Distraction (Otherworldly)
Title: Distraction
Genre: Original. Otherwordly. Slash.
Summary: Caoindealbhan isn't trying to act like a jerk at his brother's wedding. He's just a little distracted, very awkward and uncomfortable without his sword.
Despite the strength that his name implied and all his years leading the warriors of the Seelie, the mere sight of Vanlandi reduced Caoindealbhan to little more than a lumbering idiot. Able to sense his discomfort, though not the reason behind it, his sister Tallula remained at his side for the entirety of the wedding ceremony and never wandered far during the reception.
"Dea," she said gently, "surely you do not disapprove of Seachlainn's choice. I think he and Aubrey are very well suited."
Caoindealbhan tucked her arm into his and narrowed his gaze at those who dared to let their attention linger too long on Tallula, "I do not disapprove."
"Then stop looking like you are at your brother's funeral instead of his wedding. I think you are making our new brother-in-law nervous."
Leading her to the banquet table, Caoindealbhan took a seat between Tallula and their brother Cahir and tried his best to obey her and not act like a wretch at his brother's wedding. But every time he relaxed he caught sight of Vanlandi and his discomfort and distraction returned full force. The start of the dancing, some clearly drunken, distracted him enough to bring out a sort of smile.
"Hail siblings."
Tallula smiled and kissed Brennus on the cheek and fussed over him. Brennus had always been good-natured enough to accept such mothering from nearly all of his older siblings gracefully.
"Dea, might I have a moment of your time?"
"Of course," Caoindealbhan replied and allowed Brennus lead him a short distance away.
"Is something wrong?"
Caoindealbhan thought for a moment, "I have not noticed anything very wrong. Tallula is receiving more attention than is appropriate, but she recently let it be known that she is no longer averse to marrying and will receive attention until she choses. Cahir seems... I'm not sure. He seems off somehow. Lonely. Or worried. I cannot exactly tell and I haven't had a chance to speak with him."
"Dea, I came on behalf of Seachlainn to ask you if something is wrong. With you."
"Oh," Caoindealbhan avoided his gaze for a moment, "It was not my intention to cause him concern. His attention should be on his new husband."
Brennus frowned, the expression deepening as Caoindealbhan replied, "I thought he was overreacting. He's always worried after you. But something is bothering you."
"It is the Vanir," Caoindealbhan admitted reluctantly and with a touch of shame.
"Oh," Brennus studied him for a moment, his frown lessening slightly, "Well, it is true what they say about the Vanir and Vanlandi is one of the most powerful among them. But you do not need to worry that he will invade your privacy or-"
He held up his hand, "Not like that. Don't you ever look at your human and... and... its confusing and alarming and suddenly rather difficult to breath..." Caoindealbhan was further discomforted when his brother stared at him in shock. He knew very well that his siblings thought him a prude or asexual for his unrelenting avoidance of sexual or romantic relationships. Gifted though he was in his role as a solider, Caoindealbhan was rarely comfortable otherwise. Sometimes he even struggled to deal with his family especially when there were more than a handful present at a given time. Weapons had, unnecessarily in his opinion, been prohibited at this event and Caoindealbhan felt awkward and unclothed without his sword.
"I see," Brennus said slowly, the shock fading from his expression entirely too slowly in Caoindealbhan's opinion. "I can introduce you to him."
"I would only make a fool of myself."
Most of the shock on his face faded into something that was closer to sympathy, "Dea, its okay to be a little....reserved. And Vanlandi is-"
Caoindealbhan shook his head, "Thank you, but no. I am sure that it is a passing fancy, will be of short duration, go away soon and never recur."
Brennus smiled a little, unconvinced, but did not argue with him, "If you are sure."
"I am. I will return to Tallula now. I do not believe that Cahir adequately intimidates her suitors and I will not have her bothered at this event."
Caoindealbhan had always done his best to hide from his other siblings that Tallula was his favorite. They were particularly close in age, a mere twenty years apart, and talking with Tallula had always been far easier than with anyone else. Except maybe Puck. Glancing in her direction, he reevaluated his decision to return to her. Daigre, his second, stood a respectful distance from Tallula and whatever he was saying to her was making her smile. Daigre had never acted as though he wished to court Tallula, but Caoindealbhan had always suspected he might be interested in her. Perhaps he just needed a little encouragement.
"What do you think of Daigre?" Though Brennus was the last of his siblings and extremely young, Caoindealbhan had always found his insights to be beyond his years.
"You think highly of him."
"Yes, but what do you think of him?"
"I trust your opinion. If this is about Tallula, I do not think he will actually attempt to court her because he does not think he has a chance against the others."
"I see."
His gaze shifted to a point behind Caoindealbhan's shoulder and he smiled, "Vanlandi. Hello."
No. Surely not. What reason could the Vanir have for coming in their direction? Heart his his throat, Caoindealbhan turned and discovered Vanlandi standing a short distance behind him.
"Prince Brennus," he inclined his head.
"Vanlandi, this is my brother Caoindealbhan."
