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Obvious
Title: Obvious
Fandom: Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Characters: Shinon, Gatrie
Genre: General
Word count: 497
Rating: PG
Warnings: Language
Notes:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
fe_drabble Challenge 02 - Choices.
Life-altering decisions shouldn’t be made lightly, but some were more obvious than others. Take “well-paid job” versus “going broke,” for example – even Gatrie should have been able to figure that one out. Instead he was staring out the window making noises like a sick dog.
“Don’t think too hard,” said Shinon. “Might strain something.”
Gatrie looked at him for a moment, then frowned and sighed for probably the thousandth time, drumming his fingers on the table.
Shinon had never seen him like this before and didn’t know what to think, though “annoying as hell” was a good start. “Look, she’s pretty, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And her family’s rich, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
“So what’s the problem?”
Gatrie fidgeted. “What about you?”
Shinon rolled his eyes. “Is that what this is about? What are you, stupid?” His plans were no one’s business but his own. So was the fact that he didn’t have any. “I’ll figure something out.”
“I could get them to hire you, too –”
“Handouts from nobles? I’ll starve first.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Shinon snapped. “And – I swear – one more dramatic sigh out of you and I’ll rearrange your face.”
Silence, fortunately.
“We could keep looking,” said Gatrie. “Something else will come along.”
“Don’t be an idiot.”
“But we’re more effective together. I mean… thunder-and-lightning maneuvers and stuff.”
“What, like no one ever won a war before we came along?” Shinon closed his eyes. “A job’s a job. I shouldn’t have to tell you that. They seem pretty honest, for Begnion. Looks like good money.”
Gatrie sighed again, and Shinon nearly punched him. “I guess I shouldn’t really worry about it, but –”
“Damn right.” There were two kinds of mercenaries: those who could make it alone, and Gatrie. Of course work with a company was better all around, but Greil was dead and they’d left all that behind. It could’ve been all right. Even with Ike in charge, it could’ve worked out, because everyone else was still there, and they weren’t all idiots – but no. Grief made you stupid. Chances like this didn’t come every day. I made you walk out on something good once. I won’t do it again – but he didn’t say that. It wasn’t any of Gatrie’s business.
“Guess I’ll stop by House Damiell tomorrow morning,” Gatrie said finally. There was an awkward pause. “So this is it.”
“Guess so.”
“We had some good times, didn’t we?”
“Yeah. We did.” Shinon looked away uncomfortably. “So, uh, take care of yourself.”
“You, too.” He sniffed. “It’s, um – it’s been – h-hold on, got something in my eye –”
“Oh, come on. Don’t get all sappy on me now.”
“Sorry, I just – it’s been, what, ten years? I’m gonna miss you, is all.”
“Stop looking at me like that.”
“Sorry.”
“I mean, what else are we supposed to do? If this is the way things work out, then…”
Another long, awkward silence.
“Hey,” said Shinon. “Let’s go toast your success. I’m buying.”
Fandom: Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Characters: Shinon, Gatrie
Genre: General
Word count: 497
Rating: PG
Warnings: Language
Notes:
fe_drabble Challenge 02 - Choices.Life-altering decisions shouldn’t be made lightly, but some were more obvious than others. Take “well-paid job” versus “going broke,” for example – even Gatrie should have been able to figure that one out. Instead he was staring out the window making noises like a sick dog.
“Don’t think too hard,” said Shinon. “Might strain something.”
Gatrie looked at him for a moment, then frowned and sighed for probably the thousandth time, drumming his fingers on the table.
Shinon had never seen him like this before and didn’t know what to think, though “annoying as hell” was a good start. “Look, she’s pretty, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And her family’s rich, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
“So what’s the problem?”
Gatrie fidgeted. “What about you?”
Shinon rolled his eyes. “Is that what this is about? What are you, stupid?” His plans were no one’s business but his own. So was the fact that he didn’t have any. “I’ll figure something out.”
“I could get them to hire you, too –”
“Handouts from nobles? I’ll starve first.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Shinon snapped. “And – I swear – one more dramatic sigh out of you and I’ll rearrange your face.”
Silence, fortunately.
“We could keep looking,” said Gatrie. “Something else will come along.”
“Don’t be an idiot.”
“But we’re more effective together. I mean… thunder-and-lightning maneuvers and stuff.”
“What, like no one ever won a war before we came along?” Shinon closed his eyes. “A job’s a job. I shouldn’t have to tell you that. They seem pretty honest, for Begnion. Looks like good money.”
Gatrie sighed again, and Shinon nearly punched him. “I guess I shouldn’t really worry about it, but –”
“Damn right.” There were two kinds of mercenaries: those who could make it alone, and Gatrie. Of course work with a company was better all around, but Greil was dead and they’d left all that behind. It could’ve been all right. Even with Ike in charge, it could’ve worked out, because everyone else was still there, and they weren’t all idiots – but no. Grief made you stupid. Chances like this didn’t come every day. I made you walk out on something good once. I won’t do it again – but he didn’t say that. It wasn’t any of Gatrie’s business.
“Guess I’ll stop by House Damiell tomorrow morning,” Gatrie said finally. There was an awkward pause. “So this is it.”
“Guess so.”
“We had some good times, didn’t we?”
“Yeah. We did.” Shinon looked away uncomfortably. “So, uh, take care of yourself.”
“You, too.” He sniffed. “It’s, um – it’s been – h-hold on, got something in my eye –”
“Oh, come on. Don’t get all sappy on me now.”
“Sorry, I just – it’s been, what, ten years? I’m gonna miss you, is all.”
“Stop looking at me like that.”
“Sorry.”
“I mean, what else are we supposed to do? If this is the way things work out, then…”
Another long, awkward silence.
“Hey,” said Shinon. “Let’s go toast your success. I’m buying.”