Ghost on a Stage, chapter 3
Title: Ghost On A Stage
Word Count: 7,635
Summary: "For years, I'd promised to work together with Van to get revenge on the Duke. If I'd taken a slightly different path somewhere, I might have been on their side."
Warning/Pairing/Extra: None this chapter!
Notes: I finally managed to pull this off, D: Oh man, it's been forever. This is sort of like a series of stories, really, but I hope it flows well enough.
This chapter was written for iolites, whose birthday is today, :3
Chapter I: Today's Lesson
Chapter II: And You Were Beside Me
----
Ghost On A Stage
Chapter III: Slipping Through My Fingers
----
We are just children understand
We're two in a million the precious grains of sand
We slip through the fingers dancing on the wind
We find each other
----
"Master Luke... Master Luke, wait...!"
The small, red-haired child, no older than six, paused in mid step, curving his head over his shoulder, pouting at his servant, who'd been running after him for more than half the length of the house. "I want to see who's here!"
Guy practically flew past him and spun around, blocking off the entrance to the drawing room of Fabre Manor. "His Grace... said you weren't supposed to barge in," he managed breathlessly, having barely made it in time. "Just wait to be introduced if that's what he wants, okay?"
Luke's pout shifted to a glare. As the years passed, he'd become more and more unmanageable, something Guy had found disconcerting, in the least. "Move aside, Guy."
Guy winced. "I would, but His Grace also said I was not to let you interfere while the interview is-"
"Move," Luke repeated, patience fading fast, "Or I'll call the maid."
Guy's face paled. "M-Master Luke..."
"Mara!"
Within a few moments, a somewhat elderly, bemused-looking maid shuffled in, idly smoothing down her skirt. "Yes, Master Luke?"
The boy pointed at his mortified attendant. "He won't move."
Mara glanced between the two, taking in the situation, then smiled patiently and replied, "His Grace and Her Ladyship said you might want to listen in. We're not to let you, though. It's ungentlemanly."
Guy relaxed at her words, but it didn't last - a scant second later a spiky red head tackled him right in the gut, knocking him into the door and forcing the breath out of his lungs. He scarcely had a moment to recover when the door opened, sending them both tumbling to a heap on the floor.
"Luke," a sharp, scolding voice came from above, and both Guy and Luke lifted their heads to see Duke Fabre glaring down at them. Guy scrambled to pull Luke to his feet, muttering a hasty apology, and grasped the boy's hand, intent on leaving the room. He halted, however, when Fabre spoke again. "We've hired a new gardener. When we are done, I want you to escort him to your room, Guy, where he will be staying."
Guy blinked at that. Yu had left only a few days before - he'd gotten married, and wanted to live in a house of his own, much to Guy's displeasure - and already his bed was taken? Clearly Duke Fabre disliked the idea of wasted space. "Yes Your Grace," he answered dutifully, then added, with a flash of reckless curiousity, "But what about-"
"I will deal with Luke."
Luke's hand tightened around Guy's for a second, then, as if nothing had happened, he let go, hurrying over to sit with his mother at the table, while Guy followed him with his eyes. Lady Fabre smiled, lifting a hand to brush affectionately through Luke's hair. She looked up and offered another smile to Guy; he reddened and waved to her, but a scant second later he froze, noticing the other residing within the room.
His hair had more grey, and there were a few extra wrinkles on his cheeks, but it looked like...
It looked like...!
He tried to catch the man's eyes, searching for some sign of recognition, but the elder was avoiding him, speaking in gentle tones with Lady Fabre.
"Guy." He jumped, startled, and looked up at the sudden voice behind him. Duke Fabre was giving him an odd look. "You are dismissed."
"Oh, wait just a moment, dear heart," Lady Fabre murmured from the couch, still stroking the hair of a somewhat embarrassed Luke. "We're just about finished here, so perhaps you could take our new employee with you?"
Guy nodded numbly, waiting while the old man rose to his feet and bowed to the duke and lady, then turned and led the way out of the room. He felt their eyes on his back as he left, and very firmly ignored it.
It couldn't be. He would have said something.
It was a silent journey, neither speaking nor even daring to make eye contact. Guy didn't know the elder man's reasoning, but he himself was too disappointed to attempt to glance back. He'd wanted a familiar face so badly that surely he had imagined it.
He felt a sharp pang in his chest, a longing he'd tried to dismiss years before, and felt a sudden, irrepressible need to see - and subsequently care for - Luke. A habit he would have found hard to break, if the need ever arose.
"This is it," he mumbled, pushing open the door and leading the man inside. He motioned to the bed across the room from his own. "That's Yu- ... your bed."
He heard the door close behind them, then the faint rustle of clothes moving as the man approached. Then, the sound of the man kneeling, and a soft voice at his back.
"I am so relieved to have found you at last, Master Gailardia..."
Guy went still, eyes wide, almost stricken with his sudden surprise. It was. It was.
"Pere!" he cried, whirling around and throwing himself at the old soldier, clinging to his neck with all his strength. Pere did nothing for a moment, and then carefully reached out to hold him, patting his back in an attempt to soothe him. "Pere, Pere, you came...!"
"Of course I did," Pere murmured gently, lifting him up to sit the child in his lap, letting him cry. "I said I would. My one regret is that I did not reach you in time..."
Guy shuddered, burying his face against Pere's shirt. "I-it's okay... it's okay...! I... d-don't mind it here... I just..." His words tapered off into sobs, incoherent for a moment until he regained control. "I missed e-everyone... so much...!"
Pere's hands went still at his back, and it was a long time before his former guard responded. "Master Gailardia... I... your family..."
Guy sniffled softly, drawing back to gaze up at the old man, his expression a mixture of hope and desperation. "Have you come to take me home, Pere? You found Mother and Father, right? A-and they want me back...?"
"... Master..." Pere swallowed hard, placing his hands on Guy's shoulders. Guy didn't like that. Pere was supposed to smile, to take his hand and tell him that Mother and Father were waiting with Mary and Vandesdelca, and he was going to their new home in Rugnica, just as they'd promised. Pere was supposed to lead him out and let him hug Luke goodbye and promise to visit all the time and tuck him in at night and play but not tonight or tomorrow because he was going home...
Pere didn't do any of that.
Instead, Pere told him what happened to Hod. Pere told him about Mother and Father and Mary. Pere told him Vandesdelca was missing, probably dead.
Pere told him they could go anywhere in the world that he wanted, but they couldn't go home.
Guy found it hard to keep breathing.
He'd already known.
---
He wanted to stay at Fabre Manor.
That was the first decision he made, when he finally stopped pouring his grief into the pillow, Pere at his side rubbing soothingly at his back - occasionally at the door offering excuses to the concerned maids and, more often, the very frustrated Luke. From the bed he could hear the boy's demands to know just what had made Guy so sick, and that he should hurry up and get better so they could go play.
It wasn't until Luke's tenth visit that Guy realized he wanted to stay. Or rather, if given the choice between remaining here and finding another home for himself... well, there was little choice. He'd promised Luke, after all.
So with reddened eyes and stumbling steps he'd made his way to the door, wiped aside the remnants of his tears, and nudged his way past Pere to take Luke's hand and let the younger boy drag him off, indulging the flurry of questions with a tiny smile.
That was the first day he falsified a smile for Luke's sake. It was not the last.
"Why were you crying, Guy?" Luke asked, his tone a mixture of curiousity and genuine concern, though his expression made it clear he wouldn't take any excuses. "Did you get hurt?" His eyes narrowed, fingers tightening around his attendant's. "Was it that old guy? Tell me if it was, okay? Father will fire him if I say so."
Guy doubted that, but didn't say as much. Instead he smiled again, gave Luke's hand a squeeze, and told him that no, it wasn't Pere, and no, he wasn't hurt. Not really. Not in a sense that Luke would understand.
Luke realized he was lying anyway, and gave him a hug around the waist, mumbling something about being stupid and a liar and very, very lucky that he was Guy and thus loved no matter what he did.
An unexpected gift, that. But then, Luke was good at surprising him.
---
"Guy!"
The surprises came daily for some time after that, it seemed - sometimes in the form of the young master's games, or permission to sleep in for a day or two, or a tiny cake with supper from the maids, who giggled when he blushed and thanked them - but the most prominent in his mind was the day Luke bounded over to him, distracting him from sweeping the path up to his charge's room, and held out a small green box, looking outrageously proud of himself. "Guy, look what I got!"
Guy blinked at him, hesitating a moment, then took the box when Luke prodded it into his hand, setting aside the broom. "Master Luke, what...?"
"Just open it!" Luke demanded, arms crossed impatiently.
He looked as if he were about to explode, so Guy lifted a brow and indulged him. ".... Luke..."
"You better like it," the boy muttered, scowling. "I had it made specially for you. It'll fit, too - I checked one of your shirts."
"... How elaborate," Guy mumbled musingly, reaching in and lifting the item from the box. A choker. Simple and lightweight, though the pendant probably had a decent mix of gold and was thus expensive, it would have made a lovely accessory if not for the fact that it looked disturbingly like an animal's collar. "... Um..."
"Look at the back!" Luke urged, rocking back and forth on his heels. He sounded far too eager to be reassuring, but after a moment Guy reluctantly obeyed. Scrawled in nearly engraved script, the text of Ancient Ispanian, was his name, followed closely by the ancient word for 'mine'.
...Wait, what?
"Luke," Guy managed, hesitantly holding it out to his charge, looking somewhat strained, "What in the world...?"
Luke responded with a bored expression, clearly not impressed. "So nobody makes the mistake of thinking you're anyone else's servant. You're not Mother's, or Father's, or any of the maids'. Nobody can hurt you or make you cry. Nobody."
