[The End]

Miklotov ran his fingers through his hair as he watched his two friends glaring each other to pieces from across the table. He arranged it so that they could meet each other at a civil event, but both came in prepared to act less then friendly. Especially Camus. For being the one who suggested the meeting, he should be the friendlier of the two. Miklotov could not take the palpable hostility and decided to speak up.

"Camus, don't glare at him. I know you guys didn't have the greatest first meeting, but you are both great guys. You can at least be polite," he said.

Camus looked back at Miklotov, who was sitting next to Red, and said, "I think I should just leave you two alone."

"What? You can't go, Camus," Miklotov protested, preparing to grab his arm if he decided to get up. With his eyes he tried his best to plead for Camus to stay. He didn't need another misunderstanding after the one that he initiated before.

Finally Camus gave in. Seeing Camus's features relax again, Miklotov decided that he better strike up a conversation so that the glaring would cease for a while. He decided to bring up swords. He talked about the hand thing, and asked Red if he could try to figure out what sword Camus used. Conversation went smoothly, with a slight break when they ordered their meals. Miklotov was learning a lot from Red by just listening in to Camus and Red debate sword-fighting styles. The next thing he knew, the food had arrived steaming in front of them. Red decided that a break was needed and dug a fork into the pork.

With a satisfied smile Red said, "Food's good. Maybe I should join the knights. Being a merc. isn't good pay."

"But they…" Camus began to protest, but Red cut him off.

"I don't kill people. Simple as that," he answered, knowing that Camus thought all mercenaries killed people. Miklotov knew that mercenaries worked for pay. He was surprised himself to hear that Red didn't kill people but relieved. Camus by now should see that Red is just as honorable and as wonderful of a person as any other knight.

"Oh," Camus said dumbly after a pregnant pause. He looked down at his food, which Miklotov translated as a silent apology for his assumptions. The rest of the conversation picked back up as soon as all of the food had been scraped off the plates. Things were going well between Camus and Red, at least that was what Miklotov believed. With the introduction of a new conversation topic, Miklotov felt it was safe enough to leave the two alone while he took a trip to the bathroom.

"Um, if you can excuse me, I need to go to the restroom. See you two in a bit," Miklotov announced before vacating his seat. Before entering through the door to the restroom, he glanced back at the table to see how it was going. Good, they are getting along fine. Miklotov went through the door with a smile.

*****

Miklotov didn't know how long he spent in the bathroom, but he sure had to pee. After straightening out his clothes and washing his hands and face, he dabbed some water on his hair to flatten it a bit. His face was a bit flushed, probably from the heat from inside the restaurant. Stretching out his limbs, he finally exited the bathroom. He headed towards his table in a daze, not really noticing the changes that occurred while he was gone until he sat down. Seeing the spot across from Red empty, Miklotov panicked. "What happened? Where's Camus?" he asked Red.

"He's running away again. He went back to the castle," Red replied, fingering his napkin. Miklotov wondered at the choice of words, but he let it pass.

"Oh…" Miklotov managed to utter after a bit of silence. Miklotov took a large gulp of water, draining his glass, and then tapped his fingers against the chair. It was strangely silent after Camus had left.

Red broke the silence by putting his hand on Miklotov's shoulder. "Well, I have to leave tonight," he said.

Miklotov knew that eventually he would leave, but he wasn't expecting it to be so soon. "Will I see you again?" he asked.

"Sure, anytime," Red said, smiling. The two of them exited the restaurant, Miklotov paying for the dinner of course.

"Well, then bye," Miklotov said hesitantly after a few seconds passed. Red smiled and waved back at him.

"Bye," he responded before heading the opposite way. Miklotov watched Red leave for a few seconds before heading back to the castle. He did not expect, however, to almost run someone over once he was a few feet away from the restaurant.

"Camus, what are you doing outside?" Miklotov asked after almost running into him.

"Um, I was waiting for you?" Camus said in a rush, looking like he really did not know what he was doing. Miklotov interpreted it as some kind of cover up to something secret and wanted to know the answer from Camus himself.

"Are you hiding something from me?" Miklotov said, with a silent request that Camus tell the truth.

"No, nothing," Camus said evasively. Miklotov debated whether to allow Camus to slide once again and decided that he wanted answers, not just responses.

"Camus, you asked me to be honest with you. Why can't you tell me?" he said.

"It's not that…" Camus began, but Miklotov interrupted him.

"It can't be worse than me telling you that I…thought of you in that way," Miklotov said.

Camus considered that thought for a moment before defending himself. "Miklotov, you wouldn't understand," he stated.

"Of course not," Miklotov replied somewhat sarcastically. "But you don't even give me a chance."

"I understood how you felt when you told me that…" Camus responded, intentionally not describing what "that" was.

"I guess," Miklotov conceded. He still wanted to what was bothering Camus, which he told Camus with a look.

"Miklotov, trust me. I'll tell you soon," Camus added. He put his hand on Miklotov's shoulder, his hand resting there for a few seconds before pulling away.

