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| Details |
| Author: | Athena |
| Summary: | Colson and Mordecai meet in the infirmary at Shattrath to discuss where they'll stay for awhile as newlyweds, finances, the Harbrookes, and the future. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Chain: Morson
03/21/2022
In the refugee area of Shattrath, where they are in dire need of physicians.
Mordecai is speaking with one of the physicians. It seems they are talking about terocones.
Colson enters the space, looking from the refugees to the people working with a sympathetic expression. It's clear from the way he walks that he's looking for someone specific, however, and he crosses until he spots Mordecai.
“So… only the ones that fall from the trees are ripe enough to be used? Are they in… season? Are there seasons?” Mordecai asks.
Colson's face lights up, and he walks closer. When he hears him discussing the terocones, Colson stops, and smiles, listening for just a moment. Colson takes a deliberate step forward, clanking his armor and making a loud footstep.
“We can make do with what we have.” Mordecai turns. "Colson! Pardon me, doctor.”
“Mordecai.” Colson smiles brightly and holds out a hand to Mordecai.
Mordecai goes over to take it.
“It's good to see you. Working here is… a little different, but not incredibly so.”
Colson draws him gently in closer for a fairly chaste hug, although his eyes close in satisfaction at the touch of their hands. "Have you had any difficulty with the language barriers?"
Mordecai returns the hug. "Not terribly so. The draenei seem to have learned. I suppose the Sons of Lothar had twenty years to teach them."
“Mm, yes. There are some others that seem less proficient, but I am sure some things are universal.” He glances at some of the patients, and looks around. “Do you have some time? I can wait, if not.”
“I-I should, yes.”
Mordecai leads Colson over to a quieter area, near some barrels.
Colson follows along, not letting go of Mordecai's hand until they arrive at a decent place to talk. But, he only drops the hold long enough to remove his gloves, and then brushes his hand back against Mordecai's. “Have you settled in at the inn? I have not yet seen the room.”
Mordecai leans back against the wall. "I figured I would stay here. Some of the doctors do. But…I don't know what's available elsewhere. There's space for more tents, I think, but it's not safe to leave your belongings unattended in one.”
Colson examines Mordecai's face, and there's something in Colson's face, a tightening around the eyes, before he gently moves his hand up to brush against Mordecai's shoulder. There's nothing special about the touch, except that it is clearly not familial. “I have already secured a room in the inn. It's a cost I am willing to pay. It's small, but it is private.”
Mordecai glances at Colson with a quick, shy smile. "They have those?"
Colson's lips move in an automatic smile, his eyes catching on Mordecai's mouth for a moment before he looks back up into his eyes. "Yes. It's not…ah…well. They tried to warn me that I should lower my standards. I did not wish to try to explain to them that I was there in Theramore before the buildings were constructed.”
Mordecai nods.
Colson looks around the room a little, and shifts his weight slightly. "Mordecai you can…that is, you need not restrict yourself to frugality. I am unsure what you're used to with…" He makes a vague gesture in the air to suggest The Harbrookes. "But if there is something that can be done to make you more comfortable, know that you may spend what you wish. That is what it is for. The money, I mean.”
“I don't really need much.”
Colson's hand moves up closer to Mordecai's face, as though he might brush his hand against the other man's jaw, but he doesn't complete the motion, glancing around at the lack of privacy. "No, nor do I, if I am honest. But, this…I know you were uncomfortable with Sir Gavynn. And that if you do wish to…ah.” His cheeks flush and he waves a hand elegantly. “That is, if you would enjoy some time alone, that is worth the cost.”
Mordecai glances down and nods. "Yes, well, um. How much did it cost?"
Colson names a sum that is roughly what a main squad member of Cobalt Company makes in a week. And the cost is per day.
"… Colson, that's not — that can't be worth it for more than a day or two.”
Colson's mouth moves in a smile, even as his cheeks go warm again. "Mordecai, we can afford it, and truly, it would…well. It would make me happy, but I would also hope that it would make you so."
“I — y-yes, we can afford it, but not indefinitely.”
“I expect, however, that we will not remain here for long enough for it to matter. A month or two at the most. The Company never remains in one place for much longer than that.” Colson shrugs his right shoulder. "If need be, I can always start accepting a salary from the Company."
Mordecai stares into the distance like he's doing math. “… Wait, y-you aren't? You're one of their officers! Colson, if I were to save up a week's worth of my income from the Company, I could afford that room for a day, if I didn't need to-to buy food or anything else.”