Guy couldn't help it; he stared at the younger boy, stunned. He didn't move for so long that Luke grew impatient and took the collar from his hand, pulling on his arm to drag him to his knees, and leaned in to attach the clasp around Guy's neck himself.
He remained close for a moment, his eyes more serious than Guy had ever seen. "You're mine," he whispered, resting his forehead against the blond's, hands still resting on his neck. "I'll punish anyone who tries to take you away from me."
Guy didn't know what to say to that. But no one was watching them - Luke had been very careful about his timing - so he surrendered to his initial urge and wrapped his arms around the boy, drawing him close into what he hoped was a grateful embrace.
"You're a brat," he murmured, resting his chin in that mane of red hair. "I'm not your pet..."
"Shut up," Luke grumbled, hands clenching in the fabric of his shirt. "You're whatever I say you are."
Because I'm yours, Guy thought inwardly, eyes closing, if only for a moment.
Because you're mine.
He knew at that moment he would wear that collar with pride for the rest of his life.
---
They went to Belkend a week later, a business trip and vacation, both. Luke's mother had an appointment with the doctor at the research facility, and for the sake of convenience, Luke and the princess Natalia would meet with him as well. Guy was to go with them as an attendant, of course, and to keep them occupied while Duke and Lady Fabre were busy.
It was the first time he'd been away from Pere since their reunion. Thus it was one of the hardest things he'd ever done.
Luke gave him a good enough distraction, however, so he poured himself into that, as usual. Coupled with the kind but strong-willed young princess, they were definitely a force to be reckoned with.
"Belkend is Father's territory," Luke was saying as Guy tuned back into the conversation, following the children down the city streets.
"Everyone knows that," Natalia responded, a hint of hauteur in her voice.
"Guy doesn't!" Luke tossed back, frowning. "I hadn't told him yet!"
Guy didn't bother to correct him. "I like it here," he said instead, eyes wandering. "All the machines-"
"Bo-ring," Luke muttered, then dashed back and grabbed Guy by the wrist, pulling him over to walk beside he and Natalia. "Quit falling behind, Guy! You'll get lost or something."
"I'm not that far behind you," Guy protested, eyes widening a little as they drew closer to Natalia. "... Gah!"
Natalia looked annoyed for a moment, but side-stepped to walk on the other side of Luke. "Why are still afraid of me, Guy?"
"I've always been afraid of women, Your Majesty..." Guy reminded her a little nervously, wary of angering her. Thankfully she merely sniffed at the air and turned away again. He couldn't tell if she was angry or hurt by it.
There was an uncomfortable silence, broken a few moments later when Luke announced, "I don't want to see the doctor!" He said it as if it were a great, secret proclamation. "Let's go play somewhere."
"Do you want to get me fired?" Guy smiled wanly. He only resisted a little as the redhead pulled him forward again, waving for Natalia to follow.
Luke pouted at his protest. "Mother wouldn't let you get fired. She likes you too much."
"It's not your mother I'm worried about."
"Well, fine," the boy grumbled, shooting Natalia a look. "Come on, help me."
Natalia looked clearly unimpressed. "You know I can't touch him-" She stopped then, catching sight of Luke's feral grin. "... Oh."
A scant second later, anyone who was to peer out the door of their home would see a young blond rushing down the streets, shrieking, with a pretty girl and a laughing redhead close on his heels.
---
"That was unfair!"
"Stop complaining," Luke replied cheekily, watching Guy glare sullenly down at them from the catwalk on the east side of the laboratory. The game ended when he'd managed to climb up out of reach. "You had fun, didn't you?"
"Oh, is that what you think my phobia is?" Guy muttered.
Luke shrugged. "Well, we had fun. And we still have time before our appointment, so come down already."
Guy gave him a slightly suspicious look. "I thought you didn't want to see the doctor."
The younger boy gave him a look. "Of course I don't. But Father is expecting us, and our health has to be good. If we're gonna run Kimlasca we can't be sick all the time, right?"
"Luke was paying attention to our fathers," Natalia said seriously, hands clasped behind her back.
Sighing faintly, Guy slid back down the railing, dusting himself off and shooing them towards the alleyway exit. "Alright, alright, let's go, before you get me into trouble. I may not get fired, but that's not the only thing that can happen."
He guided them down the street towards the laboratory, allowing the men within to usher them inside to the office. Guy was dismissed and sent off to wait by the entrance, but after two hours he grew bored of that and left to wander the area. Duke Fabre and Lady Susanne, he learned, had already departed to visit the governor, and would be expecting them for dinner.
He'd only worked his way through two of the hallways when he caught the familiar sound of protests, and as he went a little further, he recognized the voice. "Luke!" he called, taking off at a run and ignoring the nearby scientists' yelling for him to walk properly. Clearly Luke was in danger, and needed his help.
He found Luke in the fourth corridor, an elderly scientist holding him by the arm. The boy was twisting and snapping, spouting demands and threats involving his father and the king. As soon as he spotted Guy, he brightened, eyes demanding his servant's support. "Guy! You came!"
The old man frowned at them both, adjusting his glasses and narrowly avoiding Luke's kick. "It's just a few tests, young master-"
"No!" Luke snapped, jerking his arm in another attempt to get free. "My father is expecting me! Let go! Guy!"
Guy was already moving. In a flash of motion he slammed into the scientist, forcing him to stagger backwards. As a child, he didn't have much body weight, but it was enough to make the old man release his hold on Luke. The boy was scrambling away at once, and Guy shoved away from the scientist and hurried after him, taking his hand without a second thought and dragging him out of the room, straight towards the doctor's office. If the doctor was a safe haven, it was the best place to be - if not, then Natalia would need rescuing as well.
The found both Natalia and the doctor in the second room of the office. Natalia was in the middle of her examination and thus, much to their horror, in her underwear. A scant second later she was shrieking.
And that was how they arrived at the governor's house less than ten minutes later - breathless, frightened, with the young princess sobbing in naught but a thin gown.
---
There had been anger and some threats on Duke Fabre's part; suffice to say he hadn't been pleased to have his meeting interrupted by his rambling son and distraught future queen. Luke had spared Guy any punishment for bursting into the governor's manor by explaining the issue, and within moments the Belkend guards had marched off to retrieve the scientist and, at Lady Fabre's request, poor Natalia's clothes. The duke's wife ushered them all into the next room, finding a small overcoat for Natalia to wear and sitting on the couch with her to try and calm her down. Luke climbed up beside his mother and ranted about the 'stupid old man' and that his father would punish him for what had happened. Susanne tried stroking his hair, but it only seemed to add to his irritation.
"Guy, did he hurt you?" she asked their young servant instead, her voice gentle and concerned. Luke's interest shifted away from his anger as he followed her gaze.
From across the room, Guy blinked, scratching the back of his head. "I'm fine, milady. I'm just glad I found him."
"As are we." Susanne smiled, making him blush. After a moment, Luke pushed out of his seat, giving Natalia's hair a small ruffle - his own attempted reassurance, though it only served to make her pout - and trotted over to where Guy was sitting, giving him a good once-over to make sure he wasn't lying. Once he was satisfied, he climbed into the chair with him, ignoring protocol and settling himself in Guy's lap to wait for his father's return. There was a great deal of noise going on in the neighbouring room.
Not long after it grew quiet, the door opened, and Fabre stepped in, looking tired and displeased. Without a word he handed a set of clothes to Susanne, who set about helping Natalia get dressed. Having her clothes back mollified the young princess somewhat, and she settled down to watch as Duke Fabre turned to face his son and servant.
Much to the surprise of all, Duke Fabre didn't protest Luke's position. He studied them for a moment, as if debating, then sighed quietly, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features. "... You saved my son, Guy," he said seriously, after a pause. "I will not forget this."
Guy gave him a brief, cautious look, then lowered his eyes. "Yes, Your Grace."
Luke gave him a curious look, then slowly slid off his lap to stand in front of him. "Father," he called quietly, "Is that man gone?"
Duke Fabre nodded. "Yes, Luke. He has fled, but our soldier will find him. He will not be permitted in Belkend again."
His son fidgeted, then nodded slowly. "Okay. ... Can we go home now?"
"Tomorrow morning," the duke responded, glancing over at his wife, who nodded. "We will be spending the night here in Governor Viridian's manor, and departing on the first ferry headed for Baticul. ... Don't pout, Luke."
"I'm not pouting," Luke mumbled. He was, rather obviously, pouting.
Duke Fabre paused for a moment, then leaned down, placing his hands on the child's shoulders. "Luke, I swear to you." he murmured, "No one in Belkend will ever harm you again."
Luke gave his father a dubious look. "You promise?" His voice had an odd tone to it, Guy noticed, but said nothing.
Fabre apparently didn't notice, his expression deadly serious. "I promise."
There was another long silence. Then, without a word, Luke slid out of the chair and Guy's lap, reaching back to pull his servant's hand, guiding him out of the room, ignoring Susanne's soft call. After a moment, Natalia wriggled free of the duchess's embrace and hurried after them.
"Luke! Luke, wait!" she called, scurrying along behind until she caught up to them, reaching out and snagging Luke's free hand. "Why did you go? Isn't it good that your father-"
"I don't know," Luke muttered, speeding up his pace. He didn't notice Guy still watching him curiously. "Go back to Mother, Natalia."
"... I'd rather be with you," she sniffed, lips pursed into a frown. After a long silence she let it fade, tugging on his hand lightly. "Belkend is nice as long as we don't go to that scary building, right? We should come back someday."
"Someday?" Luke echoed, sounding as though it was the last thing he wanted.
"When we're older," Natalia quickly amended. "When you can tell grownups 'no' and they'll have to listen. Then nothing bad will happen, right?"
Luke paused, then halted, releasing Guy's hand to face her. Guy stopped in mid-step, glancing back to watch as Luke regarded his cousin. "You really want to come back here?"
