Disclaimer: I don't own "Tales of the Abyss" or any of its characters and I don't make any profit with this story.

A rappig a day... keeps the worries away?

Guy had never understood why Peony loved his rappigs so much. As far as he was concerned rappigs were just living meat and more than once he had thought that the emperor was more than a little weird to keep them as pets and even naming them after people important to him.
He changed his mind, when he returned to Grand Chokmah after their final battle on Eldrant.

"Ah, Luke there you are! No...don't go over there!", Guy shouted as he quickly ran after the youngest rappig in Peony's horde and picked it up before it could fall down the stairs of the main hall.
"Really, you're doing your namesake more than credit!", he cursed and carried it back to Peony's private quarters, where it had escaped from while the emperor was busy cuddling his 'cute little Jade'. "Stop running away all the time and going on adventures on your own!"
At least this time he had made it before the rappig had managed to leave the building.

"Ah, welcome back, you two. Did you have a nice walk?", Peony greeted them when Guy entered the rappig chamber.
"Your majesty, could you please have a closer look on him, so he doesn't get away?", Guy sighed as he closed the door behind him before putting 'Luke' down on the floor again, "It's really troublesome having to retrieve him all the time..."

"No, no, that would be far too cruel!" Peony shifted his legs a bit and looked directly at Guy, suddenly being genuine. "You know, he 's worried about you! How could I forbid him to search for you?"
"He's worried?" Guy raised a brow, not knowing what part of that thought was weirder: an animal worrying about him or Peony acting as if he could honestly understand said animal's feelings.
"Your majesty, with all due respect... I don't think-"

Peony didn't let him finish his sentence.
"Ah, be quiet! You're starting to sound like Jade!", he scowled before letting out a heavy sigh. "Guy, ever since you came back from Eldrant you're miserable, putting on a fake smile whenever anyone is around and pretending to be just fine when someone asks you how you are. I don't know if you are blaming yourself for letting Luke stay behind to free Lorelei or if you are just getting desperate from not being able to do anything but hoping and wishing for his return, but you are definitely far from being 'alright'."
Peony's gaze wandered from Guy to the little rappig still sitting right next to the shorthaired blonde, snuggling against his foot and calf.
"And don't forget...", Peony smiled, "He is Luke, too."

Guy stared at the emperor, not knowing what to say or even wanting to.
Slowly he lowered his gaze to the small animal who looked up at him that very moment, as if approving of Peony's words.
"You... you really were worried about me?"
Somehow it suddenly didn't sound all that stupid anymore.

A small, although rather sad smile, formed on Guy's lips as he squatted down and patted the rappig gently on his head.
"Thank you, Luke."
A small grunt was the answer and a soft nose pressing itself against the palm of his hand in an almost comforting gesture. Guy smiled again, more honestly this time and pulled 'Luke' into an embrace, holding him close to his chest.
"Really... thank you", he whispered, nestling his cheek to the warm body in his arms.

Maybe rappigs weren't that bad as pets after all.