Sic Semper Tyrannis, chapter 4
Title: Sic Semper Tyrannis
Fandom: Tales of the Abyss
Word Count: 3,219 / 20,000 (?)
Spoilers: Guy's past, Fabre's role in the Hod war.
Summary: A slight twist of fate. Sync infiltrates the ferry after cursing Guy in Chesedonia, and when Luke is attacked, the others are forced to question why.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Sic Semper Tyrannis
---
All hands on deck, we’re going down
No plan but ours can take us now
So try to understand
Since we got lost and we get tossed around
---
Van didn't return alone. Guy had dozed off not long before, and Luke had considered going to hunt for Tear and Natalia while he slept, but before he could do so the door opened, Van stepping inside. To Luke's surprise, Pere was right behind him, his expression the darkest he'd ever seen. The elderly gardener had always been kind and supportive - seeing such anger was so disturbing it was almost frightening.
"Master...?" Luke began, then trailed off, glancing over as Guy stirred on the bed, blinking blearily at him. "Guy!"
In a second Pere was beside the bed, kneeling down respectfully and bowing his head, voice soft. "Master Gailardia, I am glad to see you're alive and recovering safely! General Grants has explained the situation to me. I apologize for not coming to your aid when it was needed...!"
"... Pere..." Guy whispered tiredly, turning his head to look at the old man. "... It's okay. You didn't... do anything wrong..."
"Master Gailardia?" Luke echoed, looking between them. "W-wait, wait, Pere? You're with him too?! ... And Master, you knew?!"
Pere, Van, and Guy all exchanged glances, then Guy murmured, "Luke... Pere got me out of Hod. He's... the reason I've lived this long. And Van looked after me... as a kid. All of us lost our homes because of Duke Fabre."
Luke couldn't help it; he stared at them, his mind racing, thrown asunder with all he'd heard. Van, even Master Van! Had anything they'd told him all these years been the truth? "So... so you were part of it too. The plan to get revenge on Father..."
"It is what Master Gailardia wished," Pere answered honestly, rising to his feet as Guy motioned a hand. "I have served his family since before he was born; it was both my duty and an honour to care for him."
"Don't... look so nervous, Luke," Guy smiled faintly, though his expression was still both pained and tense, and Luke was wary of questioning him. "Van wouldn't have saved you after the kidnapping if he wanted you dead. And Pere wasn't... the one who was planning to kill you. ...He's supported me in everything... even this. I don't want anyone to hurt you..."
Luke fidgeted in his seat a little, eyes lowered. "That's... not what I'm nervous about." He blinked, then hastily amended, "I'm not nervous! I'm just worried about you, Guy..."
"With your permission, Master Gailardia..." Pere's hands were clenched tightly at his sides. "I... we cannot forgive this. Master Luke of course is not at fault here. But his father has twice now disgraced the Gardios family. Our nations are at peace. There is no justice in what he has done to you." His eyes narrowed. "He must be made to pay for his crimes."
"Pere-" Guy started, but was cut off as Luke stood abruptly, knocking his chair over in his haste, eyes wide, mouth open to protest. He faltered when all eyes turned on him; though he wanted to object, he couldn't find the right words to do so. It was his father, so of course he didn't want them to hurt him. But he'd already hurt Guy.
His father had hurt Guy.
It was unforgivable.
"I-I..." he shuddered, slowly lowering his head. "... Father... why...?"
"Because... he hates me," Guy whispered, offering him a tiny smile, lacking all sincerity. "I'm from Malkuth. He's... always hated us. And I tricked him... hid who I was for years... he's so angry..."
"That's a stupid reason!" Luke snapped, nearly sitting down before he realized the chair was overturned. Grumbling, he moved to fix it before slumping back into it. "You never hurt me, even though you could have done it whenever you wanted! He should've asked you first-! Why didn't he...?!"
Not answering that, the former noble leaned back against the pillow, wincing as he did so. "It... doesn't matter now. Killing him would... only cause more pain. I don't... want to face him again... it's already enough..."
"Guy..." Luke's fingers curled around his pants, eyes darkening. "Why won't you tell me what he did?"
