Work Text:
*Gustave pov*
It had been a rather long day at La Anglis, having been put on bedrest for an injury I'd received; due to a fight with.. well.. a mime of all things... My prosthetic was shattered, and my ribs were bruised to hell and back; which still had a dull throb in the bone itself.. Much to my surprise and lucky stars, thank goodness, nothing was broken.. It still hurts, but at least nothing broke..
Lune and Sciel were off god knows where, along with Alicia and Maelle.. And I couldn't stand laying in bed alone while Verso was running errands with Mr. Feli, both his and my dear friend Kitty's husband.. So I got up; tossing the blankets aside. As I stood, a sharp pain shot through my ribs; and I held onto the wall to stabilize myself a moment.. It went away painstakingly slow, and I slowly let out the breath I didn't know I was holding.. Once I straightened back up, I pulled the small gold chain from around my neck; until a small locket hit my fingers.. There was something precious in this locket, and I needed someone in particular's help with it..
I left Verso and I's room, wandering the maze-like hallways until I found Dyana; one of Bazarov's staff members. She's a petite young woman, with long blonde hair pulled into a braided bun and secured with a glittery red hairpin; wearing a red dress and white apron. As I approached her while she cleaned, she spotted me and looked up with a cheerful smile; one I'd seen and received plenty of times since we'd arrived in La Anglis.
"Good evening Mr. Dessendre!" she said cheerfully, wiping her hands on her apron and fully turning to me. "Is there anything I can help you with? Are you feeling better at all?" she asked, and I couldn't help but smile back at her. "Good evening Dyana, and yes; I have something to ask you." I replied. "And what would that be, sir?" she asked me. "Do you happen to know where Kitty is?" I asked. "If you do, could you please take me to her? I've something.. important to ask her help with. I'm not sure where she's at, and I'm still learning where all the rooms are.." I laughed nervously, but Dyana's smile shattered my nerves instantly. "I know exactly where she is, for once." She teased, to which I laughed; and she crooked her finger at me to follow.
Following her through the halls, I stared at the countless beautiful paintings and portraits lining the stone. Scenes of love, sadness, betrayal, bitterness, fear, anger, and every other emotion filled the canvases; making them almost palpable... Until I stopped at one portrait in particular. This one was different. But why? It was just of a girl in a long military green overcoat, with a matching beret; staring out at the open frozen lake towards the back of the palace, with her back to the viewer. I felt Dyana's presence next to me, and she spoke in a soft voice, almost as if nervous to speak.
"That was the day Lady Kitty came home.." She said after a moment. "..that day she lost some of her men, and.. she shut down for a while.." I knew Kitty was now ex-military, but I didn't know she really grieved the loss of her fellow soldiers... Dyana spoke again. "She mourns them like they were her own children.. Like she carried them into this world, and was the one to lead them to their demise.. That was why she left.. She couldn't keep losing 'her' boys.." I always knew my friend had too big a heart for her own good.. It was why I grew to care for her in the first place... She was always too kind, too sweet to say no to.. Always the first one to offer her hand if you fell.. always the first one to hug you tight when you cried.. Always...
"She's always been like that.." I replied after a moment, turning back to Dyana; who just nodded quietly as we started walking again. "That she has.. Lady Kitty was the first to praise me when I came to her too." I looked at Dyana, confused. "Oh?" "When I was first brought in," Dyana began. "An allied prince, he..." She paused for a moment, then straightened up and held her chin high as if remembering something. "..He assaulted me, and I ran to Lady Kitty.. the first thing she said to me was that she was glad I felt safe enough to come to her and tell her what happened." I was surprised at her statement, but not about Kitty; then she continued. "Do you know what happened to that Prince?" she asked me. I shook my head. "No. What happened to him?" I asked.
"Lady Kitty found him, beat him, and dragged him all about the kingdom, screaming his crimes to anyone who would listen." Dyana said with a laugh; leading me to one of the front lounges, where she paused in the doorway. "She dropped his mangled form in front of his mother, declared their alliance null and void; then returned home to us. And I've never felt safer anywhere.. I know I'll be believed here." she smiled again. I couldn't help but smile back as she poked her head into the lounge. "Lady Kitty, you have a guest. May he see you?" I couldn't hear her reply, but Dyana's smile getting brighter told me all I needed to know; as she stepped aside, and gave me a polite bow. "Lady Kitty will see you now, Mr. Dessendre." I chuckled at that, reaching over to give her a pat on the head; before stepping inside, and Dyana quietly shut the door behind us.
In one of the many cushioned chairs sat my cat-eared friend, embroidering something with sparkling threads. Once I stepped close enough, she looked up at me and smiled brightly; quickly dropping her needle on the table to get up and hug me. "Gustave!" she said warmly, softly squeezing me just enough to feel. "I'm glad to see you awake.. you're not in any pain, right?" she asked, pulling back from the hug and looking me in the eye. I shook my head. "No no, I'm not in pain thankfully." I said. "But.. if it's not too much, I have something to ask of you.."
