autobotscoutriella

ushobwri is doing their yearly Let's Get WIP-ed Into Shape event, and I picked the Sonata sequels for mine! I'm pretty happy with what I've gotten drafted for broken beaten damned (the Daryan&Blackquill In Prison fic) so far, so I thought, why not share a few snippets along the way like I did for Sonata?

I'm an aggressive editor, so I can't guarantee that this scene will survive to the final draft intact. But I like where it's going, so I thought some of you might, too.


“Yeah, whatever.” Daryan gritted his teeth and made himself keep smiling. He didn’t need a mirror to know it was one of those expressions Klavier would have scolded him for. You’re scaring the fans, Daryan – “Tell Gavin I said hi.”

“Tell him yourself.” Justice folded his arms, giving Daryan a look that might have been disappointed or constipated. It was always kind of hard to tell with him. “He said he’d be here after the trial. I’m sure the bailiff will let you wait until –”

“Oh, fuck no.” Daryan wished he could have grinned for real at the look on Justice’s face. “Tell him or don’t, I don’t give a shit. He’ll get over it either way.”

And maybe if Daryan said that often enough, it would stop feeling like a kick in the balls. It hadn't worked so far.

It was still better than watching Klavier pretend he wasn’t flirting with Apollo fucking Justice, while giving Daryan that kicked-puppy don’t-hate-me look. At least the kick in the balls let Daryan keep a little dignity.

Though the look Justice gave him, halfway between guilt and pity, was almost as bad. “Listen, Daryan, I didn’t mean –”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Daryan flicked his hair out of his eyes, aiming a glare at the wall behind Justice’s head. “Don’t.”

Justice opened his mouth, and closed it again. In the awkward silence, the wall clock ticked to the beat of Daryan’s heart, one, two, three, an endless countdown to an execution that wasn’t coming anymore.

“Let’s go, Crescend.” The bailiff broke the silence, jerking his head pointedly toward the door to punctuate the order. Daryan turned his back on Klavier’s new best friend and followed.