![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
seikilosTitle: Second Men
Fandoms:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
luceti, Tales of Legendia, Tales of Phantasia, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Black Butler
Genre: Gen (romance if you squint)
Rating: PG
Words: 1742
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the above media.
Summary: Neither Dhaos nor Giles understands what Grune sees in the other--but they understand the danger in each other all too well.
Author's Notes: So I, um, wrote this in...late September. Or possibly early October. Pretty much the same time as "The Importance of Honest, Direct Communication," back when the whole "Dhaos mind controls Giles" plot first came up. I thought I'd write a possible way things could have come to a head; too bad I didn't post it in anything remotely like a timely manner. Oh well.
She is too good for him, Dhaos thinks. Far, far too good.
From the window of his sixth floor apartment, he can see much of Luceti. He can watch the citizens of the village come and go in the course of their daily lives, moving with purpose or idleness depending on their natures. Among these citizens are Grune and Giles.
They walk down one of the village lanes, hand in hand, heads bent together. He doesn't know what they're discussing, but he knows Grune must be smiling at him, must be looking at Giles with perfect, innocent trust.
The thought twists his stomach. From the very start, Dhaos has sensed that the benevolent, somewhat nervous image Giles projects is nothing but a front. He is a human: his species alone leaves him predisposed to arrogance and violence, cruelty and selfishness. Dhaos wants none of those traits close to Grune. She would not understand what they were until she had been harmed by them.
But, more than that, more than simply due to his destructive nature as a human, Dhaos mistrusts Giles greatly. The second man who observes from behind the eyes of the one that Grune sees—he unsettles Dhaos. He wonders what it would take to bring that man to the fore, to display his heart's weakness.
. . . He wonders if even seeing Giles for what he truly is would be enough to deter Grune from seeking his company.
It would not be, he concludes, as he always does. If Grune could regard that twisted, raving persona of himself with calmness, even love, she would not abandon Giles. Even if he threatened her safety, she would remain by his side, "because that's what friends do."
He watches the pair disappear into the Welcome Center, their destination no doubt the tea shop on the second floor, and his lips compress as she leaves the protection of his sight.
She is too good for him, and Dhaos intends to make Giles acknowledge that truth, one way or another.
*
She is too good for him, Giles thinks, and he can't possibly imagine what she sees in him.
His lips twist wryly as his steps take him closer to the library. Those thoughts could be just as easily self-directed, but . . . not tonight.
He lifts his gaze to where Dhaos and Grune stand on the roof of the library, side by side. Dhaos isn't an unusual sight; given how often he sees him up there, he assumes he likes stargazing, or at least rooftops. But more and more lately, on his patrols, Giles has been seeing Grune with him.
It . . . worries him. Dhaos sets him on edge and sends every instinct he's developed onto red alert. With her innocence and trust, Grune shouldn't be anywhere him.
His opinion isn't because of the clear dislike for him Dhaos has exhibited since the moment they met at the amusement park—or at least, he acknowledges, that isn't the main reason. He still has no idea what he's done to earn it. In any other man, he might have suspected jealousy, but there are times when he wonders if Dhaos even likes Grune. It's difficult to imagine anyone disliking her, but he wouldn't put it past Dhaos.
. . . He wouldn't put much at all past Dhaos, to be honest. The man has Bad News stamped all over him, and Grune . . . of course Grune doesn't see it. Grune sees the good in Grell, for heaven's sake. There really is no way for him to suggest that one of her closest friends isn't a very nice person without hurting and confusing her, two things Giles would rather cut off his own right hand than do.
And—if he tells her that perhaps it would be best for her to distance herself from Dhaos, he'll have to pull back as well. He isn't sure he has the strength for that.
"Tomorrow, we should go for a walk together."
Giles jumps, taking in a sharp breath through his nose. Being so captured by his thoughts, he hadn't registered how close he was to the library until Grune had spoken.
"We can look it all the colours of the leaves," she continues. "I'm sure they'll be very beautiful."
There's a pause, and then Dhaos replies, "If you wish."
