Title: In The Interests Of …
Author: I_nv_u50
Pairings: DracoXHarry
Disclaimer: Well, I can dream, can't I? :D
Chapter Rating: PG13 for no specific reason…
Author's Notes: It's been a while O.o; As I recall, the last thing I remember promising myself I'd do was a Valentine's Day fic… which should say a lot, except I think I updated another story around then…
I've definitely bitten off more than I can chew these few weeks, but don't worry. It'll sort itself out. Spring Break is coming, which means a whole week
Draco: (gasping sarcastically) No, really?!
Harry: What a lot of time that is! How much does she need to do again?
Draco: Well! There's…
I_nv_u50: (interrupts) Shut up now or prepare to face the consequences
(Yes, I'm in denial)
Draco: Ooo, we're so scared…
Harry: Shush Draco! She can actually force us to work now!
I_nv_u50: (cackles evilly)
Erm… no, there was no specific point to that. But is there ever? :D So my point is, there will be stuff for everyone I'm doing things for in spring break … even (wow!) a few more chapters!! … 'cept for when times change. That's being a real bugger to write. Grr.
Oh well. Read the chapter, enjoy it, and please review!! Cheers!! :D
Draco and Harry were unusually quiet when the times for good-byes came. Neither looked at each other for very long; and the tense, almost awkward aura surrounding the two was making it very hard to pretend to not notice the stressed pair.
Harry kept twisting the ring nervously on his finger, sometimes tempted to take it off completely, but barely able to look away from the confusing trinket to be able to say goodbye properly. It was somewhat rude, he understood that much, but it was getting exceptionally more difficult to tear his thoughts away from Draco's gift and stay focused on the send-off.
He didn't quite understand what Draco was doing, or had planned to do, but Harry was well aware that whatever it was, it was working, and that scared him a little.
Harry could feel something inside of himself, pushing to be free, shoving steadily and relentlessly against the barriers and walls he had put up for his own emotional safety, for a specific reason.
Harry had never been in love before. Sure, he had had those on and off casual relationships, and he was still friends with those girls. Then there were the almost obligatory crushes, on that extra cute cadet who sat next to you in Weapons Basic Training, or the impossible crush on a highly admired instructor. He had watched Ron and Hermione fall in love with each other with happiness for the two of them, but he had always been afraid of the level of commitment required to be in love. It was entirely different with crushes. They had no follow-ups, no vital commitments at all, even if it did work out. He had been happy for his two best friends when they had fallen in love, but he had also, secretly, been relieved that no one would ever make him fall in love, due to those emotional barricades.
And the fact that those walls were threatening to crumble, tossed and torn with the steadfast and determined something pressing against them with intensive force, along with the help of the bond, was alarming, to say the least.
The fact that it was Draco whom was breaking all sense of reason and protection within Harry, and breaking all the rules when it came to the two of them, hurt a little as well. Even if there was a part of Harry, most likely influenced by the bond, which was thrilled to have the changes between them.
Harry was also seriously annoyed with himself because of this. He had never wanted to fall in love with Draco. All he had ever wanted before Draco had started manipulating him was to be friends with the blonde.
Damn that sorceress.
Kieren lifted his head with a jerk, as startled as if a thunderbolt had just hit him.
A blonde lady and a young brunette man, both wearing SeeD uniforms, were busy playing an idle word game that required no active concentration. Both their gazes were fixed steadily on the man locked in the sole cell of the third level of the basement as they answered each other carelessly. The brunette had lost twice.
The minute he had helplessly responded to her call and raised his head though, the words stopped and their weapons were out, both fully alert now.
Kieren could care less.
::Are you ready love::
Kieren didn't bother replying, nor did he ask how she could reach him in what was supposed to be a magic proofed dungeon. It would have been pointless to ask her, especially if she really was determined to get her message through, and besides, he didn't really care anyway. It was enough to know that she had come for him when he had needed help.
The thought connecting them twinged slightly; she had been distracted from him.
::Change of plans, love. I'll come and collect you in a day or two. Keep your strength up::
And, just like that, the thought link snapped, her mind drawing away from his.
Kieren managed to contain his howl of anguish as his mind shattered with the loss and mental abandonment, but he couldn't help a few whimpers escaping.
Outside the cell, Quistis and Irvine exchanged confused and worried glances, and as the strange knight literally collapsed on the floor, they backed up to the wall again, resuming their game quietly.
