Chapter Text
Rain was considered a blessing, a symbol of fertility and joy for the nations of dry and lifeless lands, where often the only sustenance came from the cultivation and harvest of crops. For the magnificent nation of Fontaine, rain means sadness, as legends had circulated for countless years that when the hydro dragon wept, the sky and clouds would accompany his tears until his anguish subsided.
But, for a being like Neuvillette, rain could only bring out the worst of him, harming innocent people on the spot. It was raining as usual after the cruelest trial he had ever witnessed, which ended the same way as the others.
"In view of the verdict of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, I declare Mr. Geisert..."
The eyes of all guests in the great hall of the Opera Epliclese rested their gaze on him, waiting for a merciful answer that would never escape from his mouth, since his duty was to comply as the machine dictated.
"..."
"Guilty."
A commotion disturbed his eardrums as people screamed in disbelief at what they heard. The guards began to control the furious masses, incredulous and defeated by a single word.
Mr. Geisert was an honest and humble person. A few days earlier, he had been charged with theft of supplies within a component factory, and he faced defamation accusations when he attempted to defend himself. People knew that Geisert was incapable, being known as a kind father with a family for whom he worked hard. Neuvillette knew that, but the machine did not.
"How dare you blame such an innocent person?"
"Just as expected from the Chief Justice. A perfectly scathing answer."
"Please, Mr. Neuvillette, I implore you! My husband is a good man, I know he would never do something like this. Just give him one more chance!
Neuvillette avoided the stares of the crowd below him, for he knew that if he looked back, the rain would grow into a raging storm outside the Opera House.
"I'm sorry, but the judgment of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale is, by law, the final verdict of the cor-"
"TO HELL WITH THAT! It's my husband who is on trial! You know him and his innocence. How can you be so heartless to a humble man like him?!
"Madame Eloise, please calm down." Neuvillette spoke after seeing how the guards approached the woman, intending to restrain her.
"Fontaine's laws are absurd, made to entertain rich people. Have you ever stopped to think how we are supposed to survive a condemned life of simply existing? Of course not. People like you are selfish and only think of entertaining themselves with others' suffering. Are you enjoying this, Iudex of Fontaine?"
Neuvillette gripped his cane tightly, feeling the energy in his body fizzle at those words. He knew that if he answered, he would start crying. He waited silently for the guards to take the accused away and reassure the wife, who was now crying in rage as she held her children in her arms.
On the other hand, the warden emerged from the shadows; where he observed the Chief Justice's face with special attention. His eyes glowed with sadness, ready to allow tears to flow from those lilac crystals he called eyes — ones that were anything but human and couldn't empathize with those around him.
Wriothesley turned away from the entrance to the room, allowing the guards to pass and began moving quickly toward the front of the great hall, raising his head to check if Neuvillette had any intentions of stepping down from his chair soon. However, as he raised his gaze, the Judge was no longer there.
"Shit. He's gone." Wriothesley clenched his fangs, heading to the exit from one of the doors that only a few people knew about. As he stepped through the passageway, he noticed how the sound of the rain, now a storm, was incredibly loud. He started to worry, since he knew well the man's secret and the damage he was taking by holding back too much.
He tilted his head like a puppy when he heard strange noises near the shore, the place he had reached after going through the gates. He tried to be as stealthy as possible to avoid scaring away the creatures that caused the sound and poked his head out from behind a huge rock that partially covered his body.
His ears registered a soothing voice that he loved with all his fierce soul. Then, he observed a tall blue figure who wandered along the sandy trails. The wind caressed his wild hair, now freed from the ribbon that kept them perfect; his gloves and boots rested far from the water, patiently waiting for their owner. When he had the chance, he petted the tiny crabs that approached him curiously as the crystalflies lovingly nuzzled and adorned his head.
Wriothesley couldn't resist cracking a smile, followed by a red coloring his cheeks. To him, Neuvillette was the most majestic creature he had ever seen; whether it was a human or an enormous dragon that could devour him in less than a bite, the love that grew for the Leviathan was genuine and unwavering.
Suddenly, his hand slipped from its position on the rock, and unfortunately, Neuvillette heard him, turning his body and sharpening his gaze as he scanned the shore in search of the stalker. Wriothesley cursed internally and hugged his body, remaining silent to avoid the dragon's wrath. After a deathly silence, he heard Neuvillette's footsteps walking away from the rock and he could finally breathe, or so he thought.
"I must confess, I find it rather surprising that you choose to engage in such leisurely pursuits as harassing people." Neuvillette appeared atop the rock, ripping a scream from the warden's throat.
"Only the pretty ones." Wriothesley remarked as he caught his breath, grinned nervously, and stood up from his hiding place, concerned about the hazy look on Neuvillette's face, who was still there.
"Are you okay? Do you want to talk about what happened back there?"
"I would prefer not to. However, it seems like you want to hear it."