Giles shakes his head at that lackluster response and keeps moving. He still has no idea what she sees in Dhaos.
She really is too good for him.
*
If Dhaos didn't know Grune as well as he does, he would have suspected her of deliberately not telling him she had also invited Giles to go cloud-watching that weekend. He hadn't realized they would not be alone until he had heard two sets of footsteps approaching his door. By then, he had already agreed. It had been too late to make up an excuse, and doing so would have only disappointed Grune.
. . . And so, here he is. Grune lies between them on her picnic blanket, fast asleep. With so little conversation to distract her thanks to the mutual wariness between himself and Giles, she had soon fallen asleep.
Dhaos watches her face as she dreams. She's smiling slightly even now. She is utterly defenseless like this, and the very moment he recognises that fact, he is overwhelmed by such an intense urge to protect her. Until now, the only strong emotions he had felt in a very long time were rage and despair. This is something from long ago.
"She always does this."
He looks up. He does not like that fond note in Giles' voice. It is—overly familiar.
Responding to Dhaos' unasked question, Giles makes a brief gesture towards Grune. "F-Falls asleep, I mean. I'm always having to wake her up so she doesn't spend the night out here."
The implications of Giles' words sink into him. In the time between one beat of his abruptly clenching heart and the next, those feelings of protectiveness transform into fury so profound he cannot catch his breath. Grune, alone, asleep, defenseless, at the mercy of this human with his hidden darkness, and there would be nothing he could do, nothing.
Only Grune's presence between them is enough to stay his hand. She serves as a needed reminder that if he is to protect her, he must be careful about it, so that her innocence might be preserved.
Of course his thoughts could not be kept completely from his face, which is why he is not surprised when Giles asks, ". . . Do you mind if I ask you something?"
Dhaos looks up, dragging his expression back to neutrality. He doesn't answer, but neither does he forbid the question.
Giles' voice is soft, in deference to Grune's sleep, but the question is sharp. "What in the world have I done to make you hate me this much? I've been racking my brain and I can't think of a reason."
"You are a human," he says flatly, with a finality that should tell Giles that the subject is no longer to be discussed.
Like all humans, Giles does not understand when to leave well enough alone. "That's all it is? Really the only reason?"
Dhaos doesn't answer. He watches Giles look down at where Grune is sleeping—and that dizzying rage is back once more. He wants to—he wants Giles away from Grune, and he is rapidly coming to no longer care how.
Giles looks up at him, expression shrewd behind his glasses. "Grune isn't human, is she? That's why you—you consent to spend time with her like this, isn't it?"
"Of course she isn't human," he snaps, his voice harsh but low. The suggestion only increases his anger—and that Giles has so easily guessed the truth makes him like the man even less. An intelligent fool is the most dangerous kind of fool of all.
"What is she, then?" Giles probes, and this is not a question Dhaos would be willing to answer, even were he capable.
Instead of speaking, he carefully slides one arm beneath Grune's knees and the other beneath her shoulders.
Giles of course protests. "You can't possibly—Dhaos, wake her up and she can walk back with us. Don't—she won't mind. You know she won't."
He ignores him. So it seems Giles does not want to leave Grune alone with him; he trusts him as little as Dhaos trusts Giles in return. In some situations, Giles would be right to feel as he does—but not in this one.
When he rises, Grune doesn't wake, but nestles into his arms. It lessens his tension, but only slightly.
He stares down at where Giles is still sitting on the picnic blanket. ". . . Stay away from Grune."
Giles stands, but he's unable to completely eliminate the inequality in their height. "If you know Grune as well as I think you do, you should know you're asking the impossible. She goes wherever she wants." His gaze is steady, unfaltering. "And I don't think it's your place to dictate who she can spend time with."
Dhaos lips tighten for a moment before he speaks. ". . . Grune is too innocent to understand when she has not chosen her friends wisely."
"Yes. She is, isn't she?" Giles says in that supposedly inoffensive way of his, and Dhaos could hate him for that alone.
"Keep your distance, human. I will not ask it again."
"Or . . . ?" Giles presses him. "Harming me won't make you look at all good to Grune, you must realise."