Colson looks at Mordecai with a soft smile. "I have no need for the income. I am not doing this for the money." He takes Mordecai's hand, and brings it up to his lips for a brush of a kiss against Mordecai's knuckles. "And no, you do not any longer. What is mine is yours, Mordecai.”
Mordecai does allow it, but he looks… anxious, unable to look Colson in the eyes at the moment.
Colson's eyes go soft with concern, and he looks at Mordecai for a moment before he steps in fractionally closer. "If it causes you distress, I will see it altered. I will stay in a tent here, if it would please you. Anything."
“I… want to explain this in a way that you can understand, and, um, I'm having some trouble finding the words.”
Colson nods slowly. He doesn't seem to be in any hurry. "Of course. Please, by all means. You can tell me anything, and I will do what I can to understand it."
“I… wasn't permitted to ask for money as a child. I-I got some on my birthday each year. I had to make it last.”
Colson's eyes go a little tighter, but he nods at the words in a way that says he's listening, and isn't interrupting.
“When we returned to Stormwind, I-I opened a bank account. The money I made serving the army as a chaplain, I saved most of that, too. I, I had to choose. Carefully. What I really needed. For a very… very long time.”
Colson nods again, and his hand on Mordecai's tightens ever so slightly.
Mordecai takes Colson's hand and turns it over, looking down at the ring.
Colson's mouth moves in a faint smile at the sight of it. It's just automatic.
“I never really knew what I was saving it for," Mordecai says. “Just… in case, I suppose. Until I saw this. In Shattrath, in the market.”
Colson's smile freezes and his face goes blank, as he looks at his ring. His quite obviously very, very expensive ring. He looks back up at Mordecai, searching his expression.
“And all my money… back in Stormwind. And I — the jeweler, she – “ Mordecai swallows hard. “I started to cry, in the market, and she took it out of the case and just gave it to me.”
“Oh…Mordecai. I…” Colson breaks off with a shaky breath, his lips moving in several small motions. He swallows hard. “Mordecai.”
“She just… gave it to me.” Mordecai sounds like he might start crying again at any moment, but he doesn't. “She said — she said I should give it to my beloved, and if-if they didn't care for it, to bring it back and she would give me a different one. Just… just like that.”
Colson pulls Mordecai's hand gently toward him, to pull him into an embrace that starts soft, and tightens fiercely at Mordecai's words. There is the very faintest shake to Colson's body.
Mordecai puts his forehead down on Colson's shoulder and holds on tight.
“And so you gave it to me,” Colson almost whispers it, pressing his lips against Mordecai's hair. “I…thought from your letter it was…Forgive me. I did not realize it was not…” Colson breaks off and just holds onto the other man for a long moment.
“I… still have that money. In the bank. Well, it's — it's in our account, now, I had it transferred. We still have that money.”
“I would have been content had you given me a wire you salvaged from a medicine bottle, Mordecai. All that mattered to me was that it was from you. I…” Colson huffs a laugh that sounds almost like a sob. “I kept your bag. Money has never mattered to me.”
Mordecai mumbles into Colson's shoulder. "That's because you've always had it."
Colson shakes his head slightly. "No. Not always. But, yes. I know what it is like to be comfortable. I know what it is to have it, and to spend it. And I want that for you. I am not frightened of discomfort, Mordecai. I have slept on the ground, lived in one pair of clothing for months on end, eaten out of a boot made into a pan.” Colson sighs deeply. "I don't want this room for me. I want it for you. I want to show you…that you can be comfortable. You said, before, that you are almost never comfortable. I…want to change that."
Mordecai takes a deep breath. He straightens up to look at Colson.
Colson pulls back enough so that Mordecai can see his expression. There's a lot of his heart in his eyes, almost pain, but not quite.
“I-I think I would feel more comfortable if you were also receiving a salary from Cobalt Company. It needn't be an officer's salary, just… something. I know you don't do this for money. Neither do I. It's hard to explain why, but…It feels like it makes a difference, somehow.”
Colson nods immediately. "I will inform Mr. Bennet as soon as I am able to post the letter. Whatever you wish."
“And… the room sounds wonderful, just… a month is too long to keep paying that rate.”
“Do you believe they gave you a fair price, is that actually what the room's worth?”
Colson inclines his head. "I will see if I can find another somewhere else for less. It may not be here. Yes. Space is at an absolute premium here in the city. But, that will not be true everywhere."
“Thank you.”
Colson looks North with a thoughtful expression. "It is possible that if we were to gain the trust of the Cenarion Expedition in the north, they would have more room. They do not accept everyone there. They would have more space, I would merely need time. It would mean you may need to use a portal if you wished to continue assisting here.” Colson looks as though he's making several calculations in his head, weighing possible outcomes.
