Title: The Price of Honor
Author: Seph
Series: Final Fantasy XII
Disclaimers: Final Fantasy XII and all other related characters, events, etc. do not belong to me.
Summary: 5 years after the defeat of his brother, Lord Larsa Solidor will finally be crowned as Emperor of Archades—or so he should be. However, the only thing which is preventing him from accepting the crown involves one person... the same person who has sworn to protect him, Lord Larsa, as the rightful heir to the throne of Archades. Gabranth x Larsa
Overall Story Notes: (minor spoilers) The story is about Gabranth and Larsa so in my story, Gabranth DID NOT die in the end of the game. :)
Timeline: Story is generally post-game, but there are many instances of flashbacks concerning the in-game events.
Chapter Notes: Chapter II continues from where Chapter I left off… with the exception of a few hours past.
Chapter II
Gabranth walked through the dim hallways towards Lord Larsa's chambers, the only sounds to be heard were those from his own footsteps and the metallic grating of his armor. To him, this day had been most odd—the summons from the Emperor, Lord Vayne's request, and Lord Larsa's uncharacteristic silence towards him. The young lord had always been jovial towards Gabranth, with the exception of the past few days where he had been more quiet... more—reserved. The Judge's thoughts were interrupted when a familiar sight greeted him along the last corridor which led to his destination.
"Good evening Gabranth." Judge Drace's voice broke through the stillness of the corridor.
"Good evening Drace… how goes the uprising?" Gabranth nodded to the other in acknowledgment.
"It was… subdued early. All is well. I am about to retire, and you?"
A lump formed in Gabranth's throat as he opened his mouth to answer. He could not possibly tell Drace the real reason he was there, Lord Larsa would spite him if he told anybody else.
"Night shift." Gabranth was quick to answer as he stiffly turned towards the opposite direction, away from the doors to Lord Larsa's chambers.
"…and the young lord?"
"He is well." Gabranth then straightened his stance and walked away.
"Gabranth…" Drace caught up to the other and tried to match Gabranth's unusually fast pace. "I may not be in the place to ask this of you… but please, for my sake—and for the empire… please… please watch over Lord Larsa."
Gabranth stopped walking and looked down at his companion. "You need not ask it of me Drace, it is my duty to do so… and yours as well."
"I know… but…" Much to Gabranth's surprise, Judge Drace reached up and removed her helmet, revealing her face—a Judge's face—revealing an identity well hidden and protected behind their heavy metal armor.
"Drace, what are you—"
"Silence Gabranth and listen. I feel my time is short… my sword grows heavy with each day. When the time comes Gabranth, promise me that you will lift your swords and defend Lord Larsa—do that which I fear I cannot."
Gabranth broke into laughter—though it was laughter which was obviously strained. "Drace, you are unlike yourself with this womanly unfound concern. You are strong—you are a Judge Magister, entrusted with Lord Larsa's life by the Emperor himself. If the time comes, I shall lift my swords and defend him alongside you."
Drace smiled—a weak smile. "But if he wills you to lay down your swords… would you?" A sigh. "Goodnight Gabranth." She quickly wore her helmet, once again concealing her humanity. And without another word, she strode off and disappeared into the inky darkness of the hallway ahead.
Gabranth shook his head and frowned before he turned and walked again towards the young lord's chambers. He stopped right outside the dark, oaken doors which loomed over him like sentinels which prevented him from going any further. Gabranth took a moment to consider his situation.
There he was, standing alone—frozen in front of his lord's chambers, bound by oath to go no further for matters of honor and propriety… and bound by oath to enter for matters of honor and obedience. Gabranth was at a loss. He had never even set foot inside anyone else's bed chambers nor did he have any desire to do so… and to be standing outside the bed chambers of Lord Larsa made the act feel more shameless to Gabranth.
Gabranth was too lost in his thoughts that one of the massive doors hit him squarely against the chest as it was pushed open from the inside. The impact of the door simply caused Gabranth to take a step backward, but the sound of wood against his suit of armor was shockingly loud that a few lights began to appear from the far corridors followed by hushed voices.
"By the gods Gabranth! Have you the intention of killing me of fright?!" Lord Larsa's face peered from behind the oaken door and frowned at his Judge protector—though it was done half-heartedly. "And you're late as well… I was just about to find you myself."
Gabranth was quick to recover and bowed hastily to the young heir. "Forgive me my lord, I was… delayed."
"Quickly now come! Enter at once…" A small gloved hand clutched a much larger one and pulled insistently.
"But my lord—" Gabranth tried to stay his hand, but the small hand which held it would not let go.
"Enter at once I tell you!" The distress etched upon the young boy's features as well as the urgency in his voice left Gabranth with little choice. With head bowed low, he let himself be led inside his young lord's bed chambers—if ever his uncharacteristic hesitation was evident upon his face, Gabranth was more than grateful that he had decided to keep his helmet on.
Once inside with the door safely closed behind them, Larsa heaved a deep breath, as if greatly relieved.
"Thank heavens they did not see you there Gabranth, or they would most certainly have pried! So bored are many of these soldiers that they would choose to look into anything and everything—with the exception of things that really do matter."
No sooner had he said this when a sharp knock on the door cut Larsa short.
"What is it? Have you no respect for the hour?!" Larsa called through the door.
"Forgive me my lord, but a loud crash was heard near here… and I was concerned."
"Drace?" Larsa threw Gabranth a slightly accusing look which caused the judge to stiffen all the more.
