Chapter 4: Unloved
For the rest of the day and the entirety of the next day, Legault is nowhere to be seen... or at least nowhere to be seen if your name is Jaffar. In order to make sure Jaffar holds up his end of the bargain, Legault must completely avoid Jaffar at all costs to avoid any sort of confrontation. It's not easy to avoid someone who can become almost completely unnoticeable themselves, but Jaffar isn't really putting much effort into finding the enigmatic thief anyway, so it's not as difficult as it could be for Legault to hide.
Plus, it makes it easier to go over the next step of the plan with Lyn and Nino.
"So Nino, when they come back tonight, you know what to do?"
"Of course Uncle Legault!" the young girl beams. "You can count on me!"
Nino runs off, but there is still something to discuss with Lyn. "You know, Lyndis, you realize we're going to have to both watch them at the restaurant tonight."
"Yeah, I understand that."
"Good, so make sure you're dressed up. This is fancy dining we're talking about here, so you have to make sure you look nice..."
"Honestly, I would have worried more about you dressing fancy, Legault," Lyn taunts, smirking. Legault is amused by the joke. "So we should probably be there sometime before them, right?"
"Perfect. I'll see you just before sundown, then. Don't forget to keep my hiding place a secret from Jaffar."
Lyn simply nods and closes the lid on the box that Legault's hiding in, and when she walks out of the kitchen tent, Hector is staring at Lyn in confusion. "At first I wasn't going to say anything, but now, I have to ask; why were you talking to a box of potatoes?"
"Don't ask."
"You know, when you said that we have to both watch them tonight, I didn't expect for us to be sitting together at the same table right next to theirs."
"This was the best way to do it," Legault explains, motioning a waiter over to their table. "We're both in close proximity of their conversation, and since we're both of opposite genders, we can pick out the idiosyncrasies of both of them. For example, you should be able to tell if Serra's trying to woo Jaffar somehow."
Lyn just stares stoically at Legault in response. "You really think that's going to happen?"
Legault just shrugs. "Well, what if Jaffar's talking and she just causally undoes the top button of her dress? It's not like I can just stare at her while she does that, tempting though it may be. I'll leave that to you to stare at her."
"What makes you think she'll do that? And how do you know she'll even have buttons anyway?"
"Okay, fine. A zipper, then."
Lyn now smacks her hand into her forehead. "Why are we even talking about this?"
"This is very important conversation."
"Not really, but I will say that I am enjoying it," Lyn admits, and she smiles. "It's fun talking with you."
"Believe me, I feel the same way," Legault agrees, and the waiter finally arrives with two bottles of wine in his hands. "I always love a good clashing of wits. But anyway, we'll continue this conversation later." He glances at the waiter. "Which of those wines do you recommend?"
"The more expensive one, sir. It will make your pocket lighter, therefore lessening your discomfort by carrying less weight in gold after satisfying yourself with food and drink here at our establishment."
"Ah, good, you're my kind of waiter," Legault comments, and the two men laugh as Lyn just shakes her head in amusement. "Do you have the special menus ready?"
"Of course," the waiter replies, and he gives one to Legault and the other to Lyn. "Enjoy."
As the waiter leaves for another table, Lyn looks excitedly at the special menu... and groans in disappointment when the only "special" thing about the menu is the small eye cut-outs used for spying on people behind them.
"I should have known."
"Probably. I was a spy before I joined up with you guys," Legault snickers as he examines the menu to contemplate his dinner choices.
Jaffar and Serra arrive at the restaurant about a half-hour later, and behind their spy menus, Legault and Lyn are quite impressed with their clothing options. Serra opted to go for the conservative look, sporting a pink sleeved dress that conforms well to the body of the wearer, but still leaves a sense of mystery behind it, though for some reason she decided to wear quadruple ponytails instead of her usual twin-tails. Jaffar, on the other hand, is simply wearing a fancy cloak over his clothes, although he's wearing a much classier shirt and pants than normal. Overall, he looks presentable with the woman at his side.
"I didn't know Jaffar even had such nice clothes," Lyn whispers to herself, quite surprised at what she's seeing. "Serra looks wonderful as well. How did they even..."
"I slipped a pamphlet about this place into both of their tents while they were eating breakfast this morning, so they both knew they had to look fancy," Legault explains, quite proud of himself. "Sadly, though, it appears that Serra's dress doesn't have any buttons on the front."
"She's a cleric, she has to be chaste. She doesn't have to dress like a harlot," Lyn mutters, rolling her eyes. "Were you hoping for the same thing from me, too?" she asks sarcastically.
"You're elegant in speech and beauty. Is it a crime to show that off?"
"Elegant is the wrong word to use," Lyn counters, rolling her eyes again. "But we have to start watching these two now, otherwise this will be a waste of an evening."
As Lyn turns towards the couple just getting seated in front of them, Legault frowns at her startlingly frank statement.
