Willy

[phedredelaunay]

While Hannibal was gone, Phedre went and spoke to Alcuin. He was in and out of consciousness, though it seemed not to be the injury but more whatever pain medication House had given him. He'd said something about Willy, and Phedre was certain that Hannibal wasn't going to send word to him, so after she left she went over to the inn herself.

It was evening by then, and Willy was easy to find. She ordered a glass of wine out of politeness to the establishment, so that she could wait until his song was over. It wasn't as if there was a rush at this point.

Comments

[alcuin]

"You can do that?" Alcuin said, and realized he probably should have known, asked someone to find Willy last night. Though he hadn't exactly been thinking straight. "But Dr. House says I'll recover..."

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal let them discuss it. He certainly wasn't going to encourage Alcuin.

Instead he got up and put on a robe. He listened intently, though just in case.

[daoine_prince]

"I can," he nodded. "And will, gladly. You should not suffer. May I?"

[alcuin]

Alcuin couldn't help himself; he glanced over at Hannibal. But his back was turned as he slipped on his robe, and Alcuin was certain that they'd been talking before he'd woken. He knew. And besides... Alcuin could make this decision himself.

He reached up, still a bit weak, and closed his hand over Willy's. He offered him a little smile. "But what would you need in return?" He knew that nothing came for free, with fae. He couldn't even offer his thanks.

[daoine_prince]

"You misunderstand, dove. You have already given me much. We will be even," he assured him.

[alcuin]

Alcuin couldn't imagine what he could mean, what he'd possibly done that could be worth an exchange of powerful magic. Did he mean sex? Was he calculating the value based on what Alcuin would cost?

"I gave you only what I wanted," he said softly. He reached for him again and it caused a shift in his body that made him not only wince but make a small sound of pain, and then he lay back down. "But yes. Please."

[daoine_prince]

Willy smiled, nodded, then let his magic course through Alcuin. The fragile human body was easy to heal, but by the time he was done, the pain was gone and Alcuin was well.

"And now your love is once again your own," he said softly.

[alcuin]

Alcuin's eyes widened. The pain was gone. It was gone. He felt perfectly fine again.

His first thought was to remove the bandages to see if there was still a scar, but he didn't.

Also Willy's words made no sense to him. "I... I don't know what you mean, but..." He couldn't thank him. "Willy, I - " What did he even say? "The pain is gone."

[daoine_prince]

"Yes, dove. I know," he said, a soft and slightly sad smile.

"Your love, freely given, was never meant for me. We both know it," he said. "I have taken it, and enjoyed it. But now you are whole...and you are free to love the correct man."

[alcuin]

Alcuin felt his skin flush. Willy knew he loved Hannibal. He'd guessed... or he'd known.

He still didn't understand what that all meant. Or how it meant that Willy could heal him.

Not thinking of Hannibal for a moment (and no longer in pain), he sat up and threw his arms around Willy in a grateful hug.

[anamusebouche]

Nothing would make Hannibal change his mind on Fae, but he could concede that this at least was a good situation for Alcuin.

For Alcuin. Not for him.

He had been looking forward to having Alcuin in his bed for the foreseeable future, without words spoken. Now Alcuin was a truly free man; no marque, no fae, no deals, no bonds. That didn't sit well with Hannibal at all.

"You feel well, no lingering pain?" He asked the boy, because he did care about that.

[alcuin]

Alcuin pulled away from Willy so that he could look at Hannibal. "I... I feel fine," he said. "Perfectly fine." Feeling a little amazed.

"I won't thank you," he said to Willy. "But... if there's anything you need..."

[daoine_prince]

"You are free, dove," he repeated.

He looked to Hannibal pointedly.

"Do not waste the chance for the love you dream of," he said to Alcuin, looking to him as he finished.

[anamusebouche]

"If your business here is finished, kindly leave my home," Hannibal replied to that, casually, as if the fairy hadn't just unearthed his deepest secret.

[alcuin]

“Willy - “ Alcuin began, confused and maybe a little sad. He didn’t want to be free of him. He’d adored his time with Willy.

And he wondered what Hsnnibal thought of all that too. Willy had practically just told him that Alcuin loved him. And Alcuin had no idea what to do with that.

He didn’t continue though. And he wanted to speak to Hannibal.

“Willy, I will come see you play sometime soon,” he promised softly.

[daoine_prince]

Willy smiled warmly.

"I will watch for you," he said.

He turned to go, but paused to look at Hannibal. And slowly smiled slowly.

"Thank you for your hospitality," he said.

Only a fae could be so polite and so insulting at once.

And then he left the pair to face the truth.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal offered the most polite nod and was glad to see the last of him.

He tutned to Alcuin. "I will call for breakfast. I assume you're quite hungry. Or are you keener to get back home?"

[alcuin]

Home. Well, of course Hannibal would assume Alcuin was going back to his own quarters now that there was no reason for him to be here. And of course, he should.

Though he had offered... "I... well yes, I am very hungry," he said. Because now that the pain was gone he was realizing he'd hardly eaten anything at all for the past day.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal called out to the maid for breakfast.

Perhaps he should be kinder yo Alcuin here, but Willy had gotten to him and he was quite annoyed.

He nodded, then realised he was being a tad unfair. "I'm glad to see you better," he said and smiled genuinely. "Truly."

[alcuin]

"You, um. Did not seem very happy about Willy helping me," said Alcuin. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

[anamusebouche]

"I don't trust Fae. Their deals are dangerous," Hannibal supplied. "But I can't deny it was effective magic."

[alcuin]

"I trust him," said Alcuin. He hesitated. "But I don't... really understand everything he was saying. I don't know what he thinks I gave him that was worth such a boon."

[anamusebouche]

"More dangerous still," Hannibal replied. "To trust without understanding."

[alcuin]

Alcuin frowned. "Are you questioning my judgment? I can't say I'm regretting this decision."

[anamusebouche]

"I understand why you made the decision," Hannibal replied. "I hope you see the risks, but I don't fault you for taking it."

He smiled, kindly. "I'm very glad to see you well again."