"I am fine Drace, thank you—you may retire."
"Yes my lord."
Only when the sound of heavy footsteps was no longer audible did Larsa and Gabranth release their breath which, unbeknownst to them both, they had been holding.
"I do pray that there will be no more of that—or we will never be done!"
Gabranth wanted to speak, but somehow he couldn't bring himself to do it. The overwhelming feeling that he should not be there, in his lord's room bothered him greatly, but had decided not to speak of it for fear of distressing the boy further.
"Should you not be more… appropriately dressed Gabranth?" The raven-haired boy once again pulled at his protector's hand (which he has not yet released from his gloved grasp) and lead him to the inner room of his chambers.
Now that the young lord has addressed it, Gabranth thought of how unusually heavy his armor felt and how unbearably stifling his helmet had become—all in the span of no more than five minutes in Lord Larsa's presence. But he shook his head decisively and cleared his throat, "How more appropriately dressed should a Judge Magister be in the presence of his lord if not in his armor?"
"Ah, so I see. However, if it is not so much of a task—would the kind Judge Magister remove his helmet so that his lord might see his face?" If Larsa's frustration did show through his voice, Gabranth certainly did not hear it. Hesitant, but determined not to make it evident, Gabranth reached up to remove the steel helmet which concealed his face. As soon as he had done so, Gabranth felt the cool night breeze wash over his face… something he had not felt in a very long time.
He turned to face Lord Larsa, expecting the same raven-haired child with impeccable boyish features and slight frame which made the young lord seem almost effeminate—but somehow, the young lord looked quite different… or was it because the boy seemed to be staring at him intently to the point that Gabranth had to look away, feeling more ashamed than ever for having set foot inside Lord Larsa's inner rooms.
"You look different Gabranth… hmmm… or perhaps you've worn that piece of metal for too long that I've quite forgotten you're real face! Really… if I had my way, I'd not have you wearing it at all!" Larsa took the helmet from the blonde's hands and gave a small cry of surprise as he fell over from the sheer weight of it. Gabranth was quick to kneel and caught the helmet and the young lord in his arms.
"Are you alright my lord?" Gabranth's lips accidentally grazed the shell of Larsa's ear as he asked. A sharp gasp escaped the boy as his head involuntarily leaned towards the knight's lips. "M-my lord?" Gabranth was taken aback by Larsa's reaction and had the strong urge to move his head back—but for some reason, he could not bring himself to do so. The blonde deliberately pulled the young lord closer so much so that when he spoke, his lips swept the whole of the small ear which was pressed against them.
A muffled whimper escaped Larsa's mouth as he arched up slightly in— actions which stirred within the Judge a strong yearning for the onyx-haired boy in his arms. Gabranth's mind was all but screaming that his actions were completely unacceptable as the Solidor heir's protector, but the latter was making it very difficult for him to pull away. Larsa looked even more fragile in Gabranth's arms as compared to how he looked as he stood beside his brother Vayne, who towered over him.
Larsa had turned his head down so that a curtain of his silky black hair made it impossible for Gabranth to see his face and his small gloved hands clutched tightly at the front of his long silk tunic, rumpling the fabric. Gabranth began to worry… thoughts of how much he had violated his lord and master flooded his mind and he felt an overwhelming feeling of guilt and sudden disgust for himself began to creep under his skin. Instinctively, Gabranth bowed his head low—as if to hide himself from the humiliation of what he had done… unconsciously burying his head in the crook of Larsa's neck and shoulder.
"G-Gabranth…"
Larsa whispered with much difficulty as his lips would not cease quivering. His ears and cheeks felt as if they were on fire and each brush of his guardian's lips caused shivers to run up his spine. Larsa had never felt such sensations before, and it confused him—scared him even— but he longed for it... and that was what frightened him the most.
"Forgive me my lord... I take my leave." Gabranth breathed against the sensitive skin at the base of the boy's neck before he pulled back—intent on leaving lest he do more damage than what he believed he had already done. But the fates did not seem to be on Gabranth's side for when he loosened his hold on Larsa, the boy had let out a small cry and clutched at one of his arms mumbling, "stay… do not go… don't… just don't…."
For Larsa, the armor which enveloped the arm he held felt hard and cold—just like the breastplate on which his burning cheek was pressed against… but it was Gabranth beneath it all, and he would not have the knight leave him now—not in this confused, vulnerable state which Gabranth had placed him in in the first place. "Stay Gabranth… you have yet to teach me… remember?"
Larsa held his breath when he felt himself being lifted up as Gabranth stood up.
"Then I shall stay and teach you my lord… if this is what you wish."
Only when Gabranth had said these words did Larsa allow himself to heave a sigh of relief as he broke into a sweet, boyish smile—one which was almost impossible to imagine from how he had looked mere moments ago.
Gabranth could only wish to feel the same, for the allure of the warm body which he held and the tingling in his lips only reminded him of how much self control he had to muster to last through the night—without any more… distractions.
TBC(?)
Well… as I expected, this ISN'T going to turn into a 3 to 5 part story… maybe around 6 or 7, but I don't plan to make it longer than that. o.O
A lot of unexpected stuff popped into my head while I was writing this—thus, all this tension just had to appear!
So uhmm… what do you guys think? I have a little storyline going in my head right now—but reviews and suggestions would be greatly appreciated:) Plus, I'll get to know if my story is still worth continuing or if someone reads it at the least. -.-;;
Seph