Work Text:
Lloyd was sitting at his desk, looking over and revising some old blueprints for the water wheel. The wood was getting old, and soon enough, it would start rotting, and he had to find a solution before it crumbled. Just then, he heard two soft taps of knuckles on wood, followed by the creak of the rusty old hinge on his door.
I need to oil that thing.
Javier shuffled into the room with a large basket of letters in his hands, shrugging off his coat and draping it over his chair. “My Lord, I have received a new batch of letters. Would you like them to read with me?” He asked with a smug tilt to his voice, soft steps coming closer to Lloyd’s desk before they stopped in front of him.
Lloyd looked up from the blueprints, hand clenching and unclenching in his greasy hair. “Not now, Javier. I have something to do.” He muttered, eyes dropping back down to the papers.
The silence stretched like a string of hot glass before it cooled, then was shattered by the scrape of a chair against the hardwood floor. Javier picked a letter from his basket. It was a beautiful thing—the envelope itself covered in hand-painted vines and the wax stamp a gorgeous gold. “To: Lloyd Frontera,” He snickered softly, reading it. It was very common for people to make the mistake that the silver-haired man was the noble, while Lloyd himself was mistaken for a servant.
Lloyd’s eyebrow twitched as he sent a malicious look Javier's way. “Not now.” He glowered.
“I believe I have fallen for you. You are a man of many talents, and although your face would make the creatures from Hell tremble and sob, I have grown fond of it…” Javier’s eyes filled with mild confusion as he continued reading silently with his eyes. Your charming grin, your chocolate brown hair, your tantalizing brown eyes, and your unique choice of weapon… Javier’s hand tightened around the parchment, feeling something strange and bitter bubbling in his chest. Jealousy, perhaps. “My Lord…”
Lloyd lifted his head with an exasperated sigh. “What? Why’d you stop?”
“This letter…” Javier murmured, an utterly baffled expression on his face. “This love letter is truly addressed to you. Not a mistake this time.”
Lloyd shot up and snatched the letter from Javier’s hands, scanning over the words with wide eyes. “...Sincerely, Vael Sinclair. Holy shit,” He muttered, folding the letter and stuffing it in his pocket. “It has a return address… A really weird one. I’m gonna talk to this guy.” He swiped his papers to the side and pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill from the drawer under his desk.
“Pen pals, My Lord?” Javier tilted his head, walking around to Lloyd’s back to look down at the paper like some sort of supervisor.
“No, of course not. I’m gonna waste my one chance at a love life.” Lloyd rolled his eyes, voice thick with sarcasm. “Obviously, I’m gonna send a letter back!”
“Are you sure about this, My Lord? What if he isn’t a good person?”
“What, you assume he isn’t a good person because he likes me? Wow.” Lloyd grumbled in response, tapping his chin with the feather of the quill. “...What should I start with?”
Javier rolled his eyes, crossing his arms before pulling another love letter from the basket and handing it to Lloyd. “Here. Base it on this.”
—————
About a week after Lloyd sent his response letter, he received another letter from Vael—a royal messenger delivered it straight to Lloyd while he and Javier were walking back to the mansion.
Again with that irritating throb… Javier closed his eyes briefly, willing the throb in his chest into a background hum.
“My Lord, shouldn’t you wait for when we are back inside your room to open something like this?”
Lloyd shook his head, already tearing open the letter. “Nope. This can’t wait.” Lloyd hummed, unfolding the paper within the envelope. “Yada yada, same ol’ start…” His eyes flew left to right before they widened with his smile. “Oh, my gods. He’s gonna visit Frontera in a week.” He grinned, turning his head to Javier. “Ask Emily to prepare the spare room. We have a guest!”
“Alright, My Lord. I shall ask Emily to prepare the guest room.” Javier couldn’t prevent his jaw from tightening as he quickened his pace to the manor.
—————
Vael is beautiful. As beautiful as Javier, if not more. Glowy skin, riding a beautiful white horse, long black hair cascading down his back, and shimmering in the sun like silk. Don’t even get me started with his eyes. Those gorgeous moonstones… Okay, calm down. He’s here for you, and he likes you. We’ll talk. Lloyd shook himself out of the daze, scurrying to help Vael down from his horse.
“You… must be Vael… I’m Lloyd. Frontera. Ha hah… You already know that, don’t you?” Lloyd laughed nervously, feeling the softness of Vael’s palm in his calloused one.
