"Tell me again," Kristof said.

"No, I already told you."

"Come on, I think it's funny. Please?"

Armin's head rested on Kristof's chest. He could hear the other's heart beating right underneath his ear. He felt it pounding softly against his cheek at a steady pace.

He now regretted his honesty. He shouldn't have told Kristof his dirty little secret. He just wanted the man to know he was really honest with him and his feelings were already there half a week ago. And how they'd prevented him from sleeping these past few days.

But Kristof took advantage of that honesty.

"Oh...well, okay..." Armin said, giving in again. It would be the third time in an hour he had to tell the story. "A couple of days ago, when I searched for you, I found you at the lake. You were undressing and didn't notice I was there. Then, you walked into the lake, naked. I hid behind a bush because I didn't know what else to do...and I... I then watched you for a while..."

"And after that?" Kristof was certainly enjoying this.

"I thought about you all night and- and I made a painting of you..." Armin cleared his throat.

"And where is that painting now?"

"In my closet."

Kristof giggled out loud. He thought it was wonderful. He even made Armin show him the 'hide-out bush.'

Armin felt the other shaking with laughter at the absurdity of his story.

They still lay underneath the tree's roof of leaves. Where they shared their first kiss, only a couple of hours ago. They'd talked and kissed. And talked and kissed some more. The hours had flown by.

"I think it's funny. And when we get home, I want to see it," Kristof said.

"No. I will never show you."

"Wait a minute... When I walked into your room and you didn't want to show me what you were painting...Were you then...?

Armin sighed, "Yes I was," he admitted.

Kristof chuckled. "I think we should hang that painting in the hallway as well."

"Oh, ha-ha. You're so funny..." Armin said with sarcasm. Although he secretly liked that Kristof teased him. It was playful. It was nice. He also wanted to kiss the older one again, but he didn't want to come over as too greedy or desperate.

Kristof was such a good kisser. He was the second person Armin had ever kissed, but he was definitely the best out of the two.

Armin felt things inside of him he'd never felt before. The butterflies had become wild. It was crazy how things had changed. A week ago, he was completely miserable, even hating Kristof. And now, in only a couple of days, he was smitten by the man. Even in these last few hours, his feelings had multiplied.

Kristof caressed Armin's back. They both wished they could stay this way forever, but Kristof knew they couldn't. "Armin, the sun will set soon, so we should go home before we can't see anything in the dark," he said reluctantly.

"Ugh. I don't want to go. I want to stay here, like this," Armin whined.

"I know. I feel the same way. But I also don't want to walk around in the forest with no light. Come on." Kristof gently pushed Armin away from him and stood up to get both of their shoes.

On the route back to the castle, they enjoyed the spectacular view of the setting sun. It looked enchanting.

It was a great ending to a great day. A day both of them would never forget.

May welcomed them home and said they could sit in the dining room.

They both had a great appetite after eating almost nothing all afternoon long. Kristof had already heard Armin's stomach grumble a couple of times at the lake.

"Sir Armin, you've got mail," May said while she gave the envelope to her master.

"Oh, that must be from Klaus."

Enthusiastically, Armin ripped open the red wax seal and unfolded the paper.

"Klaus says he will visit us in three days." Armin looked at the date on the letter. It was written yesterday. "So, he will be here in two days," he told Kristof.

"I'm looking forward to meeting your friend. You seem very happy he's coming."

"I am happy. We haven't seen each other for a while."

Dinner was served. The cook made a special meal today. On the menu stood wild boar and both men ate like they were cavemen. They were so hungry and the meat was so tender and succulent.

For dessert, they got a big plate of fresh fruits and something that was still unfamiliar to Armin. They were tiny square brown pieces; made of something he'd never seen before.

"Huh? Hmmm. Kristof, what is this?" he asked as he chewed.

"You like it? It's called chocolate. It's a dessert from far away."

"Yeah, I love it!" Armin bent over the table to grab some more cubes.

"Don't eat too much of it, though, or you'll get sick. These are some pretty heavy dark chocolates, and you're not used to eating them." Kristof said with some concern.