Natalia looked delighted. "Of course! Whenever you like, as long as we go together!" She clapped her hands delicately. "Your father will protect you, won't he? And you can protect me."
Luke was silent. His expression made Guy uncomfortable, and he started to reach out to the boy, but Natalia beat him to it.
She took his hand, curving her pinky around his, and beamed. "It's a promise, right, Luke?"
His eyes slowly wandered down to where their fingers were joined. Then without warning he pulled his hand back, startling her.
"Promises are stupid," he murmured, "Just like pinky-swearing. Father won't protect me - he promised, and he never keeps his promises."
"L-Luke..." Natalia whispered, watching him with a pained expression.
"I don't want to come back here," Luke finished, and without another word he grabbed Guy by the wrist and pulled him down the road, away from Natalia, the manor, and most of all the lab he had learned that very day to hate.
Guy didn't know how to tell him that promises weren't made to be broken - sometimes life was just that cruel.
---
A few days after Luke's seventh birthday, the boy surprised Guy with some curious news.
"I'm getting married," he announced.
Guy blinked, then lifted a brow, setting aside the china dish he'd been dusting to face his young charge. "Say what?"
"I said," Luke replied, tone glazed with irritation, "I'm getting married. It's her fault." He pointed emphatically to one of the windows providing a view of the courtyard, where Natalia was speaking animatedly with Lady Fabre.
"Princess Natalia? You're marrying Princess Natalia...?" Guy murmured, staring out at them for a long moment. Luke tapped his foot impatiently, so he turned back to the boy. "Ah... congratulations, Master Luke."
"I guess so," Luke muttered. "You don't sound any happier than I am."
His servant shrugged his shoulders, expression carefully contained. He'd been getting good at that over the past few years, so much that hardly anyone noticed. Besides Pere, of course, but Pere noticed everything. "Only because you aren't. I thought you liked Natalia."
"I do like Natalia!" Luke retorted, eyes widening. "That's not- I mean-" Catching sight of Guy's knowing expression, he gave up. "... Father and Uncle said it, anyway. Father doesn't really want to be king, so if I marry Natalia..."
"King Luke?" Guy smiled faintly, picking up another plate and going back to work. "That's a lot of work."
"I can do it," Luke replied stubbornly. "I know a lot about Kimlasca - I even showed Natalia around Baticul!" Guy refrained from pointing out that he'd come along with the guards as escort and attendant on their little excursions to the lower levels to see the people they were to rule over. "It's just... kind of..."
"Scary?" Guy supplied, in a gentler tone. Luke very nearly protested again, then averted his eyes and nodded. There was no hiding from Guy, after all. "It's okay to be scared, Luke. It's a big job, and you're too little to be worrying about it now. I bet you'll be a great king."
"... Think so?" Luke whispered.
He looked so silly like that, such a far cry from the strong and confident Luke he knew, that Guy had to laugh, ruffling his hair and offering a reassuring smile when the boy pouted up at him. "I know so," he replied, nodding with such certainty that Luke had to smile back. "I trust you, so... trust yourself, okay?"
Luke nodded slowly, quiet for a moment, then without warning lunged forward to wrap his arms around Guy's waist. Guy almost laughed again, but the way the boy held him made him stop, and because of that he was able to hear Luke whisper, "You'll come too. You're my servant, so Father will let me take you to the castle when I go to live there. And... we won't have to hide that we're friends anymore."
"...." Guy swallowed hard. For the first time he didn't glance around to see if anyone was watching before he reached down to hold his friend back. "I'd like that," he murmured.
"Good," Luke finally grinned, "Because you don't get to pick. I don't want anyone else. You, me, and Natalia... we'll change the world."
It was a curious way of saying it, Guy couldn't help but think. But Luke pulled away from him and wandered off before he could comment, so he shrugged it aside and went back to his chores.
---
Life at Fabre Manor continued much the same way as always, it seemed. Guy learned about the world by sitting in on Luke's lessons, as well as Pere's own instruction while they were in the privacy of their own room. Shortly after the elderly guardian's arrival, he'd begun to teach Guy the Sigmund style of swordsmanship in secret, as all men if Gardios were to learn. Everything else he found out for himself through careful observation and eavesdropping. He didn't consider it to be spying - it was for his own education, after all.
Very little happened out of the ordinary until shortly after Luke turned eight, when the renowned Commandant of the Oracle Knights paid a visit to the manor to see Luke, of all people.
He spoke with Duke Fabre first, of course, but obviously Luke's father approved of the visit, for Luke was summoned to the drawing room not long afterwards. As his chore for the day had been to keep Luke occupied, Guy wandered off to the garden to chat with Pere while he waited for his charge to return.
He was in mid-sentence when, about half an hour later, the door opened and Luke led the Oracle Knight's leader into the courtyard. And everything seemed to freeze for him then and there, because it was Van.
Older, of course, but there was no mistaking him. The vision of Van's last smile had been one of those rare memories of Hod that seemed as if it would survive anything, any passage of time or loss of recollection. Vandesdelca was alive, and he was here.
"Pere!" he hissed, eyes startled wide, as he spun to grip his guardian's arm. "It's-!"
"I know, Master Gailardia," Pere murmured, without looking up from the flowers he was tending. "I saw him in the entrance hall when he arrived. I don't believe he recognized me. You, however, he will certainly know. I think it is best we keep quiet about that, as he seems to have changed his name."
"He what?" Guy asked, surprised yet again, but before Pere could explain further, Luke was calling.
"Guy!" Guy turned back to Luke as the boy hurried towards him, hand lifted and a broad grin on his lips. His gaze shifted to the man following at a more leisurely pace behind him, and saw the way Van's step paused just the slightest amount, the way his brows lifted and his eyes widened before he recovered himself. It took scarcely a moment, but Guy saw it all.
"Guy," Luke said again, demanding his servant's attention, "This is Dorian General Van Grants, leader of the Oracle Knights. He's going to teach me to fight!"
The child looked as if he was going to burst at the seams with pride. Guy couldn't seem to take his eyes off Van. "... I..."
"A pleasure to meet you," Van spoke for him, offering out a hand and a calm smile. "And you are...?"
It took Guy a moment to snap out of it, and he managed to force out as he grasped the Commandant's hand, "G... Guy Cecil, sir."
Luke prodded him in the ribs. "You're pretty impressed, huh?"
"... You could say that..." Guy could find no words to describe what he was feeling, nor would it be prudent to do so. Van Grants? Where had that come from? Van seemed to both recognize and approve of his own alias. He shook off his astonishment and released Van's hand, feeling embarrassed by how tightly he'd been holding it.
There was an awkward silence, and then suddenly Pere stepped up behind them, lightly touching Guy's arm. "Begging your pardon, Guy," he said gently, "But I need an extra hand carrying some supplies back from the market. Would you mind coming with me?"
Guy swallowed hard, a little reluctant to go. What was Pere doing? "I guess so..."
Pere smiled his approval, glancing up at Van. "Please excuse the interruption, General. Perhaps we shall see you when we return?"
Van was quiet for a moment, studying him. "Unlikely," he finally responded. "As this is merely a warm-up lesson, it won't last long." Luke looked disappointed, but no one commented on it. "I will be returning to my room when we're finished. Duke Fabre has generously covered my reservation at The Majesty Hotel."
"I see," Pere nodded. "Another time, perhaps."
Guy blinked, sending Van one final glance as he followed Pere away from the courtyard. It seemed they would not be visiting the market after all.
---
His restraint seemed to dissolve the moment they were out of earshot from the White Knights guarding the manor entrance. They had barely made it to the lift when he burst out, "Van's alive!"
Pere chuckled softly. "Yes, he is. And taking an interest in Master Luke as well, it seems."
Guy grinned, peering over the edge of the lift as it began to lower itself into the city below. "He's just as excited as I am. If Van's teaching Luke, that means he'll be coming back here all the time!"
The old man nodded again. "Yes, but you must be cautious. I don't think it's wise to show that you know one another."
Guy fell silent for a long moment. "Not even to Luke, huh...?"
"... No. Not even to Luke."
A bit of the euphoria faded, but Guy managed to rediscover his smile. "We're going to see him, though, aren't we? So it's okay. As long as we can talk sometimes, I'll manage."
At that, Pere smiled, once again patting his arm. "I knew you would be strong enough for this," he murmured.
Guy reddened faintly, and didn't respond.
They wound up going to the market anyway, picking up a few frivolous supplies to waste time. Once an hour had passed, they returned to the secondary level of the city to seek out the commandant. The hotel concierge directed them to the appropriate room, and it was very difficult for Guy not to take off running right to the door.
As soon as the door opened - after a moment of rather ungentlemanly pounding - Guy lunged forward, tackling his former servant around the waist. He didn't care if he was a teenager now and was probably old enough to know better. He didn't care if the one he was pouncing was a soldier and a high-ranking leader in Daath and not an 11-year-old boy. He didn't care about anything else but this.
This was Van, and he'd been sorely missed. Words could not - and could never - describe the wondrous feeling of having the one who had always been his hero in his life once more. He heard Van chuckle, felt an arm lift to wrap around his shoulders. It was reassuring, in so many ways, and he could feel his throat constrict; he'd had no way of knowing if Van had changed. But with this, he knew he wasn't going to be rejected.
"I missed you," he murmured. No greater truth had ever been spoken. I needed you like I needed my family.
You -are- part of my family...
"I didn't know you were alive," Van confessed, absently brushing a hand through Guy's hair. "I would have come earlier if I had. But why here, Gailardia? Why with Duke Fabre?"
Guy lifted himself up reluctantly to meet Van's eyes. He heard Pere slip into the room and close the door behind him. "I was brought here from Hod. He said I had to go with him or they'd kill me."
