My first fic. Ever. And yes, I need criticism badly XD. Be nice and review?
And, uh, if you don't like GabranthxLarsa, you probably shouldn't read this .
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy XII or its characters. Although I would like to. Very much so XD.
On with the fic.
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"Isn't it absolutely spectacular?" sighed Larsa, resting his gloved hands on the granite rail of the balcony as a gentle breeze played with his dark hair.
"Pardon me, my lord?" Said Gabranth quickly, as his master's voice had caught him off guard.
"The view from here, it's just amazing...and Gabranth, please, how many times must I ask you to call me Larsa?"
"Yes, my lo...Larsa.." Gabranth stuttered. 'I did not just say 'My Larsa'...' he thought, cursing himself.
"Your Larsa, Gabranth?" Larsa repeated with a hint of playfulness in his voice.
"Er, excuse me, my lord, I was going to..I almost said it again but I-" Gabranth stammered.
Larsa laughed to himself. "That's quite alright, my Gabranth"
The judge magister did not respond. He thanked the gods he had his helmet on, Larsa did not need to see the look on his face nor the color currently intensifying in his cheeks. Larsa turned around to enjoy the view yet again, and leaned over the rail to take in the full scene.
"No matter how many times I come out here every morning," he continued, referring to one of the many Archadian balconies of the Palace, "it always takes my breath away." He leaned further out and closed his eyes, appreciating the breeze.
"Lord Larsa," Gabranth said quickly, "please take caution before you fall, the rail is already cracked, and"
Larsa laughed again. "Honestly, Gabranth, you worry far too much, and again, it's just Larsa."
The knight closed his eyes and sighed quietly to himself. Why couldn't he seem to pull himself together around his young master anymore? It was almost as if-...No, he thought quickly, banish the idea, Gabranth... As his eyes opened again, pulling himself back together was not an option.
"Larsa!" he exclaimed, taking a sudden step towards the boy who was now sitting on the edge of the much-too-damaged balcony rail. Startled, Larsa turned quickly to face his guardian, and, to Gabranth's horror, lost his balance and began to slip. Gabranth's heart plummeted to his stomach as he sprinted towards Larsa, eyes widening as the already cracked rail began to split. The scene seemed to play out in slow motion. As Larsa began to fall, Gabranth lunged towards him, and grasped his hand as the two slipped over the edge. With his other arm, Gabranth flailed out and caught the edge of the balcony, now trying desperately to support his and Larsa's weight with his metal-clad fingertips.
"Oh gods...oh gods!" Larsa exclaimed as he tried not to gaze down at the not-so-magnificent-anymore view of the gardens thirty feet below him. Gabranth's grip was beginning to loosen. With as much strength as he could gather, he swung Larsa inward, and then swung him again over his head, sending him flying and landing on the pieces of granite lying on the floor of the balcony. This cost Gabranth his grip, and he plummeted downwards. The last thing he heared was Larsa's despairing voice screaming his name.
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A ragged sound pierced the stale silence. It ceased, and began again. Again it ceased, again it began. It was such a strange sound, accompanied by a rattle every few seconds. It was this sound that pulled Gabranth out of his induced sleep. Startled, he sat straight up and took in a sharp breath, realizing that the horrid sound was his breathing. A sharp pain shot through him like a bullet, and he slumped back down, nauseated. He tried to lift his arms, but they felt so unexplainably heavy, as did his legs. He reached down to remove his armor but couldn't, as he then realized it wasn't there. Even more startled, his eyes flew open and he looked down at his feet, which were covered by a blanket. Looking around the room, he finally grasped reality and with relief, he realized where he was. With a thankful sigh, he closed his eyes and rested again in one of the many beds of the palace's infirmary. The peace didn't last long, as he felt intense pressure building up in his chest, and he began coughing a raspy cough that didn't alleviate the pressure. Opening his eyes once more he glanced down at his chest which was firmly bandaged. Sighing again, he was grateful that he no longer had his armor on. He was beginning to drift off once more when he heard shouting in the hallway.
"For gods' SAKE, Drace, let me BE"
"B-but my lord, you really should rest"
"Thank you, Drace, but I am perfectly capable of deciding for myself. Take your leave"
"...Yes, my lord"
As heavy, clanging footsteps faded, the door to the infirmary swung open and Larsa stepped through.
"...Gabranth?" He said softly, looking around the large room for him. "Gabranth!" Larsa spotted his guardian and ran towards him, with somewhat of a limp.
"L-lord Larsa..." The judge magister stuttered in a weak, coarse voice. He suddenly felt extremely self conscious...almost naked. In the presence of Larsa, without his armor, without his sword, without his helmet.
Larsa grasped the knight's bare hand, startling him. "Oh Gabranth..." whispered Larsa. Gabranth looked into the young lord's eyes and was surprised to see that they were filled with tears. Gabranth averted his eyes immediately, as he was not sure what he was feeling...akwardness to be sure. Was it just him or were the bandages getting tighter and tighter?
"My Lord," the exposed judge began in a raspy yet soft voice, "I..."
"No," said Larsa quickly, "it's okay, you don't have to speak"
Gabranth exhaled, not sure what to think.
"Are you...are you badly injured?" asked Larsa meekly, looking into his guardian's face, searching for emotion.
"N-not badly," he replied, but his face informed Larsa otherwise.
"Oh Gabranth, look at you.." Larsa muttered with pain in his voice. His eyes looked up and down the knight's body, and Gabranth felt another pang of self consciousness..
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"Gabranth, I...I'm so sorry..." Larsa choked, and to the judge's surprise, a tear glistened and fell to his cheek. Gabranth's heart swelled and without thinking he raised a hand to the boy's face and wiped the tear away. As he did, Larsa quickly brought his hand to Gabranth's and held it, and as the young heir looked at his protector, Gabranth realized what he just did and pulled his hand away.
"I...forgive me, I...y-you"
"It's okay," Larsa said softly, sitting on Gabranth's bed. He looked up at the ceiling, his eyes filling with tears again. "It's all my fault, Gabranth"
Gabranth raised a hand to the lord Larsa's shoulder. "Do not take the blame upon yourself my Lord." To his utter shock, Larsa lied down next to him and rested his head on his knight's shoulder. He reached around and grasped the judge's opposite shoulder, as if pulling him closer. Gabranth stiffened, and prayed to the gods that Larsa couldn't hear his racing heart. With his eyes closed, Larsa whispered softly into Gabranth's ear.
"I couldn't bear to lose you, Gabranth"
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Eesh, I hope that wasn't too bad. Please please please review, I need them to continue, and make sure to tell me what you want in the next chapter .
