[thread] from years before

[face_downcast]

Who: Cain, Emmeline, Riff, Ryou
What: Bringing Emmeline to Ryou to take care of her; reuniting with Riff; general fluff and angst
When: After Cain gets Emmeline from Marik
Where: Cain's house
Rating: PG [subject to change]

Comments

[face_downcast]

Having successfully cut out his heart and set it aside, Cain opened his eyes again, lifting his head properly and casting a cold smile down at Emmeline.

"...well, then. If your ladyship will excuse me, I really do have to go check on my friend. He's in a bad place. You understand how Marik is, mm?"

His long pale fingers brushed her cheek absently as his attention traveled to Ryou. The cruelty of his smile lessened marginally, replaced with the vaguest hint of desperation instead.

"I do appreciate your looking after her. It gives such a peace of mind. Promise you'll get some rest as well, dear. You look absolutely exhausted. And..." his golden eyes finally flicked to the last person in the room, the man near enough to either hit or cling to desperately. "...as for you."

His throat closed up again. It took Cain a few steadying breaths before he could properly address himself to Riff without screaming and without his entire body shaking in fury.

"Wh... when I return, see to it that you're not here. I've understood your sentiment perfectly. I only wish..." His fingers clenched unconsciously, eyes hardening as the pained smile dropped fully from his face. "I only wish..."

What did he wish? He wished he could throw himself into the arms which had never before failed to catch him, cling to the familiar arms and bury his face into the comforting chest. Cain wanted his dreams to have been true. He didn't want to deal with the reality that their promise had been shattered.

"...I only wish, sir, that you'd left when I gave you opportunity to do so, rather than waiting so long."

[tea_is_served]

He attempted to meet the young noble’s gaze with his own, and nearly flinched when the gold-green eyes looked aside, refusing contact.

“Master Cain… I…it…” his voice was barely above a whisper, and his hands had begun to shake.

He had promised… promised to always be by his side, to care for him, to protect him… he’d practically sworn his soul to the boy within a few weeks of coming to work at his home.
He never imagined a day would come when fate would separate them; no, the sanity of each depended to greatly on the other.

But it had.

Though, somehow in all the time he had spent searching for his young lord, after being snatched so suddenly from his own world and being deposited in this one, he had tried his hardest not to think of what the outcome may be like. He’d tried not to think of the possibility that Cain might not forgive his absence.

And now, his greatest fears were coming to pass.
Would this be it? Could it be… that the only valid reason he had to carry on with life…
No, no…

Jerking forward into nearly a ninety-degree angle, he bowed to him.

“Master Cain, it was never my intention to leave you! I am so … so immensely sorry!” he said; bringing his voice to a volume that was almost too loud, and a tone on the verge of desperation.

[lady_rotterdale]

Emmeline froze under that look. She carefully rationalized with herself that Cain was extremely upset and not exactly acting like himself, but it hurt nonetheless. And of course, when his eyes changed as he looked at Ryou, all her logic fell apart.

And here it was again. This desperate desire to hate the boy. Where was it coming from? What on earth had he done?

She bit her tongue and listened to Riff, knowing his words came from the heart and praying Cain heard it too. She refused to think about her own pain.

[coh_ryou]

Ryou looked around at the group. His brown eyes only softened with pain for the man who clearly wished nothing more than to be forgiven. He had seen how much Riff had wanted to return to Cain's side, and now Cain, the one person he thought he knew was casting someone aside. Throwing them away as if they were meaningless. Still, when those golden eyes had looked at him, it said something. It made him act.

He had heard Riff's words, and had seen that Cain continued with his tantrum, because by then that's all Ryou saw it as. It was infuriating and it was makeing his patience for the entier situation crack.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" He hissed, the normaly soft eyes turned into cold hard brown ones, much like those Bakura had. "I realize that it hurt your feelings that he was gone so long but that does not give you the right to treat him like that, even if he is your servant."

Ryou's hand shot forward and grabbed Cain's shirt pulling him in so that they were eye level.
"You trust Riff so much that you only accept tea from him. That would mean that he would know a lot about your past and judgine by the silence he kept and the worry he had for you, I'd say he's one of the few true friends you have.

"What the hell are you going to do if he leaves? You won't survive. You need him, and you miss him. You are falling appart with out him, and what then? Do you think you'll be able to take care of Merry Weather, Malik or anyone for that matter if you shatter under all of this? Throw away your stupid pride and accept that Riff is a person just like you and me and that if you kick him out like this he is alone to."

By the time he stopped he was glaring at Cain, hand still holding a fist full of his shirt. His breathing was ragged because as much as he had growled and let his frustration with the situation out, the only thing stopping him from phisicaly hitting Cain was deep breathing,which wasn't working because he had been trying not to yell and failing at it.

[face_downcast]

However impassive he was when Riff spoke again, he had to admit he was jolted by Ryou grabbing him. His bright golden-green eyes widened slightly as the other boy's words washed over him, body tense and fragile to the onslaught.