"Anything, my friend; ask me." She said earnestly, ears perked to hear every word I asked. I pulled the locket out from my shirt collar, and held it in my hand; looking my friend in the eye.. "You said, you're a medium, right?" I asked, and Kitty nodded. "Could you use this..?" I asked, opening the locket to reveal a small red petal. "It's.. all I have left of someone.." Kitty's dark eyes immediately went wide, and her hands quickly came up around my own; as if to keep the petal from falling out. "Who is this?" she asked me, and I felt a sob catch in my throat.
"Honestly..? She was.. an ex-girlfriend of mine.." I replied earnestly, trying not to sob. "She was before Verso, and she.." The tears started to fall, and Kitty reached up to softly cup my cheek. "You don't need to say more, dear.." She said as I leaned into her hand, stroking my cheek with her thumb. "All I need now is her name.. what was her name?" She asked softly, pressing our foreheads together in the comforting way I'd seen her do to countless others.. I bit my lip to keep another sob in my throat, and I shakily spoke her name..
"S-sophie.."
Kitty smiled again, gently taking the petal from my locket and cradling it in her hands after letting me go.. and I swear she cradled that tiny little petal close to her chest as if it were a baby bird... She smiled at it sweetly, then.. spoke to it.. "Bonjour Sophie." she said, making my eyes widen in surprise. "Gustave's told me all about you, all good things that is. He told me of how beautiful you are, how kind, how sweet.. And I'm happy that I finally get to meet you today." The tears welled up again, but my friend wasn't done yet; and I heard one question.. "Would you like to talk to him? Speak through me, I'll let you.." she said.. After a moment, my friend slouched forward and I moved to catch her; but she caught herself.. Slowly standing back up like she wasn't used to being in a body..
Then her eyes met mine, and I swear they changed color.. From Kitty's brown to... Sophie's blue.. Her eyes went wide, and tears immediately started to spill.. and a.. different voice, one I hadn't heard in so long; finally said something. "..Gustave..? Is that.. really you..?" Her.. she.. SOPHIE.. she SPOKE through my friend.. I couldn't help myself and I threw my good arm around her neck, hugging her tightly.. Much to my surprise, she hugged me back just as tightly; and we both just sobbed and held one another.. I couldn't believe it... How is this really possible..? How is Sophie speaking through my friend..?
Once our tears ran dry, we finally pulled back to look at one another.. Her blue eyes met mine, and her hands gently held my face.. I reached up and gently held her wrist, not wanting her to let go... "I missed you.." I barely managed above a whisper, fearful I'd sob again.. "I missed you too.." She barely managed to whisper back to me, and I saw her notice the ring I kept next to my locket.. The small silver band, decorated with amethyst and lapis; and she looked back at me, eyes wide in surprise but also... joy..
"You got married?" she finally whispered after a moment. I nodded, finally smiling again. "Oui I have.. and he's wonderful." I said. "He? Oh, if you picked him; I know he is." She teased, reaching up to lightly pinch my nose; as she'd always done while lightly scolding or teasing me... "Well, we picked each other.." I said. "and Im really glad we did.." "Is he good to you?" she asked, and I nodded. "More than good.. he's.. perfect really." Sophie's smile got bigger. "Thats wonderful to hear. And just what is his name?" she asked, and right as she did; the lounge door opened and we both turned to see.
It was Verso, having come back from errands with Mr. Feli; shaking snow out of his hair, grumbling something about being cold.. I couldn't help but laugh and offer him my hand. "My love, I have someone I want you to meet." I said as he took my hand, coming over to me and pressing a soft kiss to my cheek. "Oh? And who would that be?" he asked, then noticed Kitty.. well rather, Sophie.. He looked confused for a moment, then noticed her blue eyes and immediately knew. "Oh! Where are my manners!" he nearly yelped, making both of us laugh as he took 'Sophie's' hand to kiss. "Your name is Sophie, right?" he asked her, to which she nodded. "Although, I'm not nearly as beautiful as both of your friend.." Sophie said, sounding almost sad. "Please.. He's shown me photos of you." Verso replied. "You are beautiful. You always will be."
Both Sophie and I looked surprised. I hadn't expected him to feel that way.. Especially about an ex-partner of mine.. But he said it so sweetly and genuinely... Sophie smiled again, leaning in to softly kiss Verso's cheek. "Merci, friend." she said. "Take good care of him for me, oui?" Verso nodded, gently wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me in for a soft hug; not looking away from Sophie. "You won't have to worry. I promise you, I'll take care of him." he said earnestly.