Fawn

[goodfellow]

Robin had had one more drink after Fin left, before going back to sleep. Well, first he'd wanked off. You know. To help him sleep.

The next morning he got up, showered, drank two cups of coffee in his underwear, and then gotten dressed in one of his favorite suits. He stopped by the canteen first, and then went to the quarters that he knew were shared by Fin and Fawn.

He knocked and waited, holding a box of sweet honey glazed rolls.

Comments

[goodfellow]

Robin saw his reaction and was glad at least that Fawn wasn't clueless about what was going on here. "And you understand why he is nervous?"

[fawnthefae]

Fawn nodded a little, taking a bun and nibbling on it.

"John got mad. Said mean words. ...He was just upset though. He thinks Fin wants to trade me to a rich man, but I know that is not what brother means. Fin wishes me to wed someone who will take care of me in all ways, not just love, but money."

[goodfellow]

"If Fin wanted to trade you to a rich man he'd have already asked me," Robin said dryly. "But are you sure they were just words? From John."

[fawnthefae]

"I think so. ...He was just anger. Angry, I mean. He gets very mad with Fin sometimes, then Fin gets madder too, and then shouting happens," Fawn explained.

[goodfellow]

"And if John gets angry enough, he might decide to hurt Fin," Robin said, to see how Fawn reacted.

[fawnthefae]

Fawn looked unsure, and he chewed his bottom lip.

"Maybe?" he replied. "John says no, but he gets very mad. Shouting mad. Mean words, mad."

[goodfellow]

Robin looked at him for a moment, and then then sat down on the couch and gestured for Fawn to join him.

"Fawn," he said gently, "are you sure that John is good for you."

[fawnthefae]

"John loves me," Fawn replied, sitting down. "I love him. We share hearts."

[goodfellow]

"Has he ever gotten angry at you?" Robin asked.

[fawnthefae]

"No, John is sweet to me," Fawn insisted. "But he and Fin clash," he explained, mimicking antlers with his hands and locking them together.

[goodfellow]

"And if he hurt Fin?" Robin said. "How would you feel? Whose side would you take?"

[fawnthefae]

Fawn looked unsure.

"I do not want to choose," he said softly.

[goodfellow]

Robin looked at him for a moment, and then said, "I'm going to give it to you straight, Fawn. You have to choose. And right now, what it means to choose is that you need to tell John that if he hurts Fin, you will never speak to him again."

[fawnthefae]

Fawn looked shocked, then upset. "Why is it my job to make John be nice? Why can't Fin just be nice to him and not be so... Fin. Kolvanta, et, ghashanre," he hissed, speaking now in his native tongue.

[goodfellow]

Robin looked unfazed by the outburst. "Say the same to Fin, then," said Robin calmly. "John's feelings are not my concern. My concern is Fin not being investigated for murder."

[fawnthefae]

Fawn glared, then huffed.

"I will try, but he does not listen."

[goodfellow]

Robin actually frowned at him.

"Seriously, it doesn't bother you that your boyfriend would get angry and try to ruin your brother's life?"

[fawnthefae]

"Of course it does, I was mad. Big mad, yes? But then John came back, and he was sorry. Said we could leave room in bed for Fin when he came home- But Fin did not come home."

[goodfellow]

"Well that's partly because he came to me, panicked, wondering if he had to become an ambassador to protect himself," Robin pointed out. "If John would do that to him, do you really think that's the type of person you want to be with?"

[fawnthefae]

"He kisses me very softly. He says kind things. He touches me with gentle hands, and holds me very close. ...My heart lights up when he is here," Fawn said softly. "That is love, yes? Not- Um... Not always thinking good, but feeling warm and right."

[goodfellow]

Robin sighed. "Nothing you just said has anything to do with what I just asked you."

[fawnthefae]

"You're asking hard things," Fawn huffed. "I like John, and John is good, and I don't- I don't think he would hurt Fin. ...You should meet him! If you meet him, you can tell Fin he's nice! Then they won't fight," he decided, as though he was positive that would magically fix everything.

[goodfellow]

"Sure, I'll meet him," Robin said. He got to his feet, not seeing any point in continuing this conversation. "But I have to tell you, Fawn... I'm disappointed. I thought you and Fin were closer than this."

[fawnthefae]

Fawn looked hurt, ducking his head.

"I can't help what my heart wants," he insisted softly.

[goodfellow]

"I'm not asking you to dump him," Robin said. "I'm asking you to insist he not destroy your brother's life. But if it doesn't matter enough to you..." He shrugged.

[fawnthefae]

"I did! I asked, and he says he wouldn't... Just sometimes when he's mad, I don't know, and Fin seems so worried, and Fin's smart. Smarter than me, okay? And if he is worried, I worry, but..."

Fawn trailed off, looking upset.

"I can't explain it well. I just- I worry, but I don't? I don't... I don't think the bad thing will happen, but I know it could?"

[goodfellow]

Robin looked at him for a moment, and then nodded. "Okay, Fawn. I'm not accusing you of not caring about your brother, I just... I care about him, too."

[fawnthefae]

Fawn nodded a little, then looked down at his hands. "I will always put Fin first, but I am allowed to seek love."

[goodfellow]

"Of course you are," Robin said. "And to be clear, because I care about Fin I also care about you."

[fawnthefae]

"You do?" Fawn asked, visibly surprised to hear it. He just assumed Robin saw him as nothing more than Fin's brother.

[goodfellow]

"I think you're very special, Fawn," said Robin honestly. "You have a big heart. I don't want to see you taken advantage of."

[fawnthefae]

Fawn nodded, putting the sticky bun down and walking over to Robin, barely offering a warning before throwing his arms around him and holding on tight.

[goodfellow]

Robin made a sound of genuine surprise. He was startled in the moment, but also... when was the last time someone hugged him like that?

He awkwardly put his arms around Fawn in return.

[fawnthefae]

Fawn kissed his cheek before letting go.

"I am pleased Fin has you as a friend. ...And me. Iam pleased to call you friend."

[goodfellow]

"Oh, um." Robin looked embarrassed. "You'll listen to me then?"

[fawnthefae]

"I guess. ...Yeah. Probably," Fawn nodded.

Though given that he barely listened to his own brother, chances were he'd do as he pleased.

[goodfellow]

"And I will speak to John," Robin said. Somewhat reluctantly.

[fawnthefae]

"If he shouts at you, kick his shin. The left one. That's what I do," Fawn said.

[goodfellow]

Robin patted Fawn's cheek. "You shouldn't let him shout at you, darling," he said. "All right, I'm going to go. Enjoy the buns."

[fawnthefae]

Fawn nodded a little and waved goodbye, eager to eat buns and not think about such difficult things.