Actions

Work Header

The Beginning

Summary:

Dresden wracks his brain, trying to figure out who the kid is until he spots the nearly covered tattoo that resembled leaves, or a complicated set of wings, on his neck and it clicked.

The duke's only child stood before him.

Notes:

If it wasn't clear enough this is a one shot of my OC's because I'm not good enough at drawing to do a full comic of it. It's of their first meeting and here's the link to the comic on Twitter!! the tags will not get this out to anyone so it's probably only my mutuals reading this sdkjvh

Work Text:

In the dim light of the barren room, it seemed as if the child was in a nightshirt, clutching a stuffed purple rabbit with little blue horns a blank expression, but as Dresden looked the child up and down, it appeared to be a semi formal blouse and slacks. Dresden wracks his brain, trying to figure out who the kid is until he spots the nearly covered tattoo that resembled leaves, or a complicated set of wings, on his neck and it clicked.

The duke's only child stood before him, having witnessed at least some part of his father's death, who was laying behind the child, bright blue and yellow arrow sticking from his neck and a pool of blood beneath him. The child only glared, he couldn't have been older than 8 or 9 but after years of being surrounded by people that did not age the same as mortal folk, Dresden can't be quite sure, he could be much older or younger in the equivalent of mortal years. They don't speak, Dresden stays frozen in the window, city lights lighting up his face and body, cape flapping as the pink and purple design on his body suit begin to darken in contrast to the way they light up in response to adrenaline and high emotion, much like the horns that sit on his temple.

He thinks about what to do. He can't kill an innocent child, because no matter his mortal age, he does not have the maturity to have done something as terrible as his father had, or else he would likely have been a second target. He can’t be left alone after seeing Dresden’s face either. His mother had passed away shortly after giving birth, likely from the stress and pressure to bear an heir and the abuse from her husband, otherwise he'd consider lying in his report after finding a way to erase the kid's memory. His other family likely weren't an option given there weren't many of them left. The royal family of the fae was dying, losing power in the fae realm as policies became increasingly unfair and unpopular. The fate of this child would likely end the same as his father given he stayed and risked having his morals corrupted by family advisors. The staff of the house would walk out the moment they heard the duke was dead, not caring for a single child after years of abuse and terrible wages, held down only by empty promises and blackmail.

Stepping down and making sure his bow was put away into his pocket realm so as to not make the kid even more nervous, he reached out, the name of the child making its way to the forefront of his brain right as it was necessary, "Lautner, I know you're probably scared and upset despite that scowl you're sporting, but I need you to come with me, I don't want to force you but I can't leave you here, the people of this city had grown upset with your father and I'm afraid they would not hesitate to kill a child if even one person suggests it." Lautner's expression wavers and he turns away, towards the still body of his father as tears begin to fall, frown still gracing his mouth and the crease between his brows grows deeper. He made a move as if to turn back towards the door and Dresden, reflexes much faster and refined after years in his profession than an untrained 9 year old, whispered a quiet "sorry" as he snatches the child around the waist, causing him to drop the rabbit he clutched so desperately, and jumped out the way he came.