I never would have thought of this as a wasted evening...
"Thank you very much," Serra says as the waiter pours a glass of wine for her and Jaffar. When he leaves to grab some menus for them, the conversation...
...does not start.
The two of them sit there awkwardly. It seems that Serra has nothing to say at the moment for some reason.
"Idiot, start talking," Legault mutters to himself, and he lobs a bun at Jaffar that hits him square on the head. As it bounces onto the floor, Jaffar turns around and starts furiously scanning his eyes around the room, hoping to find the guilty party. After finding nothing suspicious, he turns back towards Serra and finds her laughing at his misfortune.
"I'm sorry for laughing, but it was just funny to watch," she giggles, and while some could get offended by such an action, Jaffar understands Serra's genuineness when it shows, so he doesn't mind at all. "That bun just came out of nowhere, and WHAM! Nails you right on the head," she reiterates, smacking her fist into her hand as she continues laughing hysterically.
"Well, there it is."
"Wait a minute," Lyn starts, looking at Legault with a puzzled look on her face. "That was the 'wham' you were talking about yesterday? You tossing a bun at Jaffar and hoping Serra would react to it?"
"Yeppers," Legault fibs nonchalantly, watching closely through the menu eye cut-outs. Lyn sees right through him though.
"Liar," she smirks.
"Yeppers," he replies, still looking at Jaffar. "I merely wanted to add emphasis to our conversation yesterday. I hoped you forget, but like I said, your quick thinking and your elegant words allow you to put two and two together quite swiftly. I always have to think on the fly with you, which is quite refreshing."
"I'll admit that I think that too. Eliwood and especially Hector are quite slow at times," Lyn chuckles, "so it's nice to talk to someone who gets things quickly."
"I appreciate the compliment."
"So now that the evening's officially started," Serra says, calming down after the bun incident, "I remember the story I wanted to tell you! It's about when Erky accidentally tripped on my dress! OOOOH, he makes me so mad sometimes..."
As Serra rattles on with her story, she occasionally raises her voice, which draws the attention of the neighbouring tables. Even though Jaffar doesn't mind when she does this, and has even come to expect it, some of the bystanders stare at her with disgust. Jaffar notices, and for some reason he can't explain, his chest hurts, just a little bit.
And somehow, it worsens.
Every time she chuckles with just a little too much enthusiasm, someone sighs in annoyance, adding another small prick to the dull ache.
"...are you okay, Jaffar?"
"Hmm?" he mutters in response. Did he stop paying attention? Since when has Serra ever stopped talking in the middle of a story? Does he really look that bad?
"You don't seem like yourself just now," Serra notices, and she seems genuinely concerned. Her eyes are conveying worry. "Was it something I said?"
"...no," he replies, trying to assess the situation in his mind. "...it's been... a long day..."
"Maybe... if you're not feeling well, we should head back," she then suggests, but she's clearly not happy about the idea. "It wouldn't be good to..."
She glances forward, and Jaffar's holding his hand up to stop her. "...I'll be fine."
Serra looks at him for a few more seconds, and then she smiles. "If you say so. Maybe some wine will loosen you up a little! Hopefully the waiter gets here soon! So, as I was saying..."
"Serra."
She stops talking again, though she's seems a little annoyed that someone other than herself ended the conversation. She doesn't like being interrupted, after all. "Yes?"
The words are having a difficult time coming out, but Jaffar realizes that he must say them: "Thank... you..."
Serra's eyes widen considerably. "Thank me? For what?"
Another delay in his speech. "...for caring."
He never thought he would think this way, since the way of the Black Fang is to eliminate those who are in a weakened state, whether physical or mental, but Jaffar can honestly see that Serra really was concerned for his well-being. Even though he received this type of concern from Nino when she saved his life, that was for something very serious and life-threatening. For such a small matter to even phase this outspoken cleric is surprising, and he must admit that it is a good feeling.
Maybe... feeling emotions isn't such a bad thing.
Not that he's ever tried to shut out his feelings, but... now that he perhaps may be noticing them for the first time...
It might not be a bad idea to attempt to embrace them.
"...Serra's speechless."
"That's a first," Lyn observes, and she takes a sip of her wine. She swishes it in her mouth thoughtfully. "What in the world could he have said for that to happen?"
"Hmm... perhaps I should..."
"No, you're not throwing another bun at them. This is important."
Legault just chuckles. She's figured him out already.
He really is no match for her perception.
"For... for caring?" Serra utters, staring at Jaffar with concern. "What do you mean? It's not like nobody has ever..."
Jaffar just stares ahead.
He could explain about Nino, but that would take a long time. It's not exactly a simple subject.
"N-nobody? Not even your... parents?"
Jaffar sighs. "...never knew them."
After hearing Jaffar's answer, Serra cannot speak.
She's trying her best to formulate words with her mouth, but they aren't coming out.