Van's brows furrowed, studying him. "Strange," he replied after a moment. "Duke Fabre initiated the attack on Hod. He was responsible for the deaths of House Gardios. Why would he save the-"
And he stopped there, because Guy was staring at him in sheer horror.
"... He... did what...?" he whispered, beginning to tremble. His gaze shifted to Pere.
The old guardian bowed his head slightly. "My apologies, Master Gailardia. You were so distraught at the time, yet so attached to Master Luke... I felt it was unwise to say..."
"It was," Guy managed somehow, fighting to suppress his shaking. Suddenly, inexplicably, he felt a wave of resentment. Fabre hadn't exactly been kind, but his attitude had at least seemed merciful. He'd been half-grateful to live, even as a servant in a foreign land.
Was it really merciful to spare a child after murdering his parents?
"He... killed Mother and Father," he whispered, dragging himself away from Van, hands clenching into fists. "All this time, and he never... he killed them..."
Pere and Van exchanged a glance. "I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news," Van said quietly.
Guy merely shook his head. "Just the truth," he replied, with effort. "I... I don't know what this changes. I can't leave Luke..."
"You must not force yourself, Master Gailardia," Pere warned gently. "Doing that will only cause you harm and more heartache. If you show any ill will towards the duke, it is likely that he will dismiss you."
"Ill will?" Guy echoed. It took a moment for him to realize what Pere was referring to. "You mean like... revenge...?"
Pere didn't even blink. "If you wish it."
Did he? It was a difficult question. He'd always seen Duke Fabre as a cold man, and a thief - his father's sword was still hanging in the foyer, taunting him day by day - but a murderer?
"Back in Hod..." he whispered.
"Duke Fabre gained victory over House Gardios on the first day of his invasion," Van supplied. "The soldiers of Malkuth lost a great deal of resolve when the head of Hod's ruling nobleman was presented to King Ingobert. Hod did not last long after that."
Guy felt cold.
He knew what that meant.
Swallowing back a cry of outrage, Guy shifted his gaze to Van. "What should I do...?"
Van smiled faintly, but offered no real answer. "You should do whatever you can, Gailardia. More importantly, what would make you happy?"
My family, alive and safe, he didn't say. They all knew what he wanted most.
Dreams were only dreams because they were unattainable, weren't they.
... I hate this... all of it.
"Do what I can..." he echoed quietly, eyes lowered. After a moment, he looked up again. "I can't do anything to him. Even if I-" Even if I wanted to. ... Even if I -do-want to. "... He's Luke's father. It would be too cruel. If I killed him, we couldn't be friends anymore..."
"As I said, Master Gailardia," Pere murmured, "Whatever you decide, I shall follow." Guy glanced back at Van, who nodded his agreement.
"I want to think about this," he said, shuffling from side to side nervously until he forced himself to stop. "It... changes a lot."
"No doubt it is difficult for you," Van touched his shoulder, squeezing lightly. For whatever reason, Guy felt more comforted by that single touch than anything they could have said or done for him. "Give yourself all the time you need. I will be in Baticul for two weeks, and after that I will return when I can to train Luke. We may have to be careful about it, but I swear to you, Gailardia - you will not be ignored."
Guy reddened a little, scuffing a finger beneath his nose to conceal a shy smile. Seeking a distraction, he changed the subject. "Why did you offer to train Luke like this?"
Van lifted a brow, his expression revealing nothing. "Various reasons. They have nothing to do with this."
Guy was tempted to press for it, but he'd learned long ago that adults rarely said more than they had to about touchy subjects. And Van, much to his dismay, had become an adult. He even had a beard.
"Does it bother you that I'm friends with Luke now?" he mumbled instead. "We're still friends, right?"
At that, Van laughed. It was much deeper than he remembered, obviously, but it was still a pleasant sound, not mocking or unkind in any way. "Master Gailardia," he replied, his tone just as soothing as the laugh still lingering in his voice, "I will be your friend for as long as you will have me. Our paths have not crossed again without reason."
And despite everything, despite his newfound anger and resentment and unbearable grief, despite his fear that Luke would see him and know, Guy was able to smile at that, indulging himself in Van's comforting embrace.
Years had passed, lives had changed.
But his Vandesdelca was still there, still with him, and Vandesdelca would always come for him when he called.
---
Luke was waiting for him when they returned to the manor several hours later. He'd toyed with the idea of ignoring the other boy, perhaps giving himself some time to think about what he'd just learned, but as usual, he wasn't given the opportunity. His charge greeted him in the hallway closest to his room, pestering him with a myriad of questions about what he'd done and where he'd gone that had taken so long. The reunion with Van had left Guy emotionally drained, and it took a great deal of effort to come up with a decent answer, even with Pere's help. Luke was suspicious anyway - he really was too smart for his own good - but he was apparently in a merciful mood and left the issue well enough alone.
It was lucky for him that he did, too - Guy hated lying to Luke, and he knew he could never tell his friend that he couldn't get Pere's words out of his mind.
Revenge? Would that change anything? Would it make anything better? Or would he merely bring himself and those around him misery?
It would take a great deal of thought. Unfortunately more than one of those thoughts involved Luke's demise, and that... that was simply not tolerable.
So what am I supposed to do? I don't want to kill anyone... but...
The memory of the sword on the wall persisted, planting a seed of anger deep in his heart. And the thought of his employer coldly removing his father's head-
The dagger twisted, rage coiling like a snake itching to strike, and he hated it. He hated it so much.
I don't like this feeling.
---
It stormed that night, thunder and lightning tearing through the sky and pouring down the rain in buckets. It took some time for Guy to fall asleep, between the noise outside and the internal conflict now working its way through his heart on a constant basis. It irked him, and he dozed off with a tight frown on his lips.
He awoke in the middle of the night as he felt something small climb into the bed with him, a young, slender body curling up against his side. He blinked, glancing down, and caught sight of cool green eyes watching him.
"Um... Luke...?"
"Don't complain," the eight-year old muttered, his expression challenging. "I can be here if I want."
Guy didn't complain. But he did question; Luke wasn't the sort to just cuddle for no reason whatsoever. And he didn't sound like he was in a particularly happy mood. "I know that, but... why...?"
Luke's eyes narrowed, then averted. "Father locks his door at night. He thinks I'm old enough to be able to sleep alone."
"... And...?"
"... And I'm cold, so you can keep me warm."
Guy raised an eyebrow, saying nothing as the boy nestled more comfortably against him, burying his face against his shoulder. He caught sight of a lightning flash, and the quiet shriek from Luke told Guy exactly why he'd come to sleep in his servant's bed. "Luke-"
"Not scared!" Luke cut in before he could continue.
"... Of course," Guy murmured. He lifted a hand to brush through his charge's hair, fingers lingering on his neck. It would have been so easy. Just a few moments, a bit of extra pressure, and Duke Fabre would forever regret the day he invaded Hod.
"Can I stay here for tonight?" Luke whispered, his voice muffled against Guy's pyjamas. "Just... until the storm... I don't want you to get scared or anything..."
And just like that, the thought was gone, and all that was left was shame, and the gentle affection he so greatly preferred. "Of course you can, Luke," he murmured, rocking him ever-so gently. "Stay as long as you want."
He felt Luke smile against his shirt. Moments later, he caught the sound of the slight change in the boy's breathing, and knew he'd drifted off. Watching him for a moment longer, Guy closed his eyes, wrapped his arms around the child, and went back to sleep.
It would get easier. He was certain it would get easier.
---
The day Luke disappeared, two years later, was the day Guy realized once and for all that he could not - and would not ever - harm him.
He was tucking the boy into bed when he said it. Softly, innocently, but genuine in his hope, Luke leaned in and whispered into his ear, "You'll always be with me, right, Guy?"
"Of course, Luke," he responded automatically. A servant's dutiful reply.
Luke frowned, reaching out to grab Guy's arm as he moved to rise. "Wait," he quietly demanded. "Think about it first. If I'm going to be king someday, I want someone I can trust by my side."
Guy blinked, surprised by the way he'd said it. "What about Princess Natalia?"
"Don't be stupid," Luke muttered, without venom. "That's different. Natalia will be my wife - I'll need a friend."
Said friend lifted a brow. "Well, you have me..."
"That's the point!" Luke grumbled, sound entirely too irritated. "I have you, and I want to keep you. So are you going to stay with me or not?"
Guy was sorely tempted to tease him, but beneath the annoyance was a glimmer of concern, and that was enough to fuel an honest response. "I will, Luke. I want to stay with you, so I will. I promise."
"Promise?" Luke echoed, looking sceptical. "You have to mean it, Guy. Don't break your promises."
"... Oh." Guy fell silent for a long moment, taking Luke's words to heart. He wanted honesty, and an answer that wasn't dependent on the fact that he was speaking to a child who had been his superior since he'd been old enough to talk.
A child who had seen far too many promises left broken and forgotten.
Gently he reached out and pulled the boy against his chest, hugging him tightly and swallowing hard. "I promise," he said again, meaning it, meaning every word from the bottom of his heart. "I will not abandon you. You're my friend... and my family." You're precious to me.
Luke trembled in his arms for a moment, clinging like the child he was. Then, fleetingly, he drew back and smiled bravely, sliding back down under the covers and allowing Guy to tuck him in once more. "Don't forget it, okay?" he whispered. "Don't forget your promise."
"I won't," Guy responded, curious and confused as to why Luke was so insistent. He'd promised, hadn't he? Luke would see him every day, from now on, for the rest of his life or until he was dismissed. That was his promise, and his word was his bond.
Or it was until the household awoke to find Luke missing the very next morning.
---
TBC
---
I have no words to say besides OH DEAR GOD PLEASE DON'T EVER LET A CHAPTER TAKE THIS LONG AGAAAAAIN.
Also, the lyrics were from Sister Hazel's "One Love". I ditched AFI, whoops, >_>;
Till next time! Which will be sooner rather than later, I hope...
