I am rapidly shooting up my overall word count with this. I might have to post that drawing sooner rather than later.
Also, I can never decide whether to call the dude Larcade or Rahkeid. Got the same issue with Irene/Eileen.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.
Title: Lost Duckling
Pairing: Larcade x Sting
Requester: filiiadcorblog
Prompt: "You don't have to say a word if it's too personal."
Larcade was an odd duck, Sting decided. He sorta looked like one too, what with that hair of his. And he'd trailed along behind Sting like a lost duckling after his defeat - following the blond dragon slayer all the way back to the doors of the Sabertooth guild hall, in fact. Which was an endeavor, given how far Irene's spell had thrown the guild.
He peered at the Alvarez native, who ducked his head at the inspection.
The mental image of Larcade as a duck was now firmly stuck in Sting's head.
"…So," Sting began, and then paused as Larcade flinched violently. The reaction was a familiar one to Sting. He tried again, "So… I gotta ask. Why are you following me?" He mentally kicked himself the second the words left his mouth. 'Really, Sting? Shouldn't you have asked that a few leagues back?' he berated himself.
Larcade mumbled something that Sting didn't quite catch.
"Sorry? What was that? Couldn't hear you very well."
Another flinch, and Larcade answered, "I don't have a place to go back to."
"But… aren't you like… the prince of Alvarez, or something?" Sting pointed out. "Somehow I get the feeling that leaving the country in a power vacuum is a bad idea."
Larcade shifted, his open toed sandals frayed and worn by the long trek, his legs coated in dirt along with his once-pristine robes. There was only a passing resemblance to the man Sting had faced in combat. "…There's no place for me, there," Larcade repeated.
Scratching his head, Sting contemplated the other man. There was familiarity in Larcade's body language; it was as if he was crumpling in on himself. Defeated in more than just the physical sense, and clinging to the only thing he knew how to do - follow power.
"You don't have to say a word if it's too personal," Sting offered.
The relief on Larcade's expression was almost painful to look at. "Thank you," he said, so softly Sting almost missed it.
Sting sighed. "Look… you hurt my guildmates. As their guild master, their wellbeing is my responsibility. And I'm not quite as forgiving as Fairy Tail." It was a hard truth, and his words clearly stung.
"But…" he continued, and Larcade finally rose his head, and met Sting's gaze. "If you can muster up an apology to them, and if they're willing to give you a shot… I don't see why you can't stay with us for now." It was the best Sting could offer. Much as Larcade reminded him of himself after the GMG, Sting still had his duty to his friends.
And as Larcade agreed, Sting couldn't help but think that -against all odds - the lost duckling might yet be able to find a home in a den of cats.
