1. Of Angels and Angles
Disclaimer: As awesome as that would be, none of these characters are mine.
A/N: I've been aching to write these for a while, and did most of them in my spare time a few months ago, just never got around to actually doing something with them rather than having them sit as wasted space on the computer. So here it is, chapter one.
Characters: Hugo, Belle (Sounds like a pairing, I know, but it's not really intended)
"There's a bed bug nipping a finger. There's a swallow, there's a calm. Here's a hand to lay on your open palm today."
-"Of Angels and Angles" by The Decemberists
Dark fingers traced the creases of his right hand that gave him this burden. In the past few months, opportunity had never come that he would have the time to sit, back against the remains of a cargo box on the deck of the wrecked ship that had in a way become merged with Budehuc Castle. Every night since the new establishment of the Fire Bringer there had always been at least a few who would find themselves drawn to that very spot. Some found it meaningful, and some didn't. But tonight, Hugo found it significant beyond reason, and tonight he also happened to be the only one who'd ventured to the seat just above the ocean, yet just beneath the stars.
When people came here they often found themselves facing certain memories of the distant past, that usually had not been recalled for years. The silent night sky had a way of meddling with consciousness, and pulling things to the surface.
"Just like your father." His mother had told him. On rare occasion throughout his life he could remember her slip out certain things like that. "Your father would be proud." He remembered a time not too long before this all began that he dedicated himself to being as much like his father as possible. Back then the logic had fit perfectly. If he really could be just like his father then maybe, possibly he could fathom some sort of memory of the man who had endeared himself so fully to his mother.
"Maybe he'd still be proud, anyway." He thought as the breeze rustled the trees by the shore and gently touched his left arm. "Now that it looks like I'm never going to quite- be him." The rune he traced had made that a reality. He was now to be a true rune bearer, the Fire Hero's successor, for the rest of time.
Lulu had accompanied him often on early morning rides. Sometimes whenever Hugo went to wake him in the early morning darkened hut the younger boy would simply grumble and roll over, no matter how much Hugo had prodded him to get up.
But the times Lulu had brought himself to wake, the mornings were all the more memorable. Although they would never quite travel the same distance that Hugo could travel alone (as riding so swiftly never quite came as effortlessly for Lulu as it did for Hugo), the two simply enjoyed one another's company. There were times when neither would say anything at all, and there were times when they would find themselves bickering about one thing or another as they rode off, racing one another as the sun slowly rose, wrestling playfully by a bubbling brook as their horses rested, and riding home by midmorning, laughing at how one was more sopping wet than the other.
Hugo resisted the sky and willed himself to stop there. Anything beyond that would would merely arouse old hatreds, and invite old pains. They were allies now. They had suffered too. War had revealed that to Hugo, and he would never forget it. A somewhat familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
"W-Would you like some water?"
Though he was never one to be surprised easily, Hugo found himself startled. Looking up at the timid looking girl before him and realizing who it was, he allowed himself to smile pleasantly. "Oh. Well, sure I guess. Thanks, Belle." She smiled back. "I have a glass too. It was a ton of trouble, you know? I wanted Gadget Z to do it, but he just kept breaking the glasses. So Anne just had me do it."
Hugo nodded, still smirking as he accepted the glass. Belle remained standing before him. "Mind if I sit?" She asked. Hugo shook his head amiably as she sat down. Hugo couldn't help but think of how awkward the girl looked right now compared to how he was used to seeing her around the Castle. She wore a plain white nightgown the reached just below her knees, but of course her colorful striped knee socks picked up from there. Gadget Z was nowhere in sight. And there was something else, though he couldn't quite pinpoint it.
As the two sat for several minutes awkwardly sipping from the glasses, Belle finally spoke up, as if she'd been searching for it from the time that she'd sat down. "So... what are you doing here? Everyone else is inside, you know."
Hugo paused for a moment, pondering what exactly the answer to her question was. Finally, he found something that was as close as he could possibly find to the answer as he could possibly get. "Because," He started carefully, "Because tomorrow..." He trailed off. But she understood, silently nodding. He looked at her. "Why exactly are you here?"
His question, though it was only fair caused her to blush. "To get a drink. I was thirsty." She jumped up and took his now empty glass from his hands. "I-I have to go. Good luck tomorrow, Hugo." Crossed the deck as if casually being chased by death itself.
Hugo blinked. The girl sure was strange. Normally he would opt to go after her, but not tonight. Leaning head back on the box once again, he sighed back up at the sky above him. He sighed, disappointed that he had so unknowingly just embarrassed the girl so badly. Good thing Sgt. Joe didn't witness that. He received enough teasing about those anonymous notes she left him in the comment box.
A/N: Though not really much of an original idea, these stories have really gotten some inspiration going. Whether you like it or not, expect more soon.