Truce
Title: Truce
Character(s): Allan, Guy, mentions Robin
Word Count: 1475
Rating: PG for violence
Spoiler: post Episode 10
Disclaimer: I own nothing, Allan and Guy would be better off if I did. Tiger Aspect BBC own.
A/N: Why did they never speak to each other? They should have.
Guy awoke in a foul mood. The first night in the outlaw’s camp was spent restlessly. His bunk was uncomfortable and too small for his big frame. He’d slept with one eye open, waiting for one of them to turn on him. A dirty hand over his mouth, the quick pain of a dagger across his throat in the dark. Any one of them could have done it.
He worried as well about his own mind. He still had nightmares about Marian on a regular basis, and the last he thing he wanted was to wake himself or someone else crying out her name. Such a thing would likely get him tossed back out on his own faster than anything else he could do.
He’d tossed and turned on the hard bunk for hours before finally succumbing to a thin sleep that was anything but restful. The only thing he could be grateful for was that he never slipped deep enough to dream. As a result of his own nervousness and doubt, Guy woke with a raging headache. And a painfully full bladder.
The entrance to the camp was a trap door no one had seen fit to show him how to operate. So for the moment, he was stuck, waiting for someone else to wake up to let him out. Fortunately it wasn't too long before he heard someone stirring. Unfortunately, the one waking was Allan.
Doubt niggled at Guy. Robin wouldn't appreciate the idea that he and Allan were doing anything at all together, even if it was only pissing in the forest. He might think they were conspiring against him. It's what Guy would think in a similar situation.
Guy was so immersed in his thoughts that he nearly missed his chance to get outside. Allan had risen quickly and quietly so as not to disturb the others. His hand was stretched out as if reaching for something Guy couldn't see.
In spite of his doubts, nature wouldn’t be overruled. Swiftly and silently Guy rose himself. He crossed the space between them in two long strides, stopping just behind Allan’s left shoulder.
"Are you going out?" Allan nearly jumped out of his skin. He hadn't noticed that Guy was awake, certainly hadn't seen him watching him. He'd forgotten how quick the big man could be. And quiet. Guy's voice was a low whisper next to his ear.
"I was," Allan hissed back, annoyed at being caught by surprise. Slowly he turned to face Guy. "But I don't know that I will now. You shouldn't go anywhere without Robin's say-so." He crossed his arms over his chest.
Guy ‘s eyebrows went up and he mimicked Allan’s stance. His hard blue eyes bored into Allan's. Allan shifted his feet nervously. He'd also forgotten what it felt like to be stared down by Guy of Gisborne. It was no less intimidating here in the camp than it had been in the castle. He felt a bit like a worm on a hook.
"Fine. I'll just go piss in your bed then." Guy started toward Allan’s bunk.
“Wait! Awright!” He shot Guy an irritated glare. “You just have to have it your way, don’t ya?” The old smirk crossed Guy’s lips.
Sighing, Allan turned away, reached for the lever that would open the gate. The barrier swung up almost silently, only a slight rustle of the leaves used to camouflage it giving it away. Allan stepped back to let Guy through. The other man stalked past him, headed quickly into the forest.
After a glance at the others to make sure they were still sleeping, Allan followed with hurried steps. If Guy took off, Allan would be the one in it. Robin would surely think Allan let him get away, that they had been in league the whole time. Even though Robin had said he trusted Guy, Allan didn't quite believe that. Those two had been enemies for too long for Robin to give Gisborne blind trust.
They all expected Guy to turn on them, run back to Isabella and tell her exactly where to find them. It didn't seem possible that the former man-at-arms to Vaizey had changed his tune, was ready and willing to help them in their fight. Personally Allan thought it was just Robin seeing something that wasn't there.
He caught up to Guy just as the other man was re-lacing his breeches. A scowl still rode his face, but he didn't seem quite so coiled as if to strike anymore. In relief, Allan's natural humor returned.
"Feel better then?" he asked, grinning. Guy only glared at him. "Hang on a minute, yeah? We'll go back together. You wouldn't know how to get back in on your own, anyhow." Allan ducked behind the nearest tree to do his own morning business.
After a minute or two, Allan came back out from behind his tree, still grinning. His good mood grated on Guy's nerves. Maliciously, he sought to deflate Allan’s spirits.
"So! Back in Robin's good graces, are you? You the golden boy again yet? Worked off your betrayal?"
The snide smile and quirked brow pricked at Allan. Without thinking, he lashed out.
"Yeah, well, least I didn't try to kill the king. Twice. And I didn't kill Marian, did I?" In an instant, Allan found himself slammed against a tree, Guy's hand tight around his throat. He squirmed, hands flying up to his neck, fingers clawing desperately to free himself from Guy's grasp.
Guy leaned in until he was nose-to-nose with Allan. "You do not speak to me of that!" he snarled, teeth bared. He pressed his weight against Allan, pinning him firmly. His grip tightened, sick pleasure coursing through him as the younger man gasped for air.