Guy flinched, looking away as both Pere and Van turned to watch him. "L-Luke... shut up already... I already told you-"
"You didn't tell me anything!" Luke interrupted, starting to grow angry again, ignoring the fact that they weren't alone. "You told me to forget it, and I can't, Guy! I... dammit, I'm scared for you!"
"Luke." He stopped short, eyes widening, as a hand rested on his shoulder, urging him to lean back in his chair. "Calm down. Yelling will not get you answers."
"But Master-"
"Luke," Van cut in firmly, forcing him to fall silent again. When Luke had settled down, he lifted his eyes to Guy. "What is it that frightens you, Gailardia?"
Guy stiffened at the name, lips tightly pursed, shifting gingerly on the bed. "I never said-"
"You don't have to," Pere murmured, kneeling down beside the bed again. "We raised you since childhood, Master Gailardia. Your expressions are not so difficult to read as you think." He lifted a hand as Guy tried to speak, politely halting him. "We will not force you-"
"Like hell," Luke muttered irritably, shrugging off Van's quiet reprimand.
Pere sighed quietly. "Of course, we believe it would be better if you did not keep it to yourself."
There was a long, agonizing silence, until finally Guy struggled to sit up again, managing with Pere's help, and stared down, hands fisted in the blankets bundled up at his lap. "I don't know... how to say it," he muttered, his voice weak, though whether it was still from the pain and bloodloss or his own reluctance, none could tell. "I mean... I know, but..." He trailed off into silence again, grimacing.
"Is it because Luke is here?" Van questioned quietly. Guy slowly lifted his head, and the commandant nodded. "I see."
"Wait a second!" Luke protested, starting to get up again. "That's not fair, Guy! Why can't I hear it?!"
"You'll overreact," Guy murmured, smiling faintly.
Luke bristled, but before he could respond, Van added, "It's likely you're too close to the issue itself, Luke. It concerns the duke, doesn't it? Something he would not normally have done."
"Father..." the redhead said again, eyes narrowing, and turned back to Guy, who looked away. "... Guy... it's my father that did this to you. I know it's hard, and... you probably think I'll freak out..." He laughed nervously. "Hell, I probably will. But it's not fair to you... having to keep it all to yourself. It's my fault this went on for so long."
"Your fault? I'm... the one who said... it would be okay," Guy stumbled out, wavering a little. He smiled appreciatively when Pere offered his support once more. "You... didn't have any reason... to wor-"
"Guy," Luke cut in, eyes sick with guilt, "You being stuck there should've been enough. Stop arguing when you know I'm right."
Guy gave a faint sigh, finally giving in and letting himself slump backwards, resting his weight completely on Pere's arm. The old man didn't even blink, unbothered by it. "Do we... have to blame each other...? Maybe we both screwed up... but it's over now. It's done." He looked up at Luke, expression startlingly weary. "I want to forget it... and I want you to forget it, too. If I tell you, that'll become impossible."
Luke hesitated for a long time, watching him, willing himself not to get upset or feel hurt by it. Guy was probably right, much as he wanted to deny it; he tended to dwell on things, and this situation was bad enough without discovering just what was so bad that Guy couldn't even hint at what it was.
".... Okay, Guy," he whispered weakly, slowly, reluctantly rising to his feet, hands clenched at his sides. His trembling was the only sign of his tentative control. "I... I'll go, if that's what you really want."
"Luke..." he heard Guy whisper, but he was already moving, stepping outside and shutting the door behind him without looking back even once.
As soon as he was outside, his legs buckled, and he collapsed against the door, hugging his knees to his chest, and trying desperately, desperately not to cry.
He was far out of his league, over his head, drowning in all that was going on. This was the real world, he realized, and decided he didn't like it.
---
The room within was silent for a long time, the three occupants exchanging glances - though Guy spent much of it staring at his own sheets. After a while, Pere shifted closer, sitting on the bed beside him and easing him back down onto the pillows.
"You need to rest, Master Gailardia," he murmured in response to Guy's questioning look. "If you aren't going to sleep, at least lie down and conserve your energy."
"I'm fine," Guy protested, but his voice was so weak that he had no illusions about them believing him. "... I mean, I'll be fine. Don't you both have work to do?"
