Break...Breaking...Broken Author: Remalna Marguerite remalna_marguerite@hotmail.com Disclaimer: Escaflowne is the product of genius....so it's not mine! Author's Note: Hmm...yes, this fic has a bit of yaoi (ok, so I can't write yaoi for the life of me--forgive me?) and it happens to be my first (well, technically "Speak No Evil" Ch.3 was--but that was too pathetic an attempt to count)...please be kind in your reviews. I'm sure I deserve to be flamed for being such a mush. [Sighs deeply] Anyway, this fic is unashamedly inspired by Ana-chan and Bibam's "Reflections Behind a Tear"...a great Escaflowne fic (not yaoi). The story occurs sometime after the burning of Freid and days before the most horrible tragedy in Escaflowne occurred (when Van killed the slayers). Please forgive any unintentional mistakes in timelines-it's been a while since I saw that episode. __________________________________________________________ "A sad tale's best for winter"--The Winter's Tale, Act II, scene ii. "Break, break, break/ On thy cold gray stones, O sea..."-Tennyson, 1842. <<<<>>>> It had become his habit to walk the silent hallways of the Vione in the middle of the night. The eerie solitude did not disturb him, rather it was comforting. His form, cloaked in the concealing robes of the madoushi blended into the dark shadows. He heard light footsteps echoing down a corridor, and his instincts prompted him to follow and investigate. Who ever it was, he was going toward the observation deck. As he neared, he saw a faint light coming from ahead. He approached the doorway, as silently as a cat, and at first, his unadjusted eyes could not make out much but within a few moments, he saw to his surprise the one person he had not expected to encounter. Dressed simply in standard uniform shirt, pants, and boots, the young dragonslayer commander was gazing at the stars framed by the great glass windows of the ship. "Dilandau, what are you doing here?" Folken said evenly. The young man whipped around, startled. Dilandau sneered. "Stop creeping about in the shadows, strategos." Dilandau said acidly, hands clenched tight. Folken ignored the remark, as he had always done. He remained quiet, knowing full well that Dilandau would be the first the break it. But this time, the dragonslayer kept silent and turned away from Folken, letting his silvery bangs hide his almost delicate profile. Something was wrong. 'Why should I care?' Folken asked himself. But he did. He always had (much to his chagrin...and many sorrows.) Folken walked towards Dilandau and began to speak companionably. "You and your slayers did a commendable job today. I fully expect Freid's unconditional surrender before sunset." He said neutrally. Dilandau tipped his face to look at the other man, and shrugged. 'Defeat' was a word that was intolerable for him and his slayers. "The unfortunate death of the Duke of Freid--" Folken began. "Ha! Too bad Gatti didn't shoot Allen Schezar as well...and your mewling brat of a brother!" Dilandau spat. Folken frowned. "I suggest you abandon this Van obsession before you get injured. Again." Dilandau gasped and his eyes widened in hurt. A hand flew to his right cheek as if to hide the thin scar. Folken regretted his mindless words and cursed himself in several dialects. He thought angrily 'You are an idiot...why the hell did you say that?' But he knew the answer, somewhere along the line, he'd grown to be jealous of his younger brother. He sighed. "I'm sorry, Dilandau." He reached out a hesitant hand towards the dragonslayer, but dropped it uselessly by his side when he saw the wounded look in Dilandau's garnet eyes turn into rage. "Oh, very good, strategos," Dilandau lashed out harshly, "You're almost as good as that little prick Van. I don't want your stupid pity! And make no mistake, what I WILL or WILL NOT do to your brother is MY concern!" His deceptively thin body shook with boiling anger and he threw a look of pure hatred at Folken. "Go to hell!" Dilandau stormed out of the room. Folken spoke sharply to Dilandau's retreating back. "Dilandau! I forbid you to seek Van out." Dilandau kept walking. "I expect you and your slayers to obey my orders." But Folken was now speaking to a silent room. 'Damn!' He fisted his mechanical hand and punched the wall in frustration. The stars blinked down at him impassively. __________________________________________________________ Author's Note: *sweat drop* So, what did you think of this? Maybe I should just stick with "Marlene" and "Speak No Evil". Ok.