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Originally posted at akai_kitsune on Feb 19/07. Sorry for those who have seen it before, ^^; I'm just tossing my fics up at this journal.
Title: Say My Name
Fandom: Tales of the Abyss
Word Count: 1476
Spoilers: Guy's past.
Summary: Pre-game ficlet; Guy and Luke meet for the first time. Guy is not impressed.
Notes: For fabre's birthday.
"He'll be in your care from now on."
It was the one thing he did not want to hear, and at the same time, something in his heart soared at the opportunity.
Guy stared back at his master, keeping his expression perfectly neutral. "Yes sir," he responded accordingly, without hesitation, reminding himself to lower his eyes as a servant should.
He listened for the footsteps of Duke Fabre's retreat, waiting until the man was out of sight before closing his eyes, letting out a sigh and turning towards the door at his back. This was a parent's job, not a servant's, but the duke was of course too busy to attend to his only son's re-education, and his wife was still bedridden, worried sick from the kidnapping. No doubt that would continue until the child could call her by name.
I really, really don't want to do this...
Orders were orders, however, so he finally turned the knob, entering the room and getting a look at the son of his mortal enemy for the first time since his kidnapping, save for the brief glimpse he'd managed to catch as the Commandant was carrying him in.
The boy was sitting up on the bed, looking out the window, his short-cropped hair unruly. He didn't even turn at the sound, so focused was he on whatever was outside.
Guy closed the door louder than he ought to have, catching the boy's attention. He lowered his eyes for the sake of protocol, then looked up again. Luke was staring at him now, eyes torn between curiousity and fear.
He didn't speak. He couldn't speak. The once loud and outspoken child of Fabre had become a mute.
Everyone said he must have been traumatized. Guy would never say aloud that he assumed the boy was merely an idiot.
"Good morning, Master Luke," Guy mumbled, slowly stepping forward, keeping his eyes on his employer's amnesiac son. "Do you remember who I am?"
Luke stared at him, that same expression remaining on his face as if he were a stone statue. Guy wasn't surprised.
He held back another sigh, coming closer and bowing slightly, inwardly wishing for all the world that he didn't have to feign his servitude. The decision had been his, of course, but he'd never dreamed it would be so difficult. And now he had to start all over... "I am Guy. Your father has instructed me to care for you until you recover your memory. If there is anything y-"
He wasn't given a chance to continue. Quite abruptly, Luke had reached out, grabbing him by the hand and pulling him closer. Guy blinked, baffled by this - Luke had never acted so familiar before. He'd been taught since he was old enough to understand that servants were servants, and nothing more. So why...?
The boy's expression didn't change, but he turned back to the window, pointing outwards. He then looked back at Guy, gaze expectant.
"Wh... what?" Guy managed, eyes widening. He received no answer, and his brows furrowed. He really had lost all his memories, then. "... It's... the sky, Luke."
Luke blinked at him. He felt the distinct impression that he'd been talking to a brick wall, and tried to move away. The younger boy's grip was surprisingly firm, though, and he held fast, tugging him forward instead, and Guy had to catch himself before he fell flat on the bed. He was halfway through a protest that servants should not be on the master's bed when he noticed that the boy was pointing again.
"... That?" Guy frowned, finally submitting and sitting on the very edge of the bed, in case he had to jump up in a hurry. He caught sight of something soaring beneath the clouds. "That's a bird."
Luke moved his lips, trying to mimic it, but he hadn't yet learned to make the sounds required to actually speak. Briefly Guy thought how a good twist of the arm could force him to make some sort of sound, then was unsettled by the sudden shame the thought provoked. But Luke was like an infant now; he might have been able to kill him in a few years, when he changed from a curious, occasionally tolerable brat to a know-it-all who took after his father - and he would have, he surely would have - but like this? No. He may as well have slit the boy's throat on the day they'd first met.
He wanted to kill Luke fon Fabre, there was no mistaking it. But he had no particular desire to die immediately afterwards, and he would keep his honour and get his revenge.
Again the boy pointed, and he held back a sigh. "You know, you should wait until you can say stuff before you learn what everything is... I'll just have to teach you a-" He was forced to stop a third time, when Luke's hand lifted to cover his mouth. "Mmph."
Luke gave him a stern look, as if to say 'One at a time!' and lifted his fingers free. This time Guy did sigh. "Cloud." Point. "Tree." Point. "Grass." Point. "Window." Point. "Curtains." Point. "Luke..."
Luke pouted in response, probably without even knowing he was pouting. He pointed once more, very firmly, finger poking right at Guy's chest.
"... Servant," Guy whispered, eyes lowering. Luke didn't move his hand, patting his chest insistently. Swallowing hard, he tried again. "Shirt? No...? Um... chest. Person? Man-"
The boy made a faint, frustrated noise and lifted his hand, and poked him. Everywhere he could reach, within a few seconds. Guy couldn't help but squirm, crawling further onto the bed to avoid the assault. "H-hey! Cut that out! Okay, okay, I'm Guy!"
Luke suddenly smiled, and to his surprise - and some horror - Guy realized the tickling had made him smile, which the younger boy had managed to emulate. He then mouthed something, and it took Guy a moment for the fact to occur to him that it was his name.
