Secreted Away

[Apollo Parish]

The needy like them, definitely. Apollo had unfortunate disagreements with soldiers just as often as he had them with farmers and people in remote villages so the guys profession didn't mean much to him one way or another. He could at least appreciate that soldiers, real ones, put in a lot of work.

Angel's denial only made him more positive. Apollo would never call his brother 'sweet' because that was entire bullshit. Angel didn't know how to be sweet. He just sort of...was sometimes on accident. "Nah, don't think that's how that works," he said with a chuckle. Twins, yeah, identical...almost, but Apollo was a little less soft.

He grinned as Angel rose to his teasing. "I'm only joking!" Well, supposedly. "Besides, that face, yeah, with the pout thing you're doing, perfect. Do that with soldier boy." Works every time.

Hold on, wait, what? "'Bed partner?' Is that all I am to you?" He could pout a little too. "Both?" He suggested innocently.

[Angel Parish]

Angel wasn't entirely one to have a sweet nature. Sarcastic? Certainly. Detatched and calculated? When needed. Though that wasn't to say there were people and moments that could bring out a softer, sweeter side to him.

Thats not to say he wasn't a good actor. Apollo was right about one thing. Something about his sweet innocent act seemed to melt many mens hearts.

The claim to only be joking made Angel narrow his eyes at his brother teasingly before shaking his head with a chuckle. "Joking my ass." He stated with a playful kick to Apollos chair under the table. If his brother wanted him to flirt with the soldier so be it. The returned pout however was almost enough to make him giggle hysterically. Still, he kept most of his composure so to not call attention to their table. "Bed partner. Pain in my ass. Same thing." He teased before leaning back in his chair to stretch.

"Just say when."

[Apollo Parish]

Sarcastic asshole, more like. Sometimes. Well, okay, maybe he should relent and say 'lovable sarcastic asshole.' Yes, that was better.

Apollo leaned back and held up his hands in self defense, yelping playfully at the kick. "I am so! But also, your ass is no joke," he couldn't help but tease with a grin. Apparently he really wanted to push his brother today. While he didn't speak loudly, he clearly didn't care how much attention they were drawing. He liked to be careful sometimes, but other times...he was quite confident, a bit of an exhibitionist really. Pride and stupidity were closely related words, after all. "You are so cold, you know that?" He continued to tease, pushing himself up from the table.

He took a long parting drink from his partly ignored ale, making like he was getting ready to leave. "I have perfect faith in your timing," he murmured unhelpfully as he set the drink back down and wandered over to the end of the bar near the noble. Not too close just yet. flagged down the attention of the barmaid who had just refilled the noble's drink, complaining about his mug being empty. At first she gave him a look like he was an idiot. Yes, he was aware that when he drank it, the ale would go away. No, he wasn't that wasted. Yes, he wanted another. All the while feigning just the hint of a slur to suggest he was more inebriated than he was.

Apollo fumbled out a coin for the refill and then, drink in hand, and made it almost passed the noble before he bumped into him.

When?

[Angel Parish]

"If I'm so cold perhaps you should warm me." See? Apollo wasn't the only one who could be a pushy flirt. Though his brother was still more of a natural at it than he was. He watched the other blonde leave the table and took a few moments to himself with a sigh. After a few more sips from his mostly neglected ale he stood up and smoothed out his tunic and shook his fingers through his hair.

As he casually walked past the guard he took the opportunity to 'accidentally' trip over his outstretched leg. The guard jolted awake and reached to grab Angels arm before he hit the ground. So this man had some fairly quick reflexes. That was good to know. "Ah, 'm sorry la-" It seemed his words caught in his throat as he got a closer look at the blonde.

Angel gave him a warm smile as his cheeks lit up with a soft blush. "No, no it was my fault. I should have looked where I was going." As he righted himself again he noticed the guard still hadn't released his arm just yet. Instead he smiled back at the blonde a bit. Though he wasn't going to say anything about it yet, as much as he wanted to. For the moment he tucked his hair behind his ear, chatted with the guard who finally released his arm. After a short moment he glanced quickly over at his brother with a sly grin.

"What's your name, beautiful?" Angel turned his eyes back to the guard before quickly looking at the ground. "You're a terrible flirt." He teased with a soft laugh that only seemed to make the guard smile more.

[Apollo Parish]

Maybe flirting with his sibling should have been awkward...but he liked Angel. They got along and went nearly everywhere together and he did enjoy sleeping with him, as awkward as that sounded out loud. In his head it was about safety and familiarity and trust. And of course, there was a rivalry there too. But more in the 'prove I love you more than you love me' sort of impossible to win sense. Not that he would say it out loud but...well...they were twins, he didn't need to.