“Young Master Frontera, nice to officially meet you. To be completely honest, I have been dreading this day. Terrified that you wouldn’t like me… But based on your nervous sweat, you do.” Vael’s voice was soft and melodic— so was his smile. His voice curled around Lloyd like a finger in a lock of hair, soothing Lloyd’s nerves in an instant.
“Hey, I’m not nervous!” Lloyd shot back defensively, hand slipping down from Vael’s to rest on the small of his back. “I’m just… surprised that someone like you would take an interest in me,” Lloyd added in a mutter, leading Vael to the manor and turning his back on Javier.
Meanwhile, Javier stood back, hand tightening on the horse’s halter. He stared intensely at the back of Vael’s head—wishing to anyone who could hear to be granted the ability to melt bones before turning away with a huff and leading the horse to the stables.
“Of course, he leaves as soon as his guest gets here. Of course, he leaves me on horse duty…” Javier grumbled, gritting his teeth. He knew that the look on his face would make people flinch if they ever saw it, but he couldn’t bring himself to care—his master was wandering off with some strange pretty boy while leaving him to deal with manure.
—————
Javier watched from afar as Lloyd chatted with Vael in the grass, sitting under the shadow of a beautiful tree with hanging roots. Vael had been asking Lloyd to sit under it with him a lot lately to have picnic dates and the like.
Vael has been here for a week already, and Suho’s been so busy with him that he hasn’t checked in on the construction, nor has he signed any contracts or opened any business proposals. Javier seethed as he spun around to walk away from the window he was looking through.
Looks like I need to supervise everything myself. Actually, no. That’s Sir Bayern’s job. But still! He hasn’t done anything productive in days! His steps were deliberate and heavy as he made his way to his room, the heels of his shoes digging into the floor as he walked.
“Sir Asrahan! I see that Master Lloyd’s been busy with his new friend nowadays. My brother says he hasn’t been on the site at all!” Emily chirped as Javier walked in her general direction, pressing the blankets she was holding a bit closer to her chest. “...Oh. Is something the matter? You seem…upset.” She tilted her head slightly, looking intently at Javier’s face.
Javier looked up from the floor and at Emily, forcing himself to change the look he wore into something more pleasant. “Ah… I’m alright, Emily. Just thinking is all.” He replied politely before continuing to his room.
He arrived in his room, sinking into his bed with a loud groan, falling backward into the mattress with his hands on his face. “I feel like a neglected pet…” He rasped, rubbing his cheeks. “And when Suho needs someone to talk to about how great Vael is, he’ll come to me. Again. I can’t believe this.” He let out a sharp exhale through his nose before his ears caught the sound of Lloyd’s chatter, followed by footsteps.
“Ugh, they’re here.”
—————
Hm, I wonder what Javier’s doing—think of the devil. Lloyd looked up from Vael, spotting Javier waiting for him in the doorway of the manor.
“Hey, Javier! I haven’t seen you since breakfast! What have you been doing all day?” Lloyd grinned, sauntering to Javier with Vael trailing close behind him.
The look on Vael’s face flickered into something darker for a moment, shifting back into his soft smile a second later. “Sir Asrahan. Always good to see you.”
Javier smiled in response to Vael before turning to Lloyd. “Master Lloyd, weren’t you going to fix the water wheel? The project has been pending for nearly two weeks because you’ve been…” He glanced at Vael. “Distracted.”
Lloyd’s eyebrows raised in realization as Javier’s words met his ears. “Ohh, yeah! You’re right.” He turned to Vael, giving a dramatic bow. “Well, that ends our day. We’ll meet again tomorrow?” He asked with a lopsided smirk.
Vael nodded, the smile on his face easing into a frown. “Sad our day has to end, but a Lord has his duties, after all.
“Glad you understand. Sorry for leaving you so soon.” Lloyd offered an apologetic smile, straightening up. “I’ll be in my room if you need anything.”
—————
“Vael is a lot better than I thought he would be! I thought that because of how pretty he was, he was messing with me, and didn’t actually like me—pretty people usually have a superiority complex, and I was surprised he didn’t have one.” Lloyd cut himself off, giving Javier a sideways look. “No offense. I don’t mean that you have a complex like that—”
“It’s alright. I understand what you mean. I’ve met a lot of stuck-up men and women who thought they were better than everyone else because of their looks.” He laughed softly, turning his head to look at Lloyd before facing the hallway.