"Awright," Allan choked. Tiny black spots were forming in front of his eyes. A panicked thought tore through his brain-No one knows we're out here. He could kill me here and no one would know. On the heels of that thought was an image of himself being strangled to death, Guy turning and walking away without a backward glance.
As he thought this, the pressure on his throat lessened. Cool air flowed mercifully back into his lungs. Guy stepped back. His hand was still around Allan's throat, but lightly now.
"You ran out on me, Allan. I tried to help you. Give you something better. And you ran away." Icy blue eyes stared at him, waiting for Allan to defend his flight from Portsmouth.
Taking a large gulp of air, Allan tried to give Guy the answer he wanted. "It wasn't you, Giz. If it'd just been you, I wouldn't have gone." The hand dropped away. Guy turned his back.
Allan rubbed his neck where Guy had held him. He would have a bruise there and have to wear a bit of cloth around his neck to hide it. If the others saw the mark that was sure to rise, they would think Guy had done something terrible to him and drive him away. Maybe kill him. Or worse, they would think Guy had done something else to him while they were alone and that the two of them were together or something.
Slowly Allan’s throat stopped burning with every breath. He glanced over to where Guy was standing. He hadn’t moved, his back was still turned.
“It was the Sheriff, Guy. An’ killin’ the king. An’ the trap for all my mates. I just… It was… I couldn’t do it. Any of it.” Allan tried to explain, but it came out sounding weak somehow.
“Why didn’t you take her with you? When you ran?” The question was quiet, flat, as if Guy didn’t really care about the answer. Allan knew better. It was loaded, a trap waiting to spring and release all of Guy’s anger onto him. If he said the wrong thing Guy’s hands could be back around his neck in a flash, and this time he might not let go.
His only defense then, was to tell the truth and hope Guy would recognize it.
“I couldn’t get the key.”
A long moment of silence greeted this. A ripple of unease stuttered up Allan’s spine. Then Guy laughed, a short bark, utterly humorless.
He turned to face Allan. “I think it best you and I stay away from each other as much as possible. Robin could become suspicious. I wouldn’t blame him.” He eyed Allan carefully. “Do you agree?" Allan nodded. "And he doesn’t need to know we had this talk.”
"Sure, Giz. Whatever you say.” Guy was right. This was nothing Robin needed to know. It would only complicate things more. Guy turned again and walked back the way they had come. Allan stood there alone for a moment, then followed.
Character(s): Allan, Guy, mentions Robin
Word Count: 1475
Rating: PG for violence
Spoiler: post Episode 10
Disclaimer: I own nothing, Allan and Guy would be better off if I did. Tiger Aspect BBC own.
A/N: Why did they never speak to each other? They should have.
Guy awoke in a foul mood. The first night in the outlaw’s camp was spent restlessly. His bunk was uncomfortable and too small for his big frame. He’d slept with one eye open, waiting for one of them to turn on him. A dirty hand over his mouth, the quick pain of a dagger across his throat in the dark. Any one of them could have done it.
He worried as well about his own mind. He still had nightmares about Marian on a regular basis, and the last he thing he wanted was to wake himself or someone else crying out her name. Such a thing would likely get him tossed back out on his own faster than anything else he could do.
He’d tossed and turned on the hard bunk for hours before finally succumbing to a thin sleep that was anything but restful. The only thing he could be grateful for was that he never slipped deep enough to dream. As a result of his own nervousness and doubt, Guy woke with a raging headache. And a painfully full bladder.
The entrance to the camp was a trap door no one had seen fit to show him how to operate. So for the moment, he was stuck, waiting for someone else to wake up to let him out. Fortunately it wasn't too long before he heard someone stirring. Unfortunately, the one waking was Allan.
Doubt niggled at Guy. Robin wouldn't appreciate the idea that he and Allan were doing anything at all together, even if it was only pissing in the forest. He might think they were conspiring against him. It's what Guy would think in a similar situation.
Guy was so immersed in his thoughts that he nearly missed his chance to get outside. Allan had risen quickly and quietly so as not to disturb the others. His hand was stretched out as if reaching for something Guy couldn't see.
In spite of his doubts, nature wouldn’t be overruled. Swiftly and silently Guy rose himself. He crossed the space between them in two long strides, stopping just behind Allan’s left shoulder.
"Are you going out?" Allan nearly jumped out of his skin. He hadn't noticed that Guy was awake, certainly hadn't seen him watching him. He'd forgotten how quick the big man could be. And quiet. Guy's voice was a low whisper next to his ear.
"I was," Allan hissed back, annoyed at being caught by surprise. Slowly he turned to face Guy. "But I don't know that I will now. You shouldn't go anywhere without Robin's say-so." He crossed his arms over his chest.