Word Count: 7,635
Summary: "For years, I'd promised to work together with Van to get revenge on the Duke. If I'd taken a slightly different path somewhere, I might have been on their side."
Warning/Pairing/Extra: None this chapter!
Notes: I finally managed to pull this off, D: Oh man, it's been forever. This is sort of like a series of stories, really, but I hope it flows well enough.
This chapter was written for iolites, whose birthday is today, :3
Chapter I: Today's Lesson
Chapter II: And You Were Beside Me
----
Ghost On A Stage
Chapter III: Slipping Through My Fingers
----
We are just children understand
We're two in a million the precious grains of sand
We slip through the fingers dancing on the wind
We find each other
----
"Master Luke... Master Luke, wait...!"
The small, red-haired child, no older than six, paused in mid step, curving his head over his shoulder, pouting at his servant, who'd been running after him for more than half the length of the house. "I want to see who's here!"
Guy practically flew past him and spun around, blocking off the entrance to the drawing room of Fabre Manor. "His Grace... said you weren't supposed to barge in," he managed breathlessly, having barely made it in time. "Just wait to be introduced if that's what he wants, okay?"
Luke's pout shifted to a glare. As the years passed, he'd become more and more unmanageable, something Guy had found disconcerting, in the least. "Move aside, Guy."
Guy winced. "I would, but His Grace also said I was not to let you interfere while the interview is-"
"Move," Luke repeated, patience fading fast, "Or I'll call the maid."
Guy's face paled. "M-Master Luke..."
"Mara!"
Within a few moments, a somewhat elderly, bemused-looking maid shuffled in, idly smoothing down her skirt. "Yes, Master Luke?"
The boy pointed at his mortified attendant. "He won't move."
Mara glanced between the two, taking in the situation, then smiled patiently and replied, "His Grace and Her Ladyship said you might want to listen in. We're not to let you, though. It's ungentlemanly."
Guy relaxed at her words, but it didn't last - a scant second later a spiky red head tackled him right in the gut, knocking him into the door and forcing the breath out of his lungs. He scarcely had a moment to recover when the door opened, sending them both tumbling to a heap on the floor.
"Luke," a sharp, scolding voice came from above, and both Guy and Luke lifted their heads to see Duke Fabre glaring down at them. Guy scrambled to pull Luke to his feet, muttering a hasty apology, and grasped the boy's hand, intent on leaving the room. He halted, however, when Fabre spoke again. "We've hired a new gardener. When we are done, I want you to escort him to your room, Guy, where he will be staying."
Guy blinked at that. Yu had left only a few days before - he'd gotten married, and wanted to live in a house of his own, much to Guy's displeasure - and already his bed was taken? Clearly Duke Fabre disliked the idea of wasted space. "Yes Your Grace," he answered dutifully, then added, with a flash of reckless curiousity, "But what about-"
"I will deal with Luke."
Luke's hand tightened around Guy's for a second, then, as if nothing had happened, he let go, hurrying over to sit with his mother at the table, while Guy followed him with his eyes. Lady Fabre smiled, lifting a hand to brush affectionately through Luke's hair. She looked up and offered another smile to Guy; he reddened and waved to her, but a scant second later he froze, noticing the other residing within the room.
His hair had more grey, and there were a few extra wrinkles on his cheeks, but it looked like...
It looked like...!
He tried to catch the man's eyes, searching for some sign of recognition, but the elder was avoiding him, speaking in gentle tones with Lady Fabre.
"Guy." He jumped, startled, and looked up at the sudden voice behind him. Duke Fabre was giving him an odd look. "You are dismissed."
"Oh, wait just a moment, dear heart," Lady Fabre murmured from the couch, still stroking the hair of a somewhat embarrassed Luke. "We're just about finished here, so perhaps you could take our new employee with you?"
Guy nodded numbly, waiting while the old man rose to his feet and bowed to the duke and lady, then turned and led the way out of the room. He felt their eyes on his back as he left, and very firmly ignored it.
It couldn't be. He would have said something.
It was a silent journey, neither speaking nor even daring to make eye contact. Guy didn't know the elder man's reasoning, but he himself was too disappointed to attempt to glance back. He'd wanted a familiar face so badly that surely he had imagined it.
He felt a sharp pang in his chest, a longing he'd tried to dismiss years before, and felt a sudden, irrepressible need to see - and subsequently care for - Luke. A habit he would have found hard to break, if the need ever arose.
"This is it," he mumbled, pushing open the door and leading the man inside. He motioned to the bed across the room from his own. "That's Yu- ... your bed."
He heard the door close behind them, then the faint rustle of clothes moving as the man approached. Then, the sound of the man kneeling, and a soft voice at his back.
"I am so relieved to have found you at last, Master Gailardia..."
Guy went still, eyes wide, almost stricken with his sudden surprise. It was. It was.
"Pere!" he cried, whirling around and throwing himself at the old soldier, clinging to his neck with all his strength. Pere did nothing for a moment, and then carefully reached out to hold him, patting his back in an attempt to soothe him. "Pere, Pere, you came...!"
"Of course I did," Pere murmured gently, lifting him up to sit the child in his lap, letting him cry. "I said I would. My one regret is that I did not reach you in time..."
Guy shuddered, burying his face against Pere's shirt. "I-it's okay... it's okay...! I... d-don't mind it here... I just..." His words tapered off into sobs, incoherent for a moment until he regained control. "I missed e-everyone... so much...!"
Pere's hands went still at his back, and it was a long time before his former guard responded. "Master Gailardia... I... your family..."
Guy sniffled softly, drawing back to gaze up at the old man, his expression a mixture of hope and desperation. "Have you come to take me home, Pere? You found Mother and Father, right? A-and they want me back...?"
"... Master..." Pere swallowed hard, placing his hands on Guy's shoulders. Guy didn't like that. Pere was supposed to smile, to take his hand and tell him that Mother and Father were waiting with Mary and Vandesdelca, and he was going to their new home in Rugnica, just as they'd promised. Pere was supposed to lead him out and let him hug Luke goodbye and promise to visit all the time and tuck him in at night and play but not tonight or tomorrow because he was going home...
Pere didn't do any of that.
Instead, Pere told him what happened to Hod. Pere told him about Mother and Father and Mary. Pere told him Vandesdelca was missing, probably dead.
Pere told him they could go anywhere in the world that he wanted, but they couldn't go home.
Guy found it hard to keep breathing.
He'd already known.
---
He wanted to stay at Fabre Manor.
That was the first decision he made, when he finally stopped pouring his grief into the pillow, Pere at his side rubbing soothingly at his back - occasionally at the door offering excuses to the concerned maids and, more often, the very frustrated Luke. From the bed he could hear the boy's demands to know just what had made Guy so sick, and that he should hurry up and get better so they could go play.
It wasn't until Luke's tenth visit that Guy realized he wanted to stay. Or rather, if given the choice between remaining here and finding another home for himself... well, there was little choice. He'd promised Luke, after all.
So with reddened eyes and stumbling steps he'd made his way to the door, wiped aside the remnants of his tears, and nudged his way past Pere to take Luke's hand and let the younger boy drag him off, indulging the flurry of questions with a tiny smile.
That was the first day he falsified a smile for Luke's sake. It was not the last.
"Why were you crying, Guy?" Luke asked, his tone a mixture of curiousity and genuine concern, though his expression made it clear he wouldn't take any excuses. "Did you get hurt?" His eyes narrowed, fingers tightening around his attendant's. "Was it that old guy? Tell me if it was, okay? Father will fire him if I say so."
Guy doubted that, but didn't say as much. Instead he smiled again, gave Luke's hand a squeeze, and told him that no, it wasn't Pere, and no, he wasn't hurt. Not really. Not in a sense that Luke would understand.
Luke realized he was lying anyway, and gave him a hug around the waist, mumbling something about being stupid and a liar and very, very lucky that he was Guy and thus loved no matter what he did.
An unexpected gift, that. But then, Luke was good at surprising him.
---
"Guy!"
The surprises came daily for some time after that, it seemed - sometimes in the form of the young master's games, or permission to sleep in for a day or two, or a tiny cake with supper from the maids, who giggled when he blushed and thanked them - but the most prominent in his mind was the day Luke bounded over to him, distracting him from sweeping the path up to his charge's room, and held out a small green box, looking outrageously proud of himself. "Guy, look what I got!"
Guy blinked at him, hesitating a moment, then took the box when Luke prodded it into his hand, setting aside the broom. "Master Luke, what...?"
"Just open it!" Luke demanded, arms crossed impatiently.
He looked as if he were about to explode, so Guy lifted a brow and indulged him. ".... Luke..."
"You better like it," the boy muttered, scowling. "I had it made specially for you. It'll fit, too - I checked one of your shirts."
"... How elaborate," Guy mumbled musingly, reaching in and lifting the item from the box. A choker. Simple and lightweight, though the pendant probably had a decent mix of gold and was thus expensive, it would have made a lovely accessory if not for the fact that it looked disturbingly like an animal's collar. "... Um..."
"Look at the back!" Luke urged, rocking back and forth on his heels. He sounded far too eager to be reassuring, but after a moment Guy reluctantly obeyed. Scrawled in nearly engraved script, the text of Ancient Ispanian, was his name, followed closely by the ancient word for 'mine'.
...Wait, what?
"Luke," Guy managed, hesitantly holding it out to his charge, looking somewhat strained, "What in the world...?"
Luke responded with a bored expression, clearly not impressed. "So nobody makes the mistake of thinking you're anyone else's servant. You're not Mother's, or Father's, or any of the maids'. Nobody can hurt you or make you cry. Nobody."
Guy couldn't help it; he stared at the younger boy, stunned. He didn't move for so long that Luke grew impatient and took the collar from his hand, pulling on his arm to drag him to his knees, and leaned in to attach the clasp around Guy's neck himself.
