(no subject)
Ficlets for weekend_battle, Week One.
Babylon 5, G'Kar&Londo, G, 'Chains.'
It was an unkindness to mention the chains, G’Kar knew. But he had, he felt, earned the right to some small unkindness here and there. The mention of them had brought those days rushing back again and he closed his eyes to fight them away as he wrapped his hands around his wrists to remind himself of his freedom.
It had been difficult, enduring the Centuri’s presence aboard Babylon 5. He has assumed that, as the new Prime Minister, Mollari would stay on Centuri Prime and so that first time in the Zocalo G’Kar had felt shockingly exposed and vulnerable. To walk free and clothed amongst such ordinariness had been hard enough with the memories fresh in his mind - that Mollari was there, watching him, staring as he had done all those times he had visited G’Kar’s cell on Centuri Prime, had made G’Kar’s gut clench in fear.
He had acted in good humour. He was a hero after all, had endured much to free his world. He was on the side of right, of the just, of the oppressed. He had joked with Franklin about losing his eye, with Garibaldi about their good fortune, with Londo about the chains. The first two occasions put his friend's minds at ease, ensured they didn’t dwell too long on what had happened to G’Kar or think that he had been unable to endure it and keep his self in tact.
The last one was an unkindness. But he had earned such things.
Babylon 5, Vir&Lennier, G, 'Toxin.'
"A strange feeling. Like a little box hidden from the rest of the universe. Another universe inside this one. Nothing made sense the same way it does out here."
Lennier is nodding, but Vir looks in his eyes and sees that he doesn’t understand.
"I can’t explain it very well. It’s odd being back on the station." Vir twists his glass around. It isn’t going well. He takes a drink and then says, "things are different here. Things are different now."
"It was a strange time for us all. Everything is different now. No more Vorlons, or Shadows, or First Ones. It is a different universe."
Vir nods, his head starting to spin from the alcohol. He drinks, rolling the taste of it on his tongue and thinks - I can’t tell him. "I think I’m different now," he says instead.
"You seem different." Lennier tilts his head and regards the Centuri curiously, as if working out a puzzle.
"I think I grew up, finally." Vir murmurs under his breath, but Lennier’s hearing is excellent.
"You saw a lot of suffering on Centuri Prime and on Narn. That changes you, makes you grow up more quickly."
Vir nods again. "I changed a lot. I did things... I did something..." He lets his voice trail off. The words are like poison on his tongue, bitter. Lennier watches him carefully.
"Sometimes we do things we are not proud of."
Vir laughs, giddily. The alcohol has seeped through his blood into his hearts, making them race. "They were strange times," he tells Lennier. And then, more soberly, "I’m glad they are over."
Babylon 5, G'Kar&Londo, G, 'Chains.'
It was an unkindness to mention the chains, G’Kar knew. But he had, he felt, earned the right to some small unkindness here and there. The mention of them had brought those days rushing back again and he closed his eyes to fight them away as he wrapped his hands around his wrists to remind himself of his freedom.
It had been difficult, enduring the Centuri’s presence aboard Babylon 5. He has assumed that, as the new Prime Minister, Mollari would stay on Centuri Prime and so that first time in the Zocalo G’Kar had felt shockingly exposed and vulnerable. To walk free and clothed amongst such ordinariness had been hard enough with the memories fresh in his mind - that Mollari was there, watching him, staring as he had done all those times he had visited G’Kar’s cell on Centuri Prime, had made G’Kar’s gut clench in fear.
He had acted in good humour. He was a hero after all, had endured much to free his world. He was on the side of right, of the just, of the oppressed. He had joked with Franklin about losing his eye, with Garibaldi about their good fortune, with Londo about the chains. The first two occasions put his friend's minds at ease, ensured they didn’t dwell too long on what had happened to G’Kar or think that he had been unable to endure it and keep his self in tact.
The last one was an unkindness. But he had earned such things.
Babylon 5, Vir&Lennier, G, 'Toxin.'
"A strange feeling. Like a little box hidden from the rest of the universe. Another universe inside this one. Nothing made sense the same way it does out here."
Lennier is nodding, but Vir looks in his eyes and sees that he doesn’t understand.
"I can’t explain it very well. It’s odd being back on the station." Vir twists his glass around. It isn’t going well. He takes a drink and then says, "things are different here. Things are different now."
"It was a strange time for us all. Everything is different now. No more Vorlons, or Shadows, or First Ones. It is a different universe."
Vir nods, his head starting to spin from the alcohol. He drinks, rolling the taste of it on his tongue and thinks - I can’t tell him. "I think I’m different now," he says instead.
"You seem different." Lennier tilts his head and regards the Centuri curiously, as if working out a puzzle.
"I think I grew up, finally." Vir murmurs under his breath, but Lennier’s hearing is excellent.
"You saw a lot of suffering on Centuri Prime and on Narn. That changes you, makes you grow up more quickly."
Vir nods again. "I changed a lot. I did things... I did something..." He lets his voice trail off. The words are like poison on his tongue, bitter. Lennier watches him carefully.
"Sometimes we do things we are not proud of."
Vir laughs, giddily. The alcohol has seeped through his blood into his hearts, making them race. "They were strange times," he tells Lennier. And then, more soberly, "I’m glad they are over."