Secreted Away

[Apollo Parish]

Apollo loved Teronna. Sure it was boring and sexist and there was scary magic all over the place but it made finding a mark a whole lot easier. Sure most of them out here were some sort of farmer and not very rich but he was content for a time to be a simple pick pocket and work on his slight of hand. Also they had some wonderful tattoo artists. And did he mention the scary magic? It was exciting, if distant.

What he didn't care about so much was the bathing sites. But Angel cared. So he made an effort.

"Waterfall? So that's where you've been running off to," he teased as he followed Angel through the woods along a game trail from camp. Apollo wasn't so much for scrubbing himself clean as often as his brother. But he did like to show off... "You jump off it yet?" And then another idea occured to him and he grinned. "Am I the first lover you've secreted away to your private water feature?"

Angel Parish

[Angel Parish]

If Angel was anything he was a clean young man. There had been countless times though that he'd have to drag the other men along to scrub off the grime, dirt, dried blood, and heaven only knows what else. If he was going to share sleeping quarters with them he didn't want to smell them too. Not to mention he found bathing rather relaxing when he could get a more private spot to actually strip down. Though the last time at the particular spot hadn't been so relaxing.

This time though he wanted Apollo to come along with him. If there was anyone in the world that Angel was always comfortable with it was his brother. There was never something he had that he didn't want to share with the other blonde. Even if the twin wasn't as conscious of cleanliness as he was. The question made him snort and shake his head. "No I haven't tried jumping off of it yet." He stated with a playful roll of his eyes. The next question though made him stop in his tracks. Though he tried to appear unphased as he turned on a heel to face him there was a slight pink color across his cheeks. "Nope." A playful giggle escaped him before he turned again and picked up his pace.

Once they arrived at the spot he was glad to see there were no unsavory creatures, magical or otherwise, there before them. Angel pulled his hair out of its bun before stripping down and leaving his things by the same tree he had last time. "You want to jump off, hot stuff? Be my guest."

[Apollo Parish]

Cleanliness wasn't something Apollo avoided so much as he just...didn't notice. He thought he smelled fine. Angel usually dragged him off somewhere every couple weeks in protest to that fact. Fine with him, but it didn't stop him from teasing his brother over how finicky he was. People smelled and they were soldier so it was even worse. Best get used to it.

Regardless, he didn't question why Angel was bringing hin along. He probably thought he could use a swim and being with his twin was always enjoyable. "What? Really?" No splashing? He hoped not, that was half the point of swimming.

He paused when Angel turned to face him. Apollo planted his hands on his hips and flashed an alluring smile, as if trying to embarrass his brother more. "Oh really? Don't tell me it was Garen. Guy's cute, I know but he's a complete tool." Apollo was convinced Angel was teasing him back but he had to take the bait playfully.

The waterfall wasn'tmassive. Maybe twelve feet? He was already studying the rock face and slope for the best way to the top. He bite his lip in focused thought, stripping his own clothes and tossing them next to Angel's. "Oh, I will after you tell me who you brought here first. I'm crushed. I thought we were close?" He fake pouted, attention still directed more at the waterfall than Angel.

[Angel Parish]

"You know, I'd say you're a tool but tools are useful." Of course he was only teasing Apollo. There was no real hint of malice in his tone. Just playful jabs, Angel himself revived them often enough from the other men. The only person he'd ever actually been at the waterfall with was that Bastian man. And it hadn't exactly been an invitation. There hadn't been exactly much swimming or bathing that day either. Though the blonde did care more about his brothers cleanliness more than he did the other men. Mostly due to the fact of he slept next to him every night. Of course they were going to smell but there was a limit. Perhaps it was just residual habits his mother had instilled in him as a child.

"Oh wouldn't you like to know?" He teased as he stepped into the water. It was at least warmer than last time.

"What's wrong? Jealous?" Angel asked after a quick dive under the water. He pushed his wet hair away from his his face with a grin as he eyed his brother playfully. "Call me a narcissistic but no ones prettier than you so no need to worry." He teased as he batted his lashes innocently.

[Apollo Parish]

To Angel's credit, he did usually smell really good. Apollo more than enjoyed sleeping next to him. Not just for the pleasant and familiar smell of course but it didn't hurt.

Apollo folded his arms and raised an expectant eyebrow at Angel. "Yes. I would. Hence why I asked," he said overly dramatically. He tested the water. "Of course I am jealous. You're my life partner." Maybe a little too dramatic. He both meant it and meant to be joking.

"Oh, you are a narcissist. As long as you are my narcissist we're good." He saw playful stare and gestured at himself as if presenting hinself to Angel before following him into the water. "So, you're lying to me about the lover?"