Wriothesley brought his hand close to Neuvillette's cheek, requesting permission to touch him. The dragon nodded and rubbed his cool cheek against the Duke's hot hand. "How warm." He thought. The warden allowed him the time necessary to collect his thoughts, a situation for which the dragon was inwardly grateful.
"I don't understand."
"What don't you understand?"
"Humans." Wriothesley raised an eyebrow at the response. "You're very predictable, sweetheart, as your mind is an open book. Yet, I wonder, what can I do so people don't despise me?”
Wriothesley felt his heart tear at the sight of Neuvillette's downcast face. Even the strongest people could eventually break under a rough scenario, where he couldn't blame the platinum-haired one for sharing his sadness with him.
"People don't hate you, Neuvi. You are the pillar of our nation, the justice that defends Fontaine. But most of all..." Wriothesley stroked his face to reassure him. "You are a wonderful being, kind, with a great sense of responsibility, and you care too much about everything. It's impossible to hate you, Neuvillette."
The individual remained with his gaze fixated on the warden's frozen blue eyes. He had nothing to say, nothing to defend his position with. He just said what he saw, and in this case he could see how the people around him judged him and blamed him for the unsolved cases, the trials that had no solid evidence, and the people who knew how to get away with it. It was all his fault.
"Stop worrying about what other people think about you. It's not worth it. Look at me. I'm the true disaster, yet here I am. Maybe not quite alright, but I finally feel like I belong somewhere."
Finally, Wriothesley pulled his body away from the other, looking for a sign to continue making him company. However, all he perceived was a negative aura growing steadily from Neuvillette's heart.
"Why would you tell me not to worry?!" Neuvillette burst out, a mix of anger and bewilderment in his voice, a reaction he never thought he'd see from the Grand Supreme Judge. "Every single day, hundreds of people suffer in Fontaine because of me, harbors overflow without time for evacuations, innocent children abused by their guardians ending up abandoned in the streets, people resort to violence in order to survive, all because I'm wrestling with these feelings that I can't even fully understand!"
Again, they were greeted by the silence, one so deep that Wriothesley thought about the Judge's words. He knew the burden of being such an imposing figure was immense, where the verdict could change lives completely, but he didn't want Neuvillette to live the rest of his days thinking that all judgment decisions fell solely on him, even if he would never fully understand it.
"I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for."
"I know, I'm terribly sorry."
Wriothesley rolled his eyes, it was impossible to convince Neuvillette when it came to arguing. He felt a little worried about the sudden explosion of emotions, but opted not to fight the silver-haired one.
"I just want you to know this." Wriothesley held both of Neuvillette's hands and looked him in the eyes. "I'm always going to be there for you, regardless of the circumstances. I know how hard it is for you to open your heart to others, but let me be the only exception. Do you understand, my dragon?"
Neuvillette blushed at those kind words. For a moment, he felt relief, but the raindrops kept falling like bullets on a battlefield.
"Today, they will imprison an innocent man because of me. He may never see his family, his friends, or the sunlight again. I guess I better prepare to meet him in my nightmares tonight." Neuvillette looked up at the cloudy sky, ready to receive the night scene and the stars that would judge him in his dreams.
"Then I will be there, protecting your dream like a knight defending his honor." Without releasing Neuvillette's hands, the dark-haired one bows to him graciously. Neuvillette finally observes him and smiles lightly, yet deep inside him, his soul is still disturbed.
"..."
" Is there something else bothering you?" Wriothesley watched him closely with apparent confusion in his face, still not letting go of his cold hands.
"I'd really appreciate some time alone, please. I don't expect you to understand what disturbs me." Neuvillette retreated a step, dropping that warm feeling, and rested his gaze on the wet sand. The rain was persisting, showing no intention of going away.
Wriothesley couldn't resist to feel wounded, like an arrow of emotions piercing his heart. Instead of sadness, a wave of confusion and frustration engulfed him.
"Really, Neuvillette? Why can't you trust me?" He exclaimed, slightly annoyed, uncomprehended. "What other proof do you need to believe my words? I love you, Neuvillette, but it's difficult to continue like this with secrets between us."
"I know. I'm sorry." Neuvillette thought.
It was hard for him as well. He hated personal relationships, but he had made an effort on Wriothesley because he was finally beginning to feel confident about his feelings. He knew that they could become love and affection. However, he had a different way of showing it.
"Don't say anything, I understand." Wriothesley stepped back firmly, turning around and walking to the opposite side, bumping shoulders with the dragon. "If you need me I'll be at the Meropide Fortress, otherwise, don't look for me anymore."
Neuvillette's pupils narrowed even more, like a fine line drawn in the sand. He bit his lips to stop himself from cursing aloud, yet he remained silent, not uttering another word. He allowed Wriothesley to walk along the shore like a grieving puppy who had just lost the most precious thing in his life.
In Neuvillette's case, he felt he had lost something different.
Then, the rain turned into a deluge.