Guy ‘s eyebrows went up and he mimicked Allan’s stance. His hard blue eyes bored into Allan's. Allan shifted his feet nervously. He'd also forgotten what it felt like to be stared down by Guy of Gisborne. It was no less intimidating here in the camp than it had been in the castle. He felt a bit like a worm on a hook.
"Fine. I'll just go piss in your bed then." Guy started toward Allan’s bunk.
“Wait! Awright!” He shot Guy an irritated glare. “You just have to have it your way, don’t ya?” The old smirk crossed Guy’s lips.
Sighing, Allan turned away, reached for the lever that would open the gate. The barrier swung up almost silently, only a slight rustle of the leaves used to camouflage it giving it away. Allan stepped back to let Guy through. The other man stalked past him, headed quickly into the forest.
After a glance at the others to make sure they were still sleeping, Allan followed with hurried steps. If Guy took off, Allan would be the one in it. Robin would surely think Allan let him get away, that they had been in league the whole time. Even though Robin had said he trusted Guy, Allan didn't quite believe that. Those two had been enemies for too long for Robin to give Gisborne blind trust.
They all expected Guy to turn on them, run back to Isabella and tell her exactly where to find them. It didn't seem possible that the former man-at-arms to Vaizey had changed his tune, was ready and willing to help them in their fight. Personally Allan thought it was just Robin seeing something that wasn't there.
He caught up to Guy just as the other man was re-lacing his breeches. A scowl still rode his face, but he didn't seem quite so coiled as if to strike anymore. In relief, Allan's natural humor returned.
"Feel better then?" he asked, grinning. Guy only glared at him. "Hang on a minute, yeah? We'll go back together. You wouldn't know how to get back in on your own, anyhow." Allan ducked behind the nearest tree to do his own morning business.
After a minute or two, Allan came back out from behind his tree, still grinning. His good mood grated on Guy's nerves. Maliciously, he sought to deflate Allan’s spirits.
"So! Back in Robin's good graces, are you? You the golden boy again yet? Worked off your betrayal?"
The snide smile and quirked brow pricked at Allan. Without thinking, he lashed out.
"Yeah, well, least I didn't try to kill the king. Twice. And I didn't kill Marian, did I?" In an instant, Allan found himself slammed against a tree, Guy's hand tight around his throat. He squirmed, hands flying up to his neck, fingers clawing desperately to free himself from Guy's grasp.
Guy leaned in until he was nose-to-nose with Allan. "You do not speak to me of that!" he snarled, teeth bared. He pressed his weight against Allan, pinning him firmly. His grip tightened, sick pleasure coursing through him as the younger man gasped for air.
"Awright," Allan choked. Tiny black spots were forming in front of his eyes. A panicked thought tore through his brain-No one knows we're out here. He could kill me here and no one would know. On the heels of that thought was an image of himself being strangled to death, Guy turning and walking away without a backward glance.
As he thought this, the pressure on his throat lessened. Cool air flowed mercifully back into his lungs. Guy stepped back. His hand was still around Allan's throat, but lightly now.
"You ran out on me, Allan. I tried to help you. Give you something better. And you ran away." Icy blue eyes stared at him, waiting for Allan to defend his flight from Portsmouth.
Taking a large gulp of air, Allan tried to give Guy the answer he wanted. "It wasn't you, Giz. If it'd just been you, I wouldn't have gone." The hand dropped away. Guy turned his back.
Allan rubbed his neck where Guy had held him. He would have a bruise there and have to wear a bit of cloth around his neck to hide it. If the others saw the mark that was sure to rise, they would think Guy had done something terrible to him and drive him away. Maybe kill him. Or worse, they would think Guy had done something else to him while they were alone and that the two of them were together or something.
Slowly Allan’s throat stopped burning with every breath. He glanced over to where Guy was standing. He hadn’t moved, his back was still turned.
“It was the Sheriff, Guy. An’ killin’ the king. An’ the trap for all my mates. I just… It was… I couldn’t do it. Any of it.” Allan tried to explain, but it came out sounding weak somehow.
“Why didn’t you take her with you? When you ran?” The question was quiet, flat, as if Guy didn’t really care about the answer. Allan knew better. It was loaded, a trap waiting to spring and release all of Guy’s anger onto him. If he said the wrong thing Guy’s hands could be back around his neck in a flash, and this time he might not let go.
His only defense then, was to tell the truth and hope Guy would recognize it.
“I couldn’t get the key.”
A long moment of silence greeted this. A ripple of unease stuttered up Allan’s spine. Then Guy laughed, a short bark, utterly humorless.
He turned to face Allan. “I think it best you and I stay away from each other as much as possible. Robin could become suspicious. I wouldn’t blame him.” He eyed Allan carefully. “Do you agree?" Allan nodded. "And he doesn’t need to know we had this talk.”
"Sure, Giz. Whatever you say.” Guy was right. This was nothing Robin needed to know. It would only complicate things more. Guy turned again and walked back the way they had come. Allan stood there alone for a moment, then followed.