Continuing the conversation would be unwise. If he needs to carry out his threat, he isn't about to give advance warning.
. . . He will, however, provide motivation for Giles to comply. And so, rather than use his powers alone to fly away, he materializes his green seraph wings and hovers above the ground as Giles stumbles back, eyes wide and a hand to his heart.
Dhaos says nothing, but he feels the burn of satisfaction in his chest. He soars into the air, Grune still asleep in his arms, and leaves Giles far below. The satisfaction burns hotter.
He will have to do something about Giles. He can no longer be permitted to spend time with Grune—particularly alone. He will have to consider his options carefully, but to him, something is clear: he must act, and soon.
Fandoms:
luceti, Tales of Legendia, Tales of Phantasia, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Black ButlerGenre: Gen (romance if you squint)
Rating: PG
Words: 1742
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the above media.
Summary: Neither Dhaos nor Giles understands what Grune sees in the other--but they understand the danger in each other all too well.
Author's Notes: So I, um, wrote this in...late September. Or possibly early October. Pretty much the same time as "The Importance of Honest, Direct Communication," back when the whole "Dhaos mind controls Giles" plot first came up. I thought I'd write a possible way things could have come to a head; too bad I didn't post it in anything remotely like a timely manner. Oh well.
She is too good for him, Dhaos thinks. Far, far too good.
From the window of his sixth floor apartment, he can see much of Luceti. He can watch the citizens of the village come and go in the course of their daily lives, moving with purpose or idleness depending on their natures. Among these citizens are Grune and Giles.
They walk down one of the village lanes, hand in hand, heads bent together. He doesn't know what they're discussing, but he knows Grune must be smiling at him, must be looking at Giles with perfect, innocent trust.
The thought twists his stomach. From the very start, Dhaos has sensed that the benevolent, somewhat nervous image Giles projects is nothing but a front. He is a human: his species alone leaves him predisposed to arrogance and violence, cruelty and selfishness. Dhaos wants none of those traits close to Grune. She would not understand what they were until she had been harmed by them.
But, more than that, more than simply due to his destructive nature as a human, Dhaos mistrusts Giles greatly. The second man who observes from behind the eyes of the one that Grune sees—he unsettles Dhaos. He wonders what it would take to bring that man to the fore, to display his heart's weakness.
. . . He wonders if even seeing Giles for what he truly is would be enough to deter Grune from seeking his company.
It would not be, he concludes, as he always does. If Grune could regard that twisted, raving persona of himself with calmness, even love, she would not abandon Giles. Even if he threatened her safety, she would remain by his side, "because that's what friends do."
He watches the pair disappear into the Welcome Center, their destination no doubt the tea shop on the second floor, and his lips compress as she leaves the protection of his sight.
She is too good for him, and Dhaos intends to make Giles acknowledge that truth, one way or another.
She is too good for him, Giles thinks, and he can't possibly imagine what she sees in him.
His lips twist wryly as his steps take him closer to the library. Those thoughts could be just as easily self-directed, but . . . not tonight.
He lifts his gaze to where Dhaos and Grune stand on the roof of the library, side by side. Dhaos isn't an unusual sight; given how often he sees him up there, he assumes he likes stargazing, or at least rooftops. But more and more lately, on his patrols, Giles has been seeing Grune with him.
It . . . worries him. Dhaos sets him on edge and sends every instinct he's developed onto red alert. With her innocence and trust, Grune shouldn't be anywhere him.
His opinion isn't because of the clear dislike for him Dhaos has exhibited since the moment they met at the amusement park—or at least, he acknowledges, that isn't the main reason. He still has no idea what he's done to earn it. In any other man, he might have suspected jealousy, but there are times when he wonders if Dhaos even likes Grune. It's difficult to imagine anyone disliking her, but he wouldn't put it past Dhaos.
. . . He wouldn't put much at all past Dhaos, to be honest. The man has Bad News stamped all over him, and Grune . . . of course Grune doesn't see it. Grune sees the good in Grell, for heaven's sake. There really is no way for him to suggest that one of her closest friends isn't a very nice person without hurting and confusing her, two things Giles would rather cut off his own right hand than do.
