Peanut Butter Week (Light)
Author: Casey
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, Post NIEE
Challenges: Peanut Butter 7 (light) & Papaya 23 (you’ve outdone yourself)
Toppings & Extras: Hot Fudge, Malt (Summer Challenge 2011 #48: I'm not listening when you say "goodbye" - "Semi-Charmed Life", by Third Eye Blind)
Word Count: 722
Rating: PG-13 (blood and character death.)
Summary: All things must come to an end.
Notes: Vlad’s day. PB Week 7. Definite spoilers.
Warning: Suicide.
He hadn’t seen his brother in six years and now that they were face-to-face, the childhood memories came flooding back. They had spent so many years covering each others’ backs, cleaning up after Edward’s messes, trying to keep Ani from being as screwed up as them. They had spent so many years failing at all of it.
Then, one day, Edward had clapped a friendly hand on Vlad’s shoulder and pointed him down the path he now stood at the end of.
“This is ironic, isn’t it, Sorin?”
His brother smiled crookedly. “Not exactly the word I would use, no, but I understand your meaning. Stand down, Vlad, and stand up for your crimes.”
Vlad’s eyes narrowed, anger surging within him. “I did nothing wrong.”
“Even if I agreed on taking over Tira, you kidnapped my son and our niece and nephew and hurt Dean just because you could. Not to mention what you’ve done and let be done to your daughter. That makes you no better than Edward. In fact, it makes you worse. You know better.”
Vlad spotted movement out of the corner of his eye, looking up to see his daughter step into the room. Her front was covered in blood and she clutched an equally bloody knife like she might never let it go. On her face was an expression Vlad had never seen. “It’s over, Dad,” she said flatly.
Sorin’s gaze flickered away from Vlad long enough to assess Sage. “Are you okay?” he asked and distantly, Vlad realized that should have been his question, but then, somehow Sorin had always been the better person.
“I won’t die,” she said in a tone that all of a sudden he recognized so well from childhood. That closed off, forced voice that spelled out so clearly that everything was wrong with the world and there was nothing she could do about it but struggle on. He realized then how often she had used that same tone since they’d met.
He took an automatic step back, looking between the two of them. “Sorin,” he started.
“Sage is right. It’s over. It’s all over. Time to step up or step down, your choice.”
“You wouldn’t actually kill me.”
“For what you’ve done to Dean and Sage? I absolutely would.”
“He didn’t-” Sage started weakly. Vlad was shocked she would even make an attempt to defend him and briefly wished he could have been a better father to her.
“He might not have done anything to you himself, but letting it happen is no better and still on his shoulders,” his brother said flatly.
Vlad’s eyes darted between them and he stepped back again, hitting the window behind him, free fingers pressing against the cool glass.
“Dad,” Sage said, moving forward to Sorin’s side.
His grip on reality was blissfully solid for the first time in a long time, and he knew it. He also knew it wasn’t likely to last, that this moment happened to contain the right triggers to make him truly understand the past years. “Sorin’s right,” he said quietly, holding his daughter’s gaze, so much like Sorin and Ani’s. “I’ve done you so much wrong in the last two years. I’m sorry I couldn’t be the father you deserved. I’m sorry I didn’t ask more about you growing up, or keep you from Tourn.” He glanced again at the bloody knife. “I suppose you solved that issue.”
“He tried to hurt Renie.”
Vlad was fairly certain that also meant he had come after her and couldn’t blame her for it. “Sorin, I’m glad you and Ani have found a balance.”
“Vlad,” Sorin started. He seemed to sense his move, one hand clenching and unclenching before coming to rest on Sage’s shoulder. Vlad took it as a silent promise to watch over her and do better than he had ever managed.
Without another word or time wasted, Vlad drove his fist and the hilt of his sword into the window. Glass flew outward, falling fast towards the ground. “Goodbye,” he said to the stunned expressions and, dropping his sword, hoisted himself onto the sill, ignoring the cuts that instantly covered his hands.
“Dad…”
“This is best for everyone,” he said, addressing the trees. “Good luck.”
Then he stepped forward, just like he was crossing the threshold of a door.