Then, as the words wore off, Cain felt himself starting to smile again, almost to laugh as something warm within him shut down and turned cold.

"Hurt my feelings?" he repeated back with a quiet intensity, eyes dancing as if in satiric laughter. "My servant? Surviving?"

It wasn't a question of surviving. He already had survived; every second without Riff had been a second without air. And yet here he was, standing on his own two feet solidly as he reached carefully up to disentangle Ryou's fingers from his shirt. There was still so much this person didn't understand. This hadn't hurt; this had killed part of him. Riff wasn't a servant; Riff was his life force personified.

"As much as I respect your opinion, Ryou..." But then the laughter returned. There was nothing he could do about the soft, hollow laugh as he finally managed to break himself more or less free of the other. Hysteria was there, lurking at the bottom of his voice and flashing through his eyes as he moved back. "...this absolutely does not concern you. We'll speak on it later."

Then, with the feline grace he was marked for, Cain began his exit. And, quite inexplicably, found he could only move half-way past Riff before his brain shut down again and he stumbled. Instinct took him before he could control himself. Like a child again, his hand shot out, catching at the older man's coat sleeve to keep himself from falling over.

[tea_is_served]

Riff straightened back up at the sound of Ryou’s outburst and watched in near-shock as the young man’s entire persona changed from that of a soft-spoken caring boy, to someone so angry and cold. He stood for several moments, just listening as Ryou vented his opinions loudly to Cain, but nearly lurched forward out of instinct when the boy took a hold of his master’s collar, ready to stop him should he decide to become physical.

As Ryou continued, his gaze slowly fell to the floor. Was it wrong that he thought Cain had every right to reject him like this? Ryou made it sound like something easily remedied, but perhaps that was only because it was the perspective of someone other than the two involved. This promise was not a casual sort of thing to them, it was far more important than that; but though Ryou did not fully understand it, he was trying to defend him. He, who the boy had only met not even a half hour ago.
But despite his good intenions, his last sentence caused a terrible pang of despair in the silver-haired man.
If something ever did cause them to separate permanently, Riff knew for a fact that he would be dead and buried long before he ever had the opportunity to feel ‘alone’.

Looking up again from the floor as Cain began to speak, he curled his fingers into fists in an attempt to stop the shaking in his hands. When the boy laughed… laughed like that, it nearly destroyed him.

Cain approached him and he looked away, eyes wide but hardly seeing. He fully expected him to pass, and leave the home. After which, he would say his apologies and goodbyes to Emmeline and Ryou and leave as well. But instead he heard the shuffle of unsteady feet, and felt several thin fingers latch onto his sleeve. Not fighting his natural reaction, he turned his attention back to the boy, bending slightly at the knees. The arm Cain had taken a hold of went ridged, while his other traced a familiar pattern and wrapped swiftly and carefully around the aristocrat’s back, allowing him to regain his balance.

[lady_rotterdale]

Emmeline watched with the detached eyes of a quiet observer, burying her own emotions down where they would not bother her at the moment. She only flinched inwardly at Ryou's tirade, trembled in her blank shell at Cain's broken laughter, and was, finally, rewarded when the fool stumbled into Riff. She trusted that small contact at the very least would take them far towards stopping this nonsense.

[coh_ryou]

Ryou was growing more and more annoyed with every word Cain said back to him. The only reason he hadn't faught harder to keep his hold on Cain's shirt was because he was trying to contain his anger at the other. The words he said burned as did that horrible half laughter.

Ryou glaired at Cain as he watched him walk away, he made up his mind, even if he had to tackle Cain to the ground and beat scence into him he was going to get Cain to accept the other's appologuie, but then his expression suddenly changed into one of worry as he almost reached out to stop the other from falling only to realize that instinct between the two men had reacted. Cain had reached out to Riff and Riff had done the same.

He waited,eyes glaring at the back of Cain's head only slightly softer than the had just been, determaning that if Cain left he'd drag him back in. If he accepted then he would let him go to Malik.

[face_downcast]

A moment before, Cain had been sure Riff's touch would kill him. Forgiving Riff couldn't have been contemplated. The world had been about to shatter.

Now Riff's strong arms around him, one holding him gently while the other allowed him to stay standing. The universe was falling back into order. Cain had almost forgotten how warm the older man was, even through so many layers of clothes with so little contact. There was simply something comforting about being near the man. For the slightest moment, his grip on his valet's sleeve tightened, eyes dropping shut as he relaxed briefly into the quasi-embrace.

God, but it felt like coming home again.

It was with a sharp, jerky motion that he was able to properly right himself, fingers still clenched in Riff's jacket-sleeve even as he stood solidly on both feet. His eyes opened again, sending an uncertain little look up at his head-of-household as his lips formed a few soundless words. Finally he shook his head, unruly bangs hiding his gaze as he looked away again.

"...when I return, I want you..."

Wanted him what? To be gone? To have a pot of tea waiting? To be prepared for the screaming and violent anger which he'd contained in front of his guests but would have to loose at some point? To be prepared for the first tears in over five years?

