did his legs no justice.
"If they were," Asch responded tightly, "Do you really think I would be wearing this?"
A small smile crossed Guy's lips, and he pushed away from his desk, standing up to approach his somewhat irate guest. "Probably not. Wait, you left them in the outer room, didn't you?" At Asch's nod, he winced. "Ah... Anabelle probably took them out to wash them."
".... What."
Laughing faintly, though with a sympathetic expression, Guy waved a hand vaguely towards the washroom. "Emperor Peony's been trying to get me out of the habit of doing the household chores, half because I'm a noble, and half because he and Jade run me ragged. He found me a maid who somehow manages to do everything before I can even think about it."
Asch stewed, looking very displeased. "What the hell kind of maid washes someone's clothes without even asking?!"
"Anabelle," Guy supplied playfully, earning himself a venomous glare. "Well, there's no helping it now. It's probably better this way - they were kind of rank."
"... My clothes do not smell!!" At Guy's look, Asch glared more, trying not to look indignant. "Sh-shut up. I keep myself clean."
"Right," Guy responded dryly, shrugging his shoulders. "Either way, they'll be wet until morning. You can either keep wearing that, or borrow from me."
Asch just kept glaring for a while, considering this. Whether wandering the house in naught but a bathrobe was more or less humiliating than struggling into those ridiculously tight clothes Guy wore without the comfort of his tabard, he wasn't sure. At the feel of a light draft beneath the robe, however - the window was open across the room - his decision was made almost instantaneously. "... Get me some clothes."
Guy did his best not to smirk.
---
Asch looked very good in skin-tight pants and that velvet green jerkin of his, Guy decided a short while later.
Very, very good in it.
The former God-General himself wasn't entirely pleased; he spent most of dinner blushing, scowling, and grumbling - all of which was normal, aside from the excessive amount of blushing when compared to the other two. The meal was awkward, to say the least.
Guy was both grateful and annoyed at the table - and the tablecloth that came with it - for keeping him from staring at Asch's lower body. The tabard always covered... well, everything, and it made it all too easy to forget that Asch's body was just as toned and muscular as his replica's. One of them was bad enough, but a pair of bodies that amazing was downright unfair.
When he thought about it, it really wasn't difficult to imagine that Asch would be a lot less obnoxious if Luke didn't make him so damned insecure about his own place in the world. How to solve that little issue was an altogether different situation, unfortunately.
By the time they'd finished the meal, Guy had made his decision. "I can show you where you'll be sleeping, if you want," he offered, after the maid had started to clear the table, her determined look enough to fend off any silly notions of helping. Old habits, what could he say? He felt it wise to get Asch out of the room before the young man made the connection that it was this pleasantly bossy woman who had stolen his clothes, so he led the way down the hall towards the bedrooms.
Inwardly, he hoped he wouldn't come to regret this - and that he'd read Asch properly. He really didn't feel like getting skewered.
"This is it," he called them both to a halt not long after, leading Asch into the room he'd indicated. It was just as sparsely decorated as the rest of the house, with one exception - the floor was littered with various small machinery and toolboxes, all related to fontech. Obviously the maid had been all but forbidden to disrupt whatever deranged organization the occupant had created.
It took one glance around the room, and then another at Guy, who was grinning at him, for Asch to realize exactly who that occupant was.
"... No."
"Sorry! I don't have anywhere else," Guy shrugged his shoulders, looking rather blatantly unremorseful.
Asch glared at him. "I'd rather sleep outside."
Raising an eyebrow, Guy smirked faintly. "It'd be pretty cold without any clothes."
"I have-!" the younger man cut himself off when he remembered that he was still wearing Guy's clothes. He had a moment of pondering whether it would wound his pride more to give in or return the clothes and leave anyway. It wasn't like he'd never spent the night in wet clothes before...
"Come on, Asch," Guy rolled his eyes, scuffing a hand through his hair. "It's just one night. It's not like you haven't done it before."
Asch shot him another scathing look, fists clenching at his sides. "I was five!"
"And six, and seven, and eight..." Guy grinned again, ticking the numbers off on his hand.
The former God-General came as close to pouting as was possible for him. "Sh-shut up. I was just a kid."
"Well, you're not a kid now, and neither am I," Guy returned easily, "So we should be able to handle this like adults, right?"
"...." The glare was his only response for a long, long moment, until Asch finally grumbled out a reluctant agreement. "Fine. But you better keep your hands off me."
"Says the one who used to snuggle up to me."
"I said shut up!"
---
In the end, neither could really say how it all started, or who was responsible.
Asch awoke midway through the night to find himself snuggled against another body - and said body was quite comfortably snuggling back against him. He wasn't sure how it had happened, seeing as he was used to sleeping alone, and quite frankly, he didn't cuddle. Ever.
"Bastard," he muttered, hands shifting to try and push the blond swordsman away. He didn't budge, though he did seem to stir as if waking up. "I told you to keep your hands off!"