It was almost enough to make him walk out then and there. The kid should've been trying to talk to his parents. He should've been clinging and crying for mommy (he'd done that with Pere in St. Binah, when the shock had finally given way to tears, when there'd been time enough to breathe and cry and mourn for all that he'd lost). There was no reason to try and learn the name of a lowly servant, just because he'd been appointed as caregiver. Just because they were so close in age, and he wasn't as frightening as the adults...
He caught the pleading look in the eyes of the enemy, the confusion and the pain and the pure need. This boy knew nothing. He couldn't speak, or read, or write, or understand a thing. He was a newborn in the body of a ten-year-old, and he was trusting Guy to show him the world.
Guy felt a faint, ironic smile cross his lips. Out of everyone, you pick the one who's going to kill you some day. You really are an idiot, aren't you...
Luke tried to say it again, so Guy shrugged his shoulders, leaning forward a little, giving him a better view of his mouth. "You need to move your mouth like this. G. 'Gah'. Say it, come on. 'Gaaah'."
"... Nn... g..."
"I know, it's tough. But you picked it, so follow through. 'G'. 'Gaaaah'."
".... G... g-guh.... gah..."
"There you go. Add the end. 'Y'. It's like. Uh... 'Eee'."
"..... Eee...?"
"Heh, that one's easy." Guy leaned back again, rocking slightly on his knees. "Put it together now. 'Guy'. 'Gah-Ee'."
"... g... gah-ee..."
"Gah-ee."
"... Gaah-ee."
"Say it faster!" Guy urged. "Guy."
"... Gah-ee. Gahee. ....Gaee."
Luke's expression was growing more and more frustrated with each failure. Guy half-expected an outburst or tears, and urged, "Try again. It's not that hard, so even an idiot could do it."
"... Ga... Guy." Luke blinked. So did Guy. "... Guy. Guy!"
His smile returned, and Guy nodded his approval. "That's right. That's exactly it."
"Guy! Guy. Guuuuuy~"
... Dear Yulia, what have I done. Without thinking, he reached out and clapped a hand over Luke's mouth, lifting a finger to his lips for silence. Luke halted instantly, eyes wide in surprise. "You have a long way to go," Guy said quietly, waiting a moment before lowering his hand, reaching up to ruffle the boy's hair, "But I guess it's a good start. How about we try for your mom and dad, alright?"
Luke blinked, that same, curious expression on his face. He smiled, and Guy honestly - though reluctantly - believed it was the most genuine smile he'd ever seen in his life.
Suddenly, it wasn't so bad to be the one looking after him.
Title: Say My Name
Fandom: Tales of the Abyss
Word Count: 1476
Spoilers: Guy's past.
Summary: Pre-game ficlet; Guy and Luke meet for the first time. Guy is not impressed.
Notes: For fabre's birthday.
"He'll be in your care from now on."
It was the one thing he did not want to hear, and at the same time, something in his heart soared at the opportunity.
Guy stared back at his master, keeping his expression perfectly neutral. "Yes sir," he responded accordingly, without hesitation, reminding himself to lower his eyes as a servant should.
He listened for the footsteps of Duke Fabre's retreat, waiting until the man was out of sight before closing his eyes, letting out a sigh and turning towards the door at his back. This was a parent's job, not a servant's, but the duke was of course too busy to attend to his only son's re-education, and his wife was still bedridden, worried sick from the kidnapping. No doubt that would continue until the child could call her by name.
I really, really don't want to do this...
Orders were orders, however, so he finally turned the knob, entering the room and getting a look at the son of his mortal enemy for the first time since his kidnapping, save for the brief glimpse he'd managed to catch as the Commandant was carrying him in.
The boy was sitting up on the bed, looking out the window, his short-cropped hair unruly. He didn't even turn at the sound, so focused was he on whatever was outside.
Guy closed the door louder than he ought to have, catching the boy's attention. He lowered his eyes for the sake of protocol, then looked up again. Luke was staring at him now, eyes torn between curiousity and fear.
He didn't speak. He couldn't speak. The once loud and outspoken child of Fabre had become a mute.
Everyone said he must have been traumatized. Guy would never say aloud that he assumed the boy was merely an idiot.
"Good morning, Master Luke," Guy mumbled, slowly stepping forward, keeping his eyes on his employer's amnesiac son. "Do you remember who I am?"
Luke stared at him, that same expression remaining on his face as if he were a stone statue. Guy wasn't surprised.
He held back another sigh, coming closer and bowing slightly, inwardly wishing for all the world that he didn't have to feign his servitude. The decision had been his, of course, but he'd never dreamed it would be so difficult. And now he had to start all over... "I am Guy. Your father has instructed me to care for you until you recover your memory. If there is anything y-"
He wasn't given a chance to continue. Quite abruptly, Luke had reached out, grabbing him by the hand and pulling him closer. Guy blinked, baffled by this - Luke had never acted so familiar before. He'd been taught since he was old enough to understand that servants were servants, and nothing more. So why...?