The dismissal was even more obvious than his lies. Van lifted a brow, clearly unimpressed. "Preparations are already being made for our departure, so I have little more to take care of aside from a final examination when they are completed. As for Pere, what reason does he have to return to Fabre manor without you?"
Guy pursed his lips, seeing Pere's nod. "... I guess not."
"Our business here is not finished, either," Pere added gently.
"I told you, I-"
"Duke Fabre took your father's sword."
Guy froze instantly, eyes widening. It was not, they noticed, from shock.
Van took a step forward, concerned. "While I was at the castle, I intercepted a soldier carrying it." He saw his former master blink and lift his head a little, then continued, "It seemed he'd been given orders to have it melted down."
Swallowing hard, Guy tried to sit up again, halted only by Pere's hand. "Fabre... ordered it. Right in front of me, he said-"
"I have it." Van smiled faintly, shifting his tabard aside just enough to reveal a second sword tied to his belt. "The knights are obedient, but not suicidal."
Guy shuddered, resisting the urge to scramble for it as Van pulled the sword free and offered it out to him. It had already been cleaned, mercifully, and was completely free of blood. He held it close to his body, cradled against his shoulder, careful of the blade. Never in his life had he felt so completely, utterly grateful. He thought he might cry, and had a terrible time fighting the strange, almost alien sensation. "... Th... thanks, Van..."
"It's nothing," Van dismissed it with a wave, though it was obvious to all of them that it was anything but. "... Gailardia. I know there's more to this story than you're letting on. He told you he was going to destroy it to make you suffer, didn't he?" He waited until Guy had forced himself to nod. "But that wasn't all."
"... No."
Van's voice lowered, growing gentle, sounding more like the cheerful young man he'd been in childhood instead of the calm and confident general. "Won't you tell us?"
Guy reluctantly lifted his eyes, studying him for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Pere. The old man smiled faintly, his expression a world of patience, one that Guy had relied upon his entire life.
It took a very, very long time for him to nod again, and far longer to tell them what they needed to hear.
---
Luke wasn't sure how long he'd been sitting there, hugging his knees, but it was a complete surprise when the door opened abruptly, and he fell backwards, caught off-balance by the loss of support. He blinked blearily and lifted his gaze, only to find Van looking down on him, frowning, a tightness in his expression that hadn't been there before. Obviously whatever they had discussed - without him, he couldn't help but think bitterly - was enough to ruffle his usually inscrutable teacher. "... Master?"
He sat up at Van's abrupt gesture, then rose to his feet when Pere stepped up behind them, looking solemn. He couldn't be sure, but he thought he could see an underlying anger hidden carefully in their eyes.
He tried to peer around them to look at Guy, but Van spoke before he could see his friend. "I put him to sleep with a fonic hymn. He's exhausted, and he mustn't force himself anymore. I'll bring Tear and the princess back here to heal him once more before we leave. After that..." He shrugged his shoulders. Luke still wasn't entirely certain - his master was, as always, difficult to really read - but once again he felt the impression of... was it rage?
Had he ever seen Van that angry?
And then it was gone, before he could think further upon it. Pere moved past him, looking as if he was going to leave, but surprisingly stopped outside the door, leaning against the wall across from it. Van didn't look surprised, and merely gave Luke's shoulder a light squeeze. "Watch over him for a while, if you wish, but get some rest. We're departing in the morning."
Luke felt a lump form in his throat at the words. He nearly protested, but inwardly he knew that this was for the best. He couldn't protect Guy - not like Master Van could - and Guy needed to get out of Kimlasca.
And... he had a job to do.
Realizing Van was waiting for a response, he forced himself to nod, eyes lowering as his teacher disappeared out the door, closing it behind him. Only when he'd heard the latch click into place did he lift raise his head to look at Guy.
He seemed a little more peaceful now, at least; he didn't look unconscious, anyway. It wasn't the sleep of the dead, but rather just the sleep of someone who hadn't had a decent rest in a few days and needed it very badly. Luke nearly tiptoed over to the bed, desperately willing his friend not to wake up.