Guy mumbled something incoherent, face buried against his neck, then said a bit louder, "... I am..."
Asch blinked. It was true, in a way; Guy's arms were around his neck, stretched out on either side, but his hands weren't touching him in any way. Somehow, that fact only served to irritate Asch further. "That's not the point! Get off me!"
There was a long, strained silence. Then, he felt warm breath on his neck as the other man replied, "You're groping me."
"...." Asch swallowed. Then carefully moved his hand. "Idiot. Don't act like it was intentional. I can't even see."
Guy chuckled against his skin, lifting his head to meet Asch's angry eyes in the darkness. "Nobody's saying anything like that. ... Unless you were hoping I'd go for it?"
Asch spluttered. "I - was - not!"
"I would, you know," Guy added calmly, before the younger man could continue his protests. "If you asked."
Asch stared at him. The smile his former servant wore was disturbingly sincere.
A scant second later Guy was kissing him - or was he kissing Guy? - and neither could deny how amazing it felt, or be bothered with protests. For two men who spent precious little time in their lives with such activities, they were surprisingly good at it; either that or too inexperienced to care.
Either way, when Guy parted his lips Asch dove between them, tongue stretching to explore, hands moving to touch a body he hadn't felt this closely since his childhood, on nights when it was too cold or dark to spend alone, even if it could have earned him a reprimand from his father. Reluctant and remote as Guy had always been, he had always remained a pillar of security, of safety against both chills and storms. Even after learning of Guy's true intentions, of the man's change of heart because of the replica - not him, and how that fact burned him to the core - he couldn't help but remember all the nights he'd spent curled against his attendant's side, grateful for the warmth but too proud to say as much.
He'd changed in that time, he supposed, but not that much. Certainly not yet.
"Clothes," he muttered when he broke the kiss, somewhat breathless, hands lowering to graze over the buttons of the Malkuthian lord's shirt. Even as he did so, he pressed his other hand against Guy's shoulder, urging him onto his back.
Guy blinked, still dazed by the intensity of the apparently-unexpected kiss. "... You're alright with this?"
"Shut up," Asch hissed, swinging a leg over his body to straddle him. "You're the one who started all of this."
"I wasn't complaining," Guy responded in a mild tone, hands lifting to tug at Asch's vest. Though he knew that Asch was rather obviously taking on the dominant role, the feel of the young man's rump against his groin was all-too tempting. He hoped Asch would at least share the experience. Nobody liked a selfish lover.
... Not that they were lovers or anything.
"Good." Asch didn't continue, all but tearing Guy's shirt aside, hands wandering up and down his chest. He didn't resist as Guy returned the favour, motions halting only when the shirt was urged down his arms and discarded off to the side, out of sight. Then his was back to that smooth, exposed skin, indulging in every inch of it, watching for the slightest reaction as he stroked and tweaked.
This is working out better than I thought, Guy thought absently, eyes half-rolling back. He hadn't realized it would feel so damned good. "I didn't know you were this open to it," he managed breathlessly, hand lifting to travel through Asch's hair. It was different from Luke's, somehow; not quite as soft or pampered as it used to be. The hair of a soldier, not a king's nephew. Still pleasant nonetheless, and he continued to let his fingers wander.
"Neither did I," was all Asch bothered to say in response, before he leaned in for a second, more heated kiss.
It really was a good thing he'd grown fond of his former master, Guy thought absently, mouth opening to let Asch's tongue delve inside, as he felt a hand graze against his pants. Hatred would have made this entire situation far more difficult. Awkward, at the very least.
"Why the hell do you have to wear such tight pants?" Asch muttered irritably, fighting to get said pants off his hips.
Guy smirked. "To entice bad-tempered young nobles, of course."
Asch snorted. "Bastard." He finally won, discarding both pants and undergarments, taking a moment to glance over his prize.
Guy felt a sudden, unexpected blush cross his cheeks. "You don't have to stare like that."
The former God-General chuckled, which only served to surprise Guy even more. "I think I like you this way."
"...Huh." Guy blinked. "I guess I should be flattered."
Asch rolled his eyes and grabbed one of Guy's legs, lifting it to rest on his shoulder. "You have anything?"
"Huh?" Guy repeated, before he realized what the question meant. This all seemed too matter-of-fact, he thought absently, a bit annoyed. If Asch was going to treat this like some mission...
Then again, asking about lubrication meant that Asch didn't want to hurt him, and cared about his wellbeing. ... Or at the very least, didn't want to deal with his complaints later on.
"Top drawer," he mumbled, reaching out to the side, scrabbling at the wood in a vain attempt to reach the handle. "Fontech lubrication for screws." He smirked a little at that.
Asch was nonplussed. "Won't that burn? Don't tell me you're a masochist."
Guy laughed aloud, the sound brief yet pleasantly genuine. "Sorry to disappoint you. It's water-based, and non-corrosive. Expensive stuff, but don't be stingy."