"Okay…" Miklotov replied, not looking up. Well I'll let it slide tonight. But I'll want to know what it is tomorrow, Camus…

*****

Miklotov woke up the next day, determined to shake some answers out of Camus but instead encountered more mysteries. First of all, Camus's bed was empty and neatly made. Second, the birds were chirping loudly, signifying that he slept in past his usual morning training again. Thirdly there was some kind of message for Miklotov on his desk. "What's this? Is there a card for me?" he said aloud, opening up the envelope.

I wish to meet you at 7 PM tonight outside the castle for a dinner date.

All my love,

Your secret admirer

"Nice writing, though it's not Camus's. I wonder who would..." Miklotov thought aloud to himself. Then putting the letter neatly back into its envelope and hiding it in his desk drawer, he smiled to himself. "Heh, secret admirer. Oh well, might as well see who it is."

Miklotov attended his regular training session with the other blue knights and worked extra hard during the workout to make up for the morning's missed training. All clean after a bath, Miklotov found himself in his room, dressed and completely bored.

"Nothing to do…Red's gone today," Miklotov said to himself. He remembered that the note said dinner at 7 PM. "I could go to sleep?" Miklotov thought. He decided that a nap wouldn't hurt him and crawled inside the covers to sleep.

*****

"Shoot, I'm late!" Miklotov exclaimed when he woke up a minute after 7. "My hair looks like it has been through a whirlwind." With a comb he quickly straightened out the knots in his hair and flattened it with some water. "He wouldn't mind me running out the door, would he? Wait, how do I know if it is a guy?" Miklotov grabbed the card from inside the desk and started to run out the door. "Well, if it is a woman, I'll just have to apologize," he said out loud as he ran down the steps.

Probably only three minutes past seven o'clock, Miklotov stood panting outside the castle walls. After taking some deep breaths, Miklotov smoothened his clothes and his hair one last time before aimlessly pacing in front of the castle.

"This is strange. The person is late. Even though it is five minutes…I thought the person wanted to see me…?" Miklotov said aloud to himself. He wondered if someone pulled a joke on him when he almost ran Camus over again.

"Miklotov? What are you doing out here?" Camus said, one hand behind his back. Maybe the date thing was set up by Camus? He looks kind of suspicious.

"Hi, Camus. I'm supposed to meet someone," Miklotov said, declaring his purpose outside right away, hoping that it might trigger some kind of response from Camus.

"Me too," Camus replied. "Wait, are you meeting someone for a dinner date at 7?"

"Yes. How did you know?" Miklotov said, pretending to be surprised but guessing that Camus knew about the date.

"I think we were set up," Camus answered, surprising Miklotov. "You see, I got a letter too like the one you're holding." He held up the letter that seemed to have the same kind of stationary.

"Really?" Miklotov uttered. "Let's see…" He took his letter out of the envelope and placed in next to Camus's. Camus grabbed Miklotov's letter and lined it up with his. Miklotov gasped.

"They fit?" he uttered.

"Like a puzzle. Looks like there is a secret message," Camus said, looking at the marks that formed letters when the two pieces of paper were lined up correctly.

"Red. Just a push in the right direction," Camus read aloud. Red? He did this? Miklotov was surprised that Red would involve himself in something like Miklotov and Camus's relationship. Well he did think that we were in a relationship when I enlightened him…

Miklotov woke out of his daze and noticed Camus staring at him. "Huh? Camus, is he talking to you?" he said.

"Um, Miklotov…" Camus began, looking extremely uncomfortable. Miklotov decided to take the pressure off of Camus.

"I don't mind going out on a date with you. I will finally find out what a good date should be like," Miklotov said with a smile.

"Miklotov…" Camus sighed, but Miklotov ignored it.

"You don't mind, right? It isn't romantic or anything…" he continued.

"Miklotov!" Camus shouted. Miklotov almost jumped at the volume.

"What?" Miklotov said. Camus looked strangely unlike himself as his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides.

"Listen to me…I…" Camus began in a whisper before taking a deep breath. "I love you," he said confidently.

Miklotov did not understand why that was so hard to say. "I know," he replied.

Camus shook his head and moved closer to Miklotov. With his eyes staring straight into Miklotov's, he said, "No, the way you want me to…"

"Camus?" Miklotov uttered before he felt Camus's heat flow into him from the arms that circled him and from the lips, which had captured his in a sweet kiss. Miklotov absorbed as much warmth as he can, relishing the sweet feeling of his first kiss by the man he loved.

"So are you ready to go?" Camus asked when they finally broke apart. Miklotov noticed a slight redness tinting Camus's cheeks and wondered what color his face was. Miklotov, not wanting to leave the circle of Camus's arms, smirked.

"Hold on," he said.

"What is it, Mik?" Camus asked gently, his arms still around Miklotov's in a firm embrace.

"Can you do that again? I'm not sure if I understood you completely," Miklotov whispered with a smile.

"Sure, Mik," Camus winked. After another kiss they walked hand and hand to the restaurant, their first date as a couple.

The End.