It was disappointing, in a way - he'd hoped to speak with Guy a little more, perhaps pry the story out of him somehow. Surely if he could tell Van and Pere, he'd be able to say something to his best friend, right? Yet as he drew closer, slowly sinking into the chair beside the bed, he noticed how strained Guy looked, lines of unease on his forehead, lips curved into a tight frown. He was asleep, but it was not a peaceful rest. Perhaps he was dreaming, remembering what had been done to him. Absently Luke wondered if he himself would have been able to dream of anything else, had their roles been reversed.
And as he leaned in just a little more, he froze, absolutely froze. For there were faded tracks of wetness on Guy's cheeks.
No. Just. No.
Guy had... Guy had cried. But Guy didn't cry, he just didn't. It was practically a rule. He'd never seen his servant looking particularly upset or hurt - though as he thought back, he could recall an odd sort of tension in Guy's eyes when he chanced to look at the sword his father had taken from the entrance hall - and he'd never heard so much as a sniffle. Whenever his father had told him to grow up or be a man, he'd looked to Guy for direction, because Guy was strong and brave, but more than anything, he was nice.
So Guy wasn't supposed to cry. Seeing the evidence of what he'd never seen before made Luke realize, yet again, just how bad things were.
"This is it, isn't it, Guy?" he whispered, edging off the chair and sinking to his knees beside the bed. His eyes drifted briefly to the sword resting against the wall, not a foot away from where Guy's head lay. Perhaps that was the reason he'd been sent away. That didn't seem so bad. "Everything's gotta change after this. Father would never let you come back, and I... I don't want you to. Not if he's going to want to hurt you again."
He watched Guy for a moment, studying his expression, his still form, the slow and steady breathing. His hands clenched into fists, curling tightly in the blankets. "So what happens? Do we just... send you away? Leave you with Master Van? Will I..." He swallowed hard. "Will I ever see you again...?"
The thought left him cold. The manor was bearable only when Guy was there to hang out with, and Van visited to train him. If Guy were to leave... and Van probably returning to Daath after Akzeriuth... even Pere would be gone, obviously still loyal to Guy (which was something he found difficult to swallow, but looking back, not as surprising as it had initially been). He shuddered; alone in the mansion with no one but his parents, the knights, and the maids? It was horrifying. He didn't think he could stand it.
Suddenly a thought came to him, and before he could fully acknowledge what it even was, he was on his feet. What was he thinking? He'd already worked everything out with Van! He was going to prevent war - save Akzeriuth, too - and Master Van had said that would mean he'd be free.
And if he were free...
"I don't know what'll happen, or where you'll go, Guy," he murmured, leaning over the bed, reaching out - lightly, so very lightly, wary of waking the elder man up - to wipe the last remnant of his tears away. "It'll be tough for a while, but... after Akzeriuth, I'll come visit you, okay? All the time, no matter where you are." He grinned, and the expression wasn't as forceful as it had been a day before. "You'll go crazy without me, right? So... so I'll have to come. And everything'll be fine..."
It was something they both had to learn to believe again, he knew. But he also knew that they could... and they would.
He waited until Tear and Natalia returned, stepping back to give him room as they started to work on a few more of his injuries. Guy was sound asleep, thanks to the hymn, and Tear could easily use it again if he awoke. He was in good hands - the thought reaffirmed when Pere stepped back into the room to offer help if it was needed.
Glancing at Guy one last time, Luke turned on his heel and hurried off in search of Master Van - to finalize their plans, offer up his idea, gain a bit of hope that maybe, just maybe, things would work out.
He just had to save Akzeriuth, stop the war. Freedom was so close, hovering right in front of his fingertips, and in just a few days, he'd be able to grasp it.
Wait for me a little longer, Guy - I'll show you I can do it. I can make everything okay... I just need to learn how.
I won't disappoint you again, I promise.
---
Note: This is originally where the fic was supposed to end. Unfortunately SOMEONE (manicalpha) was all "THAT'S IT?! D8" so... uh. I'll probably continue it. Maybe. Definitely
It's gearing towards becoming a Guy/Luke pairing, but I'm not entirely sure. I'm giving the heads-up just in case.
