Wild Birds
Summary: Claus and Lavie still under the care of Alex are introduced to what will be their new home.
Warnings: none
Disclaimer: I do not own Last Exile, no money is being made off this use.
First Flight
The children walked with Alex, and Marius quietly toward the Silvana, Claus looking around curiously while Lavie griped Alex's hand with all the strength she could, her other arm clutching the small goat. In the two years since Alex had taken Claus and Lavie in Marius had never been able to find a suitable family to take them. And while he worried for the three of them Marius was secretly grateful that Alex still had Claus and Lavie with him. He recalled Alex's state of mind after returning from the Grand Stream. He had been able to think of nothing but revenge, and what it would take for him to achieve it. Not even Vincent Alzey who could be considered Alex's closest friend, or little Sophia had been able to get through to him. After hearing about Justina's death Alex had been torn, the children had no one else now but he'd had no idea what to do for them. Marius had been shocked when Alex had come into his office at the academy in the early hours of the morning before the funeral and asked if there was somewhere on campus that could be prepared for himself and the children. He never expected Alex to able to crack the shell he had built around him self after losing Euris.
The distractions of parenthood had done him good Marius thought. Though even quieter and still far more solemn than he had been, his quiet rage seemed to have calmed. At times the children could even bring a smile to his face. Marius wished he could give them a life far more peaceful than the one he was about to hand them, but there was no one else he could trust with this mission.
Walking through the ship as the crew prepared for her first flight. One of the mechanics after giving a rather poor but respectful salute noticed Lavie, and grinned waving cheerfully at the girl. She moved farther out of sight behind Alex's leg, and pulled the cape of his uniform over her head for good measure. Alex sighed. "Don't tell me you're scared." He said moving away so he could kneel in front of her. "You were too excited to sleep last night what brought this on?" Alex asked placing a hand on top of her now much shorter hair. When Marius had asked about the hair cut earlier Alex had made it clear by the look on his face that it was not something they were going to discuss. Lavie said nothing but frowned looking over at the mechanics again. Sighing Alex stood up. "Come on, there's something I want to show you." Taking both Claus and Lavie by the hand he lead them over to a corner of the hanger where a large tarp was covering something. When he pulled the tarp off both children gasped.
"It's our vanship!" Claus shouted running over to it, Lavie followed soon after. Smiling both children carefully looked over the ship. After climbing into the pilots seat Claus turned to Alex excitedly. "Does this mean we can lean to fly?"
"When you are older." Alex replied keeping Lavie from falling as she tried to get into the navi's seat.
Claus frowned. "Why not now?" He asked leaning over the side looking a bit deflated.
"Because you're seven, and this thing is going to need a lot of work before it's fit to fly again." Alex answered looking over the battered frame of the ship. Claus looked about to try and argue when they were both distracted by Lavie.
"Don't touch our vanship!" She shouted angrily leaning out of the navi's seat and waving her goat in the face of one of the mechanics who had walked over.
The man stepped back waving his hands in front of him grinning sheepishly. "Sorry! Sorry, we just wanted to come over and offer to help. I'm Kostavi, this is Godwin, and that is Gale. We happen to be very good mechanics, so what do you say Princess?"
Lavie glared. "I'm not a princess. I'm Claus' navi! We don't need your help. We can do it our selves!" She said sounding offended.
"Of course you can." Alex said smirking slightly. "But the longer it takes to fix up the ship the longer it will be before she'll fly again."
The children looked at each other for a few moments. Eventually Lavie sighed. "Fine." She said pouting. "You can help, but only when me and Claus are here to keep an eye on you!" The three men saluted at once all of them trying not to laugh.
"Alex! Claus! Lavie!" The group turned to see the young princess of Anatoray running toward them waving followed by Captain Alzey. The mechanics took the opportunity to escape and return to their work. Vincent waived, looking a bit exasperated as he joined them. Sophia wasted no time being very un-princess like as she climbed up to join Claus and Lavie on the vanship.
Marius smiled. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't make it before they had to leave."
"We almost didn't... His Majesty was..eh.. Anyway she hasn't talked about anything else all day." Vincent said looking around. "This is really...Something." He said ignoring the glares he received from the crew members in hearing range.
Alex rolled his eyes ignoring the comment. He was as usual paying more attention to the children. He felt a pang of guilt when it came to the princess. First she had lost her mother, and then Euris who had been like a sister to her. Now Claus and Lavie, the only real friends she had were leaving with him, and he had no idea when the children would be able to see each other again if ever. The missions he was about to embark on while necessary for hopefully putting an end to the war eventually, were not going to make him look good in the eyes of the emperor.
Vincent sighed, before taking a deep breath. "While I'm here, Mom wanted me to tell you." He held a hand up as Alex looking annoyed opened his mouth. "Don't say anything. I already know what the answer is going to be. I'm only saying it so I can honestly tell Mom that I told you. She just want's to remind you that if you change your mind she is more than willing to take the kids in."
It was Alex's turn to sigh. "Tell Lady Alzey I said thank you, but no. As much as I respect your mother, I'm not going to leave Claus and Lavie to become manual labor for your sister... And you know how Lavie feels about your father.."
"Yeah... He tends to have that effect on small children, and animals. Mrs. Relis' cats recognize his name now. You should see them when they hear it they..." Vincent stopped seeing the look on Alex's face. "Right, sorry." He looked at Marius. "You'll be able to get Her Majesty home safe right?" Marius nodded. "Ok, I need to get back to the Urbanis then. Sorry I can't stay, but I've got a lot of work ahead of me."
The Prime Minister watched him leave, but Alex was already focused on the children again. "I think, if you tried that we would have to bring her back." Alex stated interrupting the discussion of a plan for Sophia to stow away on board. The three of them jumped a bit before turning to pout at him, he was used to Claus and Lavie, but had to look away from Sophia. Her resemblance to Euris was still too painful at times. "Now that we are all here, are you ready for lunch?" He asked hoping to change the subject. Fortunately for him it worked.
The meal was rather subdued, and afterward it seemed far too soon when they had to part. The five of them stood on the dock Marius and Alex quietly discussing the Silvana's first mission while the children said their tearful goodbyes. When he said goodbye to Sophia, kneeling down to see her face better he was nearly knocked over when she threw her arms around him. "Please don't disappear, ok?" She whispered her voice shaking slightly. He hugged her back something he hadn't done since Euris was lost, but said nothing. He would not make another promise he wasn't sure he could keep.
They boarded the ship, With Claus and Lavie under the supervision of the mechanics, though he wasn't sure he was all that comfortable with them yet, he'd already heard several things he just knew were going to be awkward questions later; he headed for the bridge. The crew was waiting and saluted when he entered. "Is everything prepared?"
"Yes, Captain. We are ready to launch."
"Very well. All hands prepare for launch." Alex ordered as he took his seat. There was no turning back now, for any of them. He hoped he had made the right decision. "Hamilcar, George, Euris please watch over us. Help me keep them safe."
AN: So much for quick updates. This just did not want to be written.
I realize the more I mention them that I really need to write a fic that properly introduces Vincent's family. Just to let you know, I've always seen Vincent's father as the reincarnation of Brian Blessed.