The nobleman stiffened and turned to Apollo, with a cross look. "Watch where you are going," he grumbled, looking down his nose. The plan might have been to make a ruckus, but he came away with the first purse easily enough. Apollo held up his hands in apology, though his face clearly suggested he didn't give a fuck. He grinned and flipped the man off.

A small, more proportioned man might have been on his feet in a moment, but it took the noble a moment to negotiate his girth between the stool and the bar. "How dare you, you drunk!" There, that was a bit more of a 'distraction' now, wasn't it?

Apollo shrugged. "Make me," he replied. Did it make a whole lot of sense as a come back, no, but he was supposed to be more than a little drunk so it seemed fitting. The noble most certainly would not fight him, but watching his face turn red and hearing the frustrated grumble was hilarious.

[Angel Parish]

The new ruckus seemed to be enough to catch the guards attention. He stood quickly on instinct, colliding with Angel who used the excuse of him stumbling backwards to grab onto the mans belt. The guard grabbed his arms again to steady the blonde with an apologetic smile. As he pulled back Angel pulled the string of the pouch to undo the easy knot and caught it as it dropped. While he was still distracted the mercenary slipped the pouch into his pocket but didn't step back. He let the guard excuse himself to make his way over to the noble and Apollo.

Angel stepped back into a small crowd, glad to be small enough that he mostly couldn't be seen past the other men around him. "Oi, if your gonna fight take it outside." The guard stated firmly as the blonde kept a close eye on his brother. If a fight did break out they'd need to get out pretty quickly.

[Apollo Parish]

The sound of the soldier behind him made Apollo jump. Most of it was honest surprise. Sure, yeah, he knew something was coming, but he hadn't known exactly when or what. He could only assume Angel had what they were after on that guy so he carried on with his own charade.

Which, again, wasn't that much of a charade, Apollo wasn't about to pick a fight with the soldier or the noble, let alone both at once, not if he could help it, anyway. "He started it!" he exclaimed instead. So much for defusing the situation.

"I most certainly..." the nobleman huffed and drew himself up. To which Apollo decided maybe it wasn't entirely worth pretending just for the other coin pouch. If the guy didn't suspect anything and the soldier was going to come on strong like that... "Alright, alright. Not trying to cause any problems," he held up his hands again and backed off.

"Good riddance," the man said to his back, mumbling something about the smell. Apollo was pretty sure the nobleman smelled worse than he did. He rolled his eyes and stumbled his way through the crowd in the bar and outside.

[Angel Parish]

Angel watched enough wondering if Apollo was really ready to start a fight for some coin. Some days he wouldn't really put it past his twin. Still, as the other blonde walked away Angel quickly and quietly made his way out to wait for his brother before the guard could notice that he was leaving.

As his brother stepped outside Angel slipped next to him and poked him playfully in the side. "So much for three pouches, huh?" He asked teasingly with a small grin. He walked quickly away from the tavern though before the soldier had a chance to notice his missing pouch and come looking for him. "I guess I'll just do all the heavy lifting for us." With a sarcastic huff he looped his arm with his brothers and pushed him playfully with his hip.

[Apollo Parish]

Apollo rolled his eyes. He had been expecting the sass. Yeah, okay, so putting his plan into action was a lot harder and a lot more intimidating that just talking about it. And maybe he was kind of a coward, but to be fair, their had been quite a few people glaring down at him.

So he shrugged. "Didn't see you try for anything," he said, attempting to pass off the shade being thrown at him. The young man kept up with his brother, conscious of the commotion they had left behind and the fact that there was likely about to be a bigger commotion.

"Heavy lifting?" he nearly spluttered the words, unhooking his arm just as fast as Angel took hold of him. "Fuck you, no more carrying your ass around!" he declared firmly, though considering it was something he said a lot, Angel would know it was mostly a joke. He shoved Angel's shoulder before taking off along the road. "Hurry up, tiny, before they buy another round!"

[Angel Parish]

"I'm the only one with a new coin pouch." He pointed out teaaingly with a grin. As Apollo shoved him away though Angel took on an expression of mock hurt. "Fuck me? No fuck you!" Was it his best retort? Not by any means. But it would work for the moment. Of course he was certain his twin wouldn't hold to that exclamation but it was still enough for him to sigh dramatically about.

"I thought you were supposed to be the better theif." Angel chased after his twin with a laugh. Of course it would be best to get out of the area as quickly as possible. Though he'd pulled away earlier the smaller brother still grabbed for Apollos hand. If just to be able to keep up. "No fair you have longer legs than I do!" He complained.

