Baby, One More Time
by Trisana McGraw
Author's Note: Written for tammydrabbles prompt 06: Britney Spears song/album titles. For wottie, who wanted serious and this particular song; I can't believe I managed both. I owe a lot of inspiration (I know, how much inspiration can a 300-word piece warrant?) to the discussion that Lea/Alone in the Desert started on Sheroes Central (under "Buri/Raoul – Past Relationship?"), as well as Quatre-sama's So Mote it Be and Alex Rose's A Bottle of 439.
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"Don't tell me that you haven't seen the effect that liquor has on him?"
"Thayet, there's nothing wrong with celebrating a little. Mithros knows we did much more as squires."
"It's not the same. Last night Buri came to me crying – again. He uses her and then acts as if it meant nothing. She's heartbroken."
"It does take two to –"
"Don't you defend him! He's a different man with it."
"And don't you make this personal. I can't court-martial one of my finest knights because of a soured fling."
Her hazel eyes were as hard as the amber eardrops he gave her for their first Midwinter together. "You're always making excuses for his behavior, Jon. When are you going to stop protecting him?"
"You have to understand. He . . . he's one of my oldest friends." She didn't flinch away from the anguish in his expression, but she also didn't play the same card with Buri.
"He's the court drunk, Jon," she said, calmer, gentler. "It's ruining him, in the battlefield too. I've seen him hung over in the mornings. He's not fit to lead in a fight."
His ire rose again. "Raoul would never knowingly put the Own in danger –"
A servant crashed through the door and stumbled into a hasty bow. "Apologies for interrupting, your Majesties, but it's Sir Raoul's squad. We have word that they – they undertook an endeavor to surprise a group of bandits . . ."
Jonathan shut his eyes. He did not want to hear the rest, but he wet his lips and forced himself to listen, his chest tight.
". . . Five men are dead."
Goldenlake, you gods-cursed idiot. It's one time too many. No, it's twenty-one times too many, and now even I can't get you out of this travesty.
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