Post by infinite on Apr 26, 2011 11:34:08 GMT 10
Title: Betrayal
Rating: G
Word Count: 464
Pairing: Gary/Raoul – Team Moustache Curtains
Round/Fight: 2/C
Summary: Raoul can’t forgive his friends, yet.
“How do you do it?”
“How do I do what?”
“Just… keep on going. Like everything’s fine.”
Gary was puzzled, “What do you mean? Everything is fine, isn’t it?”
“No. No, everything is not fine. We’ve killed men, and almost been killed ourselves, for nothing more than a stupid river valley. A man we admired, the King’s nephew, turned out to be a traitor, and one of our best friends has been lying to us for years. Everything we thought we knew has been wrong. Don’t you feel betrayed? Or even bothered?”
“War is war. Yes it bothers me, but it’s a fact of life for a knight. You picked the wrong profession if you can’t take battle.”
“I didn’t pick any profession. I don’t recall having any choice in the matter.”
“And Alan – Alanna…don’t worry about her. You just need time to get used to the idea.”
“That’s right, I forgot,” said Raoul, though he had never forgotten for a second, “You knew.”
Gary was taken aback at the bitterness in Raoul’s voice. “I – only for a little while. About a week before, you know…”
“But you were told. Out of all of us, I was the only one left out.”
“Alex didn’t know.”
“Oh, I see! So I’m trusted on a par with the traitor’s squire!”
“No, I didn’t mean – you’re looking at this the wrong way. We wanted to protect you.”
“I don’t need protection from my own friends. I need to know I can trust them, and that they trust me! That they won’t betray me, just as I never would have betrayed you. I wondered what you three were giggling about up to Midwinter, going off on your little picnics. Now I suppose I know.”
“Would you have expected me to break my work to Alan? I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“Then why didn’t he – she tell me? This is nothing new. I was the last to be trusted with George, too. I’d just like to know why that is. Am I considered untrustworthy? And if so, what have I done to deserve such a reputation?”
“No! Raoul – Mithros, is that how you really feel?”
“It wasn’t. Until - when you and Jon came forward that night, leaving me in my seat while our friend turned into a different person…I’ve never felt so betrayed. Or alone.”
“We never meant… I never thought…”
“You never thought of me. I understand.”
“Raoul -!”
“I think I need to get away from the palace for a while. Get some new air.”
“Where will you go?”
“I don’t know. South, I think.”
“To see Alanna?”
“No. Not to see Alanna.”
“Can I some with you?”
“I would prefer it if you didn’t.”
“Please…stay. Things wouldn’t be the same without you.”
“Yes, they would.”
QC: by Cassandra
Rating: G
Word Count: 464
Pairing: Gary/Raoul – Team Moustache Curtains
Round/Fight: 2/C
Summary: Raoul can’t forgive his friends, yet.
“How do you do it?”
“How do I do what?”
“Just… keep on going. Like everything’s fine.”
Gary was puzzled, “What do you mean? Everything is fine, isn’t it?”
“No. No, everything is not fine. We’ve killed men, and almost been killed ourselves, for nothing more than a stupid river valley. A man we admired, the King’s nephew, turned out to be a traitor, and one of our best friends has been lying to us for years. Everything we thought we knew has been wrong. Don’t you feel betrayed? Or even bothered?”
“War is war. Yes it bothers me, but it’s a fact of life for a knight. You picked the wrong profession if you can’t take battle.”
“I didn’t pick any profession. I don’t recall having any choice in the matter.”
“And Alan – Alanna…don’t worry about her. You just need time to get used to the idea.”
“That’s right, I forgot,” said Raoul, though he had never forgotten for a second, “You knew.”
Gary was taken aback at the bitterness in Raoul’s voice. “I – only for a little while. About a week before, you know…”
“But you were told. Out of all of us, I was the only one left out.”
“Alex didn’t know.”
“Oh, I see! So I’m trusted on a par with the traitor’s squire!”
“No, I didn’t mean – you’re looking at this the wrong way. We wanted to protect you.”
“I don’t need protection from my own friends. I need to know I can trust them, and that they trust me! That they won’t betray me, just as I never would have betrayed you. I wondered what you three were giggling about up to Midwinter, going off on your little picnics. Now I suppose I know.”
“Would you have expected me to break my work to Alan? I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“Then why didn’t he – she tell me? This is nothing new. I was the last to be trusted with George, too. I’d just like to know why that is. Am I considered untrustworthy? And if so, what have I done to deserve such a reputation?”
“No! Raoul – Mithros, is that how you really feel?”
“It wasn’t. Until - when you and Jon came forward that night, leaving me in my seat while our friend turned into a different person…I’ve never felt so betrayed. Or alone.”
“We never meant… I never thought…”
“You never thought of me. I understand.”
“Raoul -!”
“I think I need to get away from the palace for a while. Get some new air.”
“Where will you go?”
“I don’t know. South, I think.”
“To see Alanna?”
“No. Not to see Alanna.”
“Can I some with you?”
“I would prefer it if you didn’t.”
“Please…stay. Things wouldn’t be the same without you.”
“Yes, they would.”
QC: by Cassandra