“How safe are the skies for travel…? No one's shot a gryphon out of the air that I've seen, but…”
“Safe enough, but the time…” Colson mouth presses together in a line. “It costs less than a portal might, unless Cressidha would be willing to stay in Telredor as well. That assumes we may stay there. I will have to see to those logistics after that is settled.”
Mordecai flashes a quick little smile at Colson. "I haven't seen Telredor yet. It's a Draenei outpost?"
Colson's eyes catch on the smile and his own mouth moves faintly. "Yes. It's beautiful there. Well. It's beautiful the way a marsh is beautiful. Very damp. But, lovely, in its own way. I have begun learning about the plants there. There's a woman in particular who has been helping me identify specimens if I agree to bring them back to her.”
“…that does sound nice.”
Colson has not stepped away from the embrace entirely, and he smiles gently at Mordecai. "I…believe I have been rather foolish," he murmurs to himself, and then, louder: "The moment I saw it, I thought of you. Of bringing you there. I thought, perhaps, if I could show you it, then you would not regret coming through the portal. That there was more than the Hellfire here.”
“Why would I regret coming through the portal?”
Colson exhales heavily in a sigh. "Because it is a constant war? A blasted hellscape? What possible joy could you have found here, is what I thought. I…I expected you to leave at any moment when you realized how terrible it was here. I didn't consider that you might have…well.” He blushes a little and looks up, fighting a smile.
Mordecai smiles. "I… like being places where I'm needed." He flushes and adds a bit more quickly, "Where I'm wanted. That's rarer."
“Yes, well.” Colson looks back at Mordecai, his eyes soft. “I thought if I could show you something like Zangarmash, then you wouldn't leave…me. And I wanted you here…very much.”
Mordecai looks genuinely touched by the sentiment, which means he immediately starts avoiding eye contact because that's embarrassing.
Colson looks down and his expression goes grave, and the skin around his eyes go tight. "And, I confess. More than anything I wanted you away from your family. I…we must speak of them eventually, Mordecai."
“They… what of them?”
Colson looks up, and his face is rather stoic. "Of why you never had enough, of what it is they do to maintain what they have, and of what will eventually happen to them."
Mordecai's smile falls, but he straightens up, bracing himself for what is presumably not going to be good news. “All right.”
Colson steps away from the embrace, but doesn't let go of Mordecai's hand. This makes taking out his little Baffled Sheep notebook a little harder, but he manages. He balances it against a knee so he can flip to the correct page. It's awkward but he gets there. “You recall that I mentioned I went to investigate the reasons why your family was insistent on this contract being fulfilled?”
Mordecai looks down at the notebook. “Yes.”
There's a lot of writing on the pages. It's in an informal, personal shorthand that probably doesn't make a lot of sense, except that the initials are definitely familiar, like L.H. and G.H.
“I'm… not sure I know how to interpret this.” Mordecai gestures down at the notebook.
“I could not believe that they would wish it for no reason other than a great desire to rid themselves of the land, and so I went to City Hall.” He looks down at his notes. “Oh. Yes, it's more for me. Memory aides.” Colson flaps the notebook slightly. "I try to never rely entirely on my recollection for anything important."
“Ah.”
“I found the records your family submits to the formal taxes, and so on. It took time, but there was something peculiar about them. And I could discover no reason for it, except a…sense that something was off. So, I secured the assistance of one Thaldor Foxglove. An…associate of the Company skilled in…” He pauses. “Uncovering things people do not wish widely known. This is what he found.” Colson reads out the information from Thaldor, detailing the cause of the debt, who plays what part in maintaining it, the thieving, the cheating, the pawning. He leaves nothing out, including Gavin's affairs. Colson's voice is even, calm, and implacable.
Mordecai lets go of Colson's hand as he listens. He fidgets with his sleeves, looking at the notebook as he listens. When Colson's done speaking, he's gone rather pale.
Colson closes the notebook, and stores it back in the Pumpkin Bag. He looks as though he's fighting some distress, but he waits for Mordecai to react, or to send some sign that he wants something from Colson.
Mordecai seems to be… processing.
Colson waits in a way that looks as though he could and would wait all day. There's a deep sense of patience in every line of his body language and face.
Mordecai eventually says, very quietly, "You knew this when you proposed. You did say — you couldn't save them, but you could save me. This is what you meant. It's going to catch up to them. The wedding bought them time, your dowry. But it will catch up to them. And then they're going to come to me.”