Once the town was far enough behind them and back in the safety of the forest Angel paused to lean over with his hands on his knees and panted softly. While he wasn't exactly out of breath he wanted a moment to relax. Seeing as Apollo had pulled him away from their swimming much earlier than he'd wanted. With a grin he stood again and wrapped his arms around his brothers neck to press tightly against him. "Carry me!" He commanded playfully with a giggle.

[Apollo Parish]

"You? Excuse me? I nicked one from that fat ass beforr you even put the charm on to your mark!" He grinned and plucked the first of the nobleman's pouches, tossing it between his hands before tucking it away. "Just didn't manage the second," he grudgingly admitted. He was a better pick pocket, for sure. He still had to work on his charm and his distractions.

Apollo snorted at the simple retort but it was fitting he supposed. In a silly, 'not possible,' ironic sort of way.

He didn't have that much longer legs. But fortunately for Angel, Apollo couldn't bear to abandon his sibling by any means so after his initial strides he slowed enough so Angel could take his hand. "You're insufferable," he teased breathlessly. "C'mon!"

As they stopped short in the forest, Apollo paced unconsciously while Angel caught his breath. Cardio he could do easily. Between that and his acrobatic build he was quite the escape artist. He grunted, surprised by the arms around him. "Insufferable," he grumbled again, but sighed and relented, turning over his ultimatum only minutes later. He did like being close to Angel.

"Good thing you bathe a lot," he teased, bending down to help lift his brother up onto his back before continuing back to camp.

[Angel Parish]

Angel was fairly good at cardio. Though his chest being tightly compressed down did make it more difficult for him to run for long stretches. As Apollo relented so quickly he couldn't help but chuckle before climbing on his back. There he pressed his face to the crook of his brothers neck and smiled softly against his skin. "You're lucky I put up with you drooling on me when we sleep." He teased with a playful nip to his shoulder.

Still, he'd consider the two pouches they did get a win. For the moment. It wasn't as if they needed a ton of money after all. As they arrived back at camp it seemed that most of the other men were off on their own business as well. Two of the ones that stayed back waved to the twins from their fishing stop. Angel showed no signs or desire to get down from his spot as he nuzzled his face against the other blondes neck and tightened his legs around his waist.

[Apollo Parish]

"I don't drool!" he grumbled degectedly. He probably did a little. Maybe a lot sometimes. But at least he didn't snore. Still, despite the insult, he nuzzled his head against Angel's.

Apollo liked money. He liked the security it brought with it. Sure, he knew he didn't need it, but when he could get it, it was nice. Well, and so was the game of being a thief. He might like that even more.

Apollo flashed a 'what are you gonna do?' look at the two mercs that waved hello. Angel was a...special breed. It was hardly the first time his brother knelt to his beck and call and carried him about. He preferred to think of it as love and not obligation. When Angel didn't move to get down and only tightened his hold, Apollo wondered if he was that tired already. "Angel? You all tuckered out?" He asked, letting his feet take him to their tent out of habit.

[Angel Parish]

A lot of the other mercs liked to tease Angel about being spoiled. How Apollo catered to him and how their captain praised him. Still, it didn't stop him from essentially becoming the parent group. Dragging his men out of taverns when they were smashed. Ambushing targets from above to give them a better chance below. Patching up their wounds. Forcing them to bathe. Though even he'd admit that Apollo had priority in all those endeavors. Though he saw it as something to be expected.

When asked if he was tuckered out Angel shook his head. "Just comfortable." Once they were in their tent he did finally remove himself from Apollos back. Removing his shirt and loosening the binder a bit to let himself breath. "So about that little barmaid you were so interested in at the tavern," He started teasingly. Though bringing her up again caused that same jealous pang in his chest he ignored it to playfully poke his brothers chest.

"Are you really trying to sleep with her?" He asked with a little more genuine curiosity. Despite how he might have felt he wanted his brother to be happy.

[Apollo Parish]

The twin generally expected to be teased a lot. Not just by the mercs, but by his brother most of all. And dragged all over. Or ridden, as it were.

A grin tugged at his lips at the note abotu being comfortable. It was comforting in itself to know he engendered such a feeling in Angel. That was generally why he doted on him so much. Because he knew it was more difficult sometimes, to not always be sure where his place was in the world. Apollo was certain no matter what that his brother was safe with him.

"Who?" he asked, stretching and letting out a yawn that was cut off with a grunt at the poke. "So mean," he grumbled faintly. He grinned at the follow up and shoved Angel softly. "Try?" he scoffed. "Brother, if I wanted to sleep with her..." his words had started off brash and trailed off. He shrugged, a little bit sheepish but earnest. "I would. If I wanted to." He did want to. He just...hadn't actually tried yet. "What about that mysterious soldier of yours, huh? You try to sleep with him?" Of course Angel hadn't, considering they had only just talked about him earlier, but that was sort of Apollo's point.