Cain himself didn't seem to know, lips pursed slightly as he tried to finish his own thought.

[tea_is_served]

The situation, -sans the broken promise, Emmeline, and Ryou- was like taking a step back in time. Cain seemed so much younger, standing there with his hand on Riff’s sleeve, and unsure golden eyes looking up at the taller man through a curtain of mussed bangs.
Riff’s lips parted slightly; though he had little intention of responding to Cain’s words.
He couldn’t take seeing him in that state. But it hurt even more so that he found himself frozen to the spot, being able to do nothing other than stand like hulking statue. Useless.

Cain could very easily finish his sentence with ‘gone’. It terrified him that this could be the end. But… at the very least he could perform one last duty for his lord, couldn’t he?
Pulling his arm from Cain’s grip, he attempted to force to his pale lips one of the reassuring smiles he so routinely gave. Instead, the sadness in his eyes overpowered the false smile and he could feel a crack somewhere in him deepen. I cant even do this one thing for him.

While his mind was faltering, exhausted, and overcome by guilt and worry, one more thought occurred to him. Though he doubted the action would have the same effect it did when the earl was young, he was sure his own heart would crumble if he allowed this to go on any longer.

Before he realized he was moving, he’d wrapped a second arm around Cain’s back, sliding it up until fingers weaved their way into the boy’s hair, and pulled him tightly to his chest.

[lady_rotterdale]

Thank you, God.

She could almost trust them enough to rest now. But she supposed she should not go to sleep entirely just yet, in case Cain decided to throw another tantrum and try to order Riff out of the house once more.

The two men were both, in her opinion, being incredibly stupid; but then, she believed now that all men were relatively lacking in intelligence, so she supposed she could not fault them for it, especially given that - at times - Cain appeared to be more intelligent than most.

Emmeline settled back a little more, resisting the urge to sigh. They would work it out. Possibly.

[coh_ryou]

Ryou silently praid to any god that existed that this was the setteling point. He hoped that this would lead back to peace, a simple hug could do so much. He watched on in silence, feeling slightly torn as to what to feel, his dark eyes softened, almost to tears that he would not allow to be shown an he did his best to appear entierly calm.

His eyes drifted over to Emmeline, her calmer state reasured him a little more, but he could not be entierly sure until he saw Cain's final reaction. If Cain exploded again, he would step in again.

[face_downcast]

...well.

For a few seconds, Cain was completely frozen, unable to move or think or breathe. If simply touching Riff had been like coming home, this... this was like... something there were no words for. It struck him deeply, the way his visit to Ashura had, only it filled him much more quickly and with much warmer a sentiment, if that were possible.

Hesitantly, one hand lifted itself, creeping along the older man's torso until it latched down in a firm grip onto Riff's coat. Without meaning to the young man nuzzled closer, snuggling his face down against his valet's strong chest as a soft pathetic sigh escaped his lips. There was peace here.

He needed to forgive Riff. Ryou was right. He was going to die without this.

"...we'll talk about this later," Cain murmured into Riff's coat. "This is far from over."

And yet something inside him was melting, and realizing that it had not been dead: only frozen.

[tea_is_served]

The last action he could think of to take, hadn’t ended in ruin. Cain hadn’t pulled away, or immediately told him to leave; the boy had accepted the embrace and had gone so far as to move closer.

Riff felt as if a wave of calm had washed over him.

He leaned forward, hunching his shoulders so that his head was slightly closer to Cain’s height and closed his eyes; nearly losing himself in the sudden hope that this could all be set right…that maybe with time, everything could return to how it once was.
“Yes, sir.” he responded quietly, muffling most of the words into the boy’s hair.

[lady_rotterdale]

Emmeline sighed and gave up on fighting off the overpowering need for sleep. Cain would obviously work everything out - if not now, then later. She could trust him that much, she was sure. And she had the feeling that Riff would help smooth this over simply by being himself.

Good. Cain needed what little peace and love he allowed in his life.

Smiling ever so slightly, she let sleep claim her.

[[ooc: Bwah~haha, I have escaped your thread. >>]]

[coh_ryou]

Ryou sighed softly in relief. He wasn't going to have to beat Cain to a pulp to get him to understand. Not that Ryou wanted to do it, but he was getting desperate. The situations had been getting too out of hand and all he wanted was to see something go right. His eyes had become soft again and almost watery as he wanted to cry out his remaining frustrations, but that was something he'd have to do once everyone was gone.

He rubbed his eyes, glancing down at Emmeline who's even breathing had caught his attention. Large brown eyes looked back to the two other people in the room. Ushering them out would be best, so that they didn't disturb Emmeline, but he didn't want to interrupt them, either. Cain looked calmer than he could remember ever seeing him.

"...Cain" he stepped closer, his eyes stayed glued to the ground the entire time "Riff, we should leave the room. Ms. Emmeline is sleeping..." he whispered, feeling bad for even speaking...