“Yes. I asked Mr. Foxglove if there was anything I could do, first, Mordecai. Truly. I was willing to try. But, there is…the debt is….if my family sold everything we have, everything, we could not pay the debt. The only thing I could have done was…” Colson looks away. “It was the first solution I offered you. If I knew you were to be safe within another family, a Baker's Daughter,” He waves his hand in the air. “I could have done something terrible. I could have bought most of the debt from those they owe, and blackmail them into breaking the contract. It would have cost nearly everything I have, but I could have done it. Would have done it, if it was what you wished. And even then…I could not buy it all. Not even close. They are so far beyond…” He breaks off and reaches out his hand to Mordecai. “This is why I do not want you there. Because I do not want them to come to you.”
Mordecai doesn't see Colson's hand. He's staring at the brazier across from them, now.
Colson slowly drops his hand, looking at Mordecai with clear pain in his expression, but he waits. Mordecai takes a deep breath. "They're… they're going to start asking. And I have to… I have to turn them down. It's our money now, and it isn't enough. I can't give them anything. If I give them anything, they're going to demand everything, and they haven't the right. You — you knew that. Your changes to the contract. Thank you.”
Colson can't stand up any straighter, but gosh, he sure tries. "Yes. And…" He exhales slightly. "It was what I said to your brother that sent him running at the wedding. I called him by his alias. I wanted him to know that I knew. I wanted them to know that if they wish to get you to you, they will go through me first.” His eyes go warm and soft, despite the harsh words.
“They… Father's been digging that grave deeper and deeper for so long now. And he - he deserves it. He deserves it.”
“Yes. It is…” Colson's jaw moves slightly. “It is what I spoke of, at the wedding. Neither Miss Barlowe nor I need to do anything, and justice will still come, all the same.”
Mordecai looks alarmed as a thought occurs to him, and he turns to Colson. "But — Colson. Colson, Lucy doesn't deserve any of this."
“No, she does not.”
“What… what's going to happen to her?”
“I don't…” Colson shakes his head and his eyes are caught on Mordecai's face. “I do not know. I promise you if there is something that I can do…when it happens. When that house of cards finally falls, I will do it. I…unless…” He frowns slightly. “Hm.” Colson steps back slightly onto his leg, shifting his weight. He looks into the middle distance around Mordecai's shoulder. "Hm. Do you…do you recall their marriage? If she and Gavin had a contract involved?"
“There must have been — I couldn't attend, I was with the army.”
Colson nods thoughtfully, running his thumb along his forefinger. "I will…see if I can discover it. And I will need to speak with Miss Lucille. I will offer her a choice, for what she wishes to do. But, with what I know of Gavin…I have more than enough to force him to write a legal document that absolves Miss Lucille, and possibly end their marriage, legally, if possible. I am not sure it is. But, I will try. If you want me to.”
“I don't know… I don't know much about her. She's a mage, I think, but I don't really…” Mordecai trails off. “Did you just offer to blackmail my brother on behalf of my sister-in-law?”
Colson looks over with a soft expression. "I…" He shrugs his right shoulder helplessly. "There is nothing I would not do for you, Mordecai. Ask it of me, and I will see it done."
Mordecai says fondly, "Oh, Colson," and shakes his head. "You were right the first time — ask her what she wants."
“I will. And know that while I do not believe she deserves her fate any more than you do, I do not do this for her. I cannot…” Colson looks away, something tight and hurt in his expression. “I cannot save everyone. I know this. But, for you, I will try. It is for you.” Colson looks down at his hands, that tight pain still on his face.
Mordecai touches Colson's cheek gently. "I know it's… hard. Being a healer in a world full of pain. And the wider your scope of responsibility, the more you stretch yourself thin. I know.”
Colson leans into the touch, almost melting into it. He brings his hand up to catch Mordecai's wrist gently, to hold his hand there. "I…try not to. Truly, I am not trying to be everyone's savior or a hero. I…" He swallows hard. "I simply…wish to be of use."
“You were mine. That's not nothing.”
Colson's expression moves in several brief flickers. He presses his face more into Mordecai's hand. "Will you ever…will you tell me why you…why you fear them?" He closes his eyes. "I do not want to pry into what you do not wish to tell me. But I…" Colson breaks off, his shoulders moving slightly, as though he's trying to hold himself back from saying more.
“They… had power over me. Now they don't. So it-it doesn't matter now.”
Colson murmurs into Mordecai's hand. "It does…to me." He swallows and breathes slowly. "I never want to see you flinch like you did in that kitchen ever again. You are one of the bravest men I have ever known. And yet…"
“Me? Brave?”
Colson opens his eyes and looks full into Mordecai's face. His voice rings with sincerity. "Yes."