The moment Angel moved to speak, Apollo lunged forward and dunked him under the water.

[Angel Parish]

"I'll always be your life partner." Though it was said in a more playful tone he was being serious. The idea of living anywhere without his twin brother was not only unthinkable but also unbearable. No matter what happened he'd always go wherever Apollo went.

There was a comment about how no one would ever want half a man on the tip of his tongue but before he could get it out Angel was under water. He came back up with a surprised gasp before shoving him playfully. "Hey! Asshat!" With a huff he jumped on his brother to dunk him in return.

[Apollo Parish]

Apollo grinned at the lie. He knew Angel meant it. But the entire reason they were still with the Chargers was because Angel loved them more than he loved his brother. Sure, they had saved their lives the one time. But Apollo didn't owe the Chargers anything and the momwnt they stopped being mutually beneficial, he didn't need them. But Angel did. Angel had a mentor and a father figure and friends and everything else Apollo couldn't give him on his own apparently. So they were still here. Because Angel was happy.

Apollo shared nearly everything with his brother. But his disregard for the Chargers he didn't share with anyone. Especially Angel. He would always be Angel's life partner. He wasn't sure Angel would always be his.

He was caught laughing when they made it back to the surface. He knew Angel would dunk him in turn but he couldn't stop giggling and couldn't move away fast enough. He grabbed Angel around the waist as he went under, to hold him down with him and wrestle he around underneath him before letting them both surface. Angel was a lot smaller than he was so it wasn't terribly difficult.

"Serves ya right for lying to me," he said firmly with a nod. He dove under and swam toward the side of the falls. He surfaced and took a deep breath., studying the path up. This would have to do. Bit slippery but...that made it exciting.

Besides, Apollo wasn't interested in letting Angel showcase his self pity. His brother liked him. Someone else would too.

[Angel Parish]

The Chargers were the first group of people that made him feel at home. Apollo would always be his other half but the Chargers were his family. If ever made to chose between the two of them the blonde wasn't sure how he'd feel. At the moment though that wasn't something he felt the need to worry about. He had both Apollo and the Chargers and that was all he could need.

It wasn't hard for Apollo to hold him down, not that Angel was fighting him too hard exactly. The boy was roughly a hundred pounds soaking wet after all. As they resurfaced he wrapped his arms around his brothers neck and laughed. "Now I never explicitly lied to you." Angel never actually stated that he'd brought anyone along with him, let alone a lover.

He watched as Apollo eyed the slippery rock face of the waterfall and bit his lip. "Be careful! I don't feel like dragging you back to camp crying!" Whether it would be Apollo crying or him was left in there air. Though it would more than likely be him.

[Apollo Parish]

"Explicitly, huh? So you brought a friend? Or the lover brought you?" Apollo was aware that discussions on sex or romance or really just the idea of liking someone a lot who wasn't family wasn't a topic Angel was comfortable with. In all honesty, Apollo had never been with anyone either. Between their home life, looking out for Angel, and his own lack of knowledge in that department, he hadn't managed to get any further than his brother had. He was a lot of talk. An awful lot of talk. But awkward as it was, it was still enjoyable and still worth pestering his brother over to watch him squirm.

"I can hear your saying words, but they don't make any sense. Is that Tresterian?" Words like careful and crying, in association with him? Hilarious! "You're the one gonna be crying," he pointed out.

He made his way up the cliff side. There were plenty of damp ledges and footholds to take him near the top of the walls, the spray blasting him in the face. He glanced down at the water and for a moment wondered if maybe it would have been smarter to keep his pants on for this. Too late to back down now.

[Angel Parish]

"Neither, but I did meet a man here." He thought back to Bastian and felt a sort of uneasiness settle in his stomach. Angel knew that Apollo worried about him as much as he did for him. It wasn't often the blonde would willingly interact with strangers but there had been a surprise around the man suddenly seeing him nude. "Pretty sure I got a good chance to confuse him."

The suggestion that he would be the one crying made Angel pout. Was it true? Absolutely. Would he admit that? Never. "I would not!"

Watching his brother clamber up the waterfall made him groan nervously. It wasn't far of a drop but it was still enough to severely injure him if he weren't careful. "Well come on, big man. You're up there now get back down here!" He taunted with a playful grin. There was still a small ball of nerves settling in him but he did his best to ignore him. Apollo wasn't a clutz by any means and knew his body well enough to not get hurt.