"...I guess they... hated me..." Jaffar shrugs. He's never known about his parents, so why would he feel anything for them? It's never bothered him before, so it won't bother him now. "It's fine..."
"It's NOT fine!"
Serra's shouting silences the whole room, but she doesn't seem to notice. Legault and Lyn continue to watch with interest as they ponder over what she's going to do next. Jaffar, meanwhile, is merely observing as usual, though he was slightly caught off guard by the sudden reaction. "You do NOT assume your parents don't love you if you never knew them!" she shouts, pointing at Jaffar accusingly. "I don't know anything about your past, but how can you make such an assumption?"
Now she starts panting from the outburst, but she isn't done speaking yet. "When I was very young, my parents... dropped me off a convent..." she relates, and her eyes begin to water slightly. "I never found out why... but that doesn't mean they... hated me..."
She then breaks down into tears and runs out of the restaurant, covering her face with her hands.
Jaffar can only watch her as she disappears from sight, with an indiscernible look on his face.
And yet, despite the sudden and depressing turn the evening has produced, Legault sees an opportunity to test something that he's noticed during the short amount of time that has passed.
He makes a shushing motion with his finger to his lips to Lyn.
"Wish me luck."
Putting on a large, feathered black hat that obscures his face, as well his longcoat to hide his identity, Legault causally walks up beside Jaffar and faces the same direction where Serra ran off. He starts speaking to Jaffar in a disguised voice: "Well, it's maybe for the best she left. She was getting on my nerves anyway."
Surprised by the comment, Jaffar shifts his eyes to watch the man without moving his head. Something about the conversation is not sitting right with him for some reason. "It's a shame, really. She's attractive, but that mouth of hers really destroys her appeal," Legault continues, purposely making himself sound really annoyed at Serra's behaviour. "No wonder her parents dumped her in that convent. I'd hate to have a child that self-centered and loud and obnoxious."
Prick.
What?
Prick.
The dull ache in Jaffar's chest returns...
Prick.
Prick.
...but this time the pain intensifies much quicker than last time.
Prick.
Prick.
Prick.
Why? What is... this...
"Honestly, a pitiful girl like that..." Legault mutters, smirking, "...she doesn't deserve anyone's attention."
That last comment was the last straw.
NO.
One second Legault is standing beside Jaffar, and the next, he's pinned against the wall by the normally stoic assassin, his eyes burning with an anger he's never experienced before.
Legault smiles.
His plan worked.
"So... you do care."
Jaffar's eyes widen, as Legault is no longer disguising his voice, and to further prove it is him, Legault removes the hat from his head, tosses it to his table, (he misses, accidentally landing it on a waiter's head) and applauds. "You did it. You're officially feeling something for her. Don't deny it; it feels nice to care about someone, doesn't it?"
Jaffar doesn't have an answer.
"Perhaps the unloved one who just left should know that, hmm?"
"..."
Jaffar lets down his former comrade from the wall and, nodding to him in understanding, runs out after the cleric to see if he can catch up to her. Watching him go, Legault walks back to his table to find a gawking Lyn. "How... did you think of that?" she asks him, still unable to believe what happened. "You really knew that would work?"
"Yeppers."
She catches on quite quickly that he's fibbing again. "Yeah, right."
"Heh heh. I figured it was worth a shot," Legault confesses, and he takes a sip of his wine.
Author's Notes
Yay! I actually updated before Fire Emblem Fates was released!
I worked a lot on Lyn and Legault's relationship this chapter so I don't need to focus as much on them in the future. It was fun having them banter back and forth to each other, since they can hold their own against each other in a conversation. Legault's own antics were amusing to write as well, especially the bun incident. :D
I have no idea why I decided Serra would change her twin-tails to quadruple-tails, but I thought it was cute. :p
The relationship between Jaffar and Serra has progressed swiftly in this chapter, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I know they had some help along the way, but... it's still interesting to think about. And this most recent incident... how's this going to work out?
I think it's important to let you guys know this; despite how fast Jaffar and Serra's relationship progressed in this chapter, I can't really have anyone really make a confession of feelings without making either one of them OOC. Don't worry, they'll understand that they have feelings for each other, and the fic shall end exactly as you would expect from the COOKIECHEESEMAN, so don't worry!
At the end of chapter three, I knew this would be a five chapter fic. After I post the next AGOH chapter, I'll get on the final chapter of this fic... although, that might be a while away! Once Fire Emblem Fates comes out on Saturday, I'm going to be pretty much avoiding the fanfiction site for a few weeks, because I guarantee there are going to be SO MANY FE14 stories popping up, and spoilers will be EVERYWHERE. I doubt I'll even be writing for the next few weeks, simply because I'll be playing the game. :p If you plan to get the game, I hope you guys enjoy it! EVEN THOUGH THEY TOOK AWAY THE FACE RUBBING. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