Tom shared an open grin that nevertheless managed to be secret with Draco about Harry's reaction to the ring, but Draco's answering smile was tight and a little preoccupied, as were his formally verbal farewells, and Tom wondered distantly what had happened.
He respected the blonde sorceress now; half understanding what Draco's life had been like since he had inherited the unwanted powers. Tom knew enough now to know that Kelly was extremely lucky to be where she was, and not locked up in a single room merely painted to look like the outside world.
Kelly was subdued, although whether it was an echo of the two's upset aura or sadness because they were leaving, Tom didn't know. He picked her up anyway, and she clung to him a little tighter than usual, seeking comfort. Tom whispered something meaningless but funny to her, and turned his attention to the guests while she gave a small giggle.
Seifer and the other knights, whom Tom hadn't really talked to, seemed to accept the silence and distant air of the two teenagers in stride, and herded them onto the aircraft with no delay, promising to call from Esthar with updates on the situation.
Tom wasn't certain, but he thought they had planned to go to Esthar anyway, more than likely not telling Draco about it. Seen from that perspective, they were probably grateful for the passive outlook Draco now had, since the blonde was still blankly and automatically noting and remembering the formal farewells. His knight plainly took up all of his attention, and Tom wondered what Draco was thinking. Draco was letting nothing but preoccupation show on his face, a mild distraction.
The three older knights were no doubt grateful because it was almost a given that Draco would have made a huge fuss about Esthar, had he been paying attention to what the knights were saying at all.
The constant wondering and concern about Draco's and Harry's condition was starting to bother Tom more than he could say, so he turned without another word, glad that he had no more formal parts to play in the farewells. Then he walked back into the house to try and amuse the by now desolate Kelly.
And just in case it was the echo of the two's upset auras making her unhappy, Tom damned the sorceress and his knight. Kelly should never have to be unhappy. She deserved better than that, and Tom would do anything to see that she got all she deserved and more.
An hour or so later, when Kelly was cheerful again, and Minerva was entertaining the young girl while they ate, Tom was summoned into Dumbledore's office.
Dumbledore was fidgeting with some papers on his somewhat disorganized desk, and Tom raised his brows at the odd behavior. It wasn't like Dumbledore to fidget. He started to feel uneasy, and that made him annoyed. If he had to be apprehensive, he at least wanted some hint of what was wrong, but the fidgeting was the only clue Dumbledore gave. Dumbledore would never speak before he was ready.
Tom shifted his weight, pretending to pay more attention to the room than to Dumbledore, although his impatience was rising.
"Tom," Dumbledore began suddenly, his blue eyes unusually grave. "I've noticed recently that you and Kelly are much closer lately. We think, therefore, that it would be best for her to send you to Balamb or Dollet for a time, lest she get too dependent on you."
Tom stared at him, his entire body starting to tremble violently. He had seen the lips move slowly, enunciating each word clearly, and he heard words spoken in a gentle voice that even so delivered grief, but he was having a terribly hard time trying to decipher the meaning of those cruel words.
A few minutes passed, with Dumbledore watching the young man in concern, and the young man in question just blinking dazedly, hugging himself to try and ease the shaking that caused his teeth to chatter. He still hadn't caught on to the meaning of the words, and Dumbledore was starting to think that he might have to repeat himself, when a low whimper broke the silence.
A second later, a keening wail filled the silent air of the room, and then Tom staggered, falling to his knees unknowingly, with broken whispers and pleas filling the heavy silence the heartbroken cry had left.
"Oh Hyne oh Hyne oh Hyne – Hyne please-" he murmured over and over again in an unbroken litany that was threatening to become hysterical. He was dimly aware, in a distant part of his mind, that Dumbledore looked surprised, and he reasoned hazily that Dumbledore hadn't expected him to react this strongly.
And all the while, a dark and heavy emptiness strove to gain control, pushing continuously while Tom remained too weak and scared to fight back against it.
A splinter of it broke free, and Tom surged to his feet, suddenly furious, his fear feeding the rage. "No!" he screamed, and Dumbledore watched him carefully. "I won't leave her! I'll die before you can make me go!"
Something in Tom warned him not to say the whole sentence, so he eased back on the last fragment, but it hung on the air suffocatingly. ::And I'll kill you before you try…::
Albus, perceiving the depths of the teenager's fear and anger, shook his head sorrowfully over the two. Something like that, that dependent on each other, it couldn't end happily.
