Red
I got the idea for this series from Podushkin, so thank you!
(This first fic is set during The Novice, after Tayend is stabbed in Vin.)
Tayend's eyes fluttered open. Something important was at the edge of his thoughts, but he couldn't quite recall it. Dannyl was kneeling down beside him; his hands still pressed on the scholar's stomach. Seeing that his friend had regained consciousness, Dannyl quickly removed his hands. An apologetic look crossed his face, as he stammered something about Tayend's ruined shirt.
The scholar glanced down at himself. Immediately a powerful wave of nausea surged through him. Did I lose that much blood? There was a pool of red on the ground beside him, and most of his shirt was stained crimson too. Dannyl had ripped the bottom of it; to make it easier for himself to heal the wound. Feeling ill looking at all the blood (my blood, he shuddered) Tayend hastily glanced back up at Dannyl.
The magician was giving off a sense of acute uneasiness. Why does he avoid looking at me? But he gently helped the scholar stand up, and lean against a wall. The silence between them was strangely awkward. Dannyl appeared to be lost in his thoughts, but abruptly said, "I'm sorry about ripping your shirt. I – I'll give you money to replace it, of course."
Tayend was stunned. Why on earth is he rambling on about my stupid shirt, when he just saved my life? The scholar was about to reply, when he suddenly saw the lifeless body of the Vindo who had stabbed him, lying on the ground. Tayend looked up at Dannyl in amazement. "You killed him?"
Dannyl's face darkened as he nodded. "I didn't mean to… I was just so furious! You handed him your money – how dare he hurt you!" All of a sudden, Dannyl appeared distressed and slightly vulnerable. "I – I've never killed anyone before, and I never thought I would."
Tayend recalled how Dannyl had refused to kill the pirates a few weeks ago. The magician had been firm in his response that killing was never the right thing to do. He must have been truly enraged to have killed this man. Perhaps Tayend should have felt a twinge of flattery in response to Dannyl's act of protection. But Dannyl was clearly troubled by his actions, and Tayend heartily wished that the incident had never occurred in the first place.
With an unpleasant jolt, Tayend recalled what had been nagging at the back of his mind. Does he know I'm a lad? He must have sensed it while he was healing me! That's why he's embarrassed every time he looks at me…
Tayend was horrified at the thought, but strangely enough he also felt relief. Dannyl finally knew his secret. I suppose part of me wanted him to find out, I knew he would eventually. But wait! What if he decides it's inappropriate to have somebody like me as an assistant? It could very well spark off the gossips, and revive the old rumours about him… Even if he personally has no issue with lads, he may feel pressured by the guild to stop associating with me!
Tayend now felt sick with himself. Guilt was bubbling up inside of him – guilt because of his growing affection for Ambassador Dannyl.
Dannyl noticed how pale Tayend looked, and suggested they walk back to their rooms. The younger man just nodded, and accepted Dannyl's arm for support. Tayend's sense of misery intensified as they walked back together.
Why can't I simply have a normal friendship with him? Now it'll be so much worse when he sends me away. Why did I have to start falling in love with him?
Please let me know what you think of this one :D)