The boy's expression didn't change, but he turned back to the window, pointing outwards. He then looked back at Guy, gaze expectant.
"Wh... what?" Guy managed, eyes widening. He received no answer, and his brows furrowed. He really had lost all his memories, then. "... It's... the sky, Luke."
Luke blinked at him. He felt the distinct impression that he'd been talking to a brick wall, and tried to move away. The younger boy's grip was surprisingly firm, though, and he held fast, tugging him forward instead, and Guy had to catch himself before he fell flat on the bed. He was halfway through a protest that servants should not be on the master's bed when he noticed that the boy was pointing again.
"... That?" Guy frowned, finally submitting and sitting on the very edge of the bed, in case he had to jump up in a hurry. He caught sight of something soaring beneath the clouds. "That's a bird."
Luke moved his lips, trying to mimic it, but he hadn't yet learned to make the sounds required to actually speak. Briefly Guy thought how a good twist of the arm could force him to make some sort of sound, then was unsettled by the sudden shame the thought provoked. But Luke was like an infant now; he might have been able to kill him in a few years, when he changed from a curious, occasionally tolerable brat to a know-it-all who took after his father - and he would have, he surely would have - but like this? No. He may as well have slit the boy's throat on the day they'd first met.
He wanted to kill Luke fon Fabre, there was no mistaking it. But he had no particular desire to die immediately afterwards, and he would keep his honour and get his revenge.
Again the boy pointed, and he held back a sigh. "You know, you should wait until you can say stuff before you learn what everything is... I'll just have to teach you a-" He was forced to stop a third time, when Luke's hand lifted to cover his mouth. "Mmph."
Luke gave him a stern look, as if to say 'One at a time!' and lifted his fingers free. This time Guy did sigh. "Cloud." Point. "Tree." Point. "Grass." Point. "Window." Point. "Curtains." Point. "Luke..."
Luke pouted in response, probably without even knowing he was pouting. He pointed once more, very firmly, finger poking right at Guy's chest.
"... Servant," Guy whispered, eyes lowering. Luke didn't move his hand, patting his chest insistently. Swallowing hard, he tried again. "Shirt? No...? Um... chest. Person? Man-"
The boy made a faint, frustrated noise and lifted his hand, and poked him. Everywhere he could reach, within a few seconds. Guy couldn't help but squirm, crawling further onto the bed to avoid the assault. "H-hey! Cut that out! Okay, okay, I'm Guy!"
Luke suddenly smiled, and to his surprise - and some horror - Guy realized the tickling had made him smile, which the younger boy had managed to emulate. He then mouthed something, and it took Guy a moment for the fact to occur to him that it was his name.
It was almost enough to make him walk out then and there. The kid should've been trying to talk to his parents. He should've been clinging and crying for mommy (he'd done that with Pere in St. Binah, when the shock had finally given way to tears, when there'd been time enough to breathe and cry and mourn for all that he'd lost). There was no reason to try and learn the name of a lowly servant, just because he'd been appointed as caregiver. Just because they were so close in age, and he wasn't as frightening as the adults...
He caught the pleading look in the eyes of the enemy, the confusion and the pain and the pure need. This boy knew nothing. He couldn't speak, or read, or write, or understand a thing. He was a newborn in the body of a ten-year-old, and he was trusting Guy to show him the world.
Guy felt a faint, ironic smile cross his lips. Out of everyone, you pick the one who's going to kill you some day. You really are an idiot, aren't you...
Luke tried to say it again, so Guy shrugged his shoulders, leaning forward a little, giving him a better view of his mouth. "You need to move your mouth like this. G. 'Gah'. Say it, come on. 'Gaaah'."
"... Nn... g..."
"I know, it's tough. But you picked it, so follow through. 'G'. 'Gaaaah'."
".... G... g-guh.... gah..."
"There you go. Add the end. 'Y'. It's like. Uh... 'Eee'."
"..... Eee...?"
"Heh, that one's easy." Guy leaned back again, rocking slightly on his knees. "Put it together now. 'Guy'. 'Gah-Ee'."
"... g... gah-ee..."
"Gah-ee."
"... Gaah-ee."
"Say it faster!" Guy urged. "Guy."
"... Gah-ee. Gahee. ....Gaee."
Luke's expression was growing more and more frustrated with each failure. Guy half-expected an outburst or tears, and urged, "Try again. It's not that hard, so even an idiot could do it."
"... Ga... Guy." Luke blinked. So did Guy. "... Guy. Guy!"
His smile returned, and Guy nodded his approval. "That's right. That's exactly it."
"Guy! Guy. Guuuuuy~"
... Dear Yulia, what have I done. Without thinking, he reached out and clapped a hand over Luke's mouth, lifting a finger to his lips for silence. Luke halted instantly, eyes wide in surprise. "You have a long way to go," Guy said quietly, waiting a moment before lowering his hand, reaching up to ruffle the boy's hair, "But I guess it's a good start. How about we try for your mom and dad, alright?"
Luke blinked, that same, curious expression on his face. He smiled, and Guy honestly - though reluctantly - believed it was the most genuine smile he'd ever seen in his life.
Suddenly, it wasn't so bad to be the one looking after him.