I heart the Archadian Judges. Especially Drace and Gabranth!
Disclaimer: I don't own FFXII or Drace or Gabranth or Noah…
There are some spoilers, so if you haven't beaten the game or even played it, and don't want any details, don't read!
"Night Solace"
"Noah, hurry up!" yelled the tall messy haired blonde. His twin pumped his arms faster, catching up.
"Basch, wait!" the teenager yelled. He brushed his shorter, neater blonde hair against his scalp.
"Slow poke!" Basch yelled, grabbing the side wall and heaving himself over it. Noah sighed and followed. He slipped, but his brother caught his arm and pulled him up.
"Thanks," the younger twin said, sitting next to his brother who handed him a fruit.
"Of course. Am I always going to have to rescue your butt?" he teased. His brother nudged him. But the other just laughed and ate his fruit. They sat on the wall, eating in silence. Suddenly, the wall began to break, and crack, everything turned black, and Basch began to disappear, like sand in the wind. Noah called out, but there was no sound. He fell, far, deep, into emptiness. Slowly, the darkness took shape, and he was there, in front of Lord Vayne, after killing Lord Raminas.
"Here is your institution, Gabranth," the then 25 year old said, the name Gabranth sliding off his tongue like a curse.
"You are now a loyal hound of the Archadian Empire. I congratulate you, Judge Magister," he said.
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"No!" Gabranth yelled, eyes widening. He breathed heavily, sweating. Drace's face was the first thing he saw and he was glad he did. She was holding his shoulders and he was grasping her forearms. The look on her face said she had been awoken from her sleep in fear.
"Are you alright?" she asked. He said nothing, just sat up and embraced her. She sighed, smiling to herself, and ran her hands gently across his bare back, across tight muscles and sticky skin. He buried his face into the crook of her neck. He sat there, feeling like a child seeking comfort after a nightmare, and indeed, it was so. It was strange, finding someone to love in a time of war. Their position was compromising. They were Judge Magisters, they upheld the law, a relationship between two would be somewhat biased. But they cared not. As Drace had so wholly put, Lord Larsa was what mattered. They were his surrogate parents. Drace was ten years Gabranth's senior, but neither of them took advantage of the other. Gabranth needed solace, security, love. Drace needed affection, understanding, care. They needed the things they had lacked in their former lives, and though it was a risk, their relationship was better now, than never at all.
"The same dream?" she asked. He nodded.
"It's always the same," he said. She rubbed circles into his back, and leaned her cheek against his soft, blonde hair.
"It'll be alright, just relax, go back to sleep," she said.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping?" he asked. She chuckled and kissed him on the head.
"Yes, but not when you can't. I can't sleep when I'm cold," she said. With that, Gabranth threw himself back onto his pillow and dragged Drace with him. She snuggled closer into his embrace, pillowing her head against his taught chest.
"Happy?" he asked. She nodded.
"I suppose, you?" she replied.
"Yes," he said.
FIN