He remained close for a moment, his eyes more serious than Guy had ever seen. "You're mine," he whispered, resting his forehead against the blond's, hands still resting on his neck. "I'll punish anyone who tries to take you away from me."
Guy didn't know what to say to that. But no one was watching them - Luke had been very careful about his timing - so he surrendered to his initial urge and wrapped his arms around the boy, drawing him close into what he hoped was a grateful embrace.
"You're a brat," he murmured, resting his chin in that mane of red hair. "I'm not your pet..."
"Shut up," Luke grumbled, hands clenching in the fabric of his shirt. "You're whatever I say you are."
Because I'm yours, Guy thought inwardly, eyes closing, if only for a moment.
Because you're mine.
He knew at that moment he would wear that collar with pride for the rest of his life.
---
They went to Belkend a week later, a business trip and vacation, both. Luke's mother had an appointment with the doctor at the research facility, and for the sake of convenience, Luke and the princess Natalia would meet with him as well. Guy was to go with them as an attendant, of course, and to keep them occupied while Duke and Lady Fabre were busy.
It was the first time he'd been away from Pere since their reunion. Thus it was one of the hardest things he'd ever done.
Luke gave him a good enough distraction, however, so he poured himself into that, as usual. Coupled with the kind but strong-willed young princess, they were definitely a force to be reckoned with.
"Belkend is Father's territory," Luke was saying as Guy tuned back into the conversation, following the children down the city streets.
"Everyone knows that," Natalia responded, a hint of hauteur in her voice.
"Guy doesn't!" Luke tossed back, frowning. "I hadn't told him yet!"
Guy didn't bother to correct him. "I like it here," he said instead, eyes wandering. "All the machines-"
"Bo-ring," Luke muttered, then dashed back and grabbed Guy by the wrist, pulling him over to walk beside he and Natalia. "Quit falling behind, Guy! You'll get lost or something."
"I'm not that far behind you," Guy protested, eyes widening a little as they drew closer to Natalia. "... Gah!"
Natalia looked annoyed for a moment, but side-stepped to walk on the other side of Luke. "Why are still afraid of me, Guy?"
"I've always been afraid of women, Your Majesty..." Guy reminded her a little nervously, wary of angering her. Thankfully she merely sniffed at the air and turned away again. He couldn't tell if she was angry or hurt by it.
There was an uncomfortable silence, broken a few moments later when Luke announced, "I don't want to see the doctor!" He said it as if it were a great, secret proclamation. "Let's go play somewhere."
"Do you want to get me fired?" Guy smiled wanly. He only resisted a little as the redhead pulled him forward again, waving for Natalia to follow.
Luke pouted at his protest. "Mother wouldn't let you get fired. She likes you too much."
"It's not your mother I'm worried about."
"Well, fine," the boy grumbled, shooting Natalia a look. "Come on, help me."
Natalia looked clearly unimpressed. "You know I can't touch him-" She stopped then, catching sight of Luke's feral grin. "... Oh."
A scant second later, anyone who was to peer out the door of their home would see a young blond rushing down the streets, shrieking, with a pretty girl and a laughing redhead close on his heels.
---
"That was unfair!"
"Stop complaining," Luke replied cheekily, watching Guy glare sullenly down at them from the catwalk on the east side of the laboratory. The game ended when he'd managed to climb up out of reach. "You had fun, didn't you?"
"Oh, is that what you think my phobia is?" Guy muttered.
Luke shrugged. "Well, we had fun. And we still have time before our appointment, so come down already."
Guy gave him a slightly suspicious look. "I thought you didn't want to see the doctor."
The younger boy gave him a look. "Of course I don't. But Father is expecting us, and our health has to be good. If we're gonna run Kimlasca we can't be sick all the time, right?"
"Luke was paying attention to our fathers," Natalia said seriously, hands clasped behind her back.
Sighing faintly, Guy slid back down the railing, dusting himself off and shooing them towards the alleyway exit. "Alright, alright, let's go, before you get me into trouble. I may not get fired, but that's not the only thing that can happen."
He guided them down the street towards the laboratory, allowing the men within to usher them inside to the office. Guy was dismissed and sent off to wait by the entrance, but after two hours he grew bored of that and left to wander the area. Duke Fabre and Lady Susanne, he learned, had already departed to visit the governor, and would be expecting them for dinner.
He'd only worked his way through two of the hallways when he caught the familiar sound of protests, and as he went a little further, he recognized the voice. "Luke!" he called, taking off at a run and ignoring the nearby scientists' yelling for him to walk properly. Clearly Luke was in danger, and needed his help.
He found Luke in the fourth corridor, an elderly scientist holding him by the arm. The boy was twisting and snapping, spouting demands and threats involving his father and the king. As soon as he spotted Guy, he brightened, eyes demanding his servant's support. "Guy! You came!"
The old man frowned at them both, adjusting his glasses and narrowly avoiding Luke's kick. "It's just a few tests, young master-"
"No!" Luke snapped, jerking his arm in another attempt to get free. "My father is expecting me! Let go! Guy!"
Guy was already moving. In a flash of motion he slammed into the scientist, forcing him to stagger backwards. As a child, he didn't have much body weight, but it was enough to make the old man release his hold on Luke. The boy was scrambling away at once, and Guy shoved away from the scientist and hurried after him, taking his hand without a second thought and dragging him out of the room, straight towards the doctor's office. If the doctor was a safe haven, it was the best place to be - if not, then Natalia would need rescuing as well.
The found both Natalia and the doctor in the second room of the office. Natalia was in the middle of her examination and thus, much to their horror, in her underwear. A scant second later she was shrieking.
And that was how they arrived at the governor's house less than ten minutes later - breathless, frightened, with the young princess sobbing in naught but a thin gown.
---
There had been anger and some threats on Duke Fabre's part; suffice to say he hadn't been pleased to have his meeting interrupted by his rambling son and distraught future queen. Luke had spared Guy any punishment for bursting into the governor's manor by explaining the issue, and within moments the Belkend guards had marched off to retrieve the scientist and, at Lady Fabre's request, poor Natalia's clothes. The duke's wife ushered them all into the next room, finding a small overcoat for Natalia to wear and sitting on the couch with her to try and calm her down. Luke climbed up beside his mother and ranted about the 'stupid old man' and that his father would punish him for what had happened. Susanne tried stroking his hair, but it only seemed to add to his irritation.
"Guy, did he hurt you?" she asked their young servant instead, her voice gentle and concerned. Luke's interest shifted away from his anger as he followed her gaze.
From across the room, Guy blinked, scratching the back of his head. "I'm fine, milady. I'm just glad I found him."
"As are we." Susanne smiled, making him blush. After a moment, Luke pushed out of his seat, giving Natalia's hair a small ruffle - his own attempted reassurance, though it only served to make her pout - and trotted over to where Guy was sitting, giving him a good once-over to make sure he wasn't lying. Once he was satisfied, he climbed into the chair with him, ignoring protocol and settling himself in Guy's lap to wait for his father's return. There was a great deal of noise going on in the neighbouring room.
Not long after it grew quiet, the door opened, and Fabre stepped in, looking tired and displeased. Without a word he handed a set of clothes to Susanne, who set about helping Natalia get dressed. Having her clothes back mollified the young princess somewhat, and she settled down to watch as Duke Fabre turned to face his son and servant.
Much to the surprise of all, Duke Fabre didn't protest Luke's position. He studied them for a moment, as if debating, then sighed quietly, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features. "... You saved my son, Guy," he said seriously, after a pause. "I will not forget this."
Guy gave him a brief, cautious look, then lowered his eyes. "Yes, Your Grace."
Luke gave him a curious look, then slowly slid off his lap to stand in front of him. "Father," he called quietly, "Is that man gone?"
Duke Fabre nodded. "Yes, Luke. He has fled, but our soldier will find him. He will not be permitted in Belkend again."
His son fidgeted, then nodded slowly. "Okay. ... Can we go home now?"
"Tomorrow morning," the duke responded, glancing over at his wife, who nodded. "We will be spending the night here in Governor Viridian's manor, and departing on the first ferry headed for Baticul. ... Don't pout, Luke."
"I'm not pouting," Luke mumbled. He was, rather obviously, pouting.
Duke Fabre paused for a moment, then leaned down, placing his hands on the child's shoulders. "Luke, I swear to you." he murmured, "No one in Belkend will ever harm you again."
Luke gave his father a dubious look. "You promise?" His voice had an odd tone to it, Guy noticed, but said nothing.
Fabre apparently didn't notice, his expression deadly serious. "I promise."
There was another long silence. Then, without a word, Luke slid out of the chair and Guy's lap, reaching back to pull his servant's hand, guiding him out of the room, ignoring Susanne's soft call. After a moment, Natalia wriggled free of the duchess's embrace and hurried after them.
"Luke! Luke, wait!" she called, scurrying along behind until she caught up to them, reaching out and snagging Luke's free hand. "Why did you go? Isn't it good that your father-"
"I don't know," Luke muttered, speeding up his pace. He didn't notice Guy still watching him curiously. "Go back to Mother, Natalia."
"... I'd rather be with you," she sniffed, lips pursed into a frown. After a long silence she let it fade, tugging on his hand lightly. "Belkend is nice as long as we don't go to that scary building, right? We should come back someday."
"Someday?" Luke echoed, sounding as though it was the last thing he wanted.
"When we're older," Natalia quickly amended. "When you can tell grownups 'no' and they'll have to listen. Then nothing bad will happen, right?"
Luke paused, then halted, releasing Guy's hand to face her. Guy stopped in mid-step, glancing back to watch as Luke regarded his cousin. "You really want to come back here?"