"Prince Caoindealbhan," Vanlandi smiled and Caoindealbhan wanted to look away from him if only so he could continue to breath normally, but his eyes refused to look away. "Actually, I have a little wager with Prince Seachlainn about if I would be able to meet all of his siblings at this gathering."
"And how many have you met?" Caoindealbhan asked, half surprised that his voice didn't waver.
"All. I saved the best for last." Caoindealbhan felt his face heat and stared at the ground as Brennus choked to prevent a laugh and excused himself. Vanlandi's smile faded a little, "I don't get visions from eye contact."
Caoindealbhan raised his gaze in surprise, "I know."
"Oh."
"Do you- have you-" Caoindealbhan struggled to finish his question as his mind went inconveniently blank. Vanlandi was still smiling, his eyes bright and lips full, "-uh- are you enjoying the wedding?" Are you enjoying the wedding? Was that he best he could do?
"Yes," Vanlandi replied enthusiastically, "before this day I had never left Vanaheimr except to go to Asgard."
"I have never been to either."
His smile widened, "You would be welcome to Vanaheimer whenever you wish."
"Thank you."
"We love visitors," Vanlandi continued, "most of my people prefer not to travel from Vanaheimr. Our gifts unnerve others."
"Your gifts do not unnerve me," Caoindealbhan blurted thoughtlessly and then struggled to hold Vanlandi's gaze, afraid that if he looked away the Vanir would not believe his words.
"Something about me does. You seem very uncomfortable. Should I excuse myself?"
Angry with himself for being such an awkward oaf, Caoindealbhan barely managed to keep himself from frowning when he shook his head. "My sister Tallula," he briefly glanced in her direction to make sure that all was well with her and Daigre and once pacified he continued, "she says that I am only comfortable when I am with my soldiers. It is not my preference that you excuse yourself. I am... enjoying your company."
Vanlandi smiled, his whole face brightening and since it would be inappropriate Caoindealbhan forced himself to ignore the strange urge to hug the other man. Allowing his mind to wander a little, he imagined that holding Vanlandi would be perfect. Vanlandi was smaller and slighter than him and would be easy to completely shelter in his embrace. And he was the perfect height to tuck his head against Caoindealbhan's shoulder.
"Would you care to walk with me in the garden?" Seeing the surprise on Vanlandi's face, he hastened to clairfiy, "It is not my intention to take liberties."
Vanlandi laughed a little, "I didn't think that. I was just expecting to have to ask- though I was going to go with dancing."
"Chances are I would crush your toes."
"Garden it is." They were halfway to the garden before Vanlandi spoke again. "You know," he said casually, "have you thought that maybe it is my intention to take liberties?"
Genre: Original. Otherwordly. Slash.
Summary: Caoindealbhan isn't trying to act like a jerk at his brother's wedding. He's just a little distracted, very awkward and uncomfortable without his sword.
Despite the strength that his name implied and all his years leading the warriors of the Seelie, the mere sight of Vanlandi reduced Caoindealbhan to little more than a lumbering idiot. Able to sense his discomfort, though not the reason behind it, his sister Tallula remained at his side for the entirety of the wedding ceremony and never wandered far during the reception.
"Dea," she said gently, "surely you do not disapprove of Seachlainn's choice. I think he and Aubrey are very well suited."
Caoindealbhan tucked her arm into his and narrowed his gaze at those who dared to let their attention linger too long on Tallula, "I do not disapprove."
"Then stop looking like you are at your brother's funeral instead of his wedding. I think you are making our new brother-in-law nervous."
Leading her to the banquet table, Caoindealbhan took a seat between Tallula and their brother Cahir and tried his best to obey her and not act like a wretch at his brother's wedding. But every time he relaxed he caught sight of Vanlandi and his discomfort and distraction returned full force. The start of the dancing, some clearly drunken, distracted him enough to bring out a sort of smile.
"Hail siblings."
Tallula smiled and kissed Brennus on the cheek and fussed over him. Brennus had always been good-natured enough to accept such mothering from nearly all of his older siblings gracefully.
"Dea, might I have a moment of your time?"
"Of course," Caoindealbhan replied and allowed Brennus lead him a short distance away.
"Is something wrong?"
Caoindealbhan thought for a moment, "I have not noticed anything very wrong. Tallula is receiving more attention than is appropriate, but she recently let it be known that she is no longer averse to marrying and will receive attention until she choses. Cahir seems... I'm not sure. He seems off somehow. Lonely. Or worried. I cannot exactly tell and I haven't had a chance to speak with him."
"Dea, I came on behalf of Seachlainn to ask you if something is wrong. With you."
"Oh," Caoindealbhan avoided his gaze for a moment, "It was not my intention to cause him concern. His attention should be on his new husband."
Brennus frowned, the expression deepening as Caoindealbhan replied, "I thought he was overreacting. He's always worried after you. But something is bothering you."
"It is the Vanir," Caoindealbhan admitted reluctantly and with a touch of shame.