"As long as you don't start rambling about what else you do with it," Asch muttered, batting away his hand and retrieving the tube, pouring a generous amount on his hand.
The blond swordsman snickered. "Really? It's cool, though! I've started this new machine - Aston gave me the blueprints and the intricacy of the parts isnngh," he trailed off into a faint groan, feeling two fingers ease their way into him.
"Shut up," Asch interrupted, sounding almost affectionate. His hand began to move, and Guy forgot how to talk for a few moments. Which was probably Asch's intent, really. Foreplay was a lot harder when accompanied with shop talk - even if the shop talk was really cool.
He let it go when Asch kissed him again and added another finger; much as he loved his fontech talk, certain things did take priority...
"Get... out of those damned clothes," he hissed between clenched teeth when they broke off the kiss, his hands lowering. He had to stop for a few seconds when he felt the fingers within him curl, brushing against something that very much wanted more.
"They're your problem, not mine," Asch replied, the smirk audible in his voice. Guy's eyes narrowed, and he moved to take care of said problem. "... Watch where you're groping!"
"Your problem, not mine," Guy echoed with a placid smile, earning him another glare. He finally succeeded in tugging Asch's pants down to around his knees. "There. I made it your problem."
"Who says it's still a problem?" Asch retorted, withdrawing his fingers so quickly it made Guy hiss. He lifted the blond man's other leg up, exposing him more, and edged closer.
"Heh... no one, I guess." Guy smiled faintly, lifting a brow. "Take it easy, alright? It's not a race, or a fight."
Asch rolled his eyes, said "Don't be a baby," and began to press inside.
A baby? Guy would have protested if the feel of the younger man's length within him hadn't threatened to overwhelm him. "Nngh... if you want to switch..."
"Oh hell no."
"But you don't think I can handle it," Guy quipped, pausing to gasp as Asch rocked deeper into him. "S-so wouldn't you be better suited to...?"
"No," Asch repeated, and thrust all the way in, eliciting a groan from them both. And that was the end of that conversation.
Asch was surprisingly good, Guy thought - when his mind felt like giving him a few seconds of coherency - considering how much of an antisocial prick he was. Then again, it wasn't as though he had much experience or reason to judge. Being afraid of women didn't help him any when it came to sex, and even if he wasn't scared, any knowledge would have been useless considering he was on the receiving end. All in all, though, he couldn't complain. It was a tight fit, and somewhat uncomfortable, but when Asch moved just like-
"A-ah...!" Guy inhaled sharply, hands lifting to grab ahold of Asch's shoulders, feeling that hard length brush just so against whatever his fingers had touched not long before, making his entire body tremble. Asch sensed it, judging by the way he shifted to hit it again, harder, forcing the other man to cry out. "D-dammit... you bastard..."
"This is the worst pillow talk ever," Asch snorted, leaning down to bite his neck.
"Nn..." Guy started to reply, but another hard thrust set his head spinning, forcing him to wait until it passed. "Give me a break. I spent--mm!-- most of my life hating you. Still getting used to the idea of--nngh!-- getting along..."
"You call this just getting along?" the former God-General mumbled against his skin, biting harder.
"W-well... in a manner of speaking..."
Asch had to roll his eyes at that. He decided they were doing entirely too much speaking, and leaning in to shut his partner up the best way he could think of.
Neither of them lasted particularly long; with Asch's hand firmly wrapped around Guy's length, moving within him, and their tongues dancing to the rhythm of their thrusting, the former servant came with a muffled cry, followed closely by the young man he'd once called his master-- and now was not ashamed to call him an ally. He let his breath out in a gasp as he felt Asch collapse on top of him, trying to calm his pounding heart.
Letting out a shudder, one hand lifting to Asch's hair, he found himself murmuring, "Mm... Luke..."
Asch stiffened instantly, pushing himself upright to glare at him, all semblance of weariness fading in the midst of his sudden irritation. "What did you say?!"
Guy chuckled breathlessly, realizing his mistake, and moved his hand to press against's Asch's chest. "Let me finish, geez. I was thinking about when you were a kid... how much I hated you." He smiled at the sight of the angry red blush that crossed the young man's cheeks. "I always thought it was only Luke who changed my mind... but I guess I underestimated you."
Asch stared at him. "Don't screw around."
"We already did," Guy responded musingly. Glare. "Come on, I did mean it. You really think I'd have let you do that if I felt the same as before?"
The former God-General muttered something incoherent, and grudgingly allowed Guy to tug him down against his chest once more. There was a lengthy, awkward pause as they both fell into silence, until finally Guy broke it once more. "Actually, His Majesty was saying you'd be a lot less of a brat if you got laid."
"....." Asch gawked at him. Really, there wasn't much else he could have done. "... That's... that's why you--?!"
Guy grinned, unable to hold back his amusement. "No, but your expression made it worth saying."
Asch continued to stare for a long moment, and Guy started to laugh; he continued to do so until Asch hit him with a pillow.