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Make-believing we're together
That I'm sheltered by your heart
But in- and outside I've turned to water
Like a teardrop in your palm
(Roxette, 'It Must Have Been Love')
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[Redacted]
Villa Number 7, Island 3
"Javi?" Lex called out worriedly for the third time in a row while he rushed through the big villa, peering into every single room on the way.
A few minutes ago he had woken up alone in the big bed and had gotten up immediately; he and Javicco had made it a habit to wake up together and when the former emperor hadn't been there, an entire bunch of alarm bells had gone off in Lex' head.
He walked past the big panoramic window in the living room, glanced at the beach outside - and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Javicco sitting there on a palm tree trunk with his back turned towards the villa.
No wonder he hadn't heard Lex.
Lex quickly went back into the bedroom, grabbed a t-shirt and some shorts and put both on. Then he left the villa and walked down the beach and straight to the palm tree trunk. Once he had reached it he saw that Javicco was not only staring at the ocean, he was also holding something in his hand: His ring with the House Corrino seal on it.
"Hey. What's wrong?" Lex asked and sat down next to his lover - no need for unnecessary small talk.
"Francesca," Javicco replied, his voice filled with sadness and hurt. "I met her 42 years ago today."
"Oh." Lex tensed involuntarily - Sister Francesca was usually not a subject that Javicco cared to discuss. Lex had respected this and had so far only been able to deduce some of what had happened from occasional remarks Javicco had made, but what he knew for sure was that the relationship still seemed to haunt (and hurt) the former emperor.
"I must keep in mind that meeting her was not the coincidence it seemed to be at the time - it was all arranged for in advance by Valya Harkonnen's expert hand," Javicco muttered. "She herself told me the Sisterhood sent me Francesca to keep me occupied." He laughed bitterly. "She sure managed that."
"It seems that she still does," Lex remarked carefully.
Javicco huffed. "It's the imprint - it lasts forever."
"You've never really explained to me what an imprint actually is."
"And I thank you for never asking... I don't think I would have been able to talk about it." Javicco took a deep breath. "From what I know, imprinting is an emotionally manipulative technique a Sister can perform. I'm not sure how it works exactly, but what it essentially does is make you love her, whether you want to or not. And it makes you unable to hurt her."
He paused, looked at his ring and then back at the ocean.
"I definitely loved Francesca, and she loved me - or so I thought. I mean we even had Constantine, who was probably not the accident that she claimed he was. I'm sure his presence was part of Valya Harkonnen's plan, too."
"Hmm." Lex scratched his chin. "Given the fact that Francesca left him to grow up with you instead of her... I'd say that's a strong possibility indeed."
"She claimed it was because the Sisterhood doesn't allow its members to raise their children - but then, that was probably a lie, too. Who knows." Javicco clenched his hand into a fist, squeezing the ring. "Everything Francesca ever said to me was probably a lie. Every touch, every kiss, every time we made love -" He broke off, clearly on the verge of tears.
Lex quickly put his hand on Javicco's. "Didn't you tell me that she was ordered to stab you with a poisoned needle but couldn't go through with it? Maybe she had feelings for you after all."
"So she said - according to her, the poison was Valya's plan, not hers. She even suggested that we could find a way out of the situation together." Javicco took a shaky breath. "Probably just another lie to get me to let my guard down so that she could stab me when I least expected it. Either way, I shall never know." He fell silent for a few seconds before he continued. "The fact that it was Natalya who killed her with that very needle is some sort of poetic justice. Even though my dear wife didn't do that to help me, of course - after all, she thought I was dying. Francesca's death on top of mine simply fit perfectly into her plan." He took another shaky breath. "Dead or alive, I always fit into someone's plan."
"Not anymore," Lex assured him quickly, raised his hand and gently wiped a few tears off Javicco's cheeks. "You're free now."
"Am I?" Javicco wondered. "I still have these dreadful nightmares, and one small reminder such as today's date is enough to send me into this... this... mood where I sit and stare into nothingness."
Lex gently squeezed his hand. "You have to give it time. An experience like yours leaves wounds that won't go away easily."
"If they ever do," Javicco mused, opened his fist and looked at his ring again. "I also don't know why I keep this around. All it does is serve as a reminder of all the things that happened. And yet I cannot part with it."
"It represents your heritage," Lex said. "You'll always be a member of the Corrinos, the family that defeated the thinking machines once and for all. Maybe try to see it as a reminder of that instead...?"
Javicco turned his head and looked at his lover. "How do you always manage to find something supportive to say when I am like this?"
Lex smiled slightly. "I don't know, but I'm glad I do."
Javicco returned the smile. "Thank you."
Lex glanced back at the villa. "Now, though... I'm hungry. How about breakfast? I mean it's okay if you want to sit here for a little while longer, but -"
"No." Javicco stood up abruptly and put his ring into the pocket of his shorts. "Enough of this useless brooding. Let's have breakfast."
Lex got up as well, took Javicco's hand and the two men slowly walked back towards the villa.