Title: Frangible
Author: mispel
E-mail: mispel@email.com
Rating: G
Summary: Two little companion fics. William and Geoff worry about each other. Geoff/Will implied. Fic 1: Geoff worries about William as he loses at Jocelyn's behest. Fic 2: An anxious William waits for Geoff to return so he can yell at him. Kind of an impromptu intervention.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Feedback: Any comments would be appreciated.
Frangible
Geoffrey knew that it was really no good when he was the sensible one.
Rushing at each other with pointed sticks. What a brilliant idea. He'd like to ... fong, yes fong, the fool that thought of it. He had a sport. How about playing with a ball, a nice, soft ball. It smarts a little when it hits you in the face, he knew from experience, but it's almost certain that you won't die from it.
William had let another lance hit him while he did nothing. He wasn't even a participant in the tournament any more, he was a just a practice target
He saw the standard flying high, shaken by the wind into waves. It's tattered at the edges a little when you look closely. He saw William under it, looking off, a little dirty from a fall. The armor was visibly dented as Roland took it off, scolding him. William winced when it went over his shoulder, and Geoff imagined, underneath the shirt, the bruises and brakes. There are always more of them, healing, but never really going away. The hurt just dulls to an ache, waiting to be renewed in the next match.
Geoffrey was afraid, and a little shaken, to think of what could happen, where it could lead. How he might be pierced or thrown and never recover, die even.
And Geoff prayed that William would never break, just be bruised a little, never so much that it couldn't be healed with words and touches.
Well, that wasn't sensible. It was more romantic and sentimental and so treacly it made his teeth ache. But sometimes that was what William brought out in him with his open heart and mad courage and his wild hair. And other things.
Kate did some quick fixing. Geoff wished she wouldn't. But then the fool would go in without it. Just the thought of it made Geoff sick - because he could imagine it too clearly. Look what he's done already. No foolishness is beyond him.
Love is all well and good, but this was ... really convincing. Jocelyn will be his after this. She won't be able to help it. If he survives.
William was back in it. Protect yourself, don't leave it all to the armor. It dents and chips and breaks and there are gaps for vision and movement, openings. Lances splinter, bits of them fly off.
William looks strong. But he isn't that strong. He's seen the bruises.
He'll fall, he'll break.
At the end William exulted at his victory. He did see why William does it - that felling, even all the way there, Geoff got a piece of it. A burst of joy so powerful it was as if his heart could fly away. Geoff joined them as they pulled him off the horse, hugged him, tore off that armor. He was inside it like a snail, defenseless. William sort of sagged against them, like his bones have gone soft.
The end