“And he knows how to cook! He asked to borrow our kitchen earlier and came out with this beautiful treacle tart! It was really good. Emphasis in really.”
Javier just nodded, walking along the hallway to Lloyd’s room ahead of him, pushing the door open and holding it for the other man.
He shut the door quietly behind them, pulling the lock into place as routine.
Javier then shrugged off his coat and changed into his bunny slippers, sinking into his chair as Lloyd prepared for bed as well.
“Then he told me that he liked my eyes! Then I said that flattery wouldn’t get him anywhere!” Lloyd rambled, slipping out of his own coat and sitting on the edge of his mattress.
“The lullaby, My Lord.” Javier yawned, pressing the pillow closer to his chest.
“He said I had a cute nose!” He continued anyway, making animated motions with his hands as he kicked off his shoes.
“My Lord the—”
“And he said my hair was nice—”
“My Lord!” Javier snapped, standing abruptly and snapping his fingers in Lloyd's face as if snapping him out of a trance. “The lullaby. Please.” He sighed, backing into his seat.
Lloyd's eyes widened in shock, then simmered with anger. “I was just excited that someone finally appreciated me! If you don't want to listen, just say so! Don't cut me off like my excitement is beneath you!”
“I… I'm sorry. I did not mean to devalue your happiness.” Javier muttered, backing into his chair with a sigh. “Forgive me.”
Lloyd let out a sharp exhale, shuffling to lean on the headboard. “Just stay quiet if you have nothing good to say,” he muttered before starting the lullaby.
—————
In the morning, Javier woke up to an empty room. He glanced around, eyes widening slightly when he noticed the unmade bed.
Suho never leaves without making his bed… he says it's an unhealthy habit.
He thought as he stood, pulling on his coat and tying his sword tightly around his waist. “Perhaps he was in a hurry…” He began to say, but he realized the reason was flawed. “If he were, I would have heard him…”
He walked out of the room, meeting a maid in the hallway. “Have you seen Master Lloyd? He wasn't in the room when I woke up, and his bed wasn't made.”
She looked up from dusting a nearby lamp, eyes shining with the usual admiration Javier received, plus a hint of confusion. “Master Lloyd? I fear I haven't seen him, sir Asrahan. Not since yesterday.” She replied with a light shake of her head. “Perhaps he is with… what was his name again… Right, Vael. Perhaps he is with Vael.”
Vael? He's never left his bed messy, no matter what he was rushing to do…
“Ah, thank you. I'll… try to locate them.” I nodded curtly before dashing out of the manor.
He set out to look for Vael, hoping to find Lloyd, but also not to find him with Vael. He stopped by the Balete tree first, but moved on once he saw they weren't there. Then, the construction site with the hope that Lloyd had finally gone back to work. But, he wasn't there either. Then he stopped by the market to see if Lloyd was buying gifts for Vael, again, asking the sellers if they'd seen them, but they hadn't seen them either.
It went on like that for hours.
Where is he?
Finally, with a sigh, he decided to check the forested area by Lake Kapua.
His eyes scanned the area, which, at first, looked like it normally would. Though there was something off.
There are dozens of Balete trees here… I could've sworn this area was full of pine the last time I saw it.
He headed to Lake Kapua itself, standing on the highest point to look over the forest.
His eyes narrowed as he spotted something from about 7 miles away. A red ribbon, along with a bell. Tied to the topmost branch of a tree.
“What… is that?” He sprinted in the direction of the ribbon, feet light on the leaves.
He landed at the top of the tree with a ribbon, standing next to the highest branch and leaning down to inspect it.
The branch was full of crevices; crevices full of different bones.
Javier flinched back as he realized the possibility of something living here. An Engkanto, most likely. He had read about them as a child and always thought they were mere folklore until today.
Vael's sudden appearance, his charm, Lloyd's strange daze… it all makes sense now.
Vael is an Engkanto.
“Shit… oh, wait. I can't say that.” He scolded himself quietly, reaching for the bell. Just as his fingers grazed the ribbon, the area of the trunk he was standing on caved, dropping him into a little cellar area below.
Javier was caught off guard, but quickly steadied himself on the… ground? Soil? Whatever.
He quickly calmed himself, eyes scanning the room. His vision caught on something—a figure, covered in something tar-like substance. Upon closer inspection, he noticed the familiar mana signature emanating from the lump of black goo.
He let out a sigh of relief, noticing the rise and fall of Lloyd’s chest. He took a clean handkerchief out of his pocket, gently wiping Lloyd’s face clean.