But there was nothing else he could do, not after he had seen the teenager's reaction, and it worried him as he started to placate the terrified young man as best he could.
She smiled, contemplating the young man that was filling her mind. He wasn't Kieren. She had no more interest in Kieren at the moment, especially since her sister and that blonde sorceress had left Winhill already. They went to Centra, to visit that baby sorceress and consult with her keeper.
That baby wasn't a threat as she stood, but she had inherited magic from Edea, and Edea's magic had been old and powerful. It would probably be best to kill the baby before she was old enough to choose a knight. Since that wouldn't happen for more than a few years, there was no real rush. She could wait a few weeks, if need be, for the assassination to take place.
She turned her thoughts back to the light blonde man, pondering his usefulness.
He was getting angry with a shopkeeper, and she watched, a faint but humorless smile on her face.
He would do, She decided.
Tom eventually got calmed down, but he retired to his bedroom to stalk around the perimeter of it nervously, his nerves and mind still in a high state of panicked tension.
They couldn't separate him from Kelly. He wouldn't allow them to; they couldn't do that, to him or to her. They wouldn't dare. He worshipped her, yes, he did. It was plain to see, and it was also an excruciatingly vulnerable emotion to show, but he was helpless in the face of it, unable to deny it.
When she was old enough, another nine or so years approximately, he would apply to be her knight, simply because he wanted to be with her forever. He had no doubt that she would want the same thing.
He would be forced to give into that black, hollow thing inside of him if he were made to leave. She was the only thing he knew bright enough to chase away the darkness inside of him. Without her, he was powerless to stop it.
Peter sighed soundlessly and mentally cursed stall tenders and shopkeepers for being so dimwitted. Even after years of being as placid as they pleased, he was finally selling good wares and still they suspected him of deceitfulness! It was enough to make anyone mad, and if he had had a shouting match with the last one, well, it wasn't fault.
They should stop pestering him. He sold some of the finest gifts and goods to be fund on Centra. They should at least trust him by now.
He ran a hand through his pale hair and sat down on a bag containing his less fragile merchandise, fully prepared to contemplate foolish merchants and their stores bitterly. He had jus gotten comfortable, when he was startled enough to fall off his comfortable perch.
Delicately, at the back of his mind, had come a gentle and sly mindtouch.
Zell flopped down beside Squall, making the movement seem easy and painless. "I'm bored."
Squall made a noncommittal noise, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the air in front of him.
Zell, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Squall was busy piloting, continued to talk, just wanting to relieve the quiet in the control room, where the only noise was the humming of the engines. "Did you see that red eyed kid? He didn't look happy to see us. The girl was cute though. Sort of like a baby Selphie."
Squall snorted slightly at that, his eyes never leaving the air. "Whatever."
Zell smirked a bit at that and moved away again, stating to punch the air. "It was good to see Albus again though. It's been a while."
Squall said nothing; but made an agreeing noise, and Zell fell silent, content in the companionable silence and intent on his shadow boxing now. It would work to chase away the boredom. That, and the humorous thoughts that he unabashedly entertained about Squall and Laguna in the same room together.
Squall made a pained noise, and Zell grinned wordlessly, now bent on ignoring the Commander and fellow knight. It would all be worth it to see Squall together in the same room with his father.
Harry glanced at Draco nervously again, much like he had been doing for the entire air ride. He looked away as quickly as all the times before when he saw that Draco was still quietly watching him and Draco sighed through his nose, looking away to ease the crick in his neck that had come from the sideways tilt it had.
Harry hadn't looked at him for longer than split second glances since he had walked away after giving Harry that ring. He was almost beginning to regret that impulsive gift.
He thought he knew exactly what it was that was making Harry so on edge, he was sure he knew the exact reason.
He was only wishing that he had remained clueless on that aspect, because it was as painful as it was disheartening.
He stared out the window at the sea far below them, and he could feel Harry's stare heavy on his back, proof that now he wasn't watching Harry, Harry felt free to watch him. He didn't mind so much, it reminded him that there was still some hope. Sometimes.
He also wished he knew what to do, what to say to make it better to ease the inner turmoil he could feel, as surely as if it were his own, inside Harry. But he had a feeling that Harry needed to work this out on his own, or Draco would be blamed for any attempts of seduction that they would probably make together. But knowing that Harry could take weeks that they didn't have to sort himself out, the fact that Draco wouldn't be able to help him without being accused of being a manipulative bastard, that was probably the hardest thing of all to accept.