flash fic: The Broken Half
Title: The Broken Half
Author: robinfanatic
Characters: Much; mentions Kate, Robin
Rating: G
Genre: angst
Words: 403
Disclaimer: BBC & TA own; I just want to play in their universe
Notes: Written for the rh_intercomm Challenge. A companion piece to "A Friend in Need". Spoilers for 3x09; references 2x12.
Summary: Much sees his glass half empty...
The Broken Half
by robinfanatic
Much, I have betrayed your friendship. The barn. Nettlestone. Words spoken with tear-filled emerald eyes. Words forgotten when blood in the desert broke a bond that once had been special. Robin was further away than ever.
Nothing hurt more than that, not even the scorch of Vaizey's fiery brand against his skin.
Not even Kate. Would you talk to Robin for me? Tell him we're just friends?
So he'd been distracted. I really like Robin... He had every intention of doing his part on the mission. Grabbing the cart, making off with Thornton's treasure. But he stopped--it was a blink of an eye, no more than a second or two--and spotted Robin and Kate fighting back to back, side by side.
Much rolled onto his side in his bunk, half-curling himself into a ball. Moisture stung his eyes. He'd never really had Kate. He knew that. He couldn't have her. But Robin--something else had changed...
His thoughts drifted back to the fight in the clearing. Robin and Kate matched blow for blow. She would duck, his sword flashed by, he turned, she straightened and deflected a blow aimed at his head, he blocked a thrust...and they did it all over again. They were a team. Like us.
He and Robin had been that way once--the one always knowing what the other would do. Their lives depended on it in the Holy Land...and in Nottingham. But Kate had Robin's back now. She appeared to take to the role naturally--one half of a whole. And when they fought Thornton's men together--
His heart ached to see them like that. He'd once been the other half...and that was something he knew he'd never get back.
Much lay there well before the first hints of sunlight cracked the tree canopy. Allan said he should forget it and move on. Well, he couldn't forget... not yet anyway. And he would move on. Just maybe not the way Allan was thinking.
Sliding out of bed, Much gathered his belongings quietly and placed his shield over his shoulder. John and Tuck were snoring. Allan muttered something in his sleep. He paused as he walked away, looked at Robin...Kate...asleep like babes. Two halves of a whole. There was no room here for a broken half. He needed to leave.
And somewhere...out there...was another half to make him whole...
Author: robinfanatic
Characters: Much; mentions Kate, Robin
Rating: G
Genre: angst
Words: 403
Disclaimer: BBC & TA own; I just want to play in their universe
Notes: Written for the rh_intercomm Challenge. A companion piece to "A Friend in Need". Spoilers for 3x09; references 2x12.
Summary: Much sees his glass half empty...
The Broken Half
by robinfanatic
Much, I have betrayed your friendship. The barn. Nettlestone. Words spoken with tear-filled emerald eyes. Words forgotten when blood in the desert broke a bond that once had been special. Robin was further away than ever.
Nothing hurt more than that, not even the scorch of Vaizey's fiery brand against his skin.
Not even Kate. Would you talk to Robin for me? Tell him we're just friends?
So he'd been distracted. I really like Robin... He had every intention of doing his part on the mission. Grabbing the cart, making off with Thornton's treasure. But he stopped--it was a blink of an eye, no more than a second or two--and spotted Robin and Kate fighting back to back, side by side.
Much rolled onto his side in his bunk, half-curling himself into a ball. Moisture stung his eyes. He'd never really had Kate. He knew that. He couldn't have her. But Robin--something else had changed...
His thoughts drifted back to the fight in the clearing. Robin and Kate matched blow for blow. She would duck, his sword flashed by, he turned, she straightened and deflected a blow aimed at his head, he blocked a thrust...and they did it all over again. They were a team. Like us.
He and Robin had been that way once--the one always knowing what the other would do. Their lives depended on it in the Holy Land...and in Nottingham. But Kate had Robin's back now. She appeared to take to the role naturally--one half of a whole. And when they fought Thornton's men together--
His heart ached to see them like that. He'd once been the other half...and that was something he knew he'd never get back.
Much lay there well before the first hints of sunlight cracked the tree canopy. Allan said he should forget it and move on. Well, he couldn't forget... not yet anyway. And he would move on. Just maybe not the way Allan was thinking.
Sliding out of bed, Much gathered his belongings quietly and placed his shield over his shoulder. John and Tuck were snoring. Allan muttered something in his sleep. He paused as he walked away, looked at Robin...Kate...asleep like babes. Two halves of a whole. There was no room here for a broken half. He needed to leave.
And somewhere...out there...was another half to make him whole...