Disclaimer: the usual stuff.

This is yet again the product of my being out of work with nothing better to do with my time.

It’s a sort of background fic set roughly nine years before the events in the manga/anime. Oh, mild shonen-ai warning, that’s about it really.

Pulsan year 311

Daryoon made his way slowly towards his uncle’s chambers. He’d received a message along with his breakfast that morning informing him that one of his uncle’s friends had arrived in Ekubatana and that he was to see them directly after he’d eaten. Daryoon’s steps slowed. Having just turned 18 (thus technically having become a man) he was beginning to get used to the visits of his uncle’s friends, which generally meant yet another introduction to some Lord’s daughter. Yet more dull conversation with women he had nothing in common with simply because he didn’t know them. How many had it been last month? Three. One utterly witless, another so timid that she hadn’t dare speak and the third, a woman whom he’d rather just be friends with. He wondered what today would be like, another walk in the gardens, more ‘aren’t the fish in the ornamental ponds so pretty’...He checked a sigh as the servants announced him.

Vanphraze clapped him on the back, "This is my nephew, Daryoon. He’ll be promoted to division commander soon." "Daryoon, I’d like you to meet Teosu, Lord of Dairamu."

Daryoon looked up, surprised. As far as he knew Lord Teosu didn’t have any daughters, only a son, and a strange one at that. Daryoon spoke a few formal phrases of greeting, Teosu smiled and waved them aside, recognising the formality for what it was.

Daryoon sat down uneasily with his uncle and Lord Teosu. Teosu made a few enquiries as to Daryoon’s training etc which he answered politely but with little enthusiasm. From what he remembered his uncle saying, Teosu was a formidable warrior but was more renowned for his many lavish banquets and such, which he appeared to throw for no apparent reason. Also, he had defied convention and married a slave. What had happened to the woman was not common knowledge, rumour had it that she and the Lord had eventually had a severe falling out which ended the relationship, and Daryoon had been encouraged not to ask.

Just when Daryoon was beginning to think that he might be forced to spend the rest of the morning listening to his uncle’s and Lord Teosu’s reminisces, the doors opened to admit Lord Teosu’s son, Narsus. Teosu was immediately on his feet, hugging his son before Narsus had a chance to say anything. He sat down again and inspected the boy.

"Hello, Father." Narsus said rather sedately. Teosu smiled "Well, we don’t want to bore you children, why don’t you take a walk in the gardens. You ought to get outside in the sun a bit more." The last comment directed at his son. "Outside."

Narsus muttered rolling his eyes "Yes, Father."

"It’s..." Teosu began.

"...a lot more healthy that being cooped up in a dusty palace." Narsus finished for him. "Yes, Father, so you keep telling me." He was smiling in an exasperated fashion.

"Shall we?"

Daryoon was just about formulating an answer when Narsus slipped an arm though his and with a surprising amount of force, hauled him from the room.

Daryoon was quite sure that he’d been cursed by now. Perhaps in a past life he’d committed some crime in the royal gardens so now he was condemned to return to the scene of the crime, forever. He glanced at Narsus, who wasn’t actually dragging him along now. Narsus smiled apologetically at him, "I’m sorry about that, I just didn’t think I could survive another of my father’s lectures on health."

"Oh." It was all that Daryoon could manage.

They reached the gardens in silence. Out of habit Daryoon took one of the meandering paths that circled the outer gardens before leading toward the ornamental ponds in the centre. They were half way to the centre when Daryoon realised that they were still walking arm in arm.

"Is something wrong, Lord Daryoon?" Narsus asked quietly.

"No, nothing." Daryoon wondered what else to say. It wasn’t as if he and Narsus were strangers but they’d had little to do with each other outside of court formalities. "You don’t have to address me by my title." He said finally. "I’m only a year older than you."

Narsus looked surprised.

"You didn’t think I was older?"

A nod was his response.

"How much older?"

"Oh, at least 25."

Daryoon spluttered, quite shocked, until he realised that Narsus was laughing.

"No, I know how old you are, I have quite a memory for trivia. Besides if I didn’t, the endless parade of eligible women would be indication enough."

"I wish they’d go away."

"Really?"

"I mean, they’re all so dull. It’s not their fault but..." Daryoon hazarded a glance at Narsus.

"A man must be free to choose his own destiny."

"Um, sort of."

"Or his own wife." Added Narsus with a dry smile.

"Yes. You’re right about the destiny bit too though."

Daryoon stopped, they’d reached the ponds. Narsus peered into the water. "Aren’t the fish in the ornamental ponds..."

Daryoon let out a mental scream.

"...so ugly!" Narsus finished in disgust.

Daryoon started laughing. Narsus looked at him suspiciously "Just take a look at them and tell me they aren’t!"

Daryoon smiled "I know. We’d better go back now to get ready for tonight’s banquet."

Daryoon entered the main hall that evening looking a lot more cheerful that he had done for the last few months. He looked around the hall but couldn’t see Narsus. Then, completely unexpectedly, came a blow to the back and a cheery greeting that could only be Lord Teosu. Teosu grinned at Daryoon, while Narsus smiled at the slightly winded soon-to-be commander from his father’s side.

"Don’t drink too much." Teosu admonished his son with an even larger grin than before.

"Perhaps my father should take his own advice." Narsus replied.

"Well, I’m sure Daryoon will look after you." And with a final wink at Daryoon, Teosu was gone.

Daryoon looked at Narsus, puzzled only to find Narsus regarding him suspiciously. Daryoon looked across the room, following Teosu’s path to Vanphraze’s side. Teosu nudged Vanphraze and his uncle shot him a worried look.

"If father thinks he going to start match-making again..." Narsus muttered by his side. Then Daryoon remembered the rumours, the things his uncle had told him, the fact that two of his friends (who were inclined to that sort of thing) had been vying for Narsus’ attention lately.

Perhaps he hadn’t escaped from the endless stream of suitable brides today at all.

Still, at least Narsus didn’t think that the fish in the gardens were pretty.

Authors Notes:

More nonsense, I know. I just though I’d write a ‘nice’ fic involving Daryoon since he got somewhat damaged in "Alternately". Besides I think it’s a cute idea that Narsus’ father would think that Daryoon was a decent boy, who’d take care of his son. Lord Teosu’s preoccupation with being healthy is just the product of too many lectures from my own father on the virtues of various herbal/natural/what-ever remedies.

Narsus (4/2/01)