I started searching for Marietta Brombeck as soon as I got into PLANT. I had a bit of a hard time because it turned out that she was already married and had changed her last name. She turned out to be a nice, amiable lady in her early thirties with honey blonde hair and green-eyes. To be quite frank, she seemed plain-looking and not someone you'd look twice at. She said she had two children, a seven-year old boy and a four-year old girl.
Just as I figured, she was reluctant to tell her story at first, but after I explained my situation to her, she finally relented. She revealed that she became rather fond of Rey and was sad when she had to leave. She confessed that she missed him and when I told her he already passed away, she broke into heartbreaking tears.
Our conversation was interrupted when her two children arrived. She called out to them and told them that she was in the living room. When the two entered the room, I felt my heart stop. One of them had short, blond hair with the familiar blue eyes.
Marietta gave me a melancholic smile, her eyes still glistening with tears. "This is my son, Rey."
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Chapter Three - Mirage
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"You're up early," Rau commented when he saw Rey all dressed-up and ready to go. Rau told him yesterday that someone wanted to meet him. Rey had shown only curiosity but now, Rau realized that the child couldn't hide his excitement any longer.
They left after they had eaten their breakfast. Rau drove them to Gilbert's place and Rey had spent the fifteen-minute drive, looking curiously at the sights. He pulled over the huge driveway and parked behind the grey car.
Rau took off his seatbelt and was about to get out of the car when he saw Rey tugging at the strange contraption. Rau smirked at him before leaning over and helping him. After that, they both made their way towards the door, with Rey sticking close to Rau's legs.
Rau pressed the doorbell and waited a few minutes before it opened, revealing the smiling face of Talia Gladys. "Good morning," she greeted. Then, noticing the blond child hiding behind Rey's legs, she knelt down and smiled. "You must be Rey. Hello, I'm Talia."
The little child blushed. "I'm R-Rey…" he stammered.
Talia smiled at him. Then she stood up and led them inside. They went to the living room, where a black-haired man was sitting on the couch, arranging the chess pieces in front of him on the coffee table. He gave Talia an affectionate look before acknowledging Rau. "I'm glad you could make it."
"What? You were expecting us to suddenly expire?" Rau responded good-naturedly. Rey peeked out from behind his legs to see the stranger. Rau knelt before him. "These are the people that I'd like you to meet."
Rey nodded. Rau stood up and gestured at Gilbert. "This is Gilbert Dullindal –" then, at Talia "–and you've already met Talia."
Rey smiled shyly. "It's nice to meet you, Gild… Gilb… Gli-bert… Gibr… " he stammered. Apparently, he was at that age where children usually have a hard time pronouncing consonant blends. He blushed and looked up at Rau for help.
Rau's eyes twinkled in amusement. "Your name's too complicated for him."
"Oh, is that it?" Gilbert asked Rey kindly. "Well, you can just call me Gil." He gave the child a small nod of encouragement. Beside him, Talia hid a laugh behind one hand and Rau rolled his eyes.
"Gil…" This time, Rey was able to say the name with ease. Talia looked at him expectantly. "Talia…"
After the initial introductions were over with, the four of them were seated on the living room – Gilbert and Talia on one couch, and Rau and Rey on the opposite. On the coffee table were three steaming mugs of hot coffee for the adults and a glass of cold orange juice for Rey, along with a beautiful chess set with glass pieces.
The three adults talked about work first. Gilbert was a genetic engineering scientist, while Talia was a political analyst. Then the topic of the conversation was steered in to the current situation of Earth and the PLANTs, to which Rau had quite a lot to say.
Rey was watching the exchange with interest when Talia suddenly addressed him. "Would you like to go see the garden, Rey?"
Rey looked up at Rau, as if to ask for permission. Rau gave him a subtle nod and then went back to his conversation with Gilbert. Rey climbed down from the couch and was a bit surprised when Talia held out a hand to him. The child's cheeks went pink as he took it. Talia, then, led him out into the garden.
It was the first time that Rey had seen anything like it and it showed by the way his eyes widened in awe. Talia watched him with a hint of amusement. The garden was typical and ordinary compared to other gardens that she had seen. There wasn't any unusual flower or plant. It was decorated with the usual green grass and ordinary flowers here and there. A few birds could be heard chirping in the background and the occasional butterfly could be seen fluttering from flower to flower.
Talia led him to the small swing set and assisted him as he sat on it. "Hold tight, okay?"
Rey nodded affirmatively and Talia pushed him. The child gave a little squeal of delight as he felt the air rushing towards him. Talia laughed along with Rey, prompted by the child's simplicity.
