Warnings: Stabbing, blood, Anton's... possessiveness of Sophia
Spoilers: For PL2
Set: An AU of the sword fight scene from PL2.
Song: Viva la Vida by Coldplay

Stab Wound (Anton, Katia & Layton)

"You're going to be very sorry you crossed me!"

The sight of Sophia- his Sophia- clinging to Layton's arm sickened him.

How could she? How could she embrace another man when she and Anton were betrothed? After everything they had been through together…

Anton charged at them, sword poised as if to strike, but Sophia only drew closer to Layton, hugging his back.

Layton adopted the defensive stance of a swordsman. Anton might have been impressed, were it not for the fact that Layton stood between he and Sophia.

For that, Anton would quite happily sever Layton's arm from his shoulder. But wouldn't it be dishonourable to fight an unarmed opponent?

Both Sophia and Layton gasped as his blade glided towards Layton's shoulder. Anton's aim had simply been to separate the two of them.

He expected Sophia to flee from his attack. She had never seemed thrilled watching Anton's fencing lessons, but Father had insisted Anton needed to train. Didn't Anton want to protect his home and his family?

(But how could he when Sophia had left home-?)

Anton's aim was off. Sophia didn't move in time.

She released a cry that pierced Anton's soul.

Sophia stumbled back, shielding the side of her cheek. Anton saw a slash of red between her fingers.

His sword fell to the carpet. "Sophia!"

He ran to her, but she scrambled further back, almost tripping up the stairs in her bid to escape him.

He stopped. Her eyes were filled with the pain and fear that he had inflicted. There were no tears, but her eyes appeared… misty? (Weren't her irises darker than that?)

Doubtfully, Anton reached out for her. Insufficient apologies spilled from his mouth. "I'm so sorry, my dear! I don't know what came over me-"

"Get away from her!" Layton's young ward growled. The boy put himself in front of Sophia, protecting her from Anton.

Layton rushed to Sophia's side on the stairs. "Are you alright?" He tried to inspect her wound, but Sophia winced and shook her head. (Why was her hair so short…?)

She pressed her palm against her cheek even more. Blood slipped through her fingertips.

Anton's arm drooped. He studied his hand- his sword-hand. It became a shaking fist.

He stammered, "S-Sophia-!"

"I'M NOT SOPHIA!" she shouted.