Thanks for your support, guys ♥
Fandom: Tales of the Abyss
Word Count: 3,219 / 20,000 (?)
Spoilers: Guy's past, Fabre's role in the Hod war.
Summary: A slight twist of fate. Sync infiltrates the ferry after cursing Guy in Chesedonia, and when Luke is attacked, the others are forced to question why.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Sic Semper Tyrannis
---
All hands on deck, we’re going down
No plan but ours can take us now
So try to understand
Since we got lost and we get tossed around
---
Van didn't return alone. Guy had dozed off not long before, and Luke had considered going to hunt for Tear and Natalia while he slept, but before he could do so the door opened, Van stepping inside. To Luke's surprise, Pere was right behind him, his expression the darkest he'd ever seen. The elderly gardener had always been kind and supportive - seeing such anger was so disturbing it was almost frightening.
"Master...?" Luke began, then trailed off, glancing over as Guy stirred on the bed, blinking blearily at him. "Guy!"
In a second Pere was beside the bed, kneeling down respectfully and bowing his head, voice soft. "Master Gailardia, I am glad to see you're alive and recovering safely! General Grants has explained the situation to me. I apologize for not coming to your aid when it was needed...!"
"... Pere..." Guy whispered tiredly, turning his head to look at the old man. "... It's okay. You didn't... do anything wrong..."
"Master Gailardia?" Luke echoed, looking between them. "W-wait, wait, Pere? You're with him too?! ... And Master, you knew?!"
Pere, Van, and Guy all exchanged glances, then Guy murmured, "Luke... Pere got me out of Hod. He's... the reason I've lived this long. And Van looked after me... as a kid. All of us lost our homes because of Duke Fabre."
Luke couldn't help it; he stared at them, his mind racing, thrown asunder with all he'd heard. Van, even Master Van! Had anything they'd told him all these years been the truth? "So... so you were part of it too. The plan to get revenge on Father..."
"It is what Master Gailardia wished," Pere answered honestly, rising to his feet as Guy motioned a hand. "I have served his family since before he was born; it was both my duty and an honour to care for him."
"Don't... look so nervous, Luke," Guy smiled faintly, though his expression was still both pained and tense, and Luke was wary of questioning him. "Van wouldn't have saved you after the kidnapping if he wanted you dead. And Pere wasn't... the one who was planning to kill you. ...He's supported me in everything... even this. I don't want anyone to hurt you..."
Luke fidgeted in his seat a little, eyes lowered. "That's... not what I'm nervous about." He blinked, then hastily amended, "I'm not nervous! I'm just worried about you, Guy..."
"With your permission, Master Gailardia..." Pere's hands were clenched tightly at his sides. "I... we cannot forgive this. Master Luke of course is not at fault here. But his father has twice now disgraced the Gardios family. Our nations are at peace. There is no justice in what he has done to you." His eyes narrowed. "He must be made to pay for his crimes."
"Pere-" Guy started, but was cut off as Luke stood abruptly, knocking his chair over in his haste, eyes wide, mouth open to protest. He faltered when all eyes turned on him; though he wanted to object, he couldn't find the right words to do so. It was his father, so of course he didn't want them to hurt him. But he'd already hurt Guy.
His father had hurt Guy.
It was unforgivable.
"I-I..." he shuddered, slowly lowering his head. "... Father... why...?"
"Because... he hates me," Guy whispered, offering him a tiny smile, lacking all sincerity. "I'm from Malkuth. He's... always hated us. And I tricked him... hid who I was for years... he's so angry..."
"That's a stupid reason!" Luke snapped, nearly sitting down before he realized the chair was overturned. Grumbling, he moved to fix it before slumping back into it. "You never hurt me, even though you could have done it whenever you wanted! He should've asked you first-! Why didn't he...?!"
Not answering that, the former noble leaned back against the pillow, wincing as he did so. "It... doesn't matter now. Killing him would... only cause more pain. I don't... want to face him again... it's already enough..."
"Guy..." Luke's fingers curled around his pants, eyes darkening. "Why won't you tell me what he did?"
