I haven't posted here in a while...
Hi guys, sorry to be a du-face but I've been pretty busy with life. Here's an AU story for you all to enjoy.
...I'd like to say what the pairings are, but it's better if you read it. Oh, and btw, there is actual Het in here. That mean I wrote a straight pairing (zomg)
Blame sylvia viridian, it's all her fault. She's the one who writes this with me... (this is a collab between me and her.)
Warnings: Yaoi, mature themes. Don't like, don't read.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Zelos sighed, looking around the somberly decorated master bedroom that he'd recently come into, along with everything else his late father had owned. He'd never been close to the old man, but it was a pain to have to deal with all the politics and running the household. Plus, the man had had no sense of design.
"Lord Zelos!" Sebastian shouted, looking for his master. "Lord Zelos! Where are you?!"
With another sigh, Zelos stepped out into the hallway. "I'm right here, Sebastian." he said, "What's up?"
"My lord! You were suppose to be at the royal court to receive your blessings an hour ago!" Sebastian sighed. "We must get you ready."
"Oh," Zelos said, "I forgot about that, sorry." In fact, he hadn't forgotten, but he'd been harboring the vague hope that if he hid long enough, it would go away. He hated appearing before the court and the clothes he had to wear itched horribly.
"Come my lord, already you will not be in his lord's good graces..." Sebastian sighed, leading Zelos to his dressing room.
Zelos followed, allowing Sebastian to help him dress a bit sulkily. "I suppose I don't have a choice, do I?" he grumbled, "They're all so stuffy, why do I have to care what they think?"
"It is your place." Sebastian said. "As a lord of the court, to serve his majesty, and part of that is receiving his blessings."
"My place…" Zelos sighed again, "Yeah, I know. The old man was always harping on that, too. Ah, well, I'd better at least try to keep up appearances, right?"
Sebastian nodded. "Your mother wished you to have this position, that is why she married your father." He and several other servants went about getting the clothes ready, dressing Zelos in a timely matter.
Once he was dressed, Zelos tried his best not to shift uncomfortably in his clothes.
"You look dashing sir! Her ladyship would have been most pleased." Sebastian said with a proud gleam in his eyes.
Zelos nodded absently, trying to ignore the vague stab of pain he felt at the mention of his mother. "Yeah, sure," he said, steeling himself internally for the bustle of the court.
"Well, we must be off." Sebastian said, leading Zelos to the coach that was prepared for him.
-
Grand trumpets blared as Zelos' couch approached the castle and servants came to open his door and help him down. They led him to the royal court, another servant declaring that he had arrived. "I present the arrival of honored Lord Zelos Wilder."
Zelos looked around at the court with a carefree grin, greeting everyone he saw, while mentally beginning a count of the minutes he needed to remain here before he could get away without causing offense.
A lady of the court walked towards him. "Lord Zelos!" She greeted, bowing lightly.
"Hello, my lovely lady!" Zelos replied, taking her hand and kissing it, "How are you on this fine day?"
"I am wonderfully excited and overjoyed!" She said happily. "You know my daughter Colette?"
Zelos thought back for a moment, then nodded, "Ah, yes, little blond girl, right? She's a lovely little angel, isn't she?"
The woman laughed. "Quite so! Well recently she was engaged to the Aurion household!"
"Wow, really?" Zelos was impressed despite himself. Everyone knew the Aurions as some of the richest and most important nobles around. "Congratulations on that, then!"
"Yes quite!" She laughed. "I heard you too were to be engaged... to some lady from over seas."
"Yup, that's right! I've got a lovely lady from across the ocean just waiting to be mine!" Zelos replied with a grin. In truth, it was to be more a marriage of convenience, but the court didn't need to know the details of Zelos' personal life.
"Oh well I do wish you luck then! You know those foreigners..." She said, voice barely above a whisper. "Well! I think I see Duke Bryant and I must speak with him, please excuse me." She said and walked over to him.
Zelos watched the woman go, feeling mildly sorry for Duke Bryant, who was one of the few people at court that Zelos actually liked. He sighed internally and turned away to find someone else to talk to.
Suddenly trumpets blared again, announcing another nobles' arrival. However this time all the nobles within the court turned to their eyes to the stairs. Kratos and his caravan had arrived; Kratos of course leading with his only son of his late wife, lady Anna; but following closely behind was Kratos' personal servants. Leading them was what many people called the sea's gift, the pearl of the ocean; Kratos' favored geisha.
Many people would stare at this person as they descended the stairs, hair of the sky and eyes of the sea, with skin as white as ivory. However some would stare with disgust as this treasure of Lord Kratos' was not a woman, but rather male. No one could deny his looks, but no one could deny that he had also given Kratos a tarnished name.
Zelos watched as the Aurion entourage arrived. He'd met Lord Kratos once or twice; the man was handsome, but not very sociable, and his son was a bit of a dork. He found his eyes drawn to the controversial half-elven concubine that followed behind them; the man was just as gorgeous as gossipers had claimed, and Zelos found himself just a bit jealous.
