The Nightingale (1/?) Desert AU
Title: The Nightingale
Author:
bishojo_kitsune
Pairings: House/Cuddy, Chase/Cameron
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: Set in the Syrian desert some time in the pre-industrial age past. Between phantom thieves, crippled detectives, medical shepherds, and the sands of the desert; everyone has something to hide.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters used or anything else for that matter.
Notes: This is to be considered as a "pilot" so-to-speak for an AU series I'm planning. Basically, this is just to see how the plot flows and how the characters fit into their respective roles. I hope to pursue this idea further in April after I get some other fics and school projects out of the way.
"There he is!"
An agile figure heard the shout from the distance and effortlessly jumped over the roof-top to the next. As the gaggle of guards gave chase, the mysterious figure could only smirk at their vain actions.
"Stop!" One of the guards yelled as they began throwing various projectiles at the thief. Everything from pebbles to flower pots were hurled at the swift runner and were also easily avoided.
The guards' swords shone in the moonlight and the adrenaline was rushing though the figure's veins. As the bag of apples bounced up and down with each quick step, excitement was building in the thief's heart.
Jumping down from the small house was a simple task for the mysterious escaping figure; however, it proved to be a difficult task for the group of burly men. Taking advantage of the situation, the thief ducked into the shadows of a nearby alley. The figure panted as the sweat of desert heat and excitement began to show, a smile was visible on the figure's lips.
"Where is he? Where did he go?" The various guards clamored to themselves as a few spread out in vain hopes that the runner was still close by.
"Don't bother. He's already long gone." The captain spoke up as he stood confidently in front of his group of men. "Damn, he got away again. Half of you keep watch over the street, the rest of you head back to the palace."
"Yes sir, Captain Tritter!" The men replied in practiced unison.
Meanwhile, the nimble thief had already taken shelter in a small, abandoned room in a falling-apart building. The facial covering cloth was slowly removed to have the figure's curly black hair hang loosely down from the night's escapades. Sparkling azure eyes beheld the slow sunrise as she contently took a bite from her stolen prize.
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It was early morning in the city of Latakia, the chaos of the marketplace was already alive. A man sat with his back to the wall with his face hidden under a large foreign hat as he soaked in the various information scattered about in the daily gossip. He sat with his bad leg straight out, as he was hidden from public view just as he liked it.
"What do you mean it's ten pence per apple?! It was just four yesterday! That's more than double!"
"Please sir, please; you must understand my plight. I was robbed last night! Bushels upon bushels of my apples were stolen!"
"I'd sooner pick them from the trees myself!" The shopper looked uninterested in the peddler's story and began to leave.
"Did I mention I was robbed by the Nightingale?"
The peddler's statement caught both the shopper and the laid back man's attention.
"You can ask the guards yourself, the legendary Nightingale robbed my shop last night. Even with all the apples he stole, he still managed to give the guards the slip! So please, if you don't buy my apples he'll take them..." The peddler's voice began to take on a dramatic whining tone, "My wife just had her baby... we need the money!"
Having a look of pity on his face, the shopper bought three apples and went on his way. Soon after, the laid back man slowly got up and balanced his bad leg on a shepherd's staff. He began to leave the corner as he passed the peddler, noticing the lack of a wedding ring on his finger.
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The lame man hobbled along until he reached the outskirts of town and began to head towards a small gathering of sheep. A lowly shepherd gently tended the flock as he saw the man approaching.
"Ah, I was wondering where my staff had gotten to."
"You've got the only water for these beasts for miles and I, on the other hand, cannot get around on a crippled leg. Therefore I win."
"Everything is a contest for you isn't it?"
"Wilson." The man scoffed, "Surely you know me better than that."
"Oh I'm sorry, I meant everything is a puzzle for you."
"Exactly." The man replied confidently as he headed for the small cottage close by. "Got anything to eat?"
"House!" Wilson yelled after the man, ignoring him. "I need my staff back; I need to bring the flock to an oasis later!"
"Then what am I supposed to use? Do you really want me to crawl around the place until you get back? How cruel of you, Wilson..." House responded deviously.
"I don't know... How about I use my shepherd's staff for its intended purpose and you use that fancy walking stick you got from Bangladesh or India or where ever it was." Wilson turned his back to House and continued to watch over his sheep. "I swear, for keeping a low profile around here you sure love to prance around with your foreign goods."
"People of this town are blind. Once they realize I'm crippled they failed to notice anything else about me. You wouldn't believe the crap I could get away with if I really wanted to..."
"Uh huh." Wilson said nonchalantly, "That's exactly why we're living at the edge of poverty in hiding."