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, Post NIEE
Challenges: Peanut Butter 7 (light) & Papaya 23 (you’ve outdone yourself)
Toppings & Extras: Hot Fudge, Malt (Summer Challenge 2011 #48: I'm not listening when you say "goodbye" - "Semi-Charmed Life", by Third Eye Blind)
Word Count: 722
Rating: PG-13 (blood and character death.)
Summary: All things must come to an end.
Notes: Vlad’s day. PB Week 7. Definite spoilers.
Warning: Suicide.
He hadn’t seen his brother in six years and now that they were face-to-face, the childhood memories came flooding back. They had spent so many years covering each others’ backs, cleaning up after Edward’s messes, trying to keep Ani from being as screwed up as them. They had spent so many years failing at all of it.
Then, one day, Edward had clapped a friendly hand on Vlad’s shoulder and pointed him down the path he now stood at the end of.
“This is ironic, isn’t it, Sorin?”
His brother smiled crookedly. “Not exactly the word I would use, no, but I understand your meaning. Stand down, Vlad, and stand up for your crimes.”
Vlad’s eyes narrowed, anger surging within him. “I did nothing wrong.”
“Even if I agreed on taking over Tira, you kidnapped my son and our niece and nephew and hurt Dean just because you could. Not to mention what you’ve done and let be done to your daughter. That makes you no better than Edward. In fact, it makes you worse. You know better.”
Vlad spotted movement out of the corner of his eye, looking up to see his daughter step into the room. Her front was covered in blood and she clutched an equally bloody knife like she might never let it go. On her face was an expression Vlad had never seen. “It’s over, Dad,” she said flatly.
Sorin’s gaze flickered away from Vlad long enough to assess Sage. “Are you okay?” he asked and distantly, Vlad realized that should have been his question, but then, somehow Sorin had always been the better person.
“I won’t die,” she said in a tone that all of a sudden he recognized so well from childhood. That closed off, forced voice that spelled out so clearly that everything was wrong with the world and there was nothing she could do about it but struggle on. He realized then how often she had used that same tone since they’d met.
He took an automatic step back, looking between the two of them. “Sorin,” he started.
“Sage is right. It’s over. It’s all over. Time to step up or step down, your choice.”
“You wouldn’t actually kill me.”
“For what you’ve done to Dean and Sage? I absolutely would.”
“He didn’t-” Sage started weakly. Vlad was shocked she would even make an attempt to defend him and briefly wished he could have been a better father to her.
“He might not have done anything to you himself, but letting it happen is no better and still on his shoulders,” his brother said flatly.
Vlad’s eyes darted between them and he stepped back again, hitting the window behind him, free fingers pressing against the cool glass.
“Dad,” Sage said, moving forward to Sorin’s side.
His grip on reality was blissfully solid for the first time in a long time, and he knew it. He also knew it wasn’t likely to last, that this moment happened to contain the right triggers to make him truly understand the past years. “Sorin’s right,” he said quietly, holding his daughter’s gaze, so much like Sorin and Ani’s. “I’ve done you so much wrong in the last two years. I’m sorry I couldn’t be the father you deserved. I’m sorry I didn’t ask more about you growing up, or keep you from Tourn.” He glanced again at the bloody knife. “I suppose you solved that issue.”
“He tried to hurt Renie.”
Vlad was fairly certain that also meant he had come after her and couldn’t blame her for it. “Sorin, I’m glad you and Ani have found a balance.”
“Vlad,” Sorin started. He seemed to sense his move, one hand clenching and unclenching before coming to rest on Sage’s shoulder. Vlad took it as a silent promise to watch over her and do better than he had ever managed.
Without another word or time wasted, Vlad drove his fist and the hilt of his sword into the window. Glass flew outward, falling fast towards the ground. “Goodbye,” he said to the stunned expressions and, dropping his sword, hoisted himself onto the sill, ignoring the cuts that instantly covered his hands.
“Dad…”
“This is best for everyone,” he said, addressing the trees. “Good luck.”
Then he stepped forward, just like he was crossing the threshold of a door.