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Rau watched the scene through the glass doors in the living room with a blank expression on his face. He reached for his cup of coffee and watched the depths swirl before taking a sip. He looked up at Gilbert with a smirk. "So… when's the wedding?"
Gilbert shrugged imperceptibly. "Who knows?" He moved his rook forward.
Rau diverted his gaze to the chess set in front of him. They were already in the middle of the game, with the opening phase done almost automatically. He moved his bishop diagonally and captured the black rook that Gilbert just moved. "Rey likes her."
Gilbert chuckled softly. "What's not to like?" He regarded the position of Rau's prominent pieces and decided to move his queen backwards.
Rau smirked, amused that his friend had seen through his plan. He quickly changed tactics and moved his knight instead. He leaned back and raised an eyebrow at Gilbert, as if daring him. Gilbert replied by moving a pawn forward. Rau rolled his eyes and captured one of his bishops instead.
"And I thought you wouldn't notice," Gilbert commented, rather dryly.
Rau ignored his comment. After a pause, he cleared his throat and said in a clear voice, "I need to ask a favor from you."
Gilbert raised an eyebrow, but otherwise said nothing. Rau holier-than-thou Le Creuset, asking a favor from him? But then again, when it came to his situation nowadays, it seemed that he was forever asking for favors. However, this was the first time that Rau had asked directly and had even used the word.
Rau straightened up and then sighed, somewhat dejectedly. "Tell Rey."
Two words that meant so much more – to an outsider it would seem inane, but to Gilbert, he understood completely. He nodded. "I promise."
Rau stared at him in the eyes – blue to saffron. "You promised Gilbert. You promised to tell him everything. Remember that."
There was a tiny detail that Gilbert couldn't ignore. "And why can't you do it?"
A smile. Not his usual sneers or a smirk or a smug grin, but a genuine smile. An unusual, yet genuine smile. "I look into his eyes, and I see the innocence that I wish I had at that age. I don't want to be the one to take it away."
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"I usually play the piano at home."
"And that's all you do?"
Talia saw the back of the blond head bobbing up and down in confirmation as he swung closer to her. She pushed Rey's back again and it swung forward. "Next time you visit, you'll play with toys."
"Toys? But I enjoy playing the piano." The confusion was evident in his voice.
Talia giggled. "Alright, you'll play the piano the next time you visit."
"Rey!" It was Rau, his voice coming from the direction of the house.
Rey's turned his head eagerly. Talia stopped the swing, lest Rey do it himself and injure himself in the process. The moment the swing came to a stop, Rey jumped off of it and ran towards Rau. But about halfway, he turned around and pulled Talia with him.
"We're going," Rau said simply.
Rey nodded and turned to Talia, "Goodbye, Talia." Then to Gilbert, "Goodbye, Gil."
Gilbert smiled at him and ruffled his hair while Talia knelt in front of him and gave him a hug. "Come back and visit us soon."
Rey stood frozen for a moment then, instinctively hugged her back. They pulled apart and proceeded to the front door. The couple watched as Rau assisted Rey in getting into the passenger's seat of the car. Rau gave them a nod in acknowledgement, and Rey waved enthusiastically and stopped only when Rau leaned over and attached the seatbelt. After that, the car pulled out of the driveway and out of the gate.
Talia and Gilbert watched until the car disappeared from their line of sight. Talia sighed and Gilbert put an arm on her shoulder. Before they went back inside, Talia gave Gilbert a meaningful look.
"Wouldn't it be nice, Gilbert, to have a child of our own?"
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"Rey?"
Rey swallowed his eggs and toast and looked up at Rau expectantly.
Rau smiled at him. "Finish your breakfast. We're going out."
Rey nodded happily and drank his milk in one gulp. "I'm done!" Then, he clambered off the chair and rushed to his bedroom to get dressed.
Rau stared at his shaking hands and made a little grunt of annoyance. He could feel his breath hitching up and he quickly reached for the box of pills in his pocket. He took out two of the blue and white pills and swallowed them at once. He reached for the glass of water and gulped down hungrily; he put the glass back down, none too gently, and took several deep breaths as his breathing began to subside and the pain to recede.
He took one out again, for measure and was about to swallow it when Rey entered the room. The curious stares that Rau usually got from the child whenever he took his prescription were gone. He assumed that the child had gotten used to it already. Satisfied with his deduction, he popped the pill in his mouth and washed it away with a drink of water.
"I'll be leaving you at Gilbert's office."
Rey looked up excitedly. "Will Talia be there?"
Rau smirked. "Who knows?"
