Lucien's solution

"How long can you hold out Riaku?" Syryn asked the prince.

"As long as it takes," came his cold reply. "Their attacks are chipping away at my defence but it'll take them much longer to get through."

The scarecrows operated by a code that called for their deaths if they abandoned a mission. It was a favourable situation for the avian party since they were fighting a war of attrition.

"A man of stamina. Good! Let's go, Lucien."

The redhead lingered just a bit longer, sights fixed on the prince and his outstretched wings.

"Red, stare later."

Crimson eyes turned away and Lucien followed the teen whose teasing eyes were crinkled in an ambiguous smile.

"Liked what you saw?" The alchemist asked after they had put some distance between them and the prince.

"He's attractive," Red answered. "And I'm still a fucking child. I'm tempted to raise a freshly deceased body and put my consciousness inside it."