Javier stood with Lloyd in his arms, glancing around the room for anything that could trace back to Vael. Just as he was preparing to break through the bark to bring Lloyd out of the hollow trunk, a voice began to echo in his mind.
He doesn't love you. You are just a knight. That's why he has me after all.
“Vael…” A low growl bubbled in his chest, eyes narrowing, focusing mana to his ears to find the source of the sound.
You won’t be able to find me, dear Javier. No matter how talented you are, you will never be able to figure it out. Vael’s condescending voice taunted Javier. Run off now. Before your master awakens and decides to scold you for chasing me away.
Javier let out a snarl towards Vael before hauling Lloyd up in bridal carry and leaping out the hole he fell through, making his way back to Frontera Manor.
—————
As he entered the mansion, he headed straight for Lloyd's room, setting the unconscious man on the bed and cleaning him efficiently—changing him into a sleep shirt and removing his boots.
“Master Lloyd, wait for me. I have something to deal with,” Javier said quietly, bringing the blanket up to Lloyd’s chin, tucking it into his sides before heading to the door. “I’ll be right back.”
He strode toward the door, opening it with a soft creak of the hinges and stepping out of the room.
—————
He made his way back to the Balete tree, climbing back to the top of the tree through which he had fallen.
“Vael? I know what you are, and it isn’t human.” He murmured, drawing his sword from its sheath.
Receiving no response, he headed deeper into the cellar, eyes darting around wearily.
“Show yourself.” His voice carried the command across the room. Though not loud, it was authoritative.
A part of the inner trunk began to deform, blurring and warping strangely as the crown of someone’s head slowly emerged.
Vael.
“Oh, hey. You’ve found me out. You know what I am now, correct?” He drawled, his torso halfway out of the bark like a thorn.
“You’re an Engkanto,” Javier replied, eyes narrowing further. “I’ve read about you. Your species lures humans with your appearance and sweet words if you feel wronged… But neither Master Lloyd nor I have ever done anything to you. Explain.”
Vael stepped out completely, feet landing on the ground with a light thump. “Well, you haven’t done anything to me personally, but you have disturbed my surroundings.” He hummed, fingers twirling the ends of his long hair languidly.
“What do you mean by that?”
“While my fellow protectors of nature, the elves, were easily swayed by…beef. I am not as easily swayed as they are. I hold no anger towards you and your people. I’m just doing my job.” He circled Javier, eyes trailing down from the silver of his hair to the navy of his boots. “Lloyd’s projects are hindering my work. I had no other way to continue than to remove the obstruction.”
“Remove the…” Javier's eyes widened. “Were you planning to get rid of Master Lloyd?” He asked sharply.
“Don't say it like that.” Vael drawled, rolling his eyes. “As I've previously stated, I'm just doing whatever I can to achieve my goal.”
“I have no intention of stopping you from achieving said goal, but if you think I'm going to let your goal mess with my own, then I must apologize, for you are mistaken.” Javier drew his sword with a metallic shink as it was extracted from its scabbard.
“That sword won't be able to hurt me,” Vael stated plainly, crossing his arms.
“I might as well try.” Javier lunged, going for Vael’s torso.
“Since you’re putting in the effort, I should entertain you.” Vael’s lips curved up into a sly smile, dodging Javier’s sword and using his sharpened nails to claw at Javier’s arm, causing the other man to loosen his grip on his sword.
Javier adjusted his sword before raising it to strike Vael once more, when the black of Vael’s hair warped. It blurred into a different shape with different colors. Brown, white, and tan? “...What are you doing?” Javier took a tentative step forward, his hand gripped so tightly around his sword that his knuckles were white.
⋆ ˚｡⋆
What Javier saw next made him stutter in his steps.
Lloyd…?
The scene changed to him standing in a kitchen, Lloyd’s back to him as he tinkered with something on the counter.
“Ah, Javier, there you are. I’ve been looking for you all day.” Lloyd turned with a smile, sensing Javier behind him. “Where have you been?”
“I…” What are you doing here? Wasn’t I in the middle of a fight with… with who again? “I think I was outside. Sorry for taking so long, Master Lloyd.” He muttered, taking a step toward the counter. “What are you up to?”
Lloyd nodded, shuffling toward Javier with a soft hum. “Hm, ‘Master Lloyd’? You haven’t called me that in a while. Are you mad at me?” He chuckled, reaching up to pat Javier’s head.