Natalia looked delighted. "Of course! Whenever you like, as long as we go together!" She clapped her hands delicately. "Your father will protect you, won't he? And you can protect me."
Luke was silent. His expression made Guy uncomfortable, and he started to reach out to the boy, but Natalia beat him to it.
She took his hand, curving her pinky around his, and beamed. "It's a promise, right, Luke?"
His eyes slowly wandered down to where their fingers were joined. Then without warning he pulled his hand back, startling her.
"Promises are stupid," he murmured, "Just like pinky-swearing. Father won't protect me - he promised, and he never keeps his promises."
"L-Luke..." Natalia whispered, watching him with a pained expression.
"I don't want to come back here," Luke finished, and without another word he grabbed Guy by the wrist and pulled him down the road, away from Natalia, the manor, and most of all the lab he had learned that very day to hate.
Guy didn't know how to tell him that promises weren't made to be broken - sometimes life was just that cruel.
---
A few days after Luke's seventh birthday, the boy surprised Guy with some curious news.
"I'm getting married," he announced.
Guy blinked, then lifted a brow, setting aside the china dish he'd been dusting to face his young charge. "Say what?"
"I said," Luke replied, tone glazed with irritation, "I'm getting married. It's her fault." He pointed emphatically to one of the windows providing a view of the courtyard, where Natalia was speaking animatedly with Lady Fabre.
"Princess Natalia? You're marrying Princess Natalia...?" Guy murmured, staring out at them for a long moment. Luke tapped his foot impatiently, so he turned back to the boy. "Ah... congratulations, Master Luke."
"I guess so," Luke muttered. "You don't sound any happier than I am."
His servant shrugged his shoulders, expression carefully contained. He'd been getting good at that over the past few years, so much that hardly anyone noticed. Besides Pere, of course, but Pere noticed everything. "Only because you aren't. I thought you liked Natalia."
"I do like Natalia!" Luke retorted, eyes widening. "That's not- I mean-" Catching sight of Guy's knowing expression, he gave up. "... Father and Uncle said it, anyway. Father doesn't really want to be king, so if I marry Natalia..."
"King Luke?" Guy smiled faintly, picking up another plate and going back to work. "That's a lot of work."
"I can do it," Luke replied stubbornly. "I know a lot about Kimlasca - I even showed Natalia around Baticul!" Guy refrained from pointing out that he'd come along with the guards as escort and attendant on their little excursions to the lower levels to see the people they were to rule over. "It's just... kind of..."
"Scary?" Guy supplied, in a gentler tone. Luke very nearly protested again, then averted his eyes and nodded. There was no hiding from Guy, after all. "It's okay to be scared, Luke. It's a big job, and you're too little to be worrying about it now. I bet you'll be a great king."
"... Think so?" Luke whispered.
He looked so silly like that, such a far cry from the strong and confident Luke he knew, that Guy had to laugh, ruffling his hair and offering a reassuring smile when the boy pouted up at him. "I know so," he replied, nodding with such certainty that Luke had to smile back. "I trust you, so... trust yourself, okay?"
Luke nodded slowly, quiet for a moment, then without warning lunged forward to wrap his arms around Guy's waist. Guy almost laughed again, but the way the boy held him made him stop, and because of that he was able to hear Luke whisper, "You'll come too. You're my servant, so Father will let me take you to the castle when I go to live there. And... we won't have to hide that we're friends anymore."
"...." Guy swallowed hard. For the first time he didn't glance around to see if anyone was watching before he reached down to hold his friend back. "I'd like that," he murmured.
"Good," Luke finally grinned, "Because you don't get to pick. I don't want anyone else. You, me, and Natalia... we'll change the world."
It was a curious way of saying it, Guy couldn't help but think. But Luke pulled away from him and wandered off before he could comment, so he shrugged it aside and went back to his chores.
---
Life at Fabre Manor continued much the same way as always, it seemed. Guy learned about the world by sitting in on Luke's lessons, as well as Pere's own instruction while they were in the privacy of their own room. Shortly after the elderly guardian's arrival, he'd begun to teach Guy the Sigmund style of swordsmanship in secret, as all men if Gardios were to learn. Everything else he found out for himself through careful observation and eavesdropping. He didn't consider it to be spying - it was for his own education, after all.
Very little happened out of the ordinary until shortly after Luke turned eight, when the renowned Commandant of the Oracle Knights paid a visit to the manor to see Luke, of all people.
He spoke with Duke Fabre first, of course, but obviously Luke's father approved of the visit, for Luke was summoned to the drawing room not long afterwards. As his chore for the day had been to keep Luke occupied, Guy wandered off to the garden to chat with Pere while he waited for his charge to return.
He was in mid-sentence when, about half an hour later, the door opened and Luke led the Oracle Knight's leader into the courtyard. And everything seemed to freeze for him then and there, because it was Van.
Older, of course, but there was no mistaking him. The vision of Van's last smile had been one of those rare memories of Hod that seemed as if it would survive anything, any passage of time or loss of recollection. Vandesdelca was alive, and he was here.
"Pere!" he hissed, eyes startled wide, as he spun to grip his guardian's arm. "It's-!"
"I know, Master Gailardia," Pere murmured, without looking up from the flowers he was tending. "I saw him in the entrance hall when he arrived. I don't believe he recognized me. You, however, he will certainly know. I think it is best we keep quiet about that, as he seems to have changed his name."
"He what?" Guy asked, surprised yet again, but before Pere could explain further, Luke was calling.
"Guy!" Guy turned back to Luke as the boy hurried towards him, hand lifted and a broad grin on his lips. His gaze shifted to the man following at a more leisurely pace behind him, and saw the way Van's step paused just the slightest amount, the way his brows lifted and his eyes widened before he recovered himself. It took scarcely a moment, but Guy saw it all.
"Guy," Luke said again, demanding his servant's attention, "This is Dorian General Van Grants, leader of the Oracle Knights. He's going to teach me to fight!"
The child looked as if he was going to burst at the seams with pride. Guy couldn't seem to take his eyes off Van. "... I..."
"A pleasure to meet you," Van spoke for him, offering out a hand and a calm smile. "And you are...?"
It took Guy a moment to snap out of it, and he managed to force out as he grasped the Commandant's hand, "G... Guy Cecil, sir."
Luke prodded him in the ribs. "You're pretty impressed, huh?"
"... You could say that..." Guy could find no words to describe what he was feeling, nor would it be prudent to do so. Van Grants? Where had that come from? Van seemed to both recognize and approve of his own alias. He shook off his astonishment and released Van's hand, feeling embarrassed by how tightly he'd been holding it.
There was an awkward silence, and then suddenly Pere stepped up behind them, lightly touching Guy's arm. "Begging your pardon, Guy," he said gently, "But I need an extra hand carrying some supplies back from the market. Would you mind coming with me?"
Guy swallowed hard, a little reluctant to go. What was Pere doing? "I guess so..."
Pere smiled his approval, glancing up at Van. "Please excuse the interruption, General. Perhaps we shall see you when we return?"
Van was quiet for a moment, studying him. "Unlikely," he finally responded. "As this is merely a warm-up lesson, it won't last long." Luke looked disappointed, but no one commented on it. "I will be returning to my room when we're finished. Duke Fabre has generously covered my reservation at The Majesty Hotel."
"I see," Pere nodded. "Another time, perhaps."
Guy blinked, sending Van one final glance as he followed Pere away from the courtyard. It seemed they would not be visiting the market after all.
---
His restraint seemed to dissolve the moment they were out of earshot from the White Knights guarding the manor entrance. They had barely made it to the lift when he burst out, "Van's alive!"
Pere chuckled softly. "Yes, he is. And taking an interest in Master Luke as well, it seems."
Guy grinned, peering over the edge of the lift as it began to lower itself into the city below. "He's just as excited as I am. If Van's teaching Luke, that means he'll be coming back here all the time!"
The old man nodded again. "Yes, but you must be cautious. I don't think it's wise to show that you know one another."
Guy fell silent for a long moment. "Not even to Luke, huh...?"
"... No. Not even to Luke."
A bit of the euphoria faded, but Guy managed to rediscover his smile. "We're going to see him, though, aren't we? So it's okay. As long as we can talk sometimes, I'll manage."
At that, Pere smiled, once again patting his arm. "I knew you would be strong enough for this," he murmured.
Guy reddened faintly, and didn't respond.
They wound up going to the market anyway, picking up a few frivolous supplies to waste time. Once an hour had passed, they returned to the secondary level of the city to seek out the commandant. The hotel concierge directed them to the appropriate room, and it was very difficult for Guy not to take off running right to the door.
As soon as the door opened - after a moment of rather ungentlemanly pounding - Guy lunged forward, tackling his former servant around the waist. He didn't care if he was a teenager now and was probably old enough to know better. He didn't care if the one he was pouncing was a soldier and a high-ranking leader in Daath and not an 11-year-old boy. He didn't care about anything else but this.
This was Van, and he'd been sorely missed. Words could not - and could never - describe the wondrous feeling of having the one who had always been his hero in his life once more. He heard Van chuckle, felt an arm lift to wrap around his shoulders. It was reassuring, in so many ways, and he could feel his throat constrict; he'd had no way of knowing if Van had changed. But with this, he knew he wasn't going to be rejected.
"I missed you," he murmured. No greater truth had ever been spoken. I needed you like I needed my family.
You -are- part of my family...
"I didn't know you were alive," Van confessed, absently brushing a hand through Guy's hair. "I would have come earlier if I had. But why here, Gailardia? Why with Duke Fabre?"
Guy lifted himself up reluctantly to meet Van's eyes. He heard Pere slip into the room and close the door behind him. "I was brought here from Hod. He said I had to go with him or they'd kill me."
Van's brows furrowed, studying him. "Strange," he replied after a moment. "Duke Fabre initiated the attack on Hod. He was responsible for the deaths of House Gardios. Why would he save the-"
And he stopped there, because Guy was staring at him in sheer horror.
