Left Behind

– Shiroe never expected fatherly talks were part of being a Guild Master.

It was well known that Shiroe, Guildmaster of Log Horizon, was not a very social being. In fact, he did everything in his power just to be able to have some time to just for himself – because while he was not a social being, most of his friends and acquaintances were. Hence, why he locked himself in his office every afternoon.

But today he finally had the Log Horizon Guild Building all to himself!

...or so he had thought.

Akatsuki, Naotsugu and Nyanta were out for the day, while his four (five, if you counted Serara) charges were off on a quest – on their level of course, he'd never send them to something they couldn't handle. They'd all been thrilled.

Maybe that's why he'd been so shocked when he'd discovered one Rundelhouse Code sitting at the bottom of the stairs in the lobby. Outside, he could hear the ruckus of his other charges, no doubt preparing to leave. Then why was Rudy sitting there all alone? They'd leave him behind if he just stayed there.

He blinked and decided to investigate. Silently, he walked down the stairs until he was a step above the one the boy beneath him was sitting on. Rudy still didn't seem to have noticed him, clearing his throat, Shiroe asked "Aren't you going to join them?"

Rudy all but literally jumped out of his own skin "Ahh! Shiroe-sama! I–!" the blond screeched, before blushing furiously and trying, and failing, to compose himself. "N-no, I just thought I'd stay behind for today."

Shiroe frowned. Out of all his charges, Rudy was always the most excited to go on a new quest. It wasn't like him to sit anything out. "Why?" Shiroe questioned, careful to keep his tone placid.

His answer was a defensive "Why not?" before Rudy flushed in embarrassment again and stuttered out a hasty apology. Rudy, for all his arrogance, was nothing if not polite. This blatant rudeness told Shiroe that something was definitely wrong.

Shiroe was a bit too stunned to manage anything but a "Calm down, I was just asking". A deep breath later, Rudy had calmed his breathing some.

"Why are you here, Shiroe-sama?" the boy asked once he'd calmed down a bit. His tone was hesitant and quiet. That wasn't right.

Shiroe hid a smile, his brilliant mind had come up with a plan. "I'll tell you what, you tell me that and I'll tell you the same thing." he said in a soothing tone.

Rudy gave him an odd look.

"Oh, okay." Then, "Guildmaster?" he ventured gingerly.

"Hmm?"

Rudy's voice was just as hesitant and as disjointed as before. "Why did you accept me...? In your Guild, I mean."

Shiroe pretended to look thoughtful "Well, you saved the people you care about – coincidentally the people I care about as well. You showed me you had a good heart and were a loyal friend. Honestly, I'd be pretty mad if some other Guild claimed you for themselves." While he was saying this, Shiroe was desperately hoping that Naotsugu would pop up and save him. He was terrible at reassuring people!

Rudy just kept staring at him in astonishment, his eyes wide in disbelief.

"Really?" he choked out "But I'm a Person of the Land – or at least, was." He trailed off uncertainly at the end.

Shiroe regarded him silently for a long moment. "Do you regret it?"

Rudy blinked at the serious tone, before his brain caught up with what was being said "Huh? No! I've wanted this for so long, but–" the blond cut himself off abruptly.

"But?" Shiroe coaxed.

Silence.

"What if I'm not good enough?" the words were barely audible when Rudy finally managed to push them out.

"I'm not really an Adventurer, am I?" he continued "I'm just some lame copy, I probably can't even call myself a real person! I'm nothing compared to you." Rudy had seemed to deflate with every word that passed his lips, and he looked so hopeless and vulnerable Shiroe wanted to run back to his office and never come out. He was no good with angst-y teens! He could barely cope with just his own emotions, he really didn't want anyone else's thrust upon his shoulders. What if he failed them?

Swallowing his unease, Shiroe asked in the most calm tone he could muster, and just hoped this would be over soon. "That's why you stayed behind? To sulk?" he questioned.

The Guildmaster almost cringed when Rudy only withdrew further into himself, bringing his knees up to his chest. "What else am I good for?" came the quiet murmur.

Alright, now Shiroe knew this was going to be hard. "You're good for a good many things, Rudy," he said slowly "but it's not your talents that are really important, it's who you are. Your friends aren't interested in how useful you can be to them, but in whom you are. Get it?" and why did this sound like the talk he'd had with Akatsuki just a few days ago? It was Karma, he figured.

Rudy brightened considerably at his words – good, at least he was doing something right. In your face, Akatsuki!

"Uh, thanks Shiroe-sama!" the cheerful tone behind those words made even the Villain in Glasses smile.

Laughing, he said. "No problem. Now, you can be useful and help me with my paperwork."

"Right– wait, what? Oh, man..." Rudy pouted. Shiroe smirked, it was the kids own fault for volunteering. As he climbed to his feet, Rudy asked "Um, so what were you doing staying behind Shiroe-sama?"

"Huh, well, I never said I'd tell you." Shiroe answered all too cheerfully.

Rudy blinked "Huh?! But–!"

Amongst his snickering, Shiroe explained "I said if you told me why you were here, I'd tell you the same. I said that you were here because you were feeling depressed and useless but not unwanted. I did just what I said I would."

Rudy's face reddened in indignation "That's cheating!"

"Maybe, maybe, but I'm still not telling you. Now run along," that sounded so much as if it were coming from Nyanta's mouth it was scary. Shiroe shuddered as he put the documents he'd been carrying on his office table and paused, turning back to face the blond "you don't want to be left behind, do you?"

Rudy eeped, jumping to his feet and rushing out the front door of the Guild – where his teammates were waiting for him, just as Shiroe had expected that they would.

AN: Cookies for all those who reviewed! Biscuits for those who faved and followed! Cake awaits those who drop me a word this chapter! :)