And—if he tells her that perhaps it would be best for her to distance herself from Dhaos, he'll have to pull back as well. He isn't sure he has the strength for that.
"Tomorrow, we should go for a walk together."
Giles jumps, taking in a sharp breath through his nose. Being so captured by his thoughts, he hadn't registered how close he was to the library until Grune had spoken.
"We can look it all the colours of the leaves," she continues. "I'm sure they'll be very beautiful."
There's a pause, and then Dhaos replies, "If you wish."
Giles shakes his head at that lackluster response and keeps moving. He still has no idea what she sees in Dhaos.
She really is too good for him.
If Dhaos didn't know Grune as well as he does, he would have suspected her of deliberately not telling him she had also invited Giles to go cloud-watching that weekend. He hadn't realized they would not be alone until he had heard two sets of footsteps approaching his door. By then, he had already agreed. It had been too late to make up an excuse, and doing so would have only disappointed Grune.
. . . And so, here he is. Grune lies between them on her picnic blanket, fast asleep. With so little conversation to distract her thanks to the mutual wariness between himself and Giles, she had soon fallen asleep.
Dhaos watches her face as she dreams. She's smiling slightly even now. She is utterly defenseless like this, and the very moment he recognises that fact, he is overwhelmed by such an intense urge to protect her. Until now, the only strong emotions he had felt in a very long time were rage and despair. This is something from long ago.
"She always does this."
He looks up. He does not like that fond note in Giles' voice. It is—overly familiar.
Responding to Dhaos' unasked question, Giles makes a brief gesture towards Grune. "F-Falls asleep, I mean. I'm always having to wake her up so she doesn't spend the night out here."
The implications of Giles' words sink into him. In the time between one beat of his abruptly clenching heart and the next, those feelings of protectiveness transform into fury so profound he cannot catch his breath. Grune, alone, asleep, defenseless, at the mercy of this human with his hidden darkness, and there would be nothing he could do, nothing.
Only Grune's presence between them is enough to stay his hand. She serves as a needed reminder that if he is to protect her, he must be careful about it, so that her innocence might be preserved.
Of course his thoughts could not be kept completely from his face, which is why he is not surprised when Giles asks, ". . . Do you mind if I ask you something?"
Dhaos looks up, dragging his expression back to neutrality. He doesn't answer, but neither does he forbid the question.
Giles' voice is soft, in deference to Grune's sleep, but the question is sharp. "What in the world have I done to make you hate me this much? I've been racking my brain and I can't think of a reason."
"You are a human," he says flatly, with a finality that should tell Giles that the subject is no longer to be discussed.
Like all humans, Giles does not understand when to leave well enough alone. "That's all it is? Really the only reason?"
Dhaos doesn't answer. He watches Giles look down at where Grune is sleeping—and that dizzying rage is back once more. He wants to—he wants Giles away from Grune, and he is rapidly coming to no longer care how.
Giles looks up at him, expression shrewd behind his glasses. "Grune isn't human, is she? That's why you—you consent to spend time with her like this, isn't it?"
"Of course she isn't human," he snaps, his voice harsh but low. The suggestion only increases his anger—and that Giles has so easily guessed the truth makes him like the man even less. An intelligent fool is the most dangerous kind of fool of all.
"What is she, then?" Giles probes, and this is not a question Dhaos would be willing to answer, even were he capable.
Instead of speaking, he carefully slides one arm beneath Grune's knees and the other beneath her shoulders.
Giles of course protests. "You can't possibly—Dhaos, wake her up and she can walk back with us. Don't—she won't mind. You know she won't."
He ignores him. So it seems Giles does not want to leave Grune alone with him; he trusts him as little as Dhaos trusts Giles in return. In some situations, Giles would be right to feel as he does—but not in this one.
When he rises, Grune doesn't wake, but nestles into his arms. It lessens his tension, but only slightly.
He stares down at where Giles is still sitting on the picnic blanket. ". . . Stay away from Grune."