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Gilbert's workplace was dark. There were many funny, cylindrical contraptions in the middle of the room filled with liquid and swirling 'stuff.' He inched closer to Rau, feeling the familiar sense of fear creeping up his spine.
Rau was talking to Gilbert about something and Rey looked up at the mention of his name. Gilbert noticed this and gave him a kind, reassuring smile.
Rau knelt down and gave him the usual pat on the head. "I'll come back in the afternoon. Gilbert will take care of you." He stood up and smirked at Gilbert. With that, he walked away.
"Sorry, Rey," he whispered as soon as the child and his black-haired friend were out of earshot.
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There, in his outstretched hand, lay a box containing scores of blue and white pills – the same ones that he had seen Rau swallow so many, many, countless times.
Big, blue eyes stared confusedly into saffron ones – a look that held a myriad of questions… Questions that only the black-haired man in front of him could answer.
Rey tilted his blond head to the side inquiringly. "What are these for?"
Gilbert gave him a smile laced with… was that sympathy? "These are for you, Rey."
Big, blue eyes blinked. He opened his mouth, but closed it again. His brows knitted on his forehead – the first sign of confusion. There were so many things that he wanted to ask, but only one word seemed appropriate. "Why?"
Another sympathetic smile, this time with that understanding look that most adults possess. Gilbert released a huff of breath he didn't realize that he had been holding, before plunging in. "Your telomeres are short."
"Oh."
Rey bowed his head, and let his bangs hide his face. His hair really was getting long. Maybe he should follow Rau's suggestion and cut it. But Rau's hair was long and there was nothing wrong with it. With the thought of Rau, he remembered the blue and white pills that were being given to him. Gilbert said that his telo-something was short. Just like any child, he was full of questions that needed to be answered. Yes, most of the questions that he usually asked were unusual, but this time, he was quite sure any child would wonder the same thing.
"Gil?"
"Hm?"
"What's a te-lo-mere?" The foreign word rolled strangely in his mouth.
This time, it was those saffron eyes that blinked. In Gilbert's mind's eye, he could practically envision Rau sneering at him. He recalled their conversation the other day and felt his lips curl up in a rueful smile. 'And I suppose it's alright for -me- to take it away?' He looked at the young boy looking up at him with eyes that held so much of the 'innocence' that Rau was talking about.
Little children like Rey weren't the only ones who liked to ask questions; even adults, who were supposed to be smarter, adults like Gil, needed to ask questions every now and then.
Did he have the heart to tell this young boy what exactly telomeres are?
Did he have the heart to tell this young boy that because his telomeres were short; his life would be short, too?
Did he have the heart to tell this young boy to stop hoping for a future because he didn't have one?
Did he have the heart to tell this young boy that he was as damned as Rau Le Creuset?
Did he have the heart to tell this young boy that he -was- Rau Le Creuset?
Only a heartless person can do it. And Gilbert Dullindal, though he may be many things, was not heartless. He felt a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. And apparently, so was Rau Le Creuset.
The answers to every one of those questions would have to be a 'no'. He smiled at the blond, blue-eyed boy staring up at him. 'The innocence I wish I had…' He knelt down and stroked his hair in a fatherly manner.
"I will tell you some other time, Rey. For now, just take them and everything will be alright."
In the child's mind, these words rang true. That fatherly pat, those words, they were similar to the actions and the words of the man who 'saved' him from that dark room. He would trust this man just as he had trusted Rau Le Creuset.
The look on the child's face was none like he had ever seen. So full of trust. Complete and utter trust. The same look, the very same ideal that will be imprinted in this child's mind for the rest of his very short life. Gilbert took notice of it and felt his resolve waver.
Did he have the heart to tell this young boy that Gilbert Dullindal was not someone that he should trust?
No.
No.
Never.
Gilbert decided to be heartless some other time.
For now, he would let Rey live in false realities.
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Author's Notes: As you can see, a part of it is from my one-shot/drabble, 'Mirage'. You can say that that drabble inspired this whole fic. You know, I've just realized that this fic is not just about Rey's transition from innocent child to manipulating villain. There's a little bit – okay, a lot – of Rau in here, too. And a little bit of Gilbert and Talia. Can't really blame me for putting in a hefty dose of them, they're really the ones who contributed a lot to Rey's life.
If you think some of them are out of character, or if there's something that seems unclear, please don't hesitate to tell me. Reviews are highly appreciated and regarded.
Thank you very much to the following reviewers: koyuki-hime, RainPure, Yzak-Freak, and elven-girl10.
Special Thanks to my wonderful friend and critic: Lia lostsmile.