"Oh," Brennus studied him for a moment, his frown lessening slightly, "Well, it is true what they say about the Vanir and Vanlandi is one of the most powerful among them. But you do not need to worry that he will invade your privacy or-"
He held up his hand, "Not like that. Don't you ever look at your human and... and... its confusing and alarming and suddenly rather difficult to breath..." Caoindealbhan was further discomforted when his brother stared at him in shock. He knew very well that his siblings thought him a prude or asexual for his unrelenting avoidance of sexual or romantic relationships. Gifted though he was in his role as a solider, Caoindealbhan was rarely comfortable otherwise. Sometimes he even struggled to deal with his family especially when there were more than a handful present at a given time. Weapons had, unnecessarily in his opinion, been prohibited at this event and Caoindealbhan felt awkward and unclothed without his sword.
"I see," Brennus said slowly, the shock fading from his expression entirely too slowly in Caoindealbhan's opinion. "I can introduce you to him."
"I would only make a fool of myself."
Most of the shock on his face faded into something that was closer to sympathy, "Dea, its okay to be a little....reserved. And Vanlandi is-"
Caoindealbhan shook his head, "Thank you, but no. I am sure that it is a passing fancy, will be of short duration, go away soon and never recur."
Brennus smiled a little, unconvinced, but did not argue with him, "If you are sure."
"I am. I will return to Tallula now. I do not believe that Cahir adequately intimidates her suitors and I will not have her bothered at this event."
Caoindealbhan had always done his best to hide from his other siblings that Tallula was his favorite. They were particularly close in age, a mere twenty years apart, and talking with Tallula had always been far easier than with anyone else. Except maybe Puck. Glancing in her direction, he reevaluated his decision to return to her. Daigre, his second, stood a respectful distance from Tallula and whatever he was saying to her was making her smile. Daigre had never acted as though he wished to court Tallula, but Caoindealbhan had always suspected he might be interested in her. Perhaps he just needed a little encouragement.
"What do you think of Daigre?" Though Brennus was the last of his siblings and extremely young, Caoindealbhan had always found his insights to be beyond his years.
"You think highly of him."
"Yes, but what do you think of him?"
"I trust your opinion. If this is about Tallula, I do not think he will actually attempt to court her because he does not think he has a chance against the others."
"I see."
His gaze shifted to a point behind Caoindealbhan's shoulder and he smiled, "Vanlandi. Hello."
No. Surely not. What reason could the Vanir have for coming in their direction? Heart his his throat, Caoindealbhan turned and discovered Vanlandi standing a short distance behind him.
"Prince Brennus," he inclined his head.
"Vanlandi, this is my brother Caoindealbhan."
"Prince Caoindealbhan," Vanlandi smiled and Caoindealbhan wanted to look away from him if only so he could continue to breath normally, but his eyes refused to look away. "Actually, I have a little wager with Prince Seachlainn about if I would be able to meet all of his siblings at this gathering."
"And how many have you met?" Caoindealbhan asked, half surprised that his voice didn't waver.
"All. I saved the best for last." Caoindealbhan felt his face heat and stared at the ground as Brennus choked to prevent a laugh and excused himself. Vanlandi's smile faded a little, "I don't get visions from eye contact."
Caoindealbhan raised his gaze in surprise, "I know."
"Oh."
"Do you- have you-" Caoindealbhan struggled to finish his question as his mind went inconveniently blank. Vanlandi was still smiling, his eyes bright and lips full, "-uh- are you enjoying the wedding?" Are you enjoying the wedding? Was that he best he could do?
"Yes," Vanlandi replied enthusiastically, "before this day I had never left Vanaheimr except to go to Asgard."
"I have never been to either."
His smile widened, "You would be welcome to Vanaheimer whenever you wish."
"Thank you."
"We love visitors," Vanlandi continued, "most of my people prefer not to travel from Vanaheimr. Our gifts unnerve others."
"Your gifts do not unnerve me," Caoindealbhan blurted thoughtlessly and then struggled to hold Vanlandi's gaze, afraid that if he looked away the Vanir would not believe his words.
"Something about me does. You seem very uncomfortable. Should I excuse myself?"
Angry with himself for being such an awkward oaf, Caoindealbhan barely managed to keep himself from frowning when he shook his head. "My sister Tallula," he briefly glanced in her direction to make sure that all was well with her and Daigre and once pacified he continued, "she says that I am only comfortable when I am with my soldiers. It is not my preference that you excuse yourself. I am... enjoying your company."
Vanlandi smiled, his whole face brightening and since it would be inappropriate Caoindealbhan forced himself to ignore the strange urge to hug the other man. Allowing his mind to wander a little, he imagined that holding Vanlandi would be perfect. Vanlandi was smaller and slighter than him and would be easy to completely shelter in his embrace. And he was the perfect height to tuck his head against Caoindealbhan's shoulder.
"Would you care to walk with me in the garden?" Seeing the surprise on Vanlandi's face, he hastened to clairfiy, "It is not my intention to take liberties."
Vanlandi laughed a little, "I didn't think that. I was just expecting to have to ask- though I was going to go with dancing."
"Chances are I would crush your toes."
"Garden it is." They were halfway to the garden before Vanlandi spoke again. "You know," he said casually, "have you thought that maybe it is my intention to take liberties?"