Giles stands, but he's unable to completely eliminate the inequality in their height. "If you know Grune as well as I think you do, you should know you're asking the impossible. She goes wherever she wants." His gaze is steady, unfaltering. "And I don't think it's your place to dictate who she can spend time with."
Dhaos lips tighten for a moment before he speaks. ". . . Grune is too innocent to understand when she has not chosen her friends wisely."
"Yes. She is, isn't she?" Giles says in that supposedly inoffensive way of his, and Dhaos could hate him for that alone.
"Keep your distance, human. I will not ask it again."
"Or . . . ?" Giles presses him. "Harming me won't make you look at all good to Grune, you must realise."
Continuing the conversation would be unwise. If he needs to carry out his threat, he isn't about to give advance warning.
. . . He will, however, provide motivation for Giles to comply. And so, rather than use his powers alone to fly away, he materializes his green seraph wings and hovers above the ground as Giles stumbles back, eyes wide and a hand to his heart.
Dhaos says nothing, but he feels the burn of satisfaction in his chest. He soars into the air, Grune still asleep in his arms, and leaves Giles far below. The satisfaction burns hotter.
He will have to do something about Giles. He can no longer be permitted to spend time with Grune—particularly alone. He will have to consider his options carefully, but to him, something is clear: he must act, and soon.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-06 12:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-06 02:32 pm (UTC)Thanks for reading! ♥
no subject
Date: 2012-01-07 04:29 pm (UTC)But yeah, problems, Dhaos has them. XDD;
no subject
Date: 2012-01-07 04:28 pm (UTC)Mwrrrrr I really love this Vyyyyyyc, it manages to give you both the D'AW DHAOS CARES ABOUT GRUNE feeling and the I DON'T THINK I LIKE THIS GUY feeling, as Link-mun up there demonstrates. XD I love how Giles acknowledges that his mistrust could pretty much be directed at either Dhaos or himself, but Dhaos only thinks of it in passing when thinking of his persona or when Giles confronts him. XD
Maaaan, whenever we get to threading this thing out, I can only hope it turns out a fraction as good as this. BECAUSE ANGRYFACE!DHAOS, I FAILS AT HIM. XD
All of the loves, Vyc. You probably have about five all of the loves by now, but have another one, because this oneshot has all of my loves too ♥
/still lazy
Date: 2012-01-07 05:02 pm (UTC)Yay, mission accomplished! I rather enjoy showing simultaneously that Dhaos has adorable soft tender feelings for Grune...but can also be a total creeper about it. XD And yes, self-awareness, Dhaos fails it forever.
Hee! *happily accepts the love* Very glad you enjoyed it, considering I kinda wrote your character being all...unhealthy and stuff. XD
/lazy
Date: 2012-01-15 03:00 am (UTC)...
This just makes me want Dhaos to talk to Robert again... if Dhaos-mun is cool with that. o/`
BUT. This story is really well-written. I'm always amazed at how you get such variable personalities across so well, Vyc!
/also lazy
Date: 2012-01-15 01:38 pm (UTC)And yeah, unfunness for everyone, including himself. XD He's getting to experience Grune's sadness firsthand right now, and the result is ALL THE GUILT. Good job, man.
XD I'm not quite sure why Dhaos being a jerk inspired you to want Robert to spend more time with him, but! I had to send a PM to North about something else for RP, so I sent your comment along, too. It may just be Robert's lucky day....
Thanks again for reading!
no subject
Date: 2012-01-16 09:01 am (UTC)And you are totally welcome. Honestly, your writing is a joy to read, so I should be thanking you for posting it where we can see it. <3
no subject
Date: 2012-01-16 04:52 pm (UTC)ashldjhsaljda oh god Golden way to make me flail afsdas Thank you again!
/we can be lazy together
Date: 2012-01-15 08:39 pm (UTC)\o/
Date: 2012-01-16 05:11 am (UTC)... Might empathize with him too on that, actually.
I think it's just because I like throwing Robert at the misanthropic types...But it will probably be... awkward, to say the least. LOL