Guy flinched, looking away as both Pere and Van turned to watch him. "L-Luke... shut up already... I already told you-"
"You didn't tell me anything!" Luke interrupted, starting to grow angry again, ignoring the fact that they weren't alone. "You told me to forget it, and I can't, Guy! I... dammit, I'm scared for you!"
"Luke." He stopped short, eyes widening, as a hand rested on his shoulder, urging him to lean back in his chair. "Calm down. Yelling will not get you answers."
"But Master-"
"Luke," Van cut in firmly, forcing him to fall silent again. When Luke had settled down, he lifted his eyes to Guy. "What is it that frightens you, Gailardia?"
Guy stiffened at the name, lips tightly pursed, shifting gingerly on the bed. "I never said-"
"You don't have to," Pere murmured, kneeling down beside the bed again. "We raised you since childhood, Master Gailardia. Your expressions are not so difficult to read as you think." He lifted a hand as Guy tried to speak, politely halting him. "We will not force you-"
"Like hell," Luke muttered irritably, shrugging off Van's quiet reprimand.
Pere sighed quietly. "Of course, we believe it would be better if you did not keep it to yourself."
There was a long, agonizing silence, until finally Guy struggled to sit up again, managing with Pere's help, and stared down, hands fisted in the blankets bundled up at his lap. "I don't know... how to say it," he muttered, his voice weak, though whether it was still from the pain and bloodloss or his own reluctance, none could tell. "I mean... I know, but..." He trailed off into silence again, grimacing.
"Is it because Luke is here?" Van questioned quietly. Guy slowly lifted his head, and the commandant nodded. "I see."
"Wait a second!" Luke protested, starting to get up again. "That's not fair, Guy! Why can't I hear it?!"
"You'll overreact," Guy murmured, smiling faintly.
Luke bristled, but before he could respond, Van added, "It's likely you're too close to the issue itself, Luke. It concerns the duke, doesn't it? Something he would not normally have done."
"Father..." the redhead said again, eyes narrowing, and turned back to Guy, who looked away. "... Guy... it's my father that did this to you. I know it's hard, and... you probably think I'll freak out..." He laughed nervously. "Hell, I probably will. But it's not fair to you... having to keep it all to yourself. It's my fault this went on for so long."
"Your fault? I'm... the one who said... it would be okay," Guy stumbled out, wavering a little. He smiled appreciatively when Pere offered his support once more. "You... didn't have any reason... to wor-"
"Guy," Luke cut in, eyes sick with guilt, "You being stuck there should've been enough. Stop arguing when you know I'm right."
Guy gave a faint sigh, finally giving in and letting himself slump backwards, resting his weight completely on Pere's arm. The old man didn't even blink, unbothered by it. "Do we... have to blame each other...? Maybe we both screwed up... but it's over now. It's done." He looked up at Luke, expression startlingly weary. "I want to forget it... and I want you to forget it, too. If I tell you, that'll become impossible."
Luke hesitated for a long time, watching him, willing himself not to get upset or feel hurt by it. Guy was probably right, much as he wanted to deny it; he tended to dwell on things, and this situation was bad enough without discovering just what was so bad that Guy couldn't even hint at what it was.
".... Okay, Guy," he whispered weakly, slowly, reluctantly rising to his feet, hands clenched at his sides. His trembling was the only sign of his tentative control. "I... I'll go, if that's what you really want."
"Luke..." he heard Guy whisper, but he was already moving, stepping outside and shutting the door behind him without looking back even once.
As soon as he was outside, his legs buckled, and he collapsed against the door, hugging his knees to his chest, and trying desperately, desperately not to cry.
He was far out of his league, over his head, drowning in all that was going on. This was the real world, he realized, and decided he didn't like it.
---
The room within was silent for a long time, the three occupants exchanging glances - though Guy spent much of it staring at his own sheets. After a while, Pere shifted closer, sitting on the bed beside him and easing him back down onto the pillows.
"You need to rest, Master Gailardia," he murmured in response to Guy's questioning look. "If you aren't going to sleep, at least lie down and conserve your energy."
"I'm fine," Guy protested, but his voice was so weak that he had no illusions about them believing him. "... I mean, I'll be fine. Don't you both have work to do?"
