A/N: well I'm back. Sorry it's been so long since I updated but I've been so busy with my AS exams this story had to take a back seat for a while. Thank you again to all my reviewers, it really makes my day to know people like this:
Dominofalling: Yes he does doesn't he (lol), I never thought of it like that. Glad you like the story, I'll warn u if it gets any slashier.
Merit Somnia: Again with the hinting!! J Glad u like it, hopefully the chapters will get longer as I go.
Annie Wilkes1: And the award for sweetest review goes to… thanks so much, take u're more with pleasure.
You know who I am lula: yes I do and I know where u live too ;) Glad u like my writing and David has now been saved!!
Lavondyss21: don't worry…I couldn't do that to you, me…or the boys. Here is what You wanted, enjoy!
Warning: V/V slash…that's male/male people!!
Disclaimer: Yes, I do own this…no Terry Pratchett, don't take my house!!
begin flashback
# end flashback
(Italics) Vetinari's thoughts
Chapter 3
Vetinari shuffled the papers around on his desk. For the first time in his life he felt unable to concentrate on his work. Normally he delighted in the various intrigues and plots that seemed to come with the city as much as the smell, but now…
His thoughts seemed to be constantly drawn back to the events of earlier. How could he have got things so wrong? He had practically made a living from reading the silences behind what people said and did…so why had Vimes run?
Normally he was careful, every step he took was considered and any repercussions duly analysed, but when Vimes was involved…
He felt like molten fire had been poured in his normally icy veins. Sometimes it took every ounce of his formidable self-control to stop himself staring at Vimes whenever he came into the office.
He remembered when he had thought he first met Vimes, that young, newly appointed captain, applying for command of the Day Watch. Vetinari smiled sadly at the memory. Vimes had as yet not schooled his face to present the bland impassiveness he did now, Vetinari had been able to read every thought running through the man's mind…
"So Captain…Vimes was it?"
"Yes Sir."
(He already looks nervous…the clock always works)
"Now Vimes, why do you feel you should be given this command over someone with more experience…more familiarity with command?"
(More diplomacy for Gods' sakes)
"But the older officers Sir…they're the problem Sir!"
"Explain Captain."
(Just leave it there Captain…and maybe there is still hope for you)
"They don't respect the law Sir. Everyone knows the Assassins are just murderers and the Thieves Guild is just a pack of thieves…but none of them do anything about it Sir!"
(It's worse than I thought. I will have to remove him, and quickly before he…destabilises things)
"Captain, these are some of the city's premier institutions…and ones that the Captain of the Day Watch would be expected to liaise closely with. Maybe you should consider whether this post is really what you (or I) want."
(Command of the Night Watch…that will be perfect)
"You are dismissed Captain."
"Sir"
#
Yet another time he had misjudged Vimes. Vetinari even remembered his exact words to Wonse:
"The Night Watch is a bunch of fools commanded by a drunkard…it's taken me years to achieve it."
Vetinari smiled wryly. Wonse hadn't been the only misguided one in that situation. Vetinari travelled further into reflection…trying to analyse (as was his way) when he had begun to feel for Vimes…and how he could have been so mistaken.
The realisation that Vimes meant more to him than he was prepared to admit had been gradual at first…but then recently had flared when Vetinari had realised who Vimes was…and when their real first meeting had been…
Vetinari crouched on the rooftop, his dark grey clothes wrapped tight around him as he melted into the shadows. The night was cold but he did not stir, his attention riveted on the scene playing out in front of him. The man with the scars and eye patch controlling the crowd…making it dance to his tune. It was a feat few could have managed and fewer still could have maintained.
Vetinari felt a stirring of emotion as he gazed at the man below him, at his face silhouetted in the lamplight, but quickly banished it as he focused on the task at hand. Emotions only confused things, plus if his Aunt discovered how he felt she would have a hold over him…and that Vetinari would not allow. Still, in the privacy of his thoughts maybe…
There was the movement he had been watching for. His arm came up and he fired, by instinct rather than aim. As his quarry fell to the street below, Vetinari slipped away over the rooftops, reflecting he would probably never see the man again.
#
A shuddering sigh escaped from Vetinari as he remembered. He has seen Keel die…but then had seen him again, so many years after. It was then he realised what he truly felt for Vimes.
But now that was gone too…and this time there would be no miraculous second chance.
Vetinari stood up decisively. He needed someone to listen, but not judge, and he knew one person who could definitely do that.
Scant minutes (and some careful hopping) later, Vetinari was out side the office of Leonard of Quirm. Leonard was, as always, pleased to see him and, after his latest invention had been disarmed, sat down to listen.
After Vetinari had finished pouring out his story, they sat in silence, till Leonard spoke.
"Yes I could tell the way you felt about him. You tend to talk…more freely about him here than I imagine you would to the outside world. I have something for you that you might like."
As Leonard began to rummage in a desk drawer, Vetinari sat stunned by Leonard's down to earth response. Then Leonard turned back to Vetinari, a sheaf of papers held in his hands. He handed them to Vetinari, who began to flick through them and gasped in astonishment.
On each page there was a sketch of Vimes. Vimes angry, Vimes impassive, Vimes smiling…all sketched in such detail that they seemed to leap of the page at him. Even more unusual for Leonard was that there was only the one drawing per page. Vetinari stared at Leonard incredulously, managing to utter just a single word.
"How…?"
"Quite simple really," said Leonard vaguely, "I looked through the eyes of the portraits. I've done studies of several others if you're interested…"
"No," said Vetinari thickly, as he stood up to leave, "these are…fine"
As he strode out into the corridor, Leonard shouted after him, "Remember, you tend to misjudge Vimes. He may surprise you."
Back in his office, Vetinari poured over the drawings. Leonard had faithfully captured all that he loved about Vimes, and it pained him to think that this would probably be the closest he would get to holding Vimes in his arms. Suddenly, Vetinari's head snapped up, and the beginnings of a smile flitted across his face.
Vimes had thumped the wall on his way out!
…So there was still a chance.
put it this way, if Vetinari had been a lemming…the whole cliff thing wouldn't have even registered as a problem.
Tbc…………………..please…don't make me beg (it's NOT pretty!)