"I thought you wanted to come here with me." House said in a suggestive tone, "I thought you wanted to get away from all that yeastless bread and passovers and see the world."
" 'Seeing the world' sounds a whole lot better than shepherding, despite their being the same in this instance. Besides, I feel uneasy being so close to the cursed city of Laodicea..."
"Hey, hey, hey." House said rapidly, "First of all, the town is called Latakia. Second of all, the 'Laodicea' you're thinking about is in ruins along with the Roman empire, somewhere near Turkey or something. You've been reading too much."
"Reading too much? The last time I saw the holy scrolls was when I turned thirteen! You just think too much."
Suddenly, a shrill 'baa' cut though the air which immediately alerted Wilson. As he searched though his flock he discovered that one of his sheep had cut its leg on a sharp branch.
"House. Can you please get some bandages, water, and some salve? I have to make sure this wound doesn't get infected."
Wordlessly, House went into the cottage and quickly got the items Wilson requested. Wilson then swiftly washed the wound and applied the salve. He gently wrapped the bandages and the sheep was good as new. It quickly ran off to join the rest of the flock as Wilson only stared on.
"You miss it?" House asked as he stood beside his friend with his chin on the end of the shepherd staff.
"Miss what?" Wilson replied without looking up.
"Actually taking care of people instead of brainless sheep."
" 'He who helps the guilty, shares the crime.' " Wilson quoted.
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"You lost him again." Princess Allison stated plainly as the guard reported to her the events of the previous night. "This is the fifth night in a row the Nightingale has stuck!"
"It's almost as if he's not human," The guard replied. "Please forgive us your Grace," he said as he knelt before her.
"I understand." She replied gently. "Do you have anything to add, Foreman?"
Royal advisor Foreman spoke up, "Do you have any information on the Nightingale?"
"No. It's almost as if he's a ghost."
"Thank you, that will be all." Princess Allison said as she sent the guard away.
"This could be a problem. Knowledge of this thief has already spread though the public, and there's nothing we can do," Princess Allison sighed.
Foreman stood in silent thought.
"Do you have any ideas, Foreman?"
There was silence for a moment until Foreman realized Princess Allison was staring at him, waiting for an answer. "None at the moment."
The silence continued until Foreman decided to change the subject. "So, when will your rule be made official?"
Princess Allison got up and started to walk away. "Not this again..."
"Princess Allison! It's already been a year since your husband died and the law requires a male leader on the throne. If you want the Cameron line to continue-!"
She abruptly cut him off. "But I don't want to marry for political reasons. I want to marry for love!"
Foreman could only roll his eyes at the frivolous ideas the princess voiced out. "Then love your city and marry for that."
"It's not like that. The person I want to marry is someone I will love until I die. What kind of person am I if I cannot stick to lifelong commitment?"
Foreman was clearly annoyed at the lighthearted suggestions the princess made. "You know, life isn't as clear cut as that. Lots of things are unfair whether you like it or not."
"I know many things are unfair. But until the time comes, I'll wait this whole thing out. It'll work out."
Both parties left the throne room without another glance at each other.
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In the early afternoon, amist the bustle of the town, a young traveler attempted to weave his way through. Having arrived from a foreign land, he was very confused as to what he should do next.
Attempting to work his way out of the desert sun, he found himself lost and at the edge of the palace walls. Seeing the burly guards standing watch, he headed for the opposite direction. After a few more minutes of aimless wandering, he found a shaded corner and promptly sat down to catch his breath.
The traveler wiped the sweat off his brow and then looked up to see the sun he had attempted to elude. However, to his surprise, he saw a figure desending down towards him instead. The figure then slipped and began to fall, and the traveler rushed to save the stranger. The stranger's fall was broken by the traveler's back.
"Ow..." The stranger said as she rubbed her neck.
"Are you...alright?" The traveler asked weakly.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! Are you ok!" The stranger got up quickly and helped the traveler up.
"I'm alright, it's fine."
The stranger stared at her rescuer oddly until he was prompted to respond. "Umm... Something the matter?"
"Your voice... It's a little..."
"Oh!" The traveller responded happily, relieved that that was the only thing she was worried about. "I just arrived in this town last night. I'm a traveler you see."
"Ah..." The stranger looked at him captivatingly. She then remembered her situation and swiftly grabbed the traveler's hand and ran from the area.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing!"
The traveler knew she was a bad liar, but dismissed that fact in the midst of the situation. After a while of running, the two stopped in the backstreets of a small neighborhood. The girl leaned back on a wall and slid down while the traveler sat down beside her.
"So...what's your name?"