[Apollo Parish]

He met a man here? Apollo glanced around. In the middle of the forest? "Well aren't you lucky," he teased down from the falls. Any further questions and concerns would have to wait. Clearly, nothing terrible had happened or Angel would have said something. Or at least never wanted to come back here. He was aware how Angel felt about his body though and the fact that he implied a stranger had seen him naked and then made no further comment on it was...odd. Apollo was protective, but he wasn't going to smother his brother.

There was a massive urge to shout back 'Would too!' but he didn't. He just stared at Angel. They bother knew how that conversation went. Instead, he grinned and pinpointed where it looked deepest to land.

Angel's nagging concern earned an eye roll. He stood on the ledge and teasingly pretended to flail for balance before containing himself and launching off the edge. Apollo had jumped into enough bodies of water to know how to dive. He also knew that when one wasn't sure how deep a pool was, diving wasn't a good idea. So feet first and together it was.

The water rushed to meet him and crashed around his feet. It wasn't the smoothest jump, but it was pretty enough and more than exciting. Apollo held his breath under the water and oriented himself. He could make out the surface above and grinned, but kept himself from surfacing. Was he trying to be an ass? Not really. He didn't have to try.

[Angel Parish]

There wasn't entirely much for Angel to elaborate on. It'd been a rather short encounter all things considered. There also wouldn't be much along the lines of considering himself lucky. The blonde really had no real desire to meet other people for any other purpose beyond forming his contracts. As far as he was concerned the only man he really needed in his life was Apollo.

He watched as his brother flailed and pretended to nearly fall with a roll of his eyes. "Stop beating around the bush you big baby!" Of course his twin was trying to tease him and make him anxious. Apollo seemed to get some sort of pleasure out of watching Angel squirm. Not that he was the only one but he did seem to be the best one at doing it.

As the other jumped Angel moved back to give him plenty of room to land. He covered his eyes at the large splash of water that erupted from his landing and opened his eyes again to find his brother hadn't resurfaced yet. Asshat. He scanned the area around him to make sure he wasn't trying to sneak up on him before taking a deep breath and diving under water. He opened his eyes and looked around himself curiously.

[Apollo Parish]

Apollo very much enjoyed making his brother squirm. Even when they were little.

He was, in fact, about to grab one of Angel's legs from underwater, but his twin seemed to know his plans and thwarted him by submerging just in time. Maybe it was because Apollo was predicable in that way. Maybe it was because they were twins. Still, he had come this far, he wasn't about to give up empty handed. So instead of grabbing Angel, he tickled him.

Surfacing a moment later, he drew in a deep breath of air and giggled. "This is a nice place. I can see why you enjoyed your company before. Think you'll see him again?" As if the stranger was Angel's new boyfriend. But really he was asking whether the guy might cause them any problems in the future.

[Angel Parish]

Angel let out a muffled squeal of surprise as Apollo began to tickle him. He squirmed and kicked to get away from the other before surfacing and glaring at the man playfully. "That's no fair!" He called before splashing the other. To be fair while it may not have been as relaxing as simply floating on the water there was something much more fun about swimming around with Apollo.

At the comment he blinked then shook his head. "I wouldn't say I necessarily enjoyed his company." Angel was still rather upset over having his relaxation interrupted by a stranger. More upset over that stranger having seen him naked. "I'm not sure really. I didn't exactly make any plans to see him again in secrecy if that's what you're wondering."

Angel swam closer to his brother with a mischievous look in his eyes and a playful grin. "No worries of me slipping out of our cot in the dead of night to sneak off with some strange soldiers."

[Apollo Parish]

Apollo nodded and treaded water backwards a little to give Angel some space. "Good." He highly doubted Angel was the type to have lovers trysts. Well, okay, he was exactly the type. Secret romantic get away. But Apollo knew that wasn't in the cards for him at the moment. Being comfortable with himself and being comfortable with someone else were two very massive walls. There were walls everyone dealt with, to be sure, but in some cases, they were bigger.

"Fate brought the two of you together at a romantic waterfall get away. You never know, bro," he joshed gently. It was honestly more encouraging than anything. "Besides, he already saw you naked and he didn't run away. Goes to show you are attractive." The typical teasing brother might have called his sibling ugly or repulsive or something in jest. But Apollo had strayed away from that as Angel explained how he felt about his body. It was much more appealing and made Angel just as uncomfortable to confess how good looking Apollo thought he was. Hence the narcissist jokes.

He yawned and shifted to float on his back. "Can't have anyone stealing my pillow," he grumbled affirmatively. After dealing with their home life and then living on the streets, the two were quite comfortable sleeping together. Apollo wasn't sure he could stand not having his smaller brother to curl up with at night.