As the concubine passed Zelos with the caravan his eyes flickered up to Zelos'. For a moment time seemed to freeze as his 'ocean eyes' that had entranced many sucked the other in.
Zelos gasped slightly as the vision on the stairs met his eyes, and he felt himself blushing faintly. He looked away quickly, but he knew that gaze would haunt his memories for some time to come.
-
It was time later in the evening when the party finally started to die down enough that people were starting to leave.
Zelos made his way out to the balcony, sighing with relief when he arrived there. He might look at ease amongst the crowds, but he was grateful for the moment of solitude in which he could drop his pretenses. Perhaps he could remain out here until he could afford to leave...
Someone walked out amongst the gardens, shoulders shaking slightly as they made their way over to the fountain. They sat down and lightly began playing with the water.
Hearing the splashing, Zelos turned curiously to look at the person who had just emerged into the courtyard below. Who else would be seeking solitude at this time?
Kratos' favored concubine sat by the large fountain, lightly playing with the fish there.
Zelos felt his heart skip a beat as he realized who it was. Technically, if Lord Kratos found him here, he could be in big trouble, and the elder Aurion was renowned for his temper. Still, he couldn't resist the chance to speak with the beauty without outside interference. "Hello," he said quietly, approaching the fountain.
The concubine started and quickly looked away. "L-Lordship?" He said quietly. "Ah, good evening to you..."
Zelos grimaced slightly, "Please, I've had enough of 'lordship' for tonight. Call me Zelos. What's your name?"
The concubine looked up at him, and though his eyes were clear you could tell he was crying recently. "The name of a lowly concubine is not graceful enough to brush your ears Lord Zelos."
"Not 'Lord Zelos', either," Zelos corrected, "Just Zelos, please, and in case you hadn't noticed, I don't care much for all that silly propriety. I just want to know the name of the person who held the entire room enthralled with his beauty when he entered."
He blushed. "Ah... I'm not nearly... that beautiful..." He looked away sadly.
Zelos raised an eyebrow. "What in the world makes you say that?" he asked, "If nothing else, you're certainly the most gorgeous person here tonight... even your master is no match for your beauty, and he's quite a handsome prize himself."
"That he is..." The concubine said, eyes glazing with an adoration.
Zelos wasn't sure he liked that look, and decided to divert the topic a bit before he started to get jealous. "So, I'll ask again: what's your name?"
The concubine looked up at him again before smiling lightly. "Yuan."
Zelos smiled back at him. "Yuan, huh? That's pretty. So what are you doing out here? Get tired of the noise inside?"
Yuan smiled sadly. "No... for me the world has gone silent..."
Zelos gazed at him seriously, "What happened?"
"My problems are nothing you should have to hear my lord..." Yuan said, lowering his eyes again.
"Maybe so," Zelos said, "but they're probably more interesting than anything Lady Greystone has to say." That esteemed lady had been chattering to Zelos all night, sharing useless information and ignorant opinions; he'd barely managed to escape.
Yuan kept his gaze lowered, eyes filling with tears once again. "Yes... you have heard of the young master's engagement..."
Zelos nodded, "The girl's mother has been announcing it to anything that'll sit still; it's been the talk of the whole court."
"There is a condition... that Lord Aurion had to meet..." Yuan said, trying to keep the tears out of his voice.
Zelos looked at him inquiringly. "What is it?" he asked in a hushed tone.
"That his lordship should rid himself of me..." Yuan said, closing his eyes to try to withhold the falling tears.
"Oh..." Zelos said sympathetically, "That's terrible..." He knew, of course, about the scandal around Lord Kratos' preferences, but to think that someone would try to dictate how he should live in that way... and it was clear that Yuan was distraught by the thought of leaving.
Yuan smiled even though his entire body shook with withheld sobs. "I'm sorry my lord, I shall not bother you with anymore of my trivial problems." He rose, quickly drying his face. "I must go, please excuse me..."
"Goodbye, then... Yuan," Zelos said, and watched the other leave sadly, wanting to call out to him to come back, but unable to think of an excuse to do so.
-
With a sigh of relief, Zelos entered his mansion and in his fatigue almost headed for his old room before he remembered that he lived in the master bedroom now. Lady Greystone had caught up to him again as he'd tried to sneak through the ballroom to the door and it had taken him a full hour to shake her off. He laid down heavily on his bed, mind wandering back to Yuan and his predicament.
It was too bad, really... of course, such a beautiful concubine would have no shortage of eager buyers, it's not like he would be cast out on the streets, but Zelos couldn't help remembering Yuan's tear-streaked face with a twinge of regret.
Sebastian knocked at his master's door. "Lord Zelos, I'm here to help you get ready for bed."
Zelos sighed a little, rising from the bed, "Come in, Sebastian." He didn't have the energy tonight to argue that he could do it himself; he'd fight that battle some other day.
Sebastian and several other servants entered the room and set about undressing him, then getting him into his night clothes.
Zelos allowed it, feeling oddly detached from the flurry of motion about him. Once the process was done, he shooed the last of them out and climbed into bed, doing his best to push the evening's events from his mind so that he could sleep. He wasn't entirely successful and it was quite some time before slumber arrived.