The dismissal was even more obvious than his lies. Van lifted a brow, clearly unimpressed. "Preparations are already being made for our departure, so I have little more to take care of aside from a final examination when they are completed. As for Pere, what reason does he have to return to Fabre manor without you?"
Guy pursed his lips, seeing Pere's nod. "... I guess not."
"Our business here is not finished, either," Pere added gently.
"I told you, I-"
"Duke Fabre took your father's sword."
Guy froze instantly, eyes widening. It was not, they noticed, from shock.
Van took a step forward, concerned. "While I was at the castle, I intercepted a soldier carrying it." He saw his former master blink and lift his head a little, then continued, "It seemed he'd been given orders to have it melted down."
Swallowing hard, Guy tried to sit up again, halted only by Pere's hand. "Fabre... ordered it. Right in front of me, he said-"
"I have it." Van smiled faintly, shifting his tabard aside just enough to reveal a second sword tied to his belt. "The knights are obedient, but not suicidal."
Guy shuddered, resisting the urge to scramble for it as Van pulled the sword free and offered it out to him. It had already been cleaned, mercifully, and was completely free of blood. He held it close to his body, cradled against his shoulder, careful of the blade. Never in his life had he felt so completely, utterly grateful. He thought he might cry, and had a terrible time fighting the strange, almost alien sensation. "... Th... thanks, Van..."
"It's nothing," Van dismissed it with a wave, though it was obvious to all of them that it was anything but. "... Gailardia. I know there's more to this story than you're letting on. He told you he was going to destroy it to make you suffer, didn't he?" He waited until Guy had forced himself to nod. "But that wasn't all."
"... No."
Van's voice lowered, growing gentle, sounding more like the cheerful young man he'd been in childhood instead of the calm and confident general. "Won't you tell us?"
Guy reluctantly lifted his eyes, studying him for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Pere. The old man smiled faintly, his expression a world of patience, one that Guy had relied upon his entire life.
It took a very, very long time for him to nod again, and far longer to tell them what they needed to hear.
---
Luke wasn't sure how long he'd been sitting there, hugging his knees, but it was a complete surprise when the door opened abruptly, and he fell backwards, caught off-balance by the loss of support. He blinked blearily and lifted his gaze, only to find Van looking down on him, frowning, a tightness in his expression that hadn't been there before. Obviously whatever they had discussed - without him, he couldn't help but think bitterly - was enough to ruffle his usually inscrutable teacher. "... Master?"
He sat up at Van's abrupt gesture, then rose to his feet when Pere stepped up behind them, looking solemn. He couldn't be sure, but he thought he could see an underlying anger hidden carefully in their eyes.
He tried to peer around them to look at Guy, but Van spoke before he could see his friend. "I put him to sleep with a fonic hymn. He's exhausted, and he mustn't force himself anymore. I'll bring Tear and the princess back here to heal him once more before we leave. After that..." He shrugged his shoulders. Luke still wasn't entirely certain - his master was, as always, difficult to really read - but once again he felt the impression of... was it rage?
Had he ever seen Van that angry?
And then it was gone, before he could think further upon it. Pere moved past him, looking as if he was going to leave, but surprisingly stopped outside the door, leaning against the wall across from it. Van didn't look surprised, and merely gave Luke's shoulder a light squeeze. "Watch over him for a while, if you wish, but get some rest. We're departing in the morning."
Luke felt a lump form in his throat at the words. He nearly protested, but inwardly he knew that this was for the best. He couldn't protect Guy - not like Master Van could - and Guy needed to get out of Kimlasca.
And... he had a job to do.
Realizing Van was waiting for a response, he forced himself to nod, eyes lowering as his teacher disappeared out the door, closing it behind him. Only when he'd heard the latch click into place did he lift raise his head to look at Guy.
He seemed a little more peaceful now, at least; he didn't look unconscious, anyway. It wasn't the sleep of the dead, but rather just the sleep of someone who hadn't had a decent rest in a few days and needed it very badly. Luke nearly tiptoed over to the bed, desperately willing his friend not to wake up.
