[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

[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...

[face_downcast]

In a very small part of his brain, Cain could feel his 12-year-old self crying and screaming. The words were indistinct, but the repeated refrain of 'mine, mine, mine' seemed to echo his and Riff's heartbeat (because really, they only had one). It was only interrupted by Ryou's soft whisper, and only faded fully when Cain blinked open his eyes to pull brokenly out of the embrace.

He nodded once at the floor by Ryou's feet, breathing coming in shaky as he brushed his hand quickly through his hair. For a second he reached out and caught at the other boy's hand for a reassuring squeeze. Cain would to get Malik now, would work on not being an idiot, would tell Ryou how much it meant to have someone like Ryou in his life.

Would admit that he needed Riff to breathe, and that his ragged panting now was the same as coming up from the deep to finally draw in fresh air again.

Then, without further word, he was gone, sliding away cat-like to rid himself of the situation.

[tea_is_served]

Ryou’s words didn’t register with the silver-haired man until after Cain had slipped from his arms. Riff opened his eyes slowly. For a moment or two, they had been in their own world, and things had seemed right again. It was silly of him to think that could have lasted; Cain had business to attend to, and he… he would probably need to sit down soon. The ordeal had drained him both emotionally and physically, but at the same time, had given him hope.

Riff crossed his arms, putting a hand on each elbow in an effort to fill the space, and followed the young earl with his eyes as the boy gave Ryou’s hand a squeeze and quickly left the room. He continued staring out of the doorframe until he heard the sound of the front door opening and closing. Then turned back to Ryou.

“I.. I’m sorry.” he said quietly, giving him a slight bow.
It only now occurred to him how awkward and draining it must have been on the brown-eyed boy as well.

[coh_ryou]

Ryou watched with tiered eyes as Cain left Riff's arms and walked out of the door. The earl's hand grabbing onto his own for a moment was slightly relieving, he had wanted to smile at him and say it would be alright, that they would be there when he got back. Still, this quick brush of the hands was all that was done, and he hoped it had been enough.

Riff's words caught his attention, and he smiled softly at the man. "No, there's no need for apology." he placed a gentle hand on the small of the man's back and guided him from the room. "I don't even know what you'd be apologising for." he admitted.

[tea_is_served]

Riff slowly walked forward, allowing himself to be lead out of the room. He wasn’t entirely sure what he was apologizing for either.
Maybe for the stresses he’d caused not only Cain, but Emmeline and Ryou as well. Maybe because those two had gotten caught up in it? Or that they had to see him at one of his weakest and most horribly unprofessional moments?
He shook his head to clear the thoughts, deciding it might be better to not dwell on those things.

[coh_ryou]

Ryou smiled at him once they were out in the hall. "Please, would you like something to eat." he was directing him to the kitchen once again. "I know it's probably something you take care off back home, but I think it's alright if you have a moment to calm down yourself." he sighed, rubbing his eyes as he let Riff in to the kitchen.

"Ms. Emmeline is probably going to stay in bed for a while. So we shouldn't worry about her."