The girl panted, trying to catch her breath as she looked over at the man she dragged with her. "Tell me your name first."
The traveler hesitated for a moment before answering."Chase. I've come to be known as Chase."
She decided to add on to the many risks she had taken that day, "Cameron. My name is Cameron."
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House sat contentedly at the table with his legs propped up and his eyes closed. Wilson could see him attempt to sleep during the day and shook his head as he tended to his sheep. He then looked up again to see a figure leaving the city, and heading for them.
Wilson began to prepare for the worst when, upon closer inspection, he realized he knew the approaching figure. "House, there's someone here to see you."
House opened one eye as he saw the person coming closer, but decided to let the person come to him. He remained in his comfortable position and kept his look of 'psuedo-sleep' on his face.
The figure gave a nod of acknowledgement to Wilson, who mirrored his gesture, and the figure kept walking towards the small cottage. He entered the abode and stared at House.
"What do you want Foreman?" House asked without opening his eyes.
"I need to ask a favor." Foreman sat down expectantly.
"I don't do favors."
"You should when you owe people one."
House looked up in interest, "I paid you back by keeping your secret."
"It has to do with your line of work."
"Sitting on streets, hoping people will give me money?" House replied sarcastically.
Foreman just rolled his eyes. "No, not like you do that anyway. Everytime someone throws a coin at you, you immediately hurl it back."
"Prove it."
"I've seen you do it. Hell, you threw coins at me and I didn't even give them to you!"
"Like those blind men can tell you gave them money anyway. The city's too loud to hear coins drop in those bowls. Besides, they don't want pity."
"No, you don't want pity. Some people actually need it."
"I never see you throwing extra coins at those homeless guys on the streets."
"They don't need it, they just need a job." Foreman realized they were straying from the subject, so he brought it up again. "You've heard of the Nightingale?"
"Refresh my memory."
"The phantom thief that hasn't left a trace of his identity at all. The entire town is buzzing about him."
"Ah..." House replied boredly.
"I need your help to catch him."
House then looked up amusingly. "You think I can catch someone who has managed to outrun all of your guards?"
"House. You are the best detective in this area."
"Flattery will get you nowhere."
"I've never known you to let a big mystery such as this elude your grasp."
"What did I say about flattery?"
Foreman just sighed a sigh of defeat and prepared to leave. "Just tell me if you get any leads."
"Then I'd spoil the puzzle for you. Where's the fun in that?"
Foreman left, leaving House alone with his thoughts.
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"There he is! Stop him!"
The Nightingale swiftly eluded the guards just like she did every night. She ran freely though the moonlit streets and was soon way ahead of the pursuing guards. Suddenly, she felt a jolt in her leg and just as quickly found herself on the ground. She looked over to see a shepherd staff as the obstacle that impeded her, and then heard the shouts of the guards coming closer. She then felt a strong hand over her mouth as it pulled her into the dark alley.
"Be quiet and do exactly what I tell you."
The Nightingale panicked at the stranger's presence and realized that his hand was muffling her ability to speak. She also realized that she was pressed so closely against him that her left arm was rendered useless. She carefully slid out a dagger with her right hand, only to have her right arm also held captive in the air by the stranger's free hand.
"That means no funny movements either." The stranger said almost suggestively.
The Nightingale struggled in vain within the stranger's strong grip, but then she heard the group of guards run past the alley they were hidden in. She drew a quick breath and stopped struggling. After awhile, both relaxed, but the stranger still kept a grip on the thief.
"Looks like the coast is clear," the stranger sighed.
The Nightingale could only make angry muffled noices as her mouth was covered by the man's hand. She began to struggle again.
"Don't be so difficult..." The man let go and the thief began to attempt at getting away.
"After all, a woman like yourself shouldn't be so rough..."
The Nightingale froze mid-step as her eyes widened. He knew her secret.
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Author's Notes: Woo! I hope everyone could tell that the Nightingale is Cuddy, obviously, but how she got into that position; nobody knows! Just so you all know, House's leg injury isn't as bad as it is on the show, so he can get around with little difficulty, but is unable to run. And yes, Wilson is the only actual doctor among the main characters, what fun. Sorry Tritter was the first character revealed (ew), but that's just the way the story panned out. I also feel weird about having to call Cameron 'Princess Allison', but there was no way around it. I hope this fic panned out well and I plan on working on it more in the future!
By the way, the "large foreign hat" House was wearing is an asian straw hat in case anyone was curious. Also, "the cursed city of Laodicea" Wilson is referring to is the one in the Bible that was mentioned in Revelations. It is not a random plot point other than the fact that it refers to Wilson's Jewish background.