Javier flinched back, unused to the touch. Cold hand. “What? Oh, right. No, I’m not mad, I’m just… Distracted.”
“Distracted with what? What’re you thinking?” Lloyd tilted his head, the soft smile never leaving his face.
| “Oh yeah! Oh, my gods, I forgot about that! Why would you remind me?” Lloyd cackled, most of his teeth showing as he nudged Javier’s shoulder while they walked through the streets of Frontera.
“Because I had a feeling you needed a good laugh, My Lord,” Javier replied with a soft huff of air, smiling fondly at Lloyd.
“Right, right. Thank you for making me laugh today, my dearest knight.” |
Lloyd doesn’t smile like that, does he? Javier thought, eyes narrowing at the Lloyd in front of him. This is wrong. His eyes are different… His lips don’t curve that way.
The softness in Javier’s eyes crumbles away, expression hardening. “...You aren’t Lloyd, are you?” He asked sharply, advancing towards Lloyd until he was backed into a wall. “Well, at the very least, you aren’t my Lloyd. Where am I?”
Lloyd froze, eyes going blank for a fraction of a second before he caught himself, setting his face into a confused look. “What do you mean? I… I am Lloyd. Always have been.” Lloyd’s voice broke, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“This just proves you aren’t. Master Lloyd would never cry over something as little as this.” He scowled, taking a step back. “...How do I go back?” He mumbled to himself, hand coming up to rub his chin.
“Go back? You’re leaving me?! Who says you’re allowed to leave?!” Lloyd’s voice rose at every word, fists clenching tightly at his side. “Are you leaving to work for another Lord?! After everything I’ve done for you, you’re going to abandon me like this?! How could you?!”
“You haven’t done anything for me, for you aren’t my Lloyd. I must apologize for this,” Javier bowed, drawing his sword.
“For what—” His eyes widened as the sword shot to his right,
⋆｡˚ ⋆
Letting out an ear-shattering shriek as the sword pierced through the bark of the tree.
The image of Lloyd shattered into pieces of glass, falling to the floor with a crash as Javier's surroundings returned.
“I’m sorry, Vael, but I will not allow you to harm My Lord or hinder the construction that is for the best of the County,” Javier said sternly, leaping out from the trunk and climbing up to the ribbon with a bell.
“No! Not the ribbon! I beg you!” Vael yelled after Javier desperately, climbing out to follow him.
Unfortunately, Vael, no matter how much magic he holds, is no match for the speed of a grandmaster. He was too late. All he could do was watch Javier cut down the ribbon with his eyes wide with panic.
“Goodbye, Vael. May you rest in peace.” Javier whispered without a backwards glance as he swung his sword at the branch holding the bell, causing it to fall with the bones.
Vael let out an agonized scream, falling from where he was perched and dropping hard on the floor. “Aagh! It hurts! It hurts!” He screeched, voice rough as blood began to pour out of his pores, skin flaking off like dry rot on shoes.
The Balete tree crumbled around them, leaves drying up and crumbling to the ground like ashes. The body of the tree collapsed into itself, covering Vael’s bleeding body in dust and rotting wood.
“I’ve got to go back to Master Lloyd, " Javier said quietly, bowing his head before running back to the mansion.
—————
He stood outside Lloyd's door for over ten minutes, thinking of ways to explain why their guest had to leave so suddenly when the door swung open to reveal Lloyd smiling brightly in the doorway.
“Hey, Javier! I'm glad to see you again, buddy. I have so much to talk about!” He grinned, slinging his arm around Javier's shoulder.
Javier's mouth open, shut, open then shut again. He hadn't expected Lloyd to be up so soon—considering his earlier condition.
“You look like a fish doing that.” Lloyd snickered softly. “Wanna hear about the dream I had? It was absolutely crazy.”
Javier shook his head, clearing his throat. “I… need to tell you about Vael first—”
“Vael? How did you know the guy in my dream?” Lloyd tilted his head slightly, dragging Javier along with him as they headed down the stairs.
“Your dream? But, Master Lloyd, Vael was here. I needed to talk to you about why he had to leave so soon.”
“Hmm, what do you mean? I could've sworn I was dreaming all of it.”
Javier let out a small frustrated sigh. “Forget I mentioned it. It would be better for you to forget him anyway.”
“You sound weird, man. Did this Vael guy do something to you?”
“Well… you could say that.”