"Don't worry, Kristof. I won't get sick!" Armin put another piece in his mouth.

~~~

Armin sat in bed. Sounds from hell filled the room as he threw up in one of the silver bowls May had brought over.

Kristof had to do his very best to block his nostrils because the entire room smelled like sickly sour chocolate and meat combined. It was awful!

Half an hour after dinner, Armin claimed he wasn't feeling all too well and would lie down for a while. Of course, the young man insisted that this all had nothing to do with all the chocolate he had eaten.

"I'm so sorry. I loved today and was hoping for a better ending than this," Armin said, looking at Kristof after he was done puking. He was all pale and sweaty.

"Don't worry about that. I just hope you feel better soon."

Armin was so bummed out. He really wanted to be more intimate with Kristof this evening, but he could hardly stand up on his legs in this state, much less accost Kristof for more of his kisses. He probably stank so badly and he also wasn't feeling too sexy at the moment.

"Just try to sleep. Do you want me to stay with you?"

"No. Please, don't mind me."

Now that most of his stomach was empty, Armin felt a little better. He was tired, though. And just wanted to sleep as quickly as possible. Kristof called for a servant and pitied the person who had to clean this mess up.

"Okay, I will check on you later."

When Kristof left the room, he couldn't help but shake his head. Armin sure could be stubborn.

✧══════•❁❀❁•══════✧

The next day, Kristof woke up and an enormous grin appeared on his face. He'd slept like a baby and dreamed of Armin.

He eagerly got dressed to go see the other. He hoped Armin felt better than yesterday evening. Knocking on the door, he waited until Armin told him to enter. To his surprise, Armin was already dressed. And looked beautiful.

"You seem to be in a much better state."

"I am. I slept all night and when I woke up, I felt better again." Armin smiled, but his smile ebbed away before he spoke again. "I'm ashamed of yesterday."

"Why? Do you think I never vomited?"

"It was embarrassing... I didn't listen to you. And I never want to eat those brown things ever again."

Kristof couldn't help but chuckle. "Maybe you can make it up to me then. Maybe by showing me that thing you have over there." Kristof pointed at the closet.

"Kristof..."

"Please. I want to see it. You are so good at painting. You truly impressed me the other day, Armin." Kristof saw that Armin hesitated. "Come on, it's my body. I have the right to see it," he then said rather persuasively.

Kristof had a point; After all, it was his body. So, Armin walked to the closet... and took out the painting that he put on the wooden ridge of the easel.

"Okay, you can look."

Kristof walked over to Armin and when he saw the piece of art, his eyes grew large.

"Oh..."

Armin wished the ground would swallow him. Kristof must think he is such a pervert right now.

Kristof scanned the canvas with his eyes. Armin had painted it so lifelike... It depicted his naked body in a lake. Floating. His legs were slightly parted with his toes up in the air. His arms spread. Only his feet, face, chest, and a part of his manhood were sticking out above the surface of the water. Shadows of green reflected in the water, supposedly the reflection of trees hovering over the bright turquoise blue lake.

Armin had painted it with so much perfection, Kristof couldn't come up with any words. He was completely blown away by the accuracy of the work. Armin had even taken the time to paint all the small water drops that glistened all over his body, shining in the sunlight.

"I'm sorry, Kristof. I should have never made this. It was your privacy. I'll paint ov--"

"No, don't. I'm just astonished by how good you are. You must have an excellent memory as well, to paint it so precise. It looks so real. Exactly like me."

Both of them stood there, a little awkwardly, looking at Kristof's exposed state.

"So, shall we eat?" Kristof then asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes. Please!" Armin sighed as he could take the painting off the easel. "So... what shall I do with this?" he asked.

"Put it back in the closet for now. I have a suitable spot to hang it." Kristof knew it was a little weird of him to want to keep a painting of his naked self. But he just couldn't let such a brilliant piece of art made by the man he loves to be destroyed. "Let's eat now." He was already walking towards the door when he felt Armin's hand on his arm stopping him.

Kristof turned around and saw Armin looking at him, cheeks a little reddish. He instinctively knew what Armin wanted and he wanted it too. He took a step, closing the space between them, and leaned forward, pressing his lips against Armin's.

A kiss followed. A wet tongue-dueling kiss.

A kiss that took the air out of both of their lungs.

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