"... He... did what...?" he whispered, beginning to tremble. His gaze shifted to Pere.
The old guardian bowed his head slightly. "My apologies, Master Gailardia. You were so distraught at the time, yet so attached to Master Luke... I felt it was unwise to say..."
"It was," Guy managed somehow, fighting to suppress his shaking. Suddenly, inexplicably, he felt a wave of resentment. Fabre hadn't exactly been kind, but his attitude had at least seemed merciful. He'd been half-grateful to live, even as a servant in a foreign land.
Was it really merciful to spare a child after murdering his parents?
"He... killed Mother and Father," he whispered, dragging himself away from Van, hands clenching into fists. "All this time, and he never... he killed them..."
Pere and Van exchanged a glance. "I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news," Van said quietly.
Guy merely shook his head. "Just the truth," he replied, with effort. "I... I don't know what this changes. I can't leave Luke..."
"You must not force yourself, Master Gailardia," Pere warned gently. "Doing that will only cause you harm and more heartache. If you show any ill will towards the duke, it is likely that he will dismiss you."
"Ill will?" Guy echoed. It took a moment for him to realize what Pere was referring to. "You mean like... revenge...?"
Pere didn't even blink. "If you wish it."
Did he? It was a difficult question. He'd always seen Duke Fabre as a cold man, and a thief - his father's sword was still hanging in the foyer, taunting him day by day - but a murderer?
"Back in Hod..." he whispered.
"Duke Fabre gained victory over House Gardios on the first day of his invasion," Van supplied. "The soldiers of Malkuth lost a great deal of resolve when the head of Hod's ruling nobleman was presented to King Ingobert. Hod did not last long after that."
Guy felt cold.
He knew what that meant.
Swallowing back a cry of outrage, Guy shifted his gaze to Van. "What should I do...?"
Van smiled faintly, but offered no real answer. "You should do whatever you can, Gailardia. More importantly, what would make you happy?"
My family, alive and safe, he didn't say. They all knew what he wanted most.
Dreams were only dreams because they were unattainable, weren't they.
... I hate this... all of it.
"Do what I can..." he echoed quietly, eyes lowered. After a moment, he looked up again. "I can't do anything to him. Even if I-" Even if I wanted to. ... Even if I -do-want to. "... He's Luke's father. It would be too cruel. If I killed him, we couldn't be friends anymore..."
"As I said, Master Gailardia," Pere murmured, "Whatever you decide, I shall follow." Guy glanced back at Van, who nodded his agreement.
"I want to think about this," he said, shuffling from side to side nervously until he forced himself to stop. "It... changes a lot."
"No doubt it is difficult for you," Van touched his shoulder, squeezing lightly. For whatever reason, Guy felt more comforted by that single touch than anything they could have said or done for him. "Give yourself all the time you need. I will be in Baticul for two weeks, and after that I will return when I can to train Luke. We may have to be careful about it, but I swear to you, Gailardia - you will not be ignored."
Guy reddened a little, scuffing a finger beneath his nose to conceal a shy smile. Seeking a distraction, he changed the subject. "Why did you offer to train Luke like this?"
Van lifted a brow, his expression revealing nothing. "Various reasons. They have nothing to do with this."
Guy was tempted to press for it, but he'd learned long ago that adults rarely said more than they had to about touchy subjects. And Van, much to his dismay, had become an adult. He even had a beard.
"Does it bother you that I'm friends with Luke now?" he mumbled instead. "We're still friends, right?"
At that, Van laughed. It was much deeper than he remembered, obviously, but it was still a pleasant sound, not mocking or unkind in any way. "Master Gailardia," he replied, his tone just as soothing as the laugh still lingering in his voice, "I will be your friend for as long as you will have me. Our paths have not crossed again without reason."
And despite everything, despite his newfound anger and resentment and unbearable grief, despite his fear that Luke would see him and know, Guy was able to smile at that, indulging himself in Van's comforting embrace.
Years had passed, lives had changed.
But his Vandesdelca was still there, still with him, and Vandesdelca would always come for him when he called.
---
Luke was waiting for him when they returned to the manor several hours later. He'd toyed with the idea of ignoring the other boy, perhaps giving himself some time to think about what he'd just learned, but as usual, he wasn't given the opportunity. His charge greeted him in the hallway closest to his room, pestering him with a myriad of questions about what he'd done and where he'd gone that had taken so long. The reunion with Van had left Guy emotionally drained, and it took a great deal of effort to come up with a decent answer, even with Pere's help. Luke was suspicious anyway - he really was too smart for his own good - but he was apparently in a merciful mood and left the issue well enough alone.
It was lucky for him that he did, too - Guy hated lying to Luke, and he knew he could never tell his friend that he couldn't get Pere's words out of his mind.
Revenge? Would that change anything? Would it make anything better? Or would he merely bring himself and those around him misery?
It would take a great deal of thought. Unfortunately more than one of those thoughts involved Luke's demise, and that... that was simply not tolerable.
So what am I supposed to do? I don't want to kill anyone... but...
The memory of the sword on the wall persisted, planting a seed of anger deep in his heart. And the thought of his employer coldly removing his father's head-
The dagger twisted, rage coiling like a snake itching to strike, and he hated it. He hated it so much.
I don't like this feeling.
---
It stormed that night, thunder and lightning tearing through the sky and pouring down the rain in buckets. It took some time for Guy to fall asleep, between the noise outside and the internal conflict now working its way through his heart on a constant basis. It irked him, and he dozed off with a tight frown on his lips.
He awoke in the middle of the night as he felt something small climb into the bed with him, a young, slender body curling up against his side. He blinked, glancing down, and caught sight of cool green eyes watching him.
"Um... Luke...?"
"Don't complain," the eight-year old muttered, his expression challenging. "I can be here if I want."
Guy didn't complain. But he did question; Luke wasn't the sort to just cuddle for no reason whatsoever. And he didn't sound like he was in a particularly happy mood. "I know that, but... why...?"
Luke's eyes narrowed, then averted. "Father locks his door at night. He thinks I'm old enough to be able to sleep alone."
"... And...?"
"... And I'm cold, so you can keep me warm."
Guy raised an eyebrow, saying nothing as the boy nestled more comfortably against him, burying his face against his shoulder. He caught sight of a lightning flash, and the quiet shriek from Luke told Guy exactly why he'd come to sleep in his servant's bed. "Luke-"
"Not scared!" Luke cut in before he could continue.
"... Of course," Guy murmured. He lifted a hand to brush through his charge's hair, fingers lingering on his neck. It would have been so easy. Just a few moments, a bit of extra pressure, and Duke Fabre would forever regret the day he invaded Hod.
"Can I stay here for tonight?" Luke whispered, his voice muffled against Guy's pyjamas. "Just... until the storm... I don't want you to get scared or anything..."
And just like that, the thought was gone, and all that was left was shame, and the gentle affection he so greatly preferred. "Of course you can, Luke," he murmured, rocking him ever-so gently. "Stay as long as you want."
He felt Luke smile against his shirt. Moments later, he caught the sound of the slight change in the boy's breathing, and knew he'd drifted off. Watching him for a moment longer, Guy closed his eyes, wrapped his arms around the child, and went back to sleep.
It would get easier. He was certain it would get easier.
---
The day Luke disappeared, two years later, was the day Guy realized once and for all that he could not - and would not ever - harm him.
He was tucking the boy into bed when he said it. Softly, innocently, but genuine in his hope, Luke leaned in and whispered into his ear, "You'll always be with me, right, Guy?"
"Of course, Luke," he responded automatically. A servant's dutiful reply.
Luke frowned, reaching out to grab Guy's arm as he moved to rise. "Wait," he quietly demanded. "Think about it first. If I'm going to be king someday, I want someone I can trust by my side."
Guy blinked, surprised by the way he'd said it. "What about Princess Natalia?"
"Don't be stupid," Luke muttered, without venom. "That's different. Natalia will be my wife - I'll need a friend."
Said friend lifted a brow. "Well, you have me..."
"That's the point!" Luke grumbled, sound entirely too irritated. "I have you, and I want to keep you. So are you going to stay with me or not?"
Guy was sorely tempted to tease him, but beneath the annoyance was a glimmer of concern, and that was enough to fuel an honest response. "I will, Luke. I want to stay with you, so I will. I promise."
"Promise?" Luke echoed, looking sceptical. "You have to mean it, Guy. Don't break your promises."
"... Oh." Guy fell silent for a long moment, taking Luke's words to heart. He wanted honesty, and an answer that wasn't dependent on the fact that he was speaking to a child who had been his superior since he'd been old enough to talk.
A child who had seen far too many promises left broken and forgotten.
Gently he reached out and pulled the boy against his chest, hugging him tightly and swallowing hard. "I promise," he said again, meaning it, meaning every word from the bottom of his heart. "I will not abandon you. You're my friend... and my family." You're precious to me.
Luke trembled in his arms for a moment, clinging like the child he was. Then, fleetingly, he drew back and smiled bravely, sliding back down under the covers and allowing Guy to tuck him in once more. "Don't forget it, okay?" he whispered. "Don't forget your promise."
"I won't," Guy responded, curious and confused as to why Luke was so insistent. He'd promised, hadn't he? Luke would see him every day, from now on, for the rest of his life or until he was dismissed. That was his promise, and his word was his bond.
Or it was until the household awoke to find Luke missing the very next morning.
---
TBC
---
I have no words to say besides OH DEAR GOD PLEASE DON'T EVER LET A CHAPTER TAKE THIS LONG AGAAAAAIN.
Also, the lyrics were from Sister Hazel's "One Love". I ditched AFI, whoops, >_>;
Till next time! Which will be sooner rather than later, I hope...