Mordecai smiles, shy, and looks past Colson towards the infirmary. Nobody seems to be paying them any mind. Good.
Colson returns the smile with one of his own, and after a very quick glance around the infirmary, he moves his lips to press a gentle, brief kiss to Mordecai's palm. “You do not have to tell me. Now, or ever. It is only that I want to understand you better. I want to know…why…why you feared me that day in the Cathedral.” Colson looks as though some part of him has been holding onto that for a long, long time.
Mordecai manages to turn even more red. He lowers his hand, resting it on Colson's shoulder. "I… maybe another day. But as-as for the Cathedral, that was just…I-I'd just had a very… quiet dinner with your sister. And.”
“And you thought I had come there to punish you for, yes. I remember.”
Mordecai nods.
“I…it haunted me. I tried to think of anything I had done, what I could have said to you, that you thought I would have ever….” Colson drops his gaze. “I know people think I feel nothing, but I have never had someone fear me like that before. And then I saw you in that kitchen, with your brother in that hallway. You looked exactly the same as you had that day, Mordecai.”
“I did?”
“Yes. Making yourself as small as you could. Waiting for some…blow to land.” Colson's voice has gone full gentle Paladin Voice. “Bracing yourself.”
“I wasn't expecting a physical blow, not from you, just… consequences? Of some sort? If I'd offended your sister. I'm not afraid of you, Colson.”
Colson brushes his hand along Mordecai's. "You cannot know how happy it made me to hear you say that you felt…safe…safest with me, that day. At Nethergarde. I know you are not afraid of me, Mordecai. But, you are afraid of them.” His jaw clenches briefly, before he relaxes it. “Not today, but someday…if you are willing. I wish to know why.”
Mordecai nods.
Colson exhales a long breath, and stares at Mordecai for several moments.
Mordecai mumbles, "I'm glad you like the ring."
Colson smiles, and he looks at his ring. "I do. Very much. You always seem to know…exactly what will suit me best. I…even the cake. I am not sure how you knew…exactly what I would like.” He smiles brighter and looks at Mordecai. “I would not have been able to tell you even had you asked. I did not know that was my favorite until you made it.”
“I, um, the cake, I-I asked Ismene if she could find out in secret, and she said she asked your household staff.”
Colson breaks into a short, but happy laugh. He looks at Mordecai with a slowly fading grin. "Ah, Lord Mordecai, I had not realized you could be rather devious when you have a mind to be." His eyes twinkle with amusement and affection in equal measures.
“She really was a-a very good matron of honor.”
Colson chuckles again, and shakes his head. "I fear we owe Lady Ismene more than one doughnut now. She and Ben are very well suited. He loves her very much.”
Mordecai nods.
SUPER LOUD ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE TAUREN ROCK BAND.
Colson turns at the sound of the shouting about the band. He frowns. “Hm.”
“Is it that late already…?”
“I wonder how often that…happens.” Colson takes out his pocket watch and checks the time, muttering something at it. Sounds an awful like a Cressidha word. “Yes, forgive me, I…I should have already been at the inn. An hour ago.”
Mordecai looks alarmed. "You missed an appointment? I'm sorry, I-I lost track of time…”
Colson takes a half step closer to Mordecai, and hesitates. It's clearly not private. He looks from Mordecai's mouth to his cheek, as though trying to decide if a peck on the cheek counts as Kissing.
“I'm supposed to help Dr. Fletcher organize the salves, too…” Mordecai says.
“Yes. I…this place is like that. I should have…I didn't think to…” Colson clears his throat. “Of course.”
“I'll meet you at the…Which inn is it?”
Colson holds out a hand…to…shake? Light, no. Pat Mordecai's shoulder? Ahhhhh. He pats the shoulder. "Sanctuary." No, Light, he can't leave it there. He goes in for a small hug.
Mordecai returns the hug. "I'll… probably be able to find it, right?"
“It's on the Aldor Tier, and I am certain…” Colson looks around. He's already late. Ah, well. “When do they have you leaving here? I can return and wait for you. To show you where it is.”
“Half an hour or so? No, I'll… I'll meet you by the elevator, I know where the elevator is. You should go, if you're already late.”
Colson nods. "Yes. I should go." He pauses again. And then, his cheeks going a little red, for no reason, just… "I love you. I will see you soon." He does a reflexive little bow, and leaves.
“I — yes. Um. Yes, that.”
Colson is already gone, moving out of the area with long strides. He breaks into a jog as soon as he can. Light above, he's actually late. For an appointment. Someone check on Hell, see if it's frozen over.