-
Later that evening Zelos awoke with a start. He blinked at the bedroom for a moment, trying to get his bearings, then finally sighed. "Just a dream," he muttered, "That was years ago, why can't it just go away?" He stretched a bit and yawned. Going back to bed after that dream was hardly appealing, so he dressed himself and went out for a walk.
Down by river that gave Meltokio its water someone was standing at the gate, looking into the rapidly flowing water.
Zelos glanced at the person curiously as he passed; it was unusual for anyone to be out this late. He considered approaching them, but he really didn't feel like talking to anyone right now.
The person climbed over the gate and onto the other side, they seemed to trying to convenience themselves to go ahead and jump into the waters below.
Now the person had Zelos' attention. He ran over toward where they were perched, calling out, "Hey! Hey, wait! Don't do it!"
The person turned to them, blue hair whisking about their face. "L-Lord Zelos?"
"Yuan?" Zelos was shocked, "What are you doing?"
Yuan looked away. "I-I don't want to cause his lordship anymore hardship..."
Zelos frowned, "I don't know him all that well... but from what I've heard, he'd be pretty distressed to find out that you were dead. Trust me, having someone you care about die... wondering if you could have prevented it... that's far from 'no more hardship'."
Yuan laughed, chocking slightly on his tears. "He... just put me up for sale... I can't... I'd rather die... so I'll rid us both of a bother."
Zelos bit his lip; this was not going well. "Please, don't," he said desperately, "I ... what if..." he cast about for something, anything that he could suggest, "What if I bought you, then?"
Yuan looked at him with cold eyes. "You wouldn't want an old washed up whore..."
"I'll be the judge of that, thanks," Zelos replied evenly, "If it's agreeable to you, I would be happy to buy you. I won't ask anything of you that you aren't willing to give and I promise, I'll treat you well. So please come back over here?"
Yuan looked at him suspiciously. "How... how can I trust your word?"
Zelos shrugged, "I don't have anything to offer you right now except promises and if you won't trust one promise, you certainly don't have reason to trust any others I might make. So... I guess that's kind of up to you, and what you already know of me."
Yuan looked back at the rushing waters. "...Alright..." He said then moved to climb over the rail again when he slipped on the edge, and with a shout, started to fall.
Zelos lunged forward and just barely managed to grab Yuan's hand as he fell toward the water. He could feel his grip beginning to slip as he reached out with the other hand. "Give me your other hand!" he cried, "I'll pull you up!"
Yuan looked up at him with terrified eyes, but obediently gave Zelos his other hand.
Slowly, carefully, Zelos pulled him back up and helped him over the railing. "Are you all right?" he asked, "You almost gave me a heart attack, there."
Yuan nodded, wrapping his arms around himself. "I-I-I... I'm sorry L-Lordship..."
Zelos put a comforting arm around Yuan's shoulders. "Hey, it's all right. Not your fault, you were trying to get back over, and what did I tell you earlier? Call me Zelos."
Yuan just nodded numbly, still shaking like a leaf.
Zelos gave Yuan a measuring look. "Are you going to be all right getting home?" he asked, although he was fairly certain he knew the answer.
"...Ah..." Yuan stood up on shaking legs, taking two steps before falling again.
Zelos moved to help him back up, supporting Yuan with an arm around his waist. "I'll take that as a 'no'," he said with a trace of dry humor, "I'll help you back home, then, all right?" He couldn't just leave the other there, not after saving his life moments before.
Yuan clutched onto Zelos, seeming to hold him for dear life.
Zelos looked down at him in surprise and mild confusion, "Hey, what's the matter? You're safe now, I'll get you home. It'll be like this never happened."
"I guess today's just been... too much..." Yuan said, choking on his tears as he started openly sobbing.
"Uh…" Zelos said awkwardly, a bit startled by the sudden outpouring of grief, "I... I guess it probably has. Um... it'll get better, though. I mean, it can't really get worse, so it kind of has to get better, right?" Zelos had a vague idea that he probably wasn't helping, but then, he'd never had to comfort someone about anything serious before.
Yuan just stood, clinging to Zelos till his tears subsided, pulling away after he was done. "I'm... sorry..."
"It's ...all right," Zelos told him, "I just wasn't really expecting that, is all. ...Are you going to be okay?"
"I'll be fine..." Yuan said, smiling up at him. Besides the tear tracks he didn't look like he had cried at all.
Zelos nodded, "All right, then... do you still want me to walk you home, or can you make it on your own?" Zelos suddenly wanted nothing more than to be back in bed.
"Yes my lord. I'm terribly sorry for inconveniencing you." Yuan said, wiping away what was left of his tears.
"Don't worry about it." Zelos told him vaguely, "I'll see you later, then." And with that, he retreated to his mansion, feeling oddly like he was running from something, although the only thing he'd left behind was a (beautiful) half-elven slave with a (heartbreakingly) disgustingly realistic fake smile.
Yuan watched after Zelos' retreating figure. "Please remember your promise." He said quietly.
-