It was disappointing, in a way - he'd hoped to speak with Guy a little more, perhaps pry the story out of him somehow. Surely if he could tell Van and Pere, he'd be able to say something to his best friend, right? Yet as he drew closer, slowly sinking into the chair beside the bed, he noticed how strained Guy looked, lines of unease on his forehead, lips curved into a tight frown. He was asleep, but it was not a peaceful rest. Perhaps he was dreaming, remembering what had been done to him. Absently Luke wondered if he himself would have been able to dream of anything else, had their roles been reversed.
And as he leaned in just a little more, he froze, absolutely froze. For there were faded tracks of wetness on Guy's cheeks.
No. Just. No.
Guy had... Guy had cried. But Guy didn't cry, he just didn't. It was practically a rule. He'd never seen his servant looking particularly upset or hurt - though as he thought back, he could recall an odd sort of tension in Guy's eyes when he chanced to look at the sword his father had taken from the entrance hall - and he'd never heard so much as a sniffle. Whenever his father had told him to grow up or be a man, he'd looked to Guy for direction, because Guy was strong and brave, but more than anything, he was nice.
So Guy wasn't supposed to cry. Seeing the evidence of what he'd never seen before made Luke realize, yet again, just how bad things were.
"This is it, isn't it, Guy?" he whispered, edging off the chair and sinking to his knees beside the bed. His eyes drifted briefly to the sword resting against the wall, not a foot away from where Guy's head lay. Perhaps that was the reason he'd been sent away. That didn't seem so bad. "Everything's gotta change after this. Father would never let you come back, and I... I don't want you to. Not if he's going to want to hurt you again."
He watched Guy for a moment, studying his expression, his still form, the slow and steady breathing. His hands clenched into fists, curling tightly in the blankets. "So what happens? Do we just... send you away? Leave you with Master Van? Will I..." He swallowed hard. "Will I ever see you again...?"
The thought left him cold. The manor was bearable only when Guy was there to hang out with, and Van visited to train him. If Guy were to leave... and Van probably returning to Daath after Akzeriuth... even Pere would be gone, obviously still loyal to Guy (which was something he found difficult to swallow, but looking back, not as surprising as it had initially been). He shuddered; alone in the mansion with no one but his parents, the knights, and the maids? It was horrifying. He didn't think he could stand it.
Suddenly a thought came to him, and before he could fully acknowledge what it even was, he was on his feet. What was he thinking? He'd already worked everything out with Van! He was going to prevent war - save Akzeriuth, too - and Master Van had said that would mean he'd be free.
And if he were free...
"I don't know what'll happen, or where you'll go, Guy," he murmured, leaning over the bed, reaching out - lightly, so very lightly, wary of waking the elder man up - to wipe the last remnant of his tears away. "It'll be tough for a while, but... after Akzeriuth, I'll come visit you, okay? All the time, no matter where you are." He grinned, and the expression wasn't as forceful as it had been a day before. "You'll go crazy without me, right? So... so I'll have to come. And everything'll be fine..."
It was something they both had to learn to believe again, he knew. But he also knew that they could... and they would.
He waited until Tear and Natalia returned, stepping back to give him room as they started to work on a few more of his injuries. Guy was sound asleep, thanks to the hymn, and Tear could easily use it again if he awoke. He was in good hands - the thought reaffirmed when Pere stepped back into the room to offer help if it was needed.
Glancing at Guy one last time, Luke turned on his heel and hurried off in search of Master Van - to finalize their plans, offer up his idea, gain a bit of hope that maybe, just maybe, things would work out.
He just had to save Akzeriuth, stop the war. Freedom was so close, hovering right in front of his fingertips, and in just a few days, he'd be able to grasp it.
Wait for me a little longer, Guy - I'll show you I can do it. I can make everything okay... I just need to learn how.
I won't disappoint you again, I promise.
---
Note: This is originally where the fic was supposed to end. Unfortunately SOMEONE (manicalpha) was all "THAT'S IT?! D8" so... uh. I'll probably continue it. Maybe. Definitely
It's gearing towards becoming a Guy/Luke pairing, but I'm not entirely sure. I'm giving the heads-up just in case.
Thanks for your support, guys ♥