Embedded Files
An older excerpt from a story that comes after Henri's rescue from his hometown by Alestor, and how the 2 end up traveling and working together. Also included are unpublished sketches and concepts for the pair early in development.
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“You’re not leaving?” The elder man was leaning against the railing.
The boy watched the man’s back, looking for a betrayal of emotion. He could see none. “Thought I’d stick with you a little longer.”
“Big words for an 8 year old.”
Henri wished Alestor would look at him, but the man was apparently having none of it. When he couldn’t discern emotion, the boy came to the railing and leaned his back against it.
“I have nowhere to go.”
“Nowhere is often now here.” Even with his peripheral vision, the fedora blocked Alestor’s eyes from Henri. The only thing he could see was his smile, which told him nothing.
“Whatever. You can’t get rid of me so easily, Alestor.”
“I thought you were trying to rid yourself of me,” he replied. There was a small, minuscule break in his tone, so tiny Henri nearly missed it. He looked up at the taller man.
Silence dominated the conversation. Henri, for once, didn’t mind it. “I thought you hated me,” Alestor said, surprising the boy.
Henri looked at his face, but Alestor had tipped his hat so he couldn’t see his eyes. Avoidance was all he needed.
“I don’t hate you,” Henri said softly.
“I don’t suspect you do, but you know,” Alestor said, trying for an offhanded tone, and sounding almost wounded. “Just thought for once, I’d consider someone else’s feelings besides my own.”
Henri couldn’t say anything.
After a pause, and what sounded somewhere between a sigh and a sniff, Alestor readjusted his hat, revealing his whole face. Henri could see the last bits of some emotion fading quickly into a smirk.
“Besides, I have to protect you. From all the bad things that want to eat you or violate you. Cuz I’m an adult!”
Henri’s emotion quickly heated up into frustration. “Adult?! You’re the pervert!”
“Ah, well, that’s also true, but believe me when I say that I won’t do anything to you that you won’t enjoy. Scout’s honor!” He held a hand up in an approximation of a salute.
Henri glared at him, cursing himself for falling into one of Alestor’s lingual traps. “You know what? I don’t need you. You’d just use me anyway.”
“I’m hurt,” replied the older man, taking his hat off to put to his heart. His platinum blue hair almost seemed silver in the overcast light.
“Its not like you really care about me. Its cuz I’m the Legion. You’re just looking out for me cuz of your job.” Henri crossed his arms cross his chest and pouted. He didn’t care how calloused he sounded. It was petty to be angry over such a thing, but he was a child, and was thus entitled to being childish. “That’s not true,” Alestor said with uncharacteristic firmness. Henri started and looked up at him again. Alestor kneeled to Henri’s level. “I’m looking out for you, because for the first time in millennia, I have something to give a damn about. It’s not about the Legion, Henri. I’m looking out for you because I know what its like to be opened up to this kind of magic. I know what its like to feel like you’re losing your mind. I’m protecting you because….” Alestor turned his gaze to the cement, his fedora loosely hanging from his fingertips. “…Because I care about you.”
Henri felt ashamed of his pouting. He looked back at Alestor’s eyes, black and gold. He bit his lip. “Why?”
Alestor reached out and tousled his hair. “Because you’re you. I like you for who you are.” When he stood, Henri could not decide between crying and scoffing. He chose the latter.
“You’re stupid.”
“So I’m stupid.”
Alestor smiled. And Henri could not help but smile back.
--Dio (10/5/17)
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