storypaint (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
storypaint) wrote2015-02-16 12:38 pm
storypaint) wrote2015-02-16 12:38 pm
[Young Wizards] old enough to die indeed (Kit/Nita and Tom/Carl)
Title: old enough to die indeed
Fandom: Young Wizards
Length: 581 words
Prompt: comment_fic: Young Wizards, Nita/Kit, their child is on ordeal and they have a talk with Tom and Carl
Pairing: Kit/Nita and Tom/Carl
Other: Future fic.
Excerpt: Carl sits down across from her and Kit. There is a sympathetic look in his eyes and Nita recognizes it. She's seen him use it plenty of times in his capacity as a Senior. He's told her that she's volunteered to die, as the Silent One, and he's told her that Dairine might not come back, and so many other dreadful things. He's always sincere when he wears that look, but Nita does not want to see it right now.
Carl hands Nita a cup, and Nita picks it up and sips without tasting what's in it. She looks down; it looks like tea. Her throat is dry, so she takes another sip. Tom brings over the second cup for Kit, but Kit doesn't touch it. He's holding Nita's hand, running his thumb again and again over the back of her hand.
Carl sits down across from her and Kit. There is a sympathetic look in his eyes and Nita recognizes it. She's seen him use it plenty of times in his capacity as a Senior. He's told her that she's volunteered to die, as the Silent One, and he's told her that Dairine might not come back, and so many other dreadful things. He's always sincere when he wears that look, but Nita does not want to see it right now.
She hiccups. "You said that wizardry usually skips a generation," she says, and her voice is hoarse.
Tom doesn't sit down. He puts his hands on Carl's shoulders and looks at them as well.
"Usually," Carl says. "I know you're worried. I would be if I were in your place. But there's nothing we can do right now. She's as prepared as she can be. You did a wonderful job raising her. She'll come back if she can."
She's only twelve. Nita know that she went through her own Ordeal at a young age, and so did Kit, and right now, that terrible, wonderful experience is playing back in her head like the most frightening movie. Over and over again, she sees all the times they might have died, and she imagines her daughter in those scenarios. Would she know who to trust? Would she take that chance, or that one?
Kit clears his throat. "Ponch is with her," he says. "Do you think it would make a difference?"
Carl looks up and back at his partner and they confer for a moment silently, in the way of a long-married couple. Nita notices for the first time that Tom's hair is almost entirely gray now. They are semi-retired -- not from wizardry, but the Powers recognize service done in Their name, and their Senior responsibilities have mostly passed to Kit and Nita now. When Nita saw the new entry in her Manual directory, she didn't hesitate to call them, however, and they didn't hesitate to tell her to come.
"Of course," Tom says, "but how, I can't even guess. The Lone One might notice her more for having Him with her, or He might be able to help, at least in small ways. Every Ordeal is different."
They know this. Kit and Nita have seen probably a hundred Ordeals in their time. That doesn't make this easier; they know how many of those kids never came back.
"You should be proud," Carl says. He reaches out and places his hand on top of their linked ones. "She made the choice. She wouldn't be doing this otherwise. So no matter the outcome, you should be proud."
Nita thinks that she is proud, somewhere underneath the terror. She is so, so proud of her girl. There are so many things she wants to show her when she gets back. And Ponch is definitely getting a special treat.
When she comes back. Nita knows that words have power. She has to say when, even just in her head.
"We are," Kit says, but his voice breaks, and the kitchen is horribly silent.
Fandom: Young Wizards
Length: 581 words
Prompt: comment_fic: Young Wizards, Nita/Kit, their child is on ordeal and they have a talk with Tom and Carl
Pairing: Kit/Nita and Tom/Carl
Other: Future fic.
Excerpt: Carl sits down across from her and Kit. There is a sympathetic look in his eyes and Nita recognizes it. She's seen him use it plenty of times in his capacity as a Senior. He's told her that she's volunteered to die, as the Silent One, and he's told her that Dairine might not come back, and so many other dreadful things. He's always sincere when he wears that look, but Nita does not want to see it right now.
Carl hands Nita a cup, and Nita picks it up and sips without tasting what's in it. She looks down; it looks like tea. Her throat is dry, so she takes another sip. Tom brings over the second cup for Kit, but Kit doesn't touch it. He's holding Nita's hand, running his thumb again and again over the back of her hand.
Carl sits down across from her and Kit. There is a sympathetic look in his eyes and Nita recognizes it. She's seen him use it plenty of times in his capacity as a Senior. He's told her that she's volunteered to die, as the Silent One, and he's told her that Dairine might not come back, and so many other dreadful things. He's always sincere when he wears that look, but Nita does not want to see it right now.
She hiccups. "You said that wizardry usually skips a generation," she says, and her voice is hoarse.
Tom doesn't sit down. He puts his hands on Carl's shoulders and looks at them as well.
"Usually," Carl says. "I know you're worried. I would be if I were in your place. But there's nothing we can do right now. She's as prepared as she can be. You did a wonderful job raising her. She'll come back if she can."
She's only twelve. Nita know that she went through her own Ordeal at a young age, and so did Kit, and right now, that terrible, wonderful experience is playing back in her head like the most frightening movie. Over and over again, she sees all the times they might have died, and she imagines her daughter in those scenarios. Would she know who to trust? Would she take that chance, or that one?
Kit clears his throat. "Ponch is with her," he says. "Do you think it would make a difference?"
Carl looks up and back at his partner and they confer for a moment silently, in the way of a long-married couple. Nita notices for the first time that Tom's hair is almost entirely gray now. They are semi-retired -- not from wizardry, but the Powers recognize service done in Their name, and their Senior responsibilities have mostly passed to Kit and Nita now. When Nita saw the new entry in her Manual directory, she didn't hesitate to call them, however, and they didn't hesitate to tell her to come.
"Of course," Tom says, "but how, I can't even guess. The Lone One might notice her more for having Him with her, or He might be able to help, at least in small ways. Every Ordeal is different."
They know this. Kit and Nita have seen probably a hundred Ordeals in their time. That doesn't make this easier; they know how many of those kids never came back.
"You should be proud," Carl says. He reaches out and places his hand on top of their linked ones. "She made the choice. She wouldn't be doing this otherwise. So no matter the outcome, you should be proud."
Nita thinks that she is proud, somewhere underneath the terror. She is so, so proud of her girl. There are so many things she wants to show her when she gets back. And Ponch is definitely getting a special treat.
When she comes back. Nita knows that words have power. She has to say when, even just in her head.
"We